A/N: If you are a mother, grandmother, or any woman that takes care of a child, enjoy your day. Kick up your feet and enjoy this Mother's Day with our Grant military family. Hope you enjoy. Happy Reading.
Chapter 10
"Da Da Da" thump, thump, thump. "Ma Ma Ma", thump, thump, thump, "El, El, El" thump, thump, thump.
Fitz began to stir awake, and he looked over at Liv who didn't even fidget out of her sleep. He raised his head and looked at the monitor behind Liv on the nightstand. Soriyah, happy as always, talking and thumping her toyfor attention at 5 am.
"Da Da Da" Soriyah said again, as if she knew her father was awake. He wouldn't get away with ignoring her.
It was the Friday before Mother's Day. Fitz had requested off from the Pentagon and even informed the President himself that if disaster strikes, he would have to go to second in charge. Nothing was keeping him from the surprise he had planned for Olivia.
He was being naïve to think he was going to sleep in, not with the nearly one year old in her room beginning to cause a ruckus. She would have her big sister and mother awake if he didn't move his butt and to her.
"Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa". It was one long carry, and Fitz jumped from the bed. He looked in at her in the room. She was sitting up in the crib, and she had her little Tiger. That was the thump, Soriyah was thumping Tigertwo. Tigertwo got his name from Brielle. She owned Tiger one, and since Soriyah won her Tiger at her costume contest back in October, Brielle took it upon her to name the stuffed animal.
Seeing the night light blink from Fitz walking in front of it, Soriyah popped her head up. She pulled at the bar of crib and pulled herself up to a standing position. Her arms went high up over her head. "Daaaaa" she said in almost a squeal.
"Hey Soriyah, you trying to wake up the whole house? It's barely 5 a.m. We need to have a chat about the importance of sleep. Sleep is best when it goes past 7, maybe even 8 in the mornings. Don't you agree?" He put his head down to her forehead, and she just smiled at him with her few teeth that were in her mouth.
Her smile was adorable and melted Fitz's heart. It was all an Olivia smile, and even though her blue eyes sparkled when she did smile, there was no denying Soriyah was developing all her mother's beautiful face features.
Soriyah lifted her arms again. "Uh, uh." She was clearly demanding Fitz to pick her up in her Soriyah way.
"Ok, how about I make this deal with you." Fitz put his hands under her arms. "If I pick you up, you make sure the surprise for your mom is ready for Sunday. You're the surprise, you know that right. Brielle and Daddy have been working hard for you to walk on your own. You're so close, right?" Fitz kissed her forehead and lifted her into his arms.
"El." Soriyah said now, pointing to Tigertwo. Soriyah knew she had the same stuffed animal as Brielle, so she just said "El" when wanting it. It was how she called her sister also.
Fitz walked out to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle, he saw Soriyah try to hold Tigertwo and grab for the bottle at the same time. "Let's get you to the couch, we'll watch C-Span together alright."
Fitz let Soriyah lean on his chest as she took the bottle and he placed Tigertwo on her tummy. He was trying not to doze off too much, and when the bottle fell with a slight thump onto the couch, Fitz's eyes opened fully. He saw Soriyah looking up at him. "Da" she said and picked up her animal.
Fitz stood up and placed her down momentarily as she took hold of the couch and took a step sideways. He picked up the bottle and then moved away from the couch, just a bit. "Soriyah, look at Daddy, Soriyah."
Soriyah took her eyes off the light of the TV screen and saw her daddy holding his arms out to her. She smiled and raised her hands off the couch and took two unassisted steps towards him before falling into his arms. He swooshed her in the air over his head and said "Yeah, just like that, that's my baby girl."
He pulled her back down where she rested her head on her daddy's shoulder and gave him continuous pats on his shoulder. Fitz grabbed her Tigertwo and before he even made it to her room, she was soundly sleeping on his shoulder.
He glanced in at Olivia, still with the blanket up to her shoulder, hadn't moved an inch since he went for his youngest daughter. Fitz walked by Brielle's room. She was lying on her back, her head turned to the left with Tiger just under her nose.
Walking into Brielle's room with Soriyah still asleep on his shoulder he just looked at his oldest daughter. He took a deep breath, rubbing Soriyah's back and watching Brielle. "You girls have the best mom in the world. We'll make her day on Sunday extra special."
