TROTD - Chapter Fifteen: Pink Bedroom

            Fitz watched as Olivia pulled her sweater over her head then unzipped her skirt and let it glide to the floor. She seemed oblivious to him, her mind obviously elsewhere. Instinctively she reached for his discarded shirt and slid it on. Fitz tossed his pants over the back of the chair in the corner and put the rest of his clothes in the hamper.

“Penny for your thoughts” he said taking a step closer to her.

“Just tired I suppose” she replied quietly. His arms encircled her waist and he pulled her flush against him. His skin felt hot even through the cotton of the shirt she wore.

“You are so beautiful” he sighed using his finger to move a stray curl from her forehead, “I am such a lucky man. I have the three most important people in my life under one roof for Christmas.”

            She felt his fingers move over her neck and she shivered slightly, “This has been the most wonderful night” she agreed quietly. His lips gently caressed hers while his thumbs moving along her jaw, his fingers stroking the hair at the nape of her neck. Her hands explored the muscles of his chest and abdomen as the kiss deepened. Olivia felt herself slipping into the haze of their passion when there was a quick knock and the door to the bedroom opened. Fitz and Olivia instinctively moved away from one another, Olivia licking her lips.

“Dad, do you have an extra toothbrush?” Ellie stepped into the room giving Olivia a quick glance then turning her attention back to Fitz.

            Fitz tried to compose himself, taking several deep breaths before answering, “Check the hall bathroom there should be some there.”

“Thanks Daddy, you’re the best” Ellie kissed Fitz on the cheek then gave Olivia a slight glare before walking back to the door, “I know I don’t tell you often but you and Mom are the best parents any kid could ask for.”

“Sleep well, Ellie” Fitz wasn’t sure Ellie’s motives in mentioning her mother but he refused to ruin the evening with Olivia to find out.  Ellie walked out the door muttering on her way out, “Get all pissed at me for kissing some guy and you’re climbing her every chance you get.”

“What was that?” Fitz called.

“I just said good night” Ellie lied in response, “See you in the morning.”

            Fitz faced Olivia again wondering if she had heard what Ellie said. When he saw the look that registered on her face he knew she had.

“Livvie” he reached to put his arms around her.

“Maybe I should go” Olivia’s eyes were moist when she met his gaze, “I should probably start getting things ready for dinner tomorrow anyway.”  She reached for her clothes but he caught her wrist.

“Olivia stop” he turned her towards him, “You’re not leaving. I’m not letting you run away from me.”

“You need to spend time with your daughters” her body felt weak and she was suddenly bone tired. She couldn’t fight the strength of his arms and she really didn’t want to but it was clear the holiday would be contentious if she stayed. She wondered what she’d done to upset Ellie. She had invited her to her parents’ party, she’d helped smooth things over for her with Fitz, she wasn’t sure what else she was expected to do.

“You are not leaving. She’ll get over this. She’s a kid and this divorce has been hard on her” Fitz tried his best to talk Olivia into staying, “She likes you.”

“Funny, that wasn’t the vibe I got” Olivia tried to turn away but Fitz held her where she was.  He couldn’t let her run. He knew the divorce wouldn’t be easy but he refused to let Ellie’s tantrum drive Olivia away.

“I don’t want you to leave so if it will make you feel better I’ll sleep in the other room and you can have my bed” he needed her to stay and if he couldn’t have her in his bed at least he could have her under his roof.  Olivia allowed her head to fall to his chest and her eyes slid shut. The feeling of his warm skin on her forehead was soothing though her emotions were still awry. She wanted to stay, wanted to lie in his arms, feel the comfort of his touch, but she didn’t want Heather and Ellie to be uncomfortable. He kissed the top of her head and ran his hands up and down her upper arms. Her shoulders slumped further into him whether from fatigue or acquiescence he wasn’t sure. He led her slowly over to the bed and pulled back the duvet. He eased her against the sheets and kissed her forehead, “Get some rest. I’ll be across the hall.”

“Stay with me” she whispered and slid over to give him room to lie next to her. He pulled the covers over them and moved closer to her, stroking her hair.

“All you have to do is say the word Livvie” he whispered, “Anything you want is yours.”

