Olivia looked around and found that nothing had really changed. Her mother's office was still sparse, Spartan. There was a plain desk, similar to the one in her own office. Maya went behind her desk, but pulled out her chair so she was next to it, not behind it. To her it seemed less intimidating, although Olivia didn't intimidate, it seemed like a good idea not to appear as if she were trying. Fitz sat down on the love seat in the room, but Olivia was frozen by the door. She looked as if she were about to sink down the wall and on to the floor, her and her mother both looked at Fitz silently begging him to do something. It killed Maya that her daughter was in so much pain, and it was beyond her what to do. Her own mother could have, Claudia or Michael would have been able to, but she was at a complete loss. Fitz caught identically helpless looks in mother and daughter.

"Livvy come sit down, I'm here. You'll be okay." He gave her mother a wary look, but she nodded at him. He got up and walked over to Olivia. He grabbed her hand and whispered in her ear. Maya couldn't really tell what it was, but Olivia seemed to calm a bit and moved into the office and sat down with Fitz. She let go of his hand, but she sat as close to him as possible. Olivia felt so beaten down she held on to the one constant that she had left after the past few days. Fitz was in shock at her behavior, once again he felt scared he was going to lose her. He and Olivia were always touching in some way, even if they were laying on the couch, she would be tucked into his side or have her legs thrown over his, but she was clinging to him now. It was different. She shrunk in the presence of her parents.

Maya watched their interaction, she would be eternally grateful for Fitzgerald Grant. Not only had he literally saved her daughter's life, but he was holding her together now. She could see that a few words from Fitz and Olivia's demeanor changed.

"Olivia… Liv. I don't even know where to start. I guess I should start by saying that I've failed you as a mother, but you're already aware of that. What you need to know is that I intend to help you get out of this. You deserve the life you've built with Fitz, the one I was too scared to keep. I could explain that I resented you kids for representing my failures in getting away or I could say I was afraid I'd lose you all to the business, like I lost my brother, but it doesn't sound good enough. What I did… Am doing, I don't expect you to ever look at me as a parent or a mother and that's not what I'm asking for Olivia. What I am asking for is selfish. I am asking for a second chance to have someone get away. I know what I am saying doesn't make sense to you, and that's my fault to. I never showed you who I am, well I did, but not the person I want you to see, not the person I really am. I just… I see you two together and I saw you when you got here Olivia you look different, happy isn't even a good enough of a word for it. I want that for you. I want you to finish school and change the world, because you can. I know you have no reason to trust me. If you need my help, or want it, I'm here. This isn't me asking to be a part of your life, this isn't that. I just regret my choices so completely, I would never want that to happen to you. Claudia and Michael, they're happy doing this, living like this, and that's great, but you are different. I know who your father is in contact with and I have a lot of people that are more loyal to me and your brother than they are to him. We will end this for you." Olivia sat in shock, that may have been the most her mother had said to her in years. She wanted to believe her, that she was being honest. It was terrifying, she ignored her gut, it was no longer trustworthy. Her plan was to tell her as much. Fitz sat quietly waiting for Olivia to make the first move. Maya had just said all the things he longed to hear from his own parents, but never would. The part of him that should be envious was filled with relief that Olivia's mother wasn't going to attack her.

"Yesterday you sat next to Da… Him and told me, all of us, that the two of you are a united front. Now you're telling me you want to help. How am I supposed to trust you?"

"You're not and you won't, because my mother and my behavior taught you not to," Olivia interrupted her,

"Don't! Don't act like she turned me against you. She was all I had! She taught me everything I ever needed to know." Olivia's lip was quivering again. Fitz left her alone, knowing touching her would bring more tears and she wouldn't want that.

"That's not what I meant. I loved her too Olivia, you and your siblings seem to keep forgetting that. She taught you everything she taught me, and trusting an unknown element was not something she would have taught you. But you trust your brother and he trusts my guys. They will help you. I wont interfere. I don't expect you to tell me what you're planning, don't bother telling me you're not, you've had your gladiator face on since you got here. Like I said you don't have to tell me what your plan is, but I will tell you his."

"Even if you did want to help me, to reclaim a piece of your own freedom, or make up for being a cold distant ice bitch my whole life, why would you risk your own safety. Self preservation will always be your first priority," When she saw her mother raise her eyebrows she explained, "Grams didn't always teach me good things, she taught me some selfish things too."

