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
"Why don't I just cut these with scissors?" Fitz grumbled, working his way down her back, unfastening the white satin buttons on her dress.
"No!" Olivia protested, "This dress has to go on exhibition."
"What exhibition?"
"The exhibition of the first African American wife of a white Republican President." When Fitz angled his head to look at her, she chuckled. "Something my dad said."
His hands left her dress to circle her waist from behind, pulling her against his naked chest. "What else did he say," he murmured, against her neck.
"He's happy that you make me happy." She leaned her head against his, sliding her hands over his arms.
He pressed a kiss into her skin, tracing the curve of her stomach, feeling his way up to her breasts. Then he gusted a laugh, when she whispered on a thread of urgency, "Take my dress off and do that again."
In the end he got enough buttons undone to help her shimmy out of her dress, taking her blue lace and satin panties with it.
"So this is your something blue?" he rumbled deeply, turning her to face him, smoothing his hands over the bare curve of her hips, all the way up her back until he reached her bra to unfasten and toss it aside.
"Yes…" she sighed, melting against him as his hands caressed her in long, massaging strokes.
"Men are so lucky. They just need to turn up in whatever." She kissed a path along his collar bone, sliding her hands down his back to squeeze his buttocks.
He gave a soft grunt. "I put on my best whatever for you. It was new too."
She drew back, looking at him, sultry and teasing, as her hands moved round between them to unfasten his pants.
"Livvie…" He leaned in, nipping her lips gently. making her chuckle; then gasp, when he hoisted her up in his arms and carried her to bed.
Laying her down gently, he unzipped his pants, then laughed when she pulled him down to her impatiently; peppering him with kisses, as she used her hands, thighs and feet to slide the last of his clothes off and get him completely naked.
He drew back slightly, sliding his arms around her as he lay there, watching her face until she touched fingertips to his jaw and whispered,
"What?"
The smile in his eyes spread slowly over his lips, making her laugh and she grabbed his face, pulling him down for a kiss.
Sally Langston scowled at the big screen TV in her living room in Georgia. "I cannot believe people are celebrating this marriage."
"Celebrating the marriage and Presidency of Fitzgerald Grant the Third," Daniel said mildly, flipping a page on his magazine.
"This is a disgrace! To have all my hard work destroyed by two hedonists who mock the sanctity of marriage! They embrace the ills and none of the goodness of this great nation of ours! The office of the President shall not defiled in this manner! I will not have it!"
Daniel tossed the magazine aside and got to his feet. "I believe we should get ready for the Grant Valentine's Day Dinner."
"We are not going to that… that...that orgy! I have already sent Fitzgerald my apologies!" Sally Langston glared at her husband.
"You may have sent your apologies, Sally, but you haven't sent mine," Daniel Douglas smiled. "I don't recall the last time we celebrated Valentine's Day as a couple. It's time you and I refreshed our memory."
"Daniel Douglas Langston, will you listen to me! We are not going to that dinner, unless it is Fitzgerald Grant's last supper!"
"Then you better let Air Force Two know that we will be returning to DC tonight."
"Sir, Sodom and Gomorrah have decided to attend the dinner after all."
"What are you talking about, Cy?" Fitz muttered into the phone, as he lazily traced circles on Olivia's bare back.
"I have just got word that Sally and Daniel Douglas Langston are able to make our little soiree after all. Shall I get a priest in to do an exorcism? Or just ask the guards to barricade the gates?"
Fitz groaned softly, prompting Olivia to lift her head off his chest and look at him.
"Sally," he mouthed, then to Cyrus he added, "We can put them on the same table as Olivia's late arrivals, Sarah Stanner and her husband Phil."
"Ah, yes, with the outcasts. I like that."
"What did he say," Olivia asked curiously as Fitz ended the call with a chuckle.
"He's putting Sally on the table with your outcasts."
"Fitz, you promised to be nice to Sarah."
"Mmm." He gave her a soft look, gathering her closer in his arms. "I will."
"So Sally will be here tonight?" Olivia mumbled against his teasing lips.
"Yes. Guess her family emergency wasn't that much of an emergency."
She drew back. "Then we should get dressed… if Sally's coming."
He gusted a laugh. "Yeah… for only that reason."
"And because Felicia will be here with her troupe of makeover experts," Olivia scrunched her nose.
He raised a brow. "You don't need a makeover."
"Have you met Felicia? Woman who wears colours; thinks I'm bland?"
"You're beautiful even when you're bland."
She laughed, kissing him. "You're good to have around."
"Glad you realise that, Mrs Grant."
An hour later, Olivia was standing in her bathrobe glaring at Felicia.
"I am not going down to dinner in my natural hair!"
