Chapter 106

Olivia lay peacefully in her lovers arms as the sun streamed in through the window. It was a rare occasion that she was awake before her wife, but this Saturday morning she just couldn't seem to sleep any longer. Not only was she missing her actual bedroom with the blackout curtains that blocked out most of the morning sun, but she was also plagued with the conversation the two were set to have with their youngest daughter this afternoon. Although she knew Felicia and Natalia were right, they needed to talk with Emma, she still didn't want to.

If they didn't talk about it, she could pretend her little girl didn't know how bad that fateful night had been. Although Emma had seen her at the hospital, and was witness to her mother's slow recovery, Olivia still liked to dilute herself into believing that her innocent baby girl, her Jellybean, didn't know how truly close she and Rafe came to death that night. The more she thought about Emma being privy to such details, the more her blood burned with the fire of hell for Frank Cooper.

It was one thing for the man to attack her, to beat her, and almost kill her. But to hurt her children and her wife, well, that was something Olivia Spencer-Rivera just couldn't stand for. It was bad enough her adult son had been witness to the pain and hate that man inflected on her. It was awful to think that her eldest daughter had seen the havoc of her room and the blood on the floor. Unthinkable that her wife had seen the pictures of the crime scene and herself beaten and battered before the hospital cleaned her up.

But Emma, sweet, innocent, Emma, had been saved from all of that. Or at least she thought she had. They had made certain she didn't see their room until it was cleaned of all the blood and broken glass. They had given her vague answers as to what had happened and how bad Olivia had truly been beaten. They had done all they could to protect her from the hurt of knowing. Olivia had done her best to hide her pain around her youngest child. She had plastered on a smile no matter how she felt if Emma walked in the room. She had stifled tears and swallowed cries of agony.

But now, now they knew that Emma had not been saved. She knew more than they had ever hoped she would, and now they needed to address the matter. When the week had started in Chicago she had planned for a nice weekend spent with her wife and children before the trial on Monday. She had planned to do her best to make them all forget about what was looming ahead for just a little while, but now, now the ugliness that all but overtook their lives for the time being would be brought into what she had hoped would be a fun and peaceful weekend with her family.

As her thoughts continued to lead her down a dark path, a simple gesture from the woman behind her brought light back into her mind. Natalia placed a soft kiss to the back of Olivia's neck and tightened the arms around her waist. Just like that, the darkness that was over taking Olivia's brain dimmed and a smile bloomed on her face. It was a small act. Something Natalia did every morning that she woke up as the big spoon, but at this moment in time, it made a huge difference in Olivia's mood. No matter what lay ahead today, or even Monday, she would have her wife by her side, her children's love, and a town that once hated her, all standing behind her. That was all that truly mattered. No matter how grim things felt, as long as her family and friends were surrounding her, she could endure anything. With that thought in mind, she carefully rolled to her back and looked up into the most beautiful chocolate brown eyes she'd ever seen.

"Good morning beautiful."

"Mmm. Morning querida. Sleep well?"

"Always when I'm w-with you."

"Sweet talker."

"Apparently not sw-sweet enough." Natalia gave her a quizzical look. "If I was any g-good with my sweet talking, my w-wife would have kissed me b-by now."

Natalia chuckled at her adorable wife with her bed head hair and bright green eyes before bending down and sealing their lips together. It was a mere press of lips at first, but then Olivia swiped her tongue along her wife's bottom lip and Natalia was quick to open for her. Their tongues met in a dance for dominance. Olivia reached a hand up to hook behind Natalia's neck and draw her closer, deepening the kiss further. For a moment the two were lost in the kiss, both needing to feel the other. To connect in the most basic of ways. Natalia forgot herself and her hands wandered to her lover's stomach. They inched further and further up, taking Olivia's sleep shirt with them, until Olivia pulled back with a hiss of pain and flopped her head back on the pillow.

