A/N: Sorry for the delay, it literally took me 3 days to finish write this chapter. Every time I would start writing, I would fall asleep lol. Any who, hope you enjoy the new installment.
Mentally and emotionally drained she lay in bed. Fitz was downstairs talking with two of the security guards from the agency that was sent over on an emergency house call, in relations to the latest stunt by Mr. Creeper. To pass time and occupy her mind, she stared at the ceiling as she awaits her husband's presence. She lay in disbelief, over someone's blatant disregard of ethics – to send her flowers at her place of business and rest. It was a frightening thing to think about. A stalker! Her mind couldn't wrap around that someone is singlehandedly targeting her. The thought alone made her shiver.
"God, please protect me and my family… Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Amen." she prays.
The grave seriousness of the situation finally hitting home to her. She hugs the soft comforter to her chest, in hopes to feel secure and safe. She didn't want anything happening to her nor her family. Unconsciously, her right hand moves underneath the white and mint green cover, to rest on her stomach, shielding her unborn child.
A few minutes later the door to their bedroom swings open, the doorway filling up with Fitz's familiar figure.
"Everything is handled for the night" he offers, words of comfort, as he walks towards the bed foot.
Olivia nods her head in acknowledgement.
"I'm gonna go take a shower" he announced.
"Ok" she croaked.
She watches as his body disappears into their adjoined master bathroom.
She faintly listens to the running water that's falling from the showerhead through the slightly ajar door.
Minutes later, she watches as he returns in a flannel pajamas bottom, white t-shirt with water marks on his shoulders, compliments of his damp hair.
Olivia's eyes returned to the spot on the ceiling, ignoring his body as it sinks into the mattress.
Fitz lets out an exhausted sigh. "What a day!?"
"Mmm" Olivia mumbles, barely audible.
They both let out a deep breath at the same time, lying in silence. Fitz joins her in staring up at the ceiling.
A minute or so passes when out of the blue, Fitz says "I'm sorry for the way I acted towards you today. I just completely lose it when it comes to you and the kids' safety" apologizing to her.
Olivia lets his words fall in the air for a few seconds, mulling over it before replying in a soft tone, "thank you for apologizing. I get that but I hate when you would exclude me from the decision making. It makes me feel like I'm your child and not your partner."
Silence fell again as Fitz absorbs her words.
"I'm sorry but… baby, you can be so stubborn sometimes and I just have this need to protect you." His voice was in a hush tone, matching hers as he replies.
Feeling the need to connect with his eyes, she turns her head to face him, still lying on her back, and he does the same. With their eyes on each other, she tells him, "I love you for protecting me but I also need for you to value my opinion and listen to my input. Just don't make me voiceless, pleaseeee…"
Fitz turns on his side so that he can cup her face in his.
"I never want to make you voiceless. You're my equal, I vow to you that on our wedding day and I'm sorry that sometimes I get carried away. But I need for you to let me take care of you, Livvie. I know this is something you've struggled with from the first time we've started dating. But I need you to trust me, when things goes wrong, I need for you to tell me."
She knows he has a point. She was so used to being independent that sometimes she would forget that she didn't have to do it all by herself. The many years that they've been together has taught her to rely on him like he has relied on her. It was his nature to fight for and protect her, she knows that he need to feel wanted and loved. It was his machoism trait. He needs to know that he can take care of his family.
He strokes one of her cheeks with his thumb in a soothing circle.
"I trust you" she whispers to him, watching his striking cerulean eyes focused on her brown orbs, she was lost in a sea of emotions. Her current situation, made her even more emotional along with the heightened hormones of her pregnancy.
"C'mere" he motions for her to lie in his arms, and she did without hesitation.
From the moment his arms were securely wrapped around her waist, she felt a sense of peace and tranquility.
"I'm so scared" she admits, barely above a whisper.
He holds her tighter, like it was going to be their last hug.
Fitz kisses atop her head and whispers, "I'll protect you with my life." Many a men would say poetic words in order to gain affections from women; but Fitz's words were a testament to his love for his family. It was an all-consuming kind of love that would stand the test of time.
When he utter those self-sacrificing words, Olivia felt a dam open, a sob escapes through her lips, absorbed by his chest. Her body shook with tears, Fitz didn't budge but allowed her to cry against his chest.
They held onto each other even when their eyes closes, signaling their defeat to sleep.
"Call me if you need anything and make sure you talk to, Samantha." Fitz kisses Olivia on the lips as they stood in the foyer. He was leaving the house early, way before her and the kids. Apparently, his album had done tremendously well over the weekend and his manager was already talking about going on tour, to the top ten cities in America and three international cities: London, Sydney and Toronto. If they go ahead with it, he'll be on the road for at least a month.
