A/N: I am so glad you all are enjoying this story. I just wanted to tell a quick funny story about this chapter. One of the readers (you know who you are) said for me not to pull a Shonda Rhimes. I had every intention of doing exactly that, but when I started writing this chapter the story unfolded in a completely different direction. I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 4

Olivia woke up. It took a moment for her to realize where she was. Then it came to her what she had done. She felt sick to her stomach. She looked at the Movado watch on her wrist. It was six thirty. She was due at Harrison's to get her children, but she still needed to get to her car that was still parked at her office.

Sliding off of the sofa she quietly dressed herself. She grabbed her things, and tip toed out of his office. She went to the door, and prayed that she didn't set the alarm off when she walked out. Once she was on the street she dug out her cell phone, and requested an Uber.

After that was done she called Abby. Abby answered her phone laughing. She said, "Hey Liv."

"Abby, I'm going to be late getting to Harrison's. Is it possible for you to take them to my house, and get them ready for bed? I'll be right behind you," Olivia begged.

Abby noticed the urgency in her voice. She walked into Harrison's kitchen asking, "Liv, are you alright? Do you need me to come to you?"

Olivia shook her head. She said, "No, Abby. I need you to do what I just asked you to do. I'll meet you there, and I'll explain everything."

Abby said, "Alright, if you're sure. Let me go get the little ones together."

As soon as she disconnected the phone with Abby her Uber pulled up.

By the time Olivia got to her car her phone was ringing. It was Fitz. When she got into her suv she answered using her Apple carplay. "Hello?"

Fitz said, "Olivia, where are you? I woke up, and you were gone."

She said, "I um, I'm in my car right now. I am on my way home."

"Olivia, we need to talk," Fitz said with urgency.

"Look, Fitz. There is nothing that we need to discuss. He had fun. We have businesses that we are trying to merge. We should focus on that," Olivia stated flatly.

Fitz didn't understand what was going on. He let her take the lead. He let her decide how far she wanted to go, and now she's running. He decided just to be honest. "Olivia, I'm sorry that I allowed things to get out of hand, but this wasn't just about sex for me. I want to get to know you. I know you're a widow, and I know that you have children. I am willing to take it slow, and I am willing to get to know you, and your children."

Olivia took a deep breath. She said, "Fitz, this isn't a good idea. We're about to be business partners."

Fitz countered with, "Well, if your excuse for exploring this further is that we work together, then I am going to have to pull out of our deal. I think that there is something here worth exploring."

Olivia said, "You're being ridiculous. Look, I just pulled into my driveway. I need to go tuck my kids in. We'll discuss this some other time."

With that Olivia took a deep breath, and exited her car. When she got into her house Abby met her in the foyer with a glass of wine.

Olivia accepted the glass asking, "Where are Lili, and Leo?"

Abby said, "I had already bathed them, and put them in pj's while we were at Harri's. They fell asleep on the drive over, so when we got here they went directly to bed. Now tell me what the hell is wrong with you."

Olivia and Abby went into the family room taking a seat on the sofa. Olivia gulped down her wine. Sitting her empty glass on the coffee table Olivia buried her face in her hands. In a muffled voice she said, "Abby, I fucked up. I fucked up big time."

Abby was a bit perplexed because she had no clue what Olivia was talking about. She asked, "What?"

"I messed around, and slept with that man. I don't know what the hell came over me. We were discussing the expansion one minute, and next thing I knew his face was between my legs, and I was hooked like a crackhead on crack," Olivia whined.

Abby couldn't help the explosion of laughter that came from her. Olivia looked up at her with angry eyes. Abby tried to sober as best she could. She said, "I'm so sorry, Liv. I don't mean to laugh, but I don't see what the big deal is."

Olivia turned to look at her best friend. She asked, "Abby, if something happened to Harrison how long do you think would be a good time for you to wait before you moved on to someone else?"

Abby gave her friend a sympathetic smile. She said, "Oh, Liv. There will never be a right time. It could be today. It could be ten years from now, and guess what?"

"What," Olivia asked with curiosity?

Abby continued, "No matter when you move on it's going to feel like a betrayal to Stephen. You loved him. You took vows to go through life with him, and then just as soon as you were getting settled into your lives together he was ripped from you. However, I remember how much your husband loved you. He wouldn't want you sitting around mourning his loss. Plus, you didn't move on. You had sex."

