Say Yes! Chapter 2, a scandal fanfic

Hey everybody, y'all good? As always, thank you for reading 'Say Yes!' and leaving reviews. I've received a few PMs and read reviews from readers who are not happy that this isn't an Olitz centered story. I get it; what I don't understand is leaving me messages and reviews telling me that you're not going to read the story. It's really okay, you don't have to read it, but I don't need, nor do I want to know that.

My fellow "writers" in my writer's group always say to, "write the story you want to read." Since I only write as a hobby and an exercise in imagination, that's exactly what I'm doing: writing something I want to read and enjoying writing it. I want to know what happens between Elliott and Satchel, and I look forward to sitting down and writing a new chapter, because I can't wait to add more to the story. I also want you all to enjoy it, but if it doesn't captivate you, that's alright too. It still won't stop me from continuing to write it though.

Thank you again to those who were kind and left kind reviews. This is for you. Stay safe. Wear a mask. Enjoy.

TBOT

Olivia Grant stood looking down at her sleeping daughter. Elliott slept restlessly, her chest heaving and her brow furrowed. She'd sobbed for almost an hour and it had taken a herculean effort for Olivia to get her to tell her what had happened. Between the sniffles and sobs, she'd concluded that Satchel had proposed, Elliott turned him down, they'd argued, she left to clear her head and when she returned, he was gone, along with all of his things. She'd called and sent several texts but he had yet to respond. She'd felt helpless as she held her daughter, heartbroken at seeing her baby so distraught. When she was finally able to talk, Olivia listened intently.

"He broke my heart, Mom. He just left, walked away from everything we had like it meant nothing. He didn't even take the time to say goodbye."

Olivia wiped the tears from Elliott's cheeks. "Why?"

Elliott looked up at her mother. "Huh?"

"Why did he leave?"

Elliott looked away. "He thought…he said…he said I was moving the goalpost, and that he wasn't sure that I wanted to marry him. We agreed that we would get married after I finished med school. I never said that I 'didn't' want to marry him, just not right now."

"Did Satchel say that he wanted to get married right now, next month or even next year?"

Elliott looked at her mother again. "Why are you taking his side, Mom?" she asked, as fresh tears began running down her cheeks.

"I'm not taking sides, sweet pea. I'm also not saying that Satchel was right to end things the way he did, and I know nothing about how why he ended them…but it sounds as if you're changing the plans you made together without his input. Right?" Olivia said slowly.

Elliott nodded. "Okay, maybe I could've talked to him a long time ago about how I felt, and about my reluctance to get married and why, but Mom I'm only looking out for him. My time is not my own. If I'm not in class, I'm in the library, with my study group or at my apartment with my face buried in my books. I don't want him to ever resent being married to someone who can't dedicate one hundred percent to a marriage right now, someone who can't juggle marriage and career."

"Did Satchel ever give you any indication that he resented your career, or that your schedule was a problem? Did he ask you change any aspect of your life for him? Give you ultimatums? I mean, Elle, he drives up to Baltimore every weekend to be with you even when he knows you may not be around much. That doesn't sound like someone who doesn't understand how important your career is to you."

Elliott wiped at her tears as Satchel's words on the exact subject came back to her very clearly. "Elle, when have I ever made any demands of you?"

She sighed deeply and tried to push the painful memory away. "Why can't Satch see and understand that I'm trying to protect him?" she asked.

"Because he feels that over the past three years, well really nine, he's allowed you to control almost every aspect of your relationship, and he's shown and proven to you that he loves and supports you in whatever you choose to do. Now you're upset that things aren't going your way. He's ready to get married, Elle, regardless of the demands of your career. Surely you knew this was coming."

Elliott grumbled. "Maybe. But he still left. He decided. He didn't think that we were worth a fight, or worth the wait. I can't pretend, Mom, this really hurts. It's been twenty-four hours and I'm so angry with him, but I also miss him," she said as fresh tears began to fall again.

Olivia reached out and pulled her daughter into her arms. "I know, sweet pea, and I am so sorry."

Elliott wrapped her arms tighter around her mother, relishing in the strength and comfort she offered, until she fell asleep.

