Returning Home: Chapter 1:
Olivia Pope and Fitzgerald Grant both attend Woodson High School in Washington D.C, along with their group of friends, Abby Whelan, Marcus Walker, Harrison Wright, Jake Ballard and Amanda Tanner. Olivia and Jake are a couple, even though the entire group, besides Olivia knew that Fitz liked her and that they belonged together. Fitz never spoke up about his feelings because Olivia was with Jake and he doubted that she felt the same way. It was their senior year and they were all choosing the colleges the wanted to attend. Liv, Abby and Jake wanted to go to Harvard, while Marcus and Harrison were going to Yale. Fitz said that he was going to Harvard, but he purposely lied to everyone. He couldn't stand watching the woman he loved constantly is around another man all the time, so he decided to enlist in the Navy, and is going to be trained exclusively as a pilot due to his father's connections. They had one week left in the school year and he had yet to tell anyone. During Chemistry class one day, Abby noticed that Fitz was staring at Olivia in a daze.
Abby asked in a whisper, "Have you told her yet?"
Fitz whipped his head around in shock "What are you talking about?"
She responded, "You enlisting in the Navy."
"How did you know about that?"
"Come on Fitz, really? I know that you love her and that you can't stand to watch her be around Jake. You are also a horrible liar."
"There's no point of telling her, it's too late. She's going to Harvard and I'm going into the Navy. She doesn't feel the same way, she's happy with Jake. Maybe in another life we can be together."
"Are you seriously THAT stupid? She loves you too you big idiot! The way she talks about you is nothing compared to the way she talks about Jake. You still have a chance, but if you leave without telling her, without saying goodbye, you will never, EVER have a chance of being with her, she won't ever forgive you."
"Fine. I'll tell her I'm leaving and my feelings and she won't give a care in the world, and we'll part ways. Her and Jake will live a happy life, be normal, get married and have some babies. I'll be a pilot half way across the world."
"You are such a dumbass; I can believe we are even friends!" Abby states in a very sarcastic tone.
"Thank you Abby!" Fitz screams down the hallway.
He walks next to Liv down the hall because they both have Calculus next period.
Liv asks "What was that about?"
He responds "Nothing important, you know how Abby can be. With her sarcastic and witty, usually idiotic rants."
"Trust me; they get her in more trouble that out of trouble."
They both laugh all the way to their next class.
4 Days Later: Graduation Day:
An hour before the ceremony starts, Fitz sends Liv a text.
FG: Meet me in our spot in ten minutes.
OP: Why?
FG: I have your present.
OP: Ugh, Fitz! Do you ever listen? We said no presents.
FG: Just meet me in ten minutes, it's important.
OP: Fine.
Five minutes later, Fitz is walking through the hallway, when he suddenly hears muffled voices and screaming. He goes to the classroom and cracks the door open, and sees Jake and Amanda having sex on top of the teacher's desk. Fitz almost opens the door and yells at them, he can't believe that Jake would betray and cheat on Liv like that. Fitz pulls out his phone and records them. After about two minutes, he stops and walks away undetected.
Once he reaches their spot, he realizes that he is a few minutes late. He sits on their bench next to her.
"Hi"
"Hi"
"Where's my present?"
"Geez, pushy much?"
They both have a quick laugh. He pulls out an old velvet ring box, slightly worn down. Liv has a confused look on her face. They look at each other for a second, and it's then that she realizes that she is with the wrong guy. She now knows that Fitz is the love of her life. It's him, it's always been him. At least they are going to the same college. That's what she thinks anyway.
"With what I'm about to tell you, you need to promise me that you will accept this" he says, referring to the ring box.
"Fitz? What is all this about? Why are you -?"
"Just listen. It's a ring, very old, rare, one of a kind. It even has a name. Doux Bebe. It was my Great-Grandmother's. Her father bought it for her in an auction in Paris. She wore it at her Debutante Ball. My grandmother told me to give it to the woman who had my heart. I was supposed to give it to you."
Now in tears, Liv softly says, "I can't take this ring Fitz, please."
"Don't think of it as a ring; don't think of it as anything. You don't have to love me. You don't have to be with me, but if you could wear this, if I could know that you are wearing this, then even if you hate me, I'll know. We'll be ok; I'll know you're out there."
Both with tears now flowing heavily down their eyes, Liv says, "You want me to have this ring?" She is still in shock about the last minute.
"I just want you to be happy."
She takes the ring box, opens it. She slips the ring onto her left index finger. It's an infinity ring, gold plated, with two smaller diamonds in the middle.
She grabs his face and looks him straight in the eyes, "I could never hate you."
"I'm not done yet Liv. I also need to tell you that I'm not going to Harvard next year."
"WHAT!"
"I can't stand watching you and Jake are together, it makes me sick. I have decided to enlist in the Navy. I'm going to be a pilot for the next three years. I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."
"Why didn't you say anything? Jake means nothing to me compared to you. How am I supposed to live with not knowing if you are dead or not? How am I supposed to live if you never come back? I couldn't live with myself knowing that I am the reason you are dead. I can't live without you -."
Liv breaks down and curls up into a ball on the bench, sobbing. Fitz picks her up and wraps his arms around her, trying to comfort her in any way he can. After a while she stops crying and looks up at Fitz, she notices that his eyes are also red and puffy from crying as well.
Liv is scared that he doesn't feel the same way, but she has to get it off her chest before he leaves. She might not ever see him again.
"I love you. I am in love with you. You are the love of my life and I am sorry for not realizing it before."
"I love you too. I'm in love with you too, and don't ever apologize for not realizing it. I should have said it long ago. Wait for me, please Livvie. I promise I will come home to you. Ok?"
"Ok. One Minute."
"One Minute."
After their one minute is up, they kiss. It's like the entire world stopped for them to have their moment. One little piece of heaven on Earth that they will have forever. They fix their cap and gowns and walk hand and hand to the gym, using every second of what little time they have left together. Fitz sends Abby a text about Jake and the recording.