A/N: Hi! I know it's been forever. Things have been a little rough lately, but they're looking up in leaps and bounds. This chapter isn't as long as I would have liked, but I think my vision for it would have gone on too long. Anyway, let's get to the chapter.
September
Fitz smirked at Olivia as she quickly hung up the phone when he entered the kitchen. Julia sat on her hip, her pacifier in her mouth, trying to kick off her white t-strap Keds. "I know what you're up to, Olivia Carolyn."
She turned to look at him with wide eyes. "I'm not up to anything."
"You're planning a surprise party for me and I want you to stop it."
Olivia moved to the sink to resume putting the dishes on the rack. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Fitz walked over and took Julia off her hip, kissing her cheeks. "Don't you lie to me, little woman. I'll put you over my knee."
Olivia turned to grin at him wickedly. "I'd certainly like to see you try."
Fitz shook his head, not allowing himself to be distracted. "No party, Livvie."
"But it's gonna be fun," Olivia insisted.
"No." Fitz wasn't sure why he didn't like birthday parties. They just weren't his thing.
"Please?" She stuck out her lip, giving him her best sad eyes. "Come on. Huck is barbecuing, and I'm making a red velvet cake with that sugary cream cheese icing you like, and Jules made you a card."
Fitz smiled at his baby girl, watching her kick her new shoes defiantly. She had managed to lose one of her sandals at the lake, prompting the purchase of the Keds that she couldn't get out of. "Did you make Daddy a card, princess?"
"Dadadadadada," Julia replied. The seven-month-old had yet to say her first word but she babbled almost incessantly.
Fitz laughed then looked at Olivia. "Nobody is allowed to yell surprise."
"Fine." She couldn't help grinning triumphantly. "It's gonna be so much fun."
XXXXX
One week later
Olivia brushed her hair back into a French twist, smiling at Julia crawling behind Aloysius in the bedroom. She could hear Fitz singing in the shower. His party was due to start in half an hour and he had dragged around all afternoon, refusing to get ready. She looked over her dark red three-quarter length sleeve dress, frowning at her swollen breasts. She had been slowly weaning Julia for a week since the baby's first tooth had erupted and her unused milk was building up. Julia crawled to her and sat at her feet, flashing her single tooth in a grin.
"Are you done playing with the kitty, precious?" Olivia picked her up and the baby yawned. "Are you ready for the party? Let's go get dressed."
"Mamamamama," Julia replied.
"That's right. Mama's gonna be your first word, isn't it?" Olivia and Fitz had a bet going on whether Julia would say Mama or Dada first. So far, the little girl just babbled the syllables repeatedly, not yet making a single word of either one.
"Mamamamamama." Olivia set the baby down on the floor in her nursery then went to her closet to retrieve her new dress.
Penny had made both Olivia and Julia matching bubblegum pink dresses with pleated skirts and square necklines. "You're gonna look so pretty in your new dress."
"Cacacaca." Julia pointed at Aloysius as he walked into the room and climbed onto her toy chest
"Cat. Say cat." Olivia emphasized the syllables though she knew Julia wasn't quite old enough to repeat the sound.
"Cacacaca," Julia replied.
Olivia smiled as she picked up Julia's brush to comb the baby's wild curls. "Stars shining bright above you/ Night breezes seem to whisper I love you/ Birds singing in a sycamore tree/ Dream a little dream of me."
She smiled when Fitz's arms wrapped around her waist. "Say nighty night and kiss me/ Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me/ While I'm alone and blue as can be/ Dream a little dream of me."
Olivia smirked when her baby's curls refused to cooperate. She turned to Fitz. "She's got your hair."
"I know," he replied, reaching out to run his fingers through Julia's curls. "You're a true Grant, aren't you Jules?"
Julia laughed, reaching out her chubby arms to be picked up. Fitz scooped her up and made raspberries on her belly. Olivia smiled at them, curls wild and clad in only their underwear. She couldn't help retrieving the camera from Julia's dresser and taking their picture. Julia laughed and waved at the camera. Olivia snapped another picture. "Alright you two, time to get dressed."
Fitz handed the baby over then went to his and Olivia's bedroom to get dressed. Despite her squirming, Olivia was able to get Julia dressed and put her shoes back on. Settling Julia on her hip, she went into the bedroom and found Fitz putting his shoes on. He wore a dark blue button down shirt and khaki pants, his damp hair still uncombed. Olivia set the baby on the floor and went to the dresser to get Fitz's comb.
"So how does it feel to be married to such an old man, ladybird?" Fitz held Olivia's hips, leaning in to kiss her stomach through her white sundress.
