Chapter 4 - Help

As Olivia led the way through the ground floor of the training centre, they passed numerous offices and training rooms.

Fitz had never set foot in a place like it. He couldn't help but take everything in. Lining the walls there was display after display, showing everything from past and present players to championship wins.

Olivia came to stop in front of a door. Fitz took a quick look at the name engraved on to the door; to be honest he didn't really know what to think. He didn't recognise the name.

"Ready?" Olivia asked, gently squeezing his hand with hers.

He nodded his head as Olivia knocked on the door.

"Come in!"

"Hey Cy." Olivia said poking her head through as she opened door.

Olivia walked fully into the room, still holding Fitz' hand. They stopped in front of his desk and watched as Cyrus stood and walked slowly towards them.

When Fitz saw Cyrus approaching him with his hand out to shake, he placed Michael back on the floor. He didn't have enough hands for all three of them.

"Fitzy..." Michael whined, reaching for him.

"Hang on bud." Fitz replied quickly ruffling Michael's curls.

As Fitz reached out to shake Cyrus hand and introduce himself, he felt Michael squeeze his small body between himself and Olivia.

"Fitz this is Cyrus Beene, my coach slash uncle. And Cy, this Fitzgerald Grant my boyfriend." Olivia smiled up at Fitz after she'd introduced them to each other.

"Nice to meet you." Fitz said shaking hands with Cyrus.

"Please sit down." Cyrus motioned to the two seats that sat in front of his desk.

Olivia ran her hand along Fitz' forearm, and then moved to sit in one of the chairs. Fitz turned Michael to follow his sister then moved himself.

"Mikey." Olivia said reaching out to him, ready to put him on her lap, she could tell that he was starting to get tired.

"No... I want Fitzy." He whined stepping closer to Fitz.

Olivia connected her eyes with Fitz, silently asking if he was okay with it. She didn't want him to feel like he had to entertain Michael's wants.

"Come on then Mikey." Fitz placed his arms under Michaels and lifted him onto his lap.

Michael sat with his back against Fitz' chest, and his legs dangling either side of Fitz' legs. Once he was comfortable Fitz gave him his car keys to fiddle with, whilst they talked.

"Fitzgerald was it?" Cyrus asked studying the young man sat in front of him.

Cyrus had to admit, he was good looking and Michael already seemed attached to him. It made him wonder how long Olivia had known him, and more importantly, why she hadn't said anything.

"Yes Sir."

"I have to be honest; Olivia hasn't told me anything about you. So why don't you tell me a bit about yourself."

To say that the whole conversation was a bit awkward was a huge understatement. It was sounding more like a job interview than, two people meeting for the first time.

"Cy..."

"It's okay Liv." Fitz said reaching out to rest his hand on her knee. He had nothing to hide.

Olivia looked down at his hand and placed her hand on top. She couldn't be sure if Cyrus could see their hands or not. If didn't matter to her either way.

"Well my name is Fitzgerald Grant, but most people call me Fitz. Except for little man." He said nodding his head down at Michael on his lap. "I've been travelling for a little while and I've been home now for about a week."

"And what do you do when you're not travelling."

"I have just under a year left of university, which I need to finish."

"Really? What are you studying?

"Law."

"Interesting,"

"Cy…" Olivia tried but was ignored.

"And your family? Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"No I don't have any siblings. My parents live in California though."

Olivia was mortified, why did he need to know these things? She couldn't wait for this conversation to be over.

"So how did you and Liv meet?"

Olivia wanted to stop this whole conversation but Fitz didn't even seem fazed by it.

"Well I actually met Mikey before I met Liv, funnily enough. I was on a plane back from London and the seat next to me was empty. I turned to look out of the window and when I turned back, there was a little face smiling at me from the previously empty seat."

Olivia hadn't heard how Fitz had met Michael. At the time she was just worried as to where her brother was, she hadn't asked too many questions.

"And Liv?"

"I met her when she came to find Mikey."

"And so you kept in contact?"

"No. Actually. I sort of bumped into her."

Cyrus looked at Olivia confused.

She didn't know if he wanted an explanation from her but, the longer he stared the more obligated she felt to explain.

"Do you remember last week, when I left early? I was carrying Mikey out to the car..."

"Olivia." Cyrus wasn't impressed.

He had told her about carrying him. If she wasn't careful she would injure herself, which neither of them could afford.

"I know Cy... Anyway. I was walking to the car and trying to look in my bag for my keys at the same time and, all of a sudden I hit something."

