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#Hi. I know. I know…I don't get to give you excuses why it has been FOREVER since I updated this story. But the truth is, my others took over my mind. I also got the WORSE case of Writer's block.
But the good news is, I'm back and I plan on finishing this soon. Won't say when but you'll just have to trust me. If you don't remember the other chapters I am sorry. Please do a quick re-read before diving into this one.
Also ONE WARNING…the last section will leave in in tears and freaking out. After last night's 4.04 prepare yourself. Take care and leave me #PumpkinSeeds at the end.
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Chapter 9: Darling Don't Be Afraid, I Have Loved You
"Holy Mother Of God," Fitz said again. Before he let his emotions get the best of him, he asked Huck to replay the conversation again. He wanted to make sure before he screamed the person's name out he was sure. He knew what he saw, but if he knew Huck, they're might have been something they missed.
They heard Edison say for a second time, "This was not supposed to happen this way. I agreed to help you get that cheater of the Oval. I didn't agree to her getting hurt. That was an accident. I want to marry her; get her away from Grant. You know how much I love her. If it wasn't for Grant coming into her life, she would have married me by now. He took her away from me. I want her back."
"Huck is this new," Fitz asked because he did not hear Edison say those last words the first time they watched the video.
"Yes Sir. I was able to clean up the audio. They talked more in depth than we originally thought." Huck explained to Fitz and the others. Fitz sat down next to him. He was lucky the agents and Olivia's team were there. If they weren't, he was have surely left her apartment by now and gone after Edison.
"We're you able to do it for the entire recording," Harrison asked.
"Yes, listen. It's quite obvious that these two men knew that Olivia is the key to tear down President Grant. With her out of your life Sir, and married to Senator Davis, it would destroy you." Huck explained. "It's apparent they know the type of hold you have on one another."
Cyrus whispered to Tom, "Hold on one another is an understatement. There worse than Romeo and Juliette."
"Sir," Tom looked at Cy. "Now is not the time." Cyrus then decided to keep his mouth shut for now.
Fitz, Cyrus, Tom and Olivia's team listened more closely. The other man said, "That's your own fault for pushing her through the glass. SHE is not my problem. You just lucky the First Lady bailed you out. You should be in jail now if it wasn't for me and my partner. You figure some of this mess out yourself. She was only part of the plan. Our man focus is getting Grant out of office. Olivia Pope is the key to Grant's demise. She is just a pawn in my overall plan."
Cyrus asked Huck to pause the video, "These people are Evil. They make Lord Voldemort look like a saint. Go ahead keep going."
Huck then restarted the video. Edison then said, "This was not supposed to happen this way. I agreed to help you get that cheater of the Oval. I didn't agree to her getting hurt. That was an accident. Grant does not love her the way I do. He's been keeping her as his mistress since the campaign. She deserves better."
The man said, "And you think you're better. Senator it's your fault she's in the hospital not waking up. It's your own fault for pushing her. SHE is not my problem. She is a causality of this war. And if Mellie Grant had any idea that you are planning to destroy her husband, she would come after you guns blazing. You should be in jail now if it wasn't for me and my partner. She was only part of the plan. Our man focus is getting Grant out of office."
Huck paused the video and looked at Fitz and Tom. Tom told him, "Sir we need to inform the First Lady. She needs to be prepared incase Edison asks for another favor. She will not like it that she's been played."
"When the time is right, we'll show Mellie this video. Then we'll get her on board to take down Edison and his accomplices," Fitz explained to Tom. Tom agreed and notified the White House.
Huck then started the video again. They heard Edison explain in greater detail, "I could care less about that now. She's hurt. Grant and I almost had a fight in the hospital. He came after me. This was not supposed to happen this way. I agreed to help you get that cheater of the Oval. Olivia getting hurt was an accident. The President has the Secret Service protecting her now. I can't even get in to see her."
"If you want her away from Grant so badly, you should have thought about things differently. You don't blackmail a woman like Olivia Pope to marry you. That was a stupid move on your part."
