If you are a past reader of mine, this story might be a bit different for you as I've only ever written Gossip Girl fics. With getting ready for college and other craziness happening in my life, I don't really have time to sit and write like I used to. Honestly it saddens me because writing has always been a passion of mine and a stress-reliever as well. So on this lovely January night with snow on its way, I wanted to take a moment from my busy life to sit and write a little thought I had in the shower (which is how a lot of my fics come to fruition :P).

If you are a new reader, my name is Becca, nice to meet you :) I have been an Olivia and Fitz shipper for over a year now, but have never written an Olitz fic. Go easy on me, and I hope you'll enjoy this because I've found there's not many like it.

Also tomorrow kicks off #GladiatorWeek on my YouTube channel! I'm posting a new Scandal video every day, so check out at AleccaOfficial! I'll also be doing weekly episode reviews so check it out.

Without further ado, here goes nothing.

2020. A new year, a new decade, a new ripple in time. The cool air beats against the window in excitement, sending small, tender snowflakes to melt on the warmth emanating from behind it. It is 2 AM, and the streets of Burlington, Vermont are hauntingly quiet. The lights of the city have slowly faded, and all of its residents are in deep slumber. The only sounds come from inside the building with the warm windows, where the machines beep softly and TVs murmur in the distance. For most, the celebration of the New Year has come to a close. But in this building, two people are wide awake, captivated by the first gift 2020 has brought to them.

"She's ours, Livvie."

A soft hand caresses the tiny baby in the pink blankets, so tenderly as if not to break her. Both sets of eyes are locked on her, watching her sleep peacefully after going through the turmoil of entering the world. Her lips are like his, her mad curls like her mother's. But she is completely theirs, and the thought is enough to send them both into a mix of sheer panic and joy.

"She's the dream." Her mother whispers, the corners of her mouth turning into a slight smile.

Neither parent wants to tear their eyes from her, not yet. They feel as though time is paused, only moving when they are reminded it exists by the small tap of the snowflakes against the hospital windows. There were many babies born at the University of Vermont Hospital tonight.

But only one is theirs.

They thought they would never get here, never see her flushed cheeks or touch her delicate fingers. It was a fantasy, one they could only cling onto with hope. In dashes of red and black, hope was all they had, and there were some moments where they had thought it would kill them. The world had set expectations, placed weights on their shoulders that threatened to push them down into the ground.

But hope brought them through.

The baby in the soft pink blankets was evidence of that. It wasn't the Tiffany wedding band on her finger or the gold band on his. It wasn't the house in Vermont, eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new member of the household. It wasn't the 'I love yous' and the promises that he kept.

It was her. She encompassed all of that and more.

He loved all of his children. She was not his first, and certainly not his last. He can remember every child's entry into the world, and the feeling that he had as he looked down at them in his arms.

This was different.

It was not that he loved her more or less than the others. She just represented something entirely different. They had fought so hard to bring her here, to just hear a strong cry pierce through the thick and stagnant air. And they had won. All was handled, all was perfect.

They knew when morning broke, things would be challenging again. The media trucks will be lining up, friends begging to hold her. So they cherish this moment, when it is just the three of them. His head rests against her tired shoulders, arm lightly supporting her as she cradles the baby. She soaks in the warmth from her tiny family, her body trembling from the overwhelming sense of love she feels.

"I love her." She murmurs, tears forming in the corners of her eyes. He kisses a stray tear gently away, wrapping his arm tighter around her.

"More than you love me." He asks sarcastically, nuzzling his nose against her cheek. She smiles and sniffles, finally tearing away her face from the bundle.

"Sorry." He laughs and kisses the tip of her nose.

"I'm going to get it right this time." He promises, looking deeply into her eyes. She knows he means it, and despite all of the events of the past, she knows he will truly make a good father. Over the past nine months, he had agonized and stared at ceilings anxiously awaiting her arrival. She had grabbed his hands and placed them to feel her from inside of her, reminding him that she was theirs. Through cravings and swollen feet, he had carried her through the finish line. She did not have to live through any of that to know what he was saying was the truth. His eyes told her that.

She wanted to be the mother she never had. She had wrestled with the daunting task in front of her almost every night of her pregnancy. She would rock in the grey chair and look out over the vast green gardens on their property wondering how she would be somebody's mother. Through lonely nights in Washington, she had taken care of herself. Now she was responsible for a little life, a life that would be shaped by her. She knew with him by her side that she could do it, but years in politics and law had made her cold, and she longed to feel the warmth from his chest when she felt the shivers wash over her once more.

In this moment, the symphony of their relationship had finally reached a slow, joyful harmony. And as she leaned in to affirm her belief that he would be an amazing father with a chaste kiss, she felt the bundle in her arms move slightly. She slowly turned her head to look back down at the baby who had captivated her from her first breath, her husband meeting her glance. She locked eyes with her daughter's, who was looking intently at her parents. They could not help but to smile at her registering their faces, and taking in their love.

"Welcome to the world Isabella Rose." Olivia murmured.

If you'd like to see more Olitz from me, make sure to leave a review. Thanks for reading! By the way, the title translated from French is "Baby of Hope". Just sounds much fancier in French ;) Happy TGIT week!