So I guess in the last chapter I should have led with the fact that I don't plan for B6-13 to stick around. I wrote it in because it is a large part of who Olivia's father is.
Chapter Seven
"Grant?" Olivia heard a nurse call out into the lobby. Grabbing her purse, she proceeded towards the door where the nurse was waiting for her. After recording her weight and taking her vitals the nurse informed Olivia that the doctor would be in to see her soon. Tomorrow was her big interview for the Washington Women's Journal and assuming everything went well at the visit today she planned on telling the journal about the baby. She heard a knock at the door and the doctor came walking in. "Mrs. Grant, it's good to see you. It's been about 5 weeks since our last visit how have you been feeling?" The doctor asked her as he took a seat. "I've been okay, the morning sickness seems to be going away. I had a fainting spell a few days ago. When I saw the White House doctor he said it was just low blood pressure." The doctor listened with interest as Olivia discussed her symptoms before speaking. "Well your chart didn't indicate low blood pressure today, so hopefully it was just a one-time thing. We will check on the baby in a minute but first we need to do a physical exam so lets get you in the stirrups and get started."
As Olivia got herself situated she let her mind wander. This was always the thing she hated the most about visits. However it was a necessary evil that she had learned to tolerate since she turned 18. Fitz had wanted to go with her to the doctor's appointment but he had been busy drafting an executive order shutting down B6-13. Olivia and Fitz had both agreed that sending her father back to prison would be tantamount to killing him themselves and neither one of them trusted him to roam free, he remained in Fitz's custody in the White House bunker. Her father still had not identified his man on the inside. All he would admit was that when he said "man" he meant in the broad sense of the word. If her father's main purpose for having a person on the inside was to watch her it would make sense that someone from the East Wing was working for her father. Whether this person was a staffer or an agent remained to be seen, but Fitz assured her that they would find out who this person was.
"Alright. I'm all done down here, now I'd like to preform an ultrasound to confirm the due date and we can make sure that the baby is developing properly. Be prepared this gel is going to be a little bit cold." Dr. Adams told her. Olivia took a deep breath in when she felt the gel on her skin. Soon after she felt the wand moving around her slightly protruding stomach. It wasn't noticeable to anyone but her yet, but her clothes continued to grow increasingly more constricting. The doctor continued moving the wand around her stomach. With every passing second Olivia grew more and more concerned. "Is everything okay?" She asked, starting to feel panicked. No answer, just a look of intense concentration on the doctor's face. After moving the wand one last time she heard it. After what seemed like an eternity of anticipation she heard the fast-paced whooshing sound that finally allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief. "Sometimes it takes a few tries to find a heartbeat." Her doctor finally told her. "Everything looks good, the baby's heart sounds strong and healthy. I would put your due date on or around the 28th of August. I'd like to see you again in a month. I'll let you set it up with the receptionist on your way out."
Once back at the White House Olivia made her way to the Residence where dinner was waiting for her when she arrived. "Hi." Olivia said as she walked over to the seat next to Fitz. "Hi." Fitz answered in response. "Dinner smells good, what are we having?" She asked after placing her napkin in her lap. "Roast chicken with garlic asparagus and russet potatoes. How was your doctor's appointment?" He asked. "Good. The baby is healthy and we have a due date." She said as she cut a piece of chicken. "Really? Well, don't keep me in suspense." He said. "August 28th. The doctor also said that my blood pressure was within normal range. My next appointment is at the end of February." Fitz nodded. "I definitely want to go. I'm sorry I didn't go today." He told her. "It's okay. I'm a big girl I can go to a doctor's appointment by myself. I know how busy you have been. How was your day?" She asked. "Well, I spoke to your father this morning. He is asking to speak with you. You don't have to though. Liv you don't owe him anything."
"I know, but maybe he would be more willing to talk to me." She offered. "Olivia, I know he is your father but look at who he is. Look at what he has done. I don't want you getting all worked up because of him." He countered. "I will be fine. I just want this to be over with. If me talking to him helps expedite that process then it's worth a shot isn't it?" She asked. "It's not worth it if all he does is upset you, but you and I both know that you are stubborn and you are going to do what you are going to do." He told her. "You know me too well." She says with a laugh. "I do, I know you better than I know myself sometimes." He admitted with a laugh. "If this kid has half of your willpower we are both in trouble." He joked. "You bet, especially because you still haven't figured out how to say no to me yet." She said as she finished off the last of her chicken. "Are you done for the day? Or are you going back to the office for a little while?" She asked. "I've still got some more things to take care of in the office. I don't know how long I'll be. Don't feel like you have to wait up for me." He told her.
