A/N: To those of you who weren't fond of the Mellie/Rob scene in the last chapter…do not fear, I don't think I'm doing that again anytime soon. I wanted to illustrate the contrast between Olitz intimacy and Mel/Ro intimacy. You get it; it was painful for all of us….now on with the Olitz. This is a shorter chapter but I'm already working on the next one. Hope you will stick with me. Thank you for your reviews, they are always appreciated and really keep me writing!

Chapter 25

"Sir?" said Cyrus rubbing his eyes and squinting in the bright light streaming in from the hallway.

"Sorry to bother you Cy" said Fitz shifting from one foot to the other.

"Sir, why are you walking around the hotel in your pajamas?"

"Can't sleep in my room"

"Sir, I know it's really not my place to say but you and Mellie have to find a way to come to a truce," said Cyrus, exasperated, "There is no way that you'll get elected if you can't at least make it look like you love your wife."

"Can we do the lectures later?" Fitz rubbed his temples, "I just need a place to sleep."

"Sir…" Cyrus looked uncomfortable, "Sir, I kind of have….a guest"

"Oh…Shit, Cy, sorry" Fitz backed out of the doorway, "I didn't mean to interrupt."

Fitz walked to the elevator and pushed the button. He bowed his head suddenly feeling bone tired. The elevator opened and he nearly fell inside, and then pressed the button for the fourth floor. He leaned his forehead against the cold steel wall and closed his eyes. He concentrated on taking deep breaths as he considered the situation he'd just encountered. Suddenly he was laughing uncontrollably. He stepped out of the elevator, still hysterical with laughter then walked to Olivia's door and knocked.

"Fitz" whispered Olivia standing in the doorway in gray silk pajamas, "What are you doing here? You can't be here."

"I've got no place else to go Livie," laughed Fitz, "Cyrus and James are doing whatever Cyrus and James do when they're alone together. Robert Owens is in the unfortunate position of being naked with my wife. And I'm here…or I could go get another room if you'd rather. I'm sure that wouldn't rouse suspicions, the presidential candidate trying to get a new room in his jammies."

"Just come in" hissed Olivia opening the door further. Fitz walked past her and plopped himself down on the bed.

"How the hell did this happen, Livie?" he asked as he lay on his back on the mattress. Olivia tried to ignore the hint of skin exposed just above his waistband as he lifted his hands to rub his face.

"Us?" she asked tentatively. She walked to the bed and sat down.

"No, not us," Fitz looked in her direction, "For once, not us."

"Then what?" Olivia was having trouble keeping up with Fitz's thoughts.

"The campaign, how did I go from being a probable leading Presidential candidate to this?" he gestured around them.

"So this is about us," muttered Olivia.

"No" Fitz nearly shouted suddenly standing and starting to pace, "How did I not know that Mellie was screwing around? Why does my campaign manager have to be sleeping with a reporter? Why did my kids have to love you so much? Why didn't I just meet you years ago before all of this nonsense started?"

"I don't know how to answer those questions," sighed Olivia looking at him from the bed.

"I want to be President now. You made me want to be President, Olivia" she could see the pain in his eyes as he pled with her. He walked to the bed situating himself close to her, "You made me want this Livie and I want to be President, I deserve to be President." He was holding her upper arms tightly as he spoke.

"You're right Fitz, you do deserve to win," she was slightly frightened by his aggression and the unfamiliar look in his eyes.

"I need you Livie," he suddenly softened, "I need you to help me win this thing. I want it and I'm not ashamed of that. I want it with you Livie."

"Then we make a plan" he loved when she spoke with finality in her voice, like if she said it there was no way it wouldn't happen. She was so sure, so confident. She was great all on her own, she didn't need him to make her someone. She would be First Lady but she would be so much more. Mellie spent her entire adult life looking for the perfect husband who would take her to greatness. Olivia wouldn't allow herself to be defined by a man, he knew she would never be 'Fitz's wife' or 'Fitz's First Lady' he would more likely be 'Olivia's husband' and he loved that. She was driven and goal-oriented but she wasn't ashamed of it, she didn't hide it like Mellie did from most people. She would smile on his arm but she would weigh in on policy as well.

"Okay, let's do it" he felt a weight begin to lift from him.

Olivia arranged the bed pillows against the headboard and pulled back the sheets.

"Sit" she said gesturing towards the pillows.

"Oh, this is your plan?" he gave her a suggestive grin, "I'm not sure how that's going to help me get elected but I'm in."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, Fitz," she smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips, "Sit."

Fitz climbed into the bed, propping himself against the pillows. Olivia rooted around in her bag for her notepad and a pen then she crawled onto the bed and positioned herself between Fitz's legs. She leaned back against his chest with the notepad propped on her thighs. Fitz relished the simplicity of this time; holding her in his arms as she jotted ideas and asked him questions.

"Sometimes I think it would just be easier to hire a hit man" laughed Fitz as they discussed how to neutralize Mellie and Senator Owens.

"We'd have a pretty long list of people to off," laughed Olivia, "that could get expensive. And you'd probably have to have me killed, I'm a liability too."

"Liability? No way, Ms. Pope, you're the brains behind this operation" Fitz breathed against her neck with a smile.

"Oh great, that means I get the stiffest sentence" she mockingly rolled her eyes, leaning further against his chest and running her hands up and down his cotton covered legs.

"You know it" grinned Fitz, "I am a politician after all and you know it's always the little people that take the fall for us."

