Title: An Otalia Wedding

Author: CN Winters

Rating: PG

Genre: Romance

Pairing: Otalia

Summary: It's 2029 and there's an Otalia wedding brewing…

Author Note: Just many thanks in advance to everyone who reads and takes a few moments to reply – it really means a lot and inspires writers – not just myself but others – to continue.

Standard Disclaimer Ahead: Guiding Light is a product of Proctor & Gamble (like Mr. Clean, Duracell and Old Spice), and appears on CBS at the time of writing this. The characters are the creative property of the show and its producers – I'm just borrowing them for my amusement, and hopefully for those few souls who read this.

Word Count: Too many to count

Natalia handed the empty rocks glass back to Elena.

"What do you mean you might be straight? You’re here with a woman."

"I know, but lately...well, for years actually I’ve noticed guys...a lot...and...Rachel is a sweet woman. She is, but..."

"Maybe she just not the right one for you. This straight thing could just be a phase." Natalia paused as the words echoed in her head. "Did I actually say that out loud?" Elena just nodded. Natalia shook her head to regroup. "Phase or not, Sweetie, you can be whatever you want to be, okay?" Elena only nodded again with a slight grin. "But for this weekend you’re as gay as they come, do you understand?"

"What?"

"You are full-on gay; queer to the tenth power."

"I am?"

"Listen to me. You like Rachel as a person, right?"

"Yes. She’s a wonderful woman. Any lesbian would love to have her."

"So you consider her, at the very least, a friend?"

"Yes."

"Then go over there, put on a smile and get through this night. You are NOT going to break up with her here and ruin your sister’s day, or yours for that matter. Understand me?"

"You’re right."

"I know I’m right. What brought all this on anyway?"

"Zack Witters. He’s in my biology lab and he’s funny and he’s handsome and..."

Elena got a dreamy look in her eyes as she talked. Natalia started to roll her eyes.

"Look," Natalia told her. "Are you asking me for my opinion or is this just a ‘heads up’ kind of thing?"

Elena considered the question. "Both."

"Your mother and I always told you girls you could be anything you wanted in life, and we meant it. Am I surprised by this? Well, yes, I am. You’ve always dated women, but if this is what will make you happy, I support it. Now you can tell me allllll about Jack-."

"Zack," Elena corrected her.

"Sorry, Zack. You can tell me all about him once you get Rachel back to New York, okay?"

Elena nodded and was going to speak when they heard Rafe standing at the DJ stand.

"Excuse me everyone. I’ve been told by my family to give a toast on behave of myself and my siblings. I got the news of this toast, like five minutes ago so I apologize if this is all over the place. I guess I’d first like to address Maureen...Welcome to the insanity. You’re a brave woman to enter into our world willingly."

A wave of chuckles followed.

"But you’re also a lucky one too. Emma...Well...Our folks call her love glue because she’s the one that binds all of us together. I knew her first as a cousin and believe it or not I fell in love with her then ‘cause she was one of the sweetest kids I’d ever met. Yeah, tough teen with a chip on his shoulder was done in by a four-foot powerhouse. I’m sure she’s part of the reason why our mom’s are together. It’s because of her warmth and her wit and her charm that brought them together." He looked over to the eldest sister and asked, "Doesn’t that about sum up Jellybean?"

Ava smiled and nodded as she raised her glass.

"Everyone who knows you kiddo, well, they adore you and with good reason. God made many people in this world but few of them are as wonderful as you, and Maureen. We know that whenever we need you, you’ve got our back. If you didn’t already know, the same is true for all of us. So on behave of a family filled with estrogen, a house that never had a free bathroom open because someone was primping, a place where Friday Night Movie night consisted of some sap-fest with the heroine dying an untimely tragic death..."

He smiled as the group chuckled.

"...I’ll be the stand up GUY to say if you ever need us, we’re here for you...To Emma and Maureen, the best sisters anyone could ask for."

"Hear! Hear!" Bill Lewis said loudly, which started a chorus of cheers and clinking glasses.

Rafe walked over to the wedding table as Emma and Maureen rose from their seats. They both leaned over and each one kissed him on a cheek.

Not far away Doris was still in pursuit of Ashlee, who’d begun to take off again.

"Please Ashlee," Doris begged. "Talk to me. Don’t run away."

Ashlee stopped and spun around to face her mother.

"This is none of your business," she whispered hotly.

"That’s my grandson and that makes it my business!" Doris whispered just as fiercely. "He’s going to want to know the truth about his father - his real father. Chances are he’s already asked. And yes, he has every right to know. So tell me the truth."

"Yes, Rafe is Leo’s dad! Are you happy now?!"

Ashlee turned around to storm away again, but she stopped in her tracks. Rafe was standing about 10 feet away in stunned silence of the omission.

"Rafe..." Ashlee started to say. She was speechless regarding an explanation.

"Is that true?" he asked softly. His face showed no emotion.

Ashlee only nodded. Rafe didn’t reply as a look of anger took hold on his face. He walked away and Ashlee whipped around to Doris again.

"You did that on purpose," she hissed.

"Did what?"

"You knew Rafe was standing there. How could you, Doris?"

"I was looking at you! I didn’t see him!"

"Just forget it," Ashlee replied as she batted Doris’s outstretched hand away. She took off in the direction Rafe had gone.

Doris hung her head and let out a sigh.

"Fuck."

"Rafe! Wait!" Ashlee shouted as Rafe continued to move through the make-shift parking lot at the front of the farmhouse. She gave chase and finally managed to catch him by the shoulder. "Please talk to me."

"Talk?" Rafe laughed sarcastically. "NOW you wanna talk?"

"Yes," Ashlee replied. "I have to-."

"How about 10 years ago, Ash?"

Ashlee swayed slightly on her barstool at the reception hall. "It was a lovely ceremony, wasn’t it?"

Rafe down the rest of his drink and nodded, looking about just as unstable. "If you like over-indulgence, then yeah," he giggled.

"James is a Spaulding so it’s got to be big."

"You mean the wedding and not his...?" Rafe pointed at his own crotch.

"Stop it!" Ashlee said and pushed Rafe’s shoulder. "Honestly, I couldn’t see throwing this much money on one night. It seems like a waste."

"Especially since they probably won’t last a year."

"Stop it!" Ashlee found herself saying again. "Why are you being so mean?"

Rafe looked serious for a moment. "You."

"Me?"

"Yeah, when I enlisted every ‘friend’ in this town seemed to forget about me...except you."

"They didn’t forget Rafe. I’m sure they were just busy."

"Fine. They were busy. But you made the time... I’m not sure if you realize this but...those letters kept me going somedays."

"Really?"

Rafe nodded and then pushed a strand of fallen hair behind Ashlee’s ear.

Ashlee closed her eyes for the moment and soaked up the attention of Rafe’s touch.

"It’s almost closing time," he told her. "Why don’t the two of us get out of here? Whatta ya say?"

Ashlee could only nod.

Back in the present, Rafe was anything but affectionate. His hands were drawn into fists at his side. "Why didn’t you talk to me ten years ago, huh?"

"I couldn’t tell you then, okay?"

"No. Not ‘okay.’ I feel pretty fucking far from ‘okay’ at this moment."

"I understand-."

"No, you don’t. You don’t understand. You have no clue!"

"I know it’s a shock."

"No, that’s not it!" Rafe yelled. "I can handle a shock! What I can’t handle is...I did it." He bit his lip, holding back tears, as his voice lowered. He sounded like a scared boy and Ashlee reached for him, but he batted her hand away. "I hated my dad for a long time," he told her. "I never said anything to anyone about how I loathed him. I...I couldn’t see how a man could have a child and not know it. What kind of guy fucks someone but doesn’t stay around long enough to find out they’ve got a child? I’ll tell you who - an asshole. That’s who. And I swore that would never happen to me. If I had a child I’d know it. I’d be there. My child would never grow up fatherless...and look what happened."

With a defeated sigh, Rafe began to walk away again, only this time at a slower pace.

Ashlee looked sad, at first. But then a look of anger began to take shape on her face. With a steely gaze in place, she stomped toward Rafe.

"What’s wrong?" Francesca asked Elena who was looking at Emma’s cake with the two brides on top.

"Nothing," Elena replied as she continued to stare at the plastic couple.

"Your girlfriend is making time with Peyton," Francesca said as she looked to the bar. Of course, that wasn’t the case. They were just talking. Still, Elena did nothing.

"Huh?" she finally remarked as if hearing Francesca for the first time.

"What’s the matter?" Francesca asked again.

"I told you. Nothing."

Francesca threw her arms up and began to walk away. She got about five paces, but then she stopped and marched back to her sister.

She waved her finger as she spoke. "If you look at the natural order someday it’s just gonna be you and me. Mom will be gone. Ma too. Ava, Rafe, even Emma maybe. All it’s gonna be is you and me."

"You have a point?" Elena shot back.

"Why do you have to be such a bitch, huh?"

"Who you calling a bitch?" Elena asked and gave Francesca a shove to the shoulder.

"You, Bitch!" Franesca said as she shoved back, only this time with more force. It was enough for Elena to stumble backward.

"Keep your hands off!" Elena said as she charged.

Before she could make contact though, Francesca diverted her arms and the two of them ended up slapping each other.

"For fuck’s sake," Ava muttered when she noticed the display. She quickly left her conversation with Emma and Maureen to make her way to the bickering sisters.

What began as slapping and shoving was quickly escalating into wrestling and swinging of fists. Ava rushed over and tried to step between them but in the effort of doing so she lost her balance and fell head first into the cake, pulling Francesca and Elena along with her.

A collective sigh of shock and disbelief was the first sound from the onlookers. The next was dead silence until Francesca said, "Look what you did?" as she wiped cake from her eyes.

"Me?" Elena challenged. "You’re the one who covered Ava in cake!"

Francesca was helping Ava to her feet but that task was abandoned. She grabbed two fists of the demolished cake and shoved one down Elena’s dress and the other in Elena’s face.

Not to be out done Elena reached for what she could find and began to toss it in Francesca’s general direction.

Emma and Maureen could only stand slack jawed.

"Your Mom is gonna..." Maureen started to say.

"Flip," Emma finished. "This is not good. This is...oh, this is bad."

Emma was on the verge of shouting over to them when they all heard Olivia’s voice boom through the melee.

"Are you two TRYING TO KILL ME?!?!"

Everyone and everything at the affair came to a grinding halt...including the cake covered bickering sisters.

Elena and Francesca immediately dropped the pieces of destroyed cake they were holding when they heard their mother yell.

"I asked a question! Are you two trying to kill me?!"

"She started it," Elena and Francesca said in harmony and pointed at one another.

"Olivia, calm down," Natalia begged.

Olivia was far from calm. Her face was beet red. Her fists were clinched. Her nostrils flared. Bulls in a matador’s area have looked calmer.

Ignoring Natalia, Olivia took each young woman by the arm and marched her toward the nearby utility storage shed.

"That’s it! I’m done with both of you!" she shouted as she threw the double doors open.

The wedding party was a mix of faces in various expressions. Reva smiled. The flower bitch, LeeAnn, looked shocked. Buzz was trying not to laugh while the brides held their breath waiting for Olivia’s next move.

"In there now!" Olivia pointed.

"Mom," Francesca tried to say. "It’s dirty and smelly and there’s no light."

"I mean it! Go in there and don’t come out until you get this thing settled between you."

"She started it. The cake was fine until-." Elena began.

"The cake? You think I’m talking about the cake?" Olivia asked her. "I’m talking about you and her and why you two can never get along! Once upon a time you were like peas and carrots, but something changed. I don’t know when. I don’t know why. And right now I don’t care because whatever it is, listen up, you two are going to figure it out. And you’re not coming out of that shed until you do."

"What?" Elena and Francesca both said.

Olivia continued and ignored the question. "Kill each other with the garden shears. Come out bestest friends. I don’t care what you do. Either way... this bullshit ends TONIGHT!"

Olivia grabbed a garden rake. Then she pushed Elena inside, followed by Francesca. She slammed the doors and put the rake between the handles so the door didn’t open.

She turned to see the wedding party there, including Frank.

"No one is to open that door under any circumstance!" Olivia ordered the crowd of onlookers. "...especially bleeding heart, Frank."

"Hey, my daughters are in there!" he told her.

"Daughters?!" Olivia replied accenting the plural of his statement. "One daughter, Frank. One."

"Elena might not be blood," Frank told her, "but couldn’t love her more than if she were!"

From inside the shed, Elena grinned slightly for a moment, but then, almost as quickly, she started to frown. Francesca saw the expression, but didn’t comment. She was still trying to hear the rest of the conversation between her parents.

Outside, Frank continued to argue with Olivia.

"You can’t leave them in there like that!"

"The hell I can’t!" Olivia shot back to him and then turned to the crowd. "It’s a party everyone! Have fun! If you’d all like to gather around, well, what’s left of the cake, I’m sure Emma and Maureen would like you to join them."

The onlookers went back to their conversations while some headed over to the ‘cake pile.’

Olivia took Frank by the elbow and led him several feet away from anyone else.

"You’re a good man, Frank. And I know you love Elena, but something’s gotta give here."

"So the solution is confinement with sharp objects?" Frank asked.

"They both need a ‘time-out’."

"They’re adults."

"Really?" Olivia challenged as she pointed over to the destroyed cake. Frank just sighed in defeat as she continued. "Whatever this thing is between them they have to get it resolved - for both their sakes."

Frank looked reluctant, but he had to nod in agreement.

In the parking lot, a pissed off Ashlee managed to catch up to Rafe.

"You wait!" she said as she reached out and spun him around to face her. "You said you didn’t want to walk away from your responsibilities? Then stop moving and listen."

"What could you possibly say to make up for the fact Leo’s mine, huh?"

"It was a mistake," Ashlee spit out.

"You’re damn right. You should have told me."

"No!" Ashlee said as she poked him in the chest with her finger. "That next morning, when you woke up in my hotel room, that’s what you said, remember? ‘Last night was a mistake.’ But that’s not all you said. Tell me what else you said that morning, Rafe." He looked at the ground. "Tell me!"

"Ash..."

"Say it!"

Rafe’s expression hardened. "I said we should forget it ever happened!" he shouted back.

"So what the hell was I supposed to do, Rafe?! You didn’t want me for more than a night."

"That’s not true," Rafe replied, his voice sounding small.

"The hell it’s not!" Ashlee yelled. "You didn’t want to admit you slept with me. You didn’t want the world to know that you stooped so low by being with me so what could I do? Saddle you with a child when you didn’t even want me? I didn’t want to make this child wonder why ‘Daddy’ didn’t love him when the truth is his daddy saw me as nothing more than a one night stand to be forgotten."

"Ashlee," Rafe said softly as he reached for her.

She batted his hand away.

"No! Just go, Rafe! This whole paternity thing...just forget it never happened, okay? That’s what you’re good at."

Ashlee turned to walk the other way toward the reception area.

Doris reached her arms out to Ashlee when she came into sight again. But the younger woman wanted nothing to do with her mother at the moment.

"Forget it, Doris." She pushed her aside.

"I hate it when you call me by my name."

"I know," was all Ashlee said. Then she looked at Brenda. "Will you take care of Leo for the night? I have to leave."

Brenda looked up from her seat at the table. She looked between mother and daughter, feeling caught in the middle. Doris gave a nod from behind Ashlee.

"Sure, Ashlee," she replied. "Your mother wasn’t trying to be-."

"Please don’t," Ashlee begged her. "I can’t talk about this right now, okay?"

Brenda nodded. "Just promise me you’ll talk before you leave."

"Brenda," Ashlee whined.

"I love you Ashlee. And I love your mom too. I know she didn’t try to hurt you. So go for now…but come back to the house tomorrow morning. We’ll talk then."

