A/N: Aw :) !!! I gotta tell you - I loved that chapter. Thank you Nat,
PCGirl, Bethany and Melody - glad you liked it. As for this story being
sad - it won't be sad per say - there's just going to be some conflict that
everyone (Rali, Cabby and others - yes I know it doesn't seem like it
lately but I know there are other characters! lol!) will have to work
through. But I PROMISE it will be nothing like the horrid
stuff from Desire and The Gift, so, rest easy Awians.
And now - here's more. I am taking a few days off from work so I should be able to write a bit this weekend. Hopefully I can get far enough ahead to update pretty regularly. I think I've spoiled y'all. ;) LOL! Until 3 - Enjoy! xox-G
Chapter Two
Rafe walked into the gym completely distracted. He almost turned the car around twice on the way there. It was always so hard to leave them. He thought it might get easier, but that didn't seem to be the case. He sighed as he looked around, happy to see that it was busy enough to keep him occupied.
The other person who seemed distracted was Abby. Rafe stared at her with concern. Something wasn't right.
"Abs?" He called out softly as he walked over to her.
She kept staring at the papers in her hand without seeming to focus.
"Hey. Abby." He touched her arm and shook her a bit.
Abby didn't even notice. She was caught up in a vision. She hadn't had one like this in quite some time. Ever since Cam was back they seemed to come less frequently - but in the past couple of days, she couldn't go more than a few hours before something flashed. They were starting to scare her.
As it finally passed she looked up and blinked back tears. "Abby." Rafe said again.
"Hey." She replied, plastering a grin on her face. She didn't want him to worry.
"What's going on?" He asked, his voice uneasy.
Abby's words came out a little too fast, "You've got a full class today and 3 people joined this morning. Oh and someone called about renting the apartment. I said you'd call them back." She moved to file away the papers she'd been holding.
He caught her "Abby. That's not what I meant. What'd you just see?"
He was too quick for her. She should know better. She sighed as she said, "Oh. That. It was nothing."
"Abby." Rafe warned her.
"It's nothing."
He shook his head. "Don't do that. If it's something that involves me or Alison you have to tell me."
No I don't, Abby thought. Honestly, she didn't even know what it meant at the moment. It just scared her. Maybe it wasn't what it seemed. She decided not to lie, but not to tell him either. "Right now, Rafe - it's nothing specific. I can see something but I can't see any faces. It's more of a weird feeling at the moment."
Rafe's brow wrinkled with worry as he said, "Well. If this "weird feeling" becomes something more, promise me you won't try and deal with it by yourself."
"mmm hmm." Abby said as she turned away from him.
Rafe was unconvinced. He pulled her to face him and made her meet his eyes. "Abby. You almost killed yourself last time you tried to take something on all alone. Promise me."
"OK. I promise." She said, sincerely.
Satisfied for the moment, Rafe looked at the clock and sighed. "There's 15 minutes before class." Disappointment washed over him. He could have spent fifteen more minutes with Alison and Kate.
Abby smiled, relieved to change the subject "Tough morning?"
Rafe nodded, "Its torture, Abs. Leaving them like that. I thought I'd get used to it but it just gets harder."
"I can only imagine." Abby said her smile a bit weaker.
Rafe suddenly had an idea. A way to get his mind off of Alison and the baby and to cheer Abby up a bit. "Listen," He said with a grin. "When class is over why don't you go over for a visit? Take a break. Come back at closing and then I'll go home."
"Are you sure?" She asked, her heart lifting at the thought of going to see her precious little niece.
"Absolutely. It'll make me feel better if she has some company and if I go back that'll be the end of me." Rafe hoped she'd take his suggestion. If she went it would also give him the chance to have a talk with Cam to find out if he could tell him what was up with her. Judging from all the evading Abby was trying to do, he was sure Cam was already worried.
Abby thought for only a few seconds before she responded. "OK." She said with a smile.
"Good." Rafe replied, glad that was settled. "She'll be so surprised."
*************
Minutes after Rafe finished class, Abby set off to see Alison. Abby swore Katrina got cuter every time she saw her. She couldn't believe she was almost a month old.
She knocked softly on the door, not wanting to use the doorbell in case Kate was asleep.
Alison peeked out the door and then opened it widely. "Hi Abs." She said, wiping her nose with a tissue. "C'mon in."
She's crying, Abby thought, suddenly in a state of panic. It's a good thing she came over.
She shrugged off her coat and threw it over the couch as she asked, "Alison? Is everything OK?"
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry." She grinned and sniffled. "I'm just a mess. Rafe had me in tears when he said goodbye earlier and I haven't been able to stop crying since he left." Alison sighed. "It's silly. I know he has to work. I just would love to have him here."
"I think he knows that. As a matter of fact I know he does because he sent me here to keep you company - not that I didn't jump at the chance." Abby looked around and asked "Is the baby sleeping?"
Wasn't that just like him? Alison thought. She thought about being annoyed and then realized she was being ridiculous. He was just being sweet and she was so happy to see Abby.
"I just got her down, finally." Alison grabbed the baby monitor from a table in the living room and walked to the kitchen as Abby followed, "It took forever today. She's been fussy since Rafe left too."
