Chapter 11: The Power of Mom
Breaking their kiss, Fitz moves to the couch beside her and pulls her close to him. Olivia rests her head on his chest and relishes in the comfort and security she feels in his arms. In all their time together she doesn't recall a time she has ever felt this relaxed. His love is at work already.
"Tell me something about yourself that most people wouldn't know," she says out of the blue.
"Wow, that's a hard question. I mean I am President of the United States. My life has pretty much been an open book. But let me think." He pauses for a moment then says, "I can ride a unicycle."
"What, no way," she says sitting up and looking at him.
"Honest. I learned how to ride one at summer camp when I was in the 6th grade. Now I haven't been on one since then, but I bet I could do it even now. You know what they say about never forgetting how to ride a bike. I would assume the same principle applies to a unicycle."
"Consider me impressed."
"What being the Leader of the Free World isn't impressive enough," he jokes.
"Well that is a little impressive, but riding a unicycle. I would pay good money to see that. I can just picture you with your long legs and arms riding all over the place on a unicycle."
"Yeah, I drove my mom nuts that summer. Our house had this long, but pretty steep driveway and I would go flying down it on my unicycle. She was so afraid I would kill myself." He chuckles at the memory.
"Tell me about her. What was she like?"
Fitz gets a faraway look in his eyes and a sad smile on his face before he speaks.
"She was the greatest mom I could have ever wished for. She was kind and loving. She was fun and adventurous. Don't get me wrong, she could be the disciplinarian when she had to be, but for the most part she just showered me with love and affection. Making up for the crap Big Gerry always dished out to me.
I could never understand how someone so loving, kind and beautiful wound up tied to Big Gerry. They were polar opposites my whole life. She was so down to earth and carefree. She came from a very wealthy family, but you wouldn't really know it by looking at her. She didn't flaunt it. Big Gerry on the other hand flaunted his family's wealth at every opportunity. Fancy high-priced cars, the ridiculously huge house I grew up in. All to flaunt his wealth. Mom taught me the value of a dollar and the importance of hard work and to give back to others.
I can remember working at homeless shelters and food pantries when I was on break from school. Or one time she taught me how to cook a full Thanksgiving dinner from scratch and then had me serve it to the staff in the main dining room. Oh, Gerry hated that! I thought he would have a stroke when he walked in and saw the gardener sitting in his chair and eating turkey with all the fixings." Even now, the image of Big Gerry's face make him laugh.
"It sounds like she tried to give you a balanced view of life."
"Yeah, she did. She wanted me to be different from Big Gerry. She did her best to protect me from him up until the day she died. After she was gone, Big Gerry could maneuver me in the way he always wanted. And thus here I sit, President of the United States, married to a woman that I have not loved in more years than I can remember, trapped by Gerry's dream."
"But, look at the positives in your life. You are POTUS and you can affect change in a good way for millions of people. That's why you are so good at your job. You are a devoted and loving father to your children. Nothing like Big Gerry. The best parts of you are from her. Don't forget that."
"Always building me up, just like mom. She would have loved you probably as much as I do." He kisses the top of her head.
"What was her name?"
"Susanne Harper Grant. She was named after both of her great-grandmothers, who were both very strong women themselves. I miss her every day," he says with a sigh.
They lapse into silence again, each in their own thoughts. He doesn't know how long they sat that way, but it must have been a while because he feels Olivia's head fall a little forward on his chest, he realizes that she has fallen asleep in his arms.
"Come on baby," he says waking her gently, "let's get you and jelly bean to bed."
She opens her eyes and yawns, "Who exactly is jelly bean?"
"The baby. You know because it is so small right now. Like the size of a peanut, or a kidney bean or a jelly bean."
"Really, you want to refer to our unborn child as jelly bean?"
"Well what would you call them?"
"What about Harper?" she asks watching his face closely.
"Harper? You want to name our child after my mother?"
"I was thinking Harper Carolyn if it is a girl or Harper Thomas if it is a boy."
