Disclaimer: Shondaland/ABC owns these characters. WHY THOUGH? THEY'VE TURNED THIS GEM OF A SHOW INTO SHIT! Idiots and megalomaniacs incorporated.
NO-Mellie and NO-Joke: Public Service Announcement for any accidental non-Olitz readers
Breaking News
"…He is waiting patiently with baby, balloons and flowers like a typical dad, waiting in arrivals for his wife and kids, returning from vacation. Only the guy here is President Grant, and the airport is Andrews Air Force Base and the only guests on board this Presidential aircraft are the First Family returning from a pretty eventful tour of China…"
"…Aww, isn't that sweet, the door opens and out rush the kids. Daughter Karen first, running down the stairs to hurl herself into her Daddy's outstretched ar, closely followed by Jerry, who pauses briefly to give a cheeky wave to the media. Then the First Lady exits, watched by her parents as she carefully makes her way down the steps. Understandable as our First Lady is due to be a First Mom…"
"…We've got some happy snaps of the First Family's reunion after a week-long overseas vacation. There were a lot of hugs, some tears and plenty of kisses as Dad and baby greeted Mom and the kids, returning from China. The First Family posed for the media before they were bundled into Marine One and flown home to the White House. And this is the picture that's gone viral – here we have America's Baby Teddy Grant staring at Dad giving Step-Mom a great big smoocher. Next we have Teddy trying to make a threesome of it. Gotta love the Grant kids…"
She smiled waking to the feel of is hands gently circling her stomach. She gave a throaty chuckle as he pressed a kiss to her cheek, murmuring, "We're pregnant."
"You keep saying that as if you can't believe it's real." She stroked his arm.
"I can't," he said simply, kissing her again. "You're having my baby." He placed a soft kiss on her neck. "The love of my life." He kissed her earlobe. "Having my first child."
"Fitz, you are the father of four kids."
Fitz drew back as she shifted around in his arms to face him.
"Livvie…?"
"Karen is sensitive about this new baby."
The confused look on his face cleared, and his face grew sombre. "She's my little girl, Liv. Nothing's going to change that."
"Sometimes kids need reassurance…" Olivia paused, placing a hand on his chest, stroking through the soft curling hair. "I've been thinking… "
He watched her face, waiting.
"I've been thinking that maybe I should adopt them. All of them - before this baby arrives. We can call it a family re-commitment ceremony - make it a little celebration - in Vermont. What do you think?" She finished in a rush.
He stared at her for a long, long moment. Then he cupped her face and kissed her.
"So you like the idea?" she mumbled against his lips.
He smiled, kissing her again, muffling her laughter with his mouth.
Fitz returned to the Oval Office after his unscheduled break, firmly ordering Olivia to stay in bed. Instead she showered, dressed and went in search of Karen.
"Hey, Baby K," Olivia tapped on Karen's half-open bedroom door.
Karen looked up from her tablet. She sitting crossed-legged on the floor, while Poppy snoozing by her side.
"Busy?"
Karen shook her head.
"Want to help me give out the gifts we got in China?" Olivia added, smiling when Karen scrambled to her feet and raced up to take her outstretched hand. Poppy stretched, yawned, then ambled after them.
"Jerry's put more pictures on Instagram."
"Anything to get us in trouble?"
Karen giggled. "He says these ones are approved by the Chinese Government."
Olivia shook her head, laughing.
"Dad's real happy about the baby, isn't he?"
Olivia stopped, causing Karen to bump into her. Steading the little girl in a gentle hug, Olivia said softly, "What about you? Are you happy to have a new brother or sister, Baby K?"
Karen nodded silently, her chin resting on Olivia's stomach.
Olivia stroked the hair back from Karen's face. "I've had an idea but I don't know how you'd feel about it."
"About what?"
"I'd like to be your Mom. Your official Mom. On paper. Legal in a court of law. Would you… how would you feel if I adopted you? Would you be okay with that?"
"Only me?" Karen drew back.
Olivia smiled. "No, all of you – Jerry, Teddy and you."
"And Dad, does he want to adopt me and Teddy too?"
Olivia stared down at Karen. "I'm sure that can be arranged."
