The Moment- Chapter 13

Rafe walked alone through the cold, deserted park. It was already dark outside, making it particularly lonesome. He didn't know what else to do. Not wanting to go back to his apartment, not wanting to the solitude all he could think of was Alison. Wondering about what she was doing, wondering if she was happy…that's all he needed to know. He hoped everything Valerie had hinted towards was a made up game of hers, lies to throw off Jamal and Alison. Deep down he wasn't sure of anything anymore. All he knew was that he had fallen in love with the blond girl and, more than anything, he wanted to spend every minute with her. That was probably the hardest part about being human again…heartbreak. He could feel his eyes stinging and he shook his head. Stop it! It was ridiculous to obsess about something, about a future, about someone that he knew he could never have. Finally deciding to face his apartment alone, he headed in that direction.

Rafe kicked mounds of snow all the way to his place. He had a horrible day, for the most part. Thinking back on fighting with Jamal, arguing with Valerie and worrying about Alison…it had been awful. Then a small smile came to his face remembering Alison handing him that silver sled. The smile on her face when he had tricked her into thinking he was hurt. That was nice.

As he approached his front door he noticed something in front of it, hunched into a ball. "Alison?" he asked, quite startled. Alison looked up from her lap. She was covered with layers of clothes and sitting out in the freezing cold. The girl's eyes were red and swollen and tears streamed down her cheeks. "Alison…what happened?"

"Rafe…I'm sorry." The girl sniffed, "I didn't know where else to go."

"How long have you been out here?" Rafe helped her up, unlocked the front door and let her into the warmth.

"I don't know?" she moaned.

"Ali? What happened?" he took their coats and shoes, and sat her down on the couch. "God, I bet you're freezing!" he pushed the hair out of her face and placed it behind her ear, carefully.

"Jamal told me something." She whispered. Rafe's heart sank. All his feelings were true. Valerie had been telling the truth.

"What…did he say?" Rafe asked softly. "Do you want to talk about it?" A few more tears fell from the girl's eyes and dropped gently off her chin. Rafe was hurting with her. He hated to see her cry. He wanted to lean down and kiss her, kiss the tears off her face, starting with her chin. As he wondered over her face, he knew it wasn't the right time. He handed her a tissue, instead.

"He lied to me." She cried. Rafe sat silent, waiting patiently for her to take her time. She sighed and looked at Rafe. "He uh…he…" she bit her lip, "Jamal didn't sign away his parental rights to Hope. He wants to keep Hope…and Valerie in our lives." More tears fell. Alison looked up, trying to keep the water in her eyes.

"What?" Rafe could not believe it. That never crossed his mind.

"He wants Valerie and Hope to be a part of his life." Ali repeated, "I know I'm being selfish…but I can't help it. I don't want Valerie to be a part of my life."

"Jamal didn't even discuss it with you first?"

"J-Jamal t-told me and t-that was it." She cried so hard she could barely talk. Rafe wrapped his arms around the crying girl and pulled her over to him, on the couch. Alison quickly gave in to him, curling up next to him. He ran his hand through her hair, removing it from her watery eyes. Resting his chin on her head, he drew in a deep breath, taking in her scent. He didn't want to take anything about her for granted, never. The two sat together on the living room couch, surrounded by darkness and moonlight, until Alison could regain composure.

"That's not even the main reason I'm crying." Alison admitted as she leaned upward, placing her face inches from Rafe's.

"It…isn't?" Rafe whispered, confused, "W-what's the…main reason?" Rafe could feel his heart beating faster with the closeness of her voice. She had him trapped, in her arms, under her gaze.

"I realized…the entire time Jamal was telling me this news…my life with Jamal was changing…it was ending and I wasn't thinking about it… all I could think about was…was…you." Alison's eyes pierced Rafe and he couldn't look away. He was caught off guard by her statement.

"M-me?" "I know you…you said you couldn't fall in love with me." The girl said sadly, making Rafe sigh. He had hurt her feelings and it wasn't even the truth. "But, after the incident in the car and the way you touched me…I don't know…I don't know…"

"Alison…"Rafe said sadly, not wanting the girl to continue. "What do you want me to do? You know who I am."

"I want you to kiss me." She admitted softly. Rafe melted. "I want YOU to kiss ME." Rafe didn't know what to do. He wanted to kiss her desperately, but he knew as soon as his lips touched hers he would be admitting all his feelings to her. This was the moment…the moment where she was giving herself, in whole, to him…apart from Jamal. Rafe was so nervous that he was trembling. He couldn't control it. His awkwardness only made her fall in love with him more. Rafe could not and would not stop himself any longer and his body knew it.

He took in a deep breath, never taking his eyes from hers, and placed his hands gently around the girl's face. He leaned towards her and firmly placed his lips to the girl's. The moment his lips felt hers he began kissing her deeply, he could feel her warm lips surrounding his own, he could feel her tongue in his mouth…it was overwhelming. They were quickly losing themselves in each other, wanting to be as physically close as possible.

Alison leaned into the boy forcefully, pushing Rafe back a bit and deepening the kiss even further. Rafe leaned back into her, trying to be even closer. Pushing her body backwards, the couple laid down on the couch. Holding himself over the girl by the cushions and couch arm, he continued to kiss her. Over and over, never ending the routine, his mouth went to her neck…placing warm, wet kisses all along her. Alison's hands went under and up the boy's t-shirt…letting her feel his warm skin in her palms. The girl's hands ran up and down his back, sending chills of pleasure up his spine and making him draw in a small gasp. His body was responding to every slightest touch and so was hers. Alison's back arched, pushing her body into the boy's. Rafe drew in another quick breath.

Rafe peered lovingly down at the girl, bringing their kissing to a temporary halt. Rafe ached all over for the girl below him but he wasn't sure how to proceed. His trembling had escaladed under her touch.

"Rafe I want to be with you." The girl whispered, taking her hands down to his belt buckle, curling her fingers around the leather and resting there. Rafe's eyes shut with pleasure as he drew in deep breath. A heat surged through his body. Opening them again he peered down at the girl. She peered back sweetly, asking him for permission this time.

"Alison…"he whispered insecurely, "are you sure?" his voice cracked slightly.

"Do you want to be with me?" she asked innocently.

"Yes." He released quickly.