The past 24 hrs had to have been the worst for Liv. Just before leaving New York, Liv received a phone call from Edison apologizing for the evening before. He said he knew she was leaving, but he wanted to make it up to her. Since Liv was determined to get to DC the next day, she went against her better judgment and allowed Edison to accompany her. She was planning on visiting her cousin Claudia in Mullica Hill and opted to stay at a nearby hotel the first night. Seeing as how she didn't think it would be a problem, she allowed Edison to accompany her on this portion of the trip.

After her cousin standing her up for a guy she had met at a party the night before, Liv was subjected to the worst sex she had ever encountered. Not only did he finish far before she even felt a smidge of pleasure. To make the experience even worse, Edison actually growled like he was a damn bear. Beyond pissed off, and nowhere near satisfied, Liv kicked him to the curb before her head hit the pillow then quickly deleted his number from her phone.

Jesus did not die for us to experience this kind of hell...

Forgetting it was a holiday weekend, Liv arrived in DC only to discover her apartment wouldn't be ready for two more days. Seeing as how she had nowhere to stay just yet, Liv opted to look into checking into a hotel.

She had just arrived at the Hilton when her phone rang. Looking at the caller ID and seeing it was Fitz, Liv smiled as she answered the phone.

"Hi."

"Hi. Are you in DC?" Fitz asked, his tone flat. Liv could tell by the way he said hi that there was something wrong.

"I am in DC... Fitz?"

"Have you checked into your hotel yet?"

"I am actually about to as we speak."

"Don't."

"Don't? Fitz whe-"

"Come here. Stay here Liv, there are more than enough rooms. Besides, I'm sure the kids would love to see you. It's been almost a month.

"And what do you think Mellie-"

"Mellie left Liv. She left. Last night as we were getting ready for the gala she walked out on me and the kids. She never... She didn't even day goodbye to them."

"Fitz..." Liv felt her heart breaking for her friend. She knew he was more worried about the kids than himself, but she wasn't sure if this would be such a good idea.

"Livvie, I need you. Please." Fitz pleaded, knowing that the use of his nickname for her would make it impossible for her to deny him.

Liv sat quietly on the other end of the phone, and the longer she remained quiet, the more apprehensive she became about going. She was in no way, shape or form afraid of Mellie, but Liv preferred it if the first Scandal brought to her firm wasn't her own. On the other hand, Liv knew Fitz must've needed her there if he pulled the Livvie card. Liv took a deep breath and sighed.

"I'll be there in 20 minutes." Liv said and hung up before exiting the hotel lobby to make the drive over to Fitz's house.

Abby and Quinn were out to lunch with their good friend James Novak. Aside from being one of the top journalists in DC, he was sweet, charming, and made flamboyance look mediocre as he refused to hide his sexual preference from no one.

The love of his, Cyrus Beene was Fitz's business partner. Fitz would normally join them for lunch, but no one had heard from him all morning. Today for lunch, they had opted to dine at one of Fitz's restaurants. Abby and Quinn thought they could nab Fitz for lunch as he was supposed to have been at the restaurant by now. After being told once again that he hadn't arrived, Abby suggested they all order.

"Didn't you hear what happened to Fitz?" James asked as he put his gossip face on. "Mellie left him and the kids last night for Andrew Nichols. We went to the gala and Mellie was all over the man like white on rice. Fitz was nowhere to be found."

Abby and Quinn looked at each other before racing to their cell phones, both desperate to get in touch with Fitz. Abby's line went to voicemail as did Quinn's. Quinn hung up, but heads were turned when Abby's voice boomed through the room.

"HOW DARE THAT BITCH LEAVE YOU!? AND WITH TWO KIDS! IF YOU SEE HER BEFORE I DO, TELL HER WHEN I CATCH THAT UNGRATEFUL, INCONSIDERATE BITCH, I'MA BEAT HER ASS!" Abby yelled before hanging up the phone. She turned and began eating her food as James and Quinn just sat there mortified over the message that she had just yelled through the restaurant. Thankfully, she never said Fitz's name.

"What? Didn't your parents ever tell you it isn't polite to stare? Eat up bitches before I start in on you two!" Abby said before shoving a fork full of salad into her mouth. Quinn and James looked at each other and prayed that Fitz answered the phone before Abby got to Mellie.

Fitz was sitting in the living room staring off into space when his phone began to ring. He looked down and saw that it was Abby and sighed. Just as he was about to answer, there was a knock on the door. Fitz set his phone down on the coffee table, and went to greet his guest. When he opened the door, Fitz was met with the most loving, caring pair of big brown eyes he had ever seen in his life.

"Hi." Liv said as she looked up at Fitz and took in his appearance. His normally bright blue eyes were dark with worry. He hadn't shaved yet, although his wet hair alerted Liv that he had at least showered and dressed before her arrival.

"Hi." Fitz responded as a smile formed across his face. She had only been there for 30 seconds, and Liv was already making him feel better.

Fitz stepped closer and pulled Liv in for a hug. He couldn't help but close his eyes as all of his past feelings came racing up to the surface. After 11 years, Fitz was still in love with the woman in his arms. If only he had spoken his feelings instead of allowing her to waste her time with that joker Kenneth.