Natalia's hands retracted as if they were burned and a look of pure sorrow crossed her features. "I'm so sorry honey. I didn't… I just…I'm sorry. I forgot for a minute." Unshed tears were forming in her eyes as she leaned on her elbow over Olivia and pulled up her shirt to inspect where broken ribs were still healing. She knew she wouldn't see more then the bruising that was already there, but she felt awful and ashamed for hurting her wife and didn't know what else to do at the moment.

Olivia reached for her wife's hand and brought it to her lips, kissing fingertips one at a time. "It's o-okay, I'm f-fine. J-just…"

"Hurt Olivia. Just hurt. I hurt you. I'm so sorry, I was so wrapped up in how good you felt that I let myself forget that you're still so injured. I can't…"

Whatever else she was about to ramble off with was cut off with a slow kiss from Olivia. "It's r-really okay sw-sweetheart. I was enjoying myself t-too. For a minute there it w-was like I wasn't a cripple and I c-could just enjoy a nice morning m-make out session with my sexy w-wife. Maybe even make a t-try for second base." She wiggled her eyebrows trying to get at least a smile from her love.

It worked. Natalia smiled and even chuckled a little. She gave Olivia a quick peck before pulling back again. "I love you so much Olivia. I hate that I hurt you, but I enjoyed the kissing, and the touching, before it became painful for you."

Olivia stretched her neck for another sweet kiss. "Mmm, I en-enjoyed it too. I miss your hands on me, and I r-really miss my hands on you." She added with a wink. Reaching out to run a hand teasingly up Natalia's thigh.

Natalia grabbed the wandering hand and laughed at her wife's antics as Olivia stuck out her bottom lip and pretended to cry at having her caress stopped. "As much as I would love to let you continue, we both know that this can't go anywhere and it will just leave us both wanting."

Olivia's lips formed into a pout again. "But I wanna." She whined.

Natalia mock pouted back. "My poor baby. Only a couple more weeks."

"You do realize t-that we rarely go more than two d-days right?"

"Yes my love. I am aware. Believe me, I'm aware. However, your health is much more important to me. I promise, as soon as Doctor Rick clears you for such activities, I will be happy to assist you in making up for lost time." She leaned in for one more kiss before rolling from the bed. "But for now," she opened Olivia's pill bottles and handed them to her along with a bottle of water. "Take your pills and lets go enjoy breakfast with our children."

Olivia swallowed the pills and reached for Natalia's offered hand to help her get off the bed. "Fine." Taking her cane, she carefully made her way down the hall to the kitchen with Natalia trailing behind her.

When they reached the kitchen, Doris and Ava were both already seated at the table with coffee in hand. "Morning moms." Ava greeted with a smile. "There's a fresh pot of coffee for you."

Olivia slowly walked to her daughter and kissed her head before making her way into a chair while Natalia grabbed them both coffees. "Thank you baby. M-morning Wolfe."

"Spencer-Rivera's." Doris greeted without looking up from the paper.

"Emma still sleeping?" Natalia asked.

Doris finally set down her paper and lifted her head to the other women in the room. "Yeah. Poor girl had a rough night last night. I swear I'm gonna wake up with a black eye one of these mornings."

"I'm sorry Doris. I'm sure she'll be able to sleep alone again soon."

"Oh, pwwwt." She waved it off. "I'm just teasing. I'd do anything for that kid. As long as she needs me, I'll be here. While I agree, I want her to be able to sleep alone again, it's only because I know it'll mean she feels safe again. Until then…" She tilted her head as a way of saying she would be there.

"Thank you D-Doris. It means a lot th-that you're doing this for her." Olivia said honestly.

"Yeah well, you'd do it for Ashley. So, what's going on today? I have to meet up with Mel and I'd like to run to the station and talk with Mallet and Boudreau. You guys doing anything special today."

"Nothing big p-planned. We were hoping t-to get in some family time be-before the trial on Monday, but, w-we need to speak with Emma before w-we do anything."

"What's wrong with Em mom?" Ava asked. Concerned that Dr. Boudreau had told them something after Emma's appointment.

