As soon as she had showered and properly introduced Fitz to her mother, Olivia took Fitz to the downtown area of the town in which she grew up. They walked hand in hand, and for Olivia she finally understood why all of the girls in high school had wanted a boyfriend. It felt good to have her hand in Fitz's, warm and safe. It felt good to smile shyly at passersby on the street, and feel proud of the man who was beside her. She also found herself incredibly relieved to have him there, despite her attempt to shut him out the night before.

"We can try this diner, or there's a place that opened over the summer that serves crepes and things," Olivia said.

"Doesn't matter to me."

"Diner, then," she said, guiding him across the street and to the place she knew would provide the exact type of comfort food she was seeking.

Before the entered the building, Fitz wrapped her in his arms and hugged her. She was smothered, but in a good way, and she giggled.

"Fitz, oxygen, essential," she said.

He let up just a little and looked at her.

"Why did I ever think I could spend a week without you?" he said wistfully.

She moved some of his curly hair that had grown longer in the last few weeks out of his eyes and smiled.

"I'd say in an attempt to prove your independence to others you mistakenly lumped me in with the group you feel you had to prove something to. And as I've told you many times," she said, standing up on her tip toes to kiss him softly, "I love you just the way you are."

"See, my question was more of a rhetorical, I love you, can't live without you statement. And there you go with a logical answer," he said, kissing her back.

"I love you," she said quietly.

"I know. I love you too. That's," he said, smiling.

"That's why you're here. Come on, let's eat."

They dined on French toast, bacon and strawberry shortcake. Feeling full and happy, the walked back to Olivia's house in content silence. On the porch, she turned to him. She had already filled him in on what she had learned that morning.

"I don't know how this is going to go. I'm sorry if things are a little off. Thank you for being here with me."

"Liv, stop. I would have come even if you hadn't hung up on me last night. I would have come if your dad was a jerk like mine, which he isn't, or if your mom was a pushover, which she isn't, or if your brothers were going to kick my ass, which remains to be seen."

She laughed.

"Then into the gauntlet we go," she said, opening the door and ushering him inside.


The rest of the day was spent watching television, playing Scrabble and relaxing. Fitz let Olivia's dad when at Scrabble. She texted him that he shouldn't have done it, and he responded that he wouldn't go as easy the next time.

They were just deciding on where to go for dinner when there was a knock at the door. Presuming it was at least one of her brothers, Olivia leapt up from her seat and went to the front door. Sure enough, Anthony and Elijah were on the porch, Elijah with his girlfriend of many years.

"Hi guys!" she said, bringing everyone in for a group hug. As they took of their coats and got settled, she introduced everyone to Fitz.

"This is Anthony, who as I mentioned lives here in town and works in the lab with my dad. And Elijah, who lives just across the state line in a cabin in the woods with his lovely girlfriend Erica."

"Rustic chic," Erica said, rolling her eyes. "I said he can study wildlife for two years and then we make a compromise."

"How much more time to go in the chic cabin in the woods?" Fitz asked.

"A year and change," Erica replied.

"Halfway there!" Fitz said with a fist bump, instantly breaking the proverbial ice in the room.

"What about you Fitz? Where do you call home?" Erica asked.

"Yeah, and why aren't you there?" Elijah added.

Olivia hit him in the shoulder, Erica rolled her eyes and Anthony looked to Fitz for his response.

"Great question. I'm from Oklahoma, actually. I grew up on a cattle ranch there. I'm in the middle of negotiations with my parents about what's next for me, stay on the ranch, pursue other opportunities, and everyone agreed it would be better if they didn't take over the Thanksgiving holiday."

Olivia held her poker face. He was clearly prepared for that question.

"When we met, you mentioned graduate school. It seemed like a sure thing. Is that no longer the case?" Caleb Pope asked.

Fitz turned toward Olivia's dad. She said a silent prayer that he had prepared for this question, as well.

"In my mind, I'm going to graduate school just as we had discussed, sir," Fitz began.

"Caleb, please."

"Thank you. But my family isn't thrilled with that decision, and we're working it out."

"You're a senior, right?" Anthony asked.

"Yeah. Just finals and one semester to go."

"Seems like you have to get this sorted out quick then, assuming the grad school process is still the same. If you get in, you'll have to tell them right quick if you want to attend."

"He's going to get in," Olivia said confidently.

"Thanks, Liv," Fitz said, offering her a grateful smile. "And yeah Anthony, you're right. It's coming down to the wire. Which, to go back to the original question, is why I thought it might be better for us all to have some space and then figure things out after the holiday."

