Chapter 11: Decisions

Jake double checked the hotel room that he stayed in since Friday evening to make sure he had everything. His flight was scheduled to leave in two hours but he wasn't worried about it. He was only fifteen minutes from the airport so he would have more than enough time to check in and go through security. Once he had everything he shoved the rental car keys, the room key, his cell phone, and wallet into his pockets. Then he picked up his duffel bag and backpack off the bed, turned the lights off and headed to the elevator.

Jake made it to the airport in thirty minutes due to traffic. He checked in and went through security somewhat quickly which gave him time to eat before he had to get to his gate. He thought about calling Olivia but he was going to let her call him like she said she would. At that moment, he couldn't help but wonder if she was missing him. There was no doubt that he was missing her and he hope he could see her before the week was over. This was the first time he ever truly felt this way about someone. He thought he felt this way about his ex from his last relationship but she turned out to be his worst nightmare. She was the textbook definition of the type of woman military men tried to stay away from at all cost. But the way he felt about Olivia was completely different and it kind of scared him. He didn't want to screw up things before they really started. He also wanted a chance to give Olivia everything she deserved.

Olivia planned to call Jake again when she woke up but she wasn't ready to talk to him yet. She was still dealing with the mixed emotions she felt after her visit to the White House the day before and talking to Jake would make her feel even guiltier than she already felt. Having dreams about Fitz last night didn't help her situation either. Since she told Jake she would call him back this would give her some time to figure some things out.

She pulled her car into the driveway behind her sister's car and hooked the horn. She called Alicia when she was ten minutes away so Olivia knew it wouldn't take her sister long to come outside. By the time Olivia walked to the trunk of her car she could see Alicia and Daniel walking out to her.

"Olivia, I'm glad that you are finally here," Alicia said with a smile.

"Me too," Olivia said as she gave her sister a hug.

"Hey Danny, how are you?"

"I'm great Liv. It's good to see you again," Daniel said as he gave Olivia a hug.

"It's always good to see you as well."

"You two can go in and I'll grab your bags for you."

"Thank you," Olivia said. She grabbed her purse off the passenger seat and locked her arm with Alicia's one as they walked towards the front door of the house.

"You look like you are going to drop this baby at any minute now."

"You're right. Thank God this little one will be here in two weeks. I don't know how much more of this waddling I can take," Alicia said making Olivia laugh.

They made small talk in the living room while Daniel took Olivia's things to the guest room. Once he finished he grabbed the car keys and Alicia's purse from their bedroom and headed towards to the living room.

"Liv how long you were planning to stay? Alicia asked.

"I'm going to stay until next Sunday. I mean if that's okay with you and Daniel."

"I don't think Danny will have a problem with it but I'll ask him to make sure."

"Ask me what?" Daniel said walking into the living room.

Liv wanted to stay until next Sunday and I told her that I was going to ask you to see if that was okay.

"Sure, that's fine with me. You know I always enjoy having my sister-in-law around. Besides I can use your help in doing some damage control when you sister starts flipping out on me," Daniel said with a smile.

"I'm sure she's not that bad. But in case she is, let's just blame it on the pregnancy hormones," Olivia said with a smile.

"Are you sure we can blame it on that?" he asked with a grin.

"Excuse me I'm not that bad," Alicia said.

"You're right babe, you're not. I still love either way."

"Mmmhmm you better," Alicia said before Daniel gave her a quick kiss on the lips.

"Now, are you two lovely ladies ready to go?" Daniel asked.

"Yes," they said in unison and they headed off to their first destination for the day.

Olivia and Alicia made small and shared some laughs while they watched a comedy movie that was on TV. This was their way of unwinding after a somewhat stressful day. They went grocery shopping that morning, ran a few errands shortly after noon, and when they made it back home they spent a few hours making sure everything was set up and organized in nursery. It was Friday afternoon and Olivia was enjoying the time she had with her sister that week. It's been a while since they've had this much time to spend together but Olivia vowed to change that. She also wanted to be an active aunt in her nephew's life.

"We have to do this again soon," Alicia said.

"I completely agree," Olivia said.

"Ali, I'm going to hang out with Jason and Kevin for a while, Daniel said coming into the living room. "I will be back before it's too late."

"That's fine. Have fun and tell them I said hello."

"I will and you don't have to get up," Daniel said. He leaned down and gave Alicia a long but simple kiss on the lips. Olivia couldn't help but smile to herself because she was happy that her sister had a man like Daniel in her life. He was a loving and thoughtful man who enjoyed taking care of his woman and Olivia saw that in everything he did for Alicia.

"I love you," Daniel said.

"I love you too," Alicia said

"Take care of my wife Liv and I will see you two later."

"I always do and see you later."

"So can you give me the details now?" Alicia asked Olivia when the movie ended.

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Because you haven't told me what my nephew's name is yet. I know you and Danny wanted to surprise everyone by telling us his name once he is born but I can't wait any longer. So if you tell me his name I'll tell you every detail you want to know."

"Every detail?" Alicia asked with smile.

"Every detail," Olivia said with a smile.

