Chapter 10: Fix It

Exactly five minutes after Fitz's threat to call out the Marines, Olivia walks into the kitchen. The heavenly smells of grilled burgers and chicken waft in the air. She watches as Fitz removes the last burger from the indoor grill, piling it on a plate with enough food to feed the Marines he threatened to call out, and turns off the burner.

"What is it with you and cooking enough food to feed an army," she inquires from the doorway.

He turns ready to drop an equally sarcastic remark on her but stops short. She is standing in the doorway wearing the red silk pajamas he bought for her. She is breathtaking. So much so he almost drops the platter of food on the floor. He sets the platter on the counter and walks over to her.

"You look amazing Livvie," he says as he pulls her into his arms.

"Thank you. You have good taste," she says with a shy smile.

He stands there in the kitchen doorway, just holding her. He gently rubs her back and relishes in the feel of the fabric against her skin. He inhales her scent, vanilla with a touch of something flowery, and finds himself drifting off into thoughts of their life together.

"Um, Fitz?" Olivia says breaking him out of his thoughts. "As much as I would love to stay here in your arms forever, I am really hungry. Can we eat now?"

He laughs, "Sorry Livvie, you just feel and smell so good," he says letting her go. "If it's okay with you, I thought we could sit out on the deck and eat."

He returns to the counter and picks up the platter and takes it to the table that is already loaded down with pasta salad, grilled asparagus and any topping you could want for your sandwich. They both fill their plates with food and head out to the deck. Fitz goes back inside to retrieve drinks and to let the agents know they can grab some dinner.

They sit at the table, eating in silence for a while, just enjoying the food and the beautiful colors of the sky as the sun begins to set.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The ride back to DC with Mellie was hellacious. She spent the entire ride ranting and raving about Fitz and Olivia. At one point Cyrus seriously contemplated taking a gun off of one of the agents and putting a bullet in her head. Now he sits in his office, alternating between sipping on a glass of scotch and rubbing his temples. Anything to ease the headache he has had since this morning. Any progress achieved in that area is erased when Mellie comes barging through his office door.

"So Cyrus, what is the plan? How do we fix it to get Fitz back here and out of the claws of Olivia Pope?!"

"Mellie, I already told you, Fitz will return when he is ready. There is nothing I can do to force his hand on this one. Just be patient."

"Patient, patient?! Really Cyrus? Just sit idly by while he throws away his Presidency. Everything that we have worked to achieve he is willing to let go because of her!"

"Enough Mellie! I heard it all on the ride back to DC. I don't know what to tell you. Fitz has made up his mind about this situation and there is nothing either of us can do to change his mind."

"You're wrong Cy. I know exactly what to do." She turns on her heel and walks out the door.

He pours another finger of scotch into his glass and closes his eyes and sighs. "I should have accepted the job running Harvard."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mellie returns to the residence and enters the living room. She picks up the telephone and requests a secure line.

"Hi. I need you," she says to the person on the other end of the line. "I know it is short notice, but there is nothing I can do about that. I will make all the arrangements at this end. Just be ready to go first thing in the morning." She disconnects the call. She places a call to her chief of staff to make the necessary arrangements.

As she kicks off her shoes, her cell phone rings. She looks at the caller ID, it reads Hal. Curious as to why he would be calling her, she accepts the call.

"Hal, what can I do for you?" she asks sweetly.

"I just wanted to check on you. See if you were okay. I know you had a difficult night and morning. Is there anything I can do for you?

Anything you can do for me? You're on house arrest! What could you possibly do for me? Mellie thinks to herself. But something keeps her from speaking her mind.

"No Hal, I am fine. I appreciate your concern."

"Well ma'am, if you need me, just call."

"I will do that Hal. You have a good night." She disconnects the call and dismisses Hal from her mind.

On the other side of town, Hal stares at his phone for a minute and then puts it on the table. He walks down the hall to his spare bedroom and flips on the light. The walls are plastered with various photographs of Mellie Grant, some dating back to her days as First Lady of California. He is determined to do whatever is necessary to make sure she is happy.

"Don't worry Mellie, I've got your back," he says to the photos.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Olivia spears the last piece of asparagus off her plate and puts it in her mouth. Fitz smiles at her as she moans a little bit as she chews and swallows.

"Do I need to give you and the asparagus some privacy?" he jokes.

"No, it's okay, you can watch," she replies.

"So kinky Miss Pope," he chuckles and leans forward to kiss her. The kiss is brief and sweet.

"Seriously Fitz, maybe you should become a chef once you are finished being President. This is the best meal I have had in a long time."

"Thank you for the compliment, but it's just a hobby for me. Something my mom and I used to do when I was a kid. She was a great cook."

"She taught you well."

They sit quietly for a moment, neither of them want to address the multiple elephants in the room. Olivia stands and begins gathering their plates to take to the kitchen. Fitz follows suit and clears the rest of the dinner dishes from the table.

Olivia breaks the silence as she rinses off the dishes and puts them in the dishwasher, "Why do you want me?" she asks timidly.

He stops his movements and looks at her. Her back is to him so he can't see her face. He turns her around gently and uses his finger to tilt her chin up so that she will meet his gaze.

"Because I love you. I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone. I want you because you are the most beautiful, complicated, infuriatingly independent woman I have ever known. You walked into my life and turned it upside down. I can't imagine another day without you."

"But I'm broken Fitz," she says with tears in her eyes pulling away from him.

His grabs her by the waist and pulls her to him. "You are not broken."

"I am broken. We both know it. Why risk everything for me? I'm not worth it."

His heart breaks at the bleakness in her voice. He leads her to the living room and sits her down on the couch. He kneels on the floor in front of her grasping both of her hands in his. Her eyes are downcast.

"Look at me," he says softly. When she doesn't raise her eyes to his he says it again with a little more urgency, "Please look at me Livvie."

Slowly she raises her eyes to meet his. In his eyes she sees worry and love. Her heart swells at the thought that his man could love her. Love her enough to turn his world upside down to be with her. She wants nothing more than to be with him but she doesn't feel worthy. He deserves so much more than she can give.

"Don't ever say that. You are worth it. Let go of the awful lies your mother told you. You deserve love and you are so wanted. I want you. I love you." Tears stream from his eyes.

"Fitz . . . "

"Livvie, I can't take away the hurt and pain you have already experienced in your life. I can't erase the hateful words and deeds of your parents, but I can show you with everything that I am and that I have that you are loved. If you say you are broken, then it's my job to fix it. Let me fix you Livvie. Let me fix you with my love."

Moved by his words she leans forward to kiss him. Their tears intermingle as the kiss grows deeper. She makes up her mind right there to believe him. To believe in his power to fix her.

A/N: Who did Mellie call? Can they convince Fitz to stop seeing Olivia? How creepy is Hal? My heart actually ached when I wrote the last part with Fitz and Olivia.

As always, comment/suggest/rant as much as you want. It makes me happy!

I don't own Scandal, but if I did it would be all Olitz all the time!