AN: New Update! Sorry to the guest who thinks that the baby talk is really annoying. Iya is a part of this family and she will have her moments where I will write her babbling on with them. So sorry in advance because there will be more of her baby talks in this update. Thank you guys for still sticking with this story and I hope you enjoy the new update!
Feeling slightly tipsy Olivia makes her way from the taxi and up the four cobblestone steps. After fishing around in her bag for a minute she finally found the house key. Opening the door she steps inside and closes it. Moving her way through the foyer her steps halted when seeing a pissed off looking Fitz sitting in the living room.
"Hey" she says meekly hoping that he was already asleep. It was already two in the morning and she was out with Abby and Quinn. They hadn't seen each since Iya's baby dedication service which was more than a few months ago. Coincidentally they both were in town for a business strip and Olivia had left home early that evening to head out to dinner with them. They'd gotten to having fun with each other and before they know it, it was already after midnight. Olivia didn't thought to call Fitz as she'd assumed after he'd put Iya to sleep he would've went to bed himself. Apparently she was wrong.
"Good to see you're back in one piece" his voice controlled and emotionless. He makes his way up from his seat on the couch and moves to the stairs leading to their bedroom. He checked in on Iya and was satisfied to see her sleeping with her teddy bear clutched tightly in her arms. He smiles and retrieves himself from her room closing the door softly.
Once he was in their room he didn't seen the sight of Olivia as yet which was a good thing because he was furious. She'd told him that she was only going to dinner which apparently lasted six hours. She could've had the decency to call him and let him know she would've been out later. He turns down the comforter and moves between the crisp Egyptian cotton sheets. He lies facing the wall so that his back would be facing her when she came to bed.
Not soon after he hears the door open and she makes her way inside. He listens as she went to the bathroom to take care of her nightly routine. The shower runs for a while until it no longer was. The faucet in one of the bathroom sink was turned on and he could hear the sound of her electric toothbrush running as she brushed her teeth. When there was no more sounds coming from the inside of the bathroom he saw the door open revealing her slim figure in one of her satin numbers.
Olivia watches as he tries to ignore her as she makes her way to bed. Sliding in between the clean sheets she lets out a long sigh. Her legs hurt from all of the dancing she did tonight. It had been a while since she'd been out dancing. She had fun with her two friends while it lasted. They'd been to an upscale restaurant that had a bar and dance floor on the second floor. The girls let loose for a little while free from men and kids. She lay there in silence not saying a word to him. She had nothing to say, so she thought.
Fitz listens to her breathing from next to him and he tried to ignore it and go to sleep. But he was too upset to do so.
"Are you going to say anything?" Fitz asked, couldn't believe she was lying there without explaining why she didn't call him to say she would be late.
"What am I supposed to say?" She asks her tone matching his.
"How about why you didn't call your husband, to let him know that you would be out late?"
"I thought it wouldn't have been a big deal. It's not like I do this all the time" Olivia replies to him.
"Not a big deal? Are you serious Olivia?" he roughly fluffs the sheet and shifts his weight on the bed to pull himself closer to the edge of it.
After a beat Olivia says, "Fitz I'm not a child I don't have to report to you my every whereabouts."
He turns around this time to face her, "is that how you see it Olivia? You know if I was to come in here at two in the morning you would eat me alive."
"You do come in that hour sometimes. Don't lay there and tell me you don't!" She was getting furious at his hypocrisy.
"That's because I'm working and you know that. You're coming in here tipsy at two in the morning forgetting that you're a wife and a mother!"
Olivia gasps she couldn't believe what he's implying. She looks at him and feels her lip quivering from unshed tears mixed with the anger coursing through her body.
"I'm a good mother so don't you dare imply that I'm not!" She hisses each word with enough venom to kill an entire village. She lifts herself from off of the bed and rushes out the room before any tear could shed from her eyes. How dare he think that she wasn't a good mother because she went out with friends?
Fitz runs his hands through his hair exasperatedly. He didn't mean to say that. Of course she was a good mother. He was just furious that she would come home so late without calling him earlier. He deserved to know when his wife wouldn't be home until much later. He groans as the words he spoke replays in his head. Tonight was going to be a long night.
X
Next morning Olivia wakes up in the guest room that was next to Iya's. She looked at the time, seeing that it was already eight she decided to get up and check on her. Rubbing her eyes she went to her room to see an empty bed. She sighs, knowing that Fitz probably has her and they would eventually have to run into each other. She was so angry at him for implying that she was somewhat unfit to be a wife and a mother. Before dealing with him she decided to go to the bathroom to release her bladder and brush her teeth.
