A/N: Here's one of those times when not reading my other stories comes back to haunt you. You had to have read CS to know about the first section of this chapter. It's not a ploy to get you to read everything I've written – honestly – it's not – but I have this habit of bringing stuff up from the past. If you are ever wondering about what I'm talking about please ask!

I really hope y'all are enjoying the story thus far. I feel like there are a lot of new (original) characters and that might turn some people off, but I have to say there's something I love about all of them. There's a lot to go still with this story here – but I'm at a loss as to what kind of story to write next. I'm hoping to find someplace to go and as we get closer to Resolution's end I'll be sure to keep you posted. Until 39…Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-eight

"That wasn't fun." Cameron said as he and Abby closed themselves into their bedroom. Quinn was staying at the hotel with Jamal and Imani. Lynnie went quietly to her room and Julia was still fuming over her altercation with Danny earlier. So much had happened in one day his head was spinning.

Abby agreed. "No. It wasn't. I knew that would happen. I was just hoping…"

"....that Rafe was over it?" Cam finished her thought. "Abby it's always going to be there – in the back of his mind. I understand that."

"I don't understand why he can't let it go. Caleb's been gone forever." Abby looked at him with sadness in her eyes.

Cam took her hand and led her to the bed, urging her to sit down. "Whenever we go back to Colorado – to visit my parents I go out of my way to keep from driving. Did you realize that?"

"We're usually such a big group and we don't always rent a car. I don't think I ever paid much attention."

"When we go through that passage, the one where I had my accident I hold my breath the whole time." He said softly.

"Cameron…" Tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

He didn't want to make her cry but Abby – like Lia, viewed everything as cut and dry. You either do or you don't – there's no gray area for them. It made them interesting and strong willed but it also made them jump to conclusions. Cam had spent most of his life trying to get Abby to be more impartial.

He leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. "I'm saying this because that must be like that for Rafe when it comes to Caleb. He killed him Abby. So what that in the end he got to come back and found Alison. I'm not saying that it wasn't amazing that he did. His life was taken from him - twice, and by the two people that gave birth to a child that is now involved with his daughter. It can't be easy. Something like that? It's not something you forget."

Abby sighed knowing that Cameron had an excellent point. She still thought he could've gone easier.

Cam could see he was getting to her now. "Rafe and I? We don't chat about what happened to us much. It's understood between us. It's amazing. He's truly just like one of my brothers to me now. So please. I'm asking. Give him a break – Abby. He's terrified for Kate. He's terrified he'll lose her to Caleb. You know this is true. Alison? Those kids? They're his life now. Right now, the only thing he's thinking about is that he knows as long as Caleb walks this earth his life can be taken from him again."

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"What's a demon child?" Becky asked as she and Grant sat together on the floor of the den. They'd started to play a game but her heart wasn't in it. Becky always got really quiet whenever there was conflict. She curled up in his lap and was playing with the chain Grant wore around his neck. It was the one that used to belong to his father.

"Huh?" His mind was elsewhere.

"Daddy called someone that. Grant, what's a demon?"

"Caleb Morley." He said, since it was the first thing that came into his head. He knew she needed a better answer so he continued. "A demon is something evil."

Becky held the charm at the end of the chain in her tiny fingers as she questioned him again. "Caleb - that's Colin's dad?"

"Yes. He's not a nice man, Becks. He hurt Mom and Dad and a lot of other people a whole lot a long time ago."

Colin's dad sounded so mean. Becky didn't think she'd like him. "So that's why Daddy doesn't want Katie to go out with Colin?"

"That's right." Grant replied.

Her little face looked up to his, full of confusion. "But Colin's not his dad, Grant. Colin's just the band guy. He's really really really nice. He's not evil at all. And he really likes Katie. I think she really likes him too."

"Looks that way." Grant said as he kissed the top of her head. She was amazing. As much as this whole thing was making his blood boil Grant knew that Becky had a point. She was thinking much more rationally then the adults in the house it seemed.

Becky sighed and snuggled closer. "I don't like it when Daddy gets mad like that. He got mad and ended Katie's party too early. I was having a lot of fun with Jade and Maggie and then all of the sudden they had to go home. Things like that make me feel like I want to cry." She said with a sniffle.

Grant's heart broke. He couldn't admit it – but the whole thing made him feel like crying too.

He held her tighter and told her. "You can cry if you want to, Squirt. I don't mind."

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"That went absolutely as badly as I expected." Colin sighed as he sat in Kevin and Lucy's living room. Lucy handed him a cup of coffee which he held with shaky hands.

It took everything he had not to go running right back over there. He couldn't believe he left her there to deal with that herself. Colin knew that his being there would just make it worse at this point.

His phone rang and he stood to answer it, knowing exactly who it was.

"Colin?" Kate breathed.

His heart hurt. It sounded like she'd been crying. "Are you OK?"

"No. No. I'm not. I've got to get out of here." She said, clearly beside herself as she paced her room.

Colin could see a picture of her in his mind. He knew that she was about to lose it. "Katrina. Please. Calm down…"

She kept going. "He can't stop me Colin. I won't stop seeing you no matter what he says."

"OK." He said, trying to comfort her. "Let's just give it a minute OK? You sneaking out of the house right now is not going to help things."

"Colin…" She sobbed.

"It's going to be alright. Please. Trust me."

