Hey guys! How's everyone doing? I've had this idea since the first episode back. It's not completely following what's going on in the show, but I hope you all like it.
Plus, it's #ScandalThursday! How awesome is that?
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, plots, settings, etc. of the amazing show that is Scandal.
I hope you all enjoy! :)
"Sir? Olivia is here to see you," said Lauren as she peaked her head into the Oval Office.
Her eyes were filled with hope and happiness, happy that Olivia Pope had managed to make it home alive. The color drained from Fitz's face as he gulped, standing up and nodding to Lauren. He took a couple of deep breaths, preparing himself for the sight he was about to see. After what seemed like minutes, but were merely seconds, Olivia slowly walked into his office.
He found himself walking towards her until he saw her face, making him stop dead in his tracks.
Olivia had one black and blue eye, the other swollen shut. She had cuts on her cheeks and a huge one on her forehead. Her lips were cut open and swollen. She was skinnier, looking extremely unhealthy and malnourished. He looked down at her shaking hands.
Tears filled his eyes as he observed the woman he loved in front of him. This broken, bruised, and hurt woman. He had prepared himself to be ready to see her, but he never thought she would look like this. He felt sick to his stomach, wanting nothing more than to put a bullet in every single person that harmed her.
"Olivia," Fitz whispered.
They stared at each other, both not knowing what to do. Should he hug her? Should he attempt to kiss her? Would it hurt her?
She slowly walked towards him, giving him his answer as he walked towards her as well. When they met, he very nervously grabbed her hand.
"Olivia," he whispered again.
Her lip began to quiver as she whispered his name back to him. He gently pulled her into a hug, never wanting to let her go. He wanted to squeeze her tight to make her feel safe and loved, but he didn't want to harm her. What if she had bruises on her torso or her back?
"I am so glad you are okay."
She started crying as she wrapped her arms tighter around his neck.
"I never thought I would see you again," she said.
"Neither did I. I…I haven't slept. I've done nothing but think about you and negotiate and try to find you. This doesn't feel real right now; holding you in my arms. I keep thinking that I am going to wake up at any second and you're going to be gone again."
"I'm not going anywhere…for now."
He pulled her away from him, keeping a hold of her hands.
"What do you mean for now?"
His eyebrow raised and a sense of panic washed over him. She just came back. There was no way he could lose her again.
"I came here to tell you that I'm leaving."
"Leaving? What…what are you talking about? You just got back. I don't…I don't understand."
"I can't stay here, Fitz."
"Why? Please tell me why? I just got you back. I cannot and will not lose you again."
"That's not your decision. I don't feel safe here anymore. I can't stay in my apartment and relive that night over and over again. I can't walk down the street without people staring at me and whispering about me. I have this constant fear that at any minute, someone is going to snatch me up and take me away again." She started crying harder. "I…I can't look at you without feeling resentment towards you."
He stared at her, processing what she had just admitted.
"You feel resentment towards me?"
"You are the reason I was kidnapped, beaten, malnourished, and delusional. You declared war on another country to save me. Every death from now on is going to because of me."
"Yes, I went to war. Yes, there were times where I wanted to opt out of it. I knew you would disapprove. But Livvie, there was no way in hell I could let you die. Knowing that I could've done something, even as drastic as war, would've killed me too. I love you. I just wanted you safe and home. I kick myself in the ass every day for starting a war, but having you standing in front of me makes it all worth it."
She stared at him, not knowing what to say. She knew why he did it, she was pissed at him for doing it, but having someone love you so much that they declare war on a country for you? That's a love she's never known.
"I'm still leaving Fitz. I have to."
"Why?!" he found himself yelling, not even meaning to.
"This happened to me because everyone on God's green earth knows that I am your weakness! They know that to get you to do something, to get under your skin, to start a war, all they need is to put me in danger. They know you'll do whatever it takes to save me. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful for that. But I am not going to be put in harm's way because of our relationship. As long as I'm linked to you, I am always going to be a target."
"I can protect you. This will never happen again."
"How can you be so sure of that? Huh? You didn't protect me the last time, how in the hell are you going to protect me the next time?"
"There won't be a next time. I'm done Olivia. I'm giving it up."
"The presidency?"
