Olivia arrived at home early from work. She had this weird feeling that she just couldn't shake off. Almost like something horrible was going to happen.

She decided to take the rest of the day off and used the time to check in on everyone. Her parents, sister, friends.. she even called Julia to hear if all is well. One person didn't answer her calls, Fitz, but knowing that he was on a job she convinced herself to stay calm and not think too much of it.

She figured he'd return her call once he saw that she had tried to reach him.

"Hey."

"Talia I thought you were with Jeremy."

"Yeah I was but mom texted me asking what's up with you, that you sounded off during your phone call."

"I'm fine."

"I don't think you are. You phoned mom and me on the same day for no reason and you're home early. So I can't help but to think somethings wrong. Liv, talk to me."

"Can you stop acting like you're the older sister in this relationship." Liv joked.

"Seriously though, are you okay?"

"I am but I've been feeling weird all day, it's this sense that something bad is going to happen."

"Well what bad thing could possibly happen?"

"That's just it I don't know but I can't get rid of this feeling."

Talia joined her on her bed. "Hey do you think it could be Chad? Maybe he's getting out or something?"

"No. He won't be out for a good few years I'm sure of that."

"Okay well then something at work maybe?"

"I don't know Talia.."

"Well that sucks. Do you want some company? We could watch The Bachelorette."

"Sure, anything to keep me from losing my mind."

"Hey c'mon you're not losing your mind."

Talia's plan did the trick. Liv was successfully distracted, having a good time even.

"I think that's your phone." Talia said looking around in sesearch of the noise.

Mindlessly Liv grabbed her phone with her attention on the TV screen. "This is Olivia." She answered.

"Olivia Pope?" The voice asked. It was a male voice, one she didn't recognise.

"Yes, Olivia Pope. And I'm talking to?"

"Olivia, it's Troy. I don't know if you know me but-"

"You met with Fitz not too long ago. Why are you calling me, where's Fitz?"

"I um.. I.. I'm with him."

Liv sensed that something was wrong. "Well can I talk to him?"

"Olivia I'm sorry.."

That was the last thing she heard. After those words Liv wasn't herself. It was almost as if her soul had left her body. She just sat there, zombie like. She could hear the voice coming through the phone but didn't register what was being said. She didn't even realise that she was hyperventilating.

"Liv!? Olivia!!" Talia was gripping onto Liv's shoulders with both hands, giving her a little shake to get her to snap out of it.

Liv was gone. She sat there on her bed clinging onto her iphone but mentally she was somewhere else.

"Liv?? Heyy.." Talia was much more gentle this time but still failed to reach her sister.

Her only other option was to take the phone from Olivia to figure out from the voice on the other end of the line what was going on but Liv had a tight hold on the phone.

"Hey sis you gotta breathe okay, just breathe."

Olivia started shaking her head, mumbling 'no, no,no' over and over again and dropped the phone.

When Talia picked it up, the call had ended. Now she was utterly confused and filled with worry. She didn't know what or who could've upset her sister this much.

She reached for her own phone, hitting speed dial. "Hello Mom, something is wrong with Liv. Can you get here like right now?"

"Talia slow down what happened?"

"Mom please just get here. You and dad both. I'm trying to get her to calm down, she's not herself."

"Keep talking to her. We're getting in the car."

"Hurry. I'll see if I can get to her. She's zoned out."

"How did it happen?"

"She received a call which was probably bad news I'm assuming because she just switched off."

"Oh my God." Caroline's gasp was quite audible.

"Look mom I'm going to hang up now. Let me know when you get here."

"Okay. Talk to you soon baby."

2 hours later. . .

Fitz's mother and his sister Julia were currently at Liv's apartment. They rushed over there as soon as Talia informed them about the phone call.

After her parents had arrived, Talia and her father dialed the number from which Liv had received the upsetting phone call and eventually discovered what had put Olivia in such a state.

Shortly after digesting the news, Talia called Julia from Liv's phone.

"How is she now?" Sheila asked as Richard made an appearance from Liv's bedroom.

"She's better. How are you though? As a parent myself I can only imagine what you're going through."

"Fitz would always place someone else's safety above his own." Sheila said with a faint smile. "And I've always lectured him about this. I would tell him to stop doing that, choosing your own safety above that of others is not selfish it's human. But did he listen?"

Julia nodded before speaking up. "Mr Pope, does she know we're here?"

