"Why did it start?"
Fitz looked at Mellie from his desk chair, confused.
"What?"
"You heard me."
He sighed. "Mellie."
"Answer me," she said.
He shook his head, having a feeling this would not end well for him.
"Because...I liked her. And...I was drawn to her," he answered hesitantly. "And she felt the same."
"How did it start?" Mellie asked next, looking at him angrily.
"Mellie, I really don't think —"
"Fitzgerald, answer the fucking question."
"I just don't think knowing every little detail will help, Mell," he said gently.
"Why do you care if it will help me or not? You told me about your affair already, so I'm not sure why you can't give me a straight answer to these questions. It shouldn't be that hard. You said I deserved to know, right? So these are things I want to know."
He sighed. "I started it."
"And how did you start it?" Mellie asked.
He shook his head. "Mellie."
"I'm not going to stop asking."
He rubbed his forehead and wished desperately that she stopped asking questions. She did have every right to know, and he could answer them. But he knew each answer would only hurt her more, and he didn't want that.
Perhaps it was a good sign she was even talking to him at all, though, because it had taken some time to get to where they were now. Talking almost every night in the basement office. And tonight, talking about more specific things related to him and Olivia.
Since he'd initially told Mellie about him and Olivia, it had taken some time for her anger to diminish enough to actually have conversations with him that were productive. The only thing she wanted to do was yell at him and insult him, and he had pretty much let her.
Now at least, they'd graduated to talks daily, and in the basement where Karen couldn't hear if she did wake up. Her coming to the basement to talk never used to happen, so that was probably another positive of it all. They were getting there.
Very slowly.
"I...kissed her," Fitz said quietly.
"Where?"
"In the room she stayed in."
"And then what?"
"And then...I don't know. What do you mean?" he asked.
"I mean did it lead anywhere else?" she snapped.
"No, Mell. Nothing else happened for a long time," he answered.
"As in...you stopped? Or what?" Mellie asked.
"We didn't stop, not...at that point. We just...didn't do anything further for a long time. We felt..." he sighed. "We felt really guilty about it. It's the reason we did end things. In November."
"And when did you start again?" she asked quietly.
"December. Over...a month later," he said.
"So why did you go back to her? Why did you two start up again if you really felt so 'guilty'?" Mellie asked.
"Because I'm in love with her, Mell."
She met his eyes with a sharp glare, but then turned immediately away, looking down at the floor from her spot in the big, comfy chair in the corner of his office. The look she wore then, was pain.
But he continued. If she wanted explanations, he'd give them to her.
"We did feel guilty. Still do — every day. And we have to live with that now. But I love her, and the feeling is mutual. We weren't strong enough to stop for good, and for that, I'm sorry, Mell. We are more sorry about that than you know."
"Right, you're so sorry about all of this, yet you don't regret it?" Mellie asked. "Isn't that what you told me?"
"We should have waited to become involved, and we didn't. We should have done things a little differently, and we didn't. But we...can't change that now. So no, I don't regret it. Because I started to care for someone in a way I hadn't experienced before. And it showed me a lot about what we all deserve."
"You think we deserve this?" Mellie asked. "You think Karen and I deserve this?"
He sighed, shaking his head. "No. You don't deserve what I did to you. But you know what you do deserve? To feel the way I do. And Karen deserves to see it. Not...wonder why her parents fake affection in front of her or...wonder when the next time she's going to hear one of their fights is."
"So was this your plan then? Start screwing the girl who lived in our basement and then when I found out, maybe — just maybe — I'd think 'oh, yeah, that's something I want, too! Let's get divorced!'?" she asked.
He shook his head, putting a palm against his face. "That isn't what happened at all, and you know that. So stop. She is completely unrelated to what needs to happen, Mellie. I only told you about her because it's not right to keep it from you. We didn't want to keep that secret anymore, and you deserved to know."
"She's completely unrelated to this? Seriously? How am I supposed to believe that?" Mellie asked.
"Because! Even if she hated me — even if she didn't want to be with me and I never saw her face again — I would still want to divorce you, Mellie! I would still bring this up every night! Don't you get it? You don't...love me? I don't love you? I am never going to stop pushing for this! We made a mistake ten years ago and it's about fucking time we put an end to it!"
Her face grew cold, and he could see the tears threatening to spill out.
"You really think...she's going to stand by you...the way I did? The way I did for over a decade?" Mellie asked quietly.
"Mellie, that wasn't for me. It was for Karen. And don't talk to me about 'standing by my side' when you treated me like shit for years. And...I let you. I let it happen because I didn't care and didn't want to argue, so I take blame for it, too. But I don't want to hear that bullshit because it's not true," he said. "And it doesn't matter what happens down the road with Olivia and me. It has no relevance in this conversation."
"Like hell it doesn't. I'm supposed to divorce you and let Karen see you with that girl only for it to last...what, a few more months? Then what the hell is Karen going to think?"
Now, he was angry.
"Mellie, I don't know what the fuck you think this is, but I would never have done this if it wasn't real. I wouldn't have done what I did if this wasn't...different. This is different. It's not just some...fucking fling."
"See why I'm skeptical, Fitz? What am I supposed to think? 'It's...different'? What the hell does that even mean?" she asked. "To me, it feels like you're picking her over your family. To me, it feels like you would pick her over your own daughter."
He looked at her sternly, and now completely pissed off. "Karen is the most important thing to me in the world, and you know that. She comes above all else. And you know that, too."
"Do I, Fitz?" Mellie asked. "Because I don't know what 'it's different' means. That isn't a fucking reason to me."
"You don't understand because you've never felt it," he replied. "That's why you don't get it."
"Oh, I'm sorry Fitz, forgive me for never feeling your fairytale love—"
"Oh for the love of God," he interrupted, putting his face in his hands. "Mellie, you make this...so damn difficult sometimes."
"Well, I'm sorry if discussing your affair is difficult for you, Fitz," she shot back, looking at him with intense anger.
He sighed, and nodded. "I shouldn't have said that —"
"How do you fucking think it makes me feel? Huh? Do you think I enjoy this? I didn't ever want to talk about divorce and now we talk about it every night — along with the fact that you're a disgusting, cheating bastard. Do you know how...humiliating this is for me? Do you even know?"
He nodded regretfully. "I know. I'm sorry—"
"No — you don't know. You have no idea, because you never cared enough to think about how this would make me feel."
"That is not true," he corrected.
"Oh really? How can you sit there and say you cared, when you continued to do it anyway?" Mellie asked.
"I did care, and I still do. I care about you. I never wanted to hurt you and I wish so badly that I hadn't. I fucking freaked out over there in that room because I felt so afraid and...so guilty about all of it for Christ's sake," he said, pointing across the basement toward the guest room. The guest room that he and Olivia had ended things in. "It literally made me sick."
"Oh, is this where I'm supposed to feel sorry for you Fitz? Is this is where your anxiety is supposed to make me feel bad for you?" Mellie shot back.
