A/N: Their time in the cabin is winding down, and tonight is the big night, but first they need to get ready, Olitz style.
Thank you all for your reviews and support for the story. I am thankful for all the wonderful comments and messages.
I hope you are all staying safe in this crazy climate. Please wear a mask. Happy reading and I hope you enjoy their prep for the formal.
Chapter 25—Formal Prep
As the car pulled up to the Gala, there were reporters and cameras there from small Vermont news stations and from ESPN. This is what Liv was hesitant about. She didn't want to come for this reason. The crowds didn't appeal to her.
She didn't think Fitz was a fan of crowds, but he said on the way that all changed once the truth of his past came out to the woman he loved. He was a bit nervous, but nothing to the level of Olivia.
When the car door opened, Fitz took Liv's hand after he stepped out and the camera focused solely on them. Fitz turned to her "Are you ready beautiful, this is our moment."
He then pinned Olivia up to the car and unbuttoned the front of her dress. That's weird. She didn't remember the front of her dress having buttons. His lips were fixed on her neck, pecking little kisses down as he opened each button. Liv looked up at the cameras focusing in on what was happening, but she wasn't the least bit embarrassed, it felt too good.
Finally, the last button was opened, and her scars were exposed, and she felt the sudden urge to push him off in fear of the nation seeing her body. His hands gripped her hands and she felt wet, warm kisses fill her stomach. He let go of her hands and she immediately ran them through his hair, feeling a bit calmer and much more aroused.
She felt the moans coming from her throat as she reluctantly gave in to the exposure and tossed her head back, leaning in on the edge of the hood of the car. Her fingers now wriggling wildly through his hair as she hissed in pleasure and begged him not to stop, moaning loudly.
Olivia opened her eyes, sounds of her own moans waking her up. She lifted her head up slightly, saw Fitz staring at her, his head resting on her stomach and her hands were indeed all wrapped up in his hair. She felt her face flush with heat beginning from her cheeks and reaching her forehead, where beads of sweat were starting to form.
"I sincerely hope I was in that dream, because, besides you coming during making love, that was one of the hottest things I have ever witnessed." Fitz said with a childish smirk on his face.
Liv blinked in relief, relieved that it was just that, a dream. She giggled as she threw her head back into the pillow, her hands still in his hair. She readjusted her head and looked down at him.
"Mister, what the hell do you think you are doing?" She now moved her hands to his face as she caressed his cheek, one still resting on her stomach, as he looked so lovingly at her.
"You know, you sleep with one hand on your stomach. Your left hand is always on your stomach. The few times I have watched you sleeping, not because I am weird, because I am hopelessly in love with you, your hand is always on your stomach."
"Yeah, my mom used to say the same thing. She would watch me sleep, sometimes all night. She thought I didn't know, but I knew, I could feel her presence in the room. She told me my hand always went to my stomach right on top of the scar. I know, that is so odd." Liv shrugged.
"Anyway," Fitz continued, "I got up to use the bathroom and when I came back, your hand was on your stomach, shirt slightly raised and your head was moving left to right, like you were watching something. Then…"
Fitz looked directly in her eyes. Liv was listening contently and when he stopped, she looked back at him. "Then, what?"
"I couldn't resist. Just the smallest peak at your gorgeous silky skin under that shirt, and seeing the scar, I wanted to kiss it. You are just so breathtaking Liv, so I did, I started kissing your stomach. Then you started caressing my hair and I thought I woke you up, but you were still sleeping."
Liv let out a smile with a sigh, thinking back to the dream. It really was erotic. "Go, on, Mister, I am still listening."
"Then, you began moaning, and I stopped the kissing and just watched you. Your hands still going through my hair, and your moans grew a bit louder. Then you stopped, I guess because I had stopped kissing you, and I saw your eyes open."
His head was still resting on her stomach, his body almost diagonal on the bed. "You caused me to have quite the sexy dream, and mixed with my anxiety about the formal tonight, they came together, and it was…well, it was hot."
"Yeah, well what I witnessed was hotter. I can't think of a better word than beautiful, just beautiful watching you so aroused in your sleep." He looked at her as she looked down, looked away almost embarrassed.
"Livvie, why when I tell you that you are beautiful, do you seem to cringe, get embarrassed or flushed? I am being honest. Don't ever think you aren't beautiful."
