A/N: Thank you so much for still following this story. I think I've gone as far as I could with this. Perhaps two more chapters and an epilogue. Let's see what my brain cells say or, what your reviews say. Happy reading. Enjoy.

Chapter 14

Liv's Freshman Year (Alabama)

"Will you stop tossing and turning! You're making me crazy, Liv, what's wrong?" Jaz, Olivia's roommate was about to go sleep in the community dorm room.

"Tomorrow is the first big game. My first game of my college career, I'm just nervous is all. I can't believe I'm starting third base. This is what I dreamed of since I was eight years old." Liv finally sat up in the bed, thinking sleep was futile.

"Well, I sure can believe it. You're the reason Alabama prep won the state title two years in a row, and don't deny it, it was all you. Both years, you scored the winning run, and last year, damn girl, you stole home. Who the hell steals home? Olivia Pope, that's who." Jaz sat up with her.

Liv put her pillow over her face. "I took a big chance doing that, imagine I was thrown out? Coach would've gone crazy. Even I can't believe I did that. My father needed to take two blood pressure pills that day." Liv laughed.

Jaz shook her head laughing. "You had a driving force. Ever since you came on to the team, something drives you Liv, like an outside factor pushing you to go above and beyond your best."

Liv nodded. She looked at the picture of Fitz sitting on her bed where her pillow was. Her dresser was hiding the view of that side of the bed, so Jaz couldn't see it. "I do have a driving force. I know there's someone out there keeping track, and I'm not going to let that person down."

"Ooh, do tell." Jaz was curious.

"No, I'm not saying there is someone out there, I'm saying I just know people follow the sport. I want to do the best so we, the team can be the best." Liv caught herself.

"Mmm hmmm. Whatever. Just try to relax tonight, you'll do fine tomorrow. Coach thinks you're good enough to start third base, you're good enough to start third base." Jaz put her head back on her pillow.

"Jaz, do you ever wonder where you'll be in about ten years? I know we're in college now, building our future, but we don't have a future with softball. What do you think you'll be doing?" Liv thought of her conversation with Fitz. She was just missing him so much.

"Well, hopefully I'll be running my own fashion studio. I am majoring in Apparel Design for a reason. Maybe I can design nicer uniforms for the Alabama team, these are hideous, pants always riding up my butt." She laughed.

Liv laughed too. "Oh, Jaz, I could see it. Alabama would be the best dressed team. Fashionistas for sure. Just don't put five inch heals on the cleats."

"Funny. "Although. Nah, never mind. What about you Liv? Where do you see yourself?"

Liv was lying back down in the bed now. She took a deep breath. "I know I'll be a lawyer. I don't want to be one of those corporate lawyers. I want to help the public, more of a state's attorney. I want to have at least one child." A baby that looks like me, like Fitz, brown eyes, blue eyes, she didn't care, she just wanted to be with him, but she didn't know if that would ever happen.

"Can I be the godmother?" Jaz yawned.

Liv heard deep breathing. Jaz had drifted off to sleep. Liv turned and faced the wall. She closed her eyes. If Fitz knew tomorrow was her first game for the Crimson Tide, she knows he would have found a way to be there.

She pulled the picture out from under her pillow. Last she heard he was still overseas, commanding the team in the Middle East. "I just hope wherever you are, you're safe, know that I still love you and I have still had dreams of us." She put the picture back under her pillow and closed her eyes.

The night before her very first collegiate game of softball she dreamed of a sound unfamiliar to her. Fitz was holding her hand as the doctor scanned her belly to check the baby. They heard the heartbeat for the first time, and Fitz smiled at Olivia. Olivia was able to sleep peacefully that night, well rested for the game ahead.


Present Day

"The procedure went well. The kidney stone is gone. How are you feeling Ms. Pope?" The doctor had come in a few hours after Olivia received Ureteroscopy Stone Removal. It was success, and Liv was preparing to go home.

"I feel really good, excited to move forward with the pregnancy." Liv's face lit up when she saw Fitz enter the room.

