A/N: Terri and Melody - thanks sooooo much! I'm so glad you liked it!!! Melody, hon. The timing seems perfect b/c PCGirl asked me to write a chapter for them earlier in the week. Believe me - I don't plan out the holiday's that far ahead. :)

And now…back to the story! ;) Until 31 - enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Thirty

"Hello?"

Colin almost hung up. Almost. He couldn't bring himself to. He knew despite it all how much it would mean to her.

He took a deep breath and said softly. "Please put Mom on the phone."

"Hello to you too, son." Caleb said.

Colin tried to ignore him. "I'd like to speak to her please."

"Where are you?" His father demanded.

Colin snapped back, "As far away from you as humanly possible."

Caleb chuckled, "I find that hard to believe. You couldn't get that far. Nice try, though. You watching your back? Because I could find you if I wanted to."

"Then find me." Colin challenged. "I'm not afraid of you."

The kid sounded so serious Caleb laughed harder. "No?"

"No." Colin insisted, the fact that he was being mocked making him all the more furious. "Honestly - most days? I barely give you a second thought. Now if you're done terrorizing me, please let me speak to my mother."

"No time to chat with dear old dad?" Caleb said bitterly.

Colin gritted his teeth. "It's Mother's Day tomorrow. I just want to talk to her. I'm asking you - one more time - politely - to please, let me speak to my mother."

Caleb's temper began to rise. For all his talk, it secretly killed him that his son wanted absolutely no part of him. "You're pathetic - you know that? Tell me something, what makes you think she wants to speak to the likes of you?"

"You're unbelievable." Colin replied, his voice full of contempt "Is this the way you think you'll get me to choose you? You think insulting me will make me want to follow in your sick, sadistic footsteps? C'mon Caleb. Are you actually that stupid?"

He could hear his mother pleading with his father to let her take the phone. This is why he stayed away. He knew their fighting would destroy her. Colin couldn't let that happen.

Though his son infuriated him, Caleb couldn't deny his Olivia something that would make her so incredibly happy. With tremendous effort, Livvie finally got Caleb to hand the phone over.

She couldn't wait to hear his voice. "Colin? Honey?"

Colin was still ready to pound his fist into a wall. He had to take a minute to try and reign himself in. "Happy Mother's Day." He said softly.

"Thank you so much for calling." Her voice was full of concern. "Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. I just wanted to wish you a happy one." The sound of her voice always made him realize how much he truly missed her. "I can't talk long."

"I'm so glad you called. Those flowers you sent, sweetheart, they are just beautiful."

Colin had thought enough to send her flowers from a florist in Seattle, but even with that he knew it was only a matter of time before his father tracked him down now.

For the first time in his life, despite that fact - he didn't want to run anymore. He was ready to fight it out. He was through having to distance himself from his father. He wanted more from his life and it was all because of Katrina.

Livvie's voice was full of love as she asked. "Are you doing OK, little man? Do you need any money?"

Little man. Tears welled in Colin's eyes as he heard her call him that. It was what she had called him all the time when he was younger. It was so many years ago.

Flooded by emotion, he had trouble finding his voice. "No - I've been working. I'm fine. Thanks Mom. Please take care of yourself." He began to hang up.

Livvie couldn't let him. She missed him so much. She remembered how it was when he was little, before he and Caleb were at each other's throats. Her sweet, precious little boy.

Their son had turned out to be the very best of both of them. It was difficult to actually believe - but that is exactly what he was.

"Colin..." She said softly.

"Yeah?" He replied.

"I'm so worried about you. I hate to think about you out there all alone."

Colin's mind filled with thoughts of Katrina and his grandfather. For the first time he wasn't alone at all. "It's OK, Mom. Don't worry about me so much. I've got some really amazing friends. I'm doing OK."

"Are you sure?" She asked unconvinced.

"I'm sure." He replied.

Livvie took a moment and glanced at Caleb. Despite the way he acted towards their son she knew there was a part of him that ached because of the conflict that surrounded them. He had moved to stand outside, pacing back and forth. Livvie was constantly torn. She loved them both so much, she couldn't stop herself from trying.

"Colin? Do one thing for me, please? For Mother's Day? Just talk to your father for a minute." She pleaded.

He wanted to make her happy, but that was too much to ask. He shook his head no. "I have nothing more to say to him, Mom." It was past time to hang up now. "Have a nice day tomorrow."

"Colin…" Livvie tried again, her voice choked with tears.

"Love you." He said softly as he hung up the phone.

