Hi. Woah was that Scandal Finale a doozy. I am still breathless thinking about it. But not breathless enough to quit writing. I should have wrote the last chapter for Closer but I couldn't for the life of me get this idea of out my head, so I figured I better go ahead and put it on paper. I am crazy for writing this, considering I have several other neglected stories. ugh.

Still figuring out whether this should be a few chapters or a full on story.

Until next time

-Muse

Chapter 1: Temptation

Olivia looks down at her caramel latte, smiling softly at the leaf designed in her coffee. Seldom does she have the opportunity to sit and enjoy a hot cup of coffee, with work and commitment, life was pulling her in every direction. Yet for the time being she was granted this moment of silence.

She cradles the mug in both hands as she loses track of time staring out the window, watching people pass by bunched together in couples and groups under coats and umbrellas to avoid the attacking rain. The rain was falling quicker with each second, but she found one couple who simply didn't care about the rain. Envy begins to form as she watches them dance in the rain before entering the café. They remove each other's raincoats as they stumble towards the counter. Olivia rubs her head nervously as she watches their every move enthralled with their zest. Olivia hears the chime of the door opening as a man runs in to hide from the rain. He strips off his jacket, throwing it on the floor and for some unknown reason he rushes into the booth with Olivia as though she had been waiting for him.

"It's crazy out there." He says trying to catch his breath as he fidgets around trying to find the most comfortable position to sit in with his soaked clothes.

"Excuse me?" Olivia ask shocked by this brazen man sitting in front of her as though he knows her and her him.

"The rain." He says pointing to the onslaught of rain, banging on the window.

"I'm aware of that, but why are you sitting here with me?" Olivia asked preferring to cut to the chase and avoid whatever game this man was intended on playing. There were plenty of empty seats in the café.

"I'm freezing." He says laying back in the booth "would you like another cup of coffee?"

"N-" before Olivia could answer him he was gone walking behind the counter making his own coffee, the workers appeared slightly shocked but said nothing as the man moved around the work area. Throughout this engagement, Olivia kept her eyes focused on him, surprised by his bold nature yet more than delighted by his lack of restraint. To say it lightly she is intrigued by this mysterious man who took it upon himself to make his own coffee.

Olivia catches him walking back to the table; quickly her head drops as she pretends to read the file she was currently working on for her case.

"Hope you like scones." He says excitedly as he moves back to his place across from her.

Olivia doesn't say anything, hoping that perhaps if she ignored him he would get the picture that she doesn't wish to be disturbed and leave, but after minutes of silence her eyes lift from the page she never turned and fall on him sipping his tea as he watches the rain fall. She stares thoroughly at him, examining every mole and blemish, outlining his jaw structure that connects to his perfectly symmetrical ears. His fingers play against cup, enjoying the soft beat echoing. He's broad and square all around, but his face is soft around his pale blue eyes. Her heart flutters inquisitively when he turns to look at Olivia with a gentle smile, knowing that Olivia was staring at him.

"Why are you sitting here with me?" Olivia asked unable to stand the silence and her own intrigued by this mysterious man.

He sips his tea before smiling "I don't know." He says honestly "I felt drawn to you for some unknown reason and I think you feel it too."

She tilts her head at the statement unsure how to respond to him. "I don't feel anything. I don't even know who you are." Olivia says coolly watching him laugh at her statement

"Perhaps that is for the best."

Olivia looks at him confused by his statement "we could be strangers who will share this moment that only we are aware of. Look back on it with the finest memories. The conversation of our life."

"That line is ridiculous." Olivia says laughing at him trying to be romantic

"I'm serious." He says leaning over the table "this could be our moment. We won't know each other's names but we will remember this period of time. Right here. Right now."

"You must think I am stupid to fall for this."

"I've never done this before." He answers honestly "and I don't think you are stupid. I can tell you are highly intelligent. Beauty and brains, very sexy combination. A perfect combination."

Olivia stares at him judging his sincerity, but as she looked at his cerulean eyes she saw that he was telling the truth.

She decides to give in and enjoy this enlightening conversation.

"How do you know I am smart?"

"Well…you have a Prada purse which tells me you have money and you don't look like the gold-digging type so you earned it and worked hard for your designer clothes."