"Hello Commander Grant. I was just explaining to Miss Pope how she should proceed from here. I know you are pregnant, but it is still important to drink plenty of water. You want to keep those kidney stones away. Also, the vitamins prescribed for pre-natal care should help as well. Remember, the more you pee, the better."

Fitz sat next to Liv's bedside. He picked up her hand, gave her a kiss, and listened to the doctor. "Thank you, we'll make sure she follows that. We don't want another episode like we had a week ago."

"If there aren't any questions, the OB/GYN team will be in. You have my card, call if you have any symptoms. Be well, congratulations, and best wishes with the pregnancy."

Fitz looked a hundred percent better than he had in the past week. He had been a nervous wreck after finding Liv unresponsive then finding out he was going to be a father of twins. He took a deep breath still holding Liv's hand up to his face. "How's my favorite girl today?"

"I'm good." Liv smiled. "Anxious to get back to your house. Do you really have to leave tomorrow to the base in Nevada?" Liv pouted.

"Yeah." Fitz took a deep breath. "Admiral gave me an extra five days of leave. Today is the last day, but you'll be joining me in a week. Your parents are here too. You'll be taken well care of." Fitz looked up as the doctors were entering the room.

"It's going to be weird being in your house with my parents. Your dad is back in DC, you're going to base, and I'll be in your room without you."

"Yeah, but your parents have been staying there. They know Rita and Sal. It'll be fine. Still want to get married in Vegas?" He kissed her cheek.

Before she could answer, the doctors came in. "Good morning, so as you know, you're 13 weeks along now. We are going to do one more ultrasound before we release you today. We'd like you to follow up with the OB/Gyn on the base when you're in Nevada."

They nodded in sync. Liv placed her forehead on Fitz's. "I still can't believe this is real," she whispered.

They placed the gel on Liv's stomach, getting ready for the ultrasound. Fitz squeezed Liv's hand. "Me either Livvie, it's just what I dreamed, except twins." He smiled.


Middle East (Fitz's deployment)

"Ahh, welcome back Lt. Grant, how are you feeling?" Commander Sloane was missing his top pilot.

"Like a new man. Shoulder feels great, head doesn't seem like I'm in the clouds, all is good. Ready to engage." Fitz responded.

"Good to hear. Lt. Connors has been…. well, he's been Lt. Connors, I'm just glad you're back. We have three important missions in the next three days. You up for it?"

"It's what I worked my whole life for." Fitz answered.

"Just because you've been gone several weeks, you're going to stand down as commanding officer for these three. I need to make sure you're back on track, things are ok, you understand?"

"Yes sir."

"Your primary focus needs to be on the missions at hand, so clear your thoughts of anything that may be distracting you. You've come back from a shoot down, a bullet wound, and a concussion, I need you more than 100% up there."

"You have my word, Admiral."

"Good to know, Grant." He handed Fitz a packet. "Study the mission tonight. Tomorrow, you're back up in the skies. Get a good night's rest, you hear? Dismissed."

Fitz was assigned to sleeping on the fleet tonight since he was heading up early in the morning. He was laying in his small cabin, the picture of Liv taped to the wall next to the bed. He rubbed his finger over the picture. "Thank you for getting me through that rough part, Livvie. I know you don't have a clue, but just my thoughts of you kept me strong."

He rolled around, looking at the ceiling above him. He heard the voices of his Navy crew people outside the cabin. He wanted to be out there with them, but he was so anxious to get back up in the skies.

Fitz missed flying the plane, the battles not so much, but he missed the adrenaline rush of the takeoff and the relaxation after the landing. Tomorrow's mission was an air cover. He would be responsible to keep his fellow fighters clear of any danger. He wouldn't let his squadron down.

Opening the small drawer next to his bed, he pulled out the Alabama softball schedule Mason had mailed to him while he was in the infirmary. Tomorrow was Liv's first game. He had no way of communicating from the fleet.

