5.14.2017 / 7:08 p.m. 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 and Rafe Rivera, Ava Peralta and her late son, Max Harlan Lewis, Josh Lewis, Frank Cooper, Doris Wolfe, Phillip Spaulding, and Dr. Rick Bauer are owned by CBS/TeleNext and Proctor & Gamble. The character of Dr. Arizona Robbins and Dr. Callie Torres are owned by Grey's Anatomy, ABC/Disney, and Shondaland Productions. The original characters of Bennett Thomas, Dantéa (Téa) Rivera, Dr. Valerie Blaine, Dr. Maya Carter, and Dr. Kaitlynn Mackenzie are the property of this author, and any resemblance to fictional characters, or real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
No copyright infringement intended with regard to Guiding Light, CBS/TeleNext, Proctor & Gamble, Grey's Anatomy, Shondaland Productions, or any other entity. With the exceptions of the Farmhouse of Love, Company, and Cedars Hospital, the settings, dialogue, and story content in these scenes are original. Written for fun, not profit. All other standard disclaimers apply.
Many thanks to my friend and favorite FFW, WickedWanda926, and to my friend newfan64, for their ongoing willingness to edit my stories. Words cannot express how much I appreciate the two of you and your steadfast support of me, both personally, and as a would-be writer. Due to the rush to get you all this update, however, this content has not been edited. Thus, any mistakes contained herein are solely my responsibility. Thank you to all who continue to read and/or comment. I appreciate the time you have invested in this story, and truly hope you continue to enjoy.
Rating: Overall, Chapter 18 is rated PG-13 for coarse language. Read: Olivia Spencer is super pissed, and she doesn't care who she offends. Section 6 of Chapter 18 is a bit more tame.
Happy Mother's Day to all the moms who are reading. I hope you've all had a blessed day.
Kim
Confessions Lead to Strange Bedfellows
Copyright May 2009
"For the greater the love, the greater the grief, and the stronger the faith, the more savagely will Satan storm its fortress."
C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed
Chapter 18.6 – What Price We Pay:
Wednesday, July 8, 2009… Natalia's ICU Cubical, Cedars Hospital—8:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time
"I really hate this, Liv," Natalia whined uncharacteristically. She felt trapped there in the ICU. "I just don't understand why Dr. Blaine won't let me go see Dantéa," she sighed. "I'm fine!"
Perched on the edge of Natalia's bed, facing her, Olivia nodded. "I know, Sweetheart," she commiserated, taking Natalia's hand into her lap.
She was about to offer reassurances that Dr. Blaine would release her to see the baby in the morning, when a ray of sunshine in the form of a chipper blue-eyed blonde unexpectedly popped through the curtain into the cubical. Ordinarily, she would've arrived on wheels, given her fondness for motion sneakers. They were fun, and gave her an interesting way of connecting with her young patients—her "tiny humans," as she often called them. But having been called in as a precautionary measure in a serious case, she tried to hold back on her characteristic bubbliness, at least a bit.
"Hi, there," the woman chirped, her smile shimmering in those bright blue eyes. Her streaky blonde hair was pulled back in a messy tuft, loose tendrils playing around the chiseled edges of her angular face as she smiled, causing a perfect set of dimples to form on her cheeks. Extending her right hand toward Natalia as she sidled up to the bed, she said, "I'm Arizona Robbins, the pediatric surgeon Dr. Mackenzie called in to look after Dantéa."
It was clear from her appearance—navy blue scrubs and pristine white lab coat—that the woman was a doctor, even before she introduced herself. At the outer edges of the lapels on her lab coat there was a cute little monkey on the right side where it boasted Seattle Grace Hospital, and a little gray kitten on the left, just above her name: Arizona Robbins, MD, along with a few other credentials that were distorted by the folds in the material.
Natalia accepted the proffered hand, shaking it. "Natalia Rivera," she greeted. "And this is my partner, Olivia Spencer."
Arizona nodded. "Ms. Rivera," she acknowledged. And then she shifted to shake Olivia's hand. "Ms. Spencer."
