Chapter 144

Everyone met up at Company to celebrate, lining tables together just as they had the last time they all sat here together. And just as before, Olivia looked around the table and was awed at the amount of friends and family she had surrounding her. As she scanned from one person to the next, her heart swelled with more love then she ever thought was possible.

Isabel, Rafe, Ashley, Ava, Daisy, James, Remy, and Christina were all engaged in, what looked to be, a very humorous conversation. All of them smiling and laughing. Doris, Blake, Mel, and Holly seemed to be in some sort or friendly debate. Rick, Mindy, Phillip, and Beth were talking as if they were teenagers again. Natalia and Clara were deep into some sort of conversation, Olivia wasn't sure what about, but her wife had the biggest smile on her face so she didn't much care.

Every single person in the restaurant was giggling, smiling, or laughing, all just enjoying the company. Olivia's eyes locked with Reva's, who was conversing with Josh, Shane, Billy, Vanessa, Bill, and Lizzy. An unspoken message of acceptance and love passed between them as Olivia nodded at her once enemy before switching her attention to her nephew, Johnathan, who was helping his daughter with her ice cream and tickling her belly.

Olivia closed her eyes and just let the warmth of this moment encompass her. Natalia happened to look over at her just then, and she couldn't help but smile at the love of her life, looking more peaceful then she ever remembered seeing her. Leaning over, she placed a sweet kiss to her wife's lips and watched as green eyes fluttered opened and a wide grin spread across pale lips.

"Hello my love." Natalia said, as Olivia cupped her cheek in her hand. Tenderly rubbing her thumb across the smooth skin.

"Hi." Olivia smiled back, leaning forward for another chaste kiss.

"What are you thinking about? You look awfully relaxed and happy."

"I was just thinking about how lucky I am. I have so many people that love and support me. So many people I thought I could never make amends with. All sitting here, on my side, laughing and joking and generally enjoying being here, with me, with all of us. I can't explain how wonderful that feels."

"I know. We are very lucky to have so many people that care about us and that we care for."

"You know what makes me feel even luckier?"

"What's that?"

Olivia kissed her softly and pressed their foreheads together. "I have you." Olivia whispered out, as a happy tear rolled down her cheek.

Natalia gently kissed the tear away and looked deeply into her wife's eyes. "I am so very lucky to have you Olivia." She leaned forward and captured Olivia's lips once more, not stopping until the bell above the door dinged and she heard a gasp from beside her.

Pulling back, Natalia first looked to her mother whose face had paled and her eyes were wide and scared. Immediately she looked towards the door, gasping herself as she took in the two men standing before her. Both with matching looks of disgust plastered on their faces. Isabel had moved to stand behind her mother and sister, a protective hand on each of their shoulders. Rafe and Ava, though unsure if they were correct in assuming who these men were, followed their aunts' lead and stood behind their mothers. Emma started to shake beside Olivia, who took quick action, standing and taking her daughter into her arms, not caring that she really shouldn't be lifting her. The rest of the table just stared, their eyes switching from the men at the door to the Rivera women and the Spencer-Rivera family.

Something in Phillip told him he needed to get Emma out of there as he watched her tremble in her mom's arms as more tears ran down her cheeks and she buried her face in Olivia's neck. Keeping an eye on the men at the door, he slowly made his way to her. Before he could make a move to take her from Olivia, the mayor was already there, carefully pulling Emma from Olivia's arms and swiftly making her way back towards the kitchen, keeping Emma pressed tightly against her and shielding her view of the men.

Once Emma was out of sight and hopefully earshot, Natalia turned her attention to the two men who, luckily, stayed silent while Emma was removed from the diner. "Papa, Javier, what are you doing here?" She asked, obvious distain dripping from her words.

Louis looked menacingly at his daughter, and then around her to his wife. "It's time to be done with this Clara. Your place is at home, with me." He stated with vengeance in his voice.

Clara stood on shacking legs, Isabel helping to steady her. She took a step forward but was held back by her youngest daughter. She turned her face towards her and gave a small smile. "It's okay mija." Isabel wasn't so sure but released her mother's shoulder. Clara walked to within a few feet of her husband, squared her shoulders and set her jaw in a way Olivia had seen Natalia do when her mind was made up. "No Louis. My place is here, with my daughters and my grandchildren." She said sternly.

