Ghost from the past
"Hey mum," Fitz kisses his mum on the cheek as she greets him at the door, "Hey son…" She then dusts her hands off on her apron before picking up Joshua for a much needed squeeze… "Mwah, and how's my gorgeous boy today?"
"I'm good Nana," Joshua beams.
"Did you have fun at Nursery?"
He nods excitedly, eager to spill… "Poppy and I played cops and robbers today, and I had to arrest her in my car!" Anne couldn't help but giggle as she and Fitz share a knowing look- Big Jerry's influence.
"That's nice baby, Grandpa would love to hear that story, why don't you go and tell him… he's out on the veranda reading the paper…"
"Okay!"
She places him down, and he immediately runs off in the direction of Jerry… "PAPA!"
Smiling, Anne turns back to Fitz, "You guys are early? I take it that you didn't spend long at the Park?"
"No mum, to be honest my stomach's been up and down all day, so I managed to barter with my son that if we left the park early, you and Pops will take him for an ice-cream later…?"
"Sure son, no worries…" She pauses and takes good stock of him. "I have to say you do look a bit peaky…"
"Yeah I feel it… in fact, mum can you excuse me for a sec, I think I need the bathroom…"
She watches on worriedly, hoping that all he needs is some rest… Between his shifts at the hospital and looking after Joshua he's exhausted. She'll keep an eye on him, and if he doesn't perk up she'll insist that they stay over and she'll drop Joshua off to Nursery in morning instead-allowing him time to reboot.
Pulling her from her thoughts, Jerry calls over to her carrying Joshua back in aeroplane style… "Anne, pass me that bag over there for me please, I have something in there for Josh!"
She grabs it and takes a look inside, mockingly rolling her eyes… "Jerry I told you, this bright spark is going to be a doctor, not a mini you!"
Jerry laughs heartily, safely placing Joshua on floor before retrieving the item from the bag. Joshua's eyes light up immediately!
"Look at what Grandpa's got for you!" He tells him excitedly, as he presents him with a big police car… "It has a siren and flashing lights and everything!"
"Woooow!" Joshua marvels, as he takes it from him; Jerry then looks smugly over at Anne… "Doctor, I think not… this little boy is going to follow in his grandfather's steps, aren't you my son?" Joshua smiles at him brightly, as he ruffles his hair affectionately. "Besides, we have enough Doctors in this family."
Anne shakes her head in amusement… "You are something else Mister!" And she is about to tell him that she has a few subtle tricks up her sleeves too, when the doorbell interrupts her… She looks to Jerry, who shrugs his shoulders, who like her, is not expecting anyone either… Wondering who it may be, she walks over to the door to answers it… But nothing or no-one could have ever prepared her for the shock she was about to receive as she opened the door…
She gasps audibly. And upon hearing his wife's reaction, Jerry immediately gets up and stands beside her, only to find- he can't believe it either… "Olivia?"
"Hi Jerry, Anne…"
Jerry is the first to regains the power of speech to question her, albeit not so invitingly... "What are you doing here?"
Nervous. "I… I've come to see Fitz… and.. and Joshua..."
Angered and outraged, "You have some nerve…"
"Jerry, don't…" Anne halts him, knowing that this situation has to be dealt with extreme caution, but above all it needs to be handled by Fitz. She tells Jerry to go and get him, but he doesn't have to, as unawares to them all, Fitz is already standing there, completely aghast.
"Fitz..." Anne immediately goes to him, protectively placing her hands on his chest… He however (refusing to take his eyes off Olivia for one second), assures her that he's alright, before telling her in a tone unwavering and sure, and leaving no room to question his judgement, that they are to be left alone… "Mum, Pops, I want you to take Joshua for an ice-cream, take your cell phones… I'll call you when it's time to come back…"
Not needing any further instruction, Anne goes to get Joshua and calls over to Jerry to do the same… "Let's go get some ice-cream sweet pea."
"Is daddy coming too?" Joshua asks, slightly uneasy, having picked up on the sudden tension in the room…
Jerry, who has reluctantly resigned to his son's request, walks over to the pair of them and swoops Josh up. He smiles at him warmly, in a bid to disarm any worry he may have… "Daddy wants us to bring his ice-cream back later, after you and I share a rocky choco bowl first, okay Champ?!"
"Okay Papa."
Placated, Joshua rest his head in the nook of Jerry's neck, as Anne lovingly strokes his face, "sweet boy." She whispers to him softly, as she gives Olivia a pointed look… "Let's go."
And so they head out without a further word, leaving Fitz and Olivia well and truly alone.