Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Series: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant

Title: Who Needs John Edwards

Author: Carla

Pairing: Nicole/Carmen

Rating: S for sappy

Disclaimer: I of course own not a thing in the world but my imagination. This means that I in no way shape or form own Popular or its characters. This also means I do not own the fabulous Billy Joel song, which inspired the name of this series. I use all of these things without permission and much gratitude.

Archive: All my stuff such as it were can be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm. All others please ask.

Feedback: Heeded needed and welcomed either on list or directly to me at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

A/N: In terms of the timeline of the series the events in this installment take place during the events of Dear Eloise. In other words between the time Lily has her baby and the `talk' Lily and Tory have during the night feeding. Nic and Carm are still in their first year of college.

"Nikki" Carmen called out as she hung her coat up. "Honey where are you?" she walked through the living room to the family room only to find the maid, Donna and her son, Javier watching a movie.

"Hi what are you watching?"

"Nicole bought me Harry Potter on DVD!" the six year old nearly knocked Carmen over in his exuberant rush to hug her hello and share the good news.

"I see." She scooped the child up and swung him in the air "Hi Donna. Where's Nic?"

"She took a bath and went to bed early."

"She all right?" Carmen put the child down.

"Her tummy hurt. She didn't even have dessert and mommy made her favorite cobbler, peach."

"Did she now. And did you have some of the cobbler little man or did you have a lot of the cobbler" Carmen teased and poked the child in the stomach causing him to squeal in delight.

Donna stood and began to pick up around the room, putting toys back in the storage bins where they belonged and turning off the DVD player and TV. "He didn't have that much though he kept trying to sneak more the little rat said he wanted to let Cider have a taste." The older woman turned her attention towards her son "C'mon Javi it's time for bed. Say good night to Carmen."

"Good night Javi" Carmen knelt to hug the child.

"Night Carmen."

"She got a call from her mother today. She was fine before then suddenly her stomach started bothering her, you know how that goes."

"Thanks Donna. Tomorrow's Tuesday…that's her late day right?"

Donna nodded.

"Good. Could you make oatmeal tomorrow for breakfast please?"

"Of course would you like me to bring it up."

"That sounds great. Breakfast in bed we haven't done that in awhile" Carmen said wistfully. "Unfortunately I have to be in class by 10 o'clock, which means I have to be out of here by 8:30 the latest."

"I'll just take hers' up then."

"Thanks Donna. Should I drop Javier off at school tomorrow?"

"No that's alright his friend Johnny's mom is driving them."

"Good night then."

"Night."

Carmen went upstairs to their bedroom pausing, before opening the door, to listen for the sounds that would indicate whether or not Nicole was asleep. Much to the blonde's chagrin she had developed allergies which left her with a perpetually stuffy nose and a tendency to snore softly. Instead of snores though Carmen heard crying. Stepping inside the room she immediately looked towards the bed surprised to find it empty. She turned around and spied Nicole sitting at her desk looking through a photo album. Tears fell in an almost continuos stream down her cheeks and she sniffled loudly.

"Nikki?" she rushed across the room to kneel next to her lover. "Honey what happened?" Looking quickly at the photo album Carmen put two and two together. "Did something happen at home? Donna said your mom called earlier?"

Nicole started to sob and Carmen gathered her in her arms and held on tight.

"I've got you…I'm here…shhhh" she continued murmuring as she held the sobbing blonde and rubbed between her shoulder blades. "Sweetheart its okay. It'll be all right…Shhh…I've got you, I've got you. What happened honey tell me?"

"Ha-Ha-Harold d-died this afternoon" Nicole sniffled loudly and gathered herself together before continuing. "They fou…they found him in the greenhouse. Ellie was worried when he didn't come home for lunch and had one of the other grounds keepers look for him. He died alone Carmen…how horrible must that have been dying alone and scared."

"Oh sweetheart…"

"What if he didn't die right away? What if he was calling for someone to help him what if he thought no one came because they didn't care? What if he was in pain?"

"Nikki sweetie listen to me" Nicole stopped talking instead beginning to silently cry once again. "Nikki Harold had a heart condition and he wasn't a young man. I'm sure it was quick and that he wasn't in any pain. He probably didn't even know what happened what was happening you know."

"I forgot to call him last weekend…I called him every weekend and I forgot last weekend."

