Disclaimer: I do not believe I own any characters in this story other than Angel, Eddie, and Jesse, which are my own creation. The other characters are property of ABC/Disney.

Jesse walked into the house, expecting to be attacked soon by two little munchkins. Instead, she saw the lights had been dimmed down low and lit candles on the kitchen table. "Rafe?" she asked, not seeing him.

"Oh hey, you're early," he said walking from the bedroom. He came over to where she was and pulled her close to him. Leaning in he gave her a kiss, and then took a slight sniff of her hair.

"What's all this for? Where are the kids?"

"This is for us, and the kids are over at Victor and Mary's for the evening," as he took her by the hand and led her to her seat at the kitchen table.

"So the whole thing about the kids wanting to see me one more time before leaving in the morning was a lie?" she said, not upset that it was a lie.

He looked at her with that smile, "Well, I wouldn't call it a lie."

"Then what would you call it?" she asked, as he walked in from the kitchen with their plates.

"It's not a lie because the kids did want to see you one more time, but Victor and Mary decided that all parents need some, uhm, personal time tonight," he said while sitting down in front of Jesse. "So, right now they have Angel, Eddie, Maxie, Christina, Danny, and Serena at their house for a slumber party."

"I'm sure they will regret that in the morning."

"Nah, they love being with the kids."

"What do we have planned for after dinner?"

"I was thinking we could watch a movie on the couch. How's that sound?"

"Heavenly," she said, smiling at him. When she said that he got this look on his face like she just found an inside joke, but figured she wouldn't ask.

When they had finished dinner, he took the plates to the kitchen. "Do you need any help in there?" she asked from the living room.

"No, I'm just going to let them sit for now and clean up later," he said walking over and sitting on the couch.

She curled up next to him, her head lying on his arm. He leaned over and started to kiss her. First it was just on the lips, but then he started kissing her neck slowly. They moved over so they were now lying on the couch next to each other. He continued down her neck, feeling her heartbeat through her blouse. He looked up at her, noticing how beautiful she was. Her brown eyes smiling back at him. She smiled at him and kissed him on the nose.

He sat up, and taking her by the hand led her back to the bedroom. He laid her back onto the bed and continued to kiss her on the neck. He kept going further down until he got to her shoulder. He could hear her let out a soft moan as he slowly unbuttoned her shirt and started kissing her stomach. "Rafe," she asked softly, "are you sure you want to do this?", but forgot what she just asked as he continued to kiss her.

Hours later he woke up under the covers. Looking over he saw Jesse had left, but saw a note on the pillow next to him. Turning on the bed side light he read it,

Rafe,
Thank you for the wonderful evening. I guess I was right when I said
tonight sounded heavenly. I'll call you tomorrow when my plane gets
into California. I'll miss you while I'm gone. Give the kids a kiss
for me.

Jesse

He laid back down on the bed after turning out the light. He just sat there in the dark for a little bit, the events of the night replaying through his head. He felt something tonight he hadn't felt in awhile, the only problem was he wasn't sure if it was right to feel them.

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He was standing at the kitchen sink, cleaning up from dinner when the phone rang. "Hello, the Kovich household," he laughed as he said it.

"When did you start answering the phone with that?" Jesse said, calling from her business meeting in California.

"I have no clue, it just came out. How are the meetings?"

"Boring, very boring. I wish I were home in Port Charles."

"Me too. Hey, hold on and let me get Angel." There was silence on the phone for a few seconds and then she heard a quiet hello on the other end.

"Hey girlfriend, how are you doing?"

"Jesse! When are you coming back here?"

"In a few days, ask your dad if he'll bring you when he picks me up."

"Ok. Goodnight, Jesse."

"Goodnight sweetie."

"Ok, I'm back," said Rafe, being handed the phone as Angel went back to her room to read some more. "So, what do you want to do when you get back?"

"Relax. Maybe all four of us can go on a picnic."

"Do you mean the four of us as in us and the kids, or the four of us as in us and Caleb and Livvie?"

"The four of us as in us and the kids."

"Oh, ok. Just checking."

"Well, I guess you better go tuck Angel and Eddie in to bed," she said, wishing she could be there with him. "Goodnight, Rafe."

