"Watch the decrescendo," Fitz said gently, following along with his eyes as Karen played one of her assigned piano songs.
She continued to play quieter, following the decrescendo as her dad and the sheet music so kindly reminded her.
She was still on her first couple play-throughs — getting the hang of this particular song.
But she played it all the way through, ending strongly.
"There you go. Nice!" Fitz said, holding his palm out for her.
She smiled and high-fived him. "Thanks for helping me, dad."
"Mhm. You'll get the hang of this one in no time. Just like you always do," he said proudly.
"Well...I think I would have forgotten to decrescendo if you hadn't reminded me," she admitted.
"It was only the third time you played it, that's okay. You can't be perfect at it right away. That's what learning is for."
"Yeah. I think this song is the hardest one I've ever played. There are so many sharps and flats," she noted, studying the sheet music.
"Mhm," he nodded. "You are becoming such a good player, K. And, as you continue to learn, your music will become harder. There will be more things to pay attention to."
"I bet I'm not as good as you were when you were my age," she said, smiling at him.
He chuckled. "You're right, you aren't as good...you're better."
Karen gasped. "No way."
"Way," he nodded. "So much better. You are a natural, sweetheart."
"I don't believe you! You are so good, dad," she said.
"Well I'm old now, I've got lots of practice under my belt," he shrugged.
"You are not old," she giggled. "You look a lot younger than all my friends' daddies."
He chuckled. "That's because I am a lot younger than all of your friends' daddies. But...thank you, K."
"You're welcome. Now will you play for me?" she begged.
"Me? You are supposed to be the one practicing miss K," he said, giving her a look.
She giggled. "I know, I know. I will. After you play a song. Please? You haven't in so long."
"Didn't I just play 'The Little Mermaid' for you last week?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Hmm...maybe," she smirked. "You are so good at 'Part of Your World' I can't help it that I like to hear it!"
He couldn't resist. She gave him her pleading look and he chuckled, rolling up his dress shirt sleeves.
"Alright. Is that what you want to hear again? Or...Lion King? Mulan?" he asked.
"Hmm," Karen thought. "No, I don't think I want to hear a Disney song today."
"Ohh, okay. Broadening your horizons," he said, smiling at her.
"Yes. Can you play the song you said you used to play for grandma a lot? The one you and Olivia like?" Karen asked.
His heart jumped just at the mention of her name.
"Oh. 'Hallelujah'?" he confirmed.
"Yeah. Olivia used to sing it to me sometimes. But I've never heard you sing it. Or play it," Karen shrugged.
He nodded. "I can do that. But you've got to sing with me, okay?"
She smiled and nodded. "I'll try my best."
He relaxed his shoulders and rested his fingers on the keys. They instantly knew what position to go to on the piano, because he'd played this song so many times he could probably play it in his sleep.
The song began in a fairly deep octave, so his left hand started off, and the deep notes rang out beautifully. His right hand played simultaneously along, and then the melody soon became distinguishable.
Karen was watching his fingers nimbly moving across the keys, mesmerized. He looked down at her and nodded, letting her know this was where the lyrics came in.
She sang what she remembered from the times it had been sung to her, but Fitz helped her out along the way. The lyrics were also something he could probably sing in his sleep, no matter which version, so he was plenty able to sing the whole song while he played.
Karen was delighted at the end, even clapping quietly for him.
"That was beautiful, dad," she said.
"Thank you, Karen," he chuckled.
"You're welcome. Maybe I have to request that one more," Karen said.
"Maybe you do," he smiled.
"Some pretty beautiful music I've been hearing in here," Mellie said, walking toward the archway of the music room.
"Well, that was daddy, not me," Karen said.
"I don't think so, K. You've been killing it for the past half hour!" Fitz said.
"It's true — I've heard it all," Mellie nodded with a smile. "You've been playing wonderfully."
Karen smiled back happily. "Thank you, mom. Maybe you can sing one, now that you're here."
"You want me to sing? Sing what?" Mellie asked, coming in to sit on the chaise lounge across from the piano.
"How about...the one you and dad always used to play for me. The...Beatles one...I think," Karen suggested.
"'Let it Be'?" Mellie asked.
"Yeah! That's it!"
She looked at Fitz and he cleared his throat, nodding. "Alright. 'Let it Be,' it is."
He moved his hands up almost an octave from where they'd begun with Hallelujah, and looked at Mellie for confirmation.
She nodded back at him and he started to play.
He set the tempo and looked over at her just before her cue to come in. And then she started to sing.
Mellie had a beautiful voice, there was no doubt about that. He could tell that as Karen grew older, her singing voice was starting to resemble her mother's. Very similar already, although Karen's was obviously not quite matured yet.
They hadn't done this in a while; played the piano and sang together for Karen. They would often help her with her piano if she needed it, they just hadn't done this in a long time. But apparently, Karen was in the mood for some songs tonight. And it probably wasn't such a bad thing, either.
He played the song through and she sang along, both doing it to see Karen smile.
