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This chapter is really short, but don't worry, you'll be thanking me later ;-) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rafe let out a very mischievous laugh as he crouched behind the bush and rolled a ball of snow between his hands. He waited for Alison to come back from throwing away their empty hot chocolate cups. The moment Alison came back, Rafe would get her.

And suddenly…

"OH!" Rafe felt cold snow hit his face and heard the sound of female laughter.

"Rafe Kovich! Did you really think you could fool me? I knew exactly what you were up to!" Alison teased.

Rafe got up from the ground and gave Alison a look that had her headed off in the opposite direction, running and laughing the whole time.

Rafe ran after her.

"NO!" Alison screamed.

Rafe caught her.

"Ahh!!" Alison screamed again. "Why do you always do this to me?"

Rafe had picked her up and carried her over his shoulder. "You asked for it, Alison!"

"Put me down! Ahh! No please, Rafe! No, no, don't!"

"Sorry!" Rafe then dropped her on a soft pile of snow. Cold, wet snow. Her clothes were soaked. Then Rafe pinned her down.

"Rafe!"

"You asked me to put you down!" Rafe teased. "What are you going to do? Huh?" Rafe laughed. "You can't get up!"

"Rafe Kovich, you did that on purpose! And now I'm all wet! Let me up!" Alison screamed but laughed at the same time.

"What if I don't want to?" Rafe smiled as he laid down on top of her and put his lips directly on hers.

"Oh…" Alison mumbled and returned the kiss.

The kissing went on for a few moments until it was interrupted by the sound of a child's giggle. Rafe and Alison paused from their liplock long enough to realize that Christina was standing directly over them. She stood watching them with her tiny hands over her mouth.

"Kissy!" the girl pointed and laughed.

And next to Christina was Serena, who was grinning widely. And right by Serena was Lucy, who had a look of absolute shock, surprise, and excitement on her face.

In the next second, Rafe and Alison were on their feet. This was all really embarrassing. They had been acting like children…and they were so busted.

"Lucy…" Rafe stuttered.

"Hi, cousin. Alison."

"Um, hi, Lucy," Alison said, turning quite red. She looked away from Lucy's gaze.

Lucy gave Serena a look, and that gave her the cue to take her sister to the swings and let them talk. Lucy turned to Rafe and Alison with a huge smile on her face. "What's going on here?"

Rafe scratched his head, searching for words. "Um, well we were just, um…"

"Rafe and I…" Alison tried to help, but she was clueless too on how to explain just what was going on.

"I knew it! I knew it!" Lucy said excitedly.

"Knew what?" Rafe was almost afraid to ask.

Lucy playfully hit her cousin in the shoulder. "Oh you know what I know! I knew a girl was the reason you decided to stay in Port Charles and you wouldn't tell me who she was! But I had a feeling and I was right! It's Alison, of course!" Lucy touched Alison lightly on her face and then did the same to Rafe. "Ooo! Ooo I just knew it! Ooo look at the two of you! You're so cute together! I just knew I saw something between you two, ever since the night of my wedding to Doc…"

Rafe and Alison smiled at each other.

"…and seeing you dancing together and I saw this look between you that I couldn't explain…until now. It all makes sense now! Well? Aren't you going to tell me anything? How did this happen?"

Rafe laughed. "Well we will if you would let us get a word in edgewise."

"Very funny," Lucy remarked.

"Lucy, you're right." Rafe smiled at Alison. "There has been something between Alison and I and well, it just took us a while to finally realize it."

"We're in love, Lucy," Alison admitted.

"Oh, you guys! Oh I'm so happy! I'm so happy for the both of you!" Lucy, caught up in her excitement, hugged Rafe and Alison. "Oh! I just had an idea! This works out so perfect!"

"What?" Rafe and Alison asked.

"Well Doc and I had rented a cabin this weekend and we were going to take the girls there for some sightseeing, but well…my husband has the most perfect timing in the world. He picks this weekend to get sick with an absolutely miserable cold! Can you believe that?"

"Oh, that's awful. I hope he feels better," Alison offered.

"Thank you, me too. Which is really where the girls and I were off to anyway. We were going to bring him back some soup from Kelly's. But anyway, I was going to call the lodge and have them cancel our reservation since we can't make it now, but I don't have to after all!"

Rafe could practically see those wheels turning in Lucy's head. "What do you mean?"

Lucy grinned. "What do you think I mean? Why don't you two take the cabin? It'll save me a lot of trouble by having to cancel and all. The trip is on me! My present to you cousin, and you Alison."

"Oh, Lucy, you don't have to do that, it's nice but…"

"Oh, Rafe! I want to do this! No, this is perfect. You two are so adorable together. I want to do something special for you, my treat. Please! Take the cabin and enjoy yourselves! It would make me so happy!"

Rafe smiled at Alison, and Alison smiled back. Rafe looked at his cousin. "Alright, Lucy, if it means that much to you."

"It does mean that much to me! I love you very much, cousin, and I am so glad that now you are as happy with Alison as I am with my Doc! Oh, speaking of which, he's at home in bed with a fever so we better leave!"

"Okay, thanks, Lucy."

"Yeah, thank you, Lucy. And please send Kevin our get well soon wishes," Alison said.

Lucy gave Rafe and Alison a quick peck on their cheeks. "I will. Alright, ta! Come on, girls!"

"Bye, you two!" Serena sang as she walked past them and made kissing faces.