"Thank you. It took me a long time to be able to look in the mirror, Fitz. I still find it hard, to this day to walk topless passed my own bathroom mirror. I ignore my body. Dressing rooms, fitting rooms, ugh, I avoid them, it's just so…." She shivered.
"Stop, Livvie, don't do that to yourself." He turned again, lifting her shirt a bit more, just beneath her breasts and gave some more warm kisses to her stomach, and dear God, did she want him again.
"You know," she found the strength to say "when I first went back to school after the accident, all the girls had left the locker room and I was left alone to change for Phys ed class. I had just pulled my shirt off and was standing in a sports bra when the girls piled back in because the teacher was absent."
Fitz stopped and rested his head again, this time listening as she spoke. He didn't think this was going to end well.
"Anyway, there I stood in complete shock and the girls all froze and stared at me. They just looked at me up and down, almost synchronized, and all I could do was run. I put my shirt back on and in the same motion ran out of the locker room, down the hallway, and out of the school. I just ran and didn't stop until I got home and cried on my bed for hours." Liv took a deep breath bringing the memory back. "It's just hard to believe that you, the most gorgeous man I have ever seen, thinks I am beautiful, despite this." Liv moved her hand in the air over her stomach.
Fitz began kissing her again. "Despite nothing. You. Are. Perfection." He said each word after each kiss as he began working his way up now, and when he reached her breast, he put gentle kisses on her right one. He gripped her nipple in his teeth giving a slight pull, and then repeated the process on her left breast.
Liv's eyes were closed as she felt him come closer to her lips, kissing her neck, around to her ear, and then stopped on her lips. He pushed down enough for her to open them and let his tongue find its way in as it met hers and her hands rested on his bare back.
She rubbed him all over, down to his hips as her legs wriggled with his body in between. She felt his erection through his sweatpants and not letting the kiss go, she moved her hands down to the elastic holding his pants up and slid them down just passed his ass.
Liv gripped his ass in both her hands as his moan was felt deep in her mouth. She pulled back from the kiss. Her hips raising up to welcome his erection, as she pulled her underwear down in the same movement. "I will never get enough of you Fitz, always remember that I love feeling you inside of me. Your tongue, your fingers, and this," She grabbed his dick and rubbed it up and down her clit and then she turned towards the nightstand to pull a condom out of the box.
As she turned, he pushed her softly, so that she was now fully on her stomach, and he took the condom from her hand. He tore the packet open and couldn't get it on fast enough, his other hand on the middle of her back. He rolled the condom on and then moved his hand down her back smoothly.
His arm went beneath her, going under her stomach and he arched her body up. "I am going to love this, Livvie, are you ready for me to take you from behind."
Liv's forehead grazed the pillow as she waited in blissful anticipation. "Yesssss, please Fitz, yesss, please."
She felt him move himself with his free hand up and down her clit, spreading her juices for a smooth entry. He stopped with his tip at her entrance and used his grip on her stomach and pulled her back as he pushed his way in.
"Oh, Liv, mmmm." He was deep in her, he could feel it, and her body responded by moving without his help. He finally came back down to reality and guided her hips as he entered her, quickening his thrusts inside of her.
She had never felt this before, ever, and the rush overtook her so quickly, her head buried itself in the pillow and Fitz could feel her body shiver in his hands.
"God, Livvie, hold on, baby." He had to grip her tighter as he held her through her orgasm, he wasn't expecting it, but she kept on going.
She lifted her head back up and brought herself upright, still moving in sync with him and Fitz was able to pull some of her hair back and bring his lips to her neck. His hand returned to her hips, and he steadied her movements as he felt his release not far off, because this position just about blew his mind.
As he moved faster, he locked his hands around her stomach as her one hand grabbed the back of his neck and the other the bedsheets. She felt him so deep, heard him grunting from the grinding he was doing, and she came undone once again, barely able to get his name out of her mouth. "Fitz." Her body would have fell forward, if his hands weren't interlocking and he let go, emptying himself in her and dropping his head to the back of her neck.
"Dear God, woman. You are fucking amazing." He pulled out slowly, pushing her body gently back to the bed. After a quick walk to the bathroom, he was back, rubbing her back gently as she faced him on the pillow.
They just looked at one another, until Liv put her hand to his cheek. "I don't know how I am going to stop ever getting enough of you."
