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 66
They woke early the next morning loaded up the kids and headed off. The next few days were more than hectic but Olivia pretty much sat back and watched their kids and their partners shine.
Ava and Ashley took off running and were more than capable handling the GM, her assistant and all the management staff. Olivia and Natalia watched from afar with pride as they took charge and implemented all that they wanted.
Rafe walked up behind them putting an arm around each of them. "It's like watching you and Ma work together, 100% in sync with each other. It's a thing of beauty to watch, it always has been." They just beamed and pulled him along to check out some other area.
Whitney had the kitchen staff in line within an hour of making her presence known and three days later they were working like a well-oiled Beacon kitchen machine. Just like Olivia liked it.
Rafe watched her with a smile as he checked out the shipment lists. Olivia came up behind him put a hand on his shoulder. "She's pretty amazing isn't she son?"
He turned his head and nodded with a goofy grin then turned back to watching her as Natalia walked up and started talking to her. "She really is mom. I think she's the one."
Olivia smiled lovingly at him, "I can see that baby." She kissed his cheek with a one armed hug before walking off to talk to Natalia.
Rafe himself was like a whirlwind in that place. Olivia and Natalia watched him as well as he moved from area to area helping wherever needed and instructing employees as necessary.
Olivia wrapped around Natalia from behind as they watched him. Natalia leaned back into her and sighed contentedly. "He's just taken to this so well. Watching him grow up and get into some trouble the last few years of school I had a hard time seeing what kind of work he would do. What kind of man he would become. I never in a million years thought I'd see him in this environment and so comfortable in this roll."
Olivia smile. "He's a natural and you did a good job raising him. He's an amazing young man and he is an asset to us here."
They both smiled wider as Ava and Ashley joined him talking about something Beacon related. Olivia tilted her head toward them. "I think we have trained them all well and they will have no problem taking over for us when the time comes. Add Whitney into the mix to train all the restaurants and I think we have a winning team."
Natalia nodded turning her head to kiss her softly. "I think you may be right querida. We honestly could have stayed home for all they have needed us. We prepped them well and they work so amazingly together." She looked out at them again with a smile. "Yea, we have a winning team."
The week went off without a hitch. The days were spent prepping the staff and training. The evening and nights were spent with the family and exploring the city a little. Natalia and Rafe showed everyone around to a few of their old favorite places and Natalia's aunt and uncle met up with them a few times for dinner. They met Rafe and the girls and spent some time with the boys. Aunt Maria and Emma took an instant liking to each other and Uncle Jose found Ava and Rafe hilarious to just sit and watch in their banter.
By the time Friday rolled around and the hotel was perfect and up to Olivia's standards. They had the whole family present when they opened the doors and the little kids were eating up the attention. At noon the family stood in front of the hotel sign for pictures as Olivia cut the ribbon and the first guests entered to check in for the night and prepare themselves for the gala that the hotel was throwing.
Olivia smiled and held them back as they watched the hotel lobby fill up. She turned to the photographer, "I want another picture." looking back to Natalia she pulled her close and kissed the baby in her arms on the nose. "I want a good picture of our family together here. I want to make a tradition of getting a family picture in front of every sign of every hotel we ever open."
The kids all agreed and Natalia leaned up and kissed her softly. "I like that idea, let's do it."
Natalia shifted to where Natalio was positioned between them. Ava stood next to her with Ashley wrapped into her side. Rafe leaned into Olivia and pulled Whitney close. Emma stood in front of Natalia and Mateo in front of Olivia both on either side of Natalio. When they photographer was satisfied with what he had taken Ashley and Whitney moved out of the frame and insisted they get one with just them. Once the pictures were all taken Jane gathered the children and the adults move to make sure everything went well with check in.
That night the gala was a big success. Everyone that was invited attended and enjoyed the amenities of the hotel. From the time you walk up to the front door to stepping on to your balcony or patio the place oozed of luxury and class. The children were allowed to come down for the first hour of the gala but were sent upstairs after dinner before the dancing started.
They all decided to divide and conquer for the first half hour and they were off. After mingling for a while Olivia moved to meet back up with the others. She found them all together and just stood with a smile watching them for a moment but before she could continue on to join them a voice stopped her.
"They are quite a sight aren't they? You have a beautiful family Mrs. Spencer."
Olivia turned and smiled at Judge Watkins. "Thank you sir, I have to whole heartedly agree."
He smiled and took her hand. "It's good to see you all together and happy unlike the last few week of having to see you the way I did. You guys always seem to bounce back from all adversities thrown in your paths."
Olivia just beamed as he continued. "I must say that in all my years in family and criminal court I have never seen a family quite like yours. No matter what hits you you seem stronger. You got through your son being in prison and have helped him turn his life around. You take on two more children and from what I've seen those children are thriving as much as your other three."
He took a deep breath before continuing. "You have to deal with every mother and wife's nightmare of not knowing whether your wife and son were ok when they were kidnaped and went through the horror of all that with the bombing and everything and still your family bond unbending, unbreakable. From the moment I saw you in my courthouse dealing with Cooper and your son I knew you would be. It's a beautiful thing Mrs. Spencer, a beautiful thing. Take care of them always." With a squeeze to her hand he walked away.
Olivia watched him go until she felt a hand on her back and turned to see Natalia and the kids had joined her. "Is everything alright querida? You looked a little funny after he walked away."
Olivia just smiled and pulled her close. "Everything is perfect princess. He was just congratulating us on everything and complementing our family. He just took me a little by surprise."
