SECRETS

*WARNING* A SMALL ACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VERY SMALL I PROMISE…PREWARNING BEFOREHAND ADDED.

Chapter 8-The Secret(s) Out

HAPPY READING!

Max stood there staring at Liv's small but present bump when a smile crossed his face. Liv turns to Fitz as his eyes also land on her lower abdomen. How did he miss this? All the while he was there, he never even noticed. It was hidden behind the desk. He quickly scanned her from head to toe using only his eyes. Yes, her face was fuller, her hips were wider, her hair was longer, and her skin was glowing. She was indeed pregnant. Was it too late for him? "Fitz could you please give me a moment. This won't take long?" Fitz nods and steps out of her office passing in front of Max feeing slightly defeated when Max recognizes him "You're the lawyer dude next door right? Ahh, ahh Fitzgerald Grant, right?" Fitz nod in agreement and takes a seat but doesn't say a single word.

He was losing faith in his chance with Liv's with every passing moment. First her husband shows up on the day he finally got to see her again. Next, he finds out she's expecting a child that she hadn't even share with Max. They had apparently been separated. Will she take him back? He came with divorce papers. They were getting a divorce. Will Max be able to change her mind and convince her to take him back? Had he known sooner she would already be his, pregnant and all, but why would she keep her pregnancy a secret from her husband? He wondered as well. How far along was she? Could it be a possibility that the child she was carrying may be his? He momentarily thinks to himself but dismisses the possibility.

Huck, Jay, Stephen, and Harrison stand down and allows Max to walk pass them. They return to their offices as Fitz takes a seat at the conference table just outside Liv's office. Max walks into Liv's office as she follows turning to Fitz with a small smile before closing the door. Fitz watches with intense eyes through the glass enclosure that surrounds Olivia's office. Due to Liv's office being soundproof he could see but not hear. But something in his gut told him to stay vigilant and he always followed his gut.

Liv walks past Max as he stops only a few feet from the entryway and stands in front of her desk. "Max look…"

"No-no baby nothing else needs to be said. There is no way I can leave you pregnant with my child. I'm so happy right now. I gave you what you've always wanted. We can work through this Liv. I told you my soldiers worked. Why didn't you tell me? Did you plan to just take the baby and do this on your own? Never-mind, I know now, so you can toss any thought of doing this by yourself. Wow I can't believe this, my wife is pregnant and we're having a baby. I'm not mad you didn't tell me, but there's no way I'm signing these divorce papers now. I can't walk away from you while you're pregnant. I sill love you Liv. You have to know that." Max continues going on and on not giving Liv a chance to speak. Overjoyed with the thought of not having to sign the papers. There was no way she could or would leave him now that he knows she's pregnant, so he thought.

The frustration can be seen on Liv's face that doesn't go unnoticed by Fitz as he continues to sit and watch ready to leap in a moment's notice. "Max! Stop talking!" She yells causing Max to pause "There is no us, there is no marriage, there is no future…not anymore. I told you I was done. We-are-over!" She points from herself to him. "I'm not sure why you refuse to believe that and the fact that you can't have kids." There she said it. How he took it was now on him.

His entire demeanor changes. He heard everything she said but only zoned in on one part. "How else would you be pregnant than Liv? You trying to tell me you fucked some other guy and that-that's his baby your carrying? Please tell me that's not what you're saying Olivia?"

The tone of his voice changes and sends a chill down her spin causing the hairs on her arms and neck to stand up. "Look Max just sign the divorce papers, and let's get this over with."

"Stop avoiding the fucking question. Are you cheating on me? Are-you carrying-another-mans-baby?" He tone low and deep. Olivia looks past him, and her eyes connect with Fitz then she quickly shifts them back to him before he could notice. She needed to tell him the truth without revealing all of her secret. "I was unfaithful once and the baby I'm carrying is not yours."

*DV IN THIS PARAGRAPH*

Max never taking his eyes off of her finally looks away dropping the manila envelope from his hand. Without notice he turns and backhands Liv across her face as she falls backwards onto her desk. She could feel his strong hand surround her neck and the weight of his body as the feeling of panic and the inability to breath overtakes her. "You hypocritical bitch. You were cheating on me-carrying some other nigg…" He doesn't get to finish the statement as his body is snatched into the air and tossed across the room, crashing onto and breaking the center piece table stationed in front of the sofa in Liv's office.

"DO NOT FUCKING TOUCH HER EVER AGAIN!" Fitz growls with a roar from within. His voice deep like a vibrating baritone. The sound of Max crashing grabs the attention of the other team members causing them all to leap to their feet and run into Liv's office. Seeing Max crumpled on top of the expensive piece of furniture and Fitz standing between him and Liv as his chest heaves up and down, gave them the story in full that Liv was assaulted. Max groans as he attempts to stand prompting the team to become a barrier between Liv, Fitz and himself. Once on is feet he attempts to charge towards Fitz but is stopped short by three men standing between them. "Don't even think about it." Jay states in a threatening voice.

