A/N: And this chapter concludes this story. Thank you for reading and thank you if you left a review. Enjoy your winter, if you're in a place that is lucky to get it.

Leaves 10-Autumn Leaves

"He should be fine through the night. Just check his blood sugar before he goes to sleep and if you're up check it once during the night. If it drops below 80 give him some orange juice. Make sure he gets to the doctor tomorrow, though."

Fitz was holding on to every word. He loved hearing Olivia talk all medical. She sounded like such a doctor, even though she wasn't a doctor. He loved the passion she had for medicine and helping to heal.

Fitz turned to his father. "You hear that dad, doctor, tomorrow."

"Yeah, yeah I heard. Thank you, Olivia, for your help today. I do feel better, a bit stronger than I was when I arrived at your cabin. So, do you think I have diabetes?"

"I'm not going to make a diagnosis. You need bloodwork to be certain why your sugar levels are dropping. You could have hypoglycemia, but let's leave that up to the doctor to be sure. I will see you tomorrow."

"Dad, I am walking Olivia back to her cabin. I will be back in a few. Do you want me to get Adam here to stay with you?"

"No, no, I am fine. You take your time, you hear." He winked at Fitz who just shook his head.

When they arrived at Liv's door, Fitz turned to her. "I cannot thank you enough for your help with my dad today. I appreciate everything you did for him. I am glad you were here for him and thank you for getting him here. I have missed him."

Liv reached up, rubbing Fitz's shoulder. "I was happy to help him. I was concerned when he looked so weak when he showed up. It shouldn't be much to get the doctor to diagnose and it's nothing a proper diet can't manage."

Fitz took her hand, brought it down, and interlocked his fingers with hers. "Can I come in for a while?"

Liv turned away, looking down as she didn't know how to answer the question. She figured now was a good time as ever to tell him she completed the painting.

"Liv?" He put his finger under her chin and guided her to look at him. "What's wrong?"

She bit her bottom lip. She looked at his gorgeous blue eyes, those eyes that hypnotized her the moment she saw him. Her shoulders went up with her deep breath. "I finished the final painting. I am done painting the foliage, the Autumn scenes, and all the changes that come with it."

Fitz took a step back. "You finished your painting? The one that you came to do and leave after it was finished? That painting? What did it tell you?"

Liv crossed her brows in confusion. "I am not sure. I have been trying to answer that myself. I have to go back and take another look; it's just been confusing. This whole trip has been a whirlwind of surprises."

She looked up and he was right there. Their lips were inches apart, and Fitz just guided her to his, devouring her in a tongue swirling kiss. Liv couldn't control the moan that came unexpectedly from the back of her throat.

Not letting the kiss go, Fitz opened the door and walked backwards into the cabin, while guiding her with his hand on her waist. Liv was so into this, she couldn't back away, and she didn't want to anyway, his lips felt so warm and so right.

Once the door closed, Fitz pushed her gently up against it. His lips finally disconnected from hers, and he worked his way down her neck, pulling her shirt off in a quick motion. He continued to kiss her chest, snapped off her bra, and cupped a nipple from her breast into his lips.

Liv threw her head back and a huge chill swept her body. Her hands just rubbed through his hair, and it made her body want him even more. Before she knew it, her pants were down. She looked down at him. He looked up at her seductively.

"I haven't had the pleasure of tasting you Livvie, and if you are going to leave, than I am owed the taste of you."

"Fitz", she said it in a soft whisper. "I. Don't…" But before she said anything she couldn't promise, she stopped. "Please, Fitz, taste me."

He didn't wait another second. His tongue finding her entry, as he noticed her grip the doorknob for support with one hand and pull his hair with the other. He pulled her closer, and entered her with his tongue, and he was quickly aroused by everything about her.

He glided his tongue out and worked it up her clit as he felt her body tense at the touch of his tongue in a new place. "Oh, God, Fitz." She pulled at his hair a bit harder, and it made him go deeper, harder into her.

One more time his mouth took her sweetness, and his tongue found her entry. Once he led it in and out, she was lost, her legs began shaking, and he had to hold her steady.

Liv moaned as a powerful orgasm rippled her body, and she became rubber in his hands. This man could certainly work wonders with his mouth, and she was happy it was on her. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of weakness overtaking her, and she felt her body being carried to the bed.

