Do Not Deviate

"I'll walk you up to your door, make sure you get inside safely, and then head to the hospital. I'm really sorry our date ended like this, but I'll text or call you with updates on my dad." Fitz was holding her hand and was about to get out of the car.

Time was of the essence and she knew he needed to go, so she just said it. "If you don't want me to go with you, I completely understand. This is a family emergency and your mother needs you. But if you don't have any objections, I'd really like to go with you."

Truly touched, Fitz hugged her close to him. It had been a long time since anyone, besides family, had been there for him in a time of need. He pulled her back and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. "Are you sure? I mean, I would love for you to go with me, but it's been a long day. It's already after midnight and I don't know how long I'll be with my mother. No to mention the fact that we aren't exactly dressed to pull an all nighter at the hospital. I don't want you to feel uncomfortable sitting in a hard plastic chair in the waiting room in that dress. I feel terrible that our date ended like this."

Olivia put both of her hands on his cheeks and looked into his sad eyes. He needed her and she wanted to be there for him. "Fitz, stop apologizing. There's nothing to be sorry about." She gave him a quick peck on the lips. "We need to get to the hospital so you can be with your mom. Nothing else matters right now, okay? So let's go."

She held him close to her and talked about the play in an effort to keep his anxious mind off of his father. She got faint hums in agreement, but for the most part, it didn't work. From what he had told her before tonight, Olivia knew he had a good relationship with both of his parents. She knew that made things like this a lot harder to deal with. As the car drove through the dark and mostly empty streets of New York, she felt Fitz pull her even closer. He whispered in a wavering voice, "I'm really glad you came with me. Whatever happens, it'll be easier to deal with knowing you are beside me."

The drive to the hospital took too long in Fitz's mind. Once they arrived at the hospital, he and Olivia stopped at the nurses desk and were directed to the emergency room. They found his father lying in a bed, looking lifeless. Faint beeping sounds came from the machines attached to Mr. Grant's body. The His mother looked up and the moment she realized it was Fitz, she walked to the doorway where he stood and hugged him tightly. Fitz asked the obvious question. "Mom, what happened?"

"You father was watching the news in his recliner, just like he does every night. As he sat down he said his shoulders and arms felt sore. He had cut the grass before dinner, so I didn't think much of it. When I
asked him how long it had felt that way, he told me it had started during dinner." As Mrs. Grant recalled what had happened, her voice became a little stronger. "A little while later, he told me he wasn't feeling well. I thought he was just tired and had overdone it with the grass. But then...He said he was having a hard time breathing. He was covered in sweat and was gasping for air."

Fitz was hugging his mother like she used to when he was a kid with a scraped knee. She was a tiny woman, but the Grant men knew from an early age that while she was a funny woman, you didn't cross her. And her sons immediately jumped to her defense whenever anyone made their mom mad. Fitz always admired her strength and that's why it was difficult for him to see her so upset. He could feel her breathing slowing down and hoped she was starting to feel a little better in spite of the situation.

Olivia felt like an intruder and turned to leave. She would come back after his mom had updated Fitz on what the doctor had said. Fitz caught Olivia's movement and he reached for her hand. He understood why she might want to give them some privacy, but he very much wanted her to stay. He locked fingers with Olivia and sent her a smile, all while holding his mother. These were two of the strongest women he knew, and Fitz wanted them to like each other.

Mrs. Grant looked down at their joined hands and gave Fitz a teary eyed smile. "I am so sorry, dear. In all my blubbering, I have been completely rude to you." She wiped her eyes with her hands and gave Olivia a smile.

"Oh my goodness, not at all, Mrs. Grant. I'm sure it's been an extremely rough evening for you." Still thinking of a way to let the two of them talk, Olivia asked, "Is there anything I can get you? Some coffee? Something to eat? I'm happy to help in any way."

Mrs. Grant took a step back from Fitz and watched the two of them. "I like her, Fitzgerald. She's trying to escape politely, but I like her." Mortified at being called out by his mother, Olivia tried to deny it as she stumbled through an apology. Seeing the grins that passed between Fitz and his mother made Olivia squirm. "It's quite alright, dear. I understand I must look like a crazy person right now. Let's start over, shall we? I'm Fitz's mother, Emma."

Olivia and Emma shook hands and exchanged smiles. "It's very nice to meet you, in spite the circumstances. I'm..."

"Olivia. I know who you are, dear. You are all I've heard about from my son the past few days." Emma looked Olivia over from head to toe. "It appears my phone call interrupted your date."

"Not exactly, Mrs. Grant..."

"Please call me Emma."

