Why are you confused?

Scandal and its characters belongs to Shonda Rhimes.

Realizing one's entire life is basically nothing more than a few labeled boxes is sobering. Dishes, kitchenware, pots; until she started packing she had no idea she even owned a pot let alone an entire set. Maybe if she knew she had pots she would have tried to make jam.

Ping! Olivia pauses for a moment from packing up boxes to check an incoming test message. She's grateful for the reprieve from her dreams of what could have been.

"Confirming your nail and pedicure appointment for 11:30 today. We thank you for your continued patronage."

She smiles, glances at the clock, it's 8:30.

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"Okay let me get this straight. This Jake person set up surveillance cameras in your apartment and watched you day in and day out for months. The only place he didn't place a camera was in your bathroom; so it is safe to say he draws the line at bowel movements."

"Yes", Olivia says as she nods in agreement to the salt and pepper colored hair middle-aged woman sitting next to her in the nail salon.

"Uh hum. Well, thank God for small favors, I guess he's not a total perv." Lorna says sarcastically.

Olivia could always count on her aunt to inject humor and clarity into any serious discussion or tense situation. She loved that about her. Olivia loved that despite her father's best efforts to keep her aunt out of her life, Lorna had made a way for her to keep in touch in secret.

"Shall I continue?"

"Please, by all means, continue. I find this whole situation absolutely fascinating."

"Well at some point dad ordered him to come between Fitz and me; break us up by any means necessary. He was charming and took my mind off the impossible situation I was in. Let's face it, Fitz is married, has kids and is the leader of the free world. At the time, I could not see a future with him no matter how hard I tried, but at the same time, I couldn't totally carve him out of my life. I love him, I'm in love with him, and he is the love of life."

"So are you saying you see a future with him now?"

"Yeh, no..no," Olivia stammers. "Nothing has changed in that respect."

"Anyway, I digress. So finally, one night after realizing my situation with Fitz was hopeless, I decided I was ready to go all the way with Jake. I bought some food and went to his apartment. We had sex and I fell asleep. I woke up a couple of hours later and went to the kitchen for some water. I got the water, glanced at a newspaper and the grabbed the remote to watch some TV. Instead of the TV turning on a bank of monitors appeared all displaying different rooms in my apartment. Jake came into the kitchen at that exact moment and I confronted him. We fought; I was injured and ended up in the hospital. Later I found out Fitz had asked Jake to keep an eye on me."

"So, here's the Cliff notes version of subsequent events. Events that I now know if I were not in the picture would have never transpired. I unwittingly helped mom escape the country and she killed every member of her military escort. A team Fitz provided because he loves me and wanted to help me. Dad admits to me and Fitz that mom tricked him into thinking there was a bomb on a plane. Her lie resulted in Fitz shooting down the plane with 328 innocent people on board. Fitz removed dad from command and made Jake the head of B613. I temporary bring down B613, which almost cost dozens more innocent lives. Mom stabs dad, tries to blow up Fitz, fails and kills Fitz's son instead. Dad kills mom." Olivia recalls with a faint sense of detachment.

"Auntie, I've looked at this from all angles. In all of these situations, I'm the common denominator, the trigger, the eye of the storm. Remove me and equilibrium will be restored."

"So your solution to, what did you say; restore equilibrium is to depart for parts unknown. Exit stage right. Get out of Dodge. Bow out gracefully. Is that the gist of things?"

"Yes. It's like I'm some kind of two-legged heart of darkness or a black hole that sucks in and destroys anything and everyone foolish enough to pass proximate to the outer rim of my event horizon."

Lorna places her chin on the purlicue of her left hand and shakes her head in frustration. Who was this broken woman sitting in front of her?

"Auntie, I've caused Fitz so much pain. I need to put as much distance between us as possible." Olivia whispers somberly.

"Really? Based on what you just told me I was under the impression Eli and your mother are the source of the President's woes."

