Chapter 10 - He Became A Coward

"It wasn't a dream..." Olivia mumbled turning away from him.

"What? What do you mean? You were asleep Livvie." Fitz said trying to get her to turn to face him but she wouldn't budge.

"Livvie..."

"It wasn't a dream."

"You were asleep." Fitz said confused.

"I was, but it wasn't a dream. More like a nightmare... That has actually happened." She said started as she started to cry again.

"Livvie," Fitz said finally managing to get her to face him. As soon as he saw the terrified look on her face he gathered her in close to him and she went willingly. "What do you mean? Talk to me. Please. Help me understand."

"I erm..." She hesitated to speak. She could feel Fitz rubbing his hand up and down her back. She focused on the calming movement before attempting to talk again. "It was my Mom."

Fitz was unsure if he was supposed to respond to that, so he patiently waited for her to continue.

"It was like I was there again, you know, everything was so real." It was then that she remembered hitting someone, which she figured must have been Fitz. "Did I," she started before moving her hands to his side and gently lifting his shirt. "I'm so sorry." She said seeing a bruise already forming.

"It's not your fault, I'm fine. I doesn't hurt that much." He said wincing when Olivia poked around the bruise.

Olivia instantly pulled her hand away from him when she heard him wince in pain but that didn't sit well with Fitz. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into him, ignoring the throbbing pain.

"What really happened to your Mother?" He asked tentatively.

"She... She," Olivia attempted, tears rolling down her face again. She thought about trying to continue but decided against it.

"It's okay, perhaps another time."

The longer he held her against his chest, the more relaxed she was becoming. The soft sniffles could no longer be heard but he knew she hadn't fallen asleep just yet. After a while Fitz could feel himself starting to drift off. He looked down to see Olivia sleeping peacefully against his chest. Glancing at his phone, he could see that it was after 5, he gently moved so he was laying flat on the bed. Whilst he was moving he could feel Olivia automatically adjust her body, so she wasn't away from him.

Fitz didn't even remember falling asleep, it was only when he was woken up that he realised he had been asleep. Albeit not for too long.

"Fitz..." He heard the faint whisper. "Fitz..." He heard again, when he didn't respond, he felt someone nudging him.

"Mmnn" he grumbled.

"I think I'm ready to talk now,"

He looked down at where the voice was coming from and saw the biggest pair of brown eyes looking back at him.

He caught a glimpse at the alarm clock as he shuffled on the bed. 5.37am. Perfect. That was a grand total of 33 minutes of sleep. On one hand he was tired and slightly annoyed that he was awake again, but on the other he was glad she was opening up to him. How could he be angry at her, she was trusting him not to throw this back at her. He said he was going to be there for her and just like the old phrase; actions do in fact speak louder than words, and it was now time for him to show her that.

"Okay, okay... I'm up. I'm awake." He said quickly sitting up, resting back against the headboard, rubbing his eyes.

He sat and watched as she crawled to him and tucked herself into his side.

After a while, she still hadn't said anything and he wondered if she had fallen asleep.

"Livvie?"

"Yeah... I'm just thinking," she said, absently picking at his shirt as if there was something stuck on it. "Actually... Don't worry about it," she said trying to move away from him.

Fitz reached out to stop her. "What happened Livvie?"

"When?"

"I don't know... Today? The party? Your Mother..." He snapped, he didn't intend to but, he thought she just needed to talk about these things. One way or another, he was going to find out what happened, he'd just prefer it from her.

As they sat there, he could see her withdrawing from him emotionally. He knew that he needed to make this right before he fell into the category of most people in her life. The ones that she didn't want to trust or felt that she couldn't trust.

"Livvie... I'm sorry. I didn't mean," Fitz stopped speaking when he felt her slipping her hand out of his grasp. He watched her as she moved away from him, sliding off the bed and moving across the room towards the door.

"Livvie..." Fitz tried again but to no avail. Completely ignoring him, she opened the bedroom door quietly and walked out, not bothering to close the door behind her.

Fitz scrambled from the bed almost tripping over the covers, to catch up to her. He made his way towards the kitchen after catching a glimpse of her going that way.

Olivia had obviously seen Stephen on the floor and stepped over him, but this wasn't the case for Fitz. He was in so much if a rush that he managed to not only trip over him and wake him but, he also managed to hit his head on something when he hit the floor.

"Jesus!" Fitz shouted, picking himself off the floor holding his forehead with his right hand.

"What are you doing?" Stephen asked looking less than impressed.

"Nothing man... Don't worry," Fitz said not waiting for Stephen to reply before he walked off in search for Olivia. This definitely wasn't his night.

