Title: Snapshots: Anthology of a Life Well Lived
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children
Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca
Disclaimer: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, and Natalia Rivera, are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Bianca Montgomery, Lena Kundera, and Kendall Hart Slater are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney and Prospect Park. The characters of Jordan and Alexandria Montgomery-Kundera are the property of this author, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, Prospect Park or any other entity. The dialogue, settings, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Thanks to my pal, MoniRod for the edit. You totally Rock, Woman! I appreciate you, and I owe you—BIG TIME!
Rating: Chapter 4 is rated R for some moderate sexual content.
Synopsis: It's a stroll down memory lane for Olivia and Natalia, Lena and Bianca, and their friends and family, as two of our favorite couples' daughters prepare to enter into wedded bliss, in a double wedding… of sorts…
Snapshots: Anthology of a Life Well Lived
Copyright September 2012
"Invisible threads are the strongest ties."
— Friedrich Nietzsche
Chapter 4—Connections:
The Cottage, Martha's Vineyard—Saturday, April 21, 2029, 8:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Barefoot and dressed in a favorite pair of jeans and her old Smith College basketball jersey, Jordan shuffled into the kitchen in search of her morning coffee. The rich, aromatic substance had become one of her staples during college, and a life-sustainer once she entered law school. And now, she simply couldn't imagine a morning—or evening, for that matter—without it.
The aroma having lingered through the house for hours, teasing her, it was now time to indulge. And fresh out of the shower, her dark, curly locks, towel-dried and draping loosely around her bare, muscular shoulders, served as proof of that she simply couldn't resist for one more moment, as she headed straight for the source.
Moving through the entryway between the living room and the kitchen, she muttered, "Morning," around a partially stifled yawn, to Lexie, who was busily clearing the remnants of breakfast. Surprisingly, she was the only one around.
Glancing up from loading the dishwasher, Lexie offered her sister a dimpled smile. And then she stood to her full height, as Jordan stopped by her side. "You two finally get enough?" she asked with a teasing grin, as she bumped her shoulder against her sister's.
"Hardly," Jordan answered forthrightly. "But we had to come up for air sometime," she grinned over her shoulder, as she reached into the cabinet in search of her favorite mug. "We have guests arriving in a few hours."
Shaking her head, Lexie chuckled.
"Speaking of, where is everyone?" Jordan asked. Ceramic mugs clinked together, as she shuffled them on the shelf. "It's weird, the house being this quiet."
"Aunt Olivia and Auntie Talia went back to their place after breakfast. Mama sent the girls down to the fish market—I think to keep them occupied, so they'll stop fighting. Lord knows we don't need any more seafood," she laughed.
Jordan nodded her agreement, as she pulled her Pittsburgh Steelers coffee mug from the back of the cabinet. It was black at the bottom with the team name etched in white, and gold at the top, with the team logo centered and the juncture of the two colors. A diehard Steelers fan, she had a travel tumbler to match, and another set at home in Pine Valley, and she wondered how they always seemed to get buried in the deep recesses of the kitchen cabinet, regardless of whether she was here at the cottage, or at home.
"And everyone else is down on the beach," Lexie added, as she reached around Jordan to grab her own mug.
White ceramic, Lexie's mug had a picture of an old-fashioned typewriter on it, with the simple, yet profound statement, "I write… simply because I must breathe," boldly emblazoned below. Jordan had designed it for her when she was accepted into the journalism program at Boston University. As an aspiring writer, it suited her perfectly, and Lexie absolutely adored it. So much so, that she carried it with her wherever she traveled. "Pour me some too, will ya?"
Jordan took the mug from her sister with one hand, as she lifted the carafe with the other. "Your arms broken?"
Delivered on a hint of teasing sarcasm, Jordan's comment drew a laugh from Lexie. She leaned a jean-clad hip against the countertop, watching her sister pour two cups of their mothers' special brew with practiced ease. "No. You just do such a fabulous job of pouring," she said with her usual air of witty charm.
"Lazy-ass," Jordan accused.
Lexie grinned, but she didn't bother to argue. "Hey, I'm sorry I walked in on you guys this morning," she said apologetically. "I didn't think you'd be awake that early. And I certainly didn't expect you'd be doing that." The final word of her statement was punctuated with her voice and a mischievous grin.
A slight flush colored Jordan's face in response, and she brushed the incident off with the wave of a hand. "Don't worry about it," she said passively. "I guess we just didn't get it all out of our system last night." She set the carafe back on the warmer, and lifted the mugs, passing Lexie's over to her.
"I can't imagine how that's even possible."
