Yes, got in another update before the end of 2015. Unfortunately there will not be another update for at least two weeks. Disclaimer: Don't own Scandal or its character. Please excuse any typos. Happy Reading, Happy Holidays and as always reviews are greatly encouraged.

Immediately after the interview, Fitz met with Abby and gave her several tasks. Abby became interim White House Communication Director after Adam Gray, Olivia's replacement. Adam quit after Fitz repeatedly refused to allow him to answer questions regarding Olivia' statement about her relationship with the president.

Fitz walked into the Oval Office; he loosened his tie and removed his jacket. He took a seat in his office chair and a huge smile spread across his face

Cyrus stormed in his office, "have you lost your mind Fitz . . . have you?"

Fitz looked confusingly at his Chief of Staff, "What's wrong Cyrus I think that went pretty well . . . I must say."

Cyrus shook his head. "Well Mr. President . . . well . . . you just told the American people you have a love child with an former employee . . . I think that went terrible . . . no horrible . . . no atrocious."

Fitz just could not stop smiling, "I think someone spent way too much time reading the thesaurus." Fitz paused, "You really need to relax Cy before you give yourself an heart attack . . . you are always talking like the world is going to end . . . I am still here and the whole world knows my big secret."

Cyrus began to pace over the presidential seal in the Oval Office, "You must be kidding me . . . you know they are going to impeach you for this right . . .hell they are probably right now meeting to draft the motion to impeach you."

Fitz was unfazed by Cyrus impeachment talk, "Cy every President probably since the creation of impeachment has been threaten with impeachment." Fitz chuckled "if I was not threaten with impeachment at least once during my time as president I have not worked hard enough."

Cyrus shook his head, "This is not a joking matter Fitz . . . they are going to investigate every aspect of your relationship with Olivia and any other woman you have had an relationship with since becoming President . . . are their others I don't know about Fitz."

Fitz shook his head. "No . . . I know how to keep it in my pants and plus I am a little busy being president you know . . . to be this big playboy you think I am in your head."

Cyrus responded, "I cannot tell . . . if you could keep in your pants, we would not be in this mess right now."

Fitz shrugged. "Hey we in this mess and the American people know about this so called mess . . . so why stress about it Cy . . . so I think we should think about announcing my run for re-election probably in a month or so, by then the news cycle will be on to its next scandal."

Cyrus threw his hands up. "Run for re-election . . . have you heard nothing I have said . . . they are going to impeach you . . . there will be no need for a campaign for re-election . . . you will not remain in office to finish your first term."

Fitz chuckled, "impeachment for what . . . sleeping with a woman that was not my wife . . . then every President would be impeached Cy . . .Besides being an adulterer is a moral wrong not a legal wrong . . . Olivia has been paid only what she has earned while working for us . . . no taxpayers money have been involved in my dating of Olivia or fathering of Lily . . . I have employed really good accountants and attorneys to ensure of this . . . so what are they going to charge me with Cy."

Cyrus shook his head. "Two words . . . Bill Clinton . . . he got a blow job and got impeached."

Fitz laughed loudly, "Cy . . . he also lied about said blow job . . . I just told American people I had a relationship with Olivia Pope and we share a child . . . I think I have been very honest about my extramarital relations . . . plus the presidents that actually went through the process of impeachment . . . Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson didn't lose their jobs after being impeached . . . it requires 2/3 of Congress to agree to remove me . . . as you know Congress don't agree on anything."

Cyrus stared at Fitz in astonishment "How could you be so calm and joyous about this . . . you pretty much blew up your life in there and you look like you just won the lottery right now."

Fitz shrugged as he stood and goes over to the bar that has been restocked. He touched the scotch but then opted for the bottled water instead.

Cyrus noticed this. "If you are not going to drink that . . . I will." He walked over and poured himself a drink.

Fitz patted his shoulder. "You should really relax Cy, the world is not on fire and there is always an tomorrow waiting for us."

Cyrus shook his head. "I cannot relax because that tomorrow looks grim."

Fitz smiled, "I think tomorrow looks beautiful." Fitz goes and sits back in his chair.