Not knowing how long he would be up and down, he wouldn't know her stats, how she was doing, or if she was even playing. There was no doubt she was starting third base. Fitz didn't know for sure, but he had feeling in his heart she was accomplishing her dream.

There was pounding on the door. "Grant, you sexy beast, are you awake." Connors called from outside the door.

Fitz took the picture down, placed it under his pillow. "Come in you freak, and you better be fully dressed."

"Hey, you're still in one piece." Connors plopped on his bed. "Can I sleep with you tonight? I'll cuddle you if you have bad dreams." He raised his eyebrows up and down.

"Shut the hell up, weirdo. Everyone is going to think you're gay, you keep hitting on me."

"Don't flatter yourself Grant, I hit on everyone." He clapped his hands and ruffled Fitz's hair. "Seriously, man, how are you doing, you ok for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, all good. Just anxious, you know. I want to get it over with. Besides, Sloane said you're making him crazy, so I better be back soon."

"That guy has to wipe his ass better. There's too much shit up there in his hole." Connors looked around the cabin. "Hope you can sleep well in this tiny box. I'd rather be outdoors in a tent than here."

Fitz shrugged. "It's not so bad."

"Eh, in about ten years, we'll be sitting in a bar laughing about our living quarters. Where will we be? Bahamas? St. Thomas? What do you think Fitz?"

"I plan to still be in the NAVY training future Top Gun pilots. I hope to be married, have a kid, you know a family guy, ever think of that Connors?"

"I've thought of it, got sick with the thought, and moved on." Connors gave a hard pat to the bed. "Get some sleep, twinkle, see you at 0500 hours."

"Make sure you dream of me." Fitz shouted.

"See, now you're talking." Connors laughed as he left.

"Well, Livvie, I'll be thinking of you tomorrow. I know your first game will be fantastic. Your picture will be with me, as always." He whispered the words out loud. He meant what he said. He wanted a baby, with Liv, and only Liv.

He closed his eyes thinking of a pregnant Olivia. He kisses her as he leaves for the base for Naval officer training of new recruits. She hands him a picture of their ultrasound they just had the day before, it's confirmed, a little girl, one that will no doubt be as beautiful as her mother.

That was Fitz's dream the night before he was to return to combat in the skies.


Present Day

Liv gripped Fitz's hand tight as the cold gel was spread around her belly. Two doctors were looking at the monitor as the sonographer rubbed around, pushing some buttons. Within moments Liv turned to Fitz with tears in her eyes.

"Do you hear that Fitz? It's the heartbeats again" Liv could never get tired of that sound.

"Sure do." Fitz was looking at the monitor with the doctors, but he couldn't make heads or tails out of what they were looking at.

One of the doctors pointed to the screen and nodded. He looked at Liv and Fitz. "Well, we're about 80% certain the twins are identical, not fraternal. If you want, we can do a DNA test to certify that, but usually the sonogram is accurate."

Fitz nodded; his body numb. Liv smiled; her happiness noticeable. "Could you tell the gender of the babies?" Liv asked.

She turned to Fitz. "Do you want to know?"

Fitz took a hard swallow. He rubbed his hand through his hair, his face turning red. "Yeah, sure, I mean, we should, right?"

"Are you ok Commander Grant? You look like you're going to pass out."

"No, no, I am fine, I'm just. Wow, identical twins. Identical what?"

"That's what I'm asking you Fitz, do you want to know if they're boys or girls?" Liv laughed. He was a wreck.

"Yeah, of course." Fitz looked at the doctor. "You can tell this early in the pregnancy?"

The doctor nodded. "Yes, usually between 12 and 14 weeks we can establish the gender, so you two ready?" He looked at them both.

Olivia closed her eyes and nodded. She waited, took a deep breath in. "Boys, boys, boys.", she whispered softly to herself.

"Girls, girls, girls.", Fitz whispered to himself.

"Looks like you'll be the parents of identical twin boys." The doctor kept looking at the monitor after he said it. He was still pointing at things to the other doctor, not paying attention to the couple's reaction.

