When A Man Loves A Woman

Chapter 4

Cards on the Table (play or fold)

All characters belong to shonda and ABA

Lyric by Otis Redding I've been loving you for too long.

"Sorry I kept you here for so long Cy. I meant to get here sooner but let's just say I was tied up with Liv." Fitz said with a smirk knowing the double meaning behind that sentence. "Please sir spare me the details, I don't need to know anything that would cause me to perjure my self at congressional hearing." Cyrus said, sarcastically.

"What is the meaning of all this Fitz?" Cyrus finally questioned.

"Decisions, decisions! Bad decisions good intentions. You see Cy, you messed up... You crossed that invisible line in the sand. It was brought to my attention that you had instructed your guy at NSA to construct a kill file on Liv. I was given this information and I must admit I didn't want to believe it. I thought to myself not my Liv, he knows better. He wouldn't dare not after I specifically told him not to mess with Olivia. Cy your a smart man, a brilliant man in fact. So it really perplexes me to see this folder here. I mean I'm impressed with the work Cy, this is go for the jugular type stuff." Fitz said genuinely impressed.

"Fitz if you just let me.." Cyrus tried to explain but was quickly cut off by Fitz

"Oh no no no Cyrus it's okay. We all mess up every once in a while. When we mess up we own up to it, apologize for it, learn from it." Fitz gave a death glare to Cyrus.

"Sir I would just like to say..." Once again Cyrus attempted to explain and reason with the President much to his chagrin. "Cyrus shut up! Just shut the hell up! You know what the most important part in all of this is? The biggest life lesson that you seemed to fail to get, Don't do it again! When you make a mistake you learn from and move on but you never let it happen again. I looked you in the eye man to man and I made very clear my intentions, I warned you. I'm very disappointed in you. Not only did you disrespect my authority as your Commander and Chief, you betrayed our friendship. You challenged my manhood! You seriously was going to test me when it came to Liv, the love of my life. The sheer fortitude you must have! It's time to be afraid." Fitz said with fire.

Cyrus looked back at Fitz with intense confidence and said, "Sir with all do respect I do not fear you, and I never will. I fear no man walking this earth. Fear is not real; it's a product of a thought you create. Danger however is very real. Delay always breeds danger and you are delaying the inevitable. Olivia Caroline Pope is dangerous. Fitz it is only a matter of time before shit hits the fan. Olivia Pope will burn you, you think you know Olivia? You have no idea who you are dealing with. She is the female version of me. You may see the spirit of a lamb, but she has the heart of a Lion! She's cold blooded with ice water in her veins, she is a survivor at all cost. Calculating and ruthless beyond measure. She will win by any means necessary! Fitz we sit on this and she's always two steps ahead. So no I'm not afraid of you, fear is a choice. Fear is all in ones interpretation. Danger is reality, it's all around us. Olivia is dangerous, your affair is a ticking time bomb! Sitting here and doing nothing avoiding the real threat. Tiptoeing and whistling past the grave yard hoping that this won't blow back in our face. That's the real danger;That is what I fear."

Fitz taking back by Cyrus' bravado responded angrily, "Cyrus when I give you an order, you follow it! When the leader of the free world, looks you in the eye and tells you not to do something you do not deliberately disobey me! Are you out of your damn mind? what balls you have!"

Cyrus sat back and put his hands through his his hair trying to calm his growing fustrations ,"Sir you have it all wrong, you work for the people! A man elected for the people by the people! I am one of the millions of great patriots of this fine nation that hired you! So you Mr. President work for me, and it is my responsibility to make sure you stay in that big fancy White House. That is what I do, my job is to protect you."

Fitz just stared at him for minute with dead eyes,"So what are you trying to tell me, are you saying you are going to continue this plan of yours? Did you fucking think I was playing, that I was just talking out my ass? I don't care how you feel about Liv and my relationship, quite frankly I don't give a fuck what anyone thinks."

Cyrus scoffed and replied, "Oh really? because I think that there are a whole bunch of bible thumping church going Republicans in the senate who would disown you if this came out. They will walk over your grave, and look down upon you with shame. I see a Congress divided, and I see the Democratic Party lying in pray just waiting to pounce. Sir that is a big spot to be in, and when they get a hold of Olivia's name. Let's just say these hoes ain't loyal!"

