Chapter 17

Fitz was lying in a darkened room lit only by the lights along the balcony door he had set up in there. From the living room, he could see the steady rhythm of the colorful lights along the wall to the bedroom from the Christmas tree.

He had stayed awake so many nights this Christmas season staring at those blinking lights, he could memorize the rhythm and know what light was radiating from the angel Noelle had placed on top and which blink came from the actual Christmas tree lights.

Right now, he had one arm around Olivia. Her gorgeous brown, silky skin against his chest. His hand resting on her shoulder with just enough grip to hold her securely as she slept so peacefully. His other hand behind his head, elbow in the air, and he looked over from the blinking lights to the picture he had leaned up against the closet door.

He just took a deep breath, not able to see the picture itself clearly, but he didn't have to, he knew what it was. The feeling of nostalgia when he opened that gift, from a person who didn't even know him at the time, was a feeling he could never explain.

All the money in the world couldn't buy that feeling he had. One look at that storefront picture and he heard his father's voice, clear as day. "Hey son, it's been a windy fall day, want to get the broom and help your old man and sweep some of these leaves out?"

Fitz smirked at the memory. He loved helping his father in that store. He could still remember the smell of sugar, because of all the candy his father sold. All Fitz's friends were envious of him thinking all that candy was free for him. They didn't know Big Gerry like he did, nothing came free for Fitz, that's why his work ethic now was so harsh on himself.

"Sweep it all up in five minutes, you get two lollipops, ten minutes, you get one." So, yeah, Fitz was on a mission. He had to earn everything, and Fitz loved every minute of it. Olivia would have no idea what it meant to him to open a gift like that.

He turned his head now in her direction, gently kissing the top of her head. It was like she could reach straight to his soul, bypass the heart she already had in her grasp and hit his soul. God, how he loved this woman, and in such a short time.

The last time he was more certain of something in his life was when he was told Noelle was his and how he would take care of her. He was certain he would always be there for her. Now, he was certain he wanted Olivia as his wife, forever as one in love.

Without a sound, Olivia turned now, her back to him and he pulled his arm resting his hand on his chest. Her body warmth still there and he looked at her bare back, using every ounce of his being not to give in to the temptation of kissing the smoothness from the middle up to her neck.

"Let her sleep." He smirked because he knew that was impossible.


He took the moment to get out of bed. He glanced at the small, illuminated clock on the nightstand. 2:30 a.m. on Christmas morning and his grown ass self couldn't sleep. It should be the other way around, his 3 year old daughter should be awake and he should be sleeping.

Walking slowly into Noelle's room, he sat, as he has for three years, and watched her sleep. Her breathing proving she wasn't waking up for at least two more hours, her eyes dancing with the dreams of Santa and reindeer, and Fitz smiled. He rubbed his hand along his jawline to the back of his neck, shaking his head in disbelief, still not prone to the fact that she was his.

Her UNI was resting on her shoulder, her one hand down the side of her body, and her other hand bent resting on her chest. Fitz looked to her right and saw she had snuck Jilly into the bed with her. Usually, it was just UNI and he couldn't help the thoughts he had.

Noelle brought Jilly because she was playing the mommy role. It was, after all, her out to call Olivia mommy. He leaned over and gently kissed her soft forehead, pushing some of her sandy brown hair away from her face.

"Daddy loves you with all his heart." He whispered. Setting up the gate so she couldn't run out to rip her gifts open in case they were still sleeping; he took one more look at her and anticipated her reactions tomorrow to her gifts.

He grabbed something from the closet across the way from Noelle's room. Looking at the item, he gave a slight second thought about having it and using it. Thinking of Olivia's gorgeous body lying naked in his bed a few feet away, he shoved those thoughts away and brought the item to the room. This was going to be fun, hot, and oh so sexy.

Licking his lips with the thought of it all, Fitz looked at Liv in the bed. Her body had turned, and she was on her back now. The comforter only up to her waist, her breasts looked full and inviting, and he was happy he didn't chicken out at what he was about to do.


Carefully climbing back into the bed next to his love, he took each of her arms and put it through what he was holding. He pulled across, softly, to her right thigh and used the Velcro to hold it in place there and just below her breast.

