Part 3

He can't imagine who would be knocking at this hour, in fact the only time anyone comes knocking at this door is by invite only, or the mailman with an expected delivery. He's not expecting either. Cautiously, he makes his way downstairs. The porch light is on, but he cannot make out a figure- he hopes it's just someone lost and in need of directions and not someone looking for trouble. The beauty of living somewhere so remote is the peace and quiet and solitude that comes along with it, the downfall however, you have no neighbours to hear you scream.

With the chain still in place, he opens the door, slightly ajar and peers out. But nothing or no-one could have prepared him for whom would be on the other side…

He stares at her aghast. "Olivia?"

"Hi…"

"What are you doing here?" She winces by how abrupt he sounds; he doesn't mean it, but justifiable he's rather taken back by her presence… "I'm sorry, I didn't mean… look, hold on, let me just get the chain". He closes the door briefly, to remove the hindrance to the door and inhales deeply; his nerves are shot.

He can't believe she's here.

He reaches for her case and steps aside, allowing her space to pass… "Come in."

"Thanks". To his ears, she sounds as nervous as he feels.

Wordlessly, he leads her into his living room and offers her a seat, whilst he takes up the seat opposite her. Eventually, in a softer and more approachable tone he breaks the silence between them and asks… "Why have you come here Liv?"

"I came to speak to you," she replies simply… "and I wanted to know why you saw fit to move all the way out here and leave me, without so much as discussing it with me."

"Hold on- I tried to speak you, but you refused to talk to me remember."

She sighs… "Please don't be obtuse about this, you know exactly what I mean, why didn't you speak to me before the decision was made… Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

"I'm sorry Liv, it really wasn't my intention for you to find out that way…"

She interjects in sheer frustration… "You're missing the point, we kissed Fitz- and instead of allowing us time to figure out what that could possibly mean for us, you chose to run away…"

"I did not run away…" He defends, "I left because I knew that one of us had to put an end to this madness…"

She can't help but feel hurt by this statement… "Madness? There's nothing mad about it Fitz, we kissed because we can no longer deny our feelings for each other…"

He shakes his head… "No Liv, this is wrong, you're my best friend's daughter, I'm old enough to be your father… even you can't deny that what we are doing is wrong… Your dad…"

"Stop it!" She exclaims, rising to her feet in indignation, she's had enough, she WILL NOT allow him to continue using her age and her father as an excuse for them not to be together. "Stop bringing him into this, it's not his business any more, I'm 21 years old- I can make my own decisions and you should make yours… this is about you and me and no-one else…"

He too has risen to his feet, matching her, slightly thrown by her directness and her ability to strike a nerve… "You are naive to believe that this could only ever be about us, I have been friends with your father longer than you've been alive, never mind the fact that I've made promises to your dad, to look out for you… and this… this is certainly not what he had in mind, if anything he would see this as a huge betrayal and that I have taken advantage of you…"

She moves closer, determined to get him to open-up, to stop him from hiding and finally admit how he feels about her. She stares at him intensely... "But you didn't take advantage Fitz, I wanted you to kiss me… I want you… don't you see that?" She reaches for him, cupping his cheek in her hand. He's literally trembling, struggling to keep control… God, it would be so easy to give in, but then he thinks better of it- he can't, because it will only get more complicated if he does and this was messy enough. "No Liv…" He grabs her by the wrist to prise her hand away from him. Desperate to gain some distance between them and some clarity… "It was a mistake, I shouldn't have kissed you…"

But she, also determined in her resolve will not back down either. "It was not a mistake, it was beautiful- everything I thought it would be... Look me in the eye and tell me you don't feel the same... because I know you do…" At that point he turns away from her, unable to face her and ultimately face himself.

"Look at you… you can't do it, can you…" She's taunting him now; deliberately pushing his buttons, doing whatever it takes to break through to him. "You thought moving out here would solve everything, but you're wrong, you could have moved to Australia and we would still feel the same- so why are you putting us though all this pain… I love you Fitz and I know you love me too... Tell me I'm wrong…"

No. He can't do this again. He won't.

Absently, he finds himself looking down at his old wedding ring, fighting back the fresh tears threatening to spill… Olivia follows his line of sight, and with that a huge realisation comes to light. Could it be that his fear to admit his love for her stems from a place even deeper than she originally thought? Was his reluctance less to do with her age and her father and more to do with Mellie?

She's soon to find out, when he attests… "What do you know about love Liv, you haven't got a clue, or even begin to understand how terrible it can be... to put your life into the hands of another person, completely... This is not love; it's a game, a dangerous little game…"

"You are going to have to let go of her at some time..." The words slip from her mouth unbidden. And he has gone deathly pale.

Had she gone too far? Maybe... but so be it, she thinks savagely; if it's his dead wife that is really standing in their way, then it's high time that they address it… No matter what, she's got to see this through.

"What?"

"Mellie, your wife… when will you move on Fitz?"

He's reeling. "Don't you dare bring my wife into this!"

"Oh no, of course not, because that will involve facing the truth... How could I ever hope to measure up, how could anyone measure up to her... She's on a pedestal Fitz… DEAD!"

Like a bull to a red flag, her words have enraged him; she's hit so close to the bone that he's unable to mask his hurt or grief; and all he has at his disposal right now is the ability to lash out… "That's not the only advantage she has over you, Mellie meant everything to me… And you, well you're nothing but a silly girl, looking for her father's attention…"

As soon as he's said it, he instantly wishes to take it back, because she looks so wounded, although, he knows her well enough to tell that she is also trying her very best to remain strong, and in proof of that she attacks back just as powerfully… "At least I'm not afraid to admit to you how I feel, or do anything about it… You however are nothing but a COWARD!"

It's true of course, he is a coward, because he's absolutely petrified that if he does give in, and it goes horribly wrong it will surely destroy him, and ruin her in the process too… "Why are you doing this Liv, why can't you just leave it be…" he begs her. Feeling overwhelmed herself, Liv pauses for a second, as she makes the decision to take a different approach, one that may risk losing him altogether... "Fine, if you want me to leave, then I'll make it simple for you… tell me that you don't love me, and I'll go". A lone single tear, runs down her cheek as she whispers gently… "Tell me Fitz, and I'll walk away and never look back."

"Liv, please…"

"Say it Fitz…" She steps closer.

"Stop…"

"Just say it!" She cries, and in the midst of her vulnerability, her face is flushed and awash with tears; her passion has never been so raw or unrestrained. In fact, truth be told, she's probably never looked more beautiful; it's enough to unravel him completely…

"I CAN'T- I can't say it…"

By this point she's standing directly in front of him, with only a breath of air separating them… so close she can feel the pulsating heat from his body penetrating her senses… "Why Fitz… Why can't you say it?"

"I… I…"

"Trust me… please…" she implores. "Fitz, you can't keep living your life like this- never letting anyone in…"

He swallows hard, "It's too late Liv, because you're already there…"

Both of their hearts are racing, hers in anticipation, his in nerves. But first, she has to hear him say it... "Tell me you love me…"

Unable to take his eyes off her, utterly transfixed, he realises that can't fight her any longer; resistance is futile. And now it's his turn to gently cup her face in the palm of his hand, as finally, he professes his truth… "I love you Liv."

The smile she gives him renders him speechless... "And I love you Fitz..." And with that he goes for her, and she lets him.