THIS CHAPTER IS ALL OVER THE PLACE AND FEELS A LITTLE RUSHED. PLEASE LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS.

Fitz and Olivia hugged each other until they were both calm. Opening up to Fitz made Olivia felt like the weight of the world has been lifted off her shoulders. Baring her soul out to Fitz seemed like the best therapy ever. The fact that Fitz was much perceived of her pain than pitied her was something she was very pleased about.

She exhaled a long breath and hugged Fitz tighter. There was a level of peace and happiness deep inside her that she couldn't explain. Olivia knew at that very instant she wasn't the same Olivia Pope. She believed she has been revived and it was all due to Fitz, and straightway she felt cured. She found herself sleepy and a little lightheaded, but in a good kind of way.

Fitz could see Olivia was tired and sleepy. He pulled back from their hug and looked at her deeply to get her attention. When certain Olivia was with him, he asked her to take her to her room and she complied.

Fitz took Olivia to her room and insisted she get some sleep. Olivia pleaded for him not to leave. "Please don't leave me," she begged him.

He smiled and assured her when she got up, he'd be right there with her. "I'm not going anywhere. Just get some rest, OK?"

Olivia shook her head in acceptance, laid on her bed and dozed off immediately. Fitz stood to his words and didn't leave. He took a chair and brought it close to Olivia's bed and sat on it. Fitz promised himself at that very moment to cheer Olivia up no matter what. He vowed he was going to do everything in his power to make Olivia feel worthy of living.

He could hear her snoring faintly and thought it was the best sound ever. He was certain when he tells her she snored she wasn't going to believe him. He took out his phone and recorded her snoring. After he was satisfied with his recording, he leaned back in his seat, just staring at Olivia.

Olivia slept for almost two hours, when she got up, she saw Fitz dozing off too with his mouth wide opened. She smiled at the sight of him and was just admiring how pretty he looked.

She was staring absentmindedly at Fitz that she didn't notice he was awake. "You are staring." He took her by surprise.

Olivia was startled and looked downward immediately. "Sorr…I didn't mean to," She said, a little embarrassed.

"It's OK. I stared at you while you were sleeping too. Do you know you snore?" Fitz teasingly asked her.

She looked at Fitz and her little embarrassment disappeared. "No, I do not," She answered with a smile, very sure of herself.

"Yes, you do." Fitz insisted, with a charming smile of his own.

"No, I….."

"Okay, lemme settle this. I knew you weren't going to believe me." Fitz said and took out his phone and played Olivia what he recorded.

She burst into laughter. "Oh my God! You weirdo, you did not just record me sleeping." She playfully threw her pillow at him.

"Yes, I did." He threw her pillow back at her.

Olivia felt very alive. She got up on her bed, folded her legs and sat on top of it, then accused him. "Do you know you sleep with your mouth wide opened?"

"No, I do not."

"Yes, you do."

"Prove it." Fitz challenged her.

Olivia didn't have any prove. "I am not a weirdo, so I didn't take a picture or anything."

They both laughed so hard and Fitz noticed this was the first time he has seen Olivia laughing. She was just too pretty when laughing, Fitz thought. He wanted to talk to her about her treatment, but decided to let her be happy for as long as she could.

He asked her if she was hungry. She said she was starving. He told her he'd take her somewhere for food.

"But I am not allowed to leave the center." Olivia reminded him.

"No, it's within this center. This place is very huge. We won't be going out of the center." He playfully taped the top of Olivia's nose with a finger.

She jumped out of her bed happily like a little kid. "Let me freshen up then."

"I'll go and freshen up too. Pick you up in how many minutes?" Fitz stood up from his chair.

"I won't take long. By the time you get back, I'd be done."

Fitz was a little skeptical. "Are you sure you'll be ready? You know, women, when it comes to time and….."

Olivia pushed him out of her room. "Go now. I promise."

Fitz left and Olivia shut her door and leaned with her back against the door. She was smiling so much that she embarrassed herself. She covered her face with palms and then ran and climbed on top of her bed, jumped up and down in happiness like a little kid before heading for the shower.


It has been days, and James was a little worried because Olivia and Fitz were spending too much time together. He noticed Fitz's activities were all centered around Olivia. He also discerned how giddy Olivia has become recently.

Chao decided to confide in Cyrus about it. He believed whatever that was going on between Olivia and Fitz might be problematic to Olivia's recovery.

