AN: First and foremost for readers/writers! Look up towards the story description! Lena Petrovsky is now a character able to be chosen! Yay for that :-D (Kudos to Zack from FanFiction Support for doing so after I asked for it ;-) ). Thankyou so much for all the positive feedback from the readers so far :-). I was a little worried with regard to the subject matter, but I'm glad readers are interested in this story. I've been wanting to do a teenage story for a while, but I wanted something that wasn't standard high school. So I decided a "coming of age" would be a little different, particularly in this type of setting :-) (I will do a high school story eventually though, but I'll just stick with the 3 stories I've got on the go for the moment). Some more background information is revealed in this particular chapter regarding Village Lores etc. Also a couple more Pennsylvanian Dutch/German words will be used, but I think they'll be fairly easy to understand what they mean. But I make NO apologies whatsoever for what happens ;-)
Around 3 years earlier...
A bare foot, recently turned 14 year old Olivia Benson slipped out of her bedroom window and exited the small house she had always lived in within the Village. The man she called her 'Daett', Donald Cragen was away for the night, travelling with a few of the other male Elders and the young adults to Rumspringa House. He would not be back tomorrow lunchtime due to helping mend a building of a Village family on the other side of the valley. Lena, who's own small house was located next door to Donald Cragen's, had checked on Olivia earlier in the evening after dinner, but it was well past supper time now. The young teenager was making her way to Alexandra's house with only the full moon as her light source, when she saw some light through the Cabot's kitchen window from a kerosene lamp. Olivia would be in much trouble if Miriam Cabot saw her out after dark.
Stealthily, Olivia changed course of sneaking over to see Alexandra for her usual night time visit and instead made her way to the nearby stable before slipping inside. There was just enough moonlight coming through the high windows for Olivia to see where she was going... not that she needed it, she knew her way around. She came to the stables quite often after she'd finished her chores during the day. She removed her white bonnet with the thin, short chin ribbons and placed it in one of the large pockets of her apron before running her fingers through her shoulder blade length dark brown hair. Olivia wanted nothing more than to cut her hair short, but in the Village, short hair on women was forbidden. All she could do was pin it up with hair pins during the day and wear her bonnet (mandatory for all females, straw or felt hats for males depending on the season). She removed an apple she'd taken for her supper from the other pocket of her apron and took a large chunky bite, but didn't eat it for herself. Instead she placed the large piece in the palm of her hand and fed it to the Village's dapple grey shire mare named Ruth. She entered Ruth's stall, feeding the mare the rest of the apple over several minutes while quietly telling Ruth about she knew it was wrong and forbidden from the Village Lore class Miriam Cabot taught once a season, but she had strong feelings for her best friend Alexandra that she couldn't explain nor tell anyone else about.
After staying a little longer than intended with her favourite animal, Olivia went to leave the stall but stopped suddenly as she heard the main stable door open. Olivia crouched down and hid in the shadows at the back of Ruth's stall. She heard movement in the stall beside Ruth and herself, but knew it was certainly the person who entered just moments ago seeing that particular stall was the Moses' stall. However Moses (an American saddlebred bay gelding) was the horse that Donald had taken for his journey. The distinct sound of a striking match was heard before a beam of light was cast through a knot hole in one of the panels of wood separating the stalls. Olivia knew she shouldn't look but curiosity finally got the better of her. Chancing a peek, she saw Elizabeth Donnelly dressed in her full length coat and black bonnet from the light of a kerosene lamp being placed on an upturned large feeding bucket towards the back wall. As Olivia was trying to figure out why Alexandra's aunt would be in Moses' stall, the main stable door opened then closed yet again. Olivia pulled away from the knot hole, hearing boot clad footsteps before someone spoke softly.
"Elizabeth?"
"In here, Lena."
The door to Moses' stall was opened then closed, and Olivia peeked again, the kerosene lamp casting a soft light within the stall next door. Lena was also dressed in her full length coat and black bonnet.
"Noone saw you?" Elizabeth whispered as she struck another match, lighting another kerosene lamp Lena held in one hand. There was also a patchwork quilt draped over Lena's free forearm.
Lena placed the now lit additional kerosene lamp on another large upturned bucket beside the initial one, "Of course not. Donald and most of the men are away, Lois is on the other side of the Village, and Olivia should be tucked up in bed by now."
