A/N: I'm off again girlies. I swear I should start dating a guy at the airport because barely a week goes by before I'm there again. :( But on this trip I predict I'll have tons of time to write – so expect another chapter sometime soon. ;) And yes Katie – thank you for the warning. I'll watch my back – err - neck – whatever the case may be. LOL!

I'm realizing something the more I write. In every story - something just sneaks up on me without warning. In Resolution I created Grant and Chloe - the couple I had no idea I was writing about when I started. Now - this time - it's Quinn and Billie. They're filling my head at the moment - so forgive me if I seem to be honing in on them. I can't help myself. ;)

So here are my questions for you. Will Kate tell Rafe the truth? Will Billie finally give Quinn the time of day?? Will Grant and Chloe ever leave their apartment and come up for air???? Answers to all that and more await you – so ENJOY!

Until 29! xox-G

Chapter Twenty-eight

They sat at the table, candlelight flickering around them. Chloe smiled as she leaned forward and speared a bite off of Grant's plate. She brought it to her lips and paused before popping it in her mouth. "Two more days..." She said, her voice wistful.

Grant grinned as he watched her. "Are you sure you did the right thing?" He asked.

She took a sip of her wine and gave him a confused look. "Hmm? What do you mean?"

He reached for her hand and held it gently in his, tracing a finger over her palm, making her shiver. "Marrying me. I mean – this is quite a honeymoon." He picked up her hand brought it to his lips. "I obviously spare no expense. I mean, how luxurious is this? A weeks worth of take out in a studio apartment."

"I've never been surer about anything." Chloe replied, her eyes locked with his. "And as long as I'm alone – with you? Grant, it doesn't matter where I am. This is perfect." She beamed at him. "You're perfect."

He laughed as he gave her hand a tug. They certainly had made up for lost time. They spent the last few lazy days in bed together, existing only on the love they shared, every touch proving they only needed each other to survive. They curled up at night, snacking on popcorn and watching old movies. Chloe couldn't believe it. It was as if time stood still. They had picked up right where they left off. Except this was even better. Something had changed since their wedding. Because they had lived without each other – they had learned to cherish every single moment. The feelings and emotions they had now were immense, and they knew – impossible as it seemed, it would just keep growing.

Chloe stood and walked over to him, giggling. She shrugged to straighten out the collar of the sweatshirt she wore. "This is my favorite place in the world. Let's never move." She said with a smile. Another thought filled her head as she continued. "You know, Grant. Not that I don't enjoy borrowing your clothes..." Chloe said as she stood and moved to him. She sank into his lap and curled her arms around Grant's neck. She kissed him deeply before she continued. "But I am going to have to move my stuff back in here."

His hands inched up under the shirt, and she shivered and kissed him again. As she pulled away he murmured against her neck. "Hmmm. Really? Clo? Are you talking about clothes? Because see - I don't think you need to wear anything..."

"Grant..." She giggled louder as he crooked an arm under her knees stood, scooping her up and carrying her towards the bed. Standing beside it he dumped her squarely in the center with a bounce. "It's chilly in here. Fix the fire..." She squirmed as he tried to reach for her.

Chloe scurried away from him towards the pillows, laughing at the look in his eye. "Grant..." She warned him, pretending to want to get away.

"You don't need it." He laughed back at her before bending over to her and tugging at her sweatshirt. His eyes glimmered with amusement and desire as he added. "Don't worry, Clo. I'll keep you warm."

As he moved over her, she welcomed his touch. Chloe savored every moment of having him this close to her again. "Grant. I love you..." She said with a sigh as he inched the sweatshirt over her head.

""Love you..." He replied breathlessly as he trailed kisses over every inch of her skin. Within minutes they took full advantage of the time they had left – alone – together.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Are you sure you're up to this?" Colin asked Kate as they stood in the kitchen. "Don't. Let me get that." He insisted as he watched her bend to pull the hors d'oeuvres out of the oven.

"Thanks." She said softly as she handed him the potholders and moved aside. "To answer your question, Yes. I feel good today. I think the last transfusion really worked." She added, her voice hopeful.

Colin sighed. She did look good today, but he knew – even if she was trying to be optimistic, that by tomorrow she could be weaker than ever. Between the nightmares and the uncertainty, he didn't know how much more he could take.

