She's suddenly awoken, yanked from her sleep, by a lack of oxygen. She reflexively jerks up and her eyes fly open, landing on chubby carmel cheeks and a wide grin. She pries the tiny hand from her nose and wraps Gerry tight in a bear hug, planting kisses all over his face, making him squirm and laugh and shriek.

He's finally able to worm out of her grasp and quickly relocates to the other side of the bed, bouncing up and down, giggling as the mattress shifts under his weight and springs back up. Olivia sits up and tries to coax him away from the edge of the bed, fearing that he'll lose his balance. He starts to, and she sees it happening, but before she can reach him, bring him back to safety, he's out of sight and there's a loud thud.

She pushes the covers off and is on the floor next to him in less than a second. He's sitting up, stunned. But he sees the fear on her face, and tears well up in his eyes as he crawls over to her. She opens her arms and brings him close, rubbing soothing circles on his back and he burrows his face into her neck, tears beginning to fall. She softly chants, "It's ok Gerry. You're ok."

Fitz runs in from the bathroom and sees them on the floor. "What happened? Is he ok?"

Gerry turns to look into Fitz's general direction, but doesn't bother to pick up his head off of Olivia's shoulder. She kisses the top of his head and stands, Gerry still wrapped up tightly in her arms. "Your son just went for a tumble off the edge of the bed, didn't ya bud?." And she runs her fingers through his hair.

Fitz gives Gerry and sympathetic look. "Hey Ger, where does it hurt?" And the baby motions to his elbow.

"Do you want to know what makes everything feel better?" And Gerry nods his head in affirmation.

He smiles and walks closer to them, slowly whispering in his ear, but purposely loud enough for Olivia to hear. "Kisses from mommy."

A small smile creeps onto Gerry's face, tears still in his eyes, as he picks his head up and looks back at Olivia. She smiles and kisses the top of his head, and them his forehead, and cheeks and shoulder and finally his little elbow.

"How's that? Any better?"

Gerry nods his head.

"You know what else makes everything better? Having daddy cook us all breakfast. Why don't you go with him and help."

She smiles at Fitz and he takes the hint, reaching out to take Gerry from her arms. He reluctantly goes, and Fitz kisses his head too. "C'mon bud, let's make mommy her favorite. And then after breakfast we can go get you your Halloween costume and see Nana." Fitz turns and starts to walk out the door, but Olivia stops them.

"Wait." And she walks up to them. "Here's one more for the road." And she kisses Gerry's elbow again. "And one for you too, Daddy." And she places a chaste kiss on his lips and turns back toward the bathroom, but she can still hear Fitz talking.

"Wow aren't we the luckiest guys in the world." And he holds his hand up waiting for a high five. Gerry smiles and whacks his hand as hard as possible. "I loooove mommy." "Me too, little man. Me too."

And she stands in the bathroom smiling to herself for a few second as she hears them finally leave the room.


"Zooooombie!"

She holds up a pumpkin costume. "How about this one, Ger?"

"Liv, he was a pumpkin last year. How about Buzz? You love Buzz, bud."

He kicks his feet against the kart and points his pointer finger in the air. "No. Zoooombie!"

Olivia shoots Fitz a knowing look. "I'm going to kill your brother."

He smiles. "But I thought he was your favorite Grant boy."

"We all know who my favorite Grant boy is. And John's trying to corrupt him."

"Does that mean I move up a spot on the list?" And he gives her a charming smile.

"Not a chance." And she turns back to Gerry and hold up a superman costume. "How about this one Gerbear?"

He studies the picture for a moment and his face lights up. "Yesssss."

Olivia smiles and tosses the package into the back of the kart. She starts to tickle Gerry's belly and he laughs and flails his limbs around. Fitz joins in, pressing kisses all over Gerry's face until he notices a few people standing in the aisle. He looks up at them.

"You're Fitzgerald Grant right?"

He takes a step forward, subconsciously shielding Olivia and Gerry. He smiles weakly. "I am."

The two older ladies turn to each other and smile. "Can we uh maybe take a picture with you?"

Olivia nods and he steps forward, posing for the picture with the women. "You have a beautiful family."

"We're pulling for you come November."

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Have a good day."

"You too." And they turn and walk away.

He turns back to Olivia and wrapping his arm around her as he kisses her temple. "C'mon lets get out if here and go see your parents."

They walk out of the store hand in hand with Gerry running circles around them, laughing and chanting "zoooombie."


The calm before the storm. Get ready people