Chapter 2

He never wanted to stop kissing her. Never wanted for her to be out of his arms. But he knew he had to pull away from her. Stepping back from her, he kept his eyes closed for a moment, awash in the feelings she always stirred up in him. Smiling, he opened his eyes to see her staring up at him and when their gazes locked on to each other, it was as if a blindfold had been taken off. She knew. She knew that Rafe loved her. Cherished her. Would give her anything she asked for. As she sat searching his eyes, still feeling his lips on hers..Alison fell. Utterly and completely fell in love with this honest, sweet and kind man that stood in front of her. But this could never work, she thought to herself. She and Jamal had just been broken up for a few weeks, so this had to be one of those rebound things. Yeah, that was it, rebound. She couldn't fall in love with Rafe. He was her best friend, especially lately. It would never work. He was an ANGEL for God's sake and he would be leaving before long. They continued to look into each other's eyes and Alison soon realized that she couldn't live without him.... she didn't even want to try.

"Alison?"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you looking at me that way? What are you thinking about?"

"Wh....what way? What do you mean what am I thinking about?"

"It...it's just this look you have....did I do something wrong? Are you upset because I kissed you?"

" I didn't exactly pull away from you now did I?"

"No you didn't," he smiled and said.

"Can I ask you something and you be totally honest with me, Rafe?" she asked

"Alison, I've always tried to be honest with you, you know that, right?"

"I was thinking about you...and me....about us."

"And...?" he asked.

"You've fallen in love with me haven't you, Rafe?"

Her question hung in the air......damn!! How was he going to get out of this one?

Alison continued, "It's ok, Rafe. I can see it in your eyes....your soul. Haven't you ever heard that the eyes are the windows to your soul?"

Oh God!! He thought to himself. She knew!!! Rather than denying it, Rafe spoke very quickly, "I tried not to Alison. I tried staying away from you, pushing you to make things work with Jamal. I know I had no right to fall in love with you, Alison, but I did. You are a beautiful woman and your heart is the one thing about you that I love the most. Are you mad at me? Do you never want to see me again? I wouldn't blame you..."

"No."

"No? No what? No..you never want to see me again or No...you aren't mad?"

"No...I'm not upset or mad." she said smiling. "I think deep in this heart that you love so much I've known it for a while. I somehow couldn't bring myself to believe it."

She paused looking down at the ground....

"Alison? What is it? Do you want me to go? I apologize for making this harder on you, I..."

"NO!" she said a little more forcefully than she meant to.

He lifted her chin up with his hand so he could see her face. She was crying. Now he had made her cry!! I have to be THE worst angel that ever got sent back to earth. I'm making the one person I love more than anything miserable. He pulled her into his arms and she willingly went into his embrace. He held her close with one hand and stroked her hair with the other. She wrapped her arms around his neck and began to sob softly.

"Look Alison, why don't we go back to Lucy's house where I'm staying and work this out. It will be ok, I promise."

She didn't answer him only let him take her hand and guide her through the park to Lucy's house. He unlocked the door and led her inside to the sofa and sat her down. He then went into the kitchen to get them each something to drink. Water for her and a

Dr. Pepper for him.

As Alison sat on the sofa in the silence of the house her mind was a jumble of thoughts and emotions. She kept telling herself it could never work. He was an ANGEL, for Christ's sake! The tears flowed freely down her face. She closed her eyes and thought how hopeless the situation seemed. She was in love with the most amazing, kindest, sweetest man she'd ever known which was great. Except for the fact that he was an angel and in 3 weeks he would be leaving for good. And he wasn't just going home to someplace out west or on the other side of the world. He was going back 'up there' and this time it was for good. He would never be back. "Why God?" she asked herself "Why does he have to go? I love him so much."

Suddenly, a thought entered her mind that she dared not think before. One she hadn't dreamed of until now." What if he DIDN'T have to go? What if there was a way for him to stay on earth for good? Was it possible?" she wondered.

Rafe walked back into the living room to find her standing up about to walk to the door.

"Alison? Where are you going?" he asked.

"I'll be back in a few minutes. Don't worry."

He assumed she had decided she never wanted to see him again so he looked at her sadly and said, "It's ok, Alison. I understand. I never should've brought you here. I never should've admitted I've fallen in love with you."

"Rafe? I promise, I'll be right back. Trust me, ok?" she said. She kissed him on the cheek and she was gone.