"I wasn't sure you would show." Gerry grinned as he approached Olivia who was doing her pre run stretches.
"And what? Break tradition? Mind you I half expected your Dad to find his sudden love for jogging today. Coincidentally of all days." Gerry laughed.
"Trust me, not for the lack of trying. I saw him in his Sporty President look sitting in the kitchen with two extra secret service guys I've never seen before. He did not look like a happy camper."
"Uncle Cyrus," they said in unison incredibly amused. Liv looped an arm through Gerry's,
"Mind if we just walk today?"
"Of course not." He replied patting her hand reassuringly.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine honey. Just excited."
"How's my little sister?"
"You and your Dad are in serious trouble if my little peanut ends up being a boy." Gerry chuckled,
"You know boy or girl we are going to love LG...but my gut tells me it's a girl...and though I may not be Olivia Pope. I have a pretty good gut."
"That you do Sweetheart. What did you guys get up to last night?"
"Pizza and Movies. You?"
"Coop came home with food from the residence, courtesy of your Dad. Then we just sat around talking. Him with wine, me and apple cider. Soooo not the same but hey. We were in bed by eleven and we talked till we fell asleep." Though Coop had every intention of moving into his own bed, it was but a distant memory when the jet lag caught up with him.
"So you ready?" He asked.
"Absolutely. I have no hesitation nor any feeling aside from excitement and anticipation."
"Good. I'm glad. So Dad wanted me to give you your something new. It's actually from the three of us. It was a joint collaboration. Something that you can wear today and every day after today." Gerry pulled out a small box from his pocket. Olivia gasped tearfully as she pulled out ain intricate charm bracelet.
"It's all self explanatory really. So the heart, is obviously because we love you. There's also the American Flag and the desk came from Dad. He said you'd understand the desk reference." Thankfully Gerry wasn't looking at her and missed the blush that crept through her face.
"Karen chose the Eiffel Tower for all the fun we have in Paris, and the book to represent the Little Women you read to her when she's sick or just not feeling a hundred percent despite how old she's gotten. I chose the running shoes, because it's our thing and the clock. For the time you so freely give without any hesitation. You don't know what that has meant to me and to Kare. These ones," Gerry said fingering four seperate little lockets randomly positioned between the other charms,
"They represent us." He opened each one to reveal a photo of her and Fitz, one of himself, one of Karen and an empty one.
"The empty one is for LG. And there's plenty of room to add more lockets when you have more kids. So that you will always have us with you." By the time Gerry had slipped it into her wrist Olivia was a blubbering mess. She pulled Gerry into a hug.
"Thank you."
"No Liv, thank you. For not only making us your world, but for being our world. I love you Mom." He said softly but definitively in her ear.
"I love you more than words can even begin to describe kid. Nothing will ever change that." She promised hugging him tightly.
After their run Liv arrived to find an impressive spread of breakfast waiting for her. Coop had woken up shortly after she left and got breakfast started. He knew James, Ella and Cyrus were going to join them. They were all making their way to the wedding together.
"My my Ambassador Cooper you have outdone yourself. Admittedly your breakfasts are one of the things I miss most about living across the hall from you."
"That's so not as complimentary as you think you intended."
"I'd apologise, but I got nothing. You need a hand?"
"Nah, you want to eat first or shower first?"
"Eat! Peanut has been bouncing around in there letting me know that they need to be fed."
"Demanding, I wonder where she got that from?"
"She? Not you too!" Liv protested. Coop just dropped his lips on her temple and handed her a plate shrugging his shoulders unapologetically. As an after thought Liv smacked his arm,
"That's for the dig about being demanding." Coop laughed.
"Just calling it like I see it. Poor Fitzy. He doesn't stand a chance."
"Oh he knows." She replied with a wink.
"Morning Baby." She greeted answering her phone knowingly as she got out of the shower.
"Morning Sweetheart. How are my babies doing today?"
"Good, thank you for my something new. I love it." She said picking it up to admire it.
"You're welcome. We had a lot of fun picking out charms."
"I bet you did. Really? You had to add a desk? What was your answer when they asked why you would pick something so odd?"
"I just said that it was something that held a special meaning to us both." It went right over their heads."
"Karen's maybe, but I am willing to bet Gerry is going to turn that on you one day."
"By then I am riding on the fact that he's old enough to hear the truth."
