Hey ya'll! I'm super happy that ya'll are sticking with me on this story. I know my updates are taking much longer than ya'll would like but I appreciate the continued support. I hope ya'll like the chapter. Leave comments and let me know what you think. I love hearing from ya'll!

XO

Olivia paced back and forth across the laboratory her six inch stilettos clicking loudly as they made contact with the floor. It was 8am and Olivia had been in the lab over an hour waiting for Abby to arrive. She had phoned Abby at 6am asking her to meet her at the lab at seven and Abby had yet to arrive. Olivia had a feeling that Abby was punishing her for pushing back the launch of the harness.

The door to the lab creaked open and Olivia's head swung in that direction. She expected to see Abby but was surprised when Jake walked in.

"What are you doing here?" Olivia asked her confusion and shock apparent on her face.

"I was passing by and heard an incessant clicking and I was curious as to what it was."

Olivia stared at Jake her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Well how did you get in here? There are only four keys to this lab and none of them were given to you."

"Relax," Jake said his hands up in surrender. The door was cracked open."

Olivia wasn't exactly sure she believed Jake but in her haste she probably did leave the door open. She had to be more careful.

"Well you shouldn't be in here."

"Okay…I'll go but…is everything alright? You seem troubled."

"I'm fine," Olivia said.

Jake moved closer to Olivia and studied her face. "You don't seem fine. You're wearing a hole in the cement floor which is pretty hard to do," Jake said with a chuckle.

Olivia smiled at his attempt at a joke. "I'm fine. Really. You should go."

Jake stared at her still hesitant to leave. He could tell she was clearly worried about something. Jake looked around the lab his gaze sweeping over the tables, cabinets, and finally resting on a large contraption in the back corner of the room. "What's that?" he asked pointing to the harness.

Olivia looked to where he was pointing. "THAT is none of your business," Olivia said giving him a pointed look.

"Well it looks interesting and I'd like to make it my business."

"Well that's too bad Mr. Ballard," Olivia said with a chuckle.

Jake took a few steps closer to Olivia. His lips tilted into a crooked smile. "Oh come on, Liv. You can trust me. What is that thing?"

Olivia laughed. "Even if I thought I could truly trust you I wouldn't tell you what it is. Now hit the door, sir."

Jake pressed his lips together in a pretend pout. "You're no fun," he said. "I'll go but only if you promise to have dinner with me."

"Jake…"

"Oh, come on. I'm a great guy. I'm charming and moderately funny," he said wiggling his eyebrows.

Olivia couldn't help but smile. "Fine. I'll have dinner with you. Now go."

"I'm going to hold you to that," Jake said as he headed towards the door.

Abby breezed through the door just as Jake was walking out.

"Finally!" Olivia exclaimed.

Abby rolled her eyes. "I got here as fast as I could. What's going on, Liv?"

"I want to launch the harness right away," Olivia blurted out.

Abby's mouth formed a perfect "oh" of surprise. She studied Olivia for a moment trying to determine what changed. When they last spoke Olivia had been adamant that they were waiting to launch the harness after the enhanced reactor.

Abby knew her friend well. Olivia wasn't one to make a decision then back out of it. Something had to happen to make her change her mind.

"What happened?" Abby asked.

"Why do you assume something happened?" Olivia responded not looking at her.

"Because the Olivia Pope I know doesn't make a big decision like the one you made with the harness and then up and change her mind all of a sudden. So what happened? Did Grant change his mind about launching the enhanced reactor first?"

"No, he didn't. I did. I changed my mind."

"Why?"

"Abby," Olivia sighed. "Does it matter why? I just did."

Abby studied her friend who stood before her tall and confident. To the average onlooker Olivia would appear strong and confident but Abby knew her better than the average person. Abby saw past the exterior. She looked into her friend's eyes and saw sadness shadowed heavily in uncertainty. It was subtle but it was there in the depths of Olivia's eyes that drooped slightly at the corners and held no real focus.

Abby instantly dropped the attitude she wore like a second skin and went into BFF mode. "Olivia, what happened?" she asked her voice soft and full of concern.

