A/N: Can I just say, I think the writing bug has bitten me again. Terrible right? Well we're going to see more of Fitz' past and somewhat vulnerable side I suppose. Let me know what you think. Reviews are great, subscriptions are better. Enjoy Lovely People : )

Fitz sat there stunned at what he had just heard. But he couldn't really say he didn't see it coming. After all, it was in Olivia's nature to try and put distance between them when they got into a really bad argument even before she started the habit of running. He wasn't worried though because he'd never let her go willingly. He was very intrigued by this Huck character, though. He planned to do some digging later on in the week but for now he needed to figure out how to handle Olivia.

He could tell her he knew what she was doing and risk her running anyway or he could pretend not to know and increase Jake's responsibilities.

Still pondering his options he picked up the phone and called Jake.

"Boss?"

"How soon can we meet? I need all the details you have on James. I need to know who he's working with and for. If he shits, I want to know. If he coughs, I want to know. If a hair falls off his head-"

"You want to know?" finished Jake.

"Yes. I need to work quickly especially considering Liv wants to run again."

"You really love her don't you? I mean more than what meets the eye?"

"I can't breathe without her. Believe me, I tried. She was made for me and I was stupid enough to hurt her and ruin the best thing that ever happened to me. Considering all of this, I really might lose her again but that doesn't mean I want to see her get hurt."

Jake nodded his head even though Fitz couldn't see him through the phone. "Tomorrow night at 7. My place. We can't afford to be seen in public. Most people who need someone to do their dirty laundry know who I am. We can't risk anything."

With that he hung up.

Later that day when he picked Liv up he tried to make small talk and at first she was responding although despondently. If he didn't know better he'd say she had a bad day. He wanted to tell her he knew everything but then there'd be the issue of trust again. But if he didn't then he would somehow be lying. Either way was a lose-lose.

"Look… um, I know," he said.

"You know." It wasn't a statement but it wasn't a question. She seemed to be in another world. When the true meaning of his statement dawned on her she clenched her jaw but said nothing.

"I'm sorry." Still she said nothing. "Did you hear me? Are you going to say anything?"

"What's the point? I don't have any privacy. For all I know you have some kind of listening device in my brain, recording my thoughts."

He scoffed," Come on. Don't be ridiculous!"

"Ridiculous? Ridiculous! I'M being ridiculous? You're having me FOLLOWED, WATCHED… Are there cameras in my apartment? Did you enjoy the free shows you were getting all along?" She yelled menacingly. "I have tried to be calm, give you the benefit of the doubt. He loves me and he just wants what's best for me. That's what I've been telling myself since I found out but none of this makes sense!"

Softly, she whispers, with tears in her eyes, "Why can't I be normal? I just…"

"You once told me that normal was overrated. People like you and I, we don't get to be normal. Our job is to save people. There's always someone out there who needs saving. Including us. Just let me save you. I need to do this because I know you said you forgave me but I don't think you have and I can't lose you again. You are not running. Please."

She grew quiet again as she looked him in the eyes. She wanted to deny it but she knew it was true. Every word. But she was too stubborn to apologize or agree not to run. For once she wanted control over something in her life and the only time she felt like she had a small grasp on control was when she ran.

When he pulled up to the house she ran inside and grabbed her bag. She wouldn't run but she still needed some kind of space. She thought she could rent a room somewhere or ask Abby to stay with her. Before she could throw in some pajamas Fitz came running into the room. He couldn't think straight when he saw her and he panicked. He slammed the door and yelled, "NO!"

She stopped packing but she didn't turn around. She couldn't look at him again. She knew what that did to her. It almost caused her to break down in the car. Slowly she put down the bag and took a deep breath. Fitz thought that was a good sign so he slowly made his way towards her, touching her arm gently. So many thoughts ran thru his mind but everything sounded like a broken record. If she didn't get it before now why would she get it all of a sudden?

He moved towards the bed and sat down.

"I used to run, just like you. My first time was as a kid. My dad, he wasn't a nice man. Mentally and emotionally I let him break me down until I was close to nothing. I had nothing left. But you couldn't show emotions like that around him. He had this way of cutting you open with words until you nearly bled to death only he didn't care enough to try and fix you. So I would run. There was this covering near a river by my house. No one knew about it but me. I'd take a blanket and a lamp and set up a little private cove. Every night I would stare at the stars and pray to God that Big Jerry would just fall over and die. But that'd be way too easy for him, and me. Eventually I learned how to pretend. That's what I did. I would run and pretend. And soon enough I didn't need to run to pretend; I was just that good at living in my own little world. When you are as broken as I was, or am, pretending is what's real. When we met, I knew that God loved me. He loved me so much he gave me another chance thru you. You helped me heal. But I felt like I didn't deserve you. No matter how long we were together I never felt good enough. I thought surely something or someone would come along and snatch you away. Who knew it would be me that caused you to go. And in that moment, I stopped pretending. I realized I can't keep running. But I get it. Sometimes you feel like a part of you, the real you, has been hurt so much that you've had to bury it deep where even you can't find it and when someone comes along and causes a disruption that may bring it to the surface you run. I don't know what part of you that is because you've never let me see it. Even back then, you kept it hidden from me. And maybe I'm the same way. But I believe in second chances. We're worth another chance. I know I can't change your mind but just know I won't let you get far away from me this time."

She stood there for a few more seconds and then slowly she sat in his lap. "I—I don't know what to say," she admitted.

"Just say you'll stay. I'm not saying this time around will be easy but we should at least try. And I'm afraid that you'll be exposed if you leave me. Just stay. Right now, that's all I need. Let's get to know each other again. It'll be like falling for you all over again," he said, smiling.

She returned his smile and said, "Okay, but under one condition. I want to know your plans to keep me safe and everything that you find that I should know. That aspect can be on a need to know basis. IF you and I are going to be anything we need to be able to trust one another."

"Deal. How about we kiss to make it official," he smirked.

"Ha ha, very funny. How about I promise to stay and we work our way back up to that. I know it seems odd considering all we've done since you came back into my life. But in order for me to do this, we have to go slow. Besides, my safety should be the most important thing right?"

"Right."

She jumped up and proceeded to strip out of her clothes, humming as she rummaged in her drawers for a t-shirt. Behind her she heard him groan. He rolled his eyes as he realized she wouldn't make it easy on her. Well two could play that game. As he discarded his shirt he calmly threw out, "I have a meeting with Jake tomorrow about what he's found so far and before you get upset I'll update you when I get back. It's just that I need to know what we're up against before I tell you everything."

When she didn't respond he turned to see her staring at his bare chest. Realizing she had just told him they would take it slow, she hissed as she quietly stormed out of the room, throwing a "Fine" over her shoulder.