"Olivia. Please," Olivia insisted, at the same time Natalia insisted upon a first-name basis, as well.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Dr. Robbins," Natalia said. "Thank you for coming all the way out here."
"Yes, thank you," Olivia agreed. "Dr. Mackenzie speaks very highly of you."
Nodding again, Arizona smiled. "My pleasure," she said. "Mac and I go way back. We've worked a few similar cases together, so she thought it best that I be close by until we're sure Dantéa is in the clear."
"Similar cases?" Olivia arched an eyebrow, her tone asking the question. A moment later, she was nervously pacing the room.
Arizona glanced toward Natalia. "May I speak freely?" she asked. She figured it would be all right, but neither Natalia's nor Dantéa's charts indicated that in writing. Not yet, anyway.
"Yes, of course," Natalia said, granting permission. "Olivia has a right to any information she wants about me, and about our daughter."
Nodding, Arizona said pointedly, "I would encourage you to put that in writing."
Pausing, Olivia offered a faint smile. "It's already in the works with our attorney," she assured. She had instructed Mel to start the paperwork after their discussion earlier that morning—the one where Mel confirmed that Olivia had absolutely no legal rights where Natalia and Dantéa were concerned. "I'm just sorry we didn't get it done before. We thought we had more time."
"I understand," Arizona empathized. "Okay, so I've taken a look at Dantéa's chart, and consulted with both Dr. Carter and Dr. Mackenzie, and we have two different issues that we're dealing with here," she explained. "Now this is gonna sound scary, but let me assure you, it's both typical for preemies, and totally fixable."
Hanging on Dr. Robbins' every word, Olivia and Natalia nodded in unison. "Okay…" Olivia said cautiously.
"She has a tiny hole in her heart caused by a duct that didn't close the way it should have when she was born," Arizona reported, holding up a cautionary hand when the two mothers gasped in fear. "The condition is called patent ductus arteriosus, which again, I know sounds kinda scary, but with the help of medication, it usually rights itself over time."
"What happens if it doesn't?" Natalia inquired.
"We'll keep a close eye on it, and if it becomes necessary, we can go in and repair it," Arizona reassured.
That information made Natalia feel a little better. But it didn't quell Olivia's unease. "What's the second issue?" she asked warily, as she resumed wearing a hole in the linoleum flooring.
"She also has a condition called Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome," Arizona reported. According to Dr. Carter, the symptoms—fast breathing, rapid heart rate, chest wall retractions, expiratory grunting and flaring nostrils, and the bluing of skin—began shortly after birth, and they had grown worse in the hours that followed. Arizona explained this by saying, "Basically, she's having a really tough time breathing because her lungs are underdeveloped." What she didn't tell them was that the condition was the leading cause of death in preterm infants. They had enough worries for the moment.
"What can you do about it?" Natalia asked.
"We have her on oxygen and intravenous fluids," Arizona answered. "If we have to, we'll insert a breathing tube, but Dr. Carter wants to hold off on that for now."
"Do you agree?" Olivia prodded.
"Yes, I do," Arizona responded without hesitation. "It'll be traumatic enough if we have to intubate her for surgery, so we wanna avoid any unnecessary intervention."
Satisfied with Dr. Robbins' response, Olivia nodded. "So it's just wait-and-see?" She sounded less than pleased.
"For right now, yes," Arizona confirmed, empathy in her tone. "But let me assure you, Dantéa is in excellent hands. Aside from Dr. Mackenzie, Dr. Carter is the best neonatologist in the country."
Olivia nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "She came highly recommended."
"And with good reason," Arizona assured. "She and I are both staying here at the hospital. We're in an on-call room just outside the NICU, and we'll be taking twelve-hour shifts monitoring Dantéa's progress. If anything changes, we'll let you know immediately. You have my word."
Relieved, Olivia and Natalia nodded in unison.
"And in the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to have your nurse page us," Arizona added. "Your baby girl is our only priority."
"Thank you, Dr. Robbins," Natalia said sincerely. She felt infinitely better now, having met one of Dantéa's doctors.
"Yes, thank you," Olivia agreed, grasping Arizona's hand in a firm handshake.