They were in Cyrus' office. "Olivia's recovery could be stalling." He told Cyrus.

"What makes you say that?" Cyrus asked him.

"She and Fitz have been spending too much time together."

Cyrus wasn't pleased with this new revelation. "I've told them to stay away from each other after he slept with her. How come I didn't know about this?"

Chao was more worried about Fitz and Olivia than Cyrus being kept in the dark. "Just some days ago Olivia greeted Fitz, but he didn't answer her. She was literally fighting back tears, and now all of a sudden they're buddies?"

"I hope they are not sleeping together?" Cyrus asked.

Chao was certain Fitz wouldn't risk that again. "I don't think so. But Olivia is just too happy these days, not that it's a bad thing or anything. I just feel like there might be chaos ahead for her."

Cyrus tried to reason out what might be going on between Fitz and Olivia. "Fitz's explanation of sleeping with her was he wanted her to experience what lovemaking feels like," Cyrus said, then thought for a while before adding. "Maybe Olivia loved the lovemaking too much that she believes she's now cured because she prefer him than what she has been used to?"

"I don't know."

"If so, then that must have been one lovemaking experience for her."

Chao chuckled. "I really can't believe Fitz put his career on the line by sleeping with her."

"Say that again. I thought he was impotent. I mean, I tested the guy with every method and women possible, but he didn't budge, only for Olivia to come and prove me wrong within a twinkle of an eye." Cyrus took a sip of his scotch.

"Olivia is one hell of a girl, I'd tell you that, but I think their attraction to each other run deeper, you know, not just the lust." Chao pointed out.

Cyrus didn't want to think about that. "I don't want to know. I just don't want them spending time together."

"I know I am worried about them spending too much time together, but do you think them not spending time together is the best option for Olivia?" He asked Cyrus.

"I'm not sure, but I know it's the best option for this center. We have to make sure Olivia is on the right track in her recovery, that's the reason she is here for." The solution to be sure Olivia was in the right track popped into Cyrus' head. "We have to send Olivia a sex-worker, so she knows she's not cured or anything. Olivia being too attached to Fitz could only mean one thing. She is shadowing her addiction for meantime, thinking she is cured, not knowing she is avoiding dealing with it all together by concentrating on her new found happiness. The only way for us to solve this is to make sure she knows she is still an addict."

Chao accepted Cyrus proposal. "So we send her a sex-worker then."

Fitz was entering Cyrus' office when Chao said that. "Who are we sending a sex-worker?" He asked them.

"Olivia," Chao answered.

Fitz was more than pissed at them. "She's doing fine. She's not going through any withdrawal or I should've known. We've been spending a lot of time together with no such thing as even kissing,"

Okay, truth be told there have been few times Fitz could see in Olivia's eyes how badly she wanted him, and he has been working really hard to control his own desires. But he knew Olivia was in a good place.

James interrupted Fitz' thought, "Olivia might be replacing her addiction with you instead." He accused Fitz.

"No, she's not. She hasn't tried anything with me. We've been talking constantly, especially through text messages and she hasn't said or texted anything that shows otherwise."

Cyrus stepped in. "Since you guys have been spending a lot of time together, when will she be visiting her mother?"

"We haven't talked about that." Fitz answered.

"But yet you guys have been spending a lot of time together. I specifically told you, you can only do that if related to her treatment." Cyrus yelled. "So, what have you been doing with her?"

Fitz has been trying his best to cheer Olivia up and didn't want to upset her by diving into the mother territory too soon. He wanted her to be happy for a while longer. "I don't want to upset her, when the time comes she'll bring the topic about her mother herself."

"Since when did you start putting an addict's feeling over their recovery?" Cyrus challenged Fitz, very pissed.

James decided to intervene. "Fitz, you are the reason for Olivia's happiness at the moment. Her happiness shouldn't come from you, it should come from herself. We know she tried hurting herself several times before, don't you think she might try that again if one day you hurt her or stop caring?"

"I'm never going to hurt her or stop caring," Fitz answered quickly.

"We all want what's best for her. And that's for us to make sure she's on the recovery path."

"I know that, but she's not ready to meet her mom nor needs a sex-worker at the moment. Let's give her some time. She's in a happy place right now."

Cyrus couldn't believe his ears. "And what happy place is that, living in denial? Since you two are good buddies, you are to take her to her mother so they sit and have a talk or two. Making peace with her mother is part of her recovery."

