Fitz sat at his desk, he wasn't exactly shocked to find that Mellie was behind the assassination the entire time but he didn't know why she would want him dead. If she hated him so much, why didn't she just leave him. He had Lauren call her and he was sure, she would be walking into the oval at any moment. He was oddly calm, the way he saw it, she handed him a get out of jail free card. It wasn't easy getting Nolan to confess, they had to do things to him that made medieval torture seem humane but it was worth it because he finally broke and confessed to everything.
He heard a hard tap on his door and looked up.
"Come in," he called.
Mellie strutted in with her head held high.
"Fitz I was in the middle of a meeting with my chief of staff,"
"Yeah because that's so important," he said sarcastically.
"Why did you call me in here?"
"Your boyfriend Nolan."
"I don't know what your talking about."
"You do Mellie, sit down, let's talk."
She walked defiantly across the room and sat beside his desk.
"Nolan told us everything. He told us you two were lovers and that you told him to kill me."
Mellie quietly stared in space for a long time before answering.
"That's not how it happened?"
"How did it happen? How did your boyfriend get the idea to kill me?"
She was surprised that he was speaking in such a normal tone, she would've thought that with what he knew, he'd be furious.
"Remember on the campaign when the whole Paul Mosley story broke?"
"Yes."
"I hired Nolan to get Paul to deny the story and it worked."
"So you two never slept together? I'm pretty sure you did because he knows details that only someone you've slept with would know."
"We did sleep together, on the campaign trail then when you became president. I never loved him, I just liked the attention he gave me but he loved me or at least he said he did. I used to vent to him about you, I told him I wished you were dead but it was just venting, I never actually meant it but he thought I was serious. I didn't see him for a few months then out of the blue he called me and told me what he was going to do, I told him that I didn't actually mean it. I thought maybe he was after money so I sent him a few million hoping he'd just take the money and go."
"Then you conveniently planned the gala where he shot me? You expect me to believe that was by chance?"
"He told me he wasn't going to do it. I tried to stop you from leaving the car because I had a feeling but I never actually knew that he was going to be there."
"So I almost died on a misunderstanding? What am I supposed to do with this Mellie? Whether or not you actually wanted me dead, they know that you paid him, they know that you two were lovers, they are pinning this on you,"
"I bet you'd love that, wouldn't you?"
"I wouldn't, this isn't about me and you Mellie. You often forget we have Gerry to think about. Do you want him to know what you did?"
Mellie looked down at her hands.
"No."
"Okay. Sign the divorce papers. I'll take care of Nolan and make sure no one finds out about your part in this. I won't hold this against you, just promise me you'll be amiable about this divorce. We can co parent Gerry, we can even be friends, I don't despise you Mellie, I just don't want to be married to you."
Mellie chuckled.
"The divorce you always wanted. Now you can finally be with Olivia Pope."
Fitz didn't bother denying it.
"After all these years of being so in love with you, you have never cared about me," Mellie said bitterly.
Fitz turned and faced her directly as he spoke.
"Mellie, you told the man you were fucking to kill me and he actually tried to and I'm telling you that I am going to ignore the fact that you tried to have me killed and start over with you, if that's not me caring for you, I don't know what is. I could never love you because you are selfish and cold. I had to beg you to have Gerry and even after he was born you practically ignored him. Don't pretend you're some woman scorned. You have just as much blame as me in this marriage."
Mellie was quiet.
"Okay but what is it about her that makes you love her but not me?"
"Mellie?"
"I saw the way you looked at her Fitz, I know you love her."
"Mellie this isn't going to help us move forward."
"I know."
She stood up and fixed her skirt.
"I have the papers in my office, I'll sign them and send them over to you."
She walked slowly to the door.
"Mellie?"
She stopped right in front of the door and turned and faced him.
"Yes Fitz?"
"I'm sorry I never loved you."
She turned around and put her hand on the doorknob but didn't open the door. Fitz wondered what she was doing.
"Mellie?"
He got up and walked over to her. As he got closer we could hear soft sobbing.
"Mellie?"
She didn't reply, she just continued crying. Fitz put his arm around her and tried to console her.
"I'm sorry for what I did Fitz, you didn't deserve that," she said through sobs.
He smiled and he was also a little shocked, Mellie wasn't one to cry.
"Every wife should try to kill her husband at least once right? The world would stop spinning otherwise," he joked lightly.
Mellie wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'll send the papers over in a minute."
He let her go.
"Okay, I'll announce before Big Gerry can start meddling."
"Okay."
Mellie left and Fitz walked back over to his desk and sat down. He was still processing what Mellie did, as much as he tried to play it off, it did hurt him but he wanted to get past it. Moments later, Mellie came back with the papers and placed them on his desk.
"Thank you," he said as he took them and placed them in his drawer.
