Epilogue
A/N: Because it always ends in weddings unless it's one of the tragedies.
Snow blanketed the meadow and glistened in the pine trees at Camp David. The winter sun stood high in the crisp, blue sky. Olivia didn't think it would ever stop snowing, but it did just in time. The Christmas Blizzard of 2014 hit the beltway pretty hard, closing down the Metro and wrecking havoc in the streets for a couple of days. Most of the politicians had already cleared out for the holidays, but some ultra-conservative hacks still hitting the airwaves had to make a note that this was proof that global warming didn't exist. The Capitol would bustle soon enough; next week the 114th Congress would swear in for duty including the new Senator-elect from Texas. Jerry, Karen and Teddy spent the first week of the holiday vacation with Mellie in Austin but managed to make it back the day after Christmas when there was a break in the weather.
After the interview they did in June, Olivia gradually began to attend more public events. She and Fitz even made a public display going on dates at some of the finer D.C. restaurants. The summer had been a good one for the most part; everyone got to know each other better. Jerry had spent those days being the sounding board and the peacemaker between Karen and everyone else. Maya had more minions around to dote on her which suited her just fine.
Olivia did take on some hosting duties, but not in an official capacity. She refused to do it until she actually had to, but she did assist Karen in her official Hostess role at two State Dinners. Fitz's oldest daughter officiated with charm and grace, although that didn't mean she stopped being a thorn in her father's side. When she came home from school for Thanksgiving with very short Platinum blonde hair, Fitz nearly grounded her for life. Olivia suspected that Karen would have dyed it orange or pink if the school dress code would have allowed it.
A certain kind of magic swept over the White House during the holiday season. Close to a hundred volunteers all across the country descended on the White House to decorate more than twenty rooms after Thanksgiving. This was Maya's first real Christmas. Besides being so young the year before, Christmas in Yadub was a more subdued affair. While the resorts would decorate for the tourists, it wasn't that big of a holiday among the people who lived there. Maya watched with eyes full of wonder as the White House transformed into a winter wonderland. Maya and Olivia oversaw the arrival of the eighteen foot official White House Christmas Tree delivered on a horse-drawn carriage. In total, fifty-four live trees lined the White House tour, each lit with thousands of lights and unique ornaments. The pastry chefs constructed an elaborate White House gingerbread house that weighed 300 pounds and had intricately decorated rooms. They also allowed Maya to make her own gingerbread creation, which looked more like a traditional kid fare, complete with gumdrops and a collapsing roof.
Fitz, Olivia and Maya spent Christmas week up at Camp David, curled up by the fire and singing Carols. When the weather let up for a moment, they would have snowball fights and make snow angels. On Christmas Eve they, along with some of the young sailors and marines that staffed the Camp, attended a candlelight service at the chapel located on the grounds. Santa managed to make it to their cabin and packed it full toys for Maya. Their daughter was still more interested in the ribbons and boxes than the presents they contained.
Another present arrived in the mail a few days before Christmas. The final order on the dissolution in re the marriage of Fitzgerald T. Grant III and Millicent L. Grant was met with little fanfare, but it would probably be housed in a Presidential Library someday as a historical document. The White House refused to comment on the rumors that the President and Ms. Pope would marry soon. On Christmas morning, Fitz finally put an engagement ring on Olivia. He had it custom made to match the diamond necklace he bought her six months earlier.
When the other kids arrived at Camp David for Winter Break, Karen was dressed all in black and with dark make-up. Fitz refused to let that provoke a reaction; instead he gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her she looked nice. He did nearly have a fit when she started spouting quotes from Karl Marx and claimed that foundation of capitalism was the theft of labor. "She's going to be a freaking Communist, Olivia! How the hell did this happen," he asked in bewilderment when they were alone.
"She's not going to be a Communist, Fitz. Most likely she's just going to be a Democrat," Olivia said with some amusement. Karen started getting more involved with social issues after spending the summer working for Habitat for Humanity. Fitz may have created a monster and he didn't even know it at the time. Olivia wondered if Karen would get into politics like her father or if this was just a rebellion phase. Olivia and Karen had formed a truce over the summer. Karen had started to confide in her about a few things. Olivia thought Fitz's daughter might even secretly like her when all was said and done.
