A/N: I really hope y'all enjoy this chapter because it is one of my favorites. Feel free to leave a review!

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing from ABC's Scandal or anyone/anything else.

"You cold-hearted jerk!" I grunted, swinging at Jerry's face, his jaw cracking, and then going for his ribs. He doubled over as I hit him in the side again and growled angrily. He would never, ever get away with what he had done. The anger built up inside me more and more with each punch, each dodge from his, each time he almost fell.

"Fitz, wake up," I heard Mellie say worriedly as she shook my arm.

I sat up straight in bed, sweat rolling down my face, panting heavily as I grabbed the warm mattress. I grabbed my alarm clock and saw it was 5:15 a.m.

"What happened?" She asked, sitting up beside me, stroking my hair and neck. "You were grunting and yelling and I was worried."

"It was just a bad dream," I sighed, knowing I had to be up at six and may as well stay up and get something done. "Just go back to sleep," I whispered. She laid back down and pulled the covers up to her neck.

I grabbed my phone and saw it was only the second Tuesday in this long month of April. I picked out some cool clothes to wear, knowing it was already getting hot outside, and went to take a shower.

I was sitting in my home office early before work, looking at the stack of medical bills that had piled up recently. I had looked over all of them, but still had to call the insurance about each one.

So I picked up the phone and began calling, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, before getting on the phone with a representative.

As she began speaking, I saw Mellie come out of the bedroom and going into the kitchen. I wondered why she was awake this early, unless she wanted to talk before I went to work.

"Yes ma'am, I was calling about recent procedures that had been done. The billing statements said none of the procedures had been cleared through the insurance yet," I explained. She explained everything to me, I thanked her, and slammed the phone down on the receiver.

"Damn it," I growled angrily. "Good for nothing insurance."

I didn't even notice Mellie walk in with a cup of coffee for me at this point, I was so angry. I slammed my fists on the desk and sighed.

"We pay hundreds of dollars a month for insurance-"

She set the cup down on my desk and sighed softly, looking at me with a questioning expression on her sleepy face.

"What happened?" She asked me. I sighed and got up, walking to the front of the desk, sitting on the edge, right in front of her.

"Some bills came in and the insurance won't cover it. I just don't see why we pay for insurance and then can't use it, is all," I sighed, sipping my fresh coffee, noticing the sun shining through the blinds and onto the floor.

"Well, how much were they?" She asked.

I wasn't even going to tell her about one bill, let alone that it was all costing upwards of $32,000. We could pay for it, that wasn't an issue. The fact the insurance wouldn't help is what made me mad. She didn't need to worry about any of it. I would pay any price to see that she was safe and healthy

"Don't worry about it. We can pay it off," I said, setting my cup down and she crossed her arms. She would find out; she was good at weaseling information out of me.

"Fitz, you know I'll worry about it either way, so just tell me," she said.

"You don't need to know, ok? I don't want you feeling bad about it because none of this was avoidable," I explained.

"Damn it," she whispered under her breath through her teeth, already feeling guilty as she walked towards the door. "More or less than $20,000?"

"Less," I lied. "I told you we could afford it. Don't worry about it. I'm about to pay it."

"When are you going to work?" She asked in almost a sad tone, leaning against the doorframe, looking at the floor.

"In about thirty minutes. You want to come with?"

She shook her head no quietly and looked around my office. "Not today."

She walked out and went back into the living room, and turned on the TV. She stretched out on the sofa, looking sad, almost depressed, and threw a blue blanket over her body.

I sighed, wanting to stay. I would feel better about it if I did. I didn't want her like this here alone. I decided I would go to work until two, come home, and take her out somewhere this afternoon. Maybe to the zoo, maybe to a game. Just somewhere to get her out.

I put my papers and the bills in my bag, determined not to let her see them, grabbed the truck keys, told her goodbye, and went to work early.

I was ready for this afternoon.

