A/N: Brielle is off to Kindergarten. How will our Military family see her off? Just a little feel good for back to school with the Grant family. Enjoy and happy reading.

Chapter 7—Kindergarten

"Can you reach up and get that applesauce, Boo?" Liv was shopping with Brielle and Soriyah. Soriyah was sleeping in the carriage as Brielle pushed the small shopping cart.

"Yes, I can, mommy, but can I get the cinnamon one today. I would like to take the cinnamon cup of applesauce to my first day of kindergarten." Brielle reached up and took the pack down.

"Awesome that you knew which one said cinnamon and you reached it without your tip toes. You're getting so big, Boo. I am not sure I am ready for this." Liv gave her a pat on shoulder and caressed her hair as they continued down the aisle.

"Will daddy be with us tomorrow? Will he be able to see me go to kindergarten, mommy?" Brielle asked looking in front of her.

"I think so, I don't think he would want to miss this. He's been busy with work, I know you know that, but he always makes time for his brown eyed girl, right." Liv said.

"Yes, he does. Mommy, can I get the pretzel goldfish, please?" Brielle was reaching for the bag before Liv even approved.

Liv smiled. Her girl knew what she wanted. She looked at her. Right now, her brown eyes were scanning the shelves making sure she didn't want anything else in that aisle. The way she was looking, concentrating, it was all Fitz. She had such a Fitz face, and she was adorable.

Her first-born starting kindergarten in the morning. Liv took a deep breath. It wasn't going to be the same as when Brielle went to pre-k. Pre-K was just a half day of school and it was just Liv and Brielle. Over the summer Brielle had become used to helping her care for her baby sister. Liv was going to miss her company when she was gone full day.

"Mommy, is that a yes?" Brielle was holding up a box of Cheese-Its.

"Sure, but why don't you get the pack with the small bags, this way you can just pack the bag in your lunchbox?" Liv suggested

Brielle shrugged. "Ok." She switched the packages and put the one in the cart. "Time for the baby food aisle for Soriyah. I love picking out her food."

Without any assistance from Liv, Brielle put all of Soriyah's food for the week in the cart. She put in two boxes of baby cereal, five jars of bananas, five jars of applesauce, and five jars of pears.

"Who will help you mix the fruit in with the cereal mommy?" Brielle got a bit emotional.

"Well, Boo, you showed me how to do it so well, I won't need any help. I will miss you helping me, but you'll be learning so many new things in school." Brielle was hugging Liv's waist now.

Brielle looked in the carriage. Soriyah was still sleeping. "I'm going to miss you little sister." She whispered.

"Ok, Boo, let's make sure we have everything before we go check out. Is there anything else you would like for your lunchbox. Remember, you get two snacks a day and lunch. Later, when daddy comes home, you pick your snacks and pack your lunchbox with him, ok."

"Can daddy make my sandwich, too?"

"I'm sure he will find the time to do that. Let's go pay so we can get home. We have to be done with things earlier tonight. It's an early bedtime for you, like we've been practicing."

On the ride home, Brielle sat in her car seat in the back. She stared out the window, not her usual talkative self. Liv looked in the rearview mirror at her daughter. She could tell there was a bit of a mood change.

"Brielle, are you alright? Are you nervous about tomorrow."

"No, I'm ok, mommy." But Brielle didn't even move her stare from out window.

"Are you excited to wear your new clothes?"

She shook her head. "Yes, and my new shoes. I can't wait to use my new backpack either." She managed a small smile but continued back to watching the scenery out the window.

The whole family, just a week ago, had gone clothes and supply shopping for Brielle's big day. It was adorable how Fitz was helping Brielle pick out the clothes she would wear for her first week at school. For tomorrow, they both agreed on a jumper, a pink one, with a white undershirt, short sleeved.

Brielle tried on the jumper, and she looked so grown up in it. Fitz whispered down to Liv. "You are sure the dress isn't too short?" He was rubbing his chin, examining as if he was judging a painting.

"Fitz, it's just above the knee, it's fine." She swatted at him.

"What if she sits down, like on the floor, I mean, it's a dress." Fitz was concerned.

"It's a skort, daddy." Brielle said

"Oh, ok, then." Fitz nodded.

"What's that?" He whispered to Liv

"It means under the skirt there are shorts, so you don't see her underwear directly, ok." Liv went in the dressing room to help Brielle.

