Disclaimer: I own nothing. I am only playing with the characters Shondra has provided. The sandbox they're currently playing in, however, is mine.

Plans and Change

Chapter Eleven

Olivia was wearing a dark crimson dress that hit her mid-calf. It had a neckline that draped low with an open, low back. The woman at the store had guaranteed Olivia it looked amazing. Standing next to Fitz in the room at his fraternity house, she hoped the woman had been right. She looked at Fitz, frowned and walked to his closet.

"What are you doing?" He was putting his cufflinks in place.

"Getting you a different tie." She flipped through the ones on the hanger until she found one that was better. "Here, this one."

She waited for him to take off the other tie as she opened the tie in her hand flat. "No don't..." his words died and he looked at her sheepishly. "Don't suppose you know how to tie a tie, do you?"

"Fitzgerald Grant!" Olivia laughed and lifted his collar, sliding the tie around his neck and proceeded to tie it. She put the collar back into place and straightened it. "You need a tie tack."

"Have one." His hands fell onto her hips as she adjusted his tie. "You look stunning Livvy. Did I tell you that yet tonight?"

"No, you didn't, but thank you." She let her hands rest on his shoulders. "You look very presidential."

"Good, since I'm the president emeritus around here. I need to look at least a little like I owned the title." He kissed across her bare collarbone and she shivered, the flutters were back in her stomach.

"Fitz..."

"We could stay here. Forget the parties." He nibbled along the line of the front drape of her dress. "Have our own party here."

Olivia gripped his shoulders to keep her upright as her knees went weak. He took her breath away as a hand traveled up over the skin of her bare back. "Fitz, you have to go. We have to go to these parties."

He lifted his head and she saw a very different look in his eyes. "You'll stay here tonight?"

She knew what he was asking. She waited only a few seconds before she nodded. "Yes, I'll stay with you tonight, Fitz."

He rested his chin on the top of her head. She put her hand on his chest, over his heart. It took only a moment for his breathing and pulse to slow and sync up with hers. "Let's go do this so I can get you back here and alone." He moved his head, leaned down and kissed her, more urgently than he ever had before.

Olivia had a feeling it was going to be a long night.

They walked into the second event of the night, having left the first early to get to the Chancellor's on time, and Olivia was feeling better. She'd laughed and had a good time with some of the guys in Fitz's fraternity. He'd even let a select few dance with her. He made sure to sit them at a table full of poli sci and psych majors. She'd even met a few girlfriends who were glad to see him with someone other than Mellie.

Fitz presented his invitation to the man at the door and they were immediately allowed entrance and followed the flow to the grand ballroom. It was stately and decorated in crimson and black with silver accents.

"It's breathtaking, Fitz." Olivia whispered and Fitz just smiled at her and squeezed her hip.

"Come on, let's find a table." He leaned down to her ear. "There will be speakers first. Do you want anything to drink?"

"No, I'm fine for now, but if you want something, go. I'll find our table." He looked unsure until she nudged him. "Go. I'm a big girl. I can find your name on a card."

He hesitated and then pointed discretely. "I'll be right there."

Olivia kept her voice low, "Oh my God, Fitzgerald Grant. Go. Get a drink. I'll be fine." He let go of her reluctantly. "Stop that. You look like someone just took your favorite toy." She smiled when he laughed and tapped a finger on her nose before heading towards the bar.

Olivia walked past mostly empty tables looking for Fitz's name when she felt a hand on her elbow. She turned and saw Fitz's father standing there. "Olivia. I'm sorry about earlier. I'm just looking out for my son. I hope you understand."

"It's nice to see you this evening, Senator. Yes, of course I can appreciate a father looking out for their child." Olivia used all of her debate prep skills to stay focused on what he was, and wasn't, saying. She and Fitz had had a long conversation that afternoon about his father. Fitz wanted her on guard when she had to be around Jerry. So she would be, to a point.

"Well, maybe we can try and start over. For Fitz's sake." He held out a hand. "Fitzgerald Grant II, but you can call me Jerry. And my you look beautiful tonight."

She shook it once, not unaware when he held on to it. "Thank you Senator. I was just looking for Fitz and I's seats."

"Well, you're in luck. I happen to know where they are. They're right next to mine."

Olivia started to say something until she saw Mellie and an older couple walk up. Olivia assumed they were her parents; the woman looked too much like Mellie to not share DNA. She kept quiet, waiting to see how it would play out.

"Jerry, it's so good to see you!" Mellie walked straight up to him. "I'm so glad you could make it."

"Millicent, my girl," he kissed her cheek in greeting. "It's good to see you." He reached and shook hands with the man behind Mellie. "Patrick."

"Jerry, Millicent said you were handling things." Mellie's mother seemed tired. "This doesn't look handled." The look on Mellie's face said she agreed with her mother's assessment.

