Author's Note: Good afternoon, everyone. To address a concern raised by a Guest and another regular reviewer, last chapter definitely was a slow somewhat disjointed filler but it was also a way of emphasizing how this Olivia and Fitz are different from their canon counterparts. Don't get me wrong, I truly love their canon characters, even with all the bitter heartbroken totally avoidable mayhem going on, but in this story, they're communicating and operating together. Whether it's a crisis or just them being them, I wanted to show them on equal ground.
Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"
"You want to drop out of the Race and endorse me? Why?" Sally Langston asked with her brows up to her hairline.
"As you know already, I'm divorcing my wife." he started as he set down his cutlery.
"Fitzgerald, although it's a sad testament to the moral climate of our country, you wouldn't be the first politician to divorce his wife and you certainly wouldn't be the last. That could be worked around."
"Sally, I've fallen in love with someone else and acted upon it outside my vows. Thoroughly." Fitz informed her bluntly, watching as her eyes flicked between him and a silent Cyrus knowingly.
"Olivia Pope.", she stated.
"It's that obvious?"
"Billy played me a rather…explicit…recording of you behind closed doors. I wanted to believe that it was Millicent but there was too much passion. Too much warmth. Millicent doesn't show warmth or passion unless it's about politics. Not to mention that you looked at Ms. Pope when you said that you were in love with an incredible woman. It was a very quick look but I noticed it. I may be a 'right wing nut job' but I'm not stupid. You two are going public?"
"Yes."
"Do your children know?"
"Yes. They're not looking forward to the increased publicity but both of them have noticed that my marriage has been less than ideal over the years and they know that Mellie and I will happier apart. And they genuinely like Olivia."
"That's fortunate but what you're planning is still the political equivalent of putting a loaded gun to your temple and pulling the trigger."
"It's my trigger to pull. Will you accept my endorsement?"
"Of course. I may disagree on a fundamental level with your lifestyle and views but you've done well for yourself in your own way with a loyal base and good family connections. To not accept would be stupid. I hope you're not expecting a position in my administration, though."
"I just want to be with Olivia."
Langston looked at him fixedly and slowly, for the first time he could remember, an actual smile curved the woman's lips.
"As a fellow Republican and politician, I have to say that you're a damned fool. As a Christian, I have to say that the fact you've committed adultery sickens me. But, as a woman, as an American, I have to say that you're one of the bravest individuals I've met. You are leveling with me in a way that no one else has before and you are going to go on national TV to level with the People. I honestly wish you well, Fitzgerald. You and Ms. Pope. Shall we go Dutch?"
"No, I've got it."
"Very well. Good night, Governor Grant. Mr. Beene."
As soon as the door shut behind her, Fitz held up a hand.
"The original and the five copies have already been found and destroyed. If she or anyone else tries to use it as ammo, they'll have nothing."
"Good. I'm glad to see that you two haven't been too wrapped up in each other to use common sense."
"At least when it comes to that, anyway."
"Damned straight, Flyboy."