�Lucy, Hi! Come on in.� Lucy walked in. There were a huge picnic basket and a big beach bag by the door.
�So are you ready to go?�
Alison took one last look around, �Yeah, I think so! Um, where�s Rafe?�
Lucy picked up the basket as Alison put her beach bag on her shoulder. �Oh! You�ve gotta see this!� She grabbed Alison�s hand and pulled her as they closed the door behind them.
When they got to the car Lucy pointed to the back seat. There was Rafe in the center of the back seat with little Christina cuddled into his right side and Serena�s head leaning on his left shoulder. They were all sound asleep.
�That was to be the cutest site in the world,� Alison got into the car as quietly as she could so they wouldn�t wake up.
Lucy slid into the drivers� seat, �Yeah it is! Christina wanted Rafe to seat with her then the girls got into an argument about who would sit next to him. So he just sat in the middle. As soon as I looked back they were all asleep.�
�Oh Lucy, I have to take a picture of that!� Alison pulled a camera out of her bag and took a picture of the three sleeping.
Lucy started the car, �Ok, Let�s get this show on the road!�
As they drove Alison kept looking at the back seat and giggling.
�What�s so funny?�
�I just�I just can�t believe it Lucy!�
�What�s that?�
�That�s he here and I get a whole lifetime with him. He�ll get to experience moments like this one,� Alison again looked at him with the two sleeping children on each side, �Moments when there isn�t a care in the world and you can just fall sleep during a road trip.�
�Alison, you two will have a hundred of these moments and you�ll cherish everyone. The greatest ones will be when you two are together in the front and you�ll turn around to see your kids sleeping together like little puppies.�
A huge smile grew on Alison�s face, �OUR kids!!�
Lucy glanced at Alison and saw her big grin. She couldn�t help but smile, �Yeah and MY cousins!�
�What about your cousins?� A voice from behind chimed in.
They both quickly shot around o see Rafe and then they looked at each other and started to laugh.
�We were just talking about you. Nothing you should concern yourself about!� Lucy answered.
�Oh! Ok, I�ll just go back to sleep then and you two can finish your girl talk.�
�Sounds good!� Alison laughed.
�Wake me when we get there!� With that Rafe closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep. Alison watched him as he fell asleep again.
�Could he get any cuter?!� Lucy said as she adjusted her rear view mirror.
�Yes! Yes, he can!� Alison gave Lucy a little sinister smile and they burst out laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Alison and Lucy sat on a beach blanket watching Rafe and the girls play in the sand by the waters� edge. �Lucy, isn�t it great to see those beautiful smiles?�
�Yeah it is!� Lucy looked at her watched and noticed it was close to lunchtime, �I bet those little munchkins are getting hungry and don�t even now it. Let�s get lunch set up!�
Alison picked up the picnic basket she brought and placed it in the center of the blanket. Lucy brought the small cooler over and pulled out a few bottles of water and a bowl of fruit salad. �Hey Lucy, where are the plates?�
�Yeah!� Lucy turned around and reached into one of her bags, �Here they are!�
�Thanks!� Alison reached into her basket and pulled out some sandwiches she made. They were each in their own zip-lock bag. Then Alison pulled out a tin full of her homemade cookies.
Christina came running up, �Mommy! Mommy! Can I have a cookie?�
Lucy picked up the tin, �Sweet Pea, these cookie are for dessert!�
A small pout formed onto Christina�s cute little face, �Ok Mommy!�
�Where�s my beach ball?� Christina turned to see what was happening over where her sister and cousin were playing.
�I can�t find my beach ball!� Rafe was looking all around and walking closer to where Alison, Lucy and Christina were.
Rafe walked up to the little girl and swept her up in his arms and started tickling her, �Here it is!�
Through her laughing, Christina managed to say, �I�m not a beach ball. I�m a little girl!!�
Rafe stopped tickling her, �Oh, my mistake!� As he placed her back on the blanket he noticed the tin that Lucy set down, �Ummm, cookies!�
As he reached for one Alison slapped his hand, �Rafe Kovich, don�t you dare!�
Christina chimed in and gave a little tug Rafe�s shorts, �Yeah, those are for dessert!�
Rafe bent down and looked into the girl�s sparkling eyes, �Oh really!� He reached to tickle her again but she started running. He started after her.
Lucy and Alison watched as Christina stopped about ten feet away to see if he was still after her. Rafe stopped, �I�ll get you my pretty and all the cookies too!� He started wiggling his fingers into front of him.
Christina started giggling again as she ran to the water where Serena was.
�Rafe!� Lucy stood up and called to him. Rafe briefly stopped and turned to see his cousin, �Lunch will be ready in a few minutes.�
He nodded his head, �Got-cha!� Then ran after Christina who was using Serena as a shield.
