"I'm sorry I lost." Olivia's voice sounds hollow, but there's something in her words that makes Mellie believe she means it. The two women are perched on the floor of the bathroom, Mellie in the bathtub and Olivia leaning against it, passing a bottle of champagne back and forth.
There's silence for a long moment before Mellie sighs. "No. Thank you. For everything," she says softly. If there's one thing she knows, it's that she couldn't have made it this far without Olivia. Olivia Pope, the woman who she'd pinned as her mortal enemy for so many years. Olivia Pope, who she'd been certain would be the cause of her demise. The same Olivia that seduced her cheating husband and stole the white house for him time and time again. Now she'd put her blood, sweat, and tears into winning Mellie the white house, only to lose to their insidious former ally, Cyrus Beane. Mellie had somehow grown to love this woman. It had happened slowly. Late nights at OPA brainstorming campaign strategies and eating leftover Thai food, and so many shared bottles of wine after exhausting days of work had brought the two women together. They're friends now, Mellie thinks, and sometimes after a shared glance across the room at a press event, she wonders if there's even more to it.
Mellie gently lays her hand over the edge of the tub. Liv lets it linger there for a moment before curling her fingers around Mellie's. Both women try to ignore the electricity.
"Liv," Mellie says quietly.
"Yeah?"
"I wanted this." Olivia's not sure if she's referring to the moment they've just shared or the presidency. Both, she hopes. Liv pushes herself off of the floor and joins Mellie in the tub. She sits close enough to her that she can feel the warmth radiating off of her.
"Mellie," Liv starts. She takes the champagne bottle from Mellie's hand and takes a swig. She lays the bottle on the edge of the tub and turns to look at the woman beside her. "You deserve to be president." Her words are full of apology. Liv is not someone who loses very often, but Mellie is well accustomed to the feeling. Liv had wanted this for her - for them. She'd wanted to give Mellie this victory. God knows she deserved it. Mellie had given up so much of herself for Fitz and all his glory. Now it was her turn. Olivia doesn't know if Mellie could ever forgive her for all the hurt she's caused.
Mellie looks at Olivia for a long time. Olivia's eyes flutter down to her hand, which has found its way onto Mellie's thigh. She looks back up at Mellie. Mellie moves closer to Olivia, slowly, but with confidence. Soon, her lips are inches from Liv's. They can taste each other's breath.
Olivia is the one that finally closes the distance between them. Their lips connect, and Olivia slides her tongue along the inside of Mellie's mouth. Her hand moves further up Mellie's thigh, and Mellie tangles her hand into Olivia's hair. The kiss is slow and deep. Both women forget about the half a dozen people standing outside the door of the bathroom, lost in the softness of each other's lips.
It feels like forever before Olivia pulls away. Mellie's lips are pink and swollen, her eyes wide.
"Do you try to seduce everyone whose campaign you run?" Mellie whispers, after a long silence. Olivia grins. She kisses Mellie again, this time for only a second.
"What can I say? Power turns me on."