Chapter Eleven
Olivia yawned as she pulled her car into her apartment complex parking lot. It had been a long day. She had only planned to go in to pick up her check and somehow got talked into working yet again. She was unable to get away from the bar until nine a bit after nine, and had to fight to do so. It was Friday, classes started Monday, students were pouring back into the town and the Watering Hole, better known among the students as the "Hole" was downright hopping with customers. She was almost surprised she managed to get out when she did.
Luckily, Tom had been more than willing to baby-sit her cousins for the evening. They absolutely loved him. It was really rather sweet. They had become his little shadows, always pestering him for attention. Olivia hated to say it, but she was almost glad that tomorrow morning her Aunt was coming for the girls. At least she would get some time alone with Tom, well, maybe. She knew very well that once her classes started she would rarely be home. She was going to be constantly busy, and in order to feed the four extra residents in her apartment and pay rent she would not be able to cut back on her hours at work as much as she usually did. Olivia anticipated many all-nighters and sleep deprivation for the next several months as she tried to manage it all.
With a sigh she leaned back and grabbed the groceries out of the backseat. She was going to have to tell Jack to lay off the ice cream. Having discovered the frozen treat Jack Aubrey had become painfully addicted, going through the box quicker than she ever thought possible. Olivia had been quite annoyed yesterday when she was all set to pile up on the sofa and watch a movie with a bowl of ice cream only to find that Jack had eaten it all that morning. Shifting the bags, she fumbled in her purse for her keys, distracted while she walked up the stairs. She was not paying very much attention to her surroundings and stumbled, catching her balance by clinging to the rail and dropping a bag of groceries.
She swore under her breath and kneeled to pick up what spilled out onto the ground. Out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw movement in the shadows and paused, scanning the area. She had the uneasy feeling that someone was watching her and so she quickly stuffed the bag full again and raced up the stairs into the apartment, shutting the door behind her quickly and locking the deadbolt with its loud click. She was not one to ignore her instincts, and the eerie feeling that had come over her just now in the stairwell had put her senses at full alert and made her slightly jumpy.
"Hello Miss Corin." Boomed a voice from behind. Olivia, in her rattled state, jumped and spun around, only to see Jack Aubrey innocently greeting her as he came from the kitchen with a glass of milk.
"Oh. It's just you." She breathed, managing a weak smile and shifting the groceries again. "I bought more ice cream. Try not to eat it all by tomorrow."
Jack raised an eyebrow at her obviously odd reaction to his greet. "Are you well?" He asked, reaching out to help her with the bags.
"Yes…" Olivia eyed the door again and shook her head. She was being paranoid. She hated being like that, and vowed to forget it right that instant. "Yes, I'm fine. You just startled me is all." She gladly handed him several of the grocery bags and followed him into the kitchen to put them away. "Where is everyone?"
"Stephen and Blakeney went out in search of bats and to observe those strange insects that come out at night." Jack said, opening the newly bought ice cream and getting a bowl for himself.
"Go easy on the ice cream will you?" Olivia asked, putting away the last of the groceries. "Where's Tom?"
"Attempting to get your cousins to bed." He chuckled to himself, putting the now lighter ice cream in the freezer. "Attempting mind you."
Olivia smiled at this comment. Her cousins took advantage of Tom's good nature and could play him like a drum. The poor man was quite susceptible to the "look". Still smiling Olivia went down the hall and paused at the crack in the door to listen in on Tom and her cousins.
They were sitting in the floor, backs against her bed. Maria was on his left, peering at the book he was reading and quite awake, while Katalin looked wiped out, thumb in her mouth and snuggled under his right arm, staring sleepily at the pages.
Tom was reading to them, a stack of books lying on her bed told her that this was not the first book he had read that night either. She leaned in closer to hear what book he was reading, amused at the adorable sight.
"… So I will eat them in a box. And I will eat them with a fox. And I will eat them in a house. And I will eat them with a mouse. And I will eat them here and there. Say! I will eat them ANYWHERE!" Tom read, his voice was soothing and he was doing a good job reading the simple story, his accent making it sound new and his enthusiasm causing her to laugh softly at the scene before her.
"Can goats swim?" Maria asked, looking at the pictures curiously.
"What?" Tom asked, looked down at her.
