A/N: Hi all. Just a little feel good story for the holidays. I'll still be updating my others. This will be about 5 chapters and I wanted it out of my brain. Hope you enjoy and I would love to know your thoughts.

March 2019

Jacqueline Tatum, Jay's sister was as drunk as Fitz. Although her last name hadn't changed, she had been married to Turner Porter for two years. They were at her brother Jay's house for a get together. Jay was about to go on the road for a five-month road trip selling his merchandise and opening small pop-up stores of sports memorabilia.

Turner couldn't attend the going away party. He was stuck in DC working on a Bill to present to Congress. It was his career, writing bills for editing for various activist and grassroot organizations.

Fitz and Jacqui found themselves drunk and stupid in a bedroom, having both thought it was the bathroom door. One thing led to another. Fitz woke up next to Jacqueline an hour later. Fitz couldn't believe it. This was not him at all. He felt the heat rise in his face and before anyone got suspicious as to where Jacqui and Fitz were, he began to wake her up.

He shook her awake. "Shit, Jacqueline, you know what we did, right? I didn't mean to take advantage of you in any way, I just…." He didn't know what else to say. His fingers rubbing his hair with nerves.

Jacqueline sat up. "Two grown ass adults as drunk as can be." She giggled, getting up to fully dress herself. "One thing led to another, it happened. Who are you going to tell?"

"Me?' Fitz pointed to himself. "Not a gosh darn soul in creation." Fitz always respected Jay's older sister. This was more than mortifying to him. He continued to shake his head in disbelief.

"Good, neither am I. This never happened." She smiled and got dressed. Before anyone could suspect anything, she left the room and Fitz hadn't seen her again the remainder of the night or in the coming months.

He felt terrible for what he did, but nothing did come out of it and if Jacqueline was willing to forgive him, then he needed to forgive himself. He did and two months later he was on a plane to his European home. He had plenty of real estate to sell in Europe, and he buried himself in work, parties, and entertainment.


November 2019

"Why the fuck are you telling me this Jacqui? Why do you want me to know?" Jay couldn't believe his sister, his PREGNANT sister just admitted to a one-night stand with Fitz, one of his closest friends.

"She rubbed her eight-month pregnant belly. "Because he's the father, not Turner."

Jay's glass fell out of his hand and shattered on his sister's kitchen floor. "Oh shit." He didn't know to clean it up or pass out from the news he just heard. He began sweeping up the glass so he could sit down with her.

"Fuck, what the fuck? Does he know?"

"Of course he doesn't know and as far as Turner is concerned, this is his baby girl."

"You're the only family I have Jay, and Turner isn't close to his family at all. Noelle will only know you as her uncle, no other family member." Jacqui looked down, saddened, but relieved.

"Noelle?"

"Yes, Noelle, Noelle Jacqueline Porter. She's a Christmas baby, due on December 25th. Noelle seems fitting, I think it's a beautiful name."

"And if she comes out looking just like Fitz, then what do you tell Turner?" Jay rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "Why not Janessa after mom? I'm surprised you're choosing Jacqueline."

"Nothing. Turner will never know, unless you tell him." Jacqui stared at him. "I don't know, maybe when I see her, I'll change my mind, but right now, that's what I'm going with, Jacqueline, or what we're going with, should I say." She shrugged.

Jay took a deep breath. "I won't tell him. Fitz, I'm not going to say anything. But Jacqui, Fitz has a right."

"No, please Jay. I don't think Turner is able to have kids or has what it takes to have kids. We were going to get him tested, but then the one-night stand happened and well, when we were scheduled to go to his appointment, I found out. It'll break him." Jacqui looked at her younger brother with pleading eyes.

Jay bit his bottom lip. This was wrong on so many levels, but what could he do? Jacqui was his big sister. She took care of him when their parents died within a year of each other. When their mother died, Jacqui was 18 and Jay was 12. She took him in and cared for him. She was all he had.

He reached out and hugged her. "I don't agree with you Jacqui, but I'll respect your wishes. I don't know how I'm ever going to look Fitz in the eyes again."


