Title: Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Author: Kimberly21570
Fandoms: Guiding Light / All My Children
Pairings: Olivia and Natalia / Lena and Bianca
Disclaimer: The characters of Olivia and Emma Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Doris and Ashlee Wolfe, and Cooper "Coop" Bradshaw are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The characters of Lena Kundera and Bianca Montgomery are owned by All My Children, ABC/Disney and Prospect Park.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, AMC, ABC/Disney, or any other entity. With the exception of a few brief references to Olivia's conversation with Ashlee during the 4.10.2008 episode, and dialogue from the 9.4.2009 episode where Doris comes out to Ashlee, the dialogue, settings, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Thanks again to my pal, MoniRod for the edit. You totally Rock, Woman! I appreciate you, and I owe you—BIG TIME!
Rating: Chapter 12 is rated NC-17 overall, though some sections will be either PG or PG-13…
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May 2009
"An alliance is like a chain. It is not made stronger by adding weak links to it… An alliance should be hard diplomatic currency, valuable and hard to get…"
— Walter Lippmann
"We cannot always assure the future of our friends; we have a better chance of assuring our future if we remember who are friends are."
— Henry Kissinger
Chapter 12.4 – Old Friends, New Ventures, and Unexpected Alliances:
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—8:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
"Thank you for inviting me to dinner," Ashlee said to Olivia when they met in the kitchen a few minutes later. Olivia was getting Natalia a refill on her tea, and Ashlee was after a refreshing glass of ice water. "I didn't even realize you and my Mom were friends."
"It's our pleasure, Ashlee," Olivia said, warmly. She truly liked the young woman—had, ever since that day Ashlee visited her in the hospital after her transplant. She found Ashlee to be a kind, genuine soul. No pretense whatsoever. And while a bit gawky and socially challenged at times, which was not like Olivia at all, Ashlee reminded the hotelier a bit of herself in terms of her self-concept. Ashlee seemed to crave acceptance, and to that need, Olivia could certainly relate; though she never wore that need on her sleeve, so to speak, the way Ashlee did, at times. Beyond that, she had very much enjoyed their visit that afternoon in the hospital, as well as other encounters they had had over the subsequent year. "Your mother was a real help to me when I was struggling with my feelings for Natalia," she shared. "She encouraged me not to let love slip through my fingers just because I was scared."
"I can't imagine you ever being scared of anything," Ashlee commented. "Especially after that conversation we had at the hospital. What happened to that fearless woman? Y'know, the one who takes chances?"
Olivia smiled. "There's a lot of your mother in you," she said, affectionately.
"Given your tone of voice, I'll take that as a compliment," Ashlee said, graciously.
"It was meant as one," Olivia confirmed. "And as for that woman who takes chances, well, falling in love with Natalia was a whole different ballgame. One that I wasn't prepared to play," she said, forthrightly.
"No frame of reference, huh?" Ashlee asserted.
"None whatsoever," Olivia admitted with a laugh. "You know, we talked that day about how I still 'had it,' even after my surgery. But when it came to Natalia, I thought that particular 'it' would certainly elude me. I mean, I didn't think there would ever be a possibility that she could return my feelings." She stressed the utter hopelessness she had felt regarding the situation.
"But you were wrong," Ashlee said without condescension.
Releasing a sigh of relief, Olivia said, "Believe me, I've never been happier about being wrong."
"You two are good together," Ashlee declared. "You complement one another well."
"You mean because I'm a bitch, and she's a candidate for sainthood?" Olivia was only half joking.
Leaning a hip against the counter, Ashlee regarded her with sincerity. "I've never thought of you as a bitch," she said, with gentle candidness. "You're a strong, independent woman, who knows what she wants, and isn't afraid to fight for it. And you don't take crap from anyone. I admire those qualities in you."
The right corner of Olivia's mouth curled almost into a smile. "I actually think you mean that."
"I do," Ashlee affirmed.
Olivia's lips formed that smile then, as she regarded the younger woman. "You've become quite the strong, independent woman yourself, you know." Her tone of voice was warm, acknowledging. "You've taken charge of your life, and gone after the things you want too."
