It had been a month since Fitz asked Olivia to be his girlfriend and their relationship was soaring. Olivia had never known exclusivity like this with any other man. The way Fitz made her feel every day was so foreign to her. Whenever he walked into a room, all the hairs on her body stood. If he smiled at her, her heart went on a marathon and breathing became an impossible task. But if he kissed her, it was game over.

Over the course of their month long monogamy, his courtship also continued. He never ceased to amaze her with his thoughtfulness. He planned the best dates for them. Paint nights. Arcades. Go kart racing. The finest dining, the best wines, and the man would sit through any sitcom or romcom she subjected him to. But her favorite thing about him was the way he spoke to her and his ability to make her melt with a single look. So much adoration in his eyes and his tone always so smooth, kind, and sexy. Another thing Olivia found absolutely sexy about him, was his communication skills. She was never left to wonder with him. If he knew he was going to be late, he was very considerate with letting her know. And he tried very hard to make it up to her, if for some reason he had to cancel any plans they agreed to. The man was a classic romantic and unreal. On days he sleeps over, if he had to leave before she awakes, she'd either wake up to a nice, long stem rose or little notes he wrote that he would stick all over the apartment; making it a fun scavenger hunt for her to find.

But this was in no way one sided. Olivia has managed to keep up and even surprised him a few times. Giving as good as she was receiving. After a long night of work, when he simply yearned to be in her presence, she loved having baths with him. The chance to run her fingers through his hair and shower him with lazy kisses. She loved listening to him purr and be so relaxed. So for the past three weeks, she was in complete bliss with him. There wasn't a single flaw she could find with him.

But evidently, she was her own worst enemy and her psyche was having a hard time believing that things could be so great. For once, everything in her life was going splendidly and because it felt too good to be true, on their fourth week, she woke up every single night in panic, waiting for a shoe to drop.

Thursday night marked the fourth panic that week. She sat up on the bed, her forehead prickled with beads of sweat and she tried to regulate her breathing. Once she felt herself begin to cool down, she got out of bed and padded to her kitchen for a glass of water. This had to stop. She deserved to be happy, doesn't she? There was nothing wrong with having a great relationship was there? Had she been burned that badly that she couldn't recognize a good thing for what it was? Or would it be naive of her to not have questions or be on high alert?

She looked at the clock on the oven display. 3:16 A.M. She gulped the rest of her water and went back to her bedroom. Grabbing her phone, she wondered if it would be crazy of her to give him a call this late. But she knew her mind wouldn't rest. She went through her call log and decided to give into her crazy and dialed with his number.

She was hoping he wouldn't answer. And it almost seemed like he wasn't going to after the phone rang four times. But the fifth time was the charm and when his groggy, sleep ridden voice came through, her breath caught in her throat.

"Livvie?" He answered groggily, shuffling out of bed. "Is something wrong, baby? What time is it?" He turned on the light on his night table and looked at the time on his watch.

She didn't reply immediately. Her head was pounding and her heart was too busy racing.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" Fitz asked again, now very worried.

"Ummm… nothing. Nothing is wrong." She finally answered. "And that's the problem."

Fitz had never been more confused in his life. He rubbed his eyes to fully awake. He had only been asleep for about two hours when she called so he was exhausted. "Livvie, baby, what are you talking about?

"Never mind, this was a mistake. Sorry I woke you. Go back to bed." Olivia said, rushing to get off the phone. Clearly she had lost her mind.

"D-don't do that." Fitz stuttered in a panic. "You sound upset babe. And I'm already up so you might as well just tell me. Don't run away from me. Talk to me."

Olivia sighed. She owed him an explanation. He was right. Running away because she was anxious was a stupid reason. And Fitz was always so honest with her about his feelings, whether he is nervous or not. She owed him the same courtesy. So she took a deep breath and told him.

"This whole week, I've been waking up at the exact same time, sweating and panicking because I'm terrified that this is all a fantasy. I can't figure you out, Fitz. Like at all." She rambled. "You don't seem real to me most days. It's like... I conjured you out of one of my best dreams or something. And I'm scared to death that it's all gonna come crashing down on me and I won't see it coming. It'll be too late. I would have fallen for you too deeply. And if you break my heart, there's no way I come back from you. So you have to tell me. What the hell is wrong with you? What's your thing? Any weird fetish I'm gonna have to figure out down the line? Are you secretly married or living some twisted double life?"

She was spiraling and Fitz didn't know how to stop it. He understood. He had the same thoughts too but they clearly didn't overwhelm him as much. He just wished she told him sooner. But now, nothing he could say to her would matter because she was way too consumed by her own thoughts. He just had to listen and figure out how to be there for her and reassure her that he was in this for the long haul. Getting up from the bed, he turned on the light in the room and marched towards his closet. He pulled on some sweat pants and a grey NAVY sweatshirt. He slipped on a pair of socks and his comfortable Nike sneakers.

"Do me a favor babe," He spoke. "Go to the living room and turn on that 90's sitcom you love."

Olivia was confused. "Fitz what-"

"Please, can you just do that for me?" Fitz begged. "Don't think, don't read any cosmo articles about relationships. Just watch TV and wait for me, Olivia."

She was silent again. Contemplating.

"Say you'll wait for me, Livvie." He pleaded.

He could hear her moving around and seconds later, he heard her turn on the TV. Then her reply came. "Okay."

And that's all the confirmation he needed before he grabbed his jacket and keys and was on his way out the door.

About fifteen minutes later, Olivia heard the elevator ding on her floor and it's like her body knew he was nearby. Her heart was racing, her stomach was a tank of butterflies. Then her phone rang again and it was him, letting her know that he was outside her door.

She got up and went to open the door for him. And it's like the second she saw him, her mind felt empty and at peace again. Her heart was leaping and she found herself a little breathless. He looked so handsome in his casual attire. But also so tired and she instantly felt bad.

"Hi." He smiled boyishly at her.

She bit her lips, bouncing from one foot to the next. "Hi." She replied back.

Fitz then pulled her in his arms and for a minute, they just stood there in front of her door, hugging. He held her tightly, kissing the top of her head and breathing in her smell. Olivia closed her eyes and tightened her arms around his torso more as she felt herself relax for the first time in days.

After a long minute, they finally went inside. Olivia turned off the TV and led Fitz straight to her bedroom where she began discarding him of his clothes. She would explain what this all was about more clearly once he's gotten enough sleep but for now, she could see the exhaustion all over his face. And it meant all the more to her that he knew exactly what to do to appease her.

She climbed in bed with him and just let him hold her. And even after he fell into deep slumber, if she moved in the slightest, his hold on her tightened. So for a while, she just watched him sleep until the sky began to open up and a new day was upon them. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and fell asleep to the sound of the birds outside her window and his soft breathing against her cheek.

Hours later, she was pulled out of deep sleep by his penetrating gaze. She didn't have to be awake to feel his presence. He was admiring her. Commemorating her features to memory. And perhaps even trying to read her mind and maybe even peak into her soul in order to understand her better. Care for her better. Treat her better. Love her better.

Olivia slowly opened her eyes and was met with his bright blue ones. They were calm, like the ocean on a perfect morning. She couldn't tear her gaze from him. And neither could he, it seemed.

He brought a hand to her face and gently stroked her cheek, his index finger lingering on her mouth, brushing lightly on her bottom lip.

"What can I do to make this feel more real?" He whispered.

Tears puddled behind her orbs and she willed them away as she pulled him into a kiss. She trembled in his arms when he rolled on top of her, finding his place between her legs. She fastened them loosely around his waist while he kissed away all her uncertainties. His tongue gently pushing past her lips to deepen their slow, sensual kiss. And when the tears slowly rolled across her cheek she mumbled against his lips, "Show me?"

"Okay baby." He placed the sweetest kiss against her forehead as he wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, but it was pointless.

He was smooth and efficient in undressing her. Now, she lay beneath him, at her most vulnerable and emotional and he was staring at her with those eyes and giving her that look that absolutely voided her of all her senses and robbed her of her ability to breathe properly.

"Please." She pleaded, shakily.

And he understood what she needed and was pleading for. He hovered over her and mapped a line down her beautiful skin with his lips. He took special care in showering her breasts with his tongue and teeth as he ran his thumb between her folds, massaging her clit and eliciting the sweetest sounds from her throat. Her breathing labored and her hands moved restlessly. From his hair to his back and now at the waistband of his boxers, impatiently.

Fitz didn't need long to feel fully ready. Nature was already on his side so just kissing her and hearing her moans while playing with her and touching on her sensitive spots was enough to get him standing strong. He let her slide his boxers down his legs halfway and he hissed when she quickly wrapped her delicate fingers around him, firmly and diligently stroking him. Spreading his pre-arousal down his shaft, she stroked a few more times before he took over. Fitz secured her legs with his forearm and slid slowly into her, inch by delicious inch. He heard her gasp and her body quaked beneath him as her walls worked to adjust to his size. She felt so damn amazing and it took a lot of self control for him to remain docile. He allowed her that moment, to open herself up, to exist on the same plane of intimacy with him. He looked into her eyes and pressed a little deeper and she whimpered, wrapping her arms around his neck and searching for his mouth.

