Part II

XXX

Fitz was a bundle of nervous energy in the labor and delivery suite, as he watched the nurses scurry around, checking the monitors and making sure Olivia was comfortable. He'd been sitting in the film room with his position coach when he received the call from his father that Olivia's water had broken, and they were taking her to the hospital. He'd immediately told the coach was going on and then sprinted to the parking lot, jumped into the Porsche and sped off. He was halfway to the hospital before he realized he was speeding twenty miles over the speed limit but he still didn't ease up on the accelerator.

When he finally made it to the hospital, he parked and ran inside. He'd been on the phone with his mother who told him exactly where they were. He found them in a room where his wife was being monitored until they could move her to a suite.

"You are in labor. It wasn't a joke," he said breathing hard. His eyes were wide as he took in the scene. "I can't believe it."

"Well believe it, babe," Olivia said, smiling. "Bean's coming today."

Not long after, Olivia was moved to her suite and now here they were, four hours later. He looked at his beautiful wife. Her braids were pulled into a bun on top of her head, and small beads of sweat dotted her forehead. He stood to quickly cover her forehead with another cool compress that the nurses provided every few minutes.

The pain was excruciating and Olivia had long questioned her decision to labor drug free. Was she crazy? She closed her eyes as sharp, intensifying labor pains attacked her body, worse than anything she'd ever experienced. She hated that she'd refused any drugs.

Olivia opened her eyes and looked at her husband, breathing through the pain. "This…was the stupidest…idea…ever. How did…you…allow me to say no to an epidural?"

Fitz tried to keep from laughing. His wife was in pain. "Livvie, you wanted to deliver Bean naturally. I did recommend a back-up plan, remember?"

She glared at him then rolled her eyes. He was right. The decision to try natural childbirth with no drugs had been mostly hers, although Fitz supported it, reluctantly.

Olivia's breathing was even and slow until the monitor showed another contraction. Then she concentrated, gripped Fitz's hand and gave quick, shallow breaths until it subsided. Fitz kissed her hand.

"I'm so proud of you, baby."

She nodded. "Water," Olivia said. "I'm thirsty."

Fitz picked up the cup from the bedside table and fed his wife a few ice chips. She looked grateful.

"Are my parents here?" she asked.

Fitz nodded. "Yes, all our parents are here along with Joey and Julian. They're all in the waiting room."

Olivia nodded as another contraction began and she gripped Fitz's hand again, closed her eyes, and let out a low moan. "Here we go again."

At hour eight of active labor, the pains were coming every three minutes. Olivia was trying to remember everything she'd learned in their birthing classes, with Fitz's help. Dr. Goodrich came to check her several times. Over the next two hours the pains became stronger and were coming faster now, and Fitz coached her through each contraction. The last time the doctor came to check her patient, Olivia was almost nine centimeters. She advised the nurse that Baby Grant would probably be coming within the next hour or less, which was what Olivia had wanted to hear.

Though the pain was almost unbearable, Olivia knew that once it was over, she would be holding her beautiful baby. During this entire ordeal, if she'd learned anything, it was that experience was the best teacher. The next time, if there was a next time, she'd take the meds. What…was…I…thinking, she thought as yet another gut wrenching stab of pain took over her body and she felt the urge to push.

Nurse Abby rushed to the side of the bed. "Don't forget to breathe, Olivia. You're holding your breath."

"I…need…to…push," Olivia said through clenched teeth.

"Okay," the nurse said. "I'm going to get Dr. Goodrich. Just hold on and breathe."

The pains were non-stop, and the breathing techniques weren't helping. Olivia was still gripping Fitz's hand…tightly. "It's like one long contraction now."

Fitz kissed her sweaty brow. "It's almost over, Livvie. We're almost to the end zone."

Olivia glared at her husband again and shook her head. "Are you serious, Fitz?" she panted.

"I'm sorry. No football today?"

She shook her head. "Nooo…oh my God!"

Olivia squeezed Fitz's hand so tightly that for a second he thought he heard bones crunching. If this continued, he was going to end up on the Team's injured reserve list. But he didn't have much time to think about it because soon everything became a blur. Dr. Goodrich hurried into the suite, washed her hands and took over, while Fitz stood at his wife's side watching the organized chaos.

