Chapter 3: The Start of Something New
Olivia sits behind the wheel of her car, still in the parking garage of her apartment building. Leaving seemed like the best idea, at the time, but now that she is in the car, she can't decide where to go. This bout of indecisiveness is new and disturbing to her. She is used to being in control and quick to assess a situation and make the right decision.
She sighs, takes the key out of the ignition and exits the car. She can't run and hide. She has to face this head on, no matter what the consequences. She grabs her suitcase from the back seat and heads back into the building.
Once in her apartment, she retrieves her ringing cellphone for the nightstand.
"What," she answers.
"Liv, where have you been? I've been calling all afternoon," Harrison asks.
"What do you need Harrison?"
"My Liv-dar has been going off all day. I just needed to check on you."
"Liv-dar? What the hell is that?"
"It's my own personal radar for you. I know when something is going on with you. What's up?"
"So your Spidey-sense said something was wrong with me? You are quite a character. I am fine Harrison. But I am glad you called. Tell the team that I will be out of pocket for a few days. I have some personal matters to attend to. Call only in case of emergency. Ok?"
"Ok Liv. Call us if you need us."
She hangs up without saying goodbye.
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Fitz returned to the White House and was making his way to the Oval Office. Cyrus stopped him in the hallway.
"Mr. President, I hope you had a productive morning," he said sarcastically.
"It was fine Cyrus. What do you want?" Fitz said tiredly.
"What I want is to find the President where he is supposed to be on a Saturday morning. Like the Oval Office, or the tennis courts or even the goddamn Rose Garden. Not running off bright and early to meet up with his . . . . ," he says through clenched teeth.
"Don't start Cy," Fitz warns. He quickens his pace to put some distance between them.
Cyrus quickens his pace right along with him. "Too late. What were you thinking? What you needed a quickie this morning?"
"Cy, please stop. I have a lot on my mind this morning and I don't have time to listen to one of your tirades."
He reaches out and grabs Fitz's elbow to stop him, "You will listen Mr. President. I thought this whole thing with Olivia was over. Why now after all this time would you go and see her? You are putting our Presidency at risk, sir and for what, a little roll in the hay. Get over her Fitz!"
He snatches his elbow out of his grasp and glares at him.
"Understand something Cyrus, this is MY Presidency, not yours. If I ruin it, so be it. That's my choice. As for Olivia, there is no getting over her. I thought you understood by now, she is the love of my life. I will move heaven and earth to be with her, if she will have me." Fitz says as he pushes passed Cyrus to enter the Oval Office.
He walks over to the side table and pours a glass of scotch.
"Sir, don't you think it is a little early for that?" Cy questions.
"Cyrus, ENOUGH! Please let this go. Go home, spend time with James and Ella. What are you doing here on a Saturday anyway? We didn't have anything scheduled today."
"Mellie called me when she couldn't find you this morning."
"Great," Fitz sighs "I'm sure she will be down here any moment to join the yell at Fitz party," he says
"We only want what's best for you sir. Nothing more."
"If that is the truth Cy, you would know that the best thing for me is Olivia. I can't exist without her. I can't sleep without her. My life is nothing without her."
"Sir, why now? You haven't mentioned her for months. I thought you had finally moved on."
"Cy . . . "
"No Fitz! If you are going to throw away your presidency, I deserve to know why. Why now? It's been almost a year since you have even mentioned her name."
"She's pregnant. Olivia is pregnant with my child."
Cyrus' eyes grow wide with shock. "Oh my God. How? When?" He begins to pace around the room.
Cyrus stops pacing and looks at Fitz, "No offense sir, but are you sure the baby is yours? You have been apart for several months."
"Yes Cy. She has no reason to lie to me about the paternity of the child. I am the father." He feels sick to his stomach as he recalls posing the same question to Olivia.
"What do you need me to do sir?"
"Nothing Cy. Leave this alone. I will handle things in my own time."
"Unfortunately sir, time is not on your side. We need to make a plan."
"I will let you know if I need anything. Now please excuse me. I work to do," Fitz said effectively dismissing Cyrus.
No sooner had the door to the Oval Office closed behind Cyrus, he dialed Olivia's number. He needed to know what plans she was making.
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Olivia wasn't surprised to see Cyrus' name on her caller id.
"What," she answered.
"I need to see you. Are you at home?"
"Yes Cy. I'll be here. See you soon." She disconnected the call.
She could tell from the tone of his voice that Cyrus knew about the pregnancy. She had to mentally prepare for the fight he was bring to her door.
Twenty minutes later Cyrus was knocking at her door.
