Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows Chapter 6: The Dance Part I, a guiding light fanfic

Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

Author: Kimberly21570

Fandom: Guiding Light

Pairing: Olivia and Natalia

Disclaimers and Other Assorted Ramblings: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, and Natalia and Rafe Rivera, and the extensive narrated back story in this chapter are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. I sincerely hope I've depicted it correctly, as my only exposure to Otalia, prior to April of 2009, was via clips on YouTube. I am a long-time viewer and fan of Guiding Light, having started watching nearly 28 years ago; however, the time constraints associated with mixing graduate school, full-time employment, and family life forced me to give something up – and unfortunately, right before the Otalia story began, it was my Guiding Light obsession that had to go. Had I known what was on the horizon, I certainly would have sacrificed something else. But, once again, I digress … So, as I post the first section of chapter 6, I must say a special thank you to my friend Cindy, and her pal Nicki, for their review and critique of the content in this post. I appreciate your time and attention more than you know.

That being said, the dialogue, props, etc. in these scenes are original, with the exception of Olivia's impassioned oration about Natalia's character, and the peanut butter appearance. I think you'll enjoy my version of how Olivia handles the wayward substance.

Rating: Chapter 6 is rated R for sexual situations, strong innuendo and language; but subsequent chapters will eventually reach NC-17.

Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows

There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you, in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. The world will not have it."

Martha Graham

"I breathe you as you dance me, birthing we."

Darina Stoyanova

Chapter 6.1: The Dance

A self-indulged, egomaniacal tyrant, Olivia Spencer was accustomed to getting what she wanted; when she wanted it; in the boardroom … and in the bedroom. No questions asked. She was a master at making things happen; and once she made up her mind to do something, it didn't just happen; it happened big. She meticulously selected her target, setting her mark like an expert markswoman, and effortlessly conquered her prey; all without any fear of consequences, or any regard for morality, whatsoever. A self-proclaimed man-eater, she excelled in the sport making men desire her; then trapping them in her lair, where they floundered, powerless to gain their escape until they had served their decided purpose. Then, and only then, would she release them; sending them whimpering from her presence, like an injured forest animal, scurrying into the brush. Few held the prowess to rival her, in either capacity; but when she found another who could, she revered them; made them her ally.

Olivia hadn't started out with a heart of steel; in fact, she had been much like her daughter Emma as a child – eyes bright with wonder at the world around her; always with an effervescent smile on her face, and a positive outlook in her heart. She had been carefree, affectionate, kindhearted, and loving. But the callousness of life: her teenaged years stained by the ubiquitous guilt of her mother's Catholic faith – a faith that was used as a malevolent weapon, rather than a source of comfort when Olivia had been drugged and raped by Jeffrey O'Neill at the age of sixteen, leaving her pregnant, alone, terrified, and forced by her condemnatory mother to accept fault for something which no woman should ever bear guilt; the loss of her beloved sister, Marissa; the acrid sting of endless poor choices; and countless betrayals by men who claimed to love her, had hardened her; ultimately turning her once-hopeful heart coldly away from God and all others who might genuinely love her. She had given up her firstborn child, in hopes that someday the haunting memories and unrelenting guilt would wane; yet somehow, that sacrifice had only acted as an anesthetic, allowing her mind to block out that horrific night, and obliterate her daughter's very existence for nearly two decades. Out of sheer instinct to survive the hellish chasm that was life, Olivia constructed impenetrable walls of protection around her embittered heart; cutting both emotions and conscience from her soul. She focused on getting ahead, by any means necessary; manipulating, lying, scheming her way to the top, as she claimed her independence by force, and vowed to never need Anyone, or be at another's mercy, ever again. And until Natalia Rivera entered her life, only Olivia's daughters had held the power to break through the walls of steel that surrounded her heart …

Natalia Rivera was indisputably the polar opposite of Olivia Spencer. Her deep, abiding faith in God, the roots of which had been instilled in her by her parents and her beloved Abuela at a very young age, had become her source of strength throughout her own tumultuous life; a life that also found her pregnant at the age of sixteen. The differences in their circumstances: Natalia's pregnancy was by her first love, Nicky Aitoro, she had chosen to keep her child, and most importantly, Natalia had hope. When Natalia was left to raise her son Rafael alone, she, too, claimed her independence; though hers was obtained through sweat, tears, and faith, peppered with endless prayers of thanksgiving, rather than manipulation and scheming. No stranger to hard labor, she worked tirelessly to provide for Rafe; often taking multiple backbreaking jobs simultaneously, to make ends meet – and where physical labor failed; faith prevailed.

Where Olivia provided for herself; God provided for Natalia – and therein, laid the foundation of their most fundamental difference …

____________________

Finally having been able to make peace with all that had happened to her at Jeffrey's hands, Olivia's emotional wounds were beginning to heal; though the scars would remain, long after the anger faded. She was forging a relationship with her eldest daughter, Ava; tentative as it may have been, at times; and enjoying watching Emma grow closer to her sister. Life was taking on a more peaceful cadence, and she finally found herself able to relax. Then the unimaginable happened – the shocking diagnosis of a terminal heart condition, which sent her entire world into a tailspin. Her instinctive response was to kick into survival mode; at least so much as she could, given that, without the miracle of a heart transplant, death was imminent. Accustomed to getting what she wanted, when she wanted it, for the first time in her adult life, Olivia Spencer felt completely powerless. She begged, borrowed, and would have willingly stolen, if such action could have accomplished her goal; but her exhaustive efforts were to no avail. And when her own efforts failed, finally, she prayed. She prayed like she had never prayed before, to a God she had once believed in with a child-like faith; a God she was now certain only regarded her with acrid contempt, if He regarded her at all, to spare her life – Not only for her, but for her daughters. Yet, while praying fervently for this new lease on life, her lack of faith left her with a sense of foreboding; death was looming, and she was running out of time.

Afraid of dying alone, Olivia set her sights on Natalia's first love, the kindhearted Nicky, or Gus, as he was known in Springfield; pursuing him with a passion unparalleled in any of her previous male conquests - even going so far as to torment Natalia with the announcement of her salacious intent to steal the younger woman's would-be husband away. And thus, the fireworks commenced …

Over the next several months, the two women engaged in myriad verbal skirmishes; veritable cat fights, they were, and their animosity toward one another grew to epic proportions. And while Natalia fought to save her renewed relationship with Gus, and the life she dreamed of for her son, Olivia succumbed to Gus's innate goodness, his kind, gentle spirit, and fell in love with him, as well. Ultimately, though, while Gus truly cared for Olivia, and promised to always be there for her, Natalia and Rafe had become his life, and he had committed his future to them. He married her, and finally, Natalia's family was complete – or so she thought …

It was then that Olivia found her life momentarily entangled with the last person in the world she ever expected to trust: Jeffrey. Seeking absolution for his past transgressions, Jeffrey offered to marry Olivia; saving her from the frightful prospect of dying alone. Shockingly, she agreed; and her rapist became her husband.

