A/N - Coralsue3: I'll admit that I called Shonda every name in the book during that episode (and the plane crash one as well) which is why I glossed over it here. If this were more of a Grey's story than Scandal, I would have never kept with canon and George's storyline. Unfortunately, I just didn't have a big storyline planned out for him here. Thank you so much for reading!

This is more of a transitional chapter, so it's a little shorter than the others have been.

The Best Medicine

Chapter Six:

The Harder She Falls

The hospital was quiet. Deathly quiet. There had been no laughing, no joking. Not in the days following O'Malley's death. Everyone seemed to be walking on egg shells - afraid to acknowledge that one of their own had passed. The doctors went about their business, but even their patients could tell that what little joy their caretakers had once taken in their jobs, was gone. But, as with everything else, after the funeral, Seattle Grace had found a way to move forward. It was, as George's fellow residents reminded everyone, what George would have wanted.

"Your surgery is today," Olivia stated, entering her mother's room. She crossed her arms, rubbing the bare flesh that had started to form goosebumps in the cool air conditioning of the hospital. The canary yellow sundress added an extra sunniness to the otherwise cool room. The Chief had insisted that she take the day off no matter how she had argued that her mother's surgery wouldn't affect her ability to treat her patients. She had finally relented when she realised that Webber wasn't going to back down.

"I'm sorry about your friend," Maya offered, relaxing against the pillows that were piled behind her back. Olivia turned her cold gaze toward her mother, narrowing her eyes into slits.

"Are you, really?"

"Olivia," Maya sighed, "Can we please not do this?"

Rolling her eyes, Olivia moved toward the window, looking out on the sunny streets. Turning her back to the beautiful view of outside, she leaned against the windowsill. "Are you ready?"

"You haven't been visiting," Maya commented, speaking at the same time as her daughter, "I'm sorry. Yes, I'm ready."

"There was the funeral," she offered weakly as an excuse.

"And you're seeing someone."

"What makes you say that?"

"We may not be as close as we used to be, Livvie, but I can see the change in you."

"I'm not talking about this with you," she stood, adjusting the strap of her purse over her shoulder and heading toward the doorway, "Good luck with your surgery. I'll be in my office."

"Olivia," Maya's tone caused her to stop halfway through the door, tilting her head to listen to what her mother had to say, "Is he good to you? He obviously makes you happy."

"He wouldn't make you happy," Olivia whispered.

"Why wouldn't he make me happy?"

"For the same reason that Jake didn't make you happy."

"I doubt that."

"He's white, mom." Olivia put her hands on her hips, finally turning to face her mother. Fire burned in her eyes as she waited for Maya's response, frowning when Maya's gaze softened.

"I had hoped that after all these years, you would know me better than that, Livvie." It was Maya's turn to turn her face away from her daughter. Olivia opened her mouth, but slammed it shut once more before practically fleeing from the room.

In the waiting room, she turned her mother's words over and over in her head, trying to decipher what they had meant. Her mother hated Jake. She knew that. She had always assumed that it was because he was white. Her mother had led her to believe that it was because he was white. Shaking her head, she slouched in the slightly uncomfortable chair. No. Maya knew there was a chance she could die in surgery and she was trying to get Olivia to forgive her. That was all.

"Coffee?" She turned her head at the familiar voice, smiling at the sight of the one man who had been constantly stuck in her thoughts.

"What are you doing here?" She took the offered cup of coffee, sipping at the steaming liquid.

"I figured you could use a friendly face today," he gave a small smile of his own, seating himself beside her.

"Thank you."

"Has she gone back yet?" Olivia glanced at the clock, twisting the cup in her hands.

"They should be getting ready to put her under now."

"Have you had breakfast?"

"No."

"You said it's a long surgery. Let's go get something to eat. We can go to the cafeteria so you'll be close…" he trailed off, raising a brow at the expression on her face, "What?"

"No one willingly agrees to eat in the cafeteria," she giggled, raising the cup to her lips once more.

"Here I am - offering to do it just for you," he winked.

