Hi.
First. I want to thank everyone who reached out to me, and left me such amazing words of encouragement. You guys consistently refill my well, so thank you. I also want to thank a few people for editing my chapter. I don't want to say their names as they might not be comfortable with the attention. But know that I appreciate you.
So. Today is my birthday, and because I am slightly obsessed with numbers and God blessing me to celebrate in the year 2020. I wanted to make this chapter special. And to be honest, this may be one of my favorite chapters that I have ever written. So, I recommend listening to the scandal soundtrack: Olitz love, take what yours, and the light as these songs most certainly were played during my writing session.
Okay! Enough about me.
But remember if you want something out of life. Take it.
Until Next Time...
Muse XoXo
I had a dream
I got everything I wanted
But when I wake up, I see
You with me
And you say, "As long as I'm here
No one can hurt you
Don't wanna lie here
But you can learn to
If I could change
The way that you see yourself
Billie Eilish- Everything I wanted
Previously:
They made love all night, getting reacquainted with one another after all their time spent apart.
Fitz tries to stay awake. Terribly afraid of waking up and losing her once again.
"Don't leave." He whispers with sleep in his voice.
"What?" she asked softly not exactly sure she heard him.
"I want to wake up to your face in the morning." He says groggily.
Olivia kisses him gently, rubbing his unruly curls back. After a goodnight kiss, he sleeps peacefully with Olivia in his arms, and she soon follows him.
The phone rings. She ignores it at first, knowing it was Edison calling her. She'll deal with him later. But the phone never stops ringing. Sleepy, and sore she reaches for her phone on the nightstand.
Her breathing becomes shallow at the name. She looks over at Fitz who is still sleeping peacefully.
"What do you want?" she says coldly.
"We have a problem."
"I have problem with you." She reminds the caller on the phone
"Unfortunately sweetheart that's going to have to wait. We can fight over Fitz another day, but right now we have a mutual problem."
Olivia folds her arms.
"We both love him. We both know that he has to win."
"What do you want Cyrus?" she asked
"We have a problem."
"What is it?"
"There's a story coming out, and it's about Fitz."
"What's the story?" she asked siting up more erect at the mention of Fitz's name.
"Fitz's suicide attempt."
X
"Hi."
"Hi."
Fitz gives Olivia a sweet smile, stretching leisurely in bed before reaching up and kissing her on the lips, who welcomes the kiss gently.
"Mmmm." He smiles up at her, liking the sensation of her lips pressed against his. "Can I kiss you again," he asked politely.
Olivia's towering body lowers towards the bed to kiss him as he requested. She kisses him gently at first, as though he's made of porcelain and the slightest pressure could send him shattering in pieces on the cold wood floors. She attempts to pull her lips away from his, but he secures her head and kisses her deeply, passionately, a subtle reminder of his durability.
He licks his lips and smiles at the taste of her on his tongue.
"I wasn't expecting to see you this morning," he murmurs softly with sleep still on his throat. He touches her white blazer gently, taking note of her polished appearance juxtaposing his growing stubble and bed hair.
Olivia moves closer, ignoring the fact that her perfectly ironed clothes will become wrinkled in the process. "You wanted me to stay, so I did," she answers faintly.
"Thank you."
"Your welcome." Olivia chuckles gently.
"Why the long face?"
Fitz sees her clearly; her big brown doe eyes are looking everywhere but at him. He touches her cute button nose, before cradling her cheek and forcing her to look at him.
"Nothing." Olivia whispers trying desperately not be in her head. All night she tossed and turned, thinking about him. Worrying about him. How did it happen? Why did it happen?
"Are you okay," she pushes his curls back to see him unobstructed.
"I'm more than okay. I'm happy." Fitz replied, with a smile, before laying back on the bed and looking at the ceiling.
And he is. The white cotton sheet lays loosely on his torso, he doesn't attempt to conceal himself for her, he's regained some of the confidence he's lost.
Olivia crawls in bed beside him. Cyrus could wait. Everyone will have to wait.
He wraps his arms around her tightly. And Olivia sighs blissfully at the contact, she needed this more than she thought. The assurance that only his large body can give her.
"I'm glad you're happy," she answers honestly, rubbing his chest soothingly.
"Are you happy?" Fitz looks down to read her reaction.
Olivia stumbles, at the question. "In parts."
Fitz mumbles incoherently, but she believes he was agreeing with her. Not happy with all aspects of life, but there are moments, days where she is happy. She's happy when she thinks about her son, she's happy whenever she is with him. She's finds joy in working and making a difference, but there's an undistinguishable melancholy to her that leaves her puzzled at times.
He plays with her nose, gently bring her back to their world.
Olivia kissed him again before trying to get up.
"Where are you going?"
Fitz wraps his arms tightly around her; anything to stop her from leaving him.
"Work." She quietly answers.
"I thought you work with me?"
"I do."
Fitz smiles boyishly, before rubbing Olivia's backside. "I'm not working, so you shouldn't be either."
Olivia giggles, nose scrunching at Fitz's playful mood, and observing how the sun managed to capture his essence, the sunlight drawling warmth on their cool bodies.
"Well, I wouldn't have to work but unfortunately, this guy sort of pulled the political bell and now everyone wants him."