"Dada mo mo peeze" Iya bangs her small cereal bowl on the tray of her high chair.
Fitz was about to get up to go get her some more Honey Nuts cereal but Olivia's voice stopped him.
"I got it" she says making her way to the cupboard where they kept the cereal.
"Good morning sweet cheeks" she kisses her rosy cheek before pouring some more cereal in her bowl.
"Mama goo moorin" Iya replies excitedly happy to see her mother.
Liv pours a bowl of cereals for herself and some almond milk before making her way to the table and sitting opposite Fitz without acknowledging him.
"Good morning" he mutters as he eats his bagel and drinks his coffee.
"Good morning" Olivia murmured at him with her eyes downcast in her cereal bowl.
They continued eating in silence with the occasional chipper voice of Iya booming in the room. Finishing his breakfast Fitz gets up from the table to clean up both his and Iya's mess. Standing rinsing the dishes at the sink he speaks, "don't forget we're supposed to go by mom and dad today for dinner. What time do you want us to leave?"
Olivia rolls her eyes at his back at his implications again. She felt like giving him the silent treatment but knew that it was both childish and infuriating to him.
"At twelve" she states simply.
"Ok kool. I'm taking Iya to the park in a few" he lets his statement hang in hopes she would accompany them.
"You guys have fun" she says making her way to Iya.
"Have fun at the park baby. Mommy loves you. Now give me a kiss" she smiles when Iya leans forward to give her a smooch.
"Wuv you mama" she kisses her mother again.
Fitz watches their interaction and smiles at the two out of the three most important ladies in his life love on each other.
"If you guys need me I'll be in the study working on some edits" with that she left the room and moved to the office space she'd created for her personal use. It was a fairly large room with a large bay window that lets in a lot of sunlight. The walls were stark white with an orange desk and bright yellow chair. The white and bold colors help brought out her creative thinking. Her office also has a corner for Iya. There was a day bed and several of her toys scattered on the floor. Since returning from Hawaii Olivia and Fitz had met with their banker. He'd given them great tips on how to start small businesses. At this time he'd advised them to launch a web only shop that would sell her pictures online and the merchandise would be shipped directly from the manufacturer. It was cheaper that way and she didn't have to worry about either buying or renting a retail space. It was even more perfect since she wanted to work primarily from home. From the ground plan Olivia had been meeting with different manufacturers and web designers to help start her business. Today she would be doing her final touches to five of her edits before sending it to the company she'd chosen for manufacturing.
xx
Not long after breakfast Fitz put on matching black and white Nike 5.0 running shoes on his and Iya's feet. He had on black sweats and white tee and she was wearing black leggings and yellow tee with the graphic design of a cupcake with words at the bottom saying Daddy Says I'm Sweet. Hand in hand they made their way slowly down the block to the park.
Fitz was enjoying the fresh sunny Sunday morning air with his daughter. They hadn't reached half way down the block when Iya stopped walking.
"Up up" she said, stretching her arms up to him. Her eyebrows knitted together with frustration of walking so far. She was the cutest thing he'd ever seen. With one smooth movement he lifts her small body up into his arms. Not being able to resist her cuteness he kisses her plump cheeks. They continued their journey with Iya pointing to every moving and still objects and saying "Hi" to passerby's. They were either taken up with her cuteness or her father's celebrity status.
"Dada" Iya calls slapping her chubby hands on his cheeks.
"Yes Iya" he answers.
"Sunsine sung"
Fitz smiles at her knowing exactly what she's asking him to do. "Ok baby I'll sing the sunshine song." She'd grown used to hearing him sing the song to her.
He sits them down at a nearby bench and puts her to sit on his lap before he starts singing.
You're my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are grey
He sings lovingly to her, she really makes him a happy man. He couldn't ask for a better daughter. Not only did she make him happy but her mother did. They were both extremely bless to have Olivia in their lives. He knew that he had to apologize to her but he wanted her to see his point as well.
He and Iya spent another forty five minutes at the park with him swinging her carefully on the swing set before returning home. On their way home she'd snuggled herself into his chest and had fallen asleep soundly. She was all played out.
They'd returned home to see Olivia doing laundry and dancing to Shakira's new album. He smirked watching her hips sashaying from left to right in perfect time to the salsa beat. Iya started moving in his arms until her eyes were wide open. It didn't take her long to start bouncing up and down in his arms. When she called out for her mother then Olivia had noticed them in the laundry room. She smiled at them making her way across the room still moving in time to the music. She grabbed Fitz's free hand and intertwined their fingers together as her other hand wraps around his waist trapping Iya in the middle. She led them in a slow sway and Fitz joined in with her. Thankful that the next song was slow so they didn't worry about being out of time with the beat.