She also gave them some applause when they were done, too.
"Woo! I love hearing songs. You are both so good," Karen noted happily.
They both laughed and thanked her. She gave them too much credit.
"Thank you both for singing for me," Karen smiled.
"Of course," Fitz said.
"Absolutely!" Mellie nodded.
"Olivia used to sing for me or with me a lot at the piano," Karen reminisced. "And you guys always used to love our songs."
Fitz sat next to Karen on the piano bench, wincing to himself as she brought up Olivia's name. He snuck a glance up at Mellie, who he could tell was trying to keep her composure and not alert Karen to what she was probably really feeling.
"Yes we did," Fitz nodded to Karen, trying to take some pressure off of Mellie for having to answer.
But she still did.
"Yes. Olivia was very sweet to sit and sing with you at the piano," Mellie nodded.
"Yeah. Liv's the best," Karen said. "I miss her so much."
Fitz nodded at her and gave her a smile. "I bet she misses you tons."
He knew that for a fact, actually.
Karen smiled happily and scooted back toward the center of the bench, to resume her practicing now that she'd heard some songs.
Fitz looked over at Mellie and gave her a subtle nod, locking eyes with her. Trying to tell her thank you, for what she'd said.
Being as jealous and as pissed off as she was, he knew it couldn't have been easy to outright say how sweet Olivia was.
Even though it was true.
She gave him a subtle nod back before she put that fake smile back on.
"Well, I am going to go put in our dinner order. You keep practicing, K!" Mellie said.
"Okay, mom," Karen nodded.
Fitz sighed quietly and leaned in to kiss Karen's cheek. He rubbed her back as he got up off the piano bench.
"Alright. I'll leave you to it. I have to go do some work now, but I'll be listening, okay?" he said.
"Mmkay. Thanks for helping, daddy."
He nodded, giving her a smile before he exited the room.
"Always."
"Love you, too."
"Bye, Livvie."
"Bye, mom," Olivia said, hanging up the phone. She smiled like she so often did after having a nice conversation with her mother, and opened her bedroom door to go rejoin her friends.
There were three of her friends, crammed into the tiny sitting area of Olivia and Greta's place. But the tininess of the sitting area had no effect on them. And none of their places would offer much room anyway, so one small room was the same as the next, really.
"Ahh, she returns," Stephen said, raising his glass of...what was that?
"Stephen, what are you drinking?" Olivia laughed.
"Umm..." Stephen said, examining the beverage. "I'm not quite sure. Greta, could you offer me some assistance here?"
"It's a Japanese soda. You want one?" Greta asked.
"Oh, sure!" Olivia nodded.
"Honestly really slaps," Huck said. "And this is coming from someone who doesn't even like soda."
"It's very good," Stephen agreed. "You have to...push down the little marble to open it."
"Ohhh, right, right," Olivia nodded, thanking Greta for the soda.
She'd had one before, they were good.
She got an orange flavor, which, she couldn't complain about. She took off the plastic wrap and disassembled the part of the cap she'd need in order to push the marble down into the drink.
After pressing firmly on it, there was a brief popping sound as the marble was forced down into the soda, opening it.
"Damn, okay, she made me look really quite stupid trying to open mine," Stephen pointed out.
Greta was in a fit of laughter. "That's alright. They're very unique so I'm guessing the first time you ever see one you have no idea what to do."
"Yes, I can confirm that," Stephen nodded.
"But you know, Stephen, while it may be Japan's National soft drink now, it was actually originally a Scottish invention," Greta pointed out.
Stephen looked confused. "What? You can't be serious. Surely I would know such a thing."
"I am indeed, quite serious," Greta laughed, speaking in her best Scottish accent back to Stephen.
Her Scottish accent was actually quite good. No surprise there!
"Well isn't that a nice fun fact. Now I feel even more ridiculous for not knowing how to open it," Stephen chuckled, as everyone laughed.
"Yeah — I mean, they're way more fun than cans, though, I'm gonna be real," Huck said, taking a sip of his.
"And very good," Olivia added.
"See — this is what I like to see, drinking Ramune with my two American friends and my Scottish friend," Greta said.
"Mhm, right, and have you shared a Ramune with your...Finnish...friend, yet?" Huck asked, giving her a smirk.
Greta started to blush and everyone laughed.
"No. We're not quite to the...Ramune stage yet, I told you all I'm working on it! At least he knows me now," Greta shrugged.
"Uh-huh, because tripping into him in an elevator is a little hard not to notice, G," Stephen said.
"Hey!" Greta laughed, as everyone cracked up. "I got nervous, okay?!"
"It's okay, G, it happens! The people we like tend to make us nervous sometimes," Olivia said, glaring at the two boys. They just kept chuckling.
"Right! And you know — this is different. Guys don't usually make me this nervous. I mean, what do I have to be nervous for? They're usually bumbling idiots. Women. Now women make me more nervous. They're so...cute and smart, and...you know, everything a guy isn't."
