Sorry for the delay in posting; I haven't been in much of a writing mood lately.
This is the last chapter of the story. I want to say a massive thank you for all of the feedback I've received while writing this fic. It's been fun to step out of my comfort zone in many ways and do things a bit differently (having Olivia be the vulnerable one instead of Amanda, including Noah and Jesse so much in the story, and writing a more lighthearted plotline) and I really appreciate the support from readers and fellow writers. :)
This chapter picks up right where the previous one left off.
It it also rated "M" for explicit sexual content, so please be aware of that before continuing to read.
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Amanda is standing stark naked in the middle of the candlelit bathroom, goosebumps lining every single inch of her pale, toned body and her limbs trembling with delicious anticipation for what is to come. Her discarded clothing is lying pooled around her feet in a careless heap; almost losing her balance and toppling over in her haste to rid herself of the offending garments once Olivia had expressed her desire to see Amanda in the nude.
She clenches her bare legs tightly together against a damp pool of arousal that is rapidly making itself known at the juncture of her thighs, the look of awe and desire that Olivia is currently spearing her with nearly enough to make her explode right there on the spot, a soft moan escaping Amanda's mouth as they stare intently at one another. Olivia's gaze tears away from her own to sweep very slowly up and down the entire length of her body, drops of sweat beading across Amanda's forehead and between her breasts at the unblinking scrutiny that is both tender and intense.
For a moment it is utterly silent, not only in the bathroom but in the apartment beyond; by far the quietest it has been all day. Amanda doesn't dare speak and almost ceases to breathe while she watches Olivia place both wine glasses onto the counter next to the candles, the other woman's hands drifting down to the knot that is holding her short black robe together. Olivia starts untying the sash with languid, slightly clumsy movements that are beginning to drive Amanda crazy in their unhurried pace; giving a tantalizing peak of full breasts and dusky nipples before letting the robe fall open and revealing a body that is just as naked as her own, gorgeous olive skin gleaming in the dim lighting.
"You are absolutely stunning, Amanda," Olivia breathes in a hushed tone as she takes a step closer to her; Amanda doing the same so they are standing toe to toe on the cold floor tiles, warm breath mingling together as they continue to gaze at each other in mutual appreciation.
"Well, thanks, Liv. You're not so bad yourself." She is nearly choking over her words now, so entranced by the older woman's alluring figure and stunning beauty; soft curves on display as Olivia lets the robe slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor to join Amanda's discarded clothing.
After simultaneously closing the remaining gap amidst them, their lips meet in a light kiss that quickly deepens to a much more passionate gesture, sighing into each other's mouths as their bodies are pressed skin to skin for the first time ever, ragged groans of need punctuating the air. The feel of Olivia's generous breasts moving against her own smaller pair as they devour each other with a breathless intensity that cannot be contained, is so deliciously exquisite that Amanda's growing wetness is now painting the insides of her thighs in a slick pathway of arousal.
Her fingers are tangled up in Olivia's silken dark hair as she begins to walk them both over to the tub with hasty, uncoordinated steps, eager to sink down beneath the bubbles with the woman in her arms but unable to pull her lips or hands away from the brunette long enough to climb over the side and into the water. "Do you want to get in before it starts getting cold?" she finally murmurs in a voice that is dragged out on a moan when Olivia inserts a strong leg in between her thighs and presses upwards into her center, creating a pleasurable friction against her core and groaning at the evidence of her excitement.
"I want to taste you first," Olivia whispers sensually into her ear, and this time it is Amanda who is going weak in the knees and in danger of collapsing to the floor, her heart thundering inside her chest and a drop of sweat trailing down between her breasts. "Is that okay?"
"Fuck, yes," she rasps in a voice that is barely audible as her gaze bores into dark brown pools of rapidly heightening lust, the other woman staring back at her with nothing but desire and passion, every trace of timidity in her gestures and expression having long since disappeared.
"Come here," Olivia commands softly, her hand sliding down Amanda's bare arm to entangle their fingers together and giving a slight tug in the direction of the door. "Let's go into the bedroom. The bath can wait a little longer."
