Disclaimer: The characters in this story belong to ABC Disney, Shonda Rhimes and the TV show Scandal. All credit to them.

A/N: Thanks to all of the new followers for this story! Glad you are along for the ride. Here is the latest..

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

"Olivia are you in there?"

They both froze in place panic filling there bodies. Fitz pulled out of her and grabbed the previously discarded towel off of the ground and handed it to her. She grabbed it, wrapped it around her and walked to the door.

"What are you doing here?" She asked cracking the door to the locker room.

"I wanted to talk to you about Jake. What are you doing? Let me in."

"Abby, I can't talk right now. How about I call you when I get home?" Olivia said nervously praying that she wouldn't press the issue.

"You are acting really strange but ok." Abby gave her a side eye and Olivia shut the door locking it. She let out a breath and leaned her forehead on the door. She jumps when Fitz placed his arms around her from behind but quickly relaxed when he gently kissed the side of her neck.

"I'm sorry." He whispered softly. "This was so reckless."

She turned in his arms and looked up at him. Her mind drifted to the conversation with Jake, how he asked her if there was anything that she wouldn't do for Fitz, and the answer no still rang true. They could have been caught by anyone but when it came to him, unlike any other part of her life, she was reckless. Whether that was a bad thing or not she would have to wait and see.

"It was reckless but it was great at the same time.." She stopped when he was smiled. "What?"

"You are so beautiful and I love the way your forehead scrunches a little when you are in deep thought, it's cute."

Olivia blushed and looked down shyly, "Thanks...you should go before someone else shows up."

"Alright. I love you and I will talk to you later." He kissed her forehead, peeked out the door and when he saw no one he walked out like nothing ever happened.

Olivia leaned against the door and shook her head. "He is going to be the death of me." She mumbled to herself before going to shower then change into her swimsuit.

Mellie walked into Starbucks stopping briefly at the door to see if her friends were already waiting for her. She spotted them and walked over.

"Hey girls, sorry to keep you waiting but I ran into that annoying guy in school that is always trying to get us to sign that stupid petition. Anyway, I called you here because we need to come up with a plan on how to break up Olivia Pope and Fitz Grant."

"What? Why do we care about him or her?" One of the girls asked.

"We care about them because I said we do." Mellie spat angrily at the girl for challenging her. "As I was saying, we need to come up with a plan and I think I have one in mind."

About 15 minutes later

"Hey Harrison!" Huck yelled from his booth in the back of the Starbucks. "Over here."

"Wassup Huck." Harrison gave him a fist bump and took his seat.

"Nothing, where is Fitz?"

"Who knows. Somewhere chasing his boo thang around." Harrison said with a bit of an attitude in his voice.

"You sound jealous." Huck said laughing.

"I am but not in the way you are thinking. I'm jealous of the fact that he is giving this girl he barely knows all of our bro time. Like once he found her he just forgot about us and all the BS we helped him with."

"Stop being jealous and try being happy for him. You know what he has been through."

"i have a better idea. Time to make a plan to get our boy back." Harrison replied with a devious smile.

"Oh great another plan." Huck said throwing his hands up in frustration.

"Who else is making a plan?" Harrison asked eying him suspiciously.

"Uhh..no one. I just meant in general." Huck tried to play off his slip and hoped he believed him because he didn't trust giving him the information he had just overheard when he was trying to come up with something similar. He rose from the table, "I will see you in the gym." Huck grabbed his cup and quickly left without a glance back.

Olivia had just put the final touches on her paper and pressed send when her mother arrived home from work. After reviewing it for thirty minutes she closed her laptop and walked downstairs to greet her.

"Hi mom, how was work?" Olivia asked as she plopped down on the couch.

"Is that the way you sit down on a couch Olivia?"

Olivia rolled her eyes, "Lighten up mom. It's not like anyone is around."

"Mmhmm. What do you want?"

"What makes you think I want something?" Olivia said smirking.

"I know you Olivia, out with it."

