A/N: I suck at math. The year in the story is not 2025. It's 2030. Forgot to carry the one or something. Anyway – it was bugging me so I just thought I'd clear it up for all of you. ;)

I'm so, so glad you all seem to be enjoying the story so far. I'm happy to take you along on this ride with me. For the record, one day I will actually stop writing about PC. In a strange way it doesn't really feel like I am anymore – other than the fact that it was my inspiration. Anyway – someday – I'll have to move on.

Just obviously - not right now. ;)

Until 6! xox-G

Chapter Five

The wind kicked up and the sky looked ominous. Chloe had been driving for hours, lost in her thoughts. In her mind she was back to a happier time. Her happiest times, always, were times that held memories of him.

He took his hand and patted his jacket pocket, reassuring himself that her ring was still there. This was it – he thought, smiling as he imagined her reaction. He took her in his arms, his mouth moving over the smooth skin of her neck, his kisses ruining her concentration.

As his lips paused next to her ear, he felt her body shift nearer to him and heard her sigh. Smiling he whispered. "Tell me something. Do you love me, Chloe?"

Where on earth did he learn how to kiss? Chloe thought not for the first time. He was already driving her crazy and he'd just started. "Yes..." She breathed, almost unable to speak. "You know I do."

He smiled wider as his hands moved over her skin drawing her closer to him. Grant moved to graze her cheek with kisses, still smiling. "How much do you love me, Chloe?" He asked her then, already knowing her answer.

"More than anything." She promised him, completely impatient. She took his chin in her hands and pressed her lips to his.

Grant pulled back a bit and grinned widely, staring at her face. Her eyes were closed and she was desperately trying to bring him back to her. His voice was strong and sure as he asked her - finally - "OK. Well. In that case...will you marry me, Chloe?"

"Sure, Grant. Anything you say. Just kiss me." She demanded - so overwhelmed by him she completely missed the question.

Chloe suddenly realized he'd moved away. A few seconds later her eyes fluttered open. She blinked at him. "What did you just say?"

He grinned madly and held out the box with her ring. "Marry me, Chloe."

At the time she wondered why he had taken so long, now she had been so long without him. She remembered the words she'd said, when she could finally find her voice.

He laughed as she covered him in kisses, ignoring the ring he still held in his hand. "Chloe. You still haven't answered me yet."

Grant sat back a bit and removed the ring from the box. He took her hand in his and paused just short of slipping the ring on her finger, sighing at the look on her face. He knew her answer but wanted to hear her say it. "Let's try this again, OK?" He whispered and she nodded in reply. "Chloe Ramsey. Will you marry me?" He had no idea that he sounded exactly like his father did years ago when he added. "Will you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?"

Chloe couldn't speak. She simply nodded and tried unsuccessfully to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

Grant placed the ring on her finger and smiled as her hand grabbed onto his and held tight. "Chloe..." He whispered as he leaned closer. "Please say yes."

"Yes." She said so softly he almost didn't hear her. "Yes." She said again, louder this time, tears still spilling from her eyes. "Yes. Yes. Yes." She said with a laugh, kissing him between each word. "....a thousand times. Yes."

Thunder crashed in the distance. Tears poured down her cheeks almost as hard and as fast as the rain poured down on her windshield. She knew she'd shattered his heart when she broke their engagement. Did she really believe she could put it back together again?

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You've been quiet tonight." Rafe said as he walked up behind Alison, curling his arms around her waist. "Is everything OK?"

Alison knew that if she hinted that Kate might not be doing well, Rafe would drag her straight to the hospital tonight. Still, she couldn't lie to him. "I'm just thinking." She said with a sigh.

"Try worrying." He corrected her. He placed a kiss on the side of her neck. "Who is it this time?" He chuckled and smiled against her skin. "I've been behaving so I know it's not me."

"I'll be the judge of whether you're behaving or not." She laughed as she pushed the concern from her mind. She turned in his arms and smiled up at him. "Is Ella sleeping?"

"Yes. Not without a fight of course. I have to tell you it was funny, though. She insisted on wearing a nightgown." He said a bit confused as he pulled her closer. Ella usually wore her grubbiest sweatshirt or one of Grant's old t-shirts to bed. "When I commented on it she gave me a look that would kill and said, 'What?! I'm a girl you know!'"

Alison laughed loudly. "I think one of the girls at school is giving her a hard time. Becky was telling me she talked to her about it. She'll be fine. Just humor her."

Rafe moved to nibble at her neck again. As he did he whispered softly, "Where is Becky anyway?"

"Out with Maggie. She said she'd be home around eleven." Alison replied as she pressed herself against him. She felt his hands moving up and under the shirt she wore. "Rafe?" She giggled as his mouth grazed her cheek, inching toward her own. "Are you trying to cash in your rain check?"

"mmm. Maybe." He replied as he moved with her towards the bed. Thunder boomed in the distance. "Even though it's raining now." He smiled widely as he eased her down on the mattress.

Alison pulled Rafe to her, grinning as she felt his hands inch her shirt up, twisting so that he could free her arms. His lips sought hers and he kissed her passionately, beginning to take her under. In mere minutes, there was nothing filling her mind but him.

Nothing at all but his lips on hers - and the sound of the phone ringing in her ears.

"Let it ring." He begged her, his hands moving over her skin. "Don't answer it."

"Rafe..." She sighed. "Believe me I want to..." She smiled and kissed him quickly. "...but you know we can't."

Sighing himself, Rafe hovered above her, and stared into her eyes. Smiling, Alison fought to catch her breath and sat up to reach for the phone.

"Hello?"

"Mom?" Becky said softly, her voice full of tears.

Instantly alarmed, Alison reached for Rafe's hand. "Becky? What's the matter?"