He placed her back down on the bed, and he began to undress. Before he could move any further, Liv found the strength to sit up and take that huge erection into her hand.

She began to slowly stroke him and judging by his tense body, he was surprised at her sudden touch. She guided him into her mouth as her saliva coated him, each time she pulled her mouth away, she stroked him, and she heard the most beautiful moan escape his throat.

She finally took him in and kept him there, bobbing her head and massaging his balls. "God, Livvie, if you don't stop…I am…"

She continued to take him in further, feeling him at the back of her throat and a sense of dominance overtook her. Her hands rested on his bottom back and she pushed him deeper into her mouth.

A strong grunt, almost as if he was trying to hold back came from him, and he just weakened, just letting it all go, right into her warm mouth.

Liv came out of the bathroom to see Fitz getting dressed. "You're leaving?"

"Yeah, I don't want to leave my dad alone for too long. I will see you in the morning, Ok. My dad has an early appointment. Come to my place around noon? We'll have brunch."

Liv looked at him confused. "No morning walk?", even she could hear the sadness in her voice. "I was looking forward to talking to you, making sure your dad was ok through the night." She didn't want him to leave. She wanted to find comfort in his arms.

Fitz looked away. He just couldn't bear the thought of her even contemplating leaving Vermont. He just needed time to think, time to think about this proposal and the right words to say to her parents before she knew they were there.

"No walk tomorrow, Livvie." He looked over at her art room. He noticed the big canvass turned away so no one could see what was on it. "Use the time to figure it out, ok." He cupped her cheeks in his hand and gave her the softest of kisses on her lips.

Tears swelled her eyes. "Don't go, I don't want you to leave."

"Now you know how I feel." He looked down when he said it, he knew the words had to sting her. He didn't want to leave. He wanted to hold her, to feel her in his arms, but he was confused now.

He looked into her beautiful brown eyes which were still tearing up. "I love you, Olivia, no matter what your decision may be, I. Love. You."

He turned away quickly and was out of the cabin before she could even respond still feeling his lips all over hers.

Olivia faced opposite the art room as she tried to fall asleep. She tossed and turned, fluffed her pillow, covered her whole body with the blanket, but nothing was working. She saw the look in his eyes when she said she was finished.

She was so hoping he would walk with her in the morning. She wanted him to know her feelings. She didn't want to leave, not at all, but she was afraid to stay. She was afraid to leave a life she built in NY with her parents. Even though she hadn't been living the past two years, she didn't know if she could walk away.

Then there was the painting. She was finished with it, that much was true, but something was distancing her from it. There was something about that meadow, with the mountain backdrop. Something wasn't right. Maybe she wasn't done with the painting, maybe it wasn't the one telling her to move on in life.

She finally put the pillow over her face and screamed into it. Why did this have to be so difficult? She came here to simplify her life, and she fell in love. That was the last thing she expected to do, but she did. She cuddled the other pillow in her arms, resting her head on it.

She wasn't fooling herself, the only way she was going to fall asleep at this point was if she pretended it was Fitz. She closed her eyes and could still fill his mouth all over her down there. The way he made her feel tonight, she could admit, not even Derek ever did that to her.

Fitz knew her body, sometimes more than she knew her body. He truly completed her, and as much as she wanted to tell herself she was leaving, she knew in her heart she wasn't, she couldn't. As she was drifting off, her first thought was to call her parents.

First thing after the walk, she would call them. She would invite them up, introduce them to Fitz, and take it from there. No more thinking tonight, Olivia, time to sleep. She closed her eyes, gripping the pillow wishing it was Fitz, but knowing it wouldn't be long until he would be there.

Fitz took his father's blood sugar just as Olivia had shown him. He read the meter number out loud to him. "97, that's good. Liv said if it went below 80 to give her a call, but it's good. Good night dad."

"Hey Fitz, don't good night me. Talk to me, there's something on your mind."

He talked to his father about Olivia finishing the painting and how she was conflicted to stay or leave. He told his father he was quite sure she would leave. She came here to beat her depression, I think she did that, and is off to continue her life in NY.

"I invited her parents here as a surprise for the weekend, so you'll be meeting them tomorrow. Maybe that wasn't a good idea. We'll see, it's too late to call it off." Fitz shrugged and was about to leave.

