The better me

Olivia's office

"That's not what is best for this campaign. What is best for this campaign is getting your information correct. If you want to be apart of this team, you must be sharp, intact, engaged and ready to do what it takes to make sure that we win. President Grant is the best, he is going to win this second term and if you had the good sense that the good lord gave you, you will work like your life depended on it. Am I clear?"

John Moore shook his head and Olivia gave him an unyielding look.

"I need to hear you. A head nod is nonexistent in my eyes so, yes or no?"

"Yes. Uhm yes ma'am. I promise you I am the man for the job, I will be the best campaign minion ever. I swear Ms. Pope."

Olivia closed the folder in front of her and handed it to him.

"Alright. John, you will be helping with the campaign of President Grant. Thank you for your time and the commendable interview."

John grabbed his briefcase and stood up, thanking her once again as he shook her hand. Olivia watched as the awkward twenty one year old walked away and struggled to twist the doorknob and leave. Olivia held in her giggle until she saw him disappear into the hallway. Everything was moving along swiftly and she was proud of her endurance. It was like free falling and she was loving the breeze blowing through each strand of her hair. John was the last person that she needed to interview and hire for the extra hands needed to help with the campaign. The paper work, the buttons and stickers, anything to help out. Olivia closed her eyes and smiled thinking about the ride to the campaign. Everything was going to be different this time around. So much different. Her door swung open and her eyes immediately opened. Standing in front of her looking horrified stood Ethan.

"Ms. Pope, it's an emergency."

The day before.

Olivia closed the door and gave a delightful smile to Fitz.

"Hi, beautiful."

"Hi, handsome. Are you working hard?" Olivia asked as he stood up to met her half way.

"Yes, very hard. And you? Miss Campaign manager."

Olivia blushed at his praise, she held his hand and he let his free hand rub up and down her arm.

"Yes, I still have some people I need to see tomorrow. I have a good feeling about them but I just want to see if they can handle the expectations."

Fitz dipped his head so that he could kiss her neck. She sighed at the feeling and released his hand so she could hold his face.

"We need to leave before we get to carried away. I don't think the kids would enjoy us skipping out on buying their school supplies. I must say, I admire your stern wishes to go out with us this time."

Fitz chuckled and kissed the side of her hand.

"I missed out last time so I won't let it happen again. My meetings were earlier this morning and I made sure that my schedule was cleared for the rest of the day."

Olivia kissed him and opened her mouth when his tongue beckoned for hers. They kissed as if one or the other would disappear if they didn't stake claim of each other's tongues. The door flew opened and it took them longer than usually to disconnect when their privacy was bombarded.

"No wonder it's taking so long. Can we please go now dad and Liv?"

Jerry asked as he gave them a look.

"Yes. Right behind you."

Fitz said as he grabbed Olivia's hand to follow him. Jerry let them pass him and he shook his head.

"Teenagers."

After closing down Office Depot and shopping for hours trying to decide if folders would be better than binders, the Pope-Grant's left with as much school supplies as two kids could need. As they got into the SUV, the kids were starving. Fitz insisted that they stopped somewhere to get them something to eat. Walking into McAlister's deli, once again everyone in the restaurant were astonished by the gusto Fitz had to bring his family to lunch without clearing out the place. They placed their orders and Fitz talked to a few people who asked him who he wanted to see go to the Super Bowl this year.

"Liv, I need to go to the bathroom."

Karen said as she put down her cup of sprite.

"Okay, we will be right here."

A few minutes later, when Fitz was done talking, their to go order was ready so Fitz went and got them and brought them back to the table.

"Where's Karen?"

"Bathroom."

Olivia said as she put her cup down on the table, having second thoughts of drinking so much so fast.

"I actually need to go now so when we get back we can go."

Olivia got up and headed to the back were the bathrooms were. When she opened the door she heard sobbing.

"Karen?"

She heard a few sniffs and then went to the stall were it was coming from.

"Karen it's me sweetheart. What's wrong?"

Karen sniffed again and then told what was wrong.

"I, I think that I started my cycle."

The tears began to take over her voice again. Olivia stood outside her stall and sighed.

"Don't cry Kare, I know it's scary and new. I'm here now okay? What I need you to do is take this."

Olivia reached in her purse and pulled out a panty liner. Just until she could buy her something better later.

"Unwrap it and put it in your under wear. I will buy you tampons or pads on our way home."

