I'm sorry this has taken so long again. Life just gets in the way of writing sometimes. Let me know what you think, please. I love your reviews!

~ Chapter 20 ~

Four days after Olivia had asked Fitz to move in with her, the couple arrived at her apartment after a detour to his home. With her help, Fitz had packed two suitcases filled with clothes and shoes as well as three boxes full of personal items, toiletries, and some of the things he needed to be able to do physical therapy at home. She'd brought home a set of crutches and a shower chair similar to the one he had been using at the rehabilitation facility two days ago to make sure everything was ready when he would arrive. With a box on Fitz's lap and one in Olivia's arms, they made their way into the apartment.

"Welcome home.", she smiled.

Fitz returned her smile, even though he felt nervous. Things had been good but slightly different between them for the last few days. It seemed like there was always an air of unease and nervousness around them now, and although it was barely even noticeable most days, he couldn't ignore its existence either.

"I thought we could take your suitcases into the bedroom and leave the boxes in here for now.", Olivia spoke, effectively interrupting Fitz's thoughts. "I made room in the closet and of course in the bathroom. Make yourself at home."

"Can I walk around naked?", he asked, his face deadly serious but his eyes twinkling.

"Learn how to walk again first, then we'll talk about doing it naked.", Olivia teased and they both laughed.

It was a little less awkward after that, and they spent the rest of the afternoon unpacking his things. When it was all said and done, Olivia looked around her bedroom. The visible changes were minimal, but they still altered her home significantly. His watch, tablet and reading glasses were sitting on the nightstand, and the sweater he'd taken off at some point had been thrown over the back of a chair. In her bathroom, things were a little more obvious. Her toothbrush had a companion now, and her beauty products had been pushed to one side to make room for some of his things on the other. It was strange, but not in a bad way. Back in the living room, Olivia had already made some minor adjustments so Fitz could easily maneuver his wheelchair around the room. She found him in the kitchen with his hands placed firmly on the kitchen counter, a look of determination on his face.

"What are you doing?", she asked, immediately suspicious.

"I'm going to make us dinner."

"Okay…"

Olivia watched as the grip he had on the counter seemed to tighten before his body lifted out of the chair slowly.

"Fitz!", Olivia yelled. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Making dinner.", he groaned, still struggling to pull himself up.

She was by his side in an instant, placing her hands on his shoulders, effectively pushing him back into his chair.

"Hey!", Fitz exclaimed. "What the hell?"

They stared at each other, both wide-eyed. They were equally surprised by each other's action, and after a moment of shocked silence, they both began to laugh.

"I'm sorry.", Olivia giggled.

"You pushed me.", Fitz laughed incredulously. "You pushed a cripple."

There was no anger in his voice, just surprised amusement. She didn't mean to laugh, but Olivia simply couldn't help herself. The way he was looking up at her like she'd grown a second head simply made it impossible for her to remain serious.

"I can't believe you tried to get up!", she laughed. "What were you thinking?"

"What do you think I've been doing all this physical therapy for?", Fitz teased. "I am supposed to be getting up."

"But not in my kitchen! Well… you can get up in my kitchen, but not like that."

"Like what?", Fitz laughed when she giggled again.

"Like… like… all unprepared!"

"I was prepared."

"But I wasn't!"

"You're ridiculous, you know that?", he smiled, pulling her down to sit on his lap.

"I'm just trying to make sure you don't die on your first day home.", Olivia said, looking at him pointedly.

He kissed her lightly then, enjoying their first carefree, silly moment in days.

"I'm not going to die cooking dinner, Liv. I just wanted to see if I could stand long enough to prep what I can't do sitting down."

"And if you couldn't?"

"Then my ass would have been back in this chair, I guess."

Olivia sighed, placing her hand on his cheek. He hadn't shaved today and the light stubble tickled her fingertips. She loved him clean shaven, but she loved this too. Leaning in, she pecked his lips softly.

"I just worry.", she admitted. "If something were to happen to you here, I'd never forgive myself."

"Liv, nothing is going to happen and if it does it wouldn't be your fault.", Fitz tried to assure her. "As long as I am still working on recovering, there is always a possibility that I could trip or fall."

"I know. I just… I don't know what I'd do if you would hurt yourself."

