"But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer"

(Song Verse from "A Thousand Years...Christina Perri)

Chapter 2: "One Step Closer"

As Fitz was walking away from Cyrus, thoughts were running through his head like a race car on a track. Could he really divorce his wife and remain President? But most important could he do this and would Olivia be there waiting for him when it was over with. Would she wait for him? When everything was done would she marry him?

The other day when she was there with him in the Oval seemed so perfect. How she cradled his face in her hands. How she kissed him. How he held her in his arms not wanting to release her for anything in the world. He remembered the fear in her eyes as she wiped his handkerchief across his brow and face. Her touch felt so good, too good.

Fitz knew that she loved him still just as much as he loved her. When he awoke in the hospital his first thoughts were of her. Talking to her. Holding her. Being with her again. He was just so sick and tired of living with Mellie and being in a loveless marriage. He has literally waited it seemed like a thousand years for Olivia, and his Presidency be damned, he was going to be with her now.

He was still lost in his thoughts of her, leaving Cyrus behind in the oval. Just as he was about to reach the door, it opened. There in her utmost beauty stood Olivia staring at him.

She was in one of her grey pant suits, hair pulled back, with curls on the sides of her face in back. She had on shear lip gloss, a necklace that was in her cleavage, and small earrings. As their eyes met each other, both stopped breathing for brief moment, taking in the other's existence. Both had forgotten how much they missed each other. Even though they had just seen each other recently, Fitz still missed and needed her, just as much as she needed him.

"HI." She says to him, as she shuts the door.

"Hi." Fitz said back.

They stand there just staring at each other for a MINUTE before Cyrus, still standing in the Oval makes them realize that he's there.

"Liv, what do we owe this surprise?" Cyrus asks her.

"I got a phone call saying to come here." She looked at Fitz, then Cyrus. She then walked up to Fitz, standing beside him. Their hands were almost touching.

"I didn't summon you Livy." Fitz finally said to her, then turning to Cyrus who said the same thing.

All three were standing in the Oval looking at each other wondering what the heck was going on. Fitz turned around glaring at Cyrus thinking he was up to something. He was about to speak when the other door to the Oval opened.

"Oh Olivia, you made it, just on time too." Mellie said walking in very pregnant.

Fitz felt like he was about to explode at this moment. He walked over and leaned against the resolute desk, glaring at her still. She may STILL be the First Lady but his TRUE WIFE was now with him.

Cyrus took a seat on the couch and said "And just think I could have been teaching at Harvard right now. Mr. President can I have a scotch?"

Fitz looked at Cyrus, trying really hard not to laugh. "Cyrus last time I checked, you don't like scotch."

"I know that Sir. You know that. But right now wine isn't going to cut it." Cyrus said rubbing his hands through his hair.

Mellie took one step closer to Olivia, Fitz and Cyrus. "Please Olivia sit down. We need to have a little chat."

Olivia looked at Cyrus and Fitz both in their lone spot in the Oval. She looked over at Fitz and thought "watching you stand alone, all of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow." She then walked over to Fitz, who was a tad bit shocked at the moment, and leaned on the desk next to him. She placed her hand next to his on the desk. Their fingers were barely touching. Just having her next to him and vice versa was slowing both their heart rates down.

Gathering her composure Olivia asked, "Mellie, why did you summon me here?"

"Oh Fitz honey, you didn't tell her yet then?" Mellie said to him, with half a smile on her face.

Olivia turned to look at him. Cyrus knew what was coming. "Tell me what."

"Come on Fitzgerald, why don't you tell Olivia what you asked me for?" Mellie said taking one more step closer.

"Fitz you aren't resigning are you?" Olivia asked him.

"No Livy I am not going to resign." Fitz said to her.

"Oh come on honey, your Livy is right here. Why don't you tell her in person? Or are you afraid she'll run back to her Senator boy-toy." Mellie snickered back.

Olivia took one step away from the desk and one more step closer to Mellicent Grant. Finally she was right up in her face. "Mellie my relationship with Edison is none of your god-darn business. Now why in the hell am I here?"

Olivia was still eyeing Mellie was Fitz finally spoke up. "I asked Mellie for a divorce."

"And you Olivia are here to talk him out of it." Mellie spoke again.

Olivia turned around so fast that she thought her head was going to fly out the Oval office windows. She couldn't say anything at first. She looked at Fitz who was smiling. He watched Olivia's facial expression change from being pissed off to high heaven, to well…he wasn't sure. She looked scared, happy, and relieved at the same time.

He knew she was happy because he was alive and back in the Oval Office where he belonged. Relieved because she probably thought he was going to resign the Presidency again. But he knew deep down he was terrified because he just told her he was going to divorce his wife, while in office. That could end up ending his career.