Olivia bent down and slid the to liner to her. A few seconds later Karen emerged. Her face was red, she moved slowly to the sink and washed her hands. Olivia took a paper towel and wetted it; patting it under Karen's eyes and over her entire face. Karen mumbled thank you and Olivia shook her head.

"It's okay. Everything is going to be okay. It's just a part of growing up."

Karen wrapped her arms around Liv and started crying again. Olivia patted her back and kissed the top of her head.

"Come on, let's get you home."

Olivia opened the door and standing in front of her was her.

"Liva."

Olivia ignored her, Karen glanced up at the woman but continued to hold onto Olivia's waist as they walked toward their table. Tarren watched her walk away and put her head down as she entered the bathroom.

"Everything okay?"

Fitz asked as the girls returned.

"I need to stop at a store and then we can go home."

"What's wrong?"

He asked more concerned than before. Olivia smiled and walked passed Fitz with Karen still by her side. Fitz and Jerry followed behind, completely confused by what was going on.

"She stared her what!"

Fitz yelled as Olivia told him what was going on.

"Fitz! Stop it. I've got it taken care of. She was scared but she's okay now. I'm talking her through it."

Fitz sat down and covered his face and took a deep breath.

"It's okay" she said as she rubbed his back, "when you go and talk to her don't sound like she's broken or something, it's just her period. She's still your little girl."

"I know, I'm just thankful that you are here. That she has you to help her. Thank you, Livvie."

He pulled her into his lap and kissed her. Olivia smiled against his lips and patted his shoulder.

"Now, go and check on her. I need to run some errands and i'll be back."

"Okay."

He simply said as he stared at the beautiful woman getting off of his lap. He was blessed to have her, and to have her love his kids as much as he loved them. She was extraordinary.

"You will make a wonderful mother."

He blurted out without any regrets. Olivia stopped in her tracks and turned around. She was absolutely touched by his words. She never wanted kids but ever since she met Fitz, those thoughts were thrown away especially now since Jerry and Karen felt like hers.

"You are a wonderful father."

She simply said, he smiled and she turned away toward the door to leave. While in the hall way she checked her phone.

New text message: 261-443-0173

Liva, it's Tarren. We need to talk. Meet me at the lot across from wonderland.

Olivia locked her screen and left out of the White House.

"So are you following me? Or watching me?"

Tarren whipped her head around and stared at Olivia.

"No. Neither."

Olivia stepped closer to her-

"Then why were you at the same establishment as me and my family. Why after all of this time would you text me and say that we need to talk. Have you and my mother been working together? Because a few days ago she wanted to talk to me too. What the hell do you want from me Tarren."

"It's about Cyrus, he's in trouble."

Olivia cackled and smiled at Tarren.

"He's in trouble? And you know this how? You are full of shit Tarren. I don't know who you are and I damn sure don't trust you. I only came here tonight to warn you. Never come near me nor my family again. You are only loyal to whoever is in your face for the time being. If you had any sense, you'd join Evelyn in leaving the country."

Olivia turned on her heels and walked away. Her head held high and the sound of her heels echoing. Tarren stood there in defeat as she watched Olivia walk away from her.

"Hi Kare."

Fitz said as he entered her room. She was reading a book; propped up in her bed.

"Is that a good book?"

"It's okay. I've read better."

Fitz nodded and sat down on her bed. He watched her intently as she scrunched up her face as she continued to read.

"Daddy I'm okay."

"I know you're okay. I'm just checking in on my princess."

Karen closed her book and looked at Fitz. He stared back at her with so much pride. His little girl was the smartest, kindest and most beautiful daughter a man could ask for.

"I love you daddy."

She said sincerely as she kept eye connection with him.

"I love you too. Liv went to run some errands so if you need anything from me, don't hesitate."

Karen bowed her head and smirked. Fitz gave her a peculiar look, studying her eyes for what she wanted.

"I actually would love some strawberry ice cream right about now."

"Strawberry ice cream coming right up."

Present day

Olivia walked down the hall behind Ethan. He hadn't said another word until he opened Cyrus's door.

"Mr. Beene, here's Olivia."

Olivia saw Cyrus sitting in his chair crying. His eyes were blood shot red- he didn't sleep a wink in God knows how many hours or days.

"Cy."

He turned toward Olivia and gave her a slight smile. Olivia sat down in the seat in front of his. She let him control his tears before she spoke again.

"Cyrus, I need you to tell me what happen. What's going on."

Cyrus took a breath before speaking. He was a wreck. His face was red and covered with tears. She could only imagine what he could possibly be going through.

