AN: trace619/LBM - re: "more awkward sex talks"... ROFL! Oh yeah! ;-) The farmyard analogies is from a friend that grew up on a farm. Mirit's talk pretty much sums up what he was told by his own father (the stallion/mare and bull/cow were the ones he was told, I just kept adding). Several male friends were basically told what Rafael was told. (side note: what Lena and Elizabeth did with the book in a paper bag for the boys, that's kind of what happened to me when I got my first period at age 11 ½. Except there was no talk whatsoever to explain I wasn't 'dying', just read this puberty book that's been 'discreetly' left on the middle of your bed in a paper bag. Thanks mother! :-D. Learnt about sex in that same book... and the whole single page dedicated to lesbians: a 'lifestyle choice' :-/) trace619 - re: "I know that you have a plan for how you want the story to go but I'm kinda hoping Olivia & Alex don't go back"... All I can say is always trust me ;-). I have what happens after Rumspringa already mapped out, but not all of during Rumspringa... readers are going to help with that ;-) I'll be asking for input soon-ish, (not just yet, but not too far off either... WATCH THIS SPACE!) So if there's things readers want character/s to do or try, let me know (I'll say now though: I refuse point blank for any of them to experiment with drugs. I'm sorry, but I have principles :-) ) Guest - "The Elizabeth and Lena sense at the end was adorable"... Thankyou :-) A little throwback to Rumspringa in ch.2 ;-) LBM/keonquil - re: "RUMSPRINGA! ツ"... Finally! :-D. Bkwrmchar - re: "Would love to know what happen to Alex's Dad"... We'll meet Forsythe Cabot some time later :-). And by later I mean when you think I've forgotten all about him, he'll appear ;-). All I'll say is that Forsythe lives up to his name meaning just as much as Miriam lives up to hers ;-) *watches everyone scramble to find out what 'Forsythe' means on baby name websites*. IBME - "That was incredibly fun and a terrible tease"... Yeah! I definitely had fun writing it! :-D
AN2: Even though this is primarily an Alex/Olivia story with 'M' rated F/F loving to occur, I'm not going to ignore the Trevor/Rafael relationship. There will be some fluffy M/M moments occur (nothing more than 'T' rated) so I hope I don't lose any readers because of it :-). I just don't want readers to think I've just thrown Trevor and Rafael together for the sake of convenience and then not bother to acknowledge their 'forbidden love'. Even though I'm a lady lover myself, I do think Trevor/Rafael make a quite handsome couple ;-) (and the over a foot height difference is too cute!). This chapter might make readers realise how sheltered our 'Maedels and Jungs' lives have been from the 'English' world. They know some things, but not all things. FINALLY, YAY FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A 16TH SEASON OF SVU! :-D
Both couples, Alexandra and Olivia hand in hand, and Trevor draping his arm across Rafael's shoulders, remained exactly where they stood at the driveway when they bid farewell until the buggy containing Lena and Elizabeth exited the gate, continued along the dirt road and was out of sight.
They were finally alone... well, alone as the 2 couples could be on the large old farm that had ceased production over a century ago and had become Rumspringa House. But it was alone enough for them.
And finally, on Rumspringa.
The word Rumspringa basically meant 'running around', they were free to do anything they wanted. The best part was they were finally able to express their love openly and freely, without fear of prejudice or retribution. No more pretending, no more sneaking around, no more hiding as they had done so within the Village these last few years. Lena and Elizabeth had reminded them that discretion would be advisable in Main Town because there could be some people just as misunderstanding of their love as there was in the Village. But at Rumspringa House, they could be as unrestrained as they liked. Each were thankful that just the 4 of them were on Rumspringa together. If Elliott and Katherine were here, or Dean, Brian, Nicholas, Amanda and Cassandra, they would still have to keep up the nightmarish pretense of being 'tentatively betrothed'. Olivia, Alexandra, Trevor and Rafael all doubted their other friends would understand their love for the one they loved. Given, their love was just as genuine as everyone else's in the Village, but would any of them truly comprehend? More than likely, they would think just like Miriam: that laying with someone of their own gender was repugnant, sickening and repulsive. An abhorrent abomination.
To Alexandra and Olivia, the thought of Trevor and Rafael laying together wasn't vile.
