A/N: I have good news and I have bad news. This update is a little on the short side (I consider anything under 4500 words short). However, I have already started chapter 20. Yayy! Thank you for your continuous reviews and love for this story. ENJOY!


Some days later

Fitz was the first to wake that morning. He got up and slowly stretched both hands into the air. This was his first time doing such a simple task since his injury. He was officially freed from his restricting shoulder sling as of yesterday. His left shoulder was surprisingly healing on its own, even the doctor found his recovery to be miraculous. However, he wasn't fully out of the woods – his shoulder still pained, especially at nights. Plus, they were still talks about a non-invasive surgery to repair his AC ligament but have since been placed on hold from the last observation

He looked over his right shoulder at the beautiful woman that has been by his side through this entire ordeal. This entire situation made him appreciate her even more and he grew to love her deeper. This was the kind of love he heard of but never witnessed – the kind of love when someone has your back through thick and thin. He knew that she was the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, the woman that he wants to someday procreate with. She was not only outwardly beautiful but also inwardly. He would go so far as to say, her inward beauty surpassed her outward appearance and that was a huge feat. Her patience and tender loving care she provided for him even when he was a Grinch was much treasured. She could've left him at any moment and returned to her apartment but she stuck by his side. And the judgment free zone she provided regarding his past addiction was heart whelming. Fitz knew that he could search high, low and throughout all the earth and won't be able to find someone as incredible as her. He got lucky, extremely lucky and he was resolute in keeping her as an integral part of his life.

"See something you like?" Her sleepy, raspy voice startled him out of his thoughts. He hadn't noticed her watching him while he observed her.

"More like someone I love." He said. The sweet, shy smile he received was enough to make his face warm.

"How was your sleep?"

"Good," she answered, stretching out her limbs.

"What do you want for breakfast?" He asked, standing up on his feet.

"Mmm… why are you being so nice?" She stared at him suspiciously.

"What? I'm offended!" Fitz countered, holding onto his chest with his right hand. "Can't your man do nice things for you?" He walked over to her side and brought his face close to hers.

"Don't what me! I'm just surprised that my man is being nice. Can't remember the last time he was," she teased.

"Don't hold him to the things of the past. It's a new day, baby. So… like I asked earlier, what do you want for breakfast?" He enunciated each of his words.

Olivia laughed lightly before placing her index finger on her chin in thought. "Hmmm, I'll have some granola cereal and milk."

"That's it?" Fitz asked, shocked that she was requiring such a simple breakfast when he was offering more.

"Uh huh, that's all I want. Besides, I need to get to work in the next hour and half. I don't have time for a full spread. So... why don't you save this offer for later when I can properly cash in on it, huh? What do you say, pretty boy?" She took her lower lips between her teeth, looking challengingly into his cerulean blue eyes.

Fitz unable to control the hungry look she was given him, succumbed and kiss her on the mouth. The kiss was slow and hunger filled, it had been a while since they were sated by each other physically. Fitz wasted no time thrusting his tongue into her mouth and entangling his with hers. Olivia was the first to pull back from the overwhelming feel of her mouth being devoured. He was simply too much.

Breathlessly she said, "We can't. Your shoulder is not fully healed and I have to go to work." Someone had to be the sensible one to stop them before they went too far.

Fitz groaned and stood to his feet, cursing underneath his breath at the feel of the tent in his pajamas pants. Olivia stared hungrily at his erection, she could tell he wasn't wearing any underwear; the thin material of his pajamas pants was the only barrier that shielded his glorious manhood.

Seeing her predicament Fitz decided that he could have a bit of fun with the situation. "I should go take care of this in the shower. Wanna come watch?"

Olivia gulped, squirming her legs together to ease the throbbing at the apex of her thighs. Two can play that game, she thought. "I don't want to watch I want to suck it." She smirked when she saw the redden tint that overtook his ears. Aha! Got him!

