Title: Scenes from an Italian Restaurant - The First Noel

Author: Carla

Email: cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

A/N: All other sundry disclaimers and what not can be found in the first couple of posts.

Part Twenty Nine

Week Twelve: Tuesday – 7:30 PM

"Good evening Miss Nicole" The butler held the door open and nodded as Nicole passed him.

"Good evening Henry"

"Your mother wishes to speak with you in her study"

"Thank you Henry" Nicole began climbing the stairs to her room stopping when Henry continued.

"As soon as you walk in the house"

"Those were her words?"

"Exactly"

"I see." Nicole sighed, squared her shoulders and retraced her steps down the stairs.

"Miss Nicole"

"Yes Henry" Nicole looked at the butler who held up two fingers.

"Only two"

"That I know of"

"Thank you Henry"

Nicole knocked on the door to her mother's study before cracking the door open to poke her head through. Gail Julian was on the phone, a glass of amber colored liquid on the desk in front of her, talking excitedly with the person on the other end of the line. She waved her daughter in, pointing to a seat in front of her desk where Nicole should sit.

Nicole observed her mother as the older woman wrapped up her phone call. ((( Maybe Henry was right and she has only had the two drinks. I hope so it's never a good thing when I have to see her in here. )))

"How are you darling?" Nicole was immediately wary Gail's tone could only mean trouble.

"Fine. My final exams will be over on Friday."

"And how are they going?"

"No problems. I expect I'll do well in all my classes."

"Good" Gail watched her normally poised daughter squirm under her gaze. "And how's your friend, Carmen, the young woman I met in San Francisco?"

"Fine" Every nerve in Nicole's body was on alert now. Something was up alright and all she could do was wait for the other shoe to drop.

"And Tim Anderton, how is he? Are things working out with you and him, his father is quite pleased and certainly seems to think they are."

"I like Tim he's a nice guy. We've seen each other a few times"

"Good" Gail opened a drawer and pulled out a manila envelope which she slid across the desk to Nicole. "What can you tell me about those"

Nicole opened the envelope and a few black and white photos slid out. There were photos of Nicole entering Carmen's apartment late at night. Pictures of the two of them leaving for school early in the morning. Pictures of them kissing in Nicole's car.

"You had me followed." Nicole looked down at her hands not daring to look at her mother. "How long?"

"Did you think your little trip to San Francisco with her would go unnoticed. She was the only other person there Nicole and obviously she did not sleep in the other room."

"I won't give her up"

"You will if I tell you to"

"No I won't"

"Darling listen to me. It's one thing to have an occasional dalliance with the help it is quite another to have a relationship with the help."

"Carmen, her name is Carmen, and she is not the help mother. She…"

"She is not our kind of people"

"Are you talking about money or something else. Is that the problem mother, she doesn't have the right `papers', because if I recall correctly you adopted me and my `papers' are questionable at best."

"Nicole someone like her, from her background, she is only after your money. Surely you can see where she is not a suitable companion for you."

"Carmen is more than suitable for me mother. I love her and she loves me. She loves me in spite of what you made me into."

"What did I make you other than the daughter of one of the wealthiest women in the state, in the country. You owe me your life."

"You made me into a bitter, self centered, manipulative wretch who couldn't connect with another human being emotionally. It's as if I was encased in a block of ice, shut off and separate from everything everyone around me; Carmen changed that. She rescued me in the nick of time, warmed me up and brought me back to life. I won't give that up." Nicole slid the pictures back into the envelope and stood up. "As for my `owing' you, what do I owe you for? For all the times I was someone's "date" for the evening, for being prostituted by you."

"How dare you!"

"I dare because that's what it is Mother and I won't do it anymore. And I won't give Carmen up."

"What about appearances don't those matter to you? What people will say?"

"Yes but I am not marching down the middle of main street Mother. I am discreet. We are discreet."

"You know Mr. Anderton thinks that you and Tim should marry when you are older."

"Mr. Anderton clearly doesn't know his son."

"I see."

"Yes well at least now I always have an available escort, the right kind of escort for the right kind of people."