"Nothing's wrong with h-her. Felicia just feels th-that we need to have a real con-conversation with her about w-what happened. Apparently s-she knows more than any of u-us think she does."

"Actually Ava, you might benefit from this conversation too." Natalia said, placing a hand on her daughters shoulder from her position standing behind her.

Ava twisted her neck to meet Natalia's gaze. "How so?"

"Well, Dr. Boudreau suggested that we talk with Emma, find out what she knows and fill in any missing pieces. Keep it as gentle and kid friendly as possible but answer her questions honestly. She thinks it might help with her nightmares. Since she doesn't know what really happened, just what she's overheard from us, her mind is supplying varying versions of the events that took place. According to Felicia, what she is thinking is worse then what actually occurred. I realize you might not want to know exactly what happened, but, you also only know what you've pieced together. So, maybe you want to know more too. Hmm?"

"No, I'm good. Thanks though."

Olivia reached out for her daughters hand. "Ava baby, a-are you sure? It m-might do you some good."

"I'm sure." Ava stood from the table and kissed both of her mother's on the cheek. "I'm gonna go get ready. I need to run to The Beacon for a couple hours and I want to call Andrew and check on things in Chicago." She quickly turned and walked out of the kitchen.

"Ava…" Olivia started, attempting to stand.

Doris stopped her and placed her mug in the sink. "No, let me talk to her. Maybe a non-mom is needed for this conversation. I'll check on Emma before I go talk to her."

"Thank you Doris." Natalia said genuinely as she took the seat next to her wife that Ava had just vacated. Once Doris walked off, Natalia turned to her wife. "I think we need to try and get Ava to see someone. If not Felicia then someone else. I can see why she might be worried about speaking with Dr. Boudreau one of one, with their history, but she needs to talk to someone. It's like she's trying to pretend it never happened."

"I know. I w-wish she would just talk to m-me, or you, or anyone." A single tear escaped her eye but she wiped it away and took a drink of her coffee. Now was not the time to break down. She needed to stay strong and get through this talk with Emma. "So um, wh-when do you want to talk to Emma?"

Before Natalia could answer, little feet could be heard stomping down the stairs. Emma came quickly into the kitchen and was caught in Natalia's arms. "No running in the house missy." Natalia admonished as she covered the little girls face in kisses. "Good morning Jellybean. What would you like for breakfast?"

"Umm, banana pancakes?" She asked as she eased out of her Ma's arms and gently leaned in to kiss her mommy on the cheek. "Morning mommy."

"Morning Bean. And I s-second that vote."

Natalia patted her knees and stood from her chair. "Banana pancakes it is." She stated as she leant down and graced her wife with a quick peck. "You gonna help me make em Jellybean?"

"Yeah. Can I go get Ava and Rafe and we can all cook together?"

"You can go wake your brother if you'd like, but Ava is having a grown-up talk with Auntie Doris. However, I bet Uncle Sam wouldn't mind coming to learn how to make the Spencer-Rivera house specialty."

"Yes at s-seven-thirty in the m-morning on a Saturday, I b-bet your Uncle Sammie w-will be thrilled for you to wake him u-up to make pancakes." Olivia said with a sly smile.

"Yay!" After a fist pump the excited child ran off to her brothers apartment to wake him. Within minutes they were making their way back up the stairs with Rafe rubbing his still tired eyes.

"Really guys, it's not even eight, you couldn't have kept her up here just another thirty minutes."

"Well, we could h-have, but this w-was way more en-entertaining for me." Olivia joked as she playfully shoved her son.

"Thanks mom, love you too." He lobbied back as he kissed her cheek and then Natalia's. Before he could even reach for the coffee, Emma was tugging on his arm.

"Come on Rafe. We have to go wake up Uncle Sammie so he can learn how to make my favorite pancakes. Ma said."

"She did, did she. Alright, if I have to be up this early on a weekend I don't work then he can be too." He said with a wicked glint in his eye as he followed his sister up the stairs.