Lexie's dry tone drew a laugh from Jordan. "You're just jealous," she accused. She took a sip of the hot liquid, and set the mug on the counter, as she watched Lexie douse her coffee with her usual measures of cream and sugar. Jordan preferred her black—and the darker, the better.
Reaching across to the drawer where the utensils were kept, Jordan retrieved a spoon, handing it to her sister.
"Thanks," Lexie acknowledged. And then the metal clinked rhythmically against the ceramic mug, as she stirred. "Can't argue with that," she said wryly, in response to Jordan's assertion. She tapped the spoon against the edge of the mug with one hand as she flipped the water faucet on with the other. And then rinsing the spoon off under the running water, she dropped it into the open dishwasher.
Then, sipping her coffee, she moved across the kitchen, leaning against the edge of the table. "Mm…" She verbalized her pleasure upon the first taste of that liquid motivation, and then lifted her mug toward Jordan. "Thanks."
Leaning against the counter, Jordan nodded in response. "I thought things were going well with Devon," she said, referencing her sister's latest conquest. Enigmatic, adventurous, and self-assured, her younger sister had little trouble finding dates. Her trouble was keeping them.
It wasn't that there was anything wrong with her. She was a wonderful person—tender, loving, stable, genuine to the core—and admittedly willful, at times; but that only added to her charm. Yet, somehow she had gained a reputation as a player—an erroneous reputation, to be certain. And sadly, that reputation had followed her to Boston University, where she was a junior, studying communication and journalism.
Jordan often wondered how much of it was caused by the broken heart Lexie had suffered as a young teen. Did she sabotage her chances with people out of fear of being hurt again? She hoped not, but she was afraid that it was true. Her little sister deserved to be happy, and Jordan prayed that one day Lexie would find the person who was special enough to break down the protective wall she had built around her heart.
"Depends on how you define 'well'," Lexie sighed. She set her mug down on the table, and crossed her arms over her chest: a subconscious signal of protectiveness.
"Guess it's been a while since we've really talked, huh?" Jordan sounded as though she felt guilty for letting her sister down. Like all sisters were prone to do, at times, they fought like cats and dogs. But at the end of the day, they were always one cohesive unit—the Montgomery-Kundera girls. And all their lives, they had talked about everything. Even the things that, for whatever reason, they found difficult to express to one another.
"Yeah," Lexie confirmed. "But we've both been really busy with school. And y'know, you've been planning this insignificant little event called a wedding." Her facetious tone drew a chuckle from Jordan. This was one of the things she loved most about Lexie: no matter how much she was hurting, she was always more concerned about easing everyone else's pain.
Shaking her head, Jordan set her mug on the counter, and stepped across the kitchen. "That's no excuse, though," she countered.
Moving into Lexie's personal space, Jordan raked her fingers through her sister's wild dark curls, with fondness, brushing them back from her angular face. Somehow the two of them had managed to inherit their Aunt Kendall's unruly mop, rather than the tamer locks of either of their mothers. And thus, it was a gesture she had repeated with both her own hair and Lexie's, more times than she could even count.
Standing just over five-and-a-half feet tall, Lexie was only slightly shorter than Jordan's five-foot-seven frame, but they were both built like athletes, with toned muscles and chiseled physiques. And despite the four year difference in their ages, it was almost like looking in a mirror, as Jordan casually draped her arms over her sister's shoulders.
Their gazes locked, searching. "I've missed you," Jordan said softly, as she drew her younger sister fully into her embrace. It had been difficult, to say the least, when she left for Smith seven years prior, but being away at law school at Yale had been even tougher, because she and Lexie had grown infinitely closer as they grew older. "Stubborn pain in the ass that you are."
Lexie laughed and returned the hug with warmth and affection. "I've missed you too, Sweet-talker. I can't believe it's been months since I've seen you."
Jordan smiled as she met Lexie's gaze again. Neither of them felt any urgency to move away from the other. "It means a lot to me, you know, to have you standing up for me when we get married." Her tone was soft, filled with emotion.
Lexie shrugged. "Well, y'know, I figured it's the least I could do, given that Emma's gonna be otherwise occupied," she said, wittily. For the longest time growing up, she thought it would be Emma standing up for Jordan, when the time came. The two of them were practically inseparable. No matter where they were, they always seemed to have their heads together, talking, giggling, conspiring. There had been a time when the connection they shared left Alexandria feeling left out, jealous, despite her own closeness with each of the girls. But now she understood, like only a sister could.
Amused, Jordan shook her head, a grin teasing at her lips.