Cyrus downed his drink, "I going to do damage control . . . where is red . . . when I come back, can you lose this sunny attitude it is really annoying." Cyrus walked out of the Oval Office and passed Mellie as she walked towards it.

Abby returned and quickly handed Fitz a file and walked back out before Mellie walked into the Oval Office.

Fitz saw his former wife. "Round two . . . Hello Melody Fletcher . . . how are you."

Mellie slammed the door shut behind her, "How am I . . . how am I Fitzgerald . . . Melody Fletcher . . . that is not my name . . . my name is Mellie G-r-a-n-t."

Fitz smirked as he leaned back in his chair slightly. "Not anymore my former wife . . . you are no longer First Lady, like you are no long a Grant."

Mellie walked close to Fitz's desk and placed her handbag on his desk, "You know they are going to impeach you that stut you just pulled during the interview."

Fitz face still held a smile, "That my ex-wife is none of your concern anymore . . . nothing I do is any of your concern anymore . . . now you can put all your focus into getting George getting elected mayor of Los Angeles."

Mellie looked shocked, "What did you just say Fitz." She narrowed her eyes at her former husband.

Fitz leaned forwards. "Los . . . Angeles . . . mayor." Fitz smirked at Mellie. After Olivia voiced her suspicion that she thought Mellie may behind her car accident, Fitz began to investigate her and was informed by his detail that Mellie was trying to launch the political career of her lover George. Tom had obtained paperwork she filed recently for the mayoral race in Los Angeles.

Mellie shook her head just filing the paperwork before she flew back for this interview, "How did you know that?"

Fitz raised his eyebrow, "I know every move you make Mellie and I will undercover every secret you possessive." The tone of his voice changes to a deeper tone at the latter statement indicating he knows she is hiding other stuff also. "You really thought I would let you use my name and goodwill with the Californian people so you can launch another man's political career . . . a man who is not fit for politics Mellie."

Mellie shook her head, "I don't know what you think you know, but George would make an amazing mayor and an even better President one day." Mellie muttered revealing the real reason why she did not blow Fitz away during the interview after he revealed he fathered a child outside of their marriage.

Fitz rolled his eyes, "George is an academic Mellie . . . he has always been an academic . . . even in law school he was more content with writing law articles and reading casebooks then debating real issues and advocacy . . . so you think just because he has you by his side you can . . . what . . . turn him into me."

Mellie looked directly into her former husband eyes. "No I don't want to turn him into you, he will far surpass you Fitz . . . he is smarter . . . better looking than you . . . and actually loyal . . . loyalty a thing you lack . . . and surely if I can make a pompous whiny man like you into the President . . . I am sure I will have no problem getting George here too."

Fitz did not response and was quiet at first. Then he released a loud belly shaking laugh from his mouth.

Mellie looked confused, "What is so funny Fitz?"

Fitz said without hesitation stated, "You . . . you are funny Mellie . . . for someone who claims to hate being ornamental . . . and who had aspirations to one day sit in my chair as President . . . you sure do jump at the chance to remain ornamental . . . a mayor's girlfriend or wife really Mellie . . . gone from picking out décor in the White House to what . . . judging local cookie baking competitions."

Mellie shook her head, "I cannot be anything but be ornamental thanks to you Fitz . . . don't you remember you made me sign away the political career I was destine to have . . . so yes being by the side of a politician is the best I can do thanks to you."

Fitz laughed again, which only made Mellie more angry, "always the victim, no your actions is what led to you having to sign your rights away . . . I am keeping the American people safe . . . the last thing this country needs is another politician who has no sense of right and wrong . . . and would do anything even conspire to murder an innocent child to get their way . . . as far as me keeping you ornamental . . . that my dear is a lie you tell yourself . . . I am not stopping you from doing anything but politics . . . you can practice law again . . . you can start a nonprofit that helps children . . . hack you can go cure cancer . . . you can do anything with your life Mellie but politics . . . but you are choosing to be ornamental . . . choosing to have your contribution to society be picking out ties and being someone's arm piece."

