A/N:

Okay, so I took a little break for the summer and now I'm back with a new fic! Wait, wait, don't shoot me just yet. I got chapters for both Whatever Happens & The Miracle Maker coming right up, back to back.

Okay, then. This one probably won't be longer than ten (10) chapters. Disclaimer: Any similarity to another fic by different author is unintentional This is something I wrote a while back for Whatever Happens, so there are some similarities there. Any way, this plot-line just didn't work that well for that story, works best as a new story. Sooo in this one Olivia doesn't have any children or ex-husband .Another major difference is that here Fitz and Olivia start out as friends which is certainly different from any of my other fics. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter One: The Proposal

The sharp ringing jostled him from his peaceful slumber. Grumbling harshly, he gripped his pounding headache, evidence of his late night out. He pushed off the soft arm draped across his chest and forced his eyes to squint open as he grabbed his buzzing phone and checked the caller I.D. His mood soured more when he was finally able to read the name flashing at him.

"What?" He growled as he placed the device to his ear.

The gruff voice on the other end scoffed, "Sorry sunshine, hmm...did I wake you at the crack of noon?"

"Just tell me what you want so I can get back to my business." He huffed.

At once, he heard his father sigh and could just imagine the disappointed look on his face as he said, "Yeah-yeah, I can just imagine the business you're conducting...Look boy. Your ass had better be in my office in twenty minutes. I'm done coddling you and enough is enough. So I suggest you kick 'whatever her name is ' out of your bed and get over here."

The line went dead then and he shook his head before tossing his phone back on the night stand. He sat up and groaned as the piercing pain only intensified. He glanced over at his bed partner, her blonde hair tangled behind her as she hugged his pillow. What was her name again? He laughed bitterly as he realized his old man knew him better than anyone.

Fitz Grant was officially thirty one and yet he still lived the prosperous life of a bachelor, much to his father's derision. Being the only son of the president of Grant enterprises meant that it was expected of him to follow after his father. Not that he had any other plans but to do so. But his father didn't seem to believe that he could have both the responsibility of running a company and a bit of fun on the side. He glanced down at the woman next to him again and internally sighed. He was loath to give up the finer pleasures of life because his old man was too much of a stick in the mud to see that life had to be lived to the fullest and that could occasionally mean getting to the office late on some Monday mornings…

Still, he knew how temperamental his father could get so he didn't think it wise to test that twenty minute time limit. He reached out and gently shook her shoulder, rousing her from sleep. Her beautiful hazel eyes peeked up at him and her lips curved up into a seductive smile.

"Fitz, ready for another go already?" She purred and he grinned back and gripped her chin, lifting it up as if for a kiss. He saw the anticipation in her eyes and it gave him some dark satisfaction.

"Afraid not, sweetheart. It's time for work, which means you need to shower so I can call you a cab." He said and drew back, watching as her eyes filled with disappointment. But she didn't give up easy as she lifted herself out of bed, offering him another tempting view of her large breasts. He smiled in appreciation, but was otherwise unaffected, too used to these things to lose his head over. She leaned closer to him and gave him her best pout, providing a better angle on her slender figure as the sheets fell away. He raised a brow as she slid one finger along his arm and added heat to her eyes. If he wasn't so experienced, he may have believed it was real.

"Who says our fun has to end so soon?" She whispered and reached up for his face.

He intercepted and grabbed her wrist, giving her a sharp cold look.

"Game's over sweetheart. Get ready to leave in five minutes or you will walk down the hall as you are." He said and her eyes instantly hardened as well, she huffed and pulled away from him. He watched as she stomped towards the bathroom and slammed the door behind her. He chuckled as he ruffled his mussed, dark red hair and stood up to stretch his tired body. He was going to need a shower and some coffee if he had to deal with his old man's bull any time soon.

xxx

Olivia tucked a stray strand of dark curly hair out of her face, looking down at the spreadsheet she'd just printed out. Staring at the computer screen wasn't helping, but she thought maybe printing it out and staring at it would. Leaning back in her chair, she folded her arms across her chest and sighed. Her expenses were now higher than her profits and unfortunately, she would now have no choice but to terminate her two part time employees. Hopefully it wouldn't come to that and the bank agrees to give her more time to make her monthly payments. The last couple of years had been kind of rough with her father filing for bankruptcy and still having to pay off a good portion of his gambling debts, which meant that her former rich girl lifestyle had come to an abrupt end. Yet in the midst of it all, she turned a load of lemons into lemonade and in spite of having zero experience in the business world, she set up shop in one of the best parts of town. She rose to the challenge and soon started earning enough money to support herself as well as her ailing father. And while early on she had bemoaned life's lemons, in the end she was a better person for it; in fact, she could hardly recognize her formerly pampered self from the down to earth woman she was today.

