Disclaimer: I do not own Scandal

AN: I am so sorry for the delay in getting this up! My goal is to update every story once a week (at least), but I've been trying to tie up a few other things and my Scandal stories have been pushed to the back burner. No more, though! Once a week updates. Please feel free to yell at me via PM if I start slacking! Oh, and for those of you concerned, OLITZ is always the end game! Don't worry too much! ~ XOXO MAS

Chapter One

Santa Barbara, California

Olivia settled into the office Cyrus had set aside for her at the Grant Campaign Headquarters. The office was bigger than what she anticipated, but then again, he was already governor and as a Grant, he certainly wasn't hurting for campaign funds. She flipped open the poll numbers that he'd left for her. Adjusting her black, wide frame glasses, she pulled her hair up into a ponytail and delved into her reading. According to the numbers and the predictions for for the 2008 election, Grant didn't stand a chance. It was going to be Langston and Reston in the final election and then Reston was going to be the 44th President of the United States of America. What the hell am I even thinking? I gave up a corner office, on my way to becoming partner by the end of this year for this? To run the campaign of someone who is against my husband politically? I must be delusional.

"Liv! You made it!" Cyrus grinned as he leaned in her office doorway. "And you've already started diving in I see."

Olivia slipped her glasses off her face and set them next to her coffee cup, "Yes, I've seen the disaster that is this campaign. And if there was any questions as to whether or not I was crazy before, I know I am now."

"Oh, it's not that bad." Cyrus settled into a chair across from her desk, taking a sip from his coffee cup, "So, where do you want to start?"

Olivia picked up her own cup, "I'm not even sure right now." She picked up another two files. "I still have some more reading to do. I do want to meet the crack team you've got assembled."

Cyrus scowled at her words, but nodded, "10am, we'll come here. You'll like them, they're good."

"If that were true the numbers wouldn't be this dismal." Olivia informed him flatly.

"It's not that bad. Don't you think you may be overstating things a bit?" Cyrus asked.

Olivia set her pen down, "Cy, I've been involved in Edison's last two campaigns. I know how this works. I know how this plays out. This doesn't look good for Governor Grant." She sighed, "But, I've quit my job, I'm here, so we'll figure it out. Give me an hour before you bring your people in. Now out." She shooed him away, "I have a crisis to manage."

SCANDAL

Olivia sat across from Cyrus, a pollster, the head of media relations, and two campaign officers, "This is your problem." She slid a piece of paper across the table.

"It's a map of the country, ma'am." One of the campaign officers stated obviously.

"Well, I'm glad to know you passed the third grade." Olivia snapped. "We have red stripes, indicating the states Senator Langston will take; solid red, indicating the states Governor Grant will take. Now, who can see the problem?"

"Governor Grant will only take California. Maybe he'll get a few of the northeastern states, potentially Washington State and Oregon. Those numbers are really too close to call, though." The pollster, Jeanine Locke, didn't even look up from her laptop as she replied. Olivia wanted to take that laptop from her and chuck it out the window. Pollsters were nothing but a negative pain in the ass, who more often than not, were incorrect.

"Please put the computer away." Olivia asked politely, but with a slight edge in her voice that forced Jeanine's eyes to dart up. The young woman flushed and shut her laptop without even saving what she was working on. That was another potential problem, as good as young blood was, it was better in the field offices. Olivia needed experience over excitement at this point. Right now she needed people who could manipulate the campaign until it turned around. The youth and energy would be better served on the ground. Olivia cleared her throat and continued, "And yes, that is the problem, the only state we have guaranteed ourselves is California. I want to know why." She was met with silence, "Let me rephrase that, I want you all to tell me why the Governor is only slated to take California and I want you to explain it to me right now. Each of you." She pointed to the young man who identified the map as one of the United States, "Kyle, go." The socratic method had been a favorite of Cyrus's when she had him in law school at Georgetown. Olivia herself found it worked very well when giving guest lectures, interviewing clients and working a court room.

Kyle ran a hand through his too-long hair. He was the epitome of a California hippie, surfer guy, probably from a rich and political family, "He's not getting his message across?"

Olivia stared at him, "That's it? That's the problem?" Kyle nodded. Olivia glared at Cyrus before pointing to the next young man, "Will?"

Will straightened and adjusted his red tie. She could tell this young man wanted to be here, he wanted to be Governor Grant at some point. "He needs to lean further right on the issues."

