This particular chapter was inspired by SWV if you couldn't already tell by the title. Been a long three months since I've last updated by intended to fully make up with that starting with this new chapter. Happy Holidays and happy reading!

Something about being held hostage in a room with a desperate woman who just happens to have a bomb strapped around her waist can make a person appreciate life and what's really important.

Olivia couldn't believe what she'd been through in the last week. First her name was splashed across every news outlet for the world to pick apart because she was named President Grant's "mistress", she then had to take on Janine Locke as a client when her name was leaked as Grant's "real mistress", lastly there was Mary Nesbitt, a distraught and deeply hurt mother, whose son was undercover in a secret mission for the CIA but was named a terrorist when he died.

Those were the only explanations as to why Captain Jake Ballard was sitting in her apartment partaking in a glass of wine with her while they sat bathed in candle light, putting them in a very romantic setting.

Brinngggg, Brinnnggg!

The shrill ringing of the telephone halted Olivia's lips as she pressed a hand to his chest to keep him from coming forward.

"It could be important," Olivia said as she rises from the couch to answer the still ringing telephone.

Jake sat there with a forlorn expression on his face as he had no choice but to listen in on the conversation that was about to take place between Olivia and his old Navy buddy.

"Mr President," Olivia answered the phone as she strolled away from the couch.

"Why so formal?" Fitz asked as he sunk into the backseat of the Presidential limo.

"What can I do for you?"

"Do for me; does everything have to be so transactional in this town even with us?"

Olivia stole a glance over at Jake to see if he could pick up on the exchange between her and Fitz.

"What happened, rough day?" So far so good, Jake was still at least pretending not to eavesdrop on the conversation.

"You could say that. How are you?" Fitz could listen to her voice all day and never tire of the husky timbre that was Olivia Pope's sultry speech.

"I'm fine, you're a… Are you ok?"

She knew he was shaken up about the news of Pete Foster's death and wanted so badly to comfort him but didn't know how to escape with a certain restraint holding her back at the moment.

Fitz just smiled after taking some time to really think over the question. Right now his emotions were like wild horses, just running rampant in his head with no place to free themselves.

"I don't know how to answer that, I honestly don't." he finally responded.

Olivia stood facing the oval mirror by her door and listened as the love of her life gave out his silent plea to be held and comforted.

"You sound…" Olivia began but was cut off by Jake's voice in the background.

"More wine?" Jake purposely shone the spotlight back on to himself, not bearing to hear any more of their conversation at least from Olivia's side.

Olivia froze for half a second before turning around to face Jake with an irritated look on her face. She couldn't believe he had the nerve to speak to her while she was on the phone, rude much?

"You have company." It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

Jake Ballard is Olivia's company kept running through his head as he tried to shake the images that were beginning to take place in his head.

"It explains the formality."

"Sorry, it's just…" She never finished her sentence once again she was cut off.

"You should go." He was pushing her away she could feel it in her gut.

"It's ok."

"You have company." Yes, he was definitely building up a wall to keep her out.

"We can talk." She wasn't backing down without a fight. No she needed him just as much as he needed her in that moment.

"That would be rude, goodbye Olivia" Fitz knew he was pulling away but hell with what he was about to take on it was really in his best interest to have a clear head.

"No you are not about to hang up on me Fitzgerald," Olivia didn't care that Jake was sitting right there on her couch as the main audience to witness her greatest weakness.

She walked out the living room and toward her bedroom to finish this much needed conversation.

After she was securely in her room she began speaking again.

"Fitz stay with me here because it's been a very stressful day for both us hell a stressful week actually."

"Liv what do you want me to say that I'm not jealous that Jake's in your apartment getting cozy with you and more than likely sharing a glass of wine with you? Well I can't do that I'm only human and you Livvy, God make me some damn weak." Fitz couldn't fight the emotion anymore.

Olivia crumpled onto her bed and pressed her free hand to her mouth to stifle sob that almost came out. This powerful man that she longed to call her own was breaking her heart.

"Well then we're two peas in a damn pod because you make me weak too. I'm sorry I put you through a lot especially with the Mary Nesbitt situation that was tough on everyone. Do you want to talk about your day?"

Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding in, Fitz shifted in his seat. How easy it would be to take solace in her arms, her voice, her warmth right now but there was an important matter he had to attend to…first.

"Fitz?" Olivia could hear him breathing on the other end of the line so she knew he hadn't hung up yet.

"Give me an hour and then I'd be more than glad to be the one holding you and drinking wine while we talk about how our day went," Fitz gave a weak smile into the phone. He felt the limo pull to a stop.

Olivia smiled a true genuine smile.

"Alright, I'd like that very much and Fitz?"

"Yes"

"I love you," she released on a breathy whisper.

Fitz closed his eyes, relishing in those three little but very important words.

"I love you too." Hanging up the phone, Fitz placed it into his pocket before being escorted out of the limo and into Wonderland to have a nice little chat with Rowan.

So how as that after a lengthy hitatus peeps? Comments whether good or bad are always must welcome.