A/N: Katie, I too am glad that PC never really delved into Rafe's history, because it is more fun to make it up on my own :) Besides, I think my history is better than the little history of the Kovich family that they DID give us hehe.

Glad you all enjoyed hearing about Rafe's past. As far as Kovich Manor is concerned, I always imagined it would be quite grand, because I remember a comment Kevin made once when he and Lucy were in the cemetery. He said it appeared the Koviches were an aristocracy. So Kovich Manor had to live up to that expectation lol.

Anyway, I think you'll enjoy this chapter. When I wrote it, apparently I was in the gutter! LOL! ;)

Until 19! Sorry it's short but better short than waiting 2 weeks for me to make it even longer lol!

Changes 18

"Good morning," she heard him whisper into her ear.

"Mmm…good morning," she said with a smile.

Alison loved mornings like this. The way his arms felt so protective and loving around her. The warmness of his skin against her back. The feel of his gentle kisses on her shoulders.

Rafe inched closer to her, kissing her softly as he made them one. They lay motionless for a moment, Rafe holding on to her in an intimate embrace.

Then they started to move together slowly, then not so slowly, each trying to reach that one point of perfect bliss.

Alison's breathing hitched, and though she tried not to, a moan escaped her lips. Every time she'd make a sound, Rafe would react to it. And as he moved faster, Alison felt dizzy until she thought she would absolutely burst.

They were on the brink of it, and they both knew it. Oh how perfect it was when they were able to arrive there at the exact same moment, just knocking on heaven's door until finally, they were there.

And then, just as quickly as it started, it was over. Rafe still held on to her, and they lay like that for a while, waiting for breathing to return to normal.

"Happy anniversary," Rafe whispered into her ear.

She smiled. What a perfect way to start off their sixth year of marriage. "Happy anniversary."

Alison felt herself drift off to sleep. Why did making love make you so tired? She felt so drowsy, almost drugged. Maybe it was because you worked so hard to break a sweat that it was just the body's way of saying to take a rest.

She was somewhat aware of Rafe, slowly moving away and getting out of the bed. She heard a door close and then the sound of water running in the bathroom.

Alison was already asleep again when she felt Rafe awake her, pressing his lips against her cheek. She opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"You rest a little while longer," he whispered. "When you get up, I have a surprise for you."

"Surprise? Rafe, you didn't go out and buy me something expensive, did you? I thought we said we weren't going to do that sort of thing this year."

"It's not that kind of surprise," he said with a grin, kissing her again on her cheek. "Go back to sleep."

Alison watched as Rafe walked out of the bedroom, closing the door behind him. Then she closed her eyes, deciding to sleep for just a little while longer.

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Downstairs, Rafe sat in the armchair and began putting on his shoes. Moments later, he heard a door opening upstairs and watched as a sleepy-looking Katrina made her way down. She wore her Care Bears nightgown and those fuzzy pink slippers that she insisted she needed to have which Alison bought for her. Her hair was all in tangles and her eyes looked tired.

Rafe smiled. "Good morning, Princess."

Katrina didn't answer, but simply walked over to her father and kissed him on the cheek. Then she headed for the couch to lie down.

"Someone's a sleepyhead this morning," he said with a laugh.

Katrina's eyes fluttered as if she might go back to sleep but she fought to keep them open.

"Did you sleep good?" Rafe asked.

Katrina nodded yes.

"I bet it was fun sleeping in my old room, huh?" he asked, but Katrina was so tired that she didn't answer.

Rafe put his other shoe on and began to tie the laces.

Katrina yawned and stretched her little arms out. "Daddy, I wanna watch cartoons."

"Hmm." Rafe looked towards the old television in the corner. It was one of those big sets with a dial to change the channel. "Well, Princess, I don't know if we can get cartoons on this old thing."

Rafe stood up and walked over to the TV, turning the power knob. He turned the dial, getting mostly snow, but he did manage to find one channel that picked up, albeit a grainy picture. And unfortunately, it wasn't a cartoon. Just two old men talking about the news.

Rafe turned to Katrina regretfully. "Sorry, Princess. No cartoons. Just this channel with the people speaking that funny language. You want to keep this on?"

Katrina nodded yes. She would listen to the men talking in the funny language. Maybe they would show cartoons in a little bit, she figured.

As Rafe walked away from the television, Katrina noticed he had his shoes on. "Daddy? Where you going?"

"I'm going outside to pick flowers for your mother. Shh, don't tell her!" he said, putting his finger to his lips.

Katrina smiled. She loved secrets.

"If she comes downstairs and asks where I am, say you don't know, alright?"

"Okay."

"That's my girl," he said, kissing her forehead before heading out of the room.

Not long after, Alison headed down the stairs, tying the string to her robe around her belly. She heard the television and soon realized Katrina was laying down on the couch, trying to wake up.

"Hi, sweetie." Alison walked over to her daughter and gave her a kiss. "Where's your daddy?"

"Um," she said, remembering Daddy said not to tell her where he was. "I don't know."

"What are you watching, baby?" Alison asked with a laugh, sitting down at the other end of the couch and looking at the television.

"Daddy couldn't find cartoons."

"I'm sorry, baby. But you know what? We're going to have so much fun that you probably won't even miss TV."

"Mommy?"

"Yeah?"

"How come they speak all funny like that?"

"It's just a different language, that's all. You know how on Dora, she speaks Spanish sometimes?"

Katrina nodded.

"Well Spanish is another language, and so is Romanian. You know, some people here might think we speak funny, because we speak English."

Just then, Katrina looked up, seeing her father walk back in with a handful of pink roses. She started to say something, but Rafe held his finger to his lip, telling her to be quiet.

Katrina smiled as she watched her father cover Mommy's eyes, taking her by surprise.

"Guess who," he said.

Alison laughed. "Hmm, well I can't say for sure, but I have a feeling that whoever it is, he's really handsome."

Katrina laughed. Mommy knew it was Daddy! She was just playing!

Rafe removed his hand and moved in front of her. "You're right. He is really handsome." He grinned, then kissed her on the lips.

Katrina rolled her eyes. Her parents were always being so mushy.

Rafe then held up the roses he had been holding.

"Oh, Rafe, they're beautiful," she said, taking the roses and putting them to her nose.

"You know I'd never let an anniversary pass by without giving you pink roses," he said with a smile.

"I love them."

"Your flowers are pretty, Mommy!"

"Oh I didn't forget you, Princess." Rafe had been hiding a single pink rose behind his back and handed it to his daughter.

"Oh thank you, Daddy!" She grabbed the rose and smelled it. She loved these kinds of roses. Daddy always made sure to give her the really fat ones!

"You're welcome. Listen," he said to Alison, "How about we go out for breakfast this morning? There's a diner not far from here that has a really good breakfast menu. Then I want to show you something."

Alison grinned. "Show me what?"

"Just something."

Alison wondered what it could be, but decided it was best to just be surprised. "Okay…that sounds good. Let me just go take a shower and get dressed."

"Alright."

"Will you put my roses in some water?" she asked, handing him the flowers.

"Sure."

"Me too, Daddy. Will you put mine in some water?"

Rafe took her rose as well. "Of course."

"Alright, sweetie, come on upstairs and let's pick out some clothes for you to wear." Alison stood up, taking Katrina's hand and leading her to the stairs.

"I wanna wear my jean shorts today, Mommy! You know, the one with the flower on the butt!"

Alison laughed. "Okay."