A/N: So here it is. The End. I hope everything is resolved the way you'd like. Please let me know what you think or if there's anything you think I've missed. I tried to tie everything up the best way I could. :)
I feel the need to say thank you once again. I never realized just how much I'd enjoy writing and knowing there were people who would care enough to read leaves me in complete awe. While I take a little time off I'm sure I'll miss it – and I have a feeling there are more stories to be told. So – despite reports to the contrary - I'll be back in a bit. If you want to know when I'll post a new story (or just want to say hi!) please check my profile and email me. I promise I'll email you back and will let you know when to check here for the next installment. And OH - I also promise my next story will not feature Rali in a nursing home. LOL! ;)
Until – well – next time I guess. Enjoy! xox-G
Chapter Ninety-two
Epilogue
Having his powers restored made him incredibly happy – but for the first time it was nothing compared to the happiness he'd felt in the past few years.
Caleb had never been more content. It was amazing but true. Colin no longer cringed in his presence. As a matter of fact, they'd become friends. It hadn't easy but in the past few years he and his son had grown closer than he ever imagined.
Life was good. He never believed it could happen and he'd never truly admit it but the slayer was right. Living a world away from Port Charles proved to be the best solution of all.
"Papa!" Rachel called out as she ran to him. She stopped when she reached his side and tugged on his leg. "Up!"
He looked down at his little girl, with her dark curls and her crystal blue eyes. He knew when he saved his son he received a gift in return. He scooped her up and buried his face in her neck, holding her close. He felt a pang in his heart - unbelievably – for Rafe, wondering how he himself would react when the time came to say goodbye to his own little girl. Looking at her sweet face right now, he didn't think he could ever do it.
"It's today." He heard Livvie say from the edge of the courtyard.
"I know." Caleb replied. "Are you sorry we aren't there?"
Livvie shook her head as she walked over to him, running her hand down the length of her daughter's hair. "No. I want Colin's day to be peaceful. If we came he'd be too worried something would spoil it." Though her heart broke a bit she reassured him. "We'll see them when they come here in a week."
"It's odd the way things turned out isn't it Olivia?" Caleb said with a smile.
"It is." She agreed as she moved into his arms and kissed him softly. "But I truly think that this is the way it was always meant to be."
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"Come on. This shouldn't be so hard." Rafe grumbled as he tried for the third time to fasten his cufflinks.
Alison paused as she walked past the door to their bedroom. Her heart went out to him. "Sweetheart? Do you need some help?"
"I – yeah. I –" He stammered as she moved towards him. She took each of his wrists in her hands in turn and fastened them in seconds. His eyes roamed over her and he sighed. "Alison. You look beautiful."
She smiled up at him. "Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." He kissed her quickly and eased away, looking nervously at himself in the mirror.
"It's going to be OK." Alison promised. "Kate's incredibly calm. She'll be able to help you."
Just then they heard Becky call out – her voice desperate. "MOM!"
"What now?" Rafe said, laughing in spite of his nerves.
Becky appeared in the doorway – looking much too grown up for her father's liking. She was thirteen now. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she was wearing a long gown of pale pink, carrying her first pair of heels in her hand. "Ella will not let me comb her hair. Mom – she's like five seconds away from ruining her dress. She keeps running outside to play with Aidan. She won't sit still."
Alison smiled. Five years ago, Becky had been so excited to have a little sister. She expected to dress her up in ribbons and bows from the moment they brought her home. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be. Ella was a complete contradiction to her name. Though she was quite pretty she was anything but fairylike. She'd much rather be spattered with mud and catching frogs with her cousin Aidan.
Abby brought a squirming Ella up the stairs. "I promised her a dollar to get her up here." She said with a sigh. "Cam's got Aidan cornered in the den. I'm guessing you have about five minutes before she tries to make a run for it." She said as she put the little girl down.
Rafe tried not to laugh as Alison tried to reason with their daughter. "Ella – honey. I know you want to play and I promise you later you can. Please..." Alison begged. Becky was right. Ella was a mess. Her honey colored curls were a mass of tangles and the sash of her dress was dragging on the ground. She looked completely miserable in all those ribbons and tulle. Moving quickly, Alison spun her around and retied the bow on the back of her dress. "Sweetie - please let Becky fix your hair."
"Uh uh. No way. She pulls at it." Ella said with a pout. "Even Daddy can do it better."
Becky rolled her eyes and glared down at her sister. "I should have named you Elf." She said as she marched away in a huff.
Abby laughed loudly. "OK. I'm going to go downstairs to check on everything for you. Lucy's been running around for so long she's about to keel over." She smiled wider as she got a good look at them. "You two look like a magazine ad. I swear, you look like this could be your wedding."
"That's sweet of you. Thanks Abby." Alison said gratefully as she took Ella's hand a led her into the bathroom, praying she wouldn't scream bloody murder when she tried to fix her hair.
Rafe was once again alone and at a loss. He wandered into the hallway and his heart began to ache. It broke in two at the sight of Katie standing in front of a mirror in her old bedroom.