"You and Mrs. Ross across the hall decided to push at the same time, huh?" The doctor said as she walked over and stood at the foot of Olivia's bed, between her wide open legs. "I'm going to check your cervix again. Okay?"

Olivia closed her eyes and nodded. It was all she had the energy to do. What she really wanted was for it to all stop. She felt Dr. Goodrich's fingers, and then they were gone.

"Okay, let's move. You're fully dilated and one hundred percent effaced, and you're ready to push. You've been a champ, Olivia," she said removing the gloves and tossing them into the red medical waste bin.

"I'll be even better when we get this baby out," Olivia said irritably.

Everyone in the room laughed, including the doctor.

"Well Mrs. Grant, let's get this baby born and have a birthday party."

The nurses hurried around Dr. Goodrich, following her instructions while Fitz whispered near Olivia's ear.

"You're doing great, Livvie. Bean's almost here."

"Fitz I want to push so bad," she said, on the verge of tears.

"I know, baby." He leaned down and softly kissed her forehead. He felt so helpless.

"Okay, dad, you and Nurse Shonda are each going to hold mom's legs back to give her leverage. The baby's head is right there. Three or four big pushes and we've got a baby!"

Fitz did as he was told and watched as his wife ran on instinct. The doctor didn't have to tell her what to do at all.

"Olivia, the next time you feel a contraction, push."

"I am pushing!" Olivia said, testily between breaths, and then turned to her husband, with tears in her eyes. "It hurts, Fitz."

"I know, baby." Fitz just wanted their baby to be born. He didn't like his wife hurting this way. "But you have to push, Livvie."

"I can't," she cried.

"Yes, you can. You have to do this, baby."

Olivia took a deep breath and pushed.

"That's it. That's good." He coaxed.

"The baby's head is crowning," the doctor said. "Oh, what do we have here? Somebody has blonde hair."

Olivia tried to smile through the sharp pain. "I need to push again," she cried out."

"Okay, I'm ready when you are."

Olivia bore down and Dr. Goodrich eased the baby's head out. "The head is out. Well done, Olivia. You can take a breath now," she said as she felt for the cord. "Wait for the next contraction and you can push again. Your baby's almost here."

Fitz leaned over between her legs and it was like he was frozen in time. He glanced at the nurse standing on the other side of Olivia's bed who stared at him with concern on her face.

"Are you okay, Mr. Grant?"

He nodded, unable to tear his gaze away from what was happening as he watched in awe.

The doctor placed a hand on Olivia's tight belly "Alright, Olivia. One more push and you'll get to see your beautiful baby."

Olivia pushed again, as hard as her body could. She was squeezing Fitz's throwing hand, hard, but he didn't care. He would do anything for his wife. They had joked that she could use his body as a punching bag when labor got too hard, and that's exactly what she was doing.

Fitz watched as Olivia pushed again, and out came their baby's shoulders. The rest of its body slid out quickly in a blue and purplish slippery mass.

Olivia felt the baby slide from her body and she fell back panting, exhausted.

"Well done, Olivia. It's a boy!" The doctor said excitedly as she suctioned him before holding him up so his parents could see. She glanced at the clock on the wall. "Baby Grant was born at 8:23 pm." The baby opened one eye and let out a loud wail as if someone had disturbed his sleep, and he was mad as hell about it.

Fitz stood speechless as his tears fell and he stared at the miracle he'd helped create. His son.

"He's beautiful," Olivia said between sobs. "Look at him, babe. Isn't he amazing?" Tears of joy and relief flowed down her cheeks.

Fitz nodded and watched as the doctor laid his son on his wife's bare chest, while the cord was still attached, and Nurse Shonda dried his head before placing a little cap on it. His little face was bright red from wailing, and the sound level of his screams assured them that he had a healthy set of lungs. He was emotional, kissing Olivia over and over.

"Yes. He's amazing," he said, with wonder in his voice and blinking through his own tears. "You're so beautiful, Livvie, I'm so proud of you, and I love you so much."

