Love and Art

by Starfish81

Fitz is a big time art Rep & owner of Grant Art inc. He's the big shot that everyone wants to know. Olivia is a young and hopeful artist hoping to branch out her art beyond her friends shop. What happens when Olivia meets with Fitz for a job at his company? How will Fitz deal with his obligation to his company, while dealing with new and growing Feelings for the newest staff member

23. Chapter twenty-Three: Nola

Another Fluffy chapter...

Chapter Twenty-Three: Nola

Janet walked into Mr. Grant's room at nine sharp like she did every morning. He was always up and out of bed by this time, so she would come in and collect his dirty clothes from the hamper, make the bed, and tidy up anything else that needed to be cleaned. She did this every morning, without interruption, so she was startled, when she went to make up the bed and discovered a young woman sleeping in Mr. Grant's bed. But by the look on the woman's face, she'd Janet had scared her even more.

"Apologies ma'am. I didn't know Mr. Grant had a guest forgive me. I normally clean Mr. Grant's room around this time, but I'll get out of your way. " Janet turned away from the bed, grabbing Mr. Grant's clothes hamper and shutting the bedroom door on her way out.

Olivia finally unclutched the sheets in her hand. She was fully clothed, but she still felt the need to hold the sheets up to her chest. Olivia had been sleeping peacefully, dreaming of her upcoming trip to New Orleans with Fitz, when she felt the duvet on the bed being snatched away from her body. She been bought ready to scream, until she jerked around and saw a woman in uniform. She knew all the housekeepers that worked in the house wore black pants and black shirts. This one must have been new, because Olivia didn't recognize her. That was the only thing she didn't like about staying at Fitz's penthouse. All the extra people around. Olivia still wasn't use to it, even after all the times she'd spent at his home.

Today, Olivia and Fitz were heading to New Orleans to see John' Legend perform in concert. Olivia had been so excited all week long leading up to now. She'd gone home the day after her birthday, she would have loved to have stayed a few more days with Fitz, but she had to get back to work.

Fitz sent a car to Sag Harbor on Thursday to drive Olivia back into the city. They had a scheduled flight for the next day mid-morning. The concert was scheduled for later on tonight, starting at seven o'clock at the Mercedes-Benz superdome. The flight was only going to be about three and a half hours, four at the most and they were leaving at ten for the airport. Fitz originally wanted to leave yesterday, so they would already be in New Orleans today, but both his and Olivia's work schedule didn't allow for that.

After Olivia had stretched all the sleep from her body, she went into the bathroom to relive herself and wash her face. She hadn't felt like pulling a pair of pj's out her packed luggage last night, so she was once again in one of Fitz's shirts and a pair of his pajama bottoms. She had rolled the waist as many times as it would allow without giving her a wedgie and they were still too long. She hadn't bothered with her hair this morning, only finger combing it as she headed towards the kitchen. She also didn't feel like putting her contacts in this morning, so she was wearing her glasses. She'd forgotten to pack the Ray-Ban glasses that she normally wore. Instead she had to wear her other pair, she personally liked them, but Alex always said she looked like a Harry potter character because of the round frames.

When she got into the kitchen, Fitz was already dressed and reading the newspaper at the bar. Olivia noticed the changes Fitz had made to his apartment in the last year. He'd redecorated and added a bit more color to the place, still not enough for Olivia, but a lot more than he had. But the most noticeable difference was the large wine cellar by the kitchen that use to be just an ordinary wall. There had to have been thousands of dollars of wine just on that one wall.

"Good morning." Olivia spoke aloud, taking Fitz's attention away from his newspaper.

"Good morning beautiful."

Olivia smiled. She didn't feel so beautiful this morning, yet he'd so naturally called her beautiful. "You're already dressed, why didn't you wake me?"

"You were so tired last night, I wanted to make sure you were well rested." Olivia had moved to sit on the bar chair next to Fitz, but he pulled her on his lap instead. "We do, however, have to leave by ten for the airport. So you've got to eat breakfast, shower and get ready in an hour."

"No problem. I'm not really hungry."

"You barely touched your dinner last night." Fitz pointed out. "We've got a busy day today, you need to eat something."

"Fine. Can you ask Ms. Betty to make me her blueberry and banana waffles?"

"Well Ms. Betty isn't here anymore-"

"You fired her?" Olivia shocked.

"No I didn't fire her, but she doesn't come in the mornings anymore. She gets here around mid-afternoon."

"Well how am I going to get my waffles, I can't make them."

"Annie can make you some."

"But I like Ms. Betty's."

Fitz called Annie in to kitchen and asked her to make Olivia some waffles for breakfast. "Don't worry. Annie's waffles are phenomenal as well." Fitz went back to his newspaper with Olivia still on his lap, while she drunk the rest of his tea, appreciating that it was still hot.

"I see things have changed around here. And you got a new housekeeper."

"Yes, Janet. She started a few months ago."

"Yeah, I met her this morning. She nearly scared me half to death when she came in to make the bed."

Fitz started laughing, just imagining the scene. "I'm sorry, I'm normally gone to work around this time when she cleans my room. I forgot to tell her you were here this morning so she would wait to go in."

"Bout peed myself, I had no idea who that was." Annie put a plate with a rather large waffle in front of Olivia, with a silver sauce boat filled with warm syrup. Olivia already knew she wasn't going to finish all of it. It was like Fitz was reading her mind.

"She's never going to finish all that." Fitz looked up for only a second, before turning back to his newspaper. "Next time make it much smaller, like a fourth of that size."

"Yes sir." Annie replied.

"Thank you Annie." Olivia smiled politely at the woman. She hated to make her go through the trouble, knowing she wasn't going to finish it all.

"Of course." After she'd finished cleaning up the little mess she'd made, Annie went back to wherever she'd come from.

"Baby?"

"Hm?" Fitz answered, still reading the paper. He was getting more and more use to Olivia using pet names. He used them on occasion, but wasn't use to people using them on him. He'd never really liked it before when a woman called him baby or babe, it irritated him. But he not only tolerated it with Olivia, he was beginning to enjoy the term of endearment.

"While we're in New Orleans, I want to see the Ogden Museum of Southern Art."

