This incredible feeling of everything being so right -having had what had been close to a perfect day, followed by a perfect night - and then having woken up in Fitz's arms followed Olivia for the rest of this day and into the future.
It was a feeling that didn't end when she finally forced herself to leave Fitz's room for her own before it became too late in the morning for it to go unnoticed, or while she showered once again - although if she were being honest with herself, nothing would have made her happier than to have Fitz's scent - even better, the scent of them - on her all day - and it was a feeling that had lingered even as she changed into her outfit for the day.
Olivia chose a crisp white tailored buttoned-down shirt over tan suede slacks, again pairing her outfit with a minimal amount of make-up, eyeliner, mascara and this time a lipstick that was a soft nude with a pink tint to it. Her favorite diamond studs - another present from Fitz - went in her ears and when she was done, Olivia took a moment to look in the mirror at the woman reflected there. And in a very rare moment free from any other issues that she might have, Olivia saw a woman who was satisfied with who and what she was.
She smiled at her reflection and wished herself well.
When Olivia entered the shared space of the two bedroom suite, Harrison was already there, seated in one of two matching wingback chairs, drinking coffee and reading one newspaper from a stack of several as though it were the most natural thing in the world. A service tray was standing close by, with a carafe of coffee and a miniature tea service, both crafted in polished silver.
"I ordered room service - coffee for me, tea for you. I've also been checking the headlines, but there's nothing earth-shaking to report and that's a good thing, yes?" He said after greeting her a good morning and a smile. "And since there appears to be no national disasters on the horizon, is there anything else you need for me to be working on?"
Olivia returned his smile and poured herself a cup of tea before she began to brief him on the events of yesterday's meeting before giving Harrison his duties for the day. "I'll just need you to keep your eyes and ears open today. I'll also want you by my side for brunch and whatever comes after - especially for whatever comes after."
"Whatever comes after?" It was clear that Harrison wasn't quite clear about what she meant.
Olivia smiled at him. "That's right, it's time for you to earn your paycheck this weekend and do some heavy lifting, instead of flirting with all the pretty ladies."
"You know me, Liv, I'm equal opportunity and flirt with even the not so pretty ones." Harrison's smart-assed answer was pretty much automatic but then he stopped talking as he realized exactly what it was that Olivia was saying.
"You -" still a little stunned, Harrison stumbled over his words. He'd thought he was here for auxiliary back-up and nothing more. "- you want me in the room while presidential level conversations are happening? Are you sure about this, Liv?"
"Along with the governor, the congressman - and congresswoman, one present envoy, one former envoy - or do you think that you can't handle it?" Olivia had been ticking off the list on her fingers but now she stopped to grin as she watched Harrison's initial shock melt away and he answered her with something close to his usual cocky grin - just as she'd expected.
"Anything you need from me - you know I got you, Liv."
"I never doubted that, Harrison. Not for a single minute, not ever."
That same good feeling stayed with Olivia through the return to the Caldwell estate. When they arrived, she and Harrison were led into an informal country-styled dining room with white plastered walls and golden oak beams set in an alcove just off the main kitchen. Huge picture windows let in the morning light, lending a lightness and a sense of transparency to the air. Olivia was reminded of Vermont and that warmed her thoughts.
Nathaniel was waiting there to greet them, along with Peter; Colleen and her father arrived next, then Fitz and Jocelyn were shown in together having met one another outside; Olivia smiled as Jocelyn took one look at the kitchen and declared that inside, she was green with envy. Knowing that Jocelyn had the skills to back her words up, Fitz had something to say about that and between the two of them, they had the others laughing, both lightening the mood for a few minutes and also giving Olivia the chance to concentrate on Fitz with no one else noticing.
Her earlier thoughts about trying to bottle up his appeal came back to her. Fitz was ridiculously, devastatingly handsome in a dark aquamarine turtleneck that skimmed his upper body in all the right ways and brought out the blue in his eyes at the same time. Her processional facade held true, but her heart did its own little delicious flip flop and somersault.
If only we could bottle that… the thought made her smile.
Susan, Will and Gayle were next to arrive; Susan's smile spread from ear to ear and with good reasons that she was more than happy to share - her daughter had discovered the stables, and she, along with a host of Caldwell cousins, nieces and nephews had decided on a pre-breakfast ride. Of course she was over the moon about her daughter having such a good time and she told Nathaniel so.
"Be careful, Susan." Peter warned her with a laugh. "My father has an army of honorary nieces and nephews and if you're not careful, your daughter will end up on the list - and that sounds like a wonderful idea until you end up with a pony on your doorstep."
