Over the next six months Olivia would continue to text Franklin and ever so gradually he began to text back, particularly after he had seen her on tv. He was settling back into school well and had even read the book she gave him. She asked him about his favourite character and what he liked and disliked about the book. His responses seemed to come from a place of genuine interest. Sometimes he would even call her if it was something that he particularly enjoyed or if she had told him she was reading the same book as him, because she often tried to read the books he was reading, or if he had a question about politics.
His mothers house was sold in early December and Olivia drove down a week before Christmas and went with him to collect anything he wanted to keep and arrange for storage if necessary. Thankfully the things he picked comfortably fit in her car and into a small storage unit.
That night she had dinner with him and his foster parents who she had come to talk much more frequently to over the last two months. Olivia could see the changes in Franklin since he had been there. He was talking a lot more and seemed to be coming out of his shell. The Ferguson's and Olivia couldn't be happier, although they both put the change down to the other.
As it was just before Christmas Olivia had brought down some gifts for Franklin and he seemed to love all of them, including a book she had read around the time her mother had died. It wasn't from a store, it was her copy with a vintage cover. She didn't tell him why she had given it to him, but he seemed to feel the significance regardless.
She left that night, after receiving a very warm and grateful hug from Franklin.
She hugged him back and thought I could get used to this before heading home.
XXXX
Just a month after Christmas Olivia had a call from Mrs Doherty. After the niceties, Mrs Doherty got straight to business.
"Miss Pope, unfortunately it would appear that Mr Ferguson has been diagnosed with testicular cancer."
"That is terrible." She said genuinely.
"They have only just found out so they are not sure of what the future holds and they have indicated that they are not sure if they will be able to have Franklin for very much longer."
"I understand. So where will he go?" she asked.
"They have not definitively said they will no longer look after him, but I would like to try to set up an alternative plan for the near future. I will look into the options and get back to you."
XXXX
8am the next morning Olivia was on her way to work when her phone rang.
"Hello, is this Miss Pope?" the voice asked.
"Yes." She replied.
"I have a Franklin Washington here at Union Station, he was evading his fare."
Without a further thought she respondent "Im on my way"
10 minutes later Olivia pulled up. She asked around and was finally directed to the relevant office. She found Franklin slumped over, much like when she first met him at the crisis centre.
The man she presumed had called her was standing behind a desk. He nodded when he saw Olivia looking at Franklin. She nodded back before sitting down next to him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I came to see you. But I can go back if you want me to." He said coyly.
She sensed that he thought she was angry so she nudged him slightly. He looked up at her "Do you remember what I said when I gave you that mobile phone?" she asked him. He nodded.
"No more stealing, no more sleeping in bus shelters and no more hitch hiking." She said sternly.
"Well technically I didn't do any of those." He said giving her a cheeky smile.
"Why didn't you just call?"
"I dunno." he said with a shrug. Olivia stood up and walked over to the desk. She handed him the lost train fare with a promise that he wouldn't do it again.
They took a walk in the park across from the station.
"Not that Im not happy to see you but, what are you doing here?" she asked him again. He didn't say anything for a minute.
"Mr Ferguson has cancer." He confessed. He looked up at her. She nodded.
"Mrs Doherty rang me yesterday. What did you think running away would achieve?" she asked.
"I heard them say they didn't know what to do about me, so I thought I could come here with you?" he said both as a statement and a question.
"Franklin, you cant just run away ok. We need to call Mrs Doherty and the Ferguson's to them know you are ok, ok." She pulled out her phone "But how about I see if you can stay the night here, and ill drive you home tomorrow?"
He quickly smiled up at her and he wrapped his arms around her. She smiled broadly at the feeling, her heart fluttering.
She called Mrs Doherty first who had said that if he promised never to run off to DC again that he could stay the night. Franklin agreed. Olivia took the phone off speaker briefly and Mrs Doherty advised her that she would normally request that she be a certified foster carer for him to stay but one night shouldn't hurt.
