PART I

Chapter 1: Loving v. Virginia

July 20, 1976

Olivia pulled out the embroidered wall décor, reading it to herself, "The freedom to marry has long been recognized as one of the vital personal rights essential to orderly pursuit of happiness." She had no doubt her mother was the one who managed to slip this into her bag.

It was a quote from Loving v. Virginia, the case that granted nationally recognized legality to all interracial couples across the country. Her house back home was decorated with this kind of memorabilia dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement of the 50s and 60s. From as young as Olivia could remember, her mother was out on the street protesting. She was heavily involved in organizing and gathering, letting Olivia and her stepsister tag along often. Her mom and stepdad were always following and fighting along, and she was proud of them for that.

For the longest time it had been just Olivia and her mom, Maya. Her dad walked out on them years ago. They lived a nice comfortable life in DC, doing just about everything together. They only had each other to rely on, so they were each other's best friends. Weekends were filled with going to the movies together, trying out new restaurants, and coloring with her mom.

Life turned upside down for Olivia in 1961 when her mom brought home the man she had started seeing to introduce him to her. Let's just say she was shocked when she met him for the first time. She saw that her mother had fallen in love, and fallen in love with a white man.

His name was Cyrus Beene, a DC political strategist with connections to everyone from a congressional intern in college to John F. Kennedy himself. He had a daughter named Mellie from a previous marriage, but his wife had died sadly some years before from a brain aneurism. Maya and Cyrus tried hard to blend their families together the best they could. And although Mellie and Olivia got along as much as stepsisters possibly could, the real problem didn't lie within their family as much as it lied with the society around them.

A racially blended family in the 1960s gathered everyone's attention. Everywhere they went people would look. Occasionally people would come up to them and give them a compliment over how progressive they were, but Olivia couldn't help but sense some type of phoniness in their voice. More often it was the opposite, people coming up to share how disgraceful and unnatural her family was.

But similar to the words of Bob Dylan, times were changing. Throughout the years, her family got less stares and fewer comments. Racism was still always a challenge, but at least in her neighborhood it was less often, or at least less obvious. She supposed after almost ten years that everyone in her town had gotten used to her family. It probably didn't hurt too that Maya and Cyrus were powerful activists.

Maya and Cyrus were always in the front line trying to fight. Cyrus used his political connections while Maya used her social standing to boost support as they stood in the frontlines of racial progression. While she was proud of all their activism, she had to admit the embroideries, the wall murals, and framed photos of quotes were a little too much for her childhood home.

She smiled though at having a little piece of her childhood home with her and placed the embroidered sign on top of the couch as she continued to unpack into her brand new NYC apartment.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIV!"

Olivia jumped, startled by her best friend.

"Abby, Jesus, you scared me!"

"I'm sorry, but I wanted to be the first to wish you a happy birthday," Abby cheered, and held up a plate with a muffin and a single candle already lit.

"How long ago did you wake up to make these?" Olivia questioned.

"I've been up since six, but that's just me. I also wanted to finish unpacking."

Abby was very much like Olivia, always a planner, always an organizer, always thinking ahead. It was no wonder why they got along so well when they were placed as roommates in college. Now, four years later and here they were, beginning their adult lives in the Big Apple, just as they had dreamed on those late night in their dorm room.

"What flavor?" Olivia asked, staring at the muffin.

"Banana nut – your favorite," Abby egged, pushing the plate in her face.

"Your memory serves," Olivia laughed, blowing out the candle.

"What did you wish for?" Abby asked eagerly.

"Oh nothing, I don't even know what I could wish for at this point. I just moved to the city of my dreams with my best friend and my boyfriend, and I'm about to start law school at Columbia. Anything else would just make me selfish," Olivia said, keeping her true wish a secret from her friend.

"Ugh you're way too morally upright for me," Abby laughed reaching over to grab a bottle of wine they had left open on the end table, and taking a swig.

"Are you drinking at 9 in the morning?"

Abby handed the bottle over to Olivia, "hey it's your birthday, we may as well start celebrating as early as possible."