"That's extremely accurate, I will admit," Stephen nodded.
"Oh, a hundred percent," Huck nodded. "God, we tend to suck."
"But then there's this damn blond ass white boy that I can't seem to be normal around, or figure out why I like him so much. It's so annoying," Greta said. "But. Now, he knows who I am, and we've ridden to school together a couple times."
"You are well on your way to Ramune with Mikko, my friend," Huck said.
"Thank you, thank you, good vibes only," Greta laughed.
"I already called that you two would get married and have lots of babies, G," Olivia said, raising her drink.
Greta pointed at Olivia, wrapping an arm around her. "O, your positivity, I tell you."
"Holy shit, I just realized that together, you two make O and G. You're like...the OG," Huck said.
Greta shrugged. "What can we say, we were made to be roomies, I think."
"Agreed," Olivia added. "We've had some...interesting times together, to say the least."
Greta smirked back at Olivia, both of them undoubtedly thinking of the same thing, and started giggling.
"That, we have," Greta laughed. "And I would never trade them for anything. And I wouldn't trade you two boys, either. We've had some of the best times, and I look forward to many more."
"Yesss!"
"You know it."
"You're damn right."
"Here, here, everyone smile," Huck said, holding up his phone to take a selfie of all of them.
They all leaned in and smiled, looking happily at the camera with their Japanese sodas in hand. Just another memory to add to the list.
"Oh damn, I look good in that," Huck said, examining himself in the picture.
"Damn, we all look good in that," Olivia said.
"Hell yes, we do. My makeup is on point today," Greta nodded.
"G, your make up is always on point," Olivia nodded.
"Honestly true. It's no wonder cute Finnish boy wants to ride into school with you," Huck said.
Greta gasped. "Ohhh, do I have to compete with you now, Huck?"
"Yes Huckles, I thought you were into, you know, the older fellows," Stephen nodded.
"Stevie boy, quit with the Huckles, okay?!"
"Only if you quit with Stevie boy!" he exclaimed back.
Olivia and Greta were laughing at their little quarrel.
"Fine, fine," Huck said. "But no, you don't have to compete with me my darling Greta, I've already got me a man at home. And as Stephen said...we do know I like the 'older fellows'."
"Yeah, how old is El again?" Greta asked.
"He's 25. So by older fellows, I mean...they're not actually that old," Huck chuckled.
"Yeah that's not old," Greta agreed. "He seems younger than that, too."
Olivia internally breathed a sigh of relief — because if her friends thought Elliot was old, oh dear. She'd have an interesting discussion coming their way when the time was right.
"Yeah. Look, guys our age — some can be hot. Mikko is definitely an example, and honestly, Mikko looks like he's 25," Huck said.
Greta laughed. "He does. He's so tall, and...muscular."
Olivia smirked.
"But...a little bit older? That's where it's at. Some of the hottest guys I have ever seen in my life are in the twenties to thirties range," Huck said. "It's the hot age — I didn't ask for that, that's just how it is!"
"Yeah, I would agree with that honestly," Greta nodded.
"Like...oh my God. G, have you ever seen a picture of the family Olivia stayed with her first semester? I mean — damn.
Olivia's eyes widened, and her heart started beating faster.
Oh God.
"Oh, that's right! I remember you telling me the guy in the family was super hot," Greta said to Huck. "I've never seen a picture, though!"
"Oh man, God was not messing around when he made that man. Probably one of the hottest straight men I've ever seen. Mr. Grant," Huck said, looking at Olivia with a smirk.
Olivia's face was hot with embarrassment, and she just prayed to God this wasn't the day she had to explain everything to all of them. That would just be...a lot at once.
"Ha ha," Olivia laughed.
"I wouldn't know that particular detail about a man's...'hot age range' — however my girlfriend is two years older than me. Does that count?" Stephen chimed in.
Thank you. Thank you for changing the subject, Stephen.
"Absolutely that counts!" Olivia nodded.
"Oh hell yeah. Stevie boy likes the older women, huh?" Huck asked, looking between Stephen and his phone.
Stephen smirked back. "You know it."
"Oh my God," Olivia laughed, rolling her eyes.
She noticed Huck had been scrolling through his phone. She'd thought they'd successfully moved on, but the next thing that came out of Huck's mouth showed her that they had not.
"Okay, Liv, I'm sorry girl, I don't want to make you uncomfortable but I just had to show G Mr. Grant," Huck said, facing his phone toward the two women. "Apparently he's an easy Google search."
And there on his phone, was Fitz's professional headshot from what she assumed was J.P. Morgan's leadership page.
Fitzgerald Grant,
Vice President of Operational Risk
Olivia's whole body went numb as she looked nervously at Huck and back at Greta, who was examining the headshot, and beginning to put things together. It hadn't been too long ago that she'd met Fitz, herself. But Olivia had certainly not introduced him to her as "Mr. Grant, from the family she stayed with last semester." That was all...new information that she was now receiving.
Greta looked over at Olivia in surprise.
"Wait a second. That's..." Greta asked.
