Fitz wanted to take things as slowly as they possibly could, so for the last four months, he and Olivia would go on a date for the month. Some dates revolved around finding new restaurants, others were about wine tastings. Olivia was so grateful for the care and love that Fitz put into choosing a location or activity. So for the fifth month, she was going to take control of the date. This should not all be about her.

She knew that Fitz secretly loved old movies. He told her than when he used to get sick as a little kid, he and his mother would sit on the couch with his blanket and watch the afternoon classic movies shown on one of New York's tv stations. So, she told Fitz to meet her back at the apartment once he dropped off Gabe at school. She wasn't certain that they would be back before Gabe got out of school, so she arranged for Gabe to go home with their neighbor.

Fitz knocked on her door as requested. Olivia came to her door with her coat, purse, and keys as she locked up. Fitz was rather amused by the length of secrecy she was using for their date.

"Well, Ms. Pope what is on the agenda for today?"

Olivia turns around grinning.

"Mr. Grant, for once you will be in the dark on this little adventure, but I think you'll like it."

She held out her hand and Fitz grabbed it as he chuckled. They dashed down to the metro and got on before getting off four stops down the line. As they emerged topside, Olivia pulled him into a little cafe that appeared to be American. Fitz looked a little puzzled. Mama Soul Food Restaurant was packed for brunch. Luckily, Olivia had managed to wrangle a table to be set aside for them.

"Hey, even I get a little homesick once in a while." Olivia said.

"I'm with you, and there seems to be quite a great and familiar smell coming from this place. Let's go sit down I'm starving."

"A lot of people from work come here a lot and they raved about how great the food is, and one other surprise. It's Southern food. I am jonzing for some grits, cheese eggs, and a good biscuit."

"Holy Cow! My mouth is watering already."

The maitre'd showed them to their table. They looked at the selections.

"I'm going to have waffles and chicken."

"Oh, not for me. I'm going for that good old down-home southern plate. It has grits, cheese eggs, biscuits, and she has her own link sausage made to order. And no, you can't taste any of mine." Olivia laughed.

Their waitress took their drink order and they were all ready to order. So as they waited for their food. They enjoyed each other's company and the premium coffee they were drinking. Olivia thought this is what it should be if they were a family. Their son in school and them sneaking off in the middle of the day for an adventure like lovers. Fitz was thinking the same thing as she was, but he had plans to make this fantasy a little more real.

They both ate until they thought that they would never be able to walk again, but they managed to make it out the door and Olivia suggested that they take a walk and look in store windows for a while. Their next stop was still an hour away. Olivia slipped her hand under Fitz's arm as they walked and window shopped. Fitz wanted to move them forward a bit so he was willing to take the plunge. As they slowly walked.

"This feels real doesn't it?"

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"Us, here on a Wednesday. You playing hooky from work. Just normal stuff two people in love would do. And I do mean that I love you, Olivia. You don't have to say it back, but I haven't said it in a while and I wanted you to know that I never stopped loving you, but I feel like for the first time that I'm loving you in an altogether different way."'

Olivia stops to look in his eyes.

"What do you mean?"

Fitz takes a deep breath and blows it out.

"I mean in an honest way. Mellie and I started with nothing but lies in our marriage. I didn't love her and she didn't love me or so I thought. We were just right on paper and nothing more. I love you from the depts of my soul, and in that loving, I see all that is meant to be in life. You are my looking glass on this world and I almost lost you and Gabe because I couldn't see past doing the right things for other people instead of myself. I am forever grateful that you allowed me in Gabe's life and giving me the greatest gift in life. I am also forever grateful that you are allowing me to prove that love to you. Again, you don't have to say anything, but you should at least know my intentions."

By the time Fitz had finished, there were tears running down Olivia's face. Fitz pulled a hanky from his pocket and wiped away her tears. Olivia smiled when she saw the hanky.

"Hazards of runny noses from Gabe. I keep a fresh one on hand at all times."

They both laughed. Olivia took the hanky and blew her nose and dabbed at the final tears at the edges of her eyes.

"Thank you for telling me what your intentions were, but I kind of figured that part out. Thank you for being honest with me and I can tell you that I've been thinking the same thing about us. I don't want to live my life doubting you. You've more than proved to me and Gabe that your here to stay. I love my little family and that's what we are Fitz. We've become a family through it all. I don't want us or me to dwell on the past anymore. I want to move forward with optimism and love for the future. I know I don't have to say it, but I do love you. How can I not, when I see your twin every day. "

They both laughed. The older Gabe got the more he looked like his father.

Olivia took both his hands in hers.

"I forgive you Fitz and I love you. It's time for us to move on in so many ways."

Fitz took this as a sign and gently kissed her lips."

"Thank you Livie. Let's just hold hands and window shop, my love."

So that's what they did for the next hour moving toward a new future and their next stop.


When Olivia came to a halt in front of an old movie theater. Fitz wasn't even sure it was open. Olivia went over to a side door and knocked. The door opened and a grey-haired man with a silk scarf waved them in. Fitz felt all kinds of breaking the law vibes coming from this situation.

"Bonjour Monsieur Alan! Bonjour Olivia! Come, come I have everything set up for you."

Olivia took off her coat and asked for Fitz's as she walked around the coat check desk to hang them up. Fitz was not sure what was going on but he followed Olivia's lead. She then took his hand as she pulled him through a curtain into a 1920's movie theater. All the seats were red and beautiful, whoever restored the theater it was magnificent. Sitting in the walkway on a small table was a tub of popcorn, two glasses of wine, and a flashlight. Olivia handed Fitz the tub and one glass and she took the other plus the flashlight as she walked up the stairs to the middle seats. No one else was in the theater but them.

"Livie, what the heck is this place and what are we doing here?"

"Well, I hope you recognize that this is a movie theater and Mr. Alan owns the place. I did a piece on the renovation of Paris's oldest movie theater and the place has had quite the revival. So Mr. Alan told me if I ever needed a favor to let him know. Your lucky, this place has been so hot lately that you have to pre-buy tickets. It only holds fifty people at a time and Mr. Alan only runs classic movies each week."

Fitz looked around the theater and just marveled at the care and beauty that was inside the place. It was really romantic.

"What's the flashlight for?"

"No floor lights. Mr. Alan wanted the experience to be as authentic as possible. So he actually has ushers that walk people to their seats and walk them to the bathroom if they need it."

"This is so cool! My Mom would love this place."

"I bet she would."

The lights went low and the movie started. As the music played, Fitz felt it was very familiar. When the title came up he started to tear up. He looked over to Olivia and she winked at him. It was the movie "An Affair to Remember" with Carey Grant and Debrah Karr. It was his and his mother's favorite movie of all time. Fitz put his arm around Olivia and they leaned into each other and watched the movie.