Chapter 26

The bed was so warm, her dream so good, then why was that irritating noise waking her up. What was it? Liv's body squirmed under the covers, feeling the soft comforter on her shoulder. She leaned a bit forward and her forehead felt Fitz's shoulder.

If he was in bed with her, then what was making that noise. She blinked her eyes opened, the room still dark, but the light of the laptop made her squint just a bit. She moaned for a moment and looked at Fitz.

His hands were still typing, clicking the keys at a fast pace and she took a deep breath. "Fitz, we said no work." Her head went back down to his shoulder. The clicking stopped and he looked over at her.

Taking a deep breath, he kissed her forehead, and he watched her hand grip the top of his laptop and push it down. Not getting into an argument, she took the device and placed it on the floor next to her side of the bed. When she looked back at him, he had both hands under his cheek and that devious smirk on his face.

"Well, now that you took away that toy, what are you going to give me to replace it?" He had a full blown smile on his face, and Liv had to smile back.

"What time is it anyway?" Liv buried her body under the comforter, thinking it would stay there longer than a minute.

"4:30" Fitz's hand was on her bare shoulder, and he slid the comforter down to her waist, exposing her gorgeous breasts. "I love when you sleep topless." His foot went slowly up her leg, making her giggle with a slight tickle. He got up to her thigh and took a deep breath.

"I like it when you sleep naked, period." The rest of the comforter came off, and Fitz just stared at her body.

For some reason, Liv didn't get a chill for being cold, but she did get a chill that made her core ache, the way he was looking at her, and she could feel herself losing her breath. "Fitz," she said in a soft whisper. Her hand began to caress his face.

"I have to tell you something." She took a hard swallow. She needed to get this off her mind before they did anything that would make her forget.

He stopped and looked at her, a bit of a worried look. "I didn't mean to wake you with work, it's just my internal clock and.." her finger went over his lips.

"No, I don't need an explanation on that," she smiled. They were chest to chest now, barely touching, and their eyes just magnetized each other's. "I just want you to know." Liv bit her bottom lip. She could feel her eyes filling with tears, and she didn't want to cry. This was supposed to be a happy announcement.

"Noelle and you in my life, the many times I have woken up next to you and sometimes next to her, I want that to be every day." Liv took a deep breath. "I guess what I'm saying is I want to move in with you, move down here and ditch that penthouse. I never liked it up there anyway. I was just trying to fool myself. How do you feel about that? Is it too soon?" Liv stopped and just continued to look at him, waiting for his reaction.

His eyes began smiling first then he looked deep in thought. "You want to move here, with us?" His mouth went closer to hers. "I get to wake up or fall asleep next to you every night, every morning."

"That's the plan, or we can wake up with Noelle in between us. All I know is the two days I went without seeing the two of you put an ache in my heart I never want to return. I just want to know, no matter what, at the end of the day you or her, or all of us will be under the same roof." Liv bit her bottom lip again, and her tears fell. "Just love you both so much." Her forehead fell now into his chest, and he rubbed her bare back.

"Hey, that's fine by me, and I'm sure you won't get an argument from that little unicorn in there. I just wasn't sure you wanted to leave the penthouse; you haven't been in it long."

Liv pulled back and looked at him. "It wouldn't be fair to Noelle. This is her home, her room is all hers, personalized for her, and I couldn't ask her or ask you to leave."

"But you know, for you, we would." Fitz went in and gave her a soft kiss on her lips.

"So, it's a yes, I'll move in?"

"Can you handle me in the mornings?" Fitz tapped his chin.

"You mean your ungodly hours?", Liv laughed. "I think I can grow accustomed, and maybe even talk you down soon enough. Maybe we can both be 9 to 5 workers."

The back of his finger went down her breast closest to him, down her smooth stomach, and he stopped just above her clit. Fitz felt her body tense up as she took a long, deep breath.

"You know, the laptop you took from me had my mind on other things, is there any way you can make up for taking that away from me?"

Her eyes were closed, and she felt his touch leave her body. She looked at him, he was sitting up, just above her, staring at her naked body. The very body that was screaming for him.

Liv's legs shifted on the bed, bending up, and going back down. "Fitz, touch me."

