AN: Hope everyone is doing fine. Enjoy and don't forget to review! Thanks. *sorry I accidentally uploaded the wrong chapter. I have since corrected it.*

Life is like a big merry-go-round,
You're up and then down,
Going in circles trying to get to where you are.
Everybody's been counting you out,
But where are they now?
Sitting in the same old place,
Just faces in the crowd.
We all make mistakes,
You might fall on your face,
But you gotta get up!

I'd rather stand tall
Than live on my knees,
'Cause I am a conqueror,
And I won't accept defeat!
Try telling me no,
One thing about me
Is I am a conqueror,
I am a conqueror!
Ooh oh

Conqueror by Empire Cast

The evening weather was cool and crisp against his sweat-laden skin; it was a much-welcomed feel. But, that didn't beat the sensation of the cold Gatorade drink, running down his dry throat and replenishing his body. An hour of intense circuit training and fifteen minutes of boxing at the gym left him spent.

"Dude, I swear to God if you had broken my noise I would've killed you," an equally sweaty and spent Stephen said, walking beside Fitz as they head to their respective rides in the parking lot.

Fitz chuckled and cast his friend a sympathetic glance. "I'm sorry, man. Just a bit stressed."

They reached to Stephen's car in the first row of the parking lot and stopped. "Does this have to do with Liv taking a leave of absence?" Stephen asked candidly.

Fitz shook his head, "Nah. That's not the problem. I'm not stressed, stressed just a bit tense, if you know what I mean."

Stephen leaned against his car and chuckled, "What? Liv not putting out?"

Fitz rolled his eyes before saying; "I'm not discussing this with you."

"Right, says the man who's been celibate for over five years. A week shouldn't do you anything. Hell! A couple of months wouldn't move you. You got the willpower of a monk." Stephen laughed, clapping his friend's back.

Fitz laughed then. "Shut the fuck up," he quipped.

They laughed for a few more seconds.

Sobering up, Stephen rubbed the tip of his nose with the back of his hand that held his water and said, "Seriously, what's up?"

Fitz inhaled and exhaled deeply before moving to lean against the car beside him.

"I'm just worried about Liv."

"What about her?" Stephen got really serious then, focusing his attention on Fitz.

"Well, she's pregnant and the doctor recently diagnosed her with hyperemesis gravidarum, which is really bad morning sickness that pretty much lasts all through the day." Fitz stopped talking to see his friend staring blankly at him. "Stephen?"

Stephen shook himself out of his daze and exclaimed, "what the fuck, man! You're going to be a dad? A fucking dad? How come I'm now hearing this?" The smile that stretched across his face was wider than the distance between the east and west coasts. He immediately enveloped his friend in a bro hug, celebrating the revelation.

Fitz' smile also mirrored his, as feelings of delightfulness captivated him. Stephen was the first person he'd told since finding out he was going to be a father.

"I was going to tell you when she gets in her second trimester because we read somewhere that's what you're supposed to do." Fitz shrugged, because if it were up to him he would've told the world by now. He may've not been excited from the start but as the days went by he actually looked forward to becoming a father.

"Wow. I'm so happy for you guys. Now it all makes sense why Liv left the job."

"Yea, she tried to work back on the ambulance but even that was too much because she was feeling sick all day."

Stephen nodded his understanding. "So does this mean I get to be godfather when the baby gets here?" He queried.

"Maybe," Fitz teased, although he already had him in mind.

The men fell into a comfortable silence.

"I have something to confess too."

Fitz turned to face Stephen, waiting to hear what he has to confess.

"I asked Tina to move in with me."

Eyes widen in surprise, Fitz said, "Wow. That's a big step."

"It is," he stated confidently.

"And you're ready to do it?"

"I am."

Fitz noted the seriousness in his voice and didn't question his decision further.

"Can I ask you something?"

Stephen nodded his consent.

"Do you miss not having this life with Abby?"