"Well I've always liked older men," she replied as she parted his hair. She smiled at the top of his head as she traced the shell of his ear with her fingernail and Fitz stifled a groan as goosebumps rose on his skin.
"I think you'd better go get changed before I make us miss the party."
xxxxx
Fitz frowned as he watched Olivia dance with Jackson. He knew there was nothing that could ever come between them, but he didn't like that Jackson was so transparently smitten. It was one of the few times that he wished Olivia wasn't so kind, that she'd tell him off once and for all so he could disappear. But she didn't have the heart to hurt anyone's feelings deliberately.
Olivia found herself imagining she was anywhere else as she danced with Jackson. She tried not to let her smile seem so vacant but she couldn't help herself as she stared over his shoulder at Fitz dancing with Julia.
"This is nice. I haven't danced with you since spring," Jackson said, drawing her attention back to him.
"It is," she replied, giving him a smile.
"I—" he stopped short and Olivia blinked at him.
"What?"
"I was just thinking that it's a shame about us."
Olivia frowned, a knot in her stomach. "What about us?"
"How we met so late. We're destined to be star-crossed lovers."
"I wouldn't say that."
"Why not?"
"Because it's not true." She knew it had to be done. He had to extinguish the torch he was carrying for her, if only for her peace of mind. "Jackson, you're very sweet, and I appreciate you keeping me company while Fitz was gone but you've got the wrong idea. I don't love you. Maybe in another life, in another place and time—No, I shouldn't say that. That isn't true either. Fitz is my soul mate. In any life, any time and place, we would have found each other. The way you feel is just unfortunate."
Jackson frowned. "I suppose I can accept that. I hope we can still be friends."
"Of course," Olivia replied as she stopped dancing. She gave his hands a squeeze then left him standing near the fence. She walked to Fitz and smiled at him as he danced with Julia, swinging her around and making her laugh.
"Who's that?" he asked, pointing at Olivia.
"Mamamama," the baby babbled, reaching for her mother.
Olivia took the baby and kissed her nose. "It's almost time for cake. Do you want some cake, princess?"
"Wawawawa," Julia replied, sticking her fist in her mouth.
"Smile!" Fitz held up his camera and Olivia smiled, tickling Julia's stomach to make her laugh. He snapped the picture. "We're gonna frame this one."
xxxxx
"Ooooohhh," Julia cooed, reaching for the cake's lit candles.
"No, no," Olivia chided, pulling her little fat hand back. "Daddy's gotta blow those out. It's his birthday."
"Dadadadada!" Fitz smiled at Julia as he took her from Olivia.
"Wanna help me blow them out?" He blew on her lips, hoping she'd mimic him. Julia pursed her own lips but couldn't seem to master exhaling. Fitz laughed, leaning over to blow the candles out.
"Ooooohhh!" the baby cooed, clapping happily.
"We did it, princess!" Fitz kissed her cheek, turning her away from the cake before she could stick her fist in it.
xxxxx
Fitz sat on the bed in his boxers, wondering what Olivia was doing in the bathroom. He smirked and called, "If you don't hurry up, we're gonna get interrupted."
"So impatient." Olivia opened the bathroom door and Fitz's eyes widened at the sight of her in a French maid's outfit. "So very bossy."
"I suppose in this case, I am the boss. And you're late," Fitz replied with a smile.
"I'm sorry. I was getting dressed." Olivia grinned as she walked over to him. "Can I fix it?"
Fitz leaned back on the bed, allowing her to straddle him. He groaned at the contact of her wet heat pressing against his stomach. "You're not wearing any panties. You naughty, naughty girl. You better hope my wife doesn't catch us."
Olivia raked her fingernails over his bare chest. "She's out for the evening. We've got all night to do whatever we want."
"And what should we do?"
"Je te veux. Ne me veux-tu pas?"
Fitz grinned. "I don't know what you said, but yes."
"I said I want you and I asked if you want me."
"Definitely yes," Fitz replied with an eager nod.
"Dors avec moi." She removed her lace apron and tossed it on the floor.
"What does that mean?" Fitz read French much better than he spoke it.
"Sleep with me," Olivia translated. Fitz found the lace ties holding her dress together and undid them so he could pull the bodice down. He bit her collarbone and Olivia's head fell back. "Mords moi. Mange moi."
"What's that mean?" Fitz rolled them over and pulled the dress off, leaving Olivia naked and panting beneath him. He kicked off his boxers and covered her body with his, moving his lips back to her neck.
"Bite me. Eat me." Olivia's back arched as she lifted her legs to wrap them around Fitz's waist. She bit his earlobe, groaning when he hardened against her entrance. "Baise moi."
Fitz gave a surprised smirk and smacked her thigh. "Watch your mouth."