"I'll cut you off without a penny. You'll be out on the streets. Then we'll see if your little friend sticks around."

"Go ahead then do it. I can stay with Carmen. Only thing is how are you going to explain to all your friends what happened, why you kicked me out."

"You would risk everything, money, this house all the advantages that being a Julian gives you for this girl? She means that much to you?"

"Yes she does"

"I guess I shouldn't be so surprised I remember how you were with your friend Marley. Does that surprise you Nicole that I noticed you and paid attention to what was going on with you?"

"You've never seemed to acknowledge my feelings or needs before. I thought you couldn't be bothered with me except when you needed me to do something for you."

"I'm not particularly good with emotions with sharing them but I do love you Nicole. I only want what's best for you."

"Carmen is what's best for me Mother."

"Okay" Gail waved her hand in dismissal and Nicole turned to leave. "Nicole?"

"Yes"

"Why don't you bring Carmen to the lake this weekend…"

"She works weekends"

"Fine during the week sometime when you are on semester break have her over. I would like to meet her again."

"You'll be in town then?"

"Let me know what day is good for you girls and I will be there"

"Thank you"

"Hello"

"Carm?"

"Sam?"

"Yeah. Can you talk right now?"

"Sure what's up?"

"Remember what we talked about a few months ago"

"The whole you like girls thing right?"

"Uh-huh"

"Okay"

"I have a date Friday."

"What's her name?'

"Marcy"

"Does she go to Kennedy"

"No she goes to UCLA"

"How old is she?"

"Nineteen"

"Where'd you meet her?"

"A party at my friend Rich's house this weekend?"

"Fast worker there aren't you, Sam?" Carmen teased.

"You don't know the half of it" was the reporters mumbled response.

"What was that Sam…You didn't…you did!"

"Yeah"

"SAM"

"Carmen"

"So what's the problem?"

"No problem just I'm nervous I wanted to talk to someone and you're the only person who knows about me."

"What are you going to wear?"

Part Thirty

Week Twelve: Wednesday – 12:15 AM
Julian Mansion – Nicole's Room

Nicole's Journal

I can't believe that I stood up to her, finally. Dr Smythe was right, I do feel freer. I feel lighter less tightly wound and more in my skin. More connected to me. It feels good to have said `No more." To have called her on all her bullshit to say what she did and to tell her point blank `I won't do it anymore'.

I guess I shouldn't have been all that surprised to find out that she was having me followed but I when I saw those pictures I prayed for the earth to swallow me whole. I don't know where it came from really, my backbone has previously been notable for it's jelly like consistency, and not it's steely strength. I surprised Mother too, more than myself even. I don't know whether or not to trust her invitation. She gave in too easily for her. But maybe she's being genuine after all she noticed about Marley and I didn't even realize what was happening at the time. She saw what I couldn't then. Maybe she really is going to be okay with this. As long as I keep up appearances she shouldn't have a problem with it.

God I hope so.

Carmen was so excited when I told her, she sounded so proud. I want to hear that in her voice all the time. I want to make her proud of me. The way I am proud of her. We're going to have dinner with Mother next Wednesday. Hopefully I won't develop a bleeding ulcer by then.

The phone rang. Nicole closed her journal, reached for the phone and turned the bedside light off as she settled into her pillows.

"Hi sweetheart"

*** Hi ***

"I thought you'd be asleep by now"

*** I can't sleep ***

"What's wrong?"

*** You're not here. I never sleep all that well when you're not here, you know and I'm nervous about tomorrow's exams and then I started thinking abut dinner with your mom and…***

"Breathe. Good now slow down. Listen to me. You're going to do just fine tomorrow don't worry so much."

*** Actually full-blown insomnia didn't kick in till I started thinking about your mom. Nikki I am so proud of you I know it must have been hard. You did it you stood up to your mom. You stood up for me. God Nic I'm scared what if it's an act and she really hates me? What if she's just waiting to see if things are really as serious with us as you said? What if she decides I'm not your `dalliance with the help' and kicks you out after all? ***

"I was just thinking about that too. I don't know sweetheart I don't know…just wait and see I guess."

