Chapter Five

"Becky. I'm not letting you go and stay with him. Just forget it." Kate laughed as she watched her sister's face fall in defeat. "I thought you were here to spend time with your only nephew." She added as she ran a finger over Alex's cheek.

"I am. But he's sleeping right now and I really need your help" Becky whispered. She smiled widely at the baby and then got back on the subject. "Come on." Becky pleaded. Her eyes were lit with anger as she sighed. "I'm here because Mom wants to yell at Dad and she doesn't like us to hear when she lets him have it. It's the same reason she sent Ella home with Aunt Abby. Katie, please. Like you and Colin waited to be together until you got married. I'm telling you – if I don't find out what it's like soon I'll die."

"I'm quite certain you'll live. Sweetie, really. What's your rush?"

"I almost got killed three months ago. The life of slayer can be very dangerous. And I don't want either one of us to die without – well - you know." She muttered in reply.

"Becky." Kate laughed louder. "That can't be the only reason."

"How's this for a reason then. I love him." She said then. "That's not going to change Katie. There's no reason for me to wait."

Kate knew that she did and she also knew that someday and probably someday soon, Becky was going to fulfill her wish. But it didn't have to be tonight. "I know you do and I know what it's like. But this isn't the way, Becks. Be honest. Right now you're really so anxious because Dad's being all pit bull about finding you and Kyle in – well – let's just say – a delicate situation."

"We were just kissing." Becky sighed. "I mean for God's sake we knew everyone was there." She gave Kate a smirk as she added. "But that's what's so…"

"I know. It's exciting knowing that any second you might get caught. Yes – honey. Believe me. I know." Kate smiled wider. "Remember who told you about the garage in the first place."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

He leaned down to press a kiss to her forehead. It had taken forever for Lynnie to fall asleep. Since the first time years ago when he'd stood by as she saw something in her mind, he'd seen this happen so often it'd become second nature to him. But it had never been like this. This was the worst it had ever been.

Ethan didn't know what to do. Usually he could just hold her and she'd explained what it was that got her so upset. But this time she made no sense. There was nothing that could happen that would make him angry with her. It was just crazy. Nothing in this world would cause what she saw in her mind.

He decided for the first time that he couldn't handle this on his own. Ethan knew that there was only one person who could help.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Alison?"

"Yes Rafe?" She replied as she moved about the kitchen, putting away the leftovers from dinner.

"How much trouble am I in?" Rafe asked, his voice laced with guilt.

"Hmm?" She answered as she stood at the refrigerator, wondering where she could fit the last container. We need a bigger freezer. She thought with a sigh.

"Sleep on the couch trouble or just beg and grovel trouble?" His voice was full of worry as he stared over at her.

She closed the door to the fridge and turned to face him. "What makes you think you're in trouble at all Rafe?"

You're acting too calm and you sent the kids away. You're getting ready to kick my ass. He muttered under his breath. Knowing none of those responses would get him out of hot water he looked into her eyes and replied. "I scared Kyle."

"Yes. You did." She nodded at him. "The poor boy is terrified. Rafe honestly – you can ease up on him. It's official. You have Kyle sufficiently scared. It's your daughter who's out of control."

"Not Becky…" Rafe's complexion turned ashen.

"Yes Becky." Alison replied. "I bet you he has to fight her off whenever he drops her home."

Rafe couldn't take it any longer. The images she placed in his mind made him crazy. He threw his hands up in surrender. "Alison. Please. I'm sorry. I give up. You're right. I'm wrong. I'll apologize to Kyle. I'll go right now.."

Alison moved to the sink and washed her hands. As she dried them on a towel she sighed. "Really? You sure you want to leave? Because I had planned another way to help you see the light."

He looked at her skeptically. "What other way?"

She walked to him and grabbed his hand before she moved to the door to the garage. "Come with me."

"The garage – Alison?" He sighed.

She clicked the light on and looked around. The kids were right, she thought with a smile. Who would ever think a place like this would be romantic? Probably the kids of two people who found romance in a musty old barn. She giggled to herself.

"You're enjoying torturing me aren't you?" Rafe grumbled.

"Oh relax." She said as she turned to face him. "You might enjoy yourself if you stop complaining for five seconds."

She shook back her hair and gazed up at him, running her hands along his forearms and moving closer to him. "I want you to think back a few years."

"How many?" Rafe smiled down at her.

"Lots. Like – let's see – remember what it was like when we first met. Think back to just before you knew that you loved me."

Rafe brushed a strand of hair off her cheek and smiled wider. "That's a long time then."

Alison nodded. "Right. Think back to that night we babysat for Danny. Do you remember that?"