"As should Alexandra. Thankfully, Miriam's out like a light when she goes to bed."
With a familiar practiced ease, they opened the quilt and placed it on the fresh straw covered stall floor as if they were having a picnic, just like the entire Village did about once a month. Olivia's brow furrowed, a myriad of questions came to mind. Why would Lena and Elizabeth be having a picnic at night in Moses' stall? And if they were, where was the food? Also, why were both women wearing their long coats in the spring? It wasn't cold, far from it. It was pleasant weather, not too hot and not too cold.
"I've missed you," Elizabeth said as she cradled Lena's cheek before pulling undone the bow that held Lena's black bonnet in place under her chin.
"As I have you," Lena reciprocated the gesture of Elizabeth's bow.
Olivia couldn't understand why Lena and Elizabeth would say they missed each other, they saw each other every single day. Inseparable best friends would be a fair description, just like herself and Alexandra. She watched as each woman carefully reached up and removed their respective head covering, revealing short, dark curly hair and shoulder length blonde hair. Olivia's hand covered her mouth in utter shock, short hair such as this was certainly forbidden. Never in her young life would Olivia had thought that the woman she called her 'Maemm' would do something forbidden, nor Alexandra's aunt.
Each slipped their boots off before Elizabeth moved a step closer and ran her fingers through the dark hair on Lena's head, "So short!"
"I cut it short this morning... just the way you like it, Elizabeth."
"Call me what you call me, Lena... what only you ever call me when we're alone," Elizabeth pleaded.
Lena studied the blonde lovingly before a single syllable fell from her lips, "Liz."
Olivia's jaw dropped in astonishment as she heard the name being said. The shortening of a person's name was also forbidden within the Village. If shortening of names was allowed, she would most definitely call Alexandra, Alex... and have Alexandra call her Liv. There would so many others that could have their names shortened too. Her schooling friends Elliott, Katherine, Cassandra, Danielle, Kimberley, Nicholas and Kenneth just to name a few. And even Donald too. The shortening of a character's name may have been acceptable in the books she and Alexandra read, but not in real life within the Village. Books were fantasy, not reality. While reading the book, the shortened name could be said, but if they were discussing a particular character from a book with others in the Village, noone dared speak the shortened name.
Olivia continued to secretly observe the women next door.
Elizabeth leant intimately closer, "Say it again for me... please."
"Liz," breathed Lena as they tenderly embraced before pressing their lips together.
On the other side of the wall, Olivia's eyes widened as she watched the kiss deepening between the women. She had never seen anything like it before in her life, and yet it felt perfectly natural to the young brunette to see 2 women kissing each other. This was what she wanted to do with Alexandra, but it was forbidden. It wasn't as if she had never seen a kiss before in her life, Olivia had seen those at weddings in the Village. But those kisses were quick, brief and chaste. A peck on the lips at best... the complete opposite of how the women in Moses' stall were kissing. Olivia couldn't believe how long they kissed before they finally broke apart and took a moment to catch their breaths.
Again with familiarity, each woman began to unbutton the others few plain buttons that held closed the coats while staring longingly at each other before each woman slipped their own coat off, letting them fall to the quilt on the ground. Standing in front of each other dressed only in their wide strap linen button up camisoles and knee length pantalette bloomers with a small lace frill at the legs, they resumed kissing while hands gently explored known curves. Olivia could hear the little noises of pleasure being made while they continued to kiss, and each woman divested herself of her own camisole. Eventually they broke apart again.
Modesty for both men and women was lore within the Village, but that lore was not being upheld right now. Nor was the lore of plainness. Adornments such as the lace were forbidden too. Olivia swallowed thickly, as for the first time in her life she saw another woman's breasts. Her own had started developing a lot more 12 months ago, with herself needing a similar button up camisole. She observed that both woman's were noticeably different, Lena's were smaller whereas Elizabeth's were fuller. Olivia knew she should look away, especially seeing the woman she considered to be the motherly figure in her life was barely dressed, but something inside her resisted and she wasn't sure why.
