"I'm sorry, Richard, I did not realize that you were so concerned about the budget!" Fitz said red faced. He was tired of negotiating. He had been negotiating his entire term with people who were beyond reason or logic, locked in the ideological battles of yesteryear. He had a country to run. And being trapped in the Oval Office arguing with members of his own party over legislation was just another example of why his frustration was mounting. At this rate, he would not make it to 50 years old with his hair still brown.
It had been another long morning, the only bright spots being him having breakfast with his kids and the text message he had gotten from Olivia, saying she wanted to have a "phone date" tonight. He already felt spent, exhausted and tired. But then again he had not gotten much sleep. Perks of being President. He thought darkly as Speaker Thomas Burke, drawled on about the political realities before them.
"With all due respect, Mr. President, you are asking a lot of us. First, you want us to pass the EEI, fine. Good for bipartisanship, healthy for perception of the party. But you have to understand, the Dream Act is harder to get off the-"But Burke was interrupted by Congressmen Thump.
"Look, Mr. President, the conservative caucus of the party is not going to go for that, unemployment-"
"Unemployment is at 5.6% the lowest in about seven years, don't give me that. I know what everyone is going to say 'Blah Blah' immigrants are taking jobs! Guess what, statistics show if we deported all illegal dwellers, the economy may very well collapse because-"
"Look, we don't need a lecture from you! We need you to have a backbone! Stand up for conservative-"
Fitz stood up, banging his fist on the Resolute desk. "It's passing! Whether you like it or not. And just so we are clearly I do stand up for conservative principles. The principles of hard work, self-reliance, and bettering this country. And there is nothing more American, than helping people in this country illegally to become citizens. I'm not going to debate this with you, or discuss this anymore. This discussion is over! You get on television and you sell this son of a bitch, or face the consequences!"
The room was silent after Fitz's rant. The only sound was his haggard breathing. The look on Speaker Burke's face was one of fear. The glimmer in his hazel eyes was one of understanding. Fitz could feel a sense of contentment in the midst of his brewing anger. The man had taken him seriously. He knew Burke. A man of integrity. A man who believed in the good of this country. And a man who was Fitz's intellectual and ideological equal.
But Thump, well, he was a different story. His face was blank, but his eyes, filled of resentment and anger were not as forgiving.
"Do you really think you can threaten us?" Thump asked quietly. Fitz could feel his blood boiling again, warming his skin.
Fitz grimaced. "Of course I can Thump." But Fitz did not believe his statement himself. He like everyone knew of the impending political complications. But something he had learned long ago was the confidence to use the bully pulpit could sometimes overcome political realities.
Thump nodded his head slowly and stood up. "Well, I think we are done here, Speaker Burke, don't you?" Thump waddled toward the door as Speaker Burke followed closely behind. Smug little fat fuck! Fitz thought angrily, sitting down and putting his head down on the desk, trying to calm himself.
As the door clicked closed, he reveled in the silence. Suddenly, images of a few days ago swept in his head. Soft full lips, dark smooth skin, silky under his fingertips. Olivia….
He could not go on like this. It took him by surprise this morning, how empty it felt to wake up, for about the fifth time in a row to an empty bed, without her warm curves to provide solace. That could also explain why you are so tense.
He would love to have sat there, his head resting on the cool wooden desk, fantasizing about Olivia. But he had a job to do. He sat up, turning his chair to face the expansive windows, allowing the view of plush greens and beautiful flowers surrounding the Oval Office to calm him. Of course!
Flowers, he would send Olivia flowers. The weekend was coming up and he had gotten word from Cyrus that the EEI had on seven votes to go….
His mind was working a mile a minute. He jumped out of his seat, jogged slightly out of his office and toward his bright young, Personal Secretary, Mary Loeb.
"Hey, Mary, can I ask you a favor?" He said rushed. She looked up, smiling peering over her computer.
"What can I do for you, Mr. President?" she asked brightly.
"I need you to get me the number of a florist." But for some reason, Mary laughed, a loud, rambunctious laugh. Fitz was confused. What was so funny?
"Umm…yeah, anyway, I need the number, I'm not sure-"
"Mr. President, does this have anything to do with Olivia Pope?" She said, choking slightly.
Fitz rolled his eyes. "Yes it does Mary, now if you could please-"
"It's 202-607-4132-"But before Mary could finish her sentence, Cyrus, came down the hallway, looking harassed and tired as ever.
"Hello Mary, Mr. President, what's up?" Fitz could suddenly feel his heart drop into his chest. He really did not feel like having Cyrus scold him for being "Olivia obsessed". Or whatever it was he would call it.
"Oh, nothing, just the usual, umm…Mary, how exactly do-"
"Do what?"
"Don't worry about it, Cyrus."
