Olivia's POV

"Hi," I smile nervously and let Savannah down from my hip. "Is this a bad time?"

Fitz just gapes at me and i seriously wonder if I caught him at a bad time. His daughter is sitting a couple seats away from him with her head down and it looks they just argued, so it probably is a bad time. That, and the seriously unhealthy rate my heart is going is making me regret coming here. But after a few seconds, Fitz's expression warms and he shakes his head. "Absolutely not. You're fine."

I smile, genuinely this time. I reach down to Savannah, who is timidly hugging my legs. I gently play with the white ribbon in her hair. When I told her we were going to the White House, she got so excited and put on a pink t shirt with the American flag on it and a pair of white shorts and sandals. She was so happy to come here, but now in front of Fitz and Karen, she is shy like I expected. "Hi, Karen. I'm Olivia. It's nice to meet you."

Karen wipes her nose and that's when I realize she has tear stains on her face. This really was a shitty time to show up here. But I pretend like I don't see it and smile. She smiles too. I have seen her plenty of times online and on TV but she is so much prettier in real life. It amazes me how much she looks like Fitz - with wavy, light brown hair, a light skin complexion and blue eyes. She's gorgeous and she seems like a really sweet girl. "Hi. Nice to meet you too."

Fitz gets up and walks towards Savannah and I. He is wearing a baby blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, making his arm muscles pop. He is pretty buff in general but his arms are really muscular. He walks past us, closes the door and comes back. He kneels down in front of Savannah and smiles. Savannah clings harder to my legs but smiles at Fitz and doesn't back up from him.

Fitz holds out his hand and gives his daughter the warmest, cutest smile I have ever seen. "Hi. What's your name, Princess?"

Savannah takes his hand and laughs shyly against my leg. She's not uncomfortable and that amazes me, as she is usually scared as hell in front of strangers. "Savannah."

If Fitz is surprised at her name, he doesn't show it. He just nods. "Princess Savannah. That's pretty."

"Savannah," I lean down too, so I am matching their height. Savannah puts her arms around my neck. Even if she's comfortable with Fitz, which I am so happy about, she still likes to hold onto me and that's okay. "This nice man bought you the unicorn from yesterday. Remember?"

Savannah's face lights up. She loves that unicorn so much. Since there are no toys at David and Abby's house, she was infatuated by the stuffed animal from the minute I have it to her. She lets go of me and throws around Fitz, surprising both of us. "Thank you!"

I put my hand on her back and laugh. Fitz beams and wraps his arms around her little body, hugging her back. "You're very welcome. What did you name the unicorn?"

Savannah lets go of him and settles back on me, suddenly shy again. She's so moody, but Fitz smiles, like he finds it cute. She mumbles her answer. "Shandy."

"Sandy?" He asks and she nods quickly. "Like Sandy from SpongeBob?"

She nods again, this time with a big, dimply smile on her face. I look at him, one eyebrow raised.

"It was Karen's favorite show years ago," he explains to me. "And admittedly mine as well."

I laugh and stand up, picking up Savannah with me. He stands up to and wipes his hands on his black pants, since was bracing himself on the floor with them. He stuffs them in his pocket and looks at me. "Is everything okay?"

I look back at him. He is a good guy - a genuinely good guy. He doesn't have to try. By nature, he is a sweetheart. And I trust him. God knows how much I trust him. If I had to give him Savannah to care of forever, I know that she would be fine with him. And not just because of a goddamn unicorn. Because I know the type of person he is. The type to put everyone ahead of him. The type to have so much love in him that he doesn't know what to do with it. I was so scared coming here. I was so scared waiting a part of me is still scared, because I don't know what his reaction will be. But I have to believe that everything will be okay in the end. "Yes, everything is fine. I just have to talk to you. If that's okay."

Fitz nods. And then, as if he read my mind, he glances at Savannah and Karen. They really shouldn't be here for this and he understands that. "Karen. Come over here and say hi to Princess Savannah for me."

Karen, as upset as she may be, gets up out of her chair and walks over to Savannah with a smile. "Hi."

Savannah waves at her and then smiles. "I like your hair."

Karen runs her fingers at the back of her head, over the braid she has in. It's a type of variation of a French braid. "I can do it for you if you want. It's going to take some time though."

I set Savannah down and smile gratefully at Karen. As angry as she may be, she is being genuinely sweet to Savannah. "Thank you, sweetheart. That's fine. Savannah, go with Karen."

