A/N: FYI – Rough translation - Colin calls his sister his little flower and asks how his girl is. Rachel replies, she's fine and calls him her famous brother and asks when he'll come to see her.
OH. Look who's back – well. Sorta. LOL! Until 21! xox-G
Chapter Twenty
One by one the guests left. Rafe smiled as he looked over at his two youngest children. He could see that Becky was floating on clouds, knowing her brother was happy at last and Ella was curled up beside her, sleeping soundly. She had worn herself out running around with Aidan and Ty all day. As twilight fell around them, he watched Alison picking up cups and plates from around the yard. He could honestly say that he felt almost completely content.
A small fear nagged him, in the back of his mind. He noticed that Kate hadn't seemed like herself today. She was usually running around after the kids but all afternoon she barely left the spot she sat in. Maybe he was imagining things. She was nearly five months pregnant. Maybe she was just having a bad day. He remembered how it used to be for Alison from time to time.
He glanced at her again. He knew it sounded cliché – but it was absolutely true. She looked as if she hadn't aged a day since he'd met her.
"Angel." He whispered as he crossed over to her, taking the heavy trash bag from her hands. "Go on inside. I'll finish up here."
She sighed as she leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you." She said with a smile as she pulled away and brushed off her hands.
He flashed her a grin. "Yeah – yeah. I know. You love it when I'm domestic."
"True enough. But mostly I just love you. Today was a good day, wasn't it?" She said softly as she reached up to brush the hair off his forehead.
"It was a great day." He replied. As he did, he noticed her brow was a bit wrinkled. "Alison. What's the matter? Are you alright?"
She spoke tentatively. "I don't want you to go crazy when I say this."
Fear crept up his spine as he almost yelled, "What?!"
Alison tore her gaze from his. "Rafe. Relax, please. I'm not sure it's even anything to worry about." She held him still and tilted her chin up at him. "Didn't Katie look tired today?"
Rafe exhaled. So that's all it was. He shrugged his shoulders and grabbed a pile of paper plates from the table, shoving them into the bag. "A bit. But she's pregnant. You looked tired a lot when you were carrying her too you know."
He was probably right, Alison thought as she nodded and held back a smirk. "You know. That's the first time you've mentioned that without your voice shaking."
Rafe stared at her, dumbfounded. "Alison. Stop. That's entirely untrue."
"No. It's not." She giggled back at him, gazing over his shoulder at Becky and Ella before meeting his eyes again. "You can't stand that she's so grown up. And I know you, Rafe Kovich. You've already more than proven it's driving you crazy that Becky's about to start dating. And I can tell. You're already worried because you can't keep it from happening with Ella soon too."
Rafe's heart ached at the thought of his little girls growing up and starting lives of their own. "She's just a baby..." He whispered.
"No. She's not, Rafe. Ella's eight." Alison said as she rolled her eyes.
"I meant Katrina." He said with a sad smile as he dropped the bag and pulled her close.
Alison's eyes filled with sympathetic tears. "Aw. Sweetheart." Alison said as she hugged him tightly. "I guess we should have had more boys huh?"
"No." Rafe shook his head as he pressed his lips to the top of hers. "Not that I don't love Grant – you know that I do - but there's something about the girls that..."
Alison smiled up at him. It always amazed her that he couldn't see these things for himself. "You're a protector, Rafe. That's part of who you are. And I think because you grew up without your dad – because it was just you and your mom – I think that's why it's your first inclination is to protect women. It's like its second nature to you."
He'd never thought of it that way. "It is isn't it?"
"Yes it is." She said as she laid her head on his chest again. "So that's why I made sure to give you plenty of daughters."
"You certainly did." He hooked a finger under her chin to tilt her lips towards his. "Thank you." He whispered as he kissed her softly.
"You're welcome." She said with a smile as she kissed him back.
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"Grant?" Chloe said softly as she lay in his arms. Her eyes were still shut tight, as if she was afraid to open them.
"Yes." He whispered back at her, placing a kiss on her hair. His fingers strummed up and down the arm she had curled around him.
He shifted back to gaze at her, his mouth curving into a smile. "Chloe." He chuckled at her. "Open your eyes."
She shook her head and snuggled closer. "I'm scared." She admitted.
"Don't be scared." He murmured as he traced a finger across her cheek. "I'm right here."
She opened one eye slowly, causing him to laugh louder. He couldn't believe he was able to. But here he was, with Chloe wrapped in his arms. Nothing on earth made him as happy as having her close to him again.
Chloe had both eyes opened now and was gazing lovingly into his. "I'm not dreaming." She said, her voice definite.
"No. You're not." Grant replied with a grin.
"I'm here with you? We're here together?" She teased, already knowing the answer.
"Yes. You are and yes we are. I'm never letting you go. EVER AGAIN." He said as he tightened his hold on her and pressed his mouth to hers.
She kissed him gently and sighed as he pulled away. "We're getting married." She said quietly, her eyes still closed.
Grant took her hand in his and kissed it, right above where he'd placed her ring just hours before. "That's the plan." He replied with a grin.
"Tonight." She said as she opened her eyes again and gave him a smile.
"What?" Grant brushed her hair off her face gently. He was sure he'd heard her incorrectly.
Her smile grew. "Marry me tonight - Grant. I don't want to wait anymore." She pleaded at him with her eyes.
"Chloe..." He whispered her name and took a deep breath. Grant knew he would do anything she asked, but he was afraid she was rushing because she still didn't trust that their little nightmare was over. She deserved a real wedding, just like the one they had called off a year before. "Hold on a second. We have all the time in the world."