When he walked into the kitchen he could see Olivia standing by the sink, with her back to him. As he rested against the breakfast island, he moved his hand from his head to see blood on his hand. Just as he was about to reach for a towel Olivia turned around.

"Fitz..." She said not looking at him but she knew it was him because she heard him shout. As she looked up at him she saw the blood running down the side of his head.

"It's fine, it's just a scrape." He said trying to sooth the panicked look she had on her face.

"Fitz..." She said picking up a towel and walking towards him. When she was close enough she reached up with her right hand, and gently turned his head to the side, holding the towel, in her left hand, against his forehead. "This isn't just a scrape, Fitz."

"I'll be fine." He said, he still wanted to talk to her but at this rate that wouldn't be happening.

"No!" Olivia shouted before realising how loud she was being. "Fitz, you need to get this looked at." She said as she pulled the towel away from his head slightly, only to see it still bleeding.

"It's fine... See," he said taking the towel from her. When he saw the towel even he didn't believe what he was saying.

"It isn't Fitz. Why won't you go to the hospital?"

"Why won't you talk to me?" Fitz said without even thinking.

They both stood there staring at each other, both not knowing what to say to the other.

Fitz chided himself for being so short tempered with her, he knew she just needed time and to have a sense of security. Maybe he was just overtired but still, that wasn't an excuse.

As for Olivia, she didn't know how to feel. On one hand she expected this, people not seeing and understanding the real her but that was just it. Fitz did. He cared about her, a lot, she could see it. She really did think she was ready to talk and Fitz was very gracious about being woken up in the middle of the night but she panicked. She knew that she started to over think things and then when he did ask her, she ran.

It was the way he was looking at her. She didn't know why but, she started to doubt him. Was he being genuine? Of course he was and she knew that, he'd never given her any reason to doubt that but it was like her brain was arguing with itself.

"Just... Please, please get that looked at." Olivia pleaded.

If Fitz was being honest he had been feeling a bit groggy after hitting his head and it still hadn't stopped bleeding yet. He knew his Dad would have his guts for garters if he didn't get it seen too.

Fitz motioned for her to move towards him. When she was close enough he wrapped his right arm around her, pulling her into his body, she returned the gesture by wrapping her arms around his body.

"Okay..." He conceded.

"Okay? Where are your keys?"

"Uh uh, I'll wake Stevie."

"No come on... I'm already awake." She said holding her hand out for the keys.

"Fine..." He sighed giving into her way too easily. "But we can't leave yet."

"Fitz..."

"Livvie..." He teased, "I don't know about you but I like wearing shoes when going outside, particularly when it's the winter."

In response she just scowled at him and turned to walk away but not before grabbing his left hand. As she gripped his hand she saw him grimace trying to hide the pained expression.

"Fitz... What's wrong with you hand?"

"I must've landed on it." He said, trying to release his hand from hers.

"No let me look, please." She said, moving her hands to his arm careful not to hurt him more.

After telling Olivia which hospital to head towards he called his Father.

"Fitz... You're awake early." His Dad said in a very chipper tone.

"Yeah, tell me about it."

"So, what's wrong?" He questioned, he knew that Fitz wouldn't call this early just to talk.

"Nothing major... Ouch!" He exclaimed when Olivia slapped his leg. "I just hit my head pretty hard..." After catching the stare Olivia was throwing his way he continued "... And it's bleeding a bit, and I've done something to my wrist as well."

"Christ Fitz... How? Look never mind, go to Mass Gen, we'll meet you there...

"Dad there's no need, its fine, I'm fine... Honestly I am."

"Look you'll probably get there before us, just ask for Dr. Jack Barnes. I'll give him a call to let him know you're coming."

About an hour and a half later, Gerry and Lily Grant arrived at the hospital after finding out where Fitz was they made their way to ha room. The first thing they saw upon entering was Fitz asleep topless in bed with a young girl curled up next to him, also asleep.

Gerry went to find Dr. Barnes and Lily moved to wake her son, as she got close and her view of Olivia became clearer, she instantly recognised her. Olivia Pope. She had looked at her for the agency but there were a couple of issues, number one being her age, as a rule Grants models didn't generally have models under 18 and number two, she was the President's daughter. That in itself could cause problems.

"Fitz..." Lily said softly, shaking his shoulder.

"Mum? What time is it?"

Lily took a good look at her son; he had a big dressing on his forehead, obviously where he had cut it. His left arm also looked pretty swollen and it was wrapped in a bandage and he had a large bruise on his left side.

"Hi Fitz, almost 8."

"Is Dad here?" He whispered, conscious of Olivia sleeping next to him.

