A/N : I think it's taken me so long to update is because I both want to finish and don't want to let go. Do you know what I mean? But alas - I need to get things moving. It's taken me 10 months to get to this point and at the rate I'm going this story will take 10 years to finish. I mean – I need to get some of the drama over with so my poor Quibe can finally tie the knot. Geez!

So. Here goes nothing.

Until 60 (and a little hint as to where Rachel is…) Enjoy! xox - G

Chapter Fifty-nine

Alison sat at her desk, gazing at the nearly blank sheet of paper in front of her. Since she'd gotten the information from the private detective she'd hired she'd been trying to figure out how to start. A pile of crumpled sheets of stationary littered the ground around her chair. She was so lost in thought she didn't hear Ella come in the room.

Ella peeked over her mother's shoulder and whispered. "Hey Mom – why're you writing a letter to Katie?"

Startled, Alison looked over at her youngest child. Before she could stop herself she replied. "What honey? I'm not."

"Yes you are." Ella said with a little sniffle. "I can read it. It says 'Dear Katrina'." She squinted her eyes and asked. "Is she in trouble?"

Alison looked at her, confused. "No sweetie. What makes you say that?"

"'Cause you wrote Katrina and you only call her that when you're mad at her." Ella replied, matter-of-factly.

Despite her dilemma, she had to stifle a giggle. "No. I'm not mad at her."

She could see Ella's little mind working. She was trying to think of a way to explain when the doorbell rang.

Thankful, she pressed a kiss to Ella's brow and went to answer the door.

Abby stood on the other side, breathless.

"I can't believe you didn't tell me." She said with a grin. "You found her."

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His vision was blurred. Kyle ran to the far end of the property, until he reached the gazebo. The yard was overgrown; there were weeds and bramble everywhere. His breathing was ragged as he sank onto a bench. The wood was withered and he hoped it wouldn't break under his weight. As hard as he tried he still couldn't catch his breath. The air was so heavy around him.

He knew exactly what it would be like. He wasn't surprised. The whole trip down to New Orleans he was silent, knowing what would greet him when he got here.

When Rafe knocked he could hear his father stumbling to the door, a stale and rancid scent flooding from the house as he opened it. Kyle caught the look of shock on Becky's face as she finally learned the truth. She held onto his hand tightly as they made their way inside.

His eyes darted around furiously. The place was a fire trap. It was amazing that it was still standing with all the cigarette butts and newspaper littered on the floor. He knew more than once that his father had passed out while smoking. He tried to remember it wasn't his problem anymore.

As Kyle blinked back tears he heard his father's voice, tearing into him for leaving in the first place. He barely moved when his father slapped him, he simply stood his ground and stared at the floor. He had tried to reply but it was hopeless.

Seeing the writing on the wall Rafe wisely asked him to take Becky out to the car but the shame of having her see all this overwhelmed him. Before he could stop himself he tore his hand from hers, darted through the house and out the back door.

This is how he ended up sitting alone in the gazebo and trying not to completely lose it.

As he sat there he couldn't help but remember how much his mother had loved this place. When times were better magnolias grew from the rotted trees and ivy covered the pillars. The air had always smelled so sweet, but that was a long time ago.

He thought he heard something, like a rustle of wind. It couldn't be. The humidity had to be a hundred percent today. He shook his head and a moment later he heard it again.

"Kyle..." Becky whispered.

He stood at the sound of her voice tried to find a way to escape. She conveniently blocked the entrance so unless he acted like a lunatic and climbed over one of the benches he was stuck.

"You shouldn't be here." He replied, turning his back to her.

Her heart broke into tiny pieces as she gazed at him. "Kyle...please. Don't..."

His voice was desolate as he went on. "Go home, Becky. It's alright. I don't blame you."

"I'm not going anywhere." She whispered back. She moved to him and placed a hand on his arm. "Kyle. I'm so sorry..."

He shrugged her off and moved out of her reach. His eyes were full of sorrow as he turned to face her again. "I don't want you to be sorry. I'm the one who should be sorry. You shouldn't have to deal with all this. Just forget you met me, OK?"

Becky blinked at him in disbelief. "You want me to forget you?" She asked, her voice shaking a bit. "You think it'll be that easy?"

"I don't know." He whispered as he hung his head and gazed at the floor. "I don't…"

She knew what he was trying to do. He was trying to get her to leave because he was ashamed. If he thought she'd actually leave him he was crazy.

"Kyle. I had no idea." Becky said softy as she approached him again. "I didn't realize…"

"This place is so disgusting…" Defeated, Kyle moved away from her to sit down again.