"So are you prepared for the interview tomorrow?" He asked her. "I am. It'll just be a few questions about what it's like being married to the president. Also questions about what we will do for Valentine's Day. What will we be doing for Valentine's Day by the way?" She asked, curiosity evident in her voice. "It's a surprise. There is not a chance in hell that I will tell you. Are you ready to tell them about the baby?" He asked. "I'm nervous. Once I tell them then the cat's out of the bag. I'm afraid this pregnancy won't seem as special once it becomes everyone's business." Fitz nodded, understanding her trepidation. "Olivia, this is our baby. Nothing will take away from that. Nothing will make this any less special because this is me and you doing what we always said we would do. We always said we would get married. We always said that we would move to Vermont and have kids and make jam. This is us doing that. This is us keeping our promise to ourselves." He told her. "Anyway, I have some things to finish in the office. If you are asleep when I get done, I love you and sweet dreams." He said as he kissed her before walking out of the dining room.
Against her better judgement she decided to go visit her father before bed. "Olivia, to what do I owe the honor? Have you decided to come keep your dear old dad company?" Olivia smiled and gave a little laugh. "I came here with the hope that my dear old dad would change his mind." He laughed as Olivia took a seat at the table in his cell. He had been moved into a room with a cot and a table. "Fitz said you were being less than cooperative." She accused. "Olivia, I know this man is your husband and the father of my grandchild but you can do so much better than a whiny man-child who throws a fit when he doesn't get his way." He said coming to sit at the table across from her. "Fitz is a good man, you just don't like him because you would have preferred me to marry one of your 'sons' am I right? Because as I recall you didn't like Edison either, and he was a perfect gentleman." She said. "Neither one of those boys can take care of you." He said. "Dad, I'm a grown woman and I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I don't need one of your goons for that. Anyway, your grandchild is why I am here." She said as she slid a small piece of paper across the table towards him. "What is this?" He asked her. "It's a picture from my ultrasound today." She told him. "Why are you showing me this Olivia?" He asked, this time with a more serious tone to his voice. "I'm showing you this because I want my child to have a grandfather. Not Command. Not Rowan. Eli. Eli Pope. The same person who would ramble on and on about some dinosaur that no one has ever heard of before. The Eli Pope that used to play old records for me and let me stand on his feet while he danced. I won't let my child get hurt because of you." Olivia confessed to him. "Why Olivia, I do believe your hormones are getting the best of you." He said, shocked. "This is all the more reason you need someone watching you. You're not thinking rationally. You're letting your emotions get the best of you."
"End B6-13 Dad. Retire. Go back to work for the Smithsonian, work on a new dinosaur. If you can't, that picture will be the last you see of my child." She told him. "Olivia, it's hard to go back to work for the Smithsonian and work on dinosaurs when I'm being imprisoned down here. And would you really deny your child the right to know his or her grandfather?" He asked. "If you agree to shut down B6-13, for good this time, I can make sure that you get a fresh start. And you denied me the right to my mother when I was growing up so you are the last person to talk." She quipped. "Olivia, your mother is a terrorist. She is only interested in creating chaos and causing destruction all for the sake of a payday." He told her. "And what about what you do Dad? You really think the Republic would falter without you? Democracy would fail? This country has run just fine for centuries without needing B6-13." She pleaded. "Please Dad. When Fitz comes back tomorrow, please work with him." She said. "Do you mind if I take the ultrasound picture back? It's the only one I have." He gave the picture back to her. "Olivia, despite everything that has happened I do love you. I will always want what is best for you." He said. "Goodnight Dad, I hope you think about what I said." She walked out and shut the door behind her.
Olivia was asleep when Fitz finally came back in from the Oval. She woke up when he crawled into bed next to her. "What time is it?" She asked, turning over to face Fitz. "It's nearly 11." He whispered. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He said pushing her hair out of her face. "What time is the interview in the morning?" He asked. "8 am sharp. Her name is Melanie Morales and we are meeting her in the Yellow Room." She answered. "Did you take care of everything that needed to be taken care of?" She asked him. "Most of it. The rest can wait until tomorrow. I just couldn't wait to come crawl into bed next to my beautiful wife." He added with a smile. "You are so full of it, mister." She teased. "Anyway, I am exhausted. I'm going back to sleep, I love you." She said kissing him. "I love you too Livvie. Goodnight." He said as he wrapped an arm around her and went to sleep.
"So how was your visit with your father last night?" Fitz asked the next morning while they were both getting ready for their day. "It was okay, I'm not really sure if I got through to him though. But I may have told him that if he agrees to end B6-13 you could give him a fresh start." She told him. "In other words, pardon your father. Your father the murderer. Liv why would you do that?" He asked. "Isn't it worth it to have B6-13 shut down for good?" She asked. "Liv, I still don't feel right about this." He told her. "Would you rather have my dad in custody forever or would you rather shut down B6-13 for good?" She asked him. "Alright. I'll visit with your father this afternoon and see what we can agree to. In the mean time we are supposed to be meeting with that reporter from the Washington Women's Journal in 30 minutes in the Yellow Room." Olivia fixed his tie for him. "By the way, I don't think I ever showed you this last night she said as she went to retrieve the ultrasound picture. "No, you didn't share this with me. Livvie, this is absolutely amazing. This is amazing." He said leaning down to kiss her.
