Chapter 5

***Summer 2019***

"Good morning," Olivia aggressively tugged open the blinds to her daughter's room letting all the natural light finish the job of waking her. Raya groaned and turned over, pulling the cover over her head. "Out late last night?" Olivia questioned.

Raya poked her head from out of the comforter and looked at her mom. She had a knowing look that she knew about her night.

"How did you know?"

"Raya, I'm your mom. I've known you've been sneaking out since you were 16. If you want to see Ezekiel you don't have to have these secret missions. He's going to be family in a matter of days and living with us; you don't have to be acting like a bunch of sneaky, horny teenagers anymore."

"Ew, okay mom, I didn't need to hear that," Raya laughed with some disgust.

"What you guys have dated for over 7 years, do you honestly think I'm that naïve?" Olivia laughed alongside Raya and sat on her daughter's bed. She took a moment to relish in the present. She only had a few more days like this, where it would be just her and her daughter, a parent and child, she was growing up so quickly.

"Everything ok, mom?" Raya asked.

"Uh yea," Olivia replied boldly, refusing to allow herself to get emotional at the moment. "Are you busy today? Could you do me a favor?"

"Sure what is it?" Raya sat up tall, leaning her back against the headboard of her bed.

"Could you take Stephen into town this morning? He needs to get bathroom supplies," she explained.

"Of course!" Raya said, much too excitedly. She had a great time paddle boarding with Jake yesterday and was looking forward to getting some one on one time with Stephen. Maybe talking to him could help her figure out who her father was.

"Well, you sound real excited there? I haven't seen you get that excited over running errands for any guest before…" Olivia said, questioningly.

"Yeah, well he seemed like a really nice guy from when I checked him in…" Raya lied.

"You know, I knew Stephen before I came to Zanzibar?" Olivia spoke slyly. She knew her daughter had already known and was the one who orchestrated this whole mess, though she would never admit it.

"Really?" Raya asked playing dumb, "that's cool."

"Yep, and I also knew Jake and Fitz also from back in the day. It's pretty strange that after not hearing from any of them in over twenty years all three of them checked into our resort on the day…"

"Weird," Raya mused, trying not to look at her mom. "I guess it's just a freaky coincidence. Cosmos at work." Raya jumped out of bed to get ready for the day and to get out of this conversation with her mother.

Olivia laughed to herself. Did her daughter honestly think she was so clueless to believe that it was all a coincidence? This would require a conversation for a later point when they both had time. Until then, Olivia got up to start her typical resort task checklist.

Raya and Stephen walked on the sidewalk through the downtown area of Zanzibar City. Raya observed his every step and every detail, trying to commit him to memory, and see if there was something, anything, some physical feature that could point her in either concluding he was her father or scratching him from the list.

"So my mom said that she knew you before she came to Zanzibar, back when she lived in LA for a short time," Raya said, trying to start up a conversation.

"Ha yeah! She did. She was only there for a single summer. We were roommates." Stephen said.

Oh my god, they were roommates! Raya thought that had to mean something. If they lived together, or at least in the same living quarters, then perhaps, just maybe…

"So, were you and my mom close?" Raya pushed on.

"Yes, I would say we were very close. I was the first person in LA that she met actually. She was only there for a summer, but honestly, in that short time she was there, I can say that she was my best friend for those few months. I like to think that she would say the same about me."

They were best friends. This seemed like it was coming together quite nicely: LA coed roommates who were best friends. It was like something out of a 90s rom-com.

"You guys were best friends…cool," Raya repeated, then hesitantly asked one more question. "Did you guys like each other?" She immediately saw Stephen blush and part his jaw slightly.

"I um…" He stammered, and Raya began to regret her decision.

"I'm sorry. That wasn't what I-"

"No, no, you're fine. We liked each other as friends. Very close friends," Stephen emphasized. "I was like her closest confidant at that time, helping her vent and deal with drama."

***Summer 1996***

"Someone is back from her party early," Stephen hollered from the living room couch, putting his work down. He had gotten involved in a number of research projects at Billboard, hoping he could cash in his chips and call in a few favors for Liv when the time came around.

