Olivia Pope was running late. She hated being late. When her clients were late, she took it as a sign of disrespect and almost always found a way to add it into the billable hours once they signed the dotted line. She was the most powerful fixer in Washington which meant two things: if you needed the help of Olivia Pope and Associates that you had money and that you were sure as hell gonna sign the dotted line.
Tonight was a special night. Her good friend from Georgetown, Stephen, was celebrating his engagement to his now fiancée Georgia. The pair had been dating for the past two years and despite his former playboy ways, Stephen said he was ready to settle down.
The engagement dinner was ironically being held at a rooftop bar not too far from her office. Olivia wishes she could blame her tardiness on work or even traffic. In reality, it was because of him. Liv had left the office early so that she could go home to get ready because she knew that he would be in attendance tonight.
The he in question? None other than her old flame and Stephen's best friend, Fitzgerald Grant. The two started screwing shortly after meeting at the beginning of law school. In fact, Stephen and Fitz through Olivia. She and Stephen were neighbors in the same graduate housing building and Stephen took mercy on him and invited him in for beers one day when he saw him sitting outside Olivia's door waiting for her to get out of class.
It's been five years since she and Fitzgerald Grant breathed the same air. Two years after they graduated, he moved back to California to follow in his fathers footsteps. Fitz was supposed to be a lawyer and then begin a political career. Given that both were afraid of committing to an actual relationship, Fitz never asked her to move with him and she never brought it up.
The Lyft pulled in front of Tryst and Olivia made her way out of the car and into the bar. She headed straight for the elevator. Taking a look at her reflection, she realized that taking her time to get ready had been well worth it. She was wearing a form fitting cheetah print dress with her black Louboutins. She'd taken the time to straighten her hair as well. Then it dawned on her that she'd subconsciously dressed for him. He once told her one night that her matching cheetah print bra and thong were the sexiest thing he'd ever seen her in. And he may or may not have fucked her on multiple occasions while she was wearing a pair of heels similar to the ones she currently had on. While he loved her hair curly he said she let him touch it more during sex when it was straight. "Fuck," she whispered to herself as the doors opened and she could see the engagement party just a few feet away.
"Finally," her best friend and associate Abby Whelan said to her as she arrived. "I would ask what took you so long, but given you didn't look that hot when you left the office, I can see what you've been up to."
"It's a special occasion. I wanted to look nice," Olivia replied.
"Uh, huh, sure," Abby said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, I need a refill and you need a drink."
"Abby, the bar is right here, where are we going?" Olivia asked her as she was being dragged to the other end of the venue to a different bar. When they got there, Abby ordered another vodka soda for herself, a martini for Olivia and two shots of tequila for them both.
"Here, take this," Abby said, handing Live the shot and still avoiding the question.
"Abby—"
"Cheers!" the redhead said as she clinked glasses with Olivia and knocked back her shot. Liv, followed suit.
"He's here, isn't he?" Olivia asked her as she sat her shot glass back on the bar. Rather than respond, Abby took a sip of her drink.
"He and Stephen are best friends Abby, of course he'd be at his engagement party."
"Well, well, well, if it isn't Olivia Pope in the flesh," Stephen said as Olivia turned around to hug her dear friend.
"Stephen, hi," she responded with a huge smile. "Congratulations! Where is Georgia?"
"Oh she's around here somewhere. Don't tell her I said this, but you are definitely the best dressed woman here tonight."
"Oh Stephen, please," Liv said, dismissing him and laughing. This playful, flirty banter was part of their routine.
"Hi Stephen," Abby said, while starting on drink number three.
"Abby," Stephen replied as the two held each other's gaze for a moment. They certainly had quite an attraction to each other. Despite the sexual tension, the most they'd shared is a very drunken make out session. "I'm gonna go find Georgia," Stephen said, excusing himself.
"You should've hopped on that while you had the chance," Olivia whispered to Abby so only she could hear.
"Don't remind me."
The two mingled for a bit more before deciding to seize on the open spots on the couch that had just been vacated. Abby excused herself to go to the restroom and Olivia sipped on a glass of champagne. As she looked up from her glass, brown met blue. For as much as she'd tried to forget, she'd recognize those eyes anywhere. And now they, along with the handsome man they were attached to, were headed in her direction.
"Olivia Pope," Fitz said when he reached her.
"Fitzgerald Grant," she mimicked. He took it as an invitation to sit in the chair adjacent to her.
"How are you? How've you been?"
"I'm good Fitz. I've been good," Olivia replied. It was more than a half truth. "How have you been Fitz?"
