That conversation that came after gave them the answers Fitz and Olivia were looking for even as it ended up taking an unexpected turn. Running into Peter's wife, Fitz had asked about Nathaniel's whereabouts and she immediately personally guided he and Olivia to the same study that they had met in earlier.

As they went, Fitz purposefully re-examined himself ruthlessly; it wasn't his intention to accuse the Caldwell family of anything - after all, there was no proof, nothing he could point to told him that he should - but then again, privilege could blind anyone. He'd been accused of being too idealistic more than once over the years and some had even tried to use the fact that he'd been born into that privilege as the reason why while at the same time trying to use it to promote their own interest over his. It had made him cautious. It had made him careful. It had made him humble. It had made him care - and Fitz found himself caring, very very much.

He could bow down, give in, accept all that the Party was willing to offer him on a silver platter - as long as he used the circumstances of San Collondias to their long term benefit. In return they'd give him an easy path to his own agendas, a complicit quid pro quo.

Was that the legacy he wanted his presidency to leave behind? Asked and answered - it was a definite no.

These were the thoughts that continued to circle around and around in his mind as they made their way back to Nathaniel's study.

The older man was there, with only his oldest son still there keeping him company. Whatever they'd been discussing was cut off immediately; both men rising from their seats as Fitz and Olivia were shown in.

Something of the seriousness of his thoughts must have shown in Fitz's face; Nathaniel didn't smile or offer a joke but looked him in the eye before asking how could he help the president and from the older man's expression, Fitz thought that maybe, just maybe, Nathaniel had expected this unplanned visit.

That thought only sharpened Fitz's senses; he went straight to the point concerning the Caldwells' many possible motives, the fact that both he and his sons were operating operating from positions of power and generational wealth. He gestured with one hand at the luxurious surroundings that only underscored his words. "Power and privilege used in questionable ways have put wealth into more than one pocket at the expense of those who have by birth, lacked access to the same opportunities."

It was clear that Nathaniel took Fitz's words under serious consideration before he answered. "And suddenly it occurs to you that my family has had enough generational access to wealth to raise concerns with your rather - diverse - group of counselors."

Yes, Fitz thought - the older man definitely understood the source of his concerns, but one glance at Peter showed that his reaction was decidedly different from his father's. His eyes were bright with anger; as he watched, Peter stood, obviously prepared to defend Nathaniel, even if his father seemed disinclined to do the same.

Peter didn't even try to hide his outrage. The only restraint that showed was the fact that he hadn't raised his voice. His voice was cutting even so, its quietness sharp and precise. "You came back here to question my father on the use of his power? Considering who your father was - and how he handled his business - maybe we should be questioning your choices. Or hadn't you thought about that?"

"I have." Fitz felt rather than heard the razor-sharp challenge in Peter's words, felt their keen edges slicing into him. They were bloodless but cut deep and he tried not to let himself lose his temper in response. "And for the record - I don't need anyone reminding me about my father's actions."

His gaze shifted briefly from Peter to Nathaniel and back again. "I can also assure you both that I am also very much aware of how little scruples my father had when he was establishing his own power base and how he used it once he got it. And just in case you misunderstood me - let me state clearly that I am very much aware of his sins, thank you very much."

He should; Fitz told himself. It wasn't necessary that Peter knew that Fitz had been as much of a victim of it than anyone else; few knew the truth about that and Fitz wanted. "But I am not my father."

"Are you sure?" Peter shot back. "Since you've come back here so full of righteous indignation and accusations, let's not waste our time playing games."

"That's exactly why I'm here." Fitz said. His own temper was trying to spark out of control but he wrestled it down, burying it under an iron self-control.

"Is it?" Peter's words slammed back. "Everyone knows what an unscrupulous bastard he was - how he used every thing and anyone to get what he wanted. Including you."

Before Fitz could reply, he kept on. "Your father was notorious for misusing the spirit of the law, bending the rule of law to the limit every chance he got. He was especially good at using those who couldn't fight back -and from the stories I've been told - he enjoyed it!"

Fitz went almost breathless with rage. Peter had no idea what Fitz had endured from his earliest years up to the last words he'd spoken to his father when he was alive. That knowledge burned him up inside; the only thing that stopped him from exploding was the fact that he could sense the same level of outrage coming from Olivia. She knew more than anyone else what he was feeling and her empathy was like water on the searing flames of his anger.

It was a struggle to keep his hands from tightening into fists as a second wave of rage swept through him, a volatile mix of memory, fury and shame at all that his father had done in his rise to power. It threatened to rise up and rip reason away. A part of him knew that he wasn't reacting logically, but at the same time, while there was a moment when he wasn't sure that he could control it, for a split second Fitz wasn't even sure that he wanted to.

That reminded him of his father in such a way that it served as a brutal dash of cold water in his face.

Peter hadn't moved. "Say what you want about my father, but that was never the case with him - but here you are ready to paint my father with the same dirty brush!"

Fitz forced himself back under control. "I am one thousand percent sure of my father's motivations as well as my own. My father would have embraced the idea of using manifest dynasty to further his ambitions, but can you say the same?

