Title: The Song Remembers When
Author: Christen
purplehaysc@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: these characters belong to One Life to Live except any characters you do not recognize
Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.
Comments: email me all you comments and suggestions. This is my second One Life to Live Fan fiction. I also write Bitch (Can He Love Someone Like Me). So well, hope you like it.
The Song Remembers When
By Christen
“I was standing at the counter
I was waiting for the change
When I heard that old familiar music start
It was like a lighted match
Had been tossed into my soul
It was like a dam had broken in my heart”
(The Song Remembers When by Trisha Yearwood)
Natalie put down the cup of coffee, looked at her watch and then sighed. She had to leave now. But she liked just sitting here and being able to think. This was only time during the day when she wasn’t either exhausted or busy. She grabbed her keys and headed for the car. She got in and turned on the car. She started to back out of the driveway when the song came on and Natalie’s mind went to another moment in time.
“Cristian?” Natalie asked as she entered their room of the their apartment which was now Cristian’s art studio.
“Yeah, I’m back here.” Cristian said.
Natalie walked over to him. “So what happened to our dinner tonight?”
“I decided on some other plans.” Cristian said as he took out a rose from behind his back.
“Really? And what are these plans?” Natalie asked as she put her purse down and took the rose.
“It means a picnic dinner on the roof with just you and me. How does that sound?” Cristian asked smiling.
“That sounds very romantic.” Natalie said smiling.
“Great that’s what I was hoping you’d say.” He said as he started leading her to the roof.
Cristian was snapped out of his thoughts when the door to his studio opened.
“Mr. Vega?” The man asked as he entered.
Cristian turned off his stereo and went over to the man. “Mr. Sloan, it’s good to see you sir.” Cristian said as he extended his hand.
Mr. Sloan took it. “So how about you show me some of these painting I’m paying for you to show at my gallery?”
“Sure sir no problem.” Cristian leading him over to the paintings.
“This is some nice work.” The man said as he looked at some of them. “Who this beautiful women, your wife?” He asked looking at one of his paintings.
“No, I the pictures of my wife aren’t in here yet. That’s one of my x-girlfriend’s. I did that not long after I started to paint again.”
“Well she’s a looker that one, no doubt about that one.” Mr. Sloan said.
“Yes, that she was.” Cristian said as his thoughts when to Natalie for the second time that day.
Part 2
“After taking every detour
Getting lost and losing track
So that even if I wanted
I could not find my way back
After driving out the memory
Of the way things might have been
After I'd forgotten all about us
The song remembers when”
Antonio was starting to do the paperwork on his latest case, or trying to do it any way. He couldn’t concentrate so he decided to turn on the radio. When the song came on his thoughts went back to another time, a happier time.
“I can’t believe you’re still working on that.” Antonio said laughing as he entered their bedroom where Jessica was rearranging furniture.
“You act like I’ve been at this all day.”
“You have. Jess, when was the last time you even looked at a clock, honey?”
“Not that long ago.” Jess said nervously as she walked over to the clock next to their bed. “It’s 5:30?” She said shocked.
Antonio just laughed. “Yeah I even had time to go to work and get back. You sure you don’t want to take a break?”
“You don’t have to ask me twice.” Jessica said as she sank into one of the chairs in their rooms.
“Mind if I share that chair with you?” Antonio asked with a smile.
“On one condition.” Jessica said smiling.
“Really and what would that be?”
“You give me a great back rub.”
“No problem, no problem at all.”
“Hey Jess you there?” Her husband asked as he waved his hand in front of her face.
“What?” She asked shocked as she came out of her thoughts.
He laughed and went and turned off the radio. “So where were you just now?”
“Off in dream land.” She said laughing. “That’s what I get for listening to the radio while I’m working I guess.”
“Don’t worry about it. So by any chance was I in the dream? I mean I’d like to say that I can take some credit for that smile that was on your face.”
“Of course, why would I be dreaming of any one else?” Jessica said lying.
Part 3
“We were rolling through the Rockies
We were up above the clouds
When a station out of Jackson played that song
And it seemed to fit the moment
And the moment seemed to freeze
When we turned the music up and sang along”
“So how much time do you need before you’ll be ready to go?” Marcie’s husband asked.