He then did the same to the other side. It wasn't tight, Fitz was sure, and she wasn't confined either, but Fitz was sure it was just right, and he could already feel his body reacting. This would be one time he wasn't sorry he was waking her up.

Getting comfortable right next to her, he nuzzled his nose into her cheek and kissed her temple. Her head moved slightly towards the touch of his lips, then her body squirmed a bit. Watching her, as her hands went to move, but couldn't so freely, her head moved again towards him.

Her eyes opened and found his immediately. She blinked and smiled, then a confused look came over her face. "Fitz," she whispered, "what's going on?" She put her head up slightly and it came back down with a shining smile. "What the hell are you doing?"

Liv saw a red bow down across the front of her body, and it was fastened at either thigh. She looked over at Fitz and the gray of his eyes that she could see from the glow of the Christmas lights, caused an ache in her core she couldn't hide.

Letting out a deep, seductive breath, she asked again. "Fitz, what the hell are you doing?" She saw him lick his lips before they landed on hers so gently, so softly, that she let out a moan, and she could feel her wetness begin. She moved her right knee up, and Fitz put it back down.

"Not too much movement Livvie," he said pulling back from the kiss. "I want to enjoy my gift this Christmas. You, Livvie, are my gift, and this bow is a reminder. I am going to unwrap my gift, only by use of my mouth." Liv looked at him, her mouth slightly open, still weak from the kiss.

"Fitz," she whispered. Liv wasn't sure if she wanted to cry or lose herself in another kiss, but she didn't have too much time to think about that as his mouth went just between her breasts. Closing her eyes anticipating this all, she heard his baritone voice "You are my gift." God, this man was pure love, and she didn't know if she had any room in her heart to love him more.

Giving her chest a thrust to welcome him, she heard the scrape of the Velcro that was holding her left breast in place. When it became free, it didn't have time to enjoy its freedom, as Fitz's warm lips engulfed it in his mouth. He swirled his tongue around her nipple, giving it a small bite, and Liv could feel the wetness getting heavier now.

"God, Fitz." She managed to say as she watched him look up at her and work his way to the next breast.

"Time to open this part." He didn't realize that his hands were locked around her wrists at the side of her body, because all he needed right now was his mouth and lips. He gripped the strap in his teeth and ripped the Velcro up, exposing her other breast.

Once again, his mouth engulfed it, and his tongue swirled on her nipple. Fitz let his grip on her wrist go and reached down to see how wet she was. His finger barely touched her, and she flinched. God, she was soaked.

Letting her breast go softly, he raised his head and looked at her. The wrist he let go of so her hand could be free was now on the back of his head. Her head was turned to her left, her teeth biting her bottom lip. She took a hard swallow and Fitz would swear she was holding back an orgasm.

He leaned over to her right ear. He put his tongue in there, then bit her earlobe softly. "You can come for me, baby, you'll just be sweeter when my mouth gets to that part." He looked at her as his finger went from her entry and rested on the top of her clit in one small stroke.

Liv's head went back, her mouth opened, and whatever she tried to say couldn't come out, and her body shook with pleasure. Leaning her temple on her shoulder of the arm that come up for some stability she couldn't believe she orgasmed from just a breast suck and stroke of his finger. This whole thing was so hot, and Liv made a small wish that she wasn't dreaming.

Oh, she wasn't dreaming, as her head came forward, trying to calm her orgasm, Fitz's lips took hers as he pressed what was left of her breathing into his mouth.

"I still have more to unfasten on my gift, Livvie. You ready?"

Liv wasn't sure she was ready, but she couldn't say no. Instead, she just whispered "Noelle?"

"Gate is up and she's dreaming of Christmas, there's no way out, Livvie.' She saw that gorgeous smile as his head when towards her right thigh and she heard the tearing of Velcro again, freeing her thigh.

Just as he did with the breast, his lips kissed all around her thigh, licked his way up towards her dripping clit. He gave it one slow lick, and Liv heard a muffled groan come out of her mouth as it dropped open.

"Oh God." Her head went back onto the pillow just waiting for what was to become of her body that he owned for the moment.

