A/N: Thanks for your feedback about the chapter length and posting frequency. I'm still undecided about my strategy, but this chapter and the next will be longer. There is a lot that I have planned for our favorite couple for their day together in Boston and at the Merkles' ball and I didn't want to drag it out over more than three chapters. Below is the second of three chapters planned for their day together. I hope you enjoy!
After a quick pit stop at Copley Place to find a more suitable outfit - True Religion ripped skinny jeans with a navy tank top and red Gucci high top sneakers - for Olivia, the pair were headed to Fenway Park. Instead of being dropped off at the ballpark, Olivia requested that John drop them off at Kenmore Square so they could join the crowd and walk the rest of the distance. Fitz thought the request was odd, but she explained the walk was an important part of her pre-game tradition.
It only took him a few moments among the crowd to understand why. There was a low, pulsing hum of excitement and expectation in the air. Fitz scanned the crowd, the team's red, white, and blue adorned fans chatting amicably with each other and heckling the occasional Yankees' fan. He watched Olivia as she blended in seamlessly with those around her, at times interacting with her fellow fans, but mostly walking quietly, taking in the moment. The closer they got to the entrance, the more she relaxed, her guarded demeanor from the past few days slipping away. These were her people. She was finally home. Fitz didn't know what the day would bring, but he was hopeful she would continue to relax and allow herself to be more fully seen.
Olivia led Fitz to will call to collect their tickets. As they approached the window, he grew a little nervous. He took all possible precaution to ensure he hadn't been scammed, but the short timeframe and the splashy way they attracted attention to his offer worried him. He released a huge sigh of relief when he was handed the two tickets. Olivia, sensing Fitz's reaction, turned to him and asked, "Everything OK?"
"Everything's fine. Better than that, everything's perfect. Where to?" Olivia reached out and tried to grab the tickets from his hand. Fitz quickly moved his hand and the tickets out of her reach. "What do you think you're doing?"
"You asked where to. I need to know which luxury box we're crashing to map out our route."
"Nice try. Let me worry about our seats. I believe you owe me a hat and I assume you plan to wear a jersey over that tank."
"I thought I was supposed to put my wallet away for the rest of the trip," Olivia teased.
"No one said you were paying for anything. Now, lead the way woman," he said, lightly tickling her side. "We have jerseys to buy."
Olivia giggled softly, leaning into Fitz before pulling away. "It's a bit of a tourist trap and ridiculously overpriced, but I know just the place," she said, wrapping her arm around his waist and leading him through the crowd.
Fitz looked down at her and smiled. Without her heels, she barely reached his shoulders, yet her presence consumed his conscious. He was acutely aware of every breath she drew, every sound she made, and every slight movement she took. Fitz slowly slid his hand down her spine, the tank's thin material doing little to shield him from her skin's burning heat. He paused briefly when he reached the waistband of her jeans before pressing forward, sliding his hand over her ass and into her left back pocket. Olivia shot him a look questioning his action, but made no effort to remove his hand.
Olivia stopped in front of the Red Sox Team Store on Yawkey Way. "Anything and everything you ever wanted with Sox logo can be purchased here. Come," she said dragging him inside.
Once inside, Olivia moved quickly and efficiently, purchasing a white home Betts jersey for herself, a scarlet Ortiz jersey for him, and a navy new era fitted cap for him with his credit card. Fitz scanned the space for a place to change. "There's no fitting room," Olivia said as she pulled her jersey on over her tank. "You can change in here or out there," she said, gesturing to the crowded street outside the store. "Unless you want to create a scene, I recommend changing in here where I will be the only woman shamelessly ogling you."
Fitz pulled his polo over his head, revealing his chiseled chest and abdomen. Olivia stifled a moan, imagining what it would be like to be trapped beneath him, his delicious weight pinning her to the mattress as he slowly thrusted inside her. The sound of Fitz's laughter brought her back to reality. "I thought you were kidding about the shameless ogling."
"Not ogling, just checking to make sure breakfast didn't do any lasting damage. I wouldn't want to be responsible for ruining one of Miami's most eligible bachelors."
Fitz chuckled, putting on the jersey, it wasn't breakfast that threatened to ruin him for other women, it was her. "Everything you hoped it would be?" he asked, tucking his hair under his cap. Olivia didn't think it was possible, but Fitz looked better standing in front of her than she'd fantasized he would. All hints of the detached businessman were erased, replaced with a gently aging jock that oozed sex and swagger. There was a quiet confidence about him that she found hard to resist.
"And more," she replied. She reached out and tucked a stray curl above his ear under the edge of his hat, her fingers continued to the nape of his neck as she debated the idea of kissing him. They'd grown comfortable with each other over the past few days and that increased the intimacy between them. Olivia rationalized to herself that allowing this intimacy, even in private, was all part of playing the role of Fitz's fiancée, a role she and Jake understood would require some physical exchanges. But, could she justify kissing him now, when there was no reason for the pretense?
Fitz could tell she was fighting the urge to kiss him. He'd hoped this moment, the moment when she would reveal her true desires. Yes, he knew she was married, but that was a small obstacle for them to overcome if she was willing. There were no kids, pets or complicated financial entanglements. All that bound her to her husband was love and commitment. If she began to question the love, how long would it take her to breech their commitment?
From the tension in her body and her labored breathing, he knew she only needed one little push, permission to act on her feelings, but he couldn't be the one to give it to her. This decision had to be hers and hers alone, otherwise the doubt and the guilt would cripple any progress they made. Any action she took had to be undoubtedly what she wanted and not what he seduced her into doing. Therefore, instead of leaning forward and fusing their lips, he remained stock, silently willing her to act.
Olivia stood there, paralyzed by indecision. She could give into the moment, step forward, and kiss Fitz; exploring what could have been if things had gone differently that night fifteen years ago. Nevertheless, things hadn't gone differently that night or any subsequent night before she married Jake. She made a commitment to Jake, a commitment she reaffirmed before leaving with Fitz. What did it say about her marriage that she was questioning her commitment after spending three and a half days with Fitz? She was enjoying being part of Fitz's world, but she couldn't lose sight of her reality. At the end of the day, she was married to another man, a man that she claimed to love deeply. This thing with Fitz, whatever it was, wasn't real and it didn't have a future. Ignoring her libido, she took a step backwards, exhaling deeply, and asked, "Where to next?"
Fitz, trying to hide his disappointment, replied cheerfully, "I believe we need beer and hot dogs."
"They will bring those to you in the luxury box. Shall we head that way?"
"Lead the way."
Olivia led them into ballpark. "You know…I would be a better tour guide if I knew where I was supposed to be leading you."
Fitz smiled and said, "You're right. I'll take it from here," leading her in the direction of left field. They passed the seats behind home plate and continued walking past the sections along the third baseline.
After they passed the best of the third baseline seats and the last entry that led to the luxury seats, Olivia turned to Fitz and asked, "Are you sure you know where you're going?"
"I'm sure," Fitz replied, ignoring the tone in Olivia's voice.
Olivia continued walking, losing confidence in him with every step. "Fitz, we're running out of options. The only thing ahead is the Green Monster…." Olivia squealed and spontaneously jumped into his arms, peppering Fitz's face with small, light kisses. He was unprepared for Olivia's unguarded reaction, but recovered quickly, catching her easily. "We have Monster Seats for a Yankees game," she squealed. "How? These tickets are impossible to get."
