Chapter Eighty-two
They walked along the cobblestone street. The sun was setting and it was starting to get dark. Lynnie wore her hair down today, Ethan happily noted. It was such a rich gleaming brown. It looked like a curtain of silk. It almost didn't look real to him.
She walked beside him quietly, stealing glances when she could. Lynnie had never felt so at ease around anyone outside of her family in her life. Ethan could see beyond the things that made her odd. It reminded her of what Chloe had told her. Someday she'd meet someone who would get it.
Too bad he'd get sent back upstairs soon too.
Ethan couldn't resist touching her any longer. He reached out and ran a hand down her hair. "Lynnie?"
"Yeah." She replied, her voice sounding far away.
"It's going to be OK." Ethan said, hoping she'd believe him. "I mean I think it will be. Did you happen to see something?"
Her heart lifted at the fact that he was so accepting of her little quirk. He just mentioned it like he was asking her about the weather.
She smiled at him. "No. Not since yesterday."
Ethan nodded and straightened his glasses, a trait Lynnie found too cute for words.
"That reminds me. I wanted to thank you for taking care of me." Lynnie said softly as she continued to grin at him.
"It was my pleasure." He gave her a shy smile and couldn't quite meet her eyes. He found out it was easier to just let her talk. He asked her a question that seemed completely out of the blue. "So. Explain your family to me."
She looked a him funny. "What do you mean?"
The color of her eyes was incredibly distracting. Ethan fought to focus. "Rafe is your uncle by marriage – right?"
Lynnie nodded. "Right. He married my mother's sister. They're really half-sisters I guess but that doesn't matter. They're as close as Lia and me. They could almost be twins themselves."
"So you're not a clairvoyant vampire slayer?" He asked then.
Lynnie gave him a nervous laugh. "No. Just clairvoyant." She couldn't stop laughing as she added. "Why? Would that be one too many things for you to handle?"
Ethan laughed back. "No. Not at all. You're talking to an angel remember?"
Lynnie sighed, "How could I forget? My dad was one once."
"Seriously?" Ethan didn't believe her.
Lynnie nodded. "It's a long complicated story. He died in a car accident. My mom came to Port Charles – where we live – and she got caught up with Caleb and my aunt and uncle and she did something to save them all once. As a reward – my dad came back. They'd been in love since they were kids. Guess someone upstairs wanted them to have their happily ever after. Which is lucky for me." She said with a giggle.
"Me too." Ethan whispered, too low for her to hear. He began to caution himself. This is crazy, Ethan. You can't stay. Stop wishing you could get to come back too.
She noticed the change come over him and tried to bring him back. "Ethan?" Lynnie reached for his hand.
"Yes?
"Could you please tell me what happened to you?" She asked, her eyes full of kindness. She got embarrassed and looked away quickly. "I just was wondering. I'm sorry. If I'm being too nosy – just say so."
Ethan's mind was spinning with thoughts. He never thought it was such a big deal. He'd lost his family long ago. He was all alone in the world when he died and he just chalked it up to bad luck - being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Nothing he'd had on earth ever made him feel like he'd missed out on anything. Nothing that is until he met Lynnie. Whenever he was alone with her he found himself flooded with longing. He would not complain a bit about being asked to watch out for her while her uncle and cousin fought demons. Any second he got to spend near her was more than he'd ever imagined.
He squeezed her hand and started to speak. "My parents died when I was really little. I mean – really little – I can hardly remember them. I lived with my father's Aunt Sally and she was great – but she was getting up there to begin with when they sent me to her. Aunt Sally tried really hard, she really took care of me – but as I got older it seemed I was taking care of her more and more. She passed away in her sleep when I was sixteen."
"Ethan…" Lynnie whispered. She had no idea what it was like to not have anyone to take care of her. She had both her parents and Aunt Alison and Uncle Rafe too. She couldn't even imagine growing up like Ethan did.
Ethan shrugged it off. He could feel emotions he'd buried start to rise and he didn't want to go there. Anxiously he plodded on, scared that someone as smart as Lynnie would look down on him when he told her this next. "I barely finished high school. I was good with making stuff – building. You know - like carpentry. I got lucky and got an apprenticeship with a guy who made custom cabinetry and furniture. I made good money – I could live on my own, and I was pretty good at it if I say so myself."
"I'm sure you were. You were on your own when you were sixteen." Lynnie said then. She held his hand tighter and gazed into his eyes, tears shining in her own. "Ethan that's amazing. I can't believe you did all that by yourself."
"Yeah." He replied, trying to sound casual but her words touched him more than he was ready to admit. He was beginning to feel uneasy so he rushed to finish. "I worked with him for almost six years. We had a late job one night and I stopped to get something to eat at a diner on the way home. It was kind of a sketchy neighborhood but I was starving and didn't feel like waiting till I got someplace safer. If I'd waited or if I was two minutes earlier or later walking in there I'd still be down here."
