Exhale

by urfavkidd

One-shot. Breaking away from the one person you have ever truly loved is never easy. With a small child involved, how will Olivia and Fitz do it?

Olivia groaned quietly, rolling her eyes at her child's father who stood across the yard talking and laughing with the men while she sat in a lawn chair fanning off the New York heat. Truthfully, she had no real reason to be annoyed with him besides the fact that she wanted his attention to be on her and not the men, but things between them weren't so simple and easy now.

"Ugh. He is so damn irritating," she huffed, finally peeling her eyes off of him.

Her friend Asia chuckled and shook her head at her antics as she continued to bounce her godson Thomas on her knee.

"Liv, you and Fitz need to stop playing this childish game. TJ tell mommy and daddy to get a room and stop acting like they don't love each other anymore."

"Neither of us has ever said that we don't love each other anymore, Asia. He's just- ugh, whatever." Olivia waved off her best friend with a huff and shifted her gaze back to Fitzgerald Grant.

Olivia couldn't believe that he'd barely been paying any attention to her. A little under two weeks ago her parents, Maya and Eli Pope had informed her that they were having a backyard party, and of course would be inviting a few of the Grants because they were all very close friends and ran in the same social circles. Olivia had then made a mental note to go all out with her outfit, she wanted to look sexy– yet appropriate for the family that would be in attendance. She wanted to show her child's father what he was missing out on. She had given birth to their son TJ a little over six months ago, and her body had snapped back with a vengeance. Her son had blessed her with curvier hips, fuller breast and a rounder butt. She just knew she looked good in the all white backless halter top, denim short-shorts that held her butt up perfectly and white Tory Burch strappy sandals.

But somehow, Fitz seemed unimpressed.

Aside from him asking her for their son's bottle a while ago he hadn't said much else to her, and it was starting to piss her off. There was once a time that he couldn't keep his hands to himself and now there was nothing. Olivia hated to admit it, but it hurt her. She truly did miss him and all that they once had. They were once that annoying couple that wouldn't keep their hands to themselves no matter where they were or was around, but because of her own insecurities they no longer had that type of relationship. What made matters worse is that Fitz seemed determined to keep things formal with her; if it wasn't about their son Thomas Josiah Grant, he wasn't interested in dealing with Olivia at all.

"He's standing over there looking so good. I see why you're over here pinning for him." Asia teased her, which in return earned her a death glare from Olivia.

"Aren't you married, whore?"

Asia had to hold in her laugher at that. "Yup, but I still have eyes. Now what?"

"Then look at her your own baby daddy and not mine."

"Girl, no one wants Fitz's white ass but you, Olivia."

Olivia giggled. "Is Stephan black now?"

"He is where it matters." Asia smirked.

"Mmm. Doubt that it's bigger than Fitz's."

"You wanna bet? I have plenty of pictures. We can compare."

"Yeah, no. I'm not showing you my man's dick. Nice try though."

Asia tossed her head back in full laughter. "Oh, so now he's your man, Liv?"

"Asia, don't do that." Olivia pouted. "If he hadn't been seeing other women behind my back then he still would be my man. We would still be together."

This time it was Asia who rolled her eyes. She was so tired of hearing this same old story. Fitz had already explained what happened. Mellie, his ex-coworker, had came onto him, sending nudes and sexual messages, but he, of course turned down her advances and filed a complaint with HR. When Olivia found this out she told Fitz that she needed space. Fitz was adamant about not splitting up but Olivia kept pushing him away until he had no choice but to let her go. Asia told her how wrong she was. Fitz had been nothing but good and faithful to her, but her dearest friend was just too stubborn to admit she jumped the gun. Now, Fitz and Olivia have been broken up for two months and Olivia clearly had some regrets.

Asia hated to witness Olivia watching for Fitz like a lost puppy, but she knew Olivia had to live with her choices and if the couple wanted things to work, they'd have to work them out themselves.

"Olivia, you and I both know that Fitz did not cheat on you. You believed Mellie's words over his and now you have to deal with those consequences."

"That isn't the point! He should have told me, Asia! Instead, that bitch came up to me while I was out with my son and mom and gloated in my face about fucking Fitz the night before." Olivia argued back. "I wasn't thinking clearly, Asia. I was hurt and confused, and I didn't want anything to do with him anymore."

"You know what? I'm going to let this go because I want to have a good time today and I want you to have a good time, too. Besides, you know where I stand on that situation. Mellie was dead wrong, we all know that. Fitz was wrong for not telling you what she had been up to, I agree. I really do, but you were wrong too, Liv."

Olivia sighed, rolling her eyes and shrugging her shoulders. "We've all made mistakes."

———

Although Olivia was in a bit of a funk, the party was going on without a hitch. The outside smelled of barbecue thanks to her father, the pool was lively with happy children and teens, and the music was loud and blasting mostly old school jams that had a few of the older generation "cutting a rug"on the dance floor with their red solo cups in their hand, filled with cold alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverages.

"Hey Eli, bring out the domino table! Bring out the table so that I can whoop Harrison's ass! He's been talking shit since I got here!" Fitz shouted through his laughter.

Eli Pope, who was standing at grill with a few of his friends, laughed heartily at his grandson's father. Fitz was truly a joy. The Pope's loved him dearly.

"Fitz, you're practically my cousin-in-law, I really don't want to have to embarrass you out here in front of everyone," Harrison said back.

"Harrison, you could never!"

The banter between the guys went on for quite a while. Laughter echoed across the crowd of family and friends once they realized that the men were shit-talking each other over a game of dominoes.

Janice shook her as she settled into her chair next to her good friend, the hostess. "Oh, my lord. My son has clearly had too much to drink! They all know Fitzgerald is a lightweight!" Fitz's mom chuckled.

"Well, I'm glad Olivia is still breastfeeding and can't get wasted. You know she would have her behind right there with Fitz and acting foolish," Maya Pope said. The women doubled over in laugher while sipping their strawberry and mango flavored wine coolers.

It was truly the perfect day for a backyard party at the estate.

"Hey Janice, I can't help but to notice the distance between Fitz and Liv, are things ok with them? There must be something going on, because those two are usually joined at the hip."

Janice Grant shot Maya Pope a look before refraining herself from rolling her eyes to the heavens. She loved her (in-law) great-aunt Elizabeth, dearly, but the older woman was nosy as hell.

Maya snickered but remained silent. Since this was Janice's aunt, she allowed Janice to respond.

"Aunt Liz, they're young and you know how the young people are today. They'll get it together sooner or later," Janice answered. Maya nodded in agreement. Both mothers truly believed that their children would work things out eventually. They weren't the type of parents who intervened in their children's love life, but every now and then, they reminded them of the good thing they already had.

Plus, everyone knew that those two were meant to be together. Their chemistry was insane and the love between them was undeniable.

"Well, I hope Fitzgerald has more sense than my own nephew did, God rest his soul. Gerry was foolish to let you go, Janice. I really don't want to see Fitzgerald go through the same thing with Olivia. She's good for that boy."

Janice made a soft hum in agreement. The Grants all loved Olivia so much, and Janice knew just how good she was for her son. Fitz was a sweetheart, but he could also have a nasty temper and sometimes be reckless. Besides herself, Olivia has been the only other person who could get him line for as long as she can remember.

"That, I agree with, aunt Liz. However, whatever happens between them, it is only up to them. No matter what, Olivia will always be family. She is the mother of my grandson and the daughter of my dearest friend. We are all family no matter what those two choose to do."

Maya smiled at her friend. She held up her drink and nodded in agreement. "We are family."

———

"I'll be right back, Jan. I'm going to lay TJ down for his nap," Olivia said, grabbing her son from his grandmother Janice and kissing his fluffy, rosy cheek. Her baby was as round as the Michelin man and his father's twin. The only thing Thomas had of his mommy's was her cute nose and lips.

After laying Thomas down for a nap in his own bedroom that her mother and father had been adamant about him having, Olivia began making her way back outside to the party. On her way out of the door, someone caught her by the arm. Naturally, she frowned as she turned to face who it was. She couldn't help but hope that it was Fitz, and that he was ready to have some sort of conversation with her.

"Jake? Oh my god! What are you doing here," she asked excitedly, throwing her arms over his shoulders. They hugged briefly before Olivia pulled away to get a good look at him.

"I remembered you saying that your parents were having a party and I decided to swing by before heading back home. I just left my parents house." He explained, holding up a bottle of tequila.

Olivia groaned inwardly. She was upset that she couldn't indulge in all the alcohol due to breastfeeding Thomas. She had already had her share of it for the day and had done her pump and dump earlier.

"Ugh, this isn't fair! All of the alcohol here and I can't have any," she pouted jokingly.

Jake chuckled. He remembered from their night out that Olivia was still breastfeeding, because on that night, she had drank to her hearts content. Drunkenly telling him how she had already pumped enough to last her son a while.

"Well, I'll drink enough for the both of us."

Olivia gaped at him as she laughed, "That doesn't help me at all, but yeah, you go right ahead. It's family and friends here and no one will judge for having a good time," she said smiling and leading him the way outdoors. "Come on. You can follow me out back."

Now, to anyone that didn't personally know Olivia and Jake would think that they were a couple that were just arriving, and to a drunken Fitzgerald, that's exactly what his mind went to when he noticed Olivia coming through the door with Jake trailing closely behind.

"Harrison, what the fuck is he doing here? And why is Olivia with him?" Fitz questioned as anger built up in him.

The history between Fitz and Jake wasn't good at all. Jake had hit on Olivia plenty of times before, but she always downplayed it and chalked it up to him just being friendly and for that reason alone, Fitz couldn't stand the sight of him.

Everyone knew how irrational Fitz became when he drank too much, so their best bet was to distract him.

"Fitz, calm down man and play your hand! Everyone here knows that Liv is your girl." Another friend Bobby said, trying to reassure him and ease the building tension.

Fitz nodded his head but he kept his glare on Olivia for a few more seconds before turning back to the game. Though he was back playing, his mind was still on Jake and Olivia.

Did she fucking invite him, he wondered.

Fitz knew his relationship with Olivia wasn't in the best place right now and he didn't need Jacob Ballard trying to slither his way into her vulnerable heart. Fitz still loved her beyond words and he wanted to be with her. He wanted to eventually get married so they could raise their son together as husband and wife and eventually have more cute ass babies.