"Emma." Olivia felt a little more at ease as they talked. "We were actually saying goodnight when Fitz got your call. I offered to come with him. I hope that is alright with you."

"Saying goodnight is young people code for something else entirely. And I would rather not think about my son that way." Olivia's face couldn't get any redder. She was the most embarrassed she had ever been in her entire life. She refused to even look at Fitz.

Fitz chuckled and pulled Olivia to his side and chided his mother. "Leave her alone, mom. We are grown ups." Fitz looked around the room conspiratorially and whispered to his mother, "This is going to shock you, but I'm not a virgin anymore."

Olivia wished she had stayed home. This was absolutely mortifying conversation to hear Fitz and his mother have and she was trying to avoid it by looking at the floor. The hand on Olivia's side held firm, and that was of great comfort to her. But when they started laughing, she looked up at both of them. What the hell was going on, she wondered.

"I like her, Fitz." Emma gave Olivia a warm smile as an apology. "I'm sorry, Olivia. I like to test the women he brings around the family to see if they will run for the hills or are made of stronger stuff. I call it a mother's prerogative. One day you'll know what I'm talking about. "

"Has Fitz brought many women around to meet the family, Emma?" Olivia asked without shame.

"I think we are done with this conver..." Fitz tried.

"Oh Fitzgerald," Olivia began in a warning tone, "You do not get to say anything right now. I am chatting with your lovely mother. You just stand there and be handsome."

Emma grinned at Olivia. She liked this girl. She had spunk. Emma knew her son needed more of that in his life. She had always thought that honesty was the best policy and saw no reason to stray from it now. However, Mrs. Grant also knew some things weren't hers to tell. "A few, when he was in high school. But none of them seemed to work out." She reached out and pinched Fitz's cheek lovingly. "My sweet boy the bachelor."

"I feel like I'm in high school, with the two of you talking about me like I'm not even here." Fitz rolled his eyes for added effect, but got no sympathy from either woman. Turning to his mother, he asked, "What did the doctor say when he saw dad?"

"The doctor said even though we didn't come in as early as we should have, we got here before serious damage could have been done to his heart." Emma started to pace as she spoke. Olivia watched her and smiled knowingly. She too paced when working something out. "He's pretty confident that your dad will make a complete recovery. They are going to run more tests on him in the morning just to be sure. It was the most frightened I've been in a very long time. And when I get him back home, I'm going to kick his ass for it."

"So you're saying he's just resting right now?" Fitz asked.

"He's had a busy day, Fitz. He's cut the grass and had a mild heart attack. It's bound to make even the strongest man a little tired." Emma looked over at her husband fondly, grateful he was still alive. If he had died, she would have been too pissed off to kick his ass.

"I wish you would explain these things faster, mom. I thought those beeping machines were keeping him alive!" Fitz's voice was getting louder and the moment he realized it, his mother sent him one raised eyebrow. It was enough to silence him completely.

Olivia watched the interesting little exchange between mother and son. Fitz may be over six foot tall and a grown man, but his five foot tall mother was still an authority figure to him and he greatly respected her. She heard Fitz breathe a sigh of relief and knew things were a little more right in his world, knowing that his father would be ok.

"Do you want to walk with me to the cafeteria and get some coffee, Fitz?" Olivia thought it might be good for him to have something to do. She held out her hand to him and he took it. "Would you like for us to bring you back anything, Emma?"

"If you see a donut that doesn't look like it's been sitting there for weeks, I'll take one please." She replied.

"Really, mom? You know how to wound a guy. I'll get you a cup of tea from the cafeteria. And tomorrow I'll bring you some fresh donuts from the bakery." Fitz knew what she was up to, but he let her think she was getting the upper hand.

Emma smiled victoriously at her son. "It's the only way I can get decent donuts from him. You would think giving birth to him would gain me some perks, but apparently not." She said with a dramatic sigh.

"Let's all take a ride on the guilt train." He flashed his mother a million dollar smile and then dropped it. When Emma laughed, Fitz shook his head and laughed with her. He kissed her on the cheek, said "I love you" and walked out of the room with Olivia.

Olivia was enjoying this side of Fitz. Watching him interact with his mother was nice. They obviously got along very well and respected each other greatly. And there was a lot of love between them. "Did anyone call your brother yet?" She asked him as they walked down the bland colored halls.

"Mom decided to let him sleep instead of waking him up in the middle of the night with news that dad will be fine." They were alone in a hall that led to the cafeteria with no one around. Fitz turned toward her and pulled her close to him so they were pelvis to pelvis. "I'm really glad that you came with me tonight. If my dad hadn't pulled this stunt, we would doing all kinds of interesting things to and with each other. I feel like I've been cheated."