"Little people? Little people?" Olivia asked incredulous, turning to face him, "You're here, in my room, begging for my help and I'm one of the little people?"

Fitz's cheeks burned as Olivia knelt in front of him, "Mon petit chou," he smiled reaching for her.

"You speak French, Governor?" she grinned as he slid her closer to him, "full of surprises and secrets aren't we?"

"Yes, the Grant campaign is just its own little den of iniquity" Fitz reached his hands under her top, allowing his fingertips to skim her abdomen.

"Vous êtes tous mes rêves" Olivia breathed allowing the sensations of his touch to engulf her.

"You're my dream come true too Livie," his hands moved to her back, tracing her spine.

"Fitz…" she whispered, her eyes still closed.

"Yes Livie?"

"We need to get back to our plan"

"Everything is going according to my plan" he brought his lips to her sternum.

"Seriously Fitz, we need to get back to work" she did her best to sound stern.

"Say something else to me in French" his lips slid to the top button of her shirt.

"Vous êtes incorrigible" said Olivia sliding herself back into her spot in front of Fitz.

"Incorrigible, but you love me" he grinned kissing her neck.

"In spite of myself, yes I do," she laughed, "now we need to get this sorted out before we meet with Cyrus and Mellie tomorrow morning."

Fitz enfolded his arms tightly around her as they continued to discuss their plan. Finally, as it neared three AM they lay in each other's arms, exhausted. Olivia rested her head on Fitz's chest and he tracked small circles along her back and neck, occasionally placing light kisses on her hair. They both had trouble sleeping as they mulled over their plan and how they would get Cyrus and Mellie to agree to it.

X-X

Fitz turned and draped his arm over Olivia's petite form. He checked the digital clock sitting on the nightstand. It had been two minutes since he last looked, he felt like he was going crazy. Olivia's dark curls covered her face so he couldn't tell if she was asleep. He reached for his cell phone and dialed Cyrus' number.

"Hello?" said Cyrus obviously just waking up.

"Cy, I need a favor" whispered Fitz, "Could you go by my room and grab me some clothes?"

"Where are you, Sir?" asked Cyrus yawning.

"I slept on Liv's floor last night" returned Fitz.

"Whatever, Sir" responded Cyrus, "I'll have them to you in an hour."

"Thanks, Cy. You're the best."

"Indeed Sir" Cyrus hung up the phone and Fitz rolled back to Olivia.

He snuggled himself close against her back, an involuntary stirring in his groin.

"Don't even think about it Mister," he heard her mumble from under the mass of hair.

"What?" he said defensively, "I was just chilly, thought you might be too. I was trying to keep you warm."

"Is this" she grasped the now erect manhood poking into her lower back, "supposed to keep me warm?" She asked still buried under her curls.

"Actually for once I wasn't thinking about sex" he began to push the hair away from her shoulder and face, "I'm worried about our meeting."

"Me too, I've been awake for hours" Olivia concurred.

"Why didn't you wake me?" Fitz sounded slightly wounded.

Olivia turned to her back, her face now mere inches from his, "Because unlike some people I was trying to let you rest."

"I don't want you to worry" he traced her lips with his finger, "that's my job"

"It's a big job today, I thought I'd share the load," she replied rolling over and getting out of bed.

"Where are you going?"

"I thought a shower might help me relax and get focused for the meeting" she replied tugging Fitz's Navy t-shirt over her head.

"Were you going to invite me?"

"After what happened the last time we were in the shower together? I'm not sure I can trust you" Olivia walked into the bathroom, "Oh Fitz….do you want to join me in the shower?" she laughed over her shoulder. Fitz appeared naked behind her seconds later, "No funny business. You have to be ready for the meeting."

Fitz moved closer to Olivia running his hands under her t-shirt, "Why do you like wearing my clothes so much?"

"They smell like you…." She grinned, "and I know it makes you crazy." He lifted the shirt over her head totally exposing her silky skin. She felt his eyes travel over her figure while she leaned over to turn on the shower. They stepped into the water, both savoring the warm stream upon their tired bodies. Fitz picked up Olivia's body wash and drizzled some onto a washcloth before spreading it over her small shoulders and back. Olivia closed her eyes enjoying the sensation of the warm washcloth under Fitz's strong hands on her body. When he had finished washing her she returned the favor. As Olivia rubbed the temperate cloth over his powerful muscles Fitz allowed himself to get lost in considering the future. He smiled as he pictured them in their country house surrounded by children and family. He imagined still stealing her away from everyone to make love to her. Then he felt her hands and the washcloth leave his skin. His future was in jeopardy. It could only be saved if Mellie and Cyrus agreed to the plan.

X-X

Fitz left first for the breakfast meeting with Mellie and Cyrus. He felt nauseous and anxious as he prepared to go. Olivia straightened his tie and smoothed his collar, "You look very presidential" she whispered letting her hands rest on his chest.

"I'm afraid nothing is going to be the same once we leave this room." He said sliding his hands around her waist, "I don't want to go."

"Fitz…she whispered looking up into his crystal blue eyes, "it never will be the same but we have to take the chance that it's going to be better. You have to go."

"I love you," he choked, "no matter what happens in there, I want you to know that I love you."

"I love you too," she felt tears stinging her eyes but fought them back, "This isn't going to be easy but you're worth it. We are worth it." They shared a final intimate kiss before he disappeared out the door. Several minutes later she left to meet the rest of the group. The moment of truth was upon them. Fitz was right; nothing would ever be the same.