Disclaimer: Scandal belongs to Shonda Rhimes
Author's note: Thanks for spending time on my story. I wonder if Scandal will be the series where two meant for each other, Liv and Fitz, will never get each other. Edison is a nice man but all roads lead to Fritz, hopefully.
Take It Easy On Me
Chapter 7
Olivia had called her team in for a briefing. They all looked expectedly at her hoping for a new case and she smiled, they were workaholics just like her.
"I know you all hope for a new case, unfortunately you'll have to wait a little longer." She paused briefly, "I called you in because I want to inform you all before the news becomes public knowledge. I'm temporarily working for the President. It won't consume all of my time and we are open for new cases."
"Oh, so the secret is out. So kind of you to let us into your little, secret world." Abby never thought before she spoke her piece of mind.
"I thought I saw some fixing of Olivia Pope on CNN today." Harrison said lightly.
Husk kept silent, he was still investigating the First Lady and wasn't surprised. Quinn stared at Olivia and her was mouth wide open.
"She used to work at the White House!" Abby watched Quinn amused, "will you need us on the White House case."
"I know." Quinn said.
"No. Relax now that you have the chance, hopefully we get a case very soon."
"Easy to say when you are playing with the heavy and having fun." Abby mocked.
Back at the White House she found Cyrus and Fitz in the Oval room watching the news, silently she joined her, both men looked briefly at her but said nothing.
"The First lady has showed signs of distress since she revealed her miscarriage in front of rolling cameras. Her emotions became very easy to read from that point on and she has often been very emotionally since. If we look at pictures and interviews from before the miscarriage, we see another kind of woman, a very collected and in some ways a unemotional woman. She expressed her opinions clearly and appeared more interested in her own career than in supporting her husband. You knew what to expect of her."
"Good work, Cyrus." Olivia complemented. She had been gauging Fitz's reactions thought the analyze of the changes in the First Lady, and she saw a man tired of it all and not a monster enjoying his wife being belittled on national television.
The vibration of her phone startled them all, and looking at the display she frowned. "Pope." Olivia rushed to her desk wanting a little privacy for this conversation. "Ok, tomorrow . I'll fly out to you." She stated firmly.
In deep thoughts she stalked back to Fitz and Cyrus who both looked curiously at her, the sound on the television mute.
"Do you want a glass of wine, Olivia?" Cyrus asked. Nodding she sat down again. She kept silent until she had accepted the glass. "Mellie wants a meeting with me tomorrow. I accepted, believing we need to hear her plans."
"That was earlier than I expected but good. This is good." Cyrus moved happily around now.
Olivia found Fitz's eyes, he looked worried and she couldn't help wondering why, "have you spoken to her today?" she asked instead.
His mouth twisted in something sampling a smile, "I followed your orders, we spoke of the weather, about that she wanted to return here, and how much she had sacrificed for getting me to the White House. A pleasant conversation as usual. Your name wasn't mentioned. So no, I didn't know about this phone call." His eyes were sincere and he had no reason to lie to her anyway, not anymore.
"Excellent. James is waiting with wine and dinner, if you'll excuse me." Cyrus left without any long farewells.
Olivia looked at her glass of wine, accepting it she had accepted to stay for a while which she now regretted. The silence between them was awkward and intimidating. Not really knowing what to do, she took a sip of the wine and was very pleased, taking another sip she relaxed a little.
"Still your favorite?" He smiled mildly at her.
She returned his smile, "yes, I've to find a better yet."
"I'm glad." He sounded pleased with himself, "that goes for me too."
Her heart skipped a beat, "I'm glad too." They both looked down at their glasses, smiling and knowing they were not talking about the wine. Fitz had found the first bottle of this label in Ohio, when they had got stuck at a motel due to bus trouble. It was on one of Mellie breaks from the state cruises and Cyrus was occupied with his new love James, these circumstances gave them hours of rare alone time together. Fitz had sneaked out of the motel and picked up a bottle of wine and Chinese out takes and they had stayed in her room talking and made love.
Their eyes met and she realized Fitz remembered too, her eyes became soft and she forgot to hide her feelings from him. She watched how surprise filled it eyes before love was the only feeling in them. For a minute, they shared an unguarded moment before reality brought them back to the oval room.
"Will you like some dinner before you leave? The chief has made grilled chicken, baked potatoes and salad. I'll take it in here and there is plenty to share."