"Last night he wasn't home. He's always at home. Maria said that he left earlier that afternoon and hasn't come home. He always comes home, he is always there with Ella. Even if he leaves somewhere he takes Ella with him unless it's business. We haven't been seeing eye to eye lately but he would never make me worried like this. I waited for him but eventually went to sleep around three. Ella cried all night for him; she knows who I am but James is the one she sees every day no matter what. This morning I woke up expecting he was home but he wasn't. I went down stairs to see if he was feeding Ella. He wasn't, Ella was still in her room. Olivia, he is always up early with Ella feeding her" Cyrus covered up his mouth to hold in a cry. His other hand shook as he checked his phone in hopes that James text him, "he never came home. He never, he never came. Home. Never."

Cyrus covered his face as he broke down again. James was his everything and the thought of something bad happening to him, ate away at him.

"Cy, is there anything else?"

Cyrus searched his desk until his eyes found the picture of Ella and James.

"No. I just want him back."

Olivia nodded and stood up.

"Cyrus, you are now my client. The team and I will do everything we can to find him, do you understand me?"

"Yes. Yes, just help me. Please."

He said staring at her. Olivia turned away and left toward her office. She pulled out her phone and called the team.

"Harrison, we have a new client. Cyrus Rutherford Beene."

White House

She turned the corner and Fitz was there. She couldn't help the smile that began to creep up on her face.

"Hi."

"Hi."

Olivia opened the door to her office and pointed; gesturing for him to go in. He stepped in front of her and entered her office.

"So what's going on?"

Olivia sighed and massaged her temples.

"James is missing and of course Cyrus is torn up about it."

Fitz made a face and eyed her as she began to pace in circles.

"Livvie."

Olivia kept pacing in circles and mumbling to herself. She groaned and stopped.

"I will kill her."

"Olivia!"

She turned around quickly and folded her arms.

"Kill who, baby?"

Olivia walked toward the window to stare out of it. Fitz stood up and walked to her side. He wrapped his arms around her middle and stared out the window with her until she was ready to talk. They stayed that way for what felt like hours.

"My sister. Tarren."

Fitz held her a little tighter as he felt her tense up. He kissed her neck and went back to staring out the window.

"She uhm, she told me that Cyrus was in trouble but I didn't believe her. I think she had something to do with it. I just wish like hell that people from my past would stop trying to break me down. Just leave me alone to be with you and Karen and Jerry and our four babies" she reached up and caressed his face, "I just I just want them to leave me alone. My mom and my sister, I wish they would stop wanting to put dynamites on my railroad tracks."

Fitz let go of her so that they could face each other. She waited patiently as she looked up into his eyes for him to say something. He rubbed her back up and down before he said what he needed to say.

"I know that you feel like everything goes wrong because of the people in your life. Your father was command, you are his daughter and you helped rig an election-" Olivia tried to move out of his embrace but he held her. "And I know that it was the hardest thing you had to do. You never wanted to rig that election but the people that surrounded you, clouded your judgement and made you loose faith; not only in me, but yourself. Your mother comes into the picture and you have a break down, your sister comes into the picture and believe it or not, you feel like it's all your fault. The truth is, none of it is, Olivia. Their actions are not a reflection on you, at all. They are your family but they are not you and you are not them. I love you. The formidable Olivia Carolyn Pope."

He kissed her and let her go. She gave him a half smile and sighed. Everything he said was right. Even though she was a stronger, better Olivia, people just kept trying to derail everything she built but she refused to let them tear that down. She needed to find Tarren, she needed more answers for the sake of Cyrus.

OPA

"So you are saying that you think James left willingly."

Harrison said as he took a bite out of his egg roll.

"Yes. That is what I'm saying. There is nothing that I found that says that he met with someone. He left willingly from by himself."

Abby said as she showed him records from his phone log.

"So you want me to call Olivia and tell her that James left willingly and will be back after he comes back from his husband and kidless vacation? She's not going to buy that and neither will Cyrus. Come on now Abby."

Harrison shook his head as he reached for the box of cho mein only to have it snatched from his reach by Abby. She grabbed it and took a bite and held it in her right hand away from Harrison.

"I can't make something pop up on the records, Harrison. It is what it is I don't see anything and that's that."

"No. It's Cyrus."

Everyone looked at Quinn with questioning eyes.

"Cyrus has been talking to someone for months now by the name of Peter Morrison. Whoever this guy is, I think he had something to do with James disappearance."

"Hi."

"Hi sweet girl. How are you feeling?"

