Chapter V
A/N: Hello everybody! I'm still around and writing this. I may have figured out how to do more frequent (for this one) updates. I'll explain at the end of the chapter. I don't know what I'd do without you cowgirlbookworm! Credit goes to Robert Burns for a certain song known the world over. Hope you all like this one! SSD!
Will watched as Olivia tried to coax a quivering Orion out of the master shower after the lastest round of fireworks had sent running into there.
She'd tried everything: toys, treats, petting him. Nothing was working as more fireworks went off as the poor animal whined, ears back in fear.
"I can't believe you're making me do this Orion, you know I have a horrible singing voice," she groaned.
"I've certainly heard worse," Will piped in. Olivia shot him a filthy look. She probably would have given him a rude hand gesture were it not for her worry about Orion.
"Well, as it's New Years Eve, there's only one song for me to sing." Olivia put her arms around her dog and began singing and all too familiar tune:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne
And surely you will buy your cup
And surely I'll buy mine!
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne
We two have paddled in the stream
From morning sun till night
The seas between us Lord and swell
Since the days of auld lang syne
For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
For the sake of auld lang syne?
For old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should old acquaintance be forgot
In the days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear
For auld lang syne
We'll drink a cup of kindness yet
For the sake of auld lang syne
Her voice was passable, but the song choked Will up. Mercifully Olivia was focused on Orion.
When he could speak again, "That song is still known?"
"Of course it is! It's sung every New Years Eve!" Olivia checked her watch, "Come on Will, looks like I have something to show you, but we have to be quick before the ball drops."
Will followed her to the living room where the television was on. It was one of the more interesting gadgets in the technological advances of the past 80 odd years.
He waited during the countdown, Olivia grinned as "Happy New Year" was shouted.
Then the familiar strains of "Auld Lang Syne" began being sung by what sounded like the entire crowd. One of Burns's songs being sung by what looked like thousands of people. Centuries after being written, outside of Scotland.
Will wasn't even sure he could cry until Olivia asked, "Are you alright?" Her hand was on his chest.
Wait a minute...
Her hand was on his chest and he could feel it. She was warm. Will hadn't felt a human touch in over 80 years.
And he didn't know what to say or do.
She and Will were ignoring what had happened on New Years Eve. They had classified it as weird even by their elastic standards and were moving on with business.
Once Olivia had registered the fact that she was actually touching Will, the sensation was that of touching wet clothes. Not surprising, all things considered how he died.
Will was soon intangible to her touch again. She and Orion went to bed. What he did in those hours Olivia did not know and elected not to pry when she saw him the following afternoon. She strongly suspected he had been visiting with Padre Ignacio and the others.
Olivia was going to do one of her favorite things to distract herself: Dive into research. That she could understand. And not have to deal with conflicting, impossible thoughts.
"I thought I told you to take a break until classes were back in session," It was Professor Megalos, her doctor advisor.
"This is taking a break. I was just checking things," she replied evasively. She knew her long time professor wouldn't be fooled though.
"Uh-uh. And this is me helping you pack up!" The old Greek-American Professor stacked her books and began shooing her out of the library.
Once they were outside he asked, "How was your Christmas?"
"Quiet. No bad "gifts" from my parents and Tristan. Orion jumped into the pool at Esperanza's parents and chased the niblings around on Christmas Day," Olivia laughed at the memory.
"I would imagine Orion hated New Years Eve," the professor commented.
"Always. Hid in my shower, shedded up a storm and I wound up singing to him in an attempt to soothe him," Olivia shuddered.
"I hope he's feeling better. Now get home and enjoy the rest of your break," Professor Megalos ordered, but was smiling the whole time.
By the time Olivia got home, she saw Octavian's truck in the driveway. He'd probably let himself into the house with his key.
When she got in via the garage, Orion twined around her legs as she walked into the living room where she saw a visibly excited Octavian.
"The breeder called. We can get the Newfie pup sooner than expected and in time for Valentine's Day! Can you come along with Orion to come and get the pup? I want to surprise Esperanza," her brother spoke a mile a minute.
