A/N: Thank you for all the positive feedback. So, being this is about Autumn, it will be a short story. I had it set for five chapters, but let's see where this goes. Happy Reading. Enjoy, stay safe, and if you live where Autumn is flourishing, enjoy the colors and embrace the changes. Stay well everyone.

Chapter 2-Touch

Olivia had a pounding headache. After seeing her painting, she sobbed for about a half hour. She tried to replace Fitz's eyes with Derek's eyes in her head, but she couldn't. It was the way Fitz looked at her. It was just so comforting. The look gave her the urge to hug him, to let him pull her close and hold her, a feeling she had missed for so long.

She shook her head in disbelief. She hadn't felt arms around her like that in two years. She remembered Derek wrapping her close to him, the smell of him, he was just so loving. Why was she so intrigued then by a man she just met for a half of minute?

She looked around the small house she had rented. It had such a cozy feeling. There was a small kitchen, just enough room to cook and eat. The living area had a small two seat loveseat facing the fireplace. Just in between the two was the softest rug Liv had felt. She laid down on it just to feel it's softness.

Then there were two bedrooms. One was a master bedroom with the bathroom, a king-sized bed, two nightstands, and a walk-in closet.

The other bedroom, Liv had requested be emptied. She was to use that as an art studio. It had a spectacular bay window, and she could see trees for miles. It would be perfect to capture the colors of Autumn. She only wished there was a way she could see all this foliage from above. That would complete her picture.

She looked at the painting again on the floor. Those eyes staring back at her. The paint was dried now, and she rubbed her hand over the eyes. What had prompted her to paint such a picture? She looked out the bay window. It seemed there was an hour left of daylight. She decided some fresh air and a walk among the leaves and grass would clear her mind and refresh it for a new picture.

Back in the lobby Fitz was talking to Jake. Jake was laughing as Fitz's head shook in frustration. "I keep telling you, stop it with the women insults. You have to listen to them, you need to hear them when they are not speaking, that's what respect is about. You don't seem to get that."

"Fitz, I have looks and money, not as much money as you, but enough. I have enough women to treat them and talk to them how I want. That little beauty from before, there was something off about her. I didn't want her to look at me anyway. I would've just broken her heart."

"You are so clueless Ballard. Get outside, your Uber will be here shortly, have a safe flight and call me when you get to Chicago, I need to get some numbers from you."

"Sure thing Boss." Jake looked up. Coming towards them was Jennifer McNeal, the senior analysist for Fitz's Minnesota office, the other firm Jake oversaw. Jennifer was married with two kids but had come to the party for Marcus.

"Hey Jennifer, everything alright?" Fitz asked as he saw tears in the young woman's eyes.

"My mother had a stroke. I don't know if I am going to make it there on time. I have been trying airlines for about an hour. She's in Portland, Oregon. I can't seem to get any flight out today."

"Come to my office, let me see if I can pull some strings for you, really, it isn't a problem, I insist so don't argue with me." Fitz nodded at Jake, shook his hand, and told him to have a safe flight.

"Good luck with everything Jennifer." Jake headed to wait outside.

He put his bag down and saw pretty young, troubled thing from before sitting on a bench. He looked up at what she was looking at. The leaves were swaying in the wind, and she seemed fascinated by what she was looking at. So weird, he shook his head, but headed towards her anyway.

"You see that, Derek, that leaf is clinging to the tree. Despite the heavy winds it won't let go." Liv was sitting with Derek in Central Park examining one of the many red oak trees. They had walked a mile and were taking a rest and Liv noticed the golden and red leaves of the tree they sat in front of.

"Why do you think the little leaf won't let go, eventually it's going to lose the battle."

Liv watched it while she talked. She noticed it still had a hint of green in it. "It's not ready. Leaves won't fall unless they are sure they will do something for the Earth, that the winter they fall to will use them to bring the spring. This little guy still has some summer left."

Derek pointed just to her right. "Looks like that one was called home, he's drifting down."

Liv watched it sway a bit in the wind, as it was finding the perfect spot to land. It was a pure golden leaf, and Liv wouldn't forget that color at all. She watched as it touched ground and rested. "Hmm, it actually looks happy."

Derek pulled her close. "If I didn't know I would think you were one weird woman." He kissed her temple. "I know I am going to see these two leaves again; you have a painting coming out of you don't you."

She kissed his cheek. "You know me so well, let's see what I can do."

Liv looked now at the swaying leaf. It was completely different. It was orange and yellow, clearly ready to fall, but just wouldn't. It reminded her of that leaf that wouldn't fall, but this one was ready, she couldn't understand, but that was the beauty of fall. This leaf was adding beauty to the color of the tree, so it stayed having that job to do.

