A/N: I cannot begin to tell you how hectic (in a good way) my life has been. Not going to bore you with details. Enjoy this new update. FYI: the names that are bolded are for people who are talking.
The Interview
It was the day of the interview with Oprah. Many weeks of tireless work was coming into fruition. Olivia, Fitz, Iya and Tommy, Huck and Tom were all sitting in the green room awaiting the commencement of the show. In the first segment they would be four interracial families who Oprah were going to be interviewing, then Olivia and Fitz were going to join them in the second segment. In the third segment, Iya and Tommy would come out along with the other families' children. And in the last segment Fitz would be singing one of his songs towards the end.
Fitz was mindlessly massaging Olivia's lower back as they sat on the comfortable couch waiting. He watched as Tommy went to the snack table to grab something to eat. He smiled when he saw Iya got up to help him when she saw him fumbling with the fruit platter. He admired their closeness and tenderness they displayed towards each other. He wasn't worried that baby number three won't be accepted into their circle of love. He watched as she helped him carry the small plate to his seat. At the age of eight Iya was very mature and nurturing. He had to give his wife a lot of credit, because of her Iya has firsthand experiences on how to be that way.
He looked down at his beautiful wife and couldn't help but mentally pinch himself for being so lucky. He struck gold when it came to her and his children. Since the incident with Quentin he can honestly say that the communication line between the two of them were more opened than before. Fitz thought back to the day after he destroyed Quentin's somewhat good image, when TMZ and all other entertainment news source were running the stories. He was surprised by the amount of dirt Huck and Tom found about him. From his cocaine problem to his shady dealings in the art world. There's a few times he felt a tad remorseful for airing his dirty laundry out so publicly while most of the time he didn't. Quentin had to be dealt with and that's what he did. So there was no regrets on his end.
"I'm so nervous," Olivia's voice broke his thoughts.
He squeezed her hand in his and gave her a small smile. "You'll be fine. Just remember to breathe and you'll be fine." He said.
"That's it? That's all of the advice a four times Grammys singer, song writer, performer and producer have to give?"
Fitz chuckled at her statement. "What else do you want me to say?" He asked.
"I don't know, tell me one of your secrets on how you stay calm while performing."
"Easy. I think of you." Fitz whispered close to her ears, the two of them were in their own world.
Olivia rolled her eyes at him, leave it to him to be mushy. "Before me. What did you used to do?"
Fitz shrugged his shoulder, he really can't remember life before her, especially his bachelor years. "To be honest I can't remember. Feels like a lifetime ago."
"Wow," Olivia gasped. "You feel like we've been together for a lifetime already? It has only been 10 going on 11 years since we met and married for 9."
Fitz chuckled again, leave it to his beautiful wife to pick the part she wanted to hear. He placed a tender kiss on her temple.
"When I say lifetime, I do not mean it in a bad way. We've been together for so long that I can barely remember the times without you."
Olivia scrunched her nose as she considered his words before responding, "You're right, because I can't remember either what life was like before you."
"Mommy, my bowtie," Tommy interrupted them, showing his mother his undone bowtie. He was wearing brown desert boots, dark denim jeans with a white, blue and red plaid shirt tucked inside, and a yellow bowtie. He looked very cute and stylish with his curls perfectly coiffed.
Olivia straightened her body from leaning against Fitz' and redid his bowtie. "You gotta be careful, buddy. Ok?" She admonished in a soft tone.
"Ok," he told his mother with a firm head nod.
"Open up let me see your teeth." Olivia urged and he opened his mouth. She examined his teeth for any stuck fruit, when she was satisfied that he had none she instructed him to close his mouth.
Diving into her purse she grabbed a tin of breath mints. "Here you go." She placed one of the small white mint into his small palm.
"Thank you!" He said, throwing the mint into his mouth.
"Mom, please for one," Iya begged. Olivia dropped two into her hand and she said, "Thanks."
Seeing that his sister received more than him, Tommy asked with a pout, "how come she got more than me?"
"Because I'm older, duh..." Iya quipped.
"Here you go!" Olivia gave him another one to stop the bickering, after all they weren't at home and she wasn't particularly in the mood to hear it.