"Isn't he hot? Whew!" Huck said, looking at Fitz's picture.
Olivia looked at Greta, desperately wishing she could say "just play it cool" out loud or something, but clearly she didn't need to, because Greta seemed to get it.
"Yeah...super hot," Greta nodded.
Olivia cleared her throat, looking around and trying to think of something to say. She came up with nothing. Well, nothing good, at least.
"Hey, uh...you wanna come with me to grab some of our snacks from the kitchen?" Olivia asked Greta.
Greta seemed to understand right away and she nodded.
"Uh, yeah, sure. We'll be back, boys!" Greta said.
"Oh, sweet. Hey, grab the hot Cheetos, will you?" Huck asked.
"Yeah, yeah. You want some chopsticks to eat them with, too?" Olivia laughed.
"You know me so well. I don't do dirty fingers," Huck shook his head.
"Alright. Be back soon," Olivia nodded, grabbing her keys as Greta followed behind.
They were silent walking the brief distance down the hallway to the kitchen. When Olivia confirmed they were alone in the kitchen, she turned back to Greta, who was raising an eyebrow at her.
"Oh...my...God."
"Yeah..." Olivia sighed, putting her hand up to her face. "I know."
"I mean...holy shit. Like actually?" Greta asked. "Like while you were...living there, too?"
Olivia sighed. "Not at first. But eventually...yes."
Greta looked at her, jaw dropped, with a slight smirk.
"So that's how you met boyfriend..." Greta said. "I would have never seen that coming."
"Um...yeah, it's a bit...unorthodox," Olivia agreed.
"A bit? Shit, Liv. Isn't he...you know..." she said, pointing to her ring finger.
"Yeah," Olivia nodded. "Yeah, he is. Hopefully not soon, but...currently, yes. And she knows, too."
Greta's jaw dropped even wider. "Wait. She knows...like, about you two?"
"Uh-huh," Olivia nodded.
"And she knows it happened while you were living —"
"Uh-huh," Olivia nodded again.
"Holy shit!" Greta whispered. "Are you...fucking with me right now?"
"Nope. It's a mess," Olivia admitted. "But hopefully sometime in the near future...we'll get it cleaned up. We're working on it."
"So they're obviously...getting a divorce then, right?" Greta asked.
"That's the goal. She's...their marriage is also a bit unorthodox. It has never been good. I'll explain everything later, I just wanted to give you a heads up because I knew you would be sitting there so confused if I didn't," Olivia said.
"Well, thank you for that. I know how hard it must be to have told me, and I take it...nobody else knows?" Greta questioned.
"Just...my best friend back home, Shawn. A couple of his friends know, too, and Mellie. His wife. Otherwise, nobody else. Those guys in there, they're some of my closest friends, too. Especially Huck. I'm just...it's a big thing to tell, G. It's a scary thing to tell. I was going to tell you all about him when I felt Fitz and I were in a better place than we are now. I trust you all, and really...there's no harm in any of you knowing. It was just...easier for me, not to say anything. Mostly because, I didn't know what to say and...I was afraid of how you'd think of me when I figured out what to say."
Greta shook her head sadly. "Oh, Liv. God, no. Don't even think that way. You've become one of my closest friends...I know you. I know the person that you are. A good person. Kind. Caring. I know you. This doesn't change any of that at all. I saw you two together. And I knew right away that you two were...well, you know what I'm saying. Trust me, I know what it feels like to be so unexplainably into someone. I know you don't control feelings. I would never think differently of you because of this, especially when I don't know the full story."
Olivia sighed and nodded. "Thanks, Greta. Thank you."
"No need to thank me. Thank you for sharing with me," Greta said. "But if you don't mind, I do look forward to hearing the full story later, because wow, do I have some questions."
"Totally understandable," Olivia laughed. "I'll have lots of answers for you."
"Cool," Greta nodded. "And hey, I got you, Liv. Always."
Olivia sighed, leaning into her for a hug.
"Thank you."
"Of course," Greta nodded, hugging her tightly. "Now...should we grab those dumb boys their snacks before they come looking for us?"
"Yeah, probably," Olivia laughed.
They grabbed the snacks they had in their spot of the kitchen, including the hot Cheetos for Huck, and headed back to their suite.
As soon as they opened the door, Huck was quick to apologize.
"Okay, Liv, I realized you got really uncomfortable when I brought up Mr. Grant, so I will refrain from ever bringing him up again, because I know it's probably awkward for you. Please accept my apology, you beautiful, badass Queen."
Both women started laughing and Stephen rolled his eyes.
"I accept your apology, Huckles," Olivia said, laughing.
Huck gasped, but then shrugged it off. "Okay, okay, I'll deal with Huckles this time around because it's you."
"Hey! Why can't I then?" Stephen asked. "That doesn't seem very fair."
"Oh Stevie boy, because you're not a beautiful, badass Queen," Huck shrugged.
"Well...am I a beautiful, badass King?" he asked.
