AN: Well, it's been a hot minute. And life has not been very kind. So, while entering a full year of quarantine, I decided to take refuge with my favorite characters and revamp this story. Hope you enjoy it. Please stay safe!

DISCLAIMER: Scandal and its characters belong to Shonda Rhimes and ABC/Disney.

Grant Ranch - Santa Barbara, CA around 2 a.m

"Are you out of your mind? Do you really think you can divorce me and still make it to the White House? I never thought you could be so stupid! I am your one shot if you want to make it to 1600 Penn." Mellie screamed at him in disbelief.

She knew that one of these days he would demand a divorce but she never thought he would do it just after announcing that he was running for office.

"First, I'm not out of my mind. I'm completely sane, I actually think I was insane for waiting so long to ask you for a divorce. Second, I do think I can make it to the White House without you. I don't think the American people want to have a First Lady who disrespects her marriage every second she gets." Mellie looked shocked, he knew.

"Why do you look so shocked? You thought I didn't know? You screw around every occasion you get and that was even before we got married. And just because I choose not to say anything doesn't mean I don't know. Third, I'm not stupid, I'm far from that actually. I am a Stanford and Harvard Law graduate, a Rhodes Scholar, and the youngest person to ever be elected governor of the great state of California at 29. And now I'm about to be the youngest person ever to run for President of these United States. I would say I'm far from stupid. I'm actually brilliant, some people might even consider me a genius! And no, you are not my only shot to the highest office in the land. When the American people see this young, ambitious, veteran single father of 2 running for office, they will love me. Did I mention that I'm filling for full custody of the kids?" He added with a smirk on his face. That last comment infuriated Mellie. How in the world could he think like that. Was he really only thinking about himself? What about her? Would he really deprive her of her political career before it even started? After all, she had sacrificed for him? The gall of this man.

And then he went for the jugular. "We all know you had kids for me isn't it?" He knew it was below the belt to use her own words against her but he was done. Done pretending to be happily married when inside he wanted to strangle her. Done playing the happy husband when he wasn't even sure if he was one, considering the fact that he never touched her. Done pretending not to be the other guy when he knew all along he would be the other guy whilst married to her. Done pretending that they were husband and wife when they hadn't touched each other since the birth of the twins. Done being faithful to something that didn't really exist. He was done pretending with his life. He wanted to live a normal life without pretending whether or not he made it to the White House. He was done. Mellie was stunned, never in all the time she had known Fitz had she seen him so determined. The passion that burned his eyes was something she had never seen before. At that instant, she knew there was no way she was changing his mind so, she tried to make him see the error of his ways.

"The party will never let you run for president as a divorcee. It's one thing that you're young but it's another to be running for office in your thirties while breaking up your family? They will crucify you! And the kids, they will hate you. You can't take their mother away just like that, and expect them to like you..." He let out a huge laugh which irritated her even more. "It's not funny" she fumed. He laughed even harder.

"What's so funny?" She was seriously irritated with how immature he was acting.

He finally calmed down and let out a sigh and then said: "You? A mother?" He laughed again.

"I must be dreaming. You were never a mother to Karen and Gerry except in the eyes of the unsuspecting media. For the kids you are not a mother, you are nothing more than a surrogate who just leaves them in the care of their nannies. I am the only real parent they've ever had so no, they won't hate me. Quite the opposite actually, they'll love me for delivering them from the witch they are obliged to call a mother. And for the party, I couldn't care less about what they think. I am the Republican Kennedy, they'll learn to love me. What says family values more than putting the interest of your children even before your political ambitions? Honey, that is political gold. I could have even the evangelicals calling for your blood before Labor Day.

If they don't want me, then I'll run as a liberal, the Democrats would love that. Hell, I could just drop out in order to focus on my family. And I assure you that in four years that nomination will be mine before I even announce my intentions to run." He said with an icy tone.

She was defeated, never in her life had she thought she would lose a battle to Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, what happened to him? She might be losing the battle but she wouldn't lose the war. She couldn't give in. "I will not sign the papers, you're crazy if you thought that for a single moment I would."

He sighed. "You better do. 'Cause I'm an enemy you don't want to have."

"I know you, Fitzgerald. And I am telling you that I am not signing. I've known you since you were 23. Who is she?" Fitz was taken back by her question.

"What?"

"I know you, Fitzgerald. There is no way you thought of this by yourself. So, who is she? Who are you living me for?"

He chuckled. "I'm not the one who cheated in this relationship Mellie. I'm not you remember?" That was a slap in her face.

"I know you. There is no way you suddenly grew some balls without someone behind you."