"Thanks mom. Boo..." Tommy threw back at his sister as he held up his second breath mint for her to see.
"Stop acting like a baby, Thomas." Iya rolled her eyes at him.
"Stop it you two. We're not at home and I expect you to behave." Fitz told them in a low hiss, his blue grey eyes penetrating their grey ones.
"Yes dad," they mumbled one by one, falling back in line. Olivia always found it both funny and annoying that with one look or word from Fitz would make the kids instantly behave, that was the funny part. However, the annoying part was that with her she would have to basically repeat herself before they finally listened and take her threats seriously.
"Come please," Olivia signaled Iya over. "What's that white thing in your hair?" She asked. Iya simply shrugged her shoulders because she didn't know what her mother was talking about. Olivia instructed her to tilt her head forwards so she could inspect the small white unidentifiable object in her curls that was not a part of her overall look. Iya also looked splendid in a white and blue stripped shirt dress with a thin yellow belt and red ballerina flats, with a matching red headband pushing her curls back. The entire family chose to color coordinate. Olivia wore a yellow and blue color blocked dress in a wrap style, it was mostly yellow and she also donned a red pair of pointed-toe Louboutins. At the same time Fitz looked incredibly handsome in an outfit almost identical to Tommy's, only thing, instead of a bowtie he wore a slim yellow tie. They chose to dress semi-casually because they wanted to be seen as the laid back, down to earth people they are.
They all spent a few more minutes talking amongst themselves and with the kids before the producer came to get them. Fitz and Olivia told the kids they will see them later on stage before they followed Priscilla's lead to their entrance point.
After the thunderous applaud had died down from Fitz and Olivia's entrance they were finally able to occupy the love seat between Oprah and two of the other couples. The other two couples were seated on the other side of Oprah while she was seated in the middle with Fitz and Liv.
Oprah Winfrey: Wow, III Legend, it's good to have you and your beautiful wife here today. You already know how much I love your music and I'm such a big fan of yours.
Fitz smiled politely at her.
FG: That means a lot coming from you. And let me go on record by saying, I'm also a huge fan of yours.
Oprah returned his warm smile before she addressed Olivia.
Oprah: It's really nice to meet you Olivia. The woman behind, no, the woman beside the legendary man.
Olivia chuckled nervously, she was feeling flushed.
OG: It's my pleasure to meet you as well, Oprah.
Oprah gave her a warm smile.
Oprah: Alright, let's get started. In our first segment we had the Smiths, London's, Georges and McPherson's shared a little about their experiences being an interracial family in America. Some of these stories were downright heartbreaking, if I must say so myself. For our viewers sake, let me ask you Fitz, why did you want to do this interview?
Fitz took a deep breath, squeezed Olivia's hand before he began.
FG: Over the years my wife and I, well mostly my wife has been subject to a lot of racial tensions where our relationship and family is concerned. We've been together for over ten years and you can only imagine the amount of toxicity that was spoken to her. However, the straw that broke the camel's back was when we were vacationing at my mother-in-law's house in Miami this past Christmas. My wife would be better able to tell you what went down since she's the one who experienced it. But I just want to say that, that incident was it for me. I'm here to speak out against racism.
Taken aback by his passionate response, Oprah simply nodded.
Oprah: Wow. I can tell how profoundly upset you are by all of this. Olivia, can you recap the details of the event for us?
Olivia took a shaky breath before she began her recount of what happened that afternoon.
OG: My mom, my daughter, Iya, and I were walking out the mall when an old white woman approached Iya. I interceded and asked what's the matter but instead of answering me she asked my daughter, where her parents were. So imagine how confused I was. Everything roughly happened within like a minute or so. She kept blocking my daughter's way so I dropped my shopping bags and grabbed onto one of her arms to pull her in my direction. By this time my heart was beating out my chest and I was terrified. The minute she grabbed onto my child's hand I applied more strength and pulled her away.
Olivia took a deep breath to compose herself while Fitz kept rubbing circles into the back of her hands. Olivia continued.