December 2019

Fitzgerald Grant the Third, CEO and founder of Grant Enterprises, just finished up his 6 month checkup of his European business operations. He was in route to the airport ready to head back to the states.

He loved being in the states during Christmas season. He loved being on the East Coast, New York to be precise. Christmas in New York just had a certain feel to it. He had just closed on purchasing a brand-new luxury condo on the upper east side. He wanted nothing more than the quiet of his apartment, for ten days.

The penthouse was not available, so he had to settle for the eighth floor. A gigantic two-bedroom 2 bath unit. It had everything the penthouse had except the view. He could live with that. It wasn't too far from his offices. He had two, one on Wall Street and one on the upper east side. Once the new year came around, he would be non stop at work again.

He was looking forward to spending time alone in front of the mock fireplace listening to Christmas music. He didn't have family, just a few close friends, and they were all going away for the holiday. After spending months around crowds of people, he needed the serendity.

It had been exhausting pretending to like the people surrounding him. He wasn't one for close relationships, and too many fake people were hard to entertain. However, being the CEO, the owner, he was the one they flocked to, so he learned to play the game.

His phone began to buzz, just before getting on the plane and he was surprised to see his friend Jay's, a true friend, number on the display. Jay Tatum had been college buddies with Fitz. He didn't care that Fitz was a multi-millionaire, didn't work for Fitz, and was just a humbled friend Fitz could trust. Fitz hadn't seen or heard from Jay in close to a year, since that…He stopped his thinking. That one night stand was something he didn't want to think about.

Jay's career kept him on the road most of the year. It wasn't unusual for the two not to keep in touch. They could pick up the phone and begin where they left off. Fitz was wondering if Jay was inviting him to spend time during the holidays.

Two days out from Christmas now, he wondered why he would hear from him at all. He secretly hoped it wasn't to get together; Fitz just desperately wanted this alone time.

Besides, Jay's sister, Jacqueline would probably be there, it would most likely be at Jacqueline's house, and Fitz wasn't ready to face Jacqui just yet never mind her husband, Turner. He curiously answered the phone.

"Jay Tatum, how the hell are you man? I'm surprised to hear from you, haven't heard your voice in close to a year."

"Yeah, Fitz, sorry about that, it's been crazy. Work has me all over the country. Look I'm calling with some news, very concerning news." His voice was shaky.

"OK, what is it?"

"Jacqui is dead. Her and Turner died tonight in a car accident. It was gruesome, and you know, well, you know she was all I had." Jay's voice trailed off.

Fitz took a deep, sad breath. Remembering the one night stand he had with Jacqui, how understanding she was, she didn't deserve this. He also knew they lost their parents young; this must be hard for Jay. "Jay, man, I am so sorry. Is there anything I can do for you? I am about to get on a plane from Italy, but I can go to where you are."

After a long pause, Jay spoke up. "Yeah, that would help a lot. I'm in DC. My sister was here with Turner, he was doing his Congress thing you know. The roads are icy, he was driving, they skidded, and well…." Jay didn't go into the details that Turner was racing to the hospital with Jacqui being in labor.

"I'll see you in a few hours." Fitz directed his pilot to where they would be landing and to get clearance. He had a friend who needed him, and Fitz wouldn't let him down.


Once Jay hung up the phone, the doctor came out of the nursery. "She's very healthy and very lucky. We were able to perform an emergency c-section and get her. I am so sorry about your sister and your brother in law, Mr. Tatum. Do you have a name for the baby?"

One of the nurses had now joined the doctor's side.

He shook his head. "Noelle. She was supposed to be born in two days, but….I guess the 23rd is close enough to Christmas." He smiled remembering the conversation. "Noelle Janessa." He finished the name without using the last name. He rubbed his tear filled eyes, trying to keep his emotions together.

The nurse gave him a pat on the shoulder. "Noelle Janessa Porter. That's beautiful Mr. Tatum."

"No, not Porter. Grant."

The nurse looked confused. "Pardon me?"

