Chapter 4

After Liv explained what she had heard the reporters saying, she turned to tell Fitz why she decided to do what she did. "I had Malcolm tell them where you were tonight, and it wasn't a lie. You were helping out at the shelter, and you did shopping to replenish a much need of supplies food bank." The car had stopped at a red light and Liv was able to look over at him.

Fitz wasn't looking her way at all. His head was tilted on the passenger side window, and he looked a bit flustered. If it wasn't so dark, she would have bet his face was red, no doubt with anger.

"The reporters can be brutal Liv. That woman, Raquel, she's no one you want bothering you." Fitz just shook his head in defeat. "She's a vixen."

"So, she isn't a nobody like you said." Liv pushed slowly down on the gas and made the turn that would bring them to her two blocks from her place.

"To me, she is a nobody, to the rest of the world, she's James Falcon's daughter." Fitz reached out to the dash as Liv stopped short and the car crept to the nearest parking spot.

"James Falcon, like the director, producer, creator, and everything show biz, James Falcon, no way." Liv looked at him in disbelief. "How do you know her, know him, I mean, how?"

"My father is his realtor. My dad is responsible for every home the Falcon's own, here, on the east coast, overseas, Antarctica, wherever they may be, my father is the chief man for him."

"Wow." Liv looked out through the windshield. "And she has the hots for you, have you known her a long time?"

"Since we were 12 and my dad made his first sale with them. Lucky me, huh? Just so you know we aren't and never have been an item."

Liv just nodded, believing him. "She didn't seem to think so."

"Look, I appreciate what you did or tried to do tonight, but you really shouldn't be mixed up with all of this, it really is a fucked up place to be, it's not cool being in the spotlight of the media, this media anyway. They are out for blood, and most specifically my blood."

Liv shrugged, "buy why, why you?"

Fitz rubbed his hand down his face. "It's too long a story." Changing the subject, he moved his hand in the air from her to him. "This playing driver thing isn't going to work either. No one is going to believe you were my driver. Don't you have a book coming out also, this can ruin your chances, your father is right." He opened the passenger door.

"Where are you going?" Liv asked.

"We're switching spots again, this is my car, remember?" He opened Liv's door and she looked at his hand when he put it out to help her step out of the car.

She thought against taking his hand, she was a bit taken aback by his words and his frustration with her. She was only trying to help, but he didn't see it as that. Instead, not being able to be mean, she put her hand gently in his and her body got the same reaction as it did when she fell to his arms in the store.

As he pulled her out, she purposely stopped and looked into his eyes. He glanced at hers, and quickly looked away. Looking up at the darkened street, "I should get you home," he said without looking at her.

He didn't need to open the door for her as he left it opened and Liv sat slouched down in the seat. They didn't say much at all once the car began to move.

"Next block, third house, number 483." Liv said without looking at him.

He pulled to the curb and saw DC and who he guessed was her father sitting on the steps. Next to the house was a small store, dark inside.

"Is that your father's store?" Fitz asked breaking the silence.

"Yes, since I was 8 years old. If you open the trunk, DC will get the bags. Thank you for everything tonight, Fitz. It was a pleasure to have met you. It wasn't my intention to cause any problems, I hope you know that." She pushed the door open, and her father was standing right there. He put his arm around his daughter and Liv rested her head on his shoulder.

Fitz looked at the interaction for a split second, he had wished she had done that to him.

Before Eli closed the door, he stuck his head into the car. "Fitzgerald Grant?"

"Yes, sir." Fitz answered.

"Hmm, well, thank you for helping my daughter get through the predicament she found herself in today. Next time, don't be so quick to allow a young lady into your car when you know she doesn't belong there. I've heard...;"

"DAD! You're out of line, STOP IT." Liv took his arm off her shoulder. She crossed her arms and was just too embarrassed to look at Fitz. She saw DC get the last of the bags and close the trunk. Without looking back at Fitz, she took the last bag from DC and ascended the stairs to her home.

"Eli." DC called him. "Take this one, so I can get the case of water." DC called him away from the car before any trouble happened.

