Chapter 13

Although Liv wouldn't admit how tired her body was from what Fitz put it through less than a half hour ago, she could feel her exhaustion setting in. After telling his office staff the better news about Spence, they headed out the door, an early 5:30 pm in the evening.

Even though she was tired, it was a good tired. It wasn't a work tired like she was used to, this kind of tiredness, she could live with. She saw Fitz as the person he truly was. So many others, Harrison included, she thought, saw him as a billionaire, a businessman, but not Liv. To her he was loving, caring, father, and oh so sexy.

Today, Fitz showed his vulnerability, and it was to her. Liv would forever embrace that as part of their relationship. He had been so strong for so long, knowing he was hurting with guilt inside because of the way Noelle was conceived. Liv was never going to be the one to judge him ever about that.

How could she? The way he took care of his daughter was far from extraordinary. For being a man of massive wealth, he never let his daughter not be humble about the life she was born into. She would never want for anything, but he was making sure she never bragged about it.

Fitz didn't brag either. From the moment she met him, met Noelle, all she saw was giving. It was a far cry from what she was used to with Russel, and it took Liv to a whole other understanding of life.

Her career had been everything to her. It had been a place she could run to or run away to, especially when she was too much of a coward to leave Russel. She put herself through unnecessary years of emotional hurt and heartache because she couldn't be honest with herself. Fitz made her realize this and this holiday season would be one she would always cherish.

Liv had been given the lesson of life she so desperately needed. It wasn't about money, it wasn't about a job, it was about the love you surround yourself with and keeping the people you care most about close to you.

The morning Fitz turned, and she saw his face in that elevator, Liv felt the air leave her lungs. She kept her composure, trying to run from her feelings and get to the place she was safe, but Fitz didn't let that happen, and oh how grateful she was that he didn't.

Now, exhausted from the love he made her feel, treating her body with love and care, making her feel so good about herself, he interlocked his hand with hers as they headed out of the tremendous Grant Enterprises building into the very cold December air.

As the cold hit her face, she turned to his chest where she felt his arm go tighter around her shoulders. "Gil will be here in a minute, Livvie." Fitz reassured her.

Liv nodded, feeling the warmth of his body as he pulled her close to him. "Look over there, Livvie, you see that?"

She looked at Fitz to finally see him smile, the first time all day, and she turned towards where he was pointing. The storefront window across from his building had a light show going on, a Christmas light show, and you heard the instrumental music the lights were moving in rhythm to.

Fitz kissed her forehead, still holding her close as he watched the lights continue to dance. "This is what I love most about Christmas, Livvie. The night I was told about Noelle, when I was still in Europe, all I could think about was getting home to watch the quiet of the Christmas lights blink the night away." He took a deep breath and stopped. "I know, that sounds silly, right coming from a grown man, but like I told you my father always made Christmas special for me."

Suddenly, Liv wasn't feeling so cold anymore. She pulled away just a bit so she could see his eyes. "No Fitz, not silly at all, I think it's wonderful. I also think it's more of a reason Noelle was brought into your life during a time of year that was already so special to you."

He bowed his head, taking his eyes off the lights, because she was right. "Yeah," he said in a whisper, then he looked directly at her. "You were also brought to me at this time of year, so yeah, I love this season."

Her eyes just danced with his, as she smiled, because that was one of the nicest things anyone had ever said to her. She rubbed her hand down his coat covered chest and just whispered, "Fitz" as she rested her head where her hand had just rubbed. Tears were filling her eyes, and it had nothing to do with the cold.

"Here's Gil." Fitz opened the door for Liv to get in, as he took one last look at the blinking lights before he followed her into the car.

The car was heated, very warm, including the seats, but Liv was warmer resting her head on his chest. They had the whole entire back seat, but they sat together in one corner of the car. Fitz looking out the window and Liv drifting in and out of sleep as the car rolled uptown towards their condo.

Saying good night to Gil and Fabian, they walked hand in hand into the well lighted lobby, the time almost 630 now. Before they pushed the button for the elevator to come, Liv faced him.

"Are you feeling better?" She caressed his face.

He nodded his head. "Kaylen texted me while you were sleeping in the car. Spence woke up for an hour, he was talking and even ate some yogurt, so yeah, I'm better. I'm so tired, though, I just think everything is hitting me at once now."