"No! But I don't want you telling me that I didn't care — because that's the opposite of the truth. The complete opposite. All I ever do is care about everyone else."
"Hmm, you have an interesting way of showing it, baby," Mellie said skeptically.
He slammed his fist on the desk and rubbed his forehead. Man, could she get to him.
He knew what he was saying was true. He knew all he did was care for others. He knew all he was used to doing was putting others before himself.
But he also knew the seriousness of his actions. Even if this was one of the only times he was including himself and his own happiness in the thought process, he knew he hadn't done it in a very honorable way.
"Yeah, tell me about it," she said, nodding to the hand he'd just slammed down. "That's how I feel. Except...add humiliated, afraid, uncertain, worried, and about a thousand other things on top of it."
"Yeah, story of my life, Mell," he sighed.
That was an everyday occurrence for him and his anxious ass.
"Aww, baby. Did your wife cheat on you too? Did she betray you and the vows you made ten years ago? Did she break your trust and your heart all at once too?"
"Alright, let's not act like we're something we're not," he said, glaring at her.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"I said, let's not act like we're something we're not. You have every right to be pissed at me and you have every right to feel betrayed. But don't act like we had...the perfect life. Don't act like you love me, and that I broke your heart because I fell in love with someone else. That's not us."
"Oh, look at that, just another man telling a woman how she should feel when he does something wrong," Mellie said, throwing her hands up in the air.
"That's not—" he sighed, wanting to slam his hand down on the dam desk again. But he didn't. "That's not what I'm trying to do, Mellie."
"Oh really? Because I'm pretty sure that's exactly what you were just doing, actually," Mellie nodded.
"I'm sorry. I didn't..." he began, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to tell you how to feel. You have every right to feel everything that you feel."
"Look, Fitz. You're right. We aren't solid, and haven't been since the first few months we dated. But that doesn't mean this doesn't fucking hurt me. This doesn't mean it has no effect on me. You betrayed me, Fitz."
"I know," he nodded quietly. "I know that, Mell. And I'll never be able to tell you how sorry I am about that."
She shook her head, giving him another one of her pained chuckles as the silence then filled the room.
But not for long, because she spoke up again.
"The first time I saw Olivia over FaceTime...I thought there was no way she was 18. She looked far older. And...she was just...gorgeous. And then we saw her for the first time in person, and man, FaceTime did her no justice. She's a stunning girl, no doubt about that. And...I had a brief thought, Fitz. I think all of us women do, when a pretty girl comes into their life. I think we all have a moment of...panic. But mine was short; about a second or so. Because I was reminded that...it's you. You would...you would never. I didn't have to worry. I'll admit, Abby always...brought out my jealous side and I don't like her much, you know that. But I don't think I could ever...actually see you going there. I mean, I hated that you're such close friends with her, but inside I didn't really think you'd go there. For the most part...I never worried with you. You're so good. So...quiet. Shy. I thought...I thought I didn't have to worry, Fitz. But I was too naive. Because you're just like every other disgusting, slutty man, who can't keep his pants zipped and his hands to himself, and then sits here and tries to apologize for it."
"I'm not...that isn't me. It isn't me and you know it," he said.
"I don't know it. I don't know you anymore, clearly. I didn't even think you...fucking talked to her Fitz. Even if you were in the basement, or...commuting to the city. I mean...I saw you together when we ate dinner, or...sat in the living room. You barely talked to her. And I was too stupid to realize you weren't talking to her on purpose. You...fooled me, Fitz. So don't tell me what kind of man you are or aren't. Because I don't...know anymore."
"You're not stupid, Mellie," he shook his head. "You just...thought I would never do something like this. And I thought the same thing. I...never saw this coming either. But I know I'm the same person. I know that I am. And I still want the same thing. It's the same thing we've both always wanted; for Karen to have the best version of life she possibly can. Our ways of getting there are just...different."
"Yeah, we clearly do things a little differently, Fitz. I get upset with you and I say things I shouldn't. I'll admit that. You, on the other hand, just start screwing people and that's your coping mechanism."
He sighed. "Perfect example of you being upset with me and saying something you shouldn't."
"Actually I think that was perfectly reasonable," she nodded.
He rolled his eyes and shrugged it off. "What do you want to do, Mellie? All we do is have conversations that end the same way they always have. With one or both of us even more pissed off than when we started. We never talk about what's next, and I'm genuinely wondering what that might look like in your head. What do you want to do?"
She looked down at the floor, rubbing her temples. She took a big sigh and glanced painfully over at him.
"You want me to be honest, Fitz?"
"I do," he nodded, looking intently at her.
She shook her head, the pain radiating from her.
"I don't know," she whispered. "I don't...know."
And for the first time now, he was the one who had hit a point he had never reached before.
He knew she was pissed at him. But there was still a part of him that couldn't help but fear she'd revert back to what she always reverted back to. That she would say that they needed to make it work regardless. At least a snide comment toward him or a deflection, if nothing else.
But she did none of those things.
"I hate you for what you did. What you're doing. I hate you so much for it and...I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that. Because every day I still feel like...I need to show Karen that we're a team. I still want to be...a team. And I don't know how to do that when I fucking hate you with everything in me. I don't want Karen to feel...like things are bad. I don't want her to know that things are this bad between you and me, because...I know that feeling. That feeling hurts, as a child. I'm so...afraid of her feeling that. But I can barely fucking look at you, let alone...try to kiss you in front of her. I don't know...how to play both parts right now, no matter how hard I try."
He nodded, actually very appreciative that she'd let that all out. Because now he knew exactly what she was wrestling with internally.
"Then...how about, we start, by not pretending in front of her?" he suggested gently.
"Fitz, when I don't pretend with you, my real thoughts and actions come out. So the last thing I need is to slap you in front of our daughter, which by the way, felt very good. Not pretending isn't an option."
"That's not what I'm saying. We'll have to ease into it more than that, considering when Karen's not around you look at me like you want to run me over with a car," he said. "All I'm saying is let's start by cutting the basic bullshit. Quit with the awkward...fake affection. Lord knows it makes both of us cringe anyway."
She glared at him.
"Do you want to...slap me again? Because now's your chance. K's not looking," he said casually.
She rolled her eyes. "Tempting."
"All I'm trying to do is help, Mell. I just want things to be better. I just want us all to be happy. That's all I've ever wanted."
She sighed, looking down at the floor briefly, and then back up at him.
"Sorry if I'm not the happiest right now, Fitz," she said quietly.
"I know, Mell. I know," he nodded. "Is there...is there anything at all, that I can do? Anything?"
She looked back at him, letting out a deep breath.
"Are you...going to stop seeing her?"
He winced and shook his head. "No, Mell. I'm not."
She nodded and sniffed, gathering herself quickly and standing up. "Then there's nothing you can do."
"Mell, just wait a second," he said, standing up from his chair.
"I'm tired, Fitz. I'm going to bed," she said, leaving the room.
