My Sister's Secret
(Chapter Four: Divide And Conquer)
Olivia opened her eyes in the darkness, something had pulled her from a deep sleep. A strange feeling had suddenly come over her and unsure of what it was, she began to worry.
She climbed from her bed and headed down the hall to check on her daughters. She opened Bailey's door first, finding only an empty bed and her book. Concerned, Olivia turned and headed into Aubrey's room to see if she know where Bailey was.
Olivia pushed the door slowly open to see the girls curled up together in Aubrey's bed sleeping soundly. She exhaled in relief and stepped closer to tuck them in. She brushed her fingertip gently across Bailey's forehead and kissed her gently as she pulled the blanket up around her.
Olivia moved to Aubrey's side of the bed and tucked her in, kissing her as well. As she turned to go she noticed a little baby doll sitting on the shelf across the room, hand stitched with big blue eyes. Olivia picked the doll up and stared at it for a moment as she stared at it. She dragged her fingers through it's yarn hair and touched it's little button nose as a smile spread across her face. This was the doll Elliot had bought for Aubrey just moments before she was born. Olivia placed the doll in Aubrey's arms and kissed her daughter once more. Placed an extra blanket on the bed over the girls and headed back to her room.
She stepped out of her slippers and hung up her robe on the back of the bedroom door as she crawled back into bed beside Elliot.
"Everything alright?" He asked raising his arm to place it around her.
"Yeah. I just got a strange feeling, I wanted to check on them."
"But they are okay?"
"Sleeping like angels."
Elliot kissed her forehead and stared into her eyes. "I remember when they were little. Every night about this time someone would have a bad dream and they would both sneak into bed with us. I'd wake up in the morning, in my boxers and tee shirt freezing because the two four year olds between us stole all of the blankets." Elliot smiled down at her. "I loved every second of it."
Olivia laughed. "I'm wondering if someone didn't have a bad dream tonight," she suggested softly.
"Why do you say that?"
"Bailey is sleeping in Aubrey's room."
"They used to do that all of the time. If one kid went missing, always check the other one's bed before you panic."
Olivia smiled. "Yeah, when they were little and scared or hurt or sick. It was a comfort thing then. But they have not slept in the same bed together in ten years."
"They are teenagers, babe. Teenagers do some pretty strange things. They were probably laying in there together talking about boys and Bailey fell asleep in Bre's bed. You are making a big deal out of nothing."
"I'm sure you are right."
"But, now that we are awake," he said raising an eyebrow suggestively as he leaned in to kiss her.
Olivia giggled as she rolled over against him and pulled the blankets up around her. "Elliot, it is four o'clock Saturday morning and I am exhausted. We are supposed to meet Scott and Maureen and the kids for lunch and I am so tired. I have to get up in a couple of hours and go running with the girls and Bailey needs new cleats. I promised her I would take her this weekend, because they have a big game next week and she tore hers up sliding into home in their game on Wednesday."
Elliot laughed. "They seem to have turned high school girls softball into a contact sport. For two frilly little teenaged girls, they are pretty tough kids. Tougher than some boys their age."
"They love sports and they definitely don't get that from me. Can we please get some sleep?"
"Okay," he breathed as he kissed her tenderly and she snuggled in against him to get a couple more hours sleep before starting her day.
Three and a half hours later Olivia reached to the side of the bed and shut off the alarm clock. She climbed from the bed and made her way down the hall to wake the girls.
"Bailey, Aubrey, it's time to get up. We slept in a little while, but if we are going to run we need to get going. We have a big day ahead of us," she said pulling open the curtains to let the sunlight into the room.
Bailey groaned and pulled the blanket over her head. Olivia smiled, Bailey reminded her so much of Elliot. "I'll take that as a no," she said moving around to Aubrey's side of the bed.
She sat down and brushed the brunette strands of hair from in front of Aubrey's face and kissed her forehead. Aubrey took a deep breath and her blue eyes fluttered open to look into Olivia's. "What about you baby? You want to go running? Just you and mom?"
