Chapter 11
2020 Noelle's first birthday
It was hard to believe a year had passed already since that phone call from Jay. Fitz had put his daughter to bed early the night before. He had a good routine down with her and Tiffany. Usually, Noelle was asleep before he got home on weeknights, but he had asked Tiffany to keep her awake that night.
He just wanted to watch her fall asleep. He put on the mobile, the one with rainbows, that she had in her crib since the second week she was born. Noelle was out growing it, she didn't find much interest in it, and it didn't lull her to sleep anymore, that was for sure.
On occasion she would look up and see the rainbows spinning on the ceiling. She would point to them and say "bow." Tonight, was one of those nights. As soon as Fitz walked in from work, she wobbled her way towards him, using the couch as guidance the whole way.
Once she reached the edge of the couch, she held up one hand, as the other was keeping her balance so she wouldn't fall. "Da" she said with her smile that lit up his world. He scooped her up. "Hey my girl, tomorrow is your birthday. How old is Noelle?" Noelle just clapped her hands. "Yay" she said.
"One, say one. Noelle is one." He took her little pointer finger and held it up. "That's one." He watched as her blue eyes just stared at the finger. She looked at him, and then just put her head on his shoulder.
Tiffany came out from the bathroom. "She didn't nap today. She is exhausted, but I made sure she stayed up." Tiffany looked at Noelle who hadn't even lifted her head from Fitz's shoulder. "Right Little Miss one year old." Tiffany kissed her cheek. "I'll see you Monday, bye Noelle. Good night Mr. Grant."
Noelle waved, but just kept her head on her daddy's shoulder. Fitz kissed the back of her head, walking to her room. He put the mobile on before he put her in the crib and as she faced the ceiling she said "bow" and pointed to the rainbow.
"That's right beautiful, that's a rainbow." Fitz rubbed her forehead. "I can't believe I've had you for a year now. I love you so much Noelle. Tomorrow you're going to wear your red dress, yeah, the nurses sent another dress, a little bigger now." Noelle wasn't paying the least bit of attention now, just watching the rainbows go round and round and Fitz watched her eyes close into sleep.
He took a deep breath, just watching her. "Congratulations Mr. Grant. This is your daughter, Noelle." He remembered the words the nurse said as she handed Noelle to him. He shook his head. "Just you and me kid, right."
When he was sure she was sleeping he turned to leave. Outside the window he noticed the first snowflakes of the season falling. "Look at that," he whispered to no one. "You're going to wake up to December snow for your birthday, Noelle."
Changing into his tee and boxers, Fitz set up a pile of Noelle's wrapped birthday presents on the table outside in the kitchen. He would make her favorite, pancakes, for her birthday breakfast. He grabbed the red dress that had come in the box earlier today and hung it up on her closet before making his way to his room.
It would be a busy weekend ahead celebrating one year of his little girl. Fitz grabbed his laptop and his head hit the pillow. He decided against opening his computer and set it down next to him, while he himself drifted off to sleep.
Last Christmas
Russel was still sleeping that Christmas morning. He wanted nothing to do with the holiday, and Liv had grown tired of him. She was up now, having cancelled her getaway with him to Tahoe, and just stared at the television screen.
"A balmy 60 degrees outside for Christmas day today in Los Angeles, but don't complain. The weather person clicked her remote in her hand, take a look at New York. They have had snow since Friday night, it's now estimated to be at least 10 inches. Glad we aren't digging that out, am I right?"
Liv looked at Times Square on the television. The coverage was from last night, as the snow continued to fall. "Lucky," she whispered, "hopefully someone is sledding or snowboarding. Maybe if a couple is lucky, they're waking up in bed to the first snow and can just cuddle for a while."
She heard movement coming from the bedroom, then footsteps. "Why you up so early baby? Come back to bed." Russel turned the light off in the living room and walked back to the bedroom, assuming Liv was following him.
Looking at the clock, it really wasn't early for a Christmas morning to be awake, it was already 9:00. "You coming in, baby?" She heard Russel plop back down into bed and she didn't move an inch.