"Mell—"
But she was gone.
He let out a deep breath, watching her shut the basement door behind her and head upstairs.
He rubbed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, wondering where this was all going to go.
Truthfully, it hadn't gone much of anywhere like he'd hoped it would. However, it also could have been going worse than it was.
Mellie could have done a lot of things if she was evil enough. She wasn't, and he knew that. But still, he was thankful that she was focusing on the situation and on him, more so than on Olivia, herself.
It just felt like Mellie needed a lot of time. Time to heal. Time to not hate him. Time to know what she wanted to do, because no matter what he wanted to happen, he didn't want to put up a divided front for Karen. That much, he agreed on with Mellie.
He didn't know if now was necessarily the best time to get up and move out, or tell Karen everything. He really wanted them to be able to move forward together, and he thought there was a good chance of Mellie feeling the same. The last thing she wanted to do was make Karen feel that they were at each other's throats, like she'd said. She wouldn't want to put up a divided front either.
So right now, he knew they needed some time. Nothing of this nature was ever going to happen overnight, and he and Olivia knew that going into it.
But still, he went to bed tired. Physically tired, and tired in general, from everything going on. What he wanted felt so simple and so harmless; happiness.
But it was a lot more complicated than the surface made it appear.
And it certainly had not been harmless.
He did the same thing he did almost every day of the week.
He slept in the basement. He got ready for work. And like he did at least twice a week, he went to see Olivia before they both began their day.
They did go to a different Starbucks now. Not that it mattered anyway. Not that someone he knew or she knew wouldn't potentially walk into that one, too. But that had always been a possibility; even from the first time they'd ever gone on a date together in the city.
There were still difficulties. But the fact that Mellie knew now, and couldn't be hurt more by someone other than Fitz telling her, put them both much more at ease. There were still others they needed to tell, too. Other important people; Karen and both of their mothers among some of the most important. But Mellie was for sure step one. She was his wife, and the primary concern for both of them. Particularly Fitz, and that worry was at least gone now.
And after he had coffee with Olivia, he went to work.
But unlike most of his other days, that day, he went to go have lunch with Abby. Something they hadn't done in far too long, especially because he still hadn't seen her in person since he'd told Mellie. There had been plenty of texts and phone calls to keep her and David in the loop, and for some friendly support. Lord knew he needed it these days.
So seeing her in person was nice.
They went to one of Abby's favorite cafes in the upper East side, Candle Cafe, and she was extremely happy to see him the second she saw him holding their table.
She smiled and waved, and he got up immediately to greet her.
"Hey," he said, smiling back.
"Hey there," she greeted, wrapping her arms around him in a hug.
He pecked her cheek and hugged her back. "So good to see you, Abbs."
"So good to see you!" she agreed, looking up at him. "Look at that hair! I swear, it gets longer every time I see you. My God, I would die to have those curls."
"Thank...you?" he chuckled.
"You're welcome! I don't think I've ever seen you let it get this long," she said.
"Yeah," he shrugged, as they sat down.
She smirked. "Olivia likes it like that, doesn't she?"
"Loves it," he nodded. "She asked me if I was going to let it grow once, because she liked it. I've only ever had it trimmed since."
"It suits you, it really does," she nodded. "And let's see, we've also got minimal eye baggage, that's a good sign!"
"Yeah," he chuckled. "Liv's got me on her favorite drug-free melatonin brand. I think it's better than anything I've ever tried before."
"Well that's great! Thank goodness for her! She's got you on track. Was that really all it took? A beautiful woman to get you to start taking your medication?"
"Oh trust me, it's not that easy and I'm not taking those meds right now," he replied. "I'm just waiting for things to settle down a bit more with Mellie before I start taking a new medication. It's a stressful process and I've explained that to her. But...yes. I am going to work on finding something that works for me."
"I think that's great, Fitz. Seriously, so great. I am going to personally thank her next time I see her, for getting your ass in line. No offense, of course."
He chuckled, rolling his eyes. "I'm sure she'd love that."
"So how have you been doing otherwise? How have things been?" Abby asked.
"They've been...I don't know. I don't know if things are going in the right direction or not. With Mellie, it's hard to tell."
"I bet," Abby nodded. "What kind of things have you talked about? Or has she not wanted to talk?"
"Yeah. She's been talking more to me this week, which I'm glad about. But we just talked about...Olivia. And...how things in the future would go. It's unknown, that's the thing. She doesn't know what to do. She hates me, but...doesn't want Karen to know that or make her feel caught in the middle. I know she will never do that. At least intentionally. So...I'm torn between if the fact that we're talking again is a good thing, or if it's bad that we haven't made any more progress than that considering the seriousness of...what I did."
"Well, I would say it's a good thing you're talking again, especially because of what happened. Nothing like this is going to go super fast, unfortunately."
"Yeah," he agreed. "It's tough seeing her like this. I know I have no right to talk because I'm the reason for it. She's so...hurt. And she takes that out in forms of...anger. So basically, it's non-stop insults. Which, I can take and I deserve. But I do want it to be productive at some point. If it's not productive, that's not going to help anybody."
"No, it won't," she nodded in agreement. "But yes, it seems her coping mechanism is definitely to hide behind insults."
"Yeah. And make assumptions. So many assumptions. Like...I don't even think I told you this, but she assumed when I told her there was someone else...that that someone else was you."
Abby's eyes widened and she looked confused.
"What?"
"Mhm," Fitz nodded. "I think she was shocked and had no idea who it could be, so she just assumed it was the one woman she knew I was close to."
"Wait a second. She thought you were fucking me?"
"Yes!" he exclaimed quietly.
Abby gave him a disgusted look. "Eww!"
"That's what I said!" he nodded. "Okay, well...I mean...I didn't say exactly that. But I reflected that that's how I felt about...that particular situation."
"Ew, ew, ew. And I mean that with the utmost respect, Fitz. I'm sure you've got it going on in the bedroom and everything, but ew. She needs to get over a stupid ass kiss that happened 11 years ago. I have never known anyone so jealous in my life."
He was chuckling and blushing at her statement, but nodding in agreement. "Yes, I meant...um. I meant no offense either, I'm sure...you are...um. Okay, we're just not going to..."
"Yes, please don't finish the sentence you sweet, shy man. But you are correct, I'm an amazing lay and I take no offense at all," she nodded.
He chuckled and nodded thankfully.
"That's just not right. I'm sorry she forced you to explain to her that you're not all the sudden fucking your married best friend of over a decade. Who...does happen to be extremely sexy so...I guess I can't say I blame her for the assumption I suppose," she said with a shrug. Fitz couldn't stop laughing.
"It's okay," he laughed. "I got it all sorted out and obviously...she's well aware now who it actually is. Which...probably pissed her off more than if it was you. Understandably."
"Yeah..." Abby winced. "That's understandable. You have to admit, she has every right to feel humiliated and pissed off."
"Oh, I know," he agreed. "She does. I'm an asshole."
