Mellie stared at Taylor in shock. She wasn't expecting that at all, and Mellie was quiet for a moment before she began talking.
"I was in the residence getting the last of my stuff. I was there because I knew he was out of the country, and I didn't want to see him. I was getting ready to leave, and he walked into the bedroom with his tie undone and his jacket in his hand. He looked just like he did when we were first married and still in love. I quickly looked away, and he finally noticed that I was in the room. We were both quiet for a minute, and then I walked into the closet to change because he went into the bathroom. Next thing I know, he's naked and walking into the closet, and I'm standing there with my dress off. One thing lead to another, and then we started meeting up on weekends at Camp David. I finally ended it when he wanted more, and I didn't. Then we slept together at the dinner he held for Emily."
"And he's trying to get you back again?"
"Yes. He almost had me too. I flew to D.C. to tell him that I was ready, but I pulled up and Olivia was there. I left, and he just showed up here right before I called you," Taylor grabbed Mellie's hand and they sat in silence for a while.
"Was Noah here when Fitz showed up?"
"Yes."
"Have you two recently had sex where I'm sitting?"
"The sheets have been cleaned since the last time," Mellie laughed and Taylor sighed in relief.
"You love him, don't you?"
"Fitzgerald or Noah?"
"Fitz."
"I wish I didn't, but I do. I love him with every part of me. I have tried not to love him, and I've tried to hate him. Nothing works."
"When you love someone like that, I don't think you should give up."
"Even after everything?"
"Even after everything, Mel. I know how he's treated you in the past, but maybe he's changed."
"People don't ever change."
"Sometimes they do. You just need to have a little faith."
"I do care about Noah though. A lot."
"Then you need to choose."
"But which one is better?"
"Mellie, don't pick the better man. Pick the man that's going to make you a better woman."
"I don't know the answer to that."
"Then until you do, I don't think you should be with either of them. Tell them both that you need space. You need to follow your heart as cheesy as that sounds."
"Do you want to order pizza, get drunk, and watch movies with me?" Mellie asked hopefully.
"There isn't anything else I would rather do tonight," Taylor smiled, and grabbed her phone to order the pizza while Mellie went down to get a couple bottles of wine.
After two bottles of wine, and too much pizza, Mellie and Taylor were getting tired.
"I can go grab some hooch. I usually store that for when I really need it, but we can drink it if you want."
"I think we've both had enough, Mellie."
"I'm going to go to bed. You can sleep wherever you want, but not in my room because I never know when Noah is coming over."
"Mellie, we talked about this. You need to take some time away from them both. You're letting your vagina cloud your judgment."
"I am not! My house is twenty minutes closer from the hospital than his is, so if he's had a long day, he just comes here! So get off my ass. I'm going to bed. You can sleep in Karen's room or the guest room. The couch is comfy too."
Mellie woke up with a splitting headache. She tried to roll over, but she felt Noah next to her. She tried to sit up, but the room started spinning.
"Oh God," Mellie muttered to herself.
"You're drunk," Noah chuckled.
"A lady never gets drunk."
"You're drunk, Mellie."
"Yeah. I am."
"I'll go get you water and something for your head," Mellie attempted a smile, but cringed because of her head and the room was spinning again.
"Can you go check on Taylor? I think she's in Karen's room."
"Sure thing."
Noah came back with water and pills, and Mellie happily took them. She laid back down, and Noah got in next to her.
"Is Taylor still asleep?"
"She's still out like a light."
"There's no way I can fall back asleep now. Are you hungry? I'm going to make breakfast."
"I'll help you."
"No. Stay here, and I'll bring you breakfast to thank you for always taking care of me," Mellie kissed his cheek and went downstairs.
Noah and Mellie were watching tv in the living room later that afternoon when Taylor finally came downstairs.
"Good morning, sunshine."
"What time is it?"
"Almost three."
"Well damn. I had a meeting with my publisher at two, but I guess that's not happening today."
"Taylor, it's just like college all over again," Mellie chuckled.
"What does that mean?" Taylor whipped around to face Mellie.
"This isn't going to be good. I'm going to head over to the hospital," Noah kissed Mellie goodbye and got out of the house quickly.
"Are you going to tell me what you meant by saying that it's like college all over again?"
