`"Honestly, Dad we are cool with it. Just make sure you know what you're getting into." Karen said kindly. Fitz breathed a deep sigh of relief for the first time since Olivia had left yesterday (her departure had resulted in another press frenzy). The kids had arrived back from their weekend at their grandparents' home and they were having a nice Sunday dinner as a family, something that had become very important since their mother passed. And much to Fitz's chagrin, his parents had phoned him, having seen the press reports, wondering who Olivia was, were the rumors true and if they needed to keep the kids in California for another day or two for the press to back off the story.

No Mom, please stop panicking and tell the kids I will talk to them about it when they get home. He had pleaded frustrated this morning over the phone.

He had avoided the topic all day, despite Cyrus's attempt to have a conference on the White House's approach to the "Olivia problem" as he put it. But Fitz had refused. It was his life. Most importantly, his private life, which had no correlation to his job as President, so he intended to keep the two separate as he always had. The only people he owned an explanation to were his children.

"Yeah, Dad, Olivia, I'm sure is a nice woman." Jerry said kindly, as he shoved a fork of mash potatoes into his mouth. But Fitz could sense that Jerry was a little hesitant, there was an edge in his tone. He could see a bit of grief in his son's icy blue eyes.

"Speaking of which, when do we get to meet the hottie?" Karen asked cheekily, cocking her head to the side. Fitz sighed and shook his head. Despite Karen's resemblance to her mother, the dimpled chin, the high cheekbones and long auburn hair, she was still a Grant, down to the attitude and the eyes. Noticing the resemblance and Jerry's trepidation made him a bit mournful. It also triggered a sorrowful feeling in the pit of his stomach.

He was pretty sure, despite their acceptance; a part of them had to be uncomfortable with this. They had a great relationship with their mother, and had taken her passing incredibly hard in the beginning, particularly Jerry, who was a "momma's boy" through and through. He had fallen into a severe depression, his grades had suffered, and Fitz had him see a therapist the first year after it had happened. However, in the past three years, he had finally come around and was beginning to return to his normal self. Karen on the other hand, had never been one to internalize tragedy too much. She had handled herself extremely well in the immediate aftermath. But at there were times, like mother's day or Mellie's birthday that Fitz had caught her crying when she thought no one was paying attention. Maybe, bringing another woman into their lives was not smart. No matter how strong his feelings for Olivia, his children mattered more than anything.

Fitz breathed a deep sigh. "Guys, if you really don't want this, I will stop, I mean it's still early in." He said softly, looking at each one of his children to gage their reactions. They looked confused.

"What do you mean daddy, we said we were okay with it?" Karen said looking bewildered. She exchanged a look with her brother who shrugged. He looked equally perplexed.

"I mean, I know how difficult things have been without your mom, and if you think-"

"Dad, it's cool really. My therapist always used to say that honesty is what is healthier. So believe me when I say, I'm fine with this. Mom would like to see you happy and so would we. If it seems like we are not fine with this, it is only because we love you, and we just don't want to see you get hurt. But at the same time, we don't want you to be lonely because of us." Jerry said thoughtfully. Fitz was touched. How wonderful that his little boy, the one who used to beg Fitz to chase the monsters away from his closet and beg for his daddy to teach him how to be a "navy cool guy" was now so mature. He smiled, reached over and rubbed Jerry's dark curls affectionately.

"Thanks Jer, and you Karen?" Fitz said, his voice filled with emotion. Karen nodded, smiling at her father.

"You know I'm cool, but you did not answer my question. When are we meeting her?"

Fitz smiled, rolling his eyes. Was it a smart idea to introduce Olivia to the kids so soon? And would she mind? Did she even like kids? After all, she was a successful woman in her mid-thirties with no children of her own. Was the burden of a widower boyfriend, and his two teenagers too much baggage?

"Tell you what, I'm taking her to the state dinner, so there's an opportunity to meet her, but I'll check to see if she's up to maybe spending a little time with all of us before the dinner gets started?"

