I apologize for the long wait. Life happens is all I can say. Here is an update. I hope you enjoy. Happy Reading!

"I DON'T BELIEVE THIS SHIT!" Fitz was steaming mad that he couldn't help but yell.

Mr. Morrison, his boss, was trying to calm him down, "I know how you feel, Fitz. It really wasn't my doing."

Fitz was still irate, "DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE WASTED ON THIS SHIT? THIS IS STRAIGHT BULLSHIT!"

Mr. Morrison has his hand up in surrender, "I understand and I feel the same way. This is the government for you. I know that this was a terrible inconvenience for you and your crew."

Fitz slammed his hand against the wall, "No this is straight up stupid. First you put an incompetent asshole over my crew while I was on paternity leave. He called me at least once a day asking dumb ass questions that a crew chief should know. He took time away from my family. Then I took time away from them to come to this site last Friday so I could do a walk-through. I was still on leave but I came because I didn't want to be caught off guard when we started this new project at the beginning of the week. After my walk-through, I deemed this building unsalvageable and wrote a complete demolition recommendation. Bear in mind, I did all of this Friday while I was home with my family."

"I understand-"

Fitz continued to vent, "Then I get the call Monday that they want us to do the assessment anyway. My crew and I have worked all fucking week assess this damn building. Now, you come in here and tell me that decided to go with my recommendation that I made last week. This is complete and utter bullshit."

Mr. Morrison held his tongue for a few minutes before he spoke, "I know all of this, Fitz. I was irate when we got the message. That is why I extended a professional courtesy to you and your crew by telling you face to face. You and your crew have my permission to pack up early and go home. Also they are sending a member from each crew to Las Vegas for meetings and training in December for a week. Basically it's a week of partying. I would like you to go."

Fitz shook his head, "No. I appreciate the offer but I can't leave my family for that long. Harrison can go in my place."

Mr. Morrison nodded, "How is your family?"

Fitz smiled for the first time, "The twins will be officially six weeks on Sunday."

"Yeah, already."

Fitz laughed, "Yeah, my wife goes back to work on Monday. We are looking forward to our new normal."

Mr. Morrison extended his hand, "Well, I suggest you get home and enjoy your family with my blessings."

Fitz shook his hand and nodded. Then Mr. Morrison left.

X X

Fitz walked into his house around noon. He laughed as he took in the state of his living room. From the looks of it, it should have been declared a disaster area. Coming home today was completely different than what he has experienced all week. Usually when he gets home, Liv is in the living room waiting on him with the twins so they are the first thing he sees. Tuesday, both of the twins were awake and it seemed like they were waiting for daddy to come home. That moment melted his heart.

He walked upstairs towards his bedroom. The house was quiet and he wondered where Liv and the kids were. His question was answered when he walked into the bedroom and found all three of them passed out on the bed. It looked like they just crashed and slept where they fell because Liv was laying across the bed with Quad's feet near her face and Faith's head near her stomach.

He took out his phone and snapped a picture because it was too funny. He headed to the bathroom and took a shower. He always takes a shower before he touches the kids. He would be the first to tell you that he is overly cautious of germs especially considering they were premature.

After his shower, he put on a pair of his pajama pants and crawled behind his wife in bed. He put his arm around her waist and kissed her neck.

She slowly stirred awake, "Hmm." She turned and saw her husband looking at her, "Hey, when did you get home?"

He smiled at her, "A few minutes ago. I just got out the shower."

She rubbed her hands over her face, "I can't believe we slept all day. I had planned to at least have dinner started when you got home."

He shook his head, "It's not late. I got off early."

She sat up and looked at the time on her nightstand that read 12:49. She laid back down and looked at him, "What happened at work?"

He sighed, "Dumb shit." He just shook his head.

She turned towards him and rubbed his chest, "Tell me."

He groaned, "Baby, you read my recommendation that I wrote last Friday. I told them all of the things that I saw wrong with the building and that was just with my eyes. I didn't need to do a thorough assessment. The building was too old and it was not built with the best materials. I have a long list of projects that must be completed before the end of the year. We could have skipped this one but No, they wanted us to complete the assessment before they made a decision. Then Morrison, ole ass kissing bastard, comes and says they decided to go with my original assessment."

She kissed him on his chest but she knew better than to comment.

He kept going, "I really wanted to punch Morrison in his goddamn face. I went to school for this shit. I actually went to class and learned a few things. All he does is fuck his secretary or one of his girlfriends and thinks he knows everything. He could have pushed harder for them to listen but he never does. Bastard. I hope his wife takes him for everything he has."

Liv laid her head on his chest when he pulled her closer.

He kissed the top of her head, "I'm sorry, baby."

She spoke softly, "For what?"

"I am bringing my frustration home and cursing in front of the kids. This is not what I wanted to do."

