Hello Fan Fiction readers; I hope all is well with you and yours during this challenging and unprecedented time. My goal is always to provide you with some sort of escape from your personal lives. Here's to hoping I meet that challenge and give you some peace for a bit, as you delve into fiction.
Let's catch back up with this story as the drama continues to build and unfold.
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. They are the property of Shonda Rhimes and Shondaland productions.
Happy Reading!
Fitz stands at the door with the knob in his hand, as he replays Olivia's words of encouragement in his head. But he's knocked back into reality when he hears his father's demanding voice once again. "Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, either open the door willingly, right now. Or I will do it for you!" The urging in his voice is noted and typical. Everything is always urgent when his father wants something to be done. Yet, he doesn't value other people's interests the same way. What an ass, he thinks, as he opens the door for him.
With the door now open he sees his father and two security guards he travels with, standing on his door step. He and his father's eyes meet, and he steps back as he says, "Come in." Frustrated by the wait, Gerry walks in, leaving his security in the hall.
Fitz then closes the door behind him as he hears him reply, "I don't appreciate you leaving me in the hall like I'm some vagabond or salesman. What took so long to open the door?"
Understanding his point, but still annoyed by him showing up unannounced; he decides to express his own frustration with him as he replies, "Since I wasn't expecting you I wasn't prepared for you to visit, and I had to put on some clothes before letting you in. Besides, when I talked to you earlier you didn't mention you coming by today to talk."
Gerry looks at his son and reviews his attire. And admittedly, he's dressed in athletic gear which makes for a quick go to when you have to put something on in a hurry. But still, he doubts the truthfulness of his reply. In his head he calls bullshit on his response, since he doesn't exactly live alone. So it's unlikely he'd be walking around naked, living with male roommates.
Nonetheless he moves pass the obvious untruth, unsure of why he's being dishonest. But he doesn't have the time or the patience to explore that right now. Shaking from his thoughts he replies, "I didn't tell you I was coming because I didn't want you to leave, you've gotten pretty good at avoiding me in general, but even more so lately. And I needed to talk to you in person about something important."
The tone in his voice is different than it started, it's actually more concerning. He notices that first, over his sense of urgency he always uses, even when it's not warranted. And he doesn't bother to address his comment about him avoiding him, because it's true. Yet, he considers whether he should buy into what he's selling or not.
Just as he makes his decision, he hears Olivia's voice in his head saying, "Give him a chance to talk so you can listen. And be willing to listen to discuss, not just to respond." Centering his thoughts, he tables a likely one liner he could've made at his father's expense.
Instead of starting a verbal sparring match, he looks at him and says, "Okay. Have a seat dad." Gerry sees a change in his son's demeanor, which lets him know he's actually listening to him. He sits down in the chair across from the couch, opposite where his son sits.
After getting comfortable Gerry says, "I've been in thought for a few days trying to make sense of things where you're concerned. And I can't seem to resolve it on my own." Immediately, Fitz feels a speech coming, verses a conversation. So, he settles in, allowing him to continue as always.
He listens as he hears him say, "I need to understand what's going on with you? First I get a notification you signed the eligibility form to access your trust. Then I learn from Mellie's father she's dating some random guy, and you've completely removed yourself from the running of being her suitor. All while also declining to register for the upcoming freshman senate primary, even though you told me previously you'd consider it. But somehow, that's changed without you telling me anything. And to top it all off, you're avoiding me like the plague. So I have to ambush you in order to get you to talk to me. I just want to understand, that's all. Can you help me with that?"
Surprised he actually asked a question, instead of rambling on for hours, before allowing him to speak. He initially doesn't realize he's posing a question to him directly for him to answer. So despite wanting to write him off, and walk away. He decides to put together some words to address the concerns he's raising. Gerry sees his son's facial expression and isn't sure how to gage it, but he remains quiet to give him a chance to respond.
The pause goes on a bit longer than Gerry can tolerate, and his tome shifts a bit as he says, Fitz, I need you to talk to me. You've completely changed the trajectory of your life with these questionable choices, leaving me both concerned and confused. Because you're in danger of ruining your life out of spite. Which is both unacceptable and unnecessary. Hate me all you want, but don't kill your future to get back at me. You're better than that, we raised you to be better than that."
There's a slight pause again as Fitz revamps his response, and when the silence breaks, he asks, "Are you done?" Gerry now growing annoyed with him, sits up in the chair, reacting to his tone and question simultaneously as he responds, "You will speak to me with respect, regardless of how you're feeling Fitzgerald. Are we clear?"
Fitz smirks at first and sighs as he runs his fingers through his hair, to prevent himself from losing his cool. And as he finds the words to speak, his father interrupts once again as he says, "I don't have all day."
Frustrated more than ever he calls his father's bluff as he replies, "My God, you're a real peace of work." Gerry takes offense to his comment as he asks, "Watch your tone Fitzgerald, you've been warned."
Fitz scoffs as he responds, "Dad, I'm not yelling and I'm not being disrespectful. I'm merely expressing myself as an adult and not a child. I'm freaking 25 years old, you can't waltz in here and lecture me on my choices and demand I listen to you, but you don't even give me a chance to respond. What's next; are you going to send me to my room without dinner? Or ground me, what? Clue me in here dad? Because I don't know what you're expecting, but the way I see it respect goes both ways. And the one who's being discourteous here is you, not me."
Gerry groans with annoyance as he replies, "You want to talk to me about being an adult. But you're acting like a spoiled teenager avoiding my calls and sneaking behind my back, making changes to your future without as much as a peep from you. That's not what adults do son. Adults have hard conversations regardless of the outcome, because you can't just ignore things you don't want to talk about. You may be an adult chronologically. But you're still my son. And despite what you're thinking, I still care about what happens to you."
He takes in his response, but can't help but ask, "Do you really? Or do you just care that your plan for my life isn't coming to pass as you'd like?" Gerry shakes his head as he responds, "Come on, don't make this out to be me trying to control you. We agreed you'd consider the freshman senate race this year." Fitz admittedly replies, "Okay. You got me there. I didn't follow up with you on the registration for the senate race. And I should've let you know that I decided not to enter."
Gerry responds, "Why did you choose not to enter?" Fitz decides to say out loud what he's needed to say to him for a while. "I decided not to run because I don't want to be in politics at all, not just regarding this term." Gerry squeezes the bridge of his nose as he asks, "Where's this coming from? We've talked about you running for president one day, and Mellie being your first lady. Do you not recall those conversations?"
He replies, "Yes. Of course I remember dad." Gerry continues, then what's the problem? Help me understand why you've had a change of heart? We spent several days talking about this. I gave you the whole duty and honor speech, we talked about you coming from a long line of public service representatives and you being the one to crack the seal, by being the president of the United States one day."