It was the day before Olivia's birthday, Karen and Gerry were suppose to have gone to Mellie's the day before but as usual something came up with Mellie and she rescheduled to, of course, the day of Olivia's birthday.

For the last couple of days, Fitz had been trying to make sure everything was perfect for Olivia so he was always busy on his laptop or on the phone.

The days since Christmas had been great, the kids were happy and for the most part, ignored Olivia and Fitz because they were so consumed with their gifts.

Olivia had been busy too, it had been a while since she did any work and even though the office was closed for the holidays, she wanted to brush up on emails and go through any paperwork that she had brought from the office. She did it mostly to keep her mind of Fitz, they hadn't been together since their bathroom rendezvous and every time Olivia tried to get Fitz to sneak off with her, he made up some excuse to get out of it.

Fitz had been avoiding it because he had other plans for her and he wanted her fresh for when he was ready and in the night when Olivia tried again, he forestalled again and Olivia went to sleep quite frustrated.

It was Finally Olivia's birthday. She woke up to birthday wishes from Karen and Gerry and even texts from her team but no Fitz. They had a tray with her favorite breakfast, Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and orange juice, obviously something they had one of the agents pick up.

"Thank you guys, it looks great."

She sat up and took the tray and placed it in her lap.

"Your welcome liv." they said in unison.

She took a sip of her orange juice.

"Where is your father? He's been making such a big deal about my birthday but now he's awol."

"Sorry liv, earlier this morning he got a call about work and had to rush out, he said something about an emergency and he headed for the airstrip." Gerry said apologetically.

"It's okay, it's not a big deal." she waved it off even though she was looking forward to spending the day with him.

Olivia didn't really celebrate her birthday but Fitz had been making such a big deal about it that she actually got excited but now she was kind of bummed.

"Also liv, we have to leave in a few minutes, that's kind of why we woke you up, we wanted to wish you a happy birthday before we left."

"Thank you guys, it means a lot and I'm gonna miss you guys even though you'll only be gone for a few days" Olivia smiled.

"We're gonna miss you too but you need a break from us we've been here like everyday since we left school." Karen joked.

"You know I love it when you guys are here now come give me a hug before you leave."

Karen and Gerry obliged and both hugged her tightly from the side of her bed.

They chatted while Olivia ate breakfast until it was time for them to leave.

When the agents came to pick them up, Olivia walked them to the door and said goodbye one last time.

Once they left she tried calling Fitz a few times but each time the call went to voicemail.

She resigned to working on cases for the day.

She day drifted by slowly, she took ginger for a walk, she worked for what felt like hours, she tried to bake a cake for herself from scratch but it ended up tasting like burnt cardboard and when she was done it was barely afternoon.

She lounged on the couch and watched tv for a few hours and then around 4pm, she bathed ginger and then herself.

She tried calling Fitz again but still no answer, she hung up and let out a loud exaggerated sigh of frustration, "how could Fitz abandon me on my birthday, the one that he made such a huge deal about" she thought.

She threw the phone down in annoyance but then she heard a knock on the door.

She got up to and opened the door, it was Tom.

"Hi Tom," she was really surprised he wasn't guarding Fitz, since he was Fitz best and favorite agent.

"Good afternoon Ms. Pope, I have a note for you."

"From Fitz right?"

The look Tom gave her was so hilarious, she almost laughed, he looked at her like she asked the dumbest question he had ever heard.

"Yes ma'am." he answered.

He handed her the note with a bouquet of white roses.

"As always, thank you Tom."

He nodded in response.

She smiled to herself as how silly she was for thinking Fitz blew her off.

She realized she stood in front of Tom smiling like a crazy person so she closed the door and opened the note and blushed like a schoolgirl at the words;

BE READY BY 6, WEAR SOMETHING TIGHT.

-FITZ

It was in his god awful handwriting that she thought was hilarious.

She felt butterflies in her stomach at the thought of what Fitz had planned for her, she only had 2 hours to get ready and she wanted to look perfect so she headed to her closet.

She sifted through her closet for the perfect dress, one that would make his knees buckle especially since he had been playing hard to get lately.

After a half hour of trying on and taking off, she still couldn't find anything so she decided to straighten her hair while she thought about exactly what she wanted to wear.

She took her time to do her makeup perfectly, minimal and dewy with a glossy red lip.

She had killed an hour but she still hadn't found a dress. She was nit picking everything she tried, she had so much clothes but nothing to wear.

She had gone through pretty much everything, she plopped down on the small sheepskin stool with gold legs in the corner of her closet.

While she tried to figure out what to wear she decided to put on some body jewellry that her and Abby picked up in Paris. She had bought a bunch but she didn't want anything too fancy, she wanted something understated so she settled for a simple thin gold belly chain she thought would look great with her red lace thong and bra.

She skimmed around once more until a garment bag hidden at the end of the closet rack caught her eye.

"Yes" she said in jubilation.

"One last dress. Please be the one, please be the one, please be the one." she chanted.