"I will… now go before Sean, beheads you." Olivia teases him. She was robed in her peach and white bathrobe with a messy case of bed head. Last night she was too distracted to even put on her satin scarf. Unfortunately for her, there was no backup. They were using the linen sheet set instead of silk.
Fitz gives her another peck, not wanting to leave her today. He knows that she will be safe. Her new security guard Tom Stanton had already reported for duty, occupying Fitz's barely used home office.
So far the investigations were coming to a dead end. From the investigations that were had last night (post the delivery of the new set of flowers), they were at a road block. One of the security guys named Huck, was able to hack in to every floral shops' registry within fifty miles of the gallery. Fortunately, they were able to locate the floral shop that was used to purchase the flowers. Unfortunately for them, every time her name showed up in the system, the person paid with cash instead of a credit card. There was no way in telling who could've possibly bought it.
Returning to the moment, Fitz says "Kiss the kids for me when they get up. Tell Tommy, tonight we'll watch the game."
"Anything else, Mr. Grant?"
He presses his index finger to his lips as he pretends to think about it. "Tell my wife I need some loving tonight" he adds cheekily.
Olivia throws her head back, and laughs carefree. "I believe that can be arrange" she retorts, once her laughter subsided.
"Good… Have a great day, sweet baby."
"You too. I love you."
"I love you too," and with that he gives her a final peck before heading out the door.
Fitz drives to work in a comfortable silence. Just the hum of his engine rumbling under the hood, could be heard. He tried not to think about his wife's stalker. He simply hopes whoever the person is can be found, the sooner the better. One thing Fitz knows, is that going forward they won't be traipsing all over New York City without a bodyguard. He couldn't risk anything happening to his family.
Turning on the radio, he smiles when he heard one of his new songs playing. I still got it, he thinks to himself. It's been a few years since he actually made a new album, being behind the scenes is fun but he also enjoys singing. Especially singing to my wife. When she's naked… When she's naked on top my piano… his mind continues to go down a slippery slope until images of Saturday night/early morning came to mind.
Flashes of her wet pussy ingrains on his memory. The thought alone, stirs his member awake. He would never get fed up of making love to his wife. Every time was a good time for them. He never experienced such sexually contentment with any of his previous partners. That's probably because, he and Liv connected on a deeper level, and when they made love, they do so unselfishly, giving to each other everything they have, catering to each other's body and needs. It was magical…
"What!" Olivia answers her cellphone as she prepares breakfast for the kids. She was in heaven this morning, compliments of a good night's rest and zero morning sickness.
Her humming was interrupted when she saw her husband's handsome face displaying on her iPhone screen. He'd left home approximately ten minutes ago and was already calling her.
"Mmm" he moans in her ears.
Olivia smirks at, "babe?"
"What you doing?" He asks playfully, in a way too deep voice.
Olivia laughs at him, knowing her husband too well she asks, "Fitz, are you horny?"
"How did you know?" He asked surprised, chuckling at himself. He thought he'd done a good job of hiding the fact.
"I just know" she replies, confidently.
"Is that so?"
"Uh huh" she lodges the phone between her shoulder and ears, freeing both hands to effectively prepare breakfast.
"What you wearing?" He asked, although he knows he'd left her in her bathrobe, and that he couldn't properly delve into such inquiries while he drives through traffic.
"Nothing" Olivia lies.
"Really?" He was becoming very intrigued.
"Absolutely nothing. Actually I'm bent over in front of the mirror, looking at this new found mole in between my…" She trails off, as laughter bubbles up to the surface of her mouth.
"I'm turning around this car. Don't move!"
Olivia was full blown laughing at her nuttier than a fruitcake husband. Sometimes he could behave like an insatiable teenager, although she has her days when she feels like jumping him every thirty minutes.
"Don't even think about it, Grant! I think I can do the work by myself. It will be self-satisfying" she smacks her lips at the end.
Fitz groans as the new picture he conjure up in his mind, replaces the one of her spread eagle on his piano. It was going to be a long stiff day for him, literally.
"But if you're good, I can share my cookie with you tonight" she tells him in a sultry voice. She enjoys the playful banter that they have, whether in person, over the phone or via text message.
"I can't be good when you like me being bad. I'm a baaaaad boy and you know you like it."
It was Olivia's turn to clench her legs together, feeling the throbbing at the apex of her thighs, it increases ten folds.