Fitz pushed the button for the elevator and looked at Liv. "I really cannot thank you enough for being there for me today and understanding."

"As I said Fitz, I want to always be here for you." They smiled at one another as the elevator doors opened and a few residents came out, nodding to the couple before they got in.

As Fitz opened his condo door, he was greeted by the sound he loved the most in this world, Noelle's voice.

"Daddy!" She ran from her play area in the living room and jumped into his arms. "You're home." She rested her head on his shoulders and he put his face onto her shoulder, hugging her tight.

"Daddy's home sweet pea, I'm early because I missed you so much." He lifted his head and looked at Tiffany. "Did you hear from mom?"

"Yeah, she called me, she told me. I'm glad he's doing better. Hi Olivia." Tiffany looked towards the kitchen. "I made some meat for tacos, I wasn't sure if you'd be in any mood to cook, so, it's there if you want it. Noelle didn't eat yet; she was too excited you were coming home." Tiffany pointed to the corner. "She also has something to ask you."

Liv looked over and noticed several boxes that had been delivered. She heard Noelle begin to talk. "Ovivia, dolls, from Meggy." Liv thought back to their weekend at the Inn, the dolls she picked out with Noelle.

Tiffany smiled. "She really wanted to open them, but I wanted to be sure it was ok with you first."

"Thank you Tiffany, thank you for everything. I appreciate you making dinner also, you didn't have to, do you want to take some with you?" Fitz was still holding Noelle close to him.

"Nah, I'm good, mom cooked and if I don't eat her cooking she gets all insulted and all." Tiffany shrugged. "I'll see you mid afternoon tomorrow?" She was making sure of the time change for tomorrow.

"Yeah, I'll be working from home in the morning. Gil is downstairs, have a good night." Noelle jumped from his arms, hugged Tiffany's legs and ran over to the boxes.

"Come, Ovivia." Noelle stood in front of the boxes.

"Oh, this came also." Tiffany reached up to the shelf and pulled down a big envelope marked "Pictures, do not bend." See you tomorrow, bye Olivia."

Fitz looked at the envelope. He knew they were the pictures of Noelle in the red dress. He wanted to get them out, mail them to the hospital so it was there in time for Christmas. He tapped the envelope and looked at Noelle.

"Baby dolls inside daddy." She was watching the boxes as if the dolls would come out and play.

Fitz went eye level with his little girl. "How about we have something to eat first, then you can wash up, not a bath, just wash up, and we can open the boxes."

Noelle shook her head in agreement. "Ok, daddy." She looked at Olivia with pleading eyes. "Ovivia stay?"

Olivia gave Noelle's nose a little poke. "Of course, I will stay, I can't wait to see the beautiful baby dolls."

During most of the dinner and while opening boxes, Olivia noticed Fitz rubbing his eyes. He was truly exhausted, and she walked up to him while he was opening the second box. Noelle had already been so involved in the one baby doll that came out, she was busy talking to her new toy.

Olivia rubbed Fitz's shoulder as he looked down at her. "I have this Fitz, why don't you go wash up and take a little rest? I can handle this, ok." Her head bowed and she looked up at him with stern eyes.

He put his forehead on her shoulder and wrapped one arm around her waist. He turned and gave her neck a small kiss. She felt him nod his head. "Yeah, I'll do that, thank you Livvie."

Noelle looked up now handing Fitz her baby doll. "Jilly" Noelle said as Fitz held the doll. "Her name." Noelle said with a smile as she watched Olivia open the next box. "Daddy play?"

"Daddy is going to take a shower and rest for a bit, ok, Noelle. Olivia will stay with you. Would you like that?"

"Uh-huh" Noelle answered as her eyes lit up with the second doll that came out of the box. "Kelly" Noelle said as she cradled the baby and walked to the couch with her.

Olivia opened the final boxes that had the two baby strollers inside they had picked out. "Noelle," Liv said as she wheeled the small strollers to the couch. "Would you like to put your babies in the strollers?"

"Show me?" Noelle asked. As Liv took Kelly first, Noelle picked up a small plush Santa that could rest in the stroller with Kelly.