She caught his image in the glass and turned to face him, smiling widely. "Daddy..." She sighed.
"Princess." He said his voice shaky. He once stood in this room rocking her to sleep in his arms. Now, nearly twenty-five years later, here she was getting married. How on earth did it happen? He tried to find the words to tell her what he was thinking but only one thing filled his mind. "My God. You look stunning."
"Thank you." She said, blushing a bit. "You've called me that forever but honestly this is the first time I've ever felt like one." She could see that he was a wreck. "Dad. It's going to be OK." She promised him as she leaned up to kiss his cheek.
"How can you so calm?" He said with a nervous laugh.
"Because..." She replied as she moved to look in the mirror again. "I know exactly what I'm doing. I've never been surer of anything in my life."
"He's good for you." Rafe said softly.
"Yes – he is. And I know how hard that is for you to admit." She said with a smile as she turned to face him.
Rafe shook his head at her and smiled back. "No. It's not so hard – Katie. Anyone who makes you smile like that is OK by me."
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Everyone had assembled in the back yard. Lucy had outdone herself again. The sky, thankfully, was a clear vivid blue. Fresh flowers lined the aisle and everything looked so lush and green. It looked like a beautiful English garden. Colin smiled thinking it looked just like the one at his parent's home.
Alison walked down the aisle, flanked by Danny and Ethan. Inhaling deeply she took her seat, clutching a beautiful lace handkerchief. She knew in a matter of minutes she would need it.
Chloe, Lia, Lynnie and Becky stood together and whispered softly, waiting for their cue. As soon as Colin and Grant took their places at the other end, Chloe and Quinn began to walk. She smiled brightly at Grant as she reached him, her head swimming with dreams of when she'd be walking towards him for real. She knew it was only a matter of time.
Grant's heart almost burst at the sight of her. He fidgeted nervously knowing that tonight – when he took her home – to the apartment they shared over the gym - he'd be asking her to be his.
Lia and Lynnie walked as a pair, today completely identical right down to the sparkling diamonds each wore on her left hand. Some of the guests couldn't tell which girl was which, without staring into their eyes, but there were two men who didn't have a doubt. Danny smiled widely as Lia gave him a wink before she took her place and Ethan grinned as he watched a tear run down Lynnie's cheek. He knew for a fact that she was only crying because she was so happy.
Aidan and Ella came next – Aidan was trying his hardest to be serious as Ella looked bored as she threw rose petals on the ground. You could almost see an idea hatch in Ella's mind and the crowd laughed loudly when at the end, she dumped the remaining flowers right over his head.
Becky followed, her face beaming as she wobbled a bit on her heels. As they took their places and the music changed. Colin looked towards the end of the aisle and couldn't believe his eyes. A gasp came over the crowd as they turned to see for themselves.
Rafe held Kate's arm in his - willing himself not to faint. "It's OK, Daddy." She whispered, with a smile, trying to reassure him. "Come on. Let's go."
Her gown was made of fine ivory silk that swished and whispered when she walked. Seed pearls and a hint of sequins trimmed the strapless bodice and a train, six feet long, trailed behind her. She didn't wear a veil. Her hair curled loose around her shoulders, with a small sprig of wildflowers holding it off her face. Rafe couldn't help but remember how similar she looked to her mother; the first time he married her all those years ago.
Colin finally took a breath as Rafe placed Katrina's hand in his. He leaned close and whispered staring Colin dead in the eyes. "Listen to me closely. I'm trusting you to take care of her."
Colin smiled slightly, knowing that even today – her father wouldn't change. "I promise you. I will." He replied, never meaning any words more in his life.
Rafe moved on trembling legs to sit beside Alison, who immediately reached over and took his hand in hers. He raised it to his lips and kissed it gently, calmer just sitting next to her.
The minister welcomed everyone and then Kate turned to face Colin holding his hands tightly. She took a deep breath and smiled up at him as he began to speak.
"No one would ever have believed it – yet at the same time it I think it was inevitable. Our families have been connected forever but this time – finally - it will be in the best way possible. It wasn't easy. I never expected it to be. But here you are – and here I am and everything is just as it should be. Katrina - you're stubborn and headstrong and opinionated but those things just make me love you more. The fact you love me is astounding. Meeting you – falling in love with you is the greatest gift I've ever gotten. And I promise you – I'll treasure every moment I have with you for now and for always."
Alison held Rafe's hand tighter, knowing, that despite his efforts this next was going to be difficult for him to get through. She smiled as Colin began to speak again.
He gave her hand a squeeze and smiled wider as he looked into her eyes, love spilling from his own.
"I, Colin Roderick Morley take you, Katrina Abigail Kovich to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will love, honor and cherish you all the days of my life."
