Dear mom

6. Emergency Delivery

Cont...

Later that night...

"Did you have fun today, honey?" Olivia kneeled next to Pia's bed as she tucked her in for bed.

Pia and Corinna had met their grandmother for the first time today. It had gone a lot smoother than Olivia had anticipated, but there was still confusion left behind- especially for little Pia.

"I did! Grandma Serena said maybe next time she comes we can have a tea party!" Pia's hazel eyes brightened as she looked up at her mother.

"Oh that will be so much fun," she smoothed her curly brown hair, and kissed the top of her nose.

"Daddy!" Elliot had popped in to her room to kiss her good night like always.

"I came to tell my best girl good night," he leaned over her bed and kissed her forehead.

"Good night daddy," she held his head between her tiny hands and melted Olivia's heart.

"We love you. Have sweet dreams," Elliot reached turned on her night light and stood.

"Honey.." Olivia held her hand up for him to help her up.

He grabbed her hands and pulled her up gently. "Oh boy," she stood to her feet and ran pressed a hand to her lower back.

"What's wrong mommy?"

"Your little brother is kicking me really hard," she stood and took a few breaths as she rode out the Braxton hicks. "Whew, okay," she stood straight and bent to kiss Pia goodnight one more time before heading to the hallway. "I'm going to check on Corinna," she told Elliot and headed down the hallway.

She knocked before entering and smiled when she seen Corinna at her desk studying. "Hey baby," Olivia kissed the top of her head.

"Hey," she looked up from her notepad.

"I just wanted to check on you. Today was kind of...crazy," she turned her back to the desk and leaned on the edge.

"Yeah," her voice was soft. "It's just weird to go from thinking she was dead, to her sitting in our living room."

"I wish there was a way for me to give all those years back to you. I'm so sorry Corinna," Olivia reached for her hand and gave it a squeeze. She was not only talking about her entire childhood lost, but about the limited amount of time she had left with her as well.

"Mom, please don't think I'm upset with you because I'm not," to her surprise Corinna stood and embraced her mother. "From the little bits and pieces of your childhood that you've told me about...listen, I get it. Serena, or grandma, put you through an unimaginable experience and you did what was easiest for you to cope," Olivia sat stunned at her daughter's words. Corinna had been troublesome the past few months, but she was happy to see this new level of maturity from her.

"Thank you for trying to understand," Olivia ran a hand through Corinna's straight light brown hair, and kissed her temple. "She told me she explained her illness to you. How does that make you feel?"

"Sad to say the least," she shrugged. Her eyes casted down and Olivia knew she was putting on a strong front for her. "And confused. I want to grow to love her while she's still here, but it's going to be so hard when she has less than a year you know?" her voice cracked. She looked up at her mother and her lip began to quiver as the tears approached.

"Oh come here honey," Olivia opened her arms to envelope her and she complied. Nothing hurt Olivia more than knowing her child was in pain, and having no power to prevent this from happening. "You listen to me. I don't expect you to try and be strong. It's okay to feel and to cry," she used the pad of her thumb to wipe the tears from Corinna's cheeks. "It's important to realize that the love you're searching for within this new relationship will come naturally with time. For now let's do our best to make the most of the time we have left with her," she squeezed her tight before letting go.