"I – "she was cut off by one of her awaken kids.
"Morning Mommy" Iya yawns as she makes her way in to the kitchen still dress in her pink hello kitty pajamas.
"Good morning, baby" Olivia greets her. Turning back to her phone, she tells Fitz, "I'll talk to you later baby. Love you. Have a good. You too… I will… Ok… Bye… I promise….tonight… yes tonight…you're shameless and your daughter is in the room… I'm hanging up now…." When he finally says 'see you later' Olivia then ends the call.
She rests the just used phone on the kitchen island before making her way to her daughter. She kisses her on her right cheek.
"How did you sleep?"
"Good…I guess…I'm still tired" Iya lets out another yawn. She wasn't a morning person.
"Don't worry, you'll get to sleep in soon. Thanksgiving break is coming up in the next two weeks."
"I can't wait" she mumbles tiredly, rubbing her eyes. "Mom?"
"Yea, honey"
"I was watching this movie at nana yesterday, about a small kid like me, who asks his mother to make extra lunch to give to the children in his class that don't have any."
"They're hungry children in your class?" Olivia asks, interrupting her. She would be in shock, if such an expensive school had hungry children.
"Oh no. Not in my class but on the streets. There's always a homeless person begging for money. For Thanksgiving can we cook lunch for some of them?"
Olivia was blown away by her daughter's bigheartedness. At the age of eight she was already advocating for the less fortunate. She smiled inwardly, feelings of pride overwhelms her.
"I think that's a great idea, Iya." Olivia gives her a tight squeeze. "I'm so proud of you right now."
Iya blushes under her mother's heavy handed hugs.
"I'll talk to your father about it but I see no problem why he won't agree to it.
"Yay" Iya cheered, something that she does quite frequently when things are in her favor.
Olivia finally releases her grip on her and takes a step back. "Where's, Rex? Haven't seen him all morning."
"In Tommy's room. He said they had to share room because he's his best friend."
Olivia playfully rolls her eyes and smirks. Of course her sweet Tommy would say something like that.
As if the two could hear them talking about them, they appeared in the kitchen within two seconds of Iya answering her mother's question.
"Morning, Mama." He greets her and she bends down to give him a smooch.
"Morning, baby" she ruffles his curly hair.
Rex barks in attempts to grab Olivia's attention.
"Good morning, Rex" she rubs his back tenderly.
The next hour they ate breakfast before getting up, and heading up stairs to get ready for school and work. Per usual, Olivia only has to partially supervise the kids' get-dressing process. They were able to do most of it on their own.
Before leaving, she informed them about the new bodyguard, so that they won't be blindsided when they see Tom.
"You needed to see me?" Samantha asked, as she makes her way into Olivia's office after lunch. Henry was at the front manning the gallery by himself.
"Yes, Sam. Have a seat" Olivia gesture for her to take a seat on the sofa in the corner of her office. She gets up from behind her desk, and moves to sit beside Samantha, on the opposite side of the couch.
"What's up?" Samantha asks coolly, even though her heart was hammering in her chest. She can only hope that she wasn't getting fired.
"Umm. This maybe weird but I just needed to tell you something, so that it won't come as a surprise to you, down the road."
"Okay. What's that?" Samantha's nerves increased a score.
Olivia takes a deep breath and smoothens the invisible lines on her black trousers that she'd worn today with a turquoise colored shirt.
"Your boyfriend Brian, and I, dated for a bit while we both went to SU. That was like forever ago and I just wanted you to know."
"Oh" Samantha utters speechless. Of all the things that she was expecting to hear her say, this wasn't one of them.
Samantha stays quiet, thinking over everything in her head. She was trying to comprehend how her words made her feel.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she confesses, "Now it makes sense that he would ask so many questions about you. About the kids and Fitz too."
Olivia internally freaked, when she mentions her family. "What does he want to know about my kids?" she asked nonchalant, covering up her panic stricken voice.
"I can't really remember. Not anything serious though" Samantha pauses before continuing, "I believe he asked which school they go to, because his cousin has a daughter that will be going to kindergarten next year, and he promised to put her through private school. He's just looking for good recommendations. I think that's about it, I told him the name of their school."
Olivia looks bewildered.
"Hope that's not a problem? Sam asked, cautiously.
Instead of answering her, Liv rubs her temples. This was getting more and more frustrating. Her alarm bells were sounding at her, telling her that it's Brian who is sending the flowers. She's going to have to call Fitz and tell him the latest news before a repeat of Sunday occurs.
"No but… be careful, Sam" she pleadingly warns her.