"Yeah, he's just gone to find Jack. He'll be back soon."

Just as Lily finished, the two men walked in the door. They were talking as they walked in but stopped when they saw Fitz awake.

"How are you feeling Fitz?" Dr. Barnes asked.

"Still a little sore."

"I should expect so; it seems you've been in the wars. Well we'll have to put a cast on your arm and then I'd like to keep you in for a little longer."

They chatted to the doctor for a little while, before his parents followed him out to talk about what they had missed. The whole time Olivia had been fast asleep, she was obviously tired but Fitz knew he needed to wake her sooner or later.

"Livvie," Fitz said in a sing song voice, moving the hair that had fallen onto her face.

The only response Fitz got was a grumble as she snuggled in closer to him; she moved her arm so it was across his body causing him to flinch when she unknowingly hit his bruise.

He gently moved her hand away from the site patch and smiled at her before trying to wake her again.

"Livvie..." He said as he cupped her face and rubbed his thumb across her cheek.

"What?"

Fitz laughed slightly at how grumpy she was being but what they didn't notice was Lily looking in at them, watching their whole interaction. Just as he was coaxing her awake he heard her phone begin to buzz.

"Answer your phone Fitz..." She whined.

He smiled at her as it continued to buzz.

"Fitz..."

"That's not my phone,"

"What?" She said rubbing her eyes.

"It's your Dad," Fitz said picking the phone up, looking at the screen, when she didn't reach for it.

"What?"

Olivia was now both awake and thoroughly confused. It seemed far too early for her Dad to be calling her, it's not like he never calls her because he does, much to her chagrin. Even so, he never calls this early unless she had been refusing to get out of bed to go to school. Yes. That has actually happened before; her agents have called her Father to get her out of bed. Quite clearly they don't have teenage children.

"It's Saturday" Olivia said more to herself than Fitz.

"I know, shouldn't I be the one confused? Are you going to get this?"

Olivia still made no attempt to take the phone from him and the incessant noise was becoming annoying now.

"Fine... I'll just answer it then."

That got her attention.

"No! Don't you dare!" She shouted half serious half playful, as she snatched the phone from him.

"Olivia! Why haven't you answered your phone? Why, was I woken up to be told you are in hospital?"

"Relax" Olivia said with more attitude than he deserved. He was only concerned with her welfare.

Fitz turned to look at her; he was shocked at the way her mood changed so quickly. She had told him that she and her Father don't get on well but this was on a whole other level.

"What is your problem? Did I interrupt your sleep? Well go back to not caring Dad... I'm fine."

"Well I sure am, glad that you retained your sense of humour Olivia. Now stop being so childish. Why are you in hospital Olivia, if you won't tell me I'll just come and find out for myself."

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, Father."

Olivia felt Fitz shuffling beside her. He was trying to give her a bit of space, he felt like he was intruding on something quite personal. When he went to swing his legs off the bed, Olivia's hand stopped them. Making eye contact with her, he saw her momentarily cover the speaker on her phone.

"Stay..."

He nodded his head, silently agreeing with her before reaching for a t-shirt and sitting back against the bed.

"Olivia?! Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes Father... I haven't taken off, like some people I know would." She mumbled the last part, but still secretly hoping he heard.

As she sat forward on the bed she felt Fitz move his hand to her back. Under normal circumstances, this probably would have pacified her to some extant but; talking to her Father could not be classified as being a normal circumstance.

"You should watch your tone Olivia. I'm still considering moving you to the Whitehouse."

"Whatever. I'm fine, a friend got hurt so we came to the hospital. End of. Can I go now?"

"Are you sure that's it?"

"Yes Father."

"Well, I would like to meet this friend soon... Olivia before you say anything, if I wanted to o could find out about this friend. I could probably find out things you don't know."

He wasn't going to tell her that he had in fact already looked into some of her old and new friends, but what she doesn't know can't hurt her.

"Yeah, yeah. Bye Dad." She said and before waiting for a reply she ended the call.

Fitz was still sitting quietly beside, his hand resting on her back. After a few minutes she placed the phone down on the bed the slipped back into her original place on the bed. Fitz wasn't sure if he should ask about her Dad or not, she didn't seem to be in a foul mood anymore so he thought he'd risk it.

"Why don't you and your Dad get on with each other?"

"We used to..." was the only response she offered.

"Do you not like him?"

"I used to."

Although she wasn't being very talkative, Fitz continued with his line of questions.

"Well what happened?"

"He became a coward."

"What? What does that even mean Livvie?"

He thought he was finally getting somewhere with her. She hadn't shut down or run away. Then, with the worst timing ever his parents barged through the doors to his room.

