Chapter Twelve
Michelle Branch
I'll Always Be Right There
When you're all alone
And you need a light
Someone to guide you
Through the night
Just remember that
I am here
To hold you close and
Dry your tears
Oh, ooh
And just when you thought
You were falling
But you know I'll always
Be right there
"I can't believe you're really back to me," Alison looked up at Jack her eyes full of hope and promise as she squeezed him once more, "I was so afraid I'd lost you, but now that you're here again, I swear I'm not wasting another minute not telling you how I feel," she kissed him quickly before squeezing him again, "I love you, Jack."
"I love you too, Alison, but," Jack trailed off as she hugged him eagerly.
"But what?" her eyes asked a panic flashing through them as she looked up at him.
"But you might want to ease up on the hug a bit so I can breathe," Jack couldn't help but smile as she obliged still loosely keeping her arms around his waste, "that's better."
"Jack, there's so much we need to talk about, so much we need to say, but first, I want you to tell me everything from the moment you woke up," she paused suddenly having a thought as she reached out to him, "Jack, open your mouth."
"What?" he asked giving her a sideways glance.
"Just do it," she insisted as she pressed her finger into his mouth checking the sharpness of his tooth before letting out a relieved sigh.
"What was that for?" he asked as she looked to him with a curious expression, "Oh don't tell me you thought I was a vampire again."
"Well you know being an ex-vampire," Alison couldn't help but tease, "but seriously, Jack what happened? How did you get here?"
"I told you, there was a darkness and then I heard your voice and I woke up in the hospital. There was this nurse standing there ready to move me or something and when I opened my eyes she jumped about fifty feet," Jack confessed thinking back, "I mean really she looked like she was just about to crawl out of her skin and then I remember getting up and looking around for my things."
"And?" Alison probed further searching out his eyes.
"And I wound up here," Jack admitted thinking it over, "well no that's not entirely true. I ran into Rafe at the hospital. He told me you'd been looking for me and that I'd probably find you here at the pueblo."
"You saw Rafe? Then he knew you were alive?" Alison gasped thinking it over.
"Yeah it's no wonder the guy follows you down here," Jack frowned slightly, "I just assumed that since he knew where you were, it meant that you and he...."
"Jack, shh," Alison pressed her finger over his lips, "don't even say it. I think there's something you should know about Rafe, something that might be a bit hard to believe, but considering...."
"What is it?" Jack questioned as he saw the look behind her eyes.
"Rafe's an angel," Alison blurted out seriously.
"No really," Jack shook his head, "what is it you wanted to say?"
"I'm telling you the truth," Alison explained firmly, "he was a vampire slayer like he told us, but it just so happened that Caleb and he had one last final battle and he died. Rafe wasn't alive when we met him, but he was really a guardian angel for us all."
"Wait a second," Jack tried to process what she was saying, "you mean Rafe's really dead? He's not alive, yet he's walking around with the rest of us...."
"No, not exactly," Alison shook her head, "I mean before he was only an angel, but then he made this deal after he left. You know when I was on trial and I was missing him like crazy, well that was because he'd gone back to heaven with the others."
"The others? You mean we have more angels roaming around Port Charles?" Jack moved back inside the bedroom taking a seat on the bed, "you know you'd think after vampires this would be easy for me to digest, but still...."
"I know it's not exactly like me telling you that the Yankees won the world series, but it's the truth," Alison explained moving in beside him, "Rafe was sent here to help us all against Caleb and then after when Caleb caused so much misery he was trying to help put the pieces of the puzzle back together so we'd all be happy again."
"Which is when you fell in love with him," Jack looked over to her, "because you knew his secret and you enjoyed being a part of it."
"Yes and no," Alison shook her head, "yes I did fall in love with Rafe then, but there was more to it, more to everything, but now...."
"Yes?" Jack questioned waiting for her response.
"Well, you see Rafe's not an angel anymore," Alison explained, "when he saw the trouble that I was getting into because of the candles, he sold his soul so to speak."
"Wait a second here," Jack frowned slightly, "you're telling me that Rafe was an angel in heaven and he was here to help us, but then when he had to go back, he heard you were in trouble and he sold his soul to come back to you, to be with you again?"
"Basically," Alison nodded as Jack stood up, "but when he returned he wasn't an angel anymore. He was human again and in being human he'd lost his memory...."
"Which is why he was with Livvie," Jack suddenly felt the weight of it all come upon him, "so he believed her lies when he really, truly was meant to come back and find you."
"Jack, that's not exactly....." Alison rose up behind him.
