Saving Ma
Summary: After Frank proposed to Natalia, Rafe Ave and Emma team up to help their moms.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this.
Chapter 43
Rafe was sitting alone on the couch drinking coffee and watching the morning news. It was just after 7:00 and the kids would be up soon, so he was enjoying the moment of quiet. He turned his head as the door to his moms' bedroom opened and he was off the couch in a heartbeat and next to them. "Hey what's wrong? What do you need? You should be in bed."
He said in a rush and Olivia grabbed his arm rubbing to calm him. "Hey calm down son. We're fine. Rick said we could get up and around today and we wanted to eat breakfast out here with you guys. It's ok."
Rafe took a deep breath. "Are you sure you don't need another day to just rest mom? How do you guys feel?"
Olivia smile. "Yes son I'm sure. We are both doing better."
Natalia stepped up and hugged him. "I promise mijo, if we start getting tired or anything we will lay back down."
Rafe leaned back from the hug, took their hands and led them to the couch urging them to sit. "Ok, but promise you will take it easy. You let me run after the kids and stuff."
They sat and he knelt in front of them. Olivia ran a hand through his hair. "Ok, we were planning on taking it easy." She sat back and winced as she leaned wrong on her bad shoulder. "Shit."
Rafe was up and had a pillow behind her in an instant. "See, you hurt yourself. Maybe you should go back to bed." he was a bundle of nerves.
Olivia sighed. "I just leaned on my stitches wrong honey. I'm ok." She stroked his hair as he kneeled again. "What is it son? You know what the doctor said. We just need a few more days of down time and we are good as new."
Rafe shook his head looking down. "I know, I know I'm sorry. I just…" he trailed off as the baby monitor lit up and Natalio started to cry. Rafe stood up abruptly. "I better get him."
He left the room and they looked at each other worriedly. "What in the world? I thought he'd be happy to see us out of bed." Olivia said watching the door Rafe had just went through.
Natalia shrugged, "I have no idea. Let's talk to him later." Olivia nodded and they snuggled in and started watching the news Rafe had on waiting for their baby.
Rafe came back in a few minutes later with a freshly diapered Natalio. He spotted them and was instantly lunging from Rafe's arms to get to them. That had been his reaction every time he saw them since the kidnapping. His routine was blown and he didn't understand.
Natalia chuckled at him as Rafe handed him over and he immediately burrowed into her. "Good morning. How's mama's baby?"
Natalio gurgled and cooed at her as was their morning norm. He looked over to Olivia leaned up and grabbed her face giving her a sloppy slobbery kiss, then lay back against Natalia holding on to Olivia's shirt. "Hi there buddy." She said and they settled back in just holding their youngest.
After giving him over Rafe was off to wake the other two to get their day started. After he made them brush their teeth he talked to them letting them know that the moms were up in the common room but they still had to keep the noise down and be gentle with them.
Both of them nodded happily and were off like a shot to see them. Emma raced over to Olivia kissing and hugging her while Mateo did the same to Natalia, then they switched. After her hug and kiss Emma climbed up on the couch and snuggled into her Ma. Mateo next to Olivia.
Emma looked to them. "Do you feel better today?"
Natalia smile. "My head still hurts some but I am feeling a lot better today."
Olivia reached over to tickle her. "I am too baby."
Mateo leaned heavily into her. "Do your stitch ups still hurt?"
Olivia hugged him close. "A little but as long as I don't touch them or hit them on anything they are ok."
Rafe came out with the breakfast menu asking what everyone wanted. Olivia looked over to the door of the adjoining suite. "Is your sister still sleeping?"
Rafe shrugged. "Probably, but she's not in there. She and Ashley took the old suite to sleep in. She knew they would be drinking and didn't want to risk waking anyone so they slept there."
Olivia smile. "Oh yea, I forgot. I wonder how the ball went last night. It's usually an awesome event."
Natalia leaned into her. "I'm sorry we had to miss it, but there's always next year. I'm sure everything went well. Greg and Ashley really pulled everything together nicely and Ava worked her butt off to make sure everything was in order."
They ordered breakfast and snuggled with the kids to wait. Rafe never sat down. He flitted from room to room straightening up, coming over every so often to ask if they were ok. He went and got things ready for Natalio's bath after breakfast and set out clothes for the other two kids.
