Love Like This

Knight In Shining Armor

-A/N- I'm still processing Billy's exit, hopefully this helps you process too, this ones for the Daddy's Girls.

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Olivia was six years old the first time she truly felt alone. Her parents had decided that it was finally time for she and Jordan to have separate bedrooms for the ferry first time. Olivia remembered that first night in her very own room like it was yesterday, if she thought hard enough she could still remember what the sheets felt like underneath her fingers, she could still remember the sounds of the wind outside of her window, and she still remembers how paralyzing it felt to be in that big room all alone.

After much tossing and turning she had finally fallen asleep before she sat up in bed, panting, her nightmares had won this round. She sat in bed trying to calm her breathing having a little to no success. She could feel the tears as they gathered in her eyes and before she knew it she was calling the one person that she knew that could make her feel comfortable.

"Daddy?"

She didn't call him loudly, she was too afraid that he would already be asleep, but they didn't keep her from trying anyway. She softly called his name and waited in which felt like hours pass by with no response she forced herself to lay back down, thinking that no one would come to save her.

"I'm here baby girl." Billy's soft voice called from her door, "Daddy's here. I'm not going anywhere, I got you."

The warm embrace of her father allowed her to relax for the first time since she'd been tucked into bed hours earlier. She could hear that her dad was whispering something to her but her eyes were so heavy that she couldn't quite make out what he was saying.

Billy settled in, looks like he'd be joining his baby girl in her twin bed tonight, but he couldn't complain, she needed him and he was happy to come running anytime she called.

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Olivia jolted up, panting, she'd seen it again, her overdose. She quietly made her way out of her room, holding her breath as she passed Jordan's room, and made her way to the living room. She tucked herself into the corner of the couch, and began to deeply breathe. Her sponsor had told her that sobriety was a battle of the mind so she often found herself trying to tell her mind that it wasn't craving pills, tell her heart that it would one day heal, and remind her spirit that it could not be broken by her current situation.

She was lost in her breathing exercises when she felt a blanket cover her shoulders before she was pulled into a warm chest. She knew who was holding her, he didn't have to say a word, only her father's arms felt like this. She didn't realize she was crying until she felt him wipe her tears but still, neither of them said a word. She knew the guilt that her dad dealt with surrounding her overdose, he knew the shame that she dealt with too, they needed each other, they always will.

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Olivia couldn't go home, too many memories of Spencer were there, so she's been crashing at her parents place in Crenshaw. Laura had tried and failed to get Olivia to go by the house in Beverly Hills but Olivia knew she wasn't ready for that just yet.

It was currently 2am and Olivia sniffled as softly as possible, not wanting to disturb anyone else, as she sat on the couch watching movies alone for the first time in a year.

"Baby girl? What are you doing up?" Billy asked.

Olivia quickly tried to wipe her tears but it was too late, he'd already seen them.

"Come here." Billy whispered, opening his arms yet again, wanting to comfort her to the best of his abilities.

"I know that you love Spencer, and I know that he loves you too." Billy began. "But love requires you to compromise, not go without. Football is his passion, he shouldn't have to give that up love you. Journalism is your path, you shouldn't feel like you have to step around glass to be with him. Compromise is your snack breaks, not depriving yourselves of chasing your dreams."

Olivia's tears were a constant flow like a quiet river as she took in the wisdom of her father, yes, her break up hurt, but she needed to see this through.

"Life gives you opportunities to chase your dreams, that's how we end up in the places were supposed to be. Life also allows you the chance you need to meet your soulmate. If you and Spence are meant to be, you'll find your way back when you both only have to compromise on the little things, not the life altering decisions. Trust your self Olivia, trust the love that you have for Spencer, and finish that article, no matter who tries to get in your way."

Billy wiped her tears as he whispered in her ear. "I know the daughter I raised, I know she has a good head on her shoulders, I need you to trust that too."

Olivia and Billy stayed in that exact same spot until Laura found them both in the morning, she didn't even bother waking them, she just covered them with a blanket and went quietly to the kitchen,

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Olivia was spent, she'd given her best attempt at keeping a lid on her emotions during the funeral but she was tired of putting on a show. Once she looked up and saw that Simone had flown back from Atlanta to be there for her, she couldn't hold her tears back. Once she got home, she barricaded herself inside her room, wanting to be alone, and before long, she cried herself to sleep.

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"How's Jordan doing?" Coop asked Asher as the remaining members of the Vortex stood around the kitchen of the Baker house.

"He's hanging in there, I think he's trying to be strong for Mrs. Baker."

The group watched as Jordan never strayed far from his mother, latching onto the only parent he had left. They knew Olivia wasn't coming back downstairs, and despite their desire to be with her, they respected her wish to be alone.

"This is going to be a huge shift for everyone but especially for Olivia." Simone said from her position on the counter. "Working on that article may have taken some things from her but it bonded her with her dad. She and Coach Baker had gotten closer than ever over the last few months." Simone revealed, sending a soft smile to Jordan as he made his way into the group. "I know were all going to greave him in different ways but I need you all to promise me that you won't immediately assume that Olivia will relapse because of her grief."

The Vortex looked uncomfortable, half of them out of shame, the others out of disbelief that the assumption drawn was Olivia relapsing.

Before anyone could respond, they heard the most heartbreaking sound of the day.

"Dad!"

Jordan's tears were prevalent, Laura's never stopped flowing, as they turned to walk up the stairs and tend to Olivia.

"I'll go." Spencer stated, taking a deep breathe before making his way to Olivia's room.

He could feel the cracks in his chest at the sight of Olivia cradling a picture frame that held a photo of her younger self and Billy while crying. He didn't way anything, he just took his shoes off and slipped into bed behind her, holding her tight against his chest. He knew that he wasn't the person she was looking for, he'd never be able to fill the whole that was in her heart where her father once was, but he would never forgive himself if he didn't try.

"It's okay Liv," Spencer whispered as he rocked them back and forth, "I'm sorry Liv. I know how bad this hurts but I promise you, you are not alone. I got you."

Olivia said no words, she just let the tone of Spencer's voice lull her back into a fit filled rest. As she faded back into REM she could hear it, clear as day, the same words her father whispered to her all those years ago when he crawled into her bed to keep her nightmares at bay, "I'm here Liv, I'm not going anywhere, I got you."

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Cheers to Billy Baker: Husband. Father. Coach. Principal. Friend. This fandom will miss him deeply, Until next time my friends, thanks for reading.