Chapter 51
Liv and Fitz were just coming downstairs for breakfast. They heard voices and laughter coming from the kitchen. The smell of fresh maple bacon filled the air and Liv turned to Fitz with a confused look.
As they approached the well lighted area, Huck was sitting at the island as Jumbo was standing at the stove putting what looked to be a casserole into the oven.
"So when I was 18, I had the high hopes of joining the ARMY, but my knees told a different story, and I couldn't pass the physical. Eventually I gave up and went on to be a paramedic." Jumbo shrugged and he saw the movement of Liv and Fitz coming into the room.
Huck turned as he heard their footsteps. "Hey, you two, Good Morning. I came over to check up on you Liv and to calm my nerves before the first big tournament." Huck jumped down from the chair and helped Liv along as Fitz went to greet Jumbo. "How is the arm?"
Liv accepted Huck's help on the chair after saying her good morning to Jumbo, looking around for her mom. Maya wasn't yet there, but she gave a grin to Jumbo. "And my mom is?" Liv smiled. She looked back at Huck. "The arm is good. Three weeks with this cast on already and I'm about to rip it off. The only thing keeping me from that is the beautiful drawings from the ABC girls. I think your tournament will go well. Chloe is a determined young lady. She isn't going to let ABC MMA do poorly."
Huck gave a sight of relief. "I know, she and all the others have worked hard the past two weeks. I wasn't expecting to be here at all, but now that I've given notice to my NY job, I can dedicate myself full time to this all." Huck smiled at Liv. He was happy with his decision to become a resident of Rutland now.
"Maya is still sleeping. We had a bit of a late night, and I figured I would surprise her with breakfast. Well, you and Fitz as well, I wasn't expecting Huck, but there's enough for everyone." Jumbo smiled, with a bit of a blush.
Fitz gave him a pat on the shoulder. "A late night huh, good for you." He nodded over at Liv, "Liv says she can't remember when Maya had a glisten in her eyes."
"Thank you, Jumbo, you've really made her transition back to the states better than expected. I thought she would be miserable. Now look at us all, going to Huck's big skills tournament today and cheering on Chloe."
"That kid is something special. I can't imagine how she is driving Lara and Bryce crazy today." Fitz laughed as he sat next to Liv placing her tea in front of her. He gave her a soft kiss on the cheek before sitting down.
"You know I delivered Chloe in the back of an ambulance. I was the first person to hold her." Jumbo looked over at Huck to assure him. "That child came out kicking, I can attest to that. I think she will do just fine in the tournament and put ABC MMA on the map for us." Jumbo's face lit up as he saw Maya come in from the bedroom. "Look at you, as beautiful as a Vermont sunrise." He walked over to her and gave her a small kiss on her lips.
Liv tilted her head onto Fitz's shoulder as she watched the interaction, trying to keep her emotions in check. She watched Maya as she accepted the kiss giving a side eye to Liv watching her.
Maya ruffled Fitz's hair. "Good morning handsome, hey Hulk, good to see you."
"Uh, it's Huck" Huck said with a laugh.
"You may think it's Huck, I know Hulk when I see one, and I mean what I say." She took a sniff of the air. "Mmm, Fitz, what to you have cooking in there."
"It's not Fitz, mom, it's Jumbo. He was making breakfast already when we came downstairs." Liv looked at her.
"You don't say." Maya rubbed Jumbo's back. "More than just what Jumbo means to me, huh, you cook too?"
Liv's forehead fell to her hand, as Fitz and Huck both laughed. Liv looked up. "Please don't encourage this behavior."
"Maple Bacon and egg casserole, almost ready." Jumbo said walking towards the oven.
For the last three weeks, since Liv's accident, Maya and Jumbo had been spending every night together. Usually they would go out to dinner and Maya would stay at his place or they would come home and retrieve to Maya's room. Whatever they did, Liv didn't care. Her mother was happy, he made her happy and that is all that mattered. Liv had felt she had pressured Maya into coming back, but this closeness with Jumbo was a big plus, and Liv and Fitz were both thrilled to see it.