"FITZGERALD! He will never be old enough to hear THAT truth." She admonished.
"I'm kidding. Have you eaten?"
"Yes. The Beene's arrived about an hour ago. Coop made an amazing breakfast. How about you? You and the kids eaten?"
"Yeah Kare and I had a Daddy anf Daughter coffee date just after Ger left to meet you."
"I heard you tried to awaken your love for jogging today."
"I did try. If Cyrus Beene wasn't your Godfather/Uncle..."
"Oh he banks on that whenever he needs to."
"I know and it's getting unfair." Fitz complained with a pout that Liv could feel all the way from ber apartment.
"I know Baby, but you gotta suck it up. He's the closest thing I have to a parent."
"I am. So you and me in a few hours?"
"Yup! Can't wait. Hey I gotta go. I think Philippe and Gen just arrived. Gen's going to help me get ready."
"I love how casually you say that. As though that's not the French Prime Minister and his wife."
"So my saying French First Lady is doing my hair and make up, that would be too much?"
"Just as tad. Go get ready. I can't wait to see you."
"Me too. I love you Fitz. I'm so happy we're finally here."
"So am I sweetheart. I love you."
Getting ready didn't take very long. Genevieve helped with putting her hair up. Liv insisted on doing her own make up. Once the dress was on Genevieve began to tear up.
"You are exquisite Cherie,"
"Thank you."
"Before you go out I have something for you." Genevieve handed her a blue lace garter. Olivia laughed.
"I was hoping to skip this part."
"And deprive your husband to be the opportunity to retrieve it? I think not." Olivia rolled her eyes as she hiked up her dress so that Genevieve could slip it on to her thigh.
As Liv walked out of her room there was a collective gasp from everyone in the living room waiting for her. Cyrus stood to his feet unashamedly crying as he walked over to her.
"You look beautiful Bug. You look just like your Mother." Olivia's eyes began to water taking Cy's hands in hers giving them a tight squeeze before kissing his cheek. Ladybug was the nickname she grew up with. A nickname that only her parents and her Uncle Cyrus called her. A nickname that hadn't been uttered since her parents death.
"Oh Uncle Cy." Cyrus pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. Liv clung to him feeling every emotion he was feeling. He too loved them. He too missed them. He too wanted them there for such a significant moment.
"I am so glad I have you Uncle Cy. There is no else in this world I would rather have beside me. I love you."
"I love you too."
As they arrived at the Cathedral they saw Karen waiting somewhat impatiently for their arrival while Gerry was in charge of Fitz.
"Oh my gosh you look amazing Liv." Karen exclaimed looking at her soon to be Stepmother.
"Thank you honey. You look beautiful. Are yoy all set?"
"Almost. I asked around and sort of demanded that I get to choose your something borrowed. So here it is." Karen handed Liv a black box. As she opened it she saw a pearl necklace.
"It was Grandma Grant's. She left it to Dad to give to his first daughter. He gave it to me when I turned thriteen. He said that I was at that age where I would be able to appreciate it's beauty. That he trusted me to know at which events it would be appropriate to wear. I've never really found an occasion special enough to where it till today. But I want you to wear it as your something borrowed. I think if Grandma Grant were here, from what Dad has told me about her, she would want you to wear it. She'd be honoured to have you take a part of her to celebrate this day." For what seemed like the hundredth time that day, Olivia's eyes began to fill with tears.
"Oh Karen, thank you." Liv drew Karen into an embrace.
"No Liv, thank you. For loving my dad. For loving Gerry. For loving me. I don't know where we would be without you. I love you Liv."
"I love you too Sweetheart. So very much."
As the music started and the doors opened to reveal the Bride. Fitz's eyes never left her. She was breathtaking. Gerry, standing beside his father gave him a light nudge as if to remind him to move as Cyrus brought Liv to him. Sheepishly he glanced back at his son and daughter before taking Liv from Cyrus. He shook Cyrus' hand and kissed her on the forehead before taking both her hands in his.
"You take my breath away Olivia Pope."
"You look pretty dashing yourself Mr. President." Olivia replied.
The ceremony was beautiful. Liv and Fitz opted to recite the traditonal vows. When the priest had given Fitz the go ahead to kiss his bride, he had barely finished his blessing before Fitz had taken Liv in his arms and kissed her.