Hey Guys thanks for the feedback on the last chapter, and I'm glad you like the names. Enjoy this update.
The weekend at Camp David was over sooner than either Olivia or Fitz wanted. They had to return to their regular lives, which did not at all feel regular. It meant again pretending that there was nothing going on between the pair. And after the weekend where they could be free to be a normal couple anything less was going to feel wrong. Not that it didn't always, but now it was going to be exasperated.
They were still in the first phase of their plan- handle the rollout of the divorce and don't be seen together. That was now easier said than done. It was less then a month until they could begin on phase two- being seen in public together. But that was going to be a few weeks, for both of them. If it was completely up to him, they'd be public now, but Olivia desperately wanted to wait until after the Electoral College casted their ballots. There was a slim chance that if there was some public outrage before that, the College would decide to vote for Sally. A slim chance is still a chance, and Liv wanted to be 100% certain nothing could effect Fitz's second term.
This was a time Fitz didn't want to miss, but was going to need to. He wanted to be there for Olivia, whatever she wanted, he wanted to be the one to give it to her. He wanted to go to the final doctor's appointment, and pick out baby furniture and the itty bitty clothes in neutral colours. He wanted to be there just in case Liv went into pre-term labour. He wanted to be the first to know, he didn't want to find out via call while she was either on her way to the hospital or already there. He wanted to be there for the birth of their child.
He just had to keep reminding himself that Olivia's due date was still two months away, and the chances of coming this early weren't high. He needed to keep busy, and luckily as President, that wasn't all that hard. When Fitz returned from Camp David he decided to start the ball rolling on anything he promised in the campaign and everything he had wanted to get done. It was the perfect time.
He called Cyrus into the Oval and started brainstorming. They could start signing some executive orders or drawing up some bills. Congress was almost in recess so it would be best to get to them before the went on holiday break. Or even have some things ready when their session began again. This made their days long, he saw countless aides and lobbyists, all people wanting to get their own agenda through.
Olivia was also working hard, though not for the exact same reasons as Fitz. She didn't so much need the distraction as need to get her business in order before she went on maternity leave. Thankfully while she was in Vermont she and Abby had worked out a seemingly great system. Abby had stepped up and had really proven herself, Liv felt confident leaving OPA in Abby's hands. And Abby was proud to have that honour.
It was only when she returned home each night that she would let herself think of Fitz and the baby. Of course the baby never was actually out of her mind, every time she looked down there was a big fat reminder staring her in the face.
Fitz called every night when it was late enough. Olivia would usually stay up knowing there would soon be an incoming call. But there were other nights she just couldn't stay awake any longer. She never heard the phone ring on those night. She was sure it did, but she was too deep in sleep for it to register.
They had been doing this for almost a week a half. Olivia was changing into her pyjamas, ready for bed when her phone rang. "Hey, just give me a minute," Liv said. She was only half dressed and by time she had fully clothed her whale of a belly and got to her cell the call would have rang out. And it really did take her a full minute to be back on the phone. "Sorry, I'm back," Liv said as she put the phone to her ear and settled into bed.
"It's alright," Fitz said, just knowing Liv was on the other end of the line was fine by him, made them feel closer than they really were. "So how's your day been?" Fitz asked.
"Just dealing with some clients who have some outstanding debts, they weren't big amounts so we let them slide for maybe a bit too long," Liv answered.
"I thought you always charged upfront, or is that just when you're consulting for the White House and me?" Fitz asked.
"Well I know you can pay upfront. And what you pay doesn't depend on the quality of my work or the outcome," Liv explained, she was surprised that they had never discussed OPA's business practices, but they were usually talking about more important things. This was just chit chat, there was only so much planning they could do over the phone.
"So, in all likelihood you've been wrongly charging me all these years," Fitz said with a hint of a joking accusation.
"Yeah, for a client of your calibre and the complicated problems I have to fix. I undercharge you. So if you want to complain I can send you a new invoice when I get into the office tomorrow," Liv said, but Fitz knew she didn't mean it.
"But you have to admit a lot of the things you have to 'fix' involve you," Fitz added.
"And that's why you get a cheaper rate," Liv replied. But in all honesty she didn't charge him what the cases deserved because it was Fitz and it just felt wrong to charge the full amount.
"Have I thanked you for all you do for me recently?" Fitz asked, knowing if he had it would never be enough. She did everything in him, and he felt like he could never repay her.
"When you didn't concede, that was thanks enough," Liv said, though she wasn't sure if that was right to say. She was sure that wasn't a sore topic anymore, but she wondered if deep down he still blamed her for that.
"I particularly don't think that was enough, but if you want to be even, I'll let you have it," Fitz said, though he knew he would always be in Olivia's debt. There was a silence between the pair, they both had smiles equally plastered across their face. It was hard to find the happy in a situation like this but they so often did, and they relished in it whenever they had the chance. "Only two more weeks," Fitz said.
"Until?" Liv asked, she wasn't too sure what he was referring to, there was so many days they were counting down until, but she couldn't think of a date that was that close.
"Until Phase 2 can begin. You said after Christmas. Christmas is two weeks away," Fitz said full of the glee the season sung about.
"Don't remind me," Liv said. She was planning to be more like the Grinch than one of the Who's these Holidays. She just couldn't get into the festive spirit.
"What do you mean?" Fitz asked.
"The whole Christmas thing. All it means is that I have to be extra careful when walking outside because its not just my life I have to worry about if I fall flat on my ass. There's pine tree smell filling the air, which is frankly making me gag, and the one person I actually want to spend the day with, I'm not allowed to see," Liv ranted, and Fitz had no idea that Liv was feeling this way, and he was certain that was just the top layer of her feelings about Christmas.
"If it was up to me I would have you right by my side," Fitz said, though he knew that she would be against that. At Christmas he still had a few Presidential roles he had to do. He also had some fatherly ones that he wouldn't miss.
"I know. I doesn't matter. Next year will be different. Next year will be better. Christmas this year is just something we'll have to get through," she said and although her statement was full of optimism it just made Fitz sad.
"You're right," Fitz said, it was easier to agree with Liv, than to change her mind, so he gave in. Though Fitz wouldn't rule out changing her mind further in the future. He just needed time, and a great plan. And as the President he had everything he needed at his beck and call to make a great plan. And now he was determined to change Liv's mind about how this Christmas would be.
Ohhh what will Fitz do?
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