Kate watched him place the cookie sheet on the counter. She took the spatula and started to transfer the appetizers to a serving platter . "I need you to do me a favor. Please." She pleaded. "Let me tell him alone."

"Katrina..." Colin began.

She cut him off, her voice firm. "Colin. You know how he is. You know how he's going to react. Something inside me makes me think my mother already knows and she won't be able to keep it from him for long.

Before he could protest further, the doorbell rang. "OK – this is it. The moment of truth." Colin took her in his arms and gave her a quick squeeze. "Katrina – are you sure you're ready?"

She hugged him tightly as she replied with a nod. "Yeah. As I'll ever be..."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Is he still asleep?" Billie asked as Quinn carried Ty into her apartment.

"Yeah." He whispered with a smile. "Give me a sec. I'll go put him down."

"OK." She said, nerves creeping up and taking hold, leaving her helpless as she watched Quinn walk towards Ty's bedroom.

As he tucked Ty in he gazed around the room. He noticed a series of sketches – of Ty from the time he was an infant until now. They were simple pencil drawings but were rich in detail. He wasn't a connoisseur, but it was clear that they had obviously been done by someone incredibly talented.

Outside in the living room, Billie pressed a hand to her stomach. Her mind raced. It had been an amazing day. She knew she shouldn't be surprised. Quinn was so great with the kids. He spent time with each one of them, making sure they all had the same amount of time on the field and with the players. He was in his glory.

Still she couldn't help but notice the sadness in his eyes as the game progressed. She had heard that his career was cut short and for the first time she wondered how it affected him.

Billie paced a bit and nibbled at her nails. Quinn. She thought with a sigh. God – he made her so nervous. She couldn't deny that she'd had fun today. She'd begun to think she'd forgotten how. But from almost the second she sat beside him she'd begun to smile. He was patient beyond belief when he'd taught her how to keep score during the game. He bought her a hot dog and a bag of peanuts – insisting it was an unwritten rule that she'd had to have them. Before she knew it – she was screaming with the crowd and on her feet – waiting breathlessly for the third strike and the last out. And she couldn't deny that Quinn was easy to be with and incredibly easy to look at. He had his mother's coloring and intense blue eyes – but his father's personality and quick, slightly dangerous smile.

She needed to be honest with herself. She enjoyed being with him. It was fun. Billie was shocked. She'd actually had fun. She'd had fun - with him – as unbelievable as it seemed.

Billie gazed around the room and realized that the flowers had wilted in the vase that had become her most prized possession. They were the last of the ones Quinn had sent in an effort to apologize to her. Still incredibly confused and wanting to keep busy, she picked it up and moved towards the kitchen. As she went to rinse it out, it slipped from her hand, bumping against the side of the sink and breaking into three jagged pieces. Hearing it break robbed her of her breath. She stood frozen, the sharp edge of a piece of broken pottery slicing through her palm and drawing blood. Though it should have pained her terribly, Billie didn't feel a thing.

"He's out like a light." Quinn chuckled as he walked back into the room. He looked over at Billie and was instantly concerned. She looked like she was in a trance. "Billie?" He called to her as he strode to her side in three quick steps. "Belinda? What did you do? Oh my God. You're bleeding." He ripped the broken vase from her hands and tossed it aside.

She still didn't speak. Springing into action, he grabbed for her hand, immediately thrusting it under the stream of water. Once he'd washed the blood from it he could see the cut was clean and wasn't as deep as he'd first feared. He slammed cabinets frantically, finally finding a dishtowel, wrapping her hand in it and applying pressure.

"Come here. Sit." He said softly as he half dragged, half guided her over to the couch. He pushed her gently and made her sit down. "First aid kit..." He mumbled, knowing someone as responsible as Billie would keep one close by. He checked the cabinet under the sink and was rewarded for the effort. He grabbed it and moved to sit beside her.

"Let me see that." He whispered as he took her hand in his again, gently applying a bit of antibiotic ointment and bandaging her cut. Without a thought he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to her palm. "There you go. OK. Shh, Billie. It's alright. You'll be OK."

Tears flowed from her eyes as she looked up at him. "No. I won't." She shook her head at him. "You should probably go." Billie added as she pushed him away.