Mellie was watching Olivia and Fitz staring at each other.

Olivia took one step closer to Fitz, then one more step closer to him. Now she was standing right in between his legs looking at him. She took his hands off his desk and rested them on the top of her hip bone. Fitz was a little taken back, totally surprised that she did this in front of Cyrus but Mellie too. Fitz watched the huge smile on Mellie's face disappear, the closer Olivia got to HER husband.

/

Now it seemed they were the only two people in the room. They were just Olivia and Fitz. She finally gathered her words…

"You asked Mellie for a divorce."

"Yes." He said with conviction in his voice.

"Fitz, I…I…" Olivia just looked at him.

"Olivia, I am going to divorce Mellie," looking at her and Cyrus, who sat there in shock still, "and still remain President when I do so."

"You sure this is what you want, Fitz? I mean this could ruin your career. Everything you've worked for. Your reputation. What about the kids?"

"Liv, NONE of this means anything to me if I don't have you to share it with. Getting shot made me have a moment of clarity in my life. I am done living with the wicked witch of the west." looking at Mellie, who was standing there shaken, and Cyrus who was just as surprised.

He then continued, focusing his attention back to Olivia, "My marriage has been over for a long time Olivia. You saved me three years ago when we first met. You saved my life again that day in the hospital. I fought to get back to you. I will divorce Mellie, and remain President after it's all over. Will you stand by me?"

"Fitz I…" Olivia had tears in her ears. She KNEW he was serious.

They continued to look into each other's eyes. Not caring who was in the room. Before she could say anything else to him, he said "I. Love. You," which caused Olivia to practically go weak in the knees. He had not said this to her in so long.

"Fitz, you have to be sure this is what you want."

Fitz took his hands off her hips, and placed them on her cheeks. He took in a deep breath and said "I. Want. You. Only You."

Olivia was about to say "Fi…" before he told her "Quiet."

Then he pulled her face into his, kissing her so sweetly and tenderly that Cyrus and Mellie just stood there with their mouths open. They had NEVER done anything like this in front of anyone before. Not once before now have either of them displayed their love for the other.

Mellie got so upset that she finally yelled…."FITZGERALD!"

Mellie yelled again…."Get your grubby MISTRESS paws off my husband Olivia! Now!'

Fitz didn't let his lips leave Olivia's. Before they both knew what was happening, they heard Cyrus scream "Fitz!" Then next thing Fitz saw was Cyrus Beene jumping offing the couch, putting himself in between Mellie and them. Fitz immediately stopped and tried to push Olivia behind him, before Mellie got a hold her.

Cyrus was there the same time Mellie reached them. But before he could fully position himself, Mellie leaned forward and grabbed a hold of Olivia's hair attempting to pull her away from Fitz.

Olivia let out a shrill causing Tom to rush into the room. Tom stood there in a state of shock for a minute. There was President Grant, with Olivia almost behind him. Cyrus in the middle. Then he saw the First Lady's hand in Olivia's hair pulling her away from both men.

Fitz gave Tom a panicked looked and he rushed over attempting to unleash Mellie's grasp on Olivia. She was pulling so hard that both men almost fell over. Fitz was desperately holding onto Olivia and Cyrus had his hand on Mellie's trying to get her to let go.

Both men were yelling at her "Let her go Mellie, Now! You are going to hurt the baby!"

But Mellie showed know concern for their unborn child. "I want Olivia away from him now and out of MY house! Fitzgerald!"

Tom looked at Fitz and said "Mr. President?"

Fitz looked at him and said, "Do what you need to do Tom?"

Tom finally grabbed a hold of Mellie the best way he could without harming her belly and finally yanked her away from everyone. Once her hand released from Olivia's hair, Fitz and Cyrus stood in front of her, letting her lean on the desk behind them.

Fitz pulled himself together and voiced, "Tom get her out of here now. Please take her to the other secured section of the White House. Place guards and she is not allowed to leave unless she goes into Labor."

"Fitz, there will BE NO divorce." Mellie sneered at him.

Fitz looked at Cyrus who assured him that he would stay by Olivia who was still in a state of shock as to what just happened. He walked up to her with Tom standing in between them. "Mel, DO NOT PUSH ME! This is happening. We are getting a divorce and YOU will no longer be the First Lady. Tom, get her out of my sight and out of my office now!"

"Yes Mr. President." Tom said. Tom radioed for some help to make sure she did not make a scene on the way out.

Mellie yelled back at Olivia before she left the room, "Olivia, I WILL NOT let you have him. No way! No how!"

Olivia got off the desk and took one step closer to Mellie, then took one more step closer to her. Before long she was standing directly in front of her.

Cyrus then turned to Fitz and said , "Mr. President I think the Shit is going to hit the fan. You best make sure you have the good scotch ready."

