The last time I stood at these doors I was saying goodbye to my friends and the place I'd called my second home for years. I thanked the Uber driver and gave him a cash tip before getting out and heading for the crosswalk. While waiting for the signal to change, Huck appeared in my peripheral and seconds later was waiting with me.

"I'm gonna block him."

I turned to look at him and could only laugh at how serious yet annoyed he looked. Annoyed was a new expression from Huck and so was relaxed. The last time we'd been in Georgia together I was waiting to go before the judge and both he and Fitz were on edge but now Huck was completely different. There wasn't a threat here. No one connected to Russel or the organization wanting payback, it was just normal. If there was any doubt, Huck's demeanor said it all.

"He just wants to make sure you don't ignore him. I just hung up with him and he promised not to call you."

"He texted me. I'm killing this phone. I'll make sure you have the new number but he can't have it."

"You know that's not gonna fly."

The cross sign turned green and we both moved across the busy street towards the entrance to the hospital.

"I'm limiting him to two phone calls and one text a day. The rest of the time, he can bother you."

"Well it's not a bother to me, I love talking to him. Besides it's one more day. That was the deal."

Flashback

Fitz POV

The next morning we both woke up and stayed wrapped in each other's arms until Olivia's bladder forced us apart. When she emerged from the bathroom, my eyes trailed her as she moved into our shared closet and came out with two dresses and her favorite wrap sweater and a jean jacket. She draped the dresses over the love seat and folded the sweater and jacket in a neat pile on the cushion. She turned to see if I was watching her before moving to the dresser and pulling out panties, a bra and two tank tops I knew she would be using as pajamas. After adding some of her toiletries to the pile she quietly made her way back to the bed and climbed in my lap.

"You're worried."

"No not at all. My pregnant girlfriend is leaving town to go back to a place she was sought after by gangsters."

I rubbed her swollen stomach, pushing exactly where I knew our son was resting. She placed her hands over mine and moved it a few inches to the left to where her stomach was extremely hardened.

"Fitz."

"I know you'll be fine, I do I just can't help but want to be there."

"We promised CJ we wouldn't both up and leave like we did before. She would freak out and even so, I have to face them alone. You've been to the city with me before and as much as it was on different terms, this isn't a life or death situation."

I nodded, finally looking into her eyes and seeing how worried she was for me.

"I know. Police are none the wiser about your sentence if you were to be seen, there's no threat there, just…"

I wasn't sure what to actually call what she was up against.

"Just facing the friends that were basically my family and begging for forgiveness?"

I sighed along with her and caressed one of her cheeks to try and comfort her as best I could. She did her best to hold back her tears but the second one escaped, she stared deep into my eyes and voiced her biggest fear.

"What if they hate me? What if they don't care that I had my reasons for leaving and won't even let me explain? I.. I want them to be a part of my life, a part of our life."

Her hand went to cup her stomach and we both smiled at the shifting of our baby boy. Anytime she was physically still and resting, their boy was very active. Each morning was like a personal show for us and even when it awakened Olivia from her sleep, we loved it. He was healthy and thriving.

"We spent countless hours together talking about our futures and what we wanted in a husband and how many kids we wanted."

"How many did you want?"

"Two. Maybe a third. You might can get one more out of me Grant."

Her including CJ in "their children" was exactly why she shouldn't be worried.

"Livvie they're gonna be so happy to see you and to finally understand what you went through. What you're still going through. The same way you want them to give you a chance to explain, you have to give them a chance to believe you. Go in there expecting the best out of them not the worst. They're your family too."

She leaned in as closely as her stomach would allow and buried her face in my neck. I was going to miss her dearly but knew she would be just fine.

"You know two days is going to feel like a lifetime, right?"

"For me too. He's gonna be so anxious not hearing his dada's voice every morning, and CJ's."

"That's not true because you are instructed to call me each morning and at least three phone calls between that, multiple text messages and a phone-call until we both fall asleep."