"I love you, too."

Nurse Abby walked up to Fitz, handed him a pair of scissors and showed him where to cut between the clamps.

After a few minutes of bonding, Nurse Shonda reached for the baby. "Let's get this little guy weighed and cleaned up, and I'll bring him right back.

The new parents anxiously watched as the nurse placed their still crying son on the scale. "Your son's eight pounds, eleven ounces, and he's twenty-three inches long. He's perfectly healthy, and loud."

They all laughed.

Fitz grinned at his wife. "Almost nine pounds. He's a big boy. He'll probably be as big as his daddy," he said sticking his broad chest out with pride.

"Oh you don't have to tell me how big he is," Olivia said. "I felt all eight of those pounds."

They laughed again.

When their son was finally cleaned, diapered and swaddled, and an ID bracelet was placed around his tiny wrist, he was placed in his father's arms, Fitz was immediately overwhelmed and started to cry again. Carefully, he sat in the chair next to Olivia's bed, and stared into his son's tiny face.

Wearing a tired smile, Olivia watched Fitz cradling his firstborn, too awed to speak. In that moment she didn't think her heart could grow any bigger, but it did. She reached out and wiped the tears from her husband's face, then gently caressed his arm.

"Are you okay, babe?"

He nodded and stood, placing their son in his mother's arms, before sitting next to her on the bed so he could hug them both.

Olivia unwrapped her swaddled baby and counted his fingers and toes.

"They're all there," Fitz said with a smile.

"I know, I just wanted to check again," she said sheepishly. "Hi Bean, it's Mommy," she said speaking softly to her new son as she kissed him on his covered head. "He's perfect, Fitz. We did this," she said, her voice filled with wonder.

"Yes we did, Livvie. He's beautiful."

Olivia smiled up at her husband. "Just like his daddy," she said and then turned back to her baby. "We've been waiting so long to meet you." She'd been told that once she saw her baby, she'd forget the pain, and she had. Sort of. When he'd been placed in her arms, and she saw his little face, her heart exploded. He was so worth it all.

Fitz stared at his beautiful son as he began to root and squirm in his mother's arms searching for a breast to nurse. He watched as Nurse Shonda helped Olivia guide the baby's mouth to her tender breast. After a few fits and starts, and a few winces from the new mother, the newborn found the nipple, latched and began to suck vigorously for the yellowish colostrum that babies received the first few days after birth.

"He has a good latch," the nurse said.

"He's a smart boy," Fitz said proudly, as his son gave a little stretch and one tiny arm came out from beneath the blanket, almost waving at them.

"Do you have a name for this little guy?" Nurse Shonda asked.

Fitz looked at his wife who smiled and nodded subtly. "Yes we do," he answered. "His name is Elijah Fitzgerald Cruz Grant. We're calling him Cruz."

"Well, Happy Birthday, Cruz Grant," Dr. Goodrich said as she finally removed her gloves and shut off the light above her before standing and washing her hands.

"Olivia, you have a second-degree perineal tear and I closed it with three stitches. They'll be uncomfortable and sore initially, but should dissolve on their own within six weeks. You should feel less discomfort within the next two weeks. Everything else looks good. I'll be back later to check on you. Congratulations, mom and dad."

"Thank you," they said as they watched the doctor and the nurses leave Olivia's suite.

"Fitz, you should go and tell everyone that Cruz is here."

"I will. I just want to spend a few more minutes alone with my wife and son." He watched his son suckle from his wife's breast. Though it was Fitz's favorite body part, the feeling that surged through his body, as he watched Olivia nurse their son, was emotional rather than sexual. And the beautiful image of mother and child was one that he knew he would never forget. Quietly he sat next to her, still transfixed by the tiny miracle in her arms, as she ran a finger along the pale skin on his cheek.

"He looks just like you, Livvie."

Olivia looked up at him. He knew she was completely exhausted, but she was absolutely radiant.

"He does, doesn't he? Does that upset you?"

"Of course not, you're a lot prettier than I am," he said with that grin.

"Look at all this hair," she said in awe, running a finger through the baby's abundant blonde curls. They would probably darken as Cruz grew older.

