Hello everyone. I know I've been away for a while, but I have a new story that has been running around in my head for about a month. I will get back to come back to me. Thanks to Reader575 helping me to get out of my slump, I hope to update really soon. Here is Kin.
Olivia Pope was a bright eyed student that her teachers needed to convince her parents that she was to brilliant to live out her life on the mountain. She wanted to be a doctor and come back home and tend to virtually everyone in her community that were her kin. Her high school counselor went to her home to try and convince Eli and Maya that she was offered a scholarship to John Hopkins, one of the best undergrad and Medical schools in the United States. Eli told Olivia to go upstairs while grown folks talked. She made it to the landing and sat down to hear what was being said.
"Mr. and Mrs. Pope, Olivia has a once in a life time kind of mind. Her teachers say that they can't even keep up with how fast she learns. We've had to put her online to advance her learning further than we can keep up. If truth be told, she's already taken about two years worth of college courses already. She's reached her limit here. Don't get mad, but me and some of the teachers paid for her to take the national test for college entrance. Just based on her scores alone, she has gotten over twenty full ride scholarships offers. She can go to school free. I know this is asking a lot from your family, but she's brilliant and a brain like hers needs to be fed and she's not going to get it here."
Eli and Maya look at each other in a silent conversation, one they knew was coming. They saw it in the way that Olivia taught her younger brothers. They knew they would never be able to keep her there on the mountain with them and farming as a way life.
After seeming like a lifetime, Eli spoke.
"She can go, but we can't take her. We need every available hand to run this family farm."
He paused for minute.
"We knew she would never stay. From the moment I held her, I knew she was special. She's my first baby and will always have a place in my heart, but what she's about to do is going to be hard and that starts with leaving us here."
"Mr. Pope, I'll take Olivia to school, don't worry I'll make sure she gets settled in. I have one of my old Professors on staff in the science department that I can ask to look out for her. I'll leave his phone number as a way for you to get in contact with her if you have an emergency."
Eli looked at Maya and she shook her head in the affirmative.
"She can't come back here till she finishes. And I mean finish as a doctor. If she wants to be a doctor, then she has to prove it everyday by staying away from here. I know what being home sick can do to ya and no daughter of mine is going to come back here without gettin her dream. We will be here when she's done, but like plowin the ground, you have to keep at it, till it's done."
Olivia sat at the top those stairs realizing what it meant if she left. Four years of undergrad, four years of medical school, and three years in residency. She possible would not see her family for eleven years. She thought, was she strong enough to leave her parents, sibling, and all her cousins on that ridge of that mountain? Could she do it, could she be that strong like her Papa and Mama.
"Livie, come off them stairs. I know you been listen to our conversation."
Olivia slowly rose, her body felt like lead. She plodded down the stairs.
She came to stand in front of her parents, who stood up. Her father put both his warn hands on her shoulders.
"Look me in the eye Livie."
She looked up with tears starting to flood from her eyes. She already knew her answer and so did her Papa.
"Your Grandma said it was our responsibility to move our family forward. Grandma and Grandpa were the feet, we were the legs, now it's your turn to make the next jump for this family. You owe us the best possible person you can be and it ain't here. If you decide to come back after all the schoolin that's fine, but if the world needs you more than us, then you keep it movin. We will always be here, and you can write and call us and we will write and call you too, but I need you to put this ole house in the rearview mirror and take off like the butterfly you've always been. Time to spread um Livie."
She hugged her father and sobbed into his shirt. Her mother came behind her and rapped her arms around her as well.
Eight years later...
Olivia had kept her promise to her family. They never lost touch with each other, but it was mainly phone calls and letters. Her family was there when she finished up her undergraduate program in two years and graduating number one in her class. Her teachers saw so much talent that they encouraged her to go to Harvard Medical. She was too brilliant not to pursue an education at the best medical school in the nation. There she flourished again ranking at the very top of her incoming class with people who were two of three years older than she was. Her main advisor Cyrus Beene encouraged her to specialize in Neurosurgery. Not only did she get accepted into the best Neurosurgery program but she got into Mass General the largest and the best teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and biomedical research facility in Boston.
"Mama! I got into the medical program I was hoping for!"
"Livie baby I'm are so proud of you!"
"Thank you Mama! When are you Papa and the boys getting here for graduation?"
"We'll be leavin here on the train next week. Are you sure you got enough room to host us?"
"Mama! You know I always have room for my family. It's nothing to sleep on the floor with the boys. You and Papa will always get the bed. It feels like old times when I sleep on the floor with Harrison and Scotty."
"We don't want to overwhelm you baby."
"Mama, anytime I get to see my family is a blessing. I miss y'all so much."
"I know you do Livie, but your Papa was right in telling you not to come back home. Look what all you've accomplished."
"Yeah, and as soon as my residency is over I'm moving back to West Virginia to be closer to you guys."
"Livie, don't live your life for us. You've already spread your wings so wide, keep flying baby. We will always be here."
"I know Mama, but sometimes I get lonely here. I need to see y'all more than once every four years."