Louis all but growled out his response. "NO! I have allowed you to stay long enough, you and Isabel will come with me. NOW!" he shouted, causing a few in the room to jump.

"NO!" Clara shouted back. "You will not control me any longer."

Louis made a move to grab his wife, but quickly found his wrist in a vice like grip by Olivia. "Unhand me whore."

Olivia stepped forward until she was almost nose to nose with the man, his wrist trapped between them. "No. You were warned about coming after my family, Clara and Isabel are my family. So, are you going to leave willingly, or do I need to make you go by force?" She asked in a hushed but firm tone.

Louis shoved her back, forcing her to break her hold on his wrist. "You are no family to my wife and daughter. You are nothing more than a filthy slut. Clara and Isabel will come with me!"

Before Olivia could move forward again, Javier had stepped in front of his father. "Listen, we didn't come here to cause trouble. We simply want my mother and sister to come home. They don't belong here."

"And who says they don't?" Olivia shot back at him.

"This is no way for them to live. Amongst all this sin. They are good god-fearing women. My mother's place is at home, taking care of my father, and Isabel has a well-respected job in Chicago, she shouldn't be here, being tainted by you people."

Natalia responded before anyone else good. Striding forward to stand proudly beside her wife. "Javi." Natalia started, sounding like it was both a statement and a question. "We are not living in sin, my love for Olivia, for my family, is not a sin. It is a gift. A gift from God, and one I cherish every day. We are not forcing Mama or Isabel to be here. They want to be here, with us, with our family." She stated as she took Olivia's hand and smiled at her with all the love she always felt for her, no matter what was going on around them.

Rafe and Ava moved forward to be on either side of their mother's with Isabel and Clara standing with them. Isabel reached for Javi's hand and squeezed it. "I know it's hard to understand hermano, but she's right. In the little while I've been here, I've seen the love that surrounds this family, and not just Natalia and Olivia and their children, but most of this town. Look around you Javi. All of these people are here to support Natalia's family. To be here for them after such a trying time. Natalia and Olivia share a love I've only ever seen in movies. Their children are great kids that are doing wonderful things with their lives. These people," she gestured around the room, "are all amazing people that are here for one another. How can any of that be a sin? And mama Javi, she is so happy here. I can't remember seeing her this happy, not since we were kids, before Natalia left. She's making her own decisions; she's living her own life. She has Natalia back, and she has the grandson she never thought she'd meet, and as a bonus, she has two granddaughters. Ava is such an amazing woman. And Emma, that little girl you just watched being carried away because she was afraid of what papa would do after the last time he was here, is the sweetest child you will ever meet. Papa was wrong to send Tali away back then, and he's wrong to try and force me and mama home now. In your heart, I know you know I'm right."

Javier was silent for a moment. His eyes roaming from one face to the next around the room. Most were on their feet, faces full of determination. He could tell all of them would fight for the six people standing in front of him. His deep brown eyes fell to his mother. She was looking at him with such fierceness. Begging him to understand. He couldn't say he agreed with Natalia being with another woman, or with his mother and Isabel supporting that love, but, he did want them both to be happy, and if being here, having Natalia back in their lives would do that, then who was he to stand in the way.

"What will you do? How will you support yourselves? Where will you live?" He fired off the questions in rapid succession.

"Well, currently I'm helping to plan the grand opening of Olivia and Natalia's third hotel. Once that's done, well, I'm not sure, but I'll figure something out. As for where we'll live…"

Olivia placed a hand on her arm to stop her, smiling at her sister-in-law, who she was so proud of for standing up to the men in her family. "Isabel will have a full-time job at the hotel, if she wishes, once she's done with the opening in St. Louis. Clara has also been offered a job at the hotel since she expressed in interest in finding work for herself. She will work whatever hours she is comfortable with. As for living arrangements, they both will always have a room at the hotel, however, Clara will be coming to stay at our home with us. We have an apartment in the basement that we've offered her. Isabel has also been offered a room, or she could get her own apartment, it's all up to her. I promise you Javier, I will do everything in my power to make sure they are always taken care of."

Javi studied the woman before him. He could tell she was a take no prisoners kind of woman. He knew from the news that she had survived an extreme amount of abuse and had saved his nephew, even with all the injuries she had sustained and as a heart transplant patient. Looking into those sea green eyes, he also found more sincerity then he'd ever seen before. He knew she wouldn't allow any harm to befall his mother or either of his sisters. He nodded his head, and then met his mother's eyes once more.