"I was wondering if you and dad would reconsider my punishment. I know you won't find any errors on my paper so I would like it if you could give it to dad in the morning and allow me to be done with this punishment on Thursday." Olivia bargained. She was confident in her work and she knew it was well written which meant that they would have no choice to let her off the hook.

"If I say I will think about it will you let me enjoy the rest of my downtime?" Maya asked as she took a sip of her Red wine and placed the glass back down on the table.

"Sure." Olivia got up to head back to her room and grabbed the wine glass and took a sip.

"Olivia have you lost your damn mind?" Her mother was shocked.

"What? It wasn't even a good sip." Olivia responded with a smirk.

"You better be glad I am too tired to go at it with you this afternoon." They heard the doorbell. "Who is that? I know I wasn't expecting anyone and your father is at the game."

"It's Jake mom. We are working on a project for class and since I am still grounded he has to come over here for us to work on it."

"Oh ok. Well, y'all go somewhere else with all that noise. I am trying to relax." Maya said waiving her off.

"What? He hasn't even come in here yet. How are we making noise?"

"Don't be a smart ass Olivia."

"Huh? Nevermind." Olivia just shut her mouth and went to get the door. "Hey, come in."

"Wassup." Jake said as he walked in past her.

"This way, " Olivia pointed upstairs. "My mom is in a mood and doesn't want to hear or see us."

"Whatever." Jake said following her up the stairs.

"Do you still have a attitude?" Olivia asked as she sat down on the bed and pointed at her desk for him to sit down.

"Give it a rest already Liv. I am just here to finish this up so that I can leave." Jake said as he pulled his own laptop out of his backpack and started to set it up on her desk.

"We aren't starting until you talk to me." She said crossing her arms over her chest.

Jake closed his laptop and started putting it back into his backpack. "That is ok with me." He stood and walked to the door to leave.

"Wait." She grabbed him by the arm stopping him. "Why won't you talk to me? Tell me what is going on and don't say nothing because I know this is about more than just a altercation between cousins."

"I can't talk to you Liv just..let it go." He said not looking at her.

"Why can't you talk to me?" She asked confused.

"Because of him. If he knew..I don't want to cause any more problems."

"Don't worry about Fitz, I can handle him. Let me be a friend to you and listen to you the way you listened to me this summer." She gave his arm a tug and brought him back to the computer chair near her desk and she sat back down on the bed.

"Ok.." He cleared his throat. "It's coming up on the three year anniversary of my older brothers death and it's always been tough time of year for me." He said looking at his hands. "It was always me, him and Fitz. We always made sure Fitz felt like he was our brother too, especially with the bullshit his dad was constantly pulling. Now I can't even talk to him because of our stupid fight and the worse part of it is that I am not even sure I want to talk to him. The fact that I feel like I am losing another brother yet I don't even care about it because of his attitude scares me. This is not how Josh would have wanted it."

Olivia wasn't expecting his response at all. She thought maybe he had a bad swim meet or that things weren't all that great with Abby on top of all the things that were going on with Fitz. She took a deep breath before speaking, "Jake I am so sorry about your brother. I can't really speak to that type of loss so I won't pretend that I can. What I can talk to is your relationship with Fitz. It wasn't too long ago that he told me about how you talked him off of a ledge and reminded him of how important he was to you and essentially keeping him from doing something destructive. Did you mean what you said to him?"

"Of course I meant it. Why would you even question that?" He asked defensively, offended that she would even suggest that it was just words.

"If you meant what you said then why is your pride standing in the way of you approaching the only family you have here? The person that you said you consider a brother? Over something so trivial at that. I appreciate you looking out for me but I don't need that from you Jake-"

"Don't flatter yourself Liv. Sure I thought about how it would hurt you if you found out what he did but I did not do this for you. I did it for him. I did it to save him from himself and ruining the only good thing in his life which is your relationship."

"You see how easily I misunderstood who and what caused you to act out against Fitz? Don't you think there is a chance that he may have misunderstood that too?" She questioned.

"I guess I thought he would know.." Jake stood and paced the room. "He probably would know if he wasn't so self involved. I don't even know why I am letting you talk me into giving him the benefit of the doubt-" He stopped when Olivia moved into his path.