Olivia took the time during their conversation to really get a good look at him. He was dressed in a black suit, white dress shirt, and instead of a tie he'd opted to leave the top few buttons undone. He was still charming as ever, that was for sure. She watched him take a sip of his drink—which she was sure was scotch— and concluded that he was sexier than the last time she saw him. That thought went straight to her core and she had to take a sip of her own drink to stop herself from letting out a moan.
"God I hate long lines," Abby huffed as she walked back, unaware that someone else now had Liv's attention. "Oh, Fitz, hello," she said once she saw him.
"Abby," he said in kind.
Any further conversation was halted for the moment as the bride and groom-to-be chose this time to thank everyone for coming. The remainder of the evening was spent chatting and catching up with old friends and somehow, Olivia managed to avoid Fitz for the remainder of the party.
Around 9, the party started winding down and Abby and Liv said their goodbyes to the newly engaged couple. Abby was pretty drunk so Liv made sure she made it to her ride safely, and then Liv hopped into her own getaway vehicle. Rather than heading to her apartment, she found herself heading to an old favorite: a little diner in Georgetown. She headed in and spotted her favorite pair of blue eyes seated in a booth towards the back.
"You came," Fitz said to her once she reached his booth.
"I figured some traditions were too good to let go of," she told him as she took the seat across from him.
"I don't even know why we picked this place," Fitz said, eyeing his cup of coffee.
"Oh please, you may be from the west coast, but you can't resist a good old fashioned southern breakfast," she said with a smile.
"Even at three in the morning?"
"Especially at three in the morning," she echoed.
The memories of their nights spent in this diner hung unspoken in the air. This was their place. It started out as a drunken find one night during grad school when they were starving. Then it became their go to place after a night of studying. Soon it turned into the spot where they came to spend time together outside of a bed. It's also the place where they broke each other's hearts.
"Can I get you something besides coffee?" their waitress said, breaking them out of their silent trip down memory lane.
Fitz nodded at Liv to go first and despite not being very hungry, she felt obligated to order. "I'll take a strawberry crepe and an apple juice and he'll have the biscuits and gravy with a side of bacon."
"You still know my order," Fitz said, not surprised at all.
"I do. I also remember that time you chewed me out because I forgot your side order of bacon." Her remark caused them both to laugh.
"You look good, Liv," he said, paying her a compliment.
"As do you," she replied, taking a sip of her juice that the waitress brought over. "How's your wife?"
"How's Jake?" Fitz bit back at her. Annoyed that a compliment had turned into her asking about his ex.
"Hmm. Stephen has a big mouth," Olivia replied. Stephen must've told Fitz about her brief relationship with their former classmate Jake Ballard. But, it's not like Fitz had room to talk, he got married to another woman. "I wouldn't know, I haven't talked to him in over two years."
"Mellie and I don't talk. That's kind of what happens when you divorce someone. Besides, we weren't in love. I couldn't love her when I - we weren't in love," Fitz said, letting out a deep breath.
"Do you regret it?," Fitz asked, wiping his mouth after finishing his food.
"Fitz.," Liv said, setting down her fork.
"Why did we do it?" he asked.
"You know why," was her response. "We both came to Georgetown with dreams and goals. I wanted to own my own firm and you were supposed to follow in your father's footsteps and have a career in politics. Governor in four years, President in eight. We were never part of each other's plans so, when it came to it, I chose my plan and you chose yours. We were simply there to help each other pass the time. A distraction."
"Oh cut the shit Liv, a distraction? How can you call what we had a distraction?"
"Well I can't call it a relationship, can I Fitz? We both agreed to set boundaries and a relationship was a deal breaker for both of us. We went our separate ways. I moved on and so did you."
"Did you? Move on?" he asked her. Not willing to believe that she could belittle their connection, even after all these years.
"You got married."
"And divorced after six months," he reminded her. "Did you move on?" Fitz inquired again.
"What would you like me to say Fitz? That I still think about you? That I play the last conversation we had on a loop in my head? That I was subconsciously hoping I'd see you tonight?"
"Yes," he replied earnestly. "And then I would tell you that I feel the same way."
"Can I take those plates for you?" the waitress asked, interrupting their moment. They nodded yes and allowed her to take the plates and leave the check. Fitz immediately handed her his card, hoping the interruption wouldn't cause Liv to change the topic.
"How long are you here?" Liv asked once they were alone again.
"Room 1203," he answered.
"Fitz," Liv said, rolling her eyes and looking off to the side. She could tell he was annoyed that she didn't answer his previous statement.