Savannah takes Karen's hand voluntarily and Fitz and I watch them leave the room. My mind, as always, goes a million miles an hour and it is occurring to me that they're sisters. In a way, Karen and Savannah are sisters. And that just makes me happy for some reason.

Fitz clears his throat and I turn to him. He gestures at a bottle of scotch in a corner table of the room. "Would you like a drink?"

I shake my head. "I don't drink anymore."

"Really?" Fitz cocks his head and walks over to pour himself one. "Because that wasn't the case a couple of years ago, if I recall correctly."

I laugh. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you were the one that got completely wasted and was hanging off the motel bed."

Fitz chuckles at the memory, screwing the top back on the clear flask. He walks back over with his drink in hand and pulls out a chair for me, gesturing for me to sit in it. I do, my heart beating fast again. He sits down right next to me and I clear my throat. "Sorry, again, if this was a bad time."

"Please, Livvy," he motions to the paperwork. "You literally saved me from all of this. I should be thanking you if I weren't so worried."

I raise my eyebrows and cross my legs. "Worried?"

"Worried," he repeats, locking his royal blue eyes into my brown ones. "I have to ask you again, Livvy, only because I care. Is everything alright? Because you're scaring me here."

"You shouldn't be scared," I lie, breaking our gaze. I pick at a microscopical rip in the thigh of my skinny jeans. "How are you?"

Fitz keeps on looking at me before smiling and sighing. "Livvy, I am a politician. I know a filibuster or a deflection when I see one. What's going on?"

I cross my arms. Suddenly, it got ten degrees colder in here. Does he feel that? Because I do. I'm Olivia Pope. I am supposedly scared of nothing. But I am terrified of this. "I just asked you how you were doing."

Fitz stares at me, like he's trying to read me or something. When he gives up, he sighs. "I'm fine, I guess. Just faced the wrath of Karen again. Your daughter, Savannah...she's a real cutie. She looks just like you."

"Really?" I finally look up at him. I can't believe I am in this position. "Because one could say she looks like you too."

Fitz's POV

I keep on staring. I am trying to read her but I think attempting to read Olivia Pope is completely and utterly useless. She clears her throat. "She's yours."

I don't know what she means by saying that. I mean, of course I do. She is saying Savannah is mine. My daughter, my blood, my baby girl. And I can believe that. From the minute that little girl walked in here, I felt a connection. But I just...hearing her say it...

I look at the table, not quite knowing how to say how I feel. Maybe that's because I am feeling so many things at once, so I can't quite get a grasp on it all.

But Livvy goes on. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I am sorry I didn't tell you as soon as I found out I was pregnant. I had...reasons for that. And I am going to regret it for the rest of my life."

I swallow. I don't really know why she's apologizing to me. She can't change the past. Neither of us can.

"And Fitz," she goes on, her voice breaking. "I don't want you to think I am here for money. Because I am seriously not, I swear-"

This time, I look up. I can barely speak, but I cannot let her say this. I reach out and take her wrist into my hand gently but firmly. "Livvy, stop. I'm not accusing of that. I know you're not here for the money. Don't belittle yourself like that."

She swallows. I can tell she's dangerously close to crying. I don't want her to. I'm not mad at her...at least I don't think I am. Yes, I would have given up anything to meet Savannah sooner. She's what, four? I missed the first four years of her life. That makes my heart hurt...but I don't want Livvy to cry. I don't want the mother of my child to cry. She sniffs and nods. "Okay. I j-just needed you to know. And I need you to know t-that she is such an amazing kid and she deserves so m-much more than she's gotten her life emotionally. A-and know that I am sorry..."

I nod. I already know these things, all of them. Savannah is a beautiful little girl, inside and out. I don't need much to know that. I don't know what she means by how she deserves better. As far as I can tell, Livvy is the best mom out there. And I know she's sorry. But I can't find it in my heart to forgive her. Not right now. "I get it, Livvy. I know that Savannah is...beautiful. In every way. I get that you're sorry. I just need you to get that this is a lot to take in."

She nods really quickly and reaches out for my glass of scotch. She looks at me and I nod. What I don't expect her to do is down all of it in one sip, which is exactly what she does. And here I was, under the impression she didn't drink. She just seems really nervous. She slams down the glass and jumps a bit when she does so. She inhales deeply. "I get it, Fitz. I do. I'm sorry. I am so sorry."

I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. I want to assure her it's okay, but I am not so sure that it is.