Fitz became enraged with Cyrus. He grabbed him by the shirt and said,"Cyrus you disrespect Olivia again and I will kill you. Don't you ever call her out of her name again!"

This frightened Cyrus realizing he had hit a nerve with Fitz he apologized. "Sorry Sir that was uncalled for. I apologize. Your right."

Fitz was trying to keep himself in check his blood was boiling."Cyrus I will reiterate it one last time for you, I Love Olivia and she loves me! The rules that apply in your sick and twisted mind don't apply to us. You have this ridiculous view of life and love. You live with these walls and this guarded fortress, never allowing anyone in. Cyrus you don't think I know just how formidable Olivia can be? I'm not naïve, I know she is the best in the world at what she does. We don't look at each other with a watchful eye. Olivia would never hurt me, and if she does so be it! That's my cross to bare not yours! Cyrus I know that somewhere in that dark twisted mind of yours you do this out of love. You try to protect me and be my keeper. I appreciate that, I truly do but I am a big boy. I take responsibility for my actions and if the time comes for me to answer and face the consequences then I will."

Cyrus began to become emotional."Sir, do you fucking think that I want to do this? She is my best friend. I knew her way before any one knew who Fitzgerald Grant was. She was the first person I came out to... She held my secrets, she is the godmother of my child. She introduced me to James, and was front and center at my wedding. I loved her before you, and I'll love her after you! The two of us we made you! You are our creation! Do you think I take this shit lightly? Everything thing we do is a calculated risk, this is the right play Fitz." The room went silent for a moment as both man were trying to process what was happening. Cyrus closed his eyes and exhaled "Sir I don't think you fully understand the magnitude of what you stand to loose. Do you understand the position your in. You are a point in history, a moment in time. Olivia sure does. I went to see her after we spoke."

"You did what?" Fitz screamed practically levitating out of his seat.

It was now or never Cyrus had to make home understand. "I went there hoping to convince her. I wanted her to change your mind. I wanted to talk to my friend. Sir I know your in love, and I know she loves you. She and I want the same thing. For you to be the man we voted for, and for you to change the world. She is just like everyone else on the team Fitz. We all sacrifice everything in service to you. We are at your mercy.

"Cy Why all of this?" He asked as he threw the folder.

"Because Olivia asked me too!" Cyrus let out bluntly.

"What do you mean Olivia asked you too? She told you to make a kill file on herself?"

Fitz questioned.

"Sir Olivia knows where this all ends, she's handled many clients like this before. Secrets come out, favors come do. People who you thought were loyal suddenly don't know the meaning of the word. Money and fifteen minutes of fame come knocking and all of a sudden it's not so easy to keep it a secret. You may have done a bang up job hiding it from me, but luck runs out. A Secret Service agent gets board and let's it slip they've been sneaking Liv into see you for years. An ex disgruntled employee suddenly questions why Olivia is always around or on business trips with you. Reporters are around poking asking questions. You get cocky and bold and somehow someone catches a stolen glare or simple touch and then it becomes a story. That photo is everywhere with the headline of their choosing."

"Enough Cy I get the picture!" Fitz said agitated.

"Do you? Sir do you really get the picture? Let me put that picture in to focus. The Picture is a an elephant, a petite 125 pound elephant but and elephant in the room none the less. Mellie will not let this happen not unless it's over her dead body. That's why she asked me to create the kill file to protect you if this comes out!"

"She's really willing to throw herself to the wolves if this comes out?"

"Sir everyone in the big white house serves at the pleasure of the president and we will do whatever it takes to protect the oval at all cost! Everyone else can see, why can't you see just how important you are to this great nation just how vital you being the president is? Olivia sees the greatness in you just like we all do that's what we sacrifice for you. Don't regret this move,regrets last forever. Carpe diem because you only live once and to give up the greatest gift anyone can receive is a crime." Cyrus said.

Fitz was struck by what Cyrus was saying.

"Cyrus everyone dies but not everyone lives! To be the President is a huge honor that only a few men in the marks of time get to claim. Cy I embody this office, I wanted it and I took it. But if it means that I must live a lie. That I can't be with the one I love, that I truly don't get to live. Then what does it all matter? If I don't feel alive, If I feel like not up to the task the Why stay Cy?" Fitz question profoundly.