"So, let me see the ring." Gerry waited for a reaction.

Fitz looked blankly at him. "How did you know?"

"Fitz, you gave up Santa Barbara. That was your baby, your home, and you gave it up. You mean business with Olivia. Regardless of her decision, you are in love with her. I know you didn't go all the way to Santa Barbara without seeing Liam. Let's see what he did for you."

He pulled the box out of his pocket and handed it to his father. Big Gerry gave out a loud whistle. "Look at that. A two carat maple leaf cut diamond ring resting on a diamond studded band. That's very unique."

"Thank you, we have a thing with a maple tree, and I thought the cut would be perfect, I just don't know if the time is perfect." He went on to tell his father about Derek, how Liv came here with a ring on, and how hesitant he was because he may be moving too fast.

"If you ask me, son, I think you're doing it just right. Her life has been stalled in the past already. If she is ready, she isn't going to want to wait. She's faced tragedy once; she may want to now grab life by the horns." He patted Fitz on the shoulder. "Do it. Ask her. I think it will all work out. Besides our resort here could use a medical professional. Good night."

Fitz tossed and turned in his bed. He still saw the tears in her eyes, the tears his words had put there. He covered his eyes with his arm, trying to bring in more darkness to fade out the sadness her beautiful eyes displayed.

His father was right, they did need a medical professional on site. They needed someone their guests could go to if they got sick and hurt, with the nearest hospital being ten miles away. Maybe he could secure her stay here with a job.

That would require her to be licensed here though, in Vermont. Fitz took a deep breath. He wasn't going to get anywhere overthinking this. Maybe he should meet her for her walk in the morning. He would have time. Her parents wouldn't be there until 10, giving him plenty of time.

He felt his eyes getting heavy. He thought of his Livvie, of her hurt and her conflict. He grabbed the pillow next to him. He hugged it tight. He was wishing right now it was his Olivia in his arms, and he was comforting her. He fell asleep dreaming of the all the mornings for the rest of his life he would wake up holding her in his arms.

Liv turned from the door on the porch and was pleasantly surprised to see Fitz waiting for her. A big smile overtook her and she walked up to him and hugged him pulling him to her. "Thank you," she whispered.

"I am sorry if I hurt you last night. That wasn't my intention, I am just so confused Liv, this is all new to me."

"Come on, let's walk and talk, ok." Liv started kicking the leaves. She looked up, the trees were mostly bare now, and the leaves were all cracking brown and dry under their feet.

"It's amazing the difference in scenery on this walk, the trees were once filled with beautiful colors and now they are just lonely statues, with no color." Fitz was looking up not believing the words coming from his mouth.

"Yeah, that's why I am here. That was me Fitz. What you just described that was me." She interlocked her arm with his as they continued to crunch through the fallen leaves. "I was full of life, full of color, not a care in the world, and then suddenly, I was bare. I was lonely and I felt I had no more beauty left in me."

They continued to walk as Fitz put his hand on hers. "Liv, you are far from bare, and you have so much beauty both inside and out. You have a gift that brings your beauty out in your paintings."

Fitz's phone buzzed. It was a text message from Maya. They had left a bit too early in anticipation of traffic and travel time. They were five minutes out of the resort and wanted to make sure Fitz was awake and ready for them.

"That's why I came here Fitz, to find the beauty again. I did, but it's just so hard to accept. I am going to invite my parents up for the weekend. I think seeing them, talking to them, it may help me understand things more. They have been with me through this whole ordeal, and I think that is who I am missing. I think they are holding me back in my thoughts."

Fitz looked down at his phone and read the message. He turned to Liv with a blank stare. "Come back to my cabin with me."

"Is everything alright, is your father…."

"He's fine. His blood sugar was 90 this morning before I left. Just, come back with me." Fitz needed to get there. Even though it wasn't his plan, he wanted her there to see her parents approaching. If it's what she needed, he would be the one giving it to her.

"Ok, let's head back." They turned and began walking towards his cabin, him picking up a pace Liv was not used to. "Where's the fire, what is going on Fitz?"

As they were approaching his cabin, Liv heard a car crunching through the leaves. She recognized it immediately and looked up in shock at Fitz. "My parents, how did you know?"