"Nothing is impossible with the proper motivation, and you my dear," he paused, pecking her lips, "could inspire a man to routinely achieve the impossible. Are you ready to head up to our seats?" Olivia nodded her head excitedly. Fitz grabbed her gently by the waist and eased her down to the ground.
The pair made their way up the steps, got their hands stamped for the Monster Seat section, crossed the connecting bridge, and found their way to Section M1, where a pair of the most coveted seats in baseball waited for them. Fitz watched as Olivia's eyes grew wide as she took in her surroundings. "You've never been up here?" he asked.
"No, I've always wanted to, but could never justify the extravagance," she said shyly.
Fitz used his index finger to lift Olivia's chin, forcing her to look at him. "Hey," he said softly, "don't shrink away from me. There's no reason to feel insecure. I understand."
"No, you don't," she countered.
Fitz smiled shyly. "I'm the first generation of Grants to be born into wealth. My grandfather and father instilled in me the importance and value of hard work. While I can't completely put myself in your shoes, I understand. It's, in part, why we're here. You deserve to be spoiled, to have your every desire indulged. Although you're a huge pain in the ass about surprises, I'm honored that you've given me the opportunity to do so."
Suddenly overcome with guilt by how easy it was to forget about Jake when she was in the moment with Fitz, Olivia lifted her chin off his finger and looked away from him. Not fifteen minutes ago, she was pulling away from him only to be sucked right back in by his unrelenting devotion. "We should find our seats," she mumbled, nervously fidgeting with her engagement ring.
"Please don't do this?" he pleaded.
"Do what?" she asked, her eyes searching his for answers.
"Retreat back inside yourself. Just stay here, with me, in the moment."
Olivia smiled, her eyes softening. She intertwined her fingers with his, bringing his knuckles to her lips. "We should find our seats," she said in a strong, clear voice, waiting for him to lead the way.
Fitz led her the short distance to their seats, two green swivel stools in front of a long countertop that stretched the length of the row. Olivia sat in her seat, twisting from side to side like a young girl. "I thought the view of Fenway from the helicopter was impressive, but it doesn't compare to this. The entire ballpark is in front of us. We are on the second row, but you can't see the people in front of or behind us. It feels like a private viewing just for us," she gushed.
"I was worried you would be disappointed. That you would prefer to be closer to the action."
"Disappointed? We are literally sitting on a piece of baseball history. This is one of the best seats at Fenway and God only knows what you had to do to get these tickets. There is not a single disappointing thing about being here with you," she said, taking out her phone to capture a photograph of the panoramic view.
"Here, give me your phone," Fitz instructed. "I'll take a couple of you with the ballpark in the background," he said, reaching for her phone. He took a couple of pictures, discreetly sending his favorite to his phone, before returning her phone. "Now, a selfie of the two of us with my phone?" he asked. "I promise not to post it." Olivia agreed easily, posing behind a seated Fitz, her face pressed beside his and her arms draped around his shoulders.
"Let me see it," she said, taking the phone from his hand. It was one of those photos you saw on a couples' wedding website. They appeared undeniably happy, both looking as much at each other as the camera, smiling brightly, their eyes twinkling with excitement. They looked like a couple crazy in love, their only priority being each other, everything else an irrelevant distraction. Olivia mused at how the camera had captured so much of what she was feeling. She wasn't in love with Fitz, but he did make her ridiculously happy and, at the moment, that seemed to be his only concern.
Olivia handed the phone back to Fitz. "Do you want me to send it to you?" he asked.
"No," she replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. "I'm already ducking Jake's calls. If he knew I was spending the day with you in Boston, it would just make him crazy."
Fitz was surprised and excited by this revelation, but resisted the urge to gloat. "You can take his call. When I said I wanted to spend uninterrupted time with you, I didn't intend for you to ignore him.
"I know. I'm just not ready to talk to him. I'm not ready to talk to anyone. I just want to be here with you and enjoy the game. Is that OK?"
"Of course," he said, pulling her into a side hug and kissing her temple. "I'm willing to do anything you need me to do. I'm going to get our hot dogs and beers -"
"Fenway Franks," she interrupted.
"What?"
"The hot dogs here are Fenway Franks. Don't want you sounding like a tourist."
"Fenway Franks got it. Anything else I should be aware of?"
"Peanuts. We need a bag of peanuts." Fitz raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "I'll explain when you get back."
Fitz returned a few moments later, his arms loaded down with his concession stand loot. "OK, spill, what's the story with the peanuts?"
"My father, in a moment of brilliance, decided to celebrate our family's return to Boston by dragging my mother and I to a game at Fenway before all of our boxes were unpacked. He was a lifelong Sox fan and often described the time we spent in New York as the dark years, my birth being the only bright spot. Well, as you can imagine, he and my mom had their hands full trying to entertain a bored, hot, and cranky four year old in the crowded bleacher seats."
"By the seventh inning stretch, my mother was done and insisted we leave. My father refused to consider it. My mother threw a diva fit and left me alone with my father. My father, a stubborn man on a good day, was determined not to let my mother's tantrum ruin his day, but had no idea how to keep me quiet so he could enjoy the game. Then, as luck would have it, a peanut vendor came through our section. My father bought me a bag and showed me how to shell a peanut, eat the nuts, and throw the shell on the ground. I was a little girl and the idea of throwing my trash on the ground excited me. When my mother returned at the top of the ninth inning, I was gleefully seated beside my father quietly shelling peanuts and throwing the shells on the ground."
"That was the start of a new family tradition. My dad and I would attend at least one game a year, always in the bleacher seats, and, when I got antsy, he would buy me peanuts. Eventually I learned to love the game as much as he did, but ballpark peanuts were my first baseball love." Olivia smiled wistfully. "Attending the Red Sox games together was the only family tradition that didn't die with my mom. Even after my father died, I made a point to attend one game each season for years."
"Why did you stop?" he asked.
"I don't know," Olivia said with a shrug. "I guess life got in the way. Jakes hates baseball, he thinks it's boring, so he didn't want to join me and he wasn't thrilled with the idea of me traveling alone. Plus, he didn't understand why I wanted to do something that made me sad. Eventually it became more of a hassle than it was worth."
"Livvie," he said in a hushed voice. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know baseball makes you sad."
"Do I look sad to you?" she asked, smiling brightly. "I love baseball. It one of the many gifts my dad gave me. Do I miss my dad when I'm here? Of course, and sometimes that's painful, but I miss my parents all the time. If I never did anything that made me miss my parents, I wouldn't get out of bed. This ballpark and this city hold both good and painful memories for me. I'm thrilled to be back with you making more memories."
"Hopefully they'll be good memories," he said grinning devilishly.
Olivia shook her head. "I don't know what I'm going to do with you."
"You can do whatever you want with me," he said with a wink, openly flirting with her. Olivia's eyes raked over him as she bit her bottom lip, considering if he could deliver on his promise. Fitz used his thumb to pry her lip from between her teeth. "I warned you about that earlier today. I'll consider it an invitation the next time you do it."
Olivia's face flushed with arousal as her mind considered what type of lover he would be. She pictured them joined together, their hot, sweaty bodies writhing against each other. Would he be selfless, deriving his pleasure by coaxing orgasm after orgasm from her willing body, or would he be selfish, a one and done man, passing out and snoring loudly after he got his? Would he be warm and tender, rough and driven or a combination of the two? Did it matter as long as she was left satisfied? Was he the man that would fuck her the way she'd always fantasized about being taken, but could never work up the courage to express to Jake?
