Two chapters in one days, I think that is a record for me. I want to make it clear I will definitely be continuing this story even though I do not watch the show any longer. Don't own Scandal or its characters. Please excuse any typos. Happy Reading, and as always reviews are greatly encouraged.

On the Trail at the Montpelier Headquarters . . .

Olivia joining the Grant Administration re-election campaign resulted in an instant boast. Fitz now was carrying 15 states for certain with the new modern family campaign. Like all campaigns, however, they had hit a plateau.

Fitz was at brunch for local veterans with Leo by his side.

Olivia and Cyrus stayed behind at the headquarters going over the new polls they had just received for the traditionally red states, also referred to as TRSs.

Cyrus was pacing the small office, "We are not carrying a single TRS Liv . . . not a single one . . . hack Edison is beating us by 20 in South Carolina . . . South Carolina Liv . . . a cornerstone of slavery is willing to elect a black man to be president before Fitz."

Olivia was silent as she stared at the map of the United States she placed on the wall. The map helped her visualize Fitz's path to victory. She could not drown Cyrus pessimistic ranting out any longer, because she also was beginning to worry about the fact they have not secure not one traditionally red state at this point. "Cyrus we have time and still many states to hit before we need to talk like the world is ending." Her voice was not confident when she spoke.

It did not go unnoticed by Cyrus. "Bull Olivia . . . you don't even believe that yourself . . . oh we have time, don't worry . . . what kind of bull is that . . . we aren't carry Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Arizona . . . "

Olivia sighed, "I get it Cyrus we aren't carrying any of the reds . . . I can read Cyrus . . . I see that right here on these polls . . . you don't need to emphasize it." Olivia rubbed her head. She was exhausted, the overnight commute by bus across three states was not conductive to getting a good night sleep, nor the worrying about Fitz carrying none of the states he needed to win.

Cyrus thrown his hands up in the air, "I don't need to emphasize . . . I am emphasizing, because you need to come up with something . . . you need to fix this . . . that is why you are here . . . right." Cyrus snapped and sounded harsh when he did not mean to sound that way. Admittedly he was worried. He allowed himself to believe there was hope, when things started to look up when Olivia joined the campaign, and now it was painful to think they would lose after everything they been through.

Olivia placed her hands on her hips. "You will not talk to me that way . . . I am here because you begged me to come here and help you." She pointed her finger into his chest. "I am doing the best I can with what I have been given, Cyrus . . . Fitz was a long-shoot the first time around, and he is an even longer-shoot now . . . we just have to work harder that is all."

Cyrus shook his head, "You are off your game, Olivia . . . you are not the exceptional law student I trained to be a political assassin . . . I don't know if you have gotten soft or you are rusty . . . but this Olivia is not going to get us to the finish line."

Olivia opened her mouth to rebut Cyrus's accusations, but a part of her knew he was right. She was off her game, she did not know if it was being away from campaign fixing or it was her feelings for Fitz clouding her judgement . . . something had to change . . . because Cyrus was right this Olivia was not going to get the candidate to the finish line . . . that was one reality Olivia was not ready to accept. "Cyrus . . . I am taking a break."

Cyrus sighed, "fine . . . take an hour and come back refreshed and ready to put in the work."

Olivia shook her head, "No, I am taking the rest of the day off . . . I need to a break from this place, from the campaign, from you."

Cyrus shook his head, "We don't have time for you to take an entire day off to get your marbles straight, Olivia . . . as we both see from these polling numbers we need to re-strategize."

Olivia leaned her head to the side and narrowed her eyes at Cyrus. "I was not asking you for a break Cyrus . . . I was informing you I was taking one . . . I don't work for you . . . I work for the Grant campaign on a temporary basis . . . so when I need time away . . . I am going to take time away . . . got it."

Cyrus is about to protest but he was smart enough to know not to poke an angry bear. "Fine . . . I'll see you tomorrow."

Two Hours Later . . .

Fitz and Leo returned from the bunch and were surprised Olivia was taking the entire day off. They both found it odd, but assumed Olivia was doing something OPA-related since she often reminded Cyrus she was only part-time campaign fixing.

