A/N: As a reminder, there is an indeterminate amount of time that passes between each of these movements as to showcase the various aspects and progressions of Otalia's relationship. "Moderato" [obviously] translates to "moderately."

Second Movement: Moderato

With exception to the muted conversation between news commentators on the television downstairs, the Spencer-Rivera household was left undisturbed. Rafe was still living and working out of his halfway house across town and Emma was drifting off to sleep while Natalia read a chapter from her favorite book. Sitting on the opposite side of Emma's bed, Olivia's heart warmed at the sight of Natalia reading to her child. She even cared enough to use uniquely expressive voices for each character, which often provoked a room full of laughter from both her and Emma. Natalia was as gentle, loving, and protective of Emma as Olivia could have ever hoped for in a partner, and in moments like these, Olivia couldn't help but bring her hand up to her heart as if to hold back the swell of emotion stirring within her. She didn't think she was even capable of feeling for someone this deeply, and yet here she was, loving Natalia and the life they'd almost unwittingly built together.

"Shh," Natalia shushed, playfully scolding Olivia for chuckling at one of her character voices as she closed the book and set it on Emma's nightstand. "You don't want to wake her up," she added, taking Olivia's hand across the bed and squeezing it as she glanced back down at a now peacefully sleeping Emma, love positively gushing from her eyes.

Standing up and walking with Olivia back to the hallway, Natalia turned the knob and silently closed Emma's door, leaving them alone by the darkened stairwell. Without saying another word, Natalia smiled gently, touched the ends of Olivia's hair, and then took a step forward and kissed her.

"What was that for?" Olivia asked once they parted, smiling giddily.

"You need a reason?" Natalia replied, taking Olivia's hand and leading her back down the stairs so that they could resume their evening together.

"No," Olivia shrugged as she followed, her knees wavering slightly when Natalia looked back at her with that smile.

Patience, like so many other things, was a virtue and lately Olivia had been tested on it far more frequently than should be considered legal. They'd only started living together a week ago and being around each other again in the secluded intimacy of the farmhouse was proving to be a trying experience. Neither of them had been ready for such a big change within their still-budding relationship, but Emma's insistence on the three of them living together as a family again had suppressed any lingering doubts or concerns. A week later, the tension between them had not subsided and Olivia couldn't imagine it getting any worse. However, with every tick of the clock, she was proven otherwise. Just sitting beside Natalia when silence befell the house was a test and it was one that Olivia felt certain she would fail eventually.

While Natalia busied herself with tidying up Emma's books and homework that she'd left spread out on the coffee table, Olivia settled back onto the couch and half-listened to the news while Natalia went on about tomorrow's schedule. In truth, all Olivia could think about was the tenderness with which Natalia had kissed her a moment ago. She was unable to process what she was watching on television anymore, nor could she register what Natalia was telling her needed to be done in order to prepare for her various meetings tomorrow. Instead, Olivia kept her eyes focused on the television screen, just so that she wouldn't end up falling victim to her own barely controllable desires.

When Olivia stopped answering her questions or otherwise engaging in the conversation, Natalia paused and looked over at her. "Earth to Olivia," she teased, waving her hand in front of Olivia's eyes to get her attention. "Are you okay?" She snickered, zipping up Emma's backpack and setting it aside for tomorrow.

Laughing quietly in embarrassment, "Yeah," she deflected, her voice pitched from the emotion caught in her throat. Clearing it (and her head), Olivia reached over and took Natalia's hand from her lap. "Yeah," she repeated, her voice having returned to its normal register. "I'm fine. I just…thought you were watching this so I didn't want to interrupt," Olivia said, offering a hand out to the television, which was now featuring a commercial they'd both seen a thousand times.

"Uh huh," Natalia appeased, not buying Olivia's unusual and yet familiar lies for a second. Squeezing Olivia's hand while a slow, curious smile crept across her lips, Natalia perused the Rolodex of thoughts flipping through her mind in order to once again translate Olivia's unspoken conversation. Or at the very least, interpret it in the way that she wanted to interpret it. "Pretty sure you picked this channel," she commented, nodding. "And I'm also pretty sure that the show you were originally watching has been over for at least ten minutes."