With a reassuring smile on her lips, Arizona nodded. And then she turned on the heel of her brightly colored sneakers, and slipped back through the opening in the curtain, disappearing from the ICU.
As she exited, Olivia returned to Natalia's side. Edging a hip onto the mattress, she wrapped her arm around Natalia's shoulder, and leaning back against the bed, she brushed a kiss against Natalia's temple. "These doctors are the best of the best," she reported. "I checked them out as soon as I heard their names. So everything's gonna be all right," she said reassuringly.
Snuggling against Olivia's side as best she could given her incision, Natalia nodded. "Thank you for taking such good care of us," she murmured sleepily.
"Right now, you and Dantéa are my priority," Olivia declared.
"I appreciate you," Natalia sighed softly.
Olivia pressed a few more light kisses against Natalia's temple. "Ditto, Love," she murmured.
"How is Emma?" Natalia asked. "Is she all right? This has to be scary for her."
Olivia nodded against the top of Natalia's head. "She was a little scared at first, when I told her that her baby sister arrived a little early. But she's fine now. Rafe is with her, and he's been amazing—with both of us," she reported.
Mahogany eyes lit up. "Really?" Natalia sounded pleasantly surprised. She loved hearing that Rafe was not only stepping up for Emma, but also for Olivia.
"Yes, really," Olivia smiled reassuringly. "Difficult as it's been, I think this is a turning point for us."
"I sure hope so," Natalia sighed softly.
"Me, too," Olivia readily agreed. "He'll be back in the morning, and he'll bring Em along if you're up to it. Otherwise, Jane will pick her up."
"I'll definitely be up to it," Natalia was quick to announce. "I miss our little girl already."
"She misses her Mama, too," Olivia said softly. She glanced at her watch then. "She's probably still up. Wanna give her a bedtime call?"
Natalia beamed. "Perfect way to end this day."
Pressing another kiss to Natalia's temple, Olivia grinned. "Couldn't agree with you more," she declared, fishing her cell phone from the pocket of her jeans. Within moments, they were on the line with Emma and Rafe, wishing them both a good night, each of them entertaining thoughts of doing the same with Dantéa someday soon.
Thursday, July 9, 2009… Bennett Thomas's Residence—6:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"Does Olivia seem to be in a better place this morning?" Bennett asked as she plated the two English muffins that had just popped from the toaster. Lifting the plates, she carried them toward the small glass-top table in the breakfast nook in her kitchen.
"Much," Doris answered sounding pleased. Setting two mugs of steaming black coffee on the table at their respective places, she turned toward the refrigerator to retrieve Bennett's favorite liquid creamer. The judge didn't indulge in creamer often, but when she did, it was only in the morning, and it was always hazelnut. "Natalia is doing really well this morning, so Dr. Blaine released her to a private room. She gets to go visit Dantéa in a few hours."
"Oh, thank goodness," Bennett sighed in relief. "I can't imagine what it's like to be separated from your newborn baby."
"Neither can I," Doris empathized.
"Did she say how the baby's doing?" Bennett asked.
"Apparently it was a bumpy first night," Doris answered, setting the creamer on the table beside Bennett's coffee mug, along with a teaspoon and knife. "But she's holding her own."
"Thanks, Babe," Bennett said, as Doris slid into her seat next to her. "I guess that's as good as we can hope for at the moment," she commented. Reaching for the knife that Doris had set beside her plate, she slid the dull blade through the softened butter in the crystal dish, and helping herself to a generous portion, she spread it on the two halves of her English muffin. Instantly, it melted, soaking into the spongy bread roll just the way she liked it.
"Olivia said they brought in some of the best doctors in the country," Doris commented, unable to argue with Bennett's supposition, but not wanting to agree with it either.
"Well, I'm glad to hear that," Bennett said, her tone brightening. She reached for the creamer, pouring a generous serving into the steaming hot mug of coffee. Capping the bottle, she lifted the spoon, lightly stirring the liquid. "Hopefully we'll hear even better news by days' end."
