A/N: There are so many ways I can go with this story. I hope the way I'm leaning doesn't disappoint. If you think so – please don't be afraid to tell me. Believe me – I can take pretty much anything that you throw at me. Just ask PCGirl, she knows. ;) LOL!
Lots going on in this chapter. Oh - I'm getting back to Chris and Elizabeth - in due time - so don't worry. And Nikki - if you're reading - I wanted to say thanks so much for the reviews - even for the stories I've finished. It makes me so, so glad to know you enjoy them!! Sorry it's taken me so long to say so!! Until 58! xox-G
Chapter Fifty-seven
"Chloe? Can you hold this?" Becky asked as she held up the stuffed dog Grant had won for her at the ring toss.
"Sure." Chloe smiled down at the little girl, the concentration clearly shown on her face as she tied her pink shoelaces. "You're getting good at that Becks."
"I know. It just takes practice." Becky replied as she straightened her sweatshirt and held out her arms for the dog. "Thank you." She said with a smile, revealing her newest missing tooth. Soon she'd be lisping for sure, her two front ones were really wobbly.
"You're welcome sweetie." Chloe replied as she took the little girl's hand.
The carnival was in full swing. Grant had been worried that she would think it was weird for Becky to join them on their date but she didn't at all. Becky was a riot – the sweetest thing on earth. Next to her brother that is.
Chloe still couldn't believe that they were together. She couldn't believe they'd wasted so much time. Grant had kept his feelings to himself for years but now that he'd told her he made sure he said it every day. She'd get text messages on her phone before the sun went up, so that she'd see them whenever she turned her phone on. Just a simple, "I love you Clo." The thought of him made her smile.
"Chloe?" Becky's little voice roused her from her little dream.
"Yes?" She replied.
"Thank you." She said again, her eyes serious.
"You already thanked me for holding the dog for you, honey. It's OK."
Becky shook her head with excessive force, causing her pigtails to sway back and forth. "No. Not that. Thanks for making Grant un-sad."
"Un-sad?" Chloe asked trying not to laugh..
Becky nodded. "He's my best friend. I say Maggie is but really it's Grant. And he was sad all the time. I asked him what was wrong but he told me he was fine, 'cause that's what grownups do when they don't want to tell you stuff. I don't think that was really the truth. I think he missed you. Now that you let him kiss you he's happy all the time now."
Chloe blushed as she stopped by a bench. She sat and pulled Becky on her lap and held her close. "You think so huh?"
The little girl nodded again. "I know so. People think I'm too little but I notice stuff. I know he does. He loves you like Daddy loves Mommy and he loves her lots and lots."
Tears sprang to Chloe's eyes as she said. "Well that's a good thing because I love him lots and lots too." She gave Becky a kiss on the nose.
"Are you going to get married?" Becky asked then.
"Maybe - someday - sweetie. If he asks me." Chloe said with a sigh. Her head was swimming with dreams of the future.
"Oh he will. He's just got to get a job and a house. Then you'll be all set." Becky's voice was definite.
"You think so?" Chloe said with a laugh. "Just a job and a house, huh?"
"Yep. Hey Chloe? Will someone love me like that someday do you think?" Becky asked with her nose scrunched up.
"You can bet on it." Chloe replied as she gave Becky a hug.
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"Oh but if you truly meant it." Caleb said with a sigh. "The god's below would rejoice. They'd throw a huge party – I guarantee it."
"I'd go – Caleb. If my leaving this earth would keep them safe I'd do it."
"Always had a flair for the dramatic haven't you Slayer." Caleb grinned wickedly. "Can't beat me so you'll sacrifice yourself. Please. All this white knight, martyr crap makes me ill."
"I'd do it." He vowed.
Caleb stared at him with disbelief. "You'd do it? You'd leave little wifey and the mini-slayers to live alone in the big bad world? You'd let the one in the oven grow up never knowing you. C'mon Rafe. Stop with the bluffing. You wouldn't be able to. You couldn't orphan your kids that way. Besides, what's to say I'd leave them alone without you?"
"You'd be gone too." Rafe promised.
"That's a theory you'd be willing to test out? Is my son making time with your daughter really all that bad?"
Rafe finally had Caleb where he wanted him. "You tell me, Vampire. You're surely going to a lot of effort to rip them apart."
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"I tell you I have to get used to this slayer stuff." Colin laughed as he finally got her to calm down. "Katrina – remind me never to piss you off."
"She touched you." Kate was still ready to punch someone's lights out.
"Scary wasn't it?" Colin laughed harder.
"It's not a joke Morley." Her voice and gaze were deadly. "When did she make her move on you?"
He looked deeply into her eyes, hoping she'd believe the truth. "Katrina – I met her the night you pushed me away. He made me think she looked like you – but we started to dance and it was all wrong. I went home and that was it. I haven't seen her since."
