A/N - My goodness gracious. You all are making me teary. I hate to repeat myself - but y'all really don't know how much your words mean to me. Thank you - thank you - thank you!! I love Ed - I'm sure I'm not the only one who was screaming for him to step in numerous times during the last few PC arcs. I think since I'm the one in charge now - LOL! - here he is. ….Until 48! xox -G

Chapter Forty-seven

Abby held Kate and tried to reason with her sister. "Alison…"

"Abby. Don't argue with me. Please. I'll be fine." Alison handed her Kate's diaper bag. "She's all ready - she should go right to bed. If she fusses too much call me and I'll come get her. I just need to talk to him alone."

"I'm not supposed to leave until Jack gets here." Abby tried again. Rafe would kill her if he left her here alone, and if anything happened to her, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

The fact that she was able to finally break down worked wonders. Her voice grew strength with each word she spoke. "Go. Abby. I'm a big girl. I'm done with this. Kate needs a babysitter - not me - and it's about time Rafe deals with that."

Somehow, Alison had moved her towards the front door without Abby realizing it. She tried once more. "Alison…."

"Hey girls! Sorry I'm late," Jack said as he ran up the steps to the porch. Abby heaved a sigh of relief. She knew Alison wouldn't budge and felt a little bad - but she decided to let Jack deal with her for a bit.

"See you Jack." Abby called out as she walked towards her car - pausing only to buckle Kate into her car seat.

As she drove off Jack turned to Alison - confused, expecting her to let him inside. Instead, she blocked the door and thrust a small cooler at him. "Go home Jack." She said with a grin.

Jack's voice was full of confusion as he caught it in his arms. It was really heavy. He set it down on the ground beside him. "What? No. I promised Rafe I'd be here to check up on you and Kate."

"Well - Kate's with Abby and I'm an adult so there's no one left here to baby sit. Go - Jack. I can take care of myself. I've made you dinner, now go deal with your own life and let me live mine."

"Ali - what are you talking about? C'mon. Let me in."

Alison continued to block the door. "No. Don't you have a date tonight?"

Jack looked down at his feet and sighed. "No - I don't. I was supposed to be here with you."

"Well - now you're free. Call her. I made you enough for two."

"So?"

Alison's eyes were lit with frustration. "SO? Jack - stop being an idiot and just call her."

"Call who?" Jack pretended to be confused.

"Melissa. Call her and don't you dare tell her that calling her was my idea. Don't even tell her I cooked. Just call her - Jack. I never knew you could be such a jerk. She likes you - she told me so the other day when we had coffee. She feels awful about throwing you out. Call her. Ask her to dinner and see what happens."

It sounded like a good idea. Jack suddenly wanted nothing more than to do just that. But he promised Rafe.

"Alison. I can't leave you alone…." He began.

"Well - you can do whatever you want but you're not coming in this house. Thanks Jack. I appreciate it but I'm finished with this." And with that - she slammed the door in Jack's face, leaving him stunned and speechless as he heard her click the locks on the other side.

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

"I know he's not." Rafe insisted as he stared back at Ed.

"Say it again and you might start to believe it. Me? I'm not buying it, kid."

A flood of emotion crashed over Rafe as he stood there. "I - He. Dad. I have to fight him. He's done so much to hurt her."

"What about you?" Ed asked.

"Me?"  Rafe's voice was full of disbelief.

Ed took a deep breath and stared into his son's eyes.  He knew this would be tough for him to hear – but the words needed to be said. "Yes - you."  He began.  "I know you love that girl more than your life, but you're using her as an excuse Rafe. You want to fight him for you - not to protect Alison."

"Dad…" Rafe began, unsure of exactly what he wanted to say.

"He killed you, his girlfriend killed you and through it all you've never been able to destroy him. That's what your problem really is."

Rafe couldn't speak. The words his father spoke began to spin in his head. That wasn't it. It couldn't be.

"Son.  This whole thing - it's not about Alison.  It's not about your daughter.  It's about you.  And you need to deal with that."

Rafe continued to stand there – stunned.   Caleb was dangerous.  He would kill her if he had the chance.  Rafe was sure of it.  How could Ed think otherwise?

"Now.  Do me a favor will you?  Go home. Your wife is worried about you."  Ed began to walk away. "I'll be back in a bit and we'll talk more."

He began to panic as he heard his father's words. "Wait - no. How will I find you again? Dad - you can't go - you just got here. You can't leave."

"I'll come back and don't worry - kid - I'll find you. You have a lot to think about." Ed waved and walked away - vanishing as he did.

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

Rafe pulled into the driveway, his mind still racing from his father's words. He saw someone sitting on the steps and his heart began to pound. He ran to the front of the house fighting to catch his breath as he realized who it was.

"Jack. What are you doing outside?" He asked.

Jack sighed. "She won't let me in - but I didn't want to leave before you got home."

"She won't let you in?" Rafe asked confused.

"Nope. You two should talk I think. She doesn't want anyone here - she was busy throwing Abby out when I got here."

