Chapter Fifteen
Fitz was shocked to find his ex-wife standing in front of him after five years. He could hear Mira and Olivia laughing in the kitchen and it made his even angrier that he was dealing with Mellie.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I wanted to see you and I wanted to see Mirabelle," Mellie looked disheveled and unsure of herself. Fitz didn't even recognize the woman who left him.
"See us?! After all these years you just decide to show up!? It's been five years Mellie. Mira doesn't even know who you are. Please just leave and don't come back."
Fitz was about to close the door when Mira came out to the living room.
"Daddy, Liv says break'ast is ready. Who are you?" Mira asked when she saw a lady she didn't know talking to her daddy.
Mellie's eyes started to water when she saw Mirabelle. Fitz couldn't let this happen not right now, not ever.
"She's just a very old friend but she's leaving now," Fitz got closer to closing the door on Mellie.
"Wait Fitz, we need to talk." Mellie tried to keep the door open.
"We have nothing to discuss. Now if you will excuse us, we have breakfast waiting. Goodbye," Fitz quickly closed the door and Olivia walked out of the kitchen looking at him with worried eyes. They silently were having a conversation about how they will discuss this later.
"Come on daddy! I'm hungry!" Mira grabbed his hand and dragged him into the kitchen. Fitz was pulled out of his thoughts and followed his little girl back into the dining room where everything was laid out, ready to eat.
The next thirty minutes were filled with laughter and Mira's constant questions which is what Fitz lived for. This was his family and Mellie wasn't going to ruin what he just gotten.
"So you want to talk to me about what's on your mind?" Olivia asked Fitz as she sat down next to him on the couch. Mira was upstairs taking a nap. It seemed like the morning bike ride they had after breakfast tired her out.
"Mellie was at the door this morning wanting to see Mira," Fitz sighed. He tried to keep his mind off of what happened this morning because the more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
"Mellie? Your ex-wife aka Mira's mother? That was who came this morning? After five years, now she decides to come back into your life?! Who does this woman think she is?!"
Olivia was heated. There was no way this woman was going to coming back into Mira's life. Children needed stability and Mellie can't randomly decide when to become a mom.
"Mira doesn't even know who she is. When she came to get me for breakfast, she didn't even think twice that this could be her mom."
"What are you going to do?"
Fitz sighed and thought about Olivia's question. He didn't know what to do if he was being completely honest. The first couple of months after Mellie left, he hoped and prayed she would come back for the sake of Mira but she never did. After five years, she had no right to Mira.
"I have to talk to her and see what she wants but I can't have her disrupting Mira's life. It wouldn't be fair to her or to us."
Olivia got closer to Fitz and wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Whatever you need me to do, I'll do it. I'll be with you every step of the way."
Fitz breathed her in and gave her a kiss on her forehead.
"Thanks baby. If we are being honest, you're the only mother Mira really knows. I don't want to scare you but I see a future with you including marriage and more kids. I want us to go through ups and downs. I didn't think I would ever find someone who really understood me, who loves my daughter as much as I do but I did. I found that in you. Olivia, I love you."
Olivia tensed in his arms for a second but then realized that what he was describing was what she wanted for them too. She pulled away slightly to look at him. He was staring deep into her soul and he looked so vulnerable. She didn't know what Mellie wanted but she wasn't going to sit on the sidelines and let Fitz handle it alone. They were in this together.
"I love you too, Fitz. I want all of that with you and more. I love Mira with my entire heart. I would be the luckiest person on this planet to be her mom. Whatever Mellie does, I will be there for you and for her. I'm in this with you. No more baby steps."
"No more baby steps," he repeated and pulled her into a kiss that got heated pretty quickly. Before it could get any further, Mira cried out for Olivia.
Fitz groaned when Olivia pulled away. She quickly pulled off of his lap, gave him one more peck on the lips and quickly went up the stairs. Fitz sighed. My daughter the cockblock, he thought.
Olivia entered Mira's room to find her in tears and reaching out for her. Olivia sat on her bed and pulled Mira onto her lap. She comforted her and soothed her tears.
"It's okay baby. It was just a dream. Do you want to talk about it?"
Mira hiccupped and tried to talk, "There…there…was…a bad…guy and he taked me away from you and daddy."
"It's okay sweetie. No one is going to take you away. Your daddy and I won't let that happen. You're safe now. It was just a bad dream."