Olivia shook her head, "No, Abby. You don't understand. There was something there. I felt something. I even think that he felt something. I spoke to him when I was in the car. I told him that we needed to focus on business, and he said if he had to choose he would choose to explore us as opposed to going into business with me."

Abby said, "Wow. That's. Wow."

Olivia said, "See. All I keep thinking about is how well he got along with Leo. Leo doesn't like any man who isn't Harrison, or my dad. It's wild."

"So, you take things slow. You work on joining the practices by day, and during your off hours get to know one another. You do have Leo, and Lea to think about. I don't think you should introduce them that way until you can decide if something might be there. However, go out with the man, and learn more about him. Harrison and I honestly don't mind watching the twins. We've actually been discussing moving in together. That will make things more convenient. No more sex though. You're too emotionally fragile," Abby said.

Olivia shook her head saying, "Honestly Abby, I don't think that I can. How did my life start crumbling all around me?"

Abby chuckled, "Your life isn't crumbling. You're just full of fear. Understandable fear."

"Abby, when Stephen passed away it was a huge blow. After the shock wore off I decided that life goes on. I decided that I wanted to focus on the two things that mattered most to me. My family, and my career. I specifically told myself that after experiencing a love like Stephen, and I shared that I didn't even want to attempt to find that with someone else. I convinced myself that kind of love only came once in a lifetime," Olivia whined.

Abby handed her a tissue. Olivia blew her nose. Olivia continued, "I'm not saying that I am in love with this man. That would be insane. I barely know him, but I feel something for him, and it's strong and potent. I could see myself falling for him deeply. I don't want that. I don't want to replace my Stephen."

Abby knew what she had to say to Olivia wouldn't be well received, but she was her best friend, and she had to be completely honest with her at all times. Abby took a deep breath. She said, "Olivia, Stephen is dead. You're still alive. You can't live a dead life because he died. You are a beautiful thirty two year old woman who still has so much more life to live, and so much love to give."

Olivia sat back on the sofa staring at Abby. She wanted to get angry at what Abby had just said to her, but she couldn't because Abby was right. However, Olivia didn't feel ready to take this step in her life.

Abby continued, "Liv, I love you, and you know I'm here for you. I am going to have your back no matter what you do, but it's time to end the chapter that you shared with Stephen. He will always be apart of you. You have a son who resembles him so much, and a daughter who completely has his personality. However, life hasn't stopped, and it won't stop. Stephen wouldn't want your life to stop. I'm not saying that this man is the one. I still think that I need to meet him. Plus, if you don't want to date someone who you work with, then that's perfectly understandable. However, you need to prepare yourself for the love that could possibly come your way in the future."

Olivia stared at her friend with tears in her eyes. She nodded. It was all she could do. She knew that everything that Abby had said was right, but knowing something, and acting on it was two completely different things.

Abby asked, "Do you want me to stay the night with you?"

Olivia said, "No, I'm fine. I'm just going to take a shower, and get into bed. You go spend some quality time with your man."

Abby gave her friend a hug before turning to leave.

Fitz pulled into Patrick's driveway. He noticed his sister's Audi parked on the street. He debated if he should just go home, and call Patrick later. Figurering that he could use a woman's point of view as well he decided to go in, and talk to his siblings.

Using his key, Fitz walked into his brother's home. He walked into the kitchen where he found his brother and sister sitting at the island eating Mexican food.

Alexandria was the first to speak, "Hey, big bro. You look like hell. What's the matter with you?"

Fitz rolled his eyes at his sister. He said, "I need to vent to two mature adults, but if you two are going to be sarcastic assholes I can go home."

Alexandria soberd, "Geez, you're touchy. What's up?"
"I told Pat, some of this already," Fitz started.

Patrick said, "Oh, the girl."

Fitz nodded, "The woman. I'm going to give you the long story short, Alex. She is a widowed mother of two. She has twins. A girl and a boy. I told you about how she approached me about merging our practices so that we could expand our businesses."

Alexandria said, "Oh, I see. You're concerned about pursuing someone you work with?"

