Hello Pumpkins. HAPPY SCANDAL THURSDAY! Here is my latest chapter. You find out where our Precious Olivia went in this chapter and of course you have a great Cyrus Beene moment to start you off.
To "Maryb." I hope you like and thank you for comparing my writing to "Walk Away." I , well…#IHaveNoWords. I am humbled and honored to be thought of in that way. I hope this update makes you day and does this story justice. (Just don't be mad at me later.) This update was in the works so prepare youself.
-mmrb0908…I hope you enjoy this chapter. I know this is your favorite story so let me know if I deliver. As always I LOVE your reviews. ;-)
-To all my other PUMPKINS…Be prepared to go over a cliff baby cuz you in for an interesting ride. Enjoy and leave me goodies….;-)
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Chapter 10: #OverACliff
"What do you mean, Olivia left? How could she just up and leave?" Fitz asked Cy.
"Considering you just kissed her in front of a school full of kids, and press why do you think she left? God dangit Fitz what the heck were you thinking?" Cy told him.
"What do you mean what was I thinking? I have been doing nothing but thinking about HER Cy. I've been above reproach my entire life. My Dad told me what schools to go to, who to date, and even whom to marry. I put my foot down there. I get that I am not John Edwards. I get that to wear the crown on my great head of hair there is a price. But Liv," he paused, "is the love of life. I will do whatever is necessary to have her be by my side."
"Fitz this could cost you the election. The Republican party is not going to like this idea. You're already single, but now the possibility of you with Olivia. Think about this."
"Think about what Cy."
"This could turn into a Sally Hemmings/Thomas Jefferson thing in a hear beat."
It took every fiber within Fitz not to punch a wall at that statement. The very thought of that just made him sick to his stomach. "Excuse me. That lame ass, race excuse isn't going to work. If I win the Presidency IT WILL be with Liv by my side Cyrus. NO ONE ELSE. I will not give her up. I've waited my entire life for her. My entire life I've been watching for her. To be with her. To be loved in return by someone like her. I finally found the most wonderful, woman in the world and you want me to walk away from her now. Are you insane?"
"Think about this Fitz. This can't happen."
"Bull shit Cy. BULL. SHIT! And you know it is. Wrap your head around this, around us, because it is happening. WE are happening."
"What hell happened with you and Olivia at her parent's house? Did you throw pebbles at her window? Hide under her bed, while her mom and dad said good-night."
"Okay Cy, that's enough."
"Why are you running for President? Is it to get laid, you can get plenty of tail as Governor."
"Okay Cyrus, that is freaking enough."
"No it's not enough, do you what I've sacrificed to get you here. The ends that I've gone too…"
Fitz then cut him off…."The ends you've gone too. More Bull….I got myself this far. What is really bothering you is that the girl you brought in to save the day fell in love with me? Get the hell away from me right now." Fitz was about to come across the room at him, but he stopped himself.
"Fitz…" he was stopped again and Fitz got right within an arm's reach of Cyrus. Cyrus looked a little scared. He had NEVER seen him this way before, especially over a woman.
"Listen, I am not asking for your approval Cyrus to be with her. I don't need nor want anyone's approval. I am a grown man, and I can do whatever the hell I please. And right now, I need to talk to Liv. Now, where the hell is she?"
"I don't know." Cyrus said defeated. "She checked out, got in her car, and left."
"Have you checked her parents?"
"Yes, I called there after I found out. She is not there. They haven't heard from her but your 'first kiss' is all over the news."
Fitz placed is hands in his lap. He felt like he couldn't breathe because his Livy was gone. He shook his head in disbelief and slumped down his chair.
"I can't do this without her Cy. I just can't."
"Well right now, you're going to have to. If I know Olivia, she'll be back Fitz. Trust that she'll return and help you get into the White House. I've already tried to call her and she is not picking up. I suggest you wait till morning to call her also. She won't answer." Cyrus sat next to him and he was calming down.
"I can't sleep not knowing where she is. If she is okay? What if I lost her?"
Just then Cyrus phone rang. "It's her."
Fitz almost grabbed it out of his hand but he stopped him. "Liv, are you okay?"
"Yes," was all she said. Cy put her on speaker which she figured.