He continued. "I don't need you or anyone else to remind me of everything he's done - but irregardless of his actions, I'm here now because I find that on careful reconsideration - and after conversations with my - diverse - group of advisors, I'm not one hundred percent sure of yours."

Olivia watched as both men fell silent but continued to face one another with neither one of them looking ready to back down. Her eyes flickered back and forth between the two as the tension in the room threatened to rise to dangerous levels.

It took everything in her to say nothing, to let nothing of what she was thinking or feeling show on her face. Her first reaction was a unexpected surging of fury of her own - not surprisingly, she was protectively angry of Fitz - but at the same time, Olivia was torn between the need to protect Fitz and the wisdom of knowing instinctively that in this situation that it wasn't her place to do so.

Wisdom struggled against that first instinct; Olivia knew that the issues between these two men were not as simple as they might appear; this was less about them personally and more to do with their fathers - each of them proud, alpha men, their sons inheritors of the same - and the difficulties both Fitz and Peter had had with them.

Did either them even realize how much alike that they were?

Olivia knew that Fitz had always had a somewhat jaundiced view of Peter, who was known for his sarcastic and often irreverent behavior. Peter - at first glance - was simply being Peter. But something else was at play here. She drew a sharp breath as the truth appeared to her.

Fathers and sons. Under the dominance of such men, there was little wonder why either of them were the way that they were and Olivia could relate to the pain of such relationships - better than either man could ever know…

That realization kept Olivia silent.

"You want to be careful about your assumptions, Mr. President." Peter was the first to speak into the tense silence between them.

"Why is that?" Fitz's voice had gone granite hard; he was still in control of his temper, but for someone who knew him - someone who loved him - it was easy to see how strained that control was.

"You know what they say about assumptions, don't you - sir?" Peter drawled out that last word and one could be forgiven if it wasn't clear on whether it was an honorific or an insult.

Before Fitz could decide which - and act on it, both he and Peter were surprised when Olivia and Nathaniel spoke at the same time.

"Enough."

As all eyes landed on him, Nathaniel's focused on his son. "I have no problem with the president's questions. In fact, I invite them."

"Why?" Peter shot back at him. "Dad - after all you've said and all that you've done - the work, the personal time and energy that you've put into San Collondias before it became a desirable part of the news cycle - he has no right to question you, let alone accuse -"

"He has every right -" Nathaniel interrupted him. "And why? Because he's the President of the United States - this is his job, Peter - to work towards a greater good for the nation - for the world - and before we move forward from this point, his is the final word on any of this."

"However -" He turned from his son to Olivia. "I do have a question for you. If I may…"

Olivia didn't like the look in his eyes, and that chilled her words. "And just what might that be?"

Nathaniel returned the coolness with his own."I find it hard to believe that it was you that put this particular bug into the president's ear."

"And just what particular bug are you referring to?" Olivia asked, already half-knowing the answer.

"You've worked with this family in many capacities several times over the years despite our many faults - but have you ever had any cause to think that this particular sort of exploitation is how we Caldwells operate?"

It was Fitz's turn to interrupt; speaking up before Olivia could answer. "These are my concerns - my concerns and my questions and no matter whose advice I may or may not ask for or take heed of, it's me that you need to answer to - and no one else. And in case you didn't understand that, what I mean is that if you have any questions, you direct them to me."

Even as he did it, Fitz knew that Olivia needed no one defending her, but his heart had taken over before his head could react and that honed his words into sharp weapons that made his displeasure obvious. "As you said, it's my word that is the last word on all of this, so now that we're all clear about that, you leave Olivia out of it for the time being."

"As you wish, Mr. President." Nathaniel turned his gaze back to Peter, who's rebellious expression was looking like he hadn't finished with what he had to say, but his father managed to silence him with a look. That reminded both Olivia and Fitz of Nathaniel's reputation, of the iron will and power he'd wielded in his earlier political days.

"The president has every right to question me - to question us." Nathaniel might be looking at his son, but there was no doubt that his words were meant for both men. "The history of our country not only makes it necessary, it demands it. Not only that, but you and I both know that he's had to personally deal with others who have played that game for power and profit with intentional prejudice and that's just some of the reasons that he has to wonder if we're planning on doing the same."

The oblique possible reference to Hollis Doyle occurred to both Fitz and Olivia in the same moment.

How much and what else did Nathaniel know? Fitz knew better than to look at Olivia in the moment. Still in his protective state of mind, he would give no one the chance to draw any assumptions on the level of trust between them; he knew that this is what Olivia needed even more than him right now. Even so, he could tell by her own stillness that Olivia was cataloging this information and drawing the very same conclusions and questions, knew that she would follow up on it without him even asking, reminding him once again of her loyalty and dedication to everything that concerned him.

Unlike his son, Nathaniel seemed to understand the personal source of Fitz's doubts without feeling the need to challenge him on it. Instead he remained the voice of reason, only rightly continuing to point out that he understood the President's caution and questions, repeating his belief that it was Fitz's duty as president to do so and letting him know that he understood their actions - now and going forward - will speak louder than any words that he or his son could say to him right now.