Karen came back to rest her cheek against Olivia."I'd like that. I'd like that very much."
After a while, she kissed Olivia's stomach and whispered, "Hello, baby, now I get to be your real sister."
Their first stop was in the East Wing. When they entered James' office, he sprang to his feet, coming towards them with open arms. "Ah, my two favourite high-flyers! But I must say, you both look great for people who've travelled for hours, half way across the world."
"We slept on the plane. Then Mom had a nap with Dad after we got back," Karen said.
Olivia blushed, averting her gaze from James, as Karen went over to the play yard where Ella was stacking building blocks.
"Can I hold Ella?"
"Of course, you can." James smiled, then leaned towards Olivia and murmured, "So Big Sis is okay about the potential addition?"
"I think so." Olivia watched Karen step into the enclosure. Then she turned and gave James another hug. "That's for helping me get our side of the story out about China, before any real damage was done."
James chuckled. "Olivia, I have to say doing Public Relations for you is not the hardship I anticipated it would be for my journalistic soul. I'm enjoying it. I've even taken a page out of the Too-Much-Grant Party's social media strategy. We now have a group of influential bloggers who'll spread the word in such numbers that mainstream media cannot ignore what's going on. Oh and the feedback has been great for your working group idea, we've got meetings scheduled—"
He paused as a storm the size of Cyrus barrelled into the room, only to stop abruptly at the sight of Olivia.
"Olivia," Cyrus said. After a pause, he twitched a smile and added, "It's nice to have you back."
Olivia laughed, reaching out to give him a hug. "Thank you, Cy. It's nice to be back."
"I didn't think you'd be at work so soon," Cyrus patted her shoulder.
"We're handing out gifts," said Karen, looking up from her seat on the floor with Ella in her lap. "Mom got you a book, The Art of War. It's in Chinese and English. Peter said he could help you read the Chinese part."
"That should come in handy," Cyrus muttered, shifting his gaze from Karen to Olivia. "Because we need to discuss your schedule."
Olivia looked nonplussed. "Have you taken over scheduling from my staff?"
"No, I haven't taken over scheduling from your staff! I am trying to sort through the mess that the mavericks you've hired…," Cyrus paused to glare at James, "…are making of our well-ordered lives! This so-called Working Group on Labour Equity is interfering with your official schedule! And before you ask what official schedule – it's this official schedule!" Cyrus thrust his folder into Olivia's hands.
Olivia flipped it open. "You want me to open a library, do a series of talks about maintaining the Rose Garden through the seasons for a PBS Special, and attend a luncheon with the General Society of Mayflower Descendants?"
"Well, it was originally meant to be the NRA women's luncheon, but considering where you and Fitz stand on guns, I figured the Mayflower group would be a better fit."
"Cyrus, is this Mellie's schedule?"
"It's the First Lady's schedule for the current year. And you are the First Lady."
"So this is Mellie's schedule!" Olivia snapped the folder shut. "You've recycled her appointments with a few minor adjustments!"
"Olivia, as First Lady, you have to maintain the traditions of the job – reading, taking a stroll through the garden and having a nice lunch with the ladies. I'm only thinking of you and your need to relax and stay calm for the baby."
Olivia glared at him. "Fine."
"Fine?" He stared at her. "You're okay with this?"
"I'm okay with this."
"Right. Then I'll go and confirm a return to your original schedule. And get rid of this Labour Equity nonsense."
Olivia turned from staring after his departing back, to see James and Karen watching her solemnly.
"You're not going to let him get away with this are you?" James asked wryly.
"No," said Karen and Olivia together. Then they glanced at each other and giggled.
