Chapter 92

Olivia and Natalia finally made it to St. Louis after postponing to handle Frank. It was Tuesday evening and they were supposed to meet with the sellers that evening but had to ask them to reschedule for Wednesday morning, which was agreed to. They were checking into a hotel just down the road from the property they were looking at. They were supposed to come after the grand opening in Chicago but scheduling conflicts with the seller made it impossible so they had to move the trip up. It was taking all they had to not stress about it. The grand opening in Chicago was the following Friday and they were still working on staffing. Luckily they were able to do most of the interviews via video with Andrew there to assist. Most of the staff had decided to stay on. They just needed a manager for the laundry department, a new head of security, and a new chef. Andrew said he knew of a great security team and two different chef's he felt would be great for the job. Olivia and Natalia would meet with the head of security and do a taste test with both chefs when they went to Chicago at the beginning of the following week.

After checking in, they took their bags to their room and then headed downtown to Three Sixty for dinner. After an amazing meal, the two decided to take a short walk since it wasn't extremely cold. As they walked hand in hand, Olivia decided it was time to tell Natalia what she and Rafe had talked about a few days previous.

"Honey?" Olivia started.

Natalia leaned further into her and smiled. "Yes my love."

"I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Okay. What's up?"

"Well, uh, I talked to Rafe a little while ago."

"About what?"

"School or taking some classes."

"Oh? What did he say?"

"He wanted to take some night classes, but with everything going on, he asked if it was okay that he not. He said he really wants to focus on his job, and then with everything with Frank, he missed the enrollment deadline."

"Oh."

"He was afraid to tell you. He didn't want you to be disappointed in him again."

"What? Why would he think that?"

"You were really excited for him to further his education, and he knows how disappointed you were when he went to prison. He just doesn't want to let you down again. I told him that you were so proud of him and that wasn't going to change just because he didn't go to school, but he was so worried. I told him I would tell you for him, I just haven't had a chance."

"I had hoped he would go to college and get a degree, but, he is doing so well at the hotel, and you've said it before, neither of us went to college and we're doing pretty good for ourselves. I can't be upset that he's not going when he is doing so well and changing himself and his life so much."

"I agree. I don't think it's necessary for him to go. I had thought that it would be helpful to him, but, like you, and me, and Ava, I think he will learn all he needs to on the job. He's an amazing kid just like his mom. He doesn't need a degree for me to know that."

"He really is. I still can't thank you enough for giving him this chance. He really needed something to strive for in his life and you gave that to him. I am so grateful."

"You don't need to thank me sweetheart. This is our business and our family. I'm thrilled that he and Ava are both working for us. Before we know it they'll both be ready to take over their own locations and we'll be expanding even more."

"We were on our little break when you gave him this chance, this one was all you."

"We may have been on a break, but I knew it wasn't gonna last by the time I offered the job to Rafe. We were going to be a family and I was happy to give my son a job and keep him from joining the army."

"You are too good to me Olivia."

"I'm no more good to you then you are to me my love."

Natalia stopped them and stepped in front of Olivia. Pushing up onto her tip toes, she planted a sweet chaste kiss on Olivia's lips before they entered their hotel and went up to their room. After calling to check on the kids, the two shared a quick shower before crawling into bed. Olivia wrapped her arms around Natalia from behind and brought her tight against herself.

"Mmm. You feel so good in my arms." Olivia stated as she kissed the side of her wife's neck.

"Hmm. I love being in your arms. You make me feel so safe, like nothing in the world can hurt me." Natalia returned, pulling the arm around her waist tighter around her.

"I will always protect you baby, with my life."

"I know. Do you think these charges on Frank are going to stick?" Natalia asked, turning onto her back so she could look into her wife's eyes.

"I think Doris and Mel are going to do everything in their power to make sure Frank pays for his crimes. I still can't believe how bad he has lost his mind. I've known Frank for a lot of years and he wasn't always the 'good guy' everyone says he is, but this, this is another level."