Sighing he said, "Well, I had decided not to pursue her, but I'm drawn to her. I was going to work through these negotiations, and keep the relationship professional. One thing lead to another, and I ended up sleeping with her tonight."

Patrick said, "Wow, that certainly escalated quickly."

Alexandria replied, "Well, I don't really see what the problem is. The feelings are mutual, and you are both adults. You can both be mature about this and separate out the pleasure, and the professional."

Fitz said, "I think she's afraid. I think I'm her first attraction since her husband passed away. I think that she is afraid of that. I woke up after our earth shattering experience, and she was gone. When I called her she said that we should keep things professional. I can't go back. I'm willing to forget the expansion project to have her. I know she feels the same. You don't respond the way that she did if you don't. How do I approach this situation?"

Patrick said, "Bro, I told you go after what you want. You always do, and you succeed. Don't let this situation be any different. Go get your girl. Remember that saying that goes something like anything you want is worth fighting for. Fight for her. Oh, and in the meantime bring her over so that I can see if she is the real deal."

Olivia face popped into Fitz's head. Oh she was the real deal, alright. He heard his sister mutter, "Men! Ok, look. You said that she's a widow, and that you will be her first since her husband passed. She is going through a lot emotionally. You have to be sensitive to that. You have to move slow. The fact that the two of you had sex might have pushed you back ten steps, but if you're patient then you might be able to win her heart."

Fitz sat at the island looking defeated. He ran his fingers through his hair. He said, "I thought she was ready. Things escalated, and I tried to stop things, but she insisted that we continue."

Shaking her head Alexandria said, "You're educated. You're a doctor for crying out loud. How can you be so dense? You know that she wasn't thinking clearly with all those endorphins rushing through her. All the oxytocin was numbing the pain that she feels in her heart on a daily basis."

Fitz knew that Alex was right. He was a physician, but he had never even considered all of that. Maybe because of all the endorphins, and oxytocin being released in him as well. He groaned saying, "I feel like such an ass."

Alexandria rubbed his shoulder. She said, "You're not an ass, but how you handle things from now on is important. You have to remember that she's in pain. You also have to remember that while you know this is what you want, it might take her a while in order to catch up with you. Her body, mind, and soul are recovering from a huge trauma. No more sex. I say continue to move forward with your business plans. If this thing between the two of you is as real as you think it is then you won't be able to fight it in the long run. It'll only make it stronger, and harder to resist. You just have to be patient, and not try to push her into doing what it is that you want her to do."

Fitz nodded. He stood to leave. He looked at his sister saying, "You're absolutely right. I know what I have to do. Thanks. No matter what the family believes about you, you are good for something besides spending money."

Olivia walked down the stairs in her favorite yellow robe to grab another glass of wine after her shower. She really just wanted to down a bottle, and sleep until whenever, but she was a mother of two, so she would have to settle for a simple glass.

As soon as her foot hit the last step there was a tapping on her front door. Olivia frowned moving towards the front window wondering who the hell could be at her house at nine on a weekday. She knew it couldn't be Abby, or Harrison, and she didn't think that Quinn would be coming over this late.

Moving back the curtain she looked outside, and noticed Fitz's Porsche in her driveway. She wondered what he was doing at her home, and how he even knew where she lived. Olivia walked over to the mirror in her foyer to look at herself. Her face was scrubbed of any makeup, and her hair fell in curly ringlets around her shoulders because she had washed it when she was in the shower.

"Well, I don't have time to make myself look more presentable. He's going to have to accept me like this," Olivia said under her breath as she unlocked her front door.

When Olivia's door swung open Fitz's breath caught in his throat. She was absolutely breathtaking. At that moment he decided that he liked natural Olivia the best.

He heard Olivia ask, "How do you know where I live?"

He cleared his throat answering, "You're listed."

"Listed," Olivia asked?

He said, "Yes, in the phonebook."

Olivia frowned, "Who still has a phonebook?"

He laughed, "I don't know, but you can still look up the white pages online, and your home phone number, and address are there."

Olivia nodded, "Creepy, but Fitz what are you doing here? My children are asleep."

He said, "Can I come in for a moment? I'll be quiet as not to wake Liliana, and Leo."

Olivia debated if she should let him in, or not. After a moment she stepped aside letting him in. She closed and locked the door behind him.

