Previous Disclaimers Apply

Chapter 10

The next day, Olivia, Emma and Rafe arrived at the hospital just after Natalia had finished breakfast. Natalia was dressed in sweats, anxiously waiting on Rick. She wanted to go home, sleep in her own bed, sit on her front porch, oh yeah, eat decent food.

"Good morning, Princess." Olivia said to Natalia as they entered the room. Natalia stood from the bed to greet Olivia with a hug and kiss, then hugs for Rafe and Emma.

"So, do you know when you can fly this pop stand?" Olivia continued.

"No, I haven't seen Rick this morning. Lillian said he was here. I'll be glad to be home." Natalia replied.

Olivia and Rafe commenced to packing Natalia clothes, laptop, boom box and all the get well cards and Emma's drawings while Emma and Natalia entertained themselves. Not long after, Rick finally made it in.

"Hey, the gangs all here." Rick said as he entered the room.

"Yes, Rick. Ready and anxiously waiting too." Olivia replied sarcastically.

"Sorry, I had an emergency to attend to. So, Natalia, you ready to go home I take it."

"More than ready." Said Natalia.

"OK, we have something things to go over first." Rick added.

Olivia asked Rafe and Emma to take Natalia things to the car and wait, she would call when they were ready to leave and he could pull the car around to the front entrance. They managed to get everything in one trip and they headed out.

"OK, rules…First, I don't want you climbing the steps multiple times through out the day. So once you come downstairs, do go back up until you are going to bed, at least for one week. After that, you be the judge on how your stamina is, OK?"

"OK, no stairs, got it."

"Second, I want you to eat good balanced meals, lots of protein and veges. That will help your energy level."

"OK."

"No over exertion. It may be several weeks maybe 6 to 8 weeks before you'll feel like yourself and be able to do the things you used to do."

"Got it. Take it easy."

"Also, you can shower, but use the shower cap we gave you and make sure to stay out from under the water, at least until your next check up with me; which will be next week. You can wash your head, scalp and behind the ears, but you must not get the incision wet. So Olivia you may have to do that. My suggestion would be a damp cloth, that way you can control the amount of water."

"OK." Olivia replied.

"Now the incision will itch. You can use this twice a day and that should alleviate the discomfort." Rick said while handing a tube of some medical cream to her.

"Now if you have any pain, dizziness, nausea, anything that doesn't feel right. You call me, OK?"

"OK." Natalia replied.

"So any questions?" Rick asked.

"No, I think we are good. I can call you if I need to before our next appointment." Natalia replied.

"Absolutely. Alright, let me go get your discharge papers from the nurses station and call transport for your ride outta here." Rick said as he left.

Natalia was sitting on the side of the bed, Olivia was standing behind her on the other side. As Rick left, she climbed onto the bed on her knees behind Natalia. She brought her arms around Natalia shoulders and chest and gently hugged her from behind. Natalia laid back into the Olivia content in her love's arms.

"Looks like you are finally coming home, Princess. I can't wait to get you home and settled; then I can take care of you properly." Olivia said nuzzling the side of Natalia's neck being mindful of her head and incision.

Olivia slipped her hand into her pocket to retrieve her cell phone to call Rafe to bring the car around. Rick returned with the discharge papers and a wheelchair. Natalia signed them and quickly climbed into the chair.

Once home, Rafe took his mother's things to her room. Natalia opted for the sofa with Emma curled up next to her.

"So, Princess, what do you want to do to pass the time?" Olivia asked.

Olivia noticed a sexy grin come across Natalia's face.

"Oh, no! Not that, doctor's orders! You are bad, very bad." Olivia said pointing a disapproving finger at Natalia.

"Mommy, why is Natalia bad?" Asked Emma.

"Natalia wants to do something that she can't just yet Jellybean. She has to take it easy and follow the doctor's orders and get better, then she can do things she wants to. So how about a movie marathon day?" Olivia said while trying to change the subject from curious minds.

"Yay!!!" Natalia and Emma yelled at the same time.

Rafe came barreling back down the stairs. "What's going on?" He asked.

"We've decided to have a movie marathon day. We can watch a movie of your choice first before you have to go to work?" Olivia asked.

"Sure. I can stop by the video store and rent some new releases for tonight. I'm off a 6pm."

"Good, you'll be home for supper tonight." Olivia replied.

Rafe picked a movie and started it. Olivia sat on the far end of the sofa with her arm around Natalia and Natalia head resting on her shoulder. Emma was nestled next to Natalia and Rafe was sitting on the floor between Natalia and Emma. After about and hour or so, Olivia got up to start lunch. Natalia was painfully aware of her absence, but she was not gone for very long. She just needed to put the dish in the oven. When she returned, they resumed their previous positions.