As soon as Eli closed the door, Fitz screeched away in the car, racing down the 25 mph street at 50. Once her block was out of sight, he slowed it down. The last thing he needed was ticket for speeding after he was just deemed such a nice guy by Olivia Pope.

He took a deep, angry breath and pulled into the parking lot of a bar he'd never been to before. As he opened the door, twenty people looked at him, then looked away unimpressed. Fine by Fitz, the less people who recognized him, the better. He ordered iced tea and some fries and sat in a small booth in the corner.

Two televisions had on the ending of a hockey game and the beginning of the second half of the European soccer league game. The farthest television had an entertainment network and Fitz saw his face on the screen.

It wasn't like any other picture he's seen. This one was a still shot of him helping Emmie out of her bed at the shelter, the next was of Olivia standing near his car, and the final one was Fitz smiling at an admiring Nathaniel.

He put his head down and although he couldn't hear a thing on the television he imagined the things being said.

"Known bad boy and trouble maker, Fitzgerald Grant the Third was seen today in pictures helping out at a city shelter. No more details have been released, but a source who volunteers at the shelter said Fitz was indeed there tonight and interacted with some residents.

On a more interesting note, he arrived late for the Dyson/Kobyn wedding dressed as if he had no intention of going at all. The driver of the car he arrived in, Olivia Pope. Ms. Pope is the director of the food bank and shelter, so perhaps she's the one who lured Fitz into doing something good for once. We'll keep you updated, back to you Blake."

Olivia switched off the same thing on her tv that Fitz couldn't hear at the bar. She heard everything and she took a sigh before pulling her laptop up to her on the bed. "Olivia! I would like to see you please." Eli called from the other room.

He was sitting in his recliner, the tv muted, but on the channel Liv just turned off. Liv stood against the doorframe of her room. "What?"

"Did you see that, did you hear that, what were you thinking?"

"Dad, he helped out, that's it, what are you so stuck on here? I'll probably never see him again, especially after how you treated him, so why worry about anything?"

Eli shook his head, frustrated. "Destiny Howard called tonight; meeting is on Monday at her offices." Eli suddenly smiled. "She loved it."

Liv's head bumped the wall gently and she smiled along with Eli. "She loved it. Really? Liked loved or LOVED it?" Liv laughed now.

"Oh, she LOVED it." Eli clapped his hands. "Monday at 9 am, you know where the office is?"

"Well, yeah, but aren't you coming, I mean you…"

"I can't. The bank is giving me a hard time about the loan for renovations to the store and Miguel can only meet me on Monday. He's gone for a two week vacation after that."

"Mind if I ask Abby to go?"

"Of course not, I would love for her to be there, she knows the battles we've had, she's stood through it all with us, please have Abby go."

"I'll call her first thing in the morning." She watched Eli get up. He hugged her closely. "I'm so proud of you honey, this is what we've worked for, you've worked for."

"I know."

"And you don't need a Fitzgerald Grant driving you around. That boy has been in the news too much." Eli turned away. "I'll see you when I come back from dropping the supplies off."

Fitz had finished his fries and three iced teas and had was about to stand up and pay his bill. The door opened swiftly, and the bartender said "Closing in ten, dear, you'll have to go."

"I'm just picking up someone, thank you." Raquel walked over to Fitz who ignored her as she sat across from him. He was about to get up and she touched his hand. He pulled back.

"Do not touch me." Fitz looked around. He knew Raquel too well, she had a hidden agenda here, and he wasn't falling for it. "Aren't you a bit overdressed for a place like this?"

"Wedding just ended; I heard through the grapevine you were here. Figured you would be in no shape to drive."

"I haven't been drinking." Fitz finally stood up. "I'm fine, I don't need anything from you." He handed the bartender a fifty, told him to keep the change and finally saw her hidden agenda. The guy with a camera outside the bar, snapping away.

Fitz pushed the bar door open and before it could close, he pulled the camera man by his shirt. He tossed the camera to the concrete, as it smashed into pieces. "Show is over. Hope it's worth what she was paying you." Fitz walked away and got into his car speeding towards his apartment. This time he didn't slow down, because he just wanted to be in his bed thinking about the eyes and touch of Olivia Pope.

