A/N: I hope you are all ready for an exciting chapter. This was by far my favorite chapter to write of this story. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Chapter 12

***Summer 2019***

Olivia needed some fresh air to clear her head upon reading on Fitz's post-retirement activism. She didn't want to say she was proud of him, she didn't want to say she felt anything regarding him. Her daughter's wedding was tomorrow, and there was already so much on her mind, she didn't need Fitz to be on it also. She walked out to one of the docks on the beach to give her head a clear space to think, but was surprised to see a dark figure standing there also, looking at the sky.

"Stephen?"

Stephen turned around and cheerfully smiled at Liv.

"What are you doing out here?" Olivia asked. Stephen looked back up at the sky.

"Nothing really, I just came out here to look at the stars. You don't get a view quite like this very often," Stephen mused. "Anyway I heard reports about a meteor show that was supposed to happen tonight. It was suppose to be visible from all over the island, but I guess that's not happening now…"

Olivia smiled back at Stephen. Through it all, Stephen was a pretty good friend. The only reason why she tried to avoid him the past couple of days, was because she felt guilty near him after their final encounter in LA where she then upped and left, moving to Zanzibar.

"So I hear you're getting along with Abby quite well?" Olivia walked closer, crossing her arms.

"Yeah, why didn't she visit LA during that summer? If she had, I probably wouldn't have stayed hung up on you like I did," Stephen chuckled, but heard Olivia take in a sharp breath.

"Stephen, I want to talk to you about that…"

"Oh," was all Stephen could reply. He was nervous on what Olivia wanted to talk about. He realized this discussion would be on what happened 23 years ago, but he didn't know how this conversation would proceed. It was a bit of a sore subject for him as well, but something that he thought may have been long overdue.

"I'm really sorry," Olivia apologized, "for how I treated you. It was wrong of me, and I was so young and dumb at the time that-"

"Wait, what? Why are you apologizing?" Stephen asked perplexed.

"That night, 23 years ago, before I moved and came out here, when we… I just I feel like I used you and then I left and-"

"Oh my god, Olivia," Stephen brushed his hands through his hair, blushing at her apology. "You do not have to apologize to me, if anything I think I need to be the one apologizing to you."

"What?" she asked, being the one now perplexed and surprised.

"I knew where your feelings for me were, you made them very clear, but I still persisted. And then when I saw you heartbroken and vulnerable, I knew you weren't in the right headspace, but I-I took advantage of that. I've felt guilty about it ever since for making you leave. I've wanted to apologize all these years, because I knew it was wrong of me. And I am so sorry Olivia. I should apologize to you, you don't have to apologize to me."

"Stephen, you didn't make me leave, it was a collection of different things…you had done so much for me that summer, and I'll never forget it. But I left, and I didn't even give you an explanation let alone a goodbye after all the nice things you've done for me. You at least deserved that much, but I didn't tell you anything, and I'm sorry for that."

"That's alright, Olivia, I've forgiven you a long time ago," Stephen shifted his feet slightly coming closer to Olivia.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?" he asked her quizzically.

"That," she gestured by just pointing to him all in general, "how are you able to just forgive me after everything?" Olivia was fascinated by Stephen's naturally laid back and easygoing behavior. For years she felt guilt anytime she thought of him. She thought she had been the one who had taken advantage and then abandoned him, but as it turned out he had forgiven her for leaving without saying goobye.

"Well, because I love you, Olivia," Stephen said bluntly, "not like that, but I love you as a friend. You were my best friend during that time. We ere like two peas in a pod," Stephen reminisced on their forgotten friendship. "I made a mistake by kissing you that night when I knew I shouldn't have. And you forgive me for that right?"

"Well yeah," Olivia supposed she did. She was never really mad at Stephen to begin with but moreso mad at herself.

"And why was that?"

"Because I love you as a friend too Stephen," Olivia whispered softly, beginning to comprehend the lesson of life that was coming her way.

"You see, love allows for forgiveness. It's something my mother used to say," Stephen stated simply before walking toward the beach again, "well I better get ready for bed, it's starting to get late. Goodnight Olivia!"