"Please don't stop." Fitz pleaded. "Let's wake up every morning at 4 am and have this, it's very refreshing." He smiled at her.
"You have no shame. Is it really 4 am?"
Fitz looked up at the clock, past Liv. "No, now it's 5:15, you have a date?"
Liv shrugged. "I am anxious about tonight. There's going to be cameras, reporters, people. I am not much of a people person."
"Have you seen where we have been the last couple of days? I am not much of one either, but I am going to have the hottest date there, so bring it on." He took her hand. "You'll be fine, I promise."
He began to rub her shoulder. "You are so tense. How about we go there?"
Liv looked up to where he was pointing. Fitz didn't wait for an answer. He got up and walked to the jacuzzi/hot tub and started the water. Liv placed a hand under her cheek to hold her head up as she just stared at his naked body.
Her bottom lip was currently covered with her teeth as she looked at how fine a man he was. He was preparing a hot tub for them to be in it, and Liv couldn't think of anything sexier a man could do for her.
She heard the jets go on. She stood up in the bed and Fitz made his way over. He grabbed her from around the waist and she wrapped her legs around his body, letting out a screeching laugh as Fitz said "Hold on, buttercup."
He stepped up and then down, into the calming warm water and sat with his back to the wall of one side, never letting Liv go. Her legs still wrapped around him, she brought her hands up from the water and rubbed his hair, saturating it with the warmth of the water as she planted her lips on his. This was so relaxing, and she felt herself calming down in his embrace.
She moved off him and sat next to him, her head on his shoulder with his arm wrapped around her. "You feel better now, Livvie?"
"Always when I am here in your arms."
"You know, not to depress you in anyway, but there was a time, during captivity when I only dreamed of being in water, any kind, again in my life. I loved going to the beach in California. The waves would bring a peacefulness out in me, but being trapped for two years, I only thought it would be a forever memory for the longest time."
He looked around at the hot tub, pulling Liv closer to him as he planted a kiss on her temple. "I was given a bucket of cool water, a washcloth and a bar of soap, three times a week. Besides drinking, that was the only other time I would touch water. I would dream of the beaches in California, the pool in my backyard, and the shower in my bathroom."
He laughed a bit thinking of the memory. Liv was just running circles on his chest, letting him speak. Fitz took a hard swallow.
"On the days when the sun would burn through the dirt walls of the cell, I would close my eyes and put myself in my pool. My buddies from school and me just jumping around, being goofy, splashing, and playing dumb games, those are some of the memories that got me through. It's amazing what the mind can do to you. It can make you crazy or it can calm you down."
"So, besides Huck, for two years, you only had your thoughts? You didn't have anyone else to talk to?" Liv was so curious. She still couldn't fathom how he survived such loneliness.
"Just Huck. Like I told you, he saved me on more than one occasion. He just didn't save my life; he saved my sanity. You would think why I would ever want to be alone again after being so alone for two years."
It was exactly what Liv was thinking. Why would someone who was released from such torture, such captivity want to be alone all the time?
"Guilt, Livvie, it was guilt. I took an oath to my country that I would serve and protect. I let my country down. I know that sounds silly, almost delirious to think, but it's true. I didn't want to be seen. It was more feeling sorry for myself. So, I gave back the best I can. That's why I agreed to the ownership of the team, and when I found Rutland, it gave me a purpose. So long as I could do those things without having to interact with the people I let down."
Liv didn't know what to say. He was a hero in her eyes. He stayed alive when any person would have wanted to end it. He served his country, and he did it with bravery and honor.
"Huck told me you are one of the bravest and toughest soldiers he has ever met, and I tend to agree with him. You are my hero Fitz, and I could never thank you enough for giving up your freedom so I could still have mine."
He kissed the top of her head. He never thought of it like that. Huck had been so supportive, so understanding, and hearing Liv say those words brought a smile to his heart.
"So, feeling a bit better about tonight?"
"Yeah, I am going to have the most handsome guy and I will be more than honored to walk into that formal arm in arm with you, my angel."
They sat for a bit longer just letting the warm water soothe their bodies and listened to the motors of the jets echo in the tiny cabin.
Before their bodies wrinkled from so much water exposure, Fitz stood up, grabbed two bathrobes in reach, and helped Liv step out of the jacuzzi. He placed the bathrobe around her body, then put his on.
