A/N: Just wow from all your reviews. You're keeping me busy, I hope I am doing this justice. Happy Reading and enjoy.

Chapter 9—Meeting Grant

Liv sat on the bed. Her body was trembling, and she was trying to calm Grant down. He was still crying, not so much a screaming cry, but still crying. He knew something was off, not right, and Liv's body language was adding to his crying.

With her back to the door, and her eyes closed, she was rocking her son, resting her forehead on his. She was whispering to him. "It's ok, baby, it's ok. Huck is taking care of everything. It's going to be fine." She was trying to convince herself as she was saying the words.

She looked at him, now his blue eyes wide open as he looked at her with a tiny yawn. "That's it my little caterpillar, calm down, ok. Mommy is right here, and tomorrow, you will get to meet your daddy. Yeah, that makes you happy right." Although Liv was trying to calm herself down, her body was still trembling.

Seeing Chip come out of no where like that in the alley just caught her off guard. Thank God for Vivian, thank God she had Grant in her arms. Her eyes closed again, filling with tears. Vivian, she thought, is she ok? She turned towards the door. No, she couldn't chance it, not without anyone here for Grant.

She didn't even want to imagine the damage Chip must have done, but it was going to be ok, he ran right into her trap, at least she hoped he did, and Huck was taking care of him right now, at least he hoped he was. This is why her body was trembling, she had no idea what was going on.

Looking around the room, she realized she had nothing. She had no diapers, no bottles, no clothes, and no phone. What was she going to do? The only thing she could do was wait for Huck to come up and give her the all clear. It was making her crazy not knowing what was going on.

Grant was still wide awake. It's like he knew something was happening. He was looking at his mother's face, and Liv put a smile on, not wanting him to see worry or distress. With a gentle kiss on his forehead, she blinked back her tears and began a calming voice for him.

"Hey, my little caterpillar, it's going to be ok, I promise you, it's going to be ok. Just like the hungry caterpillar, remember? Do you remember the busy day he had on his Saturday? Today is Saturday and you're having that busy day, right?" Just talking to the little guy was calming Liv down, she could feel it, her heart rate beginning to go back to normal.

"He ate all those things on Saturday. He ate chocolate cake, ice cream, a pickle, cheese, salami, a lollipop, cherry pie, sausage, a cupcake, and watermelon. Then what happened? Huh? Do you remember?" She saw his eyes starting to close and she took a deep breath.

"That night he has a stomachache!"

"On Sunday he eats one nice green leaf

And he feels much better."

Three knocks! Huck's knocks. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Thank God. See Grant, Huck is here."

Not even turning around to look, wanting to make sure Grant would go to sleep she continued.

"Now he isn't hungry, and he isn't a little caterpillar"

"He is a big fat caterpillar." That wasn't her voice. Grant's eye opened again, big and wide, like he was never going to sleep, and he wanted to know who that strange voice belonged to.

Olivia looked up and Fitz was standing over her, just looking in confusion at the scene in front of him. "Liv?" he whispered, "Liv, is that?" and his mouth opened in shock, his eyes with a hundred questions.

Olivia covered her eyes with her hand, nodding her head. She sniffed the cry back in, but the tears began rolling. Fitz grabbed her hand away from her eyes, holding on to it. She looked at him. "I am sorry Fitz; I am so sorry."

"Livvie, what are you sorry for?", kneeling down, he connected his forehead with hers as he continued to hold her hand. She nodded again.

"He's yours, ours, he's, our son. That weekend proving our love could last a lifetime." She looked at Grant. "It wasn't Huck, it's your daddy. You ready to meet your daddy?"

"Fitz, this is…."

"Grant." Fitz finished it for her. "Grant Thomas." He smiled and rubbed his son's small cheek.

"You remembered? Yes, you're right, Grant Thomas, born January 24th at 1020 pm weighing in at 8lbs 5oz. I just didn't know if I'd ever..." She couldn't finish.