"Okay. We are going to name him after Daniel."

"I should have known. Daniel Connor Brooks Jr will fit my nephew perfectly."

Alicia nodded, "I agree. Now, I want all the details. I need to know what happened from the beginning to the end without you skipping anything."

Olivia grinned at the demands of her sister and told her everything she wanted to know. Alicia hung on to Olivia's every word like a child listening to their favorite book being read to them. Alicia asked a few questions but fought to hold back her comments until Olivia was done.

"Wow," Alicia said.

"I know. I know." Olivia said looking at the shocked look on her sister's face.

"Mr. POTUS still has some serious tongue game. And he definitely still has you whipped. Who would have known," Alicia said before she burst out in laughter.

"Shut up Ali," Olivia said before getting up to go to the kitchen to get some water. Olivia was blushing because she knew everything that Alicia said was true.

"Come on Liv, you know I'm telling the truth. Fitz is the man in the Oval Office and in the bedroom."

"I never said he wasn't, Olivia said sitting back down by her sister. "He may be amazing as President and in the bedroom but that doesn't mean anything."

"I know it doesn't but come on. This is Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III we are talking about. He's everything a woman could ever want and need. And did I mention that he is sexy as hell?"

"And do I need to remind you that you're a married woman?"

"Hey, I'm a happily married woman but I'm just stating the facts here. I'm just saying what most women that have sight in the country feels. He has the total package but so does my husband. So don't worry Liv, I won't be stealing your man anytime soon," Alicia said with a smile.

"Ali, I'm not worried about you because I know you are just joking with me. Besides, Mellie is the one that would be worried if you try to take Fitz away from her."

Alicia rolled her eyes at the sound of Mellie's name. "Mellie may be a decent woman aside from all of her craziness, but she's not you Liv. From everything you've told me and how I saw the way Fitz acts around you says it all. I've only been around him only a few times but it's enough for me to know that he loves you. He's madly in love with you. It's just unfortunate that some things are keeping you two apart when you two are meant to be together."

"Yes, because he's the President of the United States. He's also a married man with three kids. Gerry and Karen adore me and I adore them. Even Teddy likes me and I just met him for the first time yesterday. The biggest thing is his job and his marriage."

"I believe his marriage is the only issue here. If he was a single president things would not be as bad as it is. Yes, it would be hard for a single president to date but it would be doable. It has never happened either but it's possible. It's just being in love with a man that's taking, rather he is in a relationship or married is a hard thing to deal with."

Olivia nodded, "Saying it is a hard thing to deal with is an understatement. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"I know we never really went in depth about my relationship with Fitz before and I appreciate that we are now. But how come you never judged me for it? Most people would if they knew what was going on," Olivia said.

"I'm not like everyone and you know that. You are my sister and I know you just as well as you know yourself. You would have never allowed Fitz to pursue you if you knew things were well between him and Mellie before you came along. You would have shut it down and kept it moving. Even if you had liked Fitz and his marriage was in a good place you wasn't going to go after him. As for judging you, I would never do that. Would I have preferred you to fall in love with a man that was available? Yes, but love doesn't work that way. Fitz's marriage was dead for a long time and he is only married in name."

"I know he's only married in name and we are in love with each other but I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of sneaking around, lying, and being second best."

"I hope you know that you are not second best in Fitz's eyes."

"I know I'm not but it's not hard to feel that way when you see the man that you love fake a marriage with another woman. The woman who happens to be the mother of his kids but he can't stand to be with."

"I understand," Alicia said simply. "Does Jake have anything to do with the way you feel now?"

"He's part of the reason. As of lately I've realized that I want and need more. The time I've spent with him when I thought things were over between Fitz and I taught me that I could be happy with someone else. It also taught me that I should start being selfish and chose happiness for once.

"Because you no longer want to sacrifice and compromise for a shred of happiness that only occurs every now and then," Alicia said speaking Olivia's thoughts out loud.

"Pretty much," Olivia said before taking a sip of water. Olivia was feeling a little better she was able to get everything out in the open.

"Well, you have to do what's best for you. You have to decide whether it's still worth waiting on Fitz or should you try to have a relationship with someone new. If you feel that you and Jake have potential then go for it. And just because I say that it doesn't mean I don't like Fitz. I think you two are great together but there is only so much a person can take."

"Thanks for everything Alicia."

"No problem. I just want you to be happy no matter what.'

"I do too," Olivia said with a small smile.

Alicia gave her a smile back and got up to go to the bathroom. Olivia checked her phone to see if there were any missed messages and was a little relieved that there was none from Jake. It's been almost a week and she still didn't call Jake back yet. She was about to send Jake a text message telling him that she would call him before she went to sleep but she heard Alicia call her name.

"Yes?"

"Can you call Daniel for me please? My water just broke."

A huge smile came to Olivia's face. "That means I'm finally going to meet my nephew."

"Yep," Alicia said grinning. "Your nephew is ready to make his grand entrance."

A/N: As always thank you for reading and sticking with this story. This is the first story I have ever written so the feedback has been encouraging. Hope you enjoyed this chapter.