Abby shook her head. "You're the opposite of an asshole, Fitz."
He shrugged. "I don't know. But what's done is done."
"Yes. And what happens going forward...you know I'm always here to help with that. Like we talked about last week."
"About helping with the process and filing the papers?" he asked.
She nodded, giving him an encouraging smile.
"Thank you," he whispered. "Thank you. I'm not...nearly there yet. But thank you for your offer."
"I know you're not there yet. But you'll get there. I know it. And when you do, I'll be here to help. I am always here to help you if you need it," she assured him, putting her hand on his arm. "Contrary to what your wife thinks, though, I will not fuck you. Literally ever."
"Please, God, no," he agreed, shaking his head with a laugh.
"Alright, enough about that, when's the next time you get to see her?"
"Today," Fitz answered. "I saw her this morning for a bit. And...I'll see her soon, after she gets off and I've finished up."
"Oh good, good. Does Mellie know?"
"I don't explicitly tell her, but I think she knows, yeah. She knows I make time to see her, which pisses her off. She just doesn't know exactly when I do it. But...I don't really care. Part of the reason we decided to tell Mellie was to relieve some stress and lift the weight off our shoulders about seeing each other, and it really has. So...we go more places now. I've taken her out on more dates. And when Olivia's roommate has plans, she tells me, and that's when I go and see her at her place, usually. Those are...our only options right now. That and...brief morning coffee dates. It's not enough. It never has been. We hate that part of it, but...hopefully as time passes, that will change."
"God, I hate it even listening to it. I mean...would it matter if Olivia's roommate found out at this point? Considering Mellie knows?"
"No, I don't think it would be a big deal. It's just...we're in an awkward spot right now. Nobody else knows, and we still aren't in a good position with Mellie. So...we're not really sure what it is we'd have to tell. It's just complicated. It's still...what it always has been. It's still not enough."
Abby nodded understandingly. "But you've felt less stressed, generally, since you told Mellie, though?"
"Yeah," he nodded. "For sure. We feel a different kind of stress now. But...it's much better than everything we felt before. There's definitely a weight gone, even with some additional pain it's brought."
"I knew...a long time ago that this was going to happen — you telling Mellie. It was bound to. You and Olivia were always a giant bundle of guilt about this, and continuing to hide would not only be the shitty thing to do, but...would have weighed on you both and likely led to more issues down the road," Abby said.
"Yeah," he agreed. "I think that amount of guilt has lessened since this fall. I think...there are more things we know now. And things we've done since, that have helped lessen that. But I'm sure we will always feel it. Hard to forget how our relationship came to be. I don't think...it's possible to forget that."
"No. But, you also can't forget what it has done for you, either. What it's made you feel. And how it will change your life. All of your lives — for the better."
"Yeah," he smiled. "She's already changed mine for the better."
"How you been doin' about it girl?" Shawn asked.
"I've been alright," Olivia nodded, smiling at her friend on FaceTime.
Her smile was not entirely forced, it was always nice to talk to her best friend back home. But she still wasn't feeling all that chipper about the subject they were currently talking about.
Where things were at with Mellie.
Clearly Shawn knew her well enough to know that.
"Liv. You ain't gotta put on show for me. If you ain't doing well, you just come out and tell me. You know all I wanna do is support you and help."
Now she really did flash her a genuine, small smile.
"Thanks, Shawn. It's not that I'm not doing well with it. It's just...tiring. And I wish things were different, but they're not."
"I get you," Shawn nodded. "I'm so sorry Liv."
"It's okay. We knew this would take time, so...this certainly isn't a surprise. And we don't deserve for this to go fast anyway. But it's still hard."
"I know. I know it is. God, I get that Mellie's upset. And I think she's got a reason. But you know what else I think? I think she knows what's up. She knows what needs to happen, but she's afraid to let it happen now. Because she doesn't know how things gonna go, so she's just stayin' scared and staying' 'safe.' That's what I think."
"Maybe," Olivia nodded. "It's hard to tell. She's stubborn, so I don't see her admitting that even if it is the case. I do think we will get to where we need to be. It's just a question of when."
"Can mister shy man just take matters into his own hands if she don't listen eventually? I mean, I get y'all need to give her some more time, it hasn't been that long. But...y'all can't wait forever either."
"Mhm," Olivia nodded. "He knows that. For now, he wants to keep a united front for Karen, which I understand. And he's banking on the fact that Mellie wants that too, rather than have him just up and leave while she's completely pissed off at him. When it happens, she's going to want it to go smoothly. I feel like...she has to want that. Because she was scarred from her own parents' divorce which went the opposite of smoothly. So now...we're just kind of waiting in hopes that...we get there. And hopefully...sooner rather than later."
"Yeah. Well I bet she's feeling conflicted then. It sounds like she hates his guts but don't want Karen to know. And if she's stubborn? God damn that makes it worse."
"I know. She's extremely conflicted. She even...admitted it last night to Fitz; he told me this morning," she said. "Which...I suppose is a good step. At least she's admitting that part. But...she does hate him, and that makes me feel bad. She just attacks him every chance she gets when they're alone. And I just found out recently that she actually...physically hit him when he first told her. I don't think he wanted me to know, but he let it slip accidentally when he was talking about that night."
Shawn gasped. "Shit? For real?"
"Mhm," Olivia nodded quietly.
"The Lion, the Witch, and the audacity of this bitch!" Shawn said distastefully. "I don't appreciate that, no I do not. There are other ways to express your anger than puttin' your hands on someone. I don't care who does it, I don't agree with that shit."
"I'm with you. Trust me, I was...so mad," Olivia agreed. "But what's done is done I guess. He didn't seem phased by it."
"Well, she better not do that shit again. I don't like it. Nope. She can be pissed at him, but that don't need to be happening."
"You wanna call up Mellie and tell her that?" Olivia asked with a laugh.
"Hell yeah! You think I'm afraid of a stubborn white mom? Hell no. Let me tell her how things are since she still don't get it."
Olivia laughed, but her smile quickly faded. "Yeah, I don't agree with all of Mellie's decisions and never have. But...I will never not feel bad about this. She didn't deserve it."
"I get you," Shawn nodded. "That's fair. And you're a good person, Liv, so I know you're struggling with this. I just also know at some point, just like you know it, that things will get better. They will."
"Thanks, Shawn," Olivia smiled. "Thank you for always supporting me. Even when I run off to New York and start making a damn mess of things."
Shawn started laughing.
"I will always support you. And I know you'd do the same for me. Because let's be real, I've been makin' a mess of things since I came out the womb, and all you've done since we were five, is support me."
Now Olivia laughed, too. "Ever since we decided we shouldn't be enemies anymore on the playground."
"Mhm. The best day of my damn life!" Shawn nodded. "I'm forever glad I told you your braids were on point that day."
"Me too," Olivia laughed. "Although I'm pretty sure if I remember correctly, you said 'Olivia, maybe we should just be friends, 'cause your braids is pretty nice.'"
