I loved the way he said hi. The simple word sounded delightful when it came from his mouth. His mouth. I really did miss his mouth on mine…and in other places.

"Bad time?" He said, breaking the silence.

"Bad time" I said with a stern look on my face. This was the worst time for him to be calling me. Why was he calling me?

"I'll call you tomorrow then?" He asked.

"Is something wrong?" I was starting to wonder why he called me. Maybe he wanted to tell me why he fired Cyrus? Maybe not.

Silence. There was complete silence on his end and mine. I was starting to wonder if someone walked in the room and he hung up on me.

"Fitz…" My voice trailed off.

"Liv" He immediately responded.

"Why did you call me?"

"Liv…" I heard his voice grow quiet as he said my name. "I kicked Mellie out of the white house tonight…"

"You what?" I felt my body start to get warm with annoyance, was he an idiot? Did he not realize how quickly press would be all over this?

"I told her to leave and I don't plan on having her come back, I don't want her to ever come back" His tone sounded serious. "Liv…I know what you're going to-"

"What the hell are you thinking, are you even thinking? Do you know how fast press is going to be all over this or do you not care?" I started to raise my voice. The nurses standing in the hallway started glancing at me. "I can't do this right now, I won't do this right now. I have to go" I said and hung up the phone. I heard him say my name as I ended the call. I really didn't have time for this today, I needed to be here for Cyrus, Michael, and Ella.

I stuck my phone back in my purse and smiled at the nurses that were staring at me. I started walking back towards the small waiting room where Michael and Cyrus were sitting. Cyrus had his hand resting under his chin supporting the weight of his head. He looked devastated, the same look of devastation he had after James died. Michael was sitting across from Cyrus, he didn't seem to know whether or not to sit next to Cyrus or leave the room completely.

"Sorry about that" I took a seat next to Cyrus. He turned his head towards me with a blank look on his face.

"Was it Fitz?" He asked blankly.

"Yes" I said.

"Did he call you to tell me I definitely am fired? Did he want to make sure I fully understood what he was saying to me?" He said with sarcasm in his voice.

I was happy he was at least being sarcastic like Cyrus always was. I knew it was good to try to be happy even if it's a fake happy during hard times. I remembered after I found out my mother died in the plane crash, I pretended to be happy for years, I guess I still pretend sometimes.

"Cy, I know Ella is going to be fine no matter what. She is a Beene after all" I smiled.

"I really hope so Liv, she is tough" I saw a quick smile appear on his face and watched it fade away as quickly as it came.

"I'm going to go down to the cafeteria and get something to eat" Michael suddenly said as he stood up from the chair. "Want anything?"

Cyrus and I both shook our heads no in unison at Michael's question. I wasn't hungry and I knew Cyrus wouldn't be either. He probably wouldn't eat for days since I know he didn't after the news about James.

We both watched Michael walk down the long hallway towards the elevators.

Just as I took a breath to start speaking a doctor appeared from around the corner. She was tall, skinny, and blonde. She looked like a typical doctor from a TV show, especially since her hair was bright blonde.

"Mr. Beene?" She said with her soft voice. "Are you Ella's dad?"

"Yes, yes I am her dad. Is she ok? What's wrong with her?" Cyrus quickly stood up from the chair and walked towards the doctor. She stepped out of the waiting room and into the hallway and Cyrus followed her.

After a few minutes Cyrus came back into the waiting room and waved his hand towards his body, ordering me to quickly follow him.

"Liv, we can go see Ella now" He said with a big smile on his face.

I followed the blonde doctor and Cyrus down the hallway until we stopped at a hospital room door with the numbers 110 on it. Cyrus hurried into the room and went straight to Ella's bed. I quietly followed behind the doctor just in case she was asleep.

"Ella, my little Ella" I heard Cyrus say quietly as I fully stepped into the room.

He was leaning over the bed and rubbing his hand over her hair. Her eyes were closed and she had an oxygen mask over her mouth. I still didn't know what her official diagnoses was but I knew it probably wasn't good if she had to use oxygen.

I crossed my arms over my chest and took a step closer towards Ella's bed. She looked so peaceful just laying there sleeping. I turned my head as the blonde doctor noisily grabbed Ella's chart off of her bedside table.

"Mr. Beene" She said with a quiet voice. "As I was saying out in the hallway, the best thing to do for Ella's severe case of pneumonia is to keep her hydrated, on oxygen, and work on getting her fever down. We need her body to start fighting the pneumonia off so it doesn't get worse" She looked serious while talking to Cyrus who didn't seem to be listening. He seemed happy to be at Ella's side. It was strange watching Cyrus with Ella, I had never seen him be so affectionate with anyone, not even James. Cyrus was a very private person, especially with his private life. It was nice watching him tough Ella's hair and kiss her on the forehead.

"I understand" I heard him say in a whispered tone. "I know my Ella will be ok, she's a fighter just like her dad was."

