Chapter 10
One year ago
The room was dark, by Fitz's doing. He had closed the blinds down in anticipation of the daylight. He closed the door, being Noelle wasn't even home, and he just lay staring at the ceiling. He wished for sleep to overtake his body, but it was something the hadn't looked forward to since Noelle was born.
This was the very first night he had spent without her in the same place as him. Tiffany had asked to take her on a two night shopping spree for her birthday and how could Fitz say no? Fitz had taken the few days off in anticipation of the weekend, but now he was alone in his condo, left to only his thoughts.
Waiting for his phone to ring to facetime her, he glanced at the clock beside his bed. It was only 6 am, he still had an hour before she would call. He picked up his iPad and began to shop online for some birthday goodies for his little girl.
As his iPad charged on, he was hit first with the background picture. There was his little girl, smiling, her blue eyes glistening, and she was holding UNI. Noelle was standing in her room looking at her new bed Fitz had just put together for her.
Fitz took a deep breath and rubbed the picture. "Miss you my little angel. It's so lonely without you here. I never felt loneliness before you came along, and now there's a hole in my heart. Not hearing your voice, even though it's just a few nights, it makes the rooms so quiet."
Not being able to control the businessmen in him, he clicked the stock market icon. He just had to see how his profits were doing. It brought a big smile to his face seeing his stocks skyrocketing. Picking up his phone, he dialed Marcus, then quickly hung up.
When this deal was put into effect it was strictly Marcus's business to run on Fitz's days off, except for emergencies, and there was no emergency. He took a deep breath and clicked the phone off. He really needed something to do with his time. It was that moment he realized how much he had invested in being a father to Noelle.
Finally getting out of bed he went to the kitchen for a glass of juice. The Christmas tree lights blinked in rhythm, and he stopped. He was leaning on the wall looking at the lights. He stared at the angel. Just last week he held Noelle up as she placed the angel where it was sitting now, blinking in unison with the lights.
"Maybe it's for the better." He spoke to the empty room and the lighted tree. "You didn't bring much luck to Jacqui's life." A numbness overtook his body. What if he was too scared to ever get close to someone again. He turned towards the kitchen looking at Noelle's first Christmas picture.
"And how would that be fair to you? Don't you deserve all my attention or will we be able to love someone together?" Pouring his orange juice now, he thought only time would tell.
Back in his bed, he answered the call he was expecting. "Daddy" He saw her reach to the screen. She threw a kiss from her tiny lips.
"Hi my Noelle with two L's how is my girl. Are you being good for Tiffany?"
Noelle nodded her head and Fitz heard Tiffany say, "She's fine Mr. Grant, slept through the night with UNI. We are making breakfast and are heading out in about an hour."
Noelle smiled. "Daddy lonely?" She asked, as if she knew her father all too well.
"Just missing my girl, but you have fun with Tiffany, ok?"
"Smile daddy, ok." She pulled her device to her and kissed it.
That did make him smile. "Love you Noelle. Have fun Tiffany and thank you."
"No problem, Mr. Grant. See you tomorrow." The device clicked off and he was back to the silence of his condo.
Six months ago (Los Angeles)
"Aye, baby, I hate getting dressed up, what is this for anyway?"
"Come on Russel, I don't ask for much. It's a dinner with Nico Fratelli. He owns a line of business suits, he's making his way up in men's fashion, I could land this account for Fashion Magazine. He invited us to dinner; I just have to make an impression." She began to fix Russel's tie while he fidgeted his collar in his hands.
"I don't know why I have to go at all. I have this game I'm working on, it's about the global destruction of the battleship that…"
"Russel." Liv rolled her eyes, "Please, let's stick to men's fashion, ok" Liv gave a small smile letting the tie go. "There, it looks perfect."
"I feel like I'm being strangled." He went to loosen the tie Liv just fixed and she moved his hand away, interlocking it with hers.
"It's a nice steakhouse. You may have nothing in common with Nico, but he asked me to bring a plus one, besides you never engage with my job, now is your chance."
Russel shrugged his shoulders. "How long is this going to be, like can we leave after dinner, no dessert, is that a deal?"
"I just really need this account, ok, it can move me up on the chain, I want that editor in chief position." Liv pleaded with him.
"The one in New York." He pulled his jacket over his shoulders walking towards Liv.
Liv gave him a small peck on his lips, "yes, in New York, but let's make a good impression first ok." She grabbed her purse. "Besides you may wow him with your knowledge of technology."