"I think I should be by your side when you announce it, for the optics."
He was a little shocked.
"The daily press briefing starts in 5 minutes, do you want to crash it?"
Mellie shrugged.
"Why not?"
Fitz stood up and smiled.
"Let's go then."
He took her hand and led her out the office. When they got to the press room, they waited outside for Josh to finish the announcements and then they walked in.
"Mr. President? Mr. President?" The press corp screamed.
"Hey Josh, we'd like to say a few words."
Josh automatically moved from the podium to give Fitz room to speak. Fitz walked with Mellie by his side and stood in front of the podium and waited to the chatter to quiet down.
"Good afternoon everyone. You might have heard the rumors about a divorce between Mellie and I. Today we wanted to confirm that those rumors are in fact true, we have filed for a divorce. We ask that you respect this very difficult time for our family. Thank you."
With that, Fitz and Mellie left the room and as they walked they could hear the questions being fired from the reporters.
Three days later...
It was the evening of the state dinner. Fitz dressed in his Dolce and Gabbana tux and his Ferragamo loafers. He checked his appearance one last time then he put on his vintage Rolex watch and went to find Gerry.
The days since the divorce announcement had been chaotic. The speculations were running wild. Everyone had something to say, most of all Gerry who had been trying everything in his power to walk back the announcement. He leaked that Fitz and Mellie were seeking spiritual guidance from their pastor and Fitz ended up getting into a huge fight with him about the whole thing. He didn't care about any of that though, it all seemed to be noise in the background, all he cared about we what Olivia had to say and he couldn't have that because he hadn't been able to speak to her since she arrived in Somalia, she absolutely had no reception. She was leaving in a day and he hoped she would call him from the airport, just so he could know what was going on with her.
Gerry and Kenna were officially dating and he asked her to be his date to the state dinner. Fitz was glad Gerry seemed to not care about the divorce debacle, all he cared about was whether or not he looked good enough for Kenna. Fitz was the first to finish getting ready and then waited in the hall for Gerry and Mellie. He stood impatiently checking his watch every so often until he heard footsteps and he looked up to see who it was.
"Gerry?"
"Sorry, I'm late dad."
"Don't tell me sorry, tell your date sorry, if we ever get to pick her up."
"She must be so annoyed, I'm gonna call her and apologize for being late."
"You remembered to give the secret service her address right?"
"Yeah, of course."
Gerry pulled out his phone and called Kenna to let her know they would be leaving to pick her up soon. Moments after Gerry hung up, they heard Mellie walking down the hallway,
"Mom hurry, Kenna's waiting."
"Never tell a lady to hurry Gerry."
"Sorry but we have to go."
Mellie pulled out all the stops. She wore a beautiful Zac Posen purple gown, hoping Fitz would notice and to her chagrin, he didn't, which left her feeling a little disappointed.
They drove quickly, as quickly as the presidential motorcade could go to pick up Kenna and once they had her, they drove to the state dinner. Gerry couldn't keep his eyes off of Kenna, she was beautiful. She had ivory skin, long brown hair and warm brown eyes, she was tall for her age, standing at 5'8 and she wore a long blush pink gown that complimented her skin tone perfectly. Gerry held her hand protectively and kept asking her if she was okay. Fitz tried his best not to laugh at the puppy love that was brewing between the two.
At the state dinner, they lined the entrance and greeted the guests as they came, when the meet and greet was finished, they joined everyone for dinner. The dinner was boring, the band played standard jazz music. Fitz looked around the room and saw everyone on their phones or half asleep. He leaned over to Gerry and smiled, "Thank me later."
Gerry was confused.
"What do you mean dad?"
Fitz was halfway to the stage by the time Gerry realized what he was doing. Gerry watched as Fitz walked up the steps and stood on the stage. Fitz took a guitar from one of the band members.
"We're gonna change it up a little bit guys. Do you know Brown eyed girl by Van Morrison?"
"Yes sir."
Fitz smiled.
"Give me the beat."
Fitz turned and faced the audience. He could see they were confused as to what he was doing as he stepped up to the mic.
"Hello everyone, I looked around and realized that half of you were asleep and I was never one to throw a boring party and I also couldn't pass up is opportunity to embarrass my son in front of his date, so this is a two for one…"
The band started playing the intro and Fitz looked over to Gerry who turned red beside Kenna.
Fitz played his guitar into the intro and waited for his que then he started singing.
"Hey where did we go
Days when the rains came
Down in the hollow
Playin' a new game
Laughing and a running hey, hey
Skipping and a jumping
In the misty morning fog with
Our hearts a thumpin' and you
My brown eyed girl
You're my brown eyed girl…"
The crowd was up and roaring by the time he finished his first verse; laughing and applauding alike, surprised he would be bold enough to sing and play the guitar in front of everyone. When Fitz finished the song he stepped back and whispered the next song to the band. They played the intro and he flashed the crowd a smile and dove into the chorus of his next song.
