Disclaimer: I do not own the LG characters they belong to the wonderful people of Lost Girl, Showcase, Prodigy, et al. And all Scandal characters belong to the Goddess (of The Underworld) Shonda Rhimes, Shondaland, and ABC

Olivia was livid. No she was furious but she was trying to maintain control of the the anger that wanted to consume her. She got off the elevator and she took hurried strides as she walked down the hallway to get to Lauren's room. She saw that Sean and another Secret Service agent were standing in front of the door to her room. Her encounter with Fitz had been overshadowed by another scandal hitting the Lewis campaign and although her body hadn't forgotten the way Fitz had touched her the previous evening she was going to have to push the memories to the back of her mind. When she got to Sean she ordered, "Let me in."

Sean didn't hesitate to comply and he opened the door for her. Olivia walked into the suite and as she headed for the bedroom door she didn't see anything that looked out of the ordinary. She knocked on the door and said through it, "Lauren wake up we have to talk."

Lauren groaned as she heard Olivia's voice come through the door. She took a moment to smile to herself as her mind flashed back to what had happened in her bed only a few hours ago. She would pay for the late night that she had with Bo but it had been well worth it. Lauren stretched under the covers that were over her then she moved to get out of bed. After putting on her robe she walked over to the room door then opened it. She smiled at Olivia, "Hey Liv. Is it time to go?"

Olivia pulled out the newspaper that had been tucked under her arm and held it up to her face. Lauren scowled as she read the headline. Dr. Lewis's secret lover and underneath it was a picture that appeared to have been taken by a long range camera so the quality wasn't that good but Lauren could tell where the photo had been taken. She was also able to discern that the picture was of herself and another person on the terrace of venue that she had her fundraiser at last night. Olivia waited for Lauren to say something but she didn't so she asked, "Do you want to give context to this?"

Lauren was upset because not only had someone taken pictures of her and Bo during a private moment they were also trying to sully something that was developing into a beautiful relationship between the two of them. Lauren shook her head no because she felt like she didn't have to explain this to Olivia. This was her private life. Olivia pressed her lips together then said, "Okay. Then do you want to explain this?" She took out her phone then brought up the video that Huck had sent to her and after she hit play she held it up for Lauren to watch.

"A TMZ exclusive. This was sent to us by an anonymous source but as we see here it looks like Bo Dennis seems to have found a new love interest. And that love interest is in the form of presidential candidate Lauren Lewis." The reporter said as security footage of Bo and Lauren walking through the back entrance of the hotel played.

The video stopped and Lauren only looked at Olivia. She still felt justified in not having to explain herself so she waited for Olivia to say something and she didn't have to wait long. "I told you to forget about Bo Dennis. She is a lightning rod for bad press and here you are with her and coming into the hotel. Was she here last night Lauren?"

Lauren gave Olivia an imperceptible nod and answered, "She was."

"Do you not care about all the progress that you are making?" She paused and when Lauren didn't say anything she continued, "I don't think the campaign can handle another scandal and this one will be even more devastating due to the fact that it involves one of the lead contenders for the Republican party." Olivia ran her hand through her hair and scoffed, "I know you've been having a rough year Lauren but to throw away the progress we have made over the last couple of months for what?" She got a pointed look on her face, "What is this with her Lauren? Was it just sex or is it something else because if it's just sex then there is nothing to spin here and it will ruin your presidential bid."

Lauren took a deep breath then walked by Olivia so she could make her way over to the couch that was in the suite. She sat down and thought about everything that was going on between her and Bo. What happened between the two of them was more than sex and it wasn't anything bad. It was amazing. Lauren sighed again then told Olivia, "It's more than sex."

Olivia looked at Lauren. If it was more than sex then that meant whatever was occurring between Lauren and Bo had been happening for awhile, "How long has this been going on?"