He wouldn't let her. Quinn brought her to sit down again and turned her to face him. "Billie. What's the matter? What happened?"

"It's gone." She whispered, her eyes still unfocused. "Everything is gone now."

"Billie?" Quinn shook her a bit and tried to get her to pay attention to him and tell him what was wrong. "What's gone?"

"Everything." She said as she finally looked at him. "That was all I had left."

"I don't understand..." Quinn replied as he stared into her eyes. He ran a hand over her cheek and held her face still. "Talk to me. Please..."

"He took everything." She began, needing to say the words aloud to someone. Why she chose now and why she chose Quinn she couldn't tell you. But it had been a year of her living alone, with only Ty for company. As much as she loved him – there was something about talking to someone her age that comforted her. As much as she tried to deny it – there was something about Quinn in particular that comforted her. She couldn't dwell on that now. It was too complicated to think about.

She still couldn't help herself. "He took everything." She said again. "I mean – everything I owned. Not just my money or the businesses my family had built for generations. He took everything I ever cared about – except for Ty of course." She took a deep breath and continued. "He even stole my dreams."

Quinn moved closer and slipped his arm around her. "Billie..." He whispered, at a loss. He decided to simply let her talk. It seemed like what she needed.

"When I met Lia – I was in school. I was so happy then – I was one of those kids who really didn't mind studying. Scary – huh?" She said with a bitter laugh. "I had money – more than I knew what to do with – so it gave me the freedom to study whatever interested me. And I'd always been artistic. I was always doodling or something – since I was small..."

"The sketches of Ty. In his room..." Quinn said, his voice full of awe. "They're amazing. You mean you did them?"

"Yes." She replied, somewhat embarrassed. "But pottery – that's what I really loved. In my house I had a whole studio. I'd spend hours there and Ty – he got a kick out of it too. Nothing made me happier than spending the day molding clay – seeing what I could create – the poor little rich girl getting her hands dirty." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. She kept talking, suddenly needing to have it all out there – good, bad, ugly – all of it. "Mark was smart enough to sell the house right out from under me, conveniently – right before the "wedding". When he left – everything in the house had been packed away and moved out. Ty and I only had the luggage I'd packed for the honeymoon."

Quinn's blood began to boil. When I get my hands on this guy. He thought desperately. I swear I will make him pay.

Billie continued on, "We didn't have any place to go. I had no more than fifty dollars on me – and a wallet full of useless credit cards - so I took Ty back to the house. We had no place else to go. The house was empty but I managed to make something comfortable enough for Ty to lay on the floor. After I finally got him to sleep I found one small box – forgotten in the corner." Billie's voice was wracked with sobs as Quinn's arms closed around her. She was too distraught to notice he was holding her now. She clung to him as she finished. "That vase? It was the only piece I had left. All this time, that was the only thing that I had left to help me to remember what I was like before." She pulled back and wiped at her eyes. "I was fun then, Quinn. I know you won't believe it but I really was. I know you think I'm impossibly uptight but I wasn't always. I used to be much nicer."

"You're plenty nice now." Quinn insisted as he pulled her close again. His voice was tinged with rage and dangerous as he added. "That sick bastard. I swear to you – I'll find him and let him know there are consequences for being such a spineless coward. He'll pay for what he did to you Billie. I promise you."

"You don't have to do that. " Billie protested, suddenly uncomfortable that she'd opened up to him. "Quinn – I'm sorry. This is stupid." She said as she pushed away from him and moved to stand. "It doesn't matter."

"It matters." He replied as he pulled her hand and made her sit again. "What he did to you – I can't even..." Quinn trailed off. "Don't you realize? Don't you see how incredible you are? You're amazing – Billie. You're unbelievable. You are the most selfless, caring, nurturing person I've ever known."

"Stop it. You can't say that. You don't know me." Billie replied, shaking her head. "Not really."

This whole thing was foreign to him, but it seemed just right. "You're wrong." Quinn insisted as he held her face in his hands. "I do know you. I know it's only been weeks but I somehow feel like I've known you for a lifetime. I don't know how it's possible but I'm sure of it."

"I was so stupid..." Billie murmured as she tore her eyes from his and stared at her lap.

