AN: Once again thanks a million for all the follows, favs, and reviews. It really makes me happy to know that you found something here in my words that you liked because I really have fun writing this most of the time. This one was just a little bit hard for me because there isn't a lot of Olitz but I needed to introduce a few people for the story's sake. But don't worry next chapter is filled with Olitz and a little Abbison.
Chapter 10
The combination of loud knocking, a ringing doorbell, and her name being called repeatedly roused Olivia from her nap. After landing in New York she immediately placed calls to Fitz and Abby and assured them of her safety before coming home and falling into a deep sleep. Although she'd been experiencing the warning signs of fatigue for a while, it didn't register for her how extreme it ran until she was alone and without stimulation of any kind. She tried readjusting to her space and unpacking her bag but she only got as far as unzipping it before she dozed off.
Groaning as she placed a hand at her head, she glanced at her alarm with a pout and realized she had been out of it for a few hours. When the noise at her door continued on incessantly, she slowly and regretfully rolled out of bed with high hopes of making it stop. But upon peering through her door's peephole and seeing Abby's sour expression glaring in her direction she knew that rest was a thing of the past for her. So after a succession of quick breaths she flung open her door.
"Abigail, how are you? Come in."
"Really, Liv? That's all I get?"
"When you haven't even crossed the threshold to my apartment, yet? Yes."
Olivia turned on her heel and sauntered into the kitchen as the hem of her robe swept along the floor. She opened the refrigerator and sadly noted the need for a trip to the grocer's before she grabbed two bottles of water and returned to her friend. "Here," she extended a drink to Abby.
Already tired of standing at a stalemate, Olivia sat down and with a wave of her hand motioned for Abby to do the same. As she took her time in doing so, Olivia drank from her bottle and eyed the woman. "You lied to me, Liv. We are best friends and we don't lie to each other, but you did. You broke the rule."
"I know. You're right. I'm sorry."
"That's all?"
"Well a do over is impossible isn't it? Look, I made a judgment call. One that upset you and I'm sorry for that. But the only thing I can do is apologize. Now the question is, do you accept?"
"I guess," Abby murmured, studying Olivia with a hawk like gaze. "But what the hell? Literally, what the hell? What's going on with you?"
"I told you, I met someone. Someone I felt it was time to spend time with. But since it's very new, so new, that I wasn't sure it would amount to anything past the weekend, I didn't feel the need to broadcast it. "
"Okay. Wow. Can you just tell me why we need coded explanations and the highest level of secrecy to talk about personal things all of a sudden? I thought sharing our private lives is what made us friends. Do I need to apply for a clearance before speaking to you again? Seriously Liv, you've never been this guarded or careless before. Hiding your whereabouts and running off with unknowns. What gives?"
Abby took a break from her interrogation as she looked to Olivia and then their surroundings. She found more than a few bouquets strategically placed in the room and recognizing the unusual choice, suspicions started to gnaw at her. "I must be losing my flipping mind because it can't be. Tell me you recently became a part time florist specializing in one particular arrangement or otherwise..." she chuckled. "Because there's no way. You can't be. Are you-?"
"I spent my weekend in Vermont with Fitzgerald Grant and you can't breathe a word of it to another living soul or I swear Abigail Whelan."
The juicy revelation enough to take the woman's breath away, Abby dropped her bottle on the coffee table and flopped back onto the couch. "Oh boy," she sighed.
"Abs..."
She held out a hand to stop her, to test the words on her lips. "Fitzgerald Grant? As in married former Republican POTUS Fitzgerald Grant?"
"Divorcing Fitzgerald Grant, Abby. He's getting divorced."
"Damn, Liv. I mean even I saw the spark when we were at his place, but damn. This is insane. I gotta hand it to the guy, he moves fast. He obviously didn't waste anytime once he got you in his line of sight. And you, when you recover from a drought you do it with the entire Atlantic; the freaking president for God's sake?"
"Former president. A former president in the midst of an antagonistic divorce, hence the secrecy."
"Oh Liv, honey. Are you sure you want to do this? To put yourself in the cross hair of some pissed off Republicans? You know how much they love weapons. Maybe you should have held off on diving into this thing."
