"How did the date go?"

Pausing her routine of furiously tapping on the laptop, Olivia switched mental gears from work mode to "friendly Liv", as her right hand, Abby Whelan, stood at the door of her office.

"What?"

Abby rolled her eyes, very aware that her best friend heard and understood the question. With her blue eyes sparkling, she asked for more details, communicating with her hands as well.

"The date! How was it? Was he nice? Did he pay? Was he awkward?"

"It went surprisingly well," Olivia commented with a polite smile. There wasn't much to tell, so she kept it cute. With Abby's rapid fire series of questions, it would be best to limit her response.

The tall redhead shot Olivia a side eye.

"That's it? No details? Did he apologize when he arrived? What sucked? Oh my god, did you two kiss?"

Olivia smirked at Abby's inquires. "Everything was fine. He's a very nice man."

Seeing the irritated gestures of Abby tempted Olivia to burst out laughing. The staredown was short lived and Abby groaned.

"I feel like there is more to explain, but 's no scowl on your face. You didn't march in angrily. So I guess that's good. You look extra happy, so I'm going to believe that it went well."

Olivia slightly shrugged, returning to the emails that were untouched in her inbox.

"Mmhmm."

The quick pace of heels alerted Olivia that Abby had left. Some relief.

"Liv?"

"Yes," she answered in exasperation, without looking up to see who it was. She was trying to remain calm. Sharing her personal life with her team was usually off-limits.

Even though they were the ones who were responsible for this new development.

"Just wanted to see how everything went."

Making his rounds, Harrison - the man who initiated her date with Fitz - was now in the office. A smooth-talking, suspender-wearing, and usually confident kind of fellow,

Harrison seemed a bit nervous. His voice was more quiet than normal.

Olivia raised her eyebrows and gave a thumbs up.

"Cool," he offered, turning on his heel to leave.

"Hey."

Harrison glanced at his boss. Slowly, but surely, Olivia smiled in return.

"Thank you. Everything went very well."

"Anytime," he grinned. "You deserve to be happy. He does too."

"Hello?"

"Hi there."

"How are you?"

Olivia answered cheerfully, warming up to the deep voice that greeted her. "I'm doing alright. How about yourself?"

"I'm great," he exclaimed.

"That's great. How is Teddy?"

"He's fine," Fitz replied. "He is at his mother's for a week and a half."

Olivia nodded. Their familial situation hadn't come up yet in their conversations, so she kept this information safe in the back of her mind. "I see. Is that hard?"

"Absolutely. I love my boy. Very much. I feel empty when he's not around."

Not knowing how to respond, Olivia quickly said, "Oh, ok."

"His mother and I have been divorced for three years and I have custody."

Olivia softly added, "You don't have to tell me anything, Fitz. I understand."

"I know. But I'm fine with being transparent," Fitz responded. His voice was low but still friendly, given the topic at hand. "I'm happy that I have him in my life. He's the best thing that's happened to me."

Again, she gave kudos to Fitz for being a doting father to his child, taking responsibility, and letting her know where he stood on the matter. Olivia laid back on the couch and replied, "Thank you for sharing with me."

"What's going on with you?"

"I'm supposed to be packing but I'm being lazy. I'm going out of town but I'll be back on Saturday."

"Nice. Where are you going?"

Olivia answered, "Atlanta. For work. I don't want to go but I planned this months ago."

"Well, you are more than welcomed to text or call while you're there. Or both. When you have free time," he hinted. She could hear the smile in his voice.

"Mmhmm. I'll consider it, Fitz Grant."

"Am I being too forward?"

Olivia smirked at the question. Usually guys wouldn't admit to their flirting as more than desired. "Not at all."

Texting Fitz was becoming a hobby for Olivia. The messages weren't heavy, just something to distract her being from home. Her team hadn't accompanied her, which was a disappointment, but Olivia had to whatever she had to do for the client. Catching a glimpse of her screen between talking points, she usually had a friendly and flirty message waiting. Attempting to quell extra layers of feelings, Olivia declined his suggestion for phone calls. There was something about hearing his voice put her in a spell. Texting was easy and she liked that - for now.

Saturday arrived. Before her plane took off, Olivia sent a funny selfie - headphones on, blowing a raspberry, with a caption.

The weekend, finally!

When she was given the permission to turn her phone on when they landed, she received a text from Fitz. Baseball cap on, covering all the wavy hair she admired, with nose scrunched. His eyes were clearer and more beautiful in this picture, she noticed. Probably in the middle of errand running.

Right back at ya. :)

A smiley face! This was getting good. Olivia giggled but slapped her hand over her mouth. She didn't know how a couple of 30-somethings could be that silly. But she liked it.

Olivia groaned as the five days of non-stop working were catching up to her. Sore feet and an exhausted body. Being a crisis manager was a lot of hard work, always being one step ahead of the client. Mentally and physically draining. She just wanted a large glass of red, and maybe french fries. Or better yet, her favorite, lightly salted popcorn.

