"Hi" His voice rang through the phone and Olivia smiled slightly from her couch. Wrapping the blanket around her tighter, Olivia reached for the remote and muted the television.
"Hi" she stated back softly after a long pause. "You're early tonight. I wasn't expecting you for another hour or so."
"Yeah well today has just been one of those days." Fitz sighed thinking back over his day. Placing his feet on the table in front of him he leaned back comfortably into the yellow couch in the oval office.
"I know. I'm watching it now." Olivia glanced up at the television. "The bill didn't get passed."
"The bill didn't get passed." Fitz repeated back both disappointed and frustrated "A bill that I really don't want to talk about. I would rather talk about you and your day." Fitz stated firmly "How was your day?"
Olivia shuffled around in her seat. While she did want to talk about the bill she decided to drop it for now and bring it up at a better time. "Umm my day was pretty good actually. No new cases so it was a pretty easy day. What did you tell me, something about fewer cases…"
"Fewer worries." Fitz finished for her with a chuckle. "And the baby?"
"She was a little grasshopper today, just jumping around. I still have not gotten use to feeling her kick and move around yet. It catches me off guard sometimes during the day when I'm sitting quietly at my desk and suddenly out of nowhere I feel a little kick."
"What does it feel like?" Fitz asked curious. He had asked Olivia this question a million and one times but still wanted to know the answer. He loved for her to fill him in on little details about the baby that he couldn't experience.
"I don't even know how to describe it besides saying it is still one of the greatest feelings in the world. Some days it feels like butterflies are swirling through my stomach and then other days it feels like little bubbles bursting around inside of there."
"Bubbles?" Fitz repeated back to her to make sure he heard correctly.
"Yes, Fitz, bubbles."
Fitz laughed as he tried to imagine what it would feel like to have bubbles bursting in your stomach. "I never heard of a baby's movements being compared to bubble bursting. Remember when you said it felt like fishes were swimming around?" Fitz continued laughing.
"Yes I remember." Olivia giggled. "I can't help what it feels like. I can only describe it." Liv laughed
"Well that's good. I'm glad she hasn't been giving you any trouble lately."
"Yes I know, I am so glad that's over." Olivia said grateful remembering how horrible her first trimester was. Instead of morning sickness she had all day sickness. Barely being able to keep anything down.
"I have a doctor appointment tomorrow." Olivia reminded him
"I know, December 8th at 2:30 P.M. with Dr. Malone I didn't forget, Livvie."
"I didn't think you did, I was just reminding you."
"What do you find out tomorrow?"
"Nothing, it is just a regular check up appointment. To make sure me and the baby are healthy and to see how well she's progressing."
"That's good….. I wish I could be there." Fitz stated honestly.
Olivia paused before speaking "…. Me too" she replied softly and she heard Fitz sigh heavily.
A long silence took over the phone.
"Livvie" Fitz breathed breaking the silence
"It's okay, Fitz." Olivia interrupted him leaning over the side of the couch to check the caller ID and see who was beeping in. "But look my mother is beeping in and I have to take her call. I will speak to you tomorrow night." Olivia said quickly
"Okay , Livvie, good night."
"Good night, Fitz." Olivia said before she clicked over to the other line.
"Hello"
"Well look who decided to answer the phone." Olivia could tell this was going to be a long conversation by the tone of her mothers voice and was already thinking of a quick exit strategy.
"Hello to you too, Mother" Olivia sighed
"I have been calling you all day. I called your office and your cell. I was worried sick that something had happened to you." Mrs. Pope said concern
Olivia rolled her eyes and caught her self before she smacked her teeth "Mom you knew that nothing had happened to me."
"Well you know I like to be sure about things."
"Yes I know. I'm sorry. Today has just been ….. one of those days."
"You've been having 'Just one of those days' for the past five months." Her mother reminded her and Olivia remained silent. "I don't mean to be a bother but I miss talking to my baby. You don't call me like you use to. Don't visit like you use to. Ever since we got into that big stupid argument things haven't been the same between us"
Olivia took a deep breath as her mothers words sunk in, she was right. Besides Fitz her mother was one of the first people to know she was pregnant, and things didn't go as planned. She knew her mother would be disappointed and maybe a little bit upset but the rage her mother unleashed on her was truly unexpected. Olivia remained quiet as memories from that horrible day began to replay over in her mind.
FIVE MONTHS AGO
Olivia picked up the phone for the fifth time in the last two minutes this time not slamming it back down on the base before someone could answer.