"YES!" Liv squealed in delight. "Girls can be mean." She laughed.

"Girls can also be as beautiful as their mother", Fitz pouted.

"Boys can be as handsome as their father. I can look at three Fitz faces at once now." Liv's hand dropped his and rubbed his back.

"They look as though they should for 13 week fetuses. We need you to have at least a week of strict bed rest, Ms. Pope, considering what your body has been through. We're going to follow up with a 15 week ultrasound before you head up to the base in Nevada. Are you alright with that?"

Liv nodded her head. "Yes, my parents will be with me for the next week, so I'll come with them for the next visit."

"Good enough. Congratulations mom and dad. This will be an exciting ride, enjoy every moment."

The sonographer handed Liv some paper towels to wipe the gel. Fitz took it from her, and began to do it himself. He gently wiped her stomach, smiling with each stroke, deep in thought.

The doctors handed Liv a strip of pictures. She thanked them as they left. Once they walked out, Fitz's head went down. He kissed her now cleaned stomach as she rubbed his curls. He rested his head on her belly and looked up at her.

"I love you so much." She saw tears in his eyes.

Liv moved over just a bit. "Come here." She patted the bed. "Lay with me for a bit."


Liv's first college game (Alabama)

Liv began a college game ritual. She changed up her routine from high school just a bit. She was superstitious before games, and something she started now, she would continue throughout her playing career.

Liv had a laminated cutout now of Fitz's name. She put that in her pocket along with his picture. Before she would take the field or lead off batting, she would reach in her pocket and give the picture a rub three times. While in the locker room, privately, she would outline his name, just for a bit of luck.

Today, being the first game, it's what she did. As her name was announced in the lineup, she heard a few loud cheers from the stands. She looked over to see her mom and dad cheering with pride. She gave the picture her three rubs and ran out to third base, practicing her throws to first base.

The leadoff batter for Southern Utah reached base on a hit by pitch. After the second batter bunted her over to second, Liv had to prove herself as a freshman starting varsity for Alabama. The runner on second was fast, one of the fastest, that's what Coach Teague told them. Liv knew what she was up against.

Liv watched as the pitch went towards home. "You got this Livvie." She heard his voice. From her side, she saw the runner take off to third. Liv straddle the bag, took the throw from the catcher and in a swift motion, tagged out the lead runner. The runner's cleat had nipped Liv's wrist.

Heading back to the dugout and being the leadoff batter, Coach noticed her wrist bleeding. "You sure you're ok? I can put in a pinch hitter."

"Not on your life, Coach, I've been waiting for this opportunity for years." The trainer bandaged up the wound, and Liv looked at her father. He signaled a bunt sign to her, even though her coach didn't. Liv listened to her father.

The pitcher wound up, and as Liv saw the ball coming to her, she heard his voice again. "Contact Livvie". She tapped it down, a perfect roller, spinning up the first base line, and Liv reached without a throw.

She stole second on the very next pitch, having been too fast for the catcher to even throw the ball. The batter then hit a ball down the third base line. Liv took off. She saw the third base coach try to hold her up from running home, but Liv bolted right past that.

"Slide, Livvie." Just like Fitz told her how to slide, she did, just under the tag, and just like that, Liv scored. She felt the burn on her right thigh from sliding on the turf, but it numbed up with the excitement of what happened. She had a scrape there for the rest of the week.

That run proved to be the game winner, the only run scored. Even though Liv got on base three times after that, she was unable to get around with strikeouts and fly outs. They won, regardless, and Liv received the game ball. The first college game of her softball career, and Fitz guided her through, although he had no idea.


Present Day

"The reason I really wanted to girls is I wanted to see them be amazing softball players like their momma." Fitz's head was leaning on Liv's now.

"You never saw me play a single game of softball; how do you know I was amazing?" Liv nudged him.

'"I can read, and Mason saved all the articles from every game for me, so there." Fitz kissed her cheek. "I better get up. We have to get you ready to go home, the nurse said you'll be discharged in about an hour and that was 45 minutes ago".