"Livvie that would make me so happy. God I love you so much," he declares as he gently embraces her. "You never cease to amaze me."
"Come on POTUS, take me to bed. Little Harper here is draining my energy."
"I'll meet you there, I just need to get something from upstairs," Fitz says as he heads for the stairs.
Olivia walks into her bedroom and heads directly to the bathroom to relieve her overfilled bladder and brush her teeth. When she emerges she parts the curtains to stare up at the full moon. Turning her back to the window, she strips down to her underwear and crawls under the covers. Soon after, Fitz arrives with his Dopp kit in hand. He goes to the bathroom to take care of his nightly routine and clicks off the bathroom light as he walks back into the bedroom.
He pulls the covers back and is about to lay down when Olivia speaks, "Take off your clothes. I need to feel you close to me."
In response, he pulls his t-shirt over his head and pulls off his pajama bottoms. He climbs into bed next to her in just his boxers. Immediately she snuggles close to him, her head and one arm on his chest and her legs intertwined with his. She enjoys the skin to skin contact.
She lays in his arms and draws endless patterns on his chest with her fingers, while he runs his fingers through her hair.
"It scares me how much I need you Fitz. I have never needed anyone before," she confesses.
"It's okay to be afraid Livvie. But you are wrong to say that you never needed anyone before. You have always needed someone to love you and support you, but you were too afraid to let anyone get close to you. Well I'm here now and I am not going anywhere. You and Harper are my life."
She sits up and peers at him in awe. This man truly loves her as much as she loves him. She shifts her body so that she can stare down into his beautiful blue eyes.
"I love you Fitz. I just love you," she says tears filling and then over running her eyes.
He takes his thumb and wipes away her tears. He cups her face in his hands and pulls her in for a tender kiss. A kiss that says everything their words can't.
Overcome with emotion, Olivia clings to him fiercely. Her arms snake up and around his neck where her fingers find a home in their favorite spot, his curls. His hands run freely up and down her back soothingly.
"Make love to me Fitz," she murmurs against his lips.
Flipping her over so that he is now on top he expertly removes her panties and his boxers in record time. He enters her slowly, enjoying the feel of her wet channel encompassing him. They both moan when he is fully inside of her. He begins to move slowly in and out of her. Every stroke a testament of his love for her. Their eyes remain locked on each other as the sweet torture continues. In and out, in and out, over and over again his thrusts are slow and deliberate. This isn't just about sex or even passion. This is an expression of their love for one another of their fight to stay together.
The desire to go slow is overpowered by the need for more friction. They are both near the breaking point and nature takes over. His thrusts become faster and deeper each time.
"Ohh, Livvie you feel so good."
"So do you, don't stop, please don't stop."
Their eyes still locked, Fitz can feel his release coming. He drops his head to the crook of her neck and whispers his love over and over to her. His love washing away her fears and anxieties.
Their climax is an affirmation of their love and commitment, more than any ceremony could provide. In that moment they are bonded forever in their love for one another and the family that they have begun. Truer soul mates have never existed before this moment. The lay there enjoying the feel of one another until Fitz rolls off of her. She curls up next to him and lets out a contented sigh and drifts off to a peaceful sleep. Fitz remains awake a while longer fantasizing about his life with Olivia and Harper. It's a good life. It's a happy life. With that final thought drifting across his mind he falls asleep.
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It is mid-morning the next day and Mellie is sitting at her desk with her back turned to the door. She is animatedly talking on the phone with her sister.
"Carol I know, I can't believe it either. I mean, we all know that husbands can stray away for the marital bed, but this is sheer craziness. He wants to throw away his Presidency, me and his children all because of Olivia Pope. I just don't know what to do."
"Mom, dad wants to leave us? What is going on?" Karen asks from the doorway.
Mellie's eyes narrow for a moment and a small smile creeps across her face. She quickly adjusts to a façade of shock and sadness as she turns her chair around to face Karen.
