A/N: BRRRRRRRRR. It's freezing up here y'all. I'm snowbound and figured I'd add to the story a bit. OK. First of all I can't seem to resist the little digs I give Caleb and Livvie. At least I'm aware of it. ;) Second – sorry but it seems I can't let Quinn and Billie alone. Indulge me just a little bit – my dear readers. The big stuff is just around the corner but I couldn't let them go without tacking on this little bit. It's Mark related so I think it kinda fits. If I get too bored I might be back with more later but for now….
Until 57 – pray I can dig my way out of my house sometime soon. LOL! ;) ! xox-G
Chapter Fifty-six
"Where are you going now?" Livvie sighed. "It's the middle of the night."
Caleb turned to face her, wincing at being caught. "Out. And I happen to prefer darkness."
"Out with who? With Rafe?" She asked him then.
He glared at her. "Olivia…"
"Don't give me the 'it's none of your business' tone Caleb. You're supposed to be working with Rafe. You agreed." She said as she sat up to face him.
"Rafe and I don't ever truly work together. That has been proven." Caleb snapped. "I'll play nice – I won't cause trouble in front of his precious wife but I am not going to leave your and Rachel's safety in his hands. It's the one thing we agree on." Caleb said with a sigh.
Livvie shook back her hair and stared into his eyes. "What's that?"
"We can't ever truly trust each other." Caleb replied. "Leave it alone Olivia. Please. Just let me do what I have to do."
"What has he said he'd do to us?" Livvie asked him then.
"Marcus' son?"
Her voice shook as she spoke her question. "No. Rafe. OF COURSE Marcus' son. What has he said he'd do to Rachel and I that has you so upset?"
"Nothing specific." Caleb said with a shrug as he moved towards the door.
"So why is so important that you stop him now? Why not wait?" Livvie didn't understand.
Caleb crossed the room and drew her into his arms. "I'm not waiting until he has the upper hand, Olivia. I'm not waiting until he has you and Rachel hostage. I'm going to take care of this now – before he can hurt you. Do you understand me? Do you understand why I have to do this?"
She had never seen or heard him so desperate. Even Livvie knew this wasn't the time to argue. Silently, she nodded. He kissed her quickly and then vanished.
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Rafe found her where she'd been every night since Kate and Colin moved in. She sat downstairs on the couch. Some nights she was reading, others she simply sat there quietly. Always, her face was full of sadness. It was killing him.
She heard him come downstairs and gave him a weak smile as she closed the book on her lap. Alison noticed that he was fully dressed. "Where are you going?" She asked him.
He moved towards the couch and took her hands in his. "I'm not going pretend. I'm going to find him, Alison. I'm going to end this tonight."
Tears filled her eyes as she stared at him.
He kissed her fingers gently as he spoke. "I told you I'd work with Caleb but it's become clear he's already plotting on his own. He's worried about Livvie and Rachel and I can't blame him. I just need to put one of my worries behind me. What's going on with Kate is too complicated. Getting rid of this guy who's after Becky is the easier thing to deal with right now."
"Nothing about this is easy." She said sadly.
"No." He replied softly. "You're right. Nothing is. But we need to concentrate on getting Kate well. The threat against her life isn't something I can see or touch. I can get rid of our other problem much more easily."
Alison blinked back tears as she asked, "Are you taking Grant with you?"
Rafe nodded. "I'm on my way to get him now."
She knew she couldn't stop him. She didn't really even want to try to. She wanted her life back, The one where they got to live unafraid. She knew that something had to be done.
Alison wiped the tears from her eyes and leaned close to kiss him. "Please, Rafe. Be careful."
He pulled her close and held her tight. "I promise I will." He whispered into her hair.
"I love you." She whispered as he moved to the door.
"Love you too." He replied. And then he was gone.
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Moonlight flooded through the windows, bathing the bed in a bluish hue. Billie's head rested on Quinn's chest, his arm curled around her. She could tell from his breathing that he was sound asleep.
She guessed that was the only reason she was still here. Sighing to herself, completely reluctant to go, she moved to sit up and slipped from the bed.
She had just pulled her nightgown back on when she heard Quinn whisper. "Where you going?"
She turned to him and blushed, which she knew was ridiculous given what had just occurred between them. Billie smiled slightly and said. "Back to my room."
He sat up and stared at her. "Why?"
She blinked at him, not understanding. "It's OK. I know you probably want to get some rest. I figured I'd go before you had to ask me. It's alright."
"No it's not alright. You're not going anywhere." He held his hand out to her. "Come back to bed."
"Don't you want to sleep?" She said as she shook her head at him.
"Yeah. I do." He replied as he leaned over and grabbed at her hand, tugging it until she moved closer. "I want to sleep with you."
"Quinn." Billie said with a laugh. "You just did." She tugged back, still trying to leave.
