(A/N: Thanks for the response to this story. It truly is an overwhelming feeling, having people enjoy your work. Well here you go. Enjoy)
"Here We Go Again"
Olivia got up early the next morning after their tryst and decided to get back on the road. She thought about waking Fitz but decided against it. What would she say to him if she did? She didn't want an awkward morning after exchange. She had a great time with him last night but she knew nothing else would become of the two of them. She lived in D.C. and he was from California. She didn't know anything about him. He could've been involved with someone else for all she knew. She hoped that that wasn't the case. She didn't want to be one of those girls.
But she couldn't deny that she felt a connection between the two of them last night that went deeper than sex. So against her better judgment she left him a note. She didn't think that she would see him again, but hoped that she would one day. He looked so peaceful sleeping there when she left him. She placed a kiss on his cheek unable to help herself. He stirred a bit and she panicked for a second, thinking she had woke him up. But he just smiled and continued to slumber on. He was adorable.
She snuck out of the room after leaving the note near his cell phone on the nightstand. She took a cab back to her hotel, checked out and hit the road. It was amazing what a one night with an amazing man could do. Yesterday she was upset, hurt and confused. Today she felt well rested, energized and free. Like she told Fitz the night before, the signs were there. But she ignored them afraid of disrupting the normalcy that came with being in a relationship with Edison Davis.
They both came from similar backgrounds. Edison's parents both went to Georgetown and graduated with law degrees. They moved back to their hometown of New York City and opened Davis and Associates. Business was slow at first until they had their big break with a high profile murder case in the late nineties. They proved their clients innocence when the odds were highly against him and that made their career. They have since opened up several other law firms across the country in places like California, D.C., Georgia, Florida and Vermont.
Though they both loved their law careers, Robert and Elena Davis had bigger plans for Edison. They were both very invested in their son's life and career. They wanted Edison to become a Senator from the great state of New York one day and were looking to take him all the way to the White House.
When Robert Davis met Elijah Pope five years ago at a benefit dinner for the then Governor of New York, the two of them got to talking about their children. Eli was the Lieutenant Governor at the time and Edison was going into his first year of law school. Olivia was in her last year of high school. Eli explained to Robert that Olivia was looking into colleges for the next year and he wanted her to go to his and Maya's alma mater Columbia. But Olivia wanted to get away from the state of New York. Eli wanted great things for his daughter and going to an Ivy League school was one of them.
Robert told him about Edison and Georgetown. He told Eli that if he let Olivia go to Georgetown that he'd have Edison keep an eye on her. Edison knew the ends and outs of the school and Robert would have him make sure that Olivia was taken care of. The two of them hadn't thought that Olivia and Edison would become more than friends, mostly because of their age difference. But Olivia was always mature for her age so it wasn't that big of a surprise. Olivia and Edison began dating a month into her freshman year and had been together ever since. They both were very smart, attractive, young and from well off families. Robert could see them going all the way to the White House. Once he told Eli his plan to get them there; Eli was on board.
Of course Olivia didn't know of their parents plans, she just thought that her father loved Edison because he never had a son of his own. Eli liked Edison enough, but he liked the fact that his daughter could be in the history books even more so.
Olivia's mood dampened by the time she'd gotten twenty minutes away from home at the governor's mansion. She knew her parents weren't expecting her and she wished that she could go anywhere but home. Though she was excited to see her mother, she dreaded seeing her father. She knew that he would only ask her questions about stupid Edison and his stupid job at his parents stupid law firm. She rolled her eyes and decided to think about something else, like her night with the sexy senators son.
She pulled up in front of the Governor's mansion twenty minutes later and got out of the car. She left her luggage in the car and went into the house. She didn't realize how tired she was until she got in the house. The combination of crying, alcohol and hot sex could really do a number on a person's body. She didn't regret the last two though. It was around 8:00 am when she arrived so she knew her father and mother were up probably already dressed getting ready for their day. She smelled the sweet aroma of their chef's cooking coming from the kitchen. She closed the front door and turned to see her mother coming down the marble staircase.
"Olivia, what a pleasant surprise," said Maya happily. Olivia smiled. Her mother was like her best friend also her biggest role model.
Maya Pope was the definition class. She was intelligent, beautiful and kind. She was everything Olivia wanted to be. Like Olivia, her mother was an only child. She was born and raised in New York City. She went to Columbia at the age of seventeen and continued her education there until she graduated with her law degree. She met and fell in love with Eli Pope while they were in college. Their love story was the stuff of movies. While Maya came from a well off family, with her mother being a doctor and her father being a lawyer.