"My gift is so sweet." Fitz said, making his way to the other and final Velcro that was still fastened. Liv tried desperately not to move her legs too much, she wanted his mouth to unfasten it, not her inability to control her body.

Hearing the now familiar sound of the tearing of the Velcro, her other thigh was free and once again, like a routine he practiced, he kissed her thigh and licked over to her clit. Liv's back was now the only thing holding the once bow in place.

Fitz knelt up, took one look at Liv's perfectly naked body and rubbed his hand from her neck down to her clit. "My gift is ready, all opened and waiting for me to show it some love."

Before Liv could muster up a word, his mouth was tasting all the wetness he had caused, and her hand gripped his hair, the other above her head, as she thrusted her waist up to feel his tongue deep in her.

"Fuck." Her body jolted and a feeling of pure chill ran up to her stomach. Her second orgasm hit harder than that first and she rubbed his curls hard. "I'm coming aga…" She couldn't finish.

"I know." He said, going back down on her. "It's delicious."

Liv's head was pressing deep in the pillow as her waist was still up and Fitz's hand was on her stomach, trying to bring it back down. When it finally fell back down to the bed, Fitz wrapped his hand under her waist and sat her up staring directly in her eyes.

He used his hand to pull the bow out and tossed it on the side of the bed. Liv's head was buried in his neck, her hands crossed around his shoulder blades as she tried to find some strength and bring her breathing back.

She so wanted to take him in her mouth but knew she didn't have the energy. It was as if Fitz read her mind. He reached over, pulled a condom from the nightstand. As Olivia laid back down, Fitz lifted one of her legs, so to have easy access to her entry.

After slipping on the condom, it wasn't difficult at all to get deep inside her. Leaning his body forward just a bit, he pushed into her, and this time he wasn't gentle. He could till taste her on his lips, and her hands were trying to slow it down by resting on his chest, but that didn't help, he wanted her, wanted her to feel his body jolt, just as he felt her jolt.

The beads of sweat were beginning to form on his forehead, he could feel them, and the glowing lights now showed Liv's perfect breasts moving in rhythm with his thrusts. He grunted, a hard, deep grunt. Looking into her eyes, trying hard to stay with him, he saw her close them tight.

"Yes." he said with an exhausted breath. "Come again, Livvie, with…with…" His breathing went heavy, and he couldn't finish as he emptied into the condom, feeling his dick spasm inside her. He dropped her leg and fell onto her in weakness.

She turned him and wrapped her leg over his thigh, and they wrapped their arms around one another and were face to face, breathing heavily, trying to come down off what just happened.

Liv's forehead rested on his and her fingertip went to his lips and outlined his mouth. Without looking up or opening her eyes, she said "I love you, Fitz."

Rubbing her thigh of the leg that was around his he mimicked her "I love you, Livvie."

Handing him a tissue, Fitz took off the condom. He pulled the comforter up to their thighs and exhaustion hit them both.

As they were about to close their eyes for a brief sleep on this cold, calm, Christmas morning Fitz said, "I meant it Livvie, you are the best gift for me this Christmas."

"Right back at you, Mister." And Liv could say no more, wrapped up in his arms, chest to chest, that's how they spent their first Christmas morning sleeping, and they both would never forget it.


Fitz was surprised to get awakened from the sunlight and not his daughter's voice early on Christmas morning. Still wrapped in his arms, Olivia's lips were just inches from him.

Leaning in, he gave her a soft kiss, and saw her smile. Liv blinked her eyes opened and closed them again. "Mm, please tell me I wasn't dreaming."

"That depends on what you were dreaming about."Fitz said, still holding her.

"I was dreaming about being a gift wrapped in a big red bow and the man I love with all my heart was unwrapping it somewhat in a seductive way."

Fitz reached behind him and grabbed the body bow. "This bow."

Liv put her arm around him. "Thank God it wasn't a dream."

Next Fitz reached and got her a dress shirt. "You may want to put this on, because I'm thinking in about 3-2-1."

"DADDY! MERRY CHRISTMAS! I UP" Noelle didn't care how early it was, her voice was projecting through that apartment.

