Olivia led the group through three different stores, two targets, a Macy's, and a special holiday store that they passed on the way. Everyone was exhausted, Scarlet was currently sitting slumped over asleep in the shopping cart at the second Target of the day. Olivia was pushing her, while Fitz was pushing another and was filling it with ornaments and lights after checking that it met Olivia's approval.
She had already allowed Frozen ornaments and lights even though she thought they were tacky Scarlet loved them and it was the only thing that she asked for the entire day. Claudia and Cammie disappeared over to the food department to stock up on basics for the guest house kitchen. Fitz and Olivia were currently debating tinsel versus garland. Fitz maintained that garland was elitist, but Olivia said that was the point.
"I don't need to be finding tinsel on my coat in February Fitz."
"Livvie we have four trees can't we just put it on one?" He pouted at her, she knew if she said no one more time that he would drop it, but she couldn't bear to say no to that face any more than she could when Scarlet wanted an all Frozen tree for her room.
"Fine. We can put it on the Frozen tree." The last part was mumbled under her breathe. Fitz heard her but, jumped a little and turned to grab extra boxes, when he turned around and had what looked like ten or so boxes, she glared at him until he put more than half back and placed the rest in the cart.
They finally made it to the outdoor lights which was their reason for the extra stop, Fitz saw an inflatable north pole that was for kids to play in. He had insisted they needed and showed Scarlet who saw the fake snow and thought it was the greatest thing ever and couldn't wait to play on it. The other target didn't have it and Scarlet looked so upset and Fitz looked so guilty even Claudia suggested they try another store.
The box was gigantic and they watched as other parents tried to move it around to get it on top of their cart. Fitz being Fitz and having to show off simply walked and plucked one off the shelf and put it on top of the flat cart that Olivia had grabbed once she saw the size of the box. Olivia and a few of the other mothers and one father were staring at Fitz and watching his muscles in the t shirt he was wearing. Fitz was oblivious to the attention until Olivia pulled him down to her by his collar and placed a kiss on him that nearly made him melt.
"That was incredibly hot." Olivia whispered into his mouth, surprised by her own reaction. She was so attracted to Fitz's mind and personality that she often forget how sexy he was to everyone not just her. The idea that she had them and no one else ever would turned her on immensely. They only pulled apart when they heard a familiar giggle indicating that Scarlet was awake.
"Hey sleepy head." Olivia said returning her focus to the little girl. "Fitz got your Frozen paradise; do you think we can go home now?" Scarlet having not had a mother that indulged her in stories of Santa Clause wasn't familiar with the North Pole so when she saw the giant play area she called it a Frozen Castle. Scarlet shrugged and nodded trying to get a better look at the castle around Olivia. Fitz quickly lifted her out of the cart and placed her next to the box on the flat bed and started pushing them out of the store, while Olivia followed them looking equal parts worried and amused and every part a mother.
"Fitz! Careful!" She hisses nervously as he rounds and corner and almost hits the man standing in the aisle.
"It's okay it's only Cyrus." Fitz says as he greets the grumpy looking older man. Olivia gives him and nod and is quickly wrapped up in a hug from James.
"Congratulations on the new house!" Olivia smiles awkwardly and looks at Fitz for help, who for once is amused by the sight of her in another man's arms.
"Thanks, what are you guys doing here; I thought Cyrus was allergic to all things middle class?"
"Apparently being a gay man dating a Jew doesn't get you out of putting up a Christmas tree." Cyrus tells them. Fitz laughs and introduces James to Scarlet.
"James this is my little sister, she's living with us." Fitz says as he pulls her up and swings her into his arms. She giggles and wraps her legs and arms around his waist and neck. Olivia watches as James eyebrows raise and she glares at him until he finally responds and begins gushing over the little girl.
"Oh my, well if you don't look like a tiny prettier version Fitz!" Olivia and Cyrus both snort as he becomes an elderly woman around the child, while Fitz simply beams at being able to introduce her to someone for the first time. Scarlet gets embarrassed and buries her head in Fitz's neck.
"Come here sweet pea; let's go find my crazy sister." Olivia holds her arms out and Scarlet immediately goes in them, even though she is already more than half Olivia's height, Olivia carries her away after saying goodbye to Cyrus and James.
"Well that's weird." Cyrus mumbles as they watch Olivia walk away chatting with the little girl on her hip.
