Fitz stood at his table looking out at the guests that had shown up so far for the White House Correspondence Dinner. She came every year since he had been elected into office but she had yet to arrive. "Where is she?"

"Don't worry honey, Olivia will be here soon enough." Mellie responded with the faux grin she so loved to flash for unaware onlookers.

Shit Fitz thought to himself. He hadn't realized he had said that out loud. He knew he'd get an ear full of Mellie later but for now she had no choice but to behave. They were after all surrounded by Washington's most powerful and Fitz knew that of all places the WHCD was the last place she'd cause a allowed himself to glance around the room one final time, and just when he was about to give up, she entered.

There she was, his Livvie gliding through the door in the most beautiful gown he had ever seen. He didn't even notice at first that she was on the arm of Jake Ballard, Fitz was too busy taking in every inch of her beauty. It was almost as if his gaze burned a hole in Liv's flesh.

The way she raised her head and their eyes locked showed that she could read his thoughts. They stood there for a moment, eyes locked speaking to each other through their gaze.

"God Livvie you look amazing. Absolutely breathtakingly stunning."

"You don't look so bad yourself Mr. President."

"What I wouldn't give to hold you right now Livvie."

"What I wouldn't give to be in your arms tonight Fitz."

"Then forget the dinner. Let's get out of here."

"We have to behave tonight Fitz"

"Then you probably chose the wrong dress to wear."

The conversation between them could only be sensed by two other people in the room. Jake and Mellie knew they were somehow speaking to one another without even saying a word, but what was being said, one could only imagine. "Let's find our table shall we?"

Jake tried his best to conceal the disappointment in his voice but was sure he failed in that attempt. Liv took Jakes arm and headed towards the center of the room refusing to break her eye contact with Fitz. Again they began to communicate.

"You brought Ballard?"

"I had to. I couldn't come alone, people would talk. It's strictly platonic."

"Keep it that way. You belong to me Livvie."

"Only you Fitz."

Liv hadn't even realized they had stopped moving until Jake spoke. "Here we are, and we're the only ones here. Coincidence? I think not." Liv looked down for a split second and noticed where they had been seated. Of course Fitz placed her front and center. To the room it would seem innocent but Liv knew better. From the podium it would look as if he were looking into the crowd while maintaining his sights on Liv the entire evening. She had taught him well.

Liv looked back up and noticed that Fitz was speaking to a few members of the White House staff, and decided it would be a good time to feign interest in whatever idiocy Jake was spewing from his lips. She heard him comment on her dress and thanked him kindly. She heard him ask if she was comfortable and nodded her response. She wished he would just shut up already. The only person she cared about speaking to was Fitz.

Liv spent most of dinner locked in a heated gaze with Fitz. When Fitz stood up and disappeared from sight Liv was a little more than anxious. Was he coming for her? Did he have something else he had to tend to? She knew this man shouldn't have her this wound up but she didn't care. All Liv wanted was to be in the arms of the man she loves. Even if only for a minute.

Liv looked to the left of her and saw Tom standing in the doorway. He nodded towards her and she nodded in return. It was clear that Jake had noticed the nod as well by the way he responded. "Go." Go? What am I 12 needing parental consent to move around? Liv thought to herself. She stood and placed her hand on Jake's shoulder. The motion spoke nothing more than thanks for understanding as she grabbed her clutch and headed towards Tom.

Walking down the corridor Liv couldn't help but feel excited. This was really happening! Fitz really wants to see her so badly he can't wait until at least after his speech to whisk her away somewhere? If a stolen moment, a hug was all they had time for she'd take it. Tom opened the door and escorted her in. The room was empty, or so it seemed. Just when Liv was about to exit the room it happened.

"Hi."

Fitz stepped around the corner and Liv took in the sight of him. This man was a godsend. Liv allowed herself to absorb his appearance from head to toe. She was breathless at the sight of him. She knew that he appeared like a normally polished president to the naked eye, but there were things she knew he had done solely for her. For starters the curl. Fitz knew how that curl drove her wild with desire.

"Hi"Liv responded. Her voice was shaky as was she trying to keep her balance at the sound of his voice.

"Liv, there's something I..."

"Liv, thank you so much for coming." Mellie interrupted the moment reminding Fitz and alerting Liv that was in fact in the room.

Liv looked to Fitz's left, and directly into Mellie's gaze. Liv looked at Fitz unable to believe he had just set her up the way he did. Mellie of all people? She would never guess he'd do something like this to her. Liv turned to leave the room, but Fitz ran to the door blocking her exit.

"Livvie, just hear her out. Please." Liv took a deep breath and have Fitz a daggered look before turning her irritated glance towards Mellie.

"What?" Liv's tone was so cold it sent chills down Fitz's spine.

"Liv, I'd..we'd like it if you came back and ran Fitz's reelection campaign."

Liv wasn't sure she was hearing Mellie correctly. She saw that Mellie was still talking, but she was unsure exactly what she was saying. There was a moment where the entire room fell silent but she could tell that Mellie hadn't stopped speaking. Mellie walked towards her and placed Fitz's hand around Liv's waist.

"He needs you Liv, which means I need you. Please come back to us Liv. Come home." Liv looked at Fitz and as their eyes met, she allowed them to speak to him for her.

"Is this a trick? Some sort of a sick joke?"

"No. Come back to me Livvie. It's time."

"Fitz" "Livvie, just say you'll come back to me."

"You, I've never left your side. Mellie, can go to hell."

"I know, just say you'll be here by my side. I can't do this without you. I won't do this without you by my side."

