CHAPTER ONE

The day was clear and crisp. The kind of day that invigorated all your senses and made you want to take a long walk in the woods or go sit by a lake and watch the movement of the water. You just wanted to be outside on a day like this. As Rafe sat alone in the park he closed his eyes and took a deep breath and released it. Actually it sounded more like a sigh. He sat there, trying to think of anything and anyone except her. Alison. God, even her name was beautiful he thought to himself. Alison....her name meant noble and kind. She was both those things and so much more to him. But no!!! He had to stop!! He was trying not to dredge up memories of the past three months. "Get her off your mind, Rafe!! Let her go!" he told himself. But all he could see in his mind was her long silky hair, her eyes that lit up like a rocket when she laughed that incredible laugh of hers or smiled. Yeah...she had a great smile...everytime Rafe saw it his stomach felt like a thousand butterflies were flying through it and his heart skipped a couple of beats. But what his heart really couldn't take was remembering how nice she felt in his arms the two times they had kissed. Her lips were so soft and...... dammit! Don't go there, Rafe...don't go there. Face it pal...you love her. But you can't let her know how you feel. Just be her friend.....yeah, some friend.

Unexpectedly he heard a voice say his name. His eyes flew open and he listened.

"Rafe? " Then a pause. "Rafe, are you out here?"

He would recognize that sexy voice anywhere. It was her. Then she was there in front of him. Looking perfect as usual.

"Why didn't you answer me?" she asked.

"I was thinking, not listening. What's up?"

"What were you thinking about? You look kinda, you know, sad or something."

"Well....um...I....what do you mean?" he countered. He couldn't very well tell her the truth. That wouldn't be a good idea.

"You just looked sad when I walked up and, you know, I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help. You've been so sweet to me. You've listened to me and helped me....won't you let me help you? That's what friends do..they help each other." Alison informed him.

Rafe stared at her like she had lost her mind. "Oh yeah, you can help me." he thought.

"Tell me you love me as much as I love you." My God, was he going crazy????

"Let me guess, " she said. "You were thinking about your old life in Transylvania. You miss your life, don't you?"

That was as good a lie as any to tell her. "How did you know?" he asked.

"Do you miss that life, Rafe? I mean, what you had before you died? Wait, never mind...not my business. If you had wanted to talk about it you would have..."

"It's ok, Alison. You're about the only person I would talk to about it. Sometimes I do miss it. But most of the time there is no place I'd rather be than right here in Port Charles. I don't belong there anymore. This is where I'm suppose to be right now." he told her.

"How can you be so sure, Rafe?"

"All I have to do is look at you and I know I'm where I belong." Rafe said as their eyes met.

"Why is that? I thought you said you weren't my guardian angel. Has that changed?" She asked.

"No...and I still wouldn't turn down the job if it were offered to me but I just mean being your friend, being here talking to you. That's what I need to do."

"Thank you."

"For what?"

" Everything....being my friend, all that stuff you said. That means more to me than you'll ever know, Rafe." Alison said as they walked toward each other.

They stopped about 6 inches from one another and simply stared eye into eye...getting lost for a moment in the power of the feelings they each were feeling but fighting with all their might. Alison took her hand and placed it on the side of Rafe's face. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the feel of it slowly stroking from his face over his ear and into his hair and finally to the back of his neck. A chill ran up his spine. Her hand started over again and he reached for it and took it into his own. MY GOD, how much torture can one angel endure, he thought.

"What's wrong?" Alison questioned.

"Nothing." Rafe said as he opened his eyes. She was less than a foot away. All he had to do was lean toward her just a little bit and his lips would claim hers. "This is probably not a very good idea, Alison." he said as their lips met. He knew it wasn't a good idea, in fact, he was almost positive it was a terrible idea but he couldn't control his emotions anymore than you can control a volcanic eruption. As their tongues began exploring and Alison nibbled at his bottom lip, Rafe stopped running. He quit trying to deny the love he felt for this wonderful creature he now held in his arms. And when he stopped running, the kiss wasn't just any kiss....he took radical possession of her mouth with his tongue as no other man had done. His hands went to her hair and pulled free the ribbon that had it tied back, allowing her blonde tresses to fall softly around her face. Her arms went around his neck pulling him closer and closer to her....she never wanted it to stop. But if one of them didn't put a stop to it soon............