A/N: As promised a weekly update :) I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. Xo
Chapter 29: The Best Is Yet To Come
It was fairly early the next morning and Fitz was laying across the bed drawing imaginary lines down Olivia's leg. She was sharing the latest argument had with her mother and Fitz tried his best to listen objectively.
"I ended up asking her not to make me choose between you two. If it gets to that point, my decision is going to shock her."
Fitz remained quiet and continued his pattern up and down her leg. His head was being propped up by the palm of his hand and his elbow was near the edge of the bed. Olivia lay opposite him and stared at the ceiling when she spoke. It wasn't her intention of beginning the day like this but she wanted to get it all out.
And it needed to be Fitz that she confided in.
"I'm sorry this is happening, Olivia."
Fitz spoke low and watched as Olivia sat up, crossing her legs Indian style on the bed. She wore a black tank top with matching panties and Fitz repositioned himself so he was now laying on his stomach. His head was near her knee and he kissed her skin several times before eventually resting on her lap.
"What are you thinking?" Olivia asked. "You're being so quiet."
She began to run her fingers through his hair, admiring the muscles flexing down his back. The only thing he wore were boxers and she lovingly admired how his legs somewhat fell off the end of the bed.
"I don't think you want to hear what I have to say." Olivia stilled her hands, confusion quickly taking over.
"Of course, I do! Why would you think that?"
Fitz kissed her knee and slowly sat up, mirroring Olivia's sitting position. They were somewhat eye level and he didn't mince words when sharing his opinion.
"I don't want to come between you and your parents, Livvie. I don't." Fitz paused and caressed the side of Olivia's thighs before continuing. "Maybe it's time we all meet. I'm not leaving until tomorrow. We could have dinner after the show tonight or even brunch tomorrow."
Olivia's face grew slightly pale and he knew she would hate the idea. He raised his eyebrows and leaned back, his body now resting on his hands.
"My mother is ruthless, Fitz. I don't think I could handle her being rude to you."
"If we're going to be a real couple, you can't keep me from them. We're having a meeting in a couple of hours to look at land for a home...a home we want to build together. I'm not just some guy, Livvie and maybe once your mom sees us together she will come around."
Olivia shook her head at the idea and uncrossed her legs. She was about to get off the bed when Fitz grabbed her waist, pulling her back down onto the bed. She was now on her back while Fitz hovered over, his forearms pinning her in place.
"What are you really afraid of?"
Olivia stared back at him for a long time deep in thought. It was difficult to explain exactly what she was feeling. These were things she hadn't thought of in quite some time and rehashing it all left such a bad taste in her mouth. It was evident Fitz had no intention of moving on. He wasn't going to let this go and it made Olivia feel such a mixture of emotions.
"I'm not afraid...what I'm feeling is beyond fear. I love my parents, Fitz. I really do but they weren't the best relationship role models. They were both workaholics, driven in their own way to be successful and that's the type of person my mom expects me to be. What I'm doing, what we're doing...she sees it as weak. That's not how a Pope conducts themselves. My last serious relationship ended horribly because he ended up using me for my last name and my mother repeatedly tried to warn me about him and his intentions-"
Fitz bent down and kissed her hard, stopping her from continuing. Her lips instantly conformed and once his tongue grazed the inside of her mouth, her eyes closed as her body completely became mush underneath him. The kiss was long and passionate and when Fitz finally came up for air, Olivia inhaled and exhaled slowly, her body now calm and content.
"You're an extraordinary woman, Olivia."
Olivia opened her eyes and grew embarrassed. Fitz was looking her up and down, his face completely and utterly smitten.
"I'm completely in love with you," she replied, her tone soft as if she was speaking in complete defeat.
"How did I get so lucky? You're the complete opposite of your parents."
Olivia broke eye contact with him and tried once again to sit up on the bed. Fitz moved his arms, setting her free and rested his head back into the palm the of his hand, his elbow propping himself up. He watched Olivia cross her legs again and frown as if recalling a memory before his very eyes.
"My mother has said those exact words...many times. I have no idea why I'm so different from them."
"You've mentioned your father to me before and yet I never got that impression of him."
"My Dad is really a good man. He adores my mother and was really good to me as a child. He's charismatic and funny and personable...he's a lot like you in so many ways."
"Do you think he'd disapprove of us?"
Olivia pondered the question and her facial expression spoke volumes.
"I've never seen him disagree with my mother. Ever."
Quiet filled the room and Fitz began to understand more and more about Olivia. She was right...what she was dealing with was way beyond fear. He stared at her and couldn't fathom how someone like Olivia who was so open to love ended up this way. Children usually take after their parents but this certainly wasn't the case. It was at this moment a thought entered his head and he didn't hesitate in sharing it.
"You don't want to disappoint her...your mother. If I stay away, you won't have to see it on her face or hear it in her voice."