When they spoke to the Fergusons they sounded so worried. He appologised without prompt and asked if it was ok if he stayed with Olivia tonight. They agreed, slightly glad for the reprieve at this terrible time for them.
Next Olivia rang work saying she would be out all day and only to call for emergencies. She spoke to Steven who tried to protest before she hung up on him.
XXXX
The whole team had been suspicious about her texting and on the phone when they knew it was not about work. She hadn't confided in Steven either. They all thought she had a boyfriend, except Huck. Huck knew the truth. When she called to say she wouldn't be in they agreed they would throw her a surprise party, it was her birthday after all. Abby and Quinn thought they might catch her brining home a handsome spunk.
Huck let them in knowing they wouldn't catch her doing anything wrong, and it was her birthday.
XXXX
Since she hung up with Steven she had received messages from him an Abby saying it was her birthday she had to come in. She ignored them.
Olivia and Franklin found themselves walking to the Washington Memorial. Franklin was so excited, he had never seen it before, he had never been to DC before. Upon hearing this Olivia gave him the royal treatment.
As the White House came into view Olivia wished that she were on better terms with Fitz so that she could take Franklin into the White House. She was sure he would love it, she loved it and she wasn't a child. She didn't notice she had stopped walking until he called her name. She shook her head and caught up to him.
"I wish we could go in there" he said admiring the White House from afar.
"Wanna know something pretty cool?" she asked.
"I have been in there!" she said.
"No way. Was it awesome?" he pressed.
"Totally." She confirmed.
"How did you get in?" he asked intrigued.
"Im actually a super spy and I was sent to assassinate the president" she said seriously. He looked at her with his mouth open, totally believing her for about a second. She burst out laughing. "Only kidding. I know the President."
This time Franklin laughed and began walking again.
"Hey, Im not joking this time. I worked on his campaign."
"Really?" he asked and Olivia nodded.
"Can we go in and see him." he asked excitedly.
"Maybe one day, but not today. Want a hotdog?" she said distracting him from his train of thought.
"I know we walked past them already, but do you want to go to one of the museums back there?"
And they did.
XXXX
They arrived at Olivia's house, after buying Franklin some more clothes, at about 6:30pm. Olivia unlocked her door and walked in with Franklin behind her. She turned on the light when Abby, Harrison, Steven and Quinn jumped out from behind things and shouted "Surprise". Harrison blew one of those colourful whistle things.
Both Olivia and Franklin stood in the doorway stunned. Neither said anything. Abby, Harrison and Quinn were surprised by the presence of Franklin so it became very quiet very quickly. Steven broke the silence by giving Olivia a hug and saying happy birthday and then introducing himself to Franklin, who after the initial shock, seemed ok. Steven turned around "Everyone, this is Franklin".
Harrison, Abby, Quinn and Huck (who had made no attempt to hide before Olivia came in) all greeted Franklin with a handshake.
"So, Chinese is on the way, but there are nibbly's on the coffee table so help yourselves" Quinn informed Olivia and Franklin before guiding them both to the couch. Harrison then put music on Olivia's speaker system and started dancing around the room. Everyone watched him as he amusingly pranced and shook around the room. They all laughed at him for a while before there was a knock at the door. It was Cyrus and James bearing three bags of Chinese food. They walked in and placed the food down before greeting everyone.
They greeted Olivia with a hug. James introduced himself to Franklin while Cryus gave her a questioning look. She put her hand on Franklin's shoulder once Cyrus released her from a hug and said "This is my friend Franklin." Cyrus seemed to drop it before shaking hands with the boy.
"Shall we eat?" Abby spoke when Cyrus and James had done their rounds. Olivia placed a stack of plates and forks and spoons on the table and everyone dug in. Everyone insisted that Olivia and Franklin go first, so they piled their plates and Franklin followed Olivia to the couch. Olivia looked over to see the signature slump she had come to associate with Franklin being upset.
"Im sorry about all this, I didn't know." She said feeling guilty.
"Why didn't you say it was your birthday." He asked. She realized that was what he was upset about.
