The Truth

"Come on Fitz, you have to admit what she did with that photo frame, that was beyond bold... In fact, if my memory serves me well, my jaw literally hit the ground; really, you've got to give it to her, that girl has some gall."

"Oh I agree completely, and the truth is a part of me wanted to remain angry with her, as well as uncooperative and difficult", he confesses whole heartedly. "However, when push came to shove, I just couldn't Cy".

Cyrus had taken one look at Fitz at the end of their 14 hour shift, and immediately called James to arrange that he picked up Joshua with Ella instead, whilst he gently steered Fitz in the direction of the nearest bar...

"I can understand that", Cyrus tells him in between swigs of his scotch. "And to be fair, considering the heartaches she has put you and Joshua through, making things difficult for her would be nothing more than karma."

"Yes, that may be true- but then in direct conflict to that, there's another part of me that still cares about her. I can't help but admire her strength and tenacity. The fact that she came back, despite the knowledge of what she was up against, it reminds me of the woman I had fallen in love with… And God help me Cyrus, but I miss that woman, and now that she is back, I'm finding it increasingly hard to remain cold and indifferent towards her".

"So what are you saying Fitz? That after all that had happened, you still love her and want her back?"

"No... Well...I... Look It's complicated okay?" Frustrated, he runs his hand over his face in exasperation... "Believe me, I have no intention of letting my guard down around her; I'm not willing to put myself in a position where she can hurt me again, but at the same time I can't deny that the more time I spend around her, watching her interact and play with Joshua as she strives to become a better mum, the more I find myself thinking about our own relationship, or lack there of".

"Fitz, I hope you realise that you're treading on dangerous grounds here... The mere definition of your relationship is a mine field".

"I know, I know... Our relationship as it stands alone is mental… We have a child together and we're still legally married, but yet technically we're living separate lives; estranged, unable to communicate past the subject of Joshua, and with no plan of getting back together- I mean, how ridiculous does that sound?".

Cyrus looks at his sceptically "Fitz, let me ask you something..."

"Okay...?"

"If, like you say, you no longer have a future together as man and wife, then why has neither of you brought up the subject of divorce? Surely, you don't need to remain married to function as parents; plenty of families separate and do just that- function. So why can't you? Therefore, are you both avoiding the inevitable? Or could it be that the inevitable is not a separation after all?"

Fitz can see the direction Cyrus is taking this conversation, and he doesn't think he likes it... "Look Cy, when Olivia had fallen off the face of the earth divorcing her had been the last thing on my mind; I was too busy coping as a single parent and holding down a full time job, to even think about breaking our legal ties- and now? I guess with her coming back into our lives so suddenly, the main focus has been solely on Joshua, not us, therefore there has not been an appropriate time to bring up the subject of divorce."

Cyrus shakes his head, determined to get to the bottom of it... "Oh I doubt it, the truth is Fitz you would find the time to bring it up if you really wanted too... I know you, better than you know yourself, and as much as you might try to deny it, personally I think you're secretly holding out for more; maybe even a reconciliation perhaps?" He confronts him knowingly... "And if you ask me, that's the real reason as to why you haven't filed for divorce over the last two years, and why, despite the fall out at Joshua's party, which would have been the perfect excuse to apply the breaks, instead you have chosen to forgive her impulsive move, and agree that it's time to tell Joshua who Ms. Olivia really is..."

Deflecting. "I thought you brought me her to cheer me up Cyrus...?"

"No Fitz, I brought you here to talk, to finally admit the truth... That despite what Olivia has done to you- you want her back, don't you?".

Exasperated..."Cy"

"Hey, it's okay, maybe you're not ready to admit it, or maybe you feel like a fool even thinking about it, but it's there all the same, right under your nose... But just remember this, you can only avoid the truth for so long Fitz, and that includes hiding it from yourself."