He would not let the personal become a problem, he said, looking one last time at Peter as he said it. What they were doing - what they were proposing to do - was too important to not learn from the many mistakes that had gone before. They've all learned from history and no one here had any intentions of repeating it.

Nathaniel's words worked to defuse the tension in the room, but it was Fitz who had the last word. He didn't apologize for either the confrontation or his questions. This wasn't just about the United States or even their potential alliance between their country and San Collondias. What they were striving for would change the entire American hemisphere - north, central and south America.

If they achieved their goals - a united Americas - this would go beyond the political. It would be history in the making.

"Mr. President, this would be your legacy."

Olivia found herself struggling to keep her concern from her face as she and Fitz returned to the veranda, returning to the same spot where they'd been earlier, seeking the semi-privacy it had offered before.

How could she not? What others couldn't see, she could. She couldn't not see the tension in his jaw, the blaze behind his eyes and know that this was not so much as political as it was deeply, deeply personal. Olivia found herself aching inside for him.

For a moment, she allowed herself the luxury of not caring about whether or not anyone might be watching or if they did, what they might be thinking as she reached out to lay one hand on Fitz's arm briefly, needing the connection and knowing he needed the same. She only wished that she could offer him more.

"Are you okay?" Olivia's voice was soft with the emotions that she dared not show.

Fitz looked down at her as he briefly placed his hand over hers, welcoming both her touch and the understanding in her eyes.

"I'm fine." He paused, then amended his words, knowing that she needed the truth between them. To be honest, they both did. "At least I will be."

Fitz hadn't been surprised at Peter's push-back - what he hadn't expected was his own reaction to the memories his words had dredged up. One look told Fitz that he didn't have to explain any of this to Olivia. Of course she knew; of course she'd picked up how much Peter's words had affected him on a gut level.

"Fitz, Peter couldn't have possibly known how personal his words were to you." Olivia could see clearly the painful demons from his past simmering behind Fitz's eyes.

"Are we sure about that?" A brief smile twisted Fitz's lips. "I've never underestimated the Caldwells before and I'm not about to start now - even with Nathaniel's reassurances."

"I'm pretty sure they got the memo." Olivia smiled briefly, proud of Fitz despite the verbal confrontation. She didn't want to press him, but her concern forced her to it. "Fitz - how hard was it to hear what he said?"

He looked into her eyes and what he saw overwhelmed him in a good way, washing the last lingering remnants of his anger away. Fitz hesitated before he answered with the truth. "Hard enough."

"I'm so sorry." Words felt so inadequate, but they were all she had to offer.

"It's not the first time that I've been reminded of my father's sins - and it won't be the last." Fitz said. "I also know that I can't afford to let it get to me every time it happens - especially once the campaign gets underway."

That would be easier said than done and they both knew it.

His words reminded Olivia of her earlier thoughts. "I think that maybe there's something personal in this not just for you, but for Peter too. It isn't just about him defending his father, but the question is, is it possible that there's something else going on there?"

"Is that your gut talking again?" Fitz deliberately lightened his tone. It would be too easy to let himself be drawn into dark thoughts about the past and he didn't want to go there.

"That's definitely my gut talking." Olivia matched her tone to his, guessing rightly what he was feeling. At the same time, she was uncomfortably reminded of her own connection to the tensions that had swirled through the room and found herself as unwilling as Fitz to face the dark thoughts that certain memories would bring into the light. She started to tell him, but changed her mind. Here and now was neither the time or place and besides, she told herself, only time would heal these old wounds - both for him and for her.

Fitz's words brought her attention back where it belonged.

"So I guess the next question is how do we figure just what that something is." he said.

"I'll get my people on it as soon as we get back to DC." Olivia said. Her mind was already leaping ahead to the possibilities. "I'd like to keep this in-house with OPA as much as possible - for all the obvious reasons."

"And all the not-so-obvious reasons." Fitz said. Suddenly, he was ready to be done with all the plots and counter-plots, the could-be's and would-be's surrounding them - at least for the moment. He stood up and took a step closer. "I'm fine with leaving it in your very, very capable hands." Fitz made a sudden decision. "- and that, Ms. Pope, concludes our political plotting for the day."

Olivia smiled up at him. "Just what exactly did you have in mind, Mr. President?"

"The universe owes us, remember?" Fitz reminded her, his mind going back to their last intimate conversation. "And I say it's time to collect."

"Really?"

"Really." He nodded towards the corral where most of the guests were gathering. "Just a little sun, fun and laughter - in your company, of course."

He leaned closer, just for a moment. "I'll settle for that - for now."

"I like the way you think." Olivia's eyes brightened as she smiled up at him. "Mostly because right now I can't think of a better way to enjoy myself right now than enjoying the pleasure of your company."

Well, her smile said, maybe she could - but that would have to wait until they were back in DC, wouldn't it?

His smile promised that it would - and that he would be as patient as he needed to be until then.