Nature V Nurture

by Starfish81

Olivia and Fitz were once a married couple, young, happy and in love. They had the perfect life, except the one thing the two of them wanted most, a child. After two years apart, what happens when one night of passion leads to the child they both longed for. Will this bring them back together or force them farther apart?

5. Chapter Five: Reunion (Part one)

Chapter Five: Reunion Part One

Olivia was walking back to her car, when her cell phone started ringing in her purse. Thinking it could be a work emergency, she hurriedly pulled it out of her black Michael Kors bag. She read the caller ID, and smiled as she answered the phone.

"Hi mommy." Olivia still called her mother 'mommy and her father daddy'. She was a momma's girl through and through. She was the baby of the family, and she'd never break from it. Especially since she's been spoiled since the day she was born; although she'd never admit to it.

"Hi baby. I hope this isn't a bad time. I wanted to see how the meeting went." Olivia had called her mother the night she got the email. She was freaking out, and only her mother's soothing voice could calm her down.

"I was fine, great actually. I'm leaving there now." She put her top down on her jag, and she stopped at a red light. "She's such a sweet and smart girl. I keep forgetting that she's only a baby. It's sad that she's going through all this, especially without the support of her family."

"Not everyone is fortunate as others Olivia."

"Yeah I know. Listen when is Junior coming back to town?" Olivia asked of her big brother Curtis. "Is he still coming for Quinn and Huck's anniversary?"

"Yes he is, he should be flying back in tomorrow. I think he's even thinking about staying longer this time. He might be quitting his job at that advertising firm to come run the family business. You're father's been grooming him to take over one day. And not that you asked, but your sister is flying in soon."

"Oh is she?" Olivia said with a faux excitement.

"Olivia." Adelle warned in her stern motherly voice. Olivia and her older sister Althea had a love-hate relationship. They were sisters, and they loved each other of course, but they could never get along for more than a day. They were constantly bickering or arguing over the smallest things. It's been that way ever since they were children. Olivia would say Althea was just jealous that she took her spot as the baby girl in the family. And Althea accused Olivia of being a spoiled brat, who always got her way. The two could go back and forth for days, without either giving up.

"I know you two don't always get along, but she is still your sister Olivia."

"I know that. When is her flight getting in? I want to see my nieces and my nephew."

"Well that's actually the second reason I'm calling. She decided to come down a few days earlier so I could spend more time with my grand babies. Her flight lands in about an hour, and I need you to be there to pick her up."

"Oh come on mommy. Today? And all I get is an hour notice. Can't she catch a cab?"

"Now Olivia you wouldn't have your nieces and nephew waiting in that long line to catch a cab would you."

"No." Olivia sighed. Her mother really knew all her weaknesses and her nieces and nephew were one of them.

"That's my girl. Now remember her flight gets in within the hour. Don't be late."

"Yes ma'am."

X

Olivia was sitting on a bench in the airport, waiting for her sister and her family's plane to land. She had gone home to switch her cars, because she was driving her Jag, and her family obviously couldn't fit into a two seater. She traded her Jag for her SUV and quickly drove to the airport. She was excited to see her nieces and nephew. Since her sister lived in DC, Olivia didn't get to see them as often as she would like. Her sister came down to visit, but it was mostly for holidays, special occasions and the summer. She was an elementary school teacher, so she was free to come down for the summer.

Olivia hadn't seen them in person in a little over two months. She was supposed to fly up to DC with her mother and father last month, but she got held up at work at the last minute. Since then, she was limited to only face-timing with the kids.

She was checking her emails, when she heard commotion coming from one of the gates. A plane had just landed and she was sure it was her sisters. She tried to spot her through the flood of people coming through the gate. She finally spotted Althea's husband near the end of the crowd. Althea was short, just like Olivia and their mother, so spotting her in the crowd would be a challenge.

Liv waved her arms, and called out Jason's name, Althea's husband. He was a lot easier to spot, standing over six feet tall. He was a handsome man, with caramel colored skin, strong facial features, with jet black hair and small specks of grey around his ears. He was a lawyer in DC, and hoped one day to be district attorney. He and Althea met while he was vacationing in California. They dated for just a short while, before they got married at the Pope's Napa valley home. And after they married, Althea moved to DC to live with him.

"Hey Liv." Jason shouted back, as he held the two oldest kids' hands and Althea carried their nine month old. Jason Jr was their oldest, he was eight. Alecia was the middle child, she was six. And their newest addition, Hannah, turned nine months old two weeks ago.