I was sitting in my home office late on a Friday afternoon in my jeans and gray t-shirt, going over proposals for the next House meeting on Tuesday. I wanted to get done with my work so I could just relax a little with Mel this weekend, but I could barely focus. All I could hear was the old clock on the wall ticking and feel a draft coming in through the doorway. I sighed and took off my reading glasses, setting them down on top of the files. I turned off my lamp and stood up, stretching before I walked out and into the kitchen, seeing what I could make for dinner. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket as I opened the fridge and turned on my favorite playlist. I grabbed a beer and took a drink, then decided it would probably be best to ask Mel what she wanted to eat. To my surprise, she had her arms wrapped around my waist before I even turned around.

"Hey baby," I said, taking another drink and turning around, giving her a hug. She pulled me in closer and ran her hands up and down my back, sighing deeply. I could feel her chest rise and fall slowly against mine, but I could also feel something else. It was like a want, a need, something she wasn't telling me.

"What do you want for dinner?" I asked, setting my beer down as she sat on the gray granite countertop, her hair up in a messy ponytail and her gray shorts and white t-shirt giving her the cutest lazy look.

"I don't know," she said quietly, crossing her ankles. "What were you thinking?"

"Steak and grilled vegetables," I said, standing in front of her, admiring her beauty. "Let me ask this, what do you not want?" I smiled softly.

"Not steak," she giggled, reaching her hand out for mine, pulling me in to her. "Why don't we just go to the store and get something later?" She said softly. "There's not much here and I'm not really hungry now, unless you're just starving."

"You sure you want to go out that late, Mrs. Grant?" I said, knowing being called that made her the happiest woman on earth and drove her wild at the same time. "You might..." I gasped softly, "risk being seen. With me." I joked, nudging her arm with a smile. I always teased like we were something famous. I got a smile out of her, but didn't realize what else I had done until I felt my arm being jerked back and her soft lips against mine, the alcohol on my breath mixing with hers. I obviously kissed her back as her hands rested on my hips and my arms around her shoulders. We kissed for a few more minutes until her gentle hands made their way under my shirt, warm against my chilled body.

"Mel," I pulled away with a whisper, looking into her beautiful blue eyes, "I'm not trying to ruin this moment, but I don't want to do anything you're not ready for," I explained softly, still holding her close. "If you're not ready to physically love like this again...I'll keep waiting. I love you. I would wait until the end of time for you, Melanie."

I knew it could be months, possibly even years before she ever felt secure and confident enough to love physically again, if it ever happened, and I was ready to embrace it and its challenges.

One of those challenges was the power she felt he still held over her, even when he was dead. I could tell some days when she slipped back into that mindset, back to when her life was not her own. I had to remember this, and that it was more of a mental than physical challenge.

"No... I just...I think I'm ready. It's been almost half a year since we've made love. Since… the rape," she tripped over those words. "I want to physically love you, Fitz."

I nodded softly and kissed her forehead, then looked back into her eyes.

"Stop me if you need to," I assured her. "I don't mind, baby."

"Ok," she whispered, pulling me back into her embrace. I wrapped my arms around her still small frame and kissed her pink lips again. At five and a half months pregnant, she could no longer hide the fact, but she would always be the same petite young woman I met years ago at law school to me.

I began kissing her neck, gentle enough to elicit a soft gasp from her yet rough enough to leave my mark. I rested my elbows and forearms on the kitchen cabinets above her, my fists pressed tightly against them as our lips met again momentarily. Her hands pulled my body closer to hers and slowly explored my tough skin under my shirt. She backed her lips away from mine, her warm breath sending a chill down my spine. I could tell she wanted to slow down, and I didn't want to make her feel pressured in any way.

"Mellie," I whispered, almost inaudible. "If..." I felt her strong hands tug on my biceps, feeling trapped. I realized what I had done as I lowed my arms and hoped I hadn't ruined everything.

"Please...I just need to gather my thoughts and slow down a little," she said with closed eyes and her hands in mine. She took a few deep breaths and looked back into my eyes. I could see peace within her for the first time in weeks.

I picked her up off the cold counter and swiftly carried her to our bedroom, turning off the main light and turning a small lamp on as I shut the door behind me. I laid her down on the bed and we slowly undressed each other, enjoying our intimate moment together. I could feel the fear leave in every movement of her body as we made love. I could feel the love and trust coming back.