OG: the woman screamed for help and two cops came over. A black one and a white one. Again, I was scared out of mind thinking that my child would be taken from me. I was so petrified by her behavior, so much so that when she dropped the N word it didn't even surprise me. I was repulsed that she said that in front of my daughter. To wrap this up, the white cop asked me various questions and asked for my driver's license to provide proof of my identity before I was able to leave with her.
Olivia finished and dabbed the corner of her eyes with a tissue from the box set on the small side table next to her.
Oprah: Wow. I'm very sorry to hear the horror you and your daughter encountered. That was quite a horrific experience, and I want you to know that you're not the first person who was mistaken for kidnapping their own children. The McPhersons also have a similar story to yours. Do you mind sharing?
Oprah turned her attention on the McPherson's. The husband, an African American man nodded his head yes and he began to speak.
He shared his experience about being followed by the security guard in Walmart while he was shopping with his two daughters. By the time he'd reached to checkout two cops were waiting for him. When he was finished talking both Olivia's and Fitz' eyes were widen in shock as they listened to the interrogation he went through.
Oprah: We all think that being in the 21st century that people would get used to interracial dating and biracial children. And not only between black and white but, black and Asian, Hispanic and white, etcetera, etcetera.
Oprah shifted in her seat before she turned her attention on Fitz and Olivia.
Oprah: Do you think that the world would be better if we lived in a post-race world?
Olivia shook her head no before she answered the question.
OG: I don't want to live in a post-race world but, I'm interested in living in a post-racist world. A world where we all can be celebrated for our differences, and not feel ostracized. God made us in a multitude of shades, sizes and personalities. He did this so we won't be bored by the same standard of beauty, although the media tries to push their agenda on what is considered beautiful. I said all of this to say, no, I do not want to live in a post-race world and I don't want my children either. However, post-racist? Absolutely yes!
FG: Just to piggyback from my wife, we also do not teach our children to be color blind. We ensure that they mostly value what's on the inside of people rather than the outside, but in the process we do not try to erase a person's race or ethnicity. Like my wife said, our differences should be celebrated and not ostracized. When we were first dating, I grew to love the person she was on the inside. I did so by also appreciating her physical beauty. I was very aware that she was a black woman and I a white man. Thank goodness we didn't downplay that. From since early on we had conversations about race because being in an interracial relationship these are important conversations to have, especially when you plan on having children. In a systematic America they don't see your kids as being biracial. You're either black or white. I'm not going to sit here and say I know the firsthand struggles of a minority person when in fact I don't. But, being with my wife caused me to open my eyes to these issues. Before her and before having mixed children I never thought in detail about the struggles people of color endured on a daily basis. Don't get me wrong, I thought of it to some degrees, but not in the great lengths that I do now. Being aware of the struggles is nowhere close to living it. With the police brutality so rampant right now, and all the killings of black men has me seriously worried. One day my wife and I will have to sit down and have "The Talk" with our son.
Oprah's face was clearly intrigued by what he was saying, so much so that she interrupted him.
Oprah: These are all important things you're saying and I'm glad you're all aware of racial issues in America. But, with all of this said, what are we desperate to see change? Or more importantly, how are we going to make those changes?
Many of the other couples weighed in on what could be done to see change happen in the way race issues are handled in America. They discussed it in great lengths for quite a few minutes.
Oprah mentally gathered all of their inputs before she finally spoke, closing the second segment.
Oprah: We can all agree that we want to live in a world where we can all embrace each other's differences. And in order for us to do so we will all need to start with the person in the mirror. The change has to begin within all of us. If you don't know about other races and their cultures it's time for you to be exposed to it in a positive way. Quit listening to bias Medias and get out and meet real life people. You might be surprised how similar your stories are. We're all humans and we all want to be love and accepted at the end of the day.
The third segment started and all of the kids were seated around their parents with the exception of Iya and Thomas who were seated in between theirs.
Oprah looked around the room and smiled taking in all of their various beauties. Some were hued light while some were dark, some of their hairs were jet black while some were honey colored and blonde, some had brown eyes while some were blues and grays, their hairs also came in various textures and lengths. She looked at them and admired their ethereal beauty.