"Hey Jase." Liv gave him a quick hug, before turning her attention to her niece and nephew. They had grown since the last time she saw them. They were clearly taking their height from their father. Alecia almost reached her chest, and JJ was almost as tall as she was. "Good lord, you two are so big! Next time I see you, you're gonna be towering over me."

"Yeah, their growing like weeds." Althea said, rocking a fidgety Hannah in her arms. She was sleepy, but she refused to go to sleep and was cranky the entire flight. "Hey Liv."

"Hey Thea." Olivia gave her sister a hug, smashing Hannah between the two of them. She broke apart, when Hannah started patting Olivia's cheek with her little chubby hand, "And hello to you too miss Hannah banana." That's what Olivia called her, since she loved bananas so much, plus it was just a cute name. "She looks just like you did when you were a baby Thea."

"Yeah, mom said the same thing when she and dad came down last month."

Olivia sighed, hearing the underlying tone in Thea's voice. "Thea I was coming, I just got caught up at work at the last minute."

"How busy were you Olivia that you couldn't-"

"Apparently very busy Althea. Junior wasn't there either, how come you're not giving him the third degree."

"I will, as soon as I see him. I'm just saying. You barely get to see the kids as it is, and they ask me about you all the time."

"Well no one told you to move to DC Thea. And I call and FaceTime the kids all the time."

"I moved to DC, because that's where my husband was Olivia."

Olivia rolled her eyes, preparing to say something back, but Jason stopped her before she could. "Okay ladies, let's put a pin in the conversation. The middle of a busy airport isn't the right place to hash out family drama."

"Fine, the baggage claim is that way Liv."

"What are you telling me for?" Olivia asked with an attitude. "What do I look like a bellhop? No, I don't get bags. But I will get miss butterball over here." Olivia took Hannah, who was currently chewing on her mother's pearl necklace, out her arms. "And the kids and I will bring the car around."

"Thanks for all the help Liv." Althea said, with sarcasm dripping from her lips.

"Easy with the attitude Thea, before I make you give me gas money." Olivia responded, with just as much sarcasm and a grin, before walking off to get the car.

X

Flashback

"No no no, shit." Olivia groaned in frustration, as she pulled over onto the side of the rode. She was on her way to her parents' home, when she felt one of her tires go out. She knew how to change a tire, her father made sure both she and her sister knew how. But the fact that it was dark, and she was on a back road, with no other cars in sight made her a little uneasy.

Then after she opened her trunk to get the spare tire out, she realized her spare was flat. She had no idea how that happened, considering this is the first flat she's had and she hadn't messed with the tire before. Then to just add to the growing problem, her phone was dead, so she couldn't call road side assistance. She sat in her car sulking for the next ten minutes, thinking she would have to walk the rest of the way to her parents' house.

She got out of the car, thankful that she had a flashlight in her car. She locked the doors on her car and started on her walk. She was only about five minutes into her walk, when a big pick-up truck passed her, then pulled up in front of her on the side of the road. She stopped walking, a little nervous when the driver's door opened. She was started searching for her pepper spray in her purse, when a tall figure started walking towards her.

"Excuse me ma'am. You need a lift?" The figure shouted.

"What?"

"I said do you need a lift?" The figure came closer, and Olivia immediately got lost in his bright blue eyes. It was just about the only thing she could see in the dark. "That must be your car a little ways back."

"Um yeah, it is. I blew a tire, and somehow my spare is flat."

"I can give you a lift to wherever you're going."

"Um, no offense, but no thank you. I don't really make it a habit of getting in cars with strangers."

"Well how about this." The man stuck his hand out for a shake. "My name's Fitz." He gave her a bright smile.

"Olivia." She hesitantly shook his hand.

"See, now we're not strangers." He gave her that panty dropping smile again, and she was half tempted to get in his car. "I just don't like the idea of you, or anyone, walking this late at night by themselves."

"You could be a serial killer for all I know."

Fitz laughed, "I promise you I am not a serial killer. My sister is in the car with me, and trust me she is not a serial killer either. She doesn't even like to kill the bugs that get in the house. You're not a serial killer are you?"

This time, Olivia laughed and his smile got brighter. "No, I'm not."

"Good, so I'm not gonna kill you and you're not gonna kill me. Now that that's settled you gonna let me give you a ride?"

"You promise to just take me home."