Her hands were still shaking which was unusual for her. She was unbelievably scared at the moment but she was always able to remain calm and keep her nerves together under most situations. But then again this was different, it's not everyday that you find out you're pregnant by the President of the United States. She had just arrived home after meeting with Fitz and needed someone to talk to. Someone to confide in and tell her it would be okay.
The first person that popped into her head was her mother. Jacqueline Pope always knew exactly what to say to console her daughter.
Her mother answered on the second ring and Olivia had to take a moment and get herself together before she could speak. She knew that as soon as she opened her mouth nothing but mumbled cries would come out.
"Olivia? ….. Liv, I know it's you. Why do you keep calling here and hanging up?" Jacqueline asked "You know I don't like people playing on the house phone… Olivia"
"I - uh …. Mommy" Olivia cried out not being able to hold the tears in any longer.
"Oh my gosh, Olivia, what is the matter honey? Why are you crying?" Jacqueline asked frantic and concerned. It was so unlike Olivia to call her and break down on the phone.
"Liv, please, honey, talk to me what is wrong. Why are you crying?" Jacqueline asked once Olivia didn't speak but continued to cry.
"I have something I need to tell you." Olivia said incoherently in between sobs
"What ? Liv, I can't understand what you are saying."
"There's something I need to tell you." Olivia sobbed trying her hardest to hold back the tears.
"… Okay" Olivia could hear the uncertainty in her mothers voice.
Taking two deep breaths and a long pause Olivia closed her eyes and finally whispered "I'm pregnant."
The phone went completely silent as Jacqueline fully processed what her youngest daughter had just told her. "You're what?"
Olivia had heard this tone of voice from her mother plenty of times growing up. It was her 'I'm going to let you get your story straight and fix what you just told me' voice. But Olivia didn't have anything to fix. She was pregnant and there was no other way to say it.
"I am pregnant" She repeated
"By who?" Jacqueline asked and the cat quickly grabbed Olivia's tongue. "By who? ….Olivia, I know you hear me talking to you. Who are you" Jacqueline took a deep breath and struggled to get the rest of her sentence out. "Pregnant by?"
"…..Mom" Olivia softly spoke sounding more like a small child then the great Olivia Pope
"Don't Mom me." Jacqueline cut her off. "You are not married and to my knowledge you have not been in a serious relationship with someone in years so again I ask you who is the father of your child?"
"Mom-"
"OLIVIA" Jacqueline yelled angrily
"Me." Olivia responded slightly raising her voice. "I am the father. I'm the mother and the father." she decided to go with knowing she couldn't tell her mother the truth. At least not yet.
"Olivia, that doesn't make any damn sense. How can you be both the mother and the father? I know me and your father raised you with more common sense then that. All the money we invested into your education and that's the best you could come up with. Do you not know who you slept with? Are you that careless with your body. That STUPID?" Jacqueline yelled each word cutting deeper and deeper into Olivia.
Her eyes grew wide with shock "Mommy, ple-" Olivia cried out but was cut off by her mother.
"No, don't mommy me. You don't get to mommy me, not after this. This is by far the most stupid and reckless thing you have ever done. Do you know what's out there? All the diseases and crazy nut jobs that are out there and you're-"
"Mom, if you would just let me speak" Olivia interrupted her, desperate to get her mother to understand.
"If you are not going to tell me that the man who impregnated you is proposing and the two of you are getting married and brining this child into a stable family environment then I don't want to hear it."
Olivia sighed, rolling her eyes, and throwing her head back she laughed out of frustration and disbelief. She couldn't find the right words to express how she felt in that moment. Her mother took her silence as another opportunity to continue her rant.
"Olivia, I am so disappointed in you. "
Olivia's heart broke when she heard those words leave her mothers mouth, she had never been disappointed in her, she was always proud. Olivia began shaking and crying uncontrollably as her mother continued to lay into her.
"I expected better out of you. Is this why you couldn't come visit us a few weeks ago? Because you were out frolicking around? Using work as an excuse? You're lying to your parents, sneaking around and now look at you. You're pregnant. Just irresponsible. What kind of mother do you plan to be?"
"I PLAN TO BE A GREAT MOTHER. A BETTER MOTHER THAN YOU HAVE EVER BEEN." Olivia yelled having enough of her mothers harsh words. "I am not a child. A teenager who got knocked up during the prom. I am a 33 year old successful in just about everything I do woman. I worked in the white house for goodness sake. I have not ask you for a single thing since college. I am not a stupid, immature, whore-"
"I did not call you a whore."