Edison then shouted, "How was I supposed to know that she wouldn't accept. I thought she would do anything to keep Grant in office and her people safe. I also didn't know that one of his agents would have brought her home that night. I assumed the attempt on Grant's life would have driven a wedge between them. But I was wrong. You owe me Gov…,"
The hooded man, turned to him. "I warned you Senator. You do not say my name in public. No one can know that I am the one pulling the strings. My partner and I want The President out of office. As soon as he's out, then we can take this country back. I gave you…"
Fitz, Cyrus and Olivia's team, listened and as their shouting continued. As Huck worked the video he will able to clear up more of this meeting. It was obvious, there was more to this.
"YOU GAVE ME NOTHING GOVERNOR!" Edison screamed even louder. "It was me that gave you all the in-tell in those files. If it wasn't for me, you'd have nothing. She is the only thing that matters. I want the President taken down for taking her away from me."
The other man looked at Edison. "I told you Davis, Olivia is just a causality of this war. Grant does not deserve to be President, and she is our key to his demise. If she dies," the man grew a wicked grin, "it WILL be the President's ultimate destruction. Let's pray she does not wake up."
At this point, Fitz turned and went to the door. Huck paused the video. Tom blocked his way. "Sir you cannot JUST leave here and go after Senator Davis and his partner."
"Why the hell not Tom," Fitz got in his face. "How am I suppose to…," unable to speak the words.
"Sir, she is not going to die," Tom told him. "She will not leave you all alone in this world."
Fitz threw his head back and hit the door. "How can you be sure of that Tom? If she does not make it…," Fitz began to cry. He began to slide down the door and Abby barely got to him in time before he hit the floor.
She placed her hand on his chest. "She is not going to leave us Fitz," making him look at her. "Olivia Pope is a gladiator; a fighter. But most of all she's ours – no your Gladiator. She won't leave you. You have to believe that now."
"But what if she doesn't wake up," Fitz whimpered.
"She will and when she does, we'll make sure she's ready to become your First Lady and make Edison pay for what he's done to all of us." She rubbed his back. Abby then got him to sit back down and watch the rest of the video.
Once Huck re-started the video, they watched Edison launch himself at the man. Edison yanked off his hood, and everyone could finally see his face. It clear as day. It really was the person they all thought they saw.
Harrison said, "Holy cow is that," then stopped.
Quinn commented next, "Oh my God."
Abby then bent down and saw the man working with Edison. "Huck not to doubt your skills but is that really," she tried to say the person's name but couldn't. "Holy Shit Fitz; this man really does hate your guts."
"Let me see," Cyrus came closer. Cyrus then finally got a closer look. "It's RESTON! It's GOVERNOR RESTON! That son of a….,"
"Yes Cyrus it is," Fitz said back, letting his anger begin to bubble to the surface. "Apparently the man's hatred for me is pretty deep."
"He did lose the election to you Sir," Tom said to Fitz. "I am guessing this is why he is doing this. Reston feels he should have won the White House. He wants you out of office. His hatred for you goes deep."
"I see that Tom. We have to figure out how to stop them," Fitz answered, now walking to Olivia's window.
"We will," Huck told him. "But someone much more powerful is pulling Edison's strings. The Senator is smart, but there is another person behind this scheme. Whomever this Third Wheel is, really hates you."
"I know," Fitz responds sadly. "I should have stayed away from Livy, when she walked away from me the first time. It IS my fault she's hurt and in a coma. If I had just let her go like she wanted, then none of this would have happened. Olivia would be happy, married, and probably have kids by now."
"And you really think she would have been better in a loveless marriage," Abby countered. "God you're an idiot."
"Abby you do not call this man an idiot," Cyrus told her. "This man is the President."
Abby looked at Cyrus. "No Shit Sherlock. But frankly I don't give two shits who he is. But he is also the man who's desperately in love with my best friend. And whether either one of them likes it, they are meant for the other. She loves you Sir. Senator Davis, never made her as happy as you do. She met you and she changed. You didn't see it but we all did."
"Abby I know you mean well but if I had just been the better man, and we never started this thing, she'd be safe." He walked to her living room window and stared out into the distance. "I happened to her. I came along, we fell in love. I make her promises I can't keep," Fitz said defeated. "Just maybe she would have been happy," Fitz admitted. "All I have brought her is pain."
Abby walked over to Fitz and squeezed his hand. He looked down at it and back up at her. As Abby looked into his stormy eyes, she didn't see the Leader of the Free World. She saw the man that is desperately in love with her best friend.
