She's lying in bed, a book open and resting on her baby bump; but her eyes are closed and she's dozed off. Fitz slowly walks into the room, tip toeing in quietly, knowing that what he has to say will upset her. He notices that she's sleeping so he walks around to the other side of the room and turns off the bedside lamp, gently picking up the book and marking the page and closing it. He presses a soft kiss to her forehead and gently rests his hand on her stomach for a split second. "I love you peanut." And he starts to walk towards the bathroom to undress and get ready for bed, but he hears her stir.
"Fitz?"
And he turns around to look at her, his fingers expertly unbuttoning his shirt. Her face is partially illuminated by the soft glow of the bathroom light peeking through the small opening in the door. He walks over to her, blocking the light from her face with his body. "Hey Livvie, go back to sleep."
She slowly opens her eyes as he sits on the edge of the bed next to her, brushing the hair from her shoulder and kissing it. She smiles. "It's late."
"I know, I got held up at my office. I'm going to hop it the shower real quick, I'll be right back." And he leans in to kiss her.
She doesn't bother to open her eyes but feels the bed shift as he moves off of it, and she calls out after him. "Please brush your teeth; you taste like coffee."
He salutes her and walks into the bathroom, turning on the shower, stepping under the stream of hot water. He runs his fingers through his hair, sighing. He doesn't know what to do; he feels torn between two worlds, both important, both vying for his attention. The scolding hot water beats down on his face as he stands under it, embracing the sting it's starting to cause his tender skin. He's thinking, trying to find a clever solution to his dilemma, to please both masters. But he can't come up with a solution, that's not his forte, it's hers; so he decides to lay it all out for her in the morning, and have her decide what he should do.
He turns off the water and grabs a towel, wiping his face off before wrapping it tightly around his waist. He walks out of the bathroom in search of his clothes, and he's startled when he sees Gerry standing in the door's entrance, his thumb in his mouth.
Fitz gives him a sympathetic look, "Is Percy back tonight?"
And Gerry nods in affirmation. "He bringed friends too."
"Ok well then why don't you hop in our bed and snuggle with mommy for a few minutes while I get dressed and then I'll go have a little chat with Percy and his friends and make sure they leave you alone. Does that sound ok?"
"I guess." And he scurries over to the bed and climbs up, scooting over to Olivia, picking up her arm and wrapping it around himself, snuggling into her side. She stirs and unconsciously tightens her hold on him but doesn't wake.
Fitz walks back into the bathroom and quickly gets dressed and brushes his teeth. He walks back up to the bed and holds his arms out for Gerry, and the little boy slips from Olivia's arms and crawls over to him, wrapping his arms around Fitz's neck and legs around his waist. Fitz kisses the top of the little boy's head as they make it down the hall and walk into his room.
He sets Gerry down into bed and walks over to the closet. "Is this where you saw him?"
"Yeah, and over there." And he points to the handmade wooden trunk in the corner of his room, the one that houses all of his toys.
Fitz tip toes over to it and then looks back a Gerry. "You might want to stick your head under the covers, this could get ugly." And Gerry quickly pulls the blankets up over his face.
Fitz laughs to himself and takes a seat on the wooden box. "Hello Percy, how are you doing this evening? Oh wow you're such a polite monster, I'm doing well; thank you for asking. But you see, the reason I'm here is because you're scaring my son, Gerry, and I don't like it when he's scared. I'd really appreciate it if you'd relocate yourself to another house, preferably one with older children; my brother John may enjoy your company now that I think about it. Do you think you could do that for me? Wow, thanks Percy. Oh and just one more thing, if you could tell all of the friends you brought over tonight that this room is off limits too, that'd be nice. Yeah, I'm pretty happy we had this talk too, Percy. No, I think it'd be best if you just left, I don't think Gerry needs you to say goodbye; I'll take care of it for you. Goodbye Percy."
Fitz stands and walks back over to Gerry's bed, gently pulling down the blanket so he can see his little eyes. "He gone?"
"He's gone for good, Ger. No more monsters." And Fitz smiles as he runs a hand over Gerry's curls, the ones that are starting to look more and more like his own.
Gerry lays his head back onto his pillow. "Thank you daddy. You're the bestest."
Fitz sits on the edge of the bed. "No, you're the bestest." And he playfully pinches the little boy's nose as he bends down to kiss his forehead. "Good night Gerbear, I love you."
"I love you too daddy." And he closes his eyes as Fitz stands and walks over to the door, turning on the night light and standing there for a few minutes, watching Gerry drift off back to sleep.
He walks back into his own bedroom and crawls into bed behind Olivia, draping his arm over her stomach, placing a soft kiss behind her ear. She unconsciously moves back, pressing her body further into his, interlacing their hands on top of her abdomen. And he drifts off to sleep quickly, almost forgetting about his dilemma, realizing where he truly needs and wants to be.