"How is my grandson, and that cast, you haven't been bumping your stomach or anything, you don't need to be disturbing him in there." Maya reached over and rubbed Liv's belly. "I still can't believe how not round your stomach is. He's waiting to bust out, I'm sure."
Fitz went tight lipped and rubbed Liv's hand. Liv had been worried about her stomach growing at all with the scars, and now she's worried she wasn't showing yet. "It'll take time," Dr. Webster assured her. "Every pregnancy is different."
Maya saw the worried look on Fitz's face. "Baby Girl, it's fine. I had a friend in NYC, right before I was pregnant with you, she didn't show until her seventh month, don't knock this, ok."
Liv nodded, "Ok, so Huck, what's going on later, what can we expect at the tournament?" Jumbo had taken the casserole out and was serving them.
"It's just a skills tournament. It's about form and hitting the target. All the kids have been working hard. I have five entries, Chloe for the 4 year old bracket, Simon for the 8 year old, Taylor for 10, and Gunther for 14. We have a good chance for them all." He looked at his watch. "Uh I'm going to get Monica and Sammy, they're coming with me, he needs handicap access to the gym. I'll see you later. Jumbo the food was good, thank you. See you later."
"I've never seen Huck so nervous." Liv took a bite of her food. "The man can single handedly take out a roomful of men in one swift swing, but he's nervous about a kickboxing tournament."
"How do you both know him again?" Jumbo sat with his plate.
"He kept me alive over in Iraq. He was an undercover agent there, acting as a translator to my captors. Got me through the worst times." Fitz stopped thinking about it. "It wasn't easy for him coming back either." Fitz heard Maya begin to speak.
"Baby Girl met Huck on the way to work in NY one day. He was homeless on the subway stairs. Gosh, it was awful when she brought him home how mangled up he was. He saved her life on that subway, beating off a would be attacker." Maya shook her head with the memory.
"Now look at him," Fitz continued. "He is so well loved by all the kids here in Rutland. He's so giving, and we're just so thankful to have him back in our lives."
Liv went to clean up, but Fitz put his hand up. "I have it Livvie."
"We better get going, what are your plans today?" Liv looked at Jumbo and Maya who both had a strange grin on their face.
Maya stood up and cupped Liv's face. "How is the arm? Are you in any pain?"
"No." she answered cautiously, "Why? The doctor said it's healing just fine."
"Jumbo and I are going to NY for the next week. I have Broadway tickets, we are going to take in a Yankees game, and spend a lot of time in that expensive, abandoned condo of yours, aren't we big guy?" Maya smiled Jumbo's way.
"Whatever the lady says."
Liv looked over at Fitz who just shrugged. "Well, don't forget on Saturday, up to the Lake Monsters game, that's the day Fitz is honoring Disabled Veterans."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world." Maya pulled Liv's head down, kissing her forehead. "You stay out of accidents and warehouses, you hear? You won't have the best paramedic around to take care of you."
"Enjoy your time together." Liv smiled. "Just text me when you get there, Ok."
"Oh, baby girl we will enjoy. I get that Jumbo all to myself for a week."
"Goodbye mother." Liv took Fitz's hand, pulling him to the car.
Once they were in the driveway, before Fitz opened the car door for Liv, he stopped. He leaned her up against the car, Liv's cast arm going around his shoulders. He paused just shy of kissing her and Liv could feel his breath against her lips.
"Jumbo is a lucky guy." His lips met hers as he parted her lips with his tongue to get it to touch hers.
When he pulled back, Liv still had her eyes closed, resting her forehead on the bridge of his nose. "Thank you," she said in a whisper, rubbing her hand down her chest. "For letting them stay here, for taking of me, and for…." She couldn't finish, she just teared up.
"Hey." Fitz whispered back. "Jumbo is lucky guy, but I'm the luckiest." He pulled her chin up. "I will always be here for you, just like you are there for me, now let's go watch Chloe take out some aggressions." He pecked her once more before guiding her into the car.
The well lighted gym was filled with mats, punching bags, and families everywhere. Liv and Fitz looked around, saw Sammy and Monica. Monica stood up as they were walking towards her, gave a slight wave, and put her arms out for Liv.
"Hey girl, how are you feeling?" She asked her as Fitz and Sammy shook hands.