Abby then took his other hand, "You just didn't happen to her Mr. President. You didn't lure her into some degrading thing. Don't stand there and tell me you did that. If you were that type of man, Olivia would not have fallen for you. If you were 'that type' you would be screwing everything with a pulse," making Fitz finally crack a smile.
"Ouch," Fitz chuckled.
"Sorry," Abby shrugged her shoulders.
"All you have brought her is light," Harrison said next. "She was always in some kind of darkness. But you are the light in her life. You make her smile like no other. You've given her all of yourself without expecting anything in return. Staying away from her is not an option. It wasn't then and it isn't now. She is just as much a part of you, as you are of her."
"Harrison I appreciate that but THIS is my fault," Fitz said defeated. "Why do you think I'm staying away from her? I go to the hospital and I see the shell of a woman I love. She looks so weak in that bed. That is NOT my Livy."
"Bull Shit," Cyrus bellowed. Fitz just stared at him. "We all know in this room no matter how hard you tried, and many times Olivia walked away, you both were unable to let the other go. She can't sleep when you not there and you are not much better. You can't breathe without her. She left the White House the night of the State of the Union because she felt it was best for you. Then she walked away after Amanda Tanner."
"Yes and I should have went on with my life Cyrus. If I did none of this would have happened. She be safe, awake, and…," Fitz could not bring himself to say the words.
"Married to another man for show," Abby spoke next. "Edison has been courting her a while. They did start dating again after you let go which I am guessing was before you left for the G8 summit. He called her constantly attempting to get her to say yes. She finally did but we could tell that she was not truly happy. And then," she stopped.
"I was shot," Fitz finished for her.
"You getting shot changed everything. It made her realize how much she truly loves you," Abby pointed out. "I saw the strongest woman I know fall apart. At the time I didn't know why, but now I get it."
Fitz looked at Abby and squinted. "You care to enlighten me then."
"You get her; you see her like no one else. And you what else," Abby stated matter of factually, "she gets you back. No one your entire life has ever been able to see you that way. That is the reason why you can't let the other go. Now the question is…what are you going to do about it?'
/
"A-512…"
"Do," Cyrus asked. "What the hell does that mean? We are going to take that Bastard Reston down, along with Davis."
"Mr. Beene, we can't just go after Reston and Davis, without knowing who final person is," Harrison told Cyrus. "Reston never mentions that third person's name. Hell I don't think Davis knows. Reston is not JUST going to give that information up freely."
"So how do we find out," Fitz asked next. "What do we do?"
Harrison looked at him. "Sir we don't want you to do anything. For right now WE want you to sit tight." Fitz looked at him like he was insane. There is no way that after everything that had just transpired, her team just expected him to sit tight and do nothing.
"Excuse me," Fitz asked. "Are you insane? You can't just expect me to sit tight and DO NOTHING. Davis put Liv in the hospital. He was trying to blackmail her into marry him. I just can't let him walk around like he did nothing wrong."
Quinn went up to Fitz then. "If you go to Davis now, he'll know that we KNOW everything. Before that happens let us put some surveillance on him. Eventually he's going to slip up and we'll know who Reston is working with."
"But what about Olivia," Fitz asked. "She's got hurt because of this madman's vendetta against me. His jealousy drove him so mad, that he hurt her. I just can't stand by and pray that he won't do anything to her again."
"He won't go next to her Mr. President," Tom voiced with conviction. "I have the best agents guarding her as we speak. I chose them personally. No one enters that room without your written consent. I took care of that with the hospital's Chief of Surgery before I left."
"Thank you Tom," Fitz replied.
Cyrus and Fitz began throwing ideas back and forth on how to bring down Davis and Reston. Each idea could work, but not without a causality. Enough people had been hurt already, and if any of the information in those files got out, the damage would be un-repairable.
Huck was sitting at the computer and looked at Tom. Both were listening to ideas being thrown around the room and both knew what had to be done. Tom and Huck had spent a lot of time together as of late and both realized shortly that both had a lot in common. Tom nodded to Huck and it was time to tell Fitz and the other who they really were.