"I'll take you wherever you want to go." Fitz held his hand out for her to take. She hesitated for only a moment, before placing her hand in his. He walked her to the truck, and introduced her to his sister in the front seat. Erika said a polite hello, before moving to the backseat, so Olivia could sit in the front.

"So where to?" Fitz asked, after he got back in the driver's seat.

"My parents' home is that way, not too far from here."

Olivia spent the short car ride mostly quiet, listening to the brother and sister bicker about the radio station, and Fitz's slow driving. They reminded Olivia of herself and her own siblings. When they got to Olivia's house, Fitz got out the truck to open her door. She thanked him again for the ride and went in the house.

She hadn't realized she'd left her flashlight in his truck, until he rang her parents' doorbell the next day. He had come back all that way to ask her out on a date. The flashlight was just a backup plan for why he was standing at her door.

Present

Fitz was supposed to be working, but instead he spent the past thirty minutes just thinking f Olivia. He was sitting at his desk, papers scattered in front of him, pen in hand but he just could stay out of his head. His daydreams were taking all his attention away. He hadn't spoken to Olivia since he left her house earlier that morning. He tried calling her twice, but she wasn't taking his calls. He left a voicemail for her to call him, but he wasn't going to hold his breath, waiting on that call.

Lauren buzzing him on the intercom, finally took him from his thoughts. "Yes Lauren." He answered.

"Mr. Grant, Ms. Locke is here to see you."

"That's fine Lauren, send her back. Thanks."

Fitz straightened up the papers on his desk, when he heard a small knock on his door. "Come on in."

"Hey Fitz."

"Jeanine hey, what're you doing here?"

"We're supposed to have lunch remember?" Jeanine said, walking into the office. She put her purse on in one of the chairs in front of his desk. "Did you forget?"

In all honesty he had. He hadn't thought about anything else that day, besides Olivia. "No no, of course not. My day is just a little upside down, but I didn't forget."

"Good, because I was to go by this boutique as well. I need to pick up my dress for the party."

"Party?" Fitz was talking, as he gathered his paperwork in his briefcase to take home.

"Your friend's anniversary party. Jesus Fitz, where's your brain today?"

"Uh scattered." Fitz had completely forgot that he'd asked Jeanine to be his plus one for Huck and Quinn's anniversary party. He didn't wasn't to be rude and tell her that he changed his mind about wanting her to come. But he didn't know how it would look to Olivia, if he brought a date to the party after telling her he wanted to get back together. He was serious when he told her that, and he didn't want her to think that otherwise. Or not take him seriously, because he showed up with another woman. They were just friends, but apparently to everyone else they were more.

X

"Momma why are you crying again?"

"I'm just happy to have all my babies under the same roof again." Adelle said, wiping the happy tears in her eyes. It had only been months since all her kids and grandkids were in the same place at once. But to Adelle that was a year. He son, Junior, lived out of town, although he came back often. And Althea lived in DC, the only one who still lived in California was Olivia. And even then, she didn't come by as often as she used to.

"Well technically, we won't all be here until junior gets here." Olivia was walking in the room, with Hannah on her hip. They were all sitting in one of the many family rooms in the house. Her dad was grilling steaks outside with Jason, while the kids were playing and the women were inside watching TV.

"Olivia put her down. You can't keep holding her, that's how she gets spoiled." Althea said. She had put Hannah in her little activity center that she kept at her grandparents. But every time she'd let out a little whimper Olivia would take her out. She wasn't crying, but Olivia didn't like seeing her upset.

"So what? Babies are supposed to be spoiled."

"No they're not. That's how you end up with brats."

"She doesn't like it in that thing anyway."

"She does like it, she just knows that if she makes a little noise her auntie will come and pick her up."

"Don't you two start, I don't feel like hearing it." Adelle quickly stopped all the bickering. Adelle was a small and petite woman, which is where her daughters got it from. She had medium length brown hair, the just barely touched her shoulders. She was still the same size she was before she had kids. All her years of exercising and eating right over the years were really paying off. The only change about her was he bra size and she now had child baring hips. Her skin still glowed, her smile was still bright, Adelle just refused to not age gracefully.

"I swear you two are worse than these kids. I don't know what's wrong with you." Adelle started playing with Hannah's feet, making her giggle. She took her from Olivia and started blowing raspberries on her belly, before the men came back in from the deck.

"Alright, who's ready to eat?" Curtis asked enthusiastically, carrying a platter of sizzling steaks. Jason followed behind him with the grilled potatoes and corn on the cob. "Liv hon go and get a bottle from the cellar."

