A/N: Nat - can you be sweeter?? Pillow talk - coming right up!! PCGirl - Nope. Not Mardi Gras - but I did have some fun. ;) Melody dearest - Happy Birthday again!!! Hope you had a great one!!

I know I promised this by 9:00 PM - but I had to work late and was starving!!! I had to eat first. So - here you go - better late than never - right? :)

Trouble is coming I fear my dears - but again - don't get too scared just yet. Before we go there though - here's some more happiness. Until 40!! Enjoy! xox-G

Chapter Thirty-nine

There was no way they would ever be parents. At least, not at this rate.

Cameron and Abby may have thought they could get a head start in trying to start a family of their own, but Katrina was having none of it. Every time they got remotely close - she started to cry.

For the fifth time that night, Cam could be heard saying. "Are you kidding?" At this point, all he could do was laugh.

Abby laughed louder. "Sweetie - I think someone's trying to tell us something." She pushed him off of her as she sat at up and straightened her nightgown. She slipped from the bed to check on her niece. "Honey. Truthfully, we're here to watch a baby not make one."

He knew she was right. It didn't mean he liked it. He pouted at her as he replied. "I guess you have a point."

Cam looked so cute that she ran back over to kiss him quickly. "I always do. We've got plenty of time Cam. Just wait till tomorrow night." She said with a silly grin.

"It can't come soon enough." Cam sighed as he watched her go.

****************

After hours of not sleeping, and of not trying either, they were startled awake - once again. Abby went to get Kate and all seemed fine. As a matter of fact, Katrina was happy all during breakfast and well into the morning.

But a little while later, Cam's voice was frantic as he asked . "What does it say?"

Abby was flipping through the pages of Alison's book like a madwoman. "Nothing!! Cam - I can't find anything."

"Here." Cam traded Kate for the notebook. "Let me look."

Abby's voice was annoyed. "I can read - Cameron. Trust me. There's nothing in there." She held Kate tight and rocked her. "Shh. Shh. Katie. C'mon. It's OK."

The sound of Katrina crying was breaking Cam's heart. "Well. I give up. She's fed, she's changed, what else could she want??"

"Her parents?" Abby said with a sigh. She shifted the baby in her arms and just as soon as she did, Kate started to calm down.

"What did you do?" Cam asked, almost not believing it was true.

"If I knew I'd tell you. I have no idea." Abby kissed the top of Kate's head and shut her eyes, praying she's stay quiet.

"But she stopped." Cam said as he rubbed his hand gently over the baby's back.

"Yeah." Abby smiled up at him. "Look at that. She stopped."

*************

Rafe's fingers strummed up and down Alison's back, over and over. Her eyes stayed closed as she sighed and inched closer to him, the rhythmic motion of his hand running over her keeping her under.

He looked at the clock again. Unbelievable. He thought. God, could she sleep. It was nearly three in the afternoon. Rafe had skipped breakfast - but finally around one he couldn't stand it anymore and had quietly ordered room service for lunch. He had eaten while he happily watched her sleep.

As he had watched her it dawned on him. He knew taking care of Kate was not an easy task but he didn't quite realize how exhausted she actually was. Of course, they'd both been up most of the night. That could have had something to do with the fact that she was still sleeping.

Now as he again lay beside her, Rafe smiled at the memory. He kissed the top of Alison's head and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of her hair.

"mmmm." Alison murmured as she started to stir. "Rafe…"

"Yes?" He whispered as his hand continued to trail up and down her spine.

"Good morning." She whispered back.

"Morning." Rafe chuckled softly. "Well. I'm sure it's morning somewhere." He added.

"What?" She asked, her voice still full of sleep.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it." He pulled her closer to him. "Did you sleep well?" He asked with a smile.

"mmmm hmmmm." Alison's fingers drummed on his chest. "This was a great idea."

"I hoped you'd think so." He replied as he kissed her again.

"I love waking up like this." Alison laid her head over his heart, listening to it beat strongly. "Wow. I've really missed it. Since Kate's been sleeping later, you're already gone by the time I get up lately."

They lay there quietly together for a few moments. Rafe kept running his hands over her, and as he did, Alison became more fully awake. "Rafe?" She said finally. "Can I ask you something?"

"Yes?" He replied.

"Have you…I mean - have we…" Alison folder her hands on his chest and rested her chin there. She stared into his eyes.

He kissed her quickly and gave her a huge smile, "I was wondering how long it would take you. What are you trying to ask me? Do you want to know if we've heard from Abby?"

Alison nodded, anxious to hear his answer.

"Yes." He answered. "I talked to her about an hour ago."

"And she's OK?" Alison asked, her voice shaking a bit.

"Abby's fine." He said with a laugh.

"Rafe!" Alison smacked him lightly.

He couldn't help laughing at her. "OK. I'm sorry. Yes, Katrina's fine."

Alison sighed and laid her head back down. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes but she was determined not to cry. She took a deep breath to steady her voice. "I can't believe it. I honestly can't believe how much I miss her."

"Shh, I know." He pulled her closer.

Alison snuggled into him. "Seriously, Rafe. Isn't it absolutely amazing? I mean - just think about it. A year ago - I didn't even know she was coming. A year ago I wasn't even pregnant yet. Now - now I can't even remember life without her."

"Neither can I." He agreed.

As he held her tighter, he couldn't help but notice. Alison kept sighing and squirming a bit in his arms. He could feel her tensing up with each breath she took.

After a moment Rafe spoke again, his mouth turned up in a grin. "Angel? Why don't you just ask me what you want to ask me?"

Alison sat up and pulled the quilt around her. "What?"

Rafe shifted to sit beside her and ran his fingers through her hair. "Are you trying to ask me if I'll take you home? It's OK if you want to." He assured her with a kiss. "We can."

A part of her really did. A part of her missed Kate so desperately she couldn't believe it. But there was another part of her that couldn't believe how sweet he was and now, more than anything, she wanted to show him.

"No." She shook her head at him, willing herself to let go and simply relax.

Rafe eyed her with suspicion and concern. He knew she was trying not to disappoint him. "Alison. It's OK. I don't mind."

Alison brought her eyes to his and shook her head again. She laid her hand on his cheek. "No. Rafe. I miss Kate - I absolutely do - but if I have to be honest - I have to tell you - I missed you too."

Now. That was more like it. "You did?" He asked with a grin.

"Yeah." She said as she smiled back. "I did." She slid over across the bed and pressed herself closer to him. "A lot actually."

Alison ran her hand through Rafe's hair, tugging gently at it so his head moved closer to hers. "I know it's taken me a while but I have to say - I think that you had the right idea. We really should take advantage of this. Who knows when we'll get to go away again."

If Rafe had anything to say about it it'd be pretty soon. But he wasn't thinking about the future at the moment. Right now, the present was more than good enough. He had everything he wanted right there in front of him.

Knowing exactly how he felt, Alison giggled as she crawled into Rafe's lap. As she settled there, she leaned close and whispered as she gently tugged on his earlobe with her teeth. "So - now that that's settled - now that we're staying, what exactly are you going to do about it?"

Rafe's fingers trailed up her neck and gently held her chin still as he touched his lips to hers. "Don't worry." He replied. "You'll find out soon enough."