A/N: Finally a little fun happens for Fitz and Mellie. Thank you so much for reading and please feel free to leave a review!

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

We sat on the back patio by the fire pit one cool Tuesday night in May, curled up on the wicker furniture. I had my arm around her, stroking her long hair as she scrolled through her texts, answering Jade back from all her messages she sent earlier.

"You excited for the party tomorrow?" I asked, excited for her. I hated little social parties - I was more of an all out guy myself - but she enjoyed them. She refused to let Jade call it a baby shower. Something about it made her feel old, she said.

"I guess," she shrugged. "We'll just have to get up early and get out to the mansion. I just don't want to be the center of attention," she finally confessed. I knew that's what it was this entire time. She hated having all eyes on her, no matter what the occasion.

"Mel, just try to enjoy it, ok? It's only a few of us. Just Jade and Kelly and a few ladies from the office who I insisted come. And the guys, of course," I said. I could tell by the look on her face she wasn't excited about unfamiliar people being there.

"It's only Hillary, Taylor, and Valerie. You know them. They said they wouldn't miss it for the world and were mega excited," I smiled. "It'll be fine. It's only from one to four. And Jade said I'm not allowed to bring you out there until twelve thirty, so you don't have to get up early."

A small smile appeared on her face as she sat on my lap, just wanting to feel closer. I wouldn't have dared turned her away. I had needed this for a while, too.

I felt my phone buzz in my back pocket and tried not to grin. I knew it was my ticket confirmation for our flight and suites at The Venetian in Las Vegas. I was determined our last big getaway before we became parents was going to go out with a bang.

I had seen too many relationships, too many of my friends' lives crushed by this game they call politics. I knew the cards I had been dealt gave me both advantages and disadvantages, but I refused to let us crumble, I refused to let us lose this game. That's one of the reasons I planned this trip, to let us get away and recharge. Our name was still being thrown around, more rumors being started every day. I prayed it would die down soon.

I sat in a chair across the living room from her, watching from a distance as the ladies around her handed her gifts to open. They were all on the couch by the fireplace, and the guys were hanging around me, watching. We had all played "the cutest game I found on Pinterest", according to Hillary, ate plenty of finger foods, and were surrounded by pink baby decorations. I enjoyed it, mainly because I saw her at ease, enjoying herself.

Her eyes lit up with every gift, realizing how blessed we truly were, despite our small social circle and our pasts. We knew God had us on the right path.

But in less than an hour, the party was over, and everyone had gone home except Jade. The funniest sight was seeing her round up the guys and get them to help her clean everything up. I finished moving the last of the gifts to the furnished nursery and found them all in the kitchen, sitting around the island, finishing off the last of the desserts. Jade caught a glimpse of the look in my eyes as I approached and knew I was ready.

"Hey, I almost forgot, there's one more present to give you," she said to Mellie, digging in her pockets and through her purse looking for it.

"Hey Fitz, do you have it?" Jade questioned. Mellie quickly turned around and saw me behind her with a gold box in my hand.

"I do," I said, looking into Mellie's blue eyes slowly.

"What is this?" She asked me as I handed it to her, hoping she would like it. She had liked all of our previous getaways, and Vegas was something new.

"Just open it," Jade smiled, seeing the guys trying to hold back their anticipation and excitement.

She opened it, setting the lid on the marble counter, picking up a plane ticket and note attached to it, reading it silently.

"We're...we're going to Vegas?" She asked excitedly, looking at me. I nodded with a huge smile and she squealed.

"All of us are," I said, getting a cheer from the guys. "I booked it last week. Our flight leaves Thursday morning at seven. I figured we could all use a weekend away, and Kelly and Jade are coming too. You'll see the rest of the gift when you get there," I smiled, giving her a kiss.

She hugged me tightly and I saw Jade grab her phone and look at the time.

"Mel, it's 4:30, we gotta go," she said hurriedly. Mellie quickly let go and grabbed her phone and purse.

"Go where?" I asked, wondering what the rush was.

"To find her a new outfit. She has a date tonight," she said quietly, kissing me before following her friend out the door with Chris and Lance behind them.

Ben and I stood there, wondering what this was all about as we looked around. The mansion was still clean even after the party, and we decided to lock up and head back to the house.

We had to pack for four days of fun.

"You went too soon," I cried, kneeling on my mother's grave a few days after her funeral. My pants were filthy, covered in the fresh soil.

My heart was heavy, and it felt like it was sinking all the way into my stomach. It was late, around ten or eleven that night when I had left. I didn't tell anyone at the house I was leaving.

I pulled a few tea candles out of my pocket and set them by her wilting flowers, lighting them slowly. My tears fell around them, almost falling into one.

I was at a loss for words. I just wanted her here with me again. I didn't understand why God would take her now. Why did He allow that drunk driver to crash his car into her, why did He let her die and let him live?

I didn't know what I would do without her. I had to go back to SEAL training in a few days. I hated the thought, but I knew she wouldn't want me to give up. She would say I had gotten too far to give everything up now.

I had no one now.

My father had never cared about me, and never really cared much about my mother either. But he had his own way of dealing with grief, and it was drinking his sorrows away.

I sat there for probably an hour, talking quietly, knowing she was listening. My eyes began to feel heavy, and I felt even more depressed than I had before. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the slam of a car door, and I turned around, seeing a shadow walk towards me. I turned back around, wondering who was here and if it was a cop trying to throw me out for being here so late.

I heard quiet footsteps getting closer and closer, then a soft-spoken voice.

"Fitz."

I felt a warm hand on my shoulder as she knelt beside me.

I felt Mellie beside me.

She pulled me into her arms and let me cry in front of her for as long as I needed to. She said comforting things to me, despite all of her own problems at the time. My mother loved her, and that made my entire world.

I still had Mellie.