WARNING: Filler chapter ahead…sorry! Still trying to get my life and muses back running smoothly again!

I own NOTHING! SR OWNS THESE CHARACTERS…I JUST LOVE TWISTING THEM FROM TIME TO TIME! HEHEHE…..

TBS

CH 17

Liv made her way into the kitchen to grab more wine. She had been in a pretty decent conversation with some of Fitz's relatives and a refill was much needed. As she made her way into the kitchen, she heard sniffles and the tail end of Katherine's voice.

"…Just promise me after you calm down and they settle in their new places, you will try once more to get along with them before this trip ends?"

Liv froze, not wanting to interrupt the grandmother/granddaughter moment, but burning to know just what had happened. She peeped around the corner and saw Katherine and her daughter embracing and could swear her heart dropped. Seeing and hearing that there was an issue and that Harper was involved AND that Katherine had to step in didn't sit well with her. Deciding she couldn't hold out much longer, she decided to make her presence known.

She cleared her throat as she entered the kitchen. Katherine and Harper both look at her like deer caught in headlights. Liv forced a smile on her face and Katherine seemed to accept it. Harper, on the other hand, knew that look and knew her mom had probably heard enough to be concerned.

"Nana, can I talk to my mom for a minute?" she asked meekly as she peered up and into Katherine's own personal set of Grant eyes.

"Of course sweetie." She answered as she kissed Harper on the forehead. She made eye contact with Liv and winked her eye, silently letting her know that everything was indeed alright. Once Katherine was out of the room, Harper moved to take a seat on one of the bar stools across from the fridge. Liv turned on her heels and locked eyes with her daughter. The duo was in an intense stare off.

"Livvie? You in here?" Fitz's voice came flowing through the room but neither Liv nor Harper moved a muscle.

Fitz froze when he saw the pair locked in what seemed like a heated game of stare off.

"Harp? Livvie?" he asked cautiously. Neither acknowledged him so he decided to make himself comfortable, leaning against the counter. Approximately thirty seconds later, Harper broke.

"Mom, seriously, let me explain."

Liv cut her eyes at Fitz, looked back at Harper, and nodded. Fitz's interests were definitely peaked now.

"I didn't do anything wrong. Anna and her group of minions started in on me first. She called me a bastard child, made fun of Moriah RIGHT IN HER FACE, and everyone else in that damn-"

"Harper!" Liv snapped.

"UGH…..DARN room acted like they were afraid of her."

"She called you a what!?" Fitz's face was growing red. Liv moved to stand near him, wrapping her arms around his waist and trying to calm him.

"I didn't say or do anything to her AT FIRST, but she had it coming, Mom!"

"What did you say to her?"

Harper froze at this moment. She didn't know if she should tell her mom about her little mini OP countdown or just give her the basic gist. Liv raised an expectant eyebrow at her and Harper decided to go with the basics.

"Let's just say I got her off of me AND Moriah. But, Nana Katherine overheard it and brought me up here to cool off. She asked me to watch my language, but she agreed with everything I said. You can ask her." Harper finished in a quiet and defeated voice as she dropped her head.

Fitz couldn't help but feel a sense of pride about himself. His little girl could definitely handle her own and if he knew those brats like he thought he did, they likely did have it coming to them. He couldn't help but smirk at Harper as he wished he could have been a fly on the wall to witness all this. Liv glanced up at him, catching his smirk, and he quickly wiped the grin off his face.

"Harp, listen. I'm sure Moriah is grateful, but you can't go around being the hero babygirl. Those girls were definitely out of line for what they said and I'm sure you gave them what they deserved, but please promise me you will try to go a different route next time?" Liv asked as she removed herself from Fitz's embrace and hugged her daughter. She inwardly wanted to jump up and down at how her daughter responded, but she had to be a parent at this present point.

"Yes ma'am." Harper nodded, wiping a lone tear as it slipped down her face. Fitz moved to his daughter, hugging her from the side and planting a kiss on the side of her head and then doing the same to Liv.

Harper's phone decided at that point to chirp, signaling an incoming message.

"Hey Mom, look." Harper showed Liv and message from her publicist asking why she couldn't get in touch with Liv and asking if she was available for a last minute gig not too far from where they were.

"Um, I don't know Harp. I mean, we are here with family and-"

"What is it, Liv?" Fitz asked. Liv moved to show him the text and he nodded, swallowing the water in his mouth.