            Olivia reached to stroke his cheek, tracing the outline of his jaw and his lips, noticing the small lines on his forehead, the result of his current half-frown. She touched his hair and toyed with the curl that always fell in front of his face. She thought about what she wanted. If she could really have anything what would she choose? She couldn’t imagine giving up nights like this wrapped in Fitz’s arms but her mother’s words haunted her ‘remember he has daughters’. She tried to imagine her father with another woman then almost laughed at the thought. Her parents were ridiculously happy, some days sickeningly so. They had never spent much time apart and always sought out the other’s counsel. She wondered how Ellie could believe that her parents had been happy. They rarely spent time together, usually a week in the summer and some time over Christmas break, and they were anything but loving when they were together from what she could gather.

            Fitz knew Olivia was deep in thought. He noticed her furrow her brow and the way the corner of her mouth twitched slightly. He wanted her to want their relationship but he couldn’t push her. If he had to step back and be a co-worker and friend he loved her enough to do that but he hoped he never had to follow through. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her hands wandering his face. He pulled her closer so he could feel her breath on his lips. He smelled the wine she had drunk mingled with the smell of her perfume. He enjoyed the quiet of the moment, trembling slightly when he felt her lips touch his. They were unsure and quivering. He opened his eyes to look into hers.

“I want you Fitz” she kissed him once again, this time a little deeper, “That’s what I want.”

            Her words found their way straight under his skin and coursed through him. He leaned to touch his lips to hers feeling the urgency in her touch. His lips moved to her neck and she giggled when he nibbled and sucked the delicate flesh.

“You have me” his words vibrated against her skin. He let her continue to intensify their kiss still tentative about what she was comfortable with. He felt her hand slide down his back and tug at the waistband of his boxers. She took his hand and placed it on the buttons of the shirt she still wore. He quickly unfastened the shirt and paused to admire the silky skin beneath. She felt the back of Fitz’s fingers caress the contour of her breast, her nipple immediately responding to his touch. Their lips met again, tongues meshing, even the deepest kisses not feeling like enough connection. He rolled her underneath him so every possible point of their flesh was in contact.

“I never thought it could feel so good” she whispered in his ear, “No one has ever made me feel the way you do.”

“It’s you Livvie” he suckled her earlobe, “It’s this hot little body” his hands moved to her ass, angling her hips up towards his, “and these sweet, luscious lips” he kissed her intensely, “I’ve never been with a woman like you.”

            Olivia felt his erection pressed to the entrance of her heat. She gasped at the sensation and instinctively gripped his shoulders when he pushed into her. All thoughts of anything but Fitz slipped away as their bodies moved together. She wrapped her slender legs around him pulling him deeper. He varied his pace, paying close attention to the angles and depths that educed the greatest sounds of her pleasure. She felt him slow and wondered why he was stopping.

“What’s wrong?” she panted, a worried look on her face.

“Nothing, turn over” he instructed in his deep baritone. She scurried to turn onto all fours and grinned when he grabbed her hips. His arm slipped around her waist drawing her closer against him. He stroked into her long and hard. She pulled a pillow to her face, muffling her moans. The familiar ache of her desire twisted through her veins and slowly overtook her entire body. She could tell from his strokes that he was close to the edge. She pressed herself harder back against him and turned to see his face. The sight of carnality on his face was too much for her to stand.

“Fitz…I’m…..”

“Olivia….” he growled with a last deep thrust then collapsed against her back. They lay panting, wrapped up in one another, exchanging small kisses, hands still roaming over one another’s body. He ran his hand down her arm and intertwined his fingers with hers.

“Merry Christmas, My Livvie” he whispered against her damp curls, “We’re going to figure this out, I promise.”

“Merry Christmas” she kissed his fingers one at a time.

X-X

            Fitz heard the ringing of a phone through his exhausted haze. He opened his eyes noticing that the sun had barely peeked above the horizon. He carefully pulled his arm from under Olivia and rolled to answer it.

“Hello?” his voice sounded as weary and tired as he felt.

“Fitz” the voice on the other end began, “We need to talk.”

“It’s five o’clock in the morning” he closed his eyes again, hoping to stay in his semi-asleep state, “Can this wait?”

“No, I need to know what is going on there that you’re allowing our daughter to make out with young men she just met” Megan’s tone told him she wasn’t going to let up.

“Look I don’t know where you heard that but…”

“From her Fitz, she told me when I spoke with her last night” Megan was nearly yelling, “What were you doing while our child was with that boy?”

            The sound of Fitz talking caused Olivia to stir. She ran her palm along his muscular back and brought her lips to his neck, causing him to quiver, “Hang up and come back to bed” she whispered, “I want to give you your Christmas present.”  Her hands slid around to his chest, “Fitz” she purred a little louder.

