A/N: Sorry for keeping you all waiting! College is rough. But I'm out for the summer, so lots more writing time. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Xx Kate
Fitz woke up to the sun setting. He threw his arm across the bed expecting to feel Mellie's warm body, but all he came in contact with was cold sheets. His eyes shot open to confirm that she was in fact no longer next to him and a pit formed in his stomach. Knowing what he knew now, he was suddenly very protective over her. He quickly flung the covers off of himself and rushed into the living room of the Lodge. Mellie wasn't there either but he paused and heard noises in another part of the house. He followed them until he ended up in the kitchen.
The scene in front of him made him smile. Mellie was fumbling over the stove, the smell of burnt cheese wafting around the room. She was wearing a long white silk robe and her hair was thrown up in a messy bun. Fitz was overwhelmed with a feeling – love or perhaps lust? He wasn't sure but something compelled him to walk over and wrap his arms around her.
Mellie jumped in surprise but when she realized it was Fitz she let herself melt into his embrace, "I'm making dinner…it's not going well," she laughed.
"Grilled cheese?" He smiled into her neck.
Mellie nodded, "Burnt grilled cheese," she confirmed, pulling the pan from the stove.
"I had a chef coming at seven, but I think burnt grilled cheese sounds much better," he said, letting his hands glide over the soft silk that covered her stomach.
Mellie turned around in Fitz' arms, "Are you sure? We could just throw these away and I wouldn't be offended; I was just planning to bring you food in bed. I wasn't sure you'd want to get up after…"
"Mellie, you got up every day for the last fifteen years and you're the one who went through it, please don't worry about me."
Mellie frowned, "But I do worry, I'm worried that now that you know you'll just pity me… and that you don't really want to be with me…don't stay just because you feel obligated now, Fitz."
Fitz pulled her close to him and cradled her head into his chest, "I don't know what I feel right now, Mellie. I'll be honest. But it's not pity. If anything, my eyes have been opened to how clueless I've been. A lot of what we went through makes sense now... All I know is that if I'm not here for you right now I'll regret it for the rest of my life."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Mellie sighed, pulling apart from him. Fitz melted into the big blue orbs that stared up at him. There was something about her that just made sense now. Instead of the cold, icy feeling he would get when he used to look at her, now all he saw was a confused and scared woman who felt vulnerable about how much she had been through.
"You have nothing to be sorry about," he sighed, giving her a quick peck, "now let's go eat this delicious meal outside on the porch, shall we?"
Mellie smiled and nodded, grabbing the plates from the counter and plopping the black sandwiches from the pan onto them. She handed one to Fitz and they took them through the house to the back door. Fitz opened the door for her and followed her out.
It was warm outside, but rain was coming down heavily. They both sat down on the swinging bench and Mellie pulled her legs under her and let her head fall back onto the headrest.
"This is perfect," Fitz smiled, watching her.
Mellie looked over at him and grinned, "I have to say, this is not how I saw this trip going…"
Fitz chuckled and bit into the charred grilled cheese, "Me neither," he said with a full mouth.
Mellie started to eat her sandwich as well. She couldn't stop smiling. They both ate in silence as the rain fell. Suddenly a flash filled the sky, lighting up everything around them for only a moment.
"Wow," they said in unison.
"Looks like a storms coming," Fitz said.
"I think it's already here," Mellie laughed. A huge clap of thunder followed her words and she jumped in surprise.
Fitz chuckled, "Come here," he said, pulling her into him.
Mellie laid her head on his shoulder, "Gonna keep me safe, Mr. President?" she whispered, grinning up at him.
Fitz' face suddenly got very serious, "I swear to you, Melody. For the rest of my life, that's exactly what I'm going to do."
Mellie frowned and looked out towards the forest, "Don't make promises you can't keep," she mumbled under her breath.
Fitz had heard her. He turned her chin up towards him with his finger, "I swear."
"Do you? Because I don't think I could take it if you went back to…her…after all of this." Mellie bit her lip and looked down at their hands that were clasped together in his lap.
Fitz didn't know how to respond. He still loved Olivia, nothing had changed…and everything had changed. He couldn't deny what was happening here between him and Mellie but he didn't know if he could give up everything that he and Olivia had built.
"Fitz?" Mellie looked up at him and bit down on her lip when she saw how conflicted his face was. She knew exactly what he was thinking.
"I…" he started to reply to her but she quickly cut him off.
"You don't have to say it," she said, standing up in a hurry. "I remember what you said in the hospital. Nothing's changed…"
Mellie picked up the plates and started to walk back into the Lodge, but Fitz grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
"What are you" –
Fitz silenced her with a kiss that said everything he felt. The plates clattered to the floor but neither of them cared.
"I said I'm going to keep you safe. I meant it," Fitz said. Mellie couldn't reply with words because her throat had closed and tears were flowing freely from her eyes, so she kissed him instead, a kiss that said everything she felt. They kissed and the rain poured down. And the lightening. And the thunder. Nothing else in that moment mattered.
XXX
Mellie woke shivering. She quickly noted her surroundings and realized that she and Fitz had fallen asleep together outside on the porch swing. She smiled to herself and wiggled out of Fitz' grasp without waking him. Slipping inside, she grabbed the first blanket she saw on the couch and was about to return to fall back asleep in her husband's arms, when she heard Fitz' phone ringing from the bedroom. She was going to leave it, but curiosity got the best of her. She walked slowly into the room and gingerly picked up the blinking device. As she registered what was on the screen her heart dropped into her chest.
There were 12 messages from Olivia Pope. She only had to read the first one to get the gist. It was a photo of Mellie and Fitz embracing in the woods. A paparazzi photograph. Of the first couple. In the woods. Kissing. Yesterday. Olivia's message read: Want to explain this?
Mellie's blood ran cold.