"What is?" Fitz asks defensive, having already heard Olivia's recount of what happened when she went to take her final.
"Seeing Olivia Pope in Mommy mode, it doesn't make sense."
"It does if you know Liv." Fitz wasn't going to defend himself. He knows Olivia Pope has been a surrogate mother for those around her, and that she has been the only thing holding Scarlet together, he doesn't care who else does. "It was nice to see you James." Fitz says walking away pushing the giant inflatable palace for Scarlet.
When they finally get home, they meet the delivery truck for the larger items, like the trees and outdoor decorations. Olivia immediately starts setting everyone to work in different areas of the house. Claudia and Harrison are to put up, but not decorate the trees, Huck is set to get the lights ready, Michael and Fitz are to put the lights up outside, under Cammie's artistic direction, even Maya and Dominic are assigned jobs to decorate the inside of the house with garland and whatever else Olivia bought. Abby is on Scarlet watch as Olivia is overseeing the decorating and micro managing everyone who takes it good naturedly. Its nearly dinner time when they finish and Olivia still wants to decorate the tree. Fitz had to put his foot down because she is still recovering, not to mention Claudia is about ready to kill her sister, who keeps complaining about the tree placement.
"Liv, look how tired Scarlet is. Don't we want her to enjoy decorating the tree, let's so it tomorrow when everyone isn't so tired?" Scarlet doesn't really look tired, however she is laying on the floor in front of the fire place playing a game on the iPad that Huck tricked out for her. Olivia gave him a look to see if he would bend, normally he let her do what he wanted, it was usually something he wanted to do anyway or something that didn't really bother him so he was happy to go with the flow. However her pushing herself this much wouldn't help anyone.
"Fine." Olivia conceded and her family cheered. Apparently they had been making plans for a night out. Michael and Abby were heading to a concert, Harrison and Claudia were going to dinner downtown and dancing, Cammie had plans with her mystery man, and even Huck claimed he had work to do.
"Liv, if you want Dominic and I would be happy to keep an eye on Scarlet if you and Fitz would like to go out as well." Olivia was shocked both by her mother's offer and how willing she would be to let Maya watch her. Clearly Dominic was a good influence on her mother and her relationship with her. Olivia looked at Fitz to see if he wanted to go out, he didn't seem excited at the prospect.
"Thanks Mom, I really appreciate it, but I think we will just rest tonight, another time though." Olivia was looking forward to going out with Fitz without having to pretend it was a coincidence.
Everyone dispersed to get ready for their nights.
Olivia and Fitz simply changed into some pajamas, Olivia helped Scarlet find something cozy to wear while Fitz made popcorn and the three of them headed into the den. By time Claudia was heading out Olivia was curled up into Fitz's side reading a book while he and Scarlet watched Frozen, again. Teasingly Claudia asked,
"So this is your life now?" Olivia looked up from her cozy spot and realized that it likely would be. She was surprised how content she was with the idea. She and Fitz had quickly fallen into 'the old married couple' life even before Scarlet was with them. Both were content just to be in the company of the other, which led to a lot of time just hanging out or cuddled up reading, watching, TV or doing a crossword puzzle. Most people would be bored by this, but Olivia knew that it was rare to find someone that she would never tired of. They had plans for grand adventures and had done a lot of spur of the moment things, like mini road trips to Boston or D.C., once they even took Olivia's car to Montana just to see how fast it would go, but most of the time they found themselves happy just being together. Their time usually involved a lot of nudity and heavy petting, which would have to adjust and be a bit sneakier about, but everything else, everything that made their relationship special would stay the same.
"Yep, but it pretty much always has been." Fitz kissed the side of her head because of the proud way she said it, thinking the same thing.
"Less cartoons, more nudity." He whispered the last part in deference to Scarlet, "but that will happen once this one goes to bed." That was whispered just to Olivia who rolled her eyes and laughed, but was wholeheartedly looking forward to it. Claudia shook her head at their antics and said goodbye.
Finally everyone left and it was just the three of them.
"I like this." Fitz told Olivia as Scarlet snored laying on the floor next to Boo.
"Me too." Olivia said leaning in to give him a quick peck that they both soon got carried away with. Before things could progress Olivia pulled away and nodded her head at the sleeping child. Fitz quickly scooped her up and brought her to bed and made it back to Olivia. He closed the door to the den and picked up where he left off. Yeah they could definitely get used to this.