Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC owns these characters. But I've taken the Gladiator oath as a writer: #OLITZ4LIFE #JAMMMmmmmm
No Mellie or Joke: Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
A WEEK before the wedding…
"You got Tony Bennet for the Valentine's Dinner? Was Methuselah otherwise engaged?" Cyrus asked during one of his routine interruptions at James' new office in the East Wing.
"Methsella!" Ella chortled from the high chair next, placed next to James who checking last minute details on his desktop computer.
"That's right, baby girl, Daddy Cyrus is a pot calling kettle," James told Ella, before turning to a scowling Cyrus. "Olivia suggested it because Fitz likes old show tunes, Frank Sinatra and jazz. I've also got Norah Jones. Have you got something to say about her?"
"I don't have a problem with her but the other guests might, since most of them are under 10 years old, and wouldn't have heard of either Tony or Norah as they don't twerk or go around egging the neighbourhood. Shouldn't you have booked the Disney singers for their juvenile sensibilities?"
"We don't have that many kids. Hmm… let's see there's Ella, Teddy, Karen, Jerry, Peter, Carlita Mendosa's 3 children, Sameera Hussein's toddler, Sarah Stanner's two children, and Virginia and Henry Guilford's grand-daughter, That's 12. Hardly a stampede."
"Twelve! Remind me to put my heart pills in my Tux. That's the only way I can cope with 12 crying, whining, snotty-nosed kids."
"I think you've got the kids confused with the Cabinet."
"Either way, you should hire a magician or jumping castle to keep the kids and Cabinet entertained."
"Well, I've got for the Marine Band for the actual wedding. Then there's Yo-Yo Ma and Bobby McFerrin for the wedding luncheon. And if you're still not happy with the entertainment, you can always go to the Mayor's open air concert on the National Mall. I think he's got Stevie Wonder, Sting, Jennifer Hudson and Imagine Dragons."
"So much for the hush-hush wedding. This thing is out of control."
"The city is just happy to get involved in their love story. We've had anything like this celebrated at the White House in living memory. Even my parents are too young to remember Grover Cleveland."
"Hmpf," was all Cyrus said in response.
"Anyway, they're not calling it Presidential Wedding celebrations around the city. They're calling them Valentine's Day celebrations."
"Yes, yes, I know the Chief of Police is organising a Valentine's Day street parade with the DC Police Regional Pipe Band and marching bands from DC, Maryland and Virginia. And the Blue Angels will be doing a Valentine's Day fly past, courtesy of Andrews Air Force Base as a tribute to their Commander in Chief and former flyboy Fitzgerald Grant."
"Don't forget the street party on the U Street Corridor, and the laser and light show on the US Capitol building. We've even got the National Zoo handing out stuffed animals and heart-shaped candy. Pretty much everyone is getting involved in this wedding by stealth. "
"You know traffic is going to be a nightmare."
"Which is why we're staying at Blair House."
"Remember to bring the garlic and silver crosses, so we can exorcise any lingering ghosts."
FIVE DAYS before the wedding…
"Wow, this is amazing!" Olivia looked at the bouquets, balloons, teddy bears and a multitude of cards hanging off the White House Fence.
"Ma'am, right now it's a security threat. We don't know what's lurking beneath all those flowers. They need to be removed," said the White House security chief.
"There's more on the other side. On all sides," The head gardener said drily. "Looks like the cat's out of the bag, ma'am, as far as your secret wedding is concerned."
Just then some of the well-wishers saw Olivia and screamed, "Ms Pope! Ms Pope! Olivia! Can we get a picture?!"
Olivia smiled and waved back, taking a step towards the gate but the security chief stopped her. "Ma'am, wait. There's been an increase in the number of hate mail we've been receiving. And the President has asked us to increase your security detail."
Minutes later, Olivia walked out of the gate, flanked by four Secret Service agents. "Hello, how are you all? Did you say you wanted a picture?"
"Um, can the secret service not be in it?"
Olivia glanced at the agents with a smile, and they each took a step to the side, but only a step and watched the well-wishers like hawks.
Several minutes later, Olivia walked back to the White House to speak with the household staff. "Let's bring the flowers inside. Make the staff offices a bit more festive with balloons and flowers. We can send the rest to the hospitals and care homes."
"There are people leaving cakes and candy as well, ma'am," said the head gardener. "We've got birds getting to them. And the odd squirrel."
"We'll have to put that stuff in the trash," said the security chief. "Can't take any chances as we don't what's in them."
FOUR DAYS before the wedding…
"There will be no dogs at the wedding." Rowan said firmly when he caught Jerry and Karen in the third floor centre hall, training the dogs to pull a toy sled with a doll tied to it.
