A/N-Olivia is at a crossroad right now. She wants a life with Fitz, although that is not possible, and she also wants her quiet life back, without looking over her shoulder because of her relationship with Fitz. She went to him to both tell him goodbye and to plan for a future with her. I know that doesn't make much sense, but in the coming chapters things will be clear. I wanted this chapter to give Olivia and Fitz the feelings of being together as parents and as lovers. I hope you enjoy. Thank you again for your advice, feedback, and comments.
Chapter 15—Fitz, Liv, and Kendell
Liv walked to Fitz, who was still trying to figure out if he was dreaming or not, and with Kendell in one arm, Liv used her other arm to pull the Fitz's head down to meet her lips. The kiss was glorious. Liv had missed him so much. It was only two days, but it felt like two weeks. She often stays up at night wondering how she got through a year without this man. If she overthinks, the guilt gets the best of her, though. It's not something she thinks she can ever do again. This is the reason she is here. She needs a heart to heart with Fitz. She needs to put their daughter's safety first and she needs to get her life and work back on track without any dangers lurking.
As he returned the kiss, he pulled Liv and Kendell closer to him. They were real. He's only been away from her for two days, but even that was too long. Once the kiss stopped, he held on to the embrace. Kendell started to squirm around, and he took her from Olivia. With a sweet kiss on the cheek, he asked Kendell if she missed her daddy. Then he looked at Liv, gently kissed her on the forehead and looked at her inquisitively. "You want to explain how you found my little cottage in Vermont?"
Liv looked around at the place and smiled to herself. She truly liked the place. It was small, yet cozy. It was secluded yet spacious. It was decorated nicely. When first walking in, you're greeted by a small living room with a two seated love seat facing a fireplace. There is a spacious bear rug lying in front of the fireplace on top of a wood floor. Off to the right of the living room is a small kitchen. It's designed as small, but with a purpose, a fridge, a stove, and a small table. Liv hadn't been upstairs yet, she figured she'd wait for Fitz so he could show her the bedrooms.
"It's good to have Huck and Charlie on your side, they are very resourceful. Charlie used some guys in the Secret Service that you trusted him to speak to and Huck found the location." Liv just stared at Fitz, she couldn't believe what she was doing for this man. Every time she looked at him more numbness fell over her. He simply did something to her soul that she could never fully describe in words. "So, I decided to surprise you, with Kendell, and spend a day in the life of the Grant campaign trail, that is, if you want us to. I don't want to impose, if you have better things to do or others you may have to…
Fitz stopped her mid-sentence and pulled her by the chin into another kiss. This time, he was holding Kendell, but her head was resting upon daddy's shoulder. Liv pulled slowly away. Looking at Kendell, she told Fitz she needed to feed her, change her, and put her to bed. Fitz wouldn't have it. "I'll take care of Kendell; you get your things in order. Once Kendell is asleep, I'll start a fire. I take it you didn't come here just to kiss me all night, although, it wouldn't be so bad if you did."
Liv gave him a little shove. "No mister, I didn't come here to kiss you all night. I am sure that would make you extraordinarily happy. I would, though, love to sit near the fire with you. While you're getting your daughter ready, I will set up her crib. She's teething also, so she has been very cranky. Don't spoil her, though" …, and when she looked at Fitz, it was futile, that man was wrapped around that baby's finger. The leader of the free world could crumble at the hands of a five-month-old. Kendell was content sitting on Fitz's lap as he fed her a jar of applesauce. It was one of the moments Liv wished she could freeze in time.
As Liv was going through her things, she glanced at the envelope that contained the pictures that Mellie had given her. She had every intention of telling Fitz, but right now, she just wanted one night with him, not as a president, not as a married man. She wanted him as Kendell's father, and her man. She tucked the pictures away and continued to get her things in order. She brought her bag by the staircase and turned to Fitz. "I'll wait until we're ready for bed before I bring this up. I would like for you to show me the bedroom, and I look forward to hearing the story of how you came about this place too."
While Liv set up the crib, Fitz was changing Kendell, as she started to cry. He gently lifted her, and she immediately put her head on his shoulder again. She was very comfortable there. When Liv saw this, it seemed Kendell knew how safe she was in her daddy's arms. Fitz walked with her gently rocking her, as she was slowly drifting to sleep. Fitz carefully placed her in the crib, softly kissing her before putting the blanket on her. He then turned to Liv and held her in his arms. Where Kendell had placed her head, Liv now leaned against the same shoulder. She was taking in the smell of him, holding him and not wanting this to end. As their embrace ended, Fitz started the fireplace, and they both sat on the love seat, with his arm around her and her head on his chest. Fitz had no intention of letting her go, and surely was in no rush for this night to end. He kissed the top of her head and said "so what brings you to the neck of the woods?"
