A/N: Melody - LOL! Overprotective Rafe annoys me too. When he's like that he does stuff like steal Alison's potato chips. LOL! Will he listen?? Let's see shall we?? Until 49! xox-G

Chapter Forty-eight

"This is delicious." Melissa said, shutting her eyes as she took a bite. "So. Where'd you get dinner from?"

Jack began to stutter. "I - umm - I…."

"Where - Jack?" She said with a grin. "Did Alison shove it at you?"

Jack almost choked on his food. "If you only knew…" He mumbled.

"What was that Jack?" Melissa leaned in closer, her green eyes sparkling. "C'mon. Tell me."

Whatever perfume she wore was unbelievable. She looked unbelievable too. Before tonight he'd only ever seen her in workout clothes or jeans. She wore jeans tonight, but with a sexy little top that did wicked things to his imagination. The combination between her hair and her eyes made him crazy. Jack could barely breathe. He swallowed before he answered. "Alison may have cooked - but calling you? That was all my idea."

"Really?" Melissa raised an eyebrow.

"Really." Jack said as he stared into her eyes.

A grin bloomed across her face as she shook her head at him. "You're a horrible liar, Ramsey."

"Yeah - well - I'm good at other things." He replied as he leaned in closer and ran a finger over her cheek.

"Are you?" Melissa's voice got quiet. Her eyes felt heavy and her pulse raced.

"I am." Jack whispered as he closed the space between them with a kiss.

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

Cam heard soft music coming from the apartment as he walked slowly upstairs. It sounded like a lullaby. What the heck was going on? He thought as he eased the door open.

The sight before him made his heart ache. Abby sat on the couch, cooing to Kate, who seemed to hang on her every word.

She smiled over at him. "There's Uncle Cam." Abby said with a goofy grin. "He works so hard. Aunt Abby should be a better wife. She never makes him dinner."

Cam leaned down and gave her a long lingering kiss. He smiled as he pulled away. "Aunt Abby's the best wife. If Uncle Cam had to eat her cooking he wouldn't be very happy." He said with a laugh.

He ran his hand over Abby's hair. "What's she doing here?"

"Alison needed some time alone to talk to Rafe. He's going a little crazy - Cam. He wants to keep her under 24 hour surveillance. She's about had it." Abby sighed as she kissed the top of Kate's head.

Cam ran a finger over Katrina's tiny fist. "He's worried, Abs - and you know full well he has every right to be."

"I know. He just deserves a break. He's been fighting forever." Abby gazed lovingly down at Kate who had fallen asleep.

"He's like someone else I know." Cam said softly, putting his arm around her and pulling her close.

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

"You're exhausted. You should go to bed - take advantage. With Kate at Abby's you'll be able to sleep all night." She said with a sigh.

"I can't move." Rafe said with a yawn.

"Well you can't sleep here." She insisted as she snuggled closer to him. "You won't be able to sleep well at all. Please. At least move to the couch."

"That's not what I meant." He said with a laugh. "Angel. You're sitting on my lap - I can't get up."

"Oh." She giggled. "Then I guess I'll move." Alison tried climb off his lap but he held her still.

"In a minute." Rafe replied as he pulled her back to him. "Don't go yet."

"I'd stay here forever - you know that." She said, tilting her face up to him and kissing him softly. "I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too. I'm sorry - I…." Her lips found his again and cut him off.

"Shh." She whispered against them. "Stop. No more apologizing. Just kiss me - Rafe…"

He took his time doing just that. He was so incredibly lucky that she put up with him. He knew now how unreasonable he was being. It didn't make him feel any better - but he knew she was happier. That's all that mattered to him. His hand ran through her hair and his fingers gently caressed the back of her neck making her shiver. She pressed herself closer to him and sighed.

Slowly, Rafe pulled away and yawned loudly. Her gaze ran over his face, noticing that his eyes were half closed.

"Rafe?" Alison whispered with a laugh. "Sweetie. This isn't going to happen tonight. Go to bed."

"Come with me." He whispered back, his voice sleepy.

"I'll be right there." She promised. "I have to straighten up the kitchen. Go ahead. I'll be right behind you."

Rafe nodded and stumbled towards the stairs. It made her laugh, he looked just like he did when that time at Cam and Abby's wedding when he was drunk.

She quickly put away the dinner she had made and turned out the light. She walked through the living room and was on the bottom step when she heard a soft knock at the door - so faint she almost thought it wasn't a knock at all. She peeked through the peephole and was shocked at who stood on the other side.

She opened the door slowly. "Livvie." She whispered.

"Hi. Ali. I'm sorry to come over so late. I just - I was wondering…." This was so hard. "I just - I need to talk to you."

Alison grabbed a jacket from the hook near the door and stepped outside. "So. Talk." She said.

"Can't I come in?"

"No." Alison shook her head and closed the door softly behind her. "Rafe's sleeping - I don't want to wake him and trust me Livvie. He wouldn't be thrilled to see you on our porch. What do you want? Need a sugar fix?"

Livvie took a deep breath and began. "I don't blame you for being mad at me."

"Why not?" Alison asked, sarcastically. "You blame me for everything else."

"I guess I deserve that." Livvie tried again.

Alison's eyes were on fire. "Don't even get me started on what you deserve Livvie. You won't like the list I've got for you."

"This was a mistake. I'd better go." Livvie said sadly as she turned away.

"Livvie. Wait." Alison sighed. "I'm sorry. It must be important or I know you wouldn't dare come here. What is it?"

Livvie stared at her feet and shifted her weight back and forth nervously. "I wanted to - sort of say that I'm sorry. I know I was horrible to you."

Alison's eyes filled with tears as she got a chill. She hugged her arms around herself. "You were - you were really cruel to me Livvie."

"I know. I want you to know that I know I can't change what I did - but I understand now the kind of pain I caused you. It wasn't fair. You didn't deserve that."

"Thank you." Alison said as she wiped the tears from her cheeks. She turned to go back inside.

"I know you can never forgive me Ali - but I want to try. I want to try and make it up to you somehow. Please. Tell me what I can do."

Alison was just about to tell her that there was nothing - but she knew she'd be lying. "There is something you can do for me. I doubt you will - but if you do this - I might even be able to forgive you someday."

The prospect of being able to abate some of her guilt had her heart lifting for the first time in what seemed like years.

"Just tell me Ali. Whatever it is - I promise I'll try."

Alison turned back to her and said, her voice serious and strong. "Leave town for good and take Caleb with you."