Felicia folded her arms across her chest and said firmly, "Olivia, I let you have your own way at your wedding ceremony – that was your moment. But now, you are introducing your brand as the First Lady. Not to your friends and family who love you, but to people who will judge you."
Olivia took a breath, then said evenly, "Okay, you need to get a few things straight, Felicia. One – you didn't let me do anything. I am a grown woman and what I do is of my own choosing; you are not my caretaker."
"That wasn't what I meant," Felicia waved her words aside as if they were pesky flies. "I'm someone who has worked with image and I know how to present it. That's my forte – pictures, not words. Words are what you're good at, Olivia."
Olivia ignored the interruption. "Two – I am not a product. I don't have a brand. I married Fitz because I love him and he loves me. Three – I am not some naïve child who walked into the White House with my eyes wide shut. I know these people. I have worked with these people. I was even part of this administration at one time. So I know how to present myself to these people – and I will be doing that as myself! "
"You may know these people as Olivia Pope, the crisis manager, with your power suits and white woman hair. And they see you as the typical corporate woman, a little tanned but acceptable," Felicia said coldly, "But you are not a crisis manager now, Olivia. You are First Lady, a wife and a mother, but more than that you are a black woman. Own it! Be the black woman who faced down those punks in white hoods; the black woman who made us proud you were speaking for us! Be proud of your heritage! Show the world who you are! "
Felicia's ringing words faded into silence, then Alisa the make-up artist cleared here throat. "Excuse me, ladies, do you need a moment to decide where y'all are at, in Black History Month?"
Tia, the hair stylist glanced at Alisa. "They're going to need more than a moment. Where they at, is some other kind of history."
When Olivia and Felicia looked at Tia, she shrugged. "I'm just saying ." Then added, "Not that I mind waiting and all, but is this going to take long? Because my babysitter needs to be home by a certain time."
Felicia looked back at Olivia,
"Fine." Olivia muttered.
Once she was alone again, Olivia glanced at herself in the mirror, smoothing her hands over the silk taffeta dress.
It wasn't bland. It was bold, just the way Felicia liked it.
Olivia adjusted the off-the-shoulder hand-beaded burgundy top, smoothed her hand over the red satin waistband, down to the bronze column skirt.
Besides her gold wedding ring, the only other pieces of jewellery she wore were gold bar drop earrings, but she didn't want to look at them. Not yet.
She reached for her red satin purse that matched her red satin pumps. And finally glanced at her hair – a loose halo of soft glossy corkscrew curls that fell to her shoulders.
Smoothing out the frown on her brow, she firmed her red-painted lips and turned away from the mirror, to go in search of Fitz and the kids.
She found them in Jerry's room with everyone crowding around the computer.
As she entered, they all turned around and for a long moment, no one spoke. Then Jerry breathed, "Wow, Mom, you look awesome."
"Da Bomb," Peter added, prompting a look from Jerry.
"Da Bomb?"
"Yeah, that's what Harrison said – Aunt Liv is Da Bomb, Da Bawz and Da Badass."
"You look beautiful, Mommy," Karen said, then asked shyly, "Is it okay for me to give you a hug?"
"Always, Baby K," Olivia grinned, holding out her arms.
Karen sprang into them, hugging her tightly. Then looking at Olivia's hair, she said, "Can I have my hair like that?"
Olivia chuckled, buzzing a kiss on her cheek. "I can ask Tia to curl it the next time she comes over and does my hair. Okay?"
Karen nodded, touching a curl with a fingertip.
The only person who hadn't spoken was Fitz, but then he hadn't stopped staring at her from the moment she'd walked in either.
"Ready to go?" Olivia tilted her head in query, setting Karen back on her feet.
"Not yet!" Jerry said. "Hey, Pete, take a picture of Mom and me."
"Me too!" Karen snuck in between them.
Then it was Peter's turn.
"Dad?" Jerry turned to Fitz.
Without a word, Fitz moved towards Olivia, his gaze unwavering as he slid his arms around her and brought her close; then unexpectedly nuzzled his face into her hair with a soft groan.
"Fitz," Olivia said huskily, feeling a hot blush, that was a heady mix of arousal, pleasure and embarrassment, all the way down to her toes. "The kids…"
Still keeping his arms around her, he glanced around. Then his chuckle joined Olivia's giggle at the sight of Jerry holding one hand over Karen's eyes, and the other over Peter's, while his own were screwed shut.
"Is it safe to look?" Jerry asked. "Has Dad got his sex face under control?"
"Shut up, Jer," Fitz leaned his head against Olivia's with a smile. "And take your picture."
"You have to stop doing that?" Olivia whispered to Fitz, as they walked down the red carpet towards the East Room.