"Like mother, like daughter." Abby laughed.
"Yeah." Alison replied dreamily, "I guess so. Want some tea? Hot chocolate?"
"mmm, hot chocolate." Abby said. "Thanks!"
She looks a little pale. Alison noted as she took a good look at her sister. "Are you alright, Abby?" Alison asked. "You seem - I don't know - a little out of sorts."
"I'm fine." Abby insisted, "Just a little tired. I haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"I know how that feels." Alison sighed. "Kate's up every three or four hours. I'm sure Rafe must be exhausted today because he didn't even wake me the last few times last night."
As she brought the mugs over Alison looked thoughtfully at Abby again. She knew she was not telling her the whole truth. There was something else going on besides her being tired - but she decided not to push. Not today anyway.
They sat and chatted for a while. Suddenly, they could hear Kate wailing from above. They both went upstairs to get her.
"Shh - Katie, sweetie. Don't cry. Aunt Abby's here." Alison said as she picked her up and out of her crib.
Alison held the baby close and rocked her back and forth as Kate let out a few blubbery sobs. It was a few minutes before she finally quieted down. "Shh. It's OK."
Alison glanced at Abby as she said, "She usually stops right away. I told you she was fussy today. But we're alright now right - little one?" Whatever had been bothering Katrina seemed to have passed at last. "Do you want to hold her?"
Abby nodded, "I thought you'd never ask!"
Smiling, Alison handed Kate to Abby.
"Oh Alison, every time I see her she's just more beautiful." Abby gushed.
Alison sighed. "I know I'm biased but I do believe she's the prettiest in the world."
"You certainly are." Abby told Kate, who looked up at her and stared intently and gurgled softly. "Wasn't too hard, look at your parents."
"Why thank you, Abby." Alison giggled
"You're welcome." Abby replied with a smile.
They brought Kate downstairs and spent the next few hours entertaining her and themselves as they watched her. All too soon, Abby checked her watch and decided it was time to go.
"Well. I'd better get back so that your daddy can come home. I know he's been dying too." Abby said in a sing-song-y voice as she pulled on her coat.
"Thanks Abby. I'm so glad you came over." Alison said as she walked Abby to the door with Kate in her arms.
"I'm glad I did too." Abby leaned over and kissed Kate's cheek then Alison's. "I'll send him right home." She said with a smile.
"Please do." Alison replied with a grin. "Drive carefully, Abs."
"I will." Abby promised. "Talk to you later."
Alison watched her go and shivered a bit. She had an uneasy feeling but pushed it away. "Mommy's being silly, Kate." She said. "It's chilly outside. That's all it was."
As Alison walked back to the kitchen to start dinner she couldn't help hoping that what she just told her daughter was true.
And now - here's more. I am taking a few days off from work so I should be able to write a bit this weekend. Hopefully I can get far enough ahead to update pretty regularly. I think I've spoiled y'all. ;) LOL! Until 3 - Enjoy! xox-G
Chapter Two
Rafe walked into the gym completely distracted. He almost turned the car around twice on the way there. It was always so hard to leave them. He thought it might get easier, but that didn't seem to be the case. He sighed as he looked around, happy to see that it was busy enough to keep him occupied.
The other person who seemed distracted was Abby. Rafe stared at her with concern. Something wasn't right.
"Abs?" He called out softly as he walked over to her.
She kept staring at the papers in her hand without seeming to focus.
"Hey. Abby." He touched her arm and shook her a bit.
Abby didn't even notice. She was caught up in a vision. She hadn't had one like this in quite some time. Ever since Cam was back they seemed to come less frequently - but in the past couple of days, she couldn't go more than a few hours before something flashed. They were starting to scare her.
As it finally passed she looked up and blinked back tears. "Abby." Rafe said again.
"Hey." She replied, plastering a grin on her face. She didn't want him to worry.
"What's going on?" He asked, his voice uneasy.
Abby's words came out a little too fast, "You've got a full class today and 3 people joined this morning. Oh and someone called about renting the apartment. I said you'd call them back." She moved to file away the papers she'd been holding.
He caught her "Abby. That's not what I meant. What'd you just see?"
He was too quick for her. She should know better. She sighed as she said, "Oh. That. It was nothing."
"Abby." Rafe warned her.
"It's nothing."
He shook his head. "Don't do that. If it's something that involves me or Alison you have to tell me."
No I don't, Abby thought. Honestly, she didn't even know what it meant at the moment. It just scared her. Maybe it wasn't what it seemed. She decided not to lie, but not to tell him either. "Right now, Rafe - it's nothing specific. I can see something but I can't see any faces. It's more of a weird feeling at the moment."
Rafe's brow wrinkled with worry as he said, "Well. If this "weird feeling" becomes something more, promise me you won't try and deal with it by yourself."
"mmm hmm." Abby said as she turned away from him.
Rafe was unconvinced. He pulled her to face him and made her meet his eyes. "Abby. You almost killed yourself last time you tried to take something on all alone. Promise me."
"OK. I promise." She said, sincerely.
