Executive Orders

CH 40 | Love & Laughter

"...always and forever..."

A smile drifted across Olivia's face as she floated up towards a full wakefulness with Fitz's words echoing in her ears and the memory of their earlier love-making fresh in her mind.

Slowly, she became aware of things, her senses registering Fitz's arms as he still held her close, even in his dreams - his heartbeat beating slow and steady - just like him and his love.

She kept her eyes closed for a few moments, savoring the feeling of feeling warm and safe and loved; perfect and peaceful moments that she wanted to hold onto for as long as she could in the dawn's most pale, barely there and most perfect light.

The only thing that she could think of as being more perfect was lying right beside her. The thought caused Olivia to carefully shift her body so that she could raise herself up enough to study Fitz's face.

Her heart melted a little at the sight; even though their relationship had strengthened, it was still a rare enough event to wake up on any given morning lying next to him. Olivia was determined that nothing troubled Fitz's re-election chances, even if it meant denying her heart of what she really wanted.

So now she let her eyes drink in the sight of him; there was peace and contentment in his expression, the hint of a smile on his lips that brought the same smile to hers.

He really was a beautiful man, Olivia thought as her eyes roamed over his face. There was such strength in the firmness of his jawline - he'd always looked presidential in her eyes. Fitz was what people expected when they looked for in a leader.

She wondered how many of them saw the gentleness in him too. Or the ability to forgive, to understand. The infinite patience and capacity for compassion that was just as much a part of him as anything else.

A brief shadow dimmed her own smile for a moment - unbidden, unwanted - as the thought came to her how grateful she was for that.

He loved her. In spite of all of her messiness and all of her weaknesses. Fitz loved her even when she least deserved it. And for that, Olivia knew that she owed him more than she ever repay him - not in a million lifetimes.

She reached out to him, then stopped, resisting the urge to trace his lips with her fingertips, not wanting to disturb his sleep. She didn't deserve him, she knew that. And yet he was hers. Whatever irrational fears that got in her way, whatever demons from the past shaped her dreams, Fitz had always been there to heal the fractured pieces of her heart and mind until they'd found themselves here - until he was the other half of everything she was.

Olivia found her smile again as she promised herself that one day she'd be everything Fitz needed her to be. He was worth it - they were worth it.

She watched as Fitz stirred, then came awake slowly. His eyes - still heavy-lidded with sleep met hers. They were soft and warm - and happy.

"Good morning."

"Good morning." The thought that was the one who put that look in his eyes never failed to amaze her and her own sense of happiness rose up in her with such intensity that Olivia couldn't find the words to express it.

Instead she leaned forward to kiss Fitz softly, a sound of pure pleasure escaping her lips as Fitz slid one hand into her hair to hold her in place as he deepened the kiss, a soft sweet melding of lips that went on until they were both left more than a little breathless.

"How did you sleep?"

"Better than I have in a long time." Olivia admitted, feeling the last of her foolish thoughts fade away. How could she doubt anything when Fitz was looking at her the way he was?

She gave him a wicked little smile. "I can't say that I slept all through the night - I wonder why that is?"

Fitz's lips curved into a mischievous smile of his own. "If you can't remember, then -one - I didn't do my job, and -two - if that's the case, I'd be more than happy to refresh your memory."

"I don't think I need reminding, mister." This small, intimate and loving moment happening was everything; it left them smiling at each other - until it was interrupted by the unexpected growl from Fitz's stomach.

Olivia laughed at him. "It looks like your gut is trying to remind you of some other priorities."

If Fitz wanted to deny it, he couldn't because his stomach rumbled again. He grinned like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, enchanting Olivia's heart all over again.

"Maybe -" Fitz admitted as he reached out and took her hand in his. "I prefer to see it as a reminder that we put in some work not too long ago and this is just a sign that we need sustenance."

"What do you mean - we -?" Olivia started laughing at him, but then her stomach made a comment of her own.

"You were saying?" Fitz had his turn to laugh at her and took it. He brought her hand to his lips and sent a gentle caress across her knuckles before press their joined hands to her stomach. "Or should I ask" - he addressed her middle - "what were you saying?"

An uncharacteristic giggle escaped her and the sound lightened the thought of the day that lay before them. "That was my body telling you to feed me - before I faint from hunger."

"I'd rather have you - and your body - fainting from other reasons." Fitz said.

Of course it was Fitz who took charge of the kitchen - after pointing out who had the better skill-set and the fact that he was in no mood for a popcorn brunch.

"Very funny, Fitz." Olivia made a face and stuck her tongue out at him. "Me no care if my skills in the kitchen aren't the best, because that not my area of expertise. I know where I cook - don't you?"

Fitz looked up from his preparations. "I can't argue with that."

Perched on a stool at the breakfast bar, Olivia was looking all kinds of adorable - not to mention sexy as hell. Her hair was tousled and curled from last night's shower, but in a very good, very sexy I-just-got-out-of-bed way. She'd found another one of his sweat shirts and paired with a pair of silk pajama shorts that were showing an unconscionable amount of smooth and silky leg, Fitz found himself wanting to snatch her up, set her up on top of the counter and peeling each piece of fabric off of her body.

"Smart man." She can read his thoughts in his eyes and couldn't find it in her to deny she wasn't feeling the same. But, as she'd reminded him, they had most of the day to spend it however they wanted, and of course a part of her wanted him the way he wanted her - but she wanted this too, this seemingly lazy loving back and forth banter and whatever else the day might bring.

"Of course I am - I fell in love with you, didn't I?"

"I wouldn't argue with that - this is why you're the man I voted for."

Their eyes met again, laughter sparking once more between them and they're grinning at one another with smiles that are soft and flirty all at once until Fitz was drawn to her like a moth to a flame and then they're kissing and kissing and kissing until the need to breathe forces them apart.

... and the scent of a just about to be singed breakfast begins to fill the air.

Olivia laughed as Fitz rushed to tend to the breakfast sausage links sizzling on the stove's grill-top. "Mr. President, please don't burn my sausages - you should know my preference by now on how I like my meat." she added mischievously.

"Ouch - that's too way too obvious a joke, so I'm not going there." Fitz concentrating on rescuing their food instead.

Olivia raised an eyebrow. "I'm surprised you're backing down so easily."

"I bet you are - and that's one of my goals - to always keep you on your toes. We're going to have a life full of surprises - all happy ones, I promise. And they are all going to be filled with so much love and laughter." Give him half a chance, Fitz thinks - and he'll make this come true every day for the rest of their lives.