"The sex? It happened for the first time last night. She and I talking to each other? Since after the Charlottesville fundraiser." Lauren told Olivia realising that there was no need for her to lie to the woman anymore. It was all out there and it was also getting to exhausting having to hide her connection to Bo.

Olivia paced in front of the couch as she thought about everything Lauren had told her. For the last month she had been talking with her opponent's daughter. Olivia needed to know what was going on here. "Have you two been romantic for long?"

Lauren chuckled. She was talking about her love life with Olivia Pope. She never thought she would see the day but she knew the woman was trying to get a better understanding on whatever was going on with her Bo and how it would impact the campaign. She sighed and propped her feet up on the coffee table that was in front of the couch as she replied, "We've only flirted but I think over the last couple of weeks it has crossed over into something romantic."

"Do you believe that she has good intentions or do you think there is something underlying about her?" Olivia asked not just because of Lauren's campaign but because there were still no suspects in regards to Rachel's murder.

Lauren looked up at the ceiling and thought about the question. Bo was genuine. She was open and honest which was a hard thing to come by now that Lauren was in politics and she cherished it. She looked at Olivia and smiled, "She doesn't care about anything else except me. She cares about me."

Olivia felt a little jealous when she heard the unguarded love in Lauren's voice as she talked about Bo. Lauren was free to love whomever she wanted without much repercussion. Sure her being involved with Bo would cause trouble for the campaign but that was what Olivia was here for. But she and Fitz would never have that. He was the current president and married. The backlash would be tremendous for the both of them. Olivia sat down next to Lauren and smiled, "I'm happy for you Lauren." She took her hand and gave it a quick squeeze, "I'll figure out a way so that this can work for you."

Lauren was surprised by Olivia's response but she was grateful for it because she didn't want to stop seeing Bo. If it came down to either Bo or the campaign she would most likely choose Bo but she would question if she had made the right decision. She chuckled and said, "Thanks Liv. I think."

"Oh be thankful. Until I have figured out how this has affected Will's campaign we're going to keep quite. And you can't see her." Olivia noticed the disappointed look on her Lauren's face and she added, "I'm sorry Lauren but like I said this has the potential to be damaging for the campaign. Bo has a history of sleeping around and what's not to say that she won't do the same to you?"

Lauren shook her head no and stated in an earnest tone, "No. She won't. Bo cares about me Olivia."

Olivia got up from the couch and sighed, "I hope for your sake and for the sake of the campaign that she does." She looked at her watch then back at Lauren, "We're leaving in two hours for Montgomery. I want us to meet before we leave. I'm going to have Abby and Huck check on the Dennis campaign to see if Will has seen made any remarks about the tabloids."

Lauren got up and said, "Okay. I'll meet you in the conference room in a few minutes."

Olivia could tell that there was something different about Lauren. She looked happier. She gave the other woman a small smile and said, "I'm happy for you Lauren. I really am."

Lauren got a grin on her face. She had Olivia's approval about Bo even if she couldn't see her. "Thanks Liv. It means a lot coming from you."

Olivia left her suite then Lauren went into the room to get the secured phone so she could call Bo. The phone rang a few times then it was answered by Bo who groaned, "Don't tell me you want a repeat performance because I'm still recovering from last night."

Lauren bit her bottom lip as she felt herself respond at the mention of their night together. She cleared her throat and said, "No Bo. Um...something has come up."

"What's the matter Lauren?" Bo said sounding more focused and alert.

Lauren sat on the edge of the bed and sighed, "The paparazzi got leaked some security footage of us and someone took pictures of us at the fundraiser last night."

Bo sighed into the phone then apologised, "Lauren I'm so sorry."

Lauren chuckled and told her, "I'm not certain they were there for you Bo. I think this was about me." She paused for a second then added, "There is a report on TMZ just to let you know so I don't know if you want to reach out to your dad or not."

Bo snorted then remarked, "I'm certain he'll find some way to make it seem as though he could give a rat's ass." Lauren wanted to ask what she meant by that but Bo moved the conversation along, "What did Olivia say?"

