"Would it help if I got down on my hands and knees and begged you to go with me? I could if that's what it will take, please Liv?"
Olivia sat in her office watching Cyrus plead with her. "Why aren't you taking James? You'd have more fun with him anyway."
"James is going out of town. He took Ella to his parents' house for the weekend. Please Liv? Please?" Cyrus started to get down on his knees giving her puppy dog eyes. "Look, I'm on my knees begging you to go with me. How can you say no to me now?"
"Fine, fine, get up before you break something. I will go to the gala with you next Friday. But know that this isn't me saying yes to seeing him or going back to him. This is me saying yes I will go with you to the gala but if you leave me with him at any point in the night, I will help James get another baby."
"I promise not to leave you all night. I'll be by your side no matter what."
Four months had gone past since Fitz chose Mellie instead of Olivia. Neither of them had seen each other anywhere other than television. The gala wasn't for another ten days so there was time for Liv to get working on seeing Fitz in person. Silently she wondered if Cyrus could just sneak her in through the back but she knew he wouldn't do that. This would be her moment of truth when she actually saw Fitz. Would she just be able to say hello and continue on greeting people? Or would she crumble into a small ball and beg for him to take her back. Knowing Olivia, she'd probably kindly say hi and ignore him the rest of the night. And with success, she'd be able to.
"So I will have the limo pick you up at seven and we can go together. Wear something elegant," Cyrus shouted as he walked out.
Cyrus went back to the White House to continue his work for the day. Prepping the meetings for the next day and ensuring the President had what he needed.
"Everything is set?" Fitz asked as he went into Cyrus's office.
"Your meetings are scheduled and your briefer will be here tomorrow morning to fill you in on the overnight happenings. Everything and everyone is ready at your say so."
"That's good," he nodded, "but that's not what I was referring to. Did you convince her to come with you to the gala?"
Cyrus sat in his chair and put the papers in his hand away. "You owe me big time. I literally had to get on my hands and knees and beg her to come. Lucky for you, I'm sweet when I want to be and she agreed. I also had to promise not to leave her side the entire night. So whatever plan you're working on, it had better be a good one."
"Thank you Cyrus, I will make sure this all works out. How did she look? When I saw her on the news the other night she looked sick. Like she hadn't been eating."
"She looked fine like she always does and I make sure that she does eat. I feed her once a week. Liv is fine and healthy."
Fitz left Cyrus to finish his work with only Olivia on his mind. Four months of not speaking, of not seeing each other in person, was killing him. Lately, he'd cut down to only half a bottle of Scotch each night instead of the two he was drinking when they first parted. He was looking forward to seeing Liv for himself next week. Actually being in the same room with her, breathing the same air would be wonderful. He needed to see her more than anything. Whenever he heard someone say her name he froze wondering if she was really in the building and why she was there. This gala was going to be great if she would speak to him.