"Yes, the presidency. If being president and in love with you means that you're always going to be a target to my enemies, hell even my friends, then I have two options. One, either stop being in love with you and cut all ties, or two, I quit being the president. Seeing as how the first option is never going to happen in a million years, it looks like I'm left with giving up the presidency."
"You…you can't do that. What about Mellie? What about Cyrus? What about this country?"
"What about them? What don't you understand Olivia? I love you. I want to protect you. I don't want you to be scared of being around me or involved with me. I will make a statement tomorrow and will file divorce papers first thing in the morning. Besides, I can't trust anyone anymore. This whole thing goes way deeper than somebody wanting me to start a war."
He pulled her in closer. "We are going to be together. For real this time. I don't care what the repercussions are. I'm sorry that it took this tragic event to finally put my foot down."
She started crying as she put her head down. "Fitz…when I said I was leaving…I wasn't, I'm not leaving alone."
He took a couple of steps back, his breath being taken away from him.
"Jake?"
She didn't say anything, just stared into his eyes.
"So you've made a decision?"
"If you go through with what you're saying, people will know that I am and always will be your weakness. I'm doing this for the both of us."
"That's going to be the case no matter what Liv! People already know that! Running away and being with Jake is not going to change that. He didn't protect you the last time, what makes you think he's going to protect you if it happens again? Hell, he was less than 100 feet away from you and heard nothing. He's supposed to be a spy, he should've heard something."
"The music was too loud. The only reason he left me was because I asked him to get a pillow so we could…" she stopped her sentence, not wanting to piss him off even more.
"So you could what Liv? Have sex with him on the piano? Trust me, I've heard Jake tell this story countless times. Doesn't get any easier to hear."
"I'm sorry. But you have things you need to take care of, as do I. You have three years to turn this amazing country around and make a difference. I promise, I'll always be just a phone call away."
"I don't want a damn phone call Liv! I want you. I want kids with you, I want Vermont with you. Why do you keep running away from this? Do you love Jake more than me? Is that what it is? Because if that's it, then just tell me. Spare me the heartache."
"I don't love Jake more than you. I could never love Jake more than you. While I was being held captive, I had this dream where I was being saved. Jake was the one to save me..."
"I don't want to hear this," he interrupted.
"But!" she yelled. "I left him. You and I were in Vermont. You were the mayor, I made jam. We had this...amazing life."
"We can have it Livvie. You just have to give me a chance. Give us a chance. I know you're scared. I know your parents have made you feel like you are incapable of loving and being loved. But that's not true. You have so much love in you Olivia. I love you so much. We can do this. We just have to be in it together."
"I...I have to go."
She grabbed her stuff and started scrambling towards the door.
"Why do you always run?!" he yelled. "The Olivia Pope that I know, that I fell in love with, never runs from a situation. She handles it head on and never backs down. She never takes no for an answer. Why isn't that the case with me, Liv? Am I not good enough? What do I have to do to make you see that I'm not going anywhere, ever. I'm tired of running. I'm tired of being treated like dog crap by the people that think they run my life. I am the goddamn president of the United States. I am in charge! I decide things. I'm done with everything being decided for me. If you want me, if you want Vermont, this is it. I will file for divorce, I will resign from office. We can be together. But if that's not what you want, if you walk out that door one more time, we are done. I hate to say that, but I can't do this anymore. I constantly prove to you that I am willingly to give it all up for you and you always somehow try to fix it. You're done fixing me, you're done fixing us. If you want me, don't walk out that door just yet. Sit and talk with me as we come up with a plan. But if Vermont is not what you want, if I'm not what you want, then there's the door. It's time for you to make a decision Liv."
By this time, Olivia was bawling. Tears profusely ran down her face. She didn't know what to do. Run? Stay? This was it. This was his ultimatum. If she walked out the door now, she knew she could never walk back in again.
Breathe Olivia. Breathe. Make your decision.
Her mind wandered as she reminisced on their time together. All the "stolen" moments. Could they make a life out of it or was that all their relationship was?
"I love you, I am in love with you. You're the love of my life."
"If you want me, earn me!"
"My whole life is you. I can't breathe because I'm waiting for you. You own me. You control me. I belong to you."
"We're in this together."
She took a deep breath and stared him dead in the eyes.
Olivia Pope had made her decision.
What do you all think Olivia has decided? Reviews are welcome! Happy #ScandalThursday!