"Fine," Ashlee said as she pushed past Doris again to make her way to leave. "Thank you, Brenda."

"No problem, Sweetie. We love you."

Ashlee nodded and walked away, not bothering to comment on the ‘we’ statement.

"She hates me," Doris sighed.

Brenda rose and pulled her wife into her arms. "You’ll both get beyond this."

"Promise?" Doris mumbled into her wife’s shoulder.

"I do," Brenda answered.

At the other end of the makeshift hall, Natalia was laughing with Phillip and Beth about the cake when LeeAnn, the flower bitch walked up to her.

"Olivia out did herself this time," Phillip chuckled. Natalia joined him.

"I have to say," Beth added, "You’re taking this well."

"It’s either laugh or cry some days," Natalia admitted with a smile.

"Does she make you cry often?"

Natalia turned. "Hey, LeeAnn," she greeted her. "What did you say?"

LeeAnn turned to Phillip and Beth as she gently took Natalia by the elbow.

"Excuse us," she said politely and the couple nodded before going off to mingle with Josh and Reva.

"What’s wrong now?" Natalia asked reluctantly. "Don’t tell me. The rose arbor went up in flames or something, didn’t it?"

"Did you see what she did?" LeeAnn asked incredulously.

Natalia was confused. "See who do what?"

"Your wife!" she hissed. "She locked your battling kids in a shed full of potentially lethal weapons!"

"Oh that," Natalia giggled. "They’ll be fine."

"Don’t you see? You could have so much more. She's all wrong for you," LeeAnn plead.

Natalia said nothing at first. "I think you've overstepped your bounds as our florist."

LeeAnn took Natalia's hands in hers. The older woman began to look around to see who was watching this display.

"What are you doing?"

"I can be everything you need, Natalia. I can. You just need to open your eyes and see what's in front of you."

At Doris’s table, Olivia leaned down and whispered, "I hear we’re officially family now...Grandma." Doris turned and Olivia saw her bloodshot eyes. She immediately regretted her good-natured jib. "What’s wrong?" she asked concerned.

"Ashlee hates me," Doris sighed.

"What else is new?" Olivia retorted. Even Brenda had to snort.

"This is different," Doris replied, not amused.

"The hell it’s not," Olivia countered. "It’s just been so long since it’s happened you forget. She’ll get over it, and with time, she’ll see it’s the best thing she could have done. And if nothing else, we get to compete to see who spoils Leo the most – you two or me and Natalia."

Olivia gave her a huge toothy smile and Doris found herself grinning in spite of herself. Brenda smiled too, but then her eyes went wide.

"What?" Olivia asked, almost afraid to look behind her.

Brenda just pointed and Olivia turned around slowly, unsure of what she’d find. She watched as LeeAnn held Natalia by the elbows now.

"What are you saying?" Natalia asked LeeAnn.

"Come away with me."

"With you?!"

"Yes! I'm in love with you and I can take you away from all of this insanity!"

With that, LeeAnn pulled Natalia into a passionate embrace, kissing her soundly on the lips. Natalia instantly stiffened.

From Doris’s table, Olivia saw red. Her eyes squinted for a moment as she looked at the pair. Calmly, far more calm than Doris expected, Olivia said, "Excuse me, Ladies. Time for me to take out the trash."

Olivia took a deep, relaxing breath and rose from the table to make her way to her wife.

"Ohhhh, the flower bitch just signed her death warrant," Doris muttered.

Natalia pushed LeeAnn away.

"Why?! What was that?!" she exclaimed, escaping the kiss.

Reva, Josh, Phillip and Beth turned to see the commotion as Olivia continued to take long, purposeful strides toward the pair.

"I can give you so much more, Natalia," LeeAnn plead as she reached for Natalia.

She batted the woman away.

"Oh, really?!" Natalia challenged. "You mean a farmhouse, a yacht, some European vacations; not to mention a woman who loves me more today than twenty years ago? Is that what you’re offering? You’re delusional and you better leave before-."

Natalia didn’t get to finish her sentence to LeeAnn.

The florist was suddenly spun around at such a violent velocity that she stumbled slightly. She didn’t have time to react as Olivia’s right fist connected with her jaw, sending her sprawling to the ground. Immediately after the connection, Olivia grabbed her hand.

"Dammmmn!" she said as she squeezed her knuckles. "Why doesn’t it hurt like that in the movies?" she asked no one in particular.

Natalia rushed to Olivia’s side and then turned to Beth. "Get some ice please."

Beth nodded and moved toward the bar. Reva, Josh and Phillip all grinned. By this time, a crowd had gathered around them as LeeAnn sat on the ground, rubbing her jaw. Security officers worked their way to the group of onlookers.

"What happened?" Jonathan asked his mom.

"Your Auntie O flattened a bitch," Reva retorted dryly.

"And I missed it?" He sounded disappointed.

"It’s not over yet," Reva replied, with a grin.

Olivia pointed at LeeAnn with her wounded hand.

"Get up!" she ordered as she jabbed her finger toward the florist, who was trying to get to her feet. "Get out of here before I beat you within an inch of your life!"

"You can’t hit me!" LeeAnn replied.

"Too late," Reva whispered to Josh, who snorted.

"I’m going to have you arrested for assault!" LeeAnn continued. "I’ll own you by the time I’m done!"

Olivia took a step closer, rising to her challenge. Before she could get too close though, Natalia grabbed Olivia’s arm.

"Assault?!" Reva said loudly over the group’s rumblings. All eyes turned to her. "I didn’t see an assault! What about you, Phillip?"

He grinned and shook his head. "Not me. Josh?"

"I didn’t see anything of the sort," he agreed.

Reva looked over at Frank. "Ah, the most trusted man in Springfield, Chief Cooper... how about you?"

Everyone looked to Frank. He looked around at the group and then began to grin. After a brief pause, he replied, "What assault?"

"Look at my face!" LeeAnn shouted to her reddening jaw.

"You mean when you fell?" Jonathan added. "I was there at the Mini-Mart when it happened."

"Riiiight," Reva said as she patted her son on the back. "When you ahhhh-."

"Went there to get some coconut rum since they ran out here," Jonathan offered.

"Of course!" Reva replied.

"Yep! I saw her take a nosedive after she got out of her car. I offered to help her up, but she was too proud -- said she’d do it on her own. Ya gotta admire that spunk."

Jonathan gave here a knowing, sarcastic grin. LeeAnn fumed in response.

"If you people think you can just lie and-."

Olivia got nose-to-nose with the florist, but didn’t touch her.

"Go home and pack your bags...tonight," Olivia said calmly, her eyes still aflame. "I’ll personally see you never work in Springfield again. You’re finished here. Got it?"

LeeAnn looked around the group that was unwavering in their devotion to the Spencer-Rivera Clan. She’d find no help there.

From inside the utility shed, Francesca and Elena could hear muffled sounds and tried to look through the small door crack to see what was happening.

"It’s quiet," Elena observed.

"Too quiet," Francesca agreed.

After a beat, Elena asked, "...Did Mom kill the Flower Bitch?"

"Oh, so now you agree she’s a Flower Bitch?" Francesca chuckled. "Before you didn’t see any flirting whatsoever, remember?"

"I was wrong, okay?"

"Wouldn’t be the first time," Francesca mumbled.

"Hush, I can’t hear what’s happening with your yapping."

Francesca silently agreed and began to listen again with her sister.

Outside, two security guards stepped between Olivia and LeeAnn.

"Ma’am," one of them said as he nodded politely. "We’re here to escort you out. Please come along with us peaceably and they’ll be no trouble."

Defeated, LeeAnn looked to Natalia. "If you ever change your-."

"No. Goodbye," the Latina said bluntly.

As LeeAnn was escorted away by the burly gentlemen assigned to the task, Emma clapped her hands once and asked, "Now that the show’s over, who wants cake – or what’s left of it?!"

The group collectively laughed.

"And no," Maureen added. "Before anyone asks, Emma and I are not going to be shoving it in each other’s faces. There’s been enough cake shoving for one night."

The newlyweds motioned the chuckling group to follow them as Beth gave Olivia the small baggie of ice.

"Thanks," Olivia said. Beth just nodded and rejoined Phillip. Natalia could tell something was wrong with Olivia.

"Are you okay?" she asked her wife. With an unsettled look, Olivia shook her head. Her arms were shaking. "Let’s go inside for a minute, okay?"

Olivia only nodded in response.

Olivia was still shaking from her encounter with LeeAnn when Natalia brought her into the farmhouse kitchen.

"Liv, is it your heart?" Natalia asked as she watched Olivia pace with the ice bag still clutched to her sore knuckles.

"Adrenalin," Olivia replied shortly.

Natalia watched her a moment longer. "You have to try to calm down," she said softly. "It’s not good for you-."

"I know that," Liv snapped impatiently.

Natalia did the only thing she knew she could do now – divert Olivia’s attention. On one of the frantic passes, she stopped Olivia and kissed her soundly on the lips until Olivia started to kiss her back. Breathing hard, they rested their foreheads against each other.

"I was ready to rip out that woman’s spine," Olivia replied.

"I saw."

"She had no right to do that to you! Not at Emma’s wedding! Who the fuck does she think she-!"

Natalia kissed Olivia again, and once more Natalia continued the lip lock until Olivia became distracted again.

"Calm down, Sweetie," Natalia told her when they moved apart again. "It’s over. She’s gone."

Olivia broke away and began to think about LeeAnn passionately grabbing Natalia, and before she had a chance to capture the words, they were out of her mouth.

"You don’t know what it’s li-like." She did TRY to stop herself, but it was too late. She’d said it and immediately after she started to apologize. "Yes, I’m an ass," she sighed. "You know exactly what it’s like...Even more so."

Olivia hung her head.

Rather than be upset, Natalia seen it for what it was – Olivia was still reacting to things and moving a mile a minute. She was on an endorphin high. Instead of feeling hurt or offended, Natalia offered a comforting smile. She stroked Olivia’s face so the woman would look at her and see the forgiving expression.

"How did you do it?" Olivia asked.

"Do what?"

"How did you not give that maid a knuckle sandwich like I just did out there? Is your faith that strong you could just turn the other cheek?"

Maria was in the process of cleaning out her locker. Olivia had just fired her and she was now putting her belongings into a cardboard box. She’s just turned back to empty the top shelf when she heard the locker room door open, close and then click shut. The noise was foreign and she wondered who it might be.

"Hello?" she called out. "Is someone in here?"

She heard footsteps – heels to be exact – so she knew it had to be a woman. Her first thought was Olivia and she grinned.

"Did you come to your senses and change your mind?" she asked as she turned her head toward the approaching footsteps.

Natalia rounded the corner.

"No," she replied. "I still want you gone."

Maria closed her locker and took a step back. "Who are you?" she asked nervously.

Playing dumb wouldn’t work with Natalia.

"You know who I am," Natalia said as she stalked closer. "My picture is on her desk. And I know who you are. I did my research. You have a wife, which makes you a double adulterer. So I’m here with a message..." She stopped inches in front of Maria. "You do anything further to hurt me and my family and I promise your wife will find out about your... transgression..."

Maria’s upper lip was perspiring, betraying the confident words she was about to speak.

"Oh really, you think you-?"

Natalia grabbed Maria by the collar with cat-like reflexes and slammed her against the lockers. The maid groaned in fear.

"Escúchame, puta!" She pulled her back slightly only to slam her again. This time the groan sounded more like one of pain, especially when Natalia’s palm also connected with the woman’s face. She watched as Maria’s nose started to bleed slightly from the impact.

"And if you’re not afraid of your wife finding out, I have other measures."

"What do you-?"

Natalia cut her off. "I won’t kill you, but you’ll wish you were dead. But that’s only if you open your mouth to anyone about this and hurt my family. Do you understand? Yes or no?"

"I don’t think-."

"Yes, not a word," Maria whimpered.

Natalia let her go with a shove. On her way to leave, she looked in Maria’s cardboard box and found a hand towel. She picked it up and threw it at Maria’s face. Then she began to walk away.

"Clean yourself up and get the hell out."

Natalia didn’t bother to look over her shoulder, as she said the words. And as she unlocked the door to exit, she swore she heard Maria sniffling... and she grinned. She’d apologize to God later, of course, but for the moment...wrath and revenge felt pretty good.

Back in the present, Natalia pushed the memory aside. Olivia never knew of her confrontation with Maria and she wanted it to stay that way. She didn’t want to lie either though.

"I’m not as pious as you think, Dear," Natalia replied as honestly as possible. "But faith does help. At that time in my life, I didn’t have faith in you, but I had faith in God. He put us together so I had to trust that he was right, at least until I could trust you again...and I do trust you."

"I trust you too, Tali," Olivia said. "I know you had no real interest in her." She then started to grin. "Besides, I’ve got that huge boat to sail you around the world and buy you fancy things. All she’s got are dumb flowers. I can buy you a garden... and I know how materialist you are."

Natalia laughed out loud and Olivia’s facade fell. She had to laugh too.

"I’m a gold digger? Is that so?" Natalia taunted.

Olivia just raised her eyebrows playfully and nodded quickly.

"Oh, and for the record," Olivia added, "LeeAnn can forget getting paid. I’m stopping the check."

Natalia laughed out loud again.

"I think that goes without saying." Natalia smiled. She paused a moment and then added, "I have to admit something though."

"What?"

"Although I don’t condone violence..."

"Yeah?"

"It was pretty sexy the way you laid her out flat," Natalia chuckled and then hid her face in her hands in embarrassment for a brief moment.

"Are you blushing?" Olivia asked and leaned over. "You are!"

"That was pretty hot, you all uppity and defending my honor."

Olivia pulled Natalia closer by the waist and tossed the ice bag on the table.

"Nice to know I’m still full of surprises after 20 years."

"Not a day goes by that you don’t surprise me, Sweetie. But, in all fairness, I didn’t say you were surprising. I said you looked hot."

"Hot, huh?"

"Very." Natalia licked her lips. "How’s the hand?"

"I think my endorphins are running wild again."

"Hmm? Still feeling angry?" Natalia asked teasingly.

"No. Not angry," Olivia said as she began to nibble on Natalia’s earlobe.

"Wanna keep those endorphins going?"

"Well, it IS making my hand feel better. You might have the power to heal me."

Natalia giggled and quickly took Olivia’s good hand. Before she could reply Natalia pulled her wife toward their living room and to the bedroom.

Back in the utility shed, Elena was moving items around on a nearby shelf.

"What are you doing?" Francesca asked in frustration.

"Looking for something to get us out of here," she replied.

"Between the watering can and the Miracle Grow? You’re wasting your time."

"It’s better than sitting here and doing nothing," Elena retorted. "Help me look."

With a sigh, Francesca moved to her feet.

"Let’s try to find some kind of light first."

"Like what?"

"I don’t know!" Francesca said impatiently. "A flashlight, a lantern, two sticks and a flint. Just find something."

"God you’re so bitchy. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t even be in here."

"Here it comes," Francesca muttered.

"What?"

"Everything is my fault, isn’t it? No matter what it is, it’s always my fault. You take the least little thing I say or do and turn it into...look just forget it. Let’s just find a light."

Unmoving, Elena watched Francesca for a moment then she asked, "Why do you hate me so much?"

Francesca stopped and faced her sister.

"I don’t hate you."

She started her search again, but Elena still didn’t move.

"Yes, you do," she replied.

"No, I don’t." Francesca said forcefully. "You annoy me to no end, but I don’t hate you."

"Fine. You don’t like me then."

Francesca sighed in response.

"Name one thing you like about me," Elena pressed.

"You’re a great basketball player."

"What else?"

Francesca sighed again. "This is dumb, El."

Elena sat down on a lawn tractor.

"Why won’t you tell me what I did? Mom’s right, you know? We did get along, years ago, but something happened."

Francesca harrumphed. "You really don’t remember?"

