GL - A FEW DAYS AWAY - Chapter 28
TITLE: A Few Days Away
FANDOM: Guiding Light
PAIRING: Otalia
SUMMARY: Set mid-friendship, this is a hurt/comfort piece as I'm a hurt/comfort junkie. Olivia, Natalia and Emma decide to have a few days away...hopefully more interesting than the summary suggests. Please request before archiving.
RATING: PG for mild violence
Author's note: This is my first ever attempt at fanfic so I'm having to gather a lot of nerve to post it. With very deep thanks to my Canadian Buddy, Critic2000, who beta'd and prodded for this story to see a conclusion and provided insightful and useful comments throughout. I know most of Europe loves her for providing us with Otalia clips as soon as possible but to me, she's my very dear friend. (Course, the clips help ;o))
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Apologies if this isn't everyone's cup of tea but huge thanks again for those that are sticking with it, even if it's not going in the direction most probably hope or want it to go... but I have stated it's a hurt/comfort piece and it will remain in that vein throughout - you have been warned ;o)
Thank you for your continued interest, I know there is a lot of very good fic out there so I'm touched when you stop by to read mine. You've all been very kind - huge thanks
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Guiding Light or any of the characters.
( Chapter 1 ) ( Chapter 3 ) ( Chapters 4 & 5 ) ( Chapter 6 ) ( Chapter 7 ) ( Chapter 8 ) ( Chapter 9 ) ( Chapter 10 ) ( Chapter 11 ) ( Chapter 12 ) ( Chapter 13 ) ( Chapter 14 ) ( Chapter 15 ) ( Chapter 16 ) ( Chapter 17 ) ( Chapter 18 ) ( Chapter 19 ) ( Chapter 20 ) ( Chapter 21 ) ( Chapter 22 ) ( Chapter 23 ) ( Chapter 24 ) ( Chapter 25 ) ( Chapter 26 ) ( Chapter 27 )
With enormous thanks to my beta who helped with getting the start of this chapter re-worked at short notice :)
Chapter 28
Having sat through the process of once again having her shoulder bandaged and finding amusement in watching Natalia’s intense concentrated look as she carefully wrapped the wound, Olivia had to almost shake herself to get moving again.
“I guess I better go get changed,” Olivia indicated her undressed state and bloodied jeans, “don’t want to scare Emma.”
“No, we don’t.”
Olivia sighed heavily.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Olivia shook her head and began to push herself to her feet, “Just trying to get myself going again. Did you want to get changed, will you need any help?”
“Um...no, I’m thinking I’ll leave my jeans for now but I’ll need a clean top, which I can manage fine. You?”
“I’ll shout if I need you.” Olivia smiled, as if I can imagine ever not needing you, and walked away to the bathroom to see about fixing her make-up.
When they convened back at the couch a short time later, Olivia wondered at the dimples showing on Natalia’s face, “What? Do I have my top on back to front?”
“Nope, you look...” amazing? Stunning? Beautiful?
Olivia was beginning to wonder if the sentence would ever be finished and facially gestured her question for Natalia to continue.
“You look like you’ve spent the weekend at a spa rather than hiking through the woods. How do you do that?”
“Uh huh, well I certainly don’t feel like I’ve been to a spa, how come we didn’t have that as an option anyway?”
There was a moment of silence, then Olivia reached to assist Natalia from the couch and groaned in the process.
“Yup, next time, a spa.”
Natalia giggled and then winced slightly as she attained an upright position again.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here?”
“No, I’ll come with you.” In truth, Natalia wanted to be sure that Olivia was going to be okay to drive and although unable to keep her foot elevated, she would at least be able to sit in relative comfort in the car. “Do you actually know where we’re going?”
“Hm? Yeah, I’ve got the details here. Ready?”
Nodding, Natalia exited the cabin as Olivia, grabbing their keys, locked up and hurried to assist Natalia getting into the car.
“Okay?”
“Yup, I’m good. Thanks.”
Moving round to the driver side, Olivia felt a tingle of excitement at finally going to collect and see her daughter again and couldn’t hold back her smile.
Natalia noticed, “Not long now huh?”
“Nope, it feels like she’s been gone for days. How bad is it going to be when she’s older?”
“You’ll be fine. She loves you.”
Starting the car they headed out.
***
Ten minutes later and a thankfully incident free journey, they arrived at Ruth’s cabin.
“Are you sure you’re okay to stay in the car?”
