A/N: Hope you enjoy this update!
*One Month Later*
"Ahhhhh….Fitz baby…" the sound of Olivia moaning as she rode Fitz permeated their bedroom. It was 6:30 on a Monday morning Olivia had woken up feeling extremely horny – thanks to the pregnancy hormone. Seeing that her hunk of a husband was lying beside her she didn't think twice to wake him up to sate her hunger. At first it was shy strokes that graced his manhood; and when the involuntary moans started escaping his lips her hand became bolder in its assault. A short while after, Fitz was awoken to her small hand wrapped around the length of his growing erection. She stared deep into his cerulean blue eyes as she began to move up and down his length. They wasted no time to get each other naked and when they were fully bare, Fitz eased her down onto his manhood. With the linen sheet covering their lower halves Olivia proceeded to rock the boat from on top.
Fitz' hands held on firmly onto her waist as he met her thrust for thrust. They moved in a synchronized rhythm so uniquely theirs. He looked up from beneath her and watched her erect nipples attached to her round mounds bounced up and down with her sensual movements. The first peak of sunlight came through the blinds and a line of sunlight fell across her breasts. She was ethereal and magnificently beautiful.
They moved like this for ten or so minutes before the final cord snapped and allowed each of them to reach a high that was independent from drugs or alcohol. Lying spent on top of his chest, his softening member still embedded inside of her heat allowed her to feel a sense of completion.
Fitz stroked her hair lovingly as he took in the quiet moment before their day started. A few minutes passed with them like this, eventually, Fitz broke their cocoon by softly saying, "Livvie, you have to get ready for work, baby." He glanced at the clock on her nightstand and saw that it was fast approaching 7 AM.
Olivia groaned and rolled off of him. "I don't feel like working today," she whined, sprawled on her back – unashamed of her nakedness.
"If I was a millionaire you wouldn't have to." Fitz chuckled.
"Now that would be nice," Olivia quipped. Taking a deep breath she finally found the courage to roll off her back and head towards the bathroom.
"Check on Jackson," she said over her shoulder before turning on the shower. Since having Fitz at home she didn't have to worry about doing it all and it felt so great. On a typical morning without him she used to have to wake up an hour early to get both her and Jackson ready. Now, on most mornings she only had to worry about getting herself ready. She didn't even have to worry about breakfast as her husband normally fulfilled those needs. Fitz was working a more fixed shift at the Gym. He'd requested the 3-11 shift and had told them that he was going back to school and needed the mornings to do that. Also, this way he was able to look after Jackson in the day while Olivia was at work. Now that she was no longer talking to her mother Jackson no longer stayed at the Popes. That thought made her somewhat sad, it had only been a month but she'd learned to cope with it.
Flashback:
Fitz' POV
Fitz noticed a change in Olivia's attitude the afternoon after she came back from her parents. At first he didn't take it for anything, thinking that maybe her mother had said something that upset her. It wouldn't have been the first time and certainly not the last – he knew that when she was ready she would eventually tell him what other insult her mother hurled at her. However, his disquiet grew as the days went by and his Livvie wasn't her self. He asked her once over breakfast if everything was ok and she assured him that she was. He wasn't fully convinced but he let it go for the time being.
One night when they were tucked into bed she finally broke down in his arms. Fitz stroked her back as her stream of tears soaked his white T-shirt. He didn't know her reason for crying and at the moment he could tell that she wasn't up for explaining the why; but that didn't stop him from offering her comfort. He held her tightly as she cried into his chest, kissing her forehead, her cheeks and temple while whispering, "I love you and it's going to be alright," into her ears. Moments later when her emotions were in check, she finally spoke.
Her voice sounded croaky as she said, "Mom and I aren't speaking with each other anymore."
Fitz puzzled by this was unable to hide the look of shock on his face. "Why? What? What happened?"
"She doesn't respect me, she doesn't respect our relationship and I don't want that kind of toxicity around my family so I cut all ties with her." Olivia stated through her sobs. It wasn't that she regretted her decision but the magnitude of what had transpired between her mother and herself left her shook. How could she go through life without ever speaking to her mother again? The thought made her sleepless at night. She couldn't believe that their semi-dysfunctional relationship had met such a calamitous point.
"Livvie…" Fitz squeezed her tighter in his arms trying to take away the hurt she was feeling. He hated that she had to go through so much pain, especially by the hands of the people who were supposed to love and protect her.
"I'm fine… I'm re… relieved…" She hiccupped. She was far from ok; she was devastated, a part of her felt like she had somewhat failed as a person, because her own flesh and blood couldn't accept her flaws and all. She had grown with the command to "honor your parents" and she wondered if she did at all with the choices she made.
"It's going to be ok." Fitz whispered against her curly hair. "It's going to be ok."