"It was my fault. I was looking at my phone instead of where I was going." Fitz added, it wasn't her fault. Not really, she had a lot going on at the time.

"Cy, has your interrogation finished now? I'm really hungry I'll have you know, and I'm in desperate need of food."

Cyrus chuckled. When wasn't she hungry he thought to himself? He studied the pair of them, he wanted to know more about this young man. Obviously, Olivia wasn't impressed but that wouldn't deter him. Her safety was paramount.

"For now but Liv, you're due to come round for dinner soon. Fitz of course you're invited too."

That would be his chance, he thought. He would be able to learn more about Fitz over dinner.

Olivia stood and watched as Fitz looked down at Michael, he had abandoned the keys and instead was sleeping peacefully against his chest, head back, mouth open - catching flies.

She took a step towards him and took Michael off his lap which allowed him to stand. Carrying Michael round to Cyrus she chose to ignore the stare that he gave her. She wasn't going to not pick Michael up, if that's what he needed.

They said their goodbyes and quietly left Cyrus' office to make the walk back to the car. Just as they stepped outside the office Fitz stopped Olivia.

"Do you want me to take him?" He questioned. "You've got to be tired."

"Do you mind? I ache everywhere."

"Of course not. C'mere."

They carefully manoeuvred and repositioned Michael, so that he was in Fitz' arms. Trying to do it all without waking him up was a challenge but thankfully they managed to do it. The last thing Olivia wanted was a tired, grumpy five year old on her hands.

"Do you still want to go get some lunch, or do you need to go home."

"Lunch. He'll probably be awake by then."

"Okay. Any preference?"

"Surprise me." She smiled at him and moved to hold his hand.

They pulled up outside a little restaurant, from the outside it didn't look like much but Olivia assumed that it was better than it looked. She trusted Fitz enough to not take her somewhere questionable.

She quickly glanced into the back seats of the car, and to her surprise Michael was still asleep. He can't have had much sleep the previous night and that concerned her. She would have to speak with him tonight, before bed.

Olivia leaned through and gave him a soft shake, trying to gently bring him round. When that didn't work she hopped out of the car and walked round to Fitz.

She flipped the seat forward and leant through. As she began to unbuckle Michael's seatbelt she could see him stirring.

Eventually forcing his sleepy eyes open, Michael look up and saw Olivia directly in front of him and reached out for her. She helped him out of his seat and out of the car, and then stood him with Fitz whilst she went to get her bag.

"Ready?" She said as she approached Fitz and Michael.

"Come on kid." Fitz said offering his hand for Michael to hold. Michael placed his hand in Fitz' but also reached his other hand out for Olivia to hold.

As they sat down in the restaurant Fitz scanned the area, he was looking for someone in particular but couldn't find them. He recognised a few people but not the person he was actually looking for.

"Hi. My name's Megan, I'll be your server today. Have you decided what you would like, or would you like me to come back?"

"Hi Megan." Olivia responded politely, seeing that Fitz was distracted. "Could we just order some drinks first, we're still deciding on food."

"Certainly, what can I get you?"

"Can I have lemonade please? Mikey? Fitz?"

"Milkshake!" Michael shouted, peeking up a little.

When Michael saw the stare he was getting from Olivia he knew he had forgotten something.

"Please..."

"Okay, what flavour?" The waitress saw that Michael didn't know, so decided to help him out. "We have chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, banana, mint..."

"Stawberry... Please."

She couldn't help but smile at the young boy.

"Fitz?" Olivia asked.

"Oh erm, a Coke please."

After the waitress, left Olivia placed a kids menu in front of Michael so he could look at the meals. She then reached across the table to place her hand on Fitz' arm.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah of course." He turned his head to smile at her.

"You sure?"

"Yeah I was just looking for someone." He said placing his hand on top of hers. As Fitz looked up he caught a glimpse of the person he was trying to find.

"Libs, I'm hungry." Michael complained.

"Okay Mikey. We're now ordering. Have you decided?" She asked Fitz before waving the waitress over and ordering their food.

Huck still felt uneasy about this new man in Olivia's life. He wasn't jealous, just cautious. He had known Olivia since school and had been with her through everything.

But certain things had got to him today, and he didn't like it. He debated calling Lucy, if anyone was to know anything it would be her.

Lucy Palmer was another friend from school. She had been Olivia's best friend for as long as Huck had known them, they were joint at the hip all the way through school. They probably still would be if she hadn't moved away. But, that didn't deter their friendship; they keep in contact and are still incredibly close.

"Huck?" She answered the phone.

"Hey Luce."

There was a moment of silence.

