Disclaimer: It all belongs to Shonda Rhimes and her brilliant mind.

Author's note: Thanks for reviewing – it makes a difference. It's time for Olivia and Fitz to meet

Take It Easy On Me

Chapter 3

Judge Lawson lived in a huge house, built in the beginning of the last century, it was built when times were different and old money got you somewhere in the world. Time may have changed but money still held an escape way for the rich and powerful, even if the money was new or recently new.

Olivia sat in a large couch at the Lawson's, the tension in the room was touchable, with father and son looking anywhere but at each other. "I won't find any dirty secrets, Oliver? You've told me the truth?" Olivia asked in a stern voice.

"No, you won't." Oliver promised.

The contrast was very big when she arrived at the Lopez's, this small apartment downtown DC had never been near to neither old nor new money, and no design gave away in which age it was built. The apartment was clean but worn out of the many people living there.

"Emilio what outcome do you want from this situation, how do you want me to help you?" Olivia met the troubled eyes of Emilio, he clearly was in need of sleep.

"I want it all to go away." The young man glanced briefly at her before he resume to staring at the wall, lost in his private world.

"It won't go away if we do nothing. I can make it go away but you've to tell me what you want."

"Oliver likes his boys young, that's why I lied about my age. I was already too old when I met him. But he was nice, didn't demand too much for the money he gave. I've saved most of the money, you know."

"He paid you?"

"Yeah, each week I got what he called my pocket money. I have most of the money, still."

Olivia swallowed, "how long have you been with Oliver?"

"A little over a year."

"What is the money for, Emilio?" Olivia made her voice soft.

"High school, I've always wanted to study. In my family it's a fantasy." He shrugged like it was no big deal, but his eyes gave him away, his secret dream was to go to high school.

"I can make that happen. How much do you want?" Olivia looked intensely at Emilio, the background he came from didn't leave him many chances, money wasn't the only factor in play when getting an education and a white -collar job.

At the Lawson's, the family had just finished their late dinner, Georgia hugged Olivia warmly, "I guess you're here to see Walker on a case? I've heard that you've started on your own. The White House must miss you terrible, honey. You look good."

"Thank you Georgia, how are you?" Olivia smiled pleasantly, avoiding any talk about the White House. Georgia was a sweet woman, who closed her eyes for all unpleasant in the world, and she was happy with her social circles and loved Fundraising parties.

"Fine, just fine. He's in his study, just go in he is expecting you, Olivia." Taking the cue Olivia strode to the study with rapid steps.

"Walker, Oliver." She greeted.

Judge Lawson got up for her smiling warmly, he was in his yearly sixties, he was starting to balding but his blue eyes were as sharp as ever, it was said that nothing escaped his attention in court. He had donated large amount of money to Fitz during the campaign, Olivia had won his respect when she was engaged to Senator Davis and he had trusted her gut, when she had approached him with her President candidate. His respect had only grown for this woman and so had his trust.

Sitting on the edge of the chair Olivia crossed her right leg over her left, "Emilio wants two millions, he wants to go to high school. It's a fair deal."

Oliver tensed in his seat, he had kept quiet and seemed to wish he was far away from his father's office. Olivia glanced at him but said nothing.

Judge Lawson's face became hard and unreadable, "for two millions he will drop the charges of sexual abuse?"

"Yes!"

"Oliver will pay!" The judge stated, "it will ruin Oliver to take this to court."

In the chair next to Olivia, Oliver tensed and his face lost some of it's color, "is there a problem. Oliver." Olivia gave him a full look.

His answer came fast but in a powerless tone of voice. "No, Ms. Pope."

Fitz walked with steady steps into the nursery where he found Mellie overlooking the couch.

"I think it will survive my sleeping in it." Fitz commented dryly. He watched Mellie jump in surprise.

"Fi…Fitz, you are back." She stammered, composing she plastered a sweet smile to her face, "you could've told me, it would have been only fitting that I welcomed you back at the plane.

"I didn't want that, Mellie." He made no effort to soften his tone of voice.

"Why are you back?" Mellie was warming up to a fight and she looked forward to it, it always helped her to release the tension stored in her body.

"Your actions forced me back. Calm your feathers Mellie; you've no power to negotiate this time. Air Force One is ready to fly you to Santa Barbara, where you will take a restful leave of absent."