Olivia couldn't argue with that logic and took a drink from the bottle herself.

"Speaking of moving to the city with your boyfriend," Abby lingered, "when is Eddie coming over."

"He said he should be here in about two hours, so I figured I could unpack a little more until then," Olivia spoke as she removed the next object from her box.

Her heart suddenly stopped, staring at the framed picture that her mother also slipped in before she left. It was her, Mellie and Fitz from the summer her family moved in, hanging over the railing of the tree house that bordered their backyards.

"Hey who's that with you and Mellie?" Abby asked, pointing to the photo.

"Oh it's no one, just an old family friend of ours from back in Virginia," Olivia stared at the photo intensely. It felt like it was only taken yesterday. "Um. I'm going to go put this one on my dresser, and then start to get ready for my date."

"Sounds good. Ooh show me your outfit before you go!" Abby squealed as Olivia trudged past her into her bedroom. Abby returned to drinking her bottle. Just because Liv was too busy getting ready, didn't mean she had to start her day yet.

Olivia went to her room and put on a white sleeveless jumpsuit with gold hoop earrings and platform sandals. Right on time and not even a second later, Olivia heard a knock on the door and went to open it. A cute thing she admired about Edison was that he was always punctual.

"Hello Olivia, happy birthday," Edison smiled, handing her a bouquet of flowers he had bought on the way over.

"Thank you, dear," Olivia leaned up to peck him on the check, grabbing the bouquet out of his hand and looking them down. "I better get these into some water. I know I unpacked a vase, somewhere in here."

Olivia went off to the kitchen of her apartment to find something she could keep the flowers in.

"It looks good in here. Seems like you and Abby are starting to get comfortable," Edison said and he walked into the apartment and glanced around. Olivia walked out of the kitchen with a filled up vase in hand.

"We are," she smiled. "And how is it going on your end?"

"Not nearly as organized as this," he laughed to himself. Edison finished college with Olivia and Abby, and moved to the city with a full time job in marketing. Olivia's parents felt uncomfortable with the idea of her moving in with him while she was still unmarried, so she moved in with her best friend and college roommate. But Edison's apartment was very close by and only a ten-minute walk away, so they expected to spend a lot of time at each other's places.

Abby waltzed into the living room out from her bedroom to go greet Edison.

"Hey Eddie," she turned at Liv and looked at her, "holy smokes Liv, you look rocking. Doesn't she look great, Eddie?"

Edison stared at the ground, nervous and mumbling. He was embarrassed that he had not complimented her yet, and was a little ticked off at Abby for pointing it out and calling him out on it.

"Uh…yes, Olivia…you look gorgeous, as always," he recovered.

"So what are we doing?" Olivia grabbed Edison's hand.

"Well I have quite the treat planned for you. You see, it has come to my attention that we've been in New York a week, and we have yet to go through Central Park."

"That sounds lovely Edison, thank you," she beamed up at him.

ooo

Olivia and Edison walked hand in hand down a path in the park.

"It sure is a beautiful day. A great day to have your birthday."

"Yep sure is," Olivia agreed, trying to make small talk with Edison. "So, when does your job officially start?"

"The company wants me there starting next Monday."

"Sounds exciting to be starting your career."

"I guess so."

Olivia paused as she noticed some nearby buggies on the main road.

"Oh my god, Edison! Can we? We have to!" she announced with such enthusiasm, pointing to the horse and buggies parked on the road that went through the park. They were just looking for customers on a day like this.

"The horse and buggy? Really, Olivia?" Edison looked at her skeptically.

"What?" she questioned.

"Nothing. It's just that I didn't take you as the type to be into a tourist trap like that."

"It'll be fun," she insisted.

"It'll be…expensive. And you and I have legs that are fine enough to walk through Central Park, why have some guy and his horse do it for us for a ridiculous charge?"

"Come on, Edison," she pleaded, "it's my birthday...please?"

She pouted her lip exaggeratingly to try and get some guilt out of him. She hated it when he acted this cheap.

"Oh, ok…fine," he finally caved.

