Title: Snapshots: Anthology of a Life Well Lived
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children
Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca
Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia Rivera are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera, Bianca Montgomery, and AJ Chandler are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney and Prospect Park. The original characters of Jordan Montgomery-Kundera, Ashton Daughtry, Miah Bryant, and Taylor McAlister are the property of this author, and any resemblance to fictional characters, or real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, or any other person or entity. The dialogue, settings, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Rating: Overall, Chapter 6 is rated R, though this particular update is rated PG.
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…
Author's Note: Pay particular attention to the transitions in time, as this chapter contains flashbacks.
Snapshots: Anthology of a Life Well Lived
Copyright September 2012
"You cannot explain, with the limitations of language and inexperience, why your body can cause such a sudden, fumbling response in someone else, nor can you put into exact words what you feel about your body, explain the thrum it feels in proximity to another warm-skinned form. What you feel is a tangle of contradictions: power, pleasure, fear, shame, exultation, some strange wish to make noise. You cannot say how those things knit themselves together somewhere in the lower abdomen and pulse."
— Marya Hornbacher, Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia
Chapter 6.6—Awakenings:
The Cottage, Martha's Vineyard—Saturday, April 21, 2029, 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
Emma came bounding up the back porch steps, her cross-trainers pounding against the wooden planks, as she took them two at a time. When she reached the top level, she paused to balance the travel mug of Jordan's favorite coffee on the ledge as she unlatch the safety gate, locking it again once she was on the other side.
Snatching the mug back up from the railing, she turned on her heel to find Olivia watching her from her station at the barbeque grill. The expression in Olivia's eyes was one of pride, and Emma could feel it all the way across the deck. She would never grow weary of receiving those kinds of looks from her mother.
But today was about Jordan, and Emma decided she would rather focus on that.
From the wire brush Olivia held in her hand, and the smudges of black soot that trailed across her forehead and cheek, Emma deduced that her mother was in the midst of preparing the grill for cooking. "Morning, Mom," she chirped happily. "Mama put you on cleaning detail again?"
Olivia offered a helpless expression in response, causing Emma to chuckle.
Swiftly, Emma moved across the deck. Grasping her mother's bicep, she leaned in, "At least she's letting you handle the grill again," she whispered, brushing her mother's cheek with a kiss. And then she headed toward the door.
"I only set the grill on fire that one time, you know," Olivia called out in reminder, as Emma opened the back door of the Montgomery-Kundera cottage. "And I didn't burn the house down!"
Emma turned, gracing Olivia with that smile that looked so much like her own. "No, you only scorched the bricks a little," she teased.
Olivia made a face at her, and Emma laughed as she entered the cottage, closing the door behind her.
Inside, she was met by Jordan and her trio of college friends, all of whom were excited to see her. Despite her protests that she was far too sweaty, she was greeted with hugs and kisses all around. It was their usual way of greeting one another, and Emma had been considered a part of their group from the moment they first met her. She had always been grateful for the inclusion, and today was no exception. Jordan's people where here people—and vice versa.
Once they finally released her, Emma stepped swiftly across the room. Leaning down, she greeted Jordan with a kiss on the cheek as she handed her the travel mug. "Hot and fresh, for my favorite bride-to-be," she murmured.
Glancing up at her, Jordan smiled. "Thank you," she said softly. She grasped the mug then, and flipping it open, she cupped the aroma with her hands, breathing it in like a soothing balm. "Oh, god, this is practically orgasmic," she gushed, causing Emma's face to flush just slightly.
"Why, you are positively swoon-worthy, Dr. Spencer," Ashton crooned in that sweet Southern drawl. "Bringing Jordan such decadent treats in the morning."
Emma's cheeks flushed again. "And I'm also totally taken," she reminded with a wink.
"You sure I can't coax you away from that partner of yours?" Miah purred playfully from her perch across the room.
Tilting her head, Emma cocked an eyebrow. "Last I checked, you were straight, Bryant," she said playfully.
"Can't blame a girl for tryin'," Miah sighed in desperation.
Emma grinned. "Now if you all are finished flirting with me," she said, feigning exhaustion. "I'm in desperate need of a shower."
Everyone laughed as Emma sprinted off into the kitchen on her way toward the bathroom.