"Well you sure did a wonderful job of implying it." Olivia snapped back coldly. "All I wanted was to share this exciting news with my mother. I am scared and terrified to do this." Olivia said breaking down more and more with each word. "I am having a baby, mom. A child. Your grandchild and I just needed my mom for one minute to comfort me and tell me it would be okay. To make me smile and say that we would get through this. But I guess that's asking for to much from you." Olivia's voice was full of pained confusion. She had not expected her mother to react this way.
"I will be a great mother, a wonderful mother…. A better mother then you were and could ever be." Olivia knew that last part was unnecessary but she was hurt and angry and wanted her mother to feel some of her pain. When in reality she sincerely hoped she could be half the mom her mother was.
"Olivia -" Jacqueline said and Olivia could hear the hurt in her voice. But she didn't care she would just have to apologize later. She now wished she had never picked up the phone and called her mother. What was she thinking telling her so soon anyways. The news was just confirmed to her hours ago. She should have known better then to run straight home and tell her mother.
"No you don't get to Olivia me. You .. don't-" Olivia stopped once she felt herself beginning to break down again. Pulling herself together she exhaled loudly. "I am sorry I even called you." And with that she hung up the phone. Jacqueline quickly called back leaving countless messages. She even had both Olivia's sister and her father call her numerous time which led to Olivia eventually unplugging her phone.
It wasn't until she talked to her grandmother, the person she should have originally called that she was ready to speak to her mother again. Her grandmother told her it was time to put her big girl panties on and call her mother. Weeks had passed since they had last spoken and even though the two of them quickly made up after apologies were made their relationship was never the same. Olivia completely pulled away and distanced herself away from her mother while she instead tried to bring them back closer.
PRESENT
"Mom, I just honestly ….. I've just been. I will try to make it to New York to visit soon." Olivia promised
"Thank you, honey, that's all I asked." Jacqueline replied pleased "Were you able to finish going through that box I sent you? I found a bunch more stuff stored in the attic that I want to send you."
"No I haven't had time to finish yet. But I am going to one of these days. I need to start putting her room together before I get to tired and big to do so."
"You need to call someone to help you do that. You shouldn't be doing any heavy lifting and trying to put a nursery together by yourself. Maybe I should come down one weekend and help you. Dad could drive us down and we'll bring you some of those goods from that bakery you like around the corner from the house." Jacqueline suggested
"No really you don't have to, I am still mobile and very able. There's no need for you to come down here." Olivia quickly objected the last thing she needed or wanted was her parents in town staying at her house.
"No I insist, it's no problem, honey, really. Me and your father needs to get out of the city and we miss you, honey. We have not seen you in months. I'm starting to forget what your face looks like." Jacqueline said persistent. "I really would like to see you."
"Christmas!" Olivia exclaimed thinking of the date and how the upcoming holiday was only weeks away. "I am coming home. I will be home for Christmas, you will see me then."
"Olivia Carolyn Pope, this is your mother you are speaking to. You have not been home for Christmas in years."
"No, mom, I am serious. I told grandma that I would come home for Christmas this year, I promised her."
"You promised her?" Jacqueline asked
"Yes I promised her." Olivia said into the phone. "I will be home for Christmas. Which is about two weeks away."
"I guess I will be seeing you on Christmas then." Jacqueline said trying to hide her excitement. It had been years since Olivia actually spent Christmas with her family. Every year she had an excuse as to why she couldn't make it home. She was excited for this year. "Make sure you bring that big belly with you." Jacqueline joked and Olivia chuckled
"Trust me this belly is stuck with me till at least April 4th."
"I am so happy that you'll be home, Liv. I miss you so much, honey."
"I miss you too, mom."
"And I can't wait to see you pregnant. That is going to be sight to see. My baby is having a baby."
Olivia smirked at her mother's excitement. While she wasn't looking forward to the million and one questions and comments her family would have or the fact that her and her pregnancy will most likely be the topic of every conversation a part of her was anxious to go home.
"Speaking of the baby, I have a doctor appointment tomorrow. With that doctor you recommended, Dr. Malone."
"Oh good you're going to love her. I hear she's excellent." Jacqueline raved
"Yeah well we'll see tomorrow. But I need to be getting off the phone and get ready for bed."
"Okay, honey. You get some rest and I will call you tomorrow. And, Liv, please answer my phone calls."
Olivia smiled slightly "Don't worry, mom, I will answer your phone call."
"Thank you. Good night, honey, I love you."
"Good Night, Mom, I love you too"
Thank you for reading.