"I'm good, look at you, popping out, huh." Monica was just about eight months along, and her belly was bulging. Liv took a deep breath, feeling some anxiety inside.
"This girl is not playing." Monica rubbed her belly. "Heartburn, kicking, and late night cravings, I don't know how women have more than one."
"We'll see when we're on our third." Sammy joked. "Here comes McClellan's, minus Chloe.
Both girls ran to Liv first, one hugging her from the back, one from the front. "Hi Olitz." They said in unison. Liv hugged them back with one arm mindful of the cast.
Brianna took the cast and looked at it. "Our art is still looking good, Alyssa."
Alyssa let Liv's hug go and looked at the cast with Brianna. The adults were talking now, not paying them any mind. "Chloe took over the darn thing." Alyssa said, pointing to what Chloe did.
"Center of attention." Brianna laughed and rolled her eyes.
"She's going to kick butt here today, though. We have a tough little sister." Alyssa said.
"Sure do." They went off to help Huck with drinks and uniforms.
With the arrival of Abby and Leo, the Chloe cheering squad was in full effect now. All smiles now on the Rutland crew after a tense few weeks after a car accident in their small town.
Happy to be together for such a happy occasion, cheering on their hometown kids, Sophie was waiting at her store for some homemade dinner for the crew when the tournament was over, regardless of the outcome. No one was as proud as Sophie that Huck was putting Rutland on the map.
Before the tournament began, the star of the day, Miss Chloe herself made a quick appearance. She had her helmet in her hand, her gloves Liv and Fitz had given her around her neck, her hair in a tight French braid.
"Wivvie." She ran to her special friend first. "You bwing me wuck. I am so so happy you are here." She rested her head on Liv's shoulder. "I'm going to win for you." She whispered in Liv's ear but no one else heard.
"You just do your best, Ok." Liv gave her a high five. "We are all proud of you."
"Go on, sweet pea." Fitz gave her nose a fake punch, "make Rutland proud."
Chloe waved to her cheering squad as Huck nodded to them giving them all a wave.
There were three categories in which each child was participating. One was a kicking skill, the other a punching skill, and then the combo. With every break, Huck was over huddled with his team and Liv thought he was exactly in the element he was supposed to be in.
As skilled as he was in computers and technology, martial arts were his first true love, and teaching it to the younger generation was right where he belonged.
After a long three hour tournament the scores were in and winners were about to be announced. Chloe stood with her two sisters, her fingers crossed, and her eyes closed. Lara and Bryce were holding hands in anticipation and Liv didn't even realize her hands were crossed and her chin down to her chest. Fitz had to laugh as he looked over at her.
"You're going to be a great soccer mom." He kissed her as the announcer came over the intercom.
Chloe McClellan walked away the kicking skills champion and the combo champion, with a score one point better in the combo. She walked like a proud soldier to take her trophies and medals and had the biggest smile on her face when she came over for a victory hug from her parents.
In all, Huck's ABC MMA left with seven awards, and the coaches were introducing themselves to him and getting to know more about the first time coach at the tournament.
"Wivvie, are you pwoud of me?" Chloe asked as she watched Liv look at her winning kicking trophy. "They are the best twophies wight?" Chloe's smile would stay on for a few days.
Liv remembers firsthand what a good kicker Chloe is, she saw what Chloe did to DJ. "I don't need a trophy to be proud of you Chloe, you are my little hero, you know that." Liv handed the trophy to Fitz and gave Chloe a big hug.
After too much food at Sophie's, and a victory cake whipped up by Leo, everyone was ready to call it a night. Rutland was proud of their young stars and Liv predicted Huck would have a line of registration outside his door on Monday.
"Uh, will you help me with that Liv?"
"No where else I would rather be."
"Hey, Huck, you think after I am walking again, you can teach me how to kick like Chloe here?"
Huck looked down at Sammy in his wheelchair. Chloe was sitting on his lap describing the combo trophy to him.
"You begin to walk that's the first thing I will do, no question about that."
Fitz put his arm around Liv, she knew the guilt of what happened to Sammy would never leave Fitz. "He's optimistic, Fitz, that's a good thing." Fitz rested his forehead on Liv's head.