Lucy sat back down, �Looks like he�s having fun today.�
�He actually gets to live life, Lucy. He never got to do these type of things before.�
�I know, Alison. It�s like watching a child the first time they go to the beach.�
�He�s is like a big kid, isn�t he? I guess that�s why he�s so good with them. He can really relate.�
�He�ll be a great father someday.�
�I have the feeling that you are pushing for something, Lucy.�
Lucy put on a shocked expression and pointed to herself, �ME?! No!�
�Yes you! All day you have been bringing up the subject of kids, and Rafe and kids, and me and Rafe and kids. Are you trying to tell me something?�
�Wellllll, you two are just so cute and I can�t help it if you two were meant for each other. And I can�t help it if I can�t wait for you two to get married and then I�ll get to stay with my cousins when you two need some alone time. I just can�t wait!!�
�Lucy, you know it takes at least nine months!�
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lucy took the empty plates and them back in the basket, �Alison, that was the best picnic I�ve ever had.�
�Well, I couldn�t sleep last night, so I thought I would use the time to make everyone something that they would like.�
Christina picked up a cookie and took a small bite, �Like cookies!�
Alison smiled at her, �Yes and cookies.�
Serena grabbed her little sister�s hand and helped her stand up, �Mom, we�re going to go look for some shells.�
�Ok, you two have fun,� The girls started to walk away, �And Serena watch your sister, closely.� Lucy stood up and brushed some sand off her legs, �Actually, wait! I�ll go with you.� Lucy looked down at her cousin, �That way you two have some time alone!�
Alison had a bashful smile on her face as Lucy walked away with the girls, �What does she think we can do on a public beach?�
�I don�t know, but that�s my cousin for ya!�
�Yeah!� Alison started putting the rest of the lunch things away.
�Alison?�
�Yes, Rafe.�
�Why didn�t you get any sleep last night?�
�Um,� She keep put things in the basket trying to avoid his question.
Rafe picked up the basket and put it to the side. �Alison? Was it a dream? Did you have a night mare?�
�Well kinda. It was just Livvie�s call was on my mind.�
He put her hands in his and moved in closer to her, �You know you don�t have anything to worry about. I love you and only you.� Rafe leaned in and gave her a little kiss on her lips.
�I know that!� She smiled and gave him a kiss, �I just dreamt that Livvie and me were friends again. The way it use to be. I really miss that! You know, have someone to tell everything to.�
�You got me!�
�Yes I do!� She gave him one more quick kiss, �But I can�t really tell you about, well, you! It doesn�t work that way.�
�Oh I get it.�
�Rafe! Rafe!� Christina came running up, �Look at this pretty shell I found.�
Rafe took the shell and looked at it, �Well it is pretty, almost as pretty as you!�
Lucy and Serena came strolling up behind Christina, �Hey cousin, how are you at building sandcastles?�
�Yeah, Mom said we could use these shell seas as decorations.� Serena showed Alison the pale full of shells that they had collected.
�Sounds like fun!� Rafe stood up and pulled Alison to her feet.
They all started walking to the perfect spot to make the sandcastle. Alison picked up Christina and carried her, �Do you want to know a secret?�
Christina bobbed her brown curls up and down; �Rafe built me a sandcastle one time. It was so big and beautiful that I wanted to live in it.�
�Was it as big as the ocean?�
�Yeah!�
�Can he build me one like that?�
�If we all help out, then maybe.�
The five of them sat down in the sand and started to build their castle. They were all having a ball playing in the sand, taking pictures and most of all spending time together.
As the sun as just preparing to make its� descent for the day the sandcastle was almost finished.
Rafe pulled Christina into his lap, �Ok, it�s time to put on the finishing touches.�
Christina got the shell that she had showed everyone earlier and put it on the highest tower on the castle.
Lucy picked up the camera, �Oh it�s just perfect! Ok family picture time!� Lucy went over to a young woman that was sitting on a towel just a few feet away, �I�m sorry to bother you but do you think you could take a picture of me and my family?�
�Sure!� The woman took the camera and followed Lucy to the sandcastle.
�Alright, let�s get around the castle.� Lucy kneeled behind the castle and to the right. Serena stood next to Lucy on the left. She was right behind the castle. Christina sat down on Lucy�s knees. Rafe was on the other Serena also on his knees. Alison sat down next to him and lend into his arms. It was the perfect family portrait. They were all facing the sunset and had glows on their faces.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the way home in the car the girls and Rafe were again in the back seat. Lucy looked back and saw that they were all sleep. �They really tired each other out!�
�Either that our they just can�t stay wake during long car rides. Lucy I never asked you, why could Kevin come?�
�Oh he was going to but last night he got a call from the sanitarium. He decided that he should really spend the day with Livvie.�
�Oh,� Alison got a sad little look on her face.�
�I�m sorry. I shouldn�t have mentioned, you know who. It was almost a perfect �Livvie-free� day.�
�No, Lucy it WAS a perfect day. I couldn�t have asked for a better time or better company.�
�I can�t wait until you are officially part of the family.�
�There you go again.�
�I can�t help it. I told you! When I see two people like you and Rafe, who are made for each other, I can�t and I won�t stop until there is the happily ever after.�
Alison smiled, �You know, I can�t wait until we�re family too.