New Year's Eve was sedate. The toddlers went to bed early because the next day would be busy for all of them. Olivia and Fitz counted down the clock with the older kids and a few of the guests who arrived earlier that day. Toasts were made; kisses and hugs were dispersed before everyone headed for some sleep.
The Evergreen Chapel, built during the senior Bush administration, had strong wooden bones and large windows that combined clear with stained-glass. The chapel view that New Year's Day was of the fields and forest covered by the untouched white snow. Olivia wore an elegant floor length white silk dress with a cowl open back. The sleeves were mid-length and it had a modest scoop neck. She didn't wear a veil, instead she had her hair loosely up and pinned by an antique crystal comb. She had a simple red bouquet of roses.
The girls dressed in red and carried matching bouquets. Actually, Karen carried both of them. Maya wasn't quite sure what to do with hers except pluck the petals off. Maybe Olivia should have just had the loose petals in a basket for Maya like she originally thought. Cyrus had offered to take Olivia down the aisle, but she politely declined. No one was giving her away; she made the conscious choice to be with the person she loved.
Fitz stood with his boys at the altar. Jerry had talked to Teddy about not fidgeting that morning, and the little boy really tried his best. He looked like a chained puppy that was just about ready to burst. He kept on looking over at Ella seated with her parents and tried to talk to her. Jerry frequently bent down to whisper to his little brother. Only their closest friends and relatives were in attendance. Olivia's self-made family of Huck, Quinn, Abby and Harrison were all there. They also invited a couple of the service people they had grown closest to at Camp David.
Unlike his first marriage, Fitz felt relaxed and confident. There were no misgivings or second guesses. This was simply a way to publicly acknowledge a bond that went beyond mere ceremony. His heart, mind and spirit already belonged to Olivia long before this day. When she walked down the aisle with his girls, he didn't know if he'd ever seen a more lovely sight. He couldn't help the goofy grin that spread across his face.
At one point, Maya spotted Ella and started walking towards her, the guests laughed as Karen picked up her little sister and carried her the rest of the way. Olivia smiled and shook her head slightly.
When she reached the altar, Olivia took the hand of Fitz; her lover, her soulmate and her best friend. The ceremony was short and uncomplicated. When the minister pronounced them husband and wife Fitz picked her up and twirled her in his arms. She laughed in surprise. He placed her down and then held her face in the palm of his hands and kissed her. The minster then added, "Well, I was going to say you could kiss the bride, but I guess you already figured that out." Fitz didn't need any other prompting and kissed her again.
They changed out of their wedding clothes and left before the reception finished. The kids saw them off and they gave them each a kiss and a hug. Cyrus and James would spend the night at Camp David with the kids and then watch Maya for a week back in D.C.. Mellie would arrive in D.C. the next day. Karen and Jerry would stay with her until their Mom's swearing in ceremony and then fly back to school. Teddy would stay with his Mom for a week until Fitz and Olivia returned and then it would be back to the regular visitation schedule of every other week with one parent.
Fitz wanted to surprise Olivia with a trip to Europe or the Caribbean. As President though, it was hard to hide his itinerary. So, instead they decided to go to Hawaii and scheduled him a public appearance for the dedication of a new government building honoring a late Senator. The Governor invited the President on a fluke and was surprised that he took him up on the offer. It gave enough cover to throw the Press off a little. It would be nice to get to a warm place and they couldn't get criticized too much for vacationing within the United States.
Like the politicians, most of the journalist had left for the holidays, so the press pool that joined then on Air Force One made up a skeleton crew of cub reporters stuck with light duty. Chatter grew in the press gallery at the back of the plane when they saw the President and Ms Pope exit the limo on the tarmac. Shortly after takeoff, the President and Ms. Pope made a surprise appearance in the press room. The President was all smiles and at ease when he made the announcement. "Well people, I guess getting stuck on Holiday duty sometimes pays off. You are the first to learn that Olivia and I were married today." The pool was quiet for a moment until they started offering their congratulations, applauding and shaking their hands. Olivia and Fitz took a few questions and pictures and then left the reporters to write their stories.