As Fitz sped away, another camera person emerged from around the bar building. Raquel met them both outside the bar. "Tell me you got that all," she smiled.

"Every second of it." He took the wad of cash from Raquel, tipped his hat as his partner cleaned up the last of the broken camera and walked away.

"That should be a good rebuttal." Raquel said as her car pulled up. "Top that one, Olivia Pope."

Liv glanced at the bottom right of her computer screen. It was 2:30 in the morning, but she wasn't the least bit tired. She was now on her fifth page of the fifth google search she had done on Fitz. Her insides were raging, and anger wasn't a feeling she had much of at all.

Headline after headline, more than what she glanced at before, said the same thing over again. "Bad Boy Fitzgerald, "Troublemaker Fitzgerald, "Another altercation involving Fitzgerald", nothing was good. What Liv did realize is not one of the articles had any backing to it. There were pictures, and the witness's statement, but nothing that was factual. Olivia wasn't buying it, something was off.

She was about to call it a night when the last headline on the page caught her eye. "Was it really his fault?" There was a picture of Fitz sitting curbside next to a smashed-up car.

The article went on to say that Fitz was the driver, possibly drunk, of the car that hit several other cars parked along the street. Fitz didn't deny or admit to the allegations, and he was given a fine, several tickets, and was responsible for all the damage to the other cars.

"It wasn't him, I'm sure of it," an eyewitness had said. "I was walking, heard the bangs of the cars being smashed. Some one got out of the driver's side and that man got out passenger side. The eyewitness meant Fitz. The driver took off, running north, and the passenger stayed behind."

The witness went onto say the passenger was the one who called the cops to report what had happened. "I'm just glad there were no injuries, but that man, he was not driving." The witness couldn't confirm if the other person was male or female, and that was the end.

Liv had enough. She had to stop thinking about it, about him. She wouldn't ever see him again, or even hear from him again. Trying to get him out of her head, she buried her face in the pillow and heard her phone buzz.

"The best part of today was meeting you, Livvie. I would love to see you again. "Tom"

Liv looked at the message and smiled. It was from a number not saved, she didn't have his number, but he had hers. Justin had given it to him, so he saved it. Her finger went over the message, and she began to text back.

"It's Liv, but I like when you say Livvie, so it's only for you, but I can be the only one to call you Tom." She put a wink emoji. "Same for me. It was very nice meeting you as well. Did you watch any TV today?" Liv wanted to give him a heads up about the report she watched.

"I saw it, didn't hear it. Don't care what they said. Why aren't you sleeping?" He hit send.

"The same reason you're not sleeping, I'm thinking of you." Liv looked at the message and was ready to delete it. She backspaced and typed, "Just not tired." Looking at the display again, she backspaced. She blew air out of her bottom lip. "The same reason you're not sleeping, I'm thinking of you." She hit send before she thought about it again.

"Oh, so you're a mind reader now?" Fitz returned the message.

"A human eight ball." She answered without hesitation.

Fitz laughed. "One of your many talents because you're right, I am thinking of you."

"Did you do anything exciting after you sped away?" Liv had to know.

"Went to a bar, drank three iced teas, ate some soggy fries, told Raquel to take a hike again, broke a camera of an obnoxious camera man she had following me, and came home."

Why the hell is Raquel like that? Liv felt a bit jealous, but she couldn't judge someone she didn't know. "Glad you're home now. I don't blame you for breaking the camera." She made it a point not to mention Raquel.

"Somehow, I think this will put a negative to the positive you tried to show tonight, anyway, it's getting late. I want to go back to thinking of you."

Liv felt a chill go through her body; she was flattered. "My father was out of line tonight."

"No worries, it's not about him. I was out of line tonight." He responded back.

"Maybe a do over one night?" Liv typed. "For the record nothing you did was out of line tonight."

"Sounds good, Ms. Pope." Fitz watched three dots go, then stop, go again then stop.