"I didn't, I had already asked them to come for the weekend and I wanted to surprise you at lunch today, but they texted me they had left early and here they are."

Maya and Eli got out of the car and looked around, mainly at the cabin making sure they had the right one. They heard a voice and turned to see Liv running towards them.

"Hey you two." She jumped into her father's arms, giving him a big hug. She then walked over to her mother and kissed her hello. As Fitz approached Maya watched as her daughter's eyes lit up and her faced beamed with love. It was something she had missed on her face for the past two years.

"Mom, dad, this is Fitzgerald Grant the Third, Fitz, this is my mom Maya and my dad, Dr. Eli Pope."

"I have heard wonderful things about you and your charity in the pediatric field. I cannot thank you enough for everything you have given towards research and medical assistance in the field. It is a pleasure to meet you Fitzgerald."

"Thank you, sir, please call me Fitz. It's my pleasure to give to such a worthy cause and know the money is being used exactly what it was donated for." He turned to Maya. "Now I know where Liv gets her beauty from." He took Maya's hand and kissed the back of it. "Pleased to put a face to a voice and meet you Mrs. Pope."

"Oh, baby girl, you are keeping him, you hear." Maya left her hand suspended in the air even after Fitz let go. Liv reached out and put her hand down.

"Come on, let's go inside, Fitz's father is here too. This should be fun."

Instead of a brunch menu, Fitz changed it to a breakfast menu. He made French toast, pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast.

Eli and Gerry talked about Fitz's contribution to the children's hospitals in the nation. Gerry talked about how Liv helped him yesterday, and how she was following in her father's footsteps.

Maya talked with Fitz about the resort and the activities and amenities it has. "I can see what attracted my daughter to this place." She looked at Fitz up and down. "I can see why she wants to stay."

"Mom", Liv blushed.

"Liv, he's gorgeous, well mannered," and as she put a piece of bacon in her mouth, she continued, "and the man can cook."

"Thank you, Maya, you have raised an exceptional young lady here and I am so lucky to have her in my life." Fitz's eyes never left Liv as he spoke, and Liv could feel the heat rise in her cheeks again.

It wasn't long before the three men began talking about football and how the season was winding down. Before Gerry's Drs. appointment, they decided to sit and chat about the games and about resorts. They were all intrigued with each other, and mom and daughter were bored.

"Fitz, we're going to take a walk to my cabin so I can show mom my paintings, we'll be back in a little while.

As soon as they left, Fitz took the opportunity to talk to Eli. He talked to him about how Liv nursed him back to health, never leaving his side. He talked to him about Liv's love for nature and how she brings it out in her paintings.

He showed him the painting she had given him, and Eli was caught up in emotions. It had been so long since his daughter found meaning, found a reason to paint again. Hearing Fitz tell him about how he helped her medically just overwhelmed him with happiness.

Then Fitz told him how his daughter helped his father. He was only going to the doctor today because of Olivia and her advice. Eli listened intently and he finally caught on.

"Yes, Fitz, you can ask her." Eli said proudly.

"Sir?" Fitz said surprised.

"You obviously are in love with her, and I am sure you are telling me all of this because you are going to ask her to marry you and I am telling you that you have my blessing. Olivia made it clear she was coming up here to find her meaning in life and I am certain you've given that back to her. Now tell me all about it."

"Livvie, my goodness, these are amazing, just like you used to paint." Maya was in awe looking at the sequence of paintings. She studied the one of Fitz's eyes for quite some time.

"You've captured his eyes brilliantly. How did you do that?"

That was the first time I met him. I could only watch him for a moment, but the eyes stayed with me. I wasn't in the cabin for five minutes before I started painting. I didn't even know what I was doing, and then I looked, and this is what I created." Liv shrugged.

"Absolutely stunning. Look at all of these fall colors, all the Autumn leaves. You have made them still in time. Wish I was here to see it at its peak." She turned and looked at Liv. "You alright baby?'

Olivia dropped her head. She was gripping something in her hand. She began to speak, but had to take a deep breath from speaking in sobs. "Take it mom, you asked me to take it off, now take it. I feel too guilty having it." She opened Maya's hand and placed the engagement ring Derek gave her into it.

Maya looked down at it, spinning it with her fingers. "It wasn't meant to be Livvie, God had other plans for both of you and there's nothing you could've done. God also had you come on this trip for a reason."

