Hey babes! Sorry I've been away from this story enjoy the update!


One Year Later…

Olivia

It's been a year since the passing of Olivia's dad and whoever said it would get easier lied. There have been some good days and there has been some very bad days as well. It still doesn't feel real that her father is gone. She miss his heavy footsteps throughout the house. She miss his laugh, his deep voice, his corny jokes, and his horrible singing. Most of all she miss his presence. She will give anything to see him again. Him coming to her in her dreams isn't enough. Had it not been for her mom, Nana Annalise, Fitz and Brie, Olivia would've lost it and probably joined her father much sooner than she could've imagined. But knowing that she has people that depend on her, Olivia knew that taking her own life would be selfish and devastating.

She didn't even want to go back to school. It took some heavy convincing, and remembering her father's dying wish, for Olivia to enroll back into school. She is now in her first semester at Temple. The steps she had to take in order to transfer from Duke to Temple was strenuous and annoying. She wasn't too happy when she found out that she had to do summer courses at Temple in order to stay on track to graduate in the spring of 2017. Had she not done the summer courses, Olivia would've been considered a sophomore and not a junior like Fitz and their friends.

If that's not enough to juggle, Olivia is in the process of adopting Brie as her child. Iyana has been MIA for a year now. She has stopped calling to check on Brie. The last time Iyana called was New Year Day, it's now October. Brie doesn't even ask about Iyana anymore. Olivia refuses to see her goddaughter in the foster care system, so getting sole custody and becoming Brie's legal guardian is Olivia's top priority right now. She doesn't want Fitz to feel pressured into becoming a parent, which is why she didn't include or even bother to ask him to go through the process of adopting Brie with her. She would rather him come to her and express his feelings about choosing to adopt Bride. They're only 20-years-old this is a lot to ask someone that young to commit.

Brie has been a handful over the year, changing Olivia's life tremendously. Olivia no longer can come and go as she pleases. She has a 4-year-old to look after now. Sometimes she has to pass on going out with her friends on the weekends. Instead she has to find kid-friendly places to go to with Brie. Her and Fitz doesn't get much alone time anymore as well. He comes down on the weekends from school, but Olivia is either working or too tired to give him the attention he needs and wants. Strife is starting to creep into their relationship and Olivia will do whatever it takes to rid of it before it becomes too damaging. Fitz acts like everything is okay, but it's not. Olivia can feel the difference.

The good thing is Brie is enrolled into pre-school, before care and after care. So, Olivia does somewhat get a break from Brie until it is time for her to come home. And Olivia's mom and Nana Annalise also help whenever they can. Again, Brie is Olivia's responsibility.

"Mommy can we go get my costume now please?" Brie asked breaking Olivia from her ruminations.

Olivia still remembers the first time Brie called her 'mommy'. It happened one night about six months ago when Olivia was getting Brie ready for bed.

"Alright fat momma, are you ready for your story?" Olivia asked Brie who was tucked comfortable under her Doc McStuffins blanket. The middle room in Olivia parent's house was converted to Brie's bedroom. She is in love with Doc McStuffins, so Olivia went with that theme when decorating Brie's room.

"Yes." Brie nodded her head with a smile.

Olivia grabbed the book, 'Big Fish Little Fish', and began reading it to Brie.

By the time she was on the 5th page, Brie was rubbing her tired eyes.

"Good night Mommy," Brie yawned and closed her eyes.

Olivia stared at Brie taken aback by hearing Brie call her mom. She knew eventually this would happen. She has been the consistent "mother" in Brie's life for a year now. Olivia makes sure that Brie knows that Iyana is her birth mother. She isn't that selfish that she would try to erase the memories of Iyana from Brie's head, even though Brie doesn't ask about Iyana anymore.

"Goodnight fat momma," Olivia leaned down and kissed Brie's forehead.

"Moommmyyy!" Brie stomped her little foot breaking Olivia from her flashback. Her moon-shape brown eyes were wide and her hands were on her imaginary hips. She definitely has Iyana and Olivia's attitude morphed into one.

"Yes as soon as I am done with my homework and get your hands off your imaginary hips." Olivia said as she looked up from her laptop.

"Okay. Is Fitzy coming over to go with us?" Brie asked. She is just as obsessed with Fitz as Olivia is. Her attachment to him doesn't go unnoticed. Everyone notices it and dotes on their relationship.

"We can call him, remember I told you Fitzy school isn't that close to home like mine, so he can't come over as much." Olivia reminded Brie who thinks Fitz can come over with just a snap of a finger.

"Yes I remember, but I still want him to come with us mommy." Brie came into Olivia's room and climbed onto her bed as she waited for Olivia to call Fitz.

Olivia grabbed her iPhone and Facetimed Fitz. He answered immediately.

"Hey Fitzy!" Brie exclaimed as soon as his face came into the screen. She smiled brightly into the phone.

"What's up Breezy? How are you?" Fitz smile matched Brie's. He gave Brie the nickname Breezy about two months ago. He nicknamed her Breezy because he said she's so cool and laid back. She's cool and laid back with him, when she's with Olivia she is wild and carefree.

"Good, guess what?" Brie excitedly asked Fitz.

"What?" Fitz asked with equal amount of enthusiasm.

"Mommy is gonna take me to get my Halloween costume. Can you go too?" Brie pleaded as she poked out her lip trying to persuade Fitz.

"When are you two going?"

