A/N: I know many of you are so sad to see this Olitz part in distance but I hope you will stick around for this journey:) As always I truly appreciate your kindness and sincerely thank you for all the feedback whether it's through a review, tweet, PM or DM! I've been busy getting ready for the holidays so this chapter isn't as long as I originally planned, however I still hope on updating weekly (at least that's my goal lol). I wish everyone a great week and again thank you so much for reading! Xoxo

Chapter 25: Blue

Samantha screeched when she saw Olivia and ran towards her like a young school girl. Although Olivia appreciated the welcome she understandably didn't show an equal response when greeting her longtime friend.

The flight home was difficult for a variety of reasons, the main one being she couldn't seem to get Fitz out of her mind. Her sunglasses remained glued to her face and she couldn't stop herself from tuning out all the gossip her friend was unloading the moment she saw her.

The two women walked through the parking garage of the airport and Samantha interlocked arms with Olivia like she always did. By the time they reached her vehicle she had learned Denise, her understudy, was continuing to make a name for her self as Olivia's replacement. Critics consistently praised each performance and she could sense the animosity growing between her closest friend and interim stand in.

Olivia remained quiet and rummaged through her purse one handed after climbing into the front seat of her jeep. Her luggage was now secured safely in the back and she finally took out her phone and rested it on her lap. They were now leaving the airport and Olivia powered her phone back on and stared out the window. The city was just as she remembered it and the bumper to bumper traffic was a rude awakening she most definitely was no longer in the slow moving town of Troy.

Samantha eventually tuned into her melancholy demeanor and asked Olivia about her trip - forcing her to retrieve from her shell. She could see the concern spread across her friends face and tried her best to give her a small smile.

"My trip was good." She said. Her voice unexpectedly cracked when responding and she decided to share what weighed heavily on her heart. "I've really fallen for him, Sam."

Her friend turned at the confession, her eyes wide and semi stunned. A loud honk suddenly sounded forcing Samantha to return her attention to the traffic ahead. Olivia typically didn't make grand statements like this and she suspected this is why Samantha looked so caught off guard. Silence filled the car until a warm hand reached over and gently grabbed hers. The gesture itself spoke volumes and gave Olivia the permission she needed to let go. Tears filled her eyes as they had been doing all day but this time she didn't push them away. They fell freely down her cheeks and all she could do was rest her head back against the leather and close her eyes.

For the next twenty-five blocks Olivia sobbed in the comfort of her best friends car while Samantha held her hand the entire way. No words were spoken and Olivia appreciated the time to let her emotions out. This mini breakdown went against everything she was ever taught growing up and could only imagine how she must have looked crying so uncontrollably. She was too heartbroken to feel ashamed and she held on to her friends hand as if it was a life preserve. The only time Samantha let her grip go was to hand her some tissue for her nose she kept in the center console.

It was an endearing moment between two girlfriends and represented the very heart of friendship. She was safe with Samantha knew her heartache was something she would never ever be judged for...

When they finally arrived at the theater both women headed straight for her dressing room. Olivia's bags were taken from Samantha's car and the head of security assured her they would be taken directly to her condo. Very few people passed her in the hallway and she was grateful for her large sunglasses that shielded her from the outside world.

Samantha darted a few steps ahead and opened the door for Olivia. She was instantly greeted with a room filled with every color tulip imaginable. They both stopped in the center of the dressing room and looked around in complete and utter awe.

"It appears someone has also fallen hard for you," Samantha spoke, breaking the silence. When Olivia didn't respond, she eventually continued.

"I'll let you get settled. Dress rehearsal is set for 4:00."

Olivia reached for her friends arm and turned to face her directly before she left. It was the first words Samantha spoke to her since her crying spell and Olivia felt her appreciation needed to be expressed before they parted.

"Thank you, Sam. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Samantha hugged her tight and kissed her cheek quickly before finally turning to leave.

"If you haven't noticed by now, your kinda stuck with me," she jokingly responded. It brought a small smile to Olivia's face and she watched her friend eventually leave, closing the door behind her.

