Chapter 13 The Meet the Family

Natalia and Olivia were headed to see Rafe again. It was the fourth time they had made the trip. She didn't care where Nicky was or what he was doing.

When they got to the house, Rafe was sitting in his usual place. Olivia quickly parked the car and ran towards the stairs. She and Natalia knew that no matter how far away they were he would dive for Olivia. Luckily Olivia always caught him.

Olivia bounced him in her arms. "You ready."

"Yes, yes." Rafe loved when his Ma and Olivia came.

They end up at the arcade. Natalia sat at their table waiting for the food. She watched as Olivia helped Rafe and another little boy, shoot the monsters on the screen. She loved how Olivia was around Rafe. She followed Rafe and his new friend, where ever they went and Rafe had her undivided attention. She could tell he reveled in it.

Olivia ran over to the table and pulled Natalia away from it. "Come on, we need a third."

"For what?"

"They challenged us to a shoot out." Olivia just wanted Natalia closer.

"Who?"

They stopped in front of the basketball cage. Two goals hung on the wall. The balls were line up just inside of the cage.

"I'm not good at basketball." She was a cheerleader in school not an athlete.

"It's okay me and Rafe will make up for you. Isn't that right Superman?" Rafe was talking to the other little boy. Natalia looked passed them and saw the boy's mother and father staring at them.

Rafe ran over. "You playing Ma?" He wrapped his arms around Olivia's leg.

"Of course, she's playing." Rafe's eyes lit up. She had never seen him so happy.

"They have a team name Olivia, it's The Millers, what's ours?" They needed a name if they were going to win, but they all had different names.

Olivia looked at Natalia for help.

"RON" Natalia spoke up. It was the first thing that popped in her head.

Rafe and Olivia gave her matching confused looks. "Who's Ron?"

"No, R.O.N. It stands for our names. Rafe, Olivia, Natalia." She shrugged her shoulders.

"R.O.N, it is. Come one lets win." Olivia walked into the cage.

After two rounds, they were winning by three points. It was Natalia's turn. Olivia had a perfect score and Rafe had done better that she thought he would.

"Okay Ma, it's on you." Rafe cheered.

Natalia and Mrs. Miller stepped into the cage.

The clock started. Natalia missed her first eight shots. Olivia and Rafe stood behind her laughing at her poor effort. Natalia wasn't even looking at the goal she just threw the ball on a pray.

When she finally hit a shot it surprised her so much she started to jump up and down, shouting. Her fist pumped in the air. "I won, I won." The buzzer sounded.

Olivia walked into the cage wrapping Natalia in her arms. "That was a good shot, baby, but we lost." She turned Natalia towards the scoreboards. "It was a blow out." Olivia tired to hold back her laughter.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Her joy died as she eyed the scoreboards.

Olivia laughed, "No, it's okay. I think we should celebrate your shot and that sexy victory dance." Olivia whispered the last part her ear.

Rafe walked over with a smile on his face. "Ma, you're crazy," he giggled.

Natalia looked around as everyone was looking at them. She blushed as she thought about her victory chant and dance.

"Hey, you guys want to join us, we have plenty of food and tokens." Olivia walked over to the other family.

Mr. Miller answered, "Sure, we'll split the bill."

"No, losers pay." Olivia led the way back to the table.

After the pizza and drinks were gone, Olivia ordered everyone cake and ice cream. After desert, the adults talked while the two boys went off to play more.

Rafe came back and climbed in Olivia's lap.

"What's wrong, superman?" Olivia asked the little boy. Natalia could see he was tired. The excitement of the day had drained him.

"Nothing." Rafe laid his head on her shoulder. Olivia began to rock the little boy; he soon fell asleep while the adult continued to talk.

Natalia had never felt so normal. Here I am with my son and Olivia, having a normal conversation with other parents. She unconsciously leaned towards Olivia. Her hand found Olivia's on the table. Their fingers intertwined as Olivia talked to Mr. Miller about stocks. Being bored has never felt so good.

They gathered their belongings after saying their goodbyes. Olivia had taken a sleeping Rafe out to the car.

Natalia was collecting all of Rafe's prizes off the table as Mrs. Miller did the same for her son.

"Your wife is really good with children." Natalia looked at her shocked.

"Thank you." It was an automatic answer.

She looked down at her hand and realized she still didn't have her wedding ring on but her engagement ring shined in the dim light. She smiled as the thought of being married to Olivia formed.

"I know we just met but here is our number. If Rafe ever wants to come over or you guys want to do something just give us a call. It's so hard now and days to find a descent family like yours. And next time stocks will not be brought up." Mrs. Miller cringed at the thought of another boring conversation.

"Yeah we'll give you a call." So this is what life is supposed to be like.

Olivia and Natalia walked Rafe up the stairs of the Rivera household.

Natalia mother walked to the door. She always blocked Olivia's entranced. "Rafe, why don't you come get ready for bed." Her gaze set hard onto Natalia.

"Bye Olivia." Rafe ran inside arms full of small toys.

The disapproval shone bright in her eyes. "Natalia, I need to talk to you." She walked away with not so much as a glance at Olivia.

"I'll be right back Olivia."

"No problem I'll be here." Olivia sat on the steps. It was her place whenever they visited, banished outside like a bad pet. She pulled her phone out listening to her messages.

Inside the house

Natalia sat on the couch across from her father. The lazy boy creaked as her father rocked slowly.

"We need you to take Rafe next weekend. He is out of school on Friday so he has a three day weekends. I want you to come get him Thursday night." He continued to rock. Every so often he looked out the open door to see Olivia sitting on the steps.

