Bellie nervously paced backstage. She had half an hour before the play started, and she had just seen her family walk in. Poor Gemma had not recovered in time to reclaim the lead role of their play and Bella had spent the last weeks working incredibly hard to learn her part. Fitz had watched her in amusement, as she was a perfectionist just like her mother. He had been on the receiving end of having a script thrust in his hand to run lines with her, which he certainly did not mind doing. In truth he loved seeing her grow before his eyes. Time was passing so quickly and he was grateful that they were finally altogether.
"Yo Kid, break a leg." Bella's head snapped up with a grin as she heard his voice.
"Ger Bear!" she shrieked in excitement as she torpedoed towards him with impressive speed. Gerry braced himself ready to receive her in his outstretched arms.
"Bellie-Boo I missed you."
"What are you doing here? You said you were working. Is Amy here too?"
"I moved some things around. I couldn't miss my little sister's debut now could I? Amy is also here. She's with the rest of the family."
"I'm so glad you're here Ger." She murmured into his shoulder as she hugged him tightly.
"Me too Kiddo. You are going to be awesome out there. I just wanted to see you to wish you luck and tell you that we all love you."
"Thanks Ger. You here for the weekend?"
"We are, and I have some news for you too. But I'll tell you about it later. Go knock 'em dead kid." Bellie nodded and gave him another hug before he left joining the rest of their family.
The opening night was a great success. Bellie was flawless and they couldn't be prouder. As she shyly appeared from the backstage door Fitz engulfed her in a bear hug lifting her from the ground.
'You did good princess. Best ever Maria there ever was."
"Thank you Daddy." Fitz found himself hugging her tighter. The word Daddy was something she hadn't uttered for years. Olivia gave his arm a loving pat as he reluctantly released Bellie into her mother's arms.
"I'm so proud of you baby." Bellie looked up at her mother,
"Yeah?"
"Of course. Baby, I'm always so proud of you." Olivia stated confused for a moment. She cupped her daughter's face with her palm lovingly.
"Always always." Olivia felt a pinch in her heart and made a note to address it later. After Bellie had hugged her whole family, including the numerous extended Fitz handed her a bouquet of flowers filled her favourites of gerbers and iris'.
"Thank you!"
"Who's hungry? Dinner at ours." Olivia said trying to herd their crowd out of the foyer. The Beene's, along with Bellie's gladiator aunts and uncles had come for the show. Olivia smiled as Bellie looped an arm through Huck's calling shotgun. Though he no longer lived with them, Huck, Quinn and Harrison had all moved into a house together close to Grant's home. Liv loved having them all nearby. With Abby and David engaged they too had planned to move a little closer to the rest of the family.
Liv couldn't take her eyes of her daughter. She was growing up so fast. Too fast it seemed. They had been back for over a year and it had flown by so quickly. Her earlier slip of of 'yeah?' bothered Olivia. It was as though Bellie was starting to question where she sat with Liv. Their mother daughter date was cancelled due to Liv being called into work and the following day Karen had arrived so the three of them ended up going shopping. Bellie was seemingly having fun, but it wasn't the mother and daughter date she was promised and had once been so privy to.
"Aunt Abby thank you for my books! I love them! I've just finished the last ones you gave me."
"You're welcome cupcake. Your Uncle David is off to DC next week. What do you say to you and me having one of our famous slumber parties? You're on holidays right?"
"I would love it. I can go right Mom?" Liv smiled and gave her a nod,
"Sure sweetheart. Slumber parties at Aunt Abby's is always fun."
"Yay!"
"Hey Mom, I can't find my cleats." Teddy said walking into the room.
"Sweetheart it's in the laundry. I threw it in the washing machine. It was so filthy from your practice."
"Cool. Thanks Mom." In the corner of her eye she caught Bellie release a long breath but as she turned her head Bellie had already joined Gerry and the others in the family room.
"You caught that right?" Abby stated more than asked.
"Surely not." Olivia said in disbelief,
"She's growing up Liv. Up until three years ago she's never had to really share you. I mean it was different with Karen and Gerry. This time around to her it seems as though you've traded her in for Teddy." Olivia gasped. Abby placed a hand on Liv's arm.
"Look at it from where she's standing. You and Fitz have been trying so hard to make up for lost time. Her missed years with Fitz and Teddy's years without a maternal figure that it seems as though you chose Teddy over her."
"She said that?"
