Chapter Eleven
Cameron reached for the remote - clicking the monitor off seconds before Ed walked through the door.
"Kiddo - don't even try to put one over on me. I know exactly what you were tuning into. Or should I say, who."
"Boss?" Cam asked, his voice hopeful.
"No." Ed decided to stop this conversation before it started. The kid gave him a headache.
Cameron looked at Ed, pretending to be shocked. "C'mon. You don't know what I'm about to say."
"Oh yes I do. No. You can't go back."
"See. I was right. You don't know everything. I wasn't going to ask you to let me go. I was going to thank you."
Ed narrowed his eyes, as he looked straight at Cameron. "Save it. You're charm may work on your little lady - it does nothing to sway me."
"No. I really was. Thank you. Seriously. It was incredible just being with her for a few hours. It was everything I'd hoped for."
Cameron took a deep breath and added, "Ed - I just want her to be happy."
"She is. She's found her sister. She's happier than she's been in years." Ed said with a sigh. "You did a good thing - my boy - asking her to move on."
Despite everything he'd said to Abby, now that he'd had a chance to see her again - Cameron would never stop trying to get back to her. It just might take some time. He tried to make his voice non-chalant as he mentioned, "She's not moving on though. Look at her."
"Here's the thing kid, neither are you. You have to stop looking. You say you want her to move on, but if she does, do you honestly think you could just sit back and watch her with someone else? I can see it now, the minute someone shows interest in her you'll want to do something drastic. I'm sure of it. You'll be signing your soul away in a heartbeat to go down there and stop it."
"I will not." Cameron swore, though not thoroughly convinced himself.
"Glad to hear it. OK - now. Hand it over." Ed demanded, with his hand outstretched and his voice serious.
"No. Ed, please. You can't do that to me - c'mon!" Cameron pleaded.
"The remote, Cameron." Ed said again.
"I can't believe this. You're treating me like a child."
"That's simply because you're acting like one. Cam, it'll be easier this way. Trust me."
Cameron hanged his head and with great reluctance, placed the remote in Ed's hand.
"Ed - if something happens to her, if she's in trouble - please. You have to let me know."
"Look kid - I may not let you watch her every waking moment of the day - but if she's in harms way - of course - I'll fill you in."
As hard as it was to take, as much as his heart was breaking - he knew deep down - Ed was right. He had asked Abby to move forward but he didn't want to have to watch it happen. It was hard enough saying goodbye to her the first two times. He wasn't sure he had the strength to do it again.
************
Abby tried to stop herself but it was no use. She came here and sat on this bench nearly every day. Sometimes, she came for just for a minute or two. Other days, she just sat here for hours. What never changed was the fact that she came here to think about Cameron. Maybe it was a good thing that she'd have less time after tomorrow. Tomorrow she started working at Rafe and Alison's new gym.
She had moved into her new apartment. Gwen left the day before, mentioning, in her not-so-subtle way that she noticed Abby now wore Cameron's ring on her hand. Abby tried to explain, but Gwen didn't care. Seeing Abby so happy was all that mattered to her. Seeing Gwen made Abby realize that she'd missed her terribly these past few months. Abby felt sad to leave the only home she'd ever known - but her family was here now. As Abby knew she would, Gwen understood completely how much that meant to her. Abby tried to convince her to come and live here too, but Gwen's heart belonged to the mountains. She did insist that Abby would always have a second home in Colorado with her. Watching her dash off in a blur of color - Abby waved goodbye to her friend as she went to board the plane, her eyes filled with tears.
Though she wanted to be close to Cameron - the real reason she was here today was to possibly put something back where she'd found it. She had seen in her mind where this would lead.
It was going to bring her and those she loved nothing but trouble.
Abby wondered to herself what power this ring could possibly have, why it was so important to Caleb. What would he do if he had it back? Abby saw firsthand how incredibly dangerous Joshua became once he held it. How could she just leave it here? It could fall into any number of hands - and as much as it scared her to think about - maybe Caleb's wouldn't be the worst.
Abby held the ring tightly and wished with all her heart that she could see Cam for just a few minutes to get his advice. She honestly didn't know what to do.
"Abby?!"
"Oh my God!" Abby cried as she jumped off the bench and into his arms. "Cam! I can't believe it. I was just wishing you were here and here you are!"
"I don't understand how this happened. I was sure they'd never let me come back." He replied, completely confused.