“You know just because you can get ready for these things in like a minute that doesn’t mean I can.” Marcie said smiling.
“Well maybe you need to learn how that way we wouldn’t be an hour late every where’s we go.” Her husband said smiling back at her.
“You know what you just need to get out!” Marcie screamed as her husband closed the door and she laughed.
Marcie went over to the radio and turned it on and then headed to her closet to take out her dress. As the song started playing her mind was forced back into another time.
“Al?” Marcie asked as she came into their bedroom, which was dark. She reached for the light and turned it on.
“Surprise.” Al said from their bed where he had a bottle of wine on ice and a dozen roses.
“Ok what’s all this for?” Marcie asked as she put her purse down.
“What you don’t like it?” Al asked shocked.
“No that’s not what I mean. I just don’t know what all this is for.” Marcie said as she sat down on the bed next to him.
“Well this is all for you a celebration for you.” He said as he handed her a rose.
“Ok, so what are we celebrating that involves me?” She said, as she smelled the rose.
“Well while you were gone you got a call from a certain organization about a job…” Al started to say.
“Did I get the job? Please tell me I got the job!” Marcie said excitedly.
“Of course you got the job, that’s why we’re celebrating. So would you like to make a toast with me?” Al asked as he took out a glass.
“Defiantly.” Marcie said smiling as she took the glass.
“So how is that advice column coming?” Al’s boss asked as she entered the room.
“I was… I lost my train of thought.” Al admitted sadly.
“Well maybe if you didn’t have the radio on you wouldn’t have.” She said as she turned it off.
“Sorry I was just hoping to get some inspiration.”
“And did you get any?”
“Yeah I think maybe I did.”
“Good, so if I come back in here in maybe an hour you’ll be done with all of these?” She asked smiling.
“What will I get for doing this exactly?” He asked smiling.
“Mr. Holden if I was you I’d just keep your mind on your work.” She smiling as she left his office.
“If only my work didn’t remind me of her.” Al said thinking of Marcie.
Part 4
“And there was a God in Heaven
And the world made perfect sense
We were young and were in love
And we were easy to convince
We were headed straight for Eden
It was just around the bend
And though I have forgotten all about it
The song remembers when”
Joey entered his office and sat down and let out a breath.
“Hey you know it looks kind strange when the reverend isn’t at his own party.” His wife said as she entered his office.
“I doubt anyone even noticed that I wasn’t there.” Joey said.
“I noticed you weren’t there.” His wife said smiling.
“Ok well but no one else did.”
“Well I didn’t take a survey or anything but I think other people did miss you.”
“Of course you would think that but you’re just a little bit biased.”
“Well being your wife I think I have to be.”
“Of course because it’s your job title.” He said smiling. “Now can give me a minute and all be right out?”
“Sure no problem. I’ll be waiting for you.” She said as she left.
As the door closed Joey turned on the radio and started to think back to other time.
Jen entered Joey’s office with a basket. “Hey you.” She said smiling as she entered.
“Hey what are doing here?” Joey asked as he looked up from his paperwork.
“I thought we’d have lunch together.”
“And we couldn’t have lunch at home?”
“Well knowing you, you’d call home and have some excuse like you’ve done for the last I don’t know week or two.” Jen said smiling.
“Yeah I’m so sorry about that.”
“I know. Now how about let’s get to this lunch of ours?” Jen asked as she opened the basket.
“Yes let’s do that. Let’s have a perfect lunch with just the two of us.” Joey said smiling.
“Hey what are you doing?” He asked as she entered their bedroom.
“I just thought that we need to add some touches to our bedroom.” Jen said as she took of the bedspread.
“Ok, and you were going to tell me this when?” He asked confused.
“When you got back from your rehearsal which is now so you now know.” Jen said smiling.
“You know Jen maybe you should try looking for a job again.” He suggested.
“Why?” She asked confused.
“Because I think you need to get out of this house for just a little bit.”
“What you don’t like what I’ve done with the apartment?”
He looked down at his watch. “You know I’ve got to go but can you please at least promise me you’ll look for a job?”