"I know that, Cy, but how do you suppose I do that? I can't force her there." Fitz shouted at Cyrus.

Cyrus laughed, but without humor "I'm sure you'll come up with a way. For the meantime, we'll send a sex-worker to her, so she washes you off her system."

Fitz felt like punching Cyrus in the face, but decided to try the calmer approach. "Cyrus, this is not a good idea, I'm telling you. This is going to destroy her when she gives in, please!"

"We destroy so we can build. My decision is final. And make sure you stay away from her until after the sex worker so you can take her to her mother."


Olivia has noticed some slight changes with her interaction with Fitz. They didn't text as before, and he was always busy these days, but she decided not to look too much into it.

She was passing by when she saw Jerry seated in a corner drawing. "Hey, Jerry, waddup?"

Jerry looked at her and shook his head, not in a cheerful mood. "Waddup?"

"I thought that's how people your age say it these days."

Jerry didn't answer her, he concentrated on his drawing.

Olivia was a little worried since as Jerry love teasing her. She went and sat next to him. "Jerry, what's the matter?"

"Nothing." He answered.

"C'mon Jerry, I thought we were friends, you can tell me what's going on. She pushed him slightly with her shoulder. "A problem shared is half solved, you know."

Jerry looked at her for a while, then said, "You and my dad."

Olivia was caught off guard, but pretended as if she didn't know what Jerry was insinuating. "What do you mean me and your dad?"

"What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing is going on."

"Don't lie to me. I am not a kid."

"I am not lyin….."

"Do you like him?"

Olivia didn't know the answer to give Jerry because he seemed not to be happy about her and his dad. She didn't want to lie to him too because she liked Fitz more than a lot. It just occurred to her that Fitz was married to Jerry's mom. Olivia could feel her soul crushing, thinking how selfish she has been. She never for once thought of Fitz's wife since she booked in there, which meant she has been fornicating with a married man, not that it was new or anything, but this was Jerry's mom and she wouldn't want to hurt him. Fitz never mentioned his wife to her too which was now very confusing. She was thinking this might be the reason why things have been strange between herself and Fitz.

Olivia could feel tears forming in her eyes without her control. "Is this about your mom?" She asked Jerry.

Jerry made a strange face. "No, they're divorced."

Olivia let out a long breath of relief she didn't know she was holding. "They are, since when?"

"You didn't know?"

Olivia didn't answer Jerry. She wanted to know why he has a problem with them. "If this isn't about your mom, then what is it then?"

Jerry went back drawing. "You are my only friend here and now my dad is taking you away from me."

Olivia was about laughed out, but held it in. "Jerry, you know people are allow to have more than one friend, right?"

"I know, but if you two starts….. Auntie Abby?" Jerry got distracted.

"What?" Olivia then saw Abby. She literally rushed and gave her a big hug. "What are you doing here?" She asked Abby.

Abby wanted to surprise her. "Well, since as you didn't miss me to call I decided to be the bigger person." Abby said, then extending her arms to hug Jerry. "Oh my God, you are so tall. When was the last time I saw you?" She asked Jerry

"Long time" Jerry laughed at Abby brushing his hair with her fingers.

Abby was curious why Jerry was there on a school day. "So, what are you doing here, aren't you suppose to be in school?"

"Here for the same reason as Olivia." Jerry answered.

Abby gasped. "You're too young for this, Jerry. Like father, like son then?"

"I guess, though my dad has retired. I'm just trying to keep his legacy alive."

Olivia and Abby chuckled.

"So, where did you know Olivia?" Jerry asked Abby.

"She made me come here," Olivia answered before Abby could.

Jerry was happy to hear that. "You did? Awesome, I never would've met her if not of you then." He said to Abby.

"Are you two friends?" Abby asked them.

"I wanted to be more than a friend, but she prefers my dad instead."

"Jerry!" Olivia shouted out in embarrassment because Abby was going to think too much into her and Fitz.

Abby looked at Olivia, "Oh, really."

"Abby, there's nothing going on," Olivia quickly defended herself.

Jerry rolled his eyes. "Oh, please, you should see the way they look at each other."

"Okay, bye kiddo." Olivia pushed Jerry away, insinuating he leaves.

"But you promise…."

"Bye Jerry, happy?"

"Better." Jerry said and left.

After Jerry left, Abby was giving Olivia one of those looks that said a lot without a sound.

Olivia Knew her whole body would be bloody red if she was white. "What?" She asked her, wanting her to stop with the look.

