A/N: My. There are some greedy girls out there – or maybe just 1 in particular. ;) Until 41 Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Forty

"He's going to start talking soon. I can totally tell." Kate whispered as she came up behind Colin.

"No ones answering…" Colin replied, not at all hearing what she'd said.

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry. What did you say?" Colin finally focused as he put the phone down and turned toward her.

"I was just saying that Alex is a genius." She said with a smile.

"Well of course he is. Takes after his fath…er…parents." Colin caught the look in her eye and quickly corrected himself.

"Nice save Morley." She smiled wider. Her gaze got serious as she reached up and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "What's the matter?"

"No one's answering at my parent's." He said softly. "I'm worried. Has your mom called you?"

"No – but Kyle called Becky. He said that they were all working together…"

"A recipe for disaster if there ever were one." Colin muttered.

Kate leaned in and gave him a quick kiss before she murmured, "That's what people said about us."

"True." He agreed. He realized he'd been neglecting her all night. "I'm sorry. I'm sort of out of it. I just worry…"

"I know you do." Kate looked deeply into his eyes as she reached for his hand. "It's amazing to me…"

"What is?" Colin asked as he linked his fingers with hers.

"You." She said with a smile. "Something just hit me and I can't believe I've even had the thought. My father might disown me if he knew."

"What are you talking about?" He asked, completely confused.

"You're what your father would be like if he'd never been turned. You're the man he could never be."

She'd come a long way, Colin thought as his lips twisted into a smile. For the longest time, she could barely talk about his father without rage filling her voice. "And what kind of man is that?" He asked as he drew her close.

"Kind, considerate, honorable and unbelievably sexy." She whispered as she settled into his arms and began to place soft kisses on his neck.

He knew that she couldn't help herself, complimenting him while insulting his father. For once, he decided just to enjoy it. Worry still filled his mind, but it was quickly being replaced with nothing but her. "Katrina…"

"Our incredibly intelligent son is finally sleeping." She whispered in his ear, right before she started to nibble. She pulled away and chuckled softly. "You better take what you can get."

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He felt like a truck ran over him. It was a sensation that was completely unfamiliar and he didn't like it one bit.

If there was ever any reason to want to be immortal it was this. Who needed to feel sore and suffer to like that?

Mortals could have it. If having sympathy and emotion meant feeling like this he wanted none of it. He'd give it all up gladly.

He had to get it back. He had made a start and now Rafe was sitting here, smugly rubbing it in his face.

Caleb had had more than enough.

It was too much. Having Olivia in such a state – having to destroy all he'd just tried to build with his own hands – something had to give.

He turned towards Livvie, anguish filling his eyes as he gently took her in his arms. "Wake up, Olivia." He said as he summoned every ounce of his power to bring her back. "Please."

Slowly, her eyes opened. "Caleb…" She said, her voice raspy.

"Olivia."

"What happened to me?" She fought to keep her head up as he held her to him.

"You've been sleeping. It's my fault. I'm sorry." He whispered as he buried his nose in her hair. "It's going to change now. I promise you."

He rocked her back and forth a bit in his arms, knowing that as soon as she fully awakened he'd have explaining to do. Right now he was happy to know at least that much.

"I'll take care of you." He vowed. "We don't need anyone else. We never did." Caleb said with conviction. "We're not going to start now."

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Alison lay in bed, wide awake. She gazed over at Rafe and found he was still sleeping soundly. She was glad to see that he was finally letting go a bit. Whether it was exhaustion or something else, she didn't care. Knowing he was getting the rest he needed gave her the time to figure out what she wanted to do next.

He'd want to stay, she knew. He'd want to stay and finish this but despite her initial thought she wasn't sure that was what they should do.

She wanted to go back in time. She wanted to go back to the day she'd arrived here. When all she had to do was comfort him.

And now, as always they were caught up and tangled with Livvie and Caleb. Had someone told her all those years ago that that would be the case she wouldn't have believed them.

Then again, had someone told her all those years ago that she'd have met and married and angel she wouldn't have believed that either.

When Livvie was happy, she and Rafe were happy. It was sad, but true. The times in her life that were filled with the most grief were because Caleb and Livvie were not together.

If that's what it would take for her to live her life in peace then that's exactly what Alison wanted.

There was only one thing she wanted to accomplish now, besides Livvie awakening. She wanted to enable them both to live out the rest of their lives with the men they loved in peace. An odd sort of peace but peace nonetheless.

She gazed over at Rafe again, vowing to herself that no matter what happened next she wouldn't let him leave here without spending some time on what he needed. He needed to come to terms with his past so that he could finally focus on the future.

She was determined for things to finally ease up a bit. No more worrying. No more waiting to see what will come next. Rafe would still be protective of her and their children, she knew that fact would never change. But the desperation, the overreacting, the virtual obsession with keeping them safe, maybe that could subside a bit if he'd just have a chance to deal with what had happened to him all those years ago.

She didn't want to change who he was. She just wanted to make his life easier.

Sighing she inched closer to him, running her fingers gently through his hair. "You've taken care of me for so long." She promised as she pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Now it's time for me to take care of you."

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"You're still worried." Katrina said softly as she curled against Colin, savoring the silence that surrounded them.

"I can't help it." He whispered back to her.

"I wouldn't expect you too. It's going to be alright." Kate promised. "It will all work out."

"I'm glad you're so confident."

"I am." She said as she snuggled closer. "I've decided I can't be anything but."

"What do you mean?" He asked as she turned in his arms and tipped her head up to gaze into his eyes.

"You and I, despite everything, we're together. And there is a reason for that." She smiled up at him, a feeling of calm falling over her. It was a welcome change from the way she'd felt a few weeks before.

"You think so?" He replied, running his finger over her cheek.

"I know so." Kate smiled back at him. "It's amazing what's happened, Colin. We should be thankful. And as long as our families are working together instead of against each other, we shouldn't complain."

"Who are you and what have you done with my wife?" Colin asked with a chuckle.

"I'm still me…just less…"

"Like you father?" He cut her off with a grin.

"Colin…" Kate laughed back at him.

"I wouldn't have you any other way." He promised. Colin was just about to show her what he meant by that when a cry filled the air.

"The genius awakens." Kate said with a sigh. "I was hoping he'd sleep a bit later tonight."

"That would have been nice, but this is fine." Colin kissed her soundly and rolled out of bed. "I wouldn't have him any other way either."