"What? You can't reach that leaf? Here, let me get that for you." Liv watched as Jake pulled the tiny leaf off the branch and handed it to her.

She looked up at him in horror. "What the hell is wrong with you? Why would you do that, pull a leaf from a tree?"

Jake laughed. "Umm, look around you, there are plenty of leaves and plenty of trees, I don't think that leaf will go on the national missing leaf list." He noticed her look behind him as Fitz came out of the building.

Jake looked over his shoulder and Fitz waved at him to come over. Jake looked back at Olivia. He saw her intrigue when she looked at Fitz.

"Now there's a guy that looks ready to go spend a few months on a Caribbean Island with all his gorgeous women. He's leaving in an hour, heading to Antigua, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Saint Martin. He'll probably have about ten women lined up on each island for him. He's that good." That last part Jake whispered and leaned in closer to Liv, while she rolled her eyes. She looked away, down at the leaf that Jake had just pulled from its home.

She saw Jake walk over to Fitz and have an exchange, Jake nodding his head and patting Fitz's back. Liv couldn't help but feel a sense of jealousy knowing Fitz would be on islands surrounded with beautiful women.

Why should I feel jealous? She shook her head, rubbing her fingers over the gorgeous colors of this leaf she had in her possession. She saw a shadow and looked up at Jake again. "Will you go away, geez, you're like an annoying itch I can't reach on my back."

He laughed. "Just wanted to say goodbye, even if I don't know your name, I'll call you leaf lady. Here, I even brought you another leaf. Don't worry, this one was on the ground, I didn't kidnap it from its home. Oh, and in about a minute, you'll see Fitz again. He'll be saying goodbye to a woman, she'll be crying, it's what he does to most women."

Liv noticed a car pull up. Jake saw it and turned, "well, that's my ride, but here." He pulled out one of his business cards, and Liv didn't reach out to take it. He just held it between his two fingers and waited. When she didn't move, he shrugged and put it on the bench next to her. "In case you ever want a real man."

She watched him, with a look of disgust on her face, walk to the car, grab his bags, toss them in, and wave at her. He disappeared into the car and hopefully from her life. God, what an obnoxious idiot.

Sure enough, two minutes later Fitz came out. Liv tried not to stare, but Jake was right, there was a woman by his side. His hand was on her back, rubbing it, and the woman turned and hugged him.

Liv was trying to look at the leaves Jake had given her but was looking up also at the scene before her. Fitz had a bag in his hand, and when a car pulled up, he opened the door for the woman and let her get in before putting the bag in.

What Liv didn't know was Fitz had no luck in getting a flight for Jennifer to Oregon. He did have a fueled filled up private plane waiting to take him to the islands. He called his back up pilot who was happy to help and Jennifer would be on her way to Oregon making it there well before tomorrow. Fitz's plane would be back at the airport and fueled up by midday tomorrow, if he wanted it.

Once Fitz looked out the window and saw Jake talking to her, he called Jake over to tell him Jennifer was taking a leave to tend to her mother. It was a distraction both to get Jake away from her and for Fitz to make sure she knew he was there.

Once Fitz saw her again, he couldn't take the trip he wanted to take. He didn't want it anymore, he wanted to get to know her. He would stick around, after all it's his resort, so this mystery woman beat out a bunch of Caribbean Islands to keep Fitz's attention.

Liv was staring down at the orange and yellow leaf rubbing her thumb over the colors, deep in thought. He just broke a woman's heart, why keep thinking about him. She felt a tear fill her eye and sniffed it back in when she heard his voice.

"The leaves here in Vermont, they have the most exquisite colors, don't they?" Fitz watched as her one hand held the leaf while her other's thumb rubbed over it. He also noticed an engagement ring on her finger, and his heart sank in his chest.

She nodded her head. "The colors are gorgeous; they bring life to the world before the dead of winter."

She looked up after she said it, and again he was looking directly in her eyes, so comforting. They were magnetizing her to him. She knew what they looked like by heart now, having painted them and examining the painting for so long.

"Mind if I sit next to you?"

Liv shrugged. "It's your bench, you own the place."

"Good point. What's all over your hands?"

Liv realized she hadn't washed her hands after she painted. Her hands were colored in all the fall colors she used and the blue of his eyes.

"Paint, I am a painter. I came here to catch the beauty of Autumn and when Autumn leaves, so will I." Liv looked at him, now as he sat, his face was closer, and her heart melted a bit more. God, he was gorgeous, she would do anything to feel his arms around her.

"That's an interesting blue on your hands for fall colors." Fitz looked at her smiling.

"Yeah, sometimes I get caught up in other things and the picture doesn't always come out right." You, she thought, I was caught up in you and those fascinating blue eyes.

