AN: Thanks to each and every one who contributed to the 1,000+ reviews on this. I honestly had no clue anyone would come back for chapter two, definitely didn't think I would still be adding chapters months and months later...thanks for the continued interest. Those wondering about the dirt on Mellie, it's in Ch. 29(thanks ChicoChica)!

Chapter 35

Roused from his sleep by the sounds of violent retching noises Fitz eyes immediately popped open and landed on Olivia's side of the bed. Finding it empty he shot up and moved swiftly towards the bathroom. His concern and focus centered solely on her, he gave no thought to his own nakedness but his mind still vaguely registered the slight chill in the air.

Finding the bathroom door slightly ajar he pushed it open the rest of the way, his heart sinking at the sight of Olivia on the floor hugging the. Alarmed, he rushed to her side and dropped to his knees, sympathetically rubbing her back through the silk of her ecru pajama top.

"Liv, honey, are you okay?"

With a groan and watery eyes she turned to him slowly and answered with a tongue seemingly weighted down by bricks, "No."

"Okay, what can I do."

"Nothing. You can't do anything. Just leave me here to die,".

"Sweetheart, you aren't dying, you're just pregnant."

"I know, but right now it would probably be kinder than...than," the rest of her thought was cut short due to stomach's demand that she resume her previous posture and activity.

Determined to be strong for her, Fitz murmured words of reassurance as he tried his best to comfort her through the act and subdue his own gag reflex in the process.

Minutes later after her body had calmed and he believed it safe to speak again once she had ordered his silence he questioned her. Once she relayed her confidence that the bout of sickness had passed her by he helped her onto her feet. When her surroundings stopped moving, she realized for the first time that he was stark naked. Under normal circumstances she would take such delight in his well maintained form; touching and using and looking her fill of it, but in her current state all she could do was groan again and roll eyes.

"Fitz, I love you, really I do. And I love all of you. But right now I really need you to put that thing away. For the time being I could do without a reminder of the reason I'm in this predicament as it is."

Once he was certain that she didn't need further assistance at the sink while she rinsed out her mouth and brushed her teeth, he left her alone for the briefest of moments to throw on a pair of pajama pants.

"Better?"

Olivia gave him a thumbs up and critiqued herself as she tended to her oral care routine. She looked horrible and felt it. Her eyes were sunken, her body and face weighed down by fatigue. A few steps behind, Fitz studied her just as intently; his heart heavy and concern marring his features when he noticed her hand tremble upon returning the toothbrush to its holder. Without a word, he moved closer and rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Are you okay?"

She turned to him and sighed. "I am now."

"Good, let's get you back to bed." Without another word he lifted her and after taking just a few long strides was placing her on the mattress and hovering above her. "Do you need anything?"

"Thanks, but I'm fine." She replied weakly while smoothing the hair along his temple.

"Maybe you should stay home today and rest though, just to be sure."

She was tempted by the thought of lying in bed all day and doing nothing but having her every want and need catered to but responsibilities gnawed at her conscience. "It sounds nice, but nope, no can do. Besides today's the day remember? I want to be there for your interview."

"Your comfort is way more important than some interview, Olivia. And what about work? You have the monthly cooking segment today with annoying chef guy...what if he whips up something that BPG doesn't approve of and you have a repeat of a few minutes ago live and on camera."

Olivia frowned and recoiled at the thought of his concerns becoming reality. "Wow you're really trying to keep me here aren't you?"

"I'm just trying to look out for you, that's all."

"And I love you for it; appreciate it more than you know, but I have a job to do so I'm going in."

"But Liv-"

"Fitz," she traced the side of his face, his jaw. "Baby, I promise I'll take it easy. I'll even see if I can toss my time with Chef Anders to Megan or Clark to be on the safe side."

"Alright, but only if you feel you'll be up to it."

"I do. After all mommy knows best too."