Fitz stopped laughing and narrowed his eyes at his former wife, "Despite your education at some of the best universities in this country and the resources you have had access to . . . deep down inside you know you will never be functional because you are content . . . even happy being ornamental . . . it's sad you are a waste of life."

Mellie could feel her eyes burn with a mixture of anger and sadness. She would have preferred for Fitz to choke her again. Fitz's choose to hold up a mirror to Mellie's life instead hurt her more than any form of violence because he told her the painful truth she has always tried to avoid. Mellie shook her head not wanting to give him the satisfaction of knowing he hurt her deeply with his words. "You don't know a damn thing about me Fitzgerald . . . not a damn thing . . . I am going to be happy with George and we will make it back to the White House . . . while you will be lucky if you are still here by the end of the month . . . you just blow up your life . . . what is worse you blew up my poor innocent's teddy's life too."

Fitz shook head, "Selective memory Mel . . . you did that by yourself . . . wanting to brag about your brand new relationships and feeling the need to ran your mouth . . . I would have happily claimed Teddy and kept his paternity to myself . . . you are the one that choose to expose him to scandal . . . that is on you . . . not me."

Mellie shook with anger. "No, this is all your fault . . . you went off script to brag about your bast . . ." Mellie paused and remembered the last time she referred to Lily as a bastard which almost resulted in him choking her to death. "Uhm I mean your daughter . . . I had to say something to save face . . . I refuse to let you make me look foolish because you knocked up the help . . . but you still managed to make me look foolish because the American people can praise you for stepping up to take care of your illegitimate child but I am being portrayed as the lowest form of a woman because after your betrayal I moved on and had a baby with a man I was in a long-term committed relationship."

Fitz began to laugh at Mellie again. "Give the girl an Oscar . . . in that whole rant . . . you did not once mention concern for how this is going to affect Teddy . . . you probably don't care because you are an selfish individual who thinks the world revolves around you . . . I am so happy to rid myself of you . . . you are truly toxic."

Mellie gripped her fist. "I am toxic, you are toxic Fitz . . . you ruin everything . . . for what love . . . you are a damn fool."

Fitz smirked. "I am a happy fool . . . oh that stut you pulled about me giving your properties in our divorces was cute . . . but not happening."

The corners of Mellie's mouth turned up finally seeing a battle she could win with him today. "That my dear . . . that is out of your hands, I just told the American people on live television you had given them to me already . . . you cannot take them back now, that would make you look like the controlling, vindictive, bastard you truly are . . . cannot have the American people seeing that side . . . not sure if it matters now since you will surely be impeached soon.' She paused, "I'll expect the deeds and the keys to those properties by tomorrow."

Fitz matched Mellie's smile, "Oh you do not have to wait that long." Fitz pulled out a press statement. "You are so generous Mellie . . . instead of taking those multimillion dollar properties yourself . . . you have decided to sell them and have the proceeds go to the Boys and Girls Club of America since you are such a huge advocate for youth and education . . . you want to start your new life by giving back."

Mellie shook her head, "No I don't . . . those are my properties . . . forget them poor minority kids in that damn program . . . you cannot do this."

Fitz shook his head in a similar matter. "Yes I can and its already done . . . I had Abby draft and release a statement about five minutes ago . . . as you so eloquently stated you cannot take this back . . . you don't want the American people to know that you are a selfish, entitled, egotistical witch . . . do you."

Mellie's arms shoot up in anger "You sonabit . . . "

Fitz cut her off, "You will not use that kind of language in my office Mellie . . . your business here is done . . . and you have a flight to catch."

Fitz pulled a draw and dropped a Southwest airplane ticket on his desk in front of Mellie.

Mellie looked confused. "What the hack is that . . . I am not flying on Air Force One?"

Fitz shook his head, "Nope . . . we are no longer married nor are we friends . . . so privileges such as Air Force One is no longer an option for your flying enjoyment . . . I cannot have the American people thinking I am misusing taxpayers money flying an former first lady around."

Mellie picked up the ticket and read it. "One coach class ticket . . . you couldn't spring for first class and where is my detail going to seat."

Fitz shrugged his shoulder, "I am being generous, I could have purchased you a Megabus ticket . . . I heard the rate is as low as a dollar . . . your detail has been reassigned . . . no longer First Lady . . . means you no longer have a detail."