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Despite all her plans she didn't have two days with Colin. Turned out he had a gig on Friday night 50 miles away and Grant had had a set back with Chloe. Kate swore that soon she was taking matters into her own hands because the two of them were too ridiculous for words. Chloe had been dropping hints about the prom for days and Grant - as usual - was completely oblivious. Tired of waiting, Chloe found herself another date and Grant was thrown into despair once again.

To combat that fact, Grant said yes to the first girl who asked him. The night of the prom he was going to be miserable. Kate could see it all now.

She loved her brother dearly but he was a complete and total moron.

Still, she couldn't help wanting to make him feel better so on Friday night they ordered dinner in and she went out and rented his favorite movies. They stuffed themselves on junk food and fell asleep in the den with the TV blaring, just like they had done all the time when they were younger.

Now, Kate had only one night left before her parents came back home. She intended to make it count.

Humming to herself, she turned round the corner, in a bit of a daze. Just a few weeks ago, the day she met Colin, Kate had been on her way to finally be with Danny. On that day, as the time grew closer, all she felt was nervous and fidget-y. It felt like it had been a hundred years ago. Knowing what she planned to do tonight should make her just as nervous but today, all she felt was calm - almost too calm.

Her mind was completely made up. Tonight, she'd spend the night with Colin.

"Damnit Cameron. I can't believe you're working late " Abby snapped into the cell phone. She was furious and was yelling at him. "Where am I? I'm at the market and let me tell you I am not amused. How the hell do these little plastic bags work?" She grumbled as she tried to pry one open. "I swear to God, in five more seconds we're having pizza tonight." She couldn't do both things at once so she hung up on him.

"Aunt Abby?" Kate said with a laugh.

"Katie, sweetheart, hi." Abby said, completely embarrassed. She hated grocery shopping more than life itself.

"What are you doing?"

"Torturing myself in order for my children to have a nutritious dinner. What are you doing here sweetie?"

"Just picking up a few things." She said, trying to sound blasé.

"For dinner tonight?" Abby gave her a look. "With Colin?"

"You know?" Kate shouldn't have been shocked but she was.

Abby's voice got serious. "Yes. I know."

"Do you know…" Kate asked, afraid of the answer.

"Who he is? Yes. I know." Abby replied. "Katie. Your father isn't going to take this well. You have to know that."

"I know." Kate said as she stared at her feet. She looked up to stare Abby in the eye, tears threatening to fall. "Aunt Abs. I can't help it. I love him."

"Katie…" She sighed, her heart melting.

"I do. I love him." Kate said again, realizing it's was the first time she said the words aloud. "It's completely crazy. It makes no sense. I should hate him. I should be horrified to even stand within ten feet of him but I'm not. When I'm with him I can't be near enough. I just want to get closer."

Abby knew exactly what that meant. She could see it in Katie's eyes. She knew Kate was on the brink - ready to do something about that. She recognized that look because she wore it herself once. It was the way she first looked at Cameron.

Oblivious, Kate babbled on with stars in her eyes, wishing it was her mother she could be talking to. But as much as she wished she could confide in her, she knew that her mom wouldn't keep anything from her dad. Not for long anyway. Abby might - for at least a little bit. "He's so amazing, Aunt Abby. He's so brave. He's nothing like his father. I promise you. He's not."

Abby knew what she had seen. Kate may be right. Colin might not be like his father but that wouldn't stop Caleb from finding a way to get at Rafe and Alison again. Abby could see it coming. Rafe was sometimes his own worst enemy when it came to Caleb. The whole thing made Abby extremely nervous. She knew that this time, Caleb could hurt them all without even lifting a finger himself.

Abby thought that perhaps if she got Kate alone she could get her to slow down. She had to at least try. "Honey? Somehow I don't feel like the produce section of the supermarket is the place for this conversation."

"Probably not." Kate agreed with a sigh. She glanced at her watch. She wanted to get to Colin's before he came home. "I'm running late though. Maybe we could talk tomorrow?"

Short of locking her up, Abby knew there was no way to stop her. It was inevitable. If there was anything she'd learned from the gift she had it was that sometimes things happened for a reason. As much as it pained her, Abby nodded reluctantly, feeling helpless.

Kate began to walk away and then stopped in her tracks. "Are you going to tell them Aunt Abby?"

Abby knew exactly what she was asking. "Your parents? Honey, you know I might have no other choice. If I think you're in danger I'll have to."

Kate nodded. "I understand. But I'm not in any danger at all. Not with him"

Abby could tell that Kate was about to take a step that could change everyone's lives forever. She also knew there was nothing she could do to stop it.

"Just be careful, Katie." Abby cautioned her. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Kate smiled widely, her decisions already made. "I will. I promise."