"Ok, so Kelly goes in, and we have to put her strap on so she doesn't fall. I think Kelly is tired. Can she have her Santa, it's like her UNI, she can't sleep without it."

"I give." Noelle put the Santa plush next to Kelly and gave Kelly a kiss on the cheek. "Shhh" Noelle said as she covered her lips. "Sleep now."

"Noelle, do you want to put Jilly in her stroller?"

Just like she saw Liv do, Noelle carefully picked up the baby doll. She gently put the doll into the stroller and put the strap around her, but she couldn't snap it. She looked up at Liv with a please help kind of look.

Liv smiled at the whole interaction, Noelle was so determined, and Liv clicked the strap shut. She looked around. "Doesn't Jilly want her toy?" Liv tapped her lip thinking.

Noelle looked at Jilly. "I come back", she reassured the doll, and she walked to the plush Christmas toys again. This time she picked up a small Rudolph, complete with a red nose. She reached up handing it to Liv.

"You give." Noelle instructed, and just like Liv saw Noelle do with the other doll, Liv put Rudolph right next to Jilly and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Shhh" Liv said as she covered her lips. "Time for sleep now." Liv was kneeling near the stroller and Noelle watched the whole thing.

Liv smiled at Noelle, who just put her arms around Liv and put her face into her neck. The small child had no idea what she was feeling. She took a deep breath, as Liv rubbed her back. "Noelle, are you ok?"

Noelle just shrugged, not moving at all, and continued to hug her. Tiffany played with toys with her, but with Ovivia it was different. Tiffany was her friend, but Ovivia was something more. Noelle could feel it, but she couldn't explain it. She finally pulled back and looked at Liv.

"Christmas soon." Noelle said, as Liv picked her up.

"Yes, Christmas soon, but on Sunday, first…."

"My birthday." Noelle smiled.

Liv brought her to her room, she was hoping Fitz was sleeping, not working on anything. While Noelle picked out her pajamas, Liv peeked in at Fitz. In the glow of the blinking-colored lights, he was indeed soundly sleeping in the bed.

Liv took a deep breath looking at him. "He sleeps," she whispered. She felt a tug at her pants, and Noelle was holding up her rainbow pajamas along with her favorite Unicorn book.

"Daddy sleep?" Noelle asked as she looked in.

"Yes, honey, Daddy is sleeping. He's tired." Liv looked at his young daughter.

She blew a kiss to him. "Good night Daddy. I love you." She whispered.

All cuddled now with UNI tight in her grip, Noelle was wrapped in Liv's arm. Liv was in the corner of the small bed, ready to read her favorite book. Before she started Noelle looked at her again.

"Jilly and Kelly?" Noelle asked.

"They are still sleeping, I checked before I came back in. I put a blanket on them too, so they won't get cold. They were watching the Christmas lights on the tree before they fell asleep."

"Ovivia mommy." Noelle's head rested back now on Liv's chest and Liv didn't know what to say to that.

It was how Noelle was feeling, like before. Her Ovivia was more than a friend, she took care of her like daddy did, not like Tiffany did and Noelle didn't understand her feelings, yet.

By the second page of the book, Noelle had fallen asleep up against Liv's chest. Liv was caressing Noelle's hair, so soft, as she watched the princess Christmas tree blink rainbow lights. She gave Noelle a small kiss on her head, and gently rested her on her pillow as she climbed out of the bed.

Standing now, her arms crossed, she walked to the window in Noelle's room. Her arms were crossed, and her heart was full. Should she stay or leave with father and daughter sleeping? Should she just leave without an explanation?

Liv rubbed her eyes. At this moment, she felt like a wife, like a mother, and she felt guilty even thinking it. It's just the past three weeks had been so perfect, so surreal and she was so afraid of losing it. The love she felt in her heart right at this moment was like no other feeling she ever felt.

She turned and within the blinking lights, she saw the unicorn mural next to Noelle's bed. It gave her the idea of the birthday gift she would give to Noelle, providing Fitz would let her plan the surprise for Saturday.

Deciding against just leaving, she walked to Fitz's room. Heading into the master bathroom, Liv splashed some water on her face, brushed her teeth with the toothbrush she kept there, and changed into one of Fitz's dress shirts. She brought the long sleeves to her nose and took in the smell. God, how she loved this man.

