Wow, a lot of you really don't like Olivia. Or maybe it's her actions you don't like. Remember, things aren't always as they appear. As always, thank you for taking time out of your busy day to read IOYK as well as leaving thoughtful and kind comments and PMs. It is all appreciated.
TBOT
Olivia opened her eyes and turned away from the wall of windows to face Fitz. She stared as if she'd never seen him before. Very little about him had changed. He was still attractive and had aged quite well. He looked much more mature, distinguished. There was a sprinkling of gray throughout his blonde locks and tiny lines his around his mouth and eyes. So this was the reason for that sinking feeling she'd had in the pit of her stomach for weeks, she thought. Sighing, she silently walked over to the sofa and sat down.
Fitz still stood in the entrance to the family room. He'd stared at her back, knowing she could see his reflection in the glass. He moved farther into the room, and rather than sit beside Olivia, he walked over to the love seat and sat across from her. His gazed moved from her face to her straightened hair which was pulled back into a ponytail. He had never forgotten her honey brown skin, large doe eyes, per little nose and those lush, pouty lips. Olivia looked no different than she had four years ago, except for her eyes. They were older, wiser and guarded.
She blinked several times to clear her mind before she spoke.
"Why are you here? You can't be here."
"You know why I'm here," he said, looking directly at her.
"You always were direct, weren't you Fitz?"
"Well that's the only way I know how to be," he responded without any emotion. "I want to see my daughter."
"Why now and not four years ago? What took you so long to come to D.C to see me?"
Fitz stood and walked over to the spot that she'd just vacated in front of the windows.
When he didn't respond, Olivia, having recovered from the shock of seeing him again spoke. "I want you to leave. Now."
Turning around, he glared at her. "I am not leaving until I get some answers."
"Answer my question first, Fitz. What took you so long to come and see me? Don't tell me that you woke up this morning and decided to look up Olivia Pope because she just happened to cross your mind."
Fitz let out a deep sigh. He returned to love seat and sat down. There was now a hardness covering his face.
"Is she mine?"
"Wha…what?" she stammered.
"You heard what I said, Olivia. Is the little girl that I and hundreds of thousands of others saw in your arms on national television my daughter?" The tone of his voice was harsh and she had to turn away from his penetrating gaze.
After a minute she looked at him again, really looked him. He knew. She knew he did. Olivia knew Fitz well enough to know that he already knew the answer to his question and was just waiting for confirmation. But, she hadn't been hiding all these years and he could've figured out she had a daughter at anytime. Why now? She had been thinking about this moment for four years and more so in the past few months. She knew what she wanted to say; that he had moved on when she'd left L.A. and she made the only choice for her and her baby. How dare he show up four years later demanding answers.
"So were you ever going to tell me?" he asked in a voice that shook with rage. "How could you not let me know I had child? What kind of woman are you to keep something like that from me?" He continued to look at her. The rage had been replaced by hurt. It reminded her of how he'd looked when she'd reminded him that last morning together that what they'd had was temporary. Hurt. She had done him irreparable damage. But his hands weren't clean either.
Olivia was angry but she still felt the pull to reach out to him. She thought better of it, not sure of how he'd react. Instead she wrapped her arms around herself.
"Fitz, I…" there was a sense of urgency in her voice. He cut her off.
"How could you not tell me the very moment you knew? You kept this from me. How?" he demanded again. "What if I had never seen you on television, would I have ever known that I had a little girl?"
Fitz tried to fight the coldness that was working hard to take over his body. His daughter had been deprived of his love and his devotion for four years. He thought of his parents who may have never known that they had a grandchild. He felt himself shaking just thinking about what he and his parents had missed out on already. A little girl not knowing her father or her grandparents. A little girl being raised by a woman who thought it was okay to keep a father from his child, a father who already loved that child with all of his heart.
"I asked you a question, Olivia," he said calmly.
You asked several questions, she thought.
Olivia had remained silent as he ranted. She felt she deserved his fury. So what if he wronged me? Two wrongs have never made a right, not in the history of the world, she thought. The minute I knew was pregnant, I should've done more to let him know. It was the right thing to do. But he made his choice.
"Yes Fitz, Elliott is your daughter." She didn't know why but she felt relieved saying those words after four years. As if a heavy burden had finally been lifted.
Fitz looked at her with tears in his eyes. "Her name is Elliott?" he asked.
She shook her head yes and he smiled.
They were both quiet for a moment.
"How could you do this to us, Olivia? Did I do something to make you hate me that much?" he asked quietly.
"Fitz, I…I did what I thought I had to do. There wasn't any other way, given the circumstances," she replied.
"Olivia, that's a load of crap and you know it. There has to be a better reason to why you decided to have my baby and raise it by yourself. You…" he was interrupted by the doorbell.
Fitz saw the look of panic cross her face. He was curious as to why.
"Is something wrong?" he asked with concern in his voice.
She knew it was Cecily at the door…and Elliott.
Olivia shook her head and stood as the doorbell rang again. He watched her walk hurriedly towards the front door. She opened the door to find her sister holding a sleeping Elliott.
"Lib, I didn't know you had a guest, I would've kept Patootie a little longer," she said in a low voice.
Olivia ignored Cecily's comment and reached for her daughter.
"Cis she's too heavy for you to carry."
"Yes Cecily, she's too heavy for you to carry." Both women turned toward the deep voice.
"Fitz," Cecily whispered before glancing at Olivia.
"Hello, Cecily. I see congratulations are in order," he said as he stepped forward and kissed her cheek before he removed his daughter from her arms. "We'll have to catch up later," he said before walking back toward the family room.
Cecily looked at her sister, shock written all over face. For maybe the second time in her life, she was speechless.
"Lib?"
"Is Elle's bag still in the car? She asked.
Cecily nodded. "Yes, I couldn't carry them both."
Olivia took her sister's hand and led her back outside to her SUV.
Fitz heard the voices in the foyer and remembering Olivia's panic stricken face, he went to the door to make sure everything was okay. He blinked, surprised to see Cecily Pope standing in the foyer holding a small sleeping child in her arms. He knew whose child it was. His. It dawned on him that up until that moment he hadn't asked Olivia about her whereabouts. Cecily had a look of surprise and shock on her face when she saw him. His eyes zeroed in on his daughter and everything and everyone no longer existed. He quickly relieved the pregnant Cecily of his daughter's weight and walked back into the family room.
X
Fitz stared down at his child, his gaze awestruck, reverent. He cradled her closer to him as his composure crumbled. He was aware of nothing except the sleeping child he held in his arms, his own flesh and blood. He stroked her back gently before pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Nothing he had ever experienced could have prepared him for her. It was one thing to see her face in a photograph and another to see the image in the flesh. Her hair was pulled into two long and curly ponytails. Some of the hair had come loose and was curling around her face and a lone curl rested on her forehead. He smiled. She had inherited his hair, the curve of his eyebrows, and his nose. His daughter was the feminine version of himself. He looked closer and noticed she was wearing the heart diamonds that he'd given her mother after their first date. Seeing them made his heart skip a beat.
She's beautiful, he thought. Truly magnificent.
X
"Libby, what's going on? What's Fitz doing here?" Cecily asked. She had many questions but she needed to get home. She and August had a prior engagement.
"Cis, I don't know. He just showed up," Olivia responded as she reached into the passenger seat and grabbed Elliott's bag.
"What? After all this time?"
"Yes, Cecily. Look I need to get inside. Thank you for keeping her."
"Anytime, Lib. You know that. Call me later, okay?"
"I will," she said as she started to walk toward the house. She stopped abruptly and walked back towards her sister's vehicle. Cecily lowered the window.
"Cis, don't say anything Mom and Dad. Please?"
"I won't. Just keep me posted and let me know if you need anything."
Olivia nodded as she walked away.
"Bye Libby." Olivia waved at her sister as she backed out of her driveway, before walking back into her home.
X
As long as she lived, Olivia would never forget the look on Fitz's face when he saw his daughter, in the flesh, for the first time. She stood watching as he simultaneously rocked her in his arms and kissed her. He was hooked already. That's exactly how she'd felt the first time she heard Elliott's heartbeat, saw her fully developed body for the first time and the very first time she held her daughter in her arms.
"Fitz," she whispered.
He turned to find Olivia standing a few feet from him. She reached out to take their daughter from his arms.