Olivia crossed her legs, squeezing her thighs together to quell the desire building within. "Drink your beer before it gets warm," she deflected. "The game is about to start."
Fitz looked at the field where both teams were leisurely running through their warm-up drills and didn't see any indication that they were ready to play. "How do you know?"
"They are introducing the Yankees' starting lineup."
"How do you know that?"
"We can't see the HD screens, but I can still hear the announcer. The fans are intentionally ignoring him because it's the Yankees."
Just as Olivia predicted, within a few minutes they were on their feet for the national anthem. Fitz took off his baseball cap and sat it on the counter in front of his seat. He leaned down and whispered to Olivia, "Do I have hat head?"
"I don't know why you care," Olivia said, reaching up and running her finger through his hair, fluffing up his curls. "I'm the only person paying attention to you."
"All the more reason to make sure I'm perfect," he whispered in her ear, the feel of his breath on her lobe giving her goosebumps. He placed his right hand over his heart and his left arm around her waist, holding her close as they sang along.
Olivia and Fitz remained standing, cheering loudly, as the Red Sox ran onto the field taking their defensive positions. Fitz laughed when Olivia booed loudly as Brett Gardner took his position in the batter's box. The umpire called "Play" and the game began.
Fitz enjoyed watching Olivia far more than he enjoyed the game. She was so alive when watching the game. Her rapid speech animated with wild hand gestures, she squirmed around in her seat when the Sox hitters fell behind in the count, celebrated wildly when her team scored, and heckled the umpire and the Yankees players. He watched as she paced around in a small circle behind their seats after Aaron Judge hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, causing her team to fall behind two runs. His favorite part was when she and the rest of the stadium stood and loudly sang Sweet Caroline in the eighth inning. Even in her playful state, he could tell she had a beautiful voice.
It was the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox were down five runs to three, and Olivia was a nervous wreck. She was seated in her chair, her knees drawn to her chest, her fingers splayed across her face partially obstructing her view. Fitz alternated his attention between the field and Olivia, who was living and dying with each pitch. After a Jackie Bradley Jr. single, strikeouts by Sandy Leon and Deven Marrero, and a Mookie Betts double; Dustin Pedroia was at bat. Aroldis Chapman's first pitch was a strike, causing Olivia to groan in agony, sinking lower in her seat. The second pitch had Olivia on her feet as the ball came directly at them, eventually sailing left of the foul pole for strike two. The third pitch was a wildly thrown ball. The fourth pitch had both Olivia and Fitz on their feet as they watched the ball fly in a horizontal arc in front of them as Pedroia homered into the bullpen.
Olivia, Fitz, and their fellow Red Sox nation compatriots cheered wildly, jumping around and high fiving each other. Olivia threw her small body in Fitz's arms, burying her face in his neck as he swung her around in celebratory circles. Fitz was snatched from his high when he felt dampness on his neck and Olivia's body shake in his arms. "Livvie?" he questioned in her ear, trying to separate their bodies so he could see her face. His efforts were thwarted as she held him closely, her body now wracked with sobs. Unsure what to do, Fitz held her tightly, whispering soothing words in her ear until she gradually calmed down.
When she finally released him, he helped her to her seat and gently wiped her tear-stained face. "Livvie, what's wrong?"
"My father would have loved everything about today, these seats, this game, that ending, you," she said, smiling sadly.
Fitz shook his head slowly. "He wouldn't have like me," he replied softly, for the first time feeling guilty about his actions.
Olivia contemplated his statement and weighed her response. "He wouldn't have been proud of how we came to be together this weekend, but he would have liked you. He would have like and respected any man that protected and cared for his baby girl the way you have these past few days."
"Your parents raised a remarkable young woman. Any man in my position would have done the same thing."
Olivia looked away from him, the intensity of his words too much for her to bear. "Not any man," she said softly.
Fitz studied her closely, trying to make sense of her last statement. He wanted to probe further, but he didn't want to risk upsetting her again. "Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said, slowly recovering from her emotional outburst. "In fact, I am delighted, one of the most thoughtful and generous men I know wore a Sox jersey and hat, drank beer and ate hot dogs, while he slummed it Monster Seats, where we watched Pedroia hit a three run walk-off homer to beat the Yankees. This is a day I'll never forget."
Fitz stood up and leaned over Olivia, kissing her on the crown of her head. "If you're okay, we should leave. We have one more stop to make before we head back to the Merkles'. Do you have any post-game rituals? Where do you want John to meet us?" he asked, pulling out his phone to text the driver.
"My dad and I used to go for ice cream after a win, or a loss, but, considering we've been indulging all day and one of us still has to squeeze herself into an evening gown, I think we should forgo that part of my game day ritual," she said, rising from her seat.
"Are you sure? I wouldn't want to bring any bad juju on the team because we didn't complete the full ritual."
Olivia laughed heartily. "Did you just use the phrase 'bad juju'?"
Fitz chuckled, "I did. This Red Sox Nation is serious stuff. I don't want to be responsible for damaging their lucky charm."
"Be careful," she warned. "You can't call a superstitious fan the Sox's lucky charm. It's too easy to convince myself that I have to attend all of the Yankees games or risk the Sox losing."
"Well, we don't want to risk the Sox losing. Sounds like we are just going to have to come back for the next game. Have you ever attended a game at Yankees Stadium? We could make a weekend of it, maybe even see Hamilton," he teased.
Olivia looked at Fitz curiously. He couldn't really be proposing that they spend another weekend together. Unwilling to ruin the moment, she simply said, "We'll see. Tell John to meet us at The Baseball Tavern."
"Lead the way, my lady," Fitz said, wrapping his arm around Olivia's waist as she navigated their way out of the ballpark.
Twenty minutes later, Fitz and Olivia were seated in the back of the Escalade. John turned around to face the couple. "Where to next?"
"83 Waverly Street, please."
"Are you sure, sir?" he asked, his discomfort obvious on his face.
"What's wrong John? I'm not familiar with that address. Where is it?" Olivia asked.
"Roxbury."
Olivia turned to Fitz, "What's at that address? Why do you want us to go there?"
"The next part of your surprise. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Do you know where that is?"
"No, I've never been. Why do you ask? Is that a dangerous area?"
John shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Most of Roxbury is fine, but the other parts are not somewhere you expect to find someone like you," she explained. "Are you sure that's where you want to go?"
"If I'm not putting you in danger, I'm sure. I may not know where I'm going, but I know what's waiting for us there and I know it's a good and safe thing."
"You heard the man," Olivia said. "Let's find out what waiting for us at 83 Waverly Street."
"As you wish, ma'am," John replied, directing the vehicle into traffic.
Fitz put his arm around her and she snuggled into his side trustingly, demonstrating that she had no doubt she was safe in his arms. He sat beside her, absentmindedly tracing circles on her shoulder, thinking how no other woman had ever fit so perfectly into his arms. How could she belong to someone else when she was so obviously made for him?
Fitz watched out the window as the neighborhoods transitioned from the posh and trendy houses of the upper class to the rundown and neglected homes of the working class. He knew he and Olivia were from different backgrounds and he wondered what her childhood neighborhood was like. He smiled as he pictured a young Olivia playing outside, a precious little girl with two ponytails jumping double dutch. How he wished he'd been the little boy that lived next door, the one with the huge crush on her, but couldn't express his feelings so he tormented her instead.
Before long, John pulled up in front of light blue and white twin house with peeling paint and a sagging porch. "We're here," he called out.