Gus's untimely death in a motorcycle accident, while attempting to get to Olivia during a feigned medical emergency, rocked both women to the cores of their respective existences; leaving them both with decisions to be made, and consequences to be faced.

Grieving the loss of her husband, and knowing Olivia's life lay in her hands, Natalia prayed for guidance. It was a heart-wrenching decision, given their battle over Gus's figurative heart, and now, the all-out war between the tenets of her faith and her disdain for the spiteful, often unbearable woman. But when she saw Olivia's youngest daughter, Emma, at the hospital, bringing flowers to her Mommy, Natalia's heart clenched in her chest. She ached for the child; this precious little girl, completely innocent of everything, who was caught in the crossfire. She thought about her son; how he had grown up without his father, and as much as she wanted to return Olivia's spitefulness, she knew in her heart she couldn't allow the woman to die – not for Olivia's sake, but for Emma's. The little girl deserved to grow up with her Mommy, and Natalia knew what she had to do. And so, true to her character, Natalia choose to show God's love and compassion; giving Olivia her husband's literal heart.

And from the moment Natalia signed the authorization form, allowing the transplant team to give Gus's heart to the self-centered, egotistical hotelier, two divergent worlds forcefully collided; irrevocably entangling two seemingly completely incompatible lives in a union that would prove, over time, to be the most life-altering, fulfilling union either woman had ever known; the merging of two very different, yet somehow perfectly compatible, souls.

And so began the dance …

For Olivia, the news that Gus's death was the solitary reason she was still breathing, spiraled her into the deep abyss of depression; a place so deep and dark and desperate, she feared nothing and no one could ever rescue her. Embittered, Olivia chose to wallow in her grief, and insisted to everyone that she did not want Gus's heart. And as she mourned his loss, and experienced the guilt for having lived while he died, as fervently as she had begged God and bargained with Him to bring her a new heart – she then cursed Him, for having answered her prayer. Neither a visit from her younger brother Sam, nor the love of her daughters, was enough to lift her shattered spirit. Olivia Spencer wanted to die. End of story. Fade to black …

For Natalia, the prospect of losing Gus so overwhelmed her that she frantically sought to keep him alive through Olivia; to hold onto the one piece of him that was left. Although a depressed Olivia was ready to die, Natalia refused to allow her to waste the precious gift she had been given; continually badgering the ungrateful hotelier; attempting to goad her into not giving up on life. The more fervently Olivia fought to destroy the heart Gus had given her, the more determinedly Natalia fought to save her. However, despite the younger woman's ardent efforts, unfortunately, her words had no affect.

At least not at first …

Natalia prayed. Olivia mocked her faith. Natalia nagged. Olivia belittled. Natalia walked away, only to return again, with greater determination. Olivia was hateful toward her. Natalia prayed for the strength to respond with love. Olivia insisted upon dying. Natalia declared that it wouldn't happen on her shift. Olivia threatened to fire her. Natalia called her disgustingly selfish, and immature; and stubbornly dug her heels in. Olivia threw things. Natalia doggedly vowed, with a backbone of steel, that the maddening woman would live.

Olivia blamed herself for Gus's death, because she prayed for a heart, but didn't ask Him not to make it someone she loved; and self-deprecatingly accused Natalia of thinking it unlikely that God would listen to her, at all. Natalia showed compassion, telling her that God loved her, and that she didn't believe it was Olivia's prayers that took Gus away. She attempted to quiet their mutual grief by telling her there was a reason Gus had to go; and that she hoped one day, she would understand that reason. Olivia responded by calling her stupid and self-righteous. Natalia walked away momentarily, and knowing how deeply the older woman was hurting, she took a leave of absence from her job, to keep watch over her; to protect her from her self-destructiveness.

Olivia refused to eat. Natalia told her God gave her a gift; so He obviously loved her, and encouraged her to keep up her strength. Olivia spewed venomous words toward her; telling her to take her God … and her soup, and leave her alone. Natalia called her a horrible, ungrateful person, and insisted that Gus wouldn't want her to squander the gift she was given. Olivia insisted Natalia couldn't force her to eat. Natalia goaded the woman by telling her that unlike Olivia, she wasn't a quitter. Then, unwilling to allow the sanctimonious woman to get the better of her, Olivia finally relented. Olivia groused. Natalia ignored her outbursts, and continued to show compassion. And always, always, no matter how much Olivia hurt or angered her, Natalia found it in her heart to understand the other woman's pain.

When Olivia was too weak to care for Emma, Natalia willingly took on the role of surrogate mother to the little girl; helping her with homework, making her Halloween costume, picking her up from school, taking her to dance lessons; ultimately forging bonds with both Emma and her mother that would last a lifetime. And no matter how much she may have wanted to walk away forever; leaving the exasperating woman to die, something in her heart called to her, and she was powerless to ignore its call. She planted herself in the center of Olivia's life; setting off a chain of events that would change the course of their lives forever.

And finally, after months of Olivia attempting to thwart all of Natalia's efforts, something deep inside the embittered woman began to change. The dance continued; only now, with a lighter, more joyful cadence. The walls she had so meticulously constructed around her heart slowly began to crumble under the gentle prodding of the persistent young woman. The changes were subtle at first – feigned indifference, rather than cursing and biting sarcasm, when Natalia appeared in her room, uninvited. And then they became more obvious - a quiet smile and a soft lilt in her voice, replacing the indifference upon Natalia's arrival; a silently mouthed "thank you," when Natalia protected Emma from seeing Olivia in a moment of physical or emotional weakness. As time passed, she began to look forward to Natalia's hovering; even secretly longed for the next time she would hear that familiar whir and click of the keycard in her door; the sounds that meant the beautiful Latina would soon be in her presence. She began to believe in life again, thanks to the perseverance of the younger woman's care, and even promised her that she was taking care of "him," one day at the hospital, as she gently touched her chest.

When Rafe skipped town with Gus's ex-wife, Harley Cooper, after shooting Jeffrey, who at the time was the District Attorney; thus, turning Natalia's world upside down again, for the first time in Olivia's life, the shrewd businesswoman found herself wanting to help another person; no matter the personal cost. She funded Natalia's trip to visit her son in Greece, and upon his return to the States, Olivia stood by the Latina's side during his subsequent imprisonment.

