New Life...New Love
An On Going OTALIA Fic
A Response to Some Enchanted Evening?...
I hope you enjoy it?
PG ~13
Chapter ONE
About Last Night...
"How's your ankle," Olivia questions Natalia with concern as she continued to stir the mint chocolate into the hot milk that was now starting to bubble on the stove.
"It's...whincing...okay, it'll be fine in a few days," Nat reassured Liv as she gently rubbed the agitated area.
Turning completely so that she was facing Natalia opening her mouth to speak but then closes it again and turning back around to tend to the hot minty steaming liquid. Liv thinking to herself, 'What the hell did Frank do to you or rather what did you and Frank do to get your ankle twisted, Nat?'
"What," says the hazel eyed woman who's sitting in one of the tannish kitchen chair's as the injured lim rested in another; continues, "what is it you have to say to me, Liv?" Speaking in a near whisper to the auburn haired woman.
"I...nothing, Nat," Liv said softly her back still to the dark haired woman. Liv's eyes red and green from worry and envy.
"Olivia, turn around and look at me, please, and tell me what's on your mind?" Nat pleaded.
***
"So, how was your big date, last night, Frank?" Buzz asked his eldest son with an expectant grin.
A heavy solemn sigh streamed out of Frank's mouth then he said, "It was a complete disaster, Pop," The captain of the Springfield PD
hulled out to his dad then started cleaning off the bar.
"Well, what happened, Franky, you were so excited about the date with Natalia?" Buzz offered with concern then placed his hand over Frank's indicating for him to stop scrubbing down the bar counter and talk to him.
***
Olivia did as she was told, giving Nat one of those patented 'I don't want to do this looks' then turning back around and cutting off the eye because the hot minty cocoa was ready. She first poured Nat a cup then herself a mug. Sitting across from Natalia and taking a sip of the hot, soothing drink then proceeded with an answer; sort of... "It...it's just that ~ last night ~ when you and...Frank came in...you didn't say much of anything, he just kinda ushered you into the living room...and well...then left so abruptly after that, and when I tried to ask you about what happened yo-"
Natalia intervened, "Olivia, I...I was in pain and I was tired," running her right hand across her forehead as she smoothed her bangs from her face before she continued, "I really didn't feel like explaining about what stupid thing happened to me last night that caused, pointing to her injury, this. I just wanted to rest, ya know,...and, and...I really wanna thank you again for getting my night clothes and that extra blanket and my pillow for me so I could be comfortable down here." Nat spoke with affection to Olivia, giving her a pensive gaze as she did.
***
"What, Pop, you wanna give me some more advice? 'cause if that's what it is, I don't think so...I'll just pass, thanks, but, no thanks!" Frank bellowed at his dad.
Buzz looked at Frank with hurt and some confusion in his eyes but realized now may not be the best time to push Frank for any info. so he just removed his hand from his son's then gave him a slight nod of understanding as he went back into the kitchen.
***
"Alan," Beth spoke in a hushed tone startling the older man a bit as she quietly walked up behind him.
"Mmm, Beth, dear, how'd you sleep?" Alan queried with a hint of malice in his larynx.
"Like a baby, how about you?" Beth asked in a caring tone, believing, in her mind; in her heart, that this would be the last day she'd spend with Alan, she knew she would end her relationship with the most powerful man in Springfield, or so she thought?
"I slept..." stopping to reflect and carefully craft his words, "as if a load as been lifted off my shoulders, sweetheart." And it had been, after seeing Beth going hot and heavy with one Henry Cooper "Coop" Bradshaw, yesterday. Alan has done nothing but visualize what his next move would be, and coming up with a helluva plan that will ultimately shake both Beth and young Coop to their collective cores.
This answer was perplexing to Beth and she saw that Alan noticed the baffled look on her attractive features, giving her a stock
explanation to his puzzling response a few seconds ago. Putting his hands on the woman's shoulders as he began, "Beth, dear, I...I was only trying to say that I missed you all day yesterday and it was good to have sleeping in our bed...even if you weren't in the mood to make love, it was wonderful having you, giving her a penetrating gaze with a half cocked smile; as he continued, "lying there by my side."
