Saving Ma
Summary: After Frank proposed to Natalia, Rafe Ave and Emma team up to help their moms.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and I do not make any profit from this.
Chapter 39
Ava woke the next morning a little disoriented. She went to stretch and couldn't because she was held firmly by an arm and leg. Confused she turned her head to find blonde hair spilling over her shoulder a face buried in her neck. She smile, Ashley. This wasn't the first time they had awoken this way with one of them holding the other. Ava snuggled back in and closed her eyes, enjoying being held.
After a few minutes she opened her eyes again and focused on the clock. How in the world was it already 9:00 and why hadn't anyone woke them? She moved her hand to the arm around her and rubbed. "Ash. Ashley. It's time to get up sweetie."
Ashley moved her leg but tightened her arm mumbling incoherently burrowing into her neck more pulling her closer. Ava groaned softly as Ashley's body fully melded into her own. "Jesus. Ash, we gotta get up." She said rubbing and shaking her arm again.
Ashley kissed the base of her neck, causing a shiver to run up Ava's spine. "Don't want to, comfy." She whined.
Ava was caught between amusement and something else entirely. "Come on sleepy head. We slept too late. We gotta get food and get ready to check on the charity ball. I'm hungry."
Ashley placed a kiss to her shoulder mumbling and rolled to her back. Ava felt instantly cold and empty. She tried not to dwell on it. She raised up to her knees and started bouncing on the bed. One sure fire way to get her friend up was to annoy her up.
Ava bounced shaking her. "Get up, get up, get up. Gotta work part the day so tonight we go to the ball and we get to play." She said in a sing song voice.
Ashley groaned. "No Ava stop jumping." She opened one eye peeking at her, then lunged up grabbing her and pulling her down to tickle her.
Ava started gasping for breath and laughing hard. "Stop, Stop. NO Ashley."
Ashley continues. "Say you won't jump no more."
Ava sputtered. "Ok… OK I won't jump anymore."
Ashley tickled her some more. "Promise?"
Ava laughed harder. "I promise… just stop… please."
Ashley let go climbing out of the bed and slapped her ass. "That's what I thought." And she ran to the bathroom Ava hot on her heals. Barely getting the door closed before she was caught.
Ava banged on the door. "Just wait, I'll get you back when you least expect it." She yelled through the door still laughing.
Ashley responded in a sing song voice. "We'll see, we'll see if you ever catch me."
Ava laughed again and went to make the bed and pick out some clothes for the day. She may have to work but she was going to be comfortable. She grabbed jeans and a nice blouse and her knee high boots.
Ashley came out of the bathroom. "Hey I still have clothes here don't I?"
Ava looked up smiling. "Yep far left in the closet and bottom right drawer in the dresser."
Ashley walked past her nudging her with her shoulder lightly. "Thanks."
Ava gathered her things. "I'm going casual today. I'm sure Rafe won't mind you using his shower if you don't want to wait for me."
Ashley waved her off and entered the closet. "Just don't take all day. I'm not going out there like this. I'll scare the children."
Ava chuckled and went to take her shower. She turned the water on and stepped in. She let the water run over her and reflected on the morning so far. Waking up in Ashley's arms was nice. The kisses to her neck and shoulder unexpected but surprising enough she didn't mind them. Actually they were quite nice. The good and bad thing about it was that Ash was unaware that she had even done it. God she was so confused.
She shook out of her thoughts and washed quickly, got out and dressed. She brushed her teeth and grabbed her make up bag to put it on in the room while Ashley showered.
She walked out and found Ash sitting on the bed flipping through the channels. She looked up as Ava walked out. "Hey, did you save me any hot water." She teased.
Ava grinned evilly, "Nope. Just ice water for you little lady. It's good for the complexion."
Ash sighed heavily. "Ok. It's for the best I guess." She got up grabbed her things smiling and went in to shower.
Ava chuckled at her friends antics and sat to do her makeup.
A little later they came out and found Rafe and the kids watching cartoons. He looked up as they came out. "Jeez guys, when I turned off your alarm I still figured I'd see you at the latest an hour ago."
Ava swat his arm on the way to the house phone. "You shouldn't have turned it off if you were just going to complain."
Rafe smiled. "You had a headache last night and looked kinda rough. I thought you could use the rest. I really didn't mind."
Ava walked back over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you little brother, I did." She went back to the phone and ordered food for her and Ash then turned back to Rafe. "Are the moms up?"
Rafe nodded. "Yep, they said to have you come in when you got up. I think they were worried when you slept in."
Ava nodded and went to the next suite knocking on their door.
Olivia called for her to come in and smiled when she saw her. "Good morning baby. Are you feeling better? Did you sleep ok?"
Ava sat on the bed next to her. "I'm fine mom. I just had a headache last night and Rafe was being nice and shut off my alarm so I could sleep in."
Natalia smiled. "That's what he said. Is Ashley still here?"
Ava nodded. "Yep, we fell asleep watching a movie last night. We're waiting on breakfast then I have a few things to do in the office and we have to check on the set up for the ball tonight."
Olivia sighed. "I hate this. I was looking forward to that ball. I wanted to dance with my woman."
Natalia rubbed her arm. "It's ok baby. We'll get together with Doris and go dancing once we're better."
Olivia pouted. "Won't be the same. Anyway, who are you taking with you with our ticket? You know you're supposed to take someone. Each ticket is for two."
Ava nodded. "Yep, Ashley and I are going. I'm going to pick her up at 6:30 so we get there early."
Natalia looked up stunned. "You're taking Ashley?"
Ava smiled. "Sure, why not. Should be fun."
Natalia was about to say something else but stopped when Olivia put a hand on her arm. She shrugged internally. "Well, have fun and make sure you come see us before you leave. I want to see you in your dress, and don't forget to use the picture voucher with the ticket. We prepaid for it, may as well use it."