"Would you tell me what happened between you two? I know that you dated and I know a little of what happened with Buzz, but what's the whole story? Why does he hate you so much?"

"You sure you wanna know that story? It's not a pretty one."

"Honey, nothing you tell me could ever change my view of you. The good and the bad have made you who you are and I love every bit of who you are."

Olivia took a deep breath and kissed the woman in her arms long and hard before pulling back and starting the story. "Alright. Well, much like you, Frank and I only went out a couple of times. He was nice and he was good to me and to Emma. He wanted to be 'that guy' for me. Problem was, I had started to have real feelings for Buzz. So, me being me, I couldn't do anything simple. I invited the Cooper's and Josh to a uh little slumber party at a cabin. In true Olivia Spencer style, I had every intention of playing a few head games. I spent time with Josh, Frank, and Buzz, drank with all of them, led them all on, and ended up in Buzz's bed."

"And?"

"And I kind of let Frank believe that there was more between us then there was. He really thought that he could be the one, the guy that would tame the beast and chase away all my demons. He really thought that with the right person I could change, quit manipulating, and scheming."

"You have changed."

"Yes, but it took you for me to do that. Frank thought he could be that person. He was crushed and more then pissed when Buzz and I told him about us. However, in typical good guy fashion, Frank was able to get passed it and at least try to be happy for us. That is, until I left Buzz standing at the alter on our wedding day for Jeffery…"

"Wait, you left Buzz for Jeffery?" Natalia asked confused and angry at the mention of the man's name.

"Kind of, yes. I couldn't marry Buzz. I really loved him. I left him to save him from me. I couldn't ruin him the way I did so many others. He deserved better than me."

"Olivia…"

"No, let me finish."

"Okay."

"I don't really know what happened with Jeffery then. I guess I thought being with him could fix the hole inside of me from the past. So much happened back then. I mean, I just figured out who Jeffery was, that Ava was my daughter, so much crazy was happening in my life and I just wanted to not feel so broken and lost. Discovering who Jeffery really was, it broke the lock I had on the past. I had kept all of that pain and all of that sorrow locked away so deep inside of me, but then when I figured it out, when I finally stood face to face with the man that had hurt me all those years ago, I snapped. I tried to kill him, more than once, and then Ava. I figured out Ava was my daughter and I was still dealing with the things I'd done to her. And then, there was Buzz, this wonderful man that knew about the demons of my past, about my mother and he loved me, he wanted to marry me despite all of that, and I couldn't do it. I couldn't do that to him. So, I didn't. Anyways, Frank had no understanding for it and he never could get past it. I hurt Buzz so badly and I will forever regret the pain I caused him, but, at the same time, I wouldn't change it. Not now. If I had married Buzz, then I wouldn't have you. He was the first person to truly understand that I was a very broken person that just needed to be loved and wanted. I ruined that."

"I'm confused. If Buzz loved you the way you needed, then how come it wasn't enough? What made me different then Buzz?"

"I think I was far from ready back then, and I think that my being sick changed a lot. When I got sick, yes, I was still me, I did awful things, mainly to you, but I also got a new perspective. I mean, we both know it didn't happen overnight, far from it, but it did happen. I was able to change, to move on from my past. You had a lot to do with that."

She paused for a second to kiss her loves lips before continuing. "When you refused to let me die, when you fought for me even after everything I had done to you, I started to realize how big of a gift I was given. I was given a second chance at life, a chance to get to know Ava and watch Emma grow up. And then, there was you. This stubborn, spitfire, know it all, goody two shoes, refusing to let me waste what she had given me."

They both smiled at that and then Olivia kept going. "Your goodness, your kindness, showed me that there are better ways. As much as I wanted to rant and rave and throw you out, deep down, I was so grateful to you. I enjoyed our little verbal sparring contest, and I enjoyed having someone not afraid to go toe to toe with me. Someone unwilling to back down from the "all mighty" Olivia Spencer. It was nice to be around someone that challenged me in so many ways. But you were also there for me, even when I lied to us both and said I didn't want you to be. You did so much for me, not just taking care of me, and everything with Decker and Emma, but you showed me what a truly good person looks like, and it's you."