When Rafe was beaten and brutalized in prison, Olivia took on the prison warden; fighting like a lioness protecting her cub. Natalia got angry with her for her tactics; attempting to explain to the hotheaded hotelier that, rather than fighting a losing battle against the system, she needed to make it work for her, so that ultimately, her son could come home. Understanding Natalia's plight, yet unwilling to stand by and do nothing, Olivia raised the stakes; calling in a favor from the governor, to get Rafe moved to a safer prison. Whatever it took, that's what Olivia Spencer was willing to do to prove her unspoken commitment to Natalia and her son. And while Olivia sought ways to offer support, Natalia managed to prove, once again, that Olivia Spencer was not the only pig-headed woman in their tumultuous relationship. Despite Natalia's dogged determination to keep Olivia alive, whether she liked it or not, when trouble came to her own life, much to Olivia's frustration, the stubborn young woman adamantly refused to accept Olivia's assistance. And yet, the moment Olivia needed her again, Natalia was right there, covering for the weakened woman in a business meeting, by pretending to be her assistant.

The dance was confusing and frustrating to Olivia; but despite that, she knew in her heart, she never wanted it to end …

Impressed with Natalia's initiative, Olivia began to see the younger woman in yet another new light. She recognized within the younger woman the innate ability to quickly assess a difficult situation, formulate an aggressive plan of action, seamlessly execute that plan, and follow through to conclusion; all without skipping a beat. It was a keen ability that Olivia herself possessed; and watching Natalia work was like therapy to the experienced businesswoman. She knew instinctively that with Natalia's innate abilities, and the guidance of Olivia's practiced hand, the younger woman's potential was limitless. And not wanting to squander an opportunity for either of them, she immediately offered Natalia a job as her executive assistant.

It was fear of failure, fear of the unknown, and a serious dearth of self-confidence on Natalia's part that led to the fight that ensued. And before it was over, Olivia was angry and frustrated again; but this time, her anger and the ensuing frustration were about more than just Natalia's stubborn streak, they were about the fact that the younger woman couldn't see the true depth of her own potential; despite Olivia passionate attempt to explain it to her.

Then, the unthinkable happened – Olivia's body began to reject Gus's heart. She realized then, how much she truly needed Natalia; and though it pained her deeply to drop her guard and let go of her foolish pride, she begged the younger woman to help her; to take the position she was offered, so that Olivia could check into the hospital, knowing her business, and Emma's future, would be in good hands. Natalia started to agree; then her insecurities kicked in, and she began to hedge. And when Olivia's frustration once again got the better of her, she worked herself into a frenzied state, causing her heart to go into cardiac arrest, and stop beating.

And in that moment, with Olivia lying lifeless on the ground next to her, the depth of Natalia's love for this woman began to flood her heart and soul. Her feelings simultaneously confused and comforted her, as her heart was besieged by fear – fear of losing yet another person she loved. She prayed; more fervently than she had ever prayed in her life, as she lay by Olivia's side; holding a lifeless hand to her own heart, gently stroking those chestnut locks, and crying, as she commanded the stubborn hotelier not to give up on life; begging her not to give up on Emma, on Ava, or … on her …

Later, at the hospital, when Olivia was told she needed a pacemaker, Natalia saw the desperation in the older woman's deep jade eyes, and finally accepted the offer to work as her executive assistant. Though she insisted she hadn't accepted the position for Olivia's sake, in her heart she knew the truth – she would have done anything for this woman; even sacrificed her own life if necessary. Olivia studied her carefully, recognizing the depth of Natalia's commitment to her, and acknowledging her own growing commitment to the woman; and for the first time since her heart transplant, she uttered the words "I want to live …"

Though Natalia was uncertain of her ability to handle the responsibility, Olivia pushed her, believed in her; and encouraged her to believe in herself. Even in her continually-weakening condition, from somewhere inside her, Olivia found the strength to deliver a quiet, yet impassioned proclamation, acknowledging all of the qualities she admired in Natalia. "You've got to stop doing this … You've gotta stop seeing yourself as this put-upon woman, who's waiting for the next catastrophe. Do you even know who you Are?! You … you raised a kid, all by yourself, from the time you were a teenager. You competed with Harley for Gus, and You're the one who ended up with him … and then after all that, you give Me his heart. You lose … the love of your life, and you decide to give me his heart. And we both know that you hated me …"

When Natalia attempted to deny the accusation, Olivia called her on her crap. "You're lying …" she gently, yet knowingly accused, before continuing her oration. "Your son's in prison; and you still haven't lost faith. You don't feel sorry for yourself. You don't … you don't run around hurting people, or drinking too much, or … sleeping with losers. You're a freaking Superhero … Natalia," Olivia said, finishing her celebration of all that embodied the younger woman, "so how can you be afraid of running a staff meeting? It's kind of unbelievable …"

Olivia's words, her passionate delivery, were powerful beyond measure; penetrating a place inside Natalia that had never been touched by another living soul. They inspired in her a deep sense of pride – something that had been forbidden by the tenets of her Catholic faith – for all that she had accomplished in her life; and infused her with courage and strength, and a sense of self-worth, the likes of which she had never known. And with Olivia's resolute faith in her as her driving force, Natalia gently held her hand; locking eyes with her, as she solemnly vowed to make Olivia proud.

Then, after quietly encouraging the older woman about her impending surgery, Natalia took her leave; heading to the Beacon, to make good on her promise to a woman who, despite both of them and their past resistance against one another, she had grown to love, with every fiber of her being.

And as she watched Natalia walk away – head held high, shoulders back, determination in her step, a soft smiled flickered across Olivia's lips; pride twinkling in her jade eyes from the knowledge that the younger woman had finally taken the first step toward the promising future that awaited her.

Upon Olivia's release from the hospital, the two women began they began working closely together; their understanding of both one another, and of themselves, deepening; providing both women with the sense of connectedness they had longed for since leaving their childhood homes, so many years ago.

And the subtle undertow of the dance began to ripple on the surface …

Despite their growing connection, their arguments certainly didn't end. In fact, fueled by their deepening understanding of one another, their arguments actually intensified, as each woman passionately fought not only with the other; calling one another on their crap, but for the other, and for one another's children. Though their disagreements often began as heated arguments, they always ended with a calm discussion; each woman gaining insight into the heart, soul and mind of the other; and through all their efforts to protect one another, Olivia taught Natalia that sometimes, one needs to fight; while Natalia taught Olivia that sometimes, one needs to simply have faith. And finally, in the single most telling act of surrender, Olivia allowed herself to not only need Natalia, but to believe that the ever-faithful woman would always be there. Olivia called, and said those three little words: "I need you …;" and Natalia instantly responded with four words of her own: "I'm on my way …"

Those words were a promise – one in which Olivia desperately needed to believe; one which Natalia vowed to always honor.