“Sure, I promise.” Jen said smiling as he left. Then she headed to the radio and turned it up and her thoughts went to Joey.
Part 5
“I guess something must have happened
And we must have said goodbye
And my heart must have been broken
Though I can't recall just why
The song remembers when”
Flash came off the stage exhausted.
“You did a great job tonight.” Her husband said smiling.
“Thanks now can we get out of here?” She asked.
“I’ve got a car waiting out back let’s go.” He said as he led her to the car.
When they got into the car, he turned on the radio and Flash’s thoughts went to Riley.
“I’m so glad rehearsal’s over.” Flash said as she sank into a chair.
“Why’s that?” Riley asked.
“Because now it can be just the two of us.”
“Yeah that I’m very happy about.”
“Yeah I’d just wish that we’d get to spend more time together.”
“Well this just makes the time we do spend together more special.”
“Well in that case then I like things the way they are.” Flash said smiling.
“So what would you like to do?”
“Spend every free moment I have with just you.” She said as she kissed him.
Riley was snapped out of his thoughts about Flash that he gotten from the song on the radio when Deke came in.
“Hey what are you doing back?”
“We have some work to do.”
“Yeah but I thought you were going home for a while.”
“I was but I remembered that your CD needed more work.”
“You’re lying. You’re just trying to get away from your wife.”
“How about you stop talking and start working.” Riley said as Deke left laughing.
Part 6
“Well, for all the miles between us
And for all the time that's passed
You would think I haven't gotten very far
And I hope my hasty heart
Will forgive me just this once
If I stop to wonder how on Earth you are”
River sat down at his desk. His wife had just gone to sleep and he had papers to grade. He looked at the clock. He shouldn’t have gone out tonight but she needed him there. No she wanted him but they didn’t need any more problems so he went. He turned on the radio to keep himself awake. As she song came on his thoughts went to Adrienne.
River walked into his and Adrienne’s living room. “Let me guess Carlotta just called?” River said as he walked over with a smile.
“Now where would you get that idea from?”
“Well you asked me to leave the room when you saw the caller ID and you look mad. So was I right?”
“Yes she was just calling for her daily call to tell me how wrong I am to be living with you.”
“But you’re not listening to her right?”
“Of course not; I love you too much to ever listen to her.”
River smiled. “I’m so glad to her you say that.”
Adrienne smiled. “Because…”
River laughed. “Are you fishing for something in particular?”
“Kind of.”
“You mean something like I love you too?” He asked smiling.
“Yeah that’s just what I wanted to hear.” She said as she kissed him.
Adrienne sat down at her desk and looked at her mail. She had a lot of mail from home but she didn’t feel like reading it. Her friends still asked about River and she hated talking about him. It was hard enough for her not to think about him and they just made it harder. Adrienne’s phone rang. “Hola.”
“I’m done. So how about you come get me and we’ll head home?” Her husband asked.
“No problem just give me ten minutes; I have some work to finish up here first.”
“Ok I’ll be waiting.” He said as she hung up the phone.
Adrienne got up and turned on the radio and sat down and let her thoughts go towards River
Part 7
“But that's just a lot of water
Underneath a bridge I burned
And there's no use in backtracking
Around corners I have turned
Still I guess some things we bury
Are just bound to rise again
For even if the whole world has forgotten”
Antonio looked up as Natalie and Jamie come in.
“Daddy!” The girl said a she ran into her father’s arms.
Antonio hugged her tight. “So how was your dance recital?”
“It was so great. Mommy taped it for you so you can watch it.” She said happily.
“Thanks.” Antonio told Natalie.
“No problem. Jamie why don’t you go and see if Uncle Tommy has some candy for you?” Natalie suggested.
“I’ll be right back.” She said as she ran off.
Antonio sat back down and offered Natalie the other seat. “So why did you come here?” Antonio asked.
“She wanted to see her father.”
“Natalie….”
“It’s true! Look we took a cab to the recital and then here.”
“A cab! You know I don’t like you two taking cabs!” Antonio said mad.
“Calm down! Look she wanted to ok? Plus I didn’t see the point in taking another car. What do you not want to take us home or something?”