Olivia laughed and bit his neck. "Baise moi."
Fitz groaned as he entered her, clasping her hips to wrap her legs tighter around his waist. "Say it again. Beg for it."
"Baise moi… Baise moi… Baise moi…" Each capitulation earned a stroke that made Olivia's eyes roll back.
XXXXX
November
Monday
Olivia frowned as she and Fitz walked through the crowded airport, Julia peacefully asleep in his arms. She prayed the commotion didn't wake the baby as she was sure they were in for a fussy plane ride. She had bought a pair of earmuffs for the little girl at Penny's suggestion but she was dubious about their ability to keep Julia quiet on the flight.
"You think we ought to just wake her up?" Fitz asked as they joined the line boarding their plane to Atlanta.
Olivia shook her head. "If she can sleep through it, let her. I wouldn't mind a nap myself."
"What's the matter, ladybird?"
"I'm just tired. I think I might be coming down with something."
"Something like what?"
"I think I might be pregnant again," she said slowly, unsure of how he would take the news. Julia was only eight months old, and they hadn't exactly been planning on expanding their family so soon.
"Really?" His face betrayed nothing and Olivia bit her lip. He had been working at the firehouse for almost four months and the money was good, but Olivia wasn't sure if it was good enough for two babies.
"Yes. I'm sorry. I thought I was counting the days right but I guess I—"
He turned to look at her. "Why are you sorry, Livvie?"
"Because Julia's not even a year old yet and your job is still so new and we just bought the Volvo and—"
"Livvie, I want all the babies in the world with you. Nothing could make me unhappy about that." He leaned over to kiss her forehead.
They boarded the plane and Julia began stirring as they took their seats. She awoke with a yawn and began whimpering.
"Shhhh," Olivia cooed, rocking her gently. Fitz dug through her diaper bag and produced the small pink earmuffs as Olivia removed the baby's yellow coat.
"Wawawawa," Julia babbled, flailing her chubby arms.
"Want your bottle?" Olivia asked, pulling Julia's bottle from her bag. She took the top off and the baby took it quickly, stuffing it in her mouth. She leaned back in Olivia arms, looking up at her with wide eyes. Olivia turned to Fitz. "Maybe she'll go back to sleep."
It didn't take long for Julia to fall back asleep. Olivia replaced her bottle with her pacifier and the baby stirred but didn't wake. Fitz placed the earmuffs over her ears after the announcement for takeoff. Olivia frowned as the plane began to move. She hated taking off and landing more than turbulence. She took Fitz's hand and he brought it to his lips to kiss her fingertips.
xxxxx
Julia stirred awake when the taxi bounced over a bump in the road. Olivia replaced her pacifier quickly but the baby opened her eyes and frowned as she whimpered. Fitz turned away from the window. "Don't cry, Julie Bean. We're almost at grandma and grandpa's house."
Julia spit out her pacifier, reaching for her father. Olivia handed her over absently, still looking out the window. Fitz took the baby and reached for his wife's hand. "What's the matter, ladybird?"
"I was just thinking," she replied.
"About what?" Fitz rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Everything."
"Livvie, everything's gonna be fine. Don't work yourself up."
"I just…" She sighed. "I'm not worried about us. We'll be fine. But Jules…"
"Is a baby. Anyone who'd say something rude about a baby is an asshole."
"I just don't want everyone gawking at her."
"Your family won't gawk at her."
"I know. They'll be too busy gawking at you. But I've got old friends to visit too, and I just hoped that by now she wouldn't look so…"
"White," Fitz finished. He turned to frown at her. "And am I too white too? Should I have worked a little harder on my tan in anticipation for this trip?"
"That's not what I meant. I just don't want people talking about how pale she is, or how light her eyes are, or how she's got 'good' hair. I want people to act like she's normal."
"She's got two eyes, two ears, one nose, ten fingers, and ten toes, Liv. She sounds pretty normal to me."
"She's normal in France. But in Georgia, she's a walking argument. You just wait and see."
"Well, ladybird, you're gonna have to get used to that sort of thing. We're planning on having too many babies for you to be skittish about a little ignorance and controversy."
"I know. I just don't want our babies to grow up feeling different."
Fitz squeezed her knee. "Well all kids are a little different. Some have big teeth or big ears or big heads. Ours are gonna be beige."
"She's not beige!" Olivia scoffed, looking down at Julia. The baby grinned, showing the two tooth stubs on her bottom gums.
Fitz grinned. "Well what color is she?"
"She's…" Olivia frowned when she couldn't come up with a more fitting color. "Oh hush."
xxxxx
Olivia was surprised when Maya threw open the door before they knocked. She grinned, rushing down the walkway to them. "Look at you!"