It felt so good to be together like this with her family. She was madly in love with her husband and daughter. She would do anything for them. She listened as Shakira's voice wash over them singing in her native language. When the song was finished she pulled away and continued laundry while Fitz and Iya went to the kitchen for a snack.
X
Awhile later they were lock and loaded in the Audi heading over to Long Island. Fitz was driving and Olivia sat in the passenger seat beside him while a hype Iya was sitting in her car seat watching Mickey Mouse on the small TV.
They'd been driving for thirty minutes and the two adults hadn't indulged each other in a proper conversation all day. They were both too stubborn and both waiting for the other one to apologize first. Even though they had a small family moment earlier things were still the way they left it last night.
Pulling up into the driveway they can see Raye's car parked outside. He parked the SUV beside her Lincoln and then proceeds to open his door. Before they were fully out of the car the front door was open and Janet emerges briskly from it.
"Princess" Janet beams as she reaches for her granddaughter from her mother's arm.
"Nana" Iya says the best way she can pronounce the word.
"Give your grandma some kisses" she demanded as Iya started kissing her cheeks.
"You're getting so big and look at this pretty dress. You're the prettiest girl in the whole wide world" Janet continues her shower of praises on her. You would've think that she hadn't seen her in a month with the way she was behaving- when they'd actually seen each other last week when Janet was in their neck of the woods shopping.
"Nice to see you too mom" Fitz pats her back accepting the fact that since Iya was born he'd grown invisible in his parents eyes.
"You come and give your mom a proper hug. You may be a father now but I can still put you over my knees" she teases him as he bent his 6'2" body to give her a hug.
"How's my daughter in law?" She asks giving Olivia a hug.
"I'm good" she says simply in her embrace.
They made their way inside of the house and were greeted by Raye and Big Jerry. Everyone passed Iya around kissing her on her cheeks before she'd escape them and started playing on the floor.
They all caught up with each other about work and mundane things that were going on in their life. A lot of the conversation was centered on Iya and she would say "yea" every time she heard them mentioning her name. Fitz and Olivia were speaking to everyone except to each other.
It was around five that they'd decided to start eating dinner and since it was summer they had great weather. Everyone sat outside under the canopy as they ate their dinner of pot roast chicken and baked potatoes with vegetables on the side. Olivia was cutting up small pieces of food for Iya to eat. The conversation flowed lightly until Janet asked a question based off of her observation.
"Is everything ok with you two?" She asked quizzically.
"Uh yea yea" Fitz answered caught by surprise. He didn't realize that people could've seen through their facade.
"Oh it's just that I've never seen you two behave as if the other doesn't exist" Janet added. She didn't care if she was overstepping boundaries. If there was a problem they were going to fix it that's the only choice they had in her book. She refused to see her son and daughter in law end in a divorce and on top of that ruin a happy home for her granddaughter.
"I agree with mom" Raye chipped in sipping her wine while Big Jerry sat mute.
"We're fine" Olivia jumped in to save their marriage from unwanted questioning. She gives them a stiff smile and they both seemed to get the message as they nodded their heads.
"Ok if you guys say so" Janet voices still not believing them but decided to stop her questioning. At least they were still tag teaming with each other and that had to count for something.
"So what's new dad?" Fitz asks trying to change the conversation from him and Olivia. For some reason Jerry was awfully quiet tonight. He only got excited from the interactions with Iya.
"Uh the doctor thinks I may have prostate cancer" he blurts out. He needed his family to know but not in the way that he did it.
"What!" Janet spits out the wine she was sipping. Everyone was shock as her. Raye started crying which made Iya started crying. Olivia took her out of the high chair she was sitting in and started rocking her in her lap to calm her down.
"Dad? Please tell me this is a joke" Fitz could feel his emotions rising. He couldn't lose his father to such a dreadful disease.
"Jerry why didn't you tell me? How long did you know?" Janet asks she was terrified and upset that he would keep something like this from her.
Everyone looked at him with expectant eyes waiting for him to say something. After a while he finally spoke "For a week now. My last visit at the doctor he did a prostate exam and that's when he felt something abnormal. They ran some tests and it came back that I have stage 1 prostate cancer."
Everyone was stunned Olivia looked around the room to see the gloom and worry on their faces. She opened her mouth to ask the one important question.