"It must have been beautiful once." Becky went to sit beside him. With some effort she was able to take his hand in hers. He kept trying to inch away.

"It was." Kyle whispered as he finally gave in. "We used to sit outside all the time. You know the kinds of parties you have at your house?"

She nodded, but didn't speak. She wanted him to get whatever was bothering him out. She realized now he'd been holding on for so long.

Kyle sighed and stared at their joined hands. He gave hers a squeeze as he went on. "We did that too. My mom – she's a great cook. We used to have the whole neighborhood over. Floats come right by the house on Mardi Gras. We always had so much fun…"

"I'd love to see it sometime." Becky said as she laid her head on his shoulder. She eased away and brought a hand to his cheek. "Kyle…"

"I'm fine." Kyle shrugged and tried to twist away from her.

"Don't do that. You're not fine." Becky held his chin still and made him meet her eyes. "I can't believe that you've gone through all this."

She smiled as she gazed at him. "I guess it's my turn now huh?"

"What?" Kyle gave her a confused look.

She kept her eyes on his as she whispered. "The other day you took care of me – now I get to take care of you."

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"Little pitchers have big ears." Alison whispered as she stepped aside and let Abby into the living room.

"I am well aware. Which is why I came prepared with a distraction." She replied as Aidan and Ty came whizzing past.

"El – look! We've got Monster Mania – the new one!" Aidan shouted as Ty stood beside him nearly bouncing up and down.

"Aidan – for God's sake keep your voice down." Abby scolded.

"Excellent!" Ella replied as she clapped her hands and let out a little yelp.

"OK – in the den – all of you." Alison ushered the three of them into the other room.

When she was sure they were out of earshot, she turned back to her sister. "That was close – she pretty much caught me…"

"What's going on?" Abby asked excitedly as she sand down on the couch.

"Don't you know already?" Alison replied with a smirk.

Abby smirked right back at her. "Ali. I know what I've seen – I'm just not sure what you're going to do about it."

"I'm not sure what to do." She admitted with a sigh. "I thought it would take a lot longer. I was going to write to her – I thought that would be easier than calling. The problem is I want to tell her everything and there's just so much to tell. I don't want to overwhelm her with information."

"I'm sure she'll be so happy to hear from you." Abby reassured her.

"I guess. But Abs, Rafe is still so touchy about all of this. He's not going to like that I went behind his back like this." For the first time ever, Alison meant what she said. She had a sinking feeling that he wouldn't take her pursuing this on her own well. "And if this is really it – if I've really found her – he should be nothing but happy."

Abby saw the tears lighting in her eyes. She grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. "I think It just might take some getting used to."

"I'm not going to tell him." Alison said softly. "Not until I know it's for sure. As much as seeing her again might hurt him – getting his hopes up for no reason would be worse."

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Becky sat quietly beside Kyle, waiting for him to say something. When it didn't look like he'd be speaking anytime soon, she finally broke the silence. "Did you really think this would change how I feel about you?"

"Doesn't it?" He whispered in reply, still not fully meeting her gaze.

"No." Becky's voice was full of love. "Not in the least."

Taking a deep breath, almost believing her, Kyle reached for her hand this time. "He wasn't always like this. The house – it wasn't always like this."

"I'm sure it wasn't." She nodded.

"My mom kept it really nice. Everything sparkled. When she left I tried to keep it clean but I had school and stuff…" He trailed off, overcome with emotion.

"It's OK…"

Kyle took a steadying breath and went on. "But I tried, because I know it was all because of me anyway…"

"Kyle. No." Becky shook her head at him. She thought she knew everything about him. How could she not have seen all of this? "Your mother and your father had problems – problems that had nothing to do with you."

"No. It was me. She hated that he was a slayer. She was happy as long as he lived like a normal person. Once I started training all they did was fight…"

Becky cut him off softly. "Your father passed his legacy on to you. It seems to me she didn't love him for what he was. If that's true there was nothing you could do."

Becky watched his face as she spoke. She could tell her words weren't fully sinking in. The truth was he couldn't believe she was still there with him, looking at him the same way she had the day before – as if nothing was different. Even amidst all the horrible mess his home had become she was breathtakingly beautiful. He couldn't quite believe it was really true.

She quietly eased closer to him and took him in her arms, laying her head on his chest as she hugged him tightly. "I know that you have all these thoughts in your head now. I know it's going to take you a while to sort them out. Just remember one thing while you do." She titled her head up to his and kissed him softly. "I'll always love you, Kyle. Every single thing about you." She kissed him again as she added. "No matter what."