A/N: Thank you for your patience and kind reviews. Please leave a review if you have the time. Happy reading and I hope you enjoy.

Chapter 7

Ten Years Ago

Liv couldn't get the sound of the phone buzzing out of her dream, out of her mind. She was trying to just drown the day out; erase the pain she was feeling in her heart by trying to sleep it off. Her sleep was broken, though. She kept waking up, feeling him, holding him, and kissing him.

The repeated buzzing, she ignored 50 times, finally stopped, but now its silence interrupted her sleep. She felt the slightest hint of guilt not picking up, but she had no right to feel guilty. He was the one that used her as a game, a token to race to the top and claim his prize.

She stared at the white digital display on her clock next to her bed. Valentine's Day, 1 in the afternoon and her eyes were sore from crying so much. She just wanted sleep to come, but it wasn't happening. She was already missing his arms around her. She just didn't know how she was ever going to step foot onto that school campus again.

She reached into her bag, she pulled his shirt out and nuzzled it under her nose. She closed her eyes as she took in his scent, and she thought of their love making. He made her body feel things she never knew she could, how could she ever experience that with someone else?

She picked up her now silenced cell. No more missed calls from him. Although she was grateful, she felt disappointed. Perhaps he gave up on her, put behind him what they had the past two nights. She sat up now and leaned her back against the headboard. She pulled her knees up to her chest.

It couldn't have been for competition. What they shared, what they did, and how they became one had to be more to him than just a competition. No, Olivia, he knew. He knew that list existed, he knew what he had bet to Simon, and he knew he spread your name like you were a whore.

She put her face in her hands. Why did she give it up so easily? She thought back to Friday night, their lips couldn't break free from each other. She couldn't wait to have him, why did she come off so eager? It was your fault, Olivia; you gave it up willingly.

She pulled his picture out of her bag. She rubbed her thumb over his gorgeous face. She tried, she tried to stay mad at him, but just looking at him in the picture and she couldn't. Maybe she would give him a call. "You fucked a virgin twice in one night, who?" "Olivia Pope, Olivia Pope, Olivia Pope." She heard it over again in her mind, even though he only said it once, and the pain began to consume her.

She put his picture under her pillow, put his sweatshirt under her bed, and rested her arms on her knees. She put her forehead on her arms. "I love you, Olivia Pope." She heard the words, but he didn't mean it did he?

Present Day

She kept hearing the knocking and it was making her crazy. Knock, knock, knock. Knock, knock, knock. A rhythm a pattern like beat on the bathroom door. "STOP KNOCKING! JUST GO!"

As soon as she slammed the door closed, Fitz began knocking. "Liv, I am not leaving, I am not looking at the phone, I am going to knock until you open the door, and you tell me what is going on because I have no idea."

Liv closed her eyes. She tried to drown out the knocking. He was relentless though and she wanted to throw something at the door and hope the vibration would at least knock him out for a few moments. Knock, knock, knock.

"STOP!"

"No, I want you to know I am not going near the bed, I am not looking at the phone, I am doing nothing but knocking until you come out and talk to me."

She wouldn't pick up the phone ten yeas ago. That time it was buzzing, she would take the buzzing now over the knocking. She looked down at herself. She hadn't realized the shirt she had grabbed was his NAVY shirt. "Picked up the wrong one," she whispered.

Knock, knock, then it stopped. "Did you say something?" Fitz heard a whisper.

"No, I didn't, I wasn't talking to you." Well, that sounded dumb, now he thinks she's talking to herself.

"Well, then who are you talking to?" Fitz had to smirk a bit.

"Just go." Liv buried her forehead onto her arms. She was backed up against the bathroom wall, knees to chest. She looked down again at the shirt she had on, she buried her forehead in it and felt the tears fill her eyes.

Knock, knock, knock. She rolled her eyes. 1 in the afternoon on Valentine's Day and she's sitting in a bathroom thinking of the same thing she thought about ten years ago. What they just shared these past two nights had to be real.