"I hope you know, that I didn't work my ass off for these clothes. This is just a perk. Maybe you should wear something of value and maybe people would take you seriously. "

"Ouch." He says laughing "I wasn't trying to offend you but simply observing that you worked for everything. I am not the wealthiest person but I enjoy my life, not many can say that. Can you?"

"I'm sorry." Olivia apologizes

"Don't be. I like it." He looks at Olivia up to down clearly pleased with her ability to spar with him and leave him speechless.

"Finish what you were saying." Olivia brings him back to reality.

"That's right." he stops talking momentarily as he looks down at his tea "judging from that file, you are trying to win McGregor's case and negotiate the contracts they have brewing between the two publishers merging as one. This information has yet to be disclosed but you clearly have an advantage. You are seizing this opportunity now. Smart. Brilliant."

"How do you know this? They are still working out the logistic nothing has been said as of yet."

"I know things too." He says coyly clearly pleased with himself

Olivia stutters "How…you…how do you…I mean. You are a lawyer?" Olivia asked shocked by the man's relaxed nature and style she would never have guessed he would be a lawyer but then again nothing is actually surprising to her when it comes to this man sitting in front of her.

He laughs at her nervous questioning "I am not a lawyer. Not anymore. Have not been for some time. I promise, I am not here to steal your case."

"Why are you not practicing?" Olivia asked curious "you are clearly observant. And intuitive." She catches herself getting lose at the lips.

"It's not for me. It's the family business and the last thing I want is to follow in the footsteps that was created for me. I like making my own path. "

"So what do you do?" Olivia asked unable to hide her fascination.

"Everything and nothing."

"You are being secretive." Olivia acknowledges

"So are you." He retorts

"Why not tell me?" she counters "you won't see me again. Like you said this is the 'conversation of our life.' "

He smirks at her clearly impressed. "Using my words against me." He smiles and Olivia takes note of his teeth, whiten and aligned perfectly, she clearly has the upper hand now and he's enjoying every moment of it.

"You started it." Olivia smiles in her coffee

"Okay." He jokes "I'm a photographer, but I dabble in painting and pottery. Basically I enjoy trying new things."

"You get bored easily." Olivia states

"No." He shakes his head "once I find something I love, I can't let it go but it's finding something I love that has proven more challenging."

"Here I was thinking this is special." Olivia jokes

"It is." He answers honestly "I've never done this before but I saw you in the window and I for some reason wanted you to see me too."

"Do you see me?" He ask. His voice soft as velvet.

Her eyebrows are creased with worry and her eyes are unsmiling. Her expression throws him. He goes back in his mind, tries to understand if he missed the cue indicating her discomfort.

Olivia looks at him nervously, uncertain of her own actions "what are you doing?"

He shakes his head defeated "I don't know."

"I have a boyfriend." Olivia finally whispers as reality comes back to the forefront.

To her amazement, he wasn't fazed by her statement only acknowledging his own "I have a girlfriend."

The tension between them was thick and heavy. Olivia's gaze caught his and stood transfixed. There was something magnetic about him, calling to her, pulling her towards him for reasons she could not identify. His eyes, they blazed with some unknown need as they travelled across her face. She felt like he was touching her, every word, syllable etched from his mouth is like a shock to her heart. Softly she feels alive in the most excruciating way.

"I think it's time I go." Olivia whispers though she remains frozen at her seat.

"Me too." He agrees "but I still want to know."

She smiles at him "I'll tell you the next time I see you."

His smile is beautiful. Relaxed. As he sips his remaining tea, eased at Olivia's answer.

"Tell me when I'm going to see you again." he ask as they stand outside the café with the sun slowly emerging from behind the clouds.

Olivia slides her purse back on her shoulder. "Thank you for the conversation of my life." Olivia avoids answering his question.

He looks at her stretched out hand, deciding whether to shake it or simply use it to pull her in closer to him. He shakes her hand "the pleasure was all mine." He kisses her hand as he bows at her superiority over him.

Olivia contemplates her next move, she really doesn't want to leave but she knows she has to, this man is a threat to everything and for some reason she finds herself questioning her own judgment and will. Counting to three she walks in the opposite direction of him, refusing to look back at him but at the corner she stops and sees him standing exactly where she left him.