Elliott stirred ever so slightly, rolling from one side of the bed to the other, settling deeper against the plush pillows. Olivia tiptoed her way out of the room, closing the door gently behind her. When she returned to her office, she placed two phone calls. The first was to Thea Mondesire to make sure that Satchel was okay because he hadn't returned any of Elliott's calls or texts. After assuring Olivia that her son was safe in Virginia, the mothers discussed what had happened and agreed that even though they wanted to intervene and help, they would stay out of it and allow their adult children to work it out between themselves.

Olivia's second call was to her husband. She called his cell and he answered after the first ring.

"Hello, Livvie, I was just about to call you. Rowe and I were thinking about Pho for lunch, and we were wondering if you'd like to join us."

Olivia smiled. Fitz's firm had purchased new design software and their son was having a ball learning to use it, along with the design engineers. He'd been going into the office with his dad every day until the swim classes at the Southeast D.C. recreation center, where he'd volunteered to teach, began.

"Thank you, babe, but I have to pass. Elle's here."

"What? Isn't she supposed to be going down to Cape St. Claire with her med school buddies?"

"I don't think that trip's going to happen. Satchel broke up with her after she turned down his proposal. She got here around nine, distraught. I managed to get her to tell me what happened before she cried herself to sleep."

Fitz sighed heavily. "Oh."

Olivia wasn't surprised by her husband's mild reaction, especially after the conversation they'd had. Two months ago, the young couple had come to D.C. for Sunday dinner at La Casa Grant. Fitz had observed Satchel's gaze following his daughter's every move. He knew that look. After dinner and dessert, Olivia and Elliott volunteered to clear the table and wash the dishes, while the twins and Rowe scattered.

"Mr. Grant, can we go outside and putt some balls?"

"Uh, sure," Fitz responded, surprised and caught off guard. He stood and pushed his chair beneath the table.

Returning to the dining room, Olivia glanced at her husband, and then her daughter's boyfriend. "What's going on?" she asked.

"Nothing, Livvie. Satch and I are just going out to the green and putt some balls."

Olivia lifted a brow. "Putt some balls?"

"Yes, putt some balls. We'll be out back," he said as he nodded at Satchel and left the room with the young man on his heels.

Elliott eased up next to her mother as they watched the men leave. "What was that about, Mom?"

"I don't know. But I'll find out before the night is over."

Elliott nodded but didn't say anything. She was also going to find out the reason for her father's and her boyfriend's sudden need to be alone, because everybody knew that Satchel hated all forms of golf.

Later…

Olivia stepped into her bedroom, and closed and locked the door. Fitz glanced up at his wife, glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, as she leaned against the door staring at him. She wore a sexy smile as their gazes connected. After all these years, she was still as beautiful as the day he met her, and he still couldn't keep his hands off of her.

Removing his glasses and shutting down his tablet, Fitz set them both on the night table. He patted the space beside him, a sly grin on his handsome face. "Come to bed, Livvie. I promise I won't bite…tonight."

Olivia let out a husky laugh. A sound Fitz never grew tired of hearing. His gaze took in her honey brown skin tone against the silky, dusty rose colored pajamas and matching robe that she wore, her freshly cleansed face, and her hair, pulled into a loose topknot on her head. Grinning, she removed her robe and tossed it on a chair before making her way toward him.

"Promises, promises, Mr. Grant," she said, laughing as she eased onto the bed next to her husband. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. 'God how she loved this man,' she thought.

"I've got more for you than promises, Mrs. Grant," Fitz responded as he put his arm around his wife's still tiny waist, pulling her closer. He nuzzled her neck, enjoying the scent of her skin."You smell delicious, by the way," he said.

"Stop it, Fitz," Olivia said playfully, moving out of his embrace to run her fingers through his thick blonde and mostly gray hair.

"Before you get carried away, tell me why you and Satchel were huddled together on the putting green when we all know it's his least favorite thing to do."

Fitz and Satchel had had many heart to heart talks over the years, and sometimes he shared what was discussed with his wife; but sometimes what was said needed to remain just between the men. On this occasion though, he saw no need to withhold anything from his wife.