"Mom you know I can't take him home." Nicky will kill him. Panic set in as Natalia thought about Nicky's reaction.

"Well, your mother and I are going to Florida to see my brother Miguel. You remember Uncle Miguel."

"Yes but Papi you know Nicky's temper." Natalia was begging. Rafe doesn't deserve that. It felt like they were just trying to punish her using Rafe.

"Well I suggest you stop making him mad Natalia, hanging around this woman who will lead you to corruption." Her father took a deep calming breathe.

"Why should Rafe have to suffer for my mistakes," Natalia ignored the comment about Olivia.

"He is your son, not mine. You and Nicky need to work this out."

Natalia turned to her more sympathetic mother. "Ma, please don't do this. Can't Rafe go with you? I'll send you some money if that's the problem." Natalia saw her father's eyes turn dark. Somehow she had crossed the line. His jaw clenched.

"You come here and offer us money. How dare you? You think because you're whoring yourself out to some rich dyke you came come in here and throw money in my face."

He rose from the lazy boy, his voice still at an angry whisper. "I want you out. You come and get Rafe Thursday night or you can pick him up from child services."

"Daddy, why are you doing this?" The tears stung her eyes. Her father had never been this mean before.

"I will not stand by while my daughter whores herself out. It's unnatural. You bring that woman to my house and expect me to welcome her in. You think I don't know who she is. Do you think I'm stupid?"

"No! Why are you taking it out on Rafe? He is just a child." He walked out the room as Natalia cried.

Natalia's mother sat beside her daughter. "Natalia you know he is just upset, Miguel is really sick. He didn't mean it."

"Mom, Rafe can't come home. You know Nicky doesn't want him."

"Just try. Maybe this time will be different."

"He won't, I've tried so many times. Nicky's not going change." Natalia cried into her hands.

"You should have thought about that before you opened your legs." Mr. Rivera walked in the room shouting.

It got the attention of the wrong person. Olivia stormed through the door. "Hey, what is your problem?"

The two alpha's eyes locked. Olivia turned away walking over to Natalia and kneeled to eye level with the woman. "Are you okay?"

Natalia nodded wiping the tears from her eyes. She smiled through the tears. Olivia was swiftly becoming the only person she could count on, but she wasn't constant, neither was their relationship.

"Get out of my house!" Natalia's father walked over to Olivia grabbing her arm.

She snatched out his grip standing to her full height, a couple of inches shorter than him. "Look Mr. Rivera, I don't know what your problem is but I won't stand by and listen to you talk to her like that. Rafe is in the other room. He doesn't need to hear it either. I won't stand for it."

Natalia moved between the two, facing Olivia, whose emerald orbs looked her over. "Olivia, it's okay, really."

"No, it's not." Olivia looked back at Natalia's father. "I don't ever want to hear you talk to her like that again. She has done nothing to deserve it. Your daughter is the most loving person on this planet and if you can't see that than, she nor Rafe needs to be here."

The older man didn't reply as he walked out the room, again.

Natalia's mother almost smiled. I've never seen Rafe nor Natalia happier then with her, but the love those green eyes carry will only cause trouble. For everyone.

"I'll be outside." Olivia turned and left out the house.

Natalia's mother walk Natalia out the door, whispering. "You know I never told you but your father used to be just like Nicky. But he changed." She hung her head in shame.

"I never saw him hit you." Natalia eyes were wide as saucers, he could dismissive and hard headed, but she never thought of her father as another Nicholas.

"After you were born he changed. He loved you so much just as he does Rafe. Just take Rafe for the weekend. I'll call you when we get back. Call your cousin Maria maybe she can keep Rafe."

Olivia stood from her seat on the steps of the porch. Natalia walked out of the house, her eyes were red. "Baby, I'm sorry, I couldn't let him talk to you that way." Olivia pulled Natalia closer.

Natalia sniffed trying to compose herself. "No its okay, um I just found out my Uncle is really sick."

"Oh, I'm sorry. We can send him so flowers if you like." Olivia led Natalia to the car.

"No, it okay my parents are going to see him next week." Olivia opened the door for Natalia. Olivia walked to the other side getting in the car.

The ride back to Springfield was quite. Olivia was still angry. If her talks to Natalia that way there is no telling how he treats Rafe.

Natalia was busy trying to figure out a way to tell Nicky about Rafe's visit.

Natalia and Nicky arrived home in the morning like always. Nicky sat at the table reading a newspaper eating his breakfast.

"Nicky I need to ask you something."

"What?"

"My parents are going to Florida this weekend and they need Rafe to stay. I was thinking he could come here just for the weekend."

"No."

"But Nicky it will just be…"

"I said no. If you bring that little bastard here I will smother him in his sleep. Is that what you want Natalia?" His voice rose slightly, but his eyes stayed on the newspaper.

"No." Natalia looked at her husband in disgust. She never hated anyone more than she hated Nicky. If looks could kill, he would have been dead four times over.

"Are you trying to make me hurt you? Because if you are keep looking at me like that." Nicholas flipped the page, warning Natalia.

"I'll just call my cousin." She turned back to the dishes. Maria had already said no.

Natalia sat the table in the kitchen trying to come up with a plan. Rafe needed a place to go. He couldn't come home, she couldn't risk it. She had been up all night with Olivia. She was running on empty. After she made breakfast Nicky went right to sleep, Natalia couldn't.

Natalia sat in the guess room contemplating her decision. Bring Rafe home was only a minor option before Nicholas ever said anything, now it wasn't even a last resort.