Fitz and Olivia made their way towards the front of the plane, where the Presidential suite was located at the nose below the cockpit. They received more congratulations from staff in the main quarters and passed the kitchen gallery where they declined the chef's invitation to cook something for them. They passed Fitz's "flying Oval Office" and cabinet room which was two stories and remained empty. The few aids that were on this flight were in the main quarters. Olivia felt someone walking on her grave as they passed the medical facility. An image of Fitz's bullet ridden body flashed across her mind as he was wheeled down the hospital corridor. She reached out for his warm hand and squeezed it.
"What," he asked, noting her look of concern. She just shook her head and dismissed her unease. He opened the door to the suite and she stepped through. He closed the door, and then walked up to her. "Hi," he grinned.
"Hi," she smiled back as he gently held her neck, bent down and kissed her. He slightly sucked her bottom lip tasting a sweetness that he wasn't sure was cake, her lip gloss or just Olivia. He smoothed his hands down the winter white cashmere jacket, feeling her body underneath. He found her hips and pulled her in closer to him. Fitz lightly grabbed her earlobe between his teeth and sucked on it. She gave a deep chuckle in return and slid her fingers through his hair. He moved to her neck and could feel the echo of her laughter in her throat. Fitz began to unbutton her coat. "You've wanted to do this a long time, haven't you, Fitz," she remarked, thinking about the offer he made to take her to the G8 Summit in Air Force One all those many years ago.
"Mmmhmmm," he replied as he helped her out of the jacket. He held her chin again as he languidly kissed her, pushing his tongue to the roof of her mouth and then swirled it with her own tongue. He leisurely pulled her light blue silk blouse from her skirts waistband and broke away from her mouth to concentrate on removing her shirt. Olivia could feel her breath quicken and warmth spread across her body as she watched his long fingers nimbly work each tiny button starting from the top down. When he reached the bottom of shirt, he slowly moved his fingertips up her body. His light touch felt like a firebrand on her flesh. Fitz lingered on her nipples which perked underneath her bra as his thumbs circled them. She let out a little cry and he chuckled in response. He moved his hands up to her shoulders and slid her shirt off of her body.
Fitz found the clasp on the side of her skirt and unfastened it. He gradually unzipped it and the skirt fell softly to the ground. He held her arm as she stepped out of it and then removed heels. She was wearing white lace panties and bra that kind of reminded him of their first night together. He stopped and just stared at her a bit, overcome by her beauty. She had gained a little weight since the hostage ordeal and looked a little rounder. He touched her stomach and she quivered. Maybe she'll be rounder still, he thought with a smile.
He tried not to pressure Olivia into having another kid if she didn't want to, so they didn't really have another serious discussion about it until a month ago. They had just finished making love when Olivia asked out of the blue if he still wanted another baby. When he realized she was sincere, they had a long talk about all of their concerns and expectations. It ended with Olivia grinning and saying, "Let's go for it." She stopped taking her birth control a couple of weeks ago, so maybe they would come back with something more this Honeymoon. They'd have fun trying if nothing else.
Fitz moved his hand from her stomach to her ass. He gave it a squeeze and pulled her closer to him, his pelvis touching her belly. He cradled her face with his other hand and gazed into her wide brown eyes, amazed that she was finally his, openly. Olivia was his wife, not just in spirit, but in name as well. He couldn't stop smiling. He claimed her lips once again, feeling her warm, contented sigh.
She began to remove his jacket, and he finished shedding it and his shirt. He turned her around and unhooked her bra. It joined the growing pile of clothes on the floor. He pressed his chest against her back, cupped her breasts and gently massaged them as he nibbled her neck. She looked out the row of windows in front of her and could see that the plane was chasing the setting sun. It filled the sky with pink and orange hues. Fitz suddenly swept her off her feet and she gave a startled laugh. He carried her to the small bed, probably a little bigger than a twin because even a President had to give up a little luxury in travel accommodations. Still, it would serve its purpose.