He gently took Olivia's hand kissed her palm. "We talked about him and our daughter."

Olivia pulled back the covers and got beneath them. She settled against the mound of pillows and got comfortable. "So what did Satchel have to say about him and our daughter?"

"Well apparently he's ready for the next step in their years-long relationship. He bought an engagement ring."

Excited, Olivia sat straight up from her reclined position. "What?! Oh my! I knew it! I knew it! Did you see the way he was looking at her throughout dinner? This is great news!"

Fitz laughed at his wife's antics. "Calm down, Livvie. Don't go pushing them down the aisle just yet. He hasn't decided when he's going to propose."

"Oh, I'm not. But marriage seems like the next logical step for them. They appear to have grown closer lately, if that's possible. He's started his career, and she has one more year of medical school. I know she wants to finish school first before she makes any commitments, especially one as big as marriage. But just because he proposes doesn't mean they have to get married right away."

"That's true," he replied, his voice trailing off.

Olivia looked at her husband closely. "You don't seem excited. What's wrong, Fitz? What else did you two talk about?"

Fitz pulled his wife back into his arms and squeezed, before kissing her hair. "I have to admit that I wasn't surprised that he'd purchased a ring. Like you, I saw them headed in that direction months ago. I 'was' surprised, however, when he told me that our daughter informed him, on more than one occasion, that her daddy said, 'Any boy who wants to marry my daughter better come to me first if he knows what's good for him.'" He said the last part in Elliott's voice before breaking out into loud laughter.

Olivia laughed along with her husband, remembering him saying those exact words in private not long after they'd officially announced their engagement at her parent's summer home. He'd actually spoken to Eli Pope before he proposed, at the insistence of his grandfather, Senior Grant. He felt it was old fashioned, but once he and Eli had that conversation, he was glad he'd done it. Over the years he'd repeated those words to his daughter, and apparently she'd taken them to heart.

"So, he more or less asked for her hand in marriage. We also talked about his hopes, dreams, fears, and the level of commitment and work it takes to have a successful marriage. I told him that too many people think that their marriage is going to be perfect, somehow, with two imperfect people involved. If you don't put in the work, it will not last. Every day you make the choice to keep choosing your partner."

Fitz looked down at his wife's upturned face and smiled before kissing her lips.

"He's ready, Livvie. I just wish I could say the same about our daughter."

Olivia sat up abruptly and looked at her husband as if he'd grown another head. "What?! Why would you say something like that, Fitz? I can't beli-"

He raised his hand to cut her off. "Just hear me out, Livvie."

She nodded and folded her arms across her chest. "Okay, talk."

Fitz sighed heavily, sat up further, and turned to face his wife. "Last year, when we were all in New York for Nola and Ahmad's engagement party, I got a feeling. You were off with Gisele, Nicole, Bebe and Abby, and Elle, Satch, Ford and I were watching the couple on the dance floor, and it was something she said."

One year ago, New York City…

"Doesn't Nola look beautiful? She's glowing," Elliott said, as she watched her cousin and her fiancé.

"You'll be next," Ford said, smiling at his beautiful niece, and winking at Satchel.

Elliott frowned, and shook her head. "Oh no, nope, I'm good," she said. "Marriage at this point in my career is just a set-up for broken expectations. Satch and I are good just the way we are. Right, Satch?" She turned and smiled at her boyfriend, before turning back to the couple on the dance floor.

Satchel noticed Fitz's as well as Ford's eyes on him. They were filled with curiosity, and he could read the questions running through both their minds. He put an arm around her waist and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Yeah, we're good," he said, lying through his teeth and feeling uncomfortable because he was not a man to tell untruths. The last time he had, it had almost cost him the woman sitting next to him. They were sixteen and Elliott's mother had walked in on them practically naked, in the Grant's pool house. He'd never lied again.

'Marriage is just a set-up for broken expectations.' His girlfriend's words had played in his head over the course of the entire weekend. It was the first time in eight years that he questioned if Elliott Grant really wanted to be his wife.