When Olivia first asked him for space, he was beyond angry at her for not believing his word over Mellie's. Olivia and Fitz had met when she was fifteen years old and he was seventeen. They instantly became the best of friends and their relationship didn't turn into a romantic one until they reached their early twenties. Now at the age of twenty-six and twenty-eight, with a six month old baby, their relationship was at its lowest point ever. They had years of history under their belt and that's why Fitz couldn't understand how Olivia could believe some woman's words over his.

Olivia had hurt him in a way that he didn't talk about to anyone. Her not trusting him made him uneasy, especially because he had been nothing but loyal to her. Whenever she needed him, he was there.

From the way she handled the situation, it made Fitz question if it had been a way out for her? Had she been wanting to end things with him and the situation with Mellie had been what she needed to leave him?

———

Asia had been sitting in a chair, snapping pictures for her Instagram when Olivia and Jake caught her attention as they came through her back door.

Her eyes immediately went to Fitz and she instantly noticed the flash of panic come across his face when he saw them together. She truly felt bad for Fitz. He was such a good dude. Yeah, he fucked up every now and then, but he was human like the rest of them. Even she couldn't believe Olivia was parading around with Jake like she hadn't been in near tears a few hours ago because Fitz wasn't speaking to her.

"Lord, help us all," she said to herself while making her way into her husband's lap, Stephan Finch. She had been watching Fitz go off and she desperately wanted to know what was being said.

"Hi, my love," she said before kissing Stephan's cheek.

Stephan smiled at her but he couldn't let her distract him too much. He had a thousand dollar bet going on with his best friend Fitz, and if he lost, he knew she'd be pissed at him until the foreseeable future.

"Baby, will you go and get me a beer," Stephan asked. He pushed her shoulder-length locs aside and kissed her neck before sucking on it. She blushed and pecked his lips again before getting up to get her man a beer. With her around, Fitz clearly wasn't about to rant about Olivia and that had been her only reason for going to the domino table anyway.

"Mommy!" Asia heard and her face instantly lit up as her baby girl came running towards her. She was soaking wet from being in the pool, but the wetness of her swimming suit felt good against her legs as her daughter hugged them.

"Hi, Nala! Are you having fun with your cousins?"

"Yes, but I hungry," the three year old answered while shriving and grabbing her mother's outstretched hand. Asia giggled at the speed that her daughter's bottom lip was quivering. Stephan can wait on his beer, Asia thought to herself. She needed to get their daughter warmed up and fed.

"Come on, baby. Mama's gonna get you right."

After Asia got Nala wrapped up in a towel and seated in the sun, she made her a plate with a hotdog and chips and gave her a Capri Sun.

"Mommy, where's Tommy," Nala questioned in her sweet baby drawl and her mouth full of hotdog. Asia shook her head and chuckled. The girl loved her some "Tommy".

"Your god-brother is upstairs taking a nap, baby. He'll be up soon, I'm sure," she answered before kissing her juicy cheek and fluffing out her daughter's afro. Asia knew her daughter was going to give her hell when it came time to wash and comb her thick 4c hair.

"Baby, when you are done eating, mommy's going to take you in the house and change you into your clothes, ok?"

"Can we wake up Tommy, too? I miss him and want to play with him."

Asia smiled warmly. "I'll ask aunt Olivia if it's ok to wake up TJ, if she says yes then we will, ok?" After confirming with her daughter, Asia took her husband his beer. By the time she came back, Nala was finished with her food and ready to get out of her wet swimsuit and into something dry. And of course, ready to wake up her god-brother that she missed so much.

While heading inside, Asia was stopped by Maya, whom had been on her way to Jake and Olivia.

"Hey, Nana!" Nala beamed.

When Asia was only a few weeks pregnant with Nala, Maya had been adamant about the baby calling her "Nana" or "Nana Maya" and calling her husband "Papa" or "Papa Eli" whenever he or she was born. Asia, who had grown up without her parents being real parents, was grateful that her best friend parents were stepping in to fill the shoes of being her baby's grandparents.

"Hey, Nana's pretty girl! Where are you two heading off to? Asia, I know you aren't leaving yet?"

"No ma'am, I'm just taking Nala inside to get change into her regular clothes and she wants to check on TJ."

"Go ahead and wake him up. He's slept long enough," Maya said which had the three year old beaming with excitement.

Maya walked away, continuing on her journey to her daughter and her little friend.

"Olivia?" Maya called as she stood in front of the two. "Honey, you've been tucked away nearly all day."

"I know, but I've just been catching up with Jake." Olivia smiled, gesturing towards him.

Maya's gaze slowly shifted from her daughter to Jake. Her smile never leaving her face. "Ah yes, I see.

How are you, Jake?"

"Good, ma'am. I am good. And you?"

"I'm great. As you can see, I've got all the people here who I love and hold very near and dear to my heart. So, who invited you?"

Olivia had to stop herself from gasping at the way her mother had just thrown shade. No- scratch that- her mother had just thrown the whole damn tree!

"Liv invited me. She and I had gone out for drinks a few weeks ago and she said that you all were having a cookout and that I should come by."

Maya Pope raised eyebrows didn't go unnoticed by Olivia. Shit, Olivia thought.

"Well, I guess thank you for coming? And also thank you for coming to speak to my husband and I when you arrived."

"Mama..." Olivia groaned. Again, the shade! What is with this woman?!

"Well, that is all I wanted. You two enjoy yourselves. Your father and I are moving things inside into the party room. You can invite your friends inside too or you all can stay out here," Maya said.

"Yes, ma'am." Olivia shook her head as she watched her mother walk away gracefully.

Olivia knew how much her mother hated when people just made themselves comfortable in her home without speaking to her or her dad first. They were southern raised people after all, and in the south, from a child to you're an adult, you're expected to always greet the homeowners upon your arrival and allow them to tell you to "make yourself at home".

"Oh my god." Olivia groaned embarrassedly. "Jake, I am so sorry about my mother. I feel like this is my fault. I should have taken you over to her and my father before encouraging you to stay with me."

Jake chuckled. He wasn't fazed by her mother at all. "Liv, I'm a grown man. Don't worry about it. Besides, if I'm being honest, I don't think your parents have ever liked me, so I'm sure it has more to do with me being here in general."

"Jake, no, that isn't true. My parents do like you."

"Olivia..."

Olivia sighed, relenting. She knew for a fact that her parents weren't very fond of Jake, but she wasn't going to admit it to him- that just seemed rude. Before she met Fitz, at the age of fifteen, Jake was her close friend but her parents didn't think he was a good influence on her. One of the questions that came to mind when Olivia first saw Jake was why had she given him information about the party; she knew none of the people here would be happy to see him- especially her child's father.

What the hell had she been thinking?

"I'm still going to talk to her for you. She and my father need to move on from the past, we were kids."

"Well, I did used to get you into a lot of trouble, Liv. Remember when I had you to be the lookout for me while I egged Mrs. Dean house?"

Olivia burst into laughter at the memory. "God, yes! I got grounded for three weeks!"

"And when I had you to steal ten bucks from your mom because I was short on money for that Star Wars poster I wanted so bad?"

"Yup! I remember that, too. Maya Pope gave me the ass whooping of my life that day. I'm still traumatized."

Jake and Olivia both laughed. "Okay, maybe my parents were right, you are a bad influence on me."

"Well, I've changed since then. You said that yourself the night we went out."

"Jake, honestly, I was so drunk that night that I could have said anything."

"You said you were single, but I see him here. Was that not true?"

Olivia's smile faltered at the mention of Fitz. Although she and Fitz weren't together, she suddenly felt like she was being unfaithful to him and their little family. Without a second thought, her gaze shifted towards him and her heart skipped a beat, realizing that his blue eyes were already on her.

She quickly turned away and shook her head. "No, that- that is true. We're not together, but he's 'family'. You know that his mom and my mom are great friends, and he is my child's father. He's always going to be around whether we're together or not, " she replied with a sadness she couldn't hide.

"Well, I'm glad I decided to stop by. It seems like you needed someone around who isn't biased." Jake grabbed her hand and smiled softly at her. "I'm here to cheer you up and be a friend."

Olivia smiled softly as he intertwined their fingers. "I'm glad you stopped by, too."

Jake and Olivia continued to talk. He had her laughing as he reminisced about the past and all their mischief. Olivia felt genuinely happy. She ignored all the unspoken questions and looks she was getting from the people around her and focused on Jake. He was just being her friend, and there was nothing else to it.

Whoever was on the aux switched up the tempo and began to play a slow jam. Jake immediately got an idea. "Come dance with me," he said, extending his hand to Olivia.

"What? Jake, no."

"Oh come on, Liv. Don't be shy. You look beautiful. These are your people and I want to dance with you."

Olivia immediately felt nervous butterflies in her stomach as she blushed. She didn't want anyone talking about how she and Jake looked together, but after looking around and realizing that the children and older adults had gone home or gone inside the house, more than likely in the party room like her mother had mentioned, she had all the motivation she needed.

"One dance," she told him as she placed her hand into his and stood to her feet. "Then I have to go check on my son."

"I'll take that." Jake smiled eagerly. He couldn't believe she had given in so quickly. He just knew with Fitz around that she would turn him down, but things were obviously much worse between them than what he thought. Perfect.

On the dance floor, they danced together but their bodies never touched. Olivia made sure of it. She wanted to keep things friendly just in case her mom or Janice came back outside. She didn't have time for the drama they would surely cause.

As Olivia moved her body to the beat, Jake watched her intimately. He, himself wasn't even moving because he was so enchanted by her. Olivia was literally the woman of his dreams and with Fitz now out of the way, he had made it his mission to get her. Hell, he was even ready to play step-dad to her baby.

They were really just having clean fun together, but then Olivia got carried away for a moment and turned her booty against Jake and twirled her ass on him. Jake realized this and immediately wrapped an arm around her waist and whispered something in her ear.

Olivia erupted into a loud laughter before stepping out of his embrace and playfully slapping his arm.

"Nasty!" She playfully scolded him before they laughed together and began heading to get a drink.

Unbeknownst to them, they had caused hell across the lawn.

———

Fitz threw back another shot then stood from his seat with a force so strong that he caused his chair to fly back. His boys jumped up and grabbed him.

"Fitz, calm down!" Bobby told him.