Olivia frowned as she studied the house. "Fitz, are you sure about this?"
"I'm sure," Fitz responded eagerly. He took off his baseball cap and repeatedly raked his fingers through his hair. "Am I presentable?"
Olivia eyed him suspiciously, tousling his hair, encouraging his curls to reshape. "Who lives here? Why are you acting so nervous? Who are you trying to impress?" Olivia peppered him with questions.
Ignoring Olivia's questions, he looked at his watch and instructed John, "I'll get Olivia's door. We should be here about an hour. I'll text you when we're ready." Fitz jumped out of the Escalade and escorted Olivia from the car and up the paved path to the front door. Olivia looked at him nervously. "It'll be okay, I promise. Now, ring the doorbell."
Olivia did as instructed and tentatively pressed the button with her index finger. When she heard the bell chime, she stepped in front of him, her body leaning against his for support. His hands slid around her waist and rested low on her hips. When Fitz heard approaching footsteps, he subtly stepped away from her, creating a respectable amount of space between them. Moments later, a middle-aged, heavyset black woman opened the front door. Olivia took one look at the woman and flung herself into her open arms, crying out, "Winnie," as they embraced.
He gave the two women a few minutes to greet each other before drawing their attention to him. When Olivia turned to look at him, he was surprised to find tears glistening in her eyes. His eyes locked on to hers and silently asking if everything was okay. Olivia blinked, causing a tear to fall, and nodded. Without thinking, Fitz reached out and wiped away her tear with the pad of his thumb. Olivia squeezed his hand tightly, reassuring him that everything was fine. Slightly self-conscious about Winnie witnessing her intimate exchange with Fitz, she suddenly turned to her and said, "Winnie, I'd like you to meet my friend -".
"Fitzgerald Grant," the woman interrupted, with a huge smile. "We've spoken on the phone, but it's good to put a face to the voice. Please, come in," she said in a think Boston accent, welcoming them into a modest-sized living room. The room decor was sparse - a sofa, side chair, coffee table, television, and a single floor lamp -, but the contents were neat, tidy, and obviously cared for. Olivia and Winnie were seated on the sofa, while Fitz opted for the side chair. "Can I get you something to drink? I would have cooked, but Fitzgerald -".
"Fitz, please, no one calls me Fitzgerald unless I'm in trouble," he interrupted, flashing her his trademark lopsided grin. He couldn't explain it, but he felt compelled to ensure Winnie approved of him, even if she didn't approve of their relationship if, and when, the details were revealed.
"As I was saying, I would have cooked but Fitz," she said, placing extra emphasis on his name, "explained that you are only in town for the day and have to be back in New York for a work function by seven o'clock. What time is your train?"
Fitz went to speak, but, before he could do so, Olivia cut him off, stating, "We need to be on the road in an hour. Now, tell me everything. This is not the address where I sent last year's Christmas card. How long have you lived here?"
"We moved in about six months ago. It is a fixer-upper, but it's ours and that's what matters most."
"Congratulations, Winnie," Olivia said, hugging the woman tightly. "I'm so happy for you. I know owning a home has been a dream of yours for a long time. I'll have to send you a housewarming gift when we return to Miami."
"You being here today is all the warming this old house needs."
"How are Chris, Keisha, and Kevin? How old are they now?"
"Chris is twenty-five. He and his girlfriend have a two year old son, Winston."
"Winnie, you're a grandmother?" Olivia asked excitedly. "Where are the photos?"
"I am," she said, smiling brightly, handing Olivia her phone so she could flip through the photos of her grandson. "I always thought you and Jake would be the first to make me a grandma," she said, her eyes darting between Fitz and Olivia, "but, I'm grateful they live nearby and I get to see him often."
"Jake and I talked about having kids, but the timing has never been right." Fitz's head snapped in Olivia's direction, anger flashing in his eyes at the thought of her stomach swollen with Jake's child. Olivia connected briefly with Fitz, the dark emotion in his glare causing her to shiver. She quickly looked away and continued, "After I graduated, we were so busy, giving one hundred and twenty percent to ensure the company succeeded. Then, when we weren't able to save it, we both needed to focus on our individual careers."
"You finally took the Bar?" Winnie asked with glee.
A stunned Fitz looked at Olivia and asked, "You went to law school?"
Olivia released an exasperated sighed. "Yes, I graduated from University of Miami with a JD/MBA and, no, I haven't taken the Bar."
"She graduated at the top of her class," Winnie bragged proudly.
"Why didn't I know this?" Fitz asked.
"It's not something I talk about. I chose a different path. The degree is irrelevant to my position with the company." Turning to Winnie, she said, "Enough about me. How are Keisha and Kevin?"
"Keisha is twenty-two and an office assistant downtown. Kevin is twenty and a rising junior at Boston College. He's an eagle just like you."
Olivia's face lit up. "He always was my favorite."
Winnie looked at her watch. "He should be home soon. He went to the game with friends." She looked at the pair, noting they were both wearing jerseys. "How was the game?"
"Did you watch it? Pedroia hit a three-run walk-off homer. The most exciting game I have seen live and we had the best seats." Looking at Fitz, she continued, "Without question, the best surprise ever!"
Fitz's face flushed with pride. All he wanted was to show Olivia that she was special, different from the other women that drifted in and out of his life. He wanted to plan a day she'd never forget and from her reaction, it was clear the he had succeeded. He quickly looked away from her when he felt Winnie's stare boring a hole in his head. Trying to avoid connecting with Olivia or Winnie, he glanced around the room, his eyes landing on a specific family photo in a collection of photos that adorned the walls. He stood up and walked toward the photo. "Is that Olivia?"
"It is," Winnie said. "That picture was taken Thanksgiving of her junior year in high school. That's when Olivia joined our family." Fitz studied the photograph curiously. It was apparent that she was just a teenager, still developing and maturing, but the hallmarks of her future beauty - the large brown doe eyes, pouty full lips, and high cheekbones - were already evident.
"How old are you in this picture?"
"Sixteen," Olivia replied.
"Two years before we met…."
"I told you was a late bloomer."
"I tried to tell her if she gained ten pounds she would like where they went, but this one was always so stubborn. She was like a little bird, always flitting about, never felt secure enough to be still," Winnie explained.
"I'm still now," Olivia said shyly.
"Are you?" the older woman asked with a raised eyebrow. Fitz knew that comment was about her relationship with him and, judging by the way she was squirming in her seat, Olivia understood as well. Winnie was asking if she'd grown restless in her marriage.
Winnie studied the pair carefully. When she spoke with Fitz on the phone, he explained that they were colleagues in New York for a business retreat and that Olivia had spoken fondly of her and their history during their flight from Miami. He went on to say they were coming to Boston for the baseball game and, if time permitted, he wanted to surprise Olivia by stopping by for a quick visit. Initially, she found the request a bit odd, but was excited to see Olivia regardless of the circumstances. Now that they were here, the pair had raised more questions than they had answered. Wanting to talk to Olivia privately, she asked her to join her in the kitchen to help bring the drinks out.
When they were alone, she said, "Fitz seems like a nice guy. I was surprised when he called instead of Jake. How is your husband?"
"Jake is fine. He's home in Miami enjoying a weekend with the boys, I'm sure. Fitz is a nice guy and an excellent boss."
"Fitz is your boss?" Winnie asked in a confused voice.
"Yes. What did he tell you? How did he find you?"