Liv turned to Mellie and decided it was time to call her bluff. "You have spent the past year making my life, our lives miserable, working to no end just to rip us apart, and now you want me to come back as if the whore titling, news interviews, threats, tantrums, and bitch fits have meant nothing, done nothing to my life, my career?"

Mellie lowered her head as if she were ashamed of the reminders Liv was throwing against her. "Liv I am sorry, I am so sorry. I was in denial. I didn't want to believe what you and Fitz have is real. After hearing him on the phone with you the other night, I have no choice but to concede defeat. He loves you Olivia. He's in love with you. You've won."

Liv wasn't so eager to just give in on a whim, not after all that Mellie had put her through. The fact that these words were coming out of Mellie's mouth now of all moments made Liv wonder what her true motives were. Liv knew that Mellie would never admit defeat and in that moment realized what all of this was about. Mellie knew that they needed her on their side to win. Not just because of her skill, but because Olivia Pope working for the Grant reelection campaign would quash any further rumors of inappropriate activity between her and Fitz. If Mellie wanted to play a game, so be it. Liv would play along for now. Make no mistakes, in the end, she would come out the winner.

"Mellie, I am not a pawn in this sick twisted game of White House chess you are playing. I'm not some puppy that will easily come crawling back just because you have apologized. Fitz can tell you that better than anyone. No offense honey." Liv looked up at Fitz and waited for his response. Once he nodded in agreement she continued.

"Mellie, I'm going to say this and I'm only going to say this once; If you want me, EARN ME! Prove to me that I'm not some pawn in this power struggle you so desperately hold on to. Prove to me that what you are saying is true. Prove to me, that you will not turn into a tantrum throwing brat because Fitz is happy and thriving when he is with me."

Fitz of course had to egg on the encounter by placing his arms around Liv's waist while waiting for Mellie to respond.

"Liv, Fitz, tonight after the dinner is over, I'm heading back to the presidential living quarters where I will be retiring for the evening. I have asked Tom to escort Liv to Blair House where she will wait for you to make your exit. If you don't believe me, ask him yourself. Hal has the night off so whatever happens between the two of you, I have no insight into. He is yours Liv. I'm just an accessory but you, you are his heart. That isn't something I can compete with. I'm tired of fighting so, since I can't beat you, I'm joining you."

Mellie took a deep breath and composed herself. "Now, we have to get back to the dinner, but I mean it Liv. Take care of his heart, his spirit. Help him be the great man we both know he can be, the man he is when he's with you." Mellie walked out of the room and returned to the dining area leaving Fitz and Liv alone to let her words sink in.

" Livvie." Fitz sighed as he turned Liv around to face him, and placed his arms on her shoulders, allowing them to slide down to her waist.

"Fitz... I... Is... Do we..." Liv couldn't get the words out that she was thinking but he already knew.

"This isn't a game. Just say you'll meet me here after the dinner. Tom will escort you down. We need time for us. Even if it is just to talk. I need you Livvie. We need each other."

Fitz allowed his lips to glide across Liv's, and all of her senses were immediately awakened. It had been so long since she had been in the arms of the man she loves, and her body, her soul ached for it more than words could ever describe. Liv pulled Fitz's head down to hers and allowed him to draw her bottom lip into his mouth nibbling on every section of it refusing to let go. Letting out a deep moan, Liv allowed herself to tangle her hands into Fitz's thick mass of curls and deepened the kiss.

Their body's instantly meshed into one another's as the locking of their tongues sent them into another dimension. In that instant they were there, in that spot where time and people ceased to exist. It was only the two of them. They had come so close to having the thirst they felt for one another quenched, they weren't sure they could break this trance. The kiss transcended time and space, freeing them from themselves, bringing them into a place where they knew that for the first time in a very long time everything was going to be ok.

The knock on the door alerted them it was time to go back to the hall for Fitz's speech. Liv whimpered as she unwillingly broke the kiss and looked into Fitz's pleading eyes. She wiped her lipstick off of his mouth and fixed his hair. Looking up at him she smiled, and the sight of that smile gracing his Livvie's lips for the first time in weeks sent a warmth through Fitz's body.

"Okay, I will meet you at Blair House after the dinner. Mr. President." Fitz growled hungrily at the way she called him Mr. President. She always knew just how to get him excited. Now that-that was out of the way, Fitz had another problem; how could he go back out there with what was clearly becoming an obvious erection pressing against his slacks.

Liv looked down and had to laugh when she noticed how easily she could get him aroused. "Speech first. If you can make it through that, I'll do a little cobra charming after."

Fitz growled his approval and kissed Liv on the forehead. "Promise?"

"Promise."

Liv winked and walked down the hallway making sure to add extra sway to her hips.

Fitz looked down at his ever growing member. "Down boy. You'll get to play later... I hope."

Fitz took a deep breath and proceeded to make his way down the corridor and back up to the stage retaking his seat. It's a good thing there's a podium here. He thought to himself as he looked down at Liv.

The moment their eyes locked, Liv decided it was time to play a little game. She seductively began to lick her lips savoring the taste of the kiss that still lingered there. Fitz began their telepathic communication this time.

"Liv, you have no idea what you are doing to me right now do you?"

"Oh, I can just about guess."

"You have no idea what is going on right now."

Liv brushed her hand across the top of her cleavage egging Fitz on even more.

"One can hope something that only a snake charmer as qualified as myself can handle."

"Handle it you shall Ms. Pope."

Liv picked up a strawberry off her her plate and bit into it seductively. Her eyes locked on Fitz's encouraging him to respond. "Ok Mr. President, let the games begin."

"Let's do this."

This was going to make for a very long evening, but the reward at the end was definitely worth every excruciating moment of the wait.