"Oh. Im not a big birthday person, but I sure am glad I got to spend it with you." She smiled. James sat down in the seat next to Franklin and started asking him questions about school and the like. Steven sat on the seat nearest Olivia and looked at her accusingly. She gave him a look that said not now.
"This explains a lot. That's all I will say." Then a loud pop was heard from the kitchen and Quinn walked out with some champagne for everyone, and a lemonade for Franklin.
"Happy Birthday to the only person in the world who doesn't like celebrating their birthday" Steven raised his glass and everyone else joined too with "Olivia".
Olivia chinked her glass with everyone and winked when she did so with Franklin.
The rest of the night was pretty enjoyable. Franklin was showing Quinn and Abbey some magic tricks while Harrison and Steven were trying to figure out how he did it. Meanwhile James was talking to Olivia.
"We are thinking of adopting" he said.
"Really? That is exciting" she looked to Cyrus who had on his best fake smile. She had to hold back laughter.
"We are tossing up between an overseas or domestic adoption. Im leaning towards a domestic. There are so many children in our own backyard who need help, but domestic adoption is just so hard unless you know the child."
Olivia looked over at Franklin interacting with her team and the proverbial light bulb flashed above her head. She hadn't even thought about taking him on until then. She couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it already. She looked back at Cyrus who still had a look, which she quickly dismissed, to return to her conversation with James who began discussing the pro's and con's of each gender.
By 9:30 Olivia thought it would be best to call it a night, more so for Franklin who was probably over stimulated but tired. She stood up yawned and said she was going to head to bed. Everyone took a hint and said their goodbyes before leaving. Franklin had a big smile on his face even as the last of the guests left while sitting at the dining table.
"Have a good night?" she asked.
"I had a great night. You have pretty cool friends. I didn't believe you actually knew the President until your friend Cyrus said he worked for him as his chief of staff." He seemed impressed.
"Im a little hurt that you thought I was making that up" she feigned hurt as she sat down at the table. They both laughed which for Franklin turned into a yawn.
"I wasn't joking about being tired" she said to encourage him to go to bed. "How about I show you your room?" she asked. He said "ok".
Olivia cleaned up while Franklin had a shower and then she wished him a good night, receiving another hug from him. She kissed him on the head.
XXXX
Olivia wasnt really that tired so she sat up researching adoption. She didn't even notice the time until her phone rang, which she picked up straight away worried it would wake Franklin. That was when she looked down at the clock: 11pm. That only meant one person. She rolled her eyes.
"Hello?" she heard from a familiar voice.
"Hello" she returned.
"Happy Birthday Liv" she could hear him smiling.
"Thank you Mr President." She respondent.
"Did you have a good day? I hear you had a surprise party?"
"I did have a good day" she said smiling to herself. Fitz could tell but wasn't sure if he was hearing right because he knew she hated surprises.
"Really? You hate surprises." He stated. She chuckled.
"Well not all surprises are bad." She said thinking about her day.
"What are you doing tomorrow" he changed the subject completely. She frowned.
"I am driving down to Richmond."
"Oh. Will you be back for dinner?" he asked probingly. She was suspicious so she didn't answer.
"Come over for dinner." He requested. Still she said nothing.
"Fitz, I…" he cut her off.
"Karen and Jerry would like to give you your present." He said trying to convince her. He exhaled.
"If I was to call them, would they back up your statement?" she questioned. He laughed.
"In fact it was Karen's idea. She asked if I was going to call you for your birthday and if I could ask you to dinner." He wasn't lying. "Will you come? I'll have the chef cook your favourite. Shrimp Scampi." He was now trying anything.
"You Sir, have a deal." She said upon hearing her favourite dish thrown into the mix.
"I thought the saying was that the way to MANS heart was his stomach, not a womans." He smiled.
"Well im not an ordinary woman." She chirped.
"You certainly are not." He agreed. Olivia's face dropped at this comment.
"Look Fitz, I need to go." She said trying to think of an excuse.
"Ok. Ill see you tomorrow Livvie. Happy Birthday."