"What does he wants," Fitz asked, glancing at Olivia as if the sun rises and sets with her. And for him it does, she will never truly understand the delight and faithfulness
"I don't know…what does he want?"
"I think you can guess," Fitz says all so calmly, seductively. There's something enigmatic about him, how he always manages to make her feel beautiful, sanctified. Like a moth to a flame, she ignites at the proximity of his touch.
She eyes him a second longer than she should. He will always be her biggest temptation.
The boyish grin that leaves her swooning.
He winks at her, and Olivia feels her body undoing from the obvious tension she has gathered over the time.
She should leave, and stop before she ends up diving head first in the deep abyss that is Fitzgerald Grant, but the water is so tempting, and she must admit that she has grown parched, heated.
He doesn't touch her, but she can feel him ghost around her body, igniting all of her senses. Her mouth has become unbelievably dry at that heat radiating from his pores and burning her flesh. There are a million things on her to do list, yet none seem to take precedence over him.
She bites her lip.
She should really go. Cyrus was waiting for her, Edison wanted to talk, and Gerry must be looking.
"I have to go," she whispers meekly.
Fitz looks up at her, reading her so easily. He pushes back the long strand of hair falling down her face.
"Not yet…I don't want to wake up…I just want more time with you," he pleads.
Olivia bites her lip to stop them from trembling. She offers shakily, "One minute."
Fitz smiles ever so graciously, and agrees.
"One minute."
They stare at one another. Olivia peering up at his small blue eyes, and Fitz gazing down at her large brown ones, they exchange mutual expressions of yearning and longing. So much has happened, and so little has been said, but for the time being they are content in their pleasant utopia made for two. Olivia's head falls on his chest, and her eyes close at the sound of his rhythmic heart beating ever so slowly.
When Cyrus called her last night and told her about Fitz's attempted suicide, Olivia moved towards him. Instantaneously, her dainty body crawls on top of his massive one as she forms a shield of some sort to protect him; but in truth she found comfort in her weight holding him, securing him beneath her. He won't be able to leave her this time, not without her knowing.
They lay in stillness for one minute. Fitz's eyes water and tears threaten to fall down his face at the visceral touch of her loving embrace. He's dreamt this moment for so long, that it almost feels too good to be true. That she can't possibly be here with him.
After wiping a few astray tears from her face, Olivia fixes her white blazer and walks out the room.
She enters the room without bothering to knock.
"How is he," Darcey asked the second she heard the door open.
"He's fine," Olivia answers coldly, ignoring the nauseated feeling of sweeping over her at Darcey's overzealousness.
"Can I talk to him?" Darcey asked eagerly, hopeful.
Olivia looks at her for the first time since entering the room; she's dressed and from the looks of it for some time.
Darcey is beautiful, everything she is not. Tall, bright blue eyes, with a softness to her that Olivia doesn't acquire. Her porcelain skin shining under the dull fluorescent lights. Life is seems to come easy to her, coming from a wealthy family, she never had to work for anything. Everything she's desired has been given to her.
She's envious of her.
"I thought you wanted to leave," Olivia asked, recalling the conversation from last night.
"I did, but…"
"But what?"
"Fitz, needs someone on his side. I see that now. He needs someone he can trust."
Olivia sighs subtly, trying hide her annoyance. But she is right, Fitz needs Darcey to tame the media.
"Does he trust you?"
Darcey shrugs, "I think he's beginning too."
Olivia stares for a second, imagining the worst between Darcey and Fitz, and if he actually touched her one night.
"Why do you want to help him, when you know the foundation of your relationship?"
Darcey smiles shyly, "He needs someone, and I know I'm not the one he wants, but I am his friend."
Olivia doesn't say anything; instead, she reaches in her purse looking for something.
"He's in love with someone, but I just don't know who." Darcey exclaims. It's obvious to her that Fitz is in love with another women, he made that point clear to her, but she wonders who would deny him such affection?
Olivia freezes for a second, but continues looking through her purse, ignoring the statement.
"Here," she replies, handing Darcey a hat and glasses.
"You're going to ignore what I said," Darcey asked, watching as Olivia walks around the hotel room, picking up all her belongings with a swiftness.
"You are going back home on a private plane. I have security at the door that will take you to the airport and will make sure that no one catches a glimpse of you leaving." Olivia answers, still ignoring Darcey's question. She doesn't want to talk about Fitz to her.
Especially not her.
"Why was he so angry with you?"
Olivia stands in front of Darcey. "We have more important things to worry about than who Fitz likes. I have your car waiting for you. Besides,
Fitz is angry with everyone."
"He's distant, but not mean. He was mean to you." Darcey looks at Olivia, desperate to understand how she was able to resonant such a strong reaction from Fitz.
Olivia returns her gaze for a second. "We'll talk more in California."
Darcey nods her head in agreement before walking out with security.
With one problem gone, Olivia can focus on the biggest issue at hand, and the one that has caused her the most turmoil.
She plays with her ring as she waits for Cyrus, she had some of her team fly down to help and the other half stayed behind with Abe.
"You okay, Liv?"