“Please, by the time you’ve collected her I’ll still be trying to negotiate getting out of it.”
“Okay, I won’t be a minute.”
Olivia walked up to the door and knocked, turning back to see Natalia watching her.
“Why, Olivia, hello dear, how are you?”
“Ruth, hi, I’m good um...we’re good,” she indicate back to Natalia, “well, except that Natalia sprained her ankle this afternoon so um...”
“Hi Natalia,” Ruth waved and Natalia waved back and shouted a reply through the window.
“My goodness, you two really have been in the wars haven’t you? Well, daughter like mother,” she started to turn indicating Olivia to follow. Olivia grabbed her arm, “I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh nothing to worry about dear, you know how rambunctious children can be, Emma just took a bit of a spill and grazed her knee, she’s fine. Just didn’t want to worry you.”
Olivia’s rapidly fluctuating heartbeat slowed again as she followed Ruth into the cabin.
“Mommy!” Emma called out as she went to launch herself at her mother and then, remembering that her mother hadn’t been well, slowed and raised her arms to be drawn into a very tight, therapeutic hug.
“Hey Jellybean, I’ve missed you.” She kissed the top of her head and then hugged her again, uncaring how tightly Emma squeezed back, just relishing in the joy of holding her child again.
“I’ve missed you too mom.”
“You have? I bet you’ve had so much fun you didn’t even notice I wasn’t there. What’s this?” she indicated the band aid on her daughter’s knee.
“I fell over, well, we were playing this game and I kinda lost my step and...”
“Were you running?”
Emma looked down, “Yes.”
“Does it hurt now? Would you like mommy to kiss it better?”
Emma giggled as Olivia tickled her. “No mommy, it doesn’t hurt.”
“You’re such a big girl. Are you ready to go? Have you said goodbye to Jane yet and thanked Mrs Blaxendale for letting you stay?”
Emma nodded and then turned to Jane who had gone to stand with her grandma, clearly not happy that she was losing her playmate.
“Bye Jane, I really had fun.”
Jane nodded, “Me too. Maybe we could meet up again?” She looked hopefully at her grandma and Olivia.
“Maybe dear but Emma has to go home soon. I’m sure if she’s here and able you’ll get to play together again.” She cradled the back of Jane’s head as the young girl turned towards her grandma’s leg, ashamed at being so upset.
“Thank you Mrs Blaxendale. I really had a great time. Thank you for the food and for letting us make the tent.”
“My pleasure my dear. You have been a source of joy for us and you are welcome anytime.”
Emma beamed at her and then turned to her mother.
“Gather any of your things and get in the car Em, Natalia’s waiting there?”
“She is? Why didn’t she come in?”
“Well, she’s hurt her ankle so go and keep her company while I just say goodbye.”
“Okay. Bye and thanks again.”
Emma turned and hurried out to the car and Olivia heard the sound of the door opening and closing.
“I really want to thank you Ruth, you’ve been an angel.”
Ruth took Olivia’s hand and stared intently into her eyes.
“It was truly my pleasure. Please, look after one another, you both deserve it.”
Thinking the comment slightly strange she nevertheless thanked her daughter’s host, said farewell to Jane and joined Emma and Natalia in the car, Emma already regaling Natalia with stories of her stay.
“All set? Buckled in?”
Affirmative nods, “Well then, let’s go,” and they headed back to their cabin.
***
It was darker as they headed back, Olivia trying to concentrate on the road ahead while Natalia asked the follow up questions in response to Emma’s detailed account of her sleepover.
Emma had enquired after Natalia’s ankle and then Emma had shown off her own injury, Natalia turning from the front seat to look back and examine her knee.
It was as she was faced towards the rear, the car suddenly swerved aggressively, ping-ponging her between the two front seats and making Emma scream in startled surprise.
Turning to face forward she looked at Olivia for some indication of what had happened and saw her gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening and her eyes, wide on the road ahead.
Emma was starting to sniffle.
“Emma? It’s alright honey, everything’s okay, we’re okay.” Natalia soothed.
Olivia swallowed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, it was nothing, just something in the road, I swerved to miss it, I think I missed it.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” then clearing her throat and trying to staunch the rush of adrenaline she was experiencing, she called back to Emma, “Emma? Are you okay sweetie?”
“Yes,” the sniffled response.
“We’ll be back soon okay?”
“Okay.”
“Which movies did you bring huh? We’re planning on having a movie night, popcorn, the works.”
Another sniffle.