"Let's eat something before I lose you to your styling. We have to be ready by 5, that's the time the car is coming."
Liv looked a bit surprised. She sat on the chair in the kitchen after pouring two glasses of orange juice. "You got a car for us tonight?"
"I sure did. A stretch limo. We are arriving in style and in case we want to put some alcohol in our bodies, we can do so without worry." Fitz had already began scrambling some eggs and adding ingredients to the liquid before turning to the hot pan to get started. "How does a western omelet sound Livvie?"
"Sounds delicious, but that's it for today. I need to start getting ready and I don't want to not have room in that fantastic dress."
As they sat eating, once again, Fitz began to tell her what to expect from the night's events. He didn't want her to feel anxious. He wanted her to be comfortable and to enjoy herself. They both needed this, and they would be heading into the new year together.
"So, Sparks is going to be there with his wife, Leticia. We will be sitting with them and Two Shot. I am not going to guess if Two Shot will bring a date, he may just have someone join us who happens to be there alone. One can never tell with him." He took a sip of his juice.
"I'll be happy to meet Leticia. Do all the players and coaches usually attend?" Liv took a piece of her omelet.
"Yeah, from what Sparks told me they all do. They talk and spend time together. They usually go on their vacations after this since Spring training isn't too far off. By the way, I am making a speech tonight. I may start getting used to this." Fitz shrugged.
"You are an amazing speaker. It may be the political blood in you, but you can sell a jalopy as a Lamborghini that's how convincing you are." Liv laughed.
"Yeah, well I have a few announcements to make about the team. Oh and no Yankees talk City Girl." Fitz pinched her nose as he said it. His face then got serious. "I am going to pull my two buddies aside for some privacy at some point." He looked at Liv.
"Fitz, what's going on? Is everything ok?"
"Liv there is something not right with my captivity. I only started thinking of it more now in anticipation of telling you the story. Besides DC and my father, I told Sophie and my partners that I was a POW, bits and pieces but not everything to Natalie.
"I only told the two when I was in Atlanta. There was something wrong about that flight plan, something that made me take a wrong turn. Not to sound arrogant, I don't take wrong turns, not in a fighter jet. I was on a mission for the United States Navy, not some two-bit training exercise. Someone fucked up that flight plan on purpose." Fitz picked up his fork to put some food in his mouth.
While Fitz picked up his fork, Liv dropped hers. She couldn't imagine him being held for two years for someone's political gains. "Fitz, you don't think…. not your father…please don't say your father."
Fitz shook his head. "I really don't know Liv, I have Two Shot looking into some things at the Pentagon for me, Sparks talking to my father subtly, and Huck checking on any legislature during my captivity. I am just trying to put pieces together."
Liv couldn't fathom the thought of a parent having their own son kidnapped and tortured. She closed her eyes and made a wish that it wasn't true, for Fitz's sake. "I will help you with anything you need Fitz, you do what you need to do tonight, I understand. Who else would benefit from you being out of the picture for two years?"
Fitz shrugged. "I don't want to speculate. Natalie's father was a Commander in the Navy, but the orders for my deployment didn't come from him, it came from the Commander just below him. I just don't want to wrack my brain thinking of the what if's. So, until I get some solid proof I can work with, I am just going to enjoy myself tonight and think about taking that dress off you before it's even on you." He bent over and gave her a kiss. "Go, use the upstairs. It's all yours. I can't wait to see you Liv."
Liv cleaned up the table before grabbing her dress and things and headed upstairs to get herself ready. Before heading up to the shower, she pulled him down. "I am going to rip that tux off you later, so I hope it isn't rented."
His mouth dropped wide open. "Olivia Pope, you think a Grant would ever be in a rented tux. Rip away, my lady." He smiled. Oh, that smile.
"Shameless." Liv said shaking her head as she walked up the spiral staircase.
Once Fitz heard the shower go on upstairs, he gave his father a call.
"Well, this is quite the surprise, I wasn't expecting to hear from you. How's the baseball world treating you? I saw your interview also, who is the woman who holds your key?"
"Hello to you also, Dad. Happy New Year. I'm still learning about ownership. It will take some time. You'll meet Olivia soon enough. How have you been?"
