Chapter Two

Karen's POV

I immediately squinted my eyes as soon as I regained consciousness this morning; and because the universe hates me, the lone ray of sun that managed to get into my blackout curtains squarely hit my eyes making me groan as I pulled my blanket over my head in attempt to get back in my dreams.

That attempt however was shortlived as my ears picked-up the sound of the little argument down the hall. From my bed, I could hear two voices – one of a woman who I knew so well through the years and the other is from the little ball of energy who stole my heart the moment I saw her four years ago.

I can't help but to smile as I hear the former, obviously, put up a better judgment before the latter countered… well, cutely, if I may say. I can't make-up the whole point of the argument from my bed - let alone know what the argument is all about - I just know how it'll end.

Knowing sleep is something that won't come back, I ended up pushing myself out of my bed as the voices outside my room continues to make me smile.

They were still "arguing" when I got out of my room a few minutes later. I was inwardly smiling as the voices get louder as I approach the house's main hall. Person A speaks, Person B answers, Person A speaks, Person B counters and so on.

"How long has this been going on?" I amusedly thought to myself before reaching the living room.

I had to literally bit my tongue as soon as my eyes landed on the scene before me - Olivia Pope, the great DC fixer, was seating on her heels, her cute little five-month baby bump protruding in front of her while being surrounded with a number of toddler shirts and pants. Oh, did I mention she was also on the floor too?

"Hi Liv," I greeted as I noticed she was holding a pink shirt on her lap.

Immediately, Olivia's eyes landed on me before her lips drawn in an almost apologetic smile.

"Morning Kare," she greeted, "I'm sorry did we wake you up?" she added as she pushed aside a stray hair from her face as I stood there still trying my best to hide my enjoyment.

"No, I meant to wake up this time," a lie of course but making Olivia feel guilty is not something I want to give her today.

Not this morning. Not when my little stepsister, aged 4 going 40 is seated across her mother, arms cutely across her chest, lips pouting to make another successful conquest against her mother. Honestly I don't know how Liv can say no to whatever she wants with her being adorable like this because I would have folded just as easy, no long arguments needed. History would tell you.

"Breakfast's ready, help yourself out," the former DC fixer told me, "Because I… will tell this little girl that she," Olivia began as she gently pull on my little stepsister's arms, "can't wear her gown for today's hunt with dad."

"Yes I can!" my little sister immediately countered. Her soft brown curls bounced as she stood up on her cute little feet. I'm amused, she really had the full get-up with her glitter flat shoes on. I bit my tongue harder to hold back both my pride and laugh.

"Bella, you can't," Olivia countered, well, after a quick huff.

"Yes I can!"

"No, you can't!"

"Yikes," I mockingly said as I made my way to the dining counter across the hall.

The back and forth between mother and child was still going on as I help myself with coffee and toast and jam. I don't know why on my earth is jam a staple food in this Vermont home but Dad and Liv always, and I mean always, have one in stock. Doesn't matter what flavor too, they always have one.

I know this because I've been coming and going here whenever I could - in between school breaks, holidays, even on weekends, doesn't matter really, I am always welcome here. This was what Dad and Liv told me and never have I felt otherwise.

They even have rooms for me and Teddy; and these ain't like their guest rooms, Ted and I really have our own space in this Vermont home that we got to decorate, sleep, and stay whenever we come over.

It's been six years since Dad and Liv left Washington and while the move wasn't actually "for good", they tend to spent more time here in Vermont than in DC. Liv's apartment back home was kept and they even bought the next-door apartment before they turned it to an ensuite allowing for two more bedrooms.

Despite this progress, this Vermont home has seen more of Dad and Liv than the walls of her DC apartment. Can't blame them though, even I can say I am now in love with Vermont as well.

Here, the pace is slower, the weather is chilly but not freezing (except in Winter of course) and they do not have that California heat but just enough sun to offer some warmth; but I guess what I love here the most is that the pressure of Washington is almost non-existent. While being the former president and current president's daughter has its perks, it also has loads of restrictions just the same.

You see, mom is currently running for her second term. Honestly, I don't know why both my parents opted to be the leader of the free world and there were really moments when I thought maybe our lives would be different if they just decided to be… regular.

But this is my regular now and somehow I've gotten so used to it that Mom agreed that my agents be down to two instead of three and, whenever I came here in Vermont, I don't even need one; and that thought alone makes me smile as I bite down my toast.

My musing has ended but the negotiation in front of me, funnily, has not. I meant to say argument but my stepsister just pulled her "Pope Card" against her mom, well, Olivia Pope, when she put on a deal - I mean, ice cream for shirts and pants for brownies, not that bad, girl!

"Honey," I hear Liv replied on the 4 year-old deal, "that's not gonna happen. Mommy just wants you to change clothes before Daddy comes in and you two leave for the hunt. You can't wear this gown and glitter shoes."

"Oh, why not?" my sister replied, stubbornly; her lips pouting the same way her mother does before.

"Because little girls have to wear shirts and pants, and cute little hunting boots when they go hunting," Liv explained, "you've never seen a little girl hunt with gowns, have you?"

"No," Bella replied, but just as soon as her mother smiled – probably thinking she won, my sister added, "But, a princess does," before turning wonderfully her gown bloomed as she does.

I felt my lips pulled an impressed smirk and I bowed my head in attempt to hide my amusement otherwise I would have laughed my ass off.