To Trevor and Rafael, the thought of Alexandra and Olivia laying together wasn't vulgar.
It was natural, normal and beautiful. The tender, purest and most intimate way to express their love, just like man and woman laying together. And that intimate love would be expressed for the first time tonight, each young adult knew it.
With the horse and buggy out of sight, Olivia let go of Alexandra's hand before wrapping her arms snugly around the blonde's waist, lifting Alexandra a few inches off the ground with a twirl.
"Liv!" Alexandra squealed in shock before giggling and kissing Olivia soundly.
"I've been wanting to do that to you for ages, Alex!" Olivia lowered the blonde back to the ground, before tugging on the freely hanging chin ribbons of Alexandra's bonnet with one hand to draw Alexandra closer and reciprocate the kiss.
"What did you call each other?" Rafael said as he and Trevor turned to face them, definitely channeling a certain Cabot.
"They shortened their names, and that's..." Trevor mimicked Miriam, "... forbidden!"
Alexandra turned to face Trevor while Olivia still held her. "Ah, dear Mother! We can call each other shortened versions of our names... Rumspringa, remember! No longer forbidden, so much no longer forbidden!"
"Seriously? You're both shortening your names?" asked Rafael.
Olivia nodded, "Alexandra and I agreed quite some time ago... she would be Alex and I'd be Liv. I don't mind if you or Trevor call me Liv... Alexandra, what about you?"
"I don't mind if the boys call me Alex. Are either of you going to shorten your names?"
"I'm not sure. What do you think, Rafael... Raf? Rafi?" Trevor offered.
Rafael shook his head, "I think we need to discuss this... Trev."
Trevor made a face, "Trev? At least Raf or Rafi sound alright, Trev just sounds... stupid."
"Aww, don't you like Trev... Trev? I won't think it's stupid because you're my stupid... stupid!" Rafael stood on his tiptoes before pulling Trevor's straw hat covered head down for a kiss.
"Get a room!" Olivia teased lightheartedly.
Trevor said just before Rafael's lips met his, "We've got one... so have the both of you!"
"Yes, we certainly do!" Alexandra grinned and kissed Olivia again.
Rafael stood at the end of the double bed, unfolded one of his arms and indicated with his hand. "Soo... which side of the bed?"
"Umm... not sure. W-what about you?" shrugged Trevor.
"I'm not sure either."
Alexandra's voice called out from upstairs lounge room, "Oh for crying out loud, just pick a side!"
"I suppose you and Olivia have that all sorted already!" Trevor rebutted as he poked his head out the door.
Olivia and Alexandra looked at each other with matching smirks before they suddenly ran past and dived on to the boy's bed, Alexandra on Olivia's left. Olivia snuggled closer to spoon behind Alexandra before draping her arm possessively over Alexandra's torso. With huge smug grins, both girls peeped up at the boys still standing there, their mouths agape.
Rafael was gobsmacked, "H-how... how did you?!"
"Well, we've been sharing a bed for some time!" Olivia replied.
"What?!" Trevor and Rafael said in unison.
"Since we were 6," Alexandra clarified. "As you can see with us in bed, my side is the left side and Liv's side is the right."
"6?! Why? I mean, how?" asked Rafael, still in shock at the revelation.
"Remember on my birthday I told you I read at night? I'd actually go over to Alex's and read with her in her bed, but only until she fell asleep then I'd return home."
"You kept that tidbit quiet for all these years. I'm your best friend, Olivia!"
"Rafael, Alex is my best friend. You're my best male friend... just like Trevor is your best friend, and Alex is his best female friend. I'm sorry I never told you, but you have to understand I'd been sneaking over for a year before you and your family moved to the Village. I never even told Elliott and he's my oldest male friend. Forgive me, please?" Olivia got up off the bed and opened her arms to hug Rafael.
Rafael relented, "Ok then. You never got caught?"
"Ah, came close a couple of times. But no, I never got caught reading with her." Olivia said knowing technically it was true. She may have been caught by Lena and Elizabeth after the stable incident, but she'd never been caught reading with Alexandra.
"Why didn't you ever come over and read with me?" Rafael addressed Trevor as he ended the hug with Olivia.
