A/N: I'm apologizing in advance. This'll be a long A/N. Sorry! It thrills me that y'all are enjoying this so much. I honestly thought it might be kinda boring – no real action packed drama – but I have to admit I love it. I'm making myself cry – this has to be some sort of therapy. LOL!
Anyway – Thank you all for letting me know you're right there w/me. Terri – I think I have to hire you as my own personal cheerleader. Your reviews never cease to inspire me and make me smile. :) To my Awians (all 4 of you!) – you know I love ya!! And now - Livvie712 – I have to respond to your review in particular…
I really enjoyed both couples too. I have to confess that I became a rabid PC fan b/c of Rali – but when Caleb returned – in the beginning I loved how they were trying to make Rafe and Alison and Caleb and Livvie and their relationships sort of parallel yet unique. But then - TIIC just messed with them too much in the end – and I have to admit – I took it all out on Caleb. He was just too hideous to live IMHO. That s/l made me completely ill. Anyway – It's all over now and I'm mostly over it – I think. I do know that I'll never have the need to watch The Gift again in my lifetime. LOL!
I don't know how many of my stories you've read. If you want to see more of Caleb and Livvie in comparison to Rafe and Ali – I think you should read Chasing Shadows, my first story here. I spent a lot of time in that one comparing the two. Of course you might have read it already and if so I'd love to know what you think. :)
We're winding down here folks…not sure how many more chapters I've got – and I have absolutely NO IDEA what to do next. I might write the other story I started that happens in the future – and that would mean that PCGirl and I would both be going there. Hmmm. That could be fun! We shall see. Until 52! xox-G
Chapter Fifty-one
"Caleb?" Livvie was awake – but terrified to open her eyes. It had all been a dream, she was sure of it.
But the feel of his hands on her skin told her otherwise. Her eyelids fluttered open and she saw him, lying there next to her.
"Sleep well, my love?" He whispered.
"Better than I have in weeks." She replied, clutching his shoulders and pulling him closer to her. Her fingers wound in his hair, tugging until his lips were on hers again.
Livvie tore her lips from his and sighed. "We can't stay here – Caleb. My father…"
"You're my wife." He said with a soft chuckle. "There's nothing that says we can't…" He made his point by kissing her again.
"That's not what I meant." She smiled up as his lips slid down to her shoulder, his teeth gently scoring against her skin. "He wants me to stay away from you, especially now. You know he never thought you were good for me."
"He doesn't know you at all." Caleb proclaimed as made his way back up to her face and gazed in her eyes.
"He does." Livvie shook her head and ran her hands over the soft, smooth skin of his chest. "He just can't understand what we have together."
"Not many do." He remarked as he pulled her closer, claiming her mouth in a drugging kiss.
"No." Livvie agreed as he eased away, his hands threading through her hair again. "Not many do."
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Abby stood by the window, holding Kate close. Cameron came in and his head was filled with only one thought. He hoped that she'd change her mind soon. The image of her holding their own child was one he couldn't wait to see.
"How much longer can we borrow her for?" He asked with a grin, moving to wrap his arms around her waist.
"A few more hours…" Abby said absentmindedly. She'd just had a vision so disturbing she couldn't quite believe it was real."
Cam could tell by the sound of her voice something was terribly wrong.
"Abs? Honey – what is it?"
"It's not possible." She said, staring down at Kate. "They can't."
Cameron gently took Abby's shoulders and turned her to face him. "Who can't? Caleb and Livvie? Abby - what do you see?"
She shook her head and stared at him.. "They can't go. They can't just give up like that."
"Who?" He asked his voice confused.
Tears welled in Abby's eyes as she held on to the baby a bit tighter. Her voice shook as she told him. "All of them. Alison, Rafe and Katrina. I can't believe it. I saw them leaving."
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"Did you have enough to eat?" Alison asked as she sat across from Rafe, watching him scarf down the last of the pancakes.
"Mmm hmm." He replied, licking a stray drop of syrup from his lips. "They're delicious."
"I wouldn't have guessed. You ate all but the two I managed to get on my plate." She giggled at him.
"Sorry." Rafe said as he gave her a sheepish grin. "I haven't eaten much lately." He sipped his coffee and snagged a half a piece of bacon off her plate.
She had noticed. He hadn't slept or really eaten for days. She sighed as she watched him finish the rest of his breakfast. Her heart was a bit lighter at the thought that he seemed a little better now.
"We don't have a lot of time, but Abby's keeping Kate for a few more hours. I really think we should talk, Rafe. Something happened with you the other day – something really got to you. I've never seen you like that. I know you probably want to move on and forget it – but we can't. I need to make sure you're really OK."
Rafe got up and picked up his plate, bringing it to the sink. Then he moved to take hers as well.
"Doing housework, as sexy as it makes you look, will not stop me – Rafe." She pulled at his sleeve and made him face her. "Talk to me. Please."
Rafe sighed and moved to sit by the window. He stared at his hands and tried to figure out a way to start this. He didn't know quite how to explain to her. He didn't really understand it fully himself just yet.
"That dream – it scared me to death – Alison. And I really think all this has been building up for a while now – ever since Caleb first came back. When I think back to how he pretended to be mortal and tricked everyone - it really got to me how everyone just fell for it."