“You get to pick.”
Emma began rifling through the catalogue of DVDs they had to watch in her mind as the incident already started to fade to her.
Olivia, trying to control the shaking the residual adrenaline caused, was trying to block out the sound of Emma’s short but piercing scream. Somehow she just knew her dreams would be revisiting her.
Natalia engaged in a movie debate with Emma while casting furtive glances at Olivia, who suddenly seemed lost to her again.
***
Pulling up at their own cabin, Emma enthused about her choice of movie and was torn between helping Natalia out of the car or going to get the movie ready for them to watch.
Olivia solved the problem, “Go get the movie ready Emma, I’ll help old hop-along out.”
“Very funny,” Natalia mock scowled as Emma giggled her way back to the cabin.
As Olivia came round to her side of the car, Natalia asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Natalia, I did not fall asleep at the wheel if that’s what you’re thinking and if I had, I can tell you now I would’ve stopped the car there and then.”
“Whoa, hold on. I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Weren’t you?”
“No, I was thinking you looked pretty scared back there and I wanted to make sure, without upsetting your daughter, that you were actually alright.”
Olivia had the decency to look apologetic, “Oh.”
“Yes, oh. So are you going to help me or not? We’ve got a movie to watch and some corn to pop.”
“Yay.”
***
Having consumed pizza for supper, followed by a helping of ice cream, it was no small feat that they managed to still find room for the large bowl of popcorn placed between them.
As they all lay on the couch, a pile of bodies in various states of disrepair and tiredness, the movie played.
‘Monsters Inc.’, a relatively old movie but one of Emma’s favourites.
Olivia found it slightly unnerving that her daughter should choose a movie about nightmares and monsters lurking under your bed but was so happy to finally have her family all safe and with her again; she was willing to see past it.
Beside her, Natalia sat with her ankle once again propped up on a cushion, roaring with laughter as Sully watched the little girl pass through the packing room and reacted in horror. Emma was already starting to droop, curled up between them, the victim of too much fresh air and heavy food.
Olivia had no idea when she started to fall, only of when the images returned, the voices once more accusing, their tethers lashing her down and the monsters creeping out from beneath her own tormented psyche. She only knew she needed to be saved.
TBC...
FANDOM: Guiding Light
PAIRING: Otalia
SUMMARY: Set mid-friendship, this is a hurt/comfort piece as I'm a hurt/comfort junkie. Olivia, Natalia and Emma decide to have a few days away...hopefully more interesting than the summary suggests. Please request before archiving.
RATING: PG for mild violence
Author's note: This is my first ever attempt at fanfic so I'm having to gather a lot of nerve to post it. With very deep thanks to my Canadian Buddy, Critic2000, who beta'd and prodded for this story to see a conclusion and provided insightful and useful comments throughout. I know most of Europe loves her for providing us with Otalia clips as soon as possible but to me, she's my very dear friend. (Course, the clips help ;o))
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Apologies if this isn't everyone's cup of tea but huge thanks again for those that are sticking with it, even if it's not going in the direction most probably hope or want it to go... but I have stated it's a hurt/comfort piece and it will remain in that vein throughout - you have been warned ;o)
Thank you for your continued interest, I know there is a lot of very good fic out there so I'm touched when you stop by to read mine. You've all been very kind - huge thanks
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Guiding Light or any of the characters.
( Chapter 1 ) ( Chapter 3 ) ( Chapters 4 & 5 ) ( Chapter 6 ) ( Chapter 7 ) ( Chapter 8 ) ( Chapter 9 ) ( Chapter 10 ) ( Chapter 11 ) ( Chapter 12 ) ( Chapter 13 ) ( Chapter 14 ) ( Chapter 15 ) ( Chapter 16 ) ( Chapter 17 ) ( Chapter 18 ) ( Chapter 19 ) ( Chapter 20 ) ( Chapter 21 ) ( Chapter 22 ) ( Chapter 23 ) ( Chapter 24 ) ( Chapter 25 ) ( Chapter 26 ) ( Chapter 27 )
With enormous thanks to my beta who helped with getting the start of this chapter re-worked at short notice :)
Chapter 28
Having sat through the process of once again having her shoulder bandaged and finding amusement in watching Natalia’s intense concentrated look as she carefully wrapped the wound, Olivia had to almost shake herself to get moving again.
“I guess I better go get changed,” Olivia indicated her undressed state and bloodied jeans, “don’t want to scare Emma.”