Doris sat perched on the edge of Ava's bed. She had been sitting without saying more than 'can I come in' for several minutes hoping Ava would say something, but it would appear she is as stubborn as her mother. "So, you don't want to know what happened to your mother?"

"I know what happened to her. I don't need all the god damn details." She shot back, distain dripping from her words.

"I think you do."

"Well good for fucking you."

"Ava, please come sit down for a minute."

Ava huffed but made her way to the bed and sat next to Doris. "What Doris? There's nothing you can say to make this better. I'm not Emma, you can't just hold me at night and make me feel safe. My mom almost fucking died. Again."

"Yes, she did. It's nice to know you realize that."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you've shown almost no emotion about this at all. It's about time you did."

"Whatever. I've had plenty of emotions over this."

"Maybe, but no one has seen it. You have been drowning yourself in work, your mother only sees you for dinner and maybe a movie after, and you barely talk."

"What do you want me to say. Talking isn't gonna make it better. Me talking about what happened isn't going to make my mom's ribs heal any faster or her stutter go away. It's not going to make Emma's nightmares stop or Ma quit crying when she thinks no one is around. It's not gonna make Rafe realize it wasn't his fault, or Sammie understand he couldn't have stopped this from happening. And it damn sure isn't gonna make me forget that my mother, that I have only known for a few short years, almost died…" tears were leaking from her eyes as she struggled for words, "for the fifth time since I met her."

Doris was at her side in a flash, taking the weeping young woman into her arms and rocking gently. "No, it's not." She stroked her fingers through dark hair and kissed her temple. "Nothing can change the facts. But it might help you to feel better about it all. I know I'm not the poster child for being honest and talking about your feelings, but, I have learned, with the help of your mother and Natalia, that being honest, with yourself, and those around you, does help you to heal, to move forward."

Ava clung tightly to Doris, weeks of tears, pain, and fear pouring out of her. "I, I, I c-can't lose h-her. S-she's, she's…."

Doris hugged her tighter and peppered kissed along her forehead. "Shh, I'm here. It's going to be okay. You don't have to talk yet. Just let it all out."

Ava nodded against Doris shoulder as sobs wracked her body. Doris kept rocking her slightly. Rubbing her back, kissing her head, and whispering soothing words. She Just allowed the woman to cry until the tears eventually slowed and Ava's breathing began to even out. Doris gently lay them down together and just held her, the way she did with Emma. Ava was quickly descending into sleep, soft sobs and whimpers still escaping every now again. Doris continued her ministrations until she was sure Ava was asleep and then gently extricated herself and quietly slipped form the room to dress and head to meet Mel.

Ava may not have said much, merely yelled out her frustrations, but it was a breakthrough, a start. She finally showed someone just a little of what she has been holding inside since the incident with Frank occurred. Doris knew, like her mother, Ava is stubborn, and she was going to have to push and pull for every scrap Ava would give her of the emotions she's trying so hard to keep hidden, but, also like Olivia, once she gets her to open up, she'll talk it all out. She'll scream and vent and yes, she'll cry some more. But with time and patience, she'll finally let go and allow those big walls around her to crumble, and then, Doris and the Spencer-Rivera family will truly be able to be there for her, to help her heal and maybe even let go of just a smidge of her fears of losing yet another parent.

After breakfast and a few rounds with Rafe on Mario Kart, Olivia and Natalia knew it was time and asked Emma to come and talk with them in their room. While Emma 'helped' her mom down the hall, Natalia hung back a little to ask Rafe if he wanted to be a part of their conversation. She could tell he was apprehensive about it, but, agreed.

Rafe really didn't want to be a part of this but he knew Olivia didn't have real memory of a lot of what happen. Both she and his Ma only had what they had read in police reports, but he had seen it all. From the blood in the closet to Frank holding a gun to Olivia's head. As hard it was going to be to relive that night yet again, he knew he didn't really have a choice, his sister needed answers so she could quit having such bad nightmares and he was the only one with firsthand experience answers. Olivia may have lived through it all, but he was conscious for it.