Fitz put his paper down, accepting that he wasn't going to get to finish it. "Well I have a few things planned out for us this trip. But in the meantime, this is your birthday trip. We can do whatever you want." Fitz leaned back in his chair, his elbow propped up on the armrest and his head resting on his closed fist.

Olivia looked back at him with a spark in her eyes. "Why do you always say that?"

"Say what?"

"Whatever I want."

"Because I just want to make you happy."

"But I am happy."

"You can never be too happy Liv." Fitz pulled on a strand of Olivia's hair, giving it a tug. They had been staring at each other so long, that they hadn't noticed Janet had come into the kitchen.

"There's a Ms. Colleen on the phone for you in your office." Janet spoke swiftly, before leaving out again. Olivia didn't like how formal Fitz's staff always seemed to be. She felt like she was living out a movie scene.

"I have to take that." Fitz effortlessly lifted Olivia from his lap, and sat her back down in the chair after he'd moved.

"Who's Colleen?" Olivia asked.

"Work." Olivia frowned at Fitz's very vague explanation, but he didn't seem to notice. "Remember we have to leave by ten."

"Yeah."

X

"You're not going to be on that tablet the entire trip are you?" Olivia asked. She'd been watching Fitz check emails and messages for the past fifteen minutes. She thought when he told her that he'd delegated a bunch of positions and responsibilities to other employees that would mean he'd be working less. But it seemed he was needed now more than ever. His work phone was constantly buzzing or ringing with a message or email.

They'd been in the air for a little over an hour now, with two and a half more to go. Olivia should have known they wouldn't be flying commercials, but she was still shocked when their car pulled up beside the company plane.

As soon as they got on the plane, Fitz pulled out his tablet, so Olivia took out a book she'd brought from Fitz's extensive library. She was glad she decided to dress comfortable instead of fashionable. She was wearing black Nike joggers, and matching black Nike shirt and shoes. Her hair had gotten a little wet in her shower earlier, and because she still didn't feel like doing anything to it, she piled it in a bun on the top of her head. Fitz was dressed similarly, except in jeans.

"Of course not. Just checking a few emails." Fitz got the sense that him being on his tablet was bothering her, so he turned it off and went to sit by her on the sofa bench Olivia was stretched out on. He lifted her legs and sat them of top of his. "You know, you're a lot calmer than I thought you'd be. You're not even wearing your seat-belt."

The last times Fitz had flew in a plane with Olivia, she insisted on staying in her seat with her belt on the entire time. Even when the captain turned off the fasten seat-belt sign, Olivia still kept hers on. Now, she was stretched out on the sofa bench, feet up, shoes off and no seat-belt.

"Well I'm an international traveler now baby." Olivia teased. Though she wasn't lying. Her passport had been stamped more in the past year than any average person their entire life. Olivia didn't even have a passport until she went to Paris with Fitz.

"I ever tell you how cute you look in those glasses?"

"You sure? Alex says I look like a Harry Potter movie extra."

"Well I happen to like Harry Potter."

"Really?"

"Yes, I've read all seven of the books. Why is that so shocking?"

"I don't know, Harry Potter is just drastically different from other books I see in your library." Olivia was reading his copy of Stephen King's The Shining now.

"Have you not noticed them before?"

"Fitz I haven't noticed half the books in your library. There's just too many."

The rest of the flight, Olivia and Fitz spent talking about any and everything. They drank mimosas on the plane and ate the little snacks that were on the plane. Somewhere along the line, Fitz had fallen asleep with his head in Olivia's lap. She'd been reading her book aloud, when she noticed he'd gotten real quiet. She knew that he'd been up pretty late last night and woke up early this morning, so she let him sleep.

When the thirty minute mark on their time of arrival hit, Olivia woke Fitz up. She too had dozed off for a moment, when the stewardess woke her up. The buckled up and prepared for landing. That was still one of the worse thing Olivia hated about flying. She gripped Fitz's hand the entire time, until the wheels stopped rolling. No matter how many plane rides she went on, she didn't think she'd ever get over that part.

Olivia only had to grab the leather backpack she was carrying. Fitz told her someone else would come and get their bags. When the stewardess opened the door, she stepped away with a polite smile and a quick welcome to New Orleans before Olivia stepped off the plane. There was a sleek black SUV waiting for them when they got off the plane. A man in a suit stood by, holding the back door open for them.

"You hired a driver?" Olivia asked, walking down the plane steps.

"Yes." Fitz answered.

"For a drive to the hotel or for the entire trip."

"The entire trip."

"Welcome to New Orleans Mr. Grant. Ma'am." Olivia instantly fell in love with the man, his accent more specifically. Olivia could tell he was a native, the way he pronounced New Orleans was so different from the stewardess's pronunciation. The way he spoke, it came out as just one word.

"Thank you." Olivia climbed in the back seat, and Fitz followed behind her. They waited a few minutes, while their bags were being put in the trunk.

When the driver got back into the car, he drove off without having to be told where they were going. Olivia assumed Fitz had already told him. It was about a twenty minute drive to their hotel from the private airline they were at. Fitz and Olivia made small talk for the car ride, while their driver sat quietly up front. It didn't seem to bother Fitz, but Olivia didn't want to be so formal with a man she was sure to be spending quite a bit of time with. He was probably going to be driving them all over New Orleans, and she didn't even know his first or last name.

Olivia had already taken her camera out her bag and was snapping picture after picture of the hotel and around it. They were staying at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel. It had typical New Orleans' style, an all-white building with iron pillars out front and a balcony at every window.

"Livvie lets go." Olivia stopped taking pictures long enough to follow Fitz in the hotel. Two bellhops were already wheeling their luggage towards the elevators on trolleys. After they checked in, a personal concierge walked them up to their room. They were staying in the penthouse suite of course, because Fitz had to be extra wherever he went.

The suite itself was 1550 square feet altogether on the seventh floor. It was a short distance from the rooftop pool, bar, gym and an observation deck with a beautiful view of the French Quarter and the Mississippi river. There was a foyer leading into a large dining and living room with floor to ceiling windows and a granite wet bar. The master bedroom had a king size bed and marble bathroom with a Jacuzzi tub and separate marble shower. Two sets of French doors lead to another balcony with another great view of the French Quarter. All in all, Olivia was more than impressed with the room. She honestly would have settled for just a normal room with a bed and shower. But she knew that wasn't the way Fitz did things.