The cadence of their interactions infused Olivia, infused them both, with a passion for life; fulfilling them in ways neither quite yet understood, and that neither of them wanted to question. And then, when Natalia suggested that Olivia and Emma move into the farmhouse with her, for their mutual benefit, much to her own surprise, Olivia hadn't hesitated for even a moment. Once settled into the farmhouse, the entanglement intensified exponentially, as separate lives took on a sense of oneness; their ability to live, work and parent together becoming seamless; like a well-oiled machine. It came naturally to them; like breathing, and they embraced it without a single thought or discussion about how it had come to pass. Natalia's bond with Emma grew deeper, and though, due to logistics, Olivia was unable to establish an equally close bond with Rafe, at least not at the time, her fierce protective side had been activated long ago, and she continued her fight to protect him in ways that Natalia would probably never know.

And now that they were together, five lives being irrevocably changed for the better; that sense of oneness took on new meaning; adding a bonus layer of rightness to their perfectly enmeshed existence … And finally, Olivia came to view her new lease on life as bittersweet. Not only for the loss of Gus, but for the fact that, if not for his death, she would never have known the indescribable love she shared with Natalia.

There were still discussions to be had, issues to be addressed, decisions to be made, but … there were also moments to be shared; memories to be recorded for eternity – And Olivia and Natalia were ready to embrace it all …

____________________

One snow day led to two, and the next thing they knew, it was Wednesday – Time to return to the real world …

"Em, hurry up, finish your pancakes, Sweetie," Natalia encouraged, "the bus will be here in less than ten minutes," she reminded, as she scurried about the kitchen, preparing their daughter's Wednesday Super Secret Sandwich: Peanut butter and banana, on whole grain bread, with the crusts cut off, of course.

Olivia bustled into the kitchen; the heels of her Gucci pumps clicking determinedly against the hardwood planks of the farmhouse floor. "I'm so sorry …" she said, apologizing, once again, for her morning tardiness, as her briefcase and matching Gucci handbag landed in one of the chairs at their table with a thud. She let out a sigh. "I over-slept aga …" Her words cut off mid-thought, as she noticed the expression on Natalia's face.

"I'm almost done, Natalia," Emma replied brightly; smiling up at her other mommy.

The sight of Olivia in that perfectly tailored, gray pinstriped Armani suit; soft chestnut curls bouncing around her beautifully flushed face, stopped Natalia in her tracks – so much so, that Emma's response didn't even phase her. An involuntary gasp left her mouth agape, as the knife she was using to slice the banana silently slipped from her fingers; only to quickly break that silence with a sharp pinging against the table; much like the rampant thoughts pinging through her brain, and the unmentionable pinging going on in other parts of her body. God … You are So sexy … If Emma weren't here, I would So just take you right here on the table … she thought; allowing her carnal side to emerge for a split second. Oh, who are you kidding, Natalia? You don't even know the first thing about How to take her … she quickly admonished herself. She made a mental note that she needed to look into that; and then, she tossed up a silent apology to God, for both her heinously impure thoughts, and for taking His name in vain.

"Honey, what's wrong?"

"Huh? What? Nothing …" came the machine gun reply; a confused look on her face as her eyes skittered around the table, looking for the wayward knife. She exhaled sharply, shaking her head, attempting to clear the fog from her brain, as she silently willed away that incessant aching between her legs; all the while, praying that Olivia wouldn't notice the crimson blush that was creeping across her cheeks. Finally, she retrieved the knife, and continued the sandwich preparations; her mind still wandering aimlessly in the Olivia-induced fog. Damn you, Olivia Spencer … Why do you have to be so Beautiful …? Shit. Sigh. Hail Mary, Full of Grace. The Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women …

Olivia shot her an amused look, shook her head and grinned. "Okay …" she laughed softly; not really knowing how else to address the reaction. She walked over to Natalia then, pulling her close; jade eyes smiling into pools of deep mahogany.

"Be careful … you'll get peanut butter all over your suit …" Natalia warned; strategically holding the knife away from Olivia's back.

"I don't care …" Olivia quietly replied with an emphasizing arched eyebrow and that sexy almost smile. She kissed Natalia slowly; her tongue lightly brushing over the younger woman's lower lip. "Good morning, Beautiful," she whispered.

"Mmm … Morning, Gorgeous," Natalia quietly replied; smiling against Olivia's lips; the musky scent of the older woman's cologne, mixed with the sweet taste of her lips, leaving her even more entranced than just the mere sight of her in that power suit. And that incessant aching continued … Damn. Hail Mary, Full of Grace …

"I get bananas twice today!" Emma cheerily announced, interrupting their newly-formed morning ritual with her random thought. "Mom, I have papers in my folder for you to sign …" she added, as an afterthought.

Giving Natalia a knowing look, Olivia snatched another quick kiss; and then slipped out of her arms, as the real morning activities began.

"Yes, you do …" Natalia grinned; addressing the banana comment, as she gently squeezed Emma's chin between her thumb and forefinger, before leaning over, pecking their little girl on the cheek.

"Where's your folder, Baby?" Olivia asked.

"The extra potassium is good for you …" Natalia announced; turning to the china cabinet to retrieve Olivia's coffee cup; filling it, as she had countless mornings before.

"It was in my back pack …"

"Oh, don't forget … the permission slip for Emma's …"

"What's 'tassium?" Emma inquired; scrunching up her nose at the unfamiliar feel of the word as it tangled with her tongue, before tripping through her lips.

"Got it … Thanks, Honey …" Olivia interjected, tossing an appreciative glance and that winsome smile toward her partner, as she held up the paper in question.

Natalia turned to her, stealing a kiss, as she handed her the cup full of morning sustenance she knew her partner needed.

"And … thank you … for the coffee," Olivia added; slowing the morning velocity momentarily, to show her appreciation, as she tipped the cup toward Natalia, before taking that first sip. She closed her eyes and sighed as she swallowed; allowing the hot liquid to both wake her up, and soothe her.