"Thanks, I'll like that."
Fitz got up and moved to the tray on the small serving table, he took the tops of two plates, gathered two sets of cutleries and the plates, and then came back to the table giving them each a set.
"Smells delicious." Olivia dug into the food, for once, she was hungry and it seemed Fitz had found his appetite too. For a time they enjoyed the food in friendly silence.
"Do you enjoy being your own boss, you talked a lot about starting your own and it seems you built a solid company in no time, Olivia?"
"I am lucky, it is easy for me get clients they seem to find me. I've good people working for me, very loyal. I don't regret my decision though I do miss being an active part on the political scene, changing the laws and work for the good cause."
"You still change people's lives just in a smaller scale now, you will make a good politician, Liv.
"No, I never wanted that. I like what I do, working behind the scene, and I don't want to be the cover face. I'm not destined to do great things like you are."
Chuckling, he shook his head, "I'm not destined to do great things, I just fight for what I believe in. I didn't go into politics to become the President but to make America an even better place to life, I still want that. But I'm just an ordinary man with ordinary hopes and dreams, don't be fooled by the title or the tales of Cyrus. I am just a man."
"I've always believed you are what America needs right now, that this is your call."
"You told me I had to earn your vote!" He sounded amused.
"I lied, you already had my vote." She winked.
"You had me working so hard." He laughed, it had been such a long time since she had heard his laughter, and it made her feel so happy that she started laughing too.
He became serious, "I think my call is to follow my heart, I think that's every person's call. I don't believe I can do great things without my heart, anyways." He watched her intensely, "Cyrus tries to manipulate me to follow his political agendas, and one of he's methods is to call me destined to do greatness. He is a manipulator, always."
"I know." Sighing, she continued softly, "but I also believe in you." That was the bottom-line, she believed in his ability to make a difference and she would only ruin his Presidency.
"To be President is only part of the man, Liv." He smiled sadly. It was so good to hear him call her Liv again, she had missed that too.
"What time are you leaving tomorrow?"
"Early, I hope. I don't want it to be an overnight stay." Looking at her watch she frowned, they had talk for a couple of hours, "I've to go home and book a flight if I want to fly out tomorrow. Thanks for dinner it was just what I needed."
His eyes became warm, "you're most welcome. Your travel expenses will be covered."
They shared a long moment looking into each other's eyes before she gathered the power to leave. All roads lead to Fritz, at least in her heart.
In the airport a rental car with a driver picked her up, she was thankful that Fitz had been this thoughtful, she was tired after a long night thinking and planning and worrying. Mellie had cornered her before, and she wondered how Mellie knew she was back at the White House.
The car ride ended all too soon, and when the car stopped in front of a large yellow house with two floors, she took a deep breath and controlled her nerves. This was just another life to fix and she was good at her job.
The door opened before she knocked and a woman welcomed her in, the woman was in her early fifties and clearly hired to take care of the household in the President's home in Santa Barbara.
Glancing curiously around her on the way to Mellie's study Olivia wasn't impressed, pastel colors dominated the house giving it a cold, unwelcoming touch, it was all very Mellie.
Mellie was standing looking out of the glass door to the garden, she turned when Olivia came into the study and showed that her abdomen had gotten bigger. Olivia swallowed the lump forming in her throat she had fixed this pregnancy, and had no right to feel anything about it. Moreover, she just worked for the President.
"Hallo Olivia, I guess, I was right when I recognized your work on the press release."
"Hallo Mellie, I've been asked to consult the White House in this time of different opinions."
Mellie smiled sarcastically, "do sit down. Fitz does sound more content and that is always a clear sign of that you two are talking. We agreed that I took back my husband, but he is awful difficult to take back."
Olivia kept eye contact with the First Lady but didn't react to her declaration, "why did you send for me, Mellie?"
"I don't like to be reduced to a weak expecting mother, to be considerate too emotional to make a real stand on the political scene. I went to Harvard, for Christ sake. I was first in my class. I want to be taken seriously." She was angry now and her voice became louder, "I want to be a part of the political decision making."
Olivia had expected something like that but she wasn't sure exactly what Mellie wanted, "do go on." She said in a cool, calm voice.
"I want to be a part of Fitz's inner circle or run for the Senate, I'm tired of playing the supporting role when I can do so much better. I'm tired of a weak Fitz." There was nothing sweet or emotional about Mellie at this point.