"Ah this ski resort, always so relaxing. Good, though, Lucinda's family has been very friendly and appreciative."
"Good to hear. Are you ever going to admit to yourself and Lucinda how much you love that woman?"
Big Gerry was silent for a bit. "Love, come on boy, you know better than that from me. Lucinda has been a trustful employee and that's it. Besides her two kids would never accept us being together."
"You raised them as your own, Dad, but keep telling yourself otherwise." Then Fitz just went silent. He didn't know what to say, what to ask.
Big Gerry broke the tension a bit. "I heard from your buddy Devon. He called me a few days before Christmas. Said he wanted to meet with me when I got back. I knew that boy always had a politician's heart. You may lose a partner. I may gain a Governor."
Fitz laughed. "I doubt Sparks has any interest in giving up an MLB ownership to become a Governor. Dad, when I was gone for two years, what was going on in DC? What was happening? You know there were two other prisoners with me who didn't get as lucky as I did. They met their end on that prison camp. It seemed I was much more valuable to the captors."
Big Gerry fell silent. He always knew the questions would come, he tried to prepare himself for them, but no matter how much he tried, he just wasn't ready.
"Boy, really, tonight is New Year's Eve. Go enjoy yourself with your so-called love. Come out to the ranch we'll chat face to face. I have to go." With that he clicked the phone and rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't want to think about telling Fitz the truth, but eventually he would have to.
Fitz stared at the phone for a bit. He took a deep breath, something not sitting right with him. He shook his head; he wasn't going to let anything ruin this night. He jumped in the shower and began to get ready.
He was just fixing the tie on his Armani black two-piece tuxedo when his phone buzzed. He rubbed his hand through is hair, the shower giving him a few more curls than he wanted. He looked at himself in the mirror. He took a hard swallow. He felt like a teenager taking his high school crush on a first date. He didn't want to admit to Olivia how nervous he was as well. He was determined, though, determined to get back into the world of living. He grabbed the piece of jewelry from its box and placed it in his pocket.
The text he received was from the limo driver. He was fifteen minutes out. Fitz walked to the side of the spiral staircase. He hadn't heard from Liv at all, just heard various shuffling going on for the past two hours up there. He hoped she was ready, surprised she hadn't come down yet.
"Liv", he called up to her. "Liv, the limo is fifteen m…..Dear God woman, are you trying to kill me?" Fitz felt the stirring in his pants, and he said loud enough for Liv to hear. "Down boy, not now."
Liv emerged from the top of the staircase. The dress fit perfectly. Liv had her hands in front of her stomach, her right hand holding her left thumb. Hearing Fitz's words, she chuckled a bit. She had fixed her hair, straightened it, and she looked stunning.
She began to make her way down the stairs and when she looked at Fitz dressed in that tuxedo, she paused. She just stopped and took a deep breath. His hair, those curls, and his body, so fine in that perfectly fitted tux. She looked at the illuminating light coming from the Amazon Echo in the kitchen, and she had an idea.
Fitz couldn't take his eyes off her and moved so she would fall right into his arms at the bottom of the stairs. He saw her stop, and knowing it was because of him, his face flushed, she was thinking like him, they were both in awe of each other.
"Alexa, play Halo by Beyoncé." Playing Halo by Beyoncé. Liv began walking down to the beat of the opening of the song. She stopped at the second step. Fitz looked up at her, she looked down at him.
"I didn't put on lipstick for this reason." Liv wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a tender, yet seductive kiss on his lips. He lifted her and pulled her down the final two steps with their lips connected. He placed her down on the floor.
She pulled back just as Beyoncé would begin singing. "Dance with me Fitz. One slow dance before tonight and listen to the words, baby, because you are my saving grace."
She put her hands back around his neck and his around her waist and they began moving to the lyrics.
Remember those walls I built
Well, baby, they're tumbling down
And they didn't even put up a fight
They didn't even make a sound
Liv then rested her head on his chest just above his heart as they continued to move to the music, slowly, and turned her head to smell his aftershave and get comfortable in the crook of his neck.
I found a way to let you win
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now
Liv raised her head off his chest, and they locked each other's eyes. They continued to move, as Fitz rested his forehead on hers, smiling to the lyrics. Liv began singing softly with Beyoncé, never letting her eyes leave his.