"Look I know the Governor is with you. I just need time okay. Please. I need to figure things out. I'll send you press releases on how to handle this with the press tomorrow. I should go now."
"Livy," was all he could say before she interrupted him.
"Show them who you are. Take of yourself boys. Bye," and she hung up.
Fitz felt even worse thinking that he drove her away. Cyrus sat next to him and put his arm around him. "I promise you Fitz she'll be back."
"Cy, you don't make promises you don't keep."
"Where do you think Olivia learned it from? Come one let's go have a scotch."
"You don't drink scotch."
"Nope I don't. But tonight I do."
"So YOU ARE on my side."
"I am on your side Governor," and with that, the boys took their drinks and attempted to fix how the heck they were going to fix this mess.
SIX HOURS LATER….
Olivia pulled up to her best friend's house still in tears. She cried most of the way back to DC. She turned in the rental car, and booked the first flight back. She made it there after dark. Her mind was racing to back to Fitz. She needed to see him, but couldn't bring herself too.
That "kiss" was everything. She could feel his lips on hers even now. How he pulled her into her arms, and the way he held onto her when he dipped her over. When their lips finally touched, it was as if the entire universe was created for them to find each other. Nothing else mattered in that moment to her, because FINALLY she understood what true romantic, devastating, and life changing love was. That KISS was it.
She gathered her things and got out of her car. She knocked on the door and her "ginger" haired friend opened it. "Olivia, I saw the news, what the hell happened?" Abby said as she pulled her into the house.
As soon as Abby put her arms around her, she just cried even more. She couldn't say anything at all. "Oh Lord, Olivia Pope doesn't believe in crying so you must really care for him?"
With that statement, Olivia collapsed into her arms, and both ladies sat on the floor. She cried till she couldn't cry anymore. Abigail Whelan had been Olivia's best friend for as long she could remember. They went to high school together, and college. The two ladies were always there for the other. Through every heart break, joy, tear, wine and popcorn binges, and maybe their weddings one day.
Abby had always loved how strong Olivia seemed to be. They promised each other that they would be there for each other "cradle to grave" and if needed go over a cliff to protect the other. Abby couldn't count how many times Olivia dropped everything to be by her side in great times of pain, and vice versa.
When Abby found out about "the Rat: cheating on her she was furious. She thought her best friend was finally going to get her happy ending and couldn't wait to see her get married, have children, and maybe even get to be a god-mother. But when she heard what "Richard…a.k.a King Dickhead" did to her, she wanted to run him over with her car. Never before had she wanted to hurt someone as badly as she hurt him.
Then Abby thought to when Olivia signed on to work on the Governor's campaign. In one conversation, she could hear the giddiness in her best friend's voice and how happy she sounded for the first time in a long time. Even though Olivia was denying having an attraction to the Governor, Abby knew something was up.
"Hey, Miss Gladiator, if you don't stop crying you are going to ruin my new outfit. This caused Olivia to smile and stop crying and look up at Abby.
"Abby what am I going to do? I know that kiss is all over the news. People were even stopping me in the airport asking me if Fitz is good kisser. I am so embarrassed. That should not have happened." Olivia said to her.
"And why the hell not? Liv, that man just jumped over a cliff for you. He totally put himself out there for you. Why in the hell did you run from that and most importantly him? I know he's a Republican but HELL is hot, single, has a great body, and by the looks of it, a good kisser."
Olivia got all embarrassed. "Abby, you are not helping. I am his campaign FIXER. I CANNOT date my Presidential candidate. That would be crossing the line."
"Shit Liv, Governor Grant not only crossed the line tonight, he made sure the world knew he was off the market. Hell have you seen the news? Everyone is talking how lucky you are."
"What? Why?"
"God almighty, you really this dense. Fitz is the first single man, in this modern area to run for the Presidency. He is incredibly sexy. Has this swagger when he walks into a room. That hair and those eyes. Hell girl I am surprise you keep your panties dry when you're around him."
"ABBY! Holy hell. Come on. That was our first kiss. Well, unless you want to count the one I gave him when he was sleeping the other morning at my parents."
"Wait, you kissed him first! No flipping way! Oh my god! What happened? Shit did he wake up and did you make out like teenagers."
Olivia explained to her what happened, the kisses he planted on her cheeks and neck in her mom's kitchen, and how he just KNEW she did it. She was still having a hard time grasping that idea of him knowing that she kissed him still.
