Winter break finally came around and Fitz had seen Olivia twice that month. Abby and Olivia thought they had come up with a way for Fitz to see Olivia on her birthday, but it would take a lot of moving parts to pull it off.

Olivia's Dad asked her if she wanted a big party and she said no, she just wanted to be at home with her close friends to celebrate. Rowan had a big surprise for Olivia. She was about to inherit the money her mother had left her. Olivia's Dad never talked about her Mom's side of the family. Her mother was raised by a grandmother because her parents were killed in a car crash. By the time Olivia was three that grandmother had passed away too. So she had no ties to that side of the family, but that was all about to change.

What Rowan didn't want was some self entitled spoiled brat on his hands, so he had kept the history of Olivia inheritance to himself. He made her realize the value of money before she inherited the forty million dollars.

Olivia was the last known descendant of Madame C J Walker the black cosmetics queen. Rowan had manged Olivia's portfolio and tried to craft it into as many of her interest. Like shares in Jimmy Choo after her purchase debacle. He started to get everything gathered up so he could present it to her the day before her birthday. This was personal stuff she needed to see on her own.


Xmas eve was upon them before they knew it and the plan was about to be implemented. So the Grant boys had always gone out to Xmas carol every year of their lives. So Abby convinced Fitz's parents that they should do something different this year and Xmas carol in Seattle instead of their Bellevue neighborhood. Fitz's parents thought that if all the boys were with Fitz that he wouldn't do anything crazy to see Olivia. If he did one of his brother's would spill the beans. His parents underestimated their son's loyalty to each other.

They took the family van and went over to Olivia's house. When they got there Olivia met them at the door and hugged and kiss every Grant boy, but her favorite Grant boy got a special kiss.

Caleb piped up and said, "if you two keep kissing like that your going to have a baby!"

Everyone roared with laughter.

Quinn, Harrison and Huck were there as well as her Dad. Olivia gave all the introductions to everyone and they all moved into the living room. Olivia took up residence by Fitz on the couch and slipped into their own bubble.

Rowan was watching them from across the room. He was assessing how far along these two were in their relationship. Rowan looked at how happy his daughter was. He had never seen her so happy, but not like when she was smaller, but like how her mother used to look at him. He didn't realize he'd been crying until Olivia caught his eye and asked him if he was alright. He excused himself and went upstairs.

Olivia followed him upstairs she was scared. She had never seen her father cry. She found him in his room sitting on the side of his bed.

"Dad, are you ok?"

"I'm sorry I scared you Olivia. The older you get, the more you look like your mother. When I saw you sitting next to Fitz and you were looking at him with such love in your eyes. You looked liked how your mother looked at me. I thought that if I could have one more chance to see her look at me like that, I would give anything in the world."

Olivia started to cry. She felt that she had lost something so precious, but she had no idea what it was.

Rowan put his hands on his daughter's cheeks and kissed them.

"I have something for you. It's from your Mom."

He pulled out the portfolio and gave it to her. Olivia opened it and she read for little while and when she realized what it was she let out a gasp.

"Dad! Forty Million Dollars? Who the heck was Mom?"

Rowan smiled and told her about her lineage and where the money came from, and how he had managed everything for her, but tomorrow she would inherit it all. He told her not to let it overwhelm her and they would go over her investments in-depth later, but she should have fun tonight with her friends.

"Now, tell me about Fitz."

"I love him Dad, he's it for me. I know you might think we're too young to feel this way, but he is the love of my life Dad. I don't see my life without him in it."

"Olivia, I raised you to focus on so many things in your life, but the one think I couldn't prepare you for was falling in love. I wouldn't have tried anyway. I wanted it to be as magical, life changing, and mystical as it could be. I know how it can all be taken away in an instance. I know that Fitz is in trouble with his parents now. Don't worry how I found out, but I see a man who will do anything to be with you at any cost. That's all I could ask for you. Olivia always follow your heart! It will lead you on a great journey of life. Just promise that you will never compromise who you are. It's what makes you who you are and who Fitz loves."