"I will most certainly not!" Mellie yelled, "don't forget I am the reason you're still in office. You messed up big time, Fitzgerald Grant, don't you ever forget that."

"So did you, Mellie." He couldn't hold back a smile, "I won't hesitate to use it against you." He watched how the blood drained from her face.

"You wouldn't, it would destroy you too."

"You will leave in one hour. You are done ambushing me, Mellie."

It was getting late, even though Olivia was exhausted from lack of sleep her body wouldn't calm down, and the constant need to move, to be in motion combine with the failure of being able to focus annoyed her. She walked in eight shaped circles in her office, her mind working on high speed, how was she to face Fitz.

"I'm letting you go it's what you want" the words worked as background noise while she thought about Mellie and Oliver.

The door opened and Huck stepped hesitantly into the office, "there's something you should know about the First Lady." His words send a wave of chock through her body, her mind told her to run as far away from the White House as possible, but her heart kept pulling her back. She knew how elegantly Mellie manipulated her surroundings. The woman was a fair opponent.

Cyrus was waiting for Olivia at the entrance to the White House, silently he handed her a new pas that granted her unlimited access to the White House, on all times of the day. Taking a deep breath Olivia accepted the cold pass without looking at it, it felt like an old friend in her hand.

They were both quiet until they stepped into the oval room, "let's move to the small room behind this," Cyrus said, "we'll be out of the camera's range."

Hesitantly, Olivia walked into the room, it was a room full of memories, and the last place she wanted to be right now.

"The President will be here soon. I've the papers for you."

Olivia accepted the plastic folder holding her contract, suddenly she felt a little dizzy and uncertain, if she signed, she would be bound in a business relationship with Fits.

Taking the papers out of the plastic folder she read them quickly, the contact held no hidden agenda, no disadvantages for her or her firm. Actually, it was very loose in it wordings. When her eyes landed on the suggested salary she gasped, "the President is being very generous."

"Yes, it wasn't my idea. I advised him against this joke of a contract, but would he listen? Of course not, he wants a contract that leaves the most powerful man in the world in your power. I could be with James right now." He waved his hands in the air.

Olivia ignored his outburst, knowing it was steamed air. Finding a pen in her purse she signed the contract, "coworkers again Cyrus." She smiled without joy. She reached out her arm toward Cyrus to give him the folder back, when she heard the soft click of the door and her arm froze midair. She didn't need to look to know it was him, the increased speeding of her heartbeat told her that the President was in the room.

Cyrus snapped the folder from Olivia and held it out for Fitz, "we have all agreed to follow the road to destruction." He looked up in the air in his dramatic way.

Fitz accepted the folder and gave it his full attention for a brief moment, before he walked past Olivia and took his seat in an armchair opposite her, he carefully avoided touching any part of her in the passing. He laid the folder on the table and ignored it.

"Thank you for coming Olivia." He looked right through her with emotionless eyes, he looked beyond fatigue and his skin looked too grey to be healthy.

"Mr. President." The lump in her throat almost stole her ability to speak, and tears threatened to form in her eyes, angrily she blinked them away.

A small smile tugged at Fitz' mouth when she addressed him so formally, but he didn't correct her.

Finding it difficult to relax in her chair, she glanced around the room and her mouth became tight with disapproval.

"Shall we get to business?"

"Mr. President." Cyrus was eager to finish the meeting and escaping the tenseness in the room. Olivia stared briefly at Fitz before her eyes wandered around the room again, landing on the couch. She frowned.

Fitz glanced at her out of the corner of his eyes but ignored her discomfort. "Tonight my dear wife has decided to relocate to our house in Santa Barbara due to discomfort in her pregnancy." He let the words hang in the air.

Olivia's eyes now rested on the small desk further back in the room and her frown become deeper. Felling Fitz' eyes on her she removed the frown and looked at her hands instead.

"Good plan, Mr. President." Cyrus sounded relieved, "she'll be much easier to keep a tab on there, I'll advice full observation on her."

Fitz was still watching Olivia but she couldn't look up and meet his eyes, "already taken care of. Cyrus, will you get us a glass of red wine, please?"

