Cyrus walked Olivia to her car after she and Fitz said their goodbyes. She was hopeful of the things yet to come. For the first time it felt like they had a shot at forever and the possibility almost made everything they had been through worth it.

"It's good to see you kid."

"You too Cy. Are we really doing this?" She asked still in shock.

"It's your time Kid. He held on for as long as he could but as cliche as it sounds, he needs you above anything else. He has only lasted this long because you were the endgame. Through Karen he was a able to suss out whether there was someone new in your life,"

"I would never have told her,"

"No but something would definitely shift and she'd feel it."

"Are you okay about this?" She asked knowing how against it he was when he first found out.

"I just want you both to be happy. There are so many things I did during that time that I'm not proud of. I hurt you, and that was never something I ever wanted to do."

"Thank you Cy, for what it's worth, I always understood the thought behind it. Why you were so angry, and why you thought the worst. I know you've always only just wanted to protect him."

Olivia got home and slipped her shoes off before sitting on her couch turning the TV on. She reached for the secure phone and dropped him a message to let him know that she had arrived home safely. She wasn't at all surprised when it rang moments later,

"Good evening Fitzgerald,"

"So official." He said in a mock hurt voice.

"Hi," she said softly,

"Hi…" Olivia could hear him grinning on the other side.

"We're this close to being two teenage kids." She pointed out with a chuckle,

"I've missed you, and I'm happy I'm talking to you. Sue me!"

"I've missed you too Fitz. I never thought we'd get here." She confessed.

"There were some days I was scared we'd never get here. That by the time I was ready, you would have changed your mind. That you wouldn't want this anymore."

"I wouldn't be honest if I tell you I didn't try to not want this anymore. Which is why I had to move. I knew being in the same city as you was never going to get me there, that I had to start a life that you weren't a part of if I stood any chance of getting out of this in one piece."

"Baby I'm so sorry."

"I know. I love you Fitz, I always have and I know I always will, but it's not that simple anymore, not that it ever really was, but I'm not who I was when I left DC, and you might find that this me isn't who you've conjured up in your head. That's a lot to live up to Fitz. We were in a whirlwind romance, it was exciting, forbidden and intense in so many ways, I guess a part of me is a little scared that what we have doesn't transcend to this season."

"From the moment we met, we've had an instant connection. You remember that is the reason why I fired you. I knew you were going to what was going to make me undone. My greatest temptation. Then we started the campaign and spent as much time as we did with each other. I found that you were the only person in my world that I never had to think twice about what I was saying or thinking. You got me, and I got you. You could read me in one look, you knew how to diffuse me before I even got to the point where I knew I was about to explode. I have never been able to be just me till you walked into my life. I know it was the same for you. We have a level of trust between us that was and inexplicable. It is effortless, and tonight after so long it's still there. I know you felt it too."

"I did Fitz."

"I'm not saying it's going to be perfect from here. It's not going to be. I'm sure I will screw up more times than we can both possibly count, and we still have the whole unveiling of the divorce to live through, but Liv I want to give us a go. To give us the best chance we can to give this a go. We'll go as slow as we need do, I just need you to let me know when you feel you're about to wig so I can talk you off your ledge." Olivia smiled,

"Deal."

She had dinner with Karen, Gerry and Fitz, the night they left Boston to continue their campaigning. The following morning there was a delivery of a big bouquet of flowers waiting for her at her office when she walked in. Without looking at the card she knew who it was from. The arrangement was made up of colourful gerbers, iris' and tulips which were her favourites.

"Wow, you weren't kidding about woo-ing a girl were you?" she said as he answered after one ring.

"I take it the lady approves."

"The lady does, thank you. They're beautiful."

"I figure it's the least one could do after they skip town,"

"Well that is true. Thank you, I love them. I'll let you get on with your day, I just wanted to say thank you for my lovely surprise."

"You're welcome. I'll call you later."

So it began with daily phone calls. Whenever Fitz wanted to tell her something he would pick up the phone and call. Normally it was to ask about what he should say, how he should address himself, mostly it was to tell her that he missed her.