It's like I've been awakened
Every rule I had you breaking
It's the risk that I'm taking
I ain't ever gonna shut you out
Fitz's grip around her waist grew a bit tighter. He planted his lips on hers and during the next verse, they stayed like that, kissing through the dancing, through the song, the words having an impact on both of them, and their lips told the story, their tongues meeting to join in the dancing.
Everywhere I'm looking now
I'm surrounded by your embrace
Baby I can see your halo
You know you're my saving grace
You're everything I need and more
It's written all over your face
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won't fade away
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
I can feel your halo (halo) halo
I can see your halo (halo) halo
They had stopped now, interlocked in a warm, affectionate hug. The horn of the limo echoed over the song. Before the next verse began, Liv said "Alexa stop."
Fitz pulled away. "To be continued?"
Liv nodded. "To be continued."
As Liv was putting on her Lurum Crystal Embellished black shoes, picked out solely by her mother, Fitz put her left wrist up. He pulled the piece from his pocket. Liv was speechless as her wrist was now wearing a 14k white gold, 5 carat diamond tennis bracelet.
Between the necklace around her neck, the tennis bracelet on her wrist, and the Crystal Embellished shoes, Liv was sparkling. She could only pull him into another hug. "Fitz, stop, this is so beautiful."
"Just like you, only you're the one that makes it beautiful. Let's go." Fitz grabbed Liv's short cashmere dress coat and placed it on her, Liv grabbed her small purse and they headed to the limo waiting for them at the end of the walk.
The driver took his hat off as they approached, holding the door open for them. "Thanks, Max." Fitz said with a nod.
"Sure thing Mr. Grant, Happy New Year." Max smiled at Fitz and nodded at Olivia.
"Max, this is Olivia Pope. Max has been on and off my driver for a few years now when I need a lift somewhere." Fitz informed Olivia.
"Pleased to meet you ma'am. You are beautiful, Mr. Grant is a lucky man." Max smiled.
"Thank you." Liv answered shyly.
Liv went in first to a space big enough for ten passengers. In front of her, across from the black leather seats was a full bar, a tv screen, and a mock fireplace. This was the first time she had been in a limo, having utilized public transportation to events in NYC.
Fitz slid in right next to her as the door closed. He reached over and wasted no time pouring two glasses of scotch as the car began to make its way to the destination, about an hour away.
"Drink this. It should calm you down. I can feel how tense you are. It's only going to be two small Vermont stations there. Don't worry Liv." Fitz took one sip of the scotch and finished it.
Liv followed his lead. She took a sip and drank the contents. It burned going down, but it did send a calmness through her. She took Fitz' hand.
"I'll be ok. I hated these events for work. I always avoided them. I wound up meeting Edison at one of these things and I was sorry I ever went in the first place." Liv just shook her head disgusted.
"Hey, do I look like Edison? You're with me tonight. You and me Livvie, that's it." He leaned over and kissed her cheek while rubbing her hand.
The event was being held at the beautiful Capitol Plaza hotel in Montpelier. When the limo pulled up to the venue site, Liv could see just two cameras and two reporters. Both reporters were interviewing players.
"Look, there's Jordan, oh and Jason Kemp. They are both being interviewed." Liv pointed so Fitz could see.
"How do you know Jason?" Fitz was impressed.
"Honey, I know all my baseball players. I told you I am a fan and I have to watch out for my Yankees. Jason is an exceptional centerfielder, but only bats about 200 against my Bronx pitchers. You may want to wonder why." Liv nudged Fitz.
"And you are nervous about being here? You could talk baseball all night Ms. Pope. Who are you trying to fool?" Fitz watched as Liv put her lipstick on and saw the cameras turn towards the car as the reporters followed behind.
Fitz slumped a bit when he saw one of the reporters was Jessica Jennings. She had been assigned, unknowingly, to the Lake Monsters. She was the same reporter who was flirting with him throughout the whole interview that was televised.
Liv saw her approaching as well. "She leaned in put her lips against Fitz's ear. I could stay in the car if you want, you know, Mr. Bachelor of the year." Liv jokingly whispered.
"Not a chance. You are mine and everyone will know it tonight. Remember, this is just local Vermont stations. The girls back in Rutland should be watching." Max went to get out of the car, and Fitz called to him. "I got this Max, it's fine."
