With Fitz at the studio, working on an album with one of his new, upcoming artist and the kids in school, Olivia was glad to finally have the house to herself. Well, almost to herself. She still had her one month old baby girl at her side, but Willow was no trouble at all. She was the most perfect and patient baby ever. Olivia loved being a mother, a guide, and a fiancée, but sometimes, she just needed a break from the never ending duties.
While relaxing, doing some much needed self-care things, Olivia received a text from her mother in the group chat with her and her sisters. She had half the mind to ignore it, but she just couldn't. Her mom had asked if it was ok for them to come over to see the baby. Olivia groaned at the message after reading it, but responded that it was fine with her. So much for relaxing, she thought.
"Ok, girlfriend. We- well, you have visitors coming." Olivia smiled, picking her daughter and kissing her chubby cheek. Nowadays, no one stopped by just to visit her and Fitz anymore, it was all about the baby. But that was ok with them, it proved just how much their little girl was loved...and spoiled.
After doing the feeding with her daughter, like clockwork, it was time for a diaper change. "Whew! Mommy's stinky baby." Olivia cooed. When hearing her mother's sweet voice, Willow grinned excitedly, then tried to eat on her entire fist which made a slobbering mess. Luckily, she was wearing the cutest pink and white bib that said "Daddy's Girl" and it matched perfectly with her pink floral onesie. Once Willow was well fed, burped and with a clean bottom, Olivia placed her in her multi-motion swing and turned it on to the wave motion, then she went to wash her hands and quickly work on a veggie, cheese and crackers tray for her family to snack on while they visited.
Just when she finished up with the tray of snacks and washed her hands, she heard her family announcing their arrival.
"We're here!"
"Hi, guys!" Olivia smiled, greeting her sisters in the hallway.
The second Maya entered the house, she put her purse down and asked, "Livie, where is my grand-baby?" Maya hadn't seen her newest granddaughter in a few days and was eager to get ahold of her again.
"Hi to you too, mom!" Olivia laughed.
Clara shook her head and giggled at their mother's eagerness. They way she acted when it came to Willow, you'd think she was the first and only grandchild Maya had. "Don't let mommy get her first, she likes to hog the baby and none of us will get the chance to hold her."
"Clara, that is not true. I'll share her..this time." Maya smiled.
"Well, she may be asleep. She was just fed and changed," Olivia said as she led them to Willow. After squirting their hands with a generous amount of sanitizer, they all started to reach for Willow and playfully bump into each other. Olivia grimaced as she took her seat and watched them. They were too close to her baby to be roughhousing with another. "Guys, be careful," she said as Willow was removed from the 4moms mamaroo swing.
She couldn't believe Willow actually enjoyed being in it. When Nolan and Asher were babies neither one of them like being in swings all that much. Olivia was just grateful that Willow did. It gave her a little freedom to get things done around the house without having to always hold her baby or strap her to her body.
"How's your healing process coming along," Maya asked as she held her granddaughter in her arms and kissed the little girl's forehead. "I noticed you're getting around a lot better and quicker."
"Oh yeah. I am doing much better," Olivia said. "I didn't tear when I gave birth, so it's been a pretty speedy recovery. I have my doctor's appointment in two weeks and I think I'll be cleared to resume my normal activities after that."
"That's great, honey. Does Willow get shots that day as well?"
"Yes, and I'm not ready for that." Olivia groaned. "Thinking back, I was so emotional when I was pregnant with her. Having a little girl has made me excessively sentimental."
"Girl, you would cry at the drop of a hat. I was so over you!" Tamia waved her off.
"I know right!" Olivia laughed. "I was over myself. Honestly, that's how I knew she was a girl, I wasn't that emotional with Nolan or Asher."
"No. You were a complete bitch when you were pregnant with the boys," Alice laughed.
Olivia tilted her head and glanced in Alison's direction before shrugging and saying, "Takes one to know one, right?"
"Alright. That's enough now." Maya warned, glancing between her two children.
The silence that fell over the room was a bit awkward, but they were all quite used to Alison and Olivia exchanging a few words. Most days they could get along fine, but then they would have days like today. It went without saying that those two had the toughest relationship to navigate.
"Lib, she's already starting to pick up the cute baby weight! And she has your exact face! Are you and Fitz ready for what that means," Grace asked, bringing lightness back into the room. Willow's eyes were drooping with sleep and they all aw'ed softly, saying how adorable she was as she yawned and did a full body stretch.
Smiling and nodding her head, Olivia said, "Fitz claims that he's ready for whatever. Honestly, I feel bad for both Katie and Willow. He told Katie that she couldn't date until she was thirty! Then, the other day while we were having dinner, Katie slipped up and told that a boy from her class kissed her cheek."
