Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

by Kimberly21570

Otalia. This story takes place during and after the conversation where Olivia is freaking out about Phillip’s return. Just my take on what Could have transpired after this amazing scene ...

4. Chapter 3: Snow Day Part II

Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kimberly21570

Fandom: Guiding Light

Pairing: Olivia and Natalia

Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: All characters in this chapter are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. No copyright infringement intended with regard to CBS, TeleNext, P&G, GL or any other entity. The dialogue, props, etc. in these scenes are original; with the exception of the "Bi-World" joke, which belongs to Ellen DeGeneres. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.

I've sent individual responses to those who have commented on this story, whose accounts allow for such communication. However, I also wanted to acknowledge those to whom I cannot respond directly; because, as a writer, it means a great deal to know that my efforts are appreciated; and, thus, everyone who takes the time to comment is most appreciated in return. So, thank you to Lane – Glad you enjoyed the toasters, U-Hauls and fish tacos … And also, thanks for the heads-up about Olivia being an accomplished chef. I did know about that … but Natalia doesn't need to know just yet *grin*, so … let's just keep that between us for now … *wink* And WickedandWonderful – I'm glad you're hooked. Had any pancakes lately? *grin*

I do apologize for taking so long to get this update posted. This was written several weeks ago, and just needed to be cleaned up and prepped for posting. But … I needed to make good on a promise to a friend, to finish what I started, and thus, I've been a bit preoccupied with a long-overdue honeymoon scene for my Lianca fanfic. After all, I did leave those poor, sex-deprived newlyweds standing on their front porch for nearly 3 years … Yes, I know – I suck. Hardcore. But now they're the ones who are … Well, never mind – that's too dirty, even for me …

Oh, who the hell am I kidding?! *smirk*

Anyway, that being said, I hope you all enjoy Chapter 3.2: Snow Day … Strap yourselves in, 'cause it's a long one – almost 35 pages of romance, bickering, humor, and Emma cuteness …

Rating: Chapter 3.2 is rated R for sexual situations and strong innuendo; but subsequent chapters will eventually reach NC-17.

Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Copyright May 2009

"Winter came down to our home one night
Quietly pirouetting in on silvery-toed slippers of snow,
And we, we were children once again."

Bill Morgan, Jr.

Chapter 3.2: Snow Day

Two blissfully sleep-filled hours later, slippered feet came tearing down the hallway; bounding through Olivia's bedroom door. "Mommy! Mommy! We're late!" Emma announced, as she scaled the side of the bed, and deposited herself in the middle; finding Natalia wrapped peacefully in her mother's arms.

The two women jumped; startled by their daughter's unexpected arrival as she bounced anxiously on the bed. It was almost as though her body moved faster than the sound of her voice, as she seemed to have arrived, long before they ever heard her; though they both knew the laws of physics deemed such an occurrence impossible.

"Come on, guys. We gotta get up!" Emma insisted; little hands rapidly shaking her mother's thigh.

As Olivia mumbled incoherently and attempted to focus her mind into some semblance of coherency, Natalia gently extricated herself from Olivia's embrace; grinning at the disapproving grunt she received from the older woman, before turning her attention to their daughter, calmly addressing her concerns.

"Oh, no, Sweetie – it's okay," she assured; sitting up in the bed Indian-style, facing the little girl knelt who front in of her. "Snow day …" she announced, smiling, as she reached out to pinch a pinkish cheek.

Emma's face lit up like a Christmas tree; all bright-eyed and smiling. "Oh, Yay!!" she exclaimed; bouncing up and down on the bed, as she clapped her hands excitedly. "I didn't even know it was 'aposed to snow!"

Chuckling softly, Natalia said, "That's because it started after you went to bed last night, Jellybean," as she tickled her way up Emma's leg, and landed with a playful poke in the little girl's tummy.

Emma giggled and rolled on the bed; and then her head popped up. "How much did we get?" she asked; an expectant expression on her face; hoping it was enough to secure at least a couple of days off school.

Natalia smiled knowingly. "Last I checked, we had about 9 inches," she reported; sounding much like the weather announcer on WCIA earlier that morning, "but it was still snowing kinda hard when Mommy and I fell back asleep this morning …"

Emma grinned; pleased with the response. "So there's probly lots more Now …" she surmised; eyes widening, as she effectively butchered the big girl word.

"Probably …" Natalia laughed softly; grinning at the little girl's attempt to use such a big word.

Finally finding at least a few of her faculties, Olivia roused enough to join reality. She slowly passed an appreciative hand across Natalia's back, as she stretched languidly, and smiled up at her.

Natalia returned her smile; instinctively knowing the underlying meaning of the gesture.

"Hey, Jellybean," Olivia greeted; smiling at her daughter, as she planted her hands at her sides, and slid back, lifting her body into a seated position next to Natalia. She bent her knees, bringing them to her chest, as she casually wrapped her arms around them.

"Hi, Mommy …" Emma grinned. "We have a snow day today!" she excitedly announced.

"I know!" Olivia replied; eyes widening with excitement, as she chuckled softly, a broad smile spreading across her face. "So … what would you like to do today?" she asked playfully.

"I wanna build a snowwoman! One with a big purple Hat and a matching scarf … and snow boots! Oh … and she has to have big brown eyes, like Natalia …" Emma announced animatedly; bobbing her head up and down for emphasis.

"A snowwoman, not … a snowman …?" Olivia posed; curious as to the distinction.

"Yes," Emma clarified resolutely, with a firm nod of her head.

"Why a snowwoman?" Olivia pressed; looking much like a detective on the hunt, with those pursed lips and that pointedly arched eyebrow – the only thing she was missing was Doris's hat. Hmmm … I think I'm raising a Feminist …

"Well, Duh, Mom," Emma giggled, rolling her eyes. "A snowman would look silly in a big purple hat, 'cause … purple is a girly color …" she reasoned; the tone in her voice indicating that her mother clearly should have known better.

"Oh …" Olivia grunted; shrugging her shoulders as she grinned. "Can't argue with that logic …" Clearly she's never seen Greg on alternating Tuesdays, when he wears that lavender tie and matching handkerchief … God, I hope he doesn't have a Hat …

"So … I wanna build my snowwoman …" Emma said; cutting into her mother's internal tangent. "And then I wanna drink hot cocoa by the fire with you guys when we're done …" she announced. "Oh, and I want my hot cocoa … in my Frosty the Snowman mug … that Ava bought me for Christmas last year," she said, with a final nod of her head.

Natalia smiled; the contagiousness of the little girl's excitement overtaking her. "That sounds like a great way to spend our first snow day together," she proclaimed; tweaking the little girl's nose. "I'll look for your mug when we go downstairs."

"Ooh, and we can roast marshmallows in the fireplace … and make S'mores!" Olivia added excitedly; eyes bright with anticipation, looking much like her eight-year-old daughter.

"Yay! S'mores!!" Emma exclaimed, as she bounced gleefully on the bed.

"I know, right?" Olivia smiled conspiratorially at her daughter; jade eyes dancing with delight.

"I love S'mores, Mommy!"

Olivia laughed softly. "I know you do, Baby," she replied; smiling at her daughter's exuberance. "So do I …" she added; resting her chin against the palm of her hand, atop her knee.

Natalia canted her head to the side as she watched the energized tennis match between mother and daughter; then cast a quizzical glance toward Olivia. "What are … S'mores …?" she inquired.

A teasing grin trotted across Olivia's face. "Oh, tell me you're joking," she said; a pitying expression on her face. "You've … never had S'mores?!" she said; unable to even fathom the concept.

"Nnn ... No …" Natalia cautiously admitted; suddenly feeling as though she'd grown up under a rock. "Never even heard of 'em …"

"Ooh, you'll love them, Natalia," Emma proclaimed; eyes widening with excitement. "They're made of roasted marshmallows, and graham crackers, and chocolate!"

Natalia knit her brow; chewing on the side of her mouth, as she often did when contemplating something she didn't quite comprehend. "Really," she said skeptically; more an utterance of disbelief, than a question.

"Yeah, they're good," Emma announced confidently; nodding her head up and down to reinforce her assertion.

"Well … I'll just take your word for it – okay, Jellybean?" Natalia grinned; patting the little girl's hand warmly.

Olivia nudged Natalia with her left shoulder; grinning at the skeptical woman. "Hey, you gave me grief over my obsession with ice cream and French fries, too … and you ended up loving That combination …" she reminded with a wink.

"Point taken," Natalia grinned, as she arched an eyebrow. She leaned in close to Olivia then. "To be honest though, even if I had hated the combination, I would have encouraged you to keep feeding it to me …" she whispered; the memory of how she reacted to Olivia feeding her that day causing a slight blush to creep across; warming her skin. "That was way sexy, Baby …" she grinned against the older woman's ear; sending delightful shivers down both their spines.

Olivia turned into Natalia's neck; nuzzling her ear. "Remind me to feed them to you again," she whispered; her words barely audible, as her warm breath tickled Natalia's ear. "They'll be a lot more fun, now that we're together …" she grinned devilishly.

Natalia groaned softly; the notion of Olivia popping the salty-sweet treat into her mouth, then allowing the coolness of the ice cream to roll around on their tongues as she kissed her deeply, setting off fireworks in her veins. "We should have McDonald's for lunch tomorrow …" she suggested; grinning devilishly against Olivia's ear. "In your office … with the door locked …"

"Mmm … sounds like a plan …" Olivia purred; heat rising in her veins at the idea of a lunchtime playdate with her assistant. "Just make sure to clock out before you get to my office …" she grinned.

Natalia nudged her playfully. "You know I don't punch a time clock anymore …"

Olivia laughed softly against Natalia's ear. "Yeah, I know … Just tryin' to cover my ass, 'cause … the things I'm thinking of doing might not be appropriate between a boss and her employee …" she said playfully.

"Olivia!" the shocked young woman exclaimed; playfully slapping the hotelier on the arm.

A satisfied grin tripped across Olivia's lips, as Natalia blushed profusely.

Emma watched their exchange carefully; enjoying the sheer happiness they exuded as they interacted. And then came the first in a series of questions that would extend throughout years to come; each becoming more interesting and challenging than the last …

"Mommy?"

"Yeah, Baby …"

"Umm … Did you and Natalia have a sleepover?" the little girl asked innocently.

Effectively extricated from their little world, Olivia laughed softly. "No, Baby," she smiled; tousling her daughter's hair playfully, "We just took a little nap this morning, after school was called off …"

"Oh. Okay," Emma chirped; accepting her mother's answer.

Olivia glanced at Natalia, her eyes begging the unspoken question; and Natalia nodded her agreement.

With the go-ahead received, Olivia gingerly approached the situation. "Hey, Jellybean?" she called; seeking her daughter's attention.

"Yeah, Mom?" came the reply; curious eyes peering up at Olivia.

"You … understand about my relationship with Natalia – right?" Olivia asked; silently willing the child to respond affirmatively. "That … we love each other, and we're a real family, like other families with two parents …"

The little girl nodded her head firmly; signaling that she understood. "Why?" she asked; a mixture of curiosity and confusion on her face.

Natalia reached over, taking Olivia's hand in a display of support.

Olivia smiled at her, and squeezed the proffered hand gently, as she returned to the conversation with Emma. "Well … as Natalia and I grow … closer, there will come a time when … we'll want to have sleepovers … probably every night …" she carefully explained; studying her daughter for any sign of negative reaction. "How would you … feel … about that?"

Emma shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "You're my two Mommies," she reminded; eyebrows furrowed, as she attempted to decipher her mother's strange hang-up with the situation. "Most parents who live together have sleepovers every night, so … I don't know what the big deal is," she stated boldly; displaying wisdom far beyond her eight years.

