A/N: It's been rough the last week. I'm in a little slump - but it's nothing that a bit of MH can't fix. :) So - here you go. A little Cabby, a little Rali and a bit of GC mixed in. ;) Until 63! Enjoy! xox-G
Chapter Sixty-two
"Abby. Calm down." Cam said for the four millionth time since he'd met her.
"Cameron. I can't. Don't you see? There's so much happening." Abby looked at him, completely frustrated.
"No. I don't see actually. You're the one who's clairvoyant." He said with a laugh.
"You're not funny." Abby glared at him.
He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her close. "Don't lie to me. You think I'm a riot usually." He said with a grin.
She started to kick as he moved to lift her off the ground. "Don't spin me around. I swear to you I'll get sick all over you." She said as she kicked him again.
"Ow!" Cameron shivered and set her back down.. "God. What an image."
"Are you finished?" Abby asked with a sigh.
"Yes. Yes. I was just…" He smirked at her. "I was just trying to cheer you up."
"I know sweetie and it's precious and charming but we've got vampires roaming the streets."
Cam looked at her curiously. "Do you ever wonder what it'd be like if you ended up with Rafe instead of me?"
"WHAT?" She cried, wondering what the hell he was saying.
Cameron kept laughing, unable to stop. The look on her face was priceless. "Can you imagine it? If you and your sister switched places. You two would be out chasing evil and Alison and I would open a catering business."
Abby blinked and looked at him in shock. "Should I be jealous?"
"No. You should be resting." Cam said as he pulled her to him and kissed her soundly.
As always, he made her smile but she was still so worried. She took his face in her hands and made him look at her. "Cam. I can see it. Trouble is all around us."
Cam shrugged. "So. We'll get rid of it. We've done it before."
"It's more complicated now. The kids…" She trailed off and looked into his eyes. "I thought we were finished."
"I know we all did." Cam replied as he kissed her softly. "We'll figure it out together. It'll all be OK."
"How?" She asked with tears in her eyes.
"I'm not sure - but we will." Cam said softly. "We always do."
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"Rafe. I'm sure you didn't start this." Alison said softly as she ran a hand over his hair.
Rafe pulled away and got up. "I did. It had been peaceful up until that point. I didn't know what I was doing and now it's the same with Becky. He'll want revenge."
"He always wants revenge." Alison said with a sigh. "Rafe. That doesn't mean you have to fight him right now. Let's just see what happens."
"Alison." Rafe said as he moved to sit beside her again. She looked so hopeful, the way she looked at him with her eyes opened wide, trusting that he'd know the right thing to do. He stared into her beautiful eyes and took a deep breath. It pained him to have to admit it, especially to her. "I don't know how to fix this."
"It's OK." She said with a smile as she moved closer to him. "I'll help you."
"NO." The word came out more like a command. "You won't."
"Rafe…" She began.
He wouldn't hear it. "I said no. One of our children is already in danger. I can't let you do that. Alison, please. You still need to take it easy,"
Alison continued to smile. "I don't mean I'll go out there and fight him - Rafe. I mean I'll help you figure out the best way to. Colin is the key." She said, her voice definite.
"Colin?" Rafe asked.
"Mmmm hmmm. Can't you see? Caleb and Livvie are up against the unthinkable. A son who prefers to be mortal. Imagine how you'd feel if Katie and Grant shunned their calling to be slayers. Imagine what it would be like if - and I know it's impossible - but if they chose to live a life like Caleb and Livvie do. It would just about kill you."
Rafe had no idea where she was going with this. He stared at her, completely confused.
Alison could see he was missing the point. He looked so cute when he was perplexed. She giggled and kissed him soundly before she spoke again. "We need to get them to accept each other. Then they'll be able to live in peace."
He shook his head at her. She was always so optimistic. "Oh. Really? Is that all?" He needed to figure something else out because that plan was next to impossible. He tried to stand but she held on tight.
Alison pulled at his hands and made him sit. "Rafe. You've been fighting for so long, longer than I ever imagined. You've won so many battles and I couldn't be more proud of you. This one's different. It can't be won by slaying Caleb - you know that's not the answer."
He sighed as he leaned in and gave her a kiss. "And you know what the answer is?" He asked, unconvinced.
Alison nodded. She had to make him see. "Of course I do. It's not going to be easy. It's going to take a lot of hard work but we can do it. I know we can. It won't be that hard if we can just make them see the truth."
She made his eyes meet hers and she looked at him lovingly. "Rafe, despite it all they love each other. And we know that evil is no match for love now don't we?"
"Alison…" Rafe said with a laugh. He couldn't argue with her there. There was still a lot to consider, but she did have a point.
As he moved closer Alison smiled wider. She knew he'd see the light eventually. "Don't we?" She said again as she pressed her lips to his.
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Kate ran her hand through Becky's hair again. Her little sister was sleeping soundly and thankfully untainted from her ordeal. She had been so worried about her but it had all turned out OK.
It was her brother she was worried about now.
Grant had left about a half hour before. She tried to talk him out of his plan to no avail. There was still something she could do, she was sure of it. In the morning she'd talk to Lia and Lynnie. Together she was sure they'd find a better solution.
In the meantime, Grant was making plans of his own - and the thought of them scared her to death. In just a few short months, suddenly her life was full of drama.