Huck asks, watching his fearless gladiator tremble slightly in her right hand as she plays with the ring Fitz gave her a long time ago. It's always been obvious to Huck when Olivia becomes sad, or when her thoughts drift towards him. It's as if a dark cloud towers over her, and there's this sense of discontentment written on her face, as though she hasn't accepted what has happened.
"I'm okay," Olivia answers honestly with a soft smile, trying to reassure Huck that all was fine, but she knows he can see her.
Huck doesn't respond, he gives Olivia the time she needs to process her feelings and if she wants to talk about them.
"I don't know what to do."
"You just have to follow your heart." Huck replies, walking towards Olivia on the couch.
/
"I'm sorry. I'm late. I had to get rid of Big Gerry," Cyrus rambles as he rushes in the room, out of breath.
Knowing that Huck made sure to check their room and Fitz's suite for any wiretap, Olivia asks, "Where is he?"
"He's in California working on winning the Republican party."
She lets out an audible sigh of relief.
They sit across from one another, both taking in the other's position in Fitz's heart and life. Cyrus loosens his tie before handing Olivia a large folder containing personal information about Fitz.
"He's going to kill me when he finds out that you know."
Olivia looks up at Cyrus before reaching for the folder.
"Tell me everything that you know."
Cyrus walks over to the bar, and pours both him and Olivia a large drink. Graciously, she takes the drink knowing without a doubt that she is going to need it.
"A welfare check was conducted on Fitz. Firefighters and police officers showed up at the scene, and…the police cam recorded the whole ordeal. Apparently, the video that was supposed to be destroyed is starting to make some circulations around the party, who wants blood after the stint Fitz pulled."
Cyrus finishes the glass with an ease.
"There's four officers that made the call. I have their information listed here, but…about Fitz…we never talked about what happened, why it happened, we just pretended that it never existed until it did."
Olivia stares at the folder, terrified of what she might find. Huck takes the folder, and without a word, they leave.
"You can sit this one out," Harrison tells Olivia.
"What?"
"You can stay in the car," Harrison instructs as he drives them to the first officer's house.
"Why?"
"This is a sensitive subject for you, Olivia."
Olivia's head falls down sadly at his statement; it is quite overwhelming. With what happened last night and her brief phone call with Edison who wanted to talk about Fitz, she was beginning to feel the overwhelming weight on her shoulder, and the pressure on her chest. Just the act of breathing has become more difficult as time lapses.
"I'll be fine."
"Just let me take the lead," Harrison tells her again, and for the first time, she listens to him.
She eyes the quant room, filled with pictures of the officer and his family.
It's a homely house.
"What can I do for you," the officer asked.
"Well, we are here working for Fitzgerald Grant, and we heard that you were one of the four officers who was dispatched to a problem. Would you mind filling us in," Harrison asked coolly.
The man becomes nervous and jumpy, looking between the three and decides to talk to Harrison, who appears the least intimidating of the trio.
"I was one of the officers on the scene."
"What happened?"
"We got a call from our boss that an important person needed to have a welfare check. He wouldn't open the door at first, but he had a bunch of prescription meds filled on the table, empty bottles of alcohol….what is this all about?"
"An officer is trying to leak the video of this scene." Olivia answers with coldness in her voice.
The officer says quickly, "It wasn't me."
"We don't know that," Harrison replies, looking over his shoulders at Olivia who paces back and forth, ready to attack at any given second.
"I didn't do it." The officer repeats.
"How do we know that?"
"Look, I know he's rich, but we have an oath. As officers, and it wouldn't be right…" The man stares off at a family picture. "That man was suffering, you could feel his pain, and…he's been through enough, I wouldn't want him to have to relive this, especially after getting his life together. Plus, I would be dead if I crossed that rich family."
Tired of playing games, Olivia questioned him, "Who would do it then?"
Suddenly, she storms out of the house, with Huck and Harrison close behind.
"Olivia, you have to get your feelings in check." Harrison reminds her.
"What happened to him?" Tears are threatening to escape.
"I don't know, but we are going to find out."
Olivia shakes her head, "I should be with him."
"Olivia, you have a job."
"You don't need me for this, he needs me. Fitz, needs me. I can't…" She stops talking, her words coming out mumbled, slurred.
"If you want to go to him, you can, but I think you deserve the truth. Fitz, isn't going to tell you what happened, and if you want to help him, then we find the person behind this and end it before anyone sees it. Did you tell Fitz?"
"Of course not," Olivia huffs in annoyance.
"Why didn't you?"
Olivia gives Harrison a bewildered look. "Because he was happy. Fitz was happy and I didn't…." She corrects herself, "I couldn't take his happiness away."
"Listen, we need the tape. And we know the guy. Let's go find him, finish the job and after that…it's all on you, Liv." Harrison replies.
/
Olivia decided to take the reins this time, wanting answers instantly versus Harrison's cool approach of reeling them in.
"We are here about the tape." Olivia says abruptly at the door.
"Why don't you guys have a seat?" The officer asked, pointing to the chairs in the living room.
"No, this won't take very long."
The officer disagrees, "It will."
"I want the tape and I want to know what happened."
The officer sits down in the chair, reaching for his remote, and pressed "play".
They heard an officer yelling, "Mr. Grant, open the door!"
All Olivia can see is the white front door, viewing the scene from the officer's standpoint. Chains raddle, the door knob jingles for some time before finally Fitz gave up.