"Grant, her last name is Grant, ok. Just put that down."

The nurse raised her eyebrows. "If that's what you want, that's fine. You will be taking custody of her, correct?"

"No, she has a father, he's on his way here. Turner wasn't the father."

"We'll have to do a paternity…."

"It's fine, do what you need to do. I'll be here and I'll let you know when her father gets here. Fitzgerald Grant is on his way here now." Jay peered through the clear glass nursery window and watched Fitz's daughter sleep peacefully in her tiny crib.


December 2022—Present Day

Olivia Carolyn Pope, editor in chief of one of the top selling fashion magazines in the city just slammed the phone down in her office. She felt her face burning and she was pissed off. "Harrison, get your ass in here!"

The door opened and Harrison, her assistant stood there with his head down. "Don't look down, look at me, how the hell did you fuck this up?"

"It was..I didn't…Liv…I'm sorry, I forgot the piece was on my desk, missed the deadline and well…." He took a deep breath. "I'll pack my stuff, I'm fired, I know, it's bad, did they pull?"

Liv closed her eyes and shook her head. She took a deep breath. "No, they didn't pull, but it took a lot to get to them to stay. Let's just say we lost a lot of money keeping Baby Looking Lotion on as a top advertiser. What the hell, Harrison, this isn't like you?"

"Liv, you've been a bit…" He looked away, saw the picture frame in the garbage, the glass cracked into pieces and the picture ripped up. "Distracted." He nodded towards the garbage.

"Fair enough. I haven't been myself; I know that." Olivia had called off her two-year relationship with Russel. She packed up her Los Angeles office, accepted the chief editing position here in New York, and was ready to put the past behind her. She just finished moving into a luxury, way too big penthouse on the upper east side.

Her realtor called said it suddenly became available and Liv jumped on it. After spending one night there, she never felt so alone in her life.

"You invested so much in that relationship." Harrison reminded her.

"I did. I thought he was the one, would marry him, we would have babies, now I'll be spending my first Christmas alone in two years. Yay me. At least I have a penthouse on the upper east side, so fuck you, Russel." Liv laughed. Her smile erased quickly and she looked back at Harrison. "Don't fuck up again, you hear me."

"I hear you, Liv. I won't. I'm going to Georgia for the holidays. My mom is having everyone and everyone else over. I know it's only December 1st today, but, you are more than welcome to come." Harrison said.

"And what, miss watching A Christmas Story on loop, stop. No, I could use the time alone. I have owned the penthouse for two months now. The renovations are finally competed. I have to break it in. It's about time I spend some time there. I'm hardly ever in that building. Thanks for the invite though."

Harrison walked out of the office, calling it a night. Liv looked out her office window. She had spent so many nights at the office, just over working and making things difficult to think about. The past two years in December had been with Russel, and she thought they were magical, even though she would never have called it love.


The first Christmas together with him, they took a cruise, an amazing Mexican Riviera Cruise, having been out at sea on Christmas Day. Russel gifted her an exquisite 5 carat diamond necklace as they approached their six month anniversary.

Liv didn't know what to say, but she also knew she wasn't being fair to Russel. Russel was truly in love with Olivia, but there was something about him Liv didn't trust, and she never felt genuinely in love with him.

Drowning in work and eventually gaining the pick for the New York offices Editor in Chief, Liv wasn't going to turn it down. When she told Russel about her job offer, he thought she was crazy to accept it. Russel owned a technology company. He was worth 15 million dollars, easily and was moving up in the competitive world.


Two years later now, the true Russel came to light, and Liv did not like it one bit.

"You don't think I'm leaving my life here to move with you to New York, do you?"

"Well, yeah, actually I do. You can start your own company there and work out of both places, it's a great investment Russel." Liv tried to convince him.

That's when he lost it, and Liv finally saw what she was missing in him, his ticking time bomb. He pushed her shoulders and got her up her against the wall. His face was inches from hers, his eyebrows crossed in a fury, and his teeth grinded as he spoke.

