3 Years Earlier: Santa Barbara, California

"Give her whatever she wants."

"Mr. Grant," his lawyer started carefully. "You were barely married for 6 years. She's asking for too much."

Fitz sighed and shook his head, smiling ruefully at the older man. "First and foremost, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Fitz, Cyrus? You have known me since I was in diapers. The formalities aren't necessary."

"Okay then. Fitz, she's asking for too much."

Fitz smiled again and looked at the man before him. Cyrus Beene had been the family lawyer for as long as he could remember. He was a loyal man, almost to a fault, but ruthless as well. That's why Fitz's father, Big Gerry, liked him. That's why he trusted him. Fitz liked him too although he assumed for different reasons. The loyalty was great but it was the honesty in his words that Fitz admired. His ability to speak his mind and the fact that behind his cold exterior he actually cared.

There were times growing up where Cyrus, despite his aversion to children, had been more like a father to him than his own. You've got something special, kid, he once informed Fitz after watching him debate in high school. As he grew, Fitz began to look at Cyrus as not just his lawyer but his friend.

"Cy, I know but I have been trying to divorce Mellie for almost 2 years now. I just want this over with."

"Look, I get it. I am certainly not a member of the Mellie fan club but you shouldn't just give it all away."

Fitz stood up from his desk in his office and walked towards a table against the wall, calling back over his shoulder. "You want a drink, Cy?"

Cyrus wrinkled his nose at the sight of scotch on the table and shook his head. "No, thank you."

"Right, you hate scotch." Fitz smiled slightly and sat back down at his desk. "You ever been in love, Cy?"

Cyrus cocked his head slightly and studied Fitz closely, a habit Fitz had picked up from him over the years. "Once. In college. Got my heart broken."

Fitz nodded and took a long sip of his drink. The brown liquid burned his throat and he savored the feeling. To him it was better than being numb.

"I met someone." He paused, partially for effect and partially because he just didn't know how to explain.

"I met this beautiful amazing woman, two years ago, and I screwed it up. I let Mellie rope me into therapy and I lost her." He shook his head again. "I screwed up but she... she is the love of my life."

Cyrus stood up at that admission and poured himself a glass of Scotch before sitting back in his seat. It was now Fitz's turn to cock his head to the side.

"You hate Scotch."

"Not tonight."

Fitz smiled a real, although momentary, smile. It felt good to have someone acknowledge his feelings. He often felt crazy for feeling the way he did about Olivia Pope. He often tried to convince himself it was all in his head. That his feelings couldn't possibly be so deep. It was such a short amount of time between when he met her and when he lost her. How was it even possible to love someone so much in such a short time. So he tried, time and time again, to convince himself it was all in his head but the pain in his heart indicated it was real. That everything had been so very real.

"She can have the house and both cars. I keep the condo. She never liked it anyways."

"That's still more than she deserves."

"I just want this over with, Cy."

"I'll see what I can do. Hang in there, kid."


"Mrs. Grant's requests are entirely unreasonable, Ms. Langston. Mr and Mrs. Grant have been married under 6 years and she signed a prenuptial agreement."

"A prenuptial agreement that assured her comfort in the event of a divorce."

Sally Langston was considered by many to be a formidable opponent but not by Cyrus Beene. No, to Cyrus she was nothing more than a speed bump. Despite years of getting wives of politicians and CEOs big settlements in divorce proceedings she didn't even make him flinch. Fitz was impressed if not enthralled by the scenario playing out before him. Sally and Cyrus were battling it out, volleying back and forth expertly. Mellie's icy blue stare was firmly fixed on him, staring daggers through him. He was sure she was plotting his demise inside that perfectly coiffed head of hers. It was like he was watching a television show except this, this was his life.

"Mr. Beene," Langston drawled. "The point is Mrs. Grant doesn't want this divorce. She is the wronged party here and as such is due her demands."

"And we are being more than generous. She will be left with most all of their joint property as well as quite a bit of cash. I don't see what else she could possibly want or need. Spousal support?" He looked at both women to gauge their reactions and saw a smirk cross both their faces. "Ha! Ridiculous," Cyrus continued. "Mrs. Grant makes just as much yearly as Mr. Grant and seeing as his parents are alive and kicking, there is no inheritance to speak of. You are grasping at straws here."

"Well, Mr. Beene," Sally replied, a self satisfied smirk on her face. "We will leave that up to the courts to decide."

Fitz watched the two women exit the room and then turned to Cyrus.

"She is a piece of work."

"She's a hack," Cyrus replied forcefully.

He ran his hand through his hair and over his face, letting out a long sigh.

"So I guess we are going to court?"

"We're going to court."


3 Years Earlier: Boston, Massachusetts

Olivia rolled over in bed and sat up slowly. She swung her legs over the edge and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. The sun was peaking through the blinds casting stripes of sunlight around the room. She turned her head to look at the man laying beside her. Jake was a nice guy, if not a bit boring, but there was just one huge gaping problem. He wasn't Fitz.

The best way to get over a man is to get under another. That was the advice Abby gave her almost a year ago when Olivia met Jake. You deserve a little happy, she had insisted. At the very least a good distraction.

And Olivia took that advice to heart. A distraction, that's what she needed. She had school to distract her most of the time, having just completed her second year of law school, and the rest of the time she relied on her friends to keep her company. The problems only came when she was alone. Like now, in the early morning light, and late at night. That was when her loneliness caught up with her. That was when she missed him the most.

Standing up she searched the room for her clothes and quickly got dressed all the while trying to repress the memories flooding in.