Taking his hand away from Soriyah's back, he gave Brielle's cheek a little stroke. "Love you my big girl."
She didn't move an inch, just like her mom, when she slept, she took it seriously. He smiled at how different his girls were, but how many traits they did have of their mom.
Rather than putting her in the crib, Fitz took Soriyah to the bed with Liv. He laid back with Soriyah on his chest, then he carefully put her between him and Liv. Soriyah moved a bit, but didn't wake up, and Fitz was able to glance at the clock. Soriyah had been awake a full hour, and if he was lucky she would sleep another full hour, if not more. He yawned and closed his eyes to get a bit more sleep.
Feeling movement on his face, Fitz's eyes opened in confusion. "Hey Admiral. Hi" Liv was smiling looking at him. "We have company I see."
Fitz blinked his eyes open and faced Liv. He looked down to the middle of the bed. Somehow Soriyah had done a full 360 and her feet were just between Liv and Fitz, at chest level.
"Yeah," he whispered, "she woke up around 5 and took a bottle." He glanced over at the clock., 730. "At least she slept longer than an hour now. Hi" He leaned closer and kissed his wife. "Good morning."
"I'm so happy to wake up to on a Friday. You've been working so much; I forget what it's like to have you home on a weekday." She pulled him closer, her hand on his messy curls and kissed him long, feeling his hand reach down for her breast.
"We have to go to bed a bit later tonight, I miss you beautiful, and we can do things when they are both sleeping." He continued the kiss and went down to her neck.
"Best Mother's Day gift ever will be the four of us together for the first time. I can't wait." Her forehead was touching his now. "And what are you and that little mysterious one planning in there?"
Fitz's mouth opened in shock. "Livvie, I am a military man, I cannot give away top secret missions, and you being a military wife should know such things." He smiled. "I can't wait."
Liv grunted. "You two always do this to me. Don't go over the top, you hear me, I have all I need with you three with me."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," His hand went back her breast, and he was about to reach in and give it a wet kiss, when he felt something on his legs and heard "Da."
Liv covered her mouth so not to laugh out loud. Soriyah was standing now, using Fitz's leg as leverage. Her tiny head with her hair like daddy's curls, turned to Liv and she smiled. "Ma". She let go of Fitz, put her hands in the air and was now using Liv's leg as leverage.
"Good Morning Muffin, how's my baby girl?" Liv watched as Soriyah side stepped to her and plopped down.
"Mommy, Daddy, you two are awake." Brielle walked into the room. "Good morning", she said as she walked towards the bed and Fitz swooped her up and sat her in the middle.
"Hey Boo," Liv said. "Come join your sister with us."
Brielle moved herself so she was sitting upright leaning on the headboard. "Daddy, you're home on Friday. We have so much to do, right." She tried to wink at him, but both her eyes closed.
"Oh really." Liv chimed in, "like what."
"Oh, nothing. Hi Soriyah." Brielle said.
Soriyah turned her head in the direction of the sound. "El" and she let go of Liv and fell right into Brielle's chest. Brielle put her arms around her baby sister, as Soriyah rested her head on her big sister's tummy.
"You need to stop falling every time you let go, Muffin. You want to walk, you're so determined, but you need to let go." Olivia reached in and kissed Soriyah on her nose and Brielle on her forehead. "I'm going into the shower, you three plan your whatever." She kissed Fitz before walking to the bathroom.
As soon as the shower turned on, Fitz hopped up and grabbed Soriyah so Brielle can join them out in the living room. "This morning when she was awake, she took two tiny steps to me. Maybe we can get her take four now."
Brielle gave a little clap. "That would be great. Come on Soriyah, you can do it, for Mother's Day ok." Soriyah watched from Fitz's shoulder as Brielle followed them to the living room. "Right Soriyah, you can do it."
"El" Soriyah pointed.
Brielle sat up against the couch and she held a standing Soriyah between her open legs. She had one arm wrapped tightly around her waist and waited for Fitz to sit down.
He wasn't too far away, and his arms were outstretched. "Soriyah, hey, baby girl." He held Tigertwo in his one hand. "Come get Tigertwo."