Karen smiled at her and Olivia knew that everything was okay.

"Much better. Are you okay? Who was that girl?"

Olivia sat down next to her and drew in a deep breath.

"My sister."

Karen's eyes grew with excitement.

"You have a sister?"

"Yup. She's actually my step sister but she's still my sister."

Karen frowned and cocked her head to the side.

"But why did you ignore her when she called your name?"

Olivia thought about her response. She wanted to say that she was a conniving bitch who was starting to become a real problem but she knew that wouldn't be right.

"I'm upset with her. She hurt me really bad in the past and then years later she came back into my life only to bring the same heart ache. She means well but it never reaches the surface."

Karen nodded and sighed.

"Jerry makes me upset sometimes. He can be really mean at times but he's my brother and I know he loves me. She loves you I'm sure, I mean who wouldn't love you? You're awesome, funny, super pretty, super smart and loveable."

"Thanks Kare." Olivia brought her in for a hug and a kiss on her head.

"Thank you, mommy. Thank you for everything."

Olivia smiled and kissed her head again. Karen began to pull back so that she could look Olivia in the face.

"We learned about periods in fifth grade. A lot of my friends got there's in the fifth grade and I wondered every day if I would get mine that year. I tried to talk to, tried to talk to my mom about it but she didn't want to hear it. She told me to ask my teachers at school about it. Having you here has done nothing but make my daddy happier than I've every seen him, and has made us a real family. With a really loving, awesome, supportive dad and mom. I hope you don't mind if I call you mommy. I won't call you that if you don't-"

Olivia grabbed Karen's shoulders.

"You can call me mom, mommy, momma anything you want. Karen, I lost my mom too. It's really complicated and one day I will tell you all about it but she left me when I was your age; without warning and without an explanation. My dad remarried and Loranne, that was my step mother. She was everything to me"

Olivia adjusted a little as she tried to keep the tears at bay. "My dad wasn't like yours. He wasn't loving, funny, he just was detached after she left, but Loranne, she was my mommy. She was at every swim meet, let me sneak popcorn into my room way past my bedtime, she held me and showered me in love. She was my mommy. We didn't look alike and we didn't have the same blood running through our veins but she was my mommy. I've never even dreamed of having kids because I was afraid I would be like her, Evelyn; my blood mom. But when I met you and Jerry, all of that changed. You two made me be a better me. I know that change isn't easy but this transition of being with the three of you, has made me appreciate so much" Karen swiped away her tears and then her own. "I love you Karen, I love you so much my awesome, funny, super pretty, super smart, and loveable daughter. Come here."

Olivia closed the gap between them and hugged. If they could, they would've never let go. Karen kissed her cheek before releasing her.

"I love you mommy."

"I love you too. How about you go see if dinner is ready. I need to make a quick phone call."

"Okay."

Olivia pulled out her phone and called Harrison.

"Liv."

"Harrison, where are we."

"Olivia, it doesn't look good."

"Mom! Dinner is ready!"

Fitz jerked his head toward Karen. She smiled at him.

"We had a long talk."

Fitz nodded and smiled. Jerry bumped his shoulder against Karen's

"So she's okay with being called mom?"

Karen looked at him with bright eyes.

"She's definitely okay with it."

Olivia emerged and had her purse in her hand. Everyone at the table frowned at her. She noticed their faces and a regretful look was well read on her own.

"I'm sorry, I have to take care of some business. I promise to make it up to you all with a pizza and movie night Friday" the kids both said 'deal' in unison. She smiled at them and walked toward the table. She gave Jerry a kiss first, then Karen and Fitz last. She whispered in his ear and he walked her toward the door.

"What's going on?"

Olivia gave him a serious look and he was all ears.

Cyrus opened the door with Ella firmly on his hip.

"Olivia?"

"Cyrus. What. Did. You. Do."

And there you have it! At the beginning Olivia is working on the campaign for the next election. I'm super excited about writing chapters for the campaign. With a new Olivia helping out, a lot of things will be different meaning... BAD ASS OLIVIA POPE IS HERE TO STAY! Karen and Olivia definitely did some heavy bonding in this chapter. What did you think about how that went? So Tarren is back right after Evelyn visited Olivia? hmmmm okay... And Damn! What is going on now?! What do you guys think happen to James?! Did he leave willingly or did that Peter guy have something to do with it. Do we even know who Peter truly is at this point? Well I hope you enjoyed the update! Go check out my other two updates on Can You Believe and I found my heart in Jericho! Xoxo! Leave reviews :-)