Olivia was crying her eyes out listening to her father. He had never shown such emotion and talked about being in love. She hugged her Dad and wailed into to his shoulder. Rowan held her until she calmed back down. He told her to go wash her face and go back down to her friends and have a good time. He was done for the night and she didn't need her old man around cramping her style.

"Dad, I know I don't say it much, but thank you for everything you've taught me and the way that you've allowed me to stretch my wings and grow. I might look like Mom, but inside I'm you."

She went to her bathroom to wash her face and when she came out, Fitz was standing in her room.

He went over to her to see if she was ok? He could see her eyes were a little red from crying. He pulled her over to her bed and he put his arm around her and asked what was wrong.

New tears pricked her eyes as she told him everything that happened with her father. Fitz sat with his mouth hanging open.

"Well I guess my present isn't going to compare to what your Dad gave you, but you should know that he came downstairs and said that you needed me."

Olivia put her head into Fitz neck and began to sob again. He held her and rubbed her back until she stopped crying.

"You turn eighteen and you turn into a blubbering mess!"

Fitz smiled and said, "Your my blubbering mess and don't you forget it."

"Quit your stalling fish stick where is my present!"

Fitz chuckled, kissed her lips and walked over to her dresser by the door. It was a small Tiffany's blue box with a bow on top.

She looked up at Fitz with a grin on her face and she opened it. Inside was a slim silver band with her birth stone just as small as the band. It was delicate, sophisticated and she loved it.

"Livy, this is a promise ring. That I will one day soon replace it with an engagement ring. You are my life now. We have one more month left on our banishment, but I wanted to let you know that I'm working on something special for us at Whistler. I have to speak to my Grandpa Grant, but be ready to come up with Abby. Now kiss me ball and chain!"

He placed the ring on her left ring finger and told her she should get used to having a ring on that finger. He kissed it after he put it on and he mouthed mine.

Olivia kissed him with such a force of passion that Fitz forgot where he was. When they came up for air they both had a dazed look on their face.

Fitz told her to come back down to the party they were going to have to go home soon.

Olivia had the best birthday of her entire life. She showed her ring off to everyone, well really the girls.

Fitz wrangled up all his brother's and told them they had to go before Mom and Dad got suspicious.

When they got back in the car they all looked at Caleb and told him to keep his mouth shut about this trip.


Well that promise to keep his mouth shut was like a ticking time bomb for Caleb's. His friend James was over at the house and Fitz's mom overheard their conversation about how they went on a to secret mission to Olivia's house Xmas eve. It was the day before they were due to go to Whistler.

Cecilia went to her bedroom to talk to her husband about what she overheard.

"Gerry this is going to far. Not only did he disobey us, he roped his brother's in with him to deceive us. He is turning into someone we don't know anymore."

Gerry thought for a minute before he said anything. "Cil, we can either punish him or say nothing. Fitzgerald has found something more important than fear of punishment from us, or roping his brother's into helping him get away with it. Our son is deeply in love with this girl and I really believe if we push him any further we will lose him."

"I don't like this Gerry! He is teaching his brother's that rules don't matter when they want what they want."

"No Cil, he's teaching them that love is worth fighting your parents over. We've lost the battle Cil. This is one battle we're not going to pick. Fitz has basketball season coming up and he will finish out his last month of punishment. We'll just play along. We'll also welcome Olivia back in our home as well. She's not the cause of his attitude we are. Cil it's time to let Fitz go."

Tears welled in Cecilia's eyes, because her first-born had grown up in front of her eyes, and she had not been willing to let him transition into the man he was trying to be.


All the Grant's made it to Whistler. Gerry had one brother Teddy and he had three boys. Not one girl in the Grant clan. Grandpa Grant and Grandma Grant were there too. Grandpa Grant and Fitz were like two peas in a pod. His father said they both had the same fiery personality, grit and determination to succeed.

The first chance he got Fitz went up to his Grandpa and asked him if he could speak to him in private.

"How about now Little F." Fitz's nickname from his Grandpa and Fitz called him Big F.

Fitz sat down in a small drawing-room off the living room of the main cabin on the compound. Fitz took a formal tone with his Grandfather because he wanted to discuss business with him.

"Grandfather I want to discuss some business with you."

"Grandfather? It must be something really serious if your call me that. Spit it out Fitzgerald."