Laughing, she stood from her seat and offered him her hand, "Let's go eat."

In the cafeteria, the two sat at a table in the corner, bacon and eggs on a plate in front of them. Olivia pushed her food around her plate, nibbling nervously at the food.

"The whole point of getting breakfast was to actually eat," Fitz teased.

"I'm trying," Olivia stuck her tongue out, taking a bite of her eggs and slowly chewing. Swallowing, she took a sip of her coffee before speaking, "So, is this date number two?"

"Do you want this to be date number two?"

"Only if there's another date to follow."

"Breakfast dates aren't good enough?" Fitz chuckled.

"Breakfast dates are perfect," Olivia grinned, "But so is the prospect of more dates."

"Do I need to ask you to go steady so you'll stop second guessing if I want to go on more dates?" Olivia's breath caught in her throat at his question. It had come easy to him, quickly and it made her wonder how long he had thought about asking her that question. And why did it make her heart beat faster and a blush come to her cheeks? It made her feel alive.

"Go steady? What is this: 1955?" The two shared a laugh at her comment.

"You're a classy lady. You deserve to be asked in a classy way," he winked.

Shaking her head, she giggled, "Yes."

"Hm. Now I get to introduce you as my girlfriend. What in the world will I do with that power?"

"Use it wisely."

"Oh, I intend to. Now, finish eating."

/

"You don't have to sit in here with me." Olivia reclined in the chair that sat in the corner of Maya's room, her eyes trained on the still form of her mother. Derek had said the surgery was a success - he had removed a large portion of the tumour and planned to remove the rest the next day. All that was left was to wait for Maya to wake.

"I took the day off so you would have someone here with you."

"And what are you going to do when she wakes up? You don't think it's a little early to meet the parents?"

"You've already met my ex-wife and kids. I don't think we've done meet and greets the traditional way."

"Fair enough," she laughed.

"Do you want to call your siblings?"

"I texted Henry earlier. I don't exactly speak to Laura and Angela. I don't even have Angela's number." Taking a deep breath, she crossed her legs and stared at her mother. Waiting was always the worst part. Not knowing if they would wake or not. The surgery could go exactly as planned, as Derek had said that Maya's surgery had gone, but the patient could still not wake up. It was a risk they took day after day when they used general anaesthesia and Olivia would be lying if she said that a small part of her didn't hope that would be the case for her mother. It certainly would make things easier between the two.

Two hours later, the sound of rustling from the hospital bed woke Olivia. Sitting up, she blushed as she noticed that at some time during her nap, her head had landed on Fitz's chest. Her movement had only caused him to stir for a moment before he turned his body in the oversized chair, tucking a hand under his head. Pushing herself from the chair, Olivia moved toward the hospital bed where Maya was rapidly blinking her eyes.

"How are you feeling?" she questioned, glancing at the monitor above her mother's head.

"Tired." Her voice was groggy, slightly raspy from the breathing tube she had had earlier.

"Derek said the surgery went well. He thinks he can get the rest of the tumour tomorrow."

"That's good." An awkward silence filled the room as the two struggled to find the words to continue their conversation. Finally, Maya's gaze fell on Fitz's sleeping form and she spoke, "He's the one you've been spending so much time with."

"Yep."

"Is he good to you?"

"Mom," Olivia crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at the woman in the bed.

"Olivia, is he good to you?"

"We've only had two dates."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"Yes. I haven't felt like this since Jake." Maya's expression darkened at the mention of Jake's name. "Mom, why do you have to be like that every time I mention him?"

"Because he wasn't any good for you, Olivia and I pray like hell that this man isn't like him. You don't deserve that twice."

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry about it. It's better you hate me than know what I'm talking about."

"I'm going to get a cup of coffee. I'll be back." Olivia blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears of anger and frustration as she practically fled from the room. She had to have space.

/

"That's one hell of a way to speak to your daughter about her dead husband." Maya's gaze fell to the chair in the corner of the room where Fitz sat, his wide, blue eyes watching her.