'No, go back to sleep." She took a deep breath and picked up the brochure from the cabin she had chosen for Tahoe. Liv looked at the pictures of the guests skiing, the guests sitting in front of a fireplace, and of a Christmas display set up out front.
Tossing the brochure down next, she cursed herself. "It's been too long." Her phone buzzed and she looked at it for a distraction.
"Merry Christmas Liv, hope you enjoy the holiday with Russel. Stay away from the office." Harrison's text was just what she needed. Walking now into the bedroom, Russel's snores can be heard as she was dressing. Only putting on jeans and a long sleeved shirt, she didn't even bother leaving a note.
Before driving away and drowning herself in work at an empty office, Liv sat in the driver's seat. "Merry Christmas to you as well Harrison. Hope you enjoy your time with your family. I'll stay out of the office", she lied as she hit send.
The last image she saw before pulling out of the driveway was the darkened Christmas tree that looked so sad on display in front of their window. As she drove to her lonely office, she thought of the picture of snow blanketing the city of New York.
Present Day
Liv opened her eyes. She felt a weight on her shoulder and a slight pain in her core. She smiled when she remembered what they both were from. Fitz was sleeping soundly on her shoulder and what a night they had. One thing about this man, he sure liked to nibble.
She gave a quiet laugh and looked out the window. On the frame the white flakes that didn't make it to the ground had stuck in a small layer on the glass. Liv tilted her head, so it rested on the top of his as she looked at the snow.
Fitz's head moved slightly and turned towards her breast. She heard him moan and he gave her a kiss just above the breast. "Oh, I could wake up every morning like this." He kissed his way up to her neck and stopped just above her lips, watching her smile at him.
"Hi" he said as he gave her small peck.
"Hi" she repeated, and her palm gripped him on the neck just behind his ear. Her fingers rummaged his curls, and she pulled him, keeping him on her lips as they made out for what seemed like an hour.
"What was that for?" He asked. "Not that I'm complaining, but wow." He moved next to her, facing her.
"Just thank you again for an amazing dinner, and an even more amazing night." The back of her hand went down his cheek and rested on his shoulder.
"I didn't want these past two nights to end." He smiled and gave a blink, keeping his eyes closed for a second. "This has been everything I could have ever dreamed, with you."
"Remember it snowed last night?" Liv nodded towards the window.
"Oh yeah, the first snow of December. The first snow always brings back memories of Noelle's first birthday. It snowed the night before and I just thought of when I was given the news of her birth. If I recall, it was snowing that night too, but time just stood still for me, so I'm not sure" He shrugged. "Have you ever seen snow before you came to New York?"
Liv scrunched her nose. "Not really, unless you count television, and up at the Inn with you. My last Christmas in LA I remember watching a news report about it snowing here for Christmas. I believe ten inches."
"Yeah, that was last year, I had to cancel the weekend with Noelle and just watch Christmas movies all weekend with her, the snow was too much to navigate."
"Well I had to cancel the getaway I had planned with Russel. He wanted nothing to do with Christmas and I was just so miserable. I was looking forward to a weekend of snow boarding and spending time by the fire. Actually," she turned fully towards him now, cupping his cheek, "it was everything you gave me at the Inn last weekend." She smiled. "You gave me my Tahoe."
He took her hand from his cheek, giving it a kiss. "I'll buy Tahoe for you if it means waking up to you every morning." He smiled at her.
Her head went down, flattered. "Fitz" she whispered. They just laid there in silence for a minute. "My mom said there was a silence about the snow, and I understand her now. It's almost as if the snow soundproofs the room" She laughed.
"There is something magical about waking up when it had snowed during the night, but it's even more magical waking up next to someone you love. It's good to just cuddle with you."
For the next few minutes, that's exactly what they did. Fitz rested his head on her shoulder, and she rummaged his soft curls and he rubbed her smooth stomach as they watched the last of the snowflakes fall outside. They both felt like snow when the sun would hit, as they melted in each other's arms.
