(A/N: Thanks to everyone requesting for me to update this story. It really motivated me to get a move on it. And to the Guest Reviewer who said they would bake me cookies if I updated, your offer worked. I want cookies so PM me so I can give you the address where to ship my treats. I'm just kidding. But thank you, thank you all. I continue to appreciate all of your comments, feedback and constructive criticisms. It's just great. So I hope you will continue to do so. Side Note: I'm so glad Scandal is back; I hope you are praying, like me, that Shonda let's Fitz take charge and be strong this season.)

Dating Dilemma: Can Men and Women Just Be Friends

Unlike his brothers, Fitz had a sensitivity to the feelings of women. He learned it from the early years with his mother and the care from his sister, Lily. He wasn't harsh or indifferent; he wasn't callous towards their feelings and he never set out to intentionally hurt them. But sometimes as much as he tried, there was really no other way for him.

He didn't know how long he stood there staring at her; her tears silently breaking him down. The raw emotions of her voice, the intensity of her confession and the baring of her soul meant everything. No one had ever felt so deeply for him. He wanted so desperately to gather her up in his arms and allow them to melt into each other. But he couldn't do it. Something held him back; the hesitation he felt could not be ignored.

"Liv," he was surprised by the hoarseness in his own voice; the sentiment of the moment overtaking him. "I care about you Liv, I really do but….I can't commit to us right now." She cast her eyes downward, unable to hold his stare any longer. He didn't want her to bow in fear or humiliation. He gently raised her face, lifting her chin so their eyes could meet again. "We were attracted to each other, we jumped in too quickly and when times got hard, we fell apart. I don't want that to happen again….We need to go slow; can we just be friends for now?"

She took several breaths, still not trusting herself to speak.

"I'm not rejecting you or us Liv. But this is too fast….that's why we crashed and burned. We didn't give it a chance. Can we just slow down?"

"Friends?" she whispered, when she finally found her voice. In her mind, friendships were platonic, that meant he could date other women and she would have to stand by and watch it happen.

"Can we please do that?"

If that was what he wanted, she would give it to him. She nodded and said, "Just promise me one thing, if you…if you decide that you want to be with someone else, I'll understand, just tell me first. Don't let me be the last to know…Please, I don't think I could take that."

"Liv…I don't think there can be another woman that I could feel such a strong connection to, like you."

"I thought…I thought you hated me."

"I was just hurt Liv. I thought we were better than that. I thought you knew me and saw me for who I was; I didn't expect you to back away."

"I know Fitz…and I'm sorry. You have no idea how much I regret how I treated you. But I'm okay, I'm fine…It's good for us to be friends…that is what's best."

"You don't regret telling me how you felt, do you?"

"I don't…I don't regret it. I'm giving you my heart Fitz. Any other man would try to manipulate me, use it against me but not you. My heart is in your hands, I'll follow your lead and I trust you…I know you'll be the better man." Maybe it was foolhardy and dangerous to give him that kind of power over her but Olivia was not afraid. He was her endgame and even if it took a little more time, she was confident that they would be together.

XXXXXX

"Olivia."

"Mr. Grant, it's nice to meet you."

"Please call me Gerry…I have to say you are more beautiful than I imagined. It is really my pleasure to meet you."

"Thank you," Olivia said as she smiled. Gerry really knew how to charm women. He was a very attractive man; an older version of Fitz. But something behind his eyes was not as genuine. He was the kind of man who always had a hidden agenda.

"Can we go to the bar to get a drink?" he asked and without waiting for a reply, he commandeered her arm and led her to the open bar. "So how do you like working with my son?" he asked as he took a sip of scotch.

"I very much enjoy it. Fitz and I work well together as I'm sure you've heard. It's my understanding that you are very close to Cyrus."

"Ah, you do your homework…I like that. I do my homework too, Olivia Carolyn Pope. There is one thing that I can't quite figure out?"

Olivia gave him a questioning look and waited for him to continue.

"What I can't quite understand is why you are still at the magazine when that book you submitted a year ago for publishing is ready for press?" Gerry watched as a look of panic came across Olivia's face.

"How did you?...I didn't submit to your publishing house." Olivia's eyes darted nervously to make sure no one heard their conversation.

"Oh sweetheart you didn't have to submit it to my house in order for me to know about that. I know lots of things. I've also read it and its very, very good. So why did you halt the publishing?"

"I have my reasons….Gerry no one knows about it and I would prefer to keep it that way for now." Olivia was desperate. She tried to calm herself and mask her anxiety with a blank face; careful not to alarm anyone around them. She put a hand on his arm in an effort to evoke some type of fellow feeling from him.