I took a few more steps towards Ella's bed and uncrossed my arms. I reached down and grabbed one of Ella's tiny hands. Her little hand felt cold in comparison to my sweaty palms.

"She is tough" I smiled at Cyrus and then at Ella.

I stood in front of my door and started searching through my purse for my keys. I sighed as I finally found the keys and started unlocking the four locks on my door. Sometimes I felt like I was living in Fort Knox due to the four security barriers I had on my front door, the locks.

I walked through the front door and shut it softly behind me. Just when I thought I was finally going to have a chance to breathe I saw Jake sitting on my couch.

"Wh-what are you still doing here?" I let out a sigh and placed my hand on my hip.

"Well" He said as he stood up off the couch. "Waiting for you to get back so we could finish where we left out. We were rudely interrupted after all and you left me here without telling me when you'd get back" He started walking towards me.

I raised my arm up and started shaking my head in his direction. I saw him stare at my hand which was facing him, telling him I didn't want him to come any closer.

"It's late and I'm tired, you should go" I said.

He nodded his head, kissed me on the cheek, and walked through my front door.

I set my purse down on the coffee table and started walking towards my bedroom. My hands found the zipper on my pants and started unzipping it. I stripped off all my clothes and headed to the shower. After the night I had I needed a shower.

My hand grabbed the metal shower handle and gave it a turn to the right. I wanted my shower to be as hot as possible because I was feeling slightly cold. Just as I took a step into the shower I felt my stomach rumble. Damn, I could really go for some popcorn and wine right now.

I slipped my shower cap on over my hair and fully submerged myself in the hot shower water. It felt refreshing to finally be able to breathe again, alone.

My mind thought back to the events which had taken place tonight. Jake. Michael. Ella. Cyrus being fired. Fitz calling me. Why did Fitz fire Cyrus. Was Ella going to be ok. Fitz. Fitz.

Damn I really can't get him off my mind today, especially tonight. The entire time I was with Jake tonight all I could think about was him. The way he touches me, kisses me, tastes me, fucks me, loves me…

I suddenly felt my skin as it developed tiny bumps all over it, just the thought of him gave me chills.

After finishing my shower, I climbed into bed. I reached my hand over towards my nightstand next to my bed and turned off the light. I crossed my arms over my chest as I laid on my back in my bed. Just as I was starting to drift off into complete oblivion I heard a noise, not just any noise, the noise my Fitz phone makes when it rings. I quickly grabbed the phone and held my finger over the answer button but stopped myself before pressing it. I wanted to answer it, but I also didn't want to answer it. I wanted to speak to him, but I wasn't sure what to say. Should I ask about what happened with Cyrus or should I let him tell me on his own terms? Should I ask why he kicked Mellie out of the white house and what he was thinking? I doubt he was thinking.

"Hi" I said as I decided to answer the phone.

"Hi" He immediately said back. I could almost feel his smile coming from the phone.

"It's late" I said flatly.

"I know it's late but I'm all alone at the white house Liv, no more Mellie and no more married Fitz living with Mellie" He said.

"Fitz, what were you thinking asking her to leave? The press is seriously going to be all over this" I sighed into the phone.

"I. Don't. Care" He immediately answered. I could tell he was serious for once. Even though I couldn't see his face I could tell by his tone that he was serious, very serious.

"Why" I stated.

"She had people killed Liv, innocent people…all those people" He sighed.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"The jurors on the bus, that was Mellie" He answered.

"Oh my God…" I wasn't sure what to say. I knew Mellie was filled with hate towards me but I never thought she would be capable of murder, especially numerous murders. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, I was shocked.

"I-I don't even know what to say Fitz"

"Neither did I, that's why I asked her to leave" He laughed after finishing his sentence. His laugh wasn't filled with joy, it was filled with pure and utter disgust. I knew that laugh, I knew him.

"Anyway, what are you wearing?" He changed the subject, completely throwing me off.

"Fitz" I said.

"What? I'm now living alone at the white house and I want to know what you're wearing. I want to see you Liv, I want to be with you…please come see me" He begged.

"Fitz do you know what time it is?" I said as I turned my head towards the clock on my nightstand. "It's late, very late."

"And? That has never stopped you before" He said with a seductive tone.

"Goodnight Fitz" I said and had the intention of hanging up the phone. I needed to think about what he had just told me. I needed to think about why and how Mellie killed all of those innocent people.

"Wait" He said with a firm tone.

"What?"

"Please come see me tomorrow, or I'll come see you. I don't care, I just want to see you, I want to talk to you in person" He sighed into the phone as he finished his sentence.

"You know who you need to see tomorrow? Mellie" I answered, knowing it was for the best. Even though she killed those people he needed Mellie by his side in order to stay president. God knows what would happen if he ended up being a divorced president.

"No Liv, I won't do it, I won't see her" He paused before finishing what he had to say. "I won't."

"Ok" I said, realizing he had made up his mind for now. "Goodnight Fitz" I said as I hung up the phone.