"Harold knew you loved him. He loved you…"

"But I forgot…I didn't even think about it, didn't even remember until my mom called to tell me. And now" another inelegant sniffle "and now I can't even tell him. Tell him I'm sorry; tell him that I love him. Tell him what he means to me."

"Sure you can just because he's dead doesn't mean he's left you. C'mon get up." Carmen stood up pulling Nicole with her as she did so. "Let's go."

"Go where?"

"To talk to Harold."

"I don't understand."

"You'll see."

Taking the smaller girl's hand she dragged her across the bedroom, through the walk-in closet and into the master bath. The moon light shone through the skylight above the massive corner garden tub, highlighting the half dozen small African violets that lined the small ledge about halfway up the wall. In the corner of the room opposite the tub atop a massive plant stand was another much larger African violet.

"You want me to talk to a plant."

"I want you to talk to Harold."

"I know the plant's name. I gave him to you."

"I know. Look maybe it's stupid but it can't hurt right. Harold grew that plant from the clippings your Nana gave you right. And he took care of it for all those years for you because he loved you. You named this plant Harold because you loved him. You gave it to me because you loved me right?"

"Right."

"So there's a part of him in that plant, part of his love for you and yours' for him so…"

"So you figure talk to the plant and talk to him." Nicole gave a low snort and shook her head "I love you. I love how you think."

"I love you too. I know its silly but what the hell I mean sometimes at school in the practice labs when I can't get something to rise properly or a recipe is just not working out I talk to my knife."

"Your knife."

"Yeah you know that really great German one you got me for Christmas. I use it like everyday…hey quit smirking every chef has a favorite knife…I'm serious Nikki do not laugh."

"I'm not honest" the petite blonde struggled to keep a serious expression ultimately losing the battle when she broke down and laughed. "I'm sorry really honey…It's just I can see it in my head you know. You looking all cute and chef-like doing some serious bodily damage to some poor innocent veggie or piece of meat and all the while your talking like a mile a minute to this knife. Does this knife have a name?"

"Promise me you won't laugh."

"Promise."

"Maude."

"Maude?"

"Harold" Carmen stepped behind her lover pulling Nicole to her so that her breasts brushed against the shorter woman's back. Bending her head slightly so that her lips were next to Nic's ear she whispered "My first housewarming gift and Maude my first professional grade knife. Two of the best gifts I've ever gotten from the best friend I've ever had."

Nicole leaned further into her lover's embrace tilting her head back to look at the brunette. "You're my best friend too."

"So you gonna talk to Harold."

"Not right now. You were right I talk to him every day when I water him. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For showing me that. For reminding me that he is always with me in my heart and apparently in my bathroom."

They stood in silence for a few moments just looking at the African violet on its pedestal remembering the man it was named after.

"You know we're going to have to move him now."

"Why?"

"Because now I'm always going to be thinking he's watching me shower and stuff you know."

"You're crazy you know that?"

"But you love me anyway."

"Yeah I do."

"You'll go home with me for the funeral?"

"Of course."

~~~~~~~~

"At the family's request Miss Nicole Julian will now say a few words."

"When my mother called me last week at my house in New York to tell me about Harold the first thought that popped into my head was "My grandfather is dead." And Harold was my grandfather in everything but name. When my grandmother passed away a few years back she asked Harold to watch out for me, keep an eye on me and he did until the day I moved away. Even then he watched out for me. I would call him every Sunday to talk and he would listen. Sometimes he gave advice but mostly he would listen to me and let me work out my own solutions. Harold taught me that listening often results in more answers than questions not just for the person listening but for the talker too. He understood that about people."

"Harold treated people in the same gentle manner he treated the gardens and greenhouses he loved working in. He was kind and nurturing, patient and loving but he knew when to apply the pruning shears too."

"Harold was a good friend and a loving husband to his wife, Ellie for over 50 years and as greatly as I feel his loss I cannot even fathom hers'. When Harold James Murphy died some of us lost a grandfather, some a golf buddy others a coworker. What we all lost was a good laugh, a good friend and an exceptional man. Before the service started I had the pleasure of overhearing some of Harold's friends sharing their "Harold" stories. I thought it would be good for everyone to hear them. So Ellie" Nicole looked at Harold's widow "if it's alright with you I would like to ask those with "Harold" stories to come up here and share them with us."

The elderly woman nodded yes and smiled wanly.

"Henry why don't you start?"

The butler stood and began to tell his story.