A/N: I know I might have confused you. Chapter 1 takes place 3 years in the future. It's where we'll eventually end up. Now we're backtracking. Hopefully it may start to make more sense to you all now. We'll find out why Rafe's far away, why everyone's worried about Lynnie and the particular day it is and what Quinn's news is. Just remember those three things and it'll all come together in the end.

But that's for later. For now - we're going back to not long after the twins' wedding.

Until 3 - Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Two

Nearly three years earlier…

"Cookies. We need more cookies." Chloe called out as Grant made his way to the door.

He laughed and turned back to face her. "Any particular kind?"

"mmmm." Chloe thought for a moment. "Oreos. Double stuffed."

"OK. Double stuffed Oreos." Grant smiled and nodded. He barely took another step before she called out again.

"And chocolate chip. And make sure they're not those little puny ones like you got last time. I want the big ones, with the chunks of chocolate."

Grant didn't think it was wise to point out that the last time was only two days ago. "OK." He nodded again. "Oreos, and chunky chocolate chips. Anything else?"

"Milk." Chloe said finally.

"You got it." Grant walked over and kissed her softly. "Anything for you two." He added in a whisper.

"Hurry back." She smiled as she watched him go.

Chloe moved towards the window and looked out into the dark, wintry night. She couldn't believe how fast the time flown by. Only six more weeks before their little one would finally be here.

She wondered how her father was doing. He'd taken a few weeks off to go down to Alabama. Chloe was a little bit envious. It had been so long since she'd seen Jamal and Imani and their kids. The last time had probably been at her mom's funeral.

Poor Dad. Chloe sighed as she thought of him then. He seemed so lost lately. It must be so hard for him to live here day after day all alone. She suddenly felt guilty. She was so wrapped up in her own life lately she hadn't spent much time with him either.

She ran her hand over her stomach as she watched the snow begin to fall. "Hey Mom." She whispered with a smile. "Are you getting all this? Can you even believe what's happening?" Chloe smiled wider as she continued. "I just hope I can do as good a job raising our child as you did with me. I sure hope I paid enough attention."

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"Becky…" Kyle whispered as he fought to catch his breath.

"Yeah?" She sighed as she dragged his lips back to hers, her hands threading through his hair as she deepened their kiss.

"Becky…" He said again as he reluctantly held her at arms length. Though he wanted nothing more to stay right here he made himself say the words. "Come on. Let me take you home."

"I don't want to go home." She protested as she pressed her forehead to his. She reached up and ran her hand across his cheek. "Please Kyle…" She begged as she kissed him again.

"Becky…" He laughed against her lips. "I honestly don't want you to go either, but this isn't the time or the place for this." His hands moved to fasten the buttons on his shirt, realizing that more than one of them were now missing. It's a good thing they stopped when they did. He thought to himself. He gave up trying to fix his clothes as he swatted Becky's hands away. She wasn't about to give up so easily.

Kyle's voice was low and serious as he cautioned her. "Rebecca. I value my life. You know your father's going to send out a search party in a few minutes."

Becky sighed again and leaned her back against the passenger side door, pulling the sleeves of her sweater back over her shoulders. She pushed her hair off her face and pouted. "It kills me that you're right."

He laughed louder at the look on her face. "It kills me to have to bring you home. But things are going really well. Let's not jinx it."

"If you'd just let me come over to your place…" Becky suggested.

"Did I not just say I value my life?" Kyle's eyes went wide. "Don't even think about it. I can't have you coming up there."

"I really think you should reconsider." Resigned to the fact that their night was over, Becky pulled the sun visor down and checked her makeup in the lighted mirror. She dug into her purse for a brush and her lip gloss. "Slayers need to learn to live with danger." She said as she slicked berry flavored gloss across her lips. She turned towards Kyle, her mouth moving in a pucker to spread the gloss evenly. "It could count as part of your training." She winked at him as she pulled the brush through her long blond hair.

Kyle's mouth went dry as he watched her but his response was the only one he could give. "My training will be over in a split second if your father knew what we've been up to for the past half hour. More important - my life would be over if he even suspected you and I were alone for any length of time in the apartment he rented to me."

She knew he was right but it didn't make it easier. She had seen love her whole life. She watched her parents together; she saw her aunt and uncle. Everyone around her had found love so perfect and right that she thought she'd know what it would be like when it finally happened to her. But Becky wasn't prepared for how being with Kyle made her feel. She wasn't nearly ready for the flood of emotions that seemed to crash into her whenever he was in the same room as her. She never believed it could happen to her, and certainly thought it would take longer than this.

She hadn't been prepared for Kyle but she couldn't imagine her life without him. She knew she was young, but she knew she didn't want to wait much longer. It would be easier once she'd graduated high school. Three more months. She thought as she buckled her seat belt. Three more months and she could do whatever she wanted.

Oblivious to Becky's plans Kyle smiled over at her before he put the car in drive. In minutes they were on their way.

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"I made you some tea." Ethan called out from the doorway.

"Thank you." Lynnie said with a smile as she took the steaming mug from him. "We got a lot done today."

"Yeah we did." He replied as he moved to sit on the edge of her desk. The farmhouse was a bigger undertaking than they both realized. Still it was satisfying to do all the work on their own. He peeked over her shoulder and asked. "How's the story coming?"