Casting one last glance at him, Olivia places his face to memory before turning the corner and never looking back to see him running up the hill to catch her.

But it's too late. She's gone.

/

She couldn't sleep.

Her mind was uneased as was her body. The constant churning of her stomach when she thought of the actions that took place fourteen hours ago. Guilt. Her stomach drops when she thinks about the stranger in the coffee shop, how he sparked her something in her that made her head feel a little fuzzy. Olivia flops onto her back, examining the ceiling wall, which she was just starting to make out with the sun rising. Annoyed, she rolls over onto her side, taking note of his outline.

"You ready?" he groans with sleep still in his voice.

Olivia shrugs not sure how to answer.

His eyes flicker open to look at her before closing once again.

"Do you think we are moving too fast?" Olivia whispers out

His eyes open at her question "of course not; Olivia we have been dating for over a year now, we waited this long."

"I know." Olivia pauses "but it's complicated. What if they don't like me?"

He holds her hand in his. "Olivia, my parents are going to love you. You are beautiful, sophisticated, hardworking and intelligent plus you are a good person. They will love you." He promises

"Daniel…"

"They are looking forward to meeting you. We took off from work so we can spend time with them, this is the next step for us."

"I know." Olivia agrees

"Are you getting cold feet?" Daniel teases

"A little." Olivia smiles coyly

"I guess, I'll have to warm you up then." He says climbing over Olivia.

/

She rubs a hand over her stomach to soothe her nerves but nothing could suppress this feeling blooming inside. Daniel's childhood house, was actually a mansion, sitting on over forty acres of land. She knows everything about his family on paper, but to actually sit across from them proved more difficult then she originally thought.

"You're filthy rich." Olivia acknowledges as they ring the doorbell

"You knew that." He smiles

"I knew you were rich, but not Richie rich."

He laughs loudly "you know my dad owns the firm."

"My point exactly." Olivia manages to get out before the maid opens the door.

"Hi Nancy." Daniel says kissing the middle age lady on the cheek as she greets them at the door.

"They are in the sunroom, sir."

"Thank you." Daniel says politely "Nancy, this is my girlfriend Olivia Pope."

The ladies exchange pleasantries before the two walk into the sunroom.

"Hey mom and dad." Daniel says walking into the room as he moves to hug each of his parents.

"Gu…"

"You must be Olivia." Daniel's mother says happy at meeting her son's girlfriend.

"Yes." Olivia smiles nervously "it's a pleasure to meet you." She lifts her hand

"Oh, no. I have to give you a hug."

"Please call me Helen."

"Okay." Olivia smiles

"Hello sir." Olivia says acknowledging Daniel's father.

"Hello, Ms. Pope."

Quickly the group gets acclimated as they laugh and make small talk. Slowly Olivia's nerves begin to subside as they talk about Daniel and their impending future together.

"You two will be staying with us for a couple of weeks correct?"

"Yes." Daniel says answering his mother "but depending on work we might have to leave a little sooner but I do not see that occurring." Daniel made sure to mention that just in case Olivia becomes overwhelmed and wishes to leave. Olivia smiles at him gratefully.

"Son, how is New York treating you? Are you ready to come back to California?"

Daniel laughs at the question "in case you forgot, I have everything I could possibly want in New York." He reaches for Olivia's hand and she gives it to him, gently interlocking their fingers.

Daniel's father is a man of few words, he is clearly business oriented but his reservations and feelings were tightly guarded. But Olivia got the sense that this engagement was simply courtesy to Daniel, clearly he had other things on his mind.

There's commotion, chatter outside the door.

"What's going?" Daniel's father yells as he stands up to figure out what was happening behind the doors. Not wasting time, his father opens the door and closes it immediately. The room becomes awkwardly silent as they hear two people arguing with Daniel's father clearly over-powering the conversation.

Helen smiles at Olivia nervously hoping that she isn't alarmed at the argument taking place currently and praying that she isn't able to decipher the conversation.

"Who's that?" Olivia whispers to Daniel.

Before Daniel could answer the door opens and swiftly the two men enter the room. Olivia's eyes widen in shock, she blinks quickly thinking her eyes are most certainly playing a trick on her. But there not. It's him. It's the guy from the coffee shop.

"That's my brother; Fitz."