Fitz rubbed her back. "I never stopped dreaming of having children with you, Liv. I remember that weekend like it was yesterday. I remembered you wanted to name a child after me somehow. He is gorgeous." Fitz looked at her. They were face to face, and he was about to kiss her and stopped.

"Your lip. What happened to your lip?" Then his face got serious, mad serious. "Did Chip?"

"Not now, ok, hold your son, talk to him, let him hear your voice."

"My son," He repeated. He smiled, and just looked at little Grant. "My son" again with a tear in his eye. He looked at Liv again. "You read The Very Hungry Caterpillar to him?"

"Every chance I get. I memorized the book and I say lines to calm him down, to calm me down. I didn't forget anything you told me that weekend either. Your favorite book." She smiled. Her face got solemn again, "Fitz, I am so sorry."

"Stop apologizing." He rubbed her shoulder. He reached down and Liv handed Grant over to his father. The vision she imagined for months, now unfolding before her eyes. She cupped both hands over her mouth as she watched Fitz stand and look lovingly at his son.

"Hi" He rocked him. "Hey big guy, hi Grant." He kissed his forehead. "I love you; your daddy loves you. I am so happy you are here, in this world. You have an amazing mommy, yes, you do." Grant was blinking just looking up at the strange voice that was soothing him.

"He looks just like you Fitz, he's so beautiful."

Fitz shook his head in agreement. "You did this all alone Liv, you…"

"I had Huck. Don't ruin the moment Fitz, ok. Let's get him to sleep and we'll talk. You're here. I thought you wouldn't be here until tomorrow."

"I wanted to surprise you. Guess that was reversed huh?" He never took his eyes off Grant. "Yeah, you surprised me. You…" and he just began crying, not believing he was holding his baby boy.

It tore at Liv's heart strings. She began to cry with him. Fitz put one arm around Liv. "Come here." He pulled her to his chest. "I never would have…Liv, this is beautiful." He kissed her temple. "I love you so much Olivia."

He handed Grant back to Liv and sat next to her on the bed, so he could compose himself. He kissed her temple again, blinking back his tears, as Grant finally closed his eyes, and drifted off into a deep sleep up against his mommy's chest.

"Are you breastfeeding?" Fitz's finger went down his son's smooth cheek.

"Yes, and he's definitely your son, I'll just leave it at that."

"Lucky little guy." Fitz smiled.

"Shameless." Liv said, then it got quiet, very quiet.

After a minute of silence, and the two parents just staring at their little creation, Liv finally shook her head. Her tongue tip on her top lip before she spoke. "Fitz" in a small whisper. "I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am, but I tried. I tried." She had to stop as the tears streamed down.

Fitz grabbed a tissue from the bed stand box and wiped her tears away. "And I told you there is nothing to be sorry about."

"Here." Liv said. "Hold him while he is sleeping. Let him hear your heartbeat. You can lay with him on the bed. I can lay with you. Take off your shirt, so he's skin to skin with you."

Fitz took his shirt off, and Liv just stared. Still fine as ever, she thought, as Liv waited for Fitz to take the handoff.

"Liv, there's so much to talk about. Your lip, Chip, what went on or is going on downstairs, your pregnancy, and…"

"And we have the rest of today and all night. I promise you Fitz we will talk. I've had no sleep in at least 24 hours. The anticipation of you meeting him, the mess downstairs, the plane ride, I just have no more strength in me, and I missed you, so much. I promise." She kissed him, first on the cheek. "You'll." Kiss on the lips. "Know." Another kiss. "Everything." Then she connected and wouldn't let his lips go.

With Grant cradled in his arms, Liv rested her hand on the back of Fitz's head, just letting her lips maneuver their way around his, and she felt him calming down. He stood up, and positioned himself on the bed, with the baby laying belly down on his daddy's chest.

He lifted his right arm, and Liv found comfort where she wished she could be the past nine months, wrapped in him. Her hand rested on Grant's back, and she felt her eyes go heavy, as Fitz used his one free hand to caress her hair softly. She finally felt safe. She gave him a kiss on his chest, and closed her eyes.