It was odd the way they did this for each other. When he went crazy, she calmed him down. Now he was doing the same for her. It amazed him how suddenly after years of being alone and only worrying about himself what he needed was not important at all anymore. He thought of Katrina first and himself second. He didn't even realize it had happened. It just did.

"I'm sorry." She said as she wiped her eyes for the hundreth time. She chuckled bitterly. "I know - you don't have to say it. I'm acting like a total drama queen."

Thankful that he could hear her crying begin to subside, he smiled and spoke softly. "It's OK. Please. Get some rest. Just give me until tomorrow – I'll figure something out."

"You promise?" She whispered.

"I do." He nodded. He took a deep breath. "I love you, Katrina. Just wait OK? We'll figure it out tomorrow."

"I love you too." She said as she hung up the phone.

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"Katie? Sweetheart?" Alison called out as she pushed the door open. She saw her oldest child, her first baby, curled up on her bed. The lights were dimmed but even with that she could still see the dampness on her cheeks.

Kate was hugging a pillow to her tightly and it seemed she'd cried herself to sleep. Alison walked to her slowly and pulled a blanket over her. She ran a hand gently over her head and sat down beside her.

"My sweet little girl." Alison whispered. "How did we get here? Just the other day it feels like you were learning to walk. It does. And I remember it so vividly. I think I wanted to throw a party but your father said I was crazy." She laughed softly before she continued. "You were just a little over a year old and we sat there and watched you for what seemed like hours. You kept pulling yourself up and then you'd go down flat, over and over again. It must have happed like fifty times until your face got all pink and we couldn't believe it – you got so mad. You pulled yourself up one last time and wobbled over to us with a grin on your face. It was amazing. You were determined and you weren't about to give up."

Alison sighed. "So I know you, Katie. I know you won't give up Colin – no matter what. And I promise I'll do my best to keep your father from asking you to. He worries about you a lot – you know? He loves you so much. What it really boils down to is that he's afraid you'll get hurt. He never, ever wants that to happen. He'll try anything to stop it."

She leaned over and pressed a kiss to the top of Kate's head. "So please, just be patient, OK? Don't do anything without really thinking it through. You are so like him, Katie." Alison said with a sigh. "That's part of the problem. You are both so stubborn neither one of you will want to let this go."

"I'm here to make sure you both can figure it out without making a huge mistake. Please don't disappoint me." She said as she moved towards the door, slipping through it and shutting the light.

Rafe was standing on the other side.

Alison gave him a warning. "Rafe. Leave her alone. She's asleep." She said as she moved past him towards their bedroom.

She walked in the door, kicking off her shoes and rolling her shoulders.

As Rafe watched her he knew he should apologize. He'd gone nuts earlier, in front of everyone they knew. "I'm sorry I ruined the party." He began.

She shook her head at him. "It's alright - Rafe. I don't blame you. Learning who Colin is was a complete shock. I would never expect you to take news like that lightly." She moved towards the dresser to get her pajamas.

It looked like he was off the hook but Rafe knew better. He watched as she changed quickly. It amazed him how fast she could get ready for bed, since it sometimes took him what seemed like days to get her out of it.

Pulling her hair up she walked towards the bathroom and turned to face him. "Just do me a favor OK?"

"OK." He said quietly. He'd do anything to get that sad look to leave her face. It was killing him.

"I don't know if I can do this anymore." Alison admitted. "I'm tired and I feel awful and I'm just done. People don't always grow up like their parents. Look at me - Rafe. My father two timed my mother from here to eternity. My mother's a selfish, insecure lunatic who hasn't had a meaningful relationship worth a damn in her life. She had a shot with Chris but as we all know - she screwed that up too."

"Alison..."

She wasn't finished. "And look at me. From the minute I met you I've never looked back. I've spent my whole life making our home and raising our children. I'm nothing like my parents." She said proudly.

"I know. I'm sorry..."

He did all the talking earlier and Alison still had the floor. He couldn't get more than that out because she kept plodding on. "Caleb's horrible – he's done horrible things but this kid – Rafe. He's just that, a kid. He's not just part of Caleb - he's part of Livvie too and I know she's just as horrible now but she wasn't always. She was loyal and sweet and God - she was funny Rafe. We used to laugh all the time. I'd like to think that's the part her son inherited from her. I think it must be, because Kate couldn't fall in love with someone evil. She's not made that way."

"What are you saying?" He asked then.

"I'm saying - don't. Don't force her to make a choice Rafe because if you do - you will lose. She'll walk out that door and we will never see her again." Alison's voice broke saying the words. "She'll choose him over you Rafe. As a matter of fact, she already has. If she wasn't so exhausted I am sure she'd be running to him now."

Alison wiped her eyes and stared at him. She was so incredibly tired she didn't think she could stand up much longer. She slowly walked towards the bed, reaching the edge right before her knees gave out.

"Alison, please." He pleaded as he moved to sit beside her. "I'm sorry. Please. Don't get so upset. It's not good for the baby."

"If you don't want me upset then listen to me. Don't do this – Rafe. Don't fight him this way. If you do I know what will happen. In the end – I'll lose you both."

"Alison…" He tried to touch her and she moved away.

"I'm sorry – I'm too tired. I can't talk about this anymore." She pulled back the covers and crawled into bed, turning her back to him. "Please. Just promise me you'll think about what I said, OK?" She whispered as her eyes fluttered closed.

He leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "I will." He said soflty. "I promise."