Saving Ma

Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this

Chapter 3

After starting the laundry Natalia went back into the living room to sit and wait for Emma. Olivia had shifted and balled herself up on the couch leaving a space by her head. Natalia decided to sit there and started running her fingers through Olivia's golden locks. She leaned her head back to close her eye thinking about the day's events and unintentionally fell asleep.

This is how Emma found them when she came in. She came in through the kitchen and smelled dinner and cookies. She was about to run upstairs to find her mom but stopped short seeing them on the couch. She stood there and smiled for a moment before getting worried and walked over to them.

She nudged Natalia's shoulder. "Natalia" She whispered, not wanting to wake her mom if she was sick. She shook her harder "Natalia?"

Natalia opened her eyes looking at Emma and smiled. "Hi baby, your home,"

Emma looked down at Olivia. "Is mommy sick?"

Natalia looked down noticing Olivia had shifted and had her head in her lap. She smiled "No baby. She's just needed a nap, but nap time is over and she wanted you to wake her when you got home so go ahead."

Emma still looked worried. "Are you sure?"

Natalia took her little face in her hands. "Emma, I promise she is fine. If she was sick I would tell you. I always do."

Emma perked up and hugged her, then went and knelt on the ground closest to Olivia's head. She took a piece of Olivia's hair and started to tickle her nose with it. She and Natalia both giggled when she swatted at it. Emma did this a few more times until Olivia actually smacked herself in the face effectively waking her up. Emma and Natalia laughed at the look on her face.

She looked up at Natalia noticing she was in her lap then back down to Emma who was still laughing. "Oh you think that's funny Jellybean?" Emma laughed harder and nodded her head wildly. Olivia sat up quickly and pulled a surprised Emma into her lap. "I'll show you funny." She started tickling the girl mercilessly, causing Natalia to laugh when Emma was begging for her to stop.

Olivia released Emma, "Oh you think it's funny too do ya?" she inched toward Natalia.

Natalia saw her intent. "Oh no." she started to get up but was tackled and Olivia began tickling her. "NO… Olivia stop…" she was gasping for air and laughing, Emma on the floor beside the couch in hysterics now that someone else was getting the tickle monster. "If you want dinner… you stop!"

Olivia laughed and released her. "Fine but only cause I need food woman."

Natalia laughed and swat her arm getting up. "Ok Em, snack time then homework and if she behaves mommy can have a snack too."

Both Spencer girls looked at each other when she walked out of the room then scrambled up to follow. Snack time usually meant cookies. They sat at the table and waited for Natalia to bring snack. She set out celery and peanut butter, a plate of chocolate chip cookies and set Olivia's afternoon meds next to her.

Emma and Olivia reached for the cookies and Natalia pulled it back. "Un-uh, no. Celery first then a cookie."

Both girls pouted but grabbed some celery and peanut butter. Olivia looked up at her with mischief in her eyes. "Fine but we get two cookies each." She winked at her and Emma nodded seriously agreeing with her mom. Natalia chuckled and went to the crock pot to check on dinner and start the rest.

After they were through with snack, Emma went up stair and Olivia took her meds and cleaned up their mess. She walked over to the sink where Natalia was washing up prep dishes. She leaned into her with her hand on Natalia's lower back placing the snack dishes in the sink. "Thanks for the snack. I'm going to go and check the Beacon email account until dinner unless you need help"

Natalia took a shaky breath, deeply affected by her nearness. "No that's fine I'm almost done here." Olivia nodded and headed to the living room. Natalia collapsed into the sink once she was out of the room trying to compose herself.

Once Olivia made it to the living room she stood leaning against the wall for support for a moment. She thought to herself that she really should stop doing things like that but she couldn't help herself sometimes. Must be a glutton for punishment she thought and moved to the couch and opened her lap top.

That night after dinner and Emma was in bed they sat on the porch swing drinking their nightly cup of cocoa and talked about Rafe and him hopefully coming home.

On their way to their rooms Natalia pulled Olivia into a hug. "Thank you so much for helping to get him home. You have no idea what it means to me."

Olivia hugged her tightly. "Yes I do. I want him home just as much. I love him and can't wait for him to complete our family."

Natalia squeezed her once more nodded to her and retreat to her room tears gathering. Oh how much she wanted them to be a real family. Loving that Olivia loved Rafe so much. Once she composed herself she got ready for bed. She fell asleep content in the knowledge that Rafe may be home in two days' time. She had spoken to Ava that morning when she called to check on Olivia. They spoke for an hour catching up and Ava was doing well. Olivia and Emma were down the hall sleeping and doing fine. She was pretty happy for the moment.

The next morning they got up, Natalia got breakfast on the table and they got Emma on the bus. Natalia drove Olivia to work and now sat in the visitor's room waiting for Rafe.

He came in huge smile on his face. "Hey Ma. How's your morning going?"

Natalia smiled at his excitement. "It's going go baby, and you? How's your sugar, did you get breakfast?"

Rafe chuckled "I'm fine Ma. Sugar was normal last check and I had a pretty good breakfast."

Natalia sighed. "Good. I'm sorry, I worry. They just don't take good enough care of you in here."

Rafe smiled. "I know Ma, but hopefully I will be out by tomorrow in time for dinner with you, Olivia, and my munchkin."

Natalia let out a giggle of excitement. "Oh I hope so mijo. I am praying for just that. Now, Olivia said you had something you needed to talk to me about. What's up?"

Rafe sat back and sighed. "I don't want to interfere in your personal life Ma but I need to ask."

Natalia leaned forward. "Rafe, you know you can talk to me about anything. Just ask mijo."

Rafe sat up. "Are you dating Frank? He came here the other night asking for permission to marry you."

