A/N: If you are reading this you are a PC fan, and as such, the willing suspension of disbelief can't be much of an issue for you. Therefore, imagining that Rafe is able to drag people with him when he disappears and reappears won't be such a stretch. I'm not saying he's taking them on a field trip into someone's head - just a more direct route from upstate NY to Romania. Just pretend for me that it would be possible, OK? Thanks so much! :)

Oh and again – I don't speak Romanian. :) Any errors with the grammar in these next few chapters is due to that fact. My apologies.

Until 77 - enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Seventy-six

Reluctantly, Grant and Chloe came back inside. Kissing her again quickly, he went upstairs to change and grab a few things to take on the trip.

Rafe went off to collect his thoughts. He needed to prepare himself for one of the most important fights of his life.

Settled comfortably on the couch, Alison looked over at Abby and sighed. "I should have known something was wrong. I should have realized she was upset when she came home to get her bag."

"Alison…" Abby put her arm around her sister's shoulder and tried to comfort her. Melissa and Jack went to make coffee, Cam followed to get some tea for Alison and Abby. The kids retreated to the den. It didn't look like anyone was going home anytime soon.

Alison stared at her lap, running a hand gently over her growing stomach. "I was just so wrapped up in getting things ready for when Rafe came home. I was focused on celebrating our anniversary and meanwhile my little girl was making plans to run away."

Abby could see that she was blaming herself. "Don't do this. Alison, please."

"I was being selfish." She said with tears in her eyes as she turned to face Abby.

"No, you were taking some well deserved time with your husband. Please, sweetie. You know even if you did realize what she was up to, you couldn't have stopped her."

Lynnie moved quietly over to the edge of the couch. She had started to have these thoughts on the ride home from the airport. She hoped she could make them understand.

"Mom?" She said softly. "Can I talk to you for a second?"

"Sure, sweetheart." Abby patted the empty cushion next to her.

Lynnie took a deep breath and sat beside her. "Mom. I want to go too."

"Gwendolyn." Abby said softly.

"Please? I feel like maybe I can help them. If I can see what happens I can tell them and they'll have an advantage."

"Lynnie. It will be OK. Your uncle and Grant will be able to bring her back." Alison was trying to reassure herself as much as her niece.

"I'm sure they can. But…" Lynnie trailed off and blinked back tears. "I need to do something for Kate. It's still really fuzzy, but I think I know what happened that time when I disappeared for a bit. I'm sure that I went with Caleb. He wanted me to tell him something. I know I couldn't when he asked me to, but the fact remained, he wanted me to try and I almost did what he asked."

Abby had always known, but hearing her daughter say the words made her heart begin to pound. "If you remember that, then you realize how dangerous this would be."

"Please – Mom? Let me go with them. I need to do this." Lynnie pleaded.

Abby knew what her daughter was asking. As she looked into her pretty blue eyes she knew that if she was in her shoes she'd want to do the exact same thing. She knew at that moment, though the thought scared her to death, she had to let her go.

"Absolutely not." Cam said as he walked in from the kitchen.

"Cameron." Abby stood and faced her husband, taking the mugs from his hands. "I know what it's like to need to help the ones you love. I know what she's saying when she says she needs to do this."

Cam didn't speak; his heart was in his throat. He shook his head no.

Abby plodded on, hoping she could make him understand. "She won't be alone; Grant and Rafe will make sure she stays safe. I think we have to let her go."

"Abby. She's just a little girl." He whispered.

Abby moved to hold him tight. "I know it seems that way. I was thinking I should go myself."

"Oh no – you won't. I'm not letting you out of my sight. Might I remind you, you're four months pregnant."

"Is that what's going on?" Abby rested her hands on her stomach. "Gee. I thought I was just becoming overly bitchy and fat." Abby said, trying to lighten things up a bit. "Cameron, I wasn't going to go - I said I was thinking of it.

"Dad? Please. I need to do something to fix this. You have to let me try. Please?"

Lynnie's eyes looked so sad; he hated to see her that way. Deep down Cameron knew she hadn't been herself lately. Lynnie was always quiet and reserved, like the other side of the coin from Lia. But recently she'd been almost silent, she looked so lost and lonely and it killed him that there was nothing he could do or say to make her feel better. For the first time in a while, she actually showed some sign of life. If helping to save Kate would bring the light back into her eyes, he knew he couldn't say no.

"She's almost eighteen." Abby began, trying a new tactic.