"Mr. President," Huck formally addressed him. "Tom and I would like to talk to you and Mr. Beene privately for a moment." Fitz not sure what Huck had to say, agreed. Olivia's team had a hunch what was going to be discussed and decided to go and pick up dinner for everyone.
Once Abby, Quinn and Harrison left Olivia's apartment, Huck and Tom sat Cyrus and Fitz down. Cyrus asked "So what is this about?" Huck remained standing because that is was more comfortable for him. Tom sat in a chair in front of Fitz.
"Sir, have you ever wondered why I was chosen to be your lead agent," Tom asked him. Fitz never really put too much thought into it.
"I thought you were picked Tom because you were the best," Fitz answered without a second thought. "You graduated at the top of your class right?"
"Yes Sir but that is not the only reason why. Once it was discovered that you had strong feelings for Miss Pope, I was assigned not only to protect you, which is paramount, but I had another job as well," Tom explained.
"And that was what," Cyrus asked next.
"It was also my job to protect Miss Pope." Tom answered.
"I know that Tom. I asked you to look out of for her," Fitz remembered easily.
"Sir they weren't your orders," Tom lowered his voice. He knew this day would come but had no idea it would be under these circumstances. "I was following someone's else's."
"Who else wanted her protected?" Fitz asked now getting annoyed. The thought of someone else protecting his Livy didn't sit well with him at all.
Tom looked at Huck for help. He walked in front of him and finally sat down. Huck looked at Tom, and nodded. "Sir, have you ever heard of A-Five…,"
"You're A-512," Fitz blurted out. Tom nodded.
"Holy Mother of God," Fitz groaned out. He looked at Huck. "Let me guess you are too Huck."
"Yes." Huck replied.
"Wait what is A-512," Cyrus asked. "I am your Chief of Staff and I have never heard of them before."
"Mr. Beene," Huck began. "It's is an elite Training Program for the Secret Service. If you quality by taking this special test they give you, and excel at other areas, you enter the final phase of training. It's like the TOP GUN of the Secret Service – the 007's if you will. Tom class only graduated about 12 agents. My class was ten."
"They train you in what exactly," Fitz asked because he really didn't know.
"Let's just say Sir, I have the means to get answers of out of someone if need be. What they train us to do is not illegal but not always ethical." Huck explained. "But Tom's made job is to protect you Sir."
"So when did you both realize you were A-512?" Cyrus asked them both.
"When Olivia asked Tom and I to work together. We had a lot of the 'special abilities' and it didn't take us long to put two and two together."
"Does everyone on your team know who you both really are," Fitz asked to be sure. Tom and Huck both said nodded. "But does Livy know?"
"She knows who I really am Sir," Huck explained. "She found me, after an assignment went horribly wrong. I was at my worse and she saved me. But in terms of Tom and I working together, I am afraid not. We never had the chance to tell her."
Fitz leaned back on the couch. He ran his fingers through his hair. This was something he wish he would have been briefed on before Tom was assigned to his detail. But none the less, Tom never betrayed him. After Fitz mulled things over in his mind, he finally asked, "Tom you said someone else asked you to protect Olivia. Who was it?"
Huck looked at Tom. "You HAVE to tell him Tom. You are not betraying your training, but The President needs to be informed so he knows who she is. And…,"
"Huck I will address that concern later," Tom interjected. He gave Huck one look and dropped it.
"What are you two talking about now," Cyrus asked getting annoyed. He raised his voice. Everyone in the room could hear the agitation in his voice. "I hate this freaking super spy stuff." But as Fitz looked at Tom, he knew he was keeping something important from him. He looked at Cyrus and he also knew they were keeping something from him.
"Tom what aren't you telling me?" Fitz wondered.
"It's about the person who gave me orders to protect Olivia." Fitz raised his eyebrows expecting him to say more. Huck nudged him and Tom continued. "Sir …,"
"Who was it Tom. I'd never hurt Olivia. I hope you know that," Fitz pleaded. "Tell me. Who are else are you working for?"
"Sir, does the name Maya Lewis mean anything to you," Huck asked Fitz and Cyrus.
"Yes I heard the name in various circles," Cyrus answered first. "Why?"
"Mr. President she's Director of the A-512 program," Tom blurted out.
"Okay I didn't know that but I still don't understand why she wanted you to keep a close eye on Olivia," Fitz prodded.