"Well, I wanted boys so they can fly planes like their talented daddy." Liv said. "I got my way, so there."

"What did you get your way with baby girl?" Liv's parents walked in just as Fitz had gotten out of the bed.

Eli looked at him. "She's already pregnant with twins, boy, you still have to be so close to her?" He shook his head.

"Grumpypa Eli, no need for comments. Let him be as close to her as he wishes." Maya turned back to Liv. "What did you get your way with?"

"We have news about the babies, the type of twins they are and their gender. Do you want to know?"

"Yes, NO" Eli's no was louder than Maya's yes. Maya looked at him. "Yes we do."

"No, I don't. I didn't want to know what Liv was, I don't want to know what my, what their, what the babies are."

"Grandbabies, say it Eli, you can do it. Grand babies, you're going to be a grandpa, stop avoiding it." Maya nudged him.

"Fine what gender are my grandbabies."

"BOYS!" Liv and Fitz said at the same time. "Identical twin boys," Fitz said still in shock.

"Identical, oh my how adorable." Maya clapped.

The nurse walked into the room with a wheelchair. "Ready, Ms. Pope?"

Eli and Fitz gathered Liv's things, as Liv sat up in the bed with the help of the nurse and Maya. "Be careful standing," the nurse said, "you may be a bit dizzy since you haven't been up in a week."

Fitz dropped the bag he was holding and ran to Liv's side. He wanted to be there for her, and Maya stepped away understanding. If it was up to Fitz, he would just carry her down to the car. He wouldn't let go of her arm until she was sitting comfortably in the wheelchair. The nurse began wheeling her out.

"It's all set up." Maya whispered to Fitz. "You go over the top for her, you know that."

"Anything for my Livvie."

Middle East (Fitz's Mission)

Fitz took the seat in the fighter jet exactly two months to the date he was shot down. He looked at the control panel. Nothing changed. He took a deep breath. "You're fine, Fitz, you got this." He heard Liv's voice. He reached in his pocket and pulled Liv's picture out.

"If I had this on the dashboard two months ago, I probably wouldn't have crashed." He rubbed it and heard his radio static. "Lt. Grant you are cleared for takeoff."

Within moments, Fitz felt the adrenaline take over his body as his jet picked up speed up the runway. His gage hit 150 MPH and Fitz pulled at his control. A familiar feeling of peace overtook his body as his plane went in the air, and he was where he missed being for two months.

Fitz was high above his fellow Top Gun soldiers as he guarded the airspace. He was getting messages from tower, from other fighters, and he was focused on what needed to be done. Without warning, one of the lights on his dash began to beep, and he noticed oncoming enemy aircraft.

For a split second, Fitz froze. He remembered being shot down, the noise of the bullets hitting the plane, and he was afraid he would lose control again. He closed his eyes. "Fitz, focus, this is what you've dreamed of, protect them." Livvie's voice came through, but how could that be?

It didn't matter, he opened his eyes. "We have company." Fitz radioed in. He gave the coordinates. His admiral radioed in, "Stand down, Lt. Grant, we have backup coming."

"I can do this Admiral, I'm on it." Fitz was avoiding his Admirals' orders.

"Stand down, Lt., we talked about this."

"They're coming in fast!" Connors voice came over.

"Backup won't be here in time Admiral." Fitz's plane went off course, and he headed towards the enemy jets.

"Damn it Fitz! You better be ready." Connors yelled.

Fitz saw the jet approaching from above Connor's. Since Fitz was higher up, he had the advantage. He took a route, not designated for this mission, but found himself in a position to shoot down the enemy jet.

"Permission to fire Admiral."

"You're there already, Lt. Grant? Jesus. Fire!"

Fitz's hands ricocheted the control and after the fire, he pulled up, as the enemy plane exploded above the sea. He heard the cheers from his soldiers, and they were able to get down to help the ground forces.