Oprah: My, my, aren't you all gorgeous?
Oprah gushed and the kids all smiled and some laughed.
Oprah: Let me start by saying each of your names. Jaia, Michael, Kia, Cianna, Zachary, Brie, Xavier, Bryson, Iya and Thomas.
When she called Tommy's name he blushed bright red. He was already self-conscious being filmed and was relegated to hiding his face in his mother's side.
Oprah: Oh...we have a shy one, don't we?
OG: Him? That's how he is when he first meets someone new. But after that you'll see him in all of his glory.
Tommy blushed even more when he realized the conversation was on him.
The interview continued and Oprah asked the kids who were old enough various questions about experiences they encountered being biracial in America. Some of the kids had already experienced some difficulties. Jaia London in particular, a 16 years old high school student. She inherited pale skin, compliments of her mother and wild honey colored hair with blonde streaks. Her family and she lived in Pensacola, Florida.
Jaia: I remember when I was 12 years old all the way to 14 years, I wanted to be dark skinned so badly. Growing up in a predominantly black community and going to school in the same community, I used to be picked on every day for looking different than most of the other girls. My mom can tell you how many times I came home from school crying. I felt like no one liked me because of how I looked. I used to stay out in the sun for as long as possible to get really tanned but that still didn't help. Because when I did that, everyone teased me for trying to be white. I was literally stuck in between two races. The white girls only wanted to be my friends because I looked a little like them but they still treated me like an outcast. I was never fully accepted anywhere.
Olivia's heart broke as she listened because she wondered if that's what Iya would go through when she got older. She prayed that she wouldn't.
When Jaia was finished talking, Oprah asked.
Oprah: You're sixteen years old now, so tell me what happened after you turned 14 years to create this more confident young woman?
Jaia smiled and thought back to the moment when her life changed.
Jaia: My mom had taken me to this young women empowerment seminar and it was then I saw so many beautiful women, young, old, black, white, Asian, Hispanic and mixed, that were all loving on each other. These women told us how important it was to love ourselves and support each other as women and girls. I remember listening to their words as if it was the gospel. I was so happy that my mom took me to it. I even became friends with two girls that weekend who were going through the same thing as me. And we are still really good friends today. After that conference my self-esteem increased and I didn't let people's judgement of me affect me anymore. I learned to love myself, freckles and all.
Jaia finished with a giggle. By then all of their eyes were filled with tears. Olivia dabbed hers with a tissue because hers were threatening to fall. She was feeling so emotional and she was forever grateful that they had the opportunity to speak about this issue.
The interview went on some more and they were even some funny moments when Tommy decided to talk. He was the cutest little thing telling Oprah how he played with everyone in his class. At the end of the segment when they went for a commercial break, Fitz went over to the stage and prepared for his performance. Derrick and the rest of the band were already over their strumming their instruments.
When Fitz was cued by the stage director his long skillful fingers began caressing the white and black keys of the baby grand piano.
"I want to dedicate this song to my family and every other family who took the time to be here with us today. You're truly loved and appreciated."
We're just ordinary people
We don't know which way to go
Cause we're ordinary people
Maybe we should take it slow
Take it slow, ohh
This time we'll take it slow
Take it slow, ohh
This time we'll take it slow
Everyone swayed to his soulful voice as it serenades and soothes them. In the background behind him a large screen showed a video of various faces of people of all races and ethnicities smiling and laughing. Olivia had helped him compiled the video; the video also had Iya, Tommy and her inside.
When he was finished a thunderous round of applauds were sounded and everyone cheered loudly.
It was around eight in the night when they finally returned to their hotel suite. After the show was taped they all spent time with Oprah and the other families at one of Oprah's favorite restaurant; she had reserved a private room for all thirty of them.
When they'd arrived back to the three bedrooms suite, Olivia had the kids showered before she went to do the same. When they were all cleaned up they retired on the oversize couch in the living area watching pay per view.
"I wonder if Rex is giving Mama Awa a hard time." Iya randomly said. She was seated closest to her father with her head against his arm, while Tommy was next to their mother. They were both seated between their parents.