Fitz's face turned red. He looked in the carriage at Soriyah. Even she was giving him a strange look. "What?" He said to her. "Don't worry, by the time it's your turn, I should be an expert at this." She smiled at her daddy's voice, and he smiled back as Brielle came out with another outfit for her father to see.

After they left the clothes store, Liv went to sit with Soriyah to feed her. Fitz took Brielle to shop for a backpack. Liv wasn't sure what they would come back with, but she's sure what Brielle picked out made Fitz the happiest Navy father.

They had shopped at one of the personalization kiosks, and there was a white backpack with all different kinds of fighter airplanes. That's the one Brielle picked because "my daddy is the best Navy pilot ever" Fitz said that's what she told the cashier.

Fitz was able to get her a big pink letter B on the center of the bag, and Brielle loved it. She came back by Liv wearing it already on her back.

"Ready to see my backpack mommy?" Brielle said with such excitement.

"I sure am Boo." Liv watched as Brielle hopped and spun around. She looked at the backpack and then she looked at Fitz. Fitz was smiling, just staring lovingly at his daughter.

"She wanted airplanes because of her daddy, isn't that right Princess?" Fitz said.

"The best pilot ever." Brielle said and sat with Liv to eat the pretzel her mother had bought for her.

It was the night before Brielle was to begin kindergarten and the young Grant girl was beginning to feel the butterflies fill her stomach. The last thing she wanted to do is for her mother to see her so nervous. Her mom already had too much to do, especially with Brielle going to school and not having her around to help with Soriyah.

When Fitz came home from work that evening, a bit early for him to be home, he noticed a change in the demeanor of his young princess. "Hey Brielle, you alright?" He picked her up, and she gave him a tight hug around his shoulders.

"Is mommy going to be OK without me here to help her with Soriyah?" Brielle whispered in her daddy's ear so her mom wouldn't hear.

"Oh, I think mommy will be just fine." Fitz walked Brielle to her room now. He sat down with her while Liv was getting dinner prepared. "Are you sure you aren't nervous about starting school?"

Fitz saw his daughter's eyes fill with tears. She nodded her head. "I am nervous daddy, is it ok to feel like this?"

Fitz lifted his girl into his lap, she buried her head into his chest, and cried a bit. "It's perfectly normal my brown eyed girl. You know when daddy was beginning to fly airplanes, I was so nervous, they had to wait an hour so I could calm down. I made everyone in my Navy troop waiting for me because I was so nervous."

"But you're the best pilot. Now you are the leader for the Navy, right daddy?" Brielle wiped a tear away on one eye, while Fitz wiped the other tear away.

"I help lead the Navy now, yes. I even help the President of the United States, but that doesn't mean I don't get nervous, it's always a feeling when you're beginning something new. How about when we are finished cleaning up dinner, I get your lunch ready with you? Would you like that?"

"Oh, I would love that daddy. You know I got a lunchbox yesterday. It's a pink lunchbox with lipstick and nail polish designs on it. Isn't that cool?" She smiled now, her tears disappearing.

"I think that's the coolest." Fitz grabbed her hand and they headed to kitchen.

Liv looked up from getting their plates ready. "Everything ok Boo?" She looked concerned at Fitz who nodded his head.

"Yes, mommy, everything is ok. Do you need any help with dinner?"

"Nope, I'm good. Here's your plate, Mac and cheese, just the way you like it, extra cheesy." Liv put the plate down in front of her.

Brielle took a sniff of the air above it before licking her lips. "Mmm, mommy this smells delicious. Thank you for making my favorite dinner."

"Anything for my kindergarten girl. You know, Brielle when I had to go to kindergarten, Grandpa Eli had to stay in my room the night before, because I didn't know what was going to happen and I was afraid to fall asleep."

Brielle's brown eyes grew wide. "For real, mommy? Did Grandpa get mad at you?"

"Not at all, he told me a story about when he went to school, and I was able to fall asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I was so excited to get to school because his story was so encouraging. It's only natural to have butterflies when you're doing something for the first time."

Brielle turned and smiled and Fitz. She looked back at Olivia. "Yes, daddy told me the same thing when he had to fly for the first time."

"After you make your lunch with daddy, after your bath, we'll put your clothes out for the morning. Maybe daddy can tell you a story while I make sure Soriyah is sleeping, ok?"

Brielle picked up her fork and began picking up some of the mac and cheese. She put it in her mouth giving the thumbs up to Olivia.