"She does. Caroline told her."

On cue Caroline exited Olivia's bedroom. "She's okay. She wants to go to Los Angeles."

"When?" Julia asked.

"Today. She's insisting, I've tried to tell her that leaving today won't make any difference."

"I think we all wanted to jump on a plane when we received the news but the best thing for us to do right now is to be there for one another for strength and support."

"Sheila did you contact the hospital again?" Caroline asked Fitz's mother.

"Yes, he's still in surgery. It's quite complex they say."

"The shot went through his liver?" Caroline asked as she heard Talia mention something like that earlier.

"Not full on. They say he's a lucky man, he would've lost a lot more blood and would've been in serious danger if the bullet hit the liver from a different angle and it could've been over for him. There was another bullet found in his abdominal area which was another source of the bleeding. Luckily he was rushed to the hospital in time though and they could control the bleeding but it's still a terrible wound which demanded immediate surgery." Sheila explained.

"That's just awful.."

"If they wasted just a few minutes in getting him to a hospital I don't... I could've lost my son today." Sheila was only just starting to get emotional. Reality finally kicked in.

"You're here." All heads turned in the direction of the strained voice. Liv was standing there with a look of pain and concern on her face as she acknowledged Sheila and Julia.

"Hi Olivia."

"I knew something was wrong. I could feel it.."

"Darling why don't you sit with us."

"I've already booked my flight."

Richard stood up and went to stand next to his daughter. "Honey are you sure going there right now is a good idea? It might not be safe, we don't know what lead to Fitz being shot."

"I'm going. Troy will take me from the airport to the hospital."

"Livvie, I'm worried. Talia spoke to Troy and he advised that we should wait a day or two before any of us consider going there."

"Dad please."

"How are you feeling?"

"How am I supposed to feel when Fitz is over there with a threatening gunshot wound on his body and in surgery? I'm not feeling good, I won't feel anything until I see him."

The people in that room knew Olivia and Fitz were in love but they all just realised how in love.

"I'm going with you." Julia said.

"Okay." Liv gave her a soft smile.

xxx

Fitz woke up feeling sore all over his abdomen. Blinking several times he finally managed to open his eyes. His mouth was dry and he felt..weak.

He instantly remembered the shooting.

"Mr. Grant, you're awake. I'll get the doctor." A nurse told him.

What Fitz didn't know was that he had visitors who was currently in the cafeteria after spending most of their time up in his room not wanting to leave.

Julia and Liv arrived back to Fitz's room to see the doctor and two nurses inside hovering over him.

From the conversation they could figure out that he was awake and the two women embraced each other out of joy and relieve.

"The patient needs a lot of rest. I know you're happy to see him alive and breathing but go easy on him." The doctor said politely. "I'll be back shortly."

Liv allowed Julia to enter first and just stayed in the background. She looked on as the siblings interacted.

"Liv get over here!" Julia said excitedly but still Liv didn't move. Julia noticed the tears pooling in her eyes. "I'm gonna give you guys a minute."

Neither acknowledged Julia as she left the room.

Fitz's eyes targeted in on the woman standing in the far corner of the dull looking room. She looked scared.

"Livvie." His voice was still a bit hoarse.

Slowly Liv's feet carried her towards the bed.

Fitz opened his palm, asking for her hand..her touch.

Liv took a few deep breaths after their hands connected. She didn't want to cry but it was impossible to stop the tears.

"Livvie..." He stroked her hand with his thumb. "Come here, come closer."

She shook her head 'no' and Fitz regretted ever coming to LA. He could've avoided all of this.

"You said you'd be safe and you told me not to worry."

"I'm not going anywhere baby." Fitz went silent after a pain striked through his abdomen. "I'm still here. I will never leave you."

"You almost died."

"Yes."

"And that almost killed me."

"I'm so sorry."

"I want to be mad at you right now. You were being reckless." She said pulling her hand from his.

"I love you." Fitz was sincere.

"You scared me. I thought I was going to lose you."

"Never. You're stuck with me. Can I get a hug?"

She looked at him as if he was crazy. "No I'll hurt you. Your body needs to heal."

"I'll be fine, now get over here."

"No and stop acting like everything is okay because it's not! Do you like having near death experiences??"

He knew she wasn't angry at him, it was all the emotions coming out that way.

