Hello All, this chapter has taken me longer than expected, but its finally here thanks to the many fans that have encourage me to continue. As always I do not owe Scandal, its characters, or plots, I'm just a huge fan and can not wait until Scandal come back in October. Hope you enjoy and please comment, and message.

July 4

At Pope and Associates . . .

Stephen walked into my office; it was a little after 7am. He noticed Lily sleeping peaceful in her portable crib in my office. He softly shook my arm.

I awaken from my peaceful sleeping with a document stuck to my face. "Stephen?" I muttered in my sleepy voice.

Stephen raised an eyebrow. "Did you work through the night again Libby?"

"Yeah . . . I wanted to get a head on all this paperwork and didn't want to move Lily when she fell asleep here."

Stephen took the seat in front of me. "So are you going to the Military Memorial Ceremony today?"

He holds up the yellow and blue envelope, I purposefully hid under a mountain of paperwork on my desk.

I shook my head "No there is just way to much work to be done here, I just don't have the time to attend this year."

He shook his head. "But Libby you have gone to the event every year since your father died when you were 8."

I closed my eyes and lean back into my chair, "yeah . . . I know . . . but I have responsibilities here that cannot wait."

Stephen leaned forward. "You have an entire team of people that can handle this paper work, this isn't about Pope and Associates . . . you are hiding out trying to avoid HIM."

I stubbornly folded my arms. "I am not doing that Stephen, and I am offended you would think I would hide out from any one, I am a gladiator, I have stared down the most powerful leaders around the world, and …'

Stephen interrupted me. "No I have seen you not attend over a dozen events because the President happen to be going, Libby this isn't healthy." He paused. "This is not only bad for business because you are not getting the Pope and Associates name out, but also bad for you . . . you and him live in the same city, . . . you work in the same circles, . . . you can't avoid him forever."

I sighed knowing Stephen was right and I really did want to go to the military ceremony. "Ok I'll go but what about the paper work and Lily."

Stephen smirked. "Like I said Libby we can handle the paperwork and I already called your mum to go with you to the ceremony, so you guys can make it a family day."

I laughed. "You called my mother and made arrangements before I even said yes?"

He nodded. "yup because I was not going to take no for an answer Libby, . . . you need this"

I nodded, "I could not ask for a better friend in life." I rubbed Stephen hand

He smiled "You have given me so much, you stood by me when I had that mental breakdown, it's the least I can do." He walked over to Lily and picked her up. "Now you get going, your mum is meeting you at your place in an hour."

Meanwhile at Beene Residence. . .

Cyrus yelled, "JAMES," loudly as his voice echoed through their five bedrooms, 3 bathrooms home in a nice gated community in suburban Washington D.C.

"Yes huni." James sweetly muttered already knowing the cause of his husband's anger.

"$4,000 at Madama Kim's baby boutique." The vein on the side of Cyrus's neck pulsated "You said you were buying Ella a christening outfit, what kind of christening outfit cost more than my first car."

James shushed him. "The baby is sleeping."

Cyrus huffed and puffed, as his entire face held a beat red coloring. "James the bill!" he holds up the receipt,

"Well Cy I can explain . . . " James took the bill. "Well I bought her a christening dress, but she needed accessories like tights, shoes, a baby dressy hat, and a baby cross."

Cyrus nodded. "AND because I know those things did not add up to $4000."

James chuckled. "I was not finished explaining." He paused. "Then I thought, Ella will not want to be in a white christening outfit for the tea we are hosting after at our house . . . and plus we wouldn't want her to get a cold from wearing wet clothing"

Cyrus shook his head. "They are only sprinkling a little water on her head . . . her entire body isn't going to get wet."

James shook his head. "You can never be too careful Cyrus, babies get sick very easily." He paused for a second. "So I bought her a second outfit for the tea party." He goes and pulls out a cute blue and white polka doted dress with red Mary Jane shoes with a matching headband.

Cyrus shook his head as he looked at the receipt unable to argue with James over stuff for Ella's well-being, he noticed a purchase of two adult size white 100% satin gloves for $400 dollar each. He point to the purchase. "Now I know Ella cannot wear two pairs of adult size gloves."

James laughed. "That isn't for Ella, that's for Fitz and Olivia, when they are holding her during the christening."

"Why do Fitz and Liv need gloves to hold the baby?" Cyrus asked puzzled why anyone would need to wear gloves to handle their baby.

James answered without hesitation. "Well to ensure they don't transfer germs to her, we are already splashing cold holy water on her, do we really want to expose her to germs."

Cyrus laughed when he realizes that beside himself, James, and a highly educated and recommended night nurse, no other person has even held Ella since they got her from a case worker.

Cyrus sat his husband down at the foot of their bed. "Listen her godparents will be the President of the United States and an crisis management expert, I'm pretty sure they know to wash their hands and besides I have known both of these individuals for a long time and know they would never do anything to hurt Ella, that's why we are making them her godparents."