Olivia was on the balcony, looking out onto the streets, when Fitz joined her. He put his arms around her waist from behind.

"You like it?" He kissed the side of her neck.

Olivia turned around in his arms, hanging her arms over his shoulders. "I love it. But you know you didn't have to go through all this trouble. I would have been fine with just a bed and a bathroom."

"Right, but…"Fitz turned her back around so she was looking back at the river. "You don't get views like this in any old room."

"No, I guess you don't." They stood in each other's embrace for a few moments, before Fitz's phone began buzzing. Olivia had half a mind to throw that damn phone over the balcony. She hated how busy he seemed lately. Always with his phone glued to his ear. Fitz must have gotten another message on his phone, because he begin typing away at what looked like a few paragraphs.

As he checked his messages, Olivia stretched out on the ridiculously soft bed, reading through the hotel's amenities booklet to see what all they had to offer.

"Ooh babe, thy have a hair salon here in the hotel."

"Yeah?"

"I might get my hair cut."

Fitz looked up from his phone. "Really?" Personally, Fitz loved Olivia's hair the way it was. He loved it more when it was curly after she washed it. He couldn't tell her she couldn't get a haircut, but he really hoped she didn't chop all her hair off.

"Not like all the way, but maybe just shoulder length. I've had hair to my back for most of my life, just want to try something different."

"Well Liv, it's your hair. You do what you want." Fitz put his phone down, and joined Olivia on the bed. He took the pamphlet she was reading, and read it himself.

"I will." She crawled on top of him, straddling his stomach. Fitz tried to not react, but Olivia could tell she was having a reaction on him. Now she knew what he meant by her being a tease. She hadn't meant to when she climbed on him, but now she knew what she was doing, wiggling down until she sat on his erection. Fitz kept his eyes on the pamphlet, doing his best not to look at her. Olivia smirked, see his willpower slowly slipping away.

"You keep doing that Olivia and we are never making it to that concert tonight."

Olivia moved her hips against him. "Doing what?" She asked coyly.

Without answering her, Fitz grabbed Olivia by the arms and swung her down on the bed beside him. He held gripped both her legs, and laid them across his lap.

"Fitz no!" Olivia already knew what he was about to do. Fitz had recently discovered her most ticklish spot was her feet. He'd nearly made her pee herself, when he discovered her weak spot. "Fitz!" Olivia was squirming on the bed, trying to kick her legs free, but Fitz had a tight hold on them. "Okay okay, I'm sorry!"

"For what?"

Olivia had tears in her eyes from laughing so hard. "For getting you all excited."

"Hm. Although I don't believe you, I'll take it." Fitz used her legs to slip her over and smacked her once on the bottom. Olivia let out a little yelp and moan. She liked that. Fitz made a mental note to explore that the next time he could. "Come on, we've got a few hours to kill. Let's go have a look around the hotel. I saw a souvenir shop on the way up."

X

"Quinn… Quinn stop."

Alex was busy trying to clean the kitchen and cook dinner at the same time. Her mother was coming over soon, and Alex knew she'd get a lecture if her mother saw the state of her kitchen. Alex didn't realize how much Olivia had done around the house until she was gone. Olivia's room might have always been messy, but she made a point to try and keep the rest of the house relatively clean. No one would see her room, but any guest they had over would definitely see their living room or kitchen. Olivia didn't want them to see a mess, and Alex rarely cleaned, so Olivia was the one always tidying up. Alex didn't think much of how her dirty dished got in the dish washer, or vacuumed the living room or took the trash out the bathroom. But now that Olivia was gone, none of that was getting done when it needed to and the house was a mess. Alex and Quinn both had spent the entire day cleaning their house. It no longer smelled like week old Chinese takeout, but the fresh smelling scent of Comet and Pine-Sol.

But now, as Alex tried to rinse the last of the dishes to put in the washer, Quinn wouldn't leave her alone. She'd abandoned her job of sautéing the vegetables on the stove and was now trying to kiss on Alex's neck.

"Quinn seriously stop it."

"You didn't seem to mind me kissing you last night." Quinn had once again winded up in Alex's bed last night. Neither one of them knew how or why it kept happening, they were supposed to be just friends, but they kept ending up in bed together.

"No didn't, but I also wasn't expecting my mother over for dinner."

Quinn rolled her eyes, and stirred her vegetables in the pan. "Honestly Alex, I don't understand why you're still so scared to come out to your parents."

"Quinn your parents threw you out of their home you when you told them, and you don't get why I'm hesitating? You of all people should understand."

"Yeah, but I was seventeen when I told them I was gay. You're twenty-five years old. You're a grown woman, with your own house, what do you have to lose?"

"Uh my parents love?"

"They're your parents, they can never not love you. I know mine are pretty shitty, but my mom and dad still love me."

"Some love. You haven't spoken to them in almost ten years. You haven't even seen them."

"True, but I know they still love me."

"Quinn I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"Oh come on what is the big deal?" Quinn threw her arms up exasperated. "You mean to tell me you don't think your parents have even the slightest hint that you like girls. Alex I'm with you all the time. I'm at all your family's events."

"You're one of my best friends, they know that."

"We live together."

"So what two women can't be roommates without sleeping together?"

"I sleep in your bed when we're at your parent's house! Your mother is not dumb, I think she knows. Or she's at least suspicious. All you have to do now is confirm those suspicions. She's already coming over, just sit her down and tell her flat out… Momma I'm bisexual."

"Quinn I said I didn't want to talk about it anymore!" Alex threw a cup down in the dishwasher. Luckily it was only a plastic cup, otherwise she's have glass everywhere right now.

"Fine, keeping lying to yourself and your family, denying who you really are. Keep living a lie."

"Thanks, I'll do that." Alec finished loading the dishwasher and started it. She was just about to go and change her clothes, when the doorbell rang. Alex looked at her watch, she wasn't expecting her mother for another half hour, but it had to be Dianna since Alex wasn't expecting anyone else.

"Oh no, maybe we should break out grandma's bible and the holy water and pray the gay away." Quinn snidely remarked.

"Seriously?"

"At least spray some Febreze, it smells like lesbian in here."