Fitz interlaced his hand with her left and brought it up to kiss each digit, including her ring finger which now displayed a white gold ring to match the solitary diamond engagement band. He traced a series of kisses on the inside of her arm, her elbow, her armpit. He made his way down her body using his mouth and tongue to taste her. She played with his hair, feeling the soft texture of his curls between fingers and thumbs. He kissed the side of her breast and when his lips found the sensitive spot at the bend of her hip, she shuddered a little. She felt him smile against her skin at her reaction.
He hooked his fingers on either side of her panties and slowly removed them. His eyes locked with hers as he settled between her thighs contouring his body to fit the small space of the bed. When he playfully took a bite from her inner thigh she groaned. He briefly broke eye contact as he took both of his hands and spread her open. He placed his thumbs on either side of her clitoris and rubbed her in small circles without actually touching the little nub. It felt like an electric shock to Olivia. She stared down at him, finding it more difficult to breathe, and clasped the bedcovers tightly in each hand as waves of pleasure coursed through her body.
His lips finally touched her other lips, enfolding them into his mouth and tasted her wetness. All the while, his clear blue eyes never left hers. She ran her fingers through his hair and tried to steady her breath by panting. He alternated between dipping his tongue into her opening and sucking her little knob of nerves. When a little bit of turbulence hit the plane made him scrape his teeth against her folds they both let out a surprised yelp. He broke off and asked, "Are you ok, Livvie?"
She nodded and said yes and they both started laughing. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and gave a quick kiss to her belly. He rested his head on her stomach feeling her laughter reverberate through her diaphragm. She rubbed his biceps as they both started to calm down from their fit of giggles. She sat up and he followed suit. Fitz took both his hands and held her neck while he gave her a deep kiss so she could taste herself on his tongue. She began to remove his belt and unzip his pants. He finished discarding them and his boxers. She grabbed his erect cock and stroked it firmly in one of her hands while she gently massaged his sacks with the other. He let out a strangled cry as she continued to work him with sure fingers. She bent down to take him in his mouth when he stopped her. "Uh, Livvie? I'm not sure teeth and turbulence mix down there."
She laughed and pushed him back down on the bed. "Whatever you say, Mr. President, I guess we'll have to find something else to do." With that, she straddled him and slowly lowered herself on his shaft. She controlled the tempo with her thigh muscles, maintaining a measured pace. Her back arched with the rhythm they were keeping. She placed a palm on the muscles of his stomach feeling them contract with every upward thrust. He reached for one of her hands and they intertwined. He moved his other hand up her body to hold a shapely breast. He then grabbed her hip, brought her close to his chest and flipped her so he was on top. He pulled out of her completely at that point and the head of his shaft touched her clit which made her cry out in pleasure. He guided himself back into her and picked up the pace, his balls slapping against her with increased speed. She wrapped thighs around his waist and crossed ankles squeezing tight. She started crying out with every thrust while he grunted as they built towards their climax. They reached it together and were left shaking in ecstasy.
She pushed his sweaty hair off his brow and kissed his forehead. It felt good to have his weight on her, to feel his body molded to hers, to feel his spent member inside of her. He kissed her on the mouth. "Do you have any idea how amazing you are, Olivia Pope?"
She smiled back as she traced his back, "You're not half bad yourself, Fitzgerald Grant." She still couldn't believe all that had transpired that had led them to this point. She did not know what the future held, but at this moment she never felt more confident in it. Because she had a partner to share it with and no matter what happened, they were in it together.
The End.
A/N: I really want to thank everyone who left comments and encouragement. You really did help shape this story. I never would have gone down the direction of Jerry and Karen or even the war with Mellie without your feedback. I hope that you have enjoyed this story. I know that I have enjoyed writing it.