"Shh. It doesn't matter - you're here now. Oh, Cameron." Abby said softly as she pulled him to her for a kiss.
As he kissed her back, he couldn't believe his luck. His arms tightened around her as he teased, "I see you've begun to move on like you promised."
"It's your fault. You're impossible to get over." She giggled and moved in closer "There's no other man who could possibly compare."
Despite all he'd said - no other words could have made him happier. Cameron kissed her again "Stop trying to sweet talk me." His voice filled with worry, "Abs, are you OK? You're trying to hide something from me. I can tell. You're worried about something."
"How well you know me." Abby sighed and sat down next to Cam on the bench, treasuring every second he was there with her. She turned her hand over and showed him the ring. "I found this."
He looked at the heavy gold ring in her hand, not really understanding. "OK."
"It belongs to Caleb."
"The vampire guy?"
Abby couldn't help but smile. Cameron had such a way with words. She brought her hand to his face as she answered, "Yes, honey - the vampire guy. He's ready to kill looking for it. I don't know what I should do."
He stared at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Abby - here's a suggestion. Give it back."
"Cameron - it's not that simple."
"It's exactly that simple. Look - I know you think you can handle this - but I mean it - don't even think about crossing Count Dracula. It can't be a good move."
"But what if he plans to do something evil?"
"Abby - he's a vampire. There are no "what ifs" about it. Evil comes with the territory."
"So - you understand right? I can't let that happen."
"Why is this your problem anyway? So don't give it back. Put it back where you found it. Just get rid of it - Abby."
"What if I gave it to Rafe instead?"
"OK. Fine. Whatever. Just as long as you're not the one holding it." As he spoke, Cameron could feel them calling him back.
He knew it was too good to be true. "I can't believe it." He sighed, "I've got to go."
"No - wait. Cam."
"I love you, Abby." He said, pulling her close and kissing her quickly.
Then, just as instantly as he'd appeared - Cameron was gone.
Abby's eyes filled with tears as she watched him go - thankful for the few minutes she'd just been given. Talking to Cam had definitely helped her to make her decision. She decided to bring the ring to Rafe. He'd know better than anyone what to do.
Cameron reached for the remote - clicking the monitor off seconds before Ed walked through the door.
"Kiddo - don't even try to put one over on me. I know exactly what you were tuning into. Or should I say, who."
"Boss?" Cam asked, his voice hopeful.
"No." Ed decided to stop this conversation before it started. The kid gave him a headache.
Cameron looked at Ed, pretending to be shocked. "C'mon. You don't know what I'm about to say."
"Oh yes I do. No. You can't go back."
"See. I was right. You don't know everything. I wasn't going to ask you to let me go. I was going to thank you."
Ed narrowed his eyes, as he looked straight at Cameron. "Save it. You're charm may work on your little lady - it does nothing to sway me."
"No. I really was. Thank you. Seriously. It was incredible just being with her for a few hours. It was everything I'd hoped for."
Cameron took a deep breath and added, "Ed - I just want her to be happy."
"She is. She's found her sister. She's happier than she's been in years." Ed said with a sigh. "You did a good thing - my boy - asking her to move on."
Despite everything he'd said to Abby, now that he'd had a chance to see her again - Cameron would never stop trying to get back to her. It just might take some time. He tried to make his voice non-chalant as he mentioned, "She's not moving on though. Look at her."
"Here's the thing kid, neither are you. You have to stop looking. You say you want her to move on, but if she does, do you honestly think you could just sit back and watch her with someone else? I can see it now, the minute someone shows interest in her you'll want to do something drastic. I'm sure of it. You'll be signing your soul away in a heartbeat to go down there and stop it."
"I will not." Cameron swore, though not thoroughly convinced himself.
"Glad to hear it. OK - now. Hand it over." Ed demanded, with his hand outstretched and his voice serious.
"No. Ed, please. You can't do that to me - c'mon!" Cameron pleaded.
"The remote, Cameron." Ed said again.
"I can't believe this. You're treating me like a child."
"That's simply because you're acting like one. Cam, it'll be easier this way. Trust me."
Cameron hanged his head and with great reluctance, placed the remote in Ed's hand.
"Ed - if something happens to her, if she's in trouble - please. You have to let me know."
"Look kid - I may not let you watch her every waking moment of the day - but if she's in harms way - of course - I'll fill you in."
