A/N: Woo hoo! Spring has sprung! (well at least it has in NY!)

Until 68 – enjoy! xox - G

Chapter Sixty-seven

"Don't talk to me like that. Of course I want to help. But you can't send me to meet her. It has to be Mom." Colin said softly. He was trying with all his might to keep his anger in check.

"I simply said don't want her to go alone." Caleb replied, completely frustrated.

"Nice try. You know exactly what you said. You said and I quote. 'It's about time you stepped up.'" Colin snapped back. He took another steadying breath. "Listen to me. I don't want to fight about this – but you have to understand. I'll do more damage than good if you send me to her."

Caleb simply glared at him.

"Look. The last time Annette saw me Anastasia was alive. It was when you had her turn me. And if she sees me at her doorstep she will just resent you all the more. But if Mom goes…" Colin continued. "She'll sympathize - mother to mother. We just have to make sure Mom doesn't go off the deep end and kill her before we know where Rachel is at."

An image of Livvie pouncing on Annette flew through Caleb's mind. He turned to his son with a smirk on his face as he replied. "Well. That's easier said than done."

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"Mmmm." Rafe murmured as he rolled over on his side. He stretched and was surprised when his hand landed on what he knew, even with his eyes closed, to be his wife's hip.

"I didn't expect you to still be here. I thought I smelled breakfast." He chuckled as his arm curled around Alison's waist and drew her close.

"You do." She replied as she sighed and settled against him. "Your mom is teaching Ella to cook."

Rafe's eyes opened at the mention of his mother. "Is she really?"

"Mmm hmm." Alison smiled. "They've been at it every day this week." She giggled. "Ella's just like you – pretty much hopeless but now she can make scrambled eggs."

"So can I." Rafe said defensively.

Alison laughed as she turned in his arms to face him. She kissed him gently as she answered. "Yes honey. You can."

She pulled away and looked into his eyes as she went on. "I waited until you got home but I think it's time now. I'm going to have the rest of the kids over for dinner. It's about time they all met their grandmother."

Rafe shook his head. "I still can't believe it. I keep thinking I'm dreaming. This is surreal. You understand that don't you?"

"I think I've got a handle on the surreal." She laughed back at him. "I married an angel remember?"

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Billie walked slowly down the stairs, her heart heavy. For the first time since they'd first been together Quinn didn't come to bed last night. She knew the reason why and she knew it was her fault. She knew without a doubt that eventually things would be fine again but it was complete torture waiting.

She heard him moving about the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, she entered the room.

"Did you sleep OK?" She whispered as she watched him making coffee. "I missed you last night."

He turned to face her, emotions swirling inside him. His heart began to break at the look on her face, but his anger and disappointment quickly won over. He could still hear every word of their conversation the night before and he still couldn't believe she'd be so secretive – not to mention choose something else over him.

He shrugged and stirred his coffee with more concentration than necessary. "I slept fine. I was working so late I didn't want to wake you up. It wasn't that bad. The couch is pretty comfortable."

Quinn was lying through his teeth, he barely slept a wink all night.

Neither had Billie. Her back stiffened at the tone of his voice. She didn't know how to respond to that at all. She stammered as she answered. "Well. T-that's good I - I guess. I wouldn't have minded if you woke me up though..."

He ignored her last comment. Quinn knew he needed to leave before he said something he'd regret. "I need to get to the office early today." He said softly as he transferred his coffee to a travel mug and moved towards the back door. "Tell Ty I'll see him at practice. I promised I'd take him for pizza. We'll bring dinner back for you."

It was worse than she thought. His words stung. Usually they'd pick her up and they'd all go to dinner. But it was clear Quinn didn't want any part of her at the moment.

"OK." Billie hung her head and blinked back tears. "Have a good day. I love you…"

Quinn's hand froze on the doorknob. Sighing he moved back to her. Despite how he felt he knew that life was unpredictable. Even with this major bump in the road he had vowed long ago that he'd never let a day go by without Billie knowing how much he loved her. His hand lifted her chin and he gazed into her eyes. He kissed her quickly before he moved away again.

He walked back to the door and called softly over his shoulder. "Love you too."

Well at least that was something. Billie thought to herself. Now, more than ever she wanted time to fly by so that finally Quinn would understand that it wasn't that she didn't want to marry him – she simply wanted him to be surprised.

As she went to drown her sorrows in a cup of tea she reassured herself. Not much longer now.

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"Forget it." Livvie shook her head vehemently.

Caleb ran a hand through his hair, completely expecting this reaction from her. "Olivia. Listen to me."

She was having no part in it. "Have you lost your mind along with your powers? You want me to go up to that lunatic and play nice?" She stared at him in disbelief. "Read my lips Caleb. FORGET IT."

