AN: I just want to thank everyone for the fantastic reviews, I had this on one word document, but it was becoming too much to scroll through so as of now I have 24 chapters written I think it will honestly be pushing 40 chapters. I have at least 3-4 major story arcs. Already thinking of future sequel for this as well. I will let you know when it's the last couple of chapters and make sure everything is resolved. Enjoy. This is the longest chapter by far.
Two weeks had passed since meeting James, and since then, Olivia had asked Lucy all about him and even told her if he needed help with Analise, he was welcome at her apartment. She knew he had to be vetted by child services to also care for Analise, and she ran background check just in case, of course, it was clear.
Olivia had missed Raphael. He had only been over two times in the last two weeks, but he was coming over tonight, and this was his last class with professor Dome. She had explained there was no reason for him to go to the next three classes because they were finals, and the students were taking Scantron tests and had an essay. He did, however, have to go to his orientation class all next week. He had gotten his schedule for it; he even had to stay on campus that week in professor housing. A way for the university to try to get him to stay on campus in buildings they own so, they could get back some of their paychecks.
He thought it ridiculous he was required to stay there, but then again, he may make some new friends. They had activities starting at 8 am and going all the way to 6 pm every night until Friday when they were done at noon. He then would have two weeks off before classes resumed. He could say for sure he was done the planning, had all his notes, lectures, and syllabi in order. He had shown Professor Dome his outlines. He had figured out the online site with ease after going to a class combined with Professor Dome's help, and he was doing everything in his power to make himself utterly free for the last two weeks before he started teaching.
Raphael Arrived with his overnight bag at Olivia's apartment. She still hadn't come home, and Lucy was making tacos for dinner.
"Hey, you didn't have to do that," Raphael explained.
"I honestly didn't know you would be here today," Lucy stated.
"Oh, maybe Liv forgot," Raphael stated.
"I don't know she's been out of sorts lately," Lucy stated.
"What do you mean?" Raphael asked, instantly worried for her.
"Nothing I think she needs a break, and you haven't been around as often she misses you," Lucy stated.
"Yeah, I know I offered her to move in with me a few weeks ago, and I think she is honestly thinking about it, which makes her nervous," Raphael explained.
"Did you really?" Lucy asked.
"yeah I did but don't tell Noah, I told her there is no rush, and it doesn't change anything if she doesn't," Raphael stated.
"Yes, it does that is huge. It would be her giving up everything she's had here and trusting you to take care of her and Noah. It's your place, she's invading, and if something goes bad, she has nothing left." Lucy stated.
"You talking from experience?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, Uh James asked me the week I talked about Liv meeting him, I told him no way, not until the end of this semester I can't risk the drama, he gets it, but I know it would be so much easier. Of course, his place is bigger, and it makes the most sense, but there is something about giving up that freedom I don't want to think about. I love him, but I can't just dump everything I worked for when I am this close." Lucy stated.
"I knew it would be difficult and this is her home it's the only place Noah has ever known, but I never thought that much about it. I would be happy to move in here. We all love where my apartment is." Raphael stated.
"Well convince her to take some time off and show her how she can make it hers, and remind her you're in it together, and that it would be her place just as much as yours put her on the lease, so she knows it's her place too," Lucy stated.
"You make excellent points. How are you so wise for your years?" Raphael asked.
"I don't know it comes with the territory, I guess," Lucy stated.
"What do you mean?" Raphael asked.
"When you live in the not so nice part of town, and your parents work or fight all the time, you learn to fend for yourself. Learn what you want and what you don't and pray to God that the world around you isn't going to suck you into it. You do what you have to do to stay on course, no matter the price." Lucy stated.
"Sounds familiar," Raphael stated.
"My neighbors and friends were my families," Lucy stated.
"Do you still speak?" Raphael asked.
"To my old neighbors, yes, they are so proud like proud grandparents. My friends, well, they didn't pray hard enough, or were content to live the way they were." Lucy stated, sadly.
Lucy got back to chopping up an onion for the tacos, but Raphael went for the fridge and pulled out a bottle of scotch. He thought back to his friends the life they had, the life he wanted. He sipped the scotch and asked Lucy if she wanted a glass.
"I don't drink on the job." Lucy laughed.
"You're off the clock," Raphael stated.
