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Title: Five Moments That Shaped The Strangest Moment Of Francesca Rivera's Young Life
Fandom: Guiding Light
Characters: Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Emma Spencer, Francesca Rivera, Frank Cooper, Rick Bauer.
Category: Romance, Drama, Humor
Rating: R
Word count: 3, 028
Summary: The five moments that shaped the strangest moment of Francesca Rivera's young life.
Spoilers/Timeline Generally through September '09, though nothing terribly specific I think.
Disclaimer: All characters (Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, blah blah etc.) and situations belong to Guiding Light, Telenext, Proctor & Gamble, etc. I'm not them.
Author's Note: I've had this idea for almost a year now. All that to say...even I have no idea where I got this idea from at this point.
Beta: A big thanks to both aimlessla and Rysler for their very different but equally invaluable input about this fic.
Warning: This fic may leave you scratching your head. You may not want to read it if you have a family history of baldness.
Part One || Part Two
3.
"Answer my question, Rick," Frank said, taking a step closer to him, not threatening but certainly with the intent to intimidate.
Rick looked between Natalia and Frank. Natalia was still too caught in her own shock to recognize that Rick was looking to her for how to proceed. Olivia had no such issues. She stepped forward, her hand coming to rest at the small of Natalia’s back in a gesture of reassurance. She had no idea what the hell was going on, but Rick couldn’t just come into a room and drop a bomb like that with no further comment.
“Explain,” Olivia said, the single, terse word doing plenty to convey her unhappiness with the situation and making it clear that upsetting Natalia the way that he had was unacceptable.
Rick’s gaze shot over to Olivia and he gave a minute flinch - and then sighed. He had been exposed too often to Olivia’s nastier side during her recovery from her heart transplant to be much phased by it.
“Your blood type is AB negative, right?” Rick asked, turning to Frank.
Frank gave a short nod, arms folded over his chest.
“Francesca’s is O negative,” Rick said as if that explained everything.
It did not.
Olivia’s glare intensified.
“It means there’s no possible way that Frank could be Francesca’s father,” Rick continued. “The blood types don’t match. It just doesn’t work that way.”
Frank shot a startled, disbelieving glare at Natalia.
“Don’t you dare, Frank,” Olivia said in a voice that was just loud enough to be heard, the softness of it underscoring the threat it carried.
“Stay out of this, Olivia,” Frank shot back. “This is none of your business and I have a right to know.” He thrust a finger out a Natalia. “She was the one who told me Francesca was my daughter, but if she wasn’t certain, then she should have told me that too. I have a right to know.” He turned to Rick. “I want a paternity test.”
“Don’t talk to Olivia that way.” It was the first time Natalia had re-entered the conversation and it drew everyone’s attention. Natalia didn’t falter under Frank’s angry gaze, but rather met it with resoluteness. Her spine stiffened and she stood a little straighter. “Of course this is Olivia’s business. Francesca is her daughter too.” She held his gaze a moment longer to make certain that he understood her seriousness and then shifted her attention to Rick. “Your results are wrong. They have to be; Frank was the only person I slept with for months.”
“Well, not the only person...” Olivia said, her voice low and for Natalia’s ears alone.
“Not helping,” Natalia shot back under her breath. Her gaze flicked over to Olivia beside her. For the first time she looked more worried than stunned. “You don’t think I-”
“No,” Olivia said, cutting her off before she could even fully vocalise the question. “I know you didn’t sleep with anyone else during that time.” Olivia quirked a tiny grin. The ‘besides me’ was fully implied.
Frank scoffed. “Well I’m not so sure about that - and I was the one you were engaged to marry.”
“Frank,” Natalia said with a sigh. “I would never have cheated on you-”
“-With anyone except for her? Why do I not find that reassuring? You could have been sleeping with half the town for all I know.”
Olivia lunged for him, Frank dodged back a step and Rick lurched forward to jump between them as Natalia shouted, grabbing for Olivia’s wrist to pull her back.
“Olivia, don’t do this.”
The moment Olivia felt Natalia’s hand on her arm she stopped struggling, her body going rigid with the tension of conflicting impulses. Natalia slipped past her, still keeping a hand on Olivia, doing nothing in particular to restrain her but everything in general to maintain some connection to her.
“And you,” Natalia declared, giving Frank a hard stare. “I know you’re hurt and you’re scared because you’re worried about Francesca. But so are we. We’re scared too, Frank. You don’t get to take that out on me.”
