The couple sat quietly in the waiting area, nothing new, just another long night in the hospital due to their six year old baby's boy health condition. At the age of four, Carter Thomas Grant was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, the news was devastating to the family. No parent wants to hear that about their child. Ever.

"I'll be right back. If the doctor comes out before I get back, call me." Olivia said to Carter's father, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, or better known as "Fitz". Fitz nodded his head with a tight lip smile and she patted his broad muscular shoulder as she stood up from her seat

"Look at me. He's going to be fine, Fitz. He's a strong little boy, just how we've raised him to be. We've been here before and it really is getting better. Don't worry too much while I'm gone, mister."

Fitz nodded his head again without saying a word and Olivia sighed as she made her way down to the cafeteria.

Tea. What she needed was a hot cup of tea, it would do wonders for her nerves.

While standing alone in the cafeteria she held the warm cup of tea in both hands as she blew into the cup watching the steam flow, then she sniffled and tilted her head back, blinking her big, beautiful brown eyes rapidly trying to rid the tears before they fell. "Crying will solve nothing, Olivia. It never has and it never will." She reminded herself again and again. Above all else, she had to be strong for Carter.

After getting her "tea fix" Olivia decided to make Fitz a hot cup of coffee, still remembering exactly how he likes it.

She made her way back into the waiting area and over to Fitz handing him his cup of coffee "Just how you like your women." She said jokingly as she handed the cup over to him, the corners of his mouth turned up into a beautiful smile. A smile that still had the effect to flutter her heart, "Mm, strong and black?" Fitz asked with a playful smirk on his face as he eyed Olivia up and down hungrily which made Olivia genuinely laugh, something she hasn't done since the moment they've arrived, "Of course, Fitzgerald." She spat in a playful manner.

"Thanks, Liv. You always know what I need." He said back as she took the seat next to him then she brushed her shoulder into his, "No problem, sweetie."

For an outsider looking in you would think these two were madly in love; which they are, but— it's so very complicated. Fitz and Olivia's relationship has been through many stages; friends, best friends, dating, marriage and now— separated.

They both have that gut feeling that separating was the worst thing they've ever decided to do, but neither of them wants to be the first to speak up and admit that they are miserable without one another, besides, in the end, they both knew it needed to be done before their strong love for each other turned into hatred and resentment and that's something they did not want to happen.

Carter was only four years old when the couple made the mutual decision to part ways and to make matters worse, it was around the time that they had found out about the little boy's illness.

But throughout their trials and tribulations, they have never stopped loving each other.

Fitz's and Olivia's love story is sorta like some fairytale, one you read about in books. They met in middle school, went to the same high school and only separated to go to college.

Olivia Pope wasn't the most popular girl just because she was beautiful, she was the most popular because she got along with literally everyone. Although people will argue saying Liv was certainly the most beautiful; her personality is what really drawn people to her. She was fun, athletic, smart, fashionable and she could and certainly would tear down any wannabe bully in anyone's defense. That's why she made a fantastic lawyer.

Fitz met Olivia in the eighth grade and the rest is history. The two of them clicked instantly, like they had known each other for years. Everyone knew that those two would end up being a married successful couple with at least five kids and everyone rooted for them— except for Jake Ballard.

Jake and Olivia were extremely close friends before Fitz moved into town. Those two were like two peas in a pod, but Liv and Fitz, their chemistry was unmatchable. It's like they were made for each other and for that reason alone, Jake hated Fitz guts. He was always trying to compete with him for Liv's "love" and attention, but Fitz and even Jake himself knew that Olivia would always choose Fitz.

—

"How are you, buddy?" Fitz asked as he and Olivia sat on Carter's hospital bed

Carter sat up in bed and looked between his parents. "I'm ok, dad.. My tummy hurts a bit but it's getting better! I've been eating my veggies and they're helping me and making me strong like T'Challa from Black Panther, just like mommy said they would! She's soooo smart and soooo pretty." He exclaimed

Fitz agreed with his son as he chuckled then he and Carter gave each other a high-five which had Olivia blushing and shaking her head at her boys, she playfully rolled her eyes at the two of them

"Hey! You both have already captured my heart completely, there's no need for all that."

"Come on, Livy. Don't be coy, you know you're a bad mama jama." Fitz added as he winked Liv's way making her blush even more

Before Liv was able to give a slick comment to Fitz about him shamelessly flirting with her in front of their son Carter winced as he held his abdomen, immediately drawing his parents attention "Gotcha!" The little devious boy shouted out and laughed as he fell back onto the bed making his thick brown curls fall from the loose man bun it was in and his ocean blue eyes water from laughing so hard

"Carter, that isn't funny!" Olivia statement while also trying extremely hard to not laugh along with her little boy, "Carter, I agree with your mom. That wasn't funny." Fitz said in a more serious tone as he shook his head, he, of course was the worrywart.