"Dad has offered me the chance to start over and I'm taking it. He loves me and wants me to be happy. I want to walk in the sun. I want to cleanse my hands, my soul and my mind. I want to experience normal for once. I want a life where dilemmas are confined to your choice of dinner options and drama is something I watch on television. " Guilt ridden tears pool in Olivia eyes.

"Okay, okay, I've heard enough. I see Eli has totally bamboozled you. Your father, and I use the term father loosely, is a monster. He is incapable of real love. His idea of love is twisted, manipulative and controlling. It is a love that destroys; it consumes everything within its wake. He is a pathological liar who wraps himself in the flag as he pontificates his unwavering dedication to protecting the great republic. The problem is his patriotic dogma is of his own conjuring."

"Look, my brother has always been a punk ass for as long as I've known him. Did I ever tell you when we were children he used to write down everything me your uncle Max did and give our mother a report every evening after she came home from work. The little snitch! I mean what kind of kid does that. Unfortunately, for him, our mother knew him all too well. Mom, in no uncertain terms, let him know that he was no better than Max and me and that she knew he was into mischief as well. He's always had this need to control, expose the misdeeds of others while heralding himself as a pillar of propriety and honor."

"Sometimes when I think about him all I can do is shake my head and throw my hands up in frustration. I mean good grief he told you he was an only child, and then proceeded to deny you access to your uncle, your grandmother and me. He's such a fuck'n asshole."

"Auntie!"

"I'm sorry Olivia, I know he is your father, but I've known him a lot longer than you have and he really gives assholes a bad name." Lorna's irritation growing as she spoke of her brother.

"Rowan, what the hell kind of name is Rowan anyway. Some kind of alter ego shit. He's so damn deluded he can't even get that concept right. An alter ego is supposed to be your polar opposite. Rowan and Eli are exactly the same - smug, self-center bastards with receding hairlines. He's such a prick."

"Doone, tell me how you really feel. Stop mincing words, Olivia said with a smirk. Do you talk like this during security briefings? I mean your language is rather blue."

"Of course the hell not. I am quite proficient in the use of the King's English." Lorna chimes in a British accent.

"You want to know why he doesn't talk to me or acknowledge my existence. It's because I know he didn't earn the position of command based on his abilities and accomplishments. He was given the position as an insult at me. His predecessor kept wanting to test the old adage "the darker the berry the sweeter the juice" on me. It was no secret at the agency that Eli and I were siblings. It was also no secret Eli and I were at odds with one another because on more than one occasion I had proven the weaknesses in Eli's defense tactics. Well, one day I was attending a high-level security meeting with the former command. He went too far with his inappropriate comments and embarrassed me in front a room full of my superiors and colleagues. I could not allow his disrespectful behavior slide any longer. I ripped him a new one in front of everyone, proceeded to dismantle his solution to a pending terrorist action, and offered a more viable option with no agency entanglement. I stuck to the facts and remained professional in my response. I regained the respect of everyone in the room and he looked like an unprepared first year field agent with self-esteem issues. From that point on instead of me being the object of his affection, I became public enemy number one in his eyes. He lost sight of what was truly important, becoming obsessed with trying to discredit me and was eventually removed from command for carrying out a personal vendetta. However, before he left he created a series of fake files that made Eli look like the second coming. Eli promoted with little fanfare and the rest is history. He knows he didn't earn the position of Command, that's why he goes overboard trying to prove to everyone he's the best damn Command there ever was."

Lorna reaches across the manicure table to take hold of Olivia's hands. "Liv honey, what I am about to tell will be hard for you to hear, however, I need you to put on your big girl panties and face reality. I want you to know I am very sorry I was not paying close enough attention to Eli's machinations until it was too late; but hopefully what I am about to divulge will free the gladiator bound inside of you."

"Look you already know your father hates Fitz but I don't think you have any idea how deep the hatred runs. From the moment the president began his affair with you your father has been plotting, with those loyal to him, the complete destruction of Fitz Grant."

Lorna pulls out her cell phone and plays back video from a Smithsonian surveillance camera.