Fitz is talking to a campaign volunteer when his phone begins to ring. "Excuse me, I have to take this."

Fitz moved to the small room, he been using as his personal office. "Fitzgerald Grant."

The caller respond, "Hello Mr. Grant, my name is Ralph with the Secured Homes Security Company and we just received an alert someone has tripped your silent alarm in your Vermont home."

Fitz panicked at the thought of someone breaking into his home. He had not been to the Vermont house since he bought Olivia there over three years ago and he honestly forgot he even had a silent alarm installed, but he was happy he did. "Are they robbing my house?" Fitz was shocked anyone even knew it existed let along knew where it was.

Ralph responded, "No sir, she is just swimming in your outdoor pool . . . we can have the authorities there in less than five minutes to arrest her."

Fitz was shocked, "The intruder is a woman?"

Ralph nodded his head, "Yes, Mr. Grant . . . she appears to be African America about 5'4."

Fitz eyes widen at the description he just received. He immediate grabbed his IPad and accessed the secured securities cameras for that house and saw it was Olivia swimming in his pool. "No, the authorities don't need to be called . . . I forgot I gave a friend permission to use my pool . . . I forgot to give her the security code . . . sorry for the confusion."

Ralph responded, "It's no problem Mr. Grant . . . can I help you with anything else today."

Fitz shook his head, "No Ralph . . . thanks for keeping my house secured." He hung up his phone but kept watching the security footage of Olivia swimming.

Olivia swam competitively in high school and college. Fitz could watch her swim for days; she was so graceful in the water. Fitz noticed, however, she was swimming aggressively in the water. She was striking the water as she moved through the pool and when she got to the end she kicked off the wall to turn back around. It was almost like she was swimming against an invisible opponent, she was desperate to beat. She shot across the pool for almost two hours before she stopped in the middle of the pool. She turned and floated on her back as she looked at the darkening sky.

Meanwhile at the Vermont House . . .

Olivia breathed heavy and was exhausted. Aggressively swimming for two hours left her body slightly weakened, but her mind was much clearer though. When she left the headquarters, she had no idea, she would drive to this house or that she even remembered where it was. She intended to go back to her hotel, but somehow she ended up here, and the warm blue water from the pool was calling her. She could not resist taking a swim; luckily she still had her suitcase in her rental car that had her swimsuit.

She looked up at the blue sky that was much lighter when she first started swimming. She could actually see the star really clearly here, unlike in Washington DC. It was calming and all the stress of the outside world did not matter. A part of her wished she could stay here forever and just hide away from the world.

She sighed and dragged herself from the pool. She grabbed her towel and wrapped it around herself. She thought to herself, I should really tell Fitz to get a security system on this place; it was way too easy to break in. She smiled as she thought about how she used a hairpin and unlocked the front door. She frowned, as she remembered the conversation she learned Fitz was in the process of potentially selling this house. He had reasoned a beautiful family house like the Vermont house deserved for family to make it their home . . . it shouldn't sit unused. Olivia looked around at the beautiful landscaping and thought someone is going to be really happy here.

She began to imagine her life here; pool parties in the summers . . . BBQs with Fitz and the kids on the patios . . . children running through the grass for Lily's 4th party . . . Fitz playing basketball with Gerry on the basketball courts . . . playing tennis over there with Karen . . . cuddling with Fitz on that swing chair at night. She shook her head.

She wondered back into the house and was astonished by how well decorated the expansive first floor was. She made her way up the stairs and into the bedroom. Her cheeks became slightly red as she looked at the bed and remembered the last time she was in. She thought to herself, that was quite a night.

She removed her swimsuit and climbed into the huge shower. You could literally fit about ten people in the shower and still have space. She allowed the warm water to fall over her body. For the first time, thoughts of polling numbers were gone and they were replaced by thoughts of what life would have been like with Fitz in this house. She was in the shower for nearly an hour before again having to drag herself from the shower and the life that was not hers.

She put on a button down shirt and dark jeans. Her hair became curly in the shower, so she just placed it in a messy bun. She was not sure if she was back on her game, but she was certainly less stressed out. She thought about crushing here, since it would take her two hours to get back to her hotel, but she did not feel right sleeping in that bed without him. She took in the room one last time before she grabbed her overnight duffle and made her way down the stairs.