"mmmmm, I bet it's the Tribute to Love thing they are filming not too far from here." He responded as if they knew what he was talking about. When he saw both Harp and Liv look at him like he had 4 heads, he chuckled and continued.

"you know, the VH-1 thing they air every year? It's usually filmed not too far from here. I bet they want you to take someone's spot. I heard there was going to be a lot of talent this year. John Legend, Mariah Carey, that chick that sings about bass…."

Harper smiled and shook her head. Looking at her mom, she could tell that she wasn't completely sold so she excused herself, hoping Fitz would talk her into it.

/

Not wanting to go back to the dungeon yet, Harper decided to give herself a small impromptu tour of the home. She went down a few hallways, admiring several pieces of art and sculptures. She turned a corner and came to a large wooden door with an ampersand on it. Curious, she moved to open it and it was surprisingly unlocked. Her breath caught in her throat as she took in what she saw.

Music instruments lined the walls. She counted about 30 different guitars, flutes, clarinets, all versions of saxophones, drumsets, a sound board, a mic set, and even a small recording booth in the corner. Her eyes started to gloss and mouth water as she thought of how much she missed music in the last few weeks. This trip had been her dad's idea and even though she wanted to go, she missed making and listening to music so much.

Easing the door closed, Harper moved deeper into the room. Some of Fitz's number one records lined the walls. She spotted a few Grammy awards and several other music awards as well. Only when she found herself getting dizzy did she lower her head and take a breath. Her eyes landed on an acoustic guitar in the corner. It looked different from the others….like maybe it hadn't been played in a while. It was dustier than the others and after a few picks of the strings, she found that it needed to be tuned as well.

In less than a few minutes, she had not only tuned the guitar to perfection, but also started to pick a few tunes.

You're the light

You're the night

You're the color of my blood….

She continued to pick and sing her newest tune. After a while, she found a pen and pad and even changed the ending of her song and lyrics. Harper was truly in her own element and didn't hear the door open.

"I see you found my secret stash." Fitz's voice startled her almost to the point where she dropped the guitar.

"You know, when I'm conflicted I like to write and play too. This guitar was the very first one I learned to play on so long ago…even before me and your mom. I used to come in this very room and play for hours, writing songs and just fooling around until whatever was on my mind was solved." He shared with her as he moved deeper into the room. He sat across from her as she lowered the guitar.

"Let me hear what you have so far?" he asked. Harper was stunned. She thought he would tell her to go back out with the other's but relieved that he understood that she needed this. She started to pick again and played the ending of her song and Fitz watched in awe.

Once she was done, she heard another voice enter the room.

"Ok Harp…I'm not blind. I know you are miserable because you haven't had much exposure to music lately and your new found friends downstairs aren't helping the matters any so here's how this is going to go. You are singing with John Legend because Meghan had an emergency and couldn't make it. Here's the song…" Liv moved to hand Harper sheet music and lyrics to the piece she would be performing. "You have to be there in about 5 hours, so that gives you time to learn everything. There will be someone dispatched and ready for you to help with hair, makeup, and wardrobe. You are supposed to stay the whole time, but we are still trying to work that detail out." Liv was in full business mode and Harper was about to burst at the seams.

"So….I can go?" she asked still pouting like a child. Liv smirked a little.

"Yeah, you can go…"

"YES! OH, Mom, thank you so much! I already know this song! I love it SOOOO much….this is EXACTLY what I-"

"Not so fast, Harp. There is one condition." Liv bit her lip before she spoke again.

"Your new found family is coming too."

Harper didn't see a problem immediately with that. She loved to perform and couldn't wait until her grandparents heard her. She wanted her new aunts and uncles and cousins and….

COUSINS…Wait, so they are coming too!?

Shitfuck…. She thought.

AN: HEY! 2 in one night! I know neither of these stories (I updated Brave too!) have much going on in these new updates, but I wanted to put SOMETHING out there! So Harper is going to perform in front of her new side of the family…any ideas?

I love the dynamic between Fitz and Liv and how they parent. I have had a few requests to focus the story more on them and so starting next chapter, we surely will do that! (some of you want some fluffly smut from them….rest assured, it's in the plans…but we won't lose focus on Harper!)

Please review! I miss you all so much and I apologize for not updating sooner. Coming up next…the concert, Harper's family's reactions, a LITTLE more in depth OLITZ action, and maybe a few more surprises…

Happy Reading!

XOXO