"Girl and you didn't let him take you on the counter! Hell I would have been undoing his pants!"
"ABIGAIL! Christ almighty. I am trying to get him to the White House. Not the Playboy Mansion!"
"Well he is a good kisser?"
Olivia took her hands and started to fan herself. "LAWD girl yes. He's better than I thought. I wouldn't have known what do to if he deepened it and our tongues hit. You should have seen the look on Cy's face."
"Have you talked to Cyrus?"
"Only once. He placed me on speaker and I made it short and sweet because Fitz was there. I told them I was okay and needed some time to think. I promised Fitz that I would never leave is side and that we were in this together. Now I ran out on him. He's my best friend Abby. Besides you."
"I know honey it's okay. Wow you two must have gotten extremely close being snowed in at your parent's house."
"We did. I finally told him about Richard, and what he did to me. God Ab's, the things he said to me that night. How we just talked afterwards. We feel asleep on the couch both nights and he didn't try anything. He just held me and we slept. What guy does that?"
"Dang girl, then what the hell is the problem?"
"IF we get together he could lose the election. I know the Presidency means everything to him. He wants it, desperately."
"Olivia," Abby sat in front of her now. She took her hands in her own. "Look I saw the way he was looking at you after the kiss was over. Dang girl, you could feel the heat through the screen. But besides that, don't you think you should ask him what HE wants. I am sure he'll make a GREAT president, but something tells me, he wants you with him not only as his campaign fixer Livy. He WANTS you. He may be the first man in history to run and maybe win single. But if you two can make this work, at his inauguration day, he won't be single anymore."
"Abby what are you talking about?'
"Holy Mother of God! If he's not single and your with him what do you think that means."
"It means," then all of sudden it hit her, "you mean me, his FIRST LADY! Are you nuts? The country isn't ready for someone like me."
"Liv, ready or not, the moment you go all in with Fitzgerald Grant III then that man is never letting you go. Give him a chance Liv. But before you do, you need to ask yourself something." Abby knelt before her.
Abby then continued, "Do you love him? I just don't mean you're crushing on him. I mean that life changing, devastating, powerful, earth shattering love you've been searching for. I mean the Once Upon A Time fairy tale love you been aching for your entire life Livy. If Fitz is this man for you, and you can't admit that to yourself honey, then you won't be able to go over a cliff with Fitz and go all in."
Olivia sat there a few moments and thought about what she said. She thought back to the moment she met Fitz and how her entire worlds stopped, and changed that day six weeks ago. She thought back to when he told her 'I would be lucky to have you." Since she came into his life, he's not even thought of other woman. All the little and sweet things he's done.
Most importantly, how Fitz was there for her, when she was in tears at her parent's house. She finally told him how Richard hurt her, and the way he held onto her in his arms, and touched her face. The relief she felt, the comfort in his arms, and how he made her feel. No man has ever done that, nor touched that part of her soul in such a powerful way.
He said all the things that most women would want to be told. But on their last night there together, she was positive she heard him say I exist for you. It wasn't a dream. He really did say that to her. She was sure of it now. She had to trust her gut. Her gut is never wrong.
But that is what she was afraid of too. What if they became a couple, and it killed his chances of winning the White House? What if she took away his dream of becoming the President? What if a relationship with her, and vice versa ruined them both? Her mind was telling her not to go over the cliff, but her heart and gut were telling her to run back into his arms and have him not let her go.
She looked back to Abby not sure what to say. Olivia began to pace in circles in her living room. "Oh No, you're pacing in circles. That is not a good sign. Liv, you need to figure out what you want. If you WANT Fitz, then go for it. If that man, the possible next President of the United States, is the love of your life, and you obviously are his, then go for it."
She stopped and looked at Abby. "I don't know if I can. I am scared Abby. I've never felt like this before. I feel like I am losing control of everything. You KNOW me Abby, I don't like not being in control. I fix things. This is something right now I don't know if I can fix."
"Liv, did you ever think for a second, that THIS is something you're not supposed to fix. That Fitz was brought into your life, to fix you. Maybe, just maybe, he was made for you, and you him."
"I don't deserve someone like him Abby."
