A/N: Hey! I always start these with apologizing for how longs it's been, and this time isn't any different lol. I'm sorry for the wait between updates. I got a really exciting, but also really demanding job opportunity unexpectedly, so my summer ended up being much busier than I expected. With school starting up, I can't say how regular my updates will be, but I do plan on updating! Thank you to everyone who continues to read, share, and review, because your comments really do go such a long way when it comes to helping me want to continue writing this story. I hope the wait was worth it and that you guys let me know what you think!
"Liv?"
"Clark," Olivia greeted absentmindedly, not bothering to look up from her work at the head peeking in through the crack in her office door.
Taking the curt acknowledgment as an invitation, her co-worker stepped inside. "Do you want the good news or the bad news first?"
"Always bad, you know that."
"I do." He slipped into the chair across from her desk. "What's that for? The Simply Sweet campaign?"
"You're stalling, Clark."
"I am." He nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Blake Evans just gave in his two weeks' notice."
She finally glanced up at him, raising an unimpressed eyebrow. "That's supposed to be the bad news?"
"Technically, no. The bad news is that he's taking Smart Sonic with him."
That got her attention. Her eyes widened.
"Tell me you're kidding."
"I wish I could," he huffed, "but I just got out of a meeting with Cy, and he told me it's true."
Dropping her pen onto the stack of papers littering her desk, she sighed and sank back into her seat. "That doesn't make any sense. Has he done anything for their last campaign?"
"Didn't have to. Our contract with them is up next week and turns out he's the VP's nephew." Clark leaned in and pressed his palms against her desk. "Get this, apparently, he's been talking with the director over at North Public Relations for a while. Rumor has it they promised him a position with a salary increase and a promotion within the next year if he could bring them in as a client."
Olivia sighed. "I don't even want to know how you found all that out." Shaking her head, she continued, "What was Cy's reaction? Has he completely lost it yet?"
"I don't think I've ever seen anything like it. I expected him to lose it, especially since we just lost Red Giant Jets, too –"
She knew he didn't mean any harm by the comment, especially given that the company had covered what she knew to be Dean's rash, post-break-up decision to terminate the company's contract with the firm, using the excuse that they simply no longer "needed their services." Still, she couldn't help but feel guilty at the reminder.
"– but, he was eerily calm." Clark leaned back into the seat. "Maybe stoic's the right word?"
She groaned and started to rub at her temples. "A calm Cyrus is the worst kind of Cyrus. This is going to get so ugly."
"I have a bet with Lauren from customer relations that he'll blow up on Ethan by the end of the week."
"I hope he leaves poor Ethan alone," she couldn't help but laugh. "He's been through enough Cyrus tantrums to last him a lifetime."
"That may be true, but better him than me." Clark shrugged unapologetically. "Anyways, Cyrus also mentioned that they'll probably just promote Tasha to fill the spot. They're looking for an assistant, he said you might know somebody?"
She shook her head. "No, sorry."
"Oh, well." He shrugged again. "Moving on. Ready for the good news?"
"Please." She nodded.
"The in-laws cancelled dinner."
She offered only a blank stare, and he chuckled.
"Meaning," he continued, "I can cover that meeting with Edgars for you, so you don't have to stay too late."
"Really?" At his nod, she grinned. "You're a lifesaver, Clark, thank you. Next time you want to leave early to see the girls' recital or take Julie out, I've got you covered."
"Jules will be happy to hear that." He adjusted his glasses again. "And speaking of taking people out, who's the guy that has you leaving when there's actually still daylight outside?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Who said I'm going out with a guy? I only told you I had a dinner to get to."
"My sixth sense," he smirked. "And... I saw you meeting him outside your car Monday night."
She looked away from his interrogative gaze, her face heating instantly at the memory.
After being separated for the weekend while she was upstate for her and Abby's monthly getaway, she had been more than ready to see Fitz again come Monday night. She had spent the entire day waiting to hear from him about his job interview, but by the time late afternoon rolled around, she took his silence as a sign things hadn't gone as well as he assumed they would. She had been making her way to the parking garage, getting ready to call him to suggest that they order takeout and spend the night in, when she found him waiting right beside her car.
He wore a dazzling, bright smile carrying a bouquet of flowers in one hand and a small sign that read "Ms. Pope" in the other. She covered the rest of distance between them in seconds, letting him pull her into a long hug when she was close enough. By the time they moved apart, she was eagerly guiding him to the car so that she could greet him the way she really wanted to.
When she tried to get in the driver's seat, he blocked the door, handing the flowers over to her and holding out his hands for the keys
"Tonight I'm driving," he had said, then reached for the keys in her hand, letting them dangle from his fingers as he grinned in the way that always made her stomach flip. "For old time's sake?"
She couldn't have said no even if she wanted to.
"He seems like a good guy," Clark remarked, his smirk blossoming into a genuine smile. "You're happier these days. Of course, I don't know if that has to do with him, but...you are."
Olivia could only nod and offer a small smile, slightly thrown off by the thought that others — even the residential office gossip — may have been privy to the little bubble of bliss their relationship had left them in the last few weeks.