"Sir Maya Lewis is Olivia's mother," Huck finally said it. "She never took her husband's name."
"Are you serious," Fitz blurted out. "You mean to tell me that the love of my life's mother is in charge of a Special training division for the Secret Service. She is literally "M."
"Yes Sir," they said at the same time and smiled at Fitz's name for Maya. Fitz asked a few more questions and all Huck and Tom could reply with were "Yes Sir."
"Holy Shit," Fitz got up and began pacing. "Wait does she know she's hurt?" Tom then explained that she had been notified. Maya has been spending time with her daughter when no one is around. They had a falling out a few years ago. Olivia and her really did not get the chance to make emends. "Wait her father?"
"He passed away Sir. He died of cancer right after she graduated college," Huck told Fitz. Fitz nodded. "So know that I know this, what happens now."
For the next few minutes Huck, Tom, Cyrus and Fitz devised at plan to take down Edison and Reston. They also discussed how to catch the third person in the plan to get him out of office. They had to be careful and not let on that they know anything.
Since Fitz now knew who Olivia's mother was, he hoped to not only get on her good side but to meet her. Fitz asked if she knew about them and Tom said yes. "She knows everything Sir but most of all she knows how much you love Olivia. Ms. Lewis is not happy with it but she's grown into the idea of you both."
"Ah," Fitz let out a breath.
"So when I meet her, should I be worried," Fitz hated to ask but he decided he should.
"I can't answer that Mr. President," Tom answered as Quinn, Harrison and Abby came back into Olivia's apartment. They sat down and discussed the rest of the plan to catch Davis, Reston and the third party who was pulling all their strings. They just hoped it would happen soon, because until all of them were behind bars none of them were safe.
/
Darling Don't Be Afraid… (1 week later)
For the next week, Fitz and Olivia's team were busy tracking Edison's movements. They had still not discovered who he was working with but Huck assured him that it was only a matter of time. Fitz had finally gone back to the hospital to see her but couldn't go into her room.
Tom tried to get Fitz to go into her room, but Fitz could not bring himself too. She watched her through the glass. "I can't Tom I'm sorry."
"Sir you're being an idiot," Tom finally spoke up, not agreeing with what Fitz descision. "She needs you. Miss Pope won't come out of this if she doesn't have you."
Fitz brought him into the room across the hall. "You think I don't know that."
"Then pardon my language Sir, but get your Presidential Ass in there and see her. I never thought I'd see the day you'd ever give up on her and your dream," Tom threw in his face.
"Tom you out of line," Fitz shot back. Fitz tried to walk away from him but Tom blocked his path and the other agents along with him. "Let me pass," but none of the agents moved. "You all work for me, remember?"
"Actually Sir," one agent spoke up. "We're here on different orders." When the agent stopped himself from saying anything further, Fitz locked eyes with Tom.
"Olivia's mother," Fitz voiced. "M," his voiced squeaked.
Tom nodded once and said no more. Fitz walked back into the room across the hall and sat on the empty bed. He could Olivia through the panes of glass. How he wanted to go to her but couldn't. Their relationship kept replaying in his mind like a movie.
The ups the downs; happy and sad moments. Everything they talked and dreamed about. From their kids they would have and where they would live. He longed for that dream – their dream to become a reality but now it seemed out of reach. "Sir," Tom sat next to him.
"I can't Tom," Fitz said defeated. He still blamed himself for her being like this and seeing her laying there so lifeless was only confirmation of it.
"I know you're afraid that she won't wake up but if you don't go in there and be with her, you'll never know. She draws her strength from you. You can't leave her now. Not when she needs you most," Tom insisted.
"But what if I go into that room and she doesn't make any improvements. She looks so pale and lifeless. I'm afraid that even with me around' with all the love I have to give her, she still won't make it through this and come back. She's leaving me Tom. I can feel her going. And there's nothing I can do to stop it," Fitz began to cry.
"Bull shit," another voice said. Fitz looked up and it was Abby. She smiled at Tom and went to sit by Fitz.
"How'd you know I was here," he asked her.
"Tom called me. He said you were being a chicken shit again about not going into Olivia's room," Abby admitted. Fitz smiled at her choice of words. Tom was correct but he still could not go in there. The last time he went into her room, ruined him. He knew if he did it again, he'd be a mess for days.