Fitz stared at her outstretched arms. He then looked up and met her gaze. "No," he said in a deep husky voice that did little to hide the deep emotions he felt. "I want to hold her for a while."
Turning, he walked past Olivia and went to take a seat on the sofa. Tenderly, he cradled his daughter in his arms, holding her close.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she caught the look of love on his face. Olivia took a deep breath and started to leave the room. She was attempting to make a quick and quiet exit when she heard Fitz call her name. She turned around. He was staring at her over Elliott's head and holding out his free hand to her.
A warm feeling touched Olivia with Fitz's offer of a temporary truce. She walked over to the sofa and placed her hand in his. He gently pulled her down on the sofa next to him.
"She's beautiful, Olivia, and I want to thank you for her."
"You don't have to thank me, Fitz."
"Yes I do. There were other options you could have chosen, and I'm glad you didn't choose any of them."
She looked up at him and smiled. "Elliott has been my joy. There was never a question that I wanted her."
Fitz's expression remained neutral, although Olivia felt his body stiffen when he said, "But obviously you questioned whether or not I did."
Olivia wanted to deny his accusation, but she couldn't. He had to know why she did it. She tried to will the tears away. Seeing Fitz hold their daughter made her realize Elliott's loss the past four years. Her biggest regret was that her baby was growing up without her father.
Olivia glanced up at Fitz and to her surprise he had drifted off to sleep, holding Elliott. "Looks like Elle wasn't the only one tired," she said softly. Her worries and confusion momentarily forgotten, she snuggled comfortably against Fitz and closed her eyes.
X
Fitz didn't know how long he'd slept but when he awoke his gaze fell on a small face that was a mirror image of his own and eyes that she unknowingly shared with her paternal grandmother and uncle. She stared at him, curiously. He remained still and silent as he watched the play of emotions cross her face. Her gaze moved from him to her mother, whose head rested on his shoulder as she slept. He nudged Olivia and whispered, "She's awake."
The emotions on Elliott's little face went from confusion, surprise, recognition and elation. She gave him that crooked grin.
"Mommy!" The little girl squealed in delight and jumped up and down on his lap. "My daddy's home, Mommy! My daddy came home to see me! Daddy's home!" Daddy. Fitz and Olivia looked at each other, both stunned at how easily it came to Elliott.
Their child happily moved back into her father's outstretched arms. Fitz kissed his daughter lightly on the forehead, before snuggling her closer to him, to his heart. He couldn't stop his voice from choking when he spoke. "Yes Elliott, your daddy's home and he loves you so very much." He held her tight against him and would've continued until he heard her muffled voice. "I can't breathe, Daddy." He reluctantly released her and she sat back on his lap with a huge grin on her face.
Olivia had been watching silently, unable to stop the tears from flowing. She spoke softly, saying, "Tell your daddy your name, sweet pea."
The expression on Elliott's face indicated she didn't know why her daddy wouldn't know her name. Nevertheless, she answered anyway, in a clear voice. "My name is Elliott Christine Marie Pope and I'm four," she said proudly, holding up four fingers.
She had given their daughter his mother's name. Fitz glanced at Olivia, who was quietly wiping tears from her eyes. He had to swallow the lump in his throat before he could respond. "Well, I think you should get a kiss for each year. There's one, two, three and four," he said softly, kissing her forehead, both cheeks and chin.
"I'll be five soon," Elliott informed him. Fitz gladly place a kiss on her nose causing her to break out in a fit of little girl giggles.
Olivia continued to wipe tears from her eyes and cheeks and she was about to stand and get a box tissue, but Fitz's hand pulled her back by the waist, not allowing her to move.
"Mommy said you would come to see me," Elliott told him.
"She did, did she?" Fitz said while looking at Olivia.
"Uh-huh," she said, shaking her head.
"Yes, sweet pea, not uh-huh," Olivia said, looking at her happy girl.
"What else did she say, princess?"
"She said you would take me home for a visit. Can we go for a visit, Daddy?"
Fitz looked at his tiny little girl to whom he'd give the world and then at Olivia. When he didn't answer her question, she continued talking.
"Daddy, you have to see my room. And I have a present for you, too, but I'm not supposed to tell you that," she said, covering her mouth.
Fitz smiled at her indulgently. "What kind of surprise, princess?" he asked.
"It's a…" She blinked in surprise when her mother playfully put her hand over her daughter's mouth and then placed a finger over her own lips.
"It's a surprise, remember?"
Elliott nodded eagerly. Her blue green eyes were bright with excitement as she slid from his lap, grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up with her.
Fitz laughed loudly as he stood. He could hardly contain himself.
"Hurry, Daddy," she said as she led him towards the stairs.
Olivia watched father and daughter until they disappeared. She stood from the sofa and went to the powder room to splash cold water on face. She bit her trembling lips and stared at herself in the mirror. It was too much. Was Fitz really here? In her home? Upstairs in their daughter's room? She was still in shock.
Olivia left the powder room and walked into the family rom. She was grateful Fitz and Elliott hadn't returned. She needed time to regroup, gather her thoughts. After saying a quick prayer for guidance, she went into the kitchen. She needed to do something to keep her busy. She went about brewing coffee for Fitz and boiling water for her tea. She knew Elliott would soon want lunch but she'd wait to ask what she wanted. Her child could be picky.
Olivia had just dropped a tea bag into her mug of hot water when Fitz entered the kitchen. He didn't look any better than she felt. He looked exhausted.
He walked over to the island and leaned against it. They stood staring at one another before he spoke. He asked her the same question he'd asked earlier. "How could you do this to us, Olivia? How?"
She looked at him, mutely. It was a question she didn't really want to answer, not right now.
Fitz stood looking at Olivia, as she watched her tea steep. It was as if no time had passed since that last morning he'd held her in his arms, on the driveway of the house in the Hills. She looked a little different, but she was still his Sweet Baby. She was skinnier and her hair was much longer, but everything else was the same. Except, of course, for the fact that she'd given birth to his child and neglected to tell him about her for the past four years; that was the part he was having difficulty understanding. He had expected his temper to explode when they were alone, but for some reason, it hadn't. He was angry of course, but he was also confused.
Olivia finally spoke, "Where's Elliott?"
"She's upstairs. She had to potty and asked for privacy," Fitz said, laughing and shaking his head at his little girl's request.
Olivia gave him a weak smile and handed him a mug of coffee.
He took a sip. "You remembered how I like it."
She looked at him and nodded, before adding honey to her tea.
"She's heard me say that to her on a few occasions," she said smiling. "That little girl is too smart. I'm sure you've noticed by now."
X
Fitz had noticed a lot of things as Elliott escorted him to her room. She had held his hand and showed him the rooms upstairs. He had to admit that his body reacted when he looked into Olivia's bedroom. The calm color palette was inviting. Like everything else he'd seen, it was perfectly-decorated elegance. The room reflected her taste and personality: stylish, refined and elegant. The antique floor mirror, brass chandelier, mirrored closet doors floor lamps, bench and the upholstered queen shelter bed. The room seemed as if would be off limits to a child but he noticed a few toys here and there.
They finally made it to Elliott's room and she was thrilled to show it off to him.
"This is my room, Daddy! See, I have a big girl bed and everything. Fitz's eyes went to the bed that she was so proud of and his breathing almost stopped. There sitting against the decorative pillows was Bugsy, the stuffed bunny he'd won for Olivia on the Santa Monica Pier. She'd kept it and now it belonged to their daughter, he thought. His gaze continued to move around the room, taking in the child size shelves lining one wall, filled with books, dolls, teddy bears and more toys. There was a toy chest, child size table, with an aquarium as a centerpiece, and chairs and several dolls and stuffed animals stacked on the cushioned window seat, and an adult size rocking chair in one corner and a child size standing mirror in the other.
"Come sit down, Daddy, and see my things," she coaxed. Fitz was more than happy to comply. He wanted to see where his daughter was growing up. He walked further into the room stopping to look at the LED aquarium and three fantail goldfish swimming around.
Elliott walked over and stood next to him. She pointed at each fish as she said their names "That's Ariel, Nemo and Sushi." They looked identical so Fitz wasn't sure how she could tell them apart.
He straightened and looked into the room's connecting alcove which contained a daybed with trundle, which matched Elliott's "big girl" bed along with a desk, chair and more bookshelves.