"That man sold his soul and left heaven to be with you," Jack shook his head, "here I was cursing him for being a jerk, for abandoning you, and here he gave his soul to save you."
"And you gave your life, Jack," Alison reminded him as she reached out to him, "you gave your life to be with me and that in itself says something about you."
"Alison, I had no idea about Rafe. I honestly didn't know what was going on otherwise I wouldn't have been so harsh with you back in Port Charles."
"It doesn't matter now," Alison shook her head, "Jack it's all in the past. All that matters is that you're alive and with me again," she reached out to him, "Jack when I thought I lost you, my heart broke in two. It took me so long to realize that I loved you and then to have you gone from my life, well, there was so much emptiness and aching. I couldn't imagine not seeing your smile or feeling your arms around me. When you left me, it was as if the world as I knew it had disappeared and there was this huge, gaping hole in my life."
"Alison, I just couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt," Jack admitted as he saw the tears forming behind her eyes, "I didn't want Livvie to hurt you and while I know she's sick and needs help, I couldn't let either one of you get hurt."
"I know that Jack and when she shot you," Alison shook her head, "Jack when I thought I lost you, I told Rafe how the only thing I wanted in this world was to have you back again. I just wanted us to be together, to be able to love one another and somehow I think he helped make that miracle happen."
"You're saying Rafe brought me back?" Jack questioned letting it all sink in.
"I think he played a part in it, but now that you're here," Alison reached out to him, "it's a sign."
"A sign?" he repeated as she wrapped her arms around him.
"That's right Jack. You're always telling me that the signs are out there and this is a major sign telling us both that we need to follow our hearts as they've lead us to where we belong and that's together," she finished tearfully, "I love you Jack Ramsey and I want to share my life with you."
"But what about Rafe? You said that he sold his soul for you?" Jack reminded her.
"He did, but along the way I think this was a journey he needed to take," Alison confessed, "Rafe's a good man and he'll always be my angel, but you have my heart and he knows that. When I thought I lost you, I told him everything about how wonderful my life was with you in it and how I couldn't imagine loving another man. I want to share my life with you, loving you, growing old with you Jack and now that you've come back to me, nothing else matters."
"Oh Alison," Jack hugged her tightly, "you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that. To be able to love you and have you love me in return..."
"It's a dream come true," Alison squeezed him, "although before we can begin this dream, I think there are a few people out there we need to see."
Jack met her concerned eyes as it dawned in on him, "Chris," he blurted out, "if you thought I was dead, then he must think...."
Alison nodded, "He was at the hospital as well, but he went home with Eve."
"Eve?" Jack blinked back at her, "wait a second. Back up. How was Chris with Eve?"
Alison took in a breath before reaching for his hand, "It's a long story Jack, but one that seems to have a happy ending. I'll fill you in on the details on the way over to her place."
"That sounds like a good idea," Jack agreed thinking about what his brother must be going through. As he headed towards the door with Alison beside him, he stopped for a moment bringing his arms around her waist as he held her, "I love you, Alison and from here on out, I want to be with you, to share it all with you."
"We'll share it all together," Alison promised him sealing it with a kiss as the world lay ahead of them and the future was suddenly brighter than either one had imagined.
When you're all alone
And you need a friend
Someone to help you
To the end
When you need someone
To catch you when you fall
I'll be there through it all
Oh, oh
'Cause just when you thought
You were losing
But you know
I'll always be right there
"I can't believe this is happening," Chris blurted out as he kept Juliana in his arms, "how can Jack's body just up and vanish from the hospital? What the hell kind of place is that? My brother was shot and...."
"Chris, we'll figure it out, but first I want us to check on Alison," Eve answered trying to calm the restlessness in his heart as she reached for her jacket, "perhaps I should give her a call and let her know what's going on before..."
"I'll call her," Chris decided, "just go to the hospital and find out what's going on there."
"I'll be back soon," Eve promised looking between Chris and Juliana, "promise me you'll be okay."
"I'll be better when you find my brother," Chris admitted honestly thinking about how this was just icing on the cake for another awful page in the Ramsey family history.
"We will find him," Eve assured him as she made her way towards the front door, "I promise you that."
"I know you do, Eve," Chris sighed as Juliana pulled at his nose demanding his attention.
"Play time for baby," she explained a bubble of laughter washing over her as she tugged at his nose again, "let's play dada."
"We will play, but first I want to kiss your mother goodbye," Chris promised kissing the top of her tiny head before looking to Eve.