Elena’s eyebrows knitted. "So something did happen then?"

"Don’t play dumb."

"I’m not playing."

Both sisters snickered at the off-handed remark.

Francesca asked, "So you’re saying you are dumb then?"

Elena nodded with a grin and then began to look serious.

"Really, Chessie, if I did something or said something that hurt you that much, I wanna know what-."

"I’m an accident," Francesca muttered softly.

"What?"

Francesca cleared her throat and spoke up. "It was Marina’s funeral...You said I was an accident."

As if on cue the entire funeral home could hear the loud voices of Francesca and Elena in some kind of argument. Soon after, the yelling was followed by the sound of things crashing. The added noise sent Olivia and Natalia racing into the kitchen area with Rafe, Ava and Emma following. Inside, Francesca and Elena were rolling around on the floor yelling, scratching; tugging hair. Olivia pulled Francesca to her feet while Natalia wrangled Elena.

"What is going on here?" Olivia demanded.

"Take it back!" Chessie yelled at Elena.

"No!" Elena shouted. "It’s true and you know it!"

The girls tried to charge each other again, but Olivia hooked Francesca around the arms and hoisted her out of the room with Rafe’s help.

"What are you fighting about?" Natalia demanded.

Elena’s jaw set and she gave a short, "Nothing," in response.

"Don’t ‘nothing’ me," Natalia warned. "You were shouting at a funeral."

Elena turned harsh eyes toward Natalia. "Why am I even here? They’re not my family!" she yelled and raced from the room.

Natalia looked at a teenage Emma with a dumbfounded expression.

"I’ll talk to her," Emma offered before she walked out the door that Elena had just stormed.

Outside, Francesca was pacing. Although she lacked Olivia’s height since she was only a pre-teen, she had Olivia’s annoyed stride down pat.

"Sit down!" Olivia told her. Defiantly, Francesca continued to walk. "I said sit!" Olivia ordered again as Rafe looked on.

Francesca neither said a word, nor did she stop her rebellious movements.

Olivia reached out and grabbed Francesca’s wrist to get her full attention. Rafe could see the growing frustration on Olivia’s face.

"Lemme field this one," Rafe told her. "Go check on Elena," he added as he motioned his head toward the door.

Olivia didn’t say a word. She simply walked back into the funeral home, not looking back.

"Tell me what’s wrong, Peanut," Rafe began. Francesca continued to remain silent but she did stop her pacing. "You know, you can tell me anything, so if you wanna get something off your chest, just between the two of us, you can. I won’t tell anyone in the family. It’ll just be our time – big bro to lil sis – I promise."

Francesca cleared her throat and then held her head down as she asked, "How have you lived this long knowing you were an accident?"

The flash that crossed Rafe’s face showed that perhaps he was having second thoughts. This was something bigger than he expected and he glanced back toward the door, as if hoping Olivia might return.

Rafe cleared his throat and said, "We weren’t accidents. God makes no mistakes. We were just surprises."

"But we weren’t planned."

Francesca still didn’t look at Rafe as she sat down beside him.

"True," he agreed, "but some of the best things that happen in life aren't planned. So being unplanned doesn’t mean we weren’t wanted or that we don’t matter. Is that what this is about? Did Elena say something about you being a surprise to Ma and Mom?" Francesca just nodded. "Peanut, sometimes people say dumb, hurtful stuff when they’re mad – me included."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah! Ask Mom. She’ll tell you. I was downright awful to her and Ma when I first found out they were a couple."

"Why?"

Rafe gave her a melancholy grin. "I felt lied to. And because, like I said, sometimes people say dumb, hurtful stuff when they’re mad."

"Who did you think lied to you?"

"Ma mostly. I was mad that she didn’t tell me immediately she was in love with Mom. I was angry she was going against everything our church said about love."

"Uncle Josh’s church didn’t like Mom and Ma together?"

Rafe grinned. "No Sweetie. I’m talking about the church we went to before you were even born. The point is...sometimes...people say hurtful things, and like Ma tells us, once you say something you can’t ‘unsay it’ so you need to pick your words carefully."

"Someone oughta tell Elena that," Francesca muttered.

Rafe chuckled. "I’m sure someone will, Short Stuff. How about we go back in? I think your Grandpops brought in another big tray of cookies."

Francesca grinned and nodded.

Back in the present, Elena was shaking her head.

"That’s your problem? Really? For the past 12 years you’ve hated me because-."

"I don’t hate you!" Francesca stressed again. "But since you’re so GOD damned slow to understand I don’t hate you-."

"No blasphemy." Elena waved her finger.

"God, you’re like Ma sometimes," Francesca muttered.

"It’s not right to take the Lord’s name in vain," Elena argued.

"Whatever," Francesca sighed. "The point is I didn’t hate you before this conversation started. However, the more I have to SAY IT, the more I feel that, yes, perhaps I do hate you because you’re driving me crazy! So just stop saying I hate you."

Elena and Francesca were quiet for a moment. "You’re not as innocent as you remember, Chess."

"What do you mean?" Francesca asked as she looked over at Elena.

"Don’t you remember how that fight started?"

Francesca truly didn’t know, but she had a feeling she was about to find out.

Olivia and Natalia were giggling; wrapped up in each other’s company as they left their bedroom; oblivious to anything around them.

"Think anyone will notice my hair’s in a ponytail now?" Natalia asked as she turned toward Olivia who was exited the room.

Olivia proceeded to nibble on Natalia’s neck as she spoke.

"Nah. That flushed look will tell them what you’ve been doing...or should I say ‘who’ you’ve been doing," she teased.

Natalia giggled and swatted at her wife. "You’re impossible."

It still didn’t discourage Olivia from nipping on her earlobe.

"Hey, you’re the one who dragged me up here."

"Yes, dragged. You were so unwilling," Natalia replied sarcastically as she took a firm hold of Olivia’s waist.

"Kicking and screaming."

"That came later...when you came."

They both began to chuckle naughtily, but the sound of someone clearing their throat made them both jump.

"Jesus Ava!" Olivia said. "Why aren’t you outside?"

Ava took a few steps closer. She was wearing one of Francesca’s sundress. Her bridesmaid dress was long gone.

"Cake fight, remember? I had to get cleaned up."

"Oh," Olivia said guiltily.

"So you, uh," Natalia started to stammer. "You’ve been up here the-the whole time."

"The whooooooole time." Ava pursed her lips and nodded. "Yeah. Yeah I have...My ears are bleeding now," she added dryly.

Natalia and Olivia looked at each other and began to giggle.

Ava sighed, "Glad you find this funny. I’m scarred for life."

"I’m sorry," Natalia replied.

"I’m not," Olivia replied. Natalia gave her an annoyed look. "What?! I refuse to feel bad about being with you ever – no matter who hears." She then turned to Ava. "But I am sorry if I-."

"We," Natalia threw in quickly.

"WE," Olivia corrected herself. "...I’m sorry if we made you feel uncomfortable. This is where most people say it will never happen again... but Natalia is such a horn dog I’m sure it will." Olivia’s thumb was still pitched in Natalia’s direction as Natalia looked mortified and shocked. "Don’t play innocent," Olivia added.

"No doubt," Ava muttered.

"Hey," Natalia said indignant to both of them.

"Look," Ava sighed. "Can we just...go and never speak of this again...never ever?"

Natalia just grinned.

"You lead the way," Olivia motioned toward the downstairs with her hand.

Outside, Rafe managed to catch up to Ashlee in the parking lot as she made her way to her car.

"Ash! Wait!" Rafe said as he started to walk over.

"Forget it, Rafe," she told him. "Sleeping with me was an accident, remember? You said enough."

She started to open her door, but he closed it.

"Do you have any idea why I said that?" he asked.

"Because you regretted it. I know." Ashlee tried to open her door but he slapped it again. "Stop that! Let me go!"

One of the security guards heard the commotion and made his way over.

"Is there a problem, Miss?" he asked as he rushed over.

"Back off rent-a-cop," Rafe said in angry haste. "I’m trying to have a conversation here."

The security guard drew his baton. "I believe the woman said to let her go."

"You know I’m paying you to be here?" Rafe replied. "Do you know who I am?"

"I don’t care if you’re the President of the United States. If you’re the one that hired me, then you know it’s to keep the guests safe – all of them; even this woman." He then turned back toward Ashlee. "Ma’am, I can escort you-."

His sentence got cut off when Rafe shoved him. "I’m trying to talk to the lady, Pal."

The security guard struck Rafe behind the leg, bringing him to his knees. Ashlee cried out as Rafe fell. The guard then put Rafe in a choke-hold using the nightstick.

"Calm down, Sir," the guard said as Rafe continued to try to struggle.

"Rafe, just stop! Look, I’ll talk, okay?" Ashlee said. "Mr. Security Guard, Sir, please let him go. He really is Rafael Rivera of the Spencer-Rivera Hotel Line." The guard relaxed a bit but still didn’t release Rafe. "Rafe," Ashlee went on. "nod to let him know you won’t cause any problems."

Rafe gave as much of a nod as he could and the guard released him and stood up quickly. He waited for Rafe’s next move, which didn’t come. Ashlee moved to her knees and patted Rafe’s back as he hunched over on all fours. He coughed slightly as he regained his breath.

"You still have a problem with authority, don’t cha?" Ashlee teased as she ran her fingers through his hair.

He smiled but the merriment didn’t last long. He began to look serious. "You seemed mortified, Ash."

"Yeah, I thought he was going to kill you," she said pointing to the man who still stood guard above them. She gave him a wave of her hand and finally he began to walk away when he saw things were calmer.

"Not now!" Rafe said and then started to choke. He lowered his voice again. "That morning. After that night...You looked like...you’d made a huge mistake."

"I was just surprised to see you were still there when I woke up," Ashlee said.

"Well, the only reason I said those things was to make you feel better."

"Better?"

He nodded. "After I saw that look it felt like what I suspected was true...I could never be good enough for a successful woman like you."

"What are you talking about? That’s total BS. You run Spencer-Rivera Group for Pete’s Sake! If you expect me to believe-."

"Not then it wasn’t Spencer-Rivera Group. And at the time it was a handful of hotels, at best, struggling in a piss poor economy. You, though, you were in L.A. with a hot job and hot tan and a hot potential boyfriend, remember? You had a guy waiting for you back ‘home’ so when you woke up next to me..." Rafe trailed off for a moment and looked away. Ashlee said nothing and finally Rafe looked back at her. "Sometimes you have to give up people you love because it’s best for them...even if it’s not best for you."

There was a short silence then Ashlee shook her head. She looked him dead in the eyes.

"Rafe...you’re an idiot."

Over in the utility shed, Elena and Francesca were still locked up.

"I’m waiting," Francesca said impatiently. "You said I’m not as innocent as I think in all of this so what did I do, huh?"

Elena held up her finger, "Remember, once you say something you can’t..."

"...unsay it," they both finished together. Francesca added, "Yes, we all know Ma’s favorite quotation. Now spill it... What did I do?"

"You took away my family from me," Elena said softly.

Francesca heard the words and then looked confused.

"You took away my family from me," Elena said softly.

Francesca was still locked up in the utility shed with her. She heard the words and then looked confused.

"I took your family? We’re here at Emma’s wedding, aren’t we?"

"Not this family – the Spencer-Rivera’s. The other one - the Coopers."

Francesca sighed in frustration. "I still don’t understand."

"You said Frank wasn’t my dad and Marina wasn’t my sister at her funeral, remember?"

The girls were in the kitchen alone, looking at all the food the well-wishers had brought to the Coopers. Only a week before, essentially the same group gathered for Vanessa’s funeral. Now they were here at the same funeral home again for Marina.

"I’m gonna miss Marina," Elena said as she looked at the dessert tray. "She’s always made us Sundaes even if we didn’t finish all our dinner. She’s my favorite big sister."

"What about Ava and Emma?"

"Emma’s not a grown up yet so she doesn’t really count. And I love Ava – she’s great – but we really don’t get to see her that much."

"You know Marina isn’t really your sister, right?" Francesca replied.

"Yeah, she is or she was. She said so herself."

"Well, it’s like my dad. Sure, he let’s you call him Pop and all, but he’s still not really your dad. They’re my family Elena; not yours."

"They are too my family!" Elena shouted.

"Are not!" Francesca retorted just as loud.

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Oh yeah! Well, I wasn’t an accident like you!"

"What did you say?!"

"Mom and Ma wanted me! They planned me! You were a-a mistake!"

"Take it back!"

"No! ‘Cause it’s true!"

At that point, the girls charged each other and began to wrestle around, but they didn’t get very far in the battle. The gatherers had already heard the loud voices and it was only a few minutes later when they broke up the bickering pair.

Back in the present day, Elena was sitting on an upside down planter in the shed, picking bits of cake out of her ruined bridesmaid dress.

"Deep down I knew you were right," she confessed. "Frank wasn’t my dad."

Francesca could see Elena seemed to be pained by the admission. She opened her mouth, but then shut it. She made a choice. No more walls. No more smart remarks to mask insecurities. She decided to reply honestly.

"Maybe not genetically, but he loved you. He still does," Francesca said gently.

Elena didn’t seem to pay attention to the remark. She was too focused on remembering the past.

"Sure, he’d take the Father’s Day cards I made at school because, honestly, who else could I give them to? No one. I had no one to give them to so he’d take them with a grin to try to make me feel better...at least I think that’s why he did it." Elena began to tear up but she wiped them away.

"I don’t think that was the case." Francesca answered. Elena didn’t say anything, but she did seem to come back to the present and look at Francesca as Francesca continued. "Hell, after Mom locked us in here tonight he said, ‘My daughters’. My da-...Pop really loves you too Elena."

"See? You still do it. ‘My dad’ and that’s okay because...he is your dad; not mine."

Francesca cleared her throat. "It hurt him, you know?"

"What?"

"He thought it was him when you stopped coming along with me during visitations. He missed you, but he figured..."

"He wasn’t my father," Elena finished sadly.

"Legally, he wasn’t. He couldn’t MAKE you come with us if you didn’t want to. He asked me if I knew why you didn’t want to stay anymore, but I didn’t say anything."

"Why not?"

"Maybe I was just a selfish kid? Truth is, I really don’t know what I could say. It was a question meant for you; it wasn’t my place to answer for you."

"He did asked me once but I told him I was getting too old for sleepovers and he let it go."

"You still could have come with us," Francesca said.

"I never felt welcome again after Marina’s funeral." A small silence stretched between them until Elena added, "Remember that time when Mom and Ma sat us down to find out why we weren’t getting along anymore? It was that big ‘family meeting’ because Emma was getting into trouble too?"

Francesca nodded. "Yeah. It was the year Mom had the affair."

"Mom had the what now?" Elena’s eyebrows went up.

"Affair."

Elena paused. "Mom cheated on Ma?"

Francesca nodded.

"Noooo," Elena argued. "That can’t be true. Who told you that?!"

"No one told me. Remember when we found Mom on the sofa a few times?"

"I knew they were bickering, but..." Elena did consider that the sofa treatment seemed odd for something as simple as just bickering. "Really? How come I didn’t know?"

"Because you live under a rock!" Francesca said in frustration. Just as quickly, she said, "Sorry. I’m sorry. Forget I said that."

Elena let it go and still looked dumbfounded. "How long?"

"How long what?"

"The affair. How long did it last? Who was it with?" Elena seemed to be on the verge of asking another question but Francesca held up her hand to stop her.

"I don’t have details. And it might not have been an affair."

"But you said-,"

"It might have been a one night stand. Then again, it could have just been drunken smoochies with another person. I don’t know. But I do know that Ma was pissed – no – Ma was hurt. I’ve seen Mom and Ma get annoyed with each other or downright angry a few times...but that summer was different. Ma appeared to be in pain most of the time and I even heard her crying once."

