A/N: I wanted to post this last night. Problem was - I started to edit it and fell fast asleep - while still logged on to the computer mind you!! Sooo - here it is now.

This was a tough one - I hope you think I made Rafe sufficiently crazy!! This isn't the end btw - not by a long shot.

Until 38! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-seven

He looked in the mirror for the thousandth time. What exactly is the right way to look when you're meeting your girlfriend's parents? Colin thought. He'd never gotten to that point before. He'd known girls before Katrina but he never stuck around long enough to meet their parents.

He'd never wanted to before.

Colin grabbed his keys as he heard the taxi driver honk the horn. He guessed he'd stalled long enough. He glanced at his shoes again – wondering if it looked like he was trying too hard. Maybe he should go back and put on his sneakers.

As he looked towards the floor, that's when he saw it.

A single sheet of paper – obviously expensive. It wasn't like a page ripped from a notebook – it was heavy and had gilded edges.

Colin bent over and picked it up, wincing as he got a paper cut in the process. As soon as he did he knew who it was from.

He brought his finger to his mouth, nearly gagging at the taste of his own blood. He opened the note slowly, his mind spinning as he saw the one word scrawled in dark red ink.

"Gotcha."

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"Rafe. Look at her." Alison said softly as she nudged him. Kate looked like she was near tears. The party was winding down and Colin still hadn't arrived.

Rafe's head went up and he began to get angry. He hated to see any of his kids so upset. "Do you think he's too scared to show up?"

His question was left unanswered as Kate walked past them and opened the front door, moving outside to sit on the porch. She needed some air. It was torture waiting for Colin. She'd tried to call him at least ten times. All she got was voicemail.

Terror filled her. Maybe he wasn't coming after all.

Hurt and suddenly angry she moved towards the porch swing, unable to sit because it had been so windy earlier that the rain soaked the cushion. It had cleared up some, but every inch of the porch was saturated.

Just then, she spotted Colin as he walked across the lawn, clutching a small bouquet of flowers in his hand.

Seeing him approach, she flew down the stairs and into his arms. Kate clung to him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder.

"I thought you might not come." She whispered.

"I almost didn't. Katrina…" Colin sighed. "This isn't going to work."

"What?" She asked as she pulled back. She leaned close and kissed him softly.

"Don't do that." Colin held her at arms length. "Please. I won't be able to make it through this if you do that."

"You're scaring me." She said, her voice shaking.

"Good." He said, staring into her eyes but not focusing. "Good. You should be scared. Katrina – he's coming for me. He knows where I am. He just sent me a warning."

Kate had never seen someone look so sad. "Colin…"

It was like he didn't see her. Tears filled his eyes as he continued. "My being here isn't safe for you or your family. My loving you just makes it even more dangerous. Katrina - I'm leaving. I mean it this time. I'm going to go. I just needed to say goodbye first."

"You're not going anywhere." She said softly, her voice deadly.

"Katrina – didn't you hear me? My father's coming here for me. You know what type of damage he's capable of." He tried to walk away.

Kate nodded and pulled him back to her. "I heard you. You have to stop running Colin. No where will be far enough and deep down I know you know that. Your father has left my family alone for almost 18 years. It's about time this whole stupid thing ended anyway. We can make that happen. We can do it together."

He couldn't believe her. "You're so optimistic. God – I love that about you. But I won't let him hurt you."

Kate's voice began to rise in anger. "Stop it!! Stop talking about him! I don't care about him. It's you. You're hurting me – Colin. If you leave now – do you have any idea what that'll do to me?"

He couldn't stay. He knew that he had to leave. "Please. Let me go."

"Not on your life, Colin Morley. Your family is in there." She said, pointing to the direction of her house. "Are you going to leave them too? Do you know how happy you've made your grandfather? You can't just walk away like this."

She could see she was getting through to him so she kept right on. "You say you know he's coming? Good. I've got a head start then. There are more slayers in town than when he was here last. And trust me – this one's just dying to kick his ass."

She looked so serious. When she spoke the words he actually believed she'd do just that.

"Katrina." He couldn't help laughing at her.

"I'm serious." She said as she glared at him.

"Oh I don't doubt it." He laughed harder. Maybe his father was the one who should get a warning.

He was kidding himself to think he'd actually be able to walk away. Colin smiled softly and took a deep breath. "So. Are you ready for this?"

"What?" She snapped, still so angry she could barely see.

"To go inside." He said as he ran a hand through her hair and looked deeply into her eyes. "To introduce me to your father. Are you ready?"

Her face softened as she grabbed his hand and led him to the porch. "As I'll ever be."

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As the door opened, Alison reached for Rafe's hand, willing him to stay calm. Lynnie nearly dropped her drink and Abby clung to Cam's side. Lucy sucked in her breath, gazing lovingly at Kevin who's face filled with pride.

Holding Colin's hand tightly, Kate crossed the room. "Mom? Dad? I'd like you to meet Colin."

She looked so much like her mom, Colin couldn't help but notice. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Kovich." Colin said softly as he held out the bouquet. He didn't stumble over the name like he thought he might. "I'm sorry - they're wilted. It's really damp out."

"They're lovely. Thank you." Alison replied. The poor kid. He was trying so hard.

"Mr. Kovich? Can I talk to you outside for a minute?" Colin asked, his voice shaking a bit.

"Sure." Rafe replied, curious as to what he was up to. He gestured for him to lead the way.