"You're all I have," she told him, holding on tighter to his chest. "You, Jackson and this baby is all I have. You're my family now." Tears were still running profusely down her face, accompanied by her sniffling.
"Yes, we're a family," Fitz assured, rubbing lazy circles onto her back.
When her tears had stopped and her nose sniffling was the only thing that could be heard, Fitz pried her from his chest so that she could face him. Looking deep into her bloodshot eyes, he said, "Livvie, I got you. I promise I'll be here for you always. You're never going to have to do this alone. I'm never going to turn my back on you or our children. I love you so much and I'm sorry that our relationship makes your mother so uncomfortable. I'm sorry that I can't take away the pain you're feeling. If I could I promise you I would do it in a heartbeat, I would take away all of your pains and worries." He held onto her chin so that her gaze was unwavering and her eyes stayed on him.
Olivia gave him a small smile; he didn't know how much his words were like a healing balm to her broken heart. She needed him and she was glad that he was in her corner. Everyone needs somebody to lean on and he was her somebody.
"Thank you, baby, thank you." She said softly.
End of Flashback
For some strange reason after sharing her fallout with her mom Olivia felt a tad bit happier. This was her family now and if she didn't want to be a part of it then she couldn't force her. This was her new normal.
Olivia came out of the bedroom fully dressed in an emerald green sheath dress, paired with opaque leggings and black 2-inch heeled boots. She came upon the scene of her two boys at their small dinner table indulging in breakfast. Both were shirtless and had a case of messy bedhead.
"Good morning, Jackson pooh!" She greeted in a chipper tone.
"Moornin mama," Jackson returned, his eyes never leaving the colorful plastic bowl that held his strawberries.
"No kisses for mommy?" She said, coming to stand in front of his highchair.
"Yessh," he said aloud, finally looking up to give her kisses. He placed a sloppy kiss on her cheek before doing it on her mouth.
"Love you baby," she told him, ruffling his honey brown curls.
"Wuvv you too mama," Jackson returned before resuming his eating.
Fitz gestured towards the placemat that held a cup of what she assumed was tea and a plate of toast with peanut butter on it.
"Mmmm, you know the way to my heart," she said, smiling at him as she took the vacant chair opposite him.
"That I do, Mrs. Grant." Olivia blushed at her new last name. It was still somewhat foreign at school to be called Mrs. Grant or whenever she signed her name with her new signature, nevertheless, it felt great to be associated with him on such an intimate level publicly.
"What are you doing today besides working?" she asked, blowing on the piping hot tea.
"Stopping at the school to get my textbooks, mom asked me to check on a kitchen cabinet door that came unhinged, after that I'll probably take JT to the park to work on his bike riding. That's about all I have planned before work. You need me to do something?"
"No, I think I'm good. I do want to go to the mall sometime though, I need new working pants and the GAP has a sale."
"What happened to your current working pants?" Fitz inquired, sipping on his coffee.
Olivia gave him a look like, don't you dare start on me about shopping.
"If you've forgotten, sweetheart, I'm with child and currently approaching ten weeks, my pants are slowly growing tight. They were already snugged to begin with. So mama needs new trousers, baby." She said the last part with a smirk.
"Ok, and that alone is what you're getting. I don't care if they're running a 90% off sales you're only walking out of there with working pants."
"Right," Olivia acquiesced with a head nod, even though she was secretly taunting him.
"I'm serious, Livvie."
"And I said right." She chuckled, unable to help herself.
Saturday came and the trio found themselves at the local mall. Liv was rummaging through the clearance rack at GAP while Fitz and Jackson stood off to the side watching her. They both wore the same impatient look.
"Pway. I want pway," Jackson said loudly. The sale associate that was refolding some T-shirts a few yards from them smiled at him.
"He's so cute," she gushed.
Fitz smiled politely and said, "thanks."
Olivia came over with four pairs of trousers in tow, one black, grey, a blue one and an olive green looking color.
"Are you going to try them on?" Fitz asked.
"Nope, I don't need to. Two are one size up and the other two are two sizes up."
"Oh okay. Ready to checkout?"
She gave him an impish look and he shook his head no.
"Come one, Fitz!" She pouted. "I want to see what they have in the little boys section."
Fitz groaned and followed her into the toddler section. Twenty minutes later they were finally up at the cash register with more than what they had originally planned to purchase. Asides from the work pants she bought, she got a pair of jeans, two T-shirts and a long sleeve shirt for Jackson and a new denim shirt for Fitz. Luckily, all of the items were on sale and Olivia had already searched the Internet earlier for additional coupons. When their items were scanned, coupon was applied; Fitz swiped his debit card to take care of the charge. They thanked the cashier and went out of the store.