He wakes up the next morning to the shrill ring of his phone. He's alone in their large bed so he doesn't bother to move; he answers the phone, listening to what the caller has to say.
He quickly gets dressed and follows the hushed voices he can hear coming from downstairs. He walks over to Gerry who's sitting at the kitchen table with an empty plate in front of him, eagerly anticipating his breakfast; he leans in and places a kiss to the top of the little boy's head. "Did ya sleep ok after Percy left last night?"
And Gerry nods his head, his mouth full of orange juice. He smiles. "Well that's good. I'm glad I could help." And he walks into the kitchen, putting his hands on Olivia's shoulders, gently massaging them. She turns around and he kisses her before reaching beyond her and stealing a piece of cheese from a plate on the counter behind her.
She swats his hand back. "Hey, those are for the eggs. No more." And she goes to turn back to the stove.
"Why don't you let me take over? Go sit and relax, I've got this." And he pries the spatula from her grasp and kisses her as she walks away, picking up a small bowl of strawberries and placing them on the table in between herself and Gerry.
Fitz brings a plate of English muffins and bacon over to the table and notices a fourth place setting. "Who's that for?"
She looks up at him quizzically, like she's surprised that he so quickly had forgotten. "John's coming over…to watch Gerry this afternoon…I have a doctor's appointment at noon…does any of this ring a bell?
His face falls but he quickly recovers, faking a smile. "Oh right, I totally knew that."
Gerry turns in his chair and looks back at his father. "No you didn't! That's why you asked."
Fitz puts his finger over his lips. "Shhhhhh." And he turns back to the stove, disappointment etched onto his face.
She pushes her chair back, getting up from the table, and walks over to him. "What's with the face?"
"Huh?"
"The face. What warrants that facial expression?"
He smiles. "You mean this? That's an easy one: you." And he tries to kiss her but she dodges him.
"Fitz." And he recognizes her warning tone.
"The healthcare legislation is up for a new vote at two. It's going to be a close one; they need me."
"You have to go all the way to D.C. today? I thought you said you would be home until after the baby is born."
He steps forward, trying to reach out for her, but she steps back. "Livvie, I'm sorry. But it's just—"
"Why didn't you tell me last night?" And she's clearly upset by this little last minute revelation.
"You were asleep by the time I got home. And I decided I was going to skip it; but I got a call from the speaker's office this morning. They need me."
The door swings open and they hear a familiar scream when Gerry turns around. "Uncle John!" And he scoots off of his chair and runs to the door, throwing himself in his uncle's arms. "Hey little man." And John picks him up and they walk into the kitchen. "Hey guys, what's for breakfast?"
Olivia looks up and fakes a smile; but he can tell all is not right so he baits Gerry. "Why don't we go see if your soccer skills have improved at all since the last time we played?"
His face lights up, but then he arches his eyebrows. "Ok! But what about breakfast? I'm hungry!" And he exaggeratedly rubs circles on his belly.
"We'll come and get you two when it's done. Go play with Uncle John for a few minutes."
Fitz's reassurance is enough for him. "Ok! Let's go!" And he points his closed fist towards the back doors in a superman-like fashion. "Whoa there killer, put that fist away; I don't want an eye like your dad's."
They make it outside and John closes the door completely, walking over to the little net, letting Gerry try and score on him. And he lets the first few go in, to build the little boy's confidence, but then he really starts putting in effort, making Gerry's task much more difficult.
When Fitz finally turns around, peeling his eyes away from the play in the backyard, her back is to him and he knows she's clearly upset. "Livvie?" And he walks over to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Don't touch me." And he pushes past him, setting the plate of eggs in the center of the table.
"Olivia—"
"No. Just, just don't. Just eat your breakfast and go."
"Olivia, can we talk about this?"
She throws her arms in the air as she turns around to face him, and her voice is raised, and he flinches when she first speaks, not quite prepared for the intensity of her anger. "What is there to talk about? You've made your decision." And she starts to walk to the back door to get the boys, her way of ending the conversation and preventing her tears.
"Don't. Olivia wait." And he walks over to her. "I'm sorry, ok? We knew there would be some sacrifices required when I ran. This is my job, ok?"
She turns to look at him, tears in her eyes. And it breaks his heart. "And I'm your wife; and this is your baby, your son or daughter. And this is probably the last time we get to see him or her before they're born, the last time we get to make sure that everything's ok, that he or she is healthy, and that I'm ok. And what if they're not; what if something's wrong? I can't go through what we went through with Gerry, not again. Not by myself." And she turns back around and opens the door, wiping her eyes, calling the boys inside.
