Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Series: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Title: Dear Eloise

Author: Carla

Rating: PG

Pairing: There isn't one really

Disclaimers: I of course do not own Popular or any of the characters on the show. The series title comes from Billy Joel's excellent song of the same. The chapter title was inspired by The Hollies song Dear Eloise, some of the lyrics of which may be found below. I do own the original characters portrayed here particularly Victoria `Tory' Langdon.

Archiving: Well my stuff such as it is may be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm. Thank you Kim for doing such an incredible job as an archivist and webmistress.

Feedback: Welcomed, needed and heeded. You can send it directly to me at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

A/N: Hope Libby pointed out to me that the original focus of this story was Nic/Carmen and as such she had asked me to get back to them but (Sorry Hope) when I sat down to write this is what came out. So Hope you can thank Alan H., yet again, his feedback to Never, Never planted the seeds for this fic.

// Dear Eloise I am writing to say

A number of funny things I heard today

I heard that he's left you and run off to sea

Could be the best thing that's happened to me //

---- The Hollies, Dear Eloise

Dear Eloise

"Okay we're ready to begin so I guess I'll start. My name is Mona Amundson I'm a nurse mid-wife here at Cedars-Sinai and I myself used natural childbirth methods when I had my own children a few years ago. Now why don't we start with…" Mona looked around the room her gaze settling on one couple near the back of the room. "You. Tell us a little about yourself, is this your first baby how do you feel about being here?"

"My name Roxanne Newman and this is my husband Michael. This is our first baby and I think we're both very nervous but very excited as well." Roxanne patted Michael's knee in an attempt to get him to stop bouncing his leg up and down. "I think Michael is more nervous than I am." Michael nodded his head an oddly pitched squeak escaped from his throat as if to signify his agreement.

"Relax Michael everybody's nervous but when the time comes and this is true for all you coaches, whether it's your first baby or your fifth one, when the time comes you'll know what to do. That's what you're here to learn and that's what I'm here to teach you. Now why don't we continue."

"My name is Patricia Stover this is my husband Russell Meeks. This is our second baby but it's been awhile, our daughter Evie is 15, so we figured it would be a good idea to take this class again."

"How was your daughter's birth?"

"It was the most incredible thing I have ever seen." Russell spoke up. "Certainly I couldn't imagine not being there. And Mona's right I was nervous and scared and so sure I was going to pass out but then I focused on Patty and the next thing I know I have this beautiful baby girl in my hands. And it was just amazing." Russell's voice trailed off as he remembered his daughter's birth and the first time he held her.

"He cried."

"How sweet"

"Tor!"

"How about you two why don't you tell us about yourselves?"

"My name is Lily Esposito and this is Tory Langdon. This is my first baby and I think saying we're both really nervous is an understatement."

The two remaining couples made their introductions and the class began in earnest.

~~~~~

Three weeks later

The class took a break and while Lily went to use the bathroom Tory talked with Russell.

"Are you two sisters or are you together?" Russell asked.

"We're not, she considers me her big sister, she's my best friend. She needed a coach and the baby's father isn't around so here we are."

"So how old is she?"

"Eighteen almost nineteen"

"You love her?"

"I don't know what you mean"

"Yes you do it's all over your face. You know we all thought that you two were a couple right? Well the look on your face when you look at her…my wife says it's the cutest thing she's seen in the longest time."

"No it's not like that with us"

"Do you wish it was…like that with you I mean"

"We should get back inside" Tory began walking towards the classroom door. Russell hurried to catch up to her.

"Tory look I'm sorry I shouldn't have pried Patty always says that I'm too nosy. I'm sorry really"

"It's okay Russ" Tory glanced down at the shorter man and swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her voice was tight as she blinked back unshed tears. "I thought I hid it better is all."

"Ready Russ"

"Sure am sweetie…Tory if you want to talk sometime"

"Thanks Russ that's sweet of you but it's okay"

"Just…well you know…keep it in mind"

"Russ are you interfering again?"

"No honey nothing like that" The couple's voices faded as they entered the classroom and the door closed behind them.

Tory remained outside waiting for Lily who was slowly making her way down the hall. She could feel her smile widen and her heart begin to race. <<< God how I love you. You and that baby, I would do anything…>>>

"Penny for `em?"

"Huh?"

"Penny for your thoughts"

"Nothing" Tory shook her head "Just thinking about the big day. We still have to get the nursery ready"

Tory held the door open for Lily to pass through.

"It's a good thing your uncle Jack decided to stay in London isn't it?"

"A very good thing"

They were driving home listening to the radio and singing along when Lily reached over suddenly to lower the volume.

"What were you and Russ talking about before?"

"Nothing really we were just chatting"

"About?"

"Nothing Lily…nothing important"

They drove on in silence till they reached the house. Tory parked came around to the passenger side to help Lily out of the car and then into the house.

"What do you feel like having for dinner?"

"I'm not hungry yet. I'll have a sandwich later"

"Okay then I'm going to head upstairs and check my e-mail…"

"Tor?"

"Yeah"

"I love you"

Tory reached out to push the shorted girl's bangs away from her face; she let her fingers trail down Lily's cheek sighing as she did so.

"I love you too"

"I know" Lily turned her face to place a kiss on Tory's palm whispering as she did so "I'm sorry"

"For what?"

"That I…"

"It's okay really"

"No it isn't you're hurting and"

"And you can't change who you are. Just like I can't."

"I wish I could. You are so perfect for me…"

"Except for that one thing"

"Except for that"

They had been talking at the foot of the stairs and now Tory sat on the steps so that she could look Lily directly in the eye as she spoke.

"I love you I love you so much sometimes that it hurts to look at you. I haven't dated in I don't know how long…"

"Your last date was over six months ago"

"Ten months actually…Marcy's friend Tina was it?'

"Gina…that long. I didn't know?"

"I didn't want you to"

"How long?"

"Almost since I met you"

"Oh Tor"

"Don't" Tory flinched away as Lily reached out to draw the older woman into an embrace.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry"

"Don't be I'm not. I love you Lily. I love your baby. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you, for both of you." Tory gave a small shrug of her shoulders "I just have to accept things the way they are. You're straight and I'm not and that's just the way it is."

Just then the phone rang.

"I'll get it"

"Carmen hi how are you? How's Nicole?" Tory listened as she motioned for Lily to pick up the phone by the sofa where the pregnant girl now sat. "Good, good glad to hear it. I'll get Lily for you. Say `Hi' to Nic and I'll see you soon right. You guys still plan on coming when the baby's born right…Great can't wait. Okay here's Lily"

"Hi Carm"

Tory went upstairs the last thing she heard Lily say as she closed the door to her bedroom was "I asked her. You were right"