"I can't believe we did this," Fitz said, shaking his head. "We got married, and now we have a child. I got my son."

Olivia chuckled. "You always manage to get your way, mister."

Fitz laughed and kissed her hair.

"He will probably be tall like you. And he already has your feet."

He laughed even louder.

The sucking motion stopped and Olivia smiled down at her son who was now asleep. She kissed his forehead and stared at his face, so much like her own. In that moment she knew in her heart that she didn't want a nanny, nor did she want to go back to work anytime soon. She just wanted to hold her son and never let him go.

Gently, she unlatched the baby from her breast. "Babe, please put him in the bassinet and then help me get cleaned up so our family can meet its newest member."

Later…

For almost an hour, all the family got to fuss over Olivia and the baby. They also got to hold him, and take several pictures. The new grandmothers and Joey shed tears while the men slapped Fitz on the back, congratulating him, as if he had done all the hard work. It was the grandfather's turn to become emotional when they were told their new grandson's name. After everyone held Cruz one last time, they all said their goodbyes and left so the new parents could rest.

Now it was just the three of them again and the room was quiet, except for Cruz's occasional coos. Fitz had climbed into bed with his wife and pulled her close to his heart, and they lay together staring at their son.

"I love you so much."

Olivia smiled over her shoulder and caressed his cheek. "I love you too, babe, and I'm so, so happy," she said as tears filled her eyes for the thousandth time that day.

"Don't cry, Livvie," Fitz said, gently hugging her tighter. "I know they're happy tears, but look what we made."

She nodded, staring lovingly at their son. "Yeah, all eight pounds of him. Another week and he would've been well over nine pounds," she said with a shudder.

"So the back pain was the beginning of labor?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes, along with the cramps, and I didn't even know it."

"My son came when he was good and ready," he said kissing the back of her neck.

Olivia chuckled.

"I still can't believe he's here, that he's all ours and that we're really parents."

"I know," she said. "Fitz, I'm someone's mother. That's crazy, right?"

"No, not crazy. Just…right."

Olivia didn't respond as she settled deeper into her husband's arms, bringing his hand to her lips and kissing his fingers before finally drifting off into an exhausted sleep.

XXX

Fitz remained at the hospital with his little family the next two days. Olivia tried to convince him to return to Ashburn with the Team, and the grandparents would make sure she and Cruz got home safe and sound. She knew he needed to be physically and mentally prepared to lead his team to another Super Bowl. But Fitz wasn't having it and stayed with his wife and son.

He had even changed his first diaper, yelping when air hit his son's tiny genitals causing a fountain to suddenly spray him in the face. Olivia had laughed while he went to the bathroom to wash up.

The nurses had offered to take the baby to the newborn nursery so his parents could get some sleep, but they'd flat-out refused, not wanting him out of their sight. Fitz had spent the first night just staring at his son in the bassinet, dozing off and on, waking Olivia to try and feed him, changing him and just simply holding him to his chest, skin to skin.

On the first day, Cruz was able to latch, but on day two, things went south and both mother and baby cried. Cruz cried because he was hungry, and Olivia cried because it hurt like hell. But she wanted her son to have the nutrients of breast milk, so she kept trying. A lactation consultant had come in to assist, giving Olivia pointers on how to make sure Cruz latched on properly, showing her the best nursing positions, helping her to relax so Cruz would feel safe and cozy. The consultant's visit didn't help. Trying to breastfeed was awful. The nurses, and Fitz, urged her to give it time, and assured her that Cruz was doing fine.

"Sometimes it takes several days before mother and baby get comfortable with the nursing process," they'd told her.

Slowly, mother and son were trying to get the hang of it, and Olivia was also expressing so her son could eat. Luckily, the baby easily took a bottle so later he'd be able to transition between the two.

On Wednesday, after being cleared by Dr. Goodrich and the on-call pediatrician, Olivia and Cruz were discharged. She was past ready to take her baby home. They hadn't had many visitors, requesting privacy instead. The godparents, Olivia's grandparents, and T.C. came by for quick visits, understanding that Olivia needed to rest. Of course that didn't stop the grandparents from waiting for their return to Great Falls.