He sat on the side of the bed and that's when he noticed the gold framed picture on the night table. To his shock, it was a picture of him and Olivia at the restaurant in Antigua the night of her thirtieth birthday, possibly the night his perfect little girl had been conceived. He wondered if that's why Olivia had chosen the photo. That was probably the second happiest day of his life. The first would be today, the day he met his daughter.
Elliott saw him looking at the photo and happily told him that she had lots more pictures. "I have a whole book, Daddy. Here I'll show you," she said and ran over to her bookshelf where she removed a lavender scrapbook with her name on it. She ran back to the bed and placed it on her lap. "Open it, Daddy. Mommy made it for me when I was little," she said excitedly. She removed her shoes and climbed up on the bed next to him.
"Okay, princess, let's take a look," he said as she snuggled into him as if she'd been doing it since birth. He opened the book and was stunned to see the contents. The first picture was of him at the helm of My Ivey when they'd gone sailing. He had no idea she'd taken the picture. The next few pages were pictures of him and then him and Olivia in L.A., Antigua and Big Sur. She hadn't just stuck the pictures on the pages either; she'd added handwritten notes about each photo.
"See, Daddy? That's you!"
Fitz was so shaken with emotion that he couldn't speak. Olivia had told their child about him, and had done it in a very loving way, and with great detail. Yet she couldn't pick up the phone and say, "Oh, by the way, we're having a baby."
Elliott began patting his arm and brought him out of his reverie. "Daddy, I have to get your present, okay? I'm going to get it," she said excitedly as she climbed off the bed and skipped out of the room. Fitz was glad for a moment alone, because it gave him a chance to wipe his eyes and compose himself. She was wrong. No matter how beautiful Elliott is, no matter how much she told her about me. Olivia was wrong to do this, he thought. He had to keep thinking terrible thoughts to remind him that he was the wronged party here. She was the one who had a lot of explaining to do and no matter what she said, this was one of the worst things a woman could do to a man, as far as he was concerned.
Fitz could feel his anger rising again and he was grateful when Elliott returned with a box. He moved the scrapbook off to the side before she placed the box on his lap and climbed back on the bed, and made herself comfortable next to him. He removed the top and inside was a post-bound photo album. This one was sage linen with DADDY embossed in gold.
"What's this, princess?"
"This is your book, Daddy. Mommy made it just for you. Open it, open it," she said excitedly.
"Okay, okay," Fitz responded, laughing. He put an arm around her before he turned the first page. It included a picture, her name, date and time of birth, weight. His daughter's birthday was just days after his. He quickly did the math in his head and he was right. He'd gotten Olivia pregnant on her birthday in Antigua. He smiled as he turned the page. There was Olivia with tears of joy rolling down her face, holding Elliott. They were still in the delivery suite and although Olivia would certainly disagree, she had never looked more beautiful to him.
There were pictures of almost every day of Elliott's first year, from the moment of her birth to her first birthday. Her first year of life was captured on page after page of pictures. As with Elliott's baby book, there were little notes about her and all her firsts. Her first word, first steps her potty training and all the funny little things she'd done and said since her birth.
The anger he was trying to control was battling with the overwhelming emotions he was feeling and he was finding it hard to breathe. Fitz thanked God for His intervention when Elliott patted him arm and announced that she had to go potty. He didn't know what he would have done without the distraction.
"Do you need help, sweetheart?" he asked.
She'd reached the bathroom door and turned to him and smiled. "No Daddy, I just need privacy."
Fitz chuckled and said, "Okay, I'll be downstairs."
He walked out of her room in a daze and right into the wall on his way down the stairs, but he was too full of emotions to notice. He continued walking as he followed the smell of brewing coffee coming from the kitchen.
And there she was. The woman he'd fallen in love with at first sight, the woman he was sure he'd love forever, the woman who'd broken his heart. She turned around when she heard him enter the room and he was wildly pleased to see the look on her face. She was nervous. Good, he thought. She should be. He accepted the mug of steaming coffee she put in his hand.
"Thank you," he said before taking a sip. "You remembered how I like it," he said quietly. "But this doesn't change anything. You and I have a lot to talk about. Did you really hate me so much that you could keep that beautiful little girl away from me?"
Olivia glanced towards the entrance to the kitchen. "Look Fitz, I don't think this is the right time to have this discussion," she said with an edge to her voice. "We can talk tomorrow and get everything ironed out, but I don't want…"
"Olivia, right now I don't give a damn what you want or don't want. You don't want to argue with me right now, trust me. You took something from me that I will never get back," he seethed, "the first four years of my daughter's life, years I'm never going to have again. How in the hell could you be that cruel?" His voice was low but he spoke with pure fury. Pain was etched on his face and he was trying hard to control his emotions. Olivia stared at Fitz as if he was speaking another language.
"Fitz what are you talking about?" she asked in low voice, filled with anger. "This was your choice, too. I admit I was wrong. I should've persisted, but this was what you wanted." He could see the rage building in her eyes as she spoke. He was shocked at the force of her words. She was like a fierce mother bear protecting her cub from harm and it was…it was sexy as hell. He cringed. Right now was the worst possible time to be turned on by anything, especially with their daughter in the house.
"You have no right to judge me. You made the easy decision."
Fitz looked at Olivia as if she were speaking another language. "What the hel…?" He stopped talking as soon as he heard Elliott noisily coming down the stairs.
Their daughter skipped into the kitchen, water dripping from her wet hands."Mommy, can I have a snack?" she asked, oblivious to the tension between her parents.
"May I have a snack?" Olivia corrected her daughter as she tore off a paper towel to dry her hands. "How about lunch? What would you like?"
Elliott stood in the middle of the kitchen and put her index finger to the corner of her mouth, as if in deep thought. Olivia smiled and glanced at Fitz who was staring at their daughter in amusement.
"Grilled cheese, please!" she announced, throwing her hands in the air.
Fitz and Olivia laughed at their daughter, both grateful for the distraction.
"Grilled cheese coming up," Olivia said, kissing her daughter on the nose.
Fitz stood watching the scene between mother and daughter. Their bond was unmistakable. This is what he'd missed out on. He envied it. He cleared his throat and spoke up.
"How about I prepare lunch for the two of you?"
Elliott's eyes grew wide at his suggestion. "Can daddies cook lunch?" she asked.
Fitz leaned down and swung his daughter up in his arms. "This daddy can," he said before kissing her cheek. "I used to make lunch for your mommy too." He quickly glanced at Olivia.
"Why don't you have a seat and watch, okay?" She shook her head vigorously as he walked over to the island and set her in one of the high stools.
Olivia used this time to make a quick exit. Seeing Fitz and Elliott together, looking so enamored of each other, touched her heart in a way she hadn't anticipated. She'd robbed them of four years of this.
"Excuse me for a moment," she said as she left the kitchen.
Upstairs she slipped into her bedroom and closed the door. Standing with her back against the door, she allowed the tears to fall. I did the right thing, dammit. I did the only thing I could. I know I did. She was confident she had done the right thing despite how everything had turned out. Still, they had both missed out on so much.
All cried out, she went into her bathroom and splashed cold water on her face for the second time that day. I need to make this right. She had to do everything in her power to make it up to them. Both of them.
Olivia patted her face dry and took several deep breaths. She had just walked out of her bathroom when she heard loud knocking on the bedroom door.
"Mommy? You in there?" It was Elliott.
She opened the door to her smiling and excited little girl. It was obvious that her baby had missed not having her father in her life. She had changed in the few hours he had been in their home. Elle was blossoming right before her eyes. Fitz's presence was already making a difference in their daughter's life.
Olivia smiled and lifted her daughter into her arms.
"Hey, sweet pea. Give your old mom a hug."
Elliott obliged her mother and then squirmed out of her arms.
"Daddy said lunch is ready. He made lot of grill cheeses. He said hurry or he's gonna eat all of 'em and I want some," she said as she pulled on her mother's arm. "Come on, Mommy."
Olivia chuckled as she allowed her daughter to lead her out of the bedroom and down the stairs to the kitchen. Fitz had placed the sandwiches in the warmer and was now pan roasting potatoes on the stove top griddle. A large arugula salad with apples, raisins and walnuts sat on the island.
"Something smells good," Olivia said, to get Fitz's attention. He looked up and smiled. He was still angry with Olivia but they would be on their best behavior in front of Elliott. They were working to make sure that she didn't witness a hint of discord between. Neither had actually spoken these words, but they were understood.