"Speaking of someone you love, " Liv broke the silence, "I better get going, I want to be here when Noelle comes home and I need to go get showered and dressed." She leaned in towards him.
She bit her bottom lip before continuing. Her hand rubbing the base of his neck again. "I meant it, these past two nights have been surreal. I remember not being able to spend a day, a night, sometimes all night away from my office. Yesterday when I had to go in for those few hours, I felt dread. I've never felt dread going to the office." She pulled him to her, again locking lips with his as she felt his big hand rub her smooth back.
Fitz stopped kissing her and put his forehead on hers. "Noelle should be getting her dress from the nurses today; we'll take her picture in it to send to them. I'd like you to be a part of it this year."
"Really?"
"Yeah, when she opens the box, when she tries on the dress, I want you to be a part of it all." He kissed her forehead. "Ok?"
"Ok." She got up and put her dress on from the night before. She leaned down and gave him one last kiss. "I'll see you later Mister."
Opening her penthouse door, the fragrance of flowers hit her smell sense immediately. Looking towards the table, as vibrant as they were in her office, the flowers Fitz sent were glowing. She smiled as she walked to them and took closer smell.
Hitting a few buttons on her phone, she ordered something for him, and something for Noelle. She paid an extra needed fee to have them delivered when she wasn't there, which was within the next two hours. Before she hit place order, she put a special message for Fitz and his gift.
The chill that went up her caused her to shiver a bit and she pulled her shoulders up. "Time for a long hot shower Liv, need to calm yourself a bit down." Noelle was going to be with them the rest of the weekend, she had to stop thinking of the naughty things he did to her the two nights.
As the hot water ran down her body, every time she closed her eyes, she saw his eyes. The blue sensitive ones that looked at her so lovingly, the dark gray ones that looked at her so seductively, and the smiling ones when they were just talking about nothing.
There was nothing she wanted more in this moment than for him to be in that shower with her. The last time she was in that shower, the things they did to each other. Liv's eyes closed again, as she was rinsing her hair. When she brought her head forward again, the memory came back to her, and her hand went down as if she was really pulling at his wet curls.
It was the first time he tasted her, and the countless amount of times he made her body shiver with orgasm. She stopped now, crossing her arms against her chest and gripping her own shoulders, turning herself on from the memory.
Her body soaked with water, he had just finished sucking, having a hold on her neck with his lips from behind. His fingers were already rubbing around her clit, and she was slowly coming undone. He brought himself in front of her and waited for her eyes to open.
When they did, she leaned in for a kiss, but he pulled back, and went slowly down the center of her chest, not stopping until his hands were on her thighs, and his tongue now forming circles on her clit.
Thank goodness for the shower bar she had installed with the renovations, as she took a tight hold on to it. Her hips thrusted forward a bit, only causing his mouth to get a better grip on her folds, and her head went back, into the stream of water. She heard herself moan, and her other hand, not grasping the bar, was pulling at his curls.
"God, Fitz, please." She didn't know how the words came out as her breath was scarce in her lungs. She felt her body just go into complete numbness, and she thrusted forward, her eyes closed tightly. As her body shivered in pure ecstasy, he kissed his way back up and rested his lips on her breast, circling her nipple with his tongue.
Fitz pulled back and looked at her, his gray lust in his eyes. "This is the best shower I have ever taken." She remembered his words.
Liv came back to reality. She looked at her hand gripping now the same bar that was in her memory and it took all of her control not to pleasure herself. With a few deep breaths she continued her shower and stepped out.
Once she was back in her bedroom, she smiled, looking at the tree on her nightstand and the snow outside her window. The snow had stopped, but the remnants from it remained. Patting her hair to dry a bit, she calmed herself, well her body down, and had to get back into regular adult mode. There was a soon to be three year old depending on it.
Fitz stripped his sheets, making his bed fresh for the weekend. He let the sheet go up and watched it mid air as it fell to the mattress. Before it fell completely, Fitz noticed a condom wrapper that had escaped them during the night. He was surprised it was only one.