"Without me your father has no power. It's my family's business, people haven't forgotten that, no matter how much power he appears, its connected to me."

"I don't know. We can do this without you, and we will. Letting you help would make it easier, but riskier."

"I know that, let me earn your trust. I'll talk to him tonight, gather information, what his plans are and I will bring the information to you guys tonight."

"No," Maya's face dropped. Even Fitz, was surprised, it wasn't like Olivia to give up on anyone. "I mean not tonight. Tomorrow, come meet us for breakfast, we are staying at the Sheridan. Lobby at nine. I'm taking Fitz on a date tonight."

"Don't you think this is more…" Fitz was interrupted by two identical voices.

"No." They both said at the same time. Olivia was shocked, but her and her mother broke out in similar smiles, Olivia's was a little more reserved than normal, but both smiles hit their eyes.

"You guys should go and have fun." Olivia nodded.

"It's not easy at home, we, he's, it's complicated." Olivia put her head down, not really knowing if she should tell her mother or even how, her mother looked concerned, but didn't ask.

Maya was struck when she called Providence home, but she chided herself. She shouldn't be surprised.

"You don't owe me any explanations. I'll be there tomorrow morning."

Olivia was relieved, if the time came to explain things to her mother, it helped to know that she didn't feel like she had to. She felt a weight lift off her shoulders, having her mother's help, even if she didn't trust her yet, was a relief she couldn't quite explain. Like if her mother was there she didn't need to make the tough choices. There was still a lot of distrust and confusion about her Mother's part in all of this, but it was something to hold onto, that maybe she didn't have to lose both her parents.

Fitz looked to Olivia, not really sure what to do next in the awkward pause in between, but she looked equally at a loss.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Pope, but they're expecting us back soon. I don't want to get on your son's bad side." Fitz gave her the most charming smile he could manage, still not really sure how to approach this woman. Her similarities to his Livvy disarmed him, but his knowledge that she wasn't as kind or warm as Olivia gave him pause.

"That's probably wise, and it's Maya." She smiled at him, she was so happy Olivia had found someone like him, she didn't particularly care about the particulars of the relationship, she trusted her daughter's judgment.

Olivia stood awkwardly as she looked her mother up and down,

"Thanks Mom, I'll see you tomorrow." Maya just nodded standing and looking at Olivia in a similar manner, not really sure what to do, she wanted to hug her, but she didn't think Olivia would let her. Her mother walked them to the front door and held it open for them. Fitz stopped and held his hand out palm up to Olivia reaching for the keys.

"What?"

"Keys Livvy!"

"What no! You don't know where you're going."

"Keys!" They stared each other down for half a minute as Maya watched amused. Olivia caught the look on her mother's face.

"Seriously? You're on his side aren't you?"

"Olivia you got my car impounded because you were driving too fast!" Her mothers admonished her, but it was clear she was amused.

"That was a long time ago!" Her mother just glared.

"Michael was with me!" No change.

"Who lets their sixteen year old drive their McLaren?" Olivia asked laughing at the memory.

"If I recall I let me twenty six year old drive my car and you some how convinced him to let you drive it."

"Oh yeah." She said remembering her begging and lip quivering at Michael, she only had her license for a month, but she convinced him to let her drive it anyway.

"I should have known better, he was never able to say no to either one of you."

"Do I even want to know how you managed to not get arrested and have your license taken away?" Fitz looked between the two of them.

"No." They both said laughing at the same time. Olivia relented and handed the keys to Fitz.

"If we get lost it's your fault!"

"Okay Magellan wagons west." They exchanged goodbyes and were off back to the hotel.

Fitz looked over at Olivia she was smiling and looking out the window.

"You look happy Livvy." She turned to look at him,

"I am, I have you and Claudia and Huck and I'm going to see Cammie tonight. And I have a hot date with my hot man."

"And your Mom." Her face darkened.

"Better not cross me." Fitz was shocked at her tone.

"Liv…"

"No Fitz, laughing and reminiscing with her was nice, don't get me wrong, I want her on our team, but I don't trust her. I can't. She's not my mom, she's my mother and I don't trust her yet." He was relieved to hear her say 'yet' because it meant she still had some hope.

"I get that Livvy, I just, I see you happy around her and your siblings, and that makes me happy."

"You also see me shrink myself to be around them."

"I do, and it kills me, but maybe they can be separate people. They don't have to be a package deal."

"I hope not, but until then, the only people I trust are right here and waiting for me back in the hotel."