"Thank you. My little helper was happy to show me where everything was."
"Elliott grinned at her daddy. "I put the apples and raisins in the salad, didn't I Daddy?"
Fitz laughed. "Yes you did, princess."
"See, mommy."
"I believe you, sweet pea. Thank you. Now go wash your hands while I set the table,"
Olivia watched as their daughter skipped happily out of the kitchen to the powder room. She took in a few deep breaths and turned to look at Fitz. He was placing the crispy skillet roasted potatoes in a serving dish.
"I meant what I said, Fitz. Thank you. You really didn't have to do all of this."
He gave her that crooked smile that could still make her heart skip a beat.
"Well we all needed to eat."
"It all looks wonderful, Mr. Grant. You were always a great cook."
"Thank you, Miss Pope."
Their conversation was cut short when Elliott returned to the kitchen. She watched as her parents transferred their lunch to the table in the kitchen alcove.
"Mommy, can I help?"
"Yes, you may. You can ask your dad what he would like to drink with his meal," Olivia said as she removed three glasses from a cabinet.
Elliott asked what he'd like and giggled when he said apple juice.
"Did I say something funny?" Fitz asked.
"Apple juice is Elliott's favorite drink."
"Oh yeah?" he asked as he lifted her in his arms and spun her around.
"Yeah, Daddy!" she squealed.
"I thought that bottle of juice in the refrigerator might be for you," he said before kissing her forehead and setting her on the booster seat at the table.
The kitchen was filled with little girl squeals as Fitz continued to tease and tickle their daughter. Olivia watched them as she poured apple juice for her and Fitz, and milk for Elliott, from the refrigerator. She couldn't do anything to stop the expression of joy that spread across her face as she joined her family, well not her family, but some type of family unit, at the table.
Elliott's little girl chatter kept the adults entertained throughout lunch. She couldn't contain her excitement as she told her daddy about dancing on stage the previous afternoon with Dorothy from The Wiz Live. "It was so fun, Daddy."
He smiled at his daughter's infectious laugh.
"That doggie was so cute. Can I have a dog, mommy?"
"May I have a dog, and maybe when you're old enough to take care of one," Olivia answered.
Elliott made a face, clearly not liking her mother's answer.
Olivia listened as Fitz told Elliott about him and his brother growing up with a dog, Tag, but they were much older. It was a lot of responsibility, and Elliott needed to grow a little more. She was grateful to have Fitz on her side in this debate. Their daughter was not getting a dog anytime soon.
Olivia found herself wondering if this was what their life would have been like if she'd been strong enough. They would have been a family, raising a child. Brought to the present, she pushed away sad thoughts of what couldn't be. She looked at her daughter and smiled as she told her dad what she liked best about school.
She told him her best friend's name, Vida, who lived across the street. She also told him about her ballet class, piano lessons and taekwondo.
"Do you like your classes, princess?" he asked as he watched her animated face.
"Yes, but I want to play drums instead of piano. My friend Savannah gets to play the drums. Drums are funner."
"Not funner, sweet pea. They're more fun," Olivia corrected.
"Well if drums are more fun, why can't I play them instead of the piano?" Elliott asked reasonably.
Fitz was visibly struggling not to laugh. His daughter was smart.
"Fitz this salad is really good," Olivia changed the subject.
"Thank you." He looked around the kitchen before he continued. "I noticed your kitchen is a chef's dream and it's well stocked."
Olivia laughed.
"What's funny, mommy?"
"Daddy knew mommy before I could cook much of anything. He always cooked for us. But he started teaching me and I took lessons so I could cook for you."
Elliott, busy eating the raisins, apples and walnuts in her salad absently asked, "Where was I, mommy?
Olivia glanced at Fitz then away as the memories of the meals they prepared together flooded her thoughts.
"That was before you were born, sweet pea."
Fitz continued telling Elliott about growing up in New York City, and the things he, his brother and their cousins got into when they were kids. Elliott giggled at her father, appearing to love his stories and asked to hear more.
Olivia observed her daughter picking at her food and tried to get her to eat more, but she shook her head 'no.' She knew Elliott was finished. Standing, she started to gather the dishes and took them to the counter. Fitz offered to help, but she declined. She told him to go and spend time with their daughter and she would take care of the kitchen.
Fitz lifted Elliott into his arms and they left the kitchen. Olivia was finally alone. Now she could breathe. Fitz still had that affect on her. Seeing him again reminded her that he was the only man she had truly loved, and the only man she would probably ever love. Her baby had been the physical link she'd needed to keep him alive in her heart all these years.
Sighing, Olivia began loading the lunch dishes into the dishwasher and could hear the sounds of 'Frozen' coming from the family room. Elliott wasn't allowed much television time but she would make an exception today. Maybe after the third of fourth viewing he would want to leave. She doubted it, but she could certainly wish.
For the rest of the afternoon, Olivia watched from a distance as Elliott and Fitz spent time together. He was a trooper; but she hadn't expected any less. They had watched 'Frozen' and 'Moana' several times before Fitz suggested going out into the backyard to enjoy the warm spring weather.
Olivia kept busy so she would not intrude on the father daughter bonding going on in her backyard. She spent that time in her home office going over case notes. She worked for almost two hours before emerging to begin dinner. Standing at the window in the kitchen, she could see Fitz pushing Elliott high on her swing and their daughter's high pitched squeals were loud enough to be heard by all the neighbors. Olivia fixed them a light snack and took it out to them before returning to the kitchen and dinner preparation.
Later, after a quiet dinner, Olivia sat and watched as Fitz and Elliott worked on one of her puzzles. He had spent the entire day with their daughter and there were brief moments where she felt as if she were losing her baby to the man she still loved and who had helped in creation of their child. She gave them an hour before standing and announcing that it was time for Elliott's bath.
"No, mommy. Not yet."
"Yes, Elliott Christine Marie." Olivia reached out her hand to her daughter. "Say goodnight to your dad."
Elliott whined. "Can daddy read my story?"
Olivia looked in Fitz's direction. "Will you?" She asked softly.
Feeling as if he'd been handed a priceless gift, he nodded. "I'd like that."
"I'll call you as soon as we're finished," Olivia said as she led Elliott up the stairs to her bedroom.
Fitz watched them disappear and then began placing the puzzle pieces back into the box and storing it in the cabinet beneath the built-in bookshelf. Moving restlessly around the room, he paused to study the photographs on the mantel and bookshelves. Pictures of Olivia and Elliott, Elliott with members of her immediate family, including Cecily Pope, and Hayes and Harrison Wright. He stared at the photos of Harrison. His friend. Although he hadn't seen Harrison in almost six years, he felt he could've told him that he'd fathered a child, but he understood why he hadn't. Of course it didn't lessen the feelings of betrayal.
If only he knew what had caused her to keep his daughter from him. Why had she left L.A. possibly knowing she was pregnant and kept it from him for almost five years. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Olivia's voice.
"Fitz, there's a little girl up here who's waiting for her daddy to read her story."
He stood from the sofa and went to the stairs. Her daddy. As remarkable as that still seemed, he and Olivia had created the incredible child waiting for him on the stair landing. Her face held his crooked grin, she was wearing Moana pajamas and Olivia had braided her ponytails. She held out her arms and he lifted her into his arms as they followed Olivia to her room. She smelled of lavender as she hugged him tight and gave him a kiss on his cheek, before she laid her head on his shoulder.
"Are you ready for bed, princess?" he whispered near her ear.
She shook her head. He knew she was tired.
Elliott's room was illuminated with the soft light from the bedside lamp. Fitz placed her down on the bed and tucked her in. She reached for Bugsy and held up her book.
"Now my story, Daddy."
She had chosen her current favorite…again.
Olivia made herself comfortable in the cushioned adult-size rocker while Fitz settled on the bed next to their sleepy daughter. He read the title out loud, "I'm a Pretty Black Girl, by Betty K. Bynum" before turning to the first page. She listened to him read in rapt attention and smile sleepily when he was done.
"You did that good, Daddy. Almost as good as mommy."
"Thank you, princess," he said before kissing her forehead.
"Can you cook breakfast?" she asked around a yawn.
"You'll find out in the morning, princess. Okay?"
"Okay, Daddy."
"Sleep well, Elliott. Daddy loves you." He kissed her forehead and stood.