Olivia didn't answer. She was trying to maintain the wall she had so long ago learned to erect but she always found it hard to do so when Abby kicked into friend mode.

Olivia kept her eyes trained to the floor. "I saw my grandfather yesterday. He was his usual degrading self," she said her voice low and heavy with a pain Abby felt to her core.

Abby and Olivia had been friends for years and Abby was well aware of the tenuous relationship between Olivia and her grandfather. The man was a sorry excuse for a relative but he was the only family Olivia had.

"What did he say to you, Liv?"

"The usual…I'm a disappointment. I'm a failure. I'm letting the family legacy die…"

Abby grabbed Olivia's hand. "Liv, you know that's not true. You are so smart and super talented. Hell, we figured out how to harness thermonuclear power for goodness sake and you were a big part of that. Wait…is this why you want to launch the harness first?"

Olivia nodded. "Abby, he made me feel so useless. Like a total failure. I just need to prove to him that I'm not."

"So you told him about the harness."

"It just came out. I didn't mean to."

"Liv…"

"I know. Not the best move but Abby, you should have seen him when I told him about the harness. For the first time in my life I saw pride in my grandfather's eyes when he looked at me."

Abby knew what it meant for Olivia to illicit any sort of reaction from her grandfather that wasn't negative or demeaning so she totally understood why Olivia did what she did.

"So have you told Grant yet? Is he onboard?" Abby asked.

"I haven't told him. He has no idea," Olivia said her face etched with worry.

Abby stared at her friend her eyes questioning. She waited for Olivia to say something but she didn't. "Liv, you are going to tell him, right?"

"He won't go for it, Abby. We've discussed it a few times and he's dead set on launching the enhanced reactor first. He's not going to change his mind just because my grandfather made me feel bad."

"So what are you going to do?"

"We," Olivia said pointing to Abby then herself. "Are going to move forward with the press release as if we are launching the enhanced reactor but instead we'll launch the harness." Olivia's stomach turned as the words left her mouth. A sickening bile formed at the base of her throat at the thought of what she was going to do – at how she was going behind Fitz's back. She knew it was wrong but she couldn't stop herself even if she wanted to.

"Grants going to be pissed," Abby said shaking her head.

"I know," Olivia said and started pacing around the room.

"And what about the financial impact?" Abby added. "Wasn't that one of the big reasons he wanted to launch the enhanced reactor first and then the harness?"

Olivia said nothing. She just continued pacing around the room. The sound of her heels making contact with the floor getting louder and louder with each step she took.

"Liv, are you listening to me? What about the financial impact?"

"I don't know, Abby. I don't know. I…I haven't thought that far."

"And you're set on launching the harness first?"

"Yes, I am. We're launching the harness first. That's a definite."

"Okay," Abby said. "Well…I have an idea."

Olivia stopped pacing and looked at Abby.

"Why don't we intro the harness to the world but then sell it as a combo pack with the enhanced reactor? That way we get discovery of the harness out there while simultaneously dropping the enhanced reactor. We mark-up the price not only because it's a combo pack but also because it includes the newly invented thermonuclear harness. It's a win-win and we won't…"

"Lose any money," Olivia finished.

"Exactly!" Abby exclaimed. "It'll sell like hotcakes."

"Abby, you're a genius!" Olivia exclaimed then charged over to the table where her phone was and picked it up.

"What are you doing?" Abby asked.

"Calling Harrison. We need to rework the entire launch and press conference and we only have a few days to do it."

"There you are," Fitz said leaning into the entryway to Olivia's office.

Olivia's heart pounded at the sound of his voice. She hadn't seen him in two days and she wasn't sure if it was because she was busy re-working the launch details with Harrison or if it was because she was deliberately avoiding him. Either way she missed him and was glad that he sought her out.

"Hi," Olivia whispered as she looked up at him.

"Hi," Fitz responded a slow smile spreading across his face.

Olivia watched as Fitz strode across the threshold into her office. He closed the door and leaned against it. His blue eyes sparkled as he stared at her.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asked.

"Just standing here taking it all in."

"Taking what in?"

"The view. You. You're utterly breathtaking," Fitz said.