"Can goats swim?" She repeated, pointing.
Tom looked at the picture, a smile playing at his lips, amused by her curiosity. "I cannot say I know, Maria, but it appears that one can."
"'sit over?" Katalin yawned, sleepily, losing the battle to keep her eyes open.
Tom turned the page, "Last page. Should I read it?" He asked.
"Read it!" Maria ordered.
Katalin merely shrugged and cuddled against him again, sticking her thumb firmly back in her mouth.
Tom cleared his throat and finished the book, "I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you! Sam-I-am!" He closed the book with a snap. "Now, to bed. Both of you."
Katalin nodded, agreeably, but Maria clung to his arm, "One more! Please?"
"No Maria. That was your fifth bedtime story." He said firmly, helping Katalin into her sleeping bag.
Maria sighed, but climbed into hers as well. "Goodnight Tom." She chirped.
"Goodnight midgets." He replied, using Olivia's nickname for them.
Katalin curled up, clinging to her stuffed bear, "Maria? Are you going to ask him?"
"Ask me what?" Tom moved to turn off the lights, pausing at the switch.
Maria looked up at him, "Me and Katalin were wondering if you wanted to marry Livia." She exchanged a look with her sister. "'Cause we think you should."
"Do you?" He smiled fondly at them. "Well, that's up to your cousin I suppose."
"Did you ask her?" Katalin asked, suddenly more awake than before.
Tom seemed to hesitate a moment, knowing that telling these girls of their engagement would make them extremely happy, but also knowing that Olivia would probably not be too pleased. "Go to sleep, both of you."
"You didn't answer the question." Maria pointed out, sharp as ever.
"To sleep." He repeated his orders, shutting out the light. "Goodnight girls."
"Night Tom!" They both replied as he turned to go.
Olivia stepped back from the bedroom door as he came out, smiling at him. "Hi." She greeted simply.
"Hi." He replied, giving her a kiss as greeting. "What kept you?"
"I got talked into working, again, and I had to pick up groceries, again." She explained. "Is there any dinner left? I'm starved."
"Did you not eat?" Tom raised an eyebrow and sighed heavily when she shook her head no. "Olivia Corin, you have to take better care of yourself."
"I know, I know, eating tends to become an afterthought these days." She responded, turning and heading down to the kitchen with him in tow to heat up some food. "Is that it in the blue one?" She asked opening the refrigerator.
"No, I saved you a plate." He replied, leaning over her and getting it out, putting it in the microwave. He hesitated at the machine. "You should do that, I never will like using that thing."
Olivia grinned and punched in the time to heat up her food. "The girls were up late." She commented.
Tom rolled his eyes, "It took over an hour to convince them to get in their sleeping bags. They kept asking for stories."
She laughed, "That's because they know you'll read them all." Teasingly she wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes shining. "Do you like green eggs and ham?"
He blinked, confused, then caught the joke. "I do, I do, Miss Sam-I-am." He replied with a laugh, putting his arms around her waist from instinct. "Do you think it will be like this when we have children?"
Olivia blinked, pulling back from him a little, looking up at him in shock. "W- what?" She asked, a strange expression on her face.
Tom stared at her, confused at her sudden reaction. "When we have children of our own…" he ventured, noticing that she was slightly paler than before. "Olivia? What is it?"
She pulled away from his embrace and went to the sink, getting herself a glass of water. He knew this move, whenever something was bothering her she would attempt to buy herself time and distract him from it. He was getting quite tired of her mysterious ways, always keeping things from him, refusing to allow him into her thoughts, and so he persisted. "Olivia?"
"You want children?" She asked, softly, "With me?"
Tom frowned thoughtfully. "Well… I never really thought about before. I assumed once married we would start a family, I suppose. That is the general idea of things, is it not?"
Olivia bit her lip and turned away again, distracting herself with the few dishes left in the sink. "You want me to be a mother?" She asked, more to herself than anything.
He stared at her a moment, confused by her reaction. Why did she seem so shocked by this? Tom had imagined them settled with a family. Perhaps three or four little ones running around, and with her small cousins present he had found himself thinking about this more often. He could not imagine that any woman would not want children, and was certain Olivia would be a fine mother, why this reserve?