"I realize that now, mom. I am just so confused." She walked over to the final painting. "It's this. I am stuck on this."

Maya looked at it. "it tells the story of your trip, that's what it looks like. It looks like all of these in one, what has you confused?"

"Fitz isn't in it. If it's the endgame to my being up here, where is Fitz in all of this, and why is that meadow the dominance in it. We have only visited it once. I am just not getting it. Something is off."

"If you ask me, I think you are overthinking, you are trying to find a way out, when you just need to stay put and continue to work your way in. You already have his heart, does he have yours?"

Liv nodded. "Yeah, he does. In so many ways he has my heart. His smile, his kindness, he listens, he makes me laugh, and mom, the sex, oh my, the sex."

Maya let out a huge laugh. "Better than…"

"Yeah, mom, better than, just don't make me say it. He had plenty of women before me though. He's a lady's man. He was scheduled to go away on a women filled Caribbean vacation when I got here."

"Is that so? What changed his mind?"

"Me." With that Olivia looked up to the heavens. "I took my ring off not too soon after I met him. We walk every day, and when he isn't around, I have such a void in my heart."

"Your father told me you asked about being licensed up here to practice?"

"I did."

She walked up to Olivia. She pulled her into a hug, and with that, Olivia let it out. She began to cry, an ugly cry. "I just love him so much mom, but."

"But nothing baby. You love him, you have to work it out here. You're not too far from us at all. You stay. Stay here and work it out." She pulled Olivia back and cupped her face in her hands.

"For two years I watched you drown in sadness. When we pulled up to that cabin and saw you with him, it was a happiness we haven't seen for so long. You deserve to be happy and if he makes you happy, you belong with him."

"What if he doesn't want it? What if he starts to miss the other women?"

"Livvie that man loves you. The way he looks at you, there is no other woman, let alone women. First thing I'll do when we get back to NY is send your wedding dress to goodwill. We'll keep the apartment, just in case, but I think you will work it out. Come on, let's get back."

Maya grabbed the painting with Liv and Fitz overlooking the foliage on the bridge. "May I?"

"Of course."

Eli had offered to take Big Gerry to the doctor. He was seeing a former colleague from his days at Manhattan General. Gerry had no problem and Maya asked Fitz if she could lie down for nap.

With just the two of them, Fitz asked her if she would like to finish their walk.

"Sure thing Mister, I would love to finish the walk. I have a pile of leaves waiting to be thrown at you."

"Oh, yeah, not if I throw them first."

They went in the direction of the meadow. Liv didn't complain. She wanted to see the meadow again. Maybe it would answer some questions.

"So, your father told me you asked about getting licensed up here to practice. Is that for any particular reason?"

"Just in case, you know, it's good to be licensed in other states."

"Hmm. I see." Fitz began kicking some leaves. They approached the empty meadow, and Fitz saw the breath escape from Liv.

She was staring at the mountains, and it was a clear view of them. They looked amazing, even to Fitz's eyes. There was something so breathtaking watching her take it all in. He never wanted her to leave his side. He gently grabbed her hand.

Liv turned and looked at him. "This view is just so spectacular. I could never get enough of it." She looked up at him and saw him looking back with tears filling his eyes.

"Fitz, what is it?" Her eyebrows crossed in confusion. She watched his hand go into his pocket while his other hand continued to hold hers.

Before Liv knew it, he was on one knee. The mountain view behind him with the meadow was the exact replica of the final painting. That's why she couldn't grasp it. Her free hand went to cover her mouth to hold in the scream.

He let go of her hand and opened the ring box. "Olivia Pope, will you marry me? This is where I plan to build a house, our house. It will everything we will ever need. Right here, while I am kneeling in our future bedroom, please give me an answer. Will you marry me?" Fitz swallowed hard as he saw the teardrop fall from Olivia's eye.

She looked around. She shook her head with a no sign, and she said the word. "No."

Fitz's heart sank, and he felt a hallow feeling in his stomach. She didn't want to spend her life with him.

Back in Fitz's cabin, Gerry and Eli came back, waking up Maya with their laughter and loud talking. "Fitz and Olivia went for a walk."

Eli pulled Maya towards him. "He's going to ask her to marry her. He's probably doing it now, as we speak."