Knock, knock, knock. She lifted her head and shook it in disbelief at the door. She had wished she called him ten years ago. She could have given him a chance back then, maybe the pain would not have been so bad, but she didn't.

Knock, knock, knock. "FITZ, DAMN IT, STOP!", now she has the chance to talk to him. You're older now Liv, more mature, definitely more mature then the knocking fool out there, talk to him.

"Nope, not until you talk to me, and the knocking proves I haven't moved to get the phone. Deal with it."

Liv closed her eyes, covered her face with her hands. Knock, knock, knock. "I love you, Livvie." He said those words less than fifteen minutes ago. This time, though, she had no doubt he meant them, he believed them, he believed in them. Liv took a deep breath.

Knock, knock, knock. She couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and headed towards the door.

Ten Years Ago

After he placed the flowers down and looked at his unusable phone, Fitz plopped down in his bed. He turned to his side and imagined her there with him. Just a moment to touch her silky skin again. He closed his eyes. What have you done Fitz?

The fucking list. He shook his head. He was so busy trying to get through 1-4, he didn't even think of number 5. No wonder she thinks she was used, if she wasn't the virgin, then who would be? He can't claim her as his girlfriend and go off and do another virgin.

You promised yourself Fitz, you promised you would never be one of those guys. You are supposed to respect women, not use them as a sex object, something to be won in a game. He knew better than to sign off on such a stupid task.

What is she doing now? She took the train, no doubt, and he had no way of knowing if she got home safe. Was she crying? If she was crying, he wanted to hold her. He was already missing her in his arms. She felt so perfect, the way she cuddled up to him. He took a deep breath.

"God I'm dreaming, I love you too Fitz." He heard her words and knew they were true. She had to know his words were true. He did love her, he wanted her by his side, and he never wanted to feel this empty as he feels now. There was no way of letting her know, though. She thinks he's just another asshole of a guy. Knowing she gave up her virginity to him, she must feel so used, like a whore, and he never wanted her to feel like that.

He could still feel her all over him, that hint of vanilla in her body wash. "Livvie" he whispered. He put his arm bent around his eyes. They were closed tight, and he saw those beautiful brown eyes, the way she looked at him when they were dancing yesterday.

He heard the song playing in his mind. The soft chords, the beautiful words, and the promise of it being their wedding song, and he felt himself trying to blink away the tears forming in his eyes.

It's ok to cry, you're alone in your room, no one will judge you. It's ok to cry, so he did. He turned fully around and buried his head in his pillow and began crying. He never felt something so real, and now he lost it.

He felt like a kid showing off a shiny quarter only to watch it fall out of his hand and roll into a sewer. He had something so beautiful in his grasp and he foolishly let it go, possibly lost forever. He began thinking of ways he could fix it, maybe meet her at the train station tomorrow.

Then, he got this terrible feeling in his stomach. What if she didn't come tomorrow? What if she didn't come back at all? He could only hope he was overthinking.

Present Day

The door slammed before he could say a word. He looked at his phone on the bed. He looked back at the door, and he began knocking. He didn't want her to think he took any time to go to the phone and do anything. It was obvious something came through that she saw, he just wished he knew what it was about.

He heard her yell to stop, to leave, but she had a better chance of a snowball surviving hell before that happened. He would camp out in front of her bathroom door for as long as he had to, he wasn't letting this go, not again.

He just kept a rhythm of knocking, it must be making her insane, but he didn't care, he wasn't going away. He was thinking what it could be, what could possibly have caused this? He could easily go get the phone and find out, but he needed to hear it from her.

Another round of knocks and she yelled again. He didn't mean to smile, but they were acting like two immature teenagers. He thought maybe this was payback for what he missed for not dating her. They never had a chance to have the dumb, meaningless fights.

He stopped smiling, because what if she was mad enough to not fix this. He shook his head, another round of knocks. No, he thought, what they just shared the past two night was too real. It was too adult to just stop now, and they were going to face this like two adults.