The room was quiet for a moment, everyone considering this.

"Fitz, you mentioned earlier that you have a younger sister?" Olivia's mother asked, changing the subject.

"That's right. Heidi. She's a sophomore at Oklahoma. We're close."

"Alright, well, the Fitz inquisition is now over," Olivia said to the laughter of everyone. In truth, they were all a little bit stunned by her confidence. For so long she had been little Olivia, quiet, reserved, watching from the sidelines. Now here she was, introducing the family to her impressive boyfriend and managing it quite well.

"Anyone else in the mood for Mexican? They just opened a new place downtown," Elijah asked.

A consensus was reached and they traveled in two cars to the restaurant. Fitz kept his hand on Olivia's thigh for the entire dinner. Sometimes she would hold his hand, but then he started drawing on her palm and she lost the ability to concentrate. They rode in the backseat of her parents' car after dinner and she had to put her hands in her lap to keep them to herself. She was thinking about how she could get him alone without drawing the attention of her parents.

They spent a little more time reading, and then it was time to call it a night. Fitz was staying in one of her brother's old rooms, just down the hall from her. They got ready for bed in the hallway bathroom then parted with knowing glances to change into their pajamas. When Olivia heard the door to her parents' bedroom click, she slowly crept out of hers and made her way to Fitz's. She quietly entered without knocking.

"You're sneaky. What if your dad checks on you?" he asked, looking up from his book as he sat on the bed with his back resting against the wall.

"Does the pillows made to look like a body under the covers thing really work?" she whispered.

"Here's hoping," he said, and he patted the spot next to him.

She turned off the overhead light, leaving just the lamp on Fitz's bedside table to cast a warm glow over the room, and then sat next to him on the bed.

Without a word, they were immediately kissing. Deeply. They had been politely holding hands and kissing softly for long enough, and couldn't help themselves. She found herself on Fitz's lap, wrapping her body around his and holding his neck in her hands as she tried to taste every last inch of him. His occasional growls and his grip on her back indicated he was feeling just as much need as she was.

They heard the opening of a door, and immediately Olivia was off of his lap and into the closet, which, thankfully, had been cleaned. There was just enough room for her on the floor.

There was a knock at the door. Fitz picked up his book and said, "Come in," trying to calm his body, and his nerves.

"Fitz, hi. I saw your light on and wanted to make sure you had everything you needed," Simone Pope said.

"I do, thanks Mrs. Pope."

"You're welcome. I'm so pleased you're here. And if you speak with Olivia tonight, please let her know that your father is a heavy sleeper and is already out for the count. I'll be listening to my audiobook until I fall asleep."

On the dark floor of the closet, Olivia put her hand over her mouth in embarrassment. There was also a part of her that was happy to have a mom who understood her.

"I'll be sure to tell her," Fitz said. Olivia could tell her was smiling.

"I figured. Good night to you," her mom said, turning and saying it to the room. Olivia knew she was busted.

"Goodnight," Fitz said.

When Olivia heard the door close, she just sat on the floor of the closet, looking up into the hanging clothes and waiting for the mortification to pass. Fitz came over and opened the door.

"That was amazing," he said, laughing.

"That's one way of looking at it," she said, taking his hand and standing up in front of him.

"You were just hiding in the closet. Man, I need to remember this story to tell our kids someday."

Olivia turned her head and looked at him.

"Kids? Like more than one?"

"Hypothetical kids. We could also just have parakeets, or alpacas."

She laughed. "No we cannot have alpacas. I just always pictured myself having one child."

"Why?" he asked.

"I don't know. I think I felt so frustrated the comparisons that I thought it would be easier to just focus all of my attention on one child."

"Make sense," Fitz said thoughtfully.

"Before we continue this interesting discussion," she said, leading him back to the bed, "can we pick up where we left off?"

She slowly took of her tank top and pants, leaving her standing in just her underwear. He shook his head.

"Dammit, Liv. How am I going to do this quietly?" he asked, removing his shirt and walking toward her.

She unbuttoned his pants and whispered in his ear, "I think you're up to the challenge."


Olivia woke up in her bed the following morning feeling an odd mix of emotions. She felt satisfied after spending two hours with Fitz in his room. But she also felt anxious. Yesterday had been a respite from reality, with Fitz's arrival and dinner with her family. But she wanted to talk to her mom and get to a place of understanding before Thanksgiving, and definitely before she had to return to Northwestern on Saturday.

