A/N: It took me long enough! =P I wrote this at 12:50 am this morning...so I hope nothing is too confusing. Oh and btw, I don't know if Jamal has family in Arizona. I just made that up. LOL. Hopefully someone's still reading.
Chapter 6
Chestnut's roasting on an open fire
Jack Frost nipping at your nose
Yule tide carols being sung by a choir
And folks dressed up like Eskimos
Everybody knows
A turkey and some mistletoe
Can help to make the season bright
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow
Will find it hard to sleep tonight
"Christmas Eve is finally here!" Alison said in a sing-song voice, as music from "The Christmas Song" flowed from the CD player. Carols always got her into the Christmas spirit. Alison was spending the whole morning and afternoon making all the preparations for tonight. This was their first holiday in the new house, and they intended to make it absolutely perfect.
"Rafe said he'd be home by 6:00, so that gives me 2 hours to make stuffing, candied apples, and a peach cobbler. God, where did I put my spatch—"
Ring Ring
Her train of thought was interrupted by her cell phone. Finding her way out of a maze of pots, plans, and Christmas cards, she hopped over the sofa and answered.
"Hey Lucy!'
"Hi, Alison! I just wanted to wish you and Rafe a Merry Christmas! And, thank you for a very special one two years ago."
Alison smiled at the memory. She'd been terrified of losing Rafe that year, when he had to go back up to heaven. That night, she had never felt so helpless and alone – but so completely loved – all at the same time. But somehow, he found a way to come back to her so they could be together. And they would never spend another Christmas without each other again.
"That was special for us too. It really was a Christmas miracle."
On the other end of the phone, Alison heard Christina whimpering for her mommy, and Serena playing an album at a ridiculous volume.
"Dear Lord Serena! Please turn that down! Just a minute, Pumkinhead, Mom is on the phone right now."
"I should let you go, Lucy. Merry Christmas!"
"Sorry! Tell Rafe I said 'Hello'. Ta!"
"Ta!"
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At the Recovery Room, Jack was almost done working his shift. Chris was spending the holiday with Elizabeth. Jamal was in Arizona visiting his mom. Holidays were always so lonely for Jack, ever since Livvie left him.
"Ugh, what were you thinking? I can't believe you picked up her bra. You're a moron, Ramsey." Jack thought out loud, stacking beer glasses behind the bar.
He'd been such an idiot around Audrey. There was something about the way she'd looked at him the other night that made him crazy. It was like she knew something he didn't. Like she could see right through him. She had the clearest hazel eyes he'd ever seen, and shoulder length amber brown hair that framed her small delicate face.
All he knew was, he wanted to know everything about her. He wanted to know what kind of coffee she drank, what made her laugh, how she liked her eggs...
"Jack?"
His head shot up.
"Audrey."
He lost his focus and dropped 4 glasses. They crashed on the floor and shattered into hundreds of pieces.
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded with toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is going to spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
All thought it's been said many times, many ways
Merry Christmas to you
xxxxxxxxxx
It was 6pm, and Rafe was home right on time.
"Hey Angel." He said, walking into the kitchen. Alison was washing the dishes in oversized yellow gloves and a messy apron. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and most of it was wet and clinging to her face. She had a bit of batter stuck to her eyelid. The kitchen looked like a total disaster zone.
"Hi! I'm so glad to see you." she beamed, walking over to him with a huge smile on her face.
"I guess I should give you a kiss hello, huh?" He smiled back.
"Mmm. That would be nice."
He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, but Alison was far from satisfied.
"Hey!" she laughed, pulling him closer to her. She squealed as Rafe spun her around and dipped her down, kissing her on the lips much more passionately this time.
"Much better."
They know that Santa's on his way
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh
And every mother's child is going to spy
To see if reindeer really know how to fly
xxxxxxxxxx
"I'm sorry I startled you like that. Let me help you sweep that glass up." Audrey offered. God, this is so embarrassing, she thought. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't want to see me again.
"No, it's fine! This stuff happens all the time. It's my fault anyway. Butterfingers. So, uh, what can I get for you?"
His voice was nearly shaking. She looked so gorgeous. And those hazel eyes...
"Um. I...well. Actually I didn't come here for a drink. I just ...came here to see you." She looked down at her hands, and her cheeks turned a deep shade of pink.
No way. A beautiful, kind, gracious girl, who he'd just met, was here just for him. He didn't now what to say. He just stared at her.