He heard a whisper; he knows he did. Was she talking to herself? That was a good sign, maybe she was talking herself down, getting the maturity to come out and talk this out. "Did you say something?" he licked his lips, he realized how dry his mouth was because of his nerves when she had that look in her eyes. She answered him, snarky, but answered him, and he knocked again.

He didn't know how much his knuckles could take, but eventually she would have to come out. She would see his hand and feel bad and take care of it. At least that's what he was hoping, then he heard another yell for him to stop. Maybe not, he thought, she just may let him bleed out.

He sat up against the bathroom door now, getting tired of standing. "I love you Mister." She just said those words to him and there was no doubt in his mind that she meant them. He loved her too and after ten years there was no way he was losing her again. Another round of knocks. He wondered what would happen if she opened the door.

He rested his head in his other hand. Another round of knocks and he thought of her smooth skin, her beautiful look in her brown eyes when they danced, once again to the promise of their wedding song.

Ten Years Ago

She heard a light knock on her door. She turned her head towards it. Maybe he found out her address, maybe he came here to apologize, maybe they could hug it out. The door opened slowly, and she heard her mother's soothing voice.

"Baby Girl, how are you feeling? Did the rest help?" She caressed her daughter's face and noticed her swollen, tear reddened eyes.

Liv sniffed in, holding her tears back. "The pain is still there mom, don't think any amount of rest will fix that." She had a feeling her mother knew it wasn't cramps, but she didn't say anything.

"Well, your father is on his way home and he has news for you, so you need to freshen up." She placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you in a few minutes."

Liv slumped her shoulders when her mother left. She had a minute of hope when her door opened it would be him. What would she do then? She would probably slap him, that would be her initial reaction. Wouldn't that be any girl's reaction? Then, she would feel guilty and kiss him.

She was lost in her daydream now. That kiss would probably lead to something else, because that is just what he did to her body. He made her want him all the time. She took a deep breath and walked to the mirror.

"Geez, Liv, you look horrible", her reflection didn't answer back. She headed to the bathroom and threw some cold water on her face. Once again, she found herself staring at her reflection. Really, though, what would she do if he came walking into her home?

It was a thought she had to put out of her mind for now. She had to freshen up if her father had to talk to her. She wondered what it could be about. He may have gotten her on the travel team he's been hoping for her. Maybe that would be her remedy to bury herself in playing softball.

She knew though that wouldn't ease the pain of not having him as her boyfriend. The only reason she knew he existed was through softball. Could she play the game, could she excel knowing this sport was now connected to him?

She had to; it was all she had left. She wanted to be with him more than she wanted to be a softball player less than 24 hours ago, now all she wanted was to forget about him. She knew deep down she wouldn't be able to, but she would be the best she could be at the sport she loved.

"Hey Dad," her father had just walked through the door. She walked up to him and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek. What would he think of her if he knew what she did this weekend? "What's up?"

"Oh boy, Olivia, do I have news for you. Pack your bags. Your spot on the Alabama Prep softball team is waiting. You are a shoe in for starting third base for the Crimson Tide in two years." Her dad clapped and pulled her in for a hug. It was the best bad news she had ever heard.

Present Day

As Olivia walked towards the door, she was thinking. Knock, knock, knock. She stopped, crossed her arms and stared at the door. Maybe I shouldn't open it, let his fingers fall off from knocking.

When her father told her that news, she knew it was over. She would have to accept the spot, it was her life, besides what would she say to her father. "Sorry, dad, I fell in love, just spent the weekend losing my virginity and being used as a prize, so I can't go to Alabama?" Yeah, that would go over great.

So, she left, never reaching out to Fitz again. That was the worst mistake of her life. There wasn't a day that went by that she didn't think of him, look at his picture, long to feel him again. Now, he's here, driving her insane with the…and there it was again knock, knock, knock. She couldn't let him go again.

Would she go to the dinner tonight? Absolutely not! There was nothing he could say or do that would have her go on the military base, not after that text. She turned and saw herself in the mirror.