"Well, not at this moment of course, but eventually, yes. I imagined us having children together. What's wrong?" Tom carefully approached her, putting an arm around her and holding her from behind, feeling the stress in her shoulders and back.
"I… I don't think I want children, Tom." She admitted, refusing to turn a meet his eyes, setting a dried dish on the counter with care.
Tom was stunned and blinked at her statement, slightly shaken. "You… you don't want children?" He repeated. "Why not?" He asked innocently.
She crossed her arms, defensively, hugging herself tightly, and shoving away from him again, her eyes downcast. "I can't raise them. I don't know how."
"Olivia…" Tom attempted to collect her into an embrace once more, only to be shoved away. "I imagine it's more of an instinct, dear."
Olivia snorted, a bitter sort of laugh, "Oh yeah, because my mother had great maternal instincts herself." Her tone was sharpening, and Tom knew her temper was beginning to flare. "Just like my grandmother was such a great role model, along with my own father and that bastard of a step-father." She slammed down a dish, the sarcasm in her voice cutting like a knife through the air. "Tom, is it too much to ask that I break that cycle? I couldn't expose a child to that. I do NOT want to risk it! Don't make me." She warned, her eyes suddenly narrow with anger as she moved, refusing to meet his eyes still and her voice cold and bitter, so very bitter.
Tom watched her in shock, unsure what to say and merely letting her slam about the kitchen in a rage. She retrieved her dinner out of the microwave and slammed it on the table in a huff, sitting down. Then her composure broke and she buried her head in her hands a moment, her shoulders shaking in silent tears. It was heartbreaking. She was struggling against something and he so badly wanted to help but could not.
Slowly, he knelt beside her chair, looking into her face imploringly and wiping the tears from her cheek. "What happened to you, my love?" He asked softly. "What has caused you so much pain that you will not risk having children for fear of hurting them?"
Olivia raised her head a moment, moving her hands away from her face to look into Tom's loving and kind eyes. For a moment her walls seemed to crumble and he could plainly see all the hurt and pain that had been pushed away for so many years, leaving a vulnerable and shattered young woman who just wanted someone to love and protect her. Then as suddenly as they were gone, the walls she had built up around herself reappeared and her eyes went from helpless to cold and bitter once more. She jerked away from him again, turning back to her food and stirring it pointlessly.
"None of your business." She snapped harshly.
Tom stood again, unsure how to proceed, suddenly he was frustrated and angry with her. "It is my business, Olivia, you are my business!" He raised his voice, his tone becoming harder than he would have liked. "Why won't you let me help you?" He demanded.
"Because I don't want your help!" Olivia shot up quickly from her chair, spilling her water but not seeming to care. "I am so sick of people who don't know shit about me and my life trying to help me!" She was angry, angrier than he had ever seen her, and she suddenly seized up the glass from the table and threw it to the floor with a shattering crash. "I JUST WANT TO MOVE ON!" She shouted, her face red with sudden rage and her breath coming hard and fast. She was shaking in anger, trembling, and he stared at her in silence, shocked by her sudden outburst. "I just want to forget." She whispered, her rage slowly subsiding.
Tom swallowed hard, cautious to approach her but wanting to hold her and comfort her so badly. He could not help but question her sanity at this moment, the violent outburst had not been the Olivia he knew at all, more like a frightened child screaming for attention. "Oh Olivia…" He whispered, crossing the room, minding the shattered glass, to draw her into his arms once more.
However, Olivia refused to be held. Once again she jerked away from his embrace, her thoughts far away and none on him. "I'm going for a walk." She announced to herself, turning to leave the room.
"I'll come with you." Tom replied, moving to follow her, not wanting her to be walking alone in the night, particularly in her upset and shaken frame of mind.
"No." Olivia turned at the door, shaking her head, "You won't." She said coldly.
Tom froze, staring at her, afraid he might have done something to lose her forever. "I'm sorry." He said, lamely, unable to think of anything else to say.
Olivia did not reply, she simply turned and went out the door, leaving a confused and devastated Tom in her wake. He stared at the door a moment, still in shock, unable to determine what just happened here.
It was the Captain's voice that brought him out of it. "Mr. Pullings? What the devil was all that commotion about?"
Tom shook his head with a sigh, "I… I honestly do not know sir."
