AN: Finally chpater 11, and that phone call. We are getting closer to taking down command once and for all, so Olivia and Jerry will finally be able to come out of hiding. Thanks for reading, I will try to update soon, hope you guys enjoy :)
Olivia was pacing the living room impatiently, it was already time for Fitz' call and she was really nervous, she was worried about saying the wrong thing and making things worse, or not being able to stay strong through the call when she heard him. She wanted Jerry to leave the room but he refused, he said it was the closest he would be to his dad in a while, and that also he would be there in case she needed support.
"We are going to have to replace the floor if you keep that up" Jerry sat in one of the couches just looking at her going back and forth in the same space.
"I'm just really nervous, I haven't talked to your dad in a while and everything is so complicated right now" She tried to explain.
"Just take a deep breath…" Jerry started trying to calm her, but in that moment her phone rang, it was go time. With shaky fingers she answered and brought the phone to her ear. She heard breathing on the other end and she stayed quiet. Fitz heard her breathing too, but he was frozen on the spot, when he got to the meeting place Huck was waiting for him and put a burner phone in his hand and told him he had to talk to her. For a few minutes he just stared at Huck and the phone like he'd never seen them before, but then he finally reacted and asked huck the number to dial, Huck just told him she was 1 on speed dial. He took a deep breath before making the call he didn't know what to expect, he just wanted her to come back, but he had a feeling it wouldn't happen so soon. Both of them just heard each other breathe for a while unable to utter a single word.
"Hi" she finally said. He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, then he almost lost his balance so he found one of the chairs they had to prevent a fall.
"Hi" he whispered once he was settled. Olivia took a deep breath, she decided she had to do most of the talking and clear things to keep everything under control.
"Fitz… I… look, before anything, I need you to know that I am not with Jake, he was just a cover to keep my dad at bay, so he didn't go looking for me, I swear I am nowhere near him, but you have to stop looking please, just trust me" Olivia told him, trying to sound convincing.
"I trust you ok, I really do, so if you say you are not with him I believe you, but Liv I just miss you so much, I feel so lost without you, and I'm worried about you all the time, why can't you just tell me where you are? I could protect you" he also tried to sound convincing.
"Please, believe me when I tell you, I wan to be there with you, or see you somehow, but my father is way too dangerous, it would be too risky for everyone involved, it's better this way"
"Can I at least talk to you more often?" he said feeling defeated. She paused before she answered, she didn't want to hurt him, but she couldn't say yes to his request either. When she didn't answer right way he knew what the answer would be.
"I am sorry, but that can't happen either, I am so sorry, but I'm just trying to keep us safe" she was on the verge of tears. He felt bad, but he knew what he had to do, he had to work twice as hard to get rid of the monster so she could come back.
"Liv I swear I will not rest until he is down for good, I need you to come back to me, we can be together now, we will be happy and do everything we always dreamed of, you will be my First Lady and we will be a family" Fitz couldn't hold the tears anymore and she could hear it in his voice "Just promise me you will come back, once everything is over, please"
Olivia wanted to answer, but she started crying harder, there was nothing she wanted more than everything he just said, but she couldn't help thinking Fitz could change his mind once he found out about Jerry. "Liv, what's wrong" he voiced full of concern. Jerry reached for her hand, in an attempt to calm her so she could continue talking.
"Yeah, I just love you so much, and I want everything you just said, I just hope we can still have it once this is all over" She told him. Fitz wasn't sure why she thought it may not happen.
"Don't worry ok, the only thing standing between us is your father, and I will fix that, I promise" Fitz just thought maybe she was having trouble believing they could finally be happy after everything that had happened. "I love you"
"I love you too" she muttered between tears.
Both of them stayed quiet for a while just listening to their jagged breaths and quiet sobs, Huck told him it was time, he could see David was walking to the place already. Olivia was the one who ended the call after she heard Huck's voice, Fitz handed the phone back to him and he started taking it apart. David got there and realized something had happened, they were both more quiet than usual and the president was crying. He decided to stay out of it and just waited for Fitz to compose himself so they could get to work. Fitz cleared his throat and they all go down to business, they were on the verge of taking down a senator who was on commands side, they had found some rather compromising information about him, and completely unrelated to b613, that way they could get him to resign and then throw him in jail, without command getting suspicious.
Olivia sat next to Jerry still crying after she ended the call, he was still holding her hand, but he was clueless to anything else he could do to make her feel better. He stayed quiet for a while, until he decided to just break the silence.
"What did he say, is everything ok?" He spoke softly
"Yeah, he won't get us in trouble, it's just…" she didn't finish and just took her hand away from Jerry's to bury her face in her hands. He put his hand on her shoulder instead.
"It's just what"
"He told me that he wants us to be a family and have everything we dreamed for when all is fixed and I go back"
"That's good right" Jerry said, not realizing what was bothering her so much.
