A/N: I apologize for taking so long to update. I will absolutely try to be better about it but I can only work when the muses allow and they pull me in all sorts of directions. I've started a new story, called Desire that I'd appreciate you all checking out, and I'm permanently working on new one shots. This story won't be neglected though. I love it too much to ever do that.

I mentioned in the last chapter's A/N that the chapter contained an Easter egg of sorts and this one contains the answer to it. Again, I'm spilling nothing. You'll have to read and find out. There is also a little angst. Things have been super fluffy lately and we can't have that (maniacal laugh). But all angst will be short-lived because we get enough on the show. Have a nice read!

*one week later*

Olivia smiled at the sound of the door opening. She wiped her hands on her apron and turned around to head for the living room just as Fitz appeared in the kitchen doorway. "Hi."

"Hi." He quickly crossed the room and picked her up to kiss her lips, swinging her around in his arms. It had been three days and to say that they'd missed each other was to say that people needed air to survive. Fitz set her on her feet again, holding her waist, and leaned his forehead down to rest against hers. "I've missed you like crazy, lady bird."

"I can't believe you've been gone so long. Yes I can. I've barely slept a wink." She kissed his Adam's apple. "Don't go away for so long anymore. Please."

"I'll try not to. It's been crazy at the base. They're trying to get everybody vaccinated for the flu and the shots are worse than the sickness I think." He peered over her head at the pots simmering on the stove. "What's for dinner, little woman?"

"It's a surprise. Why don't you go wash up and change? You smell like a hard day's work, Mr. Grant."

"Yes, Mrs. Grant." He smiled. Olivia smiled, listening to Fitz shuffle around in their bedroom. He poked his head into the kitchen doorway a few minutes later. "Today I'll be doing a medley of Frank Sinatra's hits."

"I'll be all ears, baby." Olivia couldn't stop smiling as she cooked, Fitz's muffled singing coming through the wall behind the stove. It was all so natural, so normal, so domestic. She heard the water turn off and the bathroom door open just as she turned off the oven and began putting food on their plates.

"Fitz, dinner's ready," she called.

"I like the sound of that, Mrs. Grant," he replied a few minutes later as he entered the kitchen wearing a clean white t-shirt and muddy green cargo pants. He walked to the table and sat down. "What's on the menu, lady bird?"

"Baby back ribs, baby corn, baby carrots, and mashed potatoes smothered in gravy." Olivia set a steaming plate in front of him.

"What's with all the baby food? You've got a man to feed." He grinned at her as she set down her own plate then retrieved two bottles of Coke from the refrigerator.

"What's so wrong with baby food?"

"Nothing if you've got one." He looked up at her when she didn't give a snarky reply. Olivia only smiled, tilting her head slightly and looking at him just so. "Really Livvie?"

She could only nod, her smile giddier than he'd ever seen it. She laughed when Fitz let out a whoop and jumped up from the table. He ran to the other side of the table and scooped her up from her chair, swinging her around before stopping abruptly and hastily setting her on her feet. "That's probably not good for the baby."

"It's certainly survived worse." If her calculations were correct, it had been about 10 weeks. She couldn't think of how many cigarettes she'd had in all that time. But according to a doctor at the hospital who had administered the urine test, she was indeed pregnant, and probably hadn't done any damage to the baby.

"Do you know how far along you are?" he asked.

She gave a cute shrug. "The doctor says 8 weeks."

Fitz thought for a moment. Olivia smiled and said, "It happened on your leave. On my parent's living room floor. I guess that'll make a nice story for the baby someday."

Fitz laughed as he wrapped his arms around her. "I can't believe you're having my baby."

"Well believe it."

He knelt so that he was eye level with her stomach. "Hey in there. I'm your daddy. You won't ever believe how much I love you. I know I only just found out about you but I love you so much. I love your mama too. You behave in there. Don't give your mama too hard a time, now."

Olivia laughed, running her fingers through his hair. "You know the baby's too little to understand you, right?"

"Well I want it to know my voice." He stood and pulled her close, leaning down to kiss her lips. Olivia could feel him getting carried away as his pulse quickened and his hands roamed her sides.

"Fitz I'm hungry," she said between kisses.

"Oh!" He immediately let her go and placed a hand on her stomach. "Gotta feed the seed."

Olivia laughed as she sat down. "You're already corny like a dad."

XXXXX

"What if I…poke it?" Fitz and Olivia lay in bed, naked beneath their bed sheets. Fitz braced his weight on his elbows, careful not to lie directly on top of Olivia.

"You can't." Olivia smirked at him. "My cervix is in the way. Plus, it's not big enough to poke."

"Are you sure?"

Olivia frowned at him. "Is this what I have to look forward to now that you know?"

Fitz smiled, finally resting his weight on her. "I'm just being careful. You're carrying some precious cargo."

