Fitz was staring at the TV as it flashed several images of him and Liv, some dating back to their campaign days. A part of him was glad that Olivia was in surgery and that she had no idea what was unfolding before his very eyes.

"CYRUS!"

"I just saw. They're camped out outside the hospital. There's no getting out of there unseen even if you wanted to leave."

Stephen, Harrison, Abby, Huck, and Quinn exchanged a look and a nod before standing to their feet.

"Mr President, let us help you." Abby said.

"It's the least we can do for Liv." Huck added while the rest of the gladiators nodded.

"Cy, I'm going to work with Liv's team. Keep me posted on what's going on there. I'm happy to walk on out there and tell them the truth Cy. I won't hide her like she's some dirty little secret. She's the love of my life." Stephen took that as his cue and started delegating, taking lead. They were going to ensure that Liv doesn't go down in a scandal. She was their priority. In a way it made the waiting less hard, keeping busy, doing something for her.

"We'll set up in the conference room next door. Huck, Quinn and Abby grab what you can and what you need from the office. Harrison and I will get started here." Stephen turned back to Fitz,

"Mr President we'll need to sit down with you to work out your next move should be. We'll fix this." He promised. Fitz nodded and turned back to Olivia's family, and to his children.

"I am so sorry." He apologized knowing that it could potentially get ugly. Michael Pope rose from where he sat and crossed over to where Fitz was,

"Son, I know how much you love my daughter and at times like these when her life hangs in a balance, that's all that matters. You have our support. Whatever you need." Fitz nodded and placed a hand over the one that Michael had on his shoulder and thanked him. Karen and Gerry stood close by,

"We stand together Dad whatever happens." Gerry reminded him. Fitz hugged them both gratefully.

"Fitz, when you go out there, with Gerry and Karen, I want to stand with you too. If Liv can't be there, I want to be there, for her and for you." Ellie said coming from behind Gerry,

"Are you sure Kiddo?" he asked looking at her and to her parents who gave him their support.

"Yes, if Liv could she'd be standing beside you, and if she can't. I will. Whether it be me, Mom or Dad, you'll have a Pope standing out there with you." Fitz's eyes filled with tears, overwhelmed by the love and support that was poured out in that room. He drew Ellie into a hug,

"I would be proud to have you stand beside me. I know for a fact that your sister would be so incredibly proud of you too."

Stephen, Harrison, and Fitz sat in the conference room and went through scenarios. He knew he was going to stand out there and announce to the world that he loved Olivia, what they were working out was how to do it.

Huck was trying to find out who had leaked the information from Pope Headquarters. Abby and Quinn returned with viable suspects to go through with Stephen and Fitz. In the end it didn't really matter who leaked it, it was out there, and they just had to deal with it the best way the can, but knowing who leaked it would determine how much they had and what they wanted out of potentially destroying the President and Olivia.

There were updates on Olivia's condition every hour, and they knew she was fighting with all she had in there but it was a struggle. There was so much damage from the bullets that repairing it was time consuming and dangerous, especially with the baby to consider. For the meantime both mother and child were holding on. It certainly helped that their little peanut had passed his/her first trimester, but both were far from the woods, therefore Fitz could barely keep his interest on the impending explosion of a scandal. He didn't care about the American people at the point his head and his heart were with Olivia and their child.

As Fitz sat there worriedly, waiting to make a statement Karen sat on his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head against his.

"She'll be okay Daddy. Livvy's stronger than anyone I know."

"I know Princess, I know." He replied softly hugging her tightly. Gerry draped an arm around Ellie who had grown incredibly quiet since the last update. Ellie looked up at him and gave him a small smile.

"I'm okay," she said trying to reassure him. Gerry grinned,

"You remind me so much of your sister. That's such a typical Liv response." Ellie laughed and elbowed him playfully. He had adopted her as another little sister so willingly and lovingly that it felt like she's always had him.

To Mellie's credit she had flown straight from wherever she was to be at his side when he made his announcement. They were going to stand as a united front. They owed each other that much. She knew with her pregnancy, things were only bound to get worse, and if they stood together from get go, it kept their family in tact, and that's all that really mattered to either of them.

The Gladiators had set up the press conference at the hospital. There was no way of getting out undetected and it worked in their favour that they were all already there. It showed that his children truly loved and cared for Olivia.

With Karen and Gerry on either side, Mellie close behind and Ellie beside Gerry Fitz stepped up to the makeshift podium.

"As you are now aware I am romantically involved with Olivia Carolyn Pope. She is the love of my life. Mellie and I have filed for divorce and have decided to go our separate ways. It is an amicable and mutual decision that we have discussed with our children. My relationship with Ms Pope was not planned, and it was something we tried to ignore, but moments like these, when we realize that life is too short that you make decisions for now. I will not go into the details of our relationship, as you can understand that there are some things that are privy only to our family. I am asking the American public to accept my apology. It was not my intention to mislead you or keep this from you, that this announcement did not come out before those photos did. It was always our intention to speak out once Ms Pope was out of the woods. Her health comes first at this point, and our families focus has been on her. Mellie and I are parting in a better place than we've been in a really long time. I will always care about her, and our children will always come first. She has my full support, as I have hers. I realize you will question my position as President and rightfully so, but I am here to serve you to the very best of my ability, as I have been the last two and a half years. Who I am as a President is rooted from those I love. My children, Olivia, Mellie, and my closest counsels such as Cyrus, from way back in the beginning to today. They are my strong foundation, and without each of them I would not be here today. If you ask me to step down, I am happy to do so. If this is my last term, I will serve it with the same passion and tenacity as I have these last couple of years. If you give me the chance, I would like to prove to you that the Grant administration still has so much more to offer, that there are plans and agendas under way to ensure that this country, this nation is not only great, but become even greater. Our work is far from over."

For the next half an hour Fitz and Mellie fielded and answered questions, working together, side by side to ensure that the legacy of the Grant Administration remains in tact. Gerry and Karen spoke up in the defense of their parents, and in support of their decision. They had expressed their love and respect for Olivia. When they had questioned who Ellie was, Fitz proudly introduced her as Olivia's little sister who was standing in place of her sister who could not be there. Gerry and Karen had taken a side each and stood beside Ellie in support. It was hard to miss the mutual affection between the Grant children and Ellie Pope. The three of them had become thick as thieves, there for each other ready for whatever storm that was to come their way.

When it was over, they had all collapsed exhaustedly in the waiting room. Eunice and Michael hugged their youngest daughter proudly for how she carried herself in front of the press. Both Michael and Eunice had thanked Fitz for what he said and for the way he loved their daughter.

They were all distracted and lost in their own thoughts when the doctor emerged from the double doors. They all looked up and stood to their feet in anticipation.