A/N: Thank you sweet Awians. Love ya! PCGirl - it's a tie - for now….LOL!! Until 43 - xox-G

Chapter Forty-two

He held her tighter, his heart aching. There was something she wasn't telling him. He couldn't believe he hadn't thought of it sooner. She seemed fine - but maybe…

She was as close as she could get to him - but he still felt her hands gripping his arms tightly - as if she was afraid to let him go.

"Abby." Cam whispered, placing a kiss on her temple. "I have to ask you something."

"OK." She replied softly, tilting her face up so she could meet his eyes. After how she'd tried to keep him in the dark - she'd expected this. "Sure."

"I've never seen you like this. I've never seen you so scared. I need to know - OK? Just tell me. I should have thought to ask you months ago - but you seemed fine." He took a deep breath and wondered what he'd do when he heard her answer. He'd kill Caleb with his bare hands - he knew that for sure. The only question would be exactly how he'd do it. "When he held you captive - Abby. Did he…" The images in his mind were causing him to shake with rage and fear. "Abby." He sighed. "Did he hurt you?"

She knew what he was asking. She shook her head and pulled him close. "No. Cam - he didn't touch me. Not like that." She pulled back and looked deeply into his eyes as she continued. "He scared me - that's for sure and if push came to shove - I don't know. I don't think I would put it past him. Listen to me. I know it's hard to believe but he loves Livvie - he really does."

He looked at her lovingly but he had to disagree. "You have such a good heart. That's sweet - Abs. I don't believe for a second that that monster is capable of loving anyone but himself."

Abby wasn't budging. She knew she was right. "He loves her - Cameron."

"Good for him and you know what - good luck to him too. From all I've seen and heard - that girl's a complete and total psychopath."

Abby finally felt well enough to ease away from him. She took his hand in hers, her voice gaining strength. "Cameron. Caleb scares me to death. I'm not going to lie to you about that - but you have to understand him."

"Oh. This should be good." Cam said rolling his eyes.

You'd better watch yourself, tough guy. Abby warned him in her mind. He was making her really angry. She tried to reign in her temper as she explained what she meant. "Look. He's evil. He's manipulative and conniving and devious. That's all true. He'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. True too. But what he wants - Cam - what I think he really truly wants - is to be like us."

Cam pulled his hands from her grip and rose from the bed his face full of disbelief. "Are you kidding me?"

She shook her head at him again. "No. Cameron. I'm serious."

He crossed his arms in front of him and stared down at her. "You're telling me that you've been shaking like a leaf and sobbing for half the night because you think that freak is simply coming back here to live with Livvie happily ever after?"

Abby's eyes were glittering with anger as she knelt on the bed and gave him a look to let him know he was on dangerous ground. "Yes. Wait - NO. I'm scared - Cameron. I'm scared to death and if you'd stop barking at me for five seconds I'll explain why."

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

Rafe had been up for hours. He heard Kate make a slight noise and got up to go to her immediately. He got her dressed and fed and now as he sat with the baby beside their bed. He was just waiting for Alison to wake up too.

He knew one thing for sure. When she finally woke up - there would be no discussion. They were coming with him today.

"Rafe?" Alison said as she opened her eyes. She was surprised to find herself in their bedroom. She saw him sitting there with Katrina and smiled widely. "Hey."

"Hi. Did you sleep OK?"

"I slept great. I had an amazing, wonderful, spectacular weekend with you - but I have to say - it's good to be home." She sat up and glanced at the clock and saw it was still pretty early - for her anyway. "It's a good thing I woke up now. I have so much to do."

"Do me a favor?" Rafe said softly. "Do it tomorrow. You two, come with me today - please?"

She caught the look in his eyes and got an uneasy feeling. "What is it? Rafe. What's wrong?"

Just saying the words was killing him. He knew this day would come - but it didn't make it any easier. "Abby called. She saw something - someone."

He didn't have to say anymore.

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she looked at him. "He's coming back - isn't he?"

His heart broke as he answered her. "Yeah - Angel. I'm sorry - he is."

Alison shook her head. "Don't do that. Don't you dare apologize."

"The only reason he's here at all is because of me -- " Rafe began.

She cut him off. "And I'm the reason you're back - so are so saying his being here is my fault?"

"NO." He nearly shouted.

"OK." Alison said with a sigh. "No matter how it happened - I guess he's coming back. Can you feel anything? I mean - has he been turned?"

