Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC owns these characters - which is a tragedy. Really. There needs to be a humane society for fictional TV characters.
NO-Mellie and NO-Joke: Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
Olivia smiled as the Fitz phone started buzzing in her bag.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"Whatcha doing?"
"I'm on my way to a private dinner with the Chinese First Lady."
"Watcha wearing?"
Jerry rolled his eyes, and said loudly, "Dad, we're in the car!"
"So you can't talk about your underwear?" Fitz groaned, while Olivia tried to shut the speaker phone and Karen slapped a hand over her mouth to muffle a giggle.
"The kids heard," Olivia said primly, when she had the phone under control.
"Yeah, we'll need to see a shrink when we get home. A proper shrink, not some hack sent by the FBI," Jerry said loud enough for his father to hear.
Fitz rumbled a sigh. "I miss you all."
"We miss you too, Fitz. So much." Olivia put the phone on speaker again, urging the kids closer. "How's Teddy?"
"He misses you too. We're both lonely and miserable without you."
"Daddy, we went to the Forbidden City today," Karen inserted.
"I know, pumpkin, I saw the pictures on Jerry's Instagram. You looked lovely. And so did Mom."
"What about me?" Jerry groused.
"You looked gorgeous, Jer, with those chopsticks up your nose. I'm waiting for your deportation papers to arrive."
"They're not going to deport me. The Chinese officials think I'm funny."
"Yeah, I bet they do. So I'm not hearing Peter, Rowan or Felicia in the car with you. Are they travelling separately?"
"Pete's meeting his dad. Rowan and Felicia are in another car. Rowan wanted to take an old man nap," Jerry explained.
"I think it's jetlag," Olivia said mildly.
Fitz rumbled another sigh. "Cyrus just walked in with a bunch of files and smoke coming out of his ears. Call me when you get back from dinner. Oh, Liv…"
"Yes, Fitz?"
"I'm so proud of you."
Chinese News Agency update…
"…US First Lady Olivia Grant was honoured with a surprise greeting from the Chinese President today. Mrs Grant was met by the President and Chinese First Lady when she arrived with her children and parents at the Diaoyutai Guest Houses.
"The Chinese President said he was glad to see the US First Family looking so well after the recent political turmoil at home. He said he was relieved to know stability and the rule of law had returned to one of China's most important political and trading partners.
"On a personal note, the President stressed that he cherished the warm personal and professional relationship that was emerging with the US President. He added that he was keen to help foster better understanding between the two countries, now that the United States finally had a President who was non-aligned with the ideologies of the two main parties…."
"Where's the chicken feet?" Jerry whispered loudly. "Pete said there'd be chicken feet."
"There are no chicken feet," Rowan said with a wide smile at Jerry's neighbour, an elderly Chinese officially who was looking on in concern.
"Pete said they eat snake. Is that snake in that dish over there?"
"No, that's pork."
"Is that fish alive? Pete said they'd bring live fish to the table, that they'd be twitching on the plate. I think that fish winked at me."
"That fish is dead," said the silver-haired man next to Jerry. "It's been deep fried."
Rowan leaned across, and spoke to the man in Mandarin, making him laugh heartily.
"What did you say about me?" Jerry frowned.
"I apologised for your rudeness and said that this is what happens when kids are given an Ipad instead of a belting."
"You gave Mom a belting?" Jerry glared at Rowan.
"No, I didn't give Olivia the belting. She was far too well behaved."
"Did you threaten to send her to her real parents if she misbehaved?"
Before Rowan could respond, Karen yelled "Mom!"
Jerry jumped to his feet, toppling his chair in his rush to get to Olivia's table, with Rowan following close behind.
But Felicia got there first. She bent over Olivia who was hunched over the table, her hands pressed to her mouth. Felicia placed a napkin over her mouth as Olivia made audible retching sounds.
Then the Secret Service rushed forward and took charge of the situation.
Breaking News, foreign press agencies…
"…US First Lady vomits on her Chinese hosts.
"In one of the most embarrassing moments in diplomacy, US First Lady Olivia Grant puked up her entree at her first meal with the Chinese President and First Lady . Even the normally tight-lipped Chinese officials weren't in a mood to hide the incredible insult to their leaders when Grant gasped 'it's the fish' after the incident, referring to the fried whole Grouper that is a popular dish in China and a favourite of the President…"
"Olivia is pregnant!" Fitz roared at Cyrus.
"You are not a husband right now!" Cyrus roared back. "You are the President of the United States! You cannot go to China without going to Japan, South Korea and the Philippines first!"
"Livvie isn't in any one of those countries!"