"Oh Hell yes you do. You deserve everything. King Prick-head," Olivia laughed.
"Abby it's King Dick-head," Olivia said back laughing more now.
"Okay fine…well you know who I mean, never made you feel this way. The entire length of your relationship, I've never seen you this way. You've known Fitz a hell of a lot less and you seem happier, content, and at peace with yourself. And since you had that time with him at your parent's and finally let him into your heart, I've not heard you happier before now."
"Abby, I'm scared."
"It's okay to be scared Liv. Hell I would be too. To feel this way about someone is something life changing. Why didn't he ever get married? Did you ask him that?"
"I did. He told me that he never found the right girl. That he thought that he would never find her. He didn't believe she existed, until," she stopped and remembered word for word what he said to her. "I without a doubt believe I found her. She's everything I wanted and so much more.' Oh my god Abby, he was telling me that girl is me. It's me!" Olivia just stared at her best friend.
"God, are you dense. Yes Olivia it's you. And you were top of your class at Harvard, wow. Who would have thought?"
Olivia threw a pillow at Abby. "God you're a Bitch!"
"Yes I know but that is why you keep me around."
"That and you are great baker."
Abby smiled at her. "Why yes I am. How about we get some rest and figure the rest of this out tomorrow morning? So, are you going to talk to your handsome stud-muffin or not?"
"I don't know. I need to but I don't know if I can. I won't be able to sleep without hearing his voice. I hope he's okay too. Geez I hope Cyrus hasn't killed him yet."
"Nah I doubt it. Cyrus wouldn't do that. If Cyrus wants to be make it to the White House not the Big House! Call him Liv, before you go to sleep. If not, then just send him a text. He needs to know you're okay. If you're this bad, I sure Fitzgerald Grant is ten times worse."
Olivia gathered her stuff and began to walk up the stairs. She turned to her best friend of all these years and said to her. "Abigail Whelan, you rock the house stone you know that. I would so be screwed without you."
Abby threw her hair back and said, "Yes I know."
"Night Liv, and if he calls, talk to him." Abby said to her.
Olivia nodded and said "Night."
/
Olivia shook her head and went up the stairs. She unpacked her things, took a quick shower and climbed into her bed. She then looked over at her phone and tried to decide whether to call him or not. Her mind kept racing back to everything that happened over the last few days.
She got so accustomed to having Fitz around that she really wasn't sure how to function without him now. She missed his smile, his walk, the way his touch was soothing on her body. She missed his voice. That sweet, sexy baritone voice that rocked her to the core and made her quiver in an instant.
Olivia then looked to her side and wished he was there with her. Granted they only slept on the couch at her parents, but the warmth of his body next to hers felt so right. She never had that before. She remembered Fitz laying her down, and his strong arms sliding underneath her. Then how he pulled her into his body and he coiled himself around hers. It felt so right. The more she thought about everything and even both kisses, she missed him more.
She rolled over on her side and looked at her phone that was one the night stand. She thought to herself, "Should I call him, or should I not call him…that is the question." Right when she picked up her phone, it rang and knew immediately it was Fitz. She took in a huge breath and answered it.
"23 people." She said to Fitz.
"What?" Fitz said back to her, all confused. "Livy."
"If we get to the Oval, there will be 23 members of your staff staying late. They won't be able to go home till you do." She said to him.
"How are you? Are you okay?" Fitz asked all worried that he lost her. He had been pacing in his room and staring out his window for hours, aching to hear her voice.
"There will be 23 hard working Americans staying late at night, if we win, so you can call me."
"So you want me to hang up?" Fitz asked her, attempting to hide the smile that was beginning to emerge on his face. His felt his body begin to relax and he stopped pacing now.
"How are you?" Olivia asked him as she snuggled more into the bed, missing him more now.
"I am Serving out my sentence with Cyrus Beene the great King of Me," Fitz answered her, knowing still he was in trouble. Hearing her voice, hoping that he didn't just lose her, made all the difference in the world.
Fitz took in a breath, "Answer me Livy, are you okay?"
"I'm fine except for the fact that my Republican Presidential Candidate and I just had our first kiss in front of an entire school of kids and the press!"
Fitz could still feel her lips pressed to his even now. He wanted to be doing nothing more than kissing her right now. He touched his fingers to his lips. The ache he felt for now was even worse. He finally got out, "Livy, I….I'm sorry."