"What? Why? Is he some serial dater? Did he hurt you badly when you guys were – ?"
Olivia interrupts her line of questioning and replies, "No, we were never a serious couple. We've been on a few dates here and there but it never got serious. It all started when we became friends in one of my art classes, and one day he'd asked me out to dinner. At the time I wasn't seeing anyone so I agreed. But for some reason I could never go the extra step with him. I only saw him as a friend, we never even kissed, except for some pecks on the cheeks. I told him how I felt one day after class, and from since then he avoided me like the plague."
Internally, Samantha was relieved. Their relationship or lack thereof wasn't anything that she should be concerned by. Olivia has definitely moved on but did, Brian? She asked herself. From the moment she'd told him, where she works and who she works for, he became obsess with all things Olivia. Asking questions like where she'd been to school, to how her day was, etc. Creepy.
"Thanks for telling me. You didn't have to but I'm glad you did."
Olivia gives her a polite smile before getting up and returning to her seat behind the desk.
Samantha took it as her cue to leave the room.
Once she was gone, Olivia picks up her phone and dials Fitz.
He answers on the third ring and she could hear laughing in the background. A bunch of raspy voices laughing deeply, probably his other band members and Sean.
"Sweet baby"
Olivia smiles at the greeting. After all these years she was still his sweet baby. "Hi" she shyly replies.
"Hi"
She could hear him shuffling on the other end, probably moving to his office.
"What are you up to? Sounds like I was interrupting something."
"No, you're not. The guys are roasting Derrick" his voice still laced with laughter. Derrick was his lead guitarist and good friend. He'd move from LA to NY when they'd decided to relocate all those years ago. He still hadn't settled down either.
"Mmm…leave D alone" she chastise him. Per his request he'd asked that they call him D.
"I swear it wasn't me, I'm just an innocent bystander."
"Right…" Olivia played along.
"Anyway I called you to tell you…" She relayed what Samantha had told her previously to him. Fitz wasn't pleased by the news, at all. She could hear his breathing become rapid and his words harsh as he describe how much of a piece of shit, Brian is.
He ended the call after asking if everything was working out with Tom, she'd replied yes.
Olivia and Fitz had reached home within five minutes of each other. They both chance it as coincidence. Tom was released for the day and the other security personnel, Huck, had reported for duty. He was working on the case from all angles but kept coming up with dead ends. The stalker person did everything with cash, leaving no electronic trail.
As they made their way inside of the house, it was surprisingly quiet.
"Hey, good evening" Olivia greeted Mama Awa, who was picking up the Lego blocks from the floor.
"Hi, Liv… Fitz. How you do today?"
"We're good. Where are the kids?"
"Sleeping, they were basically falling over themselves when I picked them up from school earlier. They've been sleeping all afternoon which is really unusual."
"Mmm. That is strange." Fitz agreed.
"Yea, I tried to wake them up but they only stayed awake for like a second, before they're sleeping again. They haven't eaten any afternoon snacks either."
"I'll go check on them" Olivia said.
"Liv, before you do that lets discuss Mama Awa's proposal" Fitz interjected.
They stayed, discussing Mama Awa's new position. They disclosed that they're expecting again, so that she won't be blindsided when Liv starts showing. She agreed to live in during the weekdays and take the weekends off, starting next week. For the most part she'll be looking after the kids, the house (which is basically the day to day maintenance of it, since a cleaning company comes once every two weeks to give it a good overhaul clean) and laundry. Liv still wanted to be the one cooking for her family.
After they'd discuss new salaries and benefits with her, Fitz made his way to the kitchen at the same time as Rex. He pours him a bowl of doggie food and fresh water. He was growing like weed.
Olivia went to check on Iya and she was dead to the world. She touched her shoulders and gently shakes her. Slowly her eyes opens, showcasing her gray orbs.
"You're tired?" Olivia asks in a soft voice.
"Yea" Iya croaked, rubbing her eyes, her mouth in a disapproving pout.
"Let's get up and eat first, and then you can go to sleep. Ok?" she gives her little girl a kiss on the top of her curls.
She nods her head in understanding and gets up.
Olivia helps her get up, and takes her into the conjoined bathroom. Then she makes her way to Tommy and repeats the same process, this time he was even worse than his sister. Olivia had to physically take him to the bathroom, and splashed some water on his face until he was alert.
Slowly, the trio made it downstairs. Just in time for Fitz to finish making his quick easy dinner, of Mac and cheese with Italian sausage and corn.
The aroma helped awaken the kids some more.