"And speaking of new relationships. Remember how I told you Jules and I saw Jesse and Sarah practically humping at the Christmas party?"
"Goodbye, Clark." She stifled a laugh, looking back down at the papers on her desk.
"What? You're kicking me out already?"
"Yup."
"But –"
"Give Julie my love."
Mumbling under his breath, Clark stood, and just as he made it to the door, her phone dinged with a text. She glanced at the screen, smiling as she saw a new message from Fitz.
I picked up the cannoli's from Abby before I met up with Charlie, so just worry about getting your pretty self here later.
"Now I see why you're kicking me out."
She jumped, surprised to find Clark looking back at her from the doorway.
"Is that the new boyfriend?"
"Good-bye, Clark."
Olivia looked down at her phone, checking to make sure she had the right address yet again before finally pulling up Fitz's number.
"Hey, you," he answered on the first ring.
She smiled at the greeting. "Hey, I just pulled up."
"I'll be right out." She could hear the returning smile in his voice, before it suddenly became distant as he called out, "Hey, Charlie, Liv just pulled up. I'm just gonna go down and get her."
She took that as her cue to climb out of her car and make her way to the front steps of his friends' duplex.
"Liv," he returned his attention to her, "I'll be down in ooone..."
The door swung open to reveal Fitz, a wide grin covering his face.
"Second," he finished, hanging up and quickly pulling her inside.
She laughed as she all but fell into his embrace. "Someone's excited to see me."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Charlie and Quinn have been a little too into this episode of Snapped we've been watching. I can't tell if they're planning to kill us or if it's some kind of foreplay for them. Either way," he leaned down to peck her lips, "I need some normal."
"Hey, be nice," she hit his shoulder playfully, "they're your friends."
"I'm serious," he chuckled. "I know they have a thing for true crime shows, but I've never seen them like this. I'm honestly a little scared."
"Well, you're the one who decided to come over early."
"Only because I had to pick up my last check from Charlie," he defended. "It just made sense to ride over with him. Trust me," leaning down once more, he nuzzled his nose against hers, "I much rather would've preferred riding over with you."
"I guess I'll have to take your word for it." After trying and failing to keep the grin off her face, she kissed him again.
Her mouth still connected to his, she sighed when his hands moved down her back, sliding lower, lower...
There had been so many moments like this in the past two weeks. Moments when he teased her briefly with his touch, moments when she did the same to him. Moments that made it impossible for her to think of anything other than finally being with him.
"Hey, Fitz, you two get lost?" Charlie suddenly called out from upstairs.
Fitz groaned, lingering in the kiss for a few more seconds then leaning back as he muttered under his breath, "Smartass."
"Come on." She reached for his hand, smirking. "Maybe if we hurry, we'll catch the end of Snapped."
The instant they climbed to the second floor of the multi-family home, they were approached by a fresh-faced, gleeful brunette – Quinn – she immediately filled in.
"Olivia! Hi, welcome!" Without hesitation, Quinn pulled her into a hug. "It's so nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you!"
Surprised by the gesture, Olivia let her arms hang awkwardly for a moment before half-embracing her.
"It's so nice to meet you, too."
"Well I see neither of us are needed for introductions," Charlie directed at Fitz, entering from a back room.
"Obviously not." Fitz shook his head, clearly amused.
Taking a step back, Quinn waved a dismissive hand at Charlie. "You took too long."
"I had to see where they found the husband's body."
Quinn's entire face brightened. "Was it under the shed?" At his nod, she pumped her fist in victory. "I knew it had to be there."
"See what I mean," Fitz whispered into Olivia's ear.
She rolled her eyes, pushing his face away.
"What're you saying over there, boss?" Charlie narrowed his eyes.
"Nothing that concerns you."
Charlie eyed him for a second more then turned to Liv, greeting her with his crooked grin. "Hey, Liv."
"Hey, Charlie."
The two had become friendly in the past few weeks, always striking up a conversation whenever she visited the shop to go out to lunch with Fitz.
"Don't worry, if we kick this guy out before dinner's over," he gestured with his thumb in Fitz's direction, "you're more than welcome to stay."
"Now hold on a second." Fitz snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close. "She's my ride. If I go, we both go."
"I'm sure you can find some other way to get home." Quinn chimed in as she started walking in the direction of the kitchen. "Olivia, Fitz told me you love wine. We don't have a big selection, but I'd love to get your opinion on what would go well with this fish."
She tried to follow behind Quinn, but Fitz tightened his grip, keeping her at his side as he tsked. "You've been here for two minutes and you're already stealing my friends."
"Not stealing, bonding," she corrected just before Charlie cut in.
"No, it's ok, Liv, we can just give it to him straight." He shot Fitz an insincere, sympathetic smile. "Quinn wanted to let you down easy, but you know me," he shrugged, "better to just rip the bandaid off."
Just as he finished, Quinn returned, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "Don't lie, Charlie, I had no intentions of letting him down easy. It's what he gets for stealing all my students."
"Hey," Fitz held up his hands in defense, "it's not my fault they like me."