"He's not the saint she's made him to be in her mind."

"Why don't you like him?"

"You obviously care about her, but I don't know you well enough to air my family's dirty laundry."

"Then tell her."

"I can't tell her. It isn't my place to tell her. Here," Maya grabbed her phone from the bedside table, stretching her arms as far as she could toward Fitz, "Have her call her sister and invite her here."

"Which sister?"

"Angela."

"I'll see what I can do."

"If she won't call her, use my phone. Text her."

Tilting his head, Fitz sighed before agreeing to Maya's request. "Where is Olivia?"

"I went for coffee." Olivia entered the room, two cups in her hand and passed one to Fitz. She leaned against the window, sipping the warm liquid in her cup.

"I see you two have met."

"You've found yourself a keeper, Liv."

"Mom…"

"I'm serious. He cares about you."

"Well, since you're obviously doing well, I'm going to get out of here for a while. I need to check in on Bekah."

"Okay."

/

"Your mom wanted me to give you this. She wants you to call Angela and ask her to come to the hospital." Fitz offered Olivia the semi-ancient flip phone as they walked out of the hospital.

"I was wondering when she would ask," Olivia mumbled, taking the phone, "Angela is her favourite. She always has been."

"Are you going to call her?"

"I don't want to, but yes. I am." She stuffed the phone into her purse, tightening her hand around the straps and glancing around herself. It was a beautiful day. Maybe she could take Bekah to the park.

"I have to pick my kids up from school."

"I'm sorry I took most of your day."

"Don't apologise for that," he stopped, turning to look at her, "I enjoyed my day. I'll see you tomorrow."

"You don't have to…"

"I want to and, tomorrow night after your mom's surgery is a success, I will take you on date number three."

"How exciting," she grinned, watching as he took her hands in his, looking at her lips before returning his gaze to her eyes.

"Is it too forward to ask for a kiss?"

"I thought you'd never ask," she joked, wrapping her arms around his neck and sighing when his lips met hers, soft and rough at the same time. Just as quickly as the kiss started, it ended. Both adults stood in front of the hospital with goofy grins covering their faces.

"I will see you tomorrow," Fitz assured her, kissing her forward before walking away. Olivia hummed to herself on the way to her car, unable to prevent her mind from replaying the kiss over and over again.

/

"It's been a week, is this normal?" Fitz questioned, setting a bottle of water in front of Olivia and settling himself on the arm of the chair she was reclining in.

"Normal? No. But her brain activity is normal and so are her vitals. Her body is just taking its time to recuperate." Fitz nodded, sipping the energy drink in his hand and eyeing Maya's still form on the bed. He had almost become accustomed to the sounds of the beeping monitors in the hospital room. He made it a point to visit Olivia. She had rarely left the hospital since Maya had come out of surgery.

"Did you call your sister?"

"Yes. She said she would fly here, but didn't tell me when."

"Have you eaten today?" He was always sure to check. Sometimes, she forgot to eat anything until he reminded her.

"Laci and Bekah brought me food earlier and they're swinging back by in about an hour."

"I'll leave before they get here," he offered. They had already had that conversation before. She wasn't ready to introduce her daughter to him and he understood that. There wasn't a point in dragging someone in and out of her daughter's life before she even knew where the relationship was headed. It was still too early to tell if they both wanted the same thing.

"You can stay."

"Are you sure?"

"We've been together every day this week and have gotten to the point where I'm no longer counting what date we're on. You can meet my daughter, Fitz. If you want."

"Of course I want to meet her, Olivia." The two shared a short-lived smile before the door slid open and a younger looking version of Olivia marched through the door. Olivia tilted her head at the sight of her sister, narrowing her eyes when she noticed the young child clinging to her sister's side.

"Angela," Olivia greeted, her eyes remaining focused on the kid. He couldn't be much older than six or seven.

"Hi, Liv. How's mom?"

"She still hasn't woken, but everything looks great." Angela's gaze followed Olivia's, landing on the boy by her side.