"Why does Liv always get to pick the wine?"

"Because your choices suck, and you don't know how to pair a wine with the right meat."

"It's not rocket science Olivia."

"Then why do you have such a hard time?" Olivia replied, walking down the hall to the stairs that led to the wine cellar.

"Thea sweetheart you don't even drink wine." Adelle said, getting up from the couch to go to the kitchen.

"Can I have wine grandma?" Alecia asked, smiling up at her grandma with her toothless grin. She'd lost both of her upper two front teeth just last week.

"You can have grape juice, and pretend its wine. I'll even put it in a fancy glass."

"Okay." Alecia ran off to the kitchen behind her grandma and father.

"Momma please don't turn my child into a wine-o like the rest of you."

"Oh lighten up Thea."

X

"Liv you never told us how it went with Jazmine this morning." Curtis said. Olivia had gotten back with a nice bottle of wine from the cellar, and they all sat down for dinner of steaks, while grilled potatoes, corn on the cob and a side salad.

"Who's Jazmine? A new client?" Althea asked. She wasn't privy to the information about her sister and her plans to adopt again.

"No, I don't share information about clients with anyone. Jazmine's a mother from the adoption agency. I'm trying to adopt her baby."

"Wow." Althea was the first to comment Liv that's great. "I had no idea you were trying again."

"Yeah, I know. I initially wasn't going to tell any of you, or anyone for that matter. I was gonna keep it to myself, until I actually had a baby. But I soon realized how absurd that was and I told mom and dad. Besides the lady facilitating all this is going to have to meet you guys soon."

"Why didn't you want us to know? This is a good thing."

"I know. But with everything that happened last time… I had told everyone I knew that I was adopting a baby and then when it fell through and I had to tell everyone what happened… I didn't want to go through that again in case the same thing happens."

"That won't happen this time around." Her father affectionately squeezed her hand over the table.

"When is Jr coming home?" Olivia asked, changing the subject.

"Early tomorrow morning. He sent a text message, but didn't give a time." Adelle answered. "I told him you would pick him up from the airport, and I told him to call you in the morning when his flight lands."

"How early in the morning?" Olivia groaned.

"Well I don't know, he didn't tell us the time."

"I'm not a morning person."

"Yes I know. You're not a morning person and you're not a night person, you're an afternoon person. But unfortunately for you darling he lands in the early morning." Adelle said, popping a piece of meat in her mouth. "And turn the volume up on your phone. I know you sometimes sleep through your alarm and phone calls."

"Don't worry mother, I will make sure your precious baby boy gets picked up from the airport."

"Good. And honestly Olivia, you have to break out of this not a morning person attitude. Because guess who is a morning person, babies. And they're not gonna care if you are sleepy, when they wake up in the middle of the night and early in the morning."

"I know that. I'm not gonna ignore the kid."

"Oh trust me, you couldn't even if you tried." Althea said. "When Hannah was a newborn, it was like she had a megaphone taped to her mouth. One, two o'clock in the morning she would wake up wailing and screaming for a bottle." As if she knew they were talking about her, Hannah banged her little fist on her highchair, gaining the attention in the room.

"Auntie Liv." Alecia called Olivia's attention away from the giggling nine month old.

"Yeah babe."

"Where's Uncle Fitz?" Alecia asked. She was very fond of her uncle Fitz, as all of Althea's kids were. They were very close to their aunt, and adored their uncle as well. And when Fitz and Olivia split, they didn't really understand it; Alecia more than JJ. She didn't understand why her uncle wasn't around as much as he used to be, why he wasn't at family events with Olivia like he normally would be. She would ask about him all the time, and Olivia or her parents or whoever would explain to her once again why he wasn't around. But it never stuck. Every time her parents came back to California to visit the family, she would ask about Fitz once again, this time being no different.

"He's working." Olivia answered, not having the energy to explain to the girl once again why her uncle wasn't there.

"Is he coming later?"

"Alecia. Sweetheart eat your food." Her dad said, and Olivia gave him an appreciative smile, and continued eating her food.

The conversation flowed freely, as everyone finished their meals. Adelle was the one who brought up the wedding plans.

"It's going great. Abby is turning into a real bridezilla though." Olivia said.

Althea scoffed, "Oh please, like you weren't a bridezilla when you got married."

"I was not. I just had a vision for my wedding, I knew what I wanted and how it was supposed to be."

