A/N: Hello? (taps on the computer screen) Anyone out there? LOL! I sure hope so—the muse finally decided she wanted to play with this story (she wants this completed soon is what it's really all about).

I'm sorry for the delay—as the time since the end of PC gets longer I'm having a tougher time focusing on finishing this story. I want to end it right—I want to give us all the closure that this story is supposed to have. So it's really a tough decision—rush it and make it crappy or go slow and hope the readers hang on.

Please hang on—there's not much left to the story—and the muse already knows how it's going to end. Until next time—Ya'll are the best—PCGirl.

Livvie let herself be pulled into the kiss—it was deeper and filled with more passion that she'd ever experienced. But just as quickly as it began she pushed him away and stared up at him, "What the hell was that for?"

"I'm not sure, my love, but you seemed to be doing the kissing also."

"I was not—and don't call me that," she snarked as she walked past him and took a look at the apartment—the sleek and sharp lines of the black furniture made it seem more of a professional place than a personal home.

"Ok, then please explain to me why you came here wearing this," he said as he ran a finger up her arm and watched the goosebumps come to life against her skin. "Or is this what you always wear on cold December nights?" he chuckled to himself as he went to the bar and poured himself a drink.

"Please, you think I came here to be seduced by you?" she laughed, her insecurity creeping back to the surface.

"Then why don't you tell me why you came here," he said as he turned around and leaned against the bar.

Livvie crossed her arms and gave out a deep breath, "It's not what you think. I came here because I've been drawn to you since the first moment I saw you. And I think you've been drawn to me, or maybe I'm just being my normal irrational self."

"You—irrational? Never," mocked Caleb.

"Like you know me."

"I do—you are the type that yearns for approval in what you do. You want to be noticed, loved, understood for your actions—whether they are right or wrong. It's your way or the highway—in all aspects of life, including love.

"As for whether we are drawn together—it's just physical attraction, that's all."

"Oh that's all. And here I thought it was destiny that kept bringing us together," she said as she walked towards him slowly and placed her hand over his heart—feeling the beat quicken just by her touch.

Rafe just held her—hoping his arms were warming her up—she had to be freezing. As she pulled away and he looked at her he saw how red her face was, "Hey—what's wrong?"

"Everything," sighed Alison as she walked to the center of the bridge and looked up to the sky. "I went home to talk to Jamal about my mom—and I pushed him away. My first love and I just ended it without batting an eye. How horrible am I?"

Rafe couldn't help but push her hair out of her face, letting his hands stay gently on the sides of her face, "You aren't horrible—you are a wonderful, caring human."

"How do you know?"

"I can see it in your actions—the kindness and softness in your voice. It's like an angel—and I've never known angels to be horrible," he said with a half smile that made Alison smile too. "You feeling better?"

"No—I hurt Jamal tonight and I'm not sure I know how to make it up to him. Or if I even can."

"If it's meant to be then it'll happen. The big guy up there—he's got a plan for all of us," said Rafe as he took his eyes off of her for a moment to look at the sky.

"I always thought—."

"What? That you two were meant to be together forever? Maybe you are—maybe you aren't—we don't chose our fate—it chooses us from the moment we're born until we take our last breath of life."

"You sound like you're speaking from experience," said Alison as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

"Maybe just a little," he laughed. "Why don't I take you home before we both freeze out here?" asked Rafe as she gave a nod and he didn't know why, but he put his arm around her shoulders and let her lean into him.

Chris kept tapping the edge of the envelope on his leg as he waited for the PI he hired to answer his phone. He noted the postmark on the envelope—Chicago, Illinois. She could be anywhere—but he knew he had the resources and money to find her—no matter how long it took.

"About time you answered—what am I paying you for?" he asked gruffly.

"Ok—I've got a lead. Chicago area. First name will be either Julie or Julianne. Last name can be one of three—Morris, Devlin, or perhaps even Ramsey. Look for hyphenated names also. Occupation? Doctor. Don't focus just in on the hospitals—she might be at working at a free clinic. Yes I know it's a large area—if you can get me this info within 24 hours I'll pay you double."

He hung up the phone and dropped it onto the couch. Running his hands over his face and through his hair he let out a breath he was holding, "Alright Ramsey-how about a nice martini while we wait?"

He covered her hand with his, holding it just a moment before removing it from his chest and bringing it to his lips for a quick kiss, "Sweetheart—there is no such thing as destiny. I learned a long time ago that you make your own choices—that the stronger your desires for greatness are the more likely you are to make the right choice. I had an ancestor that had the choice to go for greatness and he didn't—he was weak and though he might have had the family he wanted he eventually did die."

"We all die Caleb. There is no such thing as immortality or fountain of youth."

"True, but it's the ones that leave their mark on the world that are remembered."

"Maybe some of us are too busy attempting to leave that mark that they never let themselves live," said Livvie as she turned and walked out of Caleb's loft.

"You want me to fix you something to eat? Or maybe I could make you some hot chocolate to warm you up?" asked Rafe as he followed Alison into her home and she went down to sit on the couch.

"No, I'm fine—I should try his cell phone, see if he'll answer me," said Alison as she reached for the phone and stared at it in her hands. "What do I tell him though?"

"Whatever you feel is right," he said as he came over and took her hand for a moment before realizing how wrong it was—here she was trying to make up with her boyfriend and he seemed to be swooping in for the kill He dropped her hand a moved away slightly on the couch.

Alison pursed her lips together in thought, "Maybe I should wait—sleep on it and tomorrow my head will be clear. Who knows—maybe Jamal will be home when I wake up."

"Yeah, maybe," said Rafe softly as he went to the door and watched her pass him and head towards her's and Jamal's bed. "Goodnight Alison."

"Goodnight Rafe," she said as she turned quickly and looked back at him. "Rafe—wait—thank you for what you said to me tonight. It really did help."

"No problem. That's what I'm here for," he said and gave her a giant smile that seemed to warm her up more and then finished letting himself out into the cold December night.

He'd fallen asleep on the couch when the ringing sound woke him up, having to dig the phone out from underneath himself he didn't even think it might be his PI calling him back—was sure it was the hospital with an emergency, "Chris Ramsey."

"You sound like you weren't expecting me," said the voice of his PI on the other end.

"You already found something?"

"Yeah—a Julianne Ramsey working in a free clinic in the Chicago neighborhood of Austin. Sounds like she might just be your girl. So about that raise in pay—."

"You'll get it when I'm sure it's her," said Chris as he hung up the phone and then dialed another number. "I need the earliest flight you have tomorrow bound for Chicago."