Mellie shook head in disbelief that he could be so cruel to her. "You want me to fly with common people without security . . . what if something happens to me."

Fitz rolled his eyes. "You will be fine . . . you always are saying you are a woman of the people . . . go be with the people . . . I am having a car take you to the airport so . . . you still have time to say goodbye to Gerry and Karen in the Residence."

Mellie in her anger snatched her handbag off Fitz's desk. When she roughly grabbed the bag, she accidentally hit her cellphone that was in the bag against the desk. The cellphone auto dialed the last number called which was the Residence. Gerry was in the residence, saw his mother was calling and put her on speaker which is what he normally did when Mellie called the Residence, so both him and Karen can speak to her at once. They both said "Hello Mom" but get no answer from Mellie, instead they could hear the conversation between Mellie and Fitz in the Oval Office.

Mellie placed her bag on her shoulder, "Why should I go say goodbye to Gerry and Karen . . . they are your kids . . . you took my title away . . . my home . . . my reputation . . . I just thought they were a part of the package of things you took away from me today Fitzgerald."

Fitz sighed, "you are the reason all those things were taken away from you . . . you are the one that conspired to have Lily kidnap . . . so stop playing the victim when you committed the crime Mellie." Fitz paused. "As far as the kids, I would never take them away from you . . . you are . . . unfortunately their mother and I would never stand in the way of that relationship . . . they live with me because their school is here but that does not mean they cannot talk to you and visit you in California. . . I am even willing to fly them to you after they have Christmas here with me at the White House."

Mellie responded back sharply, "Don't bother doing me any favors Fitzgerald . . . you keep them for the holidays . . . you and that whor." Mellie paused again looking at the tension raise in Fitz's eyes when she is about to call Olivia an whore again. "You and that woman can keep them for the holidays and forever . . . I never wanted to be an mother in the first place . . . that was another sacrifice I made for your career so you can have the picture perfect family . . . I would have been perfectly content not having kids yet, I could have avoid the stretch marks I got with the boy and the c section scar I got with the girl."

Fitz shook his head in shock his former wife could be so cruel. "Please don't tell me you actually believe that . . . you seriously cannot be this heartless Mellie . . . they are your children . . . you carried them for 9 months and gave them life . . . now you want nothing to do with them?"

Mellie narrowed her eyes. "You are the one who wanted them so badly in the first place . . . I wanted to abort them . . . so they are your problem now."

Fitz stood from his seat having enough of Mellie talking about his children this way, "You know what Mellie I did not think it was possible for me to get an lower opinion of you, but you just prove me wrong . . . I knew you were a selfish person but this is a new low for you." He shook his head, "you know what Mellie, I not going to let you get me down . . . today was a good day for me . . . you don't ever have to see my children again . . . it is not like you have been much of a mother to them anyway, so they will not miss much when you are not in their lives anymore . . . I will be the only parent they need . . . I will step up and love them unconditionally . . . they will not want for nothing, because I will be their everything . . . now get the hell out of my office before I throw you out myself physically."

Mellie grabbed the jacket she tossed on the couch when she first walked in and put it on, "I will gladly leave this hell to start my new life with my new man and our child." She stormed out of the door and passed Olivia on her way out.

The two women traded looks, but did not say anything to each other.

Mellie made it to the waiting black SUV and to her surprise Gerry and Karen were waiting there for her. "Oh what a surprise."

Gerry arms were folded as he looked away from Mellie. He had no desire to be there, but he was not going to let Karen confront their mother about what she said alone. During his time in Africa building green houses and providing medical support, he got to see mothers who traveled miles to get water and food for their children and mothers who on their deathbeds making arrangements for their children, they were going to be leave behind. Seeing these woman sacrifice and unconditional love for their children, only confirmed for Gerry, what he accepted a long time ago, Mellie was no mother to him. So the things they overheard their mother say to their father in the Oval Office, did not surprise or shock Gerry, they only confirmed for him he was right to never give her a place in his heart. Mellie, to him was always just the person he stood near during photos and press events.

