Author's Note: Hey guys! I am so excited to have such a great response to my first story! I know some of you were kind of thrown by that last chapter though, but I promise we are getting to the Happily Ever After! Thank you all for the wonderful reviews – I'm thinking only one or two chapters after this one before I finish up. I already have an entirely different story going on in my head…

Be on the lookout for a Mellie one-shot I'll be posting tonight or tomorrow as a precursor for my next story that will be titled "Welcome to the Fallout". I haven't decided on a title for the one-shot yet, but you'll probably know it when you see it. Shonda's unexpected three week hiatus has given my mind way too much time to wander…

Anyway, enjoy the rest of the story and again, thanks for the support!

Chapter Seven

I've been learning to live without you now, but I miss you baby
The more I know, the less I understand
And all the things I thought I'd figured out, I have to learn again
I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter
Because my will gets weak, and my heart is so shattered
But I think it's about forgiveness…
Even if you don't love me anymore

- "Heart of the Matter" (originally performed by Don Henley)

Olivia set off on her anniversary unexpectedly alone. She was still coming to terms with the abrupt (for her) decision to divorce from Jake, but she knew deep down that there was no changing his mind. It was hard to stomach that she had failed in her marriage, and she couldn't help feeling as though she had let everyone down. She had thought at one point that she would be able to love Jake enough to make things work, even though she still loved Fitz as well. Apparently, though, she was wrong.

And now she had all the time in the world to think about just how wrong she had been, while relaxing in the beautiful vineyards on the South Carolina coast. She had made the rash decision to leave her cell, laptop, and any other form of communication in DC while she went on the two week hiatus from her life. Being off the grid felt oddly liberating to her, and she found herself with the ability to think and breathe more freely than she had in ages. She thought about her life and where she, as a 40-something (early forties, mind you) divorcee with no children and little family to speak of, stood now in light of her divorce. Her social circle consisted primarily of her co-workers and a select few friends… she didn't even own a pet.

Still, she was a brilliant and talented woman, with a thriving business and the world at her feet. And she was The Fixer, the woman that the most powerful people in the world sought out to fix their problems, their lives. She cleaned up issues for other people every day of her life – surely she could fix her own.

Deciding that she had waited long enough for her happily ever after, Olivia set about responding to Fitz's letter with one of her own. She wrote for hours, agonizing over the right words to say so that she could make him understand what she wanted and needed him to see. Yes, she wanted him badly, but it was more than just that. What she wanted from him was a fresh start, a way to truly leave everything that was in their past in the past. She wanted a real shot at a good, healthy relationship that they could show to the world, not the bond they had built that was made of lies and secrets. She didn't want to hide anything from him anymore, and she didn't want him to feel the need to hide from him either. She didn't care about what had happened in the past between them – all she was asking for was right now, a real honest start.

After several hours, and copious amounts of the vineyard's finest wines, she had said all she wanted to say to Fitz. Her letter, though surprisingly short in the end, said everything she felt it needed to. She read over it one more time before sealing it in an envelope and putting it out of sight for awhile and heading out on the grounds for an afternoon walk.

Days later, on her way back to Washington, she impulsively decided that she wanted to deliver the letter to Fitz herself, knowing that it might be her last opportunity. She used the phone in her car to dial Cyrus' number. When he picked up, he seemed surprised to hear from her, as their lunches together had gotten few and far between in recent months. Still, when she said that she needed to see "him", Cyrus was more than happy to acquiesce. He told her that he would arrange a few minutes' time later that afternoon, and that she should come by near the end of the day. Olivia thanked Cyrus, and headed home to shower and change.

A few short hours later, Olivia was walking through the front gates of the White House. She passed by the new and familiar faces, making her way past staff and secret servicemen, on her way to Cyrus' office. When she walked in the door, she was immediately enveloped in a hug by the old man, who acted as if he hadn't seen her in years, not just the few months that had passed by. They spent a few moments catching up before he escorted her down to the Oval Office. He knocked on the door and entered, with Olivia hesitating at the threshold.

Fitz looked up at Cyrus, barely acknowledging him as he mulled over some important document on his desk. Yet he seemed to know instinctively from the other man's demeanor that something was different today.

"What do you need, Cy?"

Cyrus looked at the President, smiling impishly before replying, "Oh, nothing sir, I just wanted to bring someone by to see you."