Liv sat up and looked into his eyes, "Listen to me, you have nothing to be sorry about. I asked you to tell me because I know you needed to get it off of your chest. One of my jobs as your wife is to just be here when you need someone to just listen to you. I know you are frustrated and I am frustrated for you because you are great at your job. As far as cursing in front of the kids, believe me, my dad cursed like a sailor in front of me. Kids are going to pick up bad language. We as parents just have to make an effort to do better."

He pulled her face to his and softly kissed her lips, "Thank you baby."

She kissed him back, "Anytime."

He started laughing softly, "When did a tornado come through our house?"

Liv laughed and sighed, "These two have been running me crazy all morning. They are already spoiled. I can't put them down to do anything. I really missed your mother today."

Fitz shook his head, "I can't believe that she is selling the house and moving here."

"She just couldn't bear to be away from her grandkids and she felt that we needed her here more than ever before. She wants to get an apartment close by but in the meantime, she can stay here. It's a win-win for everyone. She will baby-sit them while we are at work until they get their shots then they will be going to school with me."

He held her tight, "I just can't believe that she wants to do this. I am glad that she can move on with her life. Dad told her to sell. He didn't want her to just sit around with all of those memories. I figured that she would always stay there. It was our home. But now everything is different but it's a good different. She wants to be more than a weekend or once a month grannie."

"Well, I know you will feel better having her close."

He looked at her closely and noticed a far-away look on her face, "What's on your mind?"

She gave him a weak smile, "Nothing. I am fine."

He pulled her on top him and looked her in the eye, "What's on your mind, Livvie?"

She sighed, "I need to see my father."

He noticed how she said need and not want, "Ok. No problem. Did something happen with him?"

She shook her head, "No, I've been in my own little world with you, the kids and the rest of the family. I haven't seen my father since the beginning of August and now it's October."

"Liv, the doctor told you that you couldn't travel that far. Then you were recovering. Those are the reason you haven't seen your father. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

She sat up and moved off of him, "I know that shouldn't feel guilty but I do."

He sat up beside her, "Why?"

She paused and spoke softly, "I read one of my mother's letters."

Fitz closed his eyes, "Liv, you said you weren't going to do this right now." He opened his eyes and looked at her, "You have a history of depression. Your hormones are still out of whack. Reading those letters makes you feel even more depressed than normal. We agreed that we would wait until your hormones have somewhat leveled out or until at least I could be here when you read them."

"Fitz, you were here. You were just asleep."

He shook his head, "Liv, I am not about to argue with you on a technicality. You know what I meant by me being there. Why did you go behind my back like that?"

"Last night I was nursing Faith. She was a little cranky so I went downstairs and just walked around with her. I sung to her and bounced her in my arms. Then I got to thinking, I wish my mother was here. I wondered what kind of advice she would give me. Then I thought about her letters to my grandmother. I went to the box and found one postmark a few months after I was born. My mother thanked my grandmother for her advice for dealing with me when I had colic. Apparently my parents would sit me in my carrier on the dryer and the movement would lull me to sleep. But then the dryer broke. My mother told my grandmother how my father would drive around the base all night until I fell asleep. Then I remembered how I used to hate taking naps. My father would ask me to ride with him to the store but I never remembered making it to the store because I would always fall asleep."

Tears slowly fell from her eyes. She tried not to cry but her emotions took over, "I am just so overwhelmed by everything. I am praying that I can come through with the record contract at work. I am worried about you and the kids. We are both running on little to no sleep but we are trying to be strong for each other. I can't open anymore new chapters in my life without closing the old ones first."

Fitz wiped a tear from her face and nodded, "Okay, we will head for Connecticut in the morning. I think it will be okay to take the kids out this one time before they get their shots. They need to meet their grandpa anyway."

She gave a soft laugh, "Thank you."

He took her hand in his and kissed, "As long as we keep talking to each other, then we will be okay. I love you, babe."

"Love you too."

X X

The drive to Connecticut was uneventful. Liv rode in the back with the twins. She and Fitz talked about everything and nothing. Thanksgiving was going to be at their house and they were excited to have everyone over again. Fitz was looking forward to eating some good food.

When they arrived at the Nursing home, Fitz grabbed both the carriers while Liv carried the diaper bag inside. They found Eli sitting in the common area playing checkers with an older man.

Liv walked up cautiously, "Dad?"

He turned to face her. He blinked, "Olivia?"

Liv nodded, "Yeah, dad. It's me."

He stood and hugged her, "Bugaboo, what are you doing here?"

Liv smiled, "I had to come to see you today. I wanted you to meet your grandkids."

She moved to the side to show Fitz standing there with the kids. He had pulled their blankets from their faces.