***
A few moments passed, Frank having time to cool down, went back into the kitchen to talk to is father. "Pop," Frank said warmly, gently touching his dad on the shoulder, Buzz was, at the time, chopping some veggies for a chicken stir fry dish that he wanted to include on tonight's menu when his son interrupted him; saying, "Dad, I'm sorry I yelled at you - I didn't mean it, my anger was really directed at me and I...I just," looking down at the vegetables his dad had been cutting up then looking directly into his father's eyes; continuing, "took it out on you, and I shouldn't have, you love me and you were only trying to help. And I get that, but sometimes... I-"
Cut off by Buzz, "You sometimes just need for your old man to shut up and listen and not try and tell you what to do, placing his hand on top of Frank's, then continues, "dully noted." The two men smile at each other as they carry on their chat while they plan out, prep for today's menu and stock some of the inventory as well.
***
Olivia studying Natalia's gorgeous features as if she were going to be tested on them, husking out a huge sigh of uncertainty before she begins to speak, "Nat, you don't have to thank me for doing that, it was my pleasure and um, after everything you've done, and do for me, and Em, come on, it's the least I can do," Liv said with pure love and adulation.
Natalia returning Olivia's gaze responded to her with a with a warm smile and a full heart, "Olivia,...you're too much ~ you know that? And thank you, for all your kind words, the feeling is most definitely mutual," Olivia blushed as Nat relayed her sentiments.
"Ya know, I was...very worried about you, when you walked or rather limped in here last night with Frank...I thought that...a concerned sigh whisped out as she timidly ran her fingers over her mug while she searched the brown muddy liquid for some kind of answer to what she was feeling and thinking...I don't know what I thought, really?" The woman with the greenish-gray eyes said, wanting to say so much more but deciding that now was not the right time, nor did she even truly know what to say.
"Yeah, I guess...it kinda scared you, huh?" Natalia said softly as she scrunched up her nose in that cute little way that Liv finds so totally adorable.
Liv, not being able to contain the blush that just crept across her cheeks, runs her hand thru her hair as she then gives Nat a pensive yet curious gaze before replying, "Yep, that you did. I alm-" Olivia stopping herself yet again from saying something that she might regret later.
"You almost what, Olivia?" Natalia queried, hoping that Liv would just say what was on her mind.
***
Beth thought about her time with Coop yesterday...making love with him and wanting to be with him, share a life with him more than any other man she's been with since...well ~ Phillip.
Leaning against the bar and tilting her head slightly before speaking, "Alan, we need to talk?"
***
Olivia struggled to get the words out, she'd never had so much trouble telling anyone how she felt, but then again, this was different, very different and Liv knew it. She wasn't just spewing venom at an unruly employee or at a Spaulding. No, she was going to or wanted to tell Natalia everything that had been laying dormant in her heart for months. Actually, it's been years of feelings that Olivia's carried around inside her; emotions that had rarely been tapped in the past were now bubbling to the surface and the only person that's ever been able to truly make a dent in her hardened heart, her broken spirit, was this beautiful dark haired latina woman sitting in front of her by the name of NATALIA.
***
"Okay, sweetheart, what is it you want to talk to me about?" Alan said matter-of-factly to Beth as he made himself a scotch on the rocks.
Giving herself a minute or two to gather her thoughts before she continued, "Alan...I um, can't ma-"
Her words being cut off by the ringing of the phone and Alan picking it up, "Hold on one moment dear, the elder Spaulding spoke as he held up his index finger speaking into the phone, "Hello, Alan Spaulding, here...hello...who is this...listen, I don't have time for this, playing phone games - I'm...Phillip, Oh, my dear God, Phillip is that you?
***
"Last night Nat...I was worried that you and Frank...had gotten into some kind of accident and then you shut me out because you wouldn't tell me what had happened or more exactly how it happened and I just got really, uhm, ticked, I guess you'd say, " Olivia pushing herself away from the table and the closeness to Natalia, because it was becoming too much for her to deal with; now standing by the stove; she carried on, "I mean we've become really really close and now you're holding back on me and I can't help but think it's because of that stupid kiss I gave you a week or so ago. I know I...I only did it to prove a point, but sti-"
Cut off by Natalia, "Was it Liv...just to prove some point, to me, or was it something else altogether?" Nat asked Liv with piercing accuracy.
