Growth

"It'll be fine, Liv. Stop stressing out!" Fitz put his hands on Olivia's shoulders and looked into her eyes. "It's a weekend visit. No big deal."

"No big deal? No big deal?" she repeated. She gave a humorless laugh and shrugged his hands off of her. "You don't know my mother very well do you?"

"I don't know her at all since I've never actually met her."

She took a deep breath and exhaled. "That's true. Since she is making the trip to visit both me and Emily, you are going to get the chance to meet her tomorrow. I wonder if something is up with her?"

"What do you mean?" Fitz asked.

Olivia plopped down on the sofa, as if she didn't have a million and one things to do to prepare for her mother's visit. "She doesn't just swing by to say hello and to see how me and Em are doing. Something is going on in her life. She's got news or something. This isn't a simple visit. I'm kinda glad she went to see Emily first though. She'll be a little more relaxed."

Fitz sat down beside her. "What do you think she's up to? You think she's on the run from the law? From a lover?"

"Jesus, your imagination is a weird place." Olivia got a far away look on her face. "It's probably none of that stuff, but there is definitely something going on. She doesn't just pop in for a visit out of the blue. Not with me anyways. It's a little different with Em, but something just feels off and I can't put my finger on it."

"I guess you'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out what it is, huh?" he asked with a smile.

She shot him an impatient look. "Why are you sitting on your ass when there's cleaning to be done?"

"You're sitting on your ass." Fitz reminded her.

Olivia dismissed that point as her thoughts stayed on her mother. "She is going to come in here like a happy little whirlwind and leave the same way. And she's going to wreak havoc in her path. Don't let her come in between us."

"I don't really think your mother is going to try to do that, Liv."

"She might." Olivia said. "It won't be intentional, but it could happen And she'll think she's helping. It's hard to explain, but it's her way. I think it's how all mothers are?"

Fitz pulled Olivia onto his lap. "No getting in between us. Check. No letting her upset my favorite female. Check. If I have to put her up in a hotel to get her away from here, I'll do it. And I'll pay with..."

"A check?" Olivia asked with an eyeroll.

"No. A credit card. Hotels don't take checks." he dug his finger into her ribs causing her to shriek loudly.

"You're such a dork. But you're also my damn hero." Olivia said, putting her arms around his neck and hugging him close. "Now. We've got to get this place clean or she will bitch about that the second she walks in the door."

The apartment smelled like a truck full of lemons had tipped over in it. He looked around the kitchen and living rooms. The floors gleamed, the countertops were shiny, and everything looked like it had been dusted to look brand new. There was literally nothing left to clean. But Fitz knew Olivia. She would come up with a list of ridiculous things that she thought required attention. So, he asked the question she was waiting for him to ask. "What do you want me to do?"

"You are my favorite person in the whole world." She happily replied. "It's like you were reading my mind."

"What an absolutely adorable apartment." Olivia's mother gushed as she stepped inside the next day. "This is definitely a step up from the last apartment you had."

Olivia knew the sound of a backhanded compliment when she heard one. She smiled at her mother politely and simply said, "thank you. We like it here."

"Of course you do. What's not to like?" She glanced around her daughter's apartment and wondered when she would meet her boyfriend. "When do you expect Fitz?"

Olivia set her purse down on the small table nearby and said, "His schedule is a little less scattered now that he has chosen his specialty, but it's still not the typical nine to five office hours. He usually stays for a little while after his shift ends to help one of the nurses. She is one of his favorites and she is having some health problems lately. Fitz should be home before too long."

"That's fine. It'll give us a chance to catch up some." Olivia's mother replied with a smile.

The two of them sat down side by side on the sofa, turning to face each other. "What have you been up to? I'll admit that I was a little surprised by your news of coming to visit. I know how much you hate New York." Olivia said.

"It's true that I'm not a fan of the city, but I'll always be a fan of yours. And it has been a while since I've seen you. I was hoping to put it off for another two weeks so I could be here for your birthday, but I couldn't shift my schedule for it. I did bring you a present though." She handed her daughter a small wrapped box.

"Mom, you didn't have to do that. I'm too old for birthday gifts, don't you think?" Olivia asked.