Olivia smiled, mistakenly thinking her mother was talking about them until she reached them and took Julia. "You're the most beautiful thing on the planet! You look just like your Nana! Can you say Nana?"
"Nanananana," Julia replied, reaching for Maya's string of pearls with interest.
"That's right!" Maya turned and headed for the open front door, leaving Olivia and Fitz standing on the walkway.
Fitz smirked. "Well that went better than I expected."
"Maybe she'll got the whole trip without noticing us," Olivia replied as they went into the house.
"Isn't she the most gorgeous thing you've ever seen? She looks just like Liv," Olivia overheard Maya saying as they walked into the living room.
"Mama she doesn't look a thing like me," Olivia replied, announcing her presence to the room full of Popes and Garretts, Maya's side of the family.
"She does," Maya insisted. "She's got your nose, and smile, and—"
"She's got my lips. She's got Fitz's smile." Olivia smiled. "And his eyes, too."
"And so she does." Maya's smile twitched as she looked up at Fitz. "Hello, Fitzgerald."
"Hello Maya. Lovely to see you as always," Fitz replied.
"Dadadada." Julia squirmed, reaching for Fitz. He smiled as he took her in his arms.
Olivia beamed at them. "She's a true daddy's girl. You'd think he hung the moon."
Fitz smiled at Julia, smoothing her curls down. "Wanna show Nana what we learned, Julie Bean?"
He took the nearest available chair in the living room and balanced Julia on his knee. Olivia grinned as she looked on with interest, eager to see what their latest trick was. Fitz smiled at his baby girl. "Are you ready? If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
Julia clapped, laughing at Fitz's singing, and "aww's" chorused around the room. Fitz smiled proudly at everyone as he set Julia on her feet, holding her under her arms. "This one's better. If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet."
Julia laughed, stomping her left foot proudly. Everyone applauded and Fitz put Julia back on his knee. "If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it."
Julia pointed to her smile right on cue, turning to look at her father for approval. Fitz smiled and nodded. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
Julia clapped her hands once more then threw her arms up. "Tatatata!"
Fitz laughed. "She's trying to say, 'Tada!'"
"Tatatata!" Julia repeated, again throwing her arms up.
Olivia laughed as she picked her up, turning to Maya. "See what I mean? Aren't they the most precious thing?"
Maya smiled. "Isn't she? You ought to put her in pageants, Liv! She's a born star."
Olivia frowned, remembering her own stint on the Baptist church pageant circuit. "I don't think so. Plus they don't really do that sort of thing in Paris. Everything's so easygoing there."
"Which I'm guessing is why you've let your hair grow wild." Olivia hadn't had a relaxer in a year. She truly didn't miss is. But Maya's hair was perfectly permed, her face framed in perfect hot roller-ed curls.
Olivia's springy curls were held back from her face by a navy headband that matched her navy long-sleeved dress. "I like my hair this way. It's much easier to maintain."
"Mmhm," Maya replied, casting a sideways glance at Olivia's aunts clustered on the couch. They were all sporting shiny roller sets as well.
"Maya let that girl be," Olivia's aunt Ethtel said, peering at Fitz curiously. "Bring that baby here."
Fitz stood and walked to the couch, setting a grinning Julia down in Ethel's expansive lap. Ethel took hold of Julia's face and cooed at her. She looked from the baby to Fitz. "Well you plumb spit her out, didn't you?"
"That's what everybody says," Fitz replied. "She's loads prettier than me, though."
"She's a doll," Olivia's aunt Sharon complimented, leaning over to look at the baby. Julia babbled happily, reaching for Sharon's dangling earrings.
Fitz caught her hand before she caught it. "You've gotta watch her. She's grabby now."
"She's at that age," Ethel replied, pinching Julia's cheeks. "Can you talk yet? Have you said 'Mama' yet?"
"She's working on it," Olivia said. "She's probably working on a full diaper too."
Ethel handed the baby over and Olivia headed upstairs to change the baby, leaving Fitz with her family. He smiled congenially at them as they all appraised him. "Well I'm Fitz. I'm in—well I was in—the army. Liv and I met in Italy when we were both stationed there."
"And I take it you two hit it off," Sharon said with a wry smile.
Fitz smiled, his ears red. "Yes ma'am."
Upstairs, Olivia cooed at Julia as she changed her diaper. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands."
Julia smiled and clapped, kicking her feet up. Olivia fastened her new diaper on then sat the baby up. "Are you hungry, precious?"
"Wawawawa," Julia babbled, reaching for her mother's necklace.
Olivia picked her up, kissing her cheeks. "Let's go find your Papa."