"And when it didn't look how you wanted, you had a temper tantrum."

"Whatever. Next subject."

"Well my gown came in yesterday, for Quinn and Huck's anniversary party." Adelle changed the subject again.

Olivia gasped, eyes wide open. The mention of Quinn's party and gowns, got her thinking about the gown she bought for the party. "It is the most gorgeous thing I own, besides my dog. Best piece of clothing I have. I fell in love." Olivia pulled her phone out of purse, and handed it her mother.

"It looks expensive."

"Of course it's expensive. It's me."

"How much did you pay for this dress Liv?" Althea asked, after her mother gave her Olivia's phone, to look at the dress.

"None of your business, just know I look good in it." Althea was about to respond, but the sound of the front door opening caught everyone by surprise. Everyone that Curtis was expecting was at the table, and he wasn't expecting anyone else.

"Hola mi familia!"

"Junior!" Olivia was the first one out of her seat, and ran over to Junior who picked her up and spun her around. "You idiot, what are you doing here? I thought I was picking you up tomorrow."

"Well I wanted to surprise you guys, so I came out earlier."

"How'd you get here, I would've picked you up."

"Well that would have ruined the surprise. Besides, I called a service no big deal. Hey ma." Junior hugged his mother, and father then Althea. He picked both of the kids up, hanging them upside down in his arms, almost giving Althea a coronary.

"Jesus Christ Thea, what the hell are you feeding this kid?" he said, after picking up the baby, who was currently laughing at her uncle and playing with his new beard.

"She likes potatoes, they go straight to her thighs. And don't say hell."

X

"And that is why I quit my job, and why I've come running back home." Junior had just got done, telling his parents and nosy sisters why he quit his job and was moving back home. Well at least back to his home town, he had no intentions of staying at his parent's house- dad's house. He was planning on getting an apartment or town house close by.

"So now you're gonna run the business for daddy?" Olivia asked.

"Yes. That is if he still wants me to."

"You know I do Jr. You know I want to keep the business in the family. And since your sisters want nothing to do with it-"

Althea and Olivia both groaned loudly, here we go again. "Daddy we never said we didn't want anything to do with it. We just didn't want to run it. Thea doesn't even drink, and I drink too much."

"Olivia." Adelle warned.

"I'm just saying, Junior's the best you're gonna get."

"She's right, now if you'll excuse me, it's getting late and I'm tired." Junior stood, gathering his bags and suitcases.

"You're not staying here with your father?" Adelle asked. "Thea, Jason and the kids are staying. It'll be fun, having a full house again." She was speaking as if she was gonna be here to enjoy the full house.

"As much fun as that sounds mother, I think I'm just going to crash with Liv for a while. That is until I find a place to stay."

"Where are you planning on buying a house? Because I think it just makes sense that you stay in the Napa home." The Napa Home was where the Pope's vineyard was. And they have a rather large house there that they use for vacation mostly now. Curtis goes up there every other month, to check in with the business and whenever there's an emergency and he's needed.

"If you're gonna run the business don't you think you should stay there? The vineyard is right behind the house. That's where all the employees are, and you can learn the business faster."

"I'm not running it now mother, I'm being groomed to run it. Besides, Dad has no problem running the business from here, and neither will I. I'll get an apartment close to home, if it makes you feel better. Besides, I can't very well bring a woman home to my parents' house now can I?"

"No you cannot." Curtis answered. "I had enough of that when you were a teenager, you and your sister both. Sneaking girls and boys into your room." Everyone knew he was talking about Liv, and not Althea. Junior and Olivia had been the problem children when they were younger. They were the ones to sneak off the parties and sneaking their friends back into the house at night. Althea, however, was the more responsible one and the snitch.

"So any who, I will be staying at Liv's until I find me a spot to stay. Love you all, and catch you later."

X

Olivia and Junior were almost at her house, they were listening to Olivia's mix CD's, when one of her favorite songs came on next, Big Poppa. She turned to volume up almost to the max, and started rapping the song rapping the song in between eating a large fried from McDonalds.

"…the back of the club sipping Moet is where you find me. The back of the club making hoes my crew behind me… Music blasting but I just can't quit, cause one of these honey's Biggie got to creep with…Believe me sweetie I got enough to feed the needy…I love it when you call me Big Poppa. Throw your hands in the air if you a true playa."