She grabbed the bottle and filled the glass double what it should be.
"I have a high tolerance," Lucy explained. She swallowed the drink down quickly and began to chop a peeper.
His eyebrows arched up shocked she downed it was smooth for alcohol, but even he couldn't have drunk it like that without a cough or two.
"You are full of surprises," Raphael stated.
"Hmm, I think that's why James keeps me around." Lucy laughed.
"So, your friends, what happened?" Raphael asked as he continued to sip.
"Well, there were the 5 of us Me, Sarah, Kaitlyn, John, and Shay. I moved into the apartment building when I was 5, Sarah and Kaitlyn had been there their whole lives. John came later when we were nine, and Shay was like a little sister. She was two years younger, but we took her in. She wanted to be part of us so bad. We were the only kids similar to age on the floor. Sara and I were the closest, and then Sara and Kaitlyn had a love-hate relationship, always asking me John and Shay to pick sides. John was the most real person I have ever met still to this day. He had no filter and was amazingly insightful. We were always trying new things good or bad. He was bisexual, so it was always interesting to get his take on the world as we grew up. He was the first person I ever met, not afraid to talk about anything. Then Shay, like I said we all tried to protect but at the same time drug her into our world where we weren't always thinking clearly. Needless to say, there was a lot of drama, seriously we could have given Beverly Hills 90210 a run for their money. I swear it was the most cliché life."
Raphael laughed.
"Sarah was perfect, flawless confident. She was popular and cute, a dancer, America's sweetheart. Kaitlyn was the master manipulator, her mom, a single parent, drunk. John was the charmer with both sexes, always had someone on his arm some times 2 or 3. He was popular but had that bad boy image. Then Shay, like I said she was the sweet, adorable baby sister that could do no wrong quite meek gentle. I was the rational geek in the group, always having a pros and cons list of everything we did. Then we all grew up I drifted apart the confines of the apartment had spread as we gained more freedom, met new friends. Sarah went on to, art school and Kaitlyn and John were a year ahead, and although I had some classes with them, Kaitlyn became a hermit, and John was an athlete.
Sarah was like my sister. I could tell her everything and we did everything together. I am not even joking anything a teenage girl would do we did it together. It was a very toxic relationship she was the instigator, and for the most part, I followed along. Sarah and I unraveled at the seams when I found her drunk for the 4th night in a row snorting pills and her begging me to do them with her, and I did, like an idiot. I realized I couldn't let her drag me down. John and I could talk for hours, and I had feelings for him, but his eye was always on someone else, and of course, he thought I was too vanilla, even though I was far from it. I never really did get along with Kaitlyn, I saw through her, and she hated me for it. Shay and I are still friends, she's two years younger, and her parents really pushed her she just finished her degree in biology."
"Sad how things fall apart over the years," Raphael stated as he finished his drink.
"Yeah, but looking back, if I would have stayed friends with them, I would be an utter mess right now. John has already been married and divorced and still parties like he is 21. Sarah got busted for heroin not too long ago. Kaitlyn moved upstate and is a grocery bagger. No way I would be in college, no way I would be watching Noah, I would probably be in jail by now." Lucy stated.
"Funny how people see the life they want for themselves and fall into the same traps that they see in their youth, your lucky you have a good head on your shoulders, you're doing great," Raphael stated.
"Thanks, I want to think so," Lucy stated.
The tacos were done, and Noah was playing some game on his tablet he was zoned in on not even hearing Raphael tell him to get cleaned up for dinner.
Raphael had to walk over and tapped him on the shoulder before he agreed to wash his hands.
Raphael had poured himself another drink, and asked Lucy if she wanted a refill, she agreed and once again, he only filled it to the proper line. She rolled her eyes and sipped it this time.
Olivia walked through the door, surprised to see Raphael and Lucy enjoying scotch together but found it amusing.
"Rough day?" Olivia asked.
"No, just reminiscing," Raphael stated.
Lucy poured herself another, taking it like a shot setting the glass on the table and grabbing the bottle of scotch and putting it away.
"Hmm, smells good, thank you so much, Lucy," Olivia stated. She put down her purse and walked to the kitchen sink to wash her hands. Olivia put tacos together for Noah.
"I better go," Lucy stated.
"No, stay, Lucy, you've been drinking," Olivia stated
"I am perfectly fine," Lucy said.
