Combination of letters 1, 2 & 3….
Due to a space issue in Fan Fiction, I found that I can only have 15 chapters. In order to be able to continue writing, I find myself combining chapters. I've also begun editing this work. It seems when I get excited about a story, my writing takes a nose dive. This is the first I've written fiction, so bear with me.
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It took several weeks for Rafe to adjust to his mother's new relationship with Olivia Finally, after listening to Frank and watching the women together, he understood what his mother must have felt for her. It was neither an "itch to scratch" nor a fleeting flirtation; he could see that his mother was truly in love and happy. Because of his contempt for the relationship, his mother had started to sneak around with Olivia, meeting her in clandestine places, trying not to let him or others see them together. He felt disgraced by her not-so-secret affair, but he was also intrigued by how much his mother had changed from what he knew of her and the lengths she would go to, to be with Olivia. It had been just over a year since Gus had died and this was the first time, in a long while, that she appeared happy. Seeing the smile that crossed her face every time she "accidentally" ran into Olivia, made him feel guilty and conscious of the fact that he was primarily the reason they snuck around town.
Finally, one day he cornered his mother and questioned her. "Ma, where are you going this late in the evening? Don't you have to be up early for work tomorrow?"
"I need to go out and get a few things at the store. I'll only be a little while," was her reply.
He looked into her eyes with his, revealing that he knew she was lying to him. "I'll go with you. It's too late to go by yourself."
Stuttering a little, she replied, "I'll…I'll manage, Rafe. Really, you won't even notice I'm gone. I'll be 15 to 20 minutes."
He took a step toward her and looked directly into her eyes, "Are you going to meet up with her?" he finally asked.
Immediately her looked away, and she bit down on her upper lip. "Yes," she quietly acknowledged. "I plan to meet Olivia." She looked guilty, as if caught in a trap with nowhere to go.
Rafe placed one of his hands on her shoulder, and moved his other hand to her cheek, gently repositioning her head so that they looked into each other's eyes. "It's ok," he said. "I think I understand how you feel, and I hope that this relationship makes you happy. It's ok. I guess I was disturbed at first because it seemed perverted and against everything I was taught. I've come to realize and learn that you love her and she loves you, and that can't be all bad. I love you and want you to be happy."
Natalia had tears in her eyes. "Oh, Rafe!" was all she could say at first, as she grabbed a hold of him and brought him into a bear hug. "I love you too! I will always love you, but my heart has a lot of room in it…for other people…not just you and your Dad. I am in love with Olivia, and I love her daughter, Emma as if she was my own daughter. I don't know how it happened or why, I just know that we were meant to be together, all of us."
With this admission, the sneaking around stopped. Olivia and Emma were invited to visit the farmhouse for picnics and movie night. Though it was a little awkward at first, Rafe began to enjoy catching the two women smile at lovingly each other or seeing them try, undetected, to casually touch one another. They were discrete, but if one watched them long enough, it was obvious what they were doing.
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Olivia and Natalia were now free to be with one another. They, and their children, became a family and decided to accept the invitation to the Bauer's 4th of July Picnic. Olivia and Natalia were both floored by the fact that they were listed on the same invitation to the festivities. It was the first public acknowledgment that they were together as a couple.
It was a grand ole time! Playing games with Emma and the other children, eating great food, and reminiscing over cocktails and apple pie. The family seemed to glow as they celebrated the day. Liv and Nat happily watched their children play; Emma was showing Rafe how to make snow angles in the grass, and he seemed more than happy to be her big brother. What fun! What bliss! Liv and Nat were beginning to notice that they had held hands and smiled all day long. Happiness was in the air, and they had all come down with a severe case of it.
Soon things in their happy world would forever change. Frank Cooper, who was going to avoid going to the Bauer barbeque, decided to come to the party at the last minute. He had said that he had other plans, wanting to spend some time catching up on old police files, but here, unexpectedly, he showed up at the picnic with a tired looking, drawn face. As he entered the back yard, he looked for Natalia, and when he spotted her, he strode to her and handed her a letter. "I stopped by the farm to see if Rafe wanted to go for a run, and a messenger had just delivered this letter. I figured I could find both of you here," he said, nodding to Olivia, but then he continued "And figured it might be important, so I brought it with me."
