Yay for lovely reviews! Thank you! I just started the final two weeks of this semester so I am drowning in finals, papers, and homework assignments. I will still try to continue updating every three days, but please don't be mad if I can't keep up with it. After next week I will definitely be focused on writing. :)
Over the course of the next seven days, Fitz traveled to Europe for a quick three-day visit to four different countries, and was generally very busy. He managed to call Olivia nearly every day, requesting health updates and enjoying a quick chat with her before she went to bed. Olivia was beginning to feel more like her old self as the week went on, and by Friday she was ready to put on her heels and strut into her beloved office. She had agreed to let Quinn pick her up at home on her way to work, because she still felt a little weary about driving herself. Olivia had no plans to actually do much work that day, but she wanted to see her office and her gladiators and simply be Olivia Pope again.
When the duo entered the building, Olivia was greeted by the people she worked with, which placed an instant smile on her face. It was good to see them in their usual environment rather than a hospital room. Abby had provided coffee for everyone, and they gathered around the large table to fill in their boss about everything she had missed over the last few weeks.
"We wrapped up the case with Congressman Solis, and I think he was very pleased with the way things turned out.", Harrison supplied.
"Good.", Olivia smiled. "He sent me flowers to the hospital with a note attached that was signed by both him and his wife, so I'd assume things were worked out."
"Threatening the mistress with revealing her porn star past usually works wonders.", Abby grinned.
"We don't threaten. We remind in a friendly manner.", Olivia reminded her, even though the smirk on her face told a different story.
She loved this. Olivia loved being back in her element, even if she was simply discussing cases rather than actually working them. There was a list of possible future clients that Quinn had composed over the last couple of days, and it would be up to Olivia to decide their first true case since the accident. By the following Monday, she was planning on returning full force, ready to be a gladiator in a – brand new Armani – suit. She moved from the table they all shared into her private office and let herself fall into her chair there. Her eyes scanned the list Quinn had handed her and she decided that come Monday morning, she would call Gabrielle Dilling – a young, beautiful, and very successful socialite that had been caught up in the middle of a drug case involving a U.S. senator. Olivia knew she would be able to help the girl, and the case would be a good way to get back into the swing of things.
Her cell phone began vibrating on the desk, and Olivia answered on the second ring.
"Hello?"
"I am taking you out on a date tonight at eight o'clock. You will be picked up at your place and you will join me for our first real date."
"Fitz.", she laughed quietly. "You know that's not possible. We can't go on a date."
"Livy, I don't think you quite understand. This isn't a request. I have made it possible; all I need for you to do is wear something special and come hungry."
She could hear the amusement in his voice, and as much as it made her smile, it also worried her. Fitz had been just short of reckless when he had visited her in a public hospital repeatedly, and his visit to her home was only slightly less risky. Taking her on a date would seriously push all their good luck, and Olivia was not willing to allow him to take that risk.
"Fitz.", Olivia began again, her voice holding a warning tone. "We can't do that, and you know it."
"Do you trust me?", he implored.
She didn't hesitate: "Yes. But…"
"Eight o'clock, Livy."
Before she could reply, Fitz had already hung up on her. Olivia sighed and checked her watch. It was barely noon, so there was a long time to go before she even had to consider getting ready. She wanted to believe that she could open the door later that day and tell whoever had been sent to collect her that she would not be going. Olivia realized, however, that it was futile to even pretend she wouldn't be leaving her home with a Secret Service agent at eight o'clock sharp.
Ten minutes before eight, Olivia was ready and pacing in her apartment. She was excited to see Fitz again, but she was still nervous about their date. Of course, she didn't get the normal first-date-jitters that everyone was used to, no, Olivia Pope had first-date-with-the-president-jitters. When the knock came, she checked herself in the mirror one last time, before opening her door to two Secret Service agents. Closing her door behind her, she followed them to the car wordlessly.
It took her less than 15 minutes of driving before Olivia realized where they were going. She was pleased with Fitz' choice, because she his location of choice was as safe and private as it would get for them outside of his private rooms in the White House. When the black car pulled up to the gates of Camp David, Olivia gave herself a once-over in her tiny compact mirror, smoothed out the invisible wrinkles in the skirt of her dress, and took a deep breath. Finally, they reached the main house and she smiled at the sight of the President standing in the doorway, waiting to greet her. Olivia waited for one of the agents to open her door before stepping out. Her gaze was lowered and she scolded herself inwardly for being this nervous. They'd shared so much over the last couple of years, and they'd been so close so many times, but they had never actually gone on a first date in the true sense of the word. This was a first for them, and it made Olivia's heart beat out of her chest.