His head went down, and Liv couldn't wait to see where his mouth landed, but it didn't land, it stopped, and Liv's body was twitching with want. His warm breath above her stomach. "Is there a magic word?"

Liv's heart was pounding, she could feel it in her ears. The want for him was overwhelming, and if this was going to be her mornings every day, she wondered if she would make it through the day. "Please?"

He wasn't touching her at all. Not one part of his body was on hers, yet she felt everything, she felt his breath, his tongue, his finger, his cock, and it was driving her crazy. Her body pressed down into the bed, and Fitz tossed the comforter off the bed. He was just staring at her body, her brown skin glistening from the lights he still had up around the windows.

"Stop looking at me and doing nothing." She could barely get the words out. How the fuck could he make her orgasm just by looking at her? Liv could hardly swallow, "please Fitz, do something."

"You're going to come, aren't you. Just the thought of what I'm going to do to you is going to make you come. Your body is screaming at me Olivia, and it looks fucking beautiful." His hand grazed the top of her clit, and Liv's moan came out long and slow.

"Yes, that's it. Now let me taste that." Liv did hit an orgasm just by that touch, and her eyes closed tight when she felt his breath on her clit, then it was replaced by the warmth of his tongue. Liv's arm went above her head, and her body just lost in shallow breathing, as he tasted her, his big hands holding her inner thighs opened.

Had his hands not been there, she would have closed her legs on his head, because her body was in such a pleasurable pain. "Come again for me, Livvie." His voice vibrated her clit, and Liv couldn't take it, she did as he said, and she came hard, holding a fistful of his hair, her mouth opened, her eyes closed, and she was lost.

Fitz's hand went on to her stomach, to calm her. He held his head up above her with his hand, just watching her come back down to reality. She looked over at him with tired, brown eyes, and just smiled.

His lips came down on hers, and Liv never felt more relaxed, more loved than she did at this moment. The sun wasn't nearly up yet, and Liv had two orgasms. Would this be every morning with this man? She hoped so.

Using his big hand now, he wrapped it around her, sliding it off her stomach, and Liv was on her knees. One of Fitz's knees went in between Liv's legs, and he used that to open her thighs again. "I didn't want you to get too relaxed."

Liv felt his cock, guided by his hand, pressure her entrance, then stop. His hand rubbed her smooth back, the other on her shoulder. He kissed her back, worked his way up to the entrance of her ear and she heard his baritone voice. "Ready for me, Livvie."

She doesn't remember how she answered him, but she must have given him the ok, because all she felt was his body pump into hers, as he grunted. His erection deep inside her, and their bodies becoming one.

Her hands were holding on to the top edge of the mattress and she didn't know how much longer she could hold on. Fitz's face fell in the weakness she was bringing his body, and he began to moan. His lips were directly on the side of her neck and through the moan, he began to gently suck, anything to relieve the tension in his body that only his orgasm would take away. Being so deep into her, from behind, he just didn't want this to end.

"Fitz." Liv lifted her head; she could barely say his name. "Don't leave a love bite, the photo shoot is tomorrow." She felt his head go further down, and his lips touched her back.

There, with each thrust, he found another spot to hold his lips to. Her skin was perfect, so silky and smooth. His hand that was on her shoulder came down to her hip, and he heard her moan, sinking her head into the pillow.

Olivia had nothing left in her, and he was relentless in bringing her body to his, so deep, so fucking good, and her face just sunk into the pillow as her body lost the control she had. Feeling him stiffen, then the warmth of fluid inside her, her body fell to the bed, belly down, and she tried to catch her breath.

"I need a warm bath." She whispered and she closed her eyes to his hand rubbing her back, him also belly down on the bed. "This can't happen every morning, can it?"

"We'll have to see. It's 5:30 in the morning, are you really going into the bath, I thought you would want to go back to sleep."

"I have to calm my body down." Liv got up, ignoring her phone, not wanting anything to do with work. "Besides, isn't Tokyo closing?"

"Mmm, no, they closed already, that's what I was finishing when you took my laptop. I may have lost 120,000 dollars." He was straight faced until Liv stopped in her tracks and turned around.

"Oh no, are you serious?" The guilt showed clearly in her eyes.

"Eh, it's just a dollar amount, besides there goes that necklace I was going to buy for you, not to mention a bit more towards Noelle's college fund." Fitz shrugged. "It'll work itself out."