"Sir are you talking about resigning or with drawing your candidacy for reelection?" Cyrus asked not sure if he wanted to hear the answer.

Fitz stood up and his six foot frame towering over Cyrus and said,"What I'm saying Cyrus is that I don't want to do the job without her. I can't do it, I breath because of her. I feel alive and happy, she makes me feel like it all matters. I physically can't do another four years in this office living like how I am. I would love to have both I would love to be the President and her to be by my side. If that's not realistic then I suggest you be prepared to walk away. Cyrus you are my go to guy, you do the hard stuff. You do the stuff that no one likes to do. You make the impossible possible. So here is the dream today, the big idea I need for-filled. Make it so that I stay President and Olivia is my First Lady. If you can't do that we are walking away."

Cyrus looked eyes with Fitz computing what he just asked of him. "I don't know that I can do that Sir. Fitz I'll be honest with you, I don't think this is the right move. I don't want to see us give up the White House. We worked too damn hard to get here. I will try my best to make this happened, odds are will going to fail. I want to warn you that this is going to be a hard fall from grace. I'll do what you want, but only on one condition."

"What might but that condition be?"Fitz asked with a smile.

"Don't give up! Don't ever give up! Our greatest weakness is giving up. We don't give up on each other and you don't give up on the Oval. So if the shit really does hit the fan. If those dogs in Congress and Senate

want to impeach you. Or if the American people turn against you, we don't give up! We fight to hold onto the oval until they pry it from our cold dead hands!"

At OPA

Olivia sat in her office trying to focus on her work but unable to shake her thoughts. Just then she heard a big commotion as her team motioned for her to come to the conference room. "What's going on out here? Olivia asked confused.

"Liv we got her! Huck was able to unscramble the serial numbers to the bank account." Abby said with excitement.

"Good work Huck,I can't believe you did it that fast! What did you find? Olivia questioned. Huck set up his computer and directly Olivia attention. "Well it took me all night and everything I had but I broke into the banks main frame and sent a worm, which lead me to unscramble the account."

"Liv, once we had that information we cross referenced, and found that the Congress Women has he ciphering funds from her super pack and campaign fund in to a black box account." Harrison interjected while twirling his phone.

"What! Why does she need steal money, let alone that much?" Olivia was confused.

"That's what we couldn't figure out, millions of dollars transferred over seas but why? So Huck went into the account trying to find any patterns and payments made to anybody. Large purchases, domestic or foreign terrorist ties any and everything. We found payments made to a couple of clinics to a Dr. Malcolm Resende in Turks and Caicos. He specializes in brain tumors. She has Glioblastoma stage four, it's terminal. It's the most aggressive form of brain cancer you can have. She has been receiving and paying for treatment. Trying new therapy and drugs outlawed in the US by the FDA. She's going to die Liv, she might not make it to election night!" Quinn said causing Olivia to deflate, it was like a punch to the gut the end of the campaign.

Back At The White House

"Mellie?" Fitz called out as he entered the residence. He rounded the corner and out came Mellie and they stood face to face.

"You stupid son of a bitch! I hate you, having me locked up here like some animal." Mellie spat out as she slapped Fitz with all her might.

Fitz rubbed his cheek and said,"You got one free one, because I've been a jackass to you and I deserve it. Don't push your luck! I will not hesitate to have a female agent escort you out until you can calm down. Sorry you had to stay in here all day, I just couldn't let you leave without talking to you first."

"No you just didn't want to let me leave so I wouldn't tell the world about you and your whore." Mellie said with more hurt then anger.

"First of all I'm trying to be real nice and trying to apologize. So do not call her a whore, because I promise you things can get real ugly fast! To be perfectly honest with you in a way you're right. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that. I did want to have the chance to speak to you before you went and spilled your guts to the first news outlet in sight. However more importantly I wanted to talk to you first because I owe you. I owe you an apology! I don't know how you found out for that matter I don't even care. I'm sorry, truly and deeply from the bottom of my heart. We haven't been right in a long time.I guess that's both of our faults. Mellie I have cheated on you in the worst possible way. I fell in love with another women. It wasn't a one night stand or a typical man not being able to keep his pants zipped up." Fitz said honestly hoping to spark real dialogue between them.