"Hey Hansel and Gretel" he greets, his children.
"Hey Dad" they replied drearily in unison, sounding like zombies.
Fitz brings over two dishes of food for them while Olivia grabbed two glasses of milk.
"Thanks Dad" they each said, as he gives them their food.
Olivia places a glass of milk at each of their plate's right side and was given the same gratitude.
"How was school today?" She asked, after they were all sitting and grace was said.
"Good. But I feel funny after I ate the candy that your friend left for us" Iya said, chewing on her food.
"My friend? What candy you're talking about?" Olivia asked, confused.
"My teacher brought a gift bag and said that your friend left it for us at the security office. It has so much of cool stuffs." Tommy interjects. He lets out a burp, "excuse me" he says sheepishly.
Fitz and Olivia looked at each other, their minds trying to figure out what was going on.
"Go bring the gift bags" their father requested, immediately.
Both kids got up and ran to the living room where the bags were. Tommy came back carrying a big blue gift bag while Iya's was pink. Olivia took a hold of Tommy's own while Fitz grabbed on to Iya's.
"I don't know who would drop this by your school" she mumbles as she searches through the large amount of action figurines. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, The Incredible Hulk, etc., then there were candies, in all assortments and flavors. She kept emptying out the bag until she reached the bottom of it.
Fitz mirrored her actions, dinner long neglected as they investigates the contents of the bag.
"Oh my God" Olivia whispers, her heart literally stopped beaten for a few seconds.
Fitz looks up to see his wife holding a piece of paper in her hands, and the distress could only be one thing. He left the bags for the kids.
"I'm calling the police now! He's going to jail tonight! This has gone too fu-"he stops himself, realizing that the kids alarming eyes were on him. "Too far. Huck!" He yells as he makes his way to his office.
The note Olivia had read was; this should've been our kids. But you had to screw me over in college. We could've been together, Livia. You should've been Olivia Johnson and not married to some piece of white shit, making half breed kids.
Olivia gasps as she reads the note over and over. What kind of sick bastard would target her kids? Her mind ran to the candies, she picks up one of it, to see if the wrappers had been tampered with. Oh, God what if he poisoned the kids?
"Did you guys eat any of the candy?" she asked the kids, her voice filled with panic.
The kids were alarmed by their parents' behavior. "Yea. I ate one after school and then it made me feel sleepy." Iya tells her mother.
"I ate two" Tommy relays.
Olivia gets up and rushes towards Fitz's office. Once she's there she says, "Fitz I think we need to carry the children to the hospital. Something was in the candy."
"What the fuck?" Fitz bellows.
Olivia produces one of the candy and shows Huck. "They said after they took it, it made them drowsy."
Huck collects the candy and exams it for a few seconds before replying, "It's possible that the candy was laced with sleeping pills. You should take them to the hospital."
Fitz bangs his hand on the table. This was getting more and more outrageous. He wants to physically rip Brian apart. Who the fuck he thinks he is, to come and tamper with his family?
"The cops are on their way. I say you go to the hospital now with them, and I'll provide them with all of the evidence we have so far" Huck reasoned, to get the ball rolling.
"What's his address?" Fitz asked, he knows by now Huck would have all of the bastard's information.
"Fitz no, let the cops handle it" Olivia pleads.
"He's not going to get away with what he's done to you, and the kids. He's going to pay for this, Livvie. What's the address, Huck?!" He demanded this time.
"Fitz, please don't do something stupid. You can't go to jail. Where would that leave us?" Olivia started crying.
"Take the kids to the hospital, Liv!"
"Mommy, what's wrong" they all turn to see Tommy and Iya standing in the doorway looking scared, holding hands.
"Nothing, mommy is upset. Fitz, please" was all Olivia said before walking out the room with the children.
She grabbed her purse and keys before heading through the front door. Before they could've made it too far, she turned around, and went back for some samples of candy – just in case they needed to test it.
Her life was a frigging lifetime movie, she couldn't believe it.
An hour later at the hospital, she could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Indeed the candy was laced with sleeping pills, it was confirmed by the hospital's poison control lab. Luckily, it hadn't caused any major harm to the children as it was a low dose.
Since they'd slept all afternoon, the doctor believes that they will be fine, only with some minor case of grogginess. The kids were so wired that they didn't even feel groggy. Their adrenaline was on high as they tried to keep up with what was going on around them.
Olivia tried calling Fitz over and over but he won't answer his phone. She was worried out of her mind about him. She prayed that he doesn't do anything reckless.