Mira's breathing evened out and Olivia could tell she was finally calm. She didn't want to move just yet. She wanted these moments with Mira where she was the one who could comfort her. With Mellie back, she didn't know if Mira would want to know her mom or if Fitz will even let her come close but whatever the case might be, she wasn't going to let Mira get hurt.
"You okay now?"
"Yeah I'm k now. Liv are you my new mommy? The man in the dweam said I don't have a mommy but I do. It's you, right?"
Olivia didn't know what to say in this moment. Oh how she wanted to say yes but she wasn't sure how Fitz would take it and she didn't want to overstep. Before she could answer, she saw Fitz standing at the door. He gave her a small smile and walked towards his girls.
"What do you think Mira? Do you want Liv to be your mommy?" he said as he sat on the bed with them.
Mira stayed quiet for a second before quietly saying, "Yes."
"You do?" Olivia was surprised.
"Yes," Mira said louder.
"Well Liv what do you say? Will you take on this crazy little girl and her just as crazy dad as your new family?"
Olivia could feel the tears coming and she tried to keep it together before answering.
"Of course, I wouldn't want anything else."
"Well it's settled. Olivia is your new mommy, Mira."
Mira burst into tears of happiness. She couldn't believe she had a mommy just like her friends. She had someone to brush her hair and help her and do mommy things. With Mira's reaction and their love declaration downstairs, Olivia couldn't keep it together either and started crying. Fitz pulled his girls into a hug and counted his lucky stars. He had a family that he was going to protect and Mellie wasn't going to get in the way of that.
Meanwhile across town, Mellie was planning on getting her family back. She left because she wasn't ready to be a mom or wife but she was ready now. She just had to show Fitz that she made a mistake.
She had never seen him that angry before but the minute she laid eyes on Mirabelle, she knew that she had to fight to see her again. She already missed so much. She wasn't going to miss more. Not only was she back to see Mira but she wanted Fitz back. She wanted the picture perfect family. She was so close to making partner but she knew that having a family would give her that extra boost.
Before she can do anything else, her phone rang. It was her mother.
"Hello mother."
"Mellie, have you seen Fitz already? How's Mirabelle?"
Mellie's mother was all for her going to find Fitz and Mirabelle. It was all about image and the minute that people found out that Mellie had abandoned her daughter and husband, it wasn't a good image to have at the country club. Her mother believed it was time to fix what she messed up.
"Yes I saw both of them. Fitz wasn't happy to see me and Mirabella has no idea who I am which doesn't surprise me. Fitz probably doesn't even mention me."
"Well you have to fix it. I was speaking with Kim, your boss, who was at the country club and she said that this could be the boost you need. Mellie, getting your family back will be just what you need."
"Don't you think I know that mom?! I'm trying here. I'm going to try and get him to meet for lunch."
"Do what you need to do and get them back. You finally have a chance to make things right."
"Yes mother I know. Now I got to go. I'm going to text Fitz and see when we can meet up."
"Okay. Let me know how it all goes."
They hang up the phone and Mellie looks into her contact list. She never deleted his number and she hoped the number was the same.
Hello Fitz. It's Mellie. I know this morning was a shock but can we please meet up to talk? – Mellie
She sends the text and waits for a response. She didn't have to wait long when her phone rang.
"Hello"
"Mellie please leave me alone. I don't want to talk to you. We have nothing to discuss."
"Fitz please. Let's just meet up for lunch and we can talk."
"No Mellie. Please just go back to New York and leave us alone. Mira doesn't even know who you are and I plan to keep it that way."
"One lunch and if you don't like what I have to say then I'll leave."
Mellie heard him sigh on the other side and she knew he was giving in.
"Fine but not lunch. We can go to Rosie's Café and talk there. Meet me at one and before you ask, I'm not bringing Mira. I can't have her confused."
Mellie knew that she couldn't make any more demands even though she wanted to see Mirabelle again.
"Okay. I'll meet you at one and thank you for agreeing."
"I'm only agreeing to get rid of you. I'll see you later."
He hung up before she could say anything else. Well at least he agreed and now it's time to put her plan into motion.
Fitz sighed. He couldn't believe he agreed to meet up with her but he knew this was the only way to send her packing and away from his family. He didn't know what she wanted and he didn't care.
"Hey Fitz. I'm heading home now. I really need to get a decent shower and get changed," Olivia said when she walked into his bedroom.
