FITZ'S POV
I watched as Liv handed Avery her doll and she sat down in the pews at the church. Teddy was on Liv's left side, Lex and Kate and Matthew were at the end. My mom, dad and i on her right as Mason sat on Lex's lap and Avery on mine. My family was never into religion, we were all supporting Liv since it was a tradition with her dad that she intended to keep.
FLASHBACK
"Livvie?" I sat down next to her after the funeral. It had been an hour since the rest of the church left. She sat in the same spot i had left her in. She said she needed a few minutes alone and before we realized we left her in there for an hour. I offered to get her since Teddy had her all morning and got her ready for the day.
"Fitz" she sniffled "I can't leave.. If i leave it's like i'm saying goodbye" She looked up at me with her tear stained face. I pushed her hair back and held her hand.
"Your dad loved you Livvie, he wouldn't want you sitting in here crying. He would want you to try and get some peace. He loved you Liv, till the day he died he loved you. Don't you ever doubt that"
"He didn't-"
"He remembered you Liv, he remembered his Libby" i stepped closer into the pew and swarmed her with a hug. I rocked her side to side slowly as she started sobbing, my heart breaking for her. That was definitely the day that the old Livvie got stored away for a very long time.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Fitz? Why is mommy crying?!" Avery whispered in my ear as she squirmed looking at Liv who was now wiping her tears as she rested her head on mom's shoulder, Teddy rubbed her back.
"Let's go for a walk?" I noticed she was getting antsy and it was only an amount of time before she started to get bored and make noise. She nodded and we stood quietly letting Dad know we would be back.
"Where we going Fitz?" Avery asked as i let her down onto the bench "oh" she giggled
"Mommy has a hard time around holiday's"
"Cause her other daddy died?"
"She told you about her other dad?"
"Yep! She said Poppy is her dad too though"
I smiled "Well, she misses her dad a lot so when she comes out you make sure you give her lots of kisses and hugs alright?"
"Okay Fitz!" She smiled and asked me about the Sunny place and if she could come visit me and her horse soon.
The service was done within 30 minutes. I watched as Teddy and Liv were the last to leave Avery launched herself at Liv and hugged her thighs.
"I love you mommy"
Liv gasped as if it was the first time she'd heard it
"I love you too bug"
She looked up at me and smiled at me.
(Break)
It was a silent agreement that Liv and I would exchange gifts after everyone fell asleep. She sat in the living room as i came in from a business call.
"Hi"
"Hello" she nodded and handed me a wrapped box. I stared at the gold watch and realized it was Pops' watch, i had millions of them but this was his favourite the one he wore everyday. I couldn't find it when we boxed up his things.
"Livvie-"
"He gave it to me to hold onto. I was supposed to give it to you when i knew you had become the great man you were destined to be."
"Liv, i'm not-"
"You're Governor of California Fitz, i may feel many ways towards you or who you were but i've always been proud of you and all your accomplishments"
I stared at her "thank you"
"Now give me my present" she laughed reaching for the framed photo and smiled as she saw it was of her and Avery when they were waiting for Mason to arrive a couple of days ago. Avery sat on Liv's lap grinning at the camera just like Liv was in her photo with her dad.
"I love this, thank you" she started tearing up. After a few seconds she smiled and stood up
"I can do lunch, tomorrow? If you want. I can handle lunch"
"Okay, 12 at Pops old condo? I have a meeting so we can't go together"
"It's fine, see you tomorrow Fitz"
(Break)
"Fitz?" Liv called as the elevator opened letting her into the condo. She wore tight jeans, heels and a long cardigan as she took off her coat. Her hair was down and reached past her shoulders.
"Hi Livvie" she jumped
"You scared me" she set down her purse "why are we here?"
"I thought it's private enough for you to be able to yell at me"
"Yell at you?"
"We just need to get it out of the way Liv, then we can go back to normal"
"Normal? Fitz we-" she looked away "you hurt me"
"I'm sorry, i'm sorry i was such a coward. I had lost Pops and i didn't want to ever feel the pain of losing someone again so i pushed you away. It wasn't because i didn't want you"
She turned back towards me
"You screwed Mellie because you were scared?" She slapped me hard across my cheek "FOR YEARS I FELT LIKE I WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH!"
"Livvie, i'm sorry"
"Your sorry? I loved you!" She gasped quietly realizing what she had said "i did love you and you just threw me away like i was garbage"
I stepped closer to her and watched her take a step back shaking her head.
"Forgive me" i whispered stepping into her space. She stopped fighting me and shook her head.
"No"
"Forgive me Livvie, i love you"
"Stop saying things like that. You don't know me enough to love me" i watched as she truly didn't believe someone could love her. I sighed realizing how much i hurt her.
"I have Avery to think of now, i can't have you in and out of our lives. She's more important than you or me or whatever this is" she squared her shoulders
"I'll prove it to you, just let me"
She didn't argue instead she walked over to the kitchen.
"I'm hungry"
"I ordered pizza"
"Fancy Governor and all you can afford is pizza"
"It's your favourite"
"It is" she smiled and took a slice out handing me one before biting into her own.
"So, what's your new years resolution?" She asked me as we sat making small talk.
"To get you to forgive me" i answered honestly. She stared at me and sighed
"Yours?"
"To forgive you" I grinned and watched her laugh. The rest of lunch was spent us catching up on the last 12 years we missed. We were nowhere near where i wanted us to be but it was a step closer.
