Chapter 113

After everyone arrived at the Spaulding Mansion and plenty of Pizza was ordered for the large group, everyone gathered in the great room to eat and converse. While the young adults entertained Emma and Payton, the three older couples talked amongst themselves. Lots of jokes were shared about Beth, Doris, Olivia, and Natalia all having lived in the mansion at one time or another, three of the four having been married to Alan, and two of them having been married to both Alan and Phillip.

"At least I w-was smart enough t-to only marry Phillip o-once." Olivia laughed.

"Ouch." Phillip raised a hand to his heart, feigning pain. "That hurts Olivia."

"True, but you still beat everyone in this room on marriages total." Beth countered as if Phillip hadn't spoken.

"Damn! W-where's Reva when y-you need her?" Olivia shot back.

"I may be her sixth marriage, but I can guarantee I'm the last." Natalia offered with total confidence as she pecked her wife.

"What makes y-you so certain I'll k-keep ya? H-huh?" Olivia joked.

"Well, you know what they say, when a man can't seem to get the job done, send in a woman."

Everyone laughed at that before Doris steered the conversation away from the sickeningly cute couple. "You know what I find funny? Two out of the three of Alan's ex-wife's sitting here, turned out to be gay? Hmm, Beth you sure Phillip's still doing it for ya? I could introduce you to some nice ladies." She said, earning her a slap from Jamanda and a glare from Phillip.

Before Beth could respond, Emma and Payton came bounding over. "Can we watch the movie now?" Emma asked with a toothy grin.

"Yeah, movie now." Payton agreed.

The adults agreed since it was getting close to bedtime and quickly cleared away the trash and pizza boxes to the kitchen. They all moved into the living room and settled in to watch 'Tooth Fairy.' Phillip and Beth sat cuddled on one couch with Payton and Emma on the floor in front of them. In an oversized chair Doris sat with Jamanda half on her lap. The love seat held Olivia and Natalia. Natalia seated sideways leaning against an arm rest with Olivia between her legs laying back against her chest. In front of them Rafe and Ava sat shoulder to shoulder leaning against the love seat and in the middle of the floor James, Daisy, and Ashley all lay on their stomachs propped on their elbows.

The movie was just about half over when Emma made her way into Doris's lap beside Jamanda and snuggled against her chest. Phillip looked over at his daughter with a sad smile. He had hoped she would choose to cuddle up with him, or at least stay on the floor with the other kids, but he knew from his talks with Olivia that it was important to allow Emma to choose who she felt safe enough to sleep with. He shrugged at Doris and mouthed 'I tried.' Doris just smiled at him and pulled Emma tighter against her, kissing her head as she did.

As Payton crawled up into Beth's lap and Ava lay her head on her brother's thigh, Natalia looked around at what had become her family. Once upon a time it had been only her and her son. Two souls wondering Chicago with only the other to lean on. Now, well now she had more than she ever dreamed possible. Her husband's brother, wife's ex-husband, and daughters father had become a wonderful friend and asset to their family, as well as Beth, who she was still getting to know.

The woman she had thought was as heartless as they come had become her wife's best friend, and day by day she was coming to love the mayor herself. Doris was instrumental to their family. Not just now, in their time of need, but all the time. She had become more than just a friend, she was family, her and Ashley, and Jamanda was well on her way to being a part of that as well. The five young adults on the floor each held a special place in her heart.

Rafe, he had been all she had for such a long time. The two of them had been each other's world. He was more than just her son for all those years, he was her best friend. Before Springfield, before Olivia, she had known with all her heart that he would always be enough for her, and he would have been, if there hadn't been Springfield, if there hadn't been Olivia, Emma, and Ava and these wonderful people she has come to care so much for. She was so grateful to have her son back after they had strayed so far from each other.

Ava, such an amazing young woman. So much like her mother. And just like her mother she had suffered so much in her life. It was surreal sometimes, that she and Ava had become so close. Ava was her daughter just as much as Emma was. She didn't see their age difference when she looked at her daughter, just like she didn't see hers and Olivia's. Age was only a number; Ava was her daughter in her heart. She would die for that girl, just like Emma and Rafe. She felt so blessed to have a daughter as wonderful and loving as Ava in her life.

Ashley, she was such a sweet young girl, and Natalia knew that she and Rafe were growing closer. Not long ago she would have cringed at the thought of being linked to Doris Wolfe through their children, but now she hoped Ashley and Rafe would find their way to that point someday. She could see the love between them, so similar to hers and Olivia's.

Then there was James and Daisy. James had so many struggles when Phillip first came back and then after Alan died, but he was getting better. Being with Daisy was helping him and he and Rafe were becoming true cousins little by little. She hoped in time James would become a bigger part of their lives, even if only for Rafe and Emma's sakes. And Daisy, what a strange relationship she had with her.