"That's your 4th drink in less than an hour. I know it hasn't hit yet, but it will," Raphael stated.
"I know you think that, but it really won't. I'll take a cab." Lucy stated as she began to walk out the door.
"You're staying." Olivia started, putting her hands on the girl's shoulders and pushing her into a stool, making her a plate of tacos.
Lucy rolled her eyes and sat and ate as they all talked about what was coming up for them.
Noah excitingly talked about the fact Lucy promised to take him to the new dinosaur exhibit at the natural history museum, a place Noah loved so much Olivia ended up becoming a member because if not, she would go broke buying tickets. He also groaned at the fact that he started school in less than a month.
Olivia didn't talk too much about work and never gave details about anything when Noah was around she stated that she was happy there was a lull in cases, and she had no trials she needed to be at for the next two weeks.
Lucy talked about the fact that she and James have tickets for Come From Away. She was excited to start her classes andd she was happy to get time in the childcare center. She also told Olivia for the first time that James has asked her to move in, but she has denied him until she was done with the semester.
Raphael explained that he was up to date with everything for his classes, but he dreaded the upcoming week of "professor orientation." and will be happy when he is about six weeks in. He felt that six weeks in would let him no if he could continue, or he was an utter failure.
When they were done eating their meal, Rapahel and Olivia nervously looked at Lucy fearful she would fall off the stool, but she moved and acted as she has no alcohol what so ever in her system.
She laughed.
"It's okay, mom and dad, I can hold my liquor." Lucy retorted.
"Sorry, it's just if I would have drunk that much I would be on the floor right now," Raphael stated.
Olivia knew it wasn't entirely true but knew that after four glasses of scotch, both of them would be feeling it maybe not falling off the stool feeling it but, she was showing no symptoms of being drunk and Olivia wasn't sure if she was worried, impressed, or shocked.
"Do you feel a buzz, at least?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, a little, I feel a spring in my step," Lucy stated.
"I told you already I have a high tolerance; I don't drink out a lot out because there is no point one or two drinks doesn't do it for me, and I'll be damned if I'm going to run up a $100 tab to get drunk. I think I've only been drunk off cheap wine a few times." Lucy admitted.
"Now If you trust me, I am going home. I'll call a cab and text when I get there." Lucy stated.
"Fine, I'll see you tomorrow," Olivia stated.
Lucy left
"She is something else," Raphael stated.
"That she is, she is so perfect for Noah, I swear she is the most down to earth nicest person," Olivia stated.
"Yeah she is, when she was talking to me, I realized we had a lot in common, and I thought about how old I am. I could be her dad. When did I get so old?" Raphael asked.
"Uh, let's see you're two years younger than me, so I would say you're not there yet," Olivia stated.
"Honestly, Liv, though, I know you don't look 48, but do you feel 48?" Raphael asked.
"Some days, especially around Noah, and Carassi, I feel even older. But when I am with you or Amanda or Fin, there are times I don't feel much older than Lucy." Olivia admitted.
"Hmm, I think I am going to feel old teaching, especially my undergrad students," Raphael stated.
"I am sure they have a lot to teach you to Raphael," Olivia stated.
Noah was getting tired, and she had come home late. She told him to forgo his bath for the night, and she would tuck him in.
Raphael looked like he was still lost in his thoughts, so she left him at the table to reflect and read to Noah and tucked him in.
Olivia came back, Raphael had pulled the scotch back out, she assumed he had only poured one more drink.
"Hey Liv, you ever think that you worked hard or just got lucky?" Raphael asked.
"a little of both," Olivia stated, pouring a drink for herself and noticing the bottle was more than half gone.
She sipped the drink carefully.
"What's gotten into you?"
"Nothing really, Lucy told me about her upbringing. It sounds so similar to Alex and Eddie and me. I have to wonder did everyone have that. I know everyone has a messed up past. No one is perfect, but people go through so much and get so far. Other people go through nothing and can't even function. I guess I sometimes wonder, why me? You know?" Raphael stated.
Olivia looked at him.
"I think in your soul, you know, and nothing is going to change the fundamentals of who you are. You may go astray, but you have an internal compass. Some people have one, and others don't, and we are lucky enough to have ones that lead us to each other." Olivia stated.
