Chapter 2

"Liv, you have a call on line two" her assistant speaks through the intercom in the office. Liv wasn't really busy at the moment. She had just finished a meeting with a woman running for mayor in Las Vegas. It's the first out of state client she has had. It's also the first one she is running head of. Cyrus didn't believe the woman could win or even deserved to be Mayor. Obviously Olivia disagreed, saying she just needed the right team of people to work with, that this race was in the bag for the woman. While Cyrus doesn't agree, he still lets her take on the job, letting her know she can assemble her own group of people to do everything necessary but he wants to be kept up to date on everything going on.

Leading her train of thought to the phone, she answers, "Hello, Olivia Pope speaking."

"Liv, how are you?" As soon as she recognizes the person on the phone she places her papers down and beams.

"I'm good. Are you checking up on me?" Switching the phone from one ear to another, she faces towards the window behind her.

"I haven't heard from you since yesterday. Wanted to make sure Cy wasn't working you too hard." Fitz had always called to check on Cy, saying he was the reason that Cyrus was able to start the firm she was working at now. After all Grant was his first client.

"That's the only way I know how to work."

"Well I love that. When I come back we should go to my cabin and stay there for the weekend. You need a break." He has been asking her to that cabin for the longest. She had only gone one time before and even then she didn't fully get to enjoy herself. She and Fitz were both busy working.

"I have a new client that I'm just starting on I don't think I can be taking any vacations."

"You work so hard Liv. Why don't you enjoy having fun?"

"I do, I just don't see why it has to be the entire weekend. I can take a night off."

"I guess I'll have to take that offer then."

"It's not a bad thing." There is a beat before she speaks. "I can't wait until you come back. I wish you were here with me right now." She has moved from the desk and is now sitting on the small couch that's positioned against the wall, sitting on one of her bent legs.

"Me too, I know you have been dying to tell someone."

"Just my closest friends. I feel weird keeping this from them."

"It's only until I come back. I wanted to ask you before I left so I wouldn't cower when I came home."

"You were scared?" She doesn't believe it.

"I thought you might say no." The thought had crossed her mind once when he asked but here was a man who loved her dearly and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. Why should she say no?

"I didn't." There's a pause. Then she changes the subject. "I have been spending a lot of time with Mells and Cy. I don't think they want you to come back yet."

"As soon as I come back you tell Mellie and Cyrus that I'm going to spend so much time with my fiancé that even California will start to get tired of you."

"I thought we weren't going to tell the public yet. Just friends and family."

"I want to tell the whole world that I'm in love with Olivia Pope."

"Yeah I don't know what I was waiting for. You can call your friends and we can have a dinner to let them know first of course." Liv looks up to see Abby standing in her doorway with a stack of folders, motioning to them. Nodding her head she gestures for her to come in until she is finished on the phone.

"I love you." Liv says ready to get back to work. She can hear the smile in his voice as he answers.

"I know you do."

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Sleeping on the couch wasn't as bad as Jake thought it was going to be. It had been nice to sleep in a comfortable place. The bunks at the Navy weren't uncomfortable; it just didn't feel like a home. He has been staring at the ceiling since dawn, listening to the silence of the morning. He didn't know exactly what time Stephen had come home but he knew the sun was just starting to rise.

He wondered how the lawyer could party all night and work all day. Sure enough, he had to be taken some type of power naps here and there. Though, Jake admired the life Stephen lived. If he would have stayed in law school, he assumed this would be his life. Except the messy home and sleeping with escorts every night. But he didn't really judge Stephen for his vices. It made him fun to hang out with whenever he came to town. To have a little fun and then head out a few days later back to where ever he was stationed.

Now that Jake was going to be back in town for an indefinite amount of time, he had to start to build a career with his Navy background, buy a place, and a car. It was his time to live his life. So while he did appreciate the fact that Stephen would let him stay on his couch he didn't want to stay there forever.

If they were still roommates in college this would be perfect, because they had a system, but now things were different, they were older. When Stephen had spoke to him after they graduated college, he was surprised to find out that Jake had dropped out of law school and was going into the Navy. Jake speculated on why Stephen hadn't gone to the same law school as him but he realized that maybe his choice was the better choice for him. Jake had ended up leaving California to go to law school at Yale.

Stephen had done well in the school and ended up getting an associates job at some small firm. Then he had got a job working for a Cyrus Beene who was supposed to be a fantastic lawyer. He was the same guy who had also given a job to Liv. Thinking of her his heart can't help but to skip a beat.