Aubrey stared at her mother for a moment trying so hard not to cry. "No mama," she whispered softly. "I think I just want to sleep in today," she said in a mousy voice as she pressed her lips together.
Olivia smiled and kissed her daughter as she pulled the blankets back up around her. "Okay honey. I'll wake you for breakfast. I love you."
"Love you too, mom," she said with a yawn as her heavy eyes closed again and tried to fall back to sleep.
Olivia walked back to the bedroom and put on her running clothes. She pulled her hair back in a ponytail and pulled her ipod from the junk drawer in the kitchen on her way out the door. Half an hour and two miles later she returned home to find the girls still asleep and Elliot taking a shower in their bathroom.
She decided to seize the opportunity and quickly dropped her sweaty clothes climbing into the shower with her husband.
"What are you doing in here?" Elliot asked with a devious grin.
"Making up for last night," she said with a wink.
"Oh. Are you awake now?"
"I just ran two miles in twelve minutes then walked another to cool down. I am awake. And full of excess energy I need to burn off."
Elliot laughed as he kissed her and smoothed his hands through her hair helping to saturate it with water. He reached to the shelf in the corner and poured some of her shampoo into his palm.
Olivia moaned softly as he soaped up her hair and massaged her scalp with his fingertips.
"I love it when you wash my hair," she said with a smile. "It is so relaxing and feels so good. Best feeling in the world."
Elliot smiled as he kissed the tip of her nose and backed her under the water to rinse away the shampoo. "It is, huh?"
"Well," she said with a smile, "one of the best feelings in the world."
Elliot kissed her again as he squeezed suds from body wash out of her shower puff over her body. He dragged the purple shower puff over her and rinsed away the soap. He smiled at her as he reached to turn off the water, but Olivia stopped him.
She pulled him closer to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "It is just after eight thirty, the house is quiet and the kids are still asleep. In half an hour I need to wake them and fix breakfast, then it is on with our day of shopping and errands then meeting with Maureen and the grandkids for lunch. After that is the children's museum and the park for Bailey's practice. I'm thinking this might be our only chance to have a time alone for the day. So….why don't we make good use of our time," she said with a wink as she kissed him.
"Mmmm," Elliot moaned against her lips as she kissed him. "But baby, what I want to do takes way more than an hour."
"Oh yeah?" She asked giving him a seductive look as she held her hair up and he began to massage her shoulders.
"If I'm lucky and can get you alone that long. It has been known to last all day."
Olivia laughed playfully as she leaned back against the shower wall and reached out to touch his chest. "The girls are supposed to baby sit for Scott and Maureen tonight. I am pretty sure they are spending the night. We will have the house to our selves until tomorrow afternoon. Why don't you just give me a thirty minute preview of what is in store for me tonight?"
"I love the way your dirty mind works," Elliot said moving in against her body and kissing her again.
An hour later Olivia climbed out of their bed for the second time that morning. She sat up on the edge of the bed and stretched as she stared at the clock. She smiled as she felt Elliot's fingertips as he dragged them slowly down her bare back sending a chill up her spine.
"That was incredible," he said softly. "Good to know we have not lost our touch in our old age."
Olivia pulled the sheet up around her and walked across the room to the dresser. "Who are you calling old, Stabler?" She snapped as she threw a pair of his boxers at him and they hit him in the chest. "You are a whole two and a half years older than I am! Now I suggest you put those on before one of your daughters comes in here asking about breakfast."
"All of my daughters are old enough to cook their own breakfast," he said snaking his arms around her waist and pulling her suggestively back toward the bed.
Olivia laughed. "Elliot, we don't have time. It is almost ten o'clock and we are supposed to meet Maureen and the kids at noon. Tonight," she said dragging her fingertip across his chest, "I promise."
"Tonight," he said as she pulled away from him dropping her sheet and walking into her closet to get dressed.
Elliot got dressed and headed for the stairs to go start the coffee.
"We are running so late," Olivia said from the other room.
"I'll take care of breakfast, you wake the girls."