"Maybe a smarter person or saner person would have. But there's just something about him...I just couldn't wait for everything to smooth itself out any longer. I tried holding out, I did, even though the both of us felt the connection from the jump. I mean we hit it off so well and we had been communicating for a while so I had to go to him to see for myself.
"So what did you find?"
She got a faraway look in her eyes and a smile played at her lips as memories flashed. "Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III is a remarkable man."
"Who is apparently half vampire," Abby's gaze fixed on Olivia's neck and the exposed areas of her chest. "Good thing you've got a friend with access to the best makeup in the world. Even though I'm not sure if it'll even stand a chance against all that you've got going on there. But don't fret because we'll have Tab dress you in high collared blouses and sweater dresses to be on the safe side. I guess we can thank God for the cooler weather, huh?"
Olivia's face flushed at the amount of amusement Abby expressed at her predicament, from her laughing eyes to a Cheshire grin that seemed to compounded by the strength of steroids. "Is there something else you wanted to add, Abby?"
"I'm just curious. POTUS is like half man half beast, isn't he? You don't have to be shy, you can tell me."
"Abs, if there ever came a day when I decided to share something so private I am still 100 percent certain that you wouldn't be able to handle the truth."
"Then how about you just try me now?" she smirked. "That way we'll find out together."
Standing at the bottom of the stairs with his arms crossed, Fitz watched helplessly as Karen stomped her way to the second floor of the house with her chestnut French braid swinging behind her. Determined to catch up to her before she disappeared and locked herself away, he made a move to follow her but Gerry stopped him.
"Just give her a little while to calm down, Dad. Being back in California with Mom was a complete culture shock. It was like the worst weekend ever."
His hands flexed as he entertained thoughts of wrapping them around Mellie's neck. "I'm sorry, son. I thought that your mother would at least make an effort since she's the one who raised the issue of visitation."
"Dad, Karen and I aren't stupid. We're old enough to see what's going on here. She only started making a big deal about visits once you filed for divorce. And since she's mad about it, she wants the rest of us miserable right along with her."
Impressed with the sixteen year old's insight, Fitz beamed with pride at his near spitting image. "And did you share this observation with your sister?"
Gerry shrugged. "I did. But she's still taking it hard because you know, they're both girls. I guess she thought once some real decisions got made, Mom would focus on being a parent like you have. That maybe they would bond. But it's like she's gotten a million times worse. She wants us to do an interview with her like we did with you and Olivia Pope. And she was also talking about giving the go ahead on a documentary about her life from growing up in North Carolina up until now."
"Oh was she?"
"Uh huh," Gerry replied with a nod, absently checking his watch at the same time. "Why don't I go see if Karen's up to talking about it with me. And while I'm up there, I'll put in a good word for ya, okay?"
"Um, I can deal with that I guess. That'll give me time to start on something for dinner..."
"Better yet, how about you let me go into town and grab a few pizzas?"
Fitz narrowed his eyes. "I'm not so sure about that. You've done a lot of traveling these past few days. I don't know if it's so wise to take all that time driving back and forth again not to mention you've got school tomorrow on top of all that."
"Well, what if Tom drives? And I'll ask Karen to come along too. Maybe it'll help get her mind off things, make her feel better. Come on, Dad, I promise we won't be gone long."
"So you're all alone once again in that big ole house, huh?" Olivia asked.
After sharing takeout and more talk time with Abby in her living room, she freshened up and initiated a video call with Fitz in lieu of sitting on her sofa thinking about him and wondering what he was doing. When he appeared onscreen she could tell from his expression that he was pleased with her idea.
For him, the truth of the matter was, after fuming over Mellie's machinations and his children's reactions to it, seeing her face and hearing her voice was just what he needed. He let out a deep breath and sighed dramatically. "Looks like it. They weren't even home 30 minutes before they were right back out the door. Gerry volunteered to go get something to eat to avoid my cooking, but what he wanted more than pizza or my tilapia was Becca."
"So he has a girlfriend? How sweet."
"He thinks I don't know. How could he think something like that would escape my attention when he's guarded every second of his life?"