Eli choke up, "My grandkids-"

Liv rubbed his back, "yeah," She pointed to them, "That's Fitzgerald IV or Quad. He was born first. And that's Faith."

He just nodded because he was unable to speak.

His checkers companion spoke up, "Eli, are you going to play or do you forfeit."

Eli cleared his throat and spoke to Liv, "Why don't we go into my room?" He turned to his friend, "I will let you win this one since I have beaten you 20 times in a row."

The man smiled and waved him off. They went to Eli's room and closed the door. He sat in a chair while Fitz and Liv unstrapped the kids from their carriers.

Eli looked nervous, "Can I hold them?"

Liv smiled, "Yeah, here's Faith."

She placed her in his arms. He looked at the baby in his arms, "She is beautiful."

Liv grabbed her camera and took some pictures, "I want her to see the first time her grandpa held her."

He looked at Liv, "I wish I could remember the first time I held you. This disease has taken almost everything from me."

Liv pulled up a chair next to her father, "I have been in constant contact with your doctors and the nurses here. Everyone says that you are doing much better on this new medication. You have more good days now and that's okay. I would rather you remember who I am now than to remember who I was then."

He chuckled, "You are logical just like your mother."

Liv looked down at the floor then she looked at Fitz who was sitting on the bed holding Quad. She swallowed and looked at her father, "I know that I was angry with you for what happened to mom. To be honest, I was angry at everyone but especially you. I blamed you and I was wrong. You had no control over what happened. If you had gotten in the lead car instead of her, then you wouldn't be here. Either way, I would have lost a parent. I was wrong for thinking that her life was more valuable than hers. I am so sorry, daddy."

He took her hand, "Bugaboo, I love you and I would have done anything to trade places with your mother."

Liv kissed his hand, "I am glad that you are still here. I love you too, Daddy."

He smiled and she returned it.

Fitz spoke up, "How about we get a group picture? Grandpa, do you think you can hold both of them for a few minutes?"

Eli adjusted Faith, "Grandpa always has room for one more."

Fitz took pictures of Liv with her father and the kids. He set the timer and joined in a few. Then they took Faith and took a few picture of him with Quad. They spent majority of the day with him.

As they were leaving the nursing home, they ran into Tina, which was shocking to everyone.

Tina was the first to speak, "Hey, Olivia. How are you doing?"

Liv nodded, "I am good. You?"

It was really awkward and uncomfortable.

Tina replied, "Good too. Mama, just asked me to stop by and check on Uncle Eli. She had to work a little later than normal today."

Liv motioned towards the door, "We just left him. He is doing fine but he said he was going to take a nap."

Tina nodded, "Okay, well I will just relay that message to mom so she doesn't worry."

Everyone turned the opposite way towards their cars. Tina stopped mid stroll, "Liv, wait!"

Olivia and Fitz turned back to face her, "Yeah?"

Tina took a deep breath, "I wanted to say that I am sorry for all of the pain that I have caused you. I can only hope that you will find a place in your heart to forgive me."

Liv turned to look at her husband and kids. Then she turned back to face her cousin, "If you don't have any plans, we are having Thanksgiving dinner at our house. You are welcome to come."

Tina smiled, "I would love to be there."

Liv nodded somberly, "I don't know about forgiving you but that seems like a good place to start."

Liv and Fitz loaded the kids in the car and proceeded to drive to their last destination.

X X

Liv stood in front of her mother's grave and stared at the headstone silently praying that the name would change. MAYA LEWIS POPE

She held Quad while Fitz stood next to her holding Faith. She placed a bouquet of flowers in front of headstone. She looked up to sky then she looked down again and sighed, "I thought I would know what to say to you by the time I got here but I am drawing a blank."

She looked at her husband who smiled at her, "This is my husband. The love of my life. The man who puts up with me and my moods. These are your grandkids, Fitzgerald and Faith. I finally have a family and I couldn't be happier."

She gave a soft chuckle and shook her head, "I guess I could start by saying Thank you. Thank you for having me and giving me a chance to just be me. Thank you for being an example of a what a mother should be. I hope and pray that I am at least half the mother that you were. I went to see Dad today and he is doing better. He misses you as much as I do. I look forward to our conversations we have in my dreams. I know you are watching over me and my family. I feel your presence all the time. And I know you are proud of me because you always were. I will continue to strive to be better not just for me but for my family as well."

She kissed her hand and touched the headstone, "I love you, mom. Always and forever."

They held hands as they walked to the truck. After securing the kids, Fitz pulled her into his arms for a hug, "How do you feel?"

She took a deep breath, "Like a huge weight has been lifted off of my heart. I feel free. I feel loved. I feel happy." She pulled back and looked into his eyes, "I love you baby."

He pulled her into a kiss, "I love you more."

They got into the truck and headed home.