XXXX
The next morning Olivia and Franklin drove back to Richmond. She had lunch with him before bidding her goodbyes.
"You don't want to stay longer?" Franklin asked seemingly sad.
"I don't want to go, but…can I tell you a secret." She leaned in. He nodded.
"I have to back in DC because I am having dinner with the President." She stood up and she saw his face, trying to see if she was telling the truth.
"Really. I promise you." she said smiling at his questioning look.
"Wanna bet?" he asked seriously.
"Ok. What is the bet for?" she asked.
"If your right I get to pick the next book, and if your right, you get to pick." he suggested.
"Ok. Deal" she said holding out a hand for him to shake.
"I want proof!" he said crossing his arms. Olivia thought.
"Ok." She said and Franklin shook her hand.
XXXX
The drive home was short. She found herself not really knowing if she ran any traffic lights, or stop signs. She thanked god she managed to make it back in one piece. She was thinking about dinner. What should she wear, should she ring and cancel, should she call Karen to make sure she and Jerry would be there, would Mellie be there?
When she got home she raided her wardrobe trying to decide what to wear. After trying on most of her wardrobe she settled on a just above knee length deep blue dress with a high neck and long sleeves, paired with matching blue pumps and a white jacket. She had a shower before getting dressed and doing her makeup, which she kept simple.
6:30pm she picked up her keys about to head out the door when there was a knock on her door. Tom and Hall stood on the other side of the door. She did not object to them driving her because she knew they were given orders.
She sat in the limo looking at the presidential items within it and was becoming even more anxious. But before she knew it they were at the White House. Tom opened the door and escorted her inside and up to the residence. She was met by Karen who was clearly waiting for her. She jumped up when she entered.
"Liv. Happy Birthday!" she said hugging her. "You look good".
"Thanks Karen. How are you?" she asked. Karen started talking about her boyfriend of almost two years, Andre, the President of France's son who she had met at the state diner, who she seemed smitten with.
Shortly after they were joined by Jerry and Mellie. Mellie's presence made her nervous, but that was nothing compared to the feeling that gripped her as Fitz entered the room. Momentarily everyone in the room disappeared and it was just them. She held her hand out for him to shake which he did, before leaning in to kiss her cheek.
"Have I taught you guys nothing? You take the coat of our guest when they arrive" he said to his children as he made his way around Olivia to retrieve her coat. He stood closer than necessary for the job so that he might be able to smell her hair as he took her jacket. She took the jacket off and handed it to Fitz who loved the feeling of the fabric of the jacket. While it wasn't her in his arms, it was probably as close as he would get tonight, or in the near future. He turned around to put it on the coat stand and held it up to his face getting to smell her scent.
Mellie then escorted them all to the dinning room. They all enjoyed their meal.
Afterwards Karen and Jerry asked her to go sit in the lounge room while they got her presents. They walked into the room and put her presents in her lap.
She opened the first one that Karen clarified was from her. It was a Michael Korrs handbag, part of the spring collection that was yet to be released. She loved it and was actually looking to buy a new one. "Open it" Karen said. She reached inside and found two envelopes. Inside it was a coupon: one return trip on Air Force One to France. Olivia looked at Karen confused. She pointed to the second envelope which contained both a birthday invitation and a letter addressed to Karen from ENS university saying she had been accepted into the history program. When Olivia realized she looked up at Karen with a mixture of feelings. She was proud she had gotten into the school, but sad that it would appear she is leaving.
"KAREN! Congratulations!" Olivia exclaimed moving to hug Karen. "Im so proud of you!" she beamed.
"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain French boy would it?" Karen blushed slightly.
Olivia looked at the address on the letter and it was a couple of weeks ago. "You did a good job of keeping this under wraps didn't you." She said to Karen but looked up at Mellie and Fitz who were smiling, Fitz shrugged giving her a look that said if you had answered the phone I might have told you. She hugged Karen again before Jerry motioned to his gift.
"I have nothing as exciting to give you, it is hard buying for someone who has everything." He said.