"You are in my book, Stevie," Olivia said, coming to sit back down again.
"Mine too," Greta agreed.
Stephen smiled.
"Okay. I have the girls' opinions, that's much more important than yours," Stephen said to Huck.
Now it was Huck's turn to object.
"Hey!" Huck exclaimed.
"Now, now, boys. Here, distract yourself with food," Olivia said, tossing some snacks in the middle of their group.
"Ayyeee!" Huck said, reaching for one of the bags. "Our ladies always save the day."
Greta and Olivia laughed.
"Hell yes we do."
"You sleep tight okay?" Fitz asked, squeezing his daughter's little hand in his own.
"I will, dad," Karen nodded.
Fitz sighed and looked around her bed. "Now...where is mister sunshine?"
Karen shrugged. "I'm getting too old for mister sunshine."
Fitz gasped. "That's what you said about daddy's tickles and I think...I proved that theory untrue—"
He started tickling her tummy, which, as always, had her in a fit of giggles. She tried to roll from side to side in her bed — away from his tickles, but it didn't work too well.
He smiled, seeing her giggle so hard. And then a tuft of yellow fuzz poked out from underneath the covers from all of her movement.
He gasped again.
"Now who is this?" he asked, reaching for the bear. Karen's famous mister Sunshine, hidden underneath her sheets.
She smiled and shrugged.
"Okay. Maybe I'm not too old for mister Sunshine, or daddy's tickles."
He chuckled, leaning down and kissing her forehead.
"Never," he said, smiling down at her. "I love you so much, K."
"Love you too, dad," she smiled.
He tucked her bear under her arm and covered her up snugly with her comforter.
"Goodnight, baby."
"Goodnight."
He shut her door behind him and headed to his bedroom. Not to sleep — he hadn't slept in there in months.
But to do something he honestly wasn't expecting to do today. Thank Mellie.
She had already said her goodnights to Karen, so when he walked in she was all comfy in their bed, reading a book.
He shut the door behind him and she looked up at him hesitantly.
"Um...I just wanted to say thank you. For earlier. Playing nice when...K brought her up. Thank you," Fitz said.
It may have seemed like a simple thing, but he knew it wasn't. And not only playing nice, but complimenting the woman your husband was in love with — that was something.
Especially when you were as jealous of a person as Mellie was.
She looked up at him and sighed.
"I know...how much she means to Karen. And...I wouldn't ever try to tarnish someone's appearance in the eyes of an innocent, sweet 10-year-old," she said quietly.
Fitz nodded. "Did you...want to, though?"
He was nervous to hear her answer, but felt this was a good chance to get to know just how she really felt regarding Olivia. Lord knew he was aware of how she felt about him. But Olivia, herself, hadn't ever really been Mellie's main focus — thank God. She was usually too busy focusing on all of Fitz's shortcomings and wrongdoings.
Mellie didn't nod or shake her head. Instead, she just laid there, slowly setting her book down on the comforter.
"I don't know, Fitz. I don't know. I always thought she was the sweetest young woman. Of course now...she makes me so...irritably mad. But not as much as you do," she replied.
And for that, he was grateful. Another thing jealousy could have done, was make her hate Olivia more than him. Thankfully, that wasn't the case for Mellie.
Unfortunately, though, that's what she had always done, anyway. Hate him. Or at least, that's what it felt like.
"Yeah. I know, Mell," he nodded.
He got ready to turn around and leave, just because he felt like they didn't need to get into how much she hated him tonight. They could take a night off of that, he thought. Plus, he owed his mother a call.
But she spoke up as she saw him turning to leave.
"Fitz."
He turned back to her curiously.
"I hate you right now," she admitted. "It's hard to even look at you."
"Yeah, Mell. I know that," he said.
"No, wait."
He waited, wondering where the hell this was going.
"I know that...I can't hate you forever. I know that I can't, and that I won't."
"You have...every right to," he nodded.
"I know. And I still do."
He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Yeah. I got that part."
"But I won't always," she said.
He nodded, looking at her thoughtfully.
"Thank you for...telling me that."
She nodded, putting her book aside and turning off her lamp.
He watched her settle into bed and he shut off the main light for her.
"Night."
She rolled over, facing away from him.
"Night," she replied.
He slowly shut their door, before making his way quietly down the stairs.
Well that was new.
"Wait — you two were doing the nasty while you were in the next room and I was too stupid to notice?!" Greta asked.
"Nooo, no," Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "All we did was...get ready for bed in the bathroom, sneak into my room, watch some 'Game of Thrones' and sleep."
"Okay...but still. How did I not notice?!" Greta exclaimed.
"Honestly, I thought for sure you would when you came in and announced you were going to throw yourself off the Empire State Building if you didn't ace your test — because Fitz almost spit out all the toothpaste in his mouth in surprise."
"Oh my God," Greta laughed. "Hey, good news, I remember that exam and I did in fact, ace it."
"Uh-huh, and do you remember me telling you that you would?" Olivia smirked.