Eli Pope was the complete opposite. His father died when he was only four years old, he was killed in a street fight over a gambling game gone wrong. His mother struggled to raise him and his younger sister Denise in 1970's Brooklyn. It was a dangerous place to live. Eli saw his first dead body when he was only seven years old. A lot more would follow. But his mother kept him and Denise out of trouble. When Eli was nineteen; his mother died from cancer. He was left to take care of sister and his college expenses all on his own. But he managed. Eli worked three jobs and went to school full time while making sure that Denise kept her grades up and graduated top of her class in high school. Her father was a self made man and for that Olivia admired him. But he was so used to controlling things that he didn't know how to let her make her own decisions sometimes and that drove her crazy. Her mom on the other hand allowed her to grow and be her own person and she adored her for that.
"Momma, hey," she said smiling brightly. She hugged Maya tightly when she stood in front of her. Maya hugged her back equally as fierce.
"What are you doing home so early, we hadn't expected you for another week," said Maya after they broke their embrace. Olivia looked down and then in her mother's eyes and immediately Maya knew that something was wrong. "Liv, honey what's wrong?" she asked concerned. Olivia forced a smile and shook her head.
"Can we talk about it later momma, I'm really tired," she said yawning. Maya smiled sadly but nodded. She hated seeing her daughter upset. But she knew that Olivia would come to her when she was ready. They had an open relationship like that.
"Of course baby," she said squeezing her arm. Olivia thanked her and was about to go upstairs to her bedroom when she saw her father at the top of the stairs. She sighed; she knew she wasn't going to be getting to bed anytime soon now. Eli looked at her with a puzzling look on his face.
"Olivia, what are you doing here?" he asked walking down the stairs dressed in his three-piece black suit and tie for the day. Olivia groaned inwardly.
"Elijah Rowan Pope, is that any way to greet your only daughter?" asked Maya scolding him lightly. Eli smiled at Maya and then turned to Olivia.
"I apologize, it's good to see you sweetheart," he said hugging his daughter. Olivia hugged him back. "How are you feeling?" he asked pulling away from the hug.
"I'm really tired," said Olivia honestly.
"Well Georgina's just finished breakfast, come get some food, it'll wake you right up," he said motioning towards the dining room. Olivia sighed.
"I'm not hungry dad, I just wanna sleep."
"Nonsense, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, you can sleep afterwards," he said walking towards the kitchen. Olivia rolled her eyes behind his back. and Maya smiled.
"Come on baby," she said grabbing Olivia's hand. Olivia held her mom's hand and went to the dinning room reluctantly.
Her father always insisted that they have all their meals together in the formal dining room that seated twelve. It made him feel important; to Olivia it was ridiculous. Her father sat at the head of the table and her mother sat to his right, while Olivia sat to his left. There was a spread of food laid out on the table. There was sausage, pancakes, bacon, waffles, scrambled eggs, hash browns, an assortment of breakfast pastries and a variety of juices and coffee.
"Olivia do you want to bless the food?" asked her father looking at her. Olivia knew it was more of a command than a question. So she grabbed his hand and her mother's from across the table and said a quick blessing over the food.
"Amen," the all said at the same time. Afterwards they all began filling their plates with food.
"So Liv, how was Miami?" asked her mother.
"It was great," she said smiling. "I wish I would've stayed down there," she said quietly.
"Speaking of vacation aren't you supposed to be in New York City today visiting Edison?" asked her father. She groaned knowing that this was coming. Her father never did waste any time beating around the bush.
"There was a change of plans," was all she said. Eli looked at her curiously.
"Did you and Edison have a little disagreement Liv?" he asked drinking his coffee.
"No dad," she said quickly wanted this conversation to be over. Maya sensed Olivia's hesitation to talk about Edison and decided to change the subject.
"Eli honey, what's your day looking like?" she asked.
"Just a few meetings about the state budget, so Liv what did you and Edison fight about this time?" he asked.
"Dad, we didn't fight. I just didn't want to be there," she said eating some of her pancakes.
"Eli leave the girl alone, she obviously doesn't want to talk about it," said Maya knowingly.
"Nonsense, that's the problem with all these young couples now a days, communication is the key to any healthy relationship. Liv honey, I'm sure if you and Edison just talk out your issues you can solve whatever problems you're having," he said smiling wisely. Olivia dropped her utensils on her plate with a clank and turned to her father quickly.
"I left New York City because Edison was cheating on me dad. He was screwing someone else in his bed when I showed up to his apartment to surprise him a day early okay!" she said yelling. She got up from the table and tried to run to her room before the tears came but she did not succeed. Talking to her father caused all of those feelings of hurt and betrayal to resurface.