"Where to next?" Fitz asked, as they walked aimlessly. He held the shopping bag in one hand while holding Jackson's hand with the other.
"Pway," Jackson said. He knew that the mall have a play area for kids because he had visited it more than once.
"The prince has spoken let's go pway." Olivia said with a smile, holding onto Jackson's other hand.
"Pushover," Fitz muttered playful, which was reciprocated with an eye roll from Olivia.
The family weaved their way through the other patrons as they made their way to the play area. Once there, Olivia pulled out a to-go packet of Lysol wipes and wiped off the stationery rocking horse.
"Up JT," Olivia prompted the little boy to climb onto the horse.
"Otay," Jackson said as he climbed onto the wooden yellow and red horse.
"You have to hold on tight, buddy." Fitz assisted him by placing his little hands on the handles.
When they were confident he was secure they retired on the bench stationed a few inches away. Olivia took out her smartphone and snapped a picture of him in motion, rocking back and forth on the horse – before turning her camera around to take a picture of her and Fitz.
"Let's take a selfie," she said with a smile.
Fitz scrunched his face at her but obliged her request. With his face pressed against the side of hers they smiled at the camera. Olivia tapped the circular white button once to capture the picture.
"One more." The second picture was of her kissing Fitz on the cheek while he smiled at the camera. Finished with her impromptu photo-shoot, Olivia slipped her phone back into her handbag.
"I'm hungry," she whined. They had only been at the mall for approximately 2 hours, but all the walking left her famished.
"What do you want to eat?" Fitz asked.
"I don't know. What do you want to eat?"
"We can go to that new Chinese restaurant on Pike street."
Olivia upturned her nose at him.
"Ok… I guess that's a no. What do you want to eat then?"
"We can go to Chili's. I'm kinda craving their Texas cheese fries."
"Then Chili's it is." Fitz said, taking her hand in his and giving it a little squeeze. Together they sighed and continued watching Jackson playing merrily on his rocking horse. A few other children played around him but he was in his own world.
"Do you think we should send Jackson to play school?" Olivia asked, leaning her shoulder against Fitz'.
"Why do you think so?"
"He needs children his own age to interact with. I mean he's only around us or my parents – father," she quickly clarified. "And Liz."
"True but he'll be ok staying at home for now. We don't have money for that, we actually need to save more, baby. With the new baby on the way we are running out of space. We need a house for starters and a bigger car to hold all of us."
Olivia nodded her head in agreement. "My last car payment is due next month, we can always trade that in and get a mini van."
"A mini what?" Fitz asked, alarmed.
"A mini van," Olivia repeated, laughing heartily.
"Livvie, please don't do that to me. I can't drive around in a mini van."
"Why not, Grant? It has an engine and four wheels, of course you can."
"Livvie, promise me that you won't have us buy a mini van. We can get a Jeep or a small SUV. Anything but a mini van."
Olivia's laughter prevented her from immediately responding to him. Eventually, she did. "I promise you that I won't emasculate you by having you drive a mini van but… you have to promise me something."
"What's that?" Fitz asked, placing a tender kiss on her temple.
"You have to sell the Hulk."
"What?" Fitz gasped. How could she ask him to sell his baby? He had that car since he was 21.
"Hear me out." She placed her hand on his forearm. "If you sell your car we could use the money along with the savings to make a down payment on a house."
Fitz listened to her reasoning but his heart ached to think of parting with his car.
"Liv…" Fitz groaned.
"Think about it, Fitz. Your car is not even practical for a child much less two."
"I get that, Olivia." Fitz said defensively. It wasn't as simple for him to give up the first major thing he'd bought for himself. That car symbolized a coming to adulthood for him.
Olivia sensing his mood decided to change the topic. "How about we go eat now?"
"Yea," Fitz said dryly, standing to his feet. He picked up the shopping bag at his feet and walked to Jackson.
"Time to go JT."
"No! I pway!"
"Jackson, we have to leave now," Fitz said in a calm voice.
"NO! I pway!" He rebutted, his lips stretched out.
Olivia walked towards them and gestured for Jackson to get into her arms.
"Mama NO! I pway." He shook his head defiantly.
"Sweetheart, we are going to get food. Don't you want food? We'll get the chicken tenders you like." Olivia said, trying to get him to budge. He shook his head no, his honey brown curls moved with his action.
Fitz not having the patience to go back and forth with his toddler decided to pick him up with his free arm. Jackson immediately began screaming and crying as his father walked away with him. Olivia looked around embarrassed as the other families looked at them. She quickly scurried after them as they made their way out the mall.
"Fitz, give him to me." Olivia said when they were outside and Jackson was still crying his eyes out.
"Why? So you can baby him? He needs to listen when we speak."
