Disclaimer: I don't own Pushing Daisies. And I don't own the title either, which is the name of the song "Let Me Fall" by Idina Menzel…
Author's Note: Because apparently I can't stay away for that long…lol…so here's the sequel to "Someone to Watch Over Me". This picks up immediately after "Someone" so read and enjoy.
Summary: Olive uncovers a passion she never before realized she held. Sequel to Someone to Watch Over Me
Let Me Fall-
-Chapter One: Enter Fredo
"The fact was this"…
Alfredo Aldarisio was in love with Olive Snook. He thought of her the sun; the sun that the world revolved around. His world. His entire being.
Alfredo found himself unable to stay away on long business trips like he used to. He could only go so long without seeing Olive's beautiful face. And what was more Alfredo was less dependent on his homeopathic herbal enhancements when he was around the petite blonde. She was all the happiness he needed.
Alfredo found life more bearable now that Olive was in it. It no longer seemed as if the earth was losing its atmosphere but rather, gaining it back. The air seemed fuller, cleaner, purer, if only because of Olive breathed the same air. The sky was a brighter blue because of Olive's eyes. The sun shone brighter each day if only because of Olive's smile. Birds chirped only because Olive laughed.
In a short amount of time Olive Snook had become the only world Alfredo Aldarisio needed.
Olive whirled around quickly, her shock at being interrupted coming seconds late. She clutched her chest and took deep breath. "Alfredo," she said again. Alfredo gave a shy smile and wiped the fallen snow off of his jacket sleeves.
"Hi," he said quietly.
His voice seemed to shake Olive out of her shocked stupor. "Fredo," Olive spoke again. She took a step towards him and suddenly stopped by the images of the quick fantasy kiss she had had months ago flying across her mind. She blushed and pushed the thoughts to the farthest corner of her mind; locking them away. "Fredo what are you doing here?" She managed to ask, her voice shaking slightly.
"I –uh—I came back from traveling today and I thought I would just say hello," Alfredo answered, rushed.
"But, Fredo, you know we close at eight. Why didn't you come earlier today?"
Alfredo shifted nervously and Olive thought she saw a blush creep across his features quickly. "Well, I…I just got back."
"You did?" Olive asked eyes widening, noticing for the first time that Alfredo's suitcase and herbal kit were sitting at his feet. Alfredo nodded, embarrassed. "But why would you come here instead of going home?"
The man shifted again, distractedly dusting the remaining snow from his jacket. "I just want to…s-s-see you and say hello."
"Oh." Olive's blush deepened. Why would he want to see her instead of going home to a nice comfortable bed?
An uncomfortable silence filled the air as the two looked at one another.
"Well, now that I have done that," Alfredo finally said, picking up his cases, trying to alleviate some of the awkward tension . "I'll say goodnight. Goodnight."
"Alfredo!" Olive called after the man, stopping him before he could leave.
"Yes?" He asked, turning back into the room, his voice hopeful.
Olive paused and but her lip not sure why she had called after him. Something in the pit of her had told her to do it. So she had. She shifted awkwardly as Alfredo stared at her patiently. "I-It's good to see you again," Olive said quietly, the words rushing from her mouth before she thought them.
Alfredo smiled. "You too, Olive. Goodnight."
"Goodnight," Olive whispered to the empty room after Alfredo left.
The next morning, for a reason unknown to herself, Olive poured the cold espresso down the drain. She twitched before refilling the small cup with the fresh steamy coffee drink. She set the cup on the counter and stared at it. The minutes ticked by as she tapped her fingers on the counter. She huffed as the espresso stared back at her and steam no longer rose from its surface.
Sighing she picked up the cup and poured the contents down the drain again. Impatiently, she tapped her foot as she refilled the cup once more. She nearly screamed when, upon turning, she came face to face with Alfredo Aldarisio.
"Olive?" He asked, reaching across the counter and steadying the startled woman before she dropped the espresso. "Are you alright?"
"Alfredo," Olive breathed out. "When did you get here?" She asked after catching her breath.
Alfredo's brow rose as he sat on a stool across from Olive. "Fifteen minutes ago," he answered. "When you greeted me at the door, told me you would get me an espresso, then proceeded to fill a cup and empty it three times."
Olive blushed. "Oh..." she said, looking down at the fresh cup in her hands before thrusting it forward for Alfredo to take. "I guess I've done this to you a lot, huh?"
"Once or twice." Alfredo gave a small smile.
"Would you like a piece of pie?"
"And risk getting it in three hours?"
Olive rolled her eyes.
Alfredo chuckled slighlty. "I'm fine for now, thank you."
Olive nodded. "Let me know if you need anything else."
Alfredo smiled as Olive Snook walked away.
"Might I make an observation?"
Olive sighed as Alfredo's voice caught her attention as she walked by. "What is it with men and making observations?" She mumbled as she fully turned to the traveling salesman.
"I'm sorry?"
"What?"
"You said something," Alfredo explained.
"It was nothing," Olive said, waving the matter off with her hand and sitting down. "What observation did you want to make now?"
"You seem decidedly unhappy."
"I thought you already decided that…"
Alfredo smiled softly. "But even more so then before I left."
"Why are people so interested in whether or not I'm happy?" Olive said frustrated, playing with the hem of her dress. Jonah's face flashed through her mind. She shuddered.
"More people have told you, you look decidedly unhappy?"
"More or less, yes," she replied with a shrug. "No big deal."