"What?'
"Staring at me."
"Then you shouldn't have worn your hair like that. I've got an image of you wet and naked, while we make out in the shower, stuck in my mind," he whispered, his lips tickling her ear.
"You are a very bad man," she said, flushing hotly, trying to take a step away from him, but his arm around her waist stopped her.
"I can be worse. Let's go find the nearest closet."
"Fitz!" Olivia protested, but lifted her face when he lowered his head and teased her lips with a smiling kiss.
Then the doors opened to the room, revealing members of the US Cabinet already gathered there – with the men wearing red glittering top hats, and the women wearing red dresses and all of them holding red heart-shaped balloons.
As Fitz and Olivia entered, the band struck up a tune and everyone started singing 'Can't Help Falling In Love With You' .
After a momentary pause, a smiling Fitz turned a blushing Olivia into his arms for a slow waltz; then a not- so-slow waltz, as the unexpected choristers continued with 'You are the Sunshine of My Life'.
At the end of that song, the balloons were released towards the roof. And there were cheers and clapping, as Fitz and Olivia were surrounded by hugs and kisses. Then champagne bottles popped, and champagne flutes were passed around and toasts were made to the happy couple.
Fitz joked with his executive staff. "I didn't know you guys could carry a tune that well."
"We've been practising for nearly a month!"
"Wow, and you all managed to keep it a secret."
"Yeah, funny that. But we kept our enemy spies entertained by finding novel ways to sneak into each others' homes."
"Don't forget the garage."
"And the boat house."
"Or the Pentagon chief's office."
There was laughter.
Then the other guests started to arrive. Including the other cabinet-level staff, the first of whom were Cyrus and James.
"Ah, our two lovebirds!" Cyrus gave them a hug, followed by a loud kiss on each of their cheeks. "Great job! Just great! Just keep it coming! Keep-it-coming! Now where's the champagne?" He strolled off, rubbing his hands together.
"Who was that?" Fitz gaped at Cyrus' departing back.
"Did you give him something?" Olivia asked James. "And whatever it was, can you give us a supply?"
"He's been talking to the pollsters. There's been a sharp spike in approval ratings. The news stations have been playing the wedding ceremony on a loop, people are still having Valentine's Day Presidential parties across the country and just about everyone that anyone talks to, is in love with the First Couple and the First Family, even the First Dogs." James beamed. "So can I pay you to keep getting married every second week? Because my husband sang in the shower today, and you know I didn't think that would happen until Sally Langston was sent on a one way ticket to Mars."
Fitz chuckled. "We'll see what we can do."
"You look amazing," Sarah Stanner said, when the guests were circulating while cocktails were being served.
"The curls?" Olivia laughed as they drifted towards a quiet corner of the room.
"The happiness." Sarah glanced at Fitz, talking with her husband Phil a little distance away. "I'm glad things worked out better for you than it did for me."
Olivia tilted her head. "But you and Phil are together. And business is doing great, you were on last year's Forbes list of 50 most influential business leaders."
Sarah inched Olivia further out of earshot. "We're working on it, being a family. That's why we couldn't make it this morning. The kids didn't want to come. And Phil…" Sarah paused, giving a wry shrug. "I feel like signing an affidavit, that I'm not having an affair every time I work late or travel on business."
"Are you seeing Murray Randall?"
Sarah shook her head. "No."
"Do you want to see him?"
"No." Sarah looked at Olivia. "I cost him a Supreme Court Judgeship, and… I want to be with Phil, and my kids." She paused before adding, "You know I hated your husband's administration for a long time for what they did to me - slut-shaming me in the media. I get that politics is vicious, almost as vicious as corporate America, but the way these people made me look in order to protect Murray, made me bitter."
"But you've been donating to my husband's campaign," Olivia gave a quizzical smile. "Very generously."
"He defended you against his crazy wife on national television. He put his whole future on the line to be the first President to get a divorce so he could marry you." Sarah Stanner gave a wobbly smile. "He fought for you, Olivia. Fought for you in a way that no man has ever fought for me. It's nice when men say they love you with more than just words… Or sex."
Olivia reached out and gripped Sarah's hand. "That time I was helping you, Fitz and I weren't in a good place. I didn't think we would make it. Or that I had a right to even dream we could. But here we are." She tightened her grip on Sarah's hand. "You are a strong woman. People sometimes take your strength for granted."
"You didn't. You stood in my corner when I had no one."
"I was just doing my job."
"No, I know people who just do their jobs. You don't work like them."
"It must have been the wine," Olivia teased. "No one else has popped open a $300 bottle of wine, like they're giving me a beer, to tell me their problems."