If Fitz thought watching Liv sleep in the hotel room back in May was heaven, then this was double heaven. He watched Grant's body go slowly up and down with the small breaths he was taking while he slept peacefully. His cheek mushed on Fitz's bosom and his mouth curled a bit, as his tiny hands were up next to his little head in little fists. Fitz rubbed his soft head of tiny, dark curls, and he could feel his own heart exploding out of his chest.

Fitz turned to see Liv. Her hand was on his shoulder, her head resting on it, as her other hand stayed on Grant's back. He put a gentle kiss on her cheek, and just thought of everything she must have went through with the pregnancy. He didn't have an ounce of anger not being a part of it, he only felt love. He knew Liv had enough love to get her through it, and knowing he loved her had to help her. He smiled, as his blinked and kept his eyes closed remembering their love that weekend. He was so happy he told her before he left that room that he loved her.

Three knocks had Fitz jump. He felt Grant move a little, kicking his legs a bit, but Liv didn't budge. "One second," he said loudly, and Liv moved her head. She looked up, squinting at first. Then took a deep relaxing breath.

"Hi." She said with a smile. "Someone knocking?"

"It was Huck's knocks." Fitz said.

Liv walked over to the door and checked the slot. Huck was standing there with the cradle and two bags on both shoulders.

She opened the door and let him in, closing it tightly and latching it before joining him. Huck froze and stared when he saw Grant in Fitz's arms on the bed. Huck turned to Liv and smiled. It was the first smile she had seen from Huck since Abby had died. "Told you", he whispered, and set the cradle down.

Grant began to stir a bit more now, and Liv took him from Fitz's arms. "He's hungry." Liv sat on the bed. Fitz watched as Liv let him latch on, and Grant sucked away like a pro. Liv noticed Fitz's smile, like a proud father. She shook her head.

"That's impressive big guy." Fitz smoothed his son's hair.

"Pay no mind to your daddy, he's being fresh." Liv looked at Huck. "What's happening downstairs? Where's Chip?"

"Yeah, and Vivian, how is Vivian?" Fitz asked concerned.

Liv crossed her eyebrows. "Vivian? What happened to Vivian?" She turned to Fitz. "Fitz, what happened?"

"All I know, she had a head wound, a pretty bad one." Fitz rubbed Liv's back, as Liv held her mouth shaking her head.

"This is my fault." Liv said.

"It's not." Fitz looked over at Huck. "Anything?"

"Uh, Governor, I really can't say things in front of you, but Vivian received five stitches down her forehead. She has a concussion and is being monitored by hotel medical staff. She hasn't woken up yet. She's bruised up badly. As for Chip, I can't really say."

Fitz looked at Liv. Liv understood. "You may have to do things that require state intervention, being the leader of the state and knowing things puts you in a conflict. It's better if Huck talks privately to me."

Fitz nodded, understanding, and went to the bathroom, closing the door. He needed to throw some water on his face, needed to just process everything.

"He loves him, right?" Huck said.

"Yes, he does Huck, he's very happy, still very confused, we haven't talked at all, but we needed Grant fed, changed, and down in his cradle so we could talk. What's up with Chip?"

"Chip is going to live as per your orders. It's so easy to kill him and so hard not to, but I am respecting you Liv. I broke several of his ribs, and he's unconscious on my hotel floor with abrasions from punches to his upper eyebrow and both cheekbones. I'm not done yet."

Grant continued to suck away, as Liv held her forehead in her hand. "Is Vivian going to be ok?"

Huck nodded. "I think so. Davis is with Chip now, Rick someone"

"The bartender." Liv said.

"Ok." Huck continued. "Rick is by Vivian's side until her brother gets off work. We haven't told him yet. She took a shot for you to get Grant to safety Liv. Chip pulled her hair from behind and pounded her head on the metal door. She's lucky it's not as bad as it could have been."