"She said that?" Olivia asked, incredulously.

Fitz nodded. "Yes, she did."

"Well what did Satchel say?" she asked, lowering her hands to her lap.

"He didn't 'say' anything, but the look in his eyes and his body language told the story. It was obvious that he didn't agree with what Elle had said. I think he was surprised."

Olivia shook her head, still in shock. "Where did that line of thinking come from?" she asked. "I mean she has great examples, and she knows that being married to medicine can work. She's watched her grandparents, Cis and Aug, Abby and Ryan, and many more. They all married while in medical school or during residency and things worked out fine. I mean no marriage, regardless of career choices, is perfect."

Fitz nodded absently, agreeing with his wife. They'd had their challenges during their almost twenty year marriage but they loved each other more than anything, and nothing could possibly come between them.

"Well apparently they've worked through whatever doubts she had, because he's purchased a ring. At least I hope so. Otherwise, this could end in disaster, Fitz," Olivia said, looking at her husband.

Pulling his wife onto his chest, and into his arms, Fitz kissed her forehead. "I hope so too. But I want Elle to be ready to take this step. I don't want her to rush into marriage because of something they agreed to years ago. Situations change. People change. And marriage is a huge responsibility, and should never be taken lightly."

Snuggling against her husband's chest, Olivia spoke with confidence regarding their daughter. "Trust me babe, Elle will say 'yes.' I have faith that she's grown since last year."

Fitz kissed his wife's forehead again. "Well I hope she makes the best decision for her and Satch," he said as he began to trail kisses along the column of her neck, and his hands moved to the buttons of her pajama top. "Now, enough about our daughter and her boyfriend, I'm ready to make good on that promise," he said between kisses, and his wife couldn't have agreed more.

Present…

Apparently their daughter hadn't changed her mind regarding marriage, but what Fitz and Olivia hadn't expected was Satchel walking out.

"This appears to be a bad break-up, Fitz," she said.

Fitz frowned deeply on the other end. "How is she?"

Olivia sighed deeply. "She's not handling it well at all. It's only going to get more emotional, very ugly and very real. I mean we're talking about a nine year relationship ending. But we'll be here for her, right?"

"Of course we will. But we're also going allow them to work this out on their own. Okay?"

"Absolutely. Thea and I have agreed to stay out of it unless they ask for our help or advice."

"Agreed. Do you need me to come home?"

"No. I have work to do, and the house is quiet. Elle's asleep, and Max, Spence and Sloaney are out with Mela and their friends. Enjoy your lunch with my baby."

Fitz laughed. "Your 'baby' is taller than you, Livvie."

Olivia laughed, nodding her head. "Doesn't matter, he's still my baby."

"Okay, okay," he said. "Talk to you later. I love you."

"I love you too, babe," she replied before ending the call.

Later that evening…

"Elliott. Elle. Sweet pea. Wake-up."

Elliott grunted in her sleep as she heard her mother's voice and felt her hand gently shaking her shoulder. She shook her head and snuggled deeper beneath the comforter. "Not yet, Mom," she mumbled, desperately hoping to fall back asleep where there was nothing but her dreams.

"You have to eat something, sweet pea. I can bring it up to you if you'd like, but I think you should eat."

Olivia shook Elliott's shoulder again causing her to kick away the comforter and flop over onto her back. Her mother sat looking at her with such love and concern, that her annoyance quickly faded away.

"Mom, please let me sleep," she pleaded. "I'm okay, just exhausted."

Olivia looked at her child for a few seconds before she nodded and leaned over and placed a kiss on her brow. "Okay, sleep tight," she whispered, before standing from the bed and exiting the room.

Tuesday morning…

Elliott felt the sun beaming through the windows down on her face. She wasn't ready to face another day of heartache. Grunting, she turned onto her side and pressed her face into the pillow. She stared at nothing and soon the tears welled up and grief lulled her back to sleep.

Later that morning…

Elliott attempted to roll over but the covers on the bed restricted her movement. She raised her head a little and saw the reason why. Her sisters were sitting at the foot of the bed with their backs to her, talking quietly to each other. Elliott lowered her head back to the pillow.

