The Return Part 3 Olivia/Natalia
Title: The Return Part 3
Author: Karjens40
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia/Natalia
Rating: G
Spoilers: None really just the weeks Jessica was on ML.
Disclaimer: Guiding Light and all of its characters belong to Telenext and Proctor & Gamble
This is speculation regarding Natalia’s return. Thanks to Lazydevil for the read through. Part 1 can be found at http://community.livejournal.com/otaliavs/
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Olivia apologized hurriedly as she all but knocked several members of the hospital staff out of her way.
“Olivia!”
The frantic woman came to an abrupt halt as she saw Blake coming toward her. “Where is she?” Olivia demanded breathlessly.
“Olivia, calm down. She’s fine.”
“I want to see her,” Olivia insisted, looking past the red head.
“Okay, but you need to calm down first,” Blake said again. “You don’t want to barge in there all worked up. It’s not good for her or you.”
Olivia closed her eyes and breathed deeply trying to settle her heart. “Where is she?” She asked again, this time more calmly.
Blake smiled. “Good, I’m glad you’re finally learning to listen to people. She’s in exam room 3, but you’ll have to wait. Rick’s in there with her now.”
“Fine,” Olivia snapped as she followed Blake to the waiting area. The two women had only just sat down when Rick came out of the exam room.
“How is she?” Olivia asked immediately as she got to her feet.
“She’s resting now, but she’s stable,” Rick answered, somewhat surprised by Olivia’s near panicked condition.
“I should have seen this coming,” Olivia muttered to herself.
“Unless you’re psychic which I doubt, why would you think that?” Rick asked in surprise
“I knew something was wrong. She wasn’t feeling well before your barbeque but I just thought it was food poisioning. I was so damned concerned with us...”Olivia stopped realizing she nearly said too much. “God why didn’t I make her come see you?”
“This isn’t your fault Olivia,” Rick said kindly, he looked at Blake in confusion but she just shrugged.
“What’s wrong with her?” Olivia finally asked.
“We’re going to run some more tests, but her blood pressure was extremely high when they brought her in. Has Natalia been under any stress lately?”
Olivia laughed in Rick’s face causing the doctor to look again at Blake then back to Olivia. “That’s funny?”
“No. It’s not funny; Just a major understatement.”
“What was she doing before she collapsed?” Rick asked.
“She was on the phone,” Blake answered cautiously, looking at Olivia. “She was pretty worked up.”
“Okay. It’s possible then that this was simply a result of chronic stress combined with a blood pressure spike. I’m going to keep her overnight and run a few tests to make sure.”
“I did this,” Olivia said numbly.
“No you didn’t, Olivia. You know Natalia better than anyone and that she tends to bottle things up and pretend everything’s alright,” Blake assured her. “She just finally overloaded. That’s all.”
Olivia didn’t believe the woman for one second. “Can I see her?” She asked Rick.
“Sure. For a few minutes. We were about to move her to a room when you showed up. ”
“Thank you,” Olivia said.
Rick left and Blake took a seat. “I’ll wait out here. Oh, just so you know, I called Rafe. I thought he had a right to know.”
“Great,” Olivia muttered but turned and headed toward the exam room. She entered quietly and fought the urge to cry as she saw the normally vibrant woman lying pale against the white sheets.
Olivia pulled up a chair beside Natalia and took her hand. It didn’t escape her that this was the same room where Natlia had almost kissed her so long ago. Mimicking Natalia’s actions, she reached out and brushed back a lock of dark hair from the beautiful face. Despite what caused it, Natalia looked more peaceful than she had in a long time.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” she whispered.
She continued to stroke Natalia’s hair and she let her tears come. She was the sick one. Not Natalia. Natalia didn’t belong in a hospital bed, a result of her ingrained fear of expressing her worries. Natalia didn’t deserve to be suffering.
“I swear I forgive you,” Olivia whispered, lowering her cheek to Natalia’s hand that was resting in her own. “Just…please don’t leave me again.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Olivia jerked and spun around at the angry voice, biting back the urge to yell at Rafe to get out. “What does it look like I’m doing?” She snapped. She was in no mood to put up with his insults and insinuations.
“You have no business here,” he said moving closer as if to try to force her to leave. The cold expression on her tear-streaked face had him pausing midstride. He’d never admit it, but Olivia Spencer was one of the few people who actually intimidated him.
“I don’t have to explain myself to you,” she said shortly before turning back to Natalia. She tried to ignore the agitated young man but he wouldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“You don’t have to. You’re the reason she’s here. You screwed with her head so much that she finally couldn’t take it. You preyed on her weakness just so you could get into her…”
“Don’t you ever call her that,” Olivia snarled, abruptly cutting off the rest of the sentence that would earn him a slap in the face. “You obviously don’t know your mother at all. She is the strongest person I have ever met. You have no idea how much she’s had to endure her whole life, mostly because of you and she’s done it without a complaint, without feeling sorry for herself or without blaming anyone. You can insult me all you want because maybe this is my fault, but don’t you ever call her weak again.”
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Rafe bit out.
“That’s enough.”
Both Olivia and Rafe turned toward the weak voice.
