Hi everyone! Thanks for the reviews.

I just wanted to say that I picture Benjamin Taylor as Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jaime Lannister). Enjoy!

"Mellie, I thought you were sleeping." She shook her head. "Can we talk about what happened this morning?"

"About what?"

"You know, about Benjamin Taylor, I noticed your voice when you talked to him. And the stupid smile of him. I try to remember if I've told anything about him. And I realised. In our first date, you did. Don't play the fool with me. It's okay. He was your boyfriend, wasn't he?"

Mellie took a breath. "He was." Fitz lied with her and he hugged her. "And I've not been able to think about anything else today. I mean, Ben? I haven't heard from him for ages."

"Ben, uh? Well, I haven't either." Fitz chuckled.

"I've investigated him, the same way Leo is going to."

"You don't let me give you any new, do you?"

"Fitz, this is serious. He is divorced, not girlfriend, not fiancée, anything. And, sorry for this, but have you seen him? He is handsome, rich... I'm worried. He could be a playboy."

"Mellie, you are smarter than me, but I'm not reckless. I know what I did when I gave my approval, I've talked to Cyrus and he told me he was perfect. He is divorced, no children. He has a dog, named Ems. You are just moved for seeing him after all these years, that's all."

But Mellie seemed to be milles away. Remembering him, remembering them.

"Mellie?" But Fitz's voice brought her back to reality.

"Eh? Oh, sure." She didn't know what Fitz was saying. "What was his dog's name again?"

"Ems, why?" Mellie frowned.

"Oh, nothing." But there were something. "Can you turn off the light? We should go to sleep."

"Sure. Goodnight, Mellie."

"Goodnight, Fitz."

She couldn't sleep. She begun to think about her first year at Yale, with Benjamin.

"Ems, I can't study more, it's ten in the evening, c'mon, let's have a drink, please!"

"Okay…" she finally answer when he started to kiss her.

"Mmmmm we should move forward the wedding."

"Why?"

"I can't wait to be with you."

"You already are." She answered, with a sassy smile, before kissing him.

"You are mean, aren't you?" she chuckled. "Have you told your parents?" She shook her head.

"Ben, we need to find the right moment. You know them. They don't like you and I don't know what else to do."

"I'm in Yale, with you! What else do they need?"

"You are here with a scholarship, that's not enough to them."

"Well sorry if I'm not a prince with a white horse and a castle. I'm not now, but I will be as fancy as them."

"Ben, they're still my parents, you know."

"Yes, sorry. But they got me on my nerves! I'm as ambitious as you are, and I want the same they want: you to be happy, to be important, to be the best." Mellie smiled and kissed him. "We're gonna rule the world, Ems. You and I, together."

Next morning she tried to focus. She had a terrible headache, she hadn't been able to sleep the night before. There were so much to think about. Like why Benjamin hadn't call her before going to see her husband or why her husband didn't call Olivia Pope for Ben's campaign.

"So it is true." Benjamin opened Mellie's door without knocking. "You are a real Senator."

"Did you leave your manners in North Carolina?"

"Sorry, should I come out?" he asked smiling.

"No." Mellie chuckled and stood up. "I'm happy to see you here."

"Well, Mellie… can I call you Mellie?" she nodded. "I'm happy to see you too." They stared at each other. His blue eyes were a deep ocean of memories for her. And so were hers for him. It had been more than twenty years, but none of them could believe it. "How are you?"

"I'm…" she doubt. Even thought he had been her fiancée it didn't mean he was going to be truth and loyal. He was another political monster, as herself, he wasn't the same innocent guy who walk holding hands with her. "I'm fine." She faked a smile. "And you?"

"I'll be better next month."

"Wha… Or, the elections." She keep smiling but the situation begun to be awkward.

"I know you have a lot of work, but I wanted to say hi."

"Well… hi."

He didn't know what to say. He expect a distant Mellie, but to that. So he left. He would find a better moment to see her. When he was coming out, he ran into the President.

"Morning, Mr. President." Fitz frowned and said hello with his head.

"Mellie, I didn't know you had an appointment."

"And I haven't. He came to say hello. In fact it was awkward." Fitz chuckled. He was worried about that man. He didn't really know anything about their relationship, Mellie had never wanted to talk about it.

"So, are you coming?"

"Where?" she asked. Fitz frowned and looked at her. "Oh my God it's Tuesday! Yes, of course, sorry, I haven't slept well."

"Do you want to go home after visiting Jerry's crave?"

"A Senator can't just leave his job for that, honey. The First Lady can, but a Senator can't."

"You know, I can't get used to it."

"It won't last long." She smiled and looked him in the eyes. There were something different on him. Not only that day, she had been noticing something different for more than a year. He was staring at her. "What? Do I have something in my face?" she touched it.

"No. It's just… You look beautiful today." She blushed.

"Thank you, Fitz."

