There Will Always Be An Us
Summary: Set after Natalia runs from the wedding and they are in the gazebo as Frank walks away.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this.
Chapter 9
The next morning Natalia was at the stove cooking, and Emma and Rafe were setting the table talking about her project when Olivia stumbled into the room.
Rafe watched as his ma's face lit up the second she saw her. Olivia shuffled over kissed her cheek and took the coffee she was offered then sat. By the time she was finishing her first cup Natalia was setting the food out then refilled her cup before sitting herself. Again Rafe was filled with a sense of normalcy. They weren't acting, they weren't hesitant, this was just who and how they were and it warmed his heart.
After saying grace and filling their plates Olivia addressed the group, "So, what are our plans today?"
Emma sat forward. "Rafe and I are going to finish decorating my volcano." Rafe nodded and they high fived.
Natalia smiled. "I'm going to put dinner in the slow cooker after breakfast so it can cook all day. I need to move things around in our room to make space for your things."
Olivia sat and thought for a moment. "Can we exchange beds? Mine is softer and has that pillow top."
Rafe looked up. "I can help with that, just let me know when you are ready to move them around."
Natalia rubbed his arm, "Thank you mijo. That's fine with me, I don't care which bed we use."
Rafe took another bite then looked to Natalia, "Hey ma, can we go to the goodwill or something this week? I was given two changes of clothes when I left the prison but I need some slacks and dress shirts to look for jobs once I get to the halfway house and a few other things. Everything I have upstairs doesn't fit except for my sweat pants."
Natalia nods, "Of course…"
She was about to say more but Olivia cut in. "Did you not see the box in the bottom of your closet or the garment bag hanging?"
Rafe shook his head. "Ma said everything I had was in the drawers."
Olivia sighed, she had forgotten about the clothes. "Go to your closet. There is a box with everything you should need in it. There is also a garment bag hanging with the suit you wore at your hearing and four more pairs of slacks, dress shirts and ties. I would have hung everything but I couldn't find any hangers, we can pick some up tomorrow when we're in town."
They both just stared at her dumbfounded. Rafe recovered first, "You bought me clothes?"
Olivia nodded, "Yes, I gave two sets and your new shoes to the prison for your release in case you were detained overnight before coming home. The rest I put in your closet. Mel brought your suit back to me and I hung it in there after it went to the drycleaners. Your dress shoes I put in the box."
Natalia finally found her voice, "Olivia what did you do?"
Olivia looked to her confused. "Um… I got him some much needed clothes. I could tell that he had grown a few inches and bulked up. I knew his old stuff wouldn't fit. I had Mel get his sizes for me from the prison." Natalia just sat in shock. Olivia started to think she had done something wrong. "Are you mad at me? Did I do the wrong thing here? I knew he would need clothes for job interviews and everyday clothes. I was just trying to help."
Natalia shook her head. "I'm not mad querida. I'm shocked that you thought of all that and that you didn't think to tell me you did it."
Olivia looked down. "I'm sorry, I had planned on telling you. I had actually planned on taking both of you with me to get everything once he was home, but Emma and I were shopping for her some new things and I thought he at least needed a suit for court and clothes to wear home." She and Emma giggled "We got a little carried away I think."
Emma laughed. "Just a little. We just got what he needed even if he is going to look like a preppy boy."
Rafe just looked confused and Olivia smiled. "He will not. Emma thinks you're going to look like a preppy boy in your business attire. It's not that bad, it's just slacks and button down shirts."
Emma made a face, "and ties and argyle socks."
Rafe laughed. "Hey, I look like a stud in a suit and tie."
Natalia broke in. "Olivia, how much did you spend on his clothes?"
Olivia knew what was coming next and she looked to Rafe. "Why don't you and Emma go see what's in the box and we will be up shortly." Rafe nodded sensing that this may not be good and took Emma upstairs. Once they were out of the room Olivia looked back to Natalia. "I don't really remember but I have the receipts in case something didn't fit."
Natalia shook her head. "I want to see them so I can pay you back."
Olivia sat up straighter. "What!? Why?"
Natalia sighed. "Because I can buy my son's clothes."
Olivia leaned back like she had been slapped. "Your son. I thought it was OUR son and OUR daughters, or did I dream that part of our talk."
Natalia leaned forward and took her hand. "They are ours, but you keep leaving me out of the decision process and I don't like it."
Olivia sighed. "So it's ok for you to go get things Emma needs for school or a new church dress or whatever. Or for you to run out and buy Ava a new suitcase when hers broke the last time she was here. You can do that but I can't help our son and buy him some much needed clothes?"
Natalia shook her head. "It's different Olivia. I buy little things here and there. You bought him an entire wardrobe. That had to cost a fortune."
Olivia leaned forward and caressed her face. "I love my children, and that includes our son. I may have gone overboard a little but it's nothing I haven't done for Emma or Ava. Hell, when Ava was here last I spent more on her for some new clothes. I just want to help provide for my kids what they need. Please don't fight with me over buying out son clothes."
Natalia deflated, "Fine, but seriously Liv, you have to slow down. I can help too."
Olivia smiled, "I know you can, like I said, we just got a little carried away. I hadn't planned on buying all that without you both there."
Natalia smiled back. "Ok, but no more without us talking about it." At Olivia's guilty look Natalia sighed. "What else did you do?"
Olivia looked down, "I may have bought him a phone on our account."
Natalia tried not to smile. "What kind of phone Olivia?"