"He's a kid, Fitz. It's probably just wishful thinking on his part. You remember how it was at that age, don't you? How you just wanted one little thing of your very own without having to share it with anybody else in the world."
"Mm, I know that feeling now," he replied, his voice dropping even lower. "It already feels so different without you here."
"Please don't say that, it was hard enough leaving. Tomorrow's an upbeat day at work so I need to be in an upbeat mindset and I won't be if you keep talking like that. I mean with discussions on fall fashion, family fall activities, and a sit down with Lucas Starr to talk about his new movie that's premiering this week the people are expecting pep with their coffee and doughnuts."
"Oh, well, but of course. All of that sounds very interesting."
"Is there something else you wanted to say?" she wondered, detecting a hint of disapproval in his tone.
"It's just that I remember that Lucas Starr character from one of the State Dinners a few years ago. He has a reputation for being a ladies man so be careful."
The corners of her mouth twitched with recognition. "There's no need to be worry, Fitz, really. I've been doing this long enough to know how to handle the unwanted advances when they arise, if they arise."
"So do you really get hit on, like a lot?"
"Well, you were interested enough to pursue me weren't you?"
He groaned at the seductive smirk on her face. "Olivia..."
"Yes, sometimes I get approached. Very rarely have I accepted an invitation from someone I've worked with or interviewed. The job isn't about the famous faces and possible connections for me. I do it because I love reporting, I do it because I want to be recognized for my passion for it. I love having the truth and informing others of what's going on in our world, whether it be the evils or the miraculous."
"And you do it very well."
"Thank you very much for noticing," she smiled before turning serious. "I hope you know that what I did with you this weekend, what we've been doing this last month or so is not the norm for me. You are the first somebody in a long time and even though it's just starting I take it very seriously. When I'm with you I'm with you and nobody else."
"The same goes for me. Even with the dysfunction that was my marriage there was never anyone else until you came along."
"I remember you telling me that before, I believe you. But speaking of dysfunction, didn't you say that Karen was disappointed with how things went with her mother?"
"Yeah but she perked up by the time they left. I guess my boy does know what he's talking about. And I have to say that it made me feel better too. I can't even begin to tell you the guilt I was starting to feel from having the best weekend of my life while they were so unhappy."
"I know you felt that way because you love them and you're a great dad, but I really don't think they would begrudge you any happiness."
"Maybe not in the long run. But now, while this divorce keeps us all in limbo because of Mellie's vindictive tactics? I can't say for certain just how happy they'd be with me."
"You know everything is going to work out eventually, right? I truly believe that."
"You do?"
"I do." She said in a way that left no room for doubt. "It has to because I've said so."
He laughed at the playful confidence in her tone. "Well since you've spoken and all, then it just has to be true," he agreed. "I think I like this bossy side of you."
"That's good to know." Her eyes lingered on him. "Very handy information to file away for a later date. It's just too bad I can't use it as leverage sooner rather than later."
"So I take it you haven't changed your mind about your weekend plans then?"
There was a bit of hope in his voice that she had to quickly shake off before she found herself in Vermont for the second weekend in a row. She was finding the ability to be swayed by the slightest cue from him a little careless on her part. It also concerned her and made her wonder just how far she would be willing to take their relationship once a significant amount of time had been invested.
"Olivia..."
"Sorry. This weekend is still Virginia or bust for me. I just know Mom's antennas are sitting straight up on her head trying to figure out what was so important for me to leave town and not spend free time with her."
"And just what are you going to tell her?"
"I've almost mastered the art of evading when it comes to her, so nothing. I'll keep it magnificently superficial and just let her feed me and show me off to friends. We'll shop and maybe catch a movie. And when it's time to get all philosophical and transparent, I'll just gently steer the conversation to her. She loves to talk about herself."
"Okay, so it seems like I don't have to worry about you then."
"Please do. Worry, pray and everything else you can think of. I can only take her in the smallest of doses so I need you sending positive vibes my way. Hopefully it will make the time with her go by even faster."
"If all of that means getting you back to me quicker, then consider it done."