"Livie, you have to start opening up to other people so someone can come into your life. We are so proud of your accomplishments, but I worry you will let your personal life fall by the way side. I want to see you happy in all aspects of your life not just your professional. Promise me if they have some kind of social event in the next week or two you will go."
"I don't know Mama."
"Promise me little rabbit."
Olivia smiled. Her mother hadn't called her that in years.
"I promise Mama rabbit."
Maya burst into the most soul warming laugh that Olivia missed so much.
"Good! Let me know how it goes. Well I have to go, you know chores around here don't wait for no man or beast. Talk to you later my smart girl."
"Bye Mama."
Olivia sat at her desk and looked down at the pre-graduation cocktail party she was invited to at Cyrus Beene's home. Cyrus always tried to invite her to different events, but she always had an excuse not to go. She was on a mission and she was not going to allow anything or anyone get in the way of her making it back to her family.
"Well little rabbit, you promised Mama. Let's get ready to go."
Later that evening...
Olivia found herself standing in front of the most impressive red door with climbing ivy on the outside of bricks on both sides of the wall. She was so caught up in the beauty of the house outside and wondering if it was as impressive as the inside, that she was unaware of someone admiring her from the rear.
"So are you going to take a picture or are you going to ring the door bell?"
Olivia turned around a bit startled and slightly embarrassed. What she saw the most beautiful blue eyes twinkling at her and a hint of mischief in that smile.
"Fitzgerald Grant at your service my lady."
He bowed and looked up at her and smiled.
Olivia giggled at this crazy man behind her.
"Olivia Pope my good sir."
They both laughed out loud.
"Let's get into this party and get some of this free booze Cy is providing."
"You know Professor Beene?"
"Yep, he's my godfather. Don't hold that against me."
They both smiled at each other. Fitz stared into her big brown eyes that drew him in and reached behind her and rang the door bell never taking his eyes off her. The door opened, but they weren't really paying attention.
"Well if it isn't my two favorite people, but she's more of my favorite that you Fitz."
Cyrus Beene pulled Olivia into a hug and shook Fitz's hand.
"I think I'm a little put off by that comment Uncle Cy."
"You should. She happens to be my favorite and most brilliant student I've ever had and that includes you sonny."
"Ouch! Well Ms. Pope since you have booted me out of my godfather's good graces, you owe me a drink. Let's get to it."
He linked Olivia's arm around his and walked into Cyrus's home. Cyrus turned and had a curious thought that they could be a modern day Marie and Pierre Curie, but in the medical field. He smiled at the thought, but he could also see the chemistry between them. To him, they struck him as perfect partners in science and life. Maybe he needed to play cupid a bit.
"What's your poison Ms. Pope?"
"I don't have a poison. Drinking is really frowned upon in my family."
"Ohhhh. Can I corrupt you into trying some wine?"
"Corrupt away."
"Your pretty cute you know."
"Yes, I know." She giggled
Fitz smiled so hard he felt she could see all his teeth.
"So little lady why haven't I seen you around these parts before?"
"Been to busy to socialize. "
"To busy to socialize, you should always take some downtime so you don't go coo-coo coconuts."
Olivia giggled
"And by the way since you've taken my place in my sweet Uncle Cy's heart, are you as young as you look?"
Olivia smiled. "I am a bit ahead of the game. I graduate next week from Medical school and I got in at Mass General's Neurosurgery program."
"Well, well Ms. Fancy pants your in luck, I happen to be a resident at Mass General as well. This is the end of my second year in the program. Your going to love it and hate it, but in the end the work is worth it. Are you going to specialize?"
"Yep! Pediatric Neurosurgery. I heard it's the toughest and longest residency, so naturally I picked it."
They both laughed.
"No, I'm terrified of working on little kids, but I just feel I have a calling for it. Do you know what I mean?"
"Singing to the choir sister, singing to the choir. I'll tell you this, your braver than I would be. It's one thing to hold an adults life in your hand and scalpel, but to hold one for a child is much more pressure. Not to scare you off, but if Uncle Cy tells me your the most talented student he has ever had, then I believe your are the person suited for the job. Uncle Cy never give out complements."
Olivia blushed a bit.
"Thank you. I hope we get to see each other at work, I would like to pick your brain about the program and what I should look out for."
"Here, give me your phone."
Olivia pulled out her cell phone. Fitz took it from her and put in his number.
"I just put my phone number in your phone. If your here over the summer, I can help you get a leg up on your residency program before it starts in the fall."
"Oh, thank you! I really appreciate that. I'll be here all summer studying."
"Ok, we are going to have to work on your downtime activities, starting right now."
They both chuckled.
"Seriously, I work a two days on, two days off rotation. I need the downtime too and keep myself sharp, so let's meet at least every week until you start. How does that sound?"
"Sounds great, but what's in it for you?"
"I get to hang out with a beautiful , talented, star doctor."
Olivia dropped her head slightly so he could not see her blushing.
"I don't know about all that, but I could do with some lessons on how to relax a bit."
"Well it's settled, we are attached at the hip until the fall! High five me!"
Olivia shook her head and laughed at this kook of a man and high five him.