Chapter 8
It was Saturday, and Fitz was in Vermont for his donor dinner. Olivia had been working all afternoon. She had been texting the OPA crew all day. Maybe they were actually the QPA crew since Quinn had taken over her crisis management firm when she had left for the White House.
The crew included Quinn Perkins, Abby Whelan, Huck, and Charlie who was engaged to Quinn, and the two of them were expecting a baby. They had all decided to meet at the QPA office for dinner just like old times. They had all spent a many night eating and sleeping there. The crew was Olivia's family. Olivia was a hard person to love and get along with, but they loved her anyway. She loved them too.
Olivia was on the QPA elevator when she got a text from Fitz.
Fitz: Livvie, are you taking it easy?
Olivia: Yes, Fitz. I'm not even at the White House anymore. I'm at QPA to have dinner with the team.
Fitz: No wine, Livvie.
Olivia: I don't need a reminder, dad.
Olivia stepped off the elevator and walked through the doors of QPA. It felt like coming home. She walked towards the conference room and spotted Huck in his office. She called out to him, "Huck, what's up?"
Fitz: I'm not trying to be pushy. I'm just making sure you're ok.
Olivia: I appreciate it, but you need to focus on your tasks there. I'll be here when you get back home. You're coming back tonight?
Olivia was leaning against the conference room table smiling as she texted Fitz. Quinn came out of her office and asked, "What are you smiling at?"
Fitz: Yes. I will be "home" tonight.
Olivia: You know what I mean.
Fitz: Yep, home is wherever you are.
Olivia: Yeah, ok. Whatever you say. Go focus.
Olivia stuffed her phone into her purse.
"Liv?" Quinn was calling her name and snapping her fingers in front of her face.
Focusing on the room she noticed that everyone was there except Abby. Olivia asked, "What is it, Quinn? Where is Abby? Hi, Charlie."
Taking a seat Quinn answered, "Your text must've been very entertaining because you completely zoned out. Abby went to pick up the food. You want wine? I keep the good stuff on hand for you."
Ignoring the comment about her text Olivia said, "No wine. I'll just make myself a cup of tea." She walked into the kitchen and started preparing her tea.
Quinn, Charlie, and Huck all looked at one another. It was weird. Not to make it sound like Liv was an alcoholic, but Liv enjoyed wine, and she very rarely almost never turned it down.
Before anyone could say anything Abby came through the door. Olivia walked back into the conference room with tea in hand. She looked at Abby and said, "Hey, Abby."
Smiling Abby said, "Hi, Liv. I got your favorite."
They all settled at the table as Abby and Charlie distributed everyone's food order.
Liv picked up a piece of asparagus, and bit off half. She asked, "So what's new around here?"
Sipping her drink Quinn said, "I was waiting for you to get here, but you were all engrossed in your text. There is an American citizen missing in Bashran. I think he's one of yours. Can u look into it?"
Taking the file that Quinn handed her she glanced over it. Shit she thought. She would have to get Jake to look into this, but she wasn't speaking to Jake. Not since that day at her apartment. Jake had burned a bridge with her. She wasn't sure that it could ever be repaired.
That was another reason to cut ties with B613. That way she could get Jake out of her life once and for all. For him to try and put doubt in Fitz's mind about the paternity of their child was low. Although it didn't work. Fitz knew that the baby was his. Because Fitz knew she hadn't been with anyone in a while, and because he knew she only had unprotected sex with him.
To Quinn she said, "Do me a favor, drop by the NSA on Monday and give this to Jake. I will email him to let him know to expect you. Don't put it in anyone else's hands but his."
Quinn asked, "I'm sure he'll come by the White House. Do you just want to give it to him?"
Giving Quinn a classic Olivia Pope glare she said, "Take it to him. I have an OB appointment on Monday."
Huck looked at Quinn and smiled. She smiled back at him and then Charlie. It was Abby who said, "Wait. What's happening?"
Smiling Olivia said, "Yes. I'm pregnant. Fitz and I are having a baby."
The room exploded with hugs and congratulations. This was an unusual occasion in the office of QPA. Although they were a close group they weren't exactly an emotionally expressive group.
Huck asked, "Are you going to have a wedding too, Liv?"
The whole room erupted into laughter. That question coming from Huck was hilarious. Huck was even more emotionally unavailable than she was. That was saying something, because she was so closed and impenetrable.
Smiling Liv said, "I don't know, Huck. We haven't discussed it. Actually we only found out about the baby earlier this week, and we are still trying to process things."
The covesation then turned to guessing the sexs of both her and Quinn's baby, and possible names. The mood in QPA was completely peaceful and cheerful for the first time in a long time, if ever.
Later that night well after midnight Olivia sat in her bed on her laptop. She had just drafted an email to Jake letting him know that Quinn would be stopping by on Monday with something he needed to look into. She now stared at the computer trying to decide if she wanted to send it now, or at a later date. She knew that he would call, and she wasn't ready to speak with him. She wasn't sure that she ever would be ready to.
Olivia heard her front door open and close. Fitz was back from Vermont. She closed her laptop and waited for him to enter the bedroom. When he entered she noticed that he looked tired. "Uh oh. Rough night? Did your dinner not go well?"
Fitz started removing his clothes and threw them across the chair that she had in her bedroom. Dropping into bed next to her he said, "It was fine. I kind of got into it with Marcus." He kissed her lips and then her neck pulling at her pajama top.
Olivia sighed and said, "Fitz. Fitz. What are you doing?"
Smiling against her neck Fitz said, "I think you know what I'm doing."
Running her fingers through his curls Olivia said, "Babe, you need to shower."
Still kissing her Fitz said, "Come shower with me."
Shaking her head and pulling his head away from her chest she said, "No, Fitz. I've already showered, and I'm not in the mood to get my hair wet."
Rising out of bed while releasing a loud sigh, Fitz left the bedroom. To Liv her man looked good enough to eat in his white v-neck tshirt and underwear. She could see them married raising their baby. She felt like she needed to make a decision about B613, and quick. She was leaning more and more towards letting it go since she decided to be with Fitz. Now that she was pregnant it really seemed like the smart thing to do.
Fitz returned to the bedroom with his overnight bag. He dropped it on the bench positioned at the foot of her bed. He took something out of the pocket, and walked over to her side of the bed. He said, "I got you something."
Olivia looked at Fitz as he dropped to one knee. Her breath caught in her throat, and tears welled in her eyes. "Olivia my sweet baby. I am overjoyed at the thought of you carrying my sweet baby, but this has nothing to do with that. I've wanted to ask you this forever. However, I wanted to not only to ask you, but I wanted you to want it too. I feel like we are finally in the right place."
Tears ran down Olivia's face. Fitz reached up to wipe them away. Seeing this kind of emotion coming from this woman was so powerful that it took his breath away, and brought tears to his own eyes. "Olivia Carolyn Pope will you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?"
Placing both hands on either side of his face Olivia answered, "I'll think about it."
Fitz was taken aback. That hadn't been the answer he expected especially with her emotional response. Before Fitz could say anything Olivia burst into laughter, and said, "Yes Fitz! Of course I'll marry you!"
Completely overcome with emotion Fitz grabbed her by the waist and buried his face in her stomach and wept. Seeing his emotion made Olivia cry all over again. After a minute he lifted his head and took her lips in a passionate kiss. Olivia matched his passion just as feverently. He broke the kiss and opened the ring box to reveal a three and a half carat princess cut diamond. Olivia smiled at the ring as Fitz slid it on her finger.
Olivia thought to herself that leaving B613 dead was the best decision at this point.