Just then the door opened and Emma saying goodbye to her friend, "Bye, Rebecca, see you Monday, okay, I will, and thank you, Mrs. Donnelly," The little girl closed the door shut then turned around and started walking into the kitchen and was startled at seeing Nat hurt. Running over to Natalia dropping her book bag down on the floor in the process; saying, "Nat, what's wrong? How'd you hurt yourself?" Giving the seated woman a big hug and then a kiss on the cheek. She then looked up at her mother and said, "Hi, Mommy, what happened to Nat?" Her little eyes darting back and forth between the two women like a tennis match.
***
"Oh God, Alan," looking up into the older man's grey eyes, that were glazed over as if he had seen a ghost, well, he thought he heard one at least. Beth continued, "Alan," mildly shaking the man out of his daze so she could find out if what he said was true or not, was it Alan's long gone golden boy son, the once love of her life, on the other end, "was that Phillip...on the phone?" Beth questioned Alan, panic rising in her voice.
***
"Well, honey, I'm not quite sure what happened to Natalia's foot, she hasn't given me any details yet," Olivia said honestly to Emma.
Emma looked at Nat questioningly then asked, "Why didn't you tell mommy what happened to you, Nat, then turning her gaze to her mother, saying, "Mommy, weren't you there when Nat hurt herself?" Emma's query cutting into the older woman's heart like a sharp knife.
Liv just stood there for a second pondering her daughter's question, answering her own thought...'I wasn't there sweetie because Nat doesn't wanna be with me, she want's to be with Captain Frank.'
"Mom," Emma calling out to her brought Liv out of her introspection, keeping her gaze on her mom, she continued, "why weren't you there, when Nat got hurt?"
Natalia interceded Emma's interrogation of Olivia by saying, "Em, Emma honey, your mom wasn't there because I was with Frank,... Frank Cooper, I was having dinner with him an-"
Emma but in, "You didn't have dinner with mommy?" Giving Nat a penetrating stare, "You always eat dinner with me and mommy, and if I'm not around it should be you and mommy, so, why was you with Frank?" Emma asked innocently albeit somewhat confused and upset.
***
"I...I'm not quite sure...it sounded like him," Alan looking down into Beth's concerned deep blue eyes, backing up and taking a seat in his brown leather wing-back executive chair situated in front of his desk, which was nestled in a small alcove overlooking the bar area of the study to the Spaulding estate, conveys, "Beth, I'm...not feeling very well right now," remembering that the blonde woman he was still very much in love with wanted to "talk" with him. And Alan being a very smart man knew exactly what Beth meant by the term. So, he decided to play ill to stave off the unpleasantries that were sure to transpire once they engaged in their little conversation. Alan was sure that Beth was going to break it off and Alan, being Alan was not going to let that happen, not without some blood shed, only if necessary, that is. Although, he was genuinely shaken up a bit by that call - he wasn't going to let Beth get the upper hand; especially with him being at a slight disadvantage at the moment.
***
"Em, that's not nice, you know better than that," Liv scolded Emma, but was secretly happy that her little girl said it because she wanted to know the answer to that question also.
"Mommy, you and Nat told me that we are suppose to have breakfast and dinner together as a family, the three of us, remember? That's what you two said to me when we first moved into the farmhouse. And now you're takin' it back ~ why?" Emma gazing into the watery eyes of both women, conveying with urgency and a slight sob that made both Olivia and Natalia feel ashamed and hurt because they did make that promise to Emma and themselves.
Natalia wiping the tears from her eyes spoke first, "Emmy, you're right, sweetie, your mom and I did tell you that and we menat it...at the time, but sometimes honey, things change; peo-"
Cut off by Olivia, "Sometimes people change their minds about things, sweetheart and..." Liv, biting back a heavy sob, then carrying on, "ah, I guess they do-"
Nat butting in with conviction, "Emma, your mommy and I were wrong, I should have been here to have dinner with your mom. That's the arrangement we made with you and each other and from now on we're gonna stick to it. If plans need to change we'll call a family meeting and vote on it, that's what we'll do next time, okay, honey, no more last minute changes like that, kay?" Nat said lovingly to the little girl she loved like her own, squeezing her tight into her side as she threw a knowing look at Liv as well.
Olivia nodding in agreement with Natalia about their future eating arrangements, but that still didn't quell the nagging question ~ what happen to Nat's ankle?