I don't know shit. The thought became abundantly clear to Olivia as she tried to keep her breakfast down during the last hour of the show's broadcast. Even though she had managed to get out of directly overseeing the cooking portion her surprisingly heightened senses allowed for her to still see and smell the ingredients used to craft suggestions for the upcoming Valentine's Day holiday. Anxious, she shifted in her seat, looked off stage and directly at Fitz. Her expressive eyes were pitiful, conveying all of her fear and discomfort. And while Fitz's first instinct was to charge the platform and carry her away, luckily they were all spared the over the top and inappropriate for the setting gesture when they broke for commercials. After saying a silent prayer of thanks Olivia bolted from her seat and practically sprinted through doors and down the hall. Fitz followed close behind, joining her in her office as she made her way to the bathroom.

"This is bullshit." She declared after being reduced to a shivering, frail mess of a woman.

"Liv, it's not. It's just all part of the process of bringing forth new life."

She gasped and grunted. "Right now I don't care. Just the other day Abby was calling me a special snowflake that doesn't have to go through this. I want to remain the special snowflake, Fitz. I need to be the special snowflake."

His heart broke at the sound of her miserable voice and pouting face. "Sweetheart, I'm so sorry. If there was anything I could do to make this better for you I would."

"I know. I believe you. Could you get my toothbrush and toothpaste out of my desk drawer please?"

"Of course. Your wish..."

The brisk knock at the door interrupted the rest of his words, his eyebrow raising in curiosity and then relaxing at the sight of Harrison.

"Hey Fitz is everything alright in here? I've got the power that be yelling in my ear wondering what's going on; he wants her back out ASAP."

"Well I think he's just going to have to do without because Liv's in no condition to be..."

Not equipped to deal with an argument between friends or reprimand from her boss she yelled with the little strength she had left. "It's okay, it's fine. I'm fine."

Fitz's ears perked and temper flared at the sound of her audible groan "Olivia..."

"Fitz, don't, I have to. We're close to signing off and my stomach is beginning to settle down. Me staying holed up in my office now will only raise questions that I don't want to answer.

Her determination amazed him, penetrated the protective mode he was in. "Only if you're sure, Liv," he relented. "If you are, you won't hear another word from me."

"I'm beyond sure," her words relaying a confidence she was nowhere close to feeling, "after all the show must go on."

A while later after a shared lunch and then a solo briefing with his would be interviewer, Fitz entered Olivia's dressing room expecting to wake her from her nap but was taken aback by the sight of her alert and on the move.

"What are you doing?" he asked, watching as she tugged at the waist of her dress.

"Am I really supposed to answer that? They start rolling tape on you in a matter of minutes and I'm not missing it for anything."

He eyed her incredulously, wanting to do nothing more than to beg her to rest, to demand it, but he knew he was already walking a fine line with the amount of attention he was heaping on her. Biting his tongue, he changed course and focused on a safer topic, drinking in the sight of her in figure hugging winter white.

"I thought you were wearing blue?"

"What, you don't like this?"

"Hell yes I like it. I love it. You know that you could wear a damn potato sack and I'd still be all over you."

Her spirit always blossoming under his compliments she smiled and touched her lips to his."Potato sack you say? Might have to invest in some for the months to come. Which is precisely why I'm taking advantage of the time before everything puffs up and out. Zip me please." She turned and offered up her back to him after explaining one of the several reasons for deciding on a last minute wardrobe change.

Submitting to her command he stepped closer and his body quickly, instinctively responded to what was made available to him. After moving her hair onto her shoulder, eyes swept, lips kissed and fingers touched. He was emboldened by the sound of her sharp intake of breath, pressing into her as he smiled against her ear. "Why don't we just cancel this whole thing once and for all and just get out of here?"

Relaxing at the feel of his strong arms enveloping her waist, Olivia leaned on him and chuckled. "Yeah like that's really happening. As much as this has been hyped BNN way past the point of needing to cash in. If you renege, it won't be pretty."

"It wouldn't be the first time I've dealt with ugly." he kissed her temple. "But seriously, how are you feeling?"

"Great. Happy. As long as BPG is calm I feel like I'm on top of the world with an amazing man by my side. So how'd the bonding time with Justin go?"