"Hear, hear!" Doris said, lifting her coffee mug in toast to Bennett's well-wishes for their friends. Taking a sip, she set the mug back on the table, and reached for the butter dish. "Speaking of days' end," she said casually, as she spread a small amount on her English muffin. "I think I'll drop by to check on them in person after work, so I probably won't be home until late."
Glancing at Doris over the rim of her coffee mug, Bennett's gray eyes shimmered with joy, and she could barely restrain the smile that flickered across her lips.
"What?" Doris sounded intrigued, and maybe a little excited that Bennett was eyeing her so brazenly.
"Nothing," Bennett shrugged. "I just really love hearing you call this place 'home'."
Doris smiled in response. Leaning in, she tangled her fingertips in the thick raven locks at the base of Bennett's neck, pulling her forward into a kiss. "I love that it feels that way, even more."
Thursday, July 9, 2009… NICU, Cedars Hospital—11:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"I just… I can't believe how tiny she is, Liv," Natalia said. "She looks so fragile; even smaller in person than in the pictures." Her tone was a bit anxious, as they gazed at their daughter through the glass walls of her incubator. Despite what seemed like endless amounts of tubing and wires, Dantéa was wrapped snugly in a white receiving blanket with pastel-colored teddy bears scattered about the soft fabric.
Gently, Olivia tightened her hold around Natalia's waist, careful not to place pressure on her incision. "I know, Sweetheart," she murmured against her ear. She didn't dare voice it, but she was anxious too. Max had been small, but not nearly as small as Dantéa. The contrast, especially given Max's fate, was alarming to her. But Natalia didn't need to hear that. What she needed was a reason to have faith. "But Dr. Carter says she's a real fighter."
"She's definitely that."
Olivia and Natalia turned toward the sound of a vaguely familiar voice to find Dr. Arizona Robbins smiling brightly as she walked toward them. "From what I hear, she takes after both of her mommies."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Let me guess, Rick Bauer?"
Arching an eyebrow, Arizona laughed. "Does he hit on every woman he meets?" she intoned jovially.
"Only the beautiful ones," Natalia smiled, recalling his efforts to charm Olivia a time or two. She glanced toward Olivia, giving her a clandestine wink.
Blushing, Arizona sidestepped the off-handed comment. "My information didn't just come from Dr. Bauer," she informed. Reaching for the baby's chart, she began perusing the most recent data.
The expression on Olivia's face begged the question.
"I met Dantéa's father last night," Arizona supplied. "He had lovely things to say about you both."
Two sets of eyebrows vaulted suspiciously.
"He did," Olivia said, sounding unconvinced.
Glancing upward, curious blue eyes met Olivia's gaze. "Yes, he did," she said with conviction.
Olivia grinned. "Wonders never cease," she muttered.
Natalia tapped Olivia's abdomen with the back of her hand. "You behave now," she insisted.
Arizona chuckled to herself. There was definitely some juicy history involved in their story. "He spent the whole night here in the NICU," she reported. "Said he was beyond grateful to you and Mr. Spaulding, for getting the best doctors to handle Dantéa's care, Olivia."
"Anything for our baby girl," Olivia said with conviction.
Smiling, Natalia squeezed Olivia around the waist. "Seems her dramatic entrance is working some miracles."
Olivia pressed a kiss against Natalia's temple. "Indeed, it does." And she was perfectly fine with that… as long as both Frank and Phillip remembered their respective places in the girls' lives.
"So what's the latest, Doc?" Natalia queried. "How soon do you think we can hold her?"
A faint smile flickered across Arizona's mouth. "I know it must be hard, not being able to hold her right now," she empathized.
"That must be your way of saying 'Not anytime soon'," Olivia surmised.
"I'm sorry," Arizona said genuinely. "She really is very strong, but she's still struggling. Her lungs need a little time to grow stronger before we can risk her being out of the isolette."
"I understand," Natalia nodded, disappointment flashing across her face.
"I know it's not the same, but you can reach inside and touch her," Arizona offered in exchange. "You can stroke her skin and feel those sweet little dark curls," she smiled.
"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Natalia gushed.