He shook his head. "Mellie. Mellie. Mellie. You so don't know me. You know, I'm no longer the naive 23-year-old who got tricked into marriage just because he didn't know better. I am a man and I won't tolerate you treating me like I'm a child anymore. I'm a man and expect to be treated as such. I don't need anyone to cajole me into making decisions. I'm done with you treating me that way and from now on I expect nothing more from you than the respect I deserve."

Mellie was shellshocked and didn't know what to do. Her Fitz was no longer the young man she could bus around as she pleased, he had somehow grown a backbone and she was left out in the cold. And the first order of business for this new Fitz was demanding a divorce. She couldn't allow this to happen. All of this would compromise her plans and her political future. The clearing of Fitz's throat snapped her out of her thoughts.

"24 hours." She didn't get what he meant.

"What?"

"I forgot to make myself clear, you have 24 hours to sign the papers."

"What if I don't."

"Then honey," he said humourlessly. "I would advise you to call your mother and your flavor of the month." He said with a glint in his eye that made her feel uneasy.

"What? Why?" She said with her heart pounding.

"Because by Friday morning, you three will be sharing the headlines. I can already see the titles: The Apple didn't fall far from the tree: How Mellie Grant is following in her mother's footsteps." With that comment, all the blood was drained from Mellie's face.

She barely got out "How...? Since when...?"

Fitz let out a chuckle. "Mellie, you don't really think that the great Big Jerry Grant would let his only son get married without a deep background check, do you? You underestimate us Grants! I was born in one of the wealthiest political families in this country. That is to say nothing of my mother's side of the family 'cause I can't even keep up. And you think they would have let me marry you without a background check? Also considering the fact that they hated you, a background check was the easiest and common thing to do. But if I recall, your mother was not only a gold-digging social climber, she became a madam after your father left. Is that what you're planning to do for yourself? Wow, Friday would be a very busy day for the journalists don't you think? But I could spice up things a little more by letting them know how you cheated yourself through law school." He winked at her. "But since you're a sane person who cares for her own political future, I don't think we'll need to go there now will we?"

He went to her and kissed her on the cheek and whispered, in a tone that she had never heard him use before: "Remember, 24 hours or I go nuclear on you." She was still speechless. He then went to the door and said "I'll be in the study if you decide to sign them early." And then he was gone.

She stayed there, petrified and unable to move. This new Fitz was causing her to tremble out of fear. She thought that maybe she pushed him too far and now he's using her own game against her. The worst was that she believed he was able to do what he said he would do. He would be able to tarnish his own reputation for the kids' sake. And at that moment, the only one thought was able to snap Fitz out of that crazy idea; the one and only Cyrus Rutherford Beene. She got out and headed to his room.

Washington DC, that morning

Olivia was in her office at 6:30 like usual. Today was another normal day at Davenport & Campbell law firm. Her morning was quiet and uneventful, she hated it. She wanted a case to handle. She was tired of the boredom she felt at that moment. She lived for the excitement that was brought by a desperate case, the rush of saving someone's reputation, and of course the joy of being the one to wear the white hat. However, today, she wouldn't be feeling any of that, the fact that she finished the required cases for the firm in less than a week and having no interest in the new cases. Today was going to be than another boring day. Her life was becoming a routine and she despised that idea.

She was the great Olivia Pope; a political wunderkind, a Princeton and Columbia Law school alum. She was the youngest person ever to be made partners at her firm. By all measure, she was living the American dream. But despite her success, she didn't feel fulfilled. She missed having a goal to reach for, a challenge to overcome. She had all she ever wanted in life, an amazing reputation, a great job, a great house and she did it all by herself yet she was not happy. She dated but nothing beyond 4 months. She had all you can ask for in life; beauty, fortune, and any man she could ever want, yet her life felt empty. She couldn't figure out what she was lacking.

Today she had a feeling in her gut that something big was going to happen but couldn't figure out what it was. His train of thoughts was interrupted by Stephen knocking at her door. The two had been friends since law school and he was one of the few people she considered to be a true friend, besides her best friend Huck and her brother Harrison.

"You know you don't have to knock right?"

"I do but I prefer to knock. It seems it always snaps you out of your bubble." He chuckled. She looked at the clock and said "How come you're in early today?"

"I wanted to speak to my best friend alone and figured you'd be here." She was a little surprised by the fact that he came to her, usually, he went to Harrison when he wanted to talk. "Sure, have a sit." He sat.

"So, what's on your mind, that made you wake up, I know how much you value your beauty sleep." They both laughed.

" You're a girl right?" He said nervously. "No, I like to think that I'm a man." She said trying to lighten the mood, but it didn't work.

