A/N: Okay, hopefully you can put the Kleenexes away for chapter 72 lol! You probably won't need them, unless you're really really emotional lol. I've put in some Rali "fluff" in this chapter, per Erin's request :) and hopefully you'll laugh a bit too. Let me tell ya….I did more research on tofu turkey and football than I ever wanted to! LOL! Enjoy!

"Rafe, Alison, come on in," Kevin said, opening the door and welcoming them into the house. "Dinner will probably be a little while longer. Hopefully not too much though. Just make yourselves at home."

"Thanks, Kevin," Rafe said, taking Alison's coat and putting it on the coat rack for her.

"I'm going to go see if Lucy needs any help in the kitchen," Alison said.

"Alright."

"Hey Rafe!"

Rafe looked to the couch, seeing the men crowded around the television. Jack motioned for Rafe to come over.

"Come watch the football game man. Lions vs. the Patriots!"

Rafe looked at the television, then back at Jack. "That's not football."

"Oh, right, I forget you grew up in Europe. We call that soccer. This is American football, a Thanksgiving Day tradition."

"Oh, of course, I knew that," Rafe said rather quickly as he sat down on the couch to join the guys. "So um, which team are we rooting for?"

"Patriots!" Jack said proudly.

"Oh. So um, which ones are those? Red or blue?"

"They're the ones in the red jerseys. Yeah, the Patriots are pretty great. But the Dallas Cowboys are playing later today, and they're unbeatable! I can't wait for that game. Redskins are going down."

"Football must be really big on Thanksgiving."

"Yeah, but not as big as Super Bowl Sunday," Frank said, overhearing their conversation.

"Super what?"

Jack looked at Rafe and couldn't help but laugh. "You really don't watch much football do you?"

Rafe shook his head.

"Okay, I'll tell you everything you need to know…"

Quack!

"Sigmund, look! I keep telling you, there is no bird in the oven! It's tofu turkey!" Lucy opened the oven. "See? It's tofu! Does that look like a real bird to you?"

Quack! Quack!

Christina sat at the table and laughed.

"Sigmund, what has gotten into you? I know Thanksgiving may be somewhat of a difficult time for you but you've got to understand that I rescued you! You know I wouldn't think of eating one of your little bird friends!"

Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!

"Okay, girls, take him out. Take him out and then why don't you go upstairs and watch a parade or something."

"Come on, Sigmund," Serena said, walking out the door with her sister and the duck following.

Alison laughed. "Are you stressed out, Lucy?"

"Alison? Oh hey! I'm glad you're here. No, I'm not stressed out it's just….okay! I am stressed out! It's like everything that could go wrong has gone wrong! This kitchen is a mess already, I've got too many things going on at once, and did you know that I actually forgot the cranberry sauce? How can it be Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce?"

"Okay, Lucy, calm down. Breathe!" Alison put her hands on Lucy's shoulders, forcing her to focus. "Everything's going to be just fine, okay?"

"Oh, I hope so! It's me and Doc's first Thanksgiving since the wedding. I just want everything to be perfect."

"I'm sure it will Lucy," Livvie said, walking into the kitchen and sitting down at the table.

"Livvie, are you okay?" Alison asked, noticing Livvie didn't sound quite like herself.

"Don't come too close, Ali. I've got a cold." Livvie took a tissue out of her pocket and blew her nose.

"And you need to be in bed, missy!" Lucy scolded. "What are you doing down here? I thought I told you to go upstairs and rest."

"I just came down to see how things were going."

"Things are going fine," Lucy said as she got a glass out of the cabinet and looked into the refrigerator. She put the glass on the table and poured some orange juice in it. "What you need is some vitamin C, and some rest."

Livvie took the glass of juice. "Okay, fine, I'll go back and rest. Let me know when dinner is ready."

"Feel better, Livvie," Alison said.

"Okay, let's see, I've got…" Lucy looked at her watch, "Oh no, my watch stopped! Oh, no, what time is it?!" Lucy ran over to the oven to check on the tofu turkey. "Oh thank heavens it's not burned! It's not time to take it out yet, though."

