Disclaimer: I still don't own Scandal

AN: Hello, is anyone out there. I'm sorry for the delay and if someone didn't get a preview, I apologize. Things have been crazy, good crazy, but crazy none the less. I should be updating once a week. Ideally on a Thursday. This update is a short but the next will be longer. Thanks for sticking around and enjoy.

Chapter 36: Never Say Never

Some things we don't talk about

Rather do without

And just hold the smile

-The Fray: Never Say Never

December 12th,2010

"Ma, you know you don't have to come. I'll be alright on my own," Olivia said.

"Olivia, I'm joining you in California. It's Christmas, and I'm not sending you out there all on your own."

"I can take care of myself," Olivia said adamantly as she ate a piece of her fish.

"I know you can. I raised you, Libby. However, just because you have your own little one, it doesn't mean I'm going to stop worrying about you. Plus I want to spend Christmas with my grandbaby," Sofia reasoned between bites.

"Oh of course, it's all about your grandbaby. I'm just chopped liver now," Olivia gave a faux pout.

"That's how it works, Libby. As soon as the baby comes along everyone stops worrying about the mom."

"Well, my kid is something special so I can live with that," she laughed.

"Is there anything specific I should know before the Grant-Pope Christmas?"

"Grant-Pope Christmas," Olivia murmured. "There are a few things. Armando is a touchy subject. Please don't mention the date I had last week," Olivia grimaced, thinking about the potential argument. While Fitz had lost the right to have any say when it came to her personal life, she could only imagine what his reaction would be to her dating.

"The thought of mentioning your date hadn't even crossed my mind. Unlike my sisters, I don't make it a habit of gossiping about my child's personal life."

"Sure you don't," Olivia offered a raised brow.

"While we're on the subject, will you be calling Jake back?"

"No. He was nice but a little too sensitive for me."

"There's nothing wrong with sensitive, dear. Your father had a sensitive side."

"Mom, he cried over the presentation of the food because it was too beautiful to eat," laughed Olivia.

"Okay, maybe he was a little touched," Sofia laughed along with her daughter , " but at least you're trying."

"Yes, at least I'm trying," Olivia agreed. She wasn't to mope around any longer. It was time for her to get back in the saddle.

December 16th, 2012

Mellie and the kids had flown out to Santa Barbara the day before as soon as the kids were out of school. The Pope Camp decided to leave Washington early Thursday. Josslyn was peaceful during the flight, often wanting to look out of the window in amazement. Wanting the freedom to come and go as she pleased, Olivia opted out of having a car service take her out to the ranch. Before Olivia had the engine turned off to the SUV, Karen was taking Josslyn out of her car seat.

"Hi, KC," Josslyn excited as her sister held her tightly.

"Jossie, I've missed you. We are going to have so much fun. And you look so adorable with your little dress and matching hat, " Karen gushed.

"Tank yuh," Josslyn smiled.

"Well hello to you too, Karen," Olivia teased.

"Oh gosh, I'm sorry Liv," Karen blushed.

"I'm starting to think Josslyn has stolen you from me," she joked as Karen put her little sister down to hug Olivia.

"No, she hasn't stolen me away. I've just missed her so much. You and I have a lot to catch up on. I have to tell you all about Christian."

"I can't wait to hear all about him," Olivia smiled.

Karen peaked over Olivia's shoulder and noticed Sofia who had just stepped out of the SUV. She looked from mother to daughter and took in the similarities and differences. Looking at Sofia was like looking at an older, slightly lighter version of Olivia.

"Hi Mrs. Pope, I'm Karen, it's lovely to meet you. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself earlier, I tend to have tunnel vision around Josslyn."

"Hello, Karen. It's a pleasure to meet you, and please call me Sofia."

"How about Ms. Sofia? Addressing you solely by your first name seems a bit rude," Karen asked as Josslyn trotted towards her sister eager for her attention.

"Whatever you're comfortable with, dear," Sofia offered with a warm.

"Ms. Sofia it is then," Karen smiled back. "Now let's go inside before kills me for being rude because I kept you trapped out her," Karen said dramatically with hand motions which Josslyn mimicked. "Are you mocking me, Jossie?"

"No!"

"Yes you are!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

"No!"

"Am a seriously arguing with a year old," Karen asked aloud before she responded again.

"I'm afraid so," Olivia laughed as they went inside.

Karen and Jerry disappeared with Josslyn while Sofia and Olivia exchanged pleasantries with Mellie. They wanted to show her around the property. It didn't matter to them that she was still a baby, they wanted her to know the ranch was as much her home as it was theirs. It was the place they'd escape to on weekends when and breaks during their father's stint as governor. It was the place they'd spent many holidays together and hoped to spend many more with their younger sibling along with them.

"Should we take her to the main house," Jerry asked, referring to a Josslyn's sleeping form.

