Escape Plan

"Please" Olivia whimpers softly. He was right there, and the knowledge was almost too much to bear.

Fitz shifts slightly, opening his eyes and looks over at Olivia. It's difficult to see anything in the darkness of their bedroom but the faint glow from the night light in the bathroom gives off just enough light. He can see that her eyes are closed tightly and her hands are balled into fists. He isn't sure if he heard her say something, so he listens more intently.

"Don't do this!" she mumbles a little louder as she thrashes in their huge king size bed.

He sits up in bed, having heard her perfectly well that time and begins to rub his hands up and down her arms as he gently calls her name. "Livvie? Hey. Wake up, babe."

"Stop it! Don't touch me!" Olivia screams. Her voice gets louder and more frantic with each word she says. He had found her again. Knowing it filled her with overwhelming terror. Why wouldn't he just leave her alone? She jerked her arms away from him, but he was relentless and kept holding onto her. "Leave me alone!"

"Olivia!" Fitz says in a slightly firmer tone. "Wake up. It's just a dream."

Finally, she opens her wide eyes and they dart wildly around the darkened room. When they landed on Fitz, she quickly pulls away from him. She scrambles to the edge of her side of the bed as her heart hammers as if she had been running a marathon.

"Hey. It's just me." He tells her patiently with his palms facing her in a non threatening way.

"Fitz?" She whispers, before lunging at him. She feels the warmth of his bare chest under her still grasping hands as she tries to hold him as close as she can with her belly in the way. She starts to cry as her hands continue to claw at him, trying to get him even closer. Everything she saw and felt in the dream seemed so real. She just knew that Collin was there, laughing at her, taunting her, looming nearby even though she couldn't see him. She was all alone with him, and that made it even more terrifying.

"It's okay. You're safe. It was just a nightmare." Fitz tells her in a soothing tone as he pulls her onto his lap. She's soaked in sweat and clinging to him desperately. He rubs her back in a soothing pattern as he gently sways them back and forth, until she feels ready to talk about it.

It had been over a month since the incident at the beach house with Collin had happened. Olivia had bad dreams about Collin almost every night for the first few weeks after it happened, and then they started to trickle off. It had been six days since the last time Olivia had screamed in her sleep, thinking that her ex was after her.

Fitz hadn't let her out of his sight once she had been released from the hospital and brought home. He had been overcome with joy at knowing she was alive when he arrived at the beach house, that he hadn't taken the time to really look at her.

When things had calmed, when he and Olivia had calmed, she had been loaded into the back of an ambulance, and that was when Fitz had really taken a look at her. Her cheeks had bright red marks on them from the continued blows delivered by Collin's hand. Her tear stained face and frightened eyes, constantly darting around, looking for Collin to reappear - just like she was doing right now - had almost broken him. The moment the siren on top of the ambulance sounded when they began to head towards the hospital, Olivia had practically jumped out of her skin. Fitz had held it all together until she had been wheeled away to get looked at by a doctor the moment they arrived.

The next day, while Olivia's parents had visited her in the hospital, Fitz had gone to the girl's beach house to look around inside. It didn't take long for him to see how close he had come to losing her. That was when the panic and anger had seized his heart, knowing what she had endured being in that house with that asshole. He kept her close and constantly told her that he loved her. It was unclear to Fitz if it was more for her or for him.

He also learned that she and Riley were much stronger and more resilient than he knew. Their daughter never stopped moving inside her mother's belly no matter what had been happening on the outside. The doctors said that Riley was just fine and had been unaffected by the whole thing. He couldn't have been more thankful at that news.

A small part of Fitz wished that Collin was still alive just so that he could kill him himself. It was selfish and wrong to think that way, he knew, but Fitz hated that the damned man still evoked fear in the heart of his fiancé. He hated that she woke up covered in sweat with her heart banging out of her chest. He couldn't stand the immediate look of horror that crossed her face the moment she locked eyes with him. The moment before her brain reasoned that the man in bed beside her wasn't going to hurt her. It left him feeling useless. All he could do was offer her comfort and be patient for her to open up about it when she was ready to do so.

The bigger picture was a lot easier to deal with, and that was why Fitz focused on it most of the time. With Collin out of the picture for good, that meant Fitz could adopt Riley without having to worry about the Collin obstacle. It meant that the conversation with her would be much easier to have when she was old enough to understand, because her father wasn't just actively not interested in her as a person or his daughter, he was dead. Fitz was very glad that his daughter would never have to live in fear of her father reappearing or threatening to take her away from them. Collin being out of the picture this way was for the best.

All he wanted was for him and Liv to get married and wait for Riley to arrive. He hoped that the newborn would keep them so occupied that there wouldn't be room for thoughts of Collin to enter into their happy little world. But the wedding was still a month away, and that probably meant more nights just like this one.

"I'm sorry." Olivia's muffled voice finally broke through the silence. She was starting to feel a little less panicked. Her breathing was almost back to normal, and the bulk of fear had subsided. Being in Fitz's arms calmed her like nothing else, and she couldn't let go. Not yet. So she spoke into his shoulder and just hung on.

