Chapter I: Love is All Around Us

My beautiful readers! Yes, I'm baaaaack! Did you miss me? I know you did. (Wink.) Even though I've missed you, as well as our beloved Shane and Oliver and their gang of misfits, a bit of a rest is always good for the soul. However, if you thought that for one second, I had stopped looking into (or is it spying on?) our favorite couple, you are sadly mistaken. There are simply too many things to share, and too many follow-ups to where we left off the last time we had one of our chitchats!

So yes. Sharon is in Denver visiting her children. How is Shane adjusting? Is she going bonkers? Has Sharon gotten rid of her daughter's cashmere sweaters? You'll just have to read along, my dearies. Who knows, as you progress through today's installment, there might be some surprises along the way. Just tell me later what you think, alright? Toodles!

"Shane! We have to leave in the next five minutes or we're going to be late for dance class!" Oliver yelled from the foyer. He had just returned from Valentino's afternoon walk and Shane was nowhere to be seen. Most likely she was still getting ready to go out, knowing his wife's tendency to run late.

"I'm ready, I'm ready!" Shane flew down the stairs, her hair flying behind her. She threw a tote bag over her shoulder and clutched two pairs of shoes against her chest. She was barefoot, so most likely one of those pairs of shoes would go on her feet and the other was for dance class. "Let's go, Oliver, we can't keep Franco waiting!"

How she managed to slip on her heels as she hopped from one foot to the other was beyond Oliver. He looked up at the ceiling and shook his head. A while back, the rushing would've frustrated him. However, he was quite proud of himself. Oliver never thought he would be able to learn to go with the flow. It was something that went against his structured nature, but he felt like he was making positive strides towards that goal.

"She is a force of nature, isn't she, son?" Sharon said as she approached Oliver.

"That she is, Mom," Oliver replied, glancing at Sharon with a knowing look.

His mother-in-law had arrived in Denver two weeks ago. While Shane had her misgivings, Oliver realized he enjoyed having Sharon around. They had invigorating dinner conversations discussing their favorite Shakespeare plays and Oliver had her almost convinced to take on Proust. He would love it if he could get Sharon to join him and Vivianne for what they now fondly called their Proust Soirée. They got together once a month to discuss the philosophy behind Remembrance of Things Past while Joe and Shane watched one of those tedious Hallmark movies. What was it they watched recently? Some mystery series with an abnormally tall actor… Mystery 101, was it? The only redeeming quality was the literature professor character; not that he was watching, of course. He was glad his father was able to get through those movies because he certainly couldn't! Joe had become fiercely protective of those occasions with Shane, showing how much he cherished the alone time with his daughter.

At the beginning, Shane had her uncertainties over her mother's extended stay. Oliver caught her muttering under her breath at the most random moments…stuff about spice cabinets, cashmere sweaters, and reorganizing closets, among other crazy sounding things. Since all Oliver wanted was for his wife to be happy, he was the one to come to the rescue. He became the buffer Shane and Sharon needed to soften their relationship, smoothing out the rough edges when need be. Sharon was extremely grateful to her son-in-law for that, and her heart melted every day for her daughter's cerebral, but sensitive husband. Oliver was so easy to love! He was indeed as much her son as Shane was her daughter.

Sharon really did want to make up for the time that Oliver hadn't received any sort of motherly affection. Shane recognized this and her heart overflowed with happiness, knowing that while Oliver had given her a father, she in turn had given him a mother. This helped her overlook her mother's nitpicking and accept her visit way beyond the 3-4 days she had been able to tolerate in the past. Still, Sharon knew very well she was staying with her newly married children, so she had become quite conscious of their need for alone time and didn't want to overstay her welcome.

Looking at Shane rush out the door, Oliver and Sharon smiled satisfied smiles. Oliver's eyes crinkled as he watched his wife, thinking he couldn't believe how his love for her grew deeper with each passing day. In turn, Sharon smiled because she loved how her son loved her daughter.

"Go ahead, go to dance class and tell me all about it later. I'll have dinner ready," Sharon said as she patted Oliver on the shoulder. Oliver reached for her hand and squeezed it warmly. It was nice having a mother around again.