"But our military bases are!" Cyrus yelled, then paused to take a deep breath. "Our allies need reassurance that the mess Sally left us in, and your changed political allegiance, aren't going to change any trade or diplomatic initiatives. That is why Olivia was sent on her little 'cultural and educational tour' to China, so you could make your little trip to our allies in South East Asia without offending anyone."
Fitz collapsed into a couch, dropping his head into his hands. "Livvie is pregnant."
"The timing is bad. I know, but you cannot go to China ahead of all those other countries in the region."
"My wife is pregnant."
Cyrus threw up his hands, rolled his eyes and sat down next to Fitz. "They'll think you sent your pregnant wife to China so you could visit that country first and elevate its status in the region on the sly. We don't want anyone thinking we're in cahoots with the Chinese. Especially the Chinese."
Cyrus paused as Fitz slapped his chest then grabbed his phone from inside his jacket pocket.
"Hi," Fitz said in a soft husky voice that made Cyrus turn away.
"Right, I'll leave you to it." Cyrus got to his feet and left the room, closing the door gently behind him.
Barely noticing his absence, Fitz focused on the weepy, broken sigh he heard from the other side of the world.
"I didn't want you to find out like this. I didn't want to find out like this either," Olivia sniffed.
"I know, my darling. But we needed a quick response before the Chinese public organised a mob revolt against you."
There was another broken sigh.
"How are you feeling?" Fitz asked softly.
"Like I'm pregnant."
He gave a crooked smile, unable to speak past the lump in his throat.
"Fitz…"
"…Yes?" he croaked.
"How are you feeling?"
He gave a gasp between a sob and a laugh. "I love you. I want to hold you. I want to wrap you in cotton wool. I want to give you chicken soup."
Her soft snuffle of laughter widened the smile on his lips. "Then you'll be happy to know that I've been lying on my stately bed, being fed a lot of nourishing soups, not allowed to move a muscle. I had to fake tiredness to get everyone to leave the room and stop hovering around me."
"You should rest."
"I'm resting."
"You should sleep."
"I'm not sleepy."
"Stubborn."
"Bossy."
Fitz chuckled.
Olivia smiled. "Will you call me first thing in the morning?"
"First thing."
A couple of hours later, news update on China Central Television (CCTV)
"…Honoured guest, US First Lady Olivia Grant learned very important personal news in the most unexpected way tonight. Mrs Grant was attending a private dinner with Chinese and US officials, when her stomach proved too sensitive to a traditional spicy fish dish. Mrs Grant believed she was suffering from a stomach virus, but government doctors soon assured her otherwise. The US Embassy in Beijing later released an official statement saying Mrs Grant had an adverse reaction to the fish due to her delicate circumstances. We can reveal that Mrs Grant is expecting her first child with husband US President Fitzgerald Grant. We here at China Central Television send Mrs Grant our best wishes on her impending motherhood…"
"You were awake," Fitz smiled when Olivia answered on the first ring.
"I was waiting for you."
"Are you sure you want to finish your speaking engagements in China?"
"I think I should. People have been so kind, and so proud that we made the announcement in China. I don't think they'll mind so much when you fly to see our ASEAN allies without stopping here. We've already shared something far more precious than diplomacy with the Chinese people."
"I'm going to cancel my ASEAN trip – my wife's pregnant and I've got an election."
"Fitz, both the election and baby will be arriving around about the same time. You can't stay stuck in the White House until then."
"Don't try to reason with me. I'm allowed to have irrational moments too. I'm a pregnant father."
Olivia laughed.
He stayed silent, listening to her.
After a long moment of pause, she said softly, "Karen usually sneaks in with her purple dragon when she thinks I'm asleep, to cuddle up next to me. She didn't do that last night."
"Maybe she didn't want to disturb you."
"Maybe."
"Want me to talk to her?" Then he paused as Lauren knocked on the door. "Just a sec, Lauren. I'll be right out." He waited a beat, before muttering, "I've got a meeting with the intelligence chiefs, the Cabinet and Justices from the Supreme Court. It's going to be a long night."
"I should let you go."
They waited another second, then Fitz asked softly, "How did Jerry take the news?"
Olivia chuckled. "He's making a list of names for the newest little dude."
"What makes him think it's going to be a boy?"
Olivia laughed again, then sighed when Fitz had to call out to Lauren again. "You should go, Fitz."
"Livvie…"
"Yes, baby?"
"I love you."
"I love you too."
Olivia placed the phone on the night-table, then looked up hearing a light knock on her bedroom door.
"Come in."
Rowan walked in carrying a tray.
"Dad, I really don't want any more soup."
"This is date and ginger tea from the floor manager. She said it's good for replenishing your Qi."
Olivia sighed but took the cup, sipping it slowly. Then less cautiously when she felt it settle the queasiness in her stomach.
"You spoke to Fitz?" Rowan sat on the edge of the bed. "How is he?"