Lauren got up and went into the bathroom as she told her, "I can't see you."

She heard Bo suck air in through her teeth before she said, "Well that sucks. I was hoping to get to know you a little better doctor if you understand my meaning."

Lauren chuckled at the suggestive tone Bo's voice had taken then she replied, "I certainly do Bo." The smile on her face turned into a frown as she added, "But this is serious considering your history."

"My history? What does that mean?"

The last thing Lauren wanted to do was argue with Bo but her statement required some clarification. "It means people are going to think that I'm just another notch in your bedpost."

Bo scoffed and remarked, "You are not some notch in my bedpost." She was quite a moment then she said, "I fucking hate that rumour. I don't sleep around Lauren and even if I did, I wouldn't do that to you. I-"

Bo stopped and there was moment of silence between them. But unlike other moments of silence that they had had this one wasn't tense but it was still heavy. Lauren wasn't going to ask what Bo was going say because she wasn't sure if she was ready for that discussion and she wasn't sure she would be able to handle the conversation. She cleared her throat then said, "I have to go Bo. I have to get ready to leave but Olivia and I are going talk about the latest scandal to hit my campaign."

"Again I'm sorry about that." Bo said and Lauren could hear the guilt in her voice. Before Lauren could tell her that it wasn't her fault Bo asked, "Where are you going to today?"

Lauren took a deep breath then sighed, "We're going to be in Montgomery for most of the day but later we're going to Birmingham."

"So by the time you hit Birmingham most of the news will have died down if it even reaches that far." Bo told her trying to sound optimistic but Lauren couldn't quite believe her.

Lauren chuckled and responded, "If you say so Bo. Look I've got to go but I'll talk to you later okay?"

"Okay."

They continued to stay on the line. There were unspoken words that lingered between them but neither gave voice to them. Lauren almost came close to saying the words that she wanted to say but uncertainty and fear prevented her from doing so. Another minute passed then Lauren sighed, "Bye Bo."

Bo exhaled into the phone then said, "Bye Lauren."

The two of them hung up and Lauren looked at the phone that was in her hand. The words were there and on the tip of her tongue but she couldn't for a number of reasons. The main one being that despite everything she felt as though she were betraying Rachel then on top of that she felt like it was too soon. Lauren sighed and got up so she could go into the bathroom for her shower.

Olivia was on the phone with Abby and she was having a hard time focusing on what the woman was saying because the memories from last night refused to be ignored. When Abby shouted her name Olivia cleared her throat and asked, "What was that Abby?"

"I said that the Dennis campaign hasn't said anything in regards to Bo or Lauren. In fact they have been eerily quiet." Abby commented.

Olivia mulled this over as she looked out of the window of the suite that was serving as Lauren's impromptu base of operations. Will and Bo's relationship was an estranged one so it was possible that he wasn't going to say anything or he might say something that will distance himself from Bo. If that were the case then Lauren would have to say something about her involvement with the woman. This was a piece of news that the press wasn't going to let fall by the wayside. Olivia sighed and said, "Okay. I'm going to prepare a statement that says that Lauren's involvement with Bo is a personal matter and that her request for privacy is to be respected."

Abby snorted then remarked, "Like that will happen."

"Abby..."

"I'm just saying that it's not going to happen." She stated before explaining, "You have a tabloid darling involved with a presidential candidate whose wife was murdered four months ago. It's like drugs for the press Liv." The woman's explanation caused Olivia to scowl because she was right. There was no way the press would leave this alone.

She sighed and said, "Well if it helps anything, I think they're in love with each other."

Abby laughed and told her, "Well that's great for the doctor but not so much for her campaign." She was quiet a moment then she added, "We should have told her drop out of the race. Financially it's not going well for her and in the numbers she's not doing well either."