Frank continued to scowl but said nothing. Natalia let it go, refocusing on Rick.
“What does this have to do with Francesca? Because all I care about right now is finding out what’s wrong with her and making sure she gets better?”
“It rules out Frank as a donor, for one thing. And we need to find another.” Rick sighed. “Olivia is a match for Francesca, but given her condition, she isn’t an ideal donor.”
“My condition-” Olivia said hotly.
“-Is something we need to keep in mind.”
“That’s my kid in there, Rick,” Olivia retorted. “And if she needs my blood-”
“It won’t do her any good if you kill yourself,” Rick said flatly.
Natalia’s gasp froze them all.
“He’s just exaggerating,” Olivia murmured. “It’s what he does.”
“If you’re not careful...” Rick shot back warningly.
Olivia just rolled her eyes.
“In the meantime,” Frank cut in. “I want a paternity test.”
“Frank, this is no time to be sticking more needles in Francesca. She’s already had enough done to her today. It can wait,” Natalia declared.
“And I say it can’t,” Frank retorted. “Isn’t there some blood or something that you’ve already taken that could be used for the test, Rick?”
Rick cast a quick glance at Natalia. She looked unhappy but didn’t object. “I’ll talk to the technicians about the samples we have.” He put a hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Why don’t you come over here, so we can draw your blood for a comparison.”
Frank let himself to be led away, missing the glance that Rick shot back over his shoulder at Olivia and Natalia.
*** *** ***
Natalia looked over at Olivia. They’d been sitting side-by-side in the waiting room’s uncomfortable chairs for over an hour. Olivia’s head leaned awkwardly back against the wall and her eyes were shut. She didn’t look peaceful; she looked ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
Natalia reached over and took Olivia’s hand in hers, picking it up from the arm rest and kissing Olivia’s knuckles, clutching it to her heart. Olivia smiled and rolled her head to face Natalia, though her eyes were still closed.
“You’re quiet,” Natalia noted.
With her free arm, Olivia gave a small one-shouldered shrug.
“Just thinking about Chessy.”
“And about what Rick said?” Natalia suggested.
This time Olivia opened her eyes. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
It was Natalia’s turn to shrug. “I wouldn’t blame you for-”
“Hey, Sweetheart, look at me,” Olivia said, reaching up to touch Natalia’s chin, her thumb brushing over soft skin. “Frank might doubt you, but I’m not Frank. If you say you didn’t sleep with anyone but him - and me - it never crossed my mind. I know how upset you were about what happened with him. I will never forget that smell. So much bleach.” She was hoping for a tiny smile but was only rewarded with a quirk of Natalia’s lips. “I believe you. I don’t know what’s going on but Rick will figure it out.”
“Huh.” Natalia sank back in her seat. “Since when are you so calm about things?”
Olivia snorted. “I’m not or did you forget I almost took Frank’s head off earlier?
“I didn’t.” Natalia scowled. “It’s just so weird though. What Rick said. I don’t understand it.”
Olivia pressed her lips together then let out a little sigh. “Does it matter, really? We’re here together. Francesca will be fine.” Her tone left no doubt that anything else wasn’t actually an option. “What else do we need?”
A tiny smile caught at the corner of Natalia’s lips and brought with it a hint of dimples. “Nothing,” Natalia said, smiling sweetly up at Olivia, leaning closer to kiss her.
A not-at-all-discrete-and-completely-fake cough interrupted them.
"Rick," Olivia said. She longed to ignore him, her forehead pressed to Natalia's and lose herself in this woman. At any other time she wouldn't have moved. But Rick might have information about Francesca. It was only when she pulled reluctantly away from Natalia that Olivia saw Frank standing behind Rick. He was scowling and unhappy. The most charitable part of Olivia thought he looked scared and she had a sudden pang for how he must be feeling. She knew well enough how sickening it felt to have one’s place in Francesca's life in doubt.
"He wouldn't tell me anything," Frank said, crossing his arms over his chest. It was clear what he thought of Rick's decision.
Olivia hated the mournful look on Rick's face. She had seen it too many times.
"I got back the results from the paternity test."
"Do keep us in suspense, Rick," Olivia said when he didn't continue.
He sighed. "There was a match in the system. But it wasn't Frank."
Natalia gasped. Olivia reached for her hand without looking.
"Then who, damn it?" Frank demanded. "I deserve that if nothing else."