They eat in near silence, Gerry throwing out an occasional comment or sound effect. They all finish in record timing, and Fitz stands to clear the table and do the dishes, but she stops him, and she tells him to leave, relaying how much he's needed, playing on his guilt. And he gives in, reluctantly leaving the house after quick goodbyes and promises to be home before bedtime. John takes Gerry to the park, giving her some much needed alone time before she needs to get ready and leave.
She gets into the car, an everyday task that has recently turned into what she would compare to an Olympic event. And she's about to turn the car on, about to put it in reverse and pull out of the driveway, but she gets distracted momentarily by fast paced, strong kicks. And she sits in the car for a few minutes, hoping they'll calm down, but they don't; and she's about to finally leave when a car pulls into the driveway next to her.
Fitz runs out of the car and opens the passenger side door, jumping into the front seat.
And she stares at him for a few seconds, not sure if she's imagining everything. "What, what are you doing here?"
"I got to the state line before I realized D.C. isn't where I'm truly needed today." And he cups her cheek with his hand, and she automatically leans into it. "I'm sorry about this morning; I'm sorry Livvie."
And he leans in to kiss her but she pulls back before he has the chance. He looks up at her, confused; and she pauses for a moment, but then gives him a small, disarming smile and places her hands over her stomach.
"God, I don't know what it is about your presence that does it, but the baby always seems to calm down when you're around."
He leans in again and this time is able to give her a chaste kiss; and he whispers with a smile against her lips. "Livvie, we both know I'm the baby whisperer."
She pulls back and starts the car. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you. I hate absolutely everything about you."
He smiles his most charming smile at her. "I love you, I love you, I love you. I love absolutely everything about you."
She looks over at him as she stops at a stop sign. "Don't think this changed anything; you're still on the couch tonight. I hate you."
He laughs, "Well in that case, I hate you more." And he leans up in his seat and kisses her cheek as she drives down the road.
"Mrs. Grant, how are you doing today?" Dr. Kerer asks as he flips through her chart and sits on the rolling stool next to her.
She motions down to her stomach, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "How does it look like I'm doing?"
He laughs. "Well it looks to me like you're doing great."
She smiles and nods disapprovingly. "Such a typical male response."
He looks over to Fitz who is sitting next to her. "You're one lucky man, Senator."
He smiles and kisses her temple. "Oh don't I know it."
Olivia moves her head to look up and warningly points her index finger at him. "Watch it." And both men smile.
"Ok, why don't we take a look at this baby of yours? See if he or she looks ready to meet you two in just about a week?" And he grabs gel and the wand as she lifts her shirt over her baby bump.
"You still want to wait to learn the sex?" And Fitz and Olivia both turn to look at one another before looking back at the doctor and nodding.
"Ok, in that case: here's her head," and he points to the monitor, to the clear picture of their child's facial features. "And here's his little hand, probably clenched up in a little fist; and his feet," and he keeps pointing to different features of their child. "She's in good position; so it looks like he will be making his entrance sometime next week, right on schedule. Everything looks good." And they both stare at the screen for a few more seconds, watching their baby move, listening to his or her strong and steady heartbeat.
"Ok Olivia, on here it says that you still want to try doing a natural delivery," and he motions down to the chart in his hands. "Is that right?"
She nods. "Well, I mean not completely natural; I'll definitely want whatever drugs you're offering, but I don't want another C-section if it can be avoided."
"You seem like the perfect candidate for VBAC, but we still need to talk about the risks, and the possibility of an emergency caesarian if deemed necessary."
"I know the risks: uterine rupture, tearing, infection. But I don't want another C-section unless absolutely necessary."
He gives her a small smile. "Ok then; we won't schedule you one. But I want you to take it easy for the next week; and I want a phone call the second your water breaks; and I want you in this building minutes later."
She smiles. "Deal."
"I'm holding you to that, Olivia. You let Fitz and Gerry do everything for the next couple of days; sit back and relax, put your feet up, give orders—"
"Whoa now, let's not give her any crazy ideas here. I'm the one who has to live like this the next couple of days." And he smiles as he leans in to kiss her temple.
"I'd say it's a pretty fair trade." Dr. Kerer stands and returns everything to its original place, washing his hands and saying goodbye before he slips out of the room.
Fitz helps her off the table and out of the office, leading her to the passenger side of the car, opening the door and waiting for her to slide in. He walks around and opens his own door, starting the car and pulling out of the hospital parking garage. He takes her hand and interlaces their fingers on the center console, periodically looking over to her, noticing the sly smile on her face.
"Whatcha thinking about?"
She laughs. "Just how much fun I'm going to have this next week." And she smiles at the look that appears on his face, a true deer in headlights.
Are y'all ready for another smushy baby? As soon as I decided if it's going to be a boy or a girl I will be!