Stephen didn't immediately answer, he hadn't expected a question like that when Abby had been nearly dead for two years now.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, that is a complicated question that I don't really have an answer to. However, I will say yes and no. Yes, being that I was once in love with her and no being that I've found a way to move on and now I'm in love with someone else."

Fitz nodded.

Stephen continued, "Loving Abby was different than loving Tina."

"How so?" Fitz interjected.

With both of his hands wrapped around the plastic bottle he tried his best to explain. "With Abby I used to be able to let out my wild self, my passionate self, the part of me that was always on fire. But, with Tina, I feel different. I feel calm and nurturing and have this intense need to be a protector, their protector. I…" He paused. "I feel peace."

Fitz stood a bit rattled by his friend's confession; this was a new side of his friend that he had yet to see. Tina was really bringing out the mature adult in him.

"When she first told me about Michael's dad and how he used to abuse her, I was blinded with rage. I wanted to kill him. I honestly did and if I ever saw him I would at least launch a punch."

Fitz had heard the story before from his wife. Tina's resilience was one of the things he greatly admired about her. She was a fighter.

"For days I felt like I needed to be her savior because she was this piece of china that was going to fall at any minute and break. You know what she told me?" Stephen didn't wait for an answer before he continued, "she said, I've already been at the bottom and I picked myself up, I don't need saving, I need a partner. And that's exactly what I'm going to be to her. I'm going to love her and her son like if he's mine. This is my do over, Fitz, and I'm going to get it right this time."

Fitz stood in the parking lot in the dusk of day, feeling choked up by the conviction in his words. He didn't know how long his friend needed to say this but it honestly warmed his heart and it reminded him that he too shouldn't take his wife for granted, ever. The onslaught of feelings made him want to go home and hold her in his arms and tell her how much he loved her and how much she meant to him.

More than a few seconds passed before Fitz said, "I believe you will."

Fitz pulled into the driveway of their two-story home on his motorcycle and dismounted it after setting the bike stand. He took off his helmet as he made his way to the front door of the house, running his fingers through his wavy hair. The minute he turned the keys in the lock, he heard her laughter and it made him smile.

"Baby?" He entered the living room, eyes searching for her presence but coming up short.

"Upstairs," her cheery voice called. He smiled, noting that she sounded lively versus the weak tone she spoke in these days when she just felt too tired and fatigued. Slipping off his Nike trainers he took them and placed them into the coat closet by the door before sauntering up the stairs, two at a time.

A few seconds later, he entered their bedroom to see his wife cloaked in her bathrobe with a small lavender towel wrapped around her head. He immediately went over to where she was on the bed and planted a soft kiss on her lips that lasted entirely too long, leaving both of them winded.

"Wow!" Olivia breathed. "What was that for?"

Fitz shrugged and gave her his boyish smile, "that's just my way of telling you I missed you and I love you."

"Aw… Baby, you're so sweet." Olivia became teary-eyed.

"I'm sorry, Livvie, I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's not your fault, it's these damn hormones," she laughed through the unexpected trickle of tears.

"Aw… Come here." He sat on the bed and wrapped his arms around her midsection, holding her tightly against his chest. He was pleasantly surprised that she didn't complain about his sweaty skin touching her.

They stayed wrapped up in each other for a few seconds until Olivia whispered, "I'm feeling horny."

Fitz pulled back and with a surprise expression, studied her. "You want… to?" He stopped himself from getting too excited; after all it had been weeks since he was out in the desert.

"Yes. So go take a quick shower and come give it to me," Olivia said casually, licking her bottom lip.

Fitz nodded while hastily standing to his feet before rushing off to the bathroom to shower before she changed her mind. He even chastised himself for not taking a shower at the gym because he would've been ready to go had he known.

Olivia laughed uncontrollably when a minute and thirty seconds later, Fitz came waltzing through the door naked as the day he was born while trying to wipe the water droplets off his skin.

"This is not a laughing matter, woman. Serious times," he tried to be stern but failed miserably.