"This is my son, Braxton."

"How old is he?"

"He's seven. He'll be eight next month."

"Is that why you didn't come to my wedding?" Olivia questioned, quickly doing the math in her head, "You were pregnant?"

"Part of the reason." Angela edged toward the bed, placing her hands on the railing of the bed and looking down at her mother. "Is it okay to touch her?"

"Yes," Olivia responded, her eyes still glued to the child. His green eyes returned her stare with confidence. She shook her head, tearing her gaze from the kid and back to her sister. She couldn't help the nagging feeling that the little boy looked a little too much like someone she knew.

"Will she wake up?" Angela had moved her hand to Maya's, grasping the older lady's hand in her own.

"I don't know," Olivia admitted, "But the longer she's asleep, the less likely she will wake up."

Angela nodded, wiping a tear that had started to fall from her eyes, "This makes me wish that I had spoken to her last month when she called. I was so angry at her though."

"Yeah, well she has a way of starting fights," Olivia shrugged, turning her sister's words over in her head. So Angela and Maya had started fighting? That was shocking. Angela had always been their mother's favourite.

"In a way, it was my fault. We haven't spoken in years. Not since I told her I was pregnant."

"You were seventeen. I'm sure it was a shock." Olivia's face fell as she said those words and she quickly stood from her chair, "I'll be right back."

Rushing from the room, she stood in the hallway, her head against the wall. Taking deep breaths, she jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she faced Fitz standing behind her.

"What was that about?" he asked gently.

"My mom has to wake up. She has a lot of explaining to do and…" Olivia swallowed deeply, "I have to apologise to her."

"I'm sorry. I don't quite follow," Fitz looked confused, turning his head in direction of the room he had just left.

"Braxton has green eyes."

"I still don't -"

"He has green eyes and he could be Bekah's twin."

"Liv," Fitz whispered, wrapping his arms around her and allowing her to bury her face in his chest. The two stood like that for minutes. Fitz didn't know what to say and Olivia…Olivia wasn't ready to talk about her fears.

"You don't know anything, Liv."

"I could march in there right now and demand that she tell me everything. Part of me wants to, but I would rather hear it from my mom. She has to get better."

"Momma!" Olivia slowly pulled away from Fitz, rubbing the tears from her eyes and turning around. Kneeling, she opened her arms and allowed Bekah to dive into them. Standing, she held the little girl on her hip.

"Hi, Bekah. Were you good for aunt Laci today?"

"Yes!" Olivia grinned at the little girl's enthusiastic response and looked toward her sister-in-law for confirmation.

"She was great," Laci confirmed, shifting the diaper bag from her shoulder to Olivia's, "I have a date. I'm sorry to drop her and run, but…"

"You have a date?! You didn't tell me, Laci," Olivia fake-glared, "Go. I've got her. Thank you."

"Thanks," Laci smiled, kissing Bekah's cheek before patting Olivia's shoulder and dashing off. Taking a deep breath, Olivia whirled around to face Fitz.

"Bekah," she addressed her daughter, "I want you to meet someone. This is my friend, Fitz."

"Hello," Bekah gave a toothy greeting, holding her little hand in Fitz's direction. His blue eyes crinkled as he shook her tiny hand.

"Hello, Bekah."

"Momma, where is your momma?"

"Your grandma is still in her room. She's still sick. How about we go for a walk? I haven't seen you much this week. We can go get food."

"Pizza?" Olivia rolled her eyes at the request. Her toddler was great at getting on food kicks and when she was on them, that was all she wanted to eat until she burnt herself out. They had been having pizza for dinner for weeks now. Still, Olivia couldn't help but relent. She felt bed for missing out on so much time with her daughter lately. She had the week off, Webber wouldn't let her near an OR while her mother was in the hospital, and yet she saw her daughter less than when she was working.

"Yes, we can get pizza."

"He coming?" Bekah's attention fell on the man standing by her mother.

"If he wants to," Olivia gave Fitz a sheepish smile.

"Of course."