XXXXX

"You want me to wear what?" Both Shane and Oliver asked Franco in unison. The befuddled looks on their faces were a work of art.

"Shane! The tango is all about legs! Legs, legs, legs! I can't have you tripping over a long skirt while you're executing ganchos!" Franco was his usual flamboyant self as he held out the insanely short and skimpy, glittery silver and black costume.

"Franco, that's not a dress, that's a postage stamp!" Her eyes wide, Shane swallowed convulsively. She had never worn something so daring in public. The deep vee neckline of the short dress reached its waistline. See-through mesh material provided a semi-illusion of modesty. Semi-illusion was right!

Oliver was quite frantic. So much for going with the flow…

"Franco, NO. Absolutely NOT. I am simply not wearing a form-fitting shirt bodysuit thing that exposes my chest! I am also not getting a spray tan. Shane! Get Ramon over here!" Oliver was aghast over Franco's wardrobe selection for their tango showcase. Desperate times called for desperate measures. Ramon was his only hope for sanity, and that was saying something!

Thankfully, Ramon entered through the dance studio's doors before Oliver's exchange with Franco became even more heated. Shane looked upwards and muttered a silent thank you when she saw Ramon come in to check on his favorite couple.

"Shane! Ovileer! Franco, my man! How's my star couple coming along? Everything is ready for milonga night at the Divino Bocadito. It's going to be simply spectacular," Ramon said enthusiastically.

He immediately became aware of Shane's agitated look and Oliver's indignation, while Franco was practically foaming at the mouth. When he saw the ballroom costumes hanging from the rack, realization dawned on him. "Franco, my friend, I know you want Shane and Ovileer to dazzle during their performance, but… we must rethink wardrobe choices."

Franco tensed, while Oliver and Shane almost heaved an audible sigh of relief.

"Ramon! Shane simply can't wear a long skirt!" Franco seethed.

"No, she can't, but she doesn't have to wear one so short either." Looking at Shane he asked, "Would you be willing to wear something above the knees? It can be flowy, so you have range of motion for the leg movements. Maybe a form-fitting halter top? You have lovely arms, my dear, and it would be sublime to appreciate the lines you create while dancing."

Shane jumped into Ramon's arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! That sounds wonderful!" She then whispered into his ear, "Don't tell Oliver, but you're my hero today! Please do something for him too!"

Ramon hugged Shane affectionately, as he took a second to gather his thoughts. Releasing Shane, he approached Oliver. "Ovileer, you do favor tailored trousers, do you not?"

"Yes…" Oliver responded, albeit apprehensively.

"We can get you a pair of pants that stretches with the body…can't have restricted movements, especially the legs… but we'll get them to a tailor, so you feel comfortable. How does that sound?"

"It sounds like you're our savior today, Ramon," Oliver's lips quirked. "But there's still the matter of the shirt… I refuse to dance bare chested in front of my friends and family!"

Ramon tapped his lips as he thought for a moment. "I've got it, Ovileer! We will dress you in black…a man with mysterious vibes… the shirt can be silky, but it has to have some give… remember you have to lift Shane a couple of times and we can't have a wardrobe malfunction! No tie, just a few buttons unbuttoned. What do you say?"

Oliver was obviously relieved. "I can certainly live with that, Ramon."

"Franco! I will take care of Shane and Ovileer's costumes. You guys get back to business and practice, practice, practice!

Franco nodded, although his brooding look was a giveaway as to how he felt. He didn't like being told what to do, and certainly not by Ramon. He walked over to where he had his tablet set up with the speakers, ready to turn on the music so Oliver and Shane could execute the routine from start to finish. He'd be able to see what bits of the choreography needed polishing and he'd continue the class with that in mind. Before doing so he poured some hot water into his yerbamate cup, taking little sips through the intricately etched silver straw. It was like having a little taste of home and he found some comfort in that. As he watched Oliver and Shane take their place at the center of the studio, he couldn't help but think they were his best students. Franco fervently wanted them to participate in an amateur competition but didn't want to mention it just yet. He hoped he could present this idea to them after their showcase in milonga night. Ramon had mentioned that Oliver's and Shane's families held a lot of influence over them. If they were able to see what he saw in them when his beautiful couple danced, maybe they could be instrumental in pleading his case.