"I don't know for sure but my gut tells me - no. As far as I can tell - he's still mortal."

"If he's still mortal then maybe he's just back for Livvie - Rafe. He loves her."

It was amazing how she was so swayed by romance - if you could even call it that. This was Caleb we were talking about. "Alison…" He said with a sigh.

"Seriously - Rafe. It's possible."

He heard a little whimper and rocked Kate a bit in his arms, trying to keep her from crying. It was so amazing. It was as if she could tell he was upset. He turned his attention back to Alison. "Stop. OK? He's not capable of love like that."

"You don't know that. I know you like to think so - but trust me. We didn't corner the market on being in love - Rafe. I know you've seen how it is between them too. Stop it. You know he loves her."

"Alison. I don't want to argue with you about this. We need some time to figure everything out. C'mon." His voice got quiet as he moved to sit in bed beside her. He leaned in to kiss her softly. "Go get ready and come with me. We'll talk to Cam and Abby. OK?"

Alison looked into his eyes and decided to stop fighting. There was so much more she wanted to say - of course - but she wanted to talk to her sister herself. She sighed and gave in for the time being. "OK."

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

They walked into the gym to find it in a flurry of activity. Despite the amount energy bouncing around there all the people working seemed less than vivacious.

Cam sat on a stool near the counter - eating breakfast and flipping the pages of the newspaper with excessive force. Abby shoved papers into a folder and filed it away, slamming the cabinet shut. Even Melissa - who had no clue as to what was worrying everyone else - looked like she'd lost her best friend. She was so distracted - she bumped right into Alison as she carried Kate inside.

"Oh Alison. I'm so sorry…" She said sadly.

"That's OK. No harm done. Hey - is something wrong? Are you OK?" Alison asked. She didn't know Melissa all that well - but she could tell there was something off about her.

"I'm fine." She replied unconvincingly.

"Oh my God - I forgot. How was moving in? Rafe told me Jack helped you." Just thinking about what a cute couple they'd make lifted Alison's spirits. She needed something positive to focus on.

"Yeah - he helped alright." Melissa couldn't believe she was having all these feelings about someone she barely knew. She'd felt horrible ever since she threw Jack out and it seemed there was nothing she could do to fix it. "You know - about Jack - Alison. I know what you were trying to do and thanks for that - but I don't think it's going to work out."

Alison knew now something must have happened and she could clearly hear Melissa's disappointment in her voice. Jack must have been really serious about her not meddling in his life. And because of her now Melissa got hurt in the process. Could anything go right today? Alison thought to herself. "Really?" She asked, let down completely by the fact that she'd failed.

"Yeah - really. And it's my fault. I totally blew it." Melissa looked at the clock. "Alison. Oh God. I really need to talk to you - but I have to go to class. Can we have coffee or something later?"

"Sure." Alison nodded. Melissa thought whatever had happened was her fault? Now she was even more curious. What on earth went on with them this weekend?

"Thanks!" Melissa called out as she dashed off - suddenly feeling a bit better. Maybe all hope wasn't lost after all.


As Alison turned her attention back to the matter at hand, she saw Rafe and Cam huddled together. It figured. Looking around some more, she could see Abby still was huffing and puffing, obviously annoyed. Alison saw Cam say something and watched as Abby snapped back and then stormed upstairs.

She came up to stand beside Rafe as all three of them watched her go.

"Do you want me to go to her?" She asked.

Cameron sighed in frustration and looked over at Alison. "Yeah. That's a good idea. Maybe you can convince her that cretins like Caleb aren't swayed by love."

Rafe winced as he heard Cam's words. Ooo, Cameron, buddy -wrong move. He thought, knowing what was coming next

"Do you agree with that Rafe?" Alison asked, her voice full of innocence - her eyes full of fire.

"You already know what I think." It was no use. He hadn't said a word and he knew he was in big trouble. "C'mon. Don't do this - Alison."

"Oh don't worry. I won't. As a matter of fact - you know what? Why don't you two sit here and devise your own plan. I'm sure it'll include trying to beat Caleb to a pulp and getting yourselves killed in the process. Very productive." Alison rolled her eyes.

"C'mon sweetie - let's go see your Aunt Abby." She grabbed Kate's diaper bag and muttered as she stormed upstairs herself. "Here's your first lesson, Kate. Boys can be incredibly sweet - but trust me - deep down? They're morons."