"What can they do to get rid of it?"
Big Jerry lets out a long sigh before answering her question. "The doctor advises that I do a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy." He went on to explain that the surgeon makes several small incisions, through which special long instruments are inserted to remove the prostate. He also assures them that it was less blood and recovery time was faster with this method. The surgery was schedule for Friday of the new week.
"Oh God" Fitz sighs as he takes in his father condition. He tilts his head back and pinches the bridge of his nose. He couldn't fathom the thought of losing his father. Even though he makes it sound simple Fitz knows that it was far from that. Needing some comfort he reaches out one of his hands to his wife and she holds it in her much smaller one rubbing circles into the back of his.
The place was getting dark and Iya was becoming cranky - she needed a bath and to sleep. Spending another twenty minutes discussing the preparation for the surgery everyone decided that they'll be there at the hospital for the entire duration of the surgery. Everyone hugged each other a little tighter and said I love you a little louder to each other before leaving to go to their various homes.
Iya had already fallen asleep and Olivia was looking through the window as Fitz drove them home. They were stopped at a traffic light as the light had changed and was waiting for it to be green. Turning her head away from the window she turned to see her husband face furrowed with worry.
"Fitz look out!" Olivia screamed as she saw a car out of nowhere dashing across their lane. She launches forward as Fitz mashes hard on the breaks to stop them from colliding with the car. Fitz honks his horn furiously at the driver's lapse in judgment. Instead of acknowledging them the driver simply drove away. Surprisingly all of this noise didn't wake up Iya.
"Babe you want me to drive?" Olivia asks as she saw the deathly grip he has on the steering wheel.
"No I got it" he spat harshly. It came out wrongly from his mouth due to his frustrations.
Olivia flinched at his tone and decided to ignore him. She turned her head back to the window for the remainder of their drive home.
Once they were inside of the house Fitz locked all the doors and set the alarm. His mind was racing with all sorts of unpleasant thoughts. His emotions were flying everywhere. He was going to give Iya her bath but Olivia had insisted that she did it. When they were out of the living room he punched the wall with his fist. He was angry that his father had cancer. He was angry that the stupid driver could've killed him and his family. He was angry that his wife and him spent almost 24 hours not speaking to each other. Life was too short for this. He rubbed his aching fist as he went to pour himself a glass of scotch.
Once he was somewhat pacified he went up to their room. Hearing the shower running he walked into the bathroom and stripped himself naked before pulling back the curtains to see a naked Olivia. He looked at her wet body glistening with thousands upon thousands of water droplets. He took her in from her toes all the way to her curly hair on top of her head.
"I'm sorry" he says his voice cracking with emotions.
"Come here" she invites him inside of the shower with her and he takes her outstretched hand. "I'm sorry too baby." She says simply. There was no need to go back and relive that discussion. He needed her and she would forgive him for the harsh words spoken earlier as he'd forgiven her.
Fitz looks down into her sincere brown eyes and felt himself being sucked into it. She was his world and he couldn't fathom anything happening to her or Iya. But life has a way of playing cruel jokes and it made itself laugh on his father. Before he knew it he was sobbing loudly and he felt her arms wrapping around him tightly as the water sprayed evenly from the large showerhead.
"I can't lose him Livvie. God knows I can't lose him" he mutters against her neck as he clung onto her for life as his body rocks with tears.
"He's going to be ok. He has to be ok" Olivia tries to be strong for the both of them but her own tears started falling. Both of them couldn't fathom the thought of him dying.
They stayed like that for a while until their tears had subsided. Fitz pulls back and watches her puffy red eyes. She was as beautiful as the day he'd first met her. He cups her face with one of his large hands and strokes her high cheek bone with his thumb. They'd been through so much with each other and they've survived. In that moment he felt hope springing to life in his heart and he believed that everything will be alright with his father.
Without a second thought he lowers his lips to hers and kisses her softly on the lips. It was slow at first until they both had enough of teasing each other. It wasn't long until he had her legs wrapped around his waist and her back braced against the shower wall. They'd made love with vulnerable hearts. Once they'd reached their orgasms they simply held each other under the growing cold shower.
"I love you" Fitz confesses staring into her sparkling eyes meaning every single letter.
"I love you so much too."
AN: Sorry for the delay guys I've been feeling a bit unmotivated these days. Life and such but I'm fine now. Hope you enjoyed the update and poor Big Jerry :( How cute is father and daughter? Matching sneaks – Hello! Lol. I just love the cuteness that is Iya Grant. Please leave reviews and like always thank you for reading! XO