Elena paused a moment. "I can’t believe Mom would do that but I-I think you might be right."

Francesca turned her head away so she could roll her eyes unseen. She so desperately wanted to say ‘Of course, I’m right,’ but she held her tongue.

"Anyway," she said instead after she turned back, "whatever it was they worked it out... As for us..." She let the sentence hang.

Elena seemed to consider it all and then asked, "When we had that family meeting, why didn’t you tell them about the fight at the funeral home?"

"Why didn’t you?" Francesca countered.

"I didn’t want to hurt them. I didn’t want them to think I felt our family was lacking since I didn’t have a father. The truth is, it wasn’t lacking. It just...I can’t describe it."

"Try," Francesca coaxed.

Elena thought a moment. "Frank-."

"Don’t call him Frank or ‘your dad’. Call him Pop," Francesca offered.

"Pop," Elena said stressing the nickname, "he was like a blue Popsicle."

Francesca chuckled, unsure of her point. "Go on," she laughed.

Elena smiled too for a moment. "If you had a blue Popsicle. I wanted a blue Popsicle. If you had a red bike. I had to have a red bike."

"So ...if I had a dad..."

"I wanted one too, yes." Elena explained. "So do I feel like my family was lacking in anyway? No. We’ve got a great family, but I wanted what you had and if I told them I wanted a dad..."

For a moment neither woman spoke.

"I didn’t want them to think two moms wasn’t enough," Elena finally said.

"It’s the same for me," Francesca offered. "Well, not about the two moms thing. My reason for keeping quiet was I didn’t want to hurt them either. I didn’t want to put them... on the spot."

"How would you have put them on the spot?"

"If I told them how upset I got about being called a ‘mistake’ then they might have thought they did something wrong," Francesca explained. "They might think that they didn’t love me enough, especially Ma cause you know how touchy-feely and clingy she can get sometimes."

Both sisters grinned at each other in understanding.

"Do you feel like you were a mistake?" Elena asked.

Francesca’s expression hardened.

"Please don’t," she added immediately. "That wasn’t a jab. We’re actually talking so don’t clam up like Mom does sometimes, okay? I’m honestly asking the question, "Do you feel like you were a mistake?"

"Rarely, but yeah, sometimes I do," Francesca said quickly.

"Even to this day?"

Francesca nodded. "Happy?"

"No, not at all," Elena replied. "I know we’ve had our differences..."

"...to put it mildly," Francesca muttered.

"But when I really needed you, Chessie, you were always there – you had my back. I can’t say that about Emma or Ava or Rafe – just you. Having someone like that in my life means you could never be a mistake – at least not to me...or to the people out there," she said pointing outside the door.

"Not everyone out there feels that way about me."

"What do you mean?" Elena asked.

"I overheard someone talking to Momma Blake about me being an ‘Oops’ baby and she..."

"Blake agreed with them?!"

"No!" Francesca said. "Just the opposite. She tore into them, but still...I heard it. And yeah, I was an ‘Oops’ baby."

"Who was it?"

"It doesn’t matter," Francesca said.

"Oh come on. If it doesn’t matter, tell me."

"Rick Bauer."

"Rick is an ass," Elena said immediately and Francesca chuckled. "He is! He might be Emma’s uncle, but she can keep him. He’s always has been an ass."

"I told you it was stupid."

"Well, I’m glad Blake set him straight... You know for a doctor, the man’s an idiot."

"He’s buried more patients than he’s cured."

"Exactly," Elena said and the two sisters giggled.

A small quiet fell over the shed again and Elena seemed lost in thought again.

"You know how awkward it is to make a Father’s Day card for a dad by proxy when you’re a kid?" she asked.

"No," she replied honestly. "I’m sure it’s no worse than having to explain to the new teacher ‘every single year’ that your card isn’t wrong when it says ‘Happy Mother’s Day MomS’ instead of Mom."

Elena giggled. "That only happened once to me," she added.

"It never failed. Every year I got the new teacher at school. So that means I had to explain, yet again, that I had two Moms. At least by the time you got to the next grade they knew you were the ‘other lesbian daughter’... And now you really are the lesbian daughter." Francesca then made a comic rim shot noise.

"Oh god," Elena sighed.

"What?"

"You want to know how messed up I am?"

Francesca snorted. "This I gotta hear."

"I’ve been dating women for five years because I wanted to be the favorite."

Francesca paused. "I’m confused."

"I’m not a lesbian."

Francesca still looked confused and pointed out the reception area where Rachel was, but said nothing.

"I don’t even know if I’m bi," Elena added.

"Your date, Rachel, is a lesbian," Francesca finally managed to say.

"I know! I’ve been living this lie so I fit in with the Spencer-Rivera’s. There’s Mom and Ma; Emma and Maureen. The truth is, I’ve spent years pretending to be something I’m not so my family would accept me."

"But they would accept you any way you are!"

"Again, I know that! But if I want to be the ‘favorite child’, I have to be more like them. How screwed up does that make me!?"

"Pretty fucked up," Francesca agreed.

"Exactly!" Elena then sighed.

"It’s not that bad. Believe me, half of Springfield is even more fucked up. By comparison, you’re incredibly sane," Francesca remarked optimistically.

Elena paused a moment and then began to chuckle. "Mom is right, you know? This thing between us... It’s been going on a decade and I don’t want to lose another decade. I spent half my life loving you, admiring you-."

"Admiring? Really?"

"Of course. You knew how to color inside the lines, use the potty and tie your shoes before me. You were a goddess." Francesca looked smug for a moment. "But then I spent the other half of my life envious and despising you." Francesca’s merriment melted away. "It hurts too much to stay this angry, Chessie. Do you know what I mean?" Elena sounded desperate.

"Yes," Francesca admitted with no malice or sarcasm. "Old habits aren’t going to be easy to break though," she added.

"I know, but I’m willing to try...Are you?"

Francesca nodded.

"Good," Elena said with a firm nod of her head. "It’s settled. We start over... as soon as we figure out a way to get the heck out of here."

Francesca looked at the door and knitted her brow for a moment. Then she started to chuckle.

"Mom’s a genius," she laughed.

"What do you mean?"

"I see how we can get out, but it means we’ll have to work together to do it," she said. "You in?"

Elena nodded enthusiastically. "Just promise me something."

"What?"

"Once we get out of here, things will be different; better."

Francesca pulled Elena into a genuine hug, which the younger woman accepted. When she pulled away, she was grinning.

"I promise... Now here’s the plan," Francesca said conspiratorially.

TBC

Rafe was still on the ground near Ashlee’s car after the altercation with the security officer.

"Sometimes you have to give up people you love because it’s best for them...even if it’s not best for you," he said.

There was a short silence then Ashlee shook her head. She looked him dead in the eyes.

"Rafe...you’re an idiot."

"I’m an idiot?"

"Yes, you’re an idiot. I wanted you for years." Rafe looked shocked, but said nothing, so Ashlee went on. "But I know I’m not Daisy. I’m not a demure, cute, salt of the earth Cooper woman. I’m a Wolfe - through and through. As much as I tried to separate myself from my mother, I realized I’m just as brash, loud and opinionated as she can be. And I’m okay with that. Bitches get shit done. When it comes to building a serene life though...that’s not so easy."

"Ashlee, you have a great life in California; a great job. Everything you could want," Rafe countered.

"Please," Ashlee sighed. "I have a co-host I’d call a Neanderthal, but that would be an insult to Neanderthals. I really wanted to get that national spot, but no luck. So... "

"Come back to Springfield," Rafe said confidently.

"I don’t know. Yes, the job isn’t the greatest, but it’s still a job. Something I don’t have in Springfield. Plus, Leo’s friends are there. I’m not sure how he’d feel about being uprooted from the only place he’s known. And aside from my parents, what do I really have here?"

Rafe didn’t reply. He captured both sides of Ashlee’s face and pulled her into a searing kiss.

Back at the utility shed, Francesca and Elena were working on opening the door. Francesca was on her knees as Elena stood above her pushing the door. The younger woman pushed it just far enough so Francesca could get her fingers out and move the wooden rake handle inch by inch.

"This is going to take forever," Elena said as she tried to stay still and put the right amount of pressure on the door. She had to open it enough so Francesca’s fingers could fit outside, but not so far that it prevented the handle from moving.

"Half way," Francesca said. "We’re half way there." When Francesca looked up she ran smack into Elena’s cake covered bridesmaid dress and the pair chuckled as Francesca came away looking like she had a white mustache.

"Now that’s attractive," Elena teased.

Francesca licked her lips and said, "Don’t take this the wrong way, but you taste pretty good, Sis."

Elena chuckled, "That’s just wrong." Suddenly though, her smile fell and her eyes went wide. "Oh no, Chessie - the cake. It’s got eggs."

In an instant, Francesca looked panicked. "Oh, shit!"

She shot to her feet next to Elena and the two of them began to pound on the door, shouting as some people passed by, ignoring them.

"Open the door! Someone get us out of here! We need help!"

Elena pushed on the door and, through the crack, she saw Nola walking by.

"Hey! Nola!" She shouted. "Open the door now! Chessie ate cake!"

"So did I." Nola smiled. "It was good."

"No! She’s got an allergy! We need out of here!"

Francesca wheezed through the door, "Please..."

"Nice try. You two are pretty good at putting on quite a show."

"It’s not a show!" Elena said getting pissed.

"I’m not going to suffer the wrath of Olivia," she said and started to walk way.

"Ask Buzz!" Elena shouted to Nola’s retreating form. "He’ll tell you her egg allergy! Please!" she added in a desperate plea.

Nola paused, as if she thought for a moment they might be telling the truth. Then she casually started on her way back through the crowd to her table she was sharing with Buzz and Holly.

Unable to stand, Francesca stumbled away from the door slightly. She steadied herself against a sidewall and slid down until she was safely on her bottom. Her breathing was becoming shallow.

Elena began to throw her body against the old door with such force that the hinges began to creak, but wouldn’t budge. After her fifth attempt she knew she needed more force.

"Fuck!" she uncharacteristically swore.

She looked around and found an ax on the back wall. She grabbed it and began to hack at the door, hoping to break the wooden handle that kept them looked in. The problem she soon discovered was that she couldn’t put enough pressure on the door to create the opening she needed. So with each swing, rather than hitting the rake handle as she hoped, she only managed to create a runt inside the door.

"Fuuuuck!" she swore even more vehemently.

She was now breathing as hard as Francesca who was struggling for each breath.

"Hey," Francesca said in one wheeze and motioned Elena over.

Elena darted down her sister. She could see the red skin and the hives spreading as Francesca struggled to speak.

"Don’t talk Chessie," Elena said. "I’ll get you outta here. I swear."

Francesca grabbed her arm forcefully. "If not..." She took a ragged breath and then motioned between them. "We’re good." The older woman wheezed again and said, "No Guilt."

Elena closed her eyes for a moment and then turned her head to the door. She began to cry out at the top of her lung.

"God! Help me open this door!!!!!!!!!!"

With the party and DJ pumping some music in full swing, no one heard her desperate plea.

Buzz and Holly were laughing with Maureen when Nola began to take her seat again.

"Buzz," Nola began, "I think they might be faking, but if they’re not, and something really did happen, then I’d feel terrible for not speaking up."

"What are you talking about?" Buzz asked her.

Far from Buzz, inside the shed, an exasperated Elena slammed her hands down on the seat of the riding lawn mower.

"Please God," she threw out in prayer. "How can I get her out of here? I need your help." That’s when the glimmer of silver caught her eyes and she turned to see the ignition key in the tractor. She grinned and said, "Thank you."

She turned quickly to Francesca and started to pull her to her feet.

Back at Buzz’s table, Nola continued.

"I just saw the girls in the shed. Is Francesca allergic to cake?"

"Cake?" Holly asked.

"Yeah, Elena said Francesca ate cake on accident. But I think maybe they’re just trying to get out and-." Her sentence was cut off.

Despite his mending hip, Buzz shot to his feet from his wheelchair and screamed, "Frank! Olivia!"

The pair was talking at the far end of makeshift hall. They turned simultaneously with looks of concern to Buzz, who was attempting to stay upright.

"Pop?!" Frank looked frantic and started toward him.

Buzz groaned a moment in pain. "Not me! Open the shed! Chess needs help!" He pointed.

All the partygoers turned their attention to the shed as Frank, Blake, Olivia and Natalia started to run as fast as their feet could carry them. Jonathan was the closest and started to lead the pack as the DJ turned down the music to hear what was happening. When Jonathan got within several yards, he heard the whine of an engine and the skidding of tires on concrete.

Seconds later the shed doors busted open. Jonathan had to dive away at the last moment to avoid being hit by debris. Elena swerved around him, and some of the broken wreckage of the wooden door, as she drove toward the house.

Stuffed in the attached dump cart, her feet dangling over the edge, was Francesca.

At the back door, Elena brought the tractor to a grinding halt and took off into a sprint in the house. As Elena ran to the kitchen drawer that always had an EpiPen, Jonathan was finally on his feet and at the back of the parked tractor in few seconds later. With James’ help, the two of them pulled Francesca from the cart.

She continued to wheeze as her parents looked on in shock. Remy and Rick both pushed through the crowd as Elena returned with the injection device. She popped the top, lifted Francesca’s dress so she could get good shot of her thigh and plunged the device against her leg so the needle could enter.

"Ten seconds, right?" Elena asked as she held it in place.

Francesca could only nod.

Elena was trembling so bad her hand shook for a moment and she had to use her other hand to try to steady it. Frank knelt down and helped her keep it steady as Blake, Natalia and Olivia held on to each other. By now, a ring had formed around the spectacle and Emma knelt down next to Francesca.

After the ten seconds were up, Frank kissed Elena on the temple and then gathered Francesca into his lap as Emma pushed the sweat soaked hair from her sister’s forehead.

"Had to steal the spotlight, huh, Peanut?"

Francesca nodded and for the first time she didn’t struggle immediately for air.

"You know me," she said with a slight grin.

"What happened?" Olivia asked Elena. "Did you try to kill her by feeding her cake?"

"No!" Francesca and Elena both said.

"Sure," Elena began, "I’ve mentioned wanting to killing her, but I was never serious." Olivia’s eyebrow went up. "It was an accident," Elena insisted.

"Your Mom never should have locked you up to begin with," Frank muttered angry to Francesca.

"No, Pop," Francesca said. "It helped."

"Helped? How?" he asked.

"I’ll explain later," she said trying to conserve her energy.

"Can we get these people out of here?" Elena whispered down to Emma.

"Yeah," she said as she stood up again. "Everyone," Emma addressed the crowd. "Things are under control. Why don’t we give my sisters some space and head back to the tents, okay? Besides, we’ve got some garters and bouquets to throw soon so all you single folks better stretch out and get limber."

The crowd began to disburse as Rick and Remy made their way through.

"You," Francesca pointed to Remy. "Stay." She then pointed to Rick. "You. Go away."

"I am a doctor too."

"A bad one. Remy stays," Francesca said with a wink to the former EMS worker.

Rick looked annoyed and Elena gave him a slight push.

"What do you care anyway?" she challenged. Rick appeared surprised now. "She might have been an ‘Oops baby’ to some people, but you’ll always be an ass to me. Now go away."

Olivia and Natalia looked at each other confused as Blake gave Elena a slight grin and a that-a-girl nod.

"I’m going to get some Benadryl," Olivia said as she went into the house.

Blake began to say something about Rick, but Natalia really wasn’t listening. She excused herself and followed Olivia inside to the kitchen. Olivia was standing at the sink where some medications were always on hand. She turned to see it was Natalia and then turned back around.

"I nearly killed her, ya know?" Olivia said and started to sniffle. "Emma’s wedding day and I nearly kill Francesca."

Natalia closed the distance and wrapped her arms around Olivia’s waist.

"Stop it. It was a freak accident."