Olivia ran her hand through her hair. She would be saying the same thing too considering the number of scandals that the campaign had been through but Lauren was determined to see this through and she was going to be there every step of the way. "I will mention it but I doubt she will want to."

"Why not?" Abby wondered.

Olivia sighed. She knew why because of the numerous rants Lauren had gone on when she had been a drunk the three months before her turnaround. Lauren felt guilty for Rachel's death because of the campaign and she wasn't going to give it up because it was the reason why her wife was dead. Olivia wasn't going to let Abby know that so she told her, "She thinks she can do it. Call me a sucker for blind optimism."

Abby let out a small chuckle then pointed out, "That's the thing Liv you're not a sucker for blind optimism." She paused then said, "You know something don't you?"

Olivia went about putting folders into one of the boxes they stored Lauren's campaign information in and told the woman, "Abby it doesn't matter what I know." She changed subjects, "Anything on Rachel's murder or the investigation into Veronica?"

She heard the shuffling of paper then Abby clicked her tongue a few times before she said, "Huck accessed the FBI records and they have no leads. They've spoken with Veronica and all of Rachel's known associates but nothing has panned out. We are checking with the bank where the wire was initiated but they're not giving us anything so we're checking other avenues."

Olivia knew what Abby wasn't saying. Which was Huck was going to hack into the banks systems. "Okay. Just let me know if you find out anything. I have to go. We're headed to-" There was a knock on her room door and she walked over to it. When she opened the door she saw that Sean was standing in front of it and he had an annoyed look on his face. "Abby I've got to go." She hung up the phone then asked, "Is there a problem Sean?"

"Press. Everywhere. I'm delaying Lauren's departure until more agents arrive. Justice is pissed but considering her special circumstances they caved." He informed her then he asked, "What happened?"

Olivia regarded Sean for a moment then crossed her arms in front of her chest before giving him a pointed stare as she asked, "Why were you hiding Lauren's relationship with Bo Dennis?" Sean opened his mouth to say something but Olivia held up her hand and said, "That doesn't matter since it isn't your job to reveal your charge's personal life. But you slipped up and Lauren and Bo are in the tabloids and now the mainstream media wants a piece of the story."

Sean shook his head and yelled, "Dammit!" Then he said, "I should be relieved of my duties. I have lost her and now she's in the tabloids. She shouldn't be in the fucking tabloids."

Olivia knew the man was feeling like a failure but there was a reason why she hadn't demanded that he be removed from Lauren's detail and she knew that this reason would probably help him through whatever mental scolding that he was giving himself. Olivia reached out and touched him forearm then said, "Sean look at me." He looked at her and she smiled, "Lauren trusts you which means you're doing your job as you should. If she didn't trust you then your job would be a lot more difficult. Trust me."

He nodded and said, "Thanks for saying that but I still fucked up." He let out an aggravated breath then told her, "I'm going to tell Lauren the news and I hope she doesn't kill me."

Olivia chuckled and before he began to walk away she told him, "I don't think she'll kill you."

"Why not?" He asked and Olivia smirked at the sceptical look on his face.

Her smirk turned into a smile and she said, "Because she's in love."

Sean grinned and said, "Well all be damned."

Olivia nodded in agreement but then said, "Okay but you still have to tell her."

He gave a slight nod then turned to walk down the corridor. Olivia walked back into her suite and smiled to herself. At least there was one good thing to come out of this campaign.

The press was desperate for a statement in regards to Lauren's involvement with Bo. When they had left the hotel there had been a crowd of news outlets and paparazzi that were waiting in front of it and they had enclosed on Lauren and her entourage as they demanded comments from her. Olivia had shouted for them to file a formal request with her home office in DC if they wanted an interview with her. Now they were two hours into their drive to Montgomery and Olivia had sent a statement to the press stating that Lauren's involvement with Bo was a personal matter and that Lauren didn't want to discuss it further. That of course led to further inquiries. Olivia was on her phone speaking with a reporter from the New York Times and Lauren was texting Bo who was making her way back to DC due to an assignment that she had to take care of. She wasn't happy that Bo had gone back home but at the same time it was for the best considering the predicament that they now found themselves in. Lauren's phone went off in her hand and she opened the new message from Bo, "Barely escaped the paps. Told them to go fuck themselves."

