Fitz had been driving himself crazy for a day in a half after talking to Olivia about dinner and he wanted to come up with a night she would not forget. He didn't want to get a babysitter for Gabe, but he wanted some quality time with Olivia as well. So he asked the mother of Gabe's best friend at school Tomaso if he could spend the night at their home. Which happened to be a few floors down from Olivia's. She was more than happy to keep Gabe. Tomaso had learning difficulties and Gabe was always there to help with anything he was trying to learn.

With Gabe set he wanted to take Olivia out for their first real date and it was going to be a long evening filled with good food and fun.

The night was going to begin with the culinary delights of Pur' Jean-Francois Roquette in the Park Hyatt Paris hotel. The setting is beyond romantic. He even asked for the private dining table which is hidden with drapes, and they were having the six-course tasting menu paired with wine. A little known fact about Olivia, but she had become quite the foody since moving to Paris and she rarely got to experience what Paris had to offer and he was going to resolve that tonight. Then on to a cocktail bar that sits on the Seine called Las Jardins du Pont Neuf. There was an extra surprise waiting for them at the bar.

With everything set, he wanted to do something old school for their first date so he hired a messenger the night before, to deliver a handwritten note to her while she was at work.

"Olivia you have delivery upfront at the desk." Melody the secretary yelled back to her.

Olivia got up and started walking toward the door and a young man was waiting for her with an envelope.

"Hi. I'm Olivia what can I help you with?"

"Mademoiselle Pope, I have an invitation to deliver to you from Monsieur Grant. Bonjour, belle dame." He hands the invitation to her and leaves.

"What in the world has Fitz done?"

She opens the envelope and is nearly brought to tears by what she was reading. In his own hand, he has formally invited her to dinner and cocktails.

"Dearest Livie,

I so want this to be the beginning of something special between you and I. Please dress semi-formal for our adventure tomorrow and bring something to throw around your shoulders. It's a surprise. I will arrive at your door promptly at 8 pm to escort you to our transportation. I am so excited to see you tomorrow.

yours always,

Fitz

Olivia had to fan herself a little bit. He really was going all out for this date. She didn't give any tells this week to how excited she was, but if this was his first shot over her bow then, this was going to be quite the date.

Olivia didn't see Fitz all day Friday. He kept Gabe overnight to keep the mystery going as he wrote on a note he left her the day before the date. So she used her ever so precious alone time doing a little woman scaping for the date the next night. She also got her dress and shoes together so she could just come home jump in the shower and then wait to be picked up by her date. She had done some shopping on her lunch break because she decided that this date needed a new dress instead of one she had pulled from her closet. It was a beautiful grey floral pattern dress that had a boat neck, banded waist, and mid-calf length. She saw it in a small boutique and she knew it was going to be perfect.

She thought the day would never end and was glad she had a few hours of downtime before the date to take a long shower and relax a bit. By the time 8 pm rolled around, promptly at the appointed hour she heard a knock on her door. She peeked out just to make sure it was Fitz, but she only saw the back of his head. She opened the door to the most delicious site she had seen in a while. Fitz turned around in her eyes in slow motion. He had on a black suit that fit him like a glove and a white shirt that had a few buttons open so she could see his glorious chest hair a bit and the cologne he was wearing seemed as though she floated out the door to receive the flowers and kiss on the cheek he had waiting for her.

Fitz went instantly hard when she opened the door to him. If someone could be described as perfect, his Livie was just that. Her hair was bone straight and her makeup although minimal was the hight of perfection and her perfume was making his heart skip several beats. She was utter perfection to him. He felt himself on autopilot as he handed her a bouquet of field flowers that seemed to match her dress. He leaned over and pecked her on her cheek. They both were frozen in time before Fitz snapped out of his very real dream.

"Shall we go?" He whispered.

Olivia shook her head stepped back into her home to put the flowers in water then grabbed her clutch and shawl that matched her dress. Olivia locked up and Fitz offered his arm as they took the elevator down to the lobby and out to a waiting car with a chauffeur.