Brielle kissed her baby sister on her cheek. "Go to Dada, go on, go get Tigertwo."
"El." Soriyah put her hand out towards her toy and when Brielle let her waist go, she wobbled a bit and took two steps before stopping and plopping down on her butt.
"Oh, daddy, that was close to three steps. Let's try one." Brielle stopped to listen; she heard the water still running in the shower. "Yes, one more time, this time I'll hold Tigertwo."
As Brielle did, Fitz held Soriyah the same way, his arm wrapped around her waist. "Look at El. Look, she has Tigertwo." Fitz pointed and Soriyah looked at her sister.
"El." Her hand went out again and she began towards her big sister, who was now kneeling on both her knees wiggling the stuffed animal in the air.
Soriyah took one step and then another, she paused, and took one more, before reaching for the toy. Brielle took a knee back, and Soriyah seeing this, took one more step and then sat down again.
"She did it! Daddy, she did it." Fitz scooped up Soriyah, and with Brielle clapping, Soriyah began to clap.
"That was because of you, Brielle, you took that step back it made her step forward, you are an awesome big sister." He pulled her in and hugged her with one arm as he held Soriyah.
"Yay!" Brielle clapped again and so did her baby sister.
Brielle cleared her throat when she saw Liv standing there in her bathrobe, rubbing her hair with a towel. "What's all the excitement about?"
"Umm, Soriyah almost said Tiger." Brielle lied.
"Yeah, it was almost clear." Fitz had no choice but to lie with her, he had to have her back.
Liv squinted at them. "Soriyah, is that true?"
"Ma." Soriyah pointed at Liv.
"Ma has to get dressed before your feeding. Brielle, hurry up and eat, you don't want to be late for school. Daddy gets to come with us today to drop you off."
"I think that calls for a bagel with some cream cheese and some raisins for a face, what do you think Brielle."
"Yummy. I'll get dressed." She said as she watched Fitz put Soriyah into the high chair and he cut up a banana for her.
Leaving Liv with Soriyah in the car, Fitz took Brielle's hand and walked towards the school building. It was such a different atmosphere from when he dropped her off for her first day in September. As soon as they reached the line up area, Brielle began talking to a number of different kids, until Isaiah came.
"Hi Mr. Grant, how are you?" Isaiah waved. He didn't wait for an answer when he saw Brielle. "Hey Brielle, wanna play tag. You're it." He tagged her and Brielle giggled taking off after him.
"Admiral, good to see you." Commander Jones, Isaiah's father held his hand out for Fitz.
"Commander, how are things?"
"Good, planning to go to my mom's after school today, she's down in South Carolina. Isaiah is looking forward to it and we want to get the travel in before Desiree gets too far along to move about."
"That's right, she's expecting, congratulations."
"Yeah, she's four months now, we'll find out the gender when we get back, Isaiah is excited he's going to be a big brother. Brielle has really helped him along in his social skills."
"They do make quite a team; I think he's the only boy I'll ever let near her." Fitz laughed. All the kids, like clockwork, stopped whatever they were doing and lined up as soon as the teacher came to the doorway.
"Bye daddy." Brielle waved as she threw him a kiss. She folded her fingers to a heart shape. "Love you." She didn't say it loudly, but Fitz read her lips, as she made her way into the school.
He said his goodbye to Commander Jones and joined Liv and Soriyah.
Back at the house, Liv was sitting looking at the schedule for the next week on her computer. Soriyah was in her play area with Bluey on the TV keeping her occupied when she got bored with her toys.
"Fitz!" Liv shouted to the bedroom. "What time are you due in all next week?" Sometimes he went in at 3 am, other times he went in at 3 pm, she just didn't know. "Brielle's soccer season is coming to an end, I need to make a carpool schedule with the other three girls."
Olivia paused and looked at the screen. "Also!" She yelled again. "Library baby time is on Wednesday at 11, maybe you could take Soriyah, if you're home." Liv scratched her temple looking at the days. Sometimes there wasn't enough time in a day for a mom.
"I don't think Huck will need me at the office, but I need to know what time you're going in!" She heard nothing. "FITZ!" She got up and walked to the bedroom. There Fitz was on a pile of folded laundry sound asleep on the bed.