"Mum, Dad... Excellent timing," he said, a little disappointed that he wouldn't be able to continue his conversation with Olivia.

"Later... I promise," she whispered to him before his parents made their way across the room.

"Livvie..."

"Fitz dear, how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine Mum."

"Okay, well..." She said not really knowing what else to say.

"Who's your friend Fitz?" Gerry asked. Of course he knew who she was. Everyone did, but it was the polite thing to do.

"Mum, Dad, this is Olivia... Pope. Lets' just get this out of the way. Yes her surname is Pope, just like the Presidents. Strange thing that... you'd never guess what, they're related."

This earned a chuckle from Olivia and in response he smiled back at her before turning back to his parents.

After a minute or so, Gerry just accepted who she was, whilst Lily pretended to act shocked, as if she had only just realised who this girl was.

"It's nice to meet you." Lily said. "I voted for your Father." She continued in an upbeat tone.

Fitz started to shake his head from side to side, trying to get his Mothers attention; in an effort to stop her from talking considering that it was quite a sore topic at the moment. Not seeing his gestures she carried on completely oblivious to her son.

"Mum." Fitz stopped her, seeing as she wasn't going to stop herself. "How long are you staying for?" he asked completely changing the conversation.

"Well, we'll stay the weekend, we can spend it together seeing as Abby and Stephen are both here too. Where are they by the way?" His Father asked.

"Oh, they're at home. Most likely still asleep."

"What? They don't know that you are here? How did you get here then? Fitzgerald, I hope you didn't drive!" His Mother said sternly.

"No Mother, I'm not that reckless. They were both asleep so Livvie drove me here."

"So they were asleep but Olivia was awake?" His Mother asked, not mentioning the nickname her son had seemingly given the young girl. She looked towards Olivia, not accusingly but more confused as to why she'd be awake so early.

"Why don't you guys pop round to the house. Abby is probably awake by now, if not you can get there before she is." He said, feeling Olivia shift uncomfortably next to him.

His parents spent a few more minutes idly chit-chatting to him, just as they were about to leave he heard his phone ringing. As he looked down at the screen he inwardly sighed. Too late he thought.

"Hey Abs,"

"Erm... Where are you? And where is Liv?"

Fitz quickly explained to her where they were without going into too much detail. She could ask questions later.

"What!?" Was the only response he got from her.

"Calm down Abby, were fine. I'm fine."

As he was about to end his call with Abby he saw his parents about to leave.

"Mum, Dad, you may as well stay," he said begrudgingly. He was hoping for some time alone with Olivia but that wasn't going to be happening. "Abby and Stephen are on their way here."

"Oh wonderful," Lily said sounding way too happy. "Well shall we sort breakfast out then? What do you fancy to eat?"

Before Fitz had a chance to react, Olivia had slipped out of the bed and was now stood at his side.

"I'll go, I could do with stretching my legs out a bit." She said smiling softly at Fitz. Olivia asked for their breakfast orders then quickly left the room, but not before Fitz found his card and gave it to her, to pay for breakfast. Which left him alone with his parents.

"Guys..." Fitz started before being cut off.

"She seems nice." Gerry said. "Where did you meet her?"

"She is, she's amazing Dad" Fitz gushed. "We met at school." That wasn't a complete lie, they did meet at school, he just didn't specify which school and he wasn't about to drop either Abby or Olivia in as to why he was at their school.

"She looks stunning Fitz... But just be careful." Lily cautioned.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He looked at his Mother confused by what she was trying to get at.

"We've all seen the headlines Fitz..."

"And? Do you always believe what you see in the press?"

"Well..."

"Exactly!"

"Fitzgerald! Change your tone. You do not speak to your Mother like that." Gerry said angrily.

"Sorry Dad, Sorry" he said looking at his Mother. "Just give her a chance, please. You'll see, she's not what they make her out to be."

Fitz wasn't going to lie to himself, he knew he was slowly falling for Olivia and he just hoped that; not only that she would feel the same but that his parents would like her. It wouldn't stop him if they didn't but it would be easier for everyone if they did.

A short while later Olivia returned, upon meeting Fitz' gaze she instantly smiled, even though she could feel the tension in the room, she smiled. She saw Fitz patting the empty space in the bed next to him, walking over she placed the food in the space earning a scowl from him.

"Funny Livvie. Very funny..." He smiled at her.

She shared out the food, clearing the bed, but remained standing. Lily and Gerry briefly left the room to find some more chairs, after they left Olivia still made no move to sit back on the bed.

"Livvie..." Fitz said reaching out with his right arm and wrapping it around her waist in an attempt to move her towards the bed.