*** Did you mean it, what you said to your mom? ***

"About what? About not giving you up?"

*** Yeah ***

"Absolutely positively. I've never meant anything more in my life. Carmen I love you and I need you…more…I need you more than any `thing' my mother's money can give me."

*** Come home please ***

"I can't drive. I'm so tired I can't even see straight and I don't want to drive like that it's not safe."

*** No it isn't and I want you to be safe ***

"I could take a taxi"

*** No how will we get to school in the morning then? ***

"Same way we always do."

*** Now I know you're sleepy *** Carmen chuckled.

"Huh"

*** Honey we drive your car to school every morning. Either you're here already or you pick me up ***

"Uh-huh"

*** The common denominator in both scenarios is the car. Which if you take a taxi here will not be with you. Get it? ***

"I see you remember the meaning of the term `common denominator'; it's nice to know all that review work wasn't for nothing."

*** No it wasn't ***

"Why don't you come here?"

*** Your mom's home and that would just feel weird you know…like we were throwing things in her face or rubbing her nose in it. I don't want to piss her off you know. ***

"I guess your right"

They stayed on the phone for some time though no words passed between them rather each took comfort in the sounds of the other's breathing. Nicole could feel herself beginning to drift in and out of wakefulness when Carmen's whispered words dragged her back from the edge of sleep.

*** I love you Nikki. I love you so much. I wish I could touch you right now, feel the heat of your body under my palm. I wish I was wrapping my arms around you I wish I could wrap myself around you. I would love to be holding you close to me right now smell your hair, lick the salt off your skin. I want to taste you I want my mouth on your body, your breasts. I want to drink you in…***

"That sounds nice"

*** I want to be inside you… I love that feeling…when you hold me inside of you. It makes me feel connected to you like you're mine. Like I'm yours'. ***

"Are you? Mine"

*** God yes Nikki for as long as you'll have me ***

"And I'm yours' for as long as you'll have me. I love you and I will do whatever it takes to stay with you always. My mother, money, Brooke school none of it matters you are the only thing, the only one who matters to me in the end."

*** Read to me ***

"What do you want me to read"

*** What have you got ***

"There was a really interesting article in the New Republic on the morality and ethics of cloning"

*** Granted it would probably put me to sleep but I was thinking more along the lines of Harold and the Purple Crayon or maybe Where the Wild Things Are ***

"Lucky for you I have those right here on the nightstand next to me"

*** It's a good thing we bought two copies huh? ***

"Yep. Oh and I also have Goodnight Moon"

*** Harold. Please ***

"Okay but only once then we have to get some sleep"

Part Thirty One

A/N: This is it folks the last in this particular fic. Questions are raised, scenarios set for future fics I just need to know if I should continue in this Universe. I do not own Popular, I do not own any of the songs referenced throughout this fic. I do own my ideas and I do own Marcy.Carole King's beautiful album Tapestry is somewhat subliminally responsible for a good portion of this installment.

Week Twelve: Friday – 12:30 PM
Kennedy High School

The last bell had rung, lockers were emptied and the students of Kennedy High were now officially on their Christmas / Semester Break. On the steps outside Sam and Carmen stood talking a little away from the admittedly rare and seemingly non-confrontational gathering between their friends and Brooke and Nicole's crowd. Sam was looking around her eyes anxiously scanning the street for Marcy who was supposed to be picking her up.

"Sam calm down. It's going to be fine you're going to have a great time okay. From everything you said to me it sounds like you and this girl, Marcy…you guys have a lot in common and well obviously you're into each other." Sam grinned and ran her hands through her hair.

"Yeah I know. We really do have a lot in common. I'm just nervous. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea for her to pick me up here? I probably should have met her at the movies…I couldn't ask her to get me at the house you know. What if she doesn't show up what if…"

"Sam! I think she's here"

"Where" Carmen pointed to the motorcycle that was pulling up to the curb.