Liv didn't know what to respond back. She couldn't make any plans until after her meeting with the book publisher. "I'll send you my availability." Liv looked at the words. WTF, Liv, availability. She backspaced and texted, "I'll be in touch Mr. Grant. Have a good night and get some sleep. Lack of sleep can cause grumpiness."

"So can anxiously awaiting seeing someone as beautiful as you are again. Good night, Livvie." Fitz put the phone next to him figuring she wouldn't answer back. He read the words over again. Did I really text that? His fingers brushed his forehead, what was this woman doing to him? Those were nice words.

He shook his head in disbelief. "Wow, Fitz, you may need some time with your parents, they need to see this side of you."

Liv didn't answer back. Her head sank into the pillow, and she felt his arms catch her as she fell from the shelf. Except, as she drifted off to sleep, her hand pulled his head down, feeling those gorgeous think curls, and she mustered up the bravery to kiss his lips.

She took a big sigh, smiled in her sleep, and continued to dream of the man she met for the first time today.

When Fitz's phone buzzed after five minutes he smiled. She did text back. He took a happy breath and read the display. His rare happiness turned to anger as he saw the video Raquel sent.

He pushed play and there was the altercation with the cameraman. "Think of how this will play out on the nightly news, shelter boy. Good luck defending this one. Call me."

"I'm not calling you, and send that to whomever you want, I'm sure your daddy can get it to Oprah, that should make big news. Do what you want with the footage, Raquel, leave me alone. Besides, isn't Justin waiting for your phone call. Saw him buying condoms tonight, or maybe they weren't for you. Oh, did I hit a nerve. Go to sleep, you have a better chance of me calling you in your dreams." Clicking the send button without mentioning Olivia knew it would anger Raquel. Fitz wasn't going to feed into her intimidation games.

He turned and faced the window in his apartment. Nothing was going to surprise Olivia, he told her everything. He looked at the reflection coming from the window, and he saw her smile. He gently closed his eyes and didn't even hear himself whisper "Goodnight Livvie" as he fell asleep.

"Abby, not you too, come on." Liv had called her friend first thing when she woke up.

"Well, what am I supposed to think? I see a twitter feed with your picture standing outside a car belonging to Fitzgerald Grant. Do you know who his father is?"

"I don't care who his father is, I care who he is." Olivia retaliated.

Long pause, which was unusual from Abby. "Wow, ok, do tell."

Olivia began with getting into the wrong car, the fake name he gave, Ramzi, Fitz coming to the shelter, and ended with the text messaging last night.

"Wait, so you're saying he busted a camera. You don't think that's going to be all over the news?"

"Abby, let it be, I know the truth. The media feeds off his temper and he's egged on, it's not right."

"All this from one chance meeting with him, Liv? You never do see the bad in people, do you?"

"No, I guess I don't, but I saw a hell of a lot of good in him in the few hours I was with him."

"Ok, then, I am on team Olivia. Don't let your dad discourage this. I told you, you need a man. When are you seeing him again?"

"Ok, first thing, are you available tomorrow because I need you with me to speak to THEE DESTINY HOWARD!"

'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, no fucking way, she's taking it, the book, she's doing it? OMG, she loves it right, YES, YES, YES!"

"So, is that a yes?" Liv laughed.

"What time?"

Liv paused, maybe Abby wasn't available, then what? "9 am, in her office."

"Perfect, we'll be there at 8."

"8?, no I said 9."

"We're there at 8, you'll look dedicated."

"or stalkerish"

"Trust me on this."

"How's my girl?" Liv was talking about the baby.

"Oh my God, kicked me all last night, she is fighting to get out." Abby was rubbing her belly.

"I can't wait to meet her."

"And I can't wait to meet Fitz. I can't believe he said his name was Tom, don't you recognize him?"

"No, you know I'm not into all that nonsense. Anyway, you should have seen him with Nathaniel and Emmie, he was a natural." Liv took a deep breath.

"What is it that you said? Laughter, intrigue, mystery, and out of your league? I think the dating Gods heard you."