"Goodnight Stephen!" Olivia called out. "And Stephen?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for just everything…" she watched Stephen smile as he made his way toward the villas.

Olivia was left with Stephen's words ringing in her ears, "love allows for forgiveness." Was that true? Could she forgive Fitz? Did she still even love him? For over twenty years she used every fiber in her body to convince herself that she hated him. After so long it had just become exhausting. She missed the Fitz that she fell in love with, but she had been tricked into thinking he the Fitz she fell in love with never even existed, but was just a façade. Through the years, she was certain he was long gone as part of Big Gerry's plan to replace his charming and caring son with a power-hungry politician. But now here Fitz was, encouraging her at the talent show and supporting her daughter, just like her old Fitz. Had it taken 23, 20, or hell even 15 years ago for the old Fitz to show up, she would have welcomed him back with open arms. She had dreams about it during her first few years on Zanzibar. And now she was acting like Fitz was a nightmare and punishing him, and he was tolerating her, and he didn't deserve that Olivia concluded. At the very least he deserved some forgiveness and not to be punished for something that happened 23 years ago. After a few more deep breaths Olivia left the dock and went to the boathouse.

Olivia crept toward the boathouse just to check on how Fitz was, but was surprised to see a hint of light coming from inside the shed. Olivia swung open the door, startling Fitz. She was surprised to see him lying on the floor with a notebook in front of him, reading, and using his phone as a flashlight.

"Fitz, what are you doing? It's nearly two in the morning?"

"Working," he stated, not even bothering to look up.

"In the dark?"

"Yeah, the light's broken."

Fitz heard Olivia's footsteps coming in and he closed his notebook quickly, tucking it under suitcase. He looked up at her, and she seemed different, a little warmer it seemed. He noticed she had a slight natural smile to her face, nothing that was forced.

"How about you stay in my room for tonight? You don't have to stay here."

"Really, Liv? I don't want to intrude…" he muttered.

"Really, it's fine," Olivia helped him off the floor, "you need to shower anyways, you reek like fish."

"Part of the boathouse experience," Fitz grinned.

"Well leave that experience here, because it's not coming to my room."

Fitz left his luggage in the boathouse shack, seeing as the scent of the boathouse had rubbed off on his suitcase and pretty much all his clothing, and followed Olivia to her cottage. He stepped inside and observed. It was different than the other ones. This one was made more to feel like a home, which made sense since she lived there full time. It had a kitchen area with a dining table followed by a small hall that had a bathroom and bedroom at the other end. The walls were painted neutral colors with nothing too extravagant or fancy.

"I like your place, it's very…you," Fitz chimed.

"Thanks," Olivia smiled back shyly. "The bathroom is down the hall to the left. There's a closet in the bathroom with a washing machine that you can use for your clothes, if you want."

"Uh thanks," he said, slightly startled by her generosity.

"I think I have some clothes you can wear, I'll check," Olivia said as she waltzed into her room.

Fitz went into the bathroom and undressed. It dawned on him just how unhygienic he's been since coming to the resort. Between swimming and playing tennis, and running through the woods, he really needed to shower; Liv was right. He stepped in the shower and washed off all the grime from the past couple of days, allowing himself an appropriate amount of time just relax in the shower with the warm water running down his back.

Olivia watched Fitz come out of the bathroom with a towel tied dangerously low on his hips. She felt her heart beat a little faster, seeing Fitz in just a towel. She quickly flinched trying to get her mind away from any kind of dirty thoughts. Sure she was allowing him to stay in her room, and she was trying to forgive him, but that was different from wanting him, and she did not want him.

"Here you go," she handed him a navy t-shirt and a pair of boxers.

"Are these mine?" Fitz thought they looked familiar, and was pretty sure they were his. He wouldn't tell her out loud, but secretly his heart was doing flips over the thought that she had taken his clothes and brought his clothes with her and kept them all these years.

"Yes, they are. I think they should still fit," she answered nonchalantly, acting like having his clothes was not a big deal at all.

"Thank you, Livvie," he said, going back into the bathroom.

Feeling tired from all of the emotions of today, and dreading the big day of her daughter's wedding tomorrow, Olivia crawled into bed. No more than about a minute later, Fitz came back out with his newly returned pajamas. He turned off the lights and took a spot on the floor by the foot of Olivia's bed.