"I'm surprised you're here. I thought you would be spending the night with 'Navy boy,'" Stephen stated blandly, sarcastically saying the nickname he had given the mysterious boy Olivia had been going out with who he still had yet to meet.

"Yeah, well I made Navy boy take me home early," Olivia shot back, she had gone along with Stephen's nickname, not wanting to give him Jake's actual identity. Stephen's crush on her was pretty obvious, and she didn't want to be giving any information about Jake to him.

"Everything alright?" he asked, noticing the shrill in her voice. "Did the singing go well?"

"The singing did, it actually went really well," Olivia sat down on the couch and sighed out of exhaustion and frustration. "I guess I was a little too much of a showgirl for some people. This one older guy…he thought I was a…a hooker." Olivia whispered, still upset over her encounter with the Senator Gerry Grant.

"Well fuck that guy!" Stephen shouted. Olivia laughed at how quick he was to respond. "Seriously Liv, don't pay attention to that guy. You said yourself he was old. He was probably delusional. You probably just reminded him of a flapper he once knew at one of Gatsby's parties back in West Egg."

Olivia cracked up at Stephen's literary allusion.

"Ok, he wasn't that old…" Olivia laughed. "He was just terrible. He made me feel horrible and belittled all because of my race."

"Oh I see…old and a bigot." He put his arm around Liv and wrapped her into a hug. "I'm sorry, Liv. Whatever he said wasn't true. Don't listen to him. You're extraordinary!"

Olivia smiled and Stephen's somber words.

"It gets worse too…" she said, slightly lifting her tone a little more cheerfully.

"Oh no. What happened?"

"After that encounter this guy's son comes up to me and asks me out!" Olivia laughed. "Could you believe that? He sees his dad insulting me and then has the audacity to go up to me and ask me on a date!"

Stephen grunted in frustration, agreeing with Olivia, "This dude sounds like a real jackass."

"I've seen these types of families before when I lived in DC. They're rich, white, and it's not even money that makes them happy, but it's showing off their money that thrills them. They're not the kind of people that go to Gatsby's parties. They are Jay Gatsby."

"Well, as much as I would love to sit here and discuss the works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, I should probably confess to you now before we go further, that I skipped reading that book and totally bullshitted my school book report on it."

Olivia laughed at Stephen's cheery change of tone. She got off the couch to go to the kitchen.

"I'm going to go get some wine? Do you want some?"

"Yes please, Liv!" Stephen called after heard. They heard the apartment's landline ring. "I got it!"

Olivia returned about ten seconds later with two wine glasses and a bottle of Pinot in hand.

"It's for you," he said, handing her the phone. "I'll be right back, I'm just going to put all these papers away," Stephen said signaling to the work he had left on the coffee table. He collected his files and raced off to his room.

"Hello? Abby?" Olivia asked. She didn't expect Jake to call, and outside of Abby, he was the only person who knew to call this number for her.

"This isn't Abby," a deep, husky voice that Olivia could recognize anywhere responded. Olivia let out a gasp she had no idea how he could have called her so soon.

"Hi," he said after a moment of silence from the other end.

"…Hi…" Olivia barely whispered. "How did you get this number?"

"Oh, well I'm rich and privileged, remember? Just part of the perks," Fitz spoke sarcastically and laughed, hoping he could lighten the mood, but Olivia was in no laughing mood.

"I'm serious," she said curtly.

"I asked Jake," he said honestly.

"Jake gave you my number? Why would he do that?"

"I may have lied and told Jake that you and my father had a wonderful discussion at the party about politics, and he wanted your number to speak to you again."

"Oh, I'm sure your father would love to speak to me again," Olivia laughed, she heard Fitz chuckle on the other end, bringing a smile to her lips.

"I would for sure love it if you spoke to him again. We're approaching the 21st Century and the man acts like it's the 1890s. What are you doing right now?"

"I'm drinking wine…" Olivia smiled. She caught herself about to have a casual conversation with Fitzgerald Grant III. She needed to stop herself. "Fitz, why are you calling?"

