A/N: Dear Readers – I know I mess up the timing of things occasionally. Trust me I know I sometimes take 4 chapters for me to move an hour. ;) But for the sake of the story weeks are now flying by in a blur. Work w/me people. :)

Until 24 – enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Twenty-three

"This has been quite a week hasn't it?" Alison said with a laugh. She and Abby sat together at the kitchen table, chatting over tea.

Abby sighed, trying to process it all. "You can say that again." Abby giggled a bit despite her nerves. "I swear, Lynnie can't ever let Lia do something by herself."

Alison laughed. "But Lynnie's not having twins right? I mean, that would be so crazy."

"As far as I know she's not." Abby said, her voice growing soft. She looked down and stared at her mug, examining it like its contents were fascinating.

"Abby? What's wrong?" Alison asked, concern filling her voice.

"I don't know yet." She admitted. "It's something…" She trailed off, the visions a jumble in her head. They were coming so fast it was making her dizzy. She closed her eyes, knowing that it was pointless. It didn't make them stop. It didn't even make them slow down.

Alison watched her sister closely and began to panic a bit. She hadn't seen Abby so distraught in a long time. "Abby? Honey you're scaring me. Do you want me to call Cam?"

"No. It's OK." Abby insisted. "I don't want him to worry." She pushed away from the table and stood. "I don't know what to do."

Alison's heart beat faster as she heard Abby's words. She tried to figure out what she meant. "What is it? What do you see?"

Abby turned to face Alison, sadness written all over her features. "Lynnie's not paying attention. She's so deliriously happy right now that she's not even going to see what's coming. And I know for a fact that if she's not prepared it will destroy her."

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"I guess we're destined to go through every milestone together huh?" Ethan said with a chuckle.

Danny stood at the nurses' station and turned at the sound of his voice. A huge grin broke out over his face. "Yeah. Looks that way huh?"

"I'm thinking it's the twin thing. Like it or not, they're tied together forever." Ethan continued. "Lynnie's always a step or two behind but she catches up quick enough."

Danny nodded. "What are you doing here anyway? She has an appointment?" He laughed again. "I can't believe she let you leave the room. Unlike Lia – Lynnie actually likes to have her husband around."

"Lynnie had no problem getting rid of me. She and Michelle are chatting a mile a minute." Ethan replied. "They shooed me out and sent me on an errand." He lifted his hand and gave the small bag he held a shake. "Vitamins."

"Get used to it. I've officially become errand boy." Danny laughed. "I don't mind – although I'd like her to still be awake after she demands I go off and get her something. By the time I get back Lia's always snoring."

"I haven't gotten there yet but thanks for the warning." Ethan said with a smile. He paused a bit before he spoke again. "All in all - it's pretty cool isn't it?"

"Yes." Danny agreed. "It certainly is."

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"I'm going to have to go over there." Rafe said with a sigh. "I can't believe I'm going to go over there."

Cam laughed, knowing just how much his brother-in-law was dreading the inevitable.

"You can hide out here as long as you want." Cam replied. "I won't rat you out. We can just sit here and watch the game."

Rafe gave Cam a look. He never got tired of kidding Rafe about his lack of sports knowledge. "It just kills me that I'm going to have to help him out."

Cam's eyebrows lifted in curiosity. He knew Rafe was protective of his daughters but this was extreme – even for him. "Rafe - you really hate Kyle that much? Because I gotta tell you – the kid's a saint. You should ease up a little."

Rafe stared at Cam completely dumbfounded. "What are you talking about?"

Cam stared back. "What are YOU talking about?" He was never more confused. "Aren't you talking about going over to the gym to talk to Kyle?"

"If only it was that easy." Rafe grumbled.

Cam still didn't understand. "It is. It's really easy. Just do it. That way your daughter will still talk to you – you're wife will still talk to you. It sucks but your life will be so much easier overall."

Rafe sighed loudly. "You're not understanding me."

Cam chuckled as he replied, "You got that right. I have no idea what the hell you're talking about."

Rafe fought to explain himself. "Kyle's fine." He admitted. "My daughter's the one with a wild side apparently." He shivered at the image and waved Cam off. "Please don't get me started. I can't even think of it without shaking."