It was late at night when Mellie heard Fitz on the phone. She couldn't understand anything, but she supposed he was talking to Olivia Pope. She sighted and she took her phone. She had a text.

"I'm sorry, this morning I was so nervous, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. Can we try again?"

It was from Benjamin. She couldn't avoid smiling.

"I'll be at my office." she answered. She didn't expect him to replay, but after two minutes, there it was.

"I'll drop by tomorrow evening. I don't want to disturb you."

She was thinking about what she was going to answer him, but she heard Fitz coming, so she preferred to play the slept. Fitz lied and kissed her shoulder. Fitz smiled when he saw her smiling and wondered what she was dreaming about.

Her day lasted longer than normally, she had lots of meetings, phone calls and she had to prepare a speech for her trip to Virginia. She couldn't write anything decent, she couldn't focus. Benjamin had been in her mind, like when she was on high school.

"Mellie?"

"Good evening, Benjamin." She said, smiling. "How did you get my personal phone number?"

"A good magician never reveals his tricks." She laughed. "Did that bother you?"

"No, but the First Lady's phone number mustn't be so easy to get."

"Oh, it wasn't."

"But I'm happy you got it. A drink?" she offered.

"Please."

Mellie bit her lip and stare at him. He was as handsome as she remember. He was fit, and he was amazing in a suit. She had always liked elegant men. Benjamin and Fitz didn't have anything in common. Benjamin has blond and straight hair and his eyes were blue. He looked like prince charming. He was staring at her.

"So, where has you been? I mean, you probably know everything about me, I'm the First Lady." She chuckled. "But I haven't heard anything from you."

"After graduate, I've lived in Europe: in Paris, London, Madrid and Rome. I got married. And I divorced. I…" Benjamin told her his adventures. He had lived so much, in some many places, he had worked for many governments. Always in politics. They drank and laughed, like old times. "Now I'm here, in Washington DC, at your office." He sighted. "And I can't believe it."

"Me neither. I mean, how long has been?"

"More than twenty years. And you look as pretty as then. Or even more." She blushed. She needed to calm down.

"Ben…"

"Anyone had call me Ben since you did." She was going to apologize but he shook his head. "It's okay. I like it. I know it doesn't mean I can call you like I used to, but it's okay. So, tell me about you. Your real life, not the one that appears on tv."

"I got married. And I had to give up on my job to be the wife. The wife who stand by her man. But then my son died, so I decided I won't waste my life being the wife. To be the wife is boring. To be the wife is to be ornamental and… not functional." She said, remembering when Fitz call her that.

"Whoever said that doesn't know the same Melody Mandeville that I know." He approached her. "You weren't born to be the wife."

"I'm Melody Grant now, Benjamin." She took a step back. "That's why I'm a senator now." But he approached her again. He didn't move, he was just staring at her. He lifted his glass.

"For Melody Mand… Grant, the most beautiful and brave First Senator of all times."

"You've just invented that."

"Everything related to the President is First something and you are senator and related to… him. So, you're the First Senator."

Mellie chuckled. Ben had always known how to make her laugh. She loved that.

Suddenly, her phone rang. She got scared and took it.

"Fitz?... Yes, I was leaving… As you want, I won't be late… Okay… Bye."

"The president?"

"My husband. As I've said, I'm married. See you, Benjamin." She said, emphasizing husband. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"I'm taking a plane to North Carolina in the morning, but I'll come back soon."

She faked a smile. They had had a very nice evening and she was expecting to repeat it.

When she arrived to the residence she needed to take off her heels, they were killing her. She sat down in the bed.

"Hi, Fitz."

"I was starting to worry. You're never this late."

"I had a guest."

"Who?"

"Benjamin Taylor came to see me."

"Again?"

"Why this grilling? Yesterday was awkward, he came to apologize and we have been talking. That's it. Besides, I don't owe you any explanation, do I?"

"I don't like him."

"Why? He had work in Europe, he can offer a different point of view." But Fitz shook her head. And Mellie stood up and held his hands. "Tell me."

"What?"

"What's wrong, Fitz!"

"Him!" he yelled moving aside from her. "And you!"

"What? Are you yelling at me because of him? Because he came to see me? I don't ask you who do you call at nights!"

"Is this about it? About I called someone last night? I wasn't Olivia Pope if that's what you think!"

"No!" Mellie shook her head. And held his hands again. "Fitz, we agreed, no more arguing about Olivia Pope! I'm okay with Olivia Pope and I need you to be okay with Benjamin, whatever happens between me and him."

"Have you screwed him?"

"What?"

"What you heard!"

"No!" she cried. She crossed her arms and frowned.

"Not now or not ever?"

"Are you… Oh my God Fitzgerald! Are you accusing me of faking my virginity?!" Fitz didn't answer and Mellie arched her eyebrows. "So, that is what you are worry about! Well no, Fitzgerald Grant, I didn't screw him when he was my boyfriend. I was pure for you!" she cried, angrily.