Harrison: "You need to stop her…we need her, this town needs her"….

Rowan: … This town is fine. The republic is safe"

Harrison: …"You know it's funny, it didn't make sense about Olivia's mother. She's all about the money. …. She didn't get what she wanted…. But with B613 back online, you did. …This all worked out great for you."

Rowan: "My daughter wanted him to be president and he is. Daddy took care of it. I promised not to touch a hair on his head and he has four more years. But there's a price for free and fair elections... He took my child so I took his… No one can take command. Right Tom. .… It's a shame, a waste of such a talent, oh to be young, gifted and black."

Tom places a silencer on his service revolver, aims his gun at Harrison and fires. Harrison falls to the floor dead.

Olivia gasps and bursts into tears. She pulls away from Lorna as she shakes head in disbelief. Her mind is reeling. I'm such a fool. How could I have been so blind? Gerry is dead, Harrison is dead and Tom is a B613 operative. Oh Fitz, I'm so sorry. This all my fault, she thinks to herself.

"Eli played you like a baby grand. He knows you are desperate for any semblance of a normal father daughter relationship. He exploited your weakness and you ignored the facts screaming in your face. Didn't you find it odd that your supposed shut down of B613 was reversed within hours? I guess your wonder boy Jake never completed reading the command operations manual. If he had, he would have known Eli prepared for a worst-case scenario. He already had recovery protocols in place to counter any system-wide shut down of the agency. He also counted on the fact that I am agency back up; so he knew his operatives would be safe. He played you Olivia and the president."

Olivia feels the rage rising within her. Bile surges up her throat like an eruption. She is angry with Lorna for exposing her vulnerability. She's angry with Eli for exploiting her love for him and her naiveté. She's angry with herself for being duped. She's angry with Jake for clouding her judgment. She's angry with herself for not standing by Fitz, the man she professes to love without measure. The opportunity for a fresh start is actually even more appealing now given her multitude of failings.

"If you get on that plane today, you will confirm every derogatory comment Mellie ever made about you. " Olivia is shocked by her aunt's statement.

"Yes, I know what the First Lady thinks of you. Get on that plan and you are a whore, no you'll be worse than a whore, because at least a whore is under no delusions as to who and what she is. You switching back and forth between Fitz and Jake is unbecoming of a Pope. I don't care how confused you are your behavior of late is immodest and just plain nasty."

Olivia sobs uncontrollably. She cannot believe her aunt is calling her a slut.

"I'm sorry baby but I don't have the time nor the inclination to coddle you. It's time for some tough love." Lorna gently takes Olivia's hand.

Leaving is a callous self-centered move. It's classic Eli Pope. You've turned into your father. To hell with everyone else, consequences be damned, what you want is most the important thing in life. Please, explain to me how you can say you love someone as much as you say you love Fitz, and then just leave him in his darkest hour. Isn't that what Eli did to you after he told you your mother had died. The love of your life just lost his son by murder and you're ready to hop on a plane and leave because you need a fresh start. Olivia trust me when I say this, because it comes from a place of love, you get on that plane and you are nothing more than a manipulative bitch. Use them and leave them. Is this your chosen MO? Is this person the authentic you. If it is, your idea of love is just as twisted as Eli's is. You said once that Fitz told you there's difference between love and control but here you are again taking control of the situation, you are giving up when you should be giving love. You are a coward of the worst sort because like your father you've convinced yourself that what you are doing is for the greater good. Why do I have this feeling you have a martyr complex Olivia? Is this how you want to define your life? Where the hell is Olivia I used to know?

"This Jake character assaulted you twice; yet you want to ride off into the sunset with him. Are you out of your damn mind? Listen to me, once Command, always Command. I bet Eli read him the riot act right after he got his job back. You can bet your last dollar Eli is controlling your little Jakie boy. Has Fitz ever laid a hand on you?"

