CHAPTER 4

Needing to recharge after working with Cyrus all day trying to be more proactive on potential crisis situations was more draining than she recalled. Olivia arrived home and decided to indulge in a quiet night with her 3 comforts: white wine, smooth jazz, and a bubble bath. Just as she slipped a pedicured toe into the steam-filled bubble bath the house phone rang. She turned the volume down on her music and listened for a voicemail message but the caller hung up.

"Must not have been important" she decided and tried to get back to her bath except her gut alarm went off. She put her robe back on and went to sit on her bed while reading Fitz's message on her charging Blackberry: Your Place 5 Minutes.

Sighing loudly she stomped out of her bedroom to her front door and without looking opened it and exclaimed "WHAT?"

He stepped inside looking handsome with his garment bag over his shoulder while giving Olivia a disapproving once over. "Why aren't you ready? Are you just getting into the shower? Come on Olivia get it in gear, let's go, let's go." He finger-snapped and ordered impatiently then he glanced at his watch. Shaking his head he walked into her bedroom to move things along.

Olivia stared in disbelief as she closed the door and followed him into her room to see him put his bag on her bed and then step inside one of her walk-in closets looking for something.

"First, why are back in DC? What happened at the Three Amigos summit in Ottawa? Second, I don't know what you're talking about – ready for what? Not that it matters because I am in for the evening anyway and my bubble bath is getting cold so you can see your uninvited self out." She said to his back as he continued searching her closet.

Fitz explained in a too loud voice: "The energy and environmental trade negotiations went very well and we finished early. We wanted to have dinner together and couldn't decide whose country to dine in. So after a round of rock-paper-scissors, President Calderon decided to have Japanese cuisine at Iron Chef Morimoto's restaurant in New York so here I am."

Shaking her head Olivia asked "Fitz that doesn't explain why you are at my house ordering me to get ready and rummaging through my closets."

He emerged from her closet empty handed so in a rushed and hurried tone he said: "Come on Liv move it, walk & talk. I called Cyrus to set everything up and told him to inform you that you're my new replacement escort for political dinners since you saw fit to embarrass poor Kathyrn a woman just trying to better herself. Now, how long will it take you to shake-shower-and shave? It's a 35-minute flight to NYC so you have to get the lead out." He said irrationally.

Rolling her eyes and folding her arms she responded softly "Thank you for your very kind offer but I am not interested in being neither your escort nor your arm candy."

Fitz looked at her and said harshly "Your presence was personally requested by President Calderon. I wasn't aware you two knew one another. What's that about?"

Olivia's eyes widened as she replied "He did? He remembers me? How flattering. It's not every day a girl gets asked out by the suave, handsome leader of a country."

A disbelieving look crossed Fitz's face as he glared at Olivia and replied: "Really? You have no idea what that's like huh? You're still not moving. And where are your kick-ass power pantsuits?"

"Pantsuits? Are you kidding? I'm having a late supper with The Three Amigos and their wives. I intend to look stunning. I've got just the designer dress in mind to wear." She said almost giggling.

"You still didn't say how you two know one another." Fitz reminded her in a nosy way.

"Plausible deniability Fitz. Let's just say I helped him pick out a tie. You don't need nor want to know more." She warned him. Switching tactics she asked him "What are you wearing? What's in the garment bag?"

"Just a backup in case you didn't like what I have on now. I could freshen up a bit while I'm helping you get ready. Are you going to take a bath?" Fitz asked while following Liv into her bathroom.

"Yes I am going to take a quick one and you can go freshen up in the guest bathroom." She reasoned.

Fitz snorted and went back to her bedroom to open his toiletry bag and retrieve his electric shaver. Walking back into her bathroom, Liv was already in the tub bathing in a hurry. He enjoyed watching her in the mirror while shaving.

"Which closet is this designer dress in? I want to approve it first" he said.

Olivia laughed. "As you wish Mr. President, I will get it for you." She finished bathing and stepped out of the tub. Putting her robe on over her wet body it clung to her like a see-thru second skin. She knew Fitz was watching and ignored him as usual.