Even though he was on top, she was in control this round. She didn't have to say it in order for him to know. She would teach him how she needs to be tendered to and understood. And he relinquished his dominance and submitted to her needs for the moment. He joined in their lazy, sloppy kisses as he moved his hips in slow, punctuating circles. Falling deeper into her; desperate to show her just how real they were. Skin to skin. Baring himself to her as well. Their breathing shallow as he continued to rock into her and she mimicked his moves from below. He whispered all the sweet everythings in her ears and burned her flesh with his kisses as they transcended into euphoria.

And for a long time after they reached the finish line, Fitz stayed snuggled inside her, his ear against her beating heart, listening to everything she wasn't brave enough to tell him yet. But he knew. And he felt the same. She held him, caressing his back, running her foot up and down his legs. Breathing. Alive. Safe. Real.

An hour later, Olivia drew them a warm bath with overflowing bubbles and a few drops of essential oil. They each occupied one end of the tub. Fitz massaging her feet and her, at his mercy, moaning deliriously. She could not be anymore relaxed.

"How's that?" Fitz asked.

Olivia closed her eyes and let her head hang back against the edge. "Amazing." She replied. "Thanks for being here."

Fitz moved to her calf, squeezing and kneading with tenderness. "What do you wanna eat today?"

It was nearly lunchtime and she was starting to get hungry. "I want tacos and a strawberry margarita."

"Shit, that sounds good." Fitz said. "We can go get some when we finish here."

Olivia lifted her head to look at him. "Aren't you gonna go to work soon?"

Fitz shrugged. "I don't have to?" He said nervously, hoping she wouldn't shut his next words down. "Stephen can handle things at the club just fine without me. I'm only there because I like to know what's going on. But today, I don't wanna spend a minute away from you. Unless you don't want me here?"

Olivia pulled her legs towards herself and crawled over to him on the other side of the tub. She straddled his lap, bubbles glistening down her skin and water dripping from her nipples. He gave her that hungry look she's quite familiar with. Like they weren't just buried into each other just an hour prior. His hunger for her made her feel hot all over and she thought about how she wasn't any better than him, because she was already craving more of him as well. She grabbed his face between her palms and drew his mouth into a kiss, stopping to smile at how right it felt. She deepened the kiss and he joined, wrapping his arms around her and slipping his tongue past her lips.

"I always want you here." She murmured.

Half an hour later, they were both dressed and ready to head out. Fitz held onto her hand over the gear shifter, his window halfway down, he bobbed his head to the soft rock coming through the radio.

Olivia stared at him from the passenger's side, admiring. He didn't drive too often, preferring to keep his drivers on retainer for the sole purpose of keeping his cool through tedious traffic. However, he sure did look sexy behind the wheel of his mustang.

"Do you mind if we stop by my apartment after lunch to pack a bag? I don't have anything at your place." He said.

"Of course." Olivia nodded. "If you'd like, you can grab a few more things and just leave them at my place for next time."

He tried so hard to hide it, but his heart was bursting with joy. They still needed to talk about last night. But he understood the little ways in which she was trying to reassure him too and he appreciated her making space for him. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, one by one a couple times. "Yes, I'd like that." He replied.

Lunch was a treat. One of Fitz's favorite things ever was watching his Livvie eat. Her zest for amazing food was entertaining and he enjoyed seeing her smile and be happy. They settled on a warm, upscale Mexican restaurant on 7th Street. They both ordered strawberry margaritas and as they waited for their appetizers and entrees to be served, they snacked on chips and salsa.

"I just realized, it's Friday. Did you have any plans for today?" Fitz asked.

Olivia shook her head. She already missed her Pilates session for today, but that was fine because she substituted it for a much more enjoyable workout. Other than that, she had planned to go grocery shopping and write a litte bit. Abby and Quinn were going to come over tonight for a lowkey girl's night, indoor. Nothing she couldn't still plan for with him around. In fact, she preferred doing those things with him around. He was great company.

So she told him as much.

"I can take you grocery shopping." Fitz quickly volunteered. "But are you sure I'm not imposing on your time with the ladies? I can just go to my place or find a coffee shop to read or get some work done while you hang out?"

He has sisters. He knows what goes on when girls get together. They talked about everything under the sun and he didn't want to limit her in that experience with her best friends just because he was a little bit needy today.

Their margaritas arrived at the same time as their brochetas and lobster artichoke dip. And there was nothing like that first bite and that first sip. For the most part, they were quiet as they devoured their appetizers and soon after, their entrees of soft shell shrimp tacos and pork ribs. The flavor combinations were incredible. Olivia went for another margarita but forgoed on dessert.

When it came time to settle the check, Olivia insisted on paying. Her mind was made up about it and Fitz was a firm believer in picking his battles. So if his girlfriend wanted to pay for lunch and she felt strongly about it, he was gonna let her and kiss the hell out of her once they were done.

They decided to get the shopping out of the way first, since it was the longest and most tedious task. But they made a great team together, weaving through the aisles for the essentials. Fresh bread, noodles and pastas, deli goods - turkey, ham and cheeses. Coffee beans, tea and cocoa. Then they picked a variety of fresh vegetables from celery to cucumbers and tomatoes to carrots, broccoli and lettuce. Fresh fruits as well. Then they hit up the meat and seafood section. Stocking up on organic chicken, steaks, shrimp and salmon.

"What else?" Fitz asked.

He was never the type to enjoy running errands at the supermarket, but with Olivia by his side, it was turning out to be quite an enjoyable experience. She just had that awesome ability to make everything so fun.

"Snacks!" She answered excitedly.

Fitz was blown away in that aisle. It really had been a long time since he's physically been in a supermarket and he was overwhelmed by the choices available, from salty to sweet and those in between.

They might have over indulged in that section. It's as if he was a teenager all over again. And he was craving all sorts of horrible junk. He grabbed potato chips, cheesy Doritos, hot Cheetos, double stuffed Oreo's, sweet and sour candies, chocolate covered pretzels, beef jerky of different flavors, a mixed box of Sahale nuts. And of course Olivia's popcorn. Couldn't forget that. Oh, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream!

Then they went to check out. And when Fitz fished out for his AMEX black card totally unfazed by the total, Olivia chuckled, raising on her tippy toes to give him a sweet peck on the lips.

"Thanks babe. That's sweet of you." She cuddled against his side as they waited for the payment to process.

They walked out of the store in less than an hour, happy with their purchases and overall enjoyed the experience together. It was definitely a first for them and they survived and were efficient and successful in a setting that can sometimes bring the worse out of people.

Next stop was Fitz's apartment. That didn't take too long. Olivia didn't even get out of the car. Instead, she opted to FaceTime with Abby and Quinn to confirm that their plan to hang out for the evening was still on. Abby requested sushi and Quinn requested Mediterranean food for dinner. Once again, on totally different poles. And when they began fighting about it, Olivia palmed her face as she was left to play peacemaker.

"Here's a wild thought," She said sarcastically, "How about both… since you know, delivery exists and we can freaking afford it?"

"Fine!" They both shouted in unison.

Olivia shook her head as she saw Fitz approaching with his huge duffel bag across this body and a breathable garment bag in one hand.

"I gotta go. I'll see y'all later."

Fitz tossed his duffel in the backseat and hung his clothing bag on the hook.

He fastened his seat belt, started the car and put it in drive. He got them home, to Olivia's in no time. They took the elevator from the garage level and loaded up all the groceries. They worked in sync to bring the bags inside the apartment and unpacking. As they were putting things away, Fitz noticed that Olivia was almost out of wine. He made a mental note to contact his guy on the west coast for another custom selection.

They made the perfect picture of domestic bliss. And Olivia thought 'I can get used to this.'

"Do you wanna watch some TV or take a nap?" Olivia asked. Personally, she preferred the ladder. Even though it was only three in the afternoon, she was exhausted. After all that food and running around, she was ready for some shut eye.

"If I nap right now, sleeping tonight will be difficult." Fitz grimaced. "I can keep you company though while I read over these contracts."

And that's exactly what they did. Somewhere in between Billy Withers and Marvin Gaye crooning and Fitz playing with her hair, Olivia was out like a light against Fitz's chest in less than fifteen minutes. And even though he tried really hard to stay focused on his readings, a few long yawns later, Fitz too joined her in the land of dreams.

Olivia was the first to wake after their long nap. She felt rejuvenated and extremely thirsty. But she lingered in bed for a bit longer, watching Fitz sleep. He looked incredibly peaceful and the longer she watched him, the more she grew horny. She rubbed her thighs together and tried to suppress a groan. She didn't know what was wrong with her. But she just wanted him constantly. Even in deep sleep, she wanted to jump his bones.