"Fitz, what are you doing?"

"Oh…" Fitz popped his head up. "I thought that you wouldn't want-"

"Fitz, you're over fifty, you shouldn't have to sleep on the floor." Olivia was somewhat sarcastic, but also somewhat sincere. She recognized that they were no longer the young couple that they were in LA.

"I'm not sure if I should be insulted by that or not. In fact, just to prove you wrong, maybe I'll stay down here," Fitz teased.

"If that's what you want."

Fitz also recognized that he was no longer the young thirty year old that could have endured several nights on the floor. He was already feeling sore after his couple of days in the boathouse. Fitz got up from the floor and went to the side of the bed, slightly afraid to actually get in. Olivia shuffled further onto her side to create a bigger distance between them. Reluctantly Fitz pulled open the covers and crawled in.

Fitz stayed on his back breathing rather deeply trying not to think about the fact that he was sharing a bed right now with the love of his life. He needed to focus, he needed to sleep, and not let his mind go there. He turned his head and looked at Olivia. She was as far on the other end of the bed as she could be with her back turned away from him. Fitz let out a deep breath and tried to close his eyes. Clearly nothing was going to happen. It was just going to be a painfully awkward night.

Olivia curled herself up in a ball on the other side of the bed. She felt completely overwhelmed. Yes, there was the fact that Fitz was back in her life, and currently back in her bed. But then there was also the fact that tomorrow her little girl was getting married. Her whole life on Zanzibar had revolved around her daughter. Olivia didn't know what would happen now that she was all grown up. She didn't know who she was, or what she would do outside of the resort. What does one do when the only person in your life grows up? Her identity had been a resort owner and a mother, and she felt she was about to lose half of herself tomorrow. For the first time since she first arrived on the island, she felt alone.

"Livvie, are you okay?" she heard Fitz whisper. She reached up for her face and realized she was crying. She didn't realize she had even started, and was ashamed to be seen in this light in front of Fitz.

"I'm fine," she whimpered. "I'm sorry for waking you up, go back to sleep."

"Livvie, what's wrong?" Fitz turned toward her and lightly placed a hand on her upper arm. "You can talk to me."

"No, I can't," she sniffled, hurting Fitz's attempts to try and console her.

"We can do some breathing?" Fitz suggested. "Close your eyes and in-"

Olivia turned over, taking Fitz out of his counting.

"No Fitz, I don't need breathing exercises. My daughter is getting married tomorrow. She's growing up into an adult. And I don't know what I'm going to do after. I need…I need…"

"What do you need?" he asked.

"I don't know," Olivia cried. Fitz opened up his arms.

"Come here."

"No, Fitz."

"No funny business," Fitz promised, "I just think you want to be held."

Olivia sighed and shimmied her way to the center of the bed into Fitz's arms. She felt him wrap around her. She began calming down as she felt his hands rubbing smooth, caring circles around her back. She eased into his body so naturally, the feeling so distant yet so familiar like a memory. It was like she never left, like this was the way it had always been and was supposed to be. It was the way the things were supposed to me. Oh, Olivia thought, this whole thing was bullshit.

"I just…" Olivia mumbled, just under a whisper so quiet even Fitz had almost missed it.

"Hmm?"

"I just…I need tonight…" she whispered, and lifted her head, looking at him. Fitz bent his head and leaned down slowly, allowing Olivia to capture his lips first.

The kiss was slow and desperate, steadily turning more intense. Fitz was cautious, unsure of what he should be doing, but Olivia wanted more. She kissed along his jaw line and made her way down to his Adam's apple, while he tickled the tops of her ears.

"Liv?" Fitz lightly moaned, taken aback by the sucking sensation on his neck.

"Please?" Olivia asked, snaking her hand underneath his shirt. Fitz felt a stirring in his pants as her hands traced over his abs.

"O-Okay," he stammered and lifted his arms so Olivia could take him out of his shirt with ease. Olivia pulled the shirt over his head. Olivia stopped noticing the bruise on his chest, which was now becoming noticeably purple and deep. She places several kisses over it and felt Fitz jerk.

