The Simple Things

I don't own any of the Signed Sealed Delivered characters. They are Martha Williamson's beautiful creations. This is my first work of fanfiction that I have posted so I hope the POstables like it. Please review if you would like because I would love the feedback - especially for my first time. Enjoy!

Chapter 1:

As the sun filtered in through the window Shane slowly awoke to the electric sensation of Oliver's lips on hers. He didn't usually wake her up like this. He usually preferred a kiss on the cheek or a brush of her hair. Shane sat upright in an instant. "Oliver what's wrong?"
"Shhh shhh" whispered Oliver. He put his finger on her lips, tucked her hair behind her ear, and leaned in and kissed her again.

"Oliver what's gotten into you?"

"I love you. And today we are doing absolutely nothing except staying in."

"Oh, that sounds nice Oliver." Shane sighed. "We've been so busy at work lately, I could really use a day..." And with that Oliver leaned in again and covered Shane's lips with his own."Oliver..." Shane wanted to say something, but was speechless. Oliver just took her breath away.

"Okay, okay I'm getting up. I'm going to make you breakfast," Oliver stated with pride.

"Awe that's sweet Oliver, but I'll help you. We'll dance around the kitchen as we make it."

"Do you even know how beautiful you are... Mrs. O'Toole?"

"You could show me Mr. O'Toole." Oliver pulled Shane out of bed and threw her into a dip. As she rose she pulled his white t-shirt and his lips into her. "Whooo I think I need a Yoohoo," Shane sighed.

"That can be arranged. Allow me to lead you to the kitchen my love." Shane took Oliver's hand and they went to the kitchen to make Oliver's blueberry oatmeal and Shane's blueberry waffles. Shane usually liked oatmeal too but Oliver wanted to surprise her this morning. It was an unusual morning after all. Their 2 year old daughter Savannah hadn't woken up yet. "Mrs. O'Toole I am making you blueberry waffles. Would you still like a Yoohoo?" Shane thought it was funny that Oliver had taken her seriously. She didn't really think Yoohoo sounded very appetizing first thing in the morning. Shane chuckled before saying, "No thank you Mr. O'Toole. I'm going to have my morning coffee, and I'll make you your oatmeal."

"Mrs. O'Toole I want you to sit at that table and relax. I am in charge of breakfast today. I will make your coffee and your waffles and then I will make my oatmeal."

"Oliver how can we dance around the kitchen together if you banish me to the table?" Shane said slyly. "I will make your breakfast and you will make mine and we'll see who's the better cook." Oliver just gave her a look. This morning's breakfast wasn't meant to be a cook off challenge, but he couldn't resist his wife's smile with that playful glimmer in her eyes. Oliver prepared the coffee maker to start brewing his wife's coffee. Oliver didn't like to drink coffee except on occasion. Shane had always drank coffee a little more often than him, and now that she was a mom she really relied on it. Shane was in the corner of the kitchen reaching up to get a bowl and Oliver decided he needed to get a plate at the exact same time. He put a gentle hand on her waist and reached up and got a bowl for her. Then before he got his plate he pulled her in close and planted a kiss on her cheek. Shane turned to him and just as their lips were about to touch they heard a crash and a scream. Shane raced over to the staircase and the next few moments went by in a blur. In a heartbeat Oliver was at the bottom of the stairs beside his wife. Laying at the bottom of the stairs was Savannah, absolutely wailing. Her right eye was already starting to turn black, her nose was bleeding, and she could barely move her right arm. Anytime Shane touched it to hold her, she wailed in pain. Shane looked up at Oliver terrified. He ran into the downstairs bathroom and brought some tissues for her bloody nose. Then he ran to the freezer to get an ice pack for her eye. Oliver held the ice pack wrapped in paper towel, so it wouldn't be too cold, against Savannah's eye. Shane just sat there at the bottom of the stairs holding Savannah and kissing her head. She spoke softly to her like a lullaby, trying to get Savannah to take some deep breaths. Oliver could tell Shane was terrified, but was trying to keep it together for Savannah's sake. Oliver was trying to hold it together too. Shane looked at Oliver and said "She must have climbed out of her crib, but how did she get past the baby gate?"

"Oh... we must not have latched it all the way when we came downstairs, since we were... distracted."

"We couldn't have Oliver!" Shane burst into tears at the thought that she could be the cause of her daughter's pain and injuries. She couldn't bear to think that this was her and Oliver's fault. Oliver didn't know what to do with both of his girls sobbing. He wanted to take Savannah to help Shane, but he knew that as a mom the last thing she wanted right now was to stop holding her daughter. Shane picked up Savannah and carried her to the couch so they would both be more comfortable. Oliver went up the stairs and latched the baby gate completely, then came back down with the ice pack and sat on the couch next to Shane with a still slightly whimpering Savannah in her lap. He put his arm around Shane and kissed her head. Shane leaned into his side a little. Oliver put the ice pack back on Savannah's eye and she shivered a little. Shane rubbed her hair to keep her calm. Luckily her nose had stopped bleeding. Shane said to her in a soothing voice, "Tell mommy where it hurts sweetheart." Savannah pointed to her right arm that had swollen greatly in the last few minutes. "Oliver look at her arm!" Shane was so taken aback by how swollen it was that she forgot to stay calm for Savannah's sake. Savannah looked up at her mommy and started crying again. Her mommy's alarmed tone had scared her all over. "Bad mommy?"

