Chapter 21

"What do you mean, you're still the head of B613," Abby demanded?

Quinn asked, "When were you ever head of B613?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, "I became Command on inauguration day. I know this is all crazy, but I felt at the time that it was the right thing to do. However, I told Fitz that I would shut it down, but then all that shit with Jake happened, then I went on bed rest. Things got away from me, and I never got to formally shut it down."

It was Huck who asked, "Olivia, how do you think that B613 can help?"

Fitz said, "Don't worry. Once all of this has been taken care of she will promptly shut down B613."

"Huck, B613 gives us access to intelligence that we wouldn't normally have access to in order to get ahead of Cyrus, and my parents," Olivia pleaded.

Fitz wasn't at all pleased with his wife's continued involvement in the spy organization, but he understood that this might be their only chance. He said, "Plus, this gives us access to extra manpower. Our issue has always been that we allow Olivia's parents, and even Cyrus to remain free."

Olivia interjected, "I've come to the realization that fighting for this familial relationship with my parents is toxic to my life. As a matter of fact it's toxic to all of our lives."

Huck said, "I can admit that much is true."

Mellie said, "I don't think that it's wise for me to take part of this conversation. You know? Maybe I should try, and maintain my deniability."

Mellie was really plucking her nerves today. Olivia said, "We aren't speaking about concrete plans. I just wanted you to be aware so that you can be alert. So that you can keep your eye on Cy. I will handle the rest, and hopefully be done with you forever."

"You'll never be done with me. You're married to my ex-husband/babies' daddy. We will be in one another's lives for a good long time," Mellie taunted.

Olivia rolled her eyes. She mumbled, "Oh joy. We can't get everything that we want in life, I guess."

Abby said, "Ok, that was very awkward. Anyway, so now that we know the monster we're dealing with we need to make a tactical plan."

Quinn asked, "Can we at least eat first? I'm starving. When is the food coming?"

Abby shook her head. Mellie said, "Well, as previously stated I can't be apart of that conversation. Plus, I didn't even come here for that. I came here to see the house. To make sure that my children with be safe, and comfortable while they are staying here."

Charlie asked, "You're children have been spending time here when it Fitz's turn all this time, and you're just now coming to check the place out?"

Abby snickered, and Quinn exclaimed, "Charlie? That isn't any of our business. Doesn't sound like good parenting to me, but not our concern."

This time Marcus tried to stifle a laugh. Mellie turned in his direction, and glared at him. He held up his hands. He said, "I'm not saying that you're a bad mother, but you have to admit it was kind of funny."

Mellie rolled her eyes. She turned to Olivia. She asked,"Is it ok if I see the children's room, or rooms?"

Olivia walked towards Mellie. She said, "Sure, and it's rooms. Karen is an adult, and Teddy is a young boy. We know the importance of separate lodging space."

Olivia took Mellie to Teddy's room first. Mellie stood in the doorway, and smiled in awe. The room wasn't just a room for him to sleep. It was actually decorated with his favorite superhero. There were books, and toys. It was a little boy's dream.

Mellie turned to Olivia. She said, "Wow, you really made a place for him here."

Olivia shrugged, "Of course. This is just as much his home, as his home at the White House."

Mellie didn't say anything. She just turned back to look at her son's bedroom. She was amazed at how well Fitz, and Olivia treated her children. It wasn't that Mellie expected them to mistreat her children. Olivia was a good person. Plus, Fitz loved his children. It was just that they had a new baby, and she thought that somehow her children would take a backseat to all the love the new family of three shared. However, from what she could tell her children were indeed a valuable part of their family.

Olivia said, "I can show you Karen's room now, if you want. Teddy is probably in her room with her."

They continued down the hall. Olivia stopped outside of Karen's door. She knocked and said, "Kare?"

Karen didn't answer. Olivia rolled her eyes to the ceiling. Karen was far too old for these little tantrums. Taking a deep breath Olivia entered the room with Mellie on her heels. Teddy was sitting at Karen's desk playing a game on his iPad. Karen was lying across her bed texting on her phone.

Without looking Karen said, "I didn't say that you could come in here. Does my father know that you entered my room without my permission?"

Mellie gasped and said, "Karen!"

Before she could say anything else Olivia shook her head. She said, "I've got it. Karen this is my house. I will enter any room that I want. Look, I've already told you that you're not going to disrespect me in my house."

Karen had startled at hearing her mother's voice. She turned and faced her mother and step mother. She asked, "Mom, what're you doing here?"

Mellie squinted at her daughter. She and Olivia had their differences, but Mellie wasn't really feeling the blatant disrespect that Karen was displaying towards her stepmother. She answered, "I came over to discuss some things with your father, and stepmother. Karen, I can't believe I just witnessed you speaking to Olivia so disrespectfully. After all she has done to make you feel comfortable, and at home."

