Chapter 8

***Summer 2019***

Olivia was on the west lawn of the resort overseeing her staff as they set up the tables for her daughter's wedding. It was only two days away, and as the hostess of the wedding ceremony and the mother of the bride, she was completely booked with planning. Since she missed having a wedding herself, and figured that she never would, she wanted to do everything in her power to ensure that her daughter's wedding was perfect!

"Liv?" She heard a weak voice from behind her and turned around.

"Oh my god! What happened to you?" She nearly doubled over at the sight of a burnt, crisp Jake. His entire face and upper body was bright bright pink with a band white around his eyes from the sunglasses he wore.

"I-I fell asleep in the sun. I put on sunscreen, but I don't think it worked all too well," he said, looking down at himself.

"I'll say," Olivia laughed, "you look like a lobster."

Though in pain, Jake chuckled knowing that he was making Olivia laugh.

"You wouldn't happen to have anything?" he asked.

"Come on, I'll show you the clinic. I should have some aloe that will help." Liv walked away with Jake following her.

They got to the clinic, and Olivia pulled out the first aid kit. She put some aloe lotion on her hand and brushed her hands against Jake's face, making him flinch.

"Hold still."

"I'm trying," he complained.

Meanwhile Fitz had left Raya and Zeke to try and find Olivia. He needed to talk to her about the past and what he did, and he had some questions for her as well regarding Raya. She was with him that summer, was Raya his daughter? At this point he wasn't going to take no for an answer or let himself be ignored, if Liv tried to dismiss him again, he would force her to hear him out. He had already been punished enough in his life to make up for his wrongdoings, living the last 23 years without the love of his life. Suddenly he heard Liv's voice and walked in the general direction of where the voice was coming from. He could just make out Olivia and Jake, while hiding on the side of the doorway, just enough so he could look in. Jake looked real red, and Fitz gave himself a little pat on the back for a job well done.

"That is the last time I am ever going to use that brand of sunscreen. I just wanted to get some sun."

"I bet you're regretting all that sun now?" Olivia signaled Jake to turn around, so she could get his back.

"I have…a lot of regrets," he exhaled.

"Jake…let's not."

"No Liv, not taking care of you when I had the chance is the biggest regret I have in my life. I was such an idiot back then."

"We were young," she excused their actions.

"Maybe, but I knew you were special. I knew I should have never taken you for granted, and I was such an idiot to have done so, Liv. You changed me, Olivia Pope. You made me address my messes and try to fix them. I guess what I'm trying to say here is thank you."

***Summer 1996***

Olivia went to Jake's door and knocked, mentally preparing herself for the conversation they were about to have.

"Olivia hey," he said opening the door, "I was actually going to call you to see if you wanted to come over; it's been awhile." Jake hadn't seen her since before the Santa Barbara weekend.

"Jake, we need to talk," she declared.

"Uh oh. That can't be good," He laughed with a goofy smile. Olivia shot him a look. "Oh you're serious? Liv, can you at least come in? If we're going to talk, I'd like for my neighbors not to hear."

Olivia walked inside and Jake closed the door behind her.

"What's going on?"

"Jake, these last few weeks with you have been fun, but I think it's time that we stop," she spoke avoiding his eyes.

"Liv, wait I know things with us have been off since that conversation we had that one morning, but that doesn't mean we have to-"

"No Jake, listen. There is no 'we' this isn't about us; this is about me. I can't do a casual relationship with you anymore, honestly I don't think I ever even wanted something just casual."

Jake inhaled sharply. He could tell there was tension between them the past couple of weeks, but he didn't think she was going to end things so abruptly. He had actually started to develop feelings for her, something that he never thought he was even capable of.

"Liv…hang on. I can change," he pleaded.

"Jake, I understand if you only want a causal relationship, since you're being shipped out, but I can't."

"No really Liv, I'll change. We'll date for real this time, and even continue long distance once I get shipped off," he rambled on with his speech, putting his heart on the line. "I have feelings for you, Liv. You are the one and only girl who I genuinely have feelings for. I'll give you a real relationship, Liv. I promise, because you deserve a real relationship. I'll change for you, Liv, I promise."

Olivia took a deep breath, she knew this part was going to be hard for him to hear.

"Jake, I've been seeing someone."

"That's ok, I told you there wasn't any commitment before, but now-"

"No, this other guy that I'm seeing…I like him a lot…I love him," she said the words out loud for the first time, and it felt so right to say the words love with Fitz on her mind; it felt so natural.

"Liv, can you give me another chance? I can show you the kind of guy I can be."