"I'm sorry if I hurt you," she pleaded.

"No, it actually feels a lot better," he smiled, closing his eyes and letting himself absorb the pleasure of feeling Olivia kiss him up and down his chest and neck. He felt the friction of his member rubbing against the cloth of his boxers and knew he had to control himself. Luckily Olivia stopped right there after peppering him with kisses along his torse and laid down, dipping her head into the crook of his neck.

"I missed you, Livvie," he said, leaning in and kissing her. She pulled out of his lips.

"Really?"

"Mmhhmmmm," he groaned, as one of her hands traced down his front.

"I can tell," she stopped her hand just above his waistband where his excitement was clear for all to see.

"Olivia, maybe we shouldn't," he said biting his lip and trying to use all his strength to get himself to calm down. He immediately saw the hurt in her eyes, and wanted to ensure her that it had nothing to do with her.

"It's not you Liv, it's just…its just that…it's just...it's been awhile for me…a-a-and," he mumbled embarrassed.

"Oh Fitz," Olivia sighed, "how long has it been?" Her hand caressed him through his boxers, making his hips jolt.

"Livvie, do you really want to talk about this?"

"Come on Fitz. You don't expect me to believe it's been since '96. You've had kids with her," she said in reference to Mellie, "I'm not an idiot. What? Has it been since the divorce?"

"Since well before the divorce," Fitz let out another groan, feeling Liv's hand go slowly over him against his boxers again. The feeling of the friction from the cloth was immensely satisfying; he could feel precum soaking through the fabric as Olivia's hand kept swiping against him, side to side, up and down, massaging the area.

"How long?"

"I don't know. It's not important," he uttered, practically shaking to try and keep himself from cumming. He felt Olivia grab him through his boxers and he let out a cry of pleasure, he couldn't hold on much longer.

F-f-five! Five years, probably! Maybe a little more," he admitted. Olivia let go and he let out a sigh of relief as he managed to hold on a little longer than he thought he would.

"Five years?" Olivia asked.

"Five years," Fitz confirmed letting out a breath, "but I…never let her touch me…I couldn't let anyone else. I don't know if it was to respect you or just torture myself. So it's really been awhile since anyone…had…done…anything…" Fitz confessed turning red at his reveal.

Olivia looked down at Fitz's boxers, eyeing the massive tent that was pulsing through the fabric. She felt sorry for him. She knew he never actually loved Mellie and was trapped into that loveless marriage. While she had her share of escapades over the island, she was certain Fitz had endured a rather sad love life.

"So she never found the on-switch?"

"The what?" Fitz's looked at her as though she was crazy.

"The on switch," Olivia reiterated, "may I?"

She reached her hand inside of his waistband; Fitz squirmed feeling himself get worked up again. Olivia's hand stroked him quickly, making his fists clench at his sides. He had forgotten how much ecstasy sex could be.

"Livvie!...ohhh," he moaned, feeling his fully erect self pulse in her hands. He began to buck his hips going with her strokes. He wasn't sure what she was doing, but it felt heavenly. Olivia reached under and fondled him in her hands. He lost his breath at the feeling.

"The on switch it right around here," Olivia clarified, grazing her nails against the underside of his sac. Fitz felt all of his muscles spasm at the feeling of her nails on him and before he could give her any warning, came hard right there with a loud grunt.

"Better?" she asked with a glow in her eyes.

"Much," he replied weakly.

Fitz threw his head back on his pillow to try and get his breathing back to normal. He felt Olivia take off his boxers.

"I'm sorry," he muttered.

"It's fine, these are yours anyways," she reminded him. "We'll put these in the wash too." She walked out of the bedroom to go to the bathroom and throw his clothes in and wash her hands.

Olivia came back to a still-panting Fitzgerald Thomas Grant, laying on his back, now completely naked and exposed to her. She got onto her side and closed her eyes to fall asleep.

"No," Fitz declared.

"What?" she turned to him.

"You're not going to sleep yet. Not until I…"

"Until you what?" she challenged him.