"It's not my best interest, ok, you don't get to tell me that." He reached in, grabbed the diamond necklace she rarely took off. He pulled it off her neck. "I make the decisions around here." He flung the necklace against the wall and watched it break into pieces.

Liv didn't say anything. She was breathing heavy, afraid what he may actually do if she spoke. He looked at her, saw the fear in her eyes, and backed away. He sat on the couch, rubbed his head in his hands.

"I'm sorry, baby. Come here." He patted his lap for her to sit.

Liv didn't move from the wall. "You're burning up inside that I'm successful. I'm successful enough to move to New York and better my career." She shook her head. "I should've seen this, all this time, you were burning inside, stopping me from moving forward."

"No." He said it softly. "That's not true."

"Oh, it's true." Liv began thinking back. "I was passed up so many times, but that was on account of you wasn't it, all your connections." She crossed her arms. "How could I have been so blind? All this time you were holding me back, claiming to love me, claiming to….." Liv jumped when she saw his movement.

"NO!" Russel jumped from the couch back to Liv's space. "SHUT THE FUCK UP, YOU HEAR ME? You are who you are BECAUSE of me. You have no talent, you have nothing, you think you can survive on your own, go ahead and try, you ungrateful bitch." He pushed her and he left the house.

Liv heard his car skid away, and that was the last time she saw Russel. That was two months ago, and now she was looking at the beautiful, lit up skyline of New York. Her company gave her two months to settle in, and she didn't need it.

Her anger, her depression, her loneliness, call it whatever, it came back when she opened a box and she saw a picture framed of her and Russel. Liv cracked it into pieces on the corner of her desk, pulled the picture out, ripped it to pieces, and threw it in the trash. She still had so much hate for that man, and she may be ruined to ever be in a relationship again.

She had renovations done on her penthouse, was rarely there, having spent nights in her office or over Harrison's. She now had to face her first Christmas alone in two years. In just a few weeks, Christmas Eve, then Christmas Day. She took a deep breath. "May as well take in what that condo building has to offer. I can watch the skyline from my balcony in the penthouse." She darkened her office and left for the weekend, or probably until tomorrow. She was fooling herself to think she would spend a hopefully quiet weekend alone in a way too big living quarter.


Liv was walking into her building with a young woman holding a small child's hand in front of her. The doorman knew them both as he greeted them with a smile. Liv noticed the young girl hold up a bag to the doorman. Liv waited patiently and watched the scene unfold.

"What's this? Are you a Christmas elf?" The doorman, Fabian, asked with a smile.

"No" The little voice said. "For you." She pushed the bag to him.

"Me?" He looked at the young lady, Liv thought was obviously her mother.

"We did some shopping today and she knows you like the New York Rangers, said she saw your hat the other day when you clocked in, I guess. She said you weren't working. She noticed the same picture on a shirt, and she insisted we buy it. Fabian she said over and over, buy Fabian a shirt."

Fabian lifted his new shirt out of the bag. It was a blue shirt with the New York Rangers Hockey writing across it. He looked down at the girl then up at Liv waiting to be let in. "I'm sorry, ma'am."

Liv shook it off, "No, continue, it's fine, this is adorable."

"Thank you, little elf. I'm sure this will be the best present this Christmas."

"Fabian, it's only December 1st. Knowing this little gal, she's going to buy you a lot more."

"You don't have to do that." He smiled though at the thought.

The young girl wiggled her mittens for Fabian to notice. "Are those new? Those are nice unicorn mittens."

"No, daddy got them for me. They are my favorite." She opened her hand up and down like they were puppets.

"Say good night to Fabian," the young lady told her "daughter."

"Good night, Fabian", the unicorns said as her hands mouthed the words.

"Good night little princess, ma'am," Fabian said to them both and apologized again as he faced Olivia.

"Your name is?" Fabian asked Olivia as it was the first time he was seeing her.

The little girl waited at the door until she heard the name.

"Olivia, Olivia Pope. I am in the."

"Oh, no need ma'am, I know the name, welcome home." He continued to hold the door for her and watched as all three walked towards the elevator.


