Hey everyone, I'm sorry I didn't post my xmas story. I've been away for so long because I was dealing with my mother's illness since Labor Day, and she finally succumbed on Dec. 10th. To say that I've been out of it the last six months or more has been an understatement. I want to publicly thank Reader575 for reaching out to me, your support and encouraging words kept me sane through this. I not sure if I will be consistent in updating this story, but I dreamed it one night and I had to get up right away and write some of it down. This is a lot darker than my usual, and I'm not sure of the outcome right now, but I'll let the story lead me as usual. I hope you enjoy it.


There she sat in her row eyes forward as her heart shattered twice. Once for her mentor and father figure, and second for the love she would never find again. He had lied to her and she could feel his pleading eyes burning a hole in the side of her heard from across the church, but her grief would not let her give in. Once this was over she would go back to Griffin, Ga and hide herself away again. She would never be herself ever again.

He knew he had no right to ask her forgiveness, but he needed it more than he needed another breath. His lie had shatter a love that he had never felt before and would never again, he just had to have her. He felt the tug of his wife's hand on his arm.

She whispered in church, "Fitz who are you looking at?"

He turned his tear filled eyes to his wife, "no one Mellie. Just someone I thought I knew."

The tears ran down his face as Mellie took out her handkerchief and wiped the tears away from his cheeks. Her touch burned him to his soul, because he knew it should be Olivia comforting him. So too his heart shattered into pieces as his mentor and long time friend was being laid to rest, as well as his heart. He could feel his soul leaving him every second and every minute that he could not talk to her, touch her, or make love to her again. He lied and now the price for that lie had come due.


Cyrus Beene was mean sort of cuss, but if you hung in there he could be the most fierce cheerleader you had in your corner ever. That's how Olivia had gotten to know him as the Editor and Chief of the Atlanta Journal and Constitution newspaper. She was a sharp twenty-three year old that had graduated from Spelman. She got to know Cyrus when she was an intern during the summers. He found her courageous, highly intelligent, and a force to be reckoned with when she wanted to get to the truth. The courage alone to stand up to him is what impressed him the most. He saw her as his eventual successor to his job and right out of the gate he gave her all the tough assignments. She was a dog with a bone and she managed to persuade Cyrus she needed a team to run down complicated stories that would keep readers interested in their investigative work. Her work alone had made her the youngest person ever to win a Peabody Award for Journalism.

Olivia was born and bread in Atlanta and the city just seeped through her blood. There wasn't an event or a spot in Atlanta that she had no knowledge of. It really came in handy when she needed to get information for her stories. Her go to folks were Abbey her best friend since third grade. She went to Georgia Tech where she got a degree in Data Analyst. There was no data that she couldn't un-cypher she said "talked to her."

Huck was another one of her friends from third grade, he had a mild case of autism so people tended to give him a wide birth when interacting with him. Olivia figured out her own language for Huck so they could communicate. He loved fixing things in any form, so if you gave him something to fix or phrased everything in the words that you needed something fixed he could help you no matter what it was. He too went to Georgia Tech with Abbey, he got his double major in Mathematics and Computer Engineering in two years. Between Abbey and Olivia, they made sure he ate properly and got to bed at a decent hour. Needless to say, Huck could crack any code or any computer in the world. When he wasn't working for NSA, his regular job he would help Olivia with anything she needed.

Olivia met Harrison in college. He was at Morehouse and she was at Spelman. The two schools thought it important that each girl was matched up to a Morehouse brother. Harrison happened to be Liv's. From the jump he tried to sweet talk her. She put him in his place right away and their relationship really turned out to be a sister and brother kind of thing. Morehouse was a great place for a fast talker like Harry, Olivia thought on a many a day that he probably could of out talked Martin Luther King. Naturally he got a degree in Political Science. He was well on his way to his political career already working out of the Mayor's office. Harrison became her inside man when she needed government intel.


a year ago...

Olivia had it going so well until Cyrus came up with her partnering on an undercover story about kick backs the mayor office was getting from some of the larger construction companies in the city.

"Cyrus! You know I don't need anyone to help me with this story, I could have this busted within three days. I have the contacts to guarantee it."

"Listen Kid, this is going to have to take a bit of finesse, and I want you to work with my guys and get these fools on video. I by no means think you can't get the story, but I want to send someone to jail and shine a light on the paper for once."

"Cyrus, don't you think my work has done that?"

"I know you have, but there is one thing that your not going to be able to do, and that is pass for someone who is older than you look. I know your twenty-three, but you look like you could be ten."

Olivia sat in his office with her armed across her chest and a scowl on her face. She knew it was true, but to be told bluntly was another thing.

After an uncomfortable few minutes, "so who is the old man your saddling me to?"

Just then his office door opened.

"Ouch! I didn't think that thirty-one classified me as old."

If Olivia could have shrunk to within an inch she would have. Cyrus saw her blushing and got up from his desk.

"Olivia Pope meet Fitzgerald Grant III."

As Olivia was standing up to greet the man she grumbled under her breath, "what kind of name is Fitzgerald anyway?"

"It happens to be quite the popular name in my family. Thank you very much."