Nathaniel tried to look innocent, but failed and didn't care. "I love spoiling kids while they're still kids."
Annarosa entered the room and Nathaniel gave her a warm and affectionate smile. "In this world of ours, too many of them find themselves having to grow up too soon."
"Good morning, uncle." Annarosa's smiled matched Nathaniel's as she brushed a kiss onto his cheeks. Her expression cooled a little as she greeted Fitz and the others, but she managed to remain polite enough.
"But -" Nathaniel continued and changed the subject, "- I've made other breakfast arrangements for the rest of our guests, so we have time for ourselves and an uninterrupted breakfast, so I say let's get to it."
Nathaniel looked to Gayle and Will. "I assume everyone is here and accounted for?"
"Anna won't be joining us, if that's what you're asking." Will said.
"Hangover?" Nathaniel asked.
Gayle shook her head. "I thought she might be, so I checked in on her, but her room is empty. I think she might have left the estate."
There was a quiet little pause then, but if Nathaniel was upset by the information, he didn't let it show. Instead he put on another big smile that gathered up the group and urged them all to take their seats. Peter, Will and Gayle played the part as servers as the meal began.
The brunch that followed was a private thing but lively and at the same time, it all felt surprisingly lacking in pressure in the conversations circulating around the massive kitchen table.
Olivia sees why Nathaniel has the reputation of the master facilitator that he's engineered over the years. From his position at the head of one end of the table - Fitz having been offered the same at the other end, of course - he directed the conversations like a maestro, playing to everyone's strengths, drawing out the lightness in each of them and in the process even managing to draw Susan out of her normally shy shell.
He played the role of patriarch and proud father effortlessly, including not just Peter and Will, but making it a point to include Gayle, making sure that it was clear that she had become a valued member of the family team, leading Olivia to think that if the missing-in-action Anna wasn't careful, she was going to find herself even more on the political outside than she was now and that was a recipe for future trouble if ever there was one. Anna Caldwell was a volatile mix on a good day, being ruled far too often by both her passions and addictions; causing Olivia to make a mental note to have Harrison and the team put and keep an eye on her from this point forward.
She also noted the protective attitude that Nathaniel held over this Annarosa and she wondered over that as well. Two Annas and two attitudes, as different as they might be. Thinking of those differences, another thought came to her then - was Nathaniel unconsciously substituting one for the other, or could there something deeper there? Again, Olivia set both thoughts to memory before turning her mindset and attention to the lighter mood in the room.
They all piled into the huge breakfast laid out for them, with huge platters of eggs, pancakes and various kinds of sliced fruit, steak, bacon, sausages, biscuits, scones and more. Olivia watched in pleasure as Fitz played the same game as Nathaniel with ease, making it clear that he was more than a match for the other man's charm and expertise.
His smile flashed around the table, making sure at the same time that Nathaniel and the rest of the Caldwell family knew who it was that he considered was a member of his personal team and that was herself, Jocelyn and Harrison.
Olivia watched just as proudly as Harrison rose to the occasion, using his people skills to the max. One minute he was engaging the newcomer Annarosa with questions about the beauty of her home country that clearly was meant to draw her out and the next he was weaving Susan into the conversation, setting them both at ease.
That allowed her to turn her attention back to Fitz as he was talking with PC Cassidy, showing his respect by asking him questions about his past. After a little urging, PC was happy to oblige him, but surprised them all by telling wicked tales about himself and Nathaniel from the past that had the rest of them eventually dropping their own conversations to listen to his until they all found themselves laughing hard enough to bring tears to their eyes.
Fitz then engaged both Will and Harrison in a light-hearted but heated exchange over football, turning down their offer to meet up outside for a quick game later, claiming time constraints and then adding that it might be too much for his "old bones."
"Or," Peter had also turned down the invitation added. "He might embarrass you all. Wisdom over age and all that."
"You're ruining my attempt at diplomacy." Fitz said with a laugh.
"Be careful what you ask for." Olivia suggested to Harrison and Will. "You just might be surprised - trust me when I tell that you'd rather be on his team then play against him."
That earned her a quick grin from Fitz that tingled its way through her from her heart to her toes and gave Olivia even more reason to smile.
Another reason was that there appeared to be an unspoken rule in place, that none of the business of the night before was to be discussed at the breakfast table. It might have not been formally stated but there had been an agreement made last night between them all and right now this was about allies getting to know one another.
Olivia was seated to Fitz's right, with Jocelyn to his left, and that made the meal that much more enjoyable. The sunlight streaming in, the smell of good food in the air, the laughter and conversation, Olivia could almost imagine that they were in their house in Vermont, entertaining friends, getting another glimpse into a future that just might come to be.