Words, how do you find the words to tell someone everything you have kept bottled up for what seems like a lifetime? That is the dilemma facing both Liv and Fitz. Here is a glimpse into their internal struggles.

Fitz Feelings….

There it was that spark he felt when she touched her hand in his. That contact that he longed for all these years. Ever since the moment she walked out of his life he wondered if he'd ever get the chance to feel her touch again. There were so many things he wanted to say to her. Remind her of what they once shared, what they could have again. Yet his mind was on overload. So overcome in that moment that he couldn't even open his mouth. WORDS, WORDS would be required in order for him to tell her that yet at this moment he was at a loss for them. He finally raised his eyes from gazing at their joined hands. At that moment he said one word, "Hi". To some it's just a simple greeting but, for them it has always brought comfort during turmoil, peace after not seeing each other for a long time and comfort when emotions have become too much. That word covered a multitude of sins for each of them. Liv gave him a shy smile and said "Hi" back in return.

Liv's Feelings…..

Olivia felt a surge of electricity run through her body the moment her hand touched his. This was something she hadn't felt in years. Her body came alive. She had casually gone on dates with a few men since they had broken up but nothing promising. There was NO spark. She felt nothing even close to what just happened when their hands connected. She couldn't tear her gaze away from the man she loved with her complete heart. The only man who had this hold on her. Her heart and mind began to race. Of course being the fixer that she was she went through a range of scenarios in her mind in that moment. That was until she heard his baritone voice say "Hi". Her eyes lifted and her gaze focused on his piercing blue that moment she lost her voice. His gaze made her face felt flushed, her cheeks reddened and her body warmed. He brought out a shyness that made her feel naked and exposed. He could always see through her. She wanted to say some, WORDS escaped her. All, except one in particular. "Hi" she replied.

Each watched the other breathe in and out in a comfortable silence. Their breaths began to match the others. Some things never change. I guess that is what happens you're your heart is reunited with its other half; it can truly beat as one. They were breathing in sync.

A staff member from the zoo café came over to take their order. This broke them out of their daze. They asked for a few more minutes to go over the small menu and were greeted with a smile. Olivia decided she would have a burger and fries. Fitz chucked, as he realized these were the small things he missed out being with Olivia. Mellie NEVER would have been content with such a simple meal. Everything with her had to be over the top. Not with Liv though. She was down to earth. He repeated what she said, burger and fries and added; hold the pickles, extra mustard. A smirk came to his face as he saw her look on in shock. Fitz replied "do you think I could forget? This was the first meal we shared together. Late night working on the campaign trail, we got burgers and fries and you got mustard all over my copy of the campaign speech I was to give the following day." Liv laughed heartily thinking back to that night. They had spent hours talking about their hopes for the country and what he could accomplish as President. They also talked about their childhoods and got a greater understanding of how they had become the individuals they were today. Fitz decided he would have pizza. All be it probably wasn't great pizza considering it was at the zoo, it was pizza. Something he didn't get to indulge in a lot as the President. Liv responded to his declaration of pizza as "it figures". "What?" could be heard coming from Fitz. Liv remarked "Fitz I knew you'd order the pizza. You would eat pizza on the campaign trail anytime you got the chance. You would even have cold pizza for breakfast. You were totally on the Frat boy diet." This caused a hearty laugh to escape his mouth. They each placed their menus down and the zoo staff member came over immediately to take the orders.

Once she walked away Fitz felt he had the courage to speak more openly. He softly stroked the back of Liv's hand with his thumb as he asked "How have you been?" He truly wanted to know how life had been treating her. While his life has played out before the cameras with him being the President he had only heard about Olivia through Cyrus or the occasional news article in which she was highlighted as helping some big wig businessman or political get out of trouble. One time while sitting in Cyrus office discussing the press conference of a Senator the camera panned to the right and caught a portion of Liv's face while she stood to his side. While it was only half of her face it mesmerized him. His attention was completely focused on her. She had always possessed that ability to completely captivate him. Cyrus was there speaking to him, but it felt like no one else was in the room at the time. It wasn't until Cyrus turned off the TV that he was able to turn his gaze away from the TV. So to say he was curious about how she is would be an understatement. He often wondered what she had been doing with her time during their time apart. So he asked "How are you doing?"