Olivia dipped another one of her fries into her ice-cream sundae and ate it in one bite. Junior grimaced beside her, dipping his fries in ketchup like a normal person. Ever since she was a little girl she'd always dip her fries in her ice-cream. But she'd only do it with McDonalds fries and ice-cream. She'd order the same thing a sundae, fries and a large sprite. Either her mother or father would make her get a burger or chicken nuggets, but she'd just pick over it so she could eat the ice-cream and fries.

"Really Liv?" Junior yelled over the music. He grabbed her CD case and started looking for another CD. Most of the CD's she had were rap CD's and old school music. "Don't you have any music in here that won't scare this white ass neighborhood?"

Olivia shrugged, "I've got Adele."

Junior rolled his eyes, and kept flipping through her music. "NWA Liv, really? Where'd you even find an NWA CD?"

"I've had that since we were little, and it's Ice Cube not NWA. It's after he went solo."

"You are so black Liv." Junior joked.

"Yeah, last time I checked I was still brown."

"You know if I didn't know you, I would find it so fucking weird that a woman like you would be listening to NWA."

"Again, it's Ice Cube A.K.A my future baby daddy. And what do you mean a woman like me?"

"Come on Liv, you know what I'm talking about. Look at you, look at your car, oh sorry cars. Look at the neighborhood you live in and the house you live in. You're fancy and low-key bougie, you're supposed to be listening to some classical shit, with a symphony or something. Speaking of which, turn this down, you're scaring all these old ass white people." A woman, pruning her flowers, was watching them as Olivia's car passed. Junior turned the radio down.

"Hey! Don't touch my radio. I pay my payments just like everyone else." Olivia smacked his hand away and turned it back up and rapped the next song.

Shortly after, Olivia pulled into her driveway and saw Blair leaning against his car by the curb. She opened the garage, and parked her car, closing the garage door behind her.

"Who's the dude in the car?" Junior asked, while Olivia helped his with his bags.

"Blair."

"And who is Blair?" Junior asked with disdain.

"A guy."

"What kind of guy?"

"Ugh, just a guy Junior." Olivia sighed, he wasn't going to let this go. "A guy I'm seeing."

"Dating? I never thought you'd get over the white boy."

"His name is Fitz."

"Shit it ain't Devon."

"Do you really have a problem with me dating white guys?" Olivia unlocked the garage door, leading into the house. She dropped her bags and went to open the door for Blair with junior following close behind her.

"I just don't like that particular white boy."

"You use to."

"I use to like a lot of things, but not after they dogged my baby sister."

"Fitz didn't dog me, we just got divorced." Olivia opened the door, with Junior right behind her.

"Hey babe."

"Blair what are you doing here?"

"I just came over to see you." Blair was speaking to Olivia, but he couldn't seem to look away from the tall man standing behind her. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Tyrone bitch, who the fuck are you?" Junior said, and fought hard to keep his laughter in. Olivia rolled her eyes. Lord, Tyrone is back. Junior had done this before, with Olivia's previous boyfriends, to scare them off. Junior had always been a big man, tall, muscular, deep voice and just intimidating. You didn't know until you squeezed, that he was a big teddy bear.

"Tyrone? Liv… what's going on?"

"Liv? What you talking to my girl for?" Junior stepped in front of Olivia, making Blair take a few steps back.

"Your girl?"

"Junior stop it." Olivia stepped back in front of Junior, and pushed him back in the house. Amusement on her face. "Blair this is my big brother CJ."

"Brother?" The relief quickly washed over Blair's face, and he found the humor in the situation. "Man, you had me going for a minute there." Blair held his hand out to shake. "Nice to meet you CJ."

"Nah, you call me Curtis." Junior said, while ignoring Blair's outstretched hand. "Night Liv, I'll take the room downstairs." Junior walked away, and off to his room.

"Did I do something?"

"No, he's just protective. So what are you doing here?"

"I told you, I just came to see you baby. Maybe grab some dinner."

"I already ate Blair, and I'm tired so can we just talk tomorrow?"

"You're not going to invite me in?"

"I haven't seen my brother in a while, I kind of just want to spend the night in with him. But I'll see you tomorrow after you get done at your mothers." Liv quickly kissed his cheek, before shutting the door on him.

X

The next day, Fitz was walking out of his office building after a grueling day. He was more busy than usual at the office, even his patients were being more difficult. He was fortunately wasn't on call for the hospital, so he had the rest of the day to himself. He had planned on just having a quiet evening at home. He didn't have any plans for the evening that he knew of, so he was free to just relax. Maybe pick up some dinner on the way home. Maybe even work out a little, something he hadn't done in a while. He had just reached his parked truck in the employee parking lot, when his phone started ringing. Fitz juggling the things in his hands, to fished his phone out of his briefcase. Without checking the caller ID, he answered on the third ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey Fitz."