"Hey. I do not have everything!" she laughed. She then opened her present to find a box that indicated the product was a 'selfie stick'. She looked at it somewhat bemused. Seeing her look he helped her take it out of the box and set it up with her phone.
"It's a selfie stick, it makes taking selfies easy" he said in his best salesman impression.
"Just what I always wanted Jerry. Thank you" she said side hugging him. "I guess we better try this baby out." she said as she lifted the stick. What better evidence to send to Franklin than a photo with the first children. She held the stick and saw her own face, as well as Jerry and Karen's on either side of her. By the time she had figured out how to get it to take the photo Fitz had snuck around and ducked his head in just in time to be in the photo making a funny face. Olivia turned around "Hey, you just ruined an otherwise good photo" she pouted. They all laughed.
They went to take another photo when Fitz ruffled up Karen and Jerry's hair, in turn making them pull funny faces. Olivia turned around and whacked Fitz with the selfie stick. Fitz was a little stunned by the attack but quickly recovered. "Tom, Hall, have this woman arrested for treason. Attempting to assassinate the President of the United States." He hadn't said it loud enough for Tom and Hall to actually hear so they all started laughing again. They recovered and Olivia noticed that Mellie was no longer in the room.
"Can I please take a nice photo?" she asked.
"Only if I can be in it" Fitz announced walking around the couch. Olivia looked at him if to say be careful. He raised his eyebrows at her.
"Fine" she said.
"You guys are monopolizing all of Liv's time, someone let me in." he said to Karen and Jerry. Jerry moved over with a huff and Fitz squeezed between Jerry and Olivia.
"Ok, so one serious photo, then one silly one ok?" Fitz said. They agreed.
"Wait, I need to fix my hair" Karen said as she looked in the phone. She patted it down "Ok. Im ready. So serious first" They all smiled into the camera and Olivia took the photo.
"Ok, now silly one" said Fitz. Karen went cross-eyed and stuck out her tongue and Jerry pulled his ears out and puffed up his cheeks. Olivia was somewhere between the two. Fitz squished his mouth together between his thumb and forefinger so he looked like a fish. He reached up to push the button to take the photo and then when Fitz saw Karen and Jerry would not be able to see what he did he turned his head and pressed his pursed lips to Olivia's cheek. He simultaneously pushed the button. Surprised to feel his lips on her cheek she let out her breath and her eyebrows rose.
"All done" Olivia said, quickly trying to escape she stood up off the couch. She took her phone out of the 'selfie stick' and went to her photos. She went to delete the last photo with Fitz kissing her cheek but saw that it was a cute photo. Karen and Jerry jumped up to see the photos and Olivia quickly scrolled across. They all laughed at the funny photo.
"Hey Liv, can you send those to me" she asked.
"Sure thing." Looking at her phone she realized the time "Wow, it is late, I should get going."
Karen and Jerry reluctantly allowed her to go, giving her a hug goodbye. She asked them to wish their mother good night and thank you. Olivia began walking towards the door to the residence when she heard Fitz behind her. "I'll see you out" he said. She exhaled, a sign of her acceptance of a fact she knew she could not change.
Fitz picked up her jacket from the stand and helped her into it. He then reached over to the table nearby and picked up a parcel and put it under his arm before opening the door and motioning for her to go through.
They walked towards the main entrance where she would be driven home. Fitz had both his hands in his pockets and Olivia was fidgeting with her bag. They were silent until they reached the White House auditorium of sorts. Olivia turned to Fitz.
"Well thank you for inviting me tonight. I had fun." She turned to leave when he grabbed one of her arms. Olivia quickly looked around to see if anyone had seen it. The room seemed clear of people, which Olivia thought was probably odd. Olivia then looked down at the hand gripping her arm and he quickly released.
"Sorry...I got you a present" he said handing her the parcel.
"You shouldn't have" she scolded, and it wasn't the friendly scold. He really shouldn't have. She didn't reach for it.
"Livvie, please" he almost begged. She could see that he was somewhat upset about her reaction to his gift so she reached out and grabbed it.
