Cyrus and James were getting married today, Olivia was happy for her former teacher. She'd already written her letter of resignation and placed it on Fitz's desk. He would undoubtedly be at least a little angry at her for resigning. As for ending their affair, she gave the vague reason of Mellie knowing about them. She was busy decorating Cyrus' room with rose petals, even though he insisted he didn't like roses, she knew he did. "Cyrus doesn't really strike me as a rose petals type of guy." She'd recognize that voice anywhere, Fitz was here. "On his wedding day he is and you should be getting ready." He stepped closer to her and closed the door. "No, open the door." " I just want to know what I did wrong, why you left." "This is Cyrus' day don't do this." "Why did you resign?"
She started to say something before he cut her off. "Even if you didn't want to be with me, I don't understand why you would leave the White House." Panic flashed through her, she couldn't tell him, not now. She had to make up some bogus excuse. "You are the White House, I don't want to be there, I can't be there and see you every day."
Fitz sighed, Olivia was keeping something from him. He'd seen her pacing in circles before. He knew it wasn't because of Mellie knowing, he didn't care if Mellie knew. She'd given up alcohol, or she'd chosen to not drink in his presence. She looked sick most mornings, he could piece it together. She was pregnant and weighing her options, she'd quit her job. Which either meant she was giving the baby up, or she was keeping him or her. She was keeping it a secret from him because politically, it would destroy them both.
He couldn't pressure her, he didn't want to make her keep a child she didn't want. After this wedding, it would be unlikely that they would ever cross paths again. He felt the ring in his pocket, burning a hole through his jeans. It was meant for her and not Mellie.
Fitz set the ring on the bed. "It's a ring, very old, rare. One of a kind. It even has a name, doux bébé. It was my great-grandmothers. Her father bought it for her at an auction in Paris. She wore it at her debutante ball, and I was supposed to give it to my wife, but I didn't. Just never felt right, so I kept it, and now I know why because I was supposed to give it to you." He looked at her, Liv cast her eyes to the floor. She looked at him and said, "I don't want a ring from you." "Don't think of it as a ring, think of it as— you don't have to love me. You don't have to come back to me. But if you could wear this, if I could know that you were wearing this, then even if you hate me, I'll know we'll be okay. I'll know you're out there."
Olivia stared at the little box. She couldn't hate Fitz, regardless of whether she was carrying his child. She picked it up and opened it. A beautiful gold ring stared up at her. "doux bébé? That's its name?" "You can call it whatever you want. In English doux bébé means sweet baby so—"
"You want me to call a ring sweet baby?" She laughs a little at this. " I just want you to be happy."
She slid the ring onto her index finger, silently vowing to always keep it on. She kissed him, allowing herself one last moment of weakness before they parted ways.
Olivia would be happy, she would get through this. She wouldn't be alone, not really, she'd have the baby. She looked up at him, his blue eyes staring back at her "I could never hate you." Olivia hugged him tighter, before letting go. She had to leave before others got suspicious. Leaving that room and Fitz behind was quite possibly one of the hardest things she'd ever done.