"I guess. I don't know how to feel about where I am. Don't get me wrong. I love you so much, and Noah too. This isn't what I imagined for myself, and its better than I expected, just not what a dreamed of." Raphael stated.
"I can understand that," Olivia stated she finished her scotch and put it away.
It wasn't late, but Raphael had seen the look on Olivia's face, the one Lucy explained clearly before she came home.
"I've missed you," Raphael stated.
"I've missed you too," Olivia confirmed.
"Why don't we sit to watch tv or a movie sorry I just had a downpour of thoughts. I think what we both need is mind-numbing comedy." Raphael stated.
"Perfect," Olivia stated.
Raphael and Olivia sat together on the couch. Olivia had her head in Raphael's chest. They went on Netflix and decided on stand-up, taking turns watching a few one hour acts laughing all the way through.
Olivia looked lighter, and Raphael felt better. It was about 11 pm, and they both agreed that bed was a perfect idea.
Raphael followed Olivia into her room. She changed into pajamas, and Raphael did as well. Olivia was wearing a dark green slick nightgown, and his heart raced for her.
He rubbed his hands up and down the silky material kissing her lips, grazing the underside of her breasts, and her breath caught.
"Not tonight," she stated.
Even though it felt terrific, she had desired sleep more than anything. Raphael still grabbed at the fabric in less intimate places and kept leaving light kisses on her lips. She wasn't complaining. She smiled, though, when he continued to give pecks on the cheek or grab at the material again.
She pushed him lightly into the bed, and he complied. Usually, she wanted to wrap her arms around him. Tonight he was the one wanting press up against her, and she let him, allowing sleep to come to her. All the talk about her past had made Olivia dream about her childhood. Nothing scary or nothing fantastic just a day when she was about 12 years old at a park. She stayed in that dream all night, flashing through memories of who she used to be.
Morning came too soon. She wined when the light was too bright for her eyeballs and woke up Raphael in the process.
"Everything okay?" Raphael asked.
"No, I have a migraine." She stated.
Olivia rarely got them. She had medication for them, but it no longer worked, and she was too stubborn to go to the doctor to try something else. It felt like an Ice-pick behind her eye and put the cover over her head to block out the light.
"Why don't you take the day," Raphael stated.
"I can't I have a meeting with Dodds this afternoon," Olivia stated.
"What time?" Raphael asked.
"3:30 pm," Olivia stated.
"Then don't go in until late," Raphael stated.
"You know they will call you if they need you," Raphael stated.
"I know. you're right." Olivia stated.
She grabbed her phone, the screen blinding her, making the ice pick jab a little harder and texted Fin.
"if you need anything call otherwise I will see you at 2 pm." Olivia sent.
Fin quickly replied
"Everything okay."
Olivia responded.
"I'm fine."
She set the phone back down. She looked at Raphael, who seemed to have a concern in his eyes.
"It's a combination of lack of sleep, stress, and falling asleep at an odd angle. The fact I haven't had one in so long, I knew my days were numbered. I usually muddle through. I call Lucy to care for Noah, though." Olvia explained
"I'll take care of him, Liv. I'll take him out so you can get some sleep." Raphael suggested.
"I appreciate it," Olivia stated.
Raphael decided that the morning would be well spent going out for breakfast and wearing the boy out at the trampoline park, and maybe if the boy wasn't exhausted, they would go to the park. Raphael checked to make sure there was milk in the fridge for Olivia to have cereal or a small lunch when she got up. The sink was full, so he quietly loaded the dishwasher. He picked up some stuff in the living room and woke Noah up. When Raphael explained that Olivia wasn't feeling good, Noah instantly ran to the bedroom, but Raphael caught him before he turned the door handle and told that it would best to let her sleep. Noah was upset but nodded his head. Noah got dressed, and Raphael took him out for the day.
Noah was hyper, they had just eaten a meal at Mel's, and Raphael wasn't sure how Olivia or Lucy kept up with him on days like today. He found the trampoline park it was five blocks away, and Noah seemed to know the way without Raphael guiding him and the little boy was running ahead. Raphael had to tell him to stop multiple times until they finally got to a stoplight, and he took the boys hand, telling him he wasn't allowed to let go. Raphael thought for sure his arm would pop out of the socket a few times for how forceful Noah was pulling. Raphael knew the boy was excited, but Raphael didn't think ten coffees would give him enough stamina to keep up with the boy all day.