I heard Liv sighed heavily and I just know this poor mother is at her wits end since I walked in on them and this, this is Bella pushing her limits.

You see, Dad and Liv have been trying the so-called Gentle Parenting with Bella for years but ever since she learned to talk, let alone reason, it's like watching a tiny Olivia Pope in PJs and sippy cups win over arguments over coco cereals and orange juice.

"'Member Snow White, Mommy?" my sister supplied, "She walked through the woods in her pretty gown and walked through a tiny house, where she cleaned, and…."

"Isabella Melody Hope Grant," I heard Liv cut my sister off. Oh-hoh, using government names now, Liv, are we?

"I told you, there's no way Mommy would let you wear gowns for today's hunt with Dad because," Liv said only to be cut off by a familiar voice from the hall.

"Who says she can't?" And there he is, Dad – walking in the living room with his usual presidential strides. To be honest, it suddenly felt like Superman came for a rescue and I know Bella knows it because she instantly gave away her most puppy eyes and looked at Dad.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Dad asked as he immediately walked towards my sister as Liv rolled her eyes. She knows Bella, I know Bella, we all do. She's gonna play this and she's gonna play this good.

"Mommy said I can't wear this gown for the hunt," Bella supplied as Dad reached her.

"Fitz," I heard Liv warned, arms crossed in front her chest.

"Let's her what she has to say," Dad replied before eyeing Bella.

"Unbelievable," Liv whispered as she turned towards the pile of toddler clothes before stacking them up.

Behind her soft whispers between Dad and Bella was happening as my sister recount the "argument." Dad then talked with her so soft I could barely hear it. When she pulled the cutest smile, I held mine as I know who already won.

"I'll pick my clothes now," Bella said before darting out to the hall towards her room.

"Well?" Liv turned as Dad approached her.

"1 scoop of Chocolate ice cream for change of shirt with hunting pants," Dad relayed, his eyes shining with deceit. I watched Liv crossed her arms knowing too well that wasn't just the deal.

"Fine," Dad said, "I actually traded 3 scoops. With sprinkles. Extra syrup." There you go!

I must have let out a loud chuckle because both their heads turned towards me for a second and I instantly dropped my eyes on the breakfast before me.

"Fitz!" I heard Liv react incredulously.

"Look, it's not that bad. She's gonna change clothes before we leave. No gowns for today. Honestly, it's a win-win."

"But, ice cream? It's not even 9 am!" Liv argued.

"She'll have it after the hunt so it's probably be at 11 after a snack," Dad reasoned.

I heard Liv groan as she rub her head knowing too well my Dad won't back down on this. Bella has Dad within her cute little fingers since he found out about her and while I am his first princess, there's no denying that Bella is everyone's princess. She just have this charm that gets you. And she's cute too.

"I just told her 'No' the first time she brought it up," Liv said, defeated.

"I know," Dad replied, rubbing her arms.

"We talked about this. You can't say 'Yes' to whatever she wants." I scoffed inwardly because I know I would do too.

"I know," Dad said, "But it's just…"

"You just can't help it," Liv supplied with a smile.

With a smile, Dad agreed with "Yeah."

I watched as they looked at each other and I can't help but to let out a sigh. Oh the love, you just can feel it. There's just have this glow around them as they interact and I'm sitting right here feeling lucky to have see that.

Oh to have that kind of love, I told myself as Dad land a kiss on Liv's forehead.

"Fine," the former fixer conceded, "but Fitz, this should be the last time."

"Uhm," Dad replied, his lips playing with a smile.

"Fitz, I'm serious we're going to have another baby in four months, I can't have you agreeing to whatever they want every time," Liv said, her hand landing softly on her baby bump before rubbing it gently.

"I know, I know."

"You can't keep playing this Good Cop, Bad Copy anymore."

"Not even in the bedroom?" I heard Dad asked and mind you, I walked in on them making out many times more than I cared to count but I still got the ick. I love them, I love their kids but knowing their grown-up sex life is where I draw the line.

"Dad!" I exclaimed playfully, earning their attention, "I'm sitting right here!"

All my Dad did was chuckle as Liv burrowed her head on Dad's chest.

"I'm sorry Kare," Liv playfully said as her eyes met mine but Dad pulled her chin to give her a quick – wait, no, they're upping the notch again and making it to a full on kissing session instead.

"Ugh," I jokingly commented as I roll my eyes.

"Hey! No kissing!" In an instant, Dad and Liv pulled away as the three of us landed our eyes on Bella who's now standing at the hallway dressed in a shirt, cute little hunting pants, and boots and sporting a frown that resembles like her mom's.

"Ready to go?" Dad asked as he walked towards my sister, who nodded immediately. Liv was closed by.

As soon as Dad gathered Bella in her arms, Liv placed a hand behind her back and gave her a kiss.

"Have fun with Dad today, alright?" Liv said.

"Uh-huh," Bella replied.

"Well we gotta go. Say 'Bye-bye Mommy," Dad coaxed.

"Bye Mommy," my sister greeted before landing her eyes on me, "Bye Kare," she added.

"Bye Princess!" I greet back as I watch the little family of three – well soon to be four – walk towards the door. Liv would be staying behind but she has this motherly habit now of sending Dad and Bella to door whenever they leave.

I took in a bunch of air and slowly let it out.

This is my family now, call it mixed, call it extended, call it weird, but this is my regular family now and I love it just the same.