Olivia hopped into the back of the carriage while Edison went to the front to pay him. He climbed in next to her, keeping a bit of a distance as they sat in the wagon waiting to be pulled.

"Hello lady and gentleman, my name is Antonio, and today I will have the luxury of showing you around my office," the driver said, waving his hands to gesture Central Park. Olivia laughed at the joke, finding it somewhat remarkable that this man's office was indeed Central Park.

She looked to Edison, who didn't even have a hint of a smile. She wished he'd let loose a little and just enjoy, but she knew he was already pissed off from spending the time and money on this classic tourist gag. Olivia rested her back against the seat craning her neck around to take in the beautiful view of the entire city surrounding her. She loved looking at the skyscrapers and all of the people in the park just walking and playing.

She was about to close her eyes to soak in the sunshine, when something caught her attention just out of the corner of her eye. She snapped her head to the right, her pupils dilating as she tried to focus. She couldn't believe it in all her years.

"Stop!" she yelled, "Stop!"

She jumped out of the carriage as it was still moving, slowly coming to a halt, and sprinted off. Edison whipped around.

"Olivia!"

He immediately jumped out chasing after her. What the hell was she doing? Jumping out of a moving carriage? Was she insane, Edison thought.

"Fitz!" she yelled.

"Fitz!" she called again as she got closer. She felt her heart beating harder than ever before as she pushed forward through the crowd of other park-goers.

Fitz had been pushing his friend Stephen along the sidewalk, when he thought he heard someone calling his name. Fitz turned, almost certain he had just barely heard someone calling his name in a very familiar voice. Finding the source, his mouth instantly went agape.

"L-Livvie!" he shouted as he felt her come crashing into his arms in an embrace so intense, he stumbled back a little. "Oh my god, Livvie, I-I don't believe it."

They laughed as Fitz gathered his footing and she got out of his embrace, staring at him. He looked different - older, as was expected, but more mature. He was bulkier, and Olivia could tell from the firm hug she received that the Navy had trained him well. His hair was long and curly; just as she remembered it was during her childhood, before he had gotten it shaved for basic training.

Olivia heard the man in the wheelchair next to Fitz clear his throat, clearly purposeful to garner their attention.

"Oh right," Fitz said apologetically. "Liv, this is Stephen. We served together during the-the war. Stephen, this is Olivia my…she-she was um…my neighbor from back in Virginia."

Olivia took note on being introduced as his neighbor. It wasn't wrong, but it wasn't the full truth either.

"Nice to meet you, Olivia," Stephen stuck out his hand.

"And nice to meet you, Stephen. Thank you also for your service."

"Um, Stephen, can-can you just wait here for a second?" Fitz asked, turning his attention to his friend.

"Not like I can really go anywhere," he replied sarcastically.

Fitz and Olivia smirked and went off slightly toward the side where there were less people.

"Wow, Livvie. I don't believe it. I-I mean look at you," Fitz said, gesturing toward her appearance. "I mean…you look so…different."

"Good different? Or bad different?"

"Go-good different…I-I mean good…you look good," Fitz stuttered, his cheeks turning red. Olivia laughed slightly, noticing that the all around confident boy she remembered seemed pretty flustered right now before her. Fitz thought it was best to change the subject before anything could get awkward.

"What are you doing in New York?"

"I just moved in about a week ago," she explained. "What about you?"

"I moved here about a month ago or so…let's see," Fitz thought out loud momentarily to calculate how long he'd been in New York, "today is – Oh my god! Livvie, happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Fitz. I'm surprised you remembered," she confessed.

"How could I forget? Not everyone can get to say that man walked on the moon on their birthday."

They both became silent, remembering the night of the moon landing on Olivia's 14th birthday. Fitz looked down at his shoes, regretting indirectly bringing that up.

"Olivia!" Olivia and Fitz turned to see an out of breath Edison finally having caught up with her.

"Olivia, what were you doing?" he scolded.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. Edison, this is Fitz. He's an old friend of mine from Virginia. Fitz, this is Edison, my boyfriend."

Olivia noticed Fitz's eyes dart up.