White House Press Release
'… The Office of the First Lady Olivia Pope-Grant has confirmed that former First Lady Laura Bush will open DC's newest digital library. Also attending will be Authors for Libraries advocate, Judy Blume, famous for works like 'Are you there God, it's me Margaret' and 'Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing'…
'… A day with the First Daughters, then and now. The Nixon daughters Julie Nixon Eisenhower and Tricia Nixon Cox will take a stroll down memory lane in a Public Broadcasting Corporation (PBS) special on the Rose Garden through the seasons. They will be joined by Karen Grant in re-telling first-person accounts of historic White House weddings …
'…Representatives from the United American Indians of New England(UAINE) will attend a luncheon hosted by the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Both associations say they welcome the opportunity to open dialogue and build understanding between the two organisations. Also attending will be activist Felicia Adams, step-mother of First Lady Olivia Pope-Grant…"
"Are you insane?!" Cyrus almost spat at Olivia as he leaned over her desk in the East Wing. "You are sending UAINE reps to lunch with the Mayfair biddies and Felicia? What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that there needs to be a national conversation about Native American rights. And the Mayflower Descendants want to help. They've received more requests for media invites, since my press release went out. Both sides welcome the extra publicity to say their piece. And Felicia knows how to take pretty pictures."
Cyrus glowered at her. "Olivia—"
"Cyrus, there's a new First Lady in the East Wing. I would like that message to be heard loud and clear in the West Wing."
"Your job is ceremonial! You have to follow protocol!"
"My job is whatever I want it to be! I'm the black, second wife of an Independent President! Tell me which of those things fits in with standard protocol!"
Cyrus sat down. Then he took a deep breath and said evenly, "You shouldn't yell. It's not good for the baby."
Olivia sat back in her chair. "Cyrus, the only thing that's going to be good for the baby is if we call a truce."
"We're not at war."
"Yes, we are. Over Fitz."
Cyrus looked away. "This was my time with Fitz. My turn to be indispensable; for him to trust me again. Instead he has you! He barely acknowledges me when you're in the room! I could be a statue or wallpaper! Oh, but wallpaper would be more functional!"
Olivia gave him a considering look. "All right. I think I know how we're going to fix this. We're going to divide and conquer Fitz's schedule."
"What?"
"We're going to get Fitz to split his schedule between us, so you get to attend some meetings, and I get to attend others. That way both of us will be helping Fitz, without sabotaging his administration in the process."
"How are we going to do that?"
"We'll get Fitz's schedule from Lauren."
Minutes later, they stood in front of Lauren's desk. "We need Fitz's itinerary."
"The one he wants me to give you?" she asked Cyrus. "Or the one he wants me to give you?" Lauren turned to Olivia.
"He has a separate schedule for each of us?" Olivia asked, surprised.
"Now do you think I'm paranoid?" demanded Cyrus.
"Paranoid about what?"
They all turned to see Fitz standing by the door.
"You're in a meeting with the Treasury Secretary," Cyrus muttered.
"I was. Now I'm not. Paranoid about what?"
"The different schedules you have for your wife and your chief of staff," supplied Lauren. "Shall I book in some time now for you talk about this, sir?"
"Yes," said Olivia and Cyrus together.
Giving a smirk, Fitz reached for Olivia's hand as he led the way into the Oval Office.
"So you want to share me between the two of you?" Fitz murmured, staring at Olivia's mouth.
"We're not talking about a threesome! We're talking about your Presidential duties!" snapped Cyrus, from the opposite couch.
"Cy feels that I'm pushing my way into his position as your Chief of Staff." Olivia ghosted a smile as Fitz continued to stare at her mouth.
"And here we have the other problem!" Cyrus burst out, "Every time I want to have a serious conversation, I have to deal with you both looking like you want to pounce on each other!"
Both Fitz and Olivia turned to stare at Cyrus. Then Fitz leaned his head against Olivia's and muttered, "Do you know what Cy's talking about, Liv?"
"Not a clue."
Cyrus gave a gusty sigh and started to get to his feet, but Olivia stopped him.
"Cy, wait! Okay, we'll stop teasing and get serious. Fitz, you need to divide your official schedule between the two of us, if and when you want either of us to attend a meeting."
Cyrus sat back down. "And I don't want to be left with the crap while Liv gets the VIP agenda." He glared, his arms crossed over his chest.
"Done. I'll get Lauren to send both of you my agenda, with your names against scheduled events. You will have a window of 24 hours to make an issue of any perceived unfairness. Otherwise, the schedule stays as is, okay?"
"Okay." Olivia nodded, looking at Cy.
Cyrus looked from one to the other, then sighed. "Okay."
"Good. Meeting over. Now, if you'll excuse us, Cy. I'd like to pounce on my wife."