Natalia squeezed Olivia's hand again, causing the older woman to glance toward her; a contented smile tiptoeing across her lips. Then, turning her attention back to their daughter, Olivia sought confirmation. "So … you're really … okay with the way things are changing?"

Emma bobbed her head up and down. "Uh-huh …" she chirped; eyes as bright as the smile on her face. "The only thing that changed is … you guys are kissing all the time now… 'stead of just lookin' at each other all goofy, like you wanna kiss …" she giggled. "You been doin' that for months …" she added; brow crinkled as she shrugged her shoulders.

Olivia and Natalia chuckled at their daughter's insight and candor.

"I think we're busted …" Olivia noted with a grin.

"Pretty much …" Natalia smiled; casting a sideways glance toward Olivia.

"Well, that was easy," Olivia said; breathing a deep sigh of relief.

A lopsided grin twitched at the edges of Natalia's lips. "Yeah, it was …" she said wistfully; thankful that Emma was handling the changes so well. "I just hope … it's this easy with Rafe …"

Olivia leaned over, gently brushing Natalia's cheek with her lips. "Don't worry about Rafe – okay, Sweetheart?" she whispered; attempting to show comfort and support. "Whatever happens … we'll deal with it together …"

Natalia closed her eyes; breathing in the promise in Olivia's voice, in her words. "Thank you …" she whispered; leaning her head against her partner's shoulder.

"Always …" came the quiet reply, as she tenderly kissed Natalia's temple.

Emma sat silently; thoughts twisting in her mind. Then, when she noticed Natalia begin to stir, she spoke again. "Mommy?" she called in a small voice.

"Yeah, Baby …" Olivia answered warmly; turning her attention to their daughter.

"Will I … still be able to cuddle with you in your bed, when I get scared at night?" she asked; voice tentative, fingers fidgeting with the corner of Olivia's comforter.

Two Mommies' hearts melted in tandem, as Emma posed the question.

"Oh, of course you will, Jellybean," Natalia quietly interjected; scooping the worried little girl into her arms. She pressed her forehead against Emma's temple, as she held her close. "Nothing will change between you and your Mommy, Sweetie. I promise …"

Olivia offered Natalia an appreciative smile, as she gently cupped Emma's chin; a tender thumb caressing a slightly flushed cheek. "Natalia is right, Baby," she quietly confirmed. "The only thing that will change is that you'll have both of us to cuddle with when you're scared …" she said reassuringly. "Does that sound okay?"

Emma nodded her head in affirmation. "Yeah, that sounds good," she announced. "I like the idea of having you both here …"

"Well, good, I'm glad," Natalia stated firmly, "because we will always be here for you, Emma," she promised, kissing the little girl's cheek; causing her to giggle.

Natalia nuzzled into Emma's cheek for a moment. "Now … whaddaya say … we go make some breakfast," she suggested; as she playfully tapped their daughter's bottom.

"Yay, breakfast! I'm starving!" Emma announced; eyes widening in emphasis, as she scrambled to get off the bed. She yanked her other Mommy's arm; startling the young woman with the force of her strength, causing her to laugh. "Come on, Natalia," she prodded; attempting to pull her away from Olivia, "let's go …"

Olivia laughed at their antics. "I guess you're being summoned," she surmised; a crooked grin teasing at her lips.

"Looks like it …" Natalia replied; grinning happily at Olivia. She leaned over; straining against the force of Emma's pull, and kissed Olivia softly. "Geez, you'd think we've never fed this kid before. I'd better go, before she dismembers me," she laughed.

"Just remember … no pancakes …" Olivia smirked.

Natalia shot her a knowing smile. "No pancakes …" she laughed; kissing Olivia again, before extricating herself from the covers, and chasing Emma down the stairs.

Emma shrieked; then giggled, telling Olivia that Natalia finally caught up with her; scooping her up and attacking her with tickles and kisses. She lay back against her pillow, a slow, contented smile treading softly across her lips, as she listened to the familiar sounds of morning in their farmhouse. And lifting her eyes skyward, tears threatened to spill, as a simple, quiet "Thank you" passed through her lips; ascending to a God she didn't yet know.

____________________

After a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, homemade biscuits, and sausage gravy, Olivia helped Natalia clean the kitchen, while Emma rummaged through her box of "dress-up" clothes, searching for the perfect accessories for her snowwoman.

"Thank you for breakfast …" Olivia said appreciatively; clearing the plates from the table. "It was fantastic, as always …"

"You're welcome," Natalia replied cheerily, as she spooned the leftover gravy into a storage container – a square one. "Just don't get too used to sausage and gravy … because you're not getting it very often," she warned; tapping the spoon against the edge of the container to shake off the remnants, "It's bad for your heart …"

"My heart is fine …" Olivia rejoined; shaking her head and chuckling as she watched Natalia; remembering how the younger woman had once told her she didn't like round containers, because they waste space in the refrigerator.

Natalia looked up at her and smiled; offering Olivia another serving of those irresistible dimples. "I know … and I plan to keep it that way …" she announced; snapping the lid on the container. "Now why are you laughing at me?" she said playfully.

"No reason …" Olivia replied dismissively; grinning, as she leaned in, kissing Natalia softly.

She lingered for a moment; eyes fixed on Natalia's as she smiled contentedly; then took the container from Natalia's hands, and placed it in the refrigerator; chuckling to herself again, as the younger woman turned on the faucet, preparing the water for the morning dishes.

Closing the refrigerator door, Olivia approached Natalia; wrapping the younger woman in her arms from behind. She squeezed her tight for a moment, drawing in a deep breath; then exhaled, releasing her into a relaxed embrace, as she rested her cheek against Natalia's.

"What was that for?" Natalia smiled; her hand gently caressing Olivia's arm, causing the older woman's skin to tingle under her touch.

"Just because …" Olivia whispered; kissing Natalia's cheek.

"Mmm … I think I like 'just because'," Natalia sighed contentedly, closing her eyes; just enjoying the nearness of the woman she loved.

"Me, too …" Olivia quietly breathed against Natalia's ear; lingering in the moment for just a bit longer.

A clamorous thud above their heads startled them from the quiet of the moment, and two sets of eyes peered upward; almost expecting the ceiling to fall through. Next came the distinct sound of something heavy and round, cumbersomely rolling across the hardwood floor; promptly followed by the sound of Emma's voice, "It's okay …" she yelled, "I just dropped Mom's bowling ball … It was in my trunk …"

An amused grin skipped across Natalia's lips, as she quickly reached to shut off the water, and turned in Olivia's arms. "You … have a bowling ball?" she ribbed; dark eyes flashing with delight, as once again, Olivia Spencer managed to surprise her.

From over their heads came of the sound of slippered feet, shuffling, as Emma rolled the bowling ball across the floor.

Olivia blushed slightly; her eyes fluttering closed. "Yes …" she sheepishly admitted; preparing for the impending mockery.

Natalia eyed her up and down. "You mean to tell me – You … wear shoes … that other people have worn?" she inquired with a decided arch of an eyebrow.

Olivia shot her an incredulous look. "Certainly Not!" she exclaimed. "I have my own shoes …" she informed, with the sarcastic curling of her lips.

"Your own shoes?" Natalia squeaked. "What are you – the Reigning Queen of Laketown Lanes?" she asked rhetorically; referring to one of the local bowling alleys. "You need your own shoes …" she mumbled; rolling her eyes, as a second resolute thud indicated that Emma had returned to ball to her trunk.

Olivia laughed; shaking her head both at Natalia's sarcasm, and at the raucous cacophony of their noisy child. "No … I haven't bowled in years … Not since San Cristobel …" she admitted. "But I was rather good at it back then …" she grinned proudly.

"Oh! We are so going to Cosmic Bowling on Saturday night …" Natalia announced, a huge grin on her face; anticipation rising.

Olivia arched an eyebrow, one side of her mouth curling up, as she attempted to decipher the concept. "Cosmic … Bowling …?"

"Ha! Yes!" Natalia exclaimed, with an excited hop. "I may not know about S'mores … but I know all about Cosmic Bowling …" she said gleefully. "It's sort of … glow-in-the-dark bowling, with … a dance club vibe … And there's a laser-light show, and fog machines … It's so much fun …" she enlightened excitedly, eyes widening in emphasis. "You and Emma will love it …"

The corners of Olivia's lips curled into an amused grin at the younger woman's childlike exuberance. "Okay …" she agreed, with the nodding of her head, "but … if we do your family bowling thing on Saturday night, does that mean I can have you all to myself on Friday night?"

"You mean … like a date?" Natalia flirted; flashing Olivia that dimpled grin.

Olivia nodded her head, hesitantly at first; then with conviction. "Yeah … like a date …" she affirmed; pulling Natalia closer against her body. "Are you … okay with that? Us … being out in public … as a couple?" she asked; searching Natalia's eyes.

A slow smile spread across Natalia's face. "Yeah … I'm more than okay with that …" she whispered; nodding her head. "I'm gonna talk to Frank this week, and after that, it won't matter who knows …" she declared; eyes locked on Olivia's.

"What about Rafe?" Olivia inquired; concerned about Natalia's son being caught off guard.

"You and I and Frank are the only ones who can see him without prior authorization," Natalia informed, "so I'm not worried about him finding out before we have a chance to tell him …"

Olivia nodded her head. "Okay …" she smiled; pleased with the prospect of taking her lady love out on their first date. Already, her mind was racing with ideas for the perfect evening. Secluded, elegant and romantic? Or low-key, casual and fun? The best of both worlds? Oh, the possibilities were endless, and she couldn't wait to start putting the plans together.

"Olivia?" Natalia quietly called; attempting to extract the older woman from her internal tangent.

"Huh?" came the distracted reply.

"Where did you go?" Natalia chuckled; pinching Olivia's chin between her thumb and forefinger.

Jade eyes quietly searched Natalia's face, as the corners of Olivia's mouth curled into a grin. "I was just thinking about the kind of date I wanna plan for you …"

"Any chance I'll get a preview of your ideas?" Natalia smiled; her excitement growing.

"Nope …" Olivia answered playfully.

"Didn't think so …" Natalia said quietly; gazing into Olivia's eyes. "But whatever you decide … I know it'll be perfect …"

Olivia tipped Natalia's chin, steadying their gaze. "Thank you …" she whispered; kissing the Latina softly.

"Welcome …" Natalia whispered against Olivia's lips. "Now … I think we should probably get to these dishes," she announced; smiling, as she playfully kissed her again.

"Probably …" Olivia agreed; snatching one more playful kiss before reaching for the towel on the counter next to the sink.

And with that, they began their kitchen ritual – Natalia washed, Olivia dried, and they argued about how to put things away …

Upstairs, Emma stomped her feet and giggled with glee when she found the wide-brimmed purple hat and matching scarf she was referring to during her conversation with her mommies earlier that morning. Grasping them firmly in her hands, she screamed excitedly, "I found 'em, guys!", as she tore through the hallway, scampering down the stairs to show off her wares.

"No yelling … and don't run down the stairs, Jellybean …" Olivia called from the kitchen for what seemed like the millionth time since they moved into the farmhouse two months prior. Has it Really only been two months? It seems as though we've Always been a family … And we always will be …

"You know … no matter how many times you warn her, she's never gonna stop yelling and running …" Natalia grinned knowingly; playfully bumping Olivia's hip with her own, as they stood side-by-side at the sink, continuing their kitchen ritual. "Especially when you're yelling at her, telling her not to scream …" she pointed out; chuckling at the inconsistency.

Olivia sighed. "I know …" she said exasperatingly; shoulders slumped, as she considered the utter futility of the warning, given Natalia's well-argued point and the fact that Natalia herself had chased their daughter down those very same stairs earlier that morning. She turned toward Natalia, the corners of her mouth curling into a mischievous grin, "And You certainly don't help when you chase her …" she teased, as she lightly snapped the younger woman's thigh with the towel in her hand.