Olivia uncrossed her legs again and moved Fitz onto his back. She was now laying on top of him, her forearms on either side of his head, similar to his earlier position.
"Can we talk about something else now? Like how much I've missed you."
She was clearly avoiding his comment and he knew his words struck a nerve. It was getting late and she was right, they had spent their entire morning discussing her parents...it was time to move on to happier topics but he found the need to share one last thing.
"Family is important to me, Liv, and I know it is important to you, too. If it wasn't you wouldn't be struggling so much. But I won't rush you. Just know I'm ready to meet them whenever you are, okay? You're not alone in this...we'll face it together."
It was Olivia's turn to kiss him passionately on the lips, intertwining her fingers all throughout his hair. Fitz's hands were instantly underneath her tank, inching his hands up the small of her back. His touch was soft and warm and something she craved to feel on a daily basis. When she broke free, his hand was now at her breast, cupping it firmly and exactly to Olivia's liking.
"I find your body addicting, Ms. Pope. I swear your breasts were made just so I could do this..."
Fitz pulled her breasts towards him and licked the nipple softly before taking it into his mouth and sucking it hard. Olivia gasped into the air and moaned, purposely grinding her hips up and down his boxers. She rested her forehead against his and closed her eyes, allowing the foreplay to take her body over. They needed to get going soon and they hadn't showered or even eaten anything...yet she had no desire to get up and be productive.
"Part of me doesn't want to leave...I selfishly just want to stay in bed with you all day."
She was being honest and deep down hoped Fitz would agree. For reasons she couldn't explain she had the urge to say to hell with the world - she wanted him, just him, and nothing else mattered.
Fitz released her breast from his mouth and licked her hardened nipple once more before eventually replying. His eyes met hers and he whispered against her lips, giving her an answer in true Fitzgerald Grant fashion.
"We'll have plenty of days like that, baby. Plenty. The best is yet to come."
The first acre of land didn't impress either of them and they didn't waste time moving on to the next location. They were driving down the highway headed to the outskirts of Newark, New Jersey when Fitz signaled to exit towards Greenwood Village.
The weather was warming up and Olivia took her sweater off and tossed it into the backseat of the Audi. Fitz had the sunroof open and there was no escaping the sunshine. She reached into her bag and grabbed her sunglasses, sliding them on her nose.
"How many places did you want us to visit today?" She asked, resting her head on the leather behind her. Fitz reached for her upper thigh and squeezed, looking over in her direction.
"One more...but I have a good feeling about this place. Look."
Olivia followed his gaze and her eyes grew wide. The land was large and overlooked a beautiful lake. A secluded wooded area lined the back half of the perimeter and Olivia saw a few homes in the distance.
"Wow...this is so beautiful."
Fitz slowed the car down and turned off the engine, positioning the car between the lake and area of land. They both sat in the car silent, simply looked around, each of them thinking about all the possibilities that presented themselves in this very moment.
"The drive would be a little over an hour, Livvie. Maybe less depending on traffic. That worries me some, especially with you driving at night."
Olivia thought about his concern and continued to stare ahead, trying to image what that would be like. Her condo was five minutes from the theater and the drive would certainly be an adjustment. She decided not to respond, instead opening her door and walking around the land. The trees were beginning to change colors in preparation of winter and she could only imagine how vibrantly they once looked in the beginning of fall.
Fitz eventually got out of the car and joined Olivia, kissing her on the temple. They stood and continued surveying the land until he walked a few feet ahead and turned around to face to her. He bent down and touched the ground as if he was on the beach about to pick up sea shells. Olivia watched mesmerized as he studied the soil, his architectural mind now working in overdrive.
"What do you think?" He finally asked. "Would you be comfortable with the drive? I need you to be honest with me." He was leaving the decision up to her - something that didn't surprise Olivia in the slightest.
"If it meant I'd be driving home to you...yeah, I would be."
Fitz smiled and broke eye contact, almost blushing at the words. He remained squatted down and looked back and forth across the ground until he spoke again, sharing his thoughts once again.
"This is where we'll put the fireplace."
Olivia smiled and walked just past him, turning and facing his direction.
"And this is where you'll make love to me."
Fitz stood and turned around at her words, his mannerisms almost in slow motion. He put his hands into his jean pockets and returned Olivia's smile. They stood staring at one another, their hearts mentally exchanging what their words couldn't . The place felt right and they both could feel it.
"I think we found a place to built our home," Fitz said. He was the happiest she had ever seen him and everything about the moment made her giddy.
Olivia admired his crooked smile and watched him lose all self control. He picked her up like a teenager in love, spinning her around and around into the air. Olivia squealed and from afar you could sense their happiness radiating off one another. It was love in its purest form and neither one of them could contain their excitement. They were standing on ground that represented so much to each of them - a symbol of hope and of their future. The words Fitz said to her earlier that morning suddenly entered her mind and replayed in her head over and over again, reminding her their life together was just beginning.
And the best was truly yet to come.