“Natalie, you know that not the problem.”
“Then what is it? What is it this time, Antonio?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“What it means is that you always get made at me for something and I’m getting sick of it. Remember me I’m the only one who seems to ever go to our daughter’s recitals or anything she’s in.”
“She’s my daughter.” Antonio said correcting her.
“Don’t say that! I’m just as much her mother as you are her father.” Natalie said crying. “I may not have given birth to her but at least I love her.”
“Mommy, Daddy look what Uncle Tommy gave me!” She said running up.
Natalie started wiping the tears away.
“Let me see that.” Antonio said. “You know I thought I told Tommy you didn’t need any more candy you were sweet enough already.”
She looked at Natalie. “Are you ok?”
“I’m fine sweetie really.” Natalie said lying.
“So how about the three of us go home so I can watch that video?” Antonio offered.
“Great. I’ll race you!” She said as she ran to the car.
“Jamie don’t run!” Natalie screamed and she slowed down.
Antonio went over to Natalie and put his arm around her. “I’m sorry sweetie I really am.”
“I know you are, you always are but Antonio I get enough from everyone else telling me that she doesn’t look like me, that I’m not her mother. I just can’t take it from you too.”
“But you are her mother in every way that counts.” Antonio said meaning it.
“Now let’s go home with out daughter.” Antonio said leading her out of the station.
Natalie rested her head on his shoulder. “How did you know that, that is exactly what I wanted to do?” Natalie said smiling.
“You’re my wife, so I’m supposed to know.”
“So how was work?” Jessica asked Cristian as she sat down at the dinner table after putting Patrick to sleep.
“Good Sloan has chosen three more paintings to show.”
“That’s great news, Cris. So which ones did he choose?”
“It’s not really important which ones, Jess.”
Jessica put her fork down. “The ones of Natalie, right?” She asked through clenched teeth.
“Yes, those.” Cristian said sadly.
“Now the real question is are you sad you might lose them or that I found out?”
“The second. I didn’t want us to fight, Jess. I wanted us to be happy.”
“I partially believe that.” Jessica said.
“Look can we not talk about that ok? Let’s talk about how work went for you to today.”
“You know how it went, you came and visited me, remember?”
“You don’t seem to be happy about that.”
“No it was a nice surprise really it just didn’t really help me concentrate.”
“I didn’t know I was that distracting.” Cristian said smiling.
“You always have been Cristian Vega and you know that.” Jessica said smiling.
“Oh and you’re not? Why do you think I have so much trouble getting work done at home?” Cristian said smiling.
“Because you can’t stop thinking about me?”
“Well that and you won’t stop interrupting me.” Cris said laughing.
“Oh shut up!” Jessica said laughing.
Part 8
“The song remembers when
Yeah, and even if the whole world has forgotten
The song remembers when”
Joey walked into the party.
“The Reverend finally makes it!” One of the people cheered.
“It’s about time. I was about to steal your wife.” One of the guys joked.
“Nah! You probably couldn’t any way. She’s devoted to me.” Joey said as he walked over and put his arm around Marcie.
“Yeah Chuck I don’t think any of us have a chance.” Another guy said.
“So did you finish everything you needed to do?” Marcie asked.
“Yeah, so what did I miss?”
“Well they were about to make a toast but I told Madeline to wait.”
“Madeline, go ahead.” Joey said.
“You know I don’t know why they need to make such a big deal out of all this.” Marcie said sheepishly as she and Joey sat down.
“Well they’re very grateful for all the work you’ve done.”
“We’ve done.” Marcie corrected him.
“Me? All I did was stand my your side when I could.”
“And that’s a lot.” Marcie said meaning it.
“Ok silence everyone. It’s about time we got down to the reason everyone is here.”
“For you.” Joey said.
“Oh shut up.” Marcie said playfully.
“To honor all of our numerous volunteers who with out their help our protest wouldn’t have been a successful.”
“See this isn’t about me.”
“Just wait.”