Lexie's expression turned tender then, her gaze soft on Jordan's face. "It means a lot to me that you asked," she quietly admitted. "I know I give you shit sometimes, but…"
"Sometimes?" Jordan arched a questioning eyebrow, and Lexie laughed.
"Okay, all the time," she amended. "Now, are you gonna let me finish my heartfelt speech, or what?"
"Oh, well, by all means," Jordan granted. She made a show of zipping her lips, which drew another light chuckle from her sister.
"But you're my best friend in the entire world, Jordan," Lexie continued, tears glistening in pools of deep liquid onyx, as they gazed into eyes as dark as her own. "Always have been. Always will be."
Jordan feigned choking up with exaggerated emotion, as she wiped at the unshed tears in her own eyes. "Well, Lexie that's just so sweet, I… I think you're gonna make me cry."
Lexie swiftly smacked her, and called her an ass, even as she acknowledged the depth of emotion that reflected in her sister's eyes, as they gazed back into her own. And then they were laughing and hugging again.
"What has you two all huddled up together?" Bianca asked as she sauntered into the kitchen in search of a fresh cup of coffee.
"We're just commiserating about Lexie's shitty sex life," Jordan responded before Lexie could get a word in.
"Jordan!" Lexie shrieked, with a slap to her sister's shoulder.
Amused by the two of them, Bianca shook her head and smiled. "Where's Emma?" she asked, as she refilled her mug, and set the carafe back on the warmer. "I haven't seen her since first thing this morning."
Craning her neck toward her mother, Lexie answered. "She's out for a run. Should be back around nine thirty, if she takes her usual course."
"Perfect," Bianca declared, as she moved across the kitchen. "The car is scheduled to arrive from the airport at ten." Settling at the table, she glanced up at the younger of her daughters, with a look of keen interest. "Now, what's this about a shitty sex life, Lex?"
Glaring at her sister behind their mother's back, Lexie silently sent that I'm-gonna-kick-your-ass-for-this message.
Jordan burst into laughter, leaned in close, and kissed Lexie's cheek. "I'll just leave you two to talk. Catch ya later, Sis," she taunted. She was still laughing as she scampered through the family room, and out the back door.
Fuck my life, Lexie thought with a long sigh, as she sank down into the chair and glanced across the table into the expectant eyes of her mother, the shrink. Jordan would pay for this, she silently vowed. Oh, yes, she would.
The Spencer-Rivera Beach House, Martha's Vineyard—Saturday, April 21, 2029, 8:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
"Ooh… Owww!" Olivia grimaced. She tried to jerk her hand away, as she squirmed in her seat. But Natalia wouldn't release her.
"I told you not to move that table," Natalia gently admonished, as she cleaned and attempted to bandage a gash her wife had sustained as a result of a huge splinter from the bottom of one of the heavy wooden tables on Lena and Bianca's back deck.
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Natalia," Olivia groused, earning that look from her wife. As usual, she promptly ignored it. "It's not like I had a heart attack!"
"You are not even remotely funny." Natalia's dour expression said she was anything but amused. She set the tube of antibacterial cream aside, and pulled a sterile gauze pad from the first aid kit that rested beside Olivia on the sofa.
"I'm a little bit funny, and you know it."
Natalia ignored the familiar retort, and dutifully opened the wrapper. "You infuriate me."
"You love me, anyway."
Natalia couldn't argue that. "Sit still," she commanded. "I can't get this bandage on." Lifting the role of surgical tape from the kit, she struggled to hold the pad in place while she tore off a strip of tape. "Help me hold this."
Pressing a finger to the center of the sterile pad, Olivia arched an eyebrow, a roguish grin on her lips. "I'll gladly sit still if you wanna put something else on me."
The insinuation in Olivia's tone made Natalia's belly stir with that familiar anticipation. Glancing up, she met Olivia's gaze. "You're incorrigible."
"So you've been telling me for the past twenty-some-odd years," Olivia countered. She leaned forward, the warmth of her breath teasing Natalia's ear. "So… you wanna?"
Natalia groaned. She could never bring herself to turn this woman down. "Of course I wanna," she answered, pressing the strip of tape across the center of the gauze. "But we're expected back at the cottage in less than an hour."
"I'll make it quick," Olivia tempted, nipping at Natalia's ear.
"When have we ever managed quick?"
"Remember that time in the elevator at the Beacon?" Olivia reminded. "We were finished before we reached the penthouse. And then we did it all over again. Twice, if I recall correctly."
Grinning, Natalia confirmed Olivia's recollection. "But we were fifteen years younger, I was pregnant and horny, and we started in our office," she reminded. She dropped the role of tape and box of gauze pads back into the kit, closed the lid, and latched it.