Olivia stood when he closed the book. "Time to close those pretty eyes, sweet pea," she said as she kissed her daughter's cheek and gave her a hug. She switched off the bedside lamp but left the usual night lights on, before walking out of the room.
Fitz was a few steps behind her. He didn't speak until they entered the family room.
"I know I've said this before, but I owe you."
She looked at him. "What? I don't understand."
He shocked her when he walked over and touched her shoulders. His voice was rough with emotion when he said, "Our daughter is beautiful, both inside and out. She is a sweet, loving and happy little girl and that's because of you."
He surprised her even more when he kissed her cheek before he stepped back. "Thank you Livvie for the love and excellent care you've given her. Words can't begin to express what I feel."
Touched, it was all she could do not to break down and cry. After this morning, she certainly hadn't expected this. "You don't owe me anything. I loved her even before she was born," she said before walking over to the bar.
"Would you like a drink?" she asked.
He moved to the sofa and took a seat before answering, "Yes."
She poured him a tumbler of scotch, neat, and a glass of merlot for herself. Walking over to where he sat, she handed him the glass before moving to the love seat and sitting directly across from him.
They sat in silence for a few minutes as Olivia tried to ignore Fitz's close scrutiny. And then he spoke, softly. "Livvie, I've been trying to make sense of all of this and I need you to help me out. I'm trying to figure out why you kept our child a secret from me of this magnitude, for four years. I can't come up with any kind of answer that makes sense. If you had just hated me, that would be one thing, but I don't think you do. You gave Elliott my mother's name, she sleeps with the stuffed animal that I won for you on the Pier and she's wearing the heart-shaped diamond earrings that I gave you after our first date."
Olivia sat listening to Fitz, taking an occasional sip from her glass.
"You made that beautiful scrapbook as a gift for me. Elliott knows about me because of you. Livvie, you've done an amazing job of raising her by yourself, but I don't understand why you felt you had to. Why didn't you just pick up the phone and tell me you were carrying our child? What did I do that was so horrible that you couldn't even let me know I was father?" Fitz hadn't raised his voice, which in a way was worse than yelling.
Olivia stared at him before she spoke. "I should have tried harder to make you a part of Elliott's life. Even after you… well, I'll always regret that I didn't. You'll never know how guilty I feel about that," she said quietly. "But Fitz there was no room in your life for me and a baby."
"What?! Livvie, I told you on more than one occasion that I loved you and that I would wait for you. All you had to do was call when you were ready to let me in. I waited for you." He drained his glass before continuing. "It was fine that you didn't want me, but you had no right keeping the existence of my daughter from me."
Olivia placed her glass on the coffee table with a thud. "See that's where you're wrong, Fitz. I had every right. I honestly had no intention of keeping anything from you, but you changed that. There was no room in your life for us." She wasn't as successful as he was with keeping her voice low.
Fitz became visibly angry the more she spoke. "I have no idea what you're talking about, Olivia." He was sick of her talking in riddles. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asked again louder, unable to control his rage.
"Shh, keep your voice down," she hissed. Olivia tried to remind him that they weren't alone, that there was a sleeping child in the house.
"Elliott's asleep," he countered.
"She has ears. It will upset her if she wakes up and hears us arguing."
It was too late.
"Mommy!" Elliott cried.
Olivia glared at Fitz. "See what you did? Excuse me," she mumbled as she headed for the stairs. When she reached the landing, she called, "Mommy's coming," then hurried into her daughter's room.
"Mommy," Elliott whimpered, rubbing her eyes with her balled fists and clutching Bugsy.
"I'm here, baby. Mommy's here." Sitting down on the side of the bed, Olivia kissed her brow. "Why the tears, sweet pea?"
"The noise scared me," she answered in a soft voice.
"What noise, Elle?" Olivia asked, confused.
"You and daddy noise."
Olivia gathered her daughter in her arms. "Shh, it's alright. Mommy and daddy were just talking too loud and we scared you. We're so sorry." She kissed her cheek.
Fitz, who had been leaning in the door, moved across the room and sat on the other side of the bed.
"You okay, princess?"
"Mmm hmm," she answered as she rubbed her eyes. "I gotta go, mommy."
"Alright." Olivia pushed back the comforter. "Come on." She guided their daughter into the bathroom.
Fitz stood from the bed. He felt terrible that their loud voices had awakened their daughter and scared her, and he vowed that it would never happen again. He wanted to protect his little girl from all the ugliness in the world. He'd had no idea what it meant to be a father until he looked into his child's eyes and he wanted nothing more than to be the best father could possibly be.
He was still standing at the window when Olivia and Elliott returned.
They both soon had their daughter tucked in again. Elliott clung to Fitz's hand. "Daddy, are you leaving? I don't want you go."
Fitz looked at Olivia before speaking. "Princess, Daddy can't stay. I'm going home to sleep in my bed."
"Please, daddy. Stay with me." Her large, blue green eyes filled with tears.
"Pl-e-e-a-se," she whined.
He knew he couldn't say no to her. Sighing, Fitz acquiesced. "Okay, princess, I'll stay until fall you fall asleep. Which should be soon, because you have school tomorrow."
Elliott smiled and nodded. She'd gotten her way. What she didn't know was that her daddy hadn't wanted to leave her either.
They stayed until Elliott dropped back off to sleep. Olivia moved quietly towards the door and into hall. When she looked back Fitz was still sitting on the side of the bed watching their daughter sleep. She left him and went back downstairs.
Fitz watched his daughter sleep until the tears in his eyes threatened to overflow. It was beyond belief that he and Olivia had made this innocent miracle and even more unbelievable that he was just meeting her today. He was finally able to tear himself away from his sleeping child and went downstairs to find her mother. She was in the kitchen placing their drink glasses in the dishwasher.
He leaned against the counter across from her. He was calm and his eyes were warm as he took her in. When he spoke, he spoke with compassion, not the anger from earlier. "Livvie, we have to be civil for our daughter's sake.
Olivia looked at him and nodded in agreement.
"We have a lot to discuss but that won't happen tonight. We're both too wired. I'm staying at Victoria House in Dupont Circle. Do you have your phone on you?" he asked.
Olivia hadn't had her phone since she left her office to start dinner. That never happened.
"No. Why?"
"I want to program my numbers into it."
"Oh. It's in my office, I'll go get it." She left and returned a minute later, handing him the device.
His thumbs moved quickly as he tapped his name, address, cell, office and landline numbers along with his email address into her contacts.
He removed his phone from his shirt pocket and she did the same.
"How many numbers do you have?" she asked when he took an unusual amount of time tapping on the screen.
"Three. I'm giving you my cell, the number at my office and the one in my apartment." Glancing up, he winked at her. "You can always send me a text if you need me for anything. And I do mean anything."
Olivia stared, momentarily speechless. The warmth in his voice and the tender expression was the Fitz she'd met and fell in love with.
She smiled. "I'll keep that in mind if I do need you for something."
Fitz handed Olivia her phone.
He surprised her when he said, "Look, I know this isn't easy for you, having me in your home. But…"
Olivia cut him off. "We are both doing what we have to do. Let's leave it at that."
He nodded. "I'm going to back to New York tomorrow."
Olivia's eyes grew wide and she was about to speak when Fitz stopped her and smiled. "Don't worry I will be here bright and early tomorrow morning to make breakfast for my princess… and her mother."
She looked away so he wouldn't see the small smile on her face, but he did.
"I have to tell my parents that they have a grandchild, and I have to do it in person. They're going to have a million questions and of course they're going to be anxious to meet her."
She nodded not voicing what she was feeling. Fitz's parents would probably blame her for keeping their granddaughter from them. But she would never allow her baby to meet them without her. Her nerves were already getting the best of her. But this was not about her. "Let them know they're welcome to come and visit."
"I will. I'd better be going," he said as he walked ahead of her out of the kitchen. Olivia removed his blazer from the coat closet and watched as he shrugged into it.
"Is there anything the little lady can't eat? She said waffles are her favorite."
Olivia laughed. "Luckily, she didn't inherit my food allergies. And waffles are fine. Your daughter can test my patience when it comes to breakfast. And lunch and dinner, for that matter."
Fitz laughed. "So, she's my daughter when she's doing something to test your patience, and I assume she's your daughter when she's a good girl."
A smile spread across Olivia's face. "You learn fast, don't you?"
"Yep."
"What time should we expect you tomorrow morning?" she asked.