As she got closer to her destination, Olivia could pinpoint the difference in her emotions from last weekend to her present one. Traveling to Vermont she was a bundle of hormones filled with nervous anticipation, intrigued by the idea of time alone with Fitz. But knowing she would be in Virginia soon enough left her feeling nothing but dread and a sense of obligation. However one stop, which had been a lifeline for as long as she could remember, would help alleviate most of the apprehension plaguing her.
She pulled up to the brick house flanked by automobiles and gripped the steering wheel well after she had placed her rental car in park. As she sat, various childhood memories bombarded her; from dressing for recitals and plays, Sunday dinners after church service, getting help with homework or perfecting a topic for debate. Almost everything she experienced, the defining moments of her life, began in the moderate sized D.C. home.
The moments were ones that kept her grounded, the ones that always made her feel loved and comforted and just a little sad. Because however lovely the picture, instead of being molded and encouraged by her mother and father it was her grandparents, Janice and Jeffrey Lewis who had provided her with the stability and nurturing she needed. The high school teacher and retired military Colonel had stepped up and made Olivia their life's mission when her parents fell short. Overwhelmed with gratitude all over again for all they had done and determined not to stew in the disappointment of her parents' neglect and selfishness she exited the vehicle and walked up the cobblestone driveway.
She could hear the noise before she even made it to the door, the boisterous atmosphere enveloping her and warming her from the inside out. Strong, booming voices and laughter mingled with the occasional slamming of hands and she could only smile at the familiarity of it all. Pondering if she even had the energy to join in, her thought was interrupted before she had the chance to debate with herself or make her surprise entrance when the door was thrown open and she was pulled into a loving embrace.
"Livvie!"
"Grammie J," Olivia whispered and kissed the petite woman's ear as she held onto her for dear life.
After ending the hug the older woman took a step back and observed her granddaughter with sharp almond eyes, approving of what she saw. "Glad to see the Big Apple is still agreeing with you, Livvie. It makes me happy to know that it isn't just the camera playing tricks on us."
"No, ma'am," she shook her head. "Even though the pace is crazy sometimes I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm still loving every minute of it."
"Well the second you aren't, you know where home is," she smiled as the night air danced on her bronzed skin. "Come on in, it's getting chilly out even if you are dressed for it. Nice sweater, sweetheart."
Olivia looked down at the Houndstooth turtleneck sweater she had paired with her leather pants and thanked the heavens that the weather continued to correspond with her wardrobe choices so there was no need to answer questions about her attire.
"Where's Poppy?" Her voice instinctively rose to counter the sound of raised voices and the television as she entered the home. She nodded at the few whose gazes connected with hers as she was lead past the dining room table and its occupants, most of whom were still immersed in the card game and not her unexpected presence.
"Hmm, we are two hours into Bid Whist which means he's had enough of losing. He should be camped out in the kitchen by now, overseeing everything so he doesn't feel completely useless in his own home. Jeff, we've got more company!"
Nothing but long limbs and wavy dark hair, they found the slender man standing guard over the buffet server. But he quickly turned when he heard his name called. When he saw Olivia appear, he was in front of her in two long strides, lifting her into the air and twirling her as he called her by the nickname he had given her when she was little. Wrapped in his arms in that particular moment, childhood came rushing back to her once again and she allowed the feeling of security sweep over her.
"I thought we weren't seeing you until the holidays, Livvie. What changed?"
"Mom." she answered simply and continued on in spite of the matching scowls they wore. "Everything's okay. At least I believe it is. She came to the city while I was out of town last week so now I'm here. And I decided to drop in on you guys before going to see her."
"Well that's progress," Janice said but refrained from commenting on Olivia tugging on the hem of her sweater; a nervous tick that had formed at a very young age. "I'm really proud of you, Livvie."
"Thanks," she replied before taking a seat at the kitchen table. "I forgot that this was the Friday of the month. I don't want to keep you from your guests."
"Please," Janice waved her hand and scoffed. "All of the years that we've been doing this they pretty much just let themselves in and have at it anyway. They're so used to it, they'd probably do it whether we were home or not."
The group of friends from church had been gathering at the Lewis home once a month for food and fun since Olivia was a teen and they were still as enthusiastic about the ritual as if it was the first get together ever.