"Listen, a girl had to get her point across," Shawn laughed. "I think it worked!"
"It definitely did," Olivia smiled.
"I'm glad. Now look — I do gotta go to my godforsaken tutoring session. You know me and pre-calc. We don't fuckin' mix."
"I do know of your quarrel with pre-calc," Olivia nodded with a laugh. "I'll let you go! Fitz will be over soon anyway."
"Ohhhh good, good. Whatchu two gonna be doin'?" Shawn asked, raising her eyebrows with a smirk.
"Oh, you know. Holding hands...talking about our days...telling each other how much we love each other."
Shawn frowned and raised her eyebrow at her friend.
Olivia burst into laughter.
"I'm kidding. I mean...I'm not. Actually, that was probably really accurate, that sounds like us. But I'm sure...other things will occur."
"Yasssss," Shawn said, snapping and doing a little dance in the driver's seat of her car. "Get that dick! Jealous! Meanwhile, I have to go outside again in this ridiculous snowy weather and then study...math. The fuck?"
Olivia winced. "Sending you luck! Although I do apologize about the weather. Fuck Dakota."
"Fuck Dakota," Shawn agreed. "Seriously? I really have to live in the damn arctic? North fucking Dakota? Jesus help me. I was not meant to live here. Send me to Florida instead."
"That sounds wonderful," Olivia said. "I could use some palm trees and sun right now."
"Me too," Shawn sighed. "Okay. I'm pulling a Midwest goodbye on you, I'm sorry. I'll let you go now."
"Ah yes, the famous long Midwest goodbye," Olivia laughed. "Good luck!"
"Thanks, girl. Talk to you later, love you."
"Love you too!" Olivia replied.
She hung up, and then did some homework until Fitz came over.
It was snowing outside, so he came in with little snowflakes in his curly hair, that quickly melted when they met the heat of her warm suite.
What was left was cute, damp curls that she ran her fingers through during their hug — turned kiss.
"Mm. Long time no see," he murmured, removing his dress coat.
"Too long since you've been here," she murmured back, capturing his lips in another kiss.
He chuckled, trying to remove his outerwear while his girlfriend gave him some much-needed affection.
"Can I take off my shoes?" he whispered, smiling at her.
"I suppose," she laughed, giving him just a tiny bit of space to remove his dress shoes.
Thankfully he did it fast.
He set them on the rug in the corner out of the way, and tossed his briefcase on one of the chairs in the sitting area with his coat.
"Okay. Continue," he said, gesturing to her to come closer.
She laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and feeling his hands slide down to her ass.
He picked her up immediately, smiling at her and pecking her lips.
She wrapped her legs around him too, smiling brightly back at him before kissing his nose.
"Hi," he said.
"Hi."
"How are you?" he asked.
"You know my answer."
"Better now?" he smiled.
"So much better now," she whispered, leaning her head against his chest. "Always so much better when you get here. Just...so much better with you."
He smiled, hugging her tightly against his body. She looked so comfortable. So happy and content, to be in his arms right now. Her eyes were closed and she wore a slight smile on her face.
He was still getting used to seeing someone love him like this so much. Hearing, seeing it, and feeling it were all different in their own way, but seeing was...man, it was beautiful.
"Could you use a long hug today?"
"Yes. Its one of those days," she nodded.
He chuckled, kissing her cheek and walking her over to her bedroom.
After shutting the door behind him, he turned around and sat down on her bed, pulling her body into his even more.
He rubbed her back. "How was your day, baby?"
"It was good," she nodded. "How about yours?"
"It was alright," he nodded. "Glad to be here with you now. Been waiting all damn day."
"Me too," she laughed, sneaking a peek up at him. "Oh! How was lunch with Abby?"
"It was good," he nodded. "Always good to catch up with her. You were our topic of conversation for the most part."
"I was?" she laughed.
"Mhm."
"You were the topic of conversation for the most part earlier too, when I was talking with Shawn," Olivia giggled.
"Really?" he chuckled. "How's Shawn doing?"
"She's alright. Always her peppy self. But...stressed about school. And work. And...life."
Fitz sighed. "I can relate."
"Yeah. Me too," Olivia agreed.
He looked at her solemnly and shook his head.
"I'm so sorry, baby."
"Don't be sorry," she whispered.
"I am though," he replied. "I'm part of the reason you're stressed."
"Baby, you are the reason I'm happy," she said. "Not the reason I'm stressed."
"Well...things revolving around me then," he said, studying her eyes.
She shook her head. "I know you're doing everything you can. It's frustrating. But we both knew it wasn't going to happen quickly. Not to mention I want it to be amicable just as much as you do. It's a bit of a stressful...time. But I'm also not doing any of the work here."
"Well, you shouldn't have to do anything. And either way, I know you bear this all every day. Mentally and emotionally."
She cupped his face. "I can take it. I promise."
"I wish you didn't have to," he whispered. "What else can I do? How can I help? There has to be something I can...I can do."
"You can be you," she shrugged, kissing his nose. "That always works. 'Cause I love you. A lot."
His face softened and he studied her eyes. "I love you...so much, Olivia."
She smiled and leaned in to peck his lips. But one peck wasn't enough. So as her lips lingered on his, she opened her mouth. And he opened his in return.
His grip around her tightened, and he moved his hands instantly to her ass. His hands rested there comfortably, as their kisses had now progressed into a slow makeout.
She ran one of her hands down his chest, and then back up toward his collar. She couldn't help but start loosening his tie.
"Stand up," she whispered against his lips.
He pulled away and held her tightly to his body, standing up with her in his arms.
When he set her down, she pulled on his tie, bringing him toward the wall as he took off his suit jacket.
She lifted the tie over his head, and both of their hands instantly went to his dress shirt buttons.
Their lips never stopped, and their hands became desperate.
By the time they were in just their underwear, her hands went to the front clasp on her bra.
She unclasped it and shrugged it off, watching his eyes flicker toward her bare breasts.
He swallowed hard, letting out a staggered breath. His eyes then followed her hands to her underwear, watching her remove those as well.
His fingers went to his briefs, intending to push them down because he was throbbing and needed them off now.
But she stopped him, before she kneeled down in front of him and took over.
She watched in pleasure as she pulled down his briefs, and he bobbed free of them right in front of her face.
Her eyes just about lit up as she grabbed his length with her hand and started to stroke the base of his shaft. Meanwhile, she took his tip in her mouth.
He sucked in a sharp breath, looking up at the ceiling and leaning his head back.
And then she started going deeper, and he just about lost it.
He focused his attention back on her, bringing his hand down to her face.
He held her head, watching her as she knelt down against the wall, going to absolute town on him.
"I want...to have...time...to make you...come...too," he panted, as she picked up her pace.
"Shhh," she said, before continuing.
"Oh...God," he groaned, starting to guide her head now too.
It felt so good. She was using her hands too, and doing things with her tongue that he couldn't even see, or describe.
