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, Natalia Rivera, Maureen Reardon, and Phillip Spaulding are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The original character of Alexandria Montgomery-Kundera is the property of this author, and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This chapter's title comes from Shakespeare's The Tempest, Act 2, Scene 1.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, or any other entity. The dialogue and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Rating: Chapter 7 is rated PG-13, though this story will eventually reach NC-17.
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.
My apologies, once again, for the long delay in posting an update, and for the fact that it's a rather short one in comparison to what I used to write. This has been a busy year, professionally speaking—lots of trainings, learning collaboratives, and new responsibilities—as well as a rough one, medically speaking, and I'm just now beginning to get my bearings. As always, thank you all for your kind comments and continued interest in this story. I promise to write as much as I can, as often as I can, in the New Year. Until then, I hope you've all had a lovely Holiday Season thus far, and that the New Year brings health, happiness, prosperity, and peace to you all.
Much love,
Kimberly
Snapshots: Anthology of a Life Well Lived
Copyright September 2012
"What's past is prologue, and the world awaits."
— Lisa Mantchev, Eyes Like Stars
Chapter 7.4—What's Past is Prologue:
The Prism, a BGRC Property in Provincetown, Massachusetts, Sunday, July 25, 2021, 3:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
"Em?"
The softness of Jordan's voice broke through the quiet of night as they lay in bed, separated, both physically and emotionally, after their encounter on the beach earlier.
"Hmm?" Emma murmured sleepily.
"I can't sleep," Jordan sighed. "I hate when you're mad at me."
"I'm not mad at you, Jordan," Emma reassured.
"Then why are you so far away?" Jordan pouted. Emma couldn't possibly have been closer to the edge of the bed, and Jordan knew it. Since they were children, they had never slept apart when sharing the same bed. Somehow, they always ended up cuddling in the middle, even when Lexie insisted on having a slumber party in their bed.
Emma's heart raced. She hated the distance just as much, but she was scared of being close to Jordan. Especially after that dance they had shared earlier in the evening. Jesus… She was strong-willed, and honorable, but she wasn't a saint!
She'd felt the sensation of Jordan's fingertips tangling in her hair, and the pressure of a sure hand against the small of her back. She'd felt the warmth of Jordan's breath against her neck and ear as she nuzzled closer, the brush of her warm thigh as they moved together, so smooth and achingly slow.
Before the song was even through the first chorus, Emma could feel Jordan over every plane of her body, invading every synapse in her brain. She was heady with the scent of her, and it nearly shattered her in the most beautiful of ways.
Even now, hours after their bodies parted, that connection was still there. And she felt powerless to fight it. Tears formed in her eyes, and despite her resolve to react otherwise, she reached her right hand backward toward the younger woman.
Jordan felt the weight of Emma's hand on the mattress, and reached for it, their fingers entwining. And then slowly, she edged closer to Emma, just as Emma shifted toward the middle of the bed. Neither of them could have stayed away, even if they wanted to. And they didn't. Within seconds, they were in their usual position, Jordan's body wrapped around Emma's, spooning her from behind.
A sense of peace fell over them, and like a fresh snow blanketing the earth warms it, that cloak of peace warmed them. Jordan released a contented sigh, as her arm curved around Emma's waist. "This is more like it," she whispered, as she nuzzled against the center of Emma's back.
"It can never be more than this, Jordan." Emma's firm declaration made two hearts feel heavy.
"I know," Jordan whispered, sadly. She didn't fully understand why. "But at least we can have this," she reasoned. It was better than the alternative—feeling so completely separated from Emma.
"Yes…" They could for now, Emma thought. But for how long? "Now sleep."
The Farmhouse of Love—Friday, August 20, 2021, 8:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time
"Ooh, laundry—what fun on a Friday night!" Olivia teasingly declared as she bounded down the staircase into the living room.
Natalia was settled on the sofa, folding a load of towels. Amused, she rolled her eyes and grinned at her wife over her shoulder. "You say that every weekend," she commented, setting a plush gray hand towel onto the pile.
"Just trying to psych myself up for the inevitable," Olivia replied as she dropped down on the sofa next to her wife. She grabbed a towel and started folding.
"Are you calling us a boring old married couple?" Natalia queried.
Jade eyes sparkled. "There was nothing boring about date night last night," Olivia crowed.
"True that," Natalia laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly at the memory.
"At least we're not wearing matching jogging suits yet," Olivia quipped.
Natalia grinned at the throwback to their early days of living together. "Or fighting over the remote," she added.
"No, the kids fight over that," Olivia said dryly. "I don't think I've had control of that thing since Bella was born. God, I'm glad the twins are finally over their Caillou obsession," she mumbled beneath her breath.
Glancing at her wife, Natalia's lips sprouted a suggestive grin. "Yes, but you get to control the remote on much more important things," she commented, as she patted the top of another perfectly folded bath towel.