Nat opened the letter and began to silently read. Eventually she looked up at Olivia with the strangest looking, dumbfounded face. She re-read the letter and turned away from the onlookers, realizing that everyone had stopped to see what was in the special delivery that Frank brought to the party.
The arm holding the letter dropped to one side. She slowly turned to Olivia with tears building up in her eyes and shook her head. "It can't be," was all she said before the color drained from her face and she fainted, falling to the grassy surface.
When she woke up, she was on the couch, inside the living room of the Bauer house, with Rick Bauer kneeling at her side. He asked the others to give her some space and then asked her how she was feeling. She felt water rolling down her face and her hair was wet. Someone had splashed her with a drink in an attempt to rouse her. In her hand, she clung to the letter.
"I'm alright!" she gasped as she tried to lift her head.
"Steady! You just fainted." returned Frank as he took a step toward the couch.
Olivia, Emma, and Rafe stood in the corner of the living room with fearful looks on their faces.
"I'm ok, really! I just felt a little weak." She looked over to Emma, who was crying from the frightful experience of seeing her other mommy fall to the ground. "I'm ok, honey," she smiled. Natalia lifted her body up into a sitting position. "Can everyone just go back to the picnic, please?" she pleaded. She looked at Olivia with an almost sorry look and said once more, "I'm ok. I must not have eaten enough."
When everyone left the room, Olivia asked Frank to watch Emma, and she and Rafe moved to the couch. Both could tell something in the letter caused her to collapse. Olivia looked into her eyes and reached for her hand. She held it gently, rubbing the top of Natalia's hand with her thumb. "What is it?" she asked.
Feeling the letter in her hand, her gaze once more returned to it. She opened it up once again and stared at it. "It…It said that Nick, Gus, is alive…it says that he's been undercover for a year, that he had to fake his own death so he could work on some diamond caper in San Crystobal." She could hardly believe what she had just said.
Rafe reached for the letter, asking "Is this a joke?" And then began to read the content. His mouth moved as he read but nothing was uttered.
Olivia was next "Honey, how can this be? I have his heart. There's no way he survived the accident. This has got to be a mistake…or a cruel, cruel joke" and then her voice trailed off. "But of course, this is Springfield and it always seems like people are dead and then they reappear when it's inconvenient…May I read the letter?" she asked.
As she read it out loud, the others began to audibly cry.
"Natalia, This letter is going to startle you at first, and I'm extremely sorry for that, but I am alive and well in Japan. I decided to write a letter to you, to break the news, because I thought it would be easier than listening to a phone call. Besides, I wanted you to be able to inspect my words, and know that they were from me.
I had to fake my own death, and go under cover in order to investigate a series of jewelry smuggling rings in San Crystalbol. I had to loose my identity in order to infiltrate a group that orchestrated the stealing of the crown jewels. Honey, truly I'm ok, and am hoping to bring both you to Japan for the honeymoon we never had. I hope you are well and that Rafe is OK. I miss you both terribly and have arranged for you, my wife and my son, to join me. I feel just awful that I had to do what I did, but it was the only way to rid myself of any identity. The tickets for your plane can be picked up at the airport; they are open-ended first class tickets, so you can leave when you wish, but I am hopeful you will be on the next plane that leaves. I would return to you, but I need to rebuild my identity and prove that I am living. Please forgive me and please come back to me. Your Husband, Gus"
Olivia looked up from the letter towards Natalia. "This has got to be a fake. They said at the hospital that I had his heart. They said he was dead!" She was worrying now, as the realization began to occur to her that she might loose the woman she loved. "It's not possible true! It can't be!"
Natalia looked back at her, into her green eyes and replied, "Anything is possible. Look at us."