"You know why Jake, stop fighting it and go talk to your cousin." She said as she gave him a small smile.

Jake pulled her into a hug and Olivia was so surprised that she didn't even know how to react. She stood there with her arms by her sides before slowly giving him a hug back.

"Thanks for being the voice of reason for me Liv." He said by her ear then pulled back and looked at her. "Fitz really is lucky to have you." He hugged her close one more time before letting her go and grabbing his things and leaving.

She just stared at the door wondering what just happened. She shrugged it off and pulled out her phone to call Abby and see what she needed earlier and the pool.

"Hey Liv, what you finally got a break in your enormously busy schedule to call your best friend back?" Abby said sarcastically into the phone.

"Sorry, I know I am the worst best friend ever! What did you want me to talk to me about earlier?" Olivia laid down on her bed and closed her eyes as she listened.

"As long as you know you are the worst." Abby said jokingly. "In all seriousness, I wanted to tell you about that bitch Mellie I saw all hugged up with Fitz last night. All you have to do is give me the word and I will drag her ass Liv, just give me the word."

"One, you are crazy. Two, I can fight my own battles but I am glad you are ready to cut someone for me." Olivia said laughing. "Third, you completely misunderstood what you saw. Fitz was not hugged up with anyone. He isn't that crazy Abby and plus he would never do something like that to me."

"Never say never Liv."

"What? You don't know him like I do Abby." Olivia replied defensively.

"I wasn't implying that I did but he is human and he is a guy. I am just saying don't let your defenses down and then get caught by surprise-"

"You mean like you and David?" Olivia regretted it as soon as it left her mouth and felt like the biggest jerk. "I didn't mean..it came out wrong..I wasn't trying to."

"Nice one Liv." Abby said, hurt evident in her voice. "Do whatever you want, I don't care."

"Abby, Abby wait." She said into the phone before she heard the dial tone that she knew was coming. "Shit." She said out loud to herself.

She knew she messed up and had really hurt Abby's feelings. All she had to do was nod along and keep her mouth shut but she couldn't help but defend Fitz. How dare she insinuate that he would cheat on her? She could have said anything else, hell she could have said that he would have murdered someone and that would have been better than the thought of him being with someone else. That was the one thing that she was the most of afraid of about their relationship, though she would never admit it to anyone. She often thought about his past with girls and how he might get bored with being with just her and want to move on. She got up looking for something, anything to do to push the thought far out of her mind.

"i didn't expect you to be here." Jake said when he walked into the kitchen and saw Fitz doing his meal prep for the next day.

"Coach didn't want me on the bench with a messed up face. He said people may talk and it will look like I was being a trouble maker if I sitting on the bench looking like this." Fitz said over his shoulder.

"Oh." Jake said as he sat down. "You have a minute to talk?"

"Yeah but let me start." Fitz placed the remaining Tupperware that he didn't need back in the cabinet before he sat down across from Jake at the island in the kitchen. "I want to say I was wrong for acting like an ass when you asked me about Mellie but I want you to know why I acted that way. I'm tired of the bad reputation and I thought that if anyone knew how I felt about Liv and how much I cherish what I have with her it would be you, the only person closer to me than her. When you didn't give me the benefit of the doubt and immediately jumped to judge me it hurt and I shut down. In that moment I wanted to hurt you the way you hurt me so I took some cheap shots at you and I was wrong. For that I am sorry."

"Wow, I didn't think you would be apologizing to me." Jake said stunned. "I accept and appreciate what you said though. I shouldn't have assumed and I will admit that I lost my cool. You know how it is this time of year.." Jake trailed off trying to keep a grip on his emotions.

"You know I know more than anyone. We are brothers Jake and nothing will ever change that. That doesn't mean I still don't owe you a couple of punches to the face but I want my brother and friend back. Who else is going to give me advice when I screw up?" Fitz said laughing hoping he could lighten the mood with a joke.

Jake laughed, "Yeah without me you and Liv would be your own worst enemy."

"So are we good?" Fitz held his fist out to Jake.

