Hey ya'll! So here's the next chapter in the story. Sorry for such long breaks in between posting chapters. Hope ya'll like it! XO

Olivia sat at her desk looking over the enhanced reactor mock-ups and release statement for the press. She had decided to trust Fitz and go with his plan to launch the enhanced reactor first. Harrison was aware of the change in plans but she had yet to tell Abby and Huck. She knew that Huck would go along with whatever she decided but she worried that Abby would make a fuss.

"So what do you think?" Harrison asked as he breezed into Olivia's office.

"They're good," Olivia said with a smile.

A huge grin spread across Harrison's face as he settled into one of the chairs in front of Olivia's desk. "So…have you told Huck and Abby yet?"

Olivia's brow furrowed at the question. "Not yet," she said with a sigh.

"Well get ready. I passed Abby on my way up and she said that she was coming to see you."

Olivia tugged her bottom lip between her teeth. She wasn't quite ready to go at it with Abby. Olivia looked Harrison in the eyes. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing, Harrison?"

Harrison didn't respond right away but stared intently at Olivia. Finally he spoke, "You're the boss, Liv. I support you 110%. You obviously have a good reason for waiting to launch the harness."

As always Harrison had her back. Olivia couldn't remember a time when he didn't.

"Hey Liv," Abby said as she breezed into the office her red hair flowing behind her. "I wanted to check on how things were coming with the harness. Have you talked to Grant yet? When do we launch?"

"Look at the time," Harrison said glancing at his watch. "I have that thing...I'll talk to you ladies later," he said then hurried out of the office.

"Well," Abby said fixing her expectant gaze on Olivia.

"Have a seat, Abby," Olivia said pointing to one of chairs in front of her desk.

Abby sighed. "Why, Liv? What's going on?"

"Abby please…just sit. We need to talk."

Abby's hands immediately flew to her hips. "You talked to Grant about the reactor and he wants to wait to launch it. Am I right?"

"Abby…"

"I knew it. I knew Grant would fuck this up for us!"

"Abby that's not true," Olivia said. "Please sit down and I'll explain my decision to you."

"Hey guys," Huck said as he entered Olivia's office.

"Oh, hey, Huck. You're just in time," Abby said her voice laces with sugar sweet sarcasm.

"In time for what?" Huck asked his face mired in confusion.

"In time for Liv to explain why we're not launching the reactor first."

Huck looked at Olivia his eyes crinkling slightly at the corners.

Olivia looked at Huck her eyes pleading with him to be patient and hear her out.

Huck walked over and sat down in one of the chairs in front of Olivia's desk. He didn't say anything. He just stared at Olivia patiently waiting for her to explain.

Relieved, Olivia trained her gaze back on Abby. She could tell that Abby was livid and ready for a fight. Olivia squared her shoulders and addressed Abby. Her voice was low and calm. "Abby, please sit and hear me out. Please."

Abby stood in place her lips pursed and her ice green eyes shooting daggers at Olivia. "Fine," she said then plopped down into the empty chair next to Huck. She folded her arms tightly across her chest and fixed her steely gaze on Olivia.

Olivia sighed then sat down behind her desk. "You're right, Abby, we're pushing the launch of the harness. We'll launch the enhanced reactor first…"

"Why?" Abby interrupted.

"Because financially it makes sense."

"How?"

"Well if we launch he harness first that is all anyone will want. No one will care about the enhanced reactor and we'll lose out on a ton of profit."

Olivia watched Abby closely trying to determine if Abby was buying what she was saying. It was hard to tell as Abby sat there her face a hard mask. After several seconds there was a crack in her hard armor as Abby uncrossed her arms and lowered them to her lap.

"Fine. I get what you're saying. It makes sense but, Liv, we cannot sit on the harness for too long. In fact, there has to be some way to get it out sooner rather than later - maybe through some sort of harness and enhanced reactor package. I don't know. One things certain, though. We have to get it out soon." Abby hit Olivia with a pointed look, stood, then turned and walked out of the office.

Huck stood but didn't leave. "I support you with whatever you want to do, Liv. But Abby's right. We can't sit on the harness for too long.

It had been a long and tiring day and Olivia was more than happy when Fitz surprised her with tickets to see his favorite jazz band that was playing at the outdoor amphitheater just outside of the city. Fitz had planned the entire evening complete with blankets, a picnic dinner, and two bottles of her favorite wine.

They had found a spot close to the stage and were cuddled together. Olivia was wrapped in Fitz's arms her head leaning against his chest as they enjoyed the music. Olivia was on her fourth glass of wine and her bladder was feeling the effects of them.

Olivia smiled up at Fitz and placed a quick kiss on the tip of his chin. "I have to go to the ladies. I'll be right back."

"Okay," Fitz said. "I'll be right here."