She rolled her eyes and turned to Olivia. "He's been there for a week and all I hear is Mr. Grant this, Mr. Grant that. There are kids who aren't even in the program asking to stay after just to go."
Olivia couldn't hold back her proud grin. He had told her his first week was going well, and from the stories he shared about his time with the kids, she wasn't surprised they had taken to him so quickly.
"Aw is someone jealous?" Fitz taunted.
Again, Quinn rolled her eyes and, with a scoff, suddenly reached for Olivia's arm, tugging her out of Fitz's embrace. "Come on, Olivia."
"I'll take that as a yes."
Leading Olivia to the kitchen, Quinn spared a glance in his direction only to stick out her tongue.
"Anyways, the website I got this recipe from said to pair it with a dry Pinot Gris…"
"So after they crashed the cars, they bolted–"
"The sons of bitches."
"– then out of nowhere comes Mr. Cooper. He threatened to fire us on the spot if we didn't make it through all our runs the next day, like we were the ones racing in the parking lot."
Charlie scoffed, mumbling with a mouthful of cannoli, "The old man didn't even really care about the damages. He just didn't wanna lose any business."
"He told us we could use a sedan chair for all he cared but all our clients had to be picked up on time." Finished with his own piece, Fitz turned towards Olivia's plate, swiping the half-eaten treat before she could stop him.
"So, Fitzy here took the initiative and decided we would fix the cars ourselves."
"It took all night, but we did it."
"And that's why I call him boss – shit!"
They all glanced down to see Charlie's hand hovering over Quinn's plate...and Quinn's fork digging into his hand.
"Don't even think about it," Quinn warned.
Charlie grinned, looking her once over. "Don't worry. There're a few other things on my mind right now."
A fierce blush blossomed across Quinn's cheeks, and she smiled sheepishly, all the while the fork continued to prick his skin.
Slightly wide-eyed, Olivia exchanged a glance with Fitz, stifling a laugh at the way his face read simply: see what I mean?
At long last, Quinn cleared her throat and removed the fork, allowing Charlie to lean back into his seat with his hands behind his head.
"Anyways…" he spared a last suggestive glance at Quinn, "I always think of that as the day we became friends. It was one of the only times someone's helped me save my own ass."
"Well, let's be clear," Fitz jumped in, "I never cared about saving your ass, I cared about saving mine."
This time, Olivia and Quinn shared a glance, both amused by the men's bickering. The two had been like this throughout dinner, falling into the easygoing back-and-forth of old friends as they recalled when they first met working for a stingy Mr. Cooper's limo service years ago.
"Now wait a second, if that were true, you would've never met me for drinks on sixty-sixth that night."
"Oh please, we hadn't spoken in years. I just thought you were reaching out as an old friend wanting to catch up."
"And I was."
"Asking for an illegal favor doesn't count as catching up."
As the two laughed, Olivia's eyebrows rose, and Quinn's eyes narrowed.
"Now that's a story I'm interested in hearing." Quinn turned to Charlie.
His chuckles dying almost immediately, Charlie held up a hand in defense.
"It wasn't anything bad." He turned to Fitz for help. "It wasn't, right? Back me up here."
Olivia noticed then the way Fitz was suddenly rigid, the genuine amusement gone from his face and replaced by a stiff, half-smile.
"I don't really think we need to tell that story."
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad. It's not like anything actually happened." Oblivious to Fitz's change in demeanor, Charlie began, "So it had been a while since we last talked. Fitz was supposed to be off doing the whole lawyer thing, I finally saved up enough to open up my shop and moved across the country. Business was picking up, we had just started dating," he gestured to Quinn, "everything was going pretty well."
"Then out of nowhere," he continued, "this guy tries to sue me. Says I messed with his brakes or something when he came in for an oil change. Anyways, long story short he tried to take me to court, and I realized there was something familiar about his lawyer's name. Then it finally hits me, it's Mellie –"
The change in the atmosphere was sudden and nearly imperceptible, but she knew it had happened. She sensed it in the way Fitz fidgeted in his seat, and in how he looked away just as Quinn cleared her throat.
"– After a little research I find out she and Fitz moved to Jersey..."
Her eyebrows rose as she started to put the pieces together.
"and I realized it was my chance. I had a whole plan, we'd meet up for drinks and I'd tell him to get his wife to back off or blow the case or something."
Ah, the ex-wife.
Up until now, she had existed in a kind of vacuum, sealed off somewhere far away. She seemed always more a concept than an actual person, and Olivia had to admit that it was a little...strange to think of her as a tangible part of Fitz's past.
"Now, obviously, it didn't work out. I mean, I ended up winning and everything, but..." Charlie reached for his drink, mumbling into the glass just as he raised it to his mouth, "I still say we shouldn't have needed to waste the time."
Charlie chuckled to himself, the sound dying amongst the awkward silence that lingered around the table. A beat passed, and then another, and she realized she was holding her breath, waiting for someone to say anything to break up the discomfort.
"Speaking of drinks," she finally started, unable to ignore the urge to intervene any longer, "Quinn, you said you used bourbon in the marinade for the salmon?"