Sighing heavily, Cyrus got up, "sure, Mr. President."

When Cyrus had left the room Fitz removed his eyes from Olivia and stared straight ahead of him, "it didn't happen in this room, Olivia." He said very quietly.

The lump grew bigger, "Mr. President?" she felt relief and deep hurt at the same time, it had happened, just not here.

"I've only…you've been my only guest in here." This time she looked at him, the tears so close to the surface. "Thank you" she whispered just before the door opened and Cyrus reappeared with three glasses and a bottle of red wine.

Olivia took two fast sips of wine, the taste lingered in her mouth and she relaxed a little, the wine was one of her favorites, one she had often shared with Fitz. Swiftly, her eyes flew to his face, he took a sip of his wine without acknowledge her glance.

"Mr. President do you know the man on the picture?" Olivia found the unclear picture she had gotten from Cyrus in the park.

He gave her a neutral stare, "of course I know him. It's Senator Marvin, he is pro invasion of East Sudan. He is very ambitious and not a fan of mine."

"Not but clearly a fan of your wife!" Olivia stated harshly.

"Mellie and I don't often share the same taste." Briefly, he stared straight into her eyes and she saw pain and hopelessness, and the lump came back.

"Did you know your wife and Marvin goes back a long time?" Olivia tested the water. To her left Cyrus leaned forward in the chair.

Fitz took a moment to sip his wine, "no, I didn't. How far back?"

"To college. At Harvard they had an affair, it lasted for two years."

Fitz didn't flinch, "I know she looked at other men from early in our marriage, but I never knew she had affairs already then. Maybe I was naïve to ignore the signs…" Some of the tension left his body.

Olivia wet her lips before she answered, "from Huck's sources they have been having affairs on and off for years and…"

"Don't spare me, Olivia." She couldn't read the expression his face held, was he hurt, angered, sad or didn't he care? It frustrated her that he kept his feelings from her.

"He's not the only one," Olivia whispered.

"No, we know the toe guy." Fitz gave her a cold half smile.

"How many and who?" Cyrus finally found his tongue.

"Four including the man she was caught with during the campaign. He is the only one outside of politic. The others have all become Senators. I've a list with names" She pulled the list out from a folder and lay in on the table before Fitz, he didn't do anything to take it so instead Cyrus reached for it.

"She has always been ambitious my darling wife. What a catch."

"I'll look into these gentlemen." Cyrus efficiently stated.

"Already happening, my guy is on it." Olivia wet her lips again, "the affair with Marvin has been going on for a year and a half in this round." She captured Fitz' eyes and suddenly the time stood still, the air got caught in her lungs, her heart beat speeded up and her face became a bit flushed. His gaze caressed her like it used to do when times were happier between them. His heart was in his eyes. It only lasted for a few seconds before he guarded his eyes from her. The painful pang in her heart shocked her.

"It seems Mellie is serious about getting a seat at the adult table." Fitz commented.

"It would seem so, Mr. President. Looks like she has been playing us all." Cyrus got up and moved around in the room.

"What about the leaks Cyrus?" Olivia asked, "how bad are they."

Stopping, Cyrus waved the list in the air, "compared to these, small. The President's drinking habits, a picture of a passed out President in the nursery, a schedule of The President's personal daily program down to intimate details and so on." Cyrus waved with the list again, "I never thought the President needed protection from his inner circle, you choose the women in your life well, Mr. President!" He sounded bitter.

Fitz stared out in the air, the lines in his face showed how tired and stressed out he was.

Olivia closed her eyes briefly, she felt tired to her bones. For such a long time she had felt guilty for her forbidden love, felt like a home wrecker and the guilt had only dulled a little when Mellie's infidelity had come to the surface. It hadn't justified her own affair with Fitz, but Mellie had never claimed to love the toe man and had given him up without looking back. Olivia had always been in love with Fitz. Didn't it count for something in the book of rights and wrongs?

"Mr. President, Olivia, let us call it a night. Olivia let us know what your man finds and let us hope no one knows about the affairs. Same time tomorrow?"

Both Olivia and Fitz gave small nods in agreement. Without stalling Cyrus left the room leaving Olivia and Fitz alone. Olivia abruptly jump to her feet, she couldn't breathe.

To be continued