She decided to test her luck. She leaned in closer to him and lined his jaw with a few kisses. He stirred a little but didn't wake. She decided to take it a step further, placing short and soft kisses against his lips while her hands began to wander down his chest, his torso and finally inside his boxers. She rubbed him gently, feeling up his length that instantly began to harden to her touch.

Then he started to moan and join in their kiss. And when he opened his eyes, Olivia gave him a sweet smile before she moved down his body. He sighed deeply and became fully alert. His eyes clouding with desire as well. He lifted his hips slightly to allow her to remove his boxers and once the article of clothing was out of the way, she resumed stroking him a couple times before she took him inside her mouth.

Fitz's eyes grew in size and a gasp escaped him as she took him further down her throat while her hands stroked his shaft and massaged his balls. His abs flexed with tension as she started a slow and controlled pace on him. He lifted his head and propped on one elbow to watch her beautiful mouth work on him. She looked like all his favorite fantasies came to life. Her eyes were closed and she was moaning, enjoying the act as much as he was.

He didn't stand a chance. His breathing quickened as did her pace. His spine began to tingle when she started swirling her tongue on his sensitive tip while working him with both hands, twisting up and down his shaft.

He tried to push her head away but she was unrelenting and he was right on the edge, about to explode. "Baby, I'm gonna-"

"Mhmmm." Her moans vibrated against him and she took him all the way down her throat and poked her tongue out to tickle his balls. His hips rocketed off the bed and he groaned from his chest as his release took him. It was a beautiful mess; cum dripping from her bottom lip as she pulled away. His penis twitched with more fluid squirting from his tip and she worked to clean up every drop. Fitz let his head and shoulder rest on the pillow, panting loudly, his mind completely blown.

When Olivia climbed on top of him, she was naked. She straddled his waist, grinding on him slowly.

Fuck!

Fitz opened his eyes, both of his hands taking residence on her ass, squeezing hard. "That was some wake up call." He said.

She blushed shyly. Which amazed him every single time and he told her as much. How can she act so shy now when she just made him cum so hard? That shit was sexy as hell.

"Think you can go again?" Olivia asked.

"For you, always." Fitz brought her lips against his and slowly entered her in a long, deep thrust. Buried inside her so deeply, her thighs shook. Both unable to distinguish where they begin and end.

"Hmmm…. Yesss!" Olivia moaned. She rocked back and forth against him for a few, enjoying the snug fit and the contact against her clit. Fitz rubbed her up her thighs then cupped her butt again and delivered a delicious sting to her globes.

"Ride that dick, baby."

Olivia braced her hands against his chest and squatted on her knees as she began to bounce on him slowly, up and down. She threw her head back, moans escaping both of them.

"You feel so good babe." Fitz watched her breasts jiggled, which turned him on even more. He leaned up and sucked a nipple into his mouth and Olivia gasped when he stilled her hips and countered her thrusts from below.

"Oh my gooooood!" She sobbed. "Fuuuuck, I'm gonna come!" She started to rub her clit.

Her phone started ringing. Abby was calling. Fitz glanced at the phone and grinned at her. "You're gonna get that?" He asked, almost daringly.

Her eyes rolled back as he quickened the pace, his hips slamming into her fast and hard. The phone continued to ring. Without breaking his rhythm, Fitz picked up and put her on speaker. Olivia gasped, eyes wide.

That fucker!

"What took you so long?" Abby asked. "I'm on my way. Do you have wine or should I bring some?"

Olivia tried to suppress her moans but failed spectacularly when Fitz pressed his middle finger inside her butt hole and rolled his hips beneath her.

"Ahhh fuck… Abby, hang up! I can't talk right now!" She yelled.

"What?" Abby asked, confused, until she tuned in to their rapid breathing and the sound of skin slapping together. "Oh my lanta! Y'ALL ARE FREAKY! Bitch, are you-"

"Yessss!" Olivia cried. "Bye!"

She barely managed to end the call. She dropped her head on Fitz's shoulder and a few more hard thrust later, she was drooling, moaning unintelligibly as the most powerful feeling of pleasure she's ever experienced coursed through her whole entire body like a tsunami. Soon after, Fitz filled her with his own release. His hips spasming.

"Damn baby!" Fitz howled. "Do you want something? Cause I'm ready to give you everything right now. What do you want?"

Olivia laughed breathlessly on top of him. She kissed his cheek and pushed back the hairs sticking to his sweaty forehead. "You're an idiot." She said fondly. "And now thanks to you, Abby is gonna give me shit all night about your little stunt."

"I swear that got your pussy a little wetter. I felt it." Fitz snorted. "You liked it."

Olivia wished she could be mad or deny ir but the truth is, she loved what just happened. And she's do it again. She looked at her phone and saw all the fifteen text messages Abby sent her in all caps. She read them and laughed to herself.

The redhead and Quinn would be here in another half hour. Abby told her they'd make an unnecessary stop to get some dessert, just to give her some extra time to "finish". Olivia shook her head and looked back at Fitz who was staring at her, smiling.

"You're a little trouble maker, mister." She kissed his lips. "I'm gonna order dinner. Would you like sushi or Mediterranean?"

Fitz shook his head. "Neither. Pizza. After all that, I need some carbs."

Olivia laughed. "You're something else." She lifted up slowly and they both hissed at the sensation. They watched the product of their own making run down Olivia's thighs.

"Now that's sexy." Fitz nodded. "Fee free to wake me up like this anytime, babe."

"Yeah yeah, you freakazoid!" Olivia hit him with a pillow and hopped off the bed. She took her phone with her and placed a call to three different food orders and then hopped in the shower.

Fitz joined her shortly.

"Hi." He gave her that grin full of mischief.

Olivia shook her head. "Hi. Don't even think about it."

Ten minutes later, they stepped out of the shower. And they got dressed in sync. They made it out to the living room, just in time to welcome their guests. Fitz opened the door for Quinn and Abby while Olivia was getting her glass of water.

"Hey freak!" Abby greeted Fitz. Olivia heard her and nearly choked on her water.

Fitz chuckled and gave them each a friendly hug. "Hey Red. Hey Quinn." He said.

Olivia came to Fitz's rescue in the living room. Granted the whole thing was his fault but he wasn't fully used to Abby's heat. This was a moment that would not be soon forgotten by the redhead and she would remind them of it every second she could.

"Why are they freaks?" Quinn asked.

"I'm gonna go now." Fitz turned on his heels. "Call me when pizza gets here, babe."

"You know what you did to my best friend Grant! And I appreciate you for it. She needs that kind of energy in her life." Abby shouted and they all could hear Fitz snorting to himself down the hallway.

Olivia hid her face in her hand. "You can be so embarrassing sometimes." She groaned.

"Okay, somebody tell me right now?" Quinn demanded.

Another few minutes passed and all their foods delivered within minutes of each other. Olivia called for Fitz to come grab his pizza and he appeared briefly in the living room, avoiding eye contact with Abby.

"Pretend I'm not even here…." He sang, grabbing 3 slices of pizza and stealing a kiss from Olivia's lips. "Okay… I'm gonna go now so you guys can continue to talk about me. Thanks for food, babe."

He grabbed some water from the fridge and then he was gone, back to Olivia's bedroom. As soon as he was out of sight, Abby started again.

"Okay, so dish. Was it as good as it sounded?" She asked Olivia.

Olivia bit into a slice of meat lover's pizza and nodded. "Mhmmm." She echoed, chewing rapidly. "I've been super needy today. And he's been fucking my brains out since this morning."

It was only then that Quinn finally caught on and the look on her face was priceless. Abby pointed at her and burst into laughter.

"Live footage of how I looked when this bitch answered the phone, moaning like a whore at Sunday service."

"You are so crass!" Olivia rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

Abby stuck her tongue out. "I'll Facetime next time."

"You're totally glowing." Quinn observed. "Whatever he's doing to you must be out of this world. Is that why you've been needy?"

"Yes and no." Olivia replied.

"Dish…"

And Olivia did. If she was going to confide in anyone about what the hell has been going on this week with the panic attacks, it would be her two best friends. They would understand. And help her practice how to frame and direct the conversation with Fitz when it comes up later tonight or at any point.

They sort of tiptoed around it today, instead choosing to lose themselves in each other. And it was great.. She was a show and tell kind of gal. And he did show her. Through his touch, by being present and spending the whole day connecting with her, reassuring her. He was amazing. But now it was her turn. She wasn't expecting him to read her mind.

Quinn and Abby pretty much agreed the same.

Next they moved to dessert and streaming "The Gay Deceivers" on demand. It was comedy gold and very forward for its time back in 1969. All three girls could not stop laughing and Fitz enjoyed watching Olivia be so happy.

He wasn't eavesdropping. But he did come to ask if he could use the printer in her office to receive a fax that needed his immediate attention.

"Babe, sorry to interrupt." He walked behind her and squeezed her shoulders gently. "May I use your fax number to receive some documents here?"

Olivia frowned because of course he could. This was his home too? But she figured he wanted to respect her space and that was incredibly sweet of him.

