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Olivia awoke to the ringing of the phone. She rolled over and picked up the hand set.
"Hello?" she asked
"Still asleep,luv?" Nick purred on the other end. "Yeah..I was." she said with a giggle. "Paris really wore me out."
"Hmm...I wonder why..." Nick said with laughter in his voice.
More weeks passed and Olivia further adjusted to her new life in London. She was so happy to be there with Nick and felt absolutely aglow with the new life inside of her.
The band was taking the evening off and Olivia had planned to have an impromptu dinner party.
The door bell rang just as she was coming out of the kitchen. "I've got it." she yelled up the stairs to Nick. Olivia opened the door to find everyone there. "Hi guys!" she said as she made way for the foursome to enter.
They all chatted and laughed over dinner. "I'm stuffed." proclaimed Simon. "You out did yourself this time Liv." he said as he got up from the table.
"Thank You, Simon. Glad you enjoyed it."
"Can't you tell?" Yas laughed as she patted Simons' stomach. Everyone laughed over that for a few before they all retired to the living room.
"I have something I need to tell you guys." Kate started as she sat down next to John and took his hand.
"What is it, luv?" John asked.
"Well.....I've been offered a position in New Hampshire, at Dartmouth." Kate explained.
"Wow, congratulations, Kate." Simon said.
"Yeah, congratulations." Olivia, Nick and Yas chimed in.
"Thank you." Kate began "I know it seems a little sudden, but I've been looking around and Dartmouth has been looking at me. They made me an offer I couldn't refuse."
"What will you be doing there?" Olivia asked.
"I'll be the head of the English department." Kate replied.
"That's great." Yas said.
"Yes, it's a wonderful opportunity." she said.
The three couples continued chatting for awhile before they began their goodnight's. Everyone thanked Liv for a wonderful dinner and evening. Nick closed the door, turned to Olivia and held her close to him.
"What's this about?" she asked.
"I'm just glad you're here with me. I feel for John....he's going to be a mess when Kate leaves. I've been in his position, remember? You've been in that position too." he said.
"I know, and it hurts to be so far away from someone you love." she replied.
"I think I'd go crazy if you weren't here with me." Nick said as he kissed her forehead.
Nick and Olivia were awakened in the middle of the night by the doorbell.
"Who could that be?" Olivia asked.
"I have no idea." Nick replied, still half asleep.
They made their way downstairs to the front door. Nick opened it and found John standing there.
"John, are you ok?" Olivia asked.
"I'm sorry.....I know it's late, but I didn't know what else to do." John replied.
"It's fine, John. Come in before you freeze." Nick said.
"I'll go make some tea." Olivia offered.
"Thanks, sweetheart. I think that's a good idea." Nick replied.
"You're sure it's ok that I came by?" John asked.
"Of course. What's going on?" Nick questioned.
"Nothing.....everything....." John replied.
"John, you're not making any sense. Talk to me." Nick said as Olivia returned with their tea.
"It's Kate." John sighed.
"What happened?" Nick asked with concern in his voice.
"Her announcement came as a huge surprise to me."
"You didn't know?" Olivia asked.
"I had no bloody idea." John replied.
"I'm so sorry, John." she replied.
"Thanks, Liv. But, the surprise doesn't end there." he said.
"What do you mean?" Nick asked.
"She's leaving in a few days. She has to be in New Hampshire immediately."
"Oh John." Olivia whispered.
John lowered his head to his hands and remained quiet.
"I'm going to go back to bed so you two can talk." Olivia said as she stood up.
"I'm sorry I woke you, Liv." John said.
"It's alright. You two need to talk."
"Goodnight, sweetheart." Nick said as he hugged her.
"Goodnight." she whispered in his ear.
Nick and John were left alone in the living room.
"Nick, how could she do this to me?" John asked.
"I don't know.....I'm pretty thrown by it all."
"I really liked her.....how could she just drop a fucking bomb like that on me when she's known about it for awhile?"
"I know you liked her, my God, you still do or this wouldn't bother you." Nick said.
"She said she'd been looking at several Universities for awhile. Why the hell didn't she tell me?"
"I suppose she didn't want you to worry about it until she had something set in stone." Nick replied.
