A/N : A thousand thank yous to my dear sweet Awians. :) This is the original ending but now - I can't decide if I'm really done. I think so. What do you think?? I'm my own worse enemy aren't I? LOL! Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Six

"You're awake." He gasped, pulling away a bit.

"Yeah." Alison replied, blinking back tears as she stared up at him. "I'm awake."

Rafe's hand began to shake a bit again as it still held hers. "I don't know much you heard. I was - umm." He cleared his throat. "I was trying to say I'm sorry."

She gazed up at him, never happier. "I heard everything, Rafe." Her voice started to hitch. "I heard every word."

"I know I have no right to expect you to forgive me. I know I promised I'd always keep you safe and I didn't. I accused you of things…" He trailed off, the memory of what he'd said to her fresh in his mind.

"Rafe. Shh. It's alright." She whispered.

He pushed his chair away and turned to stare out the window. "NO. No it's not alright. Alison. How could I do that? You've never given me a reason not to trust you." His voice quivered as he added, "I don't deserve you."

Alison needed to make him understand. He was being too hard on himself, as usual. She knew for a fact it was the other way around. She asked herself all the time, what had she ever done to deserve someone like him.

Alison winced as she tried to sit up, moaning softly. He turned around at the sound, back next to her in an instant.

As he helped her she brought a hand to his cheek and made him meet her eyes. "Rafe..."

Unable to believe she could still look at him with so much love, he sighed. "Angel.."

The sound of his voice calling her that again made her start to sob. "Don't call me that – not anymore."

He ran his hand over her hair and sat on the edge of the bed. "You are." He insisted. "You're my angel. You always have been."

She shook her head, "How can you say that after what I did?"

"What did you do exactly?" He asked, almost grinning.

She was shocked and began to pull away. "Rafe. Don't make me say it. You know what I did."

He brought her back to him. "Shh. I do. But, Alison. It wasn't your fault. I caused that to happen." He said it again, wanting to make sure she understood. "It wasn't your fault."

She stared at him speechless. He looked into her eyes as he continued. "I was so caught up in defeating him that I went to hell looking for answers. You asked me not to but I didn't listen. They warned me you were in danger. They told me I'd regret going there for the rest of my life and I will - believe me. I will."

"Rafe…" She whispered, hoping she could convince him. "I should have told you. I was so afraid. I knew how much it would hurt you. I thought that you would go after him and that either way - I'd lose you. I just wanted to move on with our lives. I just wanted us to finally have everything we'd dreamed of. I should have known better. You have to believe me. I couldn't leave. I wanted to."

"Shh. I know." He replied as he pulled her into his arms. "I know that now."

As his arms closed around her she clung to him. Oh God how she'd missed this, how she'd missed him. She curled her arm around his neck, her fingers tangling in the hair that rested on his collar. She had been so sure she'd never feel this way again.

He pressed a kiss to her temple and pulled her closer.

Once again, she'd witnessed a miracle, once again she'd been given a chance to finally realize her dreams. She knew, without a doubt – this was the last one she'd ever need. She would never make that kind of mistake again.

Rafe pulled away and brought his hands to frame her face. He spoke softly, "Alison, everything that's happened. Everything that's kept us apart is in the past. We've both made mistakes. The biggest of all is that we let him win. We swore we'd never do that."

"We won't let him win." She said then, almost believing it.

"We won't. He's no match for us." He promised as he brought his lips to touch hers.

He kissed her gently at first, and it was almost like the first time. He pulled away slowly and before he could get too far she yanked him back to her, capturing his mouth with hers. She sighed as he deepened the kiss and she knew once again what heaven was like.

He leaned over and pressed her gently back into the pillows, his body half covering hers, being careful not to hurt her.

She couldn't get close enough to him. It had been far too long. Too many weeks spent wanting him, too many months spent aching for him. She had missed him so much.

His lips moved over her face, tenderly. Her skin was as soft as he remembered, the scent of it just like a field of wildflowers. He kissed her again slowly, softly, taking his time, wanting to savor every minute, never wanting to let her go. "I love you, Alison." He whispered, over and over. "I love you."

"I love you too." She replied.

Though he wanted her more than anything, there was still plenty of time. Breaking away slowly he turned her in his arms, settling behind her and holding her close. She had never been more content.

"You need to get some rest because we have so much to do." He whispered. "There a lot we need to take care of to get ready for our baby."

"You said our baby, Rafe.." Hearing him say the words nearly shocked her.

"Yeah. Our baby." He repeated arm curled around her and he rested his hand on her stomach.

Her eyes filled with tears as she covered his hand with hers. "I - I was coming to tell you when we got in the accident."

"Shh. I know. It's OK." He placed a kiss on her hair. "I never really doubted it anyway."

They whispered to each other long into the night, like they had the day she'd told him the news, though it was even more meaningful now. Soon they both slept, more soundly and peacefully than they had in a long, long time.

The next morning they woke, his arms curled tightly around her, her head nestled on his chest, their hearts light for the first time in months. So much had happened that they had lost all track of time. The sounds of church bells could be heard in the air and they knew instantly what day it was. Her face tilted up to his and she gave him a smile. He had never seen anything more beautiful.

"Merry Christmas, Angel." He whispered against her lips.

"Merry Christmas." She replied.