She turned back to face the overwhelming amount of flowers that adored nearly every inch of her room. After a quick scan she finally spotted a small white card in the corner near her mirror. As she walked closer to it she saw her typed name on the front. She grabbed the card and sat down on a nearby chair trying to avoid her own reflection in the mirror.

The envelope was sealed and she slowly opened the back pulling the card from the inside. One sentence filled the space and read as follows:

I love you.

-III

Olivia slowly inhaled and stared at the card in her hands, eventually closing her eyes. She wanted nothing more than to crawl into a ball and cry her eyes out but knew doing so wouldn't change anything. Instead she allowed her mind to fill with thoughts of him and their time together. She leaned back and instantly thought of laying with Fitz in front of the fire. That time with him was by far her favorite and the vision of him carrying fresh wood inside his home was something she would never forget.

Suddenly phone rang and she quickly stood and grabbed her bag that she dropped earlier near the door. The caller ID indicated it was Fitz and she didn't hesitate to answer. His deep voice filled the line after she said hello and she returned to her seat with his card still safely snug in the palm of her hand.

"How are you? Did you have a good flight?"

"The flight was fine. I'm battling a headache at the moment... I just arrived at the theater. Dress rehearsal is in an hour."

Silence filled the line until Fitz finally responded ignoring everything she previously stated.

"Have you been crying?"

Olivia shook her head at the question and embarrassment washed over her. She hated being this way and desperately wanted to be an adult. She felt childish yet didn't want to hide the fact that leaving him deeply affected her.

"I was. I'm not anymore," she replied honestly. How are you? How did it go with the lawyers?"

She knew they were meeting today and was eager to know the outcome.

"Please don't cry, Livvie. I can't stand knowing you are so upset..."

More quiet filled the line and Olivia stood unable to keep still. She needed a hot shower and to feel normal again. Once she was able to clear her head she was certain everything else would fall into place.

"Thank you for the flowers. I have never seen blue tulips before. I had no idea they even existed." She stared at the flowers across the room and the memory of him watching her board her flight came to mind. The color reminded her so much of his eyes and she couldn't get the similarity out of her mind.

"I wish I could be there tonight."

She could hear the regret in his voice and it snapped her back to reality. She began to pace the floor of her dressing room, walking back and forth.

"Funny I was thinking the same thing. I miss Troy almost as much as I miss you..."

Olivia heard Fitz inhale through the phone and she couldn't help but share her truth. She found herself missing the slow pace of the town and that surprised her more than anything.

"I'm headed to my parents place now," he finally replied. "I just left a meeting with my attorneys. We go to court next week. Neither one of us are budging and it looks like the good people of St. Louis will decide whose at fault."

She could hear a hint of sarcasm in his voice and winced at his statement. He was going to court next week which meant he wasn't returning to New York anytime soon.

Olivia's throat went dry and she couldn't say anything in response although she wanted to. Soon a knock on the door sounded and Olivia turned to see Samantha's face peering through the doorway. She held up her hand indicting she needed five more minutes. When the door closed she found the words and responded, speaking the first thing that came to mind.

"Did your dad return today?"

Her voice was steady and she was happy she was able to maintain a small bit of composure.

"He gets in tonight. I'm going to stay with them for a few days."

"Why?" Olivia quickly interrupted. For reasons she couldn't explain she wanted him to be in his home when she spoke to him at night.

"I just need a few days, Liv. It's just too soon for me."

Olivia stopped mid step and quickly realized what he meant by it being too soon. She crossed her arms and stood against a wall slightly shaking her head again.

"You don't want to be there without me, do you?"

More silence took over and Olivia listened closely to the background noise of him driving. She imagined him behind the wheel and caught glimpse of her reflection again in the large mirror across from her. She looked horrible, her nose red and eyes sunken in. The make up department was going to have a field day putting her together for tonight and she could only imagine the horror on their faces once they saw her. She closed her eyes and tried to make sense of how fast her life seemed to change in less than a months time. They were both grown adults acting as if their world just ended...

