For the weeks that followed Fitz and Liv saw Stanley twice a week who was happy with their progress. He had never seen two people so determined to make their relationship work. Their love for each other was their greatest motivation. In the beginning it was Fitz's guilt that drove him. He had to learn that despite the fact that Olivia needed time she didn't hold him to his past actions. That her love for him surpassed what had come before. Olivia had to learn that Fitz wasn't going anywhere. That he wasn't going to change his mind and leave her. There was a sense of irony in her fear of Fitz leaving her when it was she who spent most of the time walking away from him.

"Don't forget to pray God.

Don't forget to love each other.

Don't forget that God loves you

Don't forget that I love you too..."

As he walked towards Teddy's room he could hear Liv singing while Teddy clapped gleefully. Teddy loved the Alligator Goodbye song from the moment Liv sang it to him

"So goodbye, see you later. Let me see your Alligator Snap." Fitz made it just in time to see Liv snap her outstretched arms in front of a giggling Teddy who was mimicking her hand actions. Liv laughed and wrapped her arms around Teddy as he climbed on her lap.

"Again..." he demanded.

"Again? Okay, only because I love you Teddy Bear."

"Love you too Mommy." Olivia stilled and looked up at Fitz who she realised was standing at the door way with a wide smile on his face.

"Did he just?" She asked,

"Mommy!" Teddy repeated as if to answer her question. Liv's eyes filled with tears as she hugged him close to her. Fitz walked over to them and dropped a kiss on both their heads.

"Well it's not entirely left field. You spend the most time with him. Even when Mellie was around he was with Nannies or me."

"Are you okay with him calling me Mommy?" She asked.

"Of course. Are you okay with it?"

"It's the sweetest word I've ever heard." She replied dropping her lips to Teddy's head not at all loosening her hold on him and the youngest Grant wasn't at all protesting.

After dinner and putting the kids to bed Liv and Fitz took a stroll around the Rose garden. It was their time together that was non negotiable. It didn't matter what time of day or for how long, it was part of their daily schedule.

"So Mom?" He said with a smile as Liv looked up at him with a grin.

"It has a nice sound to it." She replied

"It sure does. One day Liv. In the meantime you have three who love and adore you as their own."

"And I love them. One day Fitz." She promised.

Fitz draped an arm around her shoulder. They hadn't discussed children since her false alarm and he understood her panic and her hesitation when she was still trying to wrap her head and heart around them and what their future was to be. They could declare their love for each till they were blue in the face and they had, but history showed that as great as their love was. It wasn't necessarily enough.

"Did Gerry tell you which colleges he was considering?" Olivia asked as they walked hand in hand. Gerry had been bouncing off college prospects with Liv for weeks now. Before he and Karen moved back into the White House the idea of going to a far away college was inviting, but now that their family had never felt more solid he was reluctant to miss out on anything.

"I got the shortlist. I hear he wants to drag you to check a couple out."

"I wouldn't use the word drag. I'm flattered he wants my input."

"He thinks you hung the stars and the moon Liv."

"I think he's a rockstar too. So I guess we're a bit of a mutual admiration society."

"You think?" Fitz teased but incredibly pleased and grateful that they were close. Circumstances presented a completely different outcome and it potentially could have been understandably disastrous.

"You're allowed to come." She pointed out.

"With my entourage? It would just make it harder for him. I'm good. I'm glad he asked you. He should be able to share this exoerience with one of his parents. And you know he was never going to ask Mellie."

"What's going on with that? I've never seen him so anti Mellie before. I mean he has been guarded with her from the moment I met you guys, but nothing like this." Liv had noticed in the more recent days that Gerry had taken every opportunity to miss his mother's already infrequent calls and the look on his face as her name was mentioned was unmistakably one of unhappiness.

"I don't know. When I tried to suss it out he just shrugged it off and remained tight lipped. I figure he'll talk when he's ready." Liv nodded and made a mental note for their road trip.

Liv had just finished her morning brief with the Senior Staff in Cyrus' office and was jotting down notes on her blackberry. It was a rare moment to herself where no one had actually followed her out of the meeting to ask her about one thing or another. Cyrus had been called into the Oval and when assured that her presence was not necessary she had quickly escaped towards her office.

"Oh my gosh!" She exclaimed as she walked into her office filled with roses.

"Happy Valentines Day." A voice greeted behind her. She turned to find one Fitzgerald Thomas the Third leaning against her doorway. She had come from an overnight trip to Boston and had not yet seen him. He had a full morning and they had agreed to lunch together. She broke into a grin and walked over to him. She stood on the tip of her toes and kissed him.

"Thank you baby." She murmured softly against his lips. Fitz wrapped his arms around his waist pulling her against him.

"Hi Sweetheart. I'm so glad you're back. It would have sucked spending our first offical Valentines day apart."

"It would have. I thought you had a full morning."

"I do. I just didn't want to not see you before lunch."

"I'm glad. I was counting down the minutes till lunch."

"I better go." He muttered regretfully.

"Go. I'll see you in a couple of hours." She said resting her hand on his stomach. Groaning he kissed her one last time and hugged her tightly before heading back to the Oval. Liv chuckled as she went back to her desk andget some work done.

A few hours later Fitz met Liv at the residence for lunch. He wasn't surprised to see her in Teddy's nursery. In fact he had counted on it. When she had walked in to check in on Teddy there were flowers and balloons waiting for her there too. However the Valentines in Teddy's room were from the three kids. She was wiping away tears when he had walked in.

"Oh sweetheart." He said hugging her.

"Happy tears." She assured him as she held out the card from Gerry, Karen and Teddy. They had given her a locket and inside was a picture of her and Fitz on one side and the three of them in the other.

"So that's what they decided on. They wouldn't tell me."

"It's beautiful."

"Come on, lunch is waiting. He's still sleeping anyway." Liv nodded and followed him out of the nursery after giving Teddy a big kiss on his cheek. He had a picnic waiting for her at the Rose garden. They had just finished eating when he handed her a small Tiffany's box.

"Fitz, you're spoiling me. Thank you!" She exclaimed as she opened the box to find a white gold diamond earings. It was simple and elegant. Something she could use every day.

"For all the Valentines we missed." Olivia placed a finger on his lips and shook her head. She cupped his face with her palm.

"This is our time. Which brings me to my gift." She handed him a box. He grinned as he found a Cartier watch inside. As he lifted the watch from where it sat a small card fell. He looked at her confused,

"9th of August?"

"Is the day I want to marry you." She answered simply. When the initial shock had worn off Fitz gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly. They hadn't spoken of their wedding since before they started seeing Stanley. He wanted to give her time and let her set the pace. He wanted it to come from her and now that they had a date. It felt real. More real than it has ever been.

"You good with that day? I figure it would just be before the kids have to hwad back to school. Before Gerry goes off to college , wherever that may be."

"I'm good with tomorrow."

"Though eloping with you is incredibly tempting your children, not to mention Cyrus would be not be very forgiving. Let's not even mention the rest of the world."

"True. I'd do it in a heartbeat if you were up for it." Liv stopped and looked stared at him.

"You're not kidding."

"No, I am not."

"Fitz..."

"What do you say Liv? You, me, the kids and a minister."

"Okay."

"Okay?" He asked tilting his head surprised. He thought she would need more convincing.

"As long as the kids are there."

"Alright then. You leave everything to me. You, me and the kids tonight."

"Okay." Fitz jumped to his feet and dropped a kiss to her head before rushing back to the oval like a man with a mission. Olivia shook her head amused and lay down on the blanket for a few more minutes.