"Stop." Cam said with a sigh as he kissed Abby's forehead. He ran a hand over her stomach as he walked past her and over to his daughter. "You be careful, Gwendolyn, do you hear me? You listen to your uncle and don't you ever go off on your own."

"I will. I won't. I promise." She said, her heart feeling lighter for the first time in weeks.

It was so amazing to have a family like this. Alison was reminded again that though things looked like they couldn't be worse, they were so incredibly lucky to have people like these in their lives. She ran a hand over Lynnie's hair and smiled a bit. "Honey? Why don't you run up to Kate's room and borrow a few of her things? Grant can show you where to get a suitcase."

Lynnie smiled back. "Thanks Aunt Alison." She turned to Cam and Abby and said, "Thanks Mom and Dad. I love you." She hugged them each in turn and ran upstairs.

"Shouldn't I just run her home quick? What about her passport?" Cam asked as he watched her go.

"If I know Rafe," Alison smiled despite how heavy her heart felt. "She won't need it."

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"Buna ziua" The man said as he took her bag.

"Buna ziua," Kate replied, her voice soft. She was so exhausted; she'd been flying all night. The bellman looked like he was near to a hundred and if she wasn't so tired she'd have taken her bag herself.

"Ce mai facet'i?" He asked her then.

How am I? Kate thought to herself. I've been flying for what seems like 100 hours, I have been wearing these same clothes for past 24 hours and the guy I love is here for the specific purpose of ruining his life. I've been better - buddy.

But she was polite and answered, "Mult'umesc bine, s'i dumneavoastra?"

"Bine, domnisoara". He replied.

Kate was so, so tired; she knew she couldn't keep up this conversation much longer. Her father taught her to understand Romanian something she always found to be odd. He rarely talked about where he grew up. It was like the minute he met her mother he put it all behind.

She thought she might as well give it a try. "Vorbiti engleza?" She asked her voice hopeful.

"As'a s'i as'a. Yes, miss." He gave her a smile. "I speak English."

"Thank goodness." Kate sighed. "I'm sorry but I'm not sure how long I'll be staying. I'm so happy you had a room available, I didn't know there was a festival."

"The festival begins tomorrow. I hope you have time to enjoy it. We will be happy to have you for as long as you wish." He said as he opened the door to the small, simply furnished room.

It had a bed that was the only thing she cared about at the moment. "Mult'umesc foarte mult," Kate said with a sigh as she walked through the door, digging in her purse to give him a tip. "And your English is much better than so-so." She whispered as she grinned at him.

"Cu plãcere. You're welcome and thank you." The bellman gave her another smile. Such a pretty girl, so far from home, he thought as he watched her. She reminded him of his granddaughter. "Enjoy your stay." He said softly as he pulled the door closed behind him.

She walked and clicked the lock into place and then crawled on top of the bed, giving in to sleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He hadn't been here in thirty years. He was surprised how much it looked the same, the small medieval looking towns, and the rolling mountains. Everything looked just like he'd left it. Despite the circumstances he was glad that his children were getting the chance to see where he came from.

Rafe didn't know why he hadn't been back before now. Maybe it was because the most recent memories he had of this part of the world was of losing his mother and then his own life. All his happy memories now resided with Alison. Once he met her, wherever she was became his home.

He remembered her face as he said goodbye, how brave and beautiful she looked. She tried not to look scared for his sake. "I love you." She said as she kissed him and held him tight. "Bring her home." She whispered as he eased away.

Sighing, Rafe knew he needed to focus. If he kept thinking of her he wouldn't be able to do what he needed to. Shaking his head to clear it, he wondered where to start.

They had settled into a hotel in Bucharest, but it was mostly just to take a bit of a break. He knew this was not where Kate would be. His daughter knew where one went to track down a vampire. The question was, where did she head first?

"Uncle Rafe?" Lynnie said softly as she touched his arm gently, trying to get his attention.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart. Yes?" He said as he turned to her with a smile.

"I wanted to tell you. I just saw something. She's in hotel in a little town. I probably can't say it right but it looks like it's called Sighisoara."

Lynnie was right. She'd butchered the pronunciation, but Rafe knew where she meant. That made sense. He always knew Kate was smart. If she was in Sighisoara already then she was really close to finding Colin. "Are you sure?" He asked as he looked in her eyes.

Lynnie's heart soared, it thrilled her to know she was helping. She had definitely made the right choice. "Yes." She nodded. "I'm completely sure."

"That a girl." Rafe kissed her forehead and smiled at her as he pulled away. "I have a feeling you're going to be my lucky charm." He motioned to Grant. Now that he had a place to start he was in a rush, already walking toward the door.