Fitz released an exasperated sigh at the mention of the anchor who had been assigned the task of coaxing his deepest secrets from him. The man was experienced but not nearly as arrogant or jaded as Keegan Patrick or Grayson Lewis. Justin Marks was just too damn eager for his liking and it bordered on obnoxious. "He's okay but he's no Olivia Pope or anything. And since you can't ask the questions I guess he'll have to do."

"He will. And I think he'll do a superb job of it too, just wait and see."

While Fitz took his place front and center Olivia sat in a chair off camera observing. He was jovial and engaging from the time of introductions; open, honest and forthcoming when it came to discussing everything from being a single parent, his philanthropic endeavors and adjusting to a life sans public office. It was everyone's intention to keep the conversation light but when he spoke of his concerns and hopes for America and the world at large even post presidency, things had no choice but to veer off into the serious.

From the sidelines, Olivia enjoyed and approved of it all. His words were passionate, articulate and insightful and never boring to her. She never got tired of hearing him speak about the things that mattered most and she listened as if she wasn't treated to some of his innermost thoughts and beliefs every day. She was so captivated by him that she didn't hear her name uttered. She only shifted focus once the familiar ringing in the studio signaled a break.

"So what do you think so far?"

She smiled at the glint in his eyes, his expression revealing just how much he was enjoying himself. "It's going great. You look great, you sound great. If you hadn't already been president I'd say you have more than a shot."

"Funny."

"But I'm also very very serious, mister," she affirmed while straightening his tie. "Just when I think I have you all figured out you manage to amaze me even more."

He stared at her lips and spoke in a low but stimulating tone. "I want you to remember that and tell me again really really slow as soon as we get home and alone."

She grinned and was about to reply just as suggestively when they were interrupted by her colleague. Justin stalked towards them chipper and proud, his voice booming throughout the room. "Mr. President, Liv, we're ready when you are."

Sitting side by side Olivia and Fitz wore matching smiles and practiced gestures such as hands in laps as they waited for Justin to finish his recap and address them. When their expectations were met with nothing but silence eyes shot up with curiosity.

"I'm sorry you two. I just don't know where to begin but I guess I will start with thank you. After months of dominating the rumor mill you two have decided to sit down together and address together some of the most talked about turn of events in recent memory. I know that you don't do this lightly considering how much you separately and as a couple value your privacy so thank you for speaking with me."

"You're welcome. No problem." They replied simultaneously with smiles that widened with every syllable.

"Mr. President, I'll start with you; up until now you haven't commented but to say you sent shockwaves across the nation by becoming the first president to divorce his spouse would be an understatement. Did you know that it would become as huge deal as it was, as it still is at times? Did it cause some hesitation on your part?"

Long prepared Fitz straightened his already enviable posture and spoke. "Logically I knew, but I had hoped that people would be very sensitive to the fact and understand that to get to the point where divorce is even an option there had to be serious problems that couldn't be resolved any other way. And yes there was hesitation on my part because I'm human after all, but it wasn't for me or my reputation, it was for my children. Don't get me wrong it's great to be liked, but the thought of subjecting them to the opinions of those who didn't have a clue about what was really going on in my life was the hardest. Because people on the outside aren't privy to the facts they have to fill in the blanks with their imagination which leads to them just saying anything, usually the most hurtful things, and that's something they didn't deserve added to their plate."

"So rightful concern for your children; was there none for your former wife? From her official announcement up until recently the former first lady has seemed distraught by your breakup."

FIghting the very strong urge to sneer Fitz took a minute to collect an honest but decidedly less harsh answer to the question."Mellie is an adult as am I, the both of us are seasoned enough to take our lumps when needed. We chose to lead lives that invite scrutiny, my children did not."

"You seem to shun the media at every turn since leaving office, leaving some with the conclusion that you even have a disdain for it. Would that be a fair assessment?"

He looked to Olivia who gave a playful look that let him know she was very interested in his answer."You're trying to get me in trouble here," he joked. "But no I like to think I have a pretty great relationship with members of the media. What most of you do is so important and needed and I respect it. But my private life, our private life, is just that.