"I could ask you the same question," Trevor dumped the contents of the calico bag on the end of the double bed and sorted through them to see what English clothes his mother had provided him. "There's nothing different here than my normal clothes, even underwears are no different. I was really hoping for shorts, especially for swimming."
Alexandra hopped off the bed, "What about you Rafael? What did you get?"
Rafael upended the bag, quickly sorting through the clothes. "Same... long trousers and button shirts. Although looks like Mamá got some T-shirts for me. Underwears is just boxers like normal, but it's shiny material."
"That's satin. Aunt Elizabeth's sewn with it before, but I never saw what she made. Probably something for Lena," Alexandra picked up a pair of navy blue boxers.
"You shouldn't be looking at my underwears!" Rafael tried to snatch back the boxers.
"I've seen them on your clothes line on wash day," Alexandra tossed them at his head.
"And I've seen your button up camisoles!"
Alexandra fumed, "Now who shouldn't be looking!"
"Well aren't you lucky what they cover doesn't interest me."
"Same can be said for your boxers!"
Trevor calmed his love, "I don't know why you're so worried Rafael, because whether you like it or not, Alexandra and Olivia are both going to see our underwears when they do laundry on wash day. What did you both get?"
Olivia answered, "T-shirts, shorts, skirts and underwears... although the pantalette bloomers are different... panties, I think they're called... and the brassières that do up at the back are kind of weird."
"A bra-what?!" Trevor shook is head in confusion.
"Brassières. Elizabeth says it's what the English call their button up camisoles, but they look quite a bit different."
Trevor snorted, "Brassières? Sounds like a disease."
"That's what I thought! If you and Rafael want, I can alter a pair of trousers to be shorts for the both of you. Go and pick ones that you won't mind having the legs cut. I'll get the scissors from my sewing case and alter them later," Alexandra exited the room.
"Yes, get the scissors!" Olivia whipped off the bonnet from her head and followed after her.
Alexandra stopped in her tracks and turned back around, "Not you're no serious about cutting your hair!"
"I am. I want it gone, the sooner the better. I've told you numerous times."
"I know, it's just that..." Alexandra escorted Olivia out of the lounge room towards their own room for some privacy. She kept her voice low, "I just imagined our first time... tonight... you'd look like you do when you come over and read at night. I want to run my fingers through your hair and hook that one lock of hair back like I always do."
Olivia could see Alexandra pleading with her eyes and relented, placing her bonnet back on her head. "Ok, not today because tonight is very special for the both of us. You can cut it tomorrow."
"I'm not sure... I don't know if I can cut hair good."
"What's to it? You just cut across in a straight line like you do when you're cutting material."
Alexandra rolled her eyes, "I have chalk lines when I cut material! And it's not like Trevor and Rafael when they get a pudding bowl on their heads for their cuts by their mothers. I think we should go to Main Town and get it done properly. The boys might want thiers done differently seeing they won't have to wear their straw hats any more."
Trevor appeared at their bedroom door with a pair of trousers for Alexandra to alter, "Did you say haircuts?"
"Oh please! No more pudding bowl!" Rafael was a step behind with a pair of trousers in his grasp.
"That's settled then. We go to Main Town tomorrow. Haircuts and English clothes!" Olivia smiled as Alexandra took the trousers.
Trevor started towards the stairs, "Elliott said there was something very interesting in the large farm shed, so Rafael and I are going to go check that if you want to check out the rest of the house."
Olivia and Alexandra were exploring the downstairs rooms and were currently in the large bathroom, "I thought Maemm was joking when she said the outhouse toilets were inside! But they really are!"
"That will be good at night and in winter, especially the ones in the bathroom ensuites! The shower seems a bit odd, but I guess it's a fast way to wash. I do like the idea of bathing in something larger than the hip tub though."
"Maybe we can bathe together in this nice big tub?" Olivia waggled her eyebrows and made Alexandra smirk. She took the blonde's hand and headed for the kitchen, "But you want to see odd, come with me."
"That thing is odd!" Olivia pointed at the microwave. "I don't understand how that's supposed to cook food! The stove, oven and even the toaster I can understand. But that little cooking machine... mirco-whatever... it's just too bizarre. How does pressing those buttons get the food cooked? Where's the flames to generate the heat like the cast iron stove at home?"
