Hello! I hope that you are doing well. Here the new chapter, in this chapter, we will go back and forth in time. We will do a little travel to memory land, and, those moments of the past will be in italics, hope you like it. Not sure how many chapter we will have left, but, my guess is not more than 15.
So, remember:
*Emison's kids: Wayne, Enzo James, Oliver, Elizabeth and Alice
*Hastings-Sloan kids: Veronica and Robin Margot
*Rivers-Marin kids: Hayley, Selina and Tobby
*Kahn-Montgormery kids: Ava, Landon and Lucy
CH 93 - Home To You
*** Oliver's narrative (voice-over) ***
What is home? Have you ever asked yourself that question? A gathering place to live might be the correct definition, but for me... home is something else...
Alison. - "So, it seems that you can't fall asleep..."
The blonde talks to the baby that she's rocking in her arms. The little Ollie makes a big fuss because it's past his nap hour, and, he can't sleep. The other babies are already sleeping, and, the last thing that they need it's to wake them up, so, Alison takes the baby monitor with her, and, goes downstairs with Ollie on her arms. The little boy is making a big fuss, he wants to sleep, but, he can't find his way to the dream world without help. And, that's why, his dear mom wants to try something...
Alison. - "Let's try with a song..."
Trying to be as quiet as possible, Alison opens the piano, and, puts the baby over his baby seat. The little Ollie is still pouting, and now, he's even whining for the absence of contact with his mom. When he became so attached to the blonde? Who knows, but, he doesn't like it, when Alison stops holding him...
Alison mumbles. - "Ollie, please be quiet... we don't want to wake up your brothers..."
The blonde cradles the baby seat. But that's not enough. The baby face of Ollie is getting red, ready to cry very loud. And, the little Ollie has every intention of making a big fuss, but then, something magical happens...
Alison sings while she plays the piano. - "City of stars. Are you shining just for me?"
The blonde keeps playing the sweet melody, singing to the little boy who's smiling to the music...
Alison smiles. - "You like that... heh?"
The baby doesn't need to nod, his happy face speaks for himself. The blonde keeps playing the piano, devotedly singing to the baby. And, the little, baby Oliver smiles, big time, it's not just the music that he hears what makes him happy; it's the angelical voice of Alison, followed by the sweet notes of the piano that makes him smile; the two sounds are the perfect combination to lead him to the land of dreams...
Alison sings. - "Now our dreams may finally come true..."
Curling on his baby seat, little Ollie yawns, his eyes start to feel heavy, so, he starts to close them. He's finally falling asleep. This is nice, Ollie thinks, and, it will get even better because they're not alone, they have company even if they haven't noticed it yet...
Emily emerges into the living room, and, sings. - "It's love! Yes, all we're looking for is love..."
Alison whispers. - "He's finally falling asleep..."
Emily nods, she softly caresses the head of her sleepy son and, smiles a lot when she notices how happy he seems to be. They keep singing in a duo. Now his two moms are singing to him, and, Ollie smiles with the eyes closed, hearing their voices, but mostly, feeling their love...
*** Oliver's narrative (voice-over) ***
Home is not just an assembly of some walls and, a roof. The word is more complex than that, because after all, its deep meaning should tell the story of who you're, and, how you became to be the person you're now...
Whether she's a good piano player, she has no experience on teaching piano. It's a big, unique challenge, especially when we're talking about teaching a 5 year-old! This is the most common age for beginner pianists, or, at least that's what Alison has read. She doesn't know if Ollie will grow up and, become a great pianist, she even can't tell if in a few years, the little boy will still love the piano, but, she wants to teach him, this might be their 'thing', just something that they can do together, just like Emily has her swimming's lessons with the kids, the blonde is enthralled with the idea that she can also pass down something to them... or, at least to one of them...
Alison. - "Are you ready, Ollie?"
The little boy, who's sitting at her side, nods, he's looking shy, and, nervous. And, Alison knows she needs to be carefully thought out this first session, she knows that the little boy loves the sound of the piano, and, the last thing she wants it's to make him afraid of it...