She pouted cutely at her husband. "Am I not precious anymore?"

Fitz nuzzled her cheek. "Of course you are."

"You don't act like it," she replied in a baby voice. "I'm just a baby machine to you now."

Fitz nuzzled her neck. "A baby machine? I thought you were the love of my life, Livvie."

"Then why aren't you making love to me?" She smiled coyly and Fitz covered her body with his. Olivia lifted her legs and wrapped her legs around his waist.

Fitz pushed inside her warmth, groaning, "God it's been so long, Livvie."

"I don't ever wanna go this long again," she breathed in his ear, twining her fingers in the wispy curls on the back of his neck.

Fitz kissed the soft spot below her ear and Olivia squirmed, wanting more but none. She bit his earlobe, made his grip on her waist tighten. Fitz smiled at her, kissed her eyelids and chin, the places lips often forgot. The bed began to knock against the wall with their movements.

XXXXX

Fitz strode into Colonel Beene's office with a smile. "Morning Colonel."

"Morning Captain. Good to see you back at 100 percent," Colonel Beene replied, looking up from the papers on his desk. "What can I do for you?"

"I need the papers for honeymoon leave."

Cyrus's smile twitched. "So you married her? The colored girl? Bet she got you down the aisle as soon as you were upright."

Fitz frowned. "Actually it was my decision to rush it but I'm not really sure I like what you're implying."

Cyrus sat back in his chair. "I'm only saying that those girls are smart, much smarter than people would like to think. In some respects, of course. And you're on your way up, Grant. You could have my position one day. And I think she knows it. And I think she knows all this equality business at home has to pay off in her—their—favor or the whole country will implode. I think she saw an opportunity and hopped on it."

Fitz clenched and unclenched his fists, counting to ten to keep from leaping across the desk. "Colonel, with all due respect, I'm going to ask you to never speak of my wife again. She is very smart, but certainly not in the sense that you're implying. And I'm actually not on my way up, sir. My enlistment is up in 6 months and I intend to get out completely. I've got a baby on the way, not that it's your business. And we won't be going back to the states, so whatever grand scheme you think my wife is involved in is a figment of your imagination. I'll take those papers now…sir."

Cyrus's face was beet red as he reached into his desk drawer to retrieve the form. "Fill it out. Turn it in. Be back in three days."

Fitz hastily filled out the form and left it on the desk then turned and left, headed home in a huff. He slammed the apartment door when he entered, unintentionally waking Olivia who had fallen asleep on the couch.

"You're home," she yawned, rousing herself. Her curls were wild around her face. "I'll warm your dinner."

Fitz caught her in his arms when she stood and enveloped her in a tight hug. He kissed her breathless, holding onto her chin. Olivia frowned at him when she opened her eyes to find his brow furrowed as he kissed her. She wedged her hands between them, placing them on his chest. "What's the matter?"

"This fucking country…" he huffed. "Well not this one. America. Everything's just…"

Olivia caressed his face, leading him to the couch. She sat down and he followed, lying down to place his head in her lap. Olivia ran her fingers through his hair. "Let's talk about something else."

"I got honeymoon leave. We're going to Normandy. There's a beach," he replied in a flat tone.

"Well now that's no way to talk about our honeymoon. Are we too old and married to be giddy newlyweds, Mr. Grant?" Olivia smiled down at him.

A grin finally broke through. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Grant."

He sat up and turned so that his feet were on the floor then pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her cheek and said in a much cheerier voice. "I got honeymoon leave."

"Where are we going?" Olivia asked with a grin.

"Normandy."

"What's in Normandy?"

Fitz smiled. "The beach. There's even a carnival."

Olivia laughed. "Will you ride the Ferris wheel with me?"

"I'd do anything with you anywhere, lady bird." He kissed the tip of her nose.

XXXXX

*five days later - Thursday*

Dear Mama and Daddy,

Fitz and I got married last week. It was the most beautiful ceremony. Abby and her husband George came. I wish you'd been there. I sent you a picture. I wish you could see my ring. It's gorgeous. Fitz picked it all by himself. We just got back from our honeymoon. We went to Normandy. The beach is breathtaking. We went to a carnival and rode the most amazing Ferris wheel. And we went to a jazz club and heard the most wonderful colored woman sing. We danced half the night. Fitz even talked the band into playing "Moon River" so we could have a proper first dance as husband and wife. It was magical. He really does treat me like a princess. And I've got wonderful news! I'm pregnant! I know it's soon and we just got married and we didn't plan on it, but I'm so happy. I hope everything is well at home.

Love you both,

Olivia

XXXXX

*seven days later –Saturday*

Dear Liv,

Congratulations on the wedding. He isn't the man I would have picked, but you certainly seem happy. You're having a baby! That's wonderful, Livive! Come home. You should be with family while you do this. You'll need me more than you think when things start changing for you. Plus, if your baby is born in Paris, it won't be an American citizen. Don't think about this with your heart. Think with your head.