"I know", Fitz whispered, "still doesn't make me feel any better that it happened at all."
It had been a long day and Liv was feeling the effects of it. Her arm was throbbing, just a bit, and she was worried about not showing at all in the pregnancy yet. She was lying in bed now, procrastinating about getting into the shower. Her left arm out as she lay on her side.
Fitz had finished his phone call with Sparks and Liv felt him wrap his arm around her from the back. She turned and buried her face into his chest, casted arm around him as he held her tight. He kissed her gently. "What is it, Livvie?"
She blinked back the tears. She didn't want him to worry about her. She bit her bottom lips and shook her head. "Nothing really. My mom is finding happiness with Jumbo, Huck being a success as an MMA coach, and the family I gained moving here. It's just all emotional." Liv closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm going to take a shower."
Fitz wanted to go in the shower with her, but he also knew sometimes Liv needed alone time, and he was willing to give it to her. He watched her walk into the bathroom as Daisy took Liv's spot on the bed. "We'll be right here if she needs, right girl?"
Daisy put her head down and fell right to sleep as if to say "speak for yourself."
Liv got up without looking at Fitz, because she didn't know the emotion that would come out. Liv stood in front of the bathroom mirror. The full length mirror was never her friend, from the age of 12 up until now, Liv always cringed looking into the full length mirror. It was a feeling she didn't think she'd ever get over, even with the way Fitz loved her and taught her how to love her body.
Before taking her shirt off, something that wasn't easy to do with the cast on the left arm, she took a deep breath. It had been three weeks since the accident. The three weeks had gone by quickly, but there wasn't a day Liv didn't think of it. It hit her hard the day she had to go fill out paperwork for her totaled car.
Liv stood now just bringing that day up, thinking, overthinking to be honest, and she put her head down remembering.
The department had wanted her to head down to the impound to fill out paperwork for the car about two days after she was released from the hospital. She didn't want to, couldn't, to be honest. Even though Maya was going to be with her, she just didn't want to see the mangled car and think of what could have been.
Fitz had to take a brief trip up to the Lake Monsters stadium, otherwise he would have gone. In the end, Huck went along with Maya and Jumbo and took care of what was necessary. While they were gone, Liv looked online at the local paper and read the headlines.
"Car Wreck on Main Street, One Fatality" The article went on to explain in detail what had happened and there was a picture of the scene. That's all Liv needed to see to break down. She covered her face in both her hands and had herself a good cry.
Not having Fitz there, and finally alone, with just Daisy, Liv was able to break down. She was sobbing thinking about what could have been, and Daisy came over to lay down by her feet. "It all worked out Baby Girl." Her father's voice chimed in.
Without looking back at the screen, Liv shut down the computer and went to bed. Not even sure what time it was, her exhausted body fell asleep and didn't wake up until the next day.
Now here she stood. She looked at her cast. The most colorful cast in all of cast history. The ABC girls had done a number on her cast, and Liv saw herself smiling back at herself in the mirror. She rubbed along the forearm where the art was and it did make the cast easier to have, despite the circumstances.
Delaying taking off her shirt, Liv thought back to a week after the accident. The McClellan's, Sophie, Abby, Huck, Two Shot, and Monica all came for dinner. They came to support Liv, knowing it was a rough few days. Maya and Jumbo did the cooking, giving Fitz a break.
The girls had drawn tiny fashion models with different attire on Liv's cast. Next to each figure, was the name of the girl that drew them. Alyssa and Brianna left some room for others, but Chloe was determined to get her name on there, her way.
In the middle of the cast, in rainbow letters, there stood all capital and crooked letters, CHLOE. Lara was mortified after she saw what her youngest did. "Chloe, oh my goodness Liv, I am so sorry."
Liv laughed and shook it off. "It's her personality to a tee." Liv gave Chloe a kiss on her forehead. "I love it."
"And I wuv you Wivvie." Chloe rested her head on Liv's shoulder. "I was so so scared when mommy towd me there was an acadent. You can't get hurt, and the baby", Chloe kissed Liv's tummy, "I can't wait to meet him."
Her hand gripped the shirt now, and she maneuvered her way out of it. Next came the bra, and Liv stood there with just her leggings on. Her eyes went wide and for once since the age of 12, she smiled at her topless body.
