Chapter Fifty-four

"I want you to lie down." Grant warned her as he moved towards the door. "You've been sick all morning. Go on. Eat your crackers and take it easy."

"We have seven more months, Grant. I can teach for a while yet." Chloe replied with a sigh.

She decided to try another tactic. She snagged his hand and pulled him back around to face her. "I'm sorry." She said with a smile.

"For what?" He asked as he gazed lovingly down at her.

"For the other day – for how I told you about the baby. That was awful Grant." She said with a shake of her head. "I should have done it better – I should have done something cute or I could have surprised you or…"

He cut her off with a kiss. "You told me perfectly. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way." He promised her as he pulled away. Grant sighed. He got so distracted when she looked at him like that. "I'd love to stay here, Clo – but I need to get back downstairs.

"Me too." She said as she tried to follow him.

Grant turned back around and shook his head at her. "Uh uh. No. Nice try." He said as he opened the door to find Becky standing outside.

"Grant." She breathed as he opened the door. "You have to help me. Dad's killing Kyle."

"Why? What'd he do?" Grant asked as he narrowed his eyes at her.

"I made him kiss me and Dad caught us." She admitted, blushing a bit. "I'm grounded and unless you do something Kyle's going to die."

"OK. I'll help." Grant said with a grin.

"Oh thank you." She grinned back at him. "I knew you'd help me."

"I meant I'll help Dad." Grant replied.

"GRANT!" Chloe called out from behind him. "Behave. Go downstairs. I'll stay here and talk to Becky."

He turned to face his wife. "Did you just say you'll stay up here?"

"Yes." She rolled her eyes at him and moved towards the couch.

"OK." Grant walked back to her and kissed her soundly. "I love you both." He whispered so only she could hear.

"We love you too." She replied in a whisper. She watched him walk away and then spoke again. "Becks, honey? Come on inside."

"He grounded me. I mean can you believe it? Not like I'm not already. I can't go anywhere or do anything by myself. I have someone trailing me constantly and now my father's going to kill my boyfriend."

"So." Chloe commented as she moved to sit down. "He's your boyfriend now?"

"What?" Becky blinked at the question. Then she giggled and blushed. "Yeah. He is. I mean he would be if we got five seconds alone. Dad's got him so scared he barely holds my hand. It's so annoying Clo."

Chloe was sympathetic but she knew what was really going on. "Your dad has a lot on his mind, Becky. He and Grant are very worried about you. And they're worried about Kate and the baby. Just try and relax for a bit. Everything will work out OK if you're just patient."

Becky's eyes filled with tears as she sat beside Chloe. "I'm a horrible person."

Chloe knew how she was feeling. "No. I don't blame you for being happy – and you know what? Kate wouldn't either." The realization made her smile. She suddenly felt less guilty herself. "I know what it's like to feel guilty because someone else is suffering and you're experiencing something that makes you happy. It's understandable though. You're young and you're in love.

Becky wiped at her eyes. "You're the best, Clo. You're so easy to talk to and you always understand me – you know that?"

Chloe was touched but she still had more to say. "I also understand this - you need to be careful sweetie. This guy – whoever he is – he's just waiting for an opening…"

"God! I take it back. Now you sound just like Grant." Becky said with a sigh.

"I guess you could say being married to a slayer has started to rub off on me." Chloe subconsciously laid a hand on her stomach. She didn't need to worry; Becky didn't even notice the gesture. "Your dad is picking on Kyle because he wants him to be well trained – and if he's satisfied he's well trained…"

"He'll let me be alone with him." Becky's eyes began to sparkle as she came to the same conclusion.

"Now you've got it." Chloe said with a laugh. "So suck it up and just wait. Be happy he's paying attention to him. In the end – it'll work out in your favor."

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Lia walked along the sidewalk and saw him approach. She was actually looking forward to meeting the creep face to face.

She swerved to walk in his path, crashing right into him.

The police officer, Mark thought with a sigh. She thought she was so clever.

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I can't believe what a klutz I am!" Lia gushed as she wobbled on her heels and straightened her skirt.

"It's OK." Mark flashed her an insincere grin as he held onto her arm. "Are you alright?"

"I think so." She said shyly. "Thank you." You sick bastard she thought as she grinned back.

"You're most welcome and I have to say I'm glad. We wouldn't want to mar your perfect skin." He said with a wink as he ran a hand over her forearm. He was onto her but she was quite beautiful. It didn't hurt anything to play with her for a bit.

"No." She giggled as she inched closer to him. "That would be bad." Almost as bad as that pickup line you miserable creep. She added to herself. "How can I thank you for saving me?"

"We could get a bite?" He suggested as he leered at her.

"That would be nice." She reached into her purse and pulled out a card. "Why don't you call me…" She giggled again and flipped her hair over her shoulder. "…whenever you get hungry." She added as she flounced away. Lia turned the corner and reached for her cell phone to tell Quinn - mission accomplished.

Mark regarded the card, ignoring his first impulse to just throw it out. He knew what they wanted – payback for how he'd used Belinda. Belinda – he sighed – was completely insignificant. She was good for one thing and one thing only - her money. He had only taken her to bed to keep up the charade, he'd only paid attention to the brat she raised to keep up appearances.

Indulging in a little romp with the pretty cop would be tricky but he always loved a challenge. If he found her acceptable he might even consider making her one of his own.

He slipped her card into his pocket. We shall see. He thought with a wicked grin. He'd see how bored he got.

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Kyle stumbled from the studio, drenched in sweat. He nearly crashed into the shelves nearby as he reached for a bottle of water. Rafe walked out behind him and patted him on the back. "Nice job." He said with a laugh.

"Thank you sir." Kyle gasped.

"Now keep your hands off my daughter." He added, still laughing as he went into the office.

He sank into the chair and sighed. The workout had done him good. It took his mind off everything that had been nagging at him all day, Katrina's illness, Alison's exhaustion, his increasingly annoying conversations with Caleb, and the danger Becky was in.

Kyle was learning quickly. Still he needed to push him – to make sure that the one day Rafe or Grant couldn't be with her that Kyle could keep her safe. Not that she didn't have the skills she needed herself – but Rafe knew her heart wasn't in it. He couldn't blame her and he wouldn't force her.

Caleb was beyond infuriating. He didn't want to listen – he didn't want to plan – he wanted to jump right in and take control. Rafe knew that they should be working with rather than against each other but it was next to impossible. He just couldn't get over the fact that he didn't trust Caleb any further than he could throw him.

He glanced at the clock. He wanted to get home early. Despite his plans the other day, Alison didn't rest for more than a half an hour before she grabbed the comb from his hand and tended to Ella's hair herself.

He was at a loss – torn in a million different directions and terrified he'd make the wrong choice.

Rafe knew something was about to happen and about to happen soon. He teased Kyle mercilessly but he was happy to have another slayer around to lend a hand.

They were going to need all the help they could get.

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Caleb watched from the shadows as Abigail's daughter spoke to the very man he and Rafe had been looking for. Which twin was she? He tried to remember which one had the gift of sight. Did she know what she was getting into?

Knowing her mother, he had to guess she did – but that didn't mean she could handle him. More than ready for a fight Caleb appeared directly in Mark's path.

"An audience with the vampire himself." Mark said with a sinister laugh. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"The pleasure will be all mine." Caleb promised as his hand closed over Mark's neck, dragging him silently into an abandoned alley way. His grip tightened as he added. "It'll be sweet to be able to destroy you myself."

Mark pushed Caleb back easily, smiling as he watched him bounce against the building behind him. "Let's see you try."

"You found someone to turn you that much is obvious." Caleb said bitterly as he stood to face Mark again. "And it seems you're a quick learner. Congratulations."

Mark could tell when he was being patronized. He would not give Caleb the satisfaction. "Save it." He cut him off, sharply. "All you need to worry about is that I'm here and I'm not going anywhere until I've finished."

"Finished what?" Caleb challenged him. This kid was something else. It would be more difficult than he anticipated but Caleb was sure he could handle this on his own. To hell with working with the slayer. He could get the job done for all of them. Just thinking of Rafe being indebted to him was more than enough motivation.

"Finished you – for starters." Mark replied. His eyes glowed red as he promised. "Do not underestimate me – Caleb. I've come farther than you can imagine to get what's mine."

Smirking he moved back onto the street, as if he hadn't a care in the world.

"And I'll happily take what's yours while I do it." He tossed back over his shoulder as he faded from view.