Liv's shoulder went up. She looked over to the window, suddenly having the need to see him again. "I did say that, but there's nothing in the works, trust me. Love you Abs, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning, 7 am."

"That's right, let's get you on the best-selling list, love you too, Liv."

No sooner did she put her phone down, it began ringing again. This time it was DC. Liv picked up. "No."

"Please, just two hours."

"DC, my dad told you about the meeting tomorrow right? I have so much to do. What do you need?"

"Liv it's swamped here, Emmie is making food as fast as she can it's just serving it, we have a huge donation coming in. It'll be here in about twenty minutes…I don't know, never mind, I'll see if Buzzy can…"

"I'll be there in a few minutes. "

"How are you getting here? Don't hop in any cars with strangers."

"I'm walking, and shut up."

Liv opened the door to the pantry and DC wasn't kidding, it was packed. She grabbed an apron and began serving food, walking around to the tables. It always seemed quicker to do it that way. After what seemed like hours, everyone was eating, the short staff that was there was were helping Emmie clean up, and DC saw the door open.

Buzzy stood there with his announcement. "DELIVERY". Everyone turned to the door then looked at Liv.

"Ok, Buzzy, geez, let the person in so I can sign."

"Yes, Boss."

"It's Liv, stop the boss nonsense, please." Liv said sternly.

"Ok, Boss." Buzzy turned. "Right over there by the gentleman and lady."

"OH MY GOD!" DC walked to the woman approaching them. "Mrs. Bennet."

"David, David Cruz, my goodness it's been years, how are you?"

"Good, good." He put his arm out to Olivia. "This is Olivia Pope, she runs the pantry and shelter with me."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Bennet, thank you so much for this generous donation."

"No worries, the place closer to the school closed down, I was sorry to see that, this is the next closest pantry. The students and volunteers are ready to assist with the unpacking and storing of items."

"Oh, you're a teacher?"

"Yeah, Liv, she was my Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry teacher at Berkely. Oh, wait, Mrs. Bennet, you remember Fitzgerald Grant?" Once and for all, DC was going to prove to Liv exactly the kind of person Fitz was.

"Sure do, he always had your back, you were lucky."

Liv began to laugh. "Is that so? Do tell."

"The boys Fitzgerald hung around with were evil I tell you, but Fitz had a heart. He never showed it, always played the part to fit in. Many a days he stayed after school helping me out. He told me all about you DC. Those boys were not very nice to you."

"They weren't and he was part of them, so how could you say I was lucky?"

"DC, do you know the things they wanted to do to you? They wanted to trash your locker, and Fitz would tell them he would take care of it. How many times was your locker trashed?"

"Maybe, umm, I don't recall…"

"Because Fitz never went through with it. All the bullying those boys did, Fitz never engaged, you should've seen that. Anyway have you been in touch with Fitzgerald, I hear he's moving up with all the banquet places."

Liv just smirked waiting for DC to answer, this took a heavy backfire, and Liv was finally happy to hear someone speak of Fitz's true character.

"DC ran into him yesterday, I don't think it clicked in Fitz's mind though who DC was, maybe after a few more meetings."

"Hmm, well if you do see him again tell him I said hello and to drop by the school and visit. I am retiring at the end of the year." Mrs. Bennet handed Liv the inventory sheet. Liv thanked her and sent some staff to unload with the students.

"I'm leaving the work to the students. Please let me know if everything is alright. I'll see you again during the holidays. Pleasure to meet you Olivia."

"Likewise."

"Uh, I'll walk you out Mrs. Bennett, again, thank you so much."

Sarah and Big Gerry Grant were at a table at the La Chateau café north of town. Sometimes Fitz thought he would need to pay admission just to walk on the Main Street, it was that rich of an area. He had on a collared shirt, khaki pants, and his favorite Hoka sneakers.

He looked through the big window, saw his parents and walked in. His mother stood up right away, cupped his face and kissed him on the cheek. "Good morning, Fitzgerald, I've missed you, you need to call a bit more often." She swatted his shoulder. "I worry about you, and I don't like seeing you only on the news."