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Olivia was thinking at them. Thinking of them. Wondering if this would be the end of her and Natalia. How could this letter be from Gus? He died right after the motorcycle accident, and his heart had been transplanted into her chest. There was no way that he could have faked something so incredible and involving so many people! This wasn't Hollywood! Why would you ever put your family through something like this? For diamonds?!!!!! No one is that selfish! And even if he was able to get away with it, what an incredible and insensitive jerk! Natalia should boot his sorry ass to the side of the curb! So many thoughts ran through her head at that moment that she just sat there, speechless with the others. Her mouth hung open as she contemplated what to say or do next.
Rafe was the first to react, "Ma, we've got to go, pack, and get on a plane!"
"Rafe, neither of us have a passport! Besides, I think we need to check into this to make sure it is from Gus and not some cruel joke. And…" she looked at the ground, "I'm not sure how I feel about it…."
"What?!! It's your husband and my father!" he gasped. "Not sure how you feel about it? Are you thinking of her? Of Olivia?" He made a scornful look at the woman sitting next to his mother. "Come on! This is the love of your life! Your husband! My father!" he repeated. "You've got to snap out of it and go with me to Jeffry O'Neil. He'll arrange for us to get passports, and he might be able to help Dad get his identity back!" Rafe was incredulous. He couldn't believe that his mother wasn't rushing home, packing her bags at that very moment.
"Rafe," she said quietly, "If it is your father, then he deceived us. He led us to morn the man we both loved most in the world. He left us to solve a case dealing with diamonds. Diamonds for god's sake! That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard! He broke my heart and left both of us alone. I'm not going to jump on the first plane to the orient, just to be even more disappointed in a man who left us for adventure and some dumb old rocks!"
Olivia finally closed her mouth and stood up. She began pacing the room. The other two simply watched her move back and forth. Tears no longer flowed as she began to sift through her thoughts. "Jeffery can check on the legitimacy of the letter and can probably arrange for you to leave as soon as possible. You'll need money and time off from work; I've got that covered." She stopped and looked at Rafe, "But Rafe, I don't think you'll be able to leave the country because of your record. You'll probably have to stay in Springfield for the time being."
"Olivia…" Natalia began, but she was cut off by her friend.
"Nat, you'll have to find out, one way or another if it's Gus. And if it is, you'll have to go to see where you stand with him." She looked sad as she continued, "He's your husband and your son's father. And we'll deal with this and talk later. Right now, I," she paused, "Emma and I, are going to go home."
Her eyes were beginning to tear up again as she said this last bit, causing Natalia to call out "Olivia!" but her friend had made a rapid exit and left her and her son sitting together holding the letter.
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Olivia rushed into the back yard looking for her daughter. She was upset about the news that Gus might still be alive. "Who's heart was in her chest?" she wondered "Who the hell was keeping her alive?" It was beginning to feel like a bad dream. Her heart beat wildly as she looked around the yard. She scanned the happy couples and their children. "Damn it!", she thought to herself, "I almost had it!". 'It', of course, was love, happiness, fulfillment, but even she was aware that she actually did have 'it' briefly. Now she lamented, she might not ever have 'it' again.
"Emma!" she called, as she looked around frantically for her daughter. "Emma!!" she began to yell once more. Upon hearing her name, the little girl, still holding Frank's big hand, began to skip her way over to her mother.
Frank could see that Olivia was distressed and couldn't help feeling a little compassion for her. "Is everything ok?" he asked. "You look like you've been crying. What's wrong?"
"Things are not ok! Everything is wrong!" she snapped as she took her daughter's hand. Then, in a nicer tone she said to her daughter, "Honey, come with me and say 'thank you for having us and goodbye' to the Bauers. We have to leave now."
Frank looked at her inquiringly, "What's going on Olivia? Why are you leaving the party?"
"I can't talk about it right now," she snapped again, but the woman wasn't moving from where she stood. Her heart was beating erratically, her chest was heaving, and perspiration was beginning to form on her forehead and neck. Tears began to well again in her eyes as she squinted at him. "We just have to leave now," she responded is a more gentle manner.