"So, there is this girl right, she's gorgeous beyond imaginable, and she's a really good friend of mine. I have been in love with her since we met but she seems not to notice how I feel about her. I want to ask her out but I'm afraid that she'll say no and I'll lose her. I don't want that at all. I value her friendship dearly and I can't afford to lose her. What should I do?"

She chuckled a bit and saw that he was serious. "You're seriously asking me for relationship advice?" He nodded. "You know I'm Olivia Pope right?" She asked in disbelief. "Yes," he answered plainly. "I don't really date."

"I know but you're a woman and you know how women can be."

"I think you should ask for Harrison for relationship advice but, know that she might know how you feel but does not feel the same way so she does as if she doesn't know to preserve your friendship. Or, she knows how you feel and feels the same way but does not know what to do about it. Or she simply has no clue. So, who's the girl? Anyone, I know?" She asked getting excited.

He then got very uncomfortable and said: "I should go, we'll talk at lunch." He kissed her on the chick and left before she could interject.

The rest of the morning was pretty much a loss of time because in the incoming cases none caught her attention so she decided to go to the park and relax while waiting for lunch with Stephen. She didn't want to bother her brother, who took his new girlfriend to South Africa for the summer, or Huck who had just gotten his dream job in California.

Stephen on the other hand kept on thinking about his discussion with Olivia trying to decide whether or not to ask her out. He had been in love with her for 8 years now but feared that asking her out might cause him to lose her forever. He resolved into asking her out, hoping she would say yes. If she didn't, he was determined to take the job offer he received from a competitive firm. He couldn't continue like this. It was torturing him, and he needed to know, one way or another, he needed to know. By the time lunch came around, Stephen went to a florist and a bouquet of Liv's favorite flowers before heading to their favorite Chinese restaurant. Liv was already there, sitting at their usual table.

Grant Rach - Santa Barbara, CA 3 a.m

Mellie practically ran to Cyrus' room. He had been staying in the guest cottage of the ranch for a few months now. Fitz had brought him in as a special advisor when he was still mulling over whether or not to run. Part of her thanked heavens Fitz had insisted that he be close by instead of staying in a hotel. She was so afraid that she couldn't breathe, small mercies that no one would ever see how wretched she looked. She was mortified that in 24 hours, whether or not she signs the divorce papers her world was about to crumble. She made it to his door out of breath. She felt as if the walls were closing on her and didn't know what to do. It couldn't end like this, being First Lady was her destiny and she wouldn't let Fitzgerald take that away from her. She banged at the guest room so hard she thought she could wake up everyone at the ranch. After what felt like an eternity, Cyrus finally opened.

"We have a problem," she said out of breath.

"That we do. I get that I'm staying at your house before the campaign goes into full gear, but it is no reason to wake me up at 3 in the morning." He said a little annoyed.

"I don't think I'm going to be part of the campaign Cy." She said catching her breath.

"What do you mean? It's your husband's Presidential campaign for God's sake!" He said in disbelief.

"He won't be my husband for long" Cy looked at her confused.

She then continued handing him the divorce file: "He's filling for divorce." Cyrus looked at her in shock and then looked at the file.

He ran his hands through his hair with frustration before screaming; "Is he out of his god-dammed mind?"

"I thought he was as well but, the look of determination on his face, is one I've never seen before. There is no way he's changing his mind on this one".

Cy paced back and forth around the room, then said "Are you going to sign?"

"I don't know but I think it's the best option I have." She told him the whole situation.

He ran his hand through his hair once again and said, "What do you want me to do?".

She thought for a second and said "Try to persuade him otherwise or at least ensure that we come from this with our political futures intact." He went to the mini-fridge and grabbed two beers. He handed her one and took the other.

After one sip he said "Since he was brave enough to give you the papers himself and is threatening you, I think dissuading him is all but impossible. And if we try to push our luck, we'll both find ourselves locked out of the inner circle. I don't know what he is thinking and he might be volatile enough to have us both blackballed from politics. So, we'll try to save your career. However, I'll need the help of a close friend of mine. She's the best but, she has to be willing to help first. She is a very busy woman and has many cases."

"If she's the best as you say, you do the best that you can to get her here. I am not losing everything I worked my whole life for, Cyrus. I did not sacrifice so much to have it taken away from me when the end is within reach."

"I'll do my best. Go, have some sleep. We'll talk everything over after breakfast so we can see Fitz's intake on this then I'll call her. But don't do anything stupid, Millicent. This is uncharted waters and we have to know what's going on with him first before we can do anything."