"You're lying." Liv waved him off.

"Yes, by the time you closed that laptop, I was already in the plus by 150 grand, and we were purchasing three more stocks. Things should be even by closing time on Wall Street." He winked at her as she went to the bathroom.

Looking at the clock, he still had four hours before having to get on the virtual with Marcus. Then they would be off to the photo shoot. He shook his head in disbelief. "I can't believe I'm going to be pictured in a magazine." Not wanting to pick up his laptop and continue any kind of work, he got up to check on Noelle.

She was clinging to her UNI, soundly sleeping, not a care in the world. How happy she will be to learn that her Ovivia will be living with them. He took the gate down, walked around the slightly darkened room. The Christmas lights outlining the windows still gave it a glow, and Fitz sat next to her on the bed.

Just two months ago it was just them, and Fitz thought he would never find anyone to accept him, to accept her, and there was Olivia, just walking into their lives. He looked at Noelle's nightstand.

"Can I put the picture of Ovivia and me and you with the word yes on there?" He heard her squeaky voice ask. Looking at it now, he was convinced she understood the meaning of family and Liv made it complete.

While in the bath, Liv took in the warm water. Calming her body down from the love making, she just enjoyed the loud sound of the quiet. She wondered how many love bites were on her back, he was so into it before. He took her to places she'd never been, and she guessed she did the same to him.

She closed her eyes, as she moved her legs in the bubbly water. Seeing the weakness in his face when he was pumping into her, his need to come, but his hesitance until she was satisfied. Suddenly the water wasn't warm anymore, and Liv's body was getting chills.

She looked up and took a deep breath, focusing now on the photo shoot. "Who the hell is taking the pictures?" She wasn't going to worry about it. This wasn't on her, this was on Walters. He wanted this and assured her he would have it taken care of.

Funny how two months ago, her phone was connected to her hip. All she ever did was work at her office, work at her place, send messages, check emails, and now she didn't even want to look at her phone.

They weren't due in to the office photo studio until 4 today, and once she was there it was all about fitting, then off to wherever with her two loves. Another surprise Fitz had up his sleeve. She thought Christmas coming to an end would take away some element of surprises, but not a chance. The man was full of them, and Liv was there for it all.

"Ovivia", she heard a small knock on the door. "Ovivia, daddy sleep. I come in?"

Liv was a bit startled by the knock and hearing Noelle's voice. Before she could answer her, the door was slowly opening, and Liv wasn't sure what to do. She looked and there Noelle stood holding UNI, her hair a sleep mess, and her eyes barely opened, she was rubbing one with the hand that wasn't clinging onto UNI.

"You take bath?" She giggled a little. "I like bath now."

"Hey Noelle. You said daddy was sleeping? Is he in the bed?"

"No, he on the couch. I looked for Ovivia mommy." She hugged UNI, resting her head on the stuffed animal.

"Ok, why don't you take UNI and lay in daddy's bed, I'll be out in a few minutes. Stay in the bed, ok."

"Ok, Ovivia." Noelle took a curious look into the bubble filled tub. "You have only bubbles? No toys?" She shrugged and walked out.

Liv had to laugh. She shook her head, smiling, thinking of the whole interaction, and she rinsed and dried off, ready to meet Noelle.

Before getting into bed with Noelle, she went and checked on Fitz. The business news was on the television, stock ticker on the bottom and Fitz looked too peaceful to even wake up. Glancing at the clock, it was just 645, they had a while yet, so Liv let him sleep.

"I sorry I bother your bath." Noelle said and Liv lay next to her.

She wrapped Noelle in her arms. "You did no such thing. You never bother me Noelle. Are you still tired?" She watched as Noelle gave a long yawn.

Her little head nodded and rested on Liv's shoulder. Liv caressed her soft hair, messy as it was, it was still silky smooth. "We're going to try on some beautiful dresses later, are you excited?"

"Pretty," she answered in a small whisper. "Daddy too?"

"Well, not dresses but yes, nice clothes. All three of us."

"Fun." And just like that, Noelle was sound asleep again, as Liv just held her in her arms. Taking a deep breath, she realized she wouldn't trade this for anything in the world. How scared she was Noelle wouldn't take to her, now, it was just so surreal how much she loved this child.