"I won't be long," Eve assured opening the door, "and I'll find out where Jack is and see who's responsible for this."
"Did someone say my name?" Jack questioned as he looked inside the small home at Eve with astonished eyes. "I still can't believe what I'm seeing. When Alison said you were alive and with Chris, I almost thought she'd completely lost it...."
"Jack," Eve gasped as she realized Alison was beside him holding on to his arm, "but how....how are you...."
"It's a miracle Eve," Alison explained brightly as Chris made his way to the door holding Juliana close to him as his jaw nearly dropped.
"Jack," Chris moved past Eve reaching out to his brother touching his shoulder as if not sure he was really seeing what was before him, "how in the...."
"I'm okay Chris," Jack offered with a smile as he looked to Juliana who'd settled into Chris' arms very comfortably, "and who is this beautiful little one?"
"This is your niece," Eve explained stepping up beside Chris, "this is Juliana."
"Juliana," Jack mused with a curious grin as he looked up at his brother, "so this is what really happened on that night you and Eve shared," Jack finished as Eve gave Chris a curious look.
"There was this time period around Christmas," Chris began feeling the heat rise in his features, "I wasn't able to lie or keep my thoughts from coming to light, but Jack was the only person who could keep me out of trouble, though he's working rather hard on getting me back into it now."
"No not me," Jack shook his head as he looked past Chris into the house, "so are you going to let us in, or am I going to stand here on the porch all night?"
"For giving me a scare like you did, I should make you stay out there," Chris teased unable to believe what he was seeing as he looked to Jack.
"Come inside," Eve urged as she opened the door wider, "seeing you here means I have some explaining to do at the hospital."
"Actually there's a nurse there who's probably in the chapel there saying her prayers after I scared her," Jack confessed, "you might want to get the story from her."
"I'd rather get it from you," Chris watched his brother cross the room still trying to grasp the concept of what was taking place, "How...how can you be standing here in Eve's home like this looking as though you weren't shot when less than a couple of hours ago you were laid out in the hospital with a bullet in your chest?"
"That's even more complicated a tale," Jack confessed with a sigh, "I mean even if I stand here before you and say it, it just doesn't sound quite right."
"Try me," Chris urged as he looked over at Eve momentarily, "I've had my own share of miracles over the last year. I might be able to digest whatever it is you both have to say...." he looked between Jack and Alison before frowning, "Unless....Jack, tell me you're not a vampire. Is that what this is all about?"
"What is all this vampire talk," Eve shook her head as she reached for Juliana, "I heard this Caleb story once, but the more it comes up, the more I'm starting to wonder what kind of place Port Charles turned into after I was gone."
"You don't want to know," Jack let out a groan before looking to Chris, "and no I'm not a vampire."
"You know, it looks like you two have some catching up to do, so why don't Alison and I put a pot of coffee on while you two talk?"
"I think that sounds like a good idea," Alison agreed stepping up beside Eve, "you two can have a talk and I'll, well, I'll fill Eve in on the vampire stories."
"Don't frighten her or Juliana," Chris warned watching the two women leave the room before he turned to his brother a long silence growing between them. He kept his eyes on Jack before finally reaching out to embrace him as the emotion overcame him, "Oh little brother it's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back, Chris," Jack hugged him in return realizing that in that short time he and Chris had managed to achieve a bond that they hadn't had a few short years ago.
"When I thought I lost you," Chris confessed squeezing his little brother tightly, "I just realized that there were so many things I still had to tell you, things I wanted to say."
"Who you?" Jack questioned a tiny smile forming on his lips as his eyes misted over. He looked up at Chris with a small smile, "I never would've imagined that."
"Well you're just lucky that when I talked your ear off before in that hospital you weren't able to hear all I said," Chris hesitated, "or were you?"
"I don't remember much about what happened," Jack confessed, "everyone says there's this really amazing experience, but from what I remember, I was surrounded by warmth and love and somehow I heard Alison. She kept calling out to me, begging me to return to her."
"She loves you a lot," Chris nodded in response offering up an awkward laugh, "I saw that at the hospital. We both were well, less than our usual charming selves when you were laying there."
"Chris, I realize what you both went through when you thought I died," Jack admitted a bit uneasy, "and part of me wants to say that if I was in your shoes, well I don't know how I'd respond either, but the fact is that I'm here now. I'm still alive and we still have time. You don't have to make it up to me right now. We'll have plenty of years to drive one another crazy."
"It's those years that I look forward to you know," Chris admitted lightly, "I couldn't imagine not having you around. When I thought I lost you, well..."