"No, she didn't! What did Fitz do?!"
Olivia laughed as she thought about Fitz's reaction. "Almost gave himself a heart attack. And of course the boys didn't make it any easier for her. They were asking her questions like, 'what's his name' and 'where he lives'. Katie was mortified when Felix told Fitz that he thinks they should all take a trip to Katie's classroom."
Maya shook her head and laughed. "Poor Kat. Well, at least she's well protected by so many brothers. Her and Ms. Willow Celine."
Olivia let out some sort of snort and shook her head. "They are overprotected. My poor girls."
"Lib, she is really your twin." Tamia repeated. "It's kind of scary. It's like we're holding you, but in baby form."
"Yeah? You think so? I see a lot of Fitz in her," Olivia said, slightly tilting her head to look over at her little girl.
"Why do mothers always do that? When you tell them that their baby looks like them, they always have to say that the baby looks like the dad."
"Hey, I'm just saying! I do agree that she looks a lot like me, but I can see Fitz too. She resembles him a lot, too."
"Nu-uh," Clara said, shaking her head with a scrunched up face. "I don't see Fitz anywhere in this child. She is all you and Asher."
"Yes! She does look a lot like Asher too!" Tamia agreed as she looked down at her niece, smiling. She had been trying to pinpoint which one of the boys Willow resembled the most and it was certainly Asher.
"Out of the boys, Asher does look the most like you, Liv, and we all now know why Nolan looks so much like Fitz."
"Well, I just want to say that I knew Fitz was your baby's father the entire time," Tamia said, taking a slice of cheese from the tray and eating it while her sisters and Maya roll their eyes dramatically. Because seriously, there was just no way she could've known that and not said anything.
"You did not!" Olivia argued.
"I did too! I had a gut feeling, and I turned out to be right! I knew you and Fitz would get it on on the first day you brought him over. The chemistry was there even then."
"You are so full of it, Tamia." Olivia laughed as she rolled her eyes at her younger sister.
"What about you, mommy," Alice asked. "Did you think or know that Fitz was Nolan's dad?"
"No, I didn't," Maya said as she shook her head no and passed little Willow to her aunt Clara. "I had no idea."
Olivia twiddled her thumbs before looking in her mother's direction. In a way, Olivia felt like she had loss a little of her mother's trust for hiding such a big secret. "I didn't want to keep that information from any of you, but I did what I had to for Nolan and I."
"Liv, that was nearly thirteen years ago. We aren't judging you, ok?" Grace said. "I'm happy to have such a brave, big sister like you."
Olivia smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Gracie. That was very nice of you to say."
X
When Fitz arrived home from work, Olivia's sisters and mother were still visiting. He greeted everyone with a hello, then kissed Olivia and Lilo before excusing himself and going upstairs to freshen up.
"How's Fitz adjusting to the baby," Clara asked.
"He's doing great! He's very hands on with her. He likes for me to alternate between breastfeeding and bottle feeding so he can also get some one on one time with her. But I will say, getting that man to change her diaper is a bit of a hassle. He gets real sassy when it's time for that." Olivia chuckled making everyone laugh as well.
"Fitz has always seemed like a good dad though."
"Oh, he is," she said as she smiled lovingly. "He's the absolute best."
While Olivia continued chatting with her sisters and mom, Fitz called for her from upstairs. "Livie! Come here right quick," he shouted. Olivia sighed as she got up. "Sorry, guys. Excuse me. I will be right back."
Tamia watched as her sister went. "Don't you go up there and start doing anything inappropriate, Olivia! You still have company."
Olivia couldn't help it. She laughed at her sister's remark. "Tamia, please get your head out of the gutter for once! Besides, 'Ms. Olivia' is still on her break," she said as she patted her private area just for emphasis'.
"Really, Olivia! My god!" Maya shook her head as her girls threw their heads back in laughter. Olivia was a real character when she wanted to be. And even to this day, Maya still doesn't know how she's dealt with five daughters that clearly loved to overshare.
Once Olivia made it upstairs, she stood in the doorway and asked, "What is it, Fitz?"
"Babe, come here. Close the door."
Olivia grinned, closing the door behind her and walking to him. Once she was in his space, she could smell the Irish freshness of his shower gel on his body. Damn. "Yes, Fitz?" She hummed.
"I missed you, sweet baby." He whispered while holding her by the waist. He began to slowly kiss along her neck, coaxing soft moans from her as she slightly tilted her head to give him more access. "Wait... Fitz, wait," she said. Fitz groaned in response as he pulled away. He laid those enticing, blue eyes on her and immediately Olivia knew why she had been called up there.