She rolled her head and stretched her stiff shoulders; she was so looking forward to going go and taking a long bubble bath. She was about to close up shop when a sudden sharp tap caught her attention. Frowning, she glanced toward the open doorway leading from her cozy kitchenette to the front door. A few seconds the sound repeated, confirming that in fact another customer attempting let him or herself in. She groaned. What part of a closed sign did people not understand? She pushed her way out of the kitchen with every intention of sending the person away until she spotted him through the glass door.

Leaning on one arm against the glass and flashing his trademark grin was her best friend Fitz. His dark hair blended against the dark sky and the light of the moon highlighted the planes of his handsome face.

She sighed in relief, so glad to see him and quickly unlocked the door, welcoming him as he breezed in.

"Hello, beautiful." He greeted her with a quick hug and peck on the cheek.

"Hello, stranger. What brings you to my little shop?" She teased, shutting the door behind him.

"I wouldn't call it small. Quaint is more like the word I would use."

She tilted her head, giving him a quick glance over. His tie was loose, signaling that he had only recently come from work. There was also this tension in the way he held himself and the way he had hugged her. He must have had a rough day.

"How about a slice of cake and some coffee?" she asked heading to her mini-kitchen located at the back of the store. Then, without waiting for his answer, she sliced off a piece of her cinnamon mocha cake for him and silently placed it at the counter height table a few steps away from the kitchen's food preparation area. Then, she sauntered back to pull out two iced cold Starbucks cappuccino drinks from the mini-fridge for them to enjoy.

Without a word they sat at the table unconsciously pushing their bar-stools closer until their knees touched.

Fitz would often come to her shop to visit, at times bringing her a collectible or something he thought would be a good addition to her consignment shop. But since lately he'd been working over time at Grant enterprises he'd visited less and less often. But one thing remained the same, she was the first person he came to when he was upset or frustrated about something. She knew just the remedy for him too.

"Wow." He sighed blissfully as he took his first bite. "You are my angel sweetheart. It's amazing how you can still read me like this."

She smiled at the compliment and leaned on her elbows, enjoying his dessert vicariously. She would indulge only on occasion. This was a direct result of the many years of ballet training under her belt, which meant a well-established habit of watching her figure on a regular basis.

"I've known you all my life, Fitz. I Know you better than anyone, even better than your own mother," She said with a light chuckle. He smiled in kind and did not speak again until he'd devoured half his cake.

"If only others were as understanding as you are. Most people are judgmental and claim to know best... but if they haven't walked in others shoes, how can they condemn? My father is so quick to judge...but you know what, he's never taken the time to get to know me."

"What happened this time?" She asked and he sighed, taking a sip of his coffee while making eye contact. When he set the can back on the table his stunning blue eyes were more clouded than she had seen in a while.

"My old man and I...had a rough meeting today." He grumbled and she instantly understood why he seemed in such a troubled mood.

"In other words, he gave you another lecture about your behavior in your private life." She said and he laughed bitterly, leaning back in his seat.

"Not exactly. I've grown so numb to those that they don't even bother me anymore. Instead, he decided he would force me to give it up...by giving me an ultimatum." He said, looking up at the ceiling as he leaned further back in his seat. She tilted her head and waited for him to elaborate, but his eyes remained stubbornly on her tiled ceiling. She rolled her eyes and reached across the table to lightly pinch his arm. He jumped and his eyes returned to hers, noting the irritation blazing in the green depths. He smirked, but it didn't hold as he sighed again and ran his fingers through his hair.

"He told me in no uncertain terms that he expects me to find someone to settle down with or I'll forfeit my inheritance…" He spoke in a low husky tone and Olivia's eyes widened as her mouth fell open as she realized the seriousness of the situation.

"He can't do that though...it's the twenty-first century. He can't force you to marry someone!" She cried as she straightened in her seat, outraged.