Noelle was the epitome of innocence and Olivia understood immediately the protection Fitz had for her. At first, it was something she didn't understand, but now as she was sleeping in her arms, Liv understood completely. She never wanted anything or anyone in this world to hurt Noelle, manipulate her, or trust the wrong people.

"Liv." Fitz was gently shaking her, trying not to wake up Noelle. "Want me to take her back to her bed?"

"No." Liv whispered waking up, it's ok. "I have her." She felt him kiss her gently on her lips and give Noelle a small kiss on the cheek.

"I'm going to get breakfast started if you want to wake her up." Fitz left.

"Hey, daddy is making breakfast." She gave Noelle a little shake. "Want to get up?"

Noelle's forehead rubbed Liv's shoulder and she blinked her eyes open. "I sleep?"

"You sure did." Liv said and saw Fitz's shadow coming back. "Daddy's coming in, quick hide under." Liv held the blanket and Noelle giggled and went under.

Fitz saw it and played along. "Hey Olivia, have you seen Noelle? She isn't in her bed."

Liv looked down, under the blanket and Noelle put her fingers to her lips signaling to Liv not to tell on her. "No," Liv threw her hands up. "I haven't seen her, is she in the bathroom, maybe?"

"No, I checked there, I checked all the closets, I checked under the bed. Do you think UNI took her to Unicorn Land."

Liv looked again at Noelle, and she shook her head no, smiling.

"No way, Noelle wouldn't go to Unicorn Land without us, would she?"

Fitz worked his way to the bed. "Are you sure you haven't seen her?" He saw as Noelle couldn't keep still and the blanket wiggled with her.

"Haven't seen her." Liv assured him.

"Oh, yeah, then why is your blanket moving? Do you have dinosaur under there?" Before either could do anything, Fitz lifted the blanket off and scooped Noelle up all in one action. "GOTCHA!"

Noelle's laughter filled the room and it was so contagious, Fitz had to put her back on the bed and laugh with her. "You tricked me. You know what word begins the same as tricked?"

Noelle shook her head still laughing breathing hard. "No" She could barely get it out.

"Tickle." And Fitz tickled her, her body jolting and her laughter became shrieking and soon Liv was lost in laughter, also. As they calmed down the three of them in the bed, they just stopped until the room grew silent.

"I eat." Noelle said breaking the silence, then nice clothes. She jumped from the bed and headed to the kitchen.

Fitz looked down at Liv. "She loves you." Her arm went around his shoulders.

"I love her." Liv gave him a kiss.

"I love you." Fitz kissed her forehead.

"I love you too." Liv rubbed his chest as they headed out to get breakfast.

While Fitz had his time on the computer closing out his workday for the weekend, Liv volunteered to take Noelle upstairs to the penthouse. "I have to take Christmas down in my place Noelle, do you want to help?" Liv looked at Noelle, fully dressed now, two cute pigtails in her hair.

"Jilly and Kelly too?" Noelle went for the double stroller they were in.

"Of course, Jilly and Kelly, but they have to work, ok." Liv smiled.

Fitz picked Noelle up and walked her to the door, while Liv pushed the tiny stroller. "I'll come up as soon as I'm finished. Want me to text you?" Fitz asked as they went to the elevator.

"Oh, I forgot my phone." Liv motioned to get it.

"No phone please." Noelle looked at her. "You work?"

Liv agreed. "You're right Noelle, no I don't work today, so no phone. Just you, me, Jilly and Kelly."

'Yay!" Noelle gave Fitz a long, tight hug. "Love you Daddy." She ran to push the button on the elevator.

"Wow!" Noelle said as she entered Liv's penthouse. "Still Christmas." Noelle walked to the little tree her, and Fitz had given to Olivia. She touched one of the ornaments. "Ovivia like Christmas."

"Nope." Liv smiled, taking the ornament down. "I love Christmas."

Noelle took another ornament down and looked at it. "Daddy love Christmas." She placed it in the box, just like Liv did and then looked over at Jilly and Kelly.

"They're sleeping." Liv said. "They're tired. You can leave them in the stroller."

When the little tree was bare, Liv noticed Noelle staring at it with sad eyes. Liv put her arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. "What's wrong Noelle? Why are you sad?"