Before laying completely down in the bed, she sat next to him and just stared at him. He was so peaceful, in a deep sleep, not a worry at all. It's like he knew Noelle was safe with Olivia. A sudden numbness came over her body with that realization.

For three years it had been only him and Noelle, the only other trusted person was Tiffany. Fitz had fallen into a deep peaceful sleep with the confidence, the trust that Olivia would take care of Noelle. Tears began to fill her eyes, because it was the ultimate sign of the love he did have for Olivia, and it began to overwhelm her.

Her hand covered her eyes, and she took a deep breath to control herself from crying. While her eyes were still covered, she heard his voice.

"Liv." It was more of a question. "Are you ok? Is Noelle alright?"

Liv uncovered her eyes and looked at him. Her hand caressed his face, "sorry I woke you; Noelle is fine, she's sleeping. You trusted me with her."

"With all my heart Livvie." He smiled at her, touching her hand that was caressing her face.

Liv reached in and cupped his face now, kissing him slowly as she straddled his body, and his hands went right to her ass, rubbing all around.

"You look so sexy in my shirt, Livvie." He took her hand and guided it behind her. "Feel what you are doing to me." He moved her hand, so it was placed right on his erection, and Liv began to rub it, slowly.

"I like doing that to you. You made me feel so good earlier today, I need to repay you for that." She went back down, her tongue parting his lips as she kissed him slowly again, still rubbing him below.

"Livvie, let me put the gate up on Noelle's…" Fitz lifted himself.

Liv pushed him gently back down by his shoulders. "Already taken care of, Mr. Grant." Her mouth went to his ear, as she softly bit his lobe, and she heard him moan.

She worked her lips down, to his chest, then to his abs. Her hand which was still rubbing him, reached to the band of his boxers and pulled them down. She slid them slowly off his one leg, then the other. She kissed his inner thighs, as she held up his rock hard organ, hearing him hiss and give a soft moan.

His hand was rubbing her shoulder blades. She looked at him briefly, making eye contact and she smiled as she licked her lips and went down on him, filling his gorgeous erection with her warm saliva.

"Ah" he whispered, and for once, his body arched up. Her hand circled his chest, as her lips gave him comfort. His big hand covered hers, and she felt him squeeze it softly, as he let out a small grunt.

She stopped, with a pop, yet still stroked him, and his stomach was going up rapidly with his breaths of lust for her. Liv reached in the drawer, pulled out a condom, and used her teeth to tear the packet. With her breath, her mouth being eye level with his rock hard dick, he felt her slowly slide the condom down.

Looking up at him now, his eyes were closed, and he was just waiting with great anticipation how he would feel inside her. Her leg went around him, her other knee next to him. Before sliding herself onto him, she whispered in his ear.

"This is by far, the best Christmas season I have ever had. Thanks to you, I feel whole again."

He couldn't take much more, her sweet breath tingling his skin, her seductive voice making his heart pound, and he pulled her to his lips, grinding his to hers, as his hand pushed her hip down and he was fully inside her.

"Fuck, yeah, Livvie." He began pushing up, but pushing her hip down, and she felt him so deep inside, their lips still together. She had to moan in his mouth, because it was so good, so deep, so fucking sexy.

Determined to have him climax before her had to be one of the hardest things she strived to do, but she tried. She ripped her lips from his, and went to his ear, putting her tongue in there, then down to his neck where it was her turn to nibble.

As she was sucking, she felt her hip being pushed deeper, and with the slow lick of his neck from her tongue where she would leave a love bite, she felt him give a final thrust.

One more quick grunt, almost a pleading one, and he held his pelvis up as she felt him fill the condom. One loud, deep breath, and he was buried in the crook of her neck as she just stayed in place. After about a minute, she pulled up to look at him.

The smile, the tenderness, the lust in his eyes, and he kissed her, whispering a low "thank you." He rolled over on top of her, gave her one more kiss as he headed to the bathroom.

Now laying in his arms, it finally struck midnight, but Liv didn't feel as tired as she was feeling before. "Livvie, what was Christmas like for you as a child?"

