Chapter Thirty-six
"Uh oh. We're off schedule." Alison whispered as she snuggled closer.
"Seems that way…" Rafe replied with a smile.
They never had the formal dinner Rafe had planned. They simply raided the mini bar at some point during the night. Except for a quick, but eventful soak in the tub – they'd been in bed since they'd arrived the day before.
Alison rested her chin on Rafe's chest and smiled up at him. "That…" she sighed. "…was absolutely amazing."
"It certainly was." Rafe said with a grin. "I can't believe I'm actually saying this but it was well worth the wait."
"Rafe." Alison blushed. "Stop. It's not like we haven't…"
"True. But we haven't like that in a while." He reminded her.
"True." She admitted, grinning. "It's been a long time."
"Too long." Rafe whispered as he pressed his lips to hers.
She sighed as he pulled away, running a hand gently through his hair. "Could we umm…reschedule your plan for last night for tonight instead?"
"I'll see what I can do to accommodate you." He said with a laugh as she crawled closer to him. She leaned up and planted soft kisses across his cheeks.
"God. You're beautiful." Rafe commented as she paused for a second and gave him a smile. He ran a hand down the length of her hair.
"You're kinda handsome yourself." Alison replied. "I'm a lucky, lucky girl."
She trailed her hand up his throat and traced his lips with her fingers. "Not only that – you're incredibly thoughtful…" She said as she kissed him tenderly "….sweet and hopelessly romantic and mmmm…" She murmured as she kissed him again. "…absolutely delicious." She giggled.
"Delicious?" He repeated with a gleam in his eye.
"Delectable." She replied as her mouth nibbled a trail down his neck and back to his again. "As a matter of fact…" She whispered against his lips. "You taste so good I think we should skip breakfast."
Rafe could tell by her touch exactly how she'd like to pass the time this morning. "You know…" He teased her. "I put a lot of thought into our itinerary. You can't just keep changing it on a whim."
"Can't you be a little bit flexible?" Alison asked, her voice full of innocence but her meaning clearly seen in her eyes.
"We'll see won't we?" Rafe replied with a laugh as he pulled her close and crushed his mouth to hers.
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Grant jingled his keys as he approached his parent's house with Chloe trailing right behind him.
"I can't believe she's not answering the phone." He grumbled.
Chloe rolled her eyes. "Grant. You called the phone company already so I know you know that they said it's off the hook."
"So irresponsible." Was Grant's reply as he eased the door open.
Chloe bit her lip and tried not to laugh. "Oh yes. So unlike a teenager. Let's lock her up. Did you bring your shackles?"
"This isn't funny Clo." Grant said as he glared at her, not at all amused. He found the phone beeping annoyingly on the coffee table and pressed the off button.
Chloe sighed heavily. "No. It certainly isn't. I can see it now. I'm going to have a hell of a time keeping you under control when we have kids." She felt giddy just thinking about having babies with him. She followed him upstairs, wincing as he stomped loudly.
"Shh! Don't wake her up Grant!" She whispered loudly.
"She sleeps too late anyway." He said with a bit of disgust.
"She's just like your mom." Chloe pointed out, laughing quietly as Grant opened Becky's door to peek inside. He was horrified by what he found. "She's not here. Her bed's still made. She hasn't been here." He turned around and flew past Chloe and down the stairs.
"Grant…" She began as she fought to catch up with him. "Calm down. Go easy. I'm sure she has a perfectly good explanation."
"For staying out all night????" He yelled. "I don't think so."
His mind spun with the possibilities. "Unless she's in the hospital. Do you think she's in the hospital?" His voice was frantic as he reached for the phone.
"Honey. HONEY." She said again, snatching the phone from his hands. "Breathe."
She shook him a bit and watched him inhale and exhale before she continued. "OK. Think about this. Nearly everyone at GH knows your parents. If she's in the hospital – you'd know already. Do me a favor. Call her cell phone."
Grant reigned himself in and dialed, startled when he could hear the melodic ring coming from inside the house. He walked towards the sound.
Chloe smiled smugly as she followed him. "See? She fell asleep in the den. That's all…" She gasped when she caught a glimpse of the sight awaiting them.
Becky lay peacefully curled up on the couch, entwined in the arms of someone Chloe didn't recognize. Go Becky. Chloe couldn't help but think to herself with a grin. What a cutie he was. She tried to compose herself, knowing her husband was less that pleased.