He looked down at her hand and chuckled. "I'm not a cold man Olivia, despite what my children may have told you. It doesn't serve my interest to out you," he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "It'll just be our little secret."

Somehow sharing a secret with Gerry did not make her feel any better.

"Why does my life matter to you?"

"You matter to me because you matter to my son. You are the reason he is no longer with Mellie, am I right?"

"No you're not right…Fitz and Mellie not being together has nothing to do with me."

"Oh you're modest too. Come on Olivia, I have seen my son watch you all night and the looks he's giving us right now are enough to tell me that he's in love with you."

Olivia met Fitz's eyes from across the room and smiled. He smiled in return before turning back to his conversation. He was worried about her because she was with Gerry.

Olivia chuckled. "Now there you are completely wrong. I can confidently tell you that Fitz and I are just friends." She took another sip of her martini; she could feel Gerry staring at her.

"Ok no problem. I'll believe you….Nevertheless, being with you has at least cleared his head a bit. I never liked that Mellie girl or her family. I was happy Fitz got rid of her. So if your relationship with Fitz ever progresses beyond friendship, I want you to know that you have my support."

"Well thank you but I can't help but to think that your support comes with a price."

"You really do catch on quick. In this instance just consider me the loving father that I am. I love all my children and I only want their happiness, which is why I'm extremely thankful that the Amanda girl is gone. Can you imagine the damage she could have done to my son? Of course only if he didn't have you and your friend, what's his name Huck, helping him."

Olivia tilted her head, regarding him in a new light. "Is there anything you don't know?"

Gerry laughed. He really did enjoy talking to Olivia; she was refreshing and different from the cowering women that he usually came across. They were usually intimidated by his stature, position and wealth. Not so with Olivia, every time he challenged her she rose a foot taller. "For someone like me, knowledge of everything is a necessity….I wonder if you will have lunch with me next week."

"Why would I do that?" Olivia wasn't certain that Fitz would feel comfortable with her spending time with his father.

"I would say because I asked but I have a feeling that wouldn't matter to you. Believe it or not, people generally do what I tell them, no questions asked."

"You make it sound like your some Godfather type," she chuckled and said, "Are you going to make me an offer I can't refuse?" They both laughed at her corny joke. "I will say this; you are a very interesting man, Gerry."

"Well that's something, so does that mean you will have lunch with me…I'll tell you what if you're scared of spending time with me, you can bring Fitz along….If that makes you feel better."

"You think that by calling me a coward I will rise to the challenge and come without Fitz," she laughed again, "I like you…you make me laugh and you keep me on my toes…I'll think about the lunch offer and I will be talking to Fitz about it, just so you know….It was great meeting you Gerry but I need to rejoin my party. Thank you for the drink," she smiled, kissed his cheek and walked away.

XXXXXX

Lincoln was in his element. He could fit right in, schmoozing with the rich and famous; hustling them for money and feeling fine because it was for a good cause. He worked the room like a pro; he was smart, charming, interesting and on the whole very likable. When people liked you, they gave you more money.

He was so ecstatic by the evening, he could barely contain himself. He walked over to Fitz and patted him on the back. Fitz was in mid-sentence talking to Harrison when Lincoln approached. "Fitz, I got so much energy from this evening I can barely contain it. Everything has turned out perfectly. Can you believe it?"

Harrison and Fitz laughed. "It's all you Lincoln…it's all you," Fitz assured him.

"Thanks Fitz," Lincoln started and turning to Harrison he continued, "Ever since we were kids, this guy has been protecting and taking care of me. I owe him everything."

"No, you don't," Fitz quickly said. He was uncomfortable with the praise.

"He's just humble…So, I hope you don't mind me asking, but Olivia Pope, is she with someone? I mean if that's you Fitz, I'll back off not a problem. I just wanted to know if she was free."

Fitz and Harrison shared a look. Harrison cleared his throat; a comical expression forming on his face.

"We are friends but as I understand it she's taken," Fitz said firmly.

Lincoln looked at Harrison, wondering if he was the guy but Harrison quickly corrected him, "Not me Linc, not me."

Lincoln was confused by Fitz' cold response and some type of inside joke that was funny to Harrison. "Are you sure? Because it looks like she's available."

"Trust me she's not."

At that moment, Olivia, Alexis and Lily walked up to join them. The DJ announced that it was the last dance of the evening and Lincoln seized the moment.

"Olivia, may I have this dance?"

"Of course Lincoln, I would love to," Olivia responded. The scowl on Fitz's face intensified as he watched them walk away.

"Come on brother, let's go dance," Lily said as she encouraged Fitz to take her to the dance floor. They were followed by Alexis and Harrison.

"So what's with the deep frown?" Lily asked when she observed the sour look on Fitz's face as he kept stealing looks at Olivia dancing with Lincoln.