Love,

Mama

XXXXX

Olivia's stomach quivered as she placed hers and Fitz's plates on the table. He watched her move around, knowing something was wrong. "What's the matter Livvie?"

She finally stopped and looked at him like she'd forgotten he was there. "Nothing. Just thinking."

"About what? It looks like you're twisted in knots." He watched as Olivia stopped wringing her hands, purely for his benefit, then started back a moment later. "Livvie…"

"I wrote to my mother a few days ago to tell her the news and now she wants me to come home," she finally said, watching his face for any reaction.

He smirked. "Well she never wanted you to leave to begin with."

"I know, but that was different. She wants me to come so she can help with the pregnancy and so the baby will be an American citizen. And I certainly don't want to leave you but she said I should think with my head and not my heart and my head is saying she's got a point."

"And what point is that?" Fitz felt himself twisting into knots at the thought of Olivia going home. He didn't doubt her, not for an instant, but he was very aware of the kind of havoc her parents' insistent influences had on her life choices.

"That our baby should be born in America."

He smirked but there was no mirth to it. "Because that means so much when you're colored."

Olivia frowned. "Things will be different after the war. The government can't ask colored people to serve it in war and continue to treat them like dirt in peace. It won't work."

"Liv, you can't go halfway around the world for the chance that things'll be different some day. You can't seriously want to raise our baby in the Jim Crow south."

"Our baby wouldn't be raised in the south. It would be born there. We would only stay until the war's over then we would come back here to be with you."

"Who knows when the war will be over? It could go on for years. Years you and our baby would be in a country that doesn't value your lives."

Olivia frowned. "We would be with my family. I never had any trouble before—"

"Before what?" Fitz frowned at her, his voice tight. Olivia looked away from him. Fitz pushed his chair back from the table. "Before what? Before me?"

"Well…" Fitz tossed his hands up and Olivia sighed. She hadn't meant it the way she'd said it. "I didn't mean it that way. I just mean that…"

"That you want to leave me."

"I don't want to leave you!" she shouted. "It was only an idea. One that wasn't mine, I'd like to point out."

"Well you can forget it because you're not going!" he shouted back.

"You can't tell me what to do!"

"I'm your husband and I won't have my child in danger just because your mother is under the impression that you can't birth a child unless you're under her supervision. Tell her you're not coming!"

"You know, I was never planning to go but since you're feeling so high and mighty, I'd certainly like to see you stop me." She glared at him challengingly.

Fitz leveled her with a testy stare of his own. "Olivia…"

Olivia turned on her heel and stormed to the bedroom, slamming the door behind her. Fitz considered following, but he'd never seen her so angry. He hadn't meant to order her around, but he couldn't believe she could even think of leaving him. He finally decided to go for a walk and give her time to cool off, and have a little time to think himself. He didn't want his baby born into segregation or a war zone. But at least in the war zone, he would be there with them. Having her hundreds of miles away would wreak more havoc on his soul than the chance of his own death ever would.

In the bedroom, Olivia waited until she heard the slam of the apartment door before she let a tear fall. She hadn't imagined their first fight would hurt so badly. She was never planning on leaving. She just wanted to know what he thought of her mother's suggestion. If he had thought it was a good idea, she might have considered it. But his attitude had riled her up worse than she'd ever imagined a man could have. She wanted to wring his neck for telling her what to do. She knew that she'd stumbled onto true love. Her grandmother had always told her that if one didn't consider murder at least once in marriage, it wasn't really love. She lay on her bed and had a good cry, letting go of her frustration with it. When she was finished, she decided two things: one, that she wouldn't go home to have the baby, and two, that he would definitely apologize.

Olivia was asleep when Fitz returned to the apartment, in a much quieter fashion than that in which he'd left. He crept into the bedroom and squinted at the clock on the wall. It was 11:45. He'd been wandering for much longer than he'd thought. He looked at her sleeping form on the bed, turned away from the door. She was on his side, still in her dress, on top of the covers. Deciding to disturb her as little as possible, he just slipping off his shoes and joined her, wrapping his arm around her waist.

She didn't stir but her eyes opened, though he couldn't see. "Tell me you're sorry."

"I'm sorry," he replied immediately. He was. He hadn't meant to snap the way he had.

"Don't ever do that again. You said you and I are in this together. Being partners doesn't mean you can push me around because you wear the pants."

"I won't. I just… You were talking about leaving me and I got scared. What am I supposed to do without you, Livvie?"

"I was never planning to leave. Not even after you said what you said. But you got all big bad wolf on me and I had to do it too." She turned around to face him, reaching out to push his hair back. "I don't want to fight ever again."

