A/N: I've been slow to upload this chapter because I'm trying to find a good song for it (the original song I chose will probably be with the final chapter) and I've been working on more chapters. There's probably somewhere around seven or eight chapters total left, and only maybe two or three left to write. I love knowing y'all are actually reading what I write, and I love reviews. Thanks for reading.

Song: Out Of My League by Fitz and The Tantrums

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

I woke up around nine one Saturday in late June, thankful we didn't have any events to go to today. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and noticed Mellie was still asleep, which I was glad for. Sleep for her seemed to be almost nonexistent now, and I let her sleep whenever she got a chance. I picked up my prosthesis and put the sock over my ankle, but was surprised - this was the third time this week I couldn't feel the sock on my leg. I brushed it off and put on my foot and went about my day.

I put on my favorite gray shorts, white t-shirt, and red Nikes before grabbing my phone and heading out the door. I sent Mellie a text and told her I went for a walk and started down the driveway.

It didn't feel like a running kind of morning, or even a jogging kind of morning. I didn't even want to work out today. I just wanted to relax. So that's what I did.

I probably walked four or five miles through the woods at the back of our land before coming back to the house about two hours later. It felt good to get away for a minute, to clear my mind, to think, to be all alone.

I came back and found Mellie on the back patio, still in her pink t-shirt and black pajama shorts, reading a book on her iPad. I sat beside her on the wicker couch and put my arm around her before propping my feet up on the table beside hers.

"Good morning," I smiled, giving her a quick kiss. She smiled back and marked her page, then set her iPad down. "Enjoying the book?"

"Most definitely," she said. "I'm almost done with it. How was your walk?"

"It was...good," I exhaled satisfactorily. "Really good. I feel better."

"That's good to hear, Mr. Grant," she smiled, putting her hand into mine. "How about some lunch?"

"Sounds great, Mrs. Grant," I kissed her again and got up, leading her inside. We went into the kitchen and she began pulling stuff out of the fridge when she stopped me from helping.

"You go get the guys in here and then sit down," she ordered as she got the bread out of the cabinet. I followed instructions and rounded up the guys and we all sat at the island, waiting. I secretly enjoyed her bossy side, but I would never let on that I did.

She handed us some glasses of water as they took off their radios and guns and laid them on the counter. She turned around with each of us a plate with a chicken salad sandwich, apples, and chips.

"And when did you make this?" I asked, taking a bite of my sandwich, which was amazing.

"While you were out walking," she smiled, fixing her own plate and sitting across from us on the lowered countertop.

"It's really good," Ben said, quickly finishing his sandwich.

"Yeah, thanks, Mellie," Chris and Lance chimed in as they ate.

I was glad the guys were more than just regular security. They were some of our closest friends and we could do things like have lunch with them. I was so grateful for them. I was just worried about having to hire another guy or two. Mellie told me that she would feel better if we got more security when the baby was born, and I knew our safety came first. Ben said he knew a couple of really good guys looking for steady work, and I agreed to meet with them next week.

I finished my food quickly and got up to put my plate in the sink when my eyes met hers, and I put a hand on her waist as she ate an apple slice. She pulled me in to her side and kissed me softly, biting my lip before pulling away.

"Any plans for this afternoon?" She asked softly, and I knew she probably already had some sort of plan.

"Outside, two on two, ten minutes," Chris said to Ben. "You and Lance against me and Fitz. Best two games out of three."

"You're on," Ben said, finishing his sandwich. I had clearly missed something while thinking about the possible new guys. But I was always up for a game of basketball.

"I guess so," I shrugged to Mellie. "We'll do something in a little while," I promised, and got a smile out of her. I poured a glass of sweet tea for me and one for Mellie and sat back on the counter.

"You'll be the ref?" I asked her nicely.

"Aren't I always?" She laughed softly, nudging my arm and drinking her tea.