Liv pondered his question. How was she doing? She didn't really know how to answer that question. Work wise she was great, couldn't be better, personal wise that was a different story. Her personal life was non-existent. She had tried to date a few times but, they never amounted to anything. The longest relationship if you could really call it that was with Senator Edison Davis. He was a nice guy, just not the right guy for her. Because he was a senator she made sure to keep their relationship under wraps and out of the spotlight. He often tried to get her to attend functions or dinners with other colleagues. She would nicely decline, using her job as an excuse. She often stated she didn't want to draw undue attention to herself. In the line of work she was in, discreet was a key quality. After about 7 months Edison finally gave up. He said to Liv one day while sitting her living room "Where do you see this headed?" taken aback by the question she couldn't give him an answer, because really she only saw him as a filler. Someone she would spend time with, but never develop a deep emotional connection with. The last person she let him was the one person she couldn't get out of her heart. When she couldn't give him an answer Edison felt it only right to continue. "I really wanted us to work. We look perfect on paper. You and I could have taken over D.C. together. Yet, that doesn't seem to be what you want. I don't know how to please you Olivia. What is it you want out of a relationship? Because it sure as hell isn't what I'm giving you." He didn't mean to raise his voice but, he was frustrated. Liv realized this, but it also set something off in her. At that she finally found her voice. Liv stiffened her back which before her posture was almost that of defeat. Defeated that she couldn't get over Fitz, that she couldn't accept the love of a decent guy, that she might be alone because she only loved one man, what if he had moved on; those where her internal thoughts. Not the ones she would share with Edison. Instead she looked at Edison and said "I want painful, difficult, devastating, life-changing, extraordinary love." Edison developed this look on his face. He did not know how to respond. So he just got up and went to pick up his coat. As he opened the door, he looked back and Olivia and gave her a weak smile. "I hope you find what you are looking for, Olivia." With that he was gone. About 3 months later while watching the news, he saw a blurb about Edison and some socialite dating. She thought to herself I hope he also finds what he is looking for. Pulling herself out of her personal thoughts Liv began to speak. I'm doing well. Work has been booming. We have very little downtime. Our firm seems to have become the go to place when you are expiring the worst day of your life. That seems to happen a lot here in D.C. My health is great. All things considered I would say I'm good compared to most." Fitz just looked at her with a small smile on his face. He realized she just gave him the standard answer and if he didn't ask probing questions they wouldn't get anywhere.

After a few minutes Fitz said "Do You have any idea how long I've wanted to hold your hand out in public like we are doing now?" She chuckled and said "probably for quite some time." "Liv there hasn't been a day that I haven't wanted to reach out to you since I saw you at the bakery. I didn't because I realized then that while I was divorced, you still needed time. "He could see in her eyes that what he was saying had an effect on her. He thought it's now or never here. I have her undivided attention. "My heart aches for you. Just being around you these past few hours has given me such comfort. "When Fitz realized Liv had begun to cry he reached up and whipped her tear with his thumb. She nuzzled her face into his hand. That was all he needed to realize she still felt something for him. The question is would she willing to let her guard down with him and attempt to have a true relationship. This is something they had always talked about. Now this isn't hypothetical anymore. He is not married. He is free to date anyone he chooses. While he is still the President and the American people will have an opinion they aren't doing anything wrong. They could set the narrative however they wanted. Even Cyrus at this point has given his blessing. The only question mark is Liv. Fitz stood up from the table and walked Liv over to a window. As they stood there looking over the giraffe enclosure, the sun peered through the window. It was begging to get late, and as the sun set, it cast this amazing glow on Olivia. She had never looked so pretty. Fitz couldn't help himself. He leaned in and cupped LIv's face. I know I asked you to WAIT. FOR. ME. Olivia. With each word he kissed each cheek, her neck and finally he said. Did You? With that he placed a kiss upon her lips.

When she finally opened her eyes, there they were. The eyes she dreamed of every night fixated on her waiting for a response. Her heart was racing, her body still supercharged from that kiss. Her lips trembled from the loss of contact. She opened her mouth to speak…..