As she entered the kitchen, Emma ran into Natalia who was busy helping Bianca with last minute finger-sandwich preparations. She paused at the counter, greeting them both. "Morning," she said cheerily.
"Morning, Jellybean," Natalia smiled. She loved how most days Emma was a morning person like her. "I hung your outfit up on the door in Jordan's bathroom."
"Thanks for bringing it from home, Ma," Emma said appreciatively. She leaned in, brushing a light kiss against her mama's cheek. "Give me fifteen, and I'll be back to help with food prep."
"Oh, no need, Em," Bianca said. "We've got it covered."
"You sure?" Emma questioned. She wanted to be of help.
"Absolutely, Honey," Natalia said, patting Emma's hand. "You go, get ready. I'm sure Jordan would rather have you in there with the girls."
Emma beamed. That was exactly where she wanted to be. "Thanks, Ma," she said. And then she was off again, heading toward the shower.
The Cottage, Martha's Vineyard—Saturday, April 21, 2029, 10:15 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
In the family room, another conversation started the moment Emma was out of sight—one that would have made her blush profusely, had she known it was going on…
"Damn, she is so fucking hot," Miah growled, sinking down into the overstuffed chair near the sofa as she watched Emma leave the room.
"Yeah, I'm fairly certain she could turn any woman gay," Ashton agreed, sounding equally as enamored.
"She could definitely turn me," Miah added, fanning herself. "Christ, almighty…"
"Girls!" Taylor exclaimed.
"Well, do you disagree?" Miah challenged, already knowing the answer.
Cornered, Taylor shrugged in response. "How could I?" she sighed. "But…" She motioned with her head toward Jordan, who simply raised an eyebrow.
"Please, don't stop gushing over her on my account," Jordan said with the passive wave of her hand. "She is hot. And she's a doctor. Who wouldn't find her irresistible?" she reasoned.
Taylor sank down into the chair next to Jordan, wrapping an arm around her. "You're sort of ridiculously irresistible yourself, you know," she flirtatiously declared.
"Aw, thanks, TJ," Jordan murmured, referring to Taylor by her nickname—TJ for Taylor Jade. She pressed a light kiss against Taylor's temple.
"Agreed," Miah chimed in.
"Sexy as hell," Ashton agreed. "Definitely irresistible."
Glancing around the room, Jordan considered this group of friends who had become more like sisters to her over the years. "You all sure know how to make a girl feel loved," she acknowledged.
"And yet somehow, Emma managed…"
Jordan raised a hand. "Don't even go there, Ash," she said firmly. "It's yesterday's news."
Flummoxed, Ashton blinked twice. It was totally unlike Jordan to be so abrupt. But as quickly as she felt the concern come on, it evaporated. Nerves, she decided. She must be getting nervous about the wedding. It was the only thing that made any sense, she reasoned.
And in that same moment, despite her warning to Ashton not to go to that particular place, the memory was already triggered, and Jordan found herself being drawn into the past. To a time that was equal parts enlightening… and painful… for everyone involved…
The Cottage, Martha's Vineyard—Friday, July 23, 2021, 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time
At seventeen, Jordan Montgomery-Kundera had blossomed into a stunning young woman, and Emma had struggled the entire week to keep her eyes, and hands, to herself. And intentional or not, Jordan hadn't exactly made it easy for her. Emma had always been fond of the girl. They had become close friends over the years. But something had happened in the year that had lapsed since their last meeting, and now, Emma found herself transfixed by this girl who stood on the precipice of womanhood. She also found herself feeling guilty, and a little confused about it all.
Jordan was intelligent and articulate in a way that spoke of maturity far beyond her years. She possessed a clear understanding of complex things like government and politics, epigenetics, and physics, just as she did music, and sports, and pop-culture. And she was funny. God was she funny! And warm, and gentle-natured, and charismatic like her mama; and yet she was feisty and competitive, just like her mother—A perfect amalgamation of two women whom Emma respected as much as her own mothers. And then there was that innate drive to succeed—a drive that she had inherited from her grandmother, the formidable Erica Kane.
And god was she beautiful! Those gorgeous brown eyes sparkled with mirth, as she flashed that dimpled smile that could light up a room. Those dimples, they were enchanting. She laughed easily, and often. And her laugh… it was infectious. Emma could feel it all the way down to her toes. And her skin, it was flawless—every inch of that smooth, tanned flesh that Emma had been witness to, drove her to distraction. And Jordan wasn't shy about her body. Not in the least. And often to Emma's chagrin; lest she find herself in deep trouble.