"What happened?" Lynnie asked, frightened but needing to know.
"I walked in on a robbery." He said his voice low and a bit empty. "I didn't see it coming. I didn't even see the gun. The shot came before it even registered what was going on. I honestly barely felt a thing."
"Ethan." Lynnie began to cry, imagining it all.
He couldn't bear to see her sad. "Don't do that." He said as he held her by the arms and made her face him. He rubbed a thumb over her cheek. "Please Lynnie. Don't cry over me."
"I'm sorry…" Lynnie tried to put on a brave face but was finding it difficult. "It's just that it's so unfair..."
"Don't be sorry." Ethan said then. His heart was breaking looking at her. "I just - I don't want to see you sad. Don't worry about me. Honestly? This is worth it."
"What is?" She asked, confused.
"Meeting you." He said softly, the words meaning more than any he'd spoken in his lifetime.
"Really?" Lynnie asked as she shivered a bit.
"Really." He replied as he took his jacket off and pulled it around her shoulders. "If I hadn't died, this would never have happened." He stared down at her for a moment, wondering if it was against the rules to kiss her. As much as he was aching to, he decided he couldn't risk it. Rafe was counting on him to keep her safe. If they called him back she'd be in danger. Maybe he'd still have time to know what'd it be like before he had to go. Maybe he'd get a chance to kiss her goodbye.
Reluctantly, Ethan eased away and grabbed hold of her hand, gently leading her down the street.
Lynnie sighed with disappointment. She was sure he was about to kiss her and then he started walking again. At least he was still holding her hand, she thought as she followed behind.
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Caleb walked down the stairs and overheard a ruckus in the foyer. He needed to get to Olivia, but it seemed she'd have to wait for at least a few more moments.
There were slayers invading his home it seemed.
Sighing, he made his way down the stairs. "I've got to get a better bouncer." He announced, his voice annoyed.
Rafe had decided the safest bet was to confront Caleb face to face. Grant stood shoulder to shoulder with his father, knowing there was no way they could lose. Not tonight. Not when Kate's life might be at stake.
"Where is my daughter?!" Rafe demanded.
"She's getting ready for tonight's festivities. She'll be dressed appropriately – which is more than I can say for you. Slayer, it's a formal ceremony. Don't you own anything that isn't the color of mud?" Caleb looked him over from head to toe with disgust. "How does Alison let you out of the house like that?"
Rafe wasn't amused. "Save it Caleb. I'm not in the mood for a fashion lesson – especially from you."
"You could use one - let me tell you." Caleb sighed and spoke again. "You and Junior here will have to stand in the corner of the room. Try and make yourselves inconspicuous will you? I don't want people to talk."
"Where is she?" Rafe wasn't playing around any longer.
Caleb looked at Rafe oddly. Grinning wickedly he caught Grant's eyes and said "Is the old man suffering from short term memory loss?"
"We are not leaving without Kate." Grant promised.
"Ah. Well." Caleb casually walked into the library with Rafe and Grant on his heels. He sat down in a huge wing chair and continued. "She's not leaving until she sees for herself that Colin's chosen to follow me. Then – when she's whimpering and wailing - you can take her home." He grinned as he added. "My ears are getting a bit sensitive."
"Colin didn't choose this – you did." Rafe replied. "I'm sure Livvie's not as overjoyed as you are about this whole thing."
"What thing? Your daughter – who could use a few etiquette lessons by the way – I'm telling you expect better manners from a girl who is half Barrington – and my son falling in – pardon me while I gag a little – love? Or you barging in and trying to ruin the party?"
Rafe narrowed his eyes and moved closer to Caleb, his eyes gleaming with anger. "NO. You – doing what you always do – threatening and coercing the people you claim to love into doing the unthinkable."
"You're wrong." Caleb stood and glared back at him, his voice wavering a bit.
"Am I?" Rafe looked around the room with interest. "Where's Livvie? Let's ask her if you've ever made her do something she didn't want to do." He said with a smirk.
"Olivia is here because she wants to be here." Caleb insisted.
"Trying to convince me or yourself, vampire?" Rafe could see he struck a nerve.
"I've had enough." Caleb shouted, his voice shaking more than before. He wanted Rafe to stop. The truth in his words was wounding him more than a stake to the heart.
Rafe smiled, knowing how proud Alison would be. She always said that this was Caleb and Livvie's weakness. Getting Caleb to accept Colin as a mortal was the key. His reaction to his words made him sure of it.
Rafe spoke to Grant in his mind and watched as his son went to shut the door, standing in front of it to block it. He knew he had the upper hand for the moment. "Too bad, vampire. You might as well make yourself comfortable. We're just getting started."