Karen and Jerry nodded approvingly. Fitz felt happy. As long as his kinds did not mind, he was fine. Now he just needed to get Olivia's approval.

The aftermath of Olivia's night at the White House had been bizarre to say the least. The press had now taken permanent residence outside of her apartment. There were at least 20 or more photographers and reporters following her every move. Even leaving the White House had not been as smooth as planned. Someone yet again had leaked the decoy plan to the press.

She was barricaded in her home, only leaving for work. Which was not necessarily a bad thing seeing that she, so far, could nail down most of the Democratic caucus in the house for the EEI bill. Now she was working on the Republicans. It was not easy. And to make matters worse the chaos surrounding her had made it difficult to persuade Republicans to support a bill that they fundamentally thought went against principle. Not to mention Janice had reminded her that the White House was in the process to also bring up the Dream Act, which again, was another example of the Grant Administration's departure from conservative orthodoxy.

And there was no one more willing to express his frustration with this schism between the very moderate President Grant, and the incredibly conservative wing of the party than Congressmen Richard Thump of Texas. Richard Thump was the third highest ranking Republican in the house. A fat, red faced man, with a headful of thick white hair, he had served in the House longer than Olivia had been alive.

"Mr. Thump, you have to know that this bill, in its essence is very conservative. It is what our party is all about. Economic innovation, expanding the pie, rather than splitting it, I mean there are all kinds of tax breaks for companies willing to participate-"

"Our party?" Mr. Thump asked smugly, his annoying twang in full effect. It was late, Olivia had been sitting in this stupid restaurant with Janice and Stephen Finch, Olivia's old college boyfriend and an EPA official trying to win the most influential conservative in congress over. She loved Marcel's and its French cuisine as much as anyone, but Thump's presence had a way of making even the loveliest restaurant's feel unbearable.

"Yes, the Republican party." Olivia said, trying as hard as she could to not chuck her Duck Confit at his head. Another prick questioning her party affiliations….she thought angrily while maintaining bright smile on her face.

She could tell Janice was sensing the tension in the air. "Congressmen Thump, we can assure your-" but Thump raised a porky hand, interrupting Janice.

"Look, lady, you can try as hard as you want to convince me that this leftist, job killing pork barrel spending catastrophe is conservative, but it's not. And neither is that boy in the White House-"

But Stephen, who had been fairly quiet all night, chimed in. "Mr. Thump-." He stared, his voice even more scratchy than normal. He was clearly frustrated with Thump, seeing that for one, Stephen was a staunch Democrat, with a very low tolerance for Republicans. It was part of the reason she and Stephen's relationship had fallen apart when they were in undergrad.

"…there is no need for this. Now this has been a lovely evening, but if you think-" Olivia had enough. She was not going to let this prick steam roll her.

"Sir, the EPA is coordinating with our firm on this initiative, meaning not only do we have the support of the most credible environmental entity of this country, we have the backing of the White House and a little under half of the House behind us. Do you really think you are going to put a stop to this?" Olivia asked coldly, leaning in. She had her game face on and she had come out swinging. But Thump got up, smirked, his dark eyes flashing and began putting his coat on.

"Little girl, this tough guy act may work well when you are getting into the President's pants but not with me. Good night." He tossed a hundred dollar bill on the table and waddled out the restaurant. Olivia had never been more insulted in her life. She felt her heart drop into her stomach. She even tasted the salty oncoming of tears, something she never thought she would feel in a work environment.

There was silence at the table. She could tell Janice and Stephen were trading awkward looks.

"Liv, I don't know what to-" Stephen began kindly, but Olivia could not bear to be in the restaurant, in that moment. How could he say something so low?

Before she knew it, she was hopping out of the restaurant with lightning speed.

It did not make it any better that she had to fight her way through a hoard of cameramen and reporters when she arrived to her apartment.