Tommy laughed when the thought of Rex hiding from Mama Awa flashed across his mind. Over the past months Rex had grown considerably much and he was very cunning. It also didn't help that the kids taught him different tricks.
"He better be behaving, because if I find another pair of my shoes with bite marks on it I'll personally find him a new home." Olivia said, half serious.
"Mom, you can't do that! He's family. Isn't that true dad?" Tommy frantically asked.
Fitz shrugged his shoulder before saying. "I can't tell your mom what to do, bud."
"Yes you can. You tell us what to do all the time." Tommy refuted.
"That's true, because you're children."
"Not fair! She can't send away Rex," Tommy was close to tears.
Iya giggled and said, "Of course not Tommy. She'll never send away Rex, but she can send you away to another family."
Tommy pouted his bottom lip and it quivered from the emotions running through his little body.
Olivia looked on holding in her laughter. Tommy was such a sensitive child and he took things seriously. Before she allowed his torment to go any further she interceded. Scooping him up onto her lap, she cradled him against her burgeoning belly and swayed him from right to left like she would a baby.
"Mommy, will never send her baby away. Neither Rex. You're both very precious to this family. I couldn't live without my sweet boy." She kissed his cheek and he smiled his toothless smile at her.
"Love you, mommy," he grinned.
"Love you too, baby." She planted another kiss on his round cheek.
Fitz hugged Iya closer to his side, reveling in the fact that she was there healthy and happy.
"What did you think of the interview, sweet cheeks?" Fitz asked to see where her mind was.
"It was ok, even though it had some sad parts. Like when Jaida, spoke. I felt sorry for her that people were bullying her." Iya said with knitted eyebrows.
"Does anyone in school gives you trouble for the way you look?" Olivia interrupted, asking. Now was a good time to ask, she thought.
"No, mom. All of my friends don't talk about the way people look. We would talk about clothes though. But not in a bad way." She added sheepishly.
"Oh, good. If anyone gives you trouble don't be afraid to report it to your class teacher and to us. And that goes for you too, Mr. Crayon breaking boy." Olivia tickled Tommy's sides when she spoke the end of her sentence and he giggled.
That moment Baby #3 decided to kick and Tommy yelped when he felt it. Not knowing what was going on, Tommy yelled, "Mom, your tummy moved!"
Olivia giggled and the baby kicked again. In the midst of laughing, she told him, "The baby is kicking."
Excited by this news Iya reached her hand over to her mother's stomach and awaited the next kick from her brother or sister. While she waited she said, "I remember when you used to kick mom all the time," she told her brother.
"Is it true, mommy?" Tommy asked, skeptical of his sister's statement.
"It's true." Olivia said at the same the baby kicked again.
Fitz joined them by placing his large hand onto her belly. "And I felt your kicks, sweet cheeks."
"Really? Does it feel weird? Does it hurt?" Iya inquired with rapid questions.
"When it gets closer to the delivery time it hurts sometimes." She explained to them. She looked on at all of their awestruck face as the baby decided to give another kick and then another. Anyone seeing Fitz for the first time would've thought that it was his first child and not his third. He was just as amazed as the kids. Being pregnant and having life grow inside of her was such a wondrous experience.
"I think you're getting another girl." Iya squealed happily.
"Me too." Olivia agreed with a smile.
"Not me." Tommy shook his head no. "It's a boy," he said.
Olivia laughed and ruffled his curls. "Maybe it is maybe it's not."
Fitz decided not to say because he too think it was another girl.
They watched TV for a half an hour more before the kids retired to their rooms and them to theirs.
Spooned together, Fitz had his right hand palming her belly protectively as they went to sleep.
Olivia had woken up around midnight for a bathroom break, the incessant urge to pee was always there since she'd moved into her second trimester. Returning to bed after she was finished, she took a few seconds to admire her husband's sleeping form as the light night cast a glow on his body. He was wearing a navy blue pajamas bottom with a white V-neck T-shirt. His hair was tousled and his mouth slightly opened. The softest snore permeates the room, he was the definition of adorableness. As she laid next to him she couldn't help but to thank God for blessing her with an incredible husband who would go the extra mile for his family. She never in a million years could've envisioned someone as great as him. Of course he wasn't perfect, he still had ways about him that pissed her off to no end. But, in the end she wouldn't have chosen to love anyone else other than him, imperfections and all.
