April 2018

And in news coming out of the White House, National Security Director, Admiral Jake Ballard has resigned. Admiral Ballard was President Mellie Grant's running mate in 2016 but stepped down to continue serving as head of the NSA. In a statement from the White House, the president states that she "wishes all the best for Admiral Ballard, and is not only proud to know him as a friend, but also grateful for his service to the country." From that statement we can assume that there's no bad blood between the two and now we turn to political insider, Stephanie McCord, about who the President is looking at to replace Admiral Ballard.

January 2020

President Mellie Grant introduced her new public school bill last week, which has proven to be a hard sell on the Hill, with many representatives across the aisle wondering whether it is worth it. We are now joined by Senator Grey, who was originally hesitant about this bill but has come to endorse it. Jake clicked the TV off and placed his plate in the sink with a sigh. He would recognize it anywhere. He hadn't expected anything else; it wasn't like the world stopped turning because he left the White House. That was the work of Olivia Pope.

Of course, it wasn't a big secret- everyone had heard about Olivia Pope, whether they knew her as the woman who ran the first Grant's campaign for President and won, the fixer who knew all of Washington's deepest secrets, the First Girlfriend after being exposed as Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III's mistress, or the woman who ran Mellie Grant's presidential campaign then became Chief of Staff in the White House.

Few people knew her as he did, with the other masks like Julia Baker or Command, or without any, the true Olivia Carolyn Pope. Of course, that was from another time, sometimes it felt like another life. Now, he had to get to work.

"Ok guys I want you all to warm up while I talk to Coach Edwards. You guys know the drill" "Yes, sir!"

He was back in training.

Not training in Quantico or The Farm or Wonderland but at Blackstone High School, in Blackstone, Virginia. He was busy getting the varsity baseball team ready for their game on Friday. In Blackstone, Virginia, he was Coach Ballard, dedicated to taking their high school team to state. There were still whispers; the students were old enough to remember the last election and many of the teachers wondered why someone would want to go from standing in the Oval next to the President to coaching a mediocre baseball team and having to sub in for other teachers when needed.

At first it was a transition for Jake. It wasn't like he could just erase the experiences and horrors he had seen since childhood and through his adult life. And he couldn't very well go to therapy and spill government secrets. The nightmares, violence and PTSD had forever changed him, but this was his more local version of standing in the sun. The first time, when he heard about a bombing in East Abir, he had to resist the urge to call Charlotte to connect him to Mellie to discuss how to respond, and he had to let himself relax and breathe.

The divorce was quick and easy, Vanessa was thriving in DC, and last he heard, was considering a run as representative in Maryland with the support of her Democrat dynasty.

As someone who has lived his adult life on back to back tours, missions, on the run, or alongside leaders of the world, he started to get bored. That was, until he applied to be a coach at the local high school, only half joking what he told Olivia on that fateful night of the convention. His life now, is only 15 minutes from the beach, in suburbia with a middle class demographic, and the only politics is inter-school politics he hears in the faculty lounge, with the band directors getting annoyed with the history teachers for scheduling a major test the day of their competition.

He still kept in touch with Quinn and Charlie with the occasional FaceTime to see little Amelia with Abby, David, and Huck sometimes popping up in the background at QPA.

His first visitor, surprisingly, was Fitz. It wasn't until later, when he looked at the array of beer bottles and empty plates that previously had stacks of nachos on them after they spent the evening catching up like normal Navy buddies do, that he realized how much his friendship with the 44th president had gone through in the last 20 years.

However, Jake completely cut himself off from the two people who had previously consumed his life; the Popes. Father and Daughter, who didn't even realize how alike they were. He suspected Rowan knew where he was and what he was doing and was probably disappointed in his mediocrity, but Jake stopped (or at least tried to stop) caring.

Olivia, on the other hand, was harder. He still saw her and Mellie on the news but he wouldn't allow himself to react to her. Jake had been in love with her for 6 years, and couldn't expect his mind to forget her in a matter of months. He didn't blame her and didn't want to ask Olivia to choose between him and Chief of Staff. She made that choice long ago, but it was time for him to choose too. This time, however, he was choosing himself. Jake was proud of Olivia every time he saw what she accomplished, often without recognition from the media or public, but it was time for him to break away and let her run the world, with B613 and the White House in the palm of her hand, as she wants to.

2 years later, he stood by his choice to continue as a "normal" American citizen. Here in Blackstone, it felt like a weight had been lifted from him. It was quiet, but not too quiet as to make him feel suspicious or worried. Gone were the days of terrorists and assassinations and traitors to the republic, now his focus was completely on McNab's throwing arm and Dalton's sprained ankle which may put him out for a couple games.

That peace was about to be disrupted.

"So why exactly did you change the plans to this school? Instead of Windfern which could've had a better response with the public because the school recently went through flood damage and all the teachers had to replace their own supplies and-"

Mellie quickly cut Olivia off, "Would you relax? I know the change was last minute, but I told you I like this school because their government classes wrote letters to me when I first became senator. I have a special connection to this place. Oh! We're here!"