Just as Quinn eagerly nodded, seeming to release a breath of her own, Olivia felt a hand squeeze her leg. She glanced at Fitz, an apologetic gleam in his eyes as he offered a grateful ghost of a smile at her response
"I did! I can show you which bottle I used? I had them turn one of the cabinets into a minibar, and it's just so convenient for nights like this…" Her mouth running a mile a minute, Quinn shot out of her seat and headed for the kitchen.
Following her lead, Olivia stood, but she made it only a step when Fitz suddenly grabbed her hand. As she turned back, he flashed her a genuine smile, his appreciation evolving into outright adoration.
"And then I can show you the – Olivia?" Quinn called from the kitchen.
"Don't worry, she'll be there as soon as Fitz is done being a sap."
Entirely unphased by Charlie, Fitz raised her hand to his mouth and placed a kiss on the back of it.
Charlie made a gagging noise that neither could ignore, and they shared amused grins just before she retreated to the kitchen.
"Sorry about Charlie," Quinn apologized with a roll of her eyes the second Olivia stepped into the room. "He sometimes has no filter."
She nodded in understanding. She didn't know whether Quinn was referring to his taunting or the conversation before, but that didn't entirely matter. She knew well of Charlie's bluntness by now; she had since the first time she had met Fitz at the shop for lunch, when he claimed, "I knew you two had to be screwing. I knew it the moment I saw you together." Then, under Fitz's harsh glare, he had quickly corrected himself, insisting, "I mean, I knew you two had to be dating. Doing the whole boyfriend-and-girlfriend thing...that sometimes involves screwing."
And there wasn't much to be said after that. He was right. It was the first time their relationship had been labelled so explicitly – in more ways than one – simply because there hadn't been a need for it. For all intents and purposes, they were just...together. They were doing the boyfriend-and-girlfriend thing, and sooner, rather than later, it probably would involve screwing…
"So, this is the bourbon I used, and that's where we keep the other drinks," Quinn continued, gesturing as she did.
Minutes later, she finished showing off some of the other kitchen renovations, and, assuming they'd rejoin the men, Olivia turned to leave. However, just before she could, Quinn called out to stop her,
"Wait, Olivia?"
Quinn waited until she turned around. "I've known Fitz for a while now, and I just wanted to say...I've never seen him like this. He's different with you – good different."
Surprised, Olivia could only stand frozen in place as she went on.
"When I first met him, you could just take one look at him and tell he was unhappy. He was just one of those people, you know?" She glanced at the doorway, her voice growing quieter, "Charlie said he hadn't always been like that. Then the divorce happened, and he just went under the radar. " She shook her head. "We barely heard from him, and when we did, it was like he didn't want us to know how he was really doing, like he was ashamed."
Olivia frowned at the image laid before her.
Picking up on her change in demeanor, Quinn was quick to remedy, "But now it's like there's this whole new side to him. These last few weeks he's been at the shop, I don't think I've ever seen him so...alive."
The observation left Olivia momentarily breathless, and, for the second time that day, she found herself caught off guard by how someone else had perceived their relationship.
"I know I probably shouldn't have said all of that," Quinn spoke again, suddenly sheepish, "but after seeing you two together and Charlie mentioning Mellie, I just couldn't help it, and it just seemed like the right time and –"
"Quinn," Olivia interrupted her rambling, "I get it. Please, don't worry about it." Then she paused, still not entirely done processing what Quinn had shared. "I – um – thank you for telling me."
She didn't know if that was the proper response, but she couldn't think straight, and it simply felt the most natural. To her own relief, Quinn released a breath and her shoulders relaxed.
"I guess Charlie isn't the only one without a filter," Quinn joked, matching smiles stretching across both their faces before they made their way out of the kitchen.
"That was fun."
"Yeah, it was. We should do it again." She stopped at the passenger door of her car, turning to hand Fitz the keys. He raised his eyebrows in question, and when she nodded, he pecked her lips and opened the door for her.
"Oh we definitely will. Charlie said Quinn's just waiting to find out when we're free next month to put it down on the calendar."
He walked around to the driver's seat, and the moment he slid inside, she could feel his eyes on her.
"Liv?"
"Hmm?" She continued looking out the window.
"You ok?"
"Yeah." She nodded.
Still, she could sense his gaze. When almost another minute passed, and he still hadn't started the car, she finally looked over at him.
"What?"
"Nothing," he shook his head, "you just seem...distracted."
"I think I'm just a little tired." It wasn't a total lie, but she also knew it wasn't the entire truth. She was still thinking over Quinn's words, unsure of whether to bring them up. Before he could respond, to her relief, her phone chimed with an incoming text.
She frowned as she read it over, answering before he could even ask, "I have to run back to the office."
He put the car in drive without question, pulling away from the curb as he questioned, "Why? What happened?"
"I have a meeting in Brooklyn that just got bumped up to first thing in the morning, but I left the folder I need in my office." Groaning, she closed her eyes and rested her head against her seat. "I'll just head over from your place after you're dropped off."
"No."
She opened her eyes, surprised by the definiteness in his tone.
"Huh?"
"I'm taking you to your office, then I'm taking you home. I'll just take the train home from your place."
