Natalie blinked and for a moment she just stood there staring dumbly at the older woman. She couldn't believe that she was really there, that after all this time someone was finally listening to her. She was actually going to have the opportunity to work with a Guider, and not just any Guider either. She had thought at best she cold hope to get a reoccurring character, but to get someone of Reva's standing was more than she could have hoped for.
"You know, that is the only problem with this younger generation. You just can't shut them up." Reva said to Viki while giving Natalie an amused smile.
Natalie actually felt herself blush as she attempted to replace her awe with some semblance of professionalism.. "Ms. Lewis I just wanted to say what a pleasure it us to have you here and I hope that . . ."
"Reva." She interrupted as she looked around the office. "It's best not to be so formal in SoapWorld. The last names can be pretty trying. Am I right Victoria Lord Riley Burke Riley Buchanan Buchanan Carpenter Davidson?"
Natalie glanced quickly at her Mom, expecting her to be offended by Reva's flippant remark but Viki merely smiled good-naturedly. "If I didn't know better I would say you two have met before." She observed.
"You're not the only one who keeps up on things." Viki said noncommittally.
"Well, Reva my name is . . . Natalie." She stopped short of listing her all ready lengthy last names.
"Nice to meet you, Nat." Reva said as she sat down on the couch. "Mind if I sit."
"Please." Natalie said, giving Viki an almost imperceptible shrug.
"I'm still recovering from one of those near death miraculous recovery things. Again. They do take a toll."
"Well, if there's anything I can do for you . . ."
"No, I'm good." She smiled and looked around. "So, now what?"
"Wow! I'm not sure I even now where to begin." Natalie laughed and then winced at her own nervousness. "I guess we could start by . . .
"Maybe, you should show me around the place first." Reva interrupted.
The door to her office opened and, as if on cue, Clint Buchanan strolled in, "Hi, honey, I was just wondering if . . .", he paused when he saw Reva, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"You weren't interrupting a thing. I'm Reva." She introduced herself as she rose to meet him.
"Reva is going to be working with us for awhile." Natalie explained. "We were just discussing how we need someone who could show her around."
"Oh? Well, I'm sure I could manage a little time." He smiled and held his arm out for her gallantly.
"A gentleman? I thought you were extinct." Reva smiled. "Have we met before. You look awfully familiar?"
"I'm sure I would have remembered." Clint smiled, giving her a subtle but appreciative glance.
"Do you think it's wise, sending your father off with Ms. Lewis? You know how Dorian would react if . . ."
"Yeah, I know." Natalie laughed. She felt good, like a weight had just been lifted off with her. Reva being there gave her hope that she could fix whatever was going on in Llanview.
Viki tried to give her daughter an admonishing look but was unable to keep her own amusement from her eyes. "You should be on your best behavior right now. Having a Guider here is a very big deal, you know, and she is your responsibility while she's here.
"I know, and I will be a model of professionalism." Se promised. "I just want to thank you, Mom."
"I didn't do anything. It was your proposal."
"I'm just a Lieutenant. They never would have listened to me without your support."
"I believe in you." Viki stated simply.
Natalie felt a lump in her throat and quickly sought a distraction before she became emotional. "I should tell, John." She stepped outside, barely able to contain her excitement and motioned for John to join her in her office.
"Everything okay?", he asked, giving Viki a slightly wary look.
"Yes, I just wanted you to know that we will be hosting an agent from the Guiding Light and I need you to . . ." she had managed to stay calm and unaffected but John's eyes lit up.
"They really did it." He said with a smile. "They sent a Guider here."
"Reva Lewis. She's on the Clint Buchanan Grand Tour as we speak."
John, in a rare impulsive moment, swept Natalie into his arms and swung her around. ""I am so proud of you."
Natalie wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned forward to kiss him but her Mom cleared her throat discreetly. She could have sworn she saw John blush as she placed her back on her feet.
"So, this agent, Reva Lewis, what's she like?"
She's a little quirky but she's an icon. I never dreamed we would get someone with her status."
"Natalie, I know how hard you have worked for this, and you should be proud of yourself but I want you to be careful as well." Viki said.
"Careful?"
"Reva comes with impressive credentials but I also don't want you to lose sight of who and what she is. She is an amazing character and there is much she can teach you but don't forget that she is also a resurrectionist."
"I know, Mom, but . . ."
"Darling, just hear me out." Viki interrupted gently. "A character who has been killed off and brought back multiple times can become a little . . ."
"Unhinged." John supplied the word. Viki gave him a look for his coarse choice of words but didn't try to correct him. "It's just that you haven't had a lot of experience with this sort of character.'
Natalie knew she was thinking of Mitch Lawrence. "Don't worry. I'll keep my eyes wide open."
"So will I.", John said, giving Natalie's hand a protective squeeze.
"Well, that father of yours is a real sweetheart." Reva said as she let herself back into Natalie's office. "We were having a great time until this angry brunette showed up and led him away like a puppy on a leash."
"Dorian." Natalie and Viki said at the same time.
"Reva, this is John McBain. John this is Reva." Natalie introduced them.
Reva didn't' try to hid her appreciation as she looked John over. "Well, I can say one thing for Llaanview. There's nothing wrong with the scenery." She winked at Natalie.
"I really should be getting back to work now." Viki said. "Reva, we look forward to having you here and if there is anything you need please don't hesitate to ask."
"I should be going too. My scene with Marty will be starting soon. I'll see you at Rodi's, okay."
"Miles and I will be there."
"It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. . ."
"Reva." She said. He gave them a brief nod before walking out the door. Reva watched him walk out. "I don't know why you need me here. You seem to have all the "assets" you need."
Natalie smiled a little uncomfortably, she had expected a Guider to be more serious, more formal, the FBI of the SoapWorld. She wasn't quite sure how to take Reva. "So, where should we get started? I thought maybe . . .'