Stephan turned to find Asia, when he spotted her, he called her name, asking her to come over. "Baby, I need you to get Olivia away from Jake. Take her in the house or something while I get Jake to leave."

Asia frowned. "Why? Why do you need to get him to leave? What's going on?"

Stephan took a deep breath to keep himself calm, but was she seriously asking this? "Asia, my best friend and your best friend dated for years and have a child together. They are no longer together and now your best friend is dancing with a man that my best friend has hated for as long as I can remember. My best friend, who isn't a serious drinker, has been drinking like he doesn't need his liver and now he is drunk off his ass and ready to fight. Caught up yet, princess?"

Asia rolled her eyes at her husband's smart mouth. "Fuck you."

"Love to, babe, but after you get Liv in the house and Jake is gone from here," he said, glancing back at Fitz who was being held back and talked to by the group of men. When he turned back towards Asia, she was still there and glaring at him. He knew he had fucked up.

"Asia, please. I don't want Maya, Eli nor Janice to see Fitz like this and the only way he'll calm down is if Jake is gone from here."

Asia groaned annoyedly. She knew this shit would happen. "Something told me to make his creepy looking ass leave as soon as he got here, but this isn't my house so I stayed in my place. Ugh!" She walked away to get Olivia away from the forthcoming conflict.

Stephan groaned as well as he followed behind his upset wife to handle Jake himself.

"Fuck her!" Fitz shouted bitterly.

At this point, the logical things that were being said to him was going in one ear and out of the other. He was beyond being reasonable. He wanted to hit someone. "She wants to be disrespectful and shake her ass on another man like I'm not here, then cool, I will put my dick in another woman like she already think I did," Fitz said angrily. At this point, everyone now understood his actions. Olivia had really hurt him by not believing him when he said he didn't sleep with Mellie. This situation wasn't just about Jake, it was about Olivia not trusting him but also turning around and being in another man's face, proving herself to be a complete hypocrite.

"Let fucking go of me!" Fitz yelled as he yanked himself from his older brother's grasp. Before they all knew it, Fitz was rushing past Stephan and Asia and going directly towards Olivia and Jake.

If it had been a cartoon show, a cloud of smoke would be coming from Fitz's red ears representing just how angry he was.

———

"Oh my god! That was so much fun! I honestly didn't think that you would know how to dance so well!" Olivia giggled girlishly. She was truly shocked.

Jake chuckled. "Yeah, I know I don't look like the type of guy that would know how to, especially being a white guy, but I've learned a thing or two over the years. It mainly depends on your partner."

Olivia giggled again. Being white probably did have a lot to do with it. Fitz couldn't dance to save his life and Olivia hoped and prayed every night that TJ at least got her rhythm and not his father's!

Before Olivia had the chance to respond, Fitz grabbed her by her arm and spun her around. She gasped at the force and looked at him shockingly. "Fitz! What the hell is wrong with you?"

"What the fuck are you over here doing, Olivia!" He questioned. Without realizing it, the grasped he had on her arm was getting tighter.

"Fitz, let go of my arm! You are hurting me."

Fitz looked down and realized that he was squeezing her a little too tight and quickly let her arm go. His whole demeanor changed and he felt terrible.

"Shit. I'm- I'm sorry, Livie."

Olivia ignored his apology. She knew he would never hurt her intentionally. "What is your problem, Fitz?"

Out of nowhere, Jake stepped next to Olivia.

Fitz's gaze immediately shifted to him before looking back at Olivia as to say: "That. That is my problem." Before he knew it, his dominant left hand was clenched into a fist as he looked him up and down.

"Liv, are you alright? I heard you telling him to let go of you?" Jake asked. He ignored Fitz's presence completely and focused on her.

Fitz couldn't help but to chuckle at the man's boldness to address his woman right in front of him. "Olivia is good. She's always good when I'm around. The fuck are you worried about her for?"

"Fitz!" Olivia hissed while she stared at him. She knew by the look on his face that Jake had one chance to say the wrong thing and it would be over for him. She grabbed ahold of his arm, trying to get his attention back onto her but he was not budging. "Fitz..."

"Fitz, can you not do this?" She pleaded.

In all honesty, this was not the reaction Olivia wanted from him. Yes, she had wanted to make him jealous in a way, but she didn't want to cause an entire fight! She should've known better though, Fitz's been drinking all day and it never took much to make his jealous and irrational side come out, especially when it came to her.

"Fitz, plea-"

He cut her off, calmly speaking as he looked at her. "Olivia, go in the house. I will deal with you later." When she didn't move an inch, he shouted, "Go!"

"Oh my God!" Olivia roared with anger as Asia came up to her and grabbed her hand. They began walking away but they never went inside. Olivia wouldn't allow it, she needed to make sure that Fitz didn't kill Jake.

"Fitz wants to kill him, Asia. I know that look. He may be the sweet and quiet type, but Fitz can and will lose his shit."

"This is what you wanted though, right, Liv? To make him jealous?" Asia asked although they both knew it wasn't a question. Olivia sighed and looked up towards the sky to hold back her tears. Thankfully the sun had gone down and there was barely any daylight left, that meant everyone had probably gone home.

With Olivia now out of his way, Fitz's attention was back on Jake. He looked him dead in the eyes, seething with anger and realizing just how much he hated this fucking dude. Olivia was no longer his and he knew he had no right to be this angry, but he couldn't stop himself. For years he knew that Jake was secretly waiting for him and Olivia to end up in a place this and now that they were, Fitz was angry because Jake could now have the opportunity to get with the love of his life.

"What the fuck are you still standing here for? You can leave," Fitz spoke. He was trying to keep his temper in check, trying his damn hardest not to cause a fight at his son's grandparents home.

Jake couldn't help but chuckle. He smelled the alcohol on Fitz's breath so he wasn't budging. If something did go down- like a fight- he knew he had the upper hand against the drunken man.

"Look, I am not Olivia so you aren't going to talk to me any type of way like you do with her," Jake stated, standing toe to toe with Fitz. "You know what, maybe if you treated her better she would've been with you instead of grinding her ass on me. Don't worry about it, Fitzy. I'm really going to enjoy raising little Thomas as mine. Maybe Liv and I will give him a little brother and call him Jake junior."

Before anyone could register what Jake had said, Fitz had swung on him, landing a punch so forceful that it made the 168 pound man stumble back, nearly knocking him off his feet and to the ground.

"Oh my god! Fitz!" Olivia screamed as she rushed back over to the men. She was desperately trying to get to Jake as he and Fitz began going blow for blow. Peter, Fitz's older brother, grabbed her and held her back so she wouldn't get hurt.

"Olivia, stop!"

"Peter, let go of me!" She wrestled against him, but his grip was too strong for her to get loose. Fucking strong ass Grant men!

"Olivia, does it seriously fucking look like Fitz is going to listen to you right now? Look at him!"

Tears poured from her eyes. Peter was right. Fitz was in the state of mind that beyond hearing any reason. "Fitz! Fucking stop it," she shouted, hoping her voice would reel him back in.

Fitz was zoned out. Sitting above Jake and repeatedly laying punch after punch as he dared him to say his son's name again.

Jake was curled into a ball, trying to cover his face as best as he could- he couldn't even fight back at this point. Fitz held him down with his weight. The man was all muscle and Jake didn't have a fighting chance.

"Fitzgerald! Stop! Stop it right now!" Janice barked as she rushed over to the two fighting. Asia had gone inside to get her. She knew it was the only option since the other four men were being useless and just letting the fight happen.

At the sound of Janice's voice, Stephan, Peter, Harrison and Bobby immediately worked to pull Fitz off of Jake, but before then, they had honestly been enjoying themselves and watching Fitz beat the shit out of Jake- it been a long time coming. They knew Jake had fucked up tremendously when he mentioned Thomas' name. Just like any father, Fitz did not play about his child. Nor did any of his friends, so they all understood Fitz's reaction.

Jake deserved this.

No matter how angry Fitz was, Janice was never too afraid to get in his face and straighten him out. She knew that he knew better than to do anything crazy toward her.

"What the hell is going on here!" Janice demanded.

Fitz was seething with anger. He huffed angrily at being scolded by his mother at his big age. He looked at Olivia with a death glare. Her tears didn't make him feel sorry, instead it pissed him off more. How could she be crying when this was all her fucking fault?

Without answering anyone, Fitz pulled his keys from his pocket and stormed off. "Fuck this shit! Since I'm the fucking problem, I'll go!"

Everyone began to protest. They knew that he was far too intoxicated to drive anywhere.

"Fitzgerald!" Janice shouted after him.

Olivia's heart immediately began to pound in her chest as she watched him storm away toward his car. The imagine of him crashing scared her more than anything. She wasn't about to let that happen no matter how angry she was at him.

"Fitz, please stop! Do not get into that fucking car!" She shouted with tears streaming down her cheeks as she chased after him.

No matter how bad things got between them, she never wanted to lose him forever nor did she want her son growing up without his father.

She kept shouting his name as she raced after him.

Jake had already been forgotten.

"Fitz! Stop walking!"

Mid-stride, Fitz stopped and turned around to face her. His anger was evident. His eyes were bloodshot red, his glare honestly frightened her, but she wasn't backing down.

"What the hell do you want, Olivia? Why are you following me? Your boyfriend is back that way."

Olivia ignored his slick, immature remark.

"Where are you going? You can't drive, Fitz. You're drunk."

"I am not drunk."

"Do you not care about me? Because if something's happens to you while you're behind the wheel-"

Fitz gave her look and Olivia held her back her sob. Ouch. So, he doesn't care.

Taking a steady breath, Olivia tried again. "If not for me, at least for Thomas. Think about our son, Fitz."

———

Olivia had managed to grab Fitz's keys and convince him to come inside of her parents house. The party was over and everyone had gone home except those closes to them.

"I can't believe Jake is still causing us so much trouble." Eli fussed. "Did you not tell Liv that the Ballard's weren't invited for a reason?"

Maya frowned, shaking her head. "Of course not. I had no idea that she was still even in contact with Jake. I'm positive that Livia is just using him to get back at Fitz. God, I hope she isn't seriously interested in him."

In the adjoining bathroom where their son was once again sleeping, Fitz stood between Olivia's legs while she sat on the countertop cleaning his bloody knuckles and a small scratch underneath his left eye. The tension was thick and they were both full of anger and hurt, but she would always take care of him. Jake had actually gotten a hit in? She wondered to herself.