"We're good." Jake said giving him a fist bump.

Fitz lifted weights the rest of the afternoon finishing off his work out with some laps in the pool. He usually didn't like swimming after weights but being in the water made him somehow feel connected to Olivia. He missed he so much that instead of getting directly in the shower after his swim he sat on the edge of the pool and called her.

"Hi." She smiled into the phone.

"Hi."

"I miss you.." She said quietly.

"I love you."

Olivia felt her body tingle. She would never get tired of hearing those words from him. "I love you too. What are you doing?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"Not really.." She was confused by his statement.

"Livvie, what I am doing is thinking about you. That is all I do.." He said in a lowered voice.

She felt her body tingle all over from the tone of his voice. "How do you make the simplest statement into the sexiest thing ever?" She whispered into the phone.

"I don't know, maybe because I am the sexiest thing ever."

Olivia started laughing loudly and between laughs she managed to say, "You are so corny."

"Alright Livvie, it isn't that funny." He dryly after she had been laughing for a couple minutes. "Stop hyping it."

"Don't be mad at me because you are corny." She said continuing to laugh.

"I guess I will leave you to your joke then.."

"Fitzgerald, you better not hang up. I am just teasing you, I'm sorry do you forgive me?" She asked in a pouty voice.

"I'll think about it." He said still sulking.

"Fitz.."

"Livvie." He said firmly not giving in.

"Fine, new subject." Olivia conceded not sure if he was seriously upset or not. "Thursday you are going out with me."

"Out? Aren't you grounded until next week?"

"I'll be un-grounded Thursday night and it is my turn to pick our date." She said excitedly.

"What exactly is this date?" He asked tentatively almost afraid to ask.

"Uhh uhhn. You will have to wait and see. Just know it will be fun and that you need to wear casual dress, which means no Jordans."

"No Jordans.." He whined. "What about retro Jordans?"

"Fitz stop or I will be going on this date alone." She said seriously.

"Ok, ok no Jordans. I am going to let you go though Livvie. I need to get ready for bed."

"What if I don't want to hang up?" She asked sadly.

"Are you trying to break my heart? I think you are.." He didn't want to hang up either but he didn't want her to be late again in the morning because of him.

"No I am not..I would never do that but I do miss you and want to talk to you until I fall asleep." She knew she was being needy but she didn't care. The heart wants what the heart wants.

"How about we do this, I will go run and take a shower then call you back and we can go to sleep on the phone together." He suggested.

"What if I fall asleep before you get out the shower?"

He'd be lying if he said it didn't make him feel good that she felt this way about him and actually wanted to fall asleep listening to him on the other end of the phone. It made him feel a whole new level of warmth and love all over. "I could always take a shower in the morning." He said smiling into the phone. He stood up from the side of the pool dried his legs and walked towards his room.

"Thanks babe." She yawned tiredly. "Good night and I love you more than you know." She put her phone down on the bed and closed her eyes.

"I love you too Livvie, Sweet dreams." He placed the phone on speaker and laid down on his bed pulling his pillow close and shutting his eyes thinking of her.

Wednesday and Thursday passed by fairly quickly. Olivia's mother didn't have any corrections to her essay and her father agreed to allow her off of punishment Thursday afternoon. She and Jake finished their project way before the Tuesday deadline so they just met up to go over their presentation to get comfortable with the material. Fitz hadn't had any problems out of Mellie and he knew that wasn't a good sign. He kept his guard up and his eyes out for any clues as to what she was up to.

After a light practice with the team he rushed home to get to ready for his date with Olivia. He was nervous about where they were going but he trusted her judgement. It was going on seven-thirty and he was getting worried that she may not be coming any more. He sat on the couch and pulled out his phone and dialed her number when he heard the doorbell. He ran to the door with the phone still to his ear when he opened the door. He lowered the phone and pressed end on the call.

"Hi." He said as he smiled down at her.

"Hi."

"You look..Incredible." He said as he admired her outfit. It was simple yet sexy at the same time. She had on dark blue skinny jeans, a black shirt that hugged her body with a slim fitting black blazer and what had to be 4-inch heels. "Your parents let you leave the house like this?" He asked as he leaned down and wrapped his arms around her waist pulling her close to him.