He paced a bit and spoke again. "It's been weeks of Becky locking herself in her room and doing a thousand extra chores. I don't know what to do to make it go away. It's absolute torture for me. That boyfriend of hers tiptoes around me like I'll deck him if he so much as speaks. And I find myself feeling sorry for the kid – when I know that deep down he's up to no good. But can I do anything about it? NO. Not unless I want to have to deal with Alison."

"I can imagine." Cam was more than sympathetic.

Rafe sighed again. "Daughters. I swear to God this is my payback for being sent back down here." He ran a hand through his hair and began to pace again, clenching his fist as he did. "But that's not my biggest problem."

Cam still felt a bit lost. Finally, while he was looking at Rafe's face he got a clue.

"You're not talking about Becky and Kyle. You're talking about Caleb." He said softly.

Rafe nodded. "It's going to be a mess but I'm going to have to go there and offer to help him." He stared into Cam's eyes as he added. "Whether he likes it or not."

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After leaving her appointment with Michelle, Lynnie wandered over to the nursery. She couldn't believe how soon it had all happened. A little less than two months ago she and Ethan had stood here just chatting about trying to have a baby and now miracle of miracles they were.

For the first time in her life the possibilities she saw were nothing but happy. She saw nothing but promise and joy. All her dreams were coming true. Every last one of them.

All those things she had seen months before must have been wrong. She sighed with relief as her hand moved to rest on her stomach.

This is how Ethan found her. He took a deep breath and approached, his heart bursting with love. "Trying to pick up some pointers?" He whispered as he curled an arm around her waist and drew her close.

"Just looking." She replied with a laugh. "I still can't believe it."

"Me neither." He answered as he softly kissed her cheek.

Lynnie laughed louder. "Sure you can. I know what you've been up to." She looked down and took one of his hands in hers, her fingers gently tracing the calluses that covered his palm. She knew full well where he'd been sneaking off to lately. "You're already planning, already building aren't you?"

He didn't try to deny it. He knew he'd been caught. 'OK so what if I am? The kid needs a place to sleep." He said with a smile.

"If I know you Ethan Thomas I know that you're not planning a typical run-of-the-mill crib for 'the kid'." She continued to giggle.

If Lynnie had been facing him she'd have seen he looked horrified at the thought. "Of course not." He said as he held her closer and patted her stomach. "Simply because, this isn't going to be your run-of-the-mill kid."

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"It's always something." Abby said, her voice rising in frustration. "Always. We can never catch a break."

She crossed her arms in front of herself and fought tears. "And whenever I say something like that I remember everything I've gotten. All the miracles that have happened to us and I think – how dare you even think of complaining. But – I can't help it."

Alison sat quietly and watched, knowing that her sister needed to vent a bit.

"Lynnie saw something horrible in her future, Lia got shot at, Quinn's worried beyond belief about Billie and scared that he won't be able to adopt Ty, Aidan's starting to get visions too and he's beside himself, Cam's desperately trying to keep up with me and my moods. I don't know how much more I can take." Abby admitted. "Honestly. It's too much."

"I know sweetie – and I hate to say this - but you know we've been through worse."

Abby shook her head completely inconsolable. "It's going to be bad – Alison. This thing with Lynnie, it's no small thing. I can see it coming and I know I can't stop it but I want to. God. I want to."

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"What are you saying? You're not honestly thinking of heading over to Batland are you?" Cam's mouth nearly hung open at the mere suggestion.

"I don't think I have a choice. He's getting weaker. I can feel it." Rafe replied, still not fully believing it himself. "If others get wind of this…"

"What'll happen? They take him out? Is that really so bad?" Cam knew it was a complicated issue but they'd been battling Caleb forever it seemed. And the last time wasn't all that long ago. Just six years ago Rafe had raced across the world to save his daughter and his now son-in-law.

Rafe sank down into a chair, rubbing his hands over his face in frustration. "Yeah. And I can't let that happen."

"Why the hell not?" Cam replied.

"Because you're forgetting one important fact." Rafe looked up and stared Cameron in the eye as he replied. "If he goes…I go too."