Olivia felt her body respond at the mere insinuation. Instantly, arousal darkened her deep jade eyes. Over the years Natalia had continued to surprise Olivia with her sense of curiosity and adventure in their relationship, especially when it came to their lovemaking. She offered a mischievous grin in response. "Indeed, I do."
A knowing smile played across Natalia's mouth, and they giggled together like school girls, reveling in a shared secret. And then a comfortable silence fell between them, as they continued the task of folding towels.
Halfway through the basket, Olivia broke the silence. "Emma seems a little off to me, of late," she commented, sounding concerned.
"You mean like ever since we got home from the Vineyard?" Natalia asked, responding to the unspoken question in Olivia's voice.
Pausing for a moment, Olivia considered the context, and then the implication. "Yeah," she sighed, nodding her agreement.
Stopping mid-fold, Natalia crumpled the hand towel in her lap. "I think our little Jellybean is suffering a broken heart," she asserted.
"I think you're right," Olivia agreed. "I just don't understand why. I mean, it's not like any of us would be opposed to the two of them being together."
"I'm not so sure she's even aware of what she's feeling just yet," Natalia said. "I certainly didn't when I first fell in love with you."
"Yeah, but being with a woman isn't new for Emma," Olivia reasoned. "She's been with Maury off and on for years, and then there was…"
"Sutton?" Natalia finished for her.
Blinking twice, Olivia looked genuinely surprised. "You know about that?"
Natalia laughed. "Oh, course I do," she said, sounding as though Olivia should have known better. "I knew the moment they walked through the door that Christmas break."
"How?" Olivia sounded a little nervous.
Reaching over, Natalia's eyes sparkled playfully as she patted Olivia's knee. "When it comes to keeping secrets, she is definitely your daughter," she commented. "I can read her like a book."
Olivia opened her mouth to respond, and then finding herself at a loss for words, immediately closed it again. Better safe than sorry, she thought, as she picked up another towel, and began folding again.
Emma's Bedroom, The Farmhouse of Love—Saturday, August 21, 2021, 10:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Sensing the lack of connection with her lover, Maureen stopped.
Glancing up at Emma, slowly, she crawled up Emma's body, lying down on top of her. "Hey…" she whispered, taking the younger woman's chin in her palm, kissing her to grab her attention, "Where are you?" she asked quietly.
Jolted back to reality—and from the memory of that night with Jordan by Maureen's kiss, Emma locked eyes with her girlfriend. "I'm right here, Babe," she fibbed. Gently, she raked her fingers through Maureen's dark hair. "Why did you stop? You feel so good…" she said, attempting to kiss her again.
Maureen pulled away, a knowing expression in her dark eyes. "You weren't here, and we both know it, Em," she said gently. "You were a thousand miles away," she said, the true depth of the double-meaning within that simple statement not lost on either of them. And yet, it remained silent between them—at least for the moment.
Emma turned her head, avoiding Maureen's gaze. "I'm sorry, Maury," she sighed softly, her heart nearly breaking from the pain she knew was forthcoming for her first love, her lifelong friend.
Maureen nuzzled Emma's cheek, kissing it lightly, as she coaxed Emma to make eye contact with her again. She gazed into those gorgeous blue-green eyes, and found all the answers they needed. "We're really over this time—aren't we?" she astutely concluded, pained eyes searching, hoping to be wrong.
Emma couldn't speak, so overwhelmed was she with the convoluted amalgam of the guilt she felt for hurting Maureen, and the sheer joy she experienced in loving Jordan, in knowing Jordan was the love of her life.
Then, rolling off Emma's body, Maureen laid next to her, propping her head against her hand, as she studied the woman she loved. "Jordan?" she said knowingly.
Emma opened her mouth to deny the truth, but Maureen stopped her with the planting of a gentle finger on her lips. "No… don't, don't, don't… try to deny it, Em," she softly pleaded. "Don't disrespect our friendship with a lie—even if it's designed to protect my feelings," she requested. "We both know you're in love with her…"
Emma's eyes told a story filled with guilt, sorrow, fear, and love. "I can't… I can't be in love with her, Maury," she stated emphatically, tears forming in those pools of bluish-green. "I'm with you. I love you."
"I don't doubt that you love me," Maureen granted. "But you're not in love with me." She emphasized the distinction. "You're in love with her."
"She's only seventeen," Emma protested weakly.
Maureen smiled softly at her, tenderly tucking a lock of that honey-colored hair behind Emma's ear. "Yeah…" she conceded, shrugging her shoulder. "And you know what?" she said rhetorically, "She'll be eighteen in less than a year."