"Yes, I have," Ashlee said, proudly. Her smile was bright, blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "You actually helped me a lot with that," she acknowledged.
Tilting her head, Olivia's face held a curious expression. "How so?"
"That conversation at the hospital," Ashlee answered. "All that talk about taking chances… That's what gave me the courage to go ahead with my surgery. My whole life changed because of what you said to me that day."
"No—" Shaking her head, Olivia gently disagreed. "It changed because you made the decision to take those chances, Ashlee. That's not about me, it's about you."
Accepting Olivia's argument, at least in part, Ashlee nodded. "I get that. I do. But you still made a difference in my life, Olivia," she acknowledged. "I appreciate how real you've always been with me." An uncharacteristic frown covered her face, as a shadow fell across those bright blue eyes, turning them almost gray. "Sometimes I wish… other people could be that way." Her tone left no question as to the identity of those 'other people'—or one person, in particular.
Moving closer, Olivia reached out, giving Ashlee's arm a supportive squeeze. "Sometimes the idea of being real, especially with the people we love, is scary," she said, knowingly.
"It shouldn't be that way," Ashlee contended.
"No, it shouldn't," Olivia agreed, "but being real leaves us vulnerable, and sometimes the cost of honesty is simply too much to bear. I didn't tell Natalia how I felt about her for the longest time, because living with my feelings was more bearable than the idea of losing her forever. I could live with knowing how much I loved her, even knowing that I could never be with her in that way. But I couldn't live without her in my life. I needed her too much." She paused for a moment, considering the truth in her words. "That probably sounds really selfish," she admitted. "But when telling the truth leaves you at risk of losing the person you love the most, it's not so easy to be selfless."
Nodding, Ashlee focused on the glass of water in her hand, as she pondered Olivia's wisdom. And then she met Olivia's gaze. "Thank you," she said, sincerely. "You've given me a lot to think about." She wasn't certain how or why, but somehow she just knew that what Olivia had said would be meaningful to her in a whole new way in the not so distant future.
Forty-five minutes later, the Wolfe's were bidding them all goodnight—Ashlee had an early call at WSPR the following morning, and had some prep work to finish before calling it a night. Olivia and Natalia both thanked them for coming, and received unified expressions of appreciation in return for the invitation.
Jen and Tracy thanked Doris again for her willingness to help with the custody suit, and Jen promised a phone call to the Mayor's office first thing in the morning. Tracy and Ashlee made promises of a lunch soon, and Jen couldn't have been more pleased. Her fiancée's family was wonderful, but Tracy needed more friends who were open and accepting of their relationship. She had to admit the same was true of her own life, and she was beyond grateful to have found Olivia and Natalia in that regard.
Lena and Bianca warmly bid them farewell, saying how nice it had been to make their acquaintance, and maybe they could all get together again before their departure later that week. Both Doris and Ashlee were agreeable to that plan.
After they parted ways, the remaining women chattered amiably about everything and nothing. None of it work-related. They had talked enough about that for one evening, Olivia declared, and there would be plenty of time to pick up the conversation later.
With talk of work set aside, the conversation turned to more personal things, as Bianca asked Jen and Tracy about their wedding plans—the when and the where, and the who would be involved. It didn't matter that they had just met a few hours prior—she was a woman, there had been talk of a wedding, and she wanted details!
"We're not sure when," Jen answered. "I guess that will depend upon what our attorney has to say about how it will affect our case."
"Exactly," Tracy agreed. "We wanna make sure the boys are secure, and if that means waiting, well…" She smiled at Jen, and squeezed her hand. "I've waited six long years for her to finally give in; a few more months won't hurt."
"I don't want to wait one minute longer than we have to, though," Jen said, her eyes never leaving Tracy's. "I'm beyond ready to be this woman's wife."
Smiling, Tracy leaned close, pressing a soft kiss to Jen's lips. "Ditto." What had once felt so taboo—public displays of affection—were now as natural as breathing, and they were both so grateful for the newfound freedom.