"No Fitz..." She said stepping forward out of his grasp, brushing his arm away in the process.

To say Fitz was confused was a bit of an understatement. He couldn't understand what was causing the sudden mood change in her. Had he done something, he couldn't think of anything.

"Livvie..." He tried again. "What happened Livvie? Come sit down."

"No Fitz, your parents will be back soon."

"So?"

"So... I don't think that they like me. I'll just wait until Abby gets here then have my agents take me home."

"Home? In New York? There's no need Livvie, my parents don't hate you Livvie."

"Don't lie to me Fitz."

"I'm not, they don't hate you..."

"I saw the looks on their faces when I came back in, and I know it's not you that they don't like."

"Livvie..." Fitz said as he started to get out of bed. "They don't hate you Livvie, I promise. Come on." He said as he walked towards her and engulfed her in his arms.

"Why don't they like me?" She said into his chest.

"They don't know you Livvie. Look, spend today with me and if you still feel uncomfortable I will personally drive you back to New York. Okay?"

"You're not allowed to drive yet."

"Okay well I will sit in the care whilst your agents drive then."

He finally got her to agree and they made it back to his bed before his parents came back in with a couple of extra chairs.

It was fast approaching 5pm, Stephen and the Grants were about to leave for the evening. As Fitz had still been feeling groggy, Dr. Barnes recommended that he stayed overnight.

At the realisation that she would be at Fitz' place without him, although Abby would be there, caused her to panic. Fitz had decided in his head that Olivia would stay with him at the hospital until he was discharged, but he hadn't told her that yet.

Later that evening, after everyone had left and after they had eaten, Olivia and Fitz were cuddled up on the bed. They had been sitting in comfortable silence for a while when Fitz heard Olivia start to talk.

"I think my Dad hates me." She said without even looking up at him, instead just playing with his shirt.

"Why do you think that Livvie?"

"Because of my Mom..." Fitz was unsure what to say to that. Of course he wanted to know what had happened there but, the last time this came up she shut down. He went with what he thought was the safest route. Let her take her time, she'll talk once she's ready. It not like he was going anywhere fast.

"When my Mom died," she began but took a small pause, "Dad, he erm... he, he, he changed."

"Losing someone can do that Livvie. Although I don't know if he hates you."

"No... No, you don't understand. He, ran Fitz, he ran and left me."

What did she mean that he ran, when her Mothers' death was in the news he was very much still at the Whitehouse.

"I don't understand Livvie."

"Of course you don't," she said trying to turn away from him.

"No, help me out here. What do you mean he ran?" Turning her back to face him.

"Do you remember hearing about it?"

"Yeah..."

"Well we were leaving an event we'd been at and as expected there was a big crowd waiting for us. Or, waiting for Dad at least. I remember that I was playing with something and dropped it, I went to pick it up and then, I don't really know what happened, it was so quick... everything just happened."

"What, happ..." he started

"I don't know Fitz. I don't know," she said as she started to weep. "The crowd got through the security. Dad was already in the car and, and, and then he was gone. Just like that he left us there. Then, when I looked for Mom... there were so many people and it was loud. It was so loud. I couldn't see her, I tried to shout. I swear I tried. Then I saw one of her agents on the floor and that's when... that's, I saw her Fitz, just laying there. Before I even knew what had happened I was next to her, she was so still." She was now gripping his shirt tightly. "Then somehow we managed to get out but, before we even made it to the hospital the press were saying that we were all fine." She managed to choke out, becoming more and more worked up.

"It's alright Livvie."

"But it wasn't, Mom wasn't okay or fine or however they wanted to word it. She died before we even made it out of the crowd."

"I'm so sorry." He said as he kissed the top of her head.

"All I could think about was Dad, I must've done something... Why would he leave me there? Then when he arrived at the hospital he was so different. I started to blame myself. Maybe if I had stayed closer to Dad and not been playing around, then Mom wouldn't have followed me. We would have all been in the car together then."

Olivia was now close to becoming hysterical, Fitz knew that he needed to do something to try to soothe her. But what?

"It's not your fault Olivia, you have to know that." He tried.

"He was a coward, Fitz. I know he blames me."

"It's not your fault. Okay?" He repeated. When he was only met with a nod of the head from Olivia he decided to leave it be. He now understood where the hostile attitude came from in regards to her Father, she doesn't really understand what happened or why and she blames him for that. Although, from her Fathers' point of view he probably sees a whole different story of that day.

AN

I know this a taken a while, I knew what I wanted to say I just had trouble writing it. Well anyway, I hope you in enjoy it. As always, let me know what you think.