James nodded. "I just want her christening to be perfect Cyrus; we are introducing our family to the world and God." He placed his head on Cyrus's shoulder.

Cyrus rubbed James hand. "It will be perfect between the clothing, the church, the tea, and the expensive white doves that will be released; this will be a christening no one will forget."

James smiled. "It better . . . we just spend $5000 on flowers for the tea."

Cyrus pulled away. "$5000 on flowers . . . that will die in an hour."

James laughed. "Remember . . . you said a christening to remember…"

Cyrus shook his head "This christening is going to put me in the poor house; I can only imagine her first birthday party you are planning."

James smirked and pecked Cyrus's cheek. "Yup we might have to mortgage our house for that fiesta."

Cyrus just shook his head trying not to think about the money being spent on this christening.

James pulled out his to-do-list. "Oh have you actually asked Fitz and Liv to be the godparents?"

Cyrus shook his head "Oh I'm sorry it slipped my mind, with everything that's been going on at the White House, but I will ask Fitz when I go into the office today."

James shook his head. "Cyrus the christening is in a month, what about Olivia, we have to have her confirmed, I really don't want to have to ask your sister, she is weird and I don't want leave Ella to her if anything should happen to us."

Cyrus chuckled. "She's not weird, she is just a Libertarian."

James eyes widen with stress thinking Cyrus's sister Sabrina would be godmother to his precious Ella

Cyrus shook his head. "Ok ok . . . I will ask Liv later today, I'm sure she will be attending the Fourth of July military ceremony at the National Mall."

James face brightens up "perfect." He kissed Cyrus cheek and run off.

Cyrus muttered. "No more spending on this christening James!"

James smirked back. "I got it huni, no more spending on the christening once I have completed my list here."

Cyrus just buried his head in a pillow.

In Oval Office of the White House . . .

Millie walked into the Oval office just returning from yet another trip from California. "So what are you wearing to the Fourth of July Military Ceremony, I want to make sure our outfits do not clash."

Fitz did not bother to look up from the paper work he was reading.

Millie let out a breath of frustration as she walks up and place her hand over the report "Fitz!"

Fitz removed his glasses, "can't you see I'm working right now, these bills are not going to pass themselves." He refers to the pile of domestic bills piled up on his desk.

Mellie snapped back. "Then answer my question and I will get out of your hair."

"I will be wearing a suit with the red, white, and blue tie Karen bought me last father's day." Fitz muttered.

Mellie nodded as she typed that into her smartphone

Fitz nodded as he pulls out his ipad. "When should I send Air Force One to pick up Karen from boarding school."

Mellie shook her head. "No need . . . Karen will not be joining us for the ceremony and . . . Ger has decided to stay in California with his friends."

Fitz looked up sharply. "So you are telling me neither of our children are coming to an official family event"

"Yes" Mellie muttered without hesitation.

Fitz muttered with a slightly raised voice. "You know how important this event is, no president has ever not had his family by his side for the annual Fourth of July event."

"I know, I will make sure to talk to PR to decrease the fallout."

Fitz slammed his fits on the table. "NO! . . . you will get on the phone and tell the kids they are coming and that's final."

Mellie shook her head. "Fitz I do not think that's a good idea. . ."

Fitz cuts her off mid-sentence. "I don't care what you think, I am the President of the United States, and the most powerful man in the nation, what I say goes . . . you got it"

Mellie raised an eyebrow and gets in a now standing Fitz's face. "You will not talk to me like that, . . . you want to know the truth . . . huh.

"Yes I want to know the truth, the truth would be refreshing coming from you." Fitz snapped back.

"They didn't want to come, I begged, I bribed, I pleaded with them and they both decline to come . . . Fitz you are not a pleasant person to be around lately if you have not notice."

Fitz shook his head in disbelief. "No. . . you are just saying this to hurt me"

"No I'm saying this because it needed to be said, ever since we put the plan in place to save your presidency, you have been angry, rude, and not a nice person to be around for anyone including the kids."

Fitz laughed. "WE . . . there was no we in that situation, . . . it was you, Cyrus, and Olivia, . . . You decided what was best for me and I went along with it like the good son I have always been."

Mellie shook her head. "Fitz stop playing the victim, we came up with the plan but at the end of the day you decided to go along with this plan, no one put a gun to your head." She paused. "You can blame everyone but at the end of day you chose to become president, you knew the sacrifices it took to get here.

Fitz was rendered speechless by Mellie's word. He knew they were true, he was being a coward. He had allowed everyone in his life to control him, and he could not blame anyone but himself for his situation. He refused to allow Mellie to believe she had gotten to him, because truth to her nature Mellie would use any sign of weakness against him. Fitz bit his lip. "Is that all Mellie?"