But it was impossible not to notice. She had the body of an athlete—muscular, yet lean; sculpted and toned. And that mess of wild, dark curls was unbelievably sexy. Emma wanted nothing more than to feel her fingers entangled within those curls; though Jordan chose to straighten them more often than not. She couldn't even bring herself to contemplate the thoughts that ran rampant through her head each time she looked at her. And Lord help her, she had barely survived a week of sleeping in the bed next to her!
Why did everything feel so different now?
Effortlessly, Jordan had drawn Emma in, with her intelligence and her quick wit, and that boundless zest for life, and beauty that surpassed anything Emma had ever known. Emma found herself caught between principles and desire—at every sighting, every thought, of her.
And so it was tonight, as they prepared for a weekend out on Cape Cod with their mothers—a first for Emma and Jordan, this outing with just "the women,"—that Emma found herself wanting things she'd never contemplated before, and all of those things involved Jordan.
The feelings were so intense; she tried to distract herself with the details of their outing. They would take the ferry from Vineyard Haven to Woods Hole, and then drive to Brewster where they would have dinner at Chillingsworth—a favorite amongst their mothers.
After dinner, they were off to the theatre in Provincetown, where they would see a local production of something fabulous. Neither of them cared what—they were just excited to be included. They would spend the weekend at The Prism, the BGRC property at Provincetown, and explore the local culture properly on Saturday. And on Sunday afternoon, they would return to the cottage, where they were certain to field a barrage of questions from their younger sisters; particularly Lexie, who was none too pleased with the fact that she hadn't been included in the weekend outing.
Glancing in the mirror as she stood in front of Jordan's dresser, Emma tousled her thick chestnut mane. It was loose, and uninhibited, just the way she liked it. And it shimmered just a bit in the ambient light of Jordan's bedroom. Reaching behind, she tugged the zipper at the back of her sleek, black dress, pulling it taut. And then she twisted sideways, assessing the view in the mirror.
Unbeknownst to Emma, Jordan leaned casually against the doorframe between the bathroom and their shared bedroom, intently watching her every move. She found Emma equally as entrancing, and she hadn't been the least bit shy about expressing it. She watched as Emma turned her attention to her dress, smoothing out the fine black silk where it formed to the contours of her body—a body that Jordan found herself fantasizing about in ways she found almost shocking. And finally, as Emma slipped her feet into designer heels, turning her right ankle to survey the results, a soft gasp fell from Jordan's lips, capturing Emma's attention.
Emma's breath caught in her chest, as her gaze finally fell upon Jordan in the mirror's reflection.
A mischievous smile teased at the corners of Jordan's mouth, as she pushed away from the threshold, strolling confidently toward Emma. Wearing sleek, black heels and a short, navy-blue dress with a flirty lace overlay that caressed her bare shoulders as it cascaded midway down her arms, she was absolutely breathtaking.
Approaching from behind, Jordan's fingertips fell against the bare skin of Emma's back, as she fastened the clasp that Emma had missed. A soft gasp fell from Emma's lips at the contact, and then Jordan placed strong but gentle hands on Emma's biceps.
Emma attempted to pull away. But Jordan wouldn't let her. Instead, she held her steady, as she gazed at her in the mirror; her body pressed close against Emma's from behind.
Slowly, intense dark eyes traced Emma's countenance. Chestnut tresses framed her face in soft curls, draping across muscular shoulders. Impeccably manicured eyebrows accented clear, bluish-green eyes, and flawless skin covered chiseled features—those high cheek bones and that strong, angular jawline. And as always, those bowlike lips were a perfect shade of soft red, without need of any cosmetic enhancement. The woman was an absolute vision, and more than once during the week, Jordan had found herself lost in her. Tonight was certainly no exception.
Those bluish-green eyes sparkled in the muted lamplight as they met Jordan's own, their gazes locking in the mirror's reflection. "You're beautiful, Em," Jordan whispered, as she pressed her body against the bare skin of Emma's back.
A wobbly smile tickled the corners of Emma's mouth. "So are you."
Declared on a fettered breath, the quavering in Emma's voice betrayed her calm, cool exterior. Turning her head toward Jordan, their eyes locked directly.