Natalia smiled at her. "You're welcome," she said; understanding the sense of calm the sustaining liquid brought to Olivia, in the midst of morning chaos. Unbeknownst to the hotelier, though, Natalia had long ago switched their coffee supply, both at the Beacon and at their farmhouse, from regular to decaf; a change made to ensure Olivia's heart would not be compromised by her addiction to the substance. The hotelier had been excruciatingly crabby for the first week; thankfully attributing her mood swings to PMS, and then she had leveled out, as she successfully overcame her addiction, without even knowing it. Natalia knew she couldn't control what Olivia drank when not in her presence; but her heart rested much easier, knowing she had done all she could to protect the woman she loved.

Olivia set the cup on the table; porcelain clinking against wood, and sighed. She quickly reviewed the document for the upcoming field trip, as Natalia finished making Emma's sandwich, and turned her attention to the refrigerator.

"Em, do you want an … apple …" she said, drawing out the word, as she searched the crisper drawer for other choices, "or … grapes … with lunch today?"

"It's a … mineral … and it's important for your muscles, and your heart and brain function," Olivia informed; turning her attention back to her daughter's inquiry regarding potassium, as she signed the permission slip.

"Umm … apple," Emma answered decidedly; taking a drink of her milk to wash down the last of her banana pancakes. "Ooh, can I have some extra peanut butter to dip it in?" she asked expectantly.

Natalia checked the clock, to ensure they were running on schedule. "How are those pancakes coming, Jellybean?"

"May I …" Olivia corrected, as she lovingly tousled her daughter's hair. "Natalia, Honey, have you seen her folder?" she asked; rummaging through the Emma's back pack, and coming up empty.

"Sorry, Mom … May I …" Emma giggled. "I'm finished, Natalia," she announced proudly; wiping her mouth with a quick swipe of her sleeve across her face.

"Emma …" Olivia sighed; rolling her eyes at her daughter's use of her sleeve as a napkin.

"Oh, yeah, Baby. I pulled it from her back pack, and put it on the table after dinner last night …" Natalia answered.

Emma smiled brightly at the terms of endearment exchanged between her two mommies; then responded to her mother's admonition. "Sorry, Mom …" she groaned.

"That's my girl," Natalia said, directing her comment toward Emma; never missing a beat, as she washed and dried the apple. "Now, put your dishes in the sink, please … and let's find your hat and coat …" she instructed; slicing the apple, before placing it into a sandwich bag, and slipping it into Emma's High School Musical lunchbox.

"Okay," Emma cheerily agreed; the recent admonition long-forgotten, as she hopped off the chair to do as Natalia asked.

Olivia easily spotted the bright blue parent-teacher communication folder, and released a sigh of relief, as she pulled it out from under the pile of Beacon paperwork on the kitchen table. "Thank you," she said appreciatively; casting a glance toward Natalia, before reviewing and signing a math worksheet and a social studies paper that were located inside. "You did a great job on your assignments, Em," she said encouragingly. "I'm proud of you, Baby …"

"We both are …" Natalia interjected; smiling proudly at Emma.

"Thanks," Emma smiled; looking quite pleased for having made her two mommies so proud.

"And yes, you may have extra peanut butter …" Natalia smiled; winking at their little girl, as she grabbed a small plastic container to fill with the requested substance.

"Honey, were you able to finish the contracts for the Emerson reception before we left the office last Friday?" Olivia inquired; smiling to herself at the ease with which such terms of endearment slipped from her tongue toward the Latina; as she returned the documents to the folder, along with the signed permission slip, and tucked it into Emma's back pack. "I wanna make sure we lock that one down."

"Yay!!" Emma exclaimed; jumping up and down excitedly, before sprinting off to the living room in search of her winter outerwear.

Natalia settled into her chair, as she packed the remainder of Emma's lunch in her lunchbox, and closed the latch. "Mmm … Yeah, Baby …" she answered; proud that she had anticipated Olivia's expectations correctly. "The originals went out by courier Friday afternoon …" she informed; shoving a spoonful of peanut butter into her mouth, "and your copy …" she struggled to add, grinning sheepishly at Olivia, "is in the folder on your desk …"

Olivia grinned, and mocked Natalia's attempt at communication, as she walked to the other side of the table; garnering a confused look from the younger woman. Ignoring the unspoken query, she bent down, taking Natalia's face in her hands. "You have peanut butter … on your corner of your mouth," she whispered; leaning down, catching that corner with her lips; slowly, deliberately licking the smooth, thick substance away, like a mother cat, cleaning her kitten.

Natalia moaned softly at the contact, her lips parting in response; and as the final remnants of peanut butter disappeared, Olivia slipped her tongue between those slightly parted lips; kissing her slowly, sensually.

And when their kiss ended, amongst protests from the younger woman, Olivia searched dark eyes, "Later …" she whispered in promise.

"I'll hold ya to that …" Natalia replied breathlessly; gazing up into those dusky jade eyes.

"Good … I like it when you hold me accountable …" Olivia quietly declared; that sexy half-smile teasing the corners of her mouth. "In fact, I like it when you hold me … Period …" she whispered.

Natalia smiled softly; dark eyes searching jade. "I'm glad you feel that way, because I intend to hold you forever …" she quietly replied.

A slight blush crept across Olivia's usually composed features. "Is that a promise?" she asked, almost shyly.

"One of many I intend to make to you …" Natalia whispered; kissing Olivia again.

"The bus is here!" Emma announced; racing back into the kitchen with her coat, hat, scarf and gloves; jolting her two mommies from their quiet moment, and springing them into action.

Olivia slipped Emma's arms into her coat, swiftly fastening the buttons, as Natalia plopped the hat on their daughter's head, and wrapped the scarf around her neck, from behind. Then, she snaked the straps of Emma's back-pack around little arms, as Olivia handed over the lunchbox. Simultaneously, they kissed rosy little cheeks, and with harmonizing expressions of love, they ushered their daughter out the back door.

Olivia leaned against the doorframe, smiling softly, as Natalia wrapped loving arms around her waist; lightly pressing against her, as she rested her head against her partner's chest. Olivia rested her chin against the top of Natalia's head, as they watched their little girl, scampering to board the bus; a sense of contentment blanketing them both.

The bus doors closed, safely encasing Emma inside, and Olivia exhaled a deep sigh of relief. "We made good time this morning," she quietly noted; smiling as though it were their greatest accomplishment. "Better than last week …"

"Yeah … well … we'd make even better time … if someone would get out of bed when her alarm goes off …" Natalia proclaimed; smiling up at the taller woman, as she punctuated her words with playful pokes at the tardy offender's ribs.