As he grabbed it, he thought of her with Russel for so many years. She didn't get pregnant with him, maybe her birth control was sure proof, maybe the condoms weren't needed. Then he thought of Jacqui, her pregnancy. "A few more months." He said to himself.
He finished tidying up his room, smelling Olivia everywhere and was hoping she was thinking of him as much as he was thinking of her. He walked out to the living room, his tree lights brightening up the room.
His hand ran along the top of the couch as he looked at the lights. They were the ones glowing when they walked in together from their dinner last night. He took a deep breath in, ah, last night, he thought. Not giving her a moment to breathe, he nudged her up against the couch as soon as they walked in.
As his hand continued to move along the couch, in his mind, he was now moving it along the curves of her body, his other hand reaching the zipper of her gorgeous dress she had on.
"Let's get this off you, Livvie, as much as it looks edible on you, I'd much rather my lips on your skin." He saw her smile and take his lips in, as the noise, loud in a quiet room, of the zipper coming down echoed. Fitz let the garment go once it passed the shoulders, and Liv was leaning on the couch in the most gorgeous lace bra and underwear.
He pushed her back a bit, as her back rested on the top of the couch and he held her neck with his palm, gently, so not to hurt her. His tongue did circles on her stomach, and as his head went to go down further, she stopped him.
Her eyes, when he looked up at her, had a stormy darkness in them, the glowing, blinking lights of the Christmas tree bringing out the silkiness of her skin, and all Fitz could do was stare. "What is it Livvie?"
Not saying a word, she unbuttoned the top three buttons of his shirt, and pulled it off him, her lips immediately going to his abs, and her turning him now against the couch. She unbuttoned his pants, and with his boxers underneath pulled them down. Although she was still in her lace undergarments, he was completely naked, and his body felt something he never felt before. It was turn on that was, now in the present, hardening his dick as he thought about it.
Her tender lips went over his hardened erection, and before he could stop her, he just felt himself thrust his hips, so he went deeper in her mouth. His back now bent on the back of the couch, his head going far enough back to see the tree and the ornament she had gifted him with.
With a powerful grunt, he lifted his body upright and watched her mouth as she took him in, slid it out, then back in again. "Livvie." His breaths were rapid, "I can't hold on. God, I can't." He exploded right there, in her mouth, and when she stood up, he didn't wait a moment.
His lips engulfed hers, and he picked her up going towards the bedroom, where they spent the majority of the snow falling night making love, talking about nothing, and sleeping in one another's arms.
He looked down now, his pants and boxers still on the floor. Throwing them in the laundry and taking a deep breath to calm himself, he turned towards the kitchen.
His daughter would be back in less than an hour. He missed her immensely and was looking forward to seeing her but was looking more forward to the time he would spend together with her and Olivia together this weekend.
After his shower, he began to get things ready to make breakfast in the kitchen. The front door intercom chimed with Fabian's voice. "Mr. Grant delivery coming your way."
He heard the knock on the door and the guy was holding an edible fruit arrangement basket and a tray of rainbow shaped cookies. "For Noelle and Fitz Grant." The delivery boy read the cards and handed them to Fitz. "Tip was included sir, enjoy."
Fitz would be looking now at the arrangement with what Liv would call his smiling eyes. He placed both items down on the island next to the kitchen and opened the card marked "Mister." The arrangement was in a red sled also, like his flowers, but she one upped him.
There were snowmen white pops inside. She found a way to mix the sled and the snow together. He smiled as he opened the envelope. "I know you may think differently because of our shower, but you were so edible last night. Loved waking up to the silence of the snow with you. Love you too. Livvie."
The tray of 6 rainbow cookies didn't have a card, it just had a picture attached to it of a unicorn on its hind legs in front of a rainbow with sparkles and hearts. Under the picture it said NOELLE. "She's going to want one instead of her pancakes." He laughed and continued doing his prepping.
Two knocks about ten minutes later, and Fitz saw the person his mind had been fixated on since she left. Before he could scoop her into his arms, the elevator opened and Tiffany and Noelle walked off of it.