Her thoughts of him left her feeling aroused, she was craving physical intimacy with him. Unable to shut off her mind and body, Olivia did the best thing she knew how to. She started caressing his chest with her hand, rubbing deliberate circles onto his chest and sturdy abs. Slowly, she moved her hands down his abs and slipped them over his pajamas pants. She gave his penis a little squeeze through the fabric before she slipped her hand inside the waistband and wrapped her fingers around his flaccid member. At rest its length and width was still quite impressive in her hand. With each stroke she gave him she grew wetter between her legs. She could feel his member growing with each stroke she gave.
"Liv?" Fitz sleep muffled voice moaned. He was woken up from the most pleasurable dream. He could feel his dick harden from it. As he blinked his eyes he realized that he wasn't dreaming.
In a coarse voice, Olivia replied, "make love to me."
Fitz didn't waste any time with fusing their lips together in a slow languid kiss. As he kissed her he removed her hands from his pants, stopping her from bringing him to an early climax. He wanted to take it slow. They simply kissed for the next few minutes, exploring the crevices of each other's mouths. Fitz' hands were groping her through her silk nightie as her hands run underneath his T-shirt exploring the wide expanse of his muscular back.
When they'd had their fill of foreplay they hurriedly removed each other's clothes. Fitz laid on his back and allowed Olivia to straddle his thighs. She rubbed her hands up and down through his manicured chest hair, allowing the feelings to send tingles throughout her body. Lifting her hips Fitz brought her onto his member and eased her down, inch by inch. When he was filled to the hilt inside her tight chambers they both let out s satisfy moan. He then raised his torso to a seated position. The shift of position caused him to be deeper.
With his face now a mere few inches from hers, Fitz said, "I love you so much." He kissed her lips as he began to move his hips in time with hers. "You're so beautiful." He continued to swivel his hips so she can feel all of him. "You're the most important person in my life." He nipped the side of her neck that caused her to moan even louder. "You're everything I could've ever ask for."
Olivia threw her head back as the feeling she was experiencing was so intense. She loved everything about the moment. His words, his actions combined with his love had her heady.
As their sweat slicked body moved in time to their rhythm, Olivia panted loudly. They were moving unhurriedly neither rushing to climax. They simply wanted to be close to each other.
"Oh...baby...I...I...love you so much..." She said between a moan.
Her words egged him on as he continued to thrust into her. His mouth found one of her sensitive nipples and he latched onto it. He interchange between the two as he worked on bringing her to her climax. Eventually, the intense need to climax was too much to stall. Together they increased their pace as they worked on taking the other to paradise.
With a thumb pressed down onto her swollen clit, Olivia was screaming her release as Fitz followed after, spilling his seed deep inside of her. When they were thoroughly spent Olivia rolled onto her back leaking their combined fluids onto him. She internally giggled at the mess she didn't purposely left.
They laid on their backs for a few minutes both trying to regulate their breathing.
After a while, Fitz spoke, "that was amazing. Making love to you, never gets old for me."
Olivia blushed at his statement and rolled over to rest her head on his chest.
"Same. Love you baby."
"Love you too."
A/N: How did you find the interview? I hope the structure of it was ok. I also got a part of Olivia's response from one of Kerry's statement when she spoke about living in a post-race America. 'I don't want to live in a post-race world because being black is really exciting. But I'm interested in living in a post-racist world.' Would love to hear your thoughts. Hopefully, I did a good job of presenting some of the struggles of an interracial family. Btw the story with Jaida about her wanting to be darker because of being bullied in school actually happened to one of my friends.
Also, I hope you enjoyed the tender moments with the family when the baby was kicking. And you got some smut. HA!
Please leave your reviews, they're appreciated. If you haven't checked out my other stories please do so, it will hold you over until I update again. Fighting Hearts, More to Life and my one shot Carpe Diem.
Until next time,
Xoxo