Where Love Grows Wild

By: Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles

Chapter: 11: Found

When they finally returned to Casey's parents' home, stopping several times to kiss, hidden from the road, Sandra was sitting in the armchair rocking Sasha and Adam was lying with his face buried in a pillow. She looked up, relieved, when they walked in.

"Is everything alright?" she asked, holding onto Casey just in case.

"Sasha isn't feeling well and Adam's lost his badge."

Olivia dropped to the floor beside Adam, rubbing his back. "Oh Adam! It's okay! I can find you another one."

"But, but Elliot said not to lose it!"

"Adam, where did you lose it? Maybe I can help you find it?"

"I don't know. When we finished lunch, we went to the park, but Sasha sicked up all over everything so we came back. Could be anywhere!"

Casey had taken Sasha and, as if on cue, she was sick again all over Casey,

Olivia picked him up. "Here, go sit with Grandma for a second. I think Mama would appreciate my help, okay? After their both cleaned up, we'll go look for it, okay?"

He gave a nod, wiping his face. "But you gotta change your jeans coz they're all wet. Did you have an accident?"

She nodded. "I tripped and fell in the water. Clumsy." she said, kissing his head. "Where would Casey have taken her?" she asked Sandra.

"Up to the bathroom on the second floor. It's right next to her old room."

She nodded. "Keep thinking, Adam. I'll be back," she said, heading upstairs.

Casey was still trying to calm a crying Sasha down, but managed a smile when she saw her. "Back to the real world with a bang, huh?"

Olivia nodded, kissing her cheek. "I wouldn't have it any other way...well, except the horrible smell. Where's the bag? I'll grab a clean diaper, wipes, powder and clothes."

By the time they'd managed to clean Sasha up and get her to sleep, Casey's mother was having trouble keeping Adam inside the house. "I need to get my badge! I can't look after everyone if I haven't got my badge!"

Olivia walked down in clean clothes, Casey behind her. "Adam, calm down! Your sister's just gotten to sleep and is sick," she said as they walked toward him. "Mama and I will help you look for it if Grandma doesn't mind looking after your sister for a bit." She looked to Sandra. "She's sleeping, but when she's sick it tends to take a lot to calm her down."

"No! We need to take her with us! Elliot said I need my badge to look after you all and I can't look after you if she's here and I haven't got my badge!" He pushed her angrily.

Olivia wrapped her arms around him. "I know, but, honey, she's very sick. She'll be safe here." She looked to Casey. "A little help!"

"Look, how about I take you out and mommy stays here with Sasha and looks after her? She's still got her badge."

Despite Casey's attempt, he continued to struggle against Olivia's arms. "NO!"

"We can't take her, Adam. She's just too sick." A thought popped into her mind. "Do you remember all the places you went?" Olivia asked.

"Yes, I'm not stupid!"

Casey was hiding her smile and leant towards Olivia to whisper to her. "He's cross! I've never seen him cross before!"

"Can you write them down in your book – and the spots you remember going while you were there – and give me the paper? Mama and I can go look for you. That way you can stay here and protect Sasha." He looked like he was about to protest and Olivia sighed. "If I let you hold onto my old badge until we find yours, do you promise to take care of it?"

He stopped struggling and eyed her suspiciously for a moment before nodding, then pulled out his little black book to write things down, with help from Casey's mother.

Olivia went outside, retrieving her old badge from the center console in the car, and walked back in, polishing it on her shirt.

Casey was still hiding her smile, and she only just managed to make it outside with Adam's list before she laughed.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"He was angry, Liv! Remember the other week he said he was too scared to get cross or do something wrong incase we sent him away? But he just got cross!"

"Then I guess it means he's beginning to trust us more. So, where to first?"

Half an hour later, they stood outside the cafe they'd had lunch in, feeling defeated. They'd looked everywhere and couldn't seem to find his badge anywhere. "Do you think he'd notice if we just got a new one?"

Olivia hooked her arm. "Let's discuss it over coffee."

