"Livvie, thanks for coming with me. I don't think I could do this alone."

"It's no problem," Livvie said.

Alison smiled and took out her key. She opened the door and looked around.

"I don't think Jamal is here," Livvie said.

Alison breathed a sigh of relief. "Well let's hurry up then." Alison went to the closet and got out a few boxes. She handed one to Livvie. "Will you um…will you get my things from the bathroom?"

"Sure."

Livvie watched as her friend took the other box and started putting CDs in it. Alison paused as she picked up one. She realized it was one of Jamal's so she put it back.

"Alison?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Livvie."

Alison had just about got all of her things together.

"I think that's it," she said as Livvie put a few remaining shirts in a box.

"Okay, well I can go put this in the car."

"Alright, thanks. I'm going to double check and make sure I have everything."

Alison walked around the apartment. It looked considerably bare without her things in it anymore. It was sad in a way, but Alison knew this was the way it had to be. Alison picked up a picture of she and Jamal on the end table. A picture of them in their happier days together. "I'm sorry, Jamal," she said softly. "It has to be this way."

"Alison?" Livvie said. "Was there anything else?"

"Just these boxes," Alison said and pointed to the counter.

"Ali, are you crying?"

Alison realized she was still holding the picture of her and Jamal. She put it back down. "I'm just a little emotional." Alison sat down on the couch.

Livvie walked over to her and sat down beside her. "Hey, are you going to be okay? I'm worried about you."

"I'm just dealing with a lot of things right now. It's like I'm closing this really big chapter in my life, you know? I never thought the story would end, but suddenly, it has."

"Ali, are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure. It's sad but…but it's time to move on. We've grown too far apart to find our way back to where we were before. I don't ever regret it though. If it wasn't for Jamal, I don't think I would have ever learned how to love. But like I said, it's time to move on."

"Sweetie." Livvie looked at Alison. "Look, you're my friend, and I don't want you to take this the wrong way, but I have to ask."

"Ask what?"

"Are you sure that moving in with Rafe is such a good idea? Because, Ali, you can stay at our house. Jack and I wouldn't mind."

"Livvie, I'm not going to put you two in the middle of this."

"You wouldn't be putting us in the middle."

"Yes, I would Livvie, at least I would feel like it. And moving in with Rafe, it's my decision. And it just…I don't know, it just feels like the right thing to do. We have these feelings for each other and he's leaving soon. We've decided that we're just going to spend as much time as we can together. We'll enjoy the time we have."

"Alison, exactly how close have you and Rafe become? You haven't…you know…"

"We haven't slept together, Livvie. We've kissed though." Alison smiled. "And we went on a date last night."

"How was that?"

"It was nice. Livvie, I know this is really hard for you to understand. Believe me, it's hard for me to understand too. That's why I'm pretty much just following my heart. I want to be with Rafe, even if it's for just a short time. We're just going to see what happens. And I know it's crazy but…I'm not going to take the chance of missing out on something that could really be wonderful."

Livvie smiled and took Alison's hand. "Alison, you're right, I don't really understand this all. I'm afraid that when Rafe has to leave, and Alison, you know he will eventually, I'm afraid of what it is going to do to you. You've been through enough heartache already…"

"Livvie…" Alison started.

"But look, I know that for some reason, Rafe makes you happy. And if being with Rafe is what you want, and it makes you happy, then I'm going to support you. I want you to be happy, Alison."

Alison smiled. "You mean that?"

"Of course. I'm your best friend, and I wouldn't lie to you." Livvie smiled and she and Alison hugged. "Well, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah, I am," Alison said and the two women stood up. "You can take that box and I can take…"

Livvie looked at Alison when she stopped talking. Then she looked at the doorway.

Jamal.

"Jamal…" Alison said softly.

"I didn't know you'd be here," he said, obviously surprised to see her.

"Um, well I'm about to leave. I was just getting…"

"Oh, I see, you're moving out? Hey, that's cool. I understand. Look, I'll just go…"

"But, Jamal…"

"Bye, Spunky," Jamal muttered and left the apartment in a hurry.

"He won't even let me get a word in he's so angry with me," Alison said.

"Why don't we just go?" Livvie suggested.

Alison shook her head. "Okay."

"Where do you want me to put these?" Rafe asked as he carried some of her boxes into the house.

"Um, anywhere, I don't really feel like unpacking right now."