"Real fucking funny Quinn." Alex composed herself at the last minute, before she opened the door for her mother. Before her unpleasant conversation with Quinn, Alex was actually looking forward to having dinner with her mother. Even if she was there to talk her father.

X

"Livvie what are you doing in there? It's almost time to go." Fitz called out to Olivia in the bedroom. She'd been in there for almost an hour getting ready and still hadn't come out. Fitz should feel lucky, most women spent several hours getting ready, Olivia was only on hour one. Fitz had been dressed and ready for the same amount of time as Olivia has been getting ready, maybe longer. Now he was sitting in the living room watching a soccer game on the TV. Fitz was dressed casually tonight, not in one of his normal suits he dressed in when he went out. He was wearing khaki pants with a light jean button up with white dots and a pair of brown cap toe service boots. He hardly ever wore them, but he decided he was on vacation, why not.

"Olivia if you want to meet john Legend backstage before the show, then we need to leave earlier."

"Relax Fitz I'm coming." Olivia Fitz hated to be late for anything, so she put a little hustle into getting ready. She was practically ready anyway, just putting on a little mascara. It had taken Olivia some time to finally figure out what she was going to wear tonight. She finally decided on something casual just as Fitz had, being mindful that she was probably going to be standing a great deal tonight. She decided on black pants, with rips at the knees, a dark beige loose fit shirt, that showed her black lace bra on the sides. She wore a gold watch and earring and black short boots with a block heel. She knew she could stand in those for hours without them hurting her feet. Her favorite part of her outfit was the black boater hat she was wearing and the black Saint Laurent shoulder bag she was carrying. The bag had been an impulse buy Olivia made while she was traveling.

After she checked herself in the mirror, Olivia made her way out to Fitz. "Alright, I'm ready. I had to look good for John."

Fitz stood from the couch. "Oh its John now is it?"

"Mhm. We're on first name basis. Jealous?" She kissed him once. "You look handsome. The casual look works for you."

"Thank you madam, but if we don't leave now you're not going to get to meet John backstage."

Olivia looked down at her watch. "Fitz! Why didn't you tell me the time? Let's go before we're late." Fitz only shook his head walking behind Olivia out the door. Sure, he was the one keeping them behind schedule.

X

"It was so nice meeting you." Olivia was still fan-girling all over John Legend backstage at the concert. Fitz had omitted the part about the Mercedes-Benz superdome only being about ten minute away from the hotel they were staying at. So they had plenty of time to get to the superdome and meet John Legend, Fitz just wanted to hurry Olivia out the bathroom.

While they were in the car, on their way to the superdome, Olivia told herself repeatedly that she was going to play it cool when she met John Legend. No matter how hard she was screaming on the inside, she was to maintain her cool. That all went out the window, when she met John. The moment Olivia saw John Legend in her view, she did a complete 180 and turned into a sixteen year old fan. It wasn't every day that a girl met one of favorite artist.

Olivia was only slightly embarrassed, when she came down from her high. John and Fitz just thought it was funny. They had a limited time frame that Olivia could hold him up backstage, because of course he had a concert to give and Olivia and Fitz had to get to their seats. Olivia took the time to ask every single question she could think of and pulled out some paper and a couple of shirts she'd stopped and bought from the vendors out front. Alex would kill her if she didn't bring her back something. And John even gave her a bag of goodies as another souvenir. Olivia wanted to think she was the only one to get a bag, but she knew all the other fans who'd gotten a chance to come backstage had gotten the same thing.

"Thank you for signing all this. My sister would kill me if I didn't get her anything."

"Don't worry about it. Any friend of Fitz's is a friend of mine. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a show to do."

Olivia took one last picture with John, before she and Fitz left to go find their seats.

"Why didn't you tell me you knew John Legend? How do you even know him?"

"He has a great appreciation for fine art." Fitz answered.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why, so you could torture me for his phone number?"

"Uh yeah." Olivia answered with a laugh. "Wait, do your really have his number?"

This time it was Fitz who laughed. "Let's go."

X

"Livvie do you realize you've been humming that same song for the past five minutes?" Fitz asked Olivia, as they walked hand in hand through the streets of Nola. They had left the concert a little while ago, and decided to walk a little bit, instead of letting their drive take them back to the hotel. Olivia had no idea how long the concert had lasted, but it was now dark outside. The street were lit up by the lights from all the bars and businesses still open.

Olivia had certainly enjoyed herself at the concert. She stood for most of the night, singing along and yelling with all the other fans. Fitz was a bit more tamed, but Olivia saw him swaying to the music and bobbing his head to the beat. She even caught him singing along to All of Me. The video Olivia caught of him on her phone was definitely being saved.

"You better get used to it mister. I'll probably be singing all night long." Olivia smirked. "That is if my mouth isn't busy doing something else tonight."

Fitz stopped dead in his tracks, not taking another step. He still had Olivia's hand in his, so when he abruptly stopped so did she. Fitz pulled her towards him by her hand, until there was no space between them. Fitz wrapped both his arms around Olivia so she couldn't move.

"And pray tell what will that mouth of yours be doing tonight?"

Olivia smirked up at him, she knew what she was doing to him. The evidence of what she was doing was currently pressing into her lower stomach.

Deciding she wanted to mess with him a little bit longer, Olivia said, "Eating my candy." Olivia held up the candy she was holding in her hand and took a big bite. They'd stopped at a street vender selling hand-pulled taffy.

"You think you're funny don't you."

"Maybe just a little." Olivia leaned up and kissed him, forgetting about the people in the streets. It may have been dark, but that was when the streets were really full. The nights here reminded Olivia of the streets in New York. So full of people and so many attractions pulling you in every direction.

Olivia meant for it to be a quick kiss, before they continued their walk back to the hotel. But Fitz had other ideas. Instead of releasing her, Fitz brought her body even closer to his. One arm wrapped tighter around her waist, while the other reached up to hold her head in place.

Olivia was expecting a kiss so hungry that her lipstick ended up smeared on his face, but instead Fitz gave her something different. It was still as intense, but he was gentler. He took his time. He took care to suck her bottom lip into his mouth, releasing it with a quite pop. His tongue languidly snaked passed her teeth, tangling with hers.