It was almost hypnotic to watch. Her eyes were closed, and she was moving her head like her life depended on it.
Not to mention, she was naked, and her breasts were right there, so perfect and visible to him. So much to look at and not nearly enough time.
Because he was already well on his way to reaching his edge.
He let out a moan, reaching one of his hands out to brace himself against the wall.
His panting grew quicker and louder, and she reveled in the sound.
All she heard, when he finished, was the sounds of his moans, and the desperate murmurs of her name coming from his mouth.
She swallowed multiple times as fast as she could, feeling his cum on her hand, too.
"Oh," he moaned, panting and standing there above her.
She slowly stood up, wiping the corners of her mouth swiftly and smiling at his exhausted, satisfied face.
"I'll be back, okay?" she asked, planting a kiss on his lips.
He kissed her back tiredly, giving her a nod.
She stepped around her clothes she'd carelessly tossed on the floor, exiting her room.
He turned around and leaned against the wall, catching his breath and coming down from his high. He needed to pull himself together, because they were not done here.
She came back and immediately grabbed something else from her nightstand, before handing him the washcloth and leaning in for a kiss.
He gratefully accepted both her kisses and the opportunity to clean up. He was still panting as she dragged her lips down to his neck.
He could only take that so long.
He dropped the washcloth and held her tight to his body, flipping them around.
"Oof," she murmured, locking lips with him as he pressed her to the wall.
She was able to squeeze her hands between their bodies as she held the condom she'd grabbed up for him. He felt the square package in her hand and took it, opening it quickly without so much as opening his eyes.
She started to stroke him too. And that, along with her now bare body against him while they made out, was already making him grow hard again. So, he reached down as she plunged her tongue into his mouth, and rolled the condom on.
She was thoroughly impressed at his quick bounce back, and made it known with her passionate kisses.
His hands slid up to her hips, and he hefted her up against the wall.
She hadn't been expecting it, but she instantly widened her legs for him, and held onto him as tightly as she could with her arms around his neck. She pulled away from his lips, looking down at their current position.
He put his palms flat against the wall, and she draped her calves over his forearms. He let out a deep breath, looked down at her legs open wide for him.
He guided his stiff length toward her, and slowly started to push in.
She gasped, digging her nails into the skin on his neck and leaning her head back against the wall.
He saw that wonderful effect it had on her, and he thrust all the way up.
His face showed the pleasure he felt as he pulled out slowly, and thrust back upward.
"Oh...Fitz," she moaned, as he started to develop a steady pace.
The position required quite a bit of adjusting on both their parts, but it felt good, that was for sure.
Olivia felt like she now had no control; her legs were spread and draped over his forearms, and he was the one pumping in and out of her faster and faster now. But she wasn't complaining. After all, she'd just had complete control earlier.
Her back felt every single thrust, despite the fact that he wasn't being rough with her. He was going fast, but he was being gentle about it, given her position.
Gentle. But commanding.
"Hold on...tighter," he said, pulling his left palm away from the wall. She braced herself, not having his arm to rest her leg on, and wrapped it around him instead. Talk about a core workout.
His hand went right to her clit, and started to rub it as he continued his thrusts.
She let out a loud moan of pleasure as the feeling grew inside her. And she could tell by the look on his face, that he was getting there once again.
"Keep...going," she pleaded, locking eyes with him
The corners of his mouth turned up in the cutest smirk, and he leaned forward to capture her lips in a soft kiss.
It was desperate near the end. Desperate kisses, desperate to hold on tight enough, and to feel the release of the wonderful tension building up.
He came again just after she did, hearing her pleads and moans and fast breaths. Feeling her nails on his skin, and her muscles clench around him.
He slowly let her down to her feet and pulled out, feeling so exhausted he didn't even want to move. Luckily for him, Olivia had him covered.
She grabbed the cloth and cleaned them up, and he disposed of his condom in the trash that was conveniently next to her dresser.
"Here," he murmured, grabbing her hand. He took a few steps toward her bed and collapsed, and she gratefully collapsed on top of him.
Pure exhaustion.
"That was...a workout," she panted.
"Uh-huh," he panted back, wrapping an arm around her.
"The wall huh?" she asked, looking up at him with a smirk.
He tried not to start laughing at the sight of her cute little smirk, but he couldn't help himself.
"Mhm. The wall," he chuckled.
"That wall sure has...seen some things," she panted.
He raised his eyebrows, remembering the first time he'd ever been here and what had occurred.
"Wow. It really has, hasn't it?"
"Yeah. I guess...mostly just my ass pressed against it."
He laughed again. "Lucky wall."
She smiled and giggled at him. But her smiled faded.
Do you...have to go?" she asked hesitantly, tracing a finger along his chest.
He let out a deep sigh. "Soon. I'm sorry, Livvie. It really wasn't my intention to come here, have sex with you and then leave."
"I know that, Fitz," she giggled. "I'm the one who seduced you, so."
He nodded, thinking back. "You know, you really did."
"How'd I do?" she asked.
"Exquisite," he murmured, lifting his head up to kiss her.
She leaned down and pecked his lips, and he laid back down contently.
"Plus. If I remember correctly, you're trying to make this a much more...common occurrence. And you will not hear any complaints about that from me."
She smiled. "I didn't think I would."
"Just...lay here with me for a minute," he whispered, holding up his free hand to her.
She nodded tiredly against his chest, putting her hand up to his. Their fingers clasped together perfectly. She studied their fingers, watching his thumb rub the top of her hand gently.
And a thought came to her. She started to laugh quietly.
"What?" he smiled.
"When I was talking to Shawn earlier, she asked if we had any plans today and I jokingly told her that we would probably hold hands, talk about our days, and talk about how much we love each other. She kind of gave me a face, like, 'seriously?' so then...I told her perhaps...other things...would occur as well. And now...we've checked every single one of those things off."
He thought back at their order of events and started to laugh. "Wow. You were spot on. Like...exactly spot on," he said, looking at their fingers currently intertwined.
"I know!"
"Did she like your second response better?" he chuckled.
"Yeah. I think her exact words were 'get that dick'" Olivia confirmed.
His face started to flush and he laughed embarrassedly. But he nodded. "Well uh...I think it's safe to say you got it."
"I think so," she laughed.
"And hey — that was all...a good combination of things," he shrugged.
"It was!" she agreed.
"And now I don't want to leave," he admitted.
"Mmm," she smiled, snuggling up to him. "Then don't," she said, kissing his chest.
He chuckled, sitting up slowly with her in his arms.
"If only it were that easy," he said, kissing her cheek.
"If only," she nodded, getting off of him. She squeezed his hand briefly.
"I'll be right back — I have to pee," she said.
"Okay, you do that, Livvie," he laughed. He smiled at her as she quickly tiptoed out of the room. All while still completely naked of course.
He looked around for his briefs — which were thrown carelessly on the ground like all of Olivia's clothes. Thankfully, his suit was somewhat draped on her corner bean bag. As neatly as one could do that right before having sex.