"Do not tell me you are in love with her! Do not speak those lies." Mellie shouted not wanting to no the truth. Fitz gently grazed her shoulder and looked her in the eye. "Mellie this house is like Vietnam or Desert Storm. The both of us put together were no good. We're an atomic bomb ready to explode. Anything to one up one another, were always at each others throat. It breaks my heart to say this but we lost. We fell out of love."

That was the straw that broke the camels back for Mellie."Fitz, I have been real patient. I've sat back this whole time and let you humiliate me while you screwed your little slut. Well no more! Are you listening to me! I am not letting everything I've worked for, everything I sacrificed for you be all for not. I earned being the First Lady!" Mellie said taking her tone to a new octave. Fitz shook his head in disbelief and said,"Mellie that's my point right there. Instead of you talking about us. Instead of you not wanting our marriage to end, instead of you talking about us staying together for our family or for love you are concerned with staying the First Lady."

Mellie was genuinely hurt with his statement. "Fitzgerald How dare you! Do you know the amount of love it takes to stand by a man in this office? You ran to get elected, yet some how that became my burden. You asked for the fame not me. I gave up my life, my privacy and that of my children for you! You ungrateful son of a bitch! I throw parties for you, I am your buffer, your shiny ornament. I have to boost your ego, and prop you up." Mellie said holding back tears.

Fitz turned his back and rested his hands on the back of his head. He searched in his heart and said, "Some where along the way we fell out of love. Somewhere along the way we lost touch. We are not happy... Are you happy? Cus I want to be happy and right now I'm not happy with you. I love Olivia! She is the love of my life. I didn't plan this, I didn't envision our lives ending up like this. I wasn't looking for her, but she everything I never knew I always wanted. I am sorry, I don't know what else to say that will convey that to you. I am begging you to let us be adults about this. Lets put our children first. Mellie make this easy on the both of us. Give me a divorce. Let's walk away clean the both of us."

Mellie was not impressed, "You make me sick. Make it easy! Be adult! What do you expect, I go away with out two words and you move your whore into the White House! My house! I don't think so. See this is how this is going to go, I'm taking my children and packing up. I'm leaving to Blair House at least after I have that mattress and sheets burned. Then I'm going to give you a little time to think. I want you to find some perspective. You might wanna think long and hard and reevaluate your priorities. Family or your slut? I suggest you choose wisely because I'm only going to give you twenty four hours to make up your mind. If you don't do the right thing I will destroy you! The closet opens up and every little dirty detail come out. I will end your reelection bid, I will force you to resigned. There is nothing worst than a woman scorn, so test me and I will go on Prime Time and evaporate your career. Not only that, I will turn the Olivia Pope into public enemy number one. She will be the new Monica, she will be the butt of every joke." Mellie threatened.

Not Fitz was completely pissed off and he began to unload,"Mellie, I tried... I really tried to be the voice of reason. I extended the olive branch, and I offered us a clean break and political survival. So fine you want it the hard way. You think you can threaten me? You dealing with a man who has nothing to lose! That makes me very dangerous. I dare you to go to press, in fact I am begging you to. Tell them how I can't even get hard for you unless I think about Liv. Tell the whole world that I fuck her every single chance I get! Better yet tell the world how Olivia does things to me you wouldn't imagine. Do you really want the American people to make you the laughing stock of the world? Go ahead try and destroy us. I have been Governor and President everything on my bucket list has been accomplished. It will tough for me if I'm not President, but so what. I get to be with Liv. You see I win, I may not get to be the President but I get one hell of a consolation prize. I get to be happy with the woman I love. You on the other hand have everything to lose."

"Trust me Fitz I will take pleasure knowing your precious Olivia will be forever Known as a whore! You two won't get your happily ever after."

"Mellie I know this hurts, but listen to me carefully. I don't care how hard you try to make things, you need to realize that Olivia and I love each other. That's all we need, losing the Presidency and Olivia being tabloid fodder that means nothing to us. So do me a favor take those twenty four hours and you think about things."

"Fitz I am going to announce an interview for tomorrow and one of two things is going to happen. You can take door number one and choose to leave Olivia for good and that interview becomes a special about the new vaccine initiative, or the White House paintings restoration project. Or you can take door number two choose Olivia and that Interview will be one for the history books!"