She said, "I was about to have a glass of wine, would you like one?"

Fitz shook his head following her into the beautiful black, and stainless steel kitchen. He said, "I'm diving, and I don't like to drink and drive. My brother's wife to be died on their wedding day when a drunk driver hit her limo. I will take some water if it's not too much trouble."

Olivia poured her wine, and grabbed a bottle of water, and a glass for Fitz. She came over and took a seat next to him at the island. She sipped her wine while he opened the water bottle. Forgoing the glass he took a long sip from the bottle. Watching him drink the water brought back memories of when his mouth had been intimately attached to her.

Shaking her head to clear her wayward thoughts Olivia said, "Uh, why are you here, Fitz?"

He sat the water bottle down and turned to face her. He said, "I came to tell you that I am sorry about what happened between us tonight. I was out of line. I should have thought with the head on my shoulders instead of the head between my legs."

Olivia blushed. She said, "Look, Fitz I'm an adult. I knew what I was doing. Nothing that I did was unwanted."

Fitz nodded, "I'm not saying that you didn't, but I knew that you weren't ready to take that step, and I should've taken charge to prevent that. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I am sorry, and I respect your wishes. If you're still interested in doing business together, then I would like that very much. We can keep things professional, and I give you my word nothing inappropriate will ever happen again."

Olivia could feel an irrational anger rising up inside of her. She asked, "So what you're telling me is that what happened earlier meant nothing but adding another notch on your bedpost? Got it. You didn't have to come over here to tell me that.

Fitz was confused. He didn't understand how trying to do the right thing had went so left. Shaking his head he said, "Olivia, what are you talking about? First, let me be clear. What we shared tonight meant everything to me. It meant more to me than it probably should have. However, because I care about you, and I care for you I'm not going to push you into something that you're obviously not ready for. Second, I don't need to use a widowed mother of two for sex. There are women lining up to give me that."

Olivia was taken aback by his last statement. She said, "Well, maybe you should go find one of them then."

"I don't want one of them. I want you," Fitz shouted!

Olivia shouted back, "Then why are you here trying to tell me that you want to keep things professional?"

Before Fitz could answer her heard, "Mommy, who is this man, and why are you talking so loud?"

Olivia eye's flew to her daughter who was standing in the doorway for the kitchen rubbing her eyes. Abby had braided her curly dark hair into two long french braids, and she wore Winnie the Pooh pjs.

Fitz looked at the little girl. She was the cutest little girl he had ever seen, and she was a lighter skinned version of her mother. At that moment he knew if she asked him for the moon that he would move heaven, and earth to give it to her.

Olivia scooped up the little girl into her arms. She kissed her hair saying, "I'm sorry, Lili. Mommy didn't mean to wake you up. Can you say hello to Dr. Grant?"

Liliana nodded waving at the man. She asked her mother, "Is this the tall man Leo was talking about?"

Olivia laughed saying, "Yes, this is the same tall man. Do mommy a favor, go get back into bed, and I'll be up in a little bit to tuck you in, ok?"

The little girl hugged her mother's neck as her mother lowered her to the floor. She said, "Ok, Mommy. Bye, Dr. Grant. Use your inside voice, me and Leo have to sleep now."

She was bossy like her mother. He smiled saying, "Yes your highness. I'm sorry for waking you up, princess."

Fitz and Olivia watched as the little girl ran off. When she was gone Fitz said, "I won't keep you, but I just want you to know a couple things. If I had things my way I would want to be your man. I would want to get to know both you, and your children better, but I understand that now may not be a good time for you. So because I care about you, and I respect you I want to let you know that the offer we agreed upon earlier still stands."

Olivia looked at the floor, then back up at him. She said, "I didn't agree to anything. I agreed to sleep on it. However, I will say that I'm interested in it all. I just need you to be patient with me. I will need to tread cautiously. Do you think you can do that?"

Fitz said, "I can do whatever you want. Come lock the door behind me."

They walked to the door. Olivia opened the door. Fitz said, "I want to give you one more thing to sleep on."

He leaned over leaving the softest of kisses on her lips.

Olivia closed and locked her door setting her home security alarm.

She was drowning, and she was drowning fast.