Elizabeth resumed kissing Lena before she began to trail featherlight kisses down Lena's neck and chest. She sealed her lips around a taut nipple and gently suckled, eliciting a moan from the dark haired woman. The same reaction was given when Elizabeth bestowed the same attention on the other nipple, before she eventually knelt down in front of Lena and untied the ribbons on each pantalette bloomer leg at the knee, loosening the material.
"These are the pair I made you recently," Elizabeth raised her head to look up at the woman standing before her as she brushed a finger along the small lace frill of one leg before resting her hands on Lena's hips. "I tatted the lace myself."
"We both know you're the one that can sew better, and I'm the one that can cook better. That's what makes us so good together... even after all this time."
Olivia knew what Lena said was so true, and she also saw the similarities of herself and Alexandra at that particular statement. Olivia was certainly the better cook having been taught by Lena, and Alexandra was definitely better at sewing with Elizabeth's guidance. Olivia would never forget the time a few years ago when Alexandra nearly set fire to the Cabot's kitchen. How Alexandra managed to do so while only boiling water, Olivia would never know, yet somehow Alexandra managed it. It was a long time before Alexandra was allowed near the cast iron stove again. The silence Olivia was unaware of was broken with Ruth nickering loudly. Panic set in for the young brunette as both pairs of eyes from Moses' stall seemingly zeroed in on her. She instantly pulled back from the knot hole and held her breath.
Lena reassured the blonde, "It's alright, it's just Ruth. She's probably wondering where Moses is."
"I know. I just don't want either of us to get caught. We both know what we do is forbidden."
"It's Rumspringa. Forbidden is allowed."
"Rumspringa is for the young adults, not Elders like ourselves!"
"Are we not young adults at heart, Liz? Do we not feel younger than we really are?"
"Yes, I do... we do. However Rumspringa doesn't cover all the other times of the year we do what we do, Lena!" Elizabeth hissed.
"Have we ever been caught after all these years?"
"Yes!"
"That was only kissing! Besides, she kept her promise and never said a word before she passed away. Apart from that one time?"
"No, thank goodness!"
"See! We learnt our lesson and have been extra vigilant since, my love. We're always more careful now."
Olivia hesitantly peeped through the knot hole again and observed Lena bending down slightly and gently kiss a still kneeling Elizabeth on the lips. At the end of the kiss, Lena brushed her hand through Elizabeth's hair before the blonde reached her hands back up again and untied the ribbon around Lena's waist that held her pantalette bloomers in place. Without any hurry, Elizabeth lowered the pantalette bloomers down before gravity eventually took over and Lena stepped out of them.
"Beautiful," Elizabeth said before nuzzling her cheek lovingly against the triangle of dark curls, inhaling deeply.
As Elizabeth looked up at Lena, the dark haired woman gave a single nod of of her head as if giving Elizabeth permission to continue. Along with Lena, Olivia watched as Elizabeth extended her tongue and dragged it up and down through the folds between Lena's legs before the blonde focused all her attention at one place in particular. Olivia knew about the little bundle of nerves right there, having discovered it and the pleasures it brought some months ago. Olivia shifted slightly, trying to relieve the growing incessant throb between her own legs as she continued to watch. Secret forbidden thoughts at night of Alexandra made her throb like this sometimes, but watching what was taking place in the next stall over was something altogether different, more intense, yet oh so indescribable. A thought of Alexandra and herself doing exactly what was taking place next door made Olivia want to watch more.
As Lena's breath became shorter and more ragged, one of her hands wove to the back of Elizabeth's head to steady herself as her free hand began to fondle one of her own breasts while Elizabeth continued to lash the bundle of nerves with her tongue.
"Liz... right there... ...right there Liz... ...just like that... ... ... ...mmm... so good... ...your fingers... I need your fingers..."
Olivia watched as Elizabeth first slipped one finger then another inside, building a steady rhythm in and out, before she sealed her lips around the bundle of nerves and suckled.
Lena's head fell back in euphoria, pulling Elizabeth's head closer as the blonde redoubled her efforts.
"Please Liz!" Lena begged after some time. "I... I need..."