She showed him the dress and the matching shoes, purse, and jewelry and he was content, for the moment. They helped one another dress and accessorize to perfection. Fitz had to compliment Olivia on how fast she pulled herself together especially the way she styled her hair into a French-roll and then how fast she expertly applied her makeup. Her finishing touches of diamond earring studs and lipstick totally pulled her look together. She is stunning Fitz thought.

At the restaurant everyone socialized over drinks of wine & sake followed by a buffet style dinner of every item on the Iron Chef's menu. Photos, kisses and autographs were exchanged freely with Chef Morimoto. Fitz looked around for Olivia and saw her sitting at the table with her legs crossed and her foot dangling toward President Calderon. They were both speaking in rapid Spanish and smiling occasionally.

He continued to watch her and suddenly all his senses became very alert to her presence. It was then that she turned to look at Fitz and gave him a smile and a slight head nod. He stood frozen knowing he had to deal with his feelings no matter what its potential destructive conclusion. But now he was content to just look at Olivia and watch her work her magic on another President and laughed as he felt strangely validated in his feelings for her.

During the flight back to the White House on Marine One, Fitz got into business mode and informed Olivia of a new problem developing that he wanted her to fix.

"My old Democratic critic, Florida Senator Edison Davis is rearing his head again but now he's on a defense subcommittee. You probably saw him on Kimberly Mitchell's Show making accusations about me. I'm getting Cyrus to thoroughly check this guy out but essentially he said I'm warmonger and I'm in bed with the special interests of the NRA and big oil companies."

"It's no secret that they were your biggest supporters during your candidacy. All elected officials have someone to thank for giving a helping hand when needed." Olivia said. She did not want to divulge that she knew Senator Davis because that would put Fitz in a different frame of mind that she couldn't handle tonight.

"Cyrus seems to think this guy may be a shark in search of blood in the water. When I have more intel on him I will let you know." Fitz said.

A week later Olivia was working late to catch up on her own clients, she was about to leave for the night when the elevator doors opened and she was surprised by the desperate face of Democratic Senator Edison Davis.

"Edison? What's going on? Why are you here?" Olivia inquired.

"I'm here as your newest client. The president is trying to have me removed from my committee and stop my television appearances because I'm his most vocal critic. I received this letter from the Committee Chairman asking me to stop bringing unfounded accusations against the Grant Administration. I know the POTUS is behind this and I'm not going to stop putting his feet to the fire but I need a powerhouse to stop these attacks on my character." Edison explained as he handed the letter to Olivia.

Olivia stopped and read the formal letter carefully, recognizing Fitz's handiwork between the lines. She returned the letter to Edison and replied: "You cannot be surprised by this Senator, you did call the President 'a liar' during his state of the union address; you did get in his face charging him with not doing enough to help the homeless & minority poor; and worst of all you were recorded calling him a preening pretty boy president. You put that target on your own back. What is it you think I can do for you?"

"Olivia you were a Democrat once, a woman of the people, you supported the ACLU and before you broke off our engagement at your mentor Cyrus' request to run the Grant campaign you were a woman of conscience. I need you to fight for me. Look let's have a late dinner at our favorite place and discuss this fully okay?" He pleaded and she nodded yes.

Days later after investigating and concurring with Edison's claim, Olivia intended to call Fitz for a 15 minute face-to-face. Unbeknownst to Olivia, her daily activities were under surveillance and to say that Fitz was fuming about her assisting an old boyfriend who is also his biggest political opponent was an understatement.

The next day she was awakened by Tom & Hal and brought to Fitz during his NRA duck hunting trip in the woods. As she left the SUV and walked toward the creek he approached her and began yelling at her about her constant lack of loyalty to his Administration; first during the time when she helped the South American dictator & his family last April; and now helping her ex-fiancé file charges of wrongful dismissal.

"Whose side are you on Olivia?" Fitz charged.

"Fitz you were wrong to remove Edison from his committee. You've never bullied your critics like this before. That's not who you are. What were you thinking?" Olivia asked softly, knowing she needed to tread carefully here.