Eli was shocked and could do nothing but sit there staring at the spot his daughter had just vacated. Maya shook her head at him and got up from the table as well. She went to Olivia's room and found her lying down on her stomach crying on her bed with her face in her pillow.
She entered Olivia's room cautiously and sat down on the bed next to her daughter. She knew something was off about Edison. She didn't really like the boy if she was honest with herself. He was self-centered, egotistical and arrogant. But for some reason Olivia was so in love with him, so she accepted him for her daughter's sake. She rubbed Olivia's back in soothing circles and spoke comforting words to her daughter. Soon Olivia's sobs became sniffles and she turned to on her side to face her mother.
"Oh baby, I'm so sorry he hurt you," she said sadly. She wished there was more that she could do. But she knew there were no words could make Olivia feel much better right now. Only time would heal these wounds. Olivia sat up and hugged her mother.
"It's not that he cheated mom, it's that I've been living a lie this entire time. I thought he loved me, he said he did, I guess he didn't love me enough," said Olivia sadly.
"Liv, you listen to me, any man that loves you will not treat you that way. You are so special; you're intelligent, beautiful, and very kind. You're going to make some man very happy one day. Edison was just another frog you had to kiss before you meet your prince," said Maya smiling. Olivia laughed she could picture Edison as a frog.
"Thanks momma, you always know just what to say," said Olivia smiling.
"It's what I'm here for baby," she said as Olivia sat beside her on the bed. "So, where were you last night, I'm assuming you got to Edison during sometime in the day, why didn't you come home after you saw him?" she asked.
"I didn't feel like getting the interrogation I knew was coming," she said rolling her eyes. Her mom laughed a bit. "Plus I was hurt and upset. I just wanted to be alone. So I got a hotel room for the night about an hour away and went to a bar," said Olivia honestly.
"By yourself?" asked her mother curiously.
"Yes," said Olivia slowly, but her cheeks began turning crimson and her mother knew something else was up.
"Did you leave by yourself?" she asked almost laughing at how red Olivia's cheeks were.
"No," Olivia said quietly blushing harder than before. Maya nodded knowingly.
"Were you safe?" she asked?
"Of course." Maya smiled satisfied with that answer. She was so happy that she and Olivia had the kind of relationship where they could talk about any and everything.
"Good. So this one night stand, was that all it was or did you all exchange numbers?" asked Maya.
"No numbers exchanged, but I felt something different with him mom, something real," she said reminiscing a bit. Her mother could tell by the look on her face that Olivia felt more than she was capable of understanding. Maya smiled.
"Well baby don't rush into things ok, you just ended your relationship with Edison. I wouldn't want you hurting this other man because you haven't dealt with your feelings yet," said Maya wisely. Olivia nodded.
"I don't think I'm ready for another relationship right now anyway mom, but I do hope that I see him again," she said hopefully. Maya smiled, every dark cloud had a silver lining.
Fitz was getting out of the cab at his father's ranch in Santa Barbara. He was excited to see his baby sister and even his step-mom. But his father always put a damper on any good mood he had. Big Gerry had a way of making you feel like the smallest person in the world. He did that to Fitz often. But he was excited very though, when Fitz picked Georgetown for law school. He knew he could keep a close eye on him there. Big Gerry and his second wife Elizabeth Grant nee' North resided in Arlington Virginia, which was about a ten minute drive from D.C.
Big Gerry met Elizabeth North ten years ago in D.C. at the White House Correspondence Dinner. She was thirty-five years old then and already a partner at Douglas and Doyle Associates. Their law firm was known for handling political scandals but still practiced law in a courtroom. Elizabeth's beauty and brains captivated Big Gerry, it didn't hurt that she came from good breeding as well. She lived for her career and her name alone put fear into any opponent in the courtroom. But outside of her professional life, Elizabeth was a kind-hearted and considerate woman. Fitz didn't know what she saw in Big Gerry, but she was the only one that could calm him. And in a weird way they actually made a great couple.
He grabbed his bags from the cab driver and turned around to take in the California air. He missed it so much when he was away. He looked up at the house and saw that his whole family was standing on the porch to greet him. He groaned when he realized that Mellie was there as well. His father's doing no doubt. Why the hell couldn't he stay out of Fitz's personal life? Fitz took a deep breath and walked up to the porch to greet his family.
"Welcome back son," said Big Gerry as Fitz stood in front of him. Big Gerry gave Fitz a firm handshake. Fitz smiled at his father and turned his attention to the next person in line.
"Hey Fitz, you're looking well," said Elizabeth. Fitz smiled at her and gave her a hug.
"Thanks Liz, you look good yourself," he said breaking the embrace.