Alison. - "Don't be afraid, Ollie, you can do it..." (she mumbles to herself, very nervous) "We can do this..."
The boy is not the only one looking nervous. Alison is feeling insecure on her qualities as a teacher, and, as a mom. No matter how much her kids love her, the fear of not being a good mom, it's something she can't shake off. But, when she stares at her little Ollie in the eyes, and, the little kid gives her, his best smile, Alison's nerves disappear...
Alison smiles. - "Ok... let's do this..."
The first thing the blonde does, it's to introduce Ollie to the musical alphabet. Little Ollie giggles a lot when Alison makes a deep voice when she tries to simulate the tone of each note. He seems happy, and it's a big booster for Alison to continue...
Alison. - "Let's try with something simple..."
The blonde stutters the sweet melody while she softly guides the fingers of little Ollie, over the keyboard. Oliver smiles, hearing the sweet voice of his dear mom, singing to him, like always. He's just 5, and, maybe when he gets older his mind will forget this moment, but he's very confident that his heart will never forget it...
Alison smiles. - "You're doing great, Ollie!"
The little kid smiles, it's his 1st time playing the piano and his tiny fingers are already dancing over the keys with so much grace. Alison couldn't feel more happy and, proud...
Ollie. - "It's a happy piano, mamma..."
The little kid believes that the melody sounds good, and, sweet because the piano is happy. And, Alison has no intention to contradict him...
Alison chuckles. - "Yes, it's a happy piano..."
*** Oliver's narrative (voice-over) ***
A collection of lovely moments brought together might be your home...
The auditorium was full. And, behind the curtains all the kids were getting ready for what would be their 1st piano recital. The coordinator of the event asks to the teachers to leave the scene, Alison tries to detach her hand from the hand of her son, but, the kid of 8 years old grips on her very hard, making it, almost impossible for her, to leave...
Alison. - "Ollie, it's gonna be okay..."
Oliver nods, a reflex that betrays the real anxiety he feels. Alison doesn't want to leave him like that, stressed, so, she kneels a little and, hugs him, big time...
Alison. - "It's gonna be okay, Ollie, you've this..." (She slowly pulls away, and, looking at him in the eyes, she says) "I'm gonna be among the public, watching, so, if you feel nervous, just look at me, okay...?"
Oliver nods, but, to be honest the idea of her mom watching him between all the crowd, it makes him more anxious. The last thing he wants to do, it's to make a bad performance in front of the audience, in front of her mom. Even if she's feeling tired after a long day in the office, even if she has a lot to manage at home, too. Alison always makes time for their piano lessons, she's very commitment to him, and, his joy to play the instrument. And that's why, Oliver really doesn't want to disappoint her, at all...
Alison. - "There's nothing to fear, Ollie, it's a happy piano what you play..."
Oliver nods, and, mumbles. - "Happy piano..."
Alison. - "That's right, it's a happy piano..." (she softly kisses Oliver's head, and, says) "I love you, you're gonna do great..."
The blonde put no pressure on him, she's not interested in seeing him win, even if she knows he can. She only wants to see Oliver happy, and, the piano makes him happy, but, when the recital starts, and, they call him on stage. Somehow, he finds no strength to move, and, step onto the stage. They call his name again, he's sweating now. Something strikes him without warning: racing heart, tingling in his hands, in his fingers... there's no doubt... he's under the point of having ha panic attack. And, it's frightening!
And, do not ask how, but, every time one of the kids feel fear, Emily knows it. When she was younger, she had that 6th sense to look after Alison, but now that they have a family, the killer of the QB uses her guts to be there, in the precise moment where she's needed in the life of her kids...
Emily. - "Ollie...?"
She shouldn't be here, but, it was Oliver's turn to play the piano, and, he hasn't come out yet. Emily knew that something was wrong, so, he left the rest of the family on their seat, while she walked behind the stage, to find a very scared Oliver...