We went outside and began our game, and me and Chris destroyed as usual. Ben might be my strongest guy, but his weak spot was basketball. I made a three pointer and looked over at Mellie, who was deep into her magazine as she lounged on her lawn chair. She didn't even see me, but this is how most games went. Sports weren't really her thing, unless it involved beating me. She slayed at baseball, there was no arguing it.

I blocked Ben's shot and he nodded at Lance, letting him know to get the ball back. Their communication was weak. Me and Chris never even had to speak to know what the other was thinking.

Two games and twenty-eight points later, we were way ahead of them. They only had fourteen points and barely won the second game. We had it made, and I threw the ball to Chris right after Mellie declared this the game deciding shot. I knew she was either tired of watching us or had finished her magazine. I glanced her way - it was the magazine.

He made the shot and we smiled as we heard Lance and Ben groan about losing for the second time today.

"Maybe next time," I said, giving Chris a look before we burst into laughter. We took a seat on the bench they had put by the goal in the driveway and I saw Mellie pick up her magazine again. I knew this meant she still wanted to hang out with us, but not suffer through another competitive game. I could tell she was looking my way when I lowered my sunglasses just enough for her to see my eyes and winked at her. She smiled a little and went back to her magazine, shaking her head.

"Fitz, what's wrong with your leg?" I heard Chris say seriously. I immediately looked down at my left leg and saw what was left of the lower part was swollen and blood red. I took off my prosthetic quickly and Mellie sat beside me to see about it. I touched my stump and I couldn't feel my fingers touching it, but it was hot as fire.

"I can't feel it," I said nervously. "Damn it," I sighed, shaking my head.

"Go get some jeans and a bag of ice," Ben told Chris and Lance. He knew my thoughts. I couldn't let anyone know about this. I had to wear pants, despite it being the middle of summer in the dead heat of the day. "As soon as we get you changed, we're going to the VA. I'm calling your doctor right now," Ben said, pulling out his phone.

"Fitz, what's happening?" Mellie said worriedly, taking my hand when she saw me wipe my eyes.

"They told me after I had the rest of my foot amputated there was a possibility in the future for complications. Things like nerve damage, phantom sensations, pain, numbness, restricted blood flow, weakness...I'm pretty sure this is nerve damage and probably a blood clot," I sighed. "It's been numb a couple of other times this week. It's happened occasionally before and I brushed it off."

"Worst case, they'll have to amputate again," I said, trying to sound like it was nothing. I didn't want her to worry. If she saw me worry, she would too.

"Amputate again? Fitz, you'll have to learn how to walk with a new prosthetic and it would be harder to hide," she said, and I could see the fear in her eyes.

"We'll worry about that when the time comes," I assured her, seeing the guys come out of the house. They helped me get my jeans and prosthetic on and handed me a bag of ice wrapped in a fluffy white towel.

"He's there now, he said he'll see you as soon as you get there," Ben said, shoving his phone back in his pocket. They all grabbed their radios off the ground and Chris ran back inside, grabbing my phone and the SUV keys. We got in the back and Mellie sat beside me as I held ice to my hot leg. It felt like my blood was going to burn through my skin.

I was terrified. I never thought I would see this day. The doctors in Germany and at home had warned me of it, but I thought nothing of it. I was healthy, I kept my left leg strong. There was no obvious cause. I just didn't want to lose this leg. Especially not now, with two months until our baby is born. I don't want to be doing physical therapy while trying to run the state and take care of our baby girl.

I sucked it up for Mellie and felt Warren's tag beside mine against my chest, wishing he were here. He would understand. He would know how to keep both of us calm. He would help me run this state and be there for every milestone of our baby's life.

I prayed the man who shot us was dead.

Three months after I got home from Kosovo, I had finally learned how to walk with my prosthetic. It had been a struggle and involved lots of discouragement and falls, but I did it. I had gotten some confidence back and I was ready to tell Mellie how I felt. I had learned after that mission how precious life was and that it was now or never.

I called every law firm in the phone book in Asheville that Thursday until I found the one where she worked. I told them she was an old friend from law school, but not to say that I called.