"And some will say, yet here you sit. Why now?"

"I believe there has been enough time for all of us involved to heal and to move forward. I'm in a great place in life, so is my family. And although we have always known and had the truth on our side, I feel certain things should have my response attached to it so that we can keep moving forward without having to come up against the same tired, regurgitated untruths."

Justin's gaze swept over Fitz and then Olivia before continuing after finding her expression unreadable. "The former first lady has insinuated on more than one occasion that the divorce, that your relationship with Olivia is nothing more than a mid life crisis. That it's something temporary that you will correct in time, would you care to respond to that?"

Fitz shook his head and bristled in spite of his determination to keep his composure. "There was no crisis, just reflection. Holding the highest office in the land changes you, with all the things you see and deal with daily, it has to. It brings about greater perspective. After my tenure as president came to an end I had more time to take stock of my life. It was getting tougher for me to look at myself in the mirror, to face my children living a life that personally felt so dishonest and unfulfilled that I had no choice but to fix it, so I did. And when I felt I was ready to move on and begin again," Fitz paused, turned to Olivia and grasped her hand, "there was no other choice for me. There was no one I could dream of that I would rather spend time with than this amazing woman right beside me."

Olivia's face flushed at the admission she'd heard many times before. Her eyes also watered while her smile lit to beaming as she gazed back at Fitz. Allowing the silence to linger, Justin watched the apparent love and adoration between them speak for them. And when he was confident that it wouldn't be lost on anyone who tuned in to watch the revealing interview, he cleared his throat and asked his next question.

Once their sitdown reached its conclusion, ending on an even happier and carefree note than it began, Fitz stood and helped Olivia from her seat. Removing his hands from hers to run them along her arms he leaned into her and spoke in a voice that only her ears could hear. "Now that we've finally got that out of the way let me get you out of here. Let me take you home, take you to bed until you have to report back later."

Wholeheartedly on board with his idea, she nodded with a quickness and linked their hands together again. She moved purposely, leading him with the intention of making a brief stop by her office for her belongings before checking in with Abby to extend a dinner invitation. Stepping onto her floor she was promptly greeted with a stack of messages the most important left by Keegan.

"Problem?" Fitz wondered when she grumbled.

"It has been requested that I appear before the chairman of the news immediately following my return from taping."

"So you went ahead and set up a meeting? I thought you were going to take more time with that."

"I was. I am. I didn't do this."

"Oh?" He crossed his arms and watched curiously as confusion clouded her own features.

"I have no idea what this could be about," she looked at her watch after examining the paper as if all the answers to her questions would appear. "Look, I don't know how long this will take so maybe..."

"Liv, no. You're not getting rid of me that easily, I'm staying."

"But Fitz, Grammie and Pop Pop-"

Remembering the houseguests who had already been left to their own devices for hours on end he slammed his eyes shut. "Are waiting. I completely forgot."

"So did I. Could you just go and keep them company until I can get away? I promise I'll be there as soon as I can."

Although he wanted to be very visible support for her good manners and genuine concern made his decision a little easier. "Sure I'll go. But if you find yourself needing backup I'm only a phone call away."

With her legs crossed and shaking as she waited for Keegan to speak, Olivia wondered how much more the silence that hang between them would wrack her nerves before he revealed the reason she had been summoned. Feeling like she was waiting for punishment to be meted out she tried to think good thoughts while she waited for the other shoe to drop. Doing her best to ignore the critical gaze directed her way she thought of Fitz, their home, their family, and their child growing inside of her. The brief flashes of what they had and would have filled her with a sense of calm that was greatly needed. She felt confident enough to disrupt the awkward tension engulfing them when Keegan spoke up.

"I came down for a bit while Justin had you in the hot seat. You and Mr. President give great interview. A lot of natural chemistry on camera and I'm sure it will be eaten up in great numbers. And while a percentage of the public will be breathing fire it's guaranteed to have everyone's attention either way."