Fitz has already made his way to Liv pulling to her feet as she uncontrollably coughs as oxygens makes its way back into her lungs. "Livvie, are you okay, are you hurting? Is the baby okay?" She gasps finally able to take several deep breaths nodding her head. Fitz gathers her into his arms. She was trimbling "I got you Livvie, he can't hurt you anymore. What do you need, tell me what you need baby, and I will do it?" Fitz words incite Max to no end. He charges again. "You bitch this-who you're fucking, you got knocked up by this dude, the guy next door from our fucking house?!" Huck halts his movement with a military type chock hold. Placing one forearm around Max neck twisting one of Max's arms behind his back pushing it upward causing a muffled groan from his restricted throat.

Liv fear turns to anger. Something about Fitz's words comforted her and made her feel safe and fearless. She lifts her head from his chest and steps back from his embrace looking directly at Max. "Who I am and am not screwing is no longer any of your damn business. Huck get him out of my office. Stephen, call the police, I want to file assault charges. Harrison, make sure Huck don't kill him until the authorities arrive."

Jay watches as Huck drags Max outside Liv's office slamming him face first on the conference table. He turns to Liv. "What do you need me to do Liv?" She turns her attention to Jay "I need you to get those divorce papers signed." She states pointing at the envelope on the floor. Jay walks midway and picks up the envelope "Consider it handled." Jay walks out pulling the door closed behind him and walks over and props himself on the conference table next to Max. Jay pulls the documents from the envelope and slams them on the table "Sign."

Max looks up at Jay lifting his head from the table when Huck slams it back down. Jay then slams down a pen as Harrison grabs his hand and slams it on top of the pen. "You heard the man." Stephen was still on the phone with the authorities explaining the situation. Huck adds pressure to the arm twisted behind Max's back. "Ouch, okay, okay I'll sign." Max uses his free hand and signs all three pages of the document before he's handcuffed to his seat. His mouth duct taped so he couldn't speak as he watched Liv fall into the arms of another man.

Jay takes the paperwork placing it back inside the envelope after notarizing it himself since he was licensed "Tell Liv I'm going to file these today if she needs me hit my cell."

…

Fitz pulls back from the embrace after kissing Liv on the forehead. "Livvie?"

"I'm fine." She promptly states

"No, you're not."

"I need a minute."

"Livvie?'

"I just need a minute!" She yells when all the fight drains from her and her head falls against Fitz chest. He brings his long arms from his sides and wraps them around her waist pulling her close. She responds by sliding her hand underneath his armpits and onto the back of his shoulders and cries. Fitz gives her-her minute before pulling back again. "I got you Livvie, give me a dollar."

"Huh?" She looks up at him in confusion

"One buck Liv, give me one single dollar bill." He again states as he wipes her fallen tears

Liv walks over to the coatrack by the window and takes a dollar bill from her wallet inside of her purse and hands it to Fitz. "I'm now your lawyer. I will make sure he pays for hitting you. I will put him away for a very long time."

She was feeling no guilt "Thank you." Fitz blue eyes are hypnotizing her and again making her feel things she's never felt as he stares at her. "What?" She questions becoming bashful as if under his spell

"Can I ask you something?"

"Yes." She softly answers

"Is this my baby?" He asks gently placing his large hand around her baby bump.

With shaky breath she replies "I was going to tell you. I just wanted to get my divorce out of the way first. I didn't want Max to find out."

"That makes you about five months. Are you sure it's mines? I just need to know Livvie. I can't go through this again. I don't want to get my hopes up. How can you be sure?"

Liv walks behind her desk and sits down. She reaches out for Fitz hands. He takes her hands as he sits on the desk looking down at her. "I'll be five months tomorrow. I found out last month. I didn't even know I was pregnant. Max and I were seeing a reproductive specialist when I was given the news. I asked the doctor not to tell Max. The testing informed us that Max was unable to have children. His sperm count was too low, and he had a blockage from steroid use he admitted to about a year ago which was also something I didn't know. He was in such denial when his arrogance kicked in and he blurted out that he couldn't be sterile because he has a two-year-old son. That's when I knew the baby was yours. I have to be honest. I was happy and somewhat relieved. I've been wanting to have a child for quite some time now and after finding out that Max has a whole family with someone else at the same time finding out I was pregnant; I can finally accept that I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since our time together. I mean I fantasized about you way before then but now you're in my thoughts always. I didn't want to add more stress to your life. I figured if I get a divorce then contact you it would lessen that stress and much easier on me as well. I'm sorry. I should have told you sooner." She finishes dropping her head

"I'm only glad I now know. This makes me incredibly happy."

She looks up with teary eyes "Really?"

His crooked smile appears "Really. I too have not been able to stop thinking about you. I used to watch you and fantasize about you as well. You're all I think about. You occupy my thoughts daily. When I lay down at night. When I rise in the mornings. It's always you I think about. I missed you so much. I tried to move on, then I tried waiting you out hoping I would one day get my chance and now that I have another chance, I plan to make you mines. I fell in love with you that day. I didn't realize it right away, but over time, I knew. I'm in love with you Olivia Pope. You left an impression on me that I've never experienced before."

Liv chuckles "You left and impression on me too, as well as in me. I'm having your baby."