One officer opens the door and immediately they get in position barricading the room.
Olivia lets out an audible gasp as she sees Fitz, unbelievably high and drunk off whatever he took.
The music is blaring loudly in the room, and Fitz is dancing as if he doesn't have a care in the world. He takes a long drag and lets out a slow puff of white smoke, smiling at the officers. His eyes are glossy and red.
She's never seen him like this.
"Mr. Grant, what's wrong?"
Fitz chuckles at the question. "Everything," he responds, before taking another puff.
"What happened?"
"He took her from me," Fitz said somberly.
"Who took her?"
"My father, he took her away from me," he looks out the window. At what, he's not exactly certain, but there are faceless people walking on the sidewalks and some being brazen enough to walk in the street.
"Who did he take?"
He looks at the officers for the first time, implausibly
wounded, fatigued from all stressors life has caused. Maybe it's the drugs that has him willing to talk, or maybe he knows in a matter of hours he'll be dead.
"He took the women I love. He took Olivia," he says grief stricken. He finishes his cigarette, before taking a seat. Looking at the door, waiting for someone, anyone.
"Where is she?"
Fitz shakes his head, letting out a jagged breath. "She's safe. She is far away from here. From me. From him." After his cold response, he walks back to the radio.
"Then why are you sad?"
He stares at the officers incredulously. "You wouldn't know. And I doubt you would try to understand. You see me as a rich kid with Dad problems. I am that, but if you knew what I knew you wouldn't want to live either..."
Gerry runs in the room, out of breath.
"Enough Fitzgerald, you made a scene; That now I am going to have to clean up." Gerry pushes pass the officers who let him walk in the room as if he calls the shots.
"Not even the law is above you. Your disregard for rules and law is alarming, Father."
Gerry grinds his teeth in anger towards Fitz.
"I have to clean this mess up, now. You outdone yourself this time, Fitzgerald."
"You are going to have a bigger clean up soon," Fitz calmly smiles, before reaching behind his back and pointing the gun at his father who jumps back in fear. Immediately, the officers point their guns at Fitz, all ready to kill him.
" Every word that has come out of your mouth directed at me has been an insult; all my life. I can live with that, but you took someone from me."
"Fitz..." Gerry warns him.
"I love her." Fitz declares, "You would never know what that feels like, since you've never loved anyone but yourself…But she meant something to me…I didn't have much but I had her….and now I lost her."
"Our death will be on your hands, Gerry. You took someone from me that I loved; it only felt fair that I do the same."
"Son," Gerry swallows the thick clump of saliva lodged in his throat. "I am trying to help you."
"Help me." Fitz repeats the word. "You blackmailed me. The man I once was is dead. You forced me to leave the women I love, in order to live out your dream that you are afraid of achieving on your own!"
"You son of a bitch!" Gerry yells.
"That's better," Fitz yells back, "That's my big Gerry! Your dreams are tied to me because if I fail then it doesn't reflect on you. My failures are built on my inadequacies. But my success will be yours to claim. I wake up thinking this is a nightmare but it's my reality now. You won't let me be happy and live my life so I'm taking matters into my own hands," he finishes with a smile.
Gerry bargains, "You can have her!"
"No. She's not a toy! She's a person! I can't buy her! The world and people are not objects...not everyone has a price."
"She does."
Fitz pulls the gun directly on Gerry's temporal lobe. The older man squints at the pressure, the cold metal pressing heavily on his head.
"You took her from me because you knew you couldn't buy her. Olivia won't talk to me because of you, because of what you made me do."
"You saved her life!"
Fitz shakes his head in agreement, "I will once I kill you."
Gerry's eyes grow twice in size as Fitz's hand sits on the trigger. "Don't do this son. They will kill you." Gerry nods towards the four officers and EMT on standby.
"If it means you are out of this world, then I will die peacefully, Fitz genuinely answers.
"It doesn't accomplish anything."
"It accomplishes everything." Fitz retorts.
"If you kill me, and we both die, then what? You will never see her again. She wouldn't want this," Gerry reminds him.
"Fitz."
Fitz's attention moves to the person at the door moving as close to him as police would allow.
"I know you hate your father, you aren't the only person. But if you kill him, then you will be everything you said you would never become. And if you want this girl, to remember you as you were then don't do this.
Don't be a killer," Cyrus says softly, calmly.
"Everyone wants something from me, but I have nothing left to give… This won't end without me."
Fitz pulls the gun away from Gerry and points it at himself.
"Thank you, Cyrus."
"Fitz…" He warns, pleading.
Fitz turns to his father, "I'm done fighting you. You win."
"Son. Listen. I know I have my ways, but I am hard on you because you have the most potential. You are the chosen one. I'm sorry, I'll give you whatever you want. Don't do this, boy." Gerry begs, and for the first time Fitz felt some sincerity coming from his father. But the effort is too late and far too little.
Fitz shakes his head, refusing to accept what his father is saying.
"Olivia wouldn't want this." Gerry watches his son flinch at the mention of her name, as if he struck him on the gut.
"Olivia didn't want me to leave her either. I was going to marry her. Have some kids, raise a family and grow old with her. My childhood was ruined, but I had hope for my future…now that's gone too… You ruined me. I'm broken." Fitz declares sadly, no anger, just the sad confirmation that after all this time, his father finally managed to break his spirit.
