A/N: Surprise! Two updates in one week, what?! I'm really motivated to finish this story for you guys! Also, the last chapter was super short and I know many of you are eager to figure out what happens next and I'm excited to share it with you. Thanks, as always, for the wonderful and enthusiastic comments! I love reading them. The majority of you have guessed that Mellie has something to do with Liv being taken… let's just see. Happy reading! XOXO

Chapter 10 – Gladiators don't run

"Life as you know it is over."

LIV's POV:

I wake up in a dark room, seems to be a hotel or something. I walk around with my hands on the walls to feel for a light switch, finally I find one. I jump because I expect to find someone in here with me.

My stomach growls. That's not good. I need food or water, all I ate today was a nutrigrain bar and a bottle of water. Today, whatever day it is by now. I hear the door, but I don't hide like some coward. I face my kidnapper and that's when I lose all respect I had for this person.

"Seriously, Mellie. What the hell were you thinking?"

"I was thinking you're the reason my dear, love-sick husband is about to throw away everything and I need to put an end to it."

"We've decided to finally start our lives together."

"How sweet, if it didn't equate to my demise, I might be rooting for you two, not this time. You see, Olivia. I do my job. I smile and I push him and I make sure he has what he needs. I do my job. But, now he has this crazy notion that he can divorce me and just get me out of the way. Well, I be damned if I will let that happen. I'm a well-educated, meticulous woman. A nasty woman. So, I figured out the solution to my problem. Any ideas, fixer?"

"Eliminate the problem."

"Ding ding. Correct."

"So, you're going to what? Kidnap me. Kill me."

"No, dear. You're going to leave him… again. But, this time let's make it stick."

"There is no way in hell, I am leaving him."

"I have a feeling our negotiation will go well in my favor."

"And what is your proposition?"

"Leave him, no contact. Until his complete presidency is over, this includes re-election. If the philandering pig can even get elected again, Lord knows we made it possible the last time. And I won't out you both to the world right now."

I winced at the way she was talking about him. The love of my life being equated to a cheating pig made me sick. Not the man I love. He never meant to cheat. He is such a good man. I can't let this stupid woman ruin him.

"He's going to do that in a couple of months anyways. Weak bargain, Mellie."

"Oh. I forgot… I will release your sex tape." She adds a devious and evil smile to the end of the sentence. As if she's won. Maybe she has.

"Um… what tape is that?"

"Oh you know, Liv. The one Billy Chambers was going to release. The thing is, Billy only had half of the tape. I have the rest of it. Where your voice and name is clearly heard."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, I would and I think you know that. Probably why your foot is tapping so fast."

I immediately stop tapping my foot, which I was doing unconsciously. I don't know what to do. Our plan will not work with this curve ball thrown our way. I have to protect my baby. I can't let a sex tape of his/her parents be released to be played on repeat for eternity. Maybe it's for the best. This way I can save Fitz' presidency and our reputations. Our poor baby. Either way it will be in the media cycle day after day. This is my escape. Whether Mellie is doing me a disservice or a favor, I have to take it.

"Where should I go?"

"I have a place and a plane all ready for you."

"And where is that?"

"North Carolina."

"By the beach or mountains I hope."

"Beggars can't be choosey, my dear. Mountains it is. It's a quaint little place, really. I think you will enjoy it."

I decided not to mention the baby. I feel that she will try to get even more vengeance if she knew a child was in the mix. Maybe even use it against Fitz. My poor Fitz. Having to be all alone with this shrill woman. No contact until his presidency is over, including re-election. I'm secretly happy I don't have to say goodbye. It would be too hard and I know he would convince me otherwise.

Mellie let me go home and grab some things. I didn't take long. I dropped my purse on my way out and everything spilled out. I picked up the sonogram picture and tears began to stream down my face. My sweet little peanut is going to grow up with it's father. An amazing father he would be too. I've seen it, with Karen and Jerry.

I gather my purse back up and I lay the sonogram picture on the counter. I know he'll come here or have Tom come. I hope he finds the picture and knows that I didn't do this because of him, but for him and our baby.