Olivia had long since forgotten about her candy, absently dropping it as she brought her hands to Fitz's shoulders. Olivia loved when he kissed her this way, sweet and delicately. She'd almost forgotten they were outside until someone whistled at them. And although it put an end to their kiss, it didn't break them from the moment.

"How far away is the hotel?" Olivia asked, her breathing labored thanks to Fitz's lips.

"I thought you wanted to take thing slowly." Fitz spoke against her lips, his hand still keeping their faces close together.

"I'm done waiting."

Fitz smiled. Finally. "In that case, the hotel is right across the street."

Olivia looked to her left, and sure enough, they were back at the hotel. Olivia hadn't even realized they'd walked all the way back from the superdome. Without missing another beat, Fitz took Olivia's hand back in his and walked them across the street to their hotel. The doorman gave them a quick nod as they passed him on their way inside. They bypassed all the people milling around in the lobby and headed straight for the elevators.

Fitz was mentally willing the doors to close, so he could have Olivia alone in the elevator. But at the last minute, a family stopped the elevator doors from closing and walked in. Fitz pulled Olivia in front of him, pressing her back towards his front. He was painfully erect and he wanted to shield himself a little, but he also wanted to make sure Olivia felt him. She did. Judging by the tight grip she put on his forearm, she certainly felt him.

The family got off on the sixth floor, and Olivia and Fitz rode silently to the seventh. As soon as Fitz opened the door to their suite, Olivia was on him. She'd hung her right leg up high on his hip and Fitz took the hint and picked her up by the back of her thighs. He was blindly walking them walking them through the suite, trying to get to their room. But the way Olivia was kissing on his neck right now, he didn't think they would make it to a bed. And when Olivia bit his earlobe, Fitz lost all ideas of getting them to the bedroom. He changed his direction towards the living room and sat Olivia on her feet.

Fitz took his turn to kiss Olivia's neck and send her moaning for more. He backed her up, until she hit the large glass sliding door behind her. Olivia's fingers worked in his hair, as he made his way down her body, unbuttoning her jeans along the way. Olivia took her shirt off herself. She was about to take off her bra, when she got distracted by Fitz putting her leg up over his shoulder. She hadn't even realized he'd tugged her jeans down and she was now naked except for her bra.

Fitz was in his knees, looking up at Olivia. She could feel his stare, and looked down to lock eyes with him at the same time his lips made contact with her lower lips. A small moan escaped through her lips, and her head fell back on the glass. Olivia had never once desired to be this intimate with a man. She'd always felt uncomfortable hearing other stories, mainly from her sister, about this kind of intimacy. But now feeling Fitz's lips on her bare flesh, sucking licking and biting, she knew what all the hype was about.

Before she could orgasm though, Fitz was standing to his feet, licking his lips. The look in his eye was one of a lion stalking its prey. And Olivia was never more grateful to be that prey. She reached out, and pulled him to her by his belt, before making quick work of it. Loosening his pants and pushing them, along with his boxers, down passed his hips. She looked down, her lower lip between her teeth. When she look back up, Fitz was smirking at her.

Pushing her back against the window, Fitz lifted Olivia back up, wrapping her legs around his waist. He was half expecting Olivia to tell him to take it to the bedroom, but she didn't. Or Fitz's just didn't give her a chance to, because he kissed her once again. Without wasting more time, Fitz slid his hand between the two of them. Grabbed his throbbing dick and finally connected their bodies once more after weeks of waiting.

They both sighed in unison at their connection and moaned, when Fitz started moving. There were no words, no loud screams shouts. Just the sound of their bodies coming together and their heaving breathing. When Fitz realized Olivia's bra was still on, he quickly made work with the front clasp and freeing her bouncing breast. He didn't even bother taking it all the way off, just cupped her breast in his hand and latched on to her nipple. Olivia's breathing became more labored, and she squealed, when he bit her nipple. It didn't hurt, but it was unexpected.

Fitz's grunts in Olivia's ear, spurred on her and she tried moving her hips with Fitz's rhythm. But she couldn't always keep up, because he kept changing it. He'd go fast, then slow and throw in a swivel with his hips. IT was driving her mad, she could feel her release coming. And so could Fitz, when he gather both her hands in one of his, holding her arms to the window by her wrist. Then tightly gripping her waist with the other hand and pumping even fasten into Olivia's slick heat. He was trying to bring her to her release, because he didn't know how much longer he would last. He didn't want to come before she did, but he was about to.

"Oh! Oh!"

Olivia's eyes were firmly closed, her back arched and her moth formed into an O. He knew what that meant, and moments later, he felt her release. He'd let go of her wrist, and her arms tightened around his neck her forehead pressed against his. Just moments later, Fitz felt his release just as intensely as Olivia had. She moaned at the feel of his hot seed spurting inside of her.

Not being able to hold them both up for much longer due to exhaustion, Fitz walked them over to the couch and sat. With Olivia still wrapped around him, he lay down on his back and pulled the blanket on the back of the chair over them. He'd take them to the bedroom later, but for right now the couch was doing just fine.

"Remind me again why we waited." Olivia spoke quietly, resting her head on Fitz's chest, her arms and legs and either side of his body.

"Because you are a crazy woman." Olivia chucked and Fitz kissed the top of her head, rubbing his hands up and down her back. "And you seem to be forgetting the weekend of your gallery opening."

"Oh I didn't forget. That night is not something I could just easily forget."

"Glad to hear."

"Fitz can I ask you something?"

"Anything." Fitz answered. But when Olivia looked up at him, she could see his eyes getting heavy. He was sleepy. And after the long day they'd had, she couldn't blame him.

"When we were apart, did you… were you with anyone else? Even just for a date?"

Fitz opened his eyes to answer her. "Livvie to entire time you were gone, all I could think about was you. I had no time to date anyone else, because if I wasn't at work, I was trying to track you down." His answer seemed to please Olivia, as she got a huge grin on her face and leaned up to kiss him. She wanted to ask him about the woman she'd seen him with at the bakery, but she decided not to.

"What about you?" He asked. "I know you were in Italy, and Tabitha is always talking about how insatiable Italian men are." Fitz was trying to hide to worry on his face, but Olivia could still see it. Fitz desperately wanted Olivia to tell him he was still the only man she'd ever been with. It wouldn't change his feeling for her, but he still wished she would.

After a moments pause, Olivia finally put him out of his misery. "You are still the only man I've even been with."