"They are," Arizona agreed, her mind drifting for a moment to another mop of thick dark curls—the ones sported by a very sexy orthopedic surgeon named Callie Torres, back at Seattle Grace. That woman was hot enough to curl Arizona's toes just thinking about her.
"Just like her Mama's," Olivia beamed. She loved the way Natalia's thick dark curls splayed out across her pillow when she slept. And the way it fell forward, creating a curtain around them as Natalia leaned down in bed to kiss her. And the way it cascaded down along the curve of her spine when Natalia arched her back as she came astride Olivia's thighs, her pregnant belly brushing against Olivia's abdomen. God, she was breathtaking.
Natalia blushed at the compliment, and buried her face against Olivia's chest. "You stop," she commanded, giving her a bashful swat.
Arizona grinned knowingly. "I'll leave you two to bond with your baby girl," she announced. "Don't hesitate to page me if you need anything."
"We won't," Olivia assured as she ushered Natalia closer to the incubator so that they could reach inside.
"Thank you, Dr. Robbins," Natalia said, the depth of her appreciation evident in her tone.
With that, Arizona nodded and excused herself, leaving them to get acquainted with their beautiful baby girl with the thick dark curls and perfect olive skin, just like her Mama.
Thursday, July 9, 2009… Olivia's Office, The Beacon—11:15 a.m. Central Daylight Time
"You wouldn't care to have a romantic lunch date with me, would ya?" Tracy asked, popping her head into Olivia's office where she found Jen finishing up the morning reports. She looked right at home behind that desk—the picture of competence: confident and powerful. It was a potent aphrodisiac for Tracy.
Glancing up, Jen couldn't help but smile. "Oh, I don't know," she said, sounding reticent. "My fiancée might get a little bent out of shape if she catches me with a sexy younger woman."
Tracy grinned. "She's the jealous type, is she?"
"Green-eyed monster, and all," Jen teased.
Laughing, Tracy pushed the door open further, stepping inside. "Watershed okay?"
"It's perfect," Jen readily agreed. Sliding the stack of reports into the daily folder, she stood from the desk meeting Tracy halfway across the room, where she pulled Tracy directly into her arms. "Anywhere with you is perfect," she declared, leaning in for a kiss.
"Sweet-talker," Tracy lightly accused, smiling into their kiss.
Releasing her, Jen draped an arm over Tracy's shoulder, casually guiding her toward the door. "I think I'll order something for Olivia and Natalia as well; take it over to the hospital for them," she commented. "The food over there is dreadful."
"That's a great idea," Tracy said. "Maybe I'll join you."
"I'd love that."
"Any news on Dantéa?" Tracy asked, when Jen stopped to lock the office door.
"'Rough night,' was really all Olivia said in her text this morning," Jen reported. "But Natalia is doing a lot better."
"Oh, gosh, I'm so glad to hear that," Tracy said, sounding relieved. It was a sentiment that would be echoed time and again, as the news of Dantéa's birth and the associated difficulties spread not only around the Beacon, but throughout Springfield.
"Yeah," Jen sighed. "Me too."
"Oooh, I can't wait to get my hands on that baby," Tracy gushed as they sauntered down the hall toward the newly-renovated atrium. Josh Lewis's crew had done a spectacular job of making Natalia's plans a reality—a sentiment echoed by Beacon staff and guests, alike.
"Yeah, just don't go getting any ideas," Jen said teasingly.
"No worries, Cara," Tracy said nonchalantly. "At least not until we're married…"
Thursday, July 9, 2009… NICU, Cedars Hospital—11:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time
As Dr. Robbins stepped away, Lacey, Dantéa's NICU nurse approached, at the doctor's request, to show the new mommies how to safely interact with their daughter. "I know all of these lead wires can be a bit intimidating at first, but you'll get used to them," she empathically assured. "Before you know it, you'll barely notice them."
"We'll just have to take your word for it," Natalia commented with a grin as she slipped freshly scrubbed hands through the access portals on the incubator. She couldn't wait to touch their baby.
"It's true. I promise," Lacey smiled.
Natalia offered a faint smile that said she wanted to believe her, but just wasn't quite there yet. The machines, and tubes, and wires were overwhelming. She made a mental note to talk with Olivia about whether or not they should allow Emma to visit before the tubes and wires were mostly disconnected.