Whatever shyness Fitz felt when they started went completely out the window. Fitz kissed her vigorously, one hand running through her hair while the other into her shorts to massage her ass. Olivia moaned as Fitz's hand traveled up and around to one breast while he kissed his way down to the other.

"Oh Fitz!" she moaned far too loudly. He poked his head up and lowered one of his hands further down, taking her lips into his mouth again while his thumb massaged her bundle of nerves.

Olivia felt her nerves working up and her breathing hitch. God she missed this. Not this, she missed him. She could feel her orgasm coming, but wanted to stop it.

"Wait, kiss it!" she commanded.

Fitz didn't need any more instruction he ducked his head under the covers and pulled her panties down. He licked her core, sucking on the nub and flicking it with his tongue. He moved it in a circular motion, hearing Olivia pant and cry out for god. No sooner than thirty seconds later he tasted her juices flowing into his mouth.

Fitz came back up now completely re-aroused after witnessing Olivia's orgasm. He gingerly kissed her shoulders and up her neck.

"Livvie…" he moaned, into her ear, taking hold of her earlobe. Olivia was feeling the butterflies inside of her begin again. She was getting hot and wet once again.

"On your back," she instructed. Fitz complied and went straight onto his back his hands above his head. Olivia straddled his hips, making herself comfortable just above his cock. She felt Fitz's hips jerk as she glided over his member to align herself.

Olivia teased herself with Fitz's tip, generating a series of pleasurable groans from herself. She looked down and saw the hard look on his face, and she knew she had to act soon and couldn't tease much longer. She went down, filling her up perfectly like he always had.

"Need you to move…" Fitz mumbled with a contorted face of pleasure and pain.

"What was that?" Olivia teased.

Fitz grunted and thrusted his hips so hard Olivia saw stars. She followed his rhythm, thrusting slowly but powerfully. Fitz lifted his head just enough to take Olivia's nipple in his mouth, and with one more thrust she was a goner. Feeling her walls close in around his pulsing member as she cried out his name, Fitz threw his head back onto the pillow and released all that was inside him.

Fitz brought Olivia down to lay next to him. They came down from their highs together. The two of them tried to get their breathing back to normal. After a while of silence, it was Fitz who finally spoke.

"So, Zanzibar?" he asked, eying her.

"Someone once told me it was a really great place. I thought it would be a good spot to runaway to," Olivia said emotionless.

"That person probably thought that you'd run away with him," Fitz responded. He didn't sound angry, just hurt, and Olivia understood why. He had suggested they run away together, and in the end she went without him.

"Well that person also couldn't runaway because of other commitments to his career," she said, once again not displaying too much emotion, making it difficult for Fitz to read her.

"I know," he sighed sadly. The moment he walked back into the ballroom to give his speech instead of sorting things out with Olivia, he had committed to choosing power over love, and he was still living with the effects of that.

"Why didn't you come after me?" she whimpered, almost like a little girl feeling alone and scared. Fitz could now tell she was trying not to cry again, and honestly he was trying too.

"I didn't think you wanted me to…"

They paused for another minute, the night surrounding them. Here they were, two people helplessly in love, but afraid to try again, afraid of the hurt that it could once again create.

"I've known you were here for a while actually," Fitz spoke up again.

"Huh?"

"At the clinic earlier, you told me that if I wanted to find you I could have. I did. I've known you've been here for about 15 years. And I wanted to visit you. When you created a website for your resort I checked it out everyday to see what was new and hopefully see a picture of you on the site or something, just so I would know you were happy here."

"Everyday? You did not," Olivia jokingly scoffed.

"I did," Fitz reassured. "But there were never any pictures of you on the website. And I knew you wouldn't want me to visit, not when I was losing myself and turning into Big Gerry…And then my mom got sick, and I was trying to decide between staying in the race or helping her, and I wanted to call you and ask for your advice, but I knew that I couldn't."

Olivia stayed still, silently listening to Fitz as he shared everything on his mind.

"But I realized that I didn't even need to call you, because it was pointless. You already showed me the consequences of choosing power over love, and it's…it's miserable, Livvie." His voice croaked, struggling to hold himself together. He took a deep breath in.

