A/N: I'm trying to move the story along a bit so this chapter's a bit jumpy. Just wait till you see the end!! :0 I gotta tell you - writing for just Rali and Cabby is sooo much easier. I have newfound respect for TIIC (I'd call them TPTB - except I'm never, ever ever!! going to forgive them for "Cali" LOL!) it's hard to keep a story going for everyone at the same time.

Melody - I forgot to mention - yes. I watch Friends.;) That eppy was so funny. It didn't cross my mind though - I was really just trying to find something else outrageous for Elizabeth to suggest!

Oh and finally - y'all - fyi - Imani's not a werewolf here. I don't know anything about them and I honestly really don't care enough to research to find out. With Jamal not being a vamp anymore - I just don't want to go there. Sorry if it seems like I'm taking the easy way out! Until 23! xox- G

Chapter Twenty-two

"Are you still not speaking to me?" Lucy asked Ian at breakfast. Danny was throwing his cereal on the floor, making Christina laugh.

Ian reached out to still Danny's hands, to try and keep him from making more of a mess. He looked up at her sadly, "I'm speaking to you - Lucy. I just don't have anything to say at the moment."

"You don't have much to say at all lately." Lucy sighed as she watched her daughter use her toast to try and build a little house. "Christina - finish your breakfast, don't play with your food."

Ian wiped milk off Danny's chin. He didn't want to get into this now, "Let's have this discussion at a later time, shall we? I don't want to involve the wee ones in all of this."

Lucy nodded in agreement. She knew this wasn't the time or place - but they needed to start talking soon. Everything was supposed to be perfect now that he was mortal again. Everything should be better than ever. But the time she'd spent with Kevin lately confused her. She wanted to work it out - but she honestly didn't know which way to go. Her heart felt like it was torn in two. Lucy's voice was laced with sadness as she replied. "But we do - we do have to talk about it Ian. I don't like what I see happening with us."

He pushed away from the table and took Danny from his chair. "Well it's there we agree. I don't like it all that much either." He replied. "We'll talk later."

***********

"So. That's the whole truth? That's why you're here?" Kevin asked Livvie.

"Yes." She replied, relieved to have it out in the open. "I promise you Dad -now you know everything."

Kevin still couldn't process all he'd just heard. It seemed too unbelievable. "And Caleb? He knew all this and he just let you leave?"

Livvie tore her gaze from her father and looked in her lap. She wrung her hands, nervously. "Yeah." She said softly. "He just let me go." She looked up and gave him a weak smile, "I guess our love wasn't for eternity after all."

Kevin still had his doubts about her story and her intentions - but he sat next to her on the couch and held her close. "Well. You're here now. I'll take care of you. No one will ever hurt you again."

Tears continued to spill from her eyes. She was so grateful to him.

She clung to his shirt and continued to cry as he added. "Just as long as you're completely honest with me."

"Dad!" She sobbed. "I told you!"

Kevin pulled away and cut her off sharply. "Livvie. I've said it before. You're my daughter and I will always love you. But don't pretend I don't have a reason to doubt you. Don't make me go through a list of the lies you've told - not just to me - but to everyone here. To be fair - you've done plenty not just to ruin your own life but mine as well."

She knew he was talking about the drug she gave him. "It was an accident!!" She choked out - unable to take a breath she was crying so hard.

She was breaking his heart but Kevin wouldn't budge. "I just want you to understand that if revenge is what you're after here - if that's your true plan - then you will be on your own. If you want to start a new life - then I will help you. But if you intend to cause harm to anyone here - you are completely on your own."

************

"Hi! I'm here to pick up an order?"

Imani looked up and saw who it was. She smiled brightly. "Hey! Great class this morning."

"Oh hi!" Melissa replied, recognizing her from the gym. "Thanks. I didn't know you worked here."

"I have for a while - pretty much since I first came to town." Imani smiled, knowing what Melissa was really doing here. Jamal had filled her in and she thought it was a fantastic idea. "It's great. I started as a waitress and now - I'm the manager." She looked nervously around and saw that Jack was behind the bar. This was the chance they were all hoping for. "I'm sorry, Melissa. I'll be right back. Why don't you take a seat at the bar? I'm sure Jack can get your order for you."

"OK." She said as she walked over. "Excuse me?" She called out softly as she approached. "I'm here to pick up an order?"