Olivia could hear the radio in her parent's room as she walked down the hall. When she entered, she found her father asleep in the armchair beside the radio. Olivia smiled as she walked over then set Julia down on him. The baby immediately went for his mouth, pulling his bottom lip.
"Wha—Hey there, sweet pea," Eli said as he awoke. He grinned at his granddaughter. "You're the prettiest thing in the world."
"Wawawawa," Julia replied, grinning at him.
Eli stood her up on his knees. "Do you know who I am? I'm your Papa. Can you say Papa?"
"Papapapapa," Julia babbled, again pulling on his bottom lip.
Eli grinned at his daughter. "Hi Liv. Where's Fitz?"
"Downstairs," Olivia replied as she walked over to hug her father.
Eli laughed. "You left him in that cauldron alone? Well, he's a brave boy."
"Everybody was behaving when I left. Speaking of everybody, who's all staying here?"
"Just you and Fitz. Everybody else is staying with Aunt Aida or Ethel and Steve." Eli grinned at Julia as she pulled on the buttons on his shirt. "That means I get you all to myself. Are you gonna say Papa before you leave?"
Julia grinned, babbling a reply as she gabbed at his tie pin. Olivia smiled at them. "Watch her. She'll put your eye out if you're not paying attention."
Eli laughed as he stood, settling Julia on his hip. "Let's go see if you can put Nana's eye out."
Olivia laughed as she left the room ahead of them.
XXXXX
Thursday
Olivia was stirred awake by Fitz's lips ghosting the back of her neck. She sighed contentedly as she reached back to run her fingers through his hair. "What are you up to, Fitzgerald?"
"Just telling you good morning," he replied, his lips still on her neck. He slipped his hand under her light blue nightgown and quickly found the lacy waistband of her panties. He trailed kisses up the length of her neck to her earlobe and caught it between his teeth, smiling at the throaty purr Olivia let out. "Good morning."
"Good morning," Olivia breathed, reaching down to take his hand and move it between her legs.
"Remember the last time we were in this bed?" He pulled her panties down on her thighs then slipped his finger between her slick lips.
Olivia could only nod, biting her lip to keep from crying out and waking her parents or the baby. "We need… We can't…"
Fitz nipped the curve of her jaw. "You just have to be quiet."
Olivia shook her head, knowing it wasn't possible. "Shower…"
Fitz smirked as he got out of bed, pulling her along with him. Olivia laughed as he tossed her over his shoulder then headed into the bathroom. He turned on the shower then set Olivia on the counter, smiling as he took hold of her face. "I think you might really be pregnant again, Mrs. Grant. You've got that look."
"What look?"
"Happy, and ample," his hands caressed her thighs under her nightgown. "When you were pregnant with Julia, you were…glowing. I could hardly keep my hands off you."
Olivia blushed. "I don't think you've ever been able to keep your hands off me. Remember our first kiss?"
"How can I forget it? I had been thinking about kissing you since the moment I saw you." He kissed her, sucking on her bottom lip. Olivia quickly rid herself of her nightgown, lifting her hips so Fitz could take it off along with her panties. "So should we get in the shower, or are we just using it as noise?"
Olivia glanced at the shower, her hands working on getting Fitz's boxers off as she got the distinct feeling their time wouldn't last long. "Just noise."
"Breakfast is ready!" Maya's voice rang out over the shower and Olivia sighed as Julia began to whimper.
She leaned her head against Fitz's chest. "I'm ready to go home."
Fitz kissed the crown of her head. "Two more days, baby. Two more days."
"Do you promise to take me into the city tomorrow?"
"Yes dear." He picked her underwear and nightgown up off the floor.
"For the whole day?" Olivia pulled on her panties and Fitz slipped her nightgown over her head.
"Yes dear."
After changing Julia's diaper the family headed downstairs to the kitchen. Maya was already dressed, setting the table. She looked up at the sound of their footsteps. "We're just having oatmeal for breakfast. I want everybody nice and hungry for dinner."
Olivia smirked as she sat down. Julia picked up the nearest spoon to tap the plate in front of her. "You woke us all up for oatmeal, Mama?"
Maya mirrored her daughter's expression. "I thought y'all were already up. I must have been hearing things."
Fitz cleared his throat as he took the seat beside Olivia. "Is there any coffee?"
"I'll get you some," Olivia offered. She stood and settled Julia on her hip. The baby showed her mother the spoon proudly. "Yeah that's a spoon. We eat off those at home, don't we?"
Julia babbled a reply as she stuffed the spoon in her mouth. Olivia went to the counter and poured coffee in a mug for Fitz. She added three teaspoons of sugar then took the cup back to the table. "Do you want some oatmeal?"
