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 49

Olivia stood stock still staring at the gun. "What are you doing?" As she looked into his eyes she heard movement behind her.

Phillip stepped into her sight. "James, son, what are you doing?"

James stood, the gun shaking in his hand. "Step back dad. I have to do it, it's the only way."

Phillip looked back and saw Natalia hand the baby to Ava. Rafe grabbed Emma and Mateo and put them behind him with Whitney. He looked back. "It's not son. Why would this be the only way?"

Tears ran down his face. "Granddad said. He said that I have to get Emma for him. I have to rid our family of Olivia and bring Emma home. If I don't he'll get rid of me and Lizzy instead then steal Emma and run away with her."

Natalia gasped behind Olivia. Olivia reached back to keep her in place behind her. "James, this is not the way. We will keep you, Lizzy and Emma safe from him I promise. If you do this you will go to jail and even if Emma goes to Allan, which she won't because my brother Sam will get her and take her far away, you will never be able to live with yourself. You know I love you James. I always have, you were my son too once. Let me help you now."

Doris had pulled all the kids behind her, Blake and Beth but Rafe got around them and moved slowly beside Olivia. "James, you don't want to do this. I've been here man, it's a road you can't come back from. I still see it in my nightmares and I didn't actually mean to pull the trigger. Let my mom help you please. We won't let Allan get to you, Lizzy, or Emma. I will defend you all to my dying breath just please don't kill my mom. I already lost my dad, please, we're family." He had tears streaming as he plead with his cousin.

James looked to him. "I don't want to do this Rafe, but you don't know our granddad like I do. He will kill me and Lizzy and not even blink an eye."

Rafe stepped a step closer. "We will take care of him as a family. Don't do this. She's my mom, we need her." He sobbed out.

James looked at him again his own tears streaming his whole body shaking. "I'm so sorry." He dropped the gun and fell to his knees at Olivia's feet hugging her legs. "I'm so sorry."

Olivia fell to her knees in front of him and pulled him close. Rafe grabbed the gun and handed it to Doris as she rushed forward. Phillip, Beth and Natalia all fell beside them and hugged them. Ava with Natalio still in her arms rushed Rafe. Emma and Mateo right behind and he pulled them all in.

Doris dropped the gun in her purse right as Mallet and Marina walked up. Mallet took in the scene. "Is everything ok here? I thought I saw a gun."
Olivia looked up still cradling James's head to her. Luckily they had set themselves away from the crowd and Mallet wouldn't be able to be sure about the gun. "No, everything is fine. No one had a gun, we just had a family disagreement. Everything is just fine now."

Marina scoffed, "Sure whatever." She crossed her arms and glared at Natalia.

Mallet turned to Marina with a glare, "sorry about her she is still upset about her dad. Are you sure everything is ok here Olivia."

She nodded and Natalia stood. "We are fine Mallet. I'm sorry you are hurting but I did not make your father lose his mind. It's not my families fault."

Marina went to say something but Mallet stopped her turning back to Natalia smiled slightly. "I know Natalia, no one blames you. She's just upset, she'll get over it."

Natalia scoffed, "No, she does blame me. For god sake I went on a total of 2 dates with the man, had a very stupid lapse of judgment after Coops funeral and he asked me to marry him. Who does that? I'm tired of her looking at me like I am the cause of her poor defenseless father kidnapping me and my son, leaving my baby alone in a house in the middle of the country sick, with no idea how long it would take for anyone to find him. Knocking me around giving me a severe concussion, all after trying to kill my wife and two of my children while serving up my daughter to a mad man and my son to an abusive bastard who had already hurt him horrendously before. Yea that's my fault." Natalia was seething. The stress of the last two weeks and what had just happened finally snapped her composure.

She advanced on Marina and Olivia flew toward her grabbing her around the waist from behind pulling her back. "No baby, she's not worth it."

Marina's glare faltered at the anger and sorrow pouring off Natalia. "No Olivia. She is so tore up about her father. I get that her family is upset but it is not my fault. He almost killed you and two of our babies and put the other three in grave danger." She deflated in Olivia's arms falling to her knees sobbing. "Oh god baby it's all my fault. I did this to us. I led him on and he almost destroy everything I love."

Olivia fell with her, turned her and pulled her in. "No, don't you dare do this to yourself. You didn't do this, he made those choices. This wasn't your fault baby."

Emma came over and hugged her. "Ma you told me that other people's choice were their own. Did you mean it or is it my fault that Ava and Rafe were almost hurt and now mommy, Lizzy and James are in danger too?"

Natalia gasped and pulled her into her lap between them. "Oh god no Emma none of this is your fault baby. Of course I meant what I said to you."

Emma smiled up at her. "Then it's not your fault either." She said holding her face.

Natalia sobbed and pulled her close. "Ok… you're right… it's not our fault." She said trying to control her breathing. As she started to calm the other kids descended on them and they all shared a group hug, Natalio pushing himself between them to Natalia's lap burying his face in her neck whimpering, not understanding what was going on.

Mallet gave Marina a look and she sighed. She knew this wasn't Natalia's fault, she just need someone to blame. Her own bull was tearing apart this already hurting family.