"Abby I can't," he got up and walked away from her. He looked out a nearby window.
"Yes you can Mr. President. What did Olivia always tell you when you were campaigning against that blow-hole Reston," Abby asked to remind him.
"That I have to be twice as good as him," Fitz admitted.
"And why did she you tell you that Sir," Abby decided to see if this tactic would work to get him into her room.
Fitz told her it was because he was from a rich family. He went to boarding school and because of his father, he was readily accepted into the world of politics. The Presidency was of the things he truly worked hard to get on his own, without the help from Big Jerry. He was proud of that fact and through Olivia, she helped make his dream happen.
"So," Abby told him pushing him towards the door. The agents moved out of her way. "Get your big boy boxer briefs on and go into that room. I know you are afraid. I get it. I am scared as hell to lose her too. However, you can't let that fear win Fitz. You have to believe that even through your greatest fear, you love for her will win out."
Fitz just stared at her unable to say anything. "But what if…,"
"There are - no what if's right now. You can do this. She NEEDS you. I come see her every day along with Huck, Quinn and Harrison. We talk to Olivia all the time but the doctors see no change. That is because WE are not you. You have to go in there. Help her realize the dream of two babies, with you in Vermont can still happen," Abby told him without a second thought.
"She told you," Fitz replied. Abby told him when and he went to the door to her room and stopped. He could not go any further. Fitz stood there frozen. He let his body fall into the door frame and his eyes trail over her body on the bed. She looked frail and weak. Feeling his fear getting the best of him, he began to back away.
"Oh hell no," Abby and Tom stood behind him. "Go in there," Tom said next. All the other agents then stood their ground and crowded in around him. The only place he could go now was her room.
He looked to the side at Abby, and Tom. "Go," both said in sync.
/
I Have Loved You…
Fitz finally walked into her doorway. As he got closer he could hear the machines working, keeping her track of all her vital signs. He kept his eyes on the window, watching the night lights twinkle in the distance. If he looked at her, he would not be able to proceed.
He finally made it to the foot of her hospital bed and closed his eyes. He took in a huge inhalation of hair, and gripped onto the metal frame. As he began to breathe in and out, he heard Olivia on the bed do the same. "She knows he's there," Abby told Tom. "Look she's breathing the same way he is."
Fitz heard Tom reply, and stood there another few minutes. "Come on Grant, I'm only human. I can do this," he told himself.
He then walked to the other side of the bed that was closest to the window. He kept his eyes closed and let his hand on the bed guide him. By now he was letting his exhales come out of his mouth, in the hopes it would sooth his fears. Each time he took a step, he let out a breath.
Fitz opened his eyes quickly and knew he could walk no more. He kept his head facing forward and let his eyes glance to the side, so he could look out the window. Once he gathered enough strength he began to turn his head and look in Olivia's direction. When he finally knew the only place he could look was down, he closed his eyes.
The tips of his fingers were now touching the blankets she was under. "Come on, she needs you," he heard out of Tom this time.
Fitz bit his lip and gradually opened and they adjusted to the darkness once again, he finally saw Olivia up close. He noticed the bandages were removed and he could see her naturally curly hair. It was not this way when she arrived so he assumed the nurses must have came in and washed her hair.
Fitz glanced at the rest of her quickly and saw the tubes, IV's and monitors connected to various places on her body. Because she was in ICU everything was monitored closely and he knew it was in the hopes that she would wake up. It had now been over 2 weeks and she made no improvements.
When he finally let his eyes linger on her face, he found himself drawn to her immediately. "Just sit down," he heard out of Abby.
He shook his head and made himself sit on the edge of her bed. As he studied her face, he saw every mark, freckle, and spot she always tried to hide under makeup. Fitz knew they were all there, because he of course kissed every single of them at one point. If he remembered correctly, it used to make her laugh.
"I wonder if," he whispered to himself. He began to lift up his hand to finally touch her but pulled it back. "No, I can't," he said a little louder.
"Just touch her," he heard Tom this time. "She needs to feel his touch Miss Whelan." Fitz almost let himself smile at Tom's words but he held in it. Abby gave him a jab in the stomach.
"Give the man time Thomas. He's sitting on the bed. It's a start," he heard Abby speak to Tom.