"I-" Amanda stutters out, suddenly at another loss for words because she knows that she can barely wait much longer, her violently trembling legs threatening to give out and send her careening toward the floor at any second, the dampness coating the interior of her thighs like a second skin.
"Liv, I think I'm gonna-" The word explode is poised at the tip her tongue, as she is dangerously close to flying apart before they have done anything more than simply kiss; amused that they can't seem to make it to a bed any time they have engaged in sexual activity during the course of the day, and that she also appears to lack the same kind of self control that Olivia had previously been so embarrassed about.
As if her hand has a mind of its own, Amanda's palm begins drifting down her body towards her drenched core, seeking to relieve the excruciating ache that is only growing stronger with every passing moment, noticing that Olivia's eyes have locked onto this movement with a rapt intensity and a pink tongue is poking out from her mouth to run slowly around plump lips. The older woman seems to be briefly frozen to the ground as she watches with unwavering attention while Amanda's fingers find slick folds that are so sensitive to the touch it makes her jump slightly, before sliding deftly through an astonishing amount of wetness in a quest for relief.
The combination of her intention to so thoroughly stimulate herself and having Olivia stare at her unblinkingly while she does it, a dazed arousal quite apparent on the brunette's features, has Amanda so close to the breaking point that she can already feel her inner muscles beginning to flutter as she stifles a shuddery moan of delight. Olivia seems to snap out of her arousal-induced fog just in time and takes a step forward to plant a firm hand on Amanda's arm, bringing her movements to a complete halt and the two of them standing there fused together for several seconds with Amanda's fingers buried in her own wet warmth and Olivia's digits locked around her wrist in a vise-like grip.
"Let me do that for you," the older woman implores with a quiet fervor as she removes Amanda's hand from her own core; and before she can even process what is happening, Olivia has gently lifted one her legs onto the edge of the tub and is dropping down to her knees on the floor between Amanda's spread thighs.
"Oh my god," Amanda chokes out as she lets her arms dangle limply by her sides, the fingers of one hand smeared in sticky wetness, captivated by the sight of Olivia shimmying even closer to her on the cold tiles until she feels trembling hands stroking up and down the outside of her thighs and a small kiss being pressed against neatly trimmed golden curls.
Her knees almost buckle at the exquisitely shocking sensation of Olivia's mouth coming into contact with the most intimate part of her body, Amanda's fingers quickly tangling into thick brown strands of hair in an effort to remain upright. She can feel the other woman's thumbs tenderly spreading her apart and a warm tongue stroking briefly between sodden lower lips before circling languidly around her throbbing bundle of nerves, causing tremors of pleasure to overtake her entire frame. Amanda is desperately trying to hold in the wanton noises that seem to be intent on escaping from her throat and wonders if she might actually burst into tears if they accidentally wake the kids up, effectively putting an end to their much-needed alone time.
"Oliviaaa..." The name of the woman she loves is dragged slowly from her open mouth amid panting breaths and strangled squeaks, jolting abruptly into Olivia's face when she feels a pair of soft lips wrapping themselves around her tiny pink bud and giving a very firm suck.
"Ahhh, fuck." Amanda feels Olivia's hands slide around to the back of her thighs and hold on with an unwavering grip as the brunette buries her face deeper inside her pulsating core, hips grinding frenetically into Olivia's open mouth as a smooth tongue draws delicate figure eights around her tender opening before dipping inside.
Amanda's entire body is bathed in sweat and shaking with the exhilaration of what is currently taking place inside her bathroom, the first tendrils of impending orgasm tingling low in her belly and radiating outwards to encompass every limb when Olivia slips one finger inside followed quickly by another. They are barely able to establish an erotic rhythm of thrusts and counter thrusts when Amanda feels Olivia's teeth grazing ever so lightly across her twitching bundle of nerves, the older woman's lips wrapping firmly around the small bud once again and giving it a sharp suck.
The explosion is immediate and intense, the orgasm tearing a blissful swath right through Amanda's groin and erupting into her stomach in a volcano of euphoria, spreading out to encompass her entire being with a pleasure the likes of which she has never felt before. It is a supreme struggle to catch her breath as she comes crashing down from the high, and she is aware of Olivia stroking her hands soothingly up and down the back of her thighs and placing gentle kisses to her abdomen to help calm her.