As he finished, Kate smiled, her eyes brimming with tears, never imagining that she'd be standing here with him. She took a deep breath and started to speak. "I should have hated you. Everything I've learned all my life screamed at me to run as far and as fast as I could away from you but almost from the moment I met you it was impossible. You've always been different, Colin. It didn't matter where you came from. I've loved you from the minute I met you because I knew from the start. Despite where you came from, there was something so gentle and kind and decent about you. You're all I ever dreamed of and more. The way that you love me staggers me. Colin," She said with a sigh as she lifted a hand to his face and stared into his eyes. "I am so incredibly lucky to have found you."
"I, Katrina Abigail Kovich take you, Colin Roderick Morley to be my husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. I will love you, honor and cherish you all the days of my life."
She was laughing as he placed the ring on her finger, her hand trembling as she moved to give him his. And before Kate knew it, she was wrapped in his arms and he was kissing her breathless.
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Rafe stood alone in the living room. There were crushed rose petals under his feet and candles burning low, their light flickering around the room. In what seemed like minutes the reception was over and the house felt empty. Rafe didn't miss the hundred guests they'd had at all. All he could think of was that his little girl was gone.
It's not as if she'd lived here in years anyway, he thought trying to reassure himself. She moved out to live with Colin five years ago. He took a deep breath – lost in his thoughts.
Alison yawned as she made her way downstairs. She sighed at the sight of him. He looked so desolate. "Rafe?" She whispered as she came up behind him. She curled her arms around him and held him tight.
"Is Ella asleep?" He whispered as he took her hand in his and kissed it gently.
It hadn't been easy. Alison practically had to pin her down. But as soon as she did, her eyes closed almost immediately. She smiled thinking about their little girl. She looked so much like Rafe. "Yes. Finally." She said with a sigh, turning him to face her. "And Becky was fast asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow." She knew he was trying to change the subject. "Are you OK?" She asked – already knowing the answer.
"I miss her already." He admitted as he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
Kate and Colin were staying at the Port Charles Hotel for the night, but the next day they'd be off to Europe, stopping for a while in Romania to visit with Livvie and Caleb. She knew this would be coming. Alison smiled up at him. "I know you do. But it's more than that isn't it?"
"No." He insisted. She gave him a look that said she didn't believe it. "Yes. OK. Alison..." He took another breath and made himself say the words. "I can't believe it's true. Her last name is Morley now."
Alison bit her lip and tried not to laugh. She knew that this would be what would pain him the most. "I know. I know that's hard for you, but you can see it can't you? He makes her happy – Rafe."
He nodded and moved to hold her close. "I know. My head knows that's true." He held her tighter and said softly. "Someone needs to explain it to my heart."
"Rafe..." She whispered, tears welling in her eyes. Suddenly the only thing that mattered was making him feel better. She gave him a sultry smile. "Did I mention how sexy you look today?"
He laughed as he gazed down at her. "Maybe."
"You do..." She replied. "There's something about you in a tux..." Alison giggled and moved closer to him winding her arms around his neck. "It might be because you only wear one once every ten years."
She tilted her face up to his and kissed him softly. He was smiling as he pulled away. "What about you? Alison..." He said with a sigh. "You look exactly the same as the moment I first saw you."
"That's sweet Rafe but it can't be true." She shook her head at him.
"You're right." He replied as he kissed her again. "You're even more beautiful today than you were then." He pressed his lips to hers and whispered softly. "You take my breath away."
"Rafe..." Alison breathed as she tugged at the tie he'd already loosened. With her eyes still closed, she pulled him over towards the couch and stumbled, laughing when they came crashing down together in a tangled heap.
She opened her eyes and smiled brightly at him. "Rafe. You're wrinkling my dress."
He thought, not for the first time today, that the lilac color reminded him of the dress she wore all those years ago - the first time he danced with her. "Really?" He said, moving to nuzzle her neck. "Maybe you should take it off then."
"Rafe..." Alison cautioned him. "The kids are upstairs."
"Speaking of kids..." He murmured as his mouth covered hers, stealing her breath.
"Oh no. Forget it. Rafe Kovich. Don't even think about it." She said with a strangled laugh as she tried to squirm away from him.
"What?" He asked innocently as he held her still.
"We're finished. For good. Our oldest daughter got married today. Just get a hold of yourself. In a few years you'll have grandchildren to spoil."
A pain shot right through his heart. "I'm still not OK with her getting married and now you're talking about grandchildren?" Rafe pulled away and glared at her. "You're trying to kill me – aren't you?"
"No. Never." She said softly, running a hand over his cheek. She gazed in his eyes, laughter glimmering in her own as she added. "But here's something that will make you feel better."
He knew that being here with her was all he'd ever need but he was still curious. "What's that?"
"They'll be Caleb's grandchildren too." She said with a smile.
"This is your way of making me feel better?" Rafe looked at her shocked.
"Yes. It should." She kissed him quickly before she finished. "Because from this point forward, chances are for generations to come there will be a group of slayers with the name Morley."
Rafe laughed out loud and pulled her to him, his lips seeking hers as he did. "So I guess I win after all."
Alison sighed, knowing that's truly all that mattered to him. "Yes – Rafe." She laughed as she kissed him back. "You win."
And they lived happily ever after....