Sorry for the delay in this post guys, I haven't had a moment to write from the Christmas holiday, till now. I will try to keep them coming, as often as possible.

Figuring it out

She knows she was wrong for doing it, but after she spotted Olivia in the hospital yesterday curiosity had got the better of her and she had found herself down in personnel... And there it was, in her hands all laid out in front of her- Olivia's full medical history; everything documented from her birth to adolescents, her appendectomy at age 14, and then pretty much smooth sailing until the miscarriage of their first baby… then a little later down the line- a second pregnancy, followed by a difficult labour and pre-eclampsia, resulting in a C-section and the delivery of her grandchild… then prescribed antidepressants for the post-partum and then a whole catalogue of events that subsequently followed her departure. But one in particular, standing out and leaving her completely unsettled.

She needed to see Fitz. Did he know?

Although he has not come out and said it to her directly, she has sensed a change in him over the last few month. For one, his attitude towards Olivia had completely evolved; he was no longer distant and aloof; instead, when he wasn't working he seemed to be spending a great deal of time with her and Joshua together, and time alone with her too, although he has done his best to hide it. But she knows, and she also knows that Jerry is aware of it too, because when Fitz called them a few days ago, inviting her and Jerry around for dinner; apparently he and Olivia had something to tell them, neither one of them needed it spelled out for them… Fitz and Olivia were getting back together. To be honest, it hardly comes as a surprise, even when Fitz was mad at Olivia, he never stopped loving her, and now that she was back in his life, back in their son's life too, it was only a matter of time before it came to this. However, as a concerned mother she can't help but think it's a bad move. Unlike her, Fitz was clearly letting his heart rule over his actions, instead of listening to his head, listening to reason. After all that he's been though it appears like he has forgotten about the fact that when Olivia walked out it nearly destroyed him! How can he be so certain that she can be trusted this time round? And now coupled with the knowledge of what she's found on Olivia's medical file, and also doubting that Fitz has any knowledge of it either… In her opinion, Olivia still could not be trusted.

No, this could not wait until dinner; she needed to see Fitz right away. He wasn't at work today; he had taken the day off; she suspects he's at home getting things ready for later on, so she decides to take an early lunch and head over to his place to speak to him immediately.

Fitz had popped out to get the groceries that she required for dinner. They were going to tell his parents tonight that they were getting back together. This was a huge deal for her, because she desperately wanted their approval, especially from Anne. Anne had once been like a second mother to her; she will never forget the way she fussed over her, and went out of her way to make her feel special on her wedding day- seeing as her own mother was unable to be there. She supported her when Fitz got hurt in Iraq, she was there for her when she lost their first baby, stood by her throughout all the drama with her father, helped out when she was struggling with Joshua… Anne had loved her like a mother, as did Jerry who had loved her like a father; in their eyes she was as good as family, and in hers they were the only family she had… And because of this, she realises that the day she walked out on Fitz and Joshua, she had also inevitably walked out on Anne and Jerry too, and she had hurt them just as greatly.

God knows, it has been a fraught an emotional journey to get to where she and Fitz were now, to a place where they can finally move on as a family with Joshua, whilst giving their love a second chance. But she also knows how much Fitz relies on the support of his family, and without them on board too she knows it will only makes things more difficult for them as a couple. Fitz needs them, and if she is completely honest with herself she needs them too. Therefore, a lot rests upon their reaction tonight, which in turn makes her feel incredibly nervous. Although secretly she finds she's not so worried about Jerry, for some reason he's always been the more accepting one of the two… therefore it is the anticipation of Anne's reaction that leaves her stomach in knots.

Yes, it was high time they made amends and hopefully tonight would be the start of that...

Or no time like the present, it seems...

As Olivia opens the door at the sound of the doorbell ringing, expecting to find Fitz with his hands full of groceries, instead she finds Anne standing there, looking just as shocked as she is.

Caught off guard, "Anne, Hi… Umm, we weren't expecting you until later?"