When they arrived at the trampoline park. Raphael realized multiple different options were depending on age, amount of time, and what the child wanted to do. He was overwhelmed by the choices.
"Lucy let me jump into the pit!" Noah stated.
"Uh, okay, so whatever the pit option is," Raphael told the guy at the booth.
The guy was friendly enough and gave Noah a wristband and Raphael one as well to indicate he was with the child.
Shoes came off, and Raphael didn't like the fact that his pricy Hermes we're going into a bin next to 100 other pairs of shoes but he complied and put them in walked on to the padded mats onto a bench and watched the little boy play. Staff at the park said that it wasn't too busy, and if Raphael wanted to jump with Noah, he could. Raphael hesitated. He was in dress pants and a polo. He bounced on a trampoline, not jumping high but watching as Noah jumped as high as he could in the air spreading his legs out kicking and in general, just having fun.
Noah screamed, "Watch this."
Noah ran up to the ladder built into the padded wall. He ran across the ledge past several other ladders and onto a trampoline before diving into a pit below. Raphael didn't quite see the foam pit that Noah was jumping into, and he ran across the room his mouth went dry, and he looked over the ledge to see the boy laughing as he dug out from the foam and running up a ladder to do it again. Raphael laughed as the boy who never seemed to run out of energy hopped from trampoline to trampoline. Noah's eyes had lit up in excitement, and Raphael was already contemplating a nap. He went back to the bench and watched Noah do all kinds of wild things running around just like he would have done at his age.
Raphael sat in thought, wondering how in the world this became his life. He loved Noah so much, and he never thought of having kids. Not after the way his father treated him growing up. When he died, it felt a little freeing, and the thought returned, but he was 39 then and not that it wasn't possible, but he had no one in his life. It was before Olivia, and well before Noah, it was at a time that work was the only thing that mattered other than his mother. He wondered why Olivia waited so long he knew Noah had fallen into her lap, and if it wasn't for the crazy turn of events, would she have even tried.
Noah was so much a part of Olivia; he wasn't even sure he would know what kind of person she would be today without him. He smiled up at the little boy understanding that he made Olivia what she was today.
Raphael watched as Noah's curly hair didn't quite keep up with his body. Noah was tumbling around, and the staff there were showing him different tricks and helping him flip. Noah was excited to get the attention, and the staff seemed to be having fun teaching him.
There were a few other kids that came in, and Noah was playing some game with them. Raphael looked down at his phone when he saw the text and didn't realize it was almost noon. They only had until 12:30 at the park and but Noah looked as though he still got there full of energy bright-eyed running all over the place.
"Just got up, I feel slightly better. Maybe I'll go to the meeting do some paperwork and come home." Olivia explained.
"I'll see you then." Raphael sent back and closed his phone.
Soon enough, a voice on the intercom came on the first group of the day, all with green armbands your time has expired. If you are wearing a green armband, it now time to exit to the front. If you would like to extend your time, see an attendant wearing a blue shirt.
Noah saw his green armband and stopped bouncing.
"It's time to go already?" Noah asked.
"Yeah, it is," Raphael stated.
Noah sighed
"Can we come back tomorrow," Noah begged.
"Not tomorrow Noah but soon," Raphael stated.
"Okay," Noah said and sighed as he put his shoes on.
"Do you want to go to the park?"
Raphael hated the damn park and all the women but knew that he needed to feel the sun on his skin, and Noah still was going 100 miles a minute. So he agreed, and they walked towards the park. When Raphael got there, he was surprised to see a few other male counterparts and stuck close to them.
Noah was going down the slide headfirst. Raphael didn't stop him as other parents yelled at their kids not to do it. Raphael wasn't too concerned. It was the small slide, and the angle wasn't too steep, so he let Noah do what he was doing until he attempted the fast metal slide the same way, and that's when Raphael stopped him.
"Noah! That's too high and to fast to go head first. Sit on your butt and slide down." Raphael stated.
"No!" Noah stated defying Raphael's wished and slid headfirst down the metal Raphael couldn't quite reach him in time, and his head hit the muddy puddle at the bottom. The palm of his hands scraped hard against the ground leaving a scrape on his loose left-hand skin on his right, and the little boy screamed out in shock and began to cry.