When the food came he set the table and everyone sat and ate. Natalia fed the baby and they all sat and talk about everything and nothing. They enjoyed being back at the table with their babies. The only thing missing was Ava. Hopefully she would be in for lunch and not trying to work.
After breakfast Rafe cleared the table and the younger two went off to change for the day. After baths and everyone was back in the common room they settled down to watch some cartoons then Emma and Mateo went to their separate rooms. Emma wanted to listen to music and Mateo wanted to draw. Rafe sat out the baby's large blanket and toys and lay on the floor and played with him.
Natalia and Olivia watched them play for a bit then curled up and napped on the couch. Rafe ever diligent that they were ok and didn't need anything.
Around noon everyone was back in the common room discussing what to do for lunch when Ava and Ashley entered, hand in hand. Ava saw the menus and rushed over pulling Ash behind her. "Oh please tell me you're just now ordering. I am starving."
Olivia chuckled. "Why didn't you eat breakfast?"
Ava shrugged, "Just got up."
Natalia smiled. "Yes were just now figuring out if we wanted room service or something else."
Ava sat in an overstuffed chair bringing Ashley down beside her. "Why don't we order room service now then Ash and I can go get Chinese for everyone for dinner later?" She said thoughtfully as she ran a hand unconsciously up and down Ashley's arm.
Olivia sat back grinning at the two. "Sounds good." They all decided what they wanted and Rafe stepped away to call it in. Olivia turned back to Ava. "So, how was last night?"
Ashley blushed and Ava just smiled wistfully. "It was wonderful." She looked as Ashley smiling then turned back to Olivia. "The ball went off without a hitch. The foundation raised thousands above their goal and they want to book the Beacon for next year's ball."
Natalia beamed at them. "That is great honey. Did you tell him to call me?"
"He's calling me Monday so I can put in a tentative booking and I told him you would contact him when you get back and get with Greg to set it all up." She leaned back resting against Ashley's side.
Natalia clapped her hands together, "Excellent, I can't wait to see the pictures from last night. I hate that we missed it."
Ashley perked up. "The photographer said he would email me the pictures this morning so you could look them over and decide on prints. Should be there by now."
Olivia looked up as Rafe walked back in. "Son, go grab Ashley a laptop please. We want to see the pictures from last night."
Rafe brought Ashley the laptop and they linked it to the TV so they could all see. The first pictures were of the ballroom before guests arrived. Natalia leaned into Olivia. "It all looks so wonderful. You did amazing on the decorations Ash." She said looking over.
Ava beamed. "Charles from Harding thought so as well. Said she was as invaluable as you Ma. That Mom and I had impeccable taste and that I should keep her."
Ashley and Natalia blushed and Olivia laughed. "That is so true. I don't know what we'd do without either of them." Ava nodded her agreement and they moved on.
The next pictures were of the guest entrances. He got all of the major players in town that Olivia had wanted to capture. The screen lit up with a picture of Doris and Blake. Olivia's mouth fell open and Natalia gasped. "She took Blake." She said a little wistfully.
Ashley smiled. "Yes, she said she was tired of hiding. She loves Blake and doesn't care who knows it."
Olivia sigh. "Good for her, it's about time." She looked to Natalia. "We need to make sure to give a hefty donation to her campaign in November, she's going to need it." Natalia nodded and they turned their attention back to the screen.
The next photo was of Ava and Ashley's entrance. Natalia's hand flew to her heart. "Oh girls, look at you."
"You two looked so gorgeous. I didn't think you would do an entrance though." Olivia said in awe of them.
Ava shrugged. "Greg talk us into it. Said it was important."
They watched slide after slide. Every third or fourth picture was Ava and Ashley. Ashley leaned into her and buried her face when a picture of them dancing came up. "Oh god." She groaned.
Ava chuckled and whispered in her ear. "It's not bad honey, we look good."
When the first pictures of the guests kissing came on screen Ashley buried her head again. "What if he took our picture too? What are your moms' going to say?"
Ava turned her body and pulled her into a hug, talking lowly in her ear. "They'll be happy for us angel. It's ok. My moms' love you." Ava pulled on her chin until Ashley looked up seeking her eyes. "I love you." She whispered lost in the deep blue of her eyes, forgetting where they were, she lay a gently kiss on her lips. Ashley smiled softly and kissed her nose.
They looked up at the clearing of a throat. Olivia smirked. "I was going to ask about that picture but I think I have my answer." She said pointing to the screen.