"I still can't believe Elle and Satch broke up," Max said, disbelief in her voice.

"Well I want to find him right now, so he can tell us what happened. He hurt our sister and broke her heart, he needs to pay," Spencer ranted.

"Calm down, Spence, and stop being so hot headed. You won't be doing a thing to help Elli by getting in Satch's face," Maxwell responded.

"Well, somebody needs to get in his face and set him straight. My sister shouldn't be sleeping and crying all day because of what he did."

"Spencer Grace…" Maxwell calmly warned with a raised eyebrow.

Spencer rolled her eyes at her sister in response.

"I just wish there was something we could do to cheer her up," Sloane said, trying to diffuse the argument that was brewing between her sisters.

Elliott smiled against the pillow and snuggled deeper beneath the covers, where the weight of her three sisters was comforting. Moments later, she fell back into a deep sleep.

Tuesday afternoon…

Elliott awakened suddenly and raised her head from the pillow. The sun was bright and she glanced at the clock on the night table. Four-thirty. She let out a deep sigh, flung the covers away from her body and turned over to lie on her back, still dressed in the shorts and tee she'd managed to change into the day before. Sitting up, she pulled her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. She yawned as she looked around her old bedroom. After a few minutes, nature called, and she left the bed to go to the en suite bathroom.

When she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel, clean but still heartbroken, she found the triplets sitting on the made-up bed watching television.

"Hey Elli Belly, are you hungry? Do you want or need anything?" Maxwell asked.

"No thank you, Maxie."

"Are you sure? You haven't eaten anything. You should probably eat something," Sloane said, concern on her face.

Elliott smiled and shook her head. "Guys I really don't need anything, I'm fine," she said before turning and walking into the closet for clean underwear, shorts and another tee. They didn't say anything, but she could feel their concerned gazes as she turned and walked away. When she walked out of the closet a few minutes later, they were still watching, worried.

"What?" she asked.

Maxwell patted the space in front of her on the bed, holding up a detangling brush. "Sit down and I'll brush and braid your hair."

Elliott hesitated.

"Come on, Elli, sit with us," Sloane said softly.

Her sister's request had her relenting and she joined the triplets on the queen sized bed.

"Here, Miss Bea left it when she came in and changed the linen on the bed while you were in the shower," Sloane said, offering her a mug.

"What's in it?" Elliott asked, looking into the mug.

"Chamomile tea, but I think she added a shot of Daddy's bourbon," Spencer said with a chuckle.

"I think I'll pass," she said, handing the mug back to Sloane, who placed it on the night table before getting comfortable again.

"Everything really is going to be okay, Elli" Sloane said.

Elliott wanted to ask, 'when?' but instead she reached out and rubbed her sweet sister's knee. "Thank you, Sloaney."

Spencer took Elliott's hand, while Sloane laid her head on her twin's shoulder as they watched Maxwell brush the tangles out of their sister's wet hair before braiding the thick tresses into a neat French braid.

With Maxwell's soothing hands and the quietness of the room, exhaustion was winning and Elliott was losing the fight to keep her eyes open.

"Hey! Nobody invited me to this sibling meeting!"

"Shhh," the triplets said to their brother, who stood in the door of the bedroom.

"Rowe, be quiet! Can't you see Elli's asleep?"

Spencer's scolding their brother pulled Elliott back into full consciousness.

"Hey, Rowe, when did you get home?" she asked.

"Ten minutes ago. Dad and I stopped and picked up your favorites from DeCarlos for dinner. He said you need to eat."

Rowe walked across the room and climbed onto the bed, squeezing between Spencer and Maxwell, which of course didn't sit well with Spencer.

"Dang, Rowe," she said, moving over to give him more space. "Why are you here anyway?" Spencer asked in an annoyed tone.

"Because I'm the baby of this family and I get to snuggle with my sisters whenever I want."