"Everyone at school are deciding what they want to be or do when they get out of college, and I've been thinking about the same thing, and I've come to the conclusion that I want to run Grant Oil. Grandfather you know I'm a wildcatter at heart and my summers at you and Grandma's house are my best memories growing up. So what do you think Grandfather?"

Fitzgerald Grant Sr., was not an emotional man, but he started to tear up when his oldest grandson told him he wanted to continue his life's work. Both son's had opted for different careers and Big F thought he would be the last Grant to head the company.

"Fitzgerald thinking about your future is the only reason you came to this decision?"

Fitz smiled because that was his Grandfather's greatest gift, reading people. He couldn't keep the smile off his face as he answered him.

"Not entirely Grandfather. I've met a girl and I'm actually thinking about marrying her and providing a life for the both of us. She factors in heavily into my approaching you now. I intend to go to Harvard as planned and I will finish, but I want to start to get my feet wet with the company."

"I see you've thought this out very well. You're in luck we have a satellite office in Boston that we do research in conjunction with MIT on drilling techniques. You can start there, but you will start at the bottom and no one will know who you are. Are we agreed? Or is there anything else you would like to negotiate?"

"Yes, during the summer I reserve the right that Olivia gets to come with me when she wants to. I also get to use the corporate jet once a year for my vacation."

"Done, but I ask one additional requirement before you take the reins of Grant Oil, is that you complete your MBA. If you agree I'll have my lawyers draw up contracts. You will inherit a large sum of shares of Grant Oil on your upcoming birthday. Upon my retirement and you stepping into my shoes, I will give you all my shares which are still the controlling shares of Grant Oil. Now tell me about this Olivia."

Fitz smiled and told his grandfather everything he could think of about Olivia, and he said he wanted to meet her over this week they were there, but he was grounded because of what happened.

"Grandpa I want to bring her up here for three days, but I need your help to sneak her up here. If you don't feel comfortable helping me out I understand."

"Nonsense Fitz she is going to be part of your life and I want to see the girl who has lit a fire under my grandson. What do you need me to do?"

"Well Dad took my credit cards so I need yours. I want to put her up at the Main lodge at the resort down the road. Can you make the arrangements? I also need you to be able to get me out of here for at least the three days she's here."

"I've got an idea right now! Just back me up and smile a lot!"

Fitz's Grandfather walked out the room and shouted for everyone to come down to the main living room, he had an announcement!

"I thought I would be the last Grant to run Grant Oil, but I am pleased to announce that my oldest grandson has asked to take the reins of Grant Oil, and I've accepted his offer to join the company. He will start at the offices in Boston when he goes off to school, and he has agreed to pursue his MBA as well as a condition of taking over the company."

Everyone was shocked into silence. You could hear a pin drop. Then his father stands up and goes over and shakes his son's hand and wishes him good luck. Everyone starts to do the same. His grandmother gives him a bear hug and thanked him for easing her husband's concerns for the company's future.

Fitz saw his mother with tears in her eyes and she went outside instead of wishing him good luck. Not the reaction he was expecting. Grandpa Grant tells everyone that he is calling his lawyer's in Houston to have them come out so he can construct Fitz's contract. It might take a couple of days for them to get through everything, so they will stay down the road at the resort. Grandpa doesn't want business to invade the compound, rule one.

Caleb goes up to his Grandpa and asked him what about him? Grandpa assures Caleb that when the time was right Fitz would bring him in the company too. Deal? He shook his grandpa's hand and said deal!

Grandpa gave Fitz a wink and went to the bar to celebrate. Fitz went to find his mother.

She was outside in the cold on the deck. "Mom are you alright?"

"I'm fine!"

"No you're not, your crying."

She looked off into the distance and said, "you were right."

"About?"

"When you said that I didn't see you as a man, but a little boy like Caleb. Well tonight for the first time I saw you as a man. Your own man."

"Does this mean I'm off restriction?"

"Don't push your luck, you still have a month to go buddy." She smiled.

"I was trying my new-found negotiating skill out."

Cecilia reach over and hugged her son and kissed his cheek. "You were born to do this, never let anyone tell you different. Love you and good luck."