"Even me." Alison was wracked with guilt as she moved to sit beside him. "I know that I shouldn't have. You were absolutely right."
Rafe shook his head and grabbed her hand, kissing it softly. "I don't blame you – Alison. You have such a big heart. You wanted to give him a second chance and as much as it made me crazy – I can't help but love that about you."
"I never should have." Looking at him it dawned on Alison what she'd been asking him to do for the past year. She stood up and faced him, the truth knocking her over the head and making her dizzy. "I can't believe I've ever argued with you about any of this. Oh my God. He killed you and then he ripped Livvie apart and she killed you too. I'm so selfish. I begged you to do it and you did. You stayed here with me while the two of them walked around like nothing ever happened. Oh God - Rafe – I'm so sorry." Tears began to spill from her eyes.
He held her still and made her meet his eyes. "Shh. Hold on. Alison - please. I can't. You have to stop blaming yourself." His voice was deadly serious. "I'm not going to do this. I'm not going to talk about this if it's going to make you cry."
"OK." She whispered, taking a breath and trying to will the tears to stop falling. "I won't."
She was trying to be so brave. The look on her face made him smile, reminding him again that this is why he did it. This is how he could walk the same earth as the ones who'd succeeded in taking his life. As far as he was concerned – it was worth it. He'd do absolutely anything for her.
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"Caleb. We can't stay here together. Where will we go?"
"Wherever you want." He promised. "Within reason."
"What does that mean?" She asked, suspicious.
"I mean that we have work to do, my love." He gave her a smirk. "Surely you don't think we're done here."
Livvie was frightened, but knew she had to take this chance. 'We are Caleb. We're finished. There's nothing left for us here anymore."
"I disagree." He said as he nibbled on her neck, longing to have the power to feed there as he did. It surprised him. He thought that it might be different now.
"Caleb…"
Caught up in a wave of passion so strong they were powerless against it, Caleb took her again and again to that place where she knew for sure exactly who she was and what she wanted. Only he understood her so completely. She was a fool for having thought she could escape him. Vampire or no, he was in her blood. She could never truly leave him. She would leave part of herself behind.
As she fell under again Livvie knew for sure. Whatever life Caleb wanted to lead, she would follow.
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"What do you mean – leaving?"
Abby still couldn't believe what she had seen in her mind. "I saw them pack themselves up and go. They closed the gym – they moved out of the house they bought for each other. They said goodbye to us and to their friends and family and drove away."
Cam was surprised. It was the last thing he expected.
Abby was beside herself. "They let him win – Cameron. How could they possibly do that?"
He thought for a moment – trying to make sense of it all. "Maybe they're tired of fighting – Abby. They've not had an easy time of it."
"That's why they shouldn't have to give up everything they have to be happy – Cameron. Caleb and Livvie – they're the ones who deserve to go. Not my sister." She stared to sob, which began to upset Katrina. She started to sob right along with her. "I just found her and I'm losing her Cameron."
Cam took the baby and tried to calm her. He was at a loss. There seemed to be no reasoning with Abby. "You'll have her whether or not she lives here Abby."
"No." She insisted. "If she goes – she'll be gone for good."
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"I think I get it now." Rafe said with a smile as he pulled Alison into his arms. "I think I know what he was trying to say."
"Who?" Alison's voice was muffled as she laid her head on his shoulder. She was still trying to calm herself down.
"My father." He answered.
Alison shoved Rafe away and stared at him in disbelief. "Your who?"
"My father." He said with a grin. "I had a chat with him the other night."
"Where?" Alison's eyes grew wide. Tears fell once more. "Do not tell me they called you up again."
"No." He assured her. "He came down here."
"He's here!?" She was still in shock. She couldn't believe it. Rafe's dad was here.
He smiled wider. "I don't exactly know where he is at the moment but he's close by."
"Rafe. Oh my God." She grabbed his arms, her fingers curling into his sleeves and holding tight. "What did he say?"
"That I think that I'm keeping you safe – but I'm really just trying to get back at Caleb for taking me out all those years ago."
"I don't blame you." She said then.
Rafe shrugged. He couldn't believe it was true – but Caleb was suddenly the last thing on his mind. He was finally free. His heart was light. "He's right. It's true. That's what I'm doing. I failed and I never forgave myself for it – and I was never able to get back at him in the same way. But now I see it. It's a stupid game and it's a losing battle. He's mortal now. I'm not going to go looking for a fight anymore. It's not important."
"Rafe…" Alison wasn't convinced.
"It's not. You are. You and Kate – you're important"
Alison wanted to believe but she knew it was so much to ask. "I know you will try and do that – but I'm not sure…"
"I am – Alison." He promised her. "I'm sure. As long as Caleb is mortal, I won't keep letting him get the better of me. It's not worth it."
Alison touched a hand to his cheek and sighed. He looked so serious but she still was so scared.
Rafe covered her hand with his and stared into her eyes. "I'm still going to be who I am. If he turns back – if he threatens you - I'll try and stop him. If something else evil shows up here – I won't be able to sit by. Alison - I'll still have to fight. But fighting Caleb as he is right now is pointless. It will only put you and Kate in unnecessary danger and I won't do that. I won't give him the satisfaction."
Alison brought her other hand up to frame his face. "I don't want you to be anyone else but who you are."
"And that's what's so amazing about you." Rafe said as he bent down to kiss her.