She got up and readied herself to leave once in the doorway she turned to Cyrus and said "This better work, I am not going to lose everything." He nodded and she left. After closing the door, he spent the rest of the night thinking about how to persuade Olivia to help.

Washington, DC, at lunch

Stephen entered the restaurant and saw Olivia at their usual table and went to see her. He handed her the bouquet of galaxy orchids, which surprised her.

"Why the bouquet?" She asked.

"Because I wanted to do something special for you today." She didn't push further the issue cause it was like Stephen to do such things.

They ordered and made small talks throughout the meal. Halfway through their lunch, Stephen spoke up: "Liv, there is something I need to ask you." He said nervously.

"Sure, anything." She said as she took another bite.

"Liv, I care about you very much. You're one of my closest friends. I can't afford to lose you. Please promise me that what I'm about to ask you won't come between us or destroy our friendship." She looked at him confused.

"I promise. Now tell me cause I'm freaking out here."

He took a sip of his drink and a deep breath and said: "I love you. I'm in love with you. Would you like to go on a date with me?"

She almost choked on her food. She didn't know what to say. She did like Stephen but, she never thought about dating him. For her, he was just a friend, a close friend. She didn't know how to let him down easily without losing their friendship. A few moments went by but no answer.

Then Stephen called her: "Liv? So?" He asked with a hopeful tone. She took a sip at her drink and cleared her throat looking for the right words.

"Stephen, I really care about you. I really do. God knows I do. But, I don't think I can date you. You know I don't really date. It's 4 months and then they are gone but, I don't want that with you. I want you in my life for more than 4 months. You are better than my usual boyfriends. You are one of my best friends. I can't risk losing you in my life over some 4 months. You're too important for that. Please try to understand me. And I hope this doesn't make things weird between us cause I care for you too much to not have you in my life." She looked at him and all she could see was the hurt in his eyes. She felt so bad knowing she caused him pain. She gave him time to let her words sink in.

He had mentally prepared for this possibility, some part of him even expected, but it didn't mean that it didn't hurt. He finally spoke up "I understand what you're saying and why you're doing this. But I won't lie, it hurts." She felt even worse.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean..." He cut her off and said.

"It's okay. I'll be fine. It will be awkward for a little while but I'll be fine. At" least now I know where we stand, and I can move on."

They finished their meal in uncomfortable silence. When it was time for dessert he spoke up again. "So, I guess I'll be changing firms." She looked shocked.

"What do you mean you'll be changing firms?"

"Since things will be a little awkward between us for a little while, I thought I would accept that job offer." She was taken back by his admission.

"You are not changing jobs. You can't jeopardize your career because of me. Do you hear me? You are not..." She was interrupted by her phone ringing.

Stephen looked as she took the call trying to discover who was at the other end. Their call was brief, a little over 3 minutes and it was done.

She then went back to the table and said: "So, I was saying, you are not changing jobs because of me. And, FYI, there will be no awkwardness because for the next year, I'll be running a presidential campaign."

He looked at her in disbelief. "What? Really? How about your job?"

She looked so excited, the look of wonder in her eyes reminded him of a child's first time at Disneyland. It reminded him of how excited she used to be by her cases when they left law school. He didn't know when but she had slowly lost that spark.

"Yes. Cyrus just asked me to join him as a fixer for the Grant campaign. And as for my job, if I can let you in on a little secret." She fake whispered: "It was becoming boring. I need a challenge and as you said yourself, I only need to work one week a month. Besides, I was losing myself, I need some excitement, I need a new goal, I need crazy." She said almost overwhelmed by how much this opportunity reinvigorated something within her.

"Are you sure you're not running away from me?" He dared to ask.

"Of course not silly. You're not that special to make me run half the way across the country." She joked, messing up his hair. Their friendship might not ever be the same again, but perhaps this is something they both needed. They finished their lunch before heading to the office for Liv to take a leave of absence.

Grant Rach - Santa Barbara, CA around 10 a.m

It was after breakfast and Cyrus had assembled all of them to talk about the situation. The look in Fitz's eyes had let him know that he wasn't chasing his mind. Mellie had been right in saying that the new Fitz was terrifying. He needed to figure out what was going on or he might lose control of his own candidate. Seeing that they had reached a point of no return, he went to call Liv. Cyrus re-entered the main house with a huge smile and his eyes full of hope and relief. He seemed happy and announced, "She said yes." Fitz and Mellie both let out a huge sigh.

And Cyrus said, "A long year awaits us."

Fitz agreed, "A long year indeed."

Please tell me what you think. Your opinions are welcomed and desired.

Simply J