Gerry walks towards Fitz, desperate to save his son.
"I am going to test fate, because if destiny is as cruel as it has been, then I'll live. And if God finally shows me mercy, then he'll take me out of this world."
"You are doing this over a girl," Gerry yells, shocked.
"It's not her," Fitz says truthfully. "My mother was miserable with you, you took everything from her, you cheated on her, beat her, stole her soul, and I was there having to pick up the pieces that were irretrievably broken. You weren't satisfied ruining one person so you ruined everyone you've met. Every time, I tried to be my own person, you have interfered with my life and my happiness. I tried destroying you, but the devil can't die, so I have to."
"Son…"
"My will has been finalized. Olivia will receive all of my possessions and goods. Father?"
Gerry looks at him with what resembles unshed tears.
"Let Olivia have my body. Don't fight her. Just let me go home to her."
"I'm sorry, I went too far…," Gerry says painfully. He's never uttered those words before, but for the first time in his life, he feels a pain he has never experienced. He's buried his parents, his ex-wife and wife, and none of them hurt him. None of those losses have come close to this moment.
He did this to him.
"Don't do this," He begs again. He reaches for the gun, wrestling with Fitz as they fight over it.
Before Fitz could push the trigger, several officers pulled their guns and tased him. His body went limp instantaneously, his lips turning ashen.
Immediately, they start working on bringing Fitz back to consciousness. One officer starts CPR, while EMT begins to administer Narcan and activated charcoal.
For what felt like forever, they worked assiduously on him. One officer could be heard yelling at Fitz that he could not die. More likely than not, Fitz's heart went into a lethal irregular heart rhythm triggered by the overdose and several voltages that pulsated throughout his body,
Fitz was knocking on death's door, he was right there.
He could hear her.
"Olivia," he gasped, eyes rolling in the back of his head as his heart finally began to beat on his own.
Once stabilized, they rushed him to the nearest hospital.
The video ends with the officer watching the ambulance move further and further away with Fitz inside.
The room becomes absolutely silent. Everyone trying to grapple with what they witnessed
Olivia doesn't say a word; her heart is lodged in her throat and there's a constant sting to her eyes that doesn't seem to go away. Quickly, she runs to the nearest restroom and begins throwing up everything she ate earlier this morning.
With the front of her hand she dabs at her cheeks, hastily removing the tears that departed from her eyes. She observes herself in the mirror and wonders if this is how Fitz felt. To look at yourself and not even recognize the person staring back at you. She throws cold water on her face, anything to wake her up from this horrible nightmare.
But she's stuck here.
She walks back in the room and everyone takes note of her disheveled appearance.
Without a word, Harrison takes over.
"Why are you selling this?"
"I need money. Gerry had me fired, said I looked like a crook." The former officer rolls his eyes in annoyance. " The police camera footage was destroyed, as I knew it would be when I was dispatched, but I kept my phone running because I knew this would be something."
"You are going to go to jail for this."
The man shrugs, "At least I'll be rich and I ruined that prick father."
"You are hurting an innocent person."
The officer sighs with frustration, " I want a million dollars and I'll give it to you."
"No," Olivia answers coldly, walking in front of the former officer. "You are going to give me the tape and all of the copies you made. If not, I am going to have the chief personally arrest you, and then I'll tell the judge to give you a life sentence and remove any strip of dignity you had left. You will be known as a traitor to your brothers in blue, and you will be the bitch of the ward in prison for using a sick man's cry for help as personal gain. I am going to destroy you, whether you give me that tape or not. You will be the most hated person in America." With haste, Olivia takes a picture of him.
"You can't take my picture."
"You shouldn't have been recording a personal and serious matter for financial gain. Which is illegal."
"Hey-", he pleads.
"Sign this," Olivia throws the paper and pen on the table, "And give me the tapes. Now."
Looking at the mysterious women for a second, he signs the paper quickly before grabbing all the copies he has.
"Olivia, are you okay?"
She runs to the car, catching her breath in the process. There's a large knot in her stomach and it grew larger and deeper with every second she watched that video. Fitz was a shell of the man she knew and loved. What caused the man who could light the sky brighter than the sun to fall like Icarus?
"I need you to drop me off at the hotel."
"Olivia," Harrison warns.
"He's waiting for me," she answers shortly.
"Edison?"
Olivia stares at Harrison; both of them knowing she's not referring to him.
"Okay."
"I'm not worried about Edison at this moment."
"Or Abe?"
She jumps at his name. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"Clearly, Fitz is in some deep shit, which means Abe will be too."
Olivia folds her arm; she forgot Abe, and what he means to Fitz.
"He wants him."
"He can't have him," Harrison reminds Olivia.
"I know that. I won't jeopardize my son's safety because of him."
"It sounds like you are."
"Harrison." She scolds him ,"Fitz, almost died. My Fitz…he wanted me to have his body….he would never hurt me or Abe."
"Olivia, Gerry went to consider trouble to bury this tape. He doesn't want anyone knowing about this, and the fact that we are just now finding out about it means, he's powerful. Rich and powerful. Worse, he went to great lengths to keep you two apart."
"I know that."
