chapter 4.
it'll probably get more fluffy from here on in, so be warned.
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Olive giggled when Ned had swept her up into his arms and across the doorway, but when she noticed his face she stopped giggling and smiled in perfect content.
Once inside Ned held her for an awkward minute before setting her down lightly on her feet,
"Be right back." He said as he turned back to the door.
While Ned walked to get the crates they had left outside he contemplated his options, he could either walk back into the stand and show Olive exactly how he felt, he could just let this thing ride it's course and see how things turned out, or he could leave right then, find Chuck and apologize for "taking Olive's side."
Although Ned knew that the latter choice would be the safest, and possibly the better choice in the long run Ned could not help but want to choose the first. He knew now how Olive felt, and he also knew that this choice would not be un-welcomed by her.
By the time he had retrieved the crates and made it back to the booth, Ned had made up his mind, If this was meant to be, Ned would let the chips fall were they may, and let the fate run free to see where it would take them.
In no more than a minute Ned returned to the booth where he found Olive, elbows on the table, looking away from him. Ned set the crates down before making his way to her. He had wanted to surprise her but an unfortunately placed table corner made contact with his hip before had taken two steps toward the small blonde.
Olive jumped when she heard Ned grunt in pain, standing quickly and making her way over to him she asked,
"What's this, we've only been here ten minutes and already your getting hurt, you alright?"
Ned stood up and held his hip, "No I'm fine, I just wasn't expecting it, more surprised than anything."
"You sure? Because I make a pretty excellent first aid nurse…" Olive joked eyeing the crates on the floor.
"I'm fine Olive." He said following her gaze to the crates. " You want to start getting unpacked?"
"Sure, I'll get the dough and what not, if you put the fruit away."
Ned did not want to get the fruit that he had previously brought back to life. " No, um I think I'll get the dough, and ' what not'." He quoted taking the crate with said what not, inside it before she had a chance to protest. "Its heavier anyways."
"Right-o" Olive chimed, as she began to unload each piece of fruit gently from the well-packed box, to the icebox.
***
Time passed quietly as the Pie maker and Pie girl unpacked, Olive was lost in her thoughts as she put the fruit away mindlessly, she did not notice that Ned had finished unpacking his crate and had been watching her for quite some time now.
He sat on the counter behind her while her small hands expertly transported fruit from the crate to the refrigerator, finally he gave up waiting for her to turn around. He stood up, and took the step towards her and placed a large hand on her tiny shoulder.
Ned felt her jump a little under his touch but when she turned to face him she was smiling, he knew that she didn't mind the contact.
"I'm sorry Olive." Was not what Ned had wanted to say, but it was what he needed to say. After he had blurted it out Olive looked at him questioningly from her sitting position on the floor, put the last piece of fruit away, and stood to face Ned still pondering what he was sorry for.
Ned noticed Olive's inquisitive look, and although he had hoped not to, he began to elaborate.
"I told you that I was sorry before when we were on that branch." Ned grimaced at the memory of the near death experience but continued. " But I don't know if your really thought I meant it."
Olive stood still not wanting to interrupt him or make him stop talking; this was what she needed to hear. Ned took another step closer to Olive before he continued with his explanation.
"I know that I'm not the most observant person, and I know that that fact does not go unnoticed by you or Chuck. I'm sorry that I didn't notice how you felt sooner, and I'm sorry for making you feel unwanted, and I'm really sorry for not letting you in." Ned concluded, surprised with his emotional confession.
Olive who was even more surprised by Ned's apologetic outburst, quickly and without thinking flew into Ned and wrapped her arms around him. She stood there for a moment waiting for Ned to react. He stood there frozen for a moment, surprised at this unexpected contact but eventually he relaxed and let olive hug him. Soon Olive felt Ned's arms make their way around her body as he pulled her closer into him she thought that nothing had ever felt more right to her, she right where she was supposed to be.
When Olive finally tried to pull slightly away to look at Ned he held her loosely to him not letting her get to far away.
"Thanks Ned." Was all she said as she looked into his face, before she wiggled her way out of his grasp.
"Would you like to head over to the lodging area Olive?" Ned asked surveying the kitchen area, everything they had brought had already been unpacked and neatly put away. Then he looked over to Olive who was standing by the door ready to go. He made his way to her as she watched him. When he reached her he held out his hand for her to take which she did with a smile.
And then they were on their way.