Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to ABC Disney, Shonda Rhimes and the TV show Scandal. All credit to them.
A/N: Thanks to everyone for your reviews! They make me laugh and keep me motivated to write more. Enjoy..
Olivia and Fitz pulled up to her house and she sat in her car trying to get the courage to get out and face her parents. She took a deep breath and leaned her head on her steering wheel and closed her eyes. She didn't want to get out and she felt like she was having a mild anxiety attack. She took slow full breaths until she heard a tapping sound.
"Livvie." Fitz said knocking on her window gently.
She raised her head and gave him a faint smile before opening the door. "I'm sorry I was just collecting my thoughts." She said quietly.
"It's ok, lets get this over with."
She nodded and walked them to her door and unlocked it. She saw the light on in the living room and walked in there.
"Olivia where the hell have you-" Her mother stopped when she saw Fitz enter the room with her. "Fitz? What are you doing here?"
"Mrs. Pope is Coach here? I wanted to explain with Olivia what happened tonight." He said taking a seat next to Olivia on the couch.
"He is here but he went to sleep around midnight when I told him I would stay up and wait for Livia to get home. I would have said different if I had known it wouldn't have been until after 3 a.m. What do you have to say for yourself?" She said turning to Olivia.
"Mom, we honestly fell asleep and I forgot to set my alarm to wake us up."
"Do you really expect me to believe that?"
"I am telling the truth. You can talk to Abby and ask her what time we left the lounge and she will tell you well before nine. We weren't looking to stay out all night. We went to Fitz', watched a movie and fell asleep. You know I would never stay out past my curfew on purpose. You know me mom." Olivia pleaded to her mother.
"She is telling the truth, I would never disrespect you or her father by bringing her home past her curfew. Especially on a school night because I take my studies as serious as she does. Neither one of us wanted this." Fitz added.
Maya eyed them both as she drank her glass of wine. "I believe you but you can't keep running around with your heads in the clouds like the world is moving around just the two of you. You have parents and friends that worry about you. Do you get how worried we were tonight?"
"I know mom and I am truly sorry about that."
"Well," She started. "You two are very fortunate that I stayed up and your father went to sleep because this conversation could have been very different. Fitz I think it was very admirable of you to come over here with Livia to help explain the situation but I need to ask a question. Did your parents have nothing to say about you leaving the house at this time of morning?"
"Actually, it is just me and my dad. He is not in town at the moment and even if he was he isn't that interested in what I do that he would notice that I wasn't around." He said quietly.
"Oh, I am sorry about that. I want you to know that I care about you as much as I care about Olivia and I want you making smart decisions too. You understand that?"
"Yes, ma'am." He said feeling for the first time like he had a parent that cared about him.
"Ok, well it is going on 4 and we all need to get to sleep. So say your good nights and Fitz make sure to let Olivia know when you make it home safe." Maya said as she leaned back on the couch.
"Wait, mom that is it? This seems a little too easy..what aren't you saying? Why did dad really go to sleep?" Olivia narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her mother.
"You were always too smart for your own good." Her mother chuckled a little before continuing. "If you must know, I called Abby and she called Fitz' cousin Jake who told me you two were asleep and asked if I wanted him to wake you up. Of course I said no because I wanted you two to feel the panic and anguish that we were feeling until we knew you were ok. I let your father know that you were safe and that I would handle it from there."
"Wow, I guess my panic is better than dad's yelling. Thank you so much mom." Olivia stood and walked over to give her mom a hug. She reached for her mom's wine glass and looked at her before saying, "Can I? My nerves are shot right now."
"One sip Livia then take your behind to bed."
Olivia took a long sip savoring the taste then set the glass back down on the table and turned to Fitz. "Ready babe?"
He nodded and stood up. "Nice seeing you again Mrs. Pope. I hope next time it under better circumstances."
"I hope so too, you damn kids almost sent me to an early grave." She said seriously. "Get home safe."
They walked to his car and she leaned against it waiting for him to say something but he stood there looking at her.