A large serving bowl was upturned on the carpet, a pillow from the couch tossed near the doorway. Kyle's arm was curled around Becky's waist, his hand resting on the small of her back, his leg caught between both of hers. Becky's head was nestled against his chest, her hand lying gently on his shoulder. They looked completely comfortable and much too familiar for her brother's liking. The only saving grace is that they were both fully dressed.
Grant's voice shook with rage. "REBECCA." He barked.
"mmm?" Becky murmured as she snuggled closer to Kyle.
"GET UP!" He demanded loudly, as he whacked the sole of Kyle's sneaker.
"Huh?!" Kyle mumbled as he fought to open his eyes.
"Daddy?" Becky whispered in shock with her eyes still closed.
Grant clenched his fists and hissed back at her. "Close – but lucky for you Rebecca – it's just me. And that's the only reason this guy here is still alive."
"Grant!" Chloe cautioned as she placed a hand on his arm.
He glared at her quickly before he sprung into action, grabbing hold of Kyle's shirt and dragging him up and off the couch. "Listen to me you little hoodlum. Get your hands off my sister."
Kyle stumbled as he fought to focus. He immediately realized he'd more that outstayed his welcome as Grant slammed him into a bookcase.
"GRANT!!! STOP!!!" Becky pleaded. She turned to Chloe and said desperately. "Chloe. Please…"
Grant banged Kyle against the bookcase again as he threw fire at him with his eyes. "I've seen you..in my class at the gym. OK. Here's a new lesson for you." He leaned close and whispered dangerously. "My sister is off limits."
Kyle was beyond terrified. Boy was he in way over his head. "OK. I – umm – I…"
Grant tightened his hold. "You got an explanation kid? OK. Let's hear it. Spit it out."
"Look." Kyle swallowed and tried to keep his voice from shaking. "We - ummm – we were watching TV. We just fell asleep."
Grant clenched his fist and was ready to knock Kyle's lights out. He gave Kyle a stare and said softly. "I was not born yesterday."
Chloe had had enough. Becky was in tears and the poor kid looked like he was about to keel over. "GRANT!!!!!!" She bellowed. "Settle down. Step away from the poor kid and let him talk."
Grant didn't move. He gripped Kyle's shirt tighter.
"Grant Edward Kovich. Control yourself. Good God." Chloe sighed and walked over to her husband pulling him off Kyle and shoving him towards the couch. "Hi. I'm Chloe. Becky's soon-to-be-ex sister-in-law." She gave Grant an icy look before turning back to Kyle and giving him a smile. "And you are?"
"Kyle. Kyle Arceneaux, ma'am. I'm so sorry. I was just…"
Chloe shivered and cut him off. "Oh geez. Don't call me ma'am. Makes me feel like I'm a hundred."
"S-s-sorry ma'am." Kyle stuttered, unable to stop himself. "I was just leaving. Bye Becky." He said as he tried to make a run for it.
Chloe caught his sleeve before he got too far. "Uh uh. Not so fast. Sweetie, I'll call off the wolves for you but I need answers. Becks?" She said as she turned towards Becky. "Sit down and explain before I murder your brother – or before he commits murder himself."
"We fell asleep Chloe." Becky said wearily as she sat on the couch beside a still extremely nervous Kyle. "That's all."
"It's what you did before you fell asleep that I'm concerned about." Grant muttered.
Chloe glared at him again before turning back to question the culprits. "Becky." She said with a sigh. "You know better than to have someone over here while your parents are gone – particularly someone – like your – umm – friend here."
"I know." Becky nodded. "I was just helping him and we lost track of time. I swear to you, Grant." She said as she stared at her brother. "Nothing happened."
He had finally calmed himself down. He realized now that he could think more clearly that he should have known better. "Becky…" He sighed.
"Please Grant. Don't go and tell Dad right away. Please. I'm begging you." Becky pleaded at him with her eyes. "Let us explain first."
Grant would make no promises. "Start talking, Squirt." He replied with a shake of his head.
Becky gently picked up Kyle's hand – much to his horror. He was terrified to touch her after how he'd just been attacked.
"Remember the guy at the carnival?" She said softly as she looked from Chloe to Grant and back again. "You know. The one I um – got rid of?"
"Yes…" Chloe whispered, suddenly nervous. She'd never been more scared than that night.
Grant's eyes flew open wide in horror at the first thought her words brought to his mind. "Rebecca. DO NOT tell me this is his son. You want Dad to end up on life support????"
"NO." Becky rolled her eyes at him. "He's the opposite."
"The opposite of a vampire's son?" Chloe asked, completely confused.
"Yes." Becky said as she gave Kyle's hand a squeeze. She looked into her brother's eyes and announced. "He's one of us, Grant. He's a slayer too."