Rick sighed and looked even more uncomfortable. "I'm not sure how this is possible, but well after we got the test back the first time I had them run it again - three more times."
"Just tell us," Olivia growled.
"It's you," Rick said bluntly. "You're the father - mother. I don't even know. But DNA doesn't lie."
Frank blinked. "Be serious, Rick. It isn't funny. This is my daughter we're talking about."
"I am, Frank. I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"This isn't..." Natalia sounded shaky. "Rick just..."
Rick thrust out the sheath of papers he held. "Here. I knew you wouldn't believe me. This explains everything." He held the papers out.
Olivia took them before anyone else could move and scanned them quickly. "Are you sure the match was correct? That it wasn’t some mistake?"
Rick nodded. "I'm sure. I made them check it again for errors."
Olivia handed the papers to Natalia without another word. She examined them for a moment and then passed them along to Frank.
His face clouded almost instantly; he balled the papers up and threw them aside. "Do the test again."
"Frank, it won't do any good. I checked it - I triple-checked it. . "
"It's not even possible!"
Rick shrugged. "How many impossible things have happened in Springfield?"
Frank glared. "You can't take my daughter away - not and give her to HER. She takes everything away from me. She’s destroyed my entire life.”
“Frank-” Natalia tried to cut in, but he turned on her.
“And you! At least she doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what she is - pretend to care. You’re worse than she is.” He drew himself back momentarily, his eyes going cold and dark in a way Natalia had never seen before. “I’m glad she’s not my daughter. Good riddance.”
Natalia’s eyes narrowed. “You would throw away a child that quickly - one you spent two years claiming that you loved - just because she doesn’t have your blood? You don’t know anything about love, Frank Cooper. And I don’t know you.” She took a step closer to him, her eyes almost glittering with fury and disappointment. “If that’s how you love, then she’s better off without you.”
Without another word, Natalia turned on her heel and walked away, brisk, staccato steps echoing down the hallway. She never looked back.
(3/5)
Fandom: Guiding Light
Characters: Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, Emma Spencer, Francesca Rivera, Frank Cooper, Rick Bauer.
Category: Romance, Drama, Humor
Rating: R
Word count: 3, 028
Summary: The five moments that shaped the strangest moment of Francesca Rivera's young life.
Spoilers/Timeline Generally through September '09, though nothing terribly specific I think.
Disclaimer: All characters (Olivia Spencer, Natalia Rivera, blah blah etc.) and situations belong to Guiding Light, Telenext, Proctor & Gamble, etc. I'm not them.
Author's Note: I've had this idea for almost a year now. All that to say...even I have no idea where I got this idea from at this point.
Beta: A big thanks to both aimlessla and Rysler for their very different but equally invaluable input about this fic.
Warning: This fic may leave you scratching your head. You may not want to read it if you have a family history of baldness.
Part One || Part Two
3.
"Answer my question, Rick," Frank said, taking a step closer to him, not threatening but certainly with the intent to intimidate.
Rick looked between Natalia and Frank. Natalia was still too caught in her own shock to recognize that Rick was looking to her for how to proceed. Olivia had no such issues. She stepped forward, her hand coming to rest at the small of Natalia’s back in a gesture of reassurance. She had no idea what the hell was going on, but Rick couldn’t just come into a room and drop a bomb like that with no further comment.
“Explain,” Olivia said, the single, terse word doing plenty to convey her unhappiness with the situation and making it clear that upsetting Natalia the way that he had was unacceptable.
Rick’s gaze shot over to Olivia and he gave a minute flinch - and then sighed. He had been exposed too often to Olivia’s nastier side during her recovery from her heart transplant to be much phased by it.
“Your blood type is AB negative, right?” Rick asked, turning to Frank.
Frank gave a short nod, arms folded over his chest.
“Francesca’s is O negative,” Rick said as if that explained everything.
It did not.
Olivia’s glare intensified.
“It means there’s no possible way that Frank could be Francesca’s father,” Rick continued. “The blood types don’t match. It just doesn’t work that way.”
Frank shot a startled, disbelieving glare at Natalia.
“Don’t you dare, Frank,” Olivia said in a voice that was just loud enough to be heard, the softness of it underscoring the threat it carried.
“Stay out of this, Olivia,” Frank shot back. “This is none of your business and I have a right to know.” He thrust a finger out a Natalia. “She was the one who told me Francesca was my daughter, but if she wasn’t certain, then she should have told me that too. I have a right to know.” He turned to Rick. “I want a paternity test.”