"Hey …" Natalia protested; shooting a disgruntled look toward the older woman, as slippered feet came skidding into the kitchen; stopping dead in their tracks in front of Olivia.

Slowly, the little girl's head elevated, sheepishly peering up at her mother with pitiful doe eyes. "Sorry for running and yelling, Mom …" she said guiltily. "I forgot …"

"Yeah … you seem to do that a lot …" Olivia chuckled; grinning down at her shamefaced daughter.

"Am I in trouble?" Emma asked cautiously; peering up at the woman who held her fate.

"No, Jellybean …" Olivia answered; shaking her head, as she smiled warmly at the anxious little girl. "Just … try harder to remember – okay?" she prodded gently. "It really isn't safe to be running down the stairs – especially in your slippers. I just don't want you to get hurt …" she patiently explained.

"Okay, Mom," Emma agreed; nodding her head. "Sorry, again …"

Olivia tousled Emma's hair; sending a message that all was well. "Why don't you go pick out a movie?" she suggested; tipping her head toward the living room. "We'll all cuddle on the couch in our jammies until it gets a little warmer outside … and then we'll go build your snowwoman … M'kay?"

"M'kay …" Emma cheerfully agreed; a bright smile illuminating her sweet face. "It'll be a surprise," she announced; turning quickly; slippered feet scurrying out of the room like a secret agent on a mission.

Olivia sighed and rolled her eyes. "No running, Em …" she called after the forgetful little girl.

The next sound they heard was that of slippered feet, skidding to a halt once again. "Sorry, Mom …" Emma called from the living room. "And sorry for yelling, too …"

Olivia's head dropped in defeat, as she leaned it against Natalia's shoulder for support.

"Told you so …" Natalia snickered; covering her mouth with her hand.

"Oh … shut up …" Olivia chuckled; grinning, as she pulled Natalia into a searing kiss, effectively quieting the teasing.

And when their kiss ended, leaving both women breathless and aching for more, Olivia arched an eyebrow, "Movie time?" she winked; her mind already contemplating the things she might get away with once the two of them were snuggled under their favorite blanket.

Natalia eyed her suspiciously; knowing full-well where Olivia's mind had traveled. "Somehow I think you could manage to turn Pocahontas into a porno …" she grinned; shaking her head. "Come on, Captain Obvious …" she sighed; taking the naughty-minded woman's hand, leading her into the living room, "and don't even try to tell me you weren't thinking of ways to torment me while we're under that blanket …"

"You got me …" Olivia said with a devilish grin; once again, fully admitting to her delicious guilt with those three familiar little words.

Natalia grunted, and pinned her with a look; almost daring her to misbehave.

"Alright, alright, you win. I'll be good …" Olivia protested; throwing her hands up in surrender. "Geez … Can't a girl just have a little fun?!" she groused in jest.

Natalia laughed at Olivia's flair for the dramatic. "You're ridiculous …" she teasingly accused with a soft chuckle and a confirmatory roll of the eyes.

"Yeah, I know … but you love me …" she flirted; batting her eyelashes at the younger woman.

Natalia rolled her eyes again; depositing the Object of her Delightful Undoing on the sofa. "Stay," she ordered, with an authoritative stare and the calculated aiming of a finger.

Olivia felt the rapidly firing surges of undeniable want, hammering through her veins with the power and performance of an M2 machine gun, causing a feral growl to escape from deep within her lungs, as Natalia issued the forceful directive. She sat there, bolted to the sofa, unable to speak, as she stared at Object of her Deepest Desire.

And even in her acquiescent state, those smoldering jade eyes burned straight through the core of Natalia's being; wielding control of her without need of either words or chains.

Natalia felt the unmistakable tendrils of desire stirring deep within her abdomen. How do you gain control of me with such force, without even Touching me … when I was the one trying to keep You under control? she wondered; the intensity of those deep jade eyes welding her feet to the floor, rendering her speechless, almost breathless.

The intensity of the moment lingered in the air that encompassed them; the only sound in the room being that of their labored breathing.

And then the tension snapped like a twig, as Emma came bounding down the stairs; tearing them from the moment, bringing them back to a reluctant reality. "I wanna watch Beauty and the Beast," she announced; waving the DVD case in the air. "I hadda go find it in my room …"

A derisive smirk twitched on Olivia's lips, as reflective eyes slowly traced the soft curves and smooth planes of the younger woman's face; soaking in the beauty that was Natalia. "Quite … apposite – wouldn't you say?" she said, arching a defined eyebrow; the slightest hint of caustic sarcasm in her tone.

Emma registered the changing expression on her mother's face, the inflection in her tone, and decided it best to just quietly slip the DVD into the player.

Unspoken message decoded, Natalia turned to Olivia; sensing the older woman's momentary torment. "Don't …" she quietly admonished; slowly shaking her head side-to-side, "You're not that person anymore …"

Olivia nodded her head and pursed her lips. "But I was …" she quietly argued, "and I can't change … the things I've done …"

Natalia glanced at the perceptive little girl who stood there between them; soaking in their exchange like a sponge. "Emma, Honey … would you do me a favor, and go get your Mommy a glass of water?" she requested; knowing it would take the child several minutes to retrieve and fill the glass.

"Sure, Natalia …" Emma said brightly; pleased by the prospect of helping with her mother's shifting mood.

"Lots of ice …" she added with the crinkling of her brow and the nod of her head; hoping to buy them some extra time.

"Okay …" Emma grinned amenably; sprinting off into the kitchen.

Scene averted, Natalia turned her attention back to Olivia. "You see That?" she said quietly; pointing toward the direction where Emma had disappeared, as she joined Olivia on the sofa. She gently cupped Olivia's cheek in her hand, as she locked eyes with the older woman; setting out on an impassioned discourse. "That … is the true testament to who you Are … that little girl, with all the joy in her spirit, all the love … in her heart …" she sighed softly, and smiled, as she thought about Emma's loving little heart, "a heart that's almost too big, for her tiny body … She's Amazing, Olivia … and she's Yours. You Did that. You Created … that beautiful, sweet, loving little girl … You taught her how to love, Unconditionally, how … to find the joy in everything she does. She gets all those things, from You. And nothing … so completely Perfect, could come from someone who's intrinsically bad …" she whispered reassuringly; taking Olivia's hand into her own. "You, Olivia Spencer, are intrinsically Good. Whether you see it or not … I do … And I see the goodness in you, reflected in your little girl. Emma is all the very Best parts … of You …"

Olivia's heart swelled, overwhelmed by the passion in Natalia's oration; and the tears began to flow. "Okay … so I've done One … right Thing … in my life …" she cried softly; her heart and mind flooding with those moments that defined the connection she shared with her little girl, "but that doesn't make up … for all the mistakes I've made; all the people I've hurt along the way …" she argued; tears cascading down her cheeks. "I've made so many mistakes in my life, Natalia … You have … No idea … who I really Am …"

Natalia exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, and shook her head in vehement disagreement, as she reached up, swiping at the tears with the pads of her thumbs. "I know … exactly … who you are, Olivia …" she quietly countered. "You are … passionate … and powerful; you're strong … confident, and fearless. God, you're So fearless; and yet sometimes …" she said, her eyes fluttering closed, as she drew in a breath. And then, opening them again, she looked at Olivia with tears in her eyes, "Sometimes … you're so … fragile … that I think you might actually break …" she nearly whimpered; softly touching the older woman's cheek. "And all I wanna do is protect you; keep you safe …" she quietly declared; sniffing back her tears. She drew in another breath, and exhaled slowly. "You're kind and gentle, and you love more fiercely than anyone I've ever known … And you're beautiful ... God, you are So … Beautiful …" she exhaled, in a soft, nervous laugh; her breath catching in her chest, as the emotions threatened to overwhelm her, "Sometimes … I think my heart will burst … from just looking at you …" she breathed, her voice a strangled whisper. She crooked her index finger, tipping Olivia's chin, as she met those shimmering jade eyes, "And as for those mistakes you've made … So have we all …" she empathized; knowing her own past transgressions were far from innocuous, "but we'll survive our mistakes … together …" she encouraged. "Okay?"

Rendered completely speechless by the force of Natalia's words, her declarations, slowly, Olivia nodded her head in agreement, as she sniffed back tears. What did I Ever do … to deserve a love so Perfect as Yours …

Natalia leaned closer then; her finger still supporting Olivia's chin, as she placed a soft, reassuring kiss on the fullness of those perfect lips. "I love you, Olivia …" she quietly declared; the sincerity in those deep brown eyes reflecting the genuineness of her words, "for exactly who you are …"

"I know …" came the tearful reply, as Olivia exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "And I love You … more than you could possibly comprehend …" I swear to you, I'm gonna love you like no one else ever has; like no one else ever Will … I'll make your world better than it's ever been …

"I think I have a pretty good idea …" Natalia whispered; pulling Olivia into her arms, as she leaned back on the sofa, wrapping their blanket around them.

Olivia took Natalia's hand into her own; distractedly playing with her fingers. "You did tame the Beast, you know …" she said quietly; a knowing smile tiptoeing across her lips.

Natalia smiled as she nuzzled against Olivia's ear, "I know …" she whispered softly. "And I must say – Your inner Beast was quite the challenge …" she quietly acknowledged, "but … I knew if I loved you enough, eventually you would give up the fight …"

Olivia sniffed back the tears that were forming as she listened to the tenderness in Natalia's voice. "Thank you … for not giving up on me …" she whispered.

"Giving up … was never an option …" Natalia quietly declared. "You know I'm just as stubborn as you are …" she grinned.

"Word!" Olivia laughed; garnering a well-deserved slap on the arm, followed by a tight squeeze from Natalia, as they laughed together.

Emma walked in then, carrying the requested glass of water. She stopped in front of them; setting the glass down on the coffee table with a thump, and planted one hand firmly on her hip, "Are you guys done talking yet?" she sighed; rolling her eyes. "'Cause I was gettin' kinda bored in there …"

The two women chuckled once again at their daughter's perceptiveness and candor, and Olivia reached out, playfully tousling the little girl's hair. "Yes, Jellybean, we're finished talking now …" she answered with a warm grin. "Ready to watch the movie?" she asked; flipping the blanket up, inviting her to join them.

"Yep," Emma chirped; clambering onto the sofa, snuggling up next to her mother.

Olivia covered Emma with the blanket then; and resting her head against Natalia's shoulder, she allowed the younger woman to hold her close, as they settled in to watch the movie.

____________________

After the movie, they went upstairs to get dressed for their winter playdate. "It's really cold outside, Em, so make sure you dress warm …" Natalia directed, patting their daughter on the back as they reached the upper landing of the staircase. "Your pink sweats would be good …" she suggested, "and put on two pairs of your wool socks …"

"But my boots won't fit …" Emma contended; scrunching up her face, as she turned back toward her two Mommies.

"It'll be okay, Baby," Natalia assured with a nod of her head. "We'll work it out …"

"Okay," Emma replied, a bright smile on her face, as she raced to her bedroom to get dressed; excited about their plans for the afternoon.

The corners of Olivia's mouth curled into a grin, as they reached her bedroom door. "Two pairs of socks?" she questioned; arching an eyebrow, as she leaned against the doorframe.

"Mmmhmm …" Natalia hummed; smiling up at Olivia, as she wrapped her arms around the taller woman's neck. "We don't want her getting sick …" she reasoned.

Olivia's hands instinctively found their way around Natalia's waist; drawing her close. "No … we don't …" she quietly agreed; leaning down, slowly kissing her way from shorter woman's neck to her ear, where she nibbled softly.

