A/N: For Ree Monique, a respiratory therapist on the front lines in the midst of all of this madness who said that updates are keeping her positive. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your strength. Thank you for being on the front lines. May whatever God or entity you worship continue to bless you. And if by chance she doesn't see this, someone in the Scandal FF FB let her know I'm grateful!

Earn Me is a trilogy, which means there's still one more part to go. That one's going to take me a minute since I'm already on page six and nowhere near done with every point I intend to hit. Hopefully you'll enjoy this even though I'm well aware that Olivia is frustrating as hell. Shout out to folks who recognized my use of Max & Gina Torres' Jessica Pearson.

JustAFan - thanks for trusting me.

Everyone else, thanks for reading!

A week went by and much to Olivia's dismay, Fitz still wasn't speaking to her, nor was he sleeping in their bed. Every night after they put Tommy to bed, he'd retire to the futon in his office. Every morning he'd wake in pain Olivia would offer him ibuprofen and their bed. He didn't bite. If it wasn't for Tommy or the baby in her belly, he didn't care. Olivia started to see that she just might have lost her husband. Today was the test to see if this were true. It was the day of her six-month check-up. A day where she needed Fitz by her side.

"Are you still coming to my appointment today?" she asked over her cup of herbal tea. Her eyes met Fitz's as he slid around the island, away from her.

"I work in the hospital, Olivia, of course I'll be there." Despite his tone being level, she still felt the bite in his words. He was still lashing out.

"If you don't want to be, I can just ask my step-mother."

"Another facet of our lives you want to cut me out of, huh."

She frowned at his words. The verbal shot cutting her in half as she set down her mug. "That's not –"

"Fair," he finished for her. "You find a lot of things I do not to be fair but none of your own things…"

Again, she frowned. "Fitz—"

"See you later." He didn't look back as he grabbed his car keys and an orange from the basket in the center of the island, disappearing out of the front door before Olivia could truly assess the fact that he'd even spoken to her at all.

/

Shifting in the vinyl chair, Olivia frowned. It was twenty-past the time she was set to meet with Maxine Shaw. The receptionist who looked to be still in college kept giving Olivia the runaway. Max would be out in a minute. Max was taking a call. Olivia started to think that Max wasn't real.

"Olivia, are you here to meet with Max?"

Olivia lifted her head to see Jessica Pearson. The woman's skirt and blazer set were impeccably tailored, she wore three-inch Jimmy Choo's that made her tower over Olivia, and her long hair hung in loose waves down shoulders. "Hi. Uhm, yeah. I think she may have forgotten about me, though, and unfortunately I don't have much more time to wait around."

Jessica frowned and clicked her tongue. "Yeah, Max is the type to get on something and get tunnel vision."

"I have to get to get to my obstetrician's soon. My husband will be waiting on me."

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" Jessica asked.

Olivia nodded; one eyebrow raised. "Okay."

"Not here, though, follow me."

The pair made their way through a set of double doors, down a hallway littered with photographs that Olivia recognized as being the work of Carrie Mae Weems. Finally, they came to a stop at a corner door. Jessica ushered Olivia inside and shut the door behind them, taking the seat behind her glass desk. Olivia followed suit and took the seat opposite Jessica; she was unable to hide the confusion on her face.

"Is this about the job because you could've really told me that the offer was rescinded in the lobby. I should really get going." Olivia scooted to the edge of the chair, cursing herself for ever sitting down. It would take a minute for her to get up.

"Oh no, it's not that. At all. I just. Look, Olivia, if you're going to work with me then you're going to have to know that I am a straight-forward person. Beating around the proverbial bush isn't in my nature."

"I'm not following." Olivia's head tilts.

"What's going on between you and Ben?"

Her eyes widened at the question in clear affront. Jessica nodded, something between a grimace and smile cross her face. "That's what I thought."

"Thought what?" Olivia's tone was combative. "I don't know what you think you know about me and Ben, but there isn't anything going on between us. I am married."

Jessica licked her lips. "I can see that and so can Ben, yet he isn't respecting it. I've known Ben for a long time, Olivia He is a good friend. I know him well enough to know that he isn't respecting your marriage and won't. I also know that he's a man who enjoys fighting for things that are unattainable and is a man who gets them. After he gets them is where the trouble sets in."

Olivia recoiled and her eyes narrowed. She opened her mouth prepared to tell her perhaps-maybe-not-future-boss's words but stopped short, changing directions. "There isn't anything going on between me and Ben," she doubled down.

"A man doesn't call his ex's law firm for anyone."

"Is this what this is about then? You and Ben dated now under some misguided care you're insinuating that we have a thing?" Olivia wasn't able to stop the defense in her tone or the slight jealousy that laced her words.

Jessica laughed. "I've never dated Ben and never would. He and Max were a thing. A hot and heavy thing a while back. Engagement ring and all. They haven't seen eye to eye since, which is why he came to me for you knowing full well I'd have to go to Max."