She smiled and shook her head but agreed to the terms.

"Just like old times?"

"Some of my favorite times Ms. Pope. I learned so much about you during those phone calls. It was like peeling back a new, beautiful layer each night."

"It was like that for me too. Do you think that will still happen now? That we will keep learning new things about each other? Not just on the phone but in general?"

I pulled her even closer to me and kissed her lips for a few seconds then pulled back to look at her.

"I hope there's always something new to learn about you. As we talk each day coming, two weeks from now, six months from now, even five years from now I plan to learn new things about you. I want to learn who you are as a mother, as a wife. I want to see more of your goofy side, you just being carefree. I'm sure I'll regret saying that I want to see my Livvie angry but I do. I plan to learn something new about you for the rest of our lives."

She was near tears and I knew we didn't have all day to let our emotions do as they pleased so I lifted my right hand and extended my pinky to her, making it a binding agreement. Olivia chuckled and linked her finger with mine before nodding her head.

"So five phone calls minimum, well six because CJ gets a phone call in the afternoon and texts galore. All day."

Her smile was timid knowing that I was one-hundred percent okay with her leaving. She'd be safe. She'd come back and that's what mattered most.

"That's all I ask"

"Oh and you can also call or text Huck too. He's already made it clear he plans to follow my every move and watch me like a hawk."

I groaned and moved her from my lap before going to the hook on the bathroom door and grabbing her robe. I didn't want her to go without it because she loved it.

"Livvie you're gonna have to make him respond to me because you know how he gets. He's going to ignore me."

She laughed loudly but couldn't deny that I was telling the truth.

"I'll talk to him. I promise."

End of Flashback

Liv POV

"How long will you be here?"

I took that as a sign that he would accept the harassment from Fitz, and felt the knots in my stomach at what could possibly be behind the sliding doors.

"I really don't know." I sent him a soft shrug before continuing. "If it all goes to hell I could be in and out in ten minutes but if it goes well…" the positive possibilities were endless and ones I hoped for. "I used to spend days on end here even when I wasn't working. It was a second home to me."

I felt Huck's hand on my shoulder and he nodded once making me realize that was his version of comforting me in the moment.

"I won't be far. Keep your phone on you."

I nodded and thanked him before the sliding doors welcomed me into the main entrance of the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

I entered the elevator and pressed the 6th floor button, seeing the words Pediatric Oncology engraved next to it. When the doors opened I stepped into the familiar halls. The smell was so familiar that it made me smile softly just as I approached the patient rooms. I rang the buzzer and waited for the door to swing open and stepped through. It was exactly how I remembered. There was no one at the nurses station and it was actually quiet and calm. A snooze day as we'd call it. My eyes scanned the board seeing who was occupying which room. So much of it looked the same yet so different. The bulletin board had pictures of children I didn't know, but there were some I recognized. I loved seeing their faces but it also dawned on me that I had no idea where they were now and if they were okay.

I moved down the hall towards where the CLS's office was and almost ran into a nurse leaving one of the rooms.

"Sorry about that, always on the move. Can I help you find someone?"

"I uh I was just headed to.."

"You look familiar, do I know you?"

"No but I uh… I worked here for a while."

"Pope! You're Pope right? The…? I can't remember where you worked but I know your picture and I've heard the war stories."

I smiled nervously before nodding. "Guilty. I was a CLS"

"That's right. Perkins, Owens and Snides have shared about your summer camp program and I've always wanted to meet you. They said you had some family stuff to take care of but weren't able to come back. What happe….I'm sorry, I have no filter and I've been told I'm nosy. I just clocked in so I'm not sure who alls around but you know where to go. Maybe I'll see you later Pope."

"Maybe, thanks."

If a stranger talking about my past could make my heart race and my stomach turn like that then I was possibly in over my head. Being here might not have been such a great idea.

"Pope, you want me to let you in? I'm headed that way now."