Fitz swallowed hard and saw that her hand was closer. It wasn't attached to any IV's. He reluctantly reached over and hovered his hand just above Olivia's. "I'm not afraid. I have loved you forever Olivia. I have never been afraid to touch you," Fitz whimpered. He finally closed the distance, and placed his hand on hers.
"Livy," he felt her cold skin. It was almost unbearable. A part of him came back to life, and another died. She was there but wasn't. Her body was in that bed, but her spirit, her very essence was gone.
"Oh god," Fitz really began to cry. He squeezed her hand, and felt no life in it. It was cold, clammy, and frail. He picked it up and brought it to his face. Fitz's face was warm and hoped it would magically wake her up. The moment her hand touched his face, he let his tears fall. "Oh sweetheart," he cried.
He held her hand to his face as if it was HIS lifeline not hers. Her hand became the oxygen being pumped back into his body. Feeling himself coming out of his own "comatose state, he now wanted to touch her all over. He moved her hand to the other side of his face, and placed himself over her. Fitz then used his free hand, and reached over and touched her face. Her skin was still as soft as he remembered.
Fitz gradually placed her hand in his lap, and placed both hands on her face. He made sure to not touch any of the tubes, and found a way to cup her cheeks. Lightly his thumbs began to lightly caress her skin. As he caressed her, he felt his own body, being to wake up. His heart began to beat the same rhythm as hers shown on the monitor.
"Livy, come back to me. I love you," he finally voiced in anguish. In a trembling voice, he told her, "Don't leave me. I can't lose you again."
He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers. The moment his face made contact, he could not hold his cascading tears back any longer. He began to quietly sob. Fitz heard Abby and Tom outside her room, wishing they could help him but no one could. The only person that could help him was the woman in this hospital bed.
As Fitz began to pull his head away from her, he placed a kiss on her forehead. He lingered his lips on her skin and went back and gave her two more. Each one his tears fell on her face, inadvertently getting it wet. Fitz moved away and was millimeters away from her sleeping face. He rubbed his nose gently against hers, avoiding oxygen that was there.
With both hands, gently cupping her face he began to talk to her;
"Livy I am here Sweetheart. I am so sorry for staying away. I know you needed me but I couldn't do it before. I left you all alone, thinking it was for the best but it's not. I was wrong I am sorry. I almost didn't come in tonight but Abby and Tom refused to let me leave. They stood behind me, blocking my path until I came in here to see, talk, and finally touch you. All these are things I should have done but didn't have the courage to do before now.
I wanted to tell you that I know everything about Edison and who he's working for. If you wake up for me I can tell you who it is. Tom and Huck are a great team, and thanks to them we found a way to take them down. The thing is Sweetheart, you need to wake up so you can help me find a way through this. You are Gladiator Livy; my gladiator to be honest.
You help me to be strong, brave, and to do it all with compassion. Weakness can be your greatest strength and my greatest weakness is you. I've always known that, but you make me want to be better; the greatest President this country has ever seen. I know I can do it, but I need you to keep me focused.
I have waited all my life to find someone like you; A Thousand Years it seems. From every step the day we met, time has stood still. Every time I see you, my breath leaves my body and I am no longer taking in air as one person. I am breathing in sync with you because you are my other half. My heart Livy, has found a home and it is with you. If never wake up, and leave me, my heart will be homeless, and unable to recover.
Time has finally brought you to me, and I can't wait for our life to begin. Before I met you I was afraid to love, because I was afraid to fall. But I fell Olivia; I fell hopelessly in love with you. Please Livy, don't be afraid. I have loved for A Thousand Years and if you let me, I will love you for A Thousand more.
I gave up hope that I would ever find you. But it seemed that time has not only brought your heart to me but my soul. I know that our relationship has been hard on you. I am sorry for that, but now things can and will be different.
You see, I am free. I'm divorced and you can't just LEAVE. You DO NOT get to die. It's not going to happen. I am finally free to love you. Free do you hear me? Mellie signed the divorce papers and I can OPENLY be your husband now. But in order for that dream to happen, YOU HAVE TO WAKE UP. (Fitz began to cry.)