"You don't play fair woman!" Fitz groaned before storming out of the room and heading for a cold shower. He knew that he couldn't persuade her to have sex because she was adamant about not having sex until his shoulder was fully healed. The last time they did and he injured himself in the process left her scared; and if he was being honest with himself it also scared him. He wanted full recovery in his shoulder; it was pertinent to his career that he was in great physical shape.

While Fitz was in the shower Olivia slipped into the bathroom and began getting ready at the bathroom sink. She brushed her teeth, washed her face and fixed her hair all the while waiting for him to finish up showering.

"How much longer do you think you got in there, pretty boy?"

She heard him grunt, he hated the name "pretty boy". It sounded so emasculating to him but she loved taunting him.

"Livvie, how many times do I have to tell you to not call me pretty boy? I think you like getting me riled up. It's been a while since I took you over my knees."

Olivia tried not to chuckle as she eyed her reflection in the mirror. "Put me over the knees and do what pretty boy?" She heard the shower stop running and fought the urge to run. It was sort of exciting anticipating his next move.

"Spank that sweet ass," he said, pulling back the shower curtain to reveal his wet male form.

For someone who hasn't been working out in two plus weeks he looked incredibly amazing. Olivia stared at him through the mirror, starting from his broad shoulders – taking in the healing wound on his left one – to his rigid abdomen glistened with a thousand water beads, she spent a little more time taking in his pinkish flaccid member that hung between his legs surrounded by landscaped soft dark brown hair, and finally her gaze went to his face – his wickedly handsome face. The bruises from his fall were long gone leaving no scars in its wake to her delight.

"See something you like?" He arched a questioning eyebrow, using her words back on her.

She took a deep breath before saying, "more like someone I love."

Smiling at her, he said, "Touché, Ms. Pope. Let me get out of your way." He grabbed a soft white towel from the towel rack and wrapped it around his lower half.

Before he was fully out the door, Olivia called after him. "Promise me you'll do something?"

"What's that?" He questioned, leaning against the doorframe with his upper body.

"When your shoulder heals that you'll tie me up and fuck me into oblivion."

Fitz groaned and softly banged his head onto the doorframe twice before replying. "Dammit, Olivia! Are you trying to kill me? This is torture. This should be illegal. I should call President Obama right now and have him make it a law. The thou shall not speak dirty to your significant other while they are incapacitated law."

Olivia threw her head back and laughed loudly. He was freaking hilarious. "Babe, I think you're mixing up the bible with your politics. Sound like a true Republican. By the way which political party do you belong to?"

"Why?" He loved that their conversations can go from playful to serious in a nanosecond. Here he was butt naked underneath his towel while she wore her sleeping clothes, which consisted of one of his T-shirts and her undies, talking politics.

"I need to know. These are important things. It'll determine our future, a house divided cannot stand."

"Seriously, Livvie?"

"I'm serious, Fitzgerald. Oh my gosh, you're a Republican aren't you? I fell in love with a Republican." Olivia said dramatically, clutching onto her chest.

"No I'm not. I never said that," Fitz defended quickly. "For your information, I'm a liberal, it started off as a rebellion against my staunch Republican father. But later on I found it to be the party that I best identify with the political views and policies."

"Good, because if you were a Republican it would be the end of our relationship."

"You're joking right?" Fitz didn't believe her, although her face was serious.

"I'm very serious."

Fitz knitted his eyebrows as he regarded her. She had to be joking and it was confirmed when he saw her lips quivering from holding in her laughter.

Unable to hold it in any longer Olivia burst into a new round of laughter.

"You should've seen your face!" She said in between laughs.

"You're just a meany." Fitz said grumpily, exiting the bathroom door and closing it behind him.

Olivia continued laughing as she stripped from her nightclothes. First thing she needed to do was pee. She was still self-conscious about doing certain things in front of him although he wasn't.

Ten minutes later she emerged from the bathroom with her skin already dried and lotion-ed.

"Where do you think you're going, sir?" She asked, when she saw Fitz getting dressed in his work uniform.

"To work." He told her simply. "I feel good and the guys could use my help."

"Fitz, you know you're not cleared to return to work." She reprimanded with stern eyes.

"True. But, I'm just going in to catch up on some paperwork."