"You're a good person too Olivia. You are…" Olivia silenced her with a finger to her lips.

"I'm grateful you think that, but you are the best person I have ever met and you changed me, you opened my eyes, and then when we became friends, I just, I couldn't be that person anymore. I couldn't disappoint you. I wanted to be better, not just for me and for my daughters, but for you. Not even Buzz could do that, make me want to be better. I loved Buzz so much, he's a very good man, but he wasn't the one for me, and I wasn't the one for him either. Lillian is a much better match for him, and you my love, you are perfect for me. You are my equal in every way. I love you so much Natalia Spencer-Rivera."

"I love you too. And you changed me too ya know."

"How's that?"

"You made me realize my potential. You challenged me, you fought with me, you pushed me to be more than I ever thought I could be. Our little verbal spats were almost thrilling for me, and the way you never let me back down from anything. You always pushed me to do the things you knew I could even when I didn't. You refused to let me be less then you saw in me. And Olivia, you were there for me too. You did so much for me, and for Rafe. I have never had anyone in my corner the way you were, from that sleaze ball lawyer all the way through to Rafe being released, you were always there. Fighting with me, even before we were really friends. I can never thank you enough for that. You saved me so many times Olivia."

"We saved each other."

"Yes we did. I think our entire lives had to happen the way they did, to get us here, with each other. We were made to be together. I see more in you then your past and your mistakes, I see the real Olivia Spencer, and you see more in me then a meager Catholic woman and a mother. You see the real me too. No one has ever seen me the way you do. Thank you Olivia."

Olivia kissed her then, it was chaste but full of all the love she felt for the other woman. "You have no reason to thank me, as I've heard you say countless times, I didn't do anything, I just love you and I would do anything for you."

"As I would you. Now, we better get some sleep we have a busy day tomorrow."

"Yes we do. I love you Natalia."

Natalia gave her a sweet kiss and turned in her arms until Olivia was once again spooning her. "I love you Olivia, so much."

Olivia kissed her wife's shoulder and the two drifted to sleep in the safety of each other's arms and the comfort of their love.

Their meeting the following morning went well. They toured the property, making notes of the things they would want to change. After speaking with Josh and sending him some pictures and videos of the building and the renovations they would like to have done, they got a pretty good idea of what the cost and timeline would be. It was a bigger project then Chicago and would take approximately three to four months depending on the contractor they hired so, after a long discussion and weighing the pros and cons, Olivia and Natalia bought their third property at a steel.

They stayed in St. Louis on Thursday so they could look into some contractors that Josh had suggested. They spoke with several and were able to set up times for three of them to come check out the property and make a bid for the week after Chicago opened. After a little debate, they decided to catch a flight home that evening, luckily finding one with only one stop. After a three-and-a-half-hour flight, they were home at eleven thirty and more than ready for bed.

They hadn't told their children they were coming, instead choosing to surprise them. They had figured they would all be in bed and planned on getting up early to make them all breakfast as their way of announcing they came home early. When they opened the door, they were surprised to find Rafe and Ava on the couch with Ava curled into her brothers arms almost shaking with tears.

Olivia tossed their bags to the floor and rushed to her children. She knelt down in front of them, Natalia joining her. "Hey, what's wrong? What happened?"

Ava sat up straight and she and Rafe looked at their mothers. "Frank." Was all Ava could get out.

Olivia looked to Rafe confused. "What? What happened now? What did he do to you?" She asked frantically, worried that one of her children had been hurt by the crazed man.

"Calm down mom. He didn't hurt us or anything, he's out on bail and when we picked up dinner at Company earlier he was there and he made some comments." Rafe answered placing his free hand on Olivia's shoulder to try and calm her while his other hand still held tight to his sister.

Natalia sat on the couch on the other side of Ava and pulled her into her arms. "Shh, it's okay honey, nothing's going to happen. We're here now."