They remain entwined together on the floor of the bathroom in the flickering candlelight, Amanda's body bowed low over Olivia's hunched form, her face pressed against the other woman's hair while Olivia's head is buried in her stomach, breathing hard and clinging onto one another like they intend on never letting go. Basking sweetly and contentedly in the afterglow of Amanda's immense gratification, there is no hurry whatsoever to move into the tub full of frothy bubbles and continue where they had left off, both women choosing to linger in their locked position on the cold tiles.
Although she has dared not utter those three little words since that tumultuous scene in the precinct bathroom followed by a mad rush to get Olivia to the hospital before the lieutenant had stopped breathing, it is all Amanda can think about now; the depth of love she is feeling for this woman obliterating all else in the present moment. Her nerves are overtaking much of the excitement that she feels at the prospect of finally being able to say what has been on her mind without the interruption of work or kids or illness, but she needs to get this out; is desperate for Olivia to know how she feels now that the other woman is on the mend and can think more clearly and they are not ensconced in some form of chaos.
Amanda leans down with a thrill of anticipation and a hint of trepidation, placing her lips next to the brunette's ear and hesitating briefly before whispering the words she yearns to hear in return, her heart pounding frantically against her rib cage. "I love you, Olivia."
There is a beat of silence as Amanda waits hopefully for an answer, desperate for the short sentence she so longs to have the other woman say back, but the moment of quiet is shattered by the clicking of canine toenails out in the hallway as they listen to Frannie trot by the closed bathroom door, Amanda's eyelids slamming shut and steeling herself for what is most likely to come; the cry of one of the kids piercing the dark night. When there is no sound forthcoming from either Noah or Jesse, she heaves a giant sigh of relief and turns her attention back to Olivia, an unreadable expression on the other woman's face now as she gazes up at Amanda from her spot on the floor.
She watches as Olivia slowly gets to her feet, a small smile gracing her friend's lips as she rises to her full height in front of Amanda and reaches out to pull her into a snug embrace. They stand there with arms wrapped tightly around each other, bare bodies pressed flush against one another as Amanda waits for an answer that doesn't come, the silence continuing to permeate the room and not breaking until Olivia finally suggests they get into the tub before the water starts getting cold.
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When Amanda's eyelids flutter open the next morning, there is only a split second of peaceful ignorance before pure dread is encompassing her entire being and causing them to slam shut once again in an effort to block out the instant realization that she is now ill. Having mistakenly thought that everyone else in the apartment had escaped the sickly clutches of Olivia's bronchitis, Amanda's previous relief is at once destroyed as she emits a ragged cough and feels the fever burning brightly within.
She rolls over very carefully on the mattress, trying in vain to keep the coughing to a minimum so as not to disturb Olivia who is sleeping soundly next to her, the older woman snuggled up into a comfortable cocoon inside the sheets. When another rough gasp comes bursting from her throat, Amanda quickly slides her legs over the side of the bed and gets shakily to her feet with the intention of wobbling into the kitchen to make some piping hot tea.
It is early on Sunday morning and still very quiet in her home, the door to Jesse's room sitting partway open and the occasional childish snore sounding from inside. Frannie is sprawled across the cushions on the couch, furry body at an awkward angle with her head scrunched into one of the pillows and a long pink tongue lolling out of the side of her mouth as she snoozes.
Amanda is relieved that she doesn't have to deal with anyone else just yet, her blinding headache obliterating most coherent thought as she rummages clumsily through one of the kitchen cupboards in search of a clean mug. There are dirty dishes scattered across every available surface of the counter and the remnants of the previous day's cooking is still lingering in the air, Amanda wrinkling her nose in distaste as she takes in the utter disarray of the room.
Finger paintings are tacked up haphazardly on the fridge with brightly colored magnets, some of Frannie's dog food has spilled out of its giant bag in the corner, and there are a combination of tiny toy trucks and building blocks littering a floor that looks to be in dire need of a broom and mop.