"Jerry, he says that now, but what about when he finds out about you, he will take it back and I don't think he'll want anything to do with me" She finally voiced her fears and looked up, she was truly upset and there wasn't much he could do.
"We agreed we would fix it, I'm sure you guys can still be happy, if he doesn't want to listen to you, then he will have to listen to me until he gets it, I promise"
Olivia looked at Jerry and couldn't help but see how much he resembled his father, he was a really good kid despite everything, and it meant the world to her that he was willing to stand up for her. It really gave her hope that one day things would be alright, that at least she had one of the Grants on her side.
"You are right, we can still fix it" she finally smiled to him
"You are gonna love the White House, I always wanted to live there, but mom wouldn't let us, now she will not be there and you will, you won't be shipping us off will you" he said half joking, half serious. She realized it was her turn to ease his mind, and make sure he knew she cared for them.
"Never, it wouldn't be the same if the family is incomplete" she said with a reassuring smile.
"Good, Karen may be a little hard to win over, but she will come around, and Teddy is just a baby, and he will finally get a real mom, I mean you are not actually, but he's a baby, I mean you will be the only mother he knows, even if you are not" Jerry rambled, he knew the circumstances in which Teddy was born, but it wasn't his fault.
"Yes, it doesn't matter I didn't give birth to him, I will be his mother and love him just as if I had, blood has no business in that" hearing that made Jerry quite happy
"Tell me about it" he said thinking of his mother never really caring for him.
"And it doesn't only apply for toddlers" Olivia wanted to make sure he didn't feel like he had lost his chance at a mother just because he wasn't a little kid anymore. He was relieved to hear it, a part of him already knew, but it was always better to know for sure.
"Well this was quite the evening, how about we get some ice cream and watch modern family, I recorded it" she said with exaggerated excitement.
"Sounds good to me"
It was finally friday and Fitz would be leaving to Camp David with his children, it was also the day of their first hit on command's allies. Senator Wells was asked to step down from his job after his illegal activities were made public, command didn't really find it weird; from his allies he always thought Wells was too reckless and would eventually get caught. Rowan actually thought it was better the guy was caught before he did something that could affect b613.
Their first hit was a success, but most of them would have to be made at the same time as Rowan's, since he would know something was up. Their next step was going after minor criminal collaborators of command, people he just kept available, but didn't really keep track of them; after them there were some agents with assignments that kept them of the grid and away from dc, by the time Rowan realized they were caught it would be too late. They were on a two-week timetable, if they took any longer, command would get wind of their plan and everything would be ruined. While Fitz was at Camp David, Huck would stay with the others working, he said it worked for them that Fitz left, it would reassure command that he was safe. Fitz left his office in the afternoon and went to the residence to get his kids.
"Hey Karen, are you ready?" He asked upon entering the residence and finding his daughter on the living room with her bags, and holding Teddy.
"Yep, we both are right buddy?" she said looking at her brother, he just smiled at both of them, Teddy was not talking much yet.
"Ok, I will just go change and then we leave" Fitz left to get changed quickly. After he returned he got the agents to come in and take their luggage. Marine one was already waiting for them at the south lawn, once they were there Fitz finally allowed himself to relax a little and just enjoy the company of his two kids.
The next morning Olivia and Jerry slept in until noon, they had stayed up quite late watching tv, and they didn't really care, it wasn't like either of them had anything important to do. Jerry got up first and decided to attempt making breakfast, Olivia had been dong everything for him for almost a month and he thought it was time he did something for her. She went downstairs and found Jerry struggling with omelets and bacon.
"You need help?" She asked Jerry
"No, I'm ok, just sit there and relax" Olivia didn't really think she could just sit there and wait for him to burn himself.
"Are you sure, you look like you are struggling there" She insisted
"Yeah, I'm just a bit rusty, dad was teaching me how to cook, but my mom made him stop, she said that kids like us should be served always, and that it made no sense for him to teach us such menial things" he rushed to take some stripes of bacon from the pan before they ended up overcooked and then went back to flip an omelet. "But I still remember a few things"
Olivia was still unsure about it, but she figured it might hurt his feelings if she tried to stop him and cook herself, she thought it could make him feel she didn't think he was capable of doing things.
"Ok, I will get started on the juice and the toast" She went to find one of those frozen juice concentrates, and then she put a couple slices of bread on the toaster. He was almost finished with the bacon and the omelets so she also got the plates out and put the butter out too. Jerry served the omelets and a large portion of bacon on each plate and they both sat at the kitchen island. Jerry was looking at her expectantly, he wanted her to try it first, so he would know if he did a good job. She realized what was happening and took her first bite, she was expecting for it to be ok, but she was surprised when it turned out to be delicious.
