Hey everybody, y'all alright? I'm back with a "short" chapter. Just a little update. Not a lot of dialogue. This story isn't ending just yet, there's one more chapter. Not sure when I'll write it, but it's coming. Thank you all for reading the last chapters and your reviews and kind PMs. Writing this story has been a lot of fun, and honestly, during the last seven months, therapy. I love this version of Olitz, and I wouldn't change a thing about the way I've written them. So until the final chapter, happy reading.
TBOT
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Six months later…
The Grant household of three was adjusting to being a household of four with the birth of Maxwell Olivia. Fitz and Olivia had been advised by family and friends that having a second child would cause a major shift in the family dynamics, that it was a harder transition. They were prepared for that. They were even prepared to assist Elliott in adjusting to a new baby in the house. Although she wanted and was excited to have a baby sister, the idea of sharing mommy's and daddy's attention and affection with the new baby was new. After all, she was still a child. They'd listened to friends and read a few books. They were ready.
What they hadn't prepared for was a "high maintenance" baby. The term was not used loosely. They'd caught a glimpse of Maxwell's personality before she'd even come home from the hospital. After spending the day together in Olivia's room on the day she was born, Fitz and Elliott left for the evening and Olivia sent the newborn to the nursery so she could get a little sleep until the baby's next feeding. Thirty minutes later, after trying everything in her toolbox to console the baby girl, the nurse brought her back.
"Someone's demanding a private room with a private nurse…you." She laughed and lifted the baby, who was still crying inconsolably, from the bassinet and handed her to her mother. Maxwell quieted. She wasn't even a day old but she'd already figured out what she was missing and what she needed to do to get it. That had not changed.
Olivia quickly learned that Maxwell was very different from Elliott. Her big girl had been the sweetest, most laid back, happiest baby you'd ever meet. She hardly ever cried. Once she started smiling, it was constant. Nothing bothered her and she had everyone wrapped around her little finger. For some reason she thought she could use the same tactics she'd used with Elliott on Maxwell and get the same results, but she soon realized how naïve she'd been. Maxwell was her own little person. She didn't sleep the same, eat the same, nap the same or poop the same, so everything was brand new again and so much harder to figure out.
The first few weeks of having two children had its challenges. The adults were short on sleep and Olivia was constantly occupied by the newest member of the family, Maxwell. Fitz stepped it up, spending time with Elliott and giving her lots of love and attention because Maxwell was what some called, a "Velcro baby." She couldn't stand to be put down so she was attached to Olivia around the clock. Even her daddy was only acceptable to her for twenty minutes or so before the tears began. Right now, his baby girl wanted no parts of him.
Thank God for Dottie Belle! She immediately recognized Maxwell's demanding personality. She helped the new parents to understand that in some ways, all babies are high needs or high maintenance, and that it wasn't their parenting, just Maxwell's temperament. The infant was just going to require a little extra love, patience and attention. She also promised that it would get better. They both hoped that would be very soon.
She taught Fitz and Olivia how to identify and adapt to her needs, understand her cues. She also encouraged the parents to take naps, go on walks, and take a break from their fussy little girl. Yes, Maxwell sometimes cried the entire time that Olivia was gone. But they were confident in Dottie's ability to remain calm with her, and Fitz wouldn't allow his wife to feel guilty about getting away. She needed to take care of herself, mentally and physically. They'd had to learn a whole new way to parent Maxwell, while also parenting Elliott.
In many ways, the five year age difference was a blessing. Elliott was independent. She was able to play by herself, use the bathroom by herself and grab a snack when she wanted one. She understood that her baby sister required a large amount of attention from mommy and daddy. She was also old enough not to get jealous, sometimes. And, she was extremely helpful, whether it was grabbing a diaper, burp cloth or bib, or maybe bringing her mother her phone while she was nursing. It helped make her feel involved.
Fitz and Olivia didn't have to deal with sibling rivalry because Elliott could use her words and communicate if she was feeling left out or sad or needed them for something. Her grandparents and her tante made up for any attention she may have, inadvertently, not have been getting from her parents. She didn't seem to be bothered by any of it.
