Chapter 25

"I just want to make sure that none of this blows back on Olivia. We have a tumultuous relationship, but I don't want her getting any of the blowback from this," Rowan stated.

Maya added, "He's right, she has a child. We can't have any of this come back on her in any way."

Cyrus said, "Well, it has to come back on someone, and it can't point back to one of us if it doesn't work out. There would have to be a target."

There was silence. After a moment Cyrus speaks, "Well, I guess we can use Fitz. It makes since that he might want to take her presidency from her. He is her ex-husband, and they had a rough divorce. He sided with me after the Frankie Vargas murder instead of her. It's actually perfect."

Maya said, "That's messing up their little family, though."

Both Cyrus, and Rowan scoffed. Cyrus said, "Oh, Maya don't go getting all maternal on me. We both know you don't like your daughter being married to that super privileged white boy. I don't see any other viable scapegoat. Plus, this is simply in the event that it is discovered that we are trying to frame Mellie. If things go as planned we won't have to worry about using Fitz."

Both Maya, and Rowan nodded.

Rowan said, "Ok, so lets run it down one final time."

Cyrus said, "In the morning I am going to have an article released stating that Mellie was in an elaborate scheme with her education nominee. I have some members of the senate ready to call for an investigation with the possibility of impeachment. We have all the evidence manufactured so that the article is corroborated. If things go as plan, we can have Mellie looking at impeachment by the end of the week."

Rowan nodded, "Ok, It's a go."

Sitting on her sofa looking at the laptop Huck had setup in front of her Olivia was completely stunned. She said, "I know that this is real, but I can't help but feel that it can't be real. I just want to know what my parent's motives are in collaborating with Cyrus on this scheme. This is crazy."

Huck said, "Well, right now we don't have time to contemplate this. They are moving forward with their plan. We have to strike first in order to win. We see that they already have a backup plan that includes throwing Fitz under the bus."

Olivia nodded, "You're right, Huck. We have about an hour before the nightly news airs. We need to leak this video."

"It won't hold up in court," Quinn, and Abby stated at the same time.

Olivia nodded saying, "I know that, but the shock that this conspiracy will garner may make it so that we can get it in. I am not worried about the video being able to be used in court. I am worried about exposing them before they can expose Mellie. So we have to do this."

Abby asked, "How do you want to leak it? What outlets?"

Olivia looked at Abby saying, "Twitter of course. Things move so fast on Twitter. A dummy account. Make sure to send it to the head of BNC, and every other news outlet. Why are you all still sitting here looking at me? We have to move now, because the morning papers are being printed right now, and we have to strike before they can strike."

Quinn asked, "Wait, how do we know that they haven't figured out that we are onto them. They could be making us think that they're moving on with their plan, in order to force our hand."

Olivia shook her head. She said, "My gut is telling me that this is it. This is incriminating no matter what. He can't know that we are on to him because they admitted to their whole entire plan. There is no spinning out this one. They are admitting to a conspiracy. RELEASE this footage NOW!"

It wasn't often that Olivia raised her voice, everyone startled a little, and moved to get her requested tasks completed.

Fitz walked over to his wife. He could see the hurt in her eyes. This wasn't about Mellie any longer. This was about the betrayal of her parents. He didn't say anything to her. He just sat beside her, and waited for her to speak. He gave her one minute. One minute to regroup. One minute of his unwavering support. One minute to feel her emotions.

After a minute she said, "I don't understand. Why would they do this to me? Why would they do this to Ava? She is an innocent baby, but they were willing to frame her father, and take you away from her, not to mention your other children. What kind of people gave birth to me?"

"I'm sorry that you have to deal with this, Livvie. I'm here with you every step of the way. We are going to get through this together. You're not doing this alone. I want you to remember that," Fitz comforted.

Olivia said, "I'm not sad, Fitz. I am angry. I am angry because I don't understand. I really don't. My dad already killed Jerry. Now this. What does he have against you that he would go to such lengths to destroy you? I don't get it, and I want to know at what point does my happiness matter to him?"

At that moment Huck entered the room. He said, "Ok, the footage is live."

Olivia accessed her Twitter account, and the first thing that she saw was the footage. She smiled for the first time since watching the footage herself.

Quinn came in, and turned on the television to the breaking news story on BNC.

Olivia grabbed her cell phone off of the coffee table, and called her father. She didn't want to speak to him, but she wanted to appear shocked by the news. She didn't get an answer. So next she tried reaching out to her mother. Again her call went to voicemail. Next she called Cyrus, and he answered on the first ring. He said, "Liv, where are you?"