Raphael was so angry.
"What did I tell you, Noah Porter Benson? You didn't listen, and now you're a mess, and you hurt your hands!" Raphael stated. He picked the boy up from the ground.
"We're going home," Raphael stated.
It didn't help Noah's cries, and the tears and screams and sniffles kept coming. Raphael wasn't pushing or pulling Noah, but he was still being defiant and not walking in a straight line. He picked him up and sat him on the park bench. He had nothing to clean the boy off with, and he was beyond frustrated because now he too was a muddy mess.
"Noah, you need to calm down a second; this is not helping with your asthma mijo." Raphael pleaded.
Noah screamed "No." and jumped down and ran the opposite direction of home.
Raphael kept up pure adrenaline running through his veins and scooped him up.
"You don't ever run from me, do you understand!" Raphael asked as he still had his hands wrapped around the little boy.
He had stopped screaming, but tears were coming down his face.
"You're not Lucy, and You're not my mom! I don't want to go with you."
"We're going home, Noah, now!" Raphael stated.
"NO NO, NO!" Noah screamed.
Raphael grabbed the boy loosely by the wrist, trying not to irritate the scrape.
"I want to play!" Noah stated.
"I know you do, but you didn't listen, and you're a mess. Its a bath and then." Raphael stated.
Raphael had no idea what to say after that. The kid is six. He had only seen Olivia punish him two times and once was talking back, so instead of him watching a cartoon, he had to watch what they were watching, which he couldn't even remember what it was. Another time he had turned his bedroom light on the way past bedtime and was playing with his tablet Olivia took it away for a week. He had no idea what kind of punishment he should get. If he had anything to go by in his home, it would be his dad hitting him with a belt until his mother stopped him.
Noah was no longer putting up a fight, and when they finally got to the apartment, Olivia was about to walk out the door. She saw her child's face head top of his shirt in dark mud, Raphael not looking much better.
"Mommy Raphael is mean; I don't like him anymore. He hurt me!" Noah screamed wildly and began to cry, running to his mother, getting mud all over her.
Raphael was stunned at Noah's claims.
Olivia looked at Raphael's facial expressions. She could tell the boy's words crushed him. Olivia knew not to read into Noah's words to much. The little boy did have a way of manipulating a story to get what he wanted.
"Noah, I want you to tell me the truth what happened?" Olivia asked.
Noah remained silent.
"You go to your room, you get those muddy clothes off of you, and Raphael will start you a bath. You stay in your room until I come to get you." Olivia stated.
Noah ran to his room and slammed the door. Olivia jumped at the sound.
"I'm so sorry, Rafa, what happened?" Olivia stated.
"I don't know Liv he was going headfirst down the little slide and it wasn't a big deal I let him do it. Then he wanted to go down the big metal slide headfirst I told him, no, but before I could get there he was already going head first in the mud, he scraped his hands, I got so mad at him. He just started crying. I told him we were going home. He took off from me Liv, ran the total opposite direction. I scooped him up, grabbed him by the wrist, and walked him home." Raphael stated in as tears went down his face.
Olivia sighed.
"God Rafa, I am so sorry. You know he doesn't usually act like this. Let me talk to him. You relax. I have a little bit of time before I need to go in." Olivia stated.
Olivia walked into Noah's room. He was in his boxers, the muddy clothes in the hamper.
"Noah, What you did today is not okay. You have to listen to Rafa, okay. Just like Lucy or me or with Aunt Amanda, you have to listen to them." Olivia stated.
"But I wanted to show him how cool it is!" Noah stated.
"And look where it got you. You're a mess, and instead of playing at the park, you're at home." Olivia stated.
"If you would have listened, you could still be playing at the park right now," Olivia stated.
"I promise I'll listen if I can go back to the park," Noah stated.
"No, you are grounded Noah, No park, no tablet, no games, no tv. You said Raphael hurt you, where did he hurt you?" Olivia asked.
"Here!" Noah stated as he pointed to his heart.
"He made you mad, didn't he?" Olivia asked.
"Yes! I wanted to stay at the park!" Noah stated.
"Well, because you didn't listen, he had to bring you back home. He was trying to keep you safe, and because you didn't listen, you got hurt here." Olivia said, pointing to her chest. "And here." grabbing the little boy's hands and seeing some blood on his right hand.