"All I meant was you missing something because you overslept. That's all."
"So you're saying I'm irresponsible."
"Think whatever you want, Taylor. All I'm saying is you didn't go to law school because you didn't want to put in the effort."
"Don't you even start with me! You've had your whole life handed to you on a silver platter! You've always known how your life would be! I had nothing. I got into Yale because I was smart. You got in because you were smart, but your daddy also had the money. Even now, you've got it easy. You've got more money than God, and you're never going to run out! You're a Forbes Montgomery. You're intelligent, beautiful, and a southern belle to top it off. Every man falls at your feet, and you just use them until you're bored! You're doing it with Noah! Fitz is the first man to have ever rejected you. No man has ever left Melody Marie Forbes, but one man has left Mellie Grant, and you can't handle that. That's why you always run from him. He's the only man to ever make you feel insecure. I would kill to have your life. Your family, your kids, your money, and even your men, but we both know neither of them were yours first. I loved Fitz first, but you saw him and had to have him. I knew Noah first too, but then I introduced you two, and now his world revolves around you. I wish for once in my godforsaken life that the world would not revolve around Melody Grant. I have to work for everything I have."
"You wrote a couple good books, and last I knew, you weren't doing too bad. Don't you dare blame any of this on me. You never once went out with Fitz or even mentioned him until I started dating him."
"I'm done. I'm done being the one to pick you up every time you fall, and clean up your messes. Find someone else to be your bitch because I refuse to do it. You're an entitled bitch that doesn't give a damn about anyone but yourself, and I don't know why I have ever cared about you," Taylor turned to leave, but she turned back around and smiled at Mellie. "By the way, that weekend that you were visiting your parents during Fitz's first run for governor, we slept together," All Mellie saw was red. She turned to look for the nearest heavy object and found the antique vase that her aunt had given her years ago. Mellie picked it up and hurled it at Taylor as she walked out. Just as the vase collided with the now shut door, Noah walked back in. He looked at Mellie with his eyes wide, and he didn't know what to say.
"I forgot my wallet."
"Just please, get out before I scream," Mellie said slowly trying to remain calm.
"Mellie, talk to me. What happened?"
"SHE FUCKING SLEPT WITH FITZGERALD WHILE WE WERE STILL MARRIED," Mellie screamed and threw things until she had nothing left in her. Noah just stood by and waited out her tantrum before he walked near her.
"Where's my phone? I need my fucking phone. That bastard. That goddamn bastard. I hope they both rot in hell," Mellie stormed upstairs to grab her phone, and when she found it, she called Fitz.
"Mel! Are you ready to talk?" Mellie took a deep breath and began slamming her phone down against the nightstand.
"YOU BASTARD. GO TO HELL!" Mellie sat down to try to get her breathing back to normal when she saw Noah standing in the doorway.
"Are you ready to have an adult conversation and stop screaming?"
"I don't know yet."
"Okay. That's fine. I'm here whenever you're ready."
"Actually, I think I'm going to fly to LA. I know the bastard is there right now, so I'm going to get my son, and I'll stop by and see Addison."
"Your sister Addison?"
"Yes. I'll call you when I get there."
Mellie got to LA, and the drive to Addison's beach house felt like forever. She hadn't been there in over a year, and she hadn't talked to Addison for a couple weeks. The car finally pulled into Addison's driveway, and Mellie sighed in relief. She needed to be around family, and by family, she needed Addison because neither of her parents were ideal. Addison opened the door as soon as Mellie walked up, and Mellie walked inside. Addison immediately handed Mellie a glass.
"Drink before you speak," Mellie smirked at the comment and gladly downed the drink.
"Taking after the Captain?"
"Don't tell me you've never said drink before you speak," Addison laughed.
"I've said it far too much."
"You only come here when you get your heart broken, or you're just really upset. What's happened now?" Mellie sighed and was quiet for a moment.
"Where's Henry?"
"He's with Jake this weekend. Now tell me what's wrong."
"Do you think we're entitled?"
"What?"
"Just answer the question."
"I think that sometimes we don't see it, but a lot of other people do. We can't help it. It's just how we grew up. Why?"
"Taylor and I got in an argument, and then she informed me that when I went home during Fitz's first run for governor, they slept together."