"Shane! Ovileery! Places please…and… embrace! Firm hold, keep your core tight, and from the top!" Franco directed, as he clicked on Libertango on his Astor Piazzolla playlist. With the initial strum of the music, Shane laid her cheek on Oliver's shoulder, and they began to glide across the dance floor.

XXXXX

Oliver sighed as he sat at the dining room table. Even though Shane had made strides in the cooking department, she only had a few meals in her repertoire. Having Sharon cook was a nice change of pace, not to mention her food was downright delicious. She had made a chicken pot pie from scratch, no easy task! The pastry was flaky, buttery, and delectable. The proportion of chicken, vegetables, and seasoning was downright perfection. Oliver would have to watch it or his waistline was going to suffer with his mother-in-law's feats of greatness in the kitchen.

"How was dance class, my dears? I am so happy my visit coincided with your performance. I can't wait to see you dance," Sharon said as she took a bite from her plate.

Oliver winced slightly, but Shane jumped to answer. She knew her husband hadn't recovered from the wardrobe incident! "It was great, Mom. Franco went a bit overboard with the costume choices, but we were able to reach a happy medium. He's really into all the steamy vibes of the tango… but we wanted more of an elegant, refined look."

"Well, do you know the tango was glamorized by the high classes, but it was originated by prostitutes and the underside of Argentinian society?" Sharon mentioned nonchalantly.

Oliver blinked, his fork pausing mid-air. Shane almost choked.

"Mom, how do you know this?" Shane asked after getting her bearings.

"Shane, you do know I had an Argentinian lover, right?"

Shane looked at Oliver, who was officially paralyzed, a deep flush rushing from his neck to the top of his head. "First the costumes, now this…" Oliver mumbled under his breath.

"What did you say, dear?" Sharon asked.

"Haha, nothing mother!" Shane jumped into the conversation to avoid having her husband be any more mortified. "I didn't know you had an Argentinian…boyfriend…"

"Lover, Shane. Lover. There's no shame in admitting it. How do you think I was able to cut a rug at your wedding dancing the tango so well?"

"Mother, the news certainly comes as a surprise. Please, do share more about this Argentinian boyf…lov.. ermm… man in your life." Shane pulled her lips into her characteristic line whenever she was trying to avoid bursting into giggles. Her eyes were wide, sparkling with mirth, as curiosity got the best of her. She simply needed to find out about her mother's past love life! Oliver's facial expression and discombobulated body language just added to the entertainment. Shane tried to cover her mouth discreetly.

"Facundo was amazing," Sharon began.

"Facundo? That's an interesting name. Is it a typical name in Argentina? Does it mean something?" Shane asked, very interested in what her mother had to say.

"I believe it derives from the Latin word facundus which means loquacious. It's not very typical of the country, I think. If memory serves, it was a common name in the Middle Ages in Spain," Sharon explained.

"Oliver, I'm sure you'd find this quite interesting, since you love words and their origins so much." Shane pointed out, trying to help her husband feel more at ease.

"Yes. Quite." Oliver cleared his throat, agonizing over the topic of conversation, regardless of Latin word origins!

Sharon continued, her expression wistful as she continued down memory lane. "Facundo was a gentleman. We met the year you moved to Denver, Shane. He worked for his country's embassy in DC. Mutual friends introduced us and we hit it off. I've always loved dancing and we frequented a couple of restaurants that had tango nights. Oh, it was sublime being in his arms, moving so effortlessly to such rich and passionate music."

"What happened to Facundo, Mother? Why isn't he around anymore?" Shane asked as she twirled a glass of wine in her hand.

"He died." Sharon explained matter-of-factly.

Oliver coughed.

"Mom, how can you say that so dispassionately!" Shane exclaimed, aghast at how direct her mother could be.