If she could blush any more she might ignite into flames. When she finally looked into the ocean blue eyes that were crinkled up and dancing from merriment, she held her breath.

Fitz reached out his hand to shake hers. "Ms. Pope is it?"

She felt like she was frozen in place trying to get her brain to work again. She grabbed his hand and she felt a warmth that flowed through her that she had never known before.

"Sorry for the comments, just not used to working with anyone other than my crew."

"Well I feel honored that your willing to work with me. I've only just arrived from Connecticut, but I'm very familiar with your work."

"Thank you, it's nothing really."

"Right! The youngest Peabody award winner in the history of the award."

Olivia blushed again.

"OK, I'll give you that one, but believe me it's not about winning awards to me, it's about making Atlanta the greatest city in the world to work and live."

"Ahh, a true believer."

She glared at him, "what is that suppose to mean?"

"Nothing other than you still have your rose colored glasses on."

"Excuse me!"

"Don't get all out of joint here. I think we all entered this business with your sense of saving the world, but then we meet the world and know that in the large scheme of things, we can only shine a light on one thing at a time, and put your finger in a dam and hope it doesn't break before you make it to the other story."

"Look, I might look young, but I know how to move in the shadows better than anyone, if you think your going to come in here and show me how's it done, you've got another thing coming."

"Whoa, whoa! Lets not get to far ahead of ourselves here." Cyrus said.

Fitz held up his hands in surrender with a smirk on his lips. Olivia was furious.

"Listen you two, I don't care how you work it out, but work it out. I want these pigs on a silver platter and served to the community at large. Get it done! You have one month."

Both their heads snapped around and looked at Cyrus as if he had lost his mind.

"Cyrus, I know you have a lot of confidence in me, but stories like this take months even years!" Olivia exclaimed.

"Well you just claimed in front of your new partner you knew how to get things done. The short notice as you may have guessed is the fact that the old mayor has a month on his term. I want to send him out with a big bang. The back door dealers are planning for him to run for Governor. We don't know what he might do with that much power. So, you two genius have one month."

"Why now Cyrus? It would seem that you've known about this for quite some time, why now and what is the real reason for the rush?" Fitz asked.

Cyrus dropped back into his chair with a dramatic thud. He knew he was not going to get by with this request without telling them the real reason.

He put his elbows on his desk and motioned for Olivia and Fitz to take a seat.

"Because a month is all I have left to give to this job. My doctor has given me three months to live, my cancer has spread."

Both Olivia and Fitz gasped at what he was telling them.

"I know you want specifics, but we don't have time for this. I'm giving you the month to allow me to go out with a bang, and I want to spend the last two months of my life with James and the children. And no, you will not tell anyone else about this. Management, James and you two know what's going on. So, save your sympathy for someone else and get me my story. Now get out of my office!"

Both of them slowly rose and moved toward his door and silently left his office. Once outside Olivia, tears poured down her face.

"Hey, let me take you to the ladies room, we don't want anyone to ask why your crying. Or you could tell everyone your crying because your working with me, and that might cover it." He said.

She chuckled through her tears and moved toward the bathroom as Fitz shielded her. He waited out side the door for her to freshen up.

Olivia came out the door surprised to see Fitz still standing there.

"So little lady how do you want to angle this story?"

"First, you should can the sexist little lady bullshit and lets head over to my desk to get a strategy going."

Fitz smirked as he watch this little spit fire lead him over to her desk. She grabbed a note pad and started heading for one of the small conference rooms.

"So old man, what ya got?"

"Wow! You sure know how to hit a guy where it counts."

"Well you deserve it for the little lady comment."

"So, where are you coming from and what are your credentials?"

"Well as I mentioned before I recently moved down here from Connecticut at Cyrus's request. My beat in Bridgeport was getting old and his request came at an opportune time to get my mojo back. And if your wondering, I've know Cyrus most of my life. My families been in the news business for almost five generations. "

"How snooty of you. Well old man, lets get to work on how we are going to accomplish this fete in a month. Let me call my connections and set a few things in motion. That is if your mojo can take a few high end technology marvels such as a computer. You do use a computer, or are you all old school and use a typewriter your Great Grand father gave you?" She smirked.

"Well little lady, I think I can manage to figure out how to use one with my ancient brain of mine. Let's get to work."


a week later...

Olivia was huddled in a van outside a fancy restaurant in downtown Atlanta with Huck. Olivia had used Harrison to set up a meeting with one of the suspected corrupt city councilmen that fed the mayor the kickbacks. Huck had pretended to be the security company that the restaurant used to set up camera's and some listening devices. He hacked their reservations and seating computer to make sure they sat at a specific table that was wired for sound.

This is where Fitz being a newcomer to town and his age played in their favor. He was going to play the part of a new construction company coming into town from Connecticut. The idea was to get the councilman on tape asking for or proposing a little compensation for the mayors ear. Everything was set up perfectly and they were ready.

"Huck, you did a great job. How did you get this van by the way?"

"Olivia, don't ask questions you want answers to." Huck way of telling her to let it go.

Olivia shook her head and said, "showtime!"