"Did you want something, or are we going to just listen to each other breathing?" She teased.

"Yeah... This might sound odd but, do you know of any new men in Livs life?"

"Yeah..."

Huck almost let out a sigh of relief. Until he heard her next sentence.

"... That does sound odd. No I don't why?"

"I was out earlier and I saw Michael with a man. I didn't recognise him. So, I spoke to him and called Liv and she was absolutely fine about it all. She knew that Michael and this man were out together."

"So, she's met someone new. Where's the problem?" Lucy asked, secretly a little hurt that Olivia hadn't told her anything.

"The problem? Neither you nor I knew about him. Plus there was just something."

"Something? I'm going to need you to be a bit more specific here Huck."

"I didn't know. Take this for an example then, he calls Michael, Mikey. And Michael's completely fine with it, when have we ever been allowed to call him that. Also. You should have seen how comfortable Michael was with him. He actually jumped into this man's arms, and let him carry him. Again, remember the one time I tried to carry him. He freaked out."

That brought back a memory she didn't want. She was certain that, that was the day they were going to prison because of the fuss Michael had made when Huck tried to carry him.

"Yeah I remember… he said only mommy and daddy can carry him, or Liv because she's strong, and because mommy and daddy were with the angels."

Just thinking about it brought back some painful memories.

"Look Huck, I'll speak to her okay?"

"Okay."

"Michael. Stop it." Olivia said trying to stay calm.

As this day went on, the closer Michael was pushing her to her breaking point. She had expected this week, the lead up to the anniversary of their parents' death to be bad, but not this bad.

"No!"

"Michael." She said sternly.

It had been about 5 minutes since they ordered their food and Michael was now bored, tired and hungry. It seemed as if he was going out of his way to wind Olivia up now and she didn't know how much more she would be able to take.

Currently he was sliding the menus across the table. When Olivia reached to put them back into the holder, Michael pushed at her arm causing the whole holder to fall over.

"Help pick them up." Olivia said staring at Michael as her and Fitz started to pick the menus up.

"No! I want my mommy!"

Olivia could tell that he was angry and upset but she didn't know why he was acting out like this, usually it was tears not defiance.

"Mikey, mommy isn't..." Olivia began reaching out for him.

"No! You're not mommy!" He cried.

Before Olivia could do anything he slipped off his seat and under the table. The next thing she saw was him running towards the exit.

"I'll go." Fitz said his reactions quicker than hers.

He soon caught up to Michael, before he really had a chance to make it anywhere.

"Mikey..." Fitz said as he scooped him up into his arms. He didn't want to scare him but he couldn't let him reach the exit.

"Mommy." Michael sobbed into Fitz' shoulder.

"I know bud." Fitz attempted to soothe him. He couldn't even begin to imagine how he was feeling.

Fitz looked back at Olivia to see her with her head in her hands. She needed some time to herself, so instead of taking Michael straight back to the table he placed him down on a stool at the breakfast counter.

"Fitzy!" Michael cried reaching for him.

Fitz instantly picked him up again. This time when he sat down he put Michael on his lap, where he curled up against his chest.

"Excuse me." Fitz spoke to a waiter behind the bar. There were so many new people he didn't recognise.

"Can I help?" The young man asked.

"Yeah, could you tell Joe that Fitz Grant needs to talk to him, please?"

"Certainly."

Less than 2 minutes after the waiter left he was back, this time with an older looking man in tow.

"Fitz?"

"Uncle Joey."

Fitz watched his uncle walk around the bar to him. He could already see the confused look appearing on his uncles face.

"Fitz I know I haven't seen you in a while but, it hasn't been that long. Has it?" He said nodding towards Michael, whilst taking a seat next to Fitz.

"No, it hasn't." Fitz smiled. "This is my girlfriends, little brother."

"Girlfriend? Your folks haven't said anything."

"That's because they don't know yet."

"Ah. Well... Bring her by sometime; I'd love to meet her."

"Actually… She's here."

"Fitzy..."

As both Fitz and Joe looked down at Michael, it was clear how upset he was. The tear stains had marked his face and he was still clinging to Fitz.

"Yeah?"

"I'm hungry."

"I know bud. I'm sure it's almost ready."

Joe didn't want to ask what had happened to make him upset, that wasn't his business. But there was something he could help with.

"What's he waiting for?" Joe asked.

"The kids' nugget meal."

"And yourselves?"

"Joe you don't have to."

"Fitz. What are you waiting on?"

"A hamburger meal and a chicken salad."