"You being with Fitz will put you both in the limelight, and that means Abe will become front and center."
"Harrison, I know that."
"I like Fitz, but I love Abe. We have to protect him above anyone else. People will start looking as to how you had him."
Olivia pleads, "He deserves to know…"
"What happens then? You guys become a family. Just you, Fitz, Abe and Gerry. The media will be relentless."
"What do you suggest I do," Olivia asked, quite annoyed.
"Just wait. Think of a plan. Don't let your emotions rule the goal. Abe's safety."
"Fitz would protect him."
"He's not the same," Harrison reminds her.
Olivia folds her arms tightly around her chest, refusing to say a word until she sees him.
And she does.
There he is sitting where she left him this morning. He greets her cheerfully.
"Hi, Wonder Girl."
"Hi, Lover Boy," Olivia whispers, removing her clothes quickly, and grabbing the navy shirt Fitz handed to her. She climbs in bed with him, laying her head on his chest, and falls quickly to sleep.
That's always been a coping mechanism for her, when the world became too overwhelming, somehow sleeping would take the edge of everything that went wrong, possibly dulling the ache in her heart with time.
Fitz never attempted to wake her up. Somehow he sensed that she needed to rest, and so he watched her sleep, careful not to disturb.
She stretches in his arms that are still draped around her. She hasn't felt this safe in a long time. She smiles sadly at the thought.
"You feel better?" he whispers.
"A little," She sniffles, not wanting to look at him.
"What happened?"
"I don't think you want to know…"
"Well, I do if it made you this upset."
Olivia sighs heavily. She turns on her side facing Fitz and he follows her lead turning on his side to face her.
"What happened?"
"Ummm…" Olivia stumbles, not exactly sure how she can say start this conversation off, while being mindful of Fitz's feelings on this sensitive subject. "An officer was shopping around a video."
"What kind of video," he asked with curiosity.
"Of a man who was trying to commit suicide…", Olivia continued. "You.
You tried to kill yourself."
Fitz freezes; his once small beady eyes grew larger in size at the confession. It's as if Olivia had a knife and carved his flesh raw.
Tears threaten to fall down her face as she reaches for his hand, and to her surprise he doesn't pull away from her.
"I saw the video," Olivia replies softly.
Fitz looks at Olivia with large tears falling down his face. He's never been this exposed, yet she doesn't scold him. Her tender voice coddles him, soothing him that he is not alone.
"Tell me everything," she pleads.
There it was.
A moment. A choice. There's always a moment of impact, where life sends you several choices and leads you to decide your fate and how the story will end.
He can deny it. He can go on choosing to ignore what happened to him; to them.
"Gerry blackmailed you." Olivia states, wanting to help Fitz.
"Yes." He hushes out, somehow in shock that he was talking to her about this ordeal.
"Was it because of me?"
"Yes."
Olivia lets out an audible sigh of relief; she was right after all. Her gut wasn't wrong. She wasn't wrong about him and their love.
His hesitation resonates in the room. He clears his throat several times, trying to muster the courage to speak once and for all.
"Gerry had you tied to the underground operations. We thought we had fixed it, I thought you were safe, but Amber was spying on me. If I went to the police about what we uncovered, then you would be in jail with them. Or worse he would frame you with drugs, weapons, tell his federal judges to sentence you to a ridiculous sentence. He had you; which meant he had me." His voice trails off, recalling one of the worse days of his life. " We both couldn't walk out together and unharmed so…he told me to break up with you, and that if you knew the truth he would harm you…so I did what he asked. I broke up with you and I came to California to fulfil our deal."
Olivia cradles Fitz's cheek. He looks exhausted all of sudden, yet oddly lighter. She kisses the palm of his hand, before placing it on her chest.
"You did that for me?"
Fitz's eyebrows arch at her statement. "I'll always look after you, Olivia. For better or worse. I knew you would never forgive me for leaving you all alone, but at least I knew you were safe. I slept knowing that."
"I'm so sorry, Fitz."
He drops his head in sadness, "Do you still hate me?" his tone desperate.
She pushes his head up, forcing him to look at her. "I could never hate you." She confesses before crawling into his arms and crying loudly in crevices of his neck.
She didn't cry watching the video, a few tears escaped but she made a point to reserve her tears for him. To cry for him. To cry with him
He holds her tightly. He doesn't sob loudly, but tears fall down his eyes at his own moment of truth, and the result that came with his affirmation.
They have suffered so much, yet, it all feels worth it for this defining moment right here.
"I hope you can forgive me for my absence, I was trying to find you. But I got lost along the way," Fitz whispers in Olivia's ear as he holds her tightly in his arms.
Her pain nearly overwhelms her yet there's something enigmatic about the resilience of a humans' spirit. She's waited for this moment for so long, the affirmation that what they had was real, that she wasn't wrong about him, he loved her, and she loved him.
"You saved me," she declares.
Fitz smiles up at her; kissing her brow before rubbing her head tenderly.
"It almost killed me though."
"I wish you would have told me. I could have helped you," Olivia cries again, so much time has been spent hating him when in truth, he was the reason she was alive.
"You couldn't help me. Helping me, would have ended with us both killed."
"I would have been quiet. We could have come up with a plan."