When she really thought about it, the life she had now all started with Daisy. She had come to Chicago to tell her about Nicky, that he was here in Springfield. That had been the beginning. If Daisy had never sought her out, she would have never met Olivia and she wouldn't have this wonderful love and family. She would have to remember to thank her one day. She may have had her problems with the girl when she and Rafe dated, but she was growing into a smart and caring young woman, someone Natalia was glad to know.

And Emma, her beautiful, sweet little girl. Daisy may have started Natalia down this road, but it was Emma that made her and Olivia a family. Emma who handed her an orange Daisy on what was one of the saddest days of her life. Emma who saw what she and Olivia tried to hide from themselves for so long. Emma saw the love they held for one another, she saw the family they had made without even trying, and she pointed it out. Forever changing all of their lives. Natalia would forever be grateful for Emma, and for Ms. Jennings and her assignment. Emma was a part of her. She couldn't love her more if she had birthed her. It was funny sometimes when Emma did things that were so much like herself. She could give a scowl that matched Olivia to the tee and then turn on a dimpled smile just like Natalia's in a second flat. And when she rolled her eyes at Olivia's crazy antic's, that was all Natalia shining through their little girl. She was theirs without a doubt. All of their kids were.

Then there was the woman leaning against her chest. Olivia, her wife. Never in a million years would she have ever dreamed she would say the words 'my wife' and certainly never with such a feeling of happiness filling her soul as she did. Olivia had changed everything for her. She had made her see herself as more than she ever had and made her rise above who she thought she was and become who Olivia saw her as. She had opened her heart to a love the likes most only ever dream about. She gave her two daughters and a home. Not the farmhouse or Springfield, but Olivia herself, that would always be her home.

She had almost lost this wonderful, amazing woman. So many times, she had almost lost her. Several of them at her own hand. Tears sprang to her eyes as she thought of all the times she had come so close to losing her wife. Some her own fault. First on her wedding day to Gus. Olivia had almost died in that bathroom. It had hurt back then, to think she'd almost killed someone, but now, now when she thought of that day, it was hard to breath. She hadn't almost cost just some horrible woman her life, she had nearly cost herself the love of her life that day.

And the day of the transplant, if it hadn't been for Emma, she would have let her die that day. Her grief over Gus far outweighing what she knew was right, what she knew God and Gus would have wanted her to do. But there had been Emma, and Natalia thanked God every day for sending her that sweet angel at just the right time to make sure she did save Olivia. To keep the woman that he intended for her alive so they could find their way to each other.

Then there was Olivia's recovery. How many days had Olivia tried not to take her meds or eat? How many days had Olivia tried to just let herself die? She could have died so easily then, but Natalia had been there, stubborn as an ox and with so much more strength then Olivia had to give at the time, and Olivia had caved. Let Natalia help her and take care of her, and Emma, something Natalia now vowed to do for the rest of her life.

When Natalia thought about the next time she had almost lost her lover, her breath caught. Olivia was trying so hard to make her see herself as more then she was, to make her take an opportunity being offered that would better her life and her sons, and she was being too proud to except it. Then it happened, Olivia had finally broke through her resolve and just as she was about to say as much, Olivia was grabbing her chest, falling to the pavement outside Company. Just thinking about it now Natalia felt as helpless as she had then. She had already known she felt far more then friendship at that point, and when Olivia stopped breathing that day, Natalia thought her chance was gone. She would never get to tell this amazing woman how much she loved her. How much she needed her. Luckily she would get that chance.

She almost lost the chance she was given when she allowed others to have entirely too much influence on her. She ran away, not from Olivia, but looking back she can see how that's a lie. She had run from Olivia; she had run from everybody. A few letters didn't make it okay. She had left Olivia. Yes, she had the best of intentions when she left, she just wanted to make everyone she loved happy, including herself, and needed some time and space to figure out how, but in the end in didn't matter, she had left the woman she claimed to love and almost cost them both a love bigger than either of them had ever imagined. She was very fortunate that Olivia has such a large capacity for forgiveness and decided not to let their love slip away.

Olivia's pacemaker going off had been scary, but luckily not life threatening, at least not the first time, not when it was just the battery. The second time, the time they didn't hear it, too engrossed with one another, Natalia would never forget that day, or forgive herself for it. No matter how many times Olivia told her it wasn't her fault. She discretely wiped a few tears away as that day played through her mind. Olivia on their hotel bed, EMT's shocking her. She had just gotten this love back, and it was slipping away with every failed attempt to get her heart beating again.