They stood at the front door.
"What time should I be here?"
"Well we usually leave no later than seven-forty."
"I'll be here at six-thirty. Is that okay?"
She nodded.
"Thank you, Livvie." His voice was thick with emotion, sincere and filled with gratitude. "She's beautiful," he whispered before cupping her face and pressing his mouth to hers. He knew the move wasn't a wise one, but he couldn't help it. He needed to touch her, to taste her. It had been too long, and best of all, she was kissing him back.
Well she was kissing him back before she pushed him away. "You're welcome," she said, stepping away from him. "Don't do that again, Fitz, I'm serious. And if you thank me again, I will deck you."
He laughed at her before picking up the box containing his scrapbook and opened the door.
"Goodnight, Livvie, he said as he stepped out onto the porch."
Goodnight, Fitz. Drive safe."
He gave her a crooked smile over his shoulder. That grin was so familiar, and brought back memories of a happier time.
"I will."
She watched as he walked to the sporty Audi and climbed in. He started the engine, backed out of driveway and drove away. She closed and locked the door. Leaning against it, she stared at the spot where Fitz had stood seconds before. "He knew," she whispered to herself. He knew she still wanted him. That she'd never stopped loving him. Nothing had changed. Everything had remained the same, except for Elliott.
She stood from the door and set the alarm before heading upstairs to shower and get ready for bed.
X
Fitz paced back and forth in the living room of his suite at Victoria House, sipping on his second glass of scotch. He was trying to collect himself and process everything that had happened, from the moment he rang Olivia's doorbell that morning, until he kissed her and walked out of her door that evening.
He'd loved his tiny daughter from the moment he saw her on television and had been smitten the instant he'd seen her in the flesh. Without question, Elliott Pope had a place of her very own in his heart. She was bright, funny, beautiful and perfect in every way. She was precious, from that crooked grin to her little girl giggles and he couldn't get enough. And there was no doubt in his mind that she adored her mother.
Her mother. Fitz still placed the blame for all that he'd missed out on squarely on Olivia's shoulders. He wasn't so angry that he couldn't appreciate the loving and secure home that she had given their daughter. He would be eternally grateful that she had had Elliott, and felt he would be less than a man if he hadn't thanked her.
What he hadn't planned was to be turned on by her anger. That had been a huge mistake. He could feel himself getting hard and he prayed Olivia hadn't noticed. He was disgusted with himself because that was certainly not the time or the place. She'd given him and their daughter space and he was grateful for that because he was on the verge of embarrassing himself, more than once. He was still attracted to her. That certainly hadn't changed. Hell, he'd wanted to make love to her the moment he saw her. He could tell that she still felt something for him too. Why did she still have to be so beautiful and sexy?
Fitz looked at his watch and then picked up his phone from the coffee table. He scrolled through his contacts before stopping and tapping a number. He needed to talk to someone, and he could also use some legal advice. The call was answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"Hey, Juan. It's Fitz."
"Hey Fitz. What's up? How's it going?"
"I'm good, friend. How are you? How's Indi?"
"Still pregnant, and giving me hell," both men chuckled.
"Seriously, Fitz. She's tired, she can't breathe and her back hurts constantly. I'm doing everything I can to make her comfortable. But nothing short of the baby being born will help."
"When is she due?"
"Five days ago. She's overdue but the doctor says it can happen any day now."
"You still don't know if you're having a girl or boy?"
"No. We want to be surprised."
"Have you narrowed down the names?"
"We're leaning toward Miles if it's a boy and Layla if it's a girl."
"Those are nice names." His friend and his wife were given the privilege of selecting names for their unborn baby, while he'd had no say in naming his daughter. Every time he thought about what Olivia had done, he had to tamp down the anger building inside.
"Well hang in there, Juan."
"I am. So why the call on a Sunday evening?"
Fitz smiled. His friend knew him well. "I need some legal advice."
There was silence following his request.
"Why are you asking me instead of the Grant Holdings legal team?"
"I'm asking because what I need to discuss should stay between us for now. Attorney-client privilege," he added.
"What's going on, Fitz?"
"I'm in D.C. and I saw Olivia today."
"Olivia Pope?"
"Do you know any other Olivia?" he asked, curtly.
"Okay, okay, calm down. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
Fitz smiled at the question. "It's beyond good. I met my daughter today."
"You what?! I don't believe it."
"Believe it."
"I take it you didn't know about her."
"Of course I didn't know about her."
Alright, Fitz. Take it easy. Did Olivia say why she didn't tell you?"
"She hasn't answered any of my questions other than to say that there was no room in my life for her and a baby."
"And she was wrong."
"Absolutely. I was crazy about Olivia and she knew it. I thought that she understood that above all else I loved her and that I was there for her no matter what."
"What happened between the two of you, Fitz?"
"I can't answer that question because I have no idea. I don't know what went wrong. I thought we parted on good terms. She was adamant about us not getting serious and I went along with it. When we parted I never thought that I wouldn't see her or hear from her again. And regardless of what happened, it was not a good enough reason to not tell me about my child."
"I agree. But Fitz there has to be a reason she didn't tell you. She gave you no hints?"
"No, Juan. She didn't give me anything." He let out a breath. "Honestly I can't even be sure that had I not seen her on television, I would've ever known that I had a daughter."
"You saw her on television?" Juan asked incredulously.
Fitz explained everything that had happened from the day he saw Olivia on television until he left her home earlier that evening.
"And Wright never said a word about anything?"
"No. It was not Harrison's place, or anyone else's for that matter, to tell me that I had a child. That responsibility fell squarely on Olivia's shoulders."
"I agree. But Fitz something horrible happened for her to keep something this serious from you. I mean I didn't know Olivia well but we could all see that the two of you loved each other. Neither of you tried to hide it. We were happy for you because you hadn't loved a woman like that since…well, I can't remember. Anyone who didn't know you would've thought you were married. You loved her, so she had some redeeming qualities. And doing this seems out of character. Just give her the benefit of the doubt, my friend."
Fitz frowned. His friends had all liked Olivia, especially their wives, who hadn't stopped asking about her. For a while they had all blamed him for whatever happened between them. All but Anais.
"I don't know if I can do that, Juan. Because of her, I may have lost too much already."
"I'm sure whatever reasons she had for doing this were good, at least to her anyway. Just don't be so hard on her and try to remain civil. Now, tell me about your daughter. What's her name?"
Fitz was glad to get off the subject of Olivia. "My daughter's name is Elliott," he said, his heart overflowing with love and pride.
"Elliott? That's an unusual name for a little girl."
"It's a family name. Her full name is, Elliott Christine Marie."
"Christine? Olivia gave your daughter your mother's name? That's interesting."
Fitz smiled. "Yes she did. She also told my daughter about me. She just neglected to tell me about my daughter."
"Well how did Elliott take to you?"
"As if I'd just been away on an extended business trip. She was beside herself, happy that her daddy was finally home. She's beautiful, Juan."
Juan laughed. "She must look like her mother."
Fitz chuckled. "I hate to disappoint you, friend, but she looks just like me. She has my face, hair, nose, eyebrows and my mother's blue green eyes. She couldn't look more like me if I had given birth to her myself. She's definitely a Grant."
Fitz waited for his friend's laughter to die down.
"My daughter being a Grant is why I need some advice."
Juan was quiet for a few seconds before he spoke. "Fitz you're not thinking about trying to gain custody of her, are you?"
"No. This is about establishing my legal rights as Elliott's father. But I won't lie, when I found out Olivia had had my child and kept it from me, I was so angry that the thought crossed my mind. I had a moment of irrationality and had to talk myself down. I couldn't let my anger with Olivia interfere with the relationship I want to have my little girl. I was thinking about my wounded pride and not what was best for Elliott."
"That's good to hear. Glad you calmed down and thought about what's best for your daughter. She needs both her mother and her father."
"Yeah. I know that this isn't about my anger or getting even. Elliott is all that matters in all of this…not me or Olivia. But I still need to talk you about setting up a trust for my daughter and some other urgent matters."
"No problem. When would you like to meet? I do need to let you know that I'm working in my home office until after the baby is born."
"Okay. I'm coming back to New York tomorrow. I have to tell my parents that they have a grandchild. I also need to meet with the board to let them know that I'm taking an indefinite leave of absence and speak with Michelle about changing the location of my search for a home to D.C."