It has been five months since he has spoken to her, but it has been two years since he's seen her. It's not rare for him to think about her. He does it quite often actually. He feels guilty that he has not given her a call. After all he had made her a promise, one that he plans to keep. His thoughts continue thinking about the brunette lawyer, when he hears a door open and feet slide into the living room.

"Please don't tell me you've been staring at the ceiling all morning?" He looks groggy and it makes Jake laugh because he has been doing that for the last few hours. "When you get up, you are allowed to walk around. Even turn on the TV."

Stephen sits on the chair opposite him, and closes his eyes when he sits back. "I didn't want to wake you. Sounds like you came in quite early or really late."

"Was working late this time." Jake can't help but to observe the man, and he thinks he might be falling asleep on the couch before him.

"Not mixing work and play are we?" His voice booms louder than he expects causing Stephen to stand up and start to the kitchen.

"Not this time. Cyrus has a lot of clientele he wants taken care of." The disassembled man in the kitchen gets out the coffee pot and fills it up with water. "You want some."

"Sure." Jake swings his feet to the floor and runs his hands through his hair. The lawyer takes notice of the action knowing it only meant one thing.

"So what were you thinking about?"

Lying seamlessly he answers, "Nothing."

"Don't give me that shit. You use to sleep in the same dorm as me. I know you're hard to read to other people but to me you're still as open as a book."

"Alright, I was just thinking you're still a disgusting little shit. Do you know how to clean?"

"Ha ha." Jake's now making his way into the kitchen and grabs a seat at the dinner table. "Are you going to tell me what you were really thinking about? You know what; I can tell you what you were thinking about."

Eyebrows raised he stares at the man who is finally waking up at the smell of the coffee, "Really? Now you're a mind reader on top of being a lawyer?"

"Not a mind reader but I know you. I know you haven't been here in two years and I know that's the last time you saw her."

"I don't know what you are talking about." Again he lies, amazed at how fast it stemmed from his lips.

"Don't be an ass Jake. She's your best friend and you've been thinking about her."

"Who Liv?"

His face reads 'yeah smart ass' but other words leave his mouth instead, "Yeah Liv."

"Is that bad? I can't wonder how she's doing. I mean she is my friend."He pauses for a minute then speaks again, "Are she and Fitz still dating?"

"Yeah man. They are going strong. They live together now."

"He's a nice guy right?" Stephen can't help but to side eye his friend as he gives him a few questions to answer about their mutual friend.

"Personally I like him. As a politician I wouldn't share a drink with him." Stephen sips his coffee while leaning on the counter.

"That's good for her."

He is filling up his mug with a bit more coffee when the word leaves his mouth, "Really?"

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be happy that my best friend's happy?"

"I don't know."

"What now?"

"It's nothing. I just never understood how you could actually talk to her but yet it seems like you two talk about nothing. Also, the fact that you have completely avoided seeing her for the last two years has boggled my mind."

"I didn't avoid her."

"I know that's a crock of shit but I won't pry."

"I have talked to Liv since I left, plenty of times." This he isn't lying about. He has spoken to her in his absence but it always feels like they don't talk about much or they aren't really saying anything.

"Quick five minute calls every five months, please. You've been evading her and I'm sure you will tell me when you're ready." Stephen pours Jake a cup of coffee, then turns to dump his coffee out.

"There's nothing to tell." Stephen rolls his eyes not believing a word coming from him. "Can we talk about how your life's going? I walked in here yesterday to a half naked escort."

Knowing immediately who Jake is talking about Stephen waves it off, "Oh Sheila, She's a sweetheart."

"I found that out, too. How's this whole being a lawyer thing going for you?"

"It's not bad. A few rough patches here and there but working at Cyrus' firm is good. You should come see my cubicle. Lots of space to do activities and such." He can hear the sarcasm in his voice.

Laughing he shies away from the idea, "I don't know man."

"If you're worried about seeing Liv, don't worry. She won't be there today, she's off."

"I wasn't worried about…" he can't finish his sentence before he is cut off.

"That means you can come by at 4. I should be getting off and we can grab a beer."

"Sounds good."

"You have any other plans for today?"

"I have to stop by the base for a few interviews but I should be finished by 3. That's enough time for me to get there." Stephen nods disappearing into his room, leaving Jake to finish the rest of his morning coffee.