"Olivia, so glad you could join us. This is my wife, Antoniette, she's a big fan of the magazine."
Liv smiled at her. "So happy to be here Mr. Fratelli.."
"Please, call me Nico."
"Ok, Nico, this is Russel. Russel is very big in the technology world."
Nico nodded his head and looked up and down at the suit Russ was wearing. "You would look better in a Fratelli original."
"I agree." Liv said. "That's why we need your suits pictured on our models on a ten page spread of the magazine."
Sitting now waiting for dinner to arrive, Russel nodded at Nico. "You wearing one of your originals?"
Nico pulled at his collar with a pride, Antoniette looking at him smiling. "Yes I am." He said as the plate of food was put down.
Russel nudged Olivia. "In my game, that suit could have bullet holes all in it after being the victim of a failed takeover attempt from the global destruction of…"
Liv stepped on his foot to stop. It was too late. "Bullet holes? I beg your pardon." Nico said insulted.
"Umm, Nico, Russel is in the process of designing a game and" She stopped as his wife whispered something in Nico's ear.
"Please excuse us, Ms. Pope, my wife has taken ill. We will be leaving now. Don't worry about the bill. I'll be in contact with you."
Liv couldn't eat a bite. She just squinted at Russel, shaking her head. "What?" He shrugged. "I was just making small talk."
Present Day
Was he still in the shower? No, he wasn't wet. What was this touch he was feeling on his back? Wait, go back to the shower. He followed his dreamy thoughts, the way he felt in her new shower, oh the things she did to him. He heard himself groan making himself wake up.
He was being touched. Her soft hand rubbing his back up and down and resting on the back of his head and rustling his curls. He turned his head, but Olivia was still sleeping. He looked at her, she was lying topless on her belly, her gorgeous back exposed showing her silky brown skin.
Just where her neck meets her collarbone he saw a love bite he left on her from the shower.
He was standing behind her as the water beat down and steam filled the room, and he watched the droplets of water on her neck, he felt his mouth magnetized to her skin. She pushed him softly, but it was too late, he had fixated his mouth on her moist neck. He remembered back to that moment in the shower.
Her hand now, still moving slowly on his back, he watched her, and she must have been dreaming the same dream, he could feel it. "Livvie." He whispered.
Her eyes blinked open. They were both lying belly down now facing each other. The dark room, besides the red and green lights blinking had her unaware of the time. "Hi" he said looking at her smiling.
"Hi" she said back, rubbing her forehead into the pillow. She watched him lift his head and felt him begin kissing her back. She felt the chills run down her spine as his lips made his way to the middle of her back and rested just below her ear.
His hand rubbed the mark he had left. "I think I was a bit too rough in that shower, Livvie."
She gave a small giggle. "Guess I'll have to cover up and not make it noticed at work today, you naughty, naughty man."
He continued to kiss her and rested his head on her shoulder. He moaned a bit. "What time will you leave work today?"
"4." She took a heavy sigh.
"3." He rebutted.
"3:30 this deal we just made has to be closed and signed."
"Deal. I have a night planned."
"What time is it now?" She questioned.
"6:30 Little Squeaky will be face timing in an hour."
"What's the agenda tonight?" She felt his lips again with more movement and he grabbed a condom.
"Livvie, surprises, we have to get used to this." He patted her back with the packet. His lips went to her ear. "Now, while we have the time." She tried to turn and face him.
"No, no, Livvie, stay just like that, ok." His kisses were killing her softly inside.
"Fitz." She was squirming. "You're driving me crazy."
"Good." His hands reached under her to the front, and he began to rub around her clit. "Like that?"
She just nodded her head, how could she not. She buried her face into the pillow so not to scream out in ecstasy, this felt so good, and so early. She couldn't remember the last time she had early morning sex.
Fitz stopped his hand, and pushed her stomach up, arching her gorgeous ass in the air, as he fitted the condom on. Giving her a few more wet kisses on her back, he couldn't take her squirming anymore, he had to put her out of her misery.
"You're so gorgeous Olivia." His hand rested on her hip; his other hand circulated around her wet entry. He moved his hardened erection up and down, stopping just before going deep into her.
She moved her body back just a bit to line up evenly, she wanted all of him, in her. "Deep, Fitz, Oh God, please, deep." She moaned.
His mouth dropped open, and he pushed a hard thrust, watching her ass bounce slowly with his push. His head fell onto her back as his pushed harder into her, and he saw her hands grip the sheet, holding it for dear life.