"Well, much like what you saw before with Noelle and her baby dolls. I loved playing with dolls. I wasn't much into the baby dolls, more like the Barbie's and the Bratz." She shrugged, "that's where my love for fashion began. I started changing their outfits and mixing them up to be creative."

"And your mom?"

"Much like your dad, she worked hard, she was a legal aide secretary. She made the holidays priority though. She would give me ideas for the clothes for the dolls, and soon it became a sketch pad and I was dressing up the mannequins I would draw."

Fitz was rubbing the back of her neck, just listening, watching the lights blink. "You lost her before or after you met Russel?"

"During, I guess. I met Russel in the hospital when she was losing her fight. He had broken a finger trying to fix one of his game controllers. I saw him walking in the corridor, he said I had the most beautiful sad eyes."

"You fell for that?"

Liv sighed a laugh. "I did. I think at that moment I would have fallen for anything. She died a week later and he kept coming around to comfort me. He took me on a cruise a few months later for Christmas. I was looking so forward to that cruise." She stopped and turned her head away.

"Hey, it's ok, you don't have to go on."

She shook her head. "That's when I began to give everything in me to the relationship and he just showed no interest, then he did, then he didn't, and the cruise I was looking so forward to was a complete disaster."

Fitz turned to face her now, and she turned back to face him. "I tried the next Christmas, and failed again, that's when I became married to my work. I saw him begin to decline, lose money, and he just had so much anger building up. I was stupid not to leave then, I guess I held on to something I thought would be there, but never was."

Fitz outlined her lips with his finger. "I'll tell you right now, this Christmas you will make one little girl very happy with your presence, and her daddy will never treat you like Russel did."

She leaned in and kissed him. "I know that." She stopped and looked at him. "I got the Saturday surprise this weekend, it's the day before Noelle's birthday and I'd like to use some of my creativity."

"I surrender the surprise plan to you, my love." He reached his arm open, and she hugged his waist, listening to the Christmas music coming from the lights on the balcony door.

"The surprise is going to include something for you as well, Mister, so prepare yourself. I am not going in tomorrow until noon also, so don't wake me up at your ungodly 4 am in the morning." She closed her eyes as she heard his voice.

"Sounds just like something a wife would say," and he too closed his eyes dreaming of the day he would make Livvie his wife.

It was an uneventful week as all the workers in Fashion Magazine were preparing for the upcoming holiday. Uneventful, that is, until Mr. Walters, head honcho himself walked in the door on the Thursday before Christmas.

"Pope, Wright, Billings, and Rogers, in the conference room." Walters didn't stop walking as he shouted the commands, and they all followed.

Sitting at the conference table, he looked at Harrison first. "Young man, you made a sacrifice, leaving your job in LA to come work with Olivia here, how did that work out?"

"Best decision I ever made." Harrison said nervously, looking over at Liv.

"Any plans for the holidays?"

Harrison cleared his throat. "I leave for Georgia on Saturday, sir, family there. Hoping to stay until New Year's Day if that's ok with you."

"I have no problem with that. Just making sure you have a place to be." He turned to Olivia.

"Ms. Pope, no need to explain your situation. You were given strict orders that you ignored."

"Sir?" She said defensively.

Walters put his hands up. "Let me finish. You ignored my orders to take two months and settle yourself in, but you didn't. You worked ridiculously long nights, times the cleaning staff would tell me you never left the office." He looked sternly at her.

Liv bowed her head. "Sir, I was…"

"Olivia, let me finish."

"Yes, sir."

"So you wouldn't take my two months, and because of that." He reached in his bag and tossed a packet in front of her. "We now have 7 new clients, 3 new clothing lines, and 15 new ads waiting. The profits are soaring and subscriptions are up 70%." He smiled.

Liv breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, sir."

"Don't thank me yet. The office staff has mentioned the morale in this place is lively. You've had a toy drive, given some Fridays off, let other leave early for family time, Pope you've more than outdone yourself, so now, as an order, you are off until January 2nd. I have strict orders here." He pointed to Rogers and Billings. "These two are going to tell me if they see you any where around here. All that needs to be done the next few weeks is finalizing all the work you've done. Now am I going to get an argument?"

"Not at all." Liv sat there, feeling him just stare at her.

"Then why are you still here? Go, enjoy your holiday."