Olivia at the Congress Women's House

Olivia wasn't sure how she would get through this. It was a mix of emotions, she was sad that The congress Women has such a diagnosis. Betrayed that she lie to her and was willing to lie to the American people.

"Olivia come in we were just discussing strategy for the debate... We'd love your input." The Congress Women smiled. That quickly change when she seen the somber look on Olivia's face. Olivia turned and said,

" I think we need to talk privately!" She nodded in agreement and dismissed her staff. Olivia looked her in the eye,"Why?"

The Congress Women held back tears and said, "Boy your worth every penny that didn't take you long."

"I asked you to be honest, tell me everything! What kind of person who run for President knowing they might not make it past a couple of months? Do you have any idea? Stealing from your constituents!" Olivia scolded.

"Olivia you can stop now! She replied crying, " I get it, I can't begin to explain how wrong I am, how I have shamed myself and family. I broke the law in more ways than I can't count. I disgraced an office that is the highest in the land. The only thing I can't can say Olivia is I have nothing to lose I am dying, dead by all accounts. This was my only hope, a Hail Mary... I sold my soul to the devil!"

Olivia consoled her and said,"I can not begin to imagine what you're going through, how scared and lonely you must feel. How hopeless, but this is wrong! You know what you have to do."

"You want me to leave the race?" The congress women asked somberly already knowing the answer.

"I think you already no the answer." Olivia replied.

The Oval Office

Fitz took a sip of his whiskey and placed his glass on the desk with authority. He looked at his watch and got up. "Lauren! Let Tom and Hal know we are on the move!" He said as he put his coat on.

Olivia's Apartment

She got on the elevator a little drained, she had been on an emotional roller coaster in the last twenty four hours. From every thing with Fitz and Cyrus to her client blowing up in her face. She didn't know how much more she could handle. The elevator doors opened up to familiar faces. "Tom... Hal what are you doing here? Olivia questioned with a puzzled look on her face.

"Just doing our job ma'am." They replied in unison. It was then the Olivia notice the music playing from her apartment.

I've been loving you too long to stop now

You are tired and you want to be free

My love is growing stronger, as you become a habit to me

Ohh, I've been loving you too long

I don't wanna stop now

She opened up her door to a wonderful aroma of a mouth watering meal her favorite wine and the familiar scent of the man she loved. She looked over to her dinning room table and seen the most amazing landscape. She couldn't hide the grin that was plastered on her face even though she wanted to be stoic. She took a deep breath and collected herself. "Fitzgerald Grant what do you do?"

Fitz smirked as he couldn't believe it took this woman only mere seconds to freak out. "Well hello to you to babe, is this how you treat your man after he nearly burns his eyebrows off cooking you this wonderful meal?" Fitz question placing a soft kiss on her lips.

"Fitz I love you for this but you shouldn't be here, this is in defiance of protocol and don't you think that Mellie and or the staff are going to wonder where you are?" Olivia asked somewhat panicking inside.

Fitz just gave her that crazy sexy grin and said, "First of all damn, do you look gorgeous! Secondly I don't want to spoil this wonderful evening so don't get mad with what I'm about to tell you."

"Well you better not give me a reason to be mad at you." Olivia warned.

"Mellie knows about us, I had a huge fight with her today." Fitz said as he braced himself for the onslaught.

"Fitz oh my god, you have to call Cyrus we have to do something she is going to go nuclear... where is the phone?" Olivia screeched as she attempted to dial.

"Hang up the damn phone Liv your not fixing this one. I made my decision." Fitz bellowed out with authority. This got Olivia's attention. He took the phone from her and said, "She knows, apparently for a while now. To which I can't help but wonder if that's the mysterious reason why you left not only the White House but me. I'm no fool I put two and two together you should have told me, you should have came to me. I understand why you didn't but baby you got to learn to lean on me sometimes and not try to be super Liv."

He took his hand and brushed the side of her face and took a strand of hair from her eyes,"Liv, you don't fix me... Baby that's how this all may have started but it's different now. You are not handling me anymore you have to stand down and let me be your man. You are not in charge of everything!"