"How do you know that?" Olivia replied.

"I know our kids. They’re honest and if Elena did try to hurt Francesca then Francesca’d be the first one crying bloody murder. You know that." Natalia gave a humored snort.

"How are they going to forgive me for that?" Olivia asked. "They had to have been terrified and Chessie still isn’t in the clear. She could relapse; she could-."

"Liv," Natalia said as she turned her around to face her. "I don’t know all the details yet, but something is different between them. Even Francesca came to your defense when Frank wanted to jump on the ‘Let’s blame Olivia’ Train out there. And you know, Francesca. She’s like you – a straight shooter with the truth, even if it hurts."

"Still," Olivia muttered.

"Still nothing," Natalia cut her off. "Let’s give her the Benadryl and go enjoy the wedding. Come on," she said as she tugged her along, taking a spoon and the bottle with her.

When they got back outside, emergency workers were arguing with Francesca to get on the gurney.

"Ma’am, we need to take you back for observation," he said.

"I know the routine," Francesca told him, her voice still sounding a bit ragged, yet growing stronger. "For six hours I sit. Nothing happens. I go home."

"Yes, if you’re okay," the EMT argued again.

"I’d rather sit here then in a sickly green ER."

Frustrated, the EMT worker looked to Olivia and Natalia for help.

"Sweetie," Natalia told Francesca. "It really would be best if you go," she tried to coax.

"Ma. Leaving is going to stress me out more. I’ll sit here with Elena. Remy can check me every five minutes and if I take a turn THEN I’ll go. Will you do that for me, Remy?"

"You should go, Chessie," Remy said.

"Listen to Remy," Olivia begged.

"No, it’s Emma’s day," Francesca countered. "If she can’t see me smiling she won’t have fun. So Remy, will you help? Yes or no?"

He snorted, "This stubborn streak is genetic, huh? Yeah, I’ll stick by you."

"Agreed?" Francesca asked the gathers in the circle. Not waiting for a reply, she added, "Great! It’s settled."

"Olivia," Frank said softly yet firmly. "I’d like to have a word."

"No!" Francesca said forcefully, making both of her parents stop. "Tonight’s about fun," she said. "You want to argue with Mom? Do it tomorrow. Tonight is only going to stress me out and make me feel worse. You want that Pop?"

"Francesca," Frank sighed.

"... or have I been through enough in one night?" He bit his lip. "If you love me you’ll let it go forever," she told him. "But if that can’t happen, then at least let it go for tonight." He seemed unsure of what to say.

Francesca turned back to Elena. "Please get a drink for our Pop and Momma Blake. Then get their sorry butts to the dance floor, would you?"

It wasn’t lost on Elena that Francesca said ‘our Pop’ but rather than dwell on it she just took each one of them by the elbow and led them away.

Francesca turned back to Olivia. "Don’t say I never did anything for ya Mom," she teased.

Olivia placed Francesca’s face in her hands and gave her a kiss on each cheek.

Rafe was still kissing Ashlee on the ground, near her car. When he pulled away, Ashlee seemed unsure of what to say.

"What, uhhhh...?" she began as she looked a bit thunderstruck.

"I love you," Rafe told her. "I’ve loved you for years, but I never imagined you saw me as anything more than a friend." Ashlee still looked shocked. "But maybe I was right to begin with and you can’t love me." He started looking insecure of his confession based on her wordless reaction.

"What?! No!" Ashlee said gathering her wits about her.

"No, you don’t want me?" Rafe asked nervously.

"No, I do!" Ashlee told him. She released a heavy sigh and then pulled him into a kiss, which he happily returned after a few moments. Then they heard Leo several yards behind them.

"Mom? Are you okay?" he asked, noticing both of them were on the ground.

Ashlee and Rafe both began to rise and as they did, Rafe whispered, "If you’re ready to tell Leo now, that’s okay and if not, that’s okay too. Whatever you want is fine with me."

As Leo closed the distance, he asked, "What’s going on?"

"Well, Honey," Ashlee began. "Rafe and I have something we need to tell you. Rafe loves me, and you, and I love him and..." Ashlee looked to Rafe. "We want to be together," she added. She looked at Rafe, who gave her a firm nod.

"That’s cool," Leo said casually, "But I mean over there." He pointed. "What’s going on with the ambulance?"

So wrapped up in each other, they didn’t notice the flashing lights coming from the back of the house where the party was taking place. They all looked at each other in concern and then headed toward the partygoers.

The three of them rounded the corner to see most of his family at the same table.

"Ma!" Rafe yelled to Natalia who was standing behind Olivia, who was seated at the table. Also seated there were Remy, Christina, Elena, Rachel, Francesca and Frank along with Blake. Ashlee and Leo followed behind Rafe as he approached them. "What’s going on?"

"I ate cake," Francesca replied from her seat next to the table. "Or I should say icing to be more correct," she added.

"Why?"

"I didn’t have a choice. Our sister shoved her cake covered dress in my mouth and said ‘Eat Bitch!’ and I was helpless."

She looked serious and then began to crack a smile as Elena just shook her head.

"Elena!" Rafe went off. "You could have killed her!"

Elena turned to Francesca and calmly said, "I can’t believe this many people think I truly want you dead."

"I can’t believe that you’re shocked by that," Francesca countered.

"And I can’t believe your Mom locked you up," Frank muttered.

Olivia threw her hands in the air in an ‘I give up’ fashion as Francesca waved a finger at him in disapproval.

"Pop! I told you, it helped Elena and I work a few things out. Could I have died? Sure. But I didn’t. After all, that which doesn’t kill us blah, blah, blah."

Rafe pointed to the ambulance that was now leaving.

"Why aren’t you going to the hospital?" he asked.

Francesca pointed to Remy. "He’s standing guard and that’s the last question I’m answering about this tonight."

"Forgive me for being concerned for my baby sister," he said sarcastically.

"Hey, next time be here for the action instead of playing huggy bear / kissy face in the parking lot with Auntie D’s daughter."

"That’s kind of incestuous, isn’t it?" Elena’s girlfriend Rachel asked.

"You’re tellin’ me," Francesca said.

Rafe and Ashlee looked shocked.

"How did you know they were kissing?" Leo asked Francesca. "Did you see them too?"

"No, my little Padawan," Francesca said, which made Leo grin. "I can spot people in love...or the lipstick all over Rafe lips." He began to try to wipe off his lips. "Of course, it might be just cherry kool-aid, but I’m thinking no."

Leo leaned down to Francesca’s ear. "I saw them kissing in the parking lot," he whispered in disgust.

"Ewwww!" Francesca said and made a face.

"I know!" Leo laughed.

Leo and Francesca were laughing with each other. In spite of himself, Rafe had to grin. Francesca was already a fantastic Aunt to Ava’s kids. He was sure Leo would be no exception. Ashlee took Rafe’s hand and then leaned down to Leo.

"Let’s let Francesca rest, Sweetie," Ashlee told Leo. "Besides I still need to talk to you."

She then gently pulled Rafe with her as she guided Leo by the shoulder.

Once they were out of earshot, Elena questioned aloud, "I wonder what that was about?"

"Maybe she’s finally going to tell Leo that Rafe’s his father."

"What?!" exclaimed various members of the table, along with Elena who posed the question.

Francesca laughed. "Please people! He’s always resembled Rafe a little, but now that he’s older he’s like a freakin’ Mini-Me of him. How long can this charade last?"

"Noooo," Elena said disbelievingly as she watched Ashlee, Rafe and Leo talking several yards away. "That can’t be true."

Francesca started to laugh. "You just said the same thing in the shed about..." she let the sentence hang. She didn’t want to mention the affair in front of her Moms. She just shook her head instead. "Ohhh, Elena, you are the most adorable, naive person in the world next to Ma," she concluded.

"Hey!" Elena and Natalia both said at the same time in the same inflection.

Francesca looked over at her Mom and they both paused a beat before the two of them laughed in the same deep baritone.

"See?" Francesca pointed at her sister and her Ma. "They’re identical. Even the way they say, ‘Hey’ is the same."

"You two stop," Blake told Olivia and Francesca as she defended Elena and Natalia. "How you survived in a house with them is beyond me," she added to Natalia and Elena as she playfully pushed Francesca’s shoulder.

Several yards away, Ashlee and Rafe were seated with Leo on her lap.

"You know," Ashlee began, "You’ve been asking me about your dad quite a bit lately, haven’t you?"

Leo nodded.

"And I haven’t been entirely truthful," Ashlee told him. "I’ve been hiding something and... and for many years your Nana hid something important from me. I swore when I had kids I wouldn’t do that, but...I think I owe your Nana an apology now that I think about it. Anyway," Ashlee said getting back on track. "...I want you to meet your dad because he..." Ashlee looked to Rafe. "...I think he really wants to get to know you as a son."

Leo looked over at Rafe expectantly. "Uncle Rafe are you...?" he seemed unsure of his question.

"Yeah, Buddy. I’m your dad," Rafe said with a grin. "Your mom told me tonight."

"Do you wanna be my dad?" Leo asked.

"Absolutely!" Rafe told him. "Are you kidding -- you’re my favorite little dude in the whole world. Why wouldn’t I?"

Leo began to grin and then looked at his mom.

"Is this true?" he asked her. "Because having Rafe as a dad would be cool."

"It’s true, Sweetie."

"And there’s more," Rafe told him.

"More?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, I want to be with your mom. I’ve loved her for a really long time, but I never had the guts to tell her."

"Well, that’s dumb. If you love someone you should tell them."

"Out of the mouth of babes," Ashlee sighed.

"Hey, I’m not a babe," Leo said indignant.

"It’s an expression, Leo. It means that sometimes having a simple view of the world and just stating it is the way to go now and then."

Leo turned to Rafe. "Does that mean you’re moving to L.A.?"

"I’m not sure what it all means yet, Pal," Rafe answered honestly. "For now tonight, we’re just gonna keep this under our hats. Okay? We’re not going to tell anyone until after Aunt Emma’s big day, alright? Think you can keep a secret until tomorrow?"

Leo nodded and then he paused a moment in thought.

"If you’re my dad does that mean that Aunt Olivia and Aunt Natalia are really my Nana and Mimi too?" He seemed excited at the prospect of having more grandmothers.

"It sure does," Rafe reassured him. "But your cousins, Taro and Eriko, they usually call them Grams and Ab-."

"Abuela," Leo finished. "I know. That’s a cool name."

"But you can’t say anything tonight," Ashlee reminded him.

"Can I say I’ve got a secret?"

Ashlee seemed unsure.

"Yeah," Rafe answered with a nod. "But just to Grams and Abuela, okay? And you can’t say what that secret is though. I was thinking maybe we’ll have a brunch at the Beacon and invite all the family and then let everyone know then, like a big party. What do you say?"

"Cool!" Leo said.

"It’s only cool if you don’t say anything though."

"No, I understand." Leo nodded.

"And, if it’s okay with your Mom," Rafe continued, "how about if you and your mom come stay at the Beacon Suite with me tonight? You’ll have your own room and everything?!" Rafe asked.

"Now that’s awesome! Can we, Mom?" Leo asked excited at the prospect.

Ashlee considered it for a moment.

"No strings, Ash," Rafe told her. "I just want one night with you guys before you leave."

"Okay," Ashlee said, much to Leo’s joy. "Hey, did you have any cake?" she asked him. He shook his head. "Neither did we. Why don’t you round up three pieces?"

"But the cake almost killed Chessie," Leo said innocently.

Ashlee and Rafe laughed.

"She has an allergy to eggs, Sweetie," Rafe explained.

"Like your friend Peter who can’t eat peanuts?" Ashlee threw in.

"Ohhh," Leo said in understanding. "Okay, I’ll be back," he said as he started to leave. He stopped and turned around. Then he ran into Rafe’s arms. Although he was caught off guard, at first, Rafe returned the hug.

"I’m going to like having you as my dad," Leo said. With that, he darted away in pursuit of cake.

Rafe was on the verge of tears and he had to turn away from Ashlee for a moment.

"I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner," Ashlee apologized in a whimper.

"No," Rafe said diplomatically and whipped his eyes. "You told me... now, so this is good. And I meant what I said about staying – no strings, Ash. I would LOVE to spend the night with you, even if it’s just holding you."

"You only want to snuggle?" Ashlee asked skeptically.

"Nooooo," Rafe admitted.

Ashlee grinned. "Good. I thought we were going back to square one there for a second."

"No, I said I’d do it if that’s all you wanted. But I’m hoping that’s not all you want," he chuckled. Ashlee smiled. "But seriously, if that’s all you can handle now... I’ll take whatever you can give me. I’ve waited this long. I can wait longer because you’re worth waiting for."

Ashlee leaned over and kissed Rafe gently on the lips.

"I’m done waiting," she whispered.

Twelve-year-old Francesca came running with a bag of Elyon Marshmallows in one hand and some long sticks in the other. Her younger sister, Elena, followed behind her with a box of graham crackers and chocolate.

"Emma! Emma!" they said as they charged over.

Emma was standing in the backyard of the Spencer-Rivera Fourth of July BBQ with Maureen at her side. She smiled as she watched the pair running toward her. Maureen looked briefly at the girls, but her eyes went back to Emma and how she smiled as she watched her sisters’ excitement. There was something genuine in the joy Emma had when watching her sisters that Maureen enjoyed seeing.

"What?! What?!" Emma asked in mock-urgency.

"Please?" Francesca said as she and Elena held out their supplies.

Emma chuckled. "You two don’t even try to make them anymore, do you?"

"It’s hard," Francesca whined.

"And yours turn out perfect," Elena added.

"I’m busy," Emma said.

"You’re just spending all your time kissing Maureen," Francesca complained. "You can do that later. Just make S’mores now." Emma and Maureen both chuckled. "And I did say, ‘Please’," Francesca added.

"Want to take a break from the kissing and make my little sisters some treats?" Emma asked. She then turned to her sisters. "It’s really up to Maureen."

"But you’re very kissable," Maureen said.

"Oh come on!" Francesca complained again.

Maureen shrugged. "Sure. I guess so."

"Thanks!" both sisters yelled. They dropped the supplies at Emma’s feet and then took off running through the yard to where Clay and Collin where waiting.

"I just got suckered, didn’t I?" Emma asked Maureen as she bent over and picked up the supplies.

"We both got fleeced," Maureen added as she took the egg-free marshmallows. "But if this is the price I have to pay after the night you gave me yesterday, I’ll pay it."

Emma blushed and swatted at Maureen bashfully.

"Stop it."

"You’re like your Ma when you get embarrassed. Especially about sex," Maureen whispered.

"Stooooop," Emma repeated and looked around to see if anyone heard.

"Are you ashamed of what happened at the dorm?" Maureen asked seriously. "Because I-."

"No," Emma said immediately and firmly. "No," she said again, more softly. "I don’t regret it at all. It was wonderful. YOU were wonderful."

"Good," Maureen replied. "You might find it hard to believe, but...I am in love with you, ya know?"

"You are, huh?"

"Uh huh. Even more after last night." Maureen smiled.

Emma blushed again. "Well, let’s get crackin’. These S’mores won’t make themselves. I know because I’ve never had one. The two moochers always steal them." They walked hand in hand toward the fire pit and Emma pulled Maureen closer. "I’m in love with you too, ya know? Just in case you were wondering."

"I kinda figured," Maureen replied. She leaned down to Emma’s ear and whispered, "But it’s still nice to hear."

Still covered in bits of cake, Elena and Francesca walked up to the bridal table where Maureen and Emma were sitting. Their younger women’s hands were behind their backs.

"Aren’t you supposed to be sitting down?" Emma chastised.

"Yeah, maybe, perhaps, no. I don’t know. I feel okay," Francesca answered.

"Chessie," Emma sighed.

"Stop. I’m – well, WE’RE here for a reason."