"Emotional. He's going to be a father."
"For the fourth time," Rowan said, drily.
Olivia didn't respond, as she took another sip. "And you're going to be a grandfather."
"Yes," Rowan said softly. "My first grandchild." He stood abruptly and walked towards the window.
Olivia watched her father standing stiff and straight, silhouetted against the grey sky, as she quickly finished her tea.
Then she carefully got out of bed, testing her nausea level while standing. Realising she was okay, she turned to Rowan and asked, "Have you seen Karen?"
"She's with Felicia, getting ready for your tour of the robotics centre."
"Will you be okay spending the whole day with Jerry, visiting Pete and his dad?"
"I'm looking forward to it. I've always wanted to see the Terracotta Warriors."
Just then there was another knock on the door, and Olivia's chief of staff called out, "Ma'am. We need to get ready. The Chinese First Lady is on her way. And, uh, there's been a change of plans."
Special panel discussion on a news show in the US…
"…The Chinese have fallen in love with our First Lady. Olivia Pope-Grant had already impressed them with her sense of style, her subtle diplomacy and her fluent Mandarin, but now it seems a billion Chinese are intent on one thing – making sure Olivia is safe, healthy and happy in the first few weeks of her pregnancy."
"The Chinese news agencies say their First Lady has taken on the role of chaperone, guardian and care-taker."
"Looks like everyone over there is really keen to make sure Olivia Grant stays healthy and safe. She had to change her plans to visit a Robotics Centre because of a public internet campaign advising her against the visit. People were concerned about her exposure to radiation from all the computers."
"I read somewhere that pregnant mothers in China don't use cell phones during their pregnancy and wear radiation jackets if they have to be near a computer. Seems a bit over the top."
"Well, most parents in China are only allowed to have one child; explains why they're extra protective…"
"But it looks like the change of plans worked out well. Here's Karen Grant with a big smile on her face, in blue scrubs, cuddling a baby panda at the Chengdu Panda Research Centre. I wouldn't be surprised if she tries to smuggle one of those babies home…"
"Wonder how all the dogs will take to having a bear in the White House..."
"She is not heavy?" The Chinese First Lady asked with a smile, glancing over at Karen asleep on Olivia's lap.
"No, she's fine." Olivia murmured, smoothing a hand over Karen's hair. "She's tired after her day out with the Pandas."
"You will get her a baby Panda as she asked?"
Olivia laughed. "No. Karen already has a dog. I don't think Poppy will be too happy to share my daughter with a baby Panda who will become a Giant Panda."
Olivia paused, feeling Karen still against her. Then she continued softly, still stroking a hand over Karen's hair, "And I'm going to need my daughter's help getting ready for another baby Grant. So she won't have time for Panda bears."
As Karen relaxed and cuddled closer, Olivia exchanged a smile with the Chinese First Lady who added softly, "You are okay to talk to the students at the Chengdu School? Not too tired?"
Olivia assured her that she wasn't.
But when they stepped out of the car, instead of a contingent of smiling, waving students they were met with a group of grim-faced Chinese officials.
Olivia glanced across at her hostess. "What's happened? What's wrong?"
Breaking News Associated Press and Reuters…
"… US First Lady's school visit was marred by pictures of striking factory workers, posted on son, Jerry Fitzgerald's Instagram. We have reports that Chinese authorities wanted to cancel Mrs Grant's school speaking engagement, but she refused to 'disappoint the children'. A US official later said that no one wanted to 'upset the pregnant lady'.
"As scheduled, Grant spoke to the students about working hard at school and university. She responded to questions about running her own business; what it's like living in the White House, and whether she was lonely as an only child.
" After a photo session with the kids, Grant was encouraged to cut short her visit by the Chinese First Lady, for her wellbeing. But sources say US Embassy officials are keen for Grant to sort out another diplomatic disaster on only Day Two of Grant's cultural tour…"
"You were supposed to see the Terracotta Warriors. What happened?" Olivia faced a crestfallen Jerry and impassive Rowan in a private meeting room at the US Embassy in Beijing.
"Should you be doing this?" Jerry muttered. "You're pregnant."
"Yes, pregnant, not ill. Now tell me what happened."
"I saw a bunch of people protesting and I took pictures."
"And put the pictures on Instagram saying the Chinese asshole government wasn't paying its workers."
Jerry nodded. "Are you mad at me?"
"Yes, Jerry! I'm mad at you! Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
"Mom, you should have heard what those workers had to say! They've got one toilet between 100 people! They only get one day off a month! They sleep on the factory floor! They get paid in cents, not even a whole dollar a day! And there were people there who have cancer, because of the stuff they use to make my phone!"
Olivia held up a hand, then turned to her father. "And you made Mr Leong stop the car so Jerry could speak to the workers?"