"Not in so many words. Your daughter is ever precocious. She would never say anything like that out loud but Liv you just need to look at her face. It's right there. It's none of my business, but I helped raise that little girl and as your sister in the most important ways I need you to hear this so you can fix it. Before it's too late."
"I took for granted that she understood."
"And for the most part she does. But she's ten Liv. And those ten years weren't exactly easy. She was in hiding for so long. For as long as she could remember she has been the child that has been hidden as though she mattered less than her siblings. She's had to live with the fear of losing you on more than one occasion. That kid is stronger than most adults I know, and it's her maturity that allows us to think that she gets it, but Liv...she's ten." Liv hung her head,
"I never meant for her to feel like that."
"Of course not Liv. I know how much you love that kid. She does too."
Bellie was sitting on Amy's lap while Gerry had them all laughing with his silly stories.
"Now that Mom is here, we can tell you our news." Gerry said excitedly. Bellie looked at Amy who grinned at her as she wrapped her arms around Bellie's waist
"Well there's two things. One is, Amy is pregnant." Bellie threw her arms around Amy happily and jumped off her immediately,
"I'm good Monkey. You're not hurting the baby by sitting on me." Bellie hugged her again before hugging Gerry.
"I'm so happy for you both." Liv exclaimed happily.
"And there's more, Ger you want to tell them the rest?"
"My company is transferring me to our office here."
"You're moving back?" Teddy asked,
"Yeah buddy. Think you can handle it?"
"It would be awesome!"
There was much to celebrate that night, and the prospect of having Gerry nearer made them feel more complete somehow. Bellie had just gotten ready for bed when Gerry knocked on her door.
"You too old to be read to?"
"Maybe a little?" she answered not quite convincingly.
"What if I promise you it'd be our little secret?" Bellie nodded with a smile
"Sounds like a plan." She held up one of the books that Abby had given her earlier that night. Gerry got himself situated beside her on top of her covers. Just as he always used to when he read to her whilst she was growing up. Bellie lay her head on his shoulder as he began to read.
"I'm really glad you're moving closer Ger. I'm so happy Amy's pregnant. You're both going to be amazing parents."
"Thanks Boo. I admit to you I am a little scared."
"Don't be. You did good with me. You'll do even better with your own. And your kids will always have me as the cool Aunt if you're being mean." Gerry laughed,
"Between you and Karen I can only imagine."
"Hey Mom, Bellie okay?" Karen asked as she helped Liv pack up in the kitchen,
"On the whole yes, I think so. I think she's a little weary around me."
"Why?"
"I think she feels as though your Dad and I traded off. I get Teddy. He gets her. I mean, yes your Dad was more focused on being with her because he missed so much of her life, and he is already imbedded in Teddy's schedule so Teddy never really lost out on him. For me, it just felt natural to shower Teddy with the maternal love, and I guess somewhere in the translation I made her feel as though she was less important. That I wasn't really there anymore. She and I have always been a team, and since your Dad and I got back together, our team became he and I and, I just didn't do 'this' very well." Olivia confessed.
"Oh Mom, she knows you would never intentionally hurt her. Just talk to her. Have that one on one time you used to have together. You haven't really had that since we came back to the States."
"I will. Thanks Kare." Karen wrapped her arms around Olivia's middle.
"Cut yourself some slack Mom. You did good, will all of us."
Olivia found brother and sister both engrossed in the book that Gerry was reading out loud. It was a familiar sight to her. She smiled filing it with the rest of the memories she had of them doing the very same thing for so many years.
"Bedtime you two."
"Sure Mom. Amy still downstairs?"
"She, Karen and Teddy are currently whooping your Dad's butt in UNO."
"The man never learns. I guess I should go rescue him. Night Monkey. See you in the morning. I love you."
"I love you too Ger." She replied as he kissed the top of her head before leaving her room.
"You don't have to tuck me in anymore." Bellie assured Olivia,
"I know, but I like to. You and I never really get time together anymore. Just us." Liv answered walking over to Bellie's bed, sitting beside her.
"I'm sorry Baby." Without asking, Belie knew what she was apologizing for.
"I know. It's okay,"
"No it's not. You have to know that you, Isobel Grace Pope Grant are my greatest love. Having you was the best thing that has ever happened to me, and no one could ever take your place."
"I know. I love Dad. I love Teddy. I love that we are all finally together. I just miss you. I miss what we used to have." Bellie confessed.
"We'll do better Baby" Olivia promised draping an arm around Bellie's shoulder and dropping her lips to her temple.