"Believe me the public's interest has never escaped us. Was that all you wanted with me because if so..."

"No no. I'm not finished but I won't keep you long. I watched your interaction with Justin and I started thinking; you two work pretty well together. I think your rapport would be appreciated by our primetime audience after a long hard day at work."

She was confident her forehead was creasing in concern and confusion."Okay, and you see us working together where in the primetime lineup exactly?"

"Nightly news for now. God only knows when Grayson is returning so you two can spread your magic and cheer when sharing the desk. Doing so will give us the added bonus of always having a familiar face on hand whenever the other needs to take a step back and regroup."

Not bothering to hide her disappointment her voice hitched and she relied on her hands while talking,"I don't understand, do you not feel that I'm right for the position anymore? Have I done something that has you you rethinking some of the plans we discussed?"

"I'm beginning to get the impression that maybe I pushed you too hard too soon."

"No you haven't what makes you..."

"Don't get me wrong, on camera you are perfect. I couldn't ask for a better anchor. It's just starting to feel like it's a problem getting you there. I don't know maybe you're feeling the pressure of having to perform day and night, maybe it's starting to catch up with you. You're missing entire days, needing nights off, you had to be tracked down this morning and discreetly seated during the live broadcast. When has that happened with you before ever? From where I'm sitting I'm thinking the jobs are too much and I'm realizing the toll it's taking on you."

"It's not the job." she said softly.

"Well what is it? It can't be your personal life because your relationship seems intact unless you two are just putting on a hell of a show. But that wouldn't make any sense, right? And you should be set financially unless you've got some unsavory habits that you've managed to hide." He eyed her carefully. "Is there something going on with a family member then? Is it their health? Your health? Are you sick?"

"I'm pregnant."

Her words resounding in his ear, his face contorted as he leaned forward for clarification, hoping that he had still heard her wrong, that it was all some big misunderstanding. "Excuse me? Could you repeat what you just said?"

"I'm pregnant. With child. In the family way. I'm having a baby, Keegan."

"Okay," his measured tone a total, noticeable contradiction to his reddening skin and taut features.

Olivia watched his reaction in silence, from the flared nose and bulging veins to the exhalation of breaths, loosening of his tie and the teasing of his hair."You're pregnant? Now? Seriously, Olivia? Seriously, seriously; this isn't some joke?"

"It's not a joke, it's a baby! My baby!"

Embarrassment crept upon him when he realized he had upset her. "I apologize I didn't mean...damn it! That's not something that I was expecting from you, Liv. We've been doing damn good work. I've been positioning you so that we can eventually revolutionize this network and now you're you're...what are you going to do about it?"

"Well gestate until the baby is expelled from my womb."

"Okay, okay, alright," he huffed and ran a hand through his dark hair before massaging his temples. "I've got to think about this, figure out how we work this for all of our sakes."

"Whatever thoughts you have I know that I can't be fired for being pregnant."

Hurt that her mind would go there so quickly he pushed it aside to remain professional and in charge. "True, but you have a contract whose terms have to be met or you can be. I understand your objection to Haiti now but travel is just one of the stipulations you agreed to when you signed on the dotted line." Tormented by thoughts of some of his hopes vanishing right before his eyes he unleashed a dejected sigh. "I really, really hate that we're even having this conversation right now."

"Believe me I know that it's not the best timing professionally. The concerns already raised have made me think and I have an idea, some ideas actually."

He bowed and waved his hand in her direction. "Then by all means speak. Because at the moment I couldn't tell you which way was up."

"Blog? You want to blog?" A perplexed Keegan sought confirmation once Olivia stopped talking.

"Not just blog. I want to use every available medium; the show, our website. I'm also going to work with Andrea Samuels and do an entire spread with her magazine once the news is no longer a secret. I want to use this experience, my voice. I want to reach out and extend a platform to those who've been told that they shouldn't love someone of a different race or the same gender. I want to talk to the mother who's been guilted into feeling like she should give up her job and stay home now that she has a child or the father that's been made to believe that his place is in the office when being a stay at home dad may be his heart's desire, the couple who's been told that Johnny shouldn't have two mommies. I want to address all of it head on; shine a light on all of these demands and pressures that stem from an antiquated way of thinking and the effect they have on us to this very day."

