A/N
Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. As I wrote the last chapter I think my writing is very Jake-centric, I will work on that.
Olivia had grown as big as a house and she never thought she could be so happy. She was constantly thinking of how she would take care of the baby, and how that baby would grow. As it grew she'd be there. They would do all this fun stuff. She tried hard not to think of the terrible two's or the hard teenage years, she was just ready for this person to exist and let her love them.
She was working still, a light case load based on extreme emergency as she was the campaign manager for President Grant's reelection campaign. The hours were long but she always knew when it was time to rest because little 'Captain' was sure to remind her.
Her love life was going well too. Being Fitz's campaigner manager allowed her access to him without unwanted attention. They made adjustments intimately and had a standing date every Friday night. Her favorite restaurant would deliver to the president and they would have a picnic on the floor of the oval office.
She was happy. From time to time she got into these moods where she felt alone when her day was over. And for those times she would drive to Jake's. He'd give her the left side of the bed and they'd watch something on T.V. Olivia was boring so she would watch the news. Jake was a voyeur so he'd turn to some reality series. When she fell asleep he would grab a pillow and sleep on the couch.
One day in particular Olivia had just arrived back in D.C. after weeks on the campaign trail. Fitz and Mellie had 'planned' a weekend vacation with their children to the beach. Olivia tried to brush it off. Mellie was not any competition, her position as first lady was completely figurehead. So why Olivia angry every time she thought of them being together without her there?
There was no way she could go home and be alone. She decided to shop and eat with a friend downtown. People didn't think Olivia got out much or fraternized with people outside of OPA but she did possess a friend. Kayla Warren-Gill. They had met in law school, somehow them being the only black women in most of their classes bonded them. Kayla was a wife and a mom now and as well as the Attorney General of Virginia.
She was a lot different from Olivia. She was boisterous, funny and very emotional. They balance each other out. During this pregnancy Kayla had filled in the spots where most women needed their mother, sister, and other female relatives. Olivia was a benefit to her soror as well.
"Kayla you are not going to win your reelection if people don't trust you as a whole…" Her unwarranted advice was met with a sigh as she shoveled a small spoon of ice cream into her mouth. She listened because who would reject free advice from the Olivia Pope but she was dreading hearing the cold hard facts.
"I don't know anyone as noble and brilliant as you but no one is going to see that if everything around you is chaos. Your husband never accompanies you, your children are in the throws of teenage hormone rage and on the verge of embarrassing police records. You guys are happy but it's not translating. You have to be a unit. Porter has to show up for you, like you do for him. Miesha has to dye her hair to a more subtle color if only for a little bit."
She said that and they both gave each other a knowing look. "I will let you tell your Goddaughter that news." Miesha has recently discovered Lilac Dream hair dye and this hippie, indie rap music. Olivia winced but agreed. She was on her side. Miesha and Kenya were her favorite people, she had known them all their life. It was a pretty amazing thing.
"You're right. I have to start putting my foot down with them. Get so wrapped up in making sure I don't fail at being Port's wife, the girls mom while I'm trying work all at the same, I forget I need someone to take care of me, to support me. I do want to be reelected. I never knew I could help people like this, and sometimes I fail but the times I able to be a part of a team that gets some justice I know it was worth it. I will get my house in order Livvy. Thank you for putting it all into perspective. "She said.
Olivia just smiled then looked as if she was trying to adjust her eyes. "That's Jake." She said as her friend was looking at her curiously. She followed her line of vision and spotted the tall handsome man drinking coffee as an older man and woman talked to him. Olivia was unsure of her next step and that stunned them both. They three people began to walk in her direction and soon were only feet away. Olivia took her steps toward Jake causing him to look up from his phone and smile when he saw her.
The couple looked at her and she looked at them. They were sporting these huge bags from the fabulous baby store right around the corner. "Hey you feeling okay? She looked back to Jake and her face contorted. He had some dark smudge all over his forehead and the image sent her back to flashes of him after he came out of the hole. "Jake what's on your face?" She asked as her hands hurled towards his face. He gently held her hand back. "It's ash. From Ash Wednesday. We just came from church. Olivia, these are my parents Noah and Paige. You guys this is Olivia Pope." He said with a smile.