Huck had called her a few minutes ago, and assured her that the cops had come by and collected the contents of the bags, along with his statement. He had turned in every information he had acquire about Brian to them.
The cops required a statement from her and Fitz but Huck had told them that they're at the hospital with their children.
As Olivia sat on a chair in the examining room, in between two beds – each one holding a child, a female officer approaches her.
Olivia excuses herself while the attending ER doctor continued to thoroughly examine her kids.
She relayed everything that has happened in the past two weeks to the officer, who was busy jotting it down on a notepad.
When they were finish talking, the officer handed her a business card, and told her that they'll be in touch. With that Olivia returned to her babies, holding on to each one of their hands, she silently prays for their father.
Once he'd received the bastard's address from Huck, he sprinted out the house, and jumped into his Land Rover, while stabbing in the address on his phone GPS. The bastard literally lived ten minutes away from where they lived.
Fitz's mind swirled with all sorts of murderous thoughts. He could literally snap his head off without feeling any remorse.
He took deep breaths after deep breaths, trying to cool his raging anger. Fitz can't recall ever being this angry in his entire life. He pushes through traffic aggressively, until he reaches in front of the townhouse complex. Luckily, there was an empty parking spot available.
He roughly parks his jeep, double checks the apartment number and hops out of the vehicle.
He makes his way up the few short steps and started banging on door 212 - C.
With each bang that he delivered, his heartbeat increased.
The door was abruptly opened, halting his incessant knocking.
Brian's mouth was open and ready to yell at the perpetrator, but was immediately shut up when a punch land him square in the face. Instantaneously, blood started rushing down his nose.
"You fucking piece of shit! How dare you send flowers to my wife" he punches him again, this time in the belly causing him to bend over.
Fitz moves in to the entrance hall and closes the door from potential prying eyes.
Fitz raises his right knee and launches it to his nuts, causing him to squeal. "You fucking give my kids sleeping pills. You messed with the wrong fucking man's family. I could fucking kill you right now" Fitz gives him a backhand slap, making his body hit the floor.
Gathering his equilibrium, Brian sits on the floor and looks up at him, smiling deviously through the trickling of blood. "Your life would've been mine if that bitch had given me a chance in college" he snarls.
Fitz couldn't believe this fool. He raised his hand to launch another blow but the door had swung open, halting him.
\\POLICE/
A young Hispanic man, dressed in black police uniform, shouted as he enters with his gun aiming forward.
Fitz drops his hands to his side as he awaited instructions from the cop.
Brian looks up at Fitz smugly, thinking that the cop has come to his rescue.
"Are you, Brian Johnson?" the cop asked, the beaten man on the floor.
"Uh…yeah" he trailed, his smug smile replace by a frown.
"You're under arrest for knowingly provided drugs to two minors along with other pending charges."
"You have the right to remain silent when questioned.
Anything you say or do may be used against you in a court of law…" Fitz listens as the officer reads him his Miranda rights.
"What about me? That fucker assaulted me."
"Be quiet and move along. Self-defense is not a crime" the young officer winked at Fitz.
Fitz stood still in one spot, unable to move or speak.
"Sir, your wife and kids are at the hospital"
Fitz broke out of his trance as he nods his appreciation to the officer.
He made his way out of the building behind the officer, who was escorting a livid Brian. By now, back up had come and they were an audience out front.
Some officers passed him with a sheet of paper in one of their hands, most likely a search warrant. He bends his head and walks to his jeep as fast as possible, without bringing too much attention to himself. He didn't know whether it was his star power that made the office turn a blind eye to his wrongdoings, but he was grateful. Instead of being in the backseat of a police car, he was able to jump in his jeep and head off to the hospital.
Liv was getting the sleeping kids ready for home when Fitz arrived, looking disheveled and angry.
"Fitz" she breathes, cupping his face to examine him.
"I'm ok, Livvie" he tells her with a small smile.
"I was so worried. Where did you go?"
His silence was all she needed to confirm that he'd went to Brian's house. Then she looked down at his left knuckles, bearing evidence of his brawl. With the doctor around, she refrained from making a scene.
"The kids are fine. We can go home now" she tells him, diverting the topic.
His heart warmed, when he saw the siblings sleeping together on one bed, wrapped up in each other's arms.
"Let's go home" he says, making his way to grab the eldest child.
Lying in the master bed, Fitz holds on to a weeping Olivia. He couldn't help but be mad that two nights in a row that bastard was the cause for his wife's tears.
Instead of taking the kids to their rooms when they'd gotten home, they carried them to their king size bed - needing to feel their presence close by.