Fitz shakes his head. "Maybe you are right, but at that moment. I had to protect you and Abe."
Her heart drops at his name being mentioned. "What about him?"
Fitz sighs heavily, licking his now dry lips. "A lot happened, Liv. Gerry had Faith killed, the police chief was on his books and his officers hid her body."
Olivia gasped, "Why?"
Fitz smiles sadly, "Gerry wasn't seeing her like we thought. Daniel was."
There it was. The freezing water pouring on her bare flesh. Her mouth agapes at Fitz's confession. She was wrong about everything.
"Daniel."
Fitz looks down at Olivia, trying to read her thoughts and what she may be feeling "Daniel was cheating on you with Faith. When he became worried about you finding out he broke up with her, but word traveled that she had a child and that it was his. Daniel had a problem."
"And Gerry fixed it," Olivia softly replied. "That's why Faith had that small area for Abe in the closet."
Fitz nods. "Gerry wanted confirmation that both Faith and Abe were dead so the chief sent him pictures of Faith's dead body, but he couldn't find Abe."
Olivia stares at him in shock.
"I added on that he killed an innocent baby and his mother. He believes Abe is dead…it's also why I wanted him far away from me." Fitz smiles sadly, "I hope he can forgive me."
"Fitz…" Olivia hushes him, kissing him desperately before he professed more and she would have no choice but to bare her soul to him in return.
"I never wanted to leave you both. I had no choice," Fitz professes solemnly.
"I know."
Fitz felt a few tears slip past his lashes and land on his cheek, he wipes his tears moving to sitting on the side of the bed. This trip has been a revelation; a daunting task that has left him both relieved yet terrified of what his future means. And if he will even have one.
"I tried to keep you guys safe… I was hoping that you kept Abe because you always feared being alone."
Olivia trembles at Fitz's statement, how he knows her so deeply.
"Now, you see why I wanted to kill Gerry when I found out that he drugged me and pretty much had me raped," Fitz sadly replies, toying his blood stone ring that has never left his ring finger.
She is facing his back, observing the rugged and ridged edges along his spine. The tension radiating from his shoulders, The goosebumps covering his skin.
Tenderly, she shelters him from the cold, wrapping the blanket around his body, she moves in front of him. He stares at her in both admiration and damnation. His old navy shirt falls to the floor with the rest of her clothes, moving gently to sit on his lap, she cradles his head. Inhaling the air he exhales. In return he covers her cool back with the blanket as well. His eyes bore into hers, his despair, his susceptibility laid bare for her to indulge upon, she does none of the sort.
She admires him up close and intimately. New respect and admiration rising from her boson as she gazes at his ocean blue eyes. All the pain and anger dissipates at her warm body inviting him home.
Their faces are mere inches apart, her breaths become more shallow as he reaches up to touch her heart.
"You're real." He whispers to himself, somehow surprised that she was still there. He could have sworn that the second he would touch her, she would evaporate into the dew on the windows.
But she is of burning flesh, thawing his iced heart.
She squeezes around him, guiding him to her entrance slowly, sinking down slowly onto him. Her nails dig into his back as she eases his cock inside her slowly. She gasp, quiet, holding still even as he shudders, waiting to adjust to the press of his cock.
"I'm real," Olivia murmurs on his lips before taking his very essences away for her own consumption.
He groans at the sensation. All of his nerves are heightened by her power; her touch.
The world is spinning around them, yet he's centered with her. Her graceful body adding the needed weight to keep him afloat.
It is intimate to watch yourself make love, to be so close that he can see the heavy sweep of her eyelashes and the small hole on her cheek where her dimple indents when she smiles.
Olivia blushes softly at his discerning stare, somehow it feels as though she's making love for the first time.
Sacred.
Special.
She doesn't look away from him as they rediscover one another.
The motion creates the perfect amount of friction, he groans at the pleasure enveloping him. Unable to resist touching her she feels his hands on her hips, on her thighs, up along her back.
Olivia braces herself against him, the steady rise and fall of his chest is the perfect anchor.
Just the feel of him is enough to make her body shudder, she slips down further until he bottoms out inside of her. Her body contracts at the contact, he groins in her ear the at vibration echoing throughout his body. She's already so close to coming that the sensation of euphoria only pushes her closer. She arches a little, concaving her torso as she catches and releases him.
He bites his lips deliriously. The friction has become overwhelming. He tries desperately to ride the wave, but her force is so overpowering that he finds himself falling, slipping into the deep abyss only to land on soft pillows that feels like clouds.
His eyes are dazed, the darkest grey she has ever seen, and he looks up at her; hypnotized and fully under her spell.
There's a sense of peace with his body under water, all of his senses are in tuned with hers.
She rides him progressively, lacing their hands together; as they search for the heart of the ocean. Surprisingly Fitz doesn't attempt to lead; instead he gazes up at her, his lips slightly agape, drowning in her presences, how her hair falls over one shoulder, the gentle bounce of her breasts, the chamber of her stomach as she curves and bends to take him in.
He is at her mercy.
"Olivia," he begs. This time a desperate plea.
She kisses him passionately, delivering him the oxygen he desperately needs.
He flips Olivia on her back, and pauses.
He has her.
After all this time.
He has her.
She reaches for him, guiding him back home.