Moving closer and getting into her personal space an enraged Fitz said: "What? You're defending him to my face telling me I'm wrong? Oh now I see the error of my thinking. Looking at these photos it's obvious that you two are screwing again. Is he everything you ever dreamed of? Or are you settling for second best?"

Olivia was shocked by his accusations and tried to defend herself but when Fitz shoved several intimate looking photos of herself & Edison into her hands she didn't know what to say to get him to see reason.

Deciding that only action would get his attention she stepped closer to him, looking into his angry eyes, grabbing his thick jacket and pulled it down so he was face to face with her.

"Edison is a good man…from my past and I've decided that he stays in my past. For your information the man of my dreams is the idealistic Governor I met and fell in love with a few years ago but I lost him to his job. And for the record, Olivia Pope does not settle for second anything." Olivia released his jacket but Fitz only moved closer to touch her lips with his but she quickly backed away.

Fitz stood tall and replied: "Well that didn't explain why you are working against me. It seems to be a professional habit of yours to always oppose me."

"Not true. I've always been on your side. You've always had my support despite this need you have to summon me as your personal fixer 24/7. I have clients that also need my help and I will do what my gut and my conscience allows. "You are not my boss Fitz, you do not own me…I Am Not Yours" she said fiercely.

Fitz just looked at her as if she'd grown a second head and replied. "Olivia you are indeed mine and I'm going to make you prove it to yourself." He stated matter-of-factly. She didn't respond verbally but rolled her eyes and spun on her heels to return to the SUV.

Fitz followed Olivia back to the vehicle opening the door and getting into the backseat with her to resolve this battle of wills. END

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(1st Authors Note: What did they do in the SUV you may ask? Read the hot, steamy, sexy story "MINE" by Anonymous1912 in the M rated section (12-28-12 update: MINE moved to ONE SHOTS, Chapter 2 still in the M section by Anonymous). That's the way my characters are ending this chapter. I'm glad the SUV is tinted, soundproof, and has good shocks & struts to prevent rollover - Enjoy).


2nd Author's Note:
In the TV episode Hunting Season, Fitz told Cyrus to have Senator Davis removed from his committee and he did. Of course in reality the POTUS has no power to fire any elected member of Congress. But if he could this is what I thought a formal letter of dismissal from the POTUS to the Senator would look like. Be sure to read between the lines.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE 44th POTUS

To The (Dis) Honorable Senator Edison Davis:

You are hereby being removed from your assignment as a U.S. State Senator on the Subcommittee for Department of Defense and the NSA for the following reasons:

1. Improper conduct by disclosing confidential information during an investigation of national security. {you were photographed in a public park manhandling and leering at Olivia Pope. A woman who completely belongs to me no matter how many times she lies and says "I'm Not Yours". Edison, man-to-man: she is mine body and soul. My name is written all over that. What the hell were you thinking bruh? }.

2. You will submit your testimony to the Senate Ethics Committee asap for my review. {I want a damn good explanation for why you, Mr. Ancient History, thought you had the right to speak to, touch, and lust after my personal property, my dyme piece. I should have you arrested for trespassing.}

3. You are being relieved of all duties pending the outcome of the Ethics Violation Committee. {I will make you sweat for five days before I fire your ass anyway for breathing on and trying to charm my woman for immoral purposes. She is taken: that means no vacancy}.

4. You may obtain legal representation as long as there is no conflict of interest. {If you hire my woman to try to save your ass I will have you permanently relocated to a weather station in Antarctica to guard your new constituents: penguins.}

You may submit character references at your ethics hearing. (It won't make a damn bit of difference because if you do not cease & desist immediately. I will introduce you to my Pitbull and he will teach you to never look, touch, or think about another man's woman again in your lifetime).

Thank you for your (former) service to the United States

Signed (The Boss of YOU)
Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, 44th President of the USA in Shondaland


OMG - I Luv That Letter. Let me know your thoughts. Thank you for reading, reviewing, and sharing your thoughts & suggestions.