"Good." Liv said.

"Good?" Huck was confused.

"He committed a crime. He assaulted a person. He committed a crime in another state while on bail in New York. This should be fun watching this play out between California and New York with the extradition laws. Chip is in for a long ride."

Fitz came out of the bathroom. "Uh, I'll have some food sent up. I told your detail the floor is closed off. They are in the stairwell and by the elevators."

"Thank you Huck." Fitz shook his hand. "Could you go ask one of my details to give me a phone, please?"

Huck pulled a burner phone out of his jeans pocket. "You can use this one." He nodded with a smile. Huck gave Grant a kiss and left the room.

Liv put Grant over her shoulder and began to pat his back. "Can you get out a diaper from the blue bag, the case of wipes, and you'll see one of his pajama onesies." Liv continued to pat his back until he gave a burp.

Fitz held up the onesie. "California's Governor Rocks." The words across the front had Fitz give a small laugh. "Cool."

"Care to change him? Be careful, he's a squirter, his first change after being born, Huck changed him and was soaked for not acting quickly enough." Liv smiled, then she didn't. "I wish it was you though." Liv looked down.

"Hey, stop, you had Huck there, that's what matters, you weren't alone." Fitz took Grant from Liv and placed him on the bed. He began changing, and Liv took the time to just admire it all.

"You're a pro, Governor."

Fitz picked him up and began walking with him, resting his head on Grant's while it rested on his shoulder.

"I'm going to the bathroom, getting changed into something comfortable, recite the book to him while you walk, he'll be asleep in no time." Liv closed the door hearing the words she knew so well begin coming out of Fitz's mouth.

"In the light of the moon a little egg lays on a leaf."

Liv turned on the water for sound and just covered her entire face in her hands. She sunk down in the corner and just sobbed, crying and letting all the hurt out. She knew Fitz would love Grant, had no doubt in her mind, it was just seeing it finally happen that had her so emotional.

Then, there was Vivian. She had to get to her, to see her, it was breaking her heart not knowing how she was doing. She remembered Abby after Chip beat her. This wasn't fair to Vivian.

Then, having to talk to Fitz about everything, about his father, the knowledge his father had. She took a deep breath in. She didn't know, she had no idea where they were going to go from here.

Standing up, she looked in the mirror. Her eyes were puffy from crying, and she took some water to them. Burying her head in the towel, she dried her face, and changed into her sweats and a tank. She didn't bother with underwear.

Taking one last look in the mirror, she took a deep breath. Feeling his arms, needing him, touching him, kissing him, it was time, and they needed to move forward.

The door opened, and Fitz was standing right there. Just like when she closed the door on his detail back in May, and she turned right into him. She turned now, saw Grant sleeping in the cradle, and turned back towards Fitz.

Without warning he scooped her into his arms, and put her on the bed, up over her, and just began kissing her, lifting her tank, then kissing up her stomach, onto her neck and then her lips. Her hands on his shoulders moving to the back of his neck as they kissed continuously.

"God, I missed you so much, Livvie, so much." He went to her neck again, back up to her ear. "Can we? Are you ok to?"

"Fitz" She had his face cupped in her hands, "do you want to talk?"

"I want you more." He lifted her shirt over her head, continuing to kiss down the chest, to the stomach, biting softly on the top of her breasts. He slid his boxers off and pulled her sweats off. He held up his hand. "I found this in the bag." The condom wrapper opened, and he slid it on. "I don't want to wait another minute."

"I made sure I brought some this time." Liv said.

Liv couldn't think straight. It's everything she missed and wanted, but it was so fast, she couldn't slow it down and she didn't want to. Just like their first time love making, his large erection separated her thighs, and she could feel the throbbing in her core.

Her hand just rubbing up and down his back, as she moaned in pleasure, pulling his lips down hers. When she felt him enter her, she shoved her tongue in her mouth, closing her eyes tightly. "Ahh, God, Fitz."