She took out her phone and saw the dozen missed calls and emails. She was so distracted she walked right into a male's chest. She looked up and saw his blue eyes. "Fitz?"

Fitz raised an eyebrow, "Liv."

Olivia was shocked, "What . . . What are you doing here?" She was quite certain he should still be at campaign headquarters preparing for a townhouse debate with Langston and Davis in three days.

Fitz smirked slightly, "This is my house . . . what are you doing here?"

Olivia bit her lip a little embarrassed she got caught breaking into his house, "Uhm, I wanted to take a swim and remembered the Olympic size pool here."

Fitz raised an eyebrow at Olivia's obvious lie. The hotel Cyrus put Olivia in has an Olympic size pool too and was only 15 minutes away from the headquarters verse the two hour drive she took to get here. Normally Fitz would let this slide not wanting to push Olivia, but the words of his therapy session came flooding back into his mind. He was choosing happiness, so that meant having this uncomfortable conversation with Olivia. "You have a pool at your hotel that is closer to headquarters . . . so what brought you here Olivia?"

Olivia's heart began to race. She did not expect him to push for the truth. Heck, she did not expect him to catch her here. She actually thought she could come here, get what she needed, and leave like nothing happened. "Uhm, I don't know." That was not a lie, she just was driving and the next thing she knew she was parking in front of this house.

Fitz took a step back to look into her eyes. "I think you know . . . what bought you to our house Olivia." Even though Fitz owned this house, it was always supposed to be theirs together. He built this house for them and put everything in it she told him she wanted in a house.

Olivia looked away from his eyes because looking at him in that moment was making it hard to breath. She sometimes hated the effect this man had on her. "I just needed to be here." It was a simple statement but it had such strong emotions behind it.

Fitz wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her. Something stopped him internally and instead continued to push for more truth. "Why did you need to come to our home Olivia . . . why now?"

Olivia swallowed and finally looked into those blue eyes that a second ago was making it hard to breathe. "I need to be here because . . . Fitz what if you lose in November . . . what if I cannot get you re-elected . . . what if I cannot make you president again." It was like a flood gate had opened and all her fears and doubts came spilling out. She felt like she was failing not at the job but him.

Fitz could no longer resist touching her. He reached up and softly touched her cheek. She needed him to comfort her in this moment. "I have told you repeatedly that if I don't win, I am completely fine with that . . . Olivia, you helping me become president the first time was a miracle, I am not expecting you to deliver another . . . me not winning is not on you, if the American people decide they don't want me to be their president, then that is what it will be . . . the weight of my future is not on your shoulder Olivia."

Olivia shook her head, "It is on my shoulder . . . you were always destine to be a great president . . . a great two-term president . . . you have done amazing things in your first term and there are still many things you need to do in your second . . . I am the reason the American people have doubts about you . . . if I never went in your room that night and gave into my desires." She paused. "I ruined you."

Fitz sighed, "You did not ruin me Liv . . . if anything you brought life into me again . . . my entire life everything has been planned for me . . . then you came into my life and showed me what real love was . . . I was not living until I met you . . . I was not breathing until I met you . . . I was not my true self until I met you . . . I am not naïve I know our relationship is messy, unconventional , scandalous to the outside world . . . but I don't care . . . I whether have messy, unconventional, scandalous love with you . . . then to settle for anything less . . . I did that the first time around with Mellie . . . I am not going to make that mistake twice."

Olivia was shocked; she thought to herself was he actually saying what she thinks he is saying. "What . . . are we actually going have this talk?" She said out loud, when she meant to say it in her head. She covered her mouth, "I didn't mean to say that out loud"

Fitz smirked slightly, "Yes, no more running Liv from this . . . I am putting all my cards on the table . . . I once told you I was a coward for not waiting for you . . . I have been a coward for not asking you to be mine sooner . . . I would love to be President for another four years . . . but I can live with it, if I am not . . . I cannot live with not telling you how I feel and that I want to be together . . . I wasn't ready to give you everything you deserve when I divorced my wife . . . I needed to rebuilt my life and learn to stand on my own to be worthy of your love . . . I am worthy of your love and I am choosing happiness with you . . . I want you . . . I want us."

