It was a grainy picture. But Olivia Pope's face was unmistakable. Her smiling, beaming face, shining with happiness was unmistakable as she embraced a very tall, yet mysterious man.

And the smirk that was building on Richard Thump's fleshy face was also hard not to notice…

They were sitting in the beautiful mahogany paneled room in Richard Thump's home. A sitting room filled with deep navy sofas and large paintings of Norman Rockwell. There was a warm, cackling fire which should have ordinarily made for a cozy atmosphere. However, the vibes in the room were nothing but that of business.

Billy Chambers could feel the palpable excitement building in his blood as he watched the Congressmen and his twig of a wife exchange looks of approval at the picture on the antique coffee table.

"Well, Billy boy, you've done it now." Thump drawled in his thick southern accent. His black beady eyes were alight with satisfaction.

" Congressmen Thump, it was not entirely my doing. Amanda Tanner was a big help as well." Billy said, his voice filled with faux modest. The reality was Amanda, while helpful, was a child. Her lack of focus on their future was troubling. The fact that he practically had to beg and plead with her to give him the number to that stupid photographer was headache enough. But, just for the sake of presenting the image that he was an upstanding man in a healthy relationship, he was willing to extend her a bit of undeserving gratitude.

Mrs. Thump crossed her bone legs, an almost clownish smile spreading on her pug-like face. "Ah, yes, that Amanda, upstanding little girl, Baby, why don't we talk to William, over at The National Review? I'm sure he can set her up with a nice little column?"

Congressmen Thump rolled his eyes as he laughed heartily at his wife's suggestion.

"Baby doll, the girl is a Production Assistant, not a journalist." He looked over at Billy, a silver eyebrow raised as if to say "Don't you agree?" Billy knew better. He nodded profusely, much to Thump's delight. Thump was an old school guy and believed in women 'knowing their place'. Sexist, even to the point of making Billy uncomfortable, however, if Billy played his cards right, this would be the least of his worries.

"Now, when is this story going to break?" Thump asked, taking a sip of Brandy from his glass.

"In a day or two. The Washington Times is already snooping, from what we've heard into Pope's past so expect a very long personal profile. But this picture, this picture Sir has made it to a few major news offices-"

"Good, that's just in time for Richie's speech to the donors. And it goes well with-"But Thump interrupted his wife, placing a meaty hand on her bony one.

"Dear, the boy is talking to me. Not you. Now be an even better dear and go fetch us some more drinks okay? And get me those pastry things I like so much." He said, snappily. Mrs. Thump nodded hard, so much so that Billy was anticipating that her stiff blond bob would actually move for a change. She sprang out of the seat and scurried out of the room.

Billy felt even more uncomfortable than before. This man is something else. When the last echoes of Mrs. Thump's clacking heels lingered away, Billy loosened his tie a bit. Thump was staring at him intently, which was making him very nervous. His bloated lips were pursed, his fat arms folding, stretching the material of his fine suit blazer to what seemed like a very uncomfortable position.

"Boy, what are your plans?" Thump drawled.

"What do you mean?" Billy asked, pretending to be confused. He was not one for the interrogation process.

"I mean, what you want to do with your political future." Thump asked, a Cheshire cat style grin, spreading across his face.

Billy pondered the thought for a second. He had been so busy, serving and slaving for Grant for years….

He wanted to be a conservative's conservative, fighting the big fights.

"I want to help steer this country into the right direction." Billy finally said, keeping his voice as even as possible. Don't seem too eager…

Thump nodded understandingly as he shifted around, digging through the inner pockets of his suit blazer, finally pulling out a cigar and what looked like a sliver lighter. He lit it, taking deep puffs and blew smoke ringlets into the air.

"Boy, let me tell you this. At that speech, I'm going to announce my run for President. And I know, I know we have one of our own in the White House, but still. I got to do what I got to do for me. You hear what I'm saying? It maybe my only chance."

Billy could not say he was shocked. He had been hearing these rumors for months, hell, the whole basis of his plan was based off the very notion of putting up a conservative challenge to Grant. He knew what was coming next. Patience, don't show too much excitement. Let him come to you…

"…now I know you're a Grant man, but Billy boy, we need a conservative. A real good one. Not this pansy bullshit this guy has going, thinking he came from one of Nelson Rockefeller's balls. I'm talking a thorough conservative, Reagan Republican. And I'm that guy. Now I know you can't jump ship just yet, but you keep doing what you are doing, and what do you say we talk in a few months about a Campaign Manager job?"

X marks the spot! Billy thought, as his insides did a backflip for joy. This is what he had been waiting for! Top dog, running the show. Not being a lap dog or an errand boy for Grant. But the left side of his brain wondered. What about Langston?

Langston, deeply conservative on fiscal and social issues was his woman. His hero. But she was a woman of pride, who believed that when a President asked you to serve, you served….But she had ambitions that went beyond Grant and his sorry excuse for an administration. The question was not if, but how?

