Chapter 16—
Alabama (Liv's sophomore softball season)
"We're sorry the number you have dialed is no longer in service, please check the number and dial again." The line went dead.
Liv pulled the phone from her ear. She looked at the display confused. She dialed again, saying the numbers out loud as she dialed them. It was the correct number, that she was sure of, so she hit send again, maybe she was one off the last dial.
She got the same message again, and her heart broke. "Jazzy" she whispered. "What happened?"
She looked at the last text she sent Jaz. It was last night, her night before the game ritual. Liv was playing her first game as a sophomore and her first game without her roommate and softball bestie Jaz. The text read "so ready for tomorrow. I'll be missing you, but I know you'll be cheering."
Jaz never did text her back. Liv rolled the game ball from the game earlier under her hand on her bed. She called Trish, her other teammate and friend of Jaz. "Hey." Liv said when Trish answered. "Have you heard from Jaz?"
"No, not since the summer. I thought you talked to her often."
"I did, I mean I do. I talked to her about two weeks ago. We have been texting here and there, but she didn't answer my last text from last night and her number is out of service. I called a few times a few minutes ago and got a recording." Liv was concerned.
"I don't know Liv; I haven't heard anything. Great game today though, you are on fire. What's gotten into you girl?" Trish laughed.
"Just feeling it, I guess. I hope to continue and not hit a slump. We need these early wins. But you had some defense out there in centerfield yourself." Liv encouraged Trish. "That was a strike you threw to Roxy at second. You don't nail runner and she becomes the tying run."
"Yeah, it was a good throw, wait let me pat my back." Trish laughed. "See you at practice tomorrow, Liv, let me know if you hear anything."
This wasn't like Jaz at all. She would have called Liv, let her know if her phone was being turned off, something, just to get in touch. Liv opened her laptop. She was going to try to email her, maybe her phone hit some water or something.
After a week of trying, sending email after email, text after text, phone call after phone call, Liv reluctantly gave up. She feared the worst had happened, that Jaz's mother succumbed to the breast cancer.
Liv stared at their picture from freshman year on the field. She picked up the frame. "Oh Jaz, I hope you're ok." Liv took a deep breath. She looked next to that picture.
She stared now at the picture of Fitz. "Great, I lost you and now I may have lost my Jaz." Liv put her head down. Suddenly her dorm room seemed so big, and so empty. Liv put her face into the pillow and just began to cry. Loneliness was overtaking her, and she didn't like the feeling at all.
Present day
Liv had only been in Nevada on the base for a week. It felt longer, though. Her pregnancy was evident now, being sixteen weeks. No longer a baby bump, her stomach was full blown round now. She looked around their small apartment. She rubbed her belly and took a deep breath.
She would be back to work next week, virtually, and Liv was certain that would cure her loneliness blues. Talking to Quinn daily also helped a little, but Quinn was 3,000 miles away. Her belly was even bigger, her due date next month of the birth of their baby girl.
She had everything she needed on base. With Fitz home every night by 7, there was nothing she didn't have, including his love and his affection. She was missing something though, and she didn't know how to tell Fitz.
Liv always had someone to talk to, someone close by. For the past two years, she had Bess and Quinn. In college she had Jaz and she had Trish. Now, she had no one. She was pregnant, with twins, her body changing daily, and she had no one to go to and chat.
It did sound petty, much like she was pouting, but she needed a friend. Most of the people on base were single Navy guys. She didn't think Fitz would be too happy if she found a friend in one of them. She smiled to herself.
Since this was a training school, any girl on the base were students of Fitz's and most of the women on base were instructors, working the same hours as Fitz. When Liv would go for walks, she would notice the emptiness of the complex they were living in.
Most of the residents were on base flying, learning, or instructing. Sometimes Liv seemed like the only person around. That night when Fitz came home, he was comforting her. She didn't have to say anything. "You're lonely, aren't you?"
"I am, but there still is no place I would rather be than here with you." She gave him a hug.
"You want to go the Commissary tomorrow? You can choose the meals for the week. I'd love to cook the cravings you have for you and our boys." Fitz smiled.
"Oh gosh." Liv put her face in her hands. "I always have my groceries delivered, and mostly they are frozen meals. Are you trying to make a wife out of me?"
Fitz shrugged. "Maybe I am, would that be so wrong?"
She poked him. "I'm not quitting my job; you know that right."