Olivia looked up giving her best pout. "An IPhone."
Natalia gasped. "Olivia! That phone cost more than both of our blackberries."
She shook her head. "No it didn't. I got it free when I added the line. I also upgraded our lines and got us both one for free. They're on my desk at work, we can activate them tomorrow, they are so much better than the blackberries. I only spent money on the ITunes cards and headphones."
Natalia shook her head, "What am I going to do with you?"
Olivia smiled and leaned forward. "Love me and keep me?"
Natalia sighed nodding then kissed her deeply. "I can do that, thank you."
Olivia smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Let's go see if he likes his clothes."
Natalia nodded and they headed up the stairs.
Rafe stood at his bed looking at the bounty spread upon it. She had bought him five different pairs of jeans ten t-shirts, boxers, undershirts, pajama pants, socks, another pair of running shoes and dress shoes. A couple of pairs of sweats, several hoodies, two jogging suits, a leather jacket and a Cubs jacket. We was overwhelmed and that didn't even include what was in the garment bag. His suit from the hearing, four more pairs of slacks, four different color button down shirts and several ties that matched. Two pairs of cargo paints, four polo shirts and the five pairs of argyle socks that matched all of his dress shirts and some plain black dress socks.
He didn't know what to think. No one in his entire life, besides his ma, had ever cared for him this way. Even his father had not been at this level, even when he had lived with him. This woman had helped him get into a new prison when he had been being hurt every day. She helped his ma get her money back after she had lost it. She helped her get this house and shared her daughters with her. All the while doing everything in her power to get him out and home. Leaving extra money at the jail for him, and making sure he had his meds. She told his ma she loved him like a son and with everything he knew and saw over the past few months and the especially last few days, he had no doubt of her feelings for him. It wasn't just for his ma either, it was for him, just because she loved him.
He had been willing to accept her into his life for his ma's sake, because she loved her and she made her happy. Now, he was really understanding that he had a real family for the first time in his life. Two parents who loved him, a little sister who he thought the world of and a big sister he hoped to get to know better as well. He turned as they walked into his room and he went straight to Olivia and wrapped his arms around her waist, buried his face in her neck and hugged her close. "Thank you," he whispered into her neck.
Olivia was caught off guard at first but quickly hugged him back. "Your welcome son." She rubbed his back as she felt him start to shake slightly. "Hey, what is it?"
Natalia watched as her boy burrowed into Olivia and started to cry. Rafe took a breath trying to compose himself. "No one but ma has ever cared for me this way, it's a little overwhelming."
Olivia smiled and held him close. "Well get used to it because you guys are stuck with me."
Rafe chuckled into her neck. "I can think of worse things." He squeezed her gently one last time and kissed her cheek as he pulled away. "Thank you for loving me."
She wiped his eyes and kissed his forehead. "It is entirely my pleasure. You, your sisters and your ma are my life. I would do anything for any of you."
He nodded and grabbed Natalia's hand. "You gotta see this ma."
Natalia went with him to the bed as he animatedly showed her everything that Olivia had gotten for him. She was shocked at the shear amount of clothing that filled the bed and garment bag. If she hadn't just witnessed their son break down in Olivia's arms she may have scolded her again for going overboard. The happiness that poured off their boy in waves kept her from it. She had never seen him show that kind of vulnerability with anyone but herself. It was an amazing thing to realize that her son finally had two parents that loved him unconditionally.
Emma started to get antsy, "Rafe, are we going to finish the volcano soon?"
Rafe looked down and ruffled her hair. "Yea, just let me put all this up."
Natalia smiled. "Why don't you go ahead with Emma? I have some extra hangers that I will bring in here and put this all away for you."
Rafe shook his head. "If you don't mind, I'd like to put it all away myself and arrange my closet."
Natalia smiled. "Ok mijo. Let's get the hangers then Emma and I can clean up breakfast while you put your things up then you guys can get started."
He and Emma nodded and they went about doing what she had said. A little while later Olivia was resting on the couch watching Emma and Rafe paint her volcano. They had eaten lunch, she had taken her midday meds and she was now drifting in and out, her pain meds taking the edge off so she could rest comfortably.
Natalia had been upstairs putting Olivia's things away in their room and all that was left to do was to have Rafe move the beds around. She came down the stairs and smiled at the sight of their children with their heads together finishing her project. She came around the couch and sat gently beside her half sleeping love, running a hand through her hair.
Olivia looked up. "Need some help yet?" she said groggily.
Natalia shook her head. "No, it's all done except for the bed."
Olivia looked stunned. "That was quick. I would have helped."
Natalia leaned down and kissed her lightly. "You did. It helped me knowing that you were down here resting." She motioned toward the kids. "How's that going?"
Olivia smiled over at them. "Their almost done. Rafe rummaged through his old toys you keep in the attic and found his large tin of army men. He found tons of plastic trees and they are now attaching them to the base. They should be done soon." Natalia nodded, kissed her again and got up moving into the kitchen.
A couple hours later the volcano was done and drying. Rafe had moved the beds and Natalia had made them both with fresh linens. They ate dinner and settled in for another night like the previous one. They had decided that Rafe would just go with them to work in the morning since they had to go by the police station for them to take more picture in case they needed to talk to them more.
Once their movie was over and the kids were in bed Olivia and Natalia settled in together in their now finished room and fell asleep peacefully in each other's arms. Tomorrow would bring the beginning how the town would react to them being together and what Frank had done, but neither cared as long as they faced it together.