Brie looked at Olivia waiting for her to answer Fitz question.

"I was gonna take her when I finished with my homework, but I can wait until the weekend when you're home if you wanna go with us." Olivia replied.

"Can you wait until I come home this weekend Breezy?" Fitz asked.

"Mhm but hurry 'cause I miss you Fitzy and Halloween is coming!" Brie exaggerated as she placed her small face into the screen.

"I miss you more Breezy." Fitz blew her a kiss.

They talked for another 20 minutes before Maya called Brie down for dinner.

"You look tired, are you getting any sleep?" Fitz asked Olivia. It was their one on one time to talk now.

"As much as I can." Olivia replied with a small smile.

"How about this weekend I'll keep Breezy and you catch up on your rest? Take off from work and just relax." Fitz suggested.

"I don't know Fitz, Brie can be a handful." Olivia hesitantly replied.

"Babe I can handle Breezy you know that."

Olivia knew he could, she just didn't want him to feel like Brie is his responsibility.

"I know. Are you sure? Fitz she's not your responsibility." Olivia asked wanting to make sure before she gave in.

"Yes I am sure and she is just as much my responsibility as she is yours Liv." Fitz assured.

"I love you, see you this weekend." Olivia blew Fitz kisses.

"I love you more." Fitz blew Olivia a kiss and hung up.

"Brie take off your uniform and hang it up!" Olivia yelled out to Brie who was back in her bedroom.

"Okay!"

Fitz

The weekend came faster than Fitz thought, and he was glad. He saw how stressed Olivia was and he couldn't wait to give his baby a break. If superwoman was real she would be Olivia. The amount of responsibility she has picked up and carried is nothing short of amazing. She didn't have to take Brie in. She didn't have to enroll back in school. She could've given up when her father passed, but she didn't. She could have turned her back on Brie when Iyana came knocking on her door, but she didn't. She stepped up and if Fitz didn't already have a million reasons why he loved her, what she has done adds to the list.

"Fitzy!" Brie yelled jumping into Fitz's arms as he got out of his car. She has been waiting for him at the door since he facetimed her earlier saying he was on his way to pick her up.

"Breezy!" Fitz squeezed her tight as he hugged her.

"What took you so long?" She asked giving him a side eye.

Fitz burst out laughing, "are you giving me the side eye little girl, you're just like your mom." Fitz kissed her cheek.

"Can we go now?" Brie impatiently asked.

"Yes but let me go say hi to Liv and Mama Maya." Fitz carried Brie back inside of the house. He placed her down on the floor.

"Hurry up," she glared at him and grabbed her iPad from the coffee table distracting herself.

Fitz shook his head. She definitely has Iyana and Olivia's attitude.

"Hey Fitz." Maya greeted walking out of the kitchen.

"Hey Mrs. Pope." Fitz hugged her. He admires Mrs. Pope strength, after losing her husband Olivia's father last year, Mrs. Pope didn't give up.

"How are you? I wish you stop calling me Mrs. Pope." She said breaking the hug.

"It's a habit. I've been good. How about you?" Fitz asked.

"Hanging in there, between Brie and Olivia those two are gonna drive me insane."

"Oh trust me I know."

"Are ya'll talking about me?" Olivia asked as she walked into the living room.

"Of course we are sweetie." Mrs. Pope admitted.

"Oh I see how it is." Olivia pretended to be hurt.

Fitz wrapped her up in his arms hugging her tight.

"Mhm get off me." Olivia smiled hugging him back.

"Stop playing, you know you miss me." Fitz teased.

"I do." Olivia leaned up and pecked his lips.

"Oh please get a room." Maya rolled her eyes and walked back into the kitchen.

"I just wanted to say hi before Brie and I left." Fitz said.

"Please take this little girl off my hands." Olivia playfully whined.

"Babe she's not that bad." Fitz looked over at Brie sitting on the couch playing on her iPad and couldn't believe that she is as bad as Olivia is making her out to be, especially since she looked so innocent right now.

"Yes she is." Olivia laughed.

"Whatever c'mon Breezy."

Brie hopped off the couch and ran over to Fitz.

"Bye Brie be good." Olivia picked her up and kissed her cheek.

"Bye mommy I'll be good." Brie assured with a head nod.

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Fitz and Olivia kissed once more before him and Brie left.

"Olivia if you don't marry that man I will!" Maya yelled from the kitchen.

Olivia shook her head and went back upstairs to rest. Before she close her eyes to rest, her cell phone dinged signaling she had a text message. Grabbing it from her nightstand, she checked to see who it is and it was Raleigh.

Best Friend: What kind of best friend are you? While you're living your perfect little life I am dealing with trying to get over my miscarriage. You rarely visit me. You rarely call me. If it's not Fitz or Brie you seem to not care. I was there for you when your father died, but I guess me losing my baby isn't important enough for your time. I thought we were better than that! All of you can kiss my ass! This will be the last time you ever hear from me!

Olivia rolled her eyes and tossed her phone on her bed. She climbed back under the covers and closed her eyes. She had no time for Raleigh's dramatics. Olivia has been trying to be there for Raleigh as best she could, but after miscarrying her baby, Raleigh pushed everyone away. Olivia didn't want to further push, so she fell back. Now Raleigh is in her feelings about being neglected. Olivia has enough on her plate, she doesn't need this as well.


Short update I know! I will upload part two a little later, as for now enjoy and as always leave your thoughts!