"This is really good Jerry" She said with a smile
"Really?" he said ginning like a little kid with a new toy
"Yeah, your dad must be a pretty good teacher"
"He is, I'm glad it turned out well, I really wanted to do something for a change, cause you always do everything, like even my laundry, and yes I know I was sick, but I'm ok now, and I'm not a little kid, you shouldn't be doing everything" He explained.
"I really appreciate this kiddo, but I don't mind doing everything, you are barely out of the woods, I just wanted you to recover without complications, there's no pressure I want you to be healthy and strong when you return to your family" Olivia told him
"Liv, I feel great now, and I wont get sick from doing the dishes, my dad would actually like it if you make me into respectable young man who knows how to take care of himself and others, instead of just spoiling me rotten so I can be another rich brat like most kids I know" Jerry really wanted to stop being a load for her, and he actually thought it would be good, he wanted his dad to be proud of him, to see he hadn't been totally ruined by his mothers stupid parenting.
"I guess you are right, we can talk about dividing the house chores later, right now lets just enjoy this great feast you prepared" Both of them continued eating and moved the conversation to tv shows, they spent most of their time watching tv and had bonded over it.
Fitz had woken up early and he got Teddy out of bed, a few minutes later Karen came out of her room and he decided to make breakfast himself instead of asking the staff to do it, he actually really enjoyed cooking, but barely ever had the time to do it.
"I'm making breakfast today, what would you like" he asked his daughter
"Hmm, I could it some waffles" she replied
"Then waffles it is" He sat Teddy on his high chair and went to get all the necessary supplies to make waffles.
"Hey dad" He turned to look at his daughter "Can I help you?" She asked Fitz, she remembered he tried to teach her and Jerry how to cook, but her mother had made him stop saying it was not appropriate, but she was no longer there to stop her.
"Of course you can sweetheart, come on" He extended his arm to get her closer to him and kissed her head. He let go of her and started prepping the ingredients, he gave her a few tasks and they both worked together. Fitz looked at her all concentrated adding eggs to the blender so he stopped chopping fruit and took some flour in his hands and blew it on her head.
"Dad, seriously, you are supposed to be the responsible one" she exclaimed
"Yeah, but you just seemed so serious and I thought we should have some fun" he said laughing
"Oh really" she said as she dug her hand into the flour container, immediately after, she threw it at him. A couple of minutes later they were having a full on food fight, chasing each other around the kitchen, Teddy just looked at both and laughed. Fitz went to grab Teddy form his chair so he could be part of the fun too.
"Come on buddy, it's us guys against your sister" He said to the little boy
"No fair dad, it's two against one"
"He doesn't really count"
"Yeah but you can totally use him as a shield"
"I wouldn't do that" Fitz said pretending to be offended
"We'll see about that" Karen told him as she reached for the chocolate syrup. Fitz braced himself and ducked his head behind Teddy to amuse Karen, then he went and grabbed the maple syrup and attacked her. By the time they were done, all three of them were covered in sugary goo, he put the toddler back in his chair and started cooking the waffles, they ate like that all dirty and sticky sitting on the kitchen stools. Its was the most fun he'd had in ages.
After an extended weekend of goofing around and probably getting all the staff to hate him Fitz went back to reality, it was tuesday night and after he made sure both Karen and Teddy were in bed he went to meet with Huck. Fitz went to their usual meeting place and he was already there waiting, and he looked concerned.
"Is everything ok? Is there a problem with our plans?" Fitz asked
"No, I hired some guys who do anything for money to go after command's boys out of town and it seems to be going well, it's something else" He paused for a minute waiting for Fitz to take a seat in front of him.
"Then what is it?" Fitz asked again
"Tom told me command made a call to Ballard, just to check on things, and he wasn't really reassured after the call" Huck began
"What do you mean with not reassured, what did he say?" Fitz was getting worried
"The weasel sounded drunk and a bit weirder than normal, so command began thinking something might not be right, Tom suggested that maybe he just caught Ballard after a night of partying, after all it's the Bahamas, and maybe he was just hungover. Command said that was basically what the Jake told him so he seemed to have dropped the subject, but he might inquire a little further, have someone look into him and…" Huck paused for a moment and Fitz caught on
"He will realize she is not with him" The thought of Olivia being in danger made him nauseous. "I guess we better hurry, so maybe we can get this over with before the two weeks, how is Rosen's official case looking?"
"It looks solid, we just need to figure out a few more details before he can officially file it in, it is possible we will be done before we thought" Huck replied.
"I really hope we can pull this off without putting anyone in danger, he can't find Liv, that is what worries me the most"
Huck just nodded thinking the president had no idea of how important it was for Olivia to be safe, since his son depended on that too.
AN2: So what do you guys think, is command going to let it drop, or will he go looking for an explanation and put the whole operation at risk? At least Fitz got a nice weekend with his kids, and Liv's bond with Jerry is getting stronger, tbh I love writing them being happy and doing normal stuff. Anyway, let me know what you think, please review :)