Liv wrapped her arms around Fitz's waist and rested her head on his chest. She couldn't help but to close her eyes and slowly exhale as all of her past feelings came racing to the surface. After 11 years, Liv was still in love with Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III. Liv stayed with her head on his chest foe a moment as she listened to Fitz's heartbeat once again begin to beat in sync with hers.

"Here, let me take your bags." Fitz said as he stepped back out of the embrace. Immediately, they both felt the loss of contact in more ways than one. Liv nodded as she couldn't form any words at the moment, and followed Fitz inside.

He took her suitcase upstairs and placed it into a spare bedroom. When he returned, he smiled as he saw Liv standing in the living room, staring at a picture of the children.

"They miss you, ya know. They are going to flip when they see you." Fitz said as he recalled how Karen was so excited to see Liv a few months ago, she almost knocked her over as she went to hug her.

"I miss them too." Liv said simply. She didn't trust herself to say more, but she knew Fitz could read her thoughts. The two stared at one another for a moment, both clearly lost in their memories of a time together before Mellie came into the picture. After a few minutes, Fitz began to move towards Liv and grabbed her hand.

"Come with me. We're eating lunch on the patio today." Fitz said as he began leading Liv towards the back door.

The two of them made their way out back, and Liv smiled when she saw lunch was already waiting. They sat and ate in silence as the allowed the serene layout of the backyard to take over the moment. Liv took a sip of the wine Fitz had poured for her. It was her favorite bottle of red.

"You remembered?" Liv asked, surprised Fitz would remember such a tiny detail. It had been more than a decade since the two of them had shared a drink. Not since that night.

"I never forget things that are important to me." Fitz said and the double meaning behind his words weren't lost on Liv. Liv cleared her through as she focused her attention on the glass.

"So, tell me, what's going on?" Liv said as she continued studying the wine as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. She didn't have to look up to know that Fitz was was looking at her. She always knew when he was looking at her. His eyes seemed to burn holes straight through her. It was a feeling that always scared yet excited Liv. It was a feeling that after 11 years, never went away.

Fitz got Liv caught up on his business, informing her that he was about to launch another restaurant in Chicago. He caught her up on the kids and how their schooling was going, as well as how he was trying to figure out what to do with the overwhelming amount of women's clothing that he didn't know what to do with.

"Fitz, I am so sorry about Mellie. I know how much you love her." Liv said as she tried to get the inevitable out of the way. Fitz stared at Liv an debated on whether or not he should speak his feelings.

"Liv, don't apologize. 11 years is much longer than the two of us should have been married." Fitz replied as she took a sip of his wine. Liv tilted her head and looked at him quizzically, prompting Fitz to elaborate.

"We weren't the perfect couple. We should have never even taken that step. I should have turned the other way far before we reached that point but, but then I wouldn't have Karen or Jerry. I want to make one thing clear." Fitz took another swig of his wine before continuing. "I care about Mellie, she is the mother of my children. But there is only one woman I have ever loved."

Liv's eyes shot upwards and locked with Fitz's as his words began to wash over her.

"Fitz..." Liv said as she slowly began shaking her head side to side. Fitz was hurt, his wife had just walked out on him. This was just him putting up his walls, right? He couldn't possibly mean...

Flashback

It was their senior year in high school and Liv and Fitz had planned to have dinner at his house. They had both received their letters from Harvard, Brown, and NYU but neither of them were brave enough to open them without being together. Fitz had just finished getting dressed when his mother Susan came into his room, alerting him that Liv had arrived. Overly eager to see his best friend, Fitz almost knocked his mother over as he made his way out the door.

"Sorry ma." Fitz said as he slowed down a bit and turned to the woman.

"It's fine you're excited. Just... Fitz..."

"Yes ma?"

"Don't let this one get away." Susan said as she cupped her son's face.

"Ma, Liv and I are just friends."

"She is in love with you Fitz as you are with her. Liv is a great girl and she keeps you grounded. Just promise that no matter what happens in this life, that you won't let her get away."

Fitz kissed his mother on the cheek and smiled. "I promise ma."

"Good, now go. She's waiting. I'll be in my room if you need me."

Fitz smiled at his mother and ran downstairs. No sooner than he reached the bottom step did Liv jump in his arms. Fitz embraced Liv, and instead of setting her down after their hug, he carried her into the back yard where their dinner had been set up.

The two of the sat for a while, feigning interest in the chicken Alfredo that sat before them. Knowing this could go on all night, Fitz spoke up first.

"So, which one should we open first?" He asked as he watched Liv continue to twirl her fork around the pasta.

Fitz knew that if they were accepted they would both be going to Harvard in the fall. Liv had a 4.0 GPA and Fitz was right behind her with a 3.98, .02 points he deliberately threw once again placing Liv first in his life. Not only were they rock stars academically, they both had a book filled with after school activities and volunteer projects they had entered into together. Their high school portfolios were almost identical except Fitz playing football and Liv being a cheerleader. They knew that getting in shouldn't be a problem, yet they couldn't help but worry. What if neither of them got in? What if only one got in? They knew they could never stop the other from living their dream if only one of them got in, and that terrified them more than anything. They had been inseparable since kindergarten.

