Disclaimer: I own none of the characters portrayed in this story. They belong to Dee Henderson. I think that's good enough, let me know if I need to add more.

All of the O'Malley's lives are turned upside down in their stories but once they find love, their lives are seemingly perfect. Well one of the O'Malleys doesn't get as lucky.

Almost Perfect

Chapter 2

Rachel woke up to the sound of her pager. "Lisa! The airport, it completely slipped my mind."

Cole quickly woke up. "What's going on, honey?'

"I promised to pick up Lisa and Quinn at the airport this morning. Lisa was supposed to page me when they were an hour away."

"Rae, slow down. I'll drive you to the airport and pick them up with you. It's only a half hour from here, so you have 15 minutes, and we'll go. Do you need anything else?"

"You don't think Lisa will find it the least bit strange that I made you come with me to the airport when her flight gets in at 6?" Rachel knew that her sister's curiosity would bring about a few questions.

"She won't care, just say that I didn't want you in the airport alone." Cole knew Lisa would appreciate that, as long as it was for her sister's safety.

"I need to shower, do you mind if I use yours?"

"Go ahead. You know where everything is right?" Cole asked the question knowing the answer.

"Cole, I helped you remodel your bathroom, I think I remember." Rachel smiled thinking of the disaster that she was with a hammer. She grabbed her clothes and blushed as the blanket she had wrapped around her left Cole uncovered.

Cole quickly took his clothes and headed to the bedroom.

Lord, what happened last night-it was amazing, but it shouldn't have happened. I don't know what she thinks of it, but I put her in a bad position, and I take the blame. Forgive me Jesus, I made a mistake. But don't let Rachel hurt over it. She doesn't need anything else right now.

Rachel showered and let the water relax her. 'He helped so much last night, but somewhere it just got out of control.' She looked at the clock. 'Wow, I better hurry, Lisa will worry if I'm not waiting when she gets off of the plane…this could be a problem, she's going to see right through me. She'll be disappointed in me. No, she won't, not if she doesn't know. I hate lying to family, but this just doesn't need to concern her.'

Jesus, I don't know how I lost so much self-control last night, but I know it was wrong. Forgive my mistake, and my dishonestly with Lisa, I just don't have a choice.

For a man who was usually good at communication, Cole was having a hard time getting past the small talk with Rachel. "Rae, about last night, I don't know what to say, I'm sorry."

Rachel had correctly predicted this response. "Don't apologize, Cole. Last night it was, well, irresponsible, and not the right thing, but we can't change it. Apologizing doesn't do anything, it doesn't help right now."

Cole knew she was right, but he hadn't done what he should have last night. "Rachel, I'm sorry. That wasn't how it was supposed to be, though. I love you, and I wanted it to be perfect. My living room couch wasn't exactly part of the plan, and I would have liked it to havebeen after we were married."

"Cole, stop."

"I should have stopped last night, Rae. You weren't thinking clearly. That was just an escape from the pain, and I shouldn't have let it happen."

"Don't take all the blame; it wasn't as if I was telling you to stop. We're adults, and even if it was irresponsible, it happened. And it isn't something you just blow past in a relationship. We'll just be more careful and responsible. It won't happen again. That's all we can do about it now. It's that simple.

Cole loved this about her, level-headedness in any situation. Of course, it was also her job, and he knew that was why she was so good at it. "Rachel, I won't let you down."

She smiled. "I'll hold you to that."

"Hey, don't think that because this happened, I think any less of you or us. I wasn't trying to devalue it; we just needed to talk about it."

"I know." Rachel bit her lip as she flipped on the radio.

"What is it? You've still got something left to say."

Rachel turned to him. "It wasn't bad, was it?"

Cole smiled. "Definitely not, Rae, definitely not.