Abby surrendered with both hands up, "I didn't say anything. Though I heard he's divorced."

"How is work" Olivia changed the topic.

"Jake is still my boss."

"I was trying to change the topic, but you're going to a territory I don't want to know. So, another topic how is Leo?"

"Still alive, but I'm not here for that. Look at you, you look happy and healthy and your body is glowing. I guess this place is really good."

"Yes, it is. I love it here. Thank you for making me come."

"Don't thank me. I remembered you almost died because of me." Abby brought up Olivia's suicide attempt.

Olivia looked away, very ashamed, "I'm sorry."

Abby wanted to slap herself in the face for bringing that up. She decided to lighten things up. "I'd like to say hi to Fitz."

"Abby!"

"I'm not going to eat the man. Why don't you take me to his office?" She wrapped her arm around Olivia's. They walked a little further before she changed her mind. "Better yet, I'd like to see him alone."

"Fine then, when you are done, I am in my room."

XXX

Abby entered Fitz's office and could tell he wasn't in a good mood. But she noticed he was very happy to see her.

"Abby, long time. thank God you are here." He got up and greeted her.

"Glad to see Olivia is doing fine. She looks well relaxed and healthy.

"Right?" Fitz asked more of an agreement than a question. "But Cyrus and James what to mess that up."

"What do you mean?" Abby asked him.

Fitz explained everything to Abby, him making love to Olivia and how Cyrus and Chao were going to send Olivia a sex-worker so Olivia washed him off her system. The last part hurt him a lot.

Abby listened carefully to Fitz's explanation, but understood where Cyrus and James were coming from. She told Fitz if the sex-worker was going to help Olivia, then he should understand and be supportive. But Fitz couldn't picture Olivia with another man.

"I don't like the idea one bit." He stated.

"I know you have feelings for Olivia, but if this wasn't Olivia, put somebody else in her place. What will you recommend?"

"Almost the same thing, but I just want them to give her more time. She's doing so well right now."

"Like Cyrus and James said, maybe she thinks she's doing well. But if sleeping with a sex-worker is going to set her mind right so she takes her treatment serious, then the long term benefit is better." Abby wanted to know more about Fitz putting his career at risk, "But I can't believe you mad love to her."

"I wish I say I regret it, but seriously if I go back in time I'd do it again. I love her, Abby."

"You what?" Abby asked in excitement.

"Yes, Abby, I love Olivia. I've never felt like this before, not even with Mellie. But I can't tell Olivia this because it might mess her treatment up instead. I just have to wait until she's cured."

"Wow Fitz, I am so happy to hear this. Olivia does deserve unconditional love." Abby knew this was going to be the hardest secret to keep from Olivia.

"I just hope one day she gets to love me too. I know it's hard for a sex addict to distinguish because lust and love."

"The more reason for her to be on her recovery path, so she can distinguish between the two fast, and if the sex-worker is the way to go…"

"Abby, I know, but imagine the love of your life sleeping with another man." Fitz couldn't hide his pain. "James and Cyrus both asked me to avoid her so she could easily give in to the sex-worker."

Abby felt bad for him. "Fitz, you have to be strong, not only for yourself but for Olivia too."

"I know, Abby, I know I'm being selfish here. One more thing, I need to take her to her mom. I don't know how to start that conversation with her, not after how her mom treated her."

Abby was surprised. "She talked to you about her mom? Her family is a scared topic to talk about. I tried one time and she literally shut down. I've never tried again."

"It wasn't easy for me to get that out of her too, but she finally did. If this was just up to me, I won't want her near them at all, but she has to make peace with her mother if she really wants to find inner peace."


Olivia was now certain Fitz has been avoiding her on purpose and it hurt a lot, maybe too much because she has no clue what she did. And the fact that Fitz has been too busy when she wanted to talk about it or just to know how he was doing was becoming cumbersome.

Fitz knew the plan was to avoid Olivia so she felt rejected, thereby making it easy for her to give in to the sex-worker, but even knowing the plan didn't make his action toward Olivia any less painful.

xxx

Today was the day the sex-worker has to strike a friendship with Olivia and thereby sleeping with her. Cyrus, Chao and Fitz picked their best sex-worker who was invested in the art, but not too emotional to get attached to their target. Fitz went personally to him and warned him to be gentle with Olivia.

