A/N: Olivia and Alex meet with Corrine.
Disclaimer: I don't own the song lyrics. I love the song and some of the lyrics were perfect for this chapter.
Chapter 34: I Remember
"No one knew all the pain I went through
All the love I saved deep in my heart for you
Didn't know where I would go, where I would be
But you made me leave...
I remember when my heart broke
I remember when I gave up lovin' you
My heart couldn't take no more of you
I was sad and lonely..."
"I Remember " - by Keyshia Cole
"Hey Melinda...she's doing better thanks...I was wondering if you could put me in touch with Corrine...I think we should talk... ok thanks, bye."
Olivia ends the call and sighs. She places her phone face down and leans against the countertop in the kitchen. She closes her eyes for just a moment, trying to collect her thoughts.
The patter of bare feet coming up behind her and arms wrapping around her waist bring her out of herself.
"Baby?" Alex asks concerned.
"I just called Melinda and asked her to put me in touch with Corrine." Olivia says.
"Why?" Alex asks quietly.
"We have to find out why she's come back Alex." Olivia answers slightly irritated.
"We know why she's come back. She said so. She wants to see Genesis. I don't think it's a good idea!" Alex says.
Olivia growls and untangles herself out of Alex's arms.
"Even though Gen said she didn't want to see her that doesn't mean she might not change her mind. I just want to know how much involvement Corrine is asking for. I'm scared alright! This is the most scared I've ever been in my life!" Olivia says with a shaky breathe.
Alex moves forward and rubs Olivia's arms, trying to comfort her.
"I'm sorry baby. I know you're scared." Alex whispers as she pulls Olivia into her arms.
"I don't want her to take Gen away from me." Olivia admits quietly.
"I know baby." Alex says as she captures Olivia's lips.
When they break apart, they place their forheads together.
"I'm not letting you meet with that woman alone." Alex says.
Olivia sighs.
"Thank you honey."
"Haylee will be up soon - let's get dressed, go out for breakfast and then go see our daughter." Alex says.
As soon as Haylee and Gen see each other they run into each other's arms and embrace for several minutes.
"I missed you!" Haylee muffles into Gen's caramel skin.
"I missed you too!" Gen whispers into Haylee's hair.
The sounds of throats clearing forces the girls to break apart and blush.
Gen walks over to Alex and hugs her tightly.
"Hey Momma." She says.
"Hey sweetie. How are you doing?" Alex asks, returning the hug.
"A little better. Can't wait to come home though." Gen says.
Gen releases her hold on Alex and hugs her other Mother.
"Hey Mom." She says, nuzzling close into her Mother's embrace.
"Hey babygirl." Olivia says, squeezing her daughter's small frame close.
Mother and Daughter break apart.
Gen sits next to Olivia, Haylee sits on the opposite side of Gen and Alex sits on the opposite side of Olivia.
Happy. Everything was happy, despite the cirmcumstances and the location of this small reunion.
"Mom, Momma?" Gen said, addressing Olivia and Alex.
"Yes?" Olivia and Alex said simultaneously.
Gen stands up and faces her Mother's and girlfriend sitting on the couch.
"I have something to tell you guys but I don't want you to be mad at me..." Gen says hesitantly.
Oliva leans forward, waiting patiently.
Gen releases a breathe and swallows nervously.
"I wanna see her..." Gen says.
"What?" Olivia asks.
Gen clears her throat.
"I wanna see her, Corrine, I wanna see her." Gen says and drops her eyes to the floor.
Olivia's face falls.
'Thought so.'
"Hey...We're not mad." Olivia says.
"You're not?" Gen asks in disbelief.
Oliva shakes her head.
"No sweetie we're not." She says.
"Phew! I thought you guys were going to be so mad after I already said I didn't want to see her." Gen says, sitting back down.
"You're allowed to change your mind honey." Alex says.
The rest of the visit goes bye too quickly for everyone in the room.
Visiting hours have come to an end.
"Your Mom and I are going to meet with Corrine first." Alex tells Gen, as they have one final hug.
"I understand." Gen says.
It's the end of her first week. One more week to go and she'll be leaving the place. But for the first time ever, she returns to her room with a smile on her face.
Olivia sees an unknown number dance across the screen of her phone.
'What if it's her?' She thinks.
She takes a deep breathe to ground herself.
"Hello?" She answers on the fourth ring.
"Olivia?" Corrine's voice asks nervously.
"Yes. This is she." Olivia says.
"Lindy told me you wanted to talk to me..." Corrine says, letting the statement hang in the air.
"Yes. I was wondering if I could meet with you?" Olivia asks.
"Where?" Corrine agrees.
"My place?" Olivia asks.
"Sure. What's your address?" Corrines asks.
After hearing the shuffling sounds of paper, Olivia gives Corrine her adress and says she'll see her when she arrives.