"What have we learned today, Noah?"
"I need to listen to Raphael," Noah said.
"You need to listen to any adult that is watching you," Olivia replied.
"You know you hurt Raphael too; you hurt his feelings because you didn't listen. You hurt his feelings because you tried to run away." Olivia stated.
"I'm going to get the water ready for you and wash your hands. You apologize to Raphael once you get dressed. He is going to be here for the rest of the day with you." Olivia stated.
"Is Raphael, my new nanny?" Noah asked.
Olivia looked at him and realized she had never had a conversation with him.
"No, Noah. Raphael wants to be your dad." Olivia stated.
Noah instantly smiled
"Like a mommy, but a boy, daddy?" Noah asked.
"Yeah. Like I'm your mom, he wants to be your dad." Olivia stated.
"Does he has to be my dad?" Noah asked.
"No, but he really wants to be your dad. That's up to you." Olivia stated.
"Can I call him dad?" Noah asked excitingly.
"That's something you need to talk to him about. He is going to be here all day. Let's get that bath started for you and mommy will help you get all the mud out." Olivia stated.
Raphael hadn't heard Olivia's conversation with Noah; he had been in the bedroom, changing his muddy clothes and rinsing the dirt off his arms. He listened to the bathwater running and walked back and sat on the bed.
Raphael stared at the wall, unable to focus on much else. He didn't even hear Olivia come back into the bedroom until the door closed.
"Hey, you did good," Olivia stated.
"Then why do I feel like the worst person on the planet right now?" Raphael asked.
"Because that boy has you wrapped around his finger, and he knows how to push buttons even if he does not mean too," Olvia stated as she started to change into something else.
"He loves you don't doubt that. He wants to talk to you after he's done in the bath. I scrubbed all the mud out of his hair." Olivia stated.
"Hmm." was all Raphael could say.
"He's grounded for the day. No park, No TV, no tablet, not toys." Olivia stated.
"Yeah, he's going to love me." Raphael scoffed.
"I never said no helping cook or no reading. I never said he couldn't talk to you." Olivia stated.
"You guys have options," Olivia stated.
"Thanks. I have no idea how to punish him Liv, I know I'm not his dad, but if you weren't here, I have no clue what I would do." Raphael stated.
"You'll get the hang of it, maybe sooner than you think," Olivia stated. She was now fully dressed. She looked down, and it was now 1:00 pm. She would have to skip lunch if she was going to make it to the office by 2, so a vending machine snack would have to do.
"Liv, I, all I could think was if I were my dad, I would hit him with a belt. I have no desire to do so when he said I hurt him." Raphael stated.
"Hey, hey, he was just upset when I asked where you hurt him he pointed ho his heart. He was just upset that you stopped him from doing something he wanted to do." Olivia stated.
"He is already over it, he won't be happy he is grounded, but he knows you didn't hurt him okay," Olivia stated.
"Yeah, okay," Raphael stated.
"I have to go. I will be home as soon as I can." Olivia stated.
Raphael stood up. Olivia kissed him hard, trying to show that she wasn't mad, and everything was okay.
Noah was dressed and sitting on the couch.
"Now remember you apologize to Raphael! Be good; I love you." Olivia stated and hugged Noah before walking out the door.
Raphael walked out, looking at the now clean boy on the couch. Noah didn't say anything and was a staring contest, and Raphael wasn't sure how long it lasted. He knew he has his best courtroom face on just challenging Noah.
"I'm sorry," Noah stated.
"I just wanted to keep you safe, and you scared me. You can't run away like that." Raphael stated.
"I know," Noah stated.
"Mommy said that you want to be my dad," Noah stated.
"She did?" Raphael asked.
"Yeah, she said that you don't have to be my daddy, but you want to be my daddy," Noah explained.
"I want to be your dad more than anything," Raphael admitted.
"Can I call you, dad," Noah asked.
"I would like that very much," Raphael stated, his heart overwhelmed by the little boy.
"I would too," Noah admitted.
Noah ran up and hugged Raphael, and he pulled the boy up into his arms and kissed his forehead. Raphael had happy tears streaking his face. Noah didn't pay attention to them, though, as Raphael held tightly onto him, never wanting to let him go.
