Somebody had to stop her before she passed for not taking a breath, �Alison, ALISON!!�
Alison stopped her endless sentence to look into Rafe�s beautiful eyes that seemed to smile whenever she was in view, �Yeah, Rafe?�
�Take a breath!� Rafe chuckled as he put his hand in hers and lead her to where Ed was standing. �Alison, this is Ed. He�s my boss�or was my boss. And right before I came back to you I�I kinda found out that he�s also my father.�
�Oh, Wow! Rafe, your father? That�s amazing!�
�Ed�um Dad�This is MY angel�Alison!�
�It�s a pleasure to finally meet the woman that owns my son�s heart,� Ed held out his hand to shake hers, but Alison being Alison, that was way to formal. So instead she gave him a very energetic hug.
Ed looked at Rafe while Alison was still hugging him, �I can now see why you did what you did to get back to her, kid. You can�t help but like her.� A blushing Alison released Ed and went back to hold Rafe�s hand.
Rafe looked at his angel with a huge smile on his face, �Yeah!�
�Wait a sec. What did you mean? What did he do? How could he come back? I thought��
Ed interjected her rant this time, �Alison, If you would like answers than at some point you�re going to have to stop asking so many questions at one time.�
Alison giggled, �Sorry, I talk a lot when I�m nervous or excited or�there I go again.�
�Alright! I�ll explain everything but first let�s go somewhere a little less��
�Creepy!� Alison finished Ed�s sentence.
Ed snapped his fingers and the three were transported to Alison�s place. Rafe looked at the surroundings with wonder, �Alison, you are still staying here?�
�Yeah, Lucy has been great since you�.wait.� Alison turned to Ed, �Weren�t you going to explain why��
�Yes,� Ed walked over to a chair and motioned for them to do the same, �Why don�t you two have a seat and I�ll explain the whole story, with NO interruptions from either of you,� Ed emphasized his need for no interruptions by pointing at both Rafe and Alison as they sat down on the couch.
�Alison, when Rafe came back to Heaven after the time he spent on Earth with you he was completely miserable. He begged and pleaded for even five more minutes to just see you again. I knew that even if I could give him a little more time with you it would never be enough. He had to let you go but his heart wouldn�t let. There was just no living with him. He moped around for weeks. Then you dreamt about him coming back to you as he had the same dream. And then Rafe did something that he shouldn�t have�He left you that pink rose.�
Alison turned to Rafe with a tear in the corner of her eye, �I knew that was real, I felt it in my heart.� Alison just then remembered Ed�s no interruption rule and she recalled what Rafe said about his boss and rules. Alison blushed as she turned back to face Ed, �Sorry, please continue.�
�After that little incident I had to punish him. I loaded him down with work to tried and get his mind off of you but it was no use. He just couldn�t get you out of that thick head of his. I wasn�t the only one that noticed Rafe�s need to get back to you, one of the devil�s underlings and an old enemy of Rafe�s had seem it too. James started to tempt him with visions of you suffering and the troubles you were going through down here on Earth.�
Rafe looked at Alison and noticed that her tears were now streaking down her cheeks. He reached for a box of tissues on the coffee table and gave her one. Then he put his arm around her should and brought her closer to him.
�Alison, he sold his soul to James in exchange for a long life on Earth with you.� Ed gave Rafe a very stern fatherly look, �But what my noble, young son failed to remember is that they never play fair down there. So he returned with no memory of his after-life, his time in Port Charles, and you.�
Alison again turned to Rafe with a puddle of crystal blue tears in her eyes, �Oh my god, Rafe! You sold your soul?�
Rafe looked into her beautiful tear filled eyes with tears of his own that now matched hers, �I would do anything for you, Angel, even if it meant giving up heaven.� The two were about to kiss when�
�Ah�hummm�No interruptions!� Rafe and Alison turned back to Ed both wiping their tears. Both of them now blushing and with a little chuckle they said in unison, �Sorry!�
�Now, where was I? Oh yes�Rafe sold his soul and he would eventually lose it completely. I couldn�t let that happen,� Ed looked directly into Rafe�s eyes, �Even after you asked me not to interfere. So I too made a deal with James.�
Rafe jumped to the edge of his seat, �You what?�
Ed just gave him another fatherly glare, �Rafe, if you want to find out what happened after you returned, then you�re just going to have to listen without talking or it�ll take me the next three months to finish the story and I know how much you would like to just spend some time alone with your Angel. So why don�t you��
Rafe interjected before Ed could finish what he was saying, �Ok, ok. I get it. Stop talking Rafe!�
�Good. Well, I too made a deal with James. I knew that Rafe, even without his memories, would still have that love in his heart,� Ed smiled at Alison and she gave him a smile back as the tears kept falling down her face. The tissue she was still holding was now too damp to keep using so she reached for another. �The love that you two share is so strong and I knew that somehow, someway Rafe would remember that again and make his way back to you. That�s the power of love. Heaven and Hell can�t fight it, no matter how much you�d like too try sometimes it just can�t be done.