Unexpectedly, Amanda feels tears pricking at her eyelids as she surveys the mess, her shoulders slumping down in defeat as she is unable to locate even one clean mug to prepare her tea. Her apartment has never looked quite so lived-in before, with two adults, two kids and a dog taking up residence here, and her emotions are a complex mixture of exhaustion, longing, and a fierce disappointment that is bordering on downright despair.
Instead of grabbing one of the soiled mugs that are grouped together near the sink and washing it out so she has something to drink from, Amanda finds herself sliding slowly down the outside of the cupboards until she is curled up into a pathetic ball on the floor, face buried in her knees and chin quivering violently as she tries to hold in the impending tidal wave of tears.
"Amanda, what's wrong, honey?"
The unexpected sound of Olivia's sleep-roughened voice, her tone ringing with alarm, has Amanda's head snapping up to see the taller woman hovering above her, the worry written plainly across the brunette's tired features. She has the sudden urge to be completely honest about the situation; to tell Olivia that the cause of her breakdown is standing right there in front of her, bare feet planted on the scuffed kitchen tiles and brown eyes gazing down at her with barely-concealed fear, and she knows Olivia is not used to seeing her in such a vulnerable position.
Instead of saying exactly what is on her mind; that Olivia herself is the problem, Amanda chooses to disclose a partial truth and go with the subject that is not likely to cause any arguments or hurt feelings or exacerbate the rejection that she is already acutely aware of up. "I'm sick," she replies pitifully, hanging her head to hide the trickle of tears that are now spilling from her eyes and trying to ignore how enticing Olivia looks even this early in the morning, fresh out of bed with hair that is standing on end and mismatched pajamas that she had hastily thrown on after their bathtub adventures the night before.
"Oh, honey, come here."
Before Amanda can squirm away in embarrassment, Olivia is crouching down on the floor beside her and banding one arm around her back and another beneath her knees, picking Amanda up and swiftly depositing her quivering body into her warm lap. A hand comes up to stroke soothingly through her tangled blonde locks, Olivia murmuring soft words of comfort into her ear in a voice of concerned sympathy while the other hand presses against her forehead, presumably to gauge how high her fever is.
These tender gestures from the woman she loves only make Amanda's tears come harder for a moment, overwhelmed with a deep sadness despite the magical evening they had shared in the tub, followed by drifting off to sleep wrapped up securely in each other's arms in a nest of fluffy blankets.
"It's okay, I've got you," Olivia assures her quietly, placing a light kiss on Amanda's cheek and rocking her gently back and forth, obviously trying to inject a trace of humor into the conversation. "I'm sorry I passed on my bronchitis to you but I will nurse you back to health, just like you did for me. I know you must feel terrible, but I'll give you as many sponge baths as you want."
"It's not that," Amanda sniffles as she drags an arm across her face in an effort to rid herself of the unwanted tears that won't abate, choosing to ignore the lame attempt at humor, even though a small part of her perks up at the thought of Olivia sponging her down.
"What is it, then?" Olivia asks softly, and Amanda feels cool fingers sliding underneath her chin and tilting her head up so they are looking one another in the eye.
Amanda stares intently at Olivia for several seconds before her face crumples and she dissolves into sobs, her shoulders shaking with the effort of holding back the worst of her emotions so she doesn't wake the kids. "You don't love me," she whispers brokenly, thinking back to the night before when they had carried on with their lovemaking well into the wee hours of the morning without Olivia either acknowledging those three little words or saying them back. "Your silence speaks volumes, Liv."
"I thought my actions did too," Olivia mutters in a low tone after an awkward, intense silence passes between them, Amanda's eyelids fluttering briefly closed as the older woman's fingers caress lightly across her furrowed brow. "I thought the night we just shared together would have told you everything you needed to know...that I feel the same way, that I'm ready to make a commitment to you, that I want us to be a family."
Amanda leans away from the curvy figure she is cuddled into, the frown on her face deepening in perplexity even as a sharp spike of hope blooms inside her chest. "You feel the same way? You...you want all of those things too?"