"Never even crossed my mind." He kissed her. "Speaking of wife." Fitz's eyebrows went up.
"Off to Vegas the weekend after the ultrasound, that's still the plan, right?" Liv asked.
"That's still the plan, unless you're mad at me having you go shopping on your own." Fitz kissed her rounding belly.
"Nope, never. You're not getting rid of me that easily."
"I can't wait to cook all the meals for you Liv, I love taking care of you." He kissed her gently on the lips. "You are my world."
"Ok, then, I'll go to the store or commissary, or whatever." She was lost in him, now.
"I love when you talk sexy like that." Fitz scooped her up, kissing her and carrying her to the bedroom.
Rarely waking up after he left, Liv opened her eyes to the sunlight and was surprised she slept so late. It was already 10 am. "You two are going to make me lose my job if you keep making me sleep late. We need a wake-up routine for next week." She was speaking to the twins swimming around her belly.
Liv was looking forward to going back to work even if it was virtual, but for now she had to keep her loneliness at bay. She locked the door and headed towards the commissary. She looked across the street and heading in the same direction a few yards in front of her was a woman she had not seen before. She was pushing a baby carriage. Maybe she would meet some new friends after all.
Fitz (San Diego Naval Base)
As per Admiral's orders, Fitz was able to stay on American soil for at least one year. He spent his time on the Point Loma Naval Base in California. Fitz didn't complain at all. It wasn't too far from home and when his father was back from DC, he would get to visit him on the weekends.
Fitz spent the time on base designing new parts for fighter jets, flying several test missions, and training young top gun graduates to prepare them for battle. He was very respected having led the Squadron overseas that had so many victories.
One top gun recruit, Jalen, had arrived on base shortly after Fitz. He was about the same age as Fitz, but Jalen didn't have a good experience over in Iraq. Jalen was only three out of 12 of the squadron that survived an attack on their barracks.
Arriving the same morning as Fitz, Jalen was depressed and hardly spoke at all. Fitz introduced himself and Jalen nodded. He mumbled "Heard good things about you Commander," as he continued to unpack his bags.
Having only the hope of Jalen coming around, Fitz tried his best to keep the young soldier comfortable. He wanted Jalen to think of him as a friend, not someone who felt sorry for him. Fitz did feel sympathy, more than Jalen would know, but he hoped being a friend would help him through.
Jalen didn't have the same job on the base as Fitz did. Jalen guided the planes off the fleets and mapped out the missions for the pilots. Because of this, Fitz and Jalen would only have the time off duty together.
One night, Jalen looked at the picture of Olivia on Fitz's nightstand. "Is that your girl? I never hear you talk to a girl." Jalen nodded at the picture.
Fitz smiled at the picture of Liv. "She's the one that got away. My fault. She's at college now, playing softball, becoming a lawyer." Fitz shrugged. "Maybe one day.." he drifted off.
"Yeah, I have a girl back home. She has no idea how much I love her though. Now, being so damaged, I don't know if I could ever get the nerve to tell her."
"Aww, Jalen, don't think like that. Let her know, worst that could happen is she says no, but at least you know you tried."
He shook his head in agreement. "What about you though, Fitz, shouldn't she know you still love her?"
"Oh, she knows, trust me she knows, but I did something to her, and she is going to need time to heal."
"Hard to believe someone like you could hurt anyone, you sure it wasn't the other way around?"
"I wish." Fitz needed to change the subject. "Jalen, if you're not doing anything, I'm heading to Santa Barbara this weekend, want to join me, stay at my place, we could surf or whatever."
"Thanks, Fitz, but I'm heading home for four days. Captain is giving me extra time to head to Texas to spend time with my mom. I'm finally looking forward to something." He stopped talking and looked at Fitz.
"What?" Fitz asked. "Everything ok?"
"I just wanted to thank you. Your friendship has meant more to me than you'll ever know."
Fitz crossed his eyebrows. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I wanted to end it Fitz. The pain, the emotional pain, it's unbearable sometimes. I've had hours of therapy, it just doesn't help, holding the dead bodies of your friends….." He stopped.
"Jalen, I…"
"No, you don't have to say anything, I just want you to know from the moment we met, how you treated me made all the difference. You saved me from doing something stupid, because I didn't know how long I would last."
Fitz bowed his head. "Jalen, you have so much life ahead of you. Go home, tell your girl how much you love her, don't ever give up. I know it sounds like I have given up, but I am holding faith that one day I will be with my Livvie."