The oven timer dinged just as the movie ended. Rafe walked his mother to the downstairs bathroom and waited to steady her to the kitchen, once there they found Emma ready to eat and Olivia serving a chicken casserole; there was also tossed salad. The table looked beautiful. As they all say down to the table they instinctively joined hands. Normally, Natalia said Grace, but before she could start, Rafe began.

"Father, we thank you for the many blessings you've given this family. You've helped me stay on track and see all the good things and people that I have in my life now. You watched out for Emma and Ma and brought her back to us safe and sound. You've helped make this family whole again with Olivia and Emma. And we all thank you for that. Please bless this food to the use of our bodies. Amen."

"Amen." Natalia, Olivia and Emma said in unison.

Natalia was near tears. Just this site of those she loved most, her family, here all together, all happy. It is what she had always dreamed of having someday. After Gus died she never thought she would or could have this. Olivia noticed that she was being overcome with emotion, she got up from her seat and went to Natalia and knelt by her chair.

She reached to turn Natalia's head towards hers; she cupped both cheeks with her hands.

"Hey, come on. Today is a happy day. What's with the tears?" Olivia asked.

"They are happy tears, I promise." Replied Natalia.

"I was just thinking, that I finally had my family, the family that I had always wanted."

"Yes, you do. We are all her, we love you and we aren't going anywhere. We are here for the duration." Olivia said as she brushed the tears from Natalia's cheeks.

Natalia nodded. Olivia closed the distance to Natalia and placed a light kiss on her lips.

"So, you're OK now? Ready to try my chicken casserole?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah, Ma. You've got to try this. It's great!" Rafe interjected.

That brought a smile to Natalia's face.

"I'm OK now. Go…Go back to your seat. Lunch is getting cold." Natalia said to Olivia.

Olivia returned to her seat and they commenced eating their first real meal as a family.

After lunch, Rafe headed off to work. Natalia and Emma returned to the sofa to start the next movie while Olivia cleaned the kitchen and checked on supper. It was brewing in the crock pot. Then Olivia joined them on the sofa. About an hour into the movie both Natalia and Emma were asleep. Olivia didn't want Natalia to get a crick in her neck from sleeping in an odd position. She hated to, but she woke Emma up and said if she was still sleepy to go to her room to nap; that when she woke up, they could resume watching the movie. Emma lazily got up and went upstairs to her room. Olivia then repositioned herself and Natalia to where they were both laid out on the sofa with Natalia mostly laying on Olivia. Though she was not really tired, she wanted to drink in this feeling of holding Natalia like this. Surprisingly, she too drifted off to sleep.

About an hour or so had passed. Natalia awoke to find herself wrapped by Olivia's arms stretch out on the sofa. She felt so warm, loved and safe. She decided to have a little fun with Olivia. She moved her hand to the waist band of Olivia's jeans. She slowly pulled the tail of Olivia's shirt out. Once she had enough of the shirt out, she slid her hand under to Olivia's stomach and started to lightly caress the skin. Olivia was responding, but not quite fully awake. The moans she was making definitely let Natalia know she was reaching Olivia, even if on an unconscious level. She pulled Olivia's shirt up enough and then slowly kissed the area she had just been touching. By the third kiss Olivia was awake.

Olivia was dreaming. It was a wonderfully erotic dream. She had been having quite a lot of them lately, but this one seemed almost real. Natalia was caressing her stomach, then kissing it. It felt so good…to good. Her eyes opened with a start to see Natalia kissing her stomach. Natalia hadn't noticed that Olivia was awake. Her first thought was to jump out from under Natalia, because doing what she is doing now is not conducive to doctor's orders; but she couldn't do that, it could physically harm Natalia. She decided to go the playful route.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Princess?" Olivia asked wickedly.

Natalia froze; then slowly turned her head to see those gorgeous green eyes staring back at her. Once eye contact was made, Olivia arched one eyebrow.

"I couldn't help myself. It was too inviting."

"So much for doctor's orders." Replied Olivia.

"Well, I think there is quite a bit we can do until…" Natalia said but not completing her thought.

"Until when?" Asked Olivia.

"Until Rick says I am well enough to resume normal activity." Natalia said as her cheeks slowly turned red.

"This is normal activity?" Olivia asked.

"Not quite, but hopefully it will be for us soon." Said Natalia.

Olivia reached down to caress Natalia's cheek, indicating that she wanted Natalia to move closer back up to Olivia's head. Natalia did. Olivia was still caressing her cheek. She looked deep into Natalia's eyes and spoke from the heart.

"Natalia, I love you. You have just been through a massive medical trauma. It's going to take a while for you to get back on your feet. Just remember how I was after my heart surgery. We have plenty of time. Sex will come when we are both ready. Let's just enjoy each other now; with each touch, each caress and each kiss."

Natalia shifted forward to kiss Olivia. She then turned to lay her head on Olivia's chest. They didn't get to stay in this position very long, because Jellybean came bounding down the steps very awake after her nap.

TBC