"Of course I do," Olivia replies warmly, a hint of tears evident in those large dark orbs that are boring so steadily into her own blue ones. "I know I've been so back and forth lately, unable to come to a firm decision on anything, but I feel the same way, Amanda."
"Then why couldn't you just say the words, Liv?" she answers in a hushed voice, sorrow and joy warring with each other as another tear sneaks down her cheek before she can stop it, Olivia quickly wiping it away with a tender touch. "You've left me hanging twice, and I'm not sure if I can say it a third time. It hurts too much."
"I'm so sorry, honey," Olivia breathes raggedly in regret, her thumbs stroking delicately back and forth beneath Amanda's watery eyes. "This is a scary situation for me here and I've had a hard time coming to terms with my feelings for you, not only because I'm your boss but because you're my best friend and I have Noah to think of as well. He sees Jesse as a sister and I don't want him to get hurt."
"He's not going to get hurt, Liv," Amanda says quietly, reaching up to cup Olivia's cheek as a tear escapes from one brown eye, her heart aching at all of the physical and emotional upheaval the other woman has been going through lately. "I would never hurt him or you. Or Jesse. I would do anything for the three of you. You are the most important people on this planet to me."
The tears are streaming down Olivia's face now and Amanda leans forward to place a gentle kiss on her cheek followed by another on her lips, the salty liquid that is trailing wet pathways from both sets of eyes mixing together in a joyful rain as they kiss tenderly, the older woman murmuring something unintelligible into Amanda's mouth.
"What was that, honey?" she asks softly as they pull slightly away from one another, keeping their arms looped around each other's necks. "I didn't quite catch that."
"I said the third time's the charm," Olivia replies with a smile, a blush darkening her cheeks as Amanda cocks her head to the side in question before understanding just what the brunette means, a matching smile spreading across her own lips and that hint of hope exploding into elation as she speaks with a soft reverence.
"I love you, Olivia."
"I love you too, Amanda."
There is no hesitation in Olivia's voice when she responds, and they grin delightedly at each other and then wince simultaneously as a loud thump suddenly sounds from Jesse's bedroom, followed by muffled laughter and the pitter-patter of tiny footsteps, Amanda groaning in exhaustion and burying her face into Olivia's neck while holding on tightly to her warm body.
"Ugh, don't make me get up," she whines as a loud cough rattles through her chest and breaks loose from her throat, the other woman patting her back comfortingly. "I don't want any responsibilities today, okay, Liv? I just want to stay right here in your arms."
Olivia chuckles empathetically and Amanda feels herself being nudged in the side, looking up to see Noah, Jesse and Frannie standing in an expectant line in front of them, the kids hopping up and down with excitement at seeing their mothers and the dog dancing on impatient paws with the prospect of breakfast. "I'm going to take over all the responsibilities today, so I don't want you to worry about a thing, Amanda."
"Mama, you and 'Manda crying?" Noah asks in confusion, gesturing toward the tears that are slowing but have not entirely stopped just yet. "Why?"
"We're just happy sweetheart," Olivia assures the little boy gently, reaching out to give him a playful poke in the belly and eliciting an ear-piercing squeal in response. "These are happy tears."
"Why?" Noah asks again, his head tilted to the side as he regards them with curiosity.
"Why are we so happy?" Olivia confirms the question and they watch as the child nods and raises his eyebrows, awaiting an answer.
"We're happy because we're with our family," Amanda says softly, gathering Jesse into her lap and planting a kiss on one chubby cheek as Olivia cuddles Noah into her side, Frannie squeezing into the tiny space they are all sharing and causing everyone to break into a fit of giggles as a furry tail swipes across Olivia's face.
"Don't forget about your promise to nurse me back to health and give me as many sponge baths as I want," Amanda murmurs into Olivia's ear when the kids begin pushing and shoving each other amid peals of laughter and are obviously tuned out of the discussion now. "Don't even think about leaving again when you have to stay here and take care of me."
"Why would we ever leave?" Olivia replies with a tender smile, that joyful hope now firmly taking hold of Amanda and not letting go when she hears the older woman's next words.
"We're already home."