"Look I know when I asked you out back in the hallway, I shouldn't have. That was really poor timing on my part. But I wasn't lying, or trying to make a pass at you, Olivia Pope. I sincerely want to take you out on a date, if you'll have me."

"No," she replied deadpanned, and almost hung up the phone when she quickly heard Fitz respond.

"No?" he asked surprise.

"Yes!" she said.

"So that's a yes then…" Fitz smirked.

"What? No, it's a no. Fitz, stop! You're not being cute. I already told you how I feel about guys like you."

"I know. I heard you loud and clear, but you're wrong. I'm nothing like my father."

"I don't know if I can believe you," she spoke earnestly. She had been hurt one too many times before from rich boys with political daddies back in DC.

"Just go on one date with me, Livvie, just one date," Fitz pleaded. Liv felt a sense of shock over his use of her name "Livvie;" only her mother had ever called her that.

"Wh-what did you say?"

"Just one date. You can't just keep rejecting me. How else can I prove to you that I'm different if you don't even give me a chance?" Fitz was met with silence on the other end, but the humming told him that she was still on.

"Liv, look, I felt something with you backstage, and I know you felt it too. You can't deny that. You felt it too, right?" Fitz's voice got much lower, and softer, and Olivia thought it sounded sad and longing.

"I-I felt it," Olivia assured him. "But even if I felt something, and even if I set aside the entire ordeal that happened with your father today, I'm still dating someone else, not just someone else, but your friend!" Olivia pointed out. She heard Fitz chuckle on the other end.

"I wouldn't say he's my friend. He's more like an annoying little brother. And believe me, I've known Jake for a very long time, and he is not someone who takes relationships very seriously. I'm not sure if that's what you're looking for but-"

"No you're wrong. He loves me!" Olivia exclaimed.

"Did he tell you that?" Fitz didn't get a response. "Yeah, that's what I thought. Look, I'm not trying to make you mad. I just want to give you a warning. He's a bit of a player. I've never seen him commit to anything other than the Navy."

"I have to go," Olivia said, seeing Stephen walk into the room.

"Liv, wait-"

"No, I have to go," she hung up the phone.

"Who was that?" Stephen asked, pouring himself a glass of wine.

"You're not going to believe this. That was the guy – Gatsby's son – telling me to end things with Navy boy an go out with him," Olivia said exasperatingly.

"Gatsby Jr?" Stephen confirmed, trying to solidify a nickname for this mystery man as well.

"Gatsby Jr." Olivia laughed. Stephen handed Olivia her drink and lifted his own.

"Well, here's to Gatsby and Gatsby Jr. May they one day collect enough wealth to buy themselves a moral backbone!" Stephen laughed as he clinked his drink with Liv's.

A few days later Olivia laid in Jake's bed as he was preparing for the morning ahead of him.

"Are you getting up?" he asked walking toward her and rubbing her back.

"Yeah, I will. Can I ask you something though?" Olivia was nervous. She had wanted to ask him since her phone call with Fitz.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Well we've been going out for a month now," Olivia started, "and I just want to know what we're doing…"

"Well you said it yourself, we're going out," Jake laughed, but quickly went to change the subject. "Now come on, lets go. I was thinking maybe we could go to the beach today."

"You know what I mean. I just want to know where you think this is all going?"

Jake sighed and laid down next to her.

"Liv, do we have to talk about this, now?" Jake knew there was no getting out of this when he saw Olivia nod with a serious look of determination in her eyes.

"Liv, I like you a lot. This has been the happiest month of my life with you!" He spoke honestly. "But you know, I'm in the Navy, and in a few more months I'm going to be away."

"So what does that mean? This is only temporary?"

"It's just fun, Liv. I have fun with you. And you have fun with me. I don't think we should going around labeling anything," Jake put it as politely as he could.

"So you don't want to see m-"

"God no, Liv!" Jake interrupted. "I like being with you, but I just…I just think it's best if it remains casual; just until I'm out of the Navy. I mean long distance is hard, wouldn't you agree?"

Olivia nodded.

