A/N: Ah my girls!! Thanks much for the reviews. Bethany sweetie - no worries. When it takes you a while to review I just look forward to it more! ;) LOL! I'm trying to figure out how to wrap this all up….but it doesn't look like it'll be anytime soon at this rate. Now you didn't think I'd come right out and tell you what was up now did you? Y'all are so smart I'm sure you can guess. Just be patient. It'll all be out soon! Until 45!! - xox - G

Chapter Forty-four

He paced the room - wondering how long it would take to get all the plans in order. He was using everything he had to be prepared.

Caleb couldn't believe he was going to do it. He was going to go back there. Imagine. Going back to Port Charles - as an actual mortal.

The last time he was mortal all his energy - every last ounce was focused on regaining what he'd lost. But there was a significant difference between then and now. Back then - he'd had Olivia right there beside him - helping him to fight.


There's the music. A little voice in his head called out to him. You still have that. You are "Stephen Clay" after all.

There was that. He missed his music and it was always a safety net. It was a way for him to assimilate into their world - but enabled him to still have an edge.

It was a way to tolerate the mundane ordinary life that mortals led. But honestly - who wanted that?

You did once. The voice said again. You craved it.

"I was wrong." He insisted, but he wasn't quite sure that what he'd spoken wasn't a lie.

The more he thought about it he knew there was only one conclusion. If this is what it took he would do it. He would go to her and bring her back.

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

They had been talking for hours and finally took a break to get something to eat. They kept going back and forth and it seemed they were getting nowhere.

"Cameron. Stop it." Abby shooed his hand away . "Why do you always have to steal my food? Stop trying to distract me. Did you listen to what I had to say not?" Abby was completely exasperated.

Cam took a chopstick and succeeded in spearing a shrimp off her plate. "I listened - but I'm not convinced. Abby - honestly I don't know what it is. Everything just looks better when you order it."

Alison was busy with Kate. Cam and Abby were still snipping at each other. Rafe sat and watched everything transpire silently as he barely touched the food on his own plate. His mind wouldn't stop churning. There needed to be a way to stop this - a way to stop him.

How long would this go on? He thought , the mere idea of having to deal with all this was making him clench his fists. He didn't deserve this. His daughter didn't deserve this. The chopstick he held in his hand snapped.

As she put Kate down, Alison noticed something wasn't right. She crept up behind him. "Rafe?" She said softly. "Stop worrying. It's going to be OK."

He turned to stare into her eyes. "I love that you believe that - I do. But I can't promise you that - Alison. Not if he comes back here."

"He wants Livvie." She insisted.

"Yeah - I'm sure he does. But more than that - he wants fangs. He won't stop till he gets them back."

"You heard Abby…" Alison started again.

"Yeah I know." Rafe nodded his head. "She thinks - deep down - he wants to be mortal. I don't buy it." He said with a grimace. "Not after the lengths he's gone to. He wants his old life back."

Alison took a deep breath and suggested. "Rafe. I can do it…."

"NO." He cut her off sharply as he stood up and tried to walk away.

Alison grabbed his hand. "Rafe. Seriously. I know I can get through to her. I know I can."

"You are not getting caught up in this." He replied, his voice getting louder.

"Rafe." Abby said softly. "I know what you're thinking. But - honestly. She's the only one who can do it."


He turned to face Alison and pleaded. "Alison. No. This isn't right. I'm supposed to protect you."

"Says who?" Alison asked.

"Says me. You have to have known I'd never agree to this." Rafe shot back.

"The way I see it you don't have a choice." Abby tried again.

Rafe whirled on her. "Oh yeah - Abby? What else do you see? Do you see me trying to raise Kate on my own? Huh? C'mon. Tell me. How close will she come to getting killed this time?"

Cam stepped in between to intervene, but he agreed wholeheartedly with Rafe. It was too risky. "Rafe. Buddy. Calm down."

"I can't." He insisted as he shrugged Cam off. Why couldn't anyone understand? "Don't you get it? I CAN'T. He's back here because of me. The reason I had to fight to get back here in the first place because of him and now…." Rafe trailed off with a sigh. "Now you're asking Alison to put her life on the line and it's for what? We already know what's going to happen. Even if you're right - even if by some miracle he likes being human, the fact remains that my daughter's going to have to fight his demon offspring." Rafe wanted to throw something. "I can't believe this is happening. This whole thing is a nightmare I can't wake up from."

Alison knew he wouldn't be happy - but she had no idea that he was so upset by it all. "Rafe. I know how you feel but please. Just let me try."

He shook his head again as he spoke. "No. It's too dangerous. I won't let you do this, Alison." Rafe knew she wanted to help - but there was a part of him that just couldn't agree. "I can't. Something could go wrong and if I lost you." He cringed and began to shake just saying the words. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

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

The day was almost over - another night nearly here and still he didn't come. Livvie had spent the day getting ready - only to be disappointed.

Maybe it was too late. Maybe he would never come back to her.

Maybe he wouldn't. Maybe he'd never come. Maybe she should take her father's advice and try to make amends.

She knew she told Rafe she wouldn't talk to Alison - but when they last spoke Alison had said some things that made her think that maybe somehow - someway - she'd be willing to help her. She was nearly four months pregnant and all alone. The fact remained that Alison knew exactly what she was experiencing and no matter how helpful he Dad was - he still didn't know all the emotions she was going through.

She was never an even tempered person - but these mood swings were making her even more off kilter.

If Caleb insisted on staying away - maybe - just maybe she could try to talk to her again.

She and Alison had been such good friends. Livvie knew she'd been absolutely horrible to her and that she'd done so many unspeakable things - but if she was going to go this alone - she could use all the help she could get.

She needed the night to think it over. Maybe in the morning she'd try. She'd just try it and see.

She didn't have much more to lose anyway.