Later, much later, Olivia bent over at her stomach from her sitting position over Fitz, breathing heavily and finding herself chest to chest with him. His arms were spread and he was basically panting, but he brought one hand to her back. She slowly extracted herself from his body and found a spot right next to and facing him, and he brought his left arm in and wrapped it around her.

"Is this the longest either of us has gone with speaking?" she asked.

"Possibly," he said. He couldn't form a complete sentence if he tried.

What had just happened? Fitz was only sure it wasn't a dream because Olivia's naked body was pressed against his, her left leg hooked over his and her breath tickling his chest. This had not been what he planned when he had decided to man up and come over to Olivia's apartment tonight. He hadn't planned it, but it also felt incredibly right. They had made love twice in the span of an hour. The first time was quick. Quicker than he would have liked, but satisfying for both of them. They had fallen asleep briefly, but as soon as a siren from the street roused them, he couldn't help himself. He had kissed her over her entire body, in places that had been covered by clothing earlier. She relished the attention, welcoming him and kissing his arms and his neck while he set to work. Before he could taste her the way he really wanted, she was begging him to join her, so he did. Propping himself up and making direct eye contact with her, he entered her at the same time as he kissed her ever-so-softly. She brushed his hair off of his forehead tenderly, and then started nibbling on his ear. He kept his pace steady, and at some point they rolled on their sides, facing each other and holding each other while she bit her lip and he kissed her collarbone and toyed with her breasts. It felt deliberate, and it was. When she pushed him onto his back and then slowly started up again, keeping her hands on his chest and rolling her head back, he lost it. She was beautiful, and she was his. Those thoughts sent him, and then her, over the edge.

Which led them to wear they were now, him with his arm around her, and Olivia molded into his side.

"I guess it's a good thing you decided to come over," she said, snuggling into him. "I would have hated to miss out on whatever that just was."

He laughed. "Me too. I definitely didn't expect to end up here. Like, in your bed."

She propped herself up on an elbow. "You didn't?"

"I mean, not tonight."

She nodded. "I don't know how this works. Am I a tramp?" She was kidding, mostly, and he knew it.

"Definitely a notch in my bedpost. Hopefully I can squeeze you in, the bedpost is kind of full." He kissed her cheek and pulled her back down so he could hold her. "You're not a tramp. We like each other, and there's nobody else."

She liked that he had the confidence to say that.

"That is true. Back to this bedpost of yours, though. What kind of range are we walking about? More than five, less than 50?"

"50?! Who do you take me for? More than five, less than 15."

She nodded. "Same for me."

"None as lovely as you, not even close," he said quietly. He was either thinking or getting sleepy, or maybe both.

"Thank you for saying that."

"I could fall asleep. I can go if you'd rather."

"Go where?"

"Home."

"The only place you can go is to the basement to get my clothes from the dryer. I'll be waiting and will probably reward you for your services."

He turned. "Oh yeah?"

"Probably."

"In that case, I'm feeling a sudden burst of energy. Where are your keys?"

She directed him to her keys and he dressed quickly (no boxers, just his jeans, which was enough to get her ready for his return) and slipped out of the apartment. He was back in less than three minutes, breathing heavily as he set the laundry basket in front of the closet and took off his clothes.

As he pulled the bedspread back and crawled on top of her, she put her arms around his neck and pulled him onto her.

"I'm crushing you," he said, laughing.

"I like it," she said, holding him tight. "Now, who said something about a reward?"

"You did, but I'm really okay just lying here with you."

"Nonsense," she said, rolling him onto his back and doing to him things she had never enjoyed. Until now.

They woke up with their backs to each other. In romantic comedies, couples always fall asleep holding each other. But this was real life, and they were both so content that they had slept hard for six hours. The late August sunrise hit Fitz's eyes first, and he rolled onto his back and stretched. He glanced at Olivia. Sometime during the night she had slipped into his white t-shirt. It was baggy on her, and perfect. She must have felt him moving or the sun or a combination of both, because she rolled onto her side and faced him.

"Morning," he said. "I like you in my shirt."

"Good morning," she said, yawning. "I usually sleep in a night-shirt, and yours was right here, so thanks."

"I slept incredibly well. Hard to believe that's the sun."

"Same," she said.

He scooted closer to her. "What are you doing today?"

They talked about their plans. Olivia had to run errands and start seriously thinking about the school year. Fitz was supposed to be on set up 8:00.