"She's beautiful, Fitz, and if you still love her, than that would never end. The only reason I am looking forward to going home is because of you, because your friendship brought out a happiness in me, I forgot existed."
"Good to know, Jalen, enjoy." Fitz had no idea it would be the last time he would see Jalen. Jalen was told not to return to Point Loma. He was staying in Texas, in Corpus Christie on base there, to be closer to his family. It was the least the Navy could do to help his emotional healing.
Fitz was happy to have heard the news that Jalen had made his rank up from Lieutenant to Lt. Commander. He only wished the best for the young soldier.
Present Day
Fitz had left Liv sleeping. He feared with her stomach growing it would get harder for her to get comfortable and that would mean sleepless nights. He wanted to her to rest while she could.
Going back to work virtually, next week, he was sure her loneliness would subside a little, still he felt a bit guilty dragging her out here and having her live this life. If she wasn't enjoying it, she never would admit it, that's why he loved her so much.
He picked up his phone. "Two dozen pink and red roses and four heart balloons. Do you have any with teddy bears? Yeah that's perfect, delivered today, maybe around 2pm. Thanks." Just a little something to put a smile on his Livvie's face. "Yeah, put this message on the card."
She was sacrificing so much for him, and he owed it to her to do well here, complete his job, and get them back to a stable home in Jersey. He was smiling thinking about becoming her husband in a week. "Grant. Lt. Commander Grant, did you copy?"
Fitz blinked. "Sorry, Captain, I didn't hear you."
"You're wanted at headquarters." Fitz saluted and walked towards the building.
"Sir." Fitz said to his Captain.
"Good news Grant, you're getting a promotion."
"Sir" Fitz said not quite expecting that news.
"Ranking up to Captain. We're going to have a brief ceremony tomorrow to present your insignia, so anyone you would like present on base clear with the grounds security up front."
"Yes sir." Fitz heard the door open behind him.
"Commander Lawrence, please come in."
Fitz's shoulders slumped a bit and his face lit up. "Jalen?" Fitz hugged him. "Jalen, how the hell are you man?"
"Fitz, what the hell, I didn't know you were here."
They both heard the captain clear his throat. They stood at ease.
"I take it you two know one another."
"Yes sir." They said in unison.
"Good to know. Lawrence, you're being promoted tomorrow to Captain also, along with Grant here. Let me know if you need clearance for anyone on the base. The two of you, dismissed."
Alabama (finishing sophomore year)
Although Liv's classes were completed, she still stayed on campus. The softball team had made it to the college world series and Liv was packing her things up to travel with the team. Her parents would be unable to make the trip to Oklahoma City, but Liv didn't have much faith the team would make it far.
They were a young team, and Liv anticipated next year would be their year. This year would be a learning experience and as excited as Liv was to have made it this far, she still had an emptiness she couldn't help but feel in her heart.
She had finally heard from Jaz. It was a small, brief communication, and it didn't give much information at all, just the grim news that her mother had indeed passed away from the breast cancer.
"Hey Liv: I'm sorry I just dropped communication. It's been rough here the past few months. Mom's condition grew worse, and she couldn't withstand the treatments anymore. I'm sure you've tried to call and email, but my phone was turned off and I don't have access to a computer. My life is headed in a direction I didn't expect.
I don't know where to go from here. My life is so shattered without my mother. My hopes and dreams just halted, and I'm left to grieve for her alone.
I know you and the team have been kicking ass in Alabama. I'll be cheering, just know that. I can't guarantee you'll hear from me again, but I want you to know I love you Liv and I'll always cherish the friendship we had. Don't let that guy wait too long, ok. You deserve to be loved."
Jazzy
Liv looked at the envelope. No return address on it. It was only postmarked Texas, not even a city in Texas. Liv took a deep breath, holding back her tears. She looked over at the empty side of the room she was about to leave.
She never did fill it up, always holding out hope that Jaz would one day come back. She rubbed her hand over the writing, now letting the tears fall for her friend.
Feeling lonely now seemed wrong. If anyone deserved that right, it was Jaz. Liv folded the letter back up, placed it in her backpack and carried her equipment out the door, leaving her room dark and empty which is how she was feeling right now.
During each at bat at the World Series, Liv did a thing. She would step up to the plate, pat her helmet three times saying J-A-Z under her breath. Her bat hit three corners and the middle of home plate, before she squared up to the pitcher.
