A/N - Ta Da! It's here - the final chapter - (for now that is LOL!). Remember - there's a third installment - all about the baby. ;)

Anyway…here you go. Just another little bit of Raliness to tide you over until I start to post the new one. Soon, Promise - promise. Just a quick ? for y'all. Any ideas for a title for Part III? I'm having trouble picking one.

As always - all you who've reviewed - I appreciate it more than you know. Hope you like the ending. Until the next story - xox - G

Chapter Forty-six

Alison couldn't believe she was back home. Two days in the hospital. Ugh! She hated the hospital and she already knew she'd end up there in just a few more months. At least that would be for a happy occasion.

Rafe had barely left her side. Abby was doing much better and Alison couldn't believe Cameron was here to stay. Caleb was mortal - everyone who'd been turned was back to normal. It was like she'd fallen asleep and all her dreams had come true.

Still. Something was wrong.

Rafe seemed distracted, annoyed - something. He kept insisting everything was fine. She had decided to wait until she got home to really confront him about it.

He followed her up the stairs, placing his hand gently on the small of her back to guide her. He opened the door for her and she walked inside, never more happy to be home.

When she turned to face him he didn't meet her eyes. He tossed his keys back and forth in his hand.

"OK. Rafe. Enough. Tell me what's the matter." Alison demanded.

"Nothing. Angel. Everything's fine." He said as he threw the keys down a little too forcefully.

Alison was having none of it. "Stop it. Nice try. I know better. Something's been wrong since I woke up in the hospital. Please. Just tell me."

He shook his head no.

"Rafe." She pleaded, grabbing his hands. "I want to know what's bothering you. Nothing should be. Caleb's mortal - we're home. Abby's doing well, she's got Cam back. Ian, Jamal, my nana - everyone's back to normal. Rafe. Everything's perfect. Everything's amazing and you - you - you're acting like you're mad at the world."

What he said in response to that shocked her. His voice was soft and serious. It killed him to say the words. "No. Just you."

"What?!?" She asked, totally confused.

Hurt filled his eyes. "I'm angry at you, Alison. I don't want to be - but I am."

"Me?? What - why? I don't understand."

"How could you…" he trailed off.

"How could I what? Rafe. Is it because I went with Caleb? Rafe - he threatened me and he threatened Abby. I had to go."

"That's not it." Rafe walked to her and held her still, staring deeply into her eyes. "Alison. How could you ever think I wouldn't love you?"

"I don't understand, I know you love me." She said, completely confused.

"That's not what you said…" His voice shook with so much emotion - he could hardly speak.

What in the world was going on? She looked up with him, trying to understand. "When? Do you mean when Joshua took me? I thought we went over this. I was trying to save you."

"Alison. No. Here." He said as he dug the letter out of his pocket, thrusting it towards her. He'd read it about a hundred times in the last two days. He knew it by heart now.

So did she. She knew every word. She'd never forget it. Finally, she knew what had made him so angry. She gently took the letter from him, running her fingers over the smooth paper. "Rafe. I - I just…"

He looked devastated as he stared at her. "What? Thought that my feelings for you would turn that quickly? Is that what you think of me?"

"Rafe. NO." She said - shocked. The letter really meant nothing anymore. She simply kept it because she thought it would convince him how much she loved HIM. It seemed to be having the opposite effect.

"Then how could you think I'd stop loving you? I don't understand, That's what you wrote."

Without even consulting the note in her hand, she began to quote from the letter, hoping he'd see what she had been trying to say.

Her voice quivered, tears streamed down her face. She stood across from him, aching to touch him, but needing him to understand first. "Rafe. My dear sweet husband. If you are reading this letter it means it's all done. Joshua has me and I'm never coming home. I'm writing this so you will know exactly why I tried to fight him and why I said all those horrible hurtful things to you."

He looked at her, wanting her to stop. Hearing her voice say the words might prove to be too much.

"He says he'll kill you - but not before he tortured you first. I won't let that happen. Not while I can stop it. Despite all I said, I love you far too much to let that happen." She swallowed and took a deep breath before she went on. "Once this is done, I know I'll never see you again, because then he promised he'll turn me."

"I want you to go on without me and live your life. I want you to have all we dreamed of. You can do it. Just - " she was nearly sobbing now. "You'll just do it without me. Because I know - if I become one of them, I'll lose you forever."

He grabbed her by the arms. "That. Right there. What is that?"

She stopped quoting and stared at him, tears running down her face. "I would have Rafe. If I was a vampire…"

"Yeah?" He asked, his voice bitter.

Alison continued, "You wouldn't be able to stand me. I'd become the very thing you've been destined to rid the world of."

Rafe was extremely hurt and more than a little angry. "Am I friends with Ian?"

"Yes." She said softly.

"Did that stop when he was turned?"

Alison didn't speak.

"Did it?" He shook her a bit.

"No." She whispered.

"So how - how - could you think I'd give up on you?"

"I - I - I don't know. I'm sorry."

Hearing her hushed answer he pulled her to him, held her tight. He thought saying the words would be a relief - but he was even more upset now. "I thought you knew. Do I not say it enough? I thought you understood. Alison. There is nothing in this world more important to me than you. There is nothing in this world I love more. You're the whole reason I'm here. Without you - I wouldn't exist." He pulled her closer and pressed his lips to hers, all his emotions evident in his kiss.

He pulled away slowly and stared down at her. "Tell me you believe that."

"I do. I'm sorry. I do." She answered, her voice broken. She leaned into him again and took his face in her hands, moving closer to kiss him. She repeated over and over. "I'm sorry. I know."

Tumbling together onto their bed, days of pent up emotion were finally unleashed. Without words they finally convinced each other that nothing else mattered but the two of them. No matter what - they would always be together.

Coming back into the present, her breath was ragged, tears drying on her cheeks she looked deeply into his eyes. "Rafe. I never meant to give you that letter. You have to know the state I was in when I wrote it."

"Shh. I'm sorry. I just - "

"No. I'm sorry. You never - ever gave me a reason to doubt your love for me. I just - I didn't think it'd be possible. I should never have underestimated you."

The whole ordeal of the last few months had taken it's toll. His reaction to the letter was part of it. He took a deep breath, finally calm.

"Don't do it again." He whispered against her lips.

She finally began to smile. "Why? Will you be angry with me?"

"Yes." He said, his voice serious.

"Is this going to be my punishment?" She trailed her fingers down his chest, tickling him.

"Alison." Leave it to her to make a game out of something so serious. He knew she'd gotten the message, though. Nothing would ever come between them. There was nothing that could take away his love for her. Absolutely nothing.

He stared down at her, loving the way her eyes danced with amusement, The look was quickly mirrored in his own. It was about time they got to have some fun.

"Rafe." She fluttered her eyelashes at him. "Do you love me no matter what?"

"Yes I do." He stated. "Without a doubt."

"Hmmm." Her voice teased. "I'm not so sure."

"OK - it seems you need some convincing." Rafe laughed as he pulled her closer.

As his lips once again touched hers he found out it didn't take much.