She giggled, taking a few steps back from him. "Fitz, don't look at me that way." She blushed, touching the area of her neck where his soft lips had just been. "I know that look means you want something."
"Since you know so much, why won't you give me what I want, Livie? I've been thinking about it all day. It's been a month, babe."
"Fitz, no!" She laughed. "This behavior is why we have a newborn now."
"Actually, if my memory serves me right, you're the one that said, 'I want it inside of me Fitz, cum inside of me'," he said, attempting to mock her voice. "And that's how we ended up with Willow."
"Shut up!" She laughed and rolled her eyes at him. But she knew he had her there. She did ask for it.
"No. You can't make me." He teased as he grabbed ahold of her again. He slowly traced the shell of her ear with the tip of his tongue while grasping a handful of her ass and squeezing. "I can be quick," he whispered.
Oh he's real horny, Olivia thought to herself before shaking her head no. "Fitz, it hasn't been six weeks since I had the baby."
"It's been six weeks, Liv." He frowned and argued back. Then, he tried kissing her neck, but she quickly dodged his lips.
"It has not been six weeks, Fitz." She laughed. He had been so serious.
Olivia was not about to allow him to get her worked up and horny like he was, knowing that they couldn't do anything just yet. "I haven't been cleared by my doctor yet, baby."
With that being said, Fitz knew he needed to cool his jets. He sighed loudly and let her go. He knew he wasn't going to win this round. Olivia teasingly pouted with him, then she poked his stomach. "I'm sorry, honey," she said before kissing his lips. "But when my mom and sisters leave, I'll do something special just for you and I think you're going to like it.." Before Fitz could start asking any questions, she took him by the hand and together, they walked downstairs. They had left her family alone for long enough.
"Well, it took you guys long enough." Tamia commented the second she laid eyes on the couple.
Both Fitz and Olivia sat on the couch with a sigh. "We were only talking, Tamia," Olivia answered as she draped her legs over Fitz's.
"Yeah, sadly." Fitz mumbled under his breath. He couldn't help it. He was in a foul mood. "Really, Fitz?" Olivia quietly chastised as she looked at him. Fitz stared back at her with a blank expression, showing just how he really cared if her sister had heard him or not and Olivia could only shake her head. He was real salty.
"So, Livia, has Eli been over to see Willow?" Maya asked as she handed Willow's burp cloth to Clara so she could wipe her mouth. Olivia had removed her bib earlier when she placed her in the swing.
"Yes, he's been here and he brought tons of diapers and clothes for her. He wouldn't hold her though, said she was too small right now." Olivia giggled thinking about how nervous her dad had gotten when she suggested that he hold Willow. It was the most precious memory.
"That's great." Maya smiled with a far off look. Liv and her sisters glanced between each other, wondering why their mother was suddenly asking questions about their dad. As far as they knew, she hated him. But here recently, it seemed to Olivia that they both were working to make amends and move forward. And for that, Olivia was happy.
"Fitz, I'm curious, how are things going with your sons? How'd they react when finding out that Nolan was their...biological brother," Alice asked. Because it had truly shocked her when Olivia told them the truth. Before knowing the truth, Liv's family had a running joke that Nolan looked like Fitz, but no one really believed that he could be, or that he actually was.
What is this, 21 questions? Fitz thought as he forced himself to chuckle. Olivia lowered her head and giggled. She knew this was not the time to be asking her man any questions. "Well, they've known for months now and it's not something that I kept hidden from them once I knew. At first, they were upset with me because they realized it meant that I had cheated on their mother, but Ashlin is just...she's great," he said and Olivia nodded, agreeing with him with a smile. "She helped them to come to an understanding and things have been pretty smooth since. As for Katie, she's too young to fully understand. She just knows that all the boys are her brothers. DNA doesn't matter and that's how we're leaving it."
"That's so wonderful. Was your mom happy," Tamia asked. She was now interested in knowing the details, too. Olivia hadn't shared much of anything with them, but that wasn't unusual.
"...She felt robbed," he answered, looking at Olivia then grabbing her hand. "But she understood Olivia's reason and said she has to work on a relationship with Nolan and Asher. She wants to get to know both of them better."
"Yes, Barbara is a wonderful woman and none of us are judging you, Livie. You did what you had to, baby," Maya said with genuine intention. She wanted Olivia to know that things were ok between them.