She looked older, but still the emotional mess she was ten years ago. Her eyes just as puffy and red as they were back then. The only difference he was out there…knock, knock, knock….he could comfort this, go to him Liv, give him the chance you should've given him ten years ago.

Knock, knock, knock. She almost stampeded to the door. "DAMN IT FITZ, YOU'RE RELENTLESS! She swung the door open as she screamed the words and he fell backwards, half his body in the hallway and the top half of his body lay in the bathroom.

Liv covered her mouth with her hand and tried not to laugh. He just looked so surprised. It was a combination of the door being opened and the fact that she opened the door in the first place. She felt horrible now, having him fall in like that.

"Fitz", she knelt on one knee, "are you alright, I am sorry, I didn't know you were leaning on the door." Then she looked at him, crossed her eyebrows in anger and went to get up. Why should she care if he was alright?"

She felt his hand grab her wrist. With one swift motion he pulled her down to him and sat up at the same time. Now, she was straddled across his waist, and he was sitting up, fully in the small hallway outside the bedroom. He pulled her with him, and his back was up against the wall and she was face to face with him, his arms wrapped tight around her.

She was gone, lost in his eyes, and his voice didn't make her anger seem real anymore either. "Tell me what the hell is going on." His hand reached to her face, and he wiped the tear away that was about to fall. After he wiped it, he kissed her cheek and waited.

Ten Years ago

He was thinking about how he was going to be with her daily on campus. He was going to see her in the stands for his basketball games, get to her softball games, and see her there for his baseball games. That was all just a memory now, it wasn't going to happen.

He had no idea how he was going to make this right, and as much as he thought about it, it just made him miserable. Maybe he could find her address, get to her place and talk to her. But, what would he tell her parents?

"Hi, my name is Fitz, I just took your daughter's virginity away, made her feel like the school slut, but I want to apologize and hope she will be my girlfriend." Yeah, that would go over great, he was sure.

He closed his eyes. When she fell out of the bathroom stall why didn't he go down and grab her? Why didn't he lift her up and take her back to the room? He was just frozen, as if time had stopped. He just couldn't believe she heard what he said that she was there.

He would've brought her back, sat her on the bed with him and ripped up the list. He would have explained the dumb shit they agreed on freshman year and that it meant nothing anymore, not after the nights he just spent with Liv.

He didn't though, he just let her jump up and run away. What kind of a coward did she think he was now? You fucked up big time Fitz, now you can only wait, just wait until tomorrow and see if there is any hope you can fix this.

He thought about going over to the girl's campus, maybe finding Quinn. Maybe she could call Olivia for him, and he could talk to her. What does he tell Quinn though? There was no way out of this, and there was no way out of feeling the loss he was feeling now.

He wanted her there, wanted her in his arms. He wanted to be face to face with the girl he fell in love with. He wanted to tell her everything would be ok, and he loved her, would always love her and would never hurt her again. The sad reality was it wasn't going to happen. Although Fitz didn't know it at that time, it was never going to happen, because the girl he loved would be moving to Alabama in three short days.

Present Day

"I should have done this same thing ten years ago. I should have scooped you off that bathroom floor and brought you back to my room. We could be taking a stroll with our child right now as husband and wife had I done that. So, I am not letting history repeat itself, so talk to me."

"Want to tell me about your bet?"

Fitz tilted his head in confusion. "I would love to tell you about my bet had I made a bet, would you be a bit more specific?"

She looked over to the bedroom, the phone was still where she dropped it on the bed. He really had no idea what she was talking about, or did he?

"The bet you made with someone on base about me?"

He gave a small smile. "Livvie, do you really think I would be that stupid as to ever include you in a game or a bet or anything like that again, please tell me you think more of me than that."

She stared at him, and he stared back. His eyes told her everything, and she truly believed in her gut he was telling the God's honest truth this time. She took a deep breath, feeling bad about even thinking he would, but should she, what if he did.