Fitz nodded and turned to his father. He put his hand out, "Dad," Fitz saw him briefly last night in the lobby during the wedding.

Not looking up from cutting his food Gerry said, "I see you got in a bind last night." He stopped with his food and handed Fitz a paper. "The bill from the cameraman."

Fitz took a piece of toast from the middle of the table as his father dropped the paper next to him. "I saw your thing on the tv, Fitz," his mom chimed in. "That's wonderful you were at the shelter helping out, how did that happen?"

"I had someone to thank for getting me out of a bind. You know that wedding almost didn't happen. We had a pipe burst at the hall. Nice installation people you sent for that dad, the place was just renovated three weeks ago. Cheap labor never gets you anywhere."

"Sebastian isn't cheap." Gerry said between chews.

"Yeah, well I'm going with this guy that saved our asses last night. His name is Ramzi, real genuine, not in it for the money."

Gerry chuckled, "Who isn't in it for the money?"

"I'm terminating Sebastian's contract, you want him for your fixer up houses keep him, I'm sticking with Ramzi."

"Oh, suddenly you're making executive decisions? Is that what one day at a shelter does to you?"

"Gerald!" Sarah said. "That was noble of him. You're always telling him to keep out of trouble, he did, and you're still on him, stop that." Sarah looked at Fitz., "eat some more than just toast."

"Then he goes and slams a camera to pieces, what was that all about? And, he was a friend of Raquel's. Her father is…"

"Your best friend and biggest client, yeah I know, doesn't give his stalker daughter a right to follow me around with cameras." Fitz stood up. "Mom, I'm going for a drive, will you be home later?"

Sarah nodded to Gerry. "Your father is going golfing, I'll be home, do stop by."

Fitz gave his mom a kiss on her cheek. "I'll call you. So, Dad, did Dyson say the venue was good."

"Nothing but praise, son, that I will give you. I don't know what to say to Raquel's father though at the golf course."

"Tell him his daughter is psycho and needs to let me be. See you soon."

Fitz found himself driving towards Garfield Avenue. Even though Olivia said she would get back to him, he didn't want to wait. He didn't know if he would even see her, but it was worth a chance. He turned and drove passed the white building. He saw a truck being unloaded, but only five people were helping.

Taking a deep breath, Fitz parked the car and walked over to the building. He saw DC giving orders and turned to see meet Fitz's stare.

"Grant, why are you here?"

"I was lost and was wondering if you could give me directions."

"To where?"

Fitz rolled his eyes. "I drove by to see if you could use a hand."

"Whatever, where's the camera crew to show your good deed?" DC laughed and went back to his crew.

"It's up your ass with all the other wise ass shit. Never mind." Fitz tossed his hands and turned, almost knocking Olivia down who had heard the whole interaction. Fitz licked his lips in frustration, now he's done it.

"DC, since when do you turn away volunteers?" DC didn't respond to Olivia.

"DAVID CRUZ, I'm talking to you."

Suddenly it clicked, Fitz didn't know why it didn't click yesterday, maybe he was too distracted by meeting Olivia. "David Cruz? Berkely David Cruz?"

DC turned around, "yeah, Berkely, that's right, now you remember, and you should know why I don't want your help."

"All I did was defend you."

"Maybe when you weren't in detention, which was rare."

"You have no idea. You know what, this was a mistake." He felt Liv's hand grab his bicep.

"No, don't leave. DC doesn't want your help, I am sure Nathaniel and Emmie would love to see you they are inside." Liv looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Go ahead, Liv, you know your dad is in there, he showed up a few minutes ago, went in through the side entrance." DC warned her.

"oooh, scary." Liv said, "come on Fitz, this way."

Fitz walked in and saw how packed the place was. Kids were playing in a play area now and adults were just sitting and talking. Fitz noticed a hand waving and he looked to his right. It was Emmie, when she saw she had his attention she signaled for him to come over.

Liv walked with him to the kitchen. "She may ask you to do dishes." Liv warned.

"DISHES? I don't…."

"Hello Mr. Handsome man. How are you, did you come back to see Livvie?" Emmie put up air quotes.