"Are you calling us old?"
"No, I'm calling us…"
Natalia looked chagrinned, as she contemplated the truth about their ages—at fifty-six and fifty-nine, respectively, she and Olivia were quickly nearing retirement, though neither of them was truly ready to slow down. "Never mind…"
Olivia laughed, and took Natalia's hand, pulling her from their living room sofa. Their eyes locked, sealing that familiar connection. "Trust me, Honey," she said, as she drew her wife into her arms, kissing her lightly. "I can still get you off quickly, if I'm feeling inspired."
A dark eyebrow vaulted, indicating her keen interest. "Are you feeling particularly inspired this morning?"
"Oh, you bet I am," Olivia grinned. "Now come on, Granny. Let's go get it on."
"Shut up, Olivia," Natalia muttered. She hated it when Olivia called her "Granny."
Olivia just laughed, as she tugged Natalia's hand.
And despite herself, Natalia couldn't stifle the grin that teased at the corners of her mouth, as she allowed her wife to lead her into their bedroom… for a quickie.
Fifteen minutes later, they were naked, sweat-soaked, and panting, as Olivia drew Natalia's still-quivering body against her own. She pressed her lips against the damp tendrils that clung to Natalia's temple, as she waited for her own heart rate to slow.
Natalia responded by snuggling closer. "That was spectacular," she purred against the side of Olivia's breast.
Olivia smirked. "Told you I still had it in me," she crowed.
Rolling onto her belly, Natalia pressed her body firmly against Olivia's side, as she gazed into those gorgeous jade eyes. "I never doubted you for a moment."
"Oh, yeah?" Olivia sounded skeptical. "Then what was all that nonsense out there?"
"That was me getting what we both wanted," Natalia said with a knowing grin.
Olivia arched a questioning eyebrow, and Natalia smirked in response.
"You never back down from a challenge," she said. "So… I gave you a challenge—and I got the fastest orgasm you've ever given me, in exchange for my efforts."
Olivia's eyes widened and a hearty laugh broke across her face. "Oh, you are so bad!"
Natalia squealed as Olivia's hands grasped her waist, expertly flipping her onto her back. Her eyes sparkled with laughter, as Olivia bolted her to the mattress. And then her laughter fell into a low groan of arousal, as Olivia lowered her body, covering Natalia's with her own. No matter how many times they had made love over the years, the sensation of their bodies coming together this way never ceased to take their breath away.
And then, disheveled chestnut locks fell forward, partially shrouding Olivia's face, as wordlessly, their lips met, mouths opening to one another in a slow, sensual kiss. By the time Olivia lifted her mouth from Natalia's, they were both dizzy with a fresh wave of arousal.
Liquid onyx met molten jade, each swirling with renewed desire. "This was supposed to be quick," Natalia whispered halfheartedly.
Lightly, Olivia nipped at a kiss-swollen lip. "Screw quick," she declared, as fingertips brushed Natalia's cheek. "Right now, I need to make love with my wife."
Delivered on a husky whisper, Olivia's declaration drew tears from Natalia's eyes. Taking Olivia's face in her hands, Natalia kissed her tenderly. "I really need that connection right now, too," she whispered. "I've missed you these past few days."
"I'm sorry I've been so busy," Olivia apologized.
"Between work, and the girls, we've both been busy," Natalia reminded.
"Well, we don't have to be busy with anything else but one another right now," Olivia whispered, as she brushed her mouth against Natalia's again. She was hard and wet with arousal, as she slid her center against Natalia's firm thigh.
Lightly, their tongues tangled, and Natalia whimpered, then groaned. "Yesss…" she hissed, as she felt the heat of Olivia's arousal, the unmistakable stiffness of that engorged clitoris, against her thigh, as Olivia moved against her. "God, Liv, you're so wet, so hard," she murmured against Olivia's mouth.
Tracing her tongue around the outer edge of Natalia's ear, Olivia gently nipped at the tender flesh. "You make me this way," she husked. "Every time I look at you… touch you… you make me crazy with want for you."
"Even after all these years?"
The emotion in Natalia's voice was palpable, and Olivia quickly met her gaze. "Always, N'talia," she whispered, her wife's name sliding from her lips with that soft lilt that always manifest during their most intimate moments. Lightly, she brushed their mouths together. "Always…"
And then slowly, leisurely, Olivia made love to her wife like she had so many times before. But even after twenty years, thanks to that indelible connection that had silently tethered their hearts together long before they ever touched, as always, it still felt like the very first time.
TBC in Chapter 5…