"Oh God Carol, I have to go. Karen just walked in my office."
Hanging up the phone, Mellie hops out of her chair and rushes across the room to embrace Karen. She brings the girl into the room and shuts the door.
"This isn't how I wanted you to find out," Mellie says with tears in her eyes.
"Why does dad want to leave? Doesn't he love us anymore?"
"I don't know baby. All I know is he wants a divorce."
"Is he here? Can I go talk to him?" Karen asks with wide tear filled eyes.
"He's not here. He's at Camp David with Olivia Pope. I guess you will have to wait until he gets back to talk to him."
"Oh mom, I am so sorry." Karen hugs her mother tightly and begins to cry.
"Shhh, everything's going to be fine. Maybe daddy and I can work things out. Just know that no matter what, I love you and will always be here for you and Jerry."
Mellie continues to hold Karen, stroking her back and making soothing sounds to calm the girl down.
This should stop his silly divorce talk, she thinks to herself.
After of few minutes, Karen and Mellie leave the office and proceed to the residence for lunch. As they walk down the hallway toward the elevator, they bump into Cyrus.
"Mellie, Karen," he addresses them. "I didn't realize Karen would be here today. Is everything okay?" He questions them taking in Karen's red puffy eyes.
"We are fine Cyrus. Just some mother daughter bonding time."
"Oh, I see. Well don't let me interrupt. Good to see you again Karen." He watches them enter the elevator and gives them a little wave goodbye as the doors close.
Walking as quickly as he can back to his office, he immediately dials the number for Camp David.
"Cyrus, what can I do for you this fine morning?" Fitz asks in a cheery relaxed voice.
"Sir, I hate to destroy your happy mood, but you need to get back here and right now. Mellie has pulled out a pretty big trump card to play."
"What are you talking about Cyrus? What card could she possibly play except for going public? And we both know she would never do that." Fitz asked confused by Cyrus' near panicked state.
"Karen, sir. She has brought Karen home from boarding school. And from what I just saw, Mellie told her about the impending divorce. It looked to me like Karen had been crying. She is planning to use the kids against you. You need to get back here right away and handle this."
"Shit. I didn't think she would stoop this low. Cyrus I am leaving in the next hour. Don't tell anyone I am coming back."
"Yes sir. See you soon."
Fitz slams the phone down in frustration. Olivia comes in from the patio where they had been enjoying brunch to find out what the commotion is all about.
"Fitz what's wrong?"
"Mellie brought Karen home from school. Cyrus thinks she told her about the divorce. He said Karen looked like she had been crying."
"Oh God, poor Karen." Suddenly Olivia is filled with a sense of guilt for being the cause of Karen's tears. She turns her back to Fitz.
"Don't take the blame Liv, it is not your fault. Mellie and I were destined to divorce long before you came along. This is not on you." He walks to her and puts his arms around her waist and pulls her body flush to his.
It always amazes her that he can read her inner most thoughts.
"I need to leave right away. I have to go talk to Karen and try to explain what is really going on."
"It's okay, I'll go back too. I need to get back to work anyway. I'll go pack. I can be ready in 20 minutes." She walks out of his embrace and heads to the bedroom to pack.
Fitz can feel her pulling away emotionally. "I love you Olivia. I love you so much. Nothing will keep us apart."
She turns to look at him, "I know Fitz. I love you too. Right now you need to concentrate on your daughter. She needs you. I will be fine, I promise. I am not going anywhere. Don't worry. Just go pack."
Fitz takes the stairs two at a time and enters his bedroom. As he throws everything in his overnight bag, he calls down to the agent on duty to let them know he needs to depart for DC in 30 minutes.
"Damn you Mellie. You will pay for this," he says to himself.
A/N: So Liv and Fitz talked some more and bonded with some sweet, slow Olitz loving (swoon).
And how about Mellie dropping the bomb "accidentally" on Karen? What do you think Fitz will do? How will Karen react when Fitz comes home?
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!