"What?" She asked shyly unsure of why he was staring at her with his crooked grin.
He leaned down and kissed her sucking her tongue deep within his mouth before pulling back and saying, "Nothing..I just had to see what it tasted like."
"Huh?" She breathed out heavily, still trying to focus after the kiss he just gave her.
"The wine. You made it seem like it was so damn good that I had to taste it." He said licking his lips and smiling down at her.
"And?" She asked curiously.
"It was ok. I am not a drinker though so I am sure my opinion doesn't count." He said shrugging his shoulders.
"That was the best wine I've ever tasted and I have tasted a lot so that makes you correct, your opinion doesn't count." She says laughing.
"I love your laugh." He says as he pulls her into a hug, closing his eyes enjoying the feeling of her in his arms. "Thank you for letting me come over with you and being able to make this right."
"Thank you for coming. You need to go home and get some rest for the game tomorrow babe." She says against his chest.
"I know..Good night Livvie." He gives her a light kiss on the lips.
"Good night Babe." She moves and he gets in his car and drives off.
The next morning Fitz woke up tired from the previous nights events and he was a little cranky. He was late and wasn't able to go through his regular game day routine which put him in a bad mood. He knew it was going to be one of those days he could feel it in the air. He hadn't had a bad start in so long so he should have seen this one coming, but it hit him out of nowhere. It didn't help that when he came downstairs his dad was in the kitchen with Jake.
"Good morning Fitz." His dad said when he walked in.
"Morning." He said dryly.
"What are you still doing here? I thought you would have been gone by now." Jake asked looking at his watch.
"Yeah whatever, I am leaving." He said grabbing his lunch and heading towards the garage.
"I'll be at the game tonight son." He heard Big Gerry say.
"I won't hold my breath." Fitz said over his shoulder and continued walking.
He got to school and sat in the courtyard trying to get a little peace for his first period class.
"Hey Fitz do you have a minute to talk?" Huck said as he sat down across from him.
"What is it Huck?" Fitz said rubbing his temples.
"I just wanted to let you know that I overheard Mellie talking to her friends at Starbucks the other day and they were talking about a plan to break you and Olivia up."
"What?!" Fitz exclaimed.
"Yeah man. I didn't hear the specifics but I wanted to give you a heads up. Oh and another thing, talk to Harrison."
"What do you mean talk to Harrison?" Fitz was confused about what Harrison had to do with Mellie making a plan.
"He feels that you have forgotten about your boys now that you are with Olivia." Huck explained.
"I'll talk to Harrison but I need to find out what Mellie is up to first. Can you help me with something?"
"Sure man let me know what it is."
"I'm going to have a little get together at my house tomorrow night and I need you to help me get somethings for it." Fitz pulled out a couple hundred dollar bills. "Can you grab somethings for me?"
"Yeah I got you man. Text me later what you need."
"Thanks and I appreciate you giving me a heads up about Mellie." He gives him a pound before he leaves.
Fitz walked to class even more annoyed than he had been when he woke up. He had enough to think about already and now he had to worry about Mellie and some stupid plan. He saw her come in the classroom and he gritted his teeth.
"Good morning Fitz." Mellie said with a smile.
"Morning." He mumbled. "I'm having a party tomorrow at my place you should come." He hoped that he hid the disgust in voice well.
"Really?" Mellie said surprised. "You sure about that? "
"Yes. We are getting together around 7:30 bring a few of your friends too."
"Ok. We will be there." Mellie said rubbing his shoulder as she walked to her seat.
He turned around and faced the front of the class. He was so into texting Huck the items that he needed for the party that he didn't even notice Olivia sit down next to him.
"Fitz." She called for the second time.
"Hmm." He said turning and looking at her.
"Hey, how has your morning been so far babe?" She asked as she rubbed his arm.
"Pretty awful." He said as he ran his hand through his hair.
"You want to share? Anything that I can help with?"
"No, not really." He turned back to his phone.