"Fitz! You didn't have to get a car, we could have gotten a taxi or uber."

Fitz turned Olivia to him and he put his hands on her shoulder.

"Olivia, this is my date and I will conduct it as I see fit. You are someone who deserves to be driven around in luxury and this will be the theme of our night. I'm celebrating you and treating you like the queen you are. Are we good?"

Olivia felt warm all over and smiled. "We're good."

"Great! This is Michael and he will be our driver tonight and he will get us to our destination and home safely tonight."

"Welcome, Ms. Pope. Shall we be off to our first destination?"

"Thank you, Michael, yes let's go."

He opened the door for both to the very large Audi 8i. They made it to the Pur' in the Park Hyatt Paris hotel about 45 minutes later. Fitz and Liv caught themselves up on the last two days on Gabe and her work. They had become such great friends over the previous months that really relaxed them as they arrived at the hotel. They were ushered back to their private dining area and the meal began. They laughed and talked about everything and nothing. Before they knew it, it was the dessert course. After Fitz paid for their meal, he escorted Olivia out to the car and told Michael to move on to their next location which was Las Jardins du Pont Neuf. Fitz had asked Olivia to leave her shawl in the car, but he asked her to bring it with her when she got out of the car.

When they were shown into the bar, Olivia's eyes were wide with so much excitement. The bar was literally next to the Seine river. Fitz asked her if she wanted to sit outside or inside either one had great views, but she wanted to sit outside and enjoy the night air and the river.

"Fitz! This place is magnificent! I've heard about the bar, but it's so hard to get into."

"Well when your brother goes to art school with the owner, it kinda smooths the way for you to get in."

He smiled. Olivia had all her teeth on show. She really felt like a queen by the way he was treating her to such delights of the night so far.

They found a wicker love seat near the railing and ordered a few cocktails and just enjoyed each other's company. Olivia threw her shawl around her shoulders, but she snuggled under Fitz's arm for more warmth. Fitz thought his night could not get any better than where they were at that moment. They sat there for about two hours before the owner came out to say hello to them both and tell Fitz the other surprise was ready.

Olivia looked at Fitz with a questioning look on her face and Fitz looked back at her with a bit of twinkle in his eye. He took her hand and lead her down to the end of the bar and there were steps that lead down to a small motorized boat. In the front was the pilot and in the back just two seats for them to fit into. Fitz climbed down first and then helped Olivia down into the boat. She pulled the shawl around her tight as they slowly left the launch and took a moonlit boat ride down the Seine. Olivia found herself cuddled up against Fitz for his warmth again. The boat ride was well over two hours. It was past 2 am when the got back. Once they got back to the bar and they headed toward the door, Fitz and Olivia were still wrapped up in each other. Fitz with his arm around her shoulder and Olivia with her arm around his waist. It felt so right like they were an old married couple heading home for the night. Michael silently opened the door for them as he drove them back to their apartment. There was nothing said, but the two of them getting to know each other as different people.

They arrived back at their apartment. Liv and Fitz said goodnight to Michael and went inside. Fitz didn't want the evening to end, but as they approached her door he leaned against the wall while Olivia opened her door. She wasn't sure if she should invite him in or not, so Fitz did her a favor and saw the indecision on her face. He grabbed her hand and pulled it up to his lips and kissed it.

"Ms. Pope, I believe this was the best date I've ever been on and I planned it."

They both chuckled.

"Allow me to see you in your home and I will see you in the morning for family breakfast as usual."

Olivia blushed a bit at how chivalrous Fitz was being.

"I will agree with you Mr. Grant, this has been the best time I've ever had on a date, and sharing it with you was special. I better get to bed, someone will be happy to see Mommy and Daddy in the morning."

"That he will. Goodnight Livie."

"Goodnight Fitz."

She slowly closed the door and stood behind it allowing everything that happened that night to flow over her. She could almost hear the ice breaking around her heart. If this is his redemption tour, it's a great start.