They looked over and on the TV was a picture of their kiss right as Ashley had melted into her. Ashley turned beet red and Ava smiled pulling her back to her. "Well not many people get to have a picture of their first kiss. I say that's pretty cool."
Natalia squealed. "I knew it, I knew it. Oh I'm so happy for you baby."
They clicked to the next picture, it was them too, only this time they had their foreheads together and you can see the love shining off of them. Ashley sighed. "I need that picture."
Ava kissed her cheek. "Me too."
Natalia smiled at the sweetness of them. "I'll make sure you get a copy of all of the ones with you together."
Ava turned to her grinning. "Thank you Ma."
After the pictured finished and Rafe took the laptop back Emma crawled into Ava and Ashley's laps and leaned into Ava. "You guys were really pretty last night. Are you going to get married like Ma and Mommy now?"
Ava chuckled, Ashley just smiled and answered for them. "It's a little soon for that I think."
Emma looked confused, "But Mommy asked Ma to marry her right after they told each other they loved each other."
Natalia cut in. "Yes she did baby, but it's different for everyone. If they decide to get married it will be when it is right for them."
Emma nodded and lay back against Ava. "Ok, but can I be flower girl again."
Ava smiled rubbing her back. "Of course you can. I would never want another flower girl but you."
Emma beamed, kissed her and Ashley then climbed down running off to her room, Mateo right behind her.
Ava put her arm around Ashley hugging her close. Ava turned to Olivia and Natalia. "So, why didn't anyone tell me it was a sweetheart's ball? I found out talking to Blake."
Olivia chuckled. "I didn't realize until Friday when we talked that you didn't know. By that time you were already taking Ashley and I thought it would be more fun to see how things went. Sorry, I've been bored." She said looking down.
Ashley chuckled. "I'm still not sure how you didn't know. We planned and talked about it for over a month right in front of you."
Ava shrugged. "I knew mom and ma were going so I guess I just wasn't paying attention to an event that I had nothing to do with."
Natalia looked contrite. "Are you very angry with us for not warning you honey?"
Ava shook her head, "No, I'm glad I didn't know. I don't think I would have had the courage to go through with it. As it was I was utterly terrified to tell her how I felt once the brick hit me in the head cluing me in that it was possible that she felt the same."
Now Ashley was curious. "What brick was that? I didn't do anything that I haven't always done."
Ava leaned into her. "When Blake was talking about the tradition of the sweetheart ball I remembered the look of disappointment that came across your face when I asked you to come with me as my best friend. That's why I asked you during that dance. I had to know if you felt the same about me."
Ashley sighed and kissed her sweetly. "Well I guess you got you answer."
Ava grinned pulling her closer. "Yea, I guess I did."
Natalia smiled. "You two are too cute." She stood and grabbed a yawning Olivia's hand pulling her up. "Ok, we are going to go take a nap. Rafe already put Natalio down for one." She turned to Ashley. "Why don't you call your mom and see if she and Blake would like to join us for dinner tonight."
"Sure, she said she was coming by today to talk to you and Olivia anyway so I will tell her to just come for dinner and talk to you then."
Natalia nodded and led Olivia out of the room after kissing both girls on the top of the heads.
Ava turned her head to Ashley when their door closed. "Hi."
Ashley smiled sweetly. "Hi."
Ava leaned in and kissed her. It started out light but quickly grew in intensity. This is how Rafe found them when he returned to the room. "Oh great, you guys are going to be as bad as Ma and Mom." He said with a smirk.
Ashley blushed but Ava threw a pillow at him. "Get over it, not gonna stop kissing her on your account." She smirked back.
Rafe laughed, "Didn't expect you to." He looked around. "Where did Mom and Ma go?" he said worriedly.
Ava looked at him curiously at his tone. "They went to take a nap."
Rafe moved toward the door. "Are they ok? Do they need anything?"
Ava got up and walked over to him. "Hey, their fine. Are you?" she asked rubbing his arm.
He nodded. "Yea, I'm fine. Just making sure they are." He turned and went back to the other suite to check on the two younger siblings.
Ava walked back over to Ashley watching after him. She sat and pulled her close. "I'm not sure what that was all about."
Ashley rubbed her back. "I don't know. He seems on edge today."
Ava lay her head on Ashley's shoulder. "We'll have to keep an eye on him."
Ashley nodded as she grabbed the remote. They turned on a movie, and snuggled to watch.