"Fitz, you don't have to –"
"I am." He glanced at her, his eyes sharp with conviction, just before flashing an assuring grin that nearly melted her on the spot.
A small voice in the back of her head insisted at once: let this man take care of you. And so, she nodded, leaning her head against the window.
"Ok it should be under this pile…" She stopped when she noticed that he was still standing in the doorway, simply taking in the room. "Fitz?"
"I knew your office was nice, but this?" He let out a low whistle.
She smirked, walking over to reach for his hand and guide him inside.
"The view is my favorite."
Without warning, Fitz suddenly spun her around and wrapped his arms around her waist.
"It's my favorite, too." He let his eyes roam over her unashamedly, the implication clear.
The gesture made her grin bashfully. "You are shameless."
"Me? You're the one who brought me up to your fancy office to seduce me."
She tilted her head back in laughter. "Seduce you?"
"Mhmm."
Her laughter faltered the second his lips fell on her neck, a soft moan escaping as her hands gripped his arms.
"Fitz –"
"I wanted to do this all dinner." Suddenly, his mouth was on her jaw, her cheek, her mouth…
She was so caught up in deepening the kiss, she didn't realize he had unbuttoned her blazer. Not until his hand slid inside the jacket, caressing her side from the bottom up, his touch feather light by the time he grazed her breast.
She leaned into his touch, granting the permission he was silently seeking, and, at once, his touch grew firmer, cupping and kneading her flesh as best he could through the layers of clothes still left. He let out a groan, echoed faintly by her own seconds later.
"Now, wait a second. What are you doing back here –"
She gasped as Clark's voice pierced through the haze that had settled around them. She quickly leaned back and pushed Fitz away, watching him stumble just as Clark stopped at her office door.
"Oh, sorry. Am I interrupting?"
Any other time, she would have wiped the sly smile off his face in seconds, but in that moment, she couldn't. Not when she couldn't think straight, not when her entire body was still humming from Fitz's touch.
"I don't think we've met before," Clark walked towards Fitz and held out his hand, his smile just a little less taunting, "I'm Clark."
"Fitz."
While the two shook hands, she quickly located the folder she needed and grabbed it off her desk.
"We just stopped by so I could grab this for tomorrow." She waved it as proof for Clark to see.
"I see." He nodded, a gleam of mischief shining in his eyes. "Don't mind me. I was on my way out and saw that your door was open."
"Just me." She shrugged, trying her best to act casual.
"Mhmm." Clark shot a pointed look in Fitz's direction. "Well, I'm about to head out. Want me to hold the elevator?"
"No thanks, that's ok," she shot down a little too quickly.
Clark didn't bother to hide his amusement as he bid them a final farewell with a rather suggestive, "Have a good night," before slipping out of the room.
She turned to Fitz only to find him holding in a laugh.
"It's not funny!" she chided, but it only helped to break the dam. His deep chuckles suddenly filled the room, and Olivia groaned in response, holding in her own laughter as she lamented, "That's going to be all over the office tomorrow."
"I don't think he actually saw us," Fitz offered lightheartedly.
"I know Clark. He definitely saw something."
"Want me to go chase him down? I can threaten him to keep it on the dl."
"What – the dl?" This time she couldn't hold her laughter back. "Is that what you've learned from the kids at work? Do kids even say that anymore?"
"Does it matter?" His laughter joined hers. "You got what I was trying to say."
"That doesn't make it any better." She shook her head. "Never say that again."
He pouted. "Are you always this bossy in your office?"
"Yes," she took a step forward, resting a hand delicately on his chest as she looked up at him through her lashes, "but admit it, you love it."
A wide, cat-that-ate-the-canary grin instantly lit up his face.
"I'll admit that you know me well."
"Good enou–" she was cut off mid-response by a yawn.
Fitz's grin grew, and his gaze turned tender as he stroked her cheek, reaching down afterwards for her hand. "Come on, sleepy. Let's get you –" When he was stopped by his own yawn, they both laughed, slowly starting to make their way to the door.
"You better not fall asleep while driving." She bumped his hip with hers.
"Yeah, well you better stay up and keep me company." He stopped walking, and, before she realized that he did, he yanked her back, causing her to spin and collide with his chest.
"Fitz –" she huffed with a laugh.
"Promise?"
"Promise what?"
He raised his eyebrows. "That you won't fall asleep in the car."
She rolled her eyes and held up three fingers. "I promise."
Chuckling, he corrected her salute, lowering her pinky and lifting her pointer finger instead. "Well, we know you definitely weren't a girl scout."
Just as she was about to respond, she yawned again.
Smirking, Fitz shook his head. "You'll be asleep before we even make it to the end of the block."
"Nope." She grabbed his face. "A promise is a promise." Sealing it with a kiss, she reached for his hand once more and led him to the door.
"Yeah..." Fitz trailed off disbelievingly, "we'll see."
"Liv? Livvie?"
"Hmm?" She rubbed her eyes, moving to stretch as she woke up before realizing she was still in the car. "Oh –"
"Shh" She opened her eyes just in time to see him reaching across to unbuckle her seatbelt. "I just need your key, then you can go back to sleep."