Elliott smiled at the sound of those two fussing. One would think that they didn't love each another. It also brought back memories of happier and simpler times, when they were always going at it. She remembered when Spencer had teased Rowe telling him that he was an 'oops baby' and proof that their father's soldiers were still working. He had gone running and crying to their parents asking if he was an 'oops baby.' Fitz and Olivia had looked at one another trying to suppress their laughter because it was true. He wasn't planned but he was definitely wanted, and deeply loved. Spencer had earned a week in her room without her phone for that one. Elliott chuckled to herself.

"So are we still mad at Satch for breaking up with our sister and ghosting her, or what?" he asked, which earned him a light pop on the head from Maxwell.

"Ouch!"

"Boy, that did not hurt," Maxwell said, laughing at his theatrics.

They laughed but they all knew he was serious about being angry with Satch. Rowe may have been the baby of the family, and he loved Satch like a brother, but when it came to his sisters, he was very protective. At fifteen, he was taller than his four sisters and his mother, and always felt the need to look out for them, like his father.

For the next fifteen minutes, the siblings talked quietly and laughed at Rowe, the budding comedian's jokes. Elliott, touched by her sibling's efforts to cheer her up, couldn't stop the flow of tears.

"We're out of Kleenex," Maxwell said, holding up the empty box.

"Rowe can go and get another box," Spencer volunteered.

"Why do I have to do it?" he asked.

"Because you're the baby," Spencer answered sarcastically.

"Well I don't have to-"

"You know, Anika Powell asked about you today," Spencer said, cutting him off.

"The new head cheerleader?" he asked, his blue eyes wide. "Anika who will be a senior this fall?"

Spencer nodded. "Yes, that Anika."

"What'd she way? What'd she say?" he asked excitedly, unable to keep still, and a huge smile covering his handsome face.

"She asked where you got your gorgeous eyes," Spencer said casually.

"What else did she say?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Spencer held up the empty box. "Go and get the Kleenex and I'll tell you when you come back."

Rowe quickly scooted off the bed. "I'll be right back," he said before disappearing.

The sisters watched as he ran from the room.

"Did Anika really ask about Rowe's eyes?" Maxwell asked.

"No," Spencer said, without a hint of remorse.

There was a brief moment of silence before they broke into hysterical laughter, Elliott included.

They all knew their brother loved the ladies and the ladies loved him. He practically had to fight the girls off. At one time it was so bad that Fitz and Olivia had put restrictions on the days and times girls could call him. Fitz had gotten so annoyed with the constant ping of text messages that he'd threatened to take his phone away. Rowe considered that a bit dramatic. It wasn't his fault that the ladies thought he was "cute." They kept blowing up his cell phone not vice versa. They wanted his attention and who was he to deny them. He felt his parents needed to lighten up.

"That's cruel, Spencer," Sloane, always her little brother's protector, said.

"Maybe, but he's getting the Kleenex isn't he?"

The sisters continued to talk, well mainly the triplets, Elliott just listened, with her head resting on Maxwell's shoulder. That's how Fitz found his daughters, huddled together on the bed. He hadn't seen them looking this sad since the day they'd had to put Spaniel Day Lewis down. His children and his wife had been nearly inconsolable.

He knocked briefly before walking into the room, carrying a box of Kleenex.

"Hello, ladybugs."

"Hi, Daddy," the triplets said at once, while Elliott gave him a sad smile.

"Where's Rowe?" Spencer asked. "He left to get the tissue."

Fitz chuckled, holding up the box. "He's downstairs on his phone with Hayes III telling him about a cheerleader named Anika, who's also a senior, and who asked about him," he said, shaking his head.

Maxwell and Sloane glared at Spencer who appeared nonchalant at what their father had just said.

"I'll tell him later," she said with a shrug.

Fitz had been father to four daughters long enough to know not to ask what was going on. He'd eventually find out anyway.

"Mom just called, she's about ten minutes out. We're going to sit down for dinner when she gets here." He looked at Elliott. "We got all of your favorites from DeCarlos, princess. You should come down and try to eat something." When she didn't respond, he looked at the triplets. "Why don't you three go and wash up," he said.

"Okay," they said before each kissing their sister's cheek and leaving the room.

Elliott flopped back onto the myriad of pillows, looking up at the ceiling. "Please don't, Daddy," she said, knowing he was going to ask her to come down to dinner, again. "I'm not hungry."