Liv just stared at him. He looked so damn cute, hot actually, laying there on the laundry he just folded. Had she folded it she would have rolled his fine ass off that pile. She shrugged her shoulder and went back to Soriyah.
She was standing now in her play area, holding on to the side. Liv clicked open the little space and held her arms out to Soriyah. "Come, want to walk to mommy?"
"Ma." Soriyah smiled, but ma wasn't holding Tigertwo, so she wasn't budging towards her. Instead, without taking a step, she plopped down and crawled in record time to Olivia.
Olivia scooped her up. She gave her kisses on her cheek. "You need to begin taking some steps, Muffin." Liv closed her computer. "No sense in making a schedule without knowing times."
She began feeding Soriyah, staring blankly at the children's show on the television. Having a good grip on Soriyah, Liv looked down to see her youngest had fallen asleep mid feeding. Liv put her head back and she dozed off as well.
Thinking Soriyah woke up and jumped down, Liv's head popped up from the sleeping position. "Shh, Liv, I have her, let me put her in her crib." Fitz was up now and noticed his sleeping beauties on the couch.
As Fitz walked away, Liv got her bearings. She had only been asleep for twenty minutes, but that felt good, it energized her a bit.
She reached towards the computer so she could work on the schedule, but Fitz pulled it back. "Ummm, no, you're mine now." He pushed her back on the couch and put her laptop down on the floor.
He lifted her shirt, pulling it off her, and he was happy to see she was braless. "Where were we this morning?" His hand, as he was kissing around her breast, reached down and slid her waistline of her pants down down, as his fingers found her fold.
Liv licked her lips and closed her eyes. They hadn't had afternoon sex in months, and this felt so good. Her hand reached down to where his was, and she pulled her pants down more, as his head came up to hers and they were eye level. Beginning with his tongue entering her mouth, Liv's arms went around his shoulders and her bottom began to move in rhythm with his fingers.
"Baby, you feel so fucking good." He stopped kissing for a moment and just watched her as she began to become undone.
Her hand was now on top of his feeling his movement, spreading her juices and her head went up to meet his lips again, and she moaned heavy into the kiss, as her first orgasm hit her with his fingers deep inside her.
She took a deep breath to calm herself and smiled at him. She reached for his NAVY sweats he had on and pulled at them. "I think something is crying to be released." Her hand went over his hard erection and he smiled, taking his shirt off as her hand stroked him.
She kissed his neck as he lay flat on the couch now, her on her side towards him. She nibbled his earlobe, and used her tongue down his neck, where she continued with kisses, down his chest. All the while, she was stroking him, her thumb circling the tip and then her full hand stroking, and she watched him, just as he did to her.
His eyes were closed, and they showed pleasure, as he too, licked his lips. His hand was rubbing her smooth back, and she felt him stop her hand. He wrapped his arm around her and got her under him.
The top of his head was touching her jaw as he guided his erection into his gorgeous wife. As soon as he was in her, they met each other's eyes. "I missed you so much, Admiral." She stroked his hair as he began to slowly thrust into her. His lips fell onto hers and after about three thrusts, he felt her head turn away.
Her legs were spread wide for him, and he didn't disappoint, as his chest went upright and he began to circle her nipple with his tongue. She grabbed his hair, pulling it a bit, because this was so fucking hot. She heard herself grunt, a deep grunt, and her body felt the sensation of his thrust getting her G-spot.
Her head went back, and Fitz had no choice but to kiss her neck as her body began to quiver and her arms went tight around him. "Ahh, Fitz." Her eyes closed and she felt so weak still feeling him inside her.
She felt him slip out and he paused. She opened her eyes and looked at him. His hand grabbed his organ, still rock hard, and it glided right back into her. He looked down at her, and she pulled his head down to her lips.
Feeling her tongue circle his lips, his body began to thrust harder. His head went back, facing the ceiling now, he took a deep breath, and fell to her crook emptying into her. "I love you so much, Livvie." He head rested right where it was, as she continued to caress his sweaty curls.
They fell asleep just like that on the couch. They stayed like that, bodies linked for about an hour before Liv heard "Ma" coming from the other room.
Kissing the top of his head, she gave him a nudge. "Fitz, Soriyah is awake." He opened his eyes, lifted his body so Liv could get up, and she shook her head.