Anne can't help but hone in on the use of the word "we", it speaks volumes, as does the fact that she happens to be here… Automatically it gets her back up. "Where's Fitz?"

"He's out at the shops buying food for tonight?" She replies calmly, despite her intuition that Anne is far from happy.

"And Joshua?" She asks with an edge to her voice.

"He's at nursery… Anne, are you alright?" Olivia enquires, curious to know as to why she's dropped by so early in search of Fitz. Although she has her suspicions, maybe it's to do with the fact that she's already figured out what tonight's dinner is all about, and therefore she has come to warn him off the idea.

"No, I'm not alright, I came to speak to my son, but instead I find you here!"

Olivia swallows. "Yes, well I came to help set up…"

"Oh, I can see that… and MORE..." she adds, after spotting a number of cardboard boxes stacked up in the hallway. So she's already moved in. "You work fast I see…"

Olivia follows her trail of sight, and immediately cottons on… "Anne, I… we wanted to tell you tonight…"

"Save it!" Anne cuts her off abruptly; somehow her admittance to her earlier suspicions only serves to rile her further. However, desperate to turn things around, Olivia pleads with her…"Please Anne, can we talk about this…"

"You know, since you've come back, out of respect to Fitz and appreciating his need to handle this situation on his own, I have kept my mouth pretty much shut for the duration of your return. And for the sake of my precious grandson; who deserved the chance to get to know the mother who had selfishly abandoned him when he needed her the most… I have silenced my tongue… but seeing as it's only you and me here, I have no reason to hold back now…"

"Anne…"

"No, you will listen to what I have to say…" Anne tells her forebodingly, as she relays... "When I first met you, I already knew you had a difficult childhood- nothing like my Fitz's, and I was unsure if I wanted him to take your emotional baggage on. But against my better judgement I could not deny the way Fitz felt about you. It was so painfully obvious that you had gotten under his skin, that he wasn't about to let you go any time soon… So in the end, I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and yes, despite your flaws I could see that you loved him too. You were a part of Fitz's life, so I had no choice but to let you into mine as well... When I look back at that first year of your marriage, it goes without saying that the pair of you went through hell and back and yet somehow the love that you had for each other managed to get you through it. Your determination to make it work and stick by my son, no matter what, it gave me a new perspective on things and I developed a whole new level of respect for you… Your past, my doubts about you as a person, or whether you were even right for my son, it all vanished into the background, as far as I was concerned you were a part of this family and I loved you like a daughter…" She takes a short pause, wiping her face with the back of her hand, gathering herself together again... "I then think back to that night at Abby's engagement party, I remember I couldn't take my eyes off you, because you had never looked more beautiful! You were glowing, a subtle confirmation of your pregnancy with Joshua… I had never been happier for the two of you… And I thought, finally, you and Fitz have got a chance at starting a family of your own now… and I prayed to God that you would see this pregnancy through to the end, and have a healthy little baby, that would be the ultimate symbol of your love and devotion. When Joshua arrived, that sweet, sweet baby, he completed you and Fitz in every sense of the word… But then, just as things had finally become perfect… You had to go and shut down… you closed off from everyone who loved you… You gave in and gave up and dashed my son's world to pieces…"

Olivia begins to weep, "Anne I'm so sorry…"

But Anne carries on, tears she's been holding back for years now spill freely… "Do you have any idea what's it's like to see your son fall apart… to watch his heart break? Or know what it's like to try and soothe the cries of a little baby, who can't quite understand why he's no longer cradled in his mother's arms… Do you, DO YOU?"

Olivia is trembling with the onslaught of her emotions… "There's not a day goes by where I don't regret the decision of my actions…"

Anne is almost incensed… "REALLY? And what actions would those be exactly?"

"Leaving Fitz, leaving my son… letting my family down, letting you down… Anne, you have been a mother to me, at times when I needed one the most … and I threw it back in your face, your trust, your love… I did the same to Fitz, Jerry too in fact… and for that I am truly sorry… Please, I never meant to hurt anyone, I was just so blinded by what was going on with me that I couldn't see the damage it would cause by me leaving, I could only see the benefits. I hated myself…"

"You almost destroyed my family!"