"I don't doubt that you're capable of self-improvement Jake, just don't do it for me. If you want to become a better man to commite to a relationship, do it for another girl who I'm sure will make you happy and you will make her happy too."

Jake collapsed on his couch and looked up at Liv, making eye contact with her.

"This guy that you love, is he the one?"

"I think so," she whispered.

"Goodbye Jake, and good luck." And with that Olivia left his apartment for good.

Fitz wasn't expecting anyone to be coming over this late, but he especially wasn't expecting to see Olivia banging on his door at 1am three days after they had gotten back from their weekend vacation. He opened the door and saw her looking frenzied.

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Are your parents home?" she asked.

"No, but why-" he was cut off by her lips crashing down onto his. He kissed her back, welcoming her return to him. He felt her pull away.

"I love you too."

"Hmmm?" he was somewhat confused on where this was coming from.

"At the house in Santa Barbara, you told me you love me, and I didn't say it back, but I love you too. I am in love with you too."

He knew what she was referring to. Right before they fell asleep naked on his kitchen floor, he had poured out his feelings to her. He didn't expect her to say it back, he assumed that she hadn't taken him seriously since he said it groggily. But he meant every word. She smiled up at him and Fitz's face gleamed with happiness.

"Ok," Fitz whispered, leaning in to kiss her. She jumped onto him wrapping her legs around his waist as their make out session continued to escalate.

"Can I spend the night?" she asked him as he carried her up the stairs.

"Olivia Pope, you can spend every night."

***Summer 2019***

Fitz stood inches away from the door, his breathing becoming rigid as he watched Olivia rub Jake's back and then his chest with lotion.

"It's ok Jake, I'm glad you're figuring things out for yourself."

"Are you happy here, Liv? And be honest."

"Of course, Jake. I'm single. I'm free. It's nice."

"You don't think you'll ever want to be in a relationship again? Or try?" He looked down at her with sincere eyes and holding onto her hands.

"I'm happy here, by myself," she insisted, putting his hands down at his sides.

This was enough for Fitz; he couldn't take it anymore and stormed off. He felt his pulse racing as he thought about what he had just witnessed. Olivia touching Jake, him apologizing to her, asking her questions, being able to talk to her. Jealous was an understatement to how he was feeling right now.

He took off to a supply closet on the side of the lobby to try and get himself together, but he couldn't. That should have been him getting his back rubbed by Olivia, that should have been him talking to her, apologizing to her for what he did, asking and making sure she was happy, and willing to do anything for her that would make her happy. He didn't realize when tears began pooling in his eyes, but his emotions were getting the better of him. He flung his arms across one of the shelves, knocking off all the supplies that were on it. Before he could even think to stop himself from a destructive tantrum, he felt his fist hitting through the drywall. He quickly pulled back his hand and held it, wincing at the pain he was not expecting. He knew he shouldn't have thrown a fit like he had, but after years of pent up feelings at the mercy of his father, he had just recently learned how to let himself feel his emotions and express himself, and with all things recently learned, he still had ways to go. He slid down the wall and brought his knees to his chest. In a desperate attempt to calm himself, he rehearsed his breathing exercises, breathing in for four, holding for four, and breathing out for four.

He remained in that position with his eyes closed until he heard the door open.

"Liv?" He could only hope out loud before he opened his eyes and saw one of her friends he had met earlier that day at the beach bar. He wanted to say her name was Quinn.

"What the fuck happened here?"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Fitz stood up. "I'll clean all of this up."

Quinn noticed the hole in the wall behind him.

"Did you destroy our wall?!" she shouted in somewhat disbelief.

"I'm sorry. I'll fix that too," Fitz replied awkwardly. "I just had a bit of a moment, but I'll fix everything."

"Well you better, or Olivia is going to freak. Sheesh, if this is how you handle stress, I am glad you did not become the President." Quinn uttered under her breath, but it was just loud enough for Fitz to hear. He winced at the comment, but thought better than to respond to it.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Looking for a clipboard," Quinn pointed to the clipboard on the floor that Fitz had knocked off the shelf. He picked it up off the floor and gave it to her.

"Thank you. We're putting on a talent show for the guests tonight, and I am going to have to force a bunch of more people to sign up."

"Did you sign Liv up?" Fitz suggested.

"Olivia?"

"Yeah, she's a real good singer. Really talented and amazing…"

"I didn't even know Olivia can sing."

"She's never sung here before?" Fitz's heart hurt, learning that Liv had given up the one activity that made her happy. He thought that his actions were to help her career, but it looked like it only made things worse for her.

"I mean I know she plays the piano, but she's never performed before."

"Sign her up," Fitz urged, "it'll make her really happy."