His head was now charging into her neck, the bed moving with his moves as her feet hung over his hips in the air. He lifted his head and turned her so she was facing him. They looked in each other's eyes. "Livvie, I love you." As if those words turned on a switch, he pushed himself in deeper harder, and she pulled him down again to stifle her moan.

With his lips on hers, she refrained from biting down, but moaned as her orgasm hit her. She let her mouth go as her breath went to his neck. He kept himself raised with his hands, all the while watching her, pumping into her to the rhythm of her breaths, until he had no more strength left in him.

With three final thrusts, he emptied himself into the condom, falling in between her breasts, as she rubbed his head gently, letting his breathing slow down. He kissed her gently on the lips, and looked at her.

"I love you." She whispered.

He smiled, got up to the bathroom, and returned.

She had put her tank and sweats back on and he held his arm up for her to rest on his chest. He was facing Grant, and just shook his head again. "I can't believe he's real. Tell me about it Liv, please, let me know all about the pregnancy."

Liv closed her eyes. She began tracing circles on his chest. "End of July I had enough of the constant vomiting for a week. I couldn't keep anything down, not even water. I felt so sick, so weak. I honestly thought it was just the stress of quitting my job, but I remembered I had missed a period."

His fingers were now following her pattern around her temple that she was following on his chest, and it just calmed her down. She looked over at the cradle and then continued. "I took a pregnancy test on July 31st, and sure enough, I was pregnant. I'll be honest Fitz, my first thought was to terminate it, get an abortion. I never wanted to be a mother, never wanted to really have children."

She heard him sigh. "What made you keep it?"

"Remembering your eyes when you told me you wanted to be a dad. Hearing the sincerity in your voice. I couldn't do it. I wanted it to be your decision with mine but…." She stopped, not yet about Gerry. "I took some time, and I didn't know if you were married, I didn't know if you were getting married, all I knew was that you were all over the state and I just couldn't…." She shrugged.

"Liv." He pulled her closer to him.

She felt a tear escape. "Then I thought of Abby. The way Abby wanted to be a mother, the way she wanted a baby above anything else, and how she was stripped of that ever happening, so both factors weighed heavy on my decision, so I kept him to honor her and to parent with you." She buried her head in his chest.

He rubbed her back. "I called the wedding off the day I left you here in the hotel. I told my father it wasn't happening. Then the campaign just went full blown, and when we were supposed to get married in October, her father had the stroke. I remembered your words about why politicians don't respect marriage, the question if I wanted to get married, and how you told me about your father after your mother died. I knew I couldn't do that to myself. I couldn't lead a state if I couldn't lead myself."

Liv looked at him, resting her head on her hand, holding it up. "And Mellie? How did she take it?"

Fitz shrugged. "I think her father having the stroke and dying changed her a bit, made her realize she shouldn't waste her life on something she was forced into. I didn't really talk to her much, and she knew it was over between us. I couldn't even touch her after…" He looked at Liv. "After having you." He pulled her down to him and kissed her.

He looked at her, caressing her face. He outlined her lips with is finger. "Tell me about this." His finger rested on the scar.

"When I was six months pregnant, Chip attacked me. Davis was with me; we were going to go for a walk and left the building, then I went back into my apartment building to get the Fitz phone."

"The Fitz phone?" He laughed.

"The number you got from Vivian, I still don't know how, but the number you got, that was to the Fitz phone, and I was afraid you would call, and I wouldn't be there to get it. I went back in the building, and he attacked me from behind."

Fitz sat up now, he leaned on the backboard and Liv straddled him, facing him, his hands wrapped and closed around her back. He took a deep breath. "You were pregnant." Speaking though grinding teeth, "I'll kill him Liv."

"Stop, you're a Governor, you can't talk like that. Anyway…" She stopped, if she told him the truth, that she almost died.

"Go on, Liv, I need to know."

"He had his arm across my neck, his hand with a ring cutting my lip. I was losing air, trying to breath." She looked up at the ceiling, then back to him. "He took out a knife, seeing I was pregnant and asked if the baby was ready to come out." Blinking back tears now remembering, "but Davis came in and knocked him out cold."