She showered quickly and left her hair in its natural curls and made her way downstairs after finding Fitz's room empty. She found him sitting on the couch reading an article on his iPad. She took a mental picture. She wanted to remember him like this: relaxed, quiet and not thinking about the future. Even if it was just a moment in time.

She kissed him on the cheek, said good morning and made her way into the kitchen.

"Morning, Mom," she said. "Is Dad working today?"

Her mom looked up from the paper. "Yes. He thought he'd go into today and then stay home on Friday."

Olivia nodded.

"Do you want to go out for breakfast, just us?" Olivia asked.

"What about Fitz?"

"He'll be okay. He can have something here, or we can bring him something."

"Are you sure, sweetie?"

"Absolutely."

Fitz understood, and with instructions for how to use the toaster oven he stayed behind as Olivia and her mom headed out for breakfast.


Olivia felt good about the conversation with her mom. She had wanted to understand more about how she was feeling, and how she felt about seeking help. And she had wanted those answers without her dad standing over her shoulder. Her mom seemed to be in a good place. Therapy had been helping, and she seemed genuinely excited about getting away to Texas for inpatient treatment. In some ways, Olivia didn't blame her. She loved her dad, but he was overbearing, and loud, and always had an opinion. It was why she chose Northwestern in the first place.

Walking back into the house, she expected to see Fitz in his chair with his iPad and was surprised when she didn't.

"I'm going to check upstairs," Olivia said, when she didn't see a note in the kitchen.

"Sounds good. Love you, sweetie," her mom said, giving her a quick hug.

"Love you too, Mom," Olivia said.

Olivia skipped up the stairs and found Fitz's door almost closed. She knocked lightly and heard him give permission for her to come in, but just barely.

She found him laying on the bed, facing the wall. His phone was on the other side of the room, the battery lying separately, presumably from the impact with the wall.

"Fitz?" she said, laying next to him and putting one arm around his waist. "Do you want to talk?"

There was only silence.

"Okay, well, I'm just going to lay here. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, pulling her hand up toward his face and kissing it, but still offering no explanation for his mood and his demolished cell phone.

Olivia wasn't sure when she fell asleep, or for how long, but she woke up to Fitz rolling over and facing her. They resituated themselves so that his arm was her headrest and she looked at him and waited.

"Your mom was just here," he said quietly.

"Naps are allowed," she said.

"I love it here," he said, kissing her. "Anything goes in the Pope house."

She rolled her eyes. "I think my mom is thrilled I found someone worthy, and my dad is shocked I fell for someone with a brain."

"That's the thing," he said, looking down. "I'm not, I don't feel," he said, looking at her again.

"What is it?"

"I don't feel worthy. I don't feel like I deserve to be treated so kindly by your family. And I certainly don't deserve to have someone so beautiful, and understanding, and witty, in my arms telling me she loves me."

Olivia shook her head vehemently, but Fitz didn't give her a chance to respond.

"My own family, they're so disappointed. And you know what? I am being selfish. I am absolutely being selfish. That's a fact. I'm choosing what I want over what is best for them. And then here I am, reading and relaxing and making love when they're miserable. I was so set on my goals, and convinced I would achieve them at any cost, and now I'm floundering. So I'm either selfish, or I'm a pushover, and either scenario is infuriating."

He took a breath as if there was more to say, but Olivia felt the urge to get a word in. She softly put her fingers over his lips. He nodded, giving her the opportunity.

"I can't tell you that you aren't being selfish," she said, sitting up and helping him do the same. They were sitting next to each other with their backs against the headboard.

"But," Olivia continued, "the use of that word sounds so negative. In reality, you are continuing on the path you have chosen for yourself, and one that you have explained to your family many times. I understand why it hurts. You're hurting them, and there's no getting around that. It sucks. But don't put all of it on your shoulders. Your dad was unreasonable. I'm sorry, but he was. Who gives their son an ultimatum like that? That you are even considering it makes you a good man. A great man."

"Stop it, Liv. Don't sugarcoat this."

"I'm not. I'm not at all. You are a wonderful man. You care about people. You are kind. Smart. You have so much to give. That you want to give it to students as a professor is admirable, not disappointing. I know you can't change your father's mind, but I wish he would give you the chance. I wish he would listen to you discuss Longfellow, or ask to read some of your writing. Because he doesn't know the real you. He doesn't. And that's sad and a shame, because if he did, he wouldn't have put you in this position."