Olivia leaned in, nuzzling Natalia's ear. "Mmm … If you think it's a challenge getting me out of bed now … just wait until we're sharing a bed …" she playfully warned; her voice low and sultry, as she slowly nibbled the younger woman's earlobe. "You'll never get me out then …"

Natalia moaned softly; the low register of Olivia's morning voice, mixed with the sensation of her hot mouth, leaving the younger woman completely defenseless. Sinewy fingers tangled in chestnut locks, as Olivia's arms wrapped tightly around her waist; pulling her closer.

Time suspended, as their kisses continued, slow and sensual; Olivia's desire tamped in a slow, steady burn, until finally, she broke away from those full, luscious lips; the heat of her mouth trailing down Natalia's neck. And then the steady burn burst into flames; surging through her veins like lightening. Her lungs emitted a low, guttural groan; sending it billowing from her lips, as they moved across heated olive skin.

Natalia shifted on her feet; the weight of her desire for this woman who held so securely, kissed her so passionately, adamantly tugging at her insides. The now-familiar dipping quickening that always accompanied Olivia's kisses, besieged her once again, and instinctively, she knew: If they didn't leave soon, they would never leave at all … And as much as she wanted Olivia, she didn't want to spoil what she knew would be the most intensely beautiful experience of her entire life, by giving in to desire before she was certain she was fully prepared for all that would be rightfully expected of her. "Baby, we need to go …" she declared; her voice exhaling in ragged gasps, as she attempted to distract the hotelier from her wayward behavior.

Olivia grinned against Natalia's ear. "Maybe you need to go …" she whispered; "but … I need to keep doing this …" she growled; her lips and tongue gliding along the contour of the younger woman's jaw, as they made their way back to her mouth; claiming her in another slow, lingering kiss.

A soft groan slipped from Natalia's lips, as Olivia's mouth slowly trekked across a perfectly tanned cheek; effortlessly reclaiming those beckoning lips. "I'm being serious, Olivia …" Natalia gasped against the hotelier's mouth; nearly choking on her words, as that experienced tongue flicked out, teasing the Latina's lower lip. "We have a 9:30 scheduled with Josh and Matt regarding the renovations …" she gently reminded.

"Reschedule it …" Olivia commanded; her voice a throaty growl, as she stealthily slipped her tongue between Natalia's lips; deepening their kiss.

Natalia groaned; then giggled; extricating herself from their kiss. Her eyes flickered with an amalgamation of amusement and desire, as her lips curled into a smile. "We've already rescheduled twice this week because of the snowstorm …" she reminded. "They were completely understanding about that, but … I'm not so certain they would be so inclined if I called to reschedule so you could spend more time making out with your girlfriend …" she grinned.

Olivia arched an eyebrow. "Au contraire, mon amour …" she volleyed; a devilish grin teasing at the corners of her lips. "The thought of two women making out … is every man's fantasy …" she pointed out. "They'd probably be willing to work for free, just for an opportunity to catch us in action …" she winked.

"Oh, Olivia …" Natalia sighed, rolling her eyes, as she shook her head back and forth; the slightest hint of a smile teasing at the corners of her mouth.

The teasing grin on Olivia's lips cracked into a full-blown smile. "I know … I know … I'm completely incorrigible …" she laughed.

"Yes. You are …" Natalia quickly agreed; grinning at the hotelier. "Now, come on …" she urged; taking Olivia's hand, pulling her toward the living room. "We're gonna be late …"

A sharp grunt of disapproval was Olivia's only response, as she allowed herself to be dragged into the living room to retrieve their coats.

"So … you're my girlfriend now – are ya?" Olivia smirked, as Natalia pushed her out the front door.

"Oh, just … shut up, and get in the car …"

____________________

While the main thoroughfares were certainly passable, even after two days, Olivia found some of the rural roads leading from the farmhouse, back toward civilization, to be less than ideal. As such, the drive to the Beacon took decidedly longer than usual; and was mostly shrouded in silence – a rarity, on any morning. Their usual morning commute was seasoned with their unique style of light banter, or tinted with last-minute strategizing for an upcoming meeting with a prospective client or vendor, and on occasion, even peppered with an argument; though never one of any real significance. Today was different, though, for myriad reasons, and they rode together, in comfortable silence; each woman adrift in her own thoughts, as they contemplated, with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, the changes that lie ahead.

Once they made their way onto the more amiable streets of Springfield proper, Olivia took her right hand off the steering wheel; reaching over, gently placing it atop Natalia's. Their fingers instinctively laced together – as if they knew they belonged; as if they had always been that way.

Olivia squeezed her hand. "You a little nervous, Sweetheart?" she asked quietly; casting a glance toward the uncharacteristically quiet Latina.

Natalia felt the pressure on her chest release, as she exhaled a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "Maybe a little …" she confessed; her voice shy and reserved. "Honestly … I'm not certain if the fact that Frank knows now, makes things better … or worse …" she winced.

Olivia considered Natalia's position for a moment; then nodded her head. "Probably a little of both …" she astutely surmised. "Think about it …" she gently persuaded, "Before your conversation with Frank the other night, the notion of the outside world knowing about us, was all philosophical …"

"Yeah … And now … it's about to become reality …" Natalia quietly interjected; finishing Olivia's thought.

Casting another glance toward the Latina, Olivia studied her profile for a transitory moment. Then, returning her eyes to the road to ensure their safety, she brushed a reassuring thumb across the top of Natalia's hand. "Are you certain you're okay with that?" she asked; concern etched in her voice. "Because … we don't have to tell anyone anything, until you're ready …"

Turning her head toward Olivia, Natalia studied her intently for a moment; then leaned over, brushing a soft kiss across her cheek. "I love you, Olivia …" she whispered; gently squeezing the hotelier's hand.

Olivia smiled at the contact; the softly spoken words. "What did I do to deserve that?" she asked quietly; finally pulling into her parking space at the Beacon. She placed the car in park, killed the engine, released her seatbelt, and turned toward Natalia; all within a matter of a few seconds.

"You're being incredibly patient with me …" Natalia answered; releasing her own seatbelt, and effortlessly sliding toward Olivia.

A triumphant grin flickered across Olivia's lips. "And … as you well know, patience is not my virtue …" she said; feeling proud of the progress she was making.

"I know …" Natalia openly agreed; gently caressing Olivia's cheek. "That's why I handle all the sensitive negotiations … at home …" she said, kissing her softly; "and at the Beacon …" she grinned, kissing her again. "And leave you to wheel-and-deal with the Good-'Ol-Boys – 'cause … all they require is a bottle of your best bourbon … and the innate ability to talk bullshit until the entire room, wreaks of manure …" she teased.