Olivia studied the woman before her closely, "what if your wishes can't be granted, what will happen then?"
"Make it happen. I can destroy his Presidency with a few words, he knows how easily I can do that." Mellie patted her abdomen, she had a hard time hiding her bitterness, "I thought being the First Lady was playing with the big boys."
"I'll talk to your husband, or you talk to your husband, that would be the simple solution to a private problem." Olivia felt sick to her stomach; she never wanted to be a marriage fixer for the man she loves.
Mellie gave her a cold smile, "tell him I'm willing to share him, it will help him make the decision, I'm sure."
Olivia had to ask, "why now?"
"I'm tired of wasting my time with wifely duties and Fitz is clearly unable to make the hard calls. He is so idealistic and it may have been sweet one time but it's becoming old news. I deserve more."
"Don't we all" Olivia thought, she stood up, "I'll see what I can do." They shared a look and then Olivia went away. This was difficult to work with and she only knew Mellie's demands so far, but it was unheard of that a president's wife worked in her husband's administration, and it was unheard of that a First Lady had a political opinion on anything.
Olivia went directly to the White House from the airport, she was spending almost all of her time here these days and it was taking a toll on her. It was an emotional challenge to be around Fitz so many hours a day and she was falling even deeper in love with him. She loved him and she didn't want to share.
In her office behind the oval room Fitz and Cyrus waited for her with a fresh pot of coffee and thankfully, she poured a cup, mostly because she needed the caffeine but also to stalk time. She felt unprepared and didn't like the feeling.
Fitz seemed to be lost in his thoughts and Cyrus watched him worriedly. Finally, Fitz looked at her, "what did Mellie want that she couldn't discuss directly with me?"
Olivia wet her lips with the tip of her tongue, "she wants to hold an advisory position at your administration or run for Senate."
"Oh, nothing big?" Cyrus said sarcastically throwing his arms up in the air, "not a problem, the First Lady will take a paid job at the White House, and then we'll just need a First Lady. Any candidates?"
"Has she lost her mind? Why would I give in to her demands?" Fitz asked confused.
Olivia studied him closely for a while he looked honestly surprised."She said she can destroy you with a few words and you know that." Fitz became uncomfortable, "she will be destroyed to." He said very quietly.
Olivia stiffened, he was hiding something very important and she hated being played. "I can't fix this if I don't know the truth, Mr. President!" Her voice was harsh.
Cyrus sat stiff in the chair his eyes wild, "is this going to explode in my face, Mr. President?"
Fitz stared at Olivia for a long time weighting his options, finally his expression changed from indecision to clarity."The baby is not mine." He stated in a stable voice.
"What…excuse me, Mr. President?" Cyrus yelled.
Olivia sat still, her world had stopped and she didn't understand what was happening.
"Mellie's baby isn't mine. I couldn't do it." Fitz seemed to be fine with the fact that his wife was pregnant with another man's baby.
"You couldn't do it, so what, Mr. President? This is you exploding in my face!" Cyrus had gotten up from the chair and stood hovering over Fitz.
"Calm down, Cyrus!" Fitz demanded and waited until Cyrus stepped away from him, "I never wanted to be fixed into fatherhood, but too cowardly to walk away, I agreed to this scam."
"Who's the father?" Deep in her heart Olivia was overjoyed, Fitz was not the father of Mellie's baby.
"I don't know, Olivia. I never really gave a damn. She needed a baby to stay on the throne as First Lady and I had no reason to leave office, so we agreed to play our parts on our own terms.
"How do you want to handle this situation, Mr. President?" She felt so confusion, not really knowing whether to be happy, sad or angry. Truthfully, she felt shocked and numb.
"I want a divorce!" He spoke the words loud and clear.
"You can't stay President and get a divorce at the same time. Leaving the office would be wrong after all we have worked for, and after all we have sacrificed, after all I've sacrificed!"
Fitz gave Cyrus a cold glare, "we have all made sacrifices, Cyrus. If you want me to stay in office, find a way for me to be divorced without stepping down. I've made my choice." Without further ado he left.
Cyrus looked heartbroken, "he is the best man for this job I've ever met, America can't lose him. I believe in him. Find a plan, Olivia." Cyrus looked shaken in a way she had never seen him before. He too left the room and she was suddenly alone. Ignoring her need to see Fitz she left too.