Rafe laughed. "Is that when you think I realized I loved you?"

She blinked at him, genuinely taken aback. "Yeah. Isn't it?"

"No." He shook his head at her and chuckled louder.

"Well. When was it then?" Alison demanded.

"Let's just say it was way before that."

He had her completely curious now. "Like how much before?"

"Alison – aren't you trying to teach me a lesson?" He thought he needed to remind her.

"I am – yes – but I want to know when you knew you loved me." It was clear she wasn't going to let it go.

"Is this really important?" He said with a sigh.

"YES!" She said, impatient.

He smiled widely as he leaned close and whispered. "I was intrigued by you the minute we met. I was enthralled by you when we went to the monastery, I was head over heels by the time you drove me home."

That was not at all the response she was expecting. "Are you serious?" Alison's eyes were wide with shock.

"I didn't really know that it was love at the time but now that you ask…" He laughed at her again. Nothing had changed in all the years they'd been together. He was still just as crazy about her now.

He could see her mind was spinning furiously. He leaned down and kissed her nose as he asked. "OK. I answered your question now you answer mine. Why are we in the garage?"

"I wanted to teach you a lesson." She sniffled, overcome by the fact that he had loved her far longer than she thought. "I guess I still can." She took a deep breath and gazed into his eyes.

She ran a hand over his cheek and began. "I brought you in here because I wanted you to remember what it was like. To want something so desperately but to have to wait – to remember what it's like when the timing is off."

"OK." Rafe said as he wondered what her point was.

It seemed she was getting to that. Her hands crept up his arms and she pressed herself closer to him. "Do you remember that snowy day before we were really together - when you kissed me in the park? I do. I remember. I remember it so vividly because ever since the first time you kissed me - I had been waiting for you to kiss me again. I had been dying for you to. I was confused and hurt by all the craziness with Jamal but deep in my heart I knew why I was having such a hard time. I knew that the minute I let myself act on the feelings I had for you it would all be over. I knew I could never go back."

In his mind he was right back there. When he looked at her now the same look was in her eyes and just like that day he couldn't believe that he was the one she was staring at like that. As he listened to her voice he couldn't believe she was actually telling him to kiss her.

"Remember what it was like? When we couldn't keep our hands off each other?" She whispered as she brought her lips to his. "Remember that day, how even though we were so close to each other all we wanted to be was closer? Even though it was freezing and there was snow all over the ground…it didn't matter at all. Remember how - for those few glorious minutes there was only us?"

Rafe's arms reached out and he pulled her to him. As his hands moved up to tangle in her hair he kissed her slowly and deeply, taking his time and stealing her breath. He spun her around and pressed her up against the wall of the garage, knocking over an old paint can full of nails in the process.

The sound that it made barely registered. When several minutes later he paused for a moment Alison sighed and tried to regain her composure.

She cleared her throat and traced her finger over his lips. "WOW. OK. I guess you do remember."

"I do." He whispered as he caught her hand in his and kissed it. "Want me to show you what else I remember?"

"Yeah. In a minute. I did have a point…" She replied with a shake of her head. She was hoping to be able to clear it for a second. Alison knew if she wanted to make her point she'd have to move quickly – because the look in Rafe's eyes had her melting. "My point was…" She fought to keep her concentration and his hands drove her crazy. "M-m-my point was that I wanted you to realize that all of those kinds of feelings that we had in the beginning – that's what Becky and Kyle are going through right now. And – OH GOD." His lips were grazing her neck and her knees were getting weaker by the second. She fought to keep herself upright. "Y-y-you trying to stop them – it's going to backfire." She decided to sum it up quickly so they could get back to where they left off. "It'll send them straight into each others arms."

Rafe knew he had to ease up – but the last thing he wanted to discuss was Kyle and Becky's relationship. "That was your point?" Rafe laughed loudly as he moved towards her again. "Because Alison, honestly. I don't know what you're talking about." His voice was husky as his lips grazed over her skin. "The way I felt back then? Nothing has changed. I still feel that way about you now."

"I can see that." Alison replied as she drew his mouth towards hers. Boy am I glad I sent the kids away for the night, she thought as he caught her around the waist. She hitched her legs around him as he dragged her to him. Laughing he carried her through the kitchen to the living room. The kids could have the garage but Rafe had someplace a bit more comfortable in mind. He stumbled towards the couch, his lips never leaving hers.

"For future reference…" He whispered between kisses. "These are the kinds of lessons I like."

She laughed as she pulled him closer. Alison wasn't convinced he'd gotten the message but she couldn't make herself care at the moment. Still she heard herself reply. "Good to know."