Right in front of me. (Read 1,656 times)

[André DiMera]

It’s good that Abe delivered those letters, and that both Marlena and !aggie were understanding. Glad Rafe is coming over again and bringing dinner.

[Kpatch]

They are getting closer!

[sportsgirl]

No kids and no Allie? I hope this goes well.

[murphyslaw]

Thank you for reading my fan fiction. I hope everyone is enjoying it! The Christmas chapter is next! Holly will be in that one!

[murphyslaw]

Sorry I haven’t updated recently.. my husband is in the hospital with pneumonia so I have been very limited on time. Hopefully he will be well soon. He was in ICU for a week and now he has been moved into a regular room. He is doing better so I should be able to update soon. Thank you for your patience.

[heroicmuse]

Mar 29, 2021 1:51:35 GMT -5 murphyslaw said:

Sorry I haven’t updated recently.. my husband is in the hospital with pneumonia so I have been very limited on time. Hopefully he will be well soon. He was in ICU for a week and now he has been moved into a regular room. He is doing better so I should be able to update soon. Thank you for your patience.

I'm glad your husband is doing better!

[André DiMera]

Glad to hear your husband is getting better!

[murphyslaw]

Much belated update:

Christmas in July!

Rafe knocked on Nicole’s door right on time at 6:00 pm. He had to really buckle down to get all of his paperwork done in time. Rafe smiles as Nicole opened the door with baby Henry perched on her hip.

“Merry Christmas! I brought cookies for Santa.”

Rafe said as he holds up the tin of cookies he had made last night. Rafe smiled as little Henry waved his arms and kicked his legs in excitement at seeing him. Nicole smiled at him and told him

“Come on in, you are just in time. Dinner is almost ready. I know you must be as hungry as I am.”

Nicole replied with a wink.

“You can put the Santa cookies on the counter in the kitchen then have a seat on the couch and I will let you play with little Henry here while I finish getting dinner ready”

Rafe answered

“Sure, I can do that. Is Allie in her room? I wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas too.”

Nicole smiled and said

“You will have to catch her next time. She is with Claire doing the Christmas Ornaments at the Horton’s. I offered to babysit so she could enjoy the party without a fussy baby. She took a ton of pictures before she left to share with the family. She will be late getting back.”

Nicole informed Rafe as she let him in. Rafe closed the door behind him since Nicole had her arms full of squirming baby Henry and saw Holly sitting on the couch looking at him with big eyes.

“Who do we have here?” Rafe asked with a smile

“This big girl couldn’t possibly be little Holly. Why, you must have grown a whole foot since I last saw you.”

Rafe exclaimed as he dropped the cookies on the counter and made his way to the couch and the shy girl who watched him with big curious eyes.

“We are waiting for Santa to come. Mommy said you are a friend she has known for a really long time. She said that you are a police man and you catch bad people and put them where they can’t hurt anyone.”

Holly said as Rafe sat down on the couch with her, leaving some space so he didn’t crowd her while they get reacquainted. Rafe smiled at Holly and answered

“That’s right. It is my job to protect people and help them if they need it. I remember you when you were small, but you probably don’t remember meeting me. I have been your Mommy’s friend for a long time and I hope we can be friends now too.”

Rafe smiled even bigger when Holly scooted over to sit right next to him and said

“Ok, we can be friends. I like making new friends. I made friends at school too. I can help with baby Henry because Mommy said I am a big girl now that I am 6 years old and Henry is still just a baby and babies need a lot of help.”

Nicole smiled down at Rafe as she transferred Henry into Rafe’s lap and warned him with a laugh

“She will talk your ear off while she helps you too. Thanks for helping me keep them entertained while I get dinner on the table, then we can eat and get the cookies ready for Santa to come by later tonight.”

Rafe took Henry and held him on his lap while reassuring Nicole that he’s got this.

“No problem. I am sure we can handle this, right helper?”

Rafe said with a wink at Holly as she smiled up at her mom and repeated

“Yeah Mommy, no problem. I am a good helper.”

Holly declared as Nicole grinned down at the scene of Rafe holding Henry with Holly glued to his side.

Rafe had a huge smile on his face as he soaked up the feeling of having a baby on his lap again and a little girl looking at him like he is Superman. He really missed this. He couldn’t imagine how Eric could give this up. Holly was wonderful and Henry was so sweet. Well, Eric’s loss was Rafe’s gain and he wasn’t going to waste a moment of the time he got to spend with them.

Rafe had a great time playing with Henry and chatting with Holly about her first year of school and what Santa was supposed to bring tonight while Nicole put dinner on the table. Then it was time to eat, and Rafe loved every second of it.

Good food, great company, smiling little faces, and a warm glow filled him as Holly and Henry made a place for themselves in his heart. Then it was clean up time and then it was time for movie night on the couch with How the Grinch Stole Christmas ready to go.

