A/N: Sorry for the delay, here's the next chapter. Please let me know what you think and if I should continue. Can't wait for the "What If" episode this week!

Xx Kate

"Mr. President," a voice emerged from the doorway, ripping Fitz from his feverish list writing. He had yet to decide between Mellie and Cyrus and it was coming down to the wire.

"What!" he snapped in reply. He couldn't afford a wasted minute from his thoughts.

Abby Whelan was quite used to the President's occasional mood swings, and didn't bat an eyelash, "You have a visitor."

Fitz deadpanned the red head, "Abby," he said coolly, "I clearly don't have time for a visitor," he gestured roughly down to his list.

"Well, I think you'll make time for this one, sir," she said, just as evenly.

"Abby –

"Hi dad," came a sweet voice, causing Fitz to rise from his chair. A petite brunette entered the Oval, bringing with her a presence of relief and happiness Fitz hadn't even been aware he'd desperately needed. She was grinning ear to ear; it had been several months since they had seen each other.

"Karen," Fitz beamed, embracing his only daughter. She squeezed him tightly in return, reminding Fitz of a time when she was younger, a time when Jerry was alive, a time when things were far simpler.

"What are you doing here, honey?" Fitz asked, refusing to let go of her slender frame.

Karen chuckled into her father's chest, "Well I'll explain if you let go, dad. I can't breathe," she said.

Fitz chuckled and loosened his embrace, "Okay, there. Now spill," he said.

"Mom called yesterday…after what happened with Frankie Vargas. I had to come," Karen explained, her face suddenly contorting with concern.

"What about school?" Fitz asked.

"I think this is more important right now, don't you?" Karen chided, giving Fitz a stern glare that reminded him so much of her mother.

Fitz smiled softly and reached out to stroke his daughter's cheek, "You get more beautiful every day, Karen," he said.

Karen blushed and rolled her eyes, "Dad, don't change the subject. Rumor has it that you have a very serious decision to make…"

"That I do, Kar," he confirmed, taking a solemn seat behind his desk. Karen took a stance in front, leaning forward, her presence just as commanding as a full-grown, powerful woman. He still wanted her to be his little girl, but he could see that she had grown far beyond that.

"Well, who are you going to pick? Cyrus or mom?" She asked, matter-of-factly.

Fitz let his seat fall back and crossed his arms thoughtfully over his chest, "To be honest with you, I don't have the slightest idea."

Karen raised her eyebrows in disgust and scoffed, "You don't know? Dad, seriously? I know you and mom don't get along but I didn't think you hated her?"

Fitz' furrowed his eyebrows, "I do not hate your mother," he clarified.

"Then isn't it an obvious choice? You know how badly she wants this, dad," Karen spoke slowly and with great intent.

"It's not that simple, Karen," Fitz tried.

"Explain it to me then, I'm not a ten-year-old any more," she folded her arms over her chest to match her father's.

"Your mother has been through so much, more than you know…" Fitz began.

"We all lost Jerry, dad. That made us stronger," Karen interrupted, "so don't try to tell me mom can't handle it, because we all know she can."

"Let me finish," Fitz said sternly. Karen visibly stirred, shuffling her gait; Fitz could tell she was on the brink of being physically upset.

He treaded lightly, "Do you believe that your mother and I were good parents to you and your brother?"

Karen hesitated and bit her lip, "Well…"

"Do you think that we were happy together as a couple?"

Karen visibly tensed, "Dad," she said uncomfortably, "Respectfully, what does that have to do with anything?"

"It has to do with everything, honey," he said gently, "I have absolutely no doubts in my mind that your mother could handle it. She is the strongest woman… the strongest person that I have ever known, that's not where my concern stems. Despite what you may think, I don't hate your mother. In all reality, I love her. I want her to be happy. I worry that missing Teddy's childhood like we both did for you and Jerry will kill her, I worry for Teddy, I worry for you, I worry that having one parent as president has already screwed this family up enough…" Fitz stopped and pinched the bridge of his nose, tears threatening to spill.

"I don't buy any of that dad," Karen spoke suddenly. Fitz looked up at his daughter, slightly shocked. "I think that what you just said is complete bullshit. A complete double standard. If you love her like you say you do, if you believe in her like you say you do, you know that she can do both – be a mother and the President of the United States. She can do it better than you, even. I don't know if you've seen it, although you'd have to be blind not to have considering I could tell a thousand miles away, that she's changed in the last few years. She calls me every night, she asks me how I'm doing, and she gives me advice. She spends time with Teddy and visits Jerry's grave; she absolutely killed it on the campaign trail…she's a complete and total badass, dad, don't you see it!?" Karen's smile was stretched wide across her face and it was contagious. Fitz couldn't help but return his daughter's enthusiasm with a smile of his own.

He shook his head and signed, "Of course I see that," he said finally.

"Then you must know you're decision, right?"