Olivia admired the little girl in the elevator now with her. She had clear blue eyes, light brown hair that was pulled back into a simple ponytail, and her smile was bright as can be. She looked up at her "mom" and said, "Fabian liked it." It was the squeakiest, cutest voice Liv had heard. She hadn't been around children in forever, she forgot how adorable they were.

"He sure did. You can tell your daddy all about it tomorrow, he's going to be late tonight."

"Boo." She said with a pout then noticed Olivia in the elevator with them.

"Ovivia."

Olivia looked down at her. "Close enough, yes, do you have a name."

"Noelle, but two L's." she smiled.

Liv thought for a second. "Two L's?" she said. The young woman turned to Liv.

"Her father taught her that, when she says her name it's like she's saying NO L, meaning no letter L's. then she says but two L's." The woman shrugged. "Her father has jokes."

Liv laughed. That was cute. "Well Noelle, two L's, it's nice to meet you."

She held up her mitten covered hand Liv was guessing with the number two on her fingers. Noelle saw the mittens and pulled one off. Sure enough the two fingers were up on her hand. "Two L's and I'm two." Stating her age. "Soon I'll be three." She raised another finger. She looked up at Liv who was smiling at her.

"You're pretty." She stared at Liv. Her "mom" pulled her hand. "Noelle, stop." She turned to Liv.

"I'm sorry. Noelle is talkative, she is very friendly."

"It's fine." Olivia said. The elevator stopped on the eighth floor.

Noelle's "mom" picked her up, didn't notice the mitten fall out of Noelle's hand, and walked out of the elevator. "Bye Ovivia." Liv heard her little voice, but the doors closed.

Liv was standing there holding the little unicorn mitten. She had no idea how upset little Noelle would be if she notices it's missing in the morning. She also had no idea knowing it was her favorite gift her daddy had given her, because Noelle loved unicorns and rainbows the most in the world besides her daddy.


Fitz stared at his little girl sleeping in her big girl bed. It was an Elsa toddler bed and she begged him for it, wanting no more of her crib. He gave her a gentle kiss on her soft cheek. She clung to her "UNI", pronounced oon ee, rhymes with loony. Noelle sometimes made Fitz loony with all her unicorn things.

It was a stuffed unicorn, just the size for cuddling, and Noelle never missed a night with it since the second night she was born.

She opened her eyes. By the glow of her nightlight, she saw her father, still dressed in his suit. "Daddy." She smiled. "Saturday." She closed her eyes back up.

"Yes, baby girl, tomorrow is Saturday. It's all for you." Fitz had taken Saturday and Sunday off ever since Noelle was born. The weekends were dedicated to her and only her. He had Marcus deal with any emergencies that may pop up in the company.

This Saturday morning was going to come quickly, Fitz thought. He gave Noelle one more kiss on her forehead and went back out to the living room. Tiffany, Noelle's nanny during the week had fallen asleep watching Netflix on the couch.

"Tiffany." He shook her gently. "I'm home." Tiffany opened her eyes and sat up quickly.

"Hey Mr. Grant. Sorry I fell asleep."

"No worries. Sorry I'm so late. Not to bore you back into sleep, but Tokyo gave us a problem today with stocks and since the time difference, well anyway, everything ok with Noelle?"

"Oh, yeah, fine, you know she's never a problem. Everyone loves her. She gave Fabian a present tonight, made his year I think." She smiled putting her coat on. "Enjoy your weekend Mr. Grant, see you on Monday."

He had a busy day scheduled tomorrow with his girl. The first Saturday in December. Christmas season was upon them and it was the first one Noelle would understand. He figured he was more excited than she was. What Christmas surprises awaited them?


Up a few more floors from where Fitz was thinking about Christmas, Liv was awake going over various articles and looking at fashion pictures. She took a deep sigh, rubbed her eyes, and saw Noelle's mitten sitting on her desk.

Of all the fashion pieces she looked at today this was the one that stayed with her. That little girl's eyes were something. She was so happy, but she had a tint of sadness in them. Maybe it was because her daddy was working late.