"Leaving?" The masculine voice jolted her out of her thoughts. It was the wrong voice though. Not quite deep enough and missing the warmth. She turned and was met by charming eyes but they were green, not stormy blue.

"Yeah," she said faking a smile. "I have class and a paper to write."

"Liv..."

"Jake, no."

He sighed and looked at her. "I find it amazing that you don't understand how perfect you are and how any guy that could possibly leave you is an idiot."

She cast her gaze down at the ground, suddenly enthralled with the patterns the sun was making on the floor. If she was to be honest, he was right. She didn't know. All she knew was that everyone left her. And that told her all she needed to know. She looked back up at him and realized he was still talking but she was no longer listening.

"Are you ever going to be ready for more?"

She heard that. She shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Jake we said this would just be for fun. If you wanted more..."

"Of course I want more!"

"Then why..."

"Why did I agree to this ridiculous arrangement? Because I thought you needed time. But you're intent on keeping me out. You hide behind this mask and you won't let anyone in."

"So what are you saying?"

He sighed again and shook his head. "I am saying that I can't pretend not to want you anymore. I want you. All of you."

Olivia stared at him blankly. Her mind was working overtime trying to catch up, trying to comprehend. Someone wanted her. She was wanted. But she, she wanted Fitz.

"Jake," she said softly. "I'm sorry but I just... he is still in my head all the time. It's not right. It wouldn't be a relationship. I wouldn't be here with you. I'm sorry."

He looked down at his hands and she felt guilt rush through her. She walked over to him and kissed him softly.

"You'll find someone someday who isn't so damaged."


Olivia walked home slowly, lost in her own thoughts. She could never quite wrap her head around how fast she had fallen for Fitz. It all happened so quickly and 2 years later she felt the same. She always felt the same. It takes time. That is what everyone told her. It takes time. But this much time? This many sleepless nights? This huge gaping hole in her heart? In her soul?

She was lost. A fish in a sea of unfinished business and unrequited love. A lonely damaged girl. She was alone. She shivered despite the warm air surrounding her. Springtime in Boston. Fitz would have loved it here this time of year. Some days were hot, others cold but the people were free. They were joyful. Because winter had passed, spring had sprung and summer was on its way. Yes, Fitz would love it there. Damn it, Olivia. Stop that!

Olivia turned the corner and walked into her classroom. The lecture hadn't started yet but everyone was chattering excitedly.

"Ladies, Gentlemen," the professor said after clearing his throat. "Have a seat. We have a guest lecturer today. He is on a tight schedule so let's get right to it."

Olivia settled in and opened her laptop. At least she had a distraction for a little while.


3 Years Earlier: Santa Barbara, California

"I have a plan!"

Fitz looked up from the pile of paperwork before him and smiled at the man that had just busted into his office. Cyrus looked like he ran all the way there.

"Cy," he said. "I thought you were out of town."

"I was, I was," he said waving his hand dismissively. "But listen, I was on the plane enjoying those little bottles of gin they sell. I love those. Perfect size for a strong gin & tonic. Anyway I came up with a plan. A brilliant plan."

Fitz laughed. "Cy, take a breath and a seat."

The older man sat down as he took a deep breath. A cheshire grin spread across his face as he leaned forward conspiratorially.

"I think I figured out their devious little plan. Fortunately for you, I am twice as devious. A legal monster, so to speak."

Fitz leaned back in his seat and nodded his head. "Tell me more."


3 Years Earlier: Boston, Massachusetts

Olivia walked back into her room and sat down at her desk. The lecture had been long but the speaker was an interesting man who she had quite enjoyed listening to. As always, she was vocal during the lecture, freely giving her opinion and even challenging the man a few times. After the class he informed her that she had an impressive legalmind and handed her his card, telling her to call him when she graduated next year. I might be able to find a place for you in my firm.

She popped open her laptop and began browsing through her emails. She briefly considered emailing Fitz and telling him about the lecturer and what he had said. Fitz always told her she was brilliant. Brilliant and beautiful, he told her, a lethal combination.

She hovered her finger above the new email button momentarily and then shook her head. No, she thought. If he wanted me... She let out a sigh and opened up her notes from the lecture and started editing them.


3 Years Earlier: Santa Barbara, California

Fitz sat on the floor or his condo, leaning against the back of the couch and staring out the large picture window. The rain was beating down on the sand and he could see the waves angrily crashing against the shore. He sighed loudly and rested his head back against the cool leather.

Cyrus's plan for the divorce was brilliant of course. He was convinced that Mellie and Sally's plan was to drag out the divorce. To make the whole thing so very unbearable that he just gave in. So they were going to beat them at their own game. It would still take awhile but in the end he would be free.

His mind naturally wandered to Olivia. He thought about her a lot, just wondering what she was doing or if she missed him. He wanted to know how law school was treating her, if she had made any connections. But Olivia never reached out and she ignored any attempts at connection from him.

He sighed. He would get her back someday. He had to. He just hoped that Olivia Pope still wanted him when he was finally free.


A/N: Uhmm... hi. I know and I'm sorry. It's been forever. I was busy and had writers block, so yeah. But I'm back. kinda. I'm going away for 2 weeks tonight and had this all written so I wanted to give you something. Hopefully beautiful inspiration will strike while I'm on a bus riding around Europe and I will come back with more chapters for you. More realistically, I will sleep on the bus but I promise at some point I will finish this story. Just stick with me.

Don't you worry, I'll get Fitz and Olivia back together, but you're going to have to deal with a few more chapters of them apart. Its neccessary though. Growth and stuff.