Bianca glanced at Lena, gracing her with that winsome smile. "We know exactly how you feel."
Wrapping an arm around her wife, Lena agreed. "We certainly do." Being Bianca's wife, belonging only to her, was the one thing in life Lena had wanted more than anything, and once the proposal had been made, she couldn't wait to make it official. The only thing that had kept her from marrying Bianca right there on the spot was the fact that it meant so much to Bianca to give her a wedding that would surpass any dream she might have had as a little girl growing up in Poland. She wouldn't have taken the joy from Bianca for anything, and their wedding and honeymoon had put all fairytales to shame.
The look that passed between Lena and Bianca was palpable—everyone in the room felt the intensity of it. Knowing their history made the moment all the more touching, and Natalia felt the threat of tears stinging her eyes. Unconsciously, she moved closer to Olivia, their fingers entwining in Olivia's lap.
"We've been talking about Iowa," Tracy noted, returning to Bianca's initial line of questions.
"Apparently, Tracy likes corn," Jen said, humorously.
"Are you morally opposed to corn?" Bianca asked Jen with a hint of teasing. "Because Lena and I could always host a big ole' gay wedding on the Vineyard," she suggested.
"I suggested Massachusetts, but…"
Jen interjected, finishing Tracy's comment. "My family is in Boston, and they're not exactly keen on our relationship. My father is a Southern Baptist minister," she said, knowing that would go far in explaining the situation.
A chorus of "Ohhhh's" with accompanying nods of comprehension commenced the moment the words were out of her mouth.
"But I do love the Vineyard," Jen commented, clear affection in her tone. "I have a lot of fond memories there." She shared a few of those memories with them, including some of the times she spent there with Jake. But mostly, they were memories of times on the beach with her sisters—they would steal away there on weekends, and explore the islands from Nantucket, to the Vineyard, all the way north to Provincetown. She missed her sisters terribly sometimes, and now, with the wedding to plan, their absence from her life was even more palpable.
Sensing the emotions simmering beneath the surface, Tracy reached over, gently squeezing her fiancée's hand. A smile flickered across Jen's face in response, and she lifted Tracy's hand to her lips, kissing her fingers.
"Well, if you're feeling nostalgic, and decide you'd like visit your old stomping grounds, you're more than welcome to visit," Lena invited. Any friends of Olivia and Natalia would be welcomed in their home at any time. She knew Bianca agreed.
Jen and Tracy both thanked them for their kindness, agreeing that they would love to visit sometime. The Vineyard was beautiful, to say the least, and she wanted to share that with Tracy. But more than anything, she wanted to show Tracy Provincetown. Her excursions there with her sisters had been her first glimpse of lesbian life, and though she had no inclination then that one day she would be living that life, she had always felt comfortable amongst the women she had met there. Sadly, her sisters hadn't felt the same.
Olivia and Natalia took their turn then, sharing of their adventures on the Vineyard with Lena and Bianca. Everyone laughed about Emma chasing Olivia with the little piglet at Katama Farms, as well as the fun little competitions between Olivia and Bianca, and Jen and Tracy expressed surprise at the fact that Olivia could actually sing. Olivia looked sufficiently offended, and they all shared another good laugh.
All in all, they found that while they had come from quite a diverse set of backgrounds, they had many interests in common, and conversation flowed smoothly from one topic of mutual interest to another, making for a very pleasant evening—one that would be repeated often in the years to come.
Sunday, May 3, 2009… Doris's Car—9:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
For the first few minutes of their ride home, Doris and Ashlee chatted amiably about what a lovely time they'd had that evening. And then the conversation fell silent, each of them feeling that familiar wall of isolation returning between them.
Conversations with her mother had been strained and awkward for more years than Ashlee could remember, and she hated the distance between them. They had been so close when she was younger, and then everything changed, and her mother had pushed her away. As the years moved on, she came to the conclusion that her mother simply didn't like her. She didn't understand why. Had she done something wrong? Was she not smart enough? Pretty enough? Was it because of her weight? She had tried to combat that notion by having the surgery to lose the weight. But her mother had simply been angry with her for not telling her about it until the last minute. She couldn't win for losing. In the end, she felt better about herself, but it had changed nothing between the two of them. Her mother was still distant, and Ashlee, still sad and confused.
