Guiding Light Fic: Stay - Otalia
Title: Stay
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia / Natalia
Rating: PG-ish
Disclaimer: I don’t own Guiding Light or any of the characters
Spoilers: Takes place directly after the episode of 12th June ‘09
Summary: Olivia helps Natalia to deal with Rafe’s reaction to their relationship
Author's Note: This is my first Otalia fic... despite only being able to watch it on Youtube, I've been sucked in!
“Ma, what the hell are you doing?”
The sound of her son’s voice brought Natalia crashing abruptly back to earth. She hadn’t even realised that Rafe had been there, she’d been so caught up in Olivia’s presence, in the champagne, in yet another almost-kiss. But now, the speed of the red flush spreading across her face was matched only by the speed with which she set down the champagne glass and moved away from the other woman, her mouth opening and closing as she desperately searched for a response.
Olivia’s heart sank as their perfect moment melted away into the ether and she took in the full extent of Natalia’s guilty expression and Rafe’s indignant features, both seeming lost for words. She realised quickly that if she wanted anything constructive to come of this, she would have to take the lead, and she took a deep breath.
“Rafe. Come sit.” Olivia intoned, with what she hoped was a convincing attempt at pleasant surprise, motioning at the chairs and table which Natalia had set out in front of them and hoping that the welcoming expression she’d plastered on her face would be enough to convince the young man.
Rafe looked suspiciously at both women, before moving forward to take a seat, pulling the chair backwards to put as much distance between them as possible.
“Rafe, honey,” Natalia began cautiously, having taken the time to put aside her shock and compose herself. “You know I love you more than anything, right?”
“Yeah, ma,” Rafe answered, a little impatiently, unsure whether he wanted to know what was coming next or not.
“OK.” Natalia took a deep breath and stole a covert glance at Olivia, who smiled encouragingly. “Well, while you were... away, some stuff... there were some... changes in my life which I need to talk to you about.” She turned to smile at Olivia, who had placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Which we need to to talk to you about,” she corrected herself.
If looks could kill, Rafe’s next glance at Olivia would have done the job in a second. Pushing back his chair, he stood up, anger quickly mounting on his features. “I know what you’re going to say,” he spat, “and I don’t want to hear it.” Backing away from the table, he turned and broke out into a run, back along the path and away from the house. “I’m gonna go help Frank after all,” he called back over his shoulder. “Enjoy your family meal.”
“Rafe!” Natalia made to run after her son, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
“Give him time,” Olivia murmured softly, as Natalia turned towards her, her eyes wide and blinking back tears. “He’ll come round.”
Natalia’s whole body seemed to sag and her forced smile stood in stark contrast to the dullness of her eyes as she covered Olivia’s hand with her own and squeezed it lightly before pulling away. “Of course he will. Now I’d better go check on the chicken.”
***
Dinner was a subdued affair. The glasses of champagne they’d so jubilantly poured moments before stood virtually untouched as Natalia pushed her food around her plate, and Olivia tried desperately to lift the mood in any way possible. Emma had been understandably surprised at Rafe’s absence, and it had taken some time to satisfy her curiosity, as she fired question after question at them, each one twisting the knife a little further into Natalia’s heart. Not that she was letting it show, of course. But Olivia knew her well enough to know that behind that bright smile, Natalia’s world was falling apart, and it tortured her to know that there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.
***
“Can we watch the movie now? Can we please?”
Emma bounced impatiently up and down in her seat, her plate clean at last. Olivia set down her own knife and fork and glanced from her daughter’s excited face to Natalia’s strained one.
“I don’t know, sweetie,” she began. “Why don’t you take the dirty dishes inside first?”
As soon as the little girl was out of earshot, Olivia turned to Natalia and lowered her voice. “Do you want us to leave?”
“So now you’re running away too?” Natalia spoke quietly, mindful of Emma’s proximity, but the bitterness in her voice was evident and Olivia was aghast to see her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
“No.” Olivia insisted. “I just thought...” She trailed off and sighed, as, under the table, her fingers found Natalia’s.
“Don’t go,” the younger woman implored. “Please.” She closed her eyes and took the proffered fingers, squeezing Olivia’s hand tightly.
Olivia returned the gesture, her thumb lightly stroking the back of the other woman’s hand. “Of course,” she murmured before turning to smile at her daughter, who had reappeared in the doorway. “Let’s go make some popcorn, jellybean.”