Olivia walked her fingers up his chest to his lips and playfully said, "My poor baby, Fitzgerald. I promise to make it up to you really soon." The air between them stopped moving. Everything stopped moving. And then it sped up at lighting pace.

Fitz attacked her mouth hungrily. He pushed her up against the wall and grabbed her ass once again. When he felt her fingers in his hair, his hand pulled one of her legs up his outer thigh and then started powerfully kneading her lower cheeks. She might end up with bruises, but at that moment he really didn't care. Their tongues happily danced with each other ravenously. Anyone walking by might feel like they walked in on the start of a night shoot of an on location porno.

The anticipation of the expected end of the night festivities they both had shoved deep down came bubbling up to the surface as hands and mouths were everywhere all at once. Heavy breathing, curse words, and moans were coming from both of them. And still they didn't care. They couldn't get close enough to each other. Olivia, in a hazy moment of clarity, pulled away from his very eager mouth. That annoyed look momentarily came back to his face. He never looked more adorable to her.

Fitz rested his forehead on hers. "You've really got to stop putting on the brakes when things are getting good, Miss Pope. My heart rate can't take the whiplash."

"We are in a hospital where anyone could walk by and see us practically mating. Some restraint is needed at the moment." As she spoke, Olivia was scanning the empty hall for someone to come along and prove her point.

"You want to be restrained? Interesting. I had no idea you were that kind of girl, Miss Pope. I might like you even more now." Fitz was grinning at her like a madman, and as much as she tried to hold it back, Olivia ended up grinning right back at him.

Playful Olivia was too easy to slip into whenever Fitz was around. "I don't really know you well enough to answer that question, Mr. Grant" She stood on her tiptoes to his ear and in a flirty voice said, "It could be fun though." She pulled his earlobe between her teeth.

His eyes were glazed over. Fitz was ready to go home. How in the hell did this little woman affect him in such a big way? He wanted to take Olivia back to his place and discover all kinds of things with her. He wanted to build her up with his fingers and tongue and watch her fall apart. And then do it all over again. He wanted to make her scream his name in ecstasy. Fitz wanted Olivia like he had never wanted anyone before.

Olivia was staring into his distant eyes. His thoughts might as well have been on a billboard. She could hear the wheels turning in his mind. He was inadvertently licking his lips as his hooded blue eyes roamed her body. Right back atcha, big guy, she thought to herself. I've imagined you naked too and I want the real thing just as much. "Someone is thinking awfully loud."

Fitz raised his eyebrows and said, "I hope you heard me loud and clear because that's exactly how I intend to hear you when I finally get you alone."

"Promises, promises, Mr. Grant." She grabbed a handful of the front of his shirt and pulled him to her for a lust filled kiss. "We'll see who is screaming the loudest in due time."

Fitz gave her a superior smirk. "That's a challenge I'll definitely be up for."

"Oh, I'll make sure of it." She needed to stop flirting with him. She was seconds away from dragging him into an empty room and locking the door.

As if reading her mind, Fitz said, "We'd better go get the drinks. I can only stand here and be tortured by you for so long. Besides, mom will wonder what is taking so long."

Olivia laughed at his words. "I think your mother knows full well what is taking so long. What exactly have you told her about me?" They were holding hands and walking through the cafeteria now.

He wasn't going to tell Olivia everything he had told his mother. How could he tell her that she was the reason he smiled all the time? That he was constantly smiling because he was constantly thinking about her? That this seemed like it could be a long lasting relationship filled with fun and love and lots of adventure? He couldn't tell Olivia all that. She would think he was getting too serious way too fast. She would be scared off.

So he told her some of the things he had shared with his mom. "I told her that you are a lawyer who works hard and is a complete badass in the courtroom, although I have my doubts." She punched his arm playfully. "I told her that you are funny and smart and beautiful and challenging and..."

"You think I'm challenging?" She was kind of surprised by that and waited for an explanation.

Fitz kissed her cheek. "You have challenged my will power everyday since the moment I met you. Granted, it's only been a couple of days, but most definitely yes."

"You love it!" She was laughing at him now.

"What are you doing tomorrow? Do you have any plans yet? Because I would love to see you."

"Actually, every Sunday I have dinner at my parent's house. It's kind of a tradition they started ever since I moved out years ago. Mom makes a huge meal for the three of us and we all end up passed out. It's my favorite day of the week for all of those reasons. I guess you'll be here with your parents until your dad gets discharged?" she asked.

