"We get it; I'm coming! Quit ringing the damn bell!"

Lily and George sat in their backyard enjoying the summer weather and watching their three dogs run around with their frisbees and tug toys, jumping through their kiddy pool. Retirement was one of the best things they both loved after years of working. On occasion, Lily would go back to being a substitute teacher at the high school she spent thirty-five years working at. George still enjoyed his baseball coaching for all the youth ages. Whenever they weren't enjoying those jobs, they'd spend days at the farmer's market or just being home. Once a year going to different places for a vacation. Being married for thirty-eight years, they still loved every day being together.

Getting the dogs kept out back, Lily rushed to the front door ready to yell at whoever it was for all the knocking and doorbell ringing.

"I get it, you're at the door, calm down," opening the door without looking through the glass, she kept shouting. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so."

"Fitz! Baby you're home!" Lily shouted, excited to see him, and opened the door fully to hug him. "Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I would have picked you up at the airport."

"That defeats the purpose of a surprise, mom." Fitz hugged her tight lifting her off the ground. "Where's George?"

"Out back with the dogs, what are you doing here? Where's Olivia? You did bring her, right? I'm so happy to see you! George! George, look who's here," she shouted out to him.

Putting his bag on the floor in the corner, Fitz followed her to the back deck. Shaking hands with George, he took the seat on the other side of Lily. "Liv's back at home. I'm just on a solo trip for the weekend. I wanted to come out for a visit. Christmas was so long ago."

"Solo trip or you got put in the dog house?" George asked with a laugh.

"Both, kind of. I planned the trip and then got put in the dog house."

Lily poured him a glass of the lemonade she had made and brought out earlier. "I'm sure you aren't in the dog house. Olivia loves you."

"Hey now. You love me and I'm in the dog house at least once a month," George reminded her and stood up.

"That's different, we've been married forever. Where are you going?"

"I'm going to go grocery shopping. I'll take the list and you can enjoy some time with Fitz. We'll figure out dinner when I come back," he kissed her quick and made himself scarce.

Throwing the frisbee for the dogs, Fitz nodded to the man that left.

"Well, what's going on, Fitz? Why are you on the outs with Olivia?"

"We got into a fight. I didn't want to leave her home alone, but she insists she doesn't need a babysitter. Which is true, but I'm not trying to find her a babysitter. I'm trying to give her the sleep she needs."

"Olivia will be fine spending a couple nights in a big bed alone. Sometimes I sleep in the guest room just to spread out more. It's nice to sleep alone at times."

Confused, Fitz gave her a curious look. "We didn't tell you at Christmas?"

"There were a lot of things I found out at Christmas. What did you leave out?"

"Liv can't sleep alone. Someone has to be in bed with her. It's been that way for several years. Since her finance was murdered. Since then, someone needs to be laying beside her or she can't sleep. On occasion, she will take a quick nap but that's from accidentally falling asleep at her desk or on the couch. Even then, she'll have nightmares. So, I was trying to get Dad and Verna to come home earlier, and she bit my head off."

Lily listened to him and understood the nightmare part of it. "I'm not understanding what your father has to do with any of this. If she's been like this for several years, who was with her before? You've only been dating for almost a year."

"Dad was. Him, Huck, and Cyrus. At least, I think Cyrus but I'm not sure about that one."

"Hold on, hold on. Jerry was sleeping in the same bed as a twenty-five-year-old and he wasn't having sex with her?"

"Oh, believe me, I thought the same thing. There was no way those two were just sleeping. I was ready to kill him when I saw him laying beside her in bed."

"You saw them?"

Fitz explained to his stunned mother how he found them that first weekend he spent at her apartment. Detailing Liv and Jerry's relationship and explaining to her how they've made it work for so long. Telling her about her parents, Fitz tried to explain why Olivia is the way she is.

"It sounds like Olivia has had a difficult time all her life. Though for the past few years, she has had an excellent support team."

"That she does. Liv's terrible about taking care of herself but with all of us to nag at her, she's doing great."

"Have you thought about not nagging at her? Olivia is an adult. And she's been taking care of herself for a long time. Maybe if everyone left her alone for a few days, she'd have no choice but to try to adjust her lifestyle. With you here and Jerry and Huck in Seattle, Cyrus being in Miami, she'd have no choice. She'll have to sleep eventually."