"Why didn't he kill him?"

"Fitz, I don't want him dead, I want him suffering, I told you that. Death is too good for him. So, I needed a few stitches on my lip. I am fine, Fitz, Grant is fine."

He pulled her down into the crook of his neck and just wrapped his arms around her. "I should have been there for you."

Liv shook her head. She pulled herself up. "You had your life Fitz, you didn't know. Don't blame yourself."

Three knocks. Liv looked at the clock. "It's 8:00 already. Huck must have food." She went to the door, checked the slot and opened it.

Fitz was standing over the cradle now, rubbing Grant's back. Huck walked by, put the bags on the table, and turned to Liv. "Uh, Vivian is waking up. She's asking for you. What should I say?"

Liv looked over at Fitz. "Maybe we can down around 10?" Fitz shook his head. "That's fine."

"I'll be up for Grant then, see you later."

"Will he sleep through the night?" Fitz kept staring at him.

"Probably not. You can feed him when he gets up again. I have bottles made."

Fitz smiled. "Ok" He leaned over the cradle and placed a gentle kiss on his head. "He fell asleep on my shoulder, Liv, it was the best feeling in the world."

Liv nodded. "It is, I have to agree." She wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked to the table.

"This beats a bagel and a juice," Fitz pulled out two giant sandwiches and iced tea bottles. "Who did Huck think he was feeding?" He laughed.

Picking at the bread, not too hungry, Liv watched as Fitz devoured his sandwich. "Hungry Mr. Grant?"

"Like the caterpillar." He finished chewing the last of his sandwich. "I see you're not."

"It's just been a lot today." She pulled at her bottom lip. She had to tell him about Gerry, she couldn't hold that from him. He had to know.

Fitz tossed the napkin into the bag. "How did Chip know you were here?"

"Well, you remember our phone call ended abruptly?"

"Yeah, what happened?"

"Huck had it traced that you called from your office phone. Your office phone records conversations for public records. Chip must have had someone on that. That's how he knew the room too and why I had to change it to this one."

Fitz wasn't convinced Chip had someone listening in. "Only my service detail hears those conversations, why would they tell Chip?"

Liv shrugged. "I told you they have someone in their pocket everywhere."

"Liv you need to eat."

She picked up the sandwich, took a bite and put it back down. "I just don't have an appetite."

Grant began to cry. She looked over at the cradle. "Right on time, grab a bottle."

Fitz grabbed the bottle and walked to the cradle. "Oh, someone is hungry, huh? Well, this may not be as good as", he whispered in Grant's ear, hearing Liv laugh. "But it will fill you up."

Liv watched as he rested Grant's head on his arm and let him grab the bottle nipple. Fitz just stared down at his eyes, and Grant was staring up at his eyes. It was at that very moment Liv would never second guess her decision again about having his child. There was so much love in that one look alone, Liv could only imagine what a lifetime of looks like that would be.

"Maybe this little guy will finally let my father's heart come back out from behind the dark clouds. He has a picture of me about this age on his desk with my mom and him. Seeing Grant, as much as he looks like me, may soften him." He looked over at Liv, her head down. "Liv, what is it?"

She looked up. "Your father." She covered her mouth as a small cry came out. "Your father knew I was pregnant."

"He what?" Grant cried a moment, as the bottle slipped from his mouth. Fitz focused back on getting it in his mouth and looked back at Liv. "Are you kidding me?"

"I called him before I made the decision to terminate or keep it. I asked him to have you call me, he said you would never know, and the decision was mine to make."

Fitz heard Grant sucking air now, as the bottle was empty. He put Grant over his shoulder and gently patted his back. "I knew my father was cold, something had snapped in him when my mother died, but this is beyond. So, he doesn't know what your decision was?"