Olivia sighed, she was willing to give up this battle with Mellie. She should've just stayed at the White House but Mellie asked, no, demanded, for her to come at the eleventh hour, and she served at the pleasure of the President.

The principal greeted the President and her entourage and whisked her away to start the tour of the school. It was going to be a long day.

"And this is our auditorium where you will be saying your speech later today, Madam President. We are getting everything ready, I know everyone will be really excited to see you today. Ah, here are some of our teachers and coaches!"

Mellie walked up to the teachers and stated with a big smile, "I couldn't have gotten here without you; my teachers made such an impact on me while growing up. Well, the future leaders, innovators, artists, they all depend on you."

"Really laying it on thick," Olivia thought as she trailed behind Mellie, "but we're going have to do all that we can because the only way for the country to afford this public school bill would be if we rally public support to pressure the senators who are upset at trimming off some of the military budget. Ha, if only they knew about the algorithm which had been skimming off millions off everyone for years. "

Olivia stopped herself there. Some days everything ended up connecting to B613 and when she thought about B613, often times she ended up thinking about Jake. And Jake was neither here nor there, as he disappeared days after he resigned, giving his resignation directly to Mellie, not even bothering to tell Olivia.

She wondered if this is what Fitz felt when she left for the island; she even reached out to Vanessa to find out if she knew anything about where Jake went. Unfortunately, Vanessa was surprised to see her. She showed Olivia the divorce papers and turned her away with a quiet "Once you find him, I hope you two are very happy together." Olivia was frozen for a moment. Jake never told her of any plans to divorce Vanessa and now it felt like he had disappeared into the wind.

She discreetly tried to ask around the D.C. but wasn't surprised when high powered D.C. hadn't heard from Jake in a while. However, she was more surprised when she asked Huck and Charlie and was met with hesitancy and little eye contact; they knew more than they were letting on and Olivia would've pushed, but she figured the B613 bond ran strong and doubted she would have much luck.

Olivia considered asking her father, but decided if she got bad news and Jake truly was in danger or worse she didn't want to hear it from her father.

She could've used those pretty new toys that Jake had set up in the B613 basement to track him done, but Olivia figured at this point he wasn't ready or, didn't want, to be found. Olivia continued like this for weeks, in denial, constantly telling herself that he would be back. She was helping Abby clean up around QPA after Quinn's baby shower and was a couple glasses of wine in when she looked over to the gift table and saw a tag with "Love, Jake" sitting there with Jake nowhere in sight, that her walls came down and she voiced her concern for Jake out loud.

Abby stopped dead while packing up all the extra food and turned to Olivia, unable to hide the pity in her eyes. "He's okay. He moved and is trying to start over, I guess. Um... sometimes he FaceTimes Quinn. I'm sorry I thought you knew."

"Oh," she paused wondering how this happened- actually no, she knew how this happened. "No, I haven't really spoken to him."

And that was what stung. Even when they weren't in a relationship, dating or hooking up, Jake was always there for her. She knew they hadn't always been fair to each other but Jake was someone she trusted completely and one of her best friend. "You're not alone in this. I'm not going anywhere," rang in her head. Olivia never thought he would ever not be by her side. Even when he became Command, or when she went to Fitz, or he got married, they were still connected; they were still together in some way. She supposed she had taken advantage of that and assumed it was a permanent thing and if for some wild reason if he ever did leave, truly leave, Jake would at least tell her to her face.

She had lost a friend.

Alas, she simply had to push him to the back of her mind and bury herself in work to make Mellie the best, so that 10 years down the line she could say that although she pushed Jake away, treating him like she did, it was worth it. Mellie would be a monument and that would be because of Olivia.

"I know you are very familiar with one of our coaches, but did you know that last year the Blackstone Bearcats baseball team went to semi-finals for the State championship? This year, we hope to bring home the trophy! Here, come meet our incredible coaches who have helped us get this far," Principal Weatherbee stated.

"Familiar? What is he talking about?" Olivia looked over and instantly was met with green eyes that she knew all too well. People say the eyes are a window into your soul, and it truly felt like that every time she saw his, filled with intensity under the covers or soft and kind in the island sunrise or full of trust while they tried to navigate the treacherous world of B613 and D.C . The last few times she had seen them, they were cold and distant, as if she was a stranger.

It couldn't be; she must be dreaming. He had been gone for almost 2 years and she never would've thought to check this Podunk town.

"Jake?"

"I'm not the only one with a 'special connection' to this place," Mellie thought with a smirk.

"Madam President, here are a couple of high schools to look at for your speech. Windfern High, Fairwick, Vidalake, and, oh, Blackstone."

"What about Blackstone?"

"Oh, it's nothing ma'am just something I saw on Twitter briefly. I think there was something about Admiral Ballard working there, but I doubt it- it was probably a doppelganger. Ms. Pope likes Windfern and wants you to do the speech there."

"Hmmm, ok I'll see… Emma can I ask you for a favor?" Mellie paused as the young girl perked up, "Can you look into that rumor about Admiral Ballard? Just keep it between the two of us…"