"I think I'm going to go home and take a shower after I take you home. I promised fresh donuts and believe me, she won't let that one go." He chuckled. "Besides, I don't want her to be here alone for long. I mean, she'll be fine, but I like being here for her. She's so strong that it doesn't happen very often."

Olivia didn't know how to say what was on her mind without it sounding condescending, so she just said it. "You are a good son. Your mom is a very strong woman, but the way you dropped everything to be with her when she needed you speaks volumes about how much you love and respect her. She may never say it to you, but she appreciates that. Any mother would."

"She tells me all the time that I am her favorite. It's understandable, don't you think? I mean, the way I..."

Olivia walked away from him. He was ridiculous. A funny man, but also a ridiculous one. He caught up with her laughing as he took her hand again. They got the hot beverages and walked back to his dad's room without interruption.

"Well, I was about to call the National Guard to go and look for you two." Emma said sarcastically.

"We had to wait for them to brew fresh coffee," he tried.

Emma saw through her boy. "Fitzgerald, you were a terrible liar at age six. You haven't gotten any better at it since then. I'm sure I don't want to know what took so long anyways."

"You might. It was really fun." He said with a gleam in his eye.

"Fitz!" Both Emma and Olivia said in unison.

Emma smiled at Olivia. "Why are you dating such a dufus, Olivia?"

"I've been asking myself that question all night, Emma." Olivia threw her hands up in the air. "I might need to re think my options."

"Miss Pope, that's not funny." He warned.

Olivia walked around Fitz's body and shrugged her shoulders. "I suppose he's not so bad." She gave him a big smile and winked at him.

Emma watched them staring at each other. There was something already between them. She could feel it and wondered if they could. Fitz was always a happy man, but he was settled around Olivia as well. It was everything a mother wanted for her child to find in another person. It was too soon to think like that, but as she continued watching them, maybe not.

"Mom, I'm going to take Olivia to her house, go home to take a shower, and then run by the bakery to grab you some donuts, as promised. I should be back in a few hours. Will you be ok?"

"I'll do my best, son. Please hurry though because I'm a little old lady in a big ole hospital." She rolled her eyes at him. Emma stood up and hugged Olivia. "It was very nice to meet you, dear. Even under these circumstances. I hope Fitz will bring you to the house sometime. His father will be upset that he missed meeting you. But I guess a heart attack is as good an excuse as any."

"It was really nice to meet you too, Emma. Don't worry, I'll talk Fitz into it." Olivia smiled at the woman.

Emma gave Fitz 'the look' and sternly said, "You make sure that you do those things exactly as you said, Fitzgerald. Drop Olivia off, go home, pick up donuts, and come back. Do not deviate from the plan. I'll be able to tell if you come back here trying to pass a lie off to me."

"You do realize I'm a grown man and can do what I want to, right? You aren't the boss of..." When his mother swatted him on the back of the head he went back to "Yes ma'am. No deviation from the plan." He kissed his mother and he walked out of the room with Olivia.

Fitz was busy thinking about how things would be once his dad got home from the hospital. Would he need any help getting around the first few days? Maybe. If that was the case, would he bitch and moan
if anyone tried to help him? Probably. Would his mother overly worry about him every time he moved from his recliner? That was a guarantee. It should be a fun week, Fitz mused to himself.

They were just a short distance from Olivia's house when Fitz realized she had fallen asleep in the crook of his arm. When they pulled up in front of her house, Fitz grabbed her clutch in search of her key. Inside the dimly lit car, his hand fumbled over the box of condoms. Magnums too. He glanced at her angelic face and grinned at her. There was something mixed in there alongside the angel he saw on the outside. He'd save this information for future embarrassment purposes and put the box back inside the little purse.

He carried Olivia to the front door and unlocked it. He stepped inside instantly inhaling the scent of the flowers he had given her earlier that night. Or the night before, seeing how it was early Sunday morning now. Fitz flipped on the light switch and found his way back to her bedroom. He turned on the light and looked back down at her. He really wanted to put some pajamas on her, but his mother's damn voice was in his head. 'Do not deviate'. He rolled his eyes. He sit down on the bed and pulled back the comforter on her bed. He stood back up with her still in his arms and laid her on the sheets. He begrudgingly pulled her silver heels off, recalling the ideas he had had for those shoes.

Fitz sighed and pulled the blanket over her little body. He dragged the hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. "You and I are going to get to the end of a date soon, Miss Pope. Count on it." He got a light snore from her in return. He chuckled quietly, stood up, and said before leaving, "Sleep well, beautiful."