“Don’t talk to Olivia that way.” It was the first time Natalia had re-entered the conversation and it drew everyone’s attention. Natalia didn’t falter under Frank’s angry gaze, but rather met it with resoluteness. Her spine stiffened and she stood a little straighter. “Of course this is Olivia’s business. Francesca is her daughter too.” She held his gaze a moment longer to make certain that he understood her seriousness and then shifted her attention to Rick. “Your results are wrong. They have to be; Frank was the only person I slept with for months.”
“Well, not the only person...” Olivia said, her voice low and for Natalia’s ears alone.
“Not helping,” Natalia shot back under her breath. Her gaze flicked over to Olivia beside her. For the first time she looked more worried than stunned. “You don’t think I-”
“No,” Olivia said, cutting her off before she could even fully vocalise the question. “I know you didn’t sleep with anyone else during that time.” Olivia quirked a tiny grin. The ‘besides me’ was fully implied.
Frank scoffed. “Well I’m not so sure about that - and I was the one you were engaged to marry.”
“Frank,” Natalia said with a sigh. “I would never have cheated on you-”
“-With anyone except for her? Why do I not find that reassuring? You could have been sleeping with half the town for all I know.”
Olivia lunged for him, Frank dodged back a step and Rick lurched forward to jump between them as Natalia shouted, grabbing for Olivia’s wrist to pull her back.
“Olivia, don’t do this.”
The moment Olivia felt Natalia’s hand on her arm she stopped struggling, her body going rigid with the tension of conflicting impulses. Natalia slipped past her, still keeping a hand on Olivia, doing nothing in particular to restrain her but everything in general to maintain some connection to her.
“And you,” Natalia declared, giving Frank a hard stare. “I know you’re hurt and you’re scared because you’re worried about Francesca. But so are we. We’re scared too, Frank. You don’t get to take that out on me.”
Frank continued to scowl but said nothing. Natalia let it go, refocusing on Rick.
“What does this have to do with Francesca? Because all I care about right now is finding out what’s wrong with her and making sure she gets better?”
“It rules out Frank as a donor, for one thing. And we need to find another.” Rick sighed. “Olivia is a match for Francesca, but given her condition, she isn’t an ideal donor.”
“My condition-” Olivia said hotly.
“-Is something we need to keep in mind.”
“That’s my kid in there, Rick,” Olivia retorted. “And if she needs my blood-”
“It won’t do her any good if you kill yourself,” Rick said flatly.
Natalia’s gasp froze them all.
“He’s just exaggerating,” Olivia murmured. “It’s what he does.”
“If you’re not careful...” Rick shot back warningly.
Olivia just rolled her eyes.
“In the meantime,” Frank cut in. “I want a paternity test.”
“Frank, this is no time to be sticking more needles in Francesca. She’s already had enough done to her today. It can wait,” Natalia declared.
“And I say it can’t,” Frank retorted. “Isn’t there some blood or something that you’ve already taken that could be used for the test, Rick?”
Rick cast a quick glance at Natalia. She looked unhappy but didn’t object. “I’ll talk to the technicians about the samples we have.” He put a hand on Frank’s shoulder. “Why don’t you come over here, so we can draw your blood for a comparison.”
Frank let himself to be led away, missing the glance that Rick shot back over his shoulder at Olivia and Natalia.
*** *** ***
Natalia looked over at Olivia. They’d been sitting side-by-side in the waiting room’s uncomfortable chairs for over an hour. Olivia’s head leaned awkwardly back against the wall and her eyes were shut. She didn’t look peaceful; she looked ready to spring into action at a moment’s notice.
Natalia reached over and took Olivia’s hand in hers, picking it up from the arm rest and kissing Olivia’s knuckles, clutching it to her heart. Olivia smiled and rolled her head to face Natalia, though her eyes were still closed.
“You’re quiet,” Natalia noted.
With her free arm, Olivia gave a small one-shouldered shrug.
“Just thinking about Chessy.”
“And about what Rick said?” Natalia suggested.
This time Olivia opened her eyes. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
It was Natalia’s turn to shrug. “I wouldn’t blame you for-”
“Hey, Sweetheart, look at me,” Olivia said, reaching up to touch Natalia’s chin, her thumb brushing over soft skin. “Frank might doubt you, but I’m not Frank. If you say you didn’t sleep with anyone but him - and me - it never crossed my mind. I know how upset you were about what happened with him. I will never forget that smell. So much bleach.” She was hoping for a tiny smile but was only rewarded with a quirk of Natalia’s lips. “I believe you. I don’t know what’s going on but Rick will figure it out.”