"I don't see why not. I didn't see Liv make her way to the guest house," Karen said as she picked Josslyn up from the blanket. They'd taken her out to the stables to pet the horses.

"Do you want me to carry her," Jerry offered.

"Nah, I've got her. Let's get started back. I'm certain lunch will be ready by that time."

"I wonder what we're having," Jerry pondered aloud. "I could really go for some pasta. Oh and those muffins Livi makes. I wonder if I can persuade her to make some for me."

"You're just a bottomless pit aren't you?"

"The same could be said about you," Jerry countered. "I've seen you eat more than Christian."

"That's different. I don't eat junk like you do."

"No junk, just yummy processed treats."

"We'll see about that when baseball season starts up in the spring," Karen shot back.

Lunch was a calm affair. Karen spent the time asking about Sofia's career as a professor. She knew Sofia had taught at Duke but she wasn't aware she'd also spent her career as a professor at Boston U, UCF, NYU, and UNC. She learned a great deal about Sofia's travels and the works she published. While Karen talked Sofia's ear off, Jerry chatted away with his mother and Olivia. The last few encounters between Olivia and Jerry had been tense. At first he'd felt betrayed by her actions and involvement with his father; however, as she months went by, Jerry realized she was still the same person she'd always been.

After lunch, Sofia left the ranch to meet with a former colleague. Jerry was spending the night at a friend's house. Karen was busy making plans with her best friend Becca whose family had opted to spend the holiday season in California to allow the girls to spend time together.

Fitz had called to check in on everyone and to make sure Olivia, Sofia and Josslyn has a flight. The phone call made it evident to Mellie things between Fitz and Olivia were tense. It was the tone in Olivia's voice, a tone she knew all too well.

Once Olivia had fed and changed Josslyn after her nap, Mellie took that as the perfect opportunity to talk to Olivia. If anyone could sympathize with Olivia with it was Mellie.

"Hey Liv, can we talk," Mellie asked holding a bottle of wine and two goblets.

"Of course," Olivia smiled as she set her iPad on the end table.

"I just wanted to thank you for agreeing to spend your holiday with us. I'm sure you'd rather have been with your own family," she paused as she poured the wine. "The kids are thrilled you decided to come out and it's nice to have you around," her voice sincere. It was difficult to find someone as honest and trustworthy as Olivia when it came to politics and Mellie would always value her.

"It would have been nice to have taken Josslyn to see my granddad, but Mellie you all are family now. Our children make us family. "

Mellie meditated on the words for a while before responding. She had never considered the fact that they are indeed a family; certainly unconventional , but still a family.

"Yes we are," Mellie agreed. "I'm not sure what happened between you and Fitz but if you ever need to talk, I'm here. I think I'm the only person who may have an inkling of understanding."

"You may be," nodded Olivia.

"He's seeing a therapist," shared Mellie. "Not the smartest move if you ask me but he says he has issues to work through."

"Does he has any idea how damning this could be?"

"I don't think he cares," Mellie answered honestly. "He has a lot a guilt about whatever happened at Camp David," she paused briefly. "Did you know he threatened to take Karen from me," she asked, taking Olivia by surprise.

"No, I did not know that."

"She was two. Between work, functions, and other happenings I was a tad bit neglectful. It wasn't purposeful but I was working late nights and had early mornings and Karen spent most of her time with her nanny. Only briefly seeing me on weekends. He thought I resented her and was going to leave me. He had divorce and custody papers drawn up. He said Karen didn't need a mother who didn't love her," Mellie recounted coldly. "That was difficult year for us but we worked it out. It wasn't easy by any means. I loved Karen, and I didn't resent her; it was him I resented. We fought constantly. The arguments we had during the campaign were nothing compared to what we went through that year, but we made it work because we weren't willing to throw away our friendship and everything we'd worked for. "

"I had no idea," Olivia said as she started to piece things together. Fitz has said she'd never given him a reason to believe she didn't love their child, but he couldn't say the same for Mellie. With Mellie's revelation, things began to make sense.

"I told you this to say you and Fitz can make things work. There's a lot he won't talk about, and I know you're a private person….I don't know what happened between the two of you, but if he and I can work things out, so can the two of you," Mellie sipped on her wine. "The two of you have a great amount of potential. If things are beyond repair, I can understand not trying. Liv," Mellie stared at Olivia sharply," if you think there's a chance for a future between you and Fitz please don't give up on him. I've never seen him as happy and at peace as he is with you. When all of this is over, and he and I go our separate ways, I want to know he'll be happy."

"How did you do it, Mellie? How did you find it in you to forgive him," Olivia inquired. As Mellie has said earlier, she was probably the only person who could slightly understand what Olivia was going through.

