Hey everyone, so I had posted this story before , but the flashbacks weren't corresponding the way i wanted them to so now i'm re posting it . So I was reading an article this morning, in which Kerry was talking about how Olivia shouldn't be a role model to people. Now that statement really got me thinking about all the characters on the show, not just Olivia. Now like most people I have a set view of which characters I like and which characters I don't. As I thought about what Kerry said I came to a stark realization that I'm ashamed to say I hadn't really thought about before. Now I'm a die heart Feminist, and the more I think about it, I don't think that the two main female characters (Olivia and Mellie) really embody the spirit of Feminism at all. Mellie is in love with a man who treats her horribly, and all people seem to care about is whether Olivia is with Fitz or Jake. These are both strong intelligent women who are undermined by their relationship statuses. Because of this I have decided to write this story about the amazing powerful fearless Mellie Grant (who along with Jake is my favorite character). This story is about her trying to find her voice, and trying to start over after heartbreak.
*Okay so this story takes place towards the end of the second season, during the episode a woman scorned. Mellie is in her interview with James and she makes a different choice, hope you enjoy*
1 year ago:
Mellie and James sat in two chairs in Blair house surrounded by cameras filming what was likely to be one of the most shocking interviews of all time. Mellie looked absolutely stunning in a navy blue versa chi dress. She looked relatively calm considering she was about to bring down her husband's presidency.
"… Ma'am are you saying that the president of the United States participated in an extra marital affair?" James asked, clearly shocked, he glanced towards Cyrus who was standing at the side fuming
"Yes that's what I'm saying" Mellie said her voice breaking slightly as she realized what she was doing
"Now Mrs. Grant Forgive me for asking but why would you come forward with this information?" James asked
"Well…its kind off hard to explain, but I'll try … When I first found out I was a mix off terrified and horrified. You know you married someone from better or for worse, and this is one of the worse things that could ever happen. Of course divorce is hard in all circumstances but especially when you're on the national stage that just complicates things even more.
"Now to speak to those complications, many politicians' wives talk about the stand by our man mentality. Now historically, this has also been true with first ladies. Most recently Bill Clintons Monica Lewinsky Scandal in which his wife Hillary stood by him. Do you think that you will do the same, or will you set a precedent by being the first sitting first lady to divorce her husband? James asked
Mellie felt her stomach drop; this was the moment she had been dredging. He wasn't here; he had chosen Olivia over her. Some small part of her still believed he would burst in and tell her he loved her, but she knew that they were over and he was never coming back. In reality they had been over for 15 years since the night Jerry raped her. That was why she couldn't stop loving Fitz; she knew that if she hadn't been raped then they would still be together. All Mellie wanted in life was to go back to that night and make it not happen, but that wasn't an option. The truth is that it did happen and she couldn't change that, but she could try to move on, finally take control of her life. She tried to remember all the pain that she had felt when she realized he was cheating, or when he said he didn't love her, or when he asked for a divorce. Mellie knew the answer to James's question was one of the hardest things she ever had to say, but she had to.
"Well you know how I said that this whole ordeal was terrifying. I am terrified. For the past 15 years I've been married to Fitz, I've been a lawyer's wife and governor's wife and the president's wife. The idea of starting over, the idea of being alone truly terrifies me. This is the truth for not just me but millions of people out their contemplating Divorce. Their terrified of the idea of everything there known for most of their lives suddenly changing with the stroke of a pen."
"So let me just be clear Mrs. Grant, you are contemplating divorce?"
"When I first found out about the affair I tried to figure out my options. I thought about my myself , my children ,and the country in making my decision. At first I thought it would just be easier to try to fix it, to try and ignore the fact that your husband was sleeping with someone else. But then I thought about my daughter. They always say the teenage years are the most impressionable. I realized that I could never tell her to be honest with her dreams if I was living a lie. I want to be somebody my daughter can look up to and be proud off and I can't be that if I'm still married to Fitz , so that's why tomorrow I will officially file for divorce .
"You're…. You're really filling for divorce?"
"Yes, I want to do what's best for me and my children and so I'm going to get out of a broken marriage"
"Now you use the term broken marriage, but you and the president welcomed your son barely a year ago , so how did things change so fast?"
"You know it's interesting you ask. We were so blessed to welcome Teddy barely 2 years after our miscarriage, I felt like he was our second chance, our little miracle. Clearly though Fitz didn't feel the same way , for he was cheating on me during and after my pregnancy"
"The president was cheating on you while you were pregnant?"
"Yes , it was a total shock to me , and it ended up being a huge factor in my decision. I realized that all the couples counseling in the world wouldn't work, if holding his new baby in his arms didn't"
"Wow well I think I speak on behalf of the American people when I say I never saw this coming."
"I didn't either" Mellie admitted
"Mrs. Grant, one thing that you still haven't said is the name of your husbands mistress ."
"I guess that's what made it even harder. I don't think Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky had ever muttered 2 words to each other, but actually, my husband's mistress was someone I once considered a friend. I guess It's the people you least suspect that hurt you the most, but to answer your question James , Fitz's mistress is … is former communications director Olivia Pope."
*Hey everyone hope you enjoy , this was just a quick chapter I banged out before bed. Now I urge you to follow &comment , but if it's just long rants about how horrible Mellie is and how stupid I am (I've had a tons of those) please keep them to yourself. Anyway , Have a great night :)*