"Nice to meet you," Fitz said in a smile that seemed almost forced.

"You as well," Edison nodded.

Fitz could tell that their time of conversation was just about over, and he should have been leaving.

"Well, I better be getting back to Stephen," he looked over in his direction.

"Wait, Fitz," Olivia hollered ecstatically, grabbing his wrist, and making him turn around. "What are you doing this afternoon?"

"I-I uh…nothing," he stammered.

Olivia looked between Edison and Fitz.

"We should all go get happy hour drinks together and catch up," she proposed. Olivia desperately wanted to hear about the last couple of years of Fitz's life. She hadn't seen him for seven years, and she wasn't about to just let go of that desire because of one brief encounter in Central Park.

"Um, we made dinner reservations for your birthday, dear," Edison pointed out.

"I'll call them and have them push it back to eight," Olivia suggested. "How about it, Fitz? We can do drinks at about 5 o'clock?"

"Uh, yes-yeah…that's fine with me," he wasn't sure why, but something about Edison's glare at him was making him nervous.

"Perfect!" Olivia squealed. "Have you heard of Charley's on 74th?"

Fitz nodded thoughtfully.

"Rad! Let's meet there," Olivia cheered, securing another meeting with Fitz.

"I'll see you then," Fitz said as he sauntered off toward Stephen. "Livvie, it was great to see again, and Edison nice to meet you. I'll see you both in a few hours."

Olivia turned away in the opposite direction and started walking back toward the horse and buggy when she felt Edison's arm link against hers in a more intimate way than he has ever really expressed in public.

"How do you know that guy?"

Olivia sighed, knowing Edison had let some jealousy sink in, explaining his current behavior. He was never the kind of guy to do public displays of affection.

"He was my neighbor back in Virginia. He actually dated Mellie for a couple of years back in high school."

"Really? He dated Mellie for a couple of years?" Edison questioned. "I've never heard either of you mention him ever before."

"Well, I don't know. It must have just slipped my mind. It didn't really end well," Olivia explained, taking her seat in the carriage. "And I haven't seen him in years"

ooo

July 10th 1967

Olivia looked out of the car window at the large estates that surrounded her. So this was McLean Virginia, a predominantly white upper-class suburb just outside of DC. When her mom broke the news that the family was going to be moving, Olivia had been excited. The apartment that they lived in back in DC had been upscale and classy, but it was still a small and cramped space, especially after Cyrus and his daughter had moved in. Olivia was promised a big house with so many rooms that she wouldn't have to go back to sharing with Mellie. Looking at the houses now outside her window, it seemed like that held up to be true.

The one thing Olivia had not been planning was just how quick this move would be after Cyrus and her mother first talked about it. There had always been talk about going out of the city moving into America's growing suburbs, where the large green spaces made an ideal family life that was becoming the new American dream, but society always got in the way of Cyrus and Maya's plans. While interracial marriage was legal within the District of Columbia, it remained illegal for the longest time in both Maryland and Virginia, where many of the prominent suburbs of DC lie.

Then Loving v. Virginia came with the Supreme Court legalizing interracial marriages on a nation level. It hadn't even been a month since the decision was announced, but Cyrus and her mother were adamant to her and Mellie that this was a new leaf, and they should be taking advantage of the recent decision by starting a new chapter in their lives.

Olivia was thrilled for the move, but she just thought that she would at least get one more birthday to spend with her friends in her neighborhood in DC. She didn't even want to begin to think about how she could make enough friends within the next ten days to hold a proper birthday party.

"Here we are," Cyrus pulled up to the three story red and white house at the very end of the road.

"Whoa this place is huge!" Olivia said in awe staring at the house before her.

"We told you guys you'd love it," Maya smiled looking back at her daughters.

"Can we go inside?" Mellie asked eagerly, not wanting to waste a minute before she explored.

Cyrus reached into his pocket and held out the keys to the house in his hands, "Now, we've got to meet with the movers, once they arrive any minute. So we're trusting you here. No funny business."

"Promise!" Olivia and Mellie both said in unison.