Liv truly didn't know where to begin. All the emotions from the last week just had her so confused. She just wanted it all to end. She didn't want any more threats, she didn't want to be in this game with Mellie, she was tired, and she wanted her family left alone. She just needed the right words to tell Fitz. Her love went deep for Fitz, she wanted him, wanted him to be hers, but she made the ultimate mistake. She fell in love with a married man, a married man who is also about to be elected president for another four years. She needed tonight to talk to him. Something had to be done. She came there with every intention of claiming him, but she is now being realistic, because you cannot hide the president from the world.
"I honestly came here Fitz because I love you. You are always on my mind. I also came here to talk to you about where we can really take this. We cannot be together; not like we are tonight. AS much as I want to stay in this moment, both you and I know it is impossible. I want you Fitz, I want you to be with Kendell, I want to be with you, like this, but reality is, this is the only night. You will become president for another four years, and you just can't pull Kendell and me out of the shadows. I also cannot live in the line of fire for Mellie. I can hold her off for so long, but she is a ticking bomb. We need to tell her that we are ending this Fitz. I cannot continue to live in fear from her, and I certainly cannot have Charlie tail me around for the next four years. I have been back barely two weeks and my life is in turmoil. I want tonight, Fitz, with you. I want to know you, I want you to know me, and I want to make love to you one last time, because we can no longer keep doing this."
Fitz let her go out of his arms. They faced each other and he just looked away. He thought back to the day he first saw Olivia. He was so lonely at that time. He had everything going for him, yet nothing to anticipate. At that time, he was on his way to being the most powerful man in the world, but his emptiness was consuming him. When he saw Olivia, something clicked on inside him. He suddenly had a feeling that he belonged. He had a feeling he could be someone, someone other than a politician, someone other than his father's son. He felt a need to have her, to belong to her, and that was just with one look. Now, sitting in front of the woman he loves, the woman who gave him another child, he had to face the grim truth that being together, for now, would likely be impossible. He looked around their surroundings and met Olivia's eyes. They were filled with such sadness right now. He just wanted to take her away, take her and his sweet angel Kendell away and be a family.
"This house, Livvie, this house was my grandmother's. You may have been aware of who my father was. He was D.C. royalty, but he was also a royal prick. He had no ability to love anyone. Anything he did was for himself. My mother died when I was 16. I was away at boarding school. He never told me, until I got home for the holidays that year. My grandmother, his mother, always looked out for me. She had this place when she first married my grandfather. That summer, after my mother died, she told me about this place. She left it to me and suggested I use it as a getaway. She wanted me to have a place in the middle of no where so I can just collect my thoughts and be myself. I never really told anyone about it, not even Mellie or my kids. When I became president, I would tell a select few of secret service agents and we would put in place a "fake place" I was at. I never really come here much, this is only my third time since I was elected. That is why I was surprised you found me." He reached out for her, touched her cheek, and pulled her to him, their lips not touching, their eyes just connecting. "I will be with you Livvie, we will make this happen."
Fitz leaned closer and grabbed her lips with his. Her hands reached to his hair as she caressed his head and grabbed his neck. What little self-control Fitz had left in him left his body at that moment. He scooped up Olivia without letting go of the grasp on her lips and placed her on the bear rug in front of the fire. It didn't take more than a blink of the eyes that their clothes came off and the were one with each other. The fire cracking, the small, intimate moans, and being lost in the moment. Fitz was in this sentimental place with the love of his life and his hunger for her was overwhelming, but he took his time and was so gentle with his Livvie.