Natalia moaned softly, tilting her head to one side; allowing Olivia greater access.

Never one to waste an opportunity, Olivia slowly, torturously, dragged the hot wetness of her tongue along Natalia's throat; finding her pulse point, sucking lightly, then releasing, before trailing back to a waiting ear. "You were driving me completely crazy, the way you were touching me during the movie …" she whispered; her voice low and guttural, as slowly, seductively, she turned Natalia around, pressing her against the bedroom door; one hand reaching between their bodies, loosening the sash on the silken robe the younger woman was wearing.

The sensuality engraved in Olivia's voice caused Natalia's breath to catch in her chest. She gasped; fingers twisting into the chestnut locks at the back of the taller woman's neck. "I couldn't help myself …" she breathed in confession. "You have … no idea how difficult it is … to be that close to you … and not … touch you …" she nearly growled, as she guided Olivia back, claiming her mouth in a slow, meaningful kiss.

"Oh, I beg … to differ …" Olivia quietly countered, as their kiss ended. "You look beautiful … wearing the color of royalty …" she whispered; searching Natalia's eyes; fingers sliding along the fabric of the younger woman's robe. You'll look even More beautiful … Out of it …, she thought, as her hands brushed the robe aside. "And I have ached to touch you … every time you've worn it – since the day I gave it to you …" she growled; watching Natalia's eyes burn black with desire, as fingers slipped beneath the fabric of the Latina's t-shirt, gliding up her torso to just beneath her breasts, where thumbs gently caressed the soft skin they discovered.

Natalia whimpered at the contact, a melodious moan escaping burning lungs, as Olivia quickly gained her revenge for the torture she had endured at the younger woman's hands. She marveled at the warmth of Natalia's skin under her fingers, as she drew the Latina into another slow, torturous kiss; gently sucking on her tongue.

"What are you doing to me?" Natalia groaned; a wave of liquid heat gushing between her legs, as the taller woman pressed firmly against her. She swore she could feel it trickling down her thigh, before Olivia slipped a satin-covered knee between her legs. Then she was certain.

Olivia groaned, as she felt the slick wetness penetrate the leg of her pajama bottoms; the torturous heat reaching the skin of her upper thigh. "Exacting my revenge …" she answered; brushing her tongue over Natalia's bottom lip, before gently biting down.

Natalia sucked in a sharp breath. "Olivia, please …" she pleaded; her voice barely a stifled moan, as wandering hands slipped down the taller woman's back; fingers digging into satin-covered muscles. Those muscles contracted under Natalia's touch, causing the sharp intake of air into Olivia's lungs, as Natalia's own body quaked; her knees giving way. You … are the Complete undoing of me …

The pleading cadence in Natalia's voice, and the sensation of those fingers excavating her back sent a surge of wetness and heat through Olivia's own body; pooling in her center. "Please, what?" she groaned; her tongue brushing over Natalia's lip again, before drawing the younger woman into a slow, open-mouthed kiss; strong hands tightening their grip on her torso.

Please touch me …

"Please … We have to stop …" she whimpered; grudgingly pulling away from their kiss; leaning her forehead against Olivia's chest, as she gasped for air; silently willing her heart to calm down.

Olivia grunted in frustration; knowing she had only herself to blame. Yes, she had been more than a little worked up from Natalia's explorations on the sofa; but she knew from experience, exactly how to tamp down the flames of desire; confining them to a slow burn, rather than willfully coaxing them into a raging inferno. But she had ignored what she knew; instead, giving in to the temptation to play this little game with Natalia; and now she was paying the price. More than that, so was Natalia. She realized the unfairness of her actions, and offered a quiet apology.

"I'm so sorry, Sweetheart … I didn't mean to …" she whispered. "Well, I did mean to, but … I shouldn't have …" she said, with a short, nervous laugh, as she backtracked; taking responsibility for her willful decision.

"Don't apologize, Olivia …" Natalia said quietly. "I'm the one who got you all worked up before … and now we're Both … Frustrated … And Emma will be out here any minute, ready to go play in the snow … and we're still … standing here in our pajamas … And …"

Olivia grasped Natalia's shoulders firmly. "Hey …" she interrupted; gently shaking the rambling woman into silence. "Stop it. Okay?" she said quietly; willing Natalia into calm with the steadiness of her gaze.

Natalia drew in a deep breath, and nodded her head in compliance, as Emma emerged from her bedroom; clad in the appropriate attire.

Olivia shifted in front of Natalia when she heard Emma's door open; sheltering the younger woman from questioning eyes.

Natalia cleared her throat nervously, quickly closing her robe, and affixing the sash.

"Why aren't you guys dressed yet?" she huffed; peering up at them with a disgruntled expression. "Did you need to talk Again?"

Olivia tossed a knowing glance toward Natalia, and chuckled; reaching down to tickle her daughter under the chin. "No, Baby …" she grinned; shaking her head, "Natalia and I have done enough … talking … for one morning ..." she assured. "We're gonna go get dressed now … Okay?"

Curious eyes scanned the two women carefully, finally landing on the contrasting dark blue patches on the leg of Olivia's pale blue satin pajama bottoms. "Mommy?"

"Yeah, Baby?" Olivia said distractedly.

"Why are your pajama bottoms all wet?"

"Huh? What?" Fuck …

Natalia shifted nervously; dark eyes bouncing from mother to daughter back to mother again.

Quick thinking brought Olivia what she deemed a plausible explanation. "Oh, it must have dripped from my glass of ice water. You know – condensation …" she reasoned.

"Oh …" Emma said; inquiring eyes traveling to discoloration on her other mother's clothing. "Mommy?"

Olivia grinned. "Yeah, Baby …?" she said; fully anticipating a question about the meaning of the word condensation.

"Did it drip on Natalia's robe, too?"

Olivia's breath caught short, as Natalia's face flushed crimson.

"Uhh … Sure," she gulped; nearly choking, as Natalia buried her face in Olivia's chest for a moment.

Clearing her throat then, to hide her embarrassment, Natalia drew in a deep breath. "Run downstairs, Baby; find your boots …" she instructed; reaching down, tousling Emma's hair.

Olivia made a face at her.

Natalia made a face right back; shrugging her shoulders as if to say, Hey, I diverted her from the questions – Didn't I? "Walk downstairs; find your boots …" she corrected; grinning at Olivia.

We'll be down in a few minutes …"

Emma eyed them up and down again; surveying the damage. "You guys are messy …" she announced; rolling her eyes at the two of them, as she bounded down the stairs.

They fell into laughter; Natalia pressing her forehead against Olivia's chest, as the taller woman wrapped her arms around, and rested her cheek against Natalia's temple.

"We really … need to work on timing and appropriateness," Natalia sighed.

"I know …" Olivia agreed; her cheeks puffing up as she drew in a deep breath, exhaling slowly; an attempt to calm her body. "We should get dressed, and get her outside, before she can ask anymore questions …" she suggested, a small grin teasing on her lips.

Natalia nodded her head against Olivia's chest, signaling her agreement. "Yeah …" she breathed; reluctantly pulling back from the closeness of their embrace, and resting her hands against the older woman's chest.

Hands on Natalia's hips, Olivia found the Latina's dark eyes. "You really do … look beautiful in purple …" she whispered; the sincerity in those jade eyes nearly melting Natalia's heart. She smiled softly then, "I'm just glad … I can finally tell you that now … I've been waiting for what seems like forever …"

"Oh, I've had my share of unspoken thoughts, too, Honey …" Natalia confessed; a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Like what?" Olivia inquired; those seductive eyes flickering, as she grinned and arched a curious eyebrow.

"Clothing. Now," Natalia ordered; pinning Olivia with a challenging stare.

"What – you want me to help you out of them?" Olivia grinned devilishly.

"You … are completely incorrigible …" Natalia grinned; using the statement as an exit phrase, as she slipped out of Olivia's arms, walking toward her bedroom.

"So I've been told …" Olivia winked; smiling at the familiarity of the phrase, as she turned the handle on her door.

Reaching her bedroom door, Natalia turned; dark eyes slowly perusing the length of Olivia's body. "You look … absolutely Stunning … in those satin pajamas; your hair all … mussed from sleep …" she said quietly; holding to the safety of the distance she had placed between them, as she finally confessed long-held thoughts. "I've been thinking that … since the first time I walked into your suite, finding you asleep in them …"

Transfixed by the cadence of Natalia's voice, the organic honestly of her confession, Olivia's breath caught in her chest; rendering her speechless, as the younger woman tore those piercing eyes away, turning to enter her bedroom.

Olivia nearly collapsed against her door; the air in her lungs expelling in a frenzied rush, as her eyes clamped shut, causing hot tears to trickle down her cheeks. She sighed softly, overwhelmed by the emotions that surged through her heart. You … are Everything I've ever dreamed of … and even if we were immortal, still, there wouldn't be enough time to show you how much I love you …

She covered her face with her hands, sniffing back the tears, as she wiped the salty moisture from her cheeks. And raising her eyes toward the sky, Olivia Spencer issued forth a quiet prayer of thanksgiving, for the second time in one snowy winter's morning.

____________________

Closing her bedroom door behind her, Natalia leaned her back against it; closing her eyes, as heated breath rushed from her lungs. This is only day Three … At this rate, I won't last the week, if you don't stop Doing that to me …

She sighed; pushing herself away from the door. Maybe it will be easier, once we're not cooped up it the house all day …, she thought, as she walked toward her dresser to pull out a pair of sweats and a t-shirt. Oh, who am I kidding …?

She paused in front of the mirror, her eyes fixed on the silver cross that adorned her long, graceful neck. Lifting her right hand, attentive fingers found the cross, gliding across the smooth surface, as she dragged a long sigh from her lungs. "I really need your help here, God," she said; talking to her Creator. "You know … how much I love her; how much I want to share this life with her … We've talked about it … incessantly … for the better part of a year …" she gently reminded. "And now she's standing here in front of me, offering me everything I've ever wanted, and I'm so Scared … Scared that I'll ruin it by moving too far, too fast …" she quietly admitted. "You know me, God. Everything I do is … Glacial. At least that's what she calls it. And she's right, You know. I can't even pick out a new paint color without praying about it for six months – that's why the staircase and exterior accents are still that putrid green. But, I digress …The one time I really need to be glacial, I'm literally melting this glacier of mine, right out from under my own feet!" she exclaimed. Drawing in a deep breath, she continued, "She does things to me, that I cannot even comprehend … No one has ever made me feel so completely unbalanced; and yet so perfectly secure, in the very same moment, with nothing more than the simple touch of a hand, or the whispering of my name …" she quietly confessed; closing her eyes to stave off the feelings evoked by the mere thought of her. "So, here's the deal," she sighed, "I've pretty much kept my hormones under control, like I promised, since Rafe was born … but clearly, I'm not capable of doing that on my own anymore. Not with Olivia Spencer ... Not with the way she penetrates my soul with those eyes, and the ways she kisses me … She drives me insane …" she paused; flustered by the images racing around in her head, and let out a frustrated groan. "Look, I love You, Lord, and I want to continue living my life in a way that pleases You, but I seriously think … I might self-combust, if I don't find a way to control this thing … So, what I really need, is for You to give me an extra big helping of self-control – and Olivia, a whole lot of patience, 'cause patience is definitely Not her virtue …" she smiled; knowing Olivia would willingly agree with her assessment of the relationship she had with the notion of waiting … for anything. "I've waited a lifetime for a love so perfect as this," she whispered, closing her eyes against the tears that threatened to spill, "and I want it to last … until I draw my final breath … So, if You would help me get it right, I'll once again, be forever in Your debt … Thank You, God," she said sincerely; "for listening to me, loving me, and always being here to help me when I need You … Amen."

