AN: Lol, y'all mad af that they're fighting. But I can promise you that it's all gonna be alright between them really soon. I'm not just going to disregard the argument and write smut in place of it. So enjoy this chapter and have a good night. :)

And I have this history of wanting to work things out on my own and protect people from what's going on with me.

- Kerry Washington

Olivia's POV

I almost instantly cup my hand over my mouth after I say it. Lowering my eyes and my voice, I clear my throat. "I didn't mean that, Fitz..."

I can't really see his expression but his voice is soft and even. "Like hell you didn't."

I finally bring my eyes back up to meet his. I don't actually know if I meant it or not. But I do know that once I am angry, I get incredibly defensive, impulsive and rude. I often say things that are below the belt, this being one of them. It doesn't mean I love him - I love Fitz more than anything or anyone in this world. I was just pissed off and I really went for the jugular.

I swallow. I can't take what I said back but I can apologize. "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Fitz demands, his voice still solid. "It's true, isn't it? I am privileged. I grew into wealth. But the fact that you think that has anything to do with this..." He shakes his head, not being able to complete his sentence.

"I'm sorry," I repeat, because I don't know what else to say. I was just frustrated with him and it came out all wrong. "I'm done talking about this," Fitz says firmly, turning around. But he doesn't seem like he's exactly gonna hang around.

"Fitz," I call to him and he stops walking, but doesn't turn to face me. "I'm sorry. Please don't leave, okay? What I say went too far. I just get angry. You know how angry I get. I say things that..." I inhale. "Like I said, you know how angry I get. Don't hold this against me, please. I love you."

"I love you too, Liv," he replies and this is when I realize that his voice is breaking. "But I need some time to clear my head. I need a break."

He's not asking me - he's telling me. He walks out and I sit on the edge of the bed, closing my eyes, wondering how I could fuck up this badly.

"Liv?"

Abby comes in the room and my eyes widen. I have no idea how long I have been holed up in here, my face in a pillow, trying not to scream. "What time is it?"

Abby lowers herself to the foot of the bed, oblivious to my obviously upset tone. "Almost noon. You've been up here for an hour. Where's your man?"

Hell if I know. I honestly have no idea where Fitz is and that kills me. I hope he hasn't left campus. I hope he doesn't give up on me.

"I don't know," I tell Abby candidly. I debate lying to her, because after all it is really none of her business. But I really need someone on my side here. "Abby, I need to tell you something."

Abby holds up her hand, a huge grin on her face. "I know you and Fitz are exclusive. You don't have to tell me. But I have to know...how good is the sex?"

I bite my lower lip. "Abby." I lower my eyes to the foreign baby blue bedspread. "Last night, we made things official and I might have already messed it up."

"Messed what up, Liv?"

I look up at my best friend, trying to prevent tears that are already forming in my eyes. "Our entire relationship. I might have royally fucked it up."

Abby raises her perfectly shaped eyebrows. "How so? He seems so sweet and forgiving."

"He is," I smile through my tears, just thinking about what a great guy Fitz is. "He literally told me he won't judge me...even though, as you know, he has plenty of leverage to."

Abby's icy blue eyes widen. "No way. He knows? About...everything?"

I nod, sniffing. "He's the only guy I have ever trusted with that. I trust him so much, Abby." I shake my head. "He means the world to me and I just threw it all away."

Abby rests her hand on my shoulder and squeezes it. Her voice is sympathetic and soft. "Tell me what happened, Liv. I'm sure y'all can fix it."

"I don't think so," I pause, biting my lip again to prevent more tears. "He wanted me to quit my job..."

"Then he's got some common sense," Abby scoffs. "You hate working there, Liv. And I don't blame him for being untrusting of your boss."

"I guess," I shrug, looking down. "I know Fitz meant well but I wish he wouldn't have demanded it, like I had no other choice. He left no room for discussion and that pissed me off." I press my lips together. "I said some things..."

"We all say things we regret," Abby wraps her arms around me in an embrace. I rest my head on her thin shoulder. "All of us. And he doesn't strike me as a very sensitive guy."

"He is," I mumble. "He is very sensitive. But that's not even the point. Abby, what I said...if the roles were reversed and he said something like it instead, I would be so quick to kick his ass, dump him, never see him again and possibly press charges."

"Damn," Abby mutters under her breath. "What the hell did you say, Liv?"

I inhale deeply. I don't even want to repeat it, I'm so ashamed. It was definitely not one of my finer moments. "I just...I basically called him off on being entitled. And coming from a well off family."

Abby takes her arms off me and stares in awe. "You seriously went there, Olivia?"

"I know," I lower my eyes, my voice full of guilt and regret. "I'm so ashamed, Abby. But you know how I get when I'm angry."