Emma gave her a look that said, ‘Out with it’.

Elena and Francesca smiled at each other for a moment, with a growing sense of pride, and then extended their hands to Emma and Maureen.

They rested two S’mores on the table in front of them.

"It’s not a ten thousand dollar wedding cake," Elena said. "But ya know..."

"We figured it’s a start," Francesca said with a shrug.

Emma rose to her feet and pulled both of them toward her at the same time, kissing both of them on the cheek together.

"You two make me a promise, okay?" Emma said as she continued to hold them.

"What?" Elena asked.

"Keep working together like this, alright? Be as good a team off the court as you are on it?"

"I can promise that," Francesca said.

"Me too," Elena added.

Emma nodded as she pulled back. "Finally! I get to eat a S’more."

"Hey," Maureen replied. "You know I have made you S’mores."

Emma paused and then chuckled. "I stand corrected. I did have a S’more since having younger sisters."

"When?" Francesca asked sounding a little disappointed someone beat her to the punch.

"The most nervous day of my life," Maureen answered.

"Hey, Maureen," Olivia said as she greeted the young woman at the door. "Come on in," she said letting her inside the living room. "Emma’s not going to be home for another hour, but you’re welcome to wait. Are you excited about your camping trip this weekend?"

"Actually, I’m here to discuss that." Maureen looked around the living room nervously. "Is Phillip here?"

"No, why would Phillip be here?" Olivia asked.

"I called him to come here."

"Why?"

Before Maureen could answer Olivia’s question, Natalia came from the kitchen with Phillip behind her.

"Olivia? Phillip said that-Oh," she stopped short when she saw Maureen there. "She is here after all," she added as she pointed at Maureen.

"Yeah, I’m here," Maureen said as she began to wring her hands together.

"What’s going on?" Olivia asked.

"I’d like to talk to all of you, alone, without Emma, if that’s okay?"

"What’s wrong?" Olivia asked concerned. "Are you sick?"

"No, I’m-," Maureen replied.

"Is it your kidney transplant?" Olivia asked, not really listening to her answer. "Does Emma know?"

Maureen giggled nervously at that point.

"I’m healthy, Olivia. Everything’s fine. Never better," she said. That seemed to put Olivia at ease, but she could tell the woman was now curious. "I’m here because...You all have treated me like family these past three years or so and I... I really appreciate that. But... Okay, I’m just gonna say it... I want to ask your daughter to marry me this weekend, but only if I get your blessings. So... would you be opposed if I made Emma my wife?"

Olivia and Natalia were speechless; frozen, but with growing grins of happiness. Phillip was immediately all smiles.

"Did you talk to your dad?" Phillip asked.

"I did."

"What’d your old man say?" he asked.

Maureen chuckled. "I’m not sure I should repeat it," she said.

Immediately Olivia and Natalia looked concerned.

"No! It’s not bad. He just..." Seeing that she’d have to discuss it now, she continued. "He said he was happy for me and a bit jealous since the farthest he got with a Spencer woman was half a date that got interrupted." Maureen blushed and then pointed at Natalia. "By you."

Natalia laughed. "He remembered that, huh?"

"Oh yeah, but he said things worked out as they should, and I have to agree with him... So, yeah, I want to marry Emma, but only if it won’t be an issue with all of you because I know how much you all mean to her and to each other. I don’t want to come between anyone."

Phillip stood up and pulled Maureen into a hug.

"Sweetie, anyone who’d take the time to consider that is someone worth having in the family. You have my blessing." She then turned to Olivia and Natalia who were teary eyed. "Ladies?"

"Of course," Olivia said while Natalia said, "Absolutely."

"You want to join this craziness?" Olivia added as she came over and took Maureen’s hands.

"I love her," Maureen said honestly. "I want to spend the rest of my life showing her how much if she’ll let me."

"I’m sure she’ll say yes," Natalia replied as she came over and kissed Maureen on the cheek.

"I hope so. If not, it’s going to be a long, awkward hike home," Maureen joked.

"She’s nuts about you," Phillip told her. "Don’t worry."

"Well, actually, I’m worried more about the ring. I mean she is a Spencer slash Spaulding so..." Maureen dug into her pocket and pulled out a dark blue sapphire ring set in white gold or silver. Emma’s moms inspected it with admiration. "I’m not a billionaire, so it’s kind of small since my budget right now is... well, tiny."

"Em will love this," Phillip assured her. Olivia and Natalia nodded too.

Maureen still sounded nervous as she went on. "I figured when we get through school and I’m working I can get her something nicer; bigger. I don’t plan on running off this year to get married. I want to have time to plan it; give Emma everything she wants."

Olivia grinned. "You’re always looking out for her, aren’t you?"

"Always," Maureen said.

"I think it’s beautiful," Natalia said as she handed the ring back.

"Yes, Bean will love it," Olivia said and then she started to tear up. "Emma’s gonna get married."

They all chuckled.

"She hasn’t said yes yet," Maureen reminded them. "So even though you think I don’t need it, still wish me luck."

"We do, Sweetie," Phillip said.

"Now if you don’t mind," Maureen began, "I got to get out of here before Emma does come home. She’s gonna wonder why we’re all here."

"True!" Phillip said. "I better go too." He then turned to Maureen. "Thank you for this. For having us all here I mean."

"Yes," Olivia and Natalia both nodded.

"You’re a good woman, Maureen," Natalia told her. "I couldn’t have wished for anyone better for Em."

"And in the odd chance she does say no, then tell us," Olivia added. "We’ll torture her until she agrees," she added seriously before cracking a smile.

"Marriage by agony?" Maureen asked.

"If it comes to that? Sure," Olivia said and then kissed Maureen on the cheek. "You’ll be fine, Sweetheart," she said sincerely. "Now you and Phillip need to get the heck out of here."

Maureen and Phillip said their goodbyes and several hours later Emma and Maureen were in front of a campfire with their tent for their evening in place behind them. Maureen settled in behind Emma and pulled her into her arms. Emma rested her back against Maureen while Maureen reclined against their gear.

"I love it out here," Emma said.

"I know you do," Maureen replied. She kissed her temple.

"It feels like we’re the only two people on earth when we’re out here."

"You got me all to yourself."

"I do, don’t I?"

"MmmHmm... I know what you really want though."

"What’s that?" Emma asked.

"A S’more."

Emma suddenly got animated. "Oh my gosh! Did you remember this time? Last time we forgot the crackers."

"You mean I forgot them."

"You, me, whoever. Tell me you brought them this time," Emma said hopefully.

Maureen looked in her backpack and began to pull out items. "Crackers!... Chocolate!... and Marshmallows that don’t need to be egg free!" Emma gave a little excited clap. "Oh, and this..." Maureen handed Emma the box and opened it up. "It’s small, I know, but the sentiment behind it is huge, I promise you... So Emma Spencer-Rivera-Spaulding... will you marry me? I can’t promise a mansion but I’ll make all the S’mores you ever want."

Emma said nothing and did nothing. She didn’t move. She didn’t breath. Maureen thought her own heart stopped for a moment.

"Are you serious?" Emma asked.

Maureen didn’t seem to know what to say. "Uhhh..."

"Yes!" Emma said sensing Maureen’s growing concern. "Yes, I’ll marry you!" she started to laugh and cry at the same time. She held out her hand and Maureen slipped the ring on her finger.

"You scared me," Maureen confessed.

"You shocked me," Emma countered.

"I thought you were going to say no and I’d have to have your mother torture you."

"Exactly-wait, what?"

Maureen and Emma both laughed.

"I asked your parents for your hand."

"How incredibly... quaint." Emma then laughed. "I never pictured you as an old fashioned girl."

"Well, I’ll have you know your parents loved it. In fact, like I said, if you said no Olivia was going to torture you until you said yes."

They both began to laugh.

"Marriage by agony?" Emma asked.

Maureen laughed even harder. "I said the same thing. I really did!"

"Great minds think alike," Emma said as she began to straddle Maureen’s lap.

She sat there for a few seconds, the two of them just staring into each other’s eyes.

"I, uh, think you’re melting my chocolate," Maureen teased.

Emma looked down at their laps. "Is that what that is?" she said coyly.

"Among other things," Maureen countered.

Emma smiled. "Kiss me," she whispered.

"With pleasure," Maureen answered.

As Emma’s svelte body covered Maureen’s, the S’mores were momentarily forgotten.

"How’s Chessie?" Doris asked.

"Being stubborn and won’t go to the hospital," Olivia answered.

"Gee. A daughter of yours? That sounds like no one I know at all."

"Hush." Olivia smiled.

"Took you and Natalia long enough to, uh, nurse that hand of yours," Doris continued with an ‘I know what you really did’ expression on her face.

"First Ashlee. Now me. You’re really trying to alienate all the women in your life. Let’s get Brenda over here and make it three for three." Doris looked sad. "Hey, I’m teasing. Ashlee is fine."

"No, the world is ending still and she hates me."

"The world’s not over yet. She and Rafe are still here."

"She didn’t leave?" Doris asked hopefully.

"Nope." Olivia pointed to the far end of the tent where Rafe and Ashlee were walking and talking, heading toward the cake table.

At the bridal table, Maureen was playing with Emma’s engagement ring.

"My offer still stands," Maureen told her. "I can get you a bigger ring next year when-."

"Stop it. I want this one," Emma insisted. "It’s beautiful and to be honest big rings are just gaudy looking. It’s like people trying to say, "Look at me! I have money so I must be important!" Besides, when I look at this, it’ll always remind me of when we were young, in love and poor."

"Well, I was poor. You’re a millionaire with a trust fund."

"You’re right," Emma said. "Why didn’t I just buy you a huge ass engagement ring instead?"

Maureen grinned. "Big rings are gaudy."

"See? We are a perfect fit. But I have to say that a big ring on you wouldn’t look gaudy. It’ll show everyone you’re a kept woman."

Maureen laughed loudly and took her hand away. "That’s it -- the honeymoon’s officially over."

"Already?" Emma said as she reached out and snagged Maureen’s hand. "Psssf, and I didn’t even get to show you that new trick I learned... with my tongue."

Maureen sat down. "Well, maybe it’s not over just yet."

This time Emma laughed. She pulled Maureen to her and kissed her gently on the lips. Sincerity washed over her face.

"I love you Maureen Spencer-Reardon."

"I love you Emma Spencer-Reardon."

At the cake table, which looked more like a cake lump, Rafe was talking to Ashlee.

"Since you hate L.A., have you considered moving back to Springfield?" he asked.

"Springfield?" Ashlee asked.

"Yeah, the town we’re standing in," Rafe joked.

"Goof. What could I do here?"

"Work at WSPR."

"I don’t know if they’re hiring."

Rafe chuckled and motioned around them. "You’ve got tons of connections - old and new - here right now, starting with my new sister-in-law."

"Maureen?"

"Yeah, she has controlling interest in WSPR and Emma’s former adopted father, Bill Lewis – her half brother, he pretty much owns the rest."

"What a second? If Bill was Emma’s dad and Maureen is his sister..."

"Uh huh." Rafe nodded.

"Then that means Maureen was technically Emma’s aunt... Emma married her aunt."

Rafe chuckled, "Well, half aunt."

"What a twisted family tree..." Ashlee said.

"Sure, there’s a few warps here and there," Rafe admitted.

"But they’re not REALLY related though," Ashlee said.

"No, not really. But my point was... If you want a job, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a huge issue."

Ashlee sighed. "I don’t know."

"I’m not trying to pressure you Ashlee. We’ll figure things out. It just seems like you’re really unhappy there."

Ashlee shrugged. "If I stay in L.A. I could get a national gig somewhere, someday."

"When? Before you snap thanks to that bonehead co-anchor you have to deal with?"

"Urghh, that man doesn’t know news if it’s not in his teleprompter... and even then it’s iffy. You know we had an author of a book about James Madison on one day. He asked what year the War of 1812 started. The author was speechless. She tried to save his ass by saying she thinks he meant which month; not which year. Dumbass then repeated, "No, which year." Isn’t that incredible?"

"Exactly," Rafe said. "Why stay? You might spend another 10 years with that idiot and then what?"

"So you don’t think I can go national then?"

"I didn’t say that." Rafe took her hands. "Here’s what I am saying... I lived in Chicago with only my Ma. And I’ve lived in Springfield surrounded by family. I love the years I spent alone with Ma – I do. But there’s a reason the Beacon headquarters never moved. This is home. Like you, my parents are here. My friends are here. And I’ve found that sometimes it’s nice being a big fish in a smaller pond, especially when you’re around people you love... Again, no pressure. Just something to think about, Ash."

Ashlee paused and then said, "Can you excuse me a moment?"

Rafe didn’t answer immediately. "Are you okay? Did I upset you?"

"No," she insisted. "You just reminded me of something is all."

Rafe watched her with concern as she walked away.

"Ashlee," Doris greeted as she watched Ashlee walking over. "I’m sorry for pushing and-."

"Stop." Ashlee held up her hand. "You were right, Mom. When you’ve held a secret for so long sometimes it’s... well, it’s tough to deal with the truth."

Doris grinned. "I know the feeling."

"But it feels better now, you know. With them knowing, I mean."

Doris smiled. "Again, I can relate."

"Rafe wants to have a brunch tomorrow to make the announcement so he’s going calling the hotel to set it up and we’ll announce it there. So he plans to ask everyone here tonight to join us, but he’s not going to mention it’s because of Leo. Tonight is about Emma and Maureen."

"That sounds like a good idea."

"Yeah, so ee’s going to announce it at the brunch so...will you be there?"

"Do you want me there?" Doris asked.

Ashlee sighed and then pulled her mom into a hug.

"Of course I do. And for what it’s worth, I am sorry. I was just so scared, Mom. There was a misunderstanding that’s lasted...years. But it’s better now...speaking of... I won’t be home tonight."

Doris pulled back to see Ashlee blushing.

She continued, "Rafe wants us to stay with him at the hotel."

Doris smiled again. "So Leo’s not the only one getting something out of this deal?"

"Mother," Ashlee sighed in embarrassment.

"I’m happy for you," Doris told her. "I am."

"Good. I know Rafe hasn’t always been one of your favorite people."

"I never had issues with Rafe."

"Oh really? That whole keep our streets safe from thugs campaign?"

"It was just that – a campaign, politics. Besides, it was a long time ago, Ashlee. Let it go."

"So you don’t mind Rafe being in my life?"

"That depends," Doris said. "Are you happy?"

Ashlee automatically smiled. "It might have taken some time to get here, but yeah... Yeah I am, Mom." She looked over at Brenda who was smiling from the table. "Better late than never, right?"

"Right," Doris replied and kissed Ashlee on the cheek.

Rafe was still looking at the destroyed cake when Natalia walked up to him.

"I can’t believe they did this, Ma."

"Yep," she said dryly.

"I can’t believe Olivia didn’t kill them herself."

"Well, the forced confinement seemed to help the girls."

"Yeah," Rafe said after a moment of contemplation. "They did seem a little different with each other now that you mention it."

"Speaking of observations," Natalia began. "I see you spending a lot of time tonight with Leo and Ashlee."

"You did, huh?"

"Uh huh. Any reason why?"

"You might find it hard to believe."

"Leo’s your son."

Rafe paused. "How did you know?"

"I didn’t. Doris put it together. How long did you know Rafe?" she asked. "Be honest."

He looked at his watch. "What time is it?"

"Seriously? You had no idea?"

"No, Ash never said anything. And since I never saw her boyfriend, who I thought was Leo’s dad, it didn’t even occur to me. But now...?" He began to grin.

"What?" Natalia said grinning as well.

"Well, I always loved her...really loved her, because I knew she cared about me. She was sweet and quirky and compassionate. Made me laugh...With her I feel safe to be me and..."

"What Raphael?"