He fell back down, still sleeping, and Liv said, "Don't worry, I'll get her." She slipped his shirt on. There Soriyah was standing in her crib. Her arms raised. "Ma"
"Ma" Liv repeated and put her nose to hers. "Let's change you and get you out there so you can wake up daddy again."
"Da." She repeated.
"Yeah, Da, he's so tired from all his work he's actually using his day off to sleep. Imagine that!"
By the time Liv came out with Soriyah, Fitz was sitting up with just his sweats on. Liv placed Soriyah down, and she traveled the length of the couch, using it as guidance to her daddy. He lifted her and kissed her. "Did you have a good nap? Thank you for sleeping by the way."
"Shameless, help me make my schedule now, please."
"First." Fitz set Soriyah down in her play area. "I have this." He reached over to the shelf. "Well, really it's from Brielle, but she wanted me to give it to you."
It was a gift card to the nail salon Liv frequented. On the homemade card Brielle made there was a message about the gift card. "For you and me mommy to get a mani, pedi right before Mother's Day". In parenthesis, it said "Dad paid for the gift card." With a smiley face.
"Fitz."
He shrugged. "She wanted your first mommy/oldest daughter day to begin at the nail salon, then I was instructed to give you my debit card for unlimited girl shopping." He smiled.
They had decided the Saturday before Mother's Day would be for Liv and Brielle until Soriyah was old enough to understand. Brielle was being just a little bit oldest child selfish in wanting alone time with her mommy.
Brielle rested her head on Liv's shoulder sitting on the couch. She looked at her hand, all five fingers spread out. "I love this color mommy, thank you so much for letting me get it."
"Thank you, Brielle for having a mani/pedi day with me. Look at all those bags, too, I had the best time shopping with you." She kissed Brielle's head.
"I think that's the last of them." Fitz was breathing a bit heavy after bringing the bags in from the shopping spree. He plopped on the couch next to his two older beauties. "That's a hot pink on your nails Brielle."
"I know, doesn't it look so cool."
"It looks teenager like."
She shrugged. "Ok, I'll take that." She hopped from the couch. "Mommy, is it ok if I don't do grocery shopping with you today?"
"That's fine Boo, are you tired?"
"I would just like to read for a while and maybe take a nap."
"No problem, I'll take Soriyah."
"NO!" Fitz and Brielle yelled at the same time.
"Umm, you go by yourself, take some alone time before your big day tomorrow." Fitz said.
"Yeah," Brielle agreed, having his back. "Alone time." She nodded her head.
Liv squinted again. "You two are up to something. Whatever." She grabbed her bag, "I'll be back, and I'm getting something from Starbucks, so there!" She walked out the door.
Before Fitz lifted Soriyah out of her play area, he went to Brielle's room. "I hid her big gift at the bottom of your closet." Fitz came out with a big canvass.
"Oh daddy, that looks amazing."
"I think so too." At the pentagon one of the clerks had a son who did caricatures from pictures. Last month, Liv had a professional photographer take pictures of the girls, and the one of them with their heads tilted on each other smiling was Liv's favorite.
Brielle looked just like Fitz, aside from the brown eyes and aside from the blue eyes, Soriyah was all Liv. "This sums up the both of us through them." Liv had said looking at the picture. "I love this."
Fitz had the artist make a wall size canvass of that picture. There in colorful caricatures was the picture Liv loved so much of her girls. Under it said "Our mom is amazing." The letters were in bubble cartoon like lettering, and the whole canvass just screamed beautiful.
"She's going to be so surprised. Ready Soriyah?" Brielle looked at Soriyah.
Soriyah's arms went up. "El" she said to her sister's voice.
"Let's get you walking some more." Fitz sat down and for the next hour, they, along with Tigertwo, exhausted Soriyah until she finally took six steps on her own and fell asleep.
"Soccer, karate, library, play dates, class mom, chaperone, carpool, and shopping" Brielle went down the list as Fitz let her turn the pancake for Liv's Mother's Day breakfast. "Mommy does so much."
"I know she does, sweetheart, she loves us all very much."
Brielle nodded her head in agreement. "And we love her so very much."