Fitz slipped on his pajama pants, gave Liv one more kiss on her forehead, and went to get Noelle. "Good morning my love, and Merry Christmas to you also." Fitz didn't immediately open the gate, instead he tilted his head towards the living room, as Noelle watched him wide eyed.

"Wow." Fitz had his hand over his mouth in surprise.

"Santa come?" Noelle was standing on her tip toes, trying to see past the wall into the living room.

"Maybe." Fitz said as he grabbed her and pulled her over the fence, her arm clenching her Jilly doll. "Let's go see."

"No." Noelle stopped him. "Ovivia." She wanted Olivia to be part of this also.

"Ok." Fitz said as he walked opposite the living room towards the bedroom. "Olivia, can we come in?"

"Sure can." Olivia was sitting up on the side of the bed. She had on Fitz's dress shirt and her comfortable fleece pajama pants. "Merry Christmas Little Miss Noelle."

Noelle reached down towards Liv out of Fitz's arms and into Liv's arms. She gave her Ovivia a big hug. "Merry Christmas Ovivia." Noelle kissed her gently on the cheek. She held up Jilly for Liv to see.

"Merry Christmas Little Miss Jilly, did you sleep with Noelle last night?"

Noelle shook her head in agreement. "Yes mommy, I did." Noelle smiled and looked at Liv. "Don't tell daddy."

Liv looked up at Fitz watching the whole exchange and smiled. "I think daddy heard that." Fitz knelt to the both of them. "Now let's go get some gifts."

Before Noelle jumped down from Liv's lap, she noticed the paining of the store against the closet door. "What that?" She pointed asking Fitz.

Fitz picked her up and walked towards it. "That is a picture of the store that Grandpa Gerry owned. Daddy loved that store when he was little."

"So pretty." Noelle's blue eyes were looking at it up and down. "You love Grandpa Gerry?"

"I did love Grandpa Gerry, and I loved that store. Olivia had a picture painted of it, and I opened it last night."

"Ovivia love you." Noelle said. It was as if she knew this gift would touch his heart. Noelle knew he had met his soulmate, and it was a connection no one would truly understand that this child had to Olivia.

"Yes, she does, and daddy loves Olivia very much." He gave Noelle a bounce. "Now are you ready? Because after presents we have to go."

"Go where?" Noelle shrugged.

"It's a surprise." Fitz's nose rubbed on hers and he turned to Olivia.

Olivia was standing there, wiping her tears away after hearing the exchange between Fitz and Noelle. She walked up to them, looking up. "A big surprise."

Noelle noticed Olivia's locket around her neck, the one Fitz had given her last night. Noelle pointed at it. "Pretty" she said, reaching for the heart and rubbing it with her finger.

"It is, daddy gave it to me. And look." Liv opened it. "Your picture, so you are always close to my heart." Liv said smiling looking back up at Noelle, who was shaking her head in agreement.

"And daddy." She pointed to the other picture.

"Yep, daddy. Now let's go see what Santa left." Olivia poked Noelle.


"Yay" Noelle squirmed out of her father's arms and took tiny little steps running to the Christmas tree. "Wow!" It was the exact same way she had heard her father say it a few minutes ago.

Fitz picked Noelle up and placed her in the middle of a square shaped pile of gifts. There were about ten gifts in all, and she began opening each one, ripping the pink and purple unicorn paper with no remorse.

"Look!" She held it up. "Oh, a picture." She said looking at it.

Fitz and Liv laughed as they watched her. "It's a camera, Noelle, not a picture." Fitz corrected her. "You take pictures with it."

"Fun" she said and placed it next to her reaching for the next gift.

Fitz had gotten her a unicorn kids' camera that also took selfies. He figured she would have fun with it on the cruise, but Noelle didn't know about the cruise yet, so she didn't understand the significance of it.

Next was a drawing doodle board, followed by a dress up boutique of princess clothes. That gift of the clothes was by Liv, compliments of the fashion world.

Finally, out came Jay's gift. It was a big box, not significantly big, but big enough. Noelle opened it, revealing a dance mat that came complete with music and different dance modes. There was also a shirt in there, custom made. It had words on it that said Adorable, wild, and three.

Fitz read the shirt to Noelle, and she admired all her gifts, but pointed to two more. "That more?" Noelle looked at Fitz.