"I don't know. All I know is I received a telephone call around nine o'clock this morning from a woman. She didn't identify herself, but said she was calling from Fitzgerald Grant's office. She asked if my name was Gwendolyn Nelson and if I worked at Cushing Academy in the late nineties and early aughts. When I confirmed I was the person she was looking for, she thanked me for my time and told me to expect a call from Fitz."
"She didn't mention me by name?"
"No. She didn't mention you at all. I didn't know the call had anything to do with you until I spoke with Fitz."
"When was that?"
"Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes later. Liv, what is all of this about? What exactly is your relationship with Fitz and why aren't you wearing your wedding band?
"I told you, he's my boss. I did him a favor by attending this work thing at the last minute. He's just trying the repay the favor by doing something nice for me. I told him I hadn't been home in years, so he made arrangements for us to spend the day in Boston."
"And the ring?"
"Jake upgraded my bridal set," she lied. "I wasn't expecting to be away this weekend, so the full set wasn't ready. It felt wrong traveling in the company of another man with a bare finger. Thus," she said, wiggling her ring finger, "an incomplete set."
"Why do I feel like there's something you're not telling me?"
"There's nothing to tell."
Winnie stared at Olivia, trying to read her face and body language. She knew Olivia was hiding something, but she couldn't determine what. "You're sure everything is okay at home? You can tell me anything. I love you. I would never judge you. If you're struggling with something, we can talk about it. Fitz is a very attractive and charming man. I'm not blind. I've seen the way he looks at you, the way he favors you. It's not a big leap to assume you are attracted to him too. Have you acted on that attraction?"
"Of course not," Olivia exclaimed incredulously. "I'm committed to Jake. I'm not struggling with my feelings for Fitz. Our relationship is strictly platonic." Even as the words were coming out of Olivia's mouth, she knew she was lying. There was nothing platonic about the way she felt waking up in Fitz's arms this morning. Nothing platonic about how her body responded to him. Nothing platonic about the things she fantasized about doing to him and allowing him to do to her. "You worry too much. Fitz is not a threat to my marriage. Speaking of him, we should get back out there."
"You're right, we're being rude. Will you get the iced tea out of the refrigerator while I get the glasses?" she asked, turning to step away from Olivia.
"Yes, and Winnie…"
"Yes?" she inquired, turning back to face her.
"Thanks for looking out for me," she said, pulling the older woman into a warm embrace. "I've really missed you."
When the returned to the living room, they found Fitz standing on the stairs, looking at the wall. "Fitz," Olivia hissed. "What are you doing?"
"I'm sorry," he said, red with embarrassment. "It's an occupational hazard. I was looking at that," he said pointing to a forty-five degree crack in the corner of the wall.
"Does that mean what I think it does?" Olivia asked.
"I'm worried it does."
"Come down from there," Winnie instructed. "It's an old house. There are cracks, pops, and creaks everywhere. We're tackling the larger things first, but it will be a while before we get to the cosmetic stuff."
Fitz walked down the stairs looking at Olivia, silently expressing his concern about the crack and asking if it would be appropriate for him to offer assistance.
Before they could settle on an answer, a young black man in a Red Sox jersey and baseball cap boisterously entered the room through the front door distracted them both.
"You're still here," he exclaimed, walking right up to Olivia, grabbing her in a tight embrace, and swinging her around in a wide circle.
"Put me down before you hurt yourself," Olivia said, giggling as she tried to escape Kevin's embrace.
"Please," he dismissed her warnings as he placed her feet on the ground. "You're light as a feather, always have been."
Olivia reached up and took the young man's face between her two hands, "Look at you, all grown up," she gushed, as she took in the handsome young man standing before her.
"It's been eight years, of course I'm grown. Couldn't stay that pesky little brother you wished you never had following you around forever."
"I understand from your mother that you're still following me. Why didn't you reach out to me when you were accepted to BC?"
"I don't know," he said sheepishly. "I just assumed you were busy with your life in Miami. I didn't want to bother you."
Pinching his cheeks, she replied, "I'm never too busy for you."
Escaping the torture of Olivia's pinching fingers, Kevin pulled away from her and, for the first time, noticed Fitz standing in the corner. He walked up to him and extended his hand. "Hi, I'm Kevin. You must be Jake. It's nice to finally meet you."
Fitz shook the young man's hand. "Actually, I'm Fitz. Olivia's colleague and travel companion this weekend."
"Oh man, I'm so sorry I just assumed…," Kevin offered, embarrassed by the faux pas.
"Think nothing of it," Fitz said, moving to sit in the side chair. The others followed him and sat in a line on the couch with Olivia in the middle. "How did you like the end of that game?" That was all the prompting Kevin needed. He and Olivia engaged in a lively and passionate discussion about the highlights and lowlights of the game while Fitz and Winnie listened, entertained by their enthusiasm.
"Have you been on Twitter today?" Kevin asked Olivia.
"No, I've been away from my phone most of the day. What did I miss?"
"Some tourist was on there, IG, and Facebook looking for M1 or M2 seats late last night and early this morning. It was one of those 'I will pay any asking price' offers. Rumor is he paid six figures for two tickets. Can you imagine paying that much to see a game? Must be nice to have his life!"
Olivia's eyes shot to Fitz, who simply raised his arms and shrugged. "At least he got his money's worth," he offered with a Cheshire grin.
Oblivious to Fitz and Olivia's exchange, Kevin continued, "I wish I had those tickets. That money would have been the solution to my problem."
"What problem?" Olivia asked.
"Kev…," Winnie said in a warning tone. "Not in front of our guests."
Olivia didn't attempt to disguise the look of hurt on her face. "Guests? I thought I was family."
"Livvie," Fitz called quietly, trying to soothe her with his voice. "I'm going to wait outside and give the three of you some privacy."
Winnie quietly observed the interaction between Fitz and Olivia. She recalled the first, and only, time she called Olivia 'Livvie'. Her heart broke as the tearful teenager explained that Livvie, the carefree, light-hearted, innocent young girl, died with her parents and that she was only to be called Olivia or Liv going forward. She hadn't spent a lot of time with Olivia and Jake, but she couldn't recall him ever using the nickname. Yet, Fitz had just clearly used the endearing name and tender tone like a verbal hug. Instead of recoiling from him as she had with her, it appeared that Olivia welcomed and was comforted by his actions. The vibe between them crossed the line of two people who happened to work together, but she didn't detect any hint of guilt from Olivia and would expect that to be the case if she was having an affair with Fitz.
"No one's going anywhere because this conversation is over," Winnie announced. "Olivia and Fitz came for a quick visit, not to be burdened by our problems."
Ignoring Winnie, Olivia looked as Kevin and asked, "How does a twenty year old college student have a six figure problem? What kind of trouble are you in?"
"Why do you assume I'm in trouble?" Kevin asked, his disappointment in Olivia's response evident.
"Kev…I didn't mean it that way. I didn't assume you were at fault, but that's a lot of money for you to come up with. I'm just trying to understand why you need it so I can help brainstorm solutions," Olivia explained.
"Kevin, Liv, please. Now is not the time for this conversation," Winnie stated forcefully. Fitz looked at Olivia to gauge if she wanted him to leave. She replied with a quick, yet subtle, shake of her head.
Olivia turned her attention to Kevin, squeezing his hand as an invitation to continue. "I lost my scholarship to BC, it's too late to apply for federal financial aid, and we have six days to come up with the fall tuition payment."