"I do!" Greta nodded. "Thank you for believing in me during such...apparently hard times."
"You're welcome," Olivia laughed.
"And...thank you for giving me the full story about Fitz. It really means a lot that you did," Greta said.
"Of course. I'm glad you know. I should have just...told you before," Olivia said.
"No, you had no obligation to tell anyone anything. This is your business and your business only, Liv. I get it. So...I'm honored to know. And...by the way — you're calling this for me so I'm calling it for you, too. You're gonna get through all this with him. And you're gonna be stronger than ever; all of you. And you're gonna get married. I said it! I have spoken the words!"
"Ohhh shit," Olivia replied. "You think so, huh?"
"I do," Greta nodded. "I really do."
Olivia smirked. "I will absolutely take that. Because...as crazy as the world would probably think we were...that sounds pretty amazing to me."
"Mmhmmm," Greta smirked.
"He's just...all I want," Olivia sighed. "I mean, before I came here to New York...I thought I only wanted one thing. I thought I knew what I wanted to do and I had a plan. And don't get me wrong, I absolutely still have that plan. I just...want more than that now. He came out of nowhere and just...made me fall. So hard."
"You know...in his eyes you were the one that came out of nowhere and made him fall hard," Greta pointed out with a smirk.
"Yeah that's probably true. Literally came out of nowhere because he didn't know I was coming until last minute," Olivia laughed.
"Probably the best last-minute surprise he's ever gotten, looking back on it," Greta said. "Based on — you know — the heart eyes he looks at you with."
Olivia smiled. "He's a sweetheart."
"And an absolute dilf. The face, the body — Jesus. I mean...I'm sorry, can I just be frank? Or are you going to kick my ass for saying that?" Greta asked.
"Oh, no. Trust me — I'm well aware. He's hot as hell," Olivia nodded. "I got damn lucky. And obviously with more important things than just his looks too. He's...the best dad to K, and...so selfless, and kind. He's just...amazing."
Greta put her hand to her heart and smiled. "My heart."
"Sorry. I don't mean to go all soft," Olivia laughed. "He just gets me."
"You can be as soft as you want. I know the feeling," Greta nodded. "You know what I am disappointed about, though?"
"What?"
"That I didn't get to guess his name!" Greta exclaimed.
"His name? You met him — you knew his name?" Olivia questioned.
"Yeah I knew his nickname, but I knew there was no way his full name was just...'Fitz'. I honestly wondered if it was his last name or something, because I'd never heard that as a first name before. And if it wasn't, I knew it had to be some...rich white family name or something. And I was going to guess...FitzSimmons. Or...FitzPatrick," Greta shrugged.
"FitzSimmons," Olivia laughed, shaking her head.
"Yeah, I was going for the more unique guesses, as you can tell," Greta giggled. "But Fitzgerald is cool, too. Very...sophisticated sounding. Just like he looks."
"Yeah, tell me about it. You should see the house he grew up in. My God. Trust me, you were on to something when you were thinking, uh...rich," Olivia said.
"Oh, yeah? I'm guessing it's beautiful then."
"Extremely. And his mother still lives there. She's amazing too," Olivia nodded.
"Awww! I bet. Sweet guy like him, you just know his mama is the best."
Olivia smiled.
"She really is."
"Yes, darling, I am," Jean said happily.
Fitz chuckled.
"Of course I'm too protective of you, Fitzgerald. I won't deny it. But it's my job to be protective of my son. My only child. You know the feeling. How protective are you of your little girl?" Jean asked.
Fitz nodded. "Fair point."
"That's right. And plus, I mean no harm. You know I only want to know you're doing okay," Jean said.
"I know, mom. I know. And you're very sweet to worry about me. But you don't need to. I promise," Fitz said.
"Now, if I told you not to worry — would it work?" Jean asked.
Fitz started to laugh. "Another fair point."
"I am always right, you know," Jean said.
"Can't argue with that one," Fitz agreed.
"You know what I think you need, son? I think you need to get away," Jean said.
"Probably," he chuckled. "But right now I'm trying to...be here for Karen while I'm trying to set things right. I can't leave her when things aren't...solid. I don't know what that would do to her, I think she'd be...really confused."
"That's very noble of you, I admire you for not wanting to leave her when things are uncertain," Jean said. "But I think you're misunderstanding me. It doesn't even have to be far or for very long. Just...go somewhere and clear your mind for a bit. I always find that extremely helpful."
"Like...where?" he asked with a laugh.
"Oh, I don't know. Anywhere! You know, I'm thinking of heading somewhere in March for a little spring break of my own with my girlfriends! You could always join us — you know how much they love you!"
Fitz laughed. "Thank you, mother. But I would never want to intrude on your...girls trip. Where are you ladies thinking about going?"
"I'm not sure yet. Maybe Turks, or Barbados. One of the usual places. Just somewhere beautiful and warm and away from all this cold!"
"Sounds great to me," he nodded.