Her torso went up, and she was upright now, his big hands cupping her breasts, then working their way down to her hips and back up. His mouth was on the other side of the love bite, and he was in the same place. Why not, he thought as he sucked her into him.
The moan that came out of Olivia, as she felt his lips locked on her neck, his hands on her breasts, and her body bouncing with the deepness of him, she lost all control and fell forward, not falling fully because of his hold on her.
His hand held onto her shoulder now, and she heard, through her weakness, his deep heavy breaths. "I. Could. Do. This. All. Day." He grunted, and all she felt was wetness, as the condom filled with him, and his forehead now rested on his back while he gained strength back.
Taking a deep breath, he went to clean up and returned to her on her back, smiling at him. "You can make me get used to this." She rested her head on his shoulder as he sat next to her.
"I'm thinking eventually we have to leave this bedroom. Meet me in the kitchen, ok. I'll make us some breakfast."
"My goodness, what smells so good?" Liv saw a cup of tea on her island as she sat down, dressed for work.
"Gingerbread muffins."
"You made them? I had the ingredients?"
"You had most of it, basic baking, I just ran downstairs for the ginger." They both looked at the noise coming from the iPad. "There she is." Fitz smiled and brought it over.
"Daddy." She said when she saw his face. "I miss you." Her eyes opened wide with surprise. "Hi Ovivia, did you sleep over?"
Olivia smiled. "Good morning Noelle. We are up in my place, Noelle. Daddy is making gingerbread muffins."
"Cinn oh man?" She took a smell of the air. "So good."
"We'll save you one, ok." Fitz said. "She likes the cinnamon I put in them." He laughed.
"You are smiling, daddy." She said pointing.
"I am smiling, Noelle. How are things with Tiffany?"
"Going great, Mr. Grant." Fitz heard Tiffany yell from the back.
"Good to know. Lots of unicorn things today?"
Noelle nodded her head. "Oh yes, and rainbows, right Tiffany."
"Yep, everything daddy doesn't like. I got you Mr. Grant." Tiffany came into view. "Oh, hi Olivia."
"Hi Tiffany." Olivia smiled.
"Daddy is smiling." Noelle smiled back at the two of them.
"Ovivia Saturday?" Noelle asked. They were delivering toys this weekend.
"Yes, Noelle." Olivia answered. "Tomorrow too. Daddy is getting the toys from my office today."
"Yay" Noelle said. "Love you daddy." She jumped from the chair. Before leaving Tiffany to her dad, she threw a kiss. "For you Ovivia."
"Have a great day, Mr. Grant. We're going to Chinatown, they have…"
"Tons of unicorn stuff there. You're getting her the unicorn ice cream cone, aren't you?"
"Bye, Mr. Grant. See you soon Olivia." Tiffany clicked it off.
"I wanted to reach in and hug her." Olivia said watching Fitz take the muffins out of the oven.
He brought one over. From a small packet, before putting it on the muffin, he squeezed out some icing onto his fingertip. He rubbed it on Liv's top lip, and went in kissing it off of her, as she tasted it with him.
"Sweet." She said.
"The icing or me?" He smiled.
"Both." Olivia took a small piece off the still hot muffin and put it up to Fitz's mouth. He took it in.
"Hot." He said.
"The muffin or me?" Liv asked.
"Both." He pulled her in as her phone began to buzz.
"Buzzing." He went to get another muffin.
Fitz heard her as she walked with the phone towards the balcony view. "Tonight at 7? The Chart House, fancy huh? Over in Jersey? Oh, ok, it's a ferry ride across the river. Yes, I don't see a problem." She turned to Fitz. She shrugged, cringing her face, knowing Fitz had plans. "Ok, yeah, I'll have an and one. See you there. Looking forward to it, thank you."
Fitz had come to stand by her. She hugged his waist. "Liam Stevens is sending one of his associates today to sign the final deal, he was called away with a meeting. He wants to take me to dinner as a thank you. I'm sorry, I know you had plans. But this could lead to further accounts with other areas of his company."
"It's fine. Do you want me to be your plus one?"
"Of course, Mister, who else would I want? He's bringing his wife, so."
"I'll behave, I promise." He smiled, kissing her head. "Let's go finish the muffins."
Liv dreaded going into the office. Gil was waiting in the car downstairs. She left Fitz in her penthouse, he could do whatever he wanted in there. That man had her heart wrapped into knots. As soon as she sat in the car she couldn't stop thinking about the night.
Her phone buzzed in a matter of minutes. "God, I am missing you Livvie." The text from Fitz made her smile.