"Legally no...but he can change his will and give the presidency to someone else when he retires. Those are within his rights, so in a roundabout way...yeah, he really can force me. But wait sweetheart, it gets better." He said and rubbed the back of his head and gave her a look that said 'I fucked up' as he continued.

"I decided to open my mouth and tell him that he was wrong about me and that I've been in a committed relationship for the past six months, but had yet to introduce her because I waiting for the perfect moment to do so."

"Fitz...please, please tell me you did not just make up a fake girlfriend and lie to your father. The most cunning man I know." She groaned and covered her eyes with her hands and shook her head as Fitz laughed. She'd known the Grant family since the beginning of time; back in the day, both families ran in the same circles, went to the same parties and even played golf together…

" Before I knew what was happening I was making an agreement with my father that I would marry this woman within the next few weeks and introduce her to the public at the next publicity party we're holding." He groaned and she looked up at him again in horror.

"Wait. You have to find a woman who's willing to marry you on short notice and has to go to this party pretending that she's known you for the last six months!? Fitz do you even know such a woman?" She asked and he shrugged.

"There have been a few women the last few months who I've seen more than once...but that's not gonna help, is it?" He asked cheekily.

She gave him a reproachful look. "You're so screwed." She deadpanned.

After a moment, he laughed and before she knew it, she was laughing right along with him.

"This is why you're the best, Liv." He said between laughs and she shook her head at him, wondering if he was even taking this seriously. Before she could lecture him further the bell above her door rang and she jumped, swinging towards the door.

"Sorry, we're clo-"

"Evening Miss Pope." The man said as he bowed slightly and Olivia instantly stiffened as her eyes hardened. Today the devil was in a three-piece-suit and carried a briefcase.

"We're closed. You'll have to come back tomorrow when we're open." She hissed and Fitz straightened in his seat as he noticed her anger flashing. He swung back to peer at the man walking towards them.

"Miss Pope, I really wish you wouldn't be so difficult about this. I'm only doing my job."

"However cold hearted that is…" She practically growled, crossing her arms. The man sighed and set his briefcase on a vacant stool and reached inside for a stack of papers, setting them before her.

"Listen, I just need more time…in another month or two-"

"The bank has given you plenty of time to catch up, "he cut in, "but if we don't receive the overdue amount in full in three days, we'll have no choice but to begin legal processes and foreclose the property down," he went on in a detached voice."

And with that, the devil bowed his head again and left without another word. She picked up the papers and threw them in the trash with all her frustrations behind it, fighting down the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes.

Truth was that she'd been trying to play catch up since the beginning of last year, having fallen behind three monthly payments; except that now she was four months behind which had put her so dangerously close to foreclosure . It seemed that no matter how hard she worked at something, there was always going to be forces working even harder to stop her. She clenched her hands into fists and was just beginning to tremble when a pair of masculine arms wrapped around her and pulled her back into a strong chest.

"Liv...You okay, sweetheart?" He whispered and she sagged as her anger evaporated, replaced with a sense of despair. She turned and looked up at him, his six foot frame (6'2 to be exact) towering over hers.

"I'll be okay. Sorry you had to see me like that." She whispered and he gave her a concerned look.

"Why didn't you tell me you were so behind in your payments Olivia? You know I would have-"

"I can't accept charity, not even from you Fitz."

Fitz sighed, knowing full well the reason behind her determination. He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair and sighed.

"How bad?" He asked and she averted his eyes.

"Fifty…"

"Fif-Olivia! I don't care if you're doing this alone to stick it to that asshole. You still should have called me!" He shouted and she cringed as the truth of his words dug even deeper. She walked past him and moved to the front door, locking it once more. She was avoiding the next conversation with the same cold wall as she always did. It was a defense mechanism against the raw pain. It may have happened three years ago, but it still slashed at her pride when others brought it up.

"I'm sorry Livvie...I know he's a tender subject." Fitz apologized when he saw her begin to shut down. She sighed and shook her head, silently saying that it was fine. But it wasn't...she wondered if it would ever be okay when it came to the topic of her ex-fiancé.

"Liv...talk to me, sweetheart." He whispered and she turned to see him sitting back in his bar-stool and gesturing towards the one beside him. She sighed and took his offer, settling next to him and pulled the hair tie out, letting her curled, ebony locks fall down past her shoulders. She smiled when he slid the rest of his cake towards her, but she shook her head against the offering.