By late August they were in a better place caring for their baby. They couldn't change her temperament or personality, so they just rolled with it by remaining calm and patient, and waited for her needs to change. Fitz planned a trip to Sugar Hill at the end of summer, knowing his wife needed a change of scenery. Dottie was given the time off since JR and Christine would be available to help Olivia with Maxwell, while Fitz spent time with their big girl. The elder Popes and Cecily were also available if needed. Of course Olivia wasn't sure how much they could help because Maxwell had to be in her arms, or at her breasts, or in her bed, at all times. She needed whatever physical contact she could get from her mother. They all needed this mini-vacation and she prayed that her baby would be okay being physically separated from her if only for little while.
X
September. October. November. December. Winter in D.C. had come roaring in with cold, blustery winds but surprisingly, still sunny. Fitz stood when Olivia walked into the warm waiting room in Dr. Mira Gaffney's office. She was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses but he could still see that her face was drawn and pinched. His concern was evident by the lines furrowing his forehead. She gave him a half-smile when he extended his hand to her. She took it and they walked out of the door.
"Feeling any better?"
Closing her eyes behind the shades, she shook her head.
Elliott had come down with a strain of the flu that was going around her classroom. Fitz and Olivia had taken care of her until he could no longer ignore his own symptoms. With him and Elliott both sick and in bed, it was Olivia who'd played nursemaid.
Of course she was careful to stay away from Maxwell, lest her baby get sick. Fortunately Dottie was on hand to care for her. The baby no longer hated everyone but her mother, she just tolerated them all. She still preferred her mother to her father, the breast to the bottle, and arms to her SNOO, swing, car seat, stroller, crib, bouncy seat and every other baby contraption they'd bought for her. But Dottie was right, it had gotten better.
They'd come a long way since Maxwell was born. Their trip to the Vineyard had been a rousing success. Maxwell had allowed, yes allowed, JR to hold her for long periods of time, but it was still a no-go for anyone else, including her father. She loved Elliott, and of course Elliott loved her baby sister. But the five and a half year old had her own agenda and spent time with her when she could. So when Olivia needed a break, it was JR to the rescue.
The family had spent a lot of time on the beach, celebrated Theo's first birthday, and Fitz had taken My Ivey out a few times with the guys to drink, smoke cigars and get away from their wives. He and Olivia had also spent two nights on the boat while it was docked at Sugar Hill. She had been cleared to resume sexual activities two months prior, but up until they came to the Vineyard, it was the last thing on her mind. With a clingy baby, lack of sleep, leaky breasts and her recovery time, she just wasn't feeling it. Fitz, being the wonderful husband he was, was patient and didn't pressure her. Instead he was supportive and showed his affection for her in other ways with massages, foot rubs and sometimes just holding her…when Maxwell wasn't attached. All of that changed the first night on the boat. After a few fits and starts, a quickly inserted diaphragm and lots of lubricant, they were on their way to getting their sexual groove back.
The first week on the Vineyard was uneventful. Princess Maxwell seemed to enjoy the outside so they spent a lot of time by the shaded poolside, with the baby in a portable baby pop-up tent. Cecily came to visit along with August and Theo. She'd tried to hold Maxwell who cried each time she did prompting her tante to start calling her 'crying shame.' Olivia didn't find the nickname amusing at all.
On other days, Olivia was able to swim in the pool with Elliott and Fitz while the baby slept and Christine kept close watch. The baby girl was warming up to her Grammy, which meant an extra pair of arms. For that, Olivia was grateful.
Week two, Fitz received a call from his brother asking if he would be okay with him coming to Sugar Hill for a few days while he and his family were there. Fitz surprised his brother when he said it was okay. Their relationship was still strained, but the healing had begun. He still didn't trust Ford, but they'd spoken over the phone maybe once per week and never longer than fifteen minutes, since that session in Arizona four months ago.
Ford was his only brother and no matter how many ways he twisted and turned the scenarios over in his head, it always ended with him making peace with him. He was one of the few constants in his life, and he was having a hard time trying to think of raising his children not knowing their uncle.