"How many others?" Kate asked him with tears in her eyes. "How many more will I have to fight until he leaves us alone?"
Colin didn't want to promise her this was the end so he didn't say anything. He simply pulled her to him and held her close.
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Caleb's eyes began to glow red. His temper was lit and ready to combust. "The matter between my son and me is none of your concern."
Rafe's gaze was icy. He stared him down and didn't blink. "He's with my daughter. That makes it my business."
"Maybe if your daughter wasn't around..." Caleb began.
Rafe grabbed Caleb's shirtfront and slammed him into the bricks of the Overlook. "If you touch a hair on her head I won't need a stake. I'll rip your excuse for a heart right out of your chest."
Caleb shook his head to clear it and replied. "Can you let me change my shirt first? This one's a favorite of mine – I'd hate to ruin it."
"We need to come to an understanding." Rafe's voice shook with rage as he ignored the joke.
Caleb was done playing games. He shoved the slayer off of him, a blow striking Rafe's chin. causing Rafe to stumble and land on the dirt path. "I'm not in a charitable mood right now. I'll get back to you." He said as he faded away.
Rafe wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, wincing at the sight of blood. His clothes were dusty and as he looked at his watch he knew he was late. He was sure they'd made other arrangements for dinner since he'd been preoccupied for so long. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd actually accomplished something.
But he had gotten nowhere.
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"I don't know." Colin whispered into her hair as he held her. "But we'll figure it out."
"I don't want to leave here. Everyone I love is here. We have to make him go." Kate began to cry.
His tough girl had a real soft side. Despite it all, she made him smile. "We'll figure it out, Katrina. I promise you we will."
Across the room, Lia and Danny sat at a table with a group of friends, each trying their best to ignore the other.
"Did you see that?" Danny asked as he reached for the peanuts.
Lia did the same at precisely the same time. As she touched his hand she pulled away sharply- as if touching something hot, afraid of the burn. "Yep. Don't cross Katie." She took a breath and looked into Danny's eyes. "How'd you get away in one piece?" She asked with a slight grin.
"She sent you in as back up – remember? I'm still scarred by you." Danny smiled widely at her.
He had to stop doing that. It made her lose her concentration. All she could think was if she got involved with him, would he cheat on her too? Where the hell was this coming from? Lia thought furiously. She should not feel this way about him. Not Danny freaking Thornhart - of all people. God. What else could happen? Despite her initial reaction her head defied her. It was now full of thoughts that if he recalled how she tore into him maybe he might not make the same mistake once he was with her.
The fact that she was thinking of them as a couple made her even more angry. Lia needed to get a hold of herself but it seemed it wouldn't happen tonight. She gave him a look that could kill as she said. "Yeah well. Don't you forget it."
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The music of the carnival was blaring. Between the sounds of a DJ and the merry-go-round it was hard to hear anything.
"Something's the matter." Becky said with a shiver as she gazed across the carnival grounds. "Over there." She pointed to a dark corner of the field, on the outskirts of the woods.
She left her toy dog on the bench and stood up. She was halfway across before Chloe could stop her. "Becky! NO!" She cried as she ran after her.
Grant caught Chloe midway, his arms full of popcorn. He dropped them immediately as he heard her cry. "She just took off – Grant. I couldn't stop her."
Together they ran off in the direction Becky went.
"You're a very bad man." Becky's little voice called out as she stood a few feet away from the trouble she sensed. "You're hurting her."
Marcus, Caleb's messenger was holding Ariel in his arms, punishing her for her lack of success. He was nearly done draining her of all her blood and leaving her limp and lifeless. He tossed her carelessly to the side in a tangled heap.
The vampire gave Becky a devilish grin. "I'm pretty full now but I could use some dessert." Marcus wiped the stray blood from his chin with his sleeve. "You look awfully sweet."
Becky didn't know how she knew it, but she was sure she could stop him. She looked on the ground and found a broken stick. Daddy always told her to look for ones like them for him. She never knew why before, but she felt better the minute she held it in her hand. "I'm telling you - you need to stop. That's not nice. It's not nice to hurt people like that."
"Ask me if I care." Marcus replied. His breath was ragged as he slowly inched towards her. "Come to me, little one. Let's get a taste of you."
In the distance Becky could hear her brother and Chloe calling her name. She didn't turn around.
Marcus lunged for her and she threw the stick with lightning speed. She used so much force that her little body flew backwards and onto the ground.
"Becky..." Chloe said as she reached her side and bundled her up in her arms. The little girl was shaking like a leaf.
"Oh my God. I don't believe it." Grant said as he glanced over at his little sister in complete shock. He caught Chloe's gaze and stared into her eyes. "She actually got him."