Fitz looked at her.

"Have you considered law school?"

They both laughed. It felt good. Olivia was glad to see his smile.

"I will tell you every day that you deserve it all, but I shouldn't have to. And in fact, I take it back, I won't tell you. You just have to believe it."

"I'm trying. But as my sister describes the ranch being cleaned, things being sold," he trailed off.

"That was not your decision. It wasn't."

"I know."

"I don't think you do," she said.

"Somewhere I do. But right now, it feels like it was." He sighed helplessly.

"I know. But you have to accept it."

"It's not that easy, Liv."

"I know. I know that. But what other choice do you have?"

He looked at her. "I can move home. Take over."

She was stunned.

"You would do that?"

"I didn't think so. But it's really happening, and my dad isn't backing down, and it's all a mess."

"If you would really give up, then you aren't who I thought you were."

It sounded harsher than she meant it.

"I've been trying to tell you! I'm not! I'm weak, Liv. I'm not good enough for this, for you. You're right."

"No, Fitz, no."

"Yes. You can't even conceive of the idea that I might change my mind, that I might have a soft spot for my family. You have expectations, and when I flounder, you give a great speech, but leave no room for compromise. That's a lot of pressure."

"I pressure you?" Olivia asked.

"That's not," he put his head in his hands. "Not overtly. But you expect me to be this person, and I'm realizing, I've realized, that maybe I'm not."

"But you are!" she said.

"This is what I mean. Unwavering support, but only if I do what you think I should do."

"No," she said. "No. Unwavering support when I know what you want to do but are being pulled in a different direction by your family. "

"It's more complicated than that."

She wanted to say she disagreed, but she already felt like this conversation was on the verge of being out of control.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"What will you do if I change my mind? If I decide to move home after graduation?"

She turned to look at him. He was serious. She was stunned. She had no response.

"Got it," he said, sliding off of the bed.

"Fitz, come on. I was thinking."

"No, Olivia," he said, using her full name. "You always have a thought. You rarely need time to process. So out with it."

"I will support whatever decision you make. I love you."

He shook his head.

"You don't believe me?" she said, standing up.

"I believe you. But be honest. You'll love me a little less for it, right?"

She slapped him. It was the only thing her body would let her do.

"How dare you say that about me! Who do you think I am? Have my words, my actions, have they meant nothing?"

"I deserved that. But you didn't answer my question."

"Fitz, I will love you forever. No matter who you are, or what you do."

"Not the question."

"What?" she asked, suddenly exhausted.

"I proposed that you would love me less if I go back on my plan and go back to Oklahoma. I'm still me, and you love me, but you'll always think I did the wrong thing."

"That isn't fair, Fitz. You set me up. I was speaking from the heart, supporting you, and now you're using my words against me."

"Still, not answering the question."

She stared at him. This wasn't the Fitz she had fallen in love with. Sure, he was nervous around new people. And despite his intelligence he didn't always say the right things at the right time. But he was also strong in his convictions. Until now.

"I'm not having this conversation. Not in Elijah's old bedroom on the day before Thanksgiving."

"Sorry to tell you, Liv, we just had it." He turned and started packing up his duffle bag.

"What the hell are you doing?" she asked.

"I'm heading home. To Oklahoma, not Chicago. I need to see them. I'm sorry."

Tears sprang to her eyes. She couldn't have stopped them if she tried. She said nothing.

"We can talk on Sunday. Or sooner. But I should get going. I want to thank your mom, and the next flight is in two hours."

She shook her head.

"This isn't right. I love you."

"I love you too. More than anything."

"Really?" she said, wiping the tears. "Doesn't seem like it."

And with that, she walked out of the room and into hers, closing the door behind her. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. She slowly opened it.

"My cab is here. I thanked your mom and sent your dad an e-mail."

She just nodded slowly.

"Please say something."

"I love you," she said, in almost a whisper. "Please travel safely."

He looked at her with his head titled slightly, as if he had been expecting more.

"I love you too. I'm sorry if I made you doubt that. That was never my intention. And I'm sorry for leaving like this. I just need to sort it out."

She nodded again.

"See you Sunday?" he said, putting his bag over his shoulder.

She kissed him on the cheek.

"See you Sunday."

She didn't walk him to the front door. Instead she watched from her upstairs window as he looked back at the house once before getting into the backseat of the cab and going away. Toward the airport, toward home, toward an uncertain future. For him, for Olivia and for them as a couple.