Karen on the other hand was steaming mad and wanted to confront Mellie. Unlike Gerry, Karen always held hope that her mother would one day, be a mother to her. She always imagined that one day Mellie would be like other people's mother's . . . nurturing, caring, and protective. Despite Mellie never taken an active role in Karen's life or even talking to her for extended period of time, she found it hard to believe that Mellie had no maternal feelings towards her own children. The conversation she overheard however, proved her assumptions wrong and this enraged the teenage girl.

The three of them stood in silence as Mellie waited for her children to say something.

Karen finally got her bearings and muttered, "Oh you surprised old stretch marks and c section wanted to see you off."

Mellie looked confused, "stretch marks and c section . . . is there something wrong honey."

Karen snapped back at her mother, "Don't honey me . . . Mellie . . . I just wanted to see your face one last time to tell you . . . me and my brother do not need you . . . Mellie . . . so you can leave and go live your new life with your new man and your only child."

Mellie raised an eyebrow, "I don't know what your dad and that whore have been telling you two but . . . "

Gerry had not intended to say anything but he cut her off when Mellie called Olivia out her name, "Don't call Olivia an whore . . . Mellie."

Mellie shook her head, "I do not know what has gotten into you or your sister . . . but you will address me as Mom."

Karen shook her head, "No we will not, you made it clear in your conversation with Dad you want nothing to do with us . . . and I quote . . . they are your problem now . . . so Mellie you are no longer First Lady and you definitely are no longer our Mom."

Mellie placed her hand over her mouth, "You heard our conversation?"

Gerry nodded his head, "Yes, you pocket dialed us we heard everything you said after dad told you . . . you can say goodbye to us in the residence."

Mellie shook her head, "I . . .I . . so . . sor."

Gerry held up his hand, "No Mellie . . . save it . . . Dad will make sure me and Karen are fine . . . you have a flight to catch."

Both Gerry and Karen turned and walked away from Mellie. Neither of them bothered to look back as they returned to the White House.

Mellie was shocked as she opened the door and climbed it. She looked at the White House as the car pulled off and the place she fought so hard to get to slowly begin to get smaller and smaller before she could no longer see it.

Meanwhile back in the Oval . . .

Fitz just settled back into his chair, when Olivia came storming into his office. He smiled "Round three."

Olivia raised an eyebrow, "Round three . . . what?"

Fitz chuckled to himself, "nothing I just have had a lot of visitors lately, Livvie."

Olivia shook her head, "you did not get the privilege back to call me that Mr. President."

Fitz smiled, "we are back to formalities Ms. Pope again?"

Olivia placed her handbag on the couch, "You know they are going to impeach right . . . that is if I don't kill you first."

Fitz let out a laugh. He rolled up his sleeves of his blue shirt, "why does everyone think I am going to get impeached . . . am I doing that bad of a job as President?"

Olivia shook her head not understanding what Fitz was so happy about, he just destroyed his political career, "because you just told the world you have affair, knocked up a former employees, and have a love child . . . these are things that tend to led to investigation and impeachment President Grant."

Fitz stood from his chair and shrugged his shoulder, "I just told America my truth . . . why is everyone acting like it's the end of the world . . . I think the interview went well in my honest opinion."

Olivia shook her head and raised her hand to her left temple to rub it by making little circles, "went well . . . are you still drunk from yesterday . . . or did you hit your hit in your drunk supper because you destroy any chance of re-election."

Fitz moved closer to Olivia, "Oliv . . . I mean Ms. Pope . . . you should relax . . . do you want a shoulder massage . . . that has always relaxed you when you were stressed in the past."

Olivia moved further away from him, "No I don't want a freaking massage . . you also blow up mines and Lily's normal lives . . . I asked you for one thing . . . one thing . . . don't tell the whole world about our daughter yet."

Fitz's smile spread across his entire face, "I know and that is the one thing I could not do . . . I would say I am sorry . . . but to be honest . . . I am not . . . Lily was born from two extraordinary people . . . she was never meant to live a normal life in the first place . . . I don't want to wait to tell the world I have an amazing extraordinary beautiful two years name Lily"

Olivia shook her head, "Why are you smiling so big . . . why are you so happy . . . are you sure you not still drunk . . . if you were drunk it will explain why you just blow up your life . . . the script was working."

