A/N: Gosh darn it. Just when I'm in a writing mood the site goes down. All's well now. So here you go.

Hope everyone had a lovely Memorial Day weekend. I certainly did. Someone FINALLY decided to tell the tri-state area that it's actually close to SUMMER.

On a separate note - I have to confess that I can't even watch PC anymore. Joshie's brainwashing Ali, Caleb's going around all smug – it's infuriating.

I'm boycotting tea and not wearing a watch until further notice. ;)

Ironically – just when those bats annoy me most what do I do? That's right. I write a chapter about them.

SIGH. Well at least I add a few others too. LOL! Until 21 Enjoy! xox - G

Chapter Twenty

Kate watched from the doorway as Colin put Alex to bed. She couldn't believe how lucky she was. He always got up at least one time during the night. There were several mornings when he would let her sleep in. She knew that part of the reason was because he was going to feel guilty when he went on tour again in a few months.

She wasn't looking forward to it either. She was getting very used to having him around.

She knew that that wasn't the only thing bothering him. Kate could sense what it was. Colin could try and hide it but she wasn't going to let him.

"Hey." He whispered as he caught sight of her.

"Hi." She whispered back at him, still grinning widely. She took his hand in hers and led him out into the hallway.

"He went down really easy tonight." Colin said softly as he gave her a smile. "I should have known it was too good to be true." He added as he glanced at the clock.

"It's getting easier all the time, but he's still fussy at this time of night." She said with a nod. She giggled a bit as she added. "He was down for seven hours this time though. I feel bad for Grant and Chloe. They're not going to sleep for weeks."

"Yeah. But do you remember how amazing that was? When we first brought him home?" Colin replied.

"It's still amazing." Kate said softly as she gazed up at him. "And it never would have happened if I hadn't met you."

Colin shivered a bit as he remembered all the things that never would have happened if he and Katrina hadn't met and fell in love. It used to be a constant cause of worry for him but lately he realized that the good far outweighed the bad.

He still had something on his mind though. As he walked into their bedroom he tried to keep his voice light. The last thing he wanted to do was worry Katrina. She'd been through way too much lately to have to deal with that.

She watched him closely, knowing he was trying so hard to shield her from whatever was bothering him.

Kate decided to give him a little bit of time. As they both got ready for bed she didn't say a word. After dimming the lights, Colin leaned close and said softly. "Love you. Goodnight."

As he kissed her quickly she whispered against his lips. "What's wrong with your father?"

"Huh?" He replied, completely thrown off guard.

She sat up and switched the lights back on. "There's something wrong with him isn't there?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Colin insisted.

"Don't lie to me Colin. I know there's something going on."

"How could you possibly know that? He's halfway across the world." He blinked at her.

"I can feel it." She said with a shrug.

Colin sighed and leaned back into the pillows. "This slayer instinct of yours is very annoying you know that?"

"Aw honey. I'm sorry." She said with a laugh as she gave him a peck on the cheek. "Now c'mon. Spill it."

He shook his head. "There's nothing to spill. My mother says he's fine."

"Oh." Kate rolled her eyes. "Well if she says it - it must be true. If there was ever the picture of truth it's your mother."

"KATRINA." His voice gave a warning.

"What?" She shot back at him. "Colin. Please."

"OK you're right - normally – she's not. But we're not talking about your normal subject. We're talking about my father."

"You got me there. He's abnormal alright." She replied with a sigh.

Colin threw back the covers and climbed out of the bed. "Katrina. Tell me something. Are you going to bash my family all night?"

"I certainly could go on all night." She replied. "They've given me a lot of material."

"It's not funny." Colin turned his back to her and gazed out the window.

"No it's not. When I think about the things they've both done in the past – BELIEVE ME – I'm not laughing." She eased from the bed and walked up behind him. "Despite all that I don't despise them like I once did."

"I guess I should be thankful for small favors." Colin muttered.

"A part of me loves them, because they made you. And a part of me will always be grateful to your father for giving me my life back." She said softly as she wound her arms around his waist. "Then again – he couldn't have done it without my father."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rafe could hear Alison whispering on the phone. Poor Chloe was so overwhelmed. He had pretended to still be sleeping when she slipped from the bed.

He decided this was the perfect opportunity to make a call of his own.

The phone barely rang before a voice answered on the other end.

"How is she tonight?" Rafe asked.

Cam sighed. "Like every night. She's really upset. With everything that's happened lately she's barely gotten a full night's sleep."

"Maybe we should tell them what we're doing." Rafe offered. He knew that the moment Alison and Abby found out he and Cam were plotting they'd be in for it.

"You're probably right – but we're not going to are we?" Cam chuckled.