"Fitz…," Olivia started and nervously ran her fingers through the hairs at the base of her neck.

Fitz pushed away from the door and walked towards her. "I feel like I haven't seen you in ages," he said.

"I know. I'm sorry. I've been swamped getting ready for the launch."

"How's that going?" Fitz asked.

"Ummm…fine. It's going fine. Everything's just about ready," Olivia said not looking him in the eyes.

"Good," Fitz said as he made his way around her desk. He stopped beside her and twisted her chair to face him. Fitz held out his hands and Olivia placed her hands in his. Fitz pulled her up from the chair and flush against his body. He wrapped his arms around her and gently ran his fingers up and down her spine.

Olivia was tentative and nervous. Her body locked in on itself. All she could think about was the upcoming press conference and what would happen with them after everything went down.

"You're very tense," Fitz whispered against her ear.

Olivia sucked in a deep breath and tried to relax. She pressed her head against Fitz's chest. His heart was running a marathon. Olivia tilted her head up and looked at Fitz.

"Your heart is beating so fast," she whispered.

Fitz smiled down at her his eyes warm and intense. "That's because you're in my arms. My heart always beats fast when I'm near you. It shoots straight into warp speed when we touch."

Olivia stared up at him her eyes searching his face. What she saw staring back at her made her heart fill and pump so furiously she thought she would explode. No one had ever looked at her the way Fitz was looking at her now. It was like he could see into the core of her and he liked what he saw. Olivia could barely comprehend it. She wasn't used to anyone looking at her that way. She was completely overwhelmed. Intense emotions coursed through every fiber of her being and she liked it. She liked the way he looked at her – the way he made her feel. She wanted to hold onto that feeling so badly but she knew that after tomorrow it may end.

Olivia reached out and brushed her fingers along Fitz's cheek. And as she stared up at him her heart cried out pleading with her head to tell him about her plan to launch the harness but her head just wouldn't listen. Like always it betrayed her heart telling her to stand firm in her plan. And her head was conditioned to always win when it came to matters of the heart because that's all she knew. From the moment she lost her parents all vestiges of love were lost. Her grandfather didn't raise her with love so after a while matters of the heart became a nonfactor and the one time she took a chance and allowed love to rule she ended up getting burned. So she would move forward with her plan but just for the night she would lose herself in love.

"I've really missed you these past couple of days," she said.

Fitz rubbed his nose against hers then ran his lips softly across her mouth. "Come home with me," he breathed against her lips.

"Let's go," Olivia said.

Fitz sat on the edge of the bed watching Olivia as she stood staring out the window. She had been very quiet on the drive to his place and she hadn't said much when they arrived. She seemed lost in thought and he wanted to ask her what was on her mind but he wanted more for her to just tell him – because that's what she wanted to do. So he didn't ask her. Instead he just sat on the bed and watched her.

Finally Olivia turned and faced him. There was a shift in her mood. Where earlier she was pensive there was now an erotic aura surrounding her. Fitz could see it in the tilt of her head, in the subtle pucker of her lips, and the slight parting of her mouth. Her breathing was a bit shallow as well. Their eyes locked and held. Slowly Olivia moved towards the bed her hips gently swaying with every step she took.

Fitz's pulse raced as he watched her. She was seduction personified.

Olivia halted in her steps and kicked off her shoes then unbuttoned her jacket and slid it off her arms. Next came her pants which landed in a soft heap on the floor. She pulled her shirt over her head and tossed that too. She took a few more steps and was finally standing right in front of him. Fitz had only to reach out and he could touch her. But he looked in her eyes and something told him to wait. So he leaned back on the bed and continued to watch her.

"I meant what I said. I really did miss you," Olivia said as she unfastened her bra and let it fall off her shoulders revealing two perfect breasts that Fitz could not wait to feast on.

Fitz watched with bated breath as Olivia trailed her fingers down her stomach and toyed with the trim of her black lace panties. The anticipation was killing him. He hadn't been intimate with her in days and here she was standing before him, Aphrodite incarnate.

"You're so damn beautiful," he said.

Olivia smiled. "Thank you," she said then slid her panties down her thighs.