Emily. - "Hey, hey, hey, what is wrong...?"
The brunette kneels in front of him in order to be at the same height than him, and, she holds him from the shoulders when she says...
Emily. - "Ollie, look at me, look at me..." (their eyes meet, and, she says) "Breathe..." (She deeply exhales, and, says with a calm voice) "Breathe..."
Oliver mimics her, and, somehow his panic attack starts to fade. The shy boy doesn't say a word of what is happening in his mind, but, Emily has an idea of what it's. She gets him because she felt something similar during her 1st swimming competition. She could tell him to suck it up, and, win this; but, they are not here to win, even if she loves to win. They are here to hear him play, and, that's why, she says...
Emily. - "Ollie, no one is expecting you to be perfect. This is not about playing it perfectly. This is about..."
Oliver shyly mumbles. - "Playing a happy piano..."
Emily chuckles, and, nods. - "Yes, this is just about playing what makes you happy..."
Oliver pouts. - "But, I also want to win..."
Emily chuckles. - "Of course you want to win. But, even if you don't win this time, it's okay because the important thing, it's that you tried, that you gave your best, that you tried to reach the audience with your music..."
Oliver mumbles. - "Failing is okay...?"
The brunette nods. She shares with him an anecdote of when she lost her 1st competition, she felt like if it was the end of the world, but, she was wrong, the world kept going, and, she learned a lot from it.
Emily. - "If you feel nervous on stage, just focus on something. In anything that can keep your mind calm and, go from there..."
Oliver nods, still incertitude was written all over his face. Emily stays behind the scene, at his side till he steps on stage. Family and, friends cheer him up when he appears in the spotlight for the first time. Everyone is watching. And, it's a scary feeling till he recalls what Emily advised him to do. Focus on something... in anything... he looks at his surroundings, looking for a constant, something that could work as his North star. And, he feels lost till he recalls Alison's words: ''If you feel nervous, just look at me...'
All eyes were on him, the pressure to start to play raises, and, at first he thought that finding his mom amont all the crowd, it would make him even more nervous, but, he was wrong... it wasn't scary at all because there she was, his North Star, at the entrance on the left side, Alison, smiling to him. Yes, at the entrance on the left side, facing the audience, that's where Alison was, and, where she will always be in each one of his performances. That's what will always be, Oliver's mom's special seat...
Alison. - "You got this..."
They were meters away, but, Oliver knows what she's saying to him. He can feel her so close to him, just like Emily who's watching over him from behind the scenes. They are always with him. And, there's no other people that matters more to Oliver than they. That's why, as a gift for them, he plans to play his very best...
Oliver smiles. - "For you, momma... for you, mom..."
He starts to play... with sincerity... with everything he has. And, from the moment he touched the keys, his notes started to sparkle. The sounds that his mother gave him, the happy piano that Alison taught him to play, it swallows everyone into Oliver's world. A world full of magic, of love, of music that the public will never forget because it will live in their hearts forever...
Oliver touches the last note, a big silence fills the auditorium, and for a second he thinks that he failed to reach them with his music till the entire public stands up, and, applauses...
Pam applauses, and, whistles. - "Yes! That's my grandson! That's my grandkid!"
Emily mumbles, in tears, happy tears. - "Wow..." (she applauses) "That was beautiful, Ollie..."
'Bravo! Wow! Amazing!' So many encouraging words he hears from the public, it makes him smile. But between all the applauses, one big smile catches his eye...
Alison smiles in tears, happy tears. - "Lovely, Ollie... just lovely..."
It's a happy piano what Oliver has played since then. A happy piano that always puts a pang in the heart of the audience. A happy piano that always brings a happy smile over the faces of his moms...
*** Oliver's narrative (voice-over) ***
But, if you ask me. My definition of home is not a place... it's not a set of memories... for me, home is two people whom I adore, and, I can't wait to see, again...
(At the airport, present time)
Alison says very anxiously. - "I don't see him, Em..."