She was terrified of how it would all end.
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"Grant?" Chloe whispered as she walked into the gym. It was hard for her to sneak out but she had no choice. Grant had called and said he needed to see her. Nothing could keep her away.
"Over here." He replied from a far corner of the room.
She walked carefully over towards him, trying not to bump into anything. "Grant? What's going on?"
Chloe gasped when she got to the door of the studio. Grant had lit candles and spread a blanket on the mats that lined the floor. He'd brought a little picnic too.
"Is there some sort of occasion?" She asked with a smile, wondering what he was up to exactly.
Grant didn't smile back. "No. I just needed to talk to you alone."
He sounded so sad. "Is Becky OK?" She asked, thinking that was the cause of his sadness.
Grant shook his head no. "She's fine. Clo? Sit down with me for a second." He held his hand out to her.
She began to get an uneasy feeling in her stomach as she placed her hand in his. "You're scaring me." Chloe said in a whisper.
Grant sighed. That was the last thing he wanted to do. "I know. I'll explain in a minute."
Chloe sank to the ground and turned to face him, keeping his hand in hers as he moved to sit beside her. Grant's heart broke as he looked at her. He knew he'd woken her up when he called. It was clear from the way hair was curling crazily about her face, but even with that he couldn't help but notice how the candlelight made it glow. The color reminded him of a sunset. She rubbed at her eyes a bit, and they were heavy with sleep. He took a long look at her. She wore a soft green sweatshirt that nearly matched her eyes and an old faded pair of jeans. She'd never looked more beautiful to him.
He didn't want to drag this out. It was going to be so hard. He just wanted to get it over with. "Clo. You were there. You know what happened. Becky slayed one of Caleb's men."
"I know." She replied, still confused.
"She's too young to have to face up to that." Grant continued as he looked into her eyes.
Chloe nodded in agreement. "Oh. Of course."
Grant took a deep breath and held her hand tighter. He spoke so softly, she almost didn't hear him. "So I have to."
"What?" Chloe asked, not understanding.
"I have to Chloe." He said, his heart shattering as he did. He tore his eyes from hers and looked down to stare at their joined hands.
He was so brave, and sweet and kind. Chloe thought. If she hadn't known Grant her whole life, she'd be sure someone like him would be too good to be true. "It's OK." She said as she gave his hand a squeeze, causing him to look at her again. "I know you're trying to protect her."
Grant could see in her face that she didn't get it. "If I fight him, I might not make it back, Clo."
"What?" She gasped.
He took her face in his hands. "I might not make it back." He said again.
"That's crazy." Chloe said as she moved to stand. "Of course you will."
"Chloe. He's very strong. He's very powerful. My father was close to my age when he went up against him and lost. It could happen to me."
"No." Chloe shook her head at him.
"Chloe…" Grant just wanted to try and make her see.
"No." She insisted. "You'll come back to me. You have to."
Desperate to comfort her, Grant tried to pull her into his arms. "Chloe…"
She pushed him away and begged him to see reason. "Grant. You can't do this if it means you'll be in that much danger."
He sighed and crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking very much like his father. "Chloe. I can't let Becky take the blame for what happened. She's too young."
Chloe took a few deep breaths to calm herself. Fighting with him was pointless. He was incredibly stubborn. She knew that. She looked lovingly into his eyes. "I love you, Grant Kovich. I love what you're trying to do but it's not going to work."
Grant tried again. "I have to protect her."
It took a bit to get Chloe's temper riled up but now he'd done it. "I get that. I do. But you're too young too."
"I'm ready." Grant replied.
"To commit suicide?" Chloe stared at him, her eyes lit with anger. "Sorry. I won't let you."
"Chloe…" He sighed, his voice full of frustration. Why couldn't she understand that this was the only way to keep everyone safe?
Grant tried to speak, but it seemed Chloe wasn't finished. "I waited my whole life for you. I won't let you go now. You can't ask me to. It's unfair and it's impossible anyway. If you try to do this you won't be alone. I'll be right beside you."
"Oh no, you won't." Grant warned.
She shook back her curls and glared at him. "Oh yes. I will."
He took a deep breath and insisted. "No."
"Yes." She snapped back, her temper simmering.
"NO." Grant said again.
Her eyes were glittering a dangerous shade of green. He loved the fact that they changed color depending on her mood. Grant didn't think it was quite the time to compliment her though. She looked like she could snap him in two.
Her words certainly made him believe she could do it if she wanted to. "Don't you tell me what I'll do." Chloe yelled. "You can't stop me. You want to go fight Caleb, FINE. But you'll be bringing me with you."
Grant couldn't believe her. "What if I don't tell you when I'm going after him?"
"I'll find out." She vowed.
He almost laughed at her she looked so determined. "How?"
"I'll ask Lynnie. I'm sure she'll see it."
"Chloe, please." He tried again.
She cut him off again. "Grant. Get used to it. You're not alone anymore. You have me."
It was then that he smiled. "I do - don't I?"
Seeing him grin at her made her knees weak, She couldn't help but smile back. She stepped into his arms and touched her lips to his. "Yeah. You do."
Grant kissed her slowly, making her head spin. Chloe pressed herself closer to him and sighed. Her lips curved into a smile as she added. "And I'm telling you again, I'll never let you go."