"Yes, there will." Jerry glared back.
"No, there will not."
"Yes. There. Will."
Karen stared from one to the other, then surprised Rowan by reaching for his hand. "You don't understand. Mom and Dad said it's okay. The dogs are going to wear red bow ties and pull Teddy in a sled. Not this sled, but another one. A better one."
"Yeah," muttered Jerry, still glowering, "The Maintenance guys are organising the sled. And the red iron gazebo for the Rose Garden."
"And Teddy will have the rings," Karen added.
"Teddy can't hold the rings. He's a baby – he'll eat them."
"No, he won't," Jerry refuted. "The rings will be in the pocket of Teddy's baby tux. The pocket has a button."
"This is going to be a disaster," Rowan sighed.
"No, it won't," Karen smiled. "You'll see."
THREE DAYS before the wedding…
"Sally Langston sends her apologies. She won't be able to attend the Valentine's Day dinner, " Fitz told the Chief of Protocol.
"Has she scheduled an unavoidable illness for 7pm? I'm surprised Daniel Langston didn't want to make it for cocktails," Cyrus muttered as the Chief of Protocol left with the revised guest list.
"I believe, she has to fly to Georgia on an urgent family matter."
"Really? Has the daughter got herself pregnant with another deadbeat boyfriend?"
Fitz shot Cyrus a dry look. "What I will say is that I won't miss her. And on a related but completely different subject, this was one of your better suggestions to have a Valentine's Day Reception, in place of a formal wedding reception."
"Well, it's a convenient way to invite Cabinet and staff to the party, without worrying about World Leaders and Celebrities, but I don't see how Hollis Doyle fits in any appropriate category. Is it wise to have that criminally-inclined opportunist at your celebratory dinner when that snake has been wooing the Pretender to your office?"
"Olivia suggested it."
"Ah, of course. 'Friends close, but enemies closer'. Or should that be 'divide and rule'?"
"I believe it's 'an eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind' – Mahatma Ghandi. Besides it's Valentine's Day. It's not a bad thing to spread the love a bit."
"Or better yet, get a chance to see the woman Hollis has in his sights to be his sixth wife." Cyrus smacked his knee and stood up. "Well, fun times are over. Time for that Cabinet Meeting, and then you're meeting with the Attorney General, who'll update you on the latest petition by the Gun Alliance."
"Then I fly to Iowa," Fitz muttered with a grim face.
"Yes, sir, to tour the Alcoa plant and talk about your plans to resurrect manufacturing in this country, then shake hands with a few school kids who will hopefully remind their parents to vote for you in November and you'll be back in time for the wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. Oh, and don't forget, you're picking up that Chinese kid on your way home."
"Cyrus, Peter's Malaysian."
"Yeah, whatever. Make sure you ID him. Just in case they send another kid in his place."
"Why are we hiding in the Music Room?" Olivia asked as Fitz pulled her down onto one of the mini staircases on either side of the raised platform.
"We're not hiding, we're making beautiful music together," Fitz grinned, cupping her face in both hands and kissing her softly. Then he drew back and whispered, "Listen."
"I can't hear anything."
"That's what I mean."
She chuckled, sliding her arms around him and laying her head on his shoulder. "It'll be over soon."
"Don't get me wrong. I'm enjoying this. I really am."
"But…?"
"One minute?"
"One minute." She settled more closely in the crook of his shoulder, as he pressed a smile against her forehead and tightened his arms around her.
Their heartbeats synchronised, just like their breathing, and Olivia closed her eyes, feeling a deep well of contentment just letting the seconds tick by.
"I think that's more than a minute," she chuckled eventually, although she made no move to shift away and Fitz made no move to release her.
"Fly with me to Iowa."
She drew back then, lifting a hand to stroke his cheek. "Carlita, Sameera and the Guildfords will be arriving today. I have to be here to settle them in the Blair House complex."
He turned and kissed her palm. "Maybe I should leave Jerry behind to help out."
"No, he needs a break from my dad."
Fitz chuckled and gave her one last kiss, before helping her up off the steps.
TWO DAYS before the wedding…
Fashion First and Always Live interview with Eileen Perry and Fred Au, Associate Professors of Fashion, as well Dora Dragosavich, Fashion Instructor at Parsons School of Design …
"Is this true - Parsons School of Design will be making the Future First Lady's wedding dress? Everything about the wedding has been Top Secret so this is a real scoop!"
"We have received Ms Pope's permission to speak about the work our students are doing. And it's actually two outfits. One for the actual wedding ceremony which is planned for the morning, and one for the Valentine's Day dinner that evening."
"Ah yes, the informal wedding reception that's not really a wedding reception. But isn't this thrilling for your students to be involved in such a prestigious class project? We'll we see avant garde fashions – like leather and faux fur?"
