A/N: If updates are few and far between it's because I'm off and running again. I will write whenever I can 'cause I hate leaving you all hanging.

For now – here's 36. Until 37 (whenever that may be) :o) Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-six

"We really need to start decorating the house." Billie said with a sigh as she snagged a slice of carrot from the bowl of salad. She was looking at a stack of pictures and was getting a bit overwhelmed at how empty it looked. She couldn't wait for them to move in.

Quinn stole a glance at her as he moved around the kitchen, busy making the rest of their dinner. "I agree. But we don't have to do it all at once." He said with a laugh.

As she watched him Billie couldn't help but smile. Whenever she was with him she was happier by the second. After all she had been through, she was constantly amazed at how her luck had changed.

"So." She said as she smiled wider. "What is the occasion?"

"Hmmm?" Quinn replied as he checked the oven.

"Us. Here. Having dinner. Alone." She said softly. "I don't understand why. It's not our anniversary."

"No. You're right. It isn't." He said idly.

Her curiosity was killing her. She squinted her eyes at him as she asked. "Quinn. C'mon. What's going on?"

"Suspicious much, Bill?" He laughed back at her.

"No. I just know you and I know for a fact that you are up to something." She replied. "Either you did something I won't like, or you're going to do something I won't like."

"Those are your guesses?" Quinn blinked at her, pretending to be insulted. "Really. You have so little faith in me."

"QUINN." Billie grabbed at his arm and shook him a bit. "WHAT IS IT?"

Quinn tore away from her grasp and calmly set the oven timer before facing her again. "I don't know if I want to tell you now." He glared down at her as he added. "Be nice."

"Quinn." She said again, her voice becoming soft and sweet as she trailed her fingers up his chest. "Tell me. Pretty, pretty please?"

"OK." He whispered as he bent his head to kiss her quickly. He was suddenly nervous. He had his fingers crossed that she would take this the right way. He linked his fingers with hers and led her into the living room. "Come on. Let's go sit."

"Should I be scared?" She asked as she trailed behind him.

"No. Not at all." Quinn replied.

For the first time Billie noticed a box sitting on the coffee table, wrapped with a huge pink bow. "Is that for me?" She asked, her eyes shining with excitement.

"Yes. But look at me for a second…" He said as he snatched it off the table and held it at arms length. He stared into her eyes, his voice serious. "I don't care if you do or don't accept this gift. It makes absolutely no difference to me."

She was now more confused than before but he looked so earnest she simply nodded at him.

With his hand shaking, he placed the box on her lap. Intrigued, Billie untied the bow carefully and saw what looked like a brochure.

She stared at the cover and then up at Quinn. "Port Charles University?" She said softly.

"Yeah." He replied with a nod. "I had them move your credits over. Your tuition is paid. You can start this summer if you like – or you can wait until after the wedding and start in the fall. All you have to do is pick the classes."

"Oh." Billie said blinking back tears.

Quinn noticed immediately and began to panic. "Billie. Listen to me. I don't care if you ever finish college – but I know that YOU care. And I also know you. You will keep second guessing yourself and never take that first step."

"I know…" She whispered.

He moved to take the book from her hand. "It's fine. If you don't want to go I'll just tell them the money is a donation. It's alright."

Billie's grip was like iron. "NO. No." She said with a sob as her eyes met his. "Quinn…"

He gave her a confused look. "Honey?"

In a split second she threw her arms around his neck and showered him in kisses. "Thank you."

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Caleb stared at Rafe, knowing he had a point but fighting the inevitable with all his might.

Rafe wondered how much longer he could stay here. He had work to do. He needed to get out and start cleaning up the mess Caleb had made.

He was just about to tell him that they needed to get moving when he heard someone coming up the stairs.

"Rafe." Alison whispered as she shifted Rachel in her arms. "We have a problem here."

"No kidding." He said his eyes still locked with Caleb's. He saw something change in Caleb's face as Alison approached.

She turned towards Caleb and said softly. "Did you tell him?"

Caleb didn't move an inch.

"Tell me what?" Rafe said then.

"Livvie's unconscious." Alison replied. "And from what this little one said she has been for days."

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Dinner was finished, the dishes abandoned as Quinn lay stretched out on the couch, his arms wrapped around Billie. He bent his head and placed a soft kiss on her hair.

"How do you always know?" Billie's voice was full of wonder.

"Know what?" He asked as he kissed her again.

"Exactly what I'm dreaming." She whispered as she snuggled closer and flipped through the course catalog. "It's always been that way."

"Because. I know you." He said with a smile.

"Oh yeah?" Her voice offered a challenge. "So what kinds of classes do you think I'll take?"

"Hmmm. Let's see." He peered over her head and snagged the catalog away, flipping through the pages quickly. "Ummm. Glass blowing, English literature, Introduction to Logic, Astronomy 101 and History of Puppetry."

She burst into laughter. "Puppetry?"

Smiling he handed the book back to her. "OK. Maybe not. But my point is you're going to have a hard time choosing."

"I am. It's making me crazy. I want to study everything." She admitted with a sigh as she buried her nose in the book again.

"I know." He said as he pulled her closer, completely ecstatic that his gift had gone over so well.

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Caleb finally broke his silence. "Olivia's fine."

"So you put her under and you can't get her back huh?" Rafe threw his hands up. "This is just great."

Caleb wasn't about to admit a thing. "You, your sidekick and your little woman are not needed here, Rafe." He reached over and pulled Rachel from Alison's arms. "Let me show you all out."

"So you'll sacrifice everything – even the woman you love – for your pride." Rafe said as he shook his head at him. "You really are pathetic."

"Rafe." Alison cautioned him. "Stop it."

"He's his own worst enemy." Rafe replied.

"OK, Pot. Meet the Kettle." Alison rolled her eyes. Her voice rose as she glared at her husband and then at Caleb. "I want you both to cut it out."

The two men continued their staring match.

"I'm going to tell you what's going to happen next. I am going to stay here and sit with Livvie and Rachel. Kyle is going to stay here with us." She reached over and took Rachel back, sighing as she set the little girl on the ground. She quickly gave her a kiss on the forehead as she faced them again.

She shook back her hair and tried to reign in her temper as she continued. "The two of you stubborn, pigheaded fools are going to go out take care of whatever it is that you have to take care of and if either one of you comes back with as much as a scratch I promise you I'll hurt you both myself."

"She's got a mouth on her doesn't she?" Caleb remarked.

Rafe gave him a disgusted look. "Oh yeah. Please. And your wife is so incredibly soft spoken."

That response earned him a resounding smack on his arm. He sheepishly looked down at his wife and whispered. "I'm sorry."

"You will be." She promised him with a glare. "Go. NOW." She ordered as she snagged them both by the arm and nudged them towards the stairs. "Because the sooner the two of you get this over with the sooner we can figure out how to fix what's wrong with Livvie."

Knowing she was right they started down the stairs, passing a stunned Kyle as they made their way to the door and outside.

"What's going on now?" He asked Alison as he reached the landing.

"I'm playing nursemaid to Livvie and Rafe and Caleb have gone off to fight vampires together." She took a deep breath as she added. "In other words, the world – as we know it – is coming to an end."