"Thank you, mommy." Olivia genuinely smiled. After hearing those words from her mother, Olivia really felt as though there had been weight lifted off of her. Since sharing the news that Fitz was Nolan's father, she felt like she had disappointed her mother. Her mother and her had always had a special bond, they told each other everything, so she knew she had hurt her mother in a way that she never wanted to be hurt by her own children. But luckily, things were looking up. "Now, are you all done being all up in me and my man's business? You know I wouldn't tell you anything so you waited to ask him," she said, calling out her sisters as Fitz and Maya laughed.
They were being extra nosey today.
"I'll admit, I'm nosey!" Tamia shrugged.
"Oh yesss, we know!" Maya had said and they all laughed.
"Well, I'm not. I was only trying to look out for my nephews and sister," Alice said, shrugging.
"Yeah, right, Al." Olivia muttered. She was not at all convinced that that had been all her sisters intent.
X
With Olivia's family now gone and the children home from school, the Grant's household was back to its normal chaos. They were all in the living room, lounging around. Fitz, holding Willow while Katie sat on Olivia's lap and the boys were spiraled out on the floor and couch watching television.
But Olivia, she had her eyes on Fitz. Watching him with their baby girl was probably her new favorite thing to do. He was such a great daddy and she loved when he would get all caught up and start baby-talking to her. It was just too adorable.
"Babe, I think she just said dada!" Fitz beamed. Olivia rolled her eyes adorably and giggled at him. "Keeping dreaming, Daddy. That little girl's first word is gonna be mama!"
"I would like to add my two cents," Felix said, looking over at his dad and Olivia. "I do believe Willow's first word will be 'Felix'. Everyone knows that I'm her favorite person."
"Bro, you only want her when you're on FaceTime with some girl!" Teddy laughed. "I'm her favorite."
"Everyone can rest their case. Lilo's favorite is me. We're so much alike. We have the same mom and dad." Nolan bragged while dusting the imaginary lint from his shoulders.
"Daddy is my daddy and mommy is my mommy too!" Katie said. She didn't care too much about claiming herself as Willow's favorite, but Nolan wasn't going to get away with calling her parents just his own.
"Kat, that isn't tr-" Asher started to say, but before he could finish his sentence, a pillow from across the room hit him square in the face. When he looked up, he caught everyone looking at him and instead of taking a hint, Asher ignored the looks and went on to say, "Katie, you're white. Mom is black."
"No! White is paper! I'm yellow!" Katie argued. "Right, daddy? I can be mommy's color too."
"Ladybug, you're perfect. That's it." Fitz answered, then he leaned over and kissed his little girl's cheek.
Olivia felt honored that Katie wanted to look like her, but she knew it was more important to get Katie to love the skin that she was in. "Yes. Exactly what daddy said. Kat, you have your father's color and there's nothing wrong with that, because you are perfect. All of you are, so don't ever let anyone tell you anything different. The world we live in can be scary for people with our skin complexion," Olivia said, making sure to hold eye contact with all four boys, because all four boys were golden brown and beautiful. "But we are all they way god intended for us to be."
"And I will die on any hill protecting all of you," Fitz said with earnest. "Don't ever let anyone make you feel less than just because of your skin color. Your black is beautiful. Your culture is beautiful and I will go up against any bigot defending you."
"Let's go, dad!" Felix cheered, fist bumping the air. "You better use your privileged ass for good!"
The loud holler Olivia had let out scared little Willow, but she couldn't have helped it. It wasn't very often that Felix would curse but when he did, Olivia was always shocked and laughed uncontrollably. Fitz was well aware that his son used the language, so he decided long ago that it wouldn't do any harm to allow him to use it in his presence. "I can't with you! Felix Thomas, you are a mess!" She continued to cackle.
Olivia's laughter always made the joke ten times funnier than what it actually was, so Fitz couldn't help but to laugh, too. "My 'privileged ass', huh?" He repeated, looking at his son who nodded, smiling. "That's ok, son. I agree with you."
Olivia smiled as she adjusted Katie. This was one of her favorite things about her biracial family. The endless jokes and "roasting sessions" as the boys would say, were just absolutely hilarious. Nothing was off limits.
"On a serious note, I do appreciate you guys for always having these types of talks with us," Felix said. "Dad, I appreciate you for being a real ally and Liv, your activism is truly inspiring. Katie and Willow, they're some lucky little girls to have a woman like you to look up to and call mom. We're all lucky to have you guys."
"Wow!" Olivia began. "Felix, that was really nice of you to say. Your dad and I..we try not to get too political with you guys, but you all are growing up and you're able to see the injustice for yourselves, right? So, when you step out into the world, we just want you to be confident in who you are, to be brave, and to always be willing to fight the good fight."