Blinking slowly, she reached into her purse and sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."
"It's ok." He grinned. "You made it longer than I thought you would." He pocketed the key to her apartment as soon as she handed it to him, then lifted her from the car. "Come on."
She let her eyes drift closed, not waking again until they made it inside. He began walking over to the couch with her still in his arms, then paused and suddenly turned to make his way down the hall.
Once they made it to her bedroom, he placed her on the bed and immediately started to remove her shoes. Sitting up, she watched him through a daze of tired curiosity, slowly growing more alert the longer he kneeled in front of her.
It occurred to her after a moment that, for the handful of times he had come to her apartment, this was his first time in her bedroom. And, as he slid off her second shoe, winking up at her when he noticed her gaze, something about the intimacy of the moment made her heart swell. She thought briefly of Quinn's words, and then Clark's, and suddenly realized that this is what they must have sensed – the connection so natural that it was sometimes easy to forget that a gap existed between them in the first place.
She watched as he carefully laid her shoes aside, and, when he looked back up at her, the pure, tender affection in his eyes almost brought tears to hers.
I love him.
It invaded her thoughts, jolting her entire body – quick and easy – like a heartbeat.
It was too soon. She knew it was too soon, and yet, it persisted. Each thud growing louder, echoing in her ears…
I love him. I love him. I love him.
He stood, oblivious to her deafening revelation, and made his way over to her dresser.
"Pajamas?"
She stared at his hands, unable to meet his eyes as she swallowed the words she wasn't yet ready to say.
"Second drawer."
He nodded, then opened the drawer and looked for a few seconds, before pulling out a pair. He held them up for her approval, and she nodded. That was her favorite pair.
He walked back over and placed them beside her. After helping her shrug out of her jacket, he pressed a kiss to her forehead.
"I'll wait out there while you get changed, then you can lock me out?"
I love him.
She nodded, and the moment he stepped outside her room, she released a breath.
Minutes later, after exchanging her work clothes for her favorite silk sleepwear and regaining her composure, she found him slouched on the living room couch. He was leaned onto the arm, his head falling awkwardly against the back of the couch with his eyes closed and mouth partially open.
What little progress she had made of taming her emotions back in the bedroom vanished almost immediately. Slowly, she made her way over to him.
"Fitz?" She knew it wasn't loud enough to wake him up, and part of her knew she didn't want it to be. She didn't trust herself enough to know what she'd say if he did wake.
Carefully, she started to adjust his position, first removing his jacket, then putting the decorative pillows aside to make a place for him to lie down. Fortunately, he followed her lead even in his sleep, easily sinking down across the couch as she guided his body. After tucking one of the pillows under his head and laying a throw blanket over him, she moved down to his feet and slid off his loafers.
When she stood back up, she glanced back down the hall at her bedroom, considering it briefly. Then without a second thought, she joined Fitz on the couch, slowly shifting until she was comfortably positioned with her head on his chest.
She was almost asleep again when she felt his arms wrap protectively around her middle. And just as she drifted off, a whisper so quiet and tender it almost went unheard hovered in the stillness above them.
"I love you."
She awoke to the feeling of kisses on the side of her face.
"Liv…"
"Hmm?"
"I think your alarm is going off."
She finally blinked her eyes open and was met immediately by the sight of his grinning face.
"Hi."
She returned his smile. "Hi."
"Sorry for falling asleep on your couch." He rubbed her back, the widening of his grin letting her know he was anything but sorry.
"Don't let it happen again." She put on a stern face. "Next time I'll charge you half a month's rent."
"Half a month?" His jaw dropped in feigned outrage. "You're a crook, woman."
Just as she stuck out her tongue, without warning, he gripped her sides and began tickling her.
"Fitz!" She tried to roll off him, but he wouldn't let her.
"Say you'll give me the boyfriend discount next time I spend the night."
"That-that was...the boyfriend – ah, Fitz, stop!" She was hysterical by now, desperately trying to squirm away from him.
He continued for only a moment longer, then stopped, smiling brilliantly up at her as she caught her breath.
"You're mean," she pouted when she was finally relaxed again. "I don't think there will be a next time."
"That's a lie," he spoke confidently, "you love...having me around too much."
She thought she imagined the lull in his voice, but the hints of bashfulness that peeked through his amusing, cocky facade from moments before told her she hadn't. They both grew silent, the mood no longer as playful.
And then, suddenly, his face was serious.
He cleared his throat. "About last night…"
Her stomach dropped.
What was there to talk about? In the light of day, the night before seemed like a dream, a surreal slip of the subconscious that didn't need to be fleshed out in reality. At least not yet.
"I realized I never apologized about Charlie."
She frowned.
Charlie?
"He shouldn't have brought up my ex-wife. That was…" he shook his head, "unfair to you to be blindsided like that."
"Fitz," she cut him off, surprised that he had even mentioned it, "it's ok. It's nothing, really."
He looked at her with worried eyes, still obviously not entirely believing her. "I can talk to him about it. She's part of my past, and I prefer to keep it that way."