"Fitz, you know you didn't have to react like that to him. He's on his way to the damn hospital."

"Good." He shrugged nonchalantly before closing his eyes. His head was pounding and now with all the adrenaline gone, his hands were throbbing in pain. "You didn't hear what he said to me, so you don't get to tell me that my reaction was wrong."

"What could he have said that was so bad that you had to break his nose and crack two of his ribs, Fitz?"

Fitz shook his head. He wasn't going to repeat it. Just that thought of it coming true angered and hurt him too much. "Doesn't matter, Olivia. What matters is the fact that you were dancing on him, why?"

Olivia sucked in a deep breath as she looked down and closed the first-aid kit her mother had given her. She placed the bandage on the graze under his eye then folded her arms and stared at him as she leaned back against the mirror. "Why does it matter that I danced with him? You weren't going to, you were too busy ignoring me."

"I really don't get you, Olivia." He sighed.

Olivia frowned. "What do you mean you don't get me?"

"You-" Fitz started to shout but he immediately calmed himself. His headache was intensifying causing him to groan in pain. Olivia handed him two Tylenol tablets and a glass of water. After he'd taken the medicine, Olivia looked at him expectedly. "Explain, please."

"You don't understand how much you hurt me when you left me. I never once cheated on you with Mellie, or with any woman. I have been faithful to you since the very beginning, then that happened and you treated me like I meant nothing to you...like you had been waiting for something to happen just so that you could get rid of me, Liv. That fucking hurt me."

Olivia eyes filled with tears as she listened to him. She knew Fitz was only being this open about his emotions because of the alcohol he'd consumed, but she was grateful, but also hurt. How could he think that? She loved his crazy, jealous and overprotective ass so much. She constantly wished what happened to them never happened, but she was hurt in the process, and she had to make a tough decision to protect herself.

"Fitz, that is not true!" She argued. "I just didn't know how to handle the situation."

"You should've believed me, Olivia! We could have talked things over and worked it out! Instead you shut me out and left me hanging!"

"Because it wasn't that easy! I was already insecure about my body after having Thomas and then that happened and I just didn't know what to do. Mellie told me that you and her had fucked in your office the night before. She told me that she was on her knees for you when she heard me asking you to come home because Thomas was giving me a hard time. I thought I was doing the right thing for both of us at the time, giving you the freedom to fuck whoever you pleased and not having to deal with my insecurities."

"Olivia, Mellie never touched me! The thought of touching her never ever crossed my mind. I wouldn't touch her with a ten foot pole! I'm sorry I didn't come home when you needed me, but the only thing that I can think is that Mellie heard you through my office door that night. I had you on speakerphone, like I always do, and she heard you and used the information to her advantage when she saw you the next day."

Olivia sat quietly, shaking her head. That fucking bitch. Fitz did always have her speakerphone and she hated it.

Fitz chuckled humorlessly, "I just can't believe you thought that getting rid of me was the right thing to do? Was I really that bad?"

Olivia sighed and shook her head. "I didn't-"

Fitz cut her off, "So, you and Jake? How long have you two been screwing," he asked, shocking her completely.

"Wha...what?"

"Don't act shocked, Olivia," he said harshly. Remembering that their son was just a wall away, he was trying to keep his tone down and his anger tamed, but Olivia was making that extremely difficult. "How long have you been fucking him, huh? No one that was at the party are friends with him, except you. So, you had to invite him and now I want to know how long you've been fucking him?"

Olivia shook her head in disbelief as she jumped down for the counter. "I didn't invite him and I have not been fucking him, you asshole."

"Then how did he know that you would be here? How did he know about the party?"

"Fitz, none of that shit matters!"

"It matters to me! Tell me the truth for once, Olivia!"

She ignored his plea and the intense gaze that was on her. "I think I hear TJ waking up."

"I knew it. You did fuck him."

"I did not fuck him, Fitz! One night he took me out and I got really drunk, so maybe I did invite him? At least he says I did, but I can't really remember. When he took me home, we kissed, and that's all that ever happened. I have never fucked Jake!"

Fitz glared at her. He couldn't believe his ears. "Did you have him around my son, Olivia?"

She shook her head immediately. "No. Thomas was with your mom that night."

"Do you feel something for him now?" Fitz questioned.

She felt tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. "I..I don't know? Maybe."

Fitz remained silent as he tried to gather his thoughts. For months she had him feeling like he was the problem when it was actually her. She was the one that was disloyal and she was the one that was ready to move on.

"We're done. If it isn't about our son then please don't contact me anymore. It's over."

Tears fell from her eyes. "Fitz! Do not do this-"

"This is what you wanted, Olivia! For months you had me going around blaming myself for something that didn't even happen! I wanted to work things out with you, but you...you clearly didn't! You had already moved on and had me out there looking like a fucking fool! You wanted to be free, so I'm letting you go for good. You told me multiple times and showed me in multiple ways that you didn't want to be with me, today I finally got the message. You wanted space and now you got it. You don't have to worry about me anymore."

"Fitz, please!" Olivia shook her head as she grabbed onto his shirt and sobbed. The thought of him being out of her life was already about to drive her insane. She didn't truly want Jake- he had been there when she was vulnerable. Fitz was her soulmate. He is the only man that she has ever truly loved. "I'm sorry!"

Fitz shook her off of him and opened the bathroom door. "I love you, but I can't make you happy, Olivia. We're only damaging each other. Go be happy with him," he said with sincerity before walking out.

Downstairs, Fitz met with his mother, Eli and Maya. He sighed at the looks on their faces and knew right away that he needed to apologize for his actions. "Eli, Maya, I want to apologize for the way I behaved tonight. It was not my intention to cause a scene and ruin a good evening that was so well planned. I allowed my anger and jealousy to get the best of me and I sincerely apologize to everyone."

"We've known you for a long time, Fitz. We know that there is goodness inside you, if we didn't know that, Maya and I would not have allowed you around our daughter. I guess what I am trying to say is, don't let people change the loving and caring person you are. Don't let anyone get you down or so angry that you have to step out of your character. Use the love and goodness inside you to stay strong, Fitz."

Janice and Maya nodded in agreement with everything Eli said. They each hugged him and let him know that he was forgiven. Everyone made mistakes.

"We know you love Olivia, but sometimes you just have to let people go, Fitz. It's gonna hurt for a while, but eventually it'll get easier," Maya said.

Fitz nodded in agreement. "That's pretty much what I just did upstairs. I told her that I'm letting her go. She doesn't want me. I think she wants Jake, or maybe she doesn't know what she wants, but I'm getting out of her way to let her find her own way. I love her so much but I want her happy. Of course I'll be there for my son, but Livie and I...we are done."

"No matter what, we are still family and we love you very much."

Janice and Maya hugged. It was time to get Fitz home. "Jan, I'll call you," Maya said as she and Eli walked Fitz and Janice out the door.

"Please do. We have a lot to discuss. We are not going to let our crazy children put us in the grave early."

"Oh, absolutely not! We may be grandmothers but we are not that old."

The two woman laughed before repeating their goodbyes. Eli locked up and kissed his wife's forehead. "Are you going to talk to our daughter?"

"Of course I am." Maya chuckled.

"Don't be long." Eli gave her look, letting her know what was waiting for her when she came to bed.

Maya blushed, shaking her head. "I won't be."

——

Olivia stayed in the bathroom crying her eyes out long after Fitz had been driven home by his mother.

She still had so much love for him and she wasn't prepared to lose him. Especially not for Jake. Jake didn't mean half as much to her as Fitz did. What had she been thinking? How could she fix this?

"Livia? Livia baby, TJ's awake, honey," Maya said as she stood outside of the bathroom door with her grandson in her arms.

Olivia sighed and unlocked the door. Maya made a sad face at her and she shook her head as she handed off Thomas to be fed.

"I know, mommy. I messed up big time."

"You and Jake though? Really, Olivia? I never would have guessed that he was your type."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "It was really nothing, mom. We went out to eat, he took me home and I invited him inside. I thought I wanted more and that I was ready to be completely done with Fitz, but I wasn't. When he kissed me, I knew I couldn't be with anyone other than Fitz. It felt wrong to be with Jake in that way."

"So, you broke up with Fitz because you thought he cheated, then you turned around and actually cheated on him? Make it make sense, baby."

"Mama, aren't you supposed to be on my side? I made a mistake, and technically, I didn't cheat because Fitz and I weren't together when it happened."

"Baby, I'm not picking sides, I just want you to see how serious the situation is and to realize the roles that you've played in it. If Jake is who you want to be with then you need to let Fitz go or if you want to be with Fitz then you need to let Jake go. This isn't fair to either of them, Olivia."

Olivia sat and listened to her mother go on and on as she breastfed her baby boy. She took in her mother's words though, and she knew she was completely right. She had a lot of decisions to make.

But she was starting with healing herself first.

"Your father and I are going to support you no matter what, Livia. We love you so much and just want you to be happy, baby. Your happiness and our grandson's happiness is what's most important to us."

Olivia smiled. She was so grateful for her mother. "Thanks, mama. Me and TJ love you too."

———

"Happy birthday, TJ! Happy birthday to you!" The entire room erupted into applause and cheers as the three year old blew out his candle, gave a big smile and clapped his hands as well.

"Thank you!" Thomas shouted loudly from his mother's arms and everyone aw'd. He was just the sweetest and cutest thing ever.

"Ooh, Olivia, that boy is too handsome! What you gone do with him?"

Olivia laughed at Thomas' great-aunt and hugged the older woman. "I know right, aunt Fay. I'm still trying to think of ways to keep him in the house when he turns eighteen. I have fifteen years to think of something."

Fitz stood next to the ladies and laughed as he cut Thomas' birthday cake and handed out the slices to whoever wanted one.

Olivia smiled, looking out at the guest full of family and friends that came to help celebrate her baby's life. She felt the warmth and love around the room, then suddenly she felt a familiar pair of hands on the hip Thomas wasn't on.

"Well, hello there," she greeted looking over her shoulder with a small smile.

"Hey, babe. Sorry I'm so late. I tried to make it on time," Jake said, kissing her cheek repeatedly.

"Ew! No! Moveeee!" Thomas exclaimed.