Olivia's heart was beating so fast she was certain he could hear it. She never imagined having this talk with him today. She knew it would eventually happened, but she would never had predicted today of all days. The day she lost faith in her ability to win him the presidency . . . he was here choosing her . . . choosing them. She did not know what to say, and was speechless in that moment.

Fitz removed his hand from her cheek and took ten steps away from her. He then took three steps back towards her. "I have put my cards on the table and my intentions are clear about wanting to be together . . . but I want to make something else very clear . . . you have to want to be together more Liv . . . I have always been the one that has fought tooth-and-nail for us . . . I have always said I would choose you above everything . . . I was the one that open the door for you to walk in that night in the hotel."

Olivia frowned, "Our relationship was not one-sided Fitz . . . I have chosen you many times . . . heck I allowed myself to become a mistress something I swore I would never do . . . I bear your child knowing the scandal . . . I fought for us."

Fitz shook his head, "I am not saying our relationship is one-side Olivia . . . I am saying I have always wanted us more . . . apart of me thinks that you something have just gone along with it . . . not that you don't love me . . . I have never doubted that . . . but do you love me enough not to run anymore . . . do you love me enough to be in this for the long run . . . do you want this relationship enough to go through hell-and-high water for it . . . my hope is that if you want this relationship more than me . . . it will be harder for you to run when things get tough . . . I have taken ten steps back and walked in three, leaving seven steps for you to take."

Olivia looked and noticed the sizable gap that separated them.

Fitz continued to talk, "I want to be together, no more stolen moment or a wife in the equation . . . just me and you . . . but you have to want this Olivia not because you think it's what I want or what will make me happy . . . you have to want this all on your own."

Fitz paused as he sighed. He was about to give her an out and it would be her choice to take it. "Being together will not be the simplest thing in the world . . . I come with my share of baggage . . . I have three kids, two of them are moody teenagers . . . I have crazy ex-wife, who almost killed . . . I am the President, which means there will be a lack of privacy, I will be unavailable at times, and you will be highly scrutinize . . . the media will probably say mean, racism, sexism, and outright outrages things about you and us when we go public . . . on top of all of that, I am a flaw man . . . I am a flawed man . . . I am quick tempered, I am fiercely protective of the people I love, I can be entitled, and I am still trying to step out of Big Gerry shadow and be the man I want to be . . . if all this sounds like too much or you cannot handle it . . . I will completely understand and you can walk out that door." He pointed to the door behind Olivia. "I will understand and we can continue to be friends and co-parents . . . nothing has to change."

Olivia bit her button lip as she pondered everything he had said. He did not say anything she has not thought about herself as far as having a relationship with him. She took a step towards him. "I adore all three of your children . . . even the moody teenagers, Mellie is not an issue anymore, and I can handle your hectic schedule and your restrictions as President." She took another forward. "I am not concerned about the media or scrutiny . . . I am a media guru after all . . . they have said mean, racism, sexism, and outrages things about me in the past . . . so that is not anything new."

She took another step. "I know you are flawed, and I accept those flaws because they make you who you are and they are a big part of what I love about you."

Olivia bit her lip slightly, as she pondered how she would say what was on her mind. Fitz had put his cards on the table, she had to do the same, "I need you to accept me for who I am and not try to turn me into something I am not . . . I will never be okay with stepping into Mellie's shoes and being ornamental . . . I am not an accessary for your arm or a trophy for your shelf . . . I sit at tables with leaders of nations, ambassadors, and other very powerful people . . . I own my own business and I love working at OPA and helping people in crisis . . . I am on your level, I walk beside you and not behind . . . I am an independent woman and can take care of myself . . . I cannot sacrifice that part of me for you . . . even though I love you from a place I cannot describe, I cannot lose me to be an us."

