Chapter Five
Seems Like there's always someone who disapproves
The group was silent as father and son stared at each other. Olivia studied Big Jerry for the first time up close from her spot behind Fitz where she had been talking to Quinn when they came into the hotel. For a moment, Olivia just took in the man who was a political powerhouse and a national treasure. She hated him instantly. She hated what he did to Fitz, she hated how he played the political game, she just plain hated him. Stepping up next to Fitz, she slid her hand into his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Big Jerry's eyes immediately zoned in on their clasped hands, a deep scowl marring his features for a half a second before smoothing out into a pleasant and practiced grin, "Hello, sweetheart, I'm Jerry."
Olivia didn't move from her place, and she didn't wilt under the stare of his hard, steely eyes. "Olivia Pope." She responded coolly.
"My girlfriend." Fitz explained, bringing their joined hands up to his mouth and pressing a kiss to her knuckles. She just smiled up at him, silently promising that she wasn't going anywhere. This was their first real test as a couple, and she'd be damned if some dimwit senator from California took Fitz from her.
Jerry looked between the two of them, taking in her possessive body language and the clear dismissal of his approval. "Well, Ms. Pope, it's nice to meet you." He held out his hand, "I don't recognize your name."
"I'm not from a political family." Olivia answered sharply, "My father is the curator at the Smithsonian and my mother is a retired archeologist." Jerry balked even more at her words.
"Well, I certainly look forward to getting to know you better while the two of you are out here in California." He glanced over their heads as Cyrus appeared, "Cyrus Beene, good to see you."
Cyrus stared blankly at Big Jerry, "Senator Grant, I didn't realize you'd be here." He muttered.
"My son is out here for a big debate, there's no place else I should be." He smacked the smaller man on the back, "How have you been? How's Harvard treating you?"
Cyrus shrugged, "Same old. Okay, guys, get to your rooms, get settled in, get something to eat. We'll meet in three hours to review." He shoved the pack of keys and a room list at Stephen, "Handle it." He muttered before turning back to Jerry. "What do you want? I know you, you wouldn't be here if you didn't want something." He snapped.
Jerry grinned at Cyrus, "Go put your bags upstairs. I'll meet you in the bar." He motioned over to the open bar area, leaving Cyrus to take deep breaths before snatching his key from Stephen and storming to the elevator.
When Olivia and Fitz were upstairs in their room a few minutes later, she lightly pushed him to the edge of the bed, moving to stand between his legs. "What do you need?" She asked. He looked up at her questioningly, so she continued, "What do you need? Do you need me to go down to the bar and punch his lights out? Do you need me to go all psycho girlfriend until he runs out of her screaming and flees to Europe? Do you need me to be sweet as pie so he's at least sort of reasonable until we can get back to our coast? Do you need me to find a bottle of scotch? Do you need a quickie? What do you need?"
Fitz smiled softly, tugging her onto his lap, "Just you. I'm fine, Livie. Promise. There's nothing he can do to me." He held up his hand, "Scouts honor."
She chuckled, "Other hand." Leaning her forehead against his, she pressed a kiss to his lips. "I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere." She promised.
He sighed, rubbing his hands up her back, "You say that now, Liv, but I'd bet you my entire trust fund that Mellie is going to just magically show up and"
"I look forward to meeting the North Carolina debutante and putting her in her place." Olivia answered sharply, "Because you're mine." She told him, "You're mine and she can sugar coat everything as much as she wants, but I'm not letting you go without a fight. And it's not because you could advance my social standing or you have money or I could be First Lady or whatever. It's because I love you."
Fitz let out a growl, flipping them so he was hovering over her, "Whatever I did in a past life, thank the lord I did it, because you are the best thing that's ever happened to me." He murmured softly.
She ran her hands up his arms until she could clasp them behind his neck, "Same, Grant." She giggled as her stomach let out a growl, "Now, I do believe that indicates hunger. Let's go find Quinn, Harrison, and Stephen and see about some food?" She suggested.
He pressed a hard kiss to her lips, "Let's." He agreed before rolling off of her.
SSS
Cyrus watched as Olivia, Fitz, Quinn, Harrison, and Stephen all left the hotel. The team had been leaving in small groups in search of food. He grumbled and brought his bourbon to his lips, "What do you want, Jerry?" He asked again.
"Who is the Pope girl?"
"Fitz's girlfriend. Sharp as a whip. Highest LSATs I've ever seen. Decimates her opponents in debates. Apolitical. Every law school was begging to have her. We're lucky." Cyrus answered. After a moment, Cyrus added, "And she loves Fitz. And he loves her. You won't be able to separate them."
