Everyone walked into Olivia's living room as she handed out wine glasses. Once everyone's glass was filled, they moved the chairs and sat in front of the television in silence waiting for the interview that could make or break everything.
"How are you feeling?" Quinn asked.
"Like I'm about to vomit." Olivia raised her glass to her lips and took a large swallow. She picked up one of the bottles of wine and refilled her glass, drinking from it again.
"She's gonna watch the interview half lit?" Abby whispered to Harrison who gave her a look that told her it was better to just close her mouth. They were all silent again waiting.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
"Did Olivia get back okay?" Cyrus asked as he walked towards Fitz.
"Yep. Tom made sure she got back to her apartment. No one saw them."
Cyrus nodded. "You can do this. She prepared you for every possible situation and she believes in you. I believe in you. It's okay to be nervous but you can handle this."
Fitz looked at him. "I'm not nervous."
"There." Cyrus pointed at his leg. "It's been bouncing the whole time I've been in here."
He was interrupted by a young lady, probably an intern, who walked in to get Fitz. "We're ready for you sir."
Fitz and Cyrus looked at each other briefly before both turning towards the door and making their way to the Oval. Fitz's hand was on the door knob preparing to turn it when he heard Cyrus speak behind him. "You can do this." Fitz nodded as he opened the door.
Kimberly Mitchell looked up from her notes when she heard the door opening and smiled at the men as they entered the room. "Good evening Mr. President. Mr. Beene."
"Kimberly." Fitz reached out to shake her hand and Cyrus gave her a nod. "I assume you know why we are doing this."
"Yes, sir." She nodded. "We have about four minutes so if you are ready?" She gestured to the seat behind her.
They both sat down and waited for the broadcast to go live. Fitz was sure everyone in the room could hear his heart beating in his chest. He was beginning to regret not asking Liv to stay during the interview as it got closer to time.
"Alright." He heard someone say. "We are live in 5..4..3..2"
"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am here with President Grant." She turned towards Fitz. "Mr. President, I understand you want to set the record straight in regards to accusations of infidelity on your part."
"Yes. That is correct."
"Well, let's get right to it..You're wife has essentially been airing all of your dirty laundry in front of the world." Fitz nodded. "Is there are any truth to what she has been accusing you of?"
"Yes there is."
"What is true?"
Fitz took a deep breath. "I've been in a relationship with Olivia Pope."
"Okay. And what is untrue?"
"My wife has been insinuating that our marriage is ending because of Olivia. That is not true. Our marriage has been over long before Olivia came into the picture."
"If your marriage was over why didn't you get divorced?"
"A part of me was scared, I suppose. Mellie and I have been married for over twenty years. Ending anything after 20 years is a big adjustment and I wasn't strong enough to do what needed to be done."
"What changed between then and now? Why aren't you afraid now?"
"Olivia." Fitz answered simply. "There's something that you and all of America need to understand. What she and I have, is not just me trying to relieve some itch. It's not about her trying to get in bed with the President. She is a very important part of my life. Liv has made me a better man, a stronger man. And now I am strong enough to do what I needed to do years ago. So to your answer your question, Olivia is what changed between then and now."
Kimberly nodded trying to take in everything she had just heard. "How does she feel about everything that is happening?"
"Naturally, she's nervous. This is going to be a big change for everyone involved. A president has never gotten divorced while in office. That alone is a big deal."
"After you get divorced, are you going to pursue a relationship with Ms. Pope?"
"Yes. I would like to, if she will have me." Fitz smiled.
"How do you think the American people are going to accept all of this? No president has gotten divorced while in office, let alone started a relationship with someone else."
"I hope the American people will accept that just like many other people in the world my marriage is ending. I want Mellie to be happy. In order to lead this nation to the best of my abilities, I need to be happy as well. Our marriage is not perfect. At this point it is doing more harm than good and I'm not willing to continue to hurt everyone involved."
"What about your children?"
"My children are just like any other children learning that their parents are getting divorced. Their sad, but I think they understand that this is for the best. Mellie and I being together and despising each other is not setting a good example and it is putting stress on them."
"I'm going to ask one question is that in the back of many people's minds." Fitz nodded. "With everything that is going on in your private life, are you going to be able to focus on the country and leading it?"
"Right now my personal life is a bit complicated and I have a lot going on, but the moment I step into this office, my focus is this nation. I was elected to make this country a better place and there is nothing that would make me any less determined to make that happen. I am committed 100% to this country and its people no matter what. The fact that I am getting a divorce does not and will not change that."
After a few more questions the interview was over and Fitz was thanking Kimberly for coming. Fitz found Cyrus waiting for him just behind the camera crew who were busy packing up their things. "So?" Fitz asked as he came to stand beside him.
"Good." He nodded. "It was good."
"Good." They were both quiet for a moment. "I'm going to wait for these guys to leave and then I'm going to call it a night."
Cyrus nodded. "Okay. Good night Mr. President." With that Cyrus made his way to the door and left.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Olivia picked up the remote from the coffee table preparing to press the rewind button. Before she could hit the button Quinn spoke. "No Olivia, please."
"This will be the fourth time you watched it. He did fine. Relax." Abby took the remote out of her hand and put it back where it was.
Olivia took a deep breath. "I know. I just-" She was interrupted by the phone ringing. "I'll be back." Olivia grabbed the phone and headed for her room closing the door behind her. "Hello."
"Hi." Fitz smiled into the phone.
"Hi." Olivia breathed.
"What did you think?"
"I thought you did good. You did great." They were quite for minute just listening to the other breathe.
"They know."
"What?"
"The kids know about you. I wanted to tell them before they found out somewhere else. That seems to be happening a lot."
"How did they feel?"
"I don't know. They kind of..ran off."
"Fitz..If-"
"Stop." He interrupted. "Don't make this a reason to run away from me. From us."
"I'm not. I promise."
He nodded even though he knew she wouldn't see it. "What are you doing?"
"Well..Abby, Huck, Harrison, and Quinn are here. They watched the interview with me but they took the remote from me when I kept rewatching it so."
Fitz chuckled. "How many times?"
"Only three." She laughed.
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Karen knocked on the door to Jerry's room even though it was cracked open slightly. "Yep" he answered. She pushed the door open and walked in, sitting on his bed.
"You're being unreasonable."
"What?!"
"You're being unreasonable and disrespectful, and you're making this way more difficult than it has to be."
"Can we not do this?" He turned so that he was facing her completely.
"Jerry, Dad made a mistake. I know that. But you don't have to punish him for it."
"I'm not punishing him."
"Yes, you are. You've barely spoken to him, you look at him like you hate him, and you're making this house unbearable for all of us."
"What am I supposed to do? Pretend like he didn't cheat on mom. Act like he isn't about to start some new life with Olivia."
"No, but what if she makes him happy?" When he didn't say anything she started talking again. "Look, Dad hasn't been happy in a really long time. None of us have. I'm tired of being miserable because Mom and Dad can't get along. We're not going back to boarding school so you can't run away from all of this. So just suck it up and deal with it." Karen stood up and walked out, leaving Jerry to think alone.
Alrighty my loves! Until next time...