"Hmm," Fitz looked at Liv. "I guess Santa's elf put two more on this side." He handed a small box and a big box to Noelle.

The big box was a crib for her two dolls. "So, they can sleep in the room with you and you have room in your bed." Olivia smiled.

"Mommy got a bed." She said to her two dolls who were watching her open her gifts. "you sleep."

She opened the next one, the small one while sitting on Fitz's lap. It was black velvet necklace jewelry box and Fitz looked at Liv. Liv just smiled waiting for their reaction.

Fitz flipped the box opened and there was a kids 10k yellow gold unicorn necklace. The unicorn was laying down and the tail was wrapped to the side. On the tail was Noelle's named engraved.

Noelle's head went up as she reached for the gift to take out. "So pretty." She watched Fitz take it out. "Put on?" she asked.

He wrapped it around and clasped it. "I love it." She walked to Olivia and hugged her. "Thank you, Ovivia."

"You're most welcome, now you have a sparkle on your neck like me." Liv smiled.

"Ok, Noelle, let's get ready. Take your camera and your crib and your new bathing suits, because we are going on vacation."

Her mouth opened wide. "Yay". She turned to Olivia. "Ovivia come?"

"Yes, ma'am." Olivia said. "I'm definitely going."


There were six bags in total when they were all brought to the door. Gil was on his way and would help them downstairs and into the car. While they waited, they had their first Christmas breakfast together, the first of what would be of many more to come.

"You know it's a cruise, but you don't know the half of it Livvie." Fitz whispered in her ears. "I can't wait until you see everything planned."

Liv closed her eyes, thought of the horrendous cruise she was on with Russel, and knew there wouldn't be a moment she would be alone on this one. She took a deep breath. "I can't wait, Mister." She kissed him softly on the lips, to the sound of Noelle's giggles from the table as she finished her waffle that once had whipped cream on it.

"Ovivia kiss daddy." She chuckled as she chewed the last of her waffle down. "Sticky syrup daddy." Noelle held up her hands for Fitz to see just as there was a ping from the intercom. "Sir, Gil is on his way up."

"I'll take her to wash up, you get this." Liv walked with Noelle to the bathroom.

Fitz opened his one bag, and checked again for the tenth time to make sure he had the engagement ring. He was so nervous he would forget it. Liv even asked him why he kept looking in that bag, and he told her he was just making sure he had everything.

On their way to their first destination, Liv asked Fitz if they were taking the cruise ship out of New York or New Jersey. Fitz just smirked and watched as the car pulled up to the small airport. He pointed out the window and said "Neither."

"Daddy wings?" Noelle asked excitedly, kicking her feet from her car seat as she looked out the window.

Liv saw a small plane ready to go, marked Grant across the side. She squinted at the plane and looked back at him. "You own this?" She forgot how rich he was, she always did, because it didn't matter.

"Either that or someone named Grant will be missing his plane." He smirked as Gil and a worker took the bags on board. Fitz thanked Gil, told him to enjoy his time off, and Gil left after a high five from Noelle.

"Noelle, you have been on this plane before?"

Noelle shook her head but continued talking to her dolls. "Daddy's wings, right daddy?"

"She calls them my wings. She really only has been on this twice. I haven't traveled much since she was born. I took her once on a business trip to Atlanta. She was small though. Then Tiffany, Lauren, Marcus, and I took the plane out to Disneyland."

"She must remember that." Liv said.

"I'm not sure. Maybe a bit, she was just shy of two. Anyway, it was a gift for Tiffany for taking care of her, and Lauren said it's someplace Tiffany always wanted to visit. Noelle was just learning about things, animals, you know, and she said the plane had wings like a bird."

"Daddy's wings." Liv repeated.

"Yeah, that's how she referred to this ever since." Fitz laughed. He licked his lips watching Liv now look out the window to the clear sky. "I loved opening my gift this morning." He kissed her cheek.

Liv rested her forehead on his shoulder. "I can't even think of it without getting…." She stopped and bit her lip. "The things you do to me."

"Can't wait to do so much more." Fitz looked over at Noelle.

Noelle's legs were straight out, one of her dolls lying across her laps and she was sound asleep, her tiny head tilted a little upright. He gestured to Liv to look. "Someone is Christmas tired."