I booked a plane ticket and flew to Asheville the next day.

I got the taxi driver to drop me off at the firm she worked at and I took a deep breath as I got out and got my bag. I saw her name by the front door beside three others and smiled. I smoothed out my jeans and my white button down shirt and ran my fingers through my hair, which had quickly grown back. I slowly walked towards the front door, a dozen white roses in hand, and opened it. I walked in and the receptionist gave me a look as I approached her desk and set my bag down. The whole place seemed pretty boring, especially with the hideous blue striped wallpaper.

"Can I help you, sir?" She asked, stopping her typing at the desk.

"Is there a Melanie Richardson here today?" I asked nervously, my palms sweaty.

"May I ask your name, sir?"

"Just tell her a friend is here to see her, please," I stated.

She got up, annoyed, and walked back to what must have been Mellie's office and stuck her head in.

"Mellie, there's someone here to see you."

She came back down the hall and Mellie followed a few seconds later, wearing a black pencil skirt, high heels, and a white striped blouse. Her beautiful hair was down, as usual, and she quickly took her glasses off. Her eyes met mine and I'm pretty sure we felt each other's hearts skip a beat.

"Mellie," I said quietly with a smile.

"Fitzgerald Grant," she half laughed in disbelief, setting her glasses on the receptionist desk, and walking towards me. "I thought you had fallen off the face of the earth."

She hugged me tightly and I rested my hands on her back, her scent the same as it was almost four years ago.

"I got you these," I said as she pulled away, handing her the roses.

"White roses," she whispered. "You remembered." She smelled them and smiled.

"I couldn't forget," I laughed. "How have you been?"

"I'm good, I got hired here after graduation," she explained. "What about you? Where have you been?"

"I went through Navy SEAL training and just got back from overseas," I said, leaving out all the details.

"Wow, I had no idea," she said quietly in shock, looking me once over.

"Look, I know you're busy, but I was wondering if we could get dinner tonight and catch up," I offered.

"Yeah, of course," she said with a stutter, in just as much shock as I was. I couldn't believe she agreed to it so quickly.

"Seven?"

"Sure," she smiled. "Let me give you my address," she said, grabbing a piece of paper and pen from the receptionist. She quickly scribbled it down and handed it to me.

"Great. I'll pick you up then," I told her.

"Sounds great. See you later, Fitz," she said, going back to her office with her roses.

I got my bag and walked outside and called a cab. My heart was racing, I couldn't breathe right. I was so happy to see her.

I went to get a rental car and check into my hotel to clean up.

"So what are you doing in town?" She asked me as we pulled away from her apartment complex and headed to the restaurant I had chosen a few days ago.

I looked over at her; she was wearing faded blue jean shorts, brown sandals, and a white sleeveless, button-down shirt with pink flowers on it. Her brown waves were put up in a messy bun and her blue eyes hid behind her glasses. My God, she looked good in those glasses. I suddenly felt very underdressed in my khaki pants, loafers, and light blue button-down.

"I just wanted to go visit a few of my friends before jumping back into the workforce," I said.

That's a lie and you know it, I thought. You only came to see her. You have to tell her how you feel.

"That's really nice," she said, enjoying the drive. "So you said you had been overseas?"

"Yeah, for about six months," I said, instantly remembering my last day there. "I was stationed in Kosovo."

"That's pretty far inland, Mr. Navy SEAL," she teased with a smile.

"Tell me about it," I laughed. "It was special forces mission. They called me and another SEAL in along with some Marines to help lead it. So what have you been up to?"

"Just working at the firm," she sighed, seeming like she was missing some fulfillment in her life. "I like it there. I haven't gotten my own case yet, but it's been nice just being in the law environment."

"You'll get it soon," I said. "I know you will. Then they'll realize they made a mistake not giving you one sooner."

I smiled after I got a laugh out of her.

We pulled up to the restaurant around 7:20 and went in, quickly getting seated and ordering our food. It was a steakhouse of sorts, which I knew she loved. Her love for food was another thing that attracted me to her. I ordered the filet mignon and she got the prime rib, both enjoying our time to catch up.