“But we want to acknowledge one person in particular. She’s been with this organization for what seems like forever. She has used her voice to get people’s attention and promote awareness. Without her we couldn’t be the group that we are. You all know who I’m talking about. So without further ado we’d like to present this plaque to Mrs. Marcie Buchanan.”
“What?” Marcie said shocked.
“Go up there!” Joey said pushing her.
“By myself?”
“Of course.”
“No, Jo I can’t.”
“Do you want me to go with you?”
“Please.” She begged.
“Sure.” He said as he followed her up there with her holding his hand tightly.
When Marcie got her plaque she was so nervous she couldn’t speak.
“Marcie…” Joey said nudging her.
“Right. Umm…. I really don’t know what to say. I wasn’t expecting this. I guess I should start thanking people.”
Everyone laughed.
“I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without my husband and son. They’re my strong hold in everything I do. Without them I wouldn’t be here. So thank you.” Marcie said as her and Joey walked off the stage.
“Did you mean that, all of that?” Joey asked.
“Of course I did, every last word of it.”
Riley’s cell phone went off. “Guy’s let’s take a break.” Riley cell phone went off again. “Hello?”
“It’s me.”
“Hey Jen so is something wrong?”
“Well not really…” Jen said nervously.
“Jen what’s going on?”
“Well I’ve found something to keep me occupied.”
“Really and what’s that?” Riley asked nervously.
“I’d rather not tell you on the phone. Can you come home?”
“Now?”
“Riley please it’s important.”
“Ok I’ll be home as soon as possible. Jen?”
“What?”
“Just promise me that you’re ok.”
“I’m fine really. I’m great.”
“Then I’ll be there as soon as possible.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Part 9
“I was standing at the counter
I was waiting for the change
When I heard that old familiar music start
It was like a lighted match
Had been tossed into my soul
It was like a dam had broken in my heart”
Flash woke up in the morning and walked downstairs and was shocked to find River asleep at his desk. She smiled and went in the kitchen and made coffee. When she was done she poured him a cup and brought it over to him. “River… wake up” She said as she nudged him.
“What?” He looked around. “What time is it?”
“You got thirty minutes till you have to leave so drink up.” Flash said handing him the cup of coffee.
“Thanks but I thought you’d sleep all day.”
“So did I but apparently your alarm clock didn’t agree.” She said sitting down next to him.
“Sorry I didn’t think I’d fall asleep down here.”
“What are you doing down here any way?”
“Grading papers. I had a lot to do.”
“Then why did you come to my concert last night?”
“You wanted me to.”
“But you didn’t want to?” Flash asked.
“But I’m glad I did. You were wonderful.”
Flash got up. “You know River it isn’t fair that you come to things because you feel obligated. I want you there because you want to be there.”
River got up and went over to her. “If I didn’t want to be there I wouldn’t have gone…”
“But you had all this work.”
“Which I finished last night so don’t worry about it.”
“I just… sometimes I feel like you’d leave me if you didn’t feel so obligated.” Flash said as she started to cry.
“No, Sara believe me I would never leave you because I love you.”
“I love you too.” She said as she let River hold her.
“Look if you’re ever doubting my love again then just ask because I never have a problem telling you that I love you.” River said meaning it.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“You know I just love you for that.”
Flash said as she kissed him.
Then they heard Melody start to cry.
“It sounds like someone else loves us too.” River said laughing.
“So what do you want for dinner?” Adrienne asked Al.
“I want something that doesn’t involve you cooking.” Al said as he came in carrying Sasha.
“What you’re going to cook?” Adrienne asked smiling.
“No, Carlotta gave us some food when I picked up Sasha.”
“Oh so this is Carlotta’s doing. I see.”
“Personally I’m glad. Because there’s no reason for you to have to work two jobs a day and then come home and cook.” He said handing Sasha to her. Then he started to set out the food.
“You’re saying that today because we’ve already got food. If we didn’t you’d wouldn’t be saying this.”
“Yeah probably not.” Al said as he brought Adrienne a plate of food who was feeing Sasha.
“So do you have class tomorrow?”
“Not a long one. I’m going to stop by work when I’m done.”
“So I’ll drop Sasha off at my mother’s when I go to work?” Al asked.