"TJ!" Olivia's face flushed with embarrassment as she slipped out of Jake's embrace. She shot a glance in Fitz's direction, but he ignored the look she gave him with a smirk on his own face.

That motherfucker, Olivia thought. Thomas Josiah was truly his daddy's son. Protective and so jealous.

"Daddy!" Thomas yelled.

"What's up, boss man?" Fitz asked, coming over and taking him from Olivia's arms.

Olivia playfully rolled her eyes, and those who had been paying attention laughed at her jealous expression. "He's such a daddy's boy!"

Fitz spoke lowly, only loud enough for Olivia to hear, "You used to be the same way, Livie. You'd call me daddy and I cum, or we both did."

Olivia's eyes widened and her hand flew to cover her mouth as she blushed. She wanted to smack him so badly! "Fitzgerald, cut it out!"

Fitz laughed, but said nothing else. He tossed his toddler high in the air and Thomas squealed with joy and laughter. "Ahh, daddy! Again! Do it again!"

"Let's go find Nala, boss man."

Fitz smiled watching his son's face light up with excitement at the mention of his best-friend/god-sister name. Those two were still the best of buddies.

Now that Thomas was out of his way, Jake moved to Olivia's side again. He couldn't tell if she was upset with him or not. "Liv..."

"Jake, it's fine. I know you wanted to be here," Olivia said. Her attention immediately shifted to her son and his father as their loud laughter caught her attention. They were sitting with Asia, Nala, Stephan, Janice, Maya, Eli and Harrison. She smiled softly in their direction before looking at Jake, "We'll have plenty of time to talk tonight. Right now...today is about TJ."

Jake nodded, trying to hide his annoyance. "Yeah, you're right. Let's enjoy the rest of the kid's party."

Thomas' third birthday party went on for only one more hour since the indoor trampoline facility was getting ready to close. After all of his cool birthday gifts were carried to Olivia's Porsche Macan and the goodie bags were given out to all of his awesome guests, the leftover birthday cake was taken to Maya and Eli's car while everyone said their goodbyes after four amazing hours of celebrating Thomas Josiah Grant.

Later that night, Thomas went home with his daddy to continue celebrating his birthday the next day. That had been the arrangement for the past three years. Olivia and Thomas would celebrate his birthday on the day before, then on his actual birthday Olivia and Fitz and their families came together to celebrate, and the day after, Fitz and Thomas had their own celebration. It worked perfectly for them and Thomas loved it, too! They knew Thomas loved being spoiled rotten and being able to have quality time with each of them. Every other week Olivia and Fitz alternated between keeping Thomas. On Olivia's heavy work weeks, Fitz kept their son and the same went for Olivia if Fitz was slumped with work. In the last three years they had managed to become even better friends and better parents than they were before.

After their huge fight at Eli and Maya's house that summer night, they had vowed to only communicate if it was for Thomas' benefit and that was how it was until the night Olivia got one of the worst possible phone calls of her life.

Fitz had been in a car accident.

As she made her way to the hospital with their one year old son and Janice, she knew she couldn't allow their relationship to go on the way that it had been. After talking with her therapist, Olivia knew they needed to do better with co-parenting. So when Fitz came out of the hospital with only a broken arm and minor concussion, they had a serious adult talk. The change didn't happen overnight, but with time, they were able to work out their differences and be actual friends again and not just people who shared a child.

While Fitz and Olivia had been reconciling their friendship, Jake was warming his way into Olivia's heart in a romantic way.

He was a welcome distraction and brought joy into her life when things got bumpy with Fitz. The only hiccup that she had trouble overcoming was how much Thomas disliked Jake. Most children were super easy to persuade in making them like you, but Thomas was clearly not like most children and he could not be persuaded. Olivia almost believed Fitz was telling their son to act that way towards Jake, but he laughed and swore that he wasn't. Thomas had a mind of his own.

Olivia and Jake had been engaged and living together for a little over a year. They weren't the perfect couple but they had genuine love and respect for each other which made the relationship work. Jake was ready to make her his wife immediately after asking for her hand in marriage, but with her son not being a fan of his and her feelings not being completely involved, Olivia kept making up excuses as to why she couldn't set a wedding date.

Now settled into bed, Olivia grabbed her phone and began checking the messages she'd received throughout the day. There were probably close to a hundred of them; mostly all of them were pictures of Thomas from his party even though she had hired a photographer.

One name in her message thread that stood out to her was Fitz. She opened the message and cooed at the picture of her baby boy who was knocked out in bed and clad in his Cocomelon pj's and custom made Cocomelon durag to keep his braids looking fresh.

Olivia: Aww, look at mama's handsome boy!

Fitz: He looked in the mirror and said, "Damn I'm sexy!"

Olivia: Lol! Fitz! Are u serious?

Fitz: I'm being dead serious, Livie. He really did lol.

Olivia: Oh my god! He's so damn bad!

Fitz: He clearly just learned the language from his mama.

Olivia: Absolutely not. I'm a good girl.

Fitz: We both know that's debatable, Livie. When can I see u again? And don't say when I come to drop off TJ. I'm talking sooner.

Olivia: How soon are u talking?

Fitz: Like u should come over right now soon. Like u looked so good at my son's birthday party and I want to see that ass again soon.

Olivia: Goodbye, mister!

Fitz: Wow! Ur going to leave us hanging?

Olivia: TJ is already asleep, I'm leaving u hanging!

Fitz: I wasn't talking about TJ. I'm talking about the *big* thing that helped make him.

Olivia: Goodbye! You're shameless!

Olivia laughed to herself and shook her head at Fitz's antics. She was so glad that they were in a place where they could joke with one another again. She locked her phone and placed it on her nightstand with a smile thinking about him.

Jake emerged from the bathroom just after she did so. He smiled at his beautiful fiancée and wondered if she was still upset with him for missing most of Thomas' birthday party, but from the look on her face, he couldn't tell. She looked very flushed and happy.

"Hey," he said, sliding into bed with her. "We're good, right? About Thomas' birthday party, right?"

Olivia sighed annoyedly before nodding her head. She was tired of answering this same question. "Yes, we are good, Jake. I know you had business to handle."

"Look. Honestly, all of it could have waited. I don't want you to think that I'd ever put work before you and Thomas. It isn't even like that."

But you did put work before me and TJ? Olivia thought.

"I appreciate you telling me, but it's fine. Really. I'm not upset and TJ didn't even notice that you weren't there-" Olivia caught her words, realizing just how awful it sounded. She slightly cringed and looked at Jake, seeing how defeated he looked.

"I- um- I'm sorry.."

Jake chuckled bitterly. It was obvious that he was salty. "No. It's cool. Don't apologize. I understand that Thomas isn't a big fan of me, but I'm willing to keep working on it. Honestly, when I think about, none of your family and friends are fans of mine."

"Jake, it's not like that. They just aren't used to seeing me with anyone other than Fitz."

"It's been three years, Liv."

"I'm here, aren't I? I'm with you."

Jake sighed, rubbing his hand across his face. "I know. I know. This is just tough for me. I'm not used to being the oddball out."

"Just give them time, Jake. Everyone will come around eventually. Even TJ."

"He's lucky he's cute." Jake joked.

Olivia smiled then kissed his lips before telling him goodnight and snuggling up against him. She failed to mention how even she was still having to get used to being with him instead of Fitz. It was an adjustment for her and everyone in her life for sure.

——

Three days later Fitz found himself at Olivia's house. Thomas was away with his grandmother Janice for a few hours and he had begged her to come over. This time, Olivia didn't even try to resist him. She told him to come over to her place instead.

As Olivia laid in bed, her body shook violently as she found her release, moaning Fitz's name. A few seconds later, Fitz was filling the condom to the brim with his semen as a loud grunt escaped his lips.

"Fuck, Livie. I missed you. It's been too long, baby."

"Missed you..Missed you so much, Fitz," she moaned.

They pulled apart breathlessly then settled under the sheets, wrapping themselves in each other arms. Fitz held her tightly, placing soft kisses on her head. Olivia closed her eyes, allowing herself to be wrapped in his love- physically and metaphorically.

After dozing off for a few minutes, Olivia's phone buzzed on the nightstand with the signal that it was time for him to go. She sighed heavily as she cracked open her eyes and looked up at him. Fitz's eyes were already on her with a soft smile.

"You need to head back. Janice will be looking for you soon," she murmured as she pushed herself up against the headboard and wrapped the warm bedsheets around her naked frame.

"Yeah, I know." Fitz chuckled as he got up and began getting dressed. Olivia watched him with a slight pout on her face. If she was being honest with herself, she didn't want him to go. Not now. Not ever.

"Don't look so down, baby," Fitz said teasingly as he came over to peck her lips. Olivia sighed again, trying not to make a fool of herself by crying in front of him.

What the hell am I even doing, she wondered as she kissed him back.

"I'll be over on Friday to drop off Thomas."

"And hopefully we can continue this?"

Olivia remained silent as her eyes grew heavy and a yawn escaped her lips. She wasn't ready to answer that question just yet. She needed to think about what the hell she had just done.

"You really need to go, Fitz. Jake will be home soon," she said as she used her phone to check his current location. He was on the move and she knew he was not a slow driver. He'd be there in no time.

Fitz chuckled again. He wasn't going to press her for an answer, he knew she had some thinking to do. He walked over to her and laid another kiss on her that left her panting and breathless once he pulled away.

"We wouldn't have to do all of this sneaking around if you called off the engagement and married me instead."

"Fitz..." Olivia groaned and gave him a look, but said nothing else. She just had a fantastic quickie that had her feeling boneless and utterly fucked- she was not in the mood to argue with him about her engagement to Jake, not again. "Fitz, let's not do this again, not now. Give me time to think. I just fucking cheated on him."

Fitz relented. He didn't want to sour her good mood. "I'll see you on Friday," he said, kissing her again before heading downstairs and out the back door.

I miss him already, she thought.

Once Olivia was for certain that she was home alone, she stood up from her bed and turned her music on shuffle. She burst into laughter as"I'm Trapped" by Carl Sims began to play.

"Trapped" is right, she thought as she began cleaning up her and Fitz's mess.

After throwing the bedsheets into the washing machine, she dashed towards her bathroom to take a quick shower and get Fitz's scent off of her body before Jake made it home.