"Ok, if you say so, you already know that Chief will send you home."

Fitz shrugged his shoulders and continued tucking his firehouse 51 polo shirt into his pants. Lt. Grant was back baby, whether they liked it or not.

"I'll be fine, Livvie. Don't worry your pretty head."

Olivia shook her head disapprovingly, pulling out a pair of underwear from the drawer that was reserved for her.


Everyone excluding Fitz had just returned from an emergency call. There was a residential fire with no casualties. They were able to salvage most of the external parts of the building but the inside was excessively damaged.

Most of the firefighters resigned to the kitchen for something to eat while some went to their locker room to freshen up. This was the case for Abby and Olivia.

"We should totally do a double date this weekend?" Abby said, as she redid her ponytail.

"Where to?" Olivia said, rummaging through her workbag for the breath mints she knew she kept. "Crap!" She exclaimed when the bag fell out of her hands and scattered the contents all over the floor.

Abby saw her predicament and got on the floor to help gather her things. "I don't know. Maybe dinner and a movie or dinner and dancing? Oh, let's do dancing. It's been a while since I did that," Abby babbled as she grabbed the single tampon from the floor before picking up the pill bottle that was next to the wall near her.

"Yea, that sounds nice. I'll have to ask Fitz. Maybe we can hit up that Latin/Caribbean club?"

Abby laughed, standing to her feet. "So you can show off on us white folks?"

"Speak for you and Stephen. My man can dance." Olivia said with a smug smile.

"What can't Mr. Perfect do? I wasn't kidding when I told you that you're a lucky bitch in scoring him. Because you are."

Olivia waved her off with a hand and smiled, she was indeed very luck. "Whatever, Abbs. If I'm a lucky bitch then so is he." She stated as a matter of fact.

"Ooo, I hear you girl." Abby extended her hand to give her the contents she picked up, but stopped midway when she noticed Fitz' name on the orange pill bottle. Her eyes widen when she read the prescription on it.

"What are you doing with Fitz prescription pills?" She asked curiously, passing over the bottle to Olivia.

Shit! Olivia was quickly alarmed. How could she explain this without selling out Fitz' previous addiction problems? She didn't see the need for anyone besides her and him to know about it unless he wanted to tell them. So she lied, replying in a casual tone she said, "oh, that. We were about to leave this morning and he forgot to pick it up so I ended up grabbing it for him."

"Oh ok, I forgot how domesticated you two are. Has he asked you to move in as yet?"

Olivia was relieved that she didn't further pry into the pills. "Uh… nope."

"Hmmm," Abby said.

"Hmmm what?"

"Oh nothing," Abby returned, tight lipped.

"Just say it," Olivia encouraged.

"Ok alright. It's silly, really… But… I see you two married before the year is out. It's just gonna happen." Abby finished her statement despite Olivia was shaking her head no.

"I doubt it. We're in no rush and I'm not going to expect that; and I will most definitely not put pressure on him to do that."

"Like I said, it's silly but it's completely possible."

"Whatever you say, Abby," Olivia returned dismissively, closing her locker door.

The two ladies walked side by side out of the locker room. As they were passing Fitz' office Olivia slowed down to peep through the glass window for him but he wasn't there so they continued walking and talking.

They made their way to the kitchen to see what Harrison had prepared. As the volunteer firefighter he was still relegated to cooking duties in his free time.

"Wright, what's for lunch?" Abby asked, mimicking her voice to that of a drill sergeant.

"Heartbreak mixed with rejection," he answered solemnly.

"Oh oh, did someone break your heart? Give me the name and address. I'll handle it."

Olivia laughed at Abby's overprotectiveness as she made her way over to the stove.

"That smells good, Har." She complimented, inhaling the scent of the chili boiling in the pot. "So yea, what's up with that statement? Who's the girl and what has she done?"

"Thanks. It's no big deal, ladies. I'll be fine," he said, sourly.