"No." Olivia held up her hands, "Just no. You never change your mind on an issue in mid-campaign." Her eyes locked on a timid young woman with glasses, "Brenda?" She asked.

Brenda adjusted her glasses and glanced down at the pad of notes in her hand. She'd made a huge list of ideas they could try, but she knew none of them would fix the problem. "I think the problem is the way the Governor and his family are perceived by the people."

Olivia quirked an eyebrow up at that, "Continue." Maybe one of these people would surprise her and actually have some form of an intuitive gut and would be able to think outside of the box to problem solve.

Brenda pushed her shoulders back, exuding a bit of confidence at not being shut down by Olivia Pope-Davis right out of the gate, "The people, particularly Republicans, want a family man for president and Governor Grant and Mrs. Grant rarely attend events together."

Olivia nodded, "I like her. She's with me." Olivia stood up, "Brenda stay, the rest of you go. Kyle, Will, divide the country in half. I want reports on my desks from every field office saying what they need and what events they're hosting. Cyrus, I want Governor Grant's schedule. Jeanine, can you run numbers based on us upping the events where Governor and Mrs. Grant are together?"

Jeanine adjusted her thick glasses, "Of course."

"Good. I want all reports on my desk within two hours. Brenda, let's talk optics." Olivia moved over to a small sitting area.

"Mrs. Davis," Brenda began.

"Olivia, please."

Brenda nodded, "Olivia," the young woman glanced down at her hands.

"Spit it out, Brenda. Let's have it." Olivia prodded. "We don't have all day."

"I think someone needs to address this with Governor and Mrs. Grant. I think someone needs to teach them how to act around each other at public events." She sputtered out quickly, "I don't think upping the events will work if they keep acting the same way. In fact, I think that could ruin our chances at any other states."

Olivia leaned back, "That is a good thought." She nodded as her phone buzzed. Reaching over, she picked it up, "I have to take this. You stay here. I want you to think about ways to spin this to Governor and Mrs. Grant." She punched a button on her phone, "Hey."

"Hey, Liv, how's it going?"

"It's a train wreck of a campaign." Olivia answered as she opened and closed the door, "So, what's going on with the budget committee?"

"A bunch of arguing on ways to increase the budget without it getting out of control." Edison replied, "We're trying to come up with a compromise. We need an addendum that forces us to start paying back what we've borrowed while still increasing the budget today." She could practically see him shrug, "No one wants to reach across the aisle today. It's one of those days."

"You mean one of those days where you really love you job, huh?" She teased.

Edison groaned, "Oh yes, love it so much today, but I did have a nice thought."

"Oh, nice thoughts, I like those. What is your nice thought and does it involve wine?" Olivia leaned against the wall by her office door.

"Actually, it does." Edison replied, "What if I come out to California this weekend and if you can get away for one night we go down to Sonoma?"

"Wine country? Just the two of us? An actual semi-vacation?" Olivia giggled, "Count me in. Set it up, let's do Saturday night."

"I'll fly in and we can fly down to Sonoma together?" He suggested. "It'll be quicker if we fly. I'll fly in on Friday. Then we can just fly out separately Sunday evening."

"I think that sounds wonderful." Olivia agreed. "Go ahead and book it. I've got to run. I have one decent campaign worker. I've got to tap all the ideas out of her I can and train her while she's still on board. I'd hate to lose her to Langston."

"Please, you'll ground Langston into the dust before anyone even thinks to jump ship." Edison stated confidently, "Oh, I've got to go. Recess is over. Time to get back to arguing." He paused, "Love you, Liv."

"Love you too, Edison." Olivia hung up and pushed her office door back open, "Okay, we need a solid plan before I start attacking the Governor." She sat back down, "What do you have?"

Brenda shrugged her thin shoulders, "I think you just need to be honest. Shock factor is key."

"Really?" Olivia asked. "That's what you think?"

"I think that if you just recommend it nicely nothing will change. I'm still fairly new here, too, but I get the feeling that the Governor and his wife, particularly his wife, are very stubborn and don't handle criticism very well." Brenda replied. "I think you'll have to force it on them."

Olivia nodded, "Okay then, let's go tell Cyrus that we need a sit down with Governor and Mrs. Grant."

SCANDAL

XOXO

MAS