She walked over and knelt by the family. "I'm sorry Natalia, I know this wasn't your fault. I guess it was easier to blame you than blame him." Natalia looked up and gave her a sad tiny smile. "It was easier but not right. You won't have any more problems with me." She squeezed her shoulder getting up then she grabbed Mallets hand and walked away.

Beth was sitting with Lizzy and James. Doris, Blake, Ashley and Whitney were at a loss at what to do to help. Phillip knelt beside them. "I'm sorry but we really need to all get out of here."

Olivia looked up. "I want everyone at the Beacon. The floor we are on is empty right now. Two other suites just like ours. There is plenty of room for everyone there. I want Lizzy and James there tonight."

She got up and walked over to James. "Where is Allan right now? Is he still in New York?"

James got up and stood in front of her. "No he is in the next town over but is heading back to New York tomorrow. I was supposed to go to him after it was over." he said it in a rush and started shaking again.

Olivia pulled him into a hug. "Ok, here's what you're going to do. You're going to call him and tell him there were too many people to get to me tonight and that you will have to find me alone later. He should buy it, there were tons of people here today. That should buy us some time to figure out what to do next."

Phillip nodded, "That should work son." He turned him to look in his eyes. "Thank you for making the right choice here, I'm proud of you. I promise I will not let him get to you or your sisters."

James took a breath and walked over to Natalia who was now standing holding Natalio surrounded by all their kids. "I am so sorry that I did this and almost cost you more turmoil. I am also so, so sorry that I did this in front of the other kids." He looked down fighting tears.

Natalia pulled his face up gently by his chin. "You were scared and trying to protect your sisters and yourself. I don't agree with what you did but I can forgive you for it if you promise to come to one of us and let us help if you are ever backed into a corner again."

He nodded and allowed her to pull him into a one armed hug. "I promise. I'm so sorry."

He released her and knelt in front of Emma. "I am so sorry little sister. I promise I will never do anything again that might hurt your mommy."

Emma stepped up to him looking at his seriously then broke down in sobs falling into him. "You scared me James. Don't ever do that to me again." She sobbed out as she pounded his chest then hugged his neck.

He stood up still holding her close. He turned to Olivia, "Can I carry her to the car?"

Olivia nodded, "Yes, let's get out of here."

They all packed up their blankets and headed to the Beacon. Olivia called ahead to reserve their entire floor. She turned to Doris as they entered the family suite after settling the others in their own suite. "I want you and Blake to stay here until this is over. I told Rafe and Ava to ask Whitney and Ashley to do the same. You are all tied to us and I don't want you in danger any more than necessary."

Doris sighed. "That's not really necessary Liv. I have my guards and I can get some for Blake. Ashley staying is probably an inevitability. She hasn't left Ava since before the ball and I'm glad she will be here."

Olivia looked to her tears gathering. "Please do this for me. You are like my sister D. You are part of my family and I need to know that my entire family is safe. Please, please do this for my peace of mind. I don't know how much more I can take."

Doris pulled her into a hug. "Ok, ok Liv I will talk to Blake. We will stay just don't cry, you know I can't take it."

Olivia sniffled and tightened her hold for a moment then released her. "Thank you, I'm sorry it's just been a really intense few hours."

Doris wiped Olivia's tears. "No problem. Let's go find our women and get some rest we will get up early and figure out how to shut Allan down for good."
Olivia sighed. "I'm telling you all I want to do is go to Allan and kill him with my bare hands right now for putting all that on James and yet again putting my family in danger."

Doris put an arm around her and led her into the room to find the others. "I know but let us try this the legal way first before I have to try and find a place to hide the body."

Olivia chuckled walking in to find Natalia in their room on the bed surrounded by all their kids most of which had fallen asleep on her. Natalio being the only one awake but looked ready to drop himself. Blake sitting in the chair next to the bed smiling at the bed. "What is all this?" Olivia whispered.

Doris was doing her best not to laugh. Ashley and Whitney were on the end of the bed passed out as well. Natalia shrugged happily. "We were all talking and the next thing I knew they were all out." She looked at all her babies and their loves smiling. "Can we keep them?"

Olivia chuckled again. "I think that's a safe bet." She looked them all over smiling. She looked to Doris. "I guess I'm bunking with you and Blake tonight." She joked.

Doris laughed quietly and Natalia shook her head. "I don't think so, just spoon in behind Ava, plenty of room."

Doris laughed again. "Well we'll leave you to it," she said grabbing Blake's hand and helping her to stand. "Blake and I will be across the hall if you need us to peel you out of this bed in the morning."

Olivia walked them out and returned to the dog pile in her bed. "Ok, do you want them to stay baby? I think they may need us tonight."

Natalia smiled. "Yes I want them to stay. If they wake and go to their own rooms later that's fine, but I need them for now."

Olivia nodded and climbed in behind Ava on the only clear spot. She leaned over her to kiss Natalia softly and lay back cuddling Ava close. They would all probably wake in the morning with sore backs and cricks in their necks but she didn't care. They were all here and ok. She would just have to make sure they all stayed that way. Allan would be sorry for putting her family through all of this if it was the last thing she did.