"So you're relocating to D.C?"
"Yep. It's where my daughter and her mother live. I'd go wherever they were because there's no way I'm not going to be a part of my daughter's life. I plan to be a hands-on father. I want to be there for her piano and dance recitals and present for parent-teacher conferences. All of that."
"I get it Fitz. You want to be there for your daughter."
"Damn right."
"How about Tuesday morning?"
"Sounds good, Juan. I'll see you then."
"Okay. See you Tuesday. Goodnight, brother and congratulations."
He smiled before responding, "Thank you, brother," and ending the call.
Fitz drained his glass and went to take a shower before going to bed. He was going to need a clear head in the morning because there were a lot of things to be discussed and a lot of decisions to be made.
He showered rapidly but thoroughly, before toweling himself dry and wrapped the towel around his waist, then went into the bedroom and sat down on the side of the bed. He felt better after talking to his friend. He had called Juan because he knew he would never divulge what they had discussed.
His friends knew him well and would always be honest with him. He had agreed with Juan though, something had definitely happened to make her do what she did. She had been evasive so far, but he wasn't going to let her get away with it much longer. Lying back on the bed, he reached for the remote and turned on the television and began channel surfing. He thought watching mindless television would be a distraction to take his mind off Olivia and what she'd done. When that didn't work, he did something he knew would put him in a better mood. Standing, he went to living room to retrieve the box that contained the scrapbook that she'd made. Looking at pictures of his daughter would never not lift his spirits.
X
Fitz and Olivia sat at the table in the alcove of her kitchen drinking their tea and coffee. He had been unable to sleep because he was so excited to see his daughter again. So he'd sent Olivia a text at five that morning to see if she was awake. She'd called him immediately and he'd asked if could come earlier than their agreed time of six-thirty so they could talk before their daughter was awakened. Happy that their temporary truce was still in effect, she invited him over.
He sent her a text to let her know he was outside. She opened the door wide to let him in and that's when she noticed the large shopping bag.
"What on earth did you bring?" she asked, pointing at the bag.
Fitz winked at her. "Breakfast."
She smiled back at him. "Fitz, I have a well-stocked kitchen, you didn't need to bring anything."
He lowered his head and kissed her cheek, knowing that would stop her from talking. He was right.
"Come on in."
Closing and locking the door, she walked ahead of him toward the kitchen, He sucked in a breath at the vision she made. The way the robe cupped her backside and clung to her hips, was doing things to his body. She's going to be trouble.
He set the bag on the counter and unpacked the contents while Olivia went about preparing their tea and coffee. When she finished, they sat in silence, drinking their beverages.
"So you know I'm going to tell my parents about Elliott but I'm also going to see a lawyer."
She was about to take a sip of tea but set her mug back on the table.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"You know what I mean, Fitz. Why the lawyer?"
"Well, Elliott is my child and I will support her. I owe you a considerable amount for her care, going back to before she was born." He proceeded to name a more than generous amount that would be followed by a monthly allotment that would be deposited in Olivia's account.
"There is no need, Fitz."
"Believe me, there is a need. If you prefer, the lump sum can be put into a trust fund that she can access when she reaches twenty-five. Naturally, her college fun will also be taken care of."
"You have it all planned out don't you?"
"Because I'm methodical and practical, Livvie. I have to think of Elliott's future. Every child a Grant brings into the world is provided for, and a plan is put in place for them the moment they're born. It's always been and always will be that way."
Olivia could tell by the look that he was giving her that he wasn't going to budge on the matter. Sighing, she gave in. "The trust fund and college fund will be fine. But monthly payments aren't necessary. Fitz I don't need the money."
"Olivia I'm not backing down on this. Nothing we do or say today will make up for the time I've lost with my daughter. So just accept the money so we can move on to more important issues."
Olivia looked away, knowing that there was no way she could make up for the loss. The blame rested on her and her alone. Father and daughter had suffered because of her, and that knowledge weighed heavily on her heart. She forced herself to say, "I thank you on Elliott's behalf."
He nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "About her last name. I want her to have mine. I also want my name on her birth certificate."
She glared at him. "Is this all some kind of plot to take her away from me? Because if it is. I will fight you until my last breath before I will let that happen. You're going to have to prove I'm an unfit mother. And that's simply not true."
They stared at one another until he broke the silence. "Livvie this is not about me trying to take my daughter from her mother. You've done an exceptional job with her. She's smart, happy and secure, and I would never do anything to change that."
Her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you. But Fitz you have to understand that I haven't had to share Elle with anyone. It's always been the two of us from the moment she was born."
"Well that's going to change because there's no way I'm not going to be a part of my daughter's life."
She nodded. "You're good with her. She loves you already."
"And I love her. More than you or Elliott will ever know."
She smiled at him, glad that a bit of the tension was lessened.
"Now about my visitation."
"Fitz, there's no need for a formal agreement. I'd never do anything to deliberately keep you Elliott apart. I've had her all to myself for four and a half years. I won't keep her from you."
Fitz looked at her skeptically but she ignored him and continued.
"She has a schedule that we try to adhere to. It may take a while for you to become familiar with the routine but right now it meets both of our needs. She has piano, dance and taekwondo. When you're ready, we'll sit down and add you to the routine."
Fitz nodded.
Olivia looked at him, really looked at him. She took in his features. It had been so long since she'd been able to just look at him, to see him happy. At one time, his happiness meant the world to her. She had changed the course of their relationship when she chose to walk away from him and his love.
"I want Grant to be added to Elliott's name and I want my name added to her birth certificate. My lawyer will handle everything and send the papers to you to review and sign."
She nodded.
As a Grant and a member of one of the wealthiest families on the East coast, Fitz accepted everything that went along with the distinction. He'd grown up privileged and having the best life had to offer was something for which he never apologized. And although he knew the Popes were by no means lightweights, he also knew that more doors would open for Elliott Grant.
Olivia accepted that her sole responsibility for Elliott was over. From now on they would share parental duties. Fitz's appearance had changed the lives of all three of them. But he was a good man, and she had no doubt that he was going to be an excellent father.
Glancing at the clock on the microwave, Olivia stood and took her mug to sink and rinsed it out. "Would you like more coffee?"
"No, thank you."
"Well I'm going up to shower and start getting dressed before I have to wake Elle."
Fitz stood and walked over to the sink with his own mug. "Is that easy?" he asked, wanting to know everything about his daughter.
Olivia chuckled softly. "Most mornings it is. She has a hard bedtime so we can avoid the morning grumpies. Last night was unusual, so I'm not sure what's going to happen."
Fitz thought about their loud voices and how they'd awakened their daughter, scaring her. He hoped she'd forgotten it all and had gotten a good night's sleep.
"Well, I'll leave you to make breakfast for your princess," she said as she started to walk away.
"Does it bother you that I call her princess?"
She sucked her teeth. "Of course not. Not when her mother is the queen."
He laughed loudly at her retreating back as she left the kitchen.
X
"Mommy! Mommy! My daddy's here! He's downstairs making my breakfast. I can smell the food!" Olivia was standing in front of the antique floor mirror in her bedroom looking at herself when an excited Elliott came rushing in. She turned and observed her daughter, wearing her school uniform but no socks or shoes. She could tell her child ten times to get her socks and shoes every morning for school and Elliott would still play around in bare feet until the last minute.
She smiled as Elliott stood in front of her jumping up and down. Her daughter's face was filled with elation. Olivia couldn't remember ever seeing her baby in such a happy mood on a school morning. In less than twenty-four hours, Fitz had managed to capture a special place in his daughter's heart.
Olivia felt a slight twinge of jealousy. Before Fitz showed up, she'd been the most important person in her daughter's young life. It amazed her how children could accept changes so easily. She took a seat on the bench at the foot of her bed and pulled her daughter close. "You like your daddy a lot, don't you sweet pea?" she asked, smiling.
Elliott's head bobbed up and down and her blue green eyes lit up. "Yes mommy. I like my daddy a lot." She looked at her mother curiously. "You like my daddy too, don't you mommy?"
Olivia hugged her daughter. Like wasn't a strong enough word to describe what she felt for the man who was her ex-lover and the father of her child. "Yes, baby, Mommy likes your daddy too."
"That's good to hear," a deep masculine voice said from the doorway.
Olivia jumped. She hadn't heard Fitz come up the stairs.