She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling the weight of the world fall from her shoulders as she finished her prayer. And with that, she let go of the cross, and set about getting dressed for an afternoon of playing in the snow with her two favorite girls.

____________________

Olivia walked to her dresser, pulling out a pair of smoky gray warm-ups and a matching hoodie. You like the way I look in this … I Know, because I've seen the way you look at me when I wear it … She smiled at the thought, and continued her search for appropriate attire. "Two pairs of socks …" she said quietly; remembering the concern in Natalia's voice when she told Emma to wear the same.

And then she heard Natalia's voice; the soft familiar lilt that she took on when she prayed. She wondered at the ease with which the Believer seemed to just enter into prayer, as if she were having an actual conversation with God. A conversation. With God. Like He was actually someone one could talk with about things. It was nothing she ever considered possible. For her, at least since her teenage years, God had felt more like a judgmental dictator, than the Father and best friend that Natalia had described. She wondered if it could ever be that effortless for her. Even just the short thank you blurbs to God, seemed to take a concerted effort on her part; though, it pleased her to think, that these days, it was getting easier.

She stopped, a bit taken aback by the fact that Natalia had been talking with God about her feelings for almost a year … then a soft chuckle escaped when the younger woman mentioned her glacial pace in life. Yeah, that hideous green really needs to go …, she silently agreed. What was Cassie Thinking?? A sense of peace and contentment washed over her, as Natalia talked about the feelings she brought out in the younger woman; and then she nearly choked when the subject of hormones was thrown out there. Jesus Christ! You really Do talk to God about Everything! That thought was quickly followed by a silent apology – one that took her completely off guard, as it was something Natalia, not Olivia, would do. And then her heart nearly broke at the mixture of sincerity and desperation in Natalia's voice, as she talked about how much she loved God, and wanted to please Him with the way she lived her life. I've made this So hard for you …, she sighed; discontented with her part in Natalia's struggle. And finally, she couldn't help but laugh, as the subject turned to her complete aversion to the concept of patience. You know me So well … better than anyone ever has, or ever will …

As Natalia's prayer ended, Olivia found herself bolted to her bed. The sincerity in the Believer's voice was nearly heart-stopping, and Olivia felt overwhelmed by the power of it all.

Once she was able to move again, she finished getting dressed; then waited until she heard Natalia's bedroom door open and close. She heard the familiar clip of the younger woman's feet on the wide hardwood planks, and then came the soft rapping on her door.

"Olivia, Baby, are you ready?" called the familiar voice.

She closed her eyes, smiling softly. "I'll be down in a minute, Sweetheart," she answered; buying just a bit of time.

"Okay … We'll be waiting …" came the response; and Olivia could almost hear the quiet smile that played on Natalia's lips as she answered.

And as she listened to the sounds of the younger woman's descent into their living room, she sat back down on her bed; drawing in a deep breath, exhaling slowly, as she garnered the nerve to pray.

"Okay, God …" she sighed in salutation; eyes lifted toward the sky once again, "here goes … I don't have any of those rosary beads she's always clutching, and … I don't have a crucifix … or one of those little statues, either … I've never read Your … Manual … and I don't even honestly know if You're listening to me, but … just in case You are, I have to try, because … I love her … more than I ever thought it possible to love another human being …" she confessed; the true depth of her love for Natalia nearly overwhelming her. "She makes me happy, and You know how thankful I am for her … I already told You that a couple of times; though, not quite so eloquently as she … but, hey, at least I'm tryin' here … So, look, here's my deal – I know I have no right to ask for Your help; especially after being so angry with You for the way You answered my last request, but … I'm gonna do it anyway, because I'm desperate here; but more than that, because I wanna do right by her. She's right about me, You know – I have absolutely no Patience, whatsoever … I want what I want, and I never Wait for anything … So I know You probably think it's weird – the idea of me, Olivia Spencer, wanting to do right by someone else, instead of looking out for my own needs. Believe me, it's weird for me, too …" she said; almost unable to fathom the concept. "But … it's different with her. She … is so worth the wait … She's worth everything we've been through and more …" she said, her voice softening. "So, yeah – If You could just give me some of that patience, I would be ever so grateful … And I promise You, I'll do anything and everything to protect her and make her happy, until the moment I draw my final breath …" she quietly vowed. Then, remembering how Natalia had finished her prayer, Olivia said, "Oh, and thank You for listening to me, and … for loving me – Natalia says You do, so I'm gonna choose to believe her on that. Umm … So that's about it … Amen …" she finished with a nod of her head.

Feeling rather confident that her prayer had gone well, Olivia silently considered other barriers. Okay … so maybe it isn't so much that the Praying is difficult; but rather, the difficulty lies in believing God listens, and will answer …, she surmised; mulling over the issue of faith. She characteristically pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger, as she exhaled slowly. So … if I can choose to believe what Natalia says about God loving me, then … I can choose to believe He'll listen and answer … she determined; not really certain she believed it, but thinking that if she told it to herself enough, she could will it to be true.

She stood up from her bed then, quickly brushing her hands down the sides of her warm-ups. And with that, determination in her stride, she walked toward the door, heading downstairs to join her family …

____________________

Arriving in the mud room, Olivia found Emma perched on the bench; Natalia crouched down in front of her, wrapping little feet in old bread wrappers. "What are you doing?" she asked; her brow furrowing in befuddlement.

Natalia glanced up at her and smiled. "The plastic will keep her feet from getting wet," she tutored.

Emma sent her mother a pleading look, and Olivia shrugged her shoulders; shooting Natalia a baffled look of her own. "O-kay …" she said skeptically; shaking her head at the ridiculousness of it. "Two pairs of socks, and now this? Natalia, those are her feet … not mini loaves of Wonder Bread!"

Natalia sighed; a mustard seed of defensiveness beginning to sprout inside her. She closed her eyes, stifling the urge to argue; then slowly elevated her gaze toward Olivia. "You grew up on an island, with sandy beaches and balmy breezes, and never even a hint of cold weather, let alone snow," she said calmly, merely stating the facts. "I … grew up on the South side of Chicago, with ice-covered streets and bitterly cold winds; where … even the most innocuous of snowstorms meant at least a foot of snow, and a lot of cold, wet feet. So, would you just … Trust me … on this?"

Raising her hands in surrender, Olivia conceded. "Point taken. You win …" she smiled; sending Emma a glance that begged her to comply.

"Glad to hear it," Natalia replied with a grin, "because your bread wrappers … are right over there," she informed; pointing toward the end of the bench. "And I hope you put on two pairs of socks …"

"Yes, Ma'am, I did," Olivia chuckled, dropping down onto the bench, as she reached over, grabbing the bread wrappers. "What – have you been saving these all year?" she asked; sarcasm dripping from her voice, as she shook her head.

Natalia pinned her with a look; then quickly turned her attention back to Emma. "Push your foot down, Jellybean," she instructed, as she attempted to slip their daughter's boots onto her feet.

Emma pushed her foot against Natalia's hand, as instructed; and her foot slipped into place. "That's good …" Natalia smiled; reaching for their daughter's other boot.

Bread wrappers in place, Olivia grinned; reaching under the bench to grab her two-textured, brown leather hiking boots. She slipped the first one on, just as Natalia looked her way.

Brown eyes stopped, widening in disbelief. "Do those boots seriously have the Gucci crest on them?"

Olivia grinned proudly; sitting up straight. "Yes … they do …" she said with an air of sophistication. "And I must say, I'm rather impressed that you recognize it. You're learning …" she winked.

"Gucci … Hiking boots," Natalia said, with a roll of her eyes. "What's next – a Jimmy Choo backpack?" she muttered.

Olivia shook her head back and forth. "Oh, no … Jimmy Choo has a lot of handbags, but no backpacks," she reported in a serious voice. "My backpack is Louis Vuitton …"

Ignoring Olivia for a brief moment, Natalia focused on Emma. "You're all set, Jellybean," she said; patting her daughter's leg after sliding her other boot into place. "Now let's get your coat on …" she directed.

As Emma stood up to get her coat, Natalia looked up at Olivia from her crouched position; forearms resting on her knees; waiting for their daughter to slip the coat on. "Dare I ask how much those set you back?" she said, shaking her head.

'Oh, they were a steal. Only paid a thousand for 'em …" Olivia answered casually, as she slipped the second boot on, and set about lacing it up.

Natalia's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You paid. A Thousand dollars. For a pair of hiking boots?!" she said incredulously; as she reached up, buttoning Emma's coat, and distractedly slipping a hat on her head.

Olivia just looked at her. "Well … I suppose I could have eased the pain on my wallet, by buying them one at a time … but, I think I would've looked rather silly … hopping down the hiking trails on one foot, while I waited for the second boot to arrive …" she said, with a hint of teasing sarcasm.

Natalia made a face at her. "You're ridiculous …" she announced, as she helped Emma put on her gloves.

"So you keep telling me …" Olivia grinned; standing up, reaching for her coat. She slipped her arms into the sleek brown leather bomber jacket; shrugging her shoulders to adjust it properly.

Natalia inspected the little girl closely; the abundance of winter outerwear making her look much like the abominable snowman. "Okay, Em, you're good to go …" she announced. "Run on outside … We'll be there in a minute. Don't go near the lake …" she warned.

"I won't," Emma promised. She squealed, grabbed the purple hat and scarf for her snowwoman, and dashed out the back door; hitting the snow with more force than a plow, as Natalia turned her attention back to Olivia; grinning up at her. "Lemme guess – that's Gucci, too?" she teased.

Olivia shook her head in denial. "Prada …" she corrected with a smirk; zipping the jacket up, then snapping up the overlay, and finally, buckling the belt at the waist.

"Do you own anything that isn't designer?" Natalia asked; shaking her head.

"Well … these warm-ups aren't designer," she grinned.

Natalia eyed the familiar "swoosh" embroidered on the left leg of the warm-ups, and laughed. "Olivia, these are Nike warm-ups …" she said; rolling her eyes.

"Well, at least they're not Dolce & Gabbana …"

Natalia pinned her with a look. "Put your hat on …"

Olivia grinned, and slipped on the light brown knit cap; the one that covered the outer edges of her eyebrows, and pulled down over her ears, leaving just the tips of her lobes sticking out.

Natalia sighed contentedly, as she peered up at Olivia wearing that hat. Everything else she was wearing was designer, but it was that simple knit cap that made Natalia's heart, skip a beat. She grabbed Olivia's scarf from the bench, and stood up; her knees popping as she straightened them. And tugging the hood of Olivia's sweatshirt from inside the back of the jacket, she adjusted it like a mother hen. Then, flipping the scarf around the taller woman's neck, she pulled her close. "I love the hat …" she whispered; smiling up at her.

Olivia slipped her arms around Natalia's waist. "Oh, you do?" she flirted, arching an eyebrow; which only made that hat all the more appealing.

"I do …" Natalia confirmed with a wink. "You could spend ten grand on an outfit … and I don't think you could look any sexier than you do in that hat …"

Olivia's lips twitched into a smile. "You Do realize that I'll still be wearing this hat, when we go to the pool this summer …"

A contemplative grin teased at Natalia's lips, as she conjured the image up in her head. "Hmm … Olivia Spencer on a lounge chair, wearing nothing but a bikini … and that hat …"

The look on her face gave her thoughts away, and Olivia smirked. "Enjoying the image?" she teased; the slightest hint of conceit in her voice.