He started putting on his briefs as she came back, and she gave him a sad face at the sight of him dressing.
"So...guess you're not really staying then, huh?" she teased, going to grab a clean pair of underwear in her dresser.
"Hmm," he thought. "You know what, you're right. Maybe I'll just crash here for a week or so. Think we could pull it off without Greta knowing I'm here?"
"Ohhhh," she giggled, clasping her bra. "Not a chance, not for a week. We're too loud for that."
He smirked, pulling her into his body.
"What's a matter? You don't think...I could keep you quiet?"
She gasped, looking at him with a smile. "Do not tease me, smiley. You know I'm not afraid to tease you back," she warned, reaching her hand down to touch him through his underwear.
"Mmmm," he murmured, kissing her neck.
They were a half-naked, teasing, laughing mess.
And perhaps all that teasing wasn't such a good idea at the moment.
Because before either had a chance to process the sound they heard, Greta was walking in the door.
Olivia had just gone to the bathroom so she'd opened her bedroom door, and Fitz was about to leave anyway, so she hadn't shut it again.
So there it was. Wide open, displaying the two of them standing in the middle of the room near the door.
There was really no hiding any of it. Clearly, their clothes had been off, as articles of clothing were scattered across the bedroom still. He was in just his underwear and she was in underwear and a bra.
And clearly Greta had walked in on more than just them and their absence of clothing, because they were laughing and both of their hands were in places they wouldn't necessarily want someone else to see them.
It was a mess.
Olivia and Fitz's eyes went wide, and their faces grew warm with embarrassment.
Greta's eyes also went wide. But her face quickly changed into a face of pure excitement. It was like she had completely disregarded the fact that they were barely clothed, or what she had possibly just walked in on. She pointed at Fitz and gasped.
"Oh my God. Boyfriend! You must be boyfriend!" she said happily.
Olivia put her hand up to her mouth, looking up at Fitz.
He was looking back and forth between the two women, unsure of what to say but knowing he had to say something before it got too awkward.
He cleared his throat and nodded. "Um...yeah, hey! You...must be Greta?"
"That's me!" she nodded. "It's nice to...meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too," Fitz said, giving her an awkward wave. "I would...I would shake your hand but I don't want to, um...weird you out considering I'm...not really clothed."
"Sorry," Olivia mouth, wincing at her apologetically.
Greta was laughing hard at both of them. "No worries you guys, you're totally fine."
"We're just gonna..." he said, pointing back to her bedroom.
"Clothes," Olivia nodded to Greta.
"Yep, go ahead," Greta laughed.
Fitz nodded gratefully and closed the door, looking at Olivia with wide eyes.
She reflected his wide eyes right back at him.
"Whoops," he said
"She is not supposed to be home yet," Olivia whispered.
"Well, I don't think she got that memo," he chuckled quietly.
Olivia sighed, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry. That was so embarrassing."
"Yes," he nodded. "It was. But I find most things to be embarrassing so I have to admit, this isn't new to me."
"I'm so sorry," Olivia said again. "That was completely my fault."
"Livvie, it's okay," he replied. "You didn't think she was going to be here, and...it's not the end of the world, anyway. She doesn't even know who I am, and even if she did...that's not our main concern anymore."
"Mhm," Olivia agreed. "It's just a lot to explain to someone and...it's not the most fun thing to tell someone. You're...well aware of that."
"Yeah," he nodded in agreement. "But you don't have to explain anything yet. Not if you're not ready to."
Olivia nodded and sighed, looking around at her messy room.
"Well...what we do have to do is get dressed."
"Yeah. Probably a good call," he chuckled.
She put on some warm, cozy lounge clothes and put her day's clothes in her laundry bin.
He, on the other hand, didn't have the same option, so he got dressed back up in his suit. Probably something that would be another shock to Greta if Olivia had to guess.
When they were both dressed again, he reached for her hand to pull her close to him and she wrapped her arms around him, looking up at his slightly tousled hair.
"Wait one second," she said, reaching up to fix his long curls.
"Thank you," he said, trying to smooth them out as well.
"There," she nodded, eyeing his hair, satisfied. "Wish you didn't have to go, boyfriend."
He smiled. "Me neither. But we'll see each other soon. Promise. How about next week I take you to one of the restaurants on our list?"
Olivia grew excited. "Another date?"
"Mhm," he nodded.
She smiled happily. "Sounds like a plan to me."
"Good. You pick okay?"
"Okay," she nodded. "Give Karen a hug for me."
"Always," he said, holding her tightly. "I'll keep you in the loop, okay?"
She nodded, squeezing him tightly back.
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
He kissed the side of her head as they lingered there in an extended hug, before finally pulling away.
They opened her bedroom door again and found that Greta was no longer in the entryway.
Fitz went to use the bathroom quickly, and Olivia waited, peeking into Greta's bedroom from the hall.
As Fitz finished up, Greta came back from her bedroom with her laptop and notebook in hand. Perfect timing for a more traditional meeting between the two.
"Aww, I hope I didn't scare you away!" Greta exclaimed, looking at Fitz.
"Oh not at all — I hope I didn't scare you away," he chuckled.
"It'll take a lot more than that to scare me away, boyfriend," she said, giving him a smile.
"I'm glad to hear it. Unfortunately, I do have to get going, but I hope to get to know you more...properly...next time," he said, reaching his hand out to her. Now that he was fully clothed.
"Sounds like a plan!" she nodded, shaking his hand.
"Um...Fitz, by the way," he said.
Greta gasped, looking at Olivia.
"Glory hallelujah, he does have a name."
"He does," Olivia laughed.
"I'll leave you to it then," Fitz said, looking at the two of them. "Great to...meet you again, Greta."
"Yeah, you as well!" Greta said.
Olivia followed him to the door, and he reached his hand out to her to hold.
"Let me know when you get home, okay?" she asked quietly.
"I will. You have a good night, and I'll talk to you later, okay?" he said.
"Mkay," Olivia smiled.
He leaned in and pecked her lips. "I love you, baby."
"I love you too," she said, letting go of his hand.
After a brief wave, he was walking down the back stairwell toward the back exit.
Olivia closed the door and turned around, wondering what kind of reaction she was about to get from her roommate.
Greta's mouth was open in shock and she was giving her suggestive eyes.
"Girl."
Olivia winced. "Okay, I know, I'm sorry I didn't—"
"Sorry for what?! That you're really private about your super hot boyfriend that looks like he just walked straight out of a Calvin Klein ad?" Greta asked.
Olivia felt herself blushing as she laughed.
"We did not intend for you to...meet like that," Olivia said, shaking her head.
"Well I'll take the blame for that one — I know my tutoring session is supposed to go until 5, but I got done really early 'cause this dude canceled on me last minute. But I definitely didn't mean to interrupt anything, I'm sorry about that!" she said apologetically.