"That…would be an honor." Billy said stoically, trying to avoid appearing too excited while at the same time, trying not to inhale the putrid second hand smoke being produced by Thump's cigar.

"I can hear a bit of trepidation, boy, why?" He inquired, dropping ash onto the white carpeting.

Billy cleared his throat. "With all due respect Sir, as honored as I would be, I'm a huge fan of Vice-"

"Nonsense, boy, we already are taking care of that."

"You are?" Billy asked confused. How exactly?

But Thump chuckled loudly. "Please, Billy, did you really think you were the only leak from inside the Executive Office? You gotta be smarter than that. Not to mention, we have our stuff on ol' Sally. Don't worry boy. I got this whole thing worked out pretty good. You just focus on that sweet lil' thang of Grant's. Remember, Solomon may have been powerful, but it took a woman strip him of his power."

It was a crisp night, the first snow of the season had descended on Washington.

He was already in good spirits after returning to D.C from Camp David, but his Monday had been made better when he got word from an excited Olivia that she was only two votes shy for the EEI bill. Fitz had gotten a call from Speaker Burke, saying he was going to schedule a vote in two weeks. He could not be more thrilled. The week was looking pretty good, with a promising call from the Russians, a good job report and the tamping down of the press reports of Olivia, everything was going his way.

His good mood had carried him through a lovely dinner with the children and Olivia. His heart had been swelling with happiness about the chemistry she had with the kids. They loved her, thinking her to be cool, hip and more in the know with music, movies and television than their dear old Dad.

Wow, Dad, you really landed a winner. Jerry had whispered to him when they were playing cards in the sitting room earlier that evening. Fitz smiled with delight at the thought.

The only thing that had been weighing Fitz down was the stupid meeting he and Olivia would have to attend regarding how the White House would message their relationship. A few days ago, this meeting made sense, but now that the press coverage was beginning to die, and he had finally witness at least two good hours of cable news without the mention of "President" "Girlfriend" and "Scandal" in the same sentence, he was a happy man. Although, Olivia was doing an extremely good job at keeping him happy in the confines of his master bedroom.

"Damn!" he groaned as Olivia masterfully worked her glorious mouth around him. Everyman should come home to this. He thought blissfully as her tongue played with the throbbing vein in the side of his member. The vibrations from her moaning, the wet plush feeling of her mouth, contracting and releasing, sucking and licking….

"Ah!" He moaned deeply as she took him entirely down her throat swiftly. It was too…..

He exploded finally in her mouth, his body shaking as his sweaty form stuck to the sheets. She finally came up for air from under the sheets, climbing up his body.

"Now, did that loosen you up a bit." She said huskily. Fitz opened his eyes. Her dark hair was wild, her lips swollen as she licked any trace of him off them. Between the gleam in her eye and the sexy silk negligee she was wearing, he could see without a shadow of a doubt, he was feeling pretty good.

"Babe that was perfect."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." He whispered as she straddled him, locking him in a searing kiss. Their tongues played rhythmically. But before Fitz could flip her over, a raucous applause poured out of the television screen.

"Mm…" Olivia moaned loudly, but Fitz was still, listening to the television screen. He knew that cheering. His lips suddenly were still as well.

"Babe, what's wrong."

"Nothing, I just want to see this." Fitz said as Olivia gently climbed off of him and sat next to him in the bed. The headline flashing across the screen caught Fitz by surprise. CONGRESS THUMP BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.

The room in which the speech as taking place in was a ballroom. Fitz knew because a mere five years ago, he had made a tearful speech to his donors about how devastating Mellie's loss was…That bastard.

…never mind that his girlfriend is a hired gun for an ultra –liberal lobbying firm.

…The crowd cheered.

….never mind that this man, the man who was supposed to stand up for the beacon for conservative principles has sold us out every step of the way.

….the cheering got louder.

….this man claims to be one of us, and I know President Reagan once said 'thou shall not critique thy fellow Republican' but people, where does it end? When he raises taxes on hard working Americans? When he bows down to Russian communist and claims its diplomacy? Or maybe the fact that he is cavorting around with a high minded East Coast elitist temptress, who according to a story coming out in the Washington Times tomorrow, unwinds at the end of the day by whoring herself out to various men?

….suddenly there was a ringing in Fitz's ear. He could hear Olivia take an audible gasp, but he could process nothing. The calming sensation that had over taken his body due to his release just seconds ago was being replaced with indiscernible rage. One that licked every inch of his skin until it was blazing white hot.

….ladies and gentlemen, this man is not a conservative! He's a sheep in wolf's clothing. And I'm here to tell you that I am Richard Thump and I believe in a brighter America, a conservative America with values and morals. Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Thump, and I am running for President of these here red, white and blue-"

….the crowd went wild. And so did Fitz's building anger, washing over him as though someone had spilt scalding hot water all over him. All he knew, in that very moment was two things. He was very angry and Richard Thump was a fat fuck who underestimated who he had chosen to mess with.