The four sat on Olivia and Natalia's bed. Emma looked scared, like she might be in trouble and the three adults were all just trying to keep their composure. Olivia leaned against the headboard and gestured for Emma to come sit beside her. Once the girl got comfortable Natalia sat on the other side of her with Rafe leaning against the footboard facing them.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about?" Emma asked.

Olivia drew in a breath and faced her daughter head on. "Well, we just w-wanted to talk to you about what h-happened, with Frank. See if you had a-any questions."

Emma shook her head. "No, I'm okay." She answered without looking at her mother.

Olivia tilted her daughters chin up with a finger. "Jellybean, it's o-okay, you can ask us anything. W-we'll do our best to answer you." When Emma still made no move to speak, Olivia exhaled audibly. "Em, I know y-you don't want to worry us, b-but we are all in this to-together. Please talk to us."

"I don't know what to say."

Natalia grabbed one of Emma's hands and squeezed lightly. "How about you tell us what you do know about that night."

Emma looked down at her fingers playing in her lap. "I, I don't know."

"Sweetheart, it's okay, really."

Emma swallowed and looked at the three people sitting with her. "I know Frank hurt mommy really bad. And I know he had a gun and pointed it at Rafe." She said with tears forming in her eyes.

"Alright. Is there anything else?"

"Um, I heard you say that mommy almost died, Fr-Frank almost s-shot her." She sobbed.

Olivia hugged her little girl tight to her side. "That's r-right baby. Do you want to know m-more?"

Emma nodded against her shoulder. "I w-want to know..." She took a deep breath to calm herself and sat up straighter. "I want to know everything." She stated firmly.

"Okay baby. Well R-Rafe and I came home to p-pack for our trip. When I went into the c-closet to get some of mine and Ma's th-things, Frank was in there." She stopped for a moment and took a breath.

Seeing how hard reliving this was for her wife, Natalia took over. "Frank hit mommy really hard, but she fought him, she didn't want to let him hurt her, but he was stronger and he hit mommy in the head with his gun."

Olivia had tears flowing from her eyes. "That's w-when I fell the f-first time. I, I kind of f-fell asleep cause I got hit so h-hard in the head."

"That's why there was blood in the closet?" Emma asked. "I heard Ava and uncle Sammie talking about a lot of blood."

"That's right baby." Natalia affirmed. "When mommy fell from getting hit her head hit the table we have in there. That's why she had cuts on the front and back of her head."

Emma looked at her mom and then kissed her temple where a small scar was forming. "It's better now?"

Olivia gave a half smile. "Yes. The c-cuts are almost healed n-now."

"What happened after that?"

Olivia and Natalia shared a look over her head before both looking to Rafe. "Bub, can y-you tell your sister w-what you heard before coming up-upstairs?" Olivia asked him. Knowing this would be hard for him but needing him to fill in the blanks she herself doesn't know.

Rafe reached a hand to Emma and pulled her into his lap. Needing the comfort before he could speak. He kissed her head and then looked down into her big eyes. "I was downstairs, I had just finished loading everything into my truck when I heard a really loud noise. I thought mom had fallen down and I was scared."

"Because you knew she got hurt."

"No munchkin, I didn't know she got hurt. I didn't know Frank was in the house. I thought it was something wrong with her heart again."

"What did you do?"

"Well, I ran up the stairs as fast as I could and when I got to moms door I tried to open it but it was locked. I couldn't hear anything on the other side, I tried to hit it but it wouldn't open, so, I called 911."

"Did you know

Frank was in there when you called?"

"No munchkin, I still thought something happened with moms heart. I was so scared. When the ambulance got here, Mallet and Remy where with them. They had heard the call and heard that the door was locked so they came to help get mom out."

"Did you guys have to break the door?"

"Yes. Mallet and I ran at it really fast and really hard and hit it with our shoulders so it would open."

"Is that when you saw Frank."