"Oh, he does. I called him again when I was five months pregnant. I told him I was due in February and to please let you know. He said again you would never know, and to forget the Grant name. He hung up on me. I'm sorry Fitz, I know this is hard."

Fitz walked to the window with Grant, still patting his tiny back. He was trying to process what Liv just told him. He was deep in thought, not knowing what to say. His own father wanted to keep his child away from him. Fitz rubbed his eyes. He turned back to Liv.

"You said you were due in February; Grant was born a month ago."

"The doctor said it was safe for Grant to come out. We induced labor, I couldn't chance the Putney's finding out if I had the baby, I wasn't sure if they had the due date monitored."

Fitz put the sleeping Grant down on the middle of the bed. He walked over to Liv, who looked up at him. "It ends here, Liv. No more running from them. I'm protecting you, protecting our son, this cannot continue. You cannot keep living in fear."

"Fitz, you don't know them like I do. They will stop at nothing to get Chip exonerated. I am not dropping the charges, it's not going to stop, and they're not going to stop."

"Liv, stay out here, just for the week at least, we can all stay at the ranch in Santa Barbara. You'll be free to move around there, they'll be no press, please, Liv, just stay here so we don't have to make a decision in haste." He was staring down into her eyes, his eyes pleading with hers.

Liv took a hard swallow. She closed her eyes, not being able to look back into his. She looked at Grant. He needed some stability. She had to stop running some time. There was going to be a bail hearing. Liv was calling Quinn in the morning to get Chip checked on in New York, they would find out he jumped bail.

Fitz put his finger on Liv's chin. "You, Grant, Huck, and Davis, you can all stay."

Liv took a deep breath, and Huck was back knocking at the door. She reached up and hugged Fitz. "Let me think about it." Fitz wrapped his arms around her.

"Ok" he said. "I have to make a few phone calls outside, check in with the Lt. Governor. I'll give a tap when we're ready to go down."

He looked through the slot, making sure it was Huck and walked into the hallway.

Liv sat on one side of Vivian's bed, Fitz on the other. Liv held her hand and Vivian smiled at her. "Looks worse than it feels."

All Liv could think of was Abby lying battered and bruised the same way in her hospital bed. She put Vivian's hand to her cheek, and she whispered to her. "Thank you. Thank you for protecting me, for protecting Grant. It's exactly what Abby would have done."

Vivian squeezed Liv's hand. "I'll be fine, and it was all worth it. See, I didn't need a bat, just my head." She turned to Fitz.

"So, you in love with your little guy?"

"So much, he's amazing. You ever need anything, Vivian, anything at all, you use your friendship with the Governor to get it." Fitz laughed. "I hear he's a nice guy."

"Yeah, I heard the same. I am glad I voted for him."

They talked a bit about Grant, about her stitches, and promised to visit tomorrow. Liv put the TV on for her, and when the screen came on, there was Fitz behind the podium speaking in front of the thousands that were on the mansion lawn this morning.

Fitz stood up, walked to the door and answered his phone that was buzzing. Vivian and Olivia were glued to the set, listening to Fitz speak. "All I know", Vivian said, "if I was holding a pro-gun sign at that rally and heard him speak, I would've ripped up the sign and moved over to the gun control side. He's amazing."

"In other news, Lt. Governor Linda Marshall will take the stage tomorrow on Los Angeles's Waterfront property. Marshall, who grew up on the Waterfront is no stranger to giving back to the community. Governor Grant, originally scheduled to speak to property owners, handed the reign over to Marshall for her first public appearance as being elected with Grant as Lt. Governor."

Fitz's face appeared close-up on the television. It took Liv's breath away. "She has grown up here, dedicated her time and money to make the waterfront better, I cannot think of anyone better to represent this community. I am happy to give her the time where she rightfully deserves it. I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Ms. Marshall for the needs of all Californians." Fitz nodded and took off away from the cameras.

"See, Liv, he's golden, different. I told you that before you even met him." Vivian patted Liv's hand.