"You didn't make a bet with Connors?"

"Did Connors say I made a bet with him?"

"Well, a text came through when I was about to take a selfie, and it said something about a bet and taking me to the dinner."

"Did it say specifically that I made a bet?"

"It said if he loses the bet, and you go to the dinner with Olivia Pope on your arm he is going to be one pissed off friend." She thought for a moment. "So, no not really it didn't say you made the bet, but then what did he mean?"

"I think I have an idea on what he meant, but you have to trust me, Livvie. Do you trust me?" He leaned closer to her now, and she could feel his breath on her lips.

"Do you trust me?" His voice got deeper and sexier, and Liv could feel herself losing all control.

He reached the bottom of her shirt now, reached under it and smiled, she didn't have anything under, his hand just rubbing her gorgeous ass.

"I will never hurt you again, I need you to believe me. I will never lose you again. I need to hear that you trust me." His hands when under her shirt now rubbing her smooth back, and he lifted it completely off her. He was still sitting up against the wall, and she could feel her body just melting in his arms.

"Fitz, I…" She looked away. She tried to look anywhere but his eyes, they were gripping her, taking her to a place she longed to be but didn't want to give in.

"Look at me." Now his voice was in a deep whisper, and they were mere inches apart. "Do. You. Trust. Me?" She felt his hand lift her ass and pull his sweats down, his erection now leaning up against her bottom back.

She looked directly into his eyes. They were dark grey now; she hadn't seen that before. They were always an inviting blue. She could tell how much he needed her to believe him, to trust him. Her body was aching below her waist now and the need to have him inside her was unbearable.

"I trust you Fitz, I do." Her lips landed on his, hungrily, and she felt tears roll down her eyes, as she couldn't stop the kiss. She felt him lift her one more time and line her up so when he put her back down, his dick slipped right into her.

She opened her mouth away from the kiss and took a deep breath with a moan. "Fitz", she whispered, "Fitz, no condom again." He kept her still, deep inside her but not moving.

"Do you want me to stop?" He had his hands on both her hips now.

"No." His hand reached behind her neck, and he just caressed her head, her face and began pumping his body up into her.

"Look at me Livvie, right into my eyes. I will never hurt you again." His teeth were grinded closed, and he was trying to keep his eyes opened. One hand now rubbing her breast, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep her body upright.

Her face must've shown painful pleasure because she tried to moan, but long deep breaths came out. She couldn't believe she was in this position with him deep inside her. The second time love making on the floor. What would their marriage look like?

"Livvie, I am going to come, come with me baby. He pumped a bit faster. Come with me and tell me you trust me, please."

She felt her body lose any control she once had of it. "Ahhh, Fitz, fuck,mmmmmm. Yes, Fitz, I trust you. I love you, I…." she couldn't say another word as the explosion hit her and she felt him emptying himself inside her.

His bottom half of his body hit the floor and she looked at him. His eyes were closed, and she couldn't help but give him another hungry kiss, using her tongue to lick around his gorgeous lips. "I never want to lose you again either Fitz." He opened his eyes and smiled at her.

After a few minutes of just holding her, caressing her face while she caught her breath he looked at her. He tilted his head towards the bedroom.

"Get my phone, please. I want to get to the bottom of this with Connors." He stared at her naked body walking to the room. He shook his head, licked his lips. No way he was ever letting her go.

She glanced back at him staring. "Like it, huh Mister? Then don't mess this up."

He finally got up and followed her to the bedroom, he needed to feel her again. He took off his shirt and grabbed her to the bed as he took the phone from her hand.

Ten Years Ago

Olivia sat on her bed. His picture was on her crossed legs. She just stared down at it. This was all she had left of him. She had been crying now ever since she erased the fake smile from her face as she walked away from her father.

It was official. She was leaving for Alabama on Wednesday and taking residency in an all-girl's dorm. It was a softball prep school, and it was just what Olivia needed to get away and leave Fitz far behind. She acted incredibly grateful to her father and eager to begin. He was so proud of his accomplishment getting her into the school.