"I know Chris," Jack nodded before reaching out to hug him again, "I know it too and I can't imagine not being able to have my big brother with me. I know we spent a lot of time apart after you left me, but I understand why you did it and seeing as you're a dad yourself now," Jack lightly swatted at him, "I think you'll do an okay job."
"I think I'll do a hell of a job," Chris boasted with a smile, "did you see what a knock out my daughter is?"
"She's beautiful Chris," Jack offered up with a smile, "she's clearly got Eve's good looks there."
"Watch it," Chris warned sharply.
"You know Chris, when we both came here to this place, we both really thought we'd hit the end of the road, but now even after everything that's happened somehow it seems we've had our very own set of miracles, haven't we?" Jack admitted with a smile.
"I'd thought that everything in my life was finally coming together when Eve came back into my life, but well seeing you here like this," Chris offered with a smile, "it made me see that there are some things in life that make it worth living and with you, Eve and Juliana here well I see for the first time in a long time that I finally have what I've always wanted."
"And what might that be?" Jack questioned curiously.
"I have a family and I promise you this time around, I'm not going to blow it," Chris answered hopeful, "not for the world."
"Me neither," Jack agreed as he looked to the kitchen door, "now about those three beautiful women we have in the kitchen. How about we go find them and have one of those infamous Ramsey toasts?"
"I think that's a great idea," Chris agreed as the two brothers made their way into the small kitchen finding the room filled with warmth and laughter as they stepped into the room.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Jack questioned as he noticed Juliana in the high chair and Alison at her side.
"It seems your niece thought I'd look better with some whipped cream face," Alison explained turning around to reveal the white fluffy mess Juliana had spread over her beautiful features.
"Oh that look suits you well," Chris couldn't help but tease as he moved in beside Eve slipping his arms around her waist, "and what did you have to say about our daughter's creative side?"
"Actually," Eve turned in his arms revealing her own whipped cream covered hands as she patted his nose leaving a line of thick, white cream down the center of his face, "I found it very inspiring. What do you think of Juliana, daddy?"
Juliana clapped and giggled as the room was suddenly filled with a warmth and life that hadn't been present earlier in the day. She looked among the adults letting out a tiny squeal before she held her fingers out towards Jack.
"Looks like she wants you to have a makeover too," Alison laughed lightly as she tugged Jack in closer to her.
"I think I already had one, but for now I wouldn't mind a taste," Jack reached for her tiny hand nibbling on her finger as Juliana let out an enthusiastic laugh.
"So much for coffee," Chris wiped at his nose after a moment.
"Well I do have some juice in the fridge," Eve offered up with a soft smile, "I wasn't exactly planning on company so I wasn't stocked up."
"Juice is fine," Chris kissed her forehead before brushing past her, "I'll get it."
"Let me help," Eve insisted making her way to grab a few glasses from the cabinets as she looked to Jack and Alison playing with Juliana. She turned back to Chris leaning in close to him as she whispered in his ear, "so this is really happening huh?"
"So it seems," Chris couldn't help but smile as he reached out to touch her cheek gently, "today must be my lucky day because it seems like I'm the king of the world right about now."
"Oh really king of my heart," Eve offered up with a hint of a smile, "and what pre tell would you want right about now?"
"To kiss my queen," he captured her lips in a soft, tender kiss.
"Hey someone is wanting her juice over here," Jack interrupted them as Juliana let out a tiny groan.
"We're working on it," Chris offered up as he broke away from Eve, "this is to be continued."
"I'm going to hold you that that," Eve winked at him before returning to the table with a round of glasses. After she'd handed Juliana her juice she felt Chris step in beside her.
"I think a toast is in order," Chris announced eagerly.
"I couldn't agree more," Jack wrapped his arm around Alison holding her close to him with a proud smile.
"To love," Jack blurted out raising his glass towards the center of the table.
"To destiny," Alison added with a smile
"To laughter and happiness in days to follow," Eve raised her glass for the toast.
"To family," Chris finished the circle completing the toast as the Ramsey family finally seemed to capture that little sense of happiness that had evaded them. Together on this night despite all that was brewing in the world beyond them, they knew that this moment would stay with them forever as they'd had a bond that no other person could ever get in between. They had one another and that was the one thing that would remain constant between them from here on out.
