A/N:  fyi - Becky's project is courtesy of my little 7 year old cousin who had to do one just like it last weekend and told me about it in detail.  Seemed to fit so I ran w/it.  Until 27! xox - G

Chapter Twenty-six

"Are you sure you're OK?" Cam asked as he came up behind Abby and pulled her close.

"I'm OK." She replied, her voice unconvincing. Abby tugged at his arms and made him hold her tighter. "I'm more concerned about Lynnie."

"I'm concerned about both of you. You haven't slept in days, Abs."

That much was obvious. There were dark circles under her eyes and her skin was sallow. "I know. I'm just - I don't know exactly what's going to happen. I want to warn them - but I don't know what to say exactly."

Cameron eased away and took Abby's hand, making her sit down. He softly caressed her cheek and stared into her eyes. "It's going to be OK - Abby. We always figure it out in the end - you know that."

A tear escaped and Cam caught it on the back of his hand. "I know. I just wish Lynnie didn't have to deal with this too. I know how much it upsets her. It's my fault…"

He pleaded with her. "It's not. Please. Don't do this, Abby."

"It is." She insisted. "I passed this on to her. It breaks my heart. Having this gift - if you could call it that - makes her so cautious Cam. I mean - just look at the difference between her and Lia. Lynnie always stands back and watches. Not like Julia. Julia's fearless."

"And that's what Lia got from you." Cam said with a smile.  "Lynnie's going to be fine.  Please.  Stop."

"I just want her to be a normal kid, Cam. Look how carefree Quinn is, or even Kate, Grant and Becky. I want her to have that too."

Cam stared at her. "I'll give you Quinn - but you know your sister's kids have their own set of responsibilities. It's just the way it is in this crazy place you made me move to."

Abby couldn't help laughing. "Sweetie. I didn't make you move, you found me here. If it wasn't for this crazy place…" She said with a grin.

"…I wouldn't be here at all." He finished her sentence and leaned close to kiss her.

Abby clung to him.  It was always better whenever she was in his arms. When she was alone with him she could finally let it all go. Tears welled in her eyes.    "I'm so worried about her."

He kissed the top of her head as he held her tight.  "Shh.  I know."

"I know Lia tries but she can't help her.  Cam…"  Abby was sobbing now.

He ran a hand over her hair and sighed.  "Abby – please."

"It's so hard.  I know exactly what it's like.  And I can't believe she has to deal with this at finals time.  You know how awful that is for her.  Those rotten kids are always trying to get her to find out the tests for them."  Thinking of all of it was making Abby angry.  "It doesn't work like that you know."

As long as Abby was fighting with him Cam knew it was all going to be OK.  "I'm well aware."  He said with a smile.

She wiped at her cheeks, furious now.  "And – I'll tell you something else.  Even if it did they're all out of luck because it's not like she'd ever let them cheat anyway."

He tried to keep from laughing as he looked at her, her eyes blazing with anger.  "I know."


Abby pushed him away.  "Our Lynnie is too good a person to do something like that."

Cam laughed out loud as he looked at her.  "Honey. Lynnie's a great kid. I agree with you. Why are you yelling at me?"

Abby finally realized what she was doing.  "I don't know."  She admitted.  "I'm so frustrated about all of this I just felt like yelling." 

"I'm sorry."  She said guiltily as she moved back into his arms.

"It's OK."  He laughed softly.  "I'm used to it."  He narrowed his eyes at her and gave her a grin. 
"But I have to say you were pretty mean to me just now.  How do you want to make it up to me?"

"I know.  I was.  I should make it up to you.  Hmm.  Let's see.  How should I exactly?"  Abby said with a sultry smile.

"I have a few ideas."  Cam replied as he covered her mouth with his.


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"Where is she going?" Rafe asked as he saw Kate breeze out the back door.

"To meet Lia and Lynnie." Alison replied. "Why?"

"Does she seem to be acting weird to you?" Rafe's brow was furrowed with worry.

"Just be careful sweetie, watch those scissors." Alison was busy helping Becky with a school project. "How so?" She asked, clearly distracted.

"I don't know exactly." Rafe didn't know how to explain it. He just got this feeling something was going on with her. "She seems preoccupied. I don't know. I feel like she's avoiding me."

Alison looked up and gave him a smile. He looked so lost. She stood and kissed the top of Becky's head. "That looks great Becks, you're very artistic." She crossed the room and slid into his arms. "Honey? It's OK. Honestly. You look so sad I don't know what I'm going to do with you. You had to know this would happen. She's growing up, Rafe. She doesn't spend as much time with us as she used to when she was little."

Becky overheard them talking and said with a grin. "Daddy? Even though I'm eight now I'm still pretty little. I can hang out with you."

Alison laughed out loud as she gave Rafe a hug. "See? You still have Becky."

Rafe laughed himself and pulled away to walk over to his younger daughter.   "Thanks Angel Face." He said as he ran a hand over her head.

"You're welcome." She beamed. She held out the poster board to show him. "Do you like my project?" As he took it from her she put her crayons back in the box carefully.

"It looks beautiful." He said with a smile.

Becky's voice got serious as she explained. "It's to show pollinzanation. Bees take the pollen from one flower to the next making more flowers. And they do stuff like helping vegetables and other things grow. See? I drew the sun and the grass and some bees and Mommy helped me cut out the flowers and I pasted them by myself."

"It's pollination, sweetheart." He laughed at her. "And you've done a great job."

 Becky certainly though so herself.  "Thanks." She said as she looked up at him proudly. She'd worked so hard she thought she deserved a break. "Right now, I'm gonna go outside to play on the swing, but Daddy I promise I'll hang out with you later OK?" She said as she pushed her chair back.

"OK." Rafe replied as he watched her dash off.

"Timely lesson, don't you think?" Alison commented as she pulled him back to face her.

"What?" Rafe asked as he bent his head to kiss her.

"The fact that she's learning this in school will make it a bit easier when we have to explain to Becky how her new brother or sister came to be."

Rafe swayed a bit as he gazed down at her. "Alison?"

"Yes?" She answered innocently.

"Did you take a test without telling me?" He asked.

"Maybe." She said nonchalantly.

He ran a hand down her cheek. "Alison. Did you or didn't you? Stop teasing me."

"Sorry. It's so much fun though." Her eyes danced as she stared up at him.   "Yes, Rafe. To answer your question, I took one this morning."

Rafe struggled to find his voice. "B-b-but you said you were going to do that at the end of next week."

Alison shrugged and grinned wider. "I know, but I couldn't wait. Sometimes they work pretty early so I thought I'd give it a shot."

"And now that you have, are you sure?" He asked smiling himself.

"Well. Truthfully, I still have to go to the doctor but Rafe, c'mon you know me. If I say so then you know that I am." She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.

Tears filled her eyes as she pulled away. "So you can stop worrying. Even after Becky's grown up they'll still be someone for you to baby."