Liv on the other hand was in another place. She was filled with desire and weakness. She wanted him tonight in a way she never did before. In her mind, this was her goodbye to the man she loved, the man she will always love, and instead of being lost in the moment, like Fitz, she was fully aware and took all control. She was on top, rubbing his chest, taking in his body to make it one with hers. She would never let him forget this just in case it was the last time for a while. As Olivia started to get weaker, Fitz felt her body changing, and he rolled to be on top. He gently thrusted his hips as she took all of him in, and as they both felt each other, the lust, the love, the anger, the frustration, all came crashing like a tidal wave at once. With the deep breathing, Fitz landed another kiss on Olivia and he took her head on to his chest and held her quietly for a while. Olivia used her finger to outline his lips and glare into his eyes. He had his arm around her, and they just stayed in each other's arms for a while. Finally, Kendell brought them back to reality. She started crying, not just a cry, but a painful cry. Fitz gestured to Olivia he would take care of it. It was her teething, Olivia told Fitz there was some medicine to soothe her gums in her bag. Fitz got up and Olivia felt relieved that he was there to handle this. At times, she was too exhausted, and now was one of them.
Fitz reached in the bag to find the medicine and spotted the envelope with the pictures of Mellie and Marcus. He hadn't opened the envelope yet; he grabbed the medicine and went to Kendell. He lifted her and comforted her, but her crying continued. He gently put some of the medicine on her gums and she slowly calmed her crying down. With her tiny body sobbing, she put her head in which now seemed to be her favorite place, right on her daddy's right shoulder. Fitz walked around with her gently bouncing and rocking her, and when she was finally asleep, he placed her back in the crib. This life, he thought, wouldn't be so bad to have. He went to Olivia who was sound asleep, comfortable, on the rug. He placed a blanket over her and went to the envelope.
Fitz was not surprised by what he saw. Nothing with Mellie really surprised him at all. He did wonder though if Marcus was being as aggressive towards Mellie as the pictures had showing. Should he wait for Olivia to tell him about the pictures? He wondered why she hadn't already. Either way, Mellie was just making her own departure from his life a bit easier. Fitz understands Olivia's fears and having Kendell to protect they are legitimate fears, but he is not going to let Olivia go so easily and the first step of making that happen to make things complicated. He was not going to make easy for Mellie any longer.
Fitz wasn't going to let Olivia sleep much longer. He tucked his face under her chin and started kissing her neck, slowly. Olivia started to stir a bit, and Fitz was a bit taken off guard when she pushed his head deeper into the kiss and into her neck. He pulled back, and said, "Olivia Pope, you little vixen." Olivia had to laugh, and said "well, Mr. President, you did seem like you wanted a bit of my attention. Did Kendell go back to sleep?" Fitz said, very proudly, "she sure did right here on her daddy's shoulder." As he pointed to his shoulder as if Olivia had to give him an applause for doing so. Olivia's smile faded, and she looked at Fitz, "so what's the plan? I had only planned to stay with Kendell until Monday. I am leaving ahead of election day. I have to be in DC to help out from my office to get anyone to the polls that may not have the means to get to vote. What's your day tomorrow?"
"Come with me to Boston tomorrow. Bring Kendell, come to a luncheon I have with the Ladies Auxiliary Club. You can get jealous as they all swoon over me." Fitz smirked and Oliva couldn't help but shake her head and laugh.
"You think you are all that, huh Fitzgerald. We would be happy to join you, discreetly of course. We cannot go in together. I will be there as a guest from DC and I will survey the ladies on gun control and reform. Actually, it will help out a lot with the bill and grant we are working on. Did I mention that Marcus is in Chicago now? He is working on jump starting the bill there. I also had to send him away for a bit. It was for his own good." Quickly, Olivia changed the subject, "what time is the lunch tomorrow?"
Fitz let the subject of Marcus go for now, "we'll be leaving here at 10. Helicopter to Boston, Kendell will need headphones. I'll make sure she has them. Sounds like a plan for you to mingle through the ladies and get your information. Anything else?" He looked curiously at her.
"Not really. I will call my father in the morning, let him know what my agenda is. I am also going to call Huck" Olivia paused, and she looked at Fitz.
"I need Huck to keep location on Mellie, Fitz. That woman is becoming more of a burden on me and my family than I am comfortable with. I had to send Marcus away because that boy is as reckless as they come, and he would be decorating his prison cell right now had we not intervened. Which brings me back to our original conversation, we have to stop for a while."