"Oh no sweetheart you'll be okay. Don't be scared." Shane glanced at Oliver with a "what do we do now" kind of look. Oliver leaned over and touched Savannah's arm gently. She didn't flinch. Then he tried to pick her arm up and she screamed. Oliver looked over at Shane and said "I think her arm is broken Shane." Shane became all flustered. Her eyes started to well up. Her baby was hurt and she didn't know what to do. "We have to take her to the emergency room Oliver."

"Yes. We will. I will pack some things and then we will go right away."

"Oh, Oliver. I'm supposed to meet Rita in a few hours at the adoption agency. I still have to drive all the way up there. There's no way I can be there for Rita and wait in the waiting room at the hospital with Savannah." Shane started to panic. "Oliver what am I going to do?" At this point Shane was up and pacing and Savannah was still laying on the couch. Oliver propped her arm up on a pillow and laid the ice pack on it to lessen the swelling. "Be still sweetheart, okay?" Savannah nodded. Now that Savannah was settled Oliver walked over to Shane and wrapped her up in his arms. "Shhh shhh Shane." Shane was crying so hard she was shaking. She cried into Oliver's shoulder as he stroked her hair and rubbed her back. Oliver whispered in her ear, "Shane, it's okay. Everything will be okay."

"Oliver, our baby is hurt. It's her first broken bone and I can't be with her. She's in so much pain." Oliver tightened his grip on Shane and swayed her back and forth.

"Shane listen to me. You have to breathe. Lean into me and let me take the pain away." Shane breathed in and sighed. Her loving husband always knew what to say. Shane closed her eyes and breathed in Oliver's aftershave. The world started to melt, but then Oliver spoke again bringing her back to the horrible reality. "Shane I will take Savannah to the emergency room and you will go to be with Rita. You're right, you have to be there with Rita since Norman is stuck in D.C. at the stamp convention. She needs you."

"Oliver, my baby needs me."

"Shane listen to me. I have everything under control. Rita needs you as well. This is their first adopted child and you promised you would be there for moral support. I promise you I will take care of our little one. I will handle everything. I won't leave her side." Shane listened to Oliver's sincere words and felt genuinely blessed that she got to call this man her husband and the father of her daughter. She knew Oliver would take great care of Savannah, but that didn't make leaving her any easier. But deep down Shane knew Savannah would be okay. She had always been a daddy's girl. And Shane couldn't let Rita go through adoption alone. She had to keep her promise to her best friend. Rita was already totally upset that that Norman's flight got canceled due to engine difficulties and he couldn't be there to meet their new daughter. Shane sighed. "Okay Oliver. You will take Savannah to the emergency room yourself and I will drive down to meet Rita. But promise you'll send me updates and pictures when she gets a cast. I need to make sure she's okay." Shane had gotten Oliver a cell phone as a wedding present a few years ago when they got married. She couldn't have her husband not able to reach her when they were apart. It took Oliver a while to learn how to use it, but his lovely wife was a great teacher.

"Yes, my love. I promise I will keep you updated. She will be fine. She is a tough little one."

"I know. But please, keep her comfortable."

"Honey why are you still worried? I have everything under control." Shane started tearing up again.

"It's just, she's never been without me when she's needed me. I've never been without…" Shane broke down into tears again.

"Shane, look at me. I love you and I love our little girl with all my heart. I am going to do everything I can to make this as easy as possible on both of you. Now come here. Let's stop these tears so we can both leave." Shane wrapped her arms around Oliver's neck and kissed his cheek. He rubbed her back as he hugged her. Shane pulled away and looked at her husband with a look of pure gratitude. Oliver gently stroked her face as he wiped away her tears. As their eyes met Oliver knew what he needed to do. He leaned in and kissed Shane passionately. His eyes caressed her face as he said, "I love you Shane. Go be with Rita. Drive safely and I will see you later tonight." Oliver thought Shane might cry again, but she held it together. A wave of nausea washed over Shane. The thought of leaving my little girl must be making me feel sick, Shane thought.

"I love you so much Oliver. Thank you. Drive safe." Shane kissed her husband on the cheek and went back in the living room where Savannah was asleep on the couch with the ice pack still on her arm. Shane really wanted to say goodbye to her little girl, but she didn't want to wake her up. She had been through enough already and had more pain ahead of her. So instead Shane stroked her hair, kissed her head, and whispered "Mommy loves you. I have to go be with Aunt Rita right now, but daddy is going to take good care of you. The nice doctors are going to patch you right up and make your arm feel better okay? You be brave for mommy and daddy and I will see you later sweetheart. I love you." Shane realized she wasn't sure if she was saying all that for Savnnah's sake or hers. She went out the laundry room and into the garage to leave. She never knew that Oliver had been standing in the archway of the living room watching his two beautiful girls. Oliver went to the window and watched Shane's car pull out of the driveway. Shane didn't see it, but he blew her a kiss as he said a silent prayer for her safety. She had just been so emotional lately. He prayed she would be okay without him. Oliver went upstairs to pack Savannah's favorite stuffed owl that Rita had given to her for her 2nd birthday and anything else he thought they might need.