Chapter Seven

It was early morning. Alexandra had woken up earlier that day in the hopes to do run her schedule before dinner time. She had promise her aunt to have dinner with her. Mellie didn't have to say much. The tone in her voice told her there were rare the times she wouldn't have dinner all by herself. When she said said yes her aunt's face suddenly got a smile. A small brief smile. But a smile nevertheless. Alexandra was on her way to the operation room when she suddenly heard her name being called.

"Good morning, Miss Johnson."

"Sally" she said as she turned around to face the, still, vice-president.

"Heard you were now living in the residence"

"What do you want?"

"Can't I just greet my opponent?"

"Drop the act, Sally. I'm southern. I can do it too. Pick up my southern drawl and my dead mother's pearls" Alexandra started talking with a southern accent. "So drop the act. Cause if you're doing it in the hopes of me putting a good word for you. Then drop it. Cause doesn't matter what I say my father, the Senator, won't listen to me. So now if you excuse me I've got a presidential race to win."

"Is everything okay?" asked Mellie when she run into Sally and Alexandra in the hallway.

"Yes. I was just on my way to the meeting." said Alexandra without taking her eyes away from Sally.

"You're having dinner with me tonight, right?" asked Mellie once Sally left them.

Alexandra looked at her aunt and flashed her a smile.


"Sorry I'm late!" said Alexandra as she entered the dinning room. "I heard the kids are coming." she said before kissing Mellie in the cheek.

"Yes. They're gonna campaign with us."

"Great! And oh you've had my favorite made!" said Alexandra with a smile as she sat down in the chair next to Mellie.

"I still hope it's your favorite"

"I wouldn't trade my southern food for anything, Aunt Mellie!" that was all Mellie wanted to hear. Asking Alexandra to move in to the White House was the best thing she had done. Every time she was with her she could forget about the pain in her heart. She could forget about the presidential race. Every time she was with her she didn't have to pretend.

"There has been something I have meant to ask you"

"What, honey?" Alexandra's voice broke her chain of thoughts.

"Have you talked to Andrew?" her question caught Mellie out of guard. "It's just that … you haven't asked about him ever since…"

"He made his choice."

"He asks about you everyday. He cares. Even if he doesn't show. He still does."

"Well, I don't"

"Ok." Mellie's reply was too quick. Alexandra knew she was trying to hide. But she also knew she was broken. The only person who she thought would have never leave her side did. "In other hand, can I pick up Teddy's outfit for tomorrow?"

Mellie laughed "Like you haven't done that all week?"

"What can I say? You make cute babies!"


Alexandra was passing by the operation room when he saw her.

"Where are you going?" asked Fitz when he noticed she was ready to leave the house.

"I have a doctor's appointment"

"You're not going"

"It's a doctors appointment, Fitz…"

"We're on lock down. Alexandra, you are not leaving the White House."

"Ok." She could see the concern in his eyes.

If the president couldn't leave the White House then all their campaign errands had to be run from inside. But while the campaign kept on rolling one rumor started spreading around town. Alexandra was outside the room and she had heard every single word. She didn't meant to ear drop but Olivia and Mellie weren't speaking very low.

"Why did you ask for a paternity test?" asked Alexandra as she followed Mellie in the hallway.

"You're not gonna say they're Andrews too" said Mellie as she stopped in the middle of the hallway

"No… of course not. But there must be a reason why you think one of them is not your husbands. A bigger reason than that. I know you. You wouldn't ask for something like this if it weren't something that was killing you inside. I know you." Alexandra whispered afraid of those who would hear her. "So... Aunt Mellie, did you ask for a paternity test?" but she got no answer. "Ok… you don't want to tell me. That's fine. I'll be here. If you ever need me… I'm here." She kissed her aunt on the cheek and pretended she didn't notice the alcohol in her breathe.


Alexandra had just taken a long bath. She had needed one after the bombing days. Bomb that must had been the word of the week. First, they were on lock down at the White House. Then Fitz decided to keep on with his appearances like there wasn't a threat hanging over his head. And finally, the funeral. She looked at herself in the mirror and then at the blow drier in the balcony. She was tired. She was going to let her dry natural tonight. She closed her eyes as she remembered the words her uncle had told her "leave the funeral". She looked back at the mirror just when her phone rang.

"Hi" she said as she picked up.

"How are you?" said the voice on the other side.

"Fine…" she lied.

"Alex…"

"We were almost blown up today" she said as she left the bathroom and entered her room to seat in her bed.

"How are you holding up?"

"My ears are still buzzing. But I'll be fine. I just need a good night sleep. What about you?"

"Same thing. Just wanted to know if you were okay."

"Andrew, you didn't call just to check up on me."

"That obvious, aham?"

"You two could barely look at each other the other day!"

"How is she?"

"She hugged me when she first saw me. But she's still angry. I don't know what you told her or not told her. But she still won't ask about you and… Andrew…" He could hear her voice cracking. "She has been drinking. A lot. She hides it. At least tries to." He didn't say a word. He just listened to she had just told her. "Could you… could talk with her? Anyway I really have to go get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow, Governor"

"Night, Alex" that was all he was able to say. Her words were still burning in his brain.


Mellie was seating in the one of the couches of her room with a glass of scotch on her hand. Her mind kept going back to the moment Fitz walked in. To the moment he hold her in his arms. He knew. He knew about Big Jerry. He knew. And the only thing he did was holding her. But right now she wished to be in the somebody else's arms. She sighed at the thought of him as she remembered the moment she heard the news of the explosion. They are gone it was the first thought in her mind. She would never see her niece again. She would never see Andrew again. But thankful she was wrong. And now she just wishes she could be in his arms. Because seeing him every day was killing her. It was destroying her in away she never thought it was possible. She was broken. When she thought there was nothing left in her to break. And the reason for the hole in her heart was the same one that could cure her. Him. Only him. Only Andrew. But he wasn't near. And he wasn't there. He had opened up his heart to her. And then he was gone. Just like that. From day to night. Friends. She took another sip from her scotch as his voice echoed in her mind.