By the time he arrived, she was dressed and lounging on the couch, reading a book. Her body slightly sore from the way Fitz had fucked her, but she was not complaining. She absolutely loved every minute of it. Just thinking about it made her blush. She thought that having sex with him would quench her desires, but all it had done was intensify them. She wanted him over and over again. Jake, he was a good lover, but Fitz- that damn man was exceptional. He was the bar.

As Jake sat at the table, eating the dinner Olivia had warmed up from the previous night, he no idea of what happened in his home nearly fifty minutes before his arrival.

"Hey, Liv! How was your day?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "Um, eventful!" She shouted back before covering her face with her book.

———

"You're not marrying him."

Olivia sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fitzgerald, don't start. Please," she said, adjusting a sleeping Thomas in her arms. It had been three months since their sexual encounter and he hadn't mentioned anything about her ending her engagement since then. She thought he was finally accepting it, but clearly she was wrong.

"I'm being serious, Liv. You aren't marrying him. I mean that shit."

Olivia remained quiet, allowing Fitz to go on a rant. She kissed Thomas' forehead and rocked him gently in her arms. He was a little troublemaker.

"Give him back his cheap, Walmart ass engagement ring and move out. I was trying to be mature and supportive about you and Thomas staying with him, but when my son came in and told me 'Jake whooped me' I almost lost my shit, Liv. You know that I am trying to be a better man. I'm going to therapy and finding positive outlets for my anger, but Jake, he's going to make me take a few steps backwards. I don't even spank my own son, Liv, do you seriously think I'm going to let some dude that you are fucking do it?"

"Fitz! Watch it." Olivia warned. But deep down, she knew he was right. They didn't spank Thomas, and Fitz has taken the necessary steps into becoming a better man and father. These days, he was slow to anger. It's one of the reasons they were in such a better place as parents and friends.

"No, don't 'Fitz' me, Olivia. I'm serious!"

"But didn't I tell you that TJ was exaggerating just a little," she said, holding up her fingers to demonstrate. "I was there and I saw what happened. Jake only popped his hand because he touched his mother's iron that has her ashes in it," she explained, for probably the tenth time that night. Fitz wasn't listening the first nine times.

"Liv, I really don't give a damn if Thomas touched his mother's left titty! He better not ever touch my son again."

Olivia folded her lips together tightly, trying to suppress her laughter. "Fitz, be for real," she giggled.

"I am being for real, Livie. Don't let him touch my son again or I'll be sending him to the hospital like I did three years ago." Fitz then paused as he looked at her with an unreadable look on his face.

Olivia stared back at him. "What," she asked, confused by his sudden silence.

"Speaking of that, are seriously going to marry the guy that I beat up when I was sloppy drunk? That isn't embarrassing for you?"

Olivia could no longer contain herself. She burst into laughter, holding Thomas' head to her chest, attempting to cover his ears. "Shut up, Fitz," she said more quietly and smacked his arm playfully. "You're not supposed to make me laugh about that! You're lucky he didn't press charges against you that night!"

Fitz laughed as well as he finally felt the anger leaving his body. He had gotten all heated and protective when Thomas walked into his house crying. It had taken a lot of convincing from Olivia to help him calm down and not go put a hot one in Jake's ass, but she had finally assured him that their son was being just a little dramatic about the scolding Jake had given him.

"But you do realize that at some point Jake is going to have to be able to discipline Thomas, right? I'm not saying that I'll ever allow him to physically hit our son, because hell no. I'm not ok with that. But Jake is going be his stepdad and Thomas is going to have to respect him as the man of our household and as my husband."

Fitz hated hearing those words come out of her mouth. Stepdad. Husband. Their household. It was tearing his heart apart.

Without words, he grabbed their sleeping son from her arms and kissed his head as he carried him to his own bedroom and laid him down. Once he returned to the living room, Olivia was standing by the door with her purse in her hand.

"I figured you didn't want to talk about it anymore, so I'm going to go and give you time to come to terms with what I said."

Fitz sighed as he walked over to her. He removed her purse from her arm and held her hands in his. "And I guess you thought I was joking?"

Olivia frowned. "What are you talking about, Fitz?"

"I said you're not marrying him and I meant that. Tell him you're still in love with me, give him his ring back and pack you and Thomas' shit. You and our son are moving back in with me."

Olivia laughed in disbelief. She stared at him before shaking her head. "Ok, you're being absolutely fucking ridiculous right now, Fitz. I am not- we are not doing this!"

"Why not? You still love me don't you, Livie," he questioned as he leaned in, kissing her neck.

"Fitz- Fitz stop," she begged, turning her head in the opposite direction of his lips.

"Look at me, Olivia. You know you want to."

Finally, she lifted her gaze and allowed their eyes to meet. Fitz smiled softly before his lips were back on hers. Olivia nearly melted from his touch and the way his lips felt against hers- she missed this so much. The fire that came from him and her. It was something that was missing in her current relationship. The was no fire. Not like this.

Olivia shook her head, backing away from him. "Fitz, stop. We can't do this again," she said, grabbing his hands and stopping him from taking off her shirt.

"I think we can. You love me, right?"

Olivia sighed, rolling her eyes. Why is he doing this to me, she thought to herself. "Yes, I love you, Fitz, but I am in love with, Jake."

"Oh, so you're in love with him now?"

"Yes. Yes, I am in love with him." She repeated.

Fitz smirked. He could see right through her. She didn't even sound convincing. "No, you're not."

"Whatever, Fitz." She groaned.

"You really want to marry this guy, Liv? You plan to marry him and have his babies, too?"

"That's usually what married people do, boo. They reproduce. It's biblical."

"Olivia, Jake isn't all that good looking. What if your kid comes out ugly like his father? You really want Thomas- our cute little Tommy to have funny-looking siblings?"

Olivia laughed loudly and slapped his arm hard. He was never serious and it was so annoying, she couldn't stand it. "Don't say that! If I'm their mother then they're automatically going to be beautiful. I mean, look at TJ!"

"You know our son looks like me."

"But I carried him. I formed him that way."

"I carried him first."

Olivia frowned at him, folding her arms against her chest. "I'm afraid to even ask what you mean by that?"

"In my balls. I carried him in my balls first and for far longer than you did. So, I gave him his good looks."

"I am so done with you," she laughed. "Can I go now?"

Fitz shook his head no. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her lips softly. "Please don't marry him, Liv."

Olivia stiffened once she realized that he was being completely serious this time. She didn't know what to do. She loved Jake very much but she loved Fitz more. Like, she was really, really, in love with his crazy ass. But if she chose Fitz, what kind of risk would she be taking? If they didn't work out romantically, she wasn't sure if their friendship could survive and that wouldn't be fair Thomas. He deserved his parents to be on good terms with each other no matter what.

"Fitz, I can't do this. We can't go down this road again." She pulled out of his embrace and grabbed her purse. Fitz sighed as he watched her walk to the door.

"I love you, Livie. I am never going to stop loving you and I'm always going to let it be known that I do. I'm going to show up at your wedding like Dwayne did on that show A Different World and declare my love for you in front of everyone. Jake better be ready."

"You aren't invited to my wedding, mister." She teased him.

Fitz chuckled. "I bet you I'll be there."

"See you later, Fitz." Olivia kissed his cheek before going out the door.

———

Later on that night, Olivia found herself deep in her thoughts. She couldn't get Fitz off her mind and all that they had discussed. He still loved her. He still wanted her. He didn't want her to marry Jake. He still cared!

Olivia couldn't believe what she was about to do, but what the hell! She loved him too! She deserved to be with the man she truly loved, and that was Fitz.

"Jake? Hey, can we talk?"

Jake looked up from his phone and smiled. "Sure thing Liv, of course. Wait.. Is this about Fitz? How upset is he because I whooped your son? I hope you know that I won't deal with him interfering with our marriage every time I decide to discipline Thomas. Thomas stepped out of line and needed to be punished for it."

Olivia frowned at Jake's words. This isn't what she wanted to talk about but since they were now on the topic, she decided to let him know how she and Fitz both felt. "Honestly Jake, Fitz and I both felt like you stepped out of line. Thomas is my son and if you felt like my three year old 'stepped out of line' then you should have come to me. You do not touch my son. Today I lied to Fitz about how you disciplined TJ, because I knew Fitz would have come put a bullet in your ass if he knew what really happened. Today I saved your life, but the next time I won't," she paused, looking at the engagement ring on her finger. She then shook her head and slid off the ring. "Matter of fact, there will not be a next time. I can't do this anymore. Jake, I truly thank you for being there when I needed you, but I am still in love with Fitz. I have been in love with that man since I was fifteen years old. This...me and you..it will never work."

"I hope you know that you're going to regret this, Liv."

Olivia shook her head, smiling. "The only thing I regret is spending three years with you when I should've been with the man that I love. I'm sorry, Jake. I am."

She handed him the ring and walked out the door. Her shoulders felt lighter and she felt more free than she had ever felt before. It was going on eleven pm, but time wasn't stopping her, she was going home to be with her man and child.

———

"Olivia, what the hell is going on," Fitz asked, opening his front door, then he stepped aside to let her in.

Him and Thomas were both up, eating junk food and watching Paw Patrol.

"So, this is why your son sleeps like he works the graveyard shift when he comes home to me? You keep him up all night long!"

Thomas hid his face behind the covers once he saw his mother. Olivia laughed, "Oh don't hide now, TJ. Mommy has already seen you, baby."

"Hi, mommy!" Thomas giggled. He stood up on the sofa and reached for his mother. Olivia immediately gathered him in her arms and hugged him tightly.

"I love you, baby."

"I wove you too, mommy."

Fitz eventually came into view and watched the scene before him with a smile on his face. "Livie, I hate to ruin the moment, but what's going on, baby? Why are you here? Is everything ok?"

Olivia looked him with love in her eyes. "You were right, Fitz. I can't marry him. I want you. I want us."

Fitz's grin couldn't be contained. He immediately went over to her and hugged her and Thomas tightly.

"Daddy! You squishy us!" Thomas exclaimed through his high-pitched laughter.

Olivia and Fitz both laughed before Fitz whispered in her ear. "Wait in the bedroom while I put our little one to sleep."

Olivia blushed and nodded her head. She kissed Thomas' cheek then gave him to his father.

"Mommy, are you staying with me and daddy?"

Olivia smiled, nodding her head. "Yes, baby. I'll be here when you wake up in the morning."