Doris hated the distance too, but she lacked any clue as to how to bridge the gap, especially at this point in their relationship. Ashlee was a grown woman now—a woman whom, Doris had to admit, she barely knew at all. That was all her own fault, she knew. She had withheld the truth from Ashlee, pushed her away to protect her from the fact that she hated herself, hated who and what she was inside. So how was she to fix it, when she still feared losing the child she loved so much?
The longer the silence persisted, the more the tension grew, and finally, Ashlee couldn't stand it anymore. "Can I ask you something, Mom?"
Startled from her inner self-recrimination, Doris nearly jumped out of her skin. "What?" She caught her bearings. "Oh, yes, of course, Sweetie. What is it?"
"You seem rather passionate about gay rights these days," Ashlee noted. There was no hint of accusation in her tone, only confusion and a touch of mild curiosity. "And you seem to know a lot about lesbian life."
Immediately, Doris felt a sense of fear rise within her. She drew a shaky breath. "Is that your question?" She tried to sound amused, but only succeeded in sounding nervous.
"No—," Ashlee shook her head. "Just an observation."
Doris nodded. "Oh—"
Silence fell again. Ashlee contemplated her words. Doris's anxiety level rose, the blood thrumming through her veins.
"Is it because you're friends with Olivia now?" Ashlee wondered aloud. "Or is there some other reason?" She was clueless as to what the reason might be, and simply grabbing at straws to try to understand.
Sheer panic set in, and Doris scrambled to collect her thoughts. How on earth was she supposed to respond to that? It wasn't a question she ever anticipated would come from her daughter. She could lie, and just answer affirmatively that her interests were because of Olivia. Or she could say it was her duty to develop an understanding of the different cultures within her constituency. Or she could say she'd picked things up here and there, through a few gay acquaintances over the years. That was at least partially true. Or she could simply suck it up, and finally tell her daughter the whole truth. Maybe now was the time to risk everything; to reach out for what was most important, she reasoned. After all, Olivia had, and look how great everything worked out.
Drawing in a deep breath, Doris summoned her courage. "Do you remember the day that I took you to the beach? You were seven, and you wanted to play, but I told you that we had to talk first…" Her voice was quavering with nervous uncertainty.
"Yes—" Ashlee was nodding animatedly. That day was forever etched into her brain. It was almost dizzying, even now. "That would be the day that you told me about sex." She expelled an anxious laugh. Oh, God, please don't let this be another sex talk. I'm a little old for that, and really, Coop took care of any lingering questions I had. Oh, had he ever! Besides, it has nothing to do with the question I asked.
"Yeah—" Doris sighed. "Well, that actually wasn't the conversation I was planning on having with you that day," she confessed.
"Oh, mom, it's fine," Ashlee said, dismissively. "I mean seven is a little young, but at the end of the day, you didn't scar me for life."
"Well, that's good." This time, Doris's sigh was one of relief. "Because I've just been trying to do that, you know, not scar you for life. To protect you from anything that might hurt you." Her tone turned emotional, and she had to struggle to hold it steady, as she choked back the tears that threatened.
"Mom, everything is fine," Ashlee attempted to reassure. She was more than a bit confused. What did any of this have to do with her mother's seeming knowledge of lesbian life? Ashlee wasn't always the sharpest tool in the shed. "What… what's going on?"
"Oh, Sweetie," Doris sighed.
"What?"
Dragging in a ragged breath, Doris's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I'm a lesbian," she blurted. She hadn't meant for it to come out quite like that.
Shards of moonlight angled through the tinted windows, illuminating patches of Doris's face, and Ashlee just sat there staring at her, completely taken aback.
