Karen sat in the corner of Fitz's office quietly with her iPad as he went on about his day. When he had to go to the situation room to discuss the hunt for his shooter, Gerry had come just in time for Karen knowing that she wasn't quite up to being alone. Fitz promised to come and get them as soon as Liv was allowed visitors. If it had to be broad daylight for all the world to see, he didn't care. Karen was all out of sorts, so much like her father. He needed to reassure her as much as he needed to be reassured only the night before.
"Cyrus, make it happen. You saw Karen, she's not going to settle down till she knows Liv's okay."
"Let me check in with her Doctor to see if she's up for visitors and we can worry about the obvious a little later."
"Thank you Cy."
"Like father like daughter," Cyrus said to himself as he left the Oval Office to make the necessary phone calls.
Ellie was lying down on the bed with Olivia as they watched one of their all time favourite movies, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Liv's laptop that Huck had brought in for her. Ellie was extremely careful not to bump into her accidentally knowing that she was still quite fragile.
"I think he's handsome." Ellie said out of nowhere.
"Who Wonka?" Olivia said in disbelief,
"No you dork, I meant POTUS." Olivia chuckled,
"POTUS? That's it, you and Stephen need to lessen your exposure to each other. I don't want to know what else you've picked up from him in the last twenty four hours." Ellie giggled,
"Fine, Fitz. I think Fitz is handsome."
"Well he'll be pleased to know someone thinks he's handsome."
"Aside from you you mean." Ellie teased.
"Very funny!"
"He loves you Ollie. Like really loves you. He was a wreck when he arrived. He told the rents how much he loved you, that he's never loved anyone the way he loves you."
"Hey, no divulging my secrets!" Fitz exclaimed feigning shock and betrayal. Ellie laughed,
"Sorry, my loyalties were predetermined before birth. Hey Fitz!" She said jumping off the bed when she saw that he wasn't alone.
"Aww, it's my favorite first children ever." Olivia greeted cheerfully sensing that Karen was in a state of panic. She knew it would have been the only thing that would have swayed Cyrus to let them visit in broad daylight for the nation to witness. She couldn't wait to see how he was going to spin that to the general public.
"Hey Kare, do I get a hug?" Liv asked opening her arms out to her. Karen nodded relieved practically torpedoed to her bedside and screeching to a halt when she realised just how many machines Olivia was attached to.
"It's ok sweetheart, you won't hurt me." Olivia reassured her. Karen leaned into Olivia's open arms and clung to her as best she could.
"I'm so glad you're okay Liv. I was scared."
"I'm fine honey, and just between you and me I was a little scared too, but the Doctors have been great. I'm almost as good as new. Promise!"
"You don't make promises," Karen pointed out earning a chuckle from Fitz.
"I don't make promises I can't keep." She corrected giving Karen another meaningful squeeze.
"What Ger, too cool to give hugs these days?" Olivia teased.
"Never for you Liv." He answered leaning over to hug her hello.
"Good to hear buddy. Guys this is my little sister Ellie. Ellie this is Gerry and Karen." The three kids exchanged a somewhat shy wave and smile.
"Dad why don't I take the girls downstairs for some Ice Cream and give you guys some time to catch up." Gerry offered,
"That would be great. Thanks Ger." Fitz pulled his wallet out of his pocket,
"It's fine Dad, I've got this one. Come on munchkins, there's a double scoop in your immediate future."
"Take Hal with you. The press is swarming outside."
"Will do. See you guys in a bit."
"He's grown up so fast." Liv murmured somewhat proudly having seen him grow up the last few years.
"He's a great kid. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have him. He's practically raised Karen on my behalf. She longs and wants for nothing because he's everything to her."
"He is who he is because of you. Of what you instill in him. Don't disqualify your input in their lives. Karen is Daddy's little girl through and you are only Daddy's girl if you don't doubt that Daddy will always be there. Those kids are grounded because you ground them. Despite the busyness of your campaign and having to send them off to boarding school they have never once questioned your love for them, and not everyone is lucky enough to have had that, so be proud Fitz and be proud of you because you are an integral part of what makes them who they are." Tears began to pool around his eyes. So much guilt lingered for the life that they've been subjected to as a result of his presidency, their lack of privacy and the endless restrictions they were faced simply because they were the presidents off springs. Olivia gave his hand a squeeze.