"Why are you so damn logical?" John asked.
"How should I be Johnny?"
"I dunno." John mumbled.
"It's not like you confessed your love to Kate. Have you given her one good reason why she shouldn't take the position?"
"Who's side are you on, Rhodes?" John asked.
"I'm not on anybody's side, John. I've been in your situation before, remember?"
"Yeah, but Olivia's here with you now."
"That's because we love each other, we want a future together and we're having a baby." Nick replied "It's completely different than you and Kate."
"I just wish things were different. I wish she wasn't leaving." John said.
Olivia awoke the next morning to find Nick's side of the bed empty. She descended the stairs to find John passed out on the sofa. She entered the kitchen and found Nick sitting at the table, nursing a cup of tea.
"G'morning, luv." he said with a smile.
"Good morning.....Is John alright?"
"He's upset over Kate. We were up so late talking that I told him to stay here. I offered him a guestroom, but he declined."
"He was really upset, huh?" she asked.
"More hurt than anything." Nick replied.
"I hate that this is happening to them." she said.
"I know Liv....I do too."
"Are you guys going into the studio this morning?"
"I'm gonna wake him up in a minute and see. I'd say he'll want to....it'll keep his mind off of everything."
"True." Olivia replied.
"Morning." John said as he entered the kitchen.
"I was just coming to wake you up." Nick chuckled.
"Would you like some tea?" Olivia asked.
"Thanks, Liv." John replied.
"Are you two hungry? I could make you some breakfast." she offered.
"Nothing for me, sweetheart." Nick replied.
"No thanks, Liv. We've gotta get to the studio."
"Workaholics." Olivia laughed.
"Yeah, well." John chuckled as he left the kitchen.
"I'll call you if we're going to run late. I love you, Liv." Nick said as he hugged her and ran his hand across her tummy.
"I love you too. Have a good day and don't work to hard."
Nick and John entered the studio and began adjusting the mixing board. John glanced up sometime later and saw Simon coming in.
"Glad you could join us, Charley.....Now, can we get started?" John asked.
"What's going on with Taylor?" Simon questioned. "He's in a hell of a mood."
"Long story.....A very long story." Nick replied.
"It's gonna be a long day, yeah?"
"I don't know about long, but I can almost guarantee it's going to be hell." Nick replied.
"Are we ready or what?" John snapped.
"Told ya." Nick said to Simon with a grin.
CHAPTER 42
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It was nearly dark outside when Olivia heard the phone ring. "Hello?"
" 'Ello, luv." Nick said on the other end. "How is everything going?"
"Well....looks like we could be here for awhile longer. I was just calling to let you know."
"How much longer?"
"Um...I wouldn't wait up if I were you. John is pretty set on being here til midnight at least."
"I am so sorry Nick. I know you and Simon have to be exhausted."
"We are...but..we don't want to upset him more than he already is.How have you been today luv?"
"Fine. Been really tired. Felt sick earlier, but I think I am ok now." "Are you sure?" Nick asked trying not to sound alarmed.
"Yeah. Everything is fine."
"Ok then. I love you, and I will be home as soon as I can."
"Ok Nick. I love you too.Bye." Olivia said as she sat back down on the couch to let the wave of nausea pass.
Nick arrived home a little after midnight. He found Olivia asleep on the sofa. He knelt down and gently kissed her.
"Mmmm....you're here." she mumbled as her eyes fluttered open.
"I just got home, luv. Let's go up to bed." he said as he helped her off the sofa.
"Ok." she sighed.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Fine....just tired." she replied.
Nick curled up behind her and held her close to him.
"What the hell?" Nick asked as he grabbed the ringing phone. "'Ello?" he grumbled.
"Hiya." John said.
"What time is it?" Nick asked.
"'Round 6:00am.....Listen, we're going in at 9:00 this morning."
"I'll be there." Nick mumbled.
"See ya then." John said.
Nick laid the handset down and rolled over to hold Olivia, but she wasn't there. Nick slid out of bed, now wide awake and began to call Olivia's name. He saw the light shining under the bathroom door and found the door to be cracked open slightly.
"Liv?" he called softly.
She didn't reply, but he heard her sobbing softly instead. He pushed the door open and found Olivia knealing on the bathroom floor crying.