Olivia could tell he didn't want to talk so she turned around in her seat and faced the front of the room. She wondered what was wrong with him and what could have changed from last night to now.
The teacher broke them up in the groups he had assigned earlier in the week so that they could put the finishing touches on their projects. She looked over to Fitz and saw him chatting it up with Mellie and felt a twinge of jealousy. Just a few minutes earlier she couldn't get two words out of him and now he was laughing and chatting it up with her? She didn't understand so she pulled out her phone and sent him a text.
Liv: What's funny?
She stared at him and watched him as he pulled his phone out, checked the message, frown a bit then quickly respond not bothering to look in her direction.
Fitz: What?
She was annoyed with his one word response especially when he went right back to smiling and joking with Mellie.
Liv: What is that funny that you are laughing and joking with her like she is the best company in the world? I thought you were having a bad morning, doesn''t seem like it..
She pressed send and turned to see what Jake was doing not looking over at him this time for his response. "How was your meet Tuesday?" She asked making small talk.
"It was good. I won first in everything as usual. Honestly, there's no one in the district that can beat me. I am going thru the motions for college and personal record purposes."
"Wow, someone is cocky."
"Come on Liv, you have seen me swim. I beat those guys so bad the other day I was embarrassed for them." He said laughing.
She felt her phone vibrate and she pulled it out of her pocket and saw that there was a text from Fitz.
Fitz: Really? I can't talk to people now?
She rolled her eyes and text him back.
Liv: Do whatever you want..
She turns back to Jake and starts to go over their project when she feels someone move next her. She recognizes the cologne and immediately knows it is him.
"Jake can you go keep my partner company for a minute while I talk to Olivia?" Jake nods, gets up and switches seats. Fitz sits there and stares at the side of her head waiting for her to look at him but she won't. "What is your problem?" He asks.
"My problem? I don't have one." She says continuing to look straight. "Why are you over here Fitz? You looked like you were having so much fun where you were."
"I was not having fun I was being polite." He shot back.
"So you can be polite to her but when I am talking to you it's ok be to non-responsive?" The bell rings and she turns to him before leaving. "Like I said Fitz, do whatever you want." She grabs her stuff and storms out.
He sat there confused at her behavior. "What the hell is with this day." He said out loud to himself before heading towards the gym.
Fitz hadn't talked to Olivia since their incident in class that morning, and now she was entering the gym with her mother looking mouth watering hot and he wanted run up and give her kiss. He watched as they made their way to the side line and talked to her father. He quickly jogged over before she walked off and grabbed her elbow pulling her to the side.
"What are you doing Fitz?" She asked as she pulled her arm away from him.
"Why are you mad at me? Are you that insecure that you are jealous of Mellie?"
"I am not insecure. Are you kidding me? Excuse me for feeling that I should be treated better by my boyfriend than he treats some hook up. Oh and while I'm at it excuse me for thinking that my boyfriend should be opening up to me when he has a bad day or moment and shutting out thirsty bitches not the other way around. Insecure? Nope, more like disappointed." She turned on her heels and stepped up the bleachers to sit by her mother.
Fitz stood there watching her walk away and he was just as confused now as he was earlier. He hadn't been chatting Mellie up because he didn't want to talk to Olivia. He was talking to her to get her to feel comfortable enough to let her guard down so that he could figure out what she was up to. He had so much on his mind he had no idea how he was going to focus on the game. He headed back to the court and started shoot around.
"What is going on with Fitz?" Olivia's mother asked when he had barely scored any points and was having his worst game of the season.
"I don't know mom, I am up here with you remember."
"Maybe he didn't get the rest he needed because you two were too busy breaking curfew." Her mother said giving her a look.
"Mom, I already told you we fell asleep." Olivia shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Besides he has still has time to hit a few shots."
"Please Olivia, there are only two minutes left and it is clear that he isn't getting off of the bench, especially with the lead that they have now."