At the sound of such a sweet voice, Jack looked up from the papers he was studying and found himself staring into the most beautiful pair of green eyes he had ever seen. It took him a minute to find his voice. "Umm. Hi. You placed an order?"

"Well. No. Not exactly." She gave him a shy smile. "My boss did. I'm just here to pick it up." She stared at him nervously and shook back her hair. It was a gorgeous shade of strawberry blonde and a riot of corkscrew curls. It was obvious to Jack from the sparkle in her eyes that her personality matched her looks.

"Girl c'mon. I told you I'm busy. What the hell's so important?" Jamal protested as Imani dragged him through the door.

"Shh. LOOK!" She giggled.

"Oh. Wait. Is that her?" He said with a grin. "She's cute."

"Umm hmm and it looks like they're hitting it off." Completely giddy, Imani squeezed his hand and grinned back. "Be quiet and let's just watch." She said dreamily. "Then we can say we knew them when."

Across the room, Jack couldn't take his eyes off Melissa. She was absolutely gorgeous. "OK." He said, still mesmerized. "Who sent you?"

"Rafe - do you know him? From the gym?" She replied.

Jack's face fell. "Alison." He muttered under his breath.

"Yes!" Melissa cried, relieved that he knew who she was talking about. "She's a real sweetheart - although she's at home with the baby today. Rafe treated for lunch and ordered sandwiches for the rest of us. Since he's busy and so generous - I volunteered to go get them. Isn't he such a nice guy?"

"Yeah. He's great." Jack replied, his patience clearly becoming short. He told Alison to stay out of his life. He didn't need her help. He should have suspected she wouldn't give up anyway. The whole thing annoyed him. Jack turned and went into the back, returning moments later with a bag. Melissa paid him and gave him a smile - which he rudely ignored. A bit confused, she took her change and grabbed the bag, suddenly really uncomfortable. He seemed to be so friendly before, she couldn't imagine what had happened. She was now really anxious to leave.

"Thanks." She said softly as she turned to walk away.

Jamal and Imani looked on - stunned as they saw how he'd treated her.

"See you in class tomorrow?" Melissa asked as she walked towards the door.

"Sure." She replied.

As Melissa walked out the door she sighed. That was disappointing. Her first impression was that he was really cute. Too bad he was so obnoxious.

At the same time, Jamal strode over towards the bar, more than a little disappointed in his friend. "You want to tell me what's going on?" He asked, his voice full of accusation.

"Nothing." Jack muttered. He didn't have time, or the patience for this at the moment.

Jamal wasn't buying it. He stared him down. "Oh yeah? No? Then tell me this - why were you were acting like such a damn creep to that sweet thing who just left here?"

************

Livvie didn't blame her father for not trusting her. Truth be told - most of the time, she didn't' trust herself. Deep down - she wanted to do the right thing. It seemed however, that she could just never figure out what that was.

She had stopped in the park on her way back to the hotel to take advantage of the day. It was mid-March, but today was especially sunny and warm. As she walked along, Livvie wondered to herself if she could truly start over again. Had she come too far to turn back or was there a chance she could start over. She knew her father was on her side, but could she really expect anyone else to be? She got caught up in her thoughts and though the day was perfect and beautiful, she was barely paying attention to her surroundings.

Alison was so happy to be able to be outside. She walked along, pushing Kate in the stroller, careful to avoid the puddles the melting snow was making. As they made their way along, she smiled as she heard the sound of Kate laughing quietly to herself. It must be so great to be so oblivious, Alison thought as she gazed lovingly down at her daughter. It seemed Kate didn't have a care in the world. Alison knew it was highly unlikely to happen - but she couldn't help but wonder what it'd be like if she were able to capture that type of innocence again herself.

"C'mon my sweet little angel. Let's hurry and go see Daddy. Do you miss him as much as I do?" Alison spoke softly to Kate as they turned a corner. At that very same moment, someone else turned the corner too.

"Oh I'm so sorry!!" Alison apologized, looking up to see who she'd knocked into.

Her eyes flew open with shock as she saw who it was. "Livvie." She gasped, almost sure she was hallucinating - and more than hoping she was.

"Surprise!" Livvie replied sarcastically, already defensive, despite what she'd just been thinking.

An evil grin crossed her face. "So tell me Alison. Are you still sorry you almost ran me over?"