"I miss Christmas. Christmas leave."

"Yeah, but only until next year, and just like daddy did, I'll leave a few things up so Christmas isn't completely gone."

"Ok, but you no go right?" Noelle looked into Liv's eyes. She had knelt down to Noelle's eye level.

Liv's eyebrows crossed. "No, honey, not at all. I'm not going anywhere." Noelles little arms wrapped around Liv and her head fell onto her shoulder.

"Do you think because I came during Christmas time I'm going to leave because it's not Christmas time anymore?" She felt Noelle's head nod.

"Well, I'm not. How about we make some hot chocolate and take a break for a little while. When we can take some of the lights down. We'll figure out which ones to leave up when we are finished with the hot chocolate."

"Marshmallows?" Noelle was back to smiling.

"So many marshmallows." Liv promised.

Noelle was using her spoon to slurp up some of the hot chocolate. She used her other hand to touch the ring on Liv's finger, her engagement ring.

"Pretty dress today for marry?" Noelle asked.

Liv gave a sighing laugh. "No, not yet, today is for pictures. We are making sure the dresses fit you."

"For marry daddy?" Noelle was still confused.

"No for summer. Pretty colors for summer. Daddy and me will be in clothes too."

"Ok." Noelle went back to slurping her hot chocolate and once all the marshmallows were gone, she jumped down and went to the pictures of her and Fitz with Olivia.

"Ovivia in pictures too?" Noelle's hand went down the one she was holding.

"Yes, we are taking pictures as a family." Liv began taking down some lights from the wall, and Noelle was helping.

"Leave them?" Noelle pointed to the blinking colored lights that outlined her balcony windows.

"I think that's a great idea, we will leave them. Daddy loves the blinking lights, especially the colors."

Once all the wall lights were down and the decorations around the living room, Noelle picked up Jilly and sat on the couch. "Ovivia mommy with Kelly?"

Liv loved playing dolls with Noelle. It brought Liv back to her childhood when she would play with her mother. "I'd love to." They played with the two dolls for a bit until Liv heard the knock on the door and they began heading for the fittings with Gil driving.

While Noelle looked out the window at the darkening sky, Fitz leaned to Liv's ear. "Did you have fun?"

"I did have fun. She's a bit upset about Christmas being gone though." Liv rested her head on Fitz's shoulders. "We had a nice talk though."

"You didn't happen to bring my phone with you, did you?"

"No, I honestly forgot. Once I shut my laptop I couldn't wait to get to the two of you, so I just left."

"It's fine. I just wanted to see if Harrison texted me. I'm just wondering who is going to the photo shoot tomorrow. I shouldn't worry, but it's just a habit. Maybe I'll see Harrison when we get there. It is what it is. I just can't wait to see my man in the gorgeous suits."

"You mean I won't make them gorgeous?" He kissed her cheek.

Harrison was sent home early, along with the rest of the staff as per Mr. Walters. Liv hadn't answered his text, nor was she picking up her phone. Harrison just wanted to give her the heads up about Ellen. The history between her and Ellen was only known by three people.

It was because of Ellen that Liv lost her first big layout in LA five years ago. She took full responsibility for it because of the situation, but she never forgave Ellen for what she did. It may have set back her becoming Chief in New York sooner, and she wouldn't have met Russel.

After the situation with Ellen, Liv became relentless as a boss. She didn't trust anyone and everything had to be perfect. She began snapping at employees under her management, and that's why she got the reputation of not being very well liked.

Harrison took a deep breath, waited around for a few more minutes, to no avail. "Harrison, go on, enjoy your time away from here. We have the tailors and the Steven's here for the fittings, go on. I promise you can watch the photo shoot tomorrow." Mr. Walters gave Harrison a pat on the back.

"I think this whole family thing will work out well for the layout." Harrison was walking towards the door.

"Yes, and I'm so happy Ellen called me looking for a job. I had no idea she was in Texas unemployed. I thought she left on the grounds of having a better job."

Harrison just laughed with him. "Well, the whole family summer vacation layout is a great idea. The three of them make the perfect family."

"All Liv's idea, brilliant that is was. Yes, you are right, Harrison, they do make a nice looking family. I'll see you tomorrow." Mr. Walters closed the door just waiting for the soon to be Grant family to arrive.