"What happened? How did you lose your scholarship?" Olivia asked with genuine concern in her voice.
"It was from a small non-profit organization that provided scholarships for first generation college students. I received a letter two weeks ago notifying me of the organization's dissolution and informing me they would be unable to honor their commitment."
"Kevin, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you," Olivia empathized. "Have you tried a bank?"
"A bank? What bank is going to give a broke college student a loan for that kind of money? I'm just going to sit out a semester and get a job. I can apply to transfer to UMass Boston in the spring," he said dejectedly.
"Giving up can't be the answer. I understand not wanting to take on debt, but I think a loan is the best option."
"A bank is not going to give me a loan."
"They will if I cosign for you."
"Olivia, no," Winnie interjected. "We can't possibly ask you to do that."
"You're not asking, I'm offering. We're family, remember. Fitz and I will be finished in New York Monday afternoon. I'll catch the train down. Kevin and I will go to bank and complete the paperwork. You should have a check in hand in time to meet the deadline."
Kevin looked between Olivia and his mother, wanting to accept Olivia's offer, but not wanting to upset his mother. "I don't know what to say."
Fitz tentatively inserted himself into the conversation. "If I may…."
"Fitz, no," Olivia cut him off.
"Hear me out. I think there's another option that won't leave Kevin with six figure student loans in two years."
"Fitz," Olivia growled in warning.
Undeterred by her warning, Fitz proceeded. "I happen to know there were no applicants for our company's annual scholarship for employees and their families this year. I'm sure if Olivia submits an application it will be approved."
"But we're not really family," Kevin rebutted. "I don't want to get Olivia in trouble at work."
Fitz chuckled. "They're not going to ask for a DNA test."
"Fitz, I don't know," Olivia countered. "He has to submit payment by Friday. I think we should go for the sure thing." Olivia understood Fitz was offering to pay Kevin's tuition, but she wasn't entirely comfortable accepting more money from him.
"Trust me, Liv, this scholarship is a sure thing. All you have to do is complete the application and the company will send Boston College a check. Plus, in addition to covering the usual expenses, the scholarship includes five thousand dollars a semester for living expenses."
"Five thousand dollars? A semester?" Kevin asked in an awe-laced voice.
"Hold on. How can you know it's a sure thing? Where do the two of you work?" Winnie asked.
"We work for Grant Enterprises, a design-build firm in Miami," Olivia offered.
"Grant Enterprises? As in Fitzgerald Grant?" she asked.
"Yes, Fitzgerald Grant, I, my grandfather, founded the company. My father, Fitzgerald Grant, II, currently runs the company. I just work there."
Winnie eyed him suspiciously, finally understanding why he was so confident about the scholarship and why Olivia was hesitant to accept his solution. "I'm not sure about either of these plans. We don't want to involve two of you in this. Kevin and I will figure something out."
Puzzled by Fitz underselling his role in his family's company, Olivia looked at the disappointment on Kevin's face and the anxiety and stress etched in Winnie's face. Winnie had done so much for her with so little. Fitz was offering them a solution that wouldn't take Kevin the next ten years to pay off. The only thing standing in the way was Olivia. Was Fitz just trying to help, help Winnie and Kevin desperately needed, or was there quid pro quo attached? Was she exchanging Kevin's debt for one of her own?
Olivia looked at Fitz through squinted eyes, trying to gauge his sincerity. He simply sat there smiling patiently at her as she sized him up. He knew she was debating if accepting his money would be worth the payment he would extract from her later, but her thinking was wrong. There would be no price to pay, no strings attached. Hadn't she learned by now there was nothing he wouldn't do for her? The scholarship was a small price to pay for her happiness. Seeking to address her doubts, he cheekily offered, "It is a benefit of your employment. You can check the company HR manual if you don't believe me."
Olivia chuckled at Fitz's cleverness. She was positive if she checked the HR manual she would not find a single mention of a scholarship fund. The obvious lie was Fitz's way of telling her she could trust him that this time would be different, that when the funds were exchanged he would be able to look her in the eye instead of slinking away like a coward. He promised he would never hurt her again and he was honoring that promise.
Olivia shifted so she was facing Winnie. "I think we should trust Fitz," she said softly, placing her hand on the older woman's knee. Over the years, Winnie had taken great pride in her ability to provide for her family. It would take some convincing for her to agree to take Fitz's money. "If he says the scholarship is a sure thing, I think that's the best option for Kevin. He believed he would graduate from college debt free. I've worked at Grant Enterprises for six years. It's a good company run by good people. There is no risk for Kevin."
"How can you be so sure? They don't know Kevin, they don't owe him anything."
Compelled to speak, Fitz interjected, "Maybe not, but Olivia is a valued employee. I will ensure Kevin receives the full scholarship even if Olivia leaves the company."
"I thought you just worked there?" Winnie asked wittily.
"Touché, but I'm still my father's son. I will make sure he takes care of your son."
Winnie turned to Olivia, "If you think this is best for Kevin."
"I do."
"Then, I guess it's settled." Turning to Fitz, she added, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. I have one more request of you."
"You do?" Olivia and Winnie asked in unison.
"Yes, with your permission, I'd like to send one of the company's contractors and a few of his men to look at your house. That's a nasty crack up there and it could signal problems with the foundation. I apologize for being so forward, but I want to help you protect your investment."
Olivia looked at Fitz curiously. This wasn't the preening, womanizing, devil may care Fitz she was used to from the office. What was he hoping to accomplish with this act humility and generosity? Something was different, changed, and she was having difficulty discerning what about this version of him was real and what was pretend.
"Do you think it's that serious?" Olivia asked.
"I do, but the contractor will tell us definitively. Winnie?"
Winnie looked at Olivia. "What do you think?"
"If Fitz is worried, we should let him help. I know his contractors. I trust them." Olivia took Winnie's hands in her own, "It's been so good to see you, but Fitz and I must go if we are going to get back in New York on time." Fitz took that as his signal to text John and ask him to bring the car.
Winnie pulled Olivia into a long, tight embrace. "Let's not let it be so long between visits next time."
Olivia smiled up at her. "I'll come back soon to visit for a couple of days. I promise. I want to see Chris, Keisha, and meet your grandson. And you," she said turning to Kevin, pulling him into a hug, "if you need anything, call me. Don't let your graduation invitation be the next time I hear from you."
"Maybe the Sox will make the post season. We can go to a game."
"I'd like that," she said smiling brightly.
Olivia nodded to Fitz and rose from the couch. Fitz left his seat quickly, walking over to Kevin. He extended his hand, "It was a pleasure to meet you."
The younger man pulled him into a bro hug. "Thank you for everything."
"You should thank Olivia," he said, clapping him on the back. "She's the one that will be helping you. I just showed her the way."
"Either way, I'm grateful to both of you."
Fitz walked over to Winnie and helped her off the couch. "Thank you for helping me surprise Olivia on such short notice."
"Thank you for bringing her home," she replied, hugging Fitz briefly before showing them both to the door.
They were standing on the porch exchanging their final hugs, when Winnie asked, "Fitz, can I talk to you alone for a moment?"
Fitz's eyes immediately darted to Olivia, asking if she was comfortable with the request. Olivia simply shrugged and walked toward the car. After seeing that Olivia was safely in the vehicle, he silently turned to Winnie and waited for her to speak.