Fitz side smiled and said "for a while? Last time you were talking about this, it was we had to stop, now it is for a while? So, I am guessing you don't want it to be the end game you made it sound like a few hours ago? Livvie, we can't make it an end game. You have no idea the emptiness I had inside me before I met you. I was all alone. People all around me, but all alone. I had nothing to live for, and becoming president wasn't really going to fill that emptiness, it was going to make it worse with the isolation. Then, seeing you, meeting your eyes, it filled my heart with a desire I never knew I had. When you left, my heart shattered into pieces. I had no idea what I had done, no idea if I did something wrong, and I just let the fullness I had in my heart slowly empty again. Then you came back, and you bring Kendell into my life. Bottom line, I am not losing you again. I am not losing Kendell. This is something we will get through, and we get through it together. I love you Livvie, I love you and that gorgeous baby with all of my being. No position of president or any person is going to stand in the way of that love. We will find a way to be together."
Liv was holding on to every word he was saying. Fitz got up to put the fire out in the fireplace. With Kendell finally back asleep quietly in her crib, Fitz and Liv found it best to stay downstairs rather than move her. He put some pillows down on the rug, grabbed a blanket, and led Liv down to his arms. She had no idea how this was going to work, but right now, in this moment is where she was and where she wanted to stay. She rubbed his face, gave him a soft kiss on his cheek and folded perfectly in his arms, where she drifted to sleep.
Olivia woke up before Fitz did. She stared at him sleeping. This was rare, he never did sleep longer than her. She just looked at him, not believing at times that he was even real. She wanted to reach out and touch him, but she also wanted him to get the rest he deserved. So many thoughts going through her head. Elections were in two days, he would be president again for four more years, and he had a wife like Mellie. God, she wanted to take him away from all of this, especially from the grip of Mellie. She was determined to bring that woman down. She heard Kendell start waking up and she immediately got up to quiet her down. She grabbed her phone and noticed there was a missed call from Huck and Quinn, with a message from Huck.
Liv, I am sending Quinn up by you. She should be arriving shortly staying at the Marriot in Boston. She's going to text you her room number and information. Call me when you get this. We think Mellie is on the move up there.
Liv quickly texted Huck and Quinn the information about the luncheon. She told Quinn to meet her there. She would call Huck back in a bit, once Kendell was ready and they were on their way to the luncheon. She couldn't get the thought of Mellie coming up, although Huck wasn't sure, but Huck usually is never wrong. She gathered Kendell's clothes to dress her, and she felt Fitz's arms around her. "Good morning beautiful, what are you doing?"
"Getting your daughter ready for your luncheon. I would like her to look special for her daddy's big day."
"She looks special everyday and with the looks she has like her mom, she will look beautiful every day of her life. Mind if I dress her Liv, you can go get ready."
Liv welcomed the offer. She wanted to pack her things also, just in case Mellie did show up, but she didn't want to alarm Fitz in any way. Watching him with Kendell, she also didn't want to spoil his mood by showing him the pictures. She would just let today play out, and when they returned tonight, they would talk about things. She was leaving in the morning, first thing, regardless. She just wished this could be easier. Who chooses this kind of love? Who falls in love with a married man? Who falls in love with a married man who is the damn president? God, Liv, what did you do. She laughed out loud and Fitz looked at her.
"Find something funny Ms. Pope?"
"No, Fitz, nothing at all. You're a natural at that, Kendell is getting to know you. That makes my heart melt."
While in the car to the luncheon, Liv called her dad. She told him what was going on. He was very happy to hear about the luncheon and that she decided to go to Fitz with Kendell. He would see her on Monday when she got back, and his scheduled was cleared to help out at the office on Election Day. Liv then called Huck. He apologized for worrying her, he couldn't find a signal from Mellie's phone and got worried she may have headed up there, but a signal pinged from North Carolina fifteen minutes ago. Liv didn't mind, better safe than sorry, and she was happy to have Quinn with her for company and to keep an eye on Kendell while she surveyed some ladies. Huck was heading up there late tonight and would be ready to take her back tomorrow. Liv was so grateful to have Huck and Quinn in her life.
At the luncheon President Grant went right into presidential mode. He started talking and mingling and watching him made Liv smile. He was born for this. He was a true leader. She was very happy for him to be getting another four years, despite what she would have to give up. Fitz was a man of the people and this country is lucky to have him. Liv found her place at a long table. She took out her paperwork and looked around for Quinn. Kendell was content in her carriage, but once Quinn came over, she was scooped up out of the carriage and started to get spoiled. Liv shook her head as all the ladies started swooning over Kendell, almost as much as the president. She walked away leaving Kendell in Quinn's care. She started taking surveys and was soon lost in her work. About a half hour had passed by and the luncheon was beginning, Liv went to go back to the table, and she couldn't believe what she was seeing. One of the ladies talking to Quinn took Kendell and tapped Fitz on his shoulder. She immediately handed Kendell to Fitz and the cameras started snapping away. Kendell looked briefly at the cameras and then put her head on Fitz's shoulder, as she was getting used to doing. The cameras were snapping away at this tender moment. Quinn quickly took Kendell from Fitz and put her back in the carriage. Fitz looked around for Olivia caught her eyes. He knew she was not happy with what just happened. No doubt this would be front page right before an election. Olivia walked over to Quinn and they quickly left the luncheon.