Olivia placed a hand on her daughters knee. "Take a few deep breaths baby. We expected him to get out on bail. Nothing is going to happen though. I don't think even Frank is dumb enough to go against the restraining order."

Ava sniffed and pulled away from Natalia so she could hug her other mother. "It's not that mom, he was threatening you."

"What do you mean honey? What exactly happened?"

Ava looked to Rafe, unsure of what to say since she only heard most of it second hand from him. Rafe patted her shoulder and looked between his mothers. "Well, uh, we walked in, just picking up a to go order so we could come home and eat and get Emma to bed, Frank was sitting at the bar and as soon as we saw him Emma started to shake a little and hid behind Ava. When I realized what had her so scared, I sent her and Ava out to the car and just walked to the counter and asked Blake to please get our order. She nodded and went into the kitchen. While she was gone, Frank came over and started telling me how bad of a son I was to allow Ma to stay with you, to marry you. That I was stupid if I thought for one minute that you changed, that you weren't the same person you've always been. I tried really hard not to say anything but he just kept going on about how horrible you were and about saving Ma from you, I couldn't take it so I kind of fired off at him. He got really angry and said that he wouldn't allow you to manipulate me and Ma, that he was going to save us both even it meant eliminating you. I asked him what he meant by that and he said, 'just wait, you'll see, you'll all see. Olivia Spencer is nothing but…" He stopped, unwilling to repeat the awful things Frank had said about his mom.

"But what Rafe, it's okay, I'm not gonna break, I'm sure it's nothing I haven't heard before." Olivia assured him.

"It doesn't matter mom; he just said some really bad things about you and then kind of sulked off. It wasn't so much what he said, it was more the look in his eyes. It was kind of scary. I've seen that look before, in prison. Guys would get this crazed look when they were about to do something really stupid. I'm really worried about what he might do. The way he was talking about destroying you, I'm not certain a restraining order would stop him."

Olivia and Natalia exchanged a look before Olivia spoke again. "It's okay you two. I'm sure he's just angry. I'll call Doris and see exactly what's going on. If I'm correct he is at the very least suspended until this is all over and I'm sure he's none too happy about that. When I get off the phone with her, I'll call down to the station and see if they can have someone drive by every now and then to make sure he doesn't come out here. Okay?"

Rafe and Ava both nodded and Natalia gave her a small smile. Olivia stood and kissed both of her children's heads, as well as giving her wife a quick kiss before going to the kitchen to call Doris. When she entered the kitchen, she placed her arms out in front of her against the sink and grunted under her breath. She was trying to stay strong for her family but she of all people knew how crazy one could get when protecting the people they love. What she had done to Ava when she thought she tried to poison Emma was proof of that. Not to mention everything else she'd done in the past to protect Emma.

After a few deep breaths and reminding herself that she had to keep it together for her family, she was able to call Doris. After several rings, Doris finally answered with a slurred hello since Olivia had woken her. "Doris? It's Olivia."

"What the hell do you want Spencer? Some of us actually sleep."

"I know, I'm sorry. Natalia and I just got back and the kids are freaking out because Frank's out on bail and I guess he said some things to Rafe earlier when he picked up dinner at Company. I just need to know what's going on. Is he suspended? Do I need to worry about him?" She said in a rush. Panic lacing her every word.

Doris could hear the fear in her friends voice and quickly became fully awake. "Slow down Olivia. Yes, he's suspended and no you shouldn't have to worry about him. It was made very clear that he is to stay away from you and your family."

"Well, that hasn't gone too well so far."

"Olivia, there's nothing I can do if you or your family willing go into Company. His father owns it. I know it's a favorite of your family and I know you and Buzz are friends, but I would suggest avoiding anywhere that Frank may be until this is over."

"We will. We had no clue he was out."

"I understand that, but now that you do, it's in everyone's best interest to avoid making contact with him, which means, no Company for the time being. If you really feel you'll die without a Buzz burger, have someone not related to you go and get it." She said in a joking tone.