"I came up here to see my son. Seems I met someone new in the process." He squeezed Mellie's shoulder. "Now, let's not make a scene, sweetheart. Best to keep things to ourselves, no?"

Mellie glared at Olivia. "I don't know how you did it. But this is not over."

"Millicent, sugar, now we don't want a scene. Why don't you go on and get yourself something to drink to calm your nerves. We can talk more another time." Jerry kissed her cheek.

"Of course Jerry." Mellie turned and kissed her father's cheek. "I'll get you and Mom a drink while I'm there."

"That's a girl." Jerry kept Olivia's hand in his, but Olivia watched his eyes stay on Mellie's parents. He waited until Mellie was gone before introducing her. "Patrick, Maribelle, this is Olivia. Olivia, these are the Riley's. They're friends of the family."

Olivia would've greeted them, despite the cold, withering stares, except for Fitz's voice. "What the hell is going on?"

She turned and moved to him. "I'm fine. Your father was just apologizing and introducing me to the Riley's." She stroked a hand over his arm. "Fitz, I'm fine. I promise."

"Fitzgerald." Maribelle's voice scraped down Olivia's last nerve. She wondered if he noticed. "Mellie is very distraught over this whole thing."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I was trying to be honest with her. I wanted to spare her being hurt any more than would already be the case." Fitz's free hand stayed at Olivia's back.

"Yes, well, I'm sure you two will work things out." She looked over Olivia, making no attempt to hide her distain. "You two always do. Let's go Patrick."

Mellie's father looked at Fitz. "Fix this with my daughter." He walked off, discussion was not an option.

Fitz let out his breath and started to turn on his father. Olivia stopped him. "Fitz, your father apologized for earlier and he just sent Mellie on her way for me. Don't."

Fitz looked at his father. "Why?"

"Why what, son? You always think there's an agenda. I might have appreciated what Mellie brought to the table, but it's clear that Olivia makes you happy. I wouldn't want her upset." Jerry pointed. "Our table is over there. Let's get this pretty little girl off those heels. Those can't be comfortable."

Fitz kept silent and his hand on her back as they made their way to the table and sat down. Olivia sat between the two Grants and wondered exactly how much more interesting the night could possibly get.

Fitz knew in his gut there was something going on. He'd tried to warn Olivia after that afternoon's run in with Jerry not to trust him. But, seeing the people who had been friends of her parents, people she knew were politicians but never considered them more than ordinary people, and seeing them treat her with such kindness, Fitz knew that she wouldn't take his warning about Jerry seriously. He turned his chair so he could watch them, mostly his father, but her too. He needed to watch her face, to make sure she was truly okay. And she seemed to be. She had Jerry in a lively discussion, apolitical views and all. Hell, he'd even laughed. Yet, it was still there, that feeling in the pit of his stomach that said his father, in all his political glory, was up to something.

She leaned a little towards him. "Fitz, just breathe. Everything is fine. Want me to go get you another drink?"

He kissed her lightly. "No, I'll get it. Are you sure you don't want something? A glass of wine?"

"At the Chancellor's dinner? Thanks but no. I'd rather not get kicked out before I'm finished with my first semester," her chuckle made his heart lighter and the knot in his stomach loosen just a bit.

"One more hour and then I take you out of here," he found the spot right behind her ear. "I don't give a damn who hasn't spoken yet."

"You're going to have to learn some patience if you're going to make it in office. Can't be sneaking out of state dinners and formal affairs." She tipped her head exposing a little more of her neck. "Do you have any idea how long the correspondents' dinner is?"

"Not in office yet." He said as he made his way down her jaw, "I'll have plenty of time to practice."

She laughed again, this time drawing Jerry's attention, who gave him a look, but Fitz didn't give a damn. "Go on, go get your drink."

"Jerry, I'll get you another." Fitz walked off towards the bar and left her there smiling and talking, with his father, which was still distracting him when Cyrus stopped him from walking into a pillar by the bar.

"Hey, kid, watch it. Don't want to mess up the pretty face." Cyrus looked around. "Where's Liv?"

"At the table... with Jerry." Fitz sounded disturbed, even to his own ears.

"They're..." Cyrus turned and scanned. "You left them alone?"

"Cyrus, I swear, this afternoon he was up my ass about Mellie. Couldn't say a nice thing about Liv or to her. Tonight, I come back from the bar and find them standing there, Mellie's parents leaving, and Olivia telling me he'd apologized." Fitz put his glass on the bar and ordered another scotch. "They've been talking and laughing all night."

"What the hell has your father got planned?" Even Cyrus looked worried.

"I have no idea. I've been trying to figure it out and I keep coming up with nothing. Maybe, Christ I don't know." Fitz ran his hands through his hair.

"What is it?"

"Marcus Higgins and his wife came up as they were walking past. They saw Olivia."

"Marcus and Elizabeth." Cyrus was still scanning the room. "And?"