The rider wore a heavy leather jacket, leather gloves and faded blue jeans tucked into black leather boots. A black helmet with a silver faceplate completed the outfit.

"She didn't say anything about a motorcycle…" Sam's voice faded as the bike's rider dismounted and pulled off her helmet shaking shoulder length blonde hair loose as she did so. The brunette reporter scooped up the backpack laying on the step next to her feet. "That's her, wish me luck"

"You don't need `luck' honey, if I recall you've already hit the jackpot with the fair Marcy."

"Ha-ha"

"Call me later"

"You bet" Sam took a few steps towards Brooke and catching the cheerleader's eye beckoned her over.

"Hey Sam what's up?"

"Listen I'm going out with my friend, Marcy, if Mom or Mike ask I went to the movies with Carmen, okay?"

"Okay"

"Thanks Brooke I owe you"

"No problem, now that school's over and we're on break I'm sure I'll be needing you're help to get around the wardens."

Brooke watched as Sam hugged the girl by the motorcycle and then donned the extra helmet the young woman passed to her. Brooke could hear Sam laugh as Marcy helped her adjust the straps on the helmet and lowered the faceplate. Putting her own helmet on the blond girl swung her leg over the bike and settled into her seat then reaching out with her right hand she helped Sam get settled into the space behind her.

Brooke jumped startled to hear Nicole's voice behind her "Who's Spam's little friend there?"

"I don't know really, some girl she met at a party this past weekend I think." Hazel eyes continued to gaze at the bike and at Sam as her stepsister wrapped her arms around the blonde cyclist's waist. The bike's engine roared to life and then was gone.

"That must have been some party"

"Must have" Brooke shook herself out of her reverie "So Nikki feel like going to the mall. I have some last minute shopping I need to do. Only four more days till Christmas you know."

"I can't Brooke I have plans"

"That special someone eh?"

"That's right"

"Big plans huh?"

"It's our two month anniversary"

"I see well what about over the weekend or were you planning a weekend long celebration"

"No nothing like that…schedules and all. How about I pick you up tomorrow around 11:00 or so and we'll go to brunch. My treat."

"Shopping afterwards"

"You're on"

Carmen, meanwhile, had rejoined the small group on the steps just in time to hear Harrison ask if anyone knew who Sam had just gone off with.

"I don't know maybe Brooke does…Hey Brooke" Josh called out and waved her over.

"Yes Josh"

"Hey we were all wondering who Sam's friend was."

"Why?"

"Hey you have a girlfriend remember!" Lily gave the football jock a playful shove.

"Easy on the arm there babe. I bruise easy you know"

"He does just the other day I saw a new one on…" Seven sets of eyes stared at Sugar as he turned beet red.

"Sugah honey if ah didn't know any bettah ah would sweah you just admitted to eyeing Kennedy High's best looking piece of man-flesh" The deranged Southerner leered at Josh who whimpered and hid behind his girlfriend.

"So what if I was"

"Well it would go far to explain that whole incident where you were apparently playing John Cusack to Josh's unwitting Ione Sky"

"Nicole" Carmen hissed.

"What movie was that anyway?" Lily asked

"Say Anything"

"Thanks Brooke"

"So Brooke who was she?"

"I don't know Harrison some girl Sam met last weekend. If your so damn interested why don't you ask her yourself." Brooke headed down the steps calling over her shoulder to Nicole "Call me before you come over tomorrow"

"About 10:30?"

"Sounds good"

The group broke up. Mary Cherry agreed to give Sugar and Harrison rides home while Lily and Josh began walking towards the bus stop so that Lily could take the bus to work.

Nicole watched everyone leave and turned to Carmen "Two months"

"Two months"

"Let's go celebrate"

"Lead the way"

"Don't I always"

"You wish"

"Who kissed who first huh?"

"Point taken…so why are we still standing here"

"I thought I'd let you lead"

"I'll do that later tonight"

"and like the song says // Where you lead I will follow //"

"Don't know that one"

"Carole King I can't remember the song though but its on her Tapestry album."

They reached the car, got in and drove off.

The End