Fitz kissed her lips. "I don't either. Promise you won't leave."

"I won't leave. I can't leave. I can't imagine being away from you." She held his face, finally smiling. "And who'd want me once I get fat?"

Fitz smiled too, knowing their fight was officially over. "I love you."

He rolled her onto her back then lay atop her. "Sometimes I love you so much I can't stand it."

"I had half a mind to kill you when you told me I couldn't go back to the states. I could have wrung your neck." She let out a breathy laugh as Fitz unbuttoned her floral shirtdress.

"My mother always said it wasn't really love if you didn't fantasize about murder once in a while." He sat her up, slipping the dress off her shoulders. He kissed her collarbone and the hollow of her throat. "I wasn't going to kill you though. I was just going to lock you up. Maybe tie you to a chair."

Olivia laughed, reaching out to pull off his t-shirt. "You'll find any reason to tie me down."

Fitz slipped off her bra, holding her breasts in his hands. He caressed them gently, remembering their tenderness during their honeymoon, then stopped. "I got you something." She rolled over to squint at him in the semi-darkness of the bedroom. Fitz turned on the bedside lamp and Olivia sat up. He pulled a black jewelry box out of his pocket and held it out to her. "It's just a little something…to apologize for acting like that."

"You didn't have to get me—" she gasped at the sight of the necklace, a small round diamond hanging on a thin gold chain. "It's beautiful, Fitz."

"It matches your wedding ring." He smiled as she got up, headed for the dresser to put the necklace on. He followed a moment later and took it from her. Olivia smiled at their reflections as she lifted her hair from her neck. He hooked the necklace on then dropped his hands on her shoulders. "Livvie, I don't have a whole lot of money. Most of what I got is insurance benefits and settlement money from my parents' accident. I'm not always gonna be able to buy you beautiful things, but while I can, I want to. If I could, I'd buy you mountains of diamonds and furs and pearls and all the beautiful stuff you deserve, but I'm not able to."

She turned to look at him. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I wanted to give you this big, beautiful wedding and this exotic honeymoon and a big house and a nice car and all that. I want you to have the whole nine yards, and I don't think I can give you that, not with what I've got. Now that there's a baby coming, I want to give you even more, but I've only got a little money. And I feel like?"

She pressed her index finger to his lips to silence him. "Do you know what happened the first time I saw you? I suppose you wouldn't, seeing as how you were unconscious."

He smiled, his hands dropping to her waist as he pulled her back to the bed to sit down. "Tell me."

"Well it was the strangest thing. They brought you in Saturday night after your surgery and you were out cold. And your hair was wild and your clothes were bloody and you looked so helpless that you just broke my heart. And they put you in a bed in my section and I decided to try to clean you up a bit. I washed your face and I was combing your hair, and this little voice inside me whispered, 'That's him. That's the man of your dreams.' Well I had been up 24 hours straight trying to save most of your platoon so I figured I was just sleepy and hallucinating, but it happened again. Every time I ran the comb through your hair, that little voice whispered to me. It was the craziest thing. I finished as quick as I could and stayed away from you until you woke up. By that time, the voice was quiet. But there was this tug in my gut that wouldn't go away. Do you understand what I'm saying to you?" She smoothed his hair back from his face. "You, Captain Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, are my dream. I don't want anything else. I don't need anything else. When I was a little girl, my parents told me that I couldn't have things just because I dreamed of them. They wanted me to plan and work hard for what I wanted. They didn't want my head stuck in the clouds. But then you showed up and suddenly everything was a dream again. I didn't have to plan or work for you. You just breezed in and repainted everything. So as long as I have you, I don't need anything else."

Fitz kissed her lips gently, holding her face in his left hand. Olivia turned to straddle him and they lay back on the bed. "We should turn on the radio."

Olivia tugged his pants off and Fitz kicked off his boxers, then helped her lower herself onto his erection. Olivia let out a sharp gasp, wrapping her arms around his neck and clinging to him almost desperately. Fitz held her sides, moving her up and down at a slow pace. Olivia moaned loudly, agreeing, "We should."

She didn't expect Fitz to carry her to the small table in the far corner where the radio sat. He switched it on, turning the volume up as high as he could, then pressed her against the window beside it. Olivia wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him deeper into her warmth. Fitz held her hips, thrusting as deep as he could. Ella Fitzgerald crooned on the radio, only marginally covering the cacophony of Olivia's moans and their flesh slapping. Fitz's mouth wrote decadent poems of adoration on her throat and chin, his hips never ceasing their rhythmic thrusting. The tide of her climax roared inside her like the ocean and Olivia tugged at her husband's curls desperately, riding the waves of pleasure wantonly.

A/N: Our babies are having a baby! There's lot of fluff to come, and plenty more babies. Don't forget to review! XOXOXO