She nodded in understanding, for a split-second thinking about Dean. He had officially been part of her past for only a brief period, and still the last thing she wanted was his name brought up in conversation, let alone when she was with Fitz.
They had found each other, and that was all that mattered now. The past had no business interrupting their present.
As they fell quiet again, she finally noticed the alarm still blaring from her room.
"I should probably get up."
She moved to get up, but he tightened his arms around her.
"Can you...can we just stay here for a minute?"
She was stunned by the emotion written across his face when she turned back to face him and could only nod. She resumed her earlier position, resting her head on his chest and letting him hold her.
Although it didn't feel like it, she was sure more than a minute had passed when she suddenly asked, "Do you ever think this is too easy?"
She didn't know where it came from, but it came out before she could stop it, and she knew there was no taking it back.
He squeezed her tighter in his embrace, placing a kiss on her forehead. She sighed at the contact, relieved that he didn't take the question the wrong way.
"I think," he started, then paused. "I think that's just what it feels like when it's meant to be."
Her breath caught at the conviction in his voice. It made it impossible not to accept his explanation, and so – overcome by the need to be as close to him as possible – she buried her face in his chest, nodding as she breathed him in deeply.
"Ok."
A few days later...
"Are you kidding me?" Olivia grimaced as she took in her open gas tank. Apparently, she hadn't closed it entirely before making her way over to the school to meet Fitz and had managed to waste probably half of the money she had just spent to fill her tank.
She grabbed tissues out of her purse and screwed it closed quickly. Her frown deepened when she noticed the spilled gas still managed to get on her hands.
"Shit."
"What's wrong?"
She jumped at the sound of Fitz's voice.
"Don't scare me like that." She nudged him with her elbow.
"Sorry. " He chuckled, glancing at her car then back at her. "What happened? It's not working again?"
"No, I just didn't close my gas tank."
"Seriously?"
She narrowed her eyes at the amusement in his voice.
"Not funny. Can I go inside to wash my hands?"
"Yeah, come on, I'll show you where the bathroom is."
She followed him inside and watched as he approached a student standing beside the restrooms.
"Hey, Sebastian."
"Hey, Mr. Grant," he smiled widely, showing off a mouthful of braces.
"What're you still doing here? Ms. Ross told me your sister signed you out while I was cleaning up outside."
"She did, but I forgot a book, so we had to come back." He shrugged. "She just ran to the bathroom."
"Well, we enjoyed having you today." Fitz reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper. "I hope you'll come back. This is what we're doing for the next two weeks."
"Cool." Sebastian grinned as he looked over the paper. "I think I wanna come when you do crocheting. My aunt was supposed to teach me but...um...she never did."
She watched Fitz pick up on his change in demeanor, before he offered quickly to cheer him up, "Well, we'd be more than happy to have you. In fact, I was talking to Ms. Ross about adding it as one of our stations."
The boy's smile returned tenfold. "That'd be really cool."
A lull in the conversation allowed Sebastian's attention to drift, and he glanced shyly at Olivia from the corner of his eye.
Fitz turned to her, smirking slightly as he took the initiative to introduce them.
"Liv this is Sebastian. Sebastian this is Liv – uh – Ms. Pope."
"Liv is fine," she waved off his correction, greeting the young boy with a smile. "Hi, Sebastian."
He grinned sheepishly, only meeting her eyes for a few seconds. "Nice to meet you."
As silence again settled around them, she began walking towards the bathroom.
"I'm just gonna go wash this stuff off."
"Yeah, go ahead." Fitz nodded. "I'll be right here."
She went inside and started to make her way down the row of sinks, frowning as each soap dispenser came up empty.
"Only the last one ever has any. It's been like that since I went here," a woman advised with a chuckle from the paper towel dispenser.
"Thanks." She quickly made her way to the last sink. As she washed her hands, she glanced at the woman on the other side of the room with her back turned to her. There was something incredibly familiar about her, and she couldn't help but stare until she got a good look at her profile.
Her eyes widened in surprise when she did.
"Lucia?"
The woman in question whipped her head around fast enough to give herself whiplash.
"Ms. Pope!"
"Sorry," she offered an apologetic smile, "I didn't mean to scare you." She turned off the and shook the excess water off her hands. "I was just surprised to see you."
"Oh, um, same here." Lucia took a few extra paper towels, although her hands were obviously dry. "My, uh, my little brother goes here. I was just picking him up."
"Sebastian?" Olivia made her way over to the paper towels, smiling gratefully when Lucia handed her some of her extra ones.
"Yes, that's him." She nodded, tucking a few nonexistent strands of hair behind her ears. "Are you picking someone up?"
"You could say that." Just as she turned to throw her paper towels in the trash, Lucia quickly made her way to the door.
"Well, it was nice seeing you, Ms. Pope."
Olivia frowned at her formalness. She had only gone with it because Dean preferred it, but there was no reason for it now. And even though she was sure she wouldn't be seeing much of Lucia, she couldn't help but once again insist, "It was nice seeing you, too, and please, just call me Liv."
Lucia responded only with a polite smile, hurriedly making her way out of the room.