Jack Aubrey paused, watching the confused younger man for a moment. "I always said that woman was trouble, Mr. Pullings."
"That she is." Tom admitted, suddenly feeling very tired. "But I love her regardless." He then turned and went to the kitchen to clean up the mess she had made and put her dinner back in the refrigerator for later. When Olivia returned, she was bound to be hungry, and he would be waiting for her, as always.
Olivia went up and down the stairs over and over again, a fast paced run that strained her legs and made her out of breath. She wanted the physical activity to distract her, tormenting herself physically rather than think about the emotional issues. She knew she blew up at Tom, and she knew she did so for no good reason, but she was too proud to apologize. Besides, she really did not want to face him right now. Not until she was calmer.
With a frustrated sigh she turned and looked out over the parking lot. It had started raining. A hard steady rain, and storm clouds were billowing in. The thunder sounded distant, and Olivia counted the time between lightening and thunder crashes, estimating the time she had before the storm hit. Upon counting to seven that she had plenty of time she decided to go walk in the rain. That always seemed to calm her, and the cool water would feel good at the moment.
Olivia ran down the stairs and stepped out into the dark parking lot. She was distracted by her constant trembling, wishing to banish all unpleasant thoughts. Walking slowly across the lot she suddenly had the feeling she was not alone. She looked around and saw no one, so she paused by a red SUV, wondering whether she should continue.
Suddenly, out of nowhere someone grabbed her from behind, forcing her into the same bright red SUV she paused by. She cried out in alarm, attempting to push away, but all she managed to do was get her arm slammed in the car door. She hissed in pain, jerking her arm away, into the car as the door slammed behind her. She fumbled to open it, but not quick enough, and hissed when she attempted to move her right arm. It seemed to refuse to move properly and hurt like the dickens. The door was jammed shut. She slid across the seat in a blind panic, hoping to get out the other side but before she managed to get there the man who must have grabbed her slid in.
It was Gary, grinning at her, it was not a friendly smile, but a possessive one, letting her know that he now had her and there was little chance of escape. "Hey baby." He leaned across the seat to kiss her and she jerked away, pressing herself against the door, getting as far from him as possible.
"Get away from me!" She snapped, cradling her sore arm and glaring daggers at him. She knew the situation was bad, and she cursed herself for dropping her guard.
"Don't be like that, doll, you know you're my girl." He grabbed her left arm, pulling her to him, knocking her right against the dash and causing her an extreme shot of pain.
"I am NOT your girl." She replied, struggling to break free. "I will NEVER be your girl! Leave us alone!"
His eyes darkened, and Olivia shuddered with fear, knowing that look very well. She tried to push away but the pain in her right arm was dizzying, she could not tell if it was her arm or fear that made her feel sick. His grip on her left was tight, leaving fingernail marks on her delicate skin. "It's that other man isn't it? That English guy you've been hanging around? I've seen you with him. God, Livia, you are such a dirty little slut!" He swung his arm back, striking her hard across the face.
Olivia fell silent, knowing that anything she said right now would just lead to Gary becoming more angry. The pain in her arm was unbearable and she scanned out the window desperate to see someone who could help her. She glanced in the rearview and thought she saw someone, swallowing her fear she took her foot and kicked against the windshield, making as much noise as possible. "HELP!"
Gary slapped his free hand over her mouth, trying to silence her. "Shut up. Shut up right now." He commanded in a low, dangerous tone.
Olivia however, ignored this, continuing to struggle and kick with all her strength.
It paid off, the door behind her sprung open and she fell backwards into waiting arms. It was her neighbor, Rick Apperson, quickly helping her out of the car, his jaw locked. Rick knew the situation, he had been her friend for a long time and knew how dangerous Gary was. Without hesitation he shut the door and lead the trembling Olivia up stairs. Her apartment door was locked and so Rick knocked, turning back to Olivia.
"Are you okay?" He asked, truly concerned.
Olivia nodded, still holding her arm and shaking. "I…. yeah…. I…"
"Come here, Liv." Rick quickly pulled her into a brotherly hug. "You're safe now, it'll be all right." He said, stroking her hair and trying his best to calm her down.