"And you?" Quinn asked smirking, "Do you have any talents, other than property damage that is?"

Evening arrived and the show began. Olivia watched from the back row as the guests of the Fuwele resort gathered in and took their seats. She noticed her daughter and Ezekiel sitting at a table with Abby, Stephen and Jake. She smiled seeing her bond with them. She wondered where Fitz was however, when she turned and noticed him sitting at a table in the corner alone reading from a notebook. Always a loner, she thought. He looked sad, and she felt a little sorry for him. She contemplated going over there to sit down just so he wouldn't be sitting by himself, but he seemed extremely engrossed in whatever he was reading, so she remained standing where she was as the show continued. Act by act the show was beginning to wrap up with Quinn acting as the MC for the night. Quinn came to the stage to introduce one last act.

"Thank you very much. Let's hear it again one more time for Tina and her tap dancing toes!"

The audience roared with applause.

"Now I hope you are all prepared for this, we've got a special treat tonight for our final performance. Some of you may know her as the head hancho, the face of Fuwele…"

Olivia gasped loudly. Quinn couldn't be talking about her. She never agreed to this. She hadn't performed in twenty years. She had never even talked to Quinn about her musical past.

"Please give a warm welcome to Fuwele's very own Olivia Pope!" Quinn cheered. The entire audience turned to look at Olivia. Olivia stood in shock. She was like a deer in headlights. She felt her chest caving in from the attention of the audience. And just as quick as a startled deer, Olivia bolted. Fitz watched the commotion unfold from his corner table.

"Liv?" Fitz called out and got out of his chair running after her through the resort's courtyard. "Liv, wait up!"

He sprinted around her eventually blocking her path outside the main entrance of the resort and grabbing her by the shoulders.

"What's wrong?" he panted, trying to catch his breath.

"Who the hell signed me up? I don't even sing anymore!" Olivia seethed.

"But you love singing," Fitz persisted. Olivia grabbed his wrists and flung them off his shoulders.

"It was you!" She pointed an angry finger at Fitz. "I should have known it was you who signed me up. Fitz, I don't do that anymore. Now I made a fool of myself in front of all my staff and guests…Why don't you just leave me alone?"

"I can't," Fitz uttered. "You don't have to make a fool out of yourself. They're all still there. You can wow them with your talent Livvie."

Liv didn't respond.

"Livvie, you have a gift, an amazing voice."

She started to back away from him.

"Fitz, I haven't performed in years." She sounded like she was trying to stifle a cry.

"You're just nervous," he observed.

Fitz slowly and delicately reached out toward Liv. As much as she wanted to pull back she stayed as she was.

"Here," Fitz said, grabbing Olivia's hands. "Close your eyes."

"Fitz we're not-"

"Close your eyes," he repeated, and she followed at his insistence.

"Ok good. Now follow my voice. In 2, 3, 4; hold 2, 3, 4; out 2, 3, 4. In 2, 3, 4; hold 2, 3, 4; out 2, 3, 4." She followed Fitz's instruction, completing the breathing exercises that she herself used to use when she was younger. She felt herself calm down, letting go of all the tension and the fear she had built up.

"Better?" She heard him ask.

"Much." She slowly opened her eyes, and for the first time in over twenty years, gave Fitz a true, warm smile. She looked up into his eyes and as doe brown met piercing blue, Olivia felt her heart do a little leap within her chest.

No! She couldn't let herself fall for his tricks again. She was young and foolish when she fell for him the first time, now she would just be foolish. She let go of his hands and stared back at the ground. They heard rustling coming near them.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Raya asked coming out of the entrance with Zeke, Jake, Abby and Stephen following her.

"Yeah, I'm good, honey. Is everyone still there?"

"Yep, we're all waiting for you," Abby replied.

"Good, I'll be right there."

They walked back to the show with Olivia feeling more confident to perform. Fitz took to the side of the stage so he would be more visible to Liv, just in case she needed him. Olivia took her place on the stage and sat by the piano. She took another deep breath for four seconds and looked at Fitz who was standing by the stage already beaming full of pride. They briefly made eye contact, and then Olivia turned to the keys and began to play.

A/N: I'm sorry I know it's been a while, but things have been a bit crazy with work. I've almost finished writing the full rough draft of the story, so I'll be uploading all the chapters I already have written on a regularly frequent basis. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, we have an adult Liv starting to warm up a little more, and we'll have more flashbacks in the next three chapters that address what happened between Olivia and Fitz in their past, and why Olivia ran away. I'm excited to share the next few chapter with you all. I feel like the story will really start to pick up now.