Fitz picked up his family from the service delivery entrance area unnoticed. The media had gotten word that he'd left practice because his wife had gone into labor. They'd released a statement through Fitz's publicist:

"He is more than we could have ever imagined, and we are grateful for the prayers and well wishes we've received. Both mother and child are healthy and well. Thank you for your kindness and support during this special time while we celebrate privately as a new family."

As they drove down the long driveway to the house, Olivia saw the huge stork on the lawn and the baby's name spelled out in large white letters. She laughed and told Fitz how corny it was, but also insisted on taking a picture in front of it holding the baby.

Everyone was waiting in the kitchen when they finally entered the house. Fitz set the infant carrier on the large double island, while Olivia was hugged by Bert, her parents and in-laws. Fitz washed his hands and then lifted his sleeping son from the carrier and cradled him in his muscular arms. He kissed Bert, Maya and then his mother, before taking a seat at the island next to his wife, who was already eating the cilantro chicken Bert had placed in front of her. He reluctantly handed Cruz to Bert so he could eat as well.

"Olivia he's beautiful. He looks just like you," Bert cooed.

"Thank you, Bert. And thank you for this delicious lunch."

The new parents quietly ate and watched as everyone loved and doted on their son. When they finished eating, Fitz cleared their plates.

"Come on, Livvie. Let's get you and our son upstairs so you can both get some rest."

Fitz helped her stand to her feet and then reached for Cruz, who was currently in Eli's arms. The grandparents were all smitten with their new grandson. He secured him in the infant seat again, then took his wife's hand, led her to the stairs and slowly up to their bedroom.

When they entered their bedroom, he lifted his son from the carrier again and kissed his forehead. Olivia watched her husband and their son, and fell in love all over again. Being a dad looked good on him. His eyes were brighter and that grin she loved so much hadn't left his face.

"Welcome home, Cruz," he said before gingerly placing the newborn in the co-sleeper.

"I am so glad to be home," Olivia said

"And I'm glad to have you both home and safe," Fitz responded as he watched his wife slowly walk to her closet.

"Do you need help, Livvie?" His son had wreaked havoc on his mother's body.

"No, I'm okay."

After a few minutes, she walked out of the closet wearing loose fitting pajamas, and Fitz was there to help her walk to the bed where he'd already pulled back the covers. Slowly, he helped her ease her tired, sore and achy body onto the bed. He removed his sweatshirt and wearing a tee and sweat pants, crawled in behind his wife and spooned her close to his body. They lay staring at their sleeping son. Olivia reached out and touched his tiny hand.

"I still can't believe we have a baby." She glanced at him over her shoulder. "I mean, who would've thought when we met in this very house last year, and after the hard time I gave you, we would be here."

Fitz grinned. "Well believe it, Livvie. You made me work and earn you, and you were well worth the chase."

Olivia chuckled. "I'm just grateful you didn't give up, and eventually won my heart.

"Well you turning me down only made me work harder. It also made me value our relationship more, and helped me to understand your worth. All I wanted to do was please you. I still do."

Her eyes filled with tears again. Apparently postpartum hormones were even more sudden than pregnancy hormones because every little thing seemed to trigger the waterworks. She just felt so overwhelmed by emotion and had been crying about everything since she gave birth.

"Fitz that was so sweet."

He wiped her tears with the pad of thumb, and then kissed her softly on the cheek. "It's also the truth."

He gently hugged her close to his body again. "I can't believe how much he looks like you, although he does have my hair and my feet."

Olivia laughed, nodding her head.

"Maybe the next one will look like me."

"What?" She turned to look at him. "Cruz is barely three days old and you're already planning another baby. Good thing we won't be having sex for at least three months."

"Three months?! I thought it was six weeks."

"It's whenever I'm comfortable, and right now, the kitty isn't comfortable at all.

Fitz laughed. "Livvie you do know I'm kidding right? I will wait forever if I have to. I love you, and we won't be doing anything until you're ready. Okay?" He kissed her hair.

