A/N: OK you guys. I was totally going to wait for this and post the Cabby chapter next. But y'all are too - too cute. Anyway - this chapter nearly makes me cry. I could have gone on forever. I LOVE IT. Hope you do too. Think of it as an early Christmas gift. As always…enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-five

He stood frozen at the door - completely mesmerized by the look on her face. He had seen her happy before - but not like this - not since their wedding. Any bit of disappointment he felt for not being there before her disappeared. She took a few steps toward him. "You're home!" Alison said with a sigh.

So she figured it out. Rafe smiled wider. He knew she would. How could she not? Just look at this place - it was perfect. It was her dream come true. The proof of that was obvious. All you had to do was look at her.

"Home, huh?" He said with a grin.

I guess he gets it. Alison grinned. Of course he would. How could he think anything else? This house was made for them. "Rafe." Her eyes were sparkling. "Can you believe how perfect it is? The minute I saw it I knew."

"I know. It's amazing." Rafe walked to her and titled her face up to his. He placed a soft kiss on her lips. "I can see us here forever."

"Like 60 years or so." She agreed as she kissed him again.

Rafe touched his forehead to hers. "Look at the decorations. This is unbelievable."

He held her close - or as close as he could. They stood there for over a minute, wrapped up in each other and the moment - both still so oblivious as to what was really happening.

Alison took a deep breath. "It was so hard, Rafe. It was so hard keeping a secret from you."

"I know." He replied. "It must have been. You never even mentioned how much you wanted this."

"So." Alison said. "Let's see the rest of the house."

"OK. I can't wait till you see it all." Rafe took her hand and kissed it gently.

It took her a second, she was so caught up in it all.

"What did you just say?" She asked.

"I said, I can't wait to show you the rest of the house. You think the living room is amazing - wait till you see what's upstairs."

"Rafe, honey. I know exactly what's upstairs." Alison laughed.

"You think so, huh?" He laughed back.

What the heck was he talking about? She bought the house - didn't she? Of course she knew. "Yeah." She rolled her eyes. "Rafe - do you think I'd buy a house without checking it from top to bottom?"

"Angel. What are you talking about? It belongs to both of us - of course - but you have no idea what it looks like up there."

Alison pulled back and stared at him. "I do so. Four bedrooms 2 baths and an attic - one that reminds me of my nana's."

This clearly was her dream house because she described the upstairs exactly, Rafe brought her closer and kissed her again. "Is that what you've dreamed of?" He asked.

"Yes."

"Good. 'Cause that's what I got for you."

Alison was thoroughly confused. "Rafe. What are talking about. I bought this for you."

"What?"

Was he losing brain cells or something? She tended to be forgetful and clumsy lately, but she was seven months pregnant. She had an excuse. Was this an expectant father symptom? She had to go look it up later. "The house - Rafe. I bought it."

"No." Rafe insisted. "I bought it."

"Stop teasing me." Alison sighed as she moved to sit down. Her feet were killing her.

Realization washed over him. Suddenly, images of the last few weeks flew through his mind. It all began to make sense. Hushed conversations, her many lunches with Abby, the fact that he saw her flipping through furniture catalogs. He almost couldn't believe it was true - but truthfully, - it was just like something they would both do.

He started to laugh. He couldn't help himself. "Why are you here so early?"

"I'm early? Rafe - Nana's right. You need another watch. The note Abby gave you said come at 7:00."

"You were supposed to be here at 6:00."

"What?"

"Not until 6."

He was talking in circles. Alison looked at him with a face full of bewilderment. "You're not making any sense."

"Who did you tell about this?" Rafe asked, undeterred.

"Just Lucy and…" As she watched his expression, Alison finally got it.

"Abby." Rafe laughed. "I guess we had the same idea. They must have been laughing for weeks."

"Wait. I - you - I mean - we - both.." Alison heaved herself off the couch as quick as she could, walking to the mantle and ripping open the envelope. "Wait a second…"

She held the sheet of paper in trembling hands, moving to sit beside him once more. She recognized Lucy's handwriting. Rafe's arm curled around Alison as they read together.

How we wish we were there to see your faces!! You both have been planning a surprise - but here's one for you!

You two. You've driven us nuts - but we have to say - we've never had so much fun., It's a cliché - we know - but you're a match made in heaven to be sure.

Knowing you - it's easy to believe in destiny and if there were ever two people more destined for each other or this house than you - well - we haven't met them yet. You make it so easy to believe in love. We know we've been lucky ourselves, but watching the two of you makes us all the more certain.

Wishing you both the merriest of Christmases and many, many, many years of happiness in your new home.

All our love, L&A

Taking the note from her hands, Rafe folded it and turned to look at Alison. "I can't believe it." he whispered, his voice full of emotion. "How did you?"

Tears spilled from her eyes. "The money my father left Abby and me. I know we decided to keep it for the kids - but I think this qualifies. Rafe - forget about me - how did you?"

Rafe took a deep breath and replied. "We're doing really well and I had some money saved that my mom left me." He lifted her hand to his lips. "Lucy helped me figure it out."

"Rafe. You bought me a house for Christmas." She smiled through her tears.

"And I guess you bought me one too." He said, completely over whelmed.

"Good thing we both have the same taste." Alison laughed, wiping at her eyes.

Overcome with the love she felt for him, Alison took a deep breath. "I love this house and it is absolutely perfect - but all I really need is you, Rafe. As long as I have you - I could live in one room for the rest of my life."

"In that case, let me see if I can find the receipt." Rafe teased.

She looked at him and her voice once again got serious. "I wanted to give you this - a home of your own - Rafe. Someplace that has enough room for the family I want to make with you. I loved our apartment - I did, but our children won't all fit there."

"Our children, huh?" Rafe stared into her eyes, running a hand over her cheek. "Something you want to tell me?"

"This is just the beginning." Alison gently stroked her stomach. "She's not even here yet and I already can't wait until the next time."

"Angel - please. I'm already having a heart attack. Maybe you could give me a bit of a break." He said with a smile.

"I'll give you anything you want, Rafe." She said simply. "I love you."

"And I love you." He replied. "I saw this house and I knew it belonged to you. It's everything you've dreamed of , like it was made with you in mind. Seconds after I found it I could see you right here, I could practically see every moment of our future. You've made a home for me, I wanted to give one to you. "

Just when she thought she couldn't possibly love him more, he'd say something like that. "There was a time I thought we might never get here." She took a deep breath and wiped at her eyes again. "But look…we did."

"Just remember, we can do anything…" Rafe began.

Alison laughed. "All we need is us."

"Just you…" He couldn't help it. He had to kiss her again.

"And me…" She sighed as he eased away. "Together."

"It's all ours." Alison said softly. "A home of your own, Rafe. It's all I ever wanted for you."

" Wherever you are is home to me." Rafe replied, never happier than he was at this moment. "Merry Christmas, Angel."

"Merry Christmas." She sighed as his arms closed around her. "Welcome home."