And I'll be there
Through the good times
And the bad
And we'll be there
For each other
'Cause you're the best friend
I've ever had
And just when you thought
You were falling
But you know
I'll always be right there
Oh, ooh whenever you need me
I'll always be right there
Michelle Branch
I'll Always Be Right There
When you're all alone
And you need a light
Someone to guide you
Through the night
Just remember that
I am here
To hold you close and
Dry your tears
Oh, ooh
And just when you thought
You were falling
But you know I'll always
Be right there
"I can't believe you're really back to me," Alison looked up at Jack her eyes full of hope and promise as she squeezed him once more, "I was so afraid I'd lost you, but now that you're here again, I swear I'm not wasting another minute not telling you how I feel," she kissed him quickly before squeezing him again, "I love you, Jack."
"I love you too, Alison, but," Jack trailed off as she hugged him eagerly.
"But what?" her eyes asked a panic flashing through them as she looked up at him.
"But you might want to ease up on the hug a bit so I can breathe," Jack couldn't help but smile as she obliged still loosely keeping her arms around his waste, "that's better."
"Jack, there's so much we need to talk about, so much we need to say, but first, I want you to tell me everything from the moment you woke up," she paused suddenly having a thought as she reached out to him, "Jack, open your mouth."
"What?" he asked giving her a sideways glance.
"Just do it," she insisted as she pressed her finger into his mouth checking the sharpness of his tooth before letting out a relieved sigh.
"What was that for?" he asked as she looked to him with a curious expression, "Oh don't tell me you thought I was a vampire again."
"Well you know being an ex-vampire," Alison couldn't help but tease, "but seriously, Jack what happened? How did you get here?"
"I told you, there was a darkness and then I heard your voice and I woke up in the hospital. There was this nurse standing there ready to move me or something and when I opened my eyes she jumped about fifty feet," Jack confessed thinking back, "I mean really she looked like she was just about to crawl out of her skin and then I remember getting up and looking around for my things."
"And?" Alison probed further searching out his eyes.
"And I wound up here," Jack admitted thinking it over, "well no that's not entirely true. I ran into Rafe at the hospital. He told me you'd been looking for me and that I'd probably find you here at the pueblo."
"You saw Rafe? Then he knew you were alive?" Alison gasped thinking it over.
"Yeah it's no wonder the guy follows you down here," Jack frowned slightly, "I just assumed that since he knew where you were, it meant that you and he...."
"Jack, shh," Alison pressed her finger over his lips, "don't even say it. I think there's something you should know about Rafe, something that might be a bit hard to believe, but considering...."
"What is it?" Jack questioned as he saw the look behind her eyes.
"Rafe's an angel," Alison blurted out seriously.
"No really," Jack shook his head, "what is it you wanted to say?"
"I'm telling you the truth," Alison explained firmly, "he was a vampire slayer like he told us, but it just so happened that Caleb and he had one last final battle and he died. Rafe wasn't alive when we met him, but he was really a guardian angel for us all."
"Wait a second," Jack tried to process what she was saying, "you mean Rafe's really dead? He's not alive, yet he's walking around with the rest of us...."
"No, not exactly," Alison shook her head, "I mean before he was only an angel, but then he made this deal after he left. You know when I was on trial and I was missing him like crazy, well that was because he'd gone back to heaven with the others."
"The others? You mean we have more angels roaming around Port Charles?" Jack moved back inside the bedroom taking a seat on the bed, "you know you'd think after vampires this would be easy for me to digest, but still...."
"I know it's not exactly like me telling you that the Yankees won the world series, but it's the truth," Alison explained moving in beside him, "Rafe was sent here to help us all against Caleb and then after when Caleb caused so much misery he was trying to help put the pieces of the puzzle back together so we'd all be happy again."
"Which is when you fell in love with him," Jack looked over to her, "because you knew his secret and you enjoyed being a part of it."
"Yes and no," Alison shook her head, "yes I did fall in love with Rafe then, but there was more to it, more to everything, but now...."
"Yes?" Jack questioned waiting for her response.
"Well, you see Rafe's not an angel anymore," Alison explained, "when he saw the trouble that I was getting into because of the candles, he sold his soul so to speak."
"Wait a second here," Jack frowned slightly, "you're telling me that Rafe was an angel in heaven and he was here to help us, but then when he had to go back, he heard you were in trouble and he sold his soul to come back to you, to be with you again?"
"Basically," Alison nodded as Jack stood up, "but when he returned he wasn't an angel anymore. He was human again and in being human he'd lost his memory...."
"Which is why he was with Livvie," Jack suddenly felt the weight of it all come upon him, "so he believed her lies when he really, truly was meant to come back and find you."
"Jack, that's not exactly....." Alison rose up behind him.