Her nails dig into the skin of his back, marking him as hers. She knows
she shouldn't but she's weak. Regardless of what others may think about them, she knows what they share exceeds ordinary love, but a holiness that not even they can desecrate .
Her breathing becomes shallow, she feels the bubbling warmth cascading over her like the morning sun.
His name falls from swollen lips, whispered against the side of his face as he thrust harder inside her. Her eyes slide shut, her lips tremble adjacent to his. She clenches him, daring him to try and leave.
A sensation travels along his nerves, he feels a sharp tug of desire in his belly. He watches Olivia as he moves in and out of her slowly, the exchange is unlike anything they have ever felt before. He groans her name, blood pounding in his ears as he comes inside of her.
He fell asleep to the idea of them.
But when he woke he saw her with him.
/
He showers alone not wanting to wake Olivia up, and not sure how to process what just happened.
The water falls down his face and he cries silently in the shower, so much has happened to him, that he's unsure how he even made it here.
It's a lot to take in.
The shower door opens and she appears like an angel, the sun light escaping through the open door and landing so delicately on her copper skin. They don't say a word but they cling to one another, both crying at all the obstacles life has faced in front of them.
But they are here.
Together.
Despite all the pain and tears. They still managed to find one another.
"He's alive," Olivia whispers in Fitz's ear.
"Who?"
"Your son."
He pulls away from Olivia, he has to see her expression. That she isn't playing a cruel joke on him.
"What," he asked softly.
"I have Abe. He's safe, Fitz. We're safe," Olivia replies with fresh tears mixing with the water cascading down her face. She cradles his face in her hands. She wipes away his tears and replaces them with her freshly kisses lips.
"You have him," he asked again, not believing what Olivia said.
Olivia nods. "He's beautiful." Smiling, she adds, "and he looks like you."
Fitz lets out a jagged breath, smilingly softy at the news he's received. His hand trembles, he covers his face in disbelief. He's never heard such wonderful news like this before.
"You're okay?" He gently raised one thumb to swipe at the moisture on her face.
"We're okay," Olivia answers, as their foreheads touch "All because of you." She cradles his cheek.
He bites his lip to stop from sobbing, but the tears fall freely from his face.
He's done something good after all.
It was worth it.
He tells himself.
It was all worth it.
"You saved us, Fitz," she assures him. "I can never repay you for that."
He smiles coyly, "You already did."
"I'm so sorry that you had to be away from us…"
"Me too." Fitz answers softly, lacing his fingers with Olivia's.
"But you're here with me now," she insist.
"I'm here." He promises.
"No more secrets."
Fitz nods his head in agreement. "No more secrets".
/
"No smoking."
"Okay." Fitz says, without a fight.
"No drinking either."
"Whatever you want," he promises.
She looks up at him. He's changed so much yet he's still positively the same at heart.
"Have you been in bed all day?" Olivia asked taking note of the room looking the exact same as she had left it this morning.
"Kind of." Fitz answers softly, rubbing her arm as he looks outside.
She looks at him quizzically.
"You looked sad this morning, and I thought it was because of me. That you had regrets. I just wanted you to feel better so…"
Fitz gets out of bed, much to Olivia's protest.
He comes back a few seconds later with a large brown bear, popcorn and her favorite wine.
Olivia laughs gleefully at the gift. She covers her face filled with obvious joy. She blinks away the tears before she starts to sob.
"Why are you crying? I was trying to make you happy," he offered, upset somehow that he still managed to hurt her.
"I am happy, Fitz." Olivia whispers, kindly reaching for his hand.
"No regrets? Us?" he offered.
"I could never regret us."
Fitz plays with her fingers, feeling vulnerably exposed at her confession.
"You know me so well," Olivia says with tears stuck in her throat.
"You know me too."
Olivia shakes her head in disagreement. "If I did…I would have fought for you…for us."
Fitz smiles sadly at Olivia's statement. "You couldn't fight for us when I gave up." He wipes her tears away before crawling back to bed.
"We have to take him down, Fitz."
He doesn't say anything.
"Fitz?" Olivia looks up at him.
"I'm scared, Olivia," he admits.
"I have you," she promises him. "I won't let him hurt you again."
Fitz doesn't respond. He's not sure what he could say at the moment,
but he appreciates the assurance. Her courage and strength.
"I have to win. I am going to be the Governor of California." Fitz declares.
"You are going to be the best Governor."
Unsure, he asks, "You think so?"
"I know so," Olivia promises before kissing him and removing the doubt he had.
"I don't want to leave…" Fitz said sadly, knowing that after tomorrow they go back to the real world.
Whatever that means.
"I know…"
Fitz plays with Olivia's hands, kissing the ring he gave her long ago.
"Where's your engagement ring?"
Olivia's eyes flicker at the question. "It's at my house, in my jewelry box."
Fitz doesn't answer. Not exactly sure he wants to hear about Olivia and Edison's engagement.
"I thought they belong on your ring finger?"
"When Edison asked me, I told him that I would think about it."
Fitz frolics with her ring, trying hard not to show his obvious joy at her answer.
"So there's hope," he offered, looking at Olivia briefly before he glances back at her hand.
"There's hope," Olivia confirms, entwining their fingers.