"Is that why you're decidedly more unhappy?" Alfredo asked, leaning forward slightly his concern written on his face.
Olive shrugged again. "It may be indirectly related."
"I can still help you with that, if you'd like," Alfredo offered once more, tapping his herbal medicine with his foot.
Olive gave a small smile, rolled her eyes and scoffed. "How many times must I tell you I don't want you selling that stuff in here?"
"Ah," Alfredo said, holding up his finger. "You said I'm not allowed to bother the customers with it. You never talked about the wait staff."
Olive sat, stumped with no sarcastic remark to redeem herself. "Yeah well, don't bother anyone with it," she said instead, getting up and walking away. Alfredo smiled once more.
Olive stared at the single piece of strawberry pie after she placed it on the white plate. Sighing she placed a dollop of whip cream on top. She stared at it again.
While she still upset about what had happened with Jonah she felt relieved that she was no longer obsessing over it. But she didn't know how she felt. She felt weird. Weird because she was calm. Calm because of what Ned had said to her the night before. But weird because, for a reason she couldn't place, she felt happy. Happy, but not happy because of what Ned had said to her the previous night, but happy because of something she didn't know of…or about. It was all confusing, making her head spin and nerves raw.
With a twitch, she picked up the bottle of chocolate syrup and began to drizzle it over the strawberry pie topped with whip cream.
She watched the chocolate drizzle like a thick rain, covering the already savory treat.
"Hey Olive."
Olive jumped at the voice that interrupted her. The chocolate syrup flew from her hand, but not before spraying chocolate all over her front. With a thud, the bottle landed on the ground. Olive whirled around to find Chuck standing in front of her eyes wide.
Charlotte Charles had to stifle a laugh at the sight of Olive Snook covered in chocolate syrup.
"Chuck," Olive breathed, trying to catch her breath, putting her hand to her chest. She frowned and looked down, realizing, for the first time, that she was now a mess. She blushed and grabbed a towel, trying to wipe the chocolate away, but making it worse instead. "Did you, uh, want something?"
Chuck giggled and walked to the sink, wetting a rag and handing it to Olive. "Well, I was going to say that you seem to be doing better today then yesterday, but…" Chuck's voice trailed as Olive frowned and tried to clean herself up. The brunette stifled another laugh. "…well at this moment you're kind of--," Chuck jumped nervously.
Olive rolled her eyes and finished trying to clean her front, before giving up. The chocolate didn't seem to want to move from the front of her dress. With a grunt, she threw the towel on the counter and turned her full attention to Chuck. "What?"
Chuck smiled. "You seem to be doing a lot better."
Olive nodded. "I feel better. I think."
"You think?"
"Well I mean, I did, last night, after I talked with Ned--," she said, narrowing her eyes. Chuck coughed and inspected her finger nails. Olive rolled her eyes and threw the dirty, chocolaty rag at her.
"Ew!" Chuck jumped, hitting the towel away before it could touch her.
"Don't pretend like I don't know that you put him up to it," Olive scolded, but smiled.
Chuck smirked. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Olive rolled her eyes again, but the message was clear. A silent thank-you passed between the two.
"So you did feel better but now you don't?"
Olive sighed and leaned against the counter, crossing her arms. "I don't know. I...I don't think I felt one hundred percent better last night. But there's…something about today that makes me feel even better then before. I don't know, it's driving me crazy," she said, frustrated.
"You're not doing well because you feel happier than you think you should be?" Chuck asked, trying to wrap her head around Olive's antics.
"I think so?" Olive offered, shaking her head.
"Well, is there anything I can do to help?"
Olive shrugged. "Who knows." She looked at the pie piece on the counter again. "I better get this pie out to Alfredo, he's been waiting long enough," she said, picking up the pie and walking from the kitchen.
"Alfredo?" Chuck asked, as Olive walked away. "Who's Alfredo?" With a shrug, Chuck turned towards the sink, her foot hitting something on the ground. She looked to see the chocolate syrup bottle lying at her feet. Her eyes widened as she realized Olive had walked back into the dining area with a large chocolate stain on her front.
"Olive!" She yelled as she ran from the kitchen.
"Here's your pie," Olive said, placing the pie on the table before Alfredo.
"Thank Y--," Alfredo's eyes widened as he looked at Olive.
"What?" Olive asked, her brow furrowing.
Alfredo gaped. "Uh--," he motioned up and down with his hand.
Confused Olive looked down. Her eyes widened when she saw the state of her dress and her head snapped up. She blushed and bolted for the kitchen, running into Chuck as the other woman came running from the kitchen. Chuck was able to steady herself by grabbing onto the counter, but Olive Snook wasn't as lucky.
The impact forced the blonde woman backwards. She tripped over her own feet and fell the ground. The Pie Maker, having been occupied with picking up dirty plates from a deserted table, chose that exact moment to turn towards the kitchen. Being in a state of oblivion he tripped over Olive, sending a half eaten piece of Boysenberry Pie on top of her head.
From his seat in his booth Alfredo Aldarisio laughed quietly.
Olive groaned. "Shut up," she said, picking at a berry as it rolled down her cheek.
Alfredo smiled. Yes, Olive Snook had become the only world he needed.
Author's Note: Well there you have it! The beginning of "Let Me Fall" I hope you liked it!!
Just a thank you to everyone who read "Someone" and who came back to read this…I really appreciate it!!!
I don't know when I'll be updating again. Hopefully it will be soon. But you know how it goes with school…
Until next time,
Kate