He watched as Joe spoke to the waiter and then watched as the young man scuttled away. He supposed that was the advantage to owning the diner. Being able to do things your way.

Joe had ordered his staff to put through their meals first. Although the diner was busy, and under normal circumstances they would have had a long wait, these weren't normal circumstances.

"So can I meet her?"

"Sure. But first, this is Michael."

"Hi Michael." Joe tried but didn't get a response from him.

Fitz stood up, offering a half smile and led Joe back to their table. He noticed that Olivia was now sitting up right again.

"Livvie." Fitz said as he readjusted Michael.

Olivia stood up when she saw that someone was with Fitz; he clearly wanted her to meet someone.

"This is my uncle Joe. Uncle Joe, this is my girlfriend, Olivia Pope."

"Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too."

Just as Fitz went to speak they were interrupted by a member of staff, frantically whispering something in Joe's ear.

"That's my cue." He smiled politely at Olivia. "I'll grab your food, but promise me you'll all stop by another day for dinner, so we can meet properly."

When they were alone again Fitz placed Michael down on the bench seat opposite Olivia, and this time he slid in beside her rather than opposite.

He angled his body as much as he could, so that he was almost facing her.

"Are you okay?" Fitz asked. He was really concerned about her.

"Yeah..."

She didn't immediately look at Fitz, instead she watched Michael place his head, into his arms and onto the table.

"Livvie..."

"Not really. I don't know what to do with him. For some reason he, seems to be pushing me away. I can't stand it, knowing that I can't help him."

"Liv." Fitz cupped her face and turned her to face him. "He loves you; he just doesn't know how to cope with everything."

Olivia leaned into Fitz. Just as he wrapped his arm around her the waitress reappeared with their meals. Olivia sat herself upright again but didn't let go of Fitz' hand.

"Sorry for the delay." The waitress said politely. "So we have the chicken nugget meal."

"Sit up bud." Fitz said to Michael, seeing as he was still sprawled out across the table.

The waitress placed Michael's meal down on the table before turning to place Fitz and Olivia's meals. They all thanked her before she made her exit.

They were left alone at the table to eat.

Olivia watched as Michael began to eat, she was waiting for him to make eye contact t with her. When he eventually did, he scowled in her direction which upset her more than she could say.

Quickly asking to be excused, she made an excuse to head for the bathroom. She didn't want either of them to see how upset she was.

After almost an hour they were heading back out of the diner, and to Fitz' car. Michael had decided that he was going to hold Fitz' hand and not Olivia's and that hurt her a little. Michael had slowly been breaking her apart that afternoon and she didn't know why.

Fitz opened Olivia's door and strapped Michael into the seat behind hers. Once he was finished, he stood facing Olivia, he placed his hands on her upper arms and slowly started to move his hands along her arms. He could see that something was bothering her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm not sure?" She replied honestly, looking up at him. She really didn't know how to answer that question.

He moved his left hand up to the side of her neck and stepped closer. Gently moving, he placed his lips against her forehead. They remained like that for a few seconds, until Fitz stepped back. Motioning for her to get into the car, he closed the door behind her and went to get in himself.

On the way back to hers, he couldn't help but look across at her every now and then. He didn't know exactly what was wrong, or what was bothering her but he had a good idea.

When they came to a stop at traffic lights, he slowly moved his right hand across the centre console, and placed it on her hand. He felt her grip his hand and when he turned his head, their eyes connected. He gently squeezed her hand before directing his gaze back on the road.

It was almost 4pm when they got back to Olivia's house. Fitz carried Michael in and placed him on the couch before turning to Olivia.

"Liv can we talk?" Fitz asked, thinking of what to say.

She nodded her head and walked through to the kitchen.

As soon as she stopped, he pulled her in for a hug. She relaxed into him, grateful for how comforting he was.

"I know... I won't ever know what you are going through but, if I can help at all. I'm not saying you can't do it on your own because you can, I know you can, I'm just offering some help. You'll end up burning yourself out Liv."

"Thanks..." She mumbled quietly into his chest.

"Look why don't you go relax for a while. Run a bath or have a nap and I'll watch Michael."

Olivia tiptoed to reach Fitz' face and tenderly attached her lips to his. It was meant to be a quick peck but when Fitz kissed her back, she couldn't help herself, she collapsed against him, drained from the day she'd had. Fitz held onto her, he was admiring her when they heard something from the other room.

"Fitzy!"

They slowly broke apart and he heard Olivia sigh. The kid honestly had the worst timing. He kissed her lips once more then her forehead before helping her down.

He watched her walk away before going to see Michael.