This is an Olake focused story. There are so many Olitz ones and I wanted to do something on the other side. Obviously, I don't own Scandal but I love the show and most of the characters, so there it is.
What Just Happened?
"I know I have never told you this before Jake but I love you." Olivia said as she removed the Gettysburger sandwiches from the oven.
"Olivia, I…" Jake sputtered as he listened in disbelief to words he never thought he would hear from Olivia.
"Wait, Jake, let me finish… The night my father let you out of the hole and you collapsed in my doorway, I knew."
Jake moved towards Olivia and tried to hug her but she pulled away and continued talking. "The trouble is I love Fitz too and this is why I am not choosing either of you. I am choosing me"
Jake backed away from Olivia with a jolt as though he was struck by lightning. "Olivia has to be joking," Jake thought to himself but after a few minutes passed and she did not retract her statement about loving Fitz too, he realized she meant every word.
"Let's eat, Jake." Olivia said as she placed white napkins on the table.
Still stunned, Jake walked over to the table and sat directly across from Olivia who was pouring herself a glass of Du Bellay. "I'm not hungry, Olivia. I want to…" Before Jake could finish, Olivia cut him off. "C'mon Jake, eat…and breathe."
Jake picked up his beer, took a sip and stared directly at Olivia who hadn't touched her food either. There were so many different emotions permeating his body and he felt as though his lungs were closing. He took a deep breath and tried to speak to Olivia but before he could get a word out her phone rang and she grabbed it.
"Yes, I'm okay but I can't stay on the phone. Not a good time. I have to go." Olivia put the phone down, looked at Jakes and saw the hurt in his eyes but decided to ignore it.
After a few seconds Jake broke the silence: "Look, Olivia, after losing Imani and the baby in South Armenistan, I never thought I could love again but meeting you changed that. I will back off and give you all the space you need to focus on you but I cannot share you with Fitz or any other man."
Olivia remained silent as Jake continued. "If you want Vermont with Fitz, I'm afraid you and I can't stand in the sun together"
Olivia walked over to Jake, leaned on his chair and put her arms around his neck. She held him super close like she had done so many times before but that did not soothe the sting that pierced his heart
Jake looked at his unfinished beer and then at the now cold Gettysburger sandwich before releasing himself from Olivia's grip. He stood up, gently ran his had across her cheek and said, "I will always love you Liv. Remember that" He then gave her a quick hug before grabbing his jacket from the coat rack.
"Goodbye, Olivia," he said as he exited her apartment without as much as a backwards glance as he did not want her to see the tears.
Olivia knew that Jake would be hurt by her proclamation but she was proud that she was able to stand in her truth and articulate her true feelings. She had thought about this long and hard and was convinced she had done the right thing.