"Fine. It's almost done. I can't believe it. This one came so fast." She said with a shake of her head. She straightened her glasses and sighed as she looked up at him. "I need to get started on the next one."

"I think you've worked hard enough for one night." Ethan said as he pushed the cover on her laptop down, satisfied when he heard it click shut. He took her hand in his and pulled her up out of the chair and into his arms. "You know what? I think we should go and check out our bedroom again."

She giggled as he picked her up and carried her out of the room. Their bedroom had been the first room they finished, and had been decorated months ago. She laughed louder as she replied. "Yeah – you know. We should look for flaws in the paint job."

"Yeah." He said as he placed her on the bed and pulled her sweatshirt off one shoulder. "See – I think you got paint right here." He said, pressing a kiss on her collarbone.

"Oh no." She smiled as his mouth glided over her skin. "It doesn't belong there." She pulled at the buttons on his shirt. Her hands slayed over his chest as she commented. "Look at that. You've got some paint on you too."

He flipped her over to hover above her. "I think this requires a thorough examination." He grinned as he gazed down at her. He drew off his glasses and tossed them aside. It may have been months since their wedding but to Ethan their honeymoon was still going strong.

Happier than she ever dreamed she could be Lynnie pulled him closer. "I think you're right." She murmured as his mouth found hers again.

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"It's 11:02." Rafe announced as he stood at the foot of the stairs.

Alison sighed as she turned a page in the magazine she was reading. "Very good Rafe. I'm so glad that you can tell time. Your mother did an excellent job raising you."

"She's late." He said then, ignoring her smart remark.

"She's not late. She'll be here any minute." Alison leaned her head back on the couch cushions and stared at the ceiling. "Can you please do something about him?" She whispered.

"Who are you talking to?" Rafe asked as he watched her.

She tossed the magazine aside and stared over at him. "Your father."

Rafe narrowed his eyes at her. "What does my father have to do with our daughter forgetting her curfew?"

"Because I'm hoping maybe he can talk some sense into you. Rafe – she presses her luck because you watch her like a hawk. She's late because she's annoyed at you."

Rafe opened his mouth to argue but suddenly there was something else worrying him. "Something's wrong." He whispered.

She stood and glared at him, exasperated. "Rafe. I swear. If you call the PCPD because Becky's five minutes late you'll be testing out the new sofa in the den tonight."

"No. Not Becky." He shook his head at her. "It's something else. Something's not right."

Rafe began to pace a bit, scratching at his head and looking completely distracted. "It's…that can't be it."

"What?" Alison asked, beginning to worry herself. "Rafe. Please. We just went through a hellish few months. Please tell me it's not Katie."

"No. Nothing like that." Rafe shook his head at her again. "It's not here – it's almost as if…" Rafe sighed. "It's Caleb."

Alison looked at her watch. "Well. That's got to be a record."

"What?" Rafe had no clue what she was talking about. He'd live with her for so many years but still - every once in a while his wife completely baffled him.

"I counted three months, twenty-two days and 14 hours." She said her voice definite.

"For what?"

"Since you mentioned his name." She grinned at him. "What about Caleb?"

"I felt something – shift – it's almost like how I feel when he becomes mortal again." Rafe shrugged as he stared down at his wife, his arms moving to snag her waist. "But why would he do that?"

"I don't know." Alison's eyes lit up as she got an idea. "Maybe Livvie started nagging him about having more kids." She suggested as she snuggled closer.

"Oh that's just what the world needs…" Rafe replied rolling his eyes.

"RAFE!" Alison admonished him.

"What? C'mon. They've been lucky. Colin turned out to be fine and Rachel is sweet. Their gene pool is pretty shallow. Sooner or later the combination of the two of them will be lethal."

Alison tried to hold in her laughter as she scolded. "You're terrible."

"You're thinking the same thing. Admit it." Rafe burst into laughter.

"OK. You're right – but…" Alison sighed again. "Seriously. What do you think it is?"

"I don't know. What I do know is that I won't figure it out tonight." He kissed her quickly and moved away. "What I will figure out is what Becky's been up to."

Alison had a pretty good idea and knew that the last thing Rafe needed to know was how their daughter spent the evening. She was just about to try and calm him down again when Becky burst through the front door, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shining.

"Hello, Rafe." She said with a sigh as she rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek.

"Oh. Hi, Alison." She added as she pirouetted to her mother. "It's such a beautiful night isn't it?"

Both her parents stood there with shocked expressions as Becky shrugged off her coat, hanging in on a hook near the door before she floated up the stairs. "The sky is so clear, tonight; you should go out and look at the stars. There are a million of them out tonight. It's incredibly romantic. I – on the other hand - should get some rest. I have a big day tomorrow. Have a lovely evening." She called out as she took the stairs two at time.

As Becky's door clicked shut Rafe turned to his wife. "Did she just call me Rafe?"

"Well, honey. That is your name." Alison laughed back at him.

"That kid is nuts." He said with a shake of his head.

She may be crazy. Alison silently agreed as she moved into Rafe's arms again. But one thing is clear. It's Kyle she's crazy about and that's going to mean nothing but trouble.