"No. We're not." Rafe agreed. "It'll be easier this way. We'll deal with the trouble we get in after the fact."

"Unless they figure it out first." Cam said softly. He could hear Abby stirring. He'd have to get off the phone soon.

"This is entirely possible." Rafe admitted. "We'll meet tomorrow for lunch. I found out a few things tonight that I want to run by you."

"Sounds good." Cam replied with a nod.

"Cam?" Abby called out – her voice full of tears. "Cameron! Where are you?"

The sound of her voice broke his heart. He sighed again as he whispered. "Abby's awake. I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"OK. See you then. Goodnight." Rafe whispered as he clicked to phone off.

He moved from the bed and went to stare out the window, thinking that he and Cam had a lot to discuss. He'd been searching for answers and was close to figuring out what was going on with Caleb. He was sure of it.

Rafe knew one thing for certain. It wasn't going to be easy. Then again, nothing involving Caleb ever was.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Caleb thought he was hiding the truth well. He was pretty sure Livvie hadn't noticed a thing. At least – he suspected he'd been able to keep her curiosity at bay.

He thought again about reaching out to the slayer for help. Well. Not help exactly. He preferred to think of it as assistance. He'd still be the one calling the shots.

It was infuriating to him, to think that in order to save himself he'd need to involve Rafe. Caleb moved to pick up the phone, oblivious to the time difference.

"No." He whispered as he slammed it back down again.

He stood and paced a bit. How had it come to this? He knew it was due in part to his own arrogance. To think that he could switch from vampire to mortal and back again at whim was nearly a slap in the face to those who had come before him.

His family lives to destroy yours. Caleb reminded himself. Don't you ever forget how this war started.

But if he was being honest he had to admit. It wasn't much of a war anymore – not really. Their oldest children had chosen to live a life together. Like it or not, they shared family now.

Regardless of what had changed one thing was certain. He wouldn't ask for help. Not from him. They'd worked together once before and it had ended. Badly.

Caleb knew there was still some time. He would do as much research as he could. He'd find a way to protect his family.

He never needed Rafe before. He certainly didn't now.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Colin's spine stiffened at the sound of Kate's words.

"Ah yes. The amazing Rafe Kovich." He said sarcastically.

Kate was genuinely taken aback. "He IS amazing." She moved away and stared at him.

"I didn't say he wasn't." Colin sighed.

"You just said it sarcastically." Kate's eyes glittered with anger. "I can't believe you. What is your problem? Let me tell you something. My father is the most honorable man I've ever known."

"Oh really? More honorable than your own husband?" Colin countered.

"I didn't say that!" Kate's voice was completely exasperated.

"You implied it." He replied.

Kate took a deep breath and tried again. "Look. I don't know how we got around to me insulting your parents and you insulting my father. Let's get back to the real subject. What's the problem with your father – Colin?"

"I'll never be him you know." He replied, still caught up in the previous subject.

She looked over at him, completely confused. "What?"

He hung his head as he repeated. "Your father. I can't be him."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "I don't want you to be him, Colin."

"You sure?" Colin asked her then. "You don't want me to do that? I know what he does for all of you. He comes sweeping in on his white horse and makes everything better. I'm never going to be like that. When you were sick all I did was sit there and watch you suffer. I should have done something."

When she started this conversation she never expected it to take this kind of turn. "OK. Hold on. You did plenty Colin. You never left my side – not once. And that's exactly where I needed you to be."

She tread carefully, hoping that he would understand as she continued. "I love my father, Colin and it's true. He's got a knack for taking a bad situation and making it disappear. He's strong and brave and for the longest time – he was my hero."

He turned around and glared at her. "This is making me feel oh so much better – thanks."

"But…" Kate sighed as she moved towards him again. "I don't need to depend on him like I used to because now I have you."

"Katrina, don't patronize me." He said sadly as he gazed down at the floor again.

"I'm not." She insisted. "Colin look at me."

She waited until his eyes met hers again. Kate kicked herself for not realizing sooner that he'd feel this way. "You gave up everything you dreamed of once. And you did it all for me. I know I was angry at you at the time but Colin…" She blinked back tears. "I've never seen anyone so brave – not even my father."

"This isn't a contest." She continued as she ran a hand over his cheek. "Please. Stop making it one."

Colin remained silent and Kate knew she had some apologizing to do. "I'm sorry. I handled this badly." She said as she shook her hair back and looked up at him. "I really was asking about your father because I'm concerned. Something's going on. And as strange as it seems I want to help if I can."

She kept going, hoping that eventually they could get back to where they started before they went to bed. "Please let me help you Colin. Talk to me." She pleaded as she pulled his arms and inched closer to him. "I want to help you. I love you so much and it kills me to see you like this."