Rafe cleared his throat. "I just didn’t think someone as special as her could love me."

"I know the feeling," Olivia said from behind him. "Here’s hoping that Leo thinks you’re good enough for her."

Rafe looked guilty for a moment. "I was a real douche, I know."

Natalia began to argue, but Olivia said, "Yeah, you were. But you were looking out for your mom. You had every reason to doubt my intentions since you didn’t know any different at the time."

"Why didn’t you ever tell me what you’d done for me while I was in jail?" Rafe asked.

"I didn’t do it to score points with you or your mom. I did it to take care of you, and her, and that’s all that mattered."

Rafe came home on leave to meet Francesca for the first time. Shayne's team had won their big game, and the Spencer-Rivera’s were having a BBQ at the farmhouse to celebrate that fact along with his homecoming. Lillian and Buzz were doing the BBQ prep work in the kitchen. While Natalia and Blake were pulling the silk out of the corn and placing them in buckets of water to cook on the grill. Out in the field, Doris and Frank were trying to show Emma how NOT to 'throw like a girl,' as Doris called it, and surprisingly they were actually having some success. Rafe smiled, and even chuckled, as he I watched Emma trying to mimic Doris wiggling at home plate with the bat.

Francesca sat on Rafe’s lap, biting on her teething ring. Olivia came over and handed him a new one that was cold and she immediately bit down.

"Her teeth are bugging her pretty bad lately," Olivia said casually as she took a seat.

"How’s Ma?" he asked. "She gettin’ enough sleep? Food?"

"She’s good," Olivia answered. "But her feet are starting to disappear she says."

Rafe looked over at his pregnant mother, her belly just starting to show slightly.

He grinned. "So...you’re keepin’ your word then? Takin’ care of her?"

"Taking care of all of them, yes."

"I wish I could be here when Ma has the next one."

"You can if you want."

"No actually, I’m not supposed to be here now, but they made an exception for some reason."

Olivia grinned and took a drink of her lemonade. "Yeah, for some reason."

Rafe studied her. "And that bothers you, huh?"

"What?"

"Me being home again? That bothers you?"

Olivia snorted. "You couldn’t be more wrong."

"So are you saying you had something to do with my early leave time?"

"Me? No, not me."

"Okay, someone you know then?"

"You wanted to come home...you’re home. Just enjoy it."

"I don’t need any favors from you, Olivia," Rafe said raising his voice slightly, enough to catch Natalia’s attention, and Blake’s too.

Natalia excused herself and walked over the short distance to them.

"Olivia," Natalia began has she took Francesca from Rafe and handed her over to her partner. "Look after our daughter, will you?"

"Sure," she said taking the baby.

"I need to talk to our son," she added. Rafe looked like he was about to argue, but Natalia grabbed him sharply by the ear and pulled him toward the house.

They got to the kitchen where Lillian and Buzz were flirting and chopping up vegetables.

"Will you two excuse us for a moment?" Natalia asked politely, although her voice was tight.

They both looked at each other, sensing something was wrong.

"Uhh, sure," Buzz said as he escorted his wife out.

"Ma," Rafe began. She put a finger over his lips.

"Shut up and listen to me," Natalia said firmly.

Rafe’s eyes went wide.

Rafe stood in the kitchen still feeling shocked.

"Ma, you said ‘shut up’. You never-."

"And I meant it!" Natalia said poking him in the chest. "That’s my wife you’re talking to out there."

"She’s not-."

"In my heart she is so stop acting like a snot nosed child! I’m bloated, I’m sore and I’m sick of this shit from you."

He was on the verge of chuckling, but he held it back, knowing he’d be in for even more wrath if he did.

"Ma, what’s gotten into you?"

"You’re insulting the woman I love! I’m pissed, Rafe!"

"Your hormonal."

"Fine, I am!" she admitted immediately. "But my hormones don’t excuse you from being an ass! You don’t have to like Olivia or be best buds. It would be wonderful for my sake if you did, but you have to respect her at least."

Rafe’s eyes went skyward.

"Don’t roll your fucking eyes at me."

Instead, his eyes got wider.

Natalia continued, "I’m building a life with Olivia that started when your ass was in prison. She’s what I want. She makes me happy. We already have one child together and another on the way."

"You had a kid with Frank, Ma. Not her."

"If I wasn’t trying to run away from my love for her we wouldn’t have had Francesca. So you’re wrong Rafe. Frank is Chessie’s father, that’s all. Chessie’s full-time parents live in this house and this house includes Olivia. Do you have any idea what she’s done for us? For you?"

"Gee an early home leave?"

"An early leave isn’t a simple feat, but still... do you honestly think that’s all she’s done?"

"Isn’t it?"

Natalia rubbed her forehead in frustration. "Let me break it down... She loaned me money for a trip to Europe to find you when Harley took off. But when I got home she told me to ‘forget’ paying her back. And that was before we ever living together. Speaking of which, she set up the house sale to the government that gave us the down payment for THIS house."

"Which you almost lost because of her!"

"Her?! It was MY fault, Rafe! And I lost that money until she got Decker’s repayment and gave up her job in the process! And, oh yeah, the upgraded prison? She did that so you could avoid getting the shit kicked out of you everyday!"

"The prison stuff was Frank!" Rafe challenged.

"Please!" Natalia replied. "Frank got you moved from kitchen duty to the library, but it was Olivia who got you into the safer prison altogether!"

"You’re making that up."

"The hell I’m not! Frank got Doris to agree to an earlier release, but everything else was because of Olivia. Oh, and that hardware store job that you got ‘all on your own’? Remember that? Well, guess what? You can thank Doris, who put in a favor to the owner to hire you."

"Why did Doris-?"

"Because of her friendship with Olivia! We were waiting until you were more settled to tell you about us so Doris set up your job thinking a job might bring some normalcy quicker."

Rafe paused. "Are you sure Frank was-?"

"Helpful," Natalia said before he could say more. "He was very helping to us, Rafe. I’m grateful for what he did and what he still does. But all the things we have – your freedom, your safety, this house – it’s because of Olivia Spencer."

Rafe’s jaw hardened for a moment.

"So she bought you, huh Ma?"

He didn’t have time to react. Natalia’s hand moved so fast it had already made the connection with his cheek, filling the kitchen with a huge slapping noise.

"Y-you hit me," he said shocked.

There was no apology in her eyes whatsoever.

"You had it coming. But here’s another slap in the face for you... I almost slept with that high-power attorney I wanted to hire when I lost the money."

"Ma," Rafe muttered in astonishment as he still rubbed his face.

"I was desperate, Rafe, but she saved me. Did you know Buzz tried to drag her to the hospital that night because of chest pains? But Olivia left the hospital to stop me." Natalia’s voice began to crack. "She put her very existence, her entire life, at risk to save my virtue."

"Why’d you almost sleep with a worm like that?"

"Someday when you have kids Rafe, you’ll understand. There’s very little a parent won’t do when it comes to the best interest of their child — Even if that means slapping your grown child on military leave. A leave he should be thanking his step-mother for, although he continues to hate and resent her... It’s a pity because she’s done so much for you, for us, but you refuse to see it."

Rafe still appeared unsure so Natalia continued.

"I’m not asking you two be best friends now, or ever. I’m saying... Olivia’s helped us with so much – things that even ‘I’ didn’t learn about until recently. So do you see what it all means?"

Rafe seemed unsure.

"I didn’t sell out to her Rafe because I didn’t know everything she did. She didn’t flaunt it. She didn’t brag. You know why?"

He shook his head.

"She did it for US. Not her, Rafe – she did these things for our well-being; whether we knew about them or not. That’s love, Son. Selfless acts of kindness and expecting nothing in return. So please realize something. I’m not dumb. Olivia hasn’t manipulated me. She hasn’t ‘bought’ me. She’s taken care of me, of you, of our girls," Natalia said rubbing her belly. "She doesn’t deserve your disrespect, so that means you have a choice to make."

"A choice?"

"Yeah, you clean up your act and be a man or you leave right now and don’t look back."

"What are you saying, Ma?"

"I’m saying grow the fuck up and grow a pair."

"Ma!" This time Rafe did chuckle slightly and as he expected Natalia looked even more pissed. "I’m sorry," he said immediately. "I don’t know what to say and I’m just a little nervous now. I’ve never heard you be so...vocal."

"I’ve never been this in love, Rafe. Ever. But the truth is, I never met anyone as deserving of my love...and that includes you, espcially after what I just saw out there in the yard."

"Ma," Rafe began like he was going to offer an excuse or perhaps even apologize.

"In fact," Natalia continued, ignoring him, "right now, with the way you treat the woman I consider my wife, I’m shocked to be speaking to you at all. So again, here’s your choice: You either get on board with the fact Olivia is my life partner – someone who deserves your respect – if for no other reason than you love me. If not, take your stuff now and go."

Rafe grinned nervously. "Ma, you’re not serious."

Natalia paused a moment. "Not serious? Here’s the last piece of motherly advice I’ll give you...Your bag is still by the sofa," she said coldly as she started to head toward the door to leave. "Don’t forget it," she added as she walked by him without so much as a kiss, a handshake or even a wave goodbye.

"Ma!"

Natalia turned to face him. "I am serious, Rafe. I’m done waiting for you to be ‘okay’ with Olivia and me together. This stress is bad on me, the baby, Olivia and I won’t have it. I love you and I want you here, but not at the risk of everyone and everything else I hold dear."

"Ma, I’m sorry."

She paused. "If you plan to stay, I’m not the one who needs your apology. And if you do apologize, you damn well better mean it and start being a man; not a man-child."

Rafe gave a heavy sigh and squared his shoulders. "You swear to god you’re not making that up about Olivia?"

"I swear," she replied.

Rafe nodded. "I’ll apologize to her."

"Thank you, Raphael." She extended her hand to him. "Ready to go out there?"

He smiled and took it. "Sure, Ma."

"Ma kicked my ass that day," he said with a smile to Olivia and Natalia as Leo ran up to the three of them.

"Hey, Buddy," Rafe greeted him.

"Are you going to invite everyone to the lunch tomorrow?"

"It’s brunch and yes, as soon as the Beacon calls me back to confirm the ballroom."

Leo smiled and then turned to Olivia and Natalia. "You know I got a secret about you guys."

Natalia leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "I think I know it, but we’ll discuss it tomorrow, okay?"

He nodded quickly and then motioned for Rafe to pick him up. "Can you put me on your shoulders to help me find Di?"

Rafe leaned over to Olivia and Natalia and said, "Why my cousin and Daisy ever decided to name a daughter Diantha is beyond me?"

Leo began tugging his sleeve for his attention.

"Oh fine, little man," Rafe said. He hoisted him up on his shoulders and started to walk around.

At the wedding table, Ashlee walked up to Maureen and Emma. She looked mostly at Maureen and said, "This might not be the best time but..."

"What’s wrong NOW?" Maureen asked.

Ashlee chuckled. "Nothing! I just wanted to ask... Does WSPR have a news position open? I’m thinking of coming home."

"You’re coming home!" Emma said excited. "Auntie Brenda and D will love having you guys home."

"I’d like to be home but I need to have some kind of income once I get here."

"Well, we can’t pay L.A. talent rates," Maureen warned her.

"I’m not worried about that. My house in L.A. is paid for so I could sell it and buy something outright once I’m here. So all I really need is a wage to live on."

"One of our anchors is going on maternity leave soon," Maureen added, "and if she does return we could put you in at the news desk I’m sure. You wouldn’t be on air, but you’d still have an industry job."

Ashlee consider here words as she nodded.

"Why the switch?" Emma asked.

Ashlee looked over to Leo perched on Rafe’s shoulders and smiled.

"I’ve got some lost time to make up for."

Everyone waved goodbye to Emma and Maureen as they left for their honeymoon.

"Okay, hospital time," Remy told Francesca. "Let’s go."

"Already?" she asked.

"Yep. You promised."

Francesca looked to her parents for a reprieve. Upon finding none she slumped her shoulders and muttered a disgruntled, "Fine." She then turned to Elena. "This is all your fault, you know? If you hadn’t tried to kill me with that cake," she teased.

"This is the closest I’m ever going to get to a ‘Thank you for saving my life, Elena’ isn’t it?" Elena shot back playfully.

Francesca pulled Elena to her.

"Really...thank you for saving my life," she whispered sincerely. Elena looked surprised but still managed to smile. Then Francesca pulled back and added, "After nearly killing me with your cake covered dress."

"I’ll take that tiny bit of gratitude you managed to muster," Elena replied as she pulled away.

"See? We understand each other more and more every moment. Right now though I have a date with Mr. Boudreau and the ER. Fare thee well, my family... Fare thee well."

Natalia turned slightly to Olivia and muttered. "She’s so your daughter –Drama queen and all." Olivia tried to look indignant. "Don’t even," Natalia warned and then chuckled. Olivia had to laugh because she knew her wife was right. Sure, their Chessie had Frank’s good-natured DNA, Natalia’s stunning good looks, but in spirit, she was all Spencer.

As a few other gathers began to make their way to leave, Ashlee walked up to Rafe.

"Did you mean what you said earlier?"

"I said a lot of stuff earlier," he said with a gentle smile. "All of it was true, but refresh me."

"You said you wanted to try to make it work – you and me, I mean."

"Of course I meant it. Does that mean...?" He sounded hopeful.

"If WSPR can hire me, I’m coming back. Maureen thinks she’s got a space." Rafe picked her up and twirled her around in the air for a moment, which made her giggle. "Put me down, Goof." He did as she instructed and she asked, "Are you sure you’re ready for an instant family?"

"With you? I’ve already been waiting for years. There’s nothing ‘instant’ about this for any of us."

"True," Ashlee said as she considered the words. "Remember though, anything can happen and the job might fall through. Plans don’t always go the way you expect."

"Like having your wife determined to having a band perform and then finding out AT the reception the lead singer has laryngitis?"

Ashlee looked confused and then began to laugh. "I had forgotten about that! Well, that’s not exactly what I mean."

"Yeah, it kinda is. The point I’m making is... just because something unexpected and seemingly disastrous happens all is not always lost. In fact, you found out your mom is quite the virtuoso of popular music of the last one hundred years."

The Beacon ballroom was filled with well-wishers as the band’s guitar player introduced the wedding party. In the lobby, they all did their best to line up with Rafe and Jonathan as ushers, and thirteen-year-old Emma and three-year-old Francesca as flower girls. The bridesmaids consisted of Natalia’s sister Mary and Ava, Brenda and Holly, Blake and Doris. After arriving to applause, they began to take their seats at the head table. The keyboardist made his way over.

"Hi there, I’m Gary," he said to Olivia and Natalia. "First of all, congratulations," he went on.

"Thank you," Olivia told him.

"Second, we’ve got a small issue with our vocalist," he said nervously.

"Issue?" Olivia asked her annoyance level rising.

"He can’t be...vocal. He’s got laryngitis."

"So I’m assuming you have a back up?" Olivia asked although she was fairly certain where this conversation was going.

"We’re looking," he said.

"We’re at the reception," Olivia pointed out.

"Bob does backing vocals – he’s our guitarist. But he’s really not what you’d call lead singer worthy."

"You are so dead," Olivia muttered to the man who looked petrified.

"Wait," Natalia said, but it went unheeded.

"My wife wanted a band," Olivia continued, "You auditioned and she picked you so you will find a singer."

"I don’t think it’s possible. Everyone we know is booked and-."

"You better find someone," Olivia said, her voice raised slightly.

"What’s wrong?" Doris asked as she leaned over to hear the conversation.

"The lead singer is sick and can’t talk," Olivia told her. "We have no music."

"Technically, we have music just not anyone who can sing," Gary corrected her. Olivia just shot him a death glare. He just shrugged.

"I’ll sing," Doris told them.

"You?" Olivia, Gary and Natalia all said at the same time in the same disbelieving inflection.