Thomas face broke out into pure excitement. "Yay!"

"TJ, tell mommy goodnight. She's had a long day, buddy."

"Night, mommy! I wove you!"

"Mommy loves you more, sweet boy. Goodnight."

Olivia went upstairs and had to physically and mentally prepare herself for the moment Fitz came into the bedroom. She hadn't slept with him in three months and she could only hope that she measured up to the energizer bunny that he became in the bedroom.

———

Half an hour later, Olivia felt a familiar dip in the bed. She smiled, turning onto her back to face the love of her freakin' life.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"TJ is asleep, right?"

Fitz nodded. "He's out like a light, baby."

"How did you get him down so fast? He was so wired."

"Melatonin sleeping spray."

Olivia gasped, slapping his chest. "Fitzgerald!"

Fitz laughed. "What? Olivia, I couldn't risk him waking up and coming to check on you. It's harmless and he'll sleep right through all the noise you're about to make."

She blushed, playfully rolling her eyes at him. "Me? You're louder than I am, mister."

"Well, that's because you have a magical vagina."

Olivia giggled as she threw her arms over his shoulders. She pecked his lips twice. "Then make love to this vagina. Love me like it's our last time together."

Fitz kissed her back with a lingering kiss while undressing her. The moment their clothes were shed, they fumbled onto the bed in laughter. He tenderly kissed every part of her. Her neck. Her arms. Her lips. Her breast. Every part of her body that he missed, he kissed tenderly. He dug into his nightstand before revealing a condom. He rolled it onto his dick and Olivia watched, licking her lips. His dick was gorgeous. It wasn't too big but definitely not small. He positioned himself between her legs and fondled with her wet pussy with his fingers, just to make sure she was wet enough for him.

After lining himself up with her entrance, they stared into each other's eyes as he entered her slowly.

Olivia gasped at the feeling of him filling her inch by inch. Fitz willed himself not to close his eyes and miss any of the beautiful and sexy expressions that she made as he completely engulfed himself inside of her.

"Fuck, Fitz.." She breathed heavily as he began to stroke her gingerly. She absolutely loved the way he fit inside of her. It was never this way with any other man. Fitz fit so perfectly. So snugged. So good.

He grabbed both of her hands and placed them above her head as he continued to move slow but deep inside of her. He gyrated his hips in a circular motion, knowing that Olivia was the type of woman that had the best vaginal orgasms. It was felt deeper in her body and her orgasms lasted longer than just stimulation to her clitoris, that was fun for quickies- tonight they were making love. He needed her to feel him all throughout her body, he planned to leave his mark on her. He wanted her to feel him with every step she took for the next coming days.

His strokes were perfectly timed as he pumped her in a way that never allowed him to pull too far out of her drenched core. God, it was so good. He had her toes curling and her vaginal walls pulsating.

"You feel so fucking good, baby. I feel you tightening around me, mama. You gonna cum for me?" He panted in her ear, letting go of her arms.

"Yes! God, yes!" Olivia immediately wrapped her arms around him and placed her hands on his ass to steer his movements, pushing him deeper inside of her. She needed every inch of him.

"Just like that, Fitz. Fuck- don't stop. Please don't ever fucking stop." She was so close cumming and with a few more strokes, she was there. Clinging to his body and shaking underneath him.

"I love you...I love you so fucking much," she purred.

With his forehead resting against hers, Fitz pecked her lips. "I love you too, baby. So much."

They continued in this position for a while until Fitz needed to slipped off the condom. After putting on a fresh one, he repositioned himself to sit against the headboard and pulled Olivia onto him- right onto his thick dick. He used his hands to lift her body up and down on him as her arms rested over his shoulders.

This position turned Olivia on so much. Their bodies were glued together- her breast against his bare chest. It was so intimate and perfect. She sucked in a breath of air before she spoke, letting him know just how good he was making her feel. "You feel so good inside of me, Fitz," she moaned, burying her face into the crock of his neck as tears gathered in her eyes. She couldn't explain the feeling, she couldn't explain why she was on the verge of crying- his dick just felt so fucking amazing that it was stirring up so many emotions inside of her.

Fitz took one of his hands off her ass and moved it to her clit. He rubbed it slowly and Olivia looked down, watching him as he smeared her essence around. "God, you're so wet for me, baby," he moaned, pulling his hand away and licking his wet fingers.

He laid her back down on the bed on her back, then spread her legs wide and dove in face first.

Her hole was gaping open and Fitz had the time of his life filling it with his thick tongue. Olivia thought she was going to lose consciousness from the way he was eating her out. "Oh fuck! Oh fuck," she loudly exclaimed, no longer being to control her voice level. Her orgasm came with a vengeance and her body shook violently as she gasped for her next breath.

"Fitz! Fucking Fiiiitz!" She loudly cried his name as he continued eating her out and causing a back to back orgasm. Tears poured from her eyes as she desperately tried to scoot away from his assaulting mouth, but he wouldn't let her go, not until she begged him to stop.

"Shit!" Olivia was spent. Her breath was heavy like she had ran a marathon, but Fitz wasn't near being done with her. They had a lot of making up to do.

"Turn over onto your stomach for me, Livie."

Olivia nodded with her eyes closed, but didn't budge. Fitz chuckled and reached for the bottle of water that was on his nightstand. After removing the cap for her, he handed the bottle to her and watched as she drank a generous sip. He drank all that was left.

After rehydrating, Olivia was ready to take him on. She prayed for strength as she got into the position he wanted her in. Her ass was positioned in the air and a pillow underneath her. Her legs were spread wide open and her pussy glistened for Fitz in the dim light.

"So sexy, mama. Love having you opened up like this for me." Fitz laid multiple kisses down her spine until he reached her bottom. He kissed both her round cheeks before spreading them apart.

"Fitz?" Olivia called his name with a little hesitation in her voice, looking back at him over her shoulder.

"Just relax for me, Livie.. Let me do this for you."

Olivia relaxed and steadied her breathing. When she felt his tongue on her rim, she squealed lightly while his tongue worked its way inside her hole. It was a unique feeling, one she had never experienced before but she was fucking loving it. Her man was a eater.

"Fuuck, daddy," she moaned, licking her lips as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

She was so absorbed in the sensation Fitz was stirring in her that she didn't truly feel the moment his mouth left her and before she knew it, his dick was stretching her walls as he entered her again.

This time, he wasn't being so gentle. He was chasing his own release.

Olivia groaned into the pillow and gripped the sheets as she spread her legs even more. They both knew that they wouldn't last too long in this position. Fitz was rubbing circles on her clit as he pumped into her at a rabbit's pace. His glistening, sweaty skin slapping into hers as she moved back against him, meeting him stroke for stroke. It wasn't long before Olivia was having another orgasm and Fitz was filling the condom to the brim while loudly cursing and calling Olivia's name.

"Fuck, I hate you so much," Olivia chuckled, breathlessly. Fitz couldn't help but to laugh as well as he rolled onto his back. "Yeah, yeah. I love you too."

Once their breathing returned to its normal rhythm, Fitz slipped off the second condom and tossed it in the trash bin next to his nightstand as Olivia moved closer to him, snuggling into his side. She puckered his chest with sweet kisses.

"Hey babe, I'll be right back," he told after a few minutes of cuddling. He went into the bathroom to clean himself up and when he returned to the bedroom, he had a warm washcloth for her.

Olivia was on her back and looking up at the ceiling, looking like a real goodness with her box braids splayed over the pillows. Fitz couldn't help but smile at the beautiful one before him. God, he was so lucky.

"Hey? Are you ok?" He asked, coming over to her. He opened her legs slightly and used the warm washcloth to wipe her down there. She moaned at the feeling. The warmth of the towel felt so amazing.

Olivia smiled contently as she watched him. "I have my man, I have my son and I just got some bomb dick. I am perfect," she answered shamelessly.

Fitz couldn't help but to laugh while he went to toss the cumrag in the dirty laundry basket. "Livie? You want anything from the kitchen?"

"No. Just hurry back. It's nearly three a.m and I'm getting sleepy," she said, putting on her silk bonnet.

"Yes, ma'am. I'll make it quick."

After going to check on their son, Fitz went downstairs to make sure that the house was locked up, then he went into the kitchen for a snack. He had seriously worked up an appetite.

With his late night snack in hand, Fitz climbed back into bed and Olivia immediately scooted towards him so she could cuddle him. "Whatcha got, baby?" She asked, sleepily.

"Apples, bananas and peanut butter."

Wordlessly, with her eyes still closed, Olivia opened her mouth. Fitz grinned down at her and fed her some of his snack.

"And I thought you didn't want anything."

"I didn't. I wanted whatever you had."

Once the plate was cleared, Fitz sat it on the nightstand and turned off his bedside lamp. He pulled Olivia in closer and kissed her forehead. His heart felt as full as his belly did and he basked in the warmth Olivia brought into his life- physically and metaphorically.

"I love you so much, Livie. I'm never letting you go, baby," he said, kissing her lips.

Olivia smiled. She felt at peace being back in his arms. "You can't get rid of me, mister. I love you, too."

Moments later, instead of him falling asleep like she thought he would, Olivia annoyedly opened her eyes as she felt Fitz vibrating with laughter as he typed on his phone. "Babe, it is three in the morning, what are you doing?"

"I'm texting Peter, Stephan and Harrison in our group chat. I had to let them know that they don't have to worry about crashing your wedding because there won't be one. They're all pretty pissed and cursing me out now. They were looking forward to it."

"God, you four are the worst." Olivia shook her head and laughed tiredly. "Please put down your phone and go to sleep, babe."

Fitz chuckled, putting down his phone after letting the guys know that Livie was making him go to sleep. He wrapped his arm around her petite body and kissed the back of her head before joining her in the land of sweet and peaceful dreams.

———

"Liv, I told you not to put on my shirt. Now look at it."

Olivia looked down at the black t-shirt she was wearing and giggled. She had made a mess with the flour and syrup while making breakfast.

"I'm sorry. You want me to take it off?"

Fitz nodded eagerly. Licking his lips. "Go ahead, baby."

Just as Olivia began to pull the shirt up, revealing her bare ass to him, the sound of their son's pitter-patter became louder causing Olivia to yank the shirt back over her naked body.

"Mommy, you are here!" Thomas exclaimed.