And Frank. Anger bubbled inside her as Natalia thought about everything Olivia was still recovering from. Frank had almost killed Olivia just a couple of weeks ago. She will forever thank God for the strength her wife possesses. Olivia fought with all she had to keep herself alive, and then to save their son as well. If she hadn't been so strong and so resilient, she would have died that day, on the floor of their closet. It was only by the grace of God that Olivia didn't have another episode with her heart after all the trauma Frank put her through. Rick had said as much. And Natalia knew it was true. She came so close to losing her again.

Natalia gently squeezed Olivia tighter against her and kissed her temple, her cheek, across her jaw line and down her neck to her shoulder. Her hands rubbing soft circles on Olivia's stomach under her t-shirt. Olivia hummed at the ministrations and turned her head to capture her wife's wandering lips. Just as it started to deepen, Natalia pulled back and kissed the tip of Olivia's nose, aware of all the other bodies in the room. She settled back down to finish the movie. Olivia had felt the wetness on her wife's cheeks but chose to wait and talk to her about it later, when they were alone.

When the movie finally ended, Olivia was more than ready to get her wife into bed. Natalia had been kissing and nipping at her neck and earlobe for the last half of the movie, although she knew they couldn't do much more then kissing, she still wanted that. Needed to have her mind be clear of everything and just enjoy the woman she loved for a little while. But she hadn't forgotten about the tears she knew her wife had been trying to hide, and before any make out sessions, they would be talking about that.

As she looked around she realized that all of the kids and Phillip were asleep. She shook her head at the sight and watched as Beth nudged Phillip awake, Payton in her arms, and Jamanda stood from the chair and helped Doris to stand with Emma in her arms. Phillip came to help Olivia up so Natalia could stand as well before taking Payton from his love. After Beth and Natalia covered the young adults with blankets, the six adults stood at the bottom of the stairs, Emma in Doris's arms and Payton in Phillips.

"Follow me, I'll lay this one down and show you two to your room." Phillip said to Doris and Jamanda. "Olivia, I trust you know where you're going."

"Yes, t-thank you. And I b-believe we established the m-mayor here was a-also married to y-your father and lived here. S-she too knows her w-way around the mansion."

"I apologize for trying to be polite. I'll leave you ladies to it."

As he turned to leave with a smile on his face, Olivia called after him. "Phillip?"

He turned around. "Yeah?"

"T-thanks, for tonight. It w-was nice, f-fun. I, I think I n-needed it more t-then I knew."

"Any time Olivia. Good night ladies, we'll see you in the morning."

With that Phillip and Beth walked up the stairs with Payton to place her in her room and retire to theirs. Doris gently transferred Emma to Jamanda so she could help Natalia get Olivia up the stairs. There were a few guest rooms on the main floor, but they were separated and Olivia had told her eldest they would be across from Emma's room and next to theirs if they needed her and Natalia during the night, and that's where she intended to be. Natalia was more than upset when Olivia informed her she planned to stay on the second floor of the mansion but understood Olivia's need to be close to their kids, although it seemed irrelevant now since the older kids were on the living room floor and Emma would be sleeping with Doris and Jamanda, she knew Olivia wouldn't change her mind, she would want to be where she told Rafe and Ava she would be so they could easily find them.

After a slow journey up the stairs, the four women finally made it to the second-floor landing. Doris took Emma back from Jamanda and led the way down the hall. Across from Emma and Payton's rooms were four bedrooms, two suits and two regular guest rooms. Olivia and Natalia would be in the suite directly across from Emma's bedroom and Doris and Jamanda would be in the one two doors down.

"I'm gonna slip into Emma's room and grab her blanket. You ladies get some sleep, it's gonna be another long day tomorrow." Doris said to her friends as they stood in the hall outside their room.

"Thank you Doris, for everything. You have done so much for our family." Natalia said sincerely.

"Well, you would do the same for me." Doris shrugged off the compliment and stepped into Emma's room, still carrying the growing child in her arms.

Natalia shook her head at the woman so much like her wife. "Good night Jamanda, thank you for allowing Emma to sleep with the two of you."

"I'm just happy to get a little time with Doris. And Emma is so sweet. I'm honored to have her in bed with us. You two should get some sleep, it's been quite the day."

"Yes, it has. We'll see you in the morning."

"Night." Olivia waved as Natalia turned them and helped her wife walk into their room for the night and sat her on the edge of the bed. Once Olivia was seated Natalia moved to their suitcase, pulling out their toiletries and taking them to the ensuite before returning and grabbing both of their night clothes.