"You'll always be my baby. Besides, it's not much. Just a little something I saw when I was visiting your sister that made me think of you."

Olivia unwrapped the small box and opened the lid. A giddy squeal erupted from her throat. "Oh my goodness! These are perfect!"

It was a pair of sterling silver earrings. One was the gavel and the other was the scales of justice. "I'm glad you like them. They just seemed fitting now that you are finally putting that law degree to good use."

"Passing the bar was no easy feat." Olivia admitted as she began putting the earrings into the small holes on her earlobes.

"It may have taken you a few tries, but you got there and that's what matters. You'll be a partner before long at that all female firm. And they will be lucky to have you." She said, pointing a finger at her daughter.

"You're not a little bit biased are you, momma?" Olivia asked with a grin.

"Of course I am. But that doesn't make it less true."

Olivia hugged her mother. "Thank you. For the gift and the encouragement. You've always been a great giver of both of those things."

The front door opened, and the two women looked up to see Fitz's smiling face. "Hello ladies."

Olivia went to him and put her arms around his neck. Rising on her tiptoes, she pecked his lips and asked, "how was your day?"

Fitz's smile never left his face. "It was great." Looking at Olivia's mother, he extended his arm and stated, "you must be Isla?"

He was tall, just like Liv said. And handsome. And polite. She smiled up at him. "I am. It's so nice to finally meet you, Fitz. To put a face with the name I keep hearing so much about."

"I couldn't agree more." he said, shaking her hand. "It's very nice to meet you too. I hope you had a good trip into the city?"

"It was great. Perfect traveling weather." Isla commented.

"Good. Liv and I would like to take you out to dinner, but I've got to jump in the shower and wash the hospital off of me first. Will both of you be ready to leave in, say, twenty minutes?" Fitz asked.

"That's enough time for Olivia to give me the grand tour of your apartment and then I can freshen up before we go."

"Sounds good." Fitz was ready to go in fifteen minutes, and surprisingly, so were the women.

The three of them sat down in chairs at a nearby restaurant thirty minutes later. "This place has the best lasagna." Olivia informed her mother with a smile filled with anticipation.

"It's been a while since I've had good lasagna. It's one of those dishes I never learned how to make but love to eat." Isla admitted.

"I know how to make it. I'd be happy to show you how." Fitz offered, putting his napkin on his lap.

Both women turned their heads in his direction and gave him a surprised look.

"You need to marry him, Liv. Today if possible." Isla said in a serious tone.

Olivia chuckled at her mother. "I didn't know you could make lasagna, Fitz. You've never made it at home."

"I've never made shrimp scampi either, but I know how to make that dish too." he told her.

"So, what you're saying is, you'll be doing the cooking a whole lot more often from now on."

"Personally, I like your mother's suggestion a whole lot better than cooking every night." he said in a dangerously low voice and held her hand on top of the table. He enjoyed watching the surprised expression spread across Olivia's face but made no effort to add more to what he had just said.

Isla silently took a sip of her drink and watched Olivia and Fitz interact with each other. They were cute together, and more importantly, they loved and respected each other deeply. She'd bet there would be wedding bells within a year. Knowing her stubborn daughter, maybe a year and a half. Fitz seemed like a good man who would take care of Olivia no matter what. It was a comfort to know. Maybe her news would speed that along a little faster?

"Do the three of you know what you'd like to order? Or do you need a few more minutes?" the waiter asked. The three at the table looked at each other questioningly before nodding and murmuring that they were ready to order now. Once the orders had been taken, the menus were picked up and the waiter left.

"Have you spoken to Emily since I left from my visit?" Isla asked.

"I feel like I haven't talked to my sister in years instead of weeks." Olivia lamented. "How is she and Andrew doing? Are they still as cute as ever together?"

Isla smiled at her younger daughter. "If they weren't so cute it would be nauseating. Just like the two of you."

"Emily and Andrew are in a league of their own with their cuteness. Olivia and I aspire to be that adorable someday. Don't we, Liv?" Fitz gently squeezed her hand before bringing it to his lips and kissing it.

"We do" she said with a giggle. Turning back to her mother she asked, "how are they? I really need to call them soon."