"Apparently, not so fine. Spill the beans," Olivia demanded, taking over the pot spoon from him and began stirring the pot. Another thing that she enjoyed about her job was that they all became a family. They general learn how to care and love each other. Because they saw the fragility of life every day their working environment was much more different than most corporate employees who were subject to animosity amongst their peers.

With a huff Harrison sat on the vacant stool next to the small countertop that was near the stove. "Monica." He stated simply. "Been together since high school. She's at UNC while I stayed back to pursue a dream as a firefighter. She called me two days ago to say that she couldn't do the long distance thing anymore, which I truly understand but… I found out she was with someone else."

"Hold up! Harrison, you actually had/have a serious girlfriend, since when?" Abby asked.

"Yea, Harrison, since when?" Olivia added. This was news to them. Harrison was a free spirit especially with the ladies.

"Before you start, the two of us had an understanding, she violated that understanding and trust."

"You've got to be kidding me. So you can fuck other girls while she's away but she can't do the same?" Abby said, shaking her head.

Olivia nodded her head in agreement with Abby's statement.

"Yea! When I do it I don't carry feelings, my heart still belonged to her. Women can't have sex without carrying feelings. Now the relationship is doomed because she caught feelings."

Olivia looked at his young 21 years old face and felt sorry for him because he just made his deathbed by saying such a misogynistic statement, especially in front of Abby.

"I think I'm gonna go outside and see what the others are up to," Olivia said, resting the pot spoon onto the pot spoon holder. As she slithered away she heard the beginning of Abby's rant. He was going to be a changed man when she was finished with him.


Fitz stood next to the fire truck his team normally used. He hadn't realized how much he missed his job until he was back there. Chief Beene threatened him earlier to return home but he promised to stay out of their way. He spent most of the time lounging around the firehouse doing absolutely nothing, because he was technically on sick leave. He couldn't wait to return to work he lived for his job.

"Fitz, you still got that tool box I borrowed last year?" Stephen asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

"The one you never returned?" Fitz raised a questioning eyebrow at him.

"I returned it, mate. I remember doing that."

"When?" Fitz asked, folding his right arm around his waist.

Stephen scratched the back of his head because he clearly didn't remember ever returning it.

"That's what I thought. Anyways, I got it from Home Depot. You should check them out."

"Come on, man. You gonna make me buy a tools box when I can borrow yours?"

"That's exactly why I'm gonna make you buy one, because at the end of the day, it's me who's rebuying it. So get your own."

Stephen rolled his eyes, muttered something along the line of "what are friends for?" before walking away.

Fitz chuckled at his back. He watched as he opened the front door and Olivia walked out. The two talked for a couple of seconds before separating. Olivia began walking towards his direction and he couldn't help but smile at her oncoming presence. How great was it that they worked together? He mused.

"I received a complaint that someone is being stingy, Lt. Grant, is that true?" She asked when she was at a respectable distance in front of him.

"Depends on your definition of being stingy. I call it self preservation."

"Hmmm. That's not what was reported." She quipped. "How's your shoulder by the way?"

"It's good," he answered with a smile.

"Great," she said, turning to walk away. At work she tried to keep their interactions at minimum

"You leaving already?" He semi-pouted.

"Unlike you, Lt. Grant, some of us do have to work."

"Very sassy, Pope. I have half a mind to give you some drills for that mouth."

"You wish!" Olivia tossed over her shoulder and laughed, walking further away from him.

"Ms. Pope!" The sound of her name being called startled her. She felt her heart beat increased at the newly familiarly voice. Looking over to her right she couldn't believe who it was that was approaching her.

Fitz was standing a few feet away, also looking in the direction from where her name was called. Something in his gut told him to walk towards her and he did. He arrived at the same time as the other man.

"Lt. Ward, what are you doing here?" She asked, confused.

"I have a meeting with, Chief Beene." He gave her a sly smile while Olivia fought the urge to vomit.

"Lt. Ward," Fitz spoke up, making his presence known. Proffering his right hand he waited for the other man to shake it.

"Grant, right? I believed we worked in the past." He said, shaking Fitz' hand. He wasn't too please with the interruption but he played along like it was fine.

