The Dream Is Not Over

Home Sweet Home

Brief  POV change for this chapter only

The front door of the tiny, off campus apartment slams shut, making the small blonde sitting on the sofa jump. Just moments ago, she was blissfully painting her toenails a pretty periwinkle blue color, adding white, yellow-centered daisies to her big toes with her nail art kit. Now, her progress is stalled, her head popping up as her blue-eyed, dark-haired beau kicks off his boots and tosses them in a rage against the wall. He tears off his battered leather jacket and throws it over the old mint green brocade chair in the living room.

"You are a sight for sore eyes!" River gushes in a brief reprieve from his anger. He kisses Olivia's cheek, stroking her long wavy hair.

"I didn't expect you until tomorrow morning. Did something happen?" As soon as the words leave her mouth, his fury spikes, reaching fever pitch.

"Mom's pregnant, but you already knew that, and dad, he's so goddamn smug!" He shakes his head in disgust. "When Mick put us up in that fancy-ass hotel, it was all a cover for their huge fight at our engagement party! Dad left Fleetwood Mac, Mom flipped and things apparently got physical. He put his hands on her! She had makeup on her neck, trying to cover the bruises but he didn't have a scratch on him, well, except for the one he got from his drunken accident outside the house that same night. Jesus, this is just fucking like him! He's always flying off the handle, throwing his weight around! I've heard the stories, it's not a secret! But beyond that...beyond that, they think I've never heard them fight! Ha! I have, many times. I was a little kid when they were making Rumours and Tusk. I've heard them both yelling and I was always conveniently asked if I wanted to go somewhere with Chris or John. When I went to talk to them about you the first time, you should have seen them! They were picking at each other, not even bothering to hide it!" River takes a breath, stopping his constant pacing before her.

"River...please calm down. You're not making any sense." Olivia stands up and smoothes his tense shoulders. She begins to massage out the knots she finds there gently and he does relax slightly. He takes another deep breath in, exhaling completely, continuing the process until his breathing normalizes. "Now, start over. Stevie's pregnant, and yes, I know. That's why I didn't want to come over today. She doesn't need to get sick being almost four months pregnant, or at all."

"Four months...Jesus Christ!" River runs a hand through his shaggy hair and moves out of her reach. He can't stand to stay on the subject. He would love to stuff it down and focus on something else. "Anyway, how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright. My mother's concoction worked really well. She left a couple hours ago, but this isn't about me, it's about you." Olivia knows his game. River hates expressing those negative emotions, and she always knew there was something bubbling below the surface. If she were honest, his outburst scared her but she could never show that to him. "Keep talking to me, baby." River sits down, and Olivia does as well. His gaze drinks in her image. The natural, soft upward curve of her lips, the sweet ski jump bridge of her nose, her golden hair that cascades down her back. He leans in, inhaling the feminine floral scent of her soaps and various other potions. Her dark eyes watch him carefully, widening with each movement. He isn't speaking, obviously stalling but she doesn't force him to continue. His hand reaches out and touches her bare shoulder, placing feather light kisses over the freckles scattered over her golden skin. She's warm, familiar and goddess-like, stunning him with her beauty. Olivia strokes his face, sighing softly as she sees the conflict reflecting in his stormy eyes.

"Sometimes I wish they would have just gotten a divorce." River says, sadly.

"Honey, you don't mean that. You're just in shock and you're frustrated."