Cyrus rolled his eyes and left the room.
"You are incorrigible," Olivia giggled as Fitz stretched out on the couch and brought her to lie on top of him.
His hands shaped her body closer to him. "You don't want to spend all your time with me. I'm crushed." He pouted.
"I do… " She kissed his pout, then peppered kisses on his sneaky smile. "But… I've got…First Lady…stuff to do too."
He chuckled, sliding a hand down her back and over her hips. "I heard all about your First Lady stuff. Nice move, getting the families of ex-Republican Presidents involved, but could we get some Democrats in after your next spat with Cy. I'm trying to push the non-partisan agenda."
She feathered a string of kisses along his jaw. "I know… but as part of my first official schedule… I wanted to let the Republicans who voted for you know … that you haven't turned your back on the traditions that got you here."
He groaned. "I'm very turned on by what you just said…"
"What did I say…?" She drew back to look at him, smiling.
"Something about tradition?" he grinned, capturing her laughter in another kiss.
After one kiss had turned into several more, she broke away, reaching up to brush her lipstick off his mouth. "I should go. It's almost time for your next meeting."
"Not for another couple of minutes." Fitz held onto her, adding after a pause. "I spoke to Karen after lunch."
"And...?"
"She was worried that Mellie's parents could take her away because she is their biological grand-daughter. One of her friends at school had told her they could do that."
Olivia gave a soft groan. "Why didn't Baby K say something?"
Fitz feathered a kiss on her brow. "You were right. She needed reassurance that we wanted her to stay. So I've decided that we should all take part in the re-commitment ceremony"
"You've decided?"
"Yeah, using my Presidential Superpowers..."
"Fitz!"
"...of Deduction," he grinned as she poked his side. "I've decided my wife is a genius and even I should take part in a wholesale Grant re-commitment ceremony."
"Nice save."
"I've told my attorneys to start the paperwork on confidential adoptions, even though Jerry and Karen know who their real parents are. The firm is going to look into Safe Haven legislation to make that happen."
Olivia kissed his chin.
"Hey, my Presidential Superpowers deserve better."
"Your Presidential Superpowers will have to wait because Lauren's at the door." Olivia sat up, pulling Fitz up after her.
"Livvie..?" Fitz said softly, watching her face as she smoothed his hair back to respectability.
"Yes, baby?"
"I'm glad you're home."
That got him one more kiss before Olivia made her way to the door.
A/N: Hello, how are yous all? Thank you so much, dear lovely readers, for your wonderful reviews. You guys are very kind, and may I say again – how glad I am that I broke into 'Fiction World' through Scandal fanfiction because it has the best fandom, even though the show itself is shit!
So I've dragged myself away from Tumblr – as recommended, although the addiction is understood (!) – by some reviewers, to complete another chapter dealing with the question that you guys figured out – Cy's jealousy over Liv's status which is leaving him out in the cold.
And I think I've been neglecting Karen at the expense of Jerry, so had to bring her in because I do like her too.
Now for my usual rip-offs from Real Life:
- Former First Lady Laura Bush has a foundation for libraries and there are a whole lot of authors supporting libraries but Judy Blume is the only one I found that I'd actually heard of. If you have a favourite children's author that you'd like to share, please do.
- Again I mixed real life characters - the Nixon sisters - with my fictional Karen Grant.
- Revisited Chapter 28 (A Presidential Divorce) where I first mentioned that Felicia had spent Thanksgiving protesting with the United American Indians of New England. I thought I'd bring them back for this chapter
I used my artistic licence with Safe Haven laws. Apparently closed or confidential adoptions are not available to older children who know their biological parents. And Closed Adoptions are 'not the norm in modern history' but Safe Haven Laws are used to revive this practice (as per my rushed reading through Wikipedia, which I may or may not have misunderstood).
And I read this article in the New York Times written in 2008 about Nebraska changing its Safe Haven Laws (which allow parents to abandon babies at hospitals, churches, etc without fear of prosecution) to include older children, after kids as old 17 years were 'abandoned' by their parents.
In this story, I thought confidentiality might be handy to protect the kids from unwanted publicity because Fitz is President.