"Miss you more, Mister. Can't wait to see you tonight in your Dior?"
"Do you want Dior, or do you want a Stevens original?"
"No, stick to Dior, you look sexy in that. You look sexy in everything and nothing, come to think of it." She took a deep breath. "Make him want to see you in a Steven's original" She typed back with a wink emoji.
"Whatever you say Livvie. What are you wearing?" His emoji was the heart eyes.
"You'll see, Mister."
As soon as she entered the office hallway, Harrison was there with a pile of notes in his hand, phone messages from people that had called.
"Phones off the hook, Olivia, this deal hit the airwaves, we have advertisers wanting in, more lines wanting photo shoots, it's crazy." They turned towards Liv's office. "Oh, and those came for you." Harrison looked at Liv's neck and pulled her collar up on her shirt covering her love bite a bit, he smiled. "Had a good night?" He nodded as she took the papers and went into her office.
Sitting on top her desk were the most beautiful arrangement of Christmas flowers. They were in a sleigh, a red sleigh, with white lettering that said JOY and there was a note in a tiny envelope marked "Livvie."
Holding the envelope she bent over to smell the arrangement of red roses, white chrysanthemums, red mini carnations, and different greens. She moved it over on her desk, still smiling. She had to do something back to him. She would wait to make sure dinner wasn't a disaster tonight and have something delivered for him and Noelle. First, she had to stop thinking about him, she had a meeting to get to.
She opened the envelope. Remember our sleigh ride in the snow with Noelle? Can't wait to make more memories. Love you Livvie, had a wonderful night with you. There was a heart and the FTGIII under it.
With only Harrison left in the meeting room, she grabbed a bottle of champagne from the bottom drawer of the community desk. Not having any glasses, didn't matter. "We did it! Harrison, we fucking did it." She took a big gulp of the champagne and took a guzzle then handed it to him.
"Liv, Mr. Walters said he expected profits beginning in January, remember, giving you two months to settle. Now look at this. This is going far beyond." He took his guzzle and clapped his hands.
"I couldn't have done it without you Harrison, you kept me grounded. You didn't let me lose myself after leaving Russel." She turned towards the window. It was a gray hazy day, looked like snow would be in the air soon. She took a deep breath. "Now, I am just head over heels."
"For Fitzgerald Grant the Third. He's like the third richest guy in America, Liv, you know that." Harrison walked next to her by the big window.
"I don't care if he was the third poorest guy in America, he's just…" She shook her head. "I really fell hard, and his little girl, she's amazing."
"Ms. Pope, sorry to interrupt." Liv looked at her watch. It was 3:25.
"Shoot, Harrison, I told Fitz I'd be ready at 3:30. We're going to dinner with Liam and his wife, so the profits may not be over. What is it Annie?" Liv looked at her clerk.
"Someone is here to pick up the toys." She cleared her throat, looking concerned. "He's waiting in Harrison's office."
Harrison's little dancing Santa was echoing in the foyer and Harrison and Liv looked at each other. There was a person, back to them, clearly dressed as Santa dancing, hips swaying, just like the toy.
"Umm, I'm Olivia Pope. Can I help you?" She said walking slowly to the desk.
The "Santa" turned and scooped Olivia up in his arms, resting his lips on hers.
At first, Harrison grew alarmed, thought it may be Russel again and he jumped to his desk, but he saw Olivia's arms wrap around the Santa's shoulders.
"What sexy lips you have Santa, why are you so early, it's not Christmas Eve yet?" She giggled looking into Fitz's blue eyes she fell so hard for.
"I'm here to pick up toys, but you're my favorite toy, so I'm picking you up." He walked with her to the office, laughing. He pulled the Santa beard down as two men came in to cart the boxes of toys, games, and stuffed animals away.
Fitz put his hand out to Harrison to shake. "Thanks for not punching me thinking I was some stranger hitting on Olivia."
"All good, Mr. Grant. Liv, get going, I'll hold it down until 4. Enjoy your dinner and let me know how it goes."
"Oh my goodness, Noelle, this is something new. You want that instead of the ice cream cone?" Tiffany was looking at the item marked "unicorn float."
It was any kind of smoothie of your choice in a cup. The smoothie would go in a tiny unicorn float with a cup holder. "You can bring that in the bathtub with you." Tiffany told Noelle.
"Wow, can I get two?"
"Hmm, how about I get one and you get one, then you can have mine."
"Thank you, Tiffany." Noelle sat with Tiffany, happily drinking her rainbow smoothie from the unicorn blow up float. She couldn't stop staring at it and if it's all Tiffany got for her the rest of the day it would have been fine for her.