Fitz groaned, playfully rolling his eyes. "I should've used more melatonin spray," he whispered.

Olivia laughed, lightly slapping his chest. She turned around at the sound of the little one's voice and bent down, picking her little man up.

"Morning, sweetie! I told you I would be here!"

Fitz watched the interaction between his son and the love of his life. It was moments like this that he had missed but he was grateful things were back on track. "Oh, now that your mommy is here, I don't exist?"

Thomas giggled. "I see you, daddy! Good morning!"

"Good morning, bud. Did you sleep well?"

The three year old nodded. "I dream about me, you, mommy and a baby!"

Olivia's eyes widened. "Well, that was an interesting dream to have, buddy. Do you want breakfast," she asked, trying to change the subject. "I cooked!"

Thomas shook his head. "I want cereal, please."

Fitz grinned. He moved to grab a bowl and his son's favorite box of cereal. He let Thomas pour his own amount of cereal and to pour the milk, allowing the growing one to have a little independency.

Satisfied with his breakfast, Thomas sat at the island with his cereal, crayons and coloring pages.

"TJ, mommy and I are going to have a talk in the living room, ok?"

Thomas nodded, barely paying them attention.

Olivia was confused, but she followed behind Fitz anyway. Once they were a good distance away from their son, Fitz sighed, running his fingers through his hair. Olivia immediately recognized this as a sign of him being stressed or getting upset. "Fitz? Fitz, what's wrong, baby?"

"TJ's dream, Liv."

Olivia giggled. Was he seriously stressed about their three year old son's dream? "What about Tommy's dream, Fitz? Why would that have you stressed?"

Fitz stared at her blankly with Olivia staring back at him expectedly. During their three years apart, Olivia never allowed her mind to wander about if Fitz was sleeping around with other women- it was just too much for her to even think about. But, now he was scaring her. Had he gotten some woman pregnant? Because she sure the hell wasn't.

"Did you get some woman pregnant?"

"What!" Fitz exclaimed. "Olivia, are you serious?"

"Yes, I'm serious! You were single for three years. I can't be upset if you slept around, but if you got some woman pregnant I don't-"

"Livie, I didn't sleep around. I slept with one woman periodically and each time I wrapped up."

"Ok." Olivia swallowed hard, nodding her head. Don't get upset. Don't get upset, she repeated to herself.

"But you- you were engaged! Did Jake wrap up?"

"Yes, Jake wrapped up every time! I was not about to let another man make me a baby mama before marriage."

"You were engaged and still made him wrap him?" Fitz laughed hysterically. "That guy's an idiot."

"What? How? Why is that so funny?" Olivia frowned.

"Because we have a child, Liv. We have never been married or even engaged but you let me go in raw. He's an idiot for thinking you and him would work. All the signs were there."

"Let's not act like TJ was planned or something. We slipped up that night," Olivia argued.

"And what about all the times after that?" Fitz smirked.

Olivia grinned stupidly. "Ok. Shut up."

"And you aren't just a baby mama. I'm gonna marry you before TJ's dream becomes our reality."

"Mommy! Daddy! I done eating!" Thomas said, joining them and putting a pause to their conversation.

———

"Babe, I can't be in this car much longer. Are we almost there?" Olivia asked from the passenger seat as Fitz drove.

"Yes, Livie. We are almost there. Less than half an hour to go."

"Thank God," she sighed.

"Tell me something in Spanish."

Olivia glanced over at him. "For what? You don't speak Spanish, Fitz."

He shrugged, "I don't care. Just say something. It all sounds sexy to me."

Olivia laughed out loud and shook her head. She pondered for a moment then glanced into the backseat, looking at their two children to make sure they were asleep before indulging their father.

"Cariño, estuviste muy bien en la cama esta mañana, pero esta mañana tenías muy mal aliento."

Fitz smirked. As he came to a stop at a red light, he looked at Olivia with lustful eyes. "Mmm, that's sexy. What did you say, babe?"

Olivia giggled, nibbling on her fingertips like a flirting schoolgirl. Before she could respond, she and Fitz heard snickering come from the backseat. They both turned around to find their eight year old awake. His face was beat red from trying to hold in his laughter.

"Thomas Josiah Grant, were you listening to me and your mother?" Fitz panicked, knowing that their son was somewhat fluent in the language.

Thomas laughed loudly. His laugh sounding just like his father's when he was really tickled by something. "I have ears, dad! I can't not hear things that are being said around me!"

Olivia snickered. She looked at Fitz and shrugged, giving him a "he got you there" look.

"Fitz, I didn't say anything inappropriate. It's ok."

"Oh- wait, what? You didn't?" He asked confused. "Well, what did you say, Livie?"

This time, both Olivia and Thomas snickered.

"Mama, can I tell daddy? I used siri translation app on my iPad."

Both Fitz and Olivia were shocked! These kids and their damn technology!

Before Olivia could answer their son, Fitz did. "Yes TJ, tell me what your mother said."

"TJ, don't!" Olivia laughed.

"Olivia, you're confusing him! Just let him tell me."

"No!"

"TJ, tell daddy, bud."

Olivia looked back her son. He was confused, so she relented. "It's ok, TJ. Go ahead and tell daddy."

Thomas smiled, happy to share what he'd heard. "Mommy said, 'Honey, you were very good in bed this morning, but this morning you had very bad breath'."

Olivia covered her face as Fitz bursted into laughter. "Oh really, Olivia? Is that what you think?"

"Well, you did come home drunk last night and fell asleep without brushing your teeth first, so yes. Your mouth was quite yucky, boo."

Fitz couldn't even reply to that. He knew it was true. "Your cousin tried to kill me with all the shots he made me take."

"Which is why I try to keep you away from Harrison. You two get together and behave like children."

"Oh and when you and Asia are together things are different?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, smiling. Dammit he had her there. "Whatever, Fitzgerald. Hurry up and drive. I've got to pee."

After a moment of silence, Thomas' question had both his mom and dad panicking.

"Mama, what does 'you were good in bed' even mean," he asked, curiously.

———

"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!"

"Ava! Ava! Ava!" Fitz mocked, sleepily. After driving for over six hours, he just wanted to nap.

Olivia giggled as she watched their five year old daughter roll her eyes at her husband. "Bug, what's the matter, honey? Your father is tired and a little grumpy right now. Is it something mommy can help you with?"

Ava climbed into her mother's lap. "I got scared because I heard something in my room, mommy."

Olivia immediately shoved her husband in his back. "Fitz, go see what Ava is talking about."

"Livie, baby, I'm sure it's nothing. Please, just let me sleep for an hour. I just need one hour." He begged.

"No, Fitz! Please go see! Please!"

Fitz groaned, slowly dragging himself out of the bed. He was certain that Ava was just a little paranoid. They were in their Vermont home and Ava hadn't been here since she was at least two years old. She just needed to get used to the place again.

Once Fitz was out the room, TJ joined Ava and Olivia in the master bedroom. Ava turned to her mama, smiling. "How'd I do, mommy?"

"You did great, bug." Olivia winked at her daughter and kissed her forehead. "Now we just wait for daddy's reaction," she said to her giggly children.

5...4...3...2...1!

"What the hell! Olivia! You got a dog!"

Olivia and the children's laughter echoed through the room. The could hear the genuine happiness and excitement in Fitz's voice and that, of course, made them all happy, too.

"It was all TJ's and Ava's idea, babe." Olivia grinned as Fitz came into their bedroom with the mini golden-doodle tucked in his arms.

"He looks like a chicken nugget, mommy," the five year old giggled adorably.

"So, what are you going to name him?"

"I'm thinking the name Cyrus."

Olivia frowned but giggled. "Ok? May I ask why? That is such an unusual name for a dog. "

Fitz shrugged. "I don't know. It just fits him."

"Cyrus Grant. I like it." Thomas nodded.

"I'm gonna call him Cy-Cy!" Ava exclaimed.

Olivia smiled as she watched her three favorite people in the whole entire world play with Cyrus.

"Fitz, I thought you were tired?"

Fitz smiled. "Not anymore. I have to teach Cyrus some tricks." He pulled out his phone and did a quick search. Once he found what he was looking for, he showed the dog his phone. "Cyrus! Hey boy, look, when you see this person, attack!"

Olivia sat up in the bed. "Who is that?! Let me see!"

When he turned the phone around, Olivia laughed until her belly ached. "You are crazy!"

"What! What! Who is it, mommy? Daddy, can I see?"

"No!" Olivia answered immediately yet she was still laughing.

"Of course." Fitz turned the phone around, showing his son and daughter.

"Who is that?" Thomas asked, confused.

"Jake. He's your mom's ex-boyfriend." Fitz laughed.

Olivia threw a pillow at him, hitting him right in the face. "Shut up, Fitzgerald."

"Mommy, you had a boyfriend?" Ava asked, shockingly. She took the phone from her daddy's hand and examined the picture closely. "He's ugly, mommy. My daddy is more handsome."

Fitz and Olivia cracked up. Their daughter was too much! Way too sassy!

"I know, baby. I know." Olivia giggled. "But you can't call people ugly, bug. That isn't nice."

Fitz shook his head. "Bug, you can certainly call your mother's ex-boyfriend ugly."

Olivia quickly reached for another pillow, tossing at his head. Fitz dodged it and laughed when it hit their son, who had been innocently playing with Cyrus.

"Mom!"

"Aw! I'm so sorry, TJ! I was trying to hit daddy!"

Thomas grabbed the pillow from the floor with a mischievous smirk on his face. When he drew back his arm, Ava stepped right in front of Olivia, protecting her.

"If you hit mommy, you're gonna have to deal with me," the blue eyed five year old threatened.

Fitz whistled loudly. God, his daughter was badass!

Olivia snickered at her sassy little mini-me. When she and Fitz found out she was pregnant, two months after their amazing honeymoon in the Caribbean, Olivia prayed daily for a little girl, and Ava Janae Grant is her answered prayer: a tough ass diva-princess that loves sparkles, football, and the color pink.

"Well Ava, if you hit my son, you and mommy are gonna have to deal with me," Fitz said, standing next to his mini-me with a pillow in hand.

"Girls against boys!" Ava screamed and pillows started flying as loud laughter bounced off the walls of the Grant's Vermont home. Cyrus' soft puppy barks added to the noise of laughter creating the perfect melody.

It was perfect.

Life was great.

X

The end.