"And how did she and Fitz meet?"
"No idea, don't really care." Cyrus admitted.
Jerry's eyes narrowed,, "I asked you to keep an eye on him, to make sure he stays on the right path and you let this girl from nowhere in? You were supposed to be paving the way for"
"Oh please!" Cyrus waved his hand away and slammed his tumbler down on the bar top with more force than he meant to, "I'm not doing anything. I'm not paving the way for anything. I'm doing my job. My job is to make sure we have the best law school in the country and the best debate team in the country. I don't care who Fitz screws or who he marries or if he wants to be with a purple zebra from Antarctica that drinks martinis. Let it go, Jerry. He's flown the coup and he's not coming back. And as far as I can tell, he has no interest in politics. If I were you, I'd just step back and let him do his own thing."
Big Jerry's eyes narrowed as he flagged the bartender over for another scotch. "I will do no such thing. There is a plan in place. And that plan is in place for a reason. Now, if you have decided that you don't want to participate in the plan, I'm sure someone at Harvard can speak to you about alternative positions other than running the law school." He threatened, downing his scotch in one swallow, he stood, "I'll see you at the debate."
Cyrus watched Jerry go, feeling his blood pressure sky rocket in the process. Closing his eyes, he took five long deep breaths before flagging the bartender down for another bourbon and a burger. He needed to eat something.
SSS
The Next Evening
"We clobbered them!" Quinn held up her shot glass, teetering slightly in her black pumps, "We are totally the best team ever!"
Olivia laughed, clinking her glass with Quinn's before downing the tequila. From across the bar, she shot Fitz a saucy smile before latching onto Quinn's hand, "Come on, let's go dance." She giggled, nearly tripping over her own feet in her haste to get to the make shift dance floor. They were out celebrating their win against Stanford and they were all well-aware that they would be feeling the effects of their night out the following morning on the plane ride back east. At the moment, though, none of them could bring themselves to care.
"They are so going to regret those shots tomorrow." Harrison shook his head, sipping his beer.
"Oh yes, I'm going to be regretting those shots they're taking tonight probably." Fitz grinned with a fond shake of his head. His Livie was trying to dance and it just wasn't working. "She deserves it, though. She dominated that debate."
"I heard she always does." Harrison commented.
"She does." Stephen sidled up next to them, "I went with Cyrus to watch her. Harvard was planning on poaching her until we learned we were her number one choice. She's amazing. Best I've ever seen. I was glad I never faced off against her myself. I think it's better to be on the same team as her, rather than on the opposing one."
"I think we can all agree with that." Harrison chuckled.
"Hello, Fitzgerald." All three men turned at the sweet southern accent behind them.
Fitz's eyes narrowed in on Melanie Carmichael. Her hair was swept up into a very careful French twist, adorned with a few pearl pins. She was wearing a baby blue dress and on killer white heels. Her pearls were in place and an expensive clutch was tucked up under her arm. "Mellie. What a surprise." Fitz deadpanned.
She smiled, a practiced one that didn't quite reach her blue eyes, "I was happy to be out here to be able to see your debate. You did well." She murmured softly. Fitz wasn't fooled, though, he knew there was nothing soft about this woman.
"You just happened to be out here, on the other side of the country. Shouldn't you be at Yale right now?" He asked.
She didn't take the bait, instead she said, "I was hoping that we could catch up while we were both out here."
"He can't." Olivia was suddenly standing in front of Fitz. "He's here with me."
Fitz' arms came around her waist, drawing Olivia back into his chest, "Liv is right, I'm here with her."
Mellie's eyes narrowed in on the tiny woman standing protectively in front of Fitz. "I'm Olivia. Olivia Pope. Fitz' girlfriend." She introduced herself.
Harrison, Stephen, and Quinn watched as Mellie smoothed her face back into that easy, gentile smile, "Well, Olivia, it's nice to meet you. I'm Melanie Carmichael."
"Fitz' ex. Yes, I'm aware." Olivia stayed where she was, not budging. "Why exactly are you here in California? Shouldn't you be at Yale?'
Mellie shifted uncomfortably on her feet, "Yes, well, visiting friends." She answered breezily. "It was very nice to meet you. Nice to see you, as well, Fitzgerald. Congratulations on your debate." She turned and left as quickly as she'd appeared.
Olivia watched her fleeing figure, "I don't like her." She decided.
Fitz chuckled, "Neither did I, it's why I dumped her." He glanced down at Olivia's nearly empty beer glass, "Another drink? I'd say you earned it."
"Definitely." Olivia agreed.
SSS