"How much longer for the plane?"

Fitz looked at his watch. "About 30 more minutes." He leaned over to her lips, stopping inches away. "Enough time to have a make out session with my beautiful girlfriend." As soon as his lips met hers, she was lost in his feeling, just taking it all in.

As the plane was landing, Liv looked at Fitz. "Are you sure the cruise line is going to let us on with all the bags?" She was concerned.

"It's fine, Livvie, really."

Liv took a deep breath. "OK, where are we cruising to anyway?"

Fitz's eyebrows went up as he just looked at her. "Nope." And he smiled, as Noelle woke up just as the plane touched down.


The driver met Fitz at the plane. He was introduced to Olivia; Oscar had been employed by Grant Industries for many years here in Miami. "Welcome Ms. Pope."

"Miami" Liv's eyebrows went down in confusion, but she was just going with it. She felt the heat at she stepped off the plane. "You're in a hot weather city on Christmas Fitz, you must really love me." She smiled.

"Don't you know it, Ms. Pope." He said as he scooped up Noelle and strapped her in the car.

It was a short ride from the airport to the waterfront. Liv didn't see many cruise ships at all, and wondered if maybe they were early. She saw the bags going ahead of them, lead by Oscar towards the marina.

Holding Noelle in his one arm, he reached out his hand for Liv to grab and pulled her out of the car. He kissed her on the lips and Noelle on the cheek. "Ready my two favorite girls?" He walked in the direction that Oscar had done seconds ago.

Liv was looking all around, still genuinely confused. If this was a cruise, where the hell is everyone? Surely, Fitz didn't own a cruise ship. They stopped in front of a beautiful luxury boat, it's back facing them. On the back were painted letters, NOELLE. Liv looked up at him.

"But he owns a yacht. Of course, you do." Liv put her head in her hand. "Why did I not think of that? My God, Fitz, it's going to be just the three of us?"

"And the crew, unless you want to just sit docked here."

Noelle pointed to the name. "Look, my name." She said. "Two L's"

"That's right sweet pea. You've never been on daddy's boat are you ready to go?"

"Fun." She went down and took Olivia's hand as Fitz made sure everything was on board, and he checked the ring box once again, waiting for the moment he could put it in the safe on board.

Fitz owned a 100-foot yacht. He wasn't going to purchase a yacht, thinking he wouldn't get much use out of it, but Marcus had talked him into it about a year ago. Marcus did use it to get potential clients while he hosted parties on it. Fitz never did regret buying it, and he was glad he was finally getting some use out of it. Now it was off to the final surprise in two nights.

"So, we'll be on here for two nights, as we sail to the Bahamas." Liv was holding Noelle now as they looked out to the water when the boat began moving. "This will be our home for the next two nights."

The sun was starting to set on this Christmas day and the three of them continued to watch as the land drifted further away, and glow of the sunset took precedence over the glow of Christmas lights.

He pulled Liv close to him and Noelle rested her head on her daddy's shoulder from Liv's arms. Fitz kissed Liv's forehead. "There, you got a surprise out of me, have you ever been to the Bahamas?"

Liv couldn't stop staring at the light the sunset painted onto the water. "No, I haven't, is it beautiful?"

"Not as beautiful as you."

She looked at him, and Noelle's blue eyes were glistening from the sunset light, identical to the way her father's eyes were glistening looking at her.

Liv put her head on Noelle's back, "Life is never dull with you, Fitz. Best Christmas ever." She said as she caressed Fitz's cheek.

"With still so much more to come."

"Good night sun" Noelle giggled. "We play now?" She jumped down, heading towards the bag with her toys in the room behind them.

Before Liv and Fitz joined her, they took one more look at the setting sun. With one passionate kiss in front of the sunset, Fitz pulled back, "I love you Olivia with all my heart. Merry Christmas."

"And I love you Mister, more than you can ever imagine. Merry Christmas, Fitz."

Until the sun "dipped" fully into the ocean, Liv and Fitz stood on the deck watching it go down. Even though Christmas was coming to an end, their lives together were just beginning, and Fitz still had plenty more surprises awaiting them.