A/N: Amazingly this was the hardest chapter to write so far. I rewrote it at least three times. Hence the delay in posting. Sorry but I felt like I owed Livie & Fitz the effort. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 7

Fitz pulled up the plush comforter, wrapping it tighter around them as he moved in closer behind Olivia. She stirred briefly pulling his arm further over her and he placed two light kisses on the back of her shoulder. He adored watching this beautiful woman sleep, feeling the ease of her breathing and wondering where her dreams had taken her. Though he still had several hours to lie next to her, he knew it would never be enough. If they lived until eternity and could lie like this forever it would still not be enough, he would never get enough of Olivia Pope.

He lifted his head to survey the room, wondering if he could coax his arm from under Olivia in order to get himself a drink. He managed to slip out from beneath her and slowly stood up, pulling on his pajama pants. Fitz glanced in Olivia's direction, hoping the image would sate him until he returned from the other room. He went to the sink filling a glass with water then stepped out onto the balcony to look over the sleeping city. The air was cold but he barely noticed; still warm from the hours he had spent wrapped up in Olivia. He thought back to the last words he heard her utter before she drifted off to sleep, believing he must have imagined that this remarkable woman was falling in love with him.

He was stirred from his thoughts by the feeling of Olivia's arms wrapping around him from behind. "Whatcha doin out here?" she asked lightly kissing his shoulder.

He turned, pulling her into his arms, noticing how breathtaking she looked wearing just his shirt. "I like you in my shirt" he breathed against her hair, "I like you in my bed."

She smiled up at him and they shared a brief kiss. "So what are you doing out here in the cold?" she repeated her prior question.

"It's just this city…" he began as they looked out above the world, "it's like magic. This is the place I first saw you, first touched you, first kissed you, first…" his voice trailed off as if he were reliving the sweet memory.

"It is an amazing place" Olivia confirmed snuggling closer to him, "It is magic."

Sensing that she was still cold he took her hand and led her inside. Being with Olivia in the middle of the night, locked in this room alone with her it felt like the rest of the world didn't matter, that they could make this impractical situation work. He felt like they could be happy. Deep down he knew that daylight would arrive, the world would intrude into their isolation, and they would have to find their way. He hoped they could find happiness.

Olivia knew Fitz was elsewhere and trailed her fingers up the inside of his arm pulling him back to her. As he kissed her intensely and they moved back to the bed he realized that they still had several hours of solitude. In those hours they could be Livie and Fitz and the rest of it didn't matter. They slid beneath the sheets and she laid her head upon his chest, her dark tendrils skimming over his abdomen luring a pleased sigh from his delightful lips. She draped her silky leg over his, laying claim to the man who was hers….at least at this time, in this place.

As the first hint of daybreak revealed itself Olivia lifted her head from its resting place on Fitz's chest to look at the time. The bedside clock read 6:43. It was officially daytime and the city was coming alive, unaware of what had transpired over the past twelve hours. She glanced at Fitz's sleeping form noticing the errant curl that lay on his forehead. She couldn't help but touch it, causing him to shift. She found her fingers roaming over his chin feeling the stubble that now occupied his jaw. This ordinary instant watching him sleep felt incredible as she realized how infrequently these moments were apt to occur. Just as she began to shift away from him, Fitz again stirred, this time pulling her against him.

"Good morning Livie" he whispered without opening his eyes, "Going somewhere?"

"Good morning" she returned, "I was going to get a shower. I have to get back to my apartment and change before I go to the office."

"No" Fitz opened his eyes; "I'm not letting you."

"Not letting me what?" Olivia was incredulous, "Shower? Go to my apartment?"

"Run away" Fitz turned so he was looking into Olivia's eyes, "I'm not letting you run away from me, Olivia."

Fitz bent to kiss her lips delicately, running his hands up her back. He slipped away from her slightly in order to take in her entire form. Laying there in his shirt, smelling of a mix of her Tom Ford perfume, his Chanel cologne, wine, and passion, she was so gorgeous. He realized that in the ten years he had been married to Mellie she had never worn his shirts and there was never a time when they had sex that she didn't shower immediately afterwards. Fitz instantly felt guilty for allowing the thought of Mellie to enter his mind while he was with Olivia and forced his contemplations elsewhere.

