This chapter is dedicated to RBGzMom. Thank you for being my first reviewer!

Hope everyone enjoys Xx

Chapter 3: The Prince & The Pauper

Getting ready for dinner was no easy task for Olivia. She had the right dress and shoes, her hair was perfectly primped. Everything was right except maybe the man she was meant to meet within minutes.

Olivia shook her head, hoping the doubt with shake right along with it. It was about time for her to move on. She didn't want to be alone forever, she didn't want to sulk for the rest of her life. She wanted to feel the way she felt when she was with him. Not replace it, because in her heart she knew she couldn't but she did want to resemble it.

Olivia began to put on her earrings when her doorbell rang. Giving herself one more once-over in the mirror, Liv took a deep breath and made her way towards the door. As she opened it, she began to feel a lot tenser than before.

"Why, good evening pretty lady." There stood Wesley. He looked dapper in a suit, although Olivia wasn't particularly smitten with his bow tie, it made him look like a waiter.

"Evening." She said simply, as a soft smile reached her face.

"Are you ready to do the damn thing?" Wes laughed out.

"All ready." She responded but in reality, Olivia wasn't ready. All of a sudden this entire date thing felt like the biggest mistake. The hole, that had been sitting open in heart for the past two years felt like it was growing by the second.

"Is everything alright?" Wes asked Liv. She looked very washed out and ill.

Olivia looked up at the man and front of her with her mouth slightly ajar. She cleared her throat and forced a smile.

"Of course, I am all set to go and ready for a nice meal."

"Glad to hear it. Right, this way." Wes opened back up her apartment door for her. Once Olivia had exited, he followed suit. Wes waited as she locked her door before following her once again to the elevator.

They climbed in and went down to the lobby in complete silence. Wesley could feel something was off but wanted this to get well so bad he decided not to mention anything.

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Fitz exited the town car only to go the other side to open up the door for his daughter. He gave the chauffeur a nod and handed him his tip.

"We should be done around 10:00 Marty."

"Okay sir, I will see you two then." With that, the black car continued on, once again joining traffic.

Fitz had hired the car service, hoping to make it a special evening for Karen. Also, not having been driving for almost ten years didn't help either. Fitz had decided it was necessary to maybe take a driving lesson or two before getting back behind the wheel.

Fitz wrapped his arm around Karen as they walk through the restaurant doors. Known as one of the finest dining spots in Vermont, Fitz thought it was the perfect setting for a daddy-daughter evening.

As they waited, he tried to make some small conversation,

"So the Prince & The Pauper huh? What a name."

"Yeah, I looked at the menu and it everything sounds amazing. Thank you for taking me out for the evening." Karen smiled up at dad.

She couldn't remember a time where she wasn't fighting with him or fighting about something he did. Now she could build the relationship she had so longed for.

Do you know what you're having tonight?" Fitz asked curiously.

"I couldn't choose online, I think I'll just look around to see what everyone else is having and see what looks the best," Karen explained her plan.

"Grant, party of two, your table is ready."

Karen and Fitz followed the hostess towards the back of the restaurant in a secluded booth. Twinkly lights hung over the entire dining room in rooms, solely lighting everything up. While Karen made herself comfortable, Fitz began to look at the menu.

Eventually, the waitress rolled back around, taking their appetizer orders. The two decided on first sharing the Country Pate. The dish caught Karen's eye as soon as she saw the makings of it. Pork, chicken, decorated in Port Wine, sun-dried cherries, and pistachios. While Karen was basically salivating at the mouth just looking at it, Fitz couldn't help but think about how she loved Port Wine. About how they shared it over meals before.

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Both Olivia and her date were stunned over how beautiful their dinner location was that night. Olivia especially was in awe of the design and interiors. It was so elegant yet so homey. The entire restaurant reminded her of a luxury ski home, it reminded her of what would have been her home with him.

Liv sighed. Everything, literally everything reminded her of him. She didn't know how she would get rid of the feeling. Here she was with another man and the feelings she was harboring would not reside.

"Thomas, party of two, right this way." Wes smiled down at Olivia, before taking her hand. The both of the walked behind the hostess directing them to their seat. A nice secluded booth in the back of the restaurant. Perfect for the evening she was about to have.

Just as they were about to be seated, menus placed in front of them, Olivia's name was called out.

"Olivia?" Liv turned around, expecting to greet an old client. Instead, she was met with surprise when she saw Karen Grant sitting in the booth behind hers. Mouth wide open and her eyes as big as saucers, Olivia, for once in her life was speechless.