It broke Fitz's heart to hear her apologize for this. She couldn't control what she dreamed any more than she could control how it left her exhausted and shaky afterward. "You do not apologize to me for having a nightmare."

"But I..."

"I mean it, Livvie. Don't."

She sighs and loosens her death grip on him. She pulls back to look him in the eye, feeling the rest of her fear dissipate the moment she sees the calm on his face. Her fingertips graze his chin lightly and she asks, "is my big pregnant butt crushing your legs yet?"

"These thighs are thick and they love to have you sitting on them. Besides, you still don't weigh anything. Stop worrying about me. Are you a little feeling better now?"

"Yea."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"It helps it leave my mind quicker when I talk it out. And it helps me to remember that I am safe and that he can't get me anymore. Can we get a snack first though? Maybe sit out on the back porch? Hearing the waves always helps settle me." she said. He'd say yes to just about anything she asked for, and while she would never take advantage of that, it was such a comfort to Olivia. She was already trying to get off of his lap and head into the kitchen.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked, tightening his grip on her waist slightly.

"I just said...To the kitchen. For a snack while we talk." Was he going deaf?

"I know. You want ice cream. With caramel and strawberry shit on it because you think that tastes good now, for some reason." He crinkles up his nose in disgust. "I'll never understand pregnancy cravings."

Olivia chuckles and it makes him breathe a little easier. He was getting better at calming her down after these traumatic nights. "Can I have a hug first? I need to feel your arms around me without the terror running through your veins. Please?"

There was nothing she would say no to him for either. She immediately wraps her arms around him and nuzzles her face in his warm neck. He smells clean from the shower he had taken before they had gone to bed. His arms are strong and they hold her close while making her feel protected and cherished. He was a wonder.

"Okay, I can feel you itching to get up." he relents.

"Ice cream with caramel and strawberry shit on it is very good! You should try it sometime." she tells him.

He looks into her beautiful brown eyes. The room is still dim, but his eyes had adjusted to it by now. Her eyes were clearer and much calmer. It settles him. "No thank you. I love you, you know?"

Olivia smiles lovingly at him. "I know."

"Come on." He keeps her on his lap and scoots to the edge of the bed. When his feet touches the floor, he stands up while holding her in his arms. "What kind of ice cream would you like with your toppings?"

"I thought we only had vanilla?" She replies absentmindedly.

"Somebody might have gone to the store today." He explains with a grin. That was going to get him so many brownie points when she was feeling more like herself.

She claps like a little kid and said, "Abby is the best!"

Fitz pinches her ass and shoots her a look as they enter the kitchen. He opens the freezer and said, "I'm sorry. Who is the best?"

Olivia turns her head to see what he wants praise for. The freezer looks like the ice cream parlor they sometimes visit. He had bought no less than eight cartons of ice cream. Her eyes scan the flavors listed on the brightly colored cartons. No two were the same. When she turns to look at him, she notices the proud smile on his face right before she excitedly presses her lips to his and tells him, "you are the best!"

"I know." He sets her on her feet and goes to get two bowls and spoons while she decides which flavor to start on first.

She chooses mint chocolate chip, and generously spoons strawberry topping from the glass jar on top of the ice cream. Grabbing the brown plastic container sitting on the counter, Liv squeezes the caramel sauce on top of the red and green stuff inside the bowl. It looks heavenly to her and she can't wait to taste her creation. She grabs a spoon from the counter and heads towards the back door, leaving Fitz to clean up their little mess.

After putting the ice cream back into the freezer, Fitz opens the door and sees her sitting on the edge of one of the chaise lounges. That was a good sign. It means she wants to sit with him instead of by herself. It's a small thing, but tonight it means a lot to him. He swings his long leg over the seat and leans back against the chair. Olivia wastes no time in scooting herself backwards until her back is reclined against his chest.

The two of them eat in silence for a few minutes in the padded chair. Fitz knows she is gathering her thoughts. Trying to figure out how to tell him what she had seen while her eyes had been closed and how it made her feel. He would be as patient as she needed him to be. Fitz focuses on his ice cream and the feel of her close to him as the sound of the waves crash against the sand not too far away.

Finally, Olivia speaks up.

"Collin was hiding from me in the old beach house. He wouldn't come out and face me so we could talk things out, but he would call my name from wherever he was. He said my name like...like it was a song or something. It was creepy as hell."

Fitz wants to add his two cents, but he had learned to keep quiet and let her talk it completely out until she was finished.

"Abby was on the floor near the table, but no matter what I did, I couldn't get to her. I was screaming her name and crying because I couldn't reach her. It was scary and frustrating, but on top of that, Collin calling out my name made it worse. I don't think I could have survived if anything had happened to Abby that night. I mean, if she had gotten hurt worse than a concussion, I would have been just...lost. You know what I mean?"

When she began asking questions, Fitz knew she was ready for his input. So, he gave it. And he used Collin's name because Fitz didn't want him to be that person they never spoke about. He felt like talking about him stripped away some of the power he had over Liv and made him less scary. "That makes a lot of sense. Abby is your best friend. When you moved to this town, to get away from Collin, she was the only person here who just kinda clicked with you. The two of you are more like sisters than friends really. It's natural to feel that way about her, I think. Did Collin ever come out from hiding so you could see him?"