Olivia didn't respond and the last thing she remembered was Fitz kissing her and whispering, Thank you, Livvie. Thank you for giving me a son.

XXX

Two weeks later…

The past two weeks had been hectic. Fitz was back in beast mode on the field but at home he was husband and father. Olivia was home getting acclimated to being a mother. The baby nurse, Elise, had been a godsend, helping them to settle into a routine. It had been difficult feeling like a sleep-deprived zombie, but Cruz had to be fed every two hours. Olivia and Fitz rotated, and most times Fitz allowed her to sleep, even though he had to be in Ashburn early every morning. Olivia swore she would never take advantage of sleep again.

Trying to breastfeed took up so much of her energy, and she was exhausted often. She was grateful for the nurse's help, as well as Maya, Constance and Bert, while she healed. Her mother had stayed a few days each week which was enough. They hadn't been in the same living space for an extended length of time since Olivia lived at home while attending law school. But their bond grew stronger as Maya Pope observed her daughter navigate the beginnings of motherhood.

She loved being a mother and wanted to be near Cruz all the time. He was growing so fast and already had his parents wrapped around his tiny fingers.

XXX

Week three...

Olivia woke to the sounds of her baby cooing. She turned and saw her shirtless husband, and their son standing near the French doors in their bedroom, looking out into the predawn darkness. As usual, the sight of the two brought a smile to her face.

"We're going to have to wake mommy soon so she can try and feed you," Fitz said, nuzzling their son's neck. Their little boy looked so tiny in his father's arms.

Fitz heard her rustling and turned. He smiled at his wife.

"Hi."

"Hi," she responded softly.

"I was just doing a little skin-to-skin with my son. I think he's getting hungry."

Olivia sat up and prepared herself to feed their son. Even though she felt drained and wrung, she knew he needed to eat. Breastfeeding was still an ordeal and she dreaded every session. She and Cruz were still figuring it out. It was still painful, and even with Nurse Elise's help, mother and son just couldn't get themselves together, and they both ended up crying.

The current solution was expressing her milk. She pumped and Cruz took a bottle. She also felt guilty as hell because she so wanted to breastfeed. But Fitz had told her that as long as their son was having his nutritional needs met, it was okay. Plus, bottle-feeding gave him the opportunity to bond and spend more time with his son, and she got to sleep.

Fitz climbed back into bed next to his wife. He buttoned Cruz's little sleeper before he transferred him into his mother's arms and watched as she got situated and attempted to nurse. If it didn't happen, Fitz would get a bottle from the refrigerator.

Although Fitz spent a lot of time in Ashburn, when he was home, he cared for his son. He often relieved Olivia, or Elise as soon as he walked through the door. Elise tried to argue that they'd hired her to take care of their newborn, and she was correct, but since Fitz was gone most of the day, he wanted to spend as much time as he could with his son, and his wife. In three weeks, he'd become an expert swaddler, burper, bather, floor walker and diaper changer. After getting sprayed the first time he'd changed his son's diaper, he now knew to cover his genitals and make quick work of it. This was their time to bond and Fitz wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Cruz Grant, as adorable as he was, had his days and nights confused. Thank God for Elise. Olivia was supposed to be resting while Fitz and Elise took care of the baby, but he often found her awake watching him with Cruz's head cradled in the crook of his arm, walking around their bedroom, gently rocking him. He looked good with their baby in his arms. She loved the husband and friend he was to her, and the father he was to their son.

Like clockwork, instead of allowing her husband take their son to Elise, she always reached out for the baby so her husband could get some sleep. And while the world was fast asleep, young Mr. Grant was content being snuggled in his mother's arms, and Olivia was just as content. However, the second she tried to lay him down, Cruz Grant would put up a loud fuss. Although Elise had tried to get him into a routine, the baby's wailing always tugged at his mother's heart making it hard to resist picking him up. She just couldn't help herself, I'm a sucker for you, little boy.

She'd had no idea that she would adapt to being a mom since she'd always been so career driven. But she had, and couldn't imagine leaving her beautiful baby boy, whom she'd fallen in love with the moment she'd first laid eyes on him, anytime soon.