"Well then, I guess there's nothing else to say." He reached out and brought both his mom and baby sister into his arms. "I'm not going to say that I'm happy about this, or that I want to be involved in anyway, but, if this is what you want, then so be it. I love you both."

Each woman kissed his cheek and pulled back from the hug. "Thank you mijo." Clara said, cupping his cheek. "Please don't disappear on me, I couldn't stand losing one of my children again."

"I won't mama, just give me some time."

Clara nodded and stepped back, Natalia wrapping an arm around her waist and kissing her cheek. "I'm proud of you mama." She whispered.

"No, I will not stand for this!" Louis screamed.

As several members of their little party lunged forward to stop the man from getting to the Rivera's, Javi stopped his father himself with a hand to his chest. "No papa. You cannot force them to come home. They are happy here; you have to accept that." He said, while pushing him towards the door.

"No, they will not disobey me!" Louis shouted while being shoved further out the door by his son.

"They're not papa, they are simply living their own lives." He turned back to look at his mom and sisters. "I'll call you soon mama, just send me your new number. Isabel, you take care of her. Natalia, I don't know what to say, it's been so many years, but, it's good to know you're okay."

"I am Javi. I really am." Javier smiled as he continued out the door, fighting his father every step of the way.

Once the door closed behind him, Natalia turned to her wife and was enveloped in strong arms at once. Olivia stroked her hair and kissed her head as Natalia silently cried in her arms. The two were soon joined by both Rivera women as well as their elder children. The family hugged for long moments, enjoying the safety they felt together. It wasn't until a small body collided with them that they pulled apart.

Rafe picked his sister up and hugged her close. "How ya doin' munchkin?"

Emma pulled back from the hug. "I'm okay. The mean man didn't hurt mommy this time."

Olivia wrapped her arms around the pair. "No baby, he didn't. No one is going to hurt me or your ma ever again." She kissed her daughters cheek and then her sons before turning and grabbing Ava, bringing her into their hug.

Buzz approached them with his ever-friendly smile. "What do you say we get back to celebrating. I think someone here deserves an extra ice cream."

"Yay!" Emma exclaimed as she jumped out of her brothers arms and ran back to the table, sitting beside her father this time.

"Great, she is never going to sleep tonight." Olivia grumbled good naturedly as Natalia's arms wrapped around her.

"Maybe not, but, at least she's got her smile back. Hopefully papa's visit didn't harm her too much this time."

"Let's hope not." Olivia agreed, turning her head to place a kiss on soft lips.

"I think she'll be okay." Doris offered as she approached the couple.

"Really?" Olivia asked.

"Yeah. When I didn't hear a whole lot of shouting, we went to the kitchen door and watched through the window. She saw that no one got hurt. She also saw her family standing united against any threat. She knows you'll protect her."

Olivia untangled from Natalia and hugged her friend tightly. "Thank you Doris. For getting her out of here. For always being there for us. For everything."

"Anytime." Doris said, squeezing her best friend once more before releasing her. "Now, enough of this love fest, we've got celebrating to get on with."

Olivia nodded and took Natalia's hand, leading her back to the table where the rest of their family had already returned to their seats and their conversations. It was amazing how easy it was to fall back into the cheerful mood. Maybe even more lively now that Clara had made it clear she was staying, as well as Isabel. Olivia knew her wife feared they might abandoned her again if her father ever came calling, but they hadn't. They had stayed, unwavering in their love for her, and for her family. Olivia couldn't help but smile at that. She might never have her parents or her sister again, but Natalia had her mom and sister, and she had Sam, and everyone sitting around the table with them right now. That was more then she could have ever hoped for, more than she ever thought she deserved.

She was brought from her musings as Isabel sat down beside her in the chair previously occupied by Emma. "Hey, how are you after all of that?"

"I'm okay. I'm glad Javi was kind of on our side. I really thought he was going to be just like papa, but, I think having a family of his own has made him see that my father's way isn't always the right way."

"Kids can do that for you, and wives." Olivia said with a smile towards her love.

"Yeah. I can see that. Having a wife has sure changed Tali."