"Thank you." She said.
"You haven't opened it yet" he smiled.
"Do I have to open it now?" she asked.
"No, only on the condition that you answer my call tonight." She agreed.
"Goodbye Livvie" he said as he pulled her to him in a hug. When he pulled away he kissed her cheek for the third time that night. Her restraint was fading with each but she managed to keep it together.
"Goodnight Fitz" she said and left the White House.
XXXX
When Olivia arrived home she changed into pajamas and poured herself a glass of wine. She then sat on her couch staring at the present Fitz had given her. She stared at it for a while before putting her glass down and reaching for the gift. She untied the twine that held the brown paper together then carefully opened the paper.
She gasped as she saw what was inside. She ran her hand over the cover of the 1st edition copy of To Kill a Mockingbird. She opened it slowly. On the inside cover was the signature of Harper Lee. She ran her finger over the signature. She continued to admire ever inch of the book, slowly browsing through the pages, not reading, just admiring. She loved that book. The first time she had read it was a year or so after her mother had died. She smiled, it would be a perfect book to give Franklin.
She sat admiring it a little longer when the phone rang. She knew it would be Fitz but she had promised to take his call and after opening it there was no way she couldn't answer. She picked up the receiver.
"You didn't" she said.
"I did" he returned.
"You shouldn't have" she was trying to chastise, but he could tell she loved it.
"Do you like it?" he asked. She could hear him smile.
"Fitz. I love it." She clarified.
They spoke for another 10 minutes before Olivia said she had a big day tomorrow so needed her sleep. She was lying, she just needed to get off the phone before she became too comfortable.
XXXX
The next morning when she woke up she looked up at her clock, it was 7:30am. She picked up her phone and scrolled through her pictures. She picked the nice photo they had taken to send and attached it to a message that said "To Kill a Mockingbird" to Franklin. She smiled before she put down the phone.
When the time ticked over to 9am the first call Olivia made from her office was to Mrs Doherty.
"Olivia. How can I help you?" she asked.
"You said that Franklin probably shouldn't stay with me unless I was a proper foster carer. How would I go about making that happen?" she asked somewhat hesitantly, which surprised even her. It wasn't the concept of being a foster carer, it was the commitment that might come with that small step.
Mrs Doherty was happy to help and set up to meet an assessment officer at her apartment in a couple of days to have the necessary assessment of her house done.
XXXXX
By the end of the week the assessment officer had given her the go ahead to become a foster carer and the first thing she wanted to do was tell Franklin, but she didn't want to be too forward or make him think he had to come live with her, so instead she rang him just to chat. They talked about their book, which Franklin had borrowed from the school library and was thus far enjoying, they talked about Olivia's dinner with the President, which they had been unable to discuss till now because of Olivia's workload. They talked about school and Franklin asked her a question about his homework. But when Olivia asked about Mr Ferguson she could hear Franklin shut down. She knew it wasn't good, that he was not accepting treatment so would shortly begin deteriorating, but she wanted to give him the opportunity to discuss his feelings.
Every time he shut down she saw more of herself in him. She would disconnect from people when things became too hard, absorbing herself in school, and later in life, work.
The situation stayed the same for about six months. Because he wasn't accepting treatment, it probably wouldn't get too bad right until the end. They had decided that Franklin was welcome to stay for as long as possible and Olivia thought it best not to interrupt his life more than necessary.
For the next 12 months she visited as often as she could on weekends, usually every third weekend or so, and had took a few days off during the holidays to just hang out with him and made a special visit on his birthday.
She didn't have him on Christmas day because the Ferguson's had asked him to stay, so she picked him up on boxing day for a few days.
Franklin had become much more interested in politics over this time. He would often just sit with her while she watched the news, or ask her opinion on things and was forming his own opinions. Some of the books they were reading were steering in the political direction, for example, when Hilary Clinton's memoir's were published, that was what they read. He loved it.
Over that year Olivia noticed how she used work less and less as an outlet. There were less late nights, and she tried hard to make sure everyone was getting home by a reasonable hour.