An irrational spike of jealousy rippled in Olivia's belly. Suddenly she wanted to meet this Max, to learn more about the woman who'd been engaged to the man she considered a friend. She wanted to know what this woman was like; what hadn't their relationship worked out, and more importantly whether or not there was some truth to Jessica's words. "I'm sorry, but I'm still not understanding," Olivia lied. She took a measured pause, allowing a beat to pass. "But there really isn't anything going on between me and Ben. He's. He was there for me when I needed an ear and I'm thankful."

Jessica opened her mouth to reply but stopped short. A knock on the door drew both women's attention. It was the receptionist. "Max's is ready for you."

Nodding, Olivia shuffled to the edge of the chair and pushed herself up. Her six-month belly was setting in and so was the swelling. Her blood pressure had been on an upward climb since her argument with Fitz started. She'd been trying not to pay any mind to it, counting it as hysteria and fear on her end, but she knew she should say something to her husband and doctor soon.

"I promise you, Olivia, I wouldn't have said any of this if I didn't think you deserved to hear it. Contrary to what you may think, I like you. I want you on my team. I think you'd make a hell of a lot of difference here. I know Max will see that, too. Sometimes, though, we're blinded by what we want to see and not what actually is. Sometimes a plastic rose is just that – plastic."

Olivia gave Jessica a small, tense smile, and walked out.

/

How the hell was she late to her own obstetrician appointment? Everything had gone smoothly with Max, almost too smooth, leading Olivia to forget watching her wristwatch and the fact that she was on a timeline. She waddled through the halls of GWU hospital in Foggy Bottom, one hand on her stomach and the other swinging her purse. Fitz was never going to let her live this down. Ever. He'd told her that he didn't want her going to the damn job interview and now he'd have more fodder for the flames in their marriage right now. She pushed past a couple of orderlies and scooted around an empty wheelchair. If she could run, she would've been.

As she reached the ultrasound room, she heard a woman's high, flirty laughter followed by the sound of her husband's voice. It sounded lighter, smoother; the bitter edge she'd been hearing for the last seven days was gone. In its place stood a man who was confident, easy going, and ready to take control. Frowning, Olivia made her way into the room. Her eyes connected first with Fitz's, watching as the smile on his face faded, and then with the ultrasound tech's. Olivia studied the woman, annoyance building in her bones. The woman was pretty; probably not over the age of thirty. Her long curly black hair was pulled back into a loose pony. She had a soft, round face with dimples, green eyes that sparkled beneath the fluorescent lights of the hospital, and buttery brown skin. Olivia watched as the woman grabbed onto Fitz's left arm and threw her head back in laughter.

"Am I interrupting something because I can come back. I just kinda have to take the baby with me, too." Olivia joked but the brusque tone of her words belied her attempt at levity. She was trying – and failing – to remain unbothered by the scene at hand.

"Good of you to join us, Olivia." Fitz stood. She was thankful that he didn't wear his white coat down. When she was pregnant with Tommy, he loved to remind the doctors and ultrasound technicians that he was a doctor. Almost as if it were a threat, he was waiting to act on despite the fact that he was a heart surgeon.

"You must be Olivia. Hi, welcome. Your husband was just telling me about your son. He sounds like a great boy."

Olivia's eye caught sight of woman's name tag. Kim. "Thanks, Kim. Our son is great, and you can call me Mrs. Grant." From his corner of the room, Fitz chortled. Olivia narrowed her eyes at him.

Kim looked taken aback. Her green eyes moved from Olivia to Fitz. "Okay, uhm…Mrs. Grant. Just hop right up onto the bed and we'll get this started."

Olivia did as she was told, holding a hand out for Fitz to help her. He took her hand and guided her up onto the exam table. The pressure she'd felt in her ankles immediately abated and she breathed a sigh of relief. What little walking she'd done for the day was starting to take toll on her back and legs.

Fitz grabbed her purse and set it on the counter. He took the stool on the right of Olivia as she rolled up her peplum top to expose her ever swelling belly. Kim went to work turn on the monitor, putting on gloves, and grabbing the grabbing the ultrasound gel.

"Isn't this your favorite blouse?" Fitz asked. "Why would you wear this to an ultrasound?"

She frowned, remembering that she hadn't told him that she had the interview. "I don't want to argue right now, Fitz." She flinched as the cool jelly hit her exposed belly.

"Argue? What – don't tell me you had another lunch."

Olivia's eyes found Kim, who appeared to be too focused on what she was doing to pay mind to the squabbling couple. Either that or she just pretended to be. "No, I had an interview."

Fitz sighed and let out a low, humorless chuckle that caused Olivia to frown. "What now?"

"Nothing," he said. He turned away from her, towards the monitor.