Liv turned to see Noelle run out of the elevator and jump into Fitz's arms. "Daddy." Her hands locked behind his neck and she rested her head on his shoulder. "I missed you, daddy."
Liv greeted Tiffany who was holding two very big bags. "Could I help you with that?" Liv asked her.
"Oh, thank you, it's ok, I have it." Tiffany walked in around Fitz and Noelle and Liv walked in behind her. Fitz whispered something in Noelle's ear and she nodded her head.
"Good morning Ovivia." She reached over and gave Liv a small kiss on her cheeks.
Jumping now from Fitz's arms, Fitz was about to thank Tiffany as Noelle began to just undress, right there. "Bath daddy, ok, I want a bath."
Fitz's eyebrows went down in pure confusion. He looked at Tiffany. "She looks like Noelle, she sounds like Noelle, but is she the real Noelle? Hey, little one, why are you getting naked in front of everyone."
She reached in one of the bags and pulled out her two unicorn floaties. "Unicorns for the bath. Bath time daddy."
Tiffany just shook her head. "Mr. Grant, I can give her the bath if you want, I'm sorry, I bought them for her and told her she could only play with them in the bath, I really didn't think she'd be so eager to take one, knowing how much she hates baths."
Liv knelt down to look at the floaties and to stall the naked little girl from running to the bathroom without her father. "These are great, Noelle, where did you get them?"
"Floaties for the bath." She said and she smiled.
"We got them in Chinatown, they came with ice cream smoothies on them." Tiffany said.
"Rainbow smoothie." Noelle smiled.
"It's fine, Tiffany, thank you so much." Fitz said. "We'll take it from here, I'm sure you need some much deserved rest."
"She really was a delight." Tiffany nodded at Liv. "Bye, Olivia. And you Miss Noelle, I will see you on Monday, you aren't spending the day in the bathtub though. Bye, Mr. Grant, have fun."
"YAY BATH!" Noelle said as Tiffany closed the door.
"Hold it little one." Fitz said sternly. "you don't just take your clothes off like that, ok."
Noelle put her head down, holding her floaties in each one of her hands. "Ok, sorry daddy. Now, bath?"
She walked to the bathroom like nobody's business and said "Come Ovivia," as she made her way down the hall.
Olivia's smile might as well have been permanent. She covered her mouth not to upstage Fitz disciplining Noelle, but it really was funny especially how Noelle would run away naked to avoid the bath. "All it took, all these bath problems to be avoided, were two unicorn floaties."
Fitz tilted his head towards her. "Thanks." He wiggled his nose in her neck. "Thank you for the fruit arrangement. I'll think only of you when I nibble on them."
"That was the plan, Mister. Let me go get Noelle in the bath, continue her breakfast. What time are we heading out?"
"Not until 2. We're going to pick up toys at three different locations and visit one hospital tonight. I planned something a bit different for tomorrow." His eyebrows went up and down.
Liv shook her head. "I know surprises." She kissed him and headed to the bathroom towards the little squeaky voice calling Ovivia.
After her bath, with her playing a full half hour with her floaties and a few other toys, Fitz took her get her dressed and do her hair. Liv saw them come out of Noelle's bedroom. Noelle was wearing a pink long sleeved hoodie that said Daddy's little girl in a three line rainbow shape and pink legging pants with rainbows. Her hair, as always was gorgeous. Fitz had done a French braid again from the top and it rested just at Noelle's shoulder blades.
"You look beautiful my little friend." Liv lifted her onto the chair.
"Three surprises for you Noelle." Fitz said as he poked her nose. "Are you ready for all three, or maybe give you one, then."
"She takes a nap." Olivia chimed in.
Noelle's eyes went wide. "Huh, no thank you."
"Then give her the second one." Fitz said, ignoring his daughter.
"And we'll take a break and clean all the picture frames and fix all the decorations." Olivia said.
Noelle shook her head now. "No way, no thank you."
"Then give her the third one."
Noelle didn't let the game continue anymore. "No one, then two, then three. May I have all three please?" Her eyebrows went up pleading, and Liv just pulled her in, giving her hug she longed to give her since they face timed yesterday.
