Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC owns these characters. But I've taken the Gladiator oath as a writer: #OLITZ4LIFE #JAM #GoKERRY #GoodLuck GoldenGlobes!
That was a Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
"A white wedding in the White House." Cyrus peered out at the snow covered Rose Garden, standing beside Fitz in the Oval Office. "Don't you think it's too soon after Mellie's death? Not that I particularly miss her Lady Macbeth impersonations in these hallowed halls. And I did volunteer to organise a New Orleans Jazz funeral but you vetoed the idea."
Cyrus paused to acknowledge the wry glance Fitz angled his way, before continuing, "The point is that even Woodrow Wilson waited more than a year to re-marry after his first wife died of Bright's disease."
"You think it will be less of a scandal if I wait a respectable length of time before marrying Olivia? And who decides how long that should be? Olivia is the love of my life, Cy. I don't want to wait. I can't afford to wait. Life is too uncertain to be blasé about waiting."
"How about Spring? It's not that far away, and the roses will be in bloom. We could set up a nice marquee; tea on the lawn; a couple of swans instead of penguins, an igloo and ice-fishing. The aesthetics would be better. And Ella could toddle around with Teddy, with James chasing after them, to make sure they don't topple the five-tier wedding cake and the champagne pyramid. I'd say Spring."
"We're getting married. On Valentine's Day. This year."
There was a silence as they both watched the snowflakes swirl in the wind. Then Cyrus muttered, "On the bright side, I don't think it's as much of a scandal as President Grover Cleveland marrying his daughter at the White House."
"Cleveland married the daughter of his best friend."
"Frances Folsom was his legal ward, and he'd known her from the day she was born. Not to mention the fact that she was 27 years younger than Cleveland."
"Why is that marriage more scandalous than what happened to his son – the child, many believed he'd fathered? The boy was forcibly taken from the mother and put in an orphanage. What's more, the public voted for Cleveland as President not once, but twice after knowing all that."
"From what I understand of that many-headed beast we called Public Opinion, the American people are kinder to those who admit their indiscretions."
"Hmm..."
Again both men stared out at the winter wonderland of the landscape beyond.
Across town, Olivia sat at the OPA conference table facing her associates. "How do you feel about all this?"
"It's business as usual, or business as unusual as it's been since you moved into the White House," Abby shrugged.
"But I'll be even less hands-on than I have been lately," Olivia pointed out. "Will you be okay to self-manage for awhile?"
"How long is that?" Huck frowned.
"Four years," Harrison muttered.
"That's not guaranteed," Olivia hastened to add.
"Maybe we can all work for you at the White House," Quinn suggested.
"No chance." Harrison shook his head. "If you thought it was bad, what they put us through for dinner with the family. Wait until they start digging up our dirty little secrets in the process of getting us cleared to breathe oxygen in the West Wing."
There was a silence.
"I don't want to work in the White House," Huck said grimly.
"Me neither."
"Yeah, I'm good over here."
Olivia sat back in her seat. "If we are more or less comfortable with the new situation. You need to be aware that some clients may have a problem with my name being on the door when I'm..."
"In bed with the President," Abby said.
"...married to the President," Olivia corrected. "So you may have to free-lance from time to time."
"So we don't just provide a confidential service, we'll even go undercover?" Quinn clarified, then grinned. "Cool."
"Cool? How old are you?" Abby frowned.
"Younger than you."
Harrison remained focused on Olivia. "How will the new dynamic work— we'll be solving cases as independent contractors but we still report to you?"
"An ad hoc franchise?"
"Be your own boss, then report to the boss?"
"Do I have to move my computers out of here?"
"No, no one has to move out. Not unless you want to. We will work as we have been, and make any necessary changes to the new structure as we move forward. Basically, what I need you to know is that I may have to decline clients, you may want to help independently."
"You think we'll still have clients after they learn we're just the A in associates without the OP in Olivia Pope," Harrison gave her a considering look.
Abby sat forward. "If they don't, we'll have to increase the volume to make up for the shortage in big name clients who pay big bucks."
"We're going to be ambulance chasers?" Quinn wrinkled her nose.
"I can change the 911 call system so the ambulance chases us."
The others looked at Huck, then Olivia held up a hand. "No one is going to change anything. Especially not to the 911 emergency system. And you aren't going to chase ambulances. We're going to do this. We're going to make this work."