"Are you hungry, Livvie?"
"Don't ask her, Jeff, just fix the child a plate. She's worked as well as drove down all in the same day so she needs the fuel. And when she's finished she can go to her room and rest."
"Do I look that tired?" Olivia's head swung in her grandmother's direction, genuinely curious.
"No, not really. Not physically anyway, but I know she drains you."
"Her idea of parenting makes me feel like I'm suffocating. Like she's literally smothering me."
"I think she's doing the best that she knows how to do, sweetheart." The woman took Olivia's hand in hers and squeezed.
"And who knows, maybe if she had parented for longer than her only child's birth she might have had it down pat by now."
"Livvie..."
"Sorry Pop Pop." She apologized and accepted the plate loaded with food. "But she saddled you with her kid after her divorce while she flitted around the world from crusade to crusade and man to man and then decides she wants to swoop in and mother an adult. Who does that? And more importantly, how could you not wring her neck for doing it to you? Treating you and our bond like it's no biggie. Like you only babysat me for a weekend while she was out of town on business."
"Everything you feel you have a right to. Believe me, we have our moments. But at the end of the day she's our daughter and we love her. And no matter what was done she's always going to be your mom. You have to forgive her for your well being, your peace of mind, Livvie."
"I know and I try. But sometimes it feels like I'm banging my head up against a brick wall."
"When it gets that bad just take a step back and breathe. That means you're trying too hard. Now, I'm not excusing her because Maya was always a bit extra even as a little child. But when she lost your father she didn't know how to handle it or you, so she ran. She tried to find other ways to fill the heartache. And in her mind that meant devoting herself to causes and charities across the globe. In her mind, she felt she could fix herself by changing the world."
"Huh," Olivia bit her bottom lip while digesting the fact that had already been ingrained on her psyche. "She chose him and the entire world over me and he chose his life and his work over the both of us. And look where we are now."
Her appetite taking a nosedive she pushed the plate away while her grandparents looked on silently. They knew that they could only say and press her so much on the subject before she retreated within her own thoughts.
"So, everything at work is well? Everything seems to be coming together really nicely with your coworkers now. You all look like you're having fun again. And the interviews are picking up. Are you still pinching yourself over the one with President Grant?"
Olivia couldn't control the blush that crept up on her cheeks at the mention of Fitz but she did her best to control her voice. She prayed it sounded level and impartial without revealing more than what was asked. "Like you wouldn't believe. It was a dream come true."
"And I know you didn't talk to her, but his wife is a nightmare isn't she? The way she gets on t.v. and yaps on and on about their private business. Who raised her? I thought she was supposed to be from the South, but she must have lied. One of the first lessons you learn after you speak your first words is to never air your family's dirty laundry out like that."
"Now Jan, I'm sure Livvie doesn't want to spend her downtime gossiping about people that don't matter one way or another to her. So what's next for you, honey?"
"Well the station is gearing up for sweeps. We shot new promos and photos for print ads. We're doing another billboard and we've got some great guests lined up. It seems like it's a lot going on everywhere I turn at that place."
"Okay what about when you're not at that place? Have you started seeing anyone new yet?"
"Jan..."
"What? I want to know when my grand baby is going to walk up to our door with her someone special on her arm. None of us, and I mean none of us, are getting any younger here."
"It's true that time waits for none of us, Gram. But right now is just not my time. But I can tell you that I'm healthy, happy and enjoying everyone who happens to be in my life though."
"Well as long as you're not miserable and alone up there. I guess that's all we can ask for, for now. Now eat up so you can regain your strength. You know you're going to need it."
After spending most of his day with lawyers, either strategizing or communicating with Mellie through them, the only things Fitz desired with all of his being was Olivia in his arms and the stiffest drink known to man. And at the present moment he had neither. Instead he was sitting at the table staring at the blond engaged in lively conversation with his children. Even though his mind was far from the interaction, he occasionally interjected with a smile, nod, or a few words while his fingers continually tapped at his cheek; the only action currently keeping him awake. And then as if an internal alarm sounded, Karen and Gerry asked to be excused from the table, leaving the adults alone.