"You're having my baby, our baby. Do you know what we're having?"

"No, but I think it's a boy."

He removes a lone curl from her face "Well whatever we have, I will be happy."

It didn't get pass Fitz that Liv didn't return his declaration, but it didn't matter her action told him she felt the same way. He was correct she did love him but wasn't sure how to say it using her words. At least not yet. "Fitz…thank you. Max could have really hurt me. I'm glad you were here to save me. Had you not been sitting there watching, the team would not have heard him attacking me, so thank you."

"I'm glad I was here too and thank you…for keeping my baby. You could have chosen differently but you didn't, also I'm so sorry Livvie for putting you in this situation. Had I used protection none of this would have happened."

Liv cradles his hands against her cheek "Had we used protection, but I don't blame you for Max's actions. I was there too. I chose to sleep with you without protection Fitz. It was a choice and we both made it. I'm just lucky neither of us caught and spread something that we couldn't get rid of."

Fitz stiffens "Oh fuck, Livvie I never even thought about that. I haven't had myself checkout."

"I have and was given a clean bill of health, but you should still get yourself checked out."

"I promise I will. Can I kiss you now?"

Without hesitation Liv pulls his face down to hers and connects with his lips all the while Max was only able to watch. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. "Liv the police are here." Stephen shares

Liv and Fitz release from the kiss as the police enter the office. "Mrs. Pope we were told you were assaulted?"

"Yes, my now ex-husband Maxwell King physically and violently attacked and choked me. I would like to press charges. He's the one surrounded by my team to keep him away from me until you guys got here." The officer turns and looks at Max "Arrest that man, take him downtown and book him for assault."

Liv, Fitz, Huck, Stephen and Harrison's statement were taken. Pictures of Liv's bruised neck and cheek were taken. Paramedics were called to check Liv over. The lead officer recommended she get check out in the ER due to her being pregnant just in case there were delayed or hidden injuries and/or symptoms. She agreed.

After giving her statement the officers and paramedic left. She and Fitz prepared to go to the emergency. "Guys, I want to formally introduce you to our client Fitzgerald Grant III. He is also my lawyer and soon to be father of my unborn child. Fitz meet Harrison, Stephen and Huck, my brother Jay was the sharp dressed one who seems to have disappeared."

"That explains a lot. Jay went to file your paperwork." Harrison states before shaking Fitz hand. "Thank you and congratulations." Stephen follows also shacking Fitz hand "Hey." Huck adds still standing in place not offering a handshake

Fitz returns the gestures and just looks at Huck unsure how to perceive him "Don't worry Huck is like that with everyone." Liv volunteers putting Fitz at ease. "Shall we go now?"

Fitz relaxes "Yes my love. Nice to meet you all."

After Liv collects her purse she stop remembering why Fitz came in the first place "Huck, take this thumb drive and prepare Mr. Grant's defense. Stephen, the soon to be ex-wife is talking to the media find out who and pay them a visit. Harrison, the baby daddy, find out who he is and pay him a visit and when Jay returns tell him to go see the ex, all you need should be on that thumb drive, am I correct?" The question directed at Fitz. "Ah yes, but just in case the soon to be ex is Melanie Grant, the baby daddy is Marcus Walker, and the reporter is Ashley Peterson." He adds

"The wife is using blackmail to extort money from Fitz before signing the divorce papers. Make sure Jay has all he needs to get those papers signed. The baby daddy may not be too happy his child is being used as a prop. Also get ahold of the birth certificate to see whose name is on it."

"Ah Liv I'm not sure of the child's name. She wanted to name him after me. I'm not sure if she did or didn't."

"It doesn't matter Huck can find out anything on anyone. I can be reached on my cell, but only call me if neither of you can handle it. I'll be back in the morning."

She and Fitz leave hand in hand to the emergency room. An hour later Liv and Fitz both are given a clean bill of health and released. Fitz paid out of pocket to have STD testing done.

Fitz pulls out of the hospital parking lot "So Liv, should I take you to get your car?"

"Yes, I'm really tired right now. I would like to get some sleep before Jay gets in."

"That's good you have someone staying in that house with you."

Without thinking Liv's joyfully states "Oh no, I stay with Jay for now. I move out the same day I found out everything. I haven't been back."

Fitz stops at the traffic light and takes in what she said before asking his next question "Will you stay with me tonight? I'm still staying at my family hotel in the presidential suite. Please Livvie stay with me tonight.?"

She leans over placing her head on his shoulder "Yes Fitz, I'll stay with you tonight. I can have Jay drop off a change of clothing to me in the morning."

"Or I can take you on a shopping spree and shop for you and our baby."

Liv lifts her head and looks at him "Do you plan on spoiling our baby before it even gets here?"

With the crooked Grant smile Liv finds so freaking sexy he reply, "I plan on spoiling both of my girls."

"I thought you didn't care what we had as long as the baby's healthy?'

"I don't. I just think your having a girl. That's all." Liv stretches and kisses him on the cheek and enjoys the ride to his place.

A/N: Woo, glad to finally get this out of my brain. I'm sure you guys have plenty to say and I'm here for it….Until next time….Keke.