"That man sold his soul and left heaven to be with you," Jack shook his head, "here I was cursing him for being a jerk, for abandoning you, and here he gave his soul to save you."
"And you gave your life, Jack," Alison reminded him as she reached out to him, "you gave your life to be with me and that in itself says something about you."
"Alison, I had no idea about Rafe. I honestly didn't know what was going on otherwise I wouldn't have been so harsh with you back in Port Charles."
"It doesn't matter now," Alison shook her head, "Jack it's all in the past. All that matters is that you're alive and with me again," she reached out to him, "Jack when I thought I lost you, my heart broke in two. It took me so long to realize that I loved you and then to have you gone from my life, well, there was so much emptiness and aching. I couldn't imagine not seeing your smile or feeling your arms around me. When you left me, it was as if the world as I knew it had disappeared and there was this huge, gaping hole in my life."
"Alison, I just couldn't bear the thought of you being hurt," Jack admitted as he saw the tears forming behind her eyes, "I didn't want Livvie to hurt you and while I know she's sick and needs help, I couldn't let either one of you get hurt."
"I know that Jack and when she shot you," Alison shook her head, "Jack when I thought I lost you, I told Rafe how the only thing I wanted in this world was to have you back again. I just wanted us to be together, to be able to love one another and somehow I think he helped make that miracle happen."
"You're saying Rafe brought me back?" Jack questioned letting it all sink in.
"I think he played a part in it, but now that you're here," Alison reached out to him, "it's a sign."
"A sign?" he repeated as she wrapped her arms around him.
"That's right Jack. You're always telling me that the signs are out there and this is a major sign telling us both that we need to follow our hearts as they've lead us to where we belong and that's together," she finished tearfully, "I love you Jack Ramsey and I want to share my life with you."
"But what about Rafe? You said that he sold his soul for you?" Jack reminded her.
"He did, but along the way I think this was a journey he needed to take," Alison confessed, "Rafe's a good man and he'll always be my angel, but you have my heart and he knows that. When I thought I lost you, I told him everything about how wonderful my life was with you in it and how I couldn't imagine loving another man. I want to share my life with you, loving you, growing old with you Jack and now that you've come back to me, nothing else matters."
"Oh Alison," Jack hugged her tightly, "you have no idea how long I've waited to hear you say that. To be able to love you and have you love me in return..."
"It's a dream come true," Alison squeezed him, "although before we can begin this dream, I think there are a few people out there we need to see."
Jack met her concerned eyes as it dawned in on him, "Chris," he blurted out, "if you thought I was dead, then he must think...."
Alison nodded, "He was at the hospital as well, but he went home with Eve."
"Eve?" Jack blinked back at her, "wait a second. Back up. How was Chris with Eve?"
Alison took in a breath before reaching for his hand, "It's a long story Jack, but one that seems to have a happy ending. I'll fill you in on the details on the way over to her place."
"That sounds like a good idea," Jack agreed thinking about what his brother must be going through. As he headed towards the door with Alison beside him, he stopped for a moment bringing his arms around her waist as he held her, "I love you, Alison and from here on out, I want to be with you, to share it all with you."
"We'll share it all together," Alison promised him sealing it with a kiss as the world lay ahead of them and the future was suddenly brighter than either one had imagined.
When you're all alone
And you need a friend
Someone to help you
To the end
When you need someone
To catch you when you fall
I'll be there through it all
Oh, oh
'Cause just when you thought
You were losing
But you know
I'll always be right there
"I can't believe this is happening," Chris blurted out as he kept Juliana in his arms, "how can Jack's body just up and vanish from the hospital? What the hell kind of place is that? My brother was shot and...."
"Chris, we'll figure it out, but first I want us to check on Alison," Eve answered trying to calm the restlessness in his heart as she reached for her jacket, "perhaps I should give her a call and let her know what's going on before..."
"I'll call her," Chris decided, "just go to the hospital and find out what's going on there."
"I'll be back soon," Eve promised looking between Chris and Juliana, "promise me you'll be okay."
"I'll be better when you find my brother," Chris admitted honestly thinking about how this was just icing on the cake for another awful page in the Ramsey family history.
"We will find him," Eve assured him as she made her way towards the front door, "I promise you that."
"I know you do, Eve," Chris sighed as Juliana pulled at his nose demanding his attention.
"Play time for baby," she explained a bubble of laughter washing over her as she tugged at his nose again, "let's play dada."
"We will play, but first I want to kiss your mother goodbye," Chris promised kissing the top of her tiny head before looking to Eve.
"I won't be long," Eve assured opening the door, "and I'll find out where Jack is and see who's responsible for this."