***
Two hours, and one cheesy movie later, Natalia and Olivia sat leaning into each other on the couch, Emma’s sleeping form curled between them. Olivia reached up and trailed a finger lightly across Natalia’s cheek, which had been resting on her shoulder for much of the last hour, and smiled as she heard the younger woman’s corresponding sharp intake of breath.
“Want to talk about before?” she whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping child. Natalia nodded and motioned towards the kitchen with her head, tucking the blanket around Emma and lowering her back onto the couch as she stood up.
Olivia watched smiling, her heart warming at Natalia’s tenderness with her daughter, feeling a niggling stab of guilt as she wished that she could feel the same way about Rafe. But right now, all she could feel was anger. It seemed to her that he had been causing Natalia nothing but heartache for so long, and it was only in the last day or so that she’d finally been able to believe that it was somehow all going to be ok. And with one sentence, Rafe had taken that all away. Struggling to bring her anger under control, she followed Natalia out into the kitchen.
No sooner had they entered the room than Natalia sank down into a chair and buried her face in her hands. Olivia moved to sit next to her, and placed a comforting hand between her shoulder blades. Natalia looked up and gave the other woman a weak smile.
“That went well.”
“He’ll come round.” Olivia hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
“You think?” Natalia’s voice wavered between bitterness and desperation, between an overwhelming need to believe the older woman, and a pessimistic conviction that her life, this relationship, had been doomed from the start. Olivia felt her stomach plummet as the long held-back tears finally spilled over and began to trickle slowly down Natalia’s cheeks, and she was filled with a familiar panic. She’d never been very good with tears, never knew what to say, always managed to put her foot in it somehow. Natalia was so much better than her at this kind of thing. Her left hand still hovered uncertainly on Natalia’s back, while her right hung in mid-air, awaiting some kind of direction. She took a deep breath. Natalia needed her. She needed her to get a grip. Slowly, and with much trepidation, she wrapped her arms around the younger woman and pulled her close. Natalia melted into the other woman’s embrace, her tears soaking into the soft fabric of Olivia’s shirt, as Olivia cupped Natalia’s face and stroked her fingers comfortingly through the expanse of dark brown hair now splayed across her chest.
“I can’t take much more of this,” Natalia hicupped, her words muffled by sobs. “I know he’s my son, and I love him, of course I do, but I can’t do this any more. I can’t keep putting my life on hold for him.” She broke off and looked up at Natalia, desperation and pleading evident in her eyes. “Does that make me a terrible person?”
“No!” Olivia responded instinctively, tipping Natalia’s face to meet her own, and stroking the younger woman’s cheek with her thumb. “Now just you listen to me, Natalia Rivera. You are not a bad person. You’re an amazing person. You’re the kindest, most caring, most generous person I know and I don’t want you to doubt that for a second. Loving you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me...” Olivia trailed off, aware of Natalia’s eyes locked on hers, of Natalia’s fingers moving to touch her face, of Natalia’s lips moving closer, so close that Olivia’s skin was practically tingling in anticipation.
Natalia stopped when her lips were just a few centimetres from Olivia’s face. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” she whispered softly as her index finger traced the outline of the older woman’s lips. Olivia’s eyes fluttered closed as she smiled in response and seconds later, Natalia’s lips were on hers, brushing them gently in a long-awaited kiss. The kiss was brief, light, and was over as soon as it had begun, but to Olivia, it felt like a homecoming much overdue. She opened her eyes to see Natalia’s brown eyes fixed on hers, full of love and longing, and, as if of their own accord, their lips moved together again. The kiss was longer this time, more lingering, its chaste beginnings fast evolving into passion as Olivia’s lips parted to welcome Natalia’s tongue and the two women finally gave into the feelings which had been building in them for so long.
When the kiss finally ended, and she reluctantly broke away, Natalia nestled into Olivia, resting her head on the older woman’s chest, enjoying the security of her beating heart and the tight arms wrapped around her. This wasn’t how she’d imagined their first kiss. She’d been waiting so long for the right moment, the perfect opportunity, she’d wanted everything about their first time to be so special. And it was only now that she realised that she’d got it all wrong. Perfection wasn’t waiting for everything to be just the way she wanted it. Perfection was knowing that whatever happened, whatever went wrong, as it inevitably would, Olivia would be right there, by her side, helping her through.
She snuggled deeper, wrapping her arms around the other woman. “Stay,” she whispered, the word lingering somewhere between a question and a command. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“Whatever you need,” Olivia murmured happily in response, planting a gentle kiss on the top of Natalia’s head. “Whatever you need.”