Ford stayed in one of the guest houses on the property so he wouldn't make Fitz and Olivia uncomfortable. When he arrived he'd asked to speak to Olivia privately. Of course Fitz didn't want her anywhere near his brother alone, but he would never tell her what she could or couldn't do.
The morning after his arrival, Ford and Olivia sat out on the patio, with a napping Maxwell not far away. She listened intently as he spoke.
"I was jealous of any close personal relationships that my brother had. But none of them were ever serious enough or lasted long enough to distract him from the family business. Until he met you. Something changed." He smiled at her, and she couldn't help staring at the eyes he shared with her big girl. "It was in the way he looked at you, the subtle touches, the kisses, and when he started talking about leaving the company. No one had ever been able to do that. That's when I knew he was serious about you."
"You got all of that from meeting us together once?" she asked.
He nodded. "You were the first woman he begged off hanging with me to be with. Clearly, he had already fallen in love with you."
Olivia nodded. She had fallen in love with Fitz too.
"Instead of getting to know you better, I made it my mission to break you two apart. Even though I knew that if Fitz was that serious about you, you had to be smart, kind, loving and fun."
Olivia smiled, and Ford relaxed a bit more.
"All I could see at the time was I "losing" a brother and partner in the business. He was my buffer between Senior and JR, and now he was leaving me alone to deal with them. Then I plotted to keep his daughter, my beautiful nice, away from him for four years, and lied to his face the few times I saw him. I'm so ashamed of myself for what I did. What kind of person does that?"
Ford shook his head. He then went on to tell her what he'd been doing since the last time she'd seen him. He apologized and said that nothing he said or did could excuse what he'd said and done to her, so he wouldn't try to. He did, however, tell her what a kindhearted person she must be to even want to hear what he had to say.
Olivia was honest when she told him that she'd long ago forgiven him. She hadn't, however, forgotten what he'd done. That was the only way she could have some peace and joy. She'd accepted his apology, having long moved on. She was living in the now, not the past, because it was a much more enjoyable existence. She couldn't change the past, but, she and Fitz could control where their life would go from here.
Yes, the man sitting in front of her had tried to destroy them but he hadn't succeeded. Olivia understood that it wasn't about what happened to them, but how they reacted to it. They were now married and parents to two beautiful little girls. They had control of the one thing they could control, their future, and she looked forward to that future, with her husband and children.
They continued to talk until Maxwell woke from her nap with a "Feed me or I'm gonna die!" shriek and Olivia quickly moved to pick her up because she didn't like to be kept waiting. It was one of her cues they'd picked up on very early. Ford swam a few laps in the pool while Olivia nursed her baby, staring down at her. Each time she looked at her baby girl she marveled at how much she looked like Fitz. Her light olive skin tone, dark soft curly hair and doe shaped clear brown eyes, with green flecks, were in stark contrast to her big sister, but they both had their father's face. When she finished, she was joined by her husband. He reached for his mini-me, who was happy enough to let him hold her for a while. She even smiled when he held her up, made silly noises and kissed her cheeks. He was captivated by those big clear brown eyes.
Ford climbed from the pool, dried himself, pulled on a t-shirt and then joined them. He and Olivia sat watching Fitz entertain his baby girl. After a few minutes, Ford asked to hold the little girl. Fitz looked at his brother's hands before finally handing the baby over.
Surprisingly, Maxwell allowed Ford to hold her and he loved it. She stared up at him with those big eyes and smiled. This infuriated Fitz. Especially after all of the hoops he'd jumped through to gain his baby daughter's love, trust and affection. And his brother just shows up and she's all gums for him. Olivia and Christine later explained that Ford looked so much like JR he seemed familiar to one of the few people she tolerated.
Ford had met Elliott the previous evening when he arrived. She was happy to finally meet her Uncle Ford, and had turned her considerable charms on him. He'd played several games of Connect Four with her before dinner, and watched Moana, twice, before she fell asleep on the sofa next to him.