"Sorry but mommy was stealing alllll the attention, I had to get back on me." Carter explained as he shrugged his shoulders, Olivia and Fitz locked eyes then started to laugh in unison "What are we going to do with your son, Fitzgerald?" Olivia asked while snuggling into Carter.

"Oh now he's just MY son?" Fitz questioned after his laughing died down a bit and Olivia nodded "Well, only when he behaves like that."

Both Fitz and Olivia knew they had a handsome boy on their hands and they made sure their son knew he was beautiful too. Self confidence— not arrogance. It's so important to distinguish the two and that was one of their many key parenting lessons. Especially since he was a mixed race child and for that reason alone, they wanted him to be confident with who he was because they know there will be days when he will be considered "too white for the blacks and too black for the whites." So, if he was ever to be rejected from either side, they wanted him to already know that he wasn't the problem and he was not the one that needed to change.

Carter's eyes are identical to his father's but he has a smooth as a baby's bottom, caramel skin complexion just like his mama and those curls— which he inherited from both parents— thick, brown and beautiful! He really is the perfect mixture of his parents. And to top it off, he has Olivia's cute nose and his daddy's ears and that charming 'Grant smile'.

Not only is his resemblance to both of his parents uncanny, but Carter really is his mommy's and daddy's entire world. As Fitz and Olivia often say, life would be rather boring without their Carteroni.

—

"Grandma Emma!" Carter shouted as he dashed into the house and into his grandmother's awaiting arms

"Carteroni! Is that you? How are you, pumpkin? Feeling better I hope?" Emma asked as she tightly hugged her one and only grandchild. Carter nodded his head yet he barely paid attention to what was being asked "Is that cookies I smell, grandma?"

Emma tossed her head back and laughed heartily as she patted the little boy on his tush and nodded "Sure is, homemade chocolate chip cookies just for Carter Gra-." Before she could even finish her sentence Carter was headed for the kitchen

"Wash your hands first, Carter! And your limit is two!" Liv shouted and the three adults laughed after hearing Carter's protest, "Aw man, really mom? Just two?"

"How are you, Livy? You're looking good." Emma asked as she embraced her daughter-in-law then her son as they all made their way into the sitting area.

"I'm good. We had a scare the other night with Carter which I'm sure Fitz has already shared with you, but everything is looking really good for him. We've been eating a lot healthier, working out together as a family. The doctors says things are happening to Carter that they've never witnessed before, but we however know why things are changing in such a supernatural way, so we are of course, are giving God all of the glory."

"Yeah, mom. We're praying day in and day out, and taking things day by day. If you just looked at Cater you'd never even guess that he's dealing with things that he is. It's a miracle." Fitz added as he took Olivia's hand into his and they smile at one another before giving their attention back to Emma

"Amen! I am so glad to hear that." Emma was a religious woman so it warmed her heart greatly when she heard Fitz and Olivia speak so highly on religious grounds.

Emma was at church every Sunday and choir practice on every Thursday. She became the pianist for the church when she and her two kiddos moved out to Vermont, so of course, that meant Fitz and his younger sister Elizabeth was right there with their mother up until they were able to decide rather they wanted to attend service or not. And still to this day, occasionally, Fitz, Liv and Carter will make an appearance at their home church.

Fitz and his sister Elizabeth were basically raised by their mother, their father, "Big Jerry" was verbally abusive and drunk off his ass most of the time, so if it wasn't for his mother, Fitz wouldn't be the amazing, kind, loving man that he is today. He owed his mother everything.

Olivia almost shared the same story. However, she is the only child and no daddy issues. Her mother, Maya Pope is a church goer as well, but Olivia never had the chance to meet her father. Elijah Pope died in the service before Livy was even born. It was rough trying to raise Olivia on her own, but with the help of God and her own mother, Maya did an excellent job. And when Emma and Maya met all those years ago, that made things even easier— for both of the single, hard working mothers.

Emma sat back and watched her son and Olivia cuddled into each other and it was beautiful yet heartbreaking to see. These two are still madly in love, but for one reason or another they cannot- well, they won't be together and after two years of them being separated only by houses, Emma wants to know why.

X

Whew! Hello, FF world/ Olitz family! I am new to this writing thing, so please be patient and bear with me as I take you on this Olitz ride! It'll be fun, I promise! Or not? Gladiators don't make promises.

Anyway, I have been an Olitz fan for quite some time now and you'll probably notice some Terry content in the story, they are f'n goals and I'm obsessed w/ them!

- Leave comments! Ps. Negativity won't stop me, I've seen it happen but my skin is tough and keyboard gangsters won't stop me from doing something I want to do! Lol. xoxoxo

There will be love.

There will be drama.

There will be laughter.

There will be heartache.

There will be teachable moments.

But in the end, all roads lead to Olitz!

Disclaimer: **I don't own these characters, but I wish I did because I need Shonda's money**