"Fitz has a good heart and that was a redeeming quality. I've said and done some horrible things and so has he, but he's a good person. He's flawed but he still has a good heart. Even when he purposely tries to hurt me, I find some way to look past it. I learned it's a defense mechanism. Not too effective but I've learned to live with it and find a way to forgive him," Mellie answered honestly. "Whatever he said or did, I'm certain he didn't mean it. Nobody's perfect. And I know he can't take those words or actions back but as a friend - someone who cares for the both of you - I sincerely hope you find a way to make things work. "

"Mel, I know Fitz has a good heart and that he's a good man but some things you can't move on from. While one day, we may be friends again, we'll never be a couple again," she said honestly.

"If I've learned anything the last few year it is to never say never. People have a way of changing and surprising you when you least expect it."

Olivia spent most of her days with the kids and sightseeing with Sofia and Josslyn. As lovely as the ranch was, she needed time away or else she would go stir crazy. She took advantage of having a beach close by and found herself taking walks with Josslyn.

It seemed no matter what she did, she couldn't get Mellie's words out of her head. Time and time again, she tried to take off the ring Fitz had given but she couldn't. It represented everything that was good between them, as angry and as hurt as she was, there was a very tiny part of her that hoped one day she could forgive him; as Mellie has pointed out, people change and you never know what to expect.

December 21st, 2012

"Hello, is anyone home," JR's voice rang through the house.

"Granddad," Karen exclaimed, being the closest to the living room.

"Karen, how are you," he greeted with a warm hug.

"I'm wonderful. It's about time you got here. Now all we need is Dad," she shared.

"Where are the others?"

"Mom is at a friend's, Jerry is out riding, Ms. Sofia is out shopping, and Liv & Joss are in the guesthouse."

"And what are you doing up here all alone?"

"I just finished a talk a Christian. I was just going to see if Olivia wanted to do some baking with me," Karen smiled.

"Did I hear my name," Olivia rounded the corner with Josslyn on her hip.

"Liv, I didn't know you were up here," Karen said.

"Well someone wanted her big sister," Liv smiled as Josslyn began to squirm.

"Hello there Olivia, you look lovely as always," JR greeted with a hug.

"Hello to you too. You a such a shameless flirt," Olivia teased.

"Something has to keep me young," he laughed. "And how you Josslyn? You look beautiful today."

"Say hi to Granddad, Poppet."

"Hi," Josslyn waved and turned to her sister. "KC, meeeh go KC," Josslyn held her arms out.

"Come here Jossie," Karen took her sibling from her sister. "Did you have a nice nap."

"Yes. Meeeeh, Ehla seeep," Josslyn smiled.

"I had no idea she was so talkative," JR looked to Olivia.

"The only time she isn't babbling is when she's sleeping. Little Miss Motor Mouth."

"Don't worry Jossie, they said the same thing about me. It's a Grant trait," Karen kissed her sister's forehead.

JR stood beside Olivia and looked at his son's daughters. There was no denying they were Grants with their curly hair, grey eyes, and dimpled grins. Karen looked more like their father while Josslyn resembled their late grandmother. While he'd only met his youngest grandchild once before, he could tell the differences that had occurred in the last four months. Her freckles weren't as prominent and she was lighter. Her hair wasn't as blonde as it had been and her face was much fuller.

"Are you sure you birthed her, Olivia. She appears to be all Grant to me," he teased.

"Oh I'm sure I birthed her. It just so happens the Grant genes are strong."

"Would you like to help me bake, Jossie," JR heard Karen direct to her sibling.

"Yes!"

"Can I join in on the festivities," a voice came from behind JR and Olivia.

"Dada!"

"Dad," Karen exclaimed in sync with Josslyn. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here, silly," he laughed while greeting his father and Olivia. He quickly made his way to his girls, hugging them both tightly.

"We weren't expecting you until tomorrow," Olivia commented. She hadn't been ready to see him. She was under the impression she had one more day to prepare herself.

"I finished up early and left immediately," Fitz smiled, truly happy to be back on the ranch. He'd already been out to the stables to greet Jerry what decided to stay outside. Apparently there was too much estrogen in the house.

"Dad, you're throwing off my baking schedule," Karen said.

"Forgive me, KC. Time for me to get my hands dirty with my girls."

"We'll talk later," Olivia said smoothly but Fitz could tell she meant business.

"Of course."

"Don't burn down the house," JR.

"One time when I was ten and you've never let me live it down," Fitz shook his head with laughter. He wasn't sure what was on Olivia's find but for now it could wait. He was home and with her girls, at the moment it was the only thing that mattered.

AN: The Grant kids got bonding time, doesn't it warm your heart. And Jerry is starting to warm up to Liv again. And Olivia is trying to date but can't let go of Fitz completely. What did you all think about what Mellie said? Should Olivia try to make things work? And what could Olivia want to talk to Fitz about? Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

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