"I can't talk to clients," Huck scowled.
"Harrison and Quinn can talk to clients," Olivia said.
"What about me?" Abby sat up.
"Harrison and Quinn will deal with the meet-and-greet aspect for potential clients and you will be the closer. You will tell them what needs to be done after they've signed the contract and paid us a retainer. Huck will be the operations centre. Any questions?" Olivia asked. "Are you with me?"
The other four looked at each other, then looked at Olivia and said in unison. "Over a cliff."
"Madam Vice President, how are we this fine afternoon in the ice box of the United States?"
Sally Langston paused for a moment as she exited the Senate Chamber, then continued walking. "Hollis Doyle, as I live and breathe. And to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"
"Now, why would you suspect an ulterior motive when I'm here to wish you the best for the New Year."
"Hollis, the day you don't have an ulterior motive is a day I will see a pig grow wings and fly."
"A pig might well be flying in this blizzard, the folks out here call a little gust of wind."
"Yes, it is a cold day in hell, now why have you come to warm your socks by my fire?"
Hollis smiled. "Ah, a woman who gets straight to the point. I like that about you, Sally. Now, a little birdie told me that we're going to have a wedding ceremony over at the White House."
"My, my, what noise these little birdies make when they forget to fly south for the winter."
"So you didn't get a wedding invite either. Glad to know it wasn't just me."
"From what I heard, and my sources are far more reliable than your birds, it's going to be a small wedding. Family only. In consideration of the poor dear wife who is no longer with us."
"That was a tragedy."
"Deeply felt by you, I'm sure."
"Now, Sally, what could you possibly mean by that?"
"Hollis, it is no secret that you wound that poor woman up like an eight-day clock and let her loose in all her madness on Olivia Pope."
"I didn't know the woman was certifiable. I just wanted her to distract Fitz from the business of governing. You know that man and his ideals are the worst thing that can happen to us as Americans and the rights conferred by our citizenry. Hell, we're barely a couple of weeks into the New Year and he's got the Gun Lobby and Corporate America baying for his blood."
"So what are you suggesting?"
"I'm suggesting that you need to step up your game, Madam Vice President. Olivia ain't no dress-up doll wanting Fitzy Boy at her beck and call. She's a fixer. And if she starts fixing El Presidente's problems, the world as we know it will end. Now, I don't know about you, Sally, but I like being in the top 10 per cent controlling 80 per cent of this country's assets. I don't want to downsize my gas-guzzling jet for a four-door electric monstrosity that's forever stuck in traffic."
"So you want me to help you maintain your choice of lifestyle?"
"That is cynical but accurate. So what say we find a nice quiet place to discuss our mutual beneficial partnership?"
"We have no such thing, Hollis."
"Oh but we could, Sally. You just aren't aware of the benefits of my plans, starting with the wedding. I was going to recommend that you take a bit more interest in the arrangements."
"The arrangements? I have no concern of the arrangements – small or large, I am grateful that the leader of this nation is no longer co-habiting without shame."
"Sally, let me help you understand the bigger picture, outside the narrow confines of everything you consider holy. In my book, co-habitation is a good thing. For you. I mean just consider the alternative on the ballot for all them church-going, God-fearing, Bible-versed folk come election time."
Sally stopped and turned to Hollis. "Hollis, I do believe you may be of some use to me after all."
"Oh it's you." James peered at the figured hunched on the garden chair.
"Of course, it's me." Cyrus growled. "Who else would it be?"
"That's what I came to find out," James brushed off the pile of snowflakes that had settled on his husband's shoulders. "All I could see was a snow-covered mound scaring away the owls. I had to do something before Ella sees you, and starts having nightmares for the rest of her life."
"Hrmph."
James sat down on the chair next to Cyrus.
"Is there a reason you're out here doing your best gargoyle impression?"
"Fitz is getting married."
"Oh yay!" James clapped his hands
Cyrus glowered at him. "Do you have to do that when Ella isn't around?"
"Sorry," James muttered. "Force of habit. But why is this upsetting you? I thought we were all aboard the Olitz love train."
"Olitz?" Cyrus scowled.
"Olivia and Fitz – Olitz. That's what the media is calling them… well, the parts of the media that's fangirling about our two lovebirds. I won't repeat what the nasties are saying about them."
"It's those nasties that have got me worried! Those nasties have a lot of influence and this is an election year!"