"No, don't say anything else. You just need to listen okay."
Fitz sunk into his bed, wishing she was in his arms right now where she'd belonged. He thought back to just the other day when she slept in his strong arms and how they sat up the night before and just talked about everything. God he missed her. He missed her eyes, the touch of her fingers on him, the smell of her hair, her perfume. God his missed EVERYTHING.
"Okay," he got out, letting out a big sigh.
"Three, I am not sure what go into you today but I need time to process what happened. I was not expecting you do that and I need time to figure things, US out. I don't even know what to think right now. I am so confused."
"And," Fitz knew more was coming. He felt like he couldn't breathe. His heart was beginning to race and his hands were sweating.
"Two, I know we became extremely close at my parents house. We both KNOW that. So we need to take a step back and stay professional with each other. It is what's best. I am your campaign fixer first, not anything else, not yet. We can't take that step yet. Not yet at least."
"Livy no. It's not what I want. I want you!" Fitz pleaded with her through the phone. He wished she was in front of him so he could pull her into his arms and hold her, to ease her fears. But he was scared too.
"Fitz, I need to see where this leaves things with the press. I am NOT going to be the one to ruin your chance to get to the White House."
"Livy…" Fitz said but she interrupted him again. "No I am not done Fitzgerald!"
Fitz quieted down and listened again. "Last and most importantly, you and you alone are the best friend I have ever had. I don't want to lose that. You know me better than anyone and I know you. I want things to stay that way okay."
"Livy I don't know if I can."
"Fitz you have to. You just jumped over a cliff and took me with you. We (I) need time to wrap my head around everything okay. You basically told the entire world today who your special someone was. That kiss, was…" she stopped talking trying to find the right words.
"Utter perfection," Fitz finished her thought for her. "And there is nothing wrong with that. I WANT everyone to know what you mean to me. I want the world to know that I AM off the market. I refuse to hide you away somewhere like you're some dirty little secret, Liv. YOU ARE NOT that to me, nor will you ever be. What if I lose you? I can't do this without you Livy."
Olivia actually smiled this time. "Fitz, I know you don't want to hide me away. You are not losing me either. I will still be there with you." Her mood started to soften on the phone and Fitz noticed.
"Then why aren't you here now. You left me!" He practically screamed at her now. He had heard enough. He was not going to back down and just let her play the "just friends" card. She was within his reach. Now that he knew what it's like to have someone like her in his life, professionally and personally he was not willing to let either go without a fight.
"Fitz, please," she tried to calm him down. It was not working.
" No dammit. It's my turn now.' Fitz could feel his blood pressure increase. "Why did you leave? I need you. I need to be with you. I need to hold you in my arms like we were at your parents. I want that back. I want US back. You are all I have. Tell me where you are, I want to see you. We need to talk about this face too face."
"Face to face is over. I can't see you right now okay. I am not in the area."
"What do you mean you're not in the area? Where the hell are you? When will I see you again? Please say tomorrow." He was practically begging her now. He never groveled but now he was.
"No, I am sorry. I need time okay. I don't know."
"What the hell does that mean Olivia? Don't run away from us? You're running away from me, from us, from what we could become."
"Excuse me. I am not…."
"Oh Hell Yes you are. You heard me. You are too. You're scared to admit what is happening between us. Why are you running away from me?"
"Fitz I said I need time. I thought you understood that. You know what happened with Richard."
Fitz realized what she just said to him. "Wait, are you with HIM!'
"What?! Richard?! Christ almighty no. Of course not."
"You are, aren't you? You went back to him?" He felt like he was going to punch through the wall. His anger was starting to get the best of him.
"Fitz no, I am not with him. Why would I do that?" She was praying that he believed her. "I could never go back to him. How could you even say that to me?"
"I don't know. Maybe because you're running from someone you don't think you deserve and going back to someone that does not deserve you. And I am NOT him. Nor will I ever be him. All I know right now is that I don't regret our first kiss today, and I can't wait to kiss you again. I wouldn't change it for anything. I am NOT going to deny that I have feelings for you Olivia. So you best fix yourself, because I will not let this or you go. And if you don't come back, I WILL FIND YOU."