Livvie's eyes were wild. "I'm going to tell you what I'm going to do. The minute I see her I'm going to make sure she never takes another breath." She stood and faced him, her hands fisted at her sides.

Caleb couldn't help the smile from breaking out over his face. "Ahh. My love. I've taught you so well."

Colin shivered as he stood by and overheard his parent's conversation. They were talking about killing someone like they were debating what to have for dinner.

"Sweetheart, listen to me." He whispered as he crossed the room. Gently he pried her hands open and linked her fingers with his. "I know you are scared and I know you want Rachel home safe and sound. You know that I want nothing more…"

To Livvie – the answer was simple. "Then let's go. We'll take care of her and Rachel will be home."

"Annette will not give up that easy. But if you talk to her, as one mother to another, there is a chance that she will give in, or at least, become vulnerable enough for us to get past her."

Livvie knew he had a point, but it didn't mean she liked it. She shook back her hair and blew out a breath. "OK. You win. I'll try it your way." She relented. Before Caleb could reply she added, "But if she so much as tries to keep my little girl from me one second longer than I can stand I reserve the right to kick her ass."

Caleb was unable to hold back his laughter any longer. He pulled her close and kissed her as he replied. "Consider us warned."

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"Billie – you know that he'll forgive you once he knows what you've been up to." Chloe said with a smile.

Billie blew her bangs out of her eyes as she nodded. "I know. That's what I keep telling myself."

"Well start listening to yourself then." Chloe laughed. Her brow wrinkled with concern as she asked. "Are you going to be OK? I'd love to keep talking but we really need to get over to Grant's parent's for dinner..."

"I think so." Billie sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just being silly. I'll be fine. Please. Don't let me keep you. Tell everyone I said hello."

"I absolutely will." Chloe promised. Her voice was bubbling with excitement as she continued. "I know it's hard but you know it'll be worth it. I'll talk to you tomorrow OK?"

"I know it will. OK." Billie replied, feeling better now. "Enjoy your dinner. Have a good night."

As she hung up the phone Billie closed her eyes and pictured the way it would all turn out. She knew if she could just keep that image in her head, everything would be just fine.

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Rafe moved around the house, turning off light switches as he went. He shook his head. These kids must think he owns the electric company the way they had every lamp blazing. As he got to the door of the guest room, he peeked his head inside.

His mother sat there, her glasses perched on the end of her nose, smiling as she flipped through a stack of pictures.

She sensed him standing there and spoke softly. "Modern technology is just amazing isn't it? I can't believe we took these this evening and they are printed already."

"I know. It's great. I gotta tell you. Once we had grandchildren Alison insisted we get a photo printer." He replied with a grin.

Katrina placed the photos on the table beside her and drew off her glasses. Her eyebrows raised as she spoke again. "Speaking of grandchildren – you neglected to mention to me that one of yours has the last name of Morley."

On a normal day, if Rafe was being honest, that fact didn't even register to him. Unbelievable as it sounded, Colin was simply Colin, a young man who loved his daughter more than life itself and Alex – well, that little boy was nothing but an absolute joy to have around.

"It's funny how things just happen…" Rafe laughed.

"My darling, this did not happen merely by chance. Your father has quite a sense of humor." Katrina replied. She shook her head and smiled softly. "He always has…"

Rafe went to sit on the edge of her bed. "I don't get it. He pulled every string he could to allow me to come back to Alison." He scratched his head and went on. "Why didn't he try to come back to you?"

Katrina took a deep breath. "It didn't even occur to me that he could come back – which is why I didn't expect you to be living such an extraordinary life halfway across the world from me." She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "I've been thinking about it a lot, ever since I got that beautiful letter from your even more beautiful wife." Her affection for Alison could clearly be heard in her voice.

Smiling widely she went on. "The only way I can make sense of it all is that Edward's purpose in life was fulfilled once you were on the way – " Her face softened at the memory of their last night together. "I think that somehow, someway he knew that he needed to be waiting for you when you ended up there…" She raised her eyes to the ceiling before she finished the sentence. "…far too soon."

It was something he hadn't even considered, but he had to admit now it made perfect sense. A horrible thought flew through his mind as he stared at her. "You're not going to try and meet up with him are you? Because I just got you back – you can't go anywhere…"

"RAFE." She said firmly, effectively cutting him off. "Have you not remembered all I've taught you? There you go, jumping to wild conclusions again. " She stood slowly and walked to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "You can sleep well. I've a lot to catch up on and I intend to take my time doing so."

Rafe stood and watched his mother settle in to bed. She looked older to him all of the sudden. He shook it off as he warned her again. "Just don't go getting any wild ideas."

"Watch yourself." Her words were stern but her voice was full of laughter. "You may be grown with children of your own but you will remember I am your mother."

As he walked to the door, Rafe smiled back at her as he whispered. "We may have been apart for a while but trust me, I never forgot that."