Reaching up to cradle his face in her hands, she started, "Fitzgerald Grant, I will forever be grateful for what you have done for me and my son. They say God answers when you least expect it. Well, I certainly wasn't expecting the answer to my prayers to come walking in the door with you. There aren't word to describe the magnitude of what you've done for us today and I am humbled by your generosity."
"It is my honor and privilege to be in a position to be able to repay you for the kindness you showed Olivia all those years ago. As I'm sure you can tell, she is very special to me. It crushes me to think of the young woman in that photograph all alone in this world. You were there for her when no one else cared enough to be. I shudder at the thought of what may have happened to her without the love and support you and your family extended to her."
Winnie dropped her hands from his face, her expression turning grim. "Why did you bring her here today? I could tell by the look on her face when I opened the door she wasn't expecting to see me."
"As I explained on the phone, I wanted to surprise her with a trip to Boston."
"Yes, but there's so much to do in the city, why bring her here?"
Fitz shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot, uncertain how much of himself to reveal to this virtual stranger. "I didn't just want to take her to Boston. I wanted to take her home. I wanted to be with her in her environment, somewhere where she would be comfortable enough to let herself be seen. She's so guarded at work. I wanted to see who she really is and not just who she has decided she should be."
"You seem like a decent guy and I certainly don't mean to offend or upset you after everything you've done today. But, I love that girl like she was one of my own, which is why I hope you'll understand why I have to say this. I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but I'm asking you to end it now, before she gets hurt. That poor child has suffered more than her fair share of heartbreak in her young life. She doesn't deserve any more. I'm begging you to leave her alone and let her be happy with the life she has."
Fitz looked at the woman with soft eyes that relayed his sincerity. "Are you sure she's happy?"
Winnie stared at him, her mouth slightly ajar. "Do you have reason, other than your own self-interest, to believe she's not?"
Fitz considered the question. Had Olivia given him any reason to believe she was unhappy with her life with Jake? If Mellie hadn't called off their engagement, would he have been content to maintain a professional relationship with Olivia? Spending these past few days with her had changed him, but did he know that they had also changed her? Was he projecting his feelings on to her? "I think I can make her happier."
"I have no doubt you could make her life easier, more comfortable, but do you really think you can make her happier? If not, you should let her be."
Needing to escape the intensity of the moment, Fitz looked at his watch. "I really should join Liv. We have to get back to New York. We have a business function to attend this evening and it would be rude for us to show up late."
Winnie nodded her head. "I understand, but please consider what I said."
"I will," he said solemnly. "I will be in touch with you next week to make arrangements for the contractor and his crew."
"Please don't feel obligated. I would certainly understand if you reconsidered your offer."
Fitz waved her off. "Nonsense. You love Liv. You're trying to protect her. Believe it or not, we both want the same thing for her, we just go about it in different ways."
Winnie extended her hand to him, which he took, "It was a pleasure meeting you Fitz. I hope our paths will cross again in the future."
"Goodbye, Winnie."
Fitz bounded down the path to join Olivia in the Escalade. As soon as he was seated and had given John instructions, she slid across the bench seat and snuggled against him, her small body burrowing in his side. Fitz lifted his arm and wrapped it around her, pulling her even closer to him. He leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head, lingering a bit to allow her presence to surround and comfort him.
After five minutes of comfortable silence, she quietly asked, "What did she say to you?"
"She just wanted to thank me for the scholarship and offering to send the contractor."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What else did she say?" she asked, moving away from him so she could see his face.
Fitz looked away from her while he weighed how best to respond. "I have a feeling you already know. I'm sure the two of you had a similar conversation in the kitchen."
"Are you going to listen to her?"
"Do you want me to?" he asked, his voice laced with emotion.
"Are you sorry we visited?" she whispered.
"Not at all," he said, his fingers tracing the contours of her face. "It was an honor to meet your family. She loves you and just wants what's best for you. I want the same." She looked at him through squinted eyes, debating her next move. "What?" Olivia remained silent. "Whatever it is, just say it. Say it and we'll deal with it together."
"Do we have time to make another stop? There's something I want to show you."
"We have as long as you need," he said, moving toward her and kissing her softly. Fitz expected her to flinch, to pull away, but she didn't. Instead, she surprised him by allowing herself to be kissed. "John, we have a change of plans, please take us to," he paused, looking at Olivia.
"350 Vermont Street," she finished, leaning against Fitz, allowing her body to meld into his. "Can we drive through Boston College's campus, instead of around it?" she requested, settling in Fitz's arms and looking out the window.
The couple shared a comfortable silence for most of the trip, the only interruptions brief exchanges initiated by Olivia to point out something of interest from her childhood. Less than thirty minutes lasted, John stopped the vehicle in front of a handsome two story white house with black shutters. There were two cars parked in the driveway and sign of activity beyond the open windows.
When it became clear that Olivia was not planning to get out of the vehicle, Fitz asked John to step out and give them some privacy. When they were alone, he asked, "Are we where I think we are?"
"I'm not in your head so it's impossible for me to be sure," Olivia replied.
If only you knew how wrong you were thought Fitz. She had spent the past few days burrowing her way into the deepest recesses of his mind. Olivia and her wants, needs, and desires dominated his thoughts, leaving room for little else. "Is this your childhood home?"
After a moment of silence, Olivia, in voice barely audible, said, "I've never brought anyone here, not even my husband."
Fitz searched her face for an explanation, but her emotions were so mixed they were impossible to read. "Do you want to go inside? I'm sure the new owners will let us in if we explain why we're here."
"I am the owner," she said flatly, "I couldn't sell it, but I also can't go in." Fitz pulled her close and secured her in his arms, willing her to be still in this moment with him. "This is the closest I've been in more than a decade."
"Why are we here?" he whispered softly.
"Isn't this what you wanted? Why you brought me to Boston?"
Fitz's face twisted in confusion. "I don't understand."
"Aren't we here because you wanted to meet Olivia Pope, the woman I was before I was his wife and your employee? I grew up here, in this house, and this is the last place I was ever really, truly felt happy, loved, and secure."
"Is that who I've spent the day with, the real Olivia Pope?"
"Mostly."
"I like her."
Olivia smiled brightly at him, his words causing heat to rush to her face. "I like her too," she said softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
He wondered why she really brought him here. What was it she wanted him see? Did she want him to question if they could have the kind of love that used to live in that house? Was she challenging him to reveal himself the way he had laid her bare? "Which one was you bedroom?" he asked, looking at the two-second floor windows.
Olivia erupted into a fit of laughter. "You are incorrigible. Do you think about anything else?"
"It's hard when you are practically sitting in my lap," he explained, tickling her side for good measure. Truthfully, sex was the furthest thing from his mind at the moment. He just wanted to make her laugh. He wanted to show her that happiness didn't have to be a thing of the past.
"Have you seen enough?"
"I've hardly scratched the surface," he replied, turning her head so he could see her face, "but you look exhausted and we have a long night ahead of us. You should rest," he said, shifting his body so she could lean against his chest. He removed his phone from his pocket and called John telling him them were ready to return to Merkles Industries and texted Max to alert him to their pending arrival. When all was settled and they were on their way, he allowed his head to fall back against the headrest and was lulled to sleep himself by the steady rhythm of Olivia's breathing.
A little over an hour later, the helicopter was touching down at the Merkles' Hamptons home. Fitz helped Olivia out of the helicopter and, after they both thanked Max for his service, escorted her to the main house. They were approaching the door when Olivia spoke. "Wait, there's something I want to say before we go back in there and start pretending again."
"You haven't been pretending this whole time? This is so embarrassing. I have," he teased.