Olivia looked down at the bench and her heart broke at how down he looked. She wanted to run down and talk to him and let him know everything would be ok. He put the towel over his head and she could tell he was embarrassed. He was dejected and she hadn't really seen him this way, especially on the court. That was his home, the place where he let everything out and painted a beautiful picture for the sports loving world to see but tonight it was like he was an artist without his tools and she hated seeing him struggle.
She waited for him outside the locker room wanting to be the first face that he saw so that she console him and make let him know that everything was going to be ok, that they were ok. When she saw his dad approaching she felt her heart drop to her stomach. When did he get back in town, she wondered to herself. He looked beyond pissed and she was almost afraid to speak.
"Hi Mr. Grant, nice to see you again." She said nervously.
"Hello there Olivia." He responded with little emotion to his voice.
They stood in awkward silence as they waited for Fitz. Everyone else had come and gone and he was the last guy out of the locker room and they were the only people in the gym. She saw him finally on his way down the hall that led to the locker room and let out a breath. She thought he would never come out of there.
"Fitzgerald what the hell was that?" His dad boomed before he was fully in front of them.
"I know dad." His voice sad.
"You know?! What the hell is wrong with you? You beg me all season to come to one of your games and when I finally do this is how you play? Like shit." Big Gerry spat angrily as he stepped in Fitz face.
Fitz was standing there with his eyes downcast not saying a word as his father berated him. Olivia wasn't sure what to do so she just stood there in shock.
"Is this what I wasted all money on for all those summers for training camps? Is this output I should expect? Tell me, what do you have to say for yourself?" Big Gerry yelled again this time grabbing Fitz by his collar.
"Let the boy go." Rowan said walking up to the group.
"How about you mind your damn business." Big Gerry boomed in his direction letting Fitz go.
Rowan walked closer into Gerry's space and lowered his voice to where only the two of them could hear and said, "If I have to tell you again to leave him be you will see first hand what it feels like when a man puts his hands on a boy."
Big Gerry straightened out his suit and turned back towards Fitz, "I will see you at home." He turned and stomped off.
Rowan walked over to Fitz and put his arm around his shoulder. "Don't listen to what he said son, everyone is allowed a bad game ok." Fitz nodded. "Ok, Lets go get some dinner." He patted Fitz on the back and the turned to Olivia. "Sweetheart, why don't you ride with Fitz and your mother can ride with me."
"Uhh, sure dad." Olivia stammered. She walked over and grabbed Fitz' hand and they walked toward his car.
They had been riding in silence for 10 minutes and Olivia wasn't sure what to say to break the silence.
Getting the courage to say something, anything she asked, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah and I'm fine." He lied keeping his eyes on the road. He knew she would be able to see right through the facade that he was putting on but he didn't want to admit how broken he was. Admit how much it hurt for his father to speak to him like that when all he wanted was for him to be proud of him, to be proud of something that he did. He wanted to cancel dinner and just go far away from everything and everyone but he knew how important this dinner was to her and he didn't want to let her down too.
"Hello." He hears her say into the phone, but he quickly stops listening as the overwhelming feeling of failure and disappointment take over his thoughts.
"Fitz.." She says softly squeezing his hand.
"Yes Livvie?" He answers snapping back to the present and allowing her voice to soothe the ache he was feeling all over.
"That was my dad. He asked if he could rain check dinner."
"What, why?" He asked confused.
"He said we should do our own thing and we could reschedule for some other time..Is that ok with you? Do you mind it being you and me tonight?" She moves her hand to the nape of his neck and plays with the hair there.
"That is more than ok Livvie, do you mind if I take you somewhere with me? I want to show you something." He prays she says yes, that this morning's misunderstanding and tonights drama hadn't scared her off and she still wanted to be there in that moment with him.
"Anywhere you want to go babe, I'm with you." She leans over and kisses his cheek before sitting back and taking his hand in hers and enjoying the comfortable silence of the drive.
