"Maybe it's about time we start thinking about getting back." Rafe sighed.

"What if I say I don't want to?" Alison pouted.

"That's why I said 'start thinking about it.'" He smiled and took her in his arms bending at the knees slightly to be at her ey level and kissed her nose causing her to giggle.

"Actually I have an idea." Her smile grew as an idea came to her."

"What?"

"I want to cook for you."

"Cook for me?" He looked at her skepticly.

"Oh don't look at me like that, I happen to be a good cook. My muffins are known all over Port Charles."

"Is that good or bad?" She slapped his arm playfully and he chuckled.

"So come on, what do you say. You, me, a candelight dinner." She placed her arms around his neck and tilted her head.

"Well when you put it that way how can I refuse."

"So how 'bout you come by around 7?"

"Alright, 7 it is, I'll be counting the minutes."

"So I guess I should go and get cooking."

"Yeah, I guess you should." They stood there not moving, not wanting to move out of the others arms. Alison leaned up to capture his lips in a tender kiss before finally stepping out of his embrace and giving his a smile and wave goodbye. Rafe watched her leave, he knew he couldn't wait until 7.

Alison just finished lighting the last candle on the table and blowing out the match before she heard a knock on the door. She checked her hair, makeup and dress in the mirror, making sure she looked perfect, before answering the door.

"Hey there."

"Hey."

"Dinner's in the oven and should be ready any minute, I hope your hungry."

"You didn't know? Angel's have very hearty appitites."

"Well that's good to know."

"Wow, everything looks amazing, you outdid your self." Rafe said admiring the table.

"Well it's not every day I entertain a real life Angel, with a hearty appitite, in my home."

"Well, I'd hope not." He drew her in and kissed her not wanting to wait another second longer. Suddenly he pulled away. "Something's burning."

"Certainly is." Alison said before pulling him back to her only to have him break the kiss again a few seconds later.

"No, I mean something is seriously burning." Alison's face dropped.

"Oh, no, the chicken." She ran into the kitchen, Rafe followed behind her. She opened the oven door and black smoke filled the air, they both coughed and she set the chicken ontop of the stove and turned off the oven, she was on the verge of tears.

"Hey, I'm sure it still tastes good."

"It's ruined Rafe."

"Hey it's not ruined, like I said, I have a hearty appitite and I'm starving and chicken is chicken. Did I mention chicken is my favorite?"

"You don't have to."

"What? I'm just hungry." Alison shrugged her shoulders and cut into the blackened chicken, Rafe hid his grimice as he saw the inside just as dark as the outside. When Alison turned back around to him he quickly flashed her a smile. She put some chicken on his plate and they sat down. Alison just ate some salad and Rafe cut into the chicken. He forced the first bite down with a smile and downed a full glass of water, claiming he was just really thirsty. 5 glasses of water later he had cleaned his plate.

"You know what, burnt or not that was the best meal I've had in a long time. Can I have some more?"

"Rafe, you've gone above and beyond polite, you don't have to eat it."

"No, seriously, I want some more." She shook her head and cut him another peice. This time it only took 4 glasses of water to get it down.

"I'm' so sorry, Rafe."

"Hey, for what?"

"For burning dinner."

"A delicious dinner."

"Yeah right, I saw you almost choke on the first bite."

"But after that it was amazing."

"That was really sweet of you, but like I said you didn't have to."

"I didn't do anything, just enjoyed a dinner cooked by the most amazing woman I've ever had the pleasure of being in the same room."

"Are all Angel's as wonderful as you?"

"Probably not, I'm one of a kind." Alison giggled.

"That you are, not many guys would suffer through 2 helpings of burnt to a crisp chicken. I promise I'll make it up to you. I'm a great cook usually."

"I have no doubt of that, but maybe next time we should skip poultry."

"Maybe you're right." They sat down on the couch and Alison rested her head on his shoulder. "Rafe?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we stay like this forever?"

"Alison..."

"I know, I know, you have to leave, but I don't know if I could handle that."

"See I knew this was wrong, that we shouldn't have gotten involved like this."

"No, what are you talking about? Even if we only had a few seconds left together, I wouldn't trade any moment we have shared together. Rafe I love you so much, you have to believe that."

"I do. I love you too." He kissed the top of her head and offered a silent prayer to his boss that he could grant Alison's wish.

"I'd like to help you kid, you know I would, but in order for this little deal to work I can't intervine, I'm sorry. But it's looking like you don't need my help anyway, soon you'll be happy and with the girl you love from now and into eternity. And you know what that means, right my boy? It means that I won't be in your life anymore, that you won't need me anymore. I know that Alison makes you so happy, and you're happiness means everything to me, but I'm still not sure that I'm ready to let you go. How do I even begin to do so? You are so close to being out of my life for a lifetime and I'm faced with the hardest decision of my eternity. To go back on our deal, that you don't remember anyway, and you go back to being the sullen Angel, but at least you'll be around. Or I could keep the deal as is and not be a part of your life anymore. I know what I should do, what the right thing is, but it's hard. Please give me the strength to do what is right and give my boy his life and happiness back." Ed looked up and hoped his boss heard his plea.