"Jeanine, what's up?" Fitz pushed the button on his car fob to unlock the doors. He threw his stuff in the passenger seat and climbed into the truck, balancing the phone on his shoulder.

"I just came back from a little shopping, I was just calling to see what time you were coming to pick me up."

Pick you up? We have plans? "Um…" Fitz was now confused.

"You forgot didn't you? I swear Fitz you have to worst memory in the world."

"Yeah, I've been told." Olivia use to tell him all the time, how forgetful he was. "So anyway, what was I picking you up for?"

"The beach? Your friend's little get together? You asked me a while ago if I wanted to go with you, and I said yes. I can finally meet your friends now."

Oh right. Stephen and Abby planned a little beach get together a while ago. He had forgotten all about it, to be honest he really didn't want to go. Mainly because he knew Olivia was going to be there, and now that he knew she was dating, he assumed she would be bringing her now boyfriend. The way he was feeling right now, he was liable to drown Blair in the ocean.

"Fitz you there?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry, I forgot all about it. I can be by to pick you up in an hour or so. I just got off from work, so I need to get home and change."

"Cool, see you in an hour." Jeanine hung up the phone, and Fitz tossed his on the seat beside him. He really wasn't looking forward to this. And especially since he hand seen nor talked to Olivia since the last time he saw her. Since he kissed her. Things would already be awkward between them, had he not kissed her. Now they were going to be even more awkward, because her boyfriend would be there. And on top of that, he was bringing Jeanine. They were only friends, but still.

X

An hour and a half later, Fitz was pulling up in front of Jeanine's apartment building. He had already been home, showered and changed into a pair of light blue swim trunks and a plain white t-shirt. He hadn't bothered to gel of style his hair, since it would only get messed up once he got into the water anyway. So his curls were wildly spread on his head, some of them falling onto his face. He now noticed just how much his hair had grown recently. Fitz's pushed back his aviator glassed, and climbed the two flight of steps to get to Jeanine's door.

He knocked, and not a second later Jeanine was opening the door, smiling brightly up at him. She was wearing an incredibly short pair of cutoff shorts. They had a few rips in them and were faded. Fitz could see her bikini strings peeking out at the top. She had on a see through white sleeveless top that hung down below her shorts. She was wearing a pair of flip flops, not her usual heels, so she had to stand on her tip toes to kiss Fitz's cheek.

"Hey."

"Hey to you. I'm sorry it took me longer than I said."

"It's alright, I had to get ready anyway." She gave Fitz her beach bag, and Fitz graciously grabbed it and carried it down the two flight of steps for her.

"Jesus Jeanie what do you have in this bag." Fitz said, lifting it to put it in the bed of his pick-up truck, beside his bag and surfboard.

Jeanine shrugged, "Just the essentials. Suntan lotion, water, change of clothes, my tablet, extra battery for my phone and my beach towel. Everything I'm going to need." She smiled at him and got in the truck. "So all of your friends are going to be there right? And their kids?" She asked, after he had gotten in and pulled away from her apartment.

"Most of them yes. And only Huck and Quinn have kids. Well if Olivia's sister and her husband are going to be there, them that's three more kids." Fitz remembered seeing pictures on Althea's Facebook of her being home yesterday.

"Olivia's sister? So does that mean your ex-wife will be there?"

Fitz shrugged. "We have the same friends, so yes. More than likely she'll be there. Why?"

Jeanine shrugged this time. "I don't know. I guess I'm just a little nervous about meeting your friends."

"What are you nervous for? They're just my friends Jeanie, they're cool people."

"I guess I just want them to like me. I've already met Stephen, but I haven't met any of your other friends. Do you think it'll be weird between me and your ex?"

"Why so you ask?"

"Well because she's your ex-wife, you two use to be married and now you're not. And now here I am, and she sees us together."

Together? Does she mean as friends together? Of as a couple together? Was everyone right, does she think we're a couple? I never gave her any reason to think that we were more than just friends, so why would she think we were? Fitz nervously scratched his hair, then turned the radio down. This was going to be an awkward conversation, but he had to know if Jeanine thought they were a couple. And if so, he had to set her straight before it got too far.

