I've been playing around with this idea for a while now, but didn't want to start another FF considering I have so many open. However, after watching Outlaw Prophet last night, and being royally mind fucked, these are the only words I could get out when I tried to update. This story will be loosely based on Waiting To Exhale but with a twist. Consider this the prologue as it isn't very long, it's just to give you all an idea of what I am thinking and a little background of our star players. There will be no Jake in this story as I am not good at bashing or praising the man, and yes, this will evolve into an Olitz tale. As always thank you for reading, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

New Years Eve 2004

Olivia

Liv sat at her vanity applying the finishing touches to her makeup. She had chosen a white silk floor length Versace gown which accented all of her best assets. She wanted to look her best, it was after all New Years Eve, and after being worn down for six months she has finally agreed to allow Edison Davis to be her date for tonight. Every year Morrison, Smith, & Eccles throws the biggest New Years Eve party. People all over New York City pay big bucks to attend the ball, as it is known that the hottest celebrities are always in attendance. However, they never seemed to phase Liv much. They were after all her clients, and all of them had a dirty little secret that needed hiding. Her clients... Well, they used to be anyway because as of 5:45 this evening, Liv was no longer a Jr. Partner at M.S.&E, the most prestigious crisis management firm in all of New York. They had tried to talk her into running their DC office, even offering to make her a full partner if she accepted. Olivia Pope had other plans.

Tomorrow Liv would be officially moving to Washington DC where she had spent every weekend for the past six months visiting to set up her very own crisis management firm Olivia Pope & Associates. It hadn't been easy, but with two of her closest friends Huck and Harrison joining her at the firm, she knew the transition would go a lot smoother.

DC symbolized many great opportunities for Liv. A new job, a new start, a chance to make a name for herself. There was also her best friend Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III. He was the owner of a chain of five star Italian cuisine restaurants that were spread out across 19 of the 50 states.

Fitz...

Liv was excited to see Fitz. It had been so long since the two of them had a chance to just be. It had been 11 years to be exact and Liv was sure of it.

That was the day Fitz Married Millicent Wentworth who forced Fitz to cut off all physical ties with Liv. It didn't stop them from having their weekly phone conversations for the past 11 years, or him stopping by to see her when she would come to town to iron out details of her new firm. Now, now that Liv would be living in DC full time, there was no way Mellie would be able to stop them from spending time together.

Liv heard her phone ringing which snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked down at her caller ID, and saw it was her mother. She picked up her phone and dropped it into her purse before making her way out of her Manhattan flat.

"Not tonight ma, I'll call you tomorrow."

Quinn

Staying at home alone on New Years is something that Quinn had grown used to since her husband Jessie walked out on her and their five year old son 11 years ago. Jessie wasn't the worst father in the world, he did make sure his son was taken care of, but he rarely kept his word when he said he was going to come visit. Quinn had mixed feelings about the times Jessie would come as they mainly led to one thing, the bedroom.

Quinn was in the middle of making dinner when she saw her now almost 16 yr old son Christopher make his way into the kitchen.

"I wish you were going out Ma." Chris said as he looked at his mother with saddened eyes. He knew she had trouble trusting men since his father left, but it was time for her to get herself a slice of happy.

"I want you home by 1." Quinn said sternly. She was worried about letting him go out with his friends, especially on New years when there would be a slew of drunk drivers on the road.

"Mom! This is D.C.! No one is turnt up til at least 2!"

"You should be happy I'm letting you go out with those grades your getting." Quinn spat, much harsher than she intended to. Christopher was a good boy. He did just about anything that was asked of him. Quinn knew his love and masterful handling of the trumpet would possibly land him a scholarship to any college of his choice. Christopher began speaking , snapping Quinn out of her daze.

"I'm doing the best I can so you may as well ground me now." Christopher replied. He honestly was doing the best he could and even with medicine and tutors, he still had trouble grasping concepts that come so easy to many others.

Quinn walked over to her son and offered a weak smile as she fixed his collar. She knew he was trying, but she didn't believe he was trying to the best of his abilities and that was what saddened her.

"You look nice. Be safe."

"I love you ma." Chris said as he kissed Quinn on the cheek and made his way out the door.

Quinn turned to the kitchen sink and began cleaning some of the dishes in the sink. She looked out of the window and sighed heavily into the DC night sky.

"Lord, please help me find a good man this year."

Abby

Abby was the youngest partner at Clark, Whelan, & Charleston a law firm located in the heart of DC. Known as the party girl of her inner circle, Abby was never one to stay home on New Years Eve. But tonight, that is exactly what she would be doing as she was stood up yet again by her boyfriend Stephen.

Abby and Stephen had been on again, off again since graduating college 11 yrs before. During one of their off agains, Stephen married Georgia, one of the many reasons they were constantly off again. His marriage didn't stop him and Abby from enjoying an amazing sex life, it just meant that he could no longer stay the entire night.