"Oh, that has nothing to do with me. Natalia was her own strong willed hardheaded women when I met her. She lost her way for a while, forgot how brave and resilient she really is, but, she found her way back."

"I'm glad. I don't ever recall seeing her this happy, not even with Nicky."

"That's all I want for her, is to be happy."

"She is. And speaking of happy, did you mean what you said? About me having a job after the opening. Cause you don't have to. I know you didn't want Javi to worry or papa to have more ammo…"

"Hey, hey, I meant it. I've actually been thinking about it for a while now. You and Ashley are both doing such an amazing job. I think I have jobs for both of you if you'd like."

"If I'd like, of course I'd like. What kind of job? Would I be at the hotel with you guys? Where is mama working anyways?" She asked excitedly.

"How about we discuss all of that tomorrow, at my office, before you and the other three head to St. Louis."

"Okay, you're right. I'm just so excited."

Olivia smiled at her, happy that her sister-in-law wanted to be a part of the family business. "I'm glad you're excited, I just, I need to speak with Natalia about a few things, and I haven't told Ashley yet. We were planning to wait until after the opening before we said anything, but, well, now it's out there."

"Well, no matter what the job is, I totally except."

"Good, we'll talk details tomorrow morning."

"Sweet. Thank you Olivia. And not just for the job and the housing, but for what you just did, with my father and Javi, not many people would have stood up to them like you just did."

"Well, I've dealt with men like your father most of my life, I know how to handle them. As for Javier, he may not agree with your guys choices, but at heart, I could tell he just wanted you all to be happy and taken care of. I was able to assure him of that."

"Well, thanks, it means a lot." Isabel leaned in for a quick hug before going back to sit with Ava, Ashley, and Rafe.

Almost as soon as Isabel was gone, Clara had taken her place, hugging Olivia from behind as she took a seat. "You are even more amazing then I thought mi nuera." She stated.

"Nuera?" Olivia questioned.

"It means daughter-in-law. My daughters are, mis Mijas, my grandchildren are, mis nietos, and you are mi nuera niña. I won't lie and say it was easy for me to accept, or to even want to see, but, you really love my Natalia. "

"With all my heart."

"I know. I can tell. I see it every time you are with her, and even when you're not. You have a fierce protectiveness inside you for those you care for, and when it comes to my daughter, it's as plain to see as when it involves your children."

"I will always protect her, in any way I can. I would do anything for her."

"I know that too. I want to thank you for what you did today. Louis has a tendency to strong arm people into getting his way. The way you stood there by Natalia's side, holding your ground, that's what gave me the strength to do as I did. I have wanted out from under my husband's thumb since the day he sent Natalia away. Wanted to escape and find her. Because of you, I was finally able to stand up to him and do as I wanted."

"I'm glad you finally did it. I know it means the world to Natalia."

"I know she feared I would leave with him, but I am never leaving her again, not until God calls me home."

"Good, because as much as I have come to like you, if you ever hurt her like that again, make no mistake, I will make certain you regret it." She said almost darkly.

"You see, there's that protectiveness again. I won't hurt her Olivia, I promise. I went entirely too long without her to ever leave her side again."

"Good, because she's not the only one attached." She said, gesturing with her head towards Emma.

"And I am quite attached to her too. As well as Ava and Rafe. And, although it was hard to accept, I know now what Natalia says it true. You are a gift. God chose you to love my daughter, and I don't think he could have made a better choice."

"Thank you Mrs. Rivera. That means a lot." She hugged the older woman again, relishing how much it felt like a hug from her own mother might have felt, if they'd ever gotten along.

Clara kissed her cheek as she pulled back and stood to return to her seat beside Natalia, hugging her daughter on the way. Natalia beamed up at her as she took her hand when she sat, squeezing it tightly. More than happy that her mother and sister had stayed by her side, even when the only life they'd ever known was calling them back. It meant more then she could say that they hadn't walked out the door with her father and brother. She hoped one day Javi might come around, but even if he never did, having the two of them with her was more than she ever thought she'd have again when she was dropped at the home for unwed mothers. She had at least part of her family back, and now she had Olivia and their children too. Life was looking pretty good at the moment. She leaned over and kissed her mother's cheek lightly. Trying to convey with this one kiss how very much she meant to her. This kiss was all is forgiven and we can start anew.