As we finished our meal, she looked at me rather seriously and I was suddenly nervous. She leaned over the table and looked me in the eyes.

"Fitz," she said my name discouragingly, "why are you really here?"

"I told you earlier, I was seeing some friends and-"

"Not in Asheville, you weren't. Not enough alumni around here," she sighed. "There's a reason you don't speak to me for almost four years and one day, just show up and ask me out-"

"Can we finish this conversation in the car, please?" I asked politely as the waiter handed me our check. She wanted to pay for her half, but I refused to let her. I handed him my card and he quickly brought it back, thanking us again.

We left and made it out to the car and down the road before I spoke.

"Going over there, overseas, made me realize how short life is and that someone you love could be gone in just a matter of seconds," I explained. "I just want to apologize for not speaking to you in the past three and a half years. It was a mistake. I missed what we had, I missed you every single day. I missed my friend." I couldn't tell her how much I loved her, I couldn't risk ruining this yet.

She sighed quietly and smiled.

"I missed you too," she said. "I waited every day to hear from you, and I barely heard from you, and then I kind of lost hope," she explained. "When you walked in today, I was shocked, but I was also happy to know you were alive."

I smiled a little and changed the radio station, happy that she missed me too. She cared. She worried about me.

I took the long way back to her apartment and we didn't say much, but we enjoyed just spending time with each other. It was the fact of being in each other's very presence that was so comforting.

I pulled up at her building and parked in front, getting out and following her to her brown door - 106B. She watched me for a minute and sighed with a smile.

"Thank you for going to dinner with me tonight," I said softly. "I was afraid you were going to turn me down when I showed up."

"I had a good time," she said. "It was really good to catch up."

"It was," I whispered, looking at my feet, then back up at her. I hope she hadn't noticed my foot.

"Do you..." She stopped, shaking her head. "Would you want to come in for a little while?"

"If you don't have any plans, I don't want to impose-"

She unlocked the door and held it open for me.

I didn't hesitate to go inside.

We spent the rest of the night sitting on her couch, me in my khakis and white t-shirt, her in gray shorts and a baggy pink tank top, just talking. I didn't realize how long we had talked until I glanced at my watch and saw it was 1:27 a.m.

"I've stayed way too late, I'm really sorry," I said, looking for my socks so I could put on my shoes.

"Fitz," she said in a firm yet soft tone. She knew it always calmed me down. "You can spend the night, I don't have any plans. It's just me here. You can have my bed, I don't care," she said, gathering her things. "Just let me put on some fresh sheets for you-"

"It's fine, don't worry about it," I said, knowing I wasn't getting out of this. But I was excited. I was staying over at Mellie's apartment. I had to tell her I loved her soon. I couldn't lose her.

"Are you sure you don't want me to sleep on the couch? I don't mind," I said as she grabbed a pillow and some blankets out of her closet.

"No, no, please stay in here. It's ok," she said, shaking her hand. "If you need anything, come get me. You're welcome to whatever's in the fridge if you get hungry. Good night," she whispered.

"Good night, Mellie," I said, feeling peace as she walked away and to the couch, turning off the TV and the lights. I took off everything but my boxers and set my phone on the nightstand. I turned off the bedroom light and got into her bed, feeling like I was imposing. I was fine on the couch, but I knew not to fight over something this petty. I wondered what her parents thought about her living alone, if they wanted her at home, even at 26. My thoughts wandered elsewhere, but mainly back to her. I was so glad to be spending time with her again.

I looked over at the clock and it was 3 a.m. I had been laying here thinking for over an hour. I closed my tired eyes and tried to go to sleep, but never got close once I heard her footsteps enter the room. She pulled back the covers gently and got into bed beside me, snuggling up to me.

I put my arm around her and smelled her sweet hair, enjoying this moment more than she could ever imagine. I could see us together forever, happy, just like we were back in law school.

Little did I know in a few years we would be getting married.