Fitz responded, "I am not drunk." He held up the bottle of water he was drinking. "The script was not working for me . . . I realize half way through the interview, why am I trying to protect a status quo . . . I don't subscribe too . . . I want to live in my full truth . . . if the American people could not accept that . . . then they are free to choose another leader . . . this is a democracy after all."

Olivia turned to Fitz, "So this was your way out of being President?"

Fitz shook his head, "No, still intend to be President and I will be launching my re-election campaign in a month or so, after Cyrus calms down . . . that man seriously is going to give himself an heart attack." Fitz chuckled to himself.

Olivia shook her head, "re-election . . . you have really lost your mind President Grant."

Fitz leaned his head to the side and smiled at Olivia, "You are really sexy when you are all mad and use formalities with me Ms. Pope."

Olivia rolled her eyes, "You would think with the head in your pants . . . and not the one on your shoulder . . . at a time like this."

Fitz smiled and moved a little closer to Olivia, "Dance with me."

Olivia moved away from him, "Dance with you . . . there is no music and nothing to celebrate Mr. President."

Fitz extend his hand, "We don't need music and there is everything to celebrate Oliv . . . Ms. Pope . . . I am happily divorced . . . I have no secrets from the America people . . . and I have three amazing children."

Olivia shook her head still upset with him. "No . . . I am not going to dance with you."

Fitz shrugged his shoulder and began to dance around the seal of the Oval Office. He did a formal waltz like he had a partner. "Does Lily eat Thai."

Olivia watched as he danced around his office happily. "President Grant why are you inquiring about Lily's eating habits . . . when you should be concern about your job security."

Fitz began to hymn to himself as he waltz. "My job is very secure . . . but I don't know whether my two year like Thai . . . I know she likes spaghetti . . . I made her my famous Grant spaghetti and meatballs . . . she loved the noodles and sauce but hated the meatballs pushing them off her plate."

Olivia lean her head to the side, not knowing Lily had his famous family dish. "Did you cut the meatballs into small parts so she could see the insides . . . larges chucks of meat can be intimidating for little children."

Fitz shook his head, "No, I did not think of that . . . I have not feed a two year in a long time . . . thanks for the tip." Fitz admittedly was not around much when Gerry and Karen were her age, so a lot of his experiences with Lily were new.

Olivia fought the corners of her mouth turning up slowly. She came here to tear him a new one for exposing the existence of their daughter, but instead they are talking about future dinner plans with their daughter. A part of her hated how easy it was for them to fall into this familiar banter, it made it really hard to stay mad at him.

Fitz noticed the smile forming on Olivia's face. He smiled back at her and looked deeply into her brown eyes. "So . . . Thai for Thursday dinner will be fine?"

Olivia looked away feeling that undeniable spark when they stared into each other eyes. "Yes, Thai should be fine Mr. President." She turns to grab her handbag.

Fitz laughed to himself. "You really going to keep calling me Mr. President huh . . . come on Livvie . . . say my name."

Olivia found herself smiling remembering the first time she called him Fitz. It was during yet another overnight commute to yet another campaign rally, Fitz had just told Olivia, Mellie lied about having a miscarriage. Despite knowing and stating how inappropriate it would be, Olivia let her feelings for this man take over and fulfil his request.

Fitz smiled also remembering the same memory. He was so nervous in that moment, he had just let Olivia know about the sham that was his marriage and pretty much asked her to be inappropriate with him. The silence she gave him after he requested for her to say his name; nearly made his heart drop from his chest. Then like the first sign of sunlight, she said Fitz and everything changed.

Olivia put on her jacket and walked towards the door. "I'll see you on Thursday . . . Fitz."

Recap: Cyrus is a step away from having an heart attack . . . Mellie is gone, gone, gone . . . on a commercial flight back to California after a smack down by her own children . . . Olivia intended to kill Fitz, but couldn't because he was to dawn happy.

Preview: Aftermath of interview

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