"Let's just get the elephant out of the room and open Harvard." Liv said with a sigh.

Both reached for their envelopes and slowly began to open. They pulled the papers out at the same time and sighed a deep sigh before swapping papers so they could see what the other's said.

They both got in.

Smiles began to creep up on both of their faces and Liv jumped up and ran over to Fitz, sitting on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tightly as his arms closed in around her waist.

"We're going to Harvard." Liv said as she began to giggle hysterically.

"We're going to Harvard." Fitz repeated as he joined in the laughter.

Soon the mood shifted as they found themselves staring into one another's eyes. Fitz's eyes began darting between Liv's lips and her eyes, and before he knew it, Liv had closed the final spaces and connected her lips with his.

The kiss began slow, but picked up in it's intensity as Fitz's tongue sought entry into Liv's mouth. Liv moaned as his tongue twirled around hers. Growing tired of him teasing her, Liv began sucking on Fitz's tongue before nibbling on his lips.

Fitz stood up with Liv still in his arms and carried her into the open field. He laid her down on a blanket he had set up earlier as they had planned to watch the stars. Fitz laid down with Liv and the kissing resumed. Never had ever felt anything remotely close to the bliss they were experiencing in that moment. The fire that coursed through their veins provoked a high greater than any drug could ever produce. But they were friends. Reality quickly set in as Fitz realized he was making out with his best friend. Could they have a relationship? What happened to them if they were to ever break up?

"Don't think. Not right now. We'll deal with the rest tomorrow." Liv said as she broke the kiss and rested her head on Fitz's shoulder. They laid there looking at the stars, not caring what the other two envelopes held. In the fall, they would be going off to Harvard. Another first they would experience together.

Noticing it was getting late, Fitz decided it was time for them to alert their parents of the good news. Naturally both sets of parents were elated, but not really surprised. Liv and Fitz had been taking the world by storm since the age of five. There was nothing they couldn't accomplish together.

There was a cloud of worry that hung over them as the night went on. The feeling that raced through them as they shared their first kiss was something neither could ignore. It was magical, it was rainbow, and purple unicorns, all wrapped up in the crown jewel. That kiss was everything. Fitz walked Liv to her car as it was getting late, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. They parted ways knowing that no matter what happened, they had to keep their friendship at the forefront of their life. They both made a silent vow that no matter what happened in their lifetime, they would get through things together.

It was 3 years later that Fitz had met Mellie. Still not wanting to risk their friendship, they dated other people, but nothing was ever serious. Not until Mellie came along. He had never had the same spark with Mellie as he did with Liv, but his stubbornness refused to allow him to go after the one he really wanted. It didn't matter if he did anyway. Liv was with Kenneth and the two of them were in love. Fitz couldn't get in the way of Liv's happiness so he dated Mellie and two years later to all of their parents disapproval and protests, proposed. It was the biggest mistake Fitz had ever made, and he spent the past 11 years making up for it.

Six months after he and Mellie wed, Liv had broken things off with Kenneth. They continued to see one another, but their relationship took on one of a strictly sexual nature as Liv realized her heart would never belong to anyone other than Fitz. Finally Liv broke things off completely. Kenneth had gotten married and had a daughter Elaina, but as time went on, the affair between Liv and Kenneth resumed.

Liv would never openly admit to sleeping with a married man, but Fitz knew. As much as he hated her situation, Kenneth was good for her, at least Liv thought he was. He wouldn't be clingy, and he didn't belong to her which meant she wasn't expected to perform the normal duties of a wife or girlfriend. The problem was as time went on, Liv found herself falling for Kenneth once again.

Her love for him was nothing like her love for Fitz, but it would do. Fitz was off limits, until now. Even now she couldn't have him. The last thing Liv wanted was to be Fitz's rebound. That would destroy their friendship more than either of them cared to chance.

They had already risked their friendship more than once that summer before college, and well into their first year of undergrad. Neither of them could risk it again. At least not right now.

Fitz jumped as the front door swung open, alerting him that the children were home. Liv cleared her throat hoping maybe it would suppress some of the feelings that were racing through her in this moment.

The two spent the rest of the afternoon with the children, and it wasn't lost on Fitz that the kids seemed happier in this moment than they had been in a very long time. In spite of him wanting to, Fitz knew he couldn't just jump into anything with Liv.

Although he was never in love with Mellie, not the way he loved Liv, he didn't want Liv to think she was a rebound. Instead, he would take whatever time he could get with her in whatever capacity... For now. Seeing Liv interact with his children along with the laughter that filled the room confirmed one thing and one thing only.

He would make Olivia Pope his, or he would die trying.

So, there is a deeper history between Liv and Fitz. I will go further into that as the story goes on. I know Quinn technically should be a hair stylist with her own salon like in the book/movie, but Quinn is honestly the LAST person I would trust with a pair of scissors. I haven't exactly come up with a career for Quinn yet. As I stated before, this story will not go completely by the script so you will see some changes. Leave me your thoughts and as always, thank you for reading.