Sarah smiled. "I've restocked my supply. I think we need to have another girls' night in, without the paparazzi."
"Oh definitely, without them!"
"What was that about?" Fitz murmured, when Sarah and Phil Stanner moved away to join another group.
"I was setting up a wine date with one of my husband's campaign donors," Olivia leaned into the familiar weight of his arm curved around her waist.
"Your husband, huh?"
"My husband."
"I like when you say that. Almost as much I like imagining my wife naked."
Olivia elbowed him, laughing. "Stop it!"
He grinned at her, then murmured, "So that's the woman who cost me Murray Randall."
"No, that's the woman who almost lost her job, her family and her dignity because she found comfort with another man, when her own marriage was going through a rocky time. Cyrus nearly destroyed everything she had, because you wanted to protect Murray Randall's reputation."
"You helped her."
"I helped her when she needed me to. You should be able to relate to that. In more ways than one."
Fitz raised a brow. "Are we having a fight?"
"We are," she smiled at him, batting her lashes.
He chuckled softly. "Can we go back to the part where you were calling me 'your husband' and I was imagining you naked."
Olivia elbowed him again. "That part?"
He grunted. "You don't play nice when you're mad, my darling wife."
"Neither do you."
"Mm," Fitz gave a soft chuckle, leaning in for a kiss but stopped when a voice said happily,
"Ah, my two lovebirds at it again."
Olivia and Fitz drew apart to see Cyrus smiling beatifically. "Oh, don't let me interrupt."
When they continued to stare at him, he said blithely, "Well, now that I have interrupted, a little birdy told me that Sally and Daniel will be delayed. I'm hoping for the entire night, but you I don't want to be greedy, when I have been given so much tonight. As you were!" He patted their arms, and went off in search of James.
"Should we start worrying?" Fitz muttered.
Olivia giggled, linking her arm through his, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"Well now, I know it's Valentine's and all, but you might want to limit your PDAs as a kindness to those of us, challenged by cupid's arrow, that darned cherub has done a piss poor job of finding my Southern Comfort ass as his target."
Olivia and Fitz turned to find Hollis Doyle grinning at them.
"Hollis Doyle, how lovely to see you." Olivia smiled.
"You didn't bring a date?" Fitz raised a brow.
"No, I'm trying to lose some weight in the ball and chain department." Hollis smiled. "But enough about me. Where are my manners? Congratulations, Mr President and our new and improved First Lady, Mrs Olivia Grant."
"Thank you," Olivia glanced at Fitz as Hollis grabbed her by the arms and gave her an enthusiastic kiss on each cheek.
Then taking Fitz's hand in a gripping handshake, he grinned, "Now this is what I call progress when we can have our little secret power meetings out in the open, at a grand gala no less! Instead of skulking in the White House kitchen. And with a leaner, meaner team!"
"We could invite Sally Langston to join the team." Fitz muttered easing his hand out of Hollis' grasp.
"Oh, now there's no fun sneaking around, if all your hos come home to roost," Hollis chuckled as he sauntered away.
"Did he just call me a ho?" Fitz asked.
"I think he did," Olivia bit back a grin.
Olivia had just come off the dance floor with the Secretary of Agriculture and was making her way to the Ladies', when a Secret Service agent approached.
"Ma'am, please come with me."
"What? Why? What's happened?" Olivia's gaze swiftly swept across the room, but her pulse calmed when she spotted Fitz talking to a group of senior staff by the cupid ice sculpture.
"Ma'am, Mr Daniel Langston would like to have a word with you."
"Daniel? They're here? I didn't see Sally Langston and her husband arrive."
"They haven't arrived as such, ma'am," the agent said, directing her downstairs to the ground floor. "Mr Langston is in the car, parked at the entrance."
With a puzzled frown, Olivia followed the agent to the waiting limousine, flying the flag of the vice president on the hood.
After the agent opened the rear passenger door, she peered in to see Daniel Langston in a Tuxedo and winter coat.
"Daniel? What's wrong?"
"Olivia, please come in and shut that door behind you. The snow and wind is getting inside the car."
Olivia stepped in and took the seat opposite. "Daniel, what—?" She paused abruptly, her eyes widening, as the car started moving.
"We're going for a little drive," Daniel Douglas Langston smiled at Olivia.
A/N: Sorry, short note… Or I won't post this story!
THANK YOU for the lovely commentary about the wedding – part one that is!
I thought Part Two needed something scandalous happening, and Sarah Stanner needed to make a bit more than a short appearance! And talking about natural hair - that was inspired by Lupita Nyong'o's Essence 'beauty' speech, and because I always felt that is how Felicia would roll!
Let me know what you think…