Opening the safe, he carefully took out the small velvet box. Lifting the lid, he could just stare it how beautiful it was and how perfect it would be for her,exquisite and stylish. The typical ring from Tiffany's and Cartier just wouldn't do. Not for Olivia Carolyn Pope. She was not the typical cardboard cutout of a woman. She was the one.
It was a family heirloom. Passed down three generations. The band was platinum and the stones were arranged in a floral pattern. Diamonds were surrounded by emeralds and rubies. He was told it was a gift from his grandfather Fitzgerald T Grant, the first to his grandmother. Knowing it was so special had to be the reason why he never gave it to Mellie. Big Jerry wanted him to, but he didn't think she was the type of woman who would value it. She valued the five karat rock he got her from Tiffany's. If he never found the one, he would have given it to Karen when she had found the love of her life. Then he could present her with the family heirloom.
Closing the safe, he spied her still in bed. She was so exhausted that he just couldn't wake her. Her dark curls were splashed out on the pillow as she stretched across the bed. Cuddled up in one of shirts, she looked adorable. A smile seemed to have been hidden on her face.
Now he had to ponder where he would ask her. He had thought about this very topic many times. He first imagined sitting in the home in Vermont and getting down on one knee in the very room where they made love that day. He wished he could recall the many stops and hotels on the trail if he wanted to return where it all started. But there were just too many of those.
He strolled down to the Oval and pulled back the white silk drapes. It was now getting close to Thanksgiving and the first snowfall had hit Washington. A light dusting covered the bushes in the Rose Garden. There were only empty bushes. But somehow , that seemed like the best spot. He had recalled that time where they declared their love for each other that evening.
"I wait for you . I watch for you . My whole life is you . I can't breathe because I am waiting for you You own me, You control me, I belong to you."
"I love you. I'm in love with you. You're the love of my life. My every feeling is controlled by the look on your face. I can't breathe without you. I can't sleep without you. I wait for you . I watch for you. I exist for you. If I could escape all of this and run away with you..there 's no Sally or Thomas here. You're nobody's victim, Liv. I belong to you, We're in this together."
The words just seem to hang on the cold air. With everything snow covered, he tried to imagine the setting. No he would have to call someone. He was starting to put a vision together.
Olivia finally got up , courtesy of her bladder. She looked over to see the other side of the bed empty. Probably running the world , she thought. She was slowly getting used to the idea now. This was going to be her new home. She was lucky no one caught them today. It was Saturday. Walking around the Residence, she could only look at in awe. The antiques and the stories in this place.
It started to dawn on her. She was going to be First Lady. Olivia Carolyn Grant. She had recalled the many First Ladies she read about in school. She was going to be one of them , trail blazer , not your typical one like Mellie was. She wanted to be a role model for young girls. She was a trail blazer, the first First Lady who was African American to a white President. She would set the tone and the style. She didn't know when he would pop the question, but she had her suspicions. It would be soon. She could always trust her gut.
By meeting with Quinn and Abby, Fitz had formulated a plan. He was disappointed that he couldn't toast their engagement because of the baby. But then that it was sparkling cider was for. He also pointed out that they would soon have to announce the engagement to the world. Press conferences, magazine interviews, and television interviews would have to be planned. It was time , he could finally come out to the world with the woman he loved and the woman he planned to spend the rest of his life with.
Olivia was quite surprised to see Karen standing in the hallway. She didn't really know how the girl felt about her. After the whole interview mess, she wasn't sure of how either Grant sibling felt. Karen had been through so much.
"Hi Olivia, where's Daddy?" she asked looking around.
"I don't know. I woke up and found him gone.I guess even on a Saturday , there is stuff to do for the President ." Olivia answered.
Eyeing her she said, "I see you have moved in already."
Olivia didn't know how to answer that. She really was just so tired and collapsed, so Fitz had her spend the night.
"No problem. I mean Andrew and Mom are shacking up too. She's staying with him."
Olivia was speechless. She knew that Fitz would have to talk to her about everything, but it really wasn't her place. She could either be Dad's cool girlfriend or the wicked stepmother from hell. She chose the first.
"Hey I see you got some really great outfits there." Olivia loved to talk about fashion because it was also her passion.
"Yeah, I went to Rodeo Drive for some retail therapy. Courtesy of Andrew 's guilt and Daddy's credit cards. " Olivia noticed one other thing. Karen's goth look was gone , she was the typical California blonde now. She was wearing a mini blue jean skirt and pink crop top. "
"Like it ? I had my hair done by Chris McMillan and the outfit is from Fred Segal."
"Well?" Olivia was speechless. She wasn't the only one.
"Karen?" Fitz got a look at his daughter and he was definitely not pleased.