“Who….Fitz….tell me that your mistress is not in the house with my children” Megan screeched, “You can’t go one night without screwing her? Really Fitz?”

“Megan, first of all, cut the mistress crap,” he started, “second, Heather and Ellie aren’t children and as far as Ellie and that boy, you’re blowing it all out of proportion. It was one kiss and Olivia took care of…”

“Don’t say her name” Megan interrupted him, “I don’t want to hear you say her name let alone give her credit for anything.”

“Okay, well, thanks for waking me up at this ungodly hour to rant and rave like a lunatic” Fitz lost his patience, “I’m going to hang up before I say something I might regret but I’ll leave you with this....You and I have not been a couple for years, we are getting divorced, Olivia and I are together and there is absolutely nothing anyone is going to do to change that.”

            He hung up the phone and turned to a stunned Olivia, “Sorry, where were we?” He pulled her against his chest and kissed behind her ear, “You okay?”

“I’m great” she nestled into him and closed her eyes again, “What had Megan all upset?”

“Ellie told her about Josh last night” Fitz replied allowing his eyes to fall closed as well.

“I gather she wasn’t happy” Olivia gave a short laugh.

“No, she wasn’t happy about much” he returned her chuckle, “Not about Ellie, me, you…”

“Well I doubt I’m her favorite person on a good day” Olivia muttered softly, drifting off again.

“You’re my favorite person” he pressed his lips to the back of her shoulder, “Go back to sleep.”

X-X

            She allowed herself to fall into a deep sleep, not awakening until several hours later.  Olivia stretched and turned over, finding she was alone in bed.  She smelled bacon and coffee. Her stomach rumbled in response. She pulled on Fitz’s shirt and proceeded downstairs.

“Whatcha cookin’?” she asked sliding in close behind him and running her hands over his strong chest, “It smells delicious.”

“Bacon, eggs, pancakes, and of course, coffee for my love” he turned and placed a kiss on her forehead. She busied herself pouring a cup of coffee then sat on a stool at the island watching him work. He finished cooking the pancakes and walked over, standing just in front of her. He had put on pajama pants and a plain white t-shirt but neither did well to hide the physique below. He bent to kiss her lips, “Merry Christmas” he said into her mouth, his hands finding their way to their usual spot in her hair. He had to know how much that drove her crazy, she thought. Their kiss continued for minutes, slow, intense, and consuming. Neither wanted to be the one to break the contact and both of their bodies longed for more. He wondered how he’d ever survived before Olivia came along. She thought of how incredible it was that one person could make her so happy.

“Breakfast smells great Dad” Fitz and Olivia pulled back as Heather entered the kitchen followed closely by Ellie; “Sorry” Heather blushed slightly at the sight of her father deep in a passionate embrace with Olivia.

“Good morning girls” Fitz stayed on the far side of the peninsula willing the evidence of his arousal to subside, “Merry Christmas. Sit down we can have breakfast then open some gifts.”

“This is delicious, Fitz” Olivia said in an effort to break the uncomfortable silence as they sat at the table.

“Thanks” he smiled a proud smile, “Have to make sure my girls have a good breakfast.” He patted her thigh and her body responded, involuntarily she felt her leg move towards him.

“I remember when you used to make breakfast for Mom” Ellie spoke up from the other side of the table. She didn’t look in their direction, keeping her focus on her plate.

“Ellie” Heather tried to warn her sister.

“I’m just saying that Dad has probably made breakfast for a thousand women” Ellie pushed her food around her plate. She looked up to make eye contact with Olivia, “You know he was with a thousand other women before you, right?”

            Olivia knew she was at a crossroads. She could sit back and take Ellie’s abuse or she could stand up for herself, stand up for what she and Fitz shared, and show Ellie that she wasn’t going anywhere. She saw Fitz move to speak put touched his arm to stop him.

“Ellie, I know you’re not happy about your parents’ divorce,” she began in a calm voice, “I know you want to blame me and dislike me but you need to see how unrealistic you’re being.”   Ellie looked almost shocked. Olivia continued, “Your father and I have talked about everything in our pasts. I guess I have to wonder why you would prefer your father to be dating a million nameless, faceless women while he’s in some sham of a marriage with your mother rather than having the courage to be in a real relationship with someone he loves.”

“My parents love each other” Ellie sounded like a small child, “We were all going to be back together once….”