"It's nothing Lily."

"It's not nothing Fitz. You're standing by watching the woman you love dance with your best friend as he tries to hit on her."

Fitz looked at her with one raised eyebrow. He couldn't quite to tell her that she didn't know what she was talking about; she could always read him well. It was easier not to respond.

"The question is, why aren't you two together?"

"We're just friends."

"How long are you going to keep saying that? Until you finally believe it? If you were just friends, you wouldn't be thinking about ripping the head off of your friend for touching Olivia."

"There's more to it Lily…things you don't know."

"Whatever it is Fitz, you better fix it fast. Olivia is a beautiful, intelligent woman; she can only wait for you for so long."

"Just let it be, Lily."

"I'll do you one last favor this evening baby brother." Fitz didn't expect it but his sister cut in on Lincoln and Olivia, allowing them to switch partners.

"Sorry about that," Fitz said when Olivia was in his arms.

Olivia smiled up at him; it was their first dance together all evening. "Oh it's no problem. I like Lincoln he's nice; it's good to have close friends like that."

"Yeah I guess so."

"Did you enjoy the evening?"

"Yeah it was fine."

"Everyone seems very proud of you both."

"Yeah, sure."

His curt responses worried Olivia; something was wrong. What bothered her more was that he seemed fine before they came together. "Ok, what the hell is wrong with you Fitz? What did I do now?...You have such a cold attitude and I don't know if it's me or something else."

He remained silent but she probed further, "I thought you said we were friends? Why can't you talk to me then?"

"I don't want to talk about it Liv. Nothing's wrong…let's just finish this dance so this evening can be over."

Because her emotions had been all over the place the entire night, Olivia took his attitude personally and said "I didn't realize that dancing with me was such a chore for you….Why don't we end it now that way we don't have to endure each other's company any longer. Good night Fitz. Thanks for a great evening."

She walked off the dance floor; leaving Fitz standing there. She sent a quick text to her sister that she would take a taxi home. She just needed this entire night to be over with.

XXXXXX

Olivia was thankful for the taxi ride home; it allowed her to sit alone, in silence, while fresh angry tears flowed. She was so tired of crying; it seemed that she cried more this evening then she had in over a year. She tried to make them stop but as hard as she tried more tears came. It was another reason she was thankful for the solitude; no one else had to witness her weakened state.

Her phone had been ringing over and over again since she left the venue. She hadn't bothered to look down to see who was calling. As angry as she was, she had a mind to throw the phone out the window and let it crumble to pieces on the dark, empty streets. She had done everything right. She hadn't pushed him; she hadn't pressured him; he wanted to be friends and she accommodated. She rarely even spoke to him after their discussion; she wanted to give him space. His coldness was inexplicable.

When the phone rang yet again, she answered in a harsh tone, "What!"

"Liv?"

"What?"

She could hear Fitz breathing heavily into the phone. Neither said a word for several minutes. "It wasn't you Liv it was me," he finally said.

Oh that's an original line, she thought.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to treat you that way. I'm sorry."

She remained silent; never doubting his sincerity but wondering whether she had overreacted – leaving without letting him explain. On some level, their conversation in the garden had left her feeling rejected by him; she was insecure and when she expected him to reaffirm what they meant to each other, she got a cold welcome and she couldn't deal with it, not then when she was already so vulnerable.

"It's fine Fitz..it's fine…don't worry about it. I'm just tired and I need to go home."

"Liv, let me come by. I want to see you; I need to know you're really okay."

"That's not a good idea. Not for us. We're being friends, remember, let's just be friends." Olivia knew that their attraction was too strong and with what they were feeling, it wouldn't take much for them to end up in each other's arms.

"Liv," Fitz pleaded.

"Please Fitz, just let me go home and I will talk to you later."

She wasn't okay; neither of them were and he cursed himself for downgrading their relationship to the friend zone. Judging by his reaction to Lincoln, he no longer thought he could handle just being friends. It seemed the best solution for them at the time, but now when he had to live with it, it almost seemed impossible.

"Liv I got jealous...Lincoln asked me if you were available and I told him no. I told him that you and I were just friends but you were still taken. He obviously didn't believe me and when you walked up he asked you to dance. It bothered me that I couldn't claim you as mine and I had to watch another man flirt with you and hold you like that. I couldn't handle it and I ended up taking it out on you. I'm sorry."

"Fitz…I'm not interested in Lincoln. He's your friend and I was being nice to him."

"I know that. It's just….I put us in the friend zone and it was the right thing to do; it was the best thing for us but now I'm not sure if I can handle it."

"So what do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

When the taxi driver pulled up on her street, Olivia looked out her window and said, "Fitz where are you right now?"

"Standing outside your door."