I really am not sure where this chapter came from, but there's something about filling in the gaps of their past and how they were both dealing with it that continues to draw me in. I promise to try and get back to Mellie in the present, hard to fight where the story goes tho lol. xx
Mellie was sitting as far away from Fitz as she possibly could in the back of the well tinted Town Car. Her head was resting on the window as one of her delicate fingers traced the rain drops as they streaked across the cold glass. Her other hand lightly rubbing her newly showing belly. Fitz fidgeted uncomfortably, he wanted to move closer to her and offer her some sort of comfort, even hold her hand if she'd let him. They'd barely been speaking to each other, let alone touching. He really wasn't sure what had come over her and this was the first he'd even given thought to 'why', pregnancy hormones perhaps. They were fighting constantly over everything and nothing, the 'honeymoon period' certainly had passed he thought sighing heavily. He was annoyed he had to accompany her if she was going to ignore him the entire time they were in North Carolina, there was certainly enough Cyrus had for him to do back home. It was never ending with that man.
Fitz continued watching his wife as the Town Car carried them from the airport to her father's estate. He wasn't sure how to comfort her right now, he felt like he didn't know her at all anymore and it added anger to his already annoyed state. He tried to push those feelings aside for now, he needed to focus on her wellbeing. A few days prior they had received an early morning phone call, the kind you dread, the kind you know is bad news just from the eery sound of the ring echoing through the house. He had been the one to rise and answer it and he was glad he had. Fitz returned to bed to find his pregnant wife sitting up and staring off at the distance, her blue eyes full of concern. He approached her cautiously, nervous about how to deliver the news that her beloved Grandmother had suddenly passed away. Shuttering he tried to shake off memories of the sound of Mellie's sobs after he told her. His eyes drifted back to where she sat, almost catatonic across the backseat from him, he opened his mouth to speak to her but no words would form.
When the car finally started its dissent up the long driveway was when he saw her really move for the first time since they had gotten in. She sat upright and looked ready to launch herself out of the car as soon as it stopped, like a child seeing their favorite park out the window and clamoring to get out. Before the car even came to a stop she had her hand wrapped around the handle and she bolted as soon as it was safe.
"Mel" Fitz said after her sternly, he was worried about her and his unborn child. She had barely eaten or slept since she got the news and he wasn't sure she could safely hop out of the car like that, but she was gone before the words even left his mouth
"Daddy" he heard her cry out and watched through her still open door as she flung herself into the arms of her father burying her face into his chest sobbing.
Fitz got out of the car following the door being opened by the driver, thanked him and headed for the house. No one had stayed to welcome him, Mellie and her father had already gone inside. He almost didn't even feel like going in, but helped the driver with their luggage. Just when he got in to the foyer, Fitz caught the last glimpse of Mellie being helped up the grand staircase by her father. Fitz huffed and rolled his jaw, he was annoyed with her cutting him out but then again at least she was allowing someone to comfort her.
"Hey Fitzie" He heard Harmony's southern drawl coming from the kitchen. "How the hell ya been" she asked walking towards him with open arms
"Fine" he said forcing a smile and set down the bags he was holding to give her a hug. Harmony followed his eyes up the stairs and patted him on the chest
"Daddy's girl" Harmony said and beckoned him to follow her
Harmony was already pouring him a glass of bourbon by the time he made it to the kitchen, he happily accepted it.
Mellie made it to her room with the help of her father, she hugged him once more before walking towards her bed. It felt nice to be held again and for the first time in a long time she felt safe even if the grief was eating away at her.
"I want Fitz to sleep in his own room" she said laying down on the bed and curling up into the fetal position. She heard her father sigh heavily from the doorway, Mellie could tell he was trying to decide if he wanted to be bothered with her issues or not. She may be 'daddy's little girl' but she was no fool, she knew her father would rather buy her something shiny than hear about her marital issues.
She felt the weight of him sitting on the bed before he responded "Why would that be Melody" he asked stroking her auburn bob. Mellie could tell he wanted to ask what had happened to her long hair, he always loved her long curls.
"I'd rather be alone right now" she lied and unconsciously rubbed her belly
"When was the last time you had something to eat" he asked placing his hand over hers "You're not the only one you're eating for these days." Mellie wanted to enjoy something as loving as her father feeling her baby bump for the first time, but the bile threaten to rise in her throat and tears began to streak down her face. In her emotional state she couldn't block out the fear of carrying her rapist baby. She was thankful her tears could be passed off on the loss of her Grandmother. The utter pain of everything she was dealing with was becoming too much to bear.
"Oh my sweet girl" he said rubbing her back trying to sooth her
"Daddy its too much" she said her voice barely audible. The smallest piece of her wanted to tell him, to tell anyone. To unburden herself of what had happened to her, but she knew no good could come from her father knowing the truth. At the least he would be ashamed, probably try to hurt Fitz or Jerry and at the worst… she shuttered… he would blame her.
"Melody Elizabeth… I have something for you" he said shifting on the bed, snapping her out of her dark thoughts "I… I was going to wait until after to give it to you, but it seems to me you could use a bit of strength right now"
Mellie attempted to stop her tears, turning slightly to face him.
"Your grandmother wanted you to have these" he said producing a velvet box "I know you already know their history as well as that of the women who's necks they've graced. The strong women who's blood flows through your veins." He said wiping the remains of her tears after she sat up to take the box from him.