"Yes. He was holding mom, but she was unconscious."

"What's that? I hear you guys say it but I don't know what it means."

"Um, it's when you're asleep, only it's a sleep that you have a hard time waking up from."

"Oh, is that when he almost shot mommy?"

"No, he did have his gun…" He paused and looked to his mothers to know if he should say more. At Olivia's nod, he continued. "He had it pointed at her, but he wasn't going to shoot her yet. He was scared…"

"Wait, why would he be scared? He had a gun."

Natalia could tell Rafe didn't know what to say to that. "Yes baby, Frank had a gun but he was scared because he didn't know your brother was home. He thought it was just your mommy, and when Rafe and Mallet came in, he knew he was going to be in trouble."

"For hurting mommy?"

"That's right. For hurting mommy." Natalia smiled at her daughter, despite the circumstances, she was proud of how smart her little girl was.

"So, what happened? How did you get him away from mommy?" She asked, looking back at Rafe.

"Um, it was scary. Mallet tried to get him to give up the gun and let mom go, but because he was so scared about getting in trouble, he couldn't think, so he uh," again Rafe looked to his moms for guidance and again Olivia nodded at him to continue with the truth. "He pointed the gun at me. He told me to come stand by him. He was trying to get Mallet and Remy to leave so he could run away and not get in trouble and he thought if he had me and mom that they might listen."

"Did you do what he said?"

"Yeah, I did munchkin."

"Why would you listen to him after he hurt mommy?"

"Because baby, I was afraid if I didn't that he would shoot me, or mom, so I did what he said and walked over to him." Rafe swallowed hard and closed his eyes tight to stop the tears before opening them again.

"Then what?"

"Well, Mallet tried to talk to him and so did Remy, but he wouldn't listen."

"Why? I don't understand."

"Like I said, Frank couldn't think like he should. He didn't know what was right and what was wrong. He was afraid of going to jail and he thought that what he was doing was okay."

"That's stupid. Everyone knows that hurting people is wrong and you get in trouble for it. Like Travis did when he hit Erin at school. He had to stay after school for three days cause it's not nice to hit people. Why would Frank think that hurting mommy was okay?"

Rafe had no clue as to what to say that. Luckily he didn't have to. Olivia took Natalia's hand in hers and placed her other hand on Emma's foot that was stretched out on the bed. "Frank thought that Natalia sh-should be with him. He thought that she l-loved him and that I was tricking her to be w-with me. He wanted to help Natalia and h-he thought that if he could hurt me and t-take me away, then Natalia would love h-him and want to be with him."

"But Ma loves you and wants to be with you. Everyone knows that. That's why you guys got married. Why would Frank think she didn't want to be with you? You don't marry someone if you don't love them. Do you?"

Natalia smiled at her baby's innocence and cleared her throat. "No honey, you should never marry someone you don't love, and I love your mommy with all my heart."

"Then why did Frank think you didn't?"

"He was just upset, and he was hurting because I wanted to be with mommy and not him." She squeezed Olivia's hand and their eyes locked for a moment before she turned back to Emma. "Sometimes when adults are sad or hurt, or when they're angry, they do things that they shouldn't. They forget what's right and wrong. Like when you get mad at me or at mommy and you stomp up the stairs or slam your door. You're not supposed to do that right."

"Yeah."

"Well, because you're mad, you forget that you shouldn't do those things and you do them. Do you understand?"

"I think so. Because Frank was mad and sad that you were with mommy and not him, he forgot that he shouldn't hit and that guns are only for protection and he did bad things to mommy and Rafe?"

"Yup. That is exactly what happened."

"So, what happened after he made Rafe stand with him. Did he let mommy go since Rafe was there?"

Natalia looked up at her son and inclined her head, signaling for him to take back over. This was the hardest part. Having to agree with Frank and talk bad about his mom when all he wanted to do was take her in his arms and protect her. "Well, he tried to make me believe that Ma wanted to with him and that mom was bad for her."