***
"Ya know what, pop, I"m gonna take a break now," putting the knife down and walking over to the kitchen door saying on his way out, "you can handle the rest of this stuff can't cha? Giving is dad a knowing smile as he starts walking toward the door, Buzz throwing a towel at Frank as he pushes his way thru the swinging door; the older man shouting, "Go ahead, leave your old man in here to chop up all these vegetables," twirling the knife around the produce as he continued his rant, "I'm sure that's considered to be some kind of parent abuse...somewhere in this great country of ours," the elfish man with the bright twinkle in his eye hurled out playfully to his eldest son.
***
Natalia giving Emma another quick hug and a kiss on the cheek, then whispering something in her ear, the little girl shaking her head cheerfully at Nat then going over to her mom and giving her a big hug and a kiss, which Liv easily returns. Smoothing her fingers over her daughters soft locks then sending her up to the room to unpack. As Emma is walking out of the kitchen Liv tells her she'll be upstairs in a minute to draw her a bath and find out exactly how her overnight trip went but first she needs to see if Nat will be okay downstairs by herself for a while. Liv following behind her daughter watching her run up the stairs.
Olivia turning to go back into the kitchen walks over and stands directly in front of the dark haired woman, croaking out, "Okay Nat, spill it, we don't have much time and I want to know what the hell happen to you on your date with Frank last night?"
Natalia was floored by Olivia's straight-forwardness at first then easing herself up slightly in the chair eyeing the older woman intently,
"Okay, you wanna know how I hurt myself last night with Frank, then please have a seat and I'll explain it to you." Motioning for Liv to sit down; the taller woman complying reluctantly. Once Liv was seated comfortably, Natalia began to recall her date with Frank...
...THE DATE w/FRANK
Laughter filled the small community establishment, "No, seriously, that actually happened," Frank told the hazel eyed woman sitting in front of him. Thinking to himself, 'I wonder if she knows just how beautiful she is, and how much I care about her?'
Taking a sip of wine, responding, "Well, that's nothing compared to the time when Rafe thought he was Superman and wanted to fly off the fire escape of our apartment back in Chicago. He would wrap a towel around his neck and say, look, mama, I can fly and-" Catching a glimpse of the way Frank was staring at her over her glass and becoming a tad uncomfortable, "Um, Frank, what's wrong, clearing her throat, do I have something in my teeth or something, 'cause that would be pretty embarrassing if I do...Frank, Frank,"
Shaking himself out of his musings and answering the person who was the cause of his distraction, "Ah, uhm, yeah, sorry, Nat, I was just, uhm thinking...about you - us?"...
...The dark haired beauty was taken aback by what Frank said. Placing her wine glass down and hesitantly asking him what exactly he meant by the term...US?
"Uhm, Frank ~ what...what are you talking about...I mean," licking her lips because they had gone dry, "what," labored sigh, "what about...us?"
Frank shifted uneasily in his seat then opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. After a short minute he gained his composure and willed out, "Nat, I think that I'm, uhm, fall-ing in love - with you." Lingering in the gorgeous woman's eyes.
A hushed silence filtered thru the air and everything seemed a bit hazy to both Frank but especially to Natalia. She didn't have the words to express what she'd just heard or thought she heard, she was ~ in shock, she knew that Frank had feelings for her but...love, she was out doned; borderline mortified by the depths of his emotions for her.
"Natalia...I...I know that this seems really fast," placing his hand over Nat's, "but, I...uhm, I've been having these, bringing his free hand up to his heart, "these intense feelings for you for - weeks, actually, long before I gave you that rushed kiss outside of Company that day. I...I'd been trying to figure out what all of it meant but then you stopped by the other day and we talked and it all just came to me, like, like ah, what's the word..."
"Epiphany," Nat's voice quietly lulled out. Looking down at Frank's hand over her's but her mind was only on one thing, one person...OLIVIA....
***
Nat was going to say something but saw how defeated Liv looked, deciding to wait to see what the cat-eyed woman would say before she questioned her.
Liv lowered her face that was turning a whiter shade of pale as she deliberated what Nat had just said to her. Sitting there; quietly waging a war within herself; that of her own overwhelming emotions for the woman sitting before her and also those of a growing dislike for Captian Frank. She wondered if she should just deluge Nat with her own mounting affection for her or just let them lay dormant ~ the way she had been; for weeks, months even?