Liv was tending to Soriyah when Fitz and Brielle began getting her lunch and snacks ready. Fitz pretended they were on television again, like a food show and he looked to the imaginary camera. "Hello world, today I am making lunch with my brown eyed girl Brielle. Say hello Brielle."

"Hello Brielle." Brielle said to the "camera." "My daddy and I are going to make a turkey sandwich and then we are going to use a cookie cutter to cut in the shape of a….

"TURKEY" they said in sync and Brielle began giggling.

Liv heard the laughter from Soriyah's room as she was feeding her, and she smiled. Fitz always did have a way with making Brielle feel better. She looked at her baby, looking up at her. "Hey, you're blue eyes are wide awake. Are you going to miss your sister? I am going to miss her too. She's growing up." Liv kissed Soriyah on her forehead. "You take your time, ok, Brielle is growing up so fast." Liv took a deep breath.

"Ok, Brielle time for your snacks. Would you like an apple. We have green apples, red apples, and yellow apples."

"No thank you." Brielle scrunched her nose. "I am not a fan of apples. I do like applesauce though; I have the cinnamon one."

"One cinnamon applesauce, and a spoon so you don't lick it out of the cup."

Brielle began giggling. "I would like to take two bags of cheese its so I have one to share with a friend."

Fitz held the bag high above the lunch box and dropped it down. "One cheese it." He dropped another bag. "Two cheese its."

"I will take two boxes of fruit punch juice, please." Brielle said

"Fruit punch boxes activated into the lunch bag."

"And one chocolate chip chewy granola bar."

"Choo, choo, choo, get it chew?" Fitz made a train motion with the bar before having it stop in the lunch bag.

Liv walked out with Soriyah and looked in the bag. "Wow, boo, that looks great. Two bags of cheese its?"

"For a friend mommy."

"That's great Boo, but make sure you ask if it's ok to share. Remember other children may have allergies and they may not be able to eat certain foods."

"I'll remember mommy."

Fitz wrote a note while Brielle was talking to Liv. He put the note under her juice box and zipped up the lunch bag. He took Soriyah from Liv while she went with Brielle to give her a bath and settle her for the night.

Fitz walked into Brielle's room. She was tucked into bed, ready to go to sleep for the night. Liv was sitting on the side of her bed and Fitz joined her. He looked at his brown eyed girl. She was wide eyed, and he could just tell she was filled with a thousand questions.

"You know," Fitz said, "I will hold your hand all the way to the door if you want. I'm sure you are going to have a great first day." Fitz kissed her forehead.

Brielle pulled Tiger a bit closer to her. She nodded her head. Tears filled her little eyes. "I'm just going to miss you mommy so much." She sat up and hugged Liv, who put her head onto her Boo.

"Mommy will miss you too, but you are showing your parents that you are growing up and that we raised you well. You will be fine and the day will go so fast, and you'll be home. We love you so much Brielle and we are so proud of you." Liv kissed her head as Brielle put her head back on her pillow.

They heard a cry from Soriyah. Liv kissed Brielle one last time. "Your clothes are hanging over there. I will see you in the morning." She left the room to Soriyah.

"Daddy will you take the whole day off tomorrow?" Brielle asked.

"Why do you ask that, Brielle?" Fitz pulled the blanket up to her shoulders.

"I don't want mommy to be alone my first day gone. She may need help with Soriyah since I won't be here. Don't tell her I told you though ok." Brielle yawned.

"Ok, I will take the day off and help mommy, will that make you feel better?" Fitz moved some of her hair from her forehead.

"Yes. Good night daddy. I love you so much." Brielle closed her eyes.

Fitz just watched his girl sleeping now, the tears all gone from a few moments ago. This was the hard part, watching them grow and not being able to slow it down. Fitz didn't think he was ready for this. Liv seemed so together, but Fitz didn't know if he would be able to hide his emotions tomorrow.

Liv was about to walk back into the room when Fitz came out. "She is sleeping." He wrapped his arms around Olivia.

She pulled him close, her head resting on his chest. She took a deep breath. "I can't believe she is off to kindergarten in the morning. You did well daddy."

"Her mommy isn't too shabby herself." Liv looked up at him and he kissed her.

In the kitchen, getting the final touches on Brielle's lunch and supplies, Fitz told Liv about packing the lunch with Brielle. "I wasn't aware she wasn't fond of apples."