She shook her head at him. Her hands moved to caress his face as she stared into his eyes. "We've wasted too much of it already. I want to be your wife, Grant. I want to make a home and a family with you. That's never going to change. It didn't change the whole year I was such a fool to spend away from you..."
"Chloe. Don't." He kissed her firmly on the mouth, her words lost on his lips. "Shh. It's over now. Don't keep beating yourself up about that. I stayed away from you too. We both made mistakes..."
Chloe nodded. "And I don't want to make another one." Her eyes lit up like stars as she continued. "Let's go. Tonight, Grant." She kissed him quickly and pressed herself closer to him. "Please? I want to wake up tomorrow – in your arms of course...." She kissed him again before she finished. "...and I want to be Mrs. Grant Kovich when I do."
"Chloe..." He sighed, knowing as he stared at her face he was powerless to resist her.
"Tonight, Grant." Chloe smiled as she kissed him again. "Please. Marry me. Be mine forever."
Grant's heart burst as he looked at her, leaning down to touch his forehead to hers gently. "Oh Chloe. You know that I already am." He promised.
She knew she had him right where she wanted him as she replied. "Then let's make sure the world knows it too."
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Colin paced the apartment, his gaze falling on Kate as she slept. He could see that she was growing weaker. She was trying to fight it but their temporary solution to the problem was indeed just that. Despite all they hoped, it was clear Katrina wasn't getting any better.
He picked up the phone and regarded it closely. He had told her he wouldn't do this – but he was losing her. He needed to stop it before it was too late.
Taking a deep breath, he dialed.
"Hallo." A sweet, tiny voice answered.
"Meu drăguţ deget mic floare. Cum is meu fatã?" He said with a smile.
Rachel laughed at him, "Fin meu celebru frate. Cînd eşti tu venire la spre a vedea eu?"
"I'll try and come soon. Yes." Colin smiled wider. He could see a picture of her in his mind. She was five now and the sweetest thing on earth. "How is everything there?"
"It's good. Papa said you can come visit when the baby gets here. I already have a present for him."
"Really? That's nice, but Rach, sweetheart. You don't know that the baby is a boy."
"It is. Papa said so." His sister replied definitely.
"Listen to me, pretty one. Trust me. Don't go believing everything Papa says." Colin said with a laugh. "Now tell me something. Is he there? Can I talk to him?"
"He's right here." Rachel said with a nod. "Bye Colin."
"Bye. Te iubesc, Rachel."
"Te iubesc." She giggled as she handed Caleb the phone.
"Colin." Caleb said with a smile. "It's been a while. How are you?"
"I'm OK..." He glanced at Kate again, fighting the thoughts that filled his mind. Was he betraying her by trying to save her? He shook the doubts from his mind and made a decision. Making sure she and the baby were well was all that mattered. "Dad. It's Katrina."
"What's wrong?" He could hear the panic in his son's voice.
"We're not sure. Dr Ramsey seems to think that it's a problem with our family history. The fact that Katrina is a slayer..."
"...that your blood doesn't mix." Caleb finished for him.
Colin couldn't believe his ears. "YOU KNEW?" His voice rose in anger. He tried to keep himself calm. Waking Katrina wouldn't help matters much.
"Colin..." Caleb began.
Colin's blood began to boil. They had come so far over the years but he was so worried about Katrina that rational thought flew from his head. "You will tell me what you know. NOW. If you knew this was possible – how could you not say anything??"
"Colin..." Caleb tried again. "Please. Calm down."
"She's – my God, she's probably dying and you tell me to stay calm." Colin was frantic and wouldn't be swayed. He'd held back his feelings for Katrina's sake but now that he'd broken down, there was no turning back. A thought entered his mind and his anger gained strength. "You know what? Maybe this is what you wanted. Maybe this is your sick way of getting back at me – back at us."
"You don't know what you're talking about. You wouldn't be with her if it weren't for me." His father replied, his own temper beginning to flare.
"I can't believe I fell for it." Colin's voice shook with disbelief.
Watching from across the courtyard, Livvie's eyes went wide. Like a child half her age, Rachel came to crawl into her lap, the sound of Caleb's voice greatly upsetting her.
Caleb glanced over at his wife and daughter. He tried to reign in his temper and reason with his son. "Colin. Listen to me. I will admit you and the slayer's daughter – being together?" He shook his head. "Not something that I'm totally comfortable with. But I can't believe after what I gave up for you you'd still think that I was plotting against you."
"Oh get over it. You're back to your old self now." Colin's voice sounded hollow. "You want me to believe that you had no part in this? OK then. Tell me. Please. How can I fix this?"
"I didn't say that I knew how." Caleb replied. "I simply said that I'm not surprised to hear about the problem."
Thoughts swirled in Colin's head. He could feel himself losing all control. Just the thought of losing Katrina made him crazy. He continued his attack.
"It's not just a problem. This is her life I'm talking about - my child's life. If you had any idea that this could happen I can't believe you haven't said something before." Horror filled his voice, contempt lacing each word. "Unless I'm right - maybe this is exactly what you've been waiting for."
If Colin had been thinking clearly he'd realize that his father had had enough. "I'm only saying this once. I DIDN'T PLAN THIS." Caleb roared in his ear. He sighed and watched as Livvie stood and carried Rachel into the house, her eyes filled with tears. He turned his attention back to the conversation at hand, disappointment evident in his voice. "But, you believe what you want Colin. You will anyway."
Caleb hung up the phone – wondering how eight years of peace could vanish in an instant. Colin didn't want to hear the truth. If he'd been able to reason with him he might have been able to give him and Katrina some sort of hope.
Caleb sighed heavily. He knew that this wasn't going to be easy – making up with his son, but at this point he thought it might be ten times more difficult to make up with his wife.