"It sounds great, very thought provoking and I don't doubt that you could sell it. But as for you and your situation I just don't see that dog hunting. You Olivia Pope are the face of morning news and steadily putting dents in the door of primetime. You have the potential to knock it down completely but..." he paused. "Unfortunately you aren't a Home Economics teacher, a bank teller or librarian. This profession is very image conscious, you know that. You're a black woman involved with a very powerful white male. You have his child in your womb but no ring in sight. If you thought the attention you got before was unrelenting and downright criminal at times what do you think is going to happen when this becomes public knowledge? What do you think advertisers will say? Our boss will say?"

"This is unbelievable. We both know if I were adopting, using a surrogate or even a sperm donor we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. I don't see anyone batting their lashes at Angelina for having multiple children with a man she isn't married to.""

"You are a lot of things Olivia but I never would have pegged you as naive. None of those things you mentioned apply to your situation. Anything goes in the entertainment industry, we know that. Kim Kardashian has had roles in movies for goodness sakes. But what we do...you know what it takes to get, do and keep a job like this. Believe me there's no one more aware of the times we are living in than me. But your audience, the one that has their first cup of coffee of the day with you, they believe in apple pie, picket fences, and a dog to go along with mom and dad and the 2.5 kids. Sure, part of your job is to entertain; you have to be engaging and well liked but always trusted above all. How can they rely on and believe in you when you don't seem to have a handle on your own life?"

"So what exactly are you saying so that there's no misunderstanding here?"

"I'm saying that we both know that you're sitting on a powder keg as long as your pregnancy is under wraps. What you you need to do, have to do, is take a good, long and hard look at your situation and make some rational decisions before it explodes all over you and the network." He advised sincerely. "Look, I'm not a doctor or anything, but providing the news isn't leaked I'm guessing you have a few months to prioritize before there's irrefutable evidence of your condition. Use that time and use it wisely Olivia."

After leaving work with even more to chew on, Olivia returned home and shut the rest of the world out with one slam of the door and the twist of the lock before following the sounds of chatter and laughter into the kitchen. There she found her grandparents enjoying each other's company over mugs of steaming hot beverages "What's going on here?

"Oh nothing suitable for your innocent ears, missy." Laughing, Janice tore her twinkling eyes away from her husband long enough to size Olivia up. Detecting fatigue and more, she stood and wrapped her into her embrace. "Honey, has it really been one of those days?

"Pretty much," Olivia sighed. Feeling the heat of her grandfather's gaze she smiled at him, moved to his side and placed a kiss on his cheek. Taking notice of the bag in front of him she opened it and peeked inside at the contents. Wincing from the playful swat he gave her hand she scrunched her nose at the assortment of miniature boxes and bags."What's all this?"

"Fitz told me about the rough start you had this morning so I went out and got some things that will help if this is just the beginning for you."

"Lucky me," she said sarcastic tone.

"Yes, lucky you, who'll be ready to kiss the ground I walk on when this stuff keeps your stomach out of your throat. Your mother had quite the time with you as did I with her, so crackers and ginger ale alone might not do it for you. There's ginger root, some teas and hard candies."

"Candy?"

"Hey, if the nausea and vomiting decide to stick around you'll do anything for relief; trust me on that."

"My morning was torture, one that I never want to experience again, so you don't have to convince me. Where's Fitz?"

"He wouldn't admit it but the day has worn him down as well. I convinced him to go upstairs to take a nap, that we'd be okay by ourselves."

Olivia was about to excuse herself when the front door opened and Karen and Gerry announced their arrival with their signature bickering. When it dawned on them that they were being observed by three sets of fascinated eyes the their faces heated with guilt and shame. After apologies and greetings Olivia suggested they grab a snack and deposit their energy into homework before dinnertime was upon them. Without waiting for their response she left the room and headed upstairs to her sanctuary.