Dropping Maureen's gaze, Emma processed information that wasn't exactly news to her; knowledge that she wasn't ready to face. Of course she knew Jordan would be of age soon, and within the space of one breath, Emma felt both exhilarated and fearful. She wanted so much to be with Jordan, and that's why the prospect of it frightened her. What if, after longing for her all these years, she finally gave in, and things didn't work out? The thought of losing her almost made her not want to risk trying. And with all these thoughts barreling through her mind, she glanced up at Maureen through half-lidded eyes, "How did you know?" she asked sheepishly.
Maureen considered her with deliberate eyes. "We've been best friends since we were kids, Em," she reminded. "I know you… I know your heart," she asserted. "And… I know how we are together."
Emma's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
The corner of Maureen's mouth quirked upward, as she gave Emma a disbelieving look. "Really, Em?" she said, incredulity in her voice.
Emma just stared at her, waiting…
Maureen locked eyes with her. "You've been home from the Vineyard for three weeks… We spent nearly every evening together, and… this is the first time we've had sex," she said matter-of-factly. "Seriously, Babe, when have we gone more than a few days, when we're in the same area code, let alone the same town?" She leaned in then, nuzzling Emma's ear, "And it never takes you this long to come," she whispered, "especially when I go down on you."
Emma rolled away from her, curling up in a fetal position, as she covered her face in shame. "I'm sorry, Maureen," she exhaled, her heart sinking at the realization that she was hurting someone she loved. "So sorry."
"Don't be. Okay?" Maureen murmured, gently touching Emma's shoulder. "Honestly, I've been expecting this for a while."
Emma turned back toward her, offering her a confused expression. "What? Why?" she asked.
"I've been watching you fall in love with her for years, Emma Spencer," Maureen sighed. "When you're on the Vineyard with her, you're happy. I've heard it in your voice when you're there, and we talk on the phone. Hell, I've seen it with my own eyes, when I went with you last summer."
"There was nothing between us last summer," Emma emphatically denied.
"Maybe not consciously," Maureen countered.
"What are you talking about?" Emma sounded confused, and almost a little angry.
"You barely kissed me when we were there, and never in front of her," Maureen recalled. "And we didn't have sex the entire time we were there."
"Well, there was never really an opportun—" Emma attempted to argue.
"Since when has that ever stopped us?" Maureen countered, arching a decided eyebrow. "I mean, seriously? We made our opportunities. The stables at your dad's place, the cabana at the country club, the pond, your treehouse, and the loft in the barn."
She grinned, remembering all the times they'd been together in not-so-conventional places. "Oh, my God, I still can't believe your moms almost caught us out in that barn!" she laughed.
"Well, if you weren't so damned loud!" Emma laughed.
Maureen grinned at her. "If you weren't so damned skilled with that tongue of yours," she said, blushing at the thought.
Emma laughed, and Maureen laughed with her.
And then Maureen reached out, tunneling tender fingers through Emma's soft chestnut locks, as she turned serious again. "I want you to be happy, Emma," she said, her voice soft with affection. "And I know that you're happy with her and sad when she's gone. Every time you come home from the being with her, you're gloomy and distracted for weeks. It was different this time, but… that difference was because the two of you have been talking and texting constantly since you got home."
"Oh, God, I'm sorry, Maureen," Emma quickly apologized. "I didn't mean to…"
"Stop, okay?" Maureen directed. "It's all right… I understand," she assured, but the pain and loss in her eyes was palpable. "Your eyes light up every time you talk to her, or about her, every time the phone rings and she's on the other end. Even the mere mention of her name brings out this vitality in your eyes. I can't compete with that. I don't want to."
Emma met Maureen's eyes. "Nothing happened with her, Maury," she assured. "I swear…"
"I know," Maureen replied quietly.
"You say that with such conviction," Emma replied, the unspoken question evident in her tone.
Maureen reached out, gently caressing Emma's cheek with the back of her fingers. "I know you, Emma Spencer," she quietly declared. "She's underage, and I know you would never do anything to place yourself or her in a compromising situation," she expounded. "And even if she weren't underage, I know you would never cheat on me."
"How is it possible that you have such complete and utter faith in me?" Emma wondered aloud.
Leaning close, Maureen kissed her tenderly. "You're Emma Spencer-Rivera. You always do the right thing, even when it breaks your heart," she whispered. "And that's only one of a million reasons why I've always loved you, and always will."
With that, she climbed from Emma's bed, gathering her clothing. "I'm gonna take a shower, and head home," she said; thankful that Emma now occupied Rafe's garage apartment when she was home from college, rather than the bedroom down the hall from her parents. Adulthood had its perks. "Give Jordan a call, okay? Tell her how you feel. And call me in the morning to tell me all about it," she smiled.
And then she was gone, closing the door on their past, as she pulled Emma's bedroom door closed behind her. It would hurt for a while, for both of them, she knew. But ultimately, she knew she was doing what was right for Emma, and that was the only thing that truly mattered.
TBC in Chapter 7.5…