"I know, I know… That's why I came back, I needed to make amends, I wanted to put things right again…"

Okay, so maybe there were things that Anne could forgive Olivia for, but just the thought of her aborting her son's baby behind his back, she finds that near impossible to comprehend, let alone forgive… "That's the thing Olivia; there are some things that you can't put right…no matter how much you will it to…"

"Please Anne, I beg you, give me a second chance, just one more chance to prove to you that I can do this… I love Fitz, despite what you think I never stopped loving him, and Joshua he is my EVERYTHING… without him I couldn't go on. As screwed up as it was, everything I did was for Josh, to protect him and keep him safe… That's why I got help, I needed to get better for him and for Fitz, because I realised that I needed them in my life, just as much as they needed me, only I had somehow lost sight of that… But just as equally they need you too Anne, you and Jerry… So please, please, please don't make them choose between us. Surely we can put this behind us and start over?"

"Trust is a fragile thing Olivia, who unlike my son, I do not give out so freely… Fitz may have managed to forgive you and restored his faith in you, but I know better… I know what you're really capable of… and just the thought of it makes me sick!"

"What are you talking about?" Olivia questions, somewhat taken back by that statement… What is it that Anne thinks she knows that Fitz doesn't?

"Why were you in the hospital the other day?"

"What?" That throws her completely… "How did you…?"

"I was on my break and I happened to see you making your way to the walk in clinic?"

Aghast... "You followed me? Why didn't you say something?"

"That doesn't matter, what matters to me, is why you were there… Is Fitz aware that you went there?"

"It had nothing to do with Fitz, I went there for me..."

"Is that so? You see, I find that hard to believe, I mean why else would you go there, if it had nothing to do with Fitz? I assume of course that now that you're back together, no doubt you're sleeping together?"

"That is none of your business!" Olivia retorts, unable to believe that Anne would even go there.

"Maybe so, but it becomes my business if I believe you are doing things behind my Son's back?"

"I was not doing anything behind Fitz's back. If you must know I went there to enquire about my method of birth control, nothing more…"

Anne raises her brow in distain… "Oh Really? Because I couldn't help but wonder if you went there to enquire about TERMINATING another pregnancy?"

Olivia gasps in utter disbelief… "Excuse me? What would make you say that?" And then it suddenly dawns on her… "You know… How did you find out… I…?"

"It doesn't matter how I found out, all that matters is if my son knows… So tell me Olivia, does Fitz know about the abortion you had behind his back?!"

"YES mum… yes I know!"

Unbeknown to them both, Fitz had walked in mid-sentence, mid tirade… and his face was now clouded over in thunder.

Startled, Anne turns to face her son… "Fitz…?"

She stares at him as he puts his bags on the ground and wordlessly walks over to Olivia, who is the wake of it all is left physically shaken… Instinctively he puts his arm around her, steadying her against him before finally addressing his mother once more, but in a tone that leaves no mistake about it, he was not playing around… "Mother, I don't know how you found out, but right now I don't even care… All I know is that you're distressing MY WIFE, and I think for all of our sakes its best that you leave…"

She can't believe it… "You… you know, she told you?"

"Yes I know, and yes, Olivia told me herself… however I have no intention of going over this with you here… I just want you to leave… Tell Dad dinner is cancelled and I will call to discuss this further when I'm good and ready! Now go before I say something I'll regret!"

Without a further word from Anne, who is left feeling rather stunned but also acutely aware that maybe she has gone too far; she does as he asks of her and promptly leaves the apartment.

As soon as she's gone Fitz pulls Olivia into his full embrace, as she breaks down sobbing, knowing that her exchange with Anne couldn't have gone any worse, even if she tried…

"There, there now… it's going to be okay, I'm here baby… I'm here…"