“Huh.” Natalia sank back in her seat. “Since when are you so calm about things?”
Olivia snorted. “I’m not or did you forget I almost took Frank’s head off earlier?
“I didn’t.” Natalia scowled. “It’s just so weird though. What Rick said. I don’t understand it.”
Olivia pressed her lips together then let out a little sigh. “Does it matter, really? We’re here together. Francesca will be fine.” Her tone left no doubt that anything else wasn’t actually an option. “What else do we need?”
A tiny smile caught at the corner of Natalia’s lips and brought with it a hint of dimples. “Nothing,” Natalia said, smiling sweetly up at Olivia, leaning closer to kiss her.
A not-at-all-discrete-and-completely-fake cough interrupted them.
"Rick," Olivia said. She longed to ignore him, her forehead pressed to Natalia's and lose herself in this woman. At any other time she wouldn't have moved. But Rick might have information about Francesca. It was only when she pulled reluctantly away from Natalia that Olivia saw Frank standing behind Rick. He was scowling and unhappy. The most charitable part of Olivia thought he looked scared and she had a sudden pang for how he must be feeling. She knew well enough how sickening it felt to have one’s place in Francesca's life in doubt.
"He wouldn't tell me anything," Frank said, crossing his arms over his chest. It was clear what he thought of Rick's decision.
Olivia hated the mournful look on Rick's face. She had seen it too many times.
"I got back the results from the paternity test."
"Do keep us in suspense, Rick," Olivia said when he didn't continue.
He sighed. "There was a match in the system. But it wasn't Frank."
Natalia gasped. Olivia reached for her hand without looking.
"Then who, damn it?" Frank demanded. "I deserve that if nothing else."
Rick sighed and looked even more uncomfortable. "I'm not sure how this is possible, but well after we got the test back the first time I had them run it again - three more times."
"Just tell us," Olivia growled.
"It's you," Rick said bluntly. "You're the father - mother. I don't even know. But DNA doesn't lie."
Frank blinked. "Be serious, Rick. It isn't funny. This is my daughter we're talking about."
"I am, Frank. I wouldn't joke about something like this."
"This isn't..." Natalia sounded shaky. "Rick just..."
Rick thrust out the sheath of papers he held. "Here. I knew you wouldn't believe me. This explains everything." He held the papers out.
Olivia took them before anyone else could move and scanned them quickly. "Are you sure the match was correct? That it wasn’t some mistake?"
Rick nodded. "I'm sure. I made them check it again for errors."
Olivia handed the papers to Natalia without another word. She examined them for a moment and then passed them along to Frank.
His face clouded almost instantly; he balled the papers up and threw them aside. "Do the test again."
"Frank, it won't do any good. I checked it - I triple-checked it. . "
"It's not even possible!"
Rick shrugged. "How many impossible things have happened in Springfield?"
Frank glared. "You can't take my daughter away - not and give her to HER. She takes everything away from me. She’s destroyed my entire life.”
“Frank-” Natalia tried to cut in, but he turned on her.
“And you! At least she doesn’t pretend to be anything other than what she is - pretend to care. You’re worse than she is.” He drew himself back momentarily, his eyes going cold and dark in a way Natalia had never seen before. “I’m glad she’s not my daughter. Good riddance.”
Natalia’s eyes narrowed. “You would throw away a child that quickly - one you spent two years claiming that you loved - just because she doesn’t have your blood? You don’t know anything about love, Frank Cooper. And I don’t know you.” She took a step closer to him, her eyes almost glittering with fury and disappointment. “If that’s how you love, then she’s better off without you.”
Without another word, Natalia turned on her heel and walked away, brisk, staccato steps echoing down the hallway. She never looked back.
(3/5)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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As for Frank... His happy Cooper ass would have been on the ground! Damn stupid bastard. That seems like something he would do since he can't deal with a woman leaving him.
I love this!
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Yeah, Frank does seem to have a pretty big case of being certain the world is conspiring against him. It's like his flaw and this wouldn't make it any easier for him.
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Whoa.
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Looking forward to the next crack-filled chapter.
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Hey Frank
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Re: Hey Frank
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JCF/OtaliAnglican
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