"You have to eat," Fitz said in a clipped voice.

"I know, just not right now. Okay?" she said impatiently.

Fitz wanted to say more as he watched his daughter turn over on her side, her back to him, trying to allow sleep to consume her again. He watched her for a full minute before walking over to night table and setting down the box. He walked back to the door and looked at her one last time before closing it and heading downstairs, and joining the rest of his family for dinner.

Wednesday morning…

"Elliott. Elle. It's time to wake up."

Awakened, she pulled the comforter over her head. Why won't they just leave me alone and let me sleep?

She finally removed the covers from her head and glanced across the room, looking directly into her father's face. He stood in the doorway wearing a crooked grin and holding a mug of something steaming hot in his hand.

"Good morning, princess," he said as he walked into the room.

"Good morning," she said, her voice still filled with sleep as she slowly accepted the mug he offered.

"Black coffee laced with chicory, just the way I like it," she said, pursing her lips to blow away the heat swirling up into her face.

"So, you are aware that you've slept for almost forty hours over two and a half days," Fitz said, his voice slightly amused.

Elliott nodded.

"And you haven't eaten anything," he said, raising his brows.

"I know," she said before taking a long sip.

"We gave you Monday and Tuesday but that's it," he said with a serious expression. "No more sleeping and no more moping. It's time to face the world."

She shook her head and tried to hand him the mug. "Daddy, I can't-"

He ignored it. "You can, you must and you will," he said in a no nonsense tone.

Fitz sat down on the bed. "Life can be cruel sometimes, Elle, but you can't let things snatch the life away from you. You take the hit on the chin, look for some great life lesson in it, and you move on to the next day and the next and the next…until one day it doesn't hurt as much anymore."

"This is a hard hit, Daddy," she said softly, glancing at him.

"I understand that, but you can't just stop living your life because of it."

"Satch hasn't called or texted me. It's been three days and I haven't heard a peep from him.

Fitz looked at his daughter. "Satch called, Elle."

Elliott's head snapped up. "What?!"

He nodded. "He's been trying to call and text you, but hasn't gotten an answer."

Elliott shook her head. "No he has-." She suddenly placed the mug on the night table and began to feel around for her phone. She found it shoved beneath the pillows. It was dead. "I need to charge it. What did he say?"

"He wanted to check on you and to let you know that he was okay. He also wanted to tell you that he was offered the project in Pasadena, and he accepted."

Elliott was speechless. Satch had made that decision without discussing it with her. As if her opinion didn't matter anymore.

Fitz wasn't going to allow her to dwell on that for long. "You can call him later," he said, before standing from the bed. "But right now I want you to get up from this bed, shower, dress and meet me in the kitchen," he said and smiled.

Elliott ran a hand over her face and yawned. "I'm not hungry," she said, but her stomach chose that moment to disagree and gave a loud growl.

"Your stomach begs to differ," Fitz said laughing. "I'll see you downstairs." He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Elliott finished her coffee and set the empty mug on the night table. She climbed from the bed and went to retrieve her charger, and then went to the bathroom to shower and begin her day.

Elliott walked into the kitchen thirty minutes later, wearing Maxwell's jeans and tank top, and her mother's cotton cardigan. Her curly hair was held off of her freshly scrubbed face like a lion's mane with a headband. Fitz looked up from mixing batter and grinned at her. "You look much better," he said.

She returned his grin. "Thank you. Where is everybody?" she asked as she placed her empty mug in the sink.

He stopped stirring. "Let's see, mom went into the office for a few hours and your sisters and brother went to orientation for the swim classes they'll be teaching. So it's just you and me, kid," he said before picking up the bowl again. "Have a seat," he said motioning with his head towards the chairs at the island.

She took a seat. "What are you making?"

"Waffles," he answered, turning to smile at her.

"My favorite."

"I know. When you were a little girl, waffles would always make everything better."

"Waffles with strawberries and whipped cream," she added.

He nodded. "Yep. The first time I ever made breakfast for you and your mother, I made waffles."