"Well, my boy, the offer still stands. And if not...you can always come house sit for your mother, too. That would be a little vacation, wouldn't it? Plus, then I wouldn't worry about my plants!"
He chuckled. "You keep me updated and I'll get back to you, okay?"
"Okay, son. Well, I'll let you go. But you make sure you take some time for yourself before then, okay? You need it."
"I will, mom," he replied. "Miss you."
"I miss you too — and I love you more than anything, Fitzgerald," she said.
"I love you too. Goodnight, mom."
"Goodnight."
Fitz hung up the phone and glanced at the time on his watch, seeing that it wasn't too late to call his girlfriend. She'd be up.
He scrolled through his recent calls and clicked the FaceTime icon next to her name.
It didn't ring very long before he saw it was connecting, and her cute face popped up.
Both of them were in their bedrooms in the dark, but their faces were slightly illuminated by the lights of their screens.
She gasped, smiling at her screen.
"Hi you!"
"Hi you," he chuckled back quietly. "How are you?"
"I'm better now, how are you?"
"Better now," he smiled. "I was just missin' you and thought I could catch you before bed. I hope you weren't trying to sleep."
"Oh, no I wasn't. I was just scrolling through Twitter," she said. "Thank you for saving me, actually — I've been scrolling for almost half an hour."
"You're welcome," he laughed.
"I wasn't sure if you were going to be busy...talking with Mellie tonight or anything — so I didn't call. But I'm glad you did, because...we probably should talk," she said seriously. "There was something I was waiting to talk to you about over the phone or in person."
He grew extremely nervous, nodding at her with a straight face.
"Oh. Um...okay," he replied. "About what?"
Olivia sighed. "Okay. So...it's a long story, but...today, I ended up telling Greta everything. I was kind of put in an odd position that would have just left her so confused and probably more weirded out than if I explained everything — so I made the decision to just explain it all to her. And I figured you had a right to know that now...another person knows."
He sighed in relief.
"Oh my — thank God," he said.
She looked at him funny. "Are you...relieved that she finally knows everything or what?"
"No, no — well, I mean, sure, actually. That's more...convenient, I guess. But no, you scared the hell out of me!" he exclaimed.
"Oh shoot! I'm so sorry, I should have probably gone about introducing that better," she said apologetically.
"Yeah!" he nodded. "Christ — I think my whole life just flashed before my eyes."
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I did sound kind of serious, didn't I?" she asked, putting her hand up to her mouth.
"Yes! Baby — you do know I have anxiety, right?" he cracked up.
She was laughing, shaking her head. "Oh, baby. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry about that. What did you think I wanted to talk about?!"
"I had no idea. But when I heard the words 'we should talk' it's like...all logic and rationality went out the window. My mind just assumed the absolute worst scenarios possible. That wasn't fun, I don't think I've ever experienced that and I didn't like it," he said, shaking his head.
"Again, I'm so sorry!" she apologized. "Jesus, smiley, don't be thinking I'm done with your ass yet. You have to put up with me longer than this."
He was chuckling, shaking his head. "I'm never going to be done putting up with you. And I never want you to...be done with me. Or...my ass."
"The feeling is very mutual," Olivia nodded, smiling. "When I was talking to Greta about you, I actually...um. We were talking about you and I and...us being together. Hopefully for a...long time."
He nodded. "Oh yeah? Like...like how long? 'Cause I don't know, I was thinking maybe...for like another week or so."
She glared at him playfully and then shook her head. "Okay — I deserved that after the scare I gave you."
They were both cracking up together.
"Look at you making jokes over there you cutie," she giggled. "I would love to be with you for another...week or so."
"Aww, really? That's so nice of you," he chuckled.
She smiled, rolling her eyes at him.
"So um..." he began. "So how did it go, then? With Greta?"
"It went well," Olivia nodded. "Basically, it all started because Huck was discussing his attraction toward older men, and that one of the hottest older straight men he'd ever seen in his life was 'Mr. Grant — the guy whose family I stayed with last semester'. So then — naturally — he showed Greta a picture of you, and I was left looking at Greta like a deer in headlights while it all clicked in her head. So...I pulled her aside to explain."
His mind was racing over all the information he was just told.
"Oh — my God. I don't know which part to address first. But I feel as though I need to thank Huck for such a...nice, um...compliment."
Olivia laughed. "Well, he's very correct, you know. And he's certainly not alone — in fact, all of the people in my life who know what you look like can't seem to stop telling me how hot you are. I don't know whether to be protective and jealous or...proud, or...all of the above?"
He was blushing to an insane degree on the other end of the phone, and she could see it all.
"Wow. I don't...I don't feel like I deserve all that recognition," he chuckled. "But I do know what that feeling is like, because everyone who knows what you look like says the same thing. Abby's first impression of you was that you are a Goddess, which I agree with. And...even Mellie knows you're stunning. She said so."
Now Olivia's mind was racing.
"Oh, wow. Okay — now I don't know what to address first. Tell Abby thank you for her kind words — she looks like a Goddess, herself. And second of all — Mellie said that?"