"Oh, it looks delicious, Lucy," Alison said, peering into the oven. "Don't worry, everything's going to be perfect."

"Lucy, I've got the cranberry sauce " Mary said, walking into the room a pot full of it.

"See? I told you!" Alison said. "Mary, that's great! She was just saying she had forgot that!"

"Well, Lucy, I told you it'd be no problem to whip some up and swing it back over here."

"Okay, maybe you're right. Maybe everything will go as planned." Lucy started to calm down. "Just as long as nothing burns."

"Let's just see what else we have to do," Mary said, taking a survey of what was still cooking and what was finished.

"Has the table been set?" Alison asked.

"Oh no!" Lucy panicked. "I haven't even started on the table! What if the food is ready before the table is set? Or even worse, what if I don't have enough food for everyone? Or room!"

"I'll take care of this, dear," Mary said, turning to Alison. "Why don't you go rest for a while."

"Okay, I think I will." Alison decided that being around stressed out Lucy on Thanksgiving wasn't such a good idea, for her or Lucy.

When Alison walked into the living room, she was a little surprised at what she saw. Was Rafe watching…football? And enjoying it?

She walked over to him, tapping him on the shoulder gently. "Rafe, sweetie?"

"Hmm?" he mumbled, his eyes glued to the screen.

"I'm going to go for a little walk."

"Okay," he said, half paying attention.

Alison frowned. Rafe was usually a better listener. "Actually it'll be more like a power walk. Maybe I'll even run in a marathon."

"Don't wear yourself out."

What? No reaction from that? As far as Rafe was concerned, Alison had to take it easy from now on. "And tomorrow, I'm taking the emergency credit card out to Wyndham's for the sales. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"No, have fun, Angel."

Yes, something was definitely wrong if Rafe had no reaction to that! Alison looked at the boys, having their fun, watching the game. They were turning Rafe into one of them! Alison had a hunch at who was to blame. She picked up a magazine lying on the table and rolled it up, then gave Jack a good whack on the head with it.

"Oww!" Jack turned around, annoyed. "Hey, what did you do that for, Ali?"

"What did you do to him?"

"Huh?"

"Rafe! What did you do to him?"

"What are you talking about? We're just watching the game…"

"WOOOO!" the guys yelled out.

"Oh man, I missed it!" Jack complained, turning his attention back to the game.

"That's why they have replay," Alison mumbled under her breath, putting on her coat and heading out the door.

It was a cloudy day, and the air was crisp and chilly. Alison smiled, knowing that it would snow soon. She couldn't wait for it to snow. Every time she thought about it snowing, she'd think about last January, when Rafe was still an angel and had just come back to Port Charles after New Year's. She caught herself laughing out loud, thinking of how they made snow angels and drank hot chocolate…and the image of Rafe ice skating, or rather, trying to ice skate. She thought about the time she asked him what did he want most in the world, and he said to kiss her. That had certainly been a moment that changed everything.

So much had changed in a year. Here it was, almost Christmas again. She couldn't believe how fast time flew. It seemed like only yesterday, she was helping Rafe reunite the couples after Caleb's aftermath. Little did she know how much would change, and that Rafe would get to stay with her forever.

Alison found herself walking to the church. Their special church. She walked up the steps and into the church, taking a deep breath. As she walked down the aisle, memories of her wedding day flooded her. She remembered the way Rafe smiled at her as he watched her walk down the aisle, wearing her beautiful wedding gown. She remembered how there were pink roses everywhere, and how everyone was smiling and laughing. It had been the most perfect day. Alison touched her stomach, thinking about how she and Rafe would have many more wonderful days together.

It was quiet in the church. No one was around. Alison took a seat, looking up at the cross on the wall. "Katrina? Are you up there listening?" Alison waited a moment. The church was still just as quiet.

"I've been reading your journals a lot lately. I hope you don't mind. I just really wanted to get to know you. And Rafe was right. He said if I read them, I'd know what kind of person you are, and I feel as if I already know you. I don't know if anyone has ever told you this, but I think you were a wonderful mother to Rafe. Of course, anyone who knows Rafe knows that he had to have pretty wonderful parents. He's so amazing. I wish my mother could have been as caring and loving as you were. But we can't always choose our family. Rafe was very fortunate."

