Part 39

A Change of Heart

The thought of Olivia entering the Lion's den alone had been playing on his conscience all day.

When he refused to go with her, initially it was because he was still angry and another verbal round with his mother was the last thing he was up for, but he also found a small part of him refusing to go because he was unhappy about the way Olivia had gone about it, he felt that she had deliberately undermine him. So he told her he wasn't ready to speak to his mum, and that he had no intention of coming with her... Olivia had made her bed, therefore she can face the consequences- and whatever reception she got from his mother, that was on her. He's knows it was harsh, wrong even, but she had completely blind sided him.

But now he feels awful about it, because he was supposed to be supportive of his wife, but instead all he had offered was opposition. Obviously, he warned her not to go, but he also recognised that he couldn't physically stop her either, considering that she promised Joshua that she would take him. And as much as he doesn't agree with it, he understands why she did it; as always she has her son's best interest at heart and in her opinion this was the right thing to do- so it was pointless to argue the toss with her. Plus, her resolve was firm on the matter.

But as soon as he left for work, guilt set in- and he started to feel uneasy about his decision; two hours into his shift he found he could not concentrate on the job at hand. An hour later he found himself on the phone to Cyrus calling in for a favour, and an hour after that he was driving towards his mother's place, ready to stand by his wife.

She told him that she would take Joshua there straight after nursery, so if he hurried maybe he would get there before her- but unfortunately traffic on the roads dictated otherwise. When he exited the lift, he half expected to hear raised voices from outside the hallway, but instead he was greeted with silence. Unsure of what he'd find on the other side of the door, he rings the bell and anxiously waits for the door to be opened. Praying that everything was okay.

"Hey baby!" It was the last thing he expected to see; Olivia smiling from ear to ear and looking genuinely content. "What are you doing here I thought you were at work?"

"I was, but I…"

"He wanted to make sure that you and I weren't at each other's throats?!" Anne finishes off with a slight air of humour, joining them at the door.

"Mum?"

"Hi Fitz, come on in."

Feeling a bit thrown by the reception, he enters rather dubiously. The first thing he does is look for Joshua, who he spots by the sofa lost in his own world and happily playing with his toys… No signs of distress there. "Hey son!" He calls out to him gently, drawing his attention from what he is doing.

Josh drops everything and runs over for a hug. "Daddy!"

"How's my boy?"

"I'm good, Grandma made blueberry muffins!" He announces merrily, as the scent of the freshly baked batch accosts him. "I can smell them," Fitz responds with a smile, and sets Joshua back down, telling him that he better save room for his dinner later. He then turns to face the two women in his life that seem to have the uncanny ability to turn his head for a loop. Both of which, much to his pleasant surprise appear seemingly at ease with one another.

"Okay, so what's the deal?" He asks, although appearing to direct his question towards Olivia, seeing as he and his mother are not exactly on speaking terms- yet.

"Well... the deal is your mother and I have buried the hatchet!" Olivia tells him simply, not feeling the need to beat around the bush as she then simultaneously proposes… "And I think it's time you two did the same!"

Fitz then turns to face Anne, as she adds… "She's right; can we talk in the back?"

Not that he had a choice in the matter, what with Olivia and Anne's double teaming efforts afoot, so he agrees without protest… "Sure, let's talk."

Olivia can't help but smile as she watches Fitz follow his mother down the hallway. Although, earlier on she would have preferred if he had forgo his stubbornness and come along with her and Joshua instead, but at the end of the day she is equally pleased to witness his change of heart and more importantly, he did not let her down because he came by to offer his support; secretly a part of her always knew that he would. And in hind sight, it probably worked out for the best, because it allowed her and Anne to have that precious time alone to be frank and honest with each other; laying it all on the line, before finally making amends. If anything, by not having Fitz there it made their reconciliation that much stronger.

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Once both are inside his old room, Anne shuts the door behind them and tells Fitz to take a seat. He looks like he's about to say something, but she beats him to it… "Fitz, let me start first by apologising to you… These last few weeks, I've taken a long hard look at myself and to be honest I am ashamed of the way I have behaved, I was wrong for that, and by doing so I've put the relationships of those I love in jeopardy, Jerry's, Joshua's, yours... and I guess it took Olivia coming here today with Joshua, for me to finally admit to myself that I had also put my relationship with her in jeopardy too…"

He is totally blown away by that last statement.

With the knowledge that Olivia and his mother had finally made up and restored their relationship, to be fair, their restoration was not far behind. But he did take the opportunity to lay down some ground rules, as he emphasises that he is a grown man, who is more than capable of making the right decisions where his family is concerned, and from now on she needs to support him and trust him in doing so. She understands completely, but also warns, that as his mother she will continue to share her opinions, whether he agrees with them or not. He can't help but laugh at that; he did not doubt that for a second. But more importantly she vows to never put him in a difficult position like this again, where he'll be forced to choose between her and his wife. And for that he is most grateful.

After they hug it out and share words of love and a promise to always keep their family together, he finally asks her what made her change her mind about Olivia, and to that she replies simply… "I took a leaf out of yours and Olivia's book for once, to find forgiveness and follow my heart!"

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Oh it was defiantly a tale of hearts that night, especially when an unsuspecting Jerry walks in on Fitz and Olivia setting the table for dinner- the shock alone nearly giving him a heart attack!

"Okay, so I have no idea what's going on here, but God knows, I don't think I've ever been happier!"

Anne walks over to him and greets him with a kiss, and a promise that his happiness will not be short lived- and with a twinkle in her eyes, tells him that his personal apology from her to him will come later on tonight.

"Mum please, too much information..." Fitz chastises teasingly, winking at Liv; who lovingly smiles back at him.

Jerry laughs out loud. "Woman, I believe you may be the death of me after all, but at least I know I will die a happy man".

His words now causing them all to break out in laughter, and it's so infectious that even little Joshua joins in too, giggling with them. Because just like everyone else, although too young to fully comprehend why, he finds himself completely overcome with happiness and joy, and he can't stop smiling. To him it feels a lot like Christmas, the moment where he's opening his presents and finds out that everything he's been secretly wishing for has finally come true.