"You really do. You're going to be an aunt in the spring." Isla told them.

Olivia's eyes grew wide at the news. "What? Emily is going to be a momma?"

Isla nodded and watched for Fitz's reaction.

"That's wonderful news. Emily and Andrew are going to be amazing parents." Fitz chirped. "We should call them tonight and offer our congratulations."

Olivia was still processing the information. "Waitaminute!" she exclaimed.

Fitz and Isla looked at her, wondering what was going through her mind and waiting to hear about it.

"I'm going to be someone's aunt?"

"How lucky is that baby?" Fitz said with a grin. "Aunt Olivia."

She grinned back at him. "Aunt Lib."

"Those are the cutest words in the English language. Come here and give me a kiss, Aunt Lib." Fitz chuckled.

Olivia's smiling lips gently touched Fitz's for an instant before she excitedly pulled back and said, "you're gonna be uncle Fitz. Ohmygod, that is adorable. I can't wait to hear my niece or nephew call you that."

"It's my niece or nephew too. Maybe Emily and Andrew will let us babysit sometimes? That could be fun?"

"I've got to call Emily tonight and talk about all of it with her. How she's feeling. What they want to have. Figure out a baby shower. All of it! I'm so excited!" Olivia said.

The food was brought out and set down in front of each of them before the waiter disappeared again. "What about the two of you?"

"What about us?" Olivia asked, spearing a piece of grilled chicken and sticking it into her mouth.

"Do the two of you have any plans of having children or getting married?"

Fitz smiled at Isla, grateful for the question. Olivia needed to hear it from someone other than him. If this was Isla coming between the two of them, Fitz welcomed the wedge. He was interested in Olivia's answer. He was also smart enough to not add his unsolicited two cents worth on the matter. He quietly ate his food and left the matter in Olivia's hands.

She should have known this question was coming. Her mother was nothing if diligent. The problem was this question had been on her mind a whole hell of a lot more often ever since she and Fitz had discussed it on their recent failed camping expedition. Olivia had been pleased to learn that she wasn't completely opposed to the idea of marrying him. She had been trying to figure out how to bring the topic back up for discussion without coming across as flighty. This wasn't exactly what she had in mind in the way of bringing it back up, but Olivia figured she'd work with it.

She took a sip of her wine, knowing four eyes were on her. When her glass was back on the table, she smiled at her mother and said, "Fitz and I have discussed it. Recently in fact."

"Really?" Isla asked and casually sat back in her chair to listen to the rest of her daughter's words. "What was the verdict?"

Olivia cast a nervous glance over at Fitz. "We decided to wait five years to get married."

"Five years?" Isla asked impatiently. They'd never make it past two.

"Five years. We are both very busy with our professions, and our careers are just getting off the ground."

"You do realize that you can be married and have a career at the same time, right?" her mother asked with more impatience.

"I've been thinking about it though..." Olivia looked over at Fitz again before adding, "and I think five years is too long to wait."

Did he hear her right? Did she just say what he thought she said? He stared at her for a long time, studying her face as his eyes flicked back and forth between hers. He wanted to give his thoughts a voice, but he also didn't want to jinx anything, so he kept quiet and let her continue to talk it out. Maybe she just needed to do that?

Olivia smiled at him. He had heard the words she had wanted him to. She could tell by the look on his face. "We're still really busy with work and we have a long way to go before we're at the marrying place, but five years seems like forever in the grand scheme of things. Like you said, momma, we can have a career and be married at the same time. Who knows? Maybe I'll change my mind again next week?"

Isla was listening to her daughter but watching Fitz. It was obvious that Fitz didn't know about Olivia's change of plans. He was wise enough not to get worked up over it and begin celebrating. He was a smart man. The two of them were well matched. She'd be looking for an invitation in the mail before her first grandchild was born.

One daughter was having her first baby and the other one was opening up to the idea of getting married. Life seemed pretty damn good at the moment, in Isla's opinion. She was glad neither daughter had rushed into their relationships or decisions but had taken their time to contemplate what the end result of those decisions would be. She was also glad that she wasn't too old to enjoy her grandchildren. Or to see a new son in law being brought into the family.