She noticed that he was tense when she came in and she figured it was that phone call he took.
"You okay babe? Who was on the phone?"
She came behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He relaxed the minute he felt her.
"That was Mellie. She wants to meet up and talk. I told her I would meet up with her at one."
Olivia tensed. She didn't like the idea of Fitz meeting up with Mellie alone. Fitz could feel that Olivia was uncomfortable with the idea. He turned around in her arms.
"What if you come with me?"
Olivia was shocked.
"You want me to come with you to talk to your ex-wife?"
"Having you there will give me the strength that I need to get through this."
Olivia thought about it for a moment. She couldn't let him go alone. She told him that they weren't going to take anymore baby steps so this meant going with him to meet up with his ex-wife.
"Okay, I'll come with you but I still need to get home."
"Take my car and come back once you're ready. I'll call my mom so she can watch Mira. I need to tell her that Mellie's back and she won't be happy either."
Olivia gave him a peck on the lips and the two of them stayed wrapped up in each other's arms for a minute. They just needed to be grounded even if it's only for a moment.
"I'm going to leave now and you call your mom. We will get through this together."
Fitz gave her a kiss on her forehead and let her go.
"Be back soon okay. I love you."
"I love you too, Liv."
Olivia pulled into her driveway and took a breath. She couldn't believe what has happened in the past 24 hours. Fitz told her that he loves her, she told him that she loves him back, Mira is calling her mommy, and Fitz's ex-wife is back. She was feeling a bit of a panic attack coming. She needed to get inside.
She grabbed her bags and walked to the front door. She opened the door to find Abby on the couch with Josie.
"Hey look who remembered she had a home?"
Olivia felt relaxed and relieved to see her friend. She needed someone to talk to about this before she did have a full blown panic attack.
"Oh no, I know that face. Sit down so we can talk. What's going on?"
Olivia took a seat and Josie made her way to her mama. She took a deep breath and began her story. She started by talking about their Disney day and how much fun they all had. Olivia went into detail about their day and how they were being called a family.
"Okay so it seems like you guys had fun yesterday but what's up with that look?"
"I mean it was all amazing. Fitz even told me he loves me –"
Before Olivia could say anything else, Abby squealed.
"Oh my god, he loves you. Did you say it back? Please tell me you said it back."
Olivia laughed, "Yes I told him that I loved him. It felt so right Abby. Being there with him and Mira felt right and we feel like a family. Mira asked me if I was her new mommy."
Olivia felt all choked up just thinking about that moment. She couldn't help but let a few tears slip.
"Oh Liv." Abby pulled her into her arms to give her a hug.
"I'm really happy for you but what's really bugging you?"
"His ex-wife is back."
"Oh shit."
"Yeah and we are meeting up with her at one."
"Wait, we? You're going with Fitz?"
"He wants me there and I can't let him handle it by himself. I don't trust her."
"Honestly Liv, I don't blame you. From what Stephen told me, she is a selfish bitch who left Fitz high and dry when Mira was born. You have to make sure that neither of them get hurt."
"So I see you and Stephen are still going strong," Olivia smirked at her friend.
"Yes we are and we can discuss my relationship another time. We are talking about you." Abby bumped shoulders with Olivia and gave her a smile.
"What you need to do is walk in there with Fitz and don't let Mellie think she can walk all over you. She is the one who left not the other way around. Be there to support Fitz but don't be afraid to give her a piece of your mind if she says something about you."
"You're right. I'm going to support Fitz in whatever he does but she won't get to walk all over him nor me."
"Exactly! You have to protect your family."
Olivia smiled at Abby's words.
"My family. It just seems right, doesn't it?"
Abby pulled in Olivia for a hug.
"It does and I'm extremely happy for you. You deserve this and so much more."
Olivia held onto her tightly. While she was feeling overwhelmed, she was happy she had Abby by her side. She knew she could always count on her to pull her back in and calm her nerves.
"Okay I have about an hour before I head back to Fitz's. Mira is staying with Katherine while we meet Mellie. Thanks for the pep talk Abbs."
"No need to thank me. That's what friends are for."
After one more hug, Olivia headed upstairs to get ready. She could handle this, she thought. Mellie wasn't going to ruin what they have built over the past two months.
"Fitz, I'm here. Now what is that you need to tell me?" Katherine came through the door and into the kitchen where Fitz was getting Mira's snack. Mira was currently in her playroom coloring in the new Disney coloring book Olivia bought for her.