F-I-T-Z under her breath with each tap to the plate with the bat. The two people who motivated her the most as a player, she dedicated every at bat to Fitz and Jaz from that moment she first got up at the World Series to her last at bat senior year. It was the least she could for two people she never thought she would see again in her life.
Despite being the first team eliminated in the Series, Liv had herself quite the stats. In the two games Liv went 5 for 8 with an inside the park homerun, three triples, and a double. She had three stolen bases, one being home plate in an 8-1 loss to Michigan.
Although disappointed for the team, Liv felt a sense of accomplishment for herself as a player and was looking forward to going home for a few weeks. She would spend time with Quinn, think about Fitz, and continue to practice to better improve her game. Maybe, just maybe she would hear from Jaz.
Present Day
The woman walked too fast for Olivia's pace. Liv couldn't believe she couldn't keep up. "Damn it girl, you still hold the record at Alabama for most runs scored in a season and you're one shy of the stolen base record in a season, now you can't keep up walking?"
Liv laughed to herself. "Boys, I'm blaming you again. Your momma is going to give you a complex before you are even born."
Trying to catch up to the carriage pushing woman, Liv lost sight of her as she turned a corner Liv did not need to turn down. With the woman out of her sight, Liv continued to the Commissary. She was going to purchase the items and leave them there for Fitz to bring home after work.
Fitz laughed, and so did she, when she suggested she buy a pushcart so she could bring the things back to the apartment. "You want to use a grandma cart?" Fitz had said.
"Well, now that you said it like that, no I don't." Liv pouted.
"Just leave the things there, I'll pick them up after my shift." Liv remembered the last part of the conversation before she fell asleep.
Buying way too much and expecting a lecture from Fitz about it when he got back, Liv paid for all the items and the young soldier behind the checkout put all five bags in the holding pod. Satisfied with her choices, despite what Fitz would say Liv headed out the door.
As she pushed the door opened, she noticed the carriage, the same carriage she couldn't keep up with about an hour ago. The carriage was empty, having been parked outside the Commissary and Liv walked back into the market.
She curiously looked up and down the aisles, hoping to catch a glimpse of the mother. If Liv was staying for a month, she would love to have a friend, to have company especially someone who could share pregnancy stories with her.
Liv walked passed an aisle, and she noticed her. She saw her from the back, the baby in a car seat that fit onto the shopping cart. Without warning, the woman turned the cart, and she was now facing the direction Liv was looking down the aisle.
Liv's eyes grew wide, and although the woman was walking in her direction, she still hadn't noticed she was being watched. "Oh. My. God." Liv said loudly causing the woman to stop and stare directly at Liv.
"Holy. Shit." The woman said, as she stopped suddenly. "Olivia Pope?"
"Jazzy, Jaz, Jazmine. What. The. Actual. F?"
Jaz's hands dropped from the shopping cart. Her baby fine, strapped securely in the seat, and she walked to Liv, gobbling her up in her arms, resting her head on her shoulder.
"I'd never thought I would see you again, Liv. What the hell are you doing here?"
Liv hugged her back, too emotional to talk. She had to gain her composure. "I'm pregnant with twins, what the hell do you think I'm doing here." Liv laughed.
With her arm interlocked with Liv's, Jaz walked back to the cart. "This is JJ. He's four months old." Liv looked at him, a gorgeous brown skinned baby boy, with the smallest wisps of curls on top of his head. He was sleeping, not knowing his mother just found a friend she hadn't seen in years.
"He's absolutely gorgeous Jaz. My God, you had a baby."
"Look at you, all twins on me. I thought you would have had a baby by now, miss ten years from now."
Liv smiled. "You remember."
"I never forgot anything we talked about, or anything we didn't talk about. Did you ever go back and talk to broke your heart guy?"
"You doing anything after you shop?" Liv asked.
"No, why?"
"Come back to my place. We can catch up."
"Sounds good, let me just call Jalen and let him know where I'll be. Jalen being my husband and father to JJ, Jalen Junior."
Liv nodded and waited for Jaz to finish her shopping, excited to not only have company but to be in contact once again with her Jazzy.
Fitz (Leaving San Diego)
Fitz had received word this would be his last week in San Diego. At the end of the week, he was heading to Germany. Once again, the Admiral, and the Navy for that matter, had not gone back on the promise.
