"Uh Fitz, baby breathe." Olivia said after silence met the two word bomb she just dropped.
"We're going to have a baby?" he asked in wonder grinning widely.
"Yeah Baby,"
"Wow!" Liv smiled as she heard the excitement in his voice.
"So you're okay with this? I know it's bad timing and our situation is not ideal…"
"Hey, I am more than okay with this. Do you know how long I've wanted to get you pregnant?"
"Funny funny man Fitzgerald."
"I'm not kidding Liv. Our set up may not be ideal, but it's not going to stay like this forever. I love you. I love our little peanut already, and what a miracle they are after everything. We will be a family. You, Me, our little peanut, Gerry and Karen.
"You make it sound so simple."
"Because it is. You love me and I love you. We want to be together, we're adults, we can do this. Trust me."
"I do." She promised.
Not long after they finally got off the phone, Ellie and her parents had walked in with food and other treats for her. They saw that she was tired and had left early so that she could get some rest. The day's events had taken their toll and she fell straight to sleep after their departure.
Olivia awoke to arms wrapping themselves around her protectively. She smiled when the hand hovered over her stomach. Fitz had spooned himself behind her on the bed.
"Sneak out of your cage again I see." She teased cupping his face with her hand as she turned her head so that she could look up at him.
"I needed to see my girls." He said dropping a kiss to her nose. Olivia laughed,
"Convinced it's a girl?"
"Going with my gut."
"I'm so glad you came back," she murmured turning around so that she was facing him. Fitz tightened his already firm grip around her as she snuggled closer to him. Fitz could see that thoughts were flying around in her head and she was trying to make sense of it in there.
"Wanna bounce it off?" he offered.
"It's been a big few days. My mind is just catching up." She answered rubbing her nose on his shirt warming it up. She missed his smell. He took her face in his hands and kissed her lips softly. Olivia ran her fingers through his hair as she deepened their kiss. Moaning with pleasure Fitz's hand found themselves trailing underneath her hospital gown, senses heightened Olivia arched into his touch needing him as much as he needed her.
"We probably shouldn't do this here." Fitz said between kisses.
"Since when did you have location preferences? This from a man who took me on the Oval Office." She replied as she bit his earlobe which she knew drove him insane.
"I don't want to hurt you. You're still all bandaged up." He reasoned, his resolve fading fast as she managed to undo the buttons of his pants. She ran her fingers softly against him and felt him react immediately,
"Really, you want to stop right now?" she said tilting her head to the side, her fingers absently stroked him, Fitz groaned and took her in his mouth again, hungrily, desperately. Trying to be as gentle as possible, he hovered over her, kissing her neck and then her lips, he looked right into her eyes as he positioned himself to enter. Olivia lifted her head to kiss him, and as she did she felt him consume her and she let out a quiet groan burying her mouth into his shoulder to muffle the sound that came out of her.
"I love you Liv," Fitz said as he held her tightly,
"I love you too Fitz," she murmured.
Fitz always found it hard to say goodbye to Olivia, and that night was no exception. He had spent the last few hours with her content in his arms. He watched her sleep, and for the first time in a long time, he could see that she was at peace. Every so often he found himself just tightening his hold of her, he had come so close to losing her, and he couldn't imagine his life, if he had. It made him more determined to make sure that everything was settled so that they could move on with their lives together. That's what was most important to him and to his family.
When it was time to go he hated to wake her, but knew she would be more upset if he left without saying goodbye. He caressed her face coaxing her out of her sleep. Olivia stirred refusing to open her eyes and only hugged him harder, she knew what was coming.
"Sorry Baby, I have to go."
"Then go." She said not loosening her grip around him.
"Cute Liv," he said with a smile. Olivia sighed loudly and unwrapped herself from around him. The moment she did Fitz felt her absence immediately, not liking that feeling at all.
"I thought you had to go." Olivia said somewhat amused when his arms found themselves around her again. Fitz sighed cursing his life of presidency.
"Go, I'm not going anywhere. Go back to your people." She said reassuring him,
"You call me the moment you talk to the Doctor this morning."
"Of course. Now go before the press core starts to gather."
"I love you."
"Yeah yeah so you keep saying. Lucky for you the feeling is mutual."
"Bye Baby," he said kissing her goodbye before pulling the blanket up to her shoulders tucking her in.
"Bye." She replied with a yawn,
"Love you too."
Fitz who was surprisingly full of energy had arrived back at the residence just in time for Gerry's morning run and decided to join him after convincing Gerry to slow his pace.