Henry got fussy and Rafe put him to bed singing him twinkle twinkle little star. He told Nicole his secret about being a bad singer and she laughed at his theory about why his singing put kids to sleep. They got comfortable on the couch with Rafe sitting next to Nicole and Holly tucked in between them. When they got to the part of the Grinch stealing Christmas, Holly firmly entrenched her place in his heart when she said to him

“If you worked in Whoville, you would have caught the Grinch and saved Christmas, I just know it Mr. Rafe.”

Rafe replied

“You are right, Holly and you would have helped me too because you are a great helper. Since we are friends, and if it is ok with your Mom, you can just call me Rafe.”

Nicole says

“It’s ok with me if she calls you just Rafe without the Mr. since you are such good friends now.”

Holly melted Rafe’s heart even more when she asked

“Thanks Mr.. I mean Rafe. I am glad you are my friend. Since we are good friends now, does that mean you can come over and visit more? Mommy, can Rafe come over to visit again soon?”

Nicole said, with strong emotions running through her words

“Sure honey. Now that Rafe is your good friend too, I hope we see lots more of him over here often.”

Rafe smiled and said

“Not just here but maybe you and your Mom can come visit me too, at my house. Would you like that, Holly?”

Holly enthusiastically said

“Yes! Could we Mommy? Could we please go visit Rafe at his house too?”

Nicole responded

“Yes, I think that can be arranged. We will go visit Rafe at his house soon.”

Then Holly broke both Rafe and Nicole’s heart with her next words

“I am glad. Ever since Daddy Eric left us to go help the children in Africa, I have been so sad. Now we have a new good friend to help us be happy again. You won’t go away to Africa like Daddy Eric, will you Rafe?”

Rafe choked out his answer through emotions so strong they squeezed his heart tight

“No, Holly. I won’t go to Africa and leave you and your Mom like Eric did.”

Holly looked hopeful as she made him promise

“Do you promise? A promise is special, and you can’t break it.”

Rafe looked deep into Holly’s eyes as this young girl completely took his heart.

“I promise.” Rafe vowed.

Holly’s smile brightened the room as she hugged Rafe and said

“Good. Mommy and I are so happy you are here. You made the sad go away and made Mommy smile again.”

Nicole looked at Rafe over Holly’s head with tears shining in her eyes as Nicole says

“You are right, my precious girl. Rafe makes the sad go away. We are both happy you are here.”

Rafe hugged Holly as he blinked back his own welling eyes and finally let her go as she sat back up and grabbed his hand and Nicole’s hand in her other one and declared

“Now it is time to get the cookies ready for Santa! You can help us, Rafe.”

Rafe and Nicole let Holly drag them up from the couch and into the kitchen as she ordered the adults around.

“Ok Mommy, you get the plate and glass down while Rafe gets the milk and I will get the cookies and put them on the plate. Did you make enough cookies, Rafe, so we can have some too?”

Rafe and Nicole look down at the little dictator and smile through their misty eyes as Rafe let Holly know

“I sure did. They are in that tin on the counter.”

Holly dropped both of their hands to grab the tin and open the lid with an excited giggle, while the adults hurried to do what she commanded. Everyone got a cookie to eat while they got the rest of Santa’s cookies ready for him.

Nicole had bad news for the munchkin.

“Ok little miss Holly, it is time for bed or Santa won’t come.”

Holly sighed and asked if her new best friend Rafe if he would tuck her in with Mommy.

Nicole smiled with a mischievous wink at Rafe as she answered

“Only if Rafe will sing twinkle twinkle little star.”

Rafe groaned good naturally and agreed

Fifteen minutes later, with Holly all tucked in and Nicole watching with sparkles in her eyes, Rafe sang Holly to sleep. They quietly snuck out and headed back into the living room. Nicole remarked

“I should have got that on video. I could have made a fortune on YouTube.”

Rafe laughed, and pulled Nicole close. He wrapped his arms around her waist and said

“No way! I would never live that down at the police station! Cope are ruthless!”

Nicole responded

“Holly was right. You do make the sad go away. Thank you for being here with us tonight. You make my life better just by being here.”

Nicole leaned.in to give Rafe a sweet gentle kiss. Nicole smiled as she said

“Now, Let’s go raid Santa’s cookies”

Rafe smiled at her and agreed

“Good thing there are two of us, Holly left Santa plenty of cookies”

Rafe and Nicole headed to the kitchen to eat cookies and drink milk then play Santa and put all of the gifts under the tree. Nicole snuck one present out and handed it to Rafe.

“Merry Christmas Rafe.”

Rafe looked down at the present and said

“You didn’t have to get me anything, just being here with you and the kids was present enough.”

Rafe opened the present to find his favorite bottle of wine.