"What kind is it?" he asked.
Olivia went back to the stove and peered in the pot. She frowned. "Oh it's blueberry and banana."
"What's wrong with blueberry and banana oatmeal? You like it. Or at least you used to." Maya raised her eyebrows at her daughters.
"Fitz is allergic to bananas," Olivia replied, taking Julia's spoon as the baby leaned over to stick it in the pot. "I'll just make you some grits and eggs. Do you want them sunny side up or scrambled?"
"You can just make me some toast," he replied.
"You want French toast?"
"No. Regular toast is fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. Don't go through any trouble for me."
"It's no trouble if you're hungry, honey."
"Okay. Grits and scrambled eggs is fine."
Eli entered the kitchen and sat down opposite Fitz with a smile. "Morning everybody."
"Morning Eli," Fitz replied.
"Morning Daddy," Olivia greeted as she pulled a skillet and a small pot from the cabinet. Maya leaned against the sink, watching with a tight-lipped expression that told Olivia she had something to say. "Daddy, do you have the paper? Fitz likes to read with breakfast."
Eli pulled the newspaper from the pocket of his robe and handed it to Fitz. "Bring me my grandbaby, Liv."
Olivia walked over and attempted to hand Julia over but the baby wouldn't let her go, frowning as she whined loudly. "I'm sorry. She's used to making breakfast with me."
"You can't let her cling to you like that, Liv. She'll never get over it," Maya admonished.
"She's plenty friendly at home, Mama."
"We're her family."
"She doesn't know that."
"She would if y'all would come home. The war's over. There's nothing holding you to Paris."
"Except Fitz's job, and our house, and our friends. But what does any of that stuff mean anyway?"
Maya frowned. "No need to be flip. I'm just telling the truth."
"I'm not gonna argue with you, Mama. I haven't even pumped my milk yet this morning." Olivia went to the stove. She looked at Fitz over her shoulder. "That reminds me. Go get her s-h-o-e-s."
Fitz nodded and left the kitchen to get Julia's shoes. Since she'd started pulling up on things, they tried to keep her in shoes to strengthen her ankles and help her balance. Olivia looked at her mother. "I'm gonna let you know before it happens. She hates her s-h-o-e-s. She's gonna throw a fit."
"Why does she hate them? Do they hurt?" Eli asked.
"No. She just knows they aren't the sandals she wore all summer." Fitz returned with the shoes and Olivia turned the handles on the pots away from the counter before she set Julia on it. Fitz smiled at his baby girl as he stood before her.
"Alright Julie Bean, we're gonna do this nice and easy." He took her left foot and put the shoe on.
Julia frowned, trying to wrestle her foot away as he fastened the strap. She tossed a plaintive look at her mother, her eyes watering. "Ma…"
"Don't cry, precious," Olivia cooed, wiping her tears away. "You're gonna make Mama cry."
"Oh you can't still be in that stage. I was over that by the time you were six months old," Maya interjected, frowning at Fitz as he wrestled Julia's right shoe on. She was surprised at the volume of Julia's wailing as he fastened the shoe. Olivia scooped the baby up off the counter, bouncing her gently. She wanted to point out to her mother that Julia was only 8 months old, so they weren't really in much different places, but she bit her tongue.
"I'm sorry. Mama knows you don't like the shoes. It's okay." Julia wailed on, kicking her feet. Olivia went back to cooking, still bouncing the baby on her hip. "Fitz will you get her pacifier? It should be in her bag."
"Isn't she growing teeth? She can't have that pacifier if she is. They'll come in crooked," Maya admonished as she spooned oatmeal into bowls.
"She only gets it when she's upset. I couldn't wean her and take away her pacifier at the same time. That's just cruel," Olivia replied. She wondered how much more mothering advice she had coming. Julia's cries had lost their volume but she hadn't stopped just yet, still weakly kicking her feet. "Stars shining bright above you/ Night breezes seem to whisper I love you/ Birds singing in a sycamore tree/ Dream a little dream of me."
Fitz returned with Julia's pacifier, sticking it in her mouth then leaning over to kiss her flushed cheek as she continued to whimper. "You know, Liv, it might not be too early for an n-a-p."
"I'll see if she goes by herself, but I don't want her to put her down until closer to dinnertime so she'll be rested when everybody gets here."
Fitz nodded then looked over at his breakfast. "Can I have cheese in my grits?"
"Can I have my good morning kiss?" Olivia smiled.
Fitz leaned over and gave her a brief kiss. He kissed the crown of Julia's head and she smiled at him. "There's my smiley face. Come sit with Daddy."