"Really?" she asked, her big blue green eyes widening.

"Yes. It was the morning after the day I met you for the first time."

Elliott knew the entire story about why she hadn't met her father until she was four years old. She'd been seventeen when she'd casually asked why he wasn't any pictures with her when she was a baby, and her parents decided to tell her the whole truth. She'd had many questions and had confronted her uncle about what he'd done. He'd apologized profusely to his beloved niece, begging for forgiveness, and their close relationship had been tested. But Ford had put in the work to repair the damage and restore Elliott's trust, and they were getting back to where they were.

She covered her face with her hands, touched by his words. Her emotions were all over the place since Sunday. One minute it was tears and pity, and the next, it was anger and indignation.

"Shit," she swore.

"Elliott," her father said, his tone letting her know that he didn't appreciate the profanity.

She dropped her hands and looked at him. "Sorry."

"It's okay," he said as he poured batter into the waffle iron.

She looked at him and bit her bottom lip, tears filling her eyes. "I just don't understand how he could go from wanting to marry me three days ago, to wanting nothing to do with me. Who does that?" she asked, with a sad laugh.

"So Satch proposed," he said, checking to make sure the waffle edges were crispy, just the way she liked them.

Elliott nodded. "Yes. And I turned him down."

"Your mother told me what happened after that."

"Daddy, why can't he understand that I'm just trying to protect our relationship? I don't want us to end up like some of my classmates, collapsing under the stress and time restraints of my career. It can take an emotional toll on the relationship. But, if I had said to 'yes,' we'd still be together."

Elliott stood and went to retrieve plates, flatware and glasses, and set two places at the island.

"If you and Satch don't want the same end result for your relationship then maybe it's best that you both go your separate ways now, instead of later, Elle." Fitz then turned and removed the platter of bacon from the warming drawer and set it on the island.

Satch's words replayed in her head. If this doesn't lead to marriage and a lifetime together with our babies, then what are we doing, Elle?

She nodded. "I've had three days to agree with that."

"But?" Fitz asked, placing the golden brown waffles, with crispy edges, along with strawberries, whipped cream and fresh squeezed orange juice on the island, before taking a seat next to his daughter, and pouring them each a mug of coffee from a carafe.

"But I love him and I want to marry him, Daddy. I've had time to think about my life, what it's been so far and what it could be married to Satch. I just can't bear the thought of losing him." She took a bite of bacon and they both chewed in silence.

"Why didn't he stick around and talk to me?"

Fitz finished chewing before he answered, truthfully. "You bruised his ego, Elle."

"What?! What about my bruised heart? He just left and didn't look back. It was easier to leave than to stay and talk to me."

"Elle, when your mother and I ran into each other in L.A., we thought that it was going to be temporary and we were just going to hang out and have fun for three months. When she finished her case, she would return D.C., no strings attached. I wanted more, of course. I was in love with her and wanted to marry her. She was afraid and wasn't ready for a serious relationship. But I knew she was in love with me, and I wanted to give her the time and space she needed to admit it to herself. I figured she'd eventually come around."

Fitz took a sip of coffee before he continued. "When she didn't, I decided to leave the country to keep my mind off of her, and to stay busy. Of course I still thought about her my every waking moment. If my pride hadn't been hurt and in the way, I would've called her and told her how I really felt. But I was still angry at her for turning her back on what we could've had. Also, if I had just reached out to her before leaving for Asia, I would have known that you were on the way." He looked at his daughter and smiled sadly. "I understand why Satch feels he needs to leave, Elle. He's hurting, and putting some space between the two of you is what's helping him through it right now."

"So I need to give him space?"

Fitz was quiet for a few seconds before he answered. "Elle, your mother and I are staying out of this, but I have to ask, is that really what you want to do? Give him space?"

She shook her head slowly.

"Then you should probably call him so the two of you can really talk…and listen," he said, with a serious look on his face.

Elliott leaned her head on her father's shoulder and sighed. "I know. I'll call him when I finish eating, because right now, I'm starving!"

Fitz laughed and patted her knee, before piling more food on her plate. "Now that's my girl."