She stood up and gave him a small hug. "I couldn't have done it without Harrison and your understanding. Thank you so much sir. I just have to make a few phone calls" Her hands went up in defense. "I need to let the clients know the contact here besides me. Then, I'm out."

Walters nodded as he continued his meeting with the other two.

Harrison walked Liv to her office. "I knew it Liv, I knew you had it in you. This is the best decision you ever made. And, you're in love gaining a little family with it all."

Liv nodded. She looked over at her desk, the picture of Noelle now was upon it, in her Christmas nurse's red dress. "I can't wait to celebrate with them."

Harrison was kicking his feet a bit, his hands in his pockets, and he took a deep swallow. "Look, Liv, I didn't want to tell you this, but I didn't want to keep from you any longer. Russel has been around."

Liv's face dropped and she stared at Harrison. "WHAT?" She hit her desk. "Why would you keep that from me, what the fuck, Harrison, when?"

"When Fitz was here with Noelle, I don't know how you missed him, but I had to physically remove his shirtless self from right out there, with security."

Liv thought back, the weekend he took her to the Inn. "No shirt Santa" she remembered Noelle saying. "Noelle saw him, didn't she?"

Harrison shrugged. "I don't know, but I was just happy you didn't, I don't know how you didn't."

"I was lip locked with Fitz. Did Russel see that?"

"Oh, yeah, he most certainly did."

"Good."

Harrison cleared his throat. Liv looked at him. "What?"

"He came back that Friday not believing you took a Friday off. Security said he waited outside the building until around 10 and then gave up. No more sightings of him after that."

"Fitz bought him out. He doesn't know it's Fitz that did it, he's getting 80% of the profits. I don't think Fitz wants him thinking of coming to New York. His business is supposed to be LA based only."

Before Liv left for her two weeks, she looked at the phone. "One more call" she said out loud to herself. "this will be my present to myself."

"BAY BAY BEE! I knew you would call me soon enough, this holiday could never you keep you from me. What time you arriving at LAX, baby, I'll come get you."

"Russel, this is the last time I will ever talk to you. I want to make this clear, it's over, finished. I heard about your little trip here, they'll be no more of that. I also know you aren't supposed to work out of New York, or you'll lose your 80%. I'm sure you're doing well again with that profit?"

Silence for a moment. "How you know things like that, Baby?"

"Russel, no more, I've moved on, you do the same, no surprise visits. I will have you arrested, and that nice money-making deal, off, you understand."

"Baby, please."

"Goodbye Russel, do I have your word?"

A longer amount of silence. "You have my word, Merry Christmas Olivia."

"Merry Christmas, Russel, good luck."

Liv sat behind Fitz as he wrote at his desk. She watched as he wrote the words down, saying them out loud. "What are you doing, Mister?"

"I am making my list to Santa, I have to get it to the North Pole, I only have a few days. This is going to cost a fortune to get there by priority mail."

Her chin rested on his shoulder. They had just settled Noelle in after taking her to a special screening in theaters of A Charlie Brown Christmas. She had her share of popcorn, candy, and nachos. They walked by the tree in Rockefeller Center, and now they were in for the night.

Noelle couldn't wait until morning for her birthday surprise from Ovivia. She grabbed her UNI after her bath time with the floaties. She didn't even run away naked this time. She was so excited soon to be three.

"Dear Santa" Fitz began. "I've been a very good boy this year and I don't want too much. I just want happiness and health for Noelle, a Lionel Burlington model train that makes sounds, and a week long cruise ending on New Year's Day with Livvie and Noelle. Thank you, Santa. I hope you can deliver all the toys our toy drive left for you. Say hi to Mrs. Claus. Oh, and one more thing, something a bit sexy for Livvie to sleep in, if you don't mind me asking. Take care Mr. C. Yours truly, FTGIII

"Fitz, you are shameless. But are you serious? You're, we're going on a cruise?"

Fitz stood up. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. "Your do over Christmas cruise, just the three of us, is that ok?"

Liv rested her head on his chest. "That's more than ok, that's the best Christmas surprise. Now, let's get to bed, we have a very big surprise for Noelle, two L's, and you daddy, two d's from Livvie, two v's."

"Yes," Fitz said interlocking her hands with his, "Let's get to bed, my favorite place to be with you."