�Rafe, I think you�ve had enough. Do you want to talk about? I am a very good listener.�
�Well Victor, It�s a long story!�
Victor walked around to the other side of the bar and pulled up a stool next to Rafe, �Rafe, Monk already told me about Livvie and everything she�s done. I�m sorry you have to go through this.�
�It�s over Victor. Our marriage was never legal in the first place.�
Victor put a comforting hand on Rafe�s shoulder, �I�m so sorry.�
�You know what it�s ok. Livvie�s getting the help she needs and well I lost�.� Rafe put his head down on the bar.
�Rafe, you know you don�t have to lose her. She will get better and then you two can��
�Wait. This isn�t about Livvie. I�m not drowning my sorrows in scotch because of her.�
�Then what is it Rafe? You can tell me.�
�Alison! It�s Alison. I love her so much it hurts.�
�Well, That�s not a problem, Rafe. Love is the greatest thing that anyone can ever have.�
�Yeah, I know that, but not when the one you love has found comfort in the arms of another man.� Rafe turned to Victor and grabbed his arms, �Victor, I�d gave up everything I ever had to be with her again. To just touch her one more time and�� Rafe turned back to his drink, �And I thought she felt the same way.�
�How do you know that she doesn�t feel that way?�
�I went to see her but she said she feels like a different. She said she feels like a completely different woman.�
�Rafe, don�t tell me you�re giving up?� Rafe spun around in his chair to face the voice that just talked to him.
�Lucy�I�She�� He didn�t know what to say to his cousin.
Lucy sat down on the other side of him, �No Rafe! You are giving up. That�s what it looks like to me. You are sitting here drowning you thoughts in a glass of,� Lucy picked up his glass and gave it a sniff, �Scotch.�
�Lucy, she�s with Jack. She said she�s a completely different woman now.�
�Rafe, look at me,� She grabbed his face and made him look into her eyes, �Look at me! I know better then anyone what Alison was going through when you were with�� Lucy didn�t hold back a shiver that came whenever she thought of her stepdaughter. She shook of the thought and went back to her point, �You know what? Alison never stopped loving you and I know she still hasn�t stopped.�
�But she�s with Jack now!�
�And you were with Livvie but that didn�t stop her from fighting for you.�
�Ok, so if you�re the expert, what do I do now?�
�Step 3! Fight!�
�How do I do that?�
Lucy had that gleam in her eye again, �Well, I do have a few ideas.� Lucy grabbed her cousin�s hand and pulled him away, �Come on! We have to get to work.�
~~~~~~~~~~~
It was early morning and Jack was already on the beach setting up his things. �Hey Jack!� Alison came walking up from the house, �I found this portable stereo in the condo. I thought it would be nice to have some music while we work.�
�Great idea, Ali! You get that set up while I finish this.�
�Ok,� Alison kneeled down on the sand with the radio. �Alright! Let�s see what we can get here.� She started going through tuner trying to find a station that would come in. She stopped when she heard on come in clear:
Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Oh, once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Yeah, nothin' could change what you mean to me
Oh, there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
'Cause our love will light the way (Heaven by Bryan Adams)
Alison quietly said to herself, �No. To close to home. Let me see if I can�� She tried finding another station:
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all
Then I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you (Wherever You Will Go by The Calling)
Again, quietly to herself, �Um, No! What else is here?� She continued to search through the stations:
Ooh, baby, do you know what that's worth?