Laughter ceased and she beckoned him forward, "come here" and he went willingly.

Olivia was kneeling on the bed and Fitz stood in front of her, towering over her by a few inches. They took their time gazing into each other's eyes, reacquainting themselves. Warm brown orbs penetrating cool blue gray ones. When the headiness became unbearable Fitz wrapped a large palm around her still towel-clad head and brought her mouth against his. Their kiss was sweet as honey and innocent as a virgin at the beginning, but with each movement of lips, passion was ignited. Without probing, mouths fell open making way for their lover's tongue to invade. The intensity of the kiss manufactured wandering hands and the towel was hastily removed from her head; his fingers latched onto the softness of her damp curls, deepening the kiss by bringing her body closer to his.

Olivia began moaning, her arousal intensifying with each swap of his tongue in the crevice of her mouth. He had somehow managed to also brush his teeth during his very brief shower and the minty flavor of toothpaste mixed with his own unique taste left her breathlessly wanting.

Fitz pulled away from her mouth, her lips naturally bee stung looking, looked even more pronounced from his assaults. He began trailing hot wet kisses along her jawline, neck and shoulder, pushing away the fabric of her bathrobe. She made it easier for him when she untied it and pushed it off herself, leaving her naked.

Fitz stepped back and watched with dry mouth, the extra fullness of her breasts and wideness of her hips and the beginning curvature of her belly. She was so beautiful to him that he wanted to savor every square inch of her but that would have to come later because he needed more than anything to feel her walls wrapped around him.

"God… you're so beautiful," he praised sincerely. Taking her by the hand he guided her off the bed to stand while he moved to the bedhead and took a seat, fisting his thick erection in his hand.

Olivia looked on, feeling more aroused by the second. She too wanted to devour every square inch of him and the feelings made her overwhelmed. She moved stealthily over to him and he helped her up the bed and she straddled his thighs – her eyes still locked on the very impressive length in his hand.

"See what you do to me?" Fitz groaned, spreading the precum allover the tip of his penis with his thumb.

Olivia didn't answer but tilted her upper body forward so that she can kiss him. They attacked each other's mouth with a vengeance, dire urgency, wanting their fill.

When it wasn't enough, Olivia panted, "Fitz, baby I want you now," against his mouth, pushing her sodden center into the base of his penis.

With one hand holding her waist he took the other one and guided his penis into her awaiting chambers. They moaned at the feel of being connected after too many weeks.

"Oh God…" Olivia breathed, trying to center herself. The incredible sensation of being filled to the hilt by him was intoxicating. She wrapped slender arms around his taut neck as he began moving her up and down his shaft with his hands strategically placed on her ass for leverage.

Her mouth slightly agape eliciting moans while sweat ran down her back and between her boobs as their pace increased. The telltale sign of their orgasm made its presence known after minutes of intense lovemaking.

"Fuck!" Her body shuddered the second he latched on his hot mouth onto her brown erect nipple. Oversensitivity made way to an explosive orgasm – her walls spasm uncontrollably around his length pulling him over the precipice with her.

His head lodged within the crook of her neck as his arms wrapped around her frame tightly; he jerked his hips until his seed spilled inside of her.

And with a final groan his body went limp against her, too spent to hold his own weight.

"I love you." He summoned enough strength after a beat to say, placing a satisfied kiss on her temple.

Still in the same position, Olivia returned, "I love you too."

They stayed wrapped up in each other for a few more minutes before making their way to the bathroom to wash off their lovemaking.

Fitz was helping Olivia scrub her back when he asked, "how are you feeling?"

"Great," she smiled, washing her front underneath the warm spray of water.

"Good. Do you think you might be up to go out for dinner tonight?"

"I think so," Olivia answered. These days she was mostly relegated to staying in the confinement of her home unless she had a doctor's appointment because of the hyperemesis. Fitz took to grocery shopping and she writes the list of what they needed. The array of scents at the grocery store triggered her nausea badly.