"It's so great to meet you Olivia. I told him it's okay to wipe it off, we do it all the time but Duke been like that since he was a boy." Paige said. Noah chimed in "I guess he doesn't think people will believe him if he simply said he's been to church." Olivia smiled her crooked little smile. She was a little speechless as she shook their hands. He had a family. Jake was religious! He had a nickname! "Nice to meet you both. This is my best friend Kayla."She introduced. Kayla waved to everyone and they all greeted her. "What are you doing in town? I thought you were hitting the campaign trail?" He asked.
Olivia shook her head. "We got a lot done in New York, and New Jersey but that's it. The kids have to get back to school soon so they are trying to squeeze in a family vacation…"She looked up realizing she was inn mixed company and must be boring them and also holding them up. It was weird seeing Jacob with other people. It always felt like he was just this lonesome man and she was his only contact to the outside world. He wasn't hers anymore. She had forfeited him. "I'm sorry I must be exhausting to listen to. It was nice to meet you both. I'll see you later Jake." She said.
That announcement caused his mother to frown, though she understood. "Would it be okay if we gave these things to you?" She asked holding out her bag to her. Olivia had guessed the bags weren't for some random baby but it still took her by surprise. These people she didn't even know were acknowledging her baby and seem to be claim him or her as their own, very respectively. Olivia nodded and took the bag from her and peered inside, there were several wrapped gifts inside and it made her eyes watered. "Thank you Mrs. Ballard. Thank you Mr. Ballard." She said wiping her eyes. They both hugged her, feeling touched themselves. "Wow. I can't even carry all of this. I really appreciate this. I don't think I can carry it all of it alone. Kayla, can you hold this bag and I get the other one." She asked as she was already handing it her way. Kayla agreed and just as Olivia was reaching for the other bag, the one Jake's dad was holding Jake swatted her hands away and she stared at him with familiar glare.
"Those things are for the nursery at my house greedy." He informed her. Everyone else looked on laughing and Olivia let out a small giggle as well. She hadn't thought of any of this. She hadn't thought of him having parents or actually possessing a nursery in his home even though he made clear that he was to be a full-time dad. She shot him a faux look of rage before laughing at herself. He knew she was ready to exit, just because she never did stay around long especially in unfamiliar surroundings. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll check on you later." He promised and she nodded before walking away waving at his parents, thanking them again.
Before vanishing Olivia turned around "Mr. and Mrs. Ballard, not you Jake, maybe we could have dinner before you guys leave." She suggested. Olivia wasn't quite sure at how to extend the same kindness to them that they had to her. Their relative was in her womb but they took interest in her too. Jake laughed at being 'excluded' and his parents became excited. They agreed and quickly decided on Friday night at Liv's favorite restaurant. It was amended that Jake could attend.
Once Olivia and Kayla were back at Olivia's home she felt quite exhausted. She flopped down on the couch after taking off her coat and Kayla covered her in a blanket. "I want to open the baby's gifts from the Ballards."Olivia said with a smile. She dove into the bag and it became Christmas in a matter of moments. There were gender-neutral toys, clothes, everything under the sun that her little baby would need. Kayla looked at Olivia stunned. She honestly never seen her cry before in all the years they'd been friends, now Olivia was so touched that she was getting tears on an olive-colored onesie. Kayla wiped her eyes with tissue and helped her open the rest of her things. "I like Jake." She said. Olivia rolled her eyes and shook her head. She was not going down that road.
Friday came and Olivia was excited. She found a nice wrap dress to wear and pulled her hair into a bun. She hated when her hair wasn't down and flowing but now that her face was getting so fat she had to make some adjustments. Jake and his parents decided that they wanted to dine at her favorite place. It was so stuffy, and Jake hated things like that. As she giggled and put on her lipstick in her mirror the phone rang. She reached pass her cellphone and into the secret place where it hid.
"Hello?" She answered. "Hey… guess what?" Fitz asked in return his voice becoming sexy to her. "What?" Olivia asked smiling. "I'm home and you know what tonight is. I can't wait to see you. You don't know how much I missed you." He said sincerely. "You cut the vacation short?"She asked confused. She was still working on not being jealous and now he was home. "Yeah, Mellie wasn't feeling well or whatever so we're back."He told her. Olivia knew exactly what day it was. Friday, the day of her standing date with him. She was silent and his answer to that was a sigh. "Don't make me beg." He told her. She sighed, then smiled, her sure sign of caving. "I'll be there." The phone went dead and then back into it's hiding place. She called Jake from her proper phone as she was letting her hair down. "Hey…something has come up. Can you please apologize to your parents for me?" He didn't say a word but that spoke volumes. Olivia felt ashamed of herself but when given a choice, it was not a contest.