She watched as a tear drop fell on to her sheet. "I may think I am leaving you behind, but I can never really run from the love I will always have for you. I love you Fitz and I always will." As she finished her whisper, she rubbed her thumb over his gorgeous face on the picture and put the picture under her pillow once again. She needed to get a few more copies made of the picture before she left. This one will be worn and faded in a few days if she didn't.

She pulled his shirt out from under the bed, and she put it under her cheek. Her nose resting on one part to have his scent with him through the night. I should've ran back to his room, we should've talked, and that would've led to….she stopped. She felt that ache in her core again, but she let it pass, because she never thought she would feel him inside her again.


Over in Fitz's room, he had finally fallen asleep. His friend Mason had arrived at his dorm, concerned because he hadn't heard from him. He was waiting for him at the Valentine's dance. He had said he would be going with a surprise. It wasn't like him not to show up.

He was about to knock on Fitz's door when the dean saw him and stopped him. "I saw him earlier today, he wasn't feeling too well, I think you may want to leave him alone, he was exhausted." Mason looked at the dean.

He stopped before he planted the first knock. Had he knocked, Fitz would have used his phone to call Olivia, but it didn't happen. Fitz just stayed in his sound sleep dreaming.

He dreamed of dancing with her in front of all the classmates. He was going to convince her to go to the dance after giving her the flowers. He would tell her it would be their first date and he wanted the whole school to see them there together.

That never happened though, so he could only dream of it. He dreamed of that and one day lying next to his Livvie as husband and wife.

Present Day

"Hey Connors, I got your text, what the hell are you talking about a bet and why is Olivia Pope involved?"

"I don't hear from you for two nights, what am I supposed to think? Gonzo calls me on Friday afternoon said you hightailed it out of here asked if I knew where you were going."

Liv was listening to the whole conversation as Fitz had him on speaker. They were both lying on her bed now, a more comfortable spot and she was on top of him, pecking his neck as she listened.

"And not that it's any of you or Gonzo's business, but I can have a life."

"Of course, you can, but he swore the way you defended Ms. Pope at the meeting the other day that you had a thing for her. I told him you just met the beauty and even if you did have a thing, you wouldn't up and run to date her that quick after meeting her. I know you and I know you are in love with someone."

"Oh, yeah?" He looked at Liv who looked up at him smiling now. "Why do you say that?"

"Fitz, I've known you since top gun, you've always held back when it came to women. Someone has a hold of your heart. Anyway, Gonzo said $500 bucks you walk into the dinner with Olivia Pope, so I said no way."

"That's sick Connors, betting on a woman like that, come on. I'll see you later at the dinner, yes, I am going, as for your bet, call it off, don't be an asshole. Whether I have someone with me or not is not your business, nor should it be a money maker for you or anyone else." He hung up the phone and tossed it to the side.

Liv's hand was on his chest, her chin resting on it, and she was looking at him. "No more games, no more prizes Livvie, just us, together, so will you come to the dinner? I can have a car pick you up at 6."

Liv thought about what she told herself in the bathroom. She had to laugh; how could she say no to him? "I would be honored to walk into that dinner on your arm."

He smiled. "I am taking my girlfriend on a date." He reached down and met her lips, kissing her slowly, feeling her soft lips. When he stopped he looked at her. "Happy Valentine's Day Livvie."

She watched him get up and get dressed. For the first time in ten years, she had a feeling of comfort a sense that everything would work out and it was a feeling she missed for so long. "See you at the dinner and Happy Valentine's Day Mister."

She walked him to the door and gave him one last kiss before she watched the door close. She was about to call Quinn to tell her she couldn't make it to the club. She didn't like to leave Quinn alone, but she would understand. Before she could pick up the phone it began to buzz.

She looked at the display. It was her yearly ritual call coming through. This should be fun, she thought, as she reached to answer it. "Mom. Yes, it is the 14th of February." She sat down on the couch ready to explain it all to her mother.