Ava nodded and turned when the door opened. Ashley stuck her head in. "Hey sorry to interrupt but breakfast is here and I know you hate to eat cold eggs."
Ava smiled, "Thanks, I am starving."
Ashley shifted her gaze to Olivia and Natalia. "She's always starving. I think she has a hollow leg."
Olivia and Natalia laughed and Ava rolled her eyes. "Anyway, I'm going to go eat and I will make sure you see the dress." She kissed them and headed to the other room to eat.
Once she was out the door Natalia turned to Olivia. "I don't think she realizes that this is a sweetheart's ball. Why didn't you let me tell her?"
Olivia chuckled. "I don't think she knows either, but it will be fun tomorrow when she yells at me once she figures it out."
Natalia grinned and shook her head. "You are evil. She's not going to be happy with us."
Olivia pulled her close. "You never know. Besides Ashley knows what the ball is and she said yes."
Natalia thought for a moment then shrugged. "I guess only time will tell."
Olivia tipped her head and captured her lips in a searing kiss. "As much as I love spending days with you in bed, I can't wait until tomorrow when we can get up for a while. I miss being with the kids out of this room."
Natalia sighed. "I know what you mean. Natalio must be so confused, thinking we don't love him or something. Every time they bring him in he cries when they take him out."
Olivia snuggled her close. "He's ok love. Things will get back to normal soon and we will get back into our routine with our babies."
Natalia nodded and they snuggled in for a nap.
After breakfast Ava and Ashley headed off to the office. Ashley checked her emails while Ave finished up some paperwork she didn't get done the day before. Around 1:00 they headed to the ball room and checked on the set up.
Greg met them at the door. "Hey you two. Everything is shaping up nicely, right on time. Everything will be ready before 6:00. This is going to be a fabulous evening. I wish I had a date myself." Ashley giggled at him and walked off to check out the progress.
Ava smiled at his over eagerness. "Hopefully they raise all the money they are hoping to for the children's hospital wing. I guess they do this every year but this is our first year hosting it. It has to go well so they want to do it here every year from now on. This one event is going to make almost half of our projected yearly revenue. We could be empty the rest of the year and still come out on top."
Greg smiled and bounced on his feet. "It will be fine. Everything is going according to plan. Don't worry, you just enjoy your evening. Who are you bringing?"
Ava smiled, "Ashley is coming with me." She said looking over to her.
Greg look shocked but covered it quickly. "Well, you guys have fun. I have to go check in with the kitchen for a last minute menu check."
Ava nodded as he walked off and went to check everything out with Ashley. Once they double check everything they headed back to the office. Ashley turned to Ava as they walked. "I'm going to grab my things and head out. It's already after 3:00 and I need to get a few things done before tonight." Ava nodded and she continued. "Oh and by the way, could you pick me up at Mom's? I keep all my gowns there. My apartment closet is too small for them. Mom insisted that I had tons of the things."
Ava smiled. "No problem. I'll see you then. I have a few errands and a hair appointment to go to as well. I also need to pick up my dress from the boutique. They were doing a few alterations for me. I just bought it Thursday because I didn't know I was going until then."
Ashley nodded and grabbed her things from her office. "Well, I'll see you at 6:30 looking fabulous."
Ava grinned. "I'm sure you will, see you then." Ashley hugged her and she watched her leave. She turned to her office and gathered her own purse and headed out herself.
At 5:30 she walked out of her room to whistles. Rafe held his hand over his heart. "Oh my goodness sis. You look outstanding."
She was wearing a floor length red strapless sweetheart gown. Hair slightly mussed and sexy. Mateo stood up next to Rafe, "You look really pretty Ava."
Ava smiles softly. "Thank you guys."
Emma walked over and circled her. "You look so beautiful. I want to be that pretty when I'm bigger." She said wistfully.
Ava caressed her cheek. "Oh bean. You will be more beautiful than I am when you're my age."
Emma blushed and hugged her. She moved on to the next suite and knocked on her moms' door. She entered when Natalia called for her to. When she entered they just stared for a moment before Olivia found her voice. "Oh my god baby. Every eye in the room will be on you tonight. You look gorgeous sweetheart."
Ava blushed, "Thank you mom."
Natalia had a tear in her eye. "Oh baby. You are so beautiful honey."
Ava smile, walking over and kissed her cheek. "Thank you Ma. Well, it takes about 30 minutes to get to Doris's house from here and traffic will be bad tonight so I'm going to head out."
Natalia squeezed her hand. "You have fun tonight and don't work too much. You and Ashley enjoy the evening out."
Ava grinned, "Oh I plan to." and she headed for the door.
Once she closed it Olivia chuckled. "Oh honey. Ashley is going to swallow her tongue if she is even the slightest bit attracted to our daughter."
Natalia smiled. "That she will love. I can't wait to see the pictures of the evening. I text Greg earlier and asked him to make sure the extra photographer we hired for Beacon use got plenty of pictures of them."
Olivia smiled and lay back hoping she wasn't wrong about them and that their oldest would find the kind of happiness she had with Natalia.
The Beacon car pulled up to the Mayor's mansion at 6:20. Ava fixed her make-up and got out when the driver opened the door. She walked up the stairs and rang the doorbell.
Doris answered the door and smiled widely. "Oh Ava, look at you."
Ava smiled entering the foyer. "Thank you Doris. I know I'm early but is Ash ready?"
Doris shook her head. "No, but she shouldn't be too much longer. When I came down she said she was almost ready. She won't let me see until she's done."
Ava was about to reply but something at the top of the stairs caught her eye. She looked up and her heart stopped. "Oh sweet Jesus."