This time Fitz smiled widely, and leaned down to kiss her lips. "I love you."

Olivia's heart swelled two times over. She'd waited too long to hear him say those three words again. "I love you too."

X

The next morning, Fitz woke up alone in the bed. Late last night Fitz had woken up on the couch with Olivia still on his chest and carried her to the bedroom. Now it was morning and he was alone.

"Olivia." He called out, still laying in bed. He was so tired. Their flight and long day yesterday had really got to him. "Olivia." He called out again, when she didn't answer the first time. Getting up from the bed, Fitz found some pajama bottoms to put on with no boxers. He checked the bathroom, and she wasn't there. He checked all over the suite, including the balcony, and Olivia wasn't to be found.

Before he could get himself worked up, he decided to try her cell since she clearly wasn't in their suite. Fitz dialed her number, and it rang once… on the nightstand by the bed. She'd left her phone. Fitz groaned, and angrily hung up his phone.

"Why the hell did she leave her cell?" Fitz asked aloud. "And where the hell did she go?" Fitz didn't like the idea of her out by herself in a new environment. Especially if he didn't know where she was headed and couldn't call because she let her phone in the room. Then Fitz remembered the driver he'd hired and thought maybe she'd taken the car. He picked up his phone again and went to dial the number to their driver. The phone rang once before Fitz heard a key in the door, then he could hear Olivia humming another John Legend song.

Fitz put his phone down and walked to the foyer to find Olivia dressed in at-shirt dress and chucks, carrying a bag. She was looking down at her IPod in her hand, and her headphones in her ears. So she didn't see or hear Fitz, until he asked, "Where the hell have you been?" His voice wasn't angry, but it was authoritative.

Olivia jumped and snatched the headphones out her ear. "Jesus Fitz, you scared me." Olivia sat her IPod and bag down on the table in the foyer.

"And where have you been?" Fitz was glad she was back and in one piece, but he still didn't like her going out by herself.

"I went exploring."

"Exploring what?" Fitz's slight anger was washing away, as Olivia curled her arms around his waist.

She looked up at him, resting her chin on his chest as she spoke. "The hotel."

Fitz had to slightly lift the big floppy hat she was wearing to see her face. "We already did that."

"Yes, but this time I stopped at one of the shops."

"Which one?"

Olivia shyly stepped back from him. "Remember when I said I wanted to cut my hair?" Olivia lifted her hat off her head, revealing her freshly cut and colored hair. She hadn't cut too much off, just shoulder length. And instead of her natural dark brown color, she opted for some a little brighter. She now had a brown ombre coloring, with it being more dark brown at her roots. Olivia had gone done to the beauty salon in the hotel and told the older woman exactly what she wanted, and Olivia was more than happy with the results.

"What do you think?" Olivia asked. Fitz was quiet, not because he didn't like it, but because he was a little shocked. He wasn't expecting this. But Olivia took his silence the wrong way and began panicking a little. "Oh, you hate it don't you? I cut it too short right? Or is it the color? It's too bright right? I knew it, I look stupid!"

"Olivia relax."

"You relax!" Olivia yelled back. "Why aren't you saying anything? Right now is not the time to be silent, I'm kind of panicking here."

Fitz only laughed. "I can see that."

"Fitz it's not funny." Olivia ran over to the mirror on the other side of the wall.

"Liv relax okay." Fitz came up behind her and put his hands on her shoulders. "I love it, and you look beautiful."

Olivia watched him through the mirror. "Really? You really like it."

"Yes." Fitz kissed the back of her head. "It's impossible for you to look anything less than beautiful."

"Well that's not true, but thanks anyway."

Fitz unexpectedly popped Olivia behind, making her jump. Fitz laughed at her shocked and amused face. "What made you color it?" Fitz was playing with the ends of her hair as he spoke.

Olivia shrugged. "I don't know. I've always had short dark brown hair and I wanted something brighter."

"Well next time you decide to go out and get your hair cut let me know. Or at least take your phone so I can call."

Olivia turned to face him. "Aw, were you worried about me?"

"Very much so. I thought you had left the hotel somewhere. I don't like you going out by yourself in an unfamiliar place." Olivia decided not to remind Fitz that she'd spent a year exploring new places all over the world by herself.

"I'll try." Olivia smiled, but yelped again, when Fitz smacked her behind once again. "You know I'm starting to believe you like doing that."

"And you'd be correct." He popped a kiss on her lips before releasing her. "I'm about to order breakfast, what do you want?" Fitz sat on the couch with the breakfast menu. Olivia hovered behind him on her knees, looking over his shoulder.

Fitz ordered himself the shrimp boogaloo benedict, which was gulf shrimp sautéed with pork tasso, served over fried green tomatoes and a buttermilk biscuit, topped with poached eggs and finished with a creole tomato courtbouilon sauce. It sounded like a lot for one plate, and Olivia had no idea what courtbouilon sauce or pork tasso was, but she made a mental not to try some of it when it came. Especially the shrimp.

After Fitz put in his order, Olivia pointed out on the menu what she wanted. She first ordered just pancakes, but then changed her mind to French toast. Then last minute, then she thought she wanted a BBQ shrimp and grit plate, until she saw the eggs blackstone. And just like Fitz's plate, hers sounded like a mouthful as well with apple wood-smoked bacon, grilled tomato served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs with hollandaise sauce.

After the man on the phone repeated the order back to Fitz, he was about to hang up.

"Oh wait!" Olivia shouted, grabbing the phone out Fitz's hand before he could hang up. She was stretched out on Fitz's lap, talking on the phone. "Yes hi, can you add some beignets to that order and some honey please. Thank you." Olivia put the phone back on the dock and rolled over on her back, still on Fitz's lap. He was looking at her with a mixture of shock and amusement.

"What?" She asked.

"That was a big order."

Olivia shrugged. "It was only two things."

"Says the woman who eats a fruit salad most morning for breakfast."

Olivia sat up in his lap, straddling him. "Well you know, our food is supposed to be here in about twenty minutes. Now we could spend that time talking about my eating habits or…"

"Or what?"

Olivia didn't answer him, she just smiled and kissed him, effectively ending the conversation.