"See what I mean," he said, hoping to put the conversation to rest.

"Yeah, yeah I understand what you mean." She put on a fake smile.

"Good!" Jake tapped her nose. "Now, let's go to the beach."

Later that night, Olivia was relaxing, watching the news in her apartment by herself. Huck, Harrison, and Stephen had all gone out for a boy's night, and she had told them Jake's mom was visiting, so she couldn't stay at his place.

She heard the landline ring and answered, already knowing who was calling.

"Hi."

"Hi," she answered. For the past four days after the party, Fitz had called her every night.

The first night she found it annoying, and thought it was ridiculous how persistent he was being. She was surprised however, when rather than asking her out, Fitz just wanted to talk to her about her senior thesis that she wrote and sassily told him and his father to read. She was impressed that he had actually taken it upon himself to go to the library the next day and track the journal she was published in, reading the entire 70-paged document in a single night. From then on he called her typically to talk about politics, but he also made an effort to make small talk and try to get to know Olivia Pope.

"Are you watching the primary election results?" he asked her.

"What else do you think I would be watching?"

"So, Bob Dole?" Fitz asked, wanting to gauge her opinion, as it was obvious who the Republican nominee was going to be at this point in the primaries for the upcoming 1996 election.

"He won't beat Clinton," she said before he could even finish asking his question.

"You seem very certain on that."

"I am. I can go on all about why."

"Well, then please do, Miss Pope," Fitz gestured for her to continue. He loved hearing her ramble on. Their phone calls were becoming the highlight of his day, a way for him to escape the structured life ahead of him. Olivia waited a little bit before answering Fitz.

"I could tell you all about it right now, but I think it would be better done in person. What are you doing on Friday night?" Liv asked. She heard him let out a breath and clear his throat.

"Are you asking me out on a date?" he sounded completely elated.

"Well if you want to call it a date…"

"Livvie, I-oh man…" Fitz felt jumbled. He didn't know what to say or how to even begin. He thought it was going to take way longer before Olivia agreed to go out with him. He felt over the moon.

"Fitz?" Olivia's voice brought him out of his inner thoughts and back to their conversation. "You didn't answer me."

"Ah-I-uh-Yes! Friday night!" Fitz sounded far too animated for his own liking. He cleared his throat again. "I mean Friday night should work. I'll pick you up at 6."

***Summer 2019***

Gone were the days of cute late night phone calls. Now Olivia could barely talk to Fitz. Nevertheless, Fitz was always persistent. He had gotten her to turn to him once, he hoped he could do it again.

He walked toward the beach of the resort and spotted Olivia sitting with her two friends at the beach bar. Fitz watched from a distance as they drank their mimosas, laughing together. Fitz was in amazement seeing how good Olivia looked in a small green bikini that he was sure he had seen her wear before. She still looked like she could be in her 20s, and that bikini still somehow drove him insane. She looked happy, and relaxed with her friends. He smiled a little sadly. He was glad to see that Olivia was happy here running this resort, but missed her deeply. As selfish as it was, he was upset to see that she was happy without him.

Fitz had been up throughout the night partially from the discomfort of the shed, but mainly because he was thinking about how he would talk to Liv. Where would he even begin? After hours of contemplating, he was still lost. At this point he thought he might as well go up to her and try to strike up a conversation. Yesterday didn't go too well, but it was the first time she had seen him since his big fuck up from 23 years ago. He deserved the tongue-lashing she gave him. He would giver her that. Maybe now that she had a night to process, she would be more open to talking to him, or at least less hostile. Fitz worked up all the courage he had and approached the beach bar.

From the bar, Abby saw Fitz approaching them.

"Oh no."

"What is it?" Quinn asked.

"Liv, it looks like you've got trouble. Fitz is walking over here," Abby explained, turning her head in Fitz's direction.