"Are we having dessert Fitzgerald?" The woman's lighthearted voice filtered throughout the room.
"I think it's just scotch for me, CiCi, thanks. But you can have whatever you like."
Her blue eyes narrowed and then raised at his dismissive tone while she tabulated just how many times a person's gaze could wander to their cell phone during the course of a meal. Deciding that he would win any contest hands down, she questioned him. "Do you want to talk about it? That's why I'm here after all."
"I don't think so," he replied with as much politeness as he could muster.
His weary, crestfallen expression was so eerily similar to the one her aunt wore more and more towards the end of her life the usually steadfast Cecily Barrington Chase shivered right where she sat. Fitz's personality was identical to his mother's in many ways, right down to the unfortunate choices in spouses. And it made her angry, livid actually, that her kindhearted relatives were always willing to bear the brunt of their decisions while others involved were immune to accepting the consequences of their own actions; choosing instead to absolve themselves of blame and point the finger elsewhere.
"Well, I think you do need to tell me something. Before you started chatting with the Big Dogs you were on cloud nine. I've never seen anyone going through a divorce as happy as you. And now I feel like I should be hiding the knives and whatnot. Talk to me, Fitzy, before I send out an S.O.S. and have Wade here before dawn."
The mention of his cousin, her brother, earned her one of his most incredulous stares as she hummed innocently. "Have you forgotten that he nor you could just walk up to my door and knock? That his plane would be taken out before landing without the proper clearance?"
"See, I knew you were feeling violent tendencies. I will hide the cutlery before the night is over."
"We don't have to go overboard there, CiCi. The only person in any imminent danger happens to be 3,000 miles away."
"I take it Millicent and her pleasant disposition are working their wonders as usual."
He looked around the space making sure his children hadn't reappeared. "She's doing everything she can to keep me shackled to her. Every time I agree to relinquish a property or vehicle or a certain stock or agree to a particular dollar amount there's always just one more little request. And now that she's just about exhausted all those options she's threatening to sue for sole custody of Karen and Gerry."
"On what planet? All these years later and you mean to tell me she still hasn't retained enough self awareness to know that she's the antithesis of 'in the best interest of the children'?"
"She doesn't give a damn about them, CiCi, and we all know it. She's just using them to stick it to me. To make me suffer a little while longer before the inevitable happens. She refuses to let this die quickly and quietly, contesting the divorce just because she can. Besides her easily proven lack of interest and involvement with them, Gerry and Karen would testify in a heartbeat to their preference. This is all just a big game to her."
"She really is Big Gerry incarnate isn't she?" Cecily stated with a bitter scoff, rolling her eyes at the pettiness she was hearing about until they began to ache. After taking a minute to calm down she stood.
"What are you doing, CiCi?"
"Well since neither of us can gut the never should have been missus, I'm fixing us both a drink...numerous drinks until we forget Millicent exists, big cousin."
She gave him a sound pat on the shoulder as she passed him on the way to the bar and returned, as promised, with alcohol. As she lowered his glass to the table the chiming of his phone stole her attention. She looked down at the interesting ringtone and saw an unfamiliar name flash onscreen. "Who is Olivia, Fitzgerald? And why does she have your very heavily guarded cell phone number? And why are you turning beet red with every word that I speak?"
Fitz sighed deeply, his hand covered his mouth and then his fingers massaged his forehead before he uttered a word. "CiCi, would you check on the kids for me? I really need to take this."
"No problem. But while I'm away work on your diversion tactics because they suck. And I'm warning you now, I will not have forgotten about this Olivia by the time I return, so prepare yourself."
"Yeah. Fine. Whatever. Just don't mention her to Karen or Gerry okay?"
"Oh," her eyebrows raised right along with her interest. "We definitely have more talking to do. Lucky for us the night is young."
"Yeah, lucky us," he repeated, hesitance evident in his tone. He swore he heard her laugh as she made her way upstairs but he was too busy focusing on his phone and redialing Olivia to really care.
When his call instantly connected with her and he heard her soft voice in his ear, everything was suddenly all right in his world again for the moment. So with a wide grin spreading across his face he greeted her in the way, with the one word, that was fast becoming their own.