"Oh, I think we have plenty of time for all of that. I thought maybe I would just observe for now. Maybe, get to know each other a little better."
"Oh, I know a lot about you. I've always been fascinated by the inhabitants of the other SoapWorlds. And your fountain scene . . ."
"Ah, yes, the infamous fountain scene. Well, that was a long time ago."
"I wish I could have seen it.' Natalie said admiringly.
They talked for awhile, Reva somehow managed to always turn the conversation back to her. They learned that they had both been bartenders at one time and they both had sisters who were a little less than stable. Natalie was surprised by how much time had gone by when Miles had to knock on the door to remind her that their scene at Rodi's was coming up.
"Natalie, it's almost time." Miles said, his face registering surprise, then pleasure when he saw Reva "Hello, my name is Miles. You're very beautiful."
Reva gave Natalie an amused smile. "My, but he's the guileless one."
"He was written that way." Natalie shrugged.
"I'm a CAD." Moles sighed.
"Well, Miles, I have had some of my best times with CADS"
"Really?" Miles asked, his face brightening.
"Oh, yes. There was Cain, a honey of a lunatic but without a doubt the best CAD I know is Alan Spaulding. Alan and I have had some great times. Now that is a villain to aspire to." She put her arm through Miles and advised him on some of the finer points of being a CAD as they made their way to Rodi's.
"Miles, we need to take our places." Natalie said. He was still enthralled with Reva.
"Of course. Thank you, Reva. I'm going to keep what you said in mind." He said as he hurried into the bar.
"Reva, if you like you can stay in my office until we're done here." Natalie offered.
"Actually, I thought I might just mingle in the scene with the other ghosts."
"Uh, I don't know . . ." Natalie wasn't sure there was even a protocol for that. She was sure no one had ever volunteered to be a ghost before. Ghosts were the surplus characters. The generics who were used to fill in space in public scenes: bars, restaurants or airplanes. They had no names, no personalities, and no real language. Their speech was just muffled background noise that only they could understand.
"Don't' worry. I promise you won't even notice I'm there. I want to see you in action."
Natalie found that hard to believe. Reva, with her effervescent personality and bright smile couldn't help but stand out in a crowd but she was a Guider. She surely knew what she was doing and who was she but a Lieutenant with less than ten years experience. "Okay, I can meet you outside in . . .'
"That's okay. I'll think I'll watch the whole scene and then head to your Mom's carriage house. She said I could stay there and I could use the chance to get settled in."
"Okay." Natalie agreed uncertainly.
Reva settled herself into a table in the corner of the room where she could observe without being observed. Her face wore its usual carefree expression but her eyes were cold and sharp, missing nothing and focused on one person in particular. She watched as John and Natalie eventually left the scene together and rather than wait until the end of the scene she quietly slipped out of the scene. She locked eyes with Marty for a brief moment before she left.
Reva went to Natalie's empty and unlocked office where she logged on to her computer. She keyed in her password and spent a few minutes accessing highly confidential information before jotting down a name and turning the computer off. She was only mildy surprised when she looked up and found Viki watching her. This was to be suspected in SoapWorld. A person doing secretive or slightly suspicious activities in an empty room was required to have another character stumble upon them.
"Well, hello. I was just checking up on my kids while I'm away." She was also required to make some faintly plausible but entirely unbelievable excuse to explain her presence in the office.
"Reva, is there something I can do for you?"
"Oh, no. I'm just heading over to the carriage house. It is very kind of you to put me up while I'm here."
"We're happy to have you."
"You know, Victoria, I've been a lot of things during my long run in SoapWorld. I've been everything from a time traveler to a clone to an Amish woman." She said with a laugh. "And I have also been a Mom. I know you're concerned but I'm going to look after your kid."
"You'd better." Viki said simply.
Reva gave her an admiring smile. The show may have been casting aside Victoria Davidson lately but that didn't mean she wasn't still a force to be reckoned with.
"Why so tense? I thought having Reva here would make you feel better." John said, as he gently massaged Natalie's shoulders.
"Having Reva here is amazing. A dream come true. There is so much a Guider can teach us Lifers."
"But . . ."
"But, I don't know how having her here can help… us." She said quietly.
He turned her around to face him. "Hey, listen to me. We are going to be okay. I promise."
"I don't think this is about what we want, John."
"We belong together, Natalie. Anyone can see that. I love you. I finally said it and I meant it. You are the first person I have ever said it too and you are the only one."
"I know and I love you too but they seem to want to push you toward Marty and… John interrupted her with a burst of laughter. And not one of his barely audible laughs but a full laugh. There was a commotion as the door leading to the roof suddenly opened and slammed shut. "John, you're scaring the poltergeist."
"I'm sorry, it's just . . . Marty Saybrooke."
"What's so funny about that? She's smart and attractive. She . . ."
"She is also as dull as dirt." John said. "Besides that, what sense would that make? She's a shrink for crying out loud."
"She has a son who could use a male figure that's perfect fodder for . . .'
"Sure, if he was some young cute Jerry McGuire type kid but come on . . . Cole is like what eighteen, taller than me and has all the personality and appeal of a guppy. He doesn't exactly scream nurture me.'
Natalie finally laughed. "Are you going to let me finish a sentence?"
"Not until you start one that makes sense." He grinned at her as he wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Such as?" she gave him a teasing smile.
"Such as John I love you."
"John, I love you." She said in her most dreamy voice as she ran her fingers through his hair
"That was good. Now how about John I want to . . ."
"Whoa, am I gonna have to get the water hose." Reva suddenly said from behind them, making them both jump.
"What the hell?" John said gruffly.
"Relax, Romeo. Before you jump any bones we have to figure out how to save your collective asses."