Kate looked on - completely surprised. "Colin?" She asked.

"I'll be right back." He called out to her, much more confidently than he felt.

The front door closed behind them. Colin tried to keep himself under control. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself.

"Mr. Kovich? I want to apologize. I should have come to meet you earlier. You must be thinking I'm not good enough for your daughter based on the way I've been acting."

Rafe nodded, because the kid was right. No one was ever good enough for Kate.

"Just so we both understand." Colin looked into Rafe's eyes. "I know I'm not."

Rafe thought he'd heard him wrong. "What?"

"I know that I'm not good enough for her. I don't know who might be - but whoever that is - it's too late. I'm not letting her go." Colin promised.

"Really?" Rafe was completely conflicted. Everything in him was shouting that this was dangerous, but as Colin stood in front of him he couldn't help but be impressed. The younger man knew exactly what he was up against but it didn't stop him from trying to convince him. You had to give him credit.

"Really. I know for a fact that there are many things about me you'll hate. I've been on my own since I was 15. I've never had a real home, I've been bounced all over the world. I don't have a steady job."

"Are you trying to convince me to let you keep seeing my daughter? Because, kid - you're doing a lousy job at the moment."

Colin kept speaking. "Believe me - in a second? I'll be doing a worse job. Mr. Kovich. I…" He wanted to say it. He needed her father to have all the details because he couldn't keep hiding who he was. It was bound to come out and he didn't want to start this with that hanging over their heads.

Colin decided to try this another way. "My grandfather lives here in Port Charles. I have another reason besides Katrina to stick around now."

Kate said that Colin wasn't from around here. It made Rafe feel a bit better knowing that he had some ties here. He could find out more about Colin's family if he knew who exactly he was related to.

"Your grandfather lives here? Perhaps I know him…" Rafe began.

"You do." Colin nodded, scared to death of what he was just about to do. He swallowed nervously as he finished. "As a matter of fact…" He said as he pointed towards the door. "He's right inside."

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The front door flew open. Luckily there were only a few people left at the party. Cam's family had gone back to the hotel.

"KATRINA!" Rafe's voice was shaking. "Upstairs. NOW."

"Rafe?" Alison came rushing over. "What's wrong?"

"Daddy…" Kate began, tears starting to fall down her cheeks. "He's not…"

"Don't even try it. Get upstairs - go into your room and stay there until I come to get you."

Alison couldn't believe her ears. "Rafe - she's not five. What are you doing? What happened?"

"What happened? What happened!?! What always happens??? We're going along - having a perfectly nice life and that bastard finds a way to ruin it. This time - he sent his demon child to do his dirty work."

Lucy tried to step in. "Rafe."

He turned on her immediately. "Don't even speak to me. You knew this all along. You were trying to warn me the other day."

"Cousin…"

Kate looked frantically toward the door and then to Alison. "Where is he?" She asked crying harder.

Alison grabbed her daughter's hand and glared at Rafe. "OK. ENOUGH. What's going on here?"

Rafe glared back. "Kate's new little boyfriend? Seems she left out a pertinent piece of information when spouting his virtues. His family leaves a lot to be desired."

Kevin moved to stand in front of him. "Rafe. My grandson…"

Alison looked from Rafe to Kevin and back again. "Your grandson? Oh my God."

"OK!" Kate pulled her hand from her mother's grip and whirled around the room, nearly hysterical. "OK - good. So now you know." Her body was wracked with sobs as she continued. "His name is Colin Morley. His parents are Caleb and Livvie. Trust me - he didn't ask to be born to them - it just happened."

She stared at her father. "Despite that - he's an amazing person. I don't expect you to believe it. Right now - I honestly don't care if you do. All I know is that I love him." She tilted her chin at him defiantly as she spoke the words.

"You do not love him." Rafe insisted, shaking with rage. "That's impossible." He dismissed it as if it was too ridiculous to even consider.

"Don't tell me what I feel. You have no idea." Kate said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

Rafe fought to keep from lashing out again. "Katrina. I told you to go upstairs."

"And I'm telling you the only place I'm going is out that door to find Colin." She replied, determined to do just that. She moved to walk past him.

He grabbed her arm, gently but firmly. "You will not see him again." Rafe said softly. "I forbid it."

"Rafe!" Alison yelled. She held a hand to her head and took a deep breath. She couldn't belive what was happening. This was a nightmare.

She turned toward her daughter, her voice desperate. "Katie honey. Please just go upstairs for a second."

Kate ripped her arm from Rafe's grasp and ran upstairs, her vision blurred with tears.

Alison then looked to her husband. "Calm yourself down. We have guests - and they shouldn't have to see this."

As if on cue, their guests seemed to file toward the door, giving her sympathetic glances as they went on their way. Looking on from the den, his own mind reeling, Grant took Becky's hand and whispered in her ear, promising her unlimited games of Candyland to get her out of the line of fire.

"I won't let him have her." Rafe promised as the last of their friends walked out the door.

"Rafe…" Alison began to shake with fear. She didn't think she could do this again.

He barely heard her. "I won't. He's waited a while to make his move. I'll be ready." He vowed.

"Ready for what? Rafe - you need to stop this. Kate's a smart girl - she knows her own mind. If she sees something in Colin don't you think that's a sign that maybe he's not like his parents at all?"

She had a point but Rafe was too far gone to see it at the moment. He shook his head at her. "No. There's only one sign I see."

Rafe looked Alison in the eye as he spoke. "He's declared war again."