Natalia was shocked. "He did WHAT? I can't believe the nerve of him."
Rafe just chuckled at her reaction. "I couldn't either. Does that mean it's a no then?"

Natalia sighed, "We went on a few dates. Some things happened and I told him I couldn't see him anymore. A week later he showed up with a ring asking me to marry him. I couldn't even process it. I didn't even answer him. He shoved the ring in my hand told me to think about it and left as quick as he got there."

Rafe sat forward, his features softening. "Ma if you don't love him and you already told him you couldn't date him why didn't you tell him no. Why didn't you call him yesterday and tell him no."

Natalia just sat back. "I don't know Rafe. He's a good man and he has done so much for us, for you. He would be a good father figure to you. I could do worse."

Rafe was starting to get pissed. "Ma do not marry him for me. I don't want that. You could do worse but you could do so much better, and what has he ever done for me?"

Natalia was stunned by his reaction. "Rafe he got us all those trees at Christmas to help with your legal fees…"

Rafe cut her off. "No Olivia did that. She was the organization that donated the trees."

Natalia was shocked. "She did?" Rafe nodded. "Well he helped get that inmate that was hurting you moved."

Rafe shook his head. "No. That was Olivia too. Mel told me yesterday that Olivia called in some favors and in two days from the time you told her there was a problem she fixed it. Olivia is the one that has been there for our family, not Frank. Who told you he was the one that did those things."

Natalia was getting angry. "He did. He's been lying to me this whole time."

Rafe begged. "Ma we don't need him. We have Olivia, Ava, and Emma. That's all we need. Please Ma. Don't marry him for some odd sense that it's the right thing to do."

Natalia nodded. "I won't, you're right. I couldn't marry a man that would lie to me about such important thing. I can't marry a man that I don't love. That's not fair to anyone."

Rafe sighed in relief. "Thank god. Thank you Ma. I didn't want Olivia and Emma to move."

Natalia looked shocked. "Why would they leave?"

Rafe gave her a duh look. "Ma if you got married your husband would move in and Olivia would move out taking Emma."

Natalia was just speechless. She had honestly not even thought that far ahead. Just the thought of them leaving was enough to make her heart skip a beat. "All the more reason to not marry him or anyone else." She said passionately.

Rafe smiled as the guard started walking their way. "That's great Ma." He tilted his head toward the guard. "Looks like time is up. I love you and I will see you tomorrow for court. Give Liv and my munchkin a kiss and hug for me."

Natalia stood up as he did. "I love you too mijo. Thanks for talking me through this. I'll see you tomorrow."

He waved and was out the door. Natalia drove back to the Beacon. She texted Frank to meet her later at home around 8:00. That should give her enough time to get her family fed and Emma's bath so she can watch her movie before bed. She would talk to Frank and be done in time to read to her before Olivia tucked her in and they had cocoa before bed.

She was about to go find Olivia and let her know she was back when her phone rang. "Natalia Rivera."

"Hey Natalia, I got your text." Franks over eager voice came over the phone.

Natalia sighed. "Hi Frank. As I said in my text I wanted to talk to you tonight. I can't right now I'm at work."

"That's ok baby. I just wanted to see if I could pick you up earlier, maybe around 6:00 and take you to dinner. We can talk then."

"No Frank. I can't talk until 8:00 like I told you. I have to fix dinner and get Emma her bath. 8:00 is the earliest I can see you." The told him distractedly wanting to find Olivia.

"Can't Olivia cook for and bath her own child for one night?" Frank sounded irritated.

Natalia was getting down right pissed. "I'm sure she can but I choose to do so myself. Emma asked me to cook her favorite meal tonight and it's easier for me to get down on the floor to help with her bath than it is for Olivia. Besides the fact that Emma likes for me to do it. So no I can't see you till 8:00"

"Come on Natalia, they need to get used to you not being at their beck and call. Once we're married you won't be there all the time for them." Frank said in a placating tone.

Natalia was fuming at this point. "You know what Frank? I don't have time for this. I will see you at 8:00 tonight." She said hanging up on him.

She was clutching her forehead fighting the headache coming on. She didn't notice Olivia leaning against the door jam. "Problems Nat?"

Natalia jumped. "Oh god you scared me."

Olivia chuckled coming into the room. "Sorry, that wasn't my intention. I heard your raised voice and I wanted to make sure you were ok."

Natalia sighed. "I'm fine. Sorry if I was disturbing anyone. Frank was being a pain and I don't have time for him right now."

Olivia stepped closer to run her hands up her arms. "Hey, you weren't disturbing anyone. I heard your voice and knew you were back. Then I recognized your upset voice and came check on you. What's Frank's problem anyway?"

Natalia leaned forward resting her head on Olivia's shoulder. "I asked him to come by the house tonight around 8:00 to talk and he wanted to come earlier and take me to dinner. I didn't want to and told him I had to cook dinner first and get Emma's bath. He didn't like that answer. He will just deal with it and I will talk to him after." She was started to get visibly upset.

Olivia pulled her into her arms. "Hey, you do whatever it is that you want and to hell with anyone else. If you want to cook us dinner and give Emma her bath than do that. If you want to go to dinner do that. It's your choice. Don't let him get you this upset."

Natalia squeezed her, "I will and I want to cook dinner and bathe our daughter. Then I will deal with talking to Frank and I will read Emma her story and sit with you and drink cocoa before bed."

Olivia held her tighter for a moment then released her and stepped back. "Good, whatever you want. Now we have a meeting with Greg for a banquet then we need to get some lunch because I'm starving."

Natalia chuckled and grabbed her binder for their meeting and followed Olivia out of her office. She would talk to her about her discussion with Rafe after work and she still had to deal with Frank. He evening was going to be eventful.