Liv shrugged. "Her friend from the park said he bit into an apple, and it made his tooth loose. I think that made her nervous about eating them." Liv laughed. "She sticks more to applesauce now."

Liv marked all Brielle's supplies and put all the contact information in her backpack. Liv looked at the backpack. "She loves that you were a pilot, Fitz. She's always telling people how you fly planes and protect the skies."

Fitz smiled. "She loves when I tell her stories about being in the Navy. Seems like yesterday she just began to walk, now, she's off to school."

Once the kitchen was cleaned, Fitz interlocked hands with Olivia as they headed to bed. It was going to be an emotional day tomorrow, they both wanted to rest.

"It's funny," Liv said as Fitz was holding her. "They don't prepare you for the first day of school, like they prepare you give birth. There should be a class, your oldest child's first day of school and how to handle it." Liv laughed.

"She's a great kid, it's not her I worry about. You hear about all the bullying and things, that's what makes me nervous. Brielle isn't a fighter." Fitz said.

"We don't want her to be a fighter, just not a pushover."

"That's true. With Olivia Pope as her mother, she doesn't stand a chance to be a pushover." He kissed his wife, as they both fell asleep.

"Mommy, Daddy, I'm ready for school." Liv opened her eyes to the dim morning light coming into the room. She closed one eye and looked at the clock. Fitz didn't budge. Liv sat up on her elbows looking at Brielle, fully dressed with her backpack on and her lunchbox in her hands.

"Boo, it's only 630. You don't have to be to school until 830, you have two hours." Liv whispered.

"It was hard to sleep, I thought we could get there early." Brielle put her head down thinking she did something wrong.

Liv got up, leaving Fitz to sleep a bit longer. She took Brielle's hand and led her to the couch in the living room. She took her backpack off and placed her lunchbox on the counter. Liv sat and let Brielle lean against her. "Why don't you tell mommy what has you so nervous?" Liv rubbed her hair.

"I'm not nervous, I'm just worried. What if my teacher doesn't like me? What if I don't make any friends? Do you think my lunch will fall on the floor? Where do I go to the bathroom?"

"Aww, Boo, you have so many questions and there's nothing wrong with that. If I can remember, when I went into my kindergarten classroom, a little girl asked me to sit next to her. I didn't want to because I didn't know her, but I wanted to be nice."

"Did you stay friends with her all through kindergarten?"

"I did. Would you like to know her name?"

Brielle nodded against Liv's chest.

"Her name was Abigail, Abby for short."

Brielle looked up at her mother. "Aunt Abby? She was your friend? Since kindergarten? WOW!"

"Yep, we have been friends ever since. I met Quinn in high school, then we all moved to Florida together. So sometimes the friends you meet in kindergarten can be friends forever."

It was very quiet, and Liv realized Brielle had fallen back asleep, fully dressed against her mother. Liv rubbed a tear from her eye. She wished she had all the answers for her young daughter, but her daughter would learn, she was confident of that, and all her questions would one day be answered.

Liv must have drifted off, because about an hour had passed when she felt Fitz's hand on her shoulder. He was holding Soriyah, who needed to be fed. "Everything ok?" he whispered looking at Brielle, very confused.

"She was up at 630, fully dressed backpack and all. I brought her out here and she was able to fall back asleep." Brielle moved a bit now and lifted her head.

"Daddy." She reached her arms up.

"Here, Mister, let's switch." They exchanged children, and Fitz carried Brielle who rested her head on her daddy's shoulder.

Liv began feeding Soriyah. Fitz didn't put Brielle down. He walked with her to the kitchen and with one hand, began taking things out to make breakfast.

"How about blueberry pancakes?"

"No, they will make my teeth blue on my first day."

"Oh, oops, ok, well what about French toast?"

"I don't know if I should have syrup, daddy, I'll get sticky."

Fitz took a deep breath. "Hmmm, what about a banana and toast?"

"Ok, but no butter on the toast, I don't want to be greasy."

Fitz laughed. "You sure do know about the mess all the food makes huh?"

Brielle kissed her father's cheek and jumped down to get some water. Soon they were all ready to go. When Brielle came out of her room, she looked at Fitz. "Daddy, do you like my hair?"

Liv had put two braids along the sides, and it joined in the middle, going down to where it rested on her mid back.

"You look beautiful Brielle. You look so kindergarteny." He smiled.