"Felicia Adams—"
"Is that Ms Pope's step mother?"
"I believe there's a close family connection, although I can't say for sure, but we've known Felicia for years. And she was very precise in what she wanted for Ms Pope. She was adamant that the designs had to reflect Ms Pope's dignity as Future First Lady while exhibiting our fashion forward ideas that our students and alumni are famous for."
"Yes, you have a lot of famous graduates – like Donna Karen, I'm wearing one of her dresses. Gorgeous, isn't it? Love the red colour and it's wool blend so it's nice and warm in this cold weather. And I'm wearing the Eau de Parfum spray by Narciso Rodriquez. Lovely and sensuous. But the list of alumni also includes my wedding dress designer Lela Rose, meanswear icon Tom Ford, and the up and coming Jason Wu."
"Some of our alumni will be helping on the project as advisors. So there'll be experience mixed with enthusiasm for this invaluable learning assignment. And due to the tight deadline, in a positive sense, this project has galvanised the whole school, not just the fashion department."
"Are there any spoilers you can give us about the designs?"
"Only that our Future First Lady will wear a knee-length outdoor ensemble for the wedding ceremony, and an evening dress for dinner. The latter will be more in keeping with the theme of the day."
"Ooh, that's sounds fittingly mysterious and now I can't wait to see what Olivia Pope will be wearing on the day that she marries President Fitzgerald Grant the Third. And be sure to join us here at Fashion First and Always for the latest on that story…"
THE DAY before the wedding…
"I've been held up," Fitz sighed over the phone.
"I know. It's okay. Cyrus has offered to stand in for you at the rehearsals."
"Wow, global warming is a reality in his corner of the world."
Olivia laughed. "How was Iowa?"
"Good. Great. I think we have another Presidential candidate in the family."
"Perfect!" she laughed.
"Livvie…"
"Yes, Fitz."
"You know, it'll be great. No matter what happens"…
"Ma'am, we have a problem in the kitchen," The chief usher said, appearing on the threshold of her new office, where she was in the middle of confirming her schedule with the Social Secretary.
"Normally, we'd take care of it," The usher added apologetically, "But since it involves your friend…"
Olivia walked into the main kitchen on the ground floor of the White House, to find Abby holding a gun at a cowering woman in a blue pantsuit; with several agents training their guns on Abby.
"Good afternoon, how are we all doing today," Olivia said, smiling at everyone including the chef and his assistants who were crowding into the farthest end of the room. "Abby, why are you holding a gun at Tracy from Cakes Galore Magazine? Tracy, are you okay?"
Her eyes scrunched shut, Tracy nodded uttering a small whimper of sound.
"Don't ask her if she's okay! Ask me! You should have heard her going on and on about Charles and what he did to put me in hospital. And she wanted to know how he ended up with a broken kneecap! It's like what happened with Harrison! She's a snoop and I want to know who sent her!"
"Nobody sent me!" Tracy whimpered. "My brother is a bartender and he says that Charles Putney comes in most nights and starts rambling on about his bitch ex-wife Abby and her vicious fixer friend."
Abby and Olivia exchanged a glance, then Olivia said pleasantly, "Abby, give me the gun."
The agents lowered their weapons as Abby handed over the gun. Then they all ducked with a gasp, when Olivia fired the gun at one of the pans suspended over the sous chef's island bench. The pellet hit the pan, resulting in a splotch of bright yellow followed by a reverberating silence.
The chef was the first to react. "It's a paint gun! Phew! I thought I'd have to dig a bullet out of my favourite fry pan."
"Washable paint spray," Abby smiled. "Don't worry, chef, I don't buy the cheap stuff."
"But it looks just like a handgun," said the discomfited reporter.
"But it isn't," Olivia said. "Now, I understood that you were here to take pictures of Abby's cake making, with help from the White House staff, not do an expose of her private life. Do you think you can keep to the original brief?"
"Er, yes, ma'am."
"Good, as you were." Olivia paused. "Actually, no. As you should be." Then tucking a hand into Abby's arm and tugged her out into the corridor.
"Okay, okay, I won't threaten that woman with anything, not even a gluegun," Abby said drolly, before Olivia could speak.
"Abby! Where is your real gun?"
"In my cookie jar. You know the one shaped like a Tabby Cat. I didn't think I could get it past the Secret Service. So I left it at home."
"Please take it out of your cookie jar and put it in the safe. I can't have one of Olivia Pope and Associates walking around with a gun, when it's against the law in DC."
"And your future husband is waging war on guns."
"Yes."
11.59pm THE NIGHT before Valentine's Day…
Olivia stared at the clock radio on the night-table, waiting. Then just when she decided to grab her cell phone, it rang.