You remember our dream don't you? You, me, two babies…oh yes I want two babies, (he leaned down to kiss her lips finally,) in OUR house in Vermont. Our house, I had it built. It has everything; sandstone fireplace, granite counter tops, ceramic tiles, and a beautiful stained glass window made by a local artist up there in Vermont.
The house has 30 acres of orchards for you to make Jam. But most of all it has ton of rooms for lots of kids. I know I said I wanted two babies with you Livy, but if you want more that is fine too. I don't care how many "Little Pope Grants" we have, as long as we have them. As soon as you wake up, I want to marry you, and get started, (finally making himself smile. He ran his hands gently down her body. She felt thinner.)
I know you probably thinking that I am crazy. But after all this, I am not taking any chances. I know you are going to tell me to date others for show; go on one or two high profile dates and then leak to the press that we started to develop feeling for one another. But I don't want that. I refuse to let anything or anyone for that matter keep us apart.
This is OUR big idea Livy; our dream. The idea of us making babies, Jam and a house in Vermont is a reality. I made our dream come true. Now you have to wake up and see the dream. But I can't have this if I don't have you in my life. If you die, I lose everything. You have to wake up. I've been walking around the White House like a zombie for weeks hoping and praying that I'll get the phone call, that you're awake, because the other is unacceptable.
How do you expect me to go on if you're not here? I wouldn't have the will if you are not here. I want to run for another term and win, with you by my side –as First Lady. If you die on me Livy, I'll never forgive you. You made me love you and now you just can't leave me like this…,"
Fitz then stopped talking and placed his head on her chest. He cried, sobbed in a way that Tom, nor the other agents have ever seen before. All his fears of losing her were finally unburied. His heartfelt plea- the words he always kept in his heart, were finally out of his heart. He opened a wound that not even the best surgeon in the world could repair. The only person – woman that could mend his shattered self was Olivia.
After all his tears soaked her hospital gown, he lifted his head and kissed her. He pressed his lips lightly to Olivia's hoping it would get her to respond. Fitz then kissed her entire face, placed one more back on her lips. With each kiss, he placed each one of his hopes and dreams back into her body.
1st kiss: She wakes up.
2nd kiss: They get married.
3rd Kiss: Having two babies (or more.)
4th kiss: Winning a second term, with her by his side.
5th kiss: Moving to Vermont.
Final kiss: Showing and GIVING her the dream; their dream.
Once he pulled away, he climbed into the bed in order to cradle the woman he loves in his arms. He ran his hand under her neck gently. Immediately he noticed the change in her breathing. He looked at Abby and Tom in the hallway. They went and got the nurse and doctor. When they got back, Olivia made a dramatic change and did not need oxygen anymore. She was breathing on her own.
The doctor gave Fitz permission to get back into the bed. He readily complied and held onto her for dear life. Fitz ran his hands up and down her small frame, hoping his soothing touch would bring her back to him. Each He spoke to her the rest of evening about anything he could think of.
He started to close his eyes as he heard, "So you DO love her don't you?"
Fitz turned his quickly and saw a middle aged woman walking towards him. She was about Olivia's height, had her eyes, and was wearing a white trench coat. "And you are?"
"It would seem Mr. President; if Livy wakes up, your future Mother-in-Law - Maya Lewis."
Fitz's mouthed gaped open and he looked to Tom. "M," he silently uttered. Tom nodded.
Maya walked up to Fitz staring him down. She pulled up a chair and sat in front of Fitz. "Now tell me everything you know about Senator Davis, and Governor Reston's plan. And I'll tell you the third person's name pulling their strings."
/
WTF…
But whose strings my loves…that is the question. Yes I am just going to leave you there. I apologize again for letting this story HANG open for so long without an update. Writer's block sucks.
Please let me know what you think of the chapter and if you are eager for the more. The more you write, the more I type.
I wanted to let ALL of you that read my stories know that I am again doing another #OlitzXMasFic this year. It's tradition. So if you are interested, please let me know. #XmasInVt is going to be hard to follow but #ConsiderItHandled.
Also if any of you can tell me where I got "A-512" from…I'll give you PM sneak peek of the next chapter. That section was not planned but I hope you like that twist. ;-)
Happy #TGITHangover. (Scandal rocked last night by the way.)
Peace, Luv, and Pumpkins…
Me