Olivia was practically skipping as she made her way to the cement structure that was the bathrooms.

"Olivia Carolyn Pope," came a stern hard voice from behind her.

Olivia's heart jump and nearly got caught in her throat at the sound of her grandfather's voice. What was he doing here out in the middle of nowhere at a jazz concert? Slowly she turned around to face him. He stood there his hands folded stiffly in front of him as he stared at her his eyes hard and full of judgment.

"Hello, Grandfather," Olivia said her voice small and barely audible.

Rowan stared at her his eyes hard and his lips pursed. "So this is what you've been up to. I give you a legacy to take care of and build on and you're out here frolicking around with some spoiled little rich boy! Must you disappoint me at every turn, Olivia?"

As always her grandfather's harsh words were a slap in the face. Would there ever be a time when he would have a kind word for her? Would there ever be a time when he looked at her with pride instead of disdain? After all this time Olivia still craved his approval – his love. In fact, in this very moment there was nothing she wanted more than her grandfather's approval. Before she realized what she was doing her lips were moving and words she shouldn't be speaking came spilling out.

"I have been working - harder than you know. My team and I have made a discovery so big the science world will be talking about us for an eternity."

"Is that so?" Rowan said his voice laced with sarcasm and disbelief.

"Yes, Olivia said and tilted her chin defiantly.

"Well…dazzle me," Rowan said a challenging glint in his eyes.

Olivia's heart was pounding. She knew that once she revealed the harness to her grandfather there would be no turning back. She would have to launch the harness right away. He wouldn't care about her need to wait no matter how much sense it made financially. He had always been in the business of science for the recognition not the money. Having his name forever linked to a new discovery or invention mean more to Rowan than all the money in the world.

"Olivia?" Rowan said expectantly. He was becoming impatient.

Olivia swallowed the hard lump that had formed in her throat. "We've invented a contraption that harnesses thermonuclear power."

Mocking laughter spilled from Rowan as he started at Olivia in disbelief. "You're telling me that your team figured out how to harness thermonuclear power?"

Olivia straightened confidently in her stance and looked her grandfather in the eyes. "Yes, that's what I'm telling you," she said.

Rowan's eyes narrowed to slits as he watched Olivia his gaze assessing. He seemed unsure of whether to believe her. "If you have, in fact, figured out how to harness thermonuclear power why haven't you went public with your discovery? What are you waiting for?"

Rowan continued before Olivia could answer. "Let me guess. Your little boy-toy has talked you into waiting to launch it - and all for financial gain. Am I right?"

Olivia said nothing she refused to admit that her grandfather was right. But it didn't matter her silence told Rowan everything he needed to know.

Rowan shook his head in disbelief. "Why am I not surprised. Once again you are allowing some man to dictate your success. First with that awful Edison Davis character and now it's the spoiled little rich-boy who only cares about the bottom line. C'mon Olivia! Have I taught you nothing?"

"You're wrong!" Olivia shouted.

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are."

Rowan stepped closer to Olivia closing the distance between them and filling it with more tension that Olivia could handle. She was trying to be tough but it was so hard when it came to her grandfather.

"So you're launching the harness right away then?"

Olivia inhaled deeply, slowly. She was trying to calm her nerves and steady her voice before speaking. "Yes, we are. The harness will be the first product launch of the merger."

An intense feeling of dread filled Olivia as soon as the words fell from her lips. She and Fitz had agreed to wait to launch the harness and now she would have to go back on her word.

"Olivia," Rowan said his voice breaking into her thoughts.

"Yes."

"You've made your grandfather very happy today. To know that my flesh and blood and her team have made such a discovery is just...for once I have no words."

Olivia was filled with an overwhelming sense of pride. In all of her years this was the first time her grandfather had ever told her he was proud of her. Olivia had waited her whole life to hear him utter those words and there was no way she was going to have him regret saying them. She would continue to make him proud no matter what - even if that means going against Fitz's wishes.

Olivia was numb as she made her way back to Fitz. Even the greeting of his warm smile couldn't thaw her.

"You were gone quite a while. I was just about to go look for you." Fitz said.

"Long line for the bathroom," Olivia lied as she sat down on the blanket.

"Why are you way over there?" Fitz asked his smile crooked.

Olivia was so lost in thought that she hadn't realized that she sat down on the opposite side of the blanket.

"Get over here," Fitz playfully demanded and pulled her onto his lap. He planted soft kisses along her temple as she settled her back against his chest. Fitz wrapped his arms around her and Olivia snuggled deep into his embrace.

She tried to relax – to enjoy the music but the conversation between her and her grandfather played over and over in her mind. She was moving forward with the launch of the harness that was a fact. She also knew that Fitz wouldn't be happy about it. In fact, he would most likely be livid. She just hoped that whatever happened their relationship would survive.