"May I?" he asked nodding towards the leaf, and she handed it to him, his hand grazing her thumb and Liv's body stiffened with that one grazing touch.

"So, what do you see, because honestly, I just see a leaf, and I am not being a wise ass, I would love to hear your perspective." He looked at her seriously.

"Well, here is where the colors meet each other, it's like there was a battle for one color to overtake the other, but when the battle wasn't won, they decided to share. But there's also sadness, because there is a hint of brown coming in where it was once green. This leaf was taken down prematurely by your buddy, Jake, and now it's going to lose its colors, and become part of the Earth. I will keep it alive though when I paint it later."

Fitz was lost in her words. She was so passionate over something as simple as a leaf. Her use of description floored him, and he watched her lips as she spoke and he just wanted to touch them, to caress them. Her words were so soft and gentle and that's what he wanted to be with her.

"Wow, and here I thought it was just a leaf, one amongst millions, but what do I know." He tossed his hands up.

That made Liv smile, a small chuckle came from her, and Fitz couldn't find his way out of his thoughts of her smile. It was radiant, lighting up the darkness that filled her eyes. God, he could watch it all day.

"Do you like looking at the trees, the leaves, or is it just you're impressed with Vermont's fall colors?"

"It's a combination of all of that. There are so much the Autumn leaves tell you. So much change. The leaves, though, they don't have the ability to fight change. It comes natural to them, and they embrace it." Liv was saying this as she was watching the leaves sway slightly.

"Kind of wish you could say the same for people, huh?" Fitz was staring at her while she looked away. The smoothness of her skin. He wanted to reach out and caress her cheek, he usually was bold with women, but not her, she did things to him no woman had ever done. She was heading right for his heart and usually women reach for another organ on him.

"Humans can learn a lot from Autumn leaves. They can accept change when they have no control over it, or they can realize it's time for a change and become the leaf they were destined to be. It's a strange parallel."

Fitz nodded in agreement because those words just pierced him. It's as if she knew him, knew his history, and knew he needed a change. "Those are powerful words. "

"Yeah, accepting change is hard." She would know, she thought. Liv looked at him now. He didn't seem in a rush to go, so she wondered if he was leaving on a trip.

"Look", Fitz said, "I have some things I need to tend to before I, well, I have some things to put in order. It was nice to see you again, and thanks for the lesson about the leaves, I will look at them way differently now."

"Likewise, on seeing you again. Be well, Fitz." Olivia said. So, he did have to go get ready for his trip.

He closed his eyes briefly, just to hear his name come from her voice. It was beautiful, sexy, and soothing all put together.

"So, are you ready to tell me your name? I mean, in fairness, you know mine." Fitz smiled, a small smirk.

Olivia watched his mouth curl. It was adorable. His lips were just so….well, she'll never know for sure, but so soft, she could only imagine.

"Olivia Pope" She put her hand out for a shake, breaking her thoughts from his lips. He took her paint-stained hand and gently shook it. "Pleased to meet you Fitz. Sorry about the paint stains."

The touch of his full hand did things to her, she felt her body shiver. She pulled her hand back, despite feeling his hesitation in letting go. Was that really hesitation? She had to pull back, because the shiver sent a chill up her spine and she crossed her arms for warmth.

She looked at him one more time remembering the scene before her eyes as he sent a crying woman on her way. She heard Jake's words about him leaving to the Islands shortly and she snapped out of it.

"Nice meeting and talking to you Fitz. I'll be getting back before it darkens. Goodbye."

With that, Liv got up and quickly walked back towards her little house. She realized she had left Fitz holding the leaf Jake had taken off the tree. She had also left Jake's card there. She laughed at that part, as for the leaf, it was for the best. Liv would paint it from memory and Fitz could have a piece of her while in the Caribbean.

She looked down at her hands, remembering his touch and her shoulders slumped. She saw the engagement ring sparkling down in the dimming sunlight. If she saw it, he definitely saw it. So, he thinks she's engaged. Doesn't matter anyway, he's leaving, and she'll be long gone before he comes back.

Fitz watched her as she walked away. He couldn't even stop her because the feel of her tender hand in his still had his heart in a frenzy. Any other woman, he would have pulled into a hug, maybe even kissed her on the cheek, but he couldn't do this to her, and he couldn't imagine why.

He looked at the leaf still in his hand. "They can realize it's time for a change." He remembered the words Olivia just said, and that seemed to be what people have been telling him is whole life.

Despite his success, he could never find that one piece missing from his life. From the age of 14, when the braces came off, and his looks went from childish to teenage, girls have been all over him. Fitz knew it was his money, his father owning real estate all over the world, but he did have looks, that Fitz used to his advantage.