Ooh heaven is a place on earth
They say in heaven love comes first
We'll make heaven a place on earth
Ooh heaven is a place on earth (Heaven Is A Place On Earth by Belinda Carlisle)
She really couldn�t listen to that song, �Hey Alison! How�s the radio search coming?�
�Um�I�m still looking. Give me a second.� She wasn�t going to stop until she found a song that didn�t remind her of Rafe:
You came into my life
Sent from above
When I lost the hope
You show my love
I'm checkin for you
Boy you�re right on time
Angel of Mine (Angel of Mine by Monica)
�Ok, definitely not that one,� She again changed the station:
I love how your heart beats whenever I hold you
I love how you think of me without being told to
I love the way your touch is always heavenly
But, darling, most of all
I love how you love me (I Love How You Love Me by The Paris Sisters)
Alison looked up to the sky, �What are you trying to do to me?�
�Hey Ali, I�m already for ya.�
�Ok!� One more time she changed the station on that radio:
Underneath your clothes
There's an endless story
There's the man I chose
There's my territory
And all the things I deserve
For being such a good girl honey (Underneath Your Clothes by Shakria)
�Ok, you know what I think I�ll just put a CD in here.� She opened up the stereo, �Oh, there�s one already in here. Ok, well it was to be better than the radio.� She pressed play and went over to where Jack was all set up.
The CD was loading very slowly. �Ok, lie down on the blanket, Alison.� As she got down on the blanket and Jack started taking pictures, the CD finally started:
I cried a tear, you wiped it dry
I was confused, you cleared my mind
I sold my soul, you bought it back for me
And held me up and gave me dignity
Somehow you needed me
You gave me strength to stand alone again
To face the world out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me, you needed me
And I can't believe it's you
I can't believe it's true
I needed you and you were there
And I'll never leave, why should I leave?
I'd be a fool 'cause I finally found someone who really cares
You held my hand when it was cold
When I was lost you took me home
You gave me hope when I was at the end
And turned my lies back into truth again
You even called me "friend"
You gave me strength to stand alone again
To face the world out on my own again
You put me high upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me, you needed me
You needed me, you needed me (You Needed Me by Anne Murray)
�Alison! Hey Alison!� She was totally engrossed by the song and forgot about Jack.
�Oh my god!�
�Alison, what is it?�
Alison walked over to the radio and just stared at it like something was going to miraculously come out of it. �It�s that song!� She turned to Jack, �I have to go!�
�Where?�
�Jack, I need to go home!�
�But Alison we still have three days left before we go back to Port Charles.�
�I can�t wait. I�m sorry, but I have to. Please understand.�
�Rafe?!�
�Yes, I don�t know but I think he needs me Jack. I hope this doesn�t ruin the job or anything.�
�No! It�s ok Ali, I understand. You need him too. Don�t worry, I think I have enough pictures to satisfy the magazine. You just go get your man,� He gave her a smile, �While I relax here in paradise for the next three days.�
Alison gave him a huge hug, �Oh, Jack! You are the greatest best friend a girl ever had.�
Jack pulled her away, �Ok, Ok! You get going!�
Alison ran back to the house to get her things, �Thanks Jack.�
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed was in the black and white hallway between Heaven and Hell watching Alison rush back to Port Charles. �Alright Son, now it�s up to you.�
�Very nice, Edward!� Ed took his attention from the screen to watch James as he approached and watched the monitor, �How disgustingly sweet. You may have won your son�s soul back but he still isn�t with her. Do you really think that radio trick will work, Edward. Last time I checked, Rafe was getting drunk after finding out that his �ANGEL�,� James snickered as he said it, �ran off with another guy.�
Ed pointed his finger at James, �I knew it, James!�
James turned around very cocky and took a seat in the black chair, �Knew what?�
�I knew you had to have something to do with Rafe and that note and then that scene he saw.�
�You have proof of that?�
Ed slowly got in his white chair, �What is it, James? You afraid I�ll find some?�
James jumped out of the chair he was sitting in, �NEVER!!� He calmed himself down a bit then continued, �It wasn�t me my overly righteous enemy. There�s evil all around,� He spun around with his arms waving around the room, �It�s it wonderful!� He went over to the monitor again and pointed at it, �Take that beautiful vixen, Livvie. Even if your Rafe and that toothache of a blonde do get together again, she�ll find a way to destroy their nauseating happiness.� James starts to walk down the black part of the hallway happily skipping and humming, �It�s a wonderful after-life, Edward!� Then James disappeared behind a black door.
�You�re up to something, James and I�ll find out what it is. You can count on that!� Ed left behind a white door and went back to his office.