X

"Jesus Christ." Olivia moaned out loud after another bite of her food. Their food had arrived in a short while ago, giving Fitz and Olivia just enough time to finish their shenanigan, before they had to let the bellhop in with their food. It was a beautiful day outside, the sun was out and shinning early and there was a slight breeze in the warm weather. So Fitz thought it was a good idea to eat out on the balcony, so the server set up the food on a circular, black iron table on the balcony. They both had dug into their food the minute the domes were removed. Both of them were starving, having not eaten anything since late yesterday afternoon.

"Olivia reached over the table, and stole yet another shrimp off of Fitz's plate. "What kind of voodoo do they have going on in that kitchen? This food should not taste this good."

"I'm just surprised you're actually about to finish all that food." Since she was freely stealing from his plate, Fitz stole a strip of her bacon.

"Well I told you I was hungry." And hungry she was. After she finished her food, she started eating a few of the beignets she ordered. She was glad the beignets along with her tea were still warm.

"So what do you want to do today?" Fitz asked.

"I told you I wanted to go to the art museum, that's number one. And then after that I guess we can just wing it. It might be more fun, instead of having an itinerary planned out."

"Whatever you want."

"Oh! But I do want to go to the zoo. I hear the Audubon Zoo is pretty amazing. They have an aquarium too." As Olivia went on and on about the attractions she'd read about before the trip, she heard her phone ringing in the bedroom. She moved to get up, but Fitz beat her to it.

"I'll get it." He left for the room, and came back out with her phone. "It's your sister."

"Crap. I didn't call her." Olivia took the phone from Fitz and answered with a sweet hello.

"Don't you hello me. What happened to my phone call?" Alex spoke through the phone. "For all I know, you're plane could have crashed and you never even made it to New Orleans."

"Alex please don't put thoughts like that in my head, especially since we have to fly home."

"I'm just saying, that's where my head goes when you go on trips and don't call your big sister."

"If you were so worried why did it take you a day to call me?"

"Hey, I wasn't the one who was supposed to call, you were. Anyway what are you doing?"

"Eating beignets and drinking mimosas." Olivia smirked over at Fitz who was half paying attention to her and reading his paper at the same time.

"Ooh, Olivia Pope day drinking. Scandalous."

"Well I only had the one, but it still counts. I'm drinking tea now. We're going to tour the art museum in a little while."

"Olivia why are you going to a museum on your vacation? In New Orleans of all places? Go do something fun."

"Art museums are fun to me. Besides, we'll have more than enough fun tonight."

"Ooh I know that's right."

"Not that way you pervert."

"So you say. Just make sure you bring me something back."

"I will. How's mama?"

"Fine. We had dinner last night."

"How'd that go?" Olivia gave her plate to Fitz, since he was clearing their dirty plate from the table and putting them back on the cart for the bellhop to get.

"It was fine, went better than I thought it would."

"Yeah and how's Quinn?" Olivia immediately heard a sigh through the phone. She could feel Alex's eyes rolling through the phone. "What's wrong?"

"We got into it yesterday."

"About what?"

"She got all bent out of shape about me coming out to mama."

Olivia's eyes bulged. "You came out to mama?"

"No, and that was the problem. She thinks just because she came out to her parents, that everyone should be able to do it. And then after mama left, Quinn got mad at me because I wanted to sleep in my bed alone."

"Well did you sleep alone the night before?" Olivia asked, already knowing the answer.

"It doesn't matter if I did or didn't."

"But it does Lex. You're confusing the girl. I think you two just need to be friends or be a couple. You can't have it both ways."

"You and Fitz are friends."

"That's not even the same thing and you know it. Fitz and I are in a relationship, a relationship we actually acknowledge. You and Quinn are just sex buddies."

"And what's so wrong with that?"

"Nothing for you, but you know Quinn can never just be your sex buddy. She's not built like that, she needs a relationship."

"And how exactly did we get to the topic of me and Quinn?"

"You brought it up."

"Whatever, listen I have to go anyway. I got a class starting soon."

"Yeah I have to go too." Olivia looked though the balcony doors to see Fitz walking around naked, gathering things for a shower. "I have some vacationing to do."

"Ugh, you spiteful bitch. I hate you a little right now."

Olivia laughed. "You love me and you know it."

"If you say so. Bye cheeks."

"Bye bighead."

X

"Was the Liv?" Quinn asked, she'd head the tail end of Alex's conversation, when she came down the stairs.

"Yeah, she said she and Fitz are having a good time. They're about to go to an art museum or something."

"Sounds fun." Quinn remarked sarcastically.

"Yeah."

Quinn tentatively stepped further into the living room. She knew she and Alex were on rocky roads, and she was just testing the waters. "Listen, about last night. I want to apologize-"

"You don't have to do that."

"No I do. It wasn't right of me to attack you the way I did about coming out to your parents. I shouldn't have bullied or pressured you like that. I know I like to act tough, but honestly, was shitting bricks when I finally decided to tell my folks. I know how nervous I was, so I can imagine how you must be feeling. So I wasn't right of me to do what I did. You weren't ready, and you're still not and I need to respect that."

"Quinn its fine really, I'm passed it. It's all good."

"Oh." Quinn had a lot more to say, but she wasn't going to pour her heart out if it was only going to fall on deaf ears. "Well okay then. I'll let you go, I know you have to get to work." Alex had started teaching an adult class during the days, before her after school classes with her kids.

"Alright, I'll see you when I get home." Alex grabbed her guitar and her bags, and walked out the front door.

Quinn stood silent in the living room, eyes on the closed door. She knew everything wasn't all good. Alex was pulling away, distancing herself form her, and Quinn didn't like it. But she wouldn't push, pushing would only make things worse. For now all she could do was wait.

X

Much later that afternoon, Olivia and Fitz were walking through the French Quarter streets, looking for a place to have lunch. They'd had a very busy and eventful day so far, and it was coming to an end for whatever Olivia had planned for the night. They'd been to the southern art museum and took a tour. They went to the zoo and aquarium, where Olivia promptly lost her mind over the kids' petting zoo. They did some shopping, more like a lot of shopping and Olivia even managed to get Fitz to go into the Historic Voodoo Museum. It wasn't that he was scared, Fitz just didn't care for things like that.