Casey sighed and rubbed her face before following Olivia.

They sat at a table waiting to be waited on. "Maybe he forgot a place...or it fell off in the street," Olivia said with a sigh. "And no, I don't think getting him a new one is going to make him forget it."

Casey groaned, resting her head on the table, then she jumped when someone stopped by the table. "What can I g...Casey?"

Olivia rested her hand over hers. "Are you all right?"

She stared silently up at the waiter, then looked towards Olivia, then back towards him. "...Hi."

Olivia cleared her throat. "Um... something we can help you with? Casey...?"

"Liv. This is...ah..."

The guy moved from foot to foot, then looked away. "I'll...ahh...get you another waiter."

"Thank you. Casey... just tell me," she said, taking her hands. "I love you. I trust you," she whispered.

"The guy who cut me with his braces in the hut." She whispered, her blush creeping into her cheeks, equally matched by the waiters as he walked away.

Olivia rubbed Casey's hands. "Its okay, really. You're going to introduce me, right? ...Right? Casey, it happened years ago. It's in your past."

"I don't remember his name." Casey whispered, almost sliding under the seat as he approached once more. "Ah..sorry. There's no one else...umm…I found this in the car park...I heard you were looking for it..." He held out Adam's badge.

Olivia smiled. "Oh thank you so much! Where was it?"

"In the car park by the path that leads up to the...ah..." He blushed again, and Casey slid a little lower in her seat.

Olivia smiled. "How do you know Casey?"

"W-we went to school together." He glanced to Casey, and they both went the same bright red.

She smiled. "That's nice. I'm Olivia her..." she looked at Casey, kicking her foot.

"This is Olivia, my wife." Casey mumbled.

He stuck an awkwardly large hand to Olivia. "Edward."

Olivia shook his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Edward. Could Casey and I get a couple coffees, please?"

He nodded, then rushed away.

Olivia reached for her hands again. "Casey, I think you can sit up now. I can forget what you said about him..."

Casey took Olivia's hands, using them to cover her face. "I'm so embarrassed!"

"You're so cute when you blush, but there's no reason to be embarrassed. I'm...not jealous or upset. I just thought it would be better if you said that."

Casey spent the rest of the time at the Cafe buried against Olivia, and everytime Edward came near them, both he and Casey would blush and stammer.

Olivia sighed, finishing her second cup of coffee. "Should we head back? Ease your embarrassment?"

Casey nodded enthusiastically.

Olivia went up and paid and walked back to Casey. "Do you want to say good bye?"

"You're kidding, right? I ran out of that hut as fast as I could and haven't spoken to him until today. I want to go home and hide my face in a pillow and scream I'm so embarrassed."

Olivia nodded, wrapping an arm around her as they made their way out, Casey hiding her head in her neck.

When they got back, Adam was standing in the driveway his hands on his hips in a typical Olivia stance.

Olivia got out of the car. "Were you waiting for us? Maybe for this?" she asked, showing her his badge.

He raced forward, grabbing it from her and pinning it once more to his belt as he leant against her. "Where was it? I had to give the other one to Sasha, she's awake again and she's upset."

"It was in the car park of the coffee shop. Go inside, okay? Mama and I will be right there." She walked around to the passenger side door, opening it. "Are you coming inside, Case?"

She shook her head, looking towards her dad who was sitting on a swing seat in the garden. "I'll umm...will you be ok with them for a minute?"

Olivia reached down, brushing some hair behind her ear. "Are you okay? Do you need me to come with you? I will," she said, caressing her cheek.

Casey shook her head, then lifted her face to smile at Olivia when they heard Sasha start yelling, "Mamamamama!"

"I think you're wanted. I'll be ok."

Olivia hugged her, kissing her cheek. "I love you, Casey Novak," she said letting go and standing upright before walking inside.

Author's Note: What do you think?

Review thanks to: LOCISVU, Ren Victoria & Kikilia14

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Liv-x-Lex4Ever & E. Scribbles