Elliot walked down the stairs and started the coffee. He opened the cabinet and pulled out three different boxes of cereal, then sat a stack of bowls on the counter. He fixed himself a cup of coffee and a bowl of bran flakes and sat down at the table to enjoy his breakfast.
After what seemed like forever the girls finally made their way into the kitchen. Aubrey didn't say more than two words during the entire meal and Bailey didn't stop talking.
"Dad, mom said you made breakfast?" She asked looking at him confused.
"Right there," he said pointing to the cereal box. "Milk's in the fridge."
"Dad, seriously?"
"Seriously," he answered. "You think you girls are the only ones who like to sleep in on Saturday? Besides, we are meeting Scott, Maureen and the kids for lunch in less than two hours. You won't starve before then."
Bailey growled at the lack of her usual scrambled egg breakfast and settled for a cup of coffee.
"You want something Aubrey?" She asked looking at her sister.
"Just coffee please," Aubrey said quietly as Bailey poured a cup and handed it to her.
Olivia came down and joined her family at the table for a cup of coffee as well.
"We have got to get going girls," she said trying to hurry them along. "We still have to go get Bailey's shoes before we meet Maureen and you are not even dressed yet."
Aubrey shifted her eyes to look up at her mother. "Can I stay home today, mom?"
"What's wrong honey? Are you not feeling well?" Olivia asked placing her hand on Aubrey's forehead as Elliot walked into the living room to turn on the news. "You don't feel like you have a fever."
"I'll be alright mom. I just have cramps. Please?"
"Today is supposed to be a family day with Scott, Maureen and the kids."
"Please, mom? I really don't want to go walking around the mall for hours and sit in a noisy restaurant. I don't feel well and I just really want to go back to bed."
"Okay, but I don't want you staying home by yourself if you are sick. I'll talk to daddy and see if he can take you," she said looking at Bailey. "Then he can take you guys over there after lunch and practice to spend the night."
"I don't want to go," Aubrey said looking at Olivia. "Not this time."
"Aubrey, you promised Maureen. You'll probably feel better after you take some medicine and rest a while. She is counting on you."
"I can do it mom," Bailey said looking at her mother.
"Yes, but you both usually go."
"Mom, I am fifteen years old. I am fine to sit with Dylan and Gabby for a couple of hours while Scott and Maureen go to dinner. The kids are usually asleep by the time we get there and I can call Maureen or you and dad if there are any problems. I will be fine."
"Okay," Olivia agreed. Aubrey stood to go back to bed. "Honey, there is some Midol in my bathroom if you need it."
"Thanks mom," she said softly through glassy eyes and Olivia could tell something was up.
She carried her coffee mug to the sink and stared out the window. "Bailey, what is going on with your sister?" She asked.
"She told you mom," she said pouring out the rest of her coffee and sitting her cup into the sink as well. "She got her period and she has cramps. Geez!"
"That's all?"
"As far as I know!"
"Alright. You should go get ready. And hurry, daddy will be ready to leave before too long."
"I'll only be a minute," Bailey said as she ran up the stairs.
Olivia knew something strange was going on here and she wasn't buying their story for a minute. For the last three years or so she and the girls had always gotten their periods all in a row, overlapping by just a few days. Aubrey, should have already gotten hers this month.
Olivia stepped into the living room to talk to Elliot. "Here," she said placing her car keys into his palm. "Aubrey isn't feeling well and I'm going to stay home with her. Bailey is going to Maureen's tonight to baby sit alone."
"You think she'll be okay?"
"She is confident she can handle it. And she knows to call you or Maureen if there is any trouble. I trust her and she is very mature. She's fifteen years old, most girls are baby sitting alone by that age."
"Most girls are not baby sitting Dylan and Gabby."
Olivia smiled. "True, they are a bit of a handful at times. They just have so much energy. If she has any trouble we can bring the kids back here and keep them for the night."
"So much for our night alone," Elliot said as he kissed his wife.
"Hey, we can still have fun. We'll just have to keep it quiet and contained to the bedroom."
Elliot smirked.