"Jesus," Liv muttered and turned her head as well. She saw Fitz heading toward the bar equipped with nothing more than the swim trunks he was wearing a beach towel in his hand. What drove Olivia over the edge was how good he still looked. The man was in his 50s now, but his body was still sculpted like a god's: well-defined pecks, chiseled abs, and sharp lower abdominal muscles that formed a "V" pointing right to his- oh no Olivia had to lose those thoughts fast. It was bad enough that Fitz had shown up to her resort, but why must he also still look so good. Olivia put her head down, and sipped her drink, praying that he would walk past them.

"Do you ladies mind if I join you?" he said, sitting down next to Olivia where there was an empty chair.

"Actually yes, I do mind!" The red-head from the other end spoke up angrily, stunning Fitz with how blunt she was.

"Fitz, this is Abby and Quinn. Quinn and Abby, this is Fitz," Olivia introduced them to each other monotonously.

"I know who he is," Abby retorted. Fitz felt a wave of shame wash over him.

"We actually have to go. We have some work to do, right?" Olivia said, looking at Quinn and Abby for back up.

"Right," they both nodded in agreement, and got up out of their chairs.

"Sorry, it's just a real busy time. Peak tourist season and all, and we've got a wedding that's being held here on Friday for…a…uh local girl." Olivia lied to cover her tracks and try and get away from Fitz as quick as she could. She started to turn away when Fitz shot up out of his seat.

"Liv, wait! Please," he turned and lightly touched her arm, making her freeze in place. "Liv, please. I am so sorry. I get that you didn't want to talk to me yesterday, it's been a whiled since everything and…I get it if you're overwhelmed. But can I just talk to you today…whenever you're free. I just really need to talk to you." Fitz was trying to buy some time. He looked down, noticing that their bodies were only inches apart at the moment.

Olivia noticed their closeness too. She felt frenzied. She couldn't think whenever he was this close, and was taking a minute to respond. She missed him, but he ruined her, but more than anything she wanted him to hold her, and wanted to be wrapped up against him until they both forgot everything about the world around them. He could hear her breathe as she contemplated her next move. He suddenly felt soft, delicate hands push against his chest, and felt himself inhale sharply at the contact. Rubbing her hand against his chest, she pushed him back down into his chair.

"There's nothing left to say, Fitz," she said solemnly. There wasn't any anger in her voice like there was yesterday, just sadness and despair. She turned around and started to walk toward Abby and Quinn.

"Olivia, wait!" he called out and shot up out of his seat to follow her again. Once up, Fitz immediately sat back down, realizing her touch had made him hard as a board that all could see if he stood. He needed to sit and take a breather before getting up in his swim trunks. Fitz groaned from the physical effect she was able to put on his body so easily, and also groaned out of the emotional frustration of missing her.

Over the course of the last three years since his failed presidential run, Fitz had learned more about himself and the values and people he held dear. There were a few moments in Fitz's life that he would carry with him forever. Memories and events that he believed change the course of his life. His summer with Olivia was no different.

***Summer 1996***

"Liv, I'm telling you this is a bad idea," Stephen repeated for about the 100th time. "I don't get why you would agree to go out with Gatsby Jr."

"Stephen, it's one date. And if it goes poorly, he agreed he'll stop calling me."

Olivia was finishing putting on the final touches of her makeup in the bathroom mirror.

"I don't know, Liv. You should give me more credit. I mean I was right about Navy boy."

"Who said anything about me no longer being with Navy boy?"

"You haven't mentioned him in three days," Stephen pointed out, "which is a record."

"You keep track?" she teased.

"Yes," he nodded.

"I'm still seeing Navy boy, it's just that our relationship is…well…" Olivia didn't really know how to describe it, "…casual."

She hadn't had much to do with Jake since their conversation, but they also never officially ended anything. She was stuck in a limbo with him. Olivia checked her watch and grabbed her keychain to head out the door.

"Be safe!" she heard Stephen call after her, "Use protection!"

Fitz picked her up right on time as he promised. She saw him across the street waiting for her in a red corvette. As she approached the door, he quickly jumped out of his convertible and ran to the other side to open the car door for her. Olivia took a seat and buckled up as she watched Fitz run back around the car and hop back into his seat.

"You know, going with a red corvette is a bold choice for a guy who's trying not to come off as a snob."