“That’s probably a real good idea. You know we’re lucky that your parents and Carlotta will watch her so much.”
“Well they understand how important work is for us so they don’t mind any way. They love their granddaughter.”
“Who couldn’t love this little girl?” Adrienne asked smiling.
“I know I can’t stand loving her or her mother.” Al said as he leaned in and gave Sasha kiss on the head and then gave Adrienne a kiss on the lips.
Part 10
“After taking every detour
Getting lost and losing track
So that even if I wanted
I could not find my way back
After driving out the memory
Of the way things might have been
After I'd forgotten all about us
The song remembers when”
Natalie got up and ran into the bathroom. She hadn’t felt well in so long. After she threw up she grabbed a washcloth and wiped her mouth. “Jamie must have brought a bug home from school.” She told herself. It was the most reasonable explanation she could think of.
“You ok?” Antonio asked.
Natalie turned back around shocked. “Yeah you just scared me.”
“Sorry. Why don’t you come back to bed?” Antonio asked reaching his hand out.
“I will I just want to go check on Jamie first.”
“Ok I’ll be waiting.” Antonio said as he headed back to bed.
Natalie turned off the bathroom light and headed to Jamie’s room. When she cracked open the door she saw her peacefully sleeping. She almost closed the door when she noticed a new envelope next to Jamie’s bed. Natalie walked over and grabbed it. It was addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Antonio Vega.” It was Ben’s handwriting Natalie knew that. She grabbed the letter and started to leave again. As she got back into her and Antonio’s bedroom she opened the letter and turned on a lamp.
“What’s that?” Antonio asked sitting up.
“An invitation.”
“Don’t tell me the mail already came? It’s two in the morning.”
“No it seems Jamie got the mail again.”
“Oh I’ll talk to her about that in the morning.”
“No, let me besides the only reason she does it, is because she thinks she won’t give her or tell her if R. J. writes.”
“In that case, let me talk to her.”
“Fine but watch what you say about him you say about him. You’ve got to remember he is her grandfather.”
“I know. I know.” He said grumbling. “So what’s the invitation for?”
“For my mother’s birthday.”
“Do you want to go?”
“Of course I do but you know Jess and Cris will be there.”
“But they shouldn’t keep you from your mother.”
“You mean you’d want to see Jessica?”
“Well…”
“See, we just shouldn’t go ok?”
“Natalie…”
“Antonio, I’m fine with it. Let’s just go to sleep.” Natalie said lying down.
“What are you still doing up?” Vicki asked as she came downstairs where Ben was sitting at his desk.
Ben closed the desk. “Nothing. Sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t. I woke up when I reached for you and you weren’t there.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Just come back to bed.”
“Sure just let me lock this.” He said locking the desk.
“You really think I’d search the desk?”
“Yes.” Ben said smiling.
“I’m offended by that.”
“No, you’re not because you know it’s the truth.”
“Maybe. Why can’t you tell me what’s in there?”
“Because it’s a surprise for you.”
“Ok I’ll leave you alone as long as you can promise I’m going to like the surprise.”
“I’m promising you, you will.” Ben said as they headed upstairs. “That’s if your family will come.” He mumbled.
“Good morning.” Jessica said as Cristian came downstairs.
“Good morning.” He said as he gave Jessica a kiss and then Patrick a kiss on the head.
“I need you to take Patrick with you to work.”
“Why?” Cris asked as he took a piece of toast from her.
“Mrs. Pertal is sick.”
“Great. And how am I going to explain to Sloan about there being a baby at my studio?”
“Tell him that your wife is stubborn and claims to leave you if you don’t.”
“Would you?”
“You don’t want that answer.”
Cristian laughed as he started to go through the mail. When he found the invitation he started to open it.
“Anything interesting?”
“Yeah Ben’s throwing a birthday party for your mother this weekend.”
“Do you want to go?”
“I know you do.”
“Cris, I feel like I should. She’s my mother after all.”
“You know if I was to say that about Carlotta you’d laugh.”
“True but this wouldn’t be the same.”
“I know.”
“So we’re going?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t have to say that. Just you bring happy is enough.”
“Still I’ve got to say it.”
END