Ford couldn't believe he'd kept this precious girl away from his brother, her father, for almost five years. He would do anything and everything in his power to make up for what he'd done to his family, especially his beautiful niece. It appeared that the first four years of her life without her father were fading memories. He was glad. She seemed secure in her daddy's love, and it was obvious they were very close. She was clearly a daddy's girl.
For the remainder of his stay, he indulged Elliott in whatever shenanigans she could come up with. They spent a lot of time together, but of course her father was never far away, always watching.
X
Over the next few months, Elliott began first grade. Unlike the pre-k to kindergarten transition, kindergarten to first grade was smooth and so far successful. Fitz still prepared breakfast every morning, and dropped her off at school, leaving Olivia home with Dottie and Princess Maxwell.
Olivia had begun taking advantage of Maxwell's changing personality. She could now leave their home and meet with other mommies. The baby was quiet and content as long as she was in her mother's arms. They'd tried tummy time and a few other activities at those meet-ups, but Maxwell had cried, immediately letting her mother know that she wasn't feeling any of it. She preferred to just sit watching everyone and everything going on around her, with those big, clear brown eyes.
Olivia was grateful because she'd finally found something that her baby liked, and it gave her a chance to get out of the house. She got to talk with other mothers and Maxwell received the stimulation she needed. The baby really was a people person she just didn't want the people touching her. Of course she loved her big sister, who held her all the time. She seemed to like hearing her voice. They were already close.
When Maxwell arrived, Elliott started engaging more with her baby dolls. Eli and Maya had gifted her with a few American Girl Bitty Baby dolls and all of the accessories. Her parents watched her role play with her "babies" knowing that it was an important part of her developmental stage. She was influenced by the nurture and love she observed her mother give to her and her baby sister, and she in turn gave that to her dolls.
Elliott read to Maxwell and her babies while Olivia nursed. It was a way for her to spend more time with her girls, and to be more attentive to her big girl. She'd listen to Elliott tell her about her day, or sometimes Elliott just wanted to snuggle with her mother and baby sister. So the three Grant ladies would bond, sitting in the big leather chair in the nursery, until the baby fell asleep.
X
By the beginning of November, the four Grants had finally hit their stride. Elliott had celebrated her sixth birthday with a safari themed birthday party at the National Children's Museum. Five month old Maxwell was steadily warming up to others, giving Olivia some needed relief. Dottie was still with the family, and was an enormous help. Thankfully, she wasn't leaving anytime soon. Olivia wasn't ready to return to work because she felt her baby needed her more. Of course she still remained in the loop with her team and consulted when needed.
The family had also quietly celebrated Fitz's forty-first birthday with dinner at La Casa Grant. He'd sat at the head of the table with a chubby Maxwell on his lap, chewing her hand. She'd actually cried when Olivia attempted to remove her so they could light the candles on his cake. Fitz didn't care about the candles and held on to his baby instead. They'd come a long way to get to this point and he wasn't letting her go. Maxwell had changed a lot.
By Halloween, the couple was comfortable enough to leave the baby for a few hours. They were ready for a night out together, and decided to attend Michael and Desiree Tucker's costume party. They went as Marvel comic characters: Fitz as Captain America, and Olivia as Princess Shuri from Black Panther. She'd lost most of the baby weight but the backside remained, for which Fitz was very grateful. From the moment she'd gotten dressed, on the ride to the party and any time they were alone the ribald comments about how she looked didn't stop. They'd been standing in a dark corner watching the other party goers dance, when Fitz's hand moved from the small of her back to her ass. He leaned down and kissed the nape of her neck.
"You'd better stop feeling me up before someone sees us."
"And what are they going to do?" he whispered in her ear. "Ask us to leave? I'll be glad to."
"There's no need to go all hard, Mr. Grant," she reprimanded, smiling.
Fitz moved closer, close enough for her to feel him. "Keep talking and something will get hard, Mrs. Grant."
Olivia was saved from replying to his bawdy comment when one of her sorority sisters came over to say 'hello.'