Natalia smiled and they pulled her along with them to enjoy the rest of their night. Once they found the rest of their group with Phillip and his crew and Doris and Blake they just spent the rest of the night enjoying their extended family and the success of the night.
The next day they spent reviewing things with the staff and management and reminding them that they would be back in a week to check on things. The evening was spent repacking and sending things off to be dry cleaned and picked up when they got back. They gathered all of the bags that would be going on their vacation with them by the door for the bellhop to get them in the morning.
They were leaving their personal cars here and taking the shuttle to the airport in the morning. Doris and Blake were going with them but Jane opted to stay there and spend her week off with her boyfriend in the city. She'd meet back up with them the Monday after they returned. Olivia let her keep her room at the hotel for the week and the hotel would help get them any tickets they wanted.
Olivia talked to Natalia then had Ava set up the trip just like the last trip they took. It was almost a mirror image of that trip minus the mom drama of does she love me does she not. Mateo and Natalio were enthralled by all that was Disneyland. They stayed in the same hotel but in two new suites to accommodate them all. The young children, Olivia and Natalia stayed in the Pirates of the Caribbean Suite. Ava, Ashley Rafe and Ava stayed in the Adventureland suite with Doris and Blake.
The week was so much fun for the family. They spent Sunday like they had the trip before just walking through Disney town streets eating lunch than dinner before heading back for the fireworks. Emma explained to Mateo that they all had to kiss after the fireworks. Ava and Rafe laughed at the memory of the first time they were here and had to explain to Doris and Blake how Emma tricked the moms with the firework kiss causing them all to laugh and Natalia to blush crimson.
Monday they spent at the day at the park and Natalio was kind of stand offish to the characters until he discovered Donald Duck and fell in love. After that every time he saw the life size character or a toy of him he wanted it. Rafe bought him a stuffed Donald and a t-shirt with him on it. Mateo liked Mickey the best and loved the Mickey ears and t-shirt Ava got him.
Tuesday they spent at the Garden walk again shopping and enjoying bowlmor again. This time Mateo beat everyone out in laser tag and Ashley won the most tickets in the arcade and Whitney kicked ass in bowling. Ava and Natalia snuck off together but no one really questioned it.
Wednesday and Thursday they planned to spend at the park and Adventureland. They had opted out of going back to Universal Studios this trip and planned Friday and Saturday as beach days. Wednesday night after the fireworks they looked around trying to locate Ava and Ashley for the family kiss. They found them in the middle of Pixie hollow with Ava down on one knee proposing to the bawling laughing mess they knew as Ashley.
They decided to marry there like Olivia and Natalia did and the race was on to get it all set up. Pastor Chuck was more than happy to perform the ceremony for them on Saturday with his wife, daughter, and daughter in-law as witnesses. Ava and Ashley chose to wear the same outfits that were very similar to Natalia's wedding attire. Everyone else was in purple. Olivia, Doris, Rafe, Mateo and Natalio wore purple shirts and white slacks or capris. Natalia, Emma, Blake and Whitney all wore purple sarongs over purple bathing suits.
At the end of the ceremony Natalia presented Ashley with a necklace that matched the rest of the family officially welcoming her to the family. The rest of the family proudly wore their own. Mateo and Natalio included. Once they got home, much to Doris's chagrin, Ashley would be taking her wife's name.
Natalia stood off to the side watching as Laura took pictures of Ava and Ashley and Rafe and their youngest played in the sand. She smiled as she felt her wife's arms surround her from behind. "Penny for your thoughts princess?"
Natalia smiled. "I was just thinking that after everything we've been through we've come full circle. Here we are where it all started watching our oldest marry the love of her life. I watch Rafe and Whitney and I know they won't be far behind. I'm just happy baby."
She nuzzled in and kissed her neck lightly looking out at their kids. "Our family has grown quite a bit since then too. By the way where did you get the extra necklaces? We only had one extra but you gave one to both boys and to Ashley."
Turning her head she kissed her cheek. "I sent off the extra to the Jeweler when Ashley and Ava got together. I figured we needed one for Natalio and Mateo anyway I'd just have him make some extras for new members that may arise. After giving one to the boys and Ash theirs I have one for each upcoming spouse and two each for when our babies start to give us grandbabies later."
Olivia nipped at her ear and smiled. "Sounds like you plan on an even bigger family for us."
They both chuckled and Natalia turned in her arms. "Of course, it's been an amazing ride so far querida and I plan on staying on this ride for a long time to come. I am so grateful to our children for saving me. If it wasn't for Rafe talking with me about Frank and his proposal, Emma with all her little pushes like the firework kiss, and Ava giving me a kick in the pants after I kissed you and panicked. I don't know where we would be right now."
Olivia pulled her in and kissed her softly. "I'd like to think we would have eventually figured it all out."
Natalia chuckled. "Yea, hopefully before I did something stupid and tried to marry that horrible man."
They both shivered comically and laughed together. "It's doesn't matter Princess, your mine now. The rest is just details and speculation."
Natalia smiled and kissed her nose lightly. "I was always yours baby and you were always mine."
"And we always will be." Olivia pulled her in and kissed her with a passion and love they knew would never waver.
They were brought out of their little bubble when they heard Mateo and Emma calling for them as they were caught by Rafe and Whitney being swung around. They laughed as they took a hold of each other's hand walking toward their family, their future, and holding on to their everything.
The End
A/N: Ok my lovely's that is the last chapter. Epilogue to come, I hope it has been as good for you as it has been for me. (wink)