"This night is not over Livvie." His use of her private nickname sent waves of pleasure straight to her core. She loved when he called her that and he knew it would soften her resolve.
"One night," she told him.
"One night," he echoed.
They exited the diner and walked a block to get to his rental car.
"You always did have a flair for the dramatics," Olivia said as she glanced around his suite, complete with a living room and kitchen.
"Can I get you something to drink?." he asked as he took her jacket and hung it on the coat rack and rid himself of his suit jacket as well.
"I'll take a glass of red if you have it." As he walked over to the mini bar Liv took a seat on the couch. He walked back over and handed her her glass while taking a swig of the scotch he poured himself.
"How is being the best fixer in all of the District?"
"It's good. Busy, but good. I love my work."
"Well I hope I never need you because I don't think I can afford Olivia Pope."
"Oh please, if this is how you indulge on a weekend, I think you can afford me," she let out a small laugh as she took a sip of her drink. "Du Bellay," she said, recognizing her favorite wine.
"'94," Fitz replied. "Your favorite."
Olivia put on a small smile, touched that he'd remembered.
"Not a day has gone by that I haven't regretted how we ended things."
"Even Napa?" Olivia inquired.
"Maybe not Napa," Fitz answered her.
About six months after they decided to stop doing this dance, Fitz had reached out to her because a friend of his needed her help. She flew out to California and before she headed back to D.C., he took her to Napa for the weekend. The intention was to spend the weekend visiting vineyards and tasting wine. In reality, they never left the hotel room.
"I miss you, Liv," Fitz admitted as he took her palm in his. "Don't you miss me?" he asked as he began kissing her hand. "Tell me you miss me," he continued to plead as he trailed kisses from her hand to his neck."
"I missed you," Liv said before grabbing his face and bringing him in for a kiss. Truthfully, she missed everything about him. From spending time with him, to kissing him, to talking with him, to being intimate with him.
It was a battle of dueling tongues that sent an inferno raging through both of them. After being apart for so long, their reconnection could be described as powerful, all-consuming, right. Liv moved to straddle his lap so that they both could have better access to each other. They only separated when air became a necessity.
"You know I have a weakness for cheetah print," he whispered to her, causing a smile to form on both of their lips. He quickly switched their positions and Liv was sitting on the couch and he was on the floor in front of her. He slowly slid up her dress and felt his dick twitch when he realized she wasn't wearing panties.
"Livvie," he breathed out, noticing her lack of clothing and while inhaling her scent.
"Fitz!" She screamed as his tongue connected with her throbbing clit. It was a sensation and pleasure that was long overdue. He was definitely going to take his time and have her begging like old times.
It was after midnight, but they felt like their night was just beginning. They started on the couch, but their lovemaking took them from the living room, to the kitchen counter, the bedroom, the shower, and eventually back to the bedroom. When they were both truly spent, Liv could see the sunlight peeking through the blinds.
"So, what now?" Olivia innocently asked him, whole wrapped in the sheets after hours of lovemaking. "Do we go back to our separate lives and pretend this never happened?"
Fitz reached over and grabbed his phone off the nightstand. He scrolled for a moment before passing his phone to her. He placed kisses on her shoulder as she read his email.
"What? How? When?" she asked after reading what he'd pulled up.
"I flew out in July and took the D.C. bar. I got my results last week."
"So you're moving to D.C.? You said you fly back on Sunday?" Olivia was trying to wrap her brain around this information. Hell, she was still trying to process Fitz's reappearance in her life.
"I have to fly back to tie up some loose ends. But yes, I'm moving to D.C. I'm not happy in California and truthfully, I haven't been happy because I haven't been with you."
"We're both fucked up Fitz. Both of us have daddy issues and are horrible in relationships. If we give this a shot, who's to say we won't screw it up and end up hating each other?"
"Do you love me?" he asked, looking into her eyes. He knew the answer, but he needed her to admit it out loud. "Are you in love with me, Livvie?"
"Yes," she whispered, tears starting to spill out of her eyes.
"Then we could never hate each other. And maybe we fuck up relationships because we tried them with the wrong people."
"What about your dreams?" You were planning to be president one day, Fitz. You're gonna just throw that away?"
"Who says I'm throwing it away?" You do know, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is a lot closer to Georgetown than it is to Santa Barbara?"
"Are you sure about this, Fitz?" Liv said, placing her palm on his cheek. "You'd be giving up so-"
"For the past six years, I've given you up and I refuse to do it again. I refuse to spend one more minute without you. We are in this together."
"We're in this together."