After checking to make sure she hadn't gotten anything on her shirt, Olivia followed behind her, finding Fitz on the other side of the door, waving as she retreated. Olivia waved, too, noting the way Lucia seemed to do a double take as she saw the two of them together.
When they were out of sight, she turned to Fitz.
"You didn't tell me Lucia's brother was one of your students."
He looked at her in confusion.
"Lucia?"
"Yeah," she gestured down the hall where they had just left, "Sebastian's sister. She's Dean's assistant."
"Oh." His brows furrowed. "I didn't realize that's who she is. We barely ever crossed paths, and today was Sebastian's first day with us."
She nodded, content to leave it at that. Although he didn't recognize her, Lucia seemed to know exactly who he was, and for whatever reason that was – whether simply from his file or Dean spreading rage and rumors about them at the office – she didn't care to know.
When she didn't say anything else on the topic, he held out his hand. "Ready to go?"
She grabbed it. "Yup."
As they made their way outside, he noted absentmindedly, "So, Sebastian definitely has a crush on you."
"What?" She laughed, swinging their hands back and forth. "How do you know?"
"Trust me, I was that age once. I know."
"Yeah, yeah."
"How many times do I have to tell you, I don't care."
"I'm just warning you, Liv," Fitz stopped directly in front of his apartment door, turning to face her. "It's not the greatest."
She stared at him blankly. After weeks of spending time at her apartment, she had suggested that they go to his, especially since it was closer to his new job. Although, while he had agreed, his hesitance had grown obvious over the course of the last few days. It had taken some effort, but she had finally gotten to the root of his reluctance.
"Fitz, I don't care what your place looks like."
His eyebrows rose. "You say that now."
Finally, he turned to let them in. As she stepped inside, she took in the studio apartment. The first things to draw her attention were the two couches – one of black leather, situated behind the coffee table that rested in front of the TV, and the other a turquoise sleeper sofa in the back corner of the room, pulled out with the bed made. A small stack of pans sat on the counter beside an aged white stove, and a few frames lined the walls – stock photos still inside – and other than that, everything else seemed to reside in the opened cardboard boxes that lined the walls.
Fitz guided her further inside, scratching the back of his neck as he looked around his own apartment, as if taking it in for the first time, himself.
"Sorry for the mess," he gestured toward the boxes. "This was only supposed to be temporary, so I never really got around to unpacking." Before she could say anything, he rushed over to the fridge, quickly offering, "Do you want anything to drink? This is supposed to be for dinner, but we can open it now if you want?"
Her eyes widened as he produced a bottle of '94 du Bellay.
"Fitz, where did you get that?" She asked in near awe, walking over and gladly accepting the bottle as he handed it over to her.
He grinned proudly at her response. "A little wine shop a few blocks over from work. I mentioned it was your favorite to Quinn, and she told me they had it." He shrugged. "I figured if nothing else would make you want to stay, at least this would."
She looked at the bottle, then at him, then at the bottle again. Deciding that it could, indeed, wait, she carefully placed it back on the counter and cupped Fitz's face, eagerly crashing her lips onto his. She moved one of her hands to the back of his neck, refusing to let either of them pull away until they were both out of breath.
His grin when they did practically split his face in half.
"That's all it takes huh? A fancy bottle of wine."
"Not just any fancy bottle," she re-focused her attention back on the bottle, raising it for him to see, "'94 du Bellay, Fitz! Look at it."
He chuckled, indulging her as he pretended to carefully inspect the bottle. "I don't think I've ever seen you this excited about anything."
"Trust me, after you try it, you'll understand why."
"Well, let's see." He opened a drawer and pulled out a bottle opener. She excitedly handed the bottle back to him and leaned over his shoulder to watch. When he realized she wasn't going to move, he glanced back at her, an eyebrow raised in amusement. "Uh, Liv? I kind of need you to step back. It's not going anywhere, promise."
"Right." She smiled sheepishly, and he laughed, kissing her on the forehead as he gestured to another drawer.
"Chinese menu is in there."
By the time she retrieved it and turned back to Fitz, he had managed to get the cork halfway out. She chose to stay back, simply watching him finish. As she took him in, she was struck by the same all-consuming realization as a few days before.
I love him.
Each time the thought circled in her mind, it weakened her resolve and loosened her jaw.
I love him.
The cork popped.
I love him.
He turned to her with a triumphant smile.
I love him.
Her lips parted.
"I lo–"
Her phone rang, so much louder and more disruptive than she remembered. Her heart felt like it was trying to hammer its way out of her chest, her hands shaking slightly as she brought the phone straight to her ear.
"Yes?"
There was a long pause, until at last, there was the faintest, "Hello."
Any other time, she may not have recognized the voice so quickly. But in that moment, with her body buzzing and her senses so alive, she knew instantly.
"Lucia?"
"Can... can we meet somewhere to talk? I think there's something you need to know."
A/N: Even though I already have outlines for the next few chapters, I really would love to hear what you guys think about this chapter because it definitely helps me when I sit down to write! How do you feel about the pacing and progress of their relationship? Any thoughts on what's up with Lucia? Are Quinn and Charlie as kinky as they seem? Lol, until next time!