"Yeah." She got off the couch and dragged him to her office. "You can work here, you know?" She told him. "I'm sure being on the bed is not that comfortable if you have to do some writing as well."

"Are you sure? I know how I am about my messy desk at home. This is your creative space. I don't want to impose at all." Fitz said.

"Stop saying that. You're not imposing on anything, ever." She kissed his mouth and pushed him behind her desk. "This is now your home too, silly. Sit." Olivia pointed at the chair behind him. She then grabbed a pen and a block of sticky notes to jot down the fax number for him. Then she powered on the printer.

"Thank you. I'm grateful." Fitz smiled.

Olivia shrugged. "Eh, you fit in my life perfectly, my love." She said. "And you look sexy as hell behind that desk so I'm gonna go back to my gay movie before we give Abby something better to lord over us."

Fitz watched her rush out of the room and shut the door behind her. He ran his fingers through his hair and hung his head low, laughing quietly to himself. He hit the jackpot with this woman.

He went back to the bedroom shortly after to grab his laptop and the other papers he was reading. He set up shop in her office like she convinced him to and he got into the zone again. He had his soundproof headphones in, Bon Jovi in his ear and he immersed himself in his work. Getting lots done.

He received the papers he had been waiting on. He read the fine prints with sharp eyes. Everything looked to be on par with what he was signing for. All he had to do was print his signature and the date.

"Wait… what date is it?" He asked himself out loud. He glanced at the screen of his smartwatch and realized he wrote the wrong date. Shit. Nothing some whiteout couldn't fix. Surely Olivia must have some.

He looked around on the desk but didn't see any visible. He opened the first drawer, no luck, then the second and he froze in his search. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the small black velvet box. It was strategically hidden out of sight. Like if he wasn't being nosy, there's no way he would've seen it at the very back corner of the deep drawer. Yet here it was, in plain sight for him.

He had an internal battle with himself. He didn't want her to think that he violated her privacy. But he also knew that he was already feeling tormented by the box and the curiosity he had about what it contained. Ultimately, curiosity killed the cat and he was gutted when he opened the small box and found a ring inside. Nothing fancy. Just a small square diamond on a simple silver band.

But still. It was a ring. A symbol of great significance. That he wouldn't be the first at this act for her. He didn't know why, but that made him incredibly sad. He put the ring back where he found it and for like ten minutes, he just sat, dumbfounded.

She was married? He doesn't recall her telling him that. He tried to think hard. No… they did have a version of that conversation when they first met. She wasn't forthcoming with a lot of the details but yes, he remembered now. There was definitely someone before him. The one she wasn't sorry about?

That brought him a little bit of peace. But he was still so damn sad. He pulled through and resumed his work.

Twenty minutes later, he heard a soft knock on the door before the poor was pushed open.

"May I come in?" She asked cutely.

He nodded, of course. "What happened to not wanting to give Abby more materials to leverage over us?" He teased.

"Gone as of five minutes ago." Olivia answered, walking closer. "You've been at this a while. Wanna break?"

Fitz looked at the time. It was well past 9:30. Overall he felt like he caught up well and was on track with his work.

"Sure." 'His eye caught a glance at her left hand and he stared blankly for a while.

Olivia walked behind the desk and ran her fingers through his hair. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked, concern creasing her brows.

Fitz snapped out of it quickly. "Yeah, fine. I'm fine."

"I don't believe you?" She shook her head. His ears turned red. "Hey, look at me." She tilted his head up and forced him to make eye contact. "I know something's wrong. If everything was fine, you'd be all over me the second I told you the girls were gone. Plus you've been staring at my hand with a sad puppy look. And now, you're all red. So what's up?"

Wow. She was way more attentive than he thought.

He decided to be vulnerable and ask. He wanted to know what the hell he was up against. Because someday, he wanted it all with her. The house… somewhere small, beautiful all year round and peaceful, maybe Vermont? He wanted children and yes, the freaking ring on her finger. SO he had to know in order to think about what he was willing to let go or not let go to make this relationship work. And he wanted to make it work, desperately. Fitz didn't realize how frustrated he was about everything until this very moment. Things were so amazing with them, but there are times when he feels like he's been failing since they met. And it's because he doesn't know those important things about her yet.

So he asked, "Did he ruin marriage for you too?"

"Heh?" She looked at him confused. "HE, as in God? I fucking hope not. What are you talking about?"

Fitz couldn't help it. He chortled. She really was very funny. Even more so when she was confused. He pulled her on his lap and kissed her cheek.

"You were engaged before, weren't you?" He clarified.

"Yeah… oooh!"

It was then that she realized that he must've found the ring in her desk drawer.

"I wasn't snooping around intentionally. I needed whiteout."

Olivia shrugged. "It's fine, I don't care." And she really didn't.

She hasn't thought about that ring or even opened it in a very long time. It was a part of her past that she never really lingered on since she moved on. She doesn't even know why she still kept the ring around. Today seemed to be full of vulnerable and honest moments on her part. And even though she didn't owe Fitz an explanation at all, she decided to let him peak into who she used to be. In the hopes that maybe he will understand in part where she was coming from regarding their relationship, the panic attacks, everything.

"Do you really wanna know what happened?" She asked.

Fitz nodded. "I think it would help me understand you a little bit better?" He said.

She sighed. Biting her lips. Pondering. "It's a shit story. Boring even." She warned.

Fitz kissed her cheek again. "I'm all ears."

"Okay. I'll give you the short version." She said. Clearing her throat, she went on, "Once upon a time I was engaged to this asshole!" She began dramatically.

Fitz tried hard not to laugh. But he did smile. She said it would be boring, but he was already thoroughly locked in and entertained.

"His name is Edison. One could say he was my first serious relationship. We were together for nearly…" She counted on her fingers and grimaced. "Four years. Shit!" She continued. "We met at the coffee shop on campus. He was a Political Science professor. A bit older than I wasn't even really my type but he was persistent. And at the time, as a law student, I appreciated that in anyone. That was perhaps one of his better qualities. We always seemed to run into each other and he'd buy my tea and ask me out. Every time. After two months, I finally let my guard down and agreed on a date that went surprisingly better than I expected. And we made plans to see where things could lead but I was in my last year of law school, preparing for the bar and I just didn't have the time to entertain anyone. But we ran into each other again one night at the movies; alone. He called it fate." Olivia wiggled her eyebrows. "We ended up seeing the movie together and hooking up in the parking lot. Very classy, right?" Fitz smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Well, from that point on, he worked really hard into becoming a part of my life. He wined and dined me until I fully let my guards down. The sex was okay. My mother liked him. He was a normal guy with a stable job and dreams of being someone's everything one day. So I thought why not? By the time I passed the bar and got my first job as a junior associate, we were still going steady and he was there for me, you know? It felt nice to have a companion and a support system. A year and half in, I got a promotion, we moved in together and he proposed on my fucking birthday."

Fitz saw the look on her face and heard the venom in her voice when she said he proposed on her birthday. He's guessing that was a bad move and he made a note to himself. Do not propose anything on birthdays or major holidays.

"I didn't say yes right away. In fact, I moved in with my mom after he proposed cause it felt like things were changing too soon, too fast. And I just wasn't ready. But he, along with my mother convinced me. So a month later, I moved back in, accepted the ring and that's probably the first time things went to shit. Workload at the firm got bigger. I was the true definition of workaholic. I lived for the rush and for a long time, I fucking loved it. I was damned good at it, so I poured myself into my cases, worked long hours and rarely came home. Obviously that was not good. I was a terrible fiancee. I didn't give a fuck about any of it because to me, it didn't feel real. A huge part of me just really wanted to succeed in my career because I had a lot to prove and learn. But there was a small part of me that just didn't want to settle down. With him or anyone for that matter. I felt like I still had too much to see, and learn and grow through. And I didn't see him there with me every step of the way. So we had one of our spectacular fights where he called me selfish and I told him he was suffocating me. He told me I was a bitch with commitment issues and I guess he was right. We broke up that night for a few weeks. And I was so relieved but I still had that damn ring on my finger and I felt so guilty for throwing away something that could turn out to be my great love story. I didn't want the "what ifs" lingering inside my head. So against my better judgement, I pulled a grand gesture. I had him meet me at the movie parking lot, where we really began and I proposed this time."

"Nice!" Fitz chuckled.