Damn, she thought. She forgot to reserve for an Uber. After punching in a request,

Olivia stood by the conveyor belt, trusting that both of her bags of luggage would return to her unscathed. Olivia scanned the area. Being a Saturday, the airport was crowded with travelers. Being alone, she had to assure herself that safety was a priority.

Five minutes passed, and finally her luggage appeared. Pulling the two bags down, Olivia began to walk towards the door, so she could be ready when her ride came. But a figure came into view that made her squint. Cocking her head to the side, she had second thoughts. It couldn't be who she thought it was. Maybe her fatigue was playing tricks on her. Taking a few steps closer, she realized that sitting on the bench was none other than Fitz.

The same cap that was in the picture was settled on his head. In a v-neck sweater and jeans, paired with a mischievous smirk, he waved.

"Hi."

Olivia's jaw dropped. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to surprise you," he stood and approached.

Still flabbergasted with having Fitz in her presence, Olivia scoffed, "You didn't have to do all of that!"

Fitz hesitated, but reached out to hug Olivia. Thankfully, she embraced him. The warmth and strength of his arms relieved her. The cologne that jumped off his skin filled her nostrils. In that moment, she knew she had been desiring a hug from him since their date.

"Well, it didn't hurt to already know what time your plane got in. Remember you mentioned it the other day?"

Olivia sighed. "Yeah, but I wasn't expecting you to be here."

"Well, here I am."

Lowering her eyes, Olivia was realizing that already, Fitz was being more of a gentleman that she had ever experienced. "Thank you," she softly answered.

Fitz took the suitcases away from Olivia, to her obvious disapproval.

"Where to, m'lady?"

Olivia furrowed her eyebrows, "What? I called for an Uber."

"Cancel it," Fitz dared, with no remorse. His eyes, appearing to more grey than blue, were playful. "Your ride is already here."

"Fitz!"

"I'm serious. That's why I am here. Cancel the request."

Olivia laughed as she followed his directions. "There. Done."

"Perfect," Fitz smiled, kissing her forehead. His lips pressed on her made her shiver.

"Now, shall we?"

Driving from Reagan National wasn't too bad. The George Washington Parkway - the major highway that connected Virginia and the District, had its moments when traffic was concerned. Iffy on some days - this time was smooth sailing, after they passed the 395 exit towards Downtown.

Fitz only asked for the address, not even thinking to take advice regarding Olivia's route home. "I usually take this way into the city. Is that alright?"

"You're the driver," Olivia stated.

Fitz glanced at her, with a sly grin. "Sounds good."

Arriving at Olivia's complex, Fitz parked the car.

"Well, this is me."

"Great."

Olivia smiled, "Thank you for picking me up."

"Anytime I get to spend time with you is worth it," he proclaimed. The statement took her aback. Did he truly mean it?

"Would you like to come in?"

"Hmm?"

Olivia continued, "Do you want a drink?"

It was Fitz's turn to be confused. "What?"

Olivia shifted to face him and plainly explain - "I'm going to my apartment, and once I change into some bummy clothes, I'm going to have a drink. I was wondering if you would like to join me. Since I know you wouldn't accept any compensation for your driving services."

"Ahh," Fitz stated, rubbing his chin. Leaning forward, he spoke, "I would like that."

Olivia unlocked the door, showing Fitz the apartment. As he put the bags down, he blurted out, "I imagined your place a thousand times."

Shooting a bewildered glance at Fitz, Olivia couldn't believe what she heard. They had only been talking for a week and he was being more bold than any of the men she had talked to.

"Ok, maybe that was an exaggeration," he chuckled, stepping forward into the space. "But I wondered how the formidable Olivia Pope lived. Including your apartment. It's chic. Very you."

"Yeah, it's nice. Living alone has its perks. I can do whatever I want. Even though my kitchen is amazing, I'm not the best cook. But I am a foodie," she admitted as she retrieved two glasses.

Grinning again, Fitz replied, "I'm not judging. Thank you for your candor."

Olivia returned with a glass of scotch for him, and wine for herself.

"How did you know that I liked scotch?"

"I remember things," she casually answered.

"That's good to know."

They stood side by side. As she smiled, Fitz slightly jutted his chin towards her, emphasizing his point. Somehow he was able to convey his thoughts without saying a word and she understood. That was mind-boggling. He towered over her - he was 6'2, while she was most likely a solid 5'3, or 5'4 - without heels. Either way, he loved being able to look down to see every detail of her beautiful face. Those brown eyes that drew him in immediately. The shy but beaming smile that excited him whenever she allowed him to see it.

"Are you in a rush to leave?"

Fitz slowly shook his head, "No. Are you in a hurry to have me leave?"

"No," she laughed. "I just wanted to ask. Are you hungry? I can order some food. You know delivery guys and gals don't get enough props. I tip them so well, they beg to bring my food home."

Olivia watched Fitz cross over to the large window that overlooked Connecticut Avenue. His body intrigued her. Long strides. Confident stance. "What are you in the mood for? There's that swanky burger joint…"

"Gettysburger?" He interrupted, slightly turning back. Olivia nodded excitedly.