He opened the car door. Jessica was the first with a microphone to him. She faced the camera. "Here's the newly introduced owner of the Lake Monsters, Mr. Fitzgerald Grant, looking very handsome tonight." She turned towards Fitz. "Happy New Year Mr. Grant, and how is Vermont's most wanted bachelor?" She waited for his response but Fitz turned towards the car, extending his hand.
Olivia took his hand as he gently led her out of the car. Her dream from this morning came back to her and seeing Jessica all up in her man's face, she wished it did come true. That would shut the blonde up. Olivia took a deep breath, "keep that NY in you girl", her inner voice told her and she put a slight smile on her face.
"Evening Ms. Jennings, Happy New Year to you as well. As stated before, I am by no means a bachelor." Fitz placed his arm around Olivia resting his hand on the ball of her back. "I am looking forward to an exciting night, Olivia and myself are anxious to get acquainted with the team and our awesome staff."
Jessica looked over at Olivia who nodded at her. Liv purposely fidgeted her necklace so Jessica could see the whole package, using her hand with the bracelet to fiddle with the necklace. Jessica nodded back.
"Enjoy your evening Mr. Grant, Olivia." She was quickly off to the next car behind them pulling in.
The second reporter rushed over to the couple. He was a local sports reporter who greeted both of them and asked if they had a moment for a few questions. Fitz was happy to answer, but only two. The reporter thanked them, and looked at the camera to make sure it was recording.
Back in Rutland, the gang was all at the McClellan's ready to ring in the New Year when they spotted the interview on the local station. Chloe was the first to see the couple and she squealed loud enough for everyone to look at the tv.
Chloe had gotten as close to the screen as she could, being it was wall mounted and she was looking up. "ooohhhh, wook, mommy, evewyone, wook. It's Wivvie and Fitz. Wow, she wooks just wike a pwincess. Fitz is her pwince." She started to clap, and all eyes were on the screen.
Lara looked at Abby. "My God, she does look gorgeous, but look at Fitz."
Abby saw it right away. "He looks so happy, Lara. Bryce, are you seeing this?"
"Yeah, I haven't seen him smile like that in five years."
"Mom, you ok, geez, Alyssa get my mother a tissue please." Abby put her arm around Sophie. "This is a good thing mom; you don't need to cry."
"He deserves so much happiness Abby, Olivia is the perfect one for him. I am just so happy for them both." Sophie was staring at the screen as Alyssa handed her the tissue.
"I love that dress, Brianna, do you see it? We have to draw one just like it so we can make one for our dolls." Alyssa was staring at Olivia.
"She is sparkling, just like the stars in the sky." Brianna said as she was nodding in agreement with Alyssa.
"Ooooh, I knew it I just did, mommy, I knew it, they wuv each other so so much." Chloe's cheek was resting on her hands as she watched her two favorite people on the screen. Then, her mouth went wide and her hands when over it as she jumped up and down.
"Anything you would like to add, Ms. Pope?" The reporter had just finished talking to Fitz who introduced Olivia. Olivia looked to the camera.
"Hi Alyssa, Brianna, and Chloe." Olivia waved to the camera as Fitz led her away into the hall.
Chloe was jumping up and down pointing now at the screen. "Wivvie said hi to me, she said hi to me." She ran to Abby and jumped in her arms. "Wivvie said hi to me."
"She sure did Flamingo, how special was that?" Abby gave her a hug before setting her down.
"Ummm, she said hi to us too." Alyssa said rolling her eyes.
"Don't act like you didn't hear it." Brianna said waving her hand at Chloe.
Bryce put his arm around Lara. "I can't wait for them to come back to Rutland, as a couple. This is going to be great."
Fitz and Liv entered the hall. The double doors were waiting to be opened by two gentlemen standing by them. As the couple approached the doors and they swung open, a room filled with tuxedos, elegant dresses, and blaring music greeted them. All eyes turned and watched who was entering when the doors opened. Olivia held her breath as Fitz grabbed her hand.
"We're fine Livvie, we got this. Together."
Fitz led her with a slight pull of her hand, interlocking his fingers with hers. She took a deep breath. She thought of all they shared the past two days, his bravery, her courage, and there was no doubt any longer, for him, for her, for them, he was right, they got this.
They walked in ready to face their fears, come out of their shells, and begin a New Year of happiness.