Fitz stayed in the air for another hour. As he headed in for his landing, he jumped off his jet to his Admiral waiting for him. Figuring he would be facing stiff punishment for what he did, Fitz braced himself.

"I underestimated you Lt. Grant. Nice work up there. The next two missions, you're back on command. Good work."

As the Admiral walked away, Fitz looked down at his picture. "Thank you, Livvie."

Present Day

Liv's parents turned to her. "Sal is going to take us for a drive into Los Angeles for some sightseeing. We will be home after dinner, a bit late tonight. Enjoy your time with Fitz." Maya gave her kiss.

Eli looked at Fitz. "I know I don't have to tell you but take care of my girl." He kissed her as she sat in the passenger side of Fitz's car.

"Dad, he always does, he always has." Liv reached for Fitz's hand.

Fitz wouldn't let Liv walk to the front of the house which was about five inches away from the garage. He lifted her up, cradle style, and she giggled wrapping her hands around him. He stopped on the porch and she leaned in and kissed him, long and soft.

Rita opened the door for them, and Liv looked around the room. "Fitz, what is all this?"

There was a custom-made banner that said "Welcome Home Livvie" over the fireplace.

Along the walls there were bunches of baby balloons, stork, carriage, and baby animals.

"For you and our babies, Livvie." Fitz continued up the stairs still holding her.

He entered the room Liv last saw before she fell asleep a week ago, right after she found out she was pregnant. Set up over Fitz's bed were letter balloons spelling out I love you. On either side of the balloons were enlarged pictures of the sonogram Fitz had been given.

When Liv was lying in the bed, Fitz joined her. "How are you feeling?" He kissed her softly on the lips.

"Perfect."

"Yeah." His hand went up her shirt, and he rubbed her stomach. He reached down and kissed it. "This is going to grow big and beautiful with our boys in there." He kept kissing up. His mouth reached her breasts. "And these"

"Are getting a bit sensitive so be gentle." Liv took her shirt off, helping him a bit as his tongue circled her nipple. "Ahh, Fitz, I missed this."

He looked up at her, putting his hand on her cheek and his lips got hers. "I missed this too." He continued his kiss and went down to her neck.

"What am I going to do without you for a week?" She arched her neck, inviting him to continue making her feel this.

"I am going to be without you for a week too." Liv was running her fingers through his hair. He rested his head on her chest. "Did you mean what you said about why you wanted boys?"

"Yeah, why?"

"There were sometimes it was scary up there Liv, no matter the training I had. I don't think you know how much my thoughts of you helped me through." He kissed between her breasts.

She was rubbing his back. "Well, did you mean what you said about wanting girls?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Because after each game the bruises, the scrapes, the cuts, they were painful."

"How about this? We get through this pregnancy and raise the babies so they decide what they want to do."

She pulled his head down again to her lips. "Mmm, that sounds perfect, Mister. Thank you for all this, for taking care of me, always."

As his hand gently massaged her breasts, each one getting a turn at his gentle hand, he continued to kiss her. He finally stopped. "I have something for you, but you can't read it until I'm gone ok."

She looked at her favorite blue eyes. "Ok." She promised.

He pulled the notebook out from under the pillow beside him. "When I was in the infirmary, I wrote to you every day. My dad kept the book safe for me. Would you like to read the letters I wrote to you? I used up the whole notebook."

Liv's face got so serious. Her eyes teared up. "Fitz, that's beautiful. I wish I had done something like that for you. Instead, I was too busy being a baby and upset with you."

"Shhh" Fitz said. "You had every right. Look at us now, though."

Liv took the notebook. She placed it on her nightstand next to the bed. "I'll read the letters out loud so the babies can hear them too." She smiled, that smile that continues to melt Fitz's heart.

"Perfect. How about a little nap before dinner?" he asked her.

"Only if you stay right where you are. I want to hold you for a while. You've taken such good care of me."

With Fitz's hand stroking Liv's belly, and her hand rubbing his curls, they drifted into a power nap, dreaming of their life as parents yet to come.