She leaned back and arched her eyebrow up at him,"Leave the house like what?"

"Nothing bad Livvie." He said laughing and pulling her back to him and slid his hand down her back to her ass gripping it lightly. "I mean..you just..you have me speechless."

"You don't look so bad yourself." She leaned up and gave him a light kiss. "Steven Madden loafers huh? Nice touch."

"I do a little something." He said laughing. "Are you ready?"

"Mhmm. I'll drive." She turned to go to her car but he wouldn't let her out of his grip. "What?"

"You don't drive when you are with me. How many times do I have to tell you that?" He asked as he patted her butt playfully.

"I know but since I know where-"

"Shh." He pulled her in the house towards the garage. He opened the door to his corvette, "Get in." He commanded.

She smiled at his bossiness and got in, she loved when he took charge. The twenty-minute drive was filled with chatter and laughs between the couple with Fitz never removed his hand off of her thigh. Before he knew it he was pulling up to a lounge of some sort and there seemed to be a line to get in.

"What is this place Livvie?" He asked curiously as he pulled into the valet parking.

"It's a lounge with dancing and food. It's where all the Senior's at my old school come on Thursday's. They play really good music and I want to dance." She said as she applied lip gloss to her lips.

"Well it doesn't look like you will doing any of that looking at this line." He got out, threw his keys to the valet and opened the door for her. "I can try and bribe the door man if you want."

"Oh please Fitz, do you really think I would have you drive all the way out here is I didn't have my own connections?" She said giving him the "I got this" look. She grabbed his hand and walked directly to the door.

"Liv baby girl you look beautiful as usual." The door man said when she walked up.

"Thanks Rico." Olivia felt Fitz put his arm around her waist and grip her tightly making his presence known. "This is my boyfriend Fitz."

"What's up man, I'm Rico." He said holding his hand out for Fitz to shake.

"Nice to meet you." Fitz mumbled barely shaking his hand and making minimal eye contact totally and completely dismissing him.

"Ok then." Rico said at his dismissive behavior. "Go right in. I had them setup your VIP table for four like you requested Liv." He moved the red rope to the side and let them in.

"Table for four?" Fitz asked confused as they walked inside.

"Yes, I invited Abby and Jake, surprise." She said laughing.

"You are so silly. I thought you and Abby weren't speaking still." Fitz yelled over the loud music.

"After the 50th apologetic text she got the message and we talked about it. We are good now." She said as they sat down on the couch in the VIP area.

The VIP table was in the back of the lounge and was roped off. The table was lit with candles and the lighting was a dimmer that the rest of the lounge. The thing that she liked about this lounge was how they had curtains that surrounded the the area so it didn't feel like you were a fish in a fish bowl. It also gave a little privacy if you were on a date.

Fitz sat extremely close to her and wrapped his arm around her waist. "I am glad you two are back on track." He whispered in her ear. "So are you going to show me some moves tonight?"

"I'll show your whatever you want babe." Olivia turned and traced the outline of his lips with her tongue teasing him. "Maybe I'll even give you a solo right here on this VIP couch.." She said seductively.

"Mmmm..I'd like that..but first I have to run to the bathroom. Will you be safe here by yourself?" He asked concerned about her.

"I'll be fine. Hurry back." She sucked his bottom lip in her mouth and bit down gently.

"You are going to pay for that Livvie, just wait." He said as he got up and left.

Olivia pulled out her phone and started to text Abby. She felt someone come in but figured it was Fitz so she kept texting.

"I knew you couldn't stay away."

Olivia felt her skin crawl at the sound of the voice she wished she would never hear again. "What the hell are you doing in here Mark." Olivia spat in disgust.

A/N: So Liv took Fitz to one of her old stomping grounds and look who they ran into, good ol Mark lol give me some predictions on what y'all want to see happen. I won't take long with this update since I already know jealous Fitz will be showing up (Fave). Let know what you thought about this chapter in general. Thanks for reading!