Rafe scratched his head and fumbled with his keys.  She can't be left alone.  What was she thinking?  "Thanks for staying anyway. I'm sorry."

"It's OK. Don't worry about me." Jack said with a laugh as he lugged the cooler to the car. "I feel sorry for you. She's definitely in a mood. Take it easy."

Rafe finally got the door open. All seemed quiet and calm and lit by candlelight. There was a fire and something delicious wafting from the kitchen.

"Alison?" He called out to her.

She came into the room and he lost his breath.  He loved how the light from the candles made her hair glitter.  Even though she wasn't at all dressed up, she was just in jeans, a long sleeved t-shirt and bare feet but she'd never looked more beautiful.

"Hi." She said, trying to keep a smile on her face. "I was waiting for you."

Rafe realized something. It was too quiet.  His heart began to pound. "Where's Katrina?"

"She's with Abby." She replied as she moved closer to him.

"Alison…" He protested.

"I needed to talk to you - Rafe. It'll be OK - just for tonight."

He couldn't believe Alison would let Kate go. Something was going on. Even with the fire and the candles it was clear from the tone of her voice that Alison didn't send Kate to Abby's so they could have a romantic dinner.

Alison stood in front of him and rose on her toes to kiss him. He sighed and kissed her back – much - too quickly before he began to move away.

As he drew himself away, realization washed over her.  "Oh my God. I can't believe I didn't see this sooner. Rafe - I don't believe you." She said, her voice beginning to quiver as she watched him go.

"What?" Rafe said as he shoved his hands in his pockets and crossed the room.

Her voice shook with anger. "You're so afraid I'll be gone that you're already trying to say goodbye to me."

That wasn't what he was doing - was it? Rafe stared at the floor. He didn't know how much more he could take. Between his father and her - he was so tired. He didn't feel like fighting anymore. He wanted to sleep.

It didn't seem he could sleep too soon. Alison wasn't done talking. She shook back her hair and stared up at him, blinking back tears. "Don't try and deny it. I can feel it Rafe. I've felt it for days."

"I'm not…" He trailed off, too tired to finish.

Alison crossed the room and pulled him around to face her. "You are. And too bad - Rafe because I'm not going anywhere."

"I don't want you to go anywhere." He said softly, still averting her eyes.

"At least we agree there." Alison took a deep breath. "Talk to me - please. I want to understand what's going on with you."

"I'm fine." He insisted as he placed a quick kiss on her forehead.

"You and "fine" don't share the same zip code at the moment - Rafe. Please. Just tell me what's going on."

"Why are you fighting me about this?  I'm trying to protect you."  Rafe asked then, suddenly angry himself.

"I don't want to fight you.  As a matter of fact – I want to stop fighting all together.  I want us to stop worrying about what everyone else is doing and concentrate on us."

He looked at her exasperated.  She needed to understand.  "Alison.  We can't just ignore what's happening…"

She cut him off sharply.  "What's happening Rafe?  You mean Caleb?  So what.  So he's coming back." Her voice said she couldn't care less.  "Rafe – look at me.  He's not a vampire anymore.  He's mortal and I know you don't believe this but I know in my heart it's true.  He's coming here for Livvie.  LET HIM.  Let him take her away with him.   Let them both go somewhere else and then we can concentrate on what's really important."

Rafe shook his head and didn't speak for a moment.  "Alison – I want to but…"

Alison grabbed his hands and pleaded with him.  "Us – Rafe.  That's all we should be thinking about.  Just you, and me and Katrina.  Our family.  That's what matters.  Not him.  Not Livvie. By worrying like this - you're giving him too much power – Rafe.  I know it's hard for you to accept but I honestly believe it's true.  If we ignore him - he'll go away.  Fight him and he'll fight back."

"I can't ignore the fact that he told me he killed you."  Rafe said softly as he sank into a chair.  He was too tired to stand anymore.

She knelt next to him and held on to his hands tightly – never wanting to let him go.  "Rafe.  I know how much that scared you but it was just a dream.  I'm right here."

"He killed me once.  I've never been able to destroy him.  He could still do it – you know.  He could destroy me again.  All he'd have to do is hurt you or…"  He didn't want to say the words.  Rafe sounded so lost it broke her heart.

She moved closer to him and made him meet her eyes.  "Rafe.  Kate and I could get hurt in so many ways.  Not just by Caleb.  We can't stay locked up in a safe little cocoon forever.  And you can't try and push me away like that.  That's so unfair.  I love how protective you are of us – I absolutely do, but it's starting to strangle me and it's eating you up inside.  I don't want that.  We can't live that way." 

Rafe finally heard her.  He was trying so hard to keep her from harm he couldn't even see what was right in front of him.  His voice shook with emotion as he tried to apologize.  "I'm so sorry Alison.  I didn't mean to push you away.  I – just – I don't know how else to keep you safe."  His voice was defeated as he finally pulled her to him.

Alison settled into his arms with a sigh.   "Sure you do.   Don't you get it yet?"  She pulled back and stared at him with love shining in her eyes.  She leaned closer and covered his lips with hers.  "We'll always be safe as long as we have you."