"I'm a lesbian," Doris repeated, this time with stronger conviction. "I have been ever since I could remember, okay? I just… I couldn't always accept it, okay? And you… you've gotta understand that it was a different time then, okay? People did not understand it the way they do now."
With each comment the stakes were higher, the tension greater, and the emotions she had been trying to quell came spilling out in a torrent of tears as she rambled, trying to explain the how and the why of her failure to tell Ashlee the truth about herself. Listening to her own words, the only message she heard was that she was a coward, and that only made matters worse. "And I didn't tell anyone. I just went about my business. I—I went to school… I had boyfriends… it never quite worked, y'know? It wasn't right for me, so… I went to school, and when I graduated, I decided to live my life the way I wanted to again. And at a certain point, I wanted life to mean more, so I went to a sperm bank and I got… you!" Her voice was a piquant paradox of adoration and terror.
Ashlee was crying, and Doris felt overwhelmed. Gravel crackled under the tires, pinging against the metal frame, as she pulled the car to the side of the road. Whether the decision to pull over had been made out of prudence or a simple need to connect with her daughter in that moment, she couldn't say. It was probably a touch of both.
Shifting the car into park, she turned toward Ashlee, and reached out to her. Thankful to not be rebuffed, she took Ashlee's hands into her own, marveling at the hands of a woman, where there were once those of a little girl. Her little girl. When had things become so complicated?
"You have been everything to me." Doris's voice was brimming with emotion, as she stressed the magnitude of Ashlee's importance in her life. "I remember holding your hand when you learned how to walk. I… we were so close," she lamented, her voice so filled with sorrow it broke Ashlee's heart. "And then all of a sudden you were seven, and you were asking me 'why don't we have a daddy'. So I took you to the beach that day to try to explain; only I chickened out. And I have been chickening out ever since. And I know that this wall developed between us, and I know it was my fault, and I couldn't do anything about it. And then all of a sudden, you were this remarkable young woman." She was sobbing at this point, and Ashlee was as well. "And I am stuck knowing that I have been lying to you. And you're right—you don't know who I am, and the reason you don't is because I haven't shared myself with you, and I am so sorry."
A deeper sense of remorse would have been impossible to achieve, as Doris sat there, completely vulnerable, her emotions fully exposed for her daughter to see for the very first time in her life.
"I just… I don't understand why you don't trust me," Ashlee cried. Her head was spinning, and she felt acutely overwhelmed. "Don't you know that I love you?"
"I just didn't want you to suffer," Doris tried to explain. "The world can be really cruel…"
"Mom, I know the world is cruel." Ashlee tapped her fingertips against her chest, indicating that she had experienced that cruelty firsthand. "Out of anyone I know, I know that the world is cruel. You were cruel to me. You were cruel."
The anguish in her tone told Doris exactly how deeply that cruelty had cut into her daughter's soul. "I'm really sorry," Doris cried with deep remorse. "I'm sorry… I—I don't know what else I can say…"
"Why couldn't you just trust me?" Ashlee sobbed. "Just trust me!"
"Are you ashamed of me?" Doris asked, pleadingly. Nothing in the world could feel worse than that. "Are you embarrassed?"
"No, I'm not ashamed or embarrassed," Ashlee answered. "I am so angry, because you didn't love me enough to be honest with me."
"Honey, that's not true," Doris countered. She squeezed Ashlee's hand tightly. "I love you so much that I was terrified of losing you."
Olivia's voice, her words, rang in Ashlee memory then. Sometimes the idea of being real, especially with the people we love, is scary… Sometimes the cost of honesty is simply too much to bear… When telling the truth leaves you at risk of losing the person you love the most, it's not so easy to be selfless… Was that the way her mother felt? Did she really believe Ashlee wouldn't love her if she knew the truth? Her anger dissipated, replaced by sorrow from the realization that her mother didn't know any better. That was as much her own fault as her mother's.
"I guess…" Ashlee choked back tears. "I guess I haven't been all that open with you either, Mom. If I had been, then you would've known that no matter who you are, or what you might've done, or who you love, or anything else, I could never stop loving you. None of that matters to me. It never has. All I've ever wanted was your approval."