"Daddy, that's not a word." She laughed.

The Grant family parked in the parent lot for drop off and put Soriyah in the carriage. Fitz looked down at Brielle. "Do you want me to hold you?"

Brielle's mouth opened in shock. "Daddy, no, you can't hold me, I have to be a big girl," as if Fitz wasn't just holding her less than an hour ago.

Liv covered her mouth, not to laugh out loud and Fitz just gave her a look. Fitz took Brielle's hand and together they walked towards all the other kids and parents.

Liv stopped by a parent she knew from the park over the summer, and they began talking about the school. The woman had a child in third grade and her daughter was beginning kindergarten also. Fitz took a few steps further with Brielle.

"Hi", a young boy said to Brielle. "My name is Isaiah. I like your backpack. My dad flies airplanes in the Navy." Isaiah looked up at his father. "Right dad."

"Yes, I do, Isaiah." He looked at Fitz. "You're Admiral Grant." He put his hand out. "Commander Jones, I fly out of the Navy Yard in DC. It's an honor to meet you."

Fitz shook his hand. "Likewise, Commander. I've visited the Yard several times. The next time I'm there, I will look for you." They began a bit of small talk.

"My name is Brielle. My daddy used to fly airplanes, now he leads the Navy." Brielle said proudly to Isaiah. "Are you nervous to start kindergarten."

"Promise not to tell anyone?" Isaiah asked.

"I promise."

"I am so nervous." Isaiah said. "I was up too early today, and my mom had to calm me down."

"Oh my goodness." Brielle said. "Me too." She giggled.

Liv joined them and introduced herself to Commander Jones. His wife was a third grade teacher in the school, that's why she wasn't with them.

Liv nudged Fitz. "Looks like Brielle made a friend already."

Fitz looked down and his shoulders slumped. Brielle was holding hands with Isaiah as they continued to talk.

"Do you like Cheese Its?" Brielle asked him.

"I think so." He said.

Brielle looked at Isaiah's father. "Mr. Isaiah's daddy. Can Isaiah have some cheese its? He isn't allergic to them is he?"

"Oh no, he can have them. That's very nice of you."

Brielle smiled.

"Brielle's daddy" Isaiah said. "Can Brielle have an apple?"

Fitz didn't know what to say. He didn't want to hurt the boy's feelings knowing Brielle doesn't like apples. "Uh, I don't think Brielle…."

"Oh, Isaiah, I love apples. Do you have red, green, or yellow?" Brielle asked

Liv had to turn her head, so Fitz didn't see her laugh. Fitz looked at Liv. "She told me..."

Liv put her finger on his lips. "Just let her go with it."

"I have two red apples." Isaiah said. "Look, the teacher is opening the door."

Together with joined hands, Isaiah and Brielle began walking to the door. Fitz was watching, getting a bit choked up. "Livvie, she didn't say goodbye." He watched as she walked towards the door. He saw her whisper something to Isaiah and Isaiah nodded and waited.

Brielle jumped into Fitz's arms. She gave him a big hug around his neck. "I love you so much daddy. Thank you for being here." She gave him a big kiss. When he put her down, Liv kissed her daughter goodbye for the day.

Isiah waited for her so she wouldn't walk in alone. Liv and Fitz watched as their daughter entered the big building, smiling and talking with her new friend.

Liv took control of the carriage. "So, are you off to work now?" She asked Fitz as they walked back to the car.

"Nope, I was asked to take the day off." Fitz smiled.

"What?" Liv asked, laughing.

"My daughter, Brielle asked if I could take the day off and take care of her mommy." Fitz looked around. The lot was cleared out now, school beginning. He leaned and whispered in Liv's ear. "And take care of her is what I plan to do." He rubbed her ass in her jeans and kissed her neck.

"Fitz, we are still on school grounds." She pulled away, not admitting she had goosebumps.

"Then let's take this to a more private area." He put Soriyah in her car seat and opened the door for Liv.

As her parents drove home, Liv's first full day without Brielle being home, Brielle sat in her classroom next to her new friend Isaiah. She opened her lunchbox to give the bag of cheese its to Isaiah.

Before she closed her lunchbox, she noticed the note from her daddy. "I love you Brown eyed girl, I hope you have the best first day of kindergarten ever. I love you the mostest."

Brielle kissed the note before putting it back in her lunchbox. She smiled and joined the circle of students on the floor to begin her first full day of kindergarten.