Disclaimer : I own nothing of the show or characters. I'm just having fun with them.

Love Over Fear

It is the morning of the 4th of July in Springfield and hotel owner Olivia Spencer is in her bedroom in her suite at the Beacon, buttoning the last button on her blouse. As the tiny, round piece of plastic slips through its accompanying hole, the green-eyed woman's head whirls around towards the other bedroom of the suite.

OLIVIA : "Jellybean? You almost ready?"

EMMA (calling from the other room) : "Yes, mommy."

Olivia steps out into the living room where she is joined by her 8-year-old.

OLIVIA (cheerily placing a hand affectionately on the little girl's head) : "Ok, baby. Let's get a move on."

At that moment, Olivia's cell phone rings. The auburn-haired beauty stops to pull the ringing rectangular accoutrement from her purse and smiles because (a) her younger daughter is just too adorable as she rolls her eyes in frustration due to her mother delaying their journey and (b) the person on the other end of the line is her favorite person (her own flesh and blood notwithstanding) in the world.

OLIVIA (smiling widely, excitedly) : "Hey, you. Are you ready? We're on our way to pick you up."

NATALIA (sniffling, sadly) "Umm, Olivia, I think we need to talk."

Olivia's entire world flips upside down and she freezes fearfully at the sound of the woman she loves crying and at the possible implication of her love's words.

OLIVIA (nervously) : "O-ok."

NATALIA : "Can you come over? Alone?"

OLIVIA (nervously) : "Uh, sure. I guess I can drop Emma off at the barbecue with Phillip and then go to the farmhouse."

NATALIA (quietly) : "Please."

OLIVIA (worriedly) : "I'll be there as soon as I can." (pushing the end button on her phone and turning to her younger daughter) "I'm sorry, Jellybean. Change of plans. Natalia needs to talk to me about something."

Emma's head drops back with a frown and she angrily stomps her foot.

EMMA (whining) : "Aw, Mom. That's not fair!"

Even through her worry and fear, the green-eyed woman can't help but think how cute her daughter is when she's whining.

OLIVIA : "Don't worry, baby. I'm still taking you to the picnic and you can hang out with your dad until I get there, ok?"

EMMA (still whining) : "But you and Natalia won't be there. Can't I go with you to see Natalia?"

OLIVIA (shaking her head) : "Sorry, pumpkin. Natalia needs to talk to me alone."

At her young child's look of disappointment, the beautiful hotelier tries a different approach to appease her child.

OLIVIA : "Trust me, you don't want to go with me. Natalia and I will be talking about boring grown-up stuff. You'll have a lot more fun at the picnic."

EMMA (quietly) : "Not without you and Natalia."

Olivia leans down to look directly into her daughter's eyes and places a hand on her baby's shoulder.

OLIVIA (quietly) : "Listen to me. I'll get back to the picnic as quick as I can, ok."

EMMA : "But what about Natalia?"

OLIVIA : "I'm not sure what it is Natalia needs to talk to me about, but if there's any way she can make it, she'll be there, too, ok?"

Unconvinced, the fair-haired child shrugs wordlessly as tears form in her eyes. Olivia's heart breaks at the sight. She envelops her young daughter in her arms and kisses her cheek several times.

OLIVIA : "Everything's going to be ok, sweetheart. I promise."

The jade-eyed beauty doesn't know whether she's trying to convince her daughter or herself, but she kisses the child's forehead once more before finally releasing her.