"Here in your arms I found my paradise
My only chance for happiness
And if I lose you now, I think I would die
Say you'll always be my baby
We can make it shine
We can take forever just a minute at a time
More than a woman
More than a woman to me
More than a woman
More than a woman to me…"
Fitz watched as the crowd danced. He was dancing too, he turned and whispered the next song to the band then looked for Gerry in the crowd.
"Come sing with your father Gerry."
Gerry's eyes opened wide and his mouth fell open. Fitz knew Gerry needed some crowd encouragement so he started cheering his name and the crowd joined.
"Gerry, Gerry, Gerry, Gerry,"
Gerry stood up up and walked quickly to the stage. He handed Gerry the second mic even though he was sure Gerry didn't know the song but it was amusing enough to watch him frozen from embarrassment on the stage. Fitz waited for his que and then began singing. He picked this song purposely because Olivia mentioned to him how much she loved it.
"Ah, ah, ah
Never you mind if I
Don't tell strangers passing by
If I don't brag
If I don't brag or boast
Click my glass and say a toast
About my love for you
How it runs so deep and true
And yet it's so
'Cause don't you know, oh
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep
Still waters run deep"
Eventually Gerry loosened up and began rocking back and forth with Fitz on the stage. He laughed as he watch Fitz dance and spin as if he was the lead in a 60's singing group then he sang the outro with him. Gerry found Kenna in the crowd, she was standing beside Mellie and smiling and applauding him.
Mellie had her eyes glued to Fitz the entire time. Every time she tried to convince herself he wasn't worth it, he reminded her how amazing he was. She watched in adoration as he danced and sang effortlessly. After almost 20 years of knowing him, his charisma and charm never wore off.
"Can we get some back up singers up here?" Fitz said to the crowd.
Fitz was surprised when Diana Ross made her way up to the stage. His mouth dropped open.
"You needed a backup singer Mr. president?"
"Your Diana Ross, I'll be your backup singer."
He stepped aside from the mic.
"Can you play the drums?" She asked.
He nodded.
"Give me a beat Mr. President."
The crowd roared.
Fitz went to the band and told them what song to play. He took the drummer's seat and began playing the intro to one of Diana's most famous songs, 'I'm coming out,'.
Diana sang, Fitz played the drums and Gerry played the guitar. They were electric. The crowd roared and raved into the night till the dinner was over. Then Fitz and Gerry took a bow and exited the stage.
Olivia was up at 7 in morning. They would be traveling back to the airport for a late flight. She was the last to get up from her group and she heard chatter in the living room of the house that they were staying. She walked groggily to the living room and saw all the doctors gathered around the tiny satellite TV, it was about 10 inches wide and had only three channels but it was one of the few TV's in the village.
"What's the fuss?"
Abby jumped up.
"Look,"
She said as she pointed at the tv.
Olivia walked closer and saw Fitz singing and dancing on the screen but she couldn't hear.
"Can you turn it up a little?" She said in Arabic to their Somali host.
Once the volume was up and she could hear Fitz singing, her heart melted. Her cheeks turned red as her eyes were glued to the TV.
"He is so fine," Siobhan said loudly.
"That's an understatement," Abby said.
Olivia didn't hear them, all she could hear was Fitz singing her favorite songs. She'd been dying to talk to him, since he went public with his divorce.
"Liv your patient looks good."
Olivia didn't answer. She was too glued to the TV to even hear what they were bantering about,
"Liv?" Abby called.
She didn't answer.
Abby eyed her suspiciously and wondered why she was staring at the TV, smiling the way she was.
"Olivia why are you looking at him like that?" She asked.
Then suddenly it all clicked for her. She grabbed Olivia's hand and pulled her outside.
"What the fuck Abby, I was watching that?" Olivia complained.
"Is the president Keith?"
"What?"
Olivia said as if it was the most preposterous thing she'd ever heard.
"Don't what me. I spoke with him a couple times and I wondered why the hell he sounded so familiar. I heard you say Fitz on the phone a couple times when you thought I wasn't listening. That's because he is the president, isn't he?"
Abby knew Olivia's antics all too well, she wasn't going to back down.
"Abby, I don't know what your talking about?"
"Don't lie to me Liv,"
"I'm not lying."
"Is he Keith?"
Olivia didn't answer.
"Well is he?"
"Fine, it's him, are you happy?"
Olivia turned quickly and went back to the living room to watch Fitz at the state dinner.
Abby waited until they were back in the bus heading to the airport to bring it up again.
"Olivia you are my best friend, why wouldn't you tell me this?" She whispered.