Emily. - "Ali, relax, he might be getting his bags..."
Alison pouts. - "He should have arrived last week..."
Emily. - "There was bad weather, Ali. His flight got cancelled..."
The blonde keeps pouting with puffy cheeks, something that Emily finds it very cute...
Emily chuckles. - "Ali, it's gonna be okay. He just lost one week of school, he..."
Alison cuts her off. - "He should be already out of the plane! What is taking him so long?!"
The blonde doesn't want to sound hysterical, but she's so desperate to see her dear son again. She loves all her kids, but since little, it was always Oliver, who was always glued to her. That's why when he said that he wanted to stay with Jason during the summer, so, he could teach music in the school that Jason has built for the kids of one village, Alison was very apprehensive to let him go to Africa all by himself. After all, no matter how much he grows up, he will always be her little boy, her dear...
Alison loudly, happily yells. - "OLLIE!"
Emily may be going deaf because the blonde shout out so loudly, but, Alison can't help herself, she felt so much joy the moment she saw him coming back home... coming back home to her...
Oliver drops his bags to the floor, he opens his arms, and, says with that big smile he always has. - "Moms!"
Emily has never seen Alison run so fast in her life, the dear blonde rushes into the arms of her dear son, and, when they finally hug, tears don't stop to roll all over her cheeks...
Oliver. - "Momma, don't cry..."
Alison chuckles, with tears in her eyes. - "I can't help it! I missed you so much!" (She squeezes him during the hug, and, pouts) "I'm never letting you leave the house again!"
Emily raises an eyebrow. - "Ali... you can't say that... what about college...?"
The blonde doesn't reply, she just keeps pouting while she hugs her dear son. Emily, and, Oliver just chuckle looking at the cute pout of the blonde...
Oliver kisses Alison's head, and, says. - "Don't worry mum, I'm not going anywhere for now..."
Alison smiles, feeling pleased with that answer. Oliver was coming home... and, he wasn't the only one...
*** Robin's narrative (voice-over) ***
What is home? If you ask me, home is where memories are created and, never forgotten. Home is where laughter never ends. And home... home is where you belong... it's where love resides, no matter how long it takes you to come back...
There it was, in the backyard of her house, Alice, playing with the younger kids of her aunts Aria & Hanna...
Alice cover her eyes, and, says. - "Ok! I'm starting to count now! 1... 2..."
Lucy and, little Tobby giggle while they look for a place to hide. The blonde teenager smiles hearing their little laughs, it's music to her ears...
Alice drops her hands, and, says when she opens her eyes again. - "10! Ready or, not! Here, I come!"
Looking around, no one was there, the little kids did a great job in hiding this time, but, Alice is very good in this game of hide-and-seek because she counts with a secret weapon... an ace under the sleeve...
Alice whistles, and, calls the dog. - "Pepe! Come here!"
That's right, there's no better partner in crime than this furry friend. And once again, Pepe was more than ready to use his nose to find the kids...
Alice. - "C'mon Pepe! Do your thing!"
The dog starts to smell, he walks in circles while he smells the grass, he slowly starts to walk when he catches the aroma of one of the kids. Cookies of chocolates, Tobby has in his pocket, and, Pepe catches the smell...
Tobby whispers from his hideout. - "Oh, no, they are coming towards me..."
The dog was following the path of the smell of Tobby's pocket till he tilts his head up, and, catches another aroma in the air...
Alice frowns. - "Pepe, why you stop?"
The dog waves his head in the air, trying not to lose this new aroma that is not so new...
Alice. - "Pepe...?"
The aroma is a mix of flowers and cinnamon, it has been over more than 6 years that he hasn't smelt this aroma. And, with the smell, memories of the past come back too. And, Pepe starts to bark and happily jump, on the spur of the moment when he recalls from whom, this aroma comes...
Alice. - "Pepe! Calm down! What is coming on?! Wh-..." (She yells when she sees her faithful, furry friend, running away) "Hey! Wait! Where are you going?!"