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise; her head jerking back in an autonomic movement. "Are my ears deceiving me, or … did Saint Natalia just utter a blasphemy?" she said surreptitiously; grinning proudly at the Latina.

"Oh … shut up …" Natalia playfully scolded; rolling her eyes.

Olivia just laughed.

Natalia looked at her then, her features softening. "Seriously, Olivia …" she said softly, "I know patience is difficult for you, but … you really are getting better …" she recognized.

"Thank you for noticing …" Olivia said; an uncharacteristic meekness in her voice, as she smiled softly at Natalia. "Just … don't tell anyone – Okay?" she postured clandestinely. "I do have a reputation to uphold, ya know …"

Natalia chuckled at the hotelier's ever-present need to appear as a heartless, impatient barracuda amongst her staff, and casually wrapped her arms Olivia's neck. "Your secret is safe with me, Boss …" she whispered; lightly brushing Olivia's lips with her own.

Olivia gazed into those deep mahogany eyes; a sense of security enveloping her. "All of my secrets are safe with you …" she whispered; as she reached up; tucking a wayward curl behind the Latina's ear.

"And they always will be …" Natalia quietly assured; ghosting another kiss across the fullness of Olivia's lips, before leaning her forehead against the hotelier's temple; exhaling softly.

"I know …" Olivia breathed; secure in the certainty of Natalia's love for her, and protectiveness of her.

Natalia closed her eyes; enjoying the nearness of Olivia. "I think Greg saw us pull in …" she quietly noted; reluctance evident in her tone.

"Yeah, I know …" Olivia sighed; receiving the unspoken message in Natalia's comment, yet, not quite ready to relinquish their moment together.

"So … we should probably get inside, before he sends out a search party …" Natalia sighed heavily.

"You're probably right …" Olivia grudgingly conceded; desperately clinging to their last few moments together before facing the real world. "Half the staff is already waging bets as to the nature of our relationship, so …"

"You know about that?!" Natalia exclaimed; jerking her head back, and locking eyes with the hotelier.

Olivia grinned. "Sweetheart …" she said, shaking her head back and forth, unable to believe she would have to explain this to Natalia, of all people, "this is my hotel … Nothin' goes on around here, that I don't know about …"

"So … I guess that means you already know the odds …" Natalia grinned.

Olivia laughed heartily; causing Natalia's heart to skip a beat. "Not only do I know the odds … I set 'em, Baby …" she bragged; proudly squaring her shoulders; a satisfied smirk adorning her lips. "I'm the freakin' bookmaker …"

Natalia's jaw dropped; her eyes widening. "How did you …?" she swallowed the question, as Olivia's lips curled into that Cheshire grin. "Nevermind … I don't even wanna know …"

"Good call …" Olivia chuckled. Her expression turned devilish then, as she leaned toward Natalia. "Now … what do you say we …"

"Wait …" Natalia interrupted, halting her abruptly, "Isn't that like cheating – Knowing the outcome, before you set the odds?"

Olivia furrowed her brow. "Now how could I have possibly known the outcome?" she asked; feigning complete innocence.

Natalia just gave her that look.

"Really. How?" Olivia hedged; palms upright, as she shrugged her shoulders.

Natalia sighed and arched an eyebrow; the corner of her mouth twisting up on one side, indicating her annoyance.

"I … I set those odds … weeks ago …" Olivia stammered; her eyes darting back and forth nervously.

"When?"

Olivia met her with a blank stare. Fuck.

"When, Olivia?" Natalia pressed; her dark eyes burning holes straight through the hotelier.

"Oh, alright!" Olivia snapped; rolling her eyes. "After the day you almost kissed me in the hospital …" she blurted; immediately clasping her hands over her mouth; jade eyes widening, in anticipation of Natalia's response.

"How did you know about that?!" Natalia exclaimed; mahogany eyes frantically searching the hotelier's face, as she blushed profusely.

The corners of Olivia's mouth twitched into that barely-there smile.

Natalia's eyes widened, as realization dawned. "Oh, my God … You were awake!" she exclaimed; her expression gelling into anger. "Really, Olivia?!" she shrieked; slapping the older woman on the arm. "How could you?!"

"Hey!" Olivia yelped; crinkling her nose, her brow furrowing. "What the hell was that for?" she barked; groaning as she rubbed the offended appendage.

"You know exactly what it was for …" Natalia snapped; anger flashing in those dark, expressive eyes. "You heard everything I said; felt everything I did …" she sulked; vacillating between anger and embarrassment.

"So?" Olivia retorted; scrunching up her brow, one corner of her mouth curling upward, as she allowed the unspoken question to linger.

"So?!" Natalia parroted incredulously; eyes darkening as her temper flared. "It's like … you were invading my thoughts …"

Olivia admittedly loved watching the Latina's temper flare, and while knowing full-well that Natalia had every right to be angry, she was enjoying the skirmish far too much to give in easily; and she arched an eyebrow in challenge. "Hey, you were the one doing all the talking and … touching, as I recall," she pointed out. "It's not like I asked for it, or had to drag it out of you …"

Knowing Olivia's point was valid, Natalia huffed defensively. "Could we just … not talk about this right now …" she said coldly; more a demand than a question.

"You're just angry because you're embarrassed …" Olivia said flippantly.

"Whatever …" Natalia muttered dismissively; reaching for the door handle. Sometimes I really hate how well you know me … she thought defensively. "We're gonna be late for our meeting …"

"Screw the damned meeting, Natalia!" Olivia barked; reaching across the angry Latina's body, grasping her hand to stop her from opening the door.

Natalia squirmed and jerked her hand away defiantly; then sighed deeply, her shoulders slumping in defeat, as she stared at the fog forming on the window.

Olivia reached up, turning Natalia's face toward her own. "This … is more important …" she adamantly declared; her eyes meeting Natalia's for the first time since she allowed the argument to escalate.

Noting the churning emotions that flickered wildly in Natalia's eyes, Olivia realized how wrong she had been to antagonize the fiery Latina. Her expression softened then. "We don't walk away from things … Remember?" she gently reminded; her jade eyes softly pleading with Natalia to reconsider.

Admitting to herself that avoiding the conversation wouldn't make it go away, Natalia relented; her expression softening, as she slowly gave up the battle. She closed her eyes, as she processed the events of that day; and finally acknowledging how uncomfortable the incident might have been for Olivia, as well, she took a deep breath, and slowly opened her eyes again. "Why did you stop me?" she asked quietly; searching Olivia's eyes.