"They had a nice conversation with Liv. Invited her and I out to brunch in the morning, teased her a bit about you getting her here and on debate instead of at Yale, and then they left." Fitz picked up his drink. "Honestly, there was nothing particularly... No, wait, it was right after that. Jerry got demanding and pompous."

"This is unusual?"

"No, just that he wanted to know who she was and how she knew them. I tried to tell her to just come with me, let him stew, but she-"

"Wouldn't. Of course not. She's a friggin' Pope. " Cyrus started muttering under his breath. "THIS is what I meant Fitz. This is exactly what I meant."

"Would've been goddamned nice for you to clue me in that she was the Secretary of Education's 'little Livvy' or that she walked around on a first-name basis emailing US Representatives and their wives, Cyrus. You made it sound like... like..."

"Like she'd been sequestered? She has Fitz. She knows now that these people have titles - mostly because she follows politics and because when they showed up at her parents' funeral it was locked down almost as tight as the National Archives. But to her, they're always going to be Elizabeth, her mother's very best friend, and her husband Marcus." Cyrus pointed to the table. "I'm going to go sit with her until you get back. Go get some air and walk it off. You go back upset, she'll get upset."

"She looks beautiful tonight." Fitz sighed. "I told her one more hour. That's it and then we're heading home."

"You're going to brunch tomorrow with Marcus and Elizabeth?" Cyrus gave him a pointed look. It was one he knew well. It said there was no real question there.

"Even if I couldn't tell that she desperately wanted to, yes, I'd still go." Fitz drained the rest of the scotch.

"Good. It's a smart thing to do. They adore her. They're good people to know."

"Cyrus," Fitz looked at him seriously. "How much of Washington does she know?"

"Enough. And a more than a few damned real-life royal families too." Cyrus patted him on the shoulder. "Her addressbook would read like a politician's wet dream, kid. But don't ever cross her. She knows some people on the other side of the line too. She just doesn't have any idea that she does."

"Great." Fitz muttered as he put the glass down on the bar and waved the bartender off.

"Go outside, get air. Eat a breath mint. I can keep an eye on my goddaughter until you get back."

Fitz nodded and waited until he saw Cyrus almost to the table before he headed towards the back of the room, down the hall, through the double glass doors and out onto the marble veranda. He held on to the rail and took a few breaths. Maybe Cyrus was right. Maybe he just needed to relax and sober up.

"Hello Fitz."

Or, maybe he'd just set himself up to be ambushed.

"Mellie, what do you want?" He didn't turn around. He wouldn't give that to her.

"Already escaping out here? Fitz, I understand. I talked to Mother, and I understand." He felt the hand land on his shoulder before he shrugged it off and turned

"You what?" Fitz grabbed the hand that was reaching out for his arm and held her wrist tightly. "What exactly do you think you understand Mel?"

"Men have needs sometimes for... exotic tastes." She said it like Olivia was a damned flavor of ice cream. "That as politician's wives, we need to adjust a little. Learn to 'take one for the team' as it were if we're going to achieve our mutual goal. I'm adjusting Fitz. You can have Olivia while you're with me, as long as you don't create a scene. No more dates. No more PDA in the airport. That's over. But otherwise, you can see her and... well, we know you've always had a healthy appetite. If I wasn't enough, all you had to do was say so."

Fitz was furious. He'd never once wanted to hit a woman, but Mellie was making it very, very tempting. He tossed her hand aside. "Mellie, Olivia is not something you need to adjust to. What you need to adjust to is that you and I are over. Full stop. Stay away from me. Stay away from Olivia. Don't test me Mel. I find out you have been anywhere near Olivia, and I will make damn sure that you're time for husband hunting on this campus or any other one where I have any ties will be over." He pulled away from her. "Good luck finding a husband mommy and daddy approve of headed to the White House from the local community college."

"You bastard." The slap she landed stung but he grabbed her wrist before she was able to land the second one.

"Maybe I am, because I should've done this years ago."

Fitz walked back into the Chancellor's mansion and headed straight for the table where Cyrus moved over one chair so Fitz could sit down. Liv leaned into his shoulder and he buried his face in her hair.

"You okay?" Her voice was muffled by his body, but she didn't move. Just let him hold her.

"Yeah. I just need one minute." He wasn't ready to let her go yet. Too afraid that everything else would go with it. Everything he needed most was packaged inside a crimson silk dress and snuggled up in his arms. The scent of fruits and flowers - of his Livvy - bombarding his senses.

"One minute."

AN: Thanks to everyone for the great reviews and feedback. I didn't break this chapter up because it really needed to be all in one place. I'm sorry if it made it too long for anyone.

So... Who agrees with Fitz (and Cyrus) that Jerry is up to something - or do we think Liv's charm won him over? What about Mellie? Do you think we've seen the last of her? I promise, the next chapter he's getting ready to take her home and they will (finally) have a love scene. (I've heard the reader outcry for that, I swear! But it had to happen organically!)

Until next time, enjoy and Happy Reading!