"So I see you're taking full advantage of Uncle Cyrus' heart strings. You know he would have seen right through that. Using your daughter to visit me in broad daylight."
"I wish I came up with the genius plan, but it just fell into place. Who was I to scoff at a gift that presented itself before me. In saying that Karen wasn't going to last another day without seeing you for herself. She had the worst case scenario playing in her mind over and over again and she just wanted to vanquish her demons."
"That's very Buffy of you." She teased. Fitz answered her by bringing his lips to hers.
"Hi," he whispered softly against her lips,
"Hi Baby." She replied leaning to kiss him once more, resting hand in his cheek. For the next fifteen minutes they made out like a bunch of teenagers. A soft knock on the door from Tom who stood on the other side told them that they had incoming. Fitz straightened himself out and sat on the chair beside Olivia seemingly flipping through one of the magazines on her bedside table when the kids walked in.
"Yeah right!" Gerry said with a smirk, low enough for the girls to miss it in their chatter but loud enough for Fitz and Olivia know that they were busted.
Karen and Ellie seemed to have hit it off. Actually both Grant children were both very taken with Ellie and vice versa and it was as though they'd all know each other forever.
As it was daylight they had to keep their visit short. Cyrus had played the 'Close family friend' card. He figured parading how close Olivia was to the Grant children would only help when everything hit the fan. It also worked in their favour that she had taken several bullets for the President.
"Daddy can Ellie come visit soon?" Karen asked her Dad just as they were leaving.
"Of course she can sweetheart. Ellie you are welcome in our home any time. You two can set up a date and we can check with her parents."
"Thanks." Ellie said looking forward to hanging out with Karen who she immediately connected with.
Just as they were leaving Edison arrived. Fitz tried to hide his surprise and tried to talk his jealousy off a ledge.
"Senator Davies,"
"Mr President." Olivia watched their exchange curiously, so little was said but there certainly was a conversation being had.
"Ah Liv I'll walk Fitz, Ger and Kare out. Be back soon. Hey Eddie!" Ellie greeted as she passed him.
Edison held out a hand to hi five her as she walked out. Ellie smiled and slapped his hand. When he had first come into her life she was still in grade school and having him around for most of her childhood made her have a soft spot for him always. If she didn't know just how much Fitz loved Olivia and vice versa she would have been batting for his team. There was a semi silence as they walked towards the back entrance. Ellie knew that Fitz's thoughts were on Olivia and whether or not she would change her mind. His gut knew better but a part of him always felt like she could slip away till he was free to completely love her. Ellie discreetly positioned herself beside him. Gerry who was also observing his dad realised that Ellie was working her way to talk to him and began to slow his walk so that Karen could fall into step with him giving Ellie some room with his Dad.
"Would it help if I said you have nothing to worry about?" She asked softly. Fitz broke out of his own thoughts to look at her and gave her a small smile.
"You have a really bad poker face Fitz, though I'm assuming your lack of poker face is only ever when my sister is involved."
"You could say that."
"She loves you. She's waited for so long for you. Eddie, as great as he is has never come close to breaking down those defenses you seem to just glide through. She picks Fitz she always picks. She picked you. Against all odds she picked you and is willing to endure what's coming for that chance. Don't discount that."
"I don't. Believe me I don't. I just know she deserves so much better and I keep waiting for her to realise that and that's what freaks me out."
"If she wanted to run, she would have. We both know that if Ollie wanted to drop from your life and disappear to be untraceable she could. Instead she opened a crisis management firm in your city. She can't be away from you anymore than you can be from her."
"Thanks Kid."
"I serve at the pleasure of the President." She joked giving his arm a light nudge with her shoulder.
"Nice! So your sisters sister!"
"Lucky you there's two of us to drive you nuts!"
"Challenge accepted."
"Sad for you we're a package deal."
"So you think I'm handsome huh?" Ellie rolled her eyes and dropped back a step to match Gerry and Karen's leaving him grinning at her triumphantly.
