*Just a note, the events in this chapter are very similar to something that actually happened on the show. BUT, I just want you to know that I've had this chapter planned since January!! PC STOLE MY IDEA! LOL

It was March. Every time Rafe and Alison turned around, another day had passed. The more they wished that time would slow down, it would speed up. And suddenly, two weeks were all they had left.

The idea of saying goodbye was getting harder and harder for Alison to accept. In the beginning, she was perfectly willing to just have the time she had with Rafe. But as each day passed, she couldn't get over how unbelievably UNFAIR it was! Alison couldn't for the life of her understand why they were fortunate enough to have this wonderful love only to have to be ripped from each other's arms in a few short weeks.

Rafe tried to be the voice of reason and reassure Alison that they would still be together…not physically, but in their hearts. But to Alison, that was never enough, and she knew Rafe felt the same way even if he would not admit it.

Alison and Rafe never wasted a second they had together. They would always find some way to spend some time together. One afternoon, they went for a walk in the wooded area outside the Barrington grounds. As they walked down the dirt path, they came upon a clearing.

"What's that?" Rafe asked.

Alison looked ahead and saw a small white building in the open space. "Oh, that's that little church. I forgot it was here."

"Has it been here long?"

"Yeah, real long time, ever since I was a kid."

"Can we go inside?"

Alison smiled. "Yeah, let's go."

Alison and Rafe walked hand-in-hand up the little stone steps and into the small church. It was quiet and peaceful inside. The late afternoon sunshine hit the colored glass of the window. At the front, there was a statue of the Virgin Mary, and there were candles.

The two sat down on the second row, and they were silent for a moment. Then, Alison spoke.

"I used to come here when I was a child."

"You mean this was the church your family would go to?"

"This one? Oh, no. This church, well, my nana would call this "rustic", and trust me, my nana doesn't do rustic. I just meant that I would come here by myself sometimes. During the summer when I was bored and feeling lonely or sad, I'd slip out of the house and ride my bike here. It was just a quiet place to think, you know."

"I'm sorry you had a lonely childhood."

Alison smiled at him. "Don't feel bad for me. I turned out okay, didn't I?"

"You sure did. You turned into the most beautiful, caring, and loving woman I've ever known."

"I don't want you to go, Rafe. What will I do without you?"

"You're going to live a long and beautiful life, Alison, with all of the love and happiness you deserve." Rafe saw a tear roll down Alison's cheek. He wiped it with his fingertip. "Hey, you will, okay?"

"No, Rafe," she said softly. Another tear fell. "Will you pray with me?"

Rafe shook his head yes and smiled at her. He held her hand tighter and closed his eyes.

Alison wiped her eyes once more. "God, I'm so…I'm so confused. Rafe and I found each other, and we've been blessed by this beautiful love…and I…I just don't understand why it has to end. I know that Rafe can't stay, but, I just don't understand. This is the greatest love I have ever experienced. Why can't we just stay together? I know everything happens for a reason, so why did this happen? I know that life isn't always fair, but really, I don't think I can handle that kind of pain. I really want us to stay together. Please, if there's just anyway that can happen, please. We love each other so much, and love is the greatest thing in the world. What harm would it be if we could just stay together and love each other?" Alison wiped her eyes again but the tears kept coming. She rested her head on Rafe's shoulder and he tried to comfort her.

A noise was heard from the other side of the room. It was the minister. "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that anyone was in here."

"It's alright," Rafe said.

The minister could see the sadness in their eyes. He felt compelled to say something to them. He sat down in the seat in front of them. "Are you two alright? Is there anything I can do?"

Alison rubbed her eye again. "Saying goodbye is just really hard."

"It is. Saying goodbye to a loved one is never easy," the minister offered. "But just remember that they'll always be in your heart. They'll still be with you. But now, they are at peace in Heaven. Is there any kind of memorial service?"

Rafe didn't know what to say. The minister obviously thought they were grieving over someone who had just passed. "Um, no," was all he could think of to say.

"Well maybe you should have one. Sometimes having a ceremony helps. It helps you say goodbye." The minister stood up. "Well, take care, and God bless." The minister smiled at them and quietly left.

"Are you ready to go now?" Rafe asked her softly.

"Wait, Rafe, what that minister said."

"What?"

"I think he's right. Maybe we should have some sort of ceremony."

"What do you mean?"

Alison smiled at him. "Rafe, we can make a promise to each other, right here at this church. A promise to love each other and to belong to each other for all eternity. Because our love…well it's something to celebrate. Let's get married, Rafe."

"Married?"

"Yeah, married! Right here. We can exchange vows to love each other forever in front of God. So? What do you say? Will you…will you marry me?"

Rafe smiled at her, then put his hands on her face. "I will marry you," he said and kissed her lips.