"No, no, you didn't. You could never, you live here! He was about to leave anyway. We were just..."
Greta smirked.
"Uh...saying...goodbye," Olivia laughed.
"Mmmhm," Greta said, watching Olivia's smile grow bigger. "Looked to me like if I hadn't walked in that was going to be one long-ass goodbye. One that maybe didn't involve the little clothing you were wearing."
Olivia put her palm to her face, shaking her head embarrassedly.
"Ughhh. That was...really embarrassing. The absolute worst."
"Neither of you have anything to be embarrassed about...trust me," Greta said.
"Well...thank you," Olivia laughed.
"Mmhm," Greta nodded. "I'm really glad I got to meet him. Even if it was a little awkward, which I apologize about, but...he seems so sweet."
"He is," Olivia said, smiling. "The sweetest. And...pretty shy."
"Yeah, I kinda got that vibe too," Greta admitted. "You two are super cute together. I don't think I've ever seen the human definition of heart eyes until I walked in on you guys."
Olivia started to laugh. "Well, I certainly feel that way. Fitz is...well. We've got some things to work through, G. There's a reason I'm private about him — it's not all heart eyes and rainbows with us. That's for sure. But...he's my one. He's it. I don't know how I know, I just know."
Greta put her hand up to her mouth. "I'm gonna cry. You know me and crying — it's easy for me."
"I do, I'm sorry," Olivia laughed.
"That's awesome. And look, O, everyone's got things to work through. Nobody's relationship is ever always easy or smooth sailing. So I completely understand. Whenever you're ready to tell me more about him — I'm here! Lord knows I've bombarded you with all my Mikko details, so...it's only fair."
"Thanks, G," Olivia said gratefully. "And I love hearing about Mikko!"
"I'm glad, I would love to hear about Fitz, too! I look forward to the story of how you first met," Greta admitted. "And...why he looked like he worked in the damn U.S. Capitol or something. That suit though."
"Yes, he does have an affinity for suits. Really...nice suits," she nodded, thinking about how good he looked in them.
"You can say that again," Greta agreed. "Very...distinguished. And...important looking."
"He would be honored you think so," Olivia said, smiling.
Greta let out a happy sigh, looking down at the homework she had in her hands. "Well this all seems so boring now after that exciting event."
Olivia laughed. "Want some company? I've got tons of shit to do too and we could make it not boring."
"Yes, please!" Greta nodded.
"Alright, I'll be back in a second," Olivia said, going to grab her backpack.
Her night descended into a very calm, relaxing evening full of productivity, and dinner with friends.
Fitz, on the other hand, wasn't quite sure how his evening would go after the conversation he had with Mellie the prior night.
When he got home, he was the first one there, as Karen had GT club after school and Mellie's shift coincided perfectly with it, so she was going to pick her up on her way home.
He barely made it home first though, as he took a quick shower and changed, and found that they had come home while he was upstairs.
When he went downstairs, he was met with Mellie and Karen chatting at the kitchen island. Mellie was signing Karen's reading log, and Karen was discussing something she'd learned in her GT meeting.
Mellie had a smile on her face, nodding along with Karen.
The second Hank came to greet him at the bottom of the steps, Karen ad Mellie turned to look at him and he gave Karen a big smile.
She gasped. "Hey, daddy!"
"Hey sweet girl!" he said, coming to give her a hug. He had to keep his promise and give her a big hug from Olivia too, even though Karen didn't exactly know that.
She wrapped her little arms around him happily from her spot on the kitchen stool, and he leaned down to kiss the top of her head.
He looked up at Mellie and nodded.
"Hey," he greeted.
"Hey," she greeted back.
He prepared himself and waited for the awkward lean in for a kiss and hug. The usual.
But in those briefs seconds he was waiting for it, he began to realize it wasn't happening.
Seriously? Did Mellie actually listen to a suggestion he made?
There was no cringy, awkward fake affection for Karen's sake. There was usually at least a hug. But not this time.
They locked eyes and he tried to read her. She looked at him with a fake smile —that much was still there. Otherwise, she just wore a straight face and nothing more.
Regardless, the whole interaction was a lot less fake than normal. And that was something.
He looked back down at Karen with a smile, leaning against the counter.
"How was school today?" he asked.
"It was good," she said. "I learned about platypuses today."
"Platypuses?!" he asked, rubbing her back.
"Mhm. They are mammals, but they lay eggs," Karen began.
"Mhm," he nodded.
"Look at you, miss smarty pants," Mellie teased.
"Well, I knew that part, mom," Karen said importantly. "But guess what."
"What?" Fitz and Mellie asked simultaneously.
"They aren't even the only ones. Echidnas are mammals that lay eggs too!" Karen exclaimed. "I was shocked."
Fitz started to chuckle and so did Mellie.
"That is quite shocking!" Fitz agreed. "Well, thanks, sweetheart, I learned something new today."
"Me too," Mellie agreed.
"I know," Karen nodded importantly. "Anyway. Platypuses live about 17 years, so they would be great pets. Only...they're semi-aquatic so I don't think they would like New York too much."
"That's unfortunate," Mellie agreed. "It's a good thing...you've got the best pet in the entire world down there!"
Karen smiled, turning to look at Hank.
"My Hank!" she exclaimed happily. "He is the best. He is so cute."
"He is the best," Fitz agreed. "Speaking of, I bet mister Hank is hungry."
Karen nodded. "Me too. Could you make me a snack, dad?"
"Well, do you think you can wait just a bit, honey? I'm sure we'll start dinner soon and I don't want you to wreck your appetite," he replied.
"I know, but I'm just so hungry," Karen said. "Not something big. Just little?"
"I think someone is hitting another growth spurt," Mellie said, smiling at Karen.
Karen giggled back.
"Alright, you growing girl. What would you like?" he asked.
"Hmm..." she thought. "Could you make some celery with peanut butter?"
"You want me to make you some celery and peanut butter, huh?" he chuckled.
She nodded happily.
"That sounds like an excellent choice, K," Mellie said.
"Yes, it does," Fitz nodded. "Why don't you feed your pup while I cut up your celery.
"Okay!" Karen nodded, going to grab Hank's bowl.
His eyes flickered back to Mellie now that Karen was temporarily distracted, and she looked at him with a small sigh.
He could tell she was studying him, probably wondering if today was one of those days he'd seen Olivia. She had no real way of knowing, but he assumed she always thought about it now.
She cleared her throat. "I'll...I'll go grab the peanut butter!"
He nodded. "Thanks, Mell."
"Thanks, mom!" Karen echoed, filling up Hank's water dish.
Mellie still looked at him with anger behind her fake smile. And he knew that anger would take time to fade.
But tonight, was already a step in the right direction. Small, maybe, but still a step. A step toward real — not pretend.
And he'd take that.
Hope you enjoyed everyone. Thank you for reading.
I know this is taking time. But all good outcomes do. And they'll get there!
Stay safe everyone.
Read on,
~T