This is a two or three chapter Olitz-ish fic that takes place sometime between season 5 and 6, when Fitz comes to campaign for Mellie. The purpose of it is to give them a chance to talk about some things that were never really dealt with on the show, and explain how they got to where they seem to be now, not together but friendly enough that she can lean on him for support at least a little bit the way she did on election night. Reviews are highly appreciated.

P.S. I freely admit to using my fanfiction to vent some of my PTSD rage over the real life election. So if you think it's fair that the press went after Hillary over Bill's affairs while giving Trump a pass for being a serial cheater, you may not like this fanfic.

CANTON, OHIO - AUGUST 2016

Olivia is standing outside the campaign bus looking over some new polling data while Mellie is greeting voters at a barbecue. Quinn brings Teddy, who has just awoken from a nap, down the stairs of the bus so he can join his mother.

"Quinn, change his shirt before bringing him out there," she directs.

Quinn starts to comply but then gets a phone call. Meanwhile, Teddy runs over to Olivia and tugs on her arm.

Suddenly, Olivia is standing in an apple orchard, and the boy tugging on her arm has darker skin and curly hair. Suddenly, a montage of images flash in her head: The moment she agreed to Defiance. Running toward Fitz at the house in Vermont. Mellie telling her 'I'm going to need my husband back.' Her kidnapping. The dream she had of being in Vermont with Fitz while she was being held hostage. Encouraging Fitz to 'run and win'. Watching Mellie's filibuster as she sat in the waiting room to have the abortion. Watching Fitz and Mellie find out the gender of 'America's Baby' on Kimberly Mitchell. Mellie encouraging her to think about her future and decide what she wants. Fitz telling her that in another life, they live in Vermont and have four kids. The almost wedding. Fitz saying 'I trusted you. You were all I had. You ruined me' when he was still brooding over Defiance. Cyrus saying 'I know what you're giving up' as they stood at the press conference where Fitz announced he was running for re-election. Fitz proposing to her on the Truman Balcony. Fitz telling her he wants to win and asking if she thinks he'll make a good president. Grabbing the stirrup on the operating table. Telling her client 'you did what you thought was best at the time. You can't change the choice you made.' Fitz saying 'two babies, I think' when they thought he wouldn't be re-elected. Herself saying 'Defiance isn't ever going to be over.' Screaming 'there is no Vermont! There is no jam! There is no future!'

While these images are flashing in her head, Olivia doesn't notice that cameras are snapping pictures of Teddy tugging on her arm. She doesn't notice a blogger traveling with the campaign coming over and squatting down next to Teddy.

"Do you like traveling with your mom?" the blogger asks Teddy.

"Yeah!" Teddy says happily.

"Why?"

"Because people take pictures, and Mommy plays with me," Teddy says.

"Does your mommy play with you when nobody's taking pictures?" the blogger asks.

"No," Teddy says matter-of-factly.

Quinn notices that Teddy is talking to a blogger and that Liv looks like she is a million miles away.

"I'm going to have to call you back," Quinn says. She hangs up and runs over.

"Okay, that's enough," she says to the reporter, standing between him and Teddy.

"Liv. Liv!" she nudges. Olivia snaps out of her funk and quickly goes into action mode.

"I'm going to need that footage," she demands.

"Sorry, it's already up," the blogger says nonchalantly. "Last I checked it's up to 10,000 hits."

"Credentials, now!" Olivia demands. "You're off the bus!"

Olivia turns to Quinn, who is holding onto Teddy to prevent him from running off, and starts rattling a list of instructions about damage control.

"How the hell did this happen?" Mellie asks Olivia angrily.

"Mellie, I..." Olivia begins, but Quinn jumps in. "Senator Grant, I am so sorry. I was taking him to change his shirt because he spilled apple juice all over the one he was wearing, and I finally heard back from guy who's handling our ad buys, and I got distracted for a second and Teddy ran off," she explains.

Mellie notices the look on Olivia's face and she doesn't quite buy Quinn's story, but she decides not to press the issue. "The networks have been airing the video all night," she complains to Olivia. "Frankie Vargas has a five year old daughter with cancer, and nobody criticizes him for being out on the campaign trail instead of by her side. But me - if I don't bring Teddy with me on the campaign trail, I'm a bad mother for being away from him. If I do bring him, I'm a bad mother for using him as a prop."

"Mellie, we knew this was going to happen," Olivia counsels. "Women are held to a double standard. It's not fair that they pick apart your parenting skills but not your male opponent's. It's not fair that Fitz has a 59% approval rating while they're still hitting you as dishonest for helping to cover up his relationship with me. It's not fair that they paint you as a cold-blooded reptile just because you're as ambitious as your male counterparts. It's not fair but it's the reality of being the first woman to be nominated for president. We're handling this, I promise. It's a one or two day story. It will blow over."

"Do you remember what I told you about not talking to strangers?" Fitz chides his son over the phone.

"Yeah!"

"Alright, don't do it again. Can you put your mom back on the phone?"

Teddy hands the phone to Mellie.

"How did this happen?" he asks.

"Supposedly, one of Liv's people was watching him and got a phone call and he ran off," Mellie says.

"Supposedly?"

Mellie sighs.

"I think something's wrong with Liv. She's been on edge all week, and right before this happened I glanced over and it seemed like she was a million miles away. I guess maybe being around our son - your son - is making things hard for her."

Fitz looks pained by this.

"Alright, I'll talk to her tomorrow night in Pittsburgh. Do me a favor and don't push her."

PITTSBURGH, PA - ONE DAY LATER

Olivia is sitting in her hotel room drinking wine at a faster than usual pace while struggling to focus on editing Mellie's speech when she hears a knock at her door.

"Why are you here?" she asks Fitz when she opens the door.

The next chapter will feature a much-needed heart to heart between Fitz and Liv. Please review if you have a chance.