"Yeah, I better get going. Goodnight, Jesse." He was just about to hang up the phone and decided to say it, "Jesse?"

"Yeah, I'm still here."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too, Rafe."

He hung up the phone and walked into Eddie's room. He was sitting at his desk, drawing something. "Hey little man, what's that you're drawing?"

"I don't know, just a picture. I was thinking of giving it to Jesse. Will she like it?"

"I'm sure she will love it. Well, you better be getting ready for bed ok. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

He walked into Angel's room, she was already under the covers asleep, and the book she was reading lying on the floor next to the bed. He placed the book on her bookcase, and then went and leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

When he walked back to Eddie's room he saw he'd already got in the bed. He went over and gave him a kiss, "Goodnight, little man."

"Goodnight daddy, I love you."

He smiled at his son, and walked to the bedroom.

After doing his nightly ritual of getting ready for bed, he laid down and started thinking. What was the next step in his relationship with Jesse? He knew he cared for her a huge amount, and her being away got him realizing it more. He wasn't sure though that he actually loved her though. It wasn't that he didn't think he could love again, he was sure he could. It was that if he finally came to the realization that he did love Jesse that it would mean he was over Alison.

He leaned over and picked up the phone, "Hey," he said to the caller on the other line, "I know it's late, but can you come over here? I need someone to talk to. Ok, I'll see you in a little bit," and he hung up the phone, lying back on the bed still wondering what to do.

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"Hey cousin, what's up?" Lucy asked, walking into the living room.

"I realized something tonight, but I need someone to tell me it's ok," he said, sitting down on the couch.

"What is that?" She said facing him, worried about what could it be.

"I think I love Jesse."

"That's great!"

"No, it's not. If I finally admit that then I'm abandoning all my love for Alison."

Lucy stared at him, and then grabbed him by the arm. She walked him to where Angel was sleeping, and then over to Eddie's room. As they went back into the living room she looked at him, "You can never abandon your love for Alison, and the reason is because of those two in there. They are what came of yours and Alison's love. So, as long as you continue to love those two with all of your heart, then you will continue to love Alison just as much."

He smiled at her, knowing that every word she just said was the truth. "Thanks Luce," he said giving her a huge hug, "and thanks for coming over tonight."

"It's ok, you know I'll always be there when you need me," she said, smiling and then heading out the door.

He closed the door behind her, and smiled again. He was now certain on what the next step of their relationship was.

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"Do you see her? Do you see her yet?" Angel asked, jumping up and down trying to see between the people that were in front of her.

"Not yet," he said, standing at the gate where Jesse's plane had just arrived. He thought to himself he might be more excited than Angel was. He hadn't considered the impact of Jesse being gone for a week. Each morning both Angel and Eddie would ask how many more days until they saw Jesse. Finally the passengers from the plane started coming through the gate, and he could see Jesse.

"Jesse!" yelled Eddie, being held in his dad's arms he saw her before Angel could. Jesse could hear his voice over all the other noise and a smile came to her face. At first she didn't see Angel, but soon Angel was wrapped around her legs.

"Hey there, girlfriend," she said, smiling and picking her up. She then walked over to where Rafe and Eddie were still standing.

"Hey, little man," she said, giving Eddie a kiss. She looked at Rafe and how he had been continually smiling since she got off the plane. "Hello, Mr. Kovich," she said, giving him a hug. When she pulled back from the hug, he leaned over and gave her a kiss, "I missed you, Jesse."

"I missed you too, Rafe," not sure where this was going to.

"Me and the kids had a little talk at breakfast this morning," he said, nervous at what was about to come out of his mouth, "and we were wondering if you would be willing to help me raise them."

"I'll always help with the kids, you know that."

"No, I mean more than helping," he said, putting Eddie on the floor. "We want you to be in our family permanently," He opened a bag he had at his feet and saw it. Next to the ring box he had bought was a yellow rose. He said a silent thank you to who he knew it was from, and then pulled both the rose and the ring box out. "Jesse Locke, will you marry us?"

Jesse was in complete shock. Angel, still in her arms, looked over and said, "Please Jesse." She kissed Angel on the forehead and with tears in her eyes, "Yes, I will."

Rafe picked Eddie back up and the four of them hugged. Finally, Rafe broke the hug and looking at Jesse said, "Let's go home."