They'd come home, after dancing most of the night, around two in the morning, giggling like a couple of teenagers. As they climbed the stairs, they were careful not to awaken the household. JR and Christine had volunteered to stay with their grandbabies for the evening. They checked on their girls, who were both asleep, before tip toeing down the hall to their bedroom. The door was barely closed and locked before Fitz pulled Olivia into his arms and kissed her. And, oh, what a hot and steamy kiss it was. He had been unable to take his eyes off of his wife for most of the night.
And he hadn't missed the covert looks of the other men gawking at her either. He couldn't blame them or the countless others he saw who looked at his wife the same way. She was beautiful and he let her know every day, in every way, that his heart belonged only to her.
They finally came up for air and began stripping off their clothing, kicking off their shoes. Arms entwined around each other, Fitz lifted his wife, and carried her across the expansive bedroom toward their bed. She slid down his body and stood before him with a smug expression on her face. She placed a hand on his chest and pushed him down onto the bed, and his cock hardened in anticipation.
Moving between his legs, Olivia dropped to her knees before him. She placed a trail of damp kisses against his inner thighs, and then took his smooth thick tip into her mouth.
Above her, Fitz moaned, "Ooooh, Livvie." His hips began to pump lightly up and down. Her teasing had him brick hard, his desire so intense he was ready to explode. Olivia slid her tongue gently along the underside of his dick, swirling it in small circles, and then she took more of him into her mouth enjoying the feel of his hardness against her tongue. She took her time pleasuring her husband, sucking him in and out past her lips, as he lay back with both arms over his head enjoying his wife's hot mouth.
As she held him in the palm of her hand, Olivia felt him pulse and twitch. She suddenly released him and stood. Fitz sat up and watched her walk into their bathroom. He stood from the bed and followed, knowing what she was about to do. He watched as she coated the diaphragm with spermicide and put one foot up on the vanity chair.
"Romantic isn't it?"
Fitz said nothing. He just stood staring at his love with hooded eyes, and slowly licked his bottom lip. His thick cock was throbbing so hard that it jerked up an inch.
When she finished, he barely gave her time to wash her hands before he lifted her into his arms and carried her back to their bed. Olivia locked her legs around his waist as her hands gripped his head and his back. As soon as her back hit the duvet, he wasted no time pushing inside her, his thick tip parting her. She forgot how to breathe and her hips bucked wildly. She let out a low groan.
"You're so big," she whispered.
Fitz grunted out a response. He kept pushing in, stretching her, filling her slowly. She moved against him, taking all he gave her, even though it was a still a little uncomfortable. But he felt so good.
"That's it, Livvie, take all of me," he whispered near her ear. "Open for me, baby. That's it." He pushed in further, harder, until he was all the way inside. He was so big, throbbing inside of her, she felt him in her stomach.
She didn't know how much more she could take from the pleasure he was giving her, but then Fitz flexed his hips and moved inside her. He pulled out gently and then filled her again, completely. She moaned and rocked against him, trying to take him deeper. He responded by thrusting harder. Her body knew what to do. It still ached a little, but the pain was a delicious pleasure.
Their bodies slapped together as Fitz thrust hard into her. She held him tighter as he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her with a desperation that made her toes curl. Their tongues dueled as his thrusts grew more frenzied.
Fitz finally broke the kiss, needing to catch his breath. He whispered against her ear.
"Come for me, baby."
His voice was raspy and low and that sent her over the edge. She came on his command, hard from the pleasure her husband was giving her. Her body went wild, her hips jerking up and down, grinding into him. She clawed at his shoulders and his back, digging her heels into his backside as she rode out her orgasm. Wave after wave after wave and just when she'd started to come down, Fitz changed up the tempo and she came again. She moaned his name loudly as she lost control completely, again.
"Livvie, I'm going to come…"
She was so lost. She barely heard his words. She uttered something incoherent. All she could do was cling to him while he thrust faster, and harder and harder, before spilling his seed inside her.
"God, I love you, Olivia Grant," Fitz whispered and kissed her before he pulled out and rolled over onto his back, pulling his wife onto his chest. He reached down and pulled the sheet over their naked bodies.
"I love you too, babe," she said softly as she buried her face in his neck. He held her closer if that was at all possible, neither saying a word. Both were still trying to get their breath to return to normal.