Now it was getting closer to the evening, and they both were getting hungry and they were walking to a place their driver recommended, he said they had good po' boys. Louis, Olivia had asked for the driver's name, had of course offered to drive them, but they opted to walk instead. Besides, Louis had to make trip to the hotel to drop off all the loot Fitz and Olivia had racked up on.

"How many pictures have you taken just today?" Fitz asked, watching Olivia snap away at some scenery across the street from them. She'd brought her professional grade digital camera on the trip, and was going a little crazy with the pictures. She'd already had to change the sim card because she'd taken so many pictures.

"I have no idea." Olivia answered, with her face still pressed up against the lens of her camera. "There's just so much to capture here."

Fitz wasn't complaining at all. He was enjoying watching Olivia in the little jean shorts she was wearing. Her outfit today was showing a lot of skin, but with the heat today, Fitz couldn't blame her. She was wearing a pair of light colored jean shorts, with a peach halter strap shirt and white chucks. She loved her new haircut, but she was covering it with a bucket hat to beat off the glaring sun. Fitz himself had to put on a baseball cap as a visor from the sun. Olivia looked like a real deal tourist, with her black leather rucksack on her back and her camera hanging on its strap around her neck.

"Come on Liv, I think this is the place Louis was talking about." Fitz held her hand, as they walked in the bar and grill. This place wasn't somewhere Fitz would frequent often, but it had the classic New Orleans vibe. A waitress showed them to a booth and took their drink orders. Fitz got a beer and Olivia ordered a lemonade.

When the waiter turned to leave, Olivia kissed Fitz on the lips. They were close enough that she didn't have to stretch far.

"And what was that for?" Fitz asked, again he wasn't complaining.

"A thank you."

"For?"

"For bringing me here. For everything. I've never had this much fun before, and I know it's only because I'm here with you. So thank you."

"Well you know you don't have to thank me, but you're very welcome." The waiter hadn't come back yet, so Fitz took the opportunity to kiss Olivia's lips again. They'd been sharing sweet kisses all afternoon. Stealing kisses in the stores, the museum, in the waiting line at the zoo. They were behaving like a teenage new couple, and Olivia was loving every minute of it. They didn't break apart, until their waitress came back with their drink orders and to take their food order.

"What can I get y'all today?"

Neither Olivia nor Fitz had even looked at the menu. Before Olivia could ask for some more time, Fitz spoke up and ordered for the both of them.

"Two po' boys, one half and half shrimp and oyster, and she'll have the surf and turf." Fitz gave the waitress both their menus and she walked away with a nod. Olivia use to get upset whenever Fitz would order for her without asking, but now she'd learned to accept it. Not that she wouldn't correct him if she wanted too, but everything he ordered, she normally enjoyed.

"This is a really cute place." Olivia spoke, wishing she hadn't put her camera away in her bag, she didn't feel like digging it out now.

"Yeah." Fitz responded uninterested, scooting closer to Olivia in the booth. He couldn't take his eyes off her chocolaty thighs showing through her shorts. When she sat down, the jean fabric had rose up even high on her thighs. His hand had accidentally brushed against her skin earlier, and now it was all he could think about.

Olivia wasn't really paying him any attention as he scooted close and closer to her, but she did notice, when his left arm came around her shoulders and his right hand began gliding up her thigh.

She looked down at his hand, then up at him. "What are you doing?" He didn't answer, and Olivia's breathing was already changing. Fitz had slid his hand all the way up her thigh and slipped it between her parted thighs and into her shorts. Olivia knew she should tell him to stop, there were in a public place for heaven's sake, But whatever spell Fitz had over her right now, was preventing her from doing that.

"Fitz." Olivia breathily whispered, holding onto his forearm. She laid her head on his shoulder, biting her bottom lip to keep from talking. She could feel Fitz's lips on the top of her head.

"These little shorts you have on have been teasing me all day." Olivia squirmed in her seat, trying to move away, but Fitz used his arm around her shoulder to keep her in place. "And where are you going? You know you like it. The thought of any of these people seeing us is turning you on Livvie. I can feel it all on my fingers baby."

"Fitz please." She wanted him to hurry up and get it over with, this was becoming painful.

"Oh no baby. Not here." Fitz saw their waitress coming back to their table. "You're going to have to wait for that." Fitz withdrew his hands, and casually wiped his hand with napkin all before the waitress made it to their table.

Olivia may have been hungry when she sat down, but now food was the last thing on her mind.

X

"Fitz you ready to go?" Olivia walked into the bedroom, fastening a diamond stud earring into her ear. Tonight, they were going to a casino. That was Olivia's big surprise, but she'd accidentally let it slip on the car ride back to the hotel. Fitz loved going to private gambling parties his fancy friend hosted, and he was quite good at it too. So Olivia decided since he'd done all this for her that one night out of her birthday trip could be for him.

She walked in the room and smiled at a very handsome Fitz in and all black attire. Black slacks and dress shirt. He was fixing his cuff link on his wrist. He didn't know how devastatingly handsome he looked in his black on black attire. Olivia was accidentally dressed similarly in an all-black floor length slip dress. It wasn't normally her style, but she'd bought it on a whim and ended up falling in love with it when she got it home.

"Let me help you." Olivia walked over to him and fixed his cuff link and then the other. She could feel him looking at her. "What?"

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you. You are quite handsome yourself." She smiled. "You know, I'm going to be so sad to leave this place."

"Well we've got to get back to our lives sooner or later."

"I know. Things are just so easier here. Drama and problem free."

"It will be that way when we get home as well."

Olivia snorted. "Yeah, I'm not so sure about that." She pat his shoulders, before holding up his suit jacket to help him put it on. "You ready to go win some money?"

"Always." Fitz held her close to his body. "You're gonna be my good luck charm tonight."

"We'll see how lucky I am when we get back to the hotel tonight." She put her arms around his neck. "Maybe you can try out your new love of spanking."

"I need to bring you here often. Something about this New Orleans air has spiked a little kink in you."

"I think that's just you baby." Olivia kissed him again, not worrying about her nude lipstick leaving a mark.

Sure she would be his good luck charm, then later on tonight she'd get lucky.

X

The next chapter will be the end of their New Orleans trip. And for those who enjoyed all the fluff, sorry, but drama is ahead. Sorry, but it's what I live for.

Catch You Later...