~~~~~

Six months later

The clock display read 3:17 AM as Lily got out of bed to check on the baby who was crying in the other room. She walked quietly down the hall noting that Tory's bedroom door was open and that she wasn't in bed.

<<<She must be with the baby>>>

Standing in the doorway to the nursery Lily watched as the 5'11" Tory bent over the crib pick up the fussy infant.

"Hey now what's the fuss about. Your mommy needs her sleep. Are you hungry or do you need to be changed is that it?" She checked the baby's diaper. "Oh yeah its time to be changed isn't it?"

Laying the baby back down in the crib Tory changed the baby talking quietly as she did so.

"What do you say after we change this diaper we go get a snack downstairs and then you come sleep with me hmm? We'll listen to some classical music and hopefully you'll go back to sleep. Mommy has a big day tomorrow. It's the first day she goes back to school so she needs her rest okay. Okay all done. Let's go check out the moo juice supply."

"There's a bottle ready for him in the fridge"

"I didn't hear you. I didn't know you were there"

"I know"

"You should go back to sleep"

"I'm up now I'll take care of him"

"Nonsense go back to bed"

"Tor…"

"Hmm"

"You're so good with him" Lily reached out to touch the sleeping baby in Tory's arms. "You're a good mom you know that"

"That's me `the other mother'"

"You are you know, always. I was thinking about it the other day when I was out on that date with Emerson. It occurred to me that any guy I get involved with is going to have to accept you too; is going to have to accept your place in my life and Victor's life too."

Tory snorted and smiled ruefully. "Good luck then. God knows I haven't found a woman capable of it."

"Maybe that means something. Maybe it means we should try."

By this time they had made their way downstairs to the kitchen and Lily heated the baby's bottle while Tory sat at the kitchen table rocking the still fussy baby.

"Someone's hungry I think…thanks" Tory took the bottle from Lily and started to feed the baby.

"Did you hear what I said?"

"Yes I did"

"Well"

"Don't Lily"

"Why?"

"Because it's unfair. Because I love you, because I am in love with you."

"And I love you"

"It's different and you know it. You `love' men and you `like' women. I `love' women and I `like' men."

The auburn haired woman's words were cut off as Lily kissed her.

"Don't do that again"

"I thought you wanted this…I…"

"I do want it. More than you could know and that's just it. It would always be more for both of us…each of us wanting something the other couldn't give. Not because we didn't want to give it but because we couldn't because I'll never be a guy and you'll never be a girl who's into girls."

"You're right of course. But still it would make things so much simpler."

"I don't know about that. I mean things are pretty simple right now. We're a family anyway you cut it."

"You, me and baby makes three."

**Burp**

"I'll take that as an agreement"

"At least he didn't spit up this time"

"True. You should go back to sleep."

"You too its not like you don't have a long day also"

"I don't have my first appointment till after you get back and what's the point of working from home if I can't slack off on occasion."

"Why don't the two of you come sleep with me?"

"Lead the way"