He had spent exactly one year in San Diego and was now headed to an allied country. By week's end he would be stationed in Germany. He would be stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Even though it was an Air Force base, he would work with other pilots there.
For Fitz it was bittersweet. He had loved being in San Diego, his home state. He was able to follow Liv's sophomore season, he even saw a game on television, but had to go on shift before her at bat was completed. He saw her step up to the plate at the college world series.
He had no idea her bumps on home plate was a dedication to him. He did read in the paper the next day that Alabama was eliminated. He only wished he had seen more of her.
Now, being stationed in Germany, he would lose coverage of her season again. They had a young team, and he was sure he would hear about them making the series again next year. He breathed in a big sigh and looked around his cabin.
Before he logged his computer off for his trip to Germany, he received an email from Jalen. It was by far the best thing he could have received besides a note from his Livvie.
"Lt. Commander Fitz:
Greetings from Corpus Christie. I'm still in Texas, my hometown. I am now Lt. Commander also, working my way up ranks.
I wanted to reach out to you and let you know; I found my Jazmine. We have been dating for six months, and if it continues like this, I am certain one day she will be my wife. I know we are still young, but we are in love.
I found her in time, just like you befriended me in time. She had just lost her mother to breast cancer, and she was spiraling into a depression. She didn't think her life was worth much, but I changed that, and I am so grateful.
Your friendship knows no boundaries and because of your kindness I can pay it forward and now live a life with Jaz. My best to you always Fitz."
Jalen
Present Day
Like Olivia did at the market, Jaz left her things on hold so Jalen could bring them home. Her and Liv walked back to the apartment together, and Liv got to see JJ wide awake in the carriage.
He had the biggest brown eyes, just looking up and squinting in the sunlight. When Jaz would talk, Liv noticed he would watch in the direction of her voice. "He knows when you are talking." Liv said to Jaz.
"Yeah, it's just me and him when Jalen is on base. We spend our days together. You'll know what that is like soon." She nodded towards the belly.
"Here we are." Liv walked up to the door. "It's small inside only a one bedroom. We're here for just a month."
Now, sitting on the couch, drinking some lemonade, they began talking. "Is he the guy you never talked about in high school and college? The one that was on your mind from the moment you came to Alabama? Please say yes."
Liv looked around the apartment, she needed pictures up of her and Fitz. "It's him Jaz. We connected again about only four months ago."
Jaz's eyebrows went up. "How far along are you?"
"Four months." Liv laughed. "Umm, we kind of wasted no time."
"I see that." Jaz chuckled. "Good for you though, you were falling behind, now you caught up having two at once. The ten years were almost up."
"So you're married? When did that happen?" Liv took Jaz's hand admiring her engagement and wedding rings.
"We've been married a year. We weren't sure if the Navy would move him or not so we never settled down. We have been together since he returned home one summer, in fact the summer after my mom died when we lost contact. He came back at the right time, I didn't think I had anything to live for."
"I could tell from the letter I got from you. I worried about you, thought of you all the time."
The conversation was interrupted with a knock at the door. The delivery guy had handed Liv the balloons and roses and Jaz stood behind her. She took the balloons from her as Liv carried the vase and placed it on the middle of the table, taking in the scent of the fresh roses.
"So pretty," Jaz looked at the roses. "These are just adorable." She pulled at the balloon strings. They were red heart balloons, a teddy bear in the middle with its arms out, in the middle of the arms, the message "I LOVE YOU". "Is your guy always like this?"
"Always" Liv said smiling. She was reading the card that came along, and tried not to get teary eyed.
Hi Livvie and hi boys. I miss you so I sent your mom these beautiful roses, although not as beautiful as her. The balloons are for you. You each get one, but your mom gets two. I LOVE YOU!"
"The way he treats me. I can't believe I let ten years go by." She put the car up against the vase on the table.
"Your bracelet." Jaz said looking at that. "That's unique." She tilted her head and read it. "Livvie." Her fingers traced the letters. She looked up at Liv wide eyed and said it again. "LIVVIE"? Now it was a question.
Jalen and Fitz left headquarters. Still shocked they met up with one another again and still proud of each other with the promotion news, the captain let the two of them take the rest of the afternoon off.
"I have to stop at the commissary, pick up some things my Livvie picked up." Fitz said.
"Ahh, so you did go back to your girl. I wondered, I always told my wife about your Livvie and how I hoped you went to her. I could tell you loved her, you never would love anyone else."
