This is a new idea I had after watching 6x01. It is mildly based on the promos for 6x02, so if you don't watch promos don't read it. I have not decided yet whether this will be in addition to or replace my other story, "So Far Gone". It has an Olitz endgame but it's also about a lot of the characters finding themselves again and admitting their mistakes, because by the end of last season they had made us hate almost everyone. Unlike many Olitz shippers, I don't think Olivia has become a horrible person, although I didn't like some of the developments with her character last season. Parts of this story will also express my bitterness at both the real life election and the fact that Scandal, which I turned to as a retreat from real-world politics, forced me to relive the trauma of Hillary's defeat. Reviews are sincerely appreciated.

The first part takes place a day or two after the end of 6x01.

"What is it, Abby?" the president asks when she enters his office.

"I know you told me to put it to rest, but I really think Olivia and Mellie are right about Cyrus. Look, I'm a Democrat, and I don't expect a job in either administration or even want one for that matter. I don't have a vested interest here, but I think they're right."

The president sighs, exasperated.

"Don't you ever get tired of letting her use your friendship to manipulate you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Olivia. She knows I'm done letting her cloud my judgment, so she appealed to you to come in here and try to convince me, right?"

Abby looks shocked. "I can't believe that after all this time you would think me incapable of thinking for myself, and assume that me expressing my opinion means I must be doing Olivia's bidding just because I happen to think she's right."

"I'm sorry, Abby. You're right. That was out of line."

Abby chuckles. "You really can't see the irony here, can you? You don't realize that you would think she's right too if you hadn't let Cyrus manipulate you into driving her away so many times."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Come on. Like you don't know."

"No, I don't know. What the hell are you trying to imply?" he demands testily.

"Cyrus tried to come between you and Liv from the second he found out about you. He let you think she was the mastermind behind Defiance instead of the last holdout. He staged an attempt to kill her because he wanted to scare her away from you. He went behind your back to have the CIA kill her when she was being held hostage until he recognized Stephen on the camera. Now, you could be forgiven for thinking that he was trying to protect your presidency all those times, but I still don't understand how you let him manipulate you the last time."

"The last time?"

"Last year. After you and Olivia became public, Cyrus was yet again feeling his power over you threatened. He knew for weeks about Olivia's part in letting her father out of prison but he got David to arrest her and feigned surprise. And then he used that to manipulate you into questioning whether she was only in it for the power. You knew it wasn't true…you know Olivia well enough to know it wasn't true…and yet Cyrus preyed upon your insecurities stemming from years of being married to a woman who cared more about you as a politician than as a person and convinced you to give Liv that ridiculous test."

"And what ridiculous test would that be?"

"Moving her in without asking her. Shutting her out of your inner circle and not letting her help with real problems even when we really needed her. Making her spend her days picking out teacups and dig up cookie recipes to prove that she was with you because she loved you and not because of the power it gave her. As if jeopardizing her career and subjecting herself to public ridicule by telling the whole world she was your mistress weren't proof enough!"

Fitz grimaces angrily. It is clear Abby has touched a nerve. "You are WAY out of line here, Abby! You're…"

"Fired? What is this, the fifth time? You can't fire me, because I quit. But before I go I just want you to know…I was with Liv the night before she was supposed to testify before the committee, and I have never seen her so stressed or dejected. She was seriously considering committing perjury because she couldn't stomach the thought of marrying you for the wrong reasons, and she loved you too much to let you be impeached. Her words, not mine."

She storms out. Fitz just stands there, looking stunned by Abby's last revelation.