Quinn would not stop apologizing, but Liv kept trying to reassure her. "It wasn't you fault, Quinn, don't worry about it." As upset as Liv was, she was feeling quite proud. I mean Mellie couldn't miss this news, so this will be interesting. There is no way of knowing that Fitz is Kendell's father to the camera people, to them it's just photo op of how the president is a gently giant. Quinn drove the way back to the cottage, Liv wanted her to know the location of the cottage. Quinn would be with Huck in the morning. She stayed for a bit until Kendell went down for her nap and was reassured by Liv once more that there was nothing to worry about. "Keep your phone close, Quinn."
"I'll do one better. I am not going back to the hotel. I am going to stay a few miles away so if you need anything, just let me know." Huck wants me to wait around for him. Edward is going to bring him to me, and we'll be ready for you in the morning."
When Fitz returned to the cottage, he was filled with apologies. He pulled Liv close to him and she told him it was fine. He said how it all happened so fast, but it was all over the news already. They turned on the tv and sure enough the tv stations were doting over the fact that the president was shown so much love by this beautiful little girl. No one could seem to find the identity of the little girl, and that was fine. Just the optics alone with Fitz and Kendell were amazing. America was certainly embracing this side of Fitz.
They enjoyed dinner together, and Fitz enjoyed feeding Kendell her jar of fruit and get her ready for bed.
Liv looked at Fitz. "Can you get Kendell?"
"Why, is everything ok?"
"Sure is, I just think it's time you showed me the upstairs so I can see what the bedroom looks like." Liv said as she rubbed his chest. "Hand Kendell to me and bring up her crib."
The bedrooms were small but delightful. They were so simple but as cozy as being in front of the fire. Liv was with Fitz in the bed, and they talked about a plan. She listened contently to Fitz, but it was hard for Liv to feel comfortable. Finally, with her head spinning from just pure confusion, she told Fitz "let's get through the election, let's jump that obstacle, then we will take it from there. Let's just embrace tonight, as they kissed and continued to do so. No love making, as they just wanted to enjoy being in this embrace.
Olivia woke up during the night. She checked her phone with a message from Huck. I am with Quinn, waiting for your call to come get you. Whenever you are ready.
Liv went downstairs to get a drink and gather some things together while Fitz and Kendell were asleep upstairs. She reached for the envelope in her bag. She would bring it upstairs with her and talk to Fitz about it. It was about time he knew what was going on, perhaps he could use this as a plan to rid himself of Mellie. As she walked back up the stairs, something in her gut made her sense something was wrong. There was a certain smell in the air that Olivia did not find familiar. She shook as chills went through her body, she tried to ignore them off, but there in front of her, it was for good reason. While Fitz lay sound asleep, there stood Mellie over Kendell's crib. Liv ran right over to the crib, adrenaline running through her body. She pulled Mellie from her shoulder spun her towards her and just smacked her right across her face. "YOU STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER!"
Everything from that moment happened so fast. Kendell woke up screaming, crying, and Fitz jumped out of bed, just in time to catch Liv's hand in the air before she smacked Mellie again. Three secret service agents had entered the room and Liv pulled her grip from Fitz. She grabbed Kendell, grabbed her phone, and breathing heavily, tossed the envelope to Fitz and screamed, " YOU LOOK AT THOSE, HAVE HER EXPLAIN THEM TO YOU, THEN, YOU REMEMBER THIS SCENE,THIS WOMAN IS RUINING MY LIFE, I CANNOT DO THIS ANYMORE, FITZ!"
With Kendell still crying, she called Huck to come get her immediately, and ran out of the room. The final thing she saw was Mellie holding her cheek and Fitz standing there with his mouth wide open in shock. She grabbed her bag, Kendell's seat, and left the cottage, as headlights were approaching.