“No, we don’t.”
Olivia sighed heavily.
“What is it? What’s wrong?”
Olivia shook her head and began to push herself to her feet, “Just trying to get myself going again. Did you want to get changed, will you need any help?”
“Um...no, I’m thinking I’ll leave my jeans for now but I’ll need a clean top, which I can manage fine. You?”
“I’ll shout if I need you.” Olivia smiled, as if I can imagine ever not needing you, and walked away to the bathroom to see about fixing her make-up.
When they convened back at the couch a short time later, Olivia wondered at the dimples showing on Natalia’s face, “What? Do I have my top on back to front?”
“Nope, you look...” amazing? Stunning? Beautiful?
Olivia was beginning to wonder if the sentence would ever be finished and facially gestured her question for Natalia to continue.
“You look like you’ve spent the weekend at a spa rather than hiking through the woods. How do you do that?”
“Uh huh, well I certainly don’t feel like I’ve been to a spa, how come we didn’t have that as an option anyway?”
There was a moment of silence, then Olivia reached to assist Natalia from the couch and groaned in the process.
“Yup, next time, a spa.”
Natalia giggled and then winced slightly as she attained an upright position again.
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay here?”
“No, I’ll come with you.” In truth, Natalia wanted to be sure that Olivia was going to be okay to drive and although unable to keep her foot elevated, she would at least be able to sit in relative comfort in the car. “Do you actually know where we’re going?”
“Hm? Yeah, I’ve got the details here. Ready?”
Nodding, Natalia exited the cabin as Olivia, grabbing their keys, locked up and hurried to assist Natalia getting into the car.
“Okay?”
“Yup, I’m good. Thanks.”
Moving round to the driver side, Olivia felt a tingle of excitement at finally going to collect and see her daughter again and couldn’t hold back her smile.
Natalia noticed, “Not long now huh?”
“Nope, it feels like she’s been gone for days. How bad is it going to be when she’s older?”
“You’ll be fine. She loves you.”
Starting the car they headed out.
***
Ten minutes later and a thankfully incident free journey, they arrived at Ruth’s cabin.
“Are you sure you’re okay to stay in the car?”
“Please, by the time you’ve collected her I’ll still be trying to negotiate getting out of it.”
“Okay, I won’t be a minute.”
Olivia walked up to the door and knocked, turning back to see Natalia watching her.
“Why, Olivia, hello dear, how are you?”
“Ruth, hi, I’m good um...we’re good,” she indicate back to Natalia, “well, except that Natalia sprained her ankle this afternoon so um...”
“Hi Natalia,” Ruth waved and Natalia waved back and shouted a reply through the window.
“My goodness, you two really have been in the wars haven’t you? Well, daughter like mother,” she started to turn indicating Olivia to follow. Olivia grabbed her arm, “I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh nothing to worry about dear, you know how rambunctious children can be, Emma just took a bit of a spill and grazed her knee, she’s fine. Just didn’t want to worry you.”
Olivia’s rapidly fluctuating heartbeat slowed again as she followed Ruth into the cabin.
“Mommy!” Emma called out as she went to launch herself at her mother and then, remembering that her mother hadn’t been well, slowed and raised her arms to be drawn into a very tight, therapeutic hug.
“Hey Jellybean, I’ve missed you.” She kissed the top of her head and then hugged her again, uncaring how tightly Emma squeezed back, just relishing in the joy of holding her child again.
“I’ve missed you too mom.”
“You have? I bet you’ve had so much fun you didn’t even notice I wasn’t there. What’s this?” she indicated the band aid on her daughter’s knee.
“I fell over, well, we were playing this game and I kinda lost my step and...”
“Were you running?”
Emma looked down, “Yes.”
“Does it hurt now? Would you like mommy to kiss it better?”
Emma giggled as Olivia tickled her. “No mommy, it doesn’t hurt.”
“You’re such a big girl. Are you ready to go? Have you said goodbye to Jane yet and thanked Mrs Blaxendale for letting you stay?”
Emma nodded and then turned to Jane who had gone to stand with her grandma, clearly not happy that she was losing her playmate.
“Bye Jane, I really had fun.”
Jane nodded, “Me too. Maybe we could meet up again?” She looked hopefully at her grandma and Olivia.
“Maybe dear but Emma has to go home soon. I’m sure if she’s here and able you’ll get to play together again.” She cradled the back of Jane’s head as the young girl turned towards her grandma’s leg, ashamed at being so upset.