�So I made a deal with James that if Rafe found his way back to you and declared that he loved you with his whole heart then he would get to spend a lifetime with you and still keep his soul.� Ed got up from the chair as if he was finished. He started to walk to the middle of the room when Rafe stood up and walked to wear he was standing.
Rafe put his hand on Ed�s shoulder, �And if I didn�t?�
Ed slowly turned to face his son, �But you did,� A tear was coming to his eye, �But you did, son.�
Rafe looked down at the floor for a moment before he again looked into Ed�s tear filled eyes, �Dad, what was the other part of the deal? I need to know.�
Ed gave Rafe a smile as Alison came up behind Rafe and placed her hand in his, �Alright.� Ed took a long deep breath, �If you couldn�t find your way back to Alison then James would get your soul�.and mine.�
�Dad you�� Rafe swallowed the lump that was forming in his throat, �You would do that for me?�
Ed stared at Rafe with the tears now making their way down his cheeks, �Of course Rafe. You�re not the only one that would do anything to save the ones you love. I love you, son.�
Rafe couldn�t control his emotions and tightly hugged his father, �I love you too, Dad.�
Alison stood back and watched as the two of them hugged. �What a sight!� She thought. If anyone happened to come in at that moment and saw two grown men hugging and crying with her standing by also crying her eyes out, what would they say. They may think that someone had passed away but that was so far from the truth. Someone was actually� �So does this mean�..?� She needed an answer but couldn�t finish what she wanted to ask.
Rafe and Ed ended their hug as they heard her speak. Ed turned to her with a huge smile on his face, �Yes, Rafe declared to the world his love for one Miss Alison Barrington and now he�s free to live a long life with you, with his soul intact.�
Rafe turned to Alison and picked her up for her feet for a hug, �Did you hear that, Angel? A long life with you! We can have everything we dreamed of.� Rafe set a smiling Alison down and turned back to his father, �I don�t know what to say, Dad.�
Ed grinned and replied, �How about, see you in about 70 years!�
Rafe realized that a life on Earth was everything he ever wanted since he met Alison, but it seemed a little bittersweet now. He met his father after so many years of wondering and longing only to lose him again. Tears again were brought to his eyes as he thought about it. It would be a, hopefully, very long time before he would get to see his dad again, �Dad!�
�Son, I�ll always be with you, you know that.� Rafe took a small step back be stand next to Alison. Ed looked at the both of them, �You�ve got some rough roads ahead but I have faith that you�ll make it through. And just to make sure you do, I�ll be watching over Alison and you�and my grandchildren.� Ed gave Alison a little wink. She blushed as she put her arm through Rafe�s.
Ed walked over to Alison and pulled her just a few steps away, just enough so Rafe knew that he was addressing her, �Alison, you take care of him. He can be a handful at times.� They both looked over at Rafe with a smile. Rafe looked down pretending like he didn�t hear what was being said. Ed then addressed the both of them, �I want you two, to always remember that whatever comes your way, keep the love you have for each other in your hearts because the power of your love can conquer all.�
It was now time for Ed to go back to heaven. Ed gave the couple a parting smile, �Be happy, kids!� And with that he disappeared.
Alison faced Rafe as Ed left, �I can�t believe it Rafe. You actually sold your soul.�
He put his hands on her waist and looked deep into her eyes, �Angel, when I went back it was so much harder than I ever imaged. All the happiness in Heaven was nothing to me. It felt more like Hell if I couldn�t hold you in my arms.� Rafe started to inch closer to Alison�s lips. He wanted to kiss her forever.
Just before their lips touched, Rafe�s cell phone rang. Rafe pulled the phone out of his pocket with a very annoyed look on his face. �Hello!�
On the other end of the phone he heard the voice that just had to interrupt their happy moment, �Rafe! It�s Kevin!�
�Kevin, you sad upset. What happened?� Rafe started to move a few steps away from Alison to talk to his father-in-law.
�You�ve got to get to GH and as soon as possible. It�s Livvie and the baby.�
�I�ll be right there.� Rafe put the phone back in his pocket and looked over at Alison, who looked very concerned.
�Rafe, what is it? What happened?�
�I�ve got to get to General Hospital! It�s Livvie and the baby.�
�Well, I�m going with you. We can take my car.�
�Ok, let�s get going!�
Alison grabbed her bag and headed for the door. Rafe followed right behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
As Rafe and Alison got off the elevator, they saw Kevin pacing the floor. He must have been waiting for them.