"Yes." Rowan nodded.
"Jerry, can you leave us for a moment. I need to speak to my dad."
"Sure, Mom." Jerry shot to his feet and left the room in a couple of strides.
As soon as the door closed, Olivia glared at Rowan. "You were supposed to keep him out of trouble!"
"Olivia, the world doesn't revolve around Fitz."
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
"Your concern right now is about the fallout for your husband's image. You're going to fix this so we don't embarrass the Grant administration."
"Yes, because we here representing his administration!"
"Olivia, I am the descendent of slaves, as are you. Do you think it is right that we stand by, while exploitation takes place in front of our eyes, right here, right now?"
"Dad…"
"Olivia, listen to me. Do you even know why they're protesting? These workers, who barely earn a subsistence wage, have been cheated out of their employee insurance schemes. That means they will have no homes to go to when they quit working and are forced to leave company housing. It means they have no health insurance to pay medical bills when they get sick-"
"Dad, I can't fix a labour crisis in China!"
"This is not just a labour crisis in China, Olivia. There is a US connection. The workers on strike make retail products for some of the biggest brands in the US and they get paid less than the Chinese minimum wage. It's not right. You need to use your influence to fix that."
Olivia looked at her father, then strode over to the door and pulled it open, prompting Jerry to stagger in.
"Were you listening at the door?" Olivia demanded.
Jerry blushed, straightening up. "Are you still mad at me?"
"No," Olivia muttered, then gasped when Jerry crushed her in a hug of relief.
"Do I get a hug?" Rowan asked drily.
"No," Jerry muttered, hugging Olivia some more.
Breaking News from foreign press sources in China…
"…In what many consider a genius move, the two First Ladies of China and United States spoke to the media today about working conditions in both countries that are a concern for them, as announcement effectively diffused a political crisis prompted by criticism of the Chinese Government from the US President's teenaged son.
"US First Lady Olivia Grant apologised for her son Jerry's impetuous move in accusing the Chinese Government for the problems experienced by Chinese workers. A reference to tens of thousands of striking factory workers who say they have been cheated out their worker entitlements.
"But Mrs Grant added that she couldn't fault her son for his compassion and activism.
'It's what we teach our kids – to be good neighbours; to be our brothers' and our sisters' keepers; to watch out for each other. That's what Jerry was doing. He has always been a protector; someone who fights for justice and I'm proud of that.
"But he was wrong to blame the Chinese government. A lot of factories here make products for US retailers. And we need to make sure that cost-cutting to the detriment of an employee's livelihood, health or safety isn't occurring when we encourage foreign investment and better trade relations between our two countries.
"After finding out why the workers were protesting, I asked myself as a mother – would I want my children to work in these conditions? My answer was no. And since that is the case, I cannot stand by and let someone else's child be subjected to conditions that I would never accept for my own children.
"So as mothers, we believe it's time we worked together to help other mothers with a less public platform improve working conditions for all our children."
"Mrs Grant's words were echoed by her Chinese counterpart, who added that a bilateral working group would be formed with women from business, politics and labour organisations in China and the United States…"
Fitz muted the television as Cyrus burst into the room.
"Olivia is talking politics and trade!"
Fitz linked his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair. "She's talking as a mother about politics and trade. Giving a mother's perspective and talking about banding together with other women to fix a problem that speaks to workers on two continents. It's a brilliant strategy. Wall Street will be lulled into a false sense of calm that this is going to be one of Liv's little hobbies. But they don't know her like I do."
"So you approve?"
"Yes, Cy, because my wife keeps hitting it out of the ball park and best of all, she's decided to cut short her trip to avoid any more surprise Instagrams."
A/N: Dear beleaguered readers, who are thoroughly fed up with my lax updates – (imagine me with a sheepish grin) – I have realised I need to keep my Tumblring on a strict diet (like my chocolate addiction). Unfortunately there maybe frequent lapses - just like my chocolate habits.
BTW - YOU GUYS ARE GOOD -you guessed Liv was pregnant from the get-go! :) I loved it!
Oh and why Cyrus is mad is because he's jealous, but I need to flesh that out a bit more in the next couple of chapters.
So about this chapter, I've referenced some real life happenings:
US President George Bush senior did vomit on the Japanese Prime Minister on a state visit to Japan. He blamed a flu virus.
There really are about 10,000-30,000 (maybe more) Chinese workers striking RIGHT NOW for their employee benefits. These are factory employees who makes shoes for US brands including Adidas and Nike.
Again I filched a lot of stuff from Michelle Obama's trip to China
And I found articles about Chinese pregnancy customs on the Internet. Not sure how true they are, so I apologise for perpetuating falsehoods in my ignorance – please let me know of any mistakes