He gazed into her sparkling green eyes and was lost. "You have an odd way of showing it sometimes you know that?"

"I'm sorry." She smiled up at him. "It's like a chemical reaction. I start talking about vampires and I get all riled up."

"No kidding." He was finally able to laugh. "I don't know what's wrong with him." He added as he pulled her into his arms. "I tried to get some answers but they both keep insisting that everything's just fine."

"I don't think that's the case." Kate replied as she laid her head on his chest and hugged him tight. "I can't put my finger on it but something's wrong. We should help him."

"Yeah. That'll be easy." Colin laughed again, though this time the laugh was a bit bitter. "He's not going to want your help Katrina. I'm telling you right now."

"Then we'll have to be sneaky about it." She replied as she eased away and moved back to towards the bed. "Come on. Come to bed. Alex will be waking us soon enough as it is."

He climbed in beside her and Kate immediately snuggled close. "It doesn't matter where you came from or what has happened in the past. I love you Colin." She whispered. "Don't you ever forget that."

Colin couldn't believe he had actually found someone like her. She was stubborn and opinionated but he loved her more than anything else in the world. Even though the odds were stacked against them, even though they had the worst case scenario as far as in-laws were concerned it didn't matter. Being able to live their lives together was worth every struggle.

"Somehow I have a feeling you won't let me." He replied as he placed a kiss on her hair.

"Nope." She replied as her eyes fluttered closed. "Never."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Chloe – it's OK." Alison said with a yawn. "Please don't ever hesitate to call me. I know how scary it all is. For all intents and purposes I didn't have my mother either to help me out when Kate was born. I know exactly how you feel."

"She wouldn't stop crying." Chloe replied, tears still filling her voice. "Thank you so much. I just didn't know what to do."

"She's quiet now right?" Alison asked.

"She's fine. You'd never even know she'd been screaming. I swear she looks like an angel at the moment." Chloe whispered. "I'm so glad you picked up the phone. Your son was about to call 911."

Alison giggled and yawned again. "I'm sure you've noticed. The Kovich men tend to overreact a bit where their children are concerned."

"That's so true. Thanks again." Chloe said with a sigh. "Goodnight."

"You are welcome. Goodnight. Give that little one a kiss for me." Alison said softly. She smiled as she added. "And give one to Grant too."

Chloe smiled herself as she replied. "I will."

Just before Alison went to hang up she heard the call waiting click. Who else could be calling at this hour?

"Hello?" She said softly.

There was silence on the other end, but she could tell there was someone there.

"Hello?" Alison said again, louder this time.

"Hi. Alison?" The voice said on the other end.

"Livvie?" Alison replied, her voice shocked.

"Hi. Did I wake you?" Livvie said then, not really caring.

"No. I was awake." Alison yawned. "What's wrong?"

"What makes you think something's wrong?"

Alison sighed, overtired now and not at all in the mood. "Face it Livvie. You and I don't chat much. If you're calling it must be important."

"Don't you mean I must need something?" She replied. Her words were laced with contempt.

"Look." Alison replied in a harsh whisper, her temper beginning to flare. "You called me. Not the other way around. If you need something then - fine. I'll do what I can to help you. But lose the attitude. It's three in the morning. If all you've called for is to give me a hard time I'm hanging up."

Alison took a deep breath and started over. "Is it Caleb?" She asked then.

"How did you know?" Livvie replied.

Alison rolled her eyes. "There are five things you care about, Caleb, Colin, Rachel - now Alex - and yourself."

"Can't resist offending me can you Ali? God. You never change." Livvie snapped.

"Neither do you apparently." Alison snapped back. "Livvie. It's really late. You haven't actually caught me at my most sympathetic. If you want to talk about Caleb then I'll listen, but please. Can we get to the point?"

"You know something? This was a bad idea. I don't know why I even thought to call you." Livvie added, almost to herself. "I guess it just shows how desperate I am."

Alison couldn't believe she'd blown this. Rafe had been worried for weeks and here she had a chance to find something out and she'd made a total mess of things.

"Livvie. Wait." She said desperately, trying to fix it. "Don't do this. I said I'd help you."

"Don't do me any favors. Take your pity and go back to your perfect life Alison. Don't worry about me." Livvie replied before hanging up the phone with a resounding clang.

For all her scolding of Rafe, Alison knew she and Livvie were just as bad when it came to dealing with each other as Caleb and Rafe were. She stared at the phone, deciding then and there that tomorrow she'd have to meet with Abby.

Something must be terribly wrong since Livvie had reached out to her. Alison couldn't accept that the chance to help was ruined for good. There had to be something that they could do.