"When you boys were Katie's age," Fitz began as he nodded towards Katie who had just fallen asleep in Olivia's arms. "I knew these conversations would start happening because just as Katie is beginning to do now, you guys were beginning to recognize that people came in all different colors. To small kids though, humanity is only like a box of crayons and that, that I could handle."
Fitz was glad that Katie had fallen asleep. She wasn't old enough to talk about the wider implications of racial differences nor firmly grasp the concepts and their implications. Baby girl still had a few years to go.
"But now with you guys being older, there is one related conversation that still worries me. At some point, I know you guys are going to be personally confronted with or subjected to racism. I don't know what form the hate will take, but it is nearly guaranteed to happen. I know afterwards, you guys will be confused, probably be hurt, definitely have questions, and you will hopefully want to have a conversation with me about what occurred. And as a white man, I'm going to listen. I'm going to provide thoughtful feedback. I'm going to empathize. I'm going to give all the love you can bear, and I am going to strive to correct the wrong against you."
Olivia sat back, watching Fitz with his heart on his sleeves for Felix, Teddy, Nolan and Asher. This moment was heartbreaking. She hated that they even had to have the sort of talks, but as the boys grew older, she and Fitz both knew that it was important to instill this information in them now. And as heartbreaking as this moment was, it was also beautiful. Fitz was so passionate about this conversation, you could feel his love for ALL boys with every word he spoke. Olivia was grateful that her sons now had a real man to look up to. A man that would protect them fiercely.
Fitz continued, "However, there's one thing I won't be able to do, I won't be able to truly know how you feel, since I have never been subjected to racism. Though I will try my hardest to understand your situation, I will be a step removed. That will make me feel completely powerless— a sensation I never want to experience when it comes to ensuring the wellbeing of you four boys. If any of you have a problem, I want to be able to help you solve it. I recognize I cannot control myriad elements in your life, but this deficit literally makes my heart ache. This understanding may only be mine at first. However, you guys will ultimately realize our lack of shared experience. I hope none one of you hold it against me in any way; but if you choose to, I will try not to be hurt, because no matter what, I refuse to let this difference be divisive. It will be my job to always communicate my unshakeable solidarity and unbreakable love to each of you and your sisters. I will let you know that you are of me and a part of me...blood related or not," he said, making eye contact with Asher and smiling. "Any attack on you is an attack on me. Your hurt is my hurt. I will always be there to support you in any way I can. And I will always be ready to hear what you have to say and to discuss whatever you're going through, regardless of how painful it may be for us."
Once Fitz had concluded, the room was quiet. It wasn't awkward silence, but silence that gave them time to really reflect and soak in Fitz's words.
With Willow lying asleep on his chest, Fitz leaned back against the sofa, placed his hand on Liv's knee and gave her that sweet, lopsided smile.
"That was beautifully said Fitzgerald." Olivia smiled. "You are an amazing man." She took her hand and cradled Katie's head to her chest so it wouldn't slip as she leaned over and kissed the man she was madly in love with.
"Yeah, damn, dad...that- that was beautiful, man," Felix said making Fitz chuckle. "Thanks, buddy. I meant every word."
Teddy, Nolan and Asher, they all agreed that what Fitz had said was beautiful and that it meant a lot to them that he was such an advocate for them.
"You're the best, pops," Asher said. Fitz was grinning like an idiot as the boys exited the room. He turned to face Olivia and said, "He just called me pops! I mean, it wasn't dad, but it wasn't Fitz either."
Olivia nodded as she looked at him with a lovingly smile on her face. "Congratulations, mister. Now, let's get these sleeping girls into bed. You've just doubled your surprise for being such a good daddy."
"Hell yes!" Fitz cheered in a hushed tone which made Olivia shake her head and giggle. After trading children, Fitz carried the heavier one and they went upstairs, placed their sleeping girls in their respective rooms before turning into their own room.
With their bedroom door closed and locked, Olivia dropped down to her hands and knees and crawled over to Fitz who sat on the edge of bed, intently watching her every move.
Once she was between his legs and only inches from his stiff penis, she looked up at him, brown eyes full of lust, and purred a soft and sultry, "Hi."
Fitz looked down at her, his hungry blue eyes starring back into her beautiful brown ones. He tried to hide the eagerness he felt, and after reminding himself that she was doing this all for his pleasure, he smiled back and said, "Hi."
With pleasantries now out of the way, Olivia reached inside of his black briefs and grabbed ahold of his thick, long tool. Once he was freed, she pressed her luscious lips to his tip and said, "I've missed you so much, big boy" but she wasn't in the mood to tease tonight. Not waiting to waste another second, she cuffed his balls with one hand and took his penis into her salivating mouth with the intention of pleasuring her man all night.