"Daddy!" Elliott squirmed out of her mother's embrace and ran across the room, straight into her father's arms. Fitz bent down and picked her up before kissing her cheek. Her bright, cheery smile showed she was very glad to see him. He would never get tired of seeing her happy.
"Good morning. How's Daddy's princess this morning?" he asked, as his gaze met Olivia's over Elliott's head. She couldn't read his expression and her gaze fell away from his.
Elliott gave her father a hug and then leaned back and smiled at him.
"Fine. Daddy, do you like my mommy?" Elliott's innocent question made Olivia gasp. She quickly stood and walked into her closet to put on her shoes. She couldn't see Fitz and their daughter but she could still hear his response.
"Yes, princess, I like your mommy a lot too."
Olivia walked out of her closet to face father and daughter, ignoring his comment. "Sweet pea, go put on your socks and shoes and I'll be there in a minute to comb your hair."
"Okay, Mommy." Fitz kissed her forehead before he placed her on her feet and she dashed off to her room.
He stood looking at Olivia as she put on her earrings and watch. He took her in. She looked as beautiful now as she did back when they would get dressed together for work. The light grey pencil skirt, creamy white silk blouse, and sky high black leather pumps. Her hair hung straight, past her shoulders with a center part. She looked incredibly sexy. Not much had changed but so much had.
"Sorry, I called you several times but you didn't hear me so I came upstairs to let you know that breakfast is almost ready. It won't happen again."
She glanced up at him standing in the door, looking as sexy as she remembered. "It's okay, Fitz."
He nodded. "I'll go help the little lady with her socks and shoes," he said, and walked away.
Olivia released the breath she'd been holding. Her stomach was doing somersaults. When Fitz had kissed her last night, it had stirred up memories inside of her. His presence made her nervous. It wasn't as if they didn't have a history, they also shared a child. Well she was going to have to get used to it. What choice did she have? By being Elliott's father, Fitz had certain rights. He had made it clear that he intended to be a presence in her life, which meant, he would also be involved in hers. Deeply sighing, she walked out of her bedroom and towards her daughter's.
X
Ten minutes later, Olivia and Elliott walked into the kitchen holding hands with smiles on both their faces. She'd had time to get herself together as she combed her daughter's hair. Her pounding heart no longer raced, and her body was no longer trembling. She'd stopped, closed her eyes and took a deep breath before walking into the kitchen.
"Look, sweet pea, your daddy's making waffles."
Fitz looked up in time to see "his girls" enter the kitchen. It had been less than twenty-four hours but in that moment, he realized just how happy he was being with Elliott and Olivia. He hadn't forgotten about what Olivia had done, but for now his daughter's happiness was what was important. The anger and confusion were never far from the surface but for Elliott, he would deal with those feelings. Besides, he didn't really have it in him to hate his child's mother.
"Goody! Thank you, Daddy." Elliott ran and hugged him around his legs before Olivia took her by the hand and guided her to the table, where a mug of tea sat steeping. She looked up at Fitz, who winked, and went back to spreading batter into the waffle iron. She eyed the platter of bacon and scrambled eggs along with a bowl of mixed fruit.
"It all looks wonderful, Fitz."
"Thank you, Livvie," he said as he removed the last waffle from the iron and placed it on the platter in the warmer. Shutting off the iron, he grabbed the platter and joined Olivia and Elliott at the table.
The meal was filled with light banter as they enjoyed their meal as a family. A family. Fitz watched his daughter enjoy the waffles he'd prepared for her. His daughter. His beautiful little girl. He and Olivia owed her a chance to have a normal family life, well as normal as they could give her, when they didn't live in the same home.
"Daddy can you come to school with me?" Elliott asked, after she placed her glass of milk on the table.
Fitz tried his best not to laugh at her milk mustache. "Not today, princess. Daddy has to go home and talk to your grandparents. But I'll be back in two sleeps. Okay?"
"You have to see your mommy and daddy?"
"Yes, baby."
She nodded as her eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip began to quiver. Fitz felt horrible about leaving his daughter so soon after coming into her life. But, he would be back as soon as possible.
Olivia picked up a napkin and wiped her daughter's mouth. "It's okay, sweet pea, daddy's coming back. He just has to take care of some business." She glanced at Fitz.
Fitz gave Elliott a long look. His stomach sank when he saw the tears fall from her eyes. She was so small and vulnerable and he knew that after this trip, he would never be able to leave her again. He reached over and pulled her onto his lap, kissing the tears from her face, before cradling her head to his chest. He had to hold her close because in about two hours he would be away from her for two days.
"I'm going to call you every night before you go to sleep. How does that sound?"
"Okay, Daddy," she answered in a watery voice, wiping away the tears.
He hugged her tightly to him, never wanting to let her go.
Olivia stood and reached for their daughter. "Alright sweet pea, let's get that face washed and those teeth brushed."
Elliott shook her head and didn't move. "Don't want to, Mommy."
"I know, baby. But you have to so you can get to school."
Fitz leaned down and whispered in her ear, causing her to smile. Olivia had never been so happy to see that crooked grin. Elliott turned and threw her small arms around her father's neck. He squeezed her to him and kissed her forehead.
"Go with mommy. I'll be here when you come back."
He placed her on her feet and watched as Olivia took her hand and led her from the kitchen.
X
At seven-thirty the three of them stood in the foyer of Olivia's home. Fitz helped her into the peplum jacket that matched her skirt while Elliott chattered about showing her daddy to her friends. She wanted Fitz to take her to school but the request was immediately nixed because he didn't have a booster seat in the sports car. So he followed Olivia to his daughter's school, dreading having to say goodbye.
Fitz held his daughter in his arms as Olivia signed him in and added his name to Elliott's release card. When she finished she took the visitors badge and stuck it to his jacket. Together they took their daughter to her classroom where she happily introduced her daddy to her teacher and then proudly showed him the bright and welcoming room. After ten minutes they had to leave. Fitz kneeled to hug and kiss his daughter one last time. This was the hard part.
"Goodbye, princess. Remember, I'll see you in two sleeps and I'll call you tonight. I love you."
"Okay. Bye, Daddy."
"Goodbye, sweet pea. Have a good day. I love you."
"Bye, Mommy." And with that she ran to join her classmates in circle time.
Fitz stood watching his baby girl until Olivia tapped his shoulder.
"We have to leave, Fitz."
He nodded and followed her back to the office where she signed him out and removed his badge. They left the building, looking like all of the other parents dropping off their kids, and walked to her vehicle in the parking lot. They stood next to the driver's side door and she made no move to get in.
He rubbed his hand over his face. "That was…that was hard."
Olivia smiled empathically. "I know it was, but if it makes you feel any better, she's okay. Trust me, she'll be fine."
"I'm sure she will be, but I'm not so sure about me."
"Fitz don't be so hard on yourself. This can't be helped. The sooner you leave, the sooner you'll be back."
"I know. But I just met my daughter yesterday and I'm already leaving her." He looked at Olivia, the woman whose face he'd never stopped thinking about or stopped loving, who was now the mother of his child, and tried not to be angry. But for her choices, none of this would be happening.
Olivia saw the way he was looking at her. "You hate me, don't you?"
"No, Livvie, I don't hate you."
She shook her head. "You may as well. I can tell you're feeling some resentment for what I did. No matter what you say, Fitz, I know the hurt and anger are still there. They didn't just disappear overnight."
Fitz sighed, rubbing his fingers to his temple. "My feelings are something I have to deal with. In time, I'll come to terms with what you did."
"And if you can't? I'm the woman who had your child and according to you, didn't have the decency to contact you to let you know I was pregnant."
Fitz looked away, noticing for the first time that they were the only people left in the parking lot. "Look, Livvie, I'm really trying here. I don't want us to be at odds with each other. We have a little girl whom we both love very much. If we let it, this entire situation can cause a rift between us. I don't want Elliott thinking her parents hate each other." He looked at his watch. "I have to get to the airport. My parents are expecting me this afternoon."
"Okay."
He reached out and opened the door and surprised her when he asked, "May I have a hug?"
Olivia hesitated, and then moved into his embrace. Fitz held her for one minute before kissing her temple and stepping back to open her door and assisting her onto the leather seat.
"Goodbye, Livvie," he said before he closed the door. She watched as he walked to his car, got in, started it and drove out of the parking lot.
"Goodbye, Fitz," she whispered.