"Good, I know just the place."

After getting dressed, Olivia wearing a green maxi dress and yellow cardigan - the weather was getting cold so she was beginning to layer up. Underneath, she wore a bandeau bra because her regular bras were hurting her sensitive boobs, this was the only ones she could tolerate. She was only 10 weeks along and was already feeling every symptom that came along with pregnancy but she didn't complain. This is exactly the position she wanted to be in. Her hair was up in a giant puff, contrasting against her small face and she finished her look off with a pair of ballet flats and her cherry flavored lip balm.

Fitz on the other hand was wearing a long sleeve plain red T-shirt and black jeans with a pair of black Toms on his feet. He slid behind the wheel of the Toyota after opening the passenger door for his Livvie.

"Where are we going to eat?" She asked, hoping that it wasn't any place that sold seafood because one sniff of it, would get her running to the bathroom.

"Somewhere low key, I think you'll like it," he answered vaguely.

She frowned at his answer, settling herself deeper into the seat. She wanted a more specific answer but dropped it.

When they were on the road and making their way out of their neighborhood, Fitz grabbed ahold of Liv's hand and held it between the console, playing with the new ring he got her. An investment he was quite pleased with. Soft music played in the background, further relaxing them and creating a pleasant atmosphere.

"I have something to tell you but you have to promise you won't get mad," Fitz stated as they pulled up to a traffic light.

Olivia looked at him suspiciously. "Mmm. What happened?"

Fitz chuckled after briefly seeing the expression on her face. "I… told Stephen about the baby. I know we were supposed to wait until the second trimester but he's like a brother to me and I just wanted him to know." He cast her a quick glance before moving forward when the light changed to green.

After a beat, Olivia smiled sheepishly, "It's ok because I actually told Tina and Quinn. Well, I had to tell Quinn because I kept rushing to the bathroom to throw up. Anyways, it's ok." She squeezed his hand and smiled again.

Fitz smiled his relief.

Olivia was pleasantly surprised when Fitz pulled into a small hole in the wall Mexican restaurant that had outdoor seating. The sound of reggae music was floating through the outdoor speakers, not too loudly. Fitz asked Olivia what she wanted and he went up to the counter to order their meal while she went to grab a seat.

Olivia sat at the picnic styled table, subtly observing the vibes of the other patrons until Fitz came a few minutes later with her chicken burrito and his steak one. Immediately, they dug in, as both were famished.

"This is so good," Olivia praised, chewing a bite while simultaneously throwing some restaurant made pepper sauce onto it.

Mouth too full to speak, Fitz mumbled, "Mmmhmmm."

They eat their meal in relative silence until they were finished. Olivia couldn't remember the last time she ate something so satisfying and that didn't make her gag.

Reclined in the uncomfortable wooden furniture, sipping on the natural flavored soda, Fitz asked," are you going to tell your grandmother about the baby?"

Completely taken back by the suddenness of his question she didn't know how to response without sounding too harsh because the main answer she had was, HELL NO!

Wanting to feel out the motive behind his question, she inquired, "Why would you ask that, knowing that I can't stand the woman and vice versa?"

Fitz sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on the table. "Sometimes I just think about our lives and the fact that our baby will only have us for family. We have no one else, well there's your grandmother and the relationship is damaged there but… she's still family. And maybe we could try to repair…"

"Stop," Olivia put her hands up. "I can't believe you would even suggest that. She hurt and belittle me constantly, there is no way I would want her around our child." Her head shook to reiterate her point.

Fitz ran his hand through his hair, already guessed that this would be her reaction but thankful that the music was drowning out their voices.

"I know and it's just a suggestion. I'm sorry for bringing it up…" he apologized.

"We'll be enough for our baby, Fitz. You don't have to worry about all that is missing, let's focus on what we have and that is plenty of love. We'll be enough for him or her…" she repeated softly.