"You live in the desert, and your brother wants to get one of the hairiest dogs around? What are they going to do with it in the summer," Will asked.
Ignoring her spectral houseguest who was currently lounging on her couch Olivia asked, "When do you need me and Orion?"
"This weekend. And could you keep the pup for a little bit?" Her twin was using his puppy eyes to great effect.
"You will pay for food and any destruction the puppy may cause before you pick him or her up, got it," she agreed.
Kissing her on the cheek and hugging her goodbye, Octavian hurried out of the house.
"So what have you been up to today," Olivia asked Will.
"Watched that movie Ghost with the other three. According to them, it got the part about ghosts being able to ascend/descend right," he replied.
"Good to hear. I know you've been practicing your poltergeisting skills, anything else," she let Orion outside to handle his business.
"Padre Ignacio mentioned that he's heard from multiple other ghosts that that apparently if a ghost fulfills certain requirements, they can get their bodies back and become alive again. Even so, he admits that's a fairy story," Will drawled.
"That would prove interesting. Would you like to come along to get the puppy," Olivia inquired.
"I'd love to." Will's smile did things to her insides that she didn't want to admit to.
The drive to Thunder Run was about 90 minutes. Octavian was thankful that his sister's dog didn't mind cars.
In fact, Orion was sticking his head out the window with his tongue out, enjoying the breeze.
Olivia was snoozing in the passenger seat up front. He'd gotten no explanation for her sleepiness other than she'd been up all night.
She only woke up when they'd gotten to the exit.
At the first stoplight Olivia muttered, "I need to give Orion something to drink. He won't drink water unless we're at a complete stop in the car."
Soon the husky was noisily lapping up the water. It was a long light.
It seemed like it was immediate they were going up the drive to the breeder's home.
"Did you sleep at all last night either," Olivia snarked.
"No I didn't," Octavian grinned, "Not for the same reason you did!"
His sister rolled her eyes and threw a rolled up piece of paper to the back seat.
They were in the front drive of the house and could hear dogs happily barking.
"This is homier than where I got Orion. I like it already," Olivia commented as she got Orion out of the car.
"No! Come! Bad Puppy!" A man called out.
There was a pupper on the loose! And was barreling straight towards them. Orion seemed unconcerned.
Soon a woman was able to grab the wayward pup around the middle. The she-pup whined and paddled her webbed paws in the air, still trying to get to them.
"Mr. Lovett, you're the first to arrive. I'm Colleen, my husband Dick will be joining us momentarily," the woman introduced herself.
Then Colleen noticed Orion at his sister's feet sitting calmly. "And who might this be," she cooed.
"This is Orion. He'll be interacting with the new dog on a regular basis. 3 years old and well trained. He'll be 4 in April," his sister answered.
"Aggressive or panicky," Dick asked as he came level.
"No on aggressive and only panicky with fireworks," Olivia answered whilst scratching Orion's ears.
Octavian took a look at the pup in Colleen's arms. She was almost entirely black except for a patch of white on her chest.
"Could I meet the one you're holding? Orion seems completely calm around her," Octavian asked.
Nodding Colleen put the pup down. She trotted over to him sniffing his feet and legs. Octavian knelt down so she could get a better smell of him.
She took that as an immediate invitation to pounce on him, knocking him over, sniffing and licking all over with her little puppy tongue!
"Yes, yes you're cute! And I love you already! Let's see how you do with your potential fur-cousin Orion," Octavian suggested.
Olivia let Orion off his leash so the two dogs could walk towards each other. After all of the usual sniffs hello, Orion sat down on his tummy on the ground. The Newfie pup started climbing all over him for a time.
Then for some reason she took off running around in circles next to Olivia before Orion guided her away from it.
Smiling Octavian said, "Okay Hera, you're coming home."
A/N 2: And that's a wrap folks! The solution to my problem is a time jump. Hopefully it works! Looking forward to seeing what you all think! SSD