"Oh," Olivia mouthed. She lowered her lashes and rubbed the back of her neck as if the combination would somehow hide her ridiculous nerves, but then she smiled when she felt Natalia's fingers push her hair away from her eyes, beckoning for her attention. Allowing Natalia to turn her face up towards her, Olivia looked at her intently for half a moment before glancing down at her tempting lips that were curled into the most mischievous of grins. Natalia's thumb gracefully skimmed across Olivia's lips as she leaned in to kiss her, but Olivia shied away from her and made an attempt to rise from the couch.

"I should…" Olivia paused to lick her lips, her throat suddenly dry when she caught the intimidating look in Natalia's eyes, "Go turn off the lights in the kitchen."

"They're not going anywhere," Natalia joked, gripping Olivia's wrist tightly and stopping her from moving away. Once Olivia sat back down on the couch, she softened the grip around her wrist and shifted just a smidgeon closer to her, tilting her head while gently petting Olivia's cheek. "And neither are you," she smiled.

Natalia's smile was as sweet and innocent as it was misleading because no sooner than did Olivia relax under her gaze did Natalia have her pinned against the arm of the couch, kissing her. Weeks had passed since they'd proclaimed their love for one another and yet, Natalia's kisses still took Olivia's breath away; they were surprisingly passionate and not a single one was offered in vain. What stupefied her the most was that her kisses were as coquettish as Natalia, oftentimes inspiring playful laughter and sultry arousal all at once.

Their night had begun with a delightful and surprising kiss on the stairwell, but if Natalia's actions were any indication, the evening was quickly going to morph into something else entirely. Natalia continued to advance upon Olivia, sighing wistfully and yearning for her touch, and although Olivia's body simultaneously tensed and warmed as Natalia's hands crept their way down her face to grasp at her neck, arms, then hips, Olivia started to panic. Natalia willed Olivia to give in more with every kiss and touch and as lustfully tempting as it was, Olivia knew that they were rapidly approaching uncharted territory and she couldn't be certain if they were ready for this yet. She wasn't sure what all of this meant or what was going to be expected of her. This was what she'd wanted, but now that she almost had it, she had no idea what she was supposed to do with it. Her heart about to burst from everything she felt unraveling within her, Olivia pulled away and tried to catch her breath.

"Olivia, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-–" Natalia apologized, thinking that she'd crossed the line when she'd frantically tried to unbutton Olivia's shirt.

"No, Natalia, you weren't," she paused, sitting up take Natalia's face into her hands, wanting to reassure her. "You weren't doing anything I didn't…want you to do," she admitted, chuckling.

Natalia sighed, not believing Olivia, but not about to press her about it either. Instead, when Olivia reached out for her to come back to her, she laid down upon her chest and clutched onto her shoulders, relaxing into the perfect way that their bodies seemed to fit together. Burying her nose into the soft, perfumed curve of Olivia's neck, Natalia hoped that their simple embrace would help to bring them back from a intimidating state of delirium and uncertainly and into a place of comfort, peace, and mutual understanding.

Olivia was overwhelmed by what she felt for Natalia, but even in her fractured condition, she wanted Natalia to know why she had elected to stop. "Natalia…I'm–"

Natalia interrupted her with an inaudible murmur, kissing her jawline and curling up tighter against Olivia. "No," she coaxed. "It's okay," she said, lifting Olivia's hand up to her lips and kissing her way up the lifeline engraved along the inside of it.

"I just don't want you to think--" Olivia persisted.

"I don't," Natalia said, interrupting her again and looking up at her. "I know how you feel, Olivia. I just want to be close to you," she said, laying back down. "That's all I've ever wanted."

Olivia couldn't think of a single event that justified having such a blessing like Natalia in her life. She did not deserve someone so understanding, so beautiful, and so unconditionally loving. Closing her eyes, Olivia took a deep breath as she graciously wrapped one arm around Natalia's waist and the other around her shoulders. Pulling her close, Olivia rested her cheek against Natalia's crown while she gently pet the length of her back. After several peaceful, syncopated beats of their hearts passed, Olivia grinned when she felt Natalia traipsing her fingertips along her collarbones.

"I do love you," she paused, overcome. "So much," she whispered before gently kissing Natalia's forehead.

"I know," she smiled, nuzzling her nose against Olivia's neck. "I love you, too."

Closing her eyes and settling deeper into the couch, Olivia wanted nothing more than to fall asleep just as they were and to wake up the next morning, just as they were.