Mellie smirked impressed with her skilled ability to debate even the leader of the free world into a speechless state. She muttered as she backed away from Fitz. "Yes . . . I will be waiting in the car in two hours for the ceremony."

Fitz just nodded.

Deep in Rock Creek Park just outside of Washington D.C. . . .

Billy Chamber's nurse handed him two blue capsule pills she routinely gave him at 7am every morning since his parents made a deal with the psychiatric hospital. He took the two pills and swallowed the cup of water afterwards. He opened his mouth to show he has indeed taken the pills.

The nurse nodded and marked it on her form and left immediately.

Billy politely waved at her from the doorway as she drove off. He then immediately ran into his bathroom and stuck his finger down his throat and throw up the pills as he routine did every morning.

He walked into the living room of his recently built mansion. He texted his mother as he did every morning after he "took his pill" to confirm and check in with her to show her he is fine. Billy began to flashback to that faithful night of his escape.

Billy's Flashback ….

It was a cold night as he sat on the metro on his way to his parent's vacation house in Virginia. When the nice trucker woman dropped him off as she promised, he contacted his mother. He pretended to cry and begged for her forgiveness and help. His parents were on the next plane from Connecticut. When they arrived they immediately wanted to take Billy back to the hospital, but Billy being his charming- self convinced them it was not God's will to keep him caged when he has been "cured" by God's love and his faith.

His mother hugged him and thanked God for delivering her son from his demons. Helen Chambers never believed her son was this horrible monster Olivia Pope and the media tried to portray him as, he was just a lost soul who lost his way as result of the demons and temptation in the political world. So with the hug she shared with her son, she quickly took his side with no hesitation and pledged to do all she could to help him.

His father, William Sr. however saw right through Billy's charm because they were cut from the same cloth. He did not believe his son was indeed delivered from his demons, but he agreed to help because he could not handle the embarrassment of having a son in a "nut house," tainting the family's name.

So that night Billy and his parents devised a plan to prevent the hospital from reporting his escape and to allow him to live the quiet low-key life Billy begged for. The next morning, Williams Sr. and his team of lawyers arrived at Shady Grove psychiatric hospital for a meeting with the only three people who known Billy was missing his assigned nurse, the director of the hospital, and the janitor he attacked to escape.

Billy's father wrote the hospital a check for one million dollars, for which the parties agreed it would be used as a "donation" to build a new wing to ensure "Billy" was comfortable and for Billy to "continue" his success progression with hopes of his release in near future. This generous donation was of course widely publicized in the media to add credibility to the transfer of money as well as give the public a positive update on Billy. Billy especially loved that part of the plan because the American people has always loved an underdogs.

To seal this arrangement his father agreed to pay the janitor Billy attacked a very generous monthly wage to remain in the hospital in Billy's place. The janitor resembled Billy with his overgrown brown beard. The janitor agreed without hesitation being a impoverish widow with no living family.

The only deal breaking for the hospital was that Billy must be given his medication everyday by a registered nurse who would report to them every day that he was indeed taking his medication. The director was nervous about allowing a person with known violent propensity out into society without knowing he is taking medication to control his behavior. William Sr. complied with this requirement and Billy has been free to live a peaceful low-key life in the 1.2 million dollar mansion his parents had built for him just outside of Washington D.C.

Billy comes out of his flashback when he hears his newspaper hit his door, being thrown by a local paper boy. He goes outside and grabs the Washington Post waiting for him. He read throw several stories to keep him informed on current event. He comes across an article about the annual Fourth of July military ceremony that the President will be attending.

Billy looks at the picture of his parents sitting on top of his classic piano and sighed. "Sorry mother and father, I just cannot live the quiet life I promised you I would live."

He stood and walked into a dean. In this deal there is a library. He pushed the side of the shelves of books and it swung into a secret room. In this room there a large wall full of pictures, resembling a police suspect wall. In the center of Billy's suspect wall is a picture of Olivia and there are connecting lines to pictures of Stephen, Huck, Abby, Harrison, Quinn, Cyrus, Mellie, Fitz, Sally Langston and other people he deems "important" to his plan. Each line he lists important information he has found out against each person that will be useful at a later date.

He pulled out a recent picture of Lily from a private photographer and place it right next to Olivia picture. He ran his hand over the picture of Lily "You sweet angel are the cornerstone of my plan to destroy everyone that has destroyed me!"

He goes over to his laptop as he turns it on and opens a file. It's a recording of the conversation between Olivia and Stephen about her, Lily, and Mama Pope attending the Fourth of July Military Ceremony at the National Mall. He smile "perfect opportunity . . ., National Mall here I come!"

He packed a duffle bag full of things to complete his plan, among these items were a handgun.

Family day for the Pope family, christening drama for the Beenes, Fitz and Mellie fighting . . . nothing new, and Billy is up to no good . . . This fourth of July celebration should be interesting. Comments, Reviews, and messages are welcomed