A/N: To my dear darling faithful readers – those I know well and those I have no idea are reading.

A (belated) Valentine's Treat.

Until 64 – Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Sixty-three

"Are you honestly refusing to tell me where our daughter is?" Livvie said, her voice full of disbelief. It had been two days of them constantly going in circles. Livvie pleading and Caleb refusing to budge.

"I will tell you. But first, I want you to calm down Olivia." Caleb said, his voice dangerously soft.

"At this moment Caleb I don't care what you want." Livvie snapped back at him. She moved to the other end of the room and sat beside Colin. "I cannot believe I've let you get away with this for so long." She took a deep breath to try to calm herself.

"Do you honestly think I would willingly put her in harms way?" Caleb replied, incensed beyond belief.

"Ordinarily I wouldn't." Livvie shook her head. "Tell me Caleb - how can I help wondering when you trick me and shut me out at every opportunity? I don't think I can take an eternity of this. Of you, making me a walking zombie so you can do whatever you like…"

"I'm trying to protect you, Olivia." Caleb sat across from them, his face full of defeat. "I don't have much left. I'm doing the very best I can."

"It kills me to say this." Livvie said, her voice a mere whisper. "But Caleb, your best – quite frankly – is not good enough right now."

Her words sparked his anger again. He stood and walked to the door, holding it open and gesturing for her to leave. His voice was bitter as he offered, "If you think there's better out there, sweetheart be my guest."

"OK. Enough." Colin said as he moved to stand.

"Oh this should be classic. Let's see what the mortal has to say about how I live my life." Caleb shot back at him.

Colin stared angrily into his father's eyes. "For the last time. It's no secret you don't like that I married Katrina. I GET IT. You don't like that I choose her. POINT TAKEN. You don't need to keep harping on it. Right now this isn't about you and it isn't about Mom. It's about Rachel and who you've trusted her safekeeping to. Because - let's face it - your judgment is a tad murky at the moment."

"You will not speak to me that way." Caleb's voice shook with rage. "You never had an ounce of respect for your family."

"You're wrong. I think it's you that doesn't respect what you have." Colin had had more than enough. "Tell me something Dad. If you didn't want a family – why did you even bother?"

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Lucy spoke her typical mile a minute as she paced Alison's kitchen. "Tell me something. Do you think that she'll be offended that my name is Lucy Coe Collins not Lucy Kovich Collins? I mean – you know and I know and Rafe knows that I didn't know that he and I were cousins seven or eight times removed." She stopped and pondered for a second. "Removed? What does that mean exactly? Removed from where?"

"I don't know Lucy…" Alison shook her head. Lucy could talk like no one else in the universe. She was so nervous she was extremely thankful for the distraction.

"I can't believe you found his mother." Lucy smiled as her eyes went wide. Clearly she'd just had another thought. "Hey. What if she was an angel – just like Rafe – but got to come back too. Wouldn't that be something?"

"It'd be something alright." Alison replied, wondering about the possibility. She took a deep breath and stared at the floor. "Lucy. I'm so scared to meet her."

Lucy looked at her sympathetically. "Alison. Stop it. She will adore you."

"Mommy?"

Resisting the urge to chew on her freshly painted nails, Alison was thrilled to hear the sound of Ella's voice.

She was laughing by the time she caught sight of her youngest child. "Sweetie."

Ella twisted and tried to pull up the strap to her sundress. "I don't know why you are making me wear this. She doesn't care. I know she doesn't. Gramma Lizbeth told me if I hang on for a while grunge will make a comeback."

Alison fought to keep her voice steady. "Ella. Honey. Listen to me. It's not Grandma Elizabeth who's coming."

The little girl gave her a confused look. "What do you mean?"

Alison was just about to explain when the doorbell rang. She gave Lucy a look of panic.

"Do you want me to get it?" Lucy offered.

Alison shook her head vehemently. "No. I need to."

Smoothing the folds of her skirt Alison made her way to the door. She took a deep breath and turned the knob.

As the door slowly opened she smiled as she whispered. "I can't believe it's really you."

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"We're never going to find them." Kyle sighed as they made their way back to the car. They had just met what seemed like their hundredth dead end.

"We will." Becky offered as she reached for his hand.

"We won't." Kyle replied, his voice full of frustration. Knowing Becky would not give up he turned his attention to Rafe. "Sir? We should stop wasting time. We were able to get some help for my father and for that I will be forever grateful. But it's no use. We should just quit while we are ahead."

Rafe looked at him carefully. "You sure you're OK with that?"

Kyle nodded.

Becky was shocked that he would even consider it. "Daddy. NO."

"Rebecca." Rafe gave her a look of warning. "If Kyle doesn't want to look anymore then we won't. I know you care about him but do you hear what he's saying? He doesn't want to do this anymore."