“Thank you Mrs Blaxendale. I really had a great time. Thank you for the food and for letting us make the tent.”
“My pleasure my dear. You have been a source of joy for us and you are welcome anytime.”
Emma beamed at her and then turned to her mother.
“Gather any of your things and get in the car Em, Natalia’s waiting there?”
“She is? Why didn’t she come in?”
“Well, she’s hurt her ankle so go and keep her company while I just say goodbye.”
“Okay. Bye and thanks again.”
Emma turned and hurried out to the car and Olivia heard the sound of the door opening and closing.
“I really want to thank you Ruth, you’ve been an angel.”
Ruth took Olivia’s hand and stared intently into her eyes.
“It was truly my pleasure. Please, look after one another, you both deserve it.”
Thinking the comment slightly strange she nevertheless thanked her daughter’s host, said farewell to Jane and joined Emma and Natalia in the car, Emma already regaling Natalia with stories of her stay.
“All set? Buckled in?”
Affirmative nods, “Well then, let’s go,” and they headed back to their cabin.
***
It was darker as they headed back, Olivia trying to concentrate on the road ahead while Natalia asked the follow up questions in response to Emma’s detailed account of her sleepover.
Emma had enquired after Natalia’s ankle and then Emma had shown off her own injury, Natalia turning from the front seat to look back and examine her knee.
It was as she was faced towards the rear, the car suddenly swerved aggressively, ping-ponging her between the two front seats and making Emma scream in startled surprise.
Turning to face forward she looked at Olivia for some indication of what had happened and saw her gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles whitening and her eyes, wide on the road ahead.
Emma was starting to sniffle.
“Emma? It’s alright honey, everything’s okay, we’re okay.” Natalia soothed.
Olivia swallowed.
“What happened?”
“Nothing, it was nothing, just something in the road, I swerved to miss it, I think I missed it.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” then clearing her throat and trying to staunch the rush of adrenaline she was experiencing, she called back to Emma, “Emma? Are you okay sweetie?”
“Yes,” the sniffled response.
“We’ll be back soon okay?”
“Okay.”
“Which movies did you bring huh? We’re planning on having a movie night, popcorn, the works.”
Another sniffle.
“You get to pick.”
Emma began rifling through the catalogue of DVDs they had to watch in her mind as the incident already started to fade to her.
Olivia, trying to control the shaking the residual adrenaline caused, was trying to block out the sound of Emma’s short but piercing scream. Somehow she just knew her dreams would be revisiting her.
Natalia engaged in a movie debate with Emma while casting furtive glances at Olivia, who suddenly seemed lost to her again.
***
Pulling up at their own cabin, Emma enthused about her choice of movie and was torn between helping Natalia out of the car or going to get the movie ready for them to watch.
Olivia solved the problem, “Go get the movie ready Emma, I’ll help old hop-along out.”
“Very funny,” Natalia mock scowled as Emma giggled her way back to the cabin.
As Olivia came round to her side of the car, Natalia asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Natalia, I did not fall asleep at the wheel if that’s what you’re thinking and if I had, I can tell you now I would’ve stopped the car there and then.”
“Whoa, hold on. I wasn’t thinking that.”
“Weren’t you?”
“No, I was thinking you looked pretty scared back there and I wanted to make sure, without upsetting your daughter, that you were actually alright.”
Olivia had the decency to look apologetic, “Oh.”
“Yes, oh. So are you going to help me or not? We’ve got a movie to watch and some corn to pop.”
“Yay.”
***
Having consumed pizza for supper, followed by a helping of ice cream, it was no small feat that they managed to still find room for the large bowl of popcorn placed between them.
As they all lay on the couch, a pile of bodies in various states of disrepair and tiredness, the movie played.
‘Monsters Inc.’, a relatively old movie but one of Emma’s favourites.
Olivia found it slightly unnerving that her daughter should choose a movie about nightmares and monsters lurking under your bed but was so happy to finally have her family all safe and with her again; she was willing to see past it.
Beside her, Natalia sat with her ankle once again propped up on a cushion, roaring with laughter as Sully watched the little girl pass through the packing room and reacted in horror. Emma was already starting to droop, curled up between them, the victim of too much fresh air and heavy food.
Olivia had no idea when she started to fall, only of when the images returned, the voices once more accusing, their tethers lashing her down and the monsters creeping out from beneath her own tormented psyche. She only knew she needed to be saved.
TBC...