"Did someone say my name?" Jack questioned as he looked inside the small home at Eve with astonished eyes. "I still can't believe what I'm seeing. When Alison said you were alive and with Chris, I almost thought she'd completely lost it...."
"Jack," Eve gasped as she realized Alison was beside him holding on to his arm, "but how....how are you...."
"It's a miracle Eve," Alison explained brightly as Chris made his way to the door holding Juliana close to him as his jaw nearly dropped.
"Jack," Chris moved past Eve reaching out to his brother touching his shoulder as if not sure he was really seeing what was before him, "how in the...."
"I'm okay Chris," Jack offered with a smile as he looked to Juliana who'd settled into Chris' arms very comfortably, "and who is this beautiful little one?"
"This is your niece," Eve explained stepping up beside Chris, "this is Juliana."
"Juliana," Jack mused with a curious grin as he looked up at his brother, "so this is what really happened on that night you and Eve shared," Jack finished as Eve gave Chris a curious look.
"There was this time period around Christmas," Chris began feeling the heat rise in his features, "I wasn't able to lie or keep my thoughts from coming to light, but Jack was the only person who could keep me out of trouble, though he's working rather hard on getting me back into it now."
"No not me," Jack shook his head as he looked past Chris into the house, "so are you going to let us in, or am I going to stand here on the porch all night?"
"For giving me a scare like you did, I should make you stay out there," Chris teased unable to believe what he was seeing as he looked to Jack.
"Come inside," Eve urged as she opened the door wider, "seeing you here means I have some explaining to do at the hospital."
"Actually there's a nurse there who's probably in the chapel there saying her prayers after I scared her," Jack confessed, "you might want to get the story from her."
"I'd rather get it from you," Chris watched his brother cross the room still trying to grasp the concept of what was taking place, "How...how can you be standing here in Eve's home like this looking as though you weren't shot when less than a couple of hours ago you were laid out in the hospital with a bullet in your chest?"
"That's even more complicated a tale," Jack confessed with a sigh, "I mean even if I stand here before you and say it, it just doesn't sound quite right."
"Try me," Chris urged as he looked over at Eve momentarily, "I've had my own share of miracles over the last year. I might be able to digest whatever it is you both have to say...." he looked between Jack and Alison before frowning, "Unless....Jack, tell me you're not a vampire. Is that what this is all about?"
"What is all this vampire talk," Eve shook her head as she reached for Juliana, "I heard this Caleb story once, but the more it comes up, the more I'm starting to wonder what kind of place Port Charles turned into after I was gone."
"You don't want to know," Jack let out a groan before looking to Chris, "and no I'm not a vampire."
"You know, it looks like you two have some catching up to do, so why don't Alison and I put a pot of coffee on while you two talk?"
"I think that sounds like a good idea," Alison agreed stepping up beside Eve, "you two can have a talk and I'll, well, I'll fill Eve in on the vampire stories."
"Don't frighten her or Juliana," Chris warned watching the two women leave the room before he turned to his brother a long silence growing between them. He kept his eyes on Jack before finally reaching out to embrace him as the emotion overcame him, "Oh little brother it's good to have you back."
"It's good to be back, Chris," Jack hugged him in return realizing that in that short time he and Chris had managed to achieve a bond that they hadn't had a few short years ago.
"When I thought I lost you," Chris confessed squeezing his little brother tightly, "I just realized that there were so many things I still had to tell you, things I wanted to say."
"Who you?" Jack questioned a tiny smile forming on his lips as his eyes misted over. He looked up at Chris with a small smile, "I never would've imagined that."
"Well you're just lucky that when I talked your ear off before in that hospital you weren't able to hear all I said," Chris hesitated, "or were you?"
"I don't remember much about what happened," Jack confessed, "everyone says there's this really amazing experience, but from what I remember, I was surrounded by warmth and love and somehow I heard Alison. She kept calling out to me, begging me to return to her."
"She loves you a lot," Chris nodded in response offering up an awkward laugh, "I saw that at the hospital. We both were well, less than our usual charming selves when you were laying there."
"Chris, I realize what you both went through when you thought I died," Jack admitted a bit uneasy, "and part of me wants to say that if I was in your shoes, well I don't know how I'd respond either, but the fact is that I'm here now. I'm still alive and we still have time. You don't have to make it up to me right now. We'll have plenty of years to drive one another crazy."
"It's those years that I look forward to you know," Chris admitted lightly, "I couldn't imagine not having you around. When I thought I lost you, well..."