She was trembling, her strength and cold walls shattered at the close call and all the possibilities of what could have happened overwhelmed her. She could not bear the thought of leaving things on such bad terms with Tom. Her cheek burned where Gary had hit her and her arm throbbed something awful. Nevertheless she clung to Rick like a child, desperate for any comfort she could find.
This was the scene that Tom opened to door to find, and his initial jealous reaction was curved upon seeing the state Olivia was in. "What-?"
Without a word Rick beckoned him over and gently pried Olivia off him and turned her over to Tom. Without so much as blinking she changed from clinging to Rick to clinging desperately to Tom Pullings. Overwhelmed and surprised he stroked her back, kissing her hair, and whispering to her that everything would be fine. He looked at Rick questioningly over Olivia's head.
"Gary must have grabbed her in the parking lot." He explained softly. "I was going out to my car when I heard her screaming and trying to get away in a SUV."
Tom's jaw locked, he noticed the angry red mark on her cheek and her obvious distress. He had never seen her like this. Even when he saw her captured on the Wilmington she had seemed calm and controlled, but now she was completely frantic. He could stand it and was determined to make this man suffer for what he had done to her.
He gave Olivia a tight squeeze and stepped back. "Stay here." He said firmly.
"Tom, don't." She whispered, grabbing his arm. "Please, don't leave me."
He froze, torn between his desire to beat that man into a bloody pulp and Olivia's plea for him to stay with her. His eyes studied her seeing her fear plainly in her huge green eyes. He glanced at Rick, who had moved to the stairs, glancing out over the parking lot.
"He left anyway." He told Tom softly. He then patted Olivia's shoulder, "Livie-doll, need me for anything else?"
Olivia glanced back at him, offering him a weak smile before snuggling under Tom's arm as if by doing so she would be safe. "No Rick. Thanks." She looked up at Tom again, "I'm in good hands."
Rick nodded, turning to leave. Tom held Olivia tightly, concerned for her and wanting to get her inside, lock her up, and never allow her to leave simply to keep her safe. He looked over her head at her neighbor and apparent former suitor. Before he had never liked the man, finding him loud, rude, and far too forward and familiar with Olivia, however, now he saw this young man in a new light, as a loyal and trustworthy friend of Olivia's, and a good person. He nodded to Rick as he left, "Thank you, sir. For taking care of her."
Rick smiled, "Liv can take care of herself, she was just caught off guard is all." He went into his own apartment, shutting the door behind him, leaving them alone.
Olivia was calming down a bit. She was shaking less and was quietly leaning against him, resting her head against his chest and sniffling a bit as her tears subsided.
Tom had absolutely no idea what to do. He did not know how to comfort her or what to say, never being particularly good with words he found himself at a loss. He tightened his embrace, kissing her forehead and rocking her gently, trying to sooth her. She was more rattled than he had ever seen her and it alarmed him a great deal.
She jumped slightly when he pressed at her right arm and sucked in air with a sharp hiss. Her arm was sprained at least, if not broken, and she knew it. However, she did not want to leave Tom's arms. She wanted him to simply hold her and make the worst parts of her life disappear, blinded by the best.
However, he noticed her jump and pulled back slightly to look at her. "Olivia, are you hurt?" He asked.
She shrugged a bit. "My arm is a bit sore, that's all."
Tom looked at her right arm, seeing it swelling before his eyes and turning a horrible shad of red, blue, and purple. "It looks awful. Should I fetch the Doctor?"
"No." Olivia refused adamantly. "Not now."
Tom was about to argue, but she looked so terribly pathetic and small at the moment and he could not bring himself to do so. "Come inside, dear, you are soaked." He said, indicating her dripping clothes and hair.
She nodded, allowing him to lead her inside. Jack Aubrey looked up from his ice cream as the entered, confused by the pale and quiet Miss Corin that was clinging to Tom like a child. He raised an eyebrow and started to ask but Tom gave him a discreet shake of the head and he closed his mouth again, offering only a simple greeting instead and retreating to the kitchen. Tom led her back to the room he shared with Blakeney, grabbing her a towel as they went by the bathroom.
Olivia took it gladly, drying herself quickly and setting it down so she could sit on the futon without getting it too wet. Tom sat next to her, putting an arm around her shoulders and watching her with concern. They sat in silence a moment, Tom having no idea what to say but not wanting to leave her alone.
Finally she spoke in a soft whisper, "I'm sorry, Tom."