Just as he was about to speak, Abby called to remind him that he was to bring water and drinks for the kids when he came. He was more than shocked at how cordial and nice she was being to him. Fitz had been walking on thin ice around her for months, now it seemed she was finally coming around to him again. By the time he got off the phone with Abby, he had forgotten all about the talk he was supposed to be having with Jeanine.

X

"Fitz, hey you made it." Stephen and Huck came over to greet Fitz, and help him with the bags he was carrying. He had his board under her arm, and the bags in his hands.

"Well to be honest, I sort of forgot."

"I knew you would." Stephen laughed. "I was going to tell you at work today, but by time I got to your office you had already left."

"Well anyway, glad you made it and you brought the drinks." Huck said, "Now are you going to introduce us?"

Oh! Fitz had forgotten about Jeanine. "Right, fellas this is Jeanine. Jeanine you've already met Stephen, and this is Huck."

"Nice to meet you." Jeanine shook his hand.

"You as well, come on the ladies are down on the beach under the tent." The four of them walked down to the beach. Stephen and Huck had set up the tent, and the ladies were laying out the blankets and putting the food in the coolers and getting the toys out for the kids.

Quinn was the first to notice the guys coming back with Fitz and his friend. "Hey Fitz." She greeted, giving him and quick side hug since her belly prevented her from giving him a full hug. It was comical how she had squeezed herself into her maternity one piece bathing suit. It was a simple black bathing suit, and she had a white cover-up on.

"Jeanine this is Quinn, Huck's wife. And this is Abby, Stephen's fiancé."

"Nice to meet you both. And Congrats on your engagement Abby."

"Thank you. Have you met Althea and her husband?" Abby took Jeanine's hand and led her to a spot under the tent. Fitz hadn't noticed her before, but Althea was sitting in a lounge chair, rubbing sunblock on Hannah's skin where her bathing suit didn't cover.

"Hey Thea." Fitz said tentatively. He hadn't seen Althea since he and Olivia split. He hadn't seen any of her family really, expect when he ran into her parents a few times around town. When they did meet, they were cordial with one another. The only one who was hostile with him, was Olivia's brother Junior. He didn't really know what to expect from Althea.

"Hey Fitz." She said in a clipped tone.

"Is this the new addition?"

A smile came on Thea's face at the mention of her baby girl. "Yes, this is Hannah."

"She's your twin."

"Yeah, I know. It was the least the lord could do, since he made the first two look just like their father."

"Uncle Fitz!" Fitz had only a second, to turn and catch the wet little girl jumping into his arms.

"Whoa, Alecia is that you? You've gotten so big." Alecia clung to Fitz, her arms wrapped tight around Fitz's neck. Her daddy had just taken all the kids for a dip in the water and now they were all hungry already.

"Hey Uncle Fitz." JJ Came up to hug him next, he was always the calmer one, compared to his sister. Just like Javi and Belle.

"Hey kid."

"Where's Auntie Liv?" Alecia asked, from her spot on Fitz's hip. "She said she would teach me how to surf."

"Alecia I told you at grandpa's that Auntie Liv was coming later-" Before she could finish her sentence, Bella came out of nowhere and ran off the beach.

"Auntie Liv!" She had spotted a black truck that looked like her Grandpa Pope's truck. And when it parked, she saw her Aunt Liv and Uncle Jay get out. Before anyone else could spot them, her little legs were running as fast as they could to get to Olivia.

Fitz's attention whipped around to parking lot, and he spotted Olivia and CJ getting out their truck. It was as if time had slowed and the world was moving in slow motion. He watched intently, as Olivia got out of the truck, in a one piece bathing suit that should really be classified as a two piece. Olivia had seen Sophia Vergara wearing it in an episode of Modern Family, and ordered it the next day online. It was bright pink, green and purple. The sides were cut out in diamond shapes, from her front to her back. She looked beautiful, with her pink wrap around her waist and her newly cut hair flowing gracefully in the wind. It was like a scene from a movie.

"That's your ex-wife?" Jeanine asked, now standing beside Fitz, watching Olivia twirl Bella's little body around.

"Um…" Fitz nervously cleared his throat. "Yeah, that's her."

"She's pretty." Jeanine watched him expectantly, with a close eye, waiting for his next words.

"She's really pretty." Instead of Fitz speaking, Alecia spoke up before wiggling out Fitz's arms to be with Olivia and Bella.

This is going to be a long day… Fitz thought.

X

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