"Right?! I thought so too." Olivia said. "So then he agreed and immediately set a date for the wedding. The planning was a shit show. Stuff I didn't care about was being pushed on me by his mom, who fucking hated me by the way. I hated her ass too. That was also one of the things we constantly fought about. So if we weren't fighting about my lack of interest in wedding planning, it was about how much I worked and didn't value him as my partner. As if I we weren't already so dysfunctional, the universe decided to keep shitting all over me and BAM, I missed a period. Cried myself to sleep for two weeks before I finally took the test. And then I cried for three hours straight after the results. Sooo... I was pregnant. That marks year three." She lamented. "As soon as I told him I was knocked up, he became so controlling. From what I ate and drank, to who was allowed to be around me and how much I worked. Yet still, when I miscarried, he blamed me. Saying if only I had stopped working like he asked, and prioritized his needs and focused on starting a family. He said all the awful things to make me feel horrible and it worked. But I justified it. He was hurting and grieving. But so was I, right? It was something we were both going through and rather than leaning on each other, I was made to feel responsible. I felt so alone; so fucking lost. Shortly after, I quit my job; sunk into depression and really just gave up. He pulled through quicker than I did. The last straw for me came months later. I'd gotten treatment, started writing and even tried to get involved in the wedding plans. And I thought we were in a much better place. Until I decided to surprise him for lunch in his office one day and I caught him balls deep, fucking one of his male students. That same day, I packed all my shit, put them in a storage facility and by the time he came home, I was gone. And the ring, I did leave it behind for him. But six months later, he wrote me a letter to my mom's house and the ring was in there. He said he wanted me to have it. So I can remember that as long I live, when shit gets tough, I will always run and save myself. To this day, I don't think he knows why I really left."

Fitz was speechless. Wow. This is what he had to follow after? Goddamnit, no wonder why she was terrified of things with him. He wasn't sure what he would do if he ever met her ex. He didn't know if he would thank him or if the blows would be on sight. His head was spinning.

"Welp, that's the story behind that damn ring." Olivia sighed. "Any questions, thoughts or concerns?" She asked, laughing.

But Fitz could see through the bullshit. Clearly none of what she experienced was funny. It's just how she disguised it to get through perhaps one of the most fucked up relationships she's been in. And some of that stuff still affected her. Like he knew for a fact that she believed her ex about some of those things he said to her. That she's selfish and a runner. After all, she did keep the ring, right? As a reminder of those things? But that's not what he got from the story she just told him.

So he did the only thing he could at the moment. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and simply held her for a long time, kissing her cheek and forehead every minute he felt like it.

"Look at me, please." He asked after what felt like hours but was only a few minutes.

Olivia lifted her head from his shoulder and stared into his eyes. "Do you feel like I'm forcing you into this relationship? Controlling you?" It was painful to ask. But he needed to know. After all, he wasn't much different from her ex about how he pursued her. He did wine and dine her. He did persist that first night at the bar. He saw the sad look that crossed her eyes and he bit back tears and swallowed the lump in his throat. "Because even though it will be the hardest thing I've ever done, I will let you go right now if for even a moment, you've felt this way with me."

And he meant it. It would break his heart forever to do it but he would.

"Oh baby…" Her lips quivered and the tears in her eyes rolled down her cheek. "Never. You hear me, Fitz? Never." She quickly wiped her tears away and proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck. "Do you even know how special you are to me? You walk into a room and I forget how to breathe. I've only known you for a little over two months and already, you're my favorite person to talk to, babe." She confessed. "The way you look at me and touch my heart? The way we connect and how you can make me laugh and lose all sense of time and people around me? Are you kidding me? The way you hold me so tight when we make love or cuddle together. I've never felt anything like you before. I've known nothing but bliss with you. I think about you constantly. I carry you with me everywhere I go. So yes…" She sighed deeply, smiling through more tears. "I'm fucking terrified that I'm dreaming with you. Like maybe I'm still stuck in that period of hellish depression with Edison, drowning and I conjured you up to keep myself sane and alive."

In that moment, Fitz truly felt like they were bound to each other. Everything she just said to him made complete sense. He was over the moon to hear that she felt all the ways she described with him. It made him feel like he wasn't fighting a losing battle. She was in this with him too. And for the most part, he knew it before she said it. He was pretty good at reading her responses and body language. When she was relaxed and carefree, when she was uncomfortable and she wanted to regress into that part of herself she deemed as "selfish". He knew. But hearing it from her melted his damn heart. And for the first time since they met, he admitted something to himself. I love you.

But he decided to show her better. Like she pleaded with him this morning. He raised his left hand as he stared into her beautiful, doe chocolate brown eyes. "Let me see your hand." He asked softly.

Olivia unwrapped her right arm from his neck and showed him her open palm, mirroring exactly what he was doing with his left. Slowly, their palms connected and one by one, their fingers clasped together found home in between the empty spaces in the other's hand.

"Just like that." Fitz smiled. He grabbed her other hand and placed it near his beating heart and he did the same to her with his free hand. "See? As long as our fingers can come together, just like this, and our hearts continue to beat as one, then this is real. This will always be real." He whispered. "So if you're ever feeling scared, sad, happy or anxious - like things feel too good to be true and you want to feel reassured that we're us - real, rare and beautiful; for one minute, whenever, wherever, stop everything. Just grab my hand and feel my heart beat for you."

"One minute." Olivia nodded, the brightest smile on her face and fresh tears shining in her eyes.

They probably looked silly as hell to someone who doesn't know the immensity of this moment. But to her, this was the most fucking beautiful and sacred thing. One minute.

"One minute." Fitz echoed, his smile equally as bright. "Thanks for letting me in tonight and sharing with me."

"You're welcome. I know how much you like to be all up in my business." She teased, causing him to blush.

And just like that, things were okay. Things were real.

That night, she slept like a baby. Fingers entwined and her ear to his heart.

The following two weeks were busy for Fitz. He was in the middle of a bid for a location to open up a restaurant. It's always been on the back of his mind, to open up a chain of restaurants and with Laura wanting to move forward and establish her own place, he wanted to take that step with her as partners- 50/50. What he wasn't sure of was where he wanted to set up shop for the first one. If he was going to get into business with his sister, those details needed to be ironed out. And after way too much back and forth on the phone with Laura, he decided it was best if he flew to Santa Barbara to see his family.

He would be killing two birds with one stone. The Grant family had a lot going on individually. Dee-Dee recently closed on a merger with her firm and now she had the Grant name on the building. Katera just signed a deal with Netflix for a standup special as part of a mini series of up and coming LA talents. And Frankie was just weeks away from the grand opening of her very own tattoo parlor. He was immensely proud of all of his sisters and he figured a celebration dinner was warranted.

Plus his mother was really hounding him to come visit. Apparently, word got around that he was dating again, so naturally, his mother was on him and so was his freaking siblings. He had his adorable nephew Teddy to thank for that. The young boy simply couldn't help himself. He had to tell everyone just how beautiful and fun his new aunty "Bella" was. And that she absolutely had to be sent an invitation to his birthday in the fall. So now, Fitz was soon on his way to California to answer to the Grant herd.

He broke the news to Olivia over dinner Sunday evening. She found his situation to be hilarious. And even agreed with Teddy's observation. She was a beautiful, fun aunt. The thought of it made her blush. And he saw it all over her face.

"You should come with me." He said.

Olivia stopped mid tortellini bite. "Are you crazy?!" She exclaimed.

Fitz laughed, amused by her expression. "No, I'm serious. I'm sure they'd love to meet you. That way I don't have to go through the endless teasing and probing twice."

Olivia pointed her fork at him accusingly. "Aha! So this is all about saving you tight, muscular ass." She teased.

"Absolutely!" Fitz grinned.

She squinted at him, thinking. "I'm great with family members. Once you introduce me, I bet, they'll like me more than they like you. Parents love me, I'll have you know." She informed. "Except for that one diabolical cunt. Something was wrong with her."

Fitz snorted. He had to cover his mouth in order to contain his laughter. She was very funny. And he had no doubt that she would get along well with his siblings and mother. And as he looked at her, sipping on her wine, the thought came to him again. I love you… so much.

"All the more reasons for you to join." He agreed with her.

"I wish I could go this time." Olivia said. "But I have a deadline for the next book and I'm pretty sure if I don't finish it, Abby will be out of a job as my agent and she will kill me as a result."

Olivia saw the somber look that replaced his jolly expression. He reached across the candle lit table and entwined their fingers. She didn't want him to think that she was yet again backing away from next steps with him. All she ever wants is to move forward with him always. Hit new milestones; create new memories. But only when it felt right. And if they were going to do this, as they previously spoke about, she had to feel like she was ready. And meeting all members of his family, even though she was making light of it just minutes ago, was in fact a huge deal for her. It would cement a lot of things for her. And she did not want to rush into it and leave a bitter taste on six Grant women. "I wanna do this right, babe." She explained. "I do have a deadline. Which means, I'm gonna be really focused on getting it done. And I don't want to meet your family and not be able to really allow for time to get to know them. And if I join you on Thursday, that's what's going to happen." She shrugged. "They're important to you, so of course I want to meet them. I want them to like me."

His handsome grin was back and he brought her small hand to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. "Okay." He acquiesced. "Next time. Better bring your A game."

"Okay." Olivia repeated back, smiling.

And this too was one of the things she adored about him. Everything was a fair discussion between them. He had no problem meeting her in the middle and he was excellent at compromising. That shit was sexy as hell!

The day leading up to his trip, he spent every free moment with her and tried to sleep over every day that week. His flight was scheduled for 7:00 PM on Thursday evening. And she did not get to see him the night before. There was an emergency at the club that took up all his time and almost cost him his liquor licence. So by the time he was off, it was too late and he was too exhausted to make the drive over.