He stared at her in confusion. "Whatever for, sweetness?"
"I shouted at you earlier, and was unfairly cross. You did not deserve to be treated like that, and I don't know what came over me." She looked up at him again with her beautiful green eyes glistening with unshed tears. "And I'm sorry for it."
"Oh Olivia, all is forgiven without question." He kissed her, again and again, as if to chase away her sorrow and pain through kisses. However, he noticed how she cringed when he so much as brushed her arm, and pulled back, worried. "Dear, your arm is a most unnatural color."
"It's probably sprained or something. He slammed it in the car door." She shrugged slightly, as if it were nothing.
"And this?" He brushed her cheek, a fresh bruise forming.
"What do you think, Tom? He hit me of course!" She offered him a weak smile, resting her head on his shoulder.
Tom's jaw clenched in anger and he looked away, furious with himself for not being their to protect her. "Olivia, I swear to you he will not get away with this. He will not lay a hand on you again, so help me God."
Olivia stared at him a moment, somber and quiet. Then with a sigh she curled up against him again, keeping her right arm still and free from pressure as he held her close. "I love you." She said softly. "Please don't leave."
Tom looked down at the woman in his arms quizzically, wondering if there was more behind that statement than there appeared to be. He kissed her again, gently and sweetly, "I swear to you, Olivia, I will never leave you. As long as you will have me, I will stay at your side, your husband to the end."
She sighed, seemingly satisfied with his declaration of devotion to her. "He won't catch me off-guard like that again." She said, her usual confidence and strength returning to her voice. "I'll be more careful now, and ready next time."
"You are safe now, love." He told her, stroking her hair. "Safe." He repeated. "I swear it."
Olivia smiled slightly, and closed her eyes. She was exhausted, he could tell, and so he moved her to lie down on the futon, moving the covers to put her to bed, like he would a child. She curled up among the blankets and pillows, careful of her sore right arm and cheek.
Tom leaned down and kissed her, moving to leave so she could sleep. However, Olivia caught his hand and gave it a small tug. He turned to look at her, wondering what she was to ask.
"Stay." She instructed.
He hesitated, wondering if this request was a more intimate request as well. "Olivia, you're hurt."
She laughed a bit, pulling on his hand again and bringing him back to a sitting position at the edge of the futon. "I don't mean that. My arm hurts and I'm hardly in the mood." She then sighed, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "I just want you to stay while I sleep. To hold me and make me feel safe, and loved."
She looked so helpless and innocent at that moment that he could not help but give in to her request. He kicked off his shoes and socks wordlessly, and laid down beside her, bringing her into his arms. She felt so nature there. Like a missing puzzle piece at last finding its perfect spot.
"You are loved, my Olivia." He told her, kissing her once more as she rested her head on his chest. "Now sleep, and I will stay."
Olivia nodded, her eyes closing and she soon drifted off into a restless sleep. Exhausted by all the drama and confusion he soon drifted off too without realizing it. However, he was woken from his sleep by a whimper from Olivia. He opened his eyes and looked down at her, she was curled up with him, but she was shifting a bit, tossing with troubled dreams. Her expression was far from relaxed and she looked so very troubled. Tom glanced at the clock, seeing it was well after midnight. He wondered where Blakeney was and then realized with a slight blush that upon seeing the two of them in bed together the lad most likely found another place to sleep. He wondered if he should explain the situation and assure them that nothing happened, but then pushed the worry aside. They had done nothing wrong, and Olivia needed him.
She let out a little gasp and whimpered again and Tom frowned, tightening his hold on her. He wanted to know what troubled her from her childhood, he wanted to understand what dreams haunted her, but he knew she would never tell him. Olivia seemed to be unable to face this unseen enemy awake, despite the way it tormented her in her sleep. Tom sighed, watching her troubled dreams, suddenly she jerked awake, sitting up quickly, putting weight on her sore arm and cried out in pain.
Tom immediately sat up too, putting his arms around her. "Sh… sweetheart, it's all right." He assured her. "It was a dream, dearest, nothing more."
She licked her lips, breathing heavily as she tried to push whatever dream was haunting her from her mind. She looked at her arm again, studying it carefully in the darkness. "My arm really hurts." She commented, her brow creasing slightly.