Fitz stared at her his gaze travelling from her ankles across the planes of her stomach, over her perfectly rounded breasts, and up the curve of her neck before finally settling on her perfect face.

"I want you so badly," Fitz said.

"Then take me," Olivia whispered.

Fitz grabbed onto Olivia's hips his fingers digging into her soft flesh. He pressed his nose and mouth against her soft mound and inhaled. Fitz loved the smell of her. He could stay planted between her thighs for an eternity and never tire of her scent.

He pushed her thighs apart then lifted her leg over his shoulder and feasted on the sensitive nub between her thighs. Fitz licked, sucked, and nibbled on her until she was screaming his name and cumming on his tongue. Fitz savored the taste of her. There was no greater delicacy than the sweet taste of Olivia in his mouth.

Olivia's head was spinning and her limbs were weak from orgasm. She stared down into Fitz's face. He looked like a kid on Christmas morning. His eyes were glossed in euphoria and he had the most satisfied look on his face. Olivia smiled.

"What?" Fitz asked.

"Nothing," Olivia said then dipped her head and ran her tongue across his lips. His lips were wet with her juices. She sucked his lips into her mouth loving the taste of herself on him. Her body heated and moisture dripped from between her thighs.

Olivia moaned. "Look what you do to me," she said taking Fitz's hand and placing it between her legs.

Fitz growled and flipped Olivia onto the mattress. He quickly shed his clothes and joined her on the bed. He reached for the nightstand to grab protection but Olivia stayed his hand.

"I'm on the pill. And…I don't…I don't want anything between us," she said. Olivia was almost positive that this would be their last time being together like this and she wanted no barriers between them. She needed the memory of knowing how he felt inside of her with nothing between them.

Fitz's cock hardened even more at her words. The mere thought of being with her without a condom had his cock straining to reach her. But Fitz didn't enter her – not yet.

Olivia stared up at him her eyes impatient and questioning.

Fitz grabbed her hands and brought them above her head and laced his fingers with hers. He trained his eyes on hers and when he was sure that she was focused and completely in the moment and aware of what was about to happen he slowly pushed himself inside of her.

Olivia's back arched and her legs opened wider of their own volition. Her eyes fell closed as she got lost in the feel of him stretching and filling her.

"Uh Uh," Fitz whispered. "Look at me."

Olivia's eyes slowly opened and Fitz proceeded to make love to her like never before. He was rough and decadent without her asking and slow and gentle just when she needed him to be. He held eye contact with her the entire time. And whenever she got lost in sensation and closed her eyes he would whisper beautiful words to her coaxing them back open. And when their eyes re-connected it was as if their very souls became one.

It was almost too much for Olivia to handle and her climax came crashing down in waves so forceful she thought she would drown. And when Fitz reached his peak and his seed flooded her womb she was sure that she had felt heaven.

Utterly drained and completely satiated, Olivia lay draped across Fitz's body. They had been in bed for hours playing and making love. Olivia had never felt more content in her entire life. She would stay right there in bed wrapped in Fitz's arms for an eternity if she could. But she knew with the pending daylight came the realization of what she was about to do. The realization that this may be the last time she would be with him like this.

Olivia rose up on her elbows and stared down at Fitz. He looked supremely happy and she wanted to remember him just like this. She stared at him for a good while in the quiet of his bedroom not saying a word.

Finally Fitz broke into the quiet of the room. Olivia had been laying there quietly staring at him for at least ten minutes. He had to know what she was thinking.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

Olivia cradled his face in her hands and placed a sweet kiss on his lips then said, "I'm thinking…that I love you, Fitzgerald Grant."

"Liv…" Olivia placed her finger over his mouth quieted him.

"Don't. You don't have to say anything. I don't want you to. I just want you know that I love you. Okay?"

Fitz looked up at her his face full of question but he did as she requested and said nothing. A million thoughts were running through his head the loudest being that he loved her too. He didn't say it out loud because she asked him not to. But he felt it. And he would tell her soon. But for now he would settle with showing her.

Fitz rolled over and pulled Olivia beneath him. He kissed her deeply and then proceeded to show her his love.