"You have no idea …" Natalia all but growled. That thought will cost me a dozen Hail Mary's, but God, I hope summer gets here soon …

Remembering Natalia's heartfelt plea to God, Olivia passed on the open opportunity to turn the moment into another mini-seduction scene. "I think I have some idea," she said quietly; leaving the usual flirty lilt out of her voice. She searched the dark eyes that peered into her own, and smiled softly. My thoughts mirror your own … "Now … let's get your coat on," she suggested; reaching over to collect Natalia's coat from the hook. "Our daughter is waiting for us …"

Natalia nodded her head in agreement, and allowed Olivia to hold her coat as she slipped her arms inside. "Thank you," she said quietly, as Olivia turned her around, buttoning the coat for her.

"My pleasure …" Olivia smiled; slipping a scarf around the younger woman's neck, pulling her close; almost a mirror image of what had been done to her a few minutes earlier. Then, reaching out, she gently touched Natalia's cheek. "Whatever it takes, Natalia, we're gonna get this right …" she quietly promised; gazing into expressive brown eyes.

Natalia smiled up at her; reveling in the sensation of those fingers on her cheek. "That's really random, Olivia … but it's exactly … what I needed to hear …"

Olivia brushed her thumb across Natalia's lower lip, as she searched the softness of those deep brown eyes; noting the golden flecks that shined back into her own. "There's nothing random about it at all …" she whispered knowingly.

She tipped Natalia's chin then, and leaned in; tenderly kissing one perfectly defined dimple, then the other, before covering the younger woman's mouth with a soft, meaningful kiss.

And when the kiss ended, she reached into Natalia's pockets, retrieving the younger woman's gloves and handing them to her; before slipping her own gloves on.

"Let's go play in the snow …" she grinned; her features taking on a childlike glow, as she took Natalia's gloved hand in her own, leading her out the back door.

And standing outside, staring across a valley illuminated in a wintry cover of God's brilliance, Natalia wondered at the subtle change in Olivia's demeanor, and smiled; knowing, as she had in the past, that each and every change in the older woman was a part of the mysterious workings of their Maker.

Sending up a quiet acknowledgment, she squeezed Olivia's hand, and pulled her out into the snow …

____________________

"That's good, Em … just keep rolling and packing …" Natalia instructed; watching her daughter work on the head for her snowwoman. "Remember, this one should be smaller than the first two."

"I know," Emma chirped happily; her breath puffing out in little foggy clouds as she exerted herself. She had been willing to accept help from her mommies on the two bigger balls, but this one, she insisted upon handling herself. "It's almost big enough," she announced.

"Wow, really is cold out here …" Olivia announced; returning from a quick trip inside to retrieve the final accessories for Emma's snowwoman, and a snow shovel to clear the walkway.

"Find everything?" Natalia asked; chuckling at Emma's tussle with the giant snowball.

"Not exactly …" Olivia confessed, "We'll have to improvise a bit …"

"Do I even wanna know?" Natalia teased; tossing a sideways glance at Olivia.

Olivia laughed softly. "It'll be fine …" she assured. "I added another log to the fire, so it should be good for a while," she said; moving the shovel handle to the crook in her arm, as she covered her face with her gloved hands to force some of the heat from her breath onto her cold cheeks.

"Perfect. Thank you," Natalia said appreciatively.

Natalia glanced at her again; noting the snow shovel in her hand. "And just what, exactly, are you planning to do with that?" she asked; attempting to use sarcasm to cover her fear.

"I'm planning … to clear the walk …" Olivia said; furrowing her brow, as she provided the clearly obvious answer.

"Oh, no, you're not!" Natalia argued adamantly. "You are not doing anything of the sort! Give me that," she demanded; reaching for the handle.

"What is wrong with you?" Olivia snapped; casting a glance mixed with confusion and slight annoyance Natalia's direction, as she yanked the handle away.

Natalia's face shifted from anxiousness to anger in a split second; passing up any positive emotions in the flash of those dark, stormy eyes.

Okay, Clearly the wrong words and wrong tone to use with her …, Olivia realized the instant they made their exodus from her lips.

"What's wrong with me?!" Natalia screeched incredulously; eyes flashing. "I don't want you to die!" she said through clenched teeth; attempting to keep the heated conversation from their daughter's earshot.

"I'm not going to die from shoveling snow, Natalia," Olivia quietly rejoined. "You're being ridiculous …"

Natalia pinned her with that look; the one that told her she had chosen yet another unwise thing to say.

Uh-oh …

"So … you think the fact that I'm worried about losing you, is ridiculous …"

"Please don't put words in my mouth …" Olivia said; surprising even herself with the level of calm in her voice, as she tilted her head, just the slightest hint of a smile at the corners of her lips. "That isn't what I said …"

"You might as well have …" Natalia retorted. "And don't … tilt your head at me like that; tryin' to look all … endearing …" she said, with a dramatic wave of an arm.

Olivia wanted to ask the temperamental woman if she was PMSing; but given the idiocy of her previous comments, she thought better of it, and took a breath to gather her thoughts before speaking again. "I don't wanna fight with you, Natalia," she said quietly. "I'm sorry that I upset you …"

The tender sincerity in Olivia's voice helped to calm Natalia's edgy nerves. She sighed softly, and looked up, finding those jade eyes. "I'm sorry, too, Olivia," she said apologetically. "It's just that … this snow is really wet. That's what makes it great for making a snowwoman, but … that's also what makes it more dangerous, when it comes to shoveling. It's a lot heavier than the powdery stuff; and I just … I don't want you to overexert your heart …" she explained.

The corners of Olivia's lips curled into an almost devilish grin, as she pulled Natalia close. "Well, what do you think is gonna happen to my heart when we have sex?" she whispered. "Do you think it won't get exerted from that?"

"Huh? What?" Natalia sputtered; taken slightly aback by the shift in conversation.

"Well, it isn't gonna stay calm; that's for damned sure …" Olivia smirked. "You cause palpitations just by kissing me …" she whispered, almost clandestinely.

Natalia blushed and stammered; grasping for a response. "Well, I … I've heard of … a lot more people having heart attacks while shoveling snow, than while … having … sex …" she said under her breath.

Olivia arched a well-defined eyebrow. "Obviously, they've never had sex with me …" she smirked.

"Olivia!" Her name was quickly followed by a well-earned slap to the arm.

"I'm just sayin' …" Olivia grinned devilishly.

Natalia sighed; feeling flustered, as she closed her eyes. "I just don't want anything to happen to you, Olivia," she quietly confessed. "When you collapsed outside Company that day …" she said, breath catching in her chest from the emotions that were rising, as the unshed tears in her eyes began to sting against the cold, "and you weren't breathing, and I thought I had lost you, I thought I would die too …"

Olivia pulled her close; tipping her chin. "But I Didn't die, Natalia. I'm fine …" she quietly comforted; cupping the younger woman's cheek in a gloved hand. "I've never felt better in my life, and I would never do anything to jeopardize our future together. I'm not going anywhere, Sweetheart. I promise …"

Looking into Olivia's eyes, Natalia could see the sincerity in her promise; but still, she wasn't willing to take chances. "Just … let me worry about the walkway – Okay?" she quietly pleaded. "Please?"

Unable to deny this woman anything, Olivia relented; her eyes fluttering closed, as she nodded her agreement. "No snow shovels. I promise …"

"Thank you …" Natalia whispered; tipping up on her toes, kissing the taller woman softly.

They turned their attention back to their daughter, then, finding her finishing the snowwoman's head.

"Great job, Jellybean!" Olivia declared, as she watched the little girl packing and smoothing the snow like Natalia had demonstrated earlier.

"Thanks, Mom!" Emma exclaimed excitedly. She surveyed her work. "I think it's big enough now …" she declared. "Will you help me put it on top?"

"You bet, Baby," Olivia replied with a smile, as she and Natalia trampled through the snow to reach the snowwoman.

They crouched down together to lift the ball of snow; setting it in place.

"Did you get her other 'cessories, Mom?" Emma asked; peering up at her mother.

Olivia smiled at the botched word. "Her accessories," Olivia patiently tutored, "are in that bag on the front porch," she informed. "Go grab it, and we'll get her all dolled up."

"Cool!" Emma said excitedly; trudging through the snow to retrieve the bag.

Natalia glanced at the bag in Emma's hands, and her head immediately shot toward its owner. "Really, Olivia?" A Victoria's Secret bag?" she said; shaking her head disbelievingly.

"Well, it was the only bag I could find …" Olivia whined; bouncing like a fussy child. "And there's nothing wrong with that bag," she argued.

"I like this bag," Emma interjected; as she went about fishing through it, discovering its unusual treasures. "It's all pink and white and cute …"

"See …" Olivia countered, shrugging her shoulders; using Emma's remark to prove her point. "It's a great bag … And hey, at least it's not from that tawdry little sex shop in town …" she whispered.

"And just what do you know … about that shop?" Natalia inquired; giving her that look.

"Nothing …" Olivia was quick to deny; raising her hand in defense. "Not a thing … Never been near it, I swear. I just noticed Blake Marler walking in there as I drove by the other day …" she said; patting herself on the back for successfully diverting the attention onto someone else.

Natalia eyed her up and down; then grunted.

"Oh, shut up," Olivia said teasingly; arching an eyebrow. "You're just … flustered because you're wondering if I'm wearing what was in that bag …" she smirked. She leaned over toward Natalia. "Just for the record …" she whispered seductively, "I am …"

Natalia pinned her with a look. "You are pure evil, Olivia Spencer …"

Olivia just laughed.

"What am I 'aposed to do with this stuff, Mommy?" Emma asked, scrunching up her face, as curiosity got the better of her.

Olivia hunkered down in front of her daughter; resting her forearms on her knees. "Well … she needs a nose, and I couldn't find any carrots, so … I brought this plastic traffic bollard that I found in the barn … It's orange …"

"But it's bigger than her head, Mommy," Emma said; giving her mother a pitying look for the apparent loss of reasoning.

Natalia covered her mouth, to stop the laughter from bubbling out.

"Well, yes …" Olivia calmly agreed, bobbing her head; a deliberately persuasive tone in her voice, "but we can just pop … the top off …" she said, accentuating the word 'pop', as she pulled the cap off the bollard. "See … now it's little enough to fit on her face …"

Emma looked at her skeptically, taking the bollard cap, and grinding it into the snowwoman's face, as Natalia held the head, lest it fall off from the pressure. She surveyed it for a moment, to ensure it stayed in place; then turned back to her mother. "Okay, what's next?"

"Pull the next thing out of the bag …" Olivia instructed with an excited grin.

Emma reached in, pulling out a pair of her swim goggles; the kind that only covers the eyes.

"They're purple … so they'll match her hat and scarf …" Olivia pointed out; pleased with her find. "Oh, and I have these …" she said, reaching into the bag, retrieving a half-eaten jar of black olives.

She received another set of pitying looks for her efforts. "What?" she said; her eyes bouncing back and forth between the two of them. "You said she had to have dark eyes, like Natalia's, Em, so … we'll put the black olives on for her eyes. Like this …" she explained, slipping a glove off to pop two of the olives out of the jar; poking them into the snowwoman's face. "And then cover them with your purple goggles …"

Natalia grinned at Olivia's childlike exuberance, and helped Emma put the goggles on.

"She looks like Snoopy, in Red Baron mode, getting ready for takeoff," Natalia declared, after the goggles were in place.

Olivia laughed. "Yeah, she kinda does …"

"What's a Snoopy?" Emma inquired; brow furrowed.

"Never mind …" came the united response, as the two women shook their heads in unison.

Emma stood back, hand on her hip, as she examined their progress. "What about her mouth?" she asked.

"That …" Olivia said with an enthusiastic grin, "is where these come in …" she announced, pulling out a bag of Skittles; holding them up like a prized trophy.

"Skittles?" Natalia said; arching an eyebrow.