"Okay then," Cyrus handed the key to Olivia.

"Thanks Cyrus!" she called and she jumped out of the car door with Mellie right behind her.

Cyrus let out a rather loud defeated sigh and felt Maya rub his arm.

"It's okay, honey. She'll come around eventually," she tried to cheer him up. She knew that it pained her husband a little bit every time that Olivia called him "Cyrus." Mellie had been easy with her. Having not really known her mother since she died when she was only a baby, Mellie quickly adapted to calling Maya "mom," and Maya graciously began referring to her as her daughter.

"I know," Cyrus replied gloomily, "but it's been years. I feel like it should have happened by now."

Meanwhile Mellie and Olivia raced through their empty new house, exploring all the rooms they possibly could and absorbing it all before them. Olivia was busy examining the dining room that was separate from the kitchen, though the kitchen was large enough to hold a dining table itself. In their old apartment, they had just that: a single kitchen with a table large enough for the four of them.

"Liv, you have to come to the top floor and check this out!" she heard Mellie call out from the top of the stairs. Olivia raced up to see what the all the excitement was.

"Look!" Mellie pointed out of a massive window to the house's enormous backyard, full of space to run and trees to climb.

"Wow! Is that also ours?" Olivia asked, looking at an impressive tree house that just seemed to border onto the neighbor's yard as well.

"I'm not so sure. It looks like it could be on their property. I can't tell."

Mellie and Olivia's conversation was quickly interrupted by the sound of Cyrus, "Girls, come on down here! The movers are here. It's time to start unpacking."

ooo

After a couple days of heavy unpacking the Beene's home was starting to finally look complete. Some rooms still needed organizing and boxes had to be put away, but it was starting to look and feel like a home. Olivia had yet to go around and meet people, but with her birthday quickly approaching, she hoped she could have the chance soon.

Olivia woke up Saturday morning hearing some chatting from downstairs. It sounded like there were other people over. Curiously she got out of bed, put on some decent clothes, and went down the stairs. She walked into the living and saw her mom and Cyrus mingling with another couple, well into their 40s if Olivia had to guess. They were eating breakfast together off of the coffee table as the dining had yet to be organized.

"Oh Olivia! Good morning. Come sit here sweetie," her mom invited her, sliding over to make room for her on one of the cushions. "Livvie, this is Mr. and Mrs. Grant. They're are new neighbors."

Olivia shyly looked up and smiled, "it's nice to meet you."

"It's nice to meet you too! But please you can just call me Big Gerry, and my wife Maggie. No need for formalities," he bellowed and took a sip of his juice that he was handed.

Olivia laughed at the nickname of Big Gerry, finding it pretty funny.

"Big Gerry is a big shot lawyer and member of the ACLU, we've worked together on some projects before for the Civil Rights Movement," Cyrus said.

"And I expect that we'll be working on far more right Cy?" Big Gerry raised his mug to Cryus.

"I love that you've moved next door, not just that now you're next Maggie and I, but I'm glad you moved into the neighborhood in general. It truly is a testament to the progress we're making. But we still have a lot of oppression in the Southern States that we need to tackle – and honestly even around this neighborhood some folks have their old fashion thinking. Now that we're only thirty yards away from each other, I feel like that will make things far more convenient for us to work together," Gerry laughed and gained a chuckle from everyone in the room except for Olivia who felt a little awkward being in the grown ups' conversation.

Maggie sensed this and turned the attention to her, "So Olivia, your mother was just telling Gerry and I that you've got a birthday coming up?"

Olivia nodded, "Yes ma'am."

"How old are you turning?"

"Twelve," Olivia answered promptly.

"Ahh twelve, what an age?" Maggie rejoiced, "just when you start becoming a woman."

"Well we don't want her to grow up too fast," Maya teased.

"And you're other daughter?"

"Mellie," Maya answered, "she's fifteen and will be going into tenth grade."

"Oh wonderful!" Gerry mused. "She'll be going to high school with our son. He's only a year older."

They heard the sound of more footsteps coming down the stairs.