"Well, death is a fact of life, dear. It's the only thing we have assured during our lifetime other than paying taxes. But anyway, God bless Facundo's soul. He was wonderful, and we enjoyed our time together to the fullest." Sharon leaned back against her chair, drinking the last of the wine in her glass.

Shane shook her head in bewilderment over the turn the dinner conversation had taken. Looking at Oliver was all it took not to start laughing. She hadn't seen him that uncomfortable in a long time!

Taking advantage of the moment, Oliver stood and announced he would clear the table and wash the dishes. Shane could almost see the tension slide from his shoulders as he hurried to the kitchen. Watching him leave the room, she thought she might make it up to him later on, with a massage maybe.

Shane grinned. She never thought she'd survive her mother's stay in Denver. However, she loved having Sharon around and they had grown closer during the past couple of weeks. Shane had felt alone for so long… but her family had grown since marrying Oliver, and she adored being surrounded by so many people she cared about. She really wanted to keep everyone close by, and that included her mother. Shane wondered what it would take for Sharon to decide to move to Denver.

XXXXX

"This day will go into the history books for sure," Oliver said, as he finished his evening ablutions.

"I'm so proud of you, Mr. O'Toole. Not too long ago you would've spontaneously combusted," Shane said blithely, as she lightly bit her bottom lip.

"And I thought I was making strides in the going with the flow arena…" Oliver said, feeling peeved. "Shane, I know you want to laugh. Go ahead. I know I've been providing tons of entertainment today," Oliver heaved as he plopped beside his wife on the bed.

Shane dropped her forehead on Oliver's shoulder and started shaking. In between giggles, she managed to say, "I'm sorry, darling, but between Franco and his ludicrous tango costumes, the spray tan, and now Facundo…my mother's Argentine boyfriend… Pardon me! Lover! It's been a day for the ages for sure."

"And then Mom had to go on and say, quite casually, of course, he had passed. I don't know how I was able to keep it together. I didn't want to be disrespectful to Facundo's memory, but Mom's nonchalance was something to be reckoned with," Oliver expressed, shaking his head in wonderment.

"Mother is a force of nature, you have to give her that!" Shane pointed out.

"Funny, she might have said the same thing about you earlier on today," he said as he brought her closer within the circle of his arms.

"Well, I am her daughter."

"And we both love you so very much."

Shane cuddled closer to Oliver, throwing a leg over his.

"Attempting to dance the tango in bed, Mrs. O'Toole? That looked very much like a leg hook."

"I always knew you were very perceptive, Mr. O'Toole."

And so, their lips came together and molded to each other, softening and parting, nibbling and caressing. Lingering touches became more fervent, as the temperature between them rose to a fever pitch. All the dancing made them even more physically aware of each other, longing for the time they could finally be alone. When Oliver slid his lips over the sensitive chord of her neck, Shane was a goner. Meanwhile, she slid a hand over Oliver's thigh and a shudder ripped through him. Bodies clinging, they both surrendered in a steamy embrace, letting themselves be taken over by the passion that unequivocally flared out of control whenever they touched.

In the meantime, Sharon left her lovely guest room and made her way to the kitchen to make herself a cup of tea. Flynn was with her, rubbing against her legs. Apparently, this was quite the big deal as he only favored Oliver. She had grown fond of the cat. Flynn was so majestic but also a cuddlebug, which was a bit odd for a cat. He reminded her of Oliver, Sharon thought as she chuckled softly. It was common knowledge that pets took after their owners, or was it the other way around?

As she walked past the master bedroom, she heard Shane and Oliver's muffled giggles. Sharon gave a little startled jump and brought her hands to her heart. A light curve adorned her lips and her eyes twinkled. She loved how her children loved each other. Those two deserved all the passion the world had to offer. She didn't know what that was like… a big love with a best friend, but she was delighted her children had that blessing. Yes, the world was infinitely better with Shane and Oliver together. She loved being around them and didn't want to return to DC. How would Shane react when she told her she wanted to stay?

*A/N: Following the line of Sentimental Moods, this fanfic's title, A Love Supreme, is also inspired by John Coltrane and one of his jazz albums.