“Once what?” Olivia felt her anger boil over, “They stayed together for you and your sister. They thought it would make it easier. But that doesn’t even matter anymore. The why doesn’t matter, what matters is that they haven’t been together for years.”

            Fitz took Olivia’s hand trying to calm her then began to speak, “Ellie, your Mom and I are getting a divorce regardless of what else happens. We always had a plan in place to divorce once you girls were older. I didn’t intend to meet Olivia and fall in love when I did but sometimes things don’t happen when they’re most convenient.”

“Daddy”

“It’s not going to work Ellie. You’re an adult. You are going to college in the fall. You’re going to have to accept that your Mother and I are never going to be together again” Fitz continued, “My life is here, hers is on the East Coast. I have my restaurant and my show here….and Olivia.”

 “Why do you have to choose her over your own children?” Ellie sounded like a petulant child, “You just want her because….it’s just gross Dad.”

“I am not choosing Olivia over anyone” Fitz looked from Ellie to Heather then to Olivia, “But you and Heather are not children. And if you insist on making our lives difficult then you’re not going to be welcome to spend time with us. Olivia is a part of my life and I expect you to show her respect. I don’t expect you to call your mother and tattle, I don’t expect you to vilify Olivia, I expect you to treat her the same way that she has treated you and Heather, with the utmost kindness. She has tried to get to know you and invited you to her parents’ party. She kept me from freaking out over that boy you were kissing. I want all of my girls to get along.  I know it will be a process but if we all agree to do our best I think we can make it work.”

“You make it sound like you’re going to marry her” Ellie pouted down at her plate.

“I might someday” the admission caused Olivia’s breath to catch. She wasn’t sure how to react. She glanced at Fitz who gave her a wink and that smile.

“And, what, have a whole new family? Like you’re going to have kids with her? You’re too old Dad”

“You are getting way ahead of yourself Ellie” Fitz took a deep breath, “Olivia and I are going to date and figure out what we want but the truth of the matter is that it’s our business, not yours.”

“I’d like it if you married Olivia” Heather spoke up in an effort to break the tension, “She makes you happy” she turned to Ellie, “And that’s all that should matter to us, that she is good to Dad and makes him happy.”

            Ellie rose from her seat and carried her plate to the sink then walked out of the room. Olivia could feel her heart beating rapidly. She was surprised to hear Fitz’s admission, relieved that she had told Ellie how she felt, and afraid of how Ellie would respond. Fitz took her hand again and kissed her knuckles, “Well, that went well.”

“I’m sorry” Olivia replied, “I just…”

“No, you were honest, you made good points” he gave her a small smile, “Plus I like fiery, passionate Olivia” he kissed her cheek.

“She’ll be okay” Heather added both to reassure Olivia and to ensure that they both remembered she was still sitting at the table, “She’s always been so sensitive and she hates change. I think with this and her going to college it’s just a lot for her.”

“Thank you” Olivia smiled in Heather’s direction.

“I was serious about what I said to your sister” Fitz added, “Olivia and I are going to be together and anyone who has a problem with that isn’t welcome to be around.”

“She’ll come around” Heather stood, deposited her plate in the sink and went upstairs, “Presents in half an hour?”

“Sounds good” Fitz called after her.  When Heather was upstairs he turned to Olivia, “Are you okay?”

“Fine, just didn’t expect to have that conversation this morning” he kissed her neck then her collarbone, “You’re making it really hard for me to think” she giggled. He pushed the cotton of the shirt she wore aside and licked just below her collarbone then sunk his teeth into the tender flesh, “Fitz” she squealed, “You did that on purpose.”

“Mmmm….marking my territory” he grinned, kissing the red mark he’d left, “Hopefully your Mom won’t see this one.”

“You are so bad” she slid onto his lap and kissed him, “Now what can we do with thirty minutes?”

            A smirk touched his lips and she felt his response against her leg, “Unless you think we should wait…”

“Olivia Pope, you are honestly going to be the death of me” he growled.

            She stood and began towards the steps, “Can’t keep up Mr. Grant?”

            He rose and started after her, “I’ll make you beg for mercy” his voice was thick with desire. She ran laughing up the steps and into the bedroom, Fitz catching her just steps before the bed and throwing her down onto the wrinkled sheets.

“I love you Fitz” she whispered under hooded eyes.

“Don’t think that’s going to save you” he breathed and went to work removing the few clothes she was wearing. Peals of laughter mixed with soft moans emanated from the room.