"I'm struggling here, because I want to see you tonight and every night. But I don't know, maybe we should be realistic and start thinking about what it might be like when things get busy."

"You're suggesting we don't see each other tonight so that we can prematurely miss each other?"

"It sounds silly when you say it like that."

"Because it is. I understand what you're saying, but I'm of the mindset that we should just enjoy it while we can. This goes against the way I've run my life up to this point, but I'm willing to make some adjustments if you are."

He smiled. "Definitely. Do you want to come to set later?"

"I mean, I'd love to, but that's going from zero to 60 isn't it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Won't you have to introduce me to people? It seems like that would put you right back where you were scared of being last night."

"With you in my shirt and me in your bed, I don't care about the rest of the world."

She blushed. "But it's out there, whether you like it or not."

"I know," he sighed. "We'll figure this out, though. Right?"

"I think if we want to figure it out, we will."

"So that's a yes?"

"Yes," she said, rubbing her hand over this growing-in facial hair.

"Then I want you to come to set. I want to show you where I spend my time. I'll think about how to deal with it and then just deal with it."

"I'm sorry you have to think about how to deal with me."

"Stop. It's not you. It's the situation."

It was quiet for a minute.

"I have a question. I don't know how to ask it gracefully," she said.

"Ask away."

"I'm learning just how much you value your privacy. Like I said last night, I understand it. I'm just wondering if you're plan, for life, is to just be alone. If you think it's easier to just be alone than to have to share any of yourself with anyone else."

"You sound like my sisters."

"Not the first time you've said that to me, probably won't be the last."

They laughed, which only boosted his confidence to say what he was about to say, despite the battle going on between his head and his heart.

"You make a fair point. Up until now, I truly felt like I would probably just make a movie a year and spend the rest of my time at my house in Kauai, taking photos. Probably get a dog, maybe a motorcycle."

"No. No motorcycle."

He laughed. "Okay, a jet ski."

"Fine."

"That is, or was, my plan."

"I believe you."

"I'd still like to do a variation of that plan. I'm never going to live in L.A. or Manhattan full time, it's just not for me. I love it here, and I love that I met you here, but it's not home. It doesn't feel that way to me."

She stayed quiet.

"All of that said, if seeing you regularly means spending more time here, then I'll have to adjust."

Her stomach fluttered. She blushed. She felt nauseous. How embarrassing.

"You're blushing."

"You make me blush."

"I know. I love it."

"You're cruel."

"So are you, wearing my shirt better than me."

She crawled over him and stood up, pretending to walk the runway at a fashion show. Her bedroom wasn't large, but Fitz laughed and clapped and then sat up and reached for her. She sat on the edge of the bed, and they stared at each other.

"I'm so glad I met you," he whispered.

"Me too."

"So you're saying if I can get over my aversion to New York and the general public, we can see where this goes?"

"We can see where this goes. Not so concerned about the public, but seeing as I live here…" she trailed off.

"Understood." He kissed her temple. "May I use your shower?"

"Of course. Let me grab you a towel. Do you need anything else?"

"You?"

"I'd love to, but it's almost 7:00. You don't want to be late, and I don't want to make you late. Rain check?"

"Definitely."

She grabbed two towels out of her hallway closet and he made his way to the bathroom. As she listened to the running water, instead of getting dressed or cleaning up or putting away the laundry, she sat on the edge of her bed lost in thought.

What had just happened? Less than 12 hours ago, she was on the verge of being stood up. She hadn't really had a chance to process what that felt like because Fitz had showed up unannounced. In the basement, he had absolutely nailed her inner monologue, seemingly because he just understood her. She didn't want to be made a fool. But what kind of fool was she for initiating what was admittedly the best sex of her life? The control freak Olivia would have sent him away on principle. But before she can even close her apartment door, she's taking off her shirt and he is taking her to her bed. She doubted she gave it more than one minute of thought, which was definitely a record.

Despite the doubts, which were only creeping in now that the sun had risen and life was moving forward, she had to admit that in the moment, or moments, there had been no doubt. What had begun as a frenzied rush to feel all of each other had ended tenderly. She didn't feel self-conscious, then or now. And Fitz had taken care of her. He had looked her in the eyes and held her even as he was overcome with pleasure. And this morning, he had asked her to visit him at work.

"Penny for your thoughts."

His baritone brought her back to the moment.