"Are you serious?"
"Yes. She slept with my husband."
"I'm going to fly to Virginia right now to beat her ass."
"It's not worth it. I almost took him back. I didn't have the guts to call you and tell you that I was considering it, so here I am now telling you that I flew to D.C. to tell him that I was ready to try again."
"Well what happened?"
"Olivia Pope was there."
"Oh that bastard. You two have been so off and on since you got divorced, and you told me that he was begging you for another chance. Then he has her at the White House again. That man gets dumber with age. You deserve better anyway. What about Noah? He's gorgeous, and he's head over heels in love with you. I've seen it in just the few times I've seen him around you."
"I think I'm going to give him and I a chance."
"I really do care about him, and I think I'll just see where it goes."
"Good for you. How long are you staying?"
"I can't stay too long. I do still have to do my job, and I can't leave Teddy with Fitz for much longer."
"Mellie, don't you dare go back to him. Don't put yourself through that again. He fell in love with someone else, and he realized to late what he had and lost. Don't do it. Trust me."
"You took Derek back multiple times. I know you two still fly to see each other."
"We have what we have. It's not ideal, but the things that both of us have done to each other have left scars that are always going to be there. You and Fitz have done much worse to each other over the years, Mel. I don't think I could even stomach looking at him now if I were you."
"I still love him. Even after everything, I still love him."
"I know I'm here telling you not to go back to him, but you also shouldn't give up on a love like that. I can't give up on Derek either."
"When did we get like this?"
"So pathetic?"
"I was going to say lost, but I guess that works too."
"Mel, how about for tonight, we just watch movies and eat junk food."
"Sounds good to me."
Mellie and Addison were both asleep on the couch when the doorbell rang. Mellie covered her head with a pillow. It had to be around three in the morning, and whoever was ringing the doorbell was insane. Mellie kicked Addison and told her to answer the door. Addison slowly got up. Mellie heard Addison walk to the door. Mellie almost asleep when she heard Addison scream.
"No no no. Amelia, no. Please, no!" Mellie shot up and ran over to Addison. Addison and Amelia were on the ground crying.
"What happened? What's going on?"
"Derek is dead," Addison choked out. Mellie fell to the ground and put her arms around Amelia and Addison.
"I am so sorry. I am so sorry," Mellie kept whispering to them over and over.
Once they both calmed down, Mellie made them both sit on the couch. Addison stared blankly at nothing, and Amelia was still shaking.
"Amelia, you should get some rest, and we can talk when everyone wakes up. You can sleep in the guest room. I'll sleep with Addie," Amelia nodded and silently went upstairs.
"Addie, let's go to bed," Addison got up and walked upstairs without looking twice in Mellie's direction. Mellie sat down on the couch and silently cried. Derek couldn't be gone. Addison may not make it through this one. She barely survived when Mark died. Mellie didn't know what to do, so she did the only thing she could think of. She got
out her phone, and made a call.
"Hello?"
"Fitz, I need you to come to Addison's. Please. Drop Teddy off with Jake and Henry. I already texted him."
"I'll be there soon. What's going on?"
"Just get here first."
"On my way."
Mellie knew she wouldn't sleep, so she walked up to check on Amelia and Addison. Amelia was out, but Addison was still crying. Mellie got in next to her, and held her until she finally feel asleep. Mellie felt herself starting to doze off, but she heard a car pull up. She went downstairs and watched as Fitz got out of the back of the town car. It took a village just to get him to one place. Mellie had the door open before he walked up. She stepped into his arms as soon as he was in front of her.
"Mel, what's going on? Hours ago you were screaming at me through the phone."
"I'm still unbelievably mad at you, but Derek is dead. Addison and Derek are no longer Addison and Derek. They were going going to get back together and make things work because you don't give up on a love like that. If you love someone, you need to tell them because they could die before you get the chance to tell them how much they mean to you. Dammit, Fitzgerald, I love you. You're an arrogant asshole, and a cheating bastard, but I love you. I can't walk away again. I can't lose you without knowing if we could have made it. I'll forgive you eventually for Taylor, but right now, I just want you here."
"What Taylor thing?"