"Fitz, calm down he just wanted to play longer. He wasn't doing anything wrong." Olivia defended her son; she didn't think it was a big deal that he said no. Eventually, she would have convinced him to stop playing.
"Today it's no, tomorrow it will be something more if we don't put our foot down."
"You're overreacting!" Olivia chided, almost out of breath. She was having a hard time keeping up with his long strides.
"Olivia don't start, I'm not overreacting."
"Yes you are," she hissed. She could only imagine how crazy they looked from the outside. Jackson crying in Fitz' arm while she and Fitz argued as they walked through the parking lot in search of their car. When they got to the car Jackson had stopped his crying and was now hiccupping. Fitz handed him over to Olivia as he opened the car trunk to deposit their shopping bag.
Olivia wiped at her son's tears streaked face and kissed his forehead lovingly. She hated seeing him cry, it tore her heart up. She nuzzled his neck with her nose, knowing that it would tickle him – she did this until he gave her a little laugh.
"That's my boy. Momma will buy you some chicken tenders, ok?"
He gave her a toothy smile and nodded his head yes. "sicken tenda." He repeated his version of chicken tender.
Olivia strapped him into his car seat and gave him a kiss on his cheek before closing the backdoor of the car. She made her way to the passenger side; Fitz was already in the driver seat. As soon as her seatbelt was on he backed out cautiously from the parking lot and headed onto the busy street. The atmosphere in the car was slightly tensed as they made their way to Chili's.
By 4 PM they were walking through the door of the apartment. Olivia was in desperate need of a nap that she was inclined on taking. She headed straight to the master bedroom, leaving Fitz and Jackson to themselves. Father and son had reconciled over chicken tenders so they were back to their old selves. However, on the other hand – Olivia and Fitz still had some tensions between them.
Olivia stripped from the jeans and flowy top she wore, and replaced it with a short baby doll dress that she wore strictly at home. She moved to the bathroom to empty her bladder, afterwards she clambered onto the fluffy queen size bed. Lying on the bed she decided to check her Facebook and update it with the pictures that she took of Jackson and the one with her and Fitz. Signing into her account she scrolled down her timeline to see what her high school and college friends and family had been up to. When she had her fill of scrolling, she posted her pictures and captured it, "Family Day out 3" Before Olivia exited her Facebook app she decided to check on her mother's page to see what she has been up to – which wasn't much since her mother only posted scripture verses and an occasional picture of her and her husband or of Jackson. Olivia typed her name into the search bar and clicked on it once it appeared. Her eyes widen at the sight of the private page. Her mother had un-friended her from Facebook. She never expected that she would go so far to permanently remove her from her life. Olivia sighed and tossed her phone across the bed before forcing her mind to shut off.
Fitz carried Jackson to bed after he'd fallen asleep on the couch while they were watching TV. He then returned to the living room and plopped his bottom on the couch. His mind went back to earlier today and the way he snapped at Olivia when suggested that he sold his car. He understood that she was coming from a place of love and was being financially proactive. This was probably the only way that they could actually acquire money to pay down on a house. However, it was easier said than done. He had to remind himself that it was all a sacrifice, a worthy sacrifice for his family. He pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long sigh fighting the stress that tried to creep up his chest.
Instead of dwelling longer on his problems he opened one of his textbooks that was rested atop the coffee table and began reading from it. Fitz was equally excited as was nervous about going back to school. He was fortunate to get accepted into the University of Central Florida (UCF) and into their Athletic Trainer's program. It was a two years undergraduate program, luckily for him some of his previous classes were credited and he did not have to retake them.
Fitz was so consumed with his reading that he did not hear Olivia enter the room until he felt her weight on the sofa. Before he could acknowledge her presence she was molding her body to his. She rested her head on his chest and her right arm hooked around his waist. He smiled at the feel of her warm body against his and kissed the top of her head.
"I missed you," she mumbled into his chest.
"I'm right here, baby." He released one of his hands from holding the heavy book and wrapped it around her shoulder.
"I know. I just feel like you're upset with me."
"I'm not," Fitz assured. "Just a little grumpy but not upset."
"Are you sure? What about earlier?"
"I'm sorry, I kind of overreacted. But I promise you I'm fine."
"And if you weren't, you would tell me right?"
"Of course," he said, kissing the top of her head again.
A/N: There you have it folks! Things are not necessarily a bed of roses with the Grants but they're trying. What do you think of the chapter? Olivia is trying to move on from the hurt caused by her mother and now Mama Pope haS un-friended her from FB, how childish? You think it's a good compromise or too much for Olivia to ask Fitz to sell his prized possession? Thoughts on the way Fitz handled Jackson when he didn't want to leave and Olivia disagreeing with him? Looking forward to reading your thoughts on this chapter.
Until next time,
XOXO.