The weight of the world is on my shoulders. I arrive at the airport and board a small, private jet. I look out the window at D.C. and imagine poor Fitz waiting at Camp David for me. Our perfect weekend will never happen.

FITZ' POV:

It has been one week since Olivia has disappeared. I can't decide whether to be worried sick or angry with her. I don't know the whole story, I don't even know half of it. I just know, she's gone. The woman I love and the mother of my soon-to-be child.

I have my guys everywhere checking for her. Her office, her apartment, every corner of the country. Nothing. Like thin air, she's vanished.

I went to her apartment yesterday. To check things out for myself. I let out a sob so loud and distraught, my men came busting through the door. I dropped to my knees with no fight and no power to get back up. I knew they said she was gone, but to see it for myself, in person was a different, more devastating story.

It has been two days since Mellie returned from her trip and she has barely said two words to me. Even without Olivia here, I intend to follow through with the plan. I don't want to be in this loveless marriage any longer. I have had the divorce papers on my desk for several days now. Just waiting for the right time to get into it with her. Lately, I have been exhausted, seeing as I get maybe 3 hours of sleep a night. I have never been able to sleep without Olivia and I on good terms. Now, not knowing where she is has put me in utter distress. Like those 10 months I was angry with her about defiance, I only slept due to the coma induced by scotch.

Back to Liv's POV:

One week has passed since my abrupt, tumultuous departure. I have settled into my small, cabin-like home in the mountains. Everyday, as I watch the sunrise on the horizon, (since I barely sleep anyways, I'm always up when the sun rises), I imagine how much Fitz would absolutely love it here. He always talked about living in a cabin in the wilderness, away from everyone and everything. Of course, he would want somewhere much larger, for the many kids he says we were going to have.

I called my team to alert them that I will not be returning and that they should not worry about me. I decided to have Abby move out here with me in a couple months. I don't want to raise this baby completely alone. Although, Abby and I know nothing about babies, we will figure it out. Right now, I want her to help Quinn, Harrison, and Huck get prepared to take OPA into their own hands. Only Quinn and Abby know about the baby, I wanted to keep it that way.

I have filled the library with plenty of baby books, for both the pregnancy and after. I have picked out which room will be Abby's and which room will be the nursery. I decided to wait for Abby to begin decorating it. She loves baking, that's similar to decorating I think.

It has been 14 weeks since I left D.C. Abby is now fully moved in and so am I. My baby bump is significantly larger, considering all I do is eat now. I crave anything and everything. Abby loves my mood swings and cravings, especially since she's a fiery red head herself.

I miss Fitz more and more each day. Everything reminds me of him. Every time the baby kicks or I get butterflies, I think of him and how much he would love to see and feel my belly now. He would touch my stomach when I was still flat, I could only imagine now.

I've tried to move on, to come to terms with my fate. That I cannot be with the man I love, at least for another 6 years and by then, who knows. He could move on. He's beautiful and I wouldn't expect him to wait. For all he knows, I left him by choice. I'm sure that's what it looks like.

My morning routine begins with my prenatal vitamins, some mint or chamomile tea to help with my insomnia, and whatever breakfast food Abby decides to bake. Today, it's muffins. Yum. Being in my second trimester has been a lot easier. Abby says I'm glowing and my morning sickness has subsided now. My body is changing daily and it's beautiful to see it take on a new form.

I'm sipping my chamomile tea in the library, when I hear a glass shatter in the kitchen. I immediately run to check on Abby, but who I see standing outside the sliding glass door surprises me just as much.

A/N: OMG who is our guest?! Next chapter will fill in the time jump from Fitz' POV and what transpires since Olivia's departure. So, our Livvie was not kidnapped and didn't run, purposefully. I cannot wait until the next chapter. I have big plans for you lovelies. Next chapter will include a flashback and a request one of you made! I will give credit for the idea as well. Keep the comments flowing! Until next time. XOXO