"Hey Fitzy," said Kate his baby sister. Though she wasn't really a baby anymore, standing at 5'7" and being twenty-two years old. Fitz smiled, she had to be his favorite person in the world.
"Hey Catty," he said smiling as her face frowned up at his un-clever nickname he'd given her years ago. He hugged her the tightest and longest before letting her go. Fitz and his younger sister were very close. They were both really young when their mother died and they leaned on each other for support when Big Gerry formed a bad-drinking habit.
Mellie had been quiet up to this point. She was smiling from ear to ear when she saw Fitz. He looked so good. His time in the Navy definitely did his body justice. Not that he was horrible to look at before. It was just something about him serving in the military that made him seem manlier.
She had been devastated when he told her about his enlistment right after graduation. He told her that he thought they'd be better off apart because he didn't want to do a long distance relationship and have her waiting for him. She cried but understood. Though she waited for him anyway. And now that he was back they could finally be together or so she thought.
"Fitz baby, I've missed you so much," she said when he finally stood in front of her. She stepped up to give him a kiss but he stepped back.
"Hi Mellie," he said and then he walked in the house. No hug, no kiss or anything. Mellie couldn't help the frown that formed instantly on her face.
His family and Mellie followed him inside and into the living room. They talked for a bit as Fitz told them some Navy stories, while Kate told them stories of campus life. Elizabeth spoke about her firm and Big Gerry entertained them with stories from the senate. Mellie barely got a word in during their little family reunion before Fitz was claiming that he was tired. He excused himself and went upstairs to his room. Mellie huffed and decided to leave. He'd be there for the whole summer. She'd come back tomorrow and they would talk. She would make sure of that.
About thirty minutes after he went to his room, his sister opened his door and came in. Fitz was sitting up on his bed getting ready to call one of his childhood friends Stephen when she came in. He looked up at her and she had a mischievous smirk on her face.
"Who is she?" she asked sitting down on the bed next to him, the smirk never leaving her face.
"Who's what now?" he asked confused. He turned to face her.
"Who is the girl that left your neck looking like you were attacked by bugs?" she asked laughing. Fitz hands flew to his neck and he laughed as well before removing them.
"Maybe I was attacked by bugs," he said jokingly, Kate laughed and shook her head.
"I wasn't born yesterday Fitzgerald," she said jokingly as well. "Now tell me who she is or I'll put that picture of you in footie pajamas on my facebook page," she said warning him. She laughed as the color drained from his face.
"Fine," he said sighing. "If you must know, I met the woman of my dreams last night," he said getting starry eyed. Kate smiled.
"Oh do tell more," she said nudging him.
"I was at a bar near Albany in New York; just sitting there drinking thinking about the future. You know the usual," he said casually.
"Of course," she said playing along.
"When in walks the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She sat at the bar a few stools down and I couldn't stop staring at her," he said smiling. Kate smiled as well; she'd never seen her brother's face light up when he spoke about any other girl before. This one must be special she thought smiling; as she listened to him continue on.
"Anyway, she called me on it of course and we sparked up a conversation. Turns out she was at the bar trying to drown her sorrows in alcohol. She'd caught her boyfriend cheating on her a few hours before."
"Damn, what an asshole," she said disgustedly. Fitz nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, so we talked, did a few shots together and I danced with her," he said smiling.
"You danced?" she asked shocked. Fitz nodded and smiled. "No way," she said disbelievingly. Fitz never danced.
"Yep, and I kissed her, right there on the dance floor. One thing led to another, we went back to my hotel room and…" she cut him off there.
"Spare me the dirty details big brother," she said laughing. He smiled.
"Well we had a great night together, this morning when I woke up she was gone," he said a little sadly.
"Aww, poor Fitzy," she said speaking in a baby voice jokingly. He laughed,
"But she left me a note," he said optimistically.
"Really, what'd it say?" she asked curiously.
"Look me up if you're ever in D.C.," he said reminiscing. Kate shook her head laughing.
"Don't tell me you're going all the way to Georgetown in hopes of running into a girl you met in New York," she said rolling her eyes playfully.
"Fine then I won't tell you," he said smirking.
"Oh Fitzy what am I to do with you?" she asked jokingly. He shrugged smiling.
"What was her name?" she asked.
"Olivia, Olivia Pope."
"Sounds familiar," said Kate with a thoughtful look on her face.
"That's because she's the daughter of Governor Eli Pope of the state of New York," said Fitz knowingly.
"The democratic Governor of the state of New York?" asked Kate smirking. Fitz nodded.
"Oh dad's gonna love this," she said smiling as she got off of Fitz bed. Fitz shrugged.