After shopping in the small shops in Chinatown, Noelle leaving with three rainbow pillows and four new unicorn stuffed animals, they hopped on the subway heading towards Brooklyn.
When Noelle saw her next destination, she couldn't believe her eyes. Tiffany knelt next to her looking up at the store sign. "Do you know what that says?" She moved her finger in the air over the sign.
Noelle was looking and pointed at the first word. "Unicorn" She said. She looked at the second word, then at the building and back to the second word. "Store." She said. "Unicorn store." She squealed.
"That's right Noelle, the Unicorn Store, where everything is Unicorns and rainbows." Tiffany smiled.
Noelle wrapped a loving hug around Tiffany. "Thank you."
Tiffany wasn't so sure Fitz would bring Noelle here, this was over the unicorn top, but in the end, Tiffany would have had as much fun as Noelle did and Noelle would have plenty to share with her dad. Tiffany was also having the whole experience recorded for Fitz to be able to see it all.
As they entered into the shop, what Tiffany knew, that Noelle did not, was the session included finding secret unicorn messages on the walls with a flashlight. It also included talking to a magic mirror that says they are now a unicorn. Finally, they would end the session with rainbow confetti they can throw over and over again in the air.
Noelle would leave the session one little happy unicorn equipped with sparkly unicorn purses, new unicorn earrings, and a custom-made unicorn horn. Tiffany was sure Noelle would put it on Fitz in their many playtimes of dress up.
As Olivia and Fitz were getting ready to leave for Liv's very important dinner, Noelle and Tiffany were heading home from a fun filled day. Noelle was traveling the subway with a princess crown that read "birthday princess." Tiffany would have had her call Fitz, but from the time Tiffany lifted her in her arms to carry her tired body up the front stairs, Noelle was sound asleep and did so for the rest of the night.
Just got home Mr. Grant. I'll drop Noelle off around 10 tomorrow morning. She's already sleeping, enjoy your evening." Tiffany sent the quick text, changed Noelle who didn't wake up at all, and smiled at the young girl. She was happy to have made some of her birthday celebrations special for her, her dad would take over from here.
After they left Liv's office building, Gil drove the car to the warehouse where Fitz had all the toys stored. Olivia walked around the area with him amazed at how many toys there actually were.
People, mostly volunteers from the hospitals, were working to organize the toys into boxes after they were wrapped. Fitz walked around thanking each and every volunteer and giving them a gift card to a restaurant for dinner and a store for Christmas shopping.
He gave some to Liv also. "Go on, share them. You're a part of our lives now."
Liv smiled and walked around. She was thanking the workers and at times she stopped to wrap a gift or two and help pack some in the boxes.
After an hour, they left and had plans to meet the volunteers back there on Saturday. Watching him now as the car headed to the condo, she looked at him with smiling eyes. Fitz was looking at some pictures Tiffany had sent over and shared them with Liv.
"What?" he saw her staring at him.
"Nothing, just you're something else." She looked at the flowers sitting on the seat across from them. "Thank you for those. They're beautiful."
He kissed her temple as the car stopped. "I'll see you in a few hours. Looking forward to taking off whatever you're wearing later." He got off on the 8th floor and let her go up to the penthouse.
Liv had wanted to go with the v neck evening gown, but Fitz put an end to that. Her love bites were visible and too much make up wouldn't look right in that area. Instead she reached for one of her many other evening gowns, and was satisfied with what she picked out.
While she was putting the finishing touches on, she could smell his Creed in the air. She stopped, closing her eyes, and imagined his lips on her shoulders. Her body gave a shake with the chills, and when she opened them, she even thought she looked good. "Fitz, you're going to love this." She grabbed one of the boxes of condoms. He should have one in his place, as she left the Christmas decorated penthouse.
Her new centerpiece of flowers was sitting in the middle of the kitchen table where they had shared their gingerbread muffin this morning. Liv gave a quick smile before she closed the door. The penthouse wasn't feeling so lonely anymore.
"Dear Mama, you look breathtaking." Fitz opened the door, and quickly shut it planting his lips on hers. "Livvie, you make my heart skip." He pulled her away from his body admiring her dress.
He was looking at her in a dark green twisted neck Armani dress. The twist at the neck covered the bites up perfectly. The dress brought out the curves in her body, and all Fitz could do was outline them with his hands. "Stunning."