He tried to take her, but Julia held firmly to her mother, whining loudly until he let go. "Okay, okay. Liv, I'm gonna go get in the shower."
He left the kitchen and Olivia went to the refrigerator to get cheese, mindful of her mother watching her. "What, Mama?"
"Nothing. I was just wondering if you have to do everything with a baby on your hip while your husband prances around free as a bird."
"He tried to take her. She's just a little clingy since I started weaning her." Olivia added the cheese to Fitz's grits and it melted quickly.
Julia spit out her pacifier. "Wawawawa."
"We're gonna eat in a minute, precious," Olivia replied, replacing her pacifier. "Are you gonna show Nana and Papa how you learned to eat off a spoon?"
xxxxx
Olivia smiled at Julia and Fitz asleep on the couch as she passed them to open the door to let in her relatives. She opened the door and smiled at her Aunts Eloise and Rose, Eli's older twin sisters who had lived together their whole lives. "Hi!"
"Hi Liv! Where's that baby of yours?" Eloise asked as Olivia stepped back to let them in.
"She's right there on the couch with Fitz," Olivia answered, gesturing to the couch where Fitz was stirring awake. He sat up, holding Julia to his chest, and the baby opened her eyes as well. Olivia smiled at them as she walked over, smoothing their sleep-tousled hair. "Fitz, these are my aunts, Eloise and Rose."
"Hello," he greeted. He looked down at Julia, who stared at the two tall women with interest. "Say hi, Julie Bean."
Julia grinned her toothless smile and waved, surprisingly allowing Rose to pick her up. She immediately reached for the woman's large glasses and pulled them off her face. Rose laughed as she took them back. "We'd be in a world of trouble if I lost those, pretty girl."
Julia laughed, looking from one sister to the other. Eloise covered her face in kisses. "You are the prettiest thing in the world! Liv, she ought to be in pageants with those eyes!"
"She's a little too ornery for pageants, Aunt Eloise. She'll throw a fit at the drop of a hat."
"Well, maybe the next one," Rose replied, giving Olivia a knowing look.
Olivia wondered if she looked pregnant. She'd been examining her figure for a few weeks and decided she didn't, but now she thought she might be wrong. Still, she hadn't had any symptoms, so she couldn't be sure. "Maybe…"
The women joined Fitz on the couch, sandwiching him between them. Rose peered at him over her glasses. "So, Fitz, where are you from? Where's your family?"
"I'm from California, and my sisters still live there," he replied.
"And how did you and our Liv meet? The last time I visited—that was last Christmas, wasn't it, El?—she was engaged to some gasbag. What was his name?" She frowned as she tried to recall. "Oh well. It's not important. She's with you now."
"Liv and I met in Italy when we were both stationed there during the war. I was in love with her the minute I saw her, but it took her a few days to fall for me." Fitz smiled, tossing a wink at his wife. "And then I got moved to France and we wrote letters back and forth, and Liv came home and I invited myself to Georgia on my leave. And she was crazy enough to agree to marry me. The rest is history, I guess."
Dinner passed in much the same way. Everyone was politely curious about the man who had sent Olivia running across an ocean to be with him. Fitz maintained that he would have followed her over a cliff if she'd asked. Even Maya found herself smiling as she looked at snapshots of Olivia and Fitz moving into their house, fishing at the nearby lake, and on Fitz's birthday. The consensus among the Popes and Garretts was that the Grants were nothing short of magic.
XXXXX
Saturday
Olivia hummed softly as she walked through the baby section of Bendel's Department Store. Julia sat on her hip, chewing the ear of the stuffed velveteen rabbit Maya's sister Ethel. "Mama likes this white dress. Do you like it? Or do you want the red one with the big bow?"
Julia gave a muffled babble, not removing the rabbit's ear from her mouth. Olivia smiled at her baby girl. "I think we'll get both. We'll just see which one's look best in your pictures."
Olivia took both dresses and tucked them under her arm.
"Olivia?" She looked up and her eyes widened at the sight of Edison. She wasn't so much surprised to see him as she was surprised to see him holding hands with Mary Jane Paul, the woman who had been her best friend before she went to war and would have been her Maid of Honor. Mary Jane gave a shy half-smile, wondering what her former best friend would say.
"Edison… MJ… Hi," Olivia replied.
"Hi Liv. My mama told me you were back in town and I've been meaning to call you. I've just been running around like a racehorse this week. You know how the holidays go," Mary Jane babbled nervously.
Olivia gave an icy smile. "Of course. I've been busy myself."
"Your baby's just gorgeous," Mary Jane complimented.
"Thank you. She looks just like her daddy." As if on cue, Fitz appeared, holding a mink wrap. Olivia gave him a crooked smile. "I've told you I don't want one of those."