Abby was ok with it for now. I mean it was better to have the love of your life sometimes than not at all. Right? Abby sat down on her sofa with her Yorkie Taja and a pint of Ben and Jerry's and prepared to watched the ball drop.

Maybe this year she would come first in someone's life.

Fitz

Fresh out of the shower, dressed in nothing but a towel, Fitz made his way to his closet to prepare for to night's gala. He seriously hated going to these things, but Mellie always insisted on it. They made a deal years ago that they would swap going to company parties during the holiday season. Since Fitz threw the Christmas party, he had no choice but to attend Mellie's as she claimed her boss Andrew Nichols required her presence at these events.

Fitz sighed as he stepped into his boxers before pulling out his tux. He walked over to the full length mirror in his walk in closet and began to dress. "Maybe this year won't be so bad. It would be nice to spend some time without the kids." Fitz thought to himself. He was deep in thought and didn't realize Mellie was standing behind him.

She was a vision wearing a black Escada strapless ball gown. Fits took in her appearance and smiled. Mellie could be difficult to exist with sometimes... actually all the time, but she was the mother of his children, and he wanted to stay true to his vows.

Fitz continued scanning Mellie's attired, and his smile faded as he noticed the nervous look on her face.

"Fitz, would you be terribly upset if we didn't go to the gala tonight?" Mellie asked with faux smile plastered on her face.

"I'd be crushed." Fitz said out loud but internally was screaming "No I wouldn't."

The look that took over Mellie's face sent chills down his spine.

"Fitz, I'm going to the gala. I'm just not going with you. He-"

"He?"

Did this bitch just say he?

"He, doesn't want to be alone on New Years and I was thinking why should he be?" Mellie responded, her face void of all emotion.

"It's Andrew, isn't it?" Fitz asked. Mellie's silence was all of the confirmation he needed. Now everything was beginning to make sense. The late nights, the $10,000 a year pay raise for a secretary, having to attend every single function and sit alone as Mellie disappeared for hours at a time.

"So what are people going to say when you, a secretary shows up on the arms of her boss instead of her husband?" Fitz spat. He wasn't mad, he was furious, he was crushed, he was hurt. Granted he and Mellie had far from the perfect marriage, but they made it work for the sake of the children.

"Finally the truth Fitz. I'm leaving you, for him."

"What are we supposed to tell our children when they ask why mommy isn't coming home?"

"Tell them whatever you want Fitz. I'll still see them. On weekends and every other holiday."

"Millicent Victoria Grant, you walk out that door you walk out with the clothes on your back. Our prenup... You get nothing."

Mellie stood silently for a moment honestly feeling sorry for Fitz. He wasn't a bad man, they just weren't right for each other. He knew it, she knew it, but now it was time foe the world to know it. "Goodbye Fitzgerald." Mellie said before walking out the door. She never looked back.

Fitz threw himself across the bed and sighed. He knew this was coming, he just wished it didn't have to affect Karen and Jerry in the process. What the hell was he going to tell his children?

Liv walked into the party and immediately regretted coming. The party was in full swing and there was hardly any room to move to the seating area due to all of the people that were on the dance floor. Liv finally made her way through the crowd, and realized there was nowhere to sit. After scanning the room for a few minutes she finally found a place to sit.

"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" Liv asked as she approached a table with three men and their dates.

"No!" The men yelled in unison as they jumped up and raced to pull out Liv's chair.

Liv sat down, and immediately felt uncomfortable due to the three men gawking her, and their dates shooting daggers in her direction. Not feeling up to any drama her last night in New York, Liv stood and looked for another place to sit. Just as she found an empty seat at a table of all women, Liv felt a pair of large hands glide up her arm.

"Olivia you look astounding tonight"

"Edison, you're late." Liv said far harsher than she meant.

"Please forgive me. I had a client that took forever. Dance with me?" Edison asked as he extended his hand.

Liv hesitated for a moment before taking. Edison's hand and allowing him to lead her onto the dance floor. Liv turned and wrapped her arms around Edison's neck as he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Liv allowed her head to rest on Edison's shoulder as her 5" heels made her much taller than her petite 5'4.

Liv had forgotten how good it felt to dance in the arms of a man. It felt good to have a pair of strong arms holding her tightly. Allowing herself to get lost in the moment, Liv closed her eyes, and slowly let out a deep breath she didn't know she had been holding in.

Halfway through the song, the moment was interrupted as a woman came and tapped Edison on the shoulder, bringing all of his movements to a complete stand still.

"Eddie, you haven't danced with me all night." The woman said as she began rubbing her hand up and down Edison's arm, her eyes never leaving Liv's.

Liv stepped back and looked at the woman before looking at Edison whose eyes were actually pleading for Liv to understand as he turned to the woman and began dancing with her.

"No this mother fucker DID not ask me out for six months, finally wear me down, only to turn around and ditch me for this tramp in the knock off Louboutins!" Liv thought to herself as she simply turned and left the party.

If I hurry home I can still catch Dick Clark.