"Here's number one." He handed her the tray of rainbow cookies.
"Wow." Noelle began pointing at each cookie. "one, two, three, four, five, six. Six cookies. May I have one?"
"Hold on, those are from Olivia. She had them delivered with the unicorn picture."
"Thank you Ovivia." She puckered up and threw a kiss in the air with "MUAH" sound.
"Here is surprise number two." He pulled out, from under the counter, the box the dress had come in.
"A box?" Noelle opened it and her mouth went open in surprise. "My Christmas dress, daddy."
"Yep, your Christmas dress and Olivia will be with us this year when you try it on and take your picture."
"YAY" Noelle said.
"It's a beautiful dress, Noelle, for a beautiful girl." Liv smiled.
"And surprise number three." Fitz put the plate down in front of her two pancakes. One was small and one was big, a snowman's head and body, with round bananas and blueberries for the eyes, whipped cream for the nose, and a fruit loop mouth shaped smile. "For the first snow outside."
"That looks awesome Noelle." Liv encouraged her.
"Syrup?" She smiled. "Thank you so much Ovivia and daddy."
Olivia watched as Noelle took each round fruit loop off the mouth and ate it one by one. Fitz just stared at Olivia watching his daughter, and he melted. He took a deep breath and told Noelle to come get some milk.
Liv began eating the pancake Fitz had made for her, and the whipped cream message he put on it hadn't go unnoticed. She shook her head, and she heard him say "What?"
"You're shameless Mister, you know that."
He shrugged. "I know."
"Ovivia, you have a nice dress?" Noelle dipped her finger into the whipped cream nose of the snowman.
"I do, I have several nice dresses one day I'll show you."
"Wear one tomorrow, K." She was working on the blueberries now, trying to get it in between her forefinger and thumb.
"OK?" Liv said it as a question. "Why?"
Noelle shrugged. "For the surprise." The whole face was now gone from the snowman.
Liv looked at Fitz. "Night wear?"
"Yes, something for tomorrow night. I'll say no more." Fitz put a fork and took a piece of his pancake.
The first stop Gil made on their outing was at the local florist. Gil and Fitz came out with two boxes of bouquets, beautiful vibrant with Christmas color bouquets. "Those are beautiful." Liv said out loud as she looked out the window.
Noelle looked out the window with Liv. "Flowers, so pretty." Noelle agreed.
"Who are they for?" Liv asked as Fitz sat next to her.
"The places we stop at, we thank them by giving them several bouquets of flowers, the organization that gets some of the toys will also send them thank you notes." Fitz smiled. "Ready to deliver some smiles Noelle?"
"Ready, daddy, with Ovivia."
Fitz rubbed Liv's hand and reached in to kiss her cheek. "Yes, Noelle, with Olivia."
Liv rested her forehead on his and just shook her head. "Have I told you how amazing you are, Mr. Grant?"
"Hmm, I don't recall, let me hear."
She put a kiss on her finger and put her finger to his lips. "Simply amazing.""
Noelle giggled and looked out the window. "Look Ovivia, snow."
Even though most of the snow that had fallen overnight had been removed or melted, some cars parked still had dusting on them.
"Yes, Noelle, snow, and I can't wait to build a snowman with you soon."
As the car continued to roll on, Noelle began the song from Frozen. "Do you want to build a snowman?"
Liv began singing with her, nudging Fitz to sing along. "No thank you." He said squishing his nose.
"Boo" Noelle said.
Despite Fitz not joining them, they continued to sing adding some Christmas songs in to the melody. Soon, Olivia would see the generosity Fitz shared throughout the city. Olivia was heading into her third weekend filled with surprises and her heart now completely filled with love.
Olivia was very curious as to what tomorrow would bring, why the fancy evening dress, but for now, she would focus on today. And as Noelle sang Jingle Bells, Liv stopped and leaned over to Fitz.
"I do love you Mister." She kissed his cheek, put her head on his shoulder and continued to sing with her little friend.