"That is not an excuse," she lectures me, disappointment in her eyes.

I sigh, more tears falling from my eyes. "I know that. I really do. And I'm so sorry."

"You need to tell him that," Abby looks away from me, scoffing. I can tell she's shocked I would say something like that and to be honest, I am too. "Do you love him?"

"Yes," I admit, making me cry harder.

"Then you need to be able to let him love you back," Abby whispers. "I know you, Liv, and when people get too close to you, you go on attack mode. You target their Achilles heels'. It's not healthy."

Well, I'm not healthy. But she already knows that. "I'm sorry, Abby." I feel like I hurt her even more than I hurt Fitz.

"It's alright," Abby hesitates before wrapping her arms around me again. "It's gonna be okay. You need to fix this, though. He seems like a great guy."

"He is," I mumble. "He...he's helping me get financial aid."

Abby rubs my shoulder. "This means you're staying?"

"Looks like it," I shrug. I don't care about that right now. I want to make things right with Fitz and nothing else really matters.

"Good," Abby rests her head on top of mine. "Make it count."

Fitz's POV

I collapse on my dorm bed, desperate to fall asleep and forget this past hour. I don't want to forget the day because I honestly loved waking up with Liv in my arms, feeling like a normal couple.

Funny how things work out.

I'm not as angry as I am surprised. I never thought Liv would say something like that. I knew she was pissed off in that moment and I know she's been insecure about our relationship for some time but...

I really love Olivia and I don't love people easily. I'm committed to working on this with her because I know she's worth it. I know we're worth it. But if she's just going to be angry and insecure all the time, what's the point?

I know that she said what she did because she was angry and it was in the moment. And to be honest, she was completely right. I am privileged. And I do want to take care of her. I don't want her to ever worry about anything except her education. Maybe that scares her but she needs to know I'm not trying to control her. I just want her to be okay.

"Fitz?"

I prop myself up and recognize the voice on the other side of my door. I sigh. I really didn't want to spend my Christmas like this, arguing with the girl I love.

I go ahead and open the door. I'm greeted by Livvy throwing her arms around my neck and hugging me so tight that I'm taken aback.

I lock my arms around her waist. "Hey, you."

"Are you still mad at me?" Liv mumbles, her chin resting on my shoulder. I bend down a little bit because she's so damn short that she can barely reach it.

I swallow. "I'm not mad, Olivia. But I need to know that you're willing to work on this with me. So it's not as toxic and you're not as insecure."

"I'm not-" Olivia cuts off her sentence. I think she's realizing that she is.

I move my arms from her waist and look her in the eye. "I don't want to fight with you, Livvy. But I have to tell you - I really don't want you working there anymore. I can take care of you. Let me."

"Fitz-"

"I'm not done," I say firmly, my eyes locked onto her. "I understand where you're coming from, even though you insist I don't. Yeah, I grew up rich...but so did you. I know how it feels to want to work for a living. But I need you to listen when I say this - not just hear me, but really listen - I cannot sleep at night knowing you may not be safe where you work." I take a deep breath. "Yeah, maybe you'll be fine. You're strong and you can take care of yourself. But what about me? How am I supposed to..." I inhale. "I'm not letting you go back to Harrison Wright. I'm just not."

She rests her hands on my shoulders, her eyes lowering down. I can tell she feels really guilty. "So...I can't work there. But can I work somewhere else?" She looks up at me. "Because I really want to, Fitz. That's important to me."

"If that's what you want," I press my lips together. "I'm just protective of you, Livvy. That's just what I am. I'm sorry. Im not trying to control you but I just need you to listen, alright?"

Liv nods, cupping her hands on my shoulders. "I'm so sorry, baby..."

Before I can promise her that I forgive her, she looks up and presses her lips to mine. I slip my hands in the back pockets of her tight jeans and pull her closer, deepening the kiss. She pulls away from a second to mumble, "Love you" before kissing me again, passionately.

"Livvy," I'm the one to pull away this time, my hands still in her pockets. I look down into her eyes, still lowered with regret. "It's okay. I just don't want this...us...to fight. I don't want it to become a pattern. I love you and I don't want it to be like me and Mellie. I just-"

She shuts me up by leaning towards me and kissing me again. "It's not gonna be like you and Mellie." She mumbles this into my lower lip. "I promise. I'm not Mellie."

I close my eyes, let her kiss me and try to understand how it's possible - her turning me on so quickly. Olivia kissing me makes me forget my point completely. I'm so out of breath. I inhale. "No, you're definitely not Mellie."

Liv smirks and gives me one last kiss before pulling away, her arms still locked around my neck. "So we're okay?"

I grin back at her. "We're perfect."