"Oh my God!" She said it loud with a burst of happiness. "Fitz! Fitz!" Hearing his footsteps outside the door, she took an excited breath.
Fitz heard her yell, he wasn't quite sure if it was a good yell, a scared yell, or a hurt yell. He jumped out of the bed and ran to the bathroom.
"Livvie!, Livvie, are you alright?" The bathroom door swung open with an anxious Fitz walking in. He stopped when he saw her topless looking at herself. He walked behind her as she turned to the right.
"Look!" She pointed, then rubbed her small belly. "It's a baby bump, you can see the baby bump." She turned and threw her arms around him, cast and all, and buried her face into the crook of his neck. "Our baby, you can see him on me now."
Fitz hugged her tighter rubbing her smooth skin on her back. He knew how that was eating away at her and even he took a breath of relief. "Yes, Livvie, you can. Let me see again." He pulled her back and turned her to her side. His gentle hand went slowly over the tiny bump, and he smiled. "Our baby boy." Fitz leaned over and kissed her tiny bump. He brought his face up to hers and faced her body towards the mirror now.
His cheek went down to hers. "You're so beautiful." His hands now coming around to the front of her. He rubbed down her breasts, then slowly to the bump again, rubbing it gently. He bent and kissed her neck. He, now, was blinking back tears. "Soon, we'll be parents, it's getting real."
Liv turned now towards him, and gently kissed him on the lips. "We'll be the best parents. You'll teach him how to fly airplanes and I'll teach him how to balance his bank account." She smiled. As he looked so lovingly at her, what began as dread to take off her shirt for a shower turned into happiness and now, full on want of the man she loves.
Her lips pressed hard against his, and Liv felt herself pull his shirt swiftly over his head, leaving the kiss just to get the shirt over his head. "Take me Fitz, Oh God, please, take me. You make me feel so good."
Since she had been injured, Fitz had been treating her like fragile porcelain, afraid of breaking her, and Liv couldn't take it anymore. She felt he had the same feelings because he pulled her body closer to his and lifted her up in kiss towards the bed.
He pulled her leggings down, and Liv put her broken arm over her head to keep it out of the way. Before going any further, Fitz just put his forehead onto her baby bump, then turned his head to the side.
She took the moment to rub his curls, knowing how emotional he was about the baby, the accident, and everything to come. Liv just let him soak it all in as she rubbed his hair with her one hand and wrapping her legs around his back.
He kissed her stomach one more time, and since she was naked, he went down instead of up, kissing her gently before using his tongue on her clit. Her body responded because it was something she wasn't expecting, and Fitz could feel his erection coming through his jeans.
For the moment, he had to ignore that, because she tasted so good. Leaving his hand on her stomach, and hers covering it, she thrusted up to meet his tongue movements. Fitz took advantage of the thrust and put his arm around her waist, going deeper into him with his tongue, until he could feel her body tense.
Liv's mouth was open, her head back, her casted arm still above her head, and she let her orgasm run through her body. "Ah" Her head came down and rested on her shoulder, just looking down at him as he was taking off his jeans.
She didn't have a moment to breathe, as his hand interlocked with her left hand above her head and he used that for leverage. Within seconds he was inside her, above her, just looking into her eyes, and Liv was giving it right back to him.
"I love you." He whispered, his body in a slow rhythm just feeling his cock inside her. She was so wet, and he just took it so slow, hearing her juices something he had missed for a few weeks.
Her free hand rubbed his cheek to his jaw. "I love you too, as she closed her eyes, feeling each slow thrust and hearing the sound of sex in the air.
Her body didn't stiffen, nor did she moan. The feeling just overtook her body, and she felt a cool chill run from her toes to her head, as her body went numb, turning her head to the side, rubbing his hair as he was now in the crook of her neck.
She felt him come inside her as he just lay while she was now rubbing his back, gently over his scars. "You ok, Mister?"
He rolled off and faced her. "Unexpected sex always makes me better than ok", the back of his finger went down her smooth cheek as she smiled at him.
"I was ready to jump in the shower as I was cringing from having to take my shirt off and see just the scars in the mirror. Anyway, the baby bump changed all that, and look at us now."
