Seated side-by-side on a plush loveseat, Rafe and Alison Kovich watched contentedly as their four-year-old daughter opened her birthday presents.
Five years ago, the young couple never would have imagined having any sort of a future together, but fate soon brought them more than they ever could have imagined: a wonderful marriage and a beautiful child - Miss Destiny Rose Kovich.
The excited child tore through the wrapping paper quickly, and a small mound of toys and clothing accumulated beside her, as the gifts before her dwindled.
Smiling, Alison leaned over to whisper in her husband's ear, "Nana really went overboard this year, don't you think? I'm surprised she didn't buy her a pony."
Rafe chuckled, his hazel-green eyes glistening.
Amanda Barrington might not have been the best grandmother to Alison when she was young, but the two women were attempting to reconcile their differences and form some kind of a loving relationship. For that reason, Alison generously obliged when her grandmother had called earlier that morning, requesting some time with her great-granddaughter.
Finally, the tiny blonde unwrapped and examined the last gift from her pile. Glancing around the area surrounding her, Destiny released a satisfied sigh. Her job was finally done. Now she could play with all her new things!
"Thank you, Nana!" Destiny gushed joyfully, running over to the couch to give her great-grandmother a loud kiss on the cheek.
"Darling, wait. The fun's not over yet," Amanda teased, smiling mischievously.
Puzzled, Alison and Rafe looked at each other. It was clear that neither of them knew what else the older woman had planned.
Just then, the doorbell to the Koviches' quaint Port Charles home rang unexpectedly.
"Maybe I spoke too soon," murmured Alison under her breath.
"Oh, good, the rest of your gift is here," commented Amanda, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "Now, everyone, stay where you are. I'll be right back," she announced, rising from her seat and heading toward the front door.
"Oh, don't worry, Nana," replied Alison sarcastically. "I couldn't get up if I tried."
Smiling warmly, Rafe placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips. She was eight months pregnant with their second child, and, while she may not have been feeling her best, she had never been more beautiful to him, and he'd never loved her more.
Returning his smile with one of her own, Alison grasped Rafe's hand affectionately and hoped for the best. When Amanda was concerned, they knew that was the only thing anyone could do.
The front door closed almost inaudibly, and Amanda called from the foyer, "Alright, Destiny, honey, close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you!"
The birthday girl followed her Nana's request and shut her lids tightly, hiding a set of blue-green eyes.
"Oh, I can't look," Alison moaned, squeezing her own lids shut as well. "Rafe, just tell me it's not alive," she pleaded desperately.
Shaking his head lightly, her amused husband wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. While the idea of impending fatherhood thrilled him, Rafe couldn't help but wish for the baby to be born already so that his wife's heightened emotions would return to their normal levels. Besides, Amanda really wasn't planning on introducing any sort of new creature to the house when they were all so busy planning for the new baby… was she?
The noises that greeted his ears proved him wrong.
'Arf! Arf!' resounded through the house, followed by Destiny's ecstatic "Ah! A doggy!"
"Well, at least it's not a pony," Rafe informed his stunned wife, grinning.
Alison whimpered, burying her head in his chest.
A four-year-old old, a new puppy, and a baby on the way? It was going to be a long month…
Five years ago, the young couple never would have imagined having any sort of a future together, but fate soon brought them more than they ever could have imagined: a wonderful marriage and a beautiful child - Miss Destiny Rose Kovich.
The excited child tore through the wrapping paper quickly, and a small mound of toys and clothing accumulated beside her, as the gifts before her dwindled.
Smiling, Alison leaned over to whisper in her husband's ear, "Nana really went overboard this year, don't you think? I'm surprised she didn't buy her a pony."
Rafe chuckled, his hazel-green eyes glistening.
Amanda Barrington might not have been the best grandmother to Alison when she was young, but the two women were attempting to reconcile their differences and form some kind of a loving relationship. For that reason, Alison generously obliged when her grandmother had called earlier that morning, requesting some time with her great-granddaughter.
Finally, the tiny blonde unwrapped and examined the last gift from her pile. Glancing around the area surrounding her, Destiny released a satisfied sigh. Her job was finally done. Now she could play with all her new things!
"Thank you, Nana!" Destiny gushed joyfully, running over to the couch to give her great-grandmother a loud kiss on the cheek.
"Darling, wait. The fun's not over yet," Amanda teased, smiling mischievously.
Puzzled, Alison and Rafe looked at each other. It was clear that neither of them knew what else the older woman had planned.
Just then, the doorbell to the Koviches' quaint Port Charles home rang unexpectedly.
"Maybe I spoke too soon," murmured Alison under her breath.
"Oh, good, the rest of your gift is here," commented Amanda, rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "Now, everyone, stay where you are. I'll be right back," she announced, rising from her seat and heading toward the front door.
"Oh, don't worry, Nana," replied Alison sarcastically. "I couldn't get up if I tried."
Smiling warmly, Rafe placed a soft kiss on his wife's lips. She was eight months pregnant with their second child, and, while she may not have been feeling her best, she had never been more beautiful to him, and he'd never loved her more.
Returning his smile with one of her own, Alison grasped Rafe's hand affectionately and hoped for the best. When Amanda was concerned, they knew that was the only thing anyone could do.
The front door closed almost inaudibly, and Amanda called from the foyer, "Alright, Destiny, honey, close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you!"
The birthday girl followed her Nana's request and shut her lids tightly, hiding a set of blue-green eyes.
"Oh, I can't look," Alison moaned, squeezing her own lids shut as well. "Rafe, just tell me it's not alive," she pleaded desperately.
Shaking his head lightly, her amused husband wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to him. While the idea of impending fatherhood thrilled him, Rafe couldn't help but wish for the baby to be born already so that his wife's heightened emotions would return to their normal levels. Besides, Amanda really wasn't planning on introducing any sort of new creature to the house when they were all so busy planning for the new baby… was she?
The noises that greeted his ears proved him wrong.
'Arf! Arf!' resounded through the house, followed by Destiny's ecstatic "Ah! A doggy!"
"Well, at least it's not a pony," Rafe informed his stunned wife, grinning.
Alison whimpered, burying her head in his chest.
A four-year-old old, a new puppy, and a baby on the way? It was going to be a long month…