"No." She shrugs. "But I think that must have been around the time you were trying to wake me up. I didn't mean to push you away or hit you while I was asleep."

"I know you didn't." Fitz tells her. "It was just a reaction to what was happening in your nightmare. It's been a while since you've had one, and I think you're doing really well after everything you've been through."

"That's all I can remember about it, so it was a really short one this time."

"I'm really proud of you."

She sets both of their now empty bowls down on the small table nearby before climbing onto his lap and nuzzling into his neck. "As lost as I would have felt if anything more serious had happened to Abby, I wouldn't have been able to get through this at all without you. You've been my rock. So strong and patient. Full of endless comfort and reassurances. I've never felt safer or more protected, especially after we got into our new house, and I owe it all to you."

"You don't. This is something that we have to work through, and I'm here for you no matter what. But there's only so much I can do. I can't follow you into your dreams at night and protect you there. There are some things you'll have to do yourself." He hates saying the words out loud, but he knows they are true. "It's been a while since you've had a nightmare, and I think maybe it happened tonight because we got off course with our bedtime routine, and the doctors told you that sticking with one every night would lessen your chances of nightmares."

Olivia thinks about that for a minute and nods. "You're right. We've been staying up later than normal and catching up on all of our favorite tv shows."

"We've even fallen asleep on the sofa a few times too." Fitz points out.

"Yea. We need to do better."

"What would you say to following our nighttime routine somewhere else?"

"I don't understand. We just got into this house. Where would we go?" Olivia asks with a confused look.

"How would you like to go to Los Angeles with me for a few days?"

"Why? I mean, do you need to go there for work and you're scared to leave me here by myself? Because I could stay with Abby and Quinn and feel perfectly safe."

"I'm sure you would, but I don't have to go there for work. I was thinking more for a mini vacation before the wedding in a few weeks. I know you love the beach, but a change of scenery, as well as getting out of town might do both of us some good. What do you think?"

Olivia eyes her handsome fiancé. His big heart is nothing short of precious to her. She wills herself not to grin at his idea, but to feign indifference. "What would we do there?"

Fitz knows the game she's playing. He can practically feel the excitement radiating off her. He's about to give her a hard time, but after the night she'd just had, he decides against it. "We could go shopping."

"Fitz, this baby has way too much..."

"Not for Riley. For you this time. You are going to need a few things at the hospital when you have her. A fuzzy robe and some new slippers? Who knows? I might even be swayed into taking you to get a mani pedi. If you're good."

His hand come up and brushes a wind whipped strand of hair behind her ear. It just blows back across her face again when he let go. Olivia turns her face into his palm and presses her lips against it. God, he loves her. "In all seriousness, this trip is for you and me. It's not just a mini vacation, it's also our last trip before our daughter arrives."

"Sooooo, you're saying you want to spoil me a little bit. Is that it?" she asks with a mischievous grin.

"Uh uh." He watches her face fall some. It makes his own grin double in size before he quickly pecks her lips. "I want to spoil you a lot! Fancy dinners, sightseeing, walks on the beach...because I know my soon to be wife oh so well."

"And shopping!" she squeaks out giddily.

"Yes. And shopping. I don't know how you women can turn shopping into a hobby that lasts all day, but I'm willing to take one for the team."

"You're the best, babe!" Olivia exclaims and hugs him tightly.

"Of course it's my mini vacation too, and I'm going to want..."

"Sex. Right?" Olivia interrupts.

"No. I mean, yes, but that wasn't what I was thinking." He looks down at the ground with a frown before adding, "why wasn't I thinking about that?"

"Fitz!? If it wasn't sex, what were you thinking?" She asks impatiently.

"Bubble baths."

Olivia lifts her head to look at him. "Really?"

"Yea. You and me in a tub filled with bubbles. It sounds soooo relaxing and fun and intimate. I dunno. I just want to take some time to relax with you and pamper you. To have you all to myself for a while before we become parents." He squints at her. "Why haven't we taken a bath together before?"

"I don't know." she chuckles at him. "You've never really voiced the desire to do so until now. It does sound heavenly though. We can do bubble baths every night if you want while we are away. When do you want to go?"

"We can use the company jet and leave today."

"Today, today?" she asks in a surprised tone.

"It's the only today I know about."

"Smartass."

"I'll have to call dad and let him know where we'll be and for how long so he doesn't worry."

"I'll have to make the same call to my parents, as well as Abby and Quinn."

"Great. Do you think you can you be ready to leave by noon?"

"I mean, I'll have to forgo my afternoon nap, but yea! I can absolutely be ready to board the company jet by noon. Ohmygoodness! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so excited!" Once again, she wraps her arms around him as she showers his jawline with kisses. "We are going to have so much fun together!"

And just like that, all of the gloominess and heaviness are gone. She is excited and happy and Fitz knows she is making plans in her head of where they can go while they are away. He loves nothing more than to see his Livvie happy. This trip will be good for both of them. He can show her off in his hometown as he shows off his hometown to his fiancé. It was gonna be great.