He reached his hand out to caress the back of hers, lying flat on the tabletop. "You're right."

It was that time again, doctor visit… Another thing Olivia got used to with her pregnancy. She went through the prerequisites: check weight, vitals, urine test, blood tests, questions about any recent changes and the full nine yards before finally seeing the doctor.

Just like at every visit her tummy was exposed and a dime size of warm gel was spread across the lower part of it before the ultrasound wand began rolling across.

Fitz sat at his usual seat, holding her hand while the doctor explained what she was doing for the day.

A few short seconds later and the sound of their baby's heartbeat sounded loud and strong.

The doctor was carefully observing the screen to ensure that everything was progressing nicely while Fitz and Olivia strained to see what she was doing. Several seconds of quietness fell over as the doctor continued to look at the screen. She moved the wand from one side of her stomach to the next and a heartbeat began sounding loudly in the room. She did this over and over while tapping buttons on the keyboard of the machine to zoom in.

Fitz and Olivia looked at each other, worry growing on them. It was Olivia's nervous voice that asked, "Is everything ok?"

"Uh…yes, yes," the doctor replied assuredly. "One second, please. I need to verify something."

Three grueling seconds later; she looked up at the expecting parents with a smile and said. "You're having twins."

Wearing an expression of shock on their faces, they exclaimed in unison, "what!"

Dr. Michelle expected that so she showed them the screen with the two embryos, clearly outlined and went on to explain the sound of the heartbeats.

They were utterly speechless. So much to take in as neither expected that she was carrying twins.

For the next couple of minutes they listened as the doctor spoke, not that they had any control to talk.

On their way home from the doctor's office the couple was too stunned to speak to each other. It wasn't until Fitz was pulling out of the CVS pharmacy drive thru after dropping off Olivia's prescription that she spoke – her voice panicky and alarmed.

"Twins? What the fuck am I supposed to do with twins?" The more she thought about it the more overwhelmed she became. Seriously, how was she supposed to care for two babies at the same time? The thought sent her into a mild panic attack.

Fitz sensing her plight pulled into a nearby parking space and parked the car, simultaneously taking off his seatbelt before turning in his seat and grabbing her hands in his. By now tears were already streaming down her face as she struggled to breathe.

"Livvie, breathe – take a deep breath, in, out, in, out." Fitz encouraged in a soft voice. They do this for several seconds until her breathing was normal and she didn't feel like she was drowning.

"How are you feeling now?" His eyes studied her body carefully, looking for any signs of distress.

"I feel overwhelmed," she answered truthfully, rubbing her eyes with the back of her hand.

"I know, me too but we'll figure it out. Like you said, we're all he or she, she and she, he and he will need. We're in this together." He smiled, trying to lift her spirit.

She smiled faintly. "You're right."

"Aren't I always?" he quipped, good-natured.

"Shut up!" She hit him playfully on the arm. "Your super sperms did this," she complained, wagging a finger in his face.

Fitz smirked. "When your belly gets bigger I'm going to make you a shirt that says, My Husband's Super Sperms did this!" He laughed and Olivia rolled her eyes.

"You're so corny," she teased.

"And you love it."

He didn't let her rain on his parade. Finally, when he was finish having his fun he turned to her and seriously stated, "We're going to be fine. I promise we will."

Olivia motioned him to lean over on her side and she placed her forehead against his and wrapped an arm around his upper arm, trying to make herself as comfortable as the car would allow while reveling in the comfort of his touch. She felt his strength and believed that they were, indeed, going to be all right.

AN: Finally an update, woohoo! Hope you enjoyed it. We started off with Fitz and Stephen's talk, giving us a bit of an insight in Stephen and Tina's relationship. Then some ok written smut, LOL. Should Olivia extend an olive branch to her grandmother or nah? We learn that Liv is no longer working because the pregnancy is a bit rough on her. And now that she's having twins!

Please leave a review; they're very appreciated. Thank you.

Until next time,

XOXO