"Just watching the highlight reel in my head," she said, standing and facing him. He looked good in a towel. She knew this from their time spent at the pool, but it was a nice way to start the day.

"From last night?"

She nodded.

"I just did the same thing in there."

She turned her head and widened her eyes.

"That is not what it sounds like. You know what I mean."

"I think so."

He grabbed his clothes and started getting dressed. She pulled her robe off of the hook on the door and wrapped herself in it.

"So tonight. I'm usually done around 8:30. Can I text you and tell you how things are going?"

"Sure. I'm supposed to have dinner with a friend, but I'll keep a look out for you."

He sighed. "You don't know how much I like the sound of that."

She smiled. "I know what you mean."

He was ready to go and needed to head out. He walked toward her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You smell good," she said. "Is that my soap?"

"I couldn't resist," he said.

"You used my lavender and chamomile soap?" she said, laughing. Not giggling, outright laughing.

"It smells like you! I'm not ashamed." He was laughing too.

"Oh man, this will keep me smiling for a while."

"A secondary benefit," he said.

They walked to her door. She stood on her toes and kissed him softly.

"I'm glad you came over. I would have missed you."

She was trying to convey the sum of all she had been feeling. That she had enjoyed their time together. That she had missed him while she was away. That if had decided to end whatever this was because of his fears she would have been sorry.

"Me too. Thanks for understanding. See you tonight."

With one more kiss, he slipped into the stairwell and she made her way to the shower.

Olivia met her friend at a café uptown. She had gone to college with Lindsay, and then kept in touch while Lindsey attended NYU for law school. They tried to see each other at least once a month, but since Olivia had been gone for most of the summer, tonight's dinner would be all about catching up on a few months worth of updates. Near the end of the meal, Olivia still hadn't mentioned Fitz. It was almost as if saying it would make it real, and she wasn't yet ready to present him to an open forum. She wanted to keep him all to herself.

She parted ways with her friend after marking their calendars for lunch in three weeks. It was 8:20, and she didn't have a text from Fitz. She decided to walk home. It would be about 30 minutes, and if she hadn't heard from him they would just have to make plans for another time.

She was less than five minutes from her building when her phone buzzed. He was calling, not texting.

"Hello," she said. More of a statement, less of a question.

"Hi. How was your day?"

"Good, thanks. Crossed quite a few things off of my list, met my friend for dinner. Yours?"

"Good. Busy. I'm sorry I'm late in calling."

"No problem at all."

"We're running late here. I'll need another hour, probably. I'm so sorry."

"You're going to have to stop doing that."

"Doing what?"

"Apologizing. I'm not upset. It happens."

"Okay."

There was silence then.

"I'm sorry if that sounded harsh. I just don't want you to feel like you have to apologize to me all the time. I'm getting to know you. Don't forget, we agreed we'll figure this out."

"Olivia Pope, my voice of reason."

"You're welcome."

"Do you want to come over later? I can pick you up on my way."

"No you can't."

"What?"

"You didn't drive today."

"Shit. You're right."

"Why don't you text me when you're on your way? If it's not too late, I'll come over. If not, maybe tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's no good. Really long day. We're at the midway point and there's a lot to do. Wednesday?"

"I start work. I can come over, but it can't be too late."

He sighed. "So we'll just figure something out?"

"It seems like that's the theme of the day."

"I have to get going. I'll call you as soon as I can."

"Okay. Hope the rest of tonight goes well."

"I miss you, Liv."

"I miss you too. Call me."

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

She was disappointed. But part of felt like maybe Fitz was right. Maybe they should get a taste of what a relationship might feel like – hours or days without seeing each other, conflicting schedules, only a few minutes to talk.

On the lot in Queens, Fitz focused on his work but in between takes found himself looking at the clock. It was past 10:00 and he knew he wouldn't see Olivia tonight. He excused himself and found a quiet place to send her a text.

Still here. Don't want to wake you when I leave. Sleep well.

It wasn't enough, but how could he say what he wanted to say in a text? That today had been a rollercoaster, that he missed her terribly but was also thrilled with the way the scenes were coming. That he wanted to see her but also needed to go to his place tonight. That this was new to him and he would need some time to figure out how to navigate it.

Okay. Hope to talk to you tomorrow, and hope you still smell like my soap. Night.

She didn't want to make him feel bad for having to cancel their plans. But as she laid in bed flashing back to what had transpired their the previous night, she wondered how she would be able to cope with having feelings – strong feelings – for someone who led such a different life.