"I don't care about what Big Gerry thinks," said Fitz nonchalantly.
"Obviously," she said sarcastically. "Well what are you going to do about Mellie?" she asked facing him.
"The same thing you do about Robert," he said smirking. Robert was her father's political hook-up. They dated for a while until Kate found herself bored out of her mind in their relationship. Robert still pursued her but Kate wasn't interested anymore. Kate rolled her eyes at Fitz at the mention of Robert's name.
"And what is that?" she asked crossing her arms over her chest.
"Ignore her," he said. Kate laughed.
"Good luck with that big bro," she said walking to the door. "Oh and Fitz," she said as she reached the door to his bedroom. She turned back and looked at him.
"Yeah?" he asked looking at her as well.
"I hope you find her," she said smiling. He smiled back.
"Yeah me too," he said. Kate offered him another smile and then left out of his room.
As soon as she left Fitz called Stephen to see what he was up too. He and Stephen grew up together in Santa Barbara. They went to the same boarding school when they were younger and attended Harvard undergrad together. Stephen had just graduated from Harvard Law School this year. Fitz hadn't spoken to him since his graduation day a few months ago.
"Hello," said Stephen on the other end. He sounded a little distraught.
"What's up dude, I haven't spoken to you in forever."
"Yeah I know military boy, how's the Navy treating ya?" he asked jokingly.
"I'm out as of two days ago," he said smiling.
"That's cool mate," he said happy for his friend but Fitz could tell that something else was on his mind.
"What's up Stevie you sound distracted dude?" he asked concerned.
"My fucking parents man," he said sighing.
"What happened this time?" asked Fitz jokingly. Stephen and his parents never really got along. They were super conservative, while Stephen was damn near the definition of liberal. He got into trouble often with his parents because of his views.
"You know I was supposed to work for their corporate law firm after I graduated from Law School this year." Fitz nodded.
"Yeah I remember you telling me that," he said.
"Well I got an offer from Douglas and Doyle in D.C. one of the top firms in the country. You know the firm Liz works for," he said and Fitz nodded on the other end of the phone. "And when I told them I wanted to take the job there, they threaten to cut me off financially. No car, no condo, no money, no nothing. I'm basically broke if I take this job," said Stephen frustrated.
"Damn dude that sucks," he said shaking his head. How could Stephen's parents not want him to follow his dreams?
"Tell me about it," he said sighing. "Looks like I'll be stuck in California for the rest of my fucking life." Fitz shook his head sad for his friend, when an idea popped into his head.
"Hey, I have an idea that might help you," he said smiling.
"Really, what's that?" he asked hopefully.
"We haven't spoken in a while so I know you don't know this, but I'm going to Georgetown in the fall to start law school," he said happily.
"Really that's awesome mate," said Stephen smiling. He always thought Fitz would make a great lawyer some day.
"Yeah, and guess what; Georgetown just so happens to be in D.C." he said smiling. "Big Gerry's renting me a three bedroom condo out there while I'm in school," he said. Stephen shook his head and laughed.
"What the hell do you need three bedrooms for?" he asked.
"Who knows, you know how Big Gerry is, he's super extravagant," said Fitz rolling his eyes. "Anyway, one of those bedrooms could be yours if you want it." Stephen smiled wider than a kid at the candy store on the other end of the phone.
"Seriously mate?" he asked disbelievingly. Fitz nodded and shrugged.
"I don't see why not, it'll be just like the old days," said Fitz smiling. Stephen almost did a happy dance on the other end of the phone but calmed down a little.
"I won't have any money at first but I promise I'll pay you some rent as soon as I get my first check," he said seriously. Fitz waved it off.
"Come on dude, you don't have to pay any rent," he said rolling his eyes. "I'll just tell Big Gerry you're staying there until you can get on your feet. I'm pretty sure he won't mind."
"Ok, but I have to do something mate," he said.
"How about we go to a bar when you get your first check and celebrate," he suggested.
"You got it mate," said Stephen smiling. "Seriously Fitz, you just saved my arse, you have no idea how much this means to me," said Stephen truly grateful. Fitz smiled.
"Don't mention it dude, you're actually doing me a favor. I won't know anyone when I get to D.C." he said. Then he thought of the beautiful girl he met at the bar.
Well he'd know at least one other person he thought smiling. This was going to be a great year. He was moving to a new city with his best friend and on his way to finding the woman of his dreams again. This was definitely going to be a great year. He'd make sure of that.
(A/N: Fitz is very optimistic isn't he LOL. Up next Olivia and crew get back to campus. R&R as always your responses are greatly appreciated.)