"I'll just put these in the bedroom then," Rafe said.

"Okay." Alison smiled.

"Alison?" Livvie walked into the door. "I'm leaving now."

"Okay, thanks for helping me pack my stuff up."

"Listen, you call me if you want to talk, okay?"

"I will. Thanks for listening, Livvie," Alison said and hugged her friend.

Rafe walked into the living room. As Livvie walked to the door, she whispered to Rafe, "Take good care of Alison."

"I will," Rafe promised.

Then Livvie left.

"So, did you get everything you needed?" Rafe asked.

"Mmm-hmm," Alison nodded.

Rafe could tell by the look on her face that something was on her mind. "What's wrong?"

"I saw Jamal. He came in just as Livvie and I were leaving and…he couldn't get out of there fast enough. I really hurt him, Rafe. He wouldn't even listen to me."

Rafe walked over to her and put his arms around her. "Hey, it's okay."

"But I feel so bad about that…" Alison mumbled into his shoulder.

"Alison, I'm sorry I messed things up."

Alison looked into Rafe's eyes. "Hey, what are you talking about?"

"Well I just mean, it was me who came between you two, and if it hadn't have been for me coming back, you and Jamal would still be together and…"

"No, Rafe, don't apologize."

"No, I'm not apologizing for the way I feel about you. I could never be sorry about that. I'm just sorry if I caused you any pain or confusion."

"Aww, Rafe, no. Look, it's not like either of us planned on this, you know? These feelings we have for each other…it just sort of happened. And that is nothing to be sorry about. Okay?"

Rafe smiled at her. "Okay." Then he kissed Alison.

"What's that smell?" Alison asked, gently pulling away from the kiss.

"Oh, you noticed."

"Well how could I not? It smells delicious!"

Rafe laughed. "Well I figured that you would be hungry when you got back."

"Dinner?"

"Mmm-hmm," Rafe said. He took Alison's hand. "Follow me."

Alison laughed. "Rafe Kovich can cook? I didn't know that."

"Well I can cook a few things…"

Alison looked at him skeptically.

"Okay, I ordered in," he admitted.

Alison laughed again. "Well I'm sure it is going to be wonderful…" Alison gasped as she walked into the dining room. "Rafe…" Rafe had dinner set out on the table illuminated by nothing but candlelight. The pink roses were the centerpiece. Soft music played in the background.

"I take it you approve?"

"I love it. I feel a little underdressed though with my jeans!"

"Oh, no you look beautiful. Casual wear only tonight."

"Okay," Alison grinned. "Well this is perfect because I was just starting to get a little hungry." Alison walked to the table, and Rafe pulled out the chair for her as usual. Alison melted, he was such a gentleman.

"There you go," Rafe said and went to his own seat.

"This looks really lovely," Alison said.

"You look lovely, too."

Alison blushed. It didn't matter that Rafe had said that about twenty times already today, it still made her go weak in the knees. "So um, what gave you this idea for dinner?"

"You did."

"I did?"

"Yeah. I was just thinking about how much you loved our dinner last night and I thought I'd make you smile again."

And Alison was smiling.

"I also thought about what we talked about, and I got inspired."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean what you said about my writing, how you liked my poetry. So I got inspired. I wrote something for you."

"You did?" Alison's heart skipped a beat.

Rafe shook his head. He took out a folded pieced of paper from his pocket. He unfurled the paper and looked at Alison. He didn't really need to look at the poem because he had already had it memorized, but he decided it would be best to keep it out, just in case he got nervous and forgot a line.

I once thought only angels lived in heaven, but I was wrong,
Because the day I met you, I knew they were here on earth as well.
You have such a warm and caring heart, Alison,
And how lucky am I to have been let into this heart of yours?

You may not realize it, but you have changed me,
I always heard about love, but never once had I experienced it,
Until now.
You let me into your heart, and these incredible feelings came rushing out,
It's all you, Alison. You've made me feel alive, even more so than I ever was,
And for that, it's hard to put into words how blessed I feel,
How fortunate I feel to have you,
And your love.

Alison couldn't help the tears that fell down her cheek. "Rafe," she said softly. "That was so beautiful." And she truly meant that. "No one has ever written such beautiful poetry for me."

Rafe didn't know what to say. He blushed.

Alison got up from the table and went over to Rafe. "Dance with me," She said.

And when Rafe stood up, Alison took him into her arms and kissed the living daylights out of him.