"Should I wake the Doctor?" Tom asked, concerned.
She shook her head, "No, I'll go to the hospital tomorrow morning first thing. Kate can drop me off on her way to work and Mark can pick me up as I don't think I can drive." She lay back down, careful of her arm and held out her good hand to him.
He took it, also cautious of that arm, which looked worse than ever, as did the bruise on her face. "If you're sure?"
"I am." Olivia yawned, sleepily. "If you can get the girls up and out? Their parents are coming to pick them up tomorrow morning and I doubt I'll be back in time."
Tom paused, considering this, and nodded. "Of course, dear." He kissed her again. "Now go back to sleep."
Olivia closed her eyes, more than willing to do so. "Aye sir."
He smiled, holding her to him again, considering the facts of tomorrow morning. Surely Olivia's Aunt Alida knew about her childhood. Perhaps she would tell him what had happened that haunted her so. Seeing her so afraid and helpless, yet so unwilling to bring him inside those walls she had built up around herself was killing him, and Tom vowed to ask in the morning. Perhaps she could provide him with the answers to the mysteries of Olivia's sometimes-unpredictable behavior, but for now, he merely focused on seeing that she slept undisturbed and safe in his arms until morning.
A/N: Wow. So this is a fast update considering it's me. Everyone should be very impressed. It might be because I'm teaching high school and when I get home I'm too tired to move but don't want to nap and so I write. Anyway, yes Olivia is messed up. In case you have not noticed the idea of having children scares the crap out of her. Poor dear. Haha and when I slam her with drama, I go all out! First she blows up at Tom and freaks out, then she gets grabbed out of the parking lot and forced into a car with the scary stalker man, hurts her poor little arm, but Tom was sweet and that was okay, but then she had a nightmare and her arm hurts, and that's sad. And yes, Tom called her sweetness.
In case you have not noticed the book Tom read to the cousins was Green Eggs and Ham by the wonderful Dr. Seuss. I copied the last two pages directly from the book. Haha it pays off to have a mother who is a preschool teacher and therefore has kept every little kid book we ever owned. Besides, you need that book! It's a classic!
Anyana: Wow I feel special that you take time out of your schedule to read my story! You sound like quite a busy person! Anyway, this chapter wasn't so much fun. I really swing from one end to the other in these chapters don't I? One minutes it's funny… then I do drama and serious…. Then back to funny. Though I think Jack walking around with ice cream and eating all of it is pretty funny. Personally I prefer the funny but there has to be drama too because I am in fact an angstoholic! As for commencement band I actually enjoy the waiting. I go home with one load of junk, and then I come back (partially because I get gas money for that) and then I get three days of nothing, which never happens when I'm home and I enjoy that! It's relaxing, and gives me a chance to write. Anyway, m'dear thanks for the lovely review and I hoped you enjoyed the update! Glad I made you laugh.
Miss Flossy: Haha yay playing Luke Skywalker with the paper rolls! My sister and I used to attack each other with paper rolls all the time back in the day… oh wait… that was this Christmas! This story is the longest I've ever written already, and it's not even half-way done! As for these two finally getting together… well… they have a lot of issues to work through first methinks. How are they going to be separated again? Not telling! Will I kill anyone off? Not telling! Some elements of Olivia's past are soon to be revealed… maybe. I don't know I haven't written it yet so I'll reveal as much as I think the character would reveal. But next chapter I am sure I'll reveal something at least! Pullings is behaving and says for Mowett to stop his whining and suck it up. Hope you're still employed! Or if not, have moved on to greener pastures! Gosh… that sounds like you died. I mean greener pastures as in a new and better job…. Anyway! As always thanks for the review! Now you have to update because I did right? Right? Haha I want to know what happens next!
ClaireRickman: Of course you may take Stephen to your parents! I take Tom to my parents every winter and summer break! He comes where I go because I have him addicted to ice cream. Thanks for waiting on the chapter! As a treat I posted this one early just for you guys. Hope you enjoyed!
ArcherofDarkness and Callie: Haha I agree, Tom in make-up is hilarious! And playing pirates is even better! Haha and Tom's comment at the end, well Olivia's a bad influence on him. Hope you enjoyed the update m'dear! Happy summer and thanks for the lovely review.
