"Mom?" I called as i held Avery on my hip as we entered the Grant's east coast home.
"In the kitchen!"
"Hi Nana!" Avery surprised us both by running over and hugging Emily's legs before running back over to me.
"Hi pretty girl" she laughed in shock.
"Where's dad?"
"He's flying in tomorrow with Fitz, Teddy, Mason and Lex"
I nodded Lex's family still lived on the west coast so they often spent the week before a holiday with her family.
"Your room is set up and i put up a bar on the edge so she doesn't fall off unless she wants her own room?"
"Uh we are currently co sleeping so thanks"
She nodded and told Avery to look around as she helped me bring the bags in from the car.
(Break)
"Mommy?" I watched Avia look up at me as she coloured. My breath hitched in my throat. It was the first time she had called me her mommy.
"Yes?"
"Can you help with names again?"
She pointed to the picture of the Grant family at Teddy's wedding.
"Sure baby" i smiled "Uncle Teddy, Auntie Lex and their son Mason. Auntie Kate" i went to point to Emily and she grinned
"Nana Em!" She smiled
"Good job, this is one of my daddy's Grandpa Gerry"
"You have two daddies?!" She asked
"Well, one of my daddy went to heaven"
she nodded and put her hand over mine. I smiled and kissed her cheek.
"Who's that?"
"Fitz" i laughed as she gave a shy smile
"He looks like a prince!"
"Avery!" I laughed "silly girl"
"Thanks for help mommy" she smiled and touched my face as i stood beside Fitz.
FITZ'S POV
"Yes Darlin' i heard you for the fifth time" Dad chuckled as we got onto the plane to go to Washington. Mason sat on my lap playing on his ipad. Over the years it had amazed me that Liv and i had managed to not see each other when my family had practically forced her in.
"See you soon, love you too bye"
"Lib's a real piece of work huh dad" Teddy teased
"Got that right" Dad chuckled and looked over at me "you alright?"
"I'm fine"
"Yeah Grandpa, we're fine" Mason teased making dad laugh.
I was nervous about seeing Liv, apparently she had changed in the last couple of years. I had read articles and heard about her success of being one of the world's best political fixers. She had made her name world wide and had represented many of my associates. Truth be told after Pops died i pulled away from my family for a while until her father passed but we had lost touch again.
(Break)
The estate on the east coast never felt like home to me but apparently Liv couldn't travel to California just yet so we flew out. Once all of our bags were inside Liv rounded the corner. She shifted before grinning. She was a grown woman since the last time i saw her. She wore the tightest pair of dark jeans and a black long sleeved top. Her hair was down straight and was now jet black. Her full lips were round and she wore little make up.
"AUNTIE LIB!" Mason ran over towards her and i watched her grin as she lifted the three year olds body off the ground.
"I swear we played soccer last week and you were not this big" she settled him onto her hip and kissed his cheek as Lex approached her they exchanged pleasantries until Lex went off to the bathroom.
"Hello Darlin" Dad smiled and swarmed her with a hug. Apparently they had gotten really close over the years.
"Hey Dad" she laughed as he practically knocked her over
"I am so proud of you, of everything you've done" he kissed her forehead and i watched as he pulled back just as mom entered the foyer. I watched as Dad and mom said hello leaving Liv and i left to say hello. She stepped forward first and smiled
"Good to see you Fitz, or should i say Govenor Grant?"
I chuckled "Fitz is fine"
"Congratulations"
"Thank-"
"Mommy?" A little voice spread through the room from the top of the stairs. I watched Liv as she crossed the room quickly and beckoned for the little girl to come downstairs. She had my skin tone and light brown curls but her roots were straight. She had big green eyes and she came down the stairs clutching onto the wooden post and she looked around the room. She wore a pair of maroon sweats and a white long sleeved top.
"Have a good nap baby?"
"Uh huh" she nodded into Liv's neck and i stood in shock as i realized she had a daughter.
"Hey squirt" Teddy stepped forward cautiously and she smiled
"Hi Unca Teddy" she turned towards Lex "Auntie Lex"
"Hi pretty girl, it's nice to meet you" Lex smiled "This is Mason"
"Mase, be a gentleman" Liv piped up
"Hello" Mason nodded grumpily and rolled his eyes.
"Please excuse the little monster. I think it's nap time" Lex smiled and Teddy and her took Mason upstairs.
The little girl clutched to Liv's shirt as Liv tried setting her down on the floor.
"Don't you want to meet my daddy?" She whispered. The little girl nodded and let Liv set her down as Big Gerry stared with wide eyes as she made her way over to Mom and snuggled into her neck.
"Dad, meet Aves" Aves? What kind of name was that to give to a child.
"Hi" she smiled shyly as Dad stuck his hand out. She shook it and ran back over to Liv.
"Fitz?" She turned to me and i walked over slowly. The little girl smiled shyly and turned red
"The prince" she whispered
Liv laughed "Avery, this is Fitz." Liv smiled "Fitz, meet Avery"
"Hi" I waved and watched her jump slightly. She pouted but waved back.
"She's a little shy" Liv rubbed her back and walked off towards the kitchen as Avery kept staring at me from behind Liv.
(Break)
When i came back downstairs Mason was watching a movie as Avery watched him from the table as she coloured as if she was scared to talk to him. They were both 3 years old so it was weird to see them not getting along.
"Aunt Libby!" Mason called and Liv came into the room.
"What's wrong?"
"She keeps staring"
"Mason, you should be nice to her. She wants to be your friend"
"But... You are going to forget about me?!"
"What?!"
"You have her now so now you'll be too busy to hang out with me!" He started to cry and Liv pulled him onto her lap.
"We can still have our fun dates, we can ask nana to watch Avery. And you can still sleepover"
"Promise?"
"Pinky promise, now can you be nice?"
"Kay" he smiled
"Hi"
"Hi" Liv smiled as she sat down on the couch across from me as my parents requested the adults have a meeting in the study. Avery and Mason were watching a movie in Liv's room.
"So, you're a mom"
She looked over at me with a weird look on her face
"What?"
"Just weird hearing that out loud"
I scrunched up my face and watched as Lex, Teddy and my parents came in.
"So, we wanted to tell you all together that we will be moving to the east coast officially next week."
"What?" Teddy was the first to speak up
"Grant Industries is opening a ranch out here but i will be in California as well."
"The ranch will always be home but well i want to be around to see my grandbabies grow up not on the other side of the country"
Liv smiled and hugged them both after everyone accepted the fact.
(Break)
I watched as Liv chased Avery upstairs to her bedroom but grabbed her hips and swung her in the air.
"Time to say goodnight to Nana and grandpa" Liv rubbed the little girls back and i watched Avery completely relax as they made their way over to where my parents and i were speaking about my first 100 days.
"Night night Nana Em!" Avery ran over to her and hugged her legs.
"Night pretty girl, sleep well" she kissed her cheeks.
"Goodnight Poppy" she smiled shyly and ran back over to Liv. "Night Fitz!"
"Goodnight" i chuckled as she hid in Liv's neck.