Olivia peered up at Natalia from her crouched position. "Hey … taste the rainbow, Baby …" she smirked; lowering her voice two registers, as she shrugged her shoulders and wiggled her eyebrows at Natalia.

She opened the bag; handing it to Emma. "Just poke these into the snow, forming a smile, Jellybean …" she instructed.

Emma took the proffered bag, and set to work; occasionally popping a few of the Skittles into her mouth, as her two Mommies continued their conversation.

"Why do I get the feeling that's supposed to be dirty …?" Natalia sighed; shaking her head, as she rolled her eyes.

Olivia shot her a devilish grin. "You're a big fan of Google … Just … search that phrase and the letters GLBT …" she suggested. "You'll figure it out …"

"I don't think I want to …"

"Oh … I'm fairly certain you will eventually …" Olivia winked.

Natalia just stared at her, once again feeling flustered, without really knowing how or why. You make me dizzy …

She watched the shifting of thoughts and emotions; and knowing full-well what was going on behind those dark brown eyes, her mind let out a sigh. I'm not very Good at this 'being good' thing …

Turning her attention back to Emma, Olivia pulled out the next item in her bag of tricks. "Here, Baby … she needs some buttons down her front. Use these …" she directed; handing her daughter a box of multicolored mini-DVDs. "And … make sure you use all the colors in the rainbow …"

"What is it … with you, and … this Rainbow obsession?"

"What?" Olivia countered; feigning innocence. "I just want our snowwoman to feel like family …" Olivia defended; that knowing grin teasing at her lips, as Emma busied herself with the discs, first placing a red disc on, then an orange, a yellow, then green and blue, and finally, purple.

"All done, Mommy," Emma announced proudly; swiping her hands together in celebration of her accomplishment.

"Guess I'm supposed to Google that, too, huh?" Natalia surmised; shooting Olivia a look of slight annoyance.

Olivia shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "You'll be a Google expert before we're finished with this thing …" she winked; turning her attention back to Emma. "Ready to put her hat and scarf on, Jellybean?"

"She still needs her arms, Mommy," Emma announced.

"Well, go find those sticks we picked out earlier," Olivia instructed; standing from her crouched position. "I think we left them near the front porch …"

Emma trudged off through the snow, in search of her sticks, as Natalia picked up their conversation again. "You really need to stop talking to Doris … Every time you see that woman you come home with another random comment that makes no sense to anyone outside of gay world …"

"Ooh, GayWorld … Sounds like an amusement park …" Olivia quipped; grinning devilishly.

Natalia pinned her with that look again. "I don't find it very amusing …" she countered, voice monotone.

"Ohh, come on … Could be Fun …" Olivia said, with the deliberate raising of an eyebrow. "Though, I hear Bi-World has twice as many rides …"

"Olivia …" came the admonishment.

Olivia wiped the teasing smirk off of her face, and turned serious again. "How do you know I've been talking to Doris, and not Dinah or Blake?"

Natalia's eyes popped wide open, as her jaw nearly hit the snow. "Dinah and Blake are …?!"

"Ooh! Nnn…no …" Olivia quickly sought to correct, "Dinah is … doing Shayne, and … Blake has her, well … She has Bob …"

"Who is Bob?" Natalia inquired; curiosity in her eyes. "I didn't know she was seeing anyone …"

"Never mind …" Olivia replied cautiously. "It's best if we don't travel that road again today …" she muttered; almost under her breath.

"I found my sticks, Mommy," Emma announced triumphantly; holding them up high, as she trudged back toward them in the snow.

"Awesome, Jellybean!" Olivia proclaimed. "Let's get your snowwoman some arms here, so we can put her hat and scarf on before she gets cold …"

"Mommy!"

"What?"

"She's always cold … she's a Snowwoman …" Emma reasoned.

"You mean she's not gonna wanna come in to sit by the fire with us?" Olivia asked; feigning shock.

Emma giggled at her Mommy. "No, Silly, she'll melt …"

"Ohh …"

Natalia smiled as she watched Olivia playing with their little girl; her heart nearly melting. You are So amazing with her …, she thought; sighing contentedly.

Emma poked the sticks into the sides of their snowwoman, and grinned. "She's ready for her hat and scarf, now," she announced.

"Well, let's see what we can do about that, Jellybean," Natalia said; scooping the little girl up into her arms.

Emma squealed, and reached out, plopping the purple hat on the snowwoman's head, as Olivia wrapped the scarf around her neck, draping it over her makeshift wooden arms. With that, Natalia dropped Emma back onto her feet; the snow crunching under her boots, and the three of them stood there, hands on hips, surveying the finished product.

She was a short snowwoman; not much taller than Emma in stature, and her accessories weren't exactly conventional; but then again, neither was their family. Regardless of her eccentricities, though, she was their snowwoman; the first one they had created together as a family, and they were proud of her.

Natalia pulled her camera out of her coat pocket then; announcing it was picture time.

"Do you have that thing glued to you or something?" Olivia asked; baffled by the fact that Natalia always seemed to have her camera within arms reach.

"Hey, you never know when a great photo opportunity will present itself," she contended. "So, I'm always prepared …"

Olivia conceded the point, and they set the camera up to take a group shot. After several silly poses, they declared their snow day excursion a success. And they left her then, standing proudly in the front yard of their farmhouse, as Emma grabbed one hand from each of her Mommies, and they turned toward the back door, heading in for hot cocoa and S'mores by the fire.

____________________

Emma alternately took sips of her hot cocoa, and munched happily on her S'more; successfully getting chocolate all over her face, as Olivia went about preparing one of the tasty treats for Natalia.

Natalia watched quietly; marveling at Olivia's show of patience, as she held the marshmallow over the flame; toasting it to golden perfection. "You're really working on that patience thing – aren't you?" she said; more an observation than a question.

Olivia smiled at her. "The perfect S'more demands patience …" she tutored. "You want the marshmallow to be warm and gooey in the middle, but not burnt on the outside …" she explained. "Just like this …" she announced; pulling the perfectly toasted marshmallow from above the flames.

She grabbed a graham cracker from the tray, and set a piece of the chocolate bar on top with her spare hand. "And that … takes time and determination …" she said; placing the marshmallow on top of the chocolate; covering it with another graham cracker.

Next, she used her thumb and forefinger to press the graham crackers together; expertly pulling the metallic skewer from the marshmallow. "And looky here …" she said playfully; handing Natalia her first S'more. She leaned back against the couch then; waiting for her reaction. "I still can't believe you've never had S'mores," she said; shaking her head in disbelief.

Natalia took her first bite, and began to chew slowly; her facial expressions changing as the individual textures and flavors registered in her mind. "Omigosh!" she exclaimed, as the flavors blended together, teasing her palate. "This is amazing!"

Olivia laughed softly. "Told you so …" she teased.

"Where did you learn to make these?!" Natalia mumbled; mouth full of sweet, crunchy, gooey goodness.

"Bonfires on the beach when I was a kid," Olivia proudly informed; reaching for another marshmallow, spearing it with the skewer, as she prepared to make more of the gooey, chocolaty treats.

"Oh … well that sounds like fun," Natalia smiled.

"And we make them at summer camp, too!" Emma interjected.

"Yeah, summer camp, Natalia," Olivia said, with a teasing lilt to her voice.

Natalia shrugged her shoulders as if to say, "I don't know what you're talking about …"

Olivia's eyes widened in disbelief, "You never went to summer camp; never went camping with your family?"

"I grew up on the South side of Chicago, Olivia," Natalia replied blankly; that 'what were you Thinking?' expression on her face. "The only summer camp we had, involved the concrete jungle," she said sarcastically. "Never been to the beach, either …" she added; shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, we'll have to remedy that," Olivia declared with a grin. "Whaddya say, Em – wanna take Natalia to the beach?"

"Yeah!" Emma exclaimed through her mouthful of gooey mess, as she jumped up and down excitedly. "I love the beach!" she announced; rolling her eyes dramatically, as she wiped chocolate from her face with the sleeve of her new pale pink sweatshirt.

Spying the chocolate mess that had been expertly deposited on Emma's sleeve, Olivia rolled her eyes. Natalia noted the gesture, and smiled at her. "Don't worry about it – I'll pre-treat it and it'll be fine," she assured.

Olivia offered her an appreciative smile. "So … the beach it is," she announced.

"Can we go during my Spring Break, Mommy?" Emma asked; dark eyes dancing with excitement as she waited for her mother's reply.

"Sure, why not …" Olivia answered; setting the plan in stone with the utterance of three little words.

"Can we go to San Cristobel?" Emma asked excitedly. "Can we? Can we?" she begged; bouncing up and down.

"Ohhh …" Olivia said, slanting her head to one side; a doubtful look on her face. "I would love to take you both to San Cristobel, but … it really isn't the place to go when we only have a week, Baby," she explained. "Maybe we can spend a few weeks there this summer …"

"Olivia, I can't just run off on a vacation whenever I please," Natalia interjected; concern evident in her tone. "I have Rafe to think about … and work …"

Olivia smiled softly. "Natalia, you have vacation time from the Beacon," she reminded, "and even if you didn't, it wouldn't matter …"

"It matters to me …" Natalia quietly countered; eyes focusing on the remainder of the S'more in her hand. "And besides, I don't have the money to just throw away on an unnecessary trip ..."

Not wanting to damage the younger woman's pride, Olivia selected her words carefully. "I get comp nights at other hotels … as a courtesy. You know, from one hotel owner to another. So, I never pay for lodging when I travel," she explained. "And Josh still allows me access to the Lewis corporate jet – if I buy him a drink, and … talk real nice to him," she winked, "so we don't have to pay for airline tickets, either … All that's left, really, is food – and you're buying that, whether we're here, or basking in the sun on some gorgeous beach somewhere. So what's the difference?"

Natalia mulled over Olivia's reasoning; silently acknowledging that the older woman had effectively quelled most of her concerns. "What about Rafe?" she quietly reminded.

Olivia set her S'more aside, and reached out, taking Natalia's hand in her own. "I know it's difficult … for you to think about doing something nice for yourself, while Rafe is stuck in that … horrible place," she said; gently acknowledging the younger woman's feelings. "But that kid of yours, loves you, Natalia, and I'm certain he would be happy to know you're doing something special, to take care of yourself for a change …" she quietly encouraged. "And if you're worried about him being lonely, we can ask Frank to drop in on him a few times while we're gone. Frank cares about him, and I know he'd be happy to help …"

Natalia studied her with a scrutinizing eye. "Have you been planning this discussion in your head for the past few weeks or something?" she inquired suspiciously; "because within less than five minutes, you've managed to dispel every one of my concerns, with completely reasonable responses. It's almost like they were rehearsed …"

"I take it that's a Yes …" Olivia replied triumphantly; grinning at her accomplishment.

Natalia smiled. "That's a yes …" she confirmed, with the nodding of her head.

"Then it's settled – Spring Break on Martha's Vineyard," she announced happily. "I have an old friend and business contact who owns a cottage on the beach …" she smiled knowingly. "I'll give her a call when we get to The Beacon tomorrow … and see if we can have squatter's rights for the week …"

Emma furrowed her brow at the unusual comment, and began mulling it over in her head, as Olivia grew quiet, glancing at Natalia; offering her a comforting smile. "And we'll visit San Cristobel … when Rafe comes home …"

"Thank you …" Natalia said quietly; her lips forming an appreciative smile.

Olivia nodded her head knowingly, and squeeze the hand she still held in her own.

"What's s…squa…squarter's rights, Mommy?" Emma finally inquired; her tongue tripping awkwardly over the newly-learned phrase.

Olivia laughed softly at the botched attempt to parrot her. "Squatter's rights …" she began, saying the words slowly so that Emma had an opportunity to learn, "is an old law that basically means … taking someone else's property into your possession, and refusing to give it back for such a long time that, it actually becomes your own property …" she explained.