Olivia was almost at the finish line with her book and she felt pretty confident about the material. So she decided that taking a break mid afternoon to surprise her man with a late lunch before he left wouldn't hurt too much.

And that's exactly what she did. She stopped by at Getty's Burger and ordered some burgers and fries, chicken wings and iced teas. She had a pep to her step as she made her way to Fitz's club, just fifteen minutes away. When she got there, she found the operation team on full prep mode for the night. Thursdays usually pack a killing and bring in a lot of revenue. Some people liked to start their weekend a little bit early. You can find the high profile freaks of DC looking to unwind after a long week and at Karma, the sky was the limit on any day of the week.

Having been there already, she knew exactly where Fitz' office was and she was headed straight there when she bumped into the bartender with the crush on him. Almost sending the drinks in her hands flying.

Amanda's face flushed as Olivia raised her eyebrows at her. "Pardon me." She said, barely making eye contact before she scurried away.

"It's fine?" Olivia mumbled, as she watched the woman practically run away.

What the hell was she doing here?! Amanda fumed after grabbing herself a glass of water from behind the bar. Her and Fitz had a meeting soon about her overseeing things as the lead bartender for the next couple days he would be away. She was looking forward to the hour of memorizing his every flawless features while holding onto his every word.

How dare she come here? Did he not tell her he would be busy today?

Olivia rounded the corner to Fitz's office and knocked softly to bring him out of his focused expression. When he looked up and saw it was her, his handsome face broke into the most adorable smile.

He stood up from behind his desk and welcomed her inside. Grabbing the tray and bag from her, he set them on his desk before gathering Olivia's petite form in his arms for a tight hug. He pulled away and placed a kiss against her smiling lips.

"This is a nice surprise baby." He said.

"You need to eat." Olivia replied simply. "And plus you didn't come home last night. I missed you and I didn't want you to leave without getting the chance to see you."

Fitz pulled her behind the desk with him and sat her on his lap in his chair. "You know I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. I was planning on having Hal stop by your place before we headed to the airport." He leaned in and kissed her lips again. He couldn't help it. She was gorgeous and irresistible. And his heart was happy. "I'm glad you came."

Olivia giggled against his mouth and gave him another peck before she pulled away and began to take their food out the bag. She handed him his double bacon cheeseburger with a yellow egg and his fries. She unwrapped her mushroom, swiss hamburger as well. She watched him take out the red onions out and she blushed, knowing exactly why he did it. Plus he winked at her.

"Let's eat."

Olivia only consumed half of her burger with a handful of fries. She had plans for them and she didn't want to feel too lethargic. She washed down her meal with a sweet sip of tea and then she just watched as Fitz continued to devour his burger. The whole thing just made her hotter for him. Even watching him eat was a sexy experience for her. The way he licked his lips, or how his jaw flexed. She unceremoniously grind against him and clenched her legs.

Fitz held an amused expression at the act. He pretended not to notice and continued to finish his food. As soon as he swallowed the last bite and took a few long sips of his drink, her gaze zeroed in on his mouth and she jumped on him.

He laughed against her lips as he spread her legs open, and snaked his hand under her sundress. He went to move her panties to the side, only to feel her naked flesh underneath. He raised an eyebrow and felt his dick rise up in salute.

"So naughty today Ms. Carolyn Pope." He slipped his middle finger between her folds, and went up and down a couple times, teasing her entrance while rubbing her swollen clit simultaneously. She was dripping for him in no time.

She moaned for him as he continued to explore, biting gently on her lower lips and sending her on a chase for his tongue. She whined against his mouth miserably. "Don't tease me, baby. I'm so fucking horny."

"I know you are." Fitz spoke in his deep baritone as he slipped two fingers inside her. "Your pussy is crying me a river right now."

Olivia buried her face in the crook of his neck and whimpered unintelligibly as his fingers worked her skillfully. She spread her legs wider for him, allowing him to add a third finger to the mix, circling these perfect circles on her clit. Her hand flew to cover his and still his movements, but he didn't stop, instead, he reached inside her bra and began rolling her nipples between his thumb and index finger, squeezing just right. At this point she was a mess in his lap and his dick felt like it was going to explode. "You like that?"

"Oh my God! Yesss, fuck!" She gasped as she felt pressure building inside her womb. She bit Fitz's neck and sucked hard as his rhythm sped up, his long fingers playing her like a great love story and coaxing the sweetest pleasure from her. She could feel her orgasm coming. But she didn't want it like this. She jumped from his lap abruptly, trying to delay the inevitable.

He brought his soaked fingers to his lips and licked her sweet essence clean. Olivia watched him with bated breath and hooded eyes. "Mmmm… What's wrong, sweet baby?" Fitz asked, a smug smirk on his mouth.

"I wanna cum so bad." Olivia replied breathlessly.

"You were about to…" Fitz quipped.

"Not like that. I want you." She pouted.

Fitz pulled her back to his lap and she straddled his leg. "What do you want, baby girl?"

She thought it best to show him. Olivia rubbed the bulge in his slack as she stared unblinkingly into his lust filled eyes. His jaw clenched and his throat worked as she unbuckled his belt and slid his zipper down. She reached inside his boxers, freeing him. Still without breaking eye contact, she began stroking his length, spreading his pre-arousal on his sensitive tip, causing him to groan from his chest.

Fitz let her continue to tease him for a few more seconds, but only cause it felt fucking incredible and he felt like he could bust at any minute. But not like this. And certainly, not before she told him in strong words exactly how she wanted him. He stilled her movement and she looked so confused for a moment.

"You didn't answer my question, Goddess." He said. "What do you want?"

She looked down between them, licked her lips and watched as he fisted himself. Fitz smirked.

"You want this dick?" He teased.

Olivia whimpered like a spoiled brat. "Yessss!"

"Then you're gonna have to tell me loud and proud baby. How and where." He told her.

She stood up from his lap and pushed his chair back a little. Then she dropped on her knees and spread his leg open before she slapped his hand away, taking over again - working him up and down, salivating at the mouth.

"I want to get a quick little taste and then I want you to fuck me unconscious against that wall right there." Olivia said boldly right before she took him into her mouth, swallowing as much of him as she could.

Fitz's hip jerked and his hand flew to her hair as he tossed his head back. "Fuck. Ouuu…yeah! Just like that baby." He guided her movement, pushing her hair back from her face and holding it in place as she bobbed up and down on him, sloppily, deliciously. He felt like he was going to lose his fucking mind when she started alternating between these circles with her tongue on his head and sucking him deep with her cheeks while taking him as far down her throat as she could withstand.

"Gaaawddamnnnn!" He bawled, pushing her head back.

She released him with a pop. "How do you like them apples?" Olivia looked up at him, blinking innocently as if she wasn't just deep throating his dick, and had him close to bursting inside her mouth.

Fitz would have laughed if he wasn't struggling so hard to breathe.

He stood up from the chair and pulled her with him. "Where'd you learn how to suck cock like that?" He asked, claiming her mouth in a kiss, his tongue rolling inside her mouth, sharing their unique taste with another. He slowly walked her backwards until her back thud against that wall she wanted to be fucked against. He hoisted her up and she giggled excitedly, wrapping her long legs around his hips immediately. He pulled her dress up and pushed his slacks down. He stroked his cock a couple times before lining up at her entrance, slapping the head against her clit before he plunged in one smooth, satisfying thrust.

They both gasped and the sound reverberated against the enclosed walls. She wiggled on top of him and he gave her the time she needed for her walls to open up and nestle him comfortably for the ride.

"How are you feeling, Goddess?" Fitz asked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his curls. "Amazing." Olivia replied. "You?"

Fitz drew her lips in a brief kiss, hands squeezing her ass firmly. "Perfect." He answered. "I can't get over how well you take my cock." Just as he said it, her walls involuntarily clenched on him and he released a shivering breath. "Like every dirty thought I've ever imagined was about you… belong to you."

She was the perfect tease and good for his ego. "Show me, daddy." She whispered.

"Hold on tight and whatever you do, don't let go." Fitz warned.

He used the wall behind them as leverage, starting slow, he bounced her up and down, holding on to her hips, controlling her movement. Slow and steady. He matched her thrusts, his breath hot against her cheek and she moaned for him. Overwhelmed and losing all sense of thought and modesty. Not a minute too soon, he picked up the pace, setting them on a fast and bumpy ride. The sound of their hips working together and the unmistakable sound of their hot, uneven breathing filled the room as he pounded into her, faster, harder. His lips were everywhere, on her neck, sucking on her earlobe and murmuring the dirtiest things in a hushed baritone. Each hard, deep thrust sent her closer to the edge.

Olivia sang his praises as her stomach coiled in a ball of heat and her legs began to tremble around his waist. "Oh my God! Don't stop!" She begged, "I'm almost there."

"I know baby." Fitz panted breathlessly. "I can feel you. Rub your clit for me."