"Liv's actually gone three weeks without sleep before. Dad said it nearly killed her though. I try not to push it too long. Before I came into the picture, Dad and Huck had a schedule that they would spend the night with her. Since we've been living together, Huck's only had to be with her one night while I was gone. We had a fight about her being in bed with Dad and I was not pleased with it."

Lily laughed at the idea. "I don't think anyone in their right mind would approve of seeing their girlfriend in the same bed as their father. But whatever happens, Olivia will be fine. She's put up with you for the past year. Speaking of putting up with, what's happening with that trash you married?"

"I'm nearing the end of the divorce. The judge wants to talk with Olivia, but I will not pressure her into going to talk to him. I kept telling her I didn't want her to be a part of the divorce. She doesn't need to be roped into all the drama and hated Mellie spues. James gave me a deadline of today to get her to his office, but she hasn't gone. I don't know if she'll go today or not. The sooner I can get rid of Mellie, the better. That woman is making my life hell."

"I wish you would have listened to me and your father ten years ago. You wouldn't be in this mess. That woman is pure evil. Look at what she's done to Olivia. Poor girl was only trying to do her job and that woman comes in and tries to destroy her. I warned you about her."

Fitz shook his head looking at his hands. "I did not come for an 'I told you so', mom. I'm working on it and hopefully it will be done soon."

"I think I know my own son well enough to know this isn't just a random surprise visit, Fitz. Do you think you and Olivia are really that bad on the outs?"

"Not at all. This was just a little fight. If she really was mad at me, she would have told the driver to drop me off at the airport while she went to work. Other than this, we're doing great. I know she misses Javi, Huck, and Kim but if everything goes well in the next couple of weeks, they'll all be coming home."

"Good, I'm glad she'll have him home. I'm very glad you and she are doing great. I like this one. She's much better than that woman."

"Even if she's half my age? You're okay with me being with someone so young?"

"Age is only a number, Fitz. From what I've seen of Olivia, she may be twenty-five, but she has the work ethic and mentality of someone in their almost forties. She's a smart girl. She picked you, didn't she?"

Fitz smiled at her, beyond thrilled for her approval. "You know, one of the first times she and I had a conversation about family. I told Liv that you'd love her. She thought I was the kind of man that needed his mother's approval of the woman he was dating. But I did remind her that I married Mellie and both you and dad hated her. So, that being said, I'll tell you the real reason I came out here."

"Ah ha! I knew there was a reason more than a random visit. Tell me, why'd you come out here?"

"I want to ask you for my great-grandma's ring. I want to give it to Liv."

Lily sat back in the chair and stared at him in surprise. "Fitz, you're still married. You can't give her that ring and be engaged at the same time. It's wrong. And stringing Olivia along. What if you don't get divorced for another year? It's not fair to Olivia to make her wait a whole year to be married to you."

"Mom, I'm not asking her to marry me. Not until the ink is dry on the divorce decree. I'd never string her along. I want to promise Liv that I am in this. That she isn't just a rebound during the divorce. I want to prove to her that I do love her. I'm in this for good. I don't want anyone but her. And even if she isn't ready or she doesn't want to get married, I'm still going to be there with her. I'll be there for her. Nothing could change that. I won't ask her to marry me and wait. I need to show her that she's my one. That no matter what happens, we are in this together. This isn't a one side take it or leave it. I've been with her for eleven months. This divorce has been going on for eleven months. I don't want her to think that I only want her until I'm free from Mellie. And as smart as Liv is, she's going to put two dates together and come to the conclusion that she is the rebound. I won't have it. She doubts herself enough." Fitz stayed locked in his mother's eyes looking for any indication of what she was going to say. Unable to read her, he continued. "I wouldn't ask if this was anyone else. Of all the women I've dated previous, I have never asked you for that ring. Mom, I can't go to the jewelry store and pick out some random ring. I'm saving that for her engagement and wedding rings. Until I'm able to give her an actual commitment without the current strings attached to me, that ring is the lifeline I have to keeping her. If Liv wears that ring, if she has that ring, I know that she's mine. Liv would never be like Mellie; she is the complete opposite. So, I'm asking you for the ring."

"You love Olivia that much?"

"I've never loved anyone as much as I love her."

"The week that George and I spent with you and Olivia for Christmas was an insight to you two. You two breathe in sync. You work together so well. And I can see how much she loves you. Olivia is a wonderful girl. You love her more than I've ever seen you with anyone else. I'll get you the ring."