She picked up the mitten, and took in it's smell. It had a hint of Creed, Liv's favorite smelling cologne. She gave Russell a bottle of it last Christmas and he gave it away to one of his workers. They didn't share the same tastes in anything.

Liv piled up her paperwork. She couldn't stand the silence in the penthouse and she was regretting buying it all. Grabbing her bag, she put all the paperwork in it. The office will be awaiting her in the morning. She couldn't stay away, she was married to her work.

A Saturday morning at a fashion magazine office. The people there would be scarce, maybe a few article writers, but it seemed better than this huge, lonely place. Realizing she never let her grip go on the mitten, Liv gave it one last rub with her thumb. "Have to get you back to your rightful owner."

Noelle's daddy wore Creed. Creed wasn't cheap, and living in this building wasn't cheap, Noelle was a lucky girl, so was her mother. Liv thought back to the young girl with Noelle. She looked a bit young to be a mother, but who was Liv to judge.

After a hot bath, Liv opened a book, pretending to read the pages. After finally getting heavy eyes, she was able to face the lights of Manhattan and drift off to sleep.


"Noelle, wait, just wait for me." Fitz was running out to the hallway, Noelle already two feet ahead of him. "Come here, it's cold out, you need to put your mittens on." He was holding one of them he figured the other one was in her coat pocket.

Fitz scooped her up in his arms and rested her chest on his shoulder. "Fly to the elevator."

Noelle giggled. "This is fun."

"I have to check your pocket for your other mitten." Fitz put Noelle down in the elevator and before he could do anything, Noelle hit the P button.

"Noelle, why did you push that? We are going to G, not P." Fitz took a deep breath. His back was to the doors, and he was on one knee checking Noelle's pockets.

"Ovivia." Noelle said. "She pushed P."

Fitz crossed his eyebrows. "What?" Fitz had no clue what she was talking about. "Noelle, where is your other mitten?" The elevator doors opened on P.

Olivia was about to enter the elevator when she heard the question about Noelle's mitten. Before she could say anything, she saw a man, back to her, and the elevator smelled like Creed. Liv took a deep breath and walked in.

"Ovivia." She heard the small voice say.

"Hi, Noelle, two L's I have your mitten. Your hair looks beautiful" Her hair had been put in a french braid, perfectly formed, did her father do that? She held the mitten down to her, and Fitz stood up and turned.

Olivia pushed the G button and turned back. She looked up and saw where Noelle got her eyes from. Holy blue heaven. "Hi" Olivia heard the blue eyed man say as he smiled. Noelle was a little girl version of the man she was staring at. Identical right down to the smile.

"Hi." Olivia said back, not realizing Noelle grabbed her mitten.

"Thank you Ovivia." Noelle said.

"Yes, thank you Ovivia, I mean, it must be Olivia." Fitz smiled. He couldn't take his eyes off her, but he reached down to make sure he had Noelle's hand.

"Yes, Olivia." She smiled back.

"Fitz." Noelle giggled as she said it. "Ovivia and Fitz. Fitz is my daddy, two d's."

The elevator opened on the ground floor and with the rush of people waiting to get in, Olivia and Fitz finally broke their stare and walked in front of the lobby's Christmas tree, with Fitz holding Noelle now on his hip.

"Christmas daddy." Noelle pointed up and down to the tree.

"Yes, Christmas, Noelle, full of surprises." He looked back at Olivia. "So, how do you know my daughter?"

"Oh, last night, we met on the elevator with her mom." Olivia looked at the tree with Noelle. "That's where she dropped her mitten." She looked back at Noelle. Her head was leaned up against Fitz's now, as she kept staring at the tree. She truly loved her father, anyone could tell.

"Tiffany." Noelle said. "Not mom, Tiffany." Noelle's eyes never left the tree.

"Tiffany watches her for me during the week, I'm a single dad, she's not her mom."

"Oh, my mistake." Olivia said. Yep, she thought, Christmas, full of surprises. Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad Christmas after all.