"Oh really?" Olivia questioned as she rises her eyebrows. Fitz smirked and said,

"Except what happens in the bedroom."

The laughed in unison which eased the tension. Olivia then said,"I was scared, all these emotions and fears took over me."

He took her in his embrace and engulfed her in his strong arms. "I'm your night in shining armor Livvie remember that. Let me protect you from the pain not be the cause of it. My problems don't always have to be yours. Your always saving me, stop thinking about everyone else except yourself. Mellie gave me an ultimatum today. I'm on the clock, and you know what... I choose you! I'm thinking about you, putting you first!"

Olivia was overwhelmed with the gesture but all to aware of the ramifications.

"Fitz non starter! I will not explain why because you already know why. We can't survive if I'm the constant reminder of the reason you could lose everything."

"You can't keep trying to take the bullet for me I won't let you! Cyrus told me you instructed him to create a Kill file on yourself... Why Olivia?"

"That's not necessarily the truth Fitz, I just explained to him that if and when the time came he knew when to put me out to pasture. I didn't tell him to go make a file and use it... I just wanted a game plan."

"Well the game plan is changed and the rules are different... My rules... My playbook. Cyrus now understands fully what he is suppose to do. I told him that he needs to find a way to make it so that I'm President and we can be together, and that if he couldn't then it's over no more White House."

"Fitz are you crazy you can't do that, what do you mean?"

" I am divorcing Mellie and he will make it so you will become my First Lady and I resume office and if that is not feasible, then we walk away from the White House period end of discussion! Regardless of wither I'm President or not three things are going to happen. Number one Mellie and I are done I am divorcing her, number two we are going to be together, we are going to get married. Most importantly third, you and Cyrus or anyone else for that matter is going to stop me!"

"Fitz please, I love you... I want these things too but think about what you're doing."

"Livvie it's all I've been doing. I'm President for a living Liv come on, you don't think Internally I haven't accessed this from every angle? I'm so fucking tired of waiting, I'm tired of not being able to be happy. It makes sick to my stomach knowing what I've put you through... The sacrifices you have made. The position I put you in, I'm tired of you playing second fiddle! You're nobody's second fiddle, you are not mistress or side chick or someone I fuck!" Fitz said as she began to cry.

"Olivia don't cry look at me, here me when I say this! Understand what I am saying I Love you... I'm in love with you, and that's not going away. You are my world... You scare me! The way I feel about I could NEVER...have NEVER and will NEVER feel about anything or anybody else. It's crazy sometimes I feel like all I need is you... take away everything else and I'll survive but I can't survive without you damn it!

"Fitz I feel the same way, I didn't plan it, but you're the worst best thing that's ever happened to me. Neither of us could control what was happening to us. I didn't chose this life. I chose YOU. The life was just part of the deal. If I've done anything right it's that I gave my heart to you. I want us to last to stick it out together. I just don't want you to give up your dream."

With you my life has been so wonderful

I can't stop now

You are tired and your love is growing cold

My love is growing stronger as our affair, affair grows old

I've been loving you oh, too long

I don't want to stop now, ohh, ohh, ohh

I've been loving you a little too long

I don't wanna stop now, ohh, ohh, ohh

And don't make me stop now

Oh baby

I'm down on my knees

Please, don't make me stop now

"Liv... You are my dream... So just shut up and let me sleep!" He smiled and kissed her deeply. He looked in her eyes and wiped her tears. "I didn't want to spoil a perfect evening but I felt I needed to be honest with you. I am done with living a lie, I am choosing you... I'm earning you and being the man you deserve. So let's put this all a side and just be in the moment. Just be here with Liv because at the end of the day your all I have."

"I love you you damn bastard! You stole my heart but I'll let you keep it." Olivia exclaimed.

"That's music to my ears but baby I was never giving it back...now let's eat no more talking about all this bullshit just us for the rest of the night." Fitz helped her to get comfortable in her seat and went into the kitchen to bring out the food. Olivia was amazed with the production he put on, a five star dinning experience. Fitz poured themselves some wine and said, "To us, to the love of my life and soon to be wife and the future mother of my children."

I love you, I love you, I love you with all my heart

And I can't stop now

Please, please, please don't make me stop now

Talkin' 'bout heart and soul

That I love you

I love you