They drove about 20 more minutes out of the city up this huge winding hill and Olivia was positive that she hadn't been to this part of town before. She looked over to Fitz and everything about him seemed unhappy. His head was hanging a little lower than usual, his jaw was slightly clenched and his body had been tense since they left the gym.
When they reached the top she was stunned at the beauty in front of her. Fitz got out and opened the for her and she stood there for a minute taking it all in. The dark blue sky was beautifully lit by the city lights below, there was no noise just the calming sound of the nature that surrounded them, she inhaled deeply and took in the fresh air gently flowing around her letting it soothe her.
"This.." She started, then paused trying to find the words.
"Is amazing." Fitz finished for her as he walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.
Olivia relaxed into him bring her hands up to rest over his forearms. "Yes, amazing. How did you find this place?"
"I don't know, truth be told, I got lost one day my freshman year and stumble upon it. Since then it has been a place that I come to for peace and strength." He kissed the side of head before continuing. "I have been wanting to bring you here but something always came up."
"I am here now and that is all that matters."
He squeezes her tight and walks them over to the back of his car that he parked facing the city. They climb up and lean against the rear window. He grabs he hand and kissed it as he scoots in close to her.
"I love you so much Olivia." He says as his voice breaks a little bit. She leans in closer placing her hand on his heart encouraging him to continue. "Today has been on of the worst days that I have had in a long time and I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders." He pauses for a moment, deciding if he should go on and share his thoughts and fears with her like he has never do before or keep them hidden and carry that burden.
"Please continue babe, I am here for you. Let me listen and be here for you." She leans up and kisses his jaw softly.
"I feel like I let my team down tonight even though we still won. I know how my dad feels about my game and to top it off I disappointed you. I know I can't make everyone happy all of the time but I try so hard and it seems like I get even worse results that way." He lets out a long sigh. "Some times I just want to say forget everything and make only myself happy. The main problem with that is I could never forget you and I would never want to. You make me want to be better, to do better, to love harder and to trust openly. I believe I am doing all of those things that you bring out of me and it is great but it is also a curse. I can't just switch it on and off at will like I used to before I met you. Now I have to present in all areas of my life and it scares me." He looks down at her gazing in to her eyes. "You scare me."
"That's ok Fitz, it's okay to be scared in love even more so when the other person completes you. Since we are being honest, you scare me too and I wouldn't have it any other way because I trust you with my heart. We are going to disappoint each other sometimes, it's only human, but you can't let it weigh that heavy on you Fitz. We have to acknowledge what is wrong then work together to fix the problem." She reaches up and caresses his face using her thumb to lightly rubs his lips. "I think we have done a good job of that so far, don't you?"
"We have and I am not trying to take any of that away..I am just speaking on today and how it was one of those days that was too much for me." He turns his head and looks out towards the view of the city below them. "Thankfully, I no longer have to suffer this weight alone..I want to thank you for being here and just listening. Just having you here with me is enough but the fact that you listen without judging is the best gift God could have ever given me."
Olivia is a leaned up and captured his lips for a slow tender kiss, she took her time exploring his mouth as she ran her fingers through his hair. They kiss for what seemed like an eternity and when they break apart she laid her head on his heart relaxing the steady beat.
"Livvie?" He says as he leans back to get her to look at him.
"Yes babe?"
"Do you think..I mean.." He stammered on his words trying to figure out how to ask what he had been wanting to ask her for a week now. "What I am trying to say is, would you like to be my date to the Homecoming dance next week?"
Scooting up on her knees and moving to his lips she says, "You are so cute..Of course I will go with you."
"I love you." He smiles brightly at her and leans in giving her a quick peck.
"I love you too.." And she returns to the spot on his chest and they continue talking until it is time for her to get home.
A/N: You can kind of call this a Fitz centric chapter. I hope the part where Fitz and Liv went to her house wasn't too anti-climatic for you guys but they deserved some happy. Liv and Fitz are going to next week but first Fitz is having a party and he invited Mellie? Should be interesting. Let me know what you are thinking. Thanks for reading!