"Taylor told me that you two slept together during your first run for governor. I know we were fighting then, and I wasn't the best then, so I can't be completely mad. I'm working on not being mad."
"I never slept with her, and that is the honest to God truth. She got drunk one night and tried to kiss me while you were gone, but I made her go to bed, and that was that."
"So she lied?"
"I guess so. What happened?"
"We got into a huge fight, and that's what she said as she left."
"Well she's full of shit. Even then, I only had eyes for you. I know we had been fighting a lot then, but cheating never crossed my mind at that time," Mellie ran up to him and hugged him.
"I was so upset. I thought that meant that you had started cheating that soon, and that damn near killed me. That bitch. I'm going to make her life hell. I'm going to make sure she never gets another book published as long as I'm around."
"Mellie, don't. It's not worth it. She's not worth it. Now what happened to Derek?" Mellie looked at him and started to cry.
"Amelia showed up here around 3, and I heard Addison scream. I went over, and she told me that he's dead. That's all I know. It took me the two hours that it took you to get here to get her to calm down enough to sleep. She was hysterical. Thankfully Jake has Henry this weekend because Addison is in no shape to be taking care of him right now."
"Yeah he took Teddy no questions asked so I could get here as quickly as possible. I told him one of us would call him later when I knew what was going on. I can't believe Derek is gone. I just talked to him the other day."
"I should go check on Addison."
"I'll go with you," Mellie nodded, and they went together. Mellie's heart broke when she saw Addison. Even in her sleep she looked broken.
The next day, they were all on Air Force One. Addison was in the back with sunglasses and hooch, Amelia was asleep at the front, Mellie had Teddy on her lap, and Fitz was next to her on the phone with Cyrus.
"Fitzgerald, tell him you'll be back to the White House in two days. Now get off the phone and take Teddy, so I can go check on Addison," Mellie smiled at him and kissed his cheek as she took his phone and handed him Teddy.
Mellie walked back to where Addison was and sat next to her. Addison didn't even turn to look to her when she sat down.
"Put the glass down, Addie. Don't try to lose yourself in alcohol. I've been there, and I've tried that too many times. It may help for a little bit, but it only hurts worse afterwards. Put the glass down," Addison handed Mellie the glass.
"Bizzy is going to have a field day when she sees you drunk before noon."
"You called Bizzy?"
"Her and the Captain are meeting us there."
"Mellie, they didn't even like Derek."
"Yes they did. They liked him more than Fitz."
"They loved Fitz. Not anymore because of everything that's happened, but they used to think the sun rose and set for him because of the Grant name. Derek was just a smart guy I met in college."
"They still cared about Derek, so they're going to be there. They care about us in their own strange way, so just smile and wave. Please also remember to not act overly distraught because no one there knows you and Derek were back together. Him and Meredith haven't been officially apart for very long."
The press were surrounding the area when they got off the plane. They all went crazy when Fitz and Mellie stepped off together. They both ignored them and kept walking. Teddy buried his head in Fitz's neck, and Mellie rubbed his back to calm him down. Addison and Amelia stepped off the plane and followed closely behind Mellie and Fitz.
Bizzy and the Captain were waiting for Mellie and Addison by their awaiting car.
"They're already speaking in wasp," Addison said and rolled her eyes.
"They're always speaking in wasp."
After Derek's funeral, they all went back to their hotel. Fitz took Teddy while Mellie went to make sure Addison was okay.
"You should get some sleep."
"If I sleep, I dream about him. If I'm awake, I think about him. I just want to not think about anything for a while. I'll be okay. Go be with Fitz and Teddy."
"Come get me if you need anything. I love you, Addison."
Mellie walked back to her suite and found Fitz and Teddy asleep on the bed. She smiled and got in bed next to them.
Fitz woke up and saw Mellie wasn't there. He found her standing on the balcony. Her hair was blowing in the wind, and her white silk robe made her look like an angel. Mellie still didn't know he was behind her.
"Be my First Lady. Again," Mellie turned around confused.
"What?"
"I know I only have a year and a half left in office, but be my First Lady again. We don't have to get married right now, but come back to the White House. Let's be a family again."
"Fitz," Mellie didn't know what to say.
"I know you're probably worried about what the public will think, but I don't care what they think. Say yes."