'I thought we were going to wake the entire house," Fitz said chuckling.
Olivia laughed. "Were we that loud?" she asked, sounding half asleep.
"Probably. But they shouldn't be surprised. We're married."
For some reason Olivia wasn't embarrassed. "We can try quiet sex, but those orgasms you're giving me are not that easy to keep quiet," she said before rising placing soft kisses on his chest and nipples that had his cock hardening all over again. She wanted him again as much as he wanted her which had his cock growing another inch.
Fitz laughed heartily. "Uh, Livvie?" he said as his dick started twitching beneath the sheet.
"Yes, babe?"
He angled his head. The sheet was tented and his cock was dancing, putting on a little show.
She smiled at the sight before sitting up and straddling her husband's lap. Fitz guided his wife down onto his thick, throbbing cock slowly and she gasped and sighed contentedly as he filled her again.
He pulled her closer and buried his face into her neck, softly biting it as her core fit him like a glove. She sighed as he kissed his way to her breasts, toying with one nipple then the next. He kept it up for so long, playing with them, licking, stroking, sucking, and pulling, that she thought she might come from that.
She arched her back and began to circle her hips, pulling him deeper within her.
"Damn, Livvie," he moaned in pleasure.
Olivia lifted her head to look down at him. They stared at one another as they moved to their own rhythm, and drove each other wild with their frantic thrusts and moans. It was all she wanted. She worked her hips against him, and he into her. They were chest to chest and she lowered her head so they could kiss. Fitz kissed fiercely and she met his intensity.
"Fitz," she moaned against his lips. The pleasure was building, and she felt it start low in her gut. An overwhelming sensation took over and her body tensed with her orgasm.
"Oh, my God, Fitz. I'm gonna…"
"Me too," he uttered. Fitz felt the tightness in his chest, and his loins, as his dick stiffened before he released his seed again.
Olivia clutched him as her own orgasm shook her body and she came with him.
They both gasped deeply trying to catch their breaths as their hearts beat rapidly in perfect sync.
Over the next hour, they went from making sweet intimate love to wild, rough and tender sex. They had just come down from another orgasm, and their bodies were covered in sweat when Olivia begged Fitz for a reprieve. He knew she was sore, so he smiled at his love before lifting her from the bed and carrying her to their bathroom. She washed what remained of the paint from her face while Fitz ran them a hot bath. Once she finished, she joined him and lay back against his chest. They soaked for a few minutes, kissing and fondling each other, before lathering and washing each other's exhausted bodies. When they finished, they stepped out of the tub and dried each other off. After massaging body butter into each other's skin, they dressed and fell into bed. The sun was barely hovering above the horizon when they finally closed their eyes.
X
Present
Together they stepped onto the full elevator and rode in silence down to the lobby. They exited the building and the wind hit them both causing Fitz to wrap his arm around her, pulling her close, and putting his arm around her waist, offering her his body heat. He could tell she'd lost a little weight. It was also in her face.
Fitz had finally convinced her to see a doctor because after nursing him and their daughter back to health, she'd come down with the flu two weeks ago. He'd taken care of his wife while Dottie took care of the girls. They'd stayed home for Thanksgiving with Maxwell while Elliott went with her grandparents and tante to dinner at Spencer and Big Olivia's. Even while sick, she was still beautiful but her usual glow was replaced with paleness. Her eyes were puffy, and she was very nasal. She was also lethargic and congested. She wore a mask to keep the germs away from the girls, especially while she nursed.
When she still wasn't feeling one hundred percent after two weeks, she made an appointment with her primary care physician, hoping she could prescribe something to make her feel better.
When they reached Fitz's SUV, he opened the passenger door and helped her onto the seat before closing the door. Olivia leaned back against the plush leather seat as her husband walked around to the driver's side and climbed behind the wheel.
"Did she write you a prescription?"
"She couldn't.
"Why couldn't she?"
"Because I'm pregnant."
The three words hit him in the face with the force of a brick. He thought he heard a buzzing sound and looked around for it. It grew louder and after a while he realized the ringing sound was in his head. He leaned his head back onto the headrest and took in a few deep breaths.