Olivia did as he asked and she could hardly make sense of the words coming out of her mouth and the cries leaving her throat as he hammered into her while she drew fast circles against her clit. She gripped his shirt tight and squeezed her legs around his waist as the sweet sensation of her release knocked the breath out of her. She cried silently against his lips as he thrusted a few more times, his groans mingling with her own and rainbows exploding behind his lids as he filled her with the best orgasm he's ever had.

Fitz used the last bit of strength he had left to bring them over to his desk. He pushed aside a stack of papers and lay Olivia gently on the hard, oak surface.

"That was wild." Fitz placed a kiss on Olivia's throat then lay his head on her chest, listening to blood rushing to her heart and the rapid hammering in her ribs.

Olivia ran her fingers through his hair lazily, both still lost in each other. And as she did so, that thought echoed in Fitz's head again. I'm in love with you.

Unbeknownst to the both of them, they had an intruder, enthralled by their performance. Fitz's to be specific and she reached the platinum gate right along with them, sliding down the hallway wall in a puddle of her own fixation and shame.

888

Being home with family always made Fitz's heart glad. And this time around wasn't much different. When he landed Thursday night, he stayed with his sister Laura and her husband Jake at their home in Bel-Air. They had a nice moment in the backyard, sipping on scotch. He missed his sister. They caught up on everything - from her marriage, to the kids, to their crazy mother. Then to his business in DC and the new rumors about him going steady with "Bella". Fitz confirmed it and blushed so hard while Laura teased him. He shared one picture of Olivia.

"Wow. That's her, hunh?" Laura marveled at the picture on the screen. "Really three? This is your girlfriend?"

"Yup! That's my baby." Fitz answered proudly.

"What does she see in your ugly ass?" Laura teased. "She's gorgeous. Way out of your league."

Fitz laughed. "I think so too! She makes me nervous as hell." He admitted.

"Really? What is she like?" Laura asked, genuinely interested. She hasn't seen her little brother this smitten in a long time. The way he smiled just from saying Olivia's name was cute.

Fitz scratched his forehead and bit his lips. "Livvie is the best. She makes everything fun. She's one of the kindest and smartest people I've ever met. I can talk to her about anything. She has such an infectious laugh. And she's funny too. Like actually tells good jokes. She likes to make fun of me a lot. You all will get along great!" He palmed his face at the realization. He has seven women in his life that can push all his buttons. How lucky was he? "On one hand she can be sassy, intimidating and blunt. But on the other, she can be so vulnerable and honest, warm and super affectionate. She's the perfect package. Like she can rock the hell out of a red carpet but she can also sit on a couch and put away a dozen wings with no makeup on, and that's sexy as hell to me. She's everything I've ever wished for."

"Damn… when's the wedding?" Laura asked seriously.

Fitz shrugged. "As soon as she tells me she's ready." He said. "Things are still so fresh and new. I think it will be awhile before we get there but I have no doubt that we will. I think I love her?" It felt like a weight was lifted from his chest at his admission. He's been feeling this way for weeks and saying it out loud to someone, even though it wasn't Olivia, felt amazing. He loves her!

Laura smiled and wrapped her arm around his neck. "I think you do too." She nodded. "She sounds like a great person. And I'm happy you two found each other. I can't wait to meet her."

"Thank you, sis. That means a lot is coming from you." Fitz leaned over and kissed her temple. "It's good to be home." He said, inhaling a long deep breath as he stared ahead at the beautiful night.

The rest of his stay flew by way too fast! On Friday morning, he woke up early to treat his niece and nephew to breakfast. His visit was a surprise to them so when they walked down the stairs to the kitchen before school and saw their cool uncle T in the kitchen, they lost their minds. Even Theo who is not usually a morning person brightened up really fast. They wrestled for a bit on the kitchen floor. He loved to get them all riled up. Once they settled down, Fitz served them breakfast and got all his kisses and updates on the happenings at school. Milo, the dog was happy to see him too, especially since he kept feeding him small pieces of bacon under the table.

"You're spoiling my dog, Fitzgerald." Laura warned.

"That's literally my job." Fitz retorted, pouring his sister a fresh cup of coffee and setting a plate for her at the kitchen table.

"I love it when you're in town, punk." Laura smiled.

"Yeah! We love it, uncle T. Can you move back here?" Karen asked.

Fitz kissed her forehead. "Maybe one day, munchkin. I've got someone very special in D.C. I can't just leave her."

"You mean aunt Livia?" Teddy asked, smiling. He liked his auntie Livia a lot. She was nice and colored awesome pictures with him. "Can she move here?"

"I hope she wants to one day. That'll be cool, huh?" Fit replied.

"Yeah!" Teddy shouted.

Laura shook her head and smirked behind her cups of coffee. "You've got it bad, dude."

After the kids went off to school with Jake, Fitz was able to sit down with Laura to talk about business. Naturally, Laura wanted to open up shop here in LA. Her whole family was here and it didn't make sense for her to move her whole life to a different state when she could make a killing here in LA with her business connections and all the experience she has under her belt as a chef.

If this conversation took place three months ago, Fitz would have no hesitation with getting the ball rolling on this project. But his life right now was different. His life included Olivia and he couldn't justify moving back to LA to himself when he was in the middle of building something life changing with Olivia. But he also wanted to be there for his sister. This has always been her dream. He could manage some frequent travels or be a silent partner? This was a conversation he needed to have with Olivia as well in order to be clear about next steps. They put a pin in the conversation, promising to revisit again soon. But Fitz also told Laura she was more than welcome to scout spaces around LA and get back to him with a list of listings to see what strings he could pull with the city.

Later that evening, everyone reunited at the ranch. It was amazing. Seeing his mother and all his sisters. Suffering through their shameless teasing. Hanging out with his niece and nephews and causing chaos was the best part. They played everything from blind folded hide and seek, to board games and video games and of course, the iconic family game of paintball. It was a lot of fun to be had. But through it all, Olivia was never far from Fitz's mind. They texted a lot. He bombarded her with a ton of pictures of his family reunion. And even called in a few rescues with some of the silly things he was subjected to.

Fitz was able to have time with everyone separately as well. The big six shared a love of scotch. It was the only good thing they inherited from their father and once all the kids were asleep, they gathered in the backyard for open conversations about everything going on in their life. What was kicking their asses, things they were into at the moment or looking forward to, marriage troubles, new ladies or gentlemen in their lives.

That part they were extremely interested in. Even though Frankie, Katera and Dee were each dating new people, that was not the topic of interest. It was Fitz's business they wanted in on. They all had the same reaction that Laura had when Fitz showed them a picture of Olivia.

"When do we get to meet her?" Carina asked.

"Hopefully next time we do this again." Fitz grinned. He was hopeful and he couldn't wait.

The next morning on Saturday, Fitz had his time with Gerry. The two were really close. They were both early risers and enjoyed a good workout to start their day. They went for a long run on the property and wrestled on the large field for a bit afterwards. They spoke about college applications as Gerry was soon to be a senior in high school. They talked about the girl he was interested in at school. Even though he was a well liked kid in his school, when it came to girls, the poor kid was a big nerd and quite shy. He definitely got that from Fitz's late best friend Richard, who was Gerry's father.

When they returned to the house, everyone else was still sleeping but his mother was awake. Leah Grant smiled at her only son and eldest grandson. She greeted them each with a kiss to the cheek. While Gerry went to go hit the shower, Fitz opted to keep his mom company while she prepped breakfast for the family. And he was able to have his moment with her too.

As her only son, Leah shared a very special and sacred relationship with Fitz. Mothers aren't supposed to have favorites but Fitz was her pride and joy and held a special place in her heart. She was so proud of the upstanding gentleman he was. Nothing like his late father was. They might share the same looks, but their hearts and characters were completely different. Her boy is a sweet soul, so kind and caring. And he totally wore his heart on his sleeves. And that's why from the moment he walked into her arms yesterday evening, she was able to take one look into his eyes and see the intense love story written all over his face. And now was the perfect opportunity to get some intel.

"So are you gonna tell your old mom about the young lady that's captured your heart?" She asked, chuckling at the "deer caught in the headlights" expression on his face.

Fitz blushed. Was he that predictable? "It's still new. But I like her a lot."

"Yeah?" Leah smiled. "What do you like about her?"

"Everything." Fitz replied, biting into a strawberry.

Leah raised an eyebrow. Now more curious than ever. Fitz wasn't the only Grant man in the family to be taken with this new lady in his life. Teddy was too and she heard all about her from the toddler's point of view weeks ago. Now she wanted to hear it from Fitz's. "What's her name?"

"Olivia Carolyn Pope! And she has the most beautiful, expressive brown eyes, mom." Fitz boasted proudly.

"And what else?"

Fitz shrugged. "She's smart, kind, fun and talented. She's a lover of simple things. She smiles a lot. And she makes me feel so happy and alive. She likes hugs and cuddles as much as I do. She's become one of my best friends."