"That's all I've ever wanted from you, too, Sweetie." Doris's voice was soft beneath the tears. "And yet, I've done little to deserve it."
"All these years, I thought you'd pushed me away because you didn't like me," Ashlee said, sorrowfully.
"Oh, Honey, no," Doris comforted. She wanted desperately to pull her daughter into her arms, but she wasn't certain the affection would be welcomed. And so she settled for something less overwhelming, gently tucking strands of flaxen hair behind Ashlee's left ear. "It was never you. I love you," she reassured. "I was distant because I didn't like myself."
Ashlee nodded her head as she sniffled, swiping at her nose. "Really?" She wanted more than anything to believe her mother's words.
"Really, Honey," Doris gently soothed. "I am so proud of the woman you've become. You're kind, and generous, and compassionate. And you certainly didn't get any of those qualities from me," she admitted ruefully. "And you're smart as a whip. That, I think you get from me."
The humor in Doris's tone as she delivered that line made Ashlee laugh. And then they were both smiling, as they locked gazes for the first time since Ashlee was a child. It felt good to look her daughter in the eyes again, and Doris felt a deep sense of contentment fill her. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth when you were younger. Can you ever forgive me?" Her tone held out hope for absolution.
"Are there more secrets?" Ashlee asked, tentatively, as she gazed out into the moonlit night.
"No, Sweetie," Doris quickly assured. "I swear that's the only one."
Wiping the tears from her cheeks, Ashlee met her mother's watery eyes once again. The expression they held told Doris all was forgiven. "Have you ever been in love?" she asked, innocently.
"I've been in relationships," Doris answered honestly. "But no, I've never been in love."
"Is that because of me?" Ashlee sounded positively guilt-ridden.
"No, Ashlee, it's because of me," Doris admitted. "I could date, and… I could have sex, but… I could never let myself truly open up to anyone, because I was so ashamed of the person I was inside."
"You're not just talking about being a lesbian anymore, are you?" Ashlee asked, with surprising astuteness.
"No, I'm not," Doris admitted. "I've been a horrible person, done terrible things sometimes. And not just to strangers, but to you. Hurting you is the thing I regret most in this life."
"I forgive you, you know," Ashlee offered reassuringly. "Sometimes things still hurt, but I've never held a grudge against you for anything, and I never will."
Doris's blue eyes darkened with the density of her tears, and she reached out, gently touching Ashlee's face. "You have no idea what that means to me, my precious girl."
She didn't need to restrain her desire to hug this time, because Ashlee flung herself into her mother's arms without preamble, squeezing her tightly. "I love you so much, Mom," she cried into her mother's shoulder.
"I love you too, Ashlee," Doris whispered beneath her tears.
They hugged for quite a long while, until finally, their emotions felt under control again. Ashlee was the first to break away. Not because she wanted distance, but because she wanted to know more about her mother while the opportunity was available. "Are you okay with it now?" she asked. "Being a lesbian, I mean."
"It's been really hard, but I'm getting there," Doris admitted. "You're really okay with this?" she asked, hesitantly.
"I'm really okay, Mom," Ashlee assured. "I want you to be happy."
"I want that too, Honey," Doris echoed.
"I don't know any lesbians other than the ones at dinner tonight," Ashlee noted. "Maybe Olivia and Natalia have a friend they could introduce you to."
The suggestion nearly made Doris choke. "Oh, that's all right," she hedged, afraid of what trouble Olivia might find for her. "I think I can find my own dates."
"Maybe so," Ashlee conceded. "But I want you to find love, not just dates. I want you to be happy, like your friends." She thought for a minute. "Jen and Tracy talked about other lesbians at their church. Maybe they can find you someone."
Doris released an amused laugh. "You think I need a 'Saint Natalia'?"
Ashlee's smile was all teeth. They glistened in the moonlight that streaked through the windshield. "Well, you definitely don't need an Olivia 'Freakin' Spencer, that's for sure," she asserted. "You get into enough trouble all on your own."