I followed her lead sending her a grateful smile. I wouldn't be able to get into the office/break room without an ID badge and hadn't thought of that detail. She did just as she said and held her badge to the door until it unlocked them left just as quickly. I went into the room and smiled at the memories that filled the walls. This room had been my personal chore and I loved it. I wanted to make it feel like our home away from home because that's what it was. The walls might have been filled with new kids every few months, tragedies, sorrow and pain, but this room would remain a safe place. I looked at the "New Life" wall and saw a picture of Carla holding who I assumed was a new grandbaby. She was an older nurse in her fifties and basically a mom to all of us. She kept us in line when we'd get far too silly for the workplace, and made sure we kept our chin up when sadness took over with the job. There was a birth announcement for Cassie Owens and under it was a picture of her with a little girl and everyone crowded around her.

I hadn't even known she was pregnant when I left but the baby was rounding seven months now according to the birthday. There were more pictures from different events like the annual Christmas Banquet the hospital threw. A few of the doctors on staff were in the pictures along with some nurses. It really was a good team in Oncology and we all got along beautifully. Or had gotten along. My thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and several people walked in, including MY people.

"Hi, can we… Olivia?"

Gasps were heard but before I could respond arms were wrapped tightly around me but the the person immediately withdrew and looked down at me in shock.

"Pope, you're pregnant!?"

Everyone was shocked to hear the news and Carol moved Owens aside and stood closer to me than any of them. I wanted to cry the second her hand was against my cheek and she spoke quietly.

"My angel it's been so long. Look at you."

It was all so overwhelming and the second she embraced me, tears began to flow down my cheeks. I felt so at home in this place, in her arms.

"You're home sweetie."

Minutes later after I'd cried enough tears to fill a water jug, unfamiliar faces gave us the space we needed and left me alone with Carol, Owens and Mays. I was glad to see her but also felt a bit of a sting. Kaitlyn Mays was our practicum student that I'd mostly trained and if she had a position here now, that could only meant she filled my spot.

"I'm glad you're still here Mays."

"It's Harris now actually." She held her left hand up shyly and showed off a gorgeous rings. "Ty and I got married a few months back."

I smiled widely remembering her always gushing about her longtime boyfriend. I knew he'd pop the question sometime soon.

"It was a beautiful wedding. I wish you could've been there."

The elephant in the room was loud and obnoxious but made me come clean to them before I chickened out. Without going into too much detail I explained a few of the details leading to my fathers death and the soap opera-like events afterwards. They were shocked to say the least and Carol asked the most questions when it came to details about the trial. Her eldest son practiced criminal law and she was insistent on getting him involved if I needed the help.

"You really had to stay in jail? God I can't imagine how you survived all of that. I'm so sorry Pope."

Cassie gripped my hand that Carol wasn't holding and we were all silent until a different elephant in the room changed the subject. Baby boy Grant made a wave of a turn against my stomach, not only making me grunt but causing a very visible motion sweep across my stomach. They all laughed softly in shock but it was Carol whose second hand reached up and touched my stomach.

"Alright now baby Pope you've got our attention." She started then looked into my eyes with the most sincere, cautious look as she gripped my hand tighter.

"Did they hurt you sweetie?"

I shook my head no instantly knowing what she was really asking me. If I was being honest I'm not sure what my actions would have been if this pregnancy was the result of that kind of pain. I couldn't even imagine it.

"In lots of ways they did but not in that way. This little boy in here is actually a baby Grant. He'll have his daddy's last name, maybe hyphenated. We haven't really talked about that but he's a product of love and he's so deeply wanted and loved."

They were smiling and squealing now which made me laugh. We were all suckers for babies and my explanation gave them free reign to get excited.

"Tell is about this Grant guy? It's barely been a full year and you've got a guy and a baby on the way."

I blushed hard realizing how crazy it must've all sounded.