Maya looked nervous. "Oh Eli, I hope she doesn't break that man's heart. Your daughter is so confused, it's as if she is afraid to love again."

"Maya, not to worry. She asked for her license up here, she feels the same about him. He's a good man, even if his father is hypoglycemic."

"Uh-oh," Maya looked at Big Gerry. "Changes to your diet Mr. Grant."

"Yes, so I hear. I think your daughter pinpointed it quite well. I would hate it if she broke his heart. We could really use her medical expertise around here on the resort."

"You offering my daughter a job, Gerry?"

"Well, it's not my resort to offer her the job, but yes, Fitz is also going to ask her to start practicing here on the resort. It's about time he has some medical personnel on site."

"I just hope this isn't moving too fast for Livvie, you know how she gets Eli."

Fitz couldn't get up. He was still down on one knee trying to process the word no. "No?"

Liv laughed a bit. "No, this isn't where I want the bedroom." She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. She walked a little distance forward, looked at the view again, seeing trees in the background that you couldn't see in the other spot.

"Now, ask me again."

"He kneeled once again." He saw the most beautiful and radiant smile on her, and he asked again.

The tears began to stream down as she put her hand out for him to put the ring on it. "Yes, Fitz, I will marry you, and I will build a home with you, and this will be our bedroom."

He stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist and while kissing her, lifted her in his arms. There was a high pile of leaves behind Liv and Fitz walked her there and fell with her into the pile, never letting her lips go from his.

She pulled away in laughter. "I love you Fitzgerald Grant." She finally had a moment to look at the ring. "Maple leaf cut? Fitz!"

"Only the best for my Livvie."

As they began to walk back to tell their parents the news, Liv picked up a huge pile of leaves and tossed them at Fitz. She ran before she could get covered in return.

Fitz caught up and ran in front of her. He picked up his own pile and tossed it at her. "Ow, oh Fitz, that hurt."

"Oh, no, not again, I'm sorry Livvie, I was just playing around." He pulled her to comfort her. She bent down and picked up another pile and tossed it at him again.

"Gotcha."

This time he grabbed her, scooped her up in his arms, and walked like that back to his cabin with Liv giggling the whole way back.

Three months later Olivia and Fitz were married in a small ceremony in Vermont. Present for them were Olivia's parents, Big Gerry, Abby as the maid of honor and Adam as the best man. Olivia didn't want to wait to marry him for obvious reasons.

Shortly after Fitz's proposal, Liv saw a doctor and stopped taking the pill. Their beautiful house was being built, and Fitz was overseeing the development every day.

The first thing to go up in the living room, across from the fireplace would be Liv's final painting. She finally completed what she was missing. In the meadow, were her and Fitz. She was looking down at him as the ring sparkled on her finger and he was kneeling in front of her.

She understood why she didn't feel right, this painting completed her and Fitz's love, but she had to paint it in there.

Two and half years later:

Fitz and Olivia continued their morning walks. It was something they never stopped doing, even in bad weather. It was how they talked to each other, how they shared things to each other, and how they continued their love for each other.

One morning on their walk, a pile of leaves was thrown, and in the quiet of the trail you heard "Ow, that hurt, Mister."

This time Fitz picked her up and cradled her in his arms, but she was a lot lighter than Olivia. His daughter, Kassandra, had run right to her daddy.

"Kendrick hurt me." Kassandra was talking about her twin brother, who was hugging Olivia's legs, his way to apologize. Kassandra was a daddy's girl and Liv had all the love a son could have for his mother.

Joining them on their walks each day now were almost two-year-old twins Kendrick Thomas and Kassandra Carolyn. They were paused now on their walk because Kendrick just threw those leaves at his sister and his sister was not happy.

Fitz kissed her nose. "You'll be alright, and he pointed in front of them. Look there's a pile, go get it and throw it at your brother." Kassandra jumped out of his arms and ran to the pile.

Kendrick didn't care if he got hit with the leaves. He was a strong boy, his mom always told him how strong he was, and he chased after his sister.

In the echoes of the giggles of their children, Fitz and Olivia interlocked their hands and continued their walk. They talked about the fall and all the changes that came with it that year. They watched their twins continue to giggle and play amongst the beauty of the Autumn leaves.