Rafe thanked Nicole and said

“ I really had a wonderful time tonight. Thank you for sharing this with me. I really missed playing Santa and getting little ones to sleep. You opened your home and shared your family with me.”

Rafe said as he stroked Nicole’s cheek and looked deep into her eyes.

“We were very happy you came.”

Nicole told him.

[Kpatch]

I'm so glad you are continuing this story. I love how Rafe is taking the sad away. They are like a family. I forget the name of the child Rafe was caring for but he clearly remembers that experience and he loves children. And Nicole. Keep it going!

[heroicmuse]

Aww this was so sweet! Rafe is so good with kids and he and Holly bonded so quickly. I feel bad for Holly being afraid that Rafe will go to Africa like Eric did.

[André DiMera]

Good to see you’re back, murphyslaw! That was a really sweet chapter! Rafe is so good with Holly!

[murphyslaw]

Birthday surprises!

Nicole knocked on Rafe’s door with Holly and Henry in tow. Today was Rafe’s Birthday and she was determined to make him smile. Cowboy Critters with Holly and Henry was a fun way to spend the day. It was perfect to pull Rafe out of his routine and make him loosen up a bit.
Rafe opened the door to the three smiling faces shining up at him. He was so happy to see those beautiful faces that it actually made his heart skip a beat for a second. He couldn’t remember the last time he had actually celebrated his birthday with more than his sister Gabi’s cupcakes. Work was demanding and he often let it take over his life, but he was finding out that life was more fun with these three around. Ever since Christmas, he had been spending some of his evening enjoying their company.
Nicole’s smiling face was the prettiest thing he had seen all day and the urge to kiss her was almost more temptation than he could stand, but little eyes were watching at the moment so he reached out for a hug instead.

“Hello pretty ladies and cute boy.” Rafe greeted as he hugged Holly, then stroked Henry’s hair. Finally he turned to Nicole and pulled her in for a tight hug that stretched out a little longer as he absorbed the feeling of her tucked up against him.

“Thank you for making my birthday special “ Rafe said as he slowly released Nicole and gazed down into her beautiful eyes. The urge to kiss her returned in full force, but those same little eyes were still watching with excitement dancing at the chance to go on an adventure.

“Cowboy Critters is the best for birthdays, Rafe” Holly declared as she grabbed Rafe’s hand and tried to drag him towards the car.

“I can’t wait.” Rafe said as he reluctantly let Holly drag him away from Nicole’s warm embrace.

The little chatter box continued to tell Rafe all about the wonders that awaited him upon arrival at that magical destination, as everyone climbed into the car to head out. Nicole was driving while Rafe was treated to a running commentary from the little girl who he once thought was shy. Christmas had changed that and much more. Rafe still missed little David, but Holly and Henry filled the lonely spots and Nicole had awakened feelings that he thought had left with Hope. He could even think about Hope now without pain shooting through him. He found himself sneaking glances Nicole’s way and his heart jumped in his chest at the sight of her. Yes, Christmas had certainly change many things.

Nicole pulled into Cowboy Critters and turned the car off. She watched as Rafe helped Holly out the car after getting out Henry’s stroller from the trunk while she got Henry out. Her daughter was quite taken with Rafe and claimed his hand when Nicole strapped Henry into the stroller. They headed inside to the wonderland that was Holly’s favorite place to go. Much fun was had by all and Nicole even won a stuffed Cowboy bear for Rafe after he had spent way too much money trying to win it himself. They would later name the bear Duke after much debate.

Nicole couldn’t believe how much her feelings for Rafe had grown over the last month as they continued to grow closer and closer. She started to realize that what she was feeling was way more than friendship. She was smiling more, and she wasn’t thinking about Eric with pain anymore. She was healing, and she was starting to see Rafe in a different way, but did he feel the same way about her?

Rafe was starting to dream about Nicole. Those first heart skipping moments at Christmas and his birthday had grown into an ache to kiss her lips. This wasn’t just friendship to him anymore, but did she feel the same way about him? He had healed from Hope and it was becoming more difficult to keep his desire for more from her. Should he risk their friendship and ask her out on an actual date? What if she said no? Would he ruin what they already had? He thought she needed time to get over Eric, but he didn’t know how much longer he could resist kissing her like he wanted to. Not soft and sweet with thoughts of comfort but hot and spicy and full of desire. He wanted dates and long steamy nights. He wanted to wake up next to her after spending the night showing her how much he needed her. He was starting to crave her kisses. Need them like a fish needs water. This was starting to feel like (dare he think it) love. This was starting to feel like love.

[heroicmuse]

Go for it, Rafe!

It's so sad that they both feel the same way but neither is saying anything. Someone has to make a move.

[Kpatch]

The buildup is crazy intense. Can't wait until they talk about their feelings (or show them).

[André DiMera]

I really hope somebody makes a move soon!