She unzipped the bag and inside it was a beautiful vintage white crepe long sleeve mini dress from Alaiå that she bought in Paris. She slipped it on and it fit perfectly, it caught her a couple inches above the knee and it had a slit at the front right side. It hugged all the right places, it made her waist look non existent and the back was cut dangerously low it was exactly what she had in mind for the night.

"Perfect."

She wore the lorraine schwartz necklace Fitz had given her for christmas, she loved how it caught light from anywhere in the room, it was easily the most beautiful thing she owned. She also wore pair of beautiful diamond knob earrings from Tiffany's that Fitz had given her for christmas.

She checked the time and had only 15 minutes left to get ready. She put on her pair of Giuseppe Zanotti Snake ankle cuff black suede heels and her YSL clutch.

She looked herself over a few times to make sure she was perfect and then sat on the couch until it was time.

When she heard a knock on the door, she knew it was time.

She grabbed her fluffy black waist length fox fur coat and followed Tom to the car.

She had no idea what Fitz had planned or where he planned it but she loved surprises so he was on the right path.

They drove until they reached the airstrip, Olivia saw a small private jet on the Tarmac. She had expected to see Fitz on the jet but it was empty, the only persons on the plane with her were her agents and the pilot.

The flight was smooth and took a little over an hour to reach the destination.

She thought it was weird that the pilot didn't announce where they landed.

On the helicopter ride to the destination she asked Tom where they were going and he flat out ignored her.

The ride was quick, when she landed and stepped off the helicopter, she was a little surprised, it was a house.

She honestly didn't know what to expect when she read Fitz's note so she tried to keep an open mind but she this most definitely didn't cross her mind. The property was on a slight slope, so she had to walk uphill to get an actual view of the house. As she came closer she began to notice the details of the house, like how the entire side of the house facing her was glass, she could see the light of the flames from the fireplace dancing all over the room. The house was enormous, it was built in a french country architectural style but had a modern contemporary twist to it.

As she walked nearer to the glass doors she could see Fitz, he was wearing a white button down shirt and navy blue chinos, he looked tall and perfect, the way he always did. She saw a smile burst across his face when he saw her and closer she got to the doors, the wider his smile got, his smile made her smile.

He greeted her at the glass door, she could hear music playing softly in the background.

"Thank you Tom." Even though Fitz spoke to Tom, his eyes were on Olivia.

She was surprised he said that because she absolutely forgot Tom was standing next to her.

Once she stepped inside he slid the door close.

"Happy birthday livie."

He pulled her close and gave her a soft and lengthy kiss on the lips. When he broke the kiss and looked down at her, she could see her lipstick all over his lips, she reach her hand up to wipe it off.

She briefly questioned her decision to even wear lipstick in the first place.

"Well it's a happy birthday now that you're here to celebrate with me." she was still enveloped by his arms.

"I don't think you've ever looked more beautiful than you do right now." he said softly.

"You say that everytime you see me." she blushed.

Fitz reached down and planted his hands firmly on her ass.

"Yea but I mean it more this time and did I ever tell how great your ass is?"

"Yea, only a million times." she teased.

His eyes hadn't left hers, since she walked in the room, it was as exhilarating as it was difficult for her because she felt like whenever Fitz looked into her eyes, he could see all her secrets and fears and that scared her but she tried to flush out all the unwelcome thoughts as soon as they presented themselves.

"So who's house did you steal, it's gorgeous."

"Yours."

She laughed and changed the subject.

"So where's my gift? You've been spoiling me all month, don't stop now." She giggled.

"You're standing in it."

She was perplexed.

"You know Fitz you never take me seriously when I talk to you." She half whined, she thought he was making fun of her.

"No liv, this is your house, well our house."

"This is not my house."

"Your name is on the title."

It took her a few seconds to fathom the idea of it being her house.

"You didn't."

"I did."

She got a little choked up.

"Fitz you ..you can't give me a house, the jewelry and clothes are fine but a house is too much, I can't take it"

"Don't think of it as your house, think of it as our house, the ranch is a family home, that's my family's house, I just own it until I pass it down to the kids, this house can be ours even though if you kick me out I'd be really pissed."

She laughed.

"What am I going to do with you?"

"Well, you can join me for the dinner I prepared for you."

She turned around so Fitz could help her take her coat off. She could feel his eyes wash over her.

"You look phenomenal."

"Thank you."

She paused.

"For everything...for making me happier than I could have ever imagined these last few months."

Fitz smiled.

"You're welcome."

Fitz took her hand and walked her over to the dinner placed on a table by the fireplace. She had been so consumed by Fitz that she didn't see the food when she walked in, even though it was in plain sight.

Fitz pulled out the chair for Olivia, when she sat down she finally had the chance to take it in, it all looked professionally done and what caught her attention was the shrimp scampi, it was her favorite dish.

"Fitz there was no way you cooked this."

"I did."

She picked up a shrimp and ate it.

"Mhhmm" she moaned.

"You didn't make this, it taste too good."