He grabbed his jacket, basic black, but Dior, with a two button front, but Fitz only buttoned one. It looked perfect on him, and the black shirt he was wearing under it brought his chest out in a way that made her eyes glue to it. She noticed the folded lapels and she reached in her purse.
"For you my mister. Thank for you agreeing to the dinner." She pinned a palladium brass and crystal capital G pin on his left lapel. He looked down at it.
"You didn't have to Liv. Thank you."
"You're welcome. Ready?"
Gil dropped them off at the ferry, and they boarded to head over to the Jersey side for their reservations. They enjoyed the scenery of the river, as the lights took glow on the water. Every so often they would reach in for a kiss, just enjoying the boat ride.
Liam Stevens was as vibrant as one could be. He introduced his wife, Stacy, and when Liv was about to introduce Fitz, Liam stopped her. "Fitzgerald Grant the Third, of Grant Enterprises, what an honor."
Liv cleared her throat. Liam looked at her. "I am sorry, I've followed Mr. Grant from his first sale. You've built quite an empire."
They were now seated at the table. A poinsettia arrangement in the middle was all that separated the small talk of the evening. During the entrée, Liam picked up his drink. He pointed the glass towards Fitz. "Dior?"
"Dior." Fitz repeated. "Are you wearing a Steven's?" Fitz smiled.
"Made it myself. We need to get you into a Steven's. What are the odds I can get you in one of the photos Liv lays out in her magazine." Stacy nudged Liam's elbow.
"Liam." She said.
"It's fine, Mrs. Stevens." Liv smiled. She looked over at Fitz. "Up for a photo shoot?" She bit her bottom lip and how could Fitz say no?
"Anything to help your business Mr. Stevens, it would be a pleasure." He smiled and looked at Liv with a wink.
"Fabulous, and Olivia, you have to see the shirt line Stacy is working on, it's tremendous and will be out ready for the summer."
"Would love to take a look at it."
After wishing each other a Merry Christmas, they promised to get together in the New Year to finish the men's line and to have the ten page layout in the upcoming edition.
Liv and Fitz were walking a bit now on the waterfront and Liv just stopped looking over to the New York skyline. "I watched that skyline for nights, never ending nights from my office window, never thinking I would ever fit in here." She felt Fitz caress her back.
Before Fitz began to speak, tiny drops of snowflakes began to fall, making the scene that December night like something out of a romantic Christmas movie.
"I say you fit in at the right time. It was perfect timing for you to come into our lives Livvie."
Olivia faced him, wiping some snow off his black jacket and in front of the glowing skyline, the Empire State Building in the green and red colors, Fitz pulled Olivia into a deep kiss, then hugged her close to his body. "Come on, before it gets too cold on that ferry ride."
In Fitz's bed now, warm enough from the snow coming down outside, Olivia was in Fitz's arms. "Six months ago I had a disaster of a dinner date with one of Los Angeles's up and coming top designers. Russel was a mess, just never wanted me to get ahead."
Fitz pulled her closer to his body. He needed to tell her what he did for Russ, but he let her continue talking.
"I thought Russ would take advantage of the opportunity and put a plug in for his gaming company, but no, he just had it out to ruin my future, anyway, that's why tonight was just so special, so thank you." She looked up to him and kissed him tenderly on the lips.
"Liv, I invested recently in gaming." He grew silent.
"Ok, why are you telling me that?"
"I bought Russ's company in LA. He's in for 80% of any profits he makes and the other 20% goes towards maintenance and rental costs for apartments in his building." He stopped again and she pulled her head away from him.
"You did what?" She covered her mouth and laughed. "Russ has to rent out his building for apartments?"
Fitz shrugged, "yeah, I mean I don't really want his money, I just want to make sure he's focused on something other than you."
"oh, you didn't have to buy him out for that, but yeah, you gave him a fresh start, so good for him."
"You're not upset, mad?" Fitz took a sigh of relief.
Liv cupped Fitz's face, facing him to her. "Nothing you do Mister would upset me. I know it's all giving from your heart, and a hint of jealousy to keep him away I'm sure. I'm flattered."
He checked the text that came through for the moment from Tiffany. He showed the sleeping picture of Noelle to Liv. "Someone is out for the night and will be home around 10 in the morning."
Liv reached into the condom box. With the snow falling gently outside, the lights from Fitz's window glowing the room up, the couple continuing to fall in love this holiday season used the remaining few hours to become one.
Soon, Noelle will have a birthday to celebrate. She would be turning three years old and it would be the first time in her young life her birthday would be celebrated sharing the love of someone other than her daddy by her side.