"He's going to go away for a long…long time" Fitz tells her as he strokes her arm.
Olivia hiccupped and just held him tighter. Tonight was one of the worst nights of her life.
Eventually, she succumbed to sleep and Fitz just held onto her. He looked down at his family and he was overcome with sadness that he wasn't able to fully protect them. Tears stream down his face as he thinks about what harm could've befall his wife and kids. Going forward, things will definitely be different.
Brian may've lost the battle but he definitely has stolen his family sense of security.
The next morning Fitz woke up to an empty bed. He felt disoriented as thoughts of last night plagues his mind. He immediately jumps to his feet, in search of them.
Coming down the stairs, he walk the hallway, heading in the direction of the living room where he heard the TV playing. He comes across his wife and children snuggle together watching cartoons. They all jump when he made a shuffling noise with his feet. He cursed himself for startling them.
"Daddy, good morning." Iya was the first one to turn around and see him.
"Good morning. Can I join you guys?" he asked timidly.
They all nodded their heads vigorously.
Iya gets up from the love seat and allowed her father to sit, she then climbs on to his lap. Olivia braces her back on to his shoulder as she holds Tommy against her side.
They stayed like that for an hour or so watching mindless TV.
Their cocoon of comfort was broken when the house phone started ringing. Fitz got up to answer it.
"Grants" he answers curtly.
"Fitz, its Huck"
"Hey, what's up?" Fitz walked out of the room, so that the kids won't have to overhear the gruesome conversation.
"That guy was planning on kidnapping your wife" Huck says, bluntly.
"What!" Fitz booms, as he entered and closed the door to his office.
Unfazed by Fitz's reaction, Huck continues "when they searched through his house, they came across a back room that was an Olivia Pope shrine. They were newspaper and magazines clippings of Olivia everywhere. Pictures of her pregnant and him writing on her belly, 'it should've been my child' he's a sick fucker."
Fitz felt sick to his stomach as he listens to Huck tell him about all of the things he was planning. Apparently, Brian had a house he'd built in Vermont for him and Liv. There was an entire timetable of what their life should and would be like, on the walls. Fitz wondered how come Huck was so knowledgeable about all of this.
As if he was reading his mind, Huck says, "The cop that came to arrest him, is my cousin Pedro, he won't say anything about the beat down you give to him. I called him once I had given you his address."
Fitz was eternal grateful that a man he had barely known in the past 48 hours, would go through such great lengths to help him.
"Huck, I don't know how I can express my gratitude for what you've done. Thanks so much."
"You don't have to thank me. Family First and if it was my family, let's just say he's lucky to be held in a jail cell right now." Huck snickers.
Fitz smiles briefly, a thought coming to his mind, before he could think much about it, he says "how about you coming to work full time for me and my family?"
Huck grew silent, thinking over his proposal. To work for a family would give him a redeeming satisfaction that he won't otherwise get, while body guarding uppity celebrities.
"I'll do it but only with my buddy Tom."
Fitz sighed deeply, not realizing how much of a relief his acceptance had given him. "Thanks Huck. I promise you'll be taken care of financial."
"I'm not too worried about that."
They talked for a few more minutes, in relations to what's next with their working relationship.
When Fitz had finished talking to Huck, he dialed Iya's and Tommy's school, requesting to speak directly to the principal.
After a few minutes of being back and forth with irrelevant assistants and secretaries, he was finally connected to the principal's office. He wasted no time, telling her how he felt. He talked about the harm that the school has caused, by giving their kids items that was not consented by their parents. Principal Thomas, apologizes profusely, and promises to get to the bottom of the issue. He ended the call abruptly, not before telling her that the kids won't be going to school today.
Before he could make his way back to his family, the phone in his hands rang again. This time it was Detective Boyd, both he and Olivia were needed at the police station.
He promised, that they'll be there in the next hour or so.
He returns to the living room only to see it vacant, he then makes his way to the kitchen to see his family eating with Rex staring at them. Mama Awa was at the stove preparing something.
"Good morning Fitz, I made you an omelet" Mama Awa tells him from over her shoulder.
"I appreciate that. Thanks'" he tells her, taking a seat at the kitchen table.
"We have to go down to the station" he tells Olivia, and she nods in acknowledgement.
She was preparing for that all morning.
Mama Awa bring over his cheese and ham omelet. He thanks her for it before digging in. They all ate in silence, the effects of last evening wearing gloomily on them.
When they were finished eating, Fitz and Olivia excused themselves to go and get dress for their appointment at the police station.
They'd told the kids that it was ok for them to watch TV for as long as they want, in which they happily obliged.