"He doesn't know what he wants." Becky replied, rolling her eyes a bit.

"BECKY." Kyle's voice was tight. "Just stop."

"I'll give you two a minute. Rebecca." Rafe said again as he stared into her eyes. "Listen to him."

Her father hadn't taken more than two steps away when Becky turned back to Kyle. "You want to do this – don't you? I mean, that's why we're here."

Kyle's patience was wearing thin. "No. Becky. We're here because you ran off in the middle of the night and almost got yourself killed."

Becky shivered at the memory. She tried to interrupt him. "But…"

He talked right over her. "And I know that you meant well. Really I do – but it's over Becky. It is. Maybe we can try again some day but right now I'm tired. I just want to go home."

Becky blinked at his words. "F-f-for how long?"

"I don't know. A while." He replied, sighing loudly. "I need a break from all of this."

"Oh. OK…" Becky sniffled as she turned away from him and walked towards the car. "I guess we can drop you off…"

Kyle watched her, completely confused. "Drop me off where?"

"Home." She wiped at her eyes and opened the car door as she called out. "Dad? C'mon. Let's go."

"Hold on." Kyle ran to her side and snapped the door closed. As he gazed down at her he realized what she was thinking. "You think I'm talking about Louisiana don't you?"

"Of course." Becky nodded. "Aren't you?"

"No." He shook his head at her. He ran a hand gently through her hair as he stared into her eyes. "Becky. My home is with you. Don't you get that yet?"

As she stared up at him she couldn't believe her ears. It was quite possibly the most wonderful thing anyone had ever said to her. "Really?" She sighed with relief as he pulled her close.

"Yeah." He whispered as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "Really."

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"Please. Come in." Alison said softly as Katrina made her way inside. "You must be exhausted."

"It was a long flight." Katrina replied. "But I must say you have a very pretty plane."

"Oh. Thank you." Alison laughed nervously. "It doesn't get much use I'm afraid."

"Mom?" Ella clutched at Alison's skirt, suddenly shy.

Alison crouched down beside her and gave her hand a squeeze. "Ella honey..." She said softly. "This is your…"

"You're Daddy's Mommy." Ella said, awestruck. "He said you were upstairs with Grandpa Ed but that can't be true 'cause you're here."

Katrina was taken aback at Ella's words. It was so odd to talk to someone who knew about Edward. Rafe hadn't even known who his father was the last time she saw him. How was it that his child knew all about him?

Alison smiled wider. "That's right Ella. Sweetie, this is your Grandma Katrina."

"It's very nice to meet you." Ella said quietly, remembering that older people usually like it when you use your manners.

"It's very nice to meet you too." Katrina replied as she ran a hand gently over Ella's curls. She was a beautiful child and she couldn't help but note that she looked the picture of Rafe at that age. It was also clear that Ella would be far more comfortable if she wasn't wearing a frilly dress. Katrina bit her lip and smiled softly.

"And this is Lucy Coe Collins." Alison gestured towards Lucy, who was trying to contain her enthusiasm. "She's a…"

"I'm a cousin of yours – of sorts." Lucy said with a grin. "I mean…we go back – like really far. But family is family wouldn't you say? The more the merrier and all that jazz right?"

Just listening to her talk had Katrina getting more tired by the moment. "I-I suppose."

Lucy glanced from one woman to the other and made a split second decision. "We should let you two catch up. Hey Ella Bella Cinderella - what do you say I take you to get some ice cream? Serena's bringing the girls over and you all can take a swim. Would you like that?"

"Mom?" Ella looked up at her mother for permission.

"That's a great idea." Alison replied as she bent to kiss Ella's nose. "Go on. Get your suit on."

"Thanks Lucy! That'd be so cool! Let me go get changed." Ella replied as she dashed up the stairs.

"I do hope to have some more time to get to know you." Lucy said, trying to reign herself in a bit. "But I have a feeling you and Alison could use time alone."

"Thanks Lucy." Alison said gratefully.

In what seemed like an instant, Ella bounded down the stairs, dressed much more comfortably in shorts and a t-shirt. "Bye Mom! Bye Gramma 'Trina!"

Katrina's heart skipped a beat at hearing the child call her Grandma. It wasn't something she thought she'd ever experience.

"OK. Sweetie – be good for Lucy." She called out as Ella dashed out the door. Lucy smiled and followed behind.

In the moments that followed, Alison watched as Katrina moved around the room. Though she walked slowly and her hair was threaded with gray Alison was surprised to find that she looked much younger than she'd imagined.

Katrina stopped at the mantle and gently picked up a frame that held a picture of her and Rafe from years ago. She remembered the moment vividly. It was one of the last times they had been together. "He kept this?"