"Mellie's back."
"What do you mean she's back?" Katherine asked.
"She showed up this morning out of nowhere and now wants to talk," Fitz said as he stopped what he was doing and faced his mother.
"So after five years, now she decides it's time to talk?! Not when she walked out on her husband and baby?! She waits five years to talk to you. Are you going to talk to her?" Katherine asks as she paces back and forth in the kitchen.
"Mom calm down. I don't need your blood pressure going up because of this. Can you sit down for a minute?" Fitz guides her to the chair.
"Too late. My blood pressure is already up the minute you mentioned she was back. Now answer my questions."
"Yes she wants to talk and yes I'm meeting up with her. Before you say anything else, I am taking Olivia with me. I'm not going alone." He takes a seat in front of her.
"I'm glad you're not going alone and she's lucky I wasn't here this morning or else I would've given her a piece of my mind."
"I know you would've. Trust me I wanted to but Mira was in the other room and I couldn't have that discussion here which is why I need you to watch her while I go deal with this mess."
"You know you don't even have to ask. I'll gladly stay here and watch her."
"Thanks mom. Liv should be here soon so I'm going to get ready."
Just then they heard little footsteps indicating that Mira was coming into the kitchen.
"Daddy is my snack ready? GRAMMY!" Mira ran to give her grandma a hug.
"Hey baby. Let's eat your snack while your dad gets ready."
Seeing that his mom had a handle of things, he went upstairs to get ready.
Olivia pulled into Fitz's driveway and took a deep breath. She opened his door since she had his house keys.
"Mommy's home," she heard Mira say as she ran to the living room. All the nerves that Olivia was feeling went out the window. Hearing Mira say mommy made everything worth it.
"Hey baby. How are you?" she bent down and picked Mira up.
"Good. I'm eating a snack and grammy is here!"
Katherine watched the two of them interact and it warmed her heart. Hearing Mira call Olivia made her emotional.
"Hey Katherine. How are you?" Olivia gave a her a hug after she set Mira down.
"I'm doing well. I heard about the situation and thank you for going with him. It seems like Mira has officially claimed you into this family, mommy."
"You don't need to thank me. There was no way I would let him handle this alone. I hope you don't mind her calling me mommy. I know I didn't give birth to her –"
Katherine stopped her before Olivia could continue.
"You are more of a mom than Mellie has ever been and will ever be. I'm grateful you came into their lives."
Olivia didn't know what to say so instead she pulled Katherine into a hug which is what Fitz saw when he came downstairs.
"Everything okay in here?" he asked.
The two of them pulled away from each other.
"Everything is just fine Fitz. You worry too much. Now you guys run along, deal with the situation, and come back home soon."
Fitz gave Olivia a quick peck on the lips before saying goodbye to Mira. The two of them heading out the door and into Fitz's car.
"Are you ready for this?" Liv asked as she grabbed his hand.
Fitz placed a kiss on her hand before answering.
"No but I'm happy you're here with me."
Olivia pulled him into a passionate kiss. One to tell him everything that she was feeling in this very moment.
"We are in this together."
XXXXXXXXXX
To say that Mellie was nervous was an understatement. She knew she only had this one chance to get this right or else Fitz would be done with her. She arrived five minutes early and picked a table near a window so she could get a glimpse of him before he walked in.
She kept glancing up at the door and outside to see if she could see him. Nothing so far and Mellie was feeling that she would get stood up. Fuck, she thought, this isn't how it's supposed to go.
She looked at her watch then looked outside and that's when she spotted him but it wasn't just him. A petite woman was holding his hand as they got closer to the door. Mellie was seething. Who the fuck is this woman, she thought. Just before they got to the door, they stopped. Fitz pulled the unknown women into his arms and into a kiss.
"This can't be happening," she whispered to herself. She knew she had to pull it together but she couldn't. Last she heard Fitz was single and had been since she left so who is this woman he brought to THEIR meeting. She couldn't think about it anymore because before she knew it, Fitz was standing in front of her.
"Hello Mellie."
"Who the fuck is this woman?!"
AN: First of all I want to say thank you to everyone reading and reviewing my fanfic. I've gotten over 300 reviews already and that has me so shook so again thank you so much! Second of all, how are we feeling about Mellie? Don't worry it will all be okay! I promise. Until next Monday!
XOXO