Lauren smirked at the message and replied, "Always so eloquent with words. Olivia is talking to a reporter from NYT but he's being persistent. Wants to know what your father thinks and if this is my way of getting into his head."

Lauren looked up the woman who was pacing up and down the aisle of the bus. Olivia looked annoyed but the phone conversation had been volleying between cordial to Olivia almost telling the man to go screw himself. It was amusing to say the least but Lauren was grateful that Olivia wasn't making her comment on the matter of her and Bo yet. She had no idea what to say about her and Bo. The two of them hadn't discussed what their relationship was nor had they discussed Bo's involvement with Lauren's campaign. Lauren didn't want her involved and there was no point for her to be involved. This entire situation was complicated and Lauren was leaning heavily on Olivia to help her navigate through it. "Charlie you know what? Take from this what you will but if you print this or post this online using only half-truths and assumptions then the Lewis campaign will have no choice but to sue you for slander." Olivia snapped before ending the call. She sat down in the seat that was across from Lauren and sighed, "You're going to have to say something. I might set up an interview when we reach Montgomery. They're going to want to know how long you have been involved with Bo, what this means in regards to you grieving Rachel's death-" Lauren grimaced and Olivia gave her an apologetic look, "I'm sorry but they'll go there. My question to you is what do you want to say?"

Lauren let out a quiet snort and shrugged, "I don't know. I have no idea how to address the questions they're going to ask." She pointed at her phone, "Bo and I haven't talked about anything and I don't want to talk about it because I think it's too soon." She sighed heavily then continued, "I don't want this to screw up everything Olivia and I feel that's all this is going to do."

Olivia reached across the table and took Lauren's hand. Ever since the news broke this morning Lauren had been reserved and she could tell that the woman was dealing with a number of emotions that the new attention to her campaign had brought up. But for the most part Lauren had remained poised and seemed willing to fight despite her uncertainty about whatever was going on with her and Bo. "Lauren I know this is new for you, and to be honest it's new for me too, but I think if we deal with this head on and with the integrity you're known for then the press will lose interest in you and Bo."

A short laugh escaped Lauren and she shook her head before apologising, "I'm sorry Liv but that sounds ridiculous. The press love Bo and they love me even more as the widow presidential candidate." Lauren let her head drop back against the seat and she looked up at the roof of the bus, "I'll make a statement but I think I will use one of my key points to deflect from it. Let's find me a topic and schedule a phone interview when we get for Montgomery."

Olivia got a surprised look on her face. It seemed like the turnaround Lauren had made had turned her into a better candidate and Olivia smiled as she said, "I will call Cara so she can set something up for when we get there."

Lauren chuckled and asked, "How is Cara? I feel like I haven't seen her in awhile since you've had her visiting our offices around the country."

Olivia kept her face light as she replied, "She's doing fine. The road seems to suit her. She's been getting a lot more accomplished by not being on tour with you." Olivia didn't trust Cara to be on the tour with them, but in a few days they were going to be in New Orleans campaigning and Olivia needed Cara there due to the many events that had been organised. Cara hadn't asked about Lauren the last time the two of them spoke but that was because she was in Chicago drumming up support. Olivia hoped that whatever infatuation Cara had with Lauren was over so that she could focus on getting the woman elected. She moved the conversation to different topic, "We've got an hour and a half to find a topic that will divert the attention from you and Bo."

Lauren opened up her laptop and sighed, "Well then let's get to work."

I know. I know. I'm sorry and I am the worst. I'm hoping that when I update I'll also update this one but who knows. But I do know I want this finished by the end of next month. So prepare for the end. Thanks for reading. Also reviews are nice.