"Truer words, my darling daughter," Doris said, humorously. "Truer words…"
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—9:45 p.m. Central Daylight Time
When Lena excused herself soon thereafter, indicating that it was beyond bedtime for the girls, everyone else reluctantly agreed that it was time for the evening to end. Emma, Jacob, and Dylan had school the next morning, and they would all be bears to get up if they didn't get to bed soon.
After bidding goodnight to Lena and Bianca, Olivia and Natalia walked Jen, Tracy, and the boys out. From the front porch, Tracy hit the button to unlock the car, and instructed the boys to head that direction. "We'll be right there."
Dylan was off like a shot, still bursting with energy, while Jacob lagged behind, taking his time in getting there. Tracy just smiled and shook her head. It was so typical of the two of them.
"I want both of you to take tomorrow off," Olivia said to Jen and Tracy. "You've had a long week, and…"
Jen attempted to protest, but Olivia raised a hand to stop her. "No arguments, okay? You both have plenty of paid leave available, and Natalia has already covered your shift," she informed. Even if they didn't, Olivia would have paid them anyway. "You'll need time to talk with Doris in the morning, and I'm certain Grayson will be in touch as well. Take the time." Though not harsh, the tone of her voice brooked no dispute.
Nodding, Jen agreed. "Thank you, Olivia," she said, sincerely. "We appreciate all of your support."
"Anytime," Natalia said, warmly. "Besides, we owe you."
"Exactly," Olivia agreed. "And not just for the Beacon, either. I can't tell you how much we appreciate you handling our furniture delivery."
"Yeah, and for setting things up for us Friday evening." Natalia finished Olivia's thought. "Everything was beautiful."
"It certainly was," Olivia seconded. And then she smiled. "We had a lot to celebrate," she shared, stealing a glance at Natalia, who nodded her agreement.
"Celebrate?" Tracy's tone asked the question. She had been hoping the subject would be broached.
Instinctively, Olivia wrapped her arms around Natalia's middle section, hands resting protectively against her belly.
Crossing her arms, Natalia's hands immediately covered Olivia's in return. "We haven't told anyone other than Lena and Bianca yet, but…"
Olivia couldn't stand it any longer. She just had to tell. "We're having a baby," she announced. Her eyes and smile were beaming as bright as a beacon in the evening sky.
Tracy's eyes lit up, as a smile burst across her face. "Omigosh, congratulations!" Her genuine excitement was contagious, and Jen's reaction, though a few seconds behind her, was equally as fervent. "Yes! Congratulations! That's such wonderful news," she said with a bright smile. Babies were such a blessing. She adored them—she just wasn't keen on having any more of them in her own house.
Olivia and Natalia had only a moment to share a glance, and then they were being hugged enthusiastically, as a series of similar questions burst forth, in various forms, all with the intent of learning the baby's gender and anticipated arrival date.
"I'm due in late October," Natalia reported.
"They can't determine gender until the twentieth week," Olivia informed. "We have an ultrasound scheduled for the end of the month."
"Well, that explains the sparkling juice," Jen commented to Olivia. "I wondered why you didn't request wine for Friday night."
"Yes, that would be why," Olivia affirmed. "No wine for either of us until the baby comes."
"Solidarity?" Tracy grinned.
"Yup—" Olivia playfully popped the 'p,' as she nodded and grinned.
"I think it's kinda silly, but I love her for being so supportive," Natalia said, fondly. She brushed a hand over Olivia's cheek, affectionately.
"Gosh, I just can't tell you how excited we are for you both," Tracy mused. Her hands were planted on her hips, and she was shaking her head, unable to wipe the grin from her face.
"Well, we're equally as excited for the two of you," Natalia proclaimed. "I can't believe you're getting married!"
Tracy wrapped her arms around Jen from the side. "Honestly, I still can't believe it either," she admitted. "I mean, a part of me has always known it would happen someday, but I just… She really took me off-guard with the proposal. I thought it would be me doing the proposing, and…"
"And I would be giving her every reason in the book why it was a bad idea," Jen admitted with a wry laugh.