A soft sigh escaped Olivia's lips. "Because … I was confused, and scared …" she quietly confessed. "I could feel your breath on my lips and, it felt so … warm; so right, and … I wanted, so much, for you to kiss me …" she admitted. "I was scared of what we might miss out on, if you didn't, but … at the same time, I was scared of what would happen next, if you did …"

Reaching out, Natalia took Olivia's hand into her own, as she nodded her head; sending the unspoken message that she completely understood the torrent of emotions that swirled inside of the older woman that day. She understood, because she had experienced it too. It had been overwhelming then, and still was, at times. And yet, somehow, here they were, on the other side of the torrent; their future spread out before of them like an open invitation, waiting for them to embrace it. "Are you still scared now?" she asked; searching Olivia's eyes.

Olivia started to shake her head no; but then slowly nodded it up and down. "A little …" she confessed; jade eyes locked on Natalia's. "You?" she asked quietly.

"Me, too …" Natalia exhaled sharply; clutching Olivia's hand tighter, as she felt some of the weight lift from her chest, "but … I know that I love you …" she whispered; tilting her head, a soft smile playing on her lips as she leaned in, kissing Olivia gently. "And whatever happens next, we'll figure it out, together …"

"Together …" Olivia breathed; drawing Natalia into another kiss.

It felt both frightening and exhilarating in the same breath – like standing on the edge of a cliff, having no idea as to the depths of the plunge; and yet, having no desire to even ask, before taking that leap of faith.

When their kiss ended, Natalia reached out, gingerly tucking a wayward lock of chestnut hair behind Olivia's ear, as she searched the deep jade of those eyes that gazed into her own. "I owe you an apology … for running out on you that day …" she said; her soft voice tinted with shades of deep regret. "I just … When I saw you there, lying in that hospital bed … looking so … beautiful …" she exhaled softly, "I … I was so drawn to you, like … you were this centripetal force, and … I was caught in your gravitational pull, and I couldn't break away – Not that I wanted to, at all …" she quietly shared. "All I wanted to do was be close to you; to kiss you …" she whispered; gently caressing Olivia's cheek. "And then you woke up, and … I felt exposed, and … scared because …"

"Kind of like you did just now, when you realized I had been awake the whole time …" Olivia gently interjected; more observation than inquiry.

Natalia slowly nodded her head up and down; her eyes momentarily focusing on their intertwined hands. "Yeah …" she breathed softly.

"I never meant to make you feel that way …" Olivia quietly acknowledged; remorse evident in her tone.

"I know …" Natalia said reassuringly. "You were just as scared and confused as I was …" she normalized; thankful she wasn't the only one to experience such emotions. "I knew that I was in love with you, but … I didn't understand what that meant, for either of us. So I ran … straight to church, where … I thanked God for bringing you and Emma into my life when I really needed you, and …"

"Natalia, I was the one who needed you …" Olivia whispered; kissing the Latina's palm.

"See, that's where you're wrong …" Natalia quietly, yet adamantly disagreed, "but … that's an argument for another time …" she said dismissively; waiving her hand in the air. "Right now, I just need to tell you what happened at the church …"

Olivia noted the seriousness of Natalia's tone, and nodded her head. "O-Okay …" she stammered; searching the Latina's face.

Natalia chewed on her bottom lip for a moment, as she contemplated her words; then began her explanation. "I told God that … you were the best friend I've ever had, and that … I didn't want to lose you. Not ever. I asked Him to promise me … we would always be friends …" she shared; tears welling up in her eyes, "because I couldn't bear the thought of life without you. But … even as I prayed, I knew in my heart that … we were so much more than friends. And … when I finished my prayer … I looked down … at Gus's ring on my finger …" she choked; tears beginning to fall, "and … as I touched it … I knew in my heart, that it was time to let him go, because … I was completely in love with you, and it was time to allow you … to take your rightful place in the center of my heart; of my life …" she cried softly. "So … I slipped his ring off, and I …"

Olivia touched Natalia's cheek with one hand, catching the tears with her thumb, as she slipped the other hand behind her neck; bringing their mouths together in a slow, passionate kiss; her own tears mingling with Natalia's as their hearts and souls connected on a level so deep that neither of them could possibly remain unchanged. The kiss was deep, and lingering, and it conveyed all of the hidden longing in Olivia's heart – not longing for sex, but rather for connection; a sense of belonging completely, to the one person in the world she trusted without reservation.

And when the kiss ended, their faces stained from the mixture of their shared tears, Olivia allowed Natalia to hold her, resting her head against the younger woman's chest, as she attempted to regain her composure. "All this time … I thought … I thought you took Gus's ring off because … because of Frank …" she sobbed; the truth washing over her heart like a salve.

"No, Olivia … It was Always You …" Natalia whispered through her own tears; gently caressing the older woman's cheek, attempting to calm her emotions. She kissed the crown of Olivia's head; then reached down, tipping her chin up; coaxing those tearstained seas of liquid jade to meet her own. "Always You …" she promised; her breath barely a whisper, before sealing her promise with another slow, gentle kiss.

Then, drawing Olivia into her arms once again, Natalia held her close, fingers gently raking through those soft chestnut locks, until the tears ceased, and they were ready to face the real world.

And finally, they laughed together, as they joked about how Greg had surely scampered through the entire hotel, spreading the word that the Boss and her executive assistant had dallied – that was such a Greg kind of word – so long in the car, that they had fogged up all the windows.

"There go the odds …" Olivia groused; but the smile that played on her lips gave her away.

"Please. You were cheating anyway …" Natalia bantered; rolling her eyes, as she grinned at unruly pit boss.

"Yeah, but … I was gonna share the winnings with you …" Olivia said; tilting her head flirtatiously.

"Hmm …" Natalia hummed; a playfully calculating expression on her face, "and what would the eventual payout have been?"

Olivia smiled softly at her. "This …" she whispered; fingers tangling in raven tresses, as she drew Natalia into another slow, sensual kiss; their lips gliding fluently, tongues gently caressing, soft moans escaping their lungs.

"No amount of money in the world is worth more than that …" Natalia whispered, after their kiss ended.

"I couldn't agree more …" Olivia quietly concurred; a soft smile teasing those kiss-swollen lips. "But ya know …" she said; arching an eyebrow, as her smile turned devilishly playful, "we sure could have a lot of fun, playing with them, before we let them collect their winnings …" she winked.

"What did you have in mind?" Natalia grinned; curious to hear Olivia's plan.

"You'll see. Just … follow my lead …" she smiled furtively.

Natalia chuckled, and kissed her again; sealing her acquiescence. And with that, they fixed their makeup; thankful for dual visor mirrors in Olivia's Nissan, and exited the car; heading into the Beacon …

____________________

TBC …