"Fitz, be serious," she said, playfully punching him in the arm. She looked at him intently, her growing affection for him clouding her normally shining eyes. "I'm trying to thank you for an amazing day."
"If I knew all it took to get you to look at me like this was a helicopter ride and a baseball game I would have done this years ago."
"Those were incredible, but that's not what I am talking about. I'm thanking you for everything else, for taking me home, for reminding me that I'm still my father's daughter, for reminding me that there's more to family than blood and vows, and for your incredible generosity. When I'm with you I feel so free, like nothing is impossible. I can't remember the last time I felt so happy."
"I made you cry."
"They were refreshing tears."
"It wasn't too much."
She smiled at him adoringly. "It was the perfect amount of much. You are Fitzgerald Grant; there is a certain amount of grandiosity that should be expected."
She extended her hand to him. Happily grasped it and pulled her toward him hard enough that her small body collided into his. Giggling, she looked up at him, enthralled by the emotions at play in his eyes.
"It's not over yet. I have one final surprise for you."
"It's very hard to resist you when you're like this," she said, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding him close. "We don't have time for another surprise. I am supposed to be in formal attire with perfect hair and make-up in less than two hours. Unless your surprise is a fairy godmother, you're going to have to save it for another day."
"You are naturally flawless. You could walk into the ball just like this and would easily be the most beautiful woman in the room," he said running his hand along her spine, moaning softly when she arched her back, pressing her body into his. He lowered his face to hers. "Livvie," he said with a sinful gleam in his eyes.
"Yes," she replied expectantly, her eyes locked on his.
"Kiss me."
"What?" she asked surprised, stepping away from him.
"Kiss me," he said, stepping forward, once again crowding her space, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her forward so her body firmly pressed against his.
"Let's just go," she said, looking away from him, but making no attempt to escape his embrace.
"Look at me," he commanded quietly, waiting for her to respond. When her eyes were once again upon his, he continued in a hushed tone, his warm, sweet breath wafting across her face. "We are alone. No games to play, no one to pretend for, and no husband to consider. It's just you and me. Kiss me, Olivia. You know you want to."
"Kiss me," he repeated, leaning forward and brushing his nose against hers, their faces so close their lips were almost touching. "Kiss me," he pleaded, pulling his face slightly away from hers so that he could focus on her eyes.
Olivia's eyes locked on his, her breathing reduced to shallow pants, her chest heaving, her sensitized skin tingling with desire. All she had to do was lean forward an inch and their lips would meet. She was losing this battle with herself. A battle she wasn't sure why she was fighting. She'd willingly crossed so many lines, exposed so much of herself to Fitz that continuing to resist him physically was a pretense neither one of them believed. It didn't matter if she kissed him or not, the romance developing between them was real and neither one of them could deny it.
Sensing that she was once again going to flee, he loosened his grip around waist and leaned forward, his face so close to hers she could taste his breath, and whispered, "Show me what you really want."
Her lips were upon his in an instant, swallowing his words as soon as they escaped his lips. There was nothing soft or tentative about her touch as she kissed him eagerly, wantonly, releasing all of the passion and longing of the past few days. She held the back of his head, pulling him closer as her lips devoured his. When his tongue traced her lips, she yielded to him, opened her mouth and welcoming his tongue inside. He placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her with a hungry violence, moaning loudly when her body arched against him, pressing his stirring arousal into the softness of her belly. There was no doubting her desire as she moved against him, allowed him to lead their tongues in a sinuous dance.
Fitz was the first man to ever kiss her like this. Most kisses she'd experienced had been rushed and sloppy, a foreplay necessity in the ramp up to the main event. Kissing him was an incredibly satisfying event all by itself. She could stay here, wrapped in his embrace, kissing him for hours, but she knew they shouldn't. They were here for a reason and if she didn't pull away from him now, she was sure they would miss the ball. Opting instead to spend the night in each other's arms.
Olivia broke their kiss and rested her head in his chest. Panting, she looked up at him, her desire evident in her eyes. "This shouldn't be so easy," she whispered.
Lost in the moment, Fitz replied, "Maybe this is where you are supposed to be, the life you should have. How many times do we have to be pushed together for you to consider that maybe we chose the wrong paths?"
Olivia pushed away from him. "I don't believe in soulmates."
"Maybe that's because you married Carl instead of Sam," he said, referencing her favorite movie. He grabbed her hand and pulled her back to him. "Don't you believe you deserve better?"
"Is that what this is? Better? Because it's starting to feel like betrayal," she said, snatching away from him and stomping off in the direction of the house.
"Liv, wait," he called chasing after her. He caught up to her just as she entered the house.
"Welcome back Mr. Grant and Ms. Pope," Esmeralda greeted them as they walked into the house, oblivious to the tension between them. "Your guests are waiting for you in the cottage living room."
"Thank you, Esmeralda. Sorry we are a little late. I hope they haven't caused you any trouble."
"No, sir," Esmeralda blushed from the attention. "They only arrived ten minutes ago."
"Very well. We'll go see to them now," Fitz said, leading Olivia away from Esmeralda in the direction of the cottage.
When they were alone Olivia suddenly stopped walking, causing Fitz to jerk to a halt a few steps in front of her. He turned to look at her, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Liv, what's wrong?"
"A guest? Fitz, I told you I wasn't ready to talk to him. Why did you bring him here? Why would you kiss me like that if you knew he was upstairs waiting for me? What kind of game are you playing?" she hissed.
"Him? What are you talking about?" he asked, slowly realizing who she thought was waiting for them. "You think Jake is my final surprise?" he asked, with a deep and loud laugh. He stopped laughing and pulled her toward him, resting his hands on her waist. "You think my perfect ending for this day is to hand you over to him? Why would I ever voluntarily do that?"
"I just thought…" her voice trailed off.
"Are you worried about seeing Seth tonight?"
"What?" she asked, caught unprepared by his questions and stalling to consider her response. She honestly hadn't thought about Seth for most of the day because Fitz had done such an excellent job of distracting her from the ugliness that occurred in this house. Now that he brought him up, she had to admit she was anxious about being near him again and didn't know how she would respond to seeing him. Moving closer to him, she asked, "Will you be with me the entire time?"
"I won't let you out of my sight. I promise he won't get anywhere near you."
"Then, I'm not worried. I know I'm safe with you," she said, her body relaxing in his loose embrace. Her anger from earlier beginning to fade. Changing the topic, she asked, "If not Jake, who is waiting upstairs for us?"
"Have you learned nothing from our day together? I believe surprises should be delivered without warning or introduction. Esmeralda already told you too much when she announced that we have guests waiting. Now, do you want to stay down here talking or should we head upstairs so you can see who is waiting for you?"
Olivia raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him. "I'm sorry for flipping out."
"I understand. It's been an emotional twenty-four hours. You're confused. I shouldn't have pushed you. I was just trying to…," his voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words. He opted for, "I'm sorry. It won't happen again. Now, let's go greet our guests," he said, eagerly pulling her in the direction of the cottage stairs. Olivia giggled as she trailed behind him, eager to learn what the rest of the evening held for them.
A/N: Well…what did you think? Things are moving fast (I know not fast enough for some of you – but it's only been four days!) between Fitz and Olivia. They are falling deeper and deeper into this space that Fitz has carved out for them, but how long can they stay there? As always, I welcome your thoughts and comments – let me know what you liked and disliked. Until next time…ciao.