The doorbell rang. Karen looked at Olivia with pleading eyes as if begging her to help her out with her mother. Olivia excused herself, "That's probably the food."

Olivia walked into the kitchen. The whole team was in the kitchen unloading the food. Marcus said, "We have a plan that we want to run by you, Olivia."

Olivia raised an eyebrow. She asked, "So, is anyone going to tell me about this plan?"

Quinn said, "Well, since you're B613, you have access to great technology. We're thinking we can bug Cy. Bug him, your parents, and whomever else is working with them. Once we get them talking about something incriminating that's our chance to pounce. We hack into the television airwaves, and blast their coup live on television. That way we can have all we need to expose them, and make them pay for what they're trying to do."

Olivia squinted thinking about the plan that was just shared with her. If they played this well, it could actually work out. They just had to be sure that they were extra careful. They couldn't get caught. If they got caught this could really go left, and give Cyrus the upper hand.

Fitz slid a plate of food over to his wife. He asked, "Where's Mel?"

Just then Teddy walked into the kitchen saying, "Mommy is yelling at Karen her for being dispectful to Liv. Daddy is there food for me? I'm hungry."

Fitz went to the cabinet grabbing another plate for his son. "Of course buddy! I was just about to come get you to eat. You wanna run and tell your mom, and sister that the food is here while I make your plate?"

Teddy ran off yelling, "Mommy, Kare the food is here. It's time to come eat."

After a few moment, Mellie, Karen, and Teddy joined the rest in the kitchen. They ate while keeping up a very lively conversation. After all of the food had been consumed Olivia's team, and Marcus went their separate ways.

Olivia was trying to coax a burp out of Ava. She had just finished feeding the infant. Mellie said, "Ok, so I don't understand why Karen was so rude to Olivia earlier."

Olivia said, "We're having a rough day. Karen seems to think that she knows what's best for herself, when she actually doesn't know anything."

Fitz interjected, "Don't worry about it, Mel. I'll handle this with Karen."

Mellie shook her head, and glared at her daughter. She said, "I'm sure you will, but I want to make something crystal clear to Karen."

Olivia said, "Mellie, it's really not necessary."

Mellie stood and said, "But it is. Karen you've been disrespectful to both myself, and your father. We should have nipped it in the bud then, but what you won't do is disrespect Olivia. From what I can see she has gone above, and beyond the call of her duty as stepmother. She understands that you're an adult. You have a mother. She didn't have to be so welcoming. If she, and your father make rules then you need to abide by them. Your father also told me about the back and forth game. I'm going to nip that in the bud as well. You said you wanted to live here. Here is where you will live. You're not going to bounce between here and there in order to get your way."

Fitz stood this time. He said, "Your mother is absolutely right. Also, there is something you said, that has been bothering me ever sense. You made the comment that Ava isn't your sister."

Mellie gasped as her eye flew to karen, and then to Olivia. She couldn't believe that Karen said something like that.

Fitz continued, "You can be angry. You're entitled to that, and I can't tell you how to feel, but you will not say mean things to, or about your sister in order to get under my skin, or Olivia's. Ava is a baby so she has no clue what was said, or what it meant, but there will come a time when she will. You're not going to hurt your siblings because you want to behave like a spoiled brat. You have to grow up, Karen. It's not fair that you have to live this complicated life, but these complications have also afforded you great privilege. When you're given so much privilege, you're given even greater responsibility."

Olivia quietly tried to exit the room. Fitz stopped her. "No, Livvie. Stay. When we got married we decided that we weren't going to lead separate lives anymore. We said that we were going to go through everything together. That included coparenting with Mellie."

Mellie scoffed and said, "Didn't you all think that maybe it would have been a little more productive for you all to include me in that conversation?"

"Does everything have to be about you, Mellie," Fitz asked?

Olivia said in a calm voice, "Well she's right. We made this deal to coparent with her, but we never ever spoke to her. How are we supposed to be united if not everyone on the team is aware that they're on the team."

Fitz thought about what his wife said, and she was right. Sometimes dealing with Mellie was a chore. So at times he chose to just avoid her. However, he got it now. The three of them had to start talking more. He made a note to get their coparenting back on track after they got Cyrus taken care of.

Olivia looked at Karen, "Look, I want you to be in this family. It's your right. However, I can't make you like me. You don't have to like me. Anyway, it's like your father, and you mother said. You can't disrespect me in my own house. You also can't use your sister to get back at me. You'll stay here until the threat is over, and then you have to make a decision. You can be apart of the family which includes me, and Ava, or you can not. I don't deal with bullshit from old ass men. I'm definitely not dealing with it from a pampered spoiled young adult."

Karen looked at the three of them. Obviously they were standing together. She had a choice to make.