"Yes. Me... You doubt me?"

"Well...yeah, I’ve never heard you sing," Olivia replied.

"Let me see the set list," Doris said to the keyboardist.

Gary seemed momentarily dazed, but then quickly dug into his back pocket, looking hopeful. He handed it over and she examined the selections.

"Sure," she said handing the list back. "I can do these."

"All of them?" Olivia said skeptically. "You know the words to allllll those songs?"

"Yes."

"Really?"

"What’s in my ear when you usually see me, Olivia?"

Olivia thought a moment. "Your iPod."

"That’s right. My iPod. It’s my ‘me time’ as I call it. I love music. It’s always been an escape so trust me when I say I’ve got this covered."

Olivia looked reluctant. "But can you sing?"

Doris sighed and took the list. She noticed the first dance was ‘At Last’ and turned to the keyboardist. She pointed to the list and asked, "Etta James, right?"

He nodded. Doris cleared her throat and then sang the first line that could rival James version.

"At laaaast... my loooove as come aloooong..."

Jaws around the table dropped. Heads at the nearby tables turned with a smile.

"Sure," Gary said, "But can you sing pop?"

Doris looked back at the list and pointed to The Sweet Escape by Gwen Stefani.

"If I could escape... I would but, first of all, let me saaaay... I must apologize for acting stank and treating you this waaaay. Cause-I've-been-acting-like-sour milk-all-on-the-floor-It's-your-fault-you-didn't-shut-the-

refrigerator-Maybe-that's-the-reason-I've-been-acting-so-cooooollld?"

The mayor didn’t miss a beat or stutter in the slightest.

"You CAN sing," Natalia said amazed. Olivia was speechless.

Gary simply grabbed Doris gently by the arm, leading her to her feet.

"You’re hired!" he said as he pulled her away.

Doris, Brenda, Natalia and Olivia were alone at the bar laughing. Everyone had left except for the clean up crews, who were putting away the supplies.

"Reva wanted so bad to sing too and you snubbed her," Olivia chuckled.

"Of course. She’s an attention whore," Doris replied, which made the other three women laugh. "It was your day," she added more seriously. "You two deserved it."

"I just felt bad for you," Natalia said. "You spent the night on stage and not at the party."

"I got to live a fantasy - being on stage, singing... while people ate cake." Doris grinned.

"You saved our butts quite a bit that day. Nothing seemed to go right," Olivia giggled.

"What’s that they say?" Brenda began. "Lousy wedding – great marriage?"

"We’ve had our moments," Olivia said, but managed a slight smile. "The majority of them have been good. In fact, we could probably all say that." Olivia held up her glass.

"To wonderful wives and little drama," Doris said, joining in her toast. As she clinked her glass with Natalia she added, "And to wonderful grandchildren."

"I’ll drink to that," the Latina said with a nod.

Everyone took a drink.

"I wonder if they’ll make it," Brenda said out loud.

"Rafe and Ashlee?" Doris asked. She just nodded. "Well, neither of them has made it work with other people."

"Thanks Doris," Natalia said annoyed.

"No!" Doris laughed. "You didn’t let me finish. Neither of them has made it work with other people because they’ve always wanted each other. Now’s their chance. They can stop pining." Brenda began to yawn. "Am I boring you?" Doris teased.

"No, I’m tired," Brenda chuckled. "I don’t have your stamina, Dear. I can’t believe you’re still awake. You’ve been up since early this morning."

Olivia looked around them. "True. Doris is like a marine - the first one in and the last one out."

"Semper Fi, Dear," Doris said as she raised her glass and downed the rest of her drink. "Better get going and leave Nat and Olivia alone."

"Alone?" Olivia teased. "The house is filled with kids and grandkids."

Doris harrumphed. "Please. You find ‘alone time’ when the backyard is filled with hundreds of people."

Natalia blushed and buried her face in Olivia’s neck.

"Stop it," Brenda scolded. "Just ignore her."

"I usually do," Olivia said with a wink as Doris bumped shoulders with her on the way to leave.

As Brenda and Doris started to walk to their car, Doris called out, "Bye Grannies. See you at the brunch."

A few moments later, Brenda was digging in her purse for the car key that the valet had dropped off before calling it a night about an hour before.

"I can’t believe Olivia said she cheated on her," Doris muttered.

"What?" Brenda asked.

"Olivia. She cheated on Natalia," Doris whispered.

"Again?!" Brenda exclaimed and then lowered her voice.

"Again? You mean she did it more than once?" Doris asked. "She told me it was years ago."

"Oh," Brenda said casually. "Never mind," she said acting as if she wanted to change the subject.

"Wait a second...You knew? When did you know?"

Brenda paused. "It’s late. We better get-."

"Hold up," Doris said taking her elbow. "When did you know?" Doris asked again.

"About..." Brenda mumbled something unintelligible.

"In English," Doris stressed.

"Fifteen years ago, okay? Can we go now?"

"You knew and you never told me?"

"I love you to the depths of my soul, but you can’t keep a secret to save your life." Doris looked offended and Brenda went on. "Beside, Natalia asked me not to say anything, so I didn’t... When did you find out about it all?"

This time Doris paused. "It is late. We better-."

Brenda laughed. "It was today, wasn’t it?"

"You...hush!" Doris said forcefully and then started to giggle too.

"See? You can’t keep a secret even for a day! Ha!"

Doris opened the door and pulled Brenda to her by her waist.

"I can keep secrets. It’s just with you... I don’t feel I have to. I trust you with anything." Doris began to put on a sarcastic grin. "Too bad you don’t feel the same."

"Hey!" Brenda said with a slight giggle and then gave her a kiss. "I trust you too, Doris."

"Uh huh," Doris answered skeptically.

"I do... But Natalia was... she was so devastated. If you knew the pain she went through... It was hard on everyone, and there’s nothing I could do, but there was someone I could spar." Doris didn’t reply. She simply cocked her head in interest. "You."

"Me?"

"You loved Olivia. And yeah, she did a bad thing and made a horrible decision, but I always thought she was a good woman. If you knew the truth at that time, it might have destroyed your relationship with her. So Natalia asked me to keep quiet so, out of respect for everyone, I did."

Doris smiled and kissed her on the neck. "You’re a good woman. And you’re right. I am a blabber mouth," Doris said. "But only with you because..."

"You know I won’t blab?" Brenda asked.

Doris smiled again and nodded.

Brenda just chuckled and helped Doris to the passenger seat.

"Let’s get you home. Olivia and Natalia aren’t the only lesbians who have the market cornered on ‘alone time’."

Brenda shut the door and from the other side Doris made a, "Woohoo!" noise.

Back at the bar, Natalia and Olivia sat alone, looking around at the carnage left in the backyard. People were still cleaning up as Olivia pointed out toward the area where the DJ was set up.

"We lost part of the lawn there," she commented.

"And part of the shed," Natalia added as she pointed to the broken doors.

Olivia began to nod. "You gotta admit that was pretty goddamn inventive of Elena."

"Language," Natalia admonished. "And yes, she’s very smart... and straight."

Olivia’s jaw dropped. "Elena? Straight? But she..."

Natalia nodded. "I know. I was as shocked as you. Looks like Bean’s the only other dyke in the family," she teased.

"Language," Olivia said taking her turn to admonish her wife. She then starts to look a bit melancholy.

"What Sweetie?" Natalia asked.

"Just thinking of Bean. Sorry. Dr. Jellybean...She’s a doctor and she’s married. She’s really...married...and a doctor."

"We’ve done good," Natalia said proudly.

"Yeah, but it won’t be the same, you know? She has her own life now. She doesn’t need us and... I’m feeling sorry for myself, okay?"

"Okay, but I’ll say it again. We’ve done good."

"I couldn’t have done it without you," Olivia said. Natalia blushed. "Seriously. Without you, Emma’d probably be on her third husband and a high school drop-out working at a carnival guessing people’s weight and living off her Granddad Alan’s money and getting high every night."

"Wow. That’s quite the life you’ve created for fictitious Emma," Natalia complimented.

"You know what I mean," Olivia said with a grin. "Her life wouldn’t be nearly as fulfilling or rich if you hadn’t come into our lives."

"Well, what about me?" Natalia asked. "I can’t even imagine what I would have done if you decided to cast me aside after the way I left you that summer. I wouldn’t have had Elena, that’s for sure. Chances are Francesca probably would have ended up as angry and restless as Rafe as a teenager. She might have ended up in jail too for some reason. Plus, I’d have to deal with Frank on my own at every turn."

"Well, that alone is worth the price of admission to Olivia-land if you ask me."

Natalia laughed hardily and then pulled Olivia to her. "I love you so much," she told her.

"Hey," Olivia said sounding conspiratorial. "Wanna go for five times?" she said looking at her watch. "Damn, it’s after midnight."

Natalia laughed, "We could always start over again and try for five by this time tomorrow."

Olivia wiggled her eyebrows and Natalia hugged her. But almost as quickly, as her arms went around Olivia, Natalia shot away.

"What are you doing here?!" she asked as she looked over Olivia’s shoulder.

Olivia turned to Natalia’s distraction to see Emma and Maureen walking toward them. Their dresses were now gone as they donned simple oxford shirts and jeans.

"We had to come back and thank you for the wedding."

"It was nothing," Olivia replied.

Emma looked around at the ‘wreckage’ and said, "No, it was quite a lot. At first, I thought it was a bit over the top, but I’m glad how everything turned out."

"Busted cake and all?" Olivia asked.

"Hey, it got my sister’s talking," Emma replied. "No matter what Frank might say... It helped. Speaking of which, has anyone heard from Francesca?"

"Always the big sister, huh?" Natalia teased.

"Always," Emma said with a grin.

"She called a few minutes ago actually," Olivia replied. "They released her so she was taking a cab back here."

"Good. That was pretty scary."

"It was." Natalia agreed. "But she’s fine, so you can relax."

"Wonderful. Now other matters... I expect to see lots of pics of the Caribbean and Europe from your ‘Love Boat’ yacht trip as Dad’s been calling it," Emma warned.

Olivia muttered, "Phillip Spaulding is so annoying." She then nodded and said, "Will do."

"Anyway," Emma said, "I just wanted to say thank you and I love you both. The big wedding was great, but the best part is having my two mommies here."

Olivia choked up and said, "Ma and I love you too, Bean."

She and Natalia hugged both the girls until Natalia pulled back and shooed them away.

"Now go on," she said, "You two have a honeymoon to start."

Both women waved to the pair and once they rounded the corner out of sight, Olivia hung her head. Natalia kissed the top of it and pulled her head into her bosom.

"See? They never really leave, Liv. She’ll always be around."

Olivia could only nod.

"Grams? What’s this?" asked an eight-year-old girl as she held up the rectangular shaped object she’d picked up from a coffee table upon entering the room.

The farmhouse was filled with nearly every Christmas decoration in Springfield... or at least it seemed that way. The tree, like so many years before, was a plantable tree. After the holiday, it would make itself to ‘the line’ as Maureen had nicknamed it.

Pine tree after pine tree stood in formation and surrounded the property. The Spencer-Rivera’s started the tradition when Emma demanded they be eco-friendly and not murder anymore trees in 2009 – the first official Christmas when her two mommies were really two mommies to her and Francesca. As of this year, 54 trees stood with only one in 2016 that had died. They knew the year by following the path of the trees. That year stood vacant though since the tree never took root. They talked about a replacement, but Francesca said no. She never said why, only that, ‘God must have wanted it that way as a reminder’. Reminder of what? She never did say.

Emma now owned the property, so she could do what she wanted, but she respected Francesca’s wishes. In fact, Emma could live anywhere in the world she wanted, but this was the only place that ever felt like home. Even after she and Maureen bought their own properties over the years, it was always the farmhouse Emma loved most. So, when the opportunity presented itself, Emma came home again.

Underneath that live tree now was a battered Nativity. The fake moss on the roof was all but nearly gone. A few wise men seemed to be missing the pigment from their eyes. Still, it sat with a reverence as if it were made of gold, rather than cheap plastic.

Emma at sixty-five still had eyes that positively sparkled anytime she was tickled about something. And right now, it was watching her inquisitive granddaughter. She pulled off her reading glasses and put down her e-reader for a moment. Her grin widened.

"That, my dear, is a book. I know you’ve seen books."

"Yeah, but not many of them."

Emma grinned at the response. "Nana found it when she was looking through our decoration boxes this year. It’s called ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’ by Dylan Thomas."

"A book about being in a Whale? Like Jonah?"

Emma giggled. "No, the country of Wales, Sweetie. It’s next to England in the United Kingdom."

"Oh...What’s it about?"

"Would you like to read it?"

The girl nodded enthusiastically.

"Go ahead and open it," Emma told her.

Maureen entered the room with a tray that held three coco mugs. She smiled as she watched their granddaughter sit cross-legged and open the first page. She took a seat next to Emma on the sofa.

"Someone scribbled in here," the girl said.

"It’s called an inscription. Years ago when you’d give someone a book, you’d sometimes leave a little note for them. Go ahead and read it."

"Dear Emma," the child paused and then looked up. "That’s you!" she said proudly. Emma just smiled and nodded. "Sometimes the bigger we get, the smaller our dreams are. I hope your dreams keep getting bigger and bigger. Love always, Natalia." The child paused and thought a moment. "Natalia was your Ma’s name, right? You got this from your Ma?"

"I did. Many years ago." Emma grinned.

"What happened to her?"

"What do you mean?" Emma asked.

"Did she die like my mommie?"

Emma paused as if contemplating how to tell the story. "She died, yes, but not like your mommie. My Ma got real sick with cancer. By the time they realized why she’d been feeling bad, it was too late to give her any medicine. Then about six months later my mom, Olivia, joined her in heaven."

"Like my mom?" the girl asked.

Maureen had to turn away. She walked back into the kitchen under the guise of getting more food. She muttered something about cookies and gave the pair some privacy.

"No, your mom got hurt in a car accident, Sweetie. My mom... her heart gave out," she replied.

Emma knew the truth. Olivia’s heart didn’t give out. She was heartbroken after losing Natalia and her body just gave up. No one – not family or friends – were shocked to hear about Olivia’s passing so soon after Natalia’s death.

"Do you miss them?" the young girl asked.

"Yeah, but it’s been awhile. The pain of them being gone never leaves but with time it doesn’t sting as much. You’ll know what I mean someday."

The girl got a curious yet hopeful look on her face.

"Do you think they know each other? Your moms and my mom?"

It took all Emma had not to start crying. She tightened her lip and gave a firm nod. "I’m sure they do. They never really leave, Honey. They’ll always be around... even if we can’t see or hear them like you see me," Emma said.

"Why?"

"Well, I have a theory that when we leave this world, we go to heaven if we've tried to lead a good life. But we can come back and check up on the people we love and the people they love. So, I’m positive they know alllll about each other. They’re all having a very Merry Christmas and want us to do the same."

The girl gave a small smile. "I like having Christmas here. I love the smell. It’s like real Christmas," she said as she looked around at the decorations.

For a moment, Emma’s mind flashed to her first Christmas in the same living room, over 50 years before and the images of two trees in the room, battling for dominance. She had to grin.

"I do too, Sweetie," she said as she motioned the girl toward her.

Emma settled the girl on her lap and gave her a kiss on the cheek. The young girl rested her head on her shoulder. As Maureen re-entered she took an afghan from the back of the chair and draped it over their legs although the fire was still rather large a few feet away. Once they were settled with their treats, Emma put her glasses back on that Maureen handed her. She began to read.

"One Christmas was so much like another, in those years around the sea-town corner now and out of all sound except the distant speaking of the voices, I sometimes hear a moment before sleep, that I can never remember whether it snowed for six days and six nights when I was twelve or whether it snowed for twelve days and twelve nights when I was six."