Fandom: Guiding Light
Pairing: Olivia / Natalia
Rating: PG-ish
Disclaimer: I don’t own Guiding Light or any of the characters
Spoilers: Takes place directly after the episode of 12th June ‘09
Summary: Olivia helps Natalia to deal with Rafe’s reaction to their relationship
Author's Note: This is my first Otalia fic... despite only being able to watch it on Youtube, I've been sucked in!
“Ma, what the hell are you doing?”
The sound of her son’s voice brought Natalia crashing abruptly back to earth. She hadn’t even realised that Rafe had been there, she’d been so caught up in Olivia’s presence, in the champagne, in yet another almost-kiss. But now, the speed of the red flush spreading across her face was matched only by the speed with which she set down the champagne glass and moved away from the other woman, her mouth opening and closing as she desperately searched for a response.
Olivia’s heart sank as their perfect moment melted away into the ether and she took in the full extent of Natalia’s guilty expression and Rafe’s indignant features, both seeming lost for words. She realised quickly that if she wanted anything constructive to come of this, she would have to take the lead, and she took a deep breath.
“Rafe. Come sit.” Olivia intoned, with what she hoped was a convincing attempt at pleasant surprise, motioning at the chairs and table which Natalia had set out in front of them and hoping that the welcoming expression she’d plastered on her face would be enough to convince the young man.
Rafe looked suspiciously at both women, before moving forward to take a seat, pulling the chair backwards to put as much distance between them as possible.
“Rafe, honey,” Natalia began cautiously, having taken the time to put aside her shock and compose herself. “You know I love you more than anything, right?”
“Yeah, ma,” Rafe answered, a little impatiently, unsure whether he wanted to know what was coming next or not.
“OK.” Natalia took a deep breath and stole a covert glance at Olivia, who smiled encouragingly. “Well, while you were... away, some stuff... there were some... changes in my life which I need to talk to you about.” She turned to smile at Olivia, who had placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “Which we need to to talk to you about,” she corrected herself.
If looks could kill, Rafe’s next glance at Olivia would have done the job in a second. Pushing back his chair, he stood up, anger quickly mounting on his features. “I know what you’re going to say,” he spat, “and I don’t want to hear it.” Backing away from the table, he turned and broke out into a run, back along the path and away from the house. “I’m gonna go help Frank after all,” he called back over his shoulder. “Enjoy your family meal.”
“Rafe!” Natalia made to run after her son, but a hand on her arm stopped her.
“Give him time,” Olivia murmured softly, as Natalia turned towards her, her eyes wide and blinking back tears. “He’ll come round.”
Natalia’s whole body seemed to sag and her forced smile stood in stark contrast to the dullness of her eyes as she covered Olivia’s hand with her own and squeezed it lightly before pulling away. “Of course he will. Now I’d better go check on the chicken.”
***
Dinner was a subdued affair. The glasses of champagne they’d so jubilantly poured moments before stood virtually untouched as Natalia pushed her food around her plate, and Olivia tried desperately to lift the mood in any way possible. Emma had been understandably surprised at Rafe’s absence, and it had taken some time to satisfy her curiosity, as she fired question after question at them, each one twisting the knife a little further into Natalia’s heart. Not that she was letting it show, of course. But Olivia knew her well enough to know that behind that bright smile, Natalia’s world was falling apart, and it tortured her to know that there was absolutely nothing she could do about it.
***
“Can we watch the movie now? Can we please?”
Emma bounced impatiently up and down in her seat, her plate clean at last. Olivia set down her own knife and fork and glanced from her daughter’s excited face to Natalia’s strained one.
“I don’t know, sweetie,” she began. “Why don’t you take the dirty dishes inside first?”
As soon as the little girl was out of earshot, Olivia turned to Natalia and lowered her voice. “Do you want us to leave?”
“So now you’re running away too?” Natalia spoke quietly, mindful of Emma’s proximity, but the bitterness in her voice was evident and Olivia was aghast to see her eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
“No.” Olivia insisted. “I just thought...” She trailed off and sighed, as, under the table, her fingers found Natalia’s.
“Don’t go,” the younger woman implored. “Please.” She closed her eyes and took the proffered fingers, squeezing Olivia’s hand tightly.
Olivia returned the gesture, her thumb lightly stroking the back of the other woman’s hand. “Of course,” she murmured before turning to smile at her daughter, who had reappeared in the doorway. “Let’s go make some popcorn, jellybean.”