She set the pajamas beside Olivia on the bed and dropped to her knees on the floor as she reached for the hem of her wife's t-shirt. Instead of pulling it up, she reached her hands beneath and drew them up, tracing over taught abs, the ace bandage wrapped around Olivia's ribs, before finally reaching pert breast. She palmed them softly and then allowed her hands to travel to Olivia's back where she pulled her shirt up and over her head to the front so her arms could easily slip out without have to raise them above her head.

"Honey…" Olivia began, trying to start the talk with her wife about why she was crying earlier.

Natalia placed two fingers across Olivia's lips and shook her head, indicating that now wasn't the time, and Olivia let it go. Instead, she silently watched as Natalia bent her head and kissed and licked up her stomach. Starting at the waistband of her pants, she swirled her tongue up toned abs and over to where healing ribs lay beneath layers of bandages. She kissed repeatedly where she knew her wife's pain radiated from. Then she moved upward. Light kisses dropping over lace covered breast and up to the smooth skin where breast swelled at the top of the blue lace bra. As Natalia kissed and licked from one breast to the other, she reached around and unhooked the thin material and slid it down smooth arms.

She moved her mouth up further to a creamy neck where she sucked lightly on Olivia's pulse point before she stood and helped Olivia to stand as well. She looped Olivia's arms around her neck and skimmed her hands down her arms, further down sensitive sides, and around to the button and zip of Olivia's pants. Popping the button through the hole, she slowly lowered the zipper and eased the pants off Olivia's hips and down her legs. Pushing gently on her shoulder's, Natalia forced Olivia back to a seated position as she dropped to her knees once again and removed the pants completely.

Leaving Olivia in just her panties, Natalia stood and slowly removed her own clothes. Starting with her shirt, then the jeans she'd changed into before dinner. She stood before her wife in nothing but matching red lace bra and panties and allowed Olivia to drink her in. She could see the lust in those deep jade eyes. After a few moments, Natalia reached behind herself and unhooked her bra, allowing it to slowly fall to her feet on the ground.

Olivia reached out a hand and traced along the top of her lover's lace panties with her pointer finger. Bringing up her other hand, she placed them both on tan hips and pulled her brunette wife towards her, spreading her legs so Natalia could stand between them. She kissed her stomach, twisting her tongue around Natalia's belly button as she slowly drew the panties down. As Natalia stepped out of them and kicked them away, her hands wound into honey blonde locks and the two women's eyes locked.

Olivia starred into the mahogany depths she loved so much. Without breaking eye contact, she used Natalia to help her stand and slowly walked to her side of the bed, Natalia assisting her every step of the way. When she lowered herself to the edge after turning down the blankets, Natalia quirked an eyebrow. Olivia finally broke the silence with just one word, "please."

Natalia nodded and helped Olivia into bed and gracefully removed the blue panties she still wore. Then she went and turned off the light before climbing into her side of the bed and sliding to the center where Olivia was waiting for her. Olivia carefully moved herself so she was curled into her wife's side with her head on her chest and their legs tangled together. She drew abstract patterns on Natalia's stomach and kissed her chest over and over.

After long minutes of just laying together, feeling their naked bodies pressed against each other, Olivia drawing patterns on Natalia's belly and Natalia rubbing up and down Olivia's back, Olivia finally looked up at the woman she loved more than life itself. She reached a hand up to the back of her wife's neck and pulled her down into a searing kiss. Their tongues moved against each other, not fighting for dominance, just stroking together. They kissed until they were both breathless, hands roaming over naked skin.

When the kiss finally broke, Olivia snuggled back into her wife, kissing her chest. Natalia's arms tightened around Olivia and she kissed the top of her head. "I love you Olivia."

"I love y-you. So, m-much Natalia." Olivia returned the sentiment as well as restarting her ministrations on her lovers stomach.

"We should probably put some clothes on, in case the kids come in later." Natalia suggested. Making no move to do so and continuing to rub her wife's back and sides.

Olivia burrowed deeper into her wife. "Just a l-little while longer. I m-miss feeling you."

Natalia resumed running her fingers through Olivia's hair as she listened to her breathing begin to even out. She knew Olivia would be asleep soon, without putting clothes on, but she couldn't bring herself to care too much at the moment. Hopefully they would stay covered if their kids did come in. Olivia needed this, this closeness and connection to one another. She had to admit that it was doing wonders for her as well. The raw connection having their naked bodies pressed together provided was something they had both been missing. Of course, they wanted more than kissing and naked cuddling, but tonight, even if they could, they wouldn't have. Tonight, this was what they needed. Just to lay together and bask in the wonder of their love and strength of their bond. Natalia kissed her wife's temple and the top of her head, for nothing more than to kiss the woman she loved as they both fell off into a much-needed slumber that was more relaxed then they would of imagined possible after the past few days.