Alexandra opened the door and peered inside, only to see the light turn on and the glass turntable inside before she closed it again, shrouding the inside of the machine in darkness. "Maybe it's... magic? Lena said there was instruction booklets in the drawer for all the gadgets to understand what to do."
Olivia eyed the microwave suspiciously, "I don't trust it. I'll stick to what I know."
"I think the television is even more bizarre... how do all the people get in there?"
"I have no idea."
"Do you think we might have to feed them?"
"Maemm never said anything about having to, but maybe we'll ask them when we turn the television on."
Alexandra pointed towards the laundry, "I'm not quite sure about that washing machine either... it's similar to the one Mother has, but where's the wringer to get rid of the water from the clothes?"
Olivia shrugged before pointing in a different direction, "I love the recreation room! We have darts, foosball, a billiard table, all those board games-"
"OLIVIA! ALEXANDRA!" Rafael's voice called in the distance, progressively getting nearer. He called again as the girls made their way to the front door of Rumspringa House.
"What's wrong, Rafael?" Alexandra called out seeing Rafael running towards them at a swift pace, holding his straw hat on his head with a hand.
"Come quickly!"
"Is Trevor hurt?" asked Olivia.
"No, nothing's wrong. But you both have got to see!" he ran up the few steps.
"See what?" Alexandra said with exasperation.
"Just trust me, you're both going to love it!" Rafael grabbed each girl by the hand and practically dragged them from the porch and towards the farm shed.
Trevor was leaning against the door of the farm shed with his arms crossed over his chest and a very smug smile, "Did you tell them?"
Rafael grinned, "Nope!"
"Tell us what? What's so special that either of you won't tell us!" Alexandra almost growled.
"Well, there's bicycles for us to use to get to Main Town, but that's not what... just see for yourself!" Trevor stepped aside and pushed the door of the farm shed open.
Olivia and Alexandra's jaws dropped, then they started to giggle wildly when they laid eyes what was in the shed.
A small creamy beige coloured car.
A BMC Mini, better known as a Morris Mini.
Trevor hand his hand aloft and jiggled the car keys in his hand which was met with even more laughter.
Olivia couldn't wipe the smile from her face, "That is so cool! But... none of us know how to drive."
"Doesn't matter. Even though the car is registered, we can't drive on the English roads without a driving licence. However, we can drive around on Rumspringa House property... and we all know this old farm is big! 2560 acres... 4 square miles. And the best part, the car is an automatic... no need to change gears! This is going to be the best Rumspringa ever!"
The tension in the air during their dinner of leftovers was palpable but the conversation was free flowing as it always was with the 4 friends.
Olivia tapped her glass with her knife to get everyone's attention, "I think it's a good time right now to remember the pact we've made."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"One year away from the Village experiencing everything we can. When we return and the Elders ask what we choose to do... either stay or leave... we all say: 'I choose to live in the English world'... We all agree to say this so that we can live our lives how we want, and not hide our love for the one we love. We will not be betrothed to who our families have chosen for us. We all understand that as soon as we say that we're going to live in the English world that we'll be shunned by our family and friends in the Village, but it doesn't matter because we have each other... and Elizabeth and Maemm." Olivia stood up and raised her glass, "To the pact... I choose to live in the English world."
Alexandra followed her lead, "I choose to live in the English world."
"I choose to live in the English world," Rafael was next.
Trevor got to his feet, "I choose to live in the English world."
Everyone sat back down and the tension grew even more knowing it wouldn't be much longer now.
The boys mutually agreed that the left side of the bed would be Rafael's, the right side Trevor's. They also agreed that they much preferred their first names, but Rafael would allow Trevor to call him Raf, and Trevor wouldn't mind if Rafael called him Trev in their own private company following the footsteps of Lena calling Elizabeth, Liz. Lying on their sides and facing each other, Rafael let the tips of his fingers traverse the plane of Trevor's muscular abdomen before travelling repeatedly from his navel, down to the waist of his boxer shorts and back again. All the while maintaining eye contact with the young man he loved.
"D-do you want to... ahh... look at that book?"