Olivia was pregnant again! She was having another baby.
Fitz was silent. Olivia turned and stared out of the window, wiping the tears that had began to fall when what she'd suspected for a while was confirmed. She didn't believe it at first but she knew that the test wasn't lying, and she was completely and utterly devastated. She'd missed her period in November, but since she was nursing, she wasn't alarmed. But the nausea, exhaustion, moodiness, her inability to shake the flu and just overall not feeling right was concerning enough to both of them. Hence her doctor's visit today.
Fitz turned to look at his wife, who was wiping away her tears.
"Oh, Livvie, please don't cry."
His words caused the floodgates to open. She wasn't even a year postpartum after having Maxwell and here she was, pregnant again. She'd lost all of the baby weight, and had just started to get her life back on track. Finally, she had some semblance of freedom as a mother of an almost six-month-old who was eating solids and not breastfeeding around the clock anymore. She was even thinking about going back to work in January. And in the blink of an eye, it was all gone. What was she going to do?
Fitz reached out and pulled her into his arms and held her there as she cried on his shoulder.
"That's it, baby. Let it go. I've got you," Fitz murmured.
Olivia's body trembled as she cried from exhaustion and shock. When she finished, Fitz reluctantly released her. She sat up and removed her shades, while he handed her a Kleenex. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose, and then balled up the tissue.
"Feel better now?"
She turned to face him and shook her head.
"Is this part of why you haven't been able to fully shake the flu?"
Too emotional to speak, she nodded.
Fitz sighed, but didn't say anything.
"Fitz, we have a baby who's just starting to allow other people, including you, her daddy, to even look at her. For the first three months of her life, she was attached to me. It was difficult, but I adapted. I'm just starting to get into a bit of a routine. And now I'm pregnant again. I know it sounds selfish, I mean how dare I feel this way when other women would literally do anything to see those two lines on a stick? Or even think about my options when I have a beautiful and safe home, a solid marriage and doting husband, and definitely the finances to support three children." The guilt of her thoughts hit her immediately. She loved her children more than her own life, and that included the baby she now carried.
Fitz reached out and caught her tear with his thumb. This was definitely a different reaction than when she found out she was pregnant with Maxwell and he understood why she felt the way she did. Maxwell's first three, four months of life had been difficult for his wife. Although he and Dottie provided all the help they could, in the end, it was always Olivia whom the baby wanted.
"Livvie, this was obviously not something either of us was expecting, but I will support you in whatever you decide to do."
Olivia looked at her husband trying not to lose her composure again. She didn't want him to think that she didn't want this baby, because she did. She was just shocked at the news, and still trying to wrap her head around having another baby so soon.
"Baby, I know how committed you are to your career. I know what that means to you…"
"Fitz, I am NOT saying that I don't want this baby. I absolutely do. It's just that you and I both know that parenting Max has been tremendously challenging. A lot of time and energy, and five and a half months in, we're just turning the corner with her. She's a happy, loving and affectionate baby because of us. I was planning to return to work, full-time, in January." She sighed. "I love what I do and I love my family, but I don't want to have to choose between staying home with two babies and my career."
"Whoa. Livvie, you can still have your career and a family. You're not in this alone, you know. You have me. We're in this together."
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just…of course we're in this together."
"I know that you don't want nannies raising our girls, but there's nothing wrong with asking for help when you need it. We can hire as much help as we need. If Dottie agrees to stay on next year, and to taking care of two babies, then that's what we'll do. We can both have our careers and our family, but we're going to need help. There's no shame in admitting that."
Olivia sighed. "I know, and I feel guilty as hell for the way I'm feeling about this. I mean, Fitz I can't believe it. Like, am I going to wake up tomorrow and find out I dreamed all of this?"
Fitz smiled at her. "You're definitely not dreaming, Livvie."
She chuckled softly. "I know. I saw the test results. It's very real."
"When's your due date?" he asked.
"Mira estimated mid-July."
"So Max will be one year old in June and this baby will be born the following month."
She nodded. "Looks that way."