After realizing that the slightly taller woman wasn't going to say anything Nat said in a soft soothing tone, "Olivia, are you okay?" The younger woman giving the auburn haired woman a persistent gaze as she worried the paper napkin that was in her hand.
The executive now looking up into glistening hazel orbs, "Yeah, Nat, I...I'm just peachy," Liv husked out with sarcasm.
"Well, you don't sound peachy, Liv, you seem a bit upset?" Nat said as she dabbed at her watery eyes.
"I said, I'm FINE, Natalia. What more do you want me to say ~ muhm, I think it' s great that you and Frank are making a connection. Hooray for you and Captain Frank!" Olivia barked out angrily to Nat.
"Olivia, why are you so ticked off? And what the hell do you mean by me and Frank making a connection, Nat spewed in air quotes ~ he said that he loved me, Liv, not the other way around, so why the hell are you so friggin' upset!" Natalia's voice was an octave higher and she was visibly trembling.
She thought to herself why she was even allowing Olivia's reaction to what Frank said to her last night affect her to such an extreme?
Liv was surprised and a little proud at how forcefully Nat had countered her verbal assault, she knew Nat had a lot of fight in her, although, she always tries to turn the other cheek. Liv knew that when pushed Natalia would push back and hard if she had to.
The older woman currently chewing on her bottom lip staring at Nat with an odd grin on her face, then looking away gently saying, "I'm ~ uhm, sorry about the outburst ~ I, ah, never meant to get so 'friggin' upset,'" she turned back around and smiled at Nat, "and you said hell, twice, you know that, don't you?" holding up two fingers, grinning that twitchy grin at Nat with warmth.
"Yeah, yeah, I know...but Liv, please don't change the subject ~ why are you so upset about what Frank said to me ~ really?" Natalia questioned Olivia, her heart and mind starving for an answer.
As Olivia started to respond to the younger woman's query, her daughter called out, "Mommy, have you forgotten about me?" Emma's little voice rung out, giving Liv a much needed escape from a very heavy question that she wasn't quite ready to deal with.
"I'll be right back," Liv assured Nat, then with a nod of recognition from the dark haired beauty Liv hurried upstairs to her daughter.
***
Liv walked into the bedroom that she and her little girl share at the farmhouse, "Hey, sweetie, I'm here. And no, mommy would never forget about you, pumpkin, never," The tired mom said lovingly to her baby girl. "Nat and I just got caught up in our conversation, so how was you sleepov-"
Liv was interrupted by Emma, "Mom, did Nat tell you how she got hurt?" Em searching her mommy's eyes for an honest answer.
Olivia pondering the question for a second or two then realizing that in her highly emotional outbreak she'd thrown her initial query to Nat all out of whack and never received any info. about how Nat got hurt. "No, honey, Natalia and I started talking about something else altogether and what happen to Nat just got...I donno brushed out of our minds, but I promise I'll find out when I go back downstairs that will be my top priority, scouts honor." Liv pledged to her daughter hoping that the fingers she was holding up were the correct one's for the girl scout pledge.
The little girl stared at her mommy a moment then blurted out cheerily, "Do you think it would be okay if I called Natalia, Mama Nat?"
Olivia was astounded by her child's request. She knows how much she loves Nat and how much Nat genuinely loves her little girl. She also knows that Emma already thinks of Natalia as her other mommy, the presentation solidified that. But for Emma to actually call Nat Mama Nat would be moving into a whole other realm of their relationship. A place where Liv has often fantasized about but never truly believed would come to fruition. But this revelation that her 8 year old daughter has just laid on her has not only her mind racing but her heart as well.
"Mommy, do you think Nat would let me call her, Mama Nat, do you?" Her little girl pushing her for a relpy, hope dripping from her small caring lips.
Olivia's quandary is elevated by the now ringing phone and a on-coming migraine, saying to Emma, "Give mommy a sec, honey," then shouting down to Nat, "I got it!" Picking up the receiver, "Hello,...oh great,..." huffing out an aggrevated sigh, "it could only be you right now, Frank."
to be continued...
Next time...
How Nat's ankle was injured
What Liv has to say to Emma about Mama Nat
Nat pushes Liv for a truthful response about her feelings
Frank's part in Nat's life
Alan, Coop and Beth have a pow wow and more...