She answered his question with a question of her own, "Cy, what the hell is going on? I'm at home watching the news, and there was a breaking news interruption, and this crazy ass video of a conversation between you, and my parents is being aired."

Cy said, "Liv, listen. I need you to meet me at the Naval Observatory. I don't know what the hell is happening, but I need your help through this because this could be bad."

Olivia said, "Cyrus this video is super incriminating. I don't know what you expect me to do. I can't combat a video, Cy. What were you all doing? Is it true, that you all were trying to frame, and impeach Mellie?"

"Liv, I can't talk about this over the phone. Can you please come over," He pleaded?

Olivia said, "Cy, it's evening time, and I have children. I don't have time to come running at your beck and call. Why don't you just talk? Plus, based on what I am watching on the news I am not sure I even want to here what you have to say. This all seems pretty self explanatory."

Fitz looked at his wife. He was proud. She was playing the role perfectly. This would keep the scent off of them for a little while. No one could play the media game as well as Olivia Pope.

Cy said, "Someone is at my door. I have to go. Liv, it would be greatly appreciated if you could come over here."

Olivia shook her head, "I'm sorry Cy, I can't."

As soon as Olivia hung up with Cyrus her phone rang again. She saw that it was Mellie. She asked, "Where the hell is Cyrus Rutherford Beene?"

"Mellie, calm down this is us. I am sorry I wasn't able to speak with your before acting, but the window was short, and we had to act fast," Olivia explained.

Mellie let out a deep sigh. She then asked, "What is happening, Olivia?"

Olivia explained everything what she had learned that night. She said to Mellie, "So in order to beat them to the punch I had the team release the footage. It's hard to refute. We can use this to prove that they were in the middle of a conspiracy to frame you, and we can bring charges against them. David is here working on that now."

"Why didn't you think to call me to give me a heads up," Mellie asked?

Olivia started counting down from ten. "Mellie, I had every intention of keeping you in the loop, but I didn't have the opportunity to do so yet. I had to act, and then I also had to do damage control so that they wouldn't link us with the exposure. So that we can make sure we can nail them for good. Mellie this is it. We are finally going to get my parents, and Cy. This is basically all we have been fighting for the last few years."

Mellie was silent for a moment. Then she said, "Ok, I understand. Are you going to be here first thing in the morning?"

Olivia replied, "Yes, I will be there in the morning, and we can talk about this. I'm coming super early because I know that Cy is going to be coming in early, and we are going to need to speak before he gets here because he is going to be really watching us closely.

Mellie said, "Ok, I'll see you in the morning. Text me before you go to bed to let me know what time."

As soon as she disconnected with Mellie her phone rang once again. She said, "Hello?"

"What. Did. You. Do. Olivia," Rowan asked with a clenched jaw.

Olivia frowned saying, "Excuse me? What do you mean what did I do? I am not the one who is on the television, and all over the internet co-conspiring with Cyrus Beene."

Rowan said, "I know that you had something to do with this. Are you always going to choose those white people who care nothing about you over family?"

Olivia snorted. She said, "Your cohort, Cyrus Beene is one of those white people dad. Stop trying to use racial injustices to try, and manipulate me. It's not really an issue in this situation."

Rowan said, "Racial injustice is always an issue. Have I taught you nothing?"

"Is that why you're working with Cyrus? Look, dad. I was simply calling you to see if you needed help, and to have you tell me that it wasn't what it looks like, but you've said none of that. So…"

"Of course it's what it looks like. You should be coming up with a plan to fix this," Rowan said.

Olivia asked, "Why would I help you? Mellie is my candidate. Why would I help you sabotage her presidency?"

Rowan said, "Because the republic will be turned upside down because of this revelation. Because we are your parents. You owe your very existence to us."

Olivia pulled the phone away from her ear, and she stared at it. As she disconnected the line she thought to herself, "Is he forreal?"

Fitz said, "That was your father?"

"Those people are crazy. Do you hear me? They have no remorse for the chaos they've started," Olivia explained.

Fitz said, "Well, right now we have them right where we want them. What do you want to do? I am going to stand by you no matter what you decided. Because we are a team, remember."

Olivia sat there considering her options. Fitz was a little concerned that she might not want to take her parents down this way. After a moment she looked into his eyes and said, "There is only one thing to do. We have to burn it all down. We move full steam ahead."