The blonde has no idea of where Pepe is going, she has no idea of what smell he caught with his nose. But, Pepe knows, oh, he knows that he has to lead his dear Alice towards the source of this aroma...
Alice runs after the dog, and, says. - "Pepe! Come here! Pepe!"
Trying to catch the dog, Alice follows him. Pepe jumps into the bushes that separete the DiLaurentis-Fields house from the house next door...
Alice. - "Pepe! What are you doing?!"
The blonde has no idea of why the dog is trespassing in the backyard of the house next door. She doesn't think that Tobby and, Lucy went that far to hide. And, Alice is trying to make sense of Pepe's strange behavior when she gets out of the bushes, and, bumps into someone... she bumps into the reason of Pepe's barking, she bumps into...
Robin rubs her head. - "Aouch..."
The young Hastings-Sloan hit her head when she crashed against a blonde. She hasn't seen the face of the girl when she stands up, and, says...
Robin. - "Hey, are you okay? Here, take my hand, let me help you to stand up..."
The young Hastings offers her hand to the blonde who's on he ground, and, when Alice looks up, and their eyes meet. It felt like time just froze...
Robin smiles. - "Alice...?!"
Alice frowns. - "You know me...?"
Robin. - "Alice! C'mon! It's me!"
The young DiLaurentis stares at her, and, when she sees her beautiful green eyes, her heart flutters under the happy memories she has with the only girl who has always been present in her life, even at a far distance...
Alice stammers in shock. - "R-R-R-R-Robin?!"
The young Hastings nods non-stop, she should be helping her mom and her sister with the boxes, but right now, all she can think is...
Robin smiles. - "ALICE!"
Without hesitation, she throws herself to Alice, and now, both girls are on the ground...
Robin rubs her cheek against Alice's cheek, and, says very happy. - "Oh! Alice, Alice, Alice, Alice! I'm so happy to see you!"
The shy Hastings is not feeling shy at all right now. Expressing her joy to finally have her dear Alice in her arms is a dream come true. Robin doesn't remember when was the last time she felt this happy, but, she's sure that from this moment on, her happiness will just get bigger and, bigger because after all, she found her way back home... she found her way back to Alice...
Robin hugs Alice, and, says. - "I'm home..." (She chuckles when Pepe approaches to lick her face) "Pepe! It's nice to see you, too..."
She pats Pepe, she talks to the dog who found her, and, Alice stares at them, still in shock. Is this really happening? It's this a dream?
Alice. - "Are you really Robin...?"
Robin nods. - "Yes... it's me..." (she frowns, and, says with a little of fear in her voice) "You don't recognize me?"
She didn't think about it till now. But, what if she looks like a stranger for Alice. Yes, they have been writing to each other for years, but, they haven't really seen each other in a long, very long time. What if, now, Alice sees her just like an acquaintance? What if the time apart has erased the strong bond that once existed between them? What if it's too late, to come back to her...? Robin gulps hard, thinking that she shouldn't have had so high expectations but her fears fade when...
Alice. - "It's you..." (big smile) "OMG! YOU'RE HERE!" (She looks at her dear dog, and, says) "Pepe! Robin is here! She's really here!"
The dog barks, and nods, jumping around them, looking very happy about the reunion of these two girls. And before Robin could say another word, this time it's her, who gets tackled to the ground when Alice throw herself into her arms...
Alice hugs Robin, she rubs her cheek against Robin's cheek, and, says. - "Robin, Robin, Robin! You're back!"
Pepe happily barks
Robin smiles, she gives Alice a big hug, and, happily says. - "Yeah... I'm home..." (She sniffs Alice's blonde hair, and, mumbles with a happy smile) "Mmm... warm vanilla..."
*** Robin's narrative (voice-over) ***
Home is not a place... it's not exactly a feeling either if you ask me. What home means to me, it's a beautiful and wonderful aroma... for me... home is the aroma of warm vanilla... for me, home is YOU...
Next: CH 94 - YOU