"The guy that found me the night my car crashed helped nurse me back to health. He let me stay with him and wouldn't let me go out on my own since I was so hurt. Eventually I did leave when the good friend I told you guys about came to town to find me. But even after that we talk throughout the day and every night and just grew close. He's one of the greatest things to even happen to me."

"Wow, this is like the craziest, scariest, most romantic story I've ever heard. Only you Pope." Cassie shook her head and I smiled doing the same. It did sound crazy.

"Well you got a picture of this Grant? We need to see who our baby is gonna look like. He better have good genes on his side"

Carol spoke candidly and I knew she was serious. I pulled out the IPhone that me and CJ all but shared and began searching for photos. There was no SIM card that could be tracked and we only used it for picture taking, games and downloading apps. The burner phone was still snug in the pocket of my jeans. I swiped to a picture of the two of us just days ago that CJ had taken before showing it to the eager women.

"Oh hunny I knew you'd get you a white man. I called it from day one." Carol didn't hold back and chuckled. "He's fine too. No issues with his hairline either. He's a keeper."

"Carol you are a mess!" I laughed expecting nothing less from her.

"Damn Pope he's hot as hell. Does he have a brother and is he willing to relocate?"

"Sorry only child."

"But he treats you right? Takes care of you the way you never let us? What does he say about all of this?"

"He really…."

"Where the hell is everyone? You guys have me doing rounds alone….."

We all turned at the door opening and the voice that instantly followed. Seeing my best friend at a lost for words was strange but I knew the last person she'd expected to see was me. Her eyes stayed locked on mine until I caved and looked away.

"Well are you guys gonna do rounds or not? I've already cleared two through twelve but I'm not doing the rest by myself if you guys are just hanging out. This is a place of business."

"Perkins you better watch that tone. Do you see who's sitting here? Do you not have anything to say?"

Carol knew she was angry but she wasn't afraid to speak her peace with the hothead.

"Yea I see her but I'm also busy. We've got patients to see."

She left the room and I could stop my stupid lip from quivering. She knew isolation was a soft spot for me and her ignoring me as if I wasn't there cut deep.

"She didn't mean that Olivia. Trust me she missed you more than anyone when you left. I think she's just hurt."

"I know. I've got a lot to make right with her and I will. I appreciate you guys welcoming me with open arms and not judging me. If there was any other way I could've gotten through this, I would have. This place is still my home. You guys are still my home."

"You did what you had to. Perkins will understand that she just needs time."

I smiled at Cassie and moved to stand up before pulling them each in a long hug.

"I know you guys gotta get back to work. I just wanted to make sure I was able to catch you on shift. I miss you guys."

"Oh baby we miss you like you wouldn't believe. You let us know when this baby comes okay? He's got some aunties that want to spoil him rotten down here." Carol's hug was warm and perfect.

I nodded before pulling Cassie into a hug.

"Ditto. You keep us posted on this little man ok? And my numbers still the same, so use it. Perkins will come around."

"I will I promise." I knew that Huck would be able to find their numbers easily. I grabbed my bag and headed towards the door before having one last thought.

"Does she still stay over off Monroe?"

"Yep and she was on since last night so she'll be finished by one today. Her schedule and routine hasn't changed one bit."

She winked at me and I smiled knowing exactly what she was referring to. It wouldn't be hard at all to find Quinn once she got off work.

"How was it being back in the hospital?"

"Weird, surreal, fun. Almost any emotion you can imagine. Frustrating."

"Why frustrating?"

I put the phone on speaker and sat cross legged on the couch and lifted my shirt before sitting the phone on my stomach. It balanced easily and I smiled thinking of how CJ liked to balance things on my stomach.

"Because as much as I feel like I belong there, at the same time I feel so out of place. It was nice seeing Carol and Owens. We talked for a bit about everything and they couldn't believe all I'd gone through. They thought I just fell into depression after my dad died and quit. When they found out I was pregnant and asked about you

"Did you see Quinn?"

I sighed and played with the spoon I had been using. Ice cream sounded good when we were talking about happy things but bringing up Quinn instantly had my stomach turning.