Alison's fingers ran over the bracelet she wore on her wrist. "He kept everything that had to do with you."

It was all so surreal. Katrina tried to take it all in. "I don't understand. I see that he has had this life that I did not know about. I have so many questions. How did he come to be here? In America? How did you meet? Someone paid a very cruel joke on me I'm afraid." She sighed. "I thought they had taken him from me. I thought he was gone. I believed it." She laughed softly and looked at the floor. "I'm sorry. I haven't let you say a word. It's just that there are just so many things I want to know."

"I understand." Alison replied, moving to sit on the couch, gesturing for Katrina to do the same. When the older woman settled in she spoke again. "I'll answer what I can – but I do think that there are some things Rafe should tell you himself."

Katrina's gaze fell onto Alison's wrist. "You wear my bracelet."

"Yes." Alison nodded. "Rafe gave this to me on the day we were supposed to be married."

"Supposed to be?" Katrina asked, confused.

"This bracelet is actually the reason I had to find you. When he gave it to me, when I first saw the picture of you that he'd placed inside the locket, I was led to believe something so horrible I can't even begin to describe it. And though he told me it was a trick, though he insisted that it was all a lie, at the time I didn't believe him." Tears fell unheeded down Alison's face. It had been so long, it surprised her that she could still feel the same way she had that day in an instant. "I made him prove it to me."

"I don't understand." Katrina was still puzzled.

"I know." Alison said with a watery laugh as she swiped the tears from her cheeks. "I'm not making much sense. I'm sorry." She took a deep breath and tried again. "I guess all I can tell you is that I love your son, with my whole heart. I want you to know that." She stared into Katrina's eyes. "I want him to know that. When were in Romania a few months ago and I realized how much he was hurting I thought that if I could be the one to bring you two together he would know what he really means to me. If I can give him back even a fraction what he's given me…" She trailed off, unable to go on.

Katrina inched closer and ran a hand gently down the length of her hair. "My dear, I don't think you need to try so hard." Her eyes fell on a recent picture of Alison and Rafe, surrounded by their children and grandchildren. Never in her life did Katrina imagine she'd ever see him so happy. "I'm quite sure you've given him more than he ever dreamed of."

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The silence in the room was deafening. It was a full minute before anyone dared to speak.

"If that's what you believe then why did you come here?" Caleb looked at Colin with disgust.

"Honestly? I don't know anymore." Colin replied, giving him a look that could kill.

"OK. Enough! Both of you." Livvie nearly screeched. She glared at Colin. "This is not about you and the problems with your father." She turned back to Caleb and threw daggers at him with her eyes. "And it's not about you not being able to deal with the fact that he's chosen a different life than us. It's about Rachel." She took a steadying breath before she went on, oblivious to the tears that were falling now. "Rachel is just a baby and you've sent her off God knows where. I want to know where she is Caleb. Tell me. Right now – because if you don't I swear to you I'm going to go door to door until I find her."

Unbeknownst to anyone but Caleb, Rachel was not far from their home. On a bed of dark silks and velvet Rachel slept soundly, dreaming as she always did each night of waking up and finding herself home in her own bed.

In a room close by a hand with razor sharp nails trailed over the picture frame. The woman lifted it gently, and traced a finger over the glass.

"Anastasia. My baby…" Annette said with a sigh. "You were so beautiful, so perfect…"

"He didn't even think about it did he? Making wishes for his own selfish gains. I know how he thinks. He thinks casualties are just a necessary consequence. But he had no right. You were special. You were mine." Her voice began to shake with rage. "I gave him everything. All I've done, all I've ever done my whole life is serve him."

Annette was lost in her own world, half in the past, and half in the present. "He will know though. Soon. He'll know the type of anguish that comes from losing a part of yourself. It will happen. And the best part is he's so weak he doesn't even suspect it. That just makes it sweeter."

"Your heart couldn't take it could it?" She said as she gazed at her daughter's face again. Pain and anguish filled her voice as she went on. "It was all too much for you wasn't it? Being human made you start wishing again, to start to look outside this life. And because of that – that – hope, that curiosity, that envy I lost you. You would never have wondered what else there could be if not for him. You took risks you shouldn't have taken and without my powers, I couldn't keep you safe. Instead of living eternally it caused your life to end. It is all because of him and even though I know that it's true, I still can't believe you're gone…"

She put the frame down and moved away from the desk, walking toward the window and looking out into the night.

"She won't ever replace you my darling…" Annette promised as she gazed over at the soft light cast from Caleb's Manor, a few miles in the distance. "But at least he'll know what it's like to lose something so perfect."

Giddy with the knowledge that vengeance would be hers, a thrill crept up her spine as she vowed. "He'll finally know…"