"Olivia, whatever it is, it's got you all worked up. I'm leaving from here to go home. Please let me drive you to the Beacon," and with this, he cocked his head a little, raised both of his eyebrows, and reached out his hand for her keys. The man was good. She knew this and knew that he was no longer a threat to her and Natalia. There had been friction between them after the wedding, when had been jilted at the altar, but Frank had moved on and no longer seemed angry with Olivia and Natalia. He was always the consummate gentleman and was always thinking of safety. The handsome lawman stood patiently waiting for her keys.
"You're right," she said, realizing her heart felt like it was going to give out. She had been drinking, and though she felt sober, it wasn't just her life she held in her hands. She looked down at her daughter and squeezed her fingers, "Come on, Jellybean," she murmured.
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As they drove home, they could hear fireworks popping from the backyards of the houses they passed. Olivia's head was turned so that she didn't have to look at Frank, she just stared out into space. They didn't speak until he began to pull into town.
Quietly he began, "I know you don't want to talk about it now, Olivia, but I want you to know that even with all that has happened between us, I'm still your friend, and I'm here for you or Natalia, if ever either of you need me."
Olivia fought to hold back even more tears. "You're a good man, Frank," she said. Turning her head toward him she gave a faint smile and thanked him. "I'm in love with her, Frank, and," she sniffed. "I've never felt…," but she stopped herself short from continuing, because she knew at one point in time, she had loved him too. "I just feel like I'm going to break apart inside."
He raised his eyebrows and nodded his head. "I know the feeling," he replied and then continued, "Whatever it is, it's not the end of the world."
When they reached the hotel, Olivia sent Emma inside with the doorman, and she turned to Frank. "The letter you brought to the party was from Gus, saying he was alive and in Japan. It said that he faked his own death to look for diamond thieves, but he is alive!" She said all of this in one breath. "Did you know about any of this? Did you?!!"
Frank's mouth opened in astonishment, and it was obvious that he was just as shocked as she. "He's going to kick my ass!" he said in a frightened tone. "Are you sure about this?"
"I read the letter. It was in his handwriting. It sounded like him." She just couldn't accept it. "But Frank," she continued, "I have his heart! This is ridiculous!!!"
She told Frank that Gus couldn't come back after his investigation because in faking his own death, he had lost his identity and ability to travel. Olivia presumed that he wrote the letter to soften the blow to Natalia and Rafe. They, she confirmed, were just as shocked and confused as she was, and Rafe wanted to leave immediately for Japan.
Frank noted that Rafe wouldn't be able to leave the state, let alone the country due to his arrest record.
"Why would anyone ever do that to her?" he wondered out loud. "Intentionally leave her for a year! You'd have to be out of your mind," but then he gave it some further thought, "well, Gus is a Spaulding…so I guess he is out of his mind!"
Olivia wiped her face in her blouse. "Frank," she pleaded "Can you check it out for us?"
He shook his head acknowledging that he would look into it, said good night to Olivia, telling her that her car would be returned a little later that evening, and began to drive back to the station to begin research. He was somewhat familiar with the diamond smuggling cases in San Crystobel due to the fact that he had received reports about the theft of the crown jewels. He knew they were worth a fortune and that the desperate thieves were capable of murder. Some of the men on his force were investigating the heist and looking for the diamonds to show up in Springfield.
His mind began to wander. Wasn't Harley in Japan too? Perhaps she had known Gus' plans all along and was working as his partner once again. He hadn't talked to his sister in ages; he would have to call her because she would be able to clarify what was going on. Could she and Gus be back together? No, he thought, that couldn't be the case because Olivia was so upset. Surely, Gus had asked his wife and son to go to Japan to be with him. That must have been it! Olivia was afraid she was loosing her love to Natalia's first lover and husband. Wow, what a crazy story! He shook his head in amazement and pulled into the station parking lot.