"Did you believe him?"

"No, but I pretended I did."

"Why would you do that?"

"Because I was scared he was going to hurt mom and if I pretended to be on his side then maybe he wouldn't hurt her. See, mom had opened her eyes she was starting to wake up and I didn't want him to see that because I thought he might hit her again to make her go back to sleep. So, I kept talking to him, I told him that he was right, that Ma didn't want to be with mom, that she wanted to be with him. The more I talked the more he lost focus on mom." At her quizzical look he tried to explain. "You see, since I was talking to him and agreeing with him, he was looking at me, so he didn't notice that mom was waking up and that's how she was able to hit him and knock him to the ground. Mom was awesome. She hit him with her head and when he started to fall backward, she used her elbow to hit him again in the stomach and when he fell down mom got the gun from him and Mallet and Remy were able to hand cuff Frank so he couldn't hurt anyone else and the paramedics were able to take care of mom and get her to the hospital."

"Mommy did that? Even though she was hurt really bad and hit her head?"

"Yup, she did. Mom is so strong. I couldn't believe she did it, but do you know how she did it even though she was hurt?" Emma shook her head. "She was thinking about us. About you and me and Ava and Ma and Sammie. We gave her strength."

"How did we do that?"

Before Rafe could answer Olivia spoke up. "Because I love y-you so much. I was th-thinking about how much I love all of y-you and that made me not h-hurt so bad so I could fight t-to get away and get me and Rafe s-safe."

Emma carefully leapt into her mother's arms and hugged her tight. "I love you mommy. You are so strong. Did I really help you?"

"Yes baby. Y-you love me so much t-that I could feel it and t-that made me stronger."

"So, Frank didn't shoot the gun at all?"

"No baby. He h-hit me and he p-pointed the gun at people, but h-he never shot it."

"Good."

"Do you f-feel better now?"

"A little. I'm still scared but in my head it was different. It was really bad."

"How so?" Natalia asked, scooping the girl into her lap.

"I didn't know what happened, I just heard you guys say stuff and I hear Ava and Rafe sometimes when they have bad dreams and they scream about stuff. In my dreams I saw Frank shoot the gun a lot, and I saw mommy with lots of blood all over. Sometimes I would see Frank shoot mommy or Rafe."

Natalia hugged her tighter and kissed her head. "Oh, my poor girl. I'm so sorry we didn't talk to you sooner. We should have told you what happened a long time ago. I am so sorry we didn't and that you thought things were worse than they were."

Emma sniffled back some tears and hugged her Ma again. "It's okay Ma. I know you were just trying to 'tect me from knowing the bad things."

"Do you think you will be okay now that you know what really happened?"

"I think I will be better."

"Good. I'm glad. I love you so much sweetheart."

"I love you too Ma. And I love you mommy, and you too Rafe."

"I love y-you too Jellybean." Olivia said as she leaned in to kiss her daughter.

"I love you too munchkin." Rafe said, reaching out to tickle her sides.

Emma's giggles filled the room as all three adults attacked her with tickles. It had been so long since they heard the sound of her innocent laughter. Ava appeared in the doorway and was quick to jump on the bed and join in the tickle fest. As the tickling slowed and the five lay in a heap on the bed, Olivia ignored the pain in her ribs and the headache that was forming. She ignored the dread that filled her when she thought of the upcoming trial. None of that mattered right now. All that mattered was the smile on her families faces and the giggles still escaping Emma's lips. The light in her wife's eyes that had been missing these past weeks.

As Ava and Rafe each lightly yanked on Emma's limbs, pretending to fight over her, Natalia made her way to Olivia and lay with their faces mere inches apart. No words were said as they both watched their children wrestle on the bed with huge smiles and the sounds of happiness filled the air. Natalia turned to lock eyes with her wife and a smile of her own formed before she leaned the rest of the way in and claimed soft lips. This kiss was one of joy that hadn't been felt the last couple of weeks. It was hope for the future and the start of the healing process for their family.