Even though Lena struggled to finish the sentence, Elizabeth's response was immediate, as if she knew exactly what Lena wanted and needed. Standing up, Elizabeth continued to pump her fingers within the other woman as the pad of her thumb replaced what and where her lips and tongue had been doing to tease. She nipped lightly at Lena's free nipple with her teeth before her free hand crept up, continuing to pinch and roll it. The blonde seemingly studied the other woman intently before she suddenly claimed her lover's mouth just as a violent shudder ran through Lena's body and Elizabeth thankfully managing to swallow the cry of ecstasy that began to fall from Lena's lips. Elizabeth's hand immediately left the nipple she'd been teasing and snaked it around Lena's waist, pulling the dark haired woman against her own body for support so Lena wouldn't collapse to the ground in a boneless heap. Some time passed before Elizabeth slowly extracted her fingers from within and cupped the triangle of dark curls protectively while she continued to support the weakened woman, pressing delicately soft kisses to Lena's temple in reassurance.
"I swear... you will be the death of me one day... Liz Donnelly!" Lena croaked, clinging to the blonde as she roused awake.
"I'll take that as a compliment, my darling. La petite mort... French for 'the little death'. Death by orgasm sounds wonderful. And when you're the one giving me that orgasm... what a way to go!"
"Are you trying to say... that it's time for me... to reciprocate the pleasure?" Lena asked as she began to feel her strength return.
"When you're ready, and not before."
"But-"
"I can wait. You're always worth waiting for seeing we have to hide our love," Elizabeth pressed a kiss to the top of Lena's head, "I just wish after all these years we could declare our love for each other publicly, and be accepted like all the other couples that are betrothed in the Village."
"Unfortunately for us, our love is truly forbidden."
"Doesn't matter, only the 2 most important people need to know our love is genuine."
Illuminated in the glow of the kerosene lamps, Olivia continued to watch as they stood there in Moses' stall locked in each other's loving embrace for a few minutes, relishing their closeness.
Taking her time, Lena got to her knees and pressed a kiss to Elizabeth's navel before she began to untie the different ribbons holding the blonde's pantalette bloomers. "I love you with all my heart, Liz."
"As I love you, Lena."
"Let me show you how much."
Olivia watched in anticipation as the dark haired woman lowered the pantalette bloomers to the quilt covered ground and helped Elizabeth step out of them. Lena pressed a kiss to each hip before brushing her fingertips over the triangle of brownish blonde curls. Olivia shifted again and wondered if this was what Alexandra might look like when she was older. Elizabeth's tongue darted out and swiped along her top lip in eagerness as Lena pressed a kiss to the curls between Elizabeth's legs.
Without any prior warning, Olivia's nose began to tickle and itch. Before she had time to pinch her nostrils shut, she sneezed.
Blood drained from the faces of all 3 females in the building at the sound of the loud sneeze reverberating within the quiet horse stable, and all 3 females were gripped with panic.
A flurry of things happened in both stalls as Ruth whinnied her own opinion at the commotion.
Lena and Elizabeth hurried to cover themselves with their coats while Olivia jumped up from the stall floor and ran for her life. Her inner thoughts berating herself harshly as she threw open the main stable door. She knew she should never had stayed, never have watched... never had snuck out in the first place. She would be punished if she got caught... but... if she could get back home and in to bed, perhaps noone would be any the wiser?
"Lena! So much for saying we'd never get caught. Whoever that is... if they tell anyone what they saw... oh my goodness! Did they see us doing... what we did?!
"Worry about that later, Elizabeth! First we have to find out who's been in Ruth's stall."
"Only a few families live in this part of the Village. I hope it wasn't one of the young boys watching."
Lamp in hand and still buttoning her coat, Lena looked in to Ruth's stall but, as expected, saw noone. As she turned to leave, something off caught her attention out the corner of her eye a few feet from the wall that divided Ruth and Moses' stalls.
Something that looked oddly out of place.
Something that shouldn't be there.
Something white.
She passed the lamp to a coat clad Elizabeth and cautiously entered the stall. Ruth nickered again as Lena picked up a piece of white cloth.
A white bonnet.
"Try one of the young girls."
Elizabeth rubbed her forehead with one of her hands, "Oh dear, this is not good!"
A white bonnet with thin, short chin ribbons. Lena recognised the bonnet immediately and knew who had been there.
"Maedel," Lena said, using the old Village term for 'girl'. It was what Lena affectionately called Olivia while she raised the young brunette.