"I knew that was you! It's Karen Grant, remember?" Karen went from excited to bewildered.

"Olivia, are you okay?" Wesley asked for the second time that night.

Olivia closed her mouth and looked back up at him, pulling herself together.

"Karen, of course, I remember you. How are you? It's been ages." She sputtered out.

"I know, a lifetime it feels like. It's been at least two years." Karen smiled at the woman.

"Um... Karen, who are you here with? I thought you were at school?" Olivia said, all of a sudden very nervous.

Karen was confused once again, she was under the impression Olivia and her father talked about everything. Was she just not aware of the date of their move?

"Just my dad. He's in the bathroom right now. He should be out soon. I know he'll be so excited to see you." She smiled.

Karen was well aware of the special relationship that her dad had and it took a while to get there but she now approved. Her mom had moved on and now it was his turn.

"Oh, um… well. We actually can't stay."

"We can't?" Wes was starting to get annoyed. Why was she acting so weird? He was excited about this night but it was obvious it wouldn't be going anywhere.

"No, we can't. I'm sorry. Karen, if you don't mind-"

"Livvie?" A sudden voice came from behind Olivia.

Liv softly gasped and closed her eyes, as if it would help her disappear at that moment.

"Livvie, is that you?" The voice spoke again but with more desperation in the tone.

"Fitz." Olivia turned around to acknowledge him.

"Hi."

"Hi." A soft smile graced her lips. It had been so long.

By now Wesley had excused himself to the restroom hoping to get away from whatever seemed to be going on. He knew by the time he got back, he would most likely be driving just himself home.

"How are you? It's been awhile." Fitz smiled awkwardly. He had so specifically planned in his head for when they would meet again. What he would say, how he would act but instead she was here; right now in front of him but he couldn't be happier.

"What are you doing here Fitz?" Olivia asked, skipping over his question.

"Karen and I were just sitting dinner to commemorate the move."

"Move?" Olivia said slowly, slowly still processing what her evening had become.

At this point, Fitz couldn't deny he was a little hurt. He knew they hadn't talked or been together in quite some time but he was always keeping tabs on her. He made sure to get The Vermont Standard Newspaper all the way in Washington, just so he could stay up to date with all the cases she had won. Considering he was national news, he thought she would still go the same, just like old times.

"I heard about your library but I thought it said it was being built in Burlington."

"It is but for myself I wanted something more quaint and secluded. Enough land to build the new house."

"New house huh?" Olivia inquired. She was trying to swallow the big lump in her throat. She didn't know why she was so surprised that he had sold the old one.

"Yes. I had the plans drawn up about a year and a half ago. It's coming along nicely. It's almost finished actually." Fitz nodded.

"I am happy for you." Olivia smiled, a sad smiled very obvious to both Fitz and Karen.

"I really get back to my date." Olivia said, "If he's even still here." She muttered.

"Isn't that him?" Karen pointed to the man making a b-line for the front doors.

Olivia flipped her head around to where Karen pointed. She just sighed as she saw Wes close the doors behind him.

"It appears so." She put her head down.

"There goes my ride I guess." She let out a little laugh.

"I should probably call a Lyft."

"Lyft?" Fitz said in feign shock.

"I thought you were ride or die uber. No pun intended." Karen rolled her eyes at the lame dad joke.

Olivia just laughed.

"You're right I am, but there's never a car available when I request so I made the switch." She finished off dramatically.

"Why don't you just have dinner with us and then we could give you a ride?" Karen offered up.

Fitz gave her look as if asking what she was doing. Karen just stared back at him with a smile. A smile he knew all too well, considering she got it from her mother. She was up to something and frankly that kind of scared him. Whenever it came from Mellie, it was either the best thing or the worse, absolutely no in between.

"Right dad?" Karen continued.

"Oh no, I don't want to intrude. A car should be here within ten to get me." Olivia shook her head.

Although, apart of her wanted to stay and see where the evening would take them but she also tried not to be so naive as to indulge herself with fantasies at this point in her life

"No, please stay. We would love to have you. I would love to have you." Fitz said looking down at her, right into the brown orbs he had missed so much.

He had a chance to make this right with her and this time he was determined not to let the chance slip away.

Sorry, this one is so short. Going forward I will try to make my chapters at least 2000-3000 words. I just really want to get to be able to get to the fluffy stuff soon! Hopefully, I am not boring you. Be prepared for a time jump soon. If you have anything you would like to see in particular, please suggest it.

Also, thank you to everyone to everyone that has reviewed so far, it means a lot :))