Fitz knew before she walked through the door who the "someone" was, and his heartbeat quickened. He watched the door warily, not wanting to get his hopes up. As Olivia stepped through to the other side, he let go of a breath that he hadn't even known he was holding. Time had been good to her, and if it were possible, he thought she was even more beautiful than she had been the last time he'd seen her. He stood stock still, trying his best not to appear as happy and confused as he felt, and waited patiently for her to make the first move. Somewhere in the back of his mind he registered that Cyrus had excused himself, but he was too bust staring at Olivia to pay much attention.

"Hello, Fitz" she said as she stood before him, hesitant and unsure of herself. He was amused by the perplexed look she had on her face, and he could tell that she was second-guessing her decision to come and see him. He was overjoyed that she was there, but at the same time cautious, unsure of the purpose of her visit.

"Livvie" he said, and she smiled, as if the moniker had somehow put her more at ease. She moved closer to him, her stride purposeful as she made her way across the room. He noticed that she had an envelope in her hand just before she presented it to him. As he took it and began to open it, she placed her hand on his, effectively stopping him.

"Please don't read that until I leave," she said. "I don't know how you will feel or react to what I have said, and I don't think I'm ready to find out just yet. Just, please… give me a few minutes to clear out before you open it."

"Why did you bring it to me," he wondered aloud, "if you didn't want me to open it now."

She smiled a little sheepishly to herself before responding, "Because either way, I wanted to see you."

Seeing her sweet smile was enough to make him comply with her request to wait until she had left before opening the letter. She did not stay much longer, but she did pull him into a tight hug before preparing to depart. He could tell from her breathing that she was beginning to cry, and he was pleasantly surprised to note that she was no longer wearing a ring on her left hand as she brought it up to cover her face. He thought it best not to ask questions, though, and he fought the urge to run after her as she turned and walked out of the room.

Later that evening, just before retiring to his quarters in the residence, Fitz finally decided to open Olivia's letter. He read and re-read the letter several times, pouring over each of her words and trying to make sense of her request. He understood what she was asking, and knew that it was probably in the best interest of them both, but he didn't know how he would be able to agree to this. In the end, though, he decided that he would do this for her, if this was what she truly wanted, and so he went to sleep that night with her words playing over and over again in his head.

Fitz,

I didn't know how to start this letter to you. I find it funny now, that even after all these years, you are the one man alive who has the power to render me speechless, even when you aren't around. I've read and re-read your letter to me countless times, and each time the hurt and the hope ring as true as they did the first.

My life has gone through many changes as well since we last spoke. I have married and dealt with divorcing my husband, and am now looking to what life holds for me next. I am not sure what is in the cards for me, or where I go from here, but for once, I'm fine with that. I know – Olivia Pope, the master of planning, doesn't have a plan – scary, right? Ironically, though, I am not afraid at all. That's the funny thing about having nothing left to lose – you suddenly have nothing left to be afraid of anymore.

You once told me that in love, there is always room for forgiveness. I understand that now, more than ever. I am so thankful that you forgive me, and I want you to know that I forgive you, too. I love you, Fitzgerald Grant, with every fiber of my being. The love that I feel for you is the kind that people write stories about, the kind that defies all odds. It is true and real and unconditional, and I will carry it in my heart until the end of my days. I am happy simply knowing that you are well, and that somewhere in this world, there is a wonderful man who loves me.

I would like for us to start again, to give ourselves a real shot this time. I know that this might be a bit presumptuous of me, but, as I said, I don't have anything left to lose at this point. I don't want you to answer right now – there are still a few months left in your presidency, and I want you to leave the White House as honorably as you came in. You may not be married to Mellie anymore, but the rest of the world doesn't know that. I also want you to know that I am not interested in talking things out and rehashing all of the sordid details of our past. The truth is, Fitz, I'm over it. I don't care what you did or what I did – I don't want to start the cycle of keeping score and who hurt who the most anymore. I just want to love you and be loved by you – it really is that simple.

If you don't want this, or are not sure that you can handle this, then I understand completely. Know that I wish you well in life, and that I will always be here if you need me. But if you do want this – if you still want me and the life that we dreamed of together – then I'd like you to meet me in our spot on Inauguration Day. Don't contact me before then – I want you to have plenty of time to make sure that all business is taken care of and that you are sure of where you want to be.

Whatever you decide, you need to know that I love you, and that it's always been you, Fitz.

I hope to see you soon.

Livvie