Fitz just turned and looked at him, still not saying a word. He then turned his attention back to Olivia.

"Mellie," Olivia said, "5. Putting your hands on me was your first mistake. Do it again and I'll make sure I'm the dog with the bigger bone. I won't need Cyrus or Fitz to help. You won't have the backing of the White House to save your Iron Lady Ass by the time I am done.

4. Attacking me in the Oval Office was a bad choice. Considering the cameras were right above us. I did nothing to provoke you. Not a wise move on your part."

(Cyrus looked at Fitz and said…"Liv's in full Gladiator mode now Sir.")

The Big boys listened more to Olivia, ream Mellie a new one…

"3. Fitz asked you for a divorce. The way I see it, you can give him what he wants and maybe you'll end up with something in the end. Which won't be the kids, or the new baby by the way. If you fight him, he has the means to bring you down and I'll make sure I help him. You worrying about me getting him will be the least of your worries. (Fitz and Cyrus were standing there in shock now. Fitz was fighting back a smile.)

2. Don't you EVER call me his MISTRESS again. If you do, I'll make sure you lose all your Political Capital. You'll lose your 'good name' in all the right circles. And most of all I KNOW people, that know people that can make your life in and out of DC is a living Hell. Your dirty little secrets will come out. I will see to it. Remember Mellie I helped cover them up on the campaign so I KNOW them all and then some."

"Olivia, I…" Mellie starts to say…

"Shut it. I am not done yet…." Olivia pauses and continues.

"1. Oh and I am not, nor will I ever be his mistress. I am the Love of His Life and he is the love of mine (Fitz now had the biggest smile on his face.) If I AM what he wants, then (she turned to look at him, starts to walk over to him. She then puts her hands on his face. He melted instantly in her hands.) I will make sure Fitz, the man I love, the President I love, the man I voted for, has everything he needs. Goodbye Mrs. Grant."

Tom then escorted Mellie out of the room.

Fitz did not take his eyes off of Olivia. He pulled her one step closer into his body that was sitting on his desk. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her as close as he could. He touched his forehead to hers. Olivia was still breathing so hard that she was having a hard time focusing.

Fitz then took her hands and placed them on his chest. He rested his hands on top of hers, holding onto them. This was to assure her that he was okay, but most importantly THEY TOGETHER were okay. As she felt his heart beating against her hands, her own heart began to slow to match his. Her breathing then did the same. By the time all the adrenaline left her body, she felt completely exhausted.

Before Cyrus and Fitz could get her to the couch, everything all of a sudden started to change colors in her eyes. She began to see yellow, then orange, then purple. She began to feel weak, and her legs seemed as if they were turning to jello. She looked up at Fitz who knew immediately something was wrong. She grabbed onto Fitz's shirt and could feel herself beginning to collapse in his strong arms.

She felt him react immediately and catch her before she hit the ground. His arms coiled around her tiny frame, protecting her from hitting any hard surface and injuring herself. As she was falling, her head jostled against his chest, and she could feel his breath movements increasing. She could tell by his voice that he was panicking.

Now they were on the floor. Her body was rested against his. She could hear him talking to her. Her eyes were barely open. He had one hand on her face, bringing it up to look his eyes.

She could hear him say "Livy, LIVY! Oh my god. Livy wake up. Don't you dare leave me. Not now, not ever. Cyrus get the doctor in here now! " Cyrus left the room and then it was nothing but darkness….

Fitz secretary then enters the room. Started to see him on the floor with Olivia she tells him. "Mr. President, you're needed. You need to come with me."

"Louise I just can't let Olivia lay on the floor unconscious. What is so urgent? Cyrus is getting the doctor."

"Sir, it's the First Lady. Her water broke. The paramedics are prepping her for the hospital. The ambulance is ready to take you both to Labor and Delivery. You need to hurry. I'll stay with her until Mr. Beene gets back with the doctor."

Fitz gets up and places Olivia on the couch, still unconscious. Louise sits places herself by her head to ensure that she does not fall. Fitz not carrying that Louise is in the room, kisses her lightly and takes off out of the room.

/

Well my pumpkins…it's seems like "A Thousand Years" since I updated this story. Thank you so much for sticking with it. I hope many more of you add this to your alerts because the let me know..things are about to get REAL!

I hope you enjoyed the little CAT fight over Fitz and how Olivia eventually Olivia channeled her inner gladiator and ripped Mellie a new one. I love writing things where Liv is telling Mellie off. It puts me in such a good mood.

I would also like to thank…Kelsey, chocolate1, LimePalmtree, Animelover6000, jasphace, KeaBody23, mmrb0908 and all my guests for your reviews. You ladies make my day. THANK YOU!

Peace, Pumpkins and Peaches…(And I don't own any part of the song used in this section.)

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