"Jack? I'm sorry. No, this is a bad time. This was a stupid idea. I shouldn't have come here. It's just that you're the only person I sort of know here in Port Charles. And Christmas Eve can get kind of lonely, so I wondered if you were busy tonight."
"I get off in ten minutes. How about I get you some hot chocolate, and then I'm yours for the night?"
He was so sweet. And he had a way of making her smile. No one had made her smile in so long.
"That sounds great. Thank you."
And so I'm offering this simple phrase
To kids from one to ninety-two
All though it's been said many times many ways
Merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas,
Merry Christmas to you
xxxxxxxxxx
It was nearly 7:30, and the sky looked like black velvet filled with tiny diamonds. The moon was especially radiant, and the snowflakes fell so hard it looked like they'd be snowed in.
The gym would stay closed for 2 weeks, so Rafe and Alison could focus completely on each other, and all their blessings.
Their tree was small and simple, with ornaments of angels, snowflakes, and tiny frames with their pictures inside. A glittering white angel sat on the very top, watching over them tonight. The fireplace was cracking as the fire danced across the logs.
Rafe sat in anticipation on the couch, waiting for Alison to come out from the bathroom. She'd been in there for half an hour.
"Ready?" she asked, from behind the door. He could tell from her voice that she was smiling.
"Get out here!" he laughed.
The door swung open and she walked out, giving him a small spin so he could get a good look. Her dress was strapless and a deep shade of red, with white trimming. The bottom flared out and reached the middle of her calf, while the top of the dress clung to her chest for dear life.
"You look...amazing." Rafe realized he wasn't breathing, and put his hand on his chest just to make sure it would rise and fall.
"I thought you would like it. I love you, Rafe." She smiled flirtatiously, sitting next to him on the couch.
He couldn't resist touching her. The fire made her wavy blonde hair look like it was glowing and she smelled like roses. He ran his finger along the bottom of her chin, breathing her in. Then his lips found their way to her collarbone, leaving tiny kisses.
"Rafe" she said, softly.
"Hmmm?" He said, focusing solely on kissing the side of her neck.
"I think that before we get carried away, we should have some dinner."
He laughed, tickiling her skin with his breath. "Alison, I was hoping we could get right to dessert."
"Rafe, seriously. I spent a lot of time making this Christmas dinner."
"Okay. I'm sorry, I know you did. And it smells fantastic. Let's have some dinner."
She had that look in her eyes that excited him.
"The sooner we eat, the sooner we can get to ...dessert."
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Audrey and Jack had left the recovery room and now sat on a bench in the park. For the past five minutes, it was complete awkward silence. Jack broke it.
"It just dawned on me, that I am fascinated by you, yet all I know is your name."
It had been years since anyone cared, she thought to herself. If only he knew.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
"Everything. Anything. Family is a good start. Where do you come from?"
"I'm from Chicago. I've been moving around ever since I was sixteen."
"Sixteen?"
"Yeah. That's when I moved out. I was just a child, so naïve."
"Oh, I get it. Dysfunctional family?"
"Something like that. If you could call it a family. I never knew my dad, and my mom was always with a ton of guys. I remember all these different men being at our apartment, some for a night, and some for a year. When I was 14, she got married to this one guy, Randy."
He couldn't believe she'd been through so much. He thought his life was hard, but being alone when she was practically a kid?
"Jack, I'm sorry. You don't want to hear about my problems. You don't even really know me."
"No. I want to know you. I want to know about it. What about Ralph?"
"He was an alcoholic. When he drank a lot, he got angry. And he hit me and my brother. Sometimes my mom too. He was trouble, but she refused to see it. She loved him too much to leave him. So my brother and I just left one night. And I haven't seen them since. It was for the best."
The words came out in almost a whisper. Her eyes filled with hot tears, and her cheeks were burning her. A tear escaped and ran down her red cheeks. God. He hated seeing her cry. And it was all his fault. Suddenly he felt like an ass for even bringing it up, and wanted nothing more than to make it better.
"Audrey. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked." He said apologetically.
"You didn't know."
"Listen to me; if there's ever anything you need, I'm your guy."
"Thanks Jack. You've been so nice to me."
"What are friends for?"
She managed a shaky smile. He wasn't like any of the other guys she'd known.
"Jack. There is one thing." She said sheepishly.
"What's wrong?"
"I need somewhere to stay."
"Done."