"You want me to leave the television on?" Liv asked

"Yeah, it'll put me to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." Vivian looked; Fitz was still off talking in the far end of the room.

"What happened to that bastard Liv, the one that hit me?"

Liv shrugged. "I think Huck has him contained." Vivian nodded, as she closed her eyes.

Fitz returned putting the phone in his pocket. He looked at Vivian. "Good, she needs the sleep. Ready Liv?"

They interlocked hands and headed upstairs. Liv didn't see any detail, but she knew they were there. She wasn't sure exactly how Fitz was doing it. He must've learned a thing or two, especially since he was always surrounded by them before we were Governor.

It's as if Fitz read her mind. He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry, Livvie, we are safe. You're always safe with me." He leaned and kissed her before they entered the room.

Huck was sitting on the edge of the bed. He was just staring at the cradle. Liv laughed. "Huck, you don't have to watch over him like that, you can turn on the television, listen to music, or play a game, he's fine."

"Oh, I know, I just like watching him. He went through a lot today. I should've been more careful."

"Huck, stop, we're fine. Go get some sleep. I'll call you in the morning."

Huck nodded. He patted Fitz on the shoulder. "I'm glad you know about him now; he needs to know his father."

"Thank you, Huck."

Grant was changed, fed, and sleeping, probably for the night. Fitz went in to take a quick shower, something Liv would do in the morning. She finally had a few moments to think about everything that went on today. She was over the obstacles of Fitz meeting Grant and letting Fitz know about his father.

Now, if she could decide about staying for the week. Although she tried to tell herself otherwise, she already knew the answer. She couldn't pick Grant up and leave again across country in less than 24 hours. She at least owed Fitz more than that.

He came out of the shower, wet chest, wet curls, and towel wrapped. Liv walked over to him. She wrapped her arms around him. She put her head in his neck, taking in that fresh shower smell. She kissed his neck, pulling him closer to her.

"We'll stay Fitz. We'll stay at the ranch with you for the week. I'm not ready to leave you just yet, but I'll need to talk to Quinn about the trial."

He looked her in the eyes. "Ok." He poked her nose. "So what was the worst part about everything besides hiding from Putney?" Fitz wanted to know, walking to the bed with her.

"The dreams, the nightmares. I would wake up screaming at times, afraid you would hate me, you were working with Chip to take Grant away, Abby was killed over again, I was killed. It was just horrible, the dreams."

Fitz pulled her down on top of him. He pushed some of her hair behind her ear. "That's going to stop, I promise you Livvie. No more of that. You, Grant, the two of you are my world now, and nothing or no one will hurt you or take you away."

Liv had nothing left. She thought of the news report, she thought of his interactions with Grant today, she thought of the love she couldn't control for him. She nodded her head, and Fitz pulled her down to a kiss, holding her tight to his body. "I love you, Governor Grant."

Fitz pulled his towel out from below them, reached the nightstand for a condom, and soon he would be right where he wanted to be, making love to the love of his life, having all the reassurance he needed for now that things will fall in to place.

Huck entered his room. Davis was sound asleep on the bed. That was uncharacteristic for Davis. Huck grabbed his knife, something was off. He went over to the bed. He slapped Davis a few times. "Man, wake up. Davis, wake the hell up." Davis sat up suddenly, grasping his neck.

"Someone sedated you?" Huck looked over to the corner. "Davis, where the fuck is Putney? No way he got out of those restraints by himself."

Davis and Huck just stared at the blood-stained carpet in the corner where Putney was just a little over an hour ago. "What the hell happened here?" Huck looked behind the door. At least the bat was still there.

They weren't sure, but the one thing they could agree on, Putney was gone, and there was no sign of him.

Chip was so knocked out, he couldn't feel the bouncing of the car or hear the music. He was in the back of a black tinted SUV. The driver had his music blaring, bopping his head to the rhythm of the music coming out of the speaker. It was a long 5 hour drive to Los Angeles, but his music would keep Tom wide awake for the duration, it was the least he could do for Governor Grant.