"Don't." He sighed as he reached for her again. Billie cringed a bit. "Don't beat yourself up anymore Billie. Please. Just let me..." He carefully drew her close, willing the stiffness out of her arms as he ran his hands over her hair and down her back. Almost involuntarily, she began to sink into him. "That's it. Let's just try this for a minute." He said as he held her closer. "It's OK. You can rest now. I've got you. Shh. It's OK."

"I can't..." She protested, her head wanting to push him away but her body betrayed her. As if they had a mind of their own, her arms closed around him and clung. She didn't finish the thought. Suddenly, she couldn't remember what it was she was going to say.

"It's alright. Shh. You haven't lost everything, Billie." He placed a soft kiss on her hair. "I promise. It's not lost for good. I'm going to help you get it all back."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Alison eyed her daughter suspiciously throughout the evening. She couldn't deny that Kate looked good today. Healthy and glowing, like a pregnant woman should. Maybe it was all OK now. Maybe Kate was fine. She hoped and she prayed that it would be true.

And now, dinner was over. Rafe stood in the kitchen with Kate while Colin sat with Alison in the living room, still nibbling on dessert.

"Princess." Rafe said softly as he placed a kiss on her temple. "Your mom and I are worried about you. Are you sure you're getting enough rest?"

"I'm sure." She replied knowing she needed to find a way to begin. "I feel good today."

"You look good. I have to admit – I was getting really concerned, But you're glowing tonight, sweetheart."

"Am I?" She asked, knowing he was just being sweet.

"Yes. And I'm so glad to see it...because... Oh Katie. I've got to show you something." Rafe's eyes sparkled as he pulled the brochure from his pocket. "Everything's so crazy - your mom and I have been so busy we barely get a second alone. So. Look. I planned this surprise for her. I'm going to take her away for a few days."

Kate blinked back tears as she stared at the glossy pictures of white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. "Oh Dad..." She sighed.

"Do you think she'll like it?"

"You're taking her away? To be alone with you? Of course she'll like it." Kate forced a smile. She knew there was no way she could tell him now. Suddenly it was even more important to keep her illness a secret. "Do you need us to watch Ella?"

"No." Rafe shook his head, his eyes still sparkling as put the brochure away. He'd tell Alison tonight he decided. When they got home. "Abby and Cam are taking her. I'm glad you're OK - because you know I wouldn't want to leave if I thought you needed us."

"I'm fine." She said with tears in her eyes. She struggled to make him believe her as she ran a hand over her stomach. "We're doing just fine." If wishing made it so, that would certainly be true.

"You're crying." Rafe's voice began to shake. "Katrina. Are you sure you're alright?"

Keep strong Katie, she cautioned herself. Kate nodded at him and wiped at her eyes. "I'm sure. It's just hormones I think." She smiled up at her father. "I'm driving Colin crazy. I cry at everything lately."

Rafe smiled as he hugged her tight. "Your mom was the same way. I could never figure her out when she was carrying you. She'd yell and scream and then be in a split second she'd be in tears."

"Same here." Kate replied with a laugh.

Rafe couldn't believe she was having a child of her own. He sighed heavily as he gazed at her. "My baby girl. I can't believe it. It was yesterday I was rocking you to sleep."

"And now you'll be able to rock your grandson." Kate said as she simultaneously prayed he'd be able to have the chance someday.

"Grandson huh?" Rafe chuckled. "That's another thing you inherited from your mother – her uncanny ability to predict what each of her babies would be."

"Except Ella." Kate laughed back at him, willing her worries away for the moment. There was no point. She wouldn't be telling Rafe anything about how sick she was tonight.

"Yeah. Except Ella." Rafe agreed. He sighed again, still nostalgic. "Ah Katie. You grew up so fast."

"Not like you didn't try to stop it." She countered.

"Didn't work though." He grinned and held her tighter. "I still have a chance. I've got Becky up next. I'm sure I can hold her off a bit."

Kate just smiled, knowing he really truly believed it'd be true. She knew it was hopeless for Rafe to try. As much as he wanted to keep Becky a little girl, Kate was sure he was already losing the battle. One thing was for sure. It'd be fun watching Becky give him a run for his money as he tried.