Kevin noticed the elevator open and went to meet it�s occupants, �Rafe, you�re finally here.�
Rafe meet him halfway, �Kevin, what happened?�
�She was in the apartment with Lucy and just doubled over in pain and fell to the ground. Lucy called for help and now here we are. But where have you been Rafe? My daughter is in there crying her eyes out asking for you and where were you when she needed you? You should have been with her.�
Rafe just lowered his head so he didn�t have to look into the eyes that glared back at him, �I�um�where is she?� Rafe looked up as he asked his question.
�This way.� Kevin started to lead Rafe down the hall.
Alison started to follow the men down the corridors of GH when Rafe stopped and took Alison�s hands in his, �Alison, please wait here!� Rafe could see that Alison was concerned, but knew she shouldn�t come with him, �Please!!�
Alison nodded as the two men turned and walked away. She could feel the tears starting to form in the back of her eyes. She stood in the same spot and watched as Rafe stopped in front of a door and looked through the window. Alison suppressed her tears and sat down on a near by chair. �Oh Rafe! What�s going to happen to us?�
~~~~~~~~~~~
Rafe stood at the door for a few moments just looking through the window at the woman he trusted and believed only hours before. He finally mustered up enough courage to go in.
�Rafe! I�m sorry, Honey! I�m so sorry! I think we lost our baby.� As Rafe got closer to her bed she grabbed him and pulled him closer to her, �Promise me Rafe!� It was more then pleading it was more of demanding, �Promise me, we�ll be ok. We�ll try again.� She grabbed his face and pulled him in even closer. His face was now just inches from hers. He could see the fear in her eyes as she kept begging, �Promise me, Rafe!!! Promise me we�ll have a baby together.�
Rafe grabbed her hands off of his face, �Livvie, It�s going to be ok. Everything will workout.�
�I love you, Rafe! Promise me, please, that we�ll be a family!�
Rafe let go of Livvie�s hands. She was so scared and desperate; he could see it in her dark eyes. �Livvie, I�.um�� Just at that moment the doctors came into the room. Perfect timing!
A doctor approached Rafe on the side of the bed, �I�m sorry but you�re going to have to leave.�
Livvie grabbed Rafe�s hand, �No, I want my husband with me.� She looked up at Rafe, �Honey, please stay!�
Rafe removed Livvie�s hand from his, �No, the doctors are right. They need room to work and make sure you�re ok.� Rafe walked out the door.
He stood at door outside Livvie�s room looking very frustrated. Then he saw Alison sitting a ways down the hallway. He made his way toward her as she stood up and met him. �Rafe how is she?�
�She�ll be fine.�
�I take it that you didn�t tell her about the Avatar or finding out about the baby.�
�I was going to but I couldn�t. She just lost her baby.�
�I know but, Rafe, you have to remember that it was the Avatar�s. You said it yourself that he was dangerous, what would his baby be like?�
�I know that�s way she lost it. Once the Avatar was destroyed the baby couldn�t survive, but Alison, she�� Rafe lowered his head and closed his eyes tightly.
Alison lifted Rafe�s chin, �What is it?�
He opened his eyes and looked into hers, �She wants to try again.�
�What?!!�
He turned away, �She wanted me to promise that we�d try again!�
Alison grabbed his shoulder and turned him back around, �And what did you say?�
�What could I say?� Rafe put on a very playful stern look, �No, Livvie! I know you slept with the Avatar to get pregnant so you could trick me into staying with you!� Rafe shook his head, �I can�t do that, not yet.�
Alison had one tear slide down her cheek, �You�re right. Now�s not the time. So what do we do now?�
�I better stay!�
�Ok, I�ll just stay here with you.�
�No Alison, you should go home and get some sleep. You�ve had a long two days and I have to tell Livvie that I know. I think it�s best if you weren�t around when I do that. I don�t know what she�ll do.�
�Alright then, I�ll just go.� She turned and started to walk away. The tears were now flowing.
�Alison!� She stopped but didn�t turn around, �I love you!�
She couldn�t bare having Rafe see her crying again, �I know,� That�s all that would come out of her mouth and once it was said she walked away.
Rafe slid down the wall and sat on the floor. He hit the back of his head on the wall in frustration and then looked up, �Dad, I know you said that we�d have rough roads but did it have to be so soon. Did you see the hurt in her eyes? What am I suppose to do? I just can�t leave Livvie, not right now at least. I don�t want to cause her any pain either, but I want Alison. I want her more then I want anything else in the world. What do I do? What can I do?� Rafe stopped almost waiting for a response, �I know I have to do this on my own.� He stood up off the ground, �Well, I guess I have to start by dealing with the Livvie situation.