Satisfied for the moment, Rafe looked at the clock and sighed. "There's 15 minutes before class." Disappointment washed over him. He could have spent fifteen more minutes with Alison and Kate.
Abby smiled, relieved to change the subject "Tough morning?"
Rafe nodded, "Its torture, Abs. Leaving them like that. I thought I'd get used to it but it just gets harder."
"I can only imagine." Abby said her smile a bit weaker.
Rafe suddenly had an idea. A way to get his mind off of Alison and the baby and to cheer Abby up a bit. "Listen," He said with a grin. "When class is over why don't you go over for a visit? Take a break. Come back at closing and then I'll go home."
"Are you sure?" She asked, her heart lifting at the thought of going to see her precious little niece.
"Absolutely. It'll make me feel better if she has some company and if I go back that'll be the end of me." Rafe hoped she'd take his suggestion. If she went it would also give him the chance to have a talk with Cam to find out if he could tell him what was up with her. Judging from all the evading Abby was trying to do, he was sure Cam was already worried.
Abby thought for only a few seconds before she responded. "OK." She said with a smile.
"Good." Rafe replied, glad that was settled. "She'll be so surprised."
*************
Minutes after Rafe finished class, Abby set off to see Alison. Abby swore Katrina got cuter every time she saw her. She couldn't believe she was almost a month old.
She knocked softly on the door, not wanting to use the doorbell in case Kate was asleep.
Alison peeked out the door and then opened it widely. "Hi Abs." She said, wiping her nose with a tissue. "C'mon in."
She's crying, Abby thought, suddenly in a state of panic. It's a good thing she came over.
She shrugged off her coat and threw it over the couch as she asked, "Alison? Is everything OK?"
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry." She grinned and sniffled. "I'm just a mess. Rafe had me in tears when he said goodbye earlier and I haven't been able to stop crying since he left." Alison sighed. "It's silly. I know he has to work. I just would love to have him here."
"I think he knows that. As a matter of fact I know he does because he sent me here to keep you company - not that I didn't jump at the chance." Abby looked around and asked "Is the baby sleeping?"
Wasn't that just like him? Alison thought. She thought about being annoyed and then realized she was being ridiculous. He was just being sweet and she was so happy to see Abby.
"I just got her down, finally." Alison grabbed the baby monitor from a table in the living room and walked to the kitchen as Abby followed, "It took forever today. She's been fussy since Rafe left too."
"Like mother, like daughter." Abby laughed.
"Yeah." Alison replied dreamily, "I guess so. Want some tea? Hot chocolate?"
"mmm, hot chocolate." Abby said. "Thanks!"
She looks a little pale. Alison noted as she took a good look at her sister. "Are you alright, Abby?" Alison asked. "You seem - I don't know - a little out of sorts."
"I'm fine." Abby insisted, "Just a little tired. I haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"I know how that feels." Alison sighed. "Kate's up every three or four hours. I'm sure Rafe must be exhausted today because he didn't even wake me the last few times last night."
As she brought the mugs over Alison looked thoughtfully at Abby again. She knew she was not telling her the whole truth. There was something else going on besides her being tired - but she decided not to push. Not today anyway.
They sat and chatted for a while. Suddenly, they could hear Kate wailing from above. They both went upstairs to get her.
"Shh - Katie, sweetie. Don't cry. Aunt Abby's here." Alison said as she picked her up and out of her crib.
Alison held the baby close and rocked her back and forth as Kate let out a few blubbery sobs. It was a few minutes before she finally quieted down. "Shh. It's OK."
Alison glanced at Abby as she said, "She usually stops right away. I told you she was fussy today. But we're alright now right - little one?" Whatever had been bothering Katrina seemed to have passed at last. "Do you want to hold her?"
Abby nodded, "I thought you'd never ask!"
Smiling, Alison handed Kate to Abby.
"Oh Alison, every time I see her she's just more beautiful." Abby gushed.
Alison sighed. "I know I'm biased but I do believe she's the prettiest in the world."
"You certainly are." Abby told Kate, who looked up at her and stared intently and gurgled softly. "Wasn't too hard, look at your parents."
"Why thank you, Abby." Alison giggled
"You're welcome." Abby replied with a smile.
They brought Kate downstairs and spent the next few hours entertaining her and themselves as they watched her. All too soon, Abby checked her watch and decided it was time to go.
"Well. I'd better get back so that your daddy can come home. I know he's been dying too." Abby said in a sing-song-y voice as she pulled on her coat.
"Thanks Abby. I'm so glad you came over." Alison said as she walked Abby to the door with Kate in her arms.
"I'm glad I did too." Abby leaned over and kissed Kate's cheek then Alison's. "I'll send him right home." She said with a smile.
"Please do." Alison replied with a grin. "Drive carefully, Abs."
"I will." Abby promised. "Talk to you later."
Alison watched her go and shivered a bit. She had an uneasy feeling but pushed it away. "Mommy's being silly, Kate." She said. "It's chilly outside. That's all it was."
As Alison walked back to the kitchen to start dinner she couldn't help hoping that what she just told her daughter was true.
