Stripped

A/N: This is it, Kids. The conclusion to Olivia's story. To be honest, I feel kinda strange as I post this. This story had it's definite ups and downs for me, and I'm not sure I always gave it the attention it deserved. But bringing it to a close feels a little surreal. I've grown to love Olivia, and all of her crackpot side kicks, as though they were real people, and I love knowing that you have, too.

Thanks a million times over for all of your support on this one, guys. Stripped is my most-reviewed story, and you don't really know how much that means to me. Even if you read and never submitted a review, thanks for the time. I know that there are a million stories (or damn close to it) that you could be reading, and knowing that you're spending your precious time with John and Olivia is flattering, and humbling, to me. Thanks.

So, without further ado. . . I disclaim. Enjoy!

Olivia had known that saying good-bye would bring tears. She hadn't expected that it would take her water-proof mascara to the breaking point. Of course, this place had been like her home for the last ten years. Nowhere else had she felt more welcomed or appreciated. Pandora's was going to be hard to leave behind, even when she was gone.

As she carefully packed some of her personal belongings from the posh dressing room, she sucked back another round of tears. It wasn't that she had a million fond memories here, but the people were good. They were her family. They had always been there for her – Melinda had been the closest thing to a mom that Olivia had ever known.

Casting a small smile to the couch, she caught the eye of the woman who had been her sister, maybe more, for the last decade. "Are you crying?" she asked curiously.

Arykah nodded and wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Yes, I'm crying, dammit!" Huffing, she flopped back on the couch and rolled her eyes. "Of course I'm crying. You're my best friend, Olivia."

A slight twinge of guilt poked her gut as Olivia leaned her head over on top of Arykah's and took her hand. "I guess I could reconsider," she started.

But the bubbly young woman shrieked and smacked her friend in the back of the head. "Are you out of your fucking mind, woman?"

Laughing, Olivia jumped up and rubbed the back of her head before returning to her packing. "What was that for?"

Finally standing, Arykah started to fold a blood-red tapestry from the back of the couch. "For as long as I've known you, Olivia, my world has balanced on two things." She laid the blanket on top of the large box in front her friend and put a hand over Olivia's. "One – The higher the stilettos, the bigger the tips," she winked. "And two?" She sniffled back another round of tears. "Someday, you were gonna break outta this place and make something of yourself."

"And your world hinged on that?" Olivia asked curiously, not thoroughly convinced that Arykah had kicked her drug habit completely.

She sighed and squeezed Olivia's hand, giving her a sincere gaze. "Sweetie, you don't belong here. You never have. You're too big for this place." Stepping away, she rolled her eyes. "Hell, I already decided I was gonna kick your ass if you tried to come back here."

Before Olivia could answer, there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an invitation, Melinda let herself into the room. Giving the room a once-over, she turned her full attention to Olivia. "Do you have any idea how badly this could end?" she asked simply.

Shrugging, Olivia rested her hip against the table beside her and shoved her hands in her pockets. Melinda was a business woman – staying at Pandora's was sure, easy money. Of course she couldn't fathom anyone giving that up. "I'm better than this, Melinda," she stated. "I deserve more than this place, more than their eyes," she pointed to the door.

Seemingly unimpressed, the older woman huffed. "Your life has never been easy, Olivia. If you were to stay here, it would be, and yet you seem determined to shake things up once again." Her perplexed expression evolved into a bright smile. "I'm proud of you, Kid," she winked, opening her arms.

For Olivia, that embrace made every decision, every choice, seem right. Melinda's approval made everything feel right – not just for Brandon, but for herself as well. "Thank you, Melinda," she whispered.

Pulling back, Melinda withdrew her hands from Olivia's shoulders and sat beside Arykah on the couch. "So what's next?" When Olivia turned a confused look to them, Melinda shrugged, as though it should have been an obvious question. "What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea," Olivia laughed.

Vince had offered her the mother of all deals. He would pay for her schooling, in any major she wished, while she worked as a diva for the company. Upon graduation, she would be offered a behind-the-scenes position, in any facet she requested. It was a blank check, of sorts. A contract for the next twenty years. She would have to spend about a year, maybe two, without Brandon – but in the end, it would be for the greater good. It was the perfect proposition.

And she had the next thirty days to decide if she was going to take the offer or not. In the meantime, Brandon would come home, and she was going to be a waitress at an upscale restaurant. She would spend the next month with her son, and together they would decide which path their future took. It felt right. It was right.

"And what about John?" Melinda asked pointedly.

Olivia gave Arykah a look, but the other woman just shook her head. "Oh no," she defended. "I said nothing."

Melinda just always knew. "Um," Olivia cleared her throat. "I don't really know about that, either," she chuckled. "I mean, we're not really official, I guess," she clarified.

Melinda looked over at Arykah and nodded. "Right," she laughed.

Tossing a G-string at her mentor, Olivia laughed. "We're not!" she insisted. "We're gonna see what happens. Depends, I guess, on what I decide about the job or whatever."

"So," Arykah sighed, standing and running her fingers through her blonde hair. "You have no idea what you're going to do with your life, where you're going to end up living, or if you're ever going to see the man of dreams again?" Olivia nodded. "And you're smiling, why?"

With her one box of belongings tucked safely under arm, Olivia addressed the two women for the last time. "Because life's gonna fuck you one way or the other," she winked. "But I finally realize you don't have to bend over and take it up the ass."

Melinda shook her head at the analogy as Arykah's laughter followed Olivia down the long, darkened hallways she had walked so many times. There was a slight spring in her step as she waved good-bye to her old family one last time and pushed the exit open with her shoulder.

A wide grin split her face as she looked upon the sight awaiting her. Brandon was sitting on the roof of John's car, comfortably nestled between Trish and Adam. John and Randy wrestled around on the concrete sidewalk beside the car, grunting and shouting expletives at each other.

Tonight, they would all have dinner in her house for the last time. Tomorrow, they would head back to work, and she would face an unknown future.

"Hey, Mom," Brandon waved. "You ready to get outta here?"

The men stopped wrestling and Randy pulled Trish off the top of the car, laughing as she squealed. Adam hopped down and helped Brandon, as John approached and took the box from her arms, kissing her nose.

Tomorrow was going to bring host of challenges and adventures she couldn't begin to imagine. Smiling at Brandon as John took her hand, Olivia nodded. "Yeah. I'm ready."