“Natalia, thank God,” Olivia said, lifting Natalia’s hand to her lips.
“Oh God, Olivia, just get out,” Rafe said angrily. “She doesn’t need your ….”
“She stays,” Natalia said, her voice growing a little stronger.
“Ma,” he said going to Natalia’s other side and taking her hand. “Take it easy. I know you’re sick, but I’m going to take care of you,” he promised, glaring at Olivia. “You don’t need her.”
Natalia looked at the son she loved so much but no longer understood. “What did I do?” she wondered softly.
“What?”
“What did I do, or say that made you so intolerant and so judgmental?”
“I don’t …come on ma’. You don’t understand.”
“Oh yes I do,” Natalia said, struggling to sit up. Olivia’s arm slid immediately behind her to help her up.
Natalia looked at Olivia’s concerned face. She’d heard what Olivia said and the fact that she could forgive her for running out like she did made Natalia love her even more. She reached up her hand to run her fingers over the tear tracks drying on the strong woman’s face. She swore at that moment never to make Olivia cry again. As she had once before, Olivia kissed her palm and ignoring the shivers that ran through her, she turned back to Rafe.
“I do understand Rafe. You’ve done nothing but judge me and insult Olivia for doing nothing more than falling in love. You claim it’s because of our religion but up until recently that was never a big issue for you.”
“I know, but all my life you’ve…”
“I’ve what; told you to hate someone because of who they love? “Natalia closed her eyes as a wave of dizziness washed over her. She clenched Olivia’s hand tighter and opened her eyes once she was feeling steadier.
“Rafe, I love you. You know I do and I’m the same mother you’ve always known, the same woman I’ve always been. The only difference is that I happen to love…truly love Olivia. You have no idea how much she’s done for me. For us. You don’t know how many times she’s shown that she loves me even at the risk of her own health. That doesn’t mean I didn’t love Gus. I did, but we never had a chance to be together. Olivia and I do and I’m not going to let you, Frank, Father Ray or anybody else, ruin this chance at happiness for us.”
“It’s just not right,” Rafe protested almost desperately, looking at the closeness of Olivia to his mother.
“I’m not asking for your approval, Rafe. I’d love to have your blessing but I’m done trying to be everything that everyone wants me to be. The perfect wife, the perfect Catholic, the perfect mother; You’ve all had me pulled in so many directions I couldn’t think straight and because of that I almost lost the one person who’s ever loved me just for me. Because of that, I’ve ended up here.”
“You’re saying this is my fault?” Rafe nearly shouted in self-defense.
“No,” Natalia was holding back her tears. Speaking this way to Rafe was tearing her up but she had to make him understand. “I know you’re confused. I’ve tried to make allowances because I’ve been confused too. I didn’t wake up one morning and say ‘I’ll think I’ll fall in love with a woman today’. It grew over time, but now I look at her,” Natalia sighed as she felt the warmth of Olivia’s fingers tighten around her own, “and I wonder; how could I not fall for her? She’s everything you said you wanted for me Rafe. She cares for me, she makes me happy and she loves me. Even if I don’t deserve it…” she choked on the last words as the memory of the last month washed over her.
She looked over at Olivia, not surprised to see tears in the green eyes as well as concern. “Natalia, you need to rest,” she urged quietly. She’d sat quietly while Natalia said what she needed to, to Rafe, but she was starting to grow more and more agitated.
Natalia smiled up at Olivia. “No, I need to get this out. “ She turned back to Rafe.
“I hope you realize one day, that what was said in the Bible was just one small part of it. What I’ve always tried to teach you was that God Himself is about love. Not intolerance, not resentment, but love. I don’t believe that God is upset with my loving Olivia. He wouldn’t have kept pushing us together over the last year if he was.”
“I just can’t…” Rafe said, though his resolve seemed to falter the more he watched how Olivia seemed to hover protectively over his mother.
“I know baby and I can’t expect you to accept this right now. It is a lot to take in. All I ask is that you ease up on the anger and the judgment and you need to stop attacking Olivia. I mean now. If it had been up to her I’d be living a lie as Frank’s wife right now.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever be okay with this,” he said honestly, but to Natalia’s relief the anger seemed to be lessening.
“I know Rafe. But if you love me at all, you’ll let me be happy.”
“You know I love you mom and I’ll try to get used to it..”
Natalia smiled through her tears. “That’s all I ask.”
“I just don’t want to see you guys making out or anything,” he grumbled.
Olivia snorted and Natalia’s smile widened, bringing out the dimples that Olivia loved to touch. She only just managed to resist the temptation.
“Rafe, no one wants to see their parents making out .” Olivia said with a touch of amusement.
“I guess,” he agreed. He finally looked directly at Olivia. He couldn’t deny that he’d never even seen Frank look at his mother the way Olivia did.
“If you ever hurt her…,” he warned seriously.
“Never happen,” Olivia assured him seriously. “I’d die first.”
Rafe looked from Olivia to the way his mother was clutching her hand as if it was her anchor. He nodded, kissed his mother on the forehead and left the two women alone.
They were quiet for a long moment as Olivia helped Natalia back into a reclining position. Finally Olivia spoke. “I’m probably going to have to leave soon. They want to move you into a room.”