"Lex?" Olivia calls for the blonde.
"Yes?" Alex answers back from the office.
"Corrine will be here in an hour." Olivia says, leaning against the office doorpost.
Alex places her case notes on the desk and pushes away from it.
"How are you?" She asks.
"I'm nervous. Not knowing how this will turn out, makes me extremely nervous." Olivia says openly.
"Me too." Alex admits.
An hour later there is hesitant knocking on the door.
Corrine is here.
The tension in the house is so thick you can cut it with a knife!
Olivia opens the door while Alex makes her way to the couch.
"Hello. Come in." Olivia says, moving out of the way to let the woman enter her home.
Olivia leads Corrine into the living room and gestures to Alex.
"This is my girlfriend, Alex Cabot." She says.
Corrine smiles politely and shakes Alex's offered hand.
"Hello, nice to meet you." She says.
"Nice to meet you too. Please have a seat." Alex says.
Corrine sits in the chair and sighs.
"I just want to see her. I'm not here to take her from you. I just want to be involved in her life a little." She blurts out.
Olivia's mouth gapes open and she looks over at Alex.
"We are willing to allow you visitation Miss Craig." Alex says professionally.
"Thank you. May I ask a question?" Corrine asks.
Olivia closes her mouth and nods.
"Will you tell me about her?" Corrines asks.
"I legally adopted her a month ago. She's been in and out of the system since she was three..." Olivia let it drop.
"It's ok to say since I left her in the tub." Corrine says quietly.
Olivia gets up and goes into the bedroom and returns to the living room with a picture album.
She places the album in Corrine's lap.
"Pictures of Gen since she's been with me." Olivia says.
"Thank you." Corrine says, opening the cover of the album.
For the next several minutes Corrine flips through the photo album, pausing to ask questions or comment on different ones. When she finishes she hands the album back to Olivia.
"Thank you so much for taking care of her." Corrine says.
"You're welcome." Olivia says, with a small smile.
"When may I see her?" Corrine asks, standing preparing to leave.
"She's asked to see you, so you may go anytime during the week." Olivia says, walking the woman towards the door.
"Thank you again." Corrine says.
"You're welcome." Olivia says kindly, closing the door behind her.
Olivia leans against the door for a moment.
"That went better than I expected it would." She says.
"I was prepared to take legal action against her." Alex says.
"Thank goodness that wasn't needed." Olivia says between chuckles.
"You have a visitor Genesis." The nurse says.
"I'll be right out." Gen says.
She opens the door and follows the nurse to the visitation room. She takes a shaky breathe before pushing the door open and going inside.
Her heart clenches in her chest when she sees Corrine standing there, facing the window. Looking so familiar, yet so much like someone she doesn't know.
"Hello." Gen says quietly.
Corrine turns around and smiles at her.
"Hello." She says.
"Do you, uh, wanna sit?" Gen asks, gesturing towards the chairs.
"Sure. Thank you for seeing me." Corrine says.
"You're welcome." Gen says.
"You're so beautiful." Corrine compliments.
Gen cringes. But pushes the uncomfort down and focuses on her task.
"Why?" She asks.
"Why what?" Corrine asks confused.
"Why are you here?" Gen questions angrily.
"Do you remember when we would have indoor picnics when it was rainy outside?" Corrine asks.
Gen felt totally gobsmacked.
Where the fuck did that come from?!
She just shook her head.
"Do you remember when the three of you use to tie each other's shoes? It was so cute!" Corrine gushed.
'Is this bitch crazy?' Gen thought.
"Ooh, yeah, ooh, remember, I remember
And I wanna know where were you when I said I loved you?
And where were you when I cried at night? ...
I remember when my heart broke
I remember when I gave up lovin' you
My heart couldn't take no more of you
I was sad and lonely"
"I Remember" - Keyshia Cole
"You wanna know what I remember?" Gen asked quietly.
"Yes." Corrine whispered.
"I remember telling myself that you would come back for me everytime I wound up in a new foster home." Gen said.
Corrine reached out to take hold of Gen's hands.
Gen pulled back.
"I'm sorry baby." Corrine said.
Gen shook her head furiously.
"Y'know what? No!" She snapped.
"I remember when you would forget to feed us! I remember when you started hitting us! I remember the day you put us in the tub and killed Alexis and Isis! And I remember you not being there when I woke up!" Gen screamed.
Corrine started to cry.
"I know I messed up. I know I wasn't there when you needed me. Forgive me. Please forgive me!" She begged.
Gen slammed her hand on the coffee table.
"NO!" She shouted.
Corrine's strangled sobs the only noise in the room.
"I don't need you! I don't need you! I hate you!" Gen yelled, before getting up and running from the room.
"I remember when I walked out
I remember when I said I hated you
But somehow deep inside still lovin' you
Sad and lonely"
"I Remember" - By Keyshia Cole