Fireworks

"Excuse me my boy… Olivia, can I have a word please…" His underlying tone cannot be mistaken, he wasn't asking her, he was telling her and he was far from happy.

Once out of ear shot, in the confines of his old bedroom, he immediately lets rip… "What the hell do you think you're playing at?"

"Playing? I'm not playing at anything… I simply wanted him to have a photo of me…"

He's angry, angry that she would dare to justify her actions, even now… "You had no right Olivia, NONE!"

"And YOU have no idea how incredibly hard this is for me… having him call me Ms. Olivia, whilst you happily keep him in the dark about who I really am!"

"And what do you expect?! Or have you forgotten that you walked out on him when he was a baby! Like it or not, your actions dictated that I would be a fool to trust you out right… and if anything, judging by what you tried to pull today… I still can't!"

"You're going on like I just came out and told him… All I did was give him a picture of me, of us… because it's clear to me that he has not got one single photo of me at home…" Her insight floors him… "What did you do, huh? Toss them all out like garbage, is that it?!"

Guilty as charged, but he's so incensed right now he doesn't feel that he needs to explain himself to her… "You should have discussed it with me," he persists instead.

This was probably not the best time to bring this up, but she can no longer keep a lid on it, as all her bottled up feelings since being back starts to spill... "Discussed it, why exactly? So that you can continue to control everything?!" She accuses… "So that you can turn around and say, actually Olivia I don't think it's the right time… Let's just stick to the 30 minute "flyby" visits in the park and keep it at that!"

"That's not fair… We had to start somewhere Olivia, I needed to make sure that you were serious about all this, and that you weren't planning on disappearing again as soon as things got real…"

It's been nine weeks Fitz! NINE WEEKS! How much longer before you realise that I'm in this for the long haul?! I've never missed a visit, not one! I'm always on time and I always leave when you ask, even when it kills me to do so! What more do I have to do?"

"Oh I don't know… maybe avoid stunts like this perhaps!" He retorts; tongue laced in sarcasm.

"As much as you may believe that this was some sort of deliberate act to reveal who I am, it was not! I just... I just wanted to give him something that I held dear… I hadn't intended for it to be anything more than that… You're the one who took it there!"

"Really, somehow I find that hard to believe…"

"Well you would, wouldn't you… but I'm being honest with you, whether you want to accept it or not, it's the truth… The last thing I wanted was to cause upset, it's my son birthday for Christ sake; I mean really Fitz, how low do you think of me?"

He doesn't answer her, he can't.

"You know what; I better leave before I say something I'll regret…"

"Yeah, I think that would be wise…"

"Oh but this is not over Fitz, not by a long shot…" She warns… "Because you see, I love that little boy in there and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him… NOTHING! But I'm done with keeping quiet about the way I'm feeling. Keeping quiet is what got me here in the first place, and I refuse to do that again!"

With nothing else left to say; she's said plenty, she quickly composes herself and turns away from him, heading back out into the living room. Retrieving her jacket and bag, she avoids all the piercing daggers being sent her way as she walks straight over to Josh… She kneels down and gives him a soft smile… "Unfortunately I have to go now Birthday Boy, but I will see you soon, I promise!"

He looks crushed… "Ooooh, okaaay." He sighs, clearly not wanting her to leave, or understanding what is going on.

It takes every ounce of strength in her to remain upbeat and not let on to him how much this is tearing her apart… "Enjoy the rest of your party sweetie… and try not to eat too much cake, okay?"

"Okay, I'll try!"

She gives him a gentle peck on the cheek to say goodbye... When instinctively he throws his arms around her; squeezing tight… "Bye Ms. Olivia, thank you for coming…" he whispers sweetly, his tiny breath tickling the delicate skin on her neck; bringing a rush of tears to the surface… Irresistibly, and in total ignorance of those around her, she holds him to her for a little while longer, kissing him on the side of his head, before finally whispering back… "It was my pleasure sweet pea."

Another kiss and she reluctantly releases him; standing to her feet. She spares a look to the others and then to Fitz before saying goodbye; more for Joshua's sake than for anyone else and then promptly sees herself out.

Door closed shut behind her… Unable to contain herself any longer Mellie is the first to speak… "Oh My God, she is unbelievable!"