Recognizing the expression well, Lacey patted Natalia's shoulder supportively. "She's due for a diaper change," she informed. "Think you might be up to the challenge?"
The sooner the parents were involved in routine care, the quicker that truth would become reality. She knew that from experience.
Natalia looked slightly panicked for a moment, and then, with the gentle touch of Olivia's hand on the small of her back, she quickly rallied. That simple touch was always enough to bolster her courage, and settle her fears. "No time like the present," she declared.
"Great," Lacey declared, her moon-shaped grey eyes dancing with mirth. "Her diapers are in the drawer beneath her cart, Olivia."
Glancing down, Olivia unlatched the lock, and pulling the stainless steel drawer toward her, she retrieved a fresh diaper, handing it to Natalia. It wasn't much bigger than the palm of Emma's hand, and the realization startled them both.
"I've never seen a diaper this small," Natalia gulped, suddenly feeling a rush of anxiety flood over her.
"They are really tiny, aren't they?" Lacey commiserated knowingly. "Believe it or not, Dantéa's aren't the smallest we use."
"Really?" That one simple statement gave Natalia hope, and her tone of voice reflected it.
"True story," Lacey smiled. She recognized that sparkle of hope in the frightened mommy's voice.
"You're good at this, you know," Natalia remarked.
"Good at what?" Lacey feigned ignorance.
"Making scared mommies feel better," Natalia replied.
Lacey offered a reassuring smile. "It's my pleasure to care for mommies, daddies, and babies, alike."
"What about big sisters?" Olivia inquired. She'd been content to sit back and enjoy the positive interaction until now.
"Dantéa has a big sister?" Lacey inquired.
"Two of them, actually," Olivia informed. "And a big brother."
"Our oldest two are adults though," Natalia supplied.
"I think I saw her older brother peeking through the glass last night," Lacey commented, recalling the handsome young Latino man she'd noticed outside the nursery window. He had the same curly dark hair as Natalia and Dantéa. "Seems he's not quite ready to come for a visit."
"I imagine Rafe is as nervous as we are," Olivia surmised. He'd been rather quiet when he brought Emma in to visit Natalia earlier that morning.
"That's understandable," Lacey normalized. "I'm sure he'll come around soon."
"Emma is already chomping at the bit to meet her baby sister," Natalia said.
"I take it she's your younger daughter," Lacey deduced.
"She's eight," Natalia reported, pride evident in her tone.
"Going on thirty," Olivia supplied on a wry tone accompanied by a grin.
"Oh, you stop," Natalia censured lightly, drawing a chuckle from both Olivia and Lacey.
"When do you think Emma will be allowed to visit?" Olivia inquired. She'd been so disappointed earlier that morning, when she hadn't been permitted to meet Dantéa.
"Oh, Liv, I don't think she should visit just yet," Natalia interjected.
Surprised, Olivia tilted her head, green eyes filled with inquiry. "Something wrong, Sweetheart?"
"The tubes, and wires, and…"
Smiling faintly, Olivia nodded. "A bit overwhelming?" she said empathically.
Natalia nodded. "If it's overwhelming to me, imagine how it might make her feel."
"I think that's for the best," Lacey agreed. "Once Dantéa can tolerate being outside the incubator, she'll be ready to meet her big sister," she suggested. "We just need her lungs to be a bit stronger."
"You're right," Olivia conceded. "As much as I hate to disappoint Em, I agree."
"I'm so sorry," Lacey empathized. "I know this is difficult."
"It is," Olivia concurred. And then she pulled Natalia close against her side. "But I'm grateful for the struggle, because Natalia is by my side, and Dantéa is doing well, all things considered. I could've lost them both…"
She allowed the statement to finish itself, and received a nod of understanding with Lacey as Natalia nestled into her side, pressing her face against Olivia's chest.
Delivered on a husky whisper, the quiet "Amen," that slipped from Natalia's lips soothed Olivia's soul more than any word ever had, or ever would.
TBC in Chapter 18.7…