"Yes, she did," he nodded. "Even she knows you're...hot. As fuck. And she's jealous of you, so that's how you know it's true and that...everyone thinks it."
"Wait a minute, did you just say I was hot as fuck?" Olivia asked.
"Uhh...yeah. Yeah, I said that."
Olivia smirked. "I've never heard such words come from that mouth and I really liked it."
"What? Come on — you're gorgeous. And I tell you all the time. Don't I? Do I not say it enough? Oh...shit. I don't...I don't say it enough —"
"No, no, baby," she laughed. "You say I'm gorgeous, and beautiful all the time. Plenty. Which I love, and you're so sweet to tell me that! I'm just not used to 'hot as fuck' and it was...really sexy."
"Oh," he nodded. "Well...I just always thought women wanted to hear 'beautiful' rather than...'hot.' Not that hot is wrong, I mean...you're the hottest woman I've ever seen in my life — I just...okay. I think I'm...I'm overthinking it now and you're probably not...thinking this is sexy anymore—"
"You are definitely overthinking it," she giggled, cracking up. "I appreciate all those adjectives, Fitz. They are deeply appreciated."
"Okay. Good. How about...'fine.' Can I use that, or am I too old? Because you're really fine—"
She was cracking up again, and now he was blushing, chuckling back.
"I'm going to take your laughter as a no. Okay — how about...'foxy?' Am I too young to use that one? I still would like to point out that you are quite foxy, regardless of...you know, if you like it or not."
She couldn't stop laughing.
"Smiley's got jokes tonight," she laughed, probably looking at him with the biggest heart eyes Greta would have ever seen in her life.
He chuckled back. "I'm taking that compliment for sure, because I'm...not so good at jokes."
"I think you are," she replied. "and I appreciate both 'fine' and 'foxy.' I'm thrilled you think I qualify for both adjectives."
He smirked. "Livvie, there aren't enough good adjectives in the world to describe you."
She opened her mouth in awe. "And he's got the lines tonight? Damn, baby, I see you!"
He was laughing, smiling back at her. "I miss you so much."
"I miss you too, you cutie. I'm gonna need to kiss you real soon, so we're gonna have to figure something out," she said.
"I agree," he nodded. "A kiss, or...many kisses. And an extra long hug."
She gasped. "I love your extra long hugs."
"I know," he smirked, raising his eyebrows.
She sighed contently, looking at him longingly.
"I wish..." she began. She sighed. "Ugh. I just wish a lot of things."
"What do you wish?" he asked curiously.
She shrugged. "It does no good to dwell on wishes."
"Not always. But dwell for me," he whispered. "I want to hear them."
She smiled at him. "Really?"
"Of course. Always," he nodded.
Hmm. Okay.
"I wish...I could be with you all the time. And Karen, too. And I wish...everyone we loved could just know already how much I...fricken love you. And I wish...we didn't hurt anybody to do it all."
He looked at her intently.
"I think those are good wishes to dwell on," he noted gently. "Because they will be true one day."
She tilted her head at him curiously.
"One day...we won't hurt anyone anymore. We can't take away the pain that's already been felt. But one day...there won't be any more of it to go around. One day, everyone will know this was for the best. Especially Mellie. And by then, the whole world can know how much you...fricken love me. And vice versa, by the way. And by then...we can be with each other all the time. Karen too. I don't think it's possible to get sick of my daughter, she's perfect, but...you might get sick of me after all that...togetherness."
She started giggling. "I could never."
Fitz smiled. "I hope not. 'Cause...all those things are kind of...getting me through this right now. No more lies. Just truth. And...you. You and K — that's...literally all I ever need in my life. That's all...I want."
"Me too," she whispered.
"And contrary to what I said before...I want that for far more than just the next week," he chuckled, hearing her laugh with him. "I was actually thinking more along the lines of...for the rest of...our lives, or...you know. Something like that."
He said it quickly and quietly, clearing his throat afterward.
"So like...forever, right?" she teased, seeing him blush.
"Uhh...yeah. Yeah. Along those lines," he nodded, starting to smirk along with her.
"I'm glad we're on the same page," she said, smiling at him. "I think...we've been on that same page for a long time."
"Yeah I think so, too," he chuckled.
"Since I burned your poor hand," she said.
He chuckled. "Mhm. That was exactly what I was thinking as you tried to desperately bandage up my hand. 'God, this woman is mine.'"
She was giggling, cracking up again.
"I knew it!" she exclaimed. "I am yours."
It felt good to hear all of that. Especially because at one point in their relationship, they'd separated and come to the conclusion that they didn't belong to one another. Couldn't.
But now, the truth was much more clear, and neither was afraid to admit it anymore. Those wishes would all be true one day.
"And I'm yours. Forever."
Hope you enjoyed this little chapter.
I decided to give you two at one time since they were both pretty short, but definitely wanted to make it clear that they're separate chapters with some time in between. So head on over to the next one if you want to!
Read on,
~T