"Okay fine, a chef did." He laughed.

"See, I know my man can't cook."

"I can."

"Fitz you burn water if there isn't pasta in it."

He nodded and laughed in agreement.

Olivia looked picked up the bottle of wine on the table.

"Vintage Bordeaux. I like it!" She giggled.

"You're Favorite."

She poured herself a full glass and started sipping.

"So is the house the reason you've been so busy for the past few days."

"Yea, just wanted to make sure it was perfect for you."

"When did you start building it?"

"Before Defiance."

"And you didn't stop building it when you thought I participated?"

He hesitated.

"I did but then I started building again after the divorce."

"Wow and it's finished already." she smiled.

"Yea, double the men working non stop and rushed permits and here's the result."

"Well it's beautiful. Does it have a pool?"

"It wouldn't be yours without a pool, I know how much you love swimming."

She laughed in agreement.

"Well, since you think you know everything about me tell me one thing no one knows about you."

FItz pondered.

"I used to smoke pot in college."

Olivia accidentally spit out some of her wine , fortunately she had to napkin in her lap so it didn't catch her dress.

"Oh my god." she laughed. "Really? Pot?"

"Yea Pot, I quit before I joined the navy."

"Wow, that's not something I expected to hear but I'm glad you told me." she was still amused, she couldn't imagine him smoking.

"Did the wine catch your dress?"

"No and thank god too because this is white and it's vintage and its' Alaia, I'd cry."

Fitz rolled his eyes playfully at how dramatic she was being.

"Okay tell me one thing about you?"

"I had nipple piercings in my sophomore year at Princeton."

"What?" he laughed out.

"Yea, I only had them for a week through, I got so scared that my father would find out I took them out."

"Why did you get them in the first place?" he laughed.

"It was during my rebellious phase."

"You had a rebellious phase?"

"Yep, I did crazy things like skinny dip and do keg stands, it was fun." she laughed.

"That was soo rebellious." Fitz said sarcastically.

"Hey, it was for me."

He noticed Olivia barely touched her food.

"What's wrong, you barely touched your food."

"Yea, I don't want to eat to much because then I'll get lethargic and I won't be as excited to show you what I've got under this dress."

"I know it's hard for you to keep your hands off of me, but you'll have to wait a little longer because I have a few more things for the for the birthday girl."

Fitz pushed his chair back and stood.

"I'll be right back." he said as he walked to the kitchen.

Olivia took his brief absence as an opportunity to pour herself a full glass of wine and drink the whole glass in a few gulps, she wanted to be a little buzzed by the time Fitz was ready for her.

Fitz came back holding a red rose icing cake with white happy birthday candles lit at the top.

She gasped in surprise as he placed it on the table.

"My very own birthday cake." she clapped in excitement.

"Yes now make a wish livie." Fitz smiled.

"Woah woah woah. Aren't you gonna sing me happy birthday and make me swoon like the loving capable boyfriend you are"

Fitz obliged and sang her an abbreviated version of the happy birthday song.

She sat and danced along with her cheeks bones tired from smiling so much.

When he was finished she blew out her candles and silently wished for a good year.

"I have one more thing for you." Fitz said softly.

"Unless it's a pregnancy scare a month from tonight then I'm not really sure…"

She got cut off by the loud burst of laughter that came from Fitz.

"You'll definitely get that but I have something else, you have to close your eyes though."

"Okay" she nodded.

"But if it's another gift I'm going to hit you."

"It's not another birthday gift."

Fitz held her hand and led her right in front of the fireplace.

"Close your eyes."

She took a deep breath and then closed her eyes, she was smiling the entire time, he was making her nervous.

Fitz took the tiny box that was hidden by his shirt out of his pocket and knelt down.

He opened the box and tried not to think about what would happen if she said the words he dreaded.

"Open your eyes."

She opened her eyes and looked down.

"Hi beautiful"

"Hi" she barely managed to get out then covered her mouth with both hands.

Fitz took a deep breath.

"Livie I've been in love with you since the moment I laid eyes on you. I remember when I heard the loud voice coming from the back of the room and turned around I thought I was going to see the total opposite of what you were. I expected some crazy old lady, but I saw you, you were so small I almost laughed and then I got a little closer and I saw how big and brown your eyes were and immediately I thought 'why god'."

Olivia giggled.

"I remember I couldn't fire you fast enough because I knew I was gonna get myself in serious trouble with you."

She couldn't help but blush.

"You're the one person that's always loved me, for me, even when I didn't deserve it, especially when I didn't deserve it."

Olivia was now teary eyed.

"I know I've said and done horrible things to you when you didn't deserve it and you still jumped in front of a bullet for me."

He paused.

"You're an amazing woman, you're smart and beautiful and selfless and I don't deserve you but if you agree to do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife I promise to try my hardest everyday to make you happy."

Olivia moved her hands from her faced caressed his cheek, the tears were glassy over her eyes.

"You make me happy right now" she said solemnly.

"Of course I'll marry you."