They saw Fitz enter the restaurant and sit down. He had an ear piece to communicate with them.

"Fitz, can you do a mike check for us?" Huck said.

Fitz raised his had to a waiter. "Hey can I get a glass of your finest scotch?"

"Right away sir."

"How was that?"

"Great Fitz, that's what I needed." Huck said.

Fitz sat there for fifteen minutes waiting for the councilman. He thought he was being stood up.

"Hey, I'm giving this guy another fifteen and then I'm walking."

"Don't sweat it Fitz, this guy is notoriously late, he likes to sike out his potential donors." Olivia said.

"Hey, we just saw him pull up outside the restaurant. Play it cool, but let him know you don't like to wait for anyone. He enjoys being in the presence of an Alpha male. If he smells any weakness on you he will bolt." Olivia said.

A tall handsome black man walked up to Fitz's table.

"Mr. Grant, Councilman Davis." He sticks out his hand. Fitz looks him up and down and slowly sips his scotch. Edison chuckles at the display.

"According to my watch you were suppose to be here twenty minutes ago. Do you know how much money I make in twenty minutes? No, you probably don't. You've got fifteen minutes to tell me what you want then I'm walking."

Edison smirked and pulled out his chair and called for the waiter to bring him a scotch as well.

"I think you have things a little twisted here Mr. Grant, you wanted to see me. In my mind that means I hold all the cards right now."

Fitz chuckled. "You are a small cog in a very big wheel Mr. Davis. You think I don't know how to do business in your town, believe me your just the first person at my trough. If I don't get what I want from you, I have fifty more waiting to help me achieve what I want. So, tell me Mr. I have all the cards what makes you so different from every other greedy politician?"

Edison got a little uneasy at how steeled eyed Fitz was looking at him. He didn't know this guy, but he felt that what he was saying was true. He knew there were multiple doors to the mayor, but looking at this guy, he felt that he could help him retire.

"What I have to offer is a stream line to the mayor as well as the appropriations committee for which I am the chairman. With the right kind of influence you could have a very good partnership with this city."

Fitz pulled out his very expensive pen from his suit coat and scribbled a number on a cocktail napkin and pushed it over to Edison.

"Would this help with you and the mayor's influence?

Edison's bulged out of his head.

"Is this for both?"

"No, each."

Edison started to break out in a sweat. Fitz stood to his feet.

"I'll be back in a week, I want an answer by then, or more to the point a project."

"Oh by the way, the drinks are on you." He put his pen back in his pocket and left the restaurant.


The van was rocking from Olivia and Huck high fiving each other and swearing from all the information they collected. It was a few minutes later that Fitz made it to the van and he hopped in. Olivia immediately hugged him so hard and kissed him on his cheek. He blushed a little at her exuberance.

She pulled back and said, "have you considered a career change? Because that acting job in there was Oscar worth! We've got Edison, we just have to make sure we get the Mayor too!"

"Hold your horses little lady. We have to slow play this guy."

"Your right, but you did good old man. This is cause for a celebration. Who's up for Mary Mac's?"

"What's Mary Mac's?"

"You old carpet bagger. Only the best soul food in town."

"I'm in!"

"How about you Huck?"

"Nope, got to get the van back and download the video and clean up the sound. You two go ahead, bring me back a to go container. You know where to find me."

"Will do Huck. See you in about two hours."


After gorging themselves on what delights that Mary Mac had to offer, they sat at the table for a while before they grabbed a to go box of Huck. Fitz drove them over to Huck's place where Olivia dashed inside to deliver his plate.

Once she got back in the car.

"Do you have some place you need to be tonight?" Fitz asked

"No, why do you ask?"

"I still feel a little amped up from our little sting. Would you like to go for a walk in Piedmont Park? Also, I feel I need to walk this food off to boot." He chuckled.

"That's sounds nice, and how did you find out about Piedmont Park tender foot?"

"Ha! I actually live quite close."

"Ooooh, how fancy on your part. Let's head over there."

Fitz smiled at her ribbing, but he found it quite cute and other things were starting to attract him to her. They made the thirty minute drive over and got out to a gorgeous spring night. Fitz had long lost his coat and tie, and started to roll up his sleeves to enjoy the night air and the fire plug next to him. The started out just meandering around the park not really talking, but taking in the beauty of the park. After a while they found a bench and sat down and took in their surrounding. Without them even realizing Olivia had sat down so close to Fitz that she had her head laid just in the crook of his arm and shoulder as she gazed at the sky. Fitz on the other hand felt a buzz of excitement as she cozied up to him. A buzz he never felt in his life before. She felt like home to him, like and old married couple out on a walk to get away from the craziness they left at the house with their kids and dogs.

He drank in her smell as she started to talk.

"This is what I love about my city. The smell of Magnolia wafting in the air, people who actually look you in the eye and speak as you walk by. How could you like being anywhere else." She said dreamily.

"If Atlanta offers spunky intelligent beautiful women like you, then I'm all in."

She chuckled and pushed off him and stood and held out her hand as they continued their walk around the park. Neither bothered to separate their hands as they continued their walk. It felt so natural to the both of them.