A/N: Hello all! Here's 29. Question for any and all Awians - Is Alison still mad at Kim the nurse from TIAB – err – me – err I mean Abby?? ;) I don't think so. :) Kidding aside –To set the record straight - I wear glasses occasionally, have brown hair and like to think I've got a sense of humor but that's where the similarity b/t Abby and me ends. I am by no means psychic nor do I have an ex-angel for a husband – but as I said – quite frankly I wouldn't mind if I found one !!! :) LOL Until 30. Enjoy! xox – G

Chapter Twenty-nine

"Jack. Please don't start with me." She said with a sigh.

"You don't have to worry – Livvie – I won't. I'm finished with you." His voice sounded hurt and bitter – implying the opposite.

"Thanks for the newsflash – now can I get a glass of water?" She asked with a phony grin.

Jack continued to glare at her.

"Pretty please?" She said – opening her eyes wider and staring at him. "With extra sugar on top?"

Jack grabbed a glass from the tray a waitress carried as she passed by and slammed it on the table – causing a splash.

"Happy - Livvie?"

"Overjoyed - Jack." She opened the menu and peered over the top at him. "Now that you've served your purpose why don't you scurry along and I'll just wait here for my dad."

He watched her study the card in her hand. "Things have changed around here Livvie. O positive is no longer on the menu."

"Cute – Jack. I don't know if you've heard – but I'm no longer on a blood only diet."

He shrugged at her. "Just checking. Couldn't be too sure – you did run off with him again. I thought maybe he took you to meet up with some of his old buddies and they turned you back."

Livvie just stared up at him with eyes full of fury.

"Then again – you always were a vampire – Livvie. Even before Caleb put the bite on you."

His words just reaffirmed her first thought about coming back here. No one would ever forgive her for all she'd done. This was a huge mistake. "I can assure you - we're both mortal now." She said – her eyes brimming with tears.

Jack brought a hand to his heart. "Fabulous. That's just great. The greatest thing about it is that you seem so disappointed by that fact."

Before Jack could get another word in Kevin walked through the door. "Hi there Jack, Hey sweetheart." He said as he leaned down to place a kiss on her cheek. He took the chair across from her and shrugged off his coat. "Did you order yet?"

"No. I'm not sure I have much of an appetite." Livvie looked green as she pushed away from the table. She looked Jack straight in the eye, "I haven't even eaten and already this place is making me sick." She said as she ran towards the ladies room.

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

"Rafe Kovich – I am not joking. Not. Another. Word." Alison said as they walked in the gym. She wheeled Kate's stroller towards the couch and turned to face him.

Rafe had tried to convince her the whole ride over that seeking Livvie out was a bad idea – but to no avail. He turned to her and ran his hands up and down her arms as he stared into her eyes. One last time – he thought.

"I just –" She kissed him to make him stop talking.

"....don't want" He continued as she pulled away briefly. His next words were muffled as she covered his mouth with hers again.

"....because she's a lunatic – Alison." He finished as she pulled him back for one more kiss.

Melissa grinned from behind the towel rack. How cute were they? She thought with a sigh.

"No kidding?" Alison said with a sparkle in her eye. "Rafe – please. Stop worrying. I KNOW she's certifiable. I promise I won't talk to her alone. I'll only talk to her in public. Maybe I'll even go over to Kevin's and see if she's there."

She leaned back in his arms and reached up to rub a smudge of lipstick off his face. "But right now – I'm starving. I'm going to go get some lunch." She looked around the room. "Is Abby here?" She asked Melissa.

"No. She went out a little bit ago. She seemed sort of out of it – actually." Melissa replied with a smile.

"Really?" Alison began to worry. "I really wanted to talk to her. I hope everything's OK."

"I'm sure it's alright. She seemed really happy – sort of like she didn't have a care in the world."

"OH." Melissa's words had Alison relived. "Well still – I wanted to have a chance to catch up to her."

Talking to Melissa reminded Alison that she still had some work to do. "Melissa. Why don't you go to lunch with Kate and me. You deserve a break – doesn't she Rafe?"

"Alison." His eyes and his voice warned her. He knew exactly what she was up to. Poor Jack didn't stand a chance.