"I'm an idiot and I'm sorry for worrying you. Please just come over here."

Liv hesitated at first but eventually caved and lowered her body over his for a much needed embrace.

"Don't ever scare me like that again."

"Okay." He was serious when he said it.

"I love you Fitz and the thought of losing you I..." She couldn't say it.

"Hey don't worry this was my last job in the field. From now on I'll be glued to my desk and I love you too beautiful."

Some time later after the doctors and nurses checked up on Fitz, Olivia left the room to take a phone call from her mother. Leaving Fitz and Julia alone.

"I haven't even thanked you yet. Thanks for showing up here Jules."

"You're my brother of course I'll show up for you and also I wasn't gonna let Liv do this alone."

"How was she before you guys flew out here?"

"Bad. She was in a terrible state, it really scared her..the thought of losing you. That woman loves you so much Fitz."

"I know.. I love her too and I'm mad at myself for putting her through that. I should've been more careful."

"Well it happened but it's over now and you're alive, that's the most important thing. So when can you get out of here?"

"Couple of days. When are you two leaving? You both have to return back to work."

"You can't be here on your own." Liv's voice came from the doorway as she walked into the room.

"Livvie I can't ask you guys to stay here and watch over me. I'll be okay. I'll stay here in this bed and rest, I promise."

"Fitz I'm staying." She said with finality.

Julia patted his leg. "Don't fight her on this. I however am leaving tonight. I have to get back to my husband and son."

"Okay. Give Jaden a hug for me."

"Will do. I should probably get back to the hotel and get my things together. I'm so glad you're okay little brother, you had us worried." Julia stood up to give him a forehead kiss. "Take care and stop trying to be superman."

"Got it. See you Jules."

"Bye Fitz. Bye Liv, take care of him."

xxx

Fitz has been back home for just over a week and was couped up in his penthouse ever since. He had to take it easy to make a full recovery and Liv made sure of that.

"Hey you're home early."

"What are you doing?" She raised her eyebrows questioningly while making her way over to the couch. "Is that work?"

Fitz was surrounded by folders and his laptop.

"Baby it's just some paperwork. It's been building up in my office so I had them bring it over so that I could take care of it."

"You're still supposed to be resting and that does not include work. Can't someone else take care of it?"

"Livvie, calm down.. Look at me. Hi."

Liv gave him a sheepsheepish smile. "Hi, sorry."

"I know you mean well and that you don't want me to overdo it but I can do this."

She scooted closer to him and grabbed his face to plant a big fat smooch on his lips. "How was your day?"

"Good, why are you home so early?"

"I have good news."

He gave her his undivided attention. "Tell me."

"I was promoted from non-equity to equity partner today."

Fitz grinned from ear to ear. "Babe that's incredible! I'm so happy for you and insanely proud. Wow."

"Thank you."

"Did you know they were gonna do it? Like did they talk to you about it before at all?"

"No I was so surprised but Cyrus said that they've been thinking about it for a while and that I'm super valuable to the firm. "

"Liv I'm positive that in the next few years you'll have your name on that door.."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now mister. "

"It's going to happen. You work hard baby and obviously you're one of the best at that firm. Anyway we should celebrate."

"Excuse me but your body is not ready for a celebration."

"Sure it is."

"Fitzgerald don't be difficult." Liv replied casually.

"I'm not. Come on we can do dinner, right? We don't even have to go out I'll talk to Jules and she can organise the food."

"Okay but make it tomorrow evening. I'll invite my parents and Talia."

"Great so that means we'll be having our own private celebration tonight." Fitz wiggled his eyebrows making her laugh.

"You are not ready for sex. Your wounds aren't even healed yet."

"Okay two things; one, I don't really care although I probably should because sexual activities could put a lot of strain on my abdomen and cause discomfort but two, the good thing is you can still sit on my face."

Olivia's boisterous laughter filled the room. "You are just.."

"An amazing boyfriend, I know. So are we celebrating tonight or not?"

"If you have pain we stop immediately, okay?"

"All I'll have is pleasure from you dripping on my face."

"Wait, if you're gonna take care of me it's only right that I return the favour."

"Suddenly this paperwork can go to hell. Why wait until tonight if we can start right now."

"I'm the worst. You're supposed to rest but here I'm about to drain your energy."

"You're actually the best and I love you."

"You're so cute. I'm gonna enjoy riding your face."

Oh and she did.