"I do... but not tonight. Tonight I-I want it to be... I want to..." Trevor closed his eyes and sighed while taking a moment to gather his thoughts. He didn't want to be as nervous as he was right now, but he was and Rafael's fingertips were very distracting. He opened his eyes and looked at Rafael before continuing, "When I've... pleasured myself... I always imagined it was you... it was... your hand."
Rafael smiled, "You don't have to imagine any longer... neither of us have to."
"Y-you too?"
"Every time I have... it was always your hand," Rafael leant closer.
"I don't want to imagine any more," murmured Trevor just before Rafael kissed him.
Trevor's breath hitched as Rafael unfastened the button that held the fly of Trevor's boxer shorts closed, and slipped his hand inside.
Now that Olivia and Alexandra were alone in their bedroom, the tension was still thick. Even though the blonde had always been the bolder and more brazen these last few months, even just 2 night ago, now she was more anxious than she'd ever been. Olivia had unpinned and brushed her hair then placed her bonnet back on her head so that their nighttime ritual of Olivia removing her bonnet and Alexandra tidying the brunette's hair could take place.
Alexandra spoke as she hooked that stubborn lock back behind Olivia's ear, "I-I'm nervous... and a little scared."
"Glad I'm not the only one then," Olivia said before kissing Alexandra. Ending the kiss, Olivia indicated Alexandra's dress, "D-do you... c-can I?"
"Yeah,"
Olivia began to try unbuttoning Alexandra's dress, but kept fumbling. She took a steadying breath before attempting again.
"M-maybe if we... undress ourselves? Might make things a little easier?" Alexandra swallowed thickly.
"Good idea," Olivia sighed with relief as Alexandra turned away.
Divested of all her clothes, Olivia covered herself as best she could, one arm across her breasts and the other hand cupping between her legs before she turned to face Alexandra who was doing the same. The blonde looked as nervous as Olivia felt right now. Taking a deep breath, Olivia hesitantly lowered her arm that covered her breasts and placed the hand on top of the hand covering between her legs. Alexandra took a few moments before lowering her arm from across her chest and letting hang by her side. The blonde closed her eyes and nervously moved her hand away from between her legs before fixing her eyes on the wall behind Olivia, not daring to look down remembering the Village lores of modesty. Olivia moved her hands away and took a step towards Alexandra, her heart pounding. She could feel the tension and an apprehensive tremble in Alexandra's body as she wrapped her arms around her best friend's waist and pressed their bodies together for the first time.
"Alex? Look at me?... Alexandra?"
"D-do we have to? I know what we planned all this time, but... I'm not sure I'm ready."
Blue eyes finally met brown, and behind her fine gold wire glasses all Alexandra's reflected was fear.
Remembering Lena's words from many years previous that both people must be willing to express their love otherwise it was a heinous act, Olivia reassured her best friend and held her carefully, "No. We don't have to do anything."
"Tonight's supposed to be perfect though! We're supposed to... our first time, remem-"
Olivia cut her off as she ran her hand up and down Alexandra's spine in reassurance, "You... me... both of us being comfortable is more important than perfection. You're nearly on the verge of tears, and I'm not that far behind, to be honest."
"C-can we just do what we normally do and read?" the blonde asked meekly.
"I like the sound of that. We can get dressed in our night gowns and read, just like we normally do."
Alexandra chewed her bottom lip, "Umm... do we have to? Get dressed I mean? I-I like the feel of your skin... against mine. It's warm."
"We don't have to put our clothes back on. Go and pick a new book then hop in to bed."
"Ironic, huh?" Alexandra gave a disparaging, breathy chuckle as she passed a green faux leather bound book to the brunette on the right side of the bed before slipping under the bed sheet on the left side.
Without saying a word, Olivia opened the book and began to read as Alexandra snuggled closer, resting her left hand under the curve of Olivia's right breast.
"'My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Philip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip'."
Olivia pressed a soft kiss to Alexandra's lips when the blonde glanced up at her, before she resumed reading aloud the first page of 'Great Expectations'.
End Note: Yeah I know, you were all 'expecting' too. I promise next chapter (first morning at Rumspringa House) will make up for it ;-). And yes, there is a reason why Rafael's shortened name is Raf and not Rafi like it is in the show and in 'Negotiating'. It will make sense later in the story :-)