On the pancake, Brielle used some icing gel to put a heart on it. On the other pancake, she spelled MOM, it was a bit messy, but you could understand it.
She grabbed a card from her art table. "What's that?" Fitz asked.
"Look." She showed Fitz. "I put paint on Soriyah's hand one day and made a handprint so mom can remember her this little." There were some lines of crayon below it.
"What's this?" Fitz asked pointing to the crayon lines.
"Oh, I tried to get her to write her name. That didn't work out too well. I had to clean her hand quickly that day too. I don't know how mommy gives her bath, that girl does not sit still." Brielle waved her hand and rolled her eyes.
"SURPRISE!" They walked into the room where Liv was with Soriyah on the bed. "HAPPY MOTHER" S DAY!" The two out of three loves of her life yelled as they placed the tray in front of her.
Liv looked at the pancakes. "Boo, these look amazing, did you decorate them?"
"I did," she said with the proudest smile. "Dad let me pour the juice too, I didn't spill one drop." She said as she pointed to the cup of orange juice.
"MMM" Soriyah said as she looked at the tray.
Fitz came in with the canvass, covered, and Brielle stood next to him with something behind her back. "Ok, you two, fess up, what's going on?" Liv said after her tray was cleared and the pancakes disappeared.
"This." Brielle hopped with her knees onto the bed, "is from Soriyah."
Liv looked at the card with the tiny handprint. "Oh my goodness, Boo, this is adorable, you helped her obviously."
"I did, she did a great job though, it was hard cleaning her hand." Brielle said. "And this," Brielle's other hand came from behind her back "is from me."
It was a handmade craft stick picture frame. The two sides were painted with neon pink, like the color Brielle had chosen for her nails. The top had "MY MOMMY" painted on it. The bottom had 2023 on it. The picture was with Liv holding Brielle on her lap, cheek to cheek smiles as Fitz snapped a picture of them. It was from a few months ago.
Liv teared up looking at it because it was a moment frozen in time, now made into a keepsake for her. She gobbled Brielle in her arms and hugged her daughter tight. "I love you so much Boo." She kissed her cheek. "You make being a mom such an easy job." Liv wiped a tear away and smiled.
"Ma." Soriyah said, so as not to be left out.
"So do you, my Muffin." Liv hugged her too.
With both girls leaning on their mom, Liv looked at Fitz. "Your turn Mister, give it." Liv smiled.
She uncovered the canvass after he handed it to her, and Liv just stared wide eyed at it, her hand covered her tear filled eyes. "Fitz." she didn't have anything else to say.
"It's beautiful, right mommy." Brielle said the words for her.
Liv just shook her head in agreement. Fitz scooped up Soriyah as Brielle ran to get Tigertwo. "Come on, mom," Fitz said, "let's get these two fed before they turn on us." They interlocked hands and walked towards the living room.
"Mommy, sit there." Brielle pointed to where Fitz would sit while practicing with Soriyah, "and hold this." Brielle handed her Tigertwo.
Brielle sat against the couch and Fitz put Soriyah in between her legs. He got his phone to begin recording. Liv watched as Brielle let Soriyah go and heard her say, "go on, go get Tigertwo."
Soriyah wobbled a bit, said "El" and reached her hand out towards Liv. Soriyah took six, Brielle counted out loud while she did, six steps towards her mom, where she just stood as Liv looked up at her.
After about five seconds, she reached down and took Tigertwo herself since her mom wasn't giving it to her. Liv grabbed her into a hug. "MUFFIN, YOU DID IT!" Liv looked at the two culprits.
"You were practicing all along with her, weren't you?"
Fitz went down by her and kissed her cheek. "We've been practicing for a while now."
Brielle sat with them now. "Are you surprised?"
"I sure am, but she wouldn't even take any steps towards me when I tried." Liv said.
"Because you didn't have this." Fitz picked up Tigertwo and wiggled it. Soriyah reached up and said "El" wanting it back from Fitz.
With Soriyah sitting in between her legs, Brielle on her right side, and Fitz on her left side, Liv pulled them all in closer. "You keep making my Mother's Day better and better each year. I love you all so much."
"And we love you." Fitz and Brielle said, while a loud "Ma" could be heard from Soriyah.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY READERS!