"And also, I wanted you to know something. I know you had so many hopes for Rafe, so many dreams. Well they all came true, each and every one of them. Caleb's gone, and Rafe's living the most normal life. And he's happily married. And by spring, he'll be a father. Of course, what am I telling you this for? I'm sure you already know."

"I guess I just wanted to thank you. It's Thanksgiving, and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you for bringing such an amazing person into this world. I love Rafe. I love him so much, with all my heart. I like to think that I love him just as much as you love Gabriel. I'm so blessed to have him. He really is special, and I'm so glad he came into my life. I feel really lucky that we were able to get a second chance at it all. I wish you and Gabriel could have had that same chance. Well, I'm sure you're both happy and together now."

Alison suddenly heard the sound of church bells, chiming at the hour.

"Oh, I should go. I didn't realize I would be out so long." Alison stood up with a smile on her face. "Thank you," she whispered, then scurried out of the church, hoping she wouldn't be late for Lucy's Thanksgiving dinner. And after she left, a soft light illuminated the church, and Katrina appeared. She smiled, thinking of how special Alison was. She knew what her son saw in her. She had a beautiful heart. "Thank you for making my son happy," she said, then faded away.

Alison arrived back at the lighthouse, and apparently, just in time. The table was all set and everyone was beginning to take their seats.

"Hey, there you are," Rafe said, pulling her close to him and kissing her gently. "Where did you go?"

"Rafe, I went for a walk. I told you, remember?"

"Oh, yeah…"

Alison grinned. "Did you have fun watching the game?"

"Oh, sure. Yeah, the guys were all watching it and I figured it'd look strange if I didn't join them. But I'm not into it that much."

"Oh, of course," Alison said, smiling.

"So, you had a good walk?"

"Yeah. It was really nice."

"Well, are you ready to go eat? Because I'm starving! Although, I'm a little worried about the tofu turkey thing." Rafe raised an eyebrow. "Do you think it'll be as good as the real thing?"

Alison laughed. "I don't know, but if you know what's good for you, you'll eat every bite. Otherwise Lucy will unleash the duck on you."

Rafe laughed. "Come on. Everyone's starting to settle down."

"Wait, Rafe." Alison tugged on his arm, pulling him back.

"Yeah?"

"I just wanted to tell you. When I was out walking, I had the chance to do a lot of thinking. Rafe, I'm so thankful to have you in my life. I just feel so blessed, and I don't know what I'd do without you. I think of all of the times we've had to say goodbye, thinking it'd be our last time seeing each other. I don't ever want to have to say goodbye to you again."

"You won't. Not ever." Rafe touched her chin and pulled her close to him, giving her a kiss. "I'm thankful to have you in my life too."

Alison grinned. "You know what else I'm thankful for?"

"What?"

"Wyndham's after Thanksgiving Day sale! By the way, thanks for not minding that I'm using the credit card."

Alison began to walk away when Rafe pulled her back. "Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about? The emergency credit card? The card we only use for emergencies?"

"A sale at Wyndham's is an emergency, Rafe." Alison laughed. "You said I could use it, remember?"

"When did I say that?"

"When you were watching the game. Remember? I told you I was going to go tomorrow. Oh, Rafe, don't tell me that you weren't listening to me."

"Oh, no I was. You're right, I remember now. You said you wanted to go to Wyndham's."

"And you said you had no problem with me using the card. You're still okay with that, right?"

"Of course!" Rafe grinned. Oh dear, what had he gotten himself into now?

Alison smiled. "Don't worry, I won't go too overboard. I'll use it to buy you something really special. You deserve it. Because I love you."

"I love you too." Rafe smiled, moving in for another kiss.

"Rafe! Alison!" Lucy called out. "Come on, it's tofu turkey time!"

"Well, you heard her," Alison laughed.

Rafe took Alison's hand, and then they joined the rest of the group for Thanksgiving dinner.