"Because, I didn't want to. I just wanted it to be between me and him until…"
"Until he was divorced."
"Yea maybe," Olivia said sarcastically.
"I can't believe you hid this from me. He was on my to do list, now this is awkward."
"You never told me he was on your to do list, he's a republican, I thought you didn't sleep with republicans."
"I made a few exceptions okay!"
Olivia chuckled and rolled her eyes.
"Yea sure."
"Wow, this is really awkward,"
"No, it's not."
"You're doing it with the president," Abby whispered.
"Shh. This is why I didn't tell you,"
"Sorry, it's not like I said it loudly."
"Just shh, okay. I'll tell you everything soon just not right now."
They rode quietly to the airport. Once Olivia got reception, she called Fitz, not caring about the fact that he was most likely sleeping.
"Liv?" He said groggily.
"Fitz, are you too tired to talk?"
"Of course not. I haven't heard from you in a week," he said as he sat up.
"I know but I just got to the airport. I watched your performance at the state dinner last night, I couldn't help but notice those were some of my favorite songs you were singing."
"That must've been by accident," he teased.
"I didn't know you could sing."
"I can't,"
"You can, you sounded wonderful and you can play the drums too, you never told me that."
"I forgot,"
She smiled.
"It's so good to hear your voice."
"You wouldn't have to miss me if you came home."
"Fitz."
"I know, I know, commitment and all that."
She chuckled.
"Speaking of commitment, I saw your announcement with Mellie, how did you manage to get her up there with you?"
"It's a long story and I'll tell you all about it when I see you but she did sign them, thankfully and my lawyer filed them a couple days ago."
"I'm surprised she signed."
"You won't be when I tell you what happened."
"Tell me."
"No, be patient."
"Fine," she said with a chuckle.
"I thought you'd be more excited about this divorce?"
"You told me you were going to do it then you did, it's not exactly like I didn't expect it."
"Good point."
They were quiet for a while.
"Fitz?"
"Yeah."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Bye,"
"Bye Livie."
He waited for her to hang up then he went back to bed.
Hours later, Fitz sat in the Oval going over a bill passed up from the congress when Cyrus and big Gerry walked in.
"Your approval rating jumped 11 points after last night's performance. I could kiss you," Cyrus screamed.
Fitz looked up.
"You were magnificent Fitz, I'm not happy about the divorce announcement but after last night give it a couple weeks and then announce that your working on your marriage and that you've changed your mind about the divorce and put this whole circus behind us," Gerry added.
"Woah what?"
"Majority of Americans aren't happy about this divorce, now last night will get them off your back for a few news cycles and remind them that you're a likeable guy but this divorce will come back up. You're a republican son, republican presidents don't get divorced in office."
"I feel sorry for you then because Mellie already signed the papers and I filed them officially, can't exactly roll that back now can I?"
"Fitzgerald you are not going to win another term with a black woman by your side, a woman that caused you to divorce your wife. I don't care how smart she is or how pretty she is; that is going to lose you your base."
"Do not open your mouth and say a word about her, not even to give her a compliment. So what if she's black? It's done. The moment this divorce is finalized, she is going to be the one by my side whether you like it or not so deal with it."
"I don't care that she's black, I'm just saying your constituents will. There is still a lot of fuss about interracial dating, now is not the time. You're the president Fitz, personal feelings aren't apart of this game. You can't do this."
"I'm a grown man, I'm going to do whatever I feel like doing. Maybe if you ran for president and won then you wouldn't have to live vicariously through me now if you'll excuse me I have a bill to go through, we're done here."
Big Gerry turned and stormed out of the Oval Office, throwing up his hands in frustration as he went.
"Anything you want to get off your chest Cyrus?" Fitz challenged.
Cyrus shook his head.
"Nope, he's been going going crazy since the divorce announcement, it's good that you shut him down but if you're really serious about Olivia Pope you'll have to be strategic about it. She is smart and liberal, that's good, she can probably get democrats on your side the next election but you'll have to be very smart about how you come out with your relationship with her. She can't look like the other woman."
"She not the other woman and you'll help me to make sure no one thinks that."
Big Gerry walked down the hallway and pulled out his cell phone and pressed number 2 on speed dial on her burner phone and waited.
"Hello?"
"That job, I needed you to do, cancel it."
"No problem. Are you gonna pay me and my team now or…"
"Pay you for a job you didn't do, you must've lost your mind, I didn't get rich by giving away money. If you had done it weeks ago like I asked, I wouldn't be in this shit mess."
"In order to do it, a lot of people would have to die, you wanted it to be clean and quiet but I guess that doesn't matter anymore does it?"
"No, it doesn't."
Gerry didn't wait for a reply, he hung up dismissively and went back to the Oval to smooth things over with Fitz.