"I ought to kick his ass." Fitzgerald said jokingly. Olivia had finally settled in at home. Luckily for her, Fitzgerald had called her, and it had done wonders to cheer her up. She was soaking in a warm bath, trying her best to relax. She had spent two hours watching non-stop cable news, the endless coverage of her was like a train wreck. Not to mention there were dozens of messages on her answering machine from her mother, who was frantic with worry.

Darling, I've heard the news, I can't believe it. Why didn't you tell me honey? If I had known, I would have at least called Bill at ABC so they could stop using that picture of you from Sidwell when you had that awful haircut! I know you are busy with work, but call me! Well, no don't because I'm still in South Africa.

Abby had left her message.

Dude! I'm worried, haven't heard from you since the morning from hell yesterday. I know how you get, call me!

Stephen had left a message while she was in the bath.

Hey, it's me. I know we aren't as close as we used to be, and I know we have our history, but I'd like to talk to you about what happened tonight, call me.

Then there was Cyrus.

Liv, we need to talk, call me! This whole thing is out of control.

All of those things could wait. She did not want to deal anymore with the consequences of her relationship with the President. All she wanted was to bask in the hot bath and enjoy flirting with him over the phone.

"That's sweet, but he's like 300 pounds." Olivia said giggling.

"I could take him." He said with false bravado. "But seriously, the guy is a grade A jerk. He is not fit to lick the ground you walk on.

Olivia smiled widely. Always with the glowing compliments.

"Why thank you, Mr. President. But enough about that fucktard, how was your day?"

Fitzgerald laughed heartily, causing Olivia's heart to flutter. He had the sexiest laugh.

"Did you just say fucktard?" He asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"So that's a little junior high no?"

"Says the guy who wants to kick his ass?"

"Touché"

Olivia laughed as she lifted her leg in the water to check to see if she needed to shave. So far so good.

"But seriously, how was your day?" She asked smiling, sitting up in the tub. She wished he could be with her, basking in the warm of the bubbles and the soothing water.

"The usual, Cyrus breathing down my neck, wants me to practically form a blue ribbon commission on us, but I said no. The kids got back, we had a nice dinner so that's that. Oh, speaking of which, they want to meet you. I mean, if you don't want to, that's okay, but I'd understand if you wanted to wait a little while longer." Fitzgerald sounded so casual about all this.

Olivia took a moment to think. Maybe Cyrus had a point. Between the obsessive media coverage, the reporters, and Thump's disrespect maybe he needed to actually comment more on their relationship.

"Livy, are you there?" he asked, after a pregnant pause.

"Yeah, I was just thinking is all." She said brightly. "You know, I would love to meet them. Karen and Jerry right?" She remembered them from the press coverage of his inaugural years ago. Two adorable prepubescent tweens then. But she also remembered the mournful expressions in the papers on the day of their mother's funeral months before their father was sworn in to office…

"Yeah. That's them." He said proudly. How cute.

But Olivia thought it best to tackle the issue at hand. " But seriously, maybe we probably should sit down with Cyrus, you know and talk about things, he called me and I think things are a little out of hand."

There was a moment of silence on the phone. Olivia could feel her heart pumping, as she waited for his response.

"Really?"

"Yeah, just to talk things through so he can stop panicking. But let's not focus on that for now, let's focus on you, being naked and wet in that tub." He said playfully. Olivia laughed. Deep down, she wanted to press further on the issues, but that could wait.

"Well, I mean if you want to show up to the state dinner, naked and wet, I won't mind." He said huskily, his voice dropping a decibel. She bit her lip with excitement.

"You are a sick man! You do realize that would give Thump a stroke right? And the EEI would never get passed? All the family values guys in the party would have my head, and your Vice-President would make me disappear." Olivia joked.

Fitzgerald laughed. "Trust me, with him out of the way, life would be a lot easier."

Olivia laughed once more. There were a lot of things that would be easy. But life, right now, or in the near future, with or without Thump would not be any easier.