Tired and Angry

"Did he say what he wanted?" Fitz held the door open as Olivia slid out of the backseat. She shook her head, grasping his hand after he closed the door. Together, they entered the building. A quick inquiry with the secretary had them sitting in hard, plastic chairs as they waited for the detective. He didn't keep them waiting long. The balding, middle-aged man in an all black suit didn't look happy as he approached them. He didn't look mad, either.

"Ms. Lewis," he greeted, extending his hand in her direction as she stood.

"Detective, please call me Olivia." She shook his hand, following his gaze to Fitz, "My fiancé, Fitzgerald Grant. He only speaks English."

"Ah," The detective held his hand toward Fitz, "Mr. Grant."

After shaking hands, the detective led the two to a small, cramped office. They took seats in front of the desk as the detective sat in his chair. Leaning heavily on the desk, the detective began speaking, making eye contact with Olivia:

"As you probably already know, all of your parents' property and assets were seized upon their arrest. I understand that your grandparents are in negotiations to give custody of your sister to you. Under these special circumstances, the court and my precinct have decided to give you access to your family home…"

"I don't want it."

"You can choose not to stay there, Olivia. However, should your parents be found guilty, whatever property and assets are not retained by the government will be turned over to you. Those are your mother's wishes."

"Why would she want me to…?"

"I don't know. You can visit with her if you would -"

"No."

"Aside from giving you the keys to your mother's home, I wanted to ask some questions as well."

"About?"

Fitz grabbed Olivia's hand, squeezing it and resting their intertwined hands in his lap. He couldn't understand what they were saying, but Olivia's tone had become soft and anxious. She needed him.

"Your relationship with your parents."

"Mother and stepfather."

"Did your mother force you to sign a contract to model for her company?"

"Yes."

"Did she take a substantial amount of your earnings during this time?"

"Yes."

"Had she or your stepfather ever physically -"

"No. My mother neglected me and my sister. She left us to fend for ourselves unless we could do something for her, but she never physically harmed us. She prefers to emotionally torment us instead."

She watched as the detective scribbled across his notepad, scrunching his brows together. As the hours ticked by, Olivia found herself opening up to the man across from her. Slowly, she recounted her childhood watching as he recorded her every word. As it neared 4:00, she signed the statement she had given, reluctantly took the keys to her mother's house, and left the building with Fitz.

/

"How was school?" Olivia took Isabelle's bag as the young girl slid into the backseat beside her sister. Olivia rested the bag at her feet, turning her attention to her sister.

"It was school," Isabelle shrugged. "What did you and Fitz do?"

"Business things," Fitz responded from his place in the passenger seat, chuckling when Isabelle stuck her tongue out at him through the rear view mirror.

"I spoke with a detective. He gave me the keys to mom's house."

"I don't have to go there do I?"

"No."

"Thank you baby Jesus."

"Isabelle."

"Sorry," Isabelle shrugged, "Did you hear anything about mom and Henri?"

"They asked me about my childhood. Their trial starts next week. The detective wanted to talk to you if you -"

"Yeah. Sure. I have nothing to hide." Isabelle shrugged, turning her head to the window.

"Isa are you sure?"

"Liv, I've been with you and Fitz for a whole three days and feel safer than I did with mom and Henri. You guys are my family - not them."

Sliding into the middle seat, Olivia wrapped her arm around Isabelle.

/

"This is...We're going to live here?!"

Fitz laughed at Isabelle's excitement, his gaze travelling out the large, glass doors that led to decent yard and patio area. With his and Olivia's love for swimming, he could imagine adding a pool later.

"When we're here. We'll still be living in California most of the time."

Isabelle nodded, following Fitz's gaze out the door. Crossing her arms, she asked, "Olivia said that she's going to get mom's house if they have to go to jail?"

"It looks that way."

"Do you think Olivia would be okay with keeping it?"

"I don't think she wants anything to do with it."

"I know she doesn't, but…" Isabelle leaned against the wall, turning her hazel gaze on Fitz, "Our nanny, Victoire, she raised me and Olivia. She has her own family and now that I won't be here, I don't know what she'll do. Not that mom ever really paid her anyway. I thought Olivia could...I don't know, let Victoire and her family live there."

Fitz smiled. There was so much about Isabelle that reminded him of Olivia. She certainly had the same big heart that her sister had. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he pulled her close for a quick hug.

"I think Olivia would think that was perfect." Something was nagging at the back of his mind, though, "You talk like your parents have already lost their trial."

"They aren't good people and I have to believe that in the end, the good ones will win."

"They will, Isabelle."

And he believed that. Of course, a little extra help from Huck would always guarantee that outcome, too.