News of the President and his now First Lady dominated the media airwaves the moment they had released their elopment the morning after. True to his word Fitz had kept it family only which he extended to the Beene's and Liv's gladiators whom he knew were her family.

When Abby and Quinn burst into the guestrooms in the residence where she got ready, she was elated. As much as she wanted to elope and keep it small she realised how important it was to have her team with her.

"A little warning next time."

"There will be no next time Abigail." Fitz said coming from behind her. Olivia laughed as Abby looked sheepish but unapologetic.

"What are you doing in here anyway? Haven't you both broken enough traditions today?" She retorted. Fitz grinned.

"I'm just handing my future wife her something new."

"Well you're her something old." She quipped earning a giggle from Liv, Quinn and Karen. Fitz's jaw dropped in shock.

"I have no words." Liv was wiping tears from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Don't listen to her honey you're not old."

"For a fossil." Karen added teasingly. Fitz gasped,

"I'm going to to go now. I'm not feeling much love in this room. I'm going to hang with my people." He said feigning hurt. Olivia gave him a brief squeeze and a kiss on the cheek.

"Alright everyone, stand down. I'll see you in an hour baby." Fitz hugged her tightly before dropping his lips to her forehead.

"Love you."

"Love you too."

The ceremony was held in the rose garden. Karen stood beside Liv as Gerry stood beside Fitz. Teddy and Ella stood side by side holding hands. It was a small, intimate, beautiful ceremony. As they declared their vows to each other there was not a dry eye in the circle as they all knew what it had taken for them to get to where they were. Olivia and Fitz had spent the weekend at Camp David alone and uninterrupted. They had enjoyed just being in each other's company.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He asked knowing she was nervous about officially being First Lady. Mellie Grant's shoes were not ones she wanted to follow.

"Sweetheart, you write the rules of how you are going to be First Lady. I trust you. We are in this together." Liv looked up,

"I just don't want to let you down. I don't want to disappoint you."

"Baby, you could never let me down. I know how that mind of yours works. More than that I know how your heart us wired. That you will always be for the people. How could that ever disappoint me?"

"I just don't want to fall short of your expectations. You have this rather not entirely true perception of me being a twentieth century heroine who can do no wrong. It's a lot to live up to Fitz." Fitz placed a hand on her cheek.

"The only expectation I have of you is that you stay true to who you are. That this thing we're in right now doesn't change the core of the Olivia Pope I fell in love with. I don't want my life, my current circumstance change who you are because you feel that is what I need to do my job. You are all I need to do anything. I expect, demand and plead that you are always going to tell me where you're at and if or when you're feeling over your head. You and I are in this together Livi."

"I love you Fitz."

"I love you sweetheart."

When they returned to the residence on sunday night Gerry and Karen had surprised them with a home cooked meal. All three kids waited in their Sunday best with a grin from ear to ear.

"Who are these children and what have they done with our kids?" Fitz teased. Teddy squealed at the sight of Olivia and torpedoed straight into her outstretched arms.

"Gee, who can compete with that cuteness?" Gerry said dryly with an eyeroll.

"No one unfortunately." Fitz answered earning a gentle smack on his arm as Liv swung Teddy to her hips so that she could hug Gerry and Karen.

"Hey, when did any of you ever have to compete for my love?"

"We're just teasing." Gerry assured her giving her a big hug hello.

"Welcome home." Karen said softly as Liv hugged her tightly.

"You okay?" She asked as she pulled back to look at Karen's face not letting her out of her embrace. Karen nodded,

"We're finally a family." Liv brought her lips to Karen's forehead before pulling her into a tighter hug.

"Yeah baby. We always will be." She promised.

The days that followed passed quickly and with purpose. Gerry was in his last year at school and as a family they were coming to terms with losing him to college. He, Liv and Karen had taken a road trip to visit his top three colleges. In the end he opted for Georgetown. It felt like they were just becoming a family unit and he wanted to be a part of that as much as he can. He would live in the dorm full time but knowing he would just be nearby gave them all a peace of mind.

Karen found Liv in her office, in her Armani suit and Jimmy Choo's lying on the carpet with Teddy on her stomach. Karen knew post afternoon nap Teddy fussed for Liv till he got his way. To skip the fussing Bridget just brought Teddy straight to Liv in the afternoons at her request. She had a portion of her office that she had designated for him to crawl around in. Most of the time he just needed to have her in the room and was pretty self sufficient. Happy to play with his toys or crawl around the space that Liv had enclosed for him. As long as he could see her he was fine. Karen was grateful that she and Gerry were living in the residence and no longer stuck at boarding school. For the first time they all felt like they were a family and it was the love that Liv brought to the table that glued them together.

"Kare bear!" Liv exclaimed enthusiastically as she came through the door.

"Look Teddy bear!" Teddy lifted his arms up equally excited to see his big sister. Karen smiled as she picked up Teddy allowing Liv to sit up.

"Hi Sweetheart. How was school?" Liv asked as Karen kissed her cheek.

"Good. We had a pop quiz in lit,"

"Which you expected."

"And thankfully studied for and confidently aced."

"That's my girl. To celebrate what do you say you and I have a girl's night out. Your Dad and Ger can watch Teddy. We can go shopping for your dance in a couple of weeks and then do dinner? And seeing as it's a Friday maybe a movie? Secret Service light?" Karen beamed.

"Absolutely." Liv knew that Karen was excited for her first dance post boarding school and like a normal teenager would want to go shopping. Liv had wanted to give Mellie the opportunity to offer to take Karen, but her phone calls had come fewer and farther apart. Though they tried to be nonchalant they felt it. Karen most of all and Liv didn't want her to feel as though she was swooping in so she had given her some room.

"Liv, I was thinking of getting my haircut. Do you think we can do that too?"

"Of course. I'm pretty much done for the day. What do you say we drop Teddy off to your Dad and tell him of our plans, then we can head off." Karen nodded excitedly.

"Great. Let me grab my bag."

"Ah my favorite girls." Fitz greeted as they walked into the Oval.

"And Daddy's little prince of course." He added getting up from his desk to meet them.

"Dare I ask what you two are about to ask me as you both have ypur favor faces on?" Liv anf Karen looked at each other grinning before smiling sweetly back at him,

"Ever so perceptive Daddy."

"Daddy? That's going to cost me isn't it?" He teased.

"Haha! Karen and I are going to have a girls afternoon/night out. She aced her english lit pop quiz so I thought she should be rewarded with a shopping trip and some girl time." Fitz read between the lines. He knew that Liv was concerned about Karen and the growing distance between her and Mellie. She wanted Karen to know she was there if she needed her.

"That's great baby girl." He praised hugging Karen to his chest who blushed embarrased but pleased that he was so proud of her.

"You two go on and have fun. On me! The Grant Men will hang