As hard as it was to take, as much as his heart was breaking - he knew deep down - Ed was right. He had asked Abby to move forward but he didn't want to have to watch it happen. It was hard enough saying goodbye to her the first two times. He wasn't sure he had the strength to do it again.
************
Abby tried to stop herself but it was no use. She came here and sat on this bench nearly every day. Sometimes, she came for just for a minute or two. Other days, she just sat here for hours. What never changed was the fact that she came here to think about Cameron. Maybe it was a good thing that she'd have less time after tomorrow. Tomorrow she started working at Rafe and Alison's new gym.
She had moved into her new apartment. Gwen left the day before, mentioning, in her not-so-subtle way that she noticed Abby now wore Cameron's ring on her hand. Abby tried to explain, but Gwen didn't care. Seeing Abby so happy was all that mattered to her. Seeing Gwen made Abby realize that she'd missed her terribly these past few months. Abby felt sad to leave the only home she'd ever known - but her family was here now. As Abby knew she would, Gwen understood completely how much that meant to her. Abby tried to convince her to come and live here too, but Gwen's heart belonged to the mountains. She did insist that Abby would always have a second home in Colorado with her. Watching her dash off in a blur of color - Abby waved goodbye to her friend as she went to board the plane, her eyes filled with tears.
Though she wanted to be close to Cameron - the real reason she was here today was to possibly put something back where she'd found it. She had seen in her mind where this would lead.
It was going to bring her and those she loved nothing but trouble.
Abby wondered to herself what power this ring could possibly have, why it was so important to Caleb. What would he do if he had it back? Abby saw firsthand how incredibly dangerous Joshua became once he held it. How could she just leave it here? It could fall into any number of hands - and as much as it scared her to think about - maybe Caleb's wouldn't be the worst.
Abby held the ring tightly and wished with all her heart that she could see Cam for just a few minutes to get his advice. She honestly didn't know what to do.
"Abby?!"
"Oh my God!" Abby cried as she jumped off the bench and into his arms. "Cam! I can't believe it. I was just wishing you were here and here you are!"
"I don't understand how this happened. I was sure they'd never let me come back." He replied, completely confused.
"Shh. It doesn't matter - you're here now. Oh, Cameron." Abby said softly as she pulled him to her for a kiss.
As he kissed her back, he couldn't believe his luck. His arms tightened around her as he teased, "I see you've begun to move on like you promised."
"It's your fault. You're impossible to get over." She giggled and moved in closer "There's no other man who could possibly compare."
Despite all he'd said - no other words could have made him happier. Cameron kissed her again "Stop trying to sweet talk me." His voice filled with worry, "Abs, are you OK? You're trying to hide something from me. I can tell. You're worried about something."
"How well you know me." Abby sighed and sat down next to Cam on the bench, treasuring every second he was there with her. She turned her hand over and showed him the ring. "I found this."
He looked at the heavy gold ring in her hand, not really understanding. "OK."
"It belongs to Caleb."
"The vampire guy?"
Abby couldn't help but smile. Cameron had such a way with words. She brought her hand to his face as she answered, "Yes, honey - the vampire guy. He's ready to kill looking for it. I don't know what I should do."
He stared at her in disbelief. "You can't be serious. Abby - here's a suggestion. Give it back."
"Cameron - it's not that simple."
"It's exactly that simple. Look - I know you think you can handle this - but I mean it - don't even think about crossing Count Dracula. It can't be a good move."
"But what if he plans to do something evil?"
"Abby - he's a vampire. There are no "what ifs" about it. Evil comes with the territory."
"So - you understand right? I can't let that happen."
"Why is this your problem anyway? So don't give it back. Put it back where you found it. Just get rid of it - Abby."
"What if I gave it to Rafe instead?"
"OK. Fine. Whatever. Just as long as you're not the one holding it." As he spoke, Cameron could feel them calling him back.
He knew it was too good to be true. "I can't believe it." He sighed, "I've got to go."
"No - wait. Cam."
"I love you, Abby." He said, pulling her close and kissing her quickly.
Then, just as instantly as he'd appeared - Cameron was gone.
Abby's eyes filled with tears as she watched him go - thankful for the few minutes she'd just been given. Talking to Cam had definitely helped her to make her decision. She decided to bring the ring to Rafe. He'd know better than anyone what to do.