"Not a fan of weddings?" Olivia said, teasingly.
Jen shook her head. "It's not that," she denied. "It's more about the 'til death do us part' thing. That didn't work out so well for me the first time." She didn't sound sad, just reflective.
Natalia reached out, gently squeezing Jen's hand. She didn't need to explain how deeply she could relate to Jen's experience.
Olivia felt like an ass. "I'm so sorry," she said, ruefully. "I just didn't stop to think…"
"Don't be." Jen's voice was strong with conviction, as she clasped her hand over Tracy's where it rested against her hip. "Jake has been gone a long time, and I've moved on with my life." Stealing a glance at Tracy, she smiled. "I've never been happier, and I can't wait to marry the love of my life."
Pressing a kiss against Jen's cheek, Tracy declared, "Neither can I."
Another round of mutual congratulations and hugs were offered amongst them then, and finally, they bid one another goodnight.
As Olivia and Natalia watched their friends walking toward their car, hand-in-hand, Olivia wrapped her arms around Natalia's waist again, holding her from behind. "Tonight was a good idea," she quietly declared.
"If you do say so yourself?" Natalia's tone was teasing, and it brought a smile to Olivia's lips.
"What can I say?" Olivia posed, humorously. "I'm brilliant."
Turning in Olivia's arms, Natalia met that familiar gaze. "You certainly are, my Love." Her hand fell to the back of Olivia's head, fingers tangling in soft chestnut, as she kissed her. "Now why don't you take me inside, and show me exactly how brilliant you are…" It was all suggestion, no question about it.
"It would be entirely my pleasure," Olivia murmured into their kiss.
Natalia grinned against Olivia's lips, fingertips tracing along the inseam of Olivia's jeans. "We'll see about that…"
Sunday, May 3, 2009… The Farmhouse of Love—11:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time
Having tucked Emma into bed alongside Jordan quite some time before, Olivia and Natalia had turned their attention back to Lena and Bianca. They talked a bit about plans for the following day, laying out their usual timetable for weekday mornings. Lena and Bianca assured them that they could work within the schedule, and be ready to leave for the Beacon by eight o'clock.
Finally, having seen to all of Lena and Bianca's final needs, Olivia and Natalia had bid them goodnight at the door to Olivia's old bedroom. As they entered their own bedroom, Natalia pushed the door closed behind them, and Olivia found herself unceremoniously pressed up against it. Natalia's mouth firmly affixed to her own in a searing kiss, she felt her shirttail being yanked from her jeans, and then fingers were deftly working the buttons of her shirt.
Grasping the crisp cotton of Natalia's shirt, Olivia eagerly pushed it from her shoulders, allowing it to drop to the floor behind them. And then she was unsettling the lacy black camisole from those perfectly formfitting jeans. She heard the familiar sounds of Natalia's growing excitement, and her own body responded in kind. Her next awareness was the tangling of Natalia's fingers in her hair, as that skillful tongue traced the edges of her lips, before delving inside to explore.
The swift scraping of that practiced tongue against the roof of her mouth drew a low groan from Olivia's lungs, as her fingers dug into Natalia's hips, pulling her closer. Instinctively, Natalia's right knee slipped between Olivia's thighs; her own thigh pressing firmly against Olivia's heated center. Their kisses deepened, and without a moment's hesitation, their bodies began a natural, wanton grind, their passion rapidly escalating.
"We should probably…" Olivia gasped, as Natalia's fingers tweaked an already achingly erect nipple through the lacy fabric of her bra.
"…block the vent?" Panting, Natalia finished Olivia's thought.
Olivia smiled knowingly, and then groaned, as Natalia's mouth found her nipple. "Yes!" she expelled, in both praise of Natalia's oral caress and answer of her question.
"Already handled," Natalia announced confidently, as she nipped at that taut bud.
A surge of heat shot from Olivia's nipple to her aching center. "God, I love you…," she sighed, as once again, she submitted willingly to Natalia's control.
TBC in Chapter 12.5…