"I know Chris," Jack nodded before reaching out to hug him again, "I know it too and I can't imagine not being able to have my big brother with me. I know we spent a lot of time apart after you left me, but I understand why you did it and seeing as you're a dad yourself now," Jack lightly swatted at him, "I think you'll do an okay job."
"I think I'll do a hell of a job," Chris boasted with a smile, "did you see what a knock out my daughter is?"
"She's beautiful Chris," Jack offered up with a smile, "she's clearly got Eve's good looks there."
"Watch it," Chris warned sharply.
"You know Chris, when we both came here to this place, we both really thought we'd hit the end of the road, but now even after everything that's happened somehow it seems we've had our very own set of miracles, haven't we?" Jack admitted with a smile.
"I'd thought that everything in my life was finally coming together when Eve came back into my life, but well seeing you here like this," Chris offered with a smile, "it made me see that there are some things in life that make it worth living and with you, Eve and Juliana here well I see for the first time in a long time that I finally have what I've always wanted."
"And what might that be?" Jack questioned curiously.
"I have a family and I promise you this time around, I'm not going to blow it," Chris answered hopeful, "not for the world."
"Me neither," Jack agreed as he looked to the kitchen door, "now about those three beautiful women we have in the kitchen. How about we go find them and have one of those infamous Ramsey toasts?"
"I think that's a great idea," Chris agreed as the two brothers made their way into the small kitchen finding the room filled with warmth and laughter as they stepped into the room.
"Hey, what's going on here?" Jack questioned as he noticed Juliana in the high chair and Alison at her side.
"It seems your niece thought I'd look better with some whipped cream face," Alison explained turning around to reveal the white fluffy mess Juliana had spread over her beautiful features.
"Oh that look suits you well," Chris couldn't help but tease as he moved in beside Eve slipping his arms around her waist, "and what did you have to say about our daughter's creative side?"
"Actually," Eve turned in his arms revealing her own whipped cream covered hands as she patted his nose leaving a line of thick, white cream down the center of his face, "I found it very inspiring. What do you think of Juliana, daddy?"
Juliana clapped and giggled as the room was suddenly filled with a warmth and life that hadn't been present earlier in the day. She looked among the adults letting out a tiny squeal before she held her fingers out towards Jack.
"Looks like she wants you to have a makeover too," Alison laughed lightly as she tugged Jack in closer to her.
"I think I already had one, but for now I wouldn't mind a taste," Jack reached for her tiny hand nibbling on her finger as Juliana let out an enthusiastic laugh.
"So much for coffee," Chris wiped at his nose after a moment.
"Well I do have some juice in the fridge," Eve offered up with a soft smile, "I wasn't exactly planning on company so I wasn't stocked up."
"Juice is fine," Chris kissed her forehead before brushing past her, "I'll get it."
"Let me help," Eve insisted making her way to grab a few glasses from the cabinets as she looked to Jack and Alison playing with Juliana. She turned back to Chris leaning in close to him as she whispered in his ear, "so this is really happening huh?"
"So it seems," Chris couldn't help but smile as he reached out to touch her cheek gently, "today must be my lucky day because it seems like I'm the king of the world right about now."
"Oh really king of my heart," Eve offered up with a hint of a smile, "and what pre tell would you want right about now?"
"To kiss my queen," he captured her lips in a soft, tender kiss.
"Hey someone is wanting her juice over here," Jack interrupted them as Juliana let out a tiny groan.
"We're working on it," Chris offered up as he broke away from Eve, "this is to be continued."
"I'm going to hold you that that," Eve winked at him before returning to the table with a round of glasses. After she'd handed Juliana her juice she felt Chris step in beside her.
"I think a toast is in order," Chris announced eagerly.
"I couldn't agree more," Jack wrapped his arm around Alison holding her close to him with a proud smile.
"To love," Jack blurted out raising his glass towards the center of the table.
"To destiny," Alison added with a smile
"To laughter and happiness in days to follow," Eve raised her glass for the toast.
"To family," Chris finished the circle completing the toast as the Ramsey family finally seemed to capture that little sense of happiness that had evaded them. Together on this night despite all that was brewing in the world beyond them, they knew that this moment would stay with them forever as they'd had a bond that no other person could ever get in between. They had one another and that was the one thing that would remain constant between them from here on out.
And I'll be there
Through the good times
And the bad
And we'll be there
For each other
'Cause you're the best friend
I've ever had
And just when you thought
You were falling
But you know
I'll always be right there
Oh, ooh whenever you need me
I'll always be right there