The wand was even colder than the gel as it moved across her abdomen. She opened her mouth to respond to him; to clearly tell him that something was wrong, but stopped as the low humdrum of her baby's heartbeat punctured the air. Much like with Tommy, Olivia's heart nearly stopped as she heard the sound. Her breath hitched and a smile longer than a mile spread across her face. Each time she heard her children's heartbeat, she was reminded of how precarious her body was and how even having one child seemed like an impossibility. Now here she was, with two.

"Everything looks good, so far. The heartbeat is strong. I'm counting ten fingers and ten toes. And are we finding out the gender today? Oh, wait, it looks like it was already given to Mrs. Grant on the call to double check appointment day. In that case, are we telling dad?" Kim asked.

Olivia watched as the woman's green eyes sparkled in Fitz's direction and her smile widened. Even Olivia had to admit that the woman was cute. Too cute for her liking.

"You already know what we're having?" Fitz asked.

"Not on purpose," Olivia said. "Whoever makes the appointments told me the other day when they called to confirm this one."

Fitz sighed again. "Did you tell anyone?"

"No," she lied. The last thing she didn't want was another burgeoning argument on her hands. "I wanted it to be a surprise. Do you want to know?"

"Yes," he said. Kim opened her mouth, but Fitz cut her off. "Wait, no." Kim's mouth closed.

Olivia laughed. "Baby."

"You're adorable, Fitz," Kim added. "Fatherhood is a good look for you."

Olivia's blood ran hot again. She hated the way the words rolled off of Kim's tongue. She was starting to hate Kim, too.

"Okay. I want to know. I do," Fitz said. He reached for Olivia's hand and for the first time in a week, Olivia felt like he was her husband once again. "Tell me."

"Congratulations, Fitz. Mrs. Grant. You're having a –"

"Boy." Fitz declared as he cut off the tech.

"Girl." Kim said, laughing. "You're having a girl."

"We're having a girl?" He repeated. "As in a little girl? As in a pink bows and flowers?" The excitement in his tone was contagious.

Olivia nodded. Tears pricked her eyes. "Yes, a little gi—" Fitz cut her off with a chaste kiss to the lips, pulling a way to kiss her stomach.

He grimaced as the gel hit his lips. "Not my smartest idea, but I'm…"

"You might be the first dad I've ever seen to get this excited over having a girl. Usually its men that want the boys. You're cute." Kim began to go about with packing up the materials and equipment.

Annoyance rolled over Olivia in waves, cutting her elation short. She wanted to kick Kim in the head for flirting with her husband. Who the hell did Kim think she was? Fitz was clearly taken. If the ring on his finger didn't say it, the six months pregnant wife sure as hell did.

"I've gotta get these results to Dr. Stephens. Congrats again, you two. And Fitz, I'll see you around." Kim gave the pair a small wave before exiting. She shut the door behind her.

"Wow, she's helpful," Olivia said as she pointed to the paper towels on the counter behind Fitz. He reached behind her and handed one. "Do you two know each other well?" she asked, wiping at her belly the best she could before giving up and handing the towel over to Fitz.

"You're starting to swell, Liv. It's not good for our baby – our daughter," he ignored the question as he wiped away the gel.

"She seemed to know you well, Fitz." Olivia didn't know when to leave well enough alone. Maybe it was the fact that her hormones currently pulled her in opposite directions simultaneously or maybe it was the jealous, but she wasn't going to leave this alone any time soon. "I didn't know a heart surgeon made it over to gynecology and obstetrics often enough to know anyone by name."

"She's a sonographer. She moves around the hospital more than I do, Mrs. Grant."

"That's my name." Olivia shot back, sitting forward. She pulled down her top.

"It's funny you only remember that when it's convenient for you."

The anger in Olivia deflated. "I don't want to fight, Fitz. I want to celebrate our daughter and the fact that I got the job. Please."

"Congrats. Look, I've gotta get back to my side of the hospital. I was thinking of going up the street to Whole Foods when my shift ends. What do you want for dinner?"

"You back in our bed. I don't like sleeping alone, baby." She couldn't help the pleading tone that her voice took on.

Fitz gave her a half smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Are you done with Ben? Are you willing to restart therapy because Sondra was right; we shouldn't have ever stopped going."

"We got busy with life, Fitz. With our son. Wait, you've been talking to my step-mother about us?"

"You didn't answer the question."

When her back was against the wall, Olivia had the annoying habit of doubling and tripling down rather than conceding defeat. She was several notches passed stubborn and moments like these were only proof. "I'm going home."

"I want us to be together, Livvie. I don't want to give up on you or what we've built, but I need you to –"

"Earn you. Right. I got that. I don't know what the hell that even means." There were the tears again.

He stepped forward and Olivia could feel her body start to react to his proximity. She reached for him and he cupped her face with both hands, holding her jaw. His thumbs ran along her bottom lip. "Either you love me enough to prove it, Liv, or love me enough to let me go." He kissed her forehead and then walked out.

She watched him go, unable to stop the quiver of her bottom lip or the onslaught of tears as Fitz disappeared.