"And so then I dropped, and I thought maybe now I can come and visit you, and maybe you wouldn't be mad at me anymore, after seeing me step away from Presidency and becoming myself again. But then mom died, and I had a lot going on there. And then I realized I couldn't visit you without getting divorced first, so I had to take care of that. The divorce was actually pretty quick and easy. Mellie didn't really care at that point since she was promised the White House and I failed her with my 'weak feelings.'" Fitz swallowed before continuing on.

"But then finally, there I was completely on my own, and I – I didn't know who I even was, Livvie. I had never been in control of my life…I didn't know who I was. And I knew I couldn't come to you as a shell of a person. I didn't even know if you were married or what. So I stayed a little longer to try and become the man I once was, when we first met - but actually no, I tried to become better than him."

"And then you created Music Makes a Difference?" Olivia interrupted his rant. Fitz perked his head up.

"You know about that?"

"You're a pretty public figure, Grant, it's easy to find out this stuff."

"Yeah," Fitz smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry about your mom," Olivia spoke up, "I thought about reaching out after I heard she was sick."

"It's ok, Olivia. You didn't have to. After the way my parents treated you, I don't blame you if you didn't."

"Your mom was nice though," she said, "from what I remember at least."

"Yeah, she was the nicer of the two, but still a partner in crime to Big Gerry," he reasoned.

"What was his reaction when you dropped out of the race?"

Fitz looked at Olivia with a hint of laughter.

"You remember telling me how badly your dad freaked out when you told him you were running off to LA?"

"Yeah," she nodded.

"Take that and multiple it by a hundred! I'm surprised he didn't murder me," Fitz and Olivia both laughed at the image of an irate Gerry, completely red in the face, screaming his head off.

Olivia wiggled a little bit, getting warmer against Fitz's side.

"Livvie?" his tone turned solemn, "Is she mine?"

That was the million-dollar question. The question she was trying to avoid this entire week from all three guys. She took in a deep breath.

"I-I don't know…" she whimpered, immediately clearing her throat.

"I don't know, and I hurt everyday not knowing," she repeated now tearing up again. Fitz wrapped her in his arms and held her tight.

"It's okay, Livvie. I'm not mad," he kissed the top of her head. "You did an excellent job raising her, Olivia. She's a great kid. I love her, no matter what."

Olivia cried slightly harder at Fitz's kind words. Eventually she turned her face up.

"It was her idea to invite you and Jake and Stephen. I had no idea."

"I know," Fitz told her. "I overheard her talking about her little plan with her fiancé. She's just like you, Livvie. Anyway, I know about that, but I don't think Jake and Stephen have really picked up on what's happening."

"Well, Stephen is a little too distracted right now with Abby to do be doing any critical thinking on his invitation and picking up any cues; and Jake, well, he's never been the brightest bulb."

Fitz laughed hysterically at Olivia's mocking of Jake.

"Yeah, I switched his sunscreen with moisturizer the other day," he laughed harder.

"Oh my god! That was because of you!" Olivia was cracking up over Fitz's antics.

"Hey Fitz, about that day," Olivia shifted her tone, "thank you for helping me with my stage fright back there. I appreciate it a lot."

"Of course, Livvie. I-I'm so sorry for what I did. I feel so bad,"

"Fitz, let's not discuss this-" she tried to intervene before this conversation got too heavy.

"I know, I know. But when I heard that you gave up pursuing your dream in music, I felt terrible. I wanted you to go on and become a famous singer or songwriter. And I let my father get into my head that you couldn't be a politician's wife and have career at the same time. I was terrified that I was going to be an obstacle for you achieving your dream, and I wanted to make sure that you did. And then to hear you gave up performing…you never got what you wanted…and there are a lot of things I'm sorry about, but I am the most sorry about that, Livvie."

"It's alright, Fitz. Dreams are sometimes just dreams. You didn't get the White House." She uttered, stifling a yawn.

"The White House wasn't what I wanted…" he muttered as Olivia fell asleep in his arms.

A/N: Ok so good news and bad news. Good news is well this is a good news chapter for our main characters. Bad news is I'll be wrapping up this story somewhat soon. There might be about 2-3 more chapters or so, but still a lot of plot left ahead, so don't worry!