"Yes we did, about three and a half years ago."

Seeing a gap in the conversation Olivia decided to make her exit. "Excuse me, but I have work to do." She said quickly.

"I was hoping to talk with you." Eric voiced.

"Can't right now. I'll see you at school." She said curtly before turning her back on them and retreating to the building.

Fitz found her behavior odd – not in the, I have something to hide kind of way, but in the, I am very uncomfortable kind of way. He mentally stored that information for later.

"Do you know the way to his office?" Fitz asked in an even tone.

"I got it," Eric said, walking away. Fitz saw him disappearing inside of the building and decided to follow him to ensure that he was going where he said he was. He had him on his radar; mildly pleased that he stopped at Chief Beene's secretary Fitz retreated to the commons.

As he made his way to the commons, Fitz was contemplating whether or not he should broach the topic with Liv at work or wait for later. If he was going to do it later he needed something to occupy his mind and at the moment he had nothing to. He really didn't want to think about his personal life at work. However, when he entered the shared space he wasn't able to stop himself from saying, "Pope, can I see you in my office?"

Olivia nodded before getting up to follow him. They walked the corridors to his office in quiet. When they were inside of the room, Fitz shut the door and stood behind his desk.

They stood staring at each other for a few seconds before Fitz asked slowly, "Does Lt. Ward give you any trouble?" His eyebrows were almost touching the sky as he tried to gauge her reaction.

"Why do you ask?" Olivia arched a questioning eyebrow.

"I found your body language earlier to be very rigid and you looked very uncomfortable in his presence. Why is that? Did he say something to you?"

Olivia shook her head. "Not per se, but he's creepy. Everywhere I turn he's there. He just gives me a really bad vibe and today didn't help that fact either. Now all of a sudden he's at my workplace having "mysterious meetings" with my boss."

"He wants in your pants." Fitz stated evenly, albeit through clenched teeth.

Olivia began shaking her head no but Fitz stopped her by saying, "Yes he is. I know his type, he sees you as a challenge and a conquest. Some men, myself at times, are pigs. We only see women for one thing."

"It's a good thing you changed because… "

"Because you wouldn't want to date a douche, I get it." He finished for her.

She gave him a sympathetic smile before continuing, "But yea, the dude is creepy, I keep my distance. So far he hasn't said anything to me because I never give him a chance to. Tina and I call him, Lt. Creepy."

"Is he like that with other girls or just you?"

"To be honest I don't know. I don't notice him because most times I try to avoid him.

Fitz sighed he didn't like this guy, especially him being so close to his woman. "Livvie, please be careful because I swear to God that I won't be responsible for my actions if he says or does anything that I deem wrong to you. And that is even looking at you for longer than what is necessary," he threw in the last part for extra emphasis.

"I am being careful, very careful."

They were startled by a knock on the close door. It was Chief Beene accompanied by no other than Lt. Ward.

"Lt. Grant, Pope," Chief Beene greeted when he made his way into the room. "Lt. Grant, I want you to meet your temporary replacement. After Lt. Jones had to take an emergency leave of absence, Lt. Ward was gracious to fill in two of your shifts. He'll be with us until you return."

Olivia's eyes almost bulged out of its socket. WHAT THE FUCK? She looked alarmed at Fitz and his expression mirrored hers. They both sensed that something was not right but they said nothing, because how could they justify their feelings without any hard evidence?


A/N: Hope you enjoyed all of the Olitz banter from the beginning all the way to the end. Harrison is a trip and our girl Abby has surely come a long way. Let me know your highlights of the chapter. And please don't just read the story leave a review also. As a writer one of the greatest reciprocation of thanks you can give to us is by leaving a feedback whether good or bad, it truly helps to cultivate our craft and feeds our muses. So thanks in advance for that.

And finally, what do you think about Lt. Eric Ward? (BTW: It is perfectly ok for a Lt. to work at a fire academy while also serving as an active firefighter. He's only the drill teacher there). Any predictions on what you think will happen or should happen?

*I'm half asleep typing this author's note.*

Until next time,

XOXO