"Sweetheart, are you ok?" he asked with concern in his voice.
"I'm fine....I just felt so sick." she said softly.
He bent down, helped her up and walked her back to bed. He gently laid her down and covered her up.
"I'll be right back." he said as he walked out of the room.
He retuned quickly with crackers and seltzer for her.
"Try this, sweetheart." he said as he handed her the glass.
"Thank you, Nick."
"Should I call Dr. Shamblin?"
"No....I'm fine, really. It's just morning sickness."
"Do you want me to stay home with you? I can call John." he said.
"No, it's ok. I'm fine now, really. Go ahead and go into the studio so John won't be disappointed."
"You're sure?" he asked.
"Ummm-hmmm...Nick, you've got a lot of work to finish." she said.
"I know Liv, but I don't want to leave you alone if you're not feeling well."
"I'm fine now. It's just part of pregnancy."
"Promise me you'll call me if you need anything or if you start feeling bad again."
"I will, I promise." she said.
"I love you, Liv." he said as he hugged her.
"I love you too, Nick."
"Stay in bed and rest. I'll call you and check on you." he said before he kissed her.
Nick walked into the studio to find John and Simon getting ready.
"Something wrong, Rhodes?" John asked.
"Yeah...Liv's not feeling well."
"What's wrong?" John questioned.
"She's just sick. She says it's morning sickness." Nick replied.
"Is she ok?" Simon asked.
"Yeah, she's fine now."
"Do you need to leave? John asked with concern in his voice.
"I told her I would stay home with her, but she insisted that I come in. She says she knows we have a lot of work to finish....I told her I would call and check on her and I told her to call if she started feeling worse."
"Call her, Nick." John said.
"What?"
"You know you're dying to call her, so call her before we get started." John ordered.
"Thanks...I will." Nick replied as he picked up the phone.
"Hello?" she asked.
"Hi, sweetheart. How are you feeling?"
"I'm feeling fine now." she replied.
"Good, I'm glad to hear that." he said.
"Aren't you supposed to be working?" she purred.
"Yeah, but I'm more concerned about you. You had me worried." he said.
"You're so sweet, but I'm fine."
"I'm glad to hear that. Guess I'd better get to work. Call me if you need anything and I'll call later and see how you're doing."
"Thank you, Nick. You're so sweet." she said.
"I love you, Liv."
"I love you too."
"Bye luv."
"Bye Nick."
"So, how is she?" John asked.
"She's fine now." Nick replied.
"Sure?" Simon asked.
"Yeah....I'm gonna call her a little later and check on her." Nick replied as he began to turn his equipment on
Olivia was getting out of bed just as the phone was ringing. "Hello?"
"Liv...you ok, luv?" Yasmin asked.
"I've been better." Olivia said honestly.
"I'm sorry sweetie. I was calling to see if you wanted to go out for lunch, but you don't sound like you are up to it."
"I'm not, sorry. But company sounds nice. Would you like to come here?"
"Sounds great. See ya soon." Yasmin said as she hung up the phone.
All through out her visit, Yasmin couldn't help notice how weak and tired Olivia looked.
"Have you called Dr. Shamblins' office?" Yas asked.
"Yeah.They said they can't see me til next week, that more than likely I am fine." Olivia said.
"I'll be back in a sec....have to go to the ladies." Olivia said with a slight chuckle.
Yasmin sat finishing her tea for several minutes. Things were quiet, too quiet.She called out to Olivia but there was no answer. "Olivia?" she called.Nothing...
She walked to the bathroom and gently tapped on the door. "Liv...are you ok?" she was starting to panic. Yasmin pushed the door open to find Olivia laying unconscious and covered in blood on the floor.
The guys were sitting at the mixing board laughing, and talking when the phone rang.
"Ello?" Simon asked.
"What?! When? Calm down, luv!" he said obviously upset.
"What?" Nick and John asked in unison.
"Ok....I understand." he said trying to be calm."We are on our way." he said as he hung up.
"What was that about?" John asked.
Simon looked at Nick.
"Nick, I need you to be calm and listen to me." he said as he placed his hands on Nicks' shoulders.
con't. next pg.
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