There wasn't much else Leah needed to hear in order to sense that her son was completely in love. He wasn't saying it out loud but Leah knew her sweet boy. It was intuition.

"She sounds special, son. I can't wait to meet her." Leah said, reaching over and gently grazing Fitz's cheek.

And that there was that blush and boyish grin. Fitz leaned into her palm and kissed her hand wrist. "Neither can I, mom."

The rest of the day was memorable. After breakfast, everyone spent time outside by the pool. It was a beautiful day out. Frankie made everyone mixed cocktails while they sun bathed. The kids played various water games, splashing everyone not in the pool, which segued into a vicious game of water balloon fight and dunking each other in the pool. Even Leah was a victim. Nobody was excluded.

Later on when the sun went down, Fitz fired up the grill and helped Laura cook some marinated chicken and steaks. Katera played music, Carina and Gerry duet, Teddy and Karen danced with their grandmother. At sunset, they all huddled for a group picture before they sat down to enjoy a delicious family meal.

Fitz's heart felt full that evening. He texted Olivia to check in. He shared the group shot they took, and he pictured her in a similar shot at some point in the near future. He went to sleep with that thought in mind. Excited to return to his future the following day.

Sunday afternoon, after a lengthy, emotional goodbye with his family, Fitz returned from California. He was very anxious to see Olivia. He spent all weekend getting teased by his siblings but through it all, he was able to come to an important revelation for himself. And he wanted to share it with Olivia. He couldn't stop smiling. He didn't know how she would react and he hoped sharing with her wouldn't cause her to run away from him. But he was hopeful for a positive reaction. And even if she ran, like he told her many times, he'll chase her over a cliff.

When he landed at the airport, Tom was already waiting for greeted him with a firm handshake and then got in the back of the Lincoln.

"Tom, please take me straight to Ms. Pope's apartment." He requested.

"Yes sir."

The second Tom pulled from the curb, he texted Olivia that he was on his way. She let him know that she was out for a walk but would be heading back home immediately to meet him.

The drive was relaxing. Knowing what his heart felt, he was at peace. But his excitement lingered the whole drive to Olivia's apartment. Roughly twenty minutes later, Tom was parking in front of her building and he sat in the car waiting for her.

"How was your trip, sir?" Tom asked.

"Pretty good, Tom. Thanks for asking." Fitz replied, scrolling through his emails on his phone . "Always nice to see the family and spend some quality time. But I missed my lady. So, glad to be back."

Tom could see the smile etched all over his boss's face just from thinking and talking about his girlfriend. He doesn't think he's ever seen Fitz so giddy. It was quite amusing to say the least. But he was happy for him. He thought they made a wonderful pair together.

"Speaking of… head's up." Tom nodded towards the windshield view.

Fitz looked up from his cellphone and there she was. The love of his life walking towards him, looking unbelievably cute and fashionable in a pair of dark leggings, a light, cozy sweater and classic, dark ray bans. Her hair was straightened and hung perfectly on her shoulders.

She removed her sunglasses as she got closer to his door. She knocked softly on his window and he lowered the tinted glass, revealing his face and the grin he reserved exclusively for her.

"Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Grant." She teased. "Hey Tom!" She waved.

"Afternoon, Miss Pope." Tom greeted back.

Fitz got out of the car and leaned against it cooly. He raised his left hand and Olivia chuckled, mirroring him as she entwined their fingers together and stepped closer to him. "You look great." He complimented.

"So do you." Olivia smiled.

Wanting her closer, Fitz let go of her hand and pulled her flush against his chest. He held her hips as Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head back slightly to get a good look at his handsome face and her favorite pair of blue eyes.

"Hi baby." She properly greeted, fingers playing at the curls on the back of his neck.

Fitz swooned. He felt himself weaken at the knees as he leaned in and captured her lips. They moaned in unison… both reminiscing at the familiarity and finding joy and pleasure in feeling so at home in each other's space. Olivia added more pressure. Her arms moved from around Fitz's neck and instead cradled his cheeks as the kiss deepened.

When the need for air surpassed their hunger for each other, they pulled away, breathing shortly and heavily. Fitz rained a few butterfly kisses across her nose and cheek, causing her to giggle. Finally he looked into her eyes and smiled again, "Hi." He said. "I missed you."

He was too cute. Olivia couldn't resist stealing a quick peck before returning his sentiments. "I missed you too."

"And I have a secret to share with you." Fitz could feel his heart starting to speed to a different tempo for an entirely different reason. He was nervous. But he couldn't bear to spend another minute without letting her know. "No one else knows about this. Just in, fresh"

Olivia giggled. "Tell me, tell me! I like secrets."

"You sure you want to know?" He asked.

"Yup. I wanna be all up in your business! I can handle it."

Her response only served to make his heart thump harder. "Alright, so I didn't just miss you." Fitz said softly. "Turns out I can't even be away from you too long because I'm madly in love with you."

"Hmmm…" Olivia hummed. Her heart was thumping in her chest and she wanted to break into dance. But she willed herself to remain cool and not even crack a smile as she further probed, "Just so I get this right. You…" She pointed at his chest "... are in love with me? You love me?"

Fitz nodded. "Yes. I love you."

It felt so liberating to confess that. But with his admission came the heart palpitations. He waited with bated breath for her reaction. He held onto her firmer, almost as if he was afraid she might slip right through his fingers and run away forever. But he was hugely mistaken because none of that happened.

Instead he got…

"Oh… Okay."

That was not the reaction Fitz expected. He couldn't tell if this was good. She wasn't really giving him much here. And he had only prepared for two scenarios. The one where he's overjoyed because she loves him too. And the one where he has to chase her and convince her to stop running away from him because he was all in. He didn't prepare for this indifference? Was it even that? He didn't understand what the hell was happening. And he felt himself becoming more and more flustered by the second. Maybe this was a mistake. He knew it was far too soon for these strong feelings. But what was he supposed to do? Let them suffocate him?

"Okay? W-what does that mean?" He stuttered miserably. "What happens now?"

Olivia shrugged, finally giving him a small smile. Fitz was forever confused by her mixed reactions.

"Whatever we want." She replied. "Personally, I'm feeling ice cream."

"Ice cream?" He frowned.

"Yeah!" She knocked on the passenger's window, startling the driver. "Hey Tom?"

Tom rolled the window down and poked his head out. "Yes, Miss Pope?"

"Could you give me and this gorgeous gentleman a ride to get some ice cream? Apparently he's in love with me or whatever. I'd kinda like to celebrate." As she said this, she was looking at him, smiling the most beautiful smile Fitz had ever seen and he felt a warm shiver run through him and melt his heart. She wasn't going to run from him. And he didn't even need to hear her say it to know she felt just the same as well. But damn, her poker face was on point. She really got him this time.

"It would be my pleasure." Tom smiled. "This is fantastic news, Miss Pope!"

"Thank you, Tom. We'll be just another minute." Olivia said.

She redirected her attention to Fitz. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging on that stubborn, errant curl against his forehead. "I love you too." She told him as she stared into his eyes. "I'm in love with you too."

Fitz's response came in the form of a giant grin and a peck to her lips. "I know."

"Oh, you know, do you?" Olivia chuckled. "So cocky."

"Don't you dare start with me." Fitz sassed. "I swear you live to torture me, Miss "Oh… Okay"." He mimicked her reaction from earlier.

Olivia burst into laughter. "Can we go now Mr. Attitude?"

Fitz pushed off from the car and opened the door for her. "Après vous, mon amour."

He climbed in after her and she made herself comfortable against his chest, her leg crossed over his thigh. He kissed her temple and squeezed her in a tight hug. "You suck at keeping secrets, by the way." He teased.

As they drove away, Tom caught Fitz's eyes in the rearview mirror and winked at him, as if to say, "she's a keeper". And he nodded back in response. Indeed, Olivia Pope was.

888

Tadah! If you've made it to the end, thank you for reading. In a weird twist of event, this update came much easier to me than Epiphany's next chapter. I've been out of the game a while so getting into the right mindset to write fluidly has been difficult but I've been practicing and I'm so glad to be creating again. I think a lot of it has to do with me joining Twitter! Y'all, it's wild and fun out there. I made a new pal, Mel, shout out to you. I've really enjoyed our little writer's club, so if you read this, this is the result. LOL.

Additionally, I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe during these strange times we are experiencing. To everyone on the front line of this (healthcare, educators, food services, CSR, retail workers) and everyone else doing their part in helping to contain this virus, you are all awesome! And we will find ways to stay sane and get through this together. How I've been staying sane is through my hobbies and I started a project that I'm super passionate about. I'm trying to organize something special for the teachers in my district once this pandemic is over. I created a go fund me page and I'm totally gonna do some self-promotion here. If you guys can donate, that would be awesome. Totally understand if times and circumstances are hard, so no pressure at all if you cannot. But sharing the link on your platforms with friends and family would be extremely helpful!

I look forward to reading all your reviews! See you all again on the next chapter for Epiphany! It's coming y'all and it's long as hell. WELP!

Gofundme link: /u/xxcagy