She's never heard him with such conviction in his voice before. He sounded so confident, assured, and hell a President in the making. She could picture the veins popping out on his neck, and forehead too. She was positive that his hands were balled up in fists on the bed, turning red with anger.
"Fitz…" He interrupted her.
"No Olivia, You get your fixer ass back here or I will find you. DO. NOT. PUSH. ME!"
"Push you. I didn't make you kiss me today you know. You jumped over that cliff on your own, Governor!"
"Governor! I think we can cut the Governor crap don't you. No you didn't. I finally gave into my heart today. I followed my heart. You should try it sometimes."
"That's not fair." She almost started to cry.
"Life's not fair Olivia. Get over it."
"You know what I am done. I am hanging up now." Olivia finally said.
"Fine." Fitz said and hung up also. He then got out of bed, and paced some more in his room. He was so upset about what had just transpired with him and Olivia over the phone. Hearing her voice in the beginning made all the difference. Her voice calmed him, soothed him, and washed over him like waves in the ocean. Olivia's voice grounded him and always seemed to bring him back from any cliff he was about to jump over.
But in this conversation he heard fear from voice. She wasn't afraid of him, but of them. Of what they could become if they became one. Hell he was afraid of it too. The very thought of them finally being together in every way possible made his heart sore and beat in such a way he didn't think possible. He always dreamed of a woman like Olivia. Now he's not only found her, but to have finally kissed her, how in the hell was he going to walk away from that. That was something he couldn't do.
He DID NOT regret that kiss, nor does he want to take it back. That KISS was everything. It was a first of first's for him. The moment his lips touched her, his entire world shifted and HE knew he would never want to kiss another woman for as long as he walked the earth. His lips were made to kiss lips and vice versa. His lips could still feel hers on his even now.
The way she felt and how he just took her in his arms and dipped her over. She looked so shocked. He remembered the ice cream dropping to the door behind him. He could still feel her hands around his neck and her delicate fingers in his hair. He could have kept kissing her forever in that moment. He would have if everyone was not there.
That first kiss, clarified to Fitz that he could not go for very long without her. He would wait for her. He would watch for her. Waiting and watching when she would return to be by his side. But when she returned, he would not let her walk away from him again. They would finish talking about them. He would attempt to go along with her just friend's arrangement, but was only going to last for so long.
Fitz decided that after "Super Tuesday" and once he decided on a Vice-President Candidate, he would do it her way. Then once "Super Tuesday" was over, he was going after her again. Both of them would figure out what to tell the press and get through this. Hell she was his "fixer" and it's her job to deal with the press. With her on his side, "they together" couldn't fail.
Him running for President was a chance of a lifetime, but not going after the love of his life, was one "chance" he was not going to let slip away. He was prepared to over a cliff and back again. He would jump over and over again until Olivia was his and he was hers. Making that happen would be his top priority.
Fitz nestled in his bed a while longer, when he reached for his phone.
"Cyrus, are you ready to go over a cliff with me?"
Cyrus said "Yes Sir, why?"
"Good because I have a plan. We'll talk about it in the morning."
Fitz hung up and attempted to sleep. He was about to take the words over a cliff to a whole new level. ;-)
/
Okay my Pumpkins, for those of you wanting Fitz to find Olivia, well sorry no can do. Not yet anyway….but you know now where she went. I hope you like the pep talk she got from Abby. As we know Abby does not mince any words and Olivia needed to hear them from someone that she trusts.
Fitz and Olivia's phone call….well by the end…#IHaveNoWords. Okay I do (Smiles), but I hope you didn't cry. Yes Olivia is scared as hell of her feelings for Fitz and well she doesn't want to ruin his chances of him making to the White House. But could she? He doesn't seem concerned about that does he.
Oh if anyone is wondering about the press, and new cycles because of their smooch, well that will be in the next chapter. As you can imagine our Fixer and her Candidate have some explaining to do. Some asked if the "Rat" will see all their kiss…well…I guess you'll have to wait and see on that one too. ;-) (I know me evil.)
But you may ask "dearies" what is Fitz up to…well read on and see. And Olivia could have something up her sleeve too. I know I am pulling a Shonda but #DealWithIt.
As always leave me goodies cuz they make me smile.
Peace, Luv and Pumpkins…
Me's