"Emmie." Liv said surprised.

"Put on these gloves so you don't cut your hand if a dish breaks. These dishes are so old they crack from under you. Here's a nice soapy sponge, go on, I could use the help."

"I'm not much of a dishwasher, ma'am" Fitz tried to get out of it.

"Emmie, call me Emmie, and everyone is a dishwasher, just wipe and rinse." Emmie began thanking him for the supplies. "Olivia told me you helped her shop and brought the things to her home. So nice of you."

"I didn't want to go in the store." Fitz began.

"Ahh, but you did." Emmie pointed to Liv. "Hand that dish to her, she'll dry."

Fitz looked down and didn't even realize he washed a dish. He stared at it, then followed Emmie's directions. Liv took the dish smiling.

"You know, Livvie has an appointment tomorrow with the publisher, she's going to get her big book break. Also, Abigail is having her baby soon, Livvie will have a lot of practice being around a baby" She gave Fitz an elbow as he handed another dish to Liv.

"You have an appointment? That's good. Congratulations." Fitz said smiling at her, and for once he was genuinely happy for someone.

"Thank you." Liv said.

"No need to congratulate her if you keep your troublemaking self around her, no one will want her to be successful." Eli grabbed the dish from Fitz's hands. "I'll take over from here, Mr. Grant, thank you, you may go."

Before Liv could jump in, Emmie grabbed the dish from Eli's hand. "I don't need your help Elijah, you go on and continue that inventory. This man is not trouble, he's been nothing but helpful. Be nice to people, especially a man who respects your daughter like this handsome one does."

"Emmie, you don't know…."

"Oh, I do know." She looked at Liv, "Olivia, go on, I'll get the rest of the dishes."

Liv side eyed her father and interlocked her arm with Fitz's. "Did you drive?"

He shook his head, still spinning from what just went down. "Yeah, it's parked up the road."

"Good, want to go for a ride?" Liv asked then looked at her father.

"Bye dad. Thank you Emmie." Liv and Fitz were about to leave, but Nathaniel came running to them.

"Hey Fitz, did you make a pattern?" Liv picked up Nathaniel so he could be higher to talk to Fitz.

"Hey buddy, look here." Fitz pulled out his phone. Nathaniel squinted at the screen.

"What's that?"

"I ordered that for you. I'll bring it when it's delivered and you could show me how to make harder patterns."

"WOW!" Nathaniel jumped from Liv's arms. "I'm telling my mom, a new LEGO set. WAY COOL!"

They left before there were any distractions. But before the door even closed, Eli stepped out from the side entrance. "Olivia, I want you to see something." Eli had a video from the camera breaking last night. "Before you leave with him again, you need to see this. After he left last night."

"He broke a camera, I know all about it, because Fitz told me. Do you know why he broke the camera?"

"Because he's a menace."

Fitz took a deep breath and turned away out of respect for Olivia.

"No, because someone was following him and trying to get pictures of him. Remember two years ago when the city thought your were embezzling money from the shelter and they followed you around? You broke a camera or two also. I'll be home early." Again, she took Fitz's arm and got to the car.

"Where to this time Ms. Pope, furniture outlet, thrift shop, or maybe the local library?" Fitz smirked.

"Hmmm, you know the way to my heart I see." Liv shrugged, "Go straight for now, about two miles up hook a right, a quick left, that'll be a nice place for a bit."

Fitz tilted his head. "Ok, whatever you say."

"So, why the surprise visit to the pantry?" Liv asked.

"I don't know, I really did order that for Nathaniel, that was one reason. Someone told me to stay away from there, that was another reason, I'm not good with orders, and finally I couldn't go another minute without seeing you."

Liv's face grew serious as she looked at him. He was looking out in front like any good driver, and she didn't want to distract him by telling him he granted a wish for her today when he showed up unannounced.

The car left he sight of the watchful eye of Eli Pope, who knew his daughter saw something in this man that no one else did. "Don't ruin this for yourself Olivia." He headed back to the pantry shaking his head in disbelief.