"Yeah, just recently though, and imagine this, I'm going to be a dad, to twin boys. She's four months along."
Jalen followed Fitz into the commissary. "My wife left some things also, she's visiting with a friend now."
Fitz walked with Jalen to his place since it was on the way. "I'm right up the road there across the street, I would love for you to meet Livvie."
Jalen put the cold items away. "Sure, I'd love to." While he was putting the things away, Fitz admired the place. It was slightly bigger than his place, having a baby's room. He looked at the crib, saw the pictures of a newborn JJ, and had the wedding picture of him and Jaz in his hands.
"That's her, Fitz, that's my light and my world."
"She's beautiful, Jalen, I'm so happy for you."
"It all happened because of you man, I'm telling you, she knows all about Fitz, I think she was rooting for you to get your girl back too. Come on, let me meet this Livvie, and thank her for finally completing your life." They headed towards the apartment.
"Is his name Fitz?"' Jazzy asked, picking up JJ who had just woke up needing a change.
Liv's head went back. "How did you know? Yeah, Fitz. I never, did I? I don't remember ever saying his name."
With her one hand holding JJ, she reached out and pulled Liv to her in a hug with the other. "You have no idea what Fitz did for us, Liv." Jaz's phone buzzed. She read the message. "Well you're about to find out." She put JJ down on the couch and gave him a quick change. Just as she was finishing up, the door opened and in walked Fitz.
Liv jumped to him. "What are you doing back so early?," she hugged him tight. "Thank you for the flowers, the balloons, the message."
"Livvie, this…."Fitz's hand went back waving Jalen in, "this is Jalen. We go way back, to when I came back from overseas the first time. He has…."
"A wife named Jaz and a son named JJ. Come in, your wife is here."
Liv gave Jalen a quick hug, he saw Jaz lifting JJ from the couch. "I just made the connection Jalen; I had no idea. Livvie is my Olivia from Alabama."
"No shit!" Jalen said. "Oh my gosh."
The four sat at the table, Fitz getting his first practice holding a baby, with JJ now wide awake. They would stay, eat dinner and talk through evening, catching up on the years lost and now the years to come.
Having Jaz now close by, Liv was looking forward to the month in Nevada. Sitting and chatting with her once best friend and her husband and hearing the story of Fitz being the reason they were together at all, made Liv's heart burst. Could she ever stop finding more reasons to fall in love with this man?
Now, laying in bed together in each other's arms Fitz pulled Liv closer. "It's crazy how worlds collide."
"It sure is, I never thought I would see Jaz again, after getting her letter, I truly thought she did something horrible to herself." She hugged Fitz a bit tighter.
"Did you..." Fitz stopped. "Livvie, you never..." He just couldn't get the words out.
"Did I ever get so bad as to wanting to kill myself?" Liv asked.
Fitz took a long breath and held it in waiting for the answer, closing his eyes. "Tell me it didn't hurt that bad"
"Oh, it hurt Fitz. It hurt so much, but no I never thought of killing myself. In fact, just the opposite. I had to stay alive, I needed to see you again. Don't tell me..." She stopped. She lifted her head and looked at him now, face to face. Her eyebrows crossed, "Fitz."
He shook his head. "Never, I couldn't ever think of doing that to myself. I had to find you again, even if it wasn't meant to be, I had to apologize to you." He looked back at her, head tilted eyes saddened.
Liv breathed a sigh of relief. She moved into him, just taking his lips into hers. Her hand went to the back of his head, rubbing his curls, and she felt the tears swell in her eyes. She stopped the kiss and looked at him.
"Hearing Jalen talk about you, about the friendship you gave him." She shook her head. "I love you so much Fitz."
"After this morning, watching you sleeping, I knew how lonely you have been out here. You're sacrificing for me, I am just so happy it worked out like it did and you found Jaz." He pulled her into the crook of his neck. "I love you with all my heart Livvie."
"And that's one mighty big heart."
"Did you really spell Fitz on home plate?" Fitz said after hearing her talk softball with Jaz.
"I sure did. If we ever get around to watching my softball games, I can show you." She poked his chest. "You were always on my mind."
"We'll watch them this weekend, I promise."
Liv put her head back on his chest. "We watch them as Mr. and Mrs. Grant, after we elope in Vegas." She closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
"I can't wait, my Livvie." Fitz's eyes closed and he joined his soon to be wife in deep sleep, holding her close to his heart.