"Not bad old man." Gerry said as Fitz kept up with him.
"Thank you I think."
"How's Liv?" Gerry asked knowing that his father had spent the rest of the night at the hospital after he had put Karen to bed and said his goodnight to him.
"Better. The doctor thinks she's well enough to sustain the surgery she needs to have."
"But you're worried."
"I always worry, but yes I am. After everything, we finally have a shot, and what if I lose her on that table." Fitz confessed, he not only ran the risk of losing her, but their baby as well. He already loved his little peanut.
"Dad, this is Liv who with the exception of you is the most stubborn person in the world."
"You're rather brave when she's not around." Fitz teased knowing Gerry would never call Olivia stubborn to her face.
"I may be silly, but I'm not stupid," Was Gerry's reply.
When they arrived back at the residence, both of them pounced on Karen to wake her up for breakfast. Fitz had thrown her over his shoulder and the three of them made their way down to the kitchen.
"Who wants what for breakfast?"
"Pancakes, your pancakes Daddy. " Karen demanded as he deposited her into one of the chairs at the breakfast bar.
"How about you sport?"
"Your pancakes sound good."
"Pancakes it is then. Jose, you can have the morning off."
"Thank you Mr President." Jose said excusing himself out of the kitchen to leave the Grant's to their own devices. Fitz liked to cook, and tried to make breakfast with the kids every Sunday therefore he was quite familiar with the White House kitchen. They were having a somewhat rowdy breakfast when Mellie came down to the kitchen.
"Hey Mel, you want some pancakes? I put some aside for you." Fitz asked.
"Daddy's pancakes on a week day, that's special. Sure thanks Fitz." Fitz nodded and took the pancakes he had put in the warmer for her out. The four of them ate breakfast in semi silence, when only moments before Mellie came the three of them were engaged in the beginnings of a food fight. It was not a surprise that Fitz was closer to his kids. From the moment Gerry was born, he was hands on. He was Daddy's pride and joy, and when Karen came along, she filled his heart in a different way and she was Daddy's girl through and through.
Fitz new that it wasn't entirely Mellie's fault that she felt estranged from her own children. Maternal instincts never came naturally and perhaps that was because her own mother had been cold. It didn't mean she didn't love their children, he knew she did, but she just didn't know how to relate to them.
"Dad, Kare and I will clean up if you want to head on up and get ready for your day." Gerry said looking at the time.
"Ah, you're right I should get going. Thanks Sport. I'm in the Oval all day today if anyone needs me." He ruffled Gerry's hair as he passed him and kissed the side of Karen's head before heading upstairs.
When Fitz got out of the shower and was getting dressed, he found Mellie on the chaise lounge waiting for him. She placed the divorce papers he had drawn up for them on the coffee table,
"I've signed them." Fitz stopped doing his tie and looked at her,
"Thank you." He said gratefully.
"You're right, we both deserve better than this. Listen Fitz, I'm pregnant." Knowing that it couldn't possibly be his, he walked over to her and sat on the coffee table and placed a hand on her hands that rested on her lap. While Liv's reaction to her pregnancy was fear, there was no doubt that she was happy, looking at Mellie, he knew it was the last thing she wanted and she was far from happy.
"What are you going to do Mel?"
"Simon wants to get married."
"What do you want?" he asked,
"I don't know. You and I both know we never had that 'can't eat, can't sleep, over the ball park' kind of love, we went along with it because, well it made sense, at least to our parents who'd been planning our marriage since we were born. Simon, I think I love him Fitz. Not the way you and Liv love each other, but closer than I ever felt possible or imagine."
"Then go for it."
"I don't want to be the one to tank you second term."
"Mel, I think I got that covered without you. You have made enough sacrifices for me and my presidency. Don't think for a moment I've forgotten that, or not appreciated it. I do. So if you have a chance at a happy ending, then go for it. You not only have my blessing, but my support. I'm happy to help any which way I can."
"Thank you Fitz."
"We need to talk to the kids."
By the time Fitz got to the Oval Office his private line was ringing, smiling to himself he jumped for the phone.
"Miss me already?"
"Always, but I just called to say thank you for my pancakes." Fitz had made a batch specifically for her and asked Tom to deliver it.
"You're welcome. I made it for the kids this morning and thought my girls could use it."
"You're so going to eat your words if peanut here turns out to be a boy."
"I don't care, as long as they're healthy.'