XXX

Six weeks…

Having a baby at home in the first few weeks was overwhelming, but as the weeks progressed, Olivia began to gradually adjust to this new little person in her life, and was feeling more confident and comfortable taking care of him by herself. The baby nurse had completed her assignment and now it was just Olivia and Cruz, and Bert of course, if she needed any help. Cruz was growing fast and was so much like his mother and had his paternal grandmother's eye color. Constance Grant loved that.

Olivia wasn't as sore anymore, and she and Cruz had hit their stride now that he was sleeping in five hour intervals. They'd also finally conquered breastfeeding, and it was Cruz who wouldn't allow his mother to give up.

One week ago...

Mother and son had been napping, when Cruz's crying woke her. She checked his diaper and he was dry and clean. She'd also burped him thoroughly. She picked him up, trying to decipher his cry. After walking with him and trying to rock him, nothing worked, he was still fussy. His cries only escalated, and his face was red as he turned his tiny head toward her breasts, rooting. She thought about getting a prepared bottle from the refrigerator but hearing his cries, she couldn't take it and finally laid him down and quickly unclipped the cup on the nursing bra she wore for easy and accessible pumping.

She looked into her baby's little red face, tears on his cheeks. "Okay Cruz Grant, we're going to try this again. You will get a good latch and I will not cry. Understand?" Saying a quick prayer and holding her breath, she positioned her son so he could latch on, and he did! The pain wasn't as excruciating as usual, and Cruz had the hang of it. Taking in deep breaths, she watched, with tears in her eyes, fascinated, as her son satisfied himself. He cooed as he drained one breast, and then cried for more.

Olivia repositioned them both and helped Cruz latch again so he could feed. She smiled as his tiny hand flailed a second before landing on her breast, and her eyes filled with tears again. She was still amazed at how beautifully her life had changed. She was so deep in love with her husband and their son, and no one could pull her out of it. Sighing with contentment, she closed her eyes and dozed.

That's how Fitz found them, napping, their son still attached to her breast. Groggy, she felt the mattress dip when he climbed onto the bed next to her, and opened her eyes.

"Hi, beautiful."

"Hey, you," she smiled.

Leaning over, he kissed her before reaching for his son, he unlatched him from his mother's breast and sat him on his lap. Securing his chest and head, he began to pat Cruz's back softly.

"So what's the smile for?" he asked.

"Cruz finally latched on and nursed from both breasts," she said excitedly, as she clipped the cup of her bra and adjusted her shirt.

"He did?! What happened?"

"He woke from his nap and began to cry. I didn't think he was hungry at first so I tried walking with him and rocking him, but it didn't work. He just cried and sounded so pitiful, then he started rooting and instead of getting a bottle, I gave him what he wanted and he took it."

"I told you you'd get the hang of it, Livvie." He kissed her cheek and continued to gently pat the baby's back.

Olivia smiled. She was proud of herself and their son. She leaned into Fitz's side and kissed his shoulder, and watched him burp the baby.

Cruz made a few gurgling noises and then belched.

"That's my boy," Fitz cheered, while Olivia chuckled softly. Her husband was such a good father, and she couldn't love him anymore than she already did. He kissed his son's head and placed him on his chest while his wife snuggled against him and told him all about the day she'd had with their son.

XXX

Olivia had finally been cleared for exercise and sexual activity, although she wasn't ready for the latter. She'd slowly started working out again with Joey, who was nice enough to drive to Great Falls for their sessions. Her body was curvier now, even though she'd lost almost all the weight she'd gained. Fitz loved her body and told her so every chance he got. He liked to squeeze her ass to emphasize his point. She just seemed more feminine to him with her womanly curves. Olivia appreciated his admiration, but she wasn't comfortable with her new body just yet.

It was probably going to be a while before they resumed their sexual relations, and both seemed okay with that. Fitz had even remarked that their celibacy was good for them and their relationship. Since their focus was on their son, it gave them time to grow more as a couple. Each night, after Cruz was asleep, they lay in bed snuggling and just talking before falling into an exhausted sleep themselves, before their son woke up again.

TBC