Natalia pulled Olivia’s hand up to her lips and kissed her knuckles. She loved Olivia’s hands. They were so strong, just like the woman herself. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow though?”
Olivia laughed softly. “I meant leave the room, not the hospital. I’m not going anywhere.” At Natalia’s smile, she gave into her desire and reached out to touch one of the adorable dimples. However, the dimples vanished and suddenly Olivia realized that Natalia was crying.
“Oh my God Natalia, what’s wrong? I’ll go get the doctor.” Olivia started to stand up but Natalia stopped her.
“No. Don’t go. I’m fine,” she said when she was able.
“What is it?” She used her thumb to wipe away the tears still filling the deep brown eyes.
“Please don’t give up on me,” Natalia whispered. The last time she’d ask that of Olivia, the woman had been near death. This time she definitely heard the quiet plea.
“I won’t. I have no intention of giving up on you, or us. Ever. When I called before, I wasn’t breaking up with you, Natalia, I swear. I just wanted to talk to you. I’m so sorry that I scared you.”
“What did you want to talk to me about?” Natalia sniffed.
Olivia studied the amazingly innocent face and thought about what Natalia had just done for them. She smiled and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, Natalia. What matters is that I love you. That hasn’t, nor will it ever change. I just want you to promise me that you’ll always come to me when you’re afraid. No matter what it is. Nothing…nothing will make me leave you and just so you know, I’ve never said that to anyone before, Natalia. That’s how much you mean to me.”
Natalia had lowered her head and the tears dripped off her cheek onto the blanket. Olivia reached out and took her chin, turning her to face her so she could look Olivia in the eyes.
“How; how can you forgive me?” Natalia whispered. “What you must have gone through not knowing…”
“Shh. That’s not important. Not anymore, I know you. I know what’s in your heart. You didn’t leave to hurt me. It was... Well, it doesn’t matter. All that matters from this point on is that you promise to trust that I love you, that I will always love you and that you’ll come to me from now on; No matter what the problem is.”
Natalia stared into the eyes that could move her to tears at any given moment. There was nothing but love and forgiveness staring back at her. “I promise,” she vowed with every bit of sincerity she had. Her heart jumped into her throat when she saw those eyes crinkle and Olivia’s beautiful smile appear.
“I love you, Olivia.” She said it exactly the way she’d said it the first time and it still had the same effect on Olivia.
Reaching out, she once more began brushing the hair back from Natalia’s face. Suddenly a long ago reminder of unfinished business sprung to mind and she stood up from the chair and slowly leaned over Natalia.
While Olivia had been feigning sleep, Natalia’s eyes were wide open as she watched Olivia’s face draw closer. She closed her eyes and sighed when she felt soft lips against her forehead. She kept them closed as she felt those same lips lift briefly and then gently press against her own in their first kiss since they’d become a couple. It lasted but a second, but to both Natalia and Olivia it was the sweetest kiss that either had ever experienced.
Natalia’s eyes opened. “I’ll never hurt you again,” she promised, relieved when Olivia smiled back at her.
“Okay Olivia, we’re ready to take Natalia to her room,” Rick said as he entered the room, not the least disturbed by Olivia’s close proximity to Natalia.
“I’ll meet you up there,” Olivia said holding Natalia’s hand.
“No, really I’ll be fine. You need to go be with Emma. Okay?”
“Emma’s with Phillip,” Olivia protested.
“Then you should go home and get some rest.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Olivia said stubbornly.
Natalia smiled up at her. “Yes you are. Seriously Olivia, how much rest do you think I’m going to get, worrying about you?”
“But …”
“Go home, Olivia. Please?”
Olivia looked into those incredible dark eyes. “Why can’t I ever refuse you anything?” She wondered, almost to herself. Then she remembered Dr. Rick was in the room.
“Okay. I’ll go, but I’ll be back first thing in the morning.”
Natalia grinned wider. “Of course you will.”
Olivia gave a half wave and then left the room, followed by Rick who was looking at her with a speculative gleam in his eye. He’d apparently figured it out.
“There’s an empty room next door to Natalia’s. 225,” was all he said.
“Thanks, Doctor Rick,” she said with a relieved smile. She watched as he turned and went back to Natalia’s room and she turned to Blake.
“Well?” Blake asked. She’d been about ready to die from curiosity the entire time she’d been waiting.
“Natalia’s fine and everything’s back as it should be.”
Blake was relieved to see that the smile Olivia had been sporting the day of the barbeque had returned in full force. “That’s great.”
“Well it will be as soon as she’s out of here and we get her healthy.”
Blake looked up at Olivia and grinned. “That should be interesting for you,” she teased. “That woman’s got a lot of pent up stress to get rid of.”
Olivia actually blushed and then laughed deciding it would be best not to encourage Blake and her dirty mind. Instead, she said goodbye and assured Blake that she’d give her love to Natalia. Then she went to find the elevators so she could slip into the unoccupied room before Natalia saw her. For the first time in a very long time, Olivia once more believed that everything was going to be fine. As long as Natalia loved her, everything would be fine.
The End