"Business has been pretty slow lately and I just couldn't seem to drum up enough to keep up with my loan payments. But things were starting to get better…I just need more time. It's okay Fitz. You don't have to worry about me, not when you have your own issues to handle." She whispered, crossing her arms across her chest and hugging herself.

"You know that's not how I see it. No matter what I have going on, I'll still be here for you, Livvie...Just as I was then." He whispered softly and she gave a bitter laugh. Yes, it was true that he had been there for her when she needed him the most. The day she finally stopped being blind to the misery in her life. He was also there to support her in that first step to turning things around when she took the plunge and started her own business. She met his gaze, gratitude filling her heart.

"Thanks Fitz...I really appreciate the moral support, but I'll be okay." She said resolutely and he groaned.

"Why do you have to be so stubborn. Just let me he-"

"You know why I can't do that...I have to prove that I can 'stand on my own'." She said as those bitter words from the past replayed through her mind.

"Face it Olivia! You're nothing but a pathetic piece of trash that can't stand on your own with no real talent to offer the world. You'll be nothing without my financial support and you know it. So be a good girl and come home to me."

She shook the dark vision from her mind, her eyes filled with a determined fire. She hadn't been strong at first to fight back; but once she opened those doors, she felt that she could finally prove her fiancé wrong, the man who had shown her his true colors after learning of her father's bankruptcy.

"Let's just drop it Fitz...please…" She whispered and he sighed as he drank more of his iced coffee, silently thinking to himself. When he softly chuckled she turned her eyes up to him again to see his features had softened.

"Looks like we're both screwed, beautiful," he teased as he winked at her. She blinked and then sputtered before turning into full laughter once more. Fitz joined her and the two managed to lighten the weight on their shoulders with the help of the other. She wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye and sighed, giving him a scolding look.

"But your situation isn't as straightforward as mine. Money is easier to obtain than a woman who can pretend to be your wife." She pointed out matter of factly.

"True. Finding women has never been the problem for me." He shrugged, his easy going smile still in place. "Finding the perfect match this time though...I need a woman who's smart and strong enough to handle my father and his obvious suspicions. Plus she has to play the part of the wife twenty-four-seven because the competition will look for any opening to boot me out of the heir race...But she also can't get too attached. I don't plan to stay married after I am assured my inheritance and right to the presidency." He said, his face finally falling into a frown as the requirements made his plight seem suddenly unattainable.

"Where could you even find someone like that on such short notice?" Olivia wondered, tilting her head as she watched his eyes narrow, a sign that he was thinking hard. She waited as he remained silent, not wanting to break his concentration. Something they both shared in common was a hatred for people bothering them when they were busy and focused. Suddenly he blinked and shot up straight in his seat, signaling that he had come up with some solution. He swung over to her, his eyes widening with some hidden realization.

"I know who I need!" He exclaimed with a triumphant smile. She nodded for him to continue. He held up his fingers, counting down the key points. "She's more than capable of handling my father and he'll be less suspicious of her because he's met her before. She's beautiful so the media will believe I would actually date her-"

"Sounds awful...but go on." She said rolling her eyes at him somewhat playfully, and his grin deepened and he got a strange spark in his eyes that made her raise her brow, intrigued.

"She's sassy and won't take any of my crap, so I don't have to worry about her being bowled over by those seeking to 'dethrone' me. She already knows all my habits, so can answer trivia questions that would stump a stranger. She's more than capable of playing my fake wife while her mind remains unclouded of 'true love' or 'fairy tale endings' because she's never seen me as more than a big brother figure…"

Olivia's eyes had narrowed with each point as the sparkle in his eyes grew more intense. She suddenly didn't like the direction this was going and she could now guess who he was talking about.

"Best of all…"

"Fitz…" She warned, but he continued as he leaned closer to her and grabbed her chin in his hand. He smiled wide and mischievous and she pursed her lips.

"If I choose her, then my lie about seeing her for the last six months won't be a complete lie. In fact...I've technically known this woman from the time I was knee- high to a grasshopper."

"Don't even think about it, Fitzgerald Grant!" She muttered, shaking her head, her sharp eyes piercing through him and warning him against voicing his next words. But he wasn't fazed in the slightest, just as immune to her as she was to him. He grabbed her hand in his and before she could dodge and run in the opposite direction, he dropped down to one knee with a wide smirk.

"Olivia Pope, marry me."

A/N:

Will she say yes? Leave a review