There were plenty of women he sent off crying. So many wanted a steady and long-term relationship, but he wasn't ready. None of the women ever spoke to his heart. He was never disrespectful to them, never would be, he was just living his days having fun.

He did things he wasn't proud of during his college days and when his father gave him the responsibility of half the company, he did more things he wouldn't brag about. Women came and went, and his father even pulled him aside.

"You're going to ruin your life like this. One day one of these women are not going to take well to you breaking their heart, and they are going to come after you. Just watch it, son, I don't want you being accused of something you didn't do. Better yet, accused of something I know you would never do."

After that talk, Fitz did settle down. He dated on occasion and what Jake said before, he used to have a different woman every week, but not recently. He stopped with the booze, he stopped with the pickup women, and now he was focused on the business.

He did want to go to the Islands to get away. He wanted one last fling before burying himself in his businesses here in the states. With Marcus gone to Japan, he would have more work to do. He didn't feel like hiring anyone to take Marcus's place. Marcus just couldn't be replaced.

When Olivia walked through that door before, Fitz could say he understood the story of Cupid. He was struck by an arrow that went straight to his heart. He had looked at hundreds of women. He had been to fancy galas, red carpet events, surrounded by beautiful women, but yet no one ever made his heart flutter like Olivia.

One look at her and it took his breath away. Now, with the two brief encounters he had with her, she was already changing his life. After she left the lobby, he knew he wasn't going for his last fling, not if she was staying on property.

With this last exchange, he would spend the rest of the fall season trying to win her heart. He had to get to know her, because she wasn't leaving his head. He thought of Adam's words when he asked about her. Adam, a loyal worker, said she told him not to disclose any information.

Fitz had to respect that, especially from one of his guests, his customers. "But" Adam said, "she is here until Autumn leaves. Maybe that gives you a timetable boss." He shrugged and went about his work.

Fitz looked down at the leaf. He noticed the white card on the bench. He picked it up. "Jerk," he said out loud when he saw it was Jake's card. He put the card and the leaf in his pocket and headed in the direction Olivia headed a few moments ago. He just had to see her again.

Liv entered her tiny house again with another canvass. She still had to get all her other things into the place, but that could wait. She flicked on the light of the small room and began painting again.

This time it wasn't as rigorous. She took her time, small strokes of the paintbrush. She closed her eyes and thought of the leaf she gave to Fitz. She needed to capture the colors exactly how she saw them.

With gentle strokes of her brush, using the orange and yellow, and a hint of green, she painted the perfect replica of the leaf. She continued to glide her brush gently over the canvass. As she finished with the stem, cut prematurely from the tree, she looked at her painting.

She couldn't have painted it better if she tried. The colors of the leaf just as she remembered. The leaf was bigger on the canvass, much bigger than in real life. You can see the colors clearly. What you could also see clearly were a pair of hands. One was hers; one was Fitz's and they rested on the leaf gently grazing each other.

For anyone who looked at the painting it looked like a pair of hands that belonged to two lovers. The hands were comforting the leaf and it looked like the hands were thanking it for being part of the beauty of Autumn.

She stared at Fitz's hand she painted. She looked over at the painting of his eyes. Could she get this man out of her head? He is probably on his way to the airport now. Liv put the canvass down, ready to let it dry and dried her hands on a rag.

Before heading into a much-needed hot shower, she had to go bring some things in the house. She walked quickly to the door. She had two pictures of Derek she wanted to bring in, she wouldn't be able to sleep without the pictures in her bedroom. Liv opened the door not looking in front of her, instead looking at the place to remember what else she wanted to bring in before exiting.

Fitz had made it to the house Olivia was renting. He could've looked up the information, but he walked towards them all tried to guess which one was hers. He only knew because the blinds to the room were open and he watched her as she painted, admiring her beauty in something she was so passionate about.

He couldn't see what she was painting, only the strokes of her hand and her eyes opening and closing occasionally. God, he was so in awe of her. When she stopped and looked up, he quickly walked around to the front of the house. He stood outside the door, not having an ounce of courage in him, even to just knock.

He didn't have to. Liv pulled the door open with such force and walked out without looking in front of her. She didn't notice him standing there until she walked right into him, hitting her head on his chest and becoming startled.

She ricocheted a bit and Fitz thought the impact would have her fall backwards and he quickly put his arm around her waist, so she didn't fall.

He looked down at her. Her face, for a split second, rested against his chest. She didn't want to back off, especially feeling his arm around her. She took in his smell, it was heaven, and she backed up, feeling the grip of his arm.

She looked up at him shocked, but pleasantly surprised. They both gazed in each other's eyes and if they had any confidence at all they would have closed the space between their lips. Instead, Fitz just smiled, while holding her.

"Hi", he said.

"Hi", she said back with a smile of her own.