"We will have two children under two years old, and a six and a half year old."
Olivia smiled and shook her head. "People will think we're crazy, especially our families, and anyone who's ever met Max."
Fitz laughed. "So the hell what! This is our life to live however we want to live it."
Olivia looked at her husband to see if he was kidding. He wasn't.
"Seriously Livvie, I think that's how it's supposed to be," Fitz assured her. "People want their kids to have siblings close in age. I heard it's easier when they're old enough to play together. They can entertain each other."
"But what will people say, Fitz?"
"Livvie, I don't give a damn what people will say. There is no shame in being pregnant no matter when it happened. You got pregnant five months after you gave birth. So what. Awesome. And when we start telling people that we're pregnant again, we'll also add how happy we are that the two youngest are so close in age. They'll grow up close together and keep each other company."
Olivia was now laughing at her husband. She was slowly getting over the initial shock of being pregnant again, and the excitement was building.
Fitz was so happy to hear her laugh. The news was a definitely a shock to the system. But, after getting over it he thought, "Okay. We're just going to add to our family quicker that we planned."
He took her hand in his. "So what's next?" he asked.
"I have to make an appointment with Fatima. Mira's estimate is that I'm five weeks pregnant. It looks as if we conceived around the end of October."
They looked at each other. Halloween.
"But Livvie, I watched you insert your birth control. What happened?"
Olivia smirked. "Apparently my well-endowed husband busted through my diaphragm."
Fitz looked at his wife in shock, blue eyes wide, and after a few seconds, threw back his head and laughed loudly. The sound reverberated against the vehicle's windows.
"I'm glad you find that funny, Mr. Grant. But seriously, if you recall, I removed the damned thing less than twenty minutes after our last…well…you know. There were still active sperm cells that somehow managed to make their way to my tubes and fertilize an egg. Can you believe that?! You have a wife who's very fertile, mister."
Fitz laughed again. "Livvie, we have got to be the most birth control challenged couple alive. I mean, with Elle it was a failed IUD, Max owes her existence to sporadic condom use and with new Baby Grant, improper diaphragm removal and your husband's, uh, large appendage."
Olivia rolled her eyes at him.
"It appears our babies were meant to be here. Obviously"
Olivia chuckled, nodding in agreement.
Fitz stared at his very fertile wife. As usual, she was beautiful and her smile was ethereal.
Olivia looked at her love. "Babe, are you okay?" she asked.
Fitz nodded. "We're having another baby," he said with wonder and reached out and touched her flat stomach. "I'm going to be a daddy again."
Olivia covered his hand with hers and nodded.
"Hey, Livvie?"
She looked up at her husband. "Yes?"
"Congratulations."
"Thank you, Fitz. And congratulations to you too."
He nodded, giving her that crooked grin. "Are you happy, Livvie? Really happy about this baby?" He didn't know why, but he had to know, had to ask.
Olivia reached out and pressed her palm to his cheek. "Yes, Fitz, I'm happy."
Fitz covered her hand with his. "Do you feel up to going to somewhere for lunch?"
She shook her head. "No. All I want to do is go home, kiss my baby and get some sleep."
"Aren't you hungry?"
"I'll eat whatever we have at home." She knew she may not have sounded or appeared excited that they were expecting another baby at first, but she was too tired to pretend. "Will you make me broccoli soup?" she asked.
He smiled at her. "Of course."
She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, baby." Fitz started up the SUV, thinking he may need a bigger vehicle soon, and headed toward Spring Valley. Stopping at a red light he glanced at Olivia and saw that she had fallen asleep. He loved her more than life itself, and his child that she carried beneath her heart. He was still trying to process the indescribable miracle she'd gifted him. He knew she was still caught up in very mixed feelings but he also knew that she would come around to being pregnant again. Of that he was certain. And, he would be there to make sure she had any and everything she needed, always.
A year and a half ago, he couldn't have imagined this being his life. Now he didn't want to think what his world would be like without his wife and children. He'd had no idea that he had fathered one child and now there were three. He was feeling beyond blessed and grateful for the beautiful woman sleeping next to him, and the new life cradled inside her.