"I can shower with you. We finally have the house to ourselves." His eyebrows went up and down making Liv laugh.
"Yeah, Mister, I would like that very much." She squinted and smiled at him. "I love when you wash me so tender."
Fitz reached under her knees and carried her, cradle style to the bathroom as she rested her head on his comforting chest.
The shower was everything they needed to end a long, emotional day. After they each cleansed each other, with a massive amount of kissing and rubbing the baby bump, they were lying now, just facing each other in the bed.
Looking lovingly in each other's eyes, Liv spoke first, using her hand to clasp his cheek. "We've come such a long way, haven't we Fitz? I mean a year ago I was working 18 hour days six days a week, just about numb to the world." Her shoulder went up, and she kissed him softly. Then I took a drive up to Vermont and look at me now, look at us."
His thumb caressed her cheekbone. "You're the best thing that ever happened to me Liv. My life was completed when I saw you standing on that porch, and now we will be parents soon, our parents are happy." He shook his head and kissed her back. "I just love you so much." His arm wrapped around her back and he pulled her closer to him.
She rested her head on his chest, feeling his skin on hers. "Daisy coming onto that porch, bringing us together." Liv looked down at the end of the bed, Daisy sleeping calmly and peacefully. "Mom is happy, Huck is succeeding, Chloe is over the moon, and everyone around us is just thriving."
"Have you been in touch with Betty?" Fitz asked curiously.
"Betty, my former tailor in NY? No I haven't, although I think of her and Harold often. I should give them both a call."
"Why don't you begin with Betty?"
Liv's eyes went back to looking into his. They were dancing now as the question go the best of her. "Why?"
"Marry me Olivia." Fitz said, his eyes turning seductive gray.
"I think we've established that already. You've asked in the bleachers at Yankee Stadium. Did you forget this?" She held up the rock of the diamond ring.
Fitz didn't even look away. He gently put her hand down. "I know, I mean let's do it, a wedding, when is this coming off?" He held up the same hand he had just put down, referring to the cast.
"Doctor said three weeks, it's healing just fine."
"Well, we have two girls who have been drawing wedding dresses for you to wear, and we have Betty who could make that dress in a day if you wanted. The best unofficial planner in Abby ready on the word go, and Sophie can cook for a thousand guests if we give her week. So let's do it, let's get married, the day after that cast comes off."
Fitz's hand rested now on her bare stomach, palm over the bump and he pulled her towards him deepening a kiss onto her lips.
Liv blinked back tears, gently touching his jaw. She shook her head in agreement and he looked at her. "Ok, Fitz, let's get married. I'm all in, for us, for our baby, I'm all in. Can we get Sparks and the family here, your dad, Lucia?"
"I'll have it all taken care of." He smiled the gentlest smile and connected his forehead with hers. "I can't wait until you're officially Mrs. Grant."
Liv's hand wrapped his bicep as her head went back to her place on his chest. The last thing she remembered hearing is Fitz asking what kind of chicken he would ask Sophie to make. That's when Liv closed her eyes.
Although she knew it could never happen, she saw dusting of white clouds, as she emerged arm interlocked with her father's. As she fell deeper into sleep, they were walking step by synchronized step down the aisle, his hand over hers on his arm.
Liv carried the most beautiful bouquet of flowers, and she smiled as she followed Chloe in front of her. A crown of baby's breath around her beautiful golden hair, as she sprinkled Liv's pathway to the altar with rose petals.
When Liv looked up, there stood Fitz, gorgeous in his tux, waiting for the love of his life to step up and become his wife. Liv didn't know it as she watched her dream, that she cuddled closer to Fitz who held her close to his body.
They both fell into a happily ever after dream, Daisy walking down the aisle last, equipped with a pink bow tie and a white tennis ball gripped into her mouth. The soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Grant making their dream soon to become a reality.
Rutland stood proudly and peacefully under the late May sky. In a few weeks it would be bustling with the marriage of Fitzgerald Grant and Olivia Pope. It will be a day filled with happiness for a couple that has endured so much. For now, the town rested and would awaken to three non stop weeks of wedding planning.