After a long pause, Fitz replied and it was his turn to share his truth with her.

"I just can't be there, Liv. At least not right now-"

"Tell me this is going to get better. Please."

"It's going to get better, Livvie. I know it is. We just need time to get used to this. Call me tonight when you get in. When my parents go to bed we can have phone sex..."

His voice dropped and octave and it made Olivia laugh. She could sense him smiling through the phone, which in turn made her smile. For the first time that entire day she felt hope and it was comforting knowing Fitz too was also struggling in his own way.

"I love you," she quietly spoke into the phone.

"I love you, baby. Good luck tonight."

Olivia eventually pressed a button ending the call and continued to stand with her back pressed against the wall. She looked at her reflection again in the mirror and mentally tried to prepare for what was to come. For most of her life, her career always came first and for the first time ever she wasn't thinking of the stage or performing or the critics or even the fact she was actually doing what she always loved. She was thinking of growing old with someone and having a family and spending quiet nights in front of a wood burning fireplace...

Time felt as if it stood still until another knock sounded and Samantha once again peeked through the doorway. She saw Olivia was off the phone and eventually came all the way inside closing the door behind her. She looked suspiciously excited and Olivia stared at her, eventually raising her hands asking her to share what was on her mind.

"We're sold out."

Her voice was giddy and Olivia blinked several times trying to understand how anyone other than her cast mates knew she was returning. Before she could ask, Samantha answered her question for her, handing her a newspaper she didn't notice was in her hand when she came in.

"Page Six."

Olivia's eyes grew wide at the full page spread. Her picture was in color and perfectly captured a pivotal moment during her opening number. In large bold letters the words, "She's Back" were strategically placed alongside the photograph outlining the curves of her body. It was sexy and alluring and tugged at her heart in all the right ways.

"We need to go, Liv."

She returned the newspaper to Samantha and took a deep breath before finally nodding her head in agreement. Things were beginning to feel semi normal and that deep rooted adrenaline she once felt before going on stage returned. She turned to Samantha and nodded and her friend quickly opened the door for them. Olivia followed close behind and took one step out of her dressing room when something suddenly stopped her. She turned back to look at the flowers that adored her room and zoned in on the blue tulips.

"Wait..." Olivia called over her shoulder.

She walked over to the bouquet and lifted one of flowers breaking it in half. The color was so striking and something inside of her was unexplainably drawn to it. She stared at her reflection again in the mirror and held the flower up, eventually placing it behind her ear. The color complemented her skin and gave her an idea about changing the opening number.

Olivia once in a while surprised the audience serenading them with a slow romantic melody before the curtains opened. She hadn't broken character like this in a long time and wasn't sure if her director would go for the idea considering this was a sold out show. Her mind began to race when Samantha's reflection caught her gaze in the mirror.

"Sing Blue," she said from across the room practically speaking her innermost thoughts. "The crowd will go crazy."

Olivia thought for a few minutes, continuing to stare at the flower. The song, Blue, was Olivia's soulful rendition of a popular 90's country song. She sang it twice this past year as a spur of the moment surprise and it was an instant hit with the audience. The song went well with the story line and even though she sang it out of character it was a perfect transition into their opening number. And the truth was, she honestly felt blue and what a better way to let the world know exactly how she was feeling. The words were the complete opposite of how Fitz felt about her and it was that little secret that suddenly made her feel so alive inside.

Samantha continued to stare at her and eventually Olivia nodded her head yes, making eye contact with her friend through the mirror.

"I am."

She returned her attention back to the flower for a short while before finally turning on her heals to leave. Samantha was smiling near the door and extended her hand out to Olivia. She smiled in return and took her friends hand into hers squeezing it tightly. Her two worlds were about to collide and and it was the perfect way to ease herself back onto the stage.

Olivia took one last look at all the flowers before she finally closed the door behind her. She left her dressing room confident, knowing that her performance would be for one person in particular...Fitzgerald Grant III.

And that's exactly who she would be singing to tonight.