Hello readers, thanks for joining me again for this story. It's going a wild ride for sure. I thought of one direction when the story started, and it's quickly taken a different path. Ergo, in case you haven't noticed. This isn't going to be a typical Olitz story. There will be much more to this one, than any other story you've ever read about Olitz. So, hopefully, you're all up to the challenge :0)
Also, thank you so much for the reviews; I really enjoyed reading them. I know some of you were a bit thrown by the last conversation between Olitz. Some of you thought Fitz overreacted. Perhaps he did, to a point. But, hey, when you've been hurt before, and hurt deeply it makes you gun shy. Anyway, let's see if he redeems himself in your eyes or not in this next installment.
She gets up off the floor and sits on the bed, as she waits for the phone to be answered. She feels like her heart is going to stop at any minute. After a series of ringing tones; her hopes fall short, and she suddenly hears voicemail. She's getting frustrated, and also all cried out at this point. As she sits in thought; she can't seem to muster up anymore tears. She is so angry at herself for not coming clean sooner about Matt; she cannot even look at herself in the mirror.
The pain in her heart feels so real; she truly feels like it's breaking. She grabs her phone again; seeing its 9:30am, she realizes that's why Ellie didn't answer. She remembers she volunteers at the boy's school today. Suddenly she also realizes the press meeting will be starting soon; so she goes to turn on the television. As she picks up the remote; her phone vibrates.
She sees there is a text from Fitz. She stares at the unopened message for at least five minutes before she reads it. She is terrified at what it may say. She takes a breath and clicks on the message. It reads, "I love you. We will talk later." Seeing the text makes her smile, and gives her hope that maybe they can resolve this, and move forward. But she is still feeling terrible, so she calls Abby to get this off of her chest.
Abby answers, "My goodness two calls in two days, perhaps we are on to something here." Liv replies, "Abby I messed up. I really messed up." Abby is no longer smiling, she realizes her friend is in need, so she says, "Livy what's wrong?" Liv explains what happened, and Abby is quiet for several seconds before saying, "Oh my God Livy. I am so sorry." After her response; Liv has found more tears, and is obviously crying. Abby feels her pain, she doesn't want her to be this upset; however, she understands Fitz's feelings about how this looks.
Abby suddenly remembers one ray of hope. She says, "Livy you said he texted you right?" She responds, "Yes," as she wipes her eyes. Abby replies, "Then honey if he says he will talk to you when he gets back, and he loves you, that's a good sign. At least he didn't say kick rocks."
Abby's comment makes Liv laugh; exactly what she was going for. Abby continues as she says, "Livy I know your upset; but you have to calm down, and look at things for what they are honey. He loves you. He isn't going anywhere; he is just upset." Liv knows that Abby is right. She just has to give him his space, and time to deal with this, and then they can talk it out. For the first time since the situation unfolds; Liv is breathing and functioning well.
She and Abby talk, and the conversation takes her mind off of her current issues, by distracting her with work. They end up getting a number of work related tasks completed, and despite Liv feeling better, Abby decides to take care of the business calls, Liv needed to make. Feeling a sense of calm coming over her; Liv says, "Thanks for talking to me Abs. I really needed it." Abby replies, "You are more than welcome honey. You get yourself some rest, and I will talk to you later okay." She looks at the clock and sees it's almost 11:00; so she says, "Okay, Abs. Have a good day." Abby replies. "You too hon, Bye." After getting off the phone with Abby, she decides to check in to the presser. She wonders how he is doing or looking.
She turns up the television volume, as he walks into the room. He looks flawless, and like he is on top of the world. No one would ever know, he is going through such an emotional time. She guesses that is the beauty of being a politician. He can put his game face on at any time, to fit the moment. She's watching the presser; but she's really not paying attention to what he's saying, she's just looking at his face.
As she checks out mentally a little; she sits in thought trying to figure out, what she is going to say to him when he comes back. Her thoughts are broken by a reporter asking, "What do you have to say to people who question your effectiveness and understanding of being an advocate for families and family values, when you have no children, and you're not married?" She pauses for his answer; he says, "I'd say to them stay tuned."
Liv cracks a smile and the reporters laugh too; but then he says, "Seriously, a person doesn't have to experience everything; to be compassionate or passionate about it. Families are the backbone of our society, and must be protected and preserved, regardless of their make-up or social economic class. Another reporter follows up, "You say stay tuned Gov. Grant; does that mean that something is brewing for you in the love department?"
He responds, "Yes there is Lacy, and that's all I am willing to say for now. I've already said too much. You're going to get me in trouble." He says with a charming grin. Liv watches, as all the female reporters chuckle; Liv notes Lacy appears to be laughing extra hard at his jokes, and she appears to be somewhat upset about his admission of being in a relationship. She's a bit too aggressive for Liv's taste. Liv notices the other female reporters are getting back to asking more politically based questions. Whereas Lacy, is staying on the personal track.
However, Fitz handles the questions seamlessly; he's so damn smooth, a true smooth operator. She is happy to hear his response about having someone in his life; again another good sign they may make it through this after all. She watches the rest of the first meeting, and all of the second, before she decides to go get ready for his return.
As she washes her face and cleans up her appearance as best she can; her phone rings. She sees its Ellie calling her back; she answers as she says, "Hey sissy." Ellie replies, "Hey Livy, I saw you called earlier. I was at the school with the boys." She says as she sighs, and has a seat glad to have a minute of rest.
Liv replies, "Yeah, I didn't remember you were busy, until after I called you. Sorry I didn't mean to bother you." Ellie feels something isn't right. She says, "Sissy what's going on with you? You know you're never a bother to me." Liv takes a breath as she says, "It's nothing Ellie really." Ellie says, "Olivia Carolyn Pope you better spill it. Don't make me come down there girl." She says in her best mama meaning business voice. Liv smiles because she sounds just like their mother when she does this.
Not wanting to alarm her sister. Liv says, "Okay Ellie; but you cannot tell mama or Zoe, because that's like telling mama. Do you promise?" Ellie says, "Girl please, you're talking to me. Not baby sis. Come on now; you know better than to ask me that foolishness." She says with a serious tone. Liv agrees, Ellie is like a vault; she knows all her secrets. She always joked if she committed a crime she'd confess to her, because she'd never tell anyone.
Liv tells Ellie the story about her and Fitz, and when she's done. Ellie says, "Livy first of all; you need to stop using speaker phone for calls like that." Liv laughs and agrees wholeheartedly. "Second, I understand his point, but I also see your side too, because technically everything happened before you and him actually got together, and with everything going on, you really didn't have a chance to tell him anything."
Liv says, "Yes that was sort of what I was thinking; but bottom line I have learned my lesson." Ellie laughs and says, "That's a good thing; so you're okay now?" Liv replies, "Yes I am. Abby talked me down off the ledge, and he should be back soon so we can talk. He sent me a promising text also, so I am much calmer, and I'm sure he will be too when we talk."
Ellie says, "Yes, we must let cooler heads prevail. So are you going to come see us, when you come to LA Saturday for your benefit?" Liv says, "Of course I am. I can't come all the way to LA, and not see you and the family sissy." Ellie says, "You'd better come by. You know your parents will have a cow if you don't." They share a laugh as Liv says, "By the way, how has it been being with mama and daddy this long?"