"Yea and she all but told me to fuck off. Acted like I wasn't even there. Eight years of friendship down the drain I guess."

"Well how much does she mean to you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Eight years is a long time. Are you ready to just throw that away or keep trying? Is your friendship worth it?"

"I think it is but I don't think it is to her."

"Try giving her the benefit of the doubt Livvie."

"Why are you on her side?" I rolled my eyes making sure he saw me before dropping it onto the couch. I moved to put the pint of ice cream up before plopping back onto the couch and grabbing the phone.

"You're pouting."

"No I'm not"

"Yes you are. Your bottom lip is poked so far out you just might trip on it if you stand up."

I laughed at the fact that he tried to imitate his mother's response to CJ just days ago.

"All I'm saying is to push a little. It took some convincing for you to trust me and even more pushing for you to listen to me. Imagine the trust we have being broken with no explanation. Imagine me just disappearing with no explanation and expecting you to let me explain on my terms. I'd be groveling at your feet Livvie and rightfully so."

"So you're saying I need to get on my hands and knees and beg?"

"No, but what I am saying is that you can't give up on her, on your friendship. If she won't come to you, you go to her."

If she won't come to you, you go to her.

That was already my intention so I rolled my eyes when Fitz suggested that. After hearing that Quinn's schedule hadn't changed I made it my business to catch her before she turned in for the night. Each time we pulled this shift, we would go work out then grab food on the way home. It was like clockwork and minutes after shoo-ing Huck away I spotted her pulling into her reserved spot.

"Quinn can I talk to you?"

She ignored me and grabbed her hospital bag from the car before moving towards the steps.

"No. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I wanna talk to you."

"Too bad." We can't all have what we want haven't you learned that by now?"

"Quinn come on. I need to…"

"Oh need? You need something now?!"

I froze as she moved directly in my face with an angry scowl. I knew this look all too well and also what was behind it. Pain.

"I needed YOU Liv. I needed to know my friend trusted me enough to let me in. I needed YOU to be there for me when McKenzie Smith was taken off life support. I'm supposed to just pretend like nothing happened because you're pregnant? While you were gone, I had one of those and needed you when I lost it. ."

She pointed to my stomach and my shoulders shook realizing what my friend had lost.

"Carol made me listen so I know why you had to leave and that you needed to but it still doesn't hurt any less. You were my best friend but it somehow didn't matter. When my mom died you were there. When I went up against the hospital board you were there, hell when we went out and I got drunk you were there. What kind of friend was I to you that made you think I wouldn't be there for you? How could you take that away from me?"

I didn't have the right words to say that would possibly change anything and knew I had to accept her frustration and leave the ball in her court.

"I felt so small and like I had betrayed my best friend and in some ways I did."

"Why do you feel that way. Do you feel responsible for her feelings or her not accepting your apology?"

"The things she said were so …. True. They were true and eye opening."

"But are her feelings your responsibility? Do you feel you owe her something? There's no right or wrong answer per say, I just want you to think on this."

I took a few moments to think about how I really felt about the situation. I'd had three days to mull over my interactions back home and Quinn's was still eating at me. I did my best to focus on being back with CJ and Fitz the first two days but today I needed this session. I needed to talk things out and make sense of them in my head.

"I didn't choose to go through all of this but I chose to go through it alone. Even if it was for their safety at the time, I threw away so many friendships. I just left with no explanation and they didn't deserve that."

"Do you think those friendships or specifically your friendship with Quinn is over?"

"I don't know."

"Well you know Quinn, what are you expecting her to do with this? Is she the type that forgives people and moves forward or does she hold faults over your head?"

"She's forgiving and one of the most loyal people I know."

"Those are great qualities."

"But at the same time she's a hothead and has grown up not trusting a lot of people. When she lets you in it's because she believes you're there for good and won't just disappear and that's just what I did."

"Olivia was everything you've gone through worth it for this very moment? Living happy and safe with Fitz and CJ? A baby on the way?"