Sarah: Haha welcome back! I know all about computer problems. Stupid hard-drive! I'm glad you love this story. The pirates chapter is my favorite too, though the swing scene is sweet too. I'm happy you enjoyed them too! This story is already 20 pages longer than anything I've ever written before and I think I'm about 1/3 of the way through maybe… so yeah it won't be over for awhile yet! As for Tom getting laid, you'll have to review for several more chapters methinks because Olivia has hurt her arm and that injury might um…. restrict fun time shall we say? Thanks for this review and I'm glad you like the story!
Kaytee: I'm keeping it up m'dear! I promise! Look! I even posted a chapter way sooner than normal! Thanks for the review.
Mary Anne Talbot: Your English is wonderful, no need to apologize. Honestly if you had not mentioned it I would have just thought English was your native language and you just had one or two typos or something. As for Olivia's Hungarian relatives, I'm not entire sure where that idea came from anymore. It was a long time ago, but I think it was because I was sitting in my World Region geography class and was thinking of ideas for this story (not paying attention to the professor… but hey I got like 112 in that class or something ridiculous like that… I do not think I really needed to pay attention there) and he was talking about Europe and when I tuned back in he was saying something about Hungary and I though "Hm… Olivia's grandmother yelling at poor Tom in Hungarian and him having no idea what she is saying would be funny." I don't know a word of Hungarian myself, so expect all that to be in Tom's point of view! Hope I'm not disappointing you there for not having some wonderful reason as to why the relatives are Hungarian. It was really left to the fate of whatever country Dr Hardin was talking about when I looked up. Had I looked up ten minutes later she would have been Romanian! Hope you enjoyed the update. She's a little crazy. Crazy people are fun don't you think? Thanks for reviewing and hope you enjoyed the update.
ElfWarrior20: LOL okay now that is funny. I made someone confuse their mother! I'm so proud! I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter and hope you liked the update even though it's not as funny! Thanks for reviewing!
Norma Jean the Dancing Machine: I'm glad you serious like this story! And I loved writing Chapter Ten so I'm happy that it's your favorite. I'll keep writing if you keep reading. Thanks for the review!
Et-spiritus-sancti: Wow I feel like I should take a bow or something. Though I can't claim all the credit for the pirates idea. Elessar King was a partner in crime here. Haha though Tom's suggestive comment was a line I came up with all by myself! Olivia is such a bad influence on him! Next he'll be guttering things! As long as you people keep reviewing I feel obligated to keep writing so don't worry about me giving up quite yet! Thanks for sticking with me and enjoy the update!
NarfOnABiscuit: I really don't know how to respond to "OO" Is that a good thing? Neutral? Bad? Ah well… the important thing is you reviewed! Thanks!
Gaeriel Palpatine: Haha poor Tom! And yet he wants to have children and she doesn't. Go figure. These chapters are way longer than what I'm used to posting, though I can't help it. I post as I write I suppose. Haha don't hold in the pee too long though m'dear! That's bad for your innards! Thanks for reviewing and hope you enjoyed the update!
Eldarwen999: Oh yes Tom did let her put make-up on him. Poor man needs to learn to say know to little girls! As for them getting drunk… well…. Olivia is a former party-girl…. Mwahahaha. Hope you enjoyed the update!
The lady of the shadows: I'm glad you thought that chapter 10 was worth the wait! If I was really mean I would make you wait a million years for this update but I felt like being nice. Thanks for the kind review, and I'm glad you think the kids are convincing. Hope the update was soon enough and I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks for sticking with me dear!
Thanks for the reviews guys! I look forward to coming home after a long day of teaching to read your comments! Keep them coming or I will become depress, eat too much ice cream, and become too fat to waddle to the computer and write! Either that or I'll have to make Gary kill Olivia or Tom or someone and no one wants that… do you?
Tom: They don't want that!
Me: They might. You might annoy them.
Tom: If anyone annoys them it's Olivia and her mood swings.
Olivia: Hey!
Me: You are moody dear.
Olivia: I resent that!
Me: Oh shush up or I'll never let you guys get any.
Olivia: Shutting up.
Tom: (nods)
I've got those two trained now methinks! Well guys, thanks for reading! Until next time stay out of trouble and have fun! Even though the two often conflict!