"It doesn't feel like it's an election year."
"Precisely! Fitz is acting like this is his second year in office! Granted the momentum was lost due to no fault of his own – first there was the wife attempting to throw Olivia under the bus every chance she got; then the shooting; now there's the wedding. What I want to know is - when will it be the re-election campaign?!"
"After the wedding?"
"It's too soon to have a wedding! Wife number one is still fresh on people's minds and he's bringing on board Wife Number Two – what is he thinking?"
"That it would have been better if he were a Mormon. Then he could have had a plural marriage, married Mrs Looney Tunes with an official licence, and married Olivia in a private ceremony. That would tick all the standard boxes, marriage, recognised by a church, not living in sin, two wives. Everyone is happy."
Cyrus glared at James, who raised a questioning brow, "What?"
"This is a serious conversation."
"Agreed. That's why I'm out here freezing my extremities, talking to Mr Gloom-and-Doom. What you need to understand, Cy, is that Olivia and Fitz are in love. I can see they're in love. Everyone with two functioning brain cells can see they're in love. They are cute. They're sweet. They remind me of kittens, baby otters and bunny rabbits. They should get married and have smushy babies. Ella needs more friends."
"Will you get your mind out of a petting zoo and look at the real picture! We're running for re-election without the Wicked Witch of the West to fake smiles and coo at babies. We have Olivia who is beautiful, smart, articulate but black. We have Fitz, less beautiful, smart, articulate and thinking he's a Democrat. They are in love. It's true – but you know what: NO ONE CARES! Being in love is not essential to being President! And we are running out of time on a happy ending for our re-election campaign!"
"I think you're wrong. I think people do want to see people in love, even in the top job. That's why we believe in the fairytale of Jackie and Jack Kennedy in Camelot. I personally think you should use the wedding as part of the campaign."
Cyrus gave an exasperated sigh. "What?"
"Don't you see, it's free publicity, coast-to-coast, and worldwide, through every medium available because we love weddings – just look at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as an example – three billion people around the world watched the nuptials."
"Not all of them can vote in an American Presidential Election."
"Every billion counts, Cy."
"Tell that to the couple who want a small wedding. A quiet wedding. Family only."
"So we're not invited? ... Oh. I was so looking forward to getting a cute little fairy floss dress for Ella to wear."
"I don't think they've decided on the guest list yet."
"So who's helping them plan the wedding?"
"No one."
"No one? The First Presidential Wedding in the White House in 128 years and no one is planning their wedding?"
"I told you, it's just family and they want to keep it private."
"Private?! The whole world will be watching from afar! They'll be clamouring for pictures, gossip, copies of the menu! People will be getting book deals out of this!" James paused to take a breath. "I should do this."
"Do what?"
"Plan their wedding."
"Don't be ridiculous! You're a journalist. Not a wedding planner."
"I need to branch out, explore other options. Do you know how many journalists lose their jobs every year – at least a couple of thousand. And wedding planning as a small business enterprise is on the increase. Besides I organised our wedding. You didn't complain."
"I couldn't. The white tie you got for my tux was too tight."
A/N: So I know that James Novak has been made White House Press Secretary – but then after reading 'No 'Scandal' in liberal use of dramatic license' by Jonathan Capehart in Washington Post, Jan 2, 2014 – where the journalist says that 'you will never see a reporter covering the White House married to the White House staff'. Normally I would use that dramatic licence of forgetting inconvenient truths … BUT in this instance, I've decided to listen to reality and give James a career change – so Cyrus wouldn't have to think of ways to kill him. Ella needs James in her life.
And by the way, Wedding Planning is apparently a lucrative and easy business to get into for first-timers – see Startup Wedding Planners Explore Niche Markets to Stand Out - Emily Meehan in Entrepreneur April 19,2013. Compare that to the woes of journalism careers in ASNE census finds 2,600 newsroom jobs were lost in 2012 by Rick Edmonds in Poynter, June 25, 2013.
Also you can read up on more real-life scandals in American politics via America's Forgotten Presidential Sex Scandal by Charles Lachman, published in the Daily Beast on May 23, 2011 and Ye Olde Sex Scandals: Grover Cleveland's Love Child by Elisabeth Donnelly written The Awl on February 9, 2010.
Seriously, the real stuff is waaaaaay better than fiction!