"Good morning, Mr. President, I thought you had a meeting with Burke and Thump?" Billy Chambers asked brightly, suddenly appearing out of nowhere. God, I promise I will stop swearing at people if you could just make all of these pricks disappear. Fitz thought annoyed, running his hand through his hair.
Mary jotted down the number on a piece of paper and handed it to the President. "Sir, it would probably be best if you called them now, the weekend is coming up and they might be a bit busy."
Fitz smiled tightly and turned to walk into the Oval Office. Unfortunately for him, Cyrus and Billy Chambers followed him in.
"Gentlemen, I don't remember saying that you could follow me in here?" Fitz said frustrated as he walked over to the desk and sat down. He reached for the phone, but before he could dial, Cyrus's hand reached out and blocked off the dialing pad. Fitz looked up at him, cocking an eyebrow. What the hell?
"Mr. President, who are you calling?"
"In a few minutes it will be the Navy Seals to put a bullet in your ass if you don't get you hand off the phone." Fitz said sharply. Billy let out an obnoxious bark of a laugh. But at the look on Fitz's face, he immediately took on a more serious expression.
Cyrus looked mortified, snatching his hand away as though he had been electrocuted. But before he could dial the number he paged Mary, remembering a slight hitch in his plans.
"Mary, where are my credit cards?" he asked. Cyrus and Billy exchanged a look of horrified confusion.
Mary giggled. "Mr. President, they are in storage with the rest of your things in California."
"Oh, right!"
"A Virginia ham? Mr. President, I'm beginning to wonder what century you previously dated in." Olivia said sarcastically over the phone. After a long day, and many failed attempts to order Olivia flowers over the phone (it was surprising how many florists shop owners did not recognize his voice over the phone), he had finally had a Virginia ham, which was kept in storage by the White House chef delivered to her K Street Office by Mary, along with a letter.
I know this seems strange, but I miss you like crazy. I wish I could have woken up to you this morning. Tense and horny is no way to go through life. So as a token of my appreciation, I've enclosed a gift. Something from the heart, my funny bone and your home state. Thanks for being you and kicking ass on the EEI push.
P.S Give me about a month or so, and I will figure out how to get you flowers, I swear.
It had been a joke. One that Olivia could not stop teasing him about during their phone conversation. Fitz rolled over onto his back, smiling.
"Nice to know you have a sense of humor, Liv, but I did not know what else to send you. Besides, you are the one, who said you were going to be busy this week. I had to get your attention somehow." He laughed, his heart warming. He wished Olivia was in bed with him. But hearing her giggle over the phone would do just fine.
"Yeah, but that did not mean you weren't allowed to contact me at all."
"I did not want to seem-"
"Needy? Fitzgerald, you clearly haven't done the dating thing in a while. When your girlfriend tells you she's going to be busy, you need to respect her space, not send hams and have your Chief of Staff call me to set up meetings." She said jovially.
Fitz smacked his head in frustration. How could I be so stupid?
"So I guess this means you can make it to the White House next week?" He asked embarrassed.
She laughed. "Yes, it does. I cleared my schedule for that day. Cyrus sounded pretty serious so I'm guessing this is a strategy session of some sort?"
"Yeah about that-"
"Don't worry, I've been through those. And I know Cyrus. I'm just glad we are finally going to do something about all this-"
"Bullshit. I know. It comes with the territory. But the important thing is we are only down seven votes on the EEI."
Olivia giggled once more. "All thanks to me. I had five, count them five lunches with six different Congressmen this week so I've done my patriotic duty. How's the Dream Act coming?"
Fitz sighed deeply.
"Aww…poor baby, what happened?"
"I think the question is what did not happen. I don't want to talk about it, the whole thing makes me want to-"
Fitz sat up promptly. Of course!
"Liv, what are you doing this weekend?" She laughed once again. Why did he not think of that sooner? The press could not get to them.
"Well, I was thinking about getting a facial-"
"What do you say? Me and you spend the weekend together?" Fitz waited with bated breathe.
"I don't know, Fitz, I mean I would love to play house and all but the press-"
"No, I'm not talking the White House, how about Camp David? It's quiet, cozy, I hear it maybe even snow. There's a nice fire place, we could cuddle and I could rub your feet. The kids both have plans so I'll be trapped her by my lonesome." He said huskily. The thought of being whisked away in the confines of Camp David with Olivia sent his nerves going haywire with excitement.
"Well, I mean, I used to go there all the time but then the wine list got crappy and they changed chefs. Not to mention, I hate the décor." Olivia said in a deadpanned voice.
"Ha, ha, very funny. But seriously, how about it?" he laughed.
"That sounds perfect. I could use the rest. But if I could just add one little suggestion to make this romantic getaway extravaganza even better? "
"What?"
"Leave Virginia Hams off the menu."