"Come with me…." he took her hand leading her to the bathroom where he turned on the shower. Olivia sat on the vanity stool waiting for him to return as he slipped out of the room. Several minutes later he returned, a triumphant grin crossing his face as he reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. He took his time unfastening the buttons on the shirt she wore as if he had yet to experience what lay beneath. As the garment fell to the floor he realized that the sight of her naked body would never get old. Fitz quickly rid himself of his pajama pants and opened the door so Olivia could slip under the hot water. He slid in behind her turning them so she could stand in the stream of the shower. His hands rest upon her shoulders then followed the trail of water down her arms. As his hand left her shoulder he noticed a small mark there causing him to snicker, "I think I did that."

"I think you did" she smiled glancing down at the small love bite, running her hands over his chest then kissing his lips. They stood there grinning at one another letting the warm water wash over them. Neither had slept much but both felt so rested and relaxed. Olivia leaned over and picked up Fitz's body wash, squeezing some onto a washcloth and beginning to wash herself.

"Livie, you don't have to use mine" Fitz said, "The girlie hotel stuff is right here." He reached over and picked up a bottle.

"I want to use yours" she breathed moving close to him, "I want to smell you on me all day."

Fitz felt his knees go weak and a sudden stiffening below his waist, "Livie…." He pulled her towards him, kissing her deeply allowing her tongue to dance into his mouth and pressing his length against her abdomen. The feeling of his body against hers brought the pleasure of the night before flooding back. As much as she wanted to allow herself to be swept into a repeat of their passion she knew time was short.

"Fitz" she spoke against his mouth, "We're going to be late. We have to go." Fitz groaned, easing their kiss then taking the washcloth from Olivia's hand and moving it over her soft, heat reddened skin. When he finished she returned the favor, avoiding the urge to pay closer attention to certain areas than was wise.

They finished showering and wrapped themselves in plush robes then moved to the bedroom. Olivia began to pick her strewn clothes up from the floor as Fitz left the room returning a few seconds later with a glass of orange juice which he handed to her.

"What's this?" She asked.

"I ordered us breakfast" responded Fitz pulling on a fresh shirt and beginning to button it, "I wasn't sure what you liked so I guessed."

"Anything is fine" she smiled, "I'm starving." Olivia reached for her panties and began to slide them up her legs before Fitz spoke, "Check the closet Livie."

She walked to the closet uncertain about what she would find when she opened the door. An audible gasp escaped her mouth and she turned to Fitz, "How did you? I mean, when?" She struggled for words as she gestured towards the clothes perched neatly in the closet then settled for, "You bought me underwear?"

Fitz laughed before replying, "I bought you underwear...I hope that's okay." As Olivia looked closer she saw a gorgeous Michael Kors suit, Christian Louboutin shoes, and accessories, he had thought of everything and each piece was exactly her size, "You're full of surprises Governor."

"You know suddenly it doesn't bother me so much when you call me Governor," Fitz moved towards her again as he began to knot his tie, she took it from him completing a perfect Windsor knot, "although I really look forward to the day you call me Mr. President." He followed that with a gentle kiss then walked towards the living room, "hurry up and get dressed Ms. Pope or you won't get breakfast" he called over his shoulder smiling.

Olivia and Fitz quickly ate breakfast then gathered what they needed for the day. Fitz helped Olivia into her coat still not sure he hadn't dreamed the night before but certain there were many things they needed to talk about.

"So….how do we do this?" he asked nervously, putting on his own coat.

"You're asking me? It's not like I make a habit of things like this, Governor" Olivia replied with what was mostly mock indignation.

"Well, I say you give Mark the day off, tell Cy he is sick or on vacation, whatever, you're the fixer. Then tonight I'll take you to my kind of dinner." responded Fitz, "I just need more time with you."

"Fitz…." something he'd said had struck a nerve with her, "We are always going to want more time but that doesn't mean it's the smart thing to do. You leave first in your car. I'll call Mark to pick me up." Fitz thought for a minute then nodded, "I'll agree to separate cars if you agree to dinner tonight."

"You drive a hard bargain, Governor." She smiled, nodding back.

"Is that a yes?" he wondered mirroring her expression.

"Yes" Olivia reached up to hold his face in her hands and their lips met. There was a hint of urgency to their embrace as they both silently acknowledged that it would be the last they would share for some time. Fitz took one last look at Olivia before opening the door to leave, "I love it when you say yes Livie. See you at the office."

The door closed, she took a deep breath, pulling her phone from her purse and dialing Mark's number. Twenty minutes later she was safely in the car on her way to the campaign office.