I love Savannah - I know it's crazy, but I already do. I love how sweet she is and how shy she is and how unapologetic she is and her bright blue eyes and her gratitude and...I love everything about her and above all, I am so happy she is my daughter. Maybe the typical reaction in my place would be to worry after being a father to her but I am just not worried about that at all. I am so perfectly content with being a father to Savannah. I would be honored. Even though I only met her for two minutes top, I would be absolutely honored. I don't know if that makes me crazy. Maybe it just makes me a dad.

But Livvy...not telling me? Not reaching out to me for four years? That is anything but okay. Assuming she knew right away, why didn't she tell me when I was in prison? It would have helped me...knowing that there was a little baby when I got out, waiting for me.

And assuming she realized Savannah was mine after she was born, she still could have reached out to me. I was out of prison then. I was a free man. If she had just...

Livvy is a reasonable person. I wanna trust that her reasons were worth it. But I can't hear them right now. I can't bring myself to...

"Fitz," she clears her throat, looking at my now empty glass of scotch she downed. "Say something. Please."

I inhale. "There is not much to say. Savannah is...I love her. I do. If she is my daughter, I love her more than anything. If you let me, I would want to be in her life as much as possible. If Jake would-"

"Jake is out of the picture," she cuts in, looking at me. I look back at her, silent, so she goes on. "I don't want you to think that he left me, I found our situation helpless and I came to you out of desperation. I left him. I told him. It was a long time coming."

I nod slowly. I never thought that Livvy came to me out of desperation. She always has more cards to play. And now I realize that Jake is out of the picture and if he is that much of a coward, I never wanted him in Savannah's life. I am happy he is gone. In a way, I think Livvy is too. But I just keep on nodding.

"And yes," she continues nervously. "You're an amazing father. I know dealing with daughters can be tough sometimes but I never want you to doubt that. Savannah would be...lucky to have you in her life.

I smile for the first time. "I would be lucky to have her in mine."

Livvy smiles as well, still looking nervous. She reaches out and touches my arm gently. I don't embrace it, but I don't stop her either. I am really pissed at her, but if she took the time to explain her reasons to Me, I think I could understand. It doesn't look like she is going to do that anytime soon though. She just smiles and squeezes my arm. "She's wonderful, Fitz. She reminds me of you. Every day, in little ways. She is...smart. She skipped a grade and she's eligible to skip another. She can tell you the branches of government and knows the multiplication tables. She loves eating unhealthy...burgers, like you. Her eyebrows wrinkle when she is confused or frustrated. She is sensitive and wears her heart on her sleeve. And she's honest."

Unlike you.

"What I am trying to say is," Livvy goes on. "She's had it rough for a couple of years. But if you let her, she can grow to love you so much, Fitz."

I nod at Livvy. I'm just trying to come to terms with this. I have a daughter. All these years, I have had a daughter. Another kid I knew nothing about. I'm confident that I can be a good father to her but I wish I knew before. I can never get those four years back. And that kills me. "I look forward to that. Are you guys okay right now? Where are you staying?"

"We're fine," she replies. "You saw the place the other day. We're still there."

"Abby's place?" I ask and she nods. "Abby...isn't that the name of Rosen's girlfriend?"

She nods again. "We're staying at Abby and David's house."

Okay, that makes me feel a little better. I have kept in touch with David over the years and I know what a good person he is. I have never met Abby, but if David chose her, she must be just as good of a person. "If you need anything..."

She squeezes my arm. "I need you to try to understand."

I want to tell her how much I am trying to. I get that Savannah is my daughter - I guess a part of me knew the moment she walked through these doors. I get that Livvy isn't coming to me for money or out of desperation. But I just don't understand why she didn't tell me sooner.

I nod my head, but turn away from her. I don't want her to see the tears in my eyes, because they're already there. Evan was right - life is crappy and a lot of times, you end up getting hurt.

Don't get me wrong - I am so happy that Savannah is my daughter. I really, truly would be honored to be her father. But I don't understand why Livvy would hurt me like this - by not telling me.

I know my life is already as hard as it is, but I would be more than happy to take care of Savannah in whatever way she needs. But as for Livvy? I bet my life on her. With everything in me, I trusted her. I don't know if I can forgive her.

Not yet.

AN: I just wanted to say thank you SO much for your kind and supportive PM messages and reviews. If you ever wrote anything, you know how much it means to me when I get feedback like I get from my readers. I am glad you enjoy reading it just as much as I like writing it. Even though it takes you a minute to write a review, I am thinking about it all day. It literally makes my day. Thank you so much, particularly to this guest who wrote a very detailed, thoughtful review the other day. I don't remember what it is, but I remember I was smiling endlessly that whole day and my parents were so confused. Thank you again.