The sex-worker's goal was to make sure he had sex with Olivia if and only when she gave her consent. He was to leave her alone if she said no. And also, Olivia shouldn't have any knowledge about his job and intentions.

He went to Olivia and immediately he laid eyes on her he was captivated by her. He wanted to find out what was so unique about Olivia that made Fitz warned him privately behind Chao and Cyrus' backs.

He found himself drooling at every word coming out of Olivia's mouth and felt something special for her.

He did everything as planned and they were now heading to Olivia's place. He wanted to go inside, but Olivia said she was tired and needed rest. He was to leave Olivia alone at this moment, but he insisted and promised Olivia he wasn't going to try anything that he just loved her company. Being the nice person Olivia was who hated telling people no, decided to let him in.

Immediately has they were in inside, he tried to kiss her neck, but she shifted away from him. He gave Olivia one of his charming smile and attempted again. Olivia decided to give him a try, just to compare with Fitz. He then kissed her mouth, but Olivia didn't feel anything. She then asked him to stop, but he was too turned on to listen.

He tried to force himself on Olivia. She took a vase that was close to her and hit him in the head. Blood was flowing out of the guy's head like water.

Olivia was in shock and didn't know what to do. She dialed Fitz's number and he picked on the first ring. "Olivia?" Fitz answered immediately.

"I think I just killed someone. I don't know what to do. Should I call the Cops?" She rushed through her words in panic.

"Calm down. Don't do anything. I'll be right there."

Fitz called Cyrus and Chao and they all left to Olivia's place. When they got there he saw Olivia next to the guy on the floor and rushed to her while Cyrus and James checked on the sex-worker.

"I asked him to stop, but he wouldn't listen." Olivia said in Fitz's arm.

"It's OK. Everything is going to be fine." He comforted her.

An ambulance arrived some minutes later. Fitz asked Olivia to stay put as he joined Cyrus and James with the paramedics outside. They were all happy to hear the guy was going to be fine.

They went back to Olivia's room to make sure she was OK too. They informed her the guy was going to be fine.

Olivia was glad to her hear she didn't kill him. A smile appeared on her face and she said, "I did it."

"What?" Fitz asked, confused why the situation was amusing to her.

She smiled with happiness again, and felt alive. "I did it. I've never been able to say no. I did, and I fought back. I did it, Fitz." She wriggled happily.

Chao and Cyrus did a quick check up on her to be sure she was normal in the head. When they were certain she was OK, Fitz asked Cyrus and Chao to excuse them. Cyrus didn't want to go, but Chao pushed him outside.

Olivia and Fitz were now alone. He pointed at a chair for Olivia to sit down. He then apologized to her, saying he has been avoiding her on purpose. He also told her the guy was a sex-worker and they sent him to her in order to test her.

Olivia stood up from her seat. "I nearly killed him. Why would you guys do that without telling me?"

"Had it been we told you it was a test you would've been prepared for it. Cyrus and James wanted to make sure you know you're still addict."

"So, did I pass the test?" Olivia asked Fitz happily, certain she did.

"They say you are now addicted to me."

Olivia chuckled. "Can someone be addicted to a person?"

"Would you have asked me to stop or hit in the head had it been I didn't, like what you did to that guy?"

"Yes." Olivia answered firmly.

Fitz walked closer to her "Are you sure?" He sniffed her naked and Olivia closed her eyes.

"Yes." She answered huskily.

"Really, would you have asked me to stop?" He brought his mouth close to hers.

Olivia couldn't resist but went in for a kiss. Fitz stepped back from her, giving her a questioning look. "You knew I was testing you, even with that knowledge you couldn't resist the urge?"

Olivia shrugged. "It just means I prefer you."

"Olivia, if I hurt you one day or treat you badly you'll quickly go back abusing your body or even worst harm yourself. You have to be independent in a way that no man can have control over you because right now, I do."

Olivia was quiet, she stared at Fitz for a while, "I am in love you. I love you" She said to Fitz

Fitz wished he was certain Olivia loved him and not just saying that due to lust, but he wasn't certain. "You are replacing your addiction with me instead, and it isn't healthy."

"But isn't it better than what I've been doing? I just said I love you, won't you say anything about that? I've never said this to anyone." She felt very vulnerable saying that out loud.

"Say that to me after you are cured and I'll jump up for joy. What you feel for me at the moment is just lust not love."

EDITING NEXT CHAPTER ALREADY. GOD WILLING, IT WOULD BE UP NEXT WEEK.