"Come in Cyrus."
"What the hell Liv? When did you two get back together and why didn't I know?" Cyrus began his tirade as soon as she opened the door.
"First, take a deep breath and calm down. Your face is all flush."
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I am worried about Fitz. He is going to tank his presidency. What is going on?"
"I'm pregnant and it's Fitz's child."
"So I've heard. When did you start seeing each other again?" Cy questioned.
"We are not seeing each other Cy. It just happened. We are not back together."
"You are not back together, but you are carrying his child. Please explain to me exactly how that happens? Fitz hasn't made any late night trips from the White House and you haven't been to the White House in months, except for . . . "Cyrus stopped short. "You didn't? Not at the reception after the christening? Oh my God you two are worse than a couple of horny teenagers."
"In my defense, I didn't want to go to the reception in the first place. I went because you asked me to, for James' sake. Remember? Also, it wasn't exactly my idea to get "reacquainted" with Fitz at the reception. Fitz . . . never mind. The fact remains that I am pregnant."
"So what is your plan? Do you want him to publically claim this child, do you want child support, or maybe you want him to marry you? What do you want out of this?" Cy asked angrily. "You know if this gets out it will not only end his presidency it will destroy his legacy." He knew he was pouring on the guilt, but he had to find out what her true plans were for handling this pregnancy and what her expectations were of Fitz.
"Screw you Cy. I didn't do this on purpose, it just happened. I JUST found out that I am pregnant. I have barely had time to process that information and here you are basically asking me if either I have some covert plan to trap Fitz into a relationship with me or I'm out to destroy his presidency. I'm not Mellie. I don't produce children for political gain.
Even after all of the hell we have been through this last year, I love him Cy, more than you can know. He broke my heart with his coldness and evil words, but I still love him. I wouldn't do anything to harm his presidency. But it would be wrong to hide his baby from him. He can decide how involved he wants to be with our child, no strings attached. Whatever Fitz wants, that's what I will do."
"You two are going to be the death of me. You know that right?" Cyrus said with a small laugh.
"Does this mean you will let him handle this?"
"Yes, Liv. I will let Fitz handle this. I believe you have his best interest at heart."
"Thanks Cy. Let him know I am ready to speak with him privately whenever he is ready. I have cleared my schedule for the next few days."
"I think I make some time for him to go to Camp David this week. I'll check his schedule and let you know," Cyrus said as he stood up to leave.
"Okay."
"Take care Liv." Cyrus patted her on the arm and headed out the door.
On his drive home, Cyrus replays his conversations with both Fitz and Liv in his mind. It is clear these two are in love with each other, despite their current falling out. Maybe it was the thought of their child growing inside of Olivia that made him decide not to impede any progress these two may make toward reconciling. He would try to preserve Fitz's presidency, but not at the cost of a possible happy ending for these two.
"Fatherhood is making me soft!" Cyrus cried out.
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It was noon on Sunday and Olivia still had not heard from Cyrus about plans for Camp David. Instead of pacing the floors at home, Olivia decides to go to the office to catch up on paperwork from their current case files.
Two hours later, she pushes back from her desk to stretch her legs and to retrieve a bottle of water from the break room. She is walking back to her office when she hears the elevator begin to make it ascent. She knows it is him. She turns and walks halfway down the hallway towards the elevator, awaiting his arrival.
The doors of the first elevator car opens and Tom exits.
"Ms. Pope, I need to make a sweep of the offices," he says.
"Of course Tom," she says, stepping aside.
After he completes his sweep he alerts the other agents that all is clear for POTUS to ascend. He takes his station by the open elevator. The second elevator arrives and Fitz emerges looking tired. His eyes meet Olivia's and he smiles briefly. He walks towards her, some of his signature swagger returning. She is like a breath of fresh air to his soul.
"Hi," he says. She can hear the tiredness in his voice.
"Hi."
"Come to Camp David with me. Let's talk this out once and for all. Please." He is not sure if she will agree to go away to such an isolated place with him.
All she can do is nod her head. She turns and goes into her office to retrieve her purse and phone. As she walks back towards him in the hall, he extends his hand to her. She hesitates for a moment and then takes his hand. As their hands touch, they both inwardly they sigh.
They know this is the beginning of rebuilding their relationship. This is the start of something new.
A/N: So here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it. For all of you that were mad at me for making Liv run, I hope this makes up for it.
Please keep sending me your comments. It makes me happy to know that you are enjoying my story.
I don't own Scandal or the characters of Scandal. I just love playing with them in my backyard.