Becky fought to keep calm, but her voice continued to shake. "Maggie and I, we were supposed to go to the movies, but she wanted to go to this party instead. She was supposed to drive but she can't now."

"Has she been drinking?" Alison asked then, glancing at Rafe who was already up off the bed, straightening his clothes and grabbing his shoes.

Becky didn't want to get her friend in trouble, but she knew it was already too late. "Uh huh." She said. A siren screamed in the background and Becky's heart sank. "And now. Oh great. The police are here. Mom. I'm so sorry. Please? Can someone come get us?"

"Your father's coming sweetie. Tell me where you are."

"Pete Baxter's. On Concord Street. It's a big white house with black shutters. I'll try to wait outside but it's raining hard now."

Alison sighed. "It's OK. He's on his way. Just keep an eye out. He'll be there soon."

Despite the fact that she knew she'd have a ton of explaining to do Becky heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks Mom."

"You're welcome honey." Alison hung up the phone and looked over at her husband. "She's at a party on Concord Street. The police, apparently, are on their way so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding her."

Rafe took a deep breath and tried to reign in his temper, concerned more about Becky than anything else. "Is she alright?"

"She's OK." Alison stood and walked to him. She rose on her toes and kissed him. "Go easy on her, she called us. She did the responsible thing."

"I know." He replied with a nod. Rafe hurried to the door and paused for just a second. "We will pick this up again later right?"

Alison laughed at the look on his face, despite the worry that filled her mind. "Yes. We will. You can count on it."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The engine sputtered, rousing Chloe from her thoughts. She eased the car to the side of the road, not at all anxious to have to go outside and look under the hood to see what was wrong. She didn't even think to glance at the gas gauge, which was the cause of the problem.

She reached for her cell phone, grumbling when she realized that she didn't have service. She took a deep breath and went out to brave the storm. It seemed if she wanted to get home tonight, she'd have to. Grabbing a flashlight, she opened the door.

The rain beat down on her, soaking her clothes and her hair. It was a warm spring night, but the raindrops felt almost like ice. She wiped the water from her face and peered under the hood, hoping she would find the problem quickly.

Grant drove slowly, watching where he was going closely. It was easy for him to get distracted when he had time to think. He blinked when he saw a car on the side of the road, its hazard lights flashing. Someone must need help. As he got closer he recognized the license plate.

"Oh God. Chloe." He said his heart beginning to pound. There was no way he could drive by and leave her to fend for herself. It would be incredibly hard to have to face her, but in all this time one thing hadn't changed.

He loved her. No matter what had happened, he always would.

Grant slowed and parked behind her car, steadying himself to get the courage to walk over to her. It wasn't that they hadn't run into each other since they said goodbye – but then there were always other people around. It would be the first time he'd have to face her alone.

She didn't see or hear him pull up. Chloe was startled and jumped a foot when he approached her. "Hey." He said softly. "Are you OK?"

Her heart was in her throat. She fought to find her voice, thankful that it seemed the rain was letting up finally. "Yeah. I'm alright." She nodded. "I don't know what happened. The car just died."

Grant moved closer to her, his pulse racing and his stomach in knots. He followed the light as she ran it over the engine. "Everything looks OK. Do you think it's the battery?"

"No." She replied, her hands beginning to shake. "The lights are still working."

Grant focused on the car and spoke softly. "Go back and try to start it for me. I want to check one more thing."

"Grant." Chloe's voice sounded incredibly guilty. "You don't have to..."

At the sound of her protest he glared at her and she trailed off. "Don't." He whispered. "Don't tell me you don't want me to help you, Chloe. You might not be able to stand the sight of me but please don't. No matter what's happened there's no way I'd let you stay stranded out here by yourself."

Chloe was thoroughly ashamed. It was clear that what she had done to him now made him feel like she couldn't stand him. She silently went and did what he asked.

She tried twice and still - nothing. Shaking a bit, she eased out of the car again. Grant moved to stand in front of her. "I think maybe you ran out of gas." He said.

Chloe nodded and braced herself. He had always nagged at her about that. She tended to drive around on empty for days.

He didn't say a word; he just stood there and stared at her. She was about to try and break the silence when a car flew past, dangerously close. In that split second Grant stopped thinking. Instinctively he shielded her with his body, pressing her up against the side of the car.

As he pulled away lightning flashed, illuminating her face. In an instant he was taken back in time, to the first time he'd seen her like that, her curls drenched and her eyes bright with tears. Though he knew he was on the side of a road in his mind he was right back in the barn with her the first time they had been together. Suddenly, he couldn't see or think of anything else. Grant didn't stop to think, he simply crushed his mouth to hers.

Tears fell from Chloe's eyes as she kissed him back, moaning softly when she felt his hands streak over her saturated clothes. They ended up tangled in her hair, tugging and pulling as he nearly devoured her in kisses. It had been so, so long. She'd missed everything about him and even though it felt so familiar there was something unusual. The Grant she knew before was gentle to the extreme, always careful in how he touched her, in how he kissed her. It was much different now. He wasn't rough exactly, but he was far from cautious. "Oh God, Chloe." He whispered as he tore his mouth from hers. Thunder rolled in the distance, suddenly snapping him out of it. What was he doing? He thought desperately. He couldn't believe he'd treated her so carelessly. He let her go quickly, almost as if she had burned him.

"Grant...." She sighed, reaching for him.

Mortified at how he'd just acted he stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets, not trusting himself. "Go get in my car. I'll drive you home."

"Grant..." She whispered, moving towards him. After a year feeling nothing she finally felt alive again. She couldn't walk away now.

Grant moved further away. "Get in the car, Chloe." His voice sounded hollow and distant. His eyes met hers and were full of sadness. "Please." He added softly.

Hugging her arms around herself she admitted defeat. Without another word she went to do what he asked.