"Mellie, come here and meet the Grants," Maya instructed. "They're our new neighbors and they made us pancakes for us as a welcome to the neighborhood gift."

Mellie walked toward the others and introduced herself, shaking Gerry and Maggie's hands before sitting down on the couch's armrest next to Olivia.

"I was just telling your parents and sister that you'll be going to high school with our son," Gerry told Mellie.

"I meant to ask you, where is Fitzgerald?" Cyrus asked, remembering the boy's name from the stories that Gerry had talked about during their early works together.

"He's off on a retreat, camping with some buddies of his. He'll be coming back next week. We'll be sure to bring him over so you all can meet him."

Maggie looked over at her wristwatch, "well, it looks like we better be going. We've made some plans to go bowling all the way in the city, and we have to be there at eleven.

Cyrus looked at Gerry questioningly, "bowling….as in lobbying?"

"Persuading, I prefer," Gerry chuckled. "I got hired by a company that's trying to get this environmental bill passed. It's a good bill, but I don't think it's going to work. The government's mind is too focused on this damn war to be thinking the slightest about endangered animals right now. But, you know how the game is."

Cyrus nodded. He had done similar work like Gerry's, being on the outside and using the law as means of twisting the arms of politicians to the different companies that hired him. He was now on the inside though, helping and aiding the politicians. He was about to begin his new job as Bobby Kennedy's DC campaign coordinator, but he hadn't told anyone that. He had to keep it under wraps until Bobby officially announced.

Olivia and Mellie went back upstairs and Maya continued to clean up the house more and unpack while Cyrus walked the Grants to the door.

"It was wonderful to see you Cyrus, and to meet your wife. She's quite lovely," Maggie said, leaning in to give him a hug.

"Thank you Maggie. Yes, I am a lucky man."

Maggie stepped away, allowing her husband and Cyrus to have a moment alone.

"Cyrus, I meant what I said back there about how great it is that you and Maya moved into this neighborhood," Gerry said, putting a hand on his old colleague's shoulder. "There is going to be a lot of judgment though. Not everyone in Virginia is as open-minded as our families are. I want you to know that if you or Maya or either of your girls comes into any trouble at all here, that I am here for you."

"Thank you, Gerry. I truly appreciate it."

"And good luck with Bobby's campaign too."

"Wha-How did you find out?" Cyrus asked shocked.

"This town talks, Cy," Big Gerry stated as he walked away following his wife. "I mean it. Any trouble, and I'll make sure that those bastards get prosecuted to the furthest extent."

Cyrus smiled, watching Gerry and Maggie walk back to their house. He knew moving to McLean wasn't going to be easy. He knew his family was going to face some trouble with the other neighbors, and he felt terrible knowing that Olivia and Maya would face the worst of it. But knowing that his neighbors would be true friends as they all faced the end of the turbulent decade together made Cyrus hopeful as he turned back to his family now living the dream in American suburbia.

A/N: Hi everyone! I hope everybody is doing safe and feeling well right now. This is a new story that I've been working on for the past couple of months. I know that after reading the first chapter, it seems a little bit weird. Cyrus and Maya being married, Cyrus being Mellie's father, Mellie and Olivia thus being stepsisters - it's definitely a unique and abnormal twist. I can assure you though that I have my reasons for these decisions as strange as they may seem at first.

If you've read any of my previous stories, you know that I typically plan everything out quite thoroughly before I get to actually writing. The character choices and roles that they play in this story all serve a purpose. Hopefully by the end you can understand the choices I made for each character in this story. It might seem confusing now, but through flashbacks and going through the timeline, everything will tie together in the end. I always plan ahead to make sure that there aren't any loose ends - and I think you will really enjoy the ending.

This story is going to be longer than my others and told in three parts. Part I will be entirely flashback and exposition, introducing our characters, fully explaining everything you would need to know, and building up the stakes for the rest of the story. Part II will then go back to the present of Olivia's birthday and her reunion with Fitz, and Part III follows.

I'll try to update as regularly as I can. I have much of it already written, the trick is finding the time to edit. I hope you enjoy this first installment in the meantime.