"On the contrary, Olivia Pope, one can still have style without being a snob," Fitz put on a pair of sunglasses completing his cool California look.

They drove for what seemed like nearly an hour. Fitz gave her no details on what the night would entail, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve planned. Their car ride was pretty quiet with Liv just taking in the scenery and enjoying the feeling of the wind rushing through her hair as Fitz drove. Fitz meanwhile was stuck in his own head, a little nervous, but kept peaking glances at his beautiful passenger. Olivia started staring around in awe as the city dissipated from around, being replaced by green hills and a steep incline. Eventually Fitz stopped and put the car in park. Olivia got out of the car and looked up, noticing an incredibly close view of the Hollywood sign.

"Griffith Park," Olivia observed, "charming. Do you take all your dates up here?"

"Olivia Pope, I think you misjudge me. I've been in the Navy for a long while. I haven't had a proper formal date in years."

"You're right I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to come out rude," Olivia shunned herself for being so callous at the very beginning.

"It's really beautiful. But what are we doing up here?" she asked.

Fitz popped open the trunk to his car revealing a couple of blankets, a basket, and some wine.

"Well I hope you're hungry and thirsty, Miss Pope, because we have an entire picnic ahead of us."

Olivia helped Fitz set up the blankets and carry the food. They enjoyed homemade tacos that Fitz had previous prepped all the ingredients for. Olivia started up a conversation with Fitz.

"So Captain, tell me. Now that you're out of the Navy, what do you want to do?"

She rolled over on her back and playfully punched his side. Fitz looked up at the sky and admired the changing colors as the sun set behind them.

"I'll just be following the plan," he stated.

"The plan?" Olivia raised an eyebrow for him to elaborate. Fitz took a deep inhale and began to lay out his life to her.

"I'm going to be doing some legal work to boost up my resume, then in two years run for Congress. I won't really have enough political experience built up to run for the 2002 gubernatorial election, plus it's pretty certain there'll be a blue sweep there, but come 2006 I should be ready to officially start my campaign for governor. If all goes well, I'll get reelected in 2010 and serve two terms as governor. Then I'll take about a year off, getting involved in a number of GOP organizations and becoming a familiar face with all the party to set up campaign, and then by 2016, President."

Fitz spoke his whole plan in a single breath, so flawlessly like he had been asked this many times and had the entire script memorized in his head.

"Um…that's really…specific," Olivia said with intonation in her voice. It kind of spooked her to see how well rehearsed that little monologue of his was.

"Yeah," Fitz scooted uncomfortably on the blanket, "my father has got it pretty much all planned out to the minute." He laughed, and turned to Olivia, hoping she would be smirking too over the ridiculousness of Fitzgerald Thomas Grant II, but he was only met with some silence from her. He shut up instantly and shifted once again uncomfortably.

"That didn't answer my question," Olivia finally spoke a little quietly. Fitz lifted his head and looked at her.

"I asked what you wanted to do, now that you're out of the Navy, not what your plan was."

Fitz hadn't really thought much about what he wanted to do. He lingered on the question for a minute before speaking.

"I mean, I guess all I've really ever wanted to do is change the world, make it into a better place. And if following a career into politics is the best way to make a difference, then I guess following the plan is what's best."

Olivia could have argued with him that there were plenty of other ways to make a difference without going into the soul-sucking field of politics, but she could tell that this was a sore and touchy subject for him. She didn't want to bring the mood down, so instead she asked him to tell her some stories from his Navy days.

They got into talking about their families. Olivia was already quite familiar with the Grant dynasty, so she told him about her mother and father, and life growing up in Washington DC.

"Wow, so you just got into a fight with your dad, and then left?" he asked in complete bewilderment.

"Yep."

"That's amazing…I couldn't even imagine if I tried that. My dad would freak!"

"Mine did," Olivia laughed, "but at some point you have to distance yourself and take control of your own life you know?"

"Yeah," Fitz agreed, but frowned slightly as he laid against the blanket, contemplating his own life.

