Hello fan fiction lovers, I hope your New Year and Christmas were a success. Mine was amazing, always a great time to get together with family. Here's to another happy and healthy new year to us all. Now, let's check back into another installment of The Pathway To Vermont.
I know where the last chapter left off, but I decided to write this next installment as more reflective, instead of real time. Hope you enjoy it! If not, I'm sure you'll let me know; you always do, and I appreciate the feedback. Enjoy!
PS. I do not own the rights to these characters; they are property of Shondaland Productions and ABC.
Having just left Teddy's room, and getting him settled for the night. Olivia tucks Ella in post bed time story too. After she climbs into bed, she asks, "Livy, why can't me and Teddy share a room?" Instantly her heart rate quickens; she can feel herself beginning to sweat, as her brain tries to come up with a plausible response to satisfy the moment.
Suddenly, something clicks, she looks down into her innocent, deep, pretty brown eyes and calmly replies, "Remember a few days ago when he wanted to play with his trains, but you wanted to watch cartoons?" She nods as she says, "Yes."
Thankful for her recollection, and agreeable response. She smiles as she asks, "How would you have done that if you shared a room?" She sees her mind working as she tries to process her response. Then she adds, "Besides, do you want to give up your white princess bed for a race car bed?"
She gets confirmation of her answer working for her, when she hears her excited reply, "No! I love my bed!" Olivia smiles as she replies, "Of course you do. And as long as you have your own room, you can keep it." Finally her response manages to satisfy her inquisitiveness, and assists Olivia in preserving Ella's innocence a little longer.
Feeling relief that a crisis has been averted; she says, "Now, it's getting late. Let's get you settled in lady bug." She grins at the pet name Olivia has for her, as she willingly gets under the covers. Once the fidgeting stops, she smiles as she asks, "Are you all settled?" Ella nods as she replies, "Yes." Her smile is so bright and sweet, it warms her heart to see her smiling again so effortlessly. Sweetly, she gives her a kiss on the forehead as she yawns.
Olivia grins at her as she says, "Some one's sleepy." She softly replies, "Not me." Olivia grins at her as she stands up, and turns toward her to smooth out her covers, preparing to leave, saying, "Your droopy eyes disagree my dear. Now, get some rest. You have school tomorrow." Ella responds, "Is Fitz going to come tuck me in too?" She replies, "No. Not to night hon. He's busy working. But, I'm sure he will make it up to you and Teddy another night, okay?"
Again, her curiosity satisfied. She nods in agreement as she replies, "Okay." After she turns over, Olivia pauses for a moment, watching her grab her teddy, Mr. Puddles. And close her eyes. The sight is sweet and endearing. Seeing she's on track for resting comfortably, she approaches the door, and as she walks through it.
She hears, "Night Livy. Love you!" She turns to face her as she responds, "Night lady bug. Love you too!" Tiredness creeps in just that quickly, as she sees Ella drifting off to sleep.
After turning out the main light; she waits for the automatic night light to illuminate the room, before leaving, closing the door behind her. Once she steps out into the hall, she takes a breath.
She adores that little girl so much, and her heart breaks for her given what she's been asked to deal with to this point. Nobody knows the future, but if how she's been handling things so far is any indication of what's to be expected. The future looks brighter than the sun.
Reflectively, Olivia walks down the hallway toward the bedroom in thought of the recent events, and how everything has changed so drastically over the last three weeks. If anybody told her in advance what she'd have knowledge of right now, she would've called them crazy. But yet here she is and yet, she's still standing, and still strong. Moving forward, and making the best of a very sensitive and difficult situation.
After rounding the corner her thoughts are interrupted by seeing secret service agents changing shifts. She smiles at the agents standing by the door, and they both return the smile. Speaking to her in unison as they say, "Evening Ms. Pope." She replies, "Hello Brad and Rebecca."
He nods politely as he opens the entry door for her, ushering her inside. And as she passes him, he replies, "Ms. Pope, President Grant told me to tell you he will be up soon. And he apologizes for being late." She smiles as she responds, "Thank you for letting me know. I appreciate it."
He again nods as he replies, "You're welcome mam. Have a good night." She nods in return as she responds, "You both do the same." As the door closes she hears Rebecca say, "She's a real class act. So much nicer and prettier than his ex-wife." He agrees as he replies, "Yes. Thank God that ended before my rotation. I heard some real horror stories about dealing with her." Olivia chuckles hearing their comments, as she leans against the door ear hustling; she knows Mellie was and probably is still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to people she feels works for her. But, such is life.
Now in the comforts of the residential suite. She prepares for bed by removing her make-up, taking a long hot shower, and then moisturizing her body. Upon dressing in some pink lace booty shorts, and matching tank top. She brushes her hair back and slips on her pink hair bonnet, just before taking a sip of water and climbing into bed.
Looking at the clock, she sees it's 8:00 p.m. And, she's ready to lay it down for the evening. As she sets her alarm for tomorrow, she gets a text on her phone from her love. "Babe, I hope you're not sleep yet. I will be on my way in a half hour or so; I promise."
She smiles at the text and replies, "No worries my love. I am in bed, but not sleep yet. Take your time. I'm not going anywhere." She sends the text and seconds later she gets a reply, "I love you." She grins as she responds, "I love you too."
Managing to finish setting her alarm, she takes a breath and slips down into the covers. But, despite being prepared for bed. Her mind is still alive and well. As she lays on her side, facing the bed side table near the bed. She sees a photo of her, Ella, Teddy, Fitz, and Karen. The photo was taken by a Whitehouse photographer of them playing in the snow out back.
She smiles at the picture, because of all of the fun they had that day. It was the first time Ella had smiled in several weeks. And the first time she'd had any desire to do anything that didn't involve staying in her room alone.
Olivia's eyes begin to water as she thinks about the conversation she had to have with her, that completely rocked her world, changing everything forever.