"You have to stop thinking like that. There are going to be times when I'm alone here while you're at work, and while I will be careful – especially when nobody's around – you can't always worry that something is going to go horribly wrong."

"You're right.", Olivia sighed and he smiled at her. "Wanna try again?"

With a grin, Fitz pushed her off his lap and turned his wheelchair so it would face the kitchen counter again. He secured the brakes, and when he had a good hold on the counter, he pulled himself up. At first, his feet shuffled and he looked like he might tip over, but Olivia fought to control the urge to step in and help him. Fitz straightened his legs and after a moment, Olivia could see the tension leaving his arms – a sure sign that he was feeling more secure on his own two feet. He looked at her and she smiled encouragingly.

"I guess I should have grabbed everything I need before doing this, huh?", he shrugged.

"Maybe that would have made sense.", Olivia giggled. "Do you want me to get it for you?"

He looked around her kitchen, mentally calculating how many steps it would take to get to the refrigerator and back to his current spot close to the stove. He estimated that it couldn't have been more than eight steps to reach the fridge, eight steps back, and less than half a minute to take out the ingredients he would need to create a simple pasta sauce. It seemed doable. The kitchen counter connected to the side of the fridge so he would have something to hold on to all the way.

"I got it.", Fitz finally noted, a look of determination on his face.

Olivia's nerves came back with a vengeance, but she only nodded her head, hoping her smile would give Fitz the confidence he needed. The first couple of steps seemed easy enough. Olivia stayed close but never reached out to help him. Fitz made it to the fridge slowly but without issue. By the time he'd placed a couple tomatoes, an onion and a package of parmesan cheese on the counter, beats of sweat had formed on Fitz's forehead. His legs felt shaky and weak, but he refused to give up now. Slowly, much slower than on his way there, Fitz made his way back to where his wheelchair was still parked and waiting for him. He pushed the retrieved items with him until they were in a spot where he could reach them even as he sat in his chair.

"Almost there.", Olivia encouraged him as his steps turned into slowly shuffling feet that barely lifted off the floor.

He looked beyond exhausted at this point, but she'd been with him long enough to know that he wouldn't ask for help or give up until it became an undeniable necessity. Olivia watched him stop to catch his breath and she couldn't help but step closer when his knees buckled slightly.

"Almost.", Fitz agreed, breathless.

Three steps later Fitz plopped down into his wheelchair with a pained groan. His head dropped back and he stared at the ceiling, trying to catch his breath as he waited for the burning in his thighs to lessen. Olivia's concerned face came into his line of sight suddenly – big, beautiful eyes looking down at him.

"I did it.", he mumbled.

"You did.", Olivia confirmed, her smile just barely masking her obvious worry. "Now, what time can I expect dinner?"

Fitz chuckled and puckered his lips, wordlessly asking for a kiss. Olivia didn't think twice before taking his face into her hands and kissing him noisily, the upside-down kiss not nearly as glamourous as it looked in every cheesy movie she'd ever watched. They shared a laugh.

"Do you need something for the pain?", she asked, because she knew it could become an issue and his doctor had prescribed him something for that very reason.

"I think I will be okay.", Fitz decided. "I'm not really in a lot of pain right now; I just feel weak."

He didn't like taking medication unless it became absolutely necessary.

"Can I help you make dinner?"

He'd wanted to make their first homemade dinner together for her, but Fitz realized that they would be much quicker and more efficient if he would just let her help from here on out. It didn't mean that he couldn't contribute to the cooking process, but it would certainly help to have her supply the things that were difficult to reach.

"Alright.", Fitz agreed with a smile. "Do you want to start the water for the pasta and maybe get me a cutting board and a knife? I'll make you my famous sauce."

"It's famous?", she asked, clearly teasing.

"It is. It's all in the way you dice the tomatoes.", he explained, half-serious.

"You sound pretty sure of yourself for a guy that lives off of take-out."

"It's just not much fun to cook for yourself, you know."

She did, because she had been in the same situation for a long time now. Olivia smiled at him, and without another word they began working on dinner. The silence was anything but awkward, and when the delicious scent of Fitz's pasta sauce began to fill her kitchen, Olivia realized that her apartment felt a little bit more like a home.