"Grandmama's pearls" Mellie said opening the box. She gently ran her fingers over the strand as new tears filled in her eyes. She pictured her beloved grandmother and these very pearls ever present around her neck, how she admired them both. A woman of stature, grace, confidence, and such strength. "Thank you" she whispered
"Why don't you take a rest then wash up for dinner" He said kissing her forehead.
Fitz was well plied with bourbon and sinking in a large leather chair near a roaring fire by the time Mellie came back downstairs. She ignored him like always and sat in the furthest chair from him she could. He could see her blue eyes were surrounded by red from tears as she stared off into the fire, there was something different about her now he couldn't put his finger on it. She was toying with a strand of pearls he hadn't see before with her delicate hand. Fitz scoffed loud enough for her to hear and rolled his eyes. 'Daddy bought her another gift to change her attitude' he thought.
Mellie snapped her eyes away from the fire and towards Fitz upon hearing his scoff. She could tell he was drunk and she wanted nothing to do with him.
"What" she said in a low growl
"Jesus Christ, you really want to pick a fight now" he hurled back at her
"That is the last thing I want Fitzgerald" she snapped back and rose to leave
"Mel wait" he said getting up to follow her "I'm sorry…"
Fitz crossed the room faster than she was leaving it and grabbed her by the shoulder. Mellie flinched at his touch but stopped.
"Hey" he said turning her around "I am sorry… I'm supposed to be here to comfort you, if you'd let me… I'd really like to do that" he softly placed a hand under her chin and lifted her face to meet his
Mellie stared into his eyes, he thought for the briefest moment he could detect fear in them but she began touching the strand of pearls at her neck neck once more and that difference in her demeanor he thought he had noticed earlier returned.
"Its okay…." she said sucking in a deep breath "I'm okay" she finished forcing a weak smile. Forcing was an understatement. She could smell the bourbon on his breath and the roar of the fire combined with his grip on her arm was all too familiar. She swallowed hard trying to keep her emotions in check.
"These are new" he said lightly touching her hand that was still caressing the pearls and trying to pretend the gift didn't annoy him. The type of gift he still couldn't afford. He was starting to believe only gifts could buy her affection these days.
"Not exactly" she responded closing her eyes and fighting back more tears "They were Grandmama's… she left them for me… for strength" she finished in a whisper. And oh how I need her strength with me now she thought.
Fitz didn't even know how to respond, he felt like an ass. "Beautiful" he finally managed to say and wrapped his arms around her. For the first time in what felt like forever she actually hugged him back.
—- - -
Fitz found himself alone in the Oval again. He was sitting behind his desk with a newly drafted statement, the paper still warm from the printer. So much had changed now that there was a face, a name to place on the organization that was claiming to have Mellie. Olivia had been right, someone came a long and was in charge now, someone with the brain of a mastermind. They were careful with their release of Mellie's scarf, never coming right out and admitting to anything, as Liv had put it "They want us to say it's hers for them".
He dropped the statement down on the desk and reached back into his pocket to retrieve Mellie's pearls. Fitz laid them delicately on the desk and ran a finger across the strands.
"Mr. President" Lauren said opening his door. Fitz didn't even look up, his focus was still on the strand of pearls. "Mr President, Mr. Carlyle is here to see you. " she said nervously
Fitz sucked in a deep breath, he hadn't even entertained the idea of Mellie's father showing up at the White House and he wasn't entirely prepared for how this meeting would go. Despite Mellie's new found forgiveness for his transgressions, Carter Carlyle was far from being a fan of his.
"Of course" Fitz managed to say and moved to stand
"Fitzgerald" Carter's southern drawl, thicker than normal, echoed through the Oval.
'It's Mr President' Fitz thought through gritted teeth but chose to avoid yet another argument he truly had no energy for. "Sir" he finally responded. He thought he should move to hug the man or even shake his hand but he feet remained rooted behind his desk.
"Where in God's name is my daughter" he growled after Lauren shut the door.
"That's not really something I can discu…" Fitz started to say and Carter cut him off approaching his desk. The man was taller than Fitz and broad and despite his age he looked fit and muscular. For the briefest moment Fitz actually feared him.
"Don't give me that bullshit" he said "Where the hell is she and what are you doing about it" and he firmly slammed the palm of his hands on to the resolute desk
"Sir… I'm not trying to be difficult I really can not dis" and again Fitz was cut off
"Those are Melody's" he said pointing to the strand of pearls "Why… why do you have them, she always has them with her" his eyes never left the pearls as he spoke. And he was right, Fitz was still surprised to find them here and not with Mellie, something he was still grateful for
"She left in a hurry, she must have forgotten them" Fitz said
"Forgotten?" Carter questioned his eyes finally returning to Fitz "Impossible"
"She was distracted the morning she left…" Fitz said remembering how he had surprised her in the closet "Trying to get Teddy ready… she must have… forgotten" he said again.
Carter's eyes began to well with tears and he asked once more "Where is she". Fitz realized he hadn't asked yet if she was even okay, probably something he couldn't bring himself to do.
Letting out a heavy sigh and finally moving from the back of his desk, but not before grabbing the pearls. He gestured to the couch as he spoke "To be honest… Carter…. I don't know" he said sadly and sunk into the couch
"You will find her" Carter said firmly, opting not to take a seat
"I must" Fitz said in a whisper
Melody Elizabeth Carlyle just seems to have a nice ring to it : )