"I didn't mean it like that Fitz. I think it's great that you're following into your dad's footsteps. I may not agree with how he is or any of his positions, but if you want to go into politics to make a difference, then following him is a good place to start. I think you'll be much better than he ever was, and accomplish a lot more."

Fitz instantly perked up, hearing her praise. It gave him a confidence boost that he had been lacking since coming home and having to deal with his toxic father.

"You really mean that?"

"Really. I just meant that at some points in life you have to do something different, something a little spontaneous, even if it would be met with disapproval."

"Spontaneous, huh?" Fitz pondered before quickly getting up and packing up the leftovers.

"What's going on?" Olivia question, standing up from the blanket.

"We are being spontaneous, come on," Fitz smirked, as he finished packing up the last of their items. Olivia helped roll the blankets and fit it into the back of the convertible.

"Get in," Fitz ordered, opening the door for Olivia.

"Where are we going?"

"Just another surprise, Livvie," he said, closing the door after her and getting into the driver's seat.

Just a five-minute drive later Fitz drove into the driveway of Griffith Park Observatory. He opened the door for Olivia to get out, and walked with her to the Observatory. At this point it was well into the night, and the observatory had already been closed for several hours. Fitz took her to the back of the building to what appeared to be a service door.

"Fitz what are we doing here? It's closed," she pointed to the obvious signs of the abandoned lot and dark, lifeless windows.

"Ok, so don't judge me, because this is going to sound nerdy, but when I was a kid I was really into space. Like a huge nerd over anything outer space related. And so when I was in high school, and throughout all my summer vacations in college, I had a job working at the planetarium," Fitz blushed in slight embarrassment.

"You got a job working at one of the most impressive planetariums in the world when you were in high school?" Olivia asked in astonishment.

"Perks of being the governor's son. Like you said yourself, 'special privileges.' But I figure why not be spontaneous and take advantage of it. Might as well…" he smiled and reached into his wallet. He pulled out an old employee ID card.

"It's been years, and I have no idea if this will even work, but it's worth a try."

Fitz swiped his old employee ID card along the security system that locked the door. They saw a green light blink and heard the sounds of unlocking. Fitz and Olivia both bit their lips tight, holding in their laughter that this ID card from eight years ago still functioned, and they were about to break into a planetarium. Fitz opened the door and held it for her.

"Come on," he nudged her in the direction of the entryway.

They walked through the empty and dark planetarium taking in the exhibits around them. Olivia tried to stay close to Fitz, but was also busy taking it all in.

"Over here!" Olivia jumped hearing Fitz whisper rather loudly. She followed him through some doors into what was the main theater of the planetarium. Fitz had her stand in the center of the room and walked to the back where the control panel was located.

"Ok, now I warn you. It's been a while since I've done this so I might be a little rusty."

Fitz fiddled around with the switches and levers, making Olivia's heart race that they would get caught. Eventually he figured it out and Olivia stared up in awe as the black dome above her transformed into a terrific night sky.

"This is amazing," she mused. Fitz smiled to himself, watching her gleefully stare up at the images he had managed to project.

"Hang on, it's not quite done," Fitz fiddled around searching for another lever. He finally found it and pulled down.

A meteor shower rained over the image of the night sky, looking like a thousand shooting stars. Fitz waltzed over and joined Olivia in the center of the room, staring up at the projection above them.

"This is beautiful!" Olivia spoke in wonder once again, staring up at the dome.

"Sure is…" Fitz said, secretly staring at her.

"So, how did I do?" Fitz finally asked.

"You did alright."

"Just alright?" Fitz scoffed. He wasn't prepared when a pair of plush lips came crashing down on him. He held her tight, wrapping one arm around her back and the other through her hair. He let her take control of the kiss, enjoying feeling her tongue explore his mouth.

Eventually, he pulled out of her kiss. She looked at him with some shock and worry.

"Oh right sorry, I almost forgot about the whole reason why we're here," Fitz lingered.

Olivia looked at him confused.

"Your thoughts on Bob Dole?" Fitz said sarcastically. Olivia playfully tapped his chest in response.

"Just shut up and kiss me!" And they kissed beneath a thousand shooting stars.