"Shh." She glared at up at him and then turned her attention back to Melissa. "What do you say?" Alison gave her a big grin.

"OK I guess." Melissa answered with a smile. "Let me get my coat."

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

"Can we just get something to go – Dad – please? No one wants me here." Livvie shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

"I want you here. Livvie – if you plan on spending at least the next six months here then you're going to have to face everyone sooner or later."

The waitress brought over their sandwiches and Livvie sighed. "Later. Later would be good. I have no problems with later."

Just then, Alison and Melissa walked through the door.

"Hi Alison – Melissa. It's nice to see you again." Imani greeted them warmly – just like she did anyone who walked through the door.

Alison thought Imani looked more gorgeous than the last time they'd met at the gym. "Hey Imani. Thank you." She said with a smile. "You too. Is Jamal around today?"

Imani shook her head. "He went to the city. Some sort of bike mechanic convention. It's supposed to be very exciting." She rolled her eyes and grinned.

Alison laughed and smiled back at her. She approved 110% of Jamal's new girlfriend. Now just to get one for Jack. "I'm sure he thinks so."

Melissa grinned as she took a menu from Imani. Alison scanned the room and saw Livvie sitting with Kevin by the window. This was going to be easier than she thought.

She settled into her chair and faced Melissa, keeping one eye trained on Livvie as she did. "The veggie burgers are fabulous." She said. "I mean - if you like those."

"I do. I think that's exactly what I'll have." Melissa replied.

The waitress took their orders and then suddenly the sound of a ringing cell phone pierced the air.

Alison dug her phone out of her bag with a sigh. She knew exactly who was calling. "I'm here – Rafe. Shocking I know – but I was actually able to walk the two blocks from the gym safely."

Melissa grinned. She was so curious about the two of them. She had not known either of them very long but she had never seen two people that much in love – except for maybe Cameron and Abby. She had a ton of questions for Alison and hoped she'd get some answers during lunch. Maybe she could give her a clue as to how to find such a great guy for herself.

"I love you too." Alison whispered. She sighed and rolled her eyes, now beginning to get angry. "I'm hanging up now Rafe."

Melissa could hear a muffled protest from the other side of the phone.

"Are you insane? No I will not leave the phone on the table while I eat lunch – and I swear to you if you step one foot in here I won't talk to you for a week. And – trust me – I mean it. I'm fine – Katie's fine. Just get over it – Rafe."

It seemed to Melissa like he was trying once more to convince her.

Alison sighed louder and pulled the phone away from her ear. She waved it back and forth as she spoke so that he could only hear ever other word. He thought he heard her say she loved him and that she see him soon – but what she really said was "You're lucky I love you - Rafe Kovich because if I didn't I wouldn't be coming home anytime soon."

"He's impossible." Alison said as she hung up the phone.

"He's absolutely crazy about you. It's so obvious." Melissa said with a sigh. If Alison wasn't such a sweet person she'd be insanely jealous.

Alison's eyes got dreamy. Even though he was a complete pest she knew how lucky she was. "I'm crazy about him too but lately – he's just plain crazy."

"How did you two meet anyway?" Melissa asked as she sipped her water.

"It's a very long story." Alison decided to give her the most believable version. "His cousin lives here. He came to visit her and we became really good friends. He was only supposed to be in town for a little while." She realized that now she could smile at the memory. "I started to fall in love with him but didn't really realize it at first. I was involved with – Jamal – actually. Then, I was devastated when I thought he was going to leave for good. Luckily – we realized how we felt about each other before it was too late."

How romantic, Melissa thought with a sigh. "And because you fell in love he decided to stay?"

She made it sound so simple, but Alison realized that it was actually true. "Yes. Exactly. Because we fell in love he was able to stay."

Alison stopped talking. From the corner of her eye she saw Kevin get up to leave. He walked out the door and she watched as Livvie struggled to get her coat on. Finally Livvie made her way towards the door as well.

She couldn't let this chance slip away. "Melissa? Could you do me huge a favor and watch Kate for just a second?"

Curious as to what Alison was up to, Melissa nodded. "Sure."

"Thanks." Alison said as she grabbed her coat off the back of the chair. "I promise sweetheart, I'll be right back." She whispered to Kate just before she dashed off after Livvie.