"Isn't that sorta like stealing?" Emma asked; scrunching up her nose, as she processed the concept through an eight-year-old's filter of right and wrong.

Natalia smiled brightly; feeling peacockishly proud of their little girl for her astute assessment.

Olivia noticed the smile, and grinned at her partner knowingly, before continuing her explanation. "In most respects, yes, Jellybean – It's definitely wrong to take someone else's property," she affirmed. "But … in this case, I wasn't really meaning that we would just take the cottage without asking … It was a figure of speech …" she attempted to clarify.

Emma furrowed her brow again, indicating that she was pondering her mother's words. "What's a figger of speech?" she inquired next.

Natalia covered her mouth with her fingers, holding back the giggle that threatened to bubble out, as she watched Olivia search for further explanation, without losing her temper. Olivia noted the gesture, and shot a playfully cautionary look her way; then grinned.

"Well, Baby, a figure of speech," she repeated, again saying the words slowly to provide another learning experience for her daughter, "is when you use a word or phrase for something other than its normal meaning. Like … when we talked about those butterflies in your tummy …" she said, hoping the explanation would strike a chord with the little girl. "Now, there weren't really butterflies in your tummy – were there?"

"No …" Emma replied; shaking her head back and forth.

"No …" Olivia patiently parroted, shaking her head in similar fashion. "In that instance, the word butterflies, was used to explain the funny feeling in your tummy – right?"

"Right," Emma confirmed, with a resolute nod of her head.

"Well, that, my little Jellybean …" Olivia said, scooping the little girl up in her arms, tickling her playfully, "is a figure of speech …"

Emma giggled, squirmed and squealed, as Olivia continued to tickle her. Then, finally breaking free of their game, she sprinted off toward the stairs.

"Hey, where ya goin'?" Olivia inquired; a pouty expression on her face.

"I'm gonna go play with my DS," Emma announced; turning quickly, and bounding up the stairs.

"Don't run up the stairs …" two motherly voices sang in unison; echoing their daily, sometimes hourly, reminder to the energetic little girl.

"Sorry, Moms …" came the sing-song reply from the middle of the stairs, as she slowed her canter to a walk, and continued the trek to her room.

Scooting closer to Olivia in front of the couch, Natalia offered her a quiet smile. "I love how patient you are with her …" she quietly acknowledged.

"She's the one area in my life where I have complete patience …" Olivia quietly recognized. "I'm working on a few others, though … I promise …"

"I know …" Natalia said softly; appreciation in her voice for Olivia's efforts. "She brings out all the best in you …"

Olivia smiled softly. "So do you …" she quietly acknowledged; draping an arm around the younger woman's shoulder, as she leaned over, kissing her slowly.

When their kiss ended, Natalia leaned her head against the Olivia's shoulder. "This has been … such a perfect day …" she sighed contentedly; fingers languorously toying with the older woman's hand.

"Yeah, it has …" Olivia agreed; a contented smile playing on her lips. "And from the sound of it, we may have another one tomorrow …"

Natalia shifted her head, looking up at Olivia. "Are we supposed to get more snow tonight?"

"No, but … I talked with Greg a little while ago, and he said that while the highways are looking a little better, the back roads and the streets in town are still a snow-packed, ice-covered mess …" she explained. "So, I called Doris …"

"Olivia …"

"I know …" Olivia quickly rejoined, raising a cautionary hand in an attempt to quell an argument. "I know you don't really like her, but …"

"It's not that I don't like her, Olivia," Natalia interrupted, "It's that she has a … reputation for being rather … seedy, and … I just worry about the influence she has over you …"

Olivia turned to face her. "Look …" she said quietly; gently halting the finger-play by taking Natalia's hand firmly into her own, "I haven't always liked her either, but the truth is, Doris Wolfe has actually done a lot … to help me make sense of what I feel for you …" she explained; willing the younger woman to understand. "She's never gonna be my best friend … 'cause that distinction … belongs to you," she smiled, "but she is a friend, and … quite frankly … she's a powerful contact; one who can help us get Rafe out of that hell hole …"

Natalia searched the older woman's face. "Nothing is benign with you – is it?" she said; more a statement of certainty than an inquiry.

Olivia thought seriously for a moment; then nodded her head affirmatively. "Very little … is benign … with me …" she answered candidly. "Other than with you and our kids, nearly every decision I make is … calculated in some way. Every move is made with a specific outcome in mind …"

"Isn't that exhausting?"

"No … it's responsible," Olivia countered; shaking her head. "I don't think it's wrong to plan ahead, Natalia. I think … it's prudent to know the answer, before you ask the question, or … to understand the risks, and plan accordingly, or even to take an opportunity that presents itself, and use it for what it's worth …" she expounded. "I didn't take Doris into my confidence with an agenda already in place – She just happened to be at the right place at the right time, and we came to an … understanding of sorts. Formed an alliance; albeit a rather unexpected and unusual one," she conceded with the shrug of her shoulders, "but … it works for both of us. And while I'm not … perpetuating a friendship with her just to further an agenda, I'm also not going to squander an opportunity to do something to help Rafe …"

Natalia nodded her head understandingly. "Alright … I won't give you anymore grief about Doris," she relented with a slow sigh. "Just … be careful with her … Okay? I don't want you to get tangled up in her web."

"I won't. I promise. I don't wanna be … tangled up … with anyone, but you …" Olivia said quietly; a shy smile teasing at her lips, as she leaned over, kissing Natalia again.

"Good answer," Natalia grinned against Olivia's lips, as their kissed ended. "So, what did she have to say about road conditions?"

"Oh, basically that, because of state-wide budget cuts, they can't authorize extensive overtime, so the road crews are working at limited capacity …"

"So, the roads are just gonna … stay … a mess?"

"They're focusing on the highways right now, and Doris said it may be another day before they get things cleared up in town …" Olivia informed. "Kind of pathetic, considering it's the State Capital, but … what can we do?" she asked; arching an eyebrow, a glint of mischief in those jade eyes, as she gently touched Natalia's face with her fingers. Slowly, she traced the Latina's lower lip with her thumb. "Guess we'll just have to … suffer through another day here … all alone … with no outside distractions …" she whispered; replacing that thumb with the brush of her tongue, followed by a deep, lingering kiss.

Natalia moaned into their kiss, as she slowly gravitated toward Olivia; planting herself firmly between the older woman's legs. Olivia bent her leg, settling the anterior side of her knee against Natalia's back, as they sat in front of the fire.

And when their kiss ended, Natalia smiled and settled into Olivia's arms; leaning against her chest, as the older woman raked tender fingers through long, raven curls.

"Well, what about The Beacon?" Natalia inquired; concern etched in her voice. "We can't just keep sitting here … What if something goes wrong?"

"Relax …" Olivia smiled against Natalia's cheek; drawing out the word dramatically, as she tightened her hold on the Latina. "Things are fine at The Beacon," she assured. "Greg decided to stay there last night, after he heard the weather predictions. And he encouraged several members of the housekeeping and front desk staff to stay as well, so everything is fine. He's planning to stay again tonight, and he'll call me with an update in the morning …"

"Wow, he really took the initiative," Natalia recognized; sounding rather impressed. "You're gonna owe him a big bonus," she grinned.

"Oh, I'll just give him those shoes …" Olivia smirked. "He'll think he died and went to heaven …"

Natalia laughed heartily. "Yeah, he did seem rather enamored with them, didn't he?" she said, shaking her head.

"Well … at least he has good taste …" Olivia winked. "I should take him on my next shoe-shopping spree …"

Natalia arched an eyebrow. "Now that would be interesting …" she declared.

"Wouldn't it though?" Olivia laughed; leaning her forehead against Natalia's temple. "You should definitely come with us … We'll get you a pair of those thousand dollar hiking boots …" she grinned.

Natalia rolled her eyes. "Yeah – I don't … need … expensive hiking boots, Baby …" she stated. "The boots I have are just fine …"

Olivia leaned back; eyes slowly perusing Natalia's body, as a playful grin teased at the corners of her lips. "Who said anything about needing them?" she asked rhetorically. "I just think you'd look incredibly hot in 'em …" she winked. "Ya know – cute little t-shirt and a pair of perfectly form-fitting jeans, to accentuate your … assets …" she grinned, arching an eyebrow, "and a pair of sexy hiking boots … to complete the ensemble …"

"You … have a one-track mind …" Natalia grinned; arching an eyebrow.

"Ohh, you betcha …" Olivia flirted, "On the Otalia Express …"

Natalia furrowed her brow at the peculiar reference. "Otalia?" she questioned.

"Yeah – It's my new little pet name for us …" Olivia grinned. "Cute – don't ya think?"

"Sometimes you're so silly …" Natalia laughed; playfully bumping her shoulder against Olivia's chest.

Olivia smiled softly. "Not silly …" she said; shaking her head in denial. "Happy …" she quietly declared; moving closer, her mouth hovering over Natalia's, as a smile gently tugged at the corners of her lips.

"I'm happy, too, Olivia …" Natalia whispered; claiming those hovering lips in a slow, tender kiss.

When their kiss ended, she wordlessly searched Olivia's face; her mind silently pondering.

"What?" Olivia whispered quietly; a shy smile teasing at the corners of her mouth, as she fell under the spell of Natalia's gaze.

"Do you ever get … nervous about how different we are?" Natalia asked; searching Olivia's eyes. "I mean … You're … Armani suits, Gucci bags, and Jimmy Choo's, and … I'm … frumpy sweaters from K-Mart, and buy one, get one sneakers from Payless …" she reasoned.

Olivia smiled softly at the inverted correlation. "Why are you worrying about this, Sweetheart?" she asked. "Our differences aren't news to either of us …" she pointed out.

"I know …" Natalia quietly affirmed. "I've always known we were different, but … this morning really brought our differences home to me …" she explicated.

"Yeah … we're basically … polar opposites in a lot of ways …" Olivia conceded, "but … you clean up Real well …" she teased. "In fact, you look downright Hot in a suit … Makes me wanna … Mmmm …" she growled; playfully jerking her hips against the Latina.

"Olivia!" Natalia exclaimed; laughter dancing in those dark chocolate eyes. "I'm being serious …" she said quietly; nuzzling the older woman's ear. "We're so …"

"Yes … we're different …" Olivia interrupted; searching the Latina's dark eyes, "but … we work, Natalia … Where I'm weak, you have the strength for both of us; and vice versa … We compliment one another perfectly …" she quietly pointed out. "And ya know what?" she asked; her voice light and playful.

"What?" Natalia grinned; Olivia's playfulness infecting her.

"I'll probably … never … stop wearing ridiculously overpriced shoes …" she smiled, "And … most likely, you'll never find any use for such … indulgences. But … at the end of the day, does it really matter what we're wearing? I mean, seriously … Would you love me … any differently, if I bought my clothes off the rack?" she reasoned. "Because … I wouldn't love you one ounce more, if you had a closet full of designer suits … I love you for who you Are, Natalia. I don't give a damn about anything else … I just wanna be with you …" she whispered; those normally piercing jade eyes softened by the depth of her emotions, as that barely-there smile played at the corners of her mouth.

Natalia reached out, tenderly touching Olivia's face with her fingertips, as she searched those soft jade eyes. "You know – there's … something in your voice that … reminds me how much I love you, every time you talk to me …" she whispered; her voice filled with awe, as her thumb gently caressed the fullness of Olivia's bottom lip, "But … when you say things like that … you make me fall completely in love with you, all over again …"

And with that, she covered Olivia's mouth in a slow, deliberate kiss; tenderly imparting with her lips and tongue, all the emotions that mere words were powerless to convey …