A/N: Okay, this is a long authors note, so if you don't want to read it, just skip down. First off, I just want to thank all the people who have reviewed. I really enjoyed reading all your reactions and how you perceive Mellie as a character. I find it really interesting how different everyone's opinion are. I've never really come across anything like it in any other show I've watched. Some people despise Mellie and some people love her like crazy. It's an either/or situation, it seems like there is no in between. Personally, (you can probably tell) I love her. I think her character is so complex. She's intelligent but she makes terrible decisions, however I think deep down she's a good woman who just lost herself. Somewhere she crossed a line and she just couldn't find her way back. And like VietAngel said in her review, I believe that Fitz and Mellie were in love and good for each other at one point (evidence in flashback episode) and my heart broke for her too when he said he's only ever loved one woman. Anyway, sorry for the rambling: this is most likely going to be the last chapter. (Unless people really want me to write more) I feel like the only reason I wrote this is because what happened in 5x6 between Mellie and Fitz really upset me and I feel like they need better closure than that. I agree with Zetastyle and Scandalllover1, I think Mellie's character is too strong and smart to take Fitz back even if he wanted to (I don't think he would anyway). They've treated each other horribly and they both deserve better. Anyway, enough talk…let's get to the story.

"I thought I had gone crazy. We were in love, right Fitz? I'm not nuts, at one point you and I were in love."

"At one point, yes, Mel. We were in love."

"But we aren't any more…" Mellie bit her lip. It was still sore from drawing blood earlier.

"No, we aren't in love anymore," Fitz agreed softly, "But Mellie, some part of me will always love you. You are the mother of my children and I care about what happens to you."

"I care about you too, Fitz," she choked, "I know that we bring out the worst in each other as a couple. But I still want to be a team. We need to be a team."

Fitz nodded and tentatively took Mellie's hands in his. This time she let him.

"We need to be a team for our baby, Fitz. Teddy is two years old. He needs both of us. Karen still needs us too…and Jerry," she added tearfully, "Jerry would want us to get along."

Fitz squeezed Mellie's hands in his own, "He wouldn't want us at war."

The two searched each other's eyes finally feeling like they were landing on some sort of understanding.

"I want to move on," Mellie added, "and I want you to know it's going to be hard for me. You have Olivia," she said her name with a bit of disdain, "But I'm going to be alone. I'll have no one…"
"You'll have me," Fitz said hesitantly.

"No, no I won't. Fitz, I want to be able to do this on my own. I know I can do this on my own. I don't want you to be there…if I fall, I mean. I have to pick myself up now, on my own, I have to pick myself up and…move on." She was having trouble getting her words out. Her voice kept catching in her throat. Fitz could see her struggling.

"If there is anyone who can do that, Mel, it's you. You've been through so much and you're still so resilient and strong, I'm sorry I did a lousy job at seeing that…"

"We both know how to hit each other where it hurts, don't we?" Mellie chuckled sadly.

"That we do."

Mellie tried to smile at Fitz, to show him that she could, but the tears in her eyes gave her away. Fitz knew his ex wife, he knew her through and through – her ups and her downs; they had experienced everything together. He pulled her into his arms for the last time. His fingers found her hair, still damp and tied up in a messy bun. He pulled it gently out of the holder, and let it fall down her back. He grabbed a fist full of her chocolate locks and squeezed her tighter with is other arm. She clung to him with all the strength she had left. They both needed this. It was closure.

"You really did break my heart, Fitz. I know I'm not innocent in all of this, but you really hurt me," she cried into his chest.

"I'm so sorry, Mellie, I'm so so sorry," He repeated over and over again into the nape of her neck. He had to admit, he would miss the smell of her. A mix of vanilla and rose. He breathed her in for the last time.

Mellie pulled back from him, her arms bent and her palms against his chest. This time she smiled, "I'm sorry, I know you don't like "crybaby" Mellie," she sniffed and giggled sadly.

Fitz shook his head and put his hands on her silk-clad waist. "You know that I never meant what I said that day," he spoke hardly above the whisper. They both remembered that conversation in the Oval all too well.

Mellie grimaced and searched Fitz' eyes. In them, she saw sincerity. He was truly sorry.

"I'm going to be better, too, Fitz," she told him. Fitz smiled at her warmly.

"I'm so glad we can be honest with each other, Mellie. You have no idea how glad I am…"
Mellie nodded in agreement.

"Listen," she began, "I was planning to drink myself into a stupor tonight," she laughed, "But I was wondering if, since you're here now, you would want to join me in reading a bedtime story to Teddy. He's in the nursery with nanny Jen."

"I would love to, Mellie," he responded, touched that she would ask him.

"Great." She blushed slightly. Without hesitating, Fitz gently took Mellie's hand in his own and they walked together across the hallway.

With a quiet knock, Fitz opened the door to Teddy's room and the couple walked in to find Teddy already in his bed, nanny Jen sitting on the edge, "The Giving Tree" in her hands.

The young woman looked up and smiled, surprised to see the two together.

"Mama and Dada!" Teddy whispered excitedly, sitting up in his bed.

"Hi baby," Mellie waved, a wide smile spreading on her cheeks. Fitz looked at Mellie and then back at Teddy and couldn't help but smile as well. "We were thinking we might do story time tonight, Jen, would that be okay?" He spoke to the nanny.

"Oh! Of course, Sir, I'm sure Teddy would love that," Jen replied quickly, handing the book to Mellie and swiftly making her way out of the room.

Teddy's eyes were drooping and Mellie and Fitz could tell he was exhausted, but he was doing his best to perk up for his parents. It wasn't very often he got to spend time with both of them at the same time.

Mellie crawled across the bed and onto the other side of Teddy and curled into him, "Do you mind if mommy snuggles here?" She asked him, kissing the side of his cherub cheek.
Teddy giggled, "Yeah, and daddy right here," he patted the other side of him.

Fitz laughed, "You got it, buddy," he said, sitting on the edge and throwing his feet up. He reached his arm over Teddy's pillow and grabbed Mellie's shoulder, pulling his family into his side. The group sighed collectively and Mellie opened the book. She stole a quick glance at Fitz, who couldn't take his eyes off of her, and began to read: "Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy..."

Fitz closed his eyes as she read, letting her voice lull him into the most relaxed state he had been in for years. This is what it was supposed to be. Mellie and Fitz: partners. A team. Raising Teddy together, side by side, in sync, content. This is how it was supposed to be.