As I took a shower around eight that night, I heard Mellie knock on the bathroom door, coming in to dry her hair. I peeked out from behind the shower curtain and saw her in jeans, a ruffled white shirt, and her gray sweater.

"You are looking stunning this evening, Mrs. Grant," I smiled, getting her to turn around as she plugged up the hair dryer. She laughed softly and came over and gave me a kiss.

"I think you need to take a cold shower, Mr. Grant," she said, reaching in and turning the hot water off with a teasing smile. I smiled and closed the curtain as she walked away, turning the hot water back on and finishing my shower. I couldn't help but remember our loving moments earlier, how much strength that took of her, how open and welcoming she was of me. It made me happy.

I turned the water off and grabbed a fluffy gray towel as I got out, wrapping it around my waist and going to the closet to find something to wear. I pulled out a light pink button down and jeans and quickly got dressed. I was ready to go wherever she wanted.

Twenty minutes later, we jumped in the truck and headed downtown to get something to eat. As I drove down the backroads leading from our house to the highway, I could see happiness in my wife as she waved her arm out the open window with a smile. The night air felt amazing as I rolled down my window. I glanced over and smiled, and all I saw was a beautiful smile and a woman finally at ease.

I still turned around while she undressed that night after we got home, pretending I was looking for a different shirt to sleep in in the closet. I didn't know if she was comfortable dressing in front of me or not; we never talked about it because I knew she would come to me with it when she was ready.

Granted, I know we had sex and she was naked then, but that was a moment of escape from this world. Our minds were focused; I was glad to see her thinking about something else other than Jerry for a moment.

She took off her clothes, standing there in nothing but her black bra and panties as her pajamas lay on the bed.

"Fitz," she said quietly. I stood up and turned halfway around, not looking directly at her.

"Yeah?" I asked quietly.

"Look at me," she whispered, staring dead at me.

I couldn't believe it. She was allowing me to look at her beautiful body and soul after months of hiding herself away.

"Are you sure?" I questioned again, wanting to make sure she was positive in her choice.

"Yes," she said. "I can't live in hiding forever. I gave myself to you earlier, and honestly, it was hard. Yes, I wanted that pleasure and to make both of us happy, but it was killing me inside to get undressed in front of you, to let you explore me naked, to let us become one again for the first time since…" she explained.

"And it was amazing to feel that passion and love with you again. I know it was a struggle, but it was great to feel that after feeling empty for so long," she said, her voice trembling as a tear came to her eye.

"You are my husband, my lover, my rock," she said. "I can't hide myself from you. It has done nothing but push us farther from each other, and it is killing me because I want us to be strong. I need to heal, I've come to accept that; but I also need you, Fitz, so please...just look at me."

I turned fully towards her, looking over her entire beautiful, loving body. I sighed quietly and closed my eyes, shaking my head.

I quickly smiled and her eyes met mine. I could see the doubt in her clear blue eyes; she thought I believed she was ugly.

"Gosh, you're beautiful," I said in a hushed tone, in disbelief. She was gorgeous, and she couldn't see that. I walked slowly to her and stopped in front of her, looking at every inch of her body from her head to her cute little toes.

"Melanie Richardson," I said, and she immediately knew I was serious as our eyes met, "I have never seen another woman in my entire life as beautiful as you. Your hair, your eyes, your hands, your whole body is amazing; but also your heart, personality, kindness, and forgiving spirit make you equally beautiful." I took her soft hands into mine as she continued to look into my eyes.

"I don't know what to say, Fitz," she whispered to me. I didn't want her to say anything. I just wanted her to accept it.

"You don't have to say anything. Just accept those things as true," I said with a smile. She grinned and pulled me in for a long hug, both of us feeling safe. I rubbed her smooth back gently and was still surprised that we had gotten this close in such a short period of time.

We pulled away and put on our pajamas, getting in the bed together. She fell asleep snuggled up next to me only minutes later, and it was amazing.

This was the Mel I knew.