"Perfect timing," she chuckled huskily. "How was the flight?"
"Uneventful. Can I sneak over to see you?"
"No, it's bad luck." Olivia murmured, seeing the clock tick over to midnight. "How's Peter?"
"Gone straight to bed. And so has Jerry. I hear Karen is having a sleepover with you."
"Yep, she didn't want me to get scared, staying by myself in this bad place." Olivia smiled. But Fitz sounded serious when he asked,
"How do you feel about being in the Blair House complex?"
"It's not Blair House. It's Trowbridge House and I'm fine. I get that it'll be a lot easier for me to get to the White House via the basement, than to try and dodge traffic in the morning. Besides it's nice being with everyone here."
"Even Felicia?"
She chuckled. "Okay, you got me."
"So I heard that Jerry and I missed a fun-filled day."
Olivia snuffled a laugh. "That's one way of putting it."
"Tell me about it. Tom just heard the bare bones from the agents on your detail."
"Everything was going fine until one of the kids found Abby's paintball gun, and popped the balloons the staff had got for the kids. The noise scared the dogs who ran straight into the middle of the Marine band. Then while we were trying to pick everyone up off the ground, the dogs went racing across the snow on the South Lawn. And we all had to go chasing after them but we never found the doll that was attached to the sled, for training purposes. And that was just the wedding rehearsal.
"Then at dinner my dad and Cyrus got into an argument about some minorities being more equal than others, which got everyone yelling. Then someone knocked over the sugar sculpture centrepiece and it nearly fell on Carlita and Sameera. They're both okay – I got the White House doctor to check them out for concussion, but they said there was no direct impact.
"After that we took everyone down to the basement bowling alley, hoping physical activity would mend a few bridges, but the Guilfords and Quinn got lost. I think they just wandered off looking at pictures but we had a major Security alert. Then we decided to call it a night, but when we got back to the Blair House complex, Harrison and Huck told the kids ghost stories and they refused to go to bed."
"Then what happened?"
"Zeke and Oscar had to go into each of their bedrooms, with their ghost-busting weapons – which was Zeke's walking stick and Oscar's briefcase – and after a lot of shouting and screaming, they caught the ghosts and took the ghosts away to be locked up in the White House basement. It was very entertaining. I hope those two got back to the White House okay."
Fitz chuckled."Yeah, we're having an impromptu buck's night in the upstairs kitchen."
"You guys need to go to bed. One of you is getting married today."
He chuckled softly. "Is it bad that I want us to skip the wedding and just go straight to the honeymoon?"
"Not really, not when my dresses won't be ready until 9 and the wedding is at 10.30am."
"I'd marry you, even if you turned up wearing a bedsheet."
She laughed. "Well, you might just me see in one of those."
They fell silent listening to each breathe. Then he said softly, "Livvie…?"
"Yes, baby?"
"It'll be fine, no matter what happens."
"I know. I love you."
"I love you too."
A/N: Helloooooo! Sorry for the delay. This was going to be the wedding chapter, but then the scene with Abby popped into my head (originally she was at her own house – then I remembered that the Secret Service would not have allowed her to make anything for the President that they hadn't scrutinised first – so off to the White House kitchen and using their ingredients!). Then I had the scene with Rowan and the kids in the hallway teaching the dogs to pull a sled – and then I had writer's block! Aaargh! But hopefully this sort of makes sense!
So I couldn't decide on a designer for the wedding dress (mostly because I don't do fashion – I'm a Target, K-Mart, what's on clearance kind of girl) – and then I accidentally came across the Parsons School of Design in New York – and was incredibly impressed by the number of quality graduates: Donna Karen, Tom Ford, Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Mark Badgley and James Mischka, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Isaac Mizrahi. The list just goes on and on…Marc Jacobs, Proenza Schouler, Anna Sui, Tracy Reese, Narciso Rodriguez and of course Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs. Whew. Oh and Jason Wu is up and coming because seriously if Michelle Obama hadn't worn his dress at the first Inauguration – would the world have heard of him that quickly? The power of politics in fashion!BTW, Parson's School of Design is real, but everything else I've written in relation to it is not – including the instructors!
So for anyone who's reading this story without having read part one – Carlita Mendoza is Carolina Florez,wife of General Benicio Florez (the Scandal TV character that was rewritten in the chapter Reality Check in A Presidential Divorce) and Sameera Hussein was Olivia's lawyer in the Alienation of Affection Case that Olivia was charged with in North Carolina again in Part I of this story. They are my two carry-over character references from the previous story. Sarah Stanner is a Scandal TV character - played by Lisa Edelstein in 2x16 Top of The Hour.