When they were both dressed, they kissed them see you later, and told Awa to call if she needed anything. They weren't so worried to leave them at home since Tom was on duty.
On the way to the station, Fitz relayed to Olivia everything Huck had told him. He quickly grabbed an empty plastic bag from the backseat, when she started retching up her breakfast. He was worried the most about her. The incident will shave off any sort of naïveté that she had remaining. She was fully exposed to the harshness and cruelty of this world.
They arrived at the office and was immediately greeted by Detective Boyd, who took them into his office.
"He's asking to speak to you, Mrs. Grant" Detective Boyd tells them, that's the only way he was prepared to give a full confession – if he was able to speak to her.
"Are you out of your fucking mind? No way is she going to talk to that lunatic! There's enough evidence to send him away."
Olivia places her hands on Fitz's bicep to help ease his pain, but it didn't assuage much.
"Let's cooperate, before we have to talk about why his face is beaten up while yours is completely fine. Mmm?" Detective Boyd threatens, giving him a knowing look.
Fitz sighs and runs both hands through his thick curly locks. He was beyond frustrated.
"Fitz, I can go talk to him. After all, I was the one who brought him into our lives" Olivia tells him in a small voice.
"Don't you dare blame yourself, for that lunatic's behavior!" Fitz looks up at the detective and says, "If she's going to talk to him, I want to be there."
"We can't have that" Detective Boyd shakes his head no.
"Then she's not fucking going in there!"
"Fitz!" Olivia screams at him, to get him to calm down and not convict himself for assaulting a police, a detective no less. "I'm going to go talk to him, so that he can be out of our lives for good" she spoke each word strongly. "Now, Detective, I'm only going in there if you accompany me."
"Of course, Mrs. Grant, we can definitely do that."
Fitz stood on the other side of the glass with two other officers as they watched; Olivia, Detective Boyd and a handcuffed Brian seated at table.
"You came?" Brian smiled at her.
"Yes" she replied monotone.
"I didn't want it to be like this, Livia. You were supposed to be my wife but instead you became wife to a white man." His words were full of disdain and reeks of pathetic-ness. "You, black women, always complain that there's no good black men, when all you do is turn up your noses at us and go date white men. Acting like you're too good for us."
"Can I go? I don't want to hear this" Olivia turns to the detective and pleads with him.
"There you go again. Thinking you're better than us. Listen to me! You want to weaken our race making babies with the oppressor" Brian continues to rant, the veins in his neck popping up with each word.
"Did you had plans to kidnap Mrs. Grant?" Detective interjects, trying to get a confession.
"I had plans to kidnap Ms. Pope. I don't know a Mrs. Grant!" he spat. "In my eyes we're still at SU, and she hasn't fall prey to the hands of the white devil. She's still my pure and holy, Livia."
Olivia gets up from the table, having had enough of his bullshit. The officers had gotten what they wanted and she was ready to go.
"I wish you rot in hell" she tells him, with enough venom to kill three quarters of the world.
"I had a house built for us. You would've had my babies. Sweet brown skinned babies. You would've been mine whether you liked it or not" he continued talking, even after both parties had gotten up from the table and left him.
Olivia collapses into Fitz's arms and began to sob at the ugly scene that she'd just witnessed. He held onto her until she was able to properly collect herself.
Two hours after, they were both finally at home. The kids were down for an early afternoon nap. Fitz and Olivia decided to call their families to fill them in on the past horrendous twenty four hours of their lives. Big Jerry was already calling his DA friend to ensure that no mercy is shown to him.
Alexis was hysterical and was ready to jump on the next plane to NYC, but they both assured her that they're fine, and it wasn't necessary.
When they'd finish the arduous phone calls, Olivia debated whether or not she should call Samantha. Out of all of the calls she dreaded this one.
Olivia listens as Samantha's sobs fills the phone line. News of the incident got leaked to the media, and it was all over the news, and she had seen it – hence the tears. Liv promised, that they'd talked more in depth in person, and told her to take the day off.
Finally being able to relax for the first time in twenty four hours, Olivia turns to her husband and says, "Things will never be the same again."
He bleakly smiles at her because he knows that it's the truth. Paranoia fills them both.
A/N: Here you have it folks! Brian was the creepy stalker dude and he had so many dirty tricks up his sleeve. He's gone for good but the effects of his actions will linger with the people he affected. Fitzvader made an appearance in this chapter. Nobody messes with his wife and kids.
Let me know what you thought of the chapter. Any and all reviews are welcome.
Until next time,
XOXO