She slammed the door and started to cry in the bathroom. She couldn't believe that Fitz had just made such a scene.

"Mellie." He called her after a while. "Mels, open the door." He knocked again. "Mels, I'm sorry, please, open the door." He heard her sobbing and his heart broke. He didn't want her to feel broken again. He wanted her to be happy, even without him, all he wanted was to see her happy. "I was angry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I don't want to hurt you again. I want to be by your side, you know. It's just… At college, I was the old guy… the senator's son… the stupid navy guy. And you were the star, the brightest, the light. You were my light. And I don't want to spoil these times, I don't want to think you were his. I can't…"

Mellie opened the door and looked him in the eyes.

"I was happy with Benjamin, Fitz. I was really happy, and you know it. I told you I was a virgin when I met you, because it was one indispensable requirement for your father. But I now wonder, was it your father's or yours, Fitz?"

"Mellie…"

"No, it's my turn, Fitz. I was pure, innocent for you. I wanted to wait until the wedding! I don't complain about how many woman you have screw, and I think your number it's so much bigger than mine, and now you make me a scene just because I spend the evening in my office talking with an old friend. I can't, Fitz. I can't live like this." She move away and walk until their bed.

"Four." He said after an endless silence.

"What?"

"Four it's my number. I have had sex with four women." Mellie frowned. "At high school, before the navy, Emma Pharrell, the prom night. After navy, Mellie Mandeville, and then Mellie Grant, who are the same person. And then, Amanda Turner and…"

"Olivia Pope." She completed.

"I don't like talking about this. Things have changed, but I don't feel comfortable." He lied next to her. "Can you forgive me?"

"For what?"

"For tonight. I'm sorry, really sorry."

"You'll be if you promise me you won't do anything like this anymore."

Fitz put one hand up and took Mellie's hand with the other. "I promise."

Mellie arched an eyebrow and he smile. "Too soon?" But she chuckled and he kissed her forehead. "I want to be different, Mels, really. I want to change, for you." He lied next to her and hugged her.

"You weren't the old and weird navy guy at college." She said after a while stroking Fitz's hand. "You were…" she paused and blushed.

"What?" he looked her and smile. "What is making you blush?" But she didn't answer. "I was constantly worrying about the guys who dared looking at you and now I discovered you were jealous too, weren't you?" He squeezed her and started tickling her. "Tell me or I won't stop." Mellie was laughing, asking him to stop.

"Okay, okay! I'll talk but, please, stop!" finally he stopped. "My friends said you were a very interesting man. With those green eyes…" she looked him in the eyes. "With those curls…" She ran her hand through his hair. "You weren't the old, you were the mature navy guy, not like those stupid boys who were asking their out. They didn't get tired of telling me how lucky I was for having you."

Their eyes with shining. She had a stupid smile on her face, showing her embarrassing. He flicked her hair out her face. She was beautiful.

They both felt the time stopped, it freeze in front of themselves, of their eyes, of their souls. And they became those innocent kids who walk into Law school everyday, loving each other. He stroked her face, he stroked her soft and pale skin. Her hand was playing with his curls. She felt a twist of emotions (?) in her stomach. It was love, of course it was. She still loved him, she had love him since college. And she had never stopped. Not even when Big Jerry raped her, not even he treated him badly. Not even when he told her he was in love with another woman. Her tiny and broken heart had always loved him. Maybe she was a fool for loving him. But she had got used to feel stupid about Fitz. She couldn't help it.

"Would you have married me?" Fitz asked.

"What?"

"Would you have married me if you had known what has happened to us?"

Mellie closed her eyes. Yes, that was what she thought first. And then she thought about Big Jerry, about Olivia, about Andrew. But she opened her eyes, Fitz kept staring at her. And she couldn't help thinking anything but him.

"What would change if I say yes?" she asked.

"What happened between Benjamin and you?"

"Again, Fitz?" she sat up and cross her arms.

"I don't mean that. Why did you break up?"

"That is matter?" he nodded. "He left. He entered in Oxford and his dream was studying there. His grandparents were English, and he'd always love England. I couldn't asked him to give up his dream for me. I wouldn't have forgiven myself."

"That's it?"

"We were going to get married. So we promised that we would do it when he came back."

"And?"

"He left."

"And?"

"I met you." Fitz's heart stopped. He hugged her and looked her in the eyes.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I never thought about him again." He couldn't help kissing her. It was a sweet and soft kiss. He couldn't imagine she had fallen for him so quickly and so intense.

"Fitz… We can't do this." She said, trying to control herself.

"Mels, thank you. Really. Thank you for telling me this."

"But it doesn't change anything, do it? You and I are partners. Anything else." I was difficult for her, but she couldn't afford suffering again. Not because of him again.

Fitz sighted and look Mellie's lips again. "I know…"

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