"Ha, ha Wolfe. I can live without a Buzz burger; I just enjoy them."

"I know. So, what did Frank say to Rafe?"

"The usual, Frank good, Olivia bad. I guess Rafe got the impression he was threatening me and it freaked him out. I hate that my kids have to go through this. When they walked in Emma saw Frank first and was shaking and hiding behind Ava. My little girl should not have to be afraid like that."

"No, she shouldn't. I'll speak with Frank tomorrow, make sure he understands what violating the restraining order will look like for him. Don't worry Olivia, it will all be over soon. I am doing all I can to have Frank's trial as soon as possible."

"Thanks Doris. I know you're doing all you can."

"I am. Alright Spencer, I need my beauty sleep. You go calm down your children and you all need to get some rest."

"Thanks. I will. Night Doris."

"Night."

Once she hung up, Olivia called Springfield PD and was able to convince them to have someone drive by a few times just as a precaution. Once she was off the phone she rejoined her family in the living room. Ava had calmed down and the three were just sitting on the couch in silence waiting to hear from Olivia.

As soon as she walked in, Natalia was on her feet to meet her wife. "What did Doris say?"

Olivia took her hand and led her to the chair across from the couch. Sitting down she pulled Natalia onto her lap and turned to face their kids. "Doris said that yes, Frank is suspended until after his trial. She is working to get his trial going as soon as possible. She also said that it was made very clear to him to stay away from our family. She's going to reiterate that with him tomorrow. However, we have to do our part as well. No more Company until this is over, and if you see Frank, just turn, and walk the other way. Even with a restraining order, he isn't barred from public places and Company is owned by his family. He can't come to us, but if we go to him, then the restraining order doesn't protect us. Am I clear? Stay away from Frank Cooper and Company."

"Yes ma'am." Rafe said at the same time as Ava said, "yeah mom."

"Good. Now, I think we all need to get some rest."

"I second that." Natalia agreed.

"Um, mom, can uh…" Rafe glanced at Ava. "Can we maybe…"

Olivia had a feeling she knew what her children needed. "Do you two want to stay with me and Ma tonight?"

"Can we? I know we're not little kids anymore, but um, I'm worried about you."

"You can always come stay with us if you feel you need to. Why don't you and Ava both get on some pj's and let your Ma and I get ready for bed. Then you can grab Emma and we'll all pile up in our bed. Sound good?"

Rafe and Ava both smiled and went off to their rooms to change for bed. Olivia lifted Natalia from her lap and stood as well, taking her wife's hand, and leading her to their room. "Well, not exactly what I expected to come home to. Frank's out on bail and we're sharing our bed with our very grown children."

Natalia turned from the drawer she was grabbing pajamas from and wrapped her arms around Olivia's neck. "No, not what I expected, but I have to say, I love how our family pulls together when one or all of us is scared. I never thought Rafe would be the kind to cuddle in bed with us. He stopped climbing in my bed from bad dreams at five claiming he was too old for such things."

"Yeah. I never thought I would ever have Ava curled up in my bed when I met her as an adult. It is nice that our kids revert back to childish behaviors when disaster strikes. I like having the chance to comfort them both as if they are still little."

"Me too. And our little Emma. She knows that her mommies will always be here for her when she needs us."

"Yes she does."

With a quick kiss, the two finished getting ready and crawled into bed just as Ava knocked on the door announcing the arrival of their three babies. Olivia told them to come in and they opened the door. Ava came in first and took her spot on one side of Natalia with her head on her shoulder and one of Natalia's arms around her. Rafe laid a still sleeping Emma on Natalia's other side and took his place between Ava and Olivia, his head resting on Olivia's chest just above her heart. Olivia held him, rubbing up and down his back in the way she did to sooth Emma. Natalia tightened her hold on both of the girls in her arms, kissing each of their heads. Olivia smiled at her wife and children all laying in her bed. She bent her head and placed a kiss to Rafe's dark curls. These kisses spoke of protection and family. A promise Olivia and Natalia silently made to keep each other and their children safe from any and all harm.