"Besides, I think they are up to something. And maybe getting them apart we can weaken the twin defense and get one of them to crack."
"You think they are in trouble?"
"I don't know, something just seems strange about the way they are acting. Both of them. I just don't like being out of the loop when it comes to my kids."
"It is part of being the parent of a teenaged daughter, Olivia. We will figure out what is going on now about the time they turn thirty."
"Just take your daughter to get her shoes. And don't let her talk you into buying anything but the cleats for softball. You get her in a shoe store and she goes wild. I have a grocery list on the counter. Tell Scott and Maureen hello for me, kiss the kids and tell them I will see them tomorrow for lunch after church."
"Are they still coming over here?"
"Yes. And I am making fried chicken, so don't forget the potatoes. And the milk for the macaroni and cheese, that is Gabby's favorite."
"If she's sick is it safe to have them over here?"
"If she isn't feeling better by tomorrow morning, then I will stay home with her and you and Bailey can go to church. But I really don't think she is contagious. It is…girl stuff," Olivia informed him.
"Oh, okay. That is all I need to know. Should I pick something up for her? Soup or clear soda?"
"Chocolate," Olivia said with a smile.
"Chocolate?"
"Great for PMS."
"I'll take your word on that."
Olivia smiled and kissed him. A few minutes later he and Bailey were out the door.
Olivia buzzed around the house for a couple of hours doing her weekend cleaning. As she started the laundry she made her way upstairs to pull the clothes from Elliot's hamper and the girls' rooms.
She knocked gently on Aubrey's bedroom door and listened for a moment before opening it and stepping inside. Aubrey was curled up sleeping on her bed. Olivia walked toward her and knelt beside the bed. She watched as her daughter seemed to be resting peacefully. She stretched her hand out and brushed back a few strands of Aubrey's dark hair.
Olivia placed her palm against the girl's forehead. Aubrey moved and groaned a little as she rolled over to look at her mother.
"Hey sweetheart," Olivia spoke like she did when her kids were little and sick. But Aubrey didn't seem to mind. Infact, she found it comforting. And right now as hard as it was to express, she really needed her mother to comfort her. "Are you feeling any better?"
"A little," Aubrey said forcing a smile and fighting back tears.
"Are you hungry? I was thinking about starting some lunch. Any ideas?"
"Not really."
"I can fix whatever you like. Or I can call daddy and have him and Bailey bring something home."
"I'm not really hungry," she said shifting her eyes toward the window so Olivia wouldn't see the single teat that fell from the corner of her eye.
"Can I sit down?" Olivia asked.
Aubrey slid over making room in the bed as Olivia laid back on the bed beside her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Olivia asked.
"About what?"
Olivia stared into Aubrey's blue eyes. It killed her to know her daughter was in some kind of pain and she had no idea what was wrong or how to help her.
"Whatever it is that is bothering you."
"Just cramps, mom."
Olivia exhaled softly and closed her eyes, she knew this wasn't going to be easy. Her children got their stubbornness from her. Aubrey wasn't going to talk, until Aubrey was good and ready to talk.
She turned her head and focused on Aubrey's sapphire eyes. "Baby, I know this is more than just cramps. Something else is bothering you and I really wish you would just talk to me."
Aubrey pressed her lips nervously together as tears began to build up behind her eyes once more.
"Is it a boy?" Olivia asked.
"It's nothing mom," she said softly. "This was you're idea wasn't it?"
"What's that?"
"Divide and conquer. Not really dad's style. You think that if you interrogate us separately you will get us to talk and find out what is going on. But there's nothing mom."
"Well, you know that if you ever want to talk about….nothing, daddy and I are always here for you."
"Yeah," Aubrey said forcing a smile.
"I love you."
"I love you, too."
Olivia smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead as stood to finish gathering the laundry. She turned to walk out of the room and give her daughter a little privacy.
"Mom," she heard softly from behind her.
"Yeah, baby?"
"Can you stay with me? Just for a little while."
Olivia smiled and climbed back onto the bed wrapping her arms tight around Aubrey. "I'll stay as long as you like."