"Look, I don't see a dilemma here. Your choice is simple prove your love and support Fitz or go off with McCreepy. He probably won't attack you again for a few months; but be assured he will hit you again, mark my words. Oh my God, is that why you are willing to runoff with him? Do you feel the need to be punished?" Lorna asks sympathetically.

"The man taped you having sex with him and gave the tape to your father. He also betrayed the President, someone he considered a friend. I can sympathize with the fact he was afraid of your father, but I think he had alternatives. Jesus, can I just say I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact your father took possession of your sex tape. The Freudian optics on this is…is eewe. I don't even want to think about it." Lorna says shaking her head in repulsion.

"So I say again, why are you confused? Get your shit together and stop acting like some damn damsel in distress or some stupid ass depressed weak-minded woman in search of herself. You know who the hell you are so stop letting Eli mess with your head and affections. Don't get me wrong I do believe he loves in a way that only he can, but it is a sick kind of love, that requires you to be dependent and pliable to his will. Grow up Olivia and stop rehashing your daddy issues. It is what it is and he is who he is. You can fix a lot of things but your father is not one them. Some people are beyond redemption. If you keep letting him in he will ultimately destroy you."

"Don't worry baby I've got your back if you choose to stay. Eli has always underestimated me. He sees me as a nonstarter, a minor irritant - the smug bastard. He curries loyalty through fear and intimidation. I prefer to garner loyalty through mutual respect, unquestioning support and subtle humor. He arrogantly thinks his B613 operatives are unknown. Eli more than anyone else should know there are no secrets in the intelligence community. I cannot let an unsanctioned termination of a friendly go unpunished; a juvenile friendly at that. Eli and Tom are out of control. Eli thinks he's invincible and Tom thinks he's being groomed to take over as command. The mere fact that Eli and Tom willingly killed a child, the son of the President no less, has the higher-ups extremely nervous. This one act proves they too could be in Eli's cross hairs one day. No man should have the power Eli wields. He went too far this time. Go home and grieve for your father now Olivia because by midnight tomorrow Eli Pope will be dead." Olivia starts to sob again.

Olivia's phone begins to ring. She glances at the caller ID, White House, she pauses to regain her composure then answers the call. "Hello Mellie, yes, yes, I'll there in 20 minutes."

Olivia looks at her aunt and realizes her aunt is also offering her a fresh start and the chance to be the formidable Olivia Pope once again. She is giving her the chance to define her relationship with Fitz free of the manipulating influence of her father. She springs from her chair and embraces her aunt with such force they both almost topple over.

"Here's one more tidbit for you my sweet child. Maya never intended to get on that plane. Those people were dead before Fitz ever fired a shot. We found out shortly after the plane took off that the cleaning crew responsible for that plane had been killed. A few hours later a man wearing a maintenance uniform from the airline stumbled into a local hospital bleeding from his eyes. The man was immediately quarantined because fortunately the attending physician on duty had spent time in Africa. The quarantined man had been exposed to the ebola virus. We were able to question him before he died and he sang like a bird. His terrorist cell had killed the cleaning crew to gain access to the plane so they could lace the interior with the ebola virus. That particular plane had people from more than 40 different western countries on it. The group intended to start a pandemic in the West. The President did not kill 328 people, he saved millions. But of course my bonehead brother will never tell him that, because he wants those 328 lives to cling to the President like an Albatross. I get the red file for you."

Thank you Doone, I love you. I have to go Fitz needs me, Olivia says with a grateful smile.

Dinner next week?

Sure, we can work on the funeral arrangements.

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AN – This is my take on 318 and sums up my feelings on season 3. I don't know what the writers were thinking. Did Olivia Pope fix anything during season 3? It seemed to me the only story line was "who do we kill next week". A few times I wondered whether the writers had ever actually watched the show. With all the yelling and open doors, how is it the public doesn't know about the rigged election and Fitz's affair with Olivia? They took a strong female protagonist and turned her into a caricature.

Let me know what you think. As always thank you in advance for your comments and reviews.

Doone – is a nickname based on Lorna Doone cookies