Once arriving at the Yellow Room, Olivia stopped him before they went inside to meet with the reporter. "Are you ready?" She asked him. "I'm fine, how are you?" He asked. "Honestly, I feel like I might be sick." She told him. "Are you still having morning sickness?" He asked her. "A little, but that's not what this is. This is just nerves. I'm absolutely terrified of coming forward." Fitz smiled. "Olivia breathe, if you need help I'll be right here. Just squeeze my hand and I'll jump in." He reassured her. "I'm supposed to be the one giving pep talks mister." She joked as she took his hand and entered the Yellow Room.
"Hi you must be Melanie Morales. It's so nice to meet you." Olivia said reaching out to shake the reporter's hand. "Madam First Lady, Mr. President. May I say how honored I am to be sitting down with the both of you?" She said shaking Olivia's hand and then Fitz's. "Oh please call me Olivia, it's our pleasure to sit down and talk with you today." Olivia said offering Melanie a seat on the couch opposite her. "Olivia let me just say that I am inspired by how active you have been in raising awareness concerning human trafficking. What is it about this issue that made you want to tackle this issue?" Melanie asked. "Well it's an issue that has been around for several years now, but it's a problem that no one really knows how to tackle because no one really knows how to talk about it. It is my hope that in working with The Voice of Hope we will be able to create a dialogue that will allow parents, educators and students to be open and honest with each other." Olivia answered. "Well it sounds like The Voice of Hope is lucky to have found a champion as well-educated as you. You attended Princeton and Georgetown am I correct?" Melanie asked. "Yes, that is correct. That is actually how I came to know Fitz. My friend and mentor is his Chief-of-Staff, Cyrus Beene." Olivia said. "Really? Talk about fate." Melanie added. "It was definitely fate." Fitz cut in. "I met the woman who first became my best friend and eventually my wife." He finished with a charming smile.
"Speaking of your relationship, you have been married for a little over two months now am I right?" Fitz and Olivia both nod. "With your first Valentine's Day as a married couple coming up will you be doing anything special for your wife Mr. President?" Melanie asked Fitz. He smiled that charming smile of his. "Yes, I most definitely have something special planned for Olivia this Valentine's Day. However, it is a surprise. So as charming as you are Ms. Morales, I'm afraid I can't tell you." He said coyly. "How romantic, can I just say you are one lucky woman?" Melanie asked Olivia. "I am very lucky." She agrees. "It's no secret that you're quite the wine enthusiast," Melanie began. "what wine do you think you will be enjoying on your Valentine's date this year?" Olivia took a deep breath and squeezed her husband's hand. "Well," she began. "I will be taking a break from wine for a little while. Not too long ago Fitz and I found out that we are going to have a baby this fall." Olivia said turning back to Fitz and beaming. "Wow, congratulations! That certainly is happy news indeed." Melanie congratulated them. "Thank you, very much. We feel very blessed." Fitz added. "Forgive me, but I have to ask. When Senator Grant was pregnant with your youngest son, America seemed to get an all-access pass into the pregnancy. What can we expect this time around?" She asked. "Well, I would certainly have to say that it is up to the First Lady. I will support whatever decision she makes." He said wrapping his arm around her. "Well, I would like to thank you so much for allowing me to catch a candid glimpse into your life. If you don't mind, I would like to get a couple of quick photos before I go." Melanie said, wrapping up the interview. "Of course not. Just tell us where you want us." Olivia answered.
"Well, you did it. You came forward with the baby news and the world didn't collapse. Oceans didn't boil, and the locusts didn't descend on us. Is it possible that you got worked up over nothing?" Fitz asked her, walking out of the Yellow Room after they finished taking pictures. "That remains to be seen." Olivia said, still waiting for the other shoe to drop. "So, what is on your agenda for the rest of the day?" She asked him. "Well, I'm going to meet with your father. Hopefully you got through to him last night. Then I've got back to back meetings this afternoon." He told her wrapping his hand around the small of her back. "I hope that you and my father can get something figured out." Olivia told him. "What about you? What are you doing with the rest of your day?" He asked her. "Well I'm getting ready for the State Dinner next week. Mitch and I still have some last-minute details to work out." She told him. "Well, I guess I will see you tonight then. I love you." He said as he gave her a quick kiss. "Love you too." She said as she walked off towards the East Wing.