"You're the only woman in the world who'd turn down a mink wrap, Livvie," he replied.
"It just doesn't make any sense to spend so much money on fur. But if you'd like to buy it, buy it." She smiled at Edison and Mary Jane. "He's determined to spoil me rotten."
"I just want you to have beautiful things," Fitz insisted. He smiled at Edison and Mary Jane. "Hi."
"Hi," Edison replied, not quite smiling.
"Fitz, you remember Edison. And that's Mary Jane Paul. We used to be friends."
Fitz caught on to the situation quickly as he shook their hands. "Nice to see you again. And nice meeting you."
"Dadadada!" Julia babbled, thrusting the rabbit at him.
"Have you been eating the bunny, Julie Bean?" he asked with a smile as he looked at the rabbit's wet ear.
"Wawawawa." The baby reached for him eagerly and Fitz took her.
Olivia couldn't stop the smile from spreading across her face. "They're practically twins, aren't they?"
"She's beautiful, Liv," Edison said without a smile.
"She looks more and more like Liv every day," Fitz replied.
Olivia smirked. "I don't know why everybody keeps telling that lie. She doesn't look a thing like me."
"She does. Smile, Julie Bean. Smile at Mama," Fitz insisted. He looked down at Julia. The baby grinned at her mother. "See she's got your smile."
"She's got your smile. She's just got my lips," Olivia replied.
"Maybe the next one will look like you, Liv," Edison interjected, reminding them of his presence.
"Let's hope they don't all end up with this ugly mug," Fitz said with a smile.
"Well we should get going," Mary Jane said. "We've got to meet Eddy's mother in a bit and you know how Trudy hates to wait."
"Oh, that I do," Olivia replied with a knowing smile.
xxxxx
Later that night, Olivia lay on the couch, watching Julia and Fitz play peek-a-boo on the living room floor. She had almost dozed off when the doorbell rang. She got off the couch and went to the door. She was surprised to find Edison on the other side of the door. "Edison…hi."
"Hi, Liv," he replied, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"Did you need something?" She couldn't think of a single thing they had to say to each other.
"I just wanted to explain…about Mary Jane," he replied.
"You don't owe me an explanation."
"I just wanted you to know that I didn't… She and I didn't get together until after you gave the ring back."
"How long after?"
"What?"
"How long after I gave the ring back did you two get together?" Olivia knew she had virtually no high ground but she needed to know, not because of Edison, but because Mary Jane was someone she'd considered a friend.
"A week or so. I don't really remember. In some ways…when you were away…we were already sort of together. She kept me company a lot."
"I bet. She always did think you were something special." It all came back so clearly, how Mary Jane had always seemed to like Edison a bit too much. "It's all just as well, I guess. You two deserve each other."
"I just wanted to make sure everything was okay between us." He removed his hands from his pockets then replaced them. "You know, we didn't break up because we stopped caring about each other, and I do care about MJ, but you'll always be special to me, Liv. Maybe we could be-."
"Goodnight, Edison," Olivia interrupted.
"Wha—"
Olivia shut the door and went back to the couch. Fitz looked at her. "Everything okay?"
Olivia nodded. "Edison just made a roundabout confession to cheating on me. I guess that makes us even. I don't even care, if I'm being honest. But MJ… We've been friends since we were in diapers, and she's dating my ex-fiance. Who does that?"
"I'm sorry, Livvie. What can I do?"
"Take me home."
"The cab should be here in an hour, Livvie."
xxxxx
"Tell Nana and Papa bye," Olivia said as she held Julia up to the taxi's window.
"Bye," Julia parroted, waving at her grandparents.
"What did you say?" Olivia blinked at her baby girl.
"Say it again! Say bye!" Fitz pleaded.
"Bye," Julia repeated. She grinned, catching on that she'd done something good. "Byebyebyebyebye!"
They spent the entire ride to the airport trying to get Julia to say other words, but she seemed smitten with her first and stuck with it. After bidding goodbye to everyone within earshot, the baby tired of talking and began chewing on her rabbit's ear again. Olivia yawned, laying her head on Fitz's shoulder. "I don't think I've ever been so happy to leave Georgia behind."
"You know we're gonna have to do this next Christmas too," he replied, reaching over to touch her stomach.
"Damn," Olivia muttered.
"Damn," Julia parroted sleepily.
Olivia and Fitz exchanged a wide-eyed look before Fitz burst into laughter. Julia stared at her father for a moment before laughing too. Olivia shook her head, unable to resist smiling at them.
A/N: Next chapter will be Christmas in California. Don't forget to review! XOXOXO