"It wasn't ideal and I've made some mistakes but yes. I'm happy with what my life has become even if I had to lose people along the way."

"Sit with that for a bit and Thursday I want to talk more about it. See if you feel any different and it's okay if you don't. What do I always say?"

"It's a process."

"That's right."

Fitz POV

"It's a process. I hate when she says that."

I chuckled as Olivia mimicked her therapist. I'd only met her once but I had to admit she was spot on. It was so good to have her back home where she now belonged.

"I'm sure it's annoying but it's true, right?"

"Yes but that still doesn't mean I want to hear it every session." She groaned and rubbed her stomach for a second then looked out of the window.

I needed to feed her. I wouldn't dare bring it up to her but the only time she got irritated like this is when she was hungry. Hangry. She loved her therapist and found every bit of information given useful. It was just yesterday she was chanting 'it's a process' to help calm her nerves. But each day was different depending on how Olivia was feeling which was understandable. Deep down it was great but at this moment anything positive annoyed her.

"Is Abby staying for lunch?" The garage door slowly opened and I pulled into the space before closing it back.

"God I hope not."

She looked at me sideways and it was only then I realized I hadn't only thought of that response but spoke the words aloud.

"What's wrong with her staying for lunch? She's watching CJ for us, we could feed her and what if I wanna talk to her after?"

Girl talk basically meant I was excluded and as much as I knew she needed that, Abby drove me crazy. I appreciated her and liked her as a friend but she was nosy and opinionated. Olivia and CJ already ganged up on me and I was completely outnumbered when my mom was around.

I couldn't wait for my boy to arrive.

"Nothing I just would prefer you chat with someone that won't encourage any negative thoughts. You know how Abby can be sometimes."

The two had gotten to know each other over the past couple of weeks and she made herself available to watch CJ when we needed but always stuck around to hang out with Olivia for a bit. I was happy that she had someone besides him that was close by and trustworthy. Even if she did drive me crazy.

I got out of the car and went to opened her door before following her into the house through the kitchen.

"Well all my friends live hundreds of miles away and my best friend hates me."

She had a bright fake smile on her face as we sat our stuff down and smiled at CJ and Abby who were cleaning up paint supplies.

"Hi Daddy! Hi Livia! Can we make grilled cheese for lunch?"

"Hey guys. How'd it go Liv?"

I shook my head discreetly at Abby not understanding how she didn't know to let Olivia approach the subject of therapy first before asking. I waved and kissed CJ before lifting her onto my hip at her demanding granny hands.

"It was fine. Are you staying for lunch with us?"

"Grilled cheese sounds good to me. Need any help?

"Nope I got it. Ceej you wanna help me?"

Before she could answer the doorbell rang and I playfully hoisted her onto my shoulder so she was partially upside down and jogged to the door. I made out Olivia following behind me asking who it could be as we weren't expecting anyone. I looked through the peephole and stood back before turning to look at Olivia.

"Who is it?"

"Umm Ceej why don't you go help Abby pull the stuff for our grilled cheeses ok?"

"Are you leaving?"

My body was tense and she was instantly nervous looking between Olivia and myself.

"No Bug, we're just gonna answer the door. We'll be right in, go please." I say her down and patted her bottom.

It wasn't until she was out of the room that Olivia looked at me but before she could ask who it was, the doorbell rang again and I opened it without a second thought.

I knew I looked intimidating and didn't care. I was protective and wouldn't relax until I knew she was okay. The woman looked worried and almost afraid like she was expecting the worse and to be honest she should have.

"Hi, is Olivia here?"

I felt her fingers thread through mine before she moved to stand in front of me, facing the visitor. It's like we talked her up.

"Hey Liv."

"Hey Quinn."

I looked between the two women and felt my stomach turning and what our home would be turning into today. Abby and CJ could be heard approaching and the four females stared at one another.

I really couldn't wait for my boy to arrive.