"Yeah! Do you go there?"

Fitz smirked, clearly showing he had something juicy to tell. "Once. I was in line, about to order. Teddy had a tantrum one day and I was too mortified to return." Fitz revealed through gritted teeth.

Shuffling to the dining room table, Olivia reached for a menu, then handed it to Fitz. "Well, that settles it. I'm treating you to Gettysburger. Pick what you want and I'll call it in."

"Olivia…"

"I invited you into my home and asked you if you wanted something to eat. Let me be a good host, Mr. Grant."

Fitz understood where she was coming from. "With pleasure."

Olivia grinned with satisfaction and left to change. She returned in an oversized sweater and leggings, and pulled her hair into a sleek bun. "Ready to order?"

"You bet," Fitz replied.

The delivery guy brought their late lunch with two minutes to spare on their guaranteed arrival time. Olivia promptly set their boxes and sodas on the table. She moved like a bee, on a mission.

"Olivia, let me help."

"Nope," she declared. "You just relax."

When everything was in place, she asked Fitz to come to the table. As he began his meal, Olivia couldn't help but stare. Looking at him was like watching a masterpiece. She had to notice every detail and mannerism.

"You have a beautiful smile."

Fitz twisted his lips and his eyes widened. He wasn't expecting Olivia to compliment him in that way. "Thank you. Yours is absolutely gorgeous."

Olivia snapped the french fry. "I see that I can be outdone in the complement-giving department, Mr. Grant."

"What's your middle name?

"Carolyn."

Fitz marveled. "Olivia Carolyn. It fits you. Beautiful. Distinguished. Strong."

The words that came from Fitz surprised Olivia. Usually, when she received a line of adjectives like that, Olivia would roll her eyes. But this time, it was different.

"Thank you," she felt a blush starting to rise. Always ready to deflect attention, she asked, "How about yours?"

"Thomas."

"Fitz Thomas."

"Fitzgerald," he corrected gently. "Fitzgerald Thomas."

"Ahh," Olivia leaned back, crossed her arms. "I guess your parents knew you'd be someone extra important with that name."

"Meh," he shrugged. "Family name. I'm the third one."

Olivia tilted her head in surprise. "Very nice. So, Fitz works?"

"Absolutely! Do you have a nickname that you like?"

His eyes were giving her a sultry vibe; not what she was expecting.

"Most people call me Liv," she explained. Taking a beat to decide whether she felt like sharing more, Olivia smirked. "Only people close to me use 'Livvie'."

"Livvie."

In that moment, her ears perked. Fitz sure knew how to pronounce that variation of her name like it was the best word ever. It sent chills down her spine.

"Yeah," she repeated, clearing her throat and pushing some hair behind her ear. "But just my close friends."

Fitz nodded; "Good to know, Liv."

Olivia pointed to the counter. "How's your burger?"

"It's pretty good. Thanks for recommending it."

She caught him winking and that made her squirm in her chair. This was so weird but exciting. Olivia had to think of something to calm her down. Leaving her seat, she walked to the couch.

"Olivia?"

"Come here," she offered as she plopped down. Fitz followed. They didn't speak about it, but it seemed natural to cuddle. They hadn't done this before but it felt right. Her arms wrapping around his waist, while Fitz draped his' over her shoulders. Like puzzle pieces fitting together.

"What are your plans for the rest of the weekend," he asked in a hushed tone.

"Probably sleeping," she mumbled. "I am exhausted. How about you?"

Brushing his fingers on her arms, Fitz stated that he was going to clean and relax.

"That's good." Olivia was becoming drowsy and being so close to him, made her extremely comfortable. It didn't seem long but hearing Fitz call her name woke her up.

"Hey. I should go and let you sleep."

Olivia abruptly lifted her head and searched his face, deciding whether he was saying this to be polite or trying to avoid a potentially sticky situation.

"What time is it?

"Seven."

"What? We've been asleep for three hours?"

Fitz nodded, "I guess so."

Seeing that they were literally attached at the hip, Olivia acknowledged. "I guess we were that tired."

"Yeah," he replied, patting her back once more.

Olivia rose, straightening her sweater. "I appreciate you staying."

"Thank you for having me," Fitz smiled. "This was great."

"If you get lonely," Olivia started, "because I know you're missing Teddy, just call and you can stop on by."

Fitz let out a hearty laugh. "Are you teasing me?"

"Maybe." Olivia pulled our her extra girly voice, rocking on her toes.

"Okay," he relented, walking behind her to the door.

"Okay."

Olivia and Fitz could not move. Their feet set on the floor, and eyes were locked on each other. Admiration. Intrigue. Kindness. As if looking away would erase the image completely.

"Well. Good night, Olivia."

Standing on her tiptoes, she held onto Fitz's arms and kissed his cheek. It was her turn to initiate. Not wanting to let go, Olivia pulled away very slowly. It almost hurt to separate.

"Good night."

Fitz squeezed her hand and left for the elevator. When she closed the door, something had changed. That excitement when you meet someone and have a good feeling about it. Having the knowledge that this someone could be a keeper.