***
Two hours, and one cheesy movie later, Natalia and Olivia sat leaning into each other on the couch, Emma’s sleeping form curled between them. Olivia reached up and trailed a finger lightly across Natalia’s cheek, which had been resting on her shoulder for much of the last hour, and smiled as she heard the younger woman’s corresponding sharp intake of breath.
“Want to talk about before?” she whispered, careful not to wake the sleeping child. Natalia nodded and motioned towards the kitchen with her head, tucking the blanket around Emma and lowering her back onto the couch as she stood up.
Olivia watched smiling, her heart warming at Natalia’s tenderness with her daughter, feeling a niggling stab of guilt as she wished that she could feel the same way about Rafe. But right now, all she could feel was anger. It seemed to her that he had been causing Natalia nothing but heartache for so long, and it was only in the last day or so that she’d finally been able to believe that it was somehow all going to be ok. And with one sentence, Rafe had taken that all away. Struggling to bring her anger under control, she followed Natalia out into the kitchen.
No sooner had they entered the room than Natalia sank down into a chair and buried her face in her hands. Olivia moved to sit next to her, and placed a comforting hand between her shoulder blades. Natalia looked up and gave the other woman a weak smile.
“That went well.”
“He’ll come round.” Olivia hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
“You think?” Natalia’s voice wavered between bitterness and desperation, between an overwhelming need to believe the older woman, and a pessimistic conviction that her life, this relationship, had been doomed from the start. Olivia felt her stomach plummet as the long held-back tears finally spilled over and began to trickle slowly down Natalia’s cheeks, and she was filled with a familiar panic. She’d never been very good with tears, never knew what to say, always managed to put her foot in it somehow. Natalia was so much better than her at this kind of thing. Her left hand still hovered uncertainly on Natalia’s back, while her right hung in mid-air, awaiting some kind of direction. She took a deep breath. Natalia needed her. She needed her to get a grip. Slowly, and with much trepidation, she wrapped her arms around the younger woman and pulled her close. Natalia melted into the other woman’s embrace, her tears soaking into the soft fabric of Olivia’s shirt, as Olivia cupped Natalia’s face and stroked her fingers comfortingly through the expanse of dark brown hair now splayed across her chest.
“I can’t take much more of this,” Natalia hicupped, her words muffled by sobs. “I know he’s my son, and I love him, of course I do, but I can’t do this any more. I can’t keep putting my life on hold for him.” She broke off and looked up at Natalia, desperation and pleading evident in her eyes. “Does that make me a terrible person?”
“No!” Olivia responded instinctively, tipping Natalia’s face to meet her own, and stroking the younger woman’s cheek with her thumb. “Now just you listen to me, Natalia Rivera. You are not a bad person. You’re an amazing person. You’re the kindest, most caring, most generous person I know and I don’t want you to doubt that for a second. Loving you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me...” Olivia trailed off, aware of Natalia’s eyes locked on hers, of Natalia’s fingers moving to touch her face, of Natalia’s lips moving closer, so close that Olivia’s skin was practically tingling in anticipation.
Natalia stopped when her lips were just a few centimetres from Olivia’s face. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me,” she whispered softly as her index finger traced the outline of the older woman’s lips. Olivia’s eyes fluttered closed as she smiled in response and seconds later, Natalia’s lips were on hers, brushing them gently in a long-awaited kiss. The kiss was brief, light, and was over as soon as it had begun, but to Olivia, it felt like a homecoming much overdue. She opened her eyes to see Natalia’s brown eyes fixed on hers, full of love and longing, and, as if of their own accord, their lips moved together again. The kiss was longer this time, more lingering, its chaste beginnings fast evolving into passion as Olivia’s lips parted to welcome Natalia’s tongue and the two women finally gave into the feelings which had been building in them for so long.
When the kiss finally ended, and she reluctantly broke away, Natalia nestled into Olivia, resting her head on the older woman’s chest, enjoying the security of her beating heart and the tight arms wrapped around her. This wasn’t how she’d imagined their first kiss. She’d been waiting so long for the right moment, the perfect opportunity, she’d wanted everything about their first time to be so special. And it was only now that she realised that she’d got it all wrong. Perfection wasn’t waiting for everything to be just the way she wanted it. Perfection was knowing that whatever happened, whatever went wrong, as it inevitably would, Olivia would be right there, by her side, helping her through.
She snuggled deeper, wrapping her arms around the other woman. “Stay,” she whispered, the word lingering somewhere between a question and a command. “I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
“Whatever you need,” Olivia murmured happily in response, planting a gentle kiss on the top of Natalia’s head. “Whatever you need.”