Five years ago.

Gregory Bennett had it all. He starred in this summer's hit movie, was in the process of filming the sequel, and getting endorsements for advertising on all angles. His longtime fiancé, gorgeous super model, Georgia was always by his side.

With all the products Gregory endorsed turning to gold, Olivia called him in for a photo shoot with his gorgeous fiancé. Olivia pulled all strings to get Georgia to tweak some clauses in her contracts so she could model for the magazine.

On the day of the photo shoot, she let Gregory into the photo room but didn't tell him Georgia would be joining him. It was a surprise for him, and Liv couldn't wait to deliver the news, in the form of Geogia in person, in a beautiful dress designed by an up and coming designer.

"He's arrogant, cocky, and honestly, I don't want to take the pictures." Ellen was arguing with Liv as she scrambled to get things in order.

"Look, Ellen, just go in the room, start taking pictures, and stop complaining. This is major for the magazine, don't mess it up, ok." Liv turned and walked away.

As much as Ellen despised Gregory Bennet, he gave off a certain presence. One look at him in person, this close, it made Ellen feel some kind of way.

"You look at me like all the women look at me, I'm used to it." Gregory walked closer to Ellen. "I hear you don't like me though."

Ellen pulled back, "I don't, and aren't you engaged?"

"Yeah, I guess I am, she's always on another island in some skimpy two piece, so it doesn't matter, does it."

Ellen couldn't ignore the way this guy was turning on her on, and she fell deep into a kiss that pushed her up against the wall, and in a matter of mere seconds, they were having sex up against the wall.

Liv opened the door, Georgia behind her, and they both saw the scene happening before their eyes. Liv slammed the door back, pushing Georgia away, but Georgia wouldn't have it, and she stormed back into the room.

The two of them had no idea anyone entered the room, and Georgia pulled her fiancé back from the wall, and smacked him hard, in the face. She ran out, with Gregory pulling his pants up running after her.

Liv was just beside herself, and had no words for Ellen, she didn't want to hear anything. "Tell me you're not going to say he forced you."

"Hell, fucking no, I wasn't forced, that was damn amazing."

Liv shook her head in disgust looking at her. "You knew he was engaged, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"I just."

"You just lost a major money maker for this magazine. Your transfer is effective immediately, tomorrow."

"Transfer, like hell."

"Like hell nothing, unless you want to be the one in front of the cameras for breaking them up."

"You wouldn't."

"Watch me." Liv walked out to get the paperwork ready for Ellen's transfer.

"You're going to regret this Olivia, one day, you will, mark my words."

From then on, at work, Liv became one hard core boss. Employees began to fear her, and although no one knows for sure what happened to spark Ellen's transfer and Liv's iron fist, they knew not to get on her bad side.

Present day

There was a total of three outfits, designs for all three of them. One was casual wear for summer, another beach attire, and the final formal. Mr. Walters went over the backgrounds and led them into the rooms for the fittings.

Once Noelle was with the tailor, Liv went into the next room to talk to Mrs. Walters. "I know it's last minute, but is there someway we could maybe slip a picture or two about Christmas in July?"

"I don't think it's impossible. I'll talk to the photographer about that."

"By the way," Liv stopped before going back in with Noelle, "who is the photographer."

The door opened and Liv saw Noelle coming through, being held on the hip of Ellen. The heat rising in Olivia's face in seconds. "Ovivia mommy, this my friend Ellen."

"Well, there you have it, Olivia, you remember Ellen?" Mr. Walters left he two to get reacquainted.

Ellen bounced Noelle on her hip. "I was just telling Noelle, two L's here how I can't wait to take pictures of her daddy."

Liv grabbed Noelle out of Ellen's arms and went back into the door they had just walked out of. Noelle never saw Liv so mad, and she took a hard swallow. "I sorry Ovivia, you mad?"

Liv rubbed her face and calmed down. "No, baby, I'm not mad at you. Not at all."

"You mad at Ellen?" Noelle was confused.

"Let's just try on the dresses, ok." Liv didn't want to think about it.

"Ellen go to see daddy now?" Noelle reminded Liv.

The hell she is, Liv thought. Liv scooped up Noelle and grabbed the dresses as she headed quickly towards where Fitz was with his clothes.