Fitz honestly never knew Olivia had this fear about their relationship. "Liv . . . if I wanted a woman like Mellie, I would still be with Mellie . . . I am choosing you because I love that you are independent and nothing like my former wife . . . I love that you are a power player like me and I found powerful woman sexy." He muttered with a cheeky smile. "One of the first things that attracted me to you was your confidence and the fact that you stood on your own two feet . . . you don't need me to hold you up and make you successful . . .you do that on your own . . . I love the smart, confident, and independent woman you are and would never want to change that."

Olivia looked deeply in his eyes and believed he truly meant what he said. She had to be certain however, that he truly understood she would not stop being Olivia Pope to be President Fitzgerald Grant III's girlfriend. "I know you love that I am independent and nothing like your ex-wife, but you know as your girlfriend there will be expectations of me to be a woman like Mellie . . . to give up my job and pick china for White House parties . . . I need to be certain weeks, months, or years from now you will not succumb to pressure and force me to be something I am not."

Fitz nodded his head. He smiled slightly taken it as good sign Olivia was thinking about the future and not just them in this moment. "I will not succumb to that pressure Olivia, I will fight to my last breathes to ensure you remain the woman you are . . . I love the person you are . . . I love your passion for your job, and would never ask you to give that up . . . yes I know as my girlfriend . . . maybe wife one day . . . there will be expectations for you be like former First Ladies . . . but Liv I recently learned that we determine our lives' plan and happiness . . . the White House and the American people can comment on our relationship, that is their first amendment right, but they will never determine its dynamic . . . if you don't want to pick out china, I will have Cyrus hire someone else to do that . . . I want a relationship with Olivia Pope, my gladiator in a suit, not a carbon copy of Mellie"

Olivia smiled when Fitz called her a gladiator and took another step forward. "I also don't want any more stolen moments and I really want a relationship with you, but I want to take this slow . . . I want to actually date like normal people before there is any discussion about being First Lady, or White House hosting."

Fitz nodded his head, "I have no problem wooing you Olivia and courting you like you deserve . . . I actually like that idea . . . I want to do it right this time and if that means taking a step back and dating . . . I am all in."

Olivia nodded, "but I have conditions."

Fitz smirked and shook his head, "you would not be Olivia Pope, if you did not negotiate."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I want to date privately, before we let the media and the general American public into our relationship, I want to actually have time to build a strong and unbreakable one before its put under intensive scrutiny . . . I want time for us to figure out what does Olivia and Fitz dating look like before we become the President and the First Girlfriend dating."

Fitz nodded, admittedly he did not like having to still be a secret but he understood why being private about their relationship was necessary and vital to them surviving as a couple. "I am going to have to be creative in courting you . . . but I am up for the challenge."

Olivia nodded, "private means when we are on the trail we keep it completely professional, which means you are the candidate and I am the campaign fixer and." She paused knowing this last thing she is asking for isn't going to be liked. "I want to keep this from our children as well . . . before you protest . . . while we both may all be in . . . there no guaranteed that we will work . . . I don't want them to get their hopes up until we figure out us."

Fitz sighed, "I don't like keeping things from our children, but I understand why Its may be best to keep this from them until we are certain about this, I already took my children through my divorce with Mellie, I don't want to cause them any more pain . . . so for now we keep quiet about our relationship."

Olivia bit her lip, "one more thing . . . I get to plan at least one of our dates."

Fitz shook his head, "Nope, I am the guy and I am courting you."

Olivia laughed, "Yes, you are courting me . . . not some 1950s prototype of a woman . . . in this century the woman can take the men out you know and she can pick up the check." She winked at him.

Fitz sighed, "Fine you can plan one date . . . my beautiful independent woman." Fitz smiled internalize taking this as another good sign that Olivia is continuing to think about a future together and not running for the door.

Olivia began to walk towards him but stopped after a step and half. She was so swipe up in the world-wind romance of this moment and being in this house, she blocked out everything that could go wrong. She thought to herself, what if they got back together and just did not work as a couple. She was always concerned about their children getting hurt, she never really internalize what it would do to her own heart. She loved this man to the deep depths of her being.