When she finally lifted her head to meet Fitz' eyes, he was smiling. He was dressed in his usual outfit, with only the suit jacket missing. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong arms in that way she liked so much. Olivia watched as his eyes took her in, traveling from the tips of her toes, up her body, until their eyes met. She wore a pair of cream-colored heels and a flowing, knee-length dress of the same color that was accentuated with a gold belt. Her shoulders were bare, and the slight breeze made her curls play around her face. Slowly, Olivia began to walk towards him, finally meeting him by the door. Fitz took her hand into his and brought it up to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on each of her knuckles.
"Hi.", he smiled, and Olivia's heart melted.
"Hi."
"You look beautiful."
Fitz walked her into the house and didn't bother showing her around, because he remembered that Olivia knew her way around Camp David just as well as he did. Her eyes widened when she caught sight of the dining room. No lights were turned on, but the room was illuminated by candles that were placed everywhere. The table was set beautifully, and a single, white rose had been placed on Olivia's plate. Music was playing softly in the background, and the delicious scent of their dinner made her mouth water. Olivia turned to face Fitz, her smile instantly putting him at ease. At the age of 50, he was actually more nervous about a first date than he ever had been as a young man.
"You didn't have to do all of this.", Olivia said, but the look on her face told him how much she appreciated it.
"I wanted to.", Fitz assured her. "Come on. Let's sit down. Dinner will be served in a few minutes."
After pulling out a chair for her, Fitz sat down across from her and poured them both a glass of expensive wine that he knew Olivia would enjoy. Dinner was delicious and relatively quiet. They briefly chatted about how their day had been, but remained silent for most of the time. Although they didn't use many words, so much was said. Olivia and Fitz shared looks all through dinner, and every now and then he would reach across the table to touch her hand. When their plates were cleared, they didn't move to leave the table. She had turned her hand over to allow Fitz to draw invisible circles on the palm of her hand. At the same time, her foot was slowly sliding up and down his calf, and although he said nothing, Olivia could tell by the way his eyes darkened that it was affecting him. After a while, Fitz stood.
"Come on, Liv.", he encouraged, holding his hand out to her. "Let's move this to the living room."
She followed him without hesitance, and they both got comfortable on the large, antique couch. They sat close, but Fitz made sure that there was enough space in between them to assure he would control himself. Olivia's earlier actions had made it difficult to take things as slow as they had agreed to.
"How was your first day back at the office?"
"Uneventful.", Olivia smiled. "But it was still nice to be back. I had the chance to look over some things, and I think we'll take our first case since the accident on Monday morning. How was your day?"
Fitz saw the excitement dance in her eyes, and it made him happy to know that her work caused her such fulfillment.
"Good. I had a conference call with the French President, and Cyrus is on me about something I should be looking into, but I was a little distracted when he spoke to me."
Olivia punched his shoulder playfully, knowing that she had probably been his distraction. They smiled at each other, but after a moment her face fell slightly.
"What does Mellie think you are doing tonight?"
"I don't know.", he sighed. "She is in Louisiana for a few days, so she doesn't know that I came here tonight."
"Fitz…", Olivia warned. "She will not always be away. It isn't always going to be convenient for us."
"Can we not talk about her tonight?"
"Look, I don't want to talk about her any more than you do, but we promised each other there'd be no more secrets, no more lies and omissions. I don't want Mellie to get involved either, but we both know that she will eventually."
She watched, concerned, as his face fell and he lowered his gaze until she was no longer able to see his eyes. Maybe it hadn't been a good idea to bring up his wife, because as much as she needed to be discussed eventually, she wasn't exactly a topic for a first date. Olivia instantly regretted mentioning her. Their date had gone so well, and when she looked past the fact that they were at Camp David, things had almost been normal. Dinner, candlelight, flirting, soft but innocent touches – a typical successful first date. Now Olivia was afraid she had ruined it, and they would not be able to return to the carefree normalcy that she had enjoyed so much mere minutes ago.
"I'm sorry for bringing this up. Look, Fitz…"
"No.", he interrupted her, his eyes finally returning to look into hers. "I'm not… it's not… Mellie isn't what I am worried about."
When he noticed the confusion edged into her features, he continued quietly.
"There's something else you said, Liv. You said that we promised each other no more secrets and no more lies. We promised each other a fresh start, but… Olivia… I… I haven't been honest with you. There is something I haven't told you."
"Fitz…", she whispered brokenly, reaching out to take his hands between both of hers. "What is it?"
For a long moment he was quiet, his glassy eyes staring deeply into hers. He wondered if their second chance would be over before it ever really started.
"I killed Verna."