Ocean meeting earth, their world tilted on its axis.
And there they stood, their gazes never faltering, though their minds were doing simultaneous somersaults, as they both attempted to make sense of this unexpected, yet not unwelcomed, attraction.
They said not a word, as breathing turned ragged; two sets of lungs struggling for air. Jordan's gaze flickered downward toward soft, full lips that beckoned to her, daring her to touch, to kiss. The intensity of the impulse tilted Jordan's perception, throwing her unexpectedly off kilter. Yes, she had been fighting urges all week. But this one was far more intense than anything she had experienced before, and it threatened to annihilate any modicum of sense that remained.
Leaning closer, warm breath mingled, licking against lips that begged to touch. And two hearts pounded as mouths drew ever closer together, hovering on the precipice. Emma's throat was parched as her fingers instinctively threaded through thick, dark curls. She could feel Jordan's pulse quicken against her wrist where it pressed against the taut cord of muscle in the younger woman's neck.
In the final moments before their lips touched, Emma garnered just enough strength to pull away. "We can't do this, Jordan," she sighed.
"Why not?" Jordan quietly pursued.
"You know why," Emma said insistently, as she released her hold on the younger woman, and turned away. Her body was trembling, her mind, in a heady fog.
"Emma, please," Jordan pleaded. She grabbed Emma's arm, tugging at her.
"Please don't, Jordan," Emma implored, with the last ounce of willpower she possessed. "If I look at you right now, I'm gonna give in. And I can't do that."
"Dammit, Emma, I'm not a child," Jordan said indignantly.
"No, Jordan, you're not," Emma agreed. "And that's the problem. You're a young woman—one whom I find extraordinarily appealing, in every possible way. But right now, you're also seventeen. And I have a girlfriend. And you have AJ. And I cannot, will not, be that person."
"Are you saying that if we were both single, and I was eighteen, you would be kissing me right now, instead of giving me excuses why you can't?" Jordan challenged unapologetically.
"The 'if-thens' and 'what-ifs' don't matter, Jordan," Emma replied. "We have to deal with what is—and what is, is the fact that you're underage, and we're both in committed relationships."
God help her, Jordan didn't feel very committed at the moment. Reluctantly, she released the hold she had on Emma's arm, and they shared a mutual sensation of heat prickling their skin as her fingertips slowly slipped away.
Slowly, Emma turned toward her. "Please don't be angry," she quietly beseeched.
"I'm not angry, Em," Jordan assured. "I'm disappointed, and… confused. But not angry."
Releasing a slow sigh, she dropped down onto their shared bed. "I'm sorry," she said, her tone filled with regret. "I know you're right about this. And I don't want to be that person, either."
"I know you don't," Emma empathized. She knew Jordan better than almost anyone, save her mothers, and she knew how important integrity was to her. It was a trait they held in common. With a soft sigh, she filled the space beside Jordan, and several moments passed before she spoke again. "You said you were confused," she recalled.
Jordan nodded in response.
"Confused about what?" Emma asked.
Stealing a glance at Emma, Jordan drew in a deep breath, harnessing her courage. "About you," she confessed. "Us…"
Delivered on a whisper, Jordan's assertion that she and Emma were an entity unto themselves left Emma's own thoughts swirling. Is there an "Us?" she wondered. There can't be! For so many reasons, there simply can't be!
And yet, there was. And she was clueless as to what to do about it.
"So, you're confused about why you're disappointed?" Emma finally reframed, hoping to take some of the pressure off.
Nodding, Jordan chuckled softly. "Something like that," she answered, allowing Emma to distance herself from the subject. She knew it was far too intense a subject to deal with at the moment, and neither of them had the time or the wherewithal to focus on it. There would be time, later.
She glanced at Emma then. "Listen, we need to get it in gear, huh? I'm sure the moms are waiting for us."
"Yeah—" Emma released a sigh of relief. "I'm surprised they haven't come hunting for us already."
A knock on the door, and the sound of Bianca's voice followed Emma's comment. They shared a look, and together, they laughed, as Jordan opened the door to her mother, apologizing for the delay. And moments later, they were exiting their shared bedroom, Emma pulling the door closed firmly behind them.
TBC in Chapter 7.1—What's Past is Prologue…