She took a step back without even thinking. She thought to herself, What if I opened myself up fully to this man, but love was not enough to sustain them . . . it may be her undoing . . . she may end up in a crazy house . . . that is how deep her love ran for this man. She began to panic, she knew what being friends and co-parenting look like for them, she did not know what being in a real relationship look like for them. Stolen moments, closets, and hotel rooms were not a relationship, this was uncharted territory. Olivia looked back at the door and thought how easy it would be to walk through it and just keep things the way they are . . . uncomplicated and easy.

Fitz saw the panic and uncertainty on Olivia face and noticed she took a step back. He also saw her looking at the door. He knew he gave her the option to leave and remain just friends. He would accept that if it was her decision, but he did not prepare himself well enough for the reality of her choosing that option. He kept his face emotionless because he did not want Olivia to choose them out of pity, or obligation . . . it had to be her choice solely and independently. He closed his eyes when she turned around to fight the burning sensation around his tear ducts; he could not bear the sight of Olivia walking away from him and rejecting the idea of them.

Olivia turned on her heels and had her back to Fitz; was now facing the door. She walked towards that door, grabbed the door knob, and opened the door. She imagined herself walking out of it. She thought to herself, they could continue being what they are, which was working. Why fix what was not broken. She tried to make herself keep walking, but she couldn't. She told her therapist she did not believe she deserved a happily ending, but heck it doesn't mean she shouldn't try for one. She smiled and turned around and saw Fitz had closed his eyes. She walked towards him and leaned up and placed her lips on his.

Fitz was shocked. He had heard the sounds of her heels getting further away, and the door opening . . . and he was certain she had left. Then he felt the sensation of her lips on his and he could smell a mixture of coconut hair lotion and Elizabeth Taylor perfume. Fitz thought to himself, his broken heart was literally make him lose his mind . . . his Livvie walked out that door and was not standing in front of him. A part of him wanted to keep his eyes closed, because he was afraid this was all in his head and if he opened them this fantasy of Liv choosing them would end.

Olivia muttered, "I want us."

Fitz opened his eyes to confirm this was not in his head and it was happening. The corners of his mouth begin to turn upwards into a smile that went from ear-to-ear. "You chose us . . . Livvie." He lifted her off the floor and spanned her around once before putting her down.

Olivia smiled and shook her head at the excitement that has overtaken him. "I am not going to lie that I am not afraid, Fitz, I was seriously going to walk out that door, but I realize yes being friends with you is easier, simple, and uncomplicated . . . but I have never been a fan of easy, I whether have hard, messy, complicated love with you . . . then settle for anything less with someone else." She paused. "I am also not going to pretend I am not afraid you will break my heart . . . I may end up in a strait jacket in the crazy house because of it . . . heck I am willing to take that risk."

Fitz smiled and kissed Olivia's lips. "I want hard messy, complicated love with you too . . . I guess we will have matching strait jackets and adjoining rooms in that crazy house . . . because you are stuck with me." He pulled her into his body and kissed her passionately.

She opened her mouth to welcome his tongue into her mouth, as she wrapped her arms around his neck to bring her body even closer to him. She began to wrap her legs around his body.

He lifted her up and held her in his arms, "I thought you said you wanted to take it slow." He muttered against her lips.

Olivia smiled against his lips, "Yes, slow as in date, not get married, tomorrow . . . not slow as in no sex . . . I am not virgin . . . it's been too long . . . I want you." That last part Olivia said with such lust, Fitz swore he immediately got an erection.

He leaned in and began to kiss her neck, "You don't have to ask twice . . . Sweet Baby." He attacked her lips next, as he walked them up the curved staircase to the bedroom.

AN: So two things: One, keeping my mouth shut about this chapter coming was the hardest thing ever. Two, I have literally been writing this chapter since December and have erased and rewritten it about 5 times, as I write this AN I am considering erasing it and starting over . . . haha I hope it lives up to your expectations and was worth the wait.

Recap: Cyrus was being a Debbie downer and Olivia had to put him in his place . . . Someone broke into Fitz's House . . . Fitz and Olivia had the talk . . . Olitz is back together ! :D

Preview: Sexy Time, Next chapter will be M rate (not that much because I so am not that good at writing it)

As always review, I really like hearing everyone's thoughts! LM1.