Realization washed over him. His blood started to boil as he figured out what she was doing. "What's going on here?" He asked his voice dangerous. "Are you telling me that's what he did to you? Did he kick you out of his bed when he was done with you?"
"He…" She began, unsure of just how to answer him. Mark didn't kick her out, exactly. It just seemed he really didn't want her there. She'd tried to find the words. She'd never seen Quinn look so angry. She began to feel completely self-conscious.
He didn't wait for her answer. Quinn had already figured it out. He always had been pretty sure that Billie's relationship with Mark was completely one sided. He knew that he couldn't have loved Billie – because if he did – how in the world would he have been able to let her go?
"Unbelievable. That settles it. When I get a hold of him…" Quinn leaned over and grabbed Billie's hand again. "I should be grateful actually. His stupidity worked out just fine for me. Get back here." He ordered her as he drew her back down on the mattress.
Billie stared at him, still not knowing what he wanted. He framed her face in his hands and kissed her, long and hard. His voice shook a bit as he promised her. "From this point forward here - in this room - he doesn't exist. Do you hear me – Belinda? He's gone. I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere. OK?"
She stared into his eyes and whispered. "OK…"
Quinn wasn't finished. His hands slid gently up and down her arms as he spoke, making her shiver a bit. "First of all - I'm not nearly done with you – not by a long shot. I don't think I'll ever get enough of you quite frankly." He kissed her softly and sweetly before he began to speak again. "I want you, Billie. Even while I'm with you I find myself wanting you. I want you here in my bed for – well – the rest of my life would work out just fine with me. So. Don't you dare…" He said as he kissed her again. "Don't you dare try and leave me ever again."
"I didn't…" She said as tears formed in her eyes. "I didn't want to leave. I just thought…"
"Don't think, Billie." He begged her. "Please - don't think about him anymore. Just come here."
"You really want me to stay?" She asked, her voice full of wonder as his arms closed around her and pulled her close.
It was so different with Mark. Afterward, it seemed like he was always just waiting for her to leave. She always felt so uncomfortable she just went back to her own room. He never asked her to stay. And he was the only one she'd ever been with until now. She didn't know it could be any different.
She should have known though. Making love with Quinn had been like nothing else she'd ever known. She should have realized it would be different afterward.
"Absolutely." He sighed as she settled against him again. "There. That's much better." He whispered. He held her for a few long moments, his fingers lightly threading through her hair over and over. The action was making her sleepy.
Finally, he spoke to her softly. "Billie? Tell me something."
"What?" She asked as she snuggled closer. This was really nice. She thought as she did.
Quinn turned on his side and ran a hand over her cheek. "Please. Just tell me. Tell me what I need to do to make him vanish from your mind."
She gazed up at him and she was lost. The way he looked at her, her mind went blank. She honestly didn't know who he was talking about. "Who?"
"OK. That's a start." He replied as he touched his lips to hers. Soon her head was spinning and his hands were sliding underneath the straps of her gown.
She pulled back a bit, amazed. "Quinn?" She asked.
"Mmm?" He murmured against her skin.
"Aren't you tired?" She asked as he continued his tender assault on her senses. She was finding it hard to breathe.
"Not really. Why?" He stared into her eyes.
She averted her gaze and continued, running her fingers lightly over his chest as she did. "You want me…I mean you want to…again?" She shivered as she asked him. "Already?"
He bit back a laugh and smiled at her. "Oh yeah." He replied as he took her under again.
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His eyes were bright and his voice was a harsh whisper. "You are out of your mind!"
"I'm sorry. I just wanted to see you." Becky replied as she moved to sit on a park bench.
Kyle rolled his eyes as he walked over to sit beside her. "I want to see you too. I want to see you all the time –but listen to me Becky. Keep this up and we won't be seeing each other at all. I'll be shipped back home in a heartbeat."
She took his hand in hers as she promised. "That won't stop me. It didn't stop Katie. She went all the way to Romania to get Colin back. New Orleans would be a piece of cake."
"Becky…" Kyle sighed. "You shouldn't be walking out alone at night."
"I'm not alone." She replied. "I'm with you."
"I can't protect you." He whispered with a shake of his head. "Becky. I'm not ready." He stood, gripping her hand tightly and bringing her to stand beside him. "C'mon. Let me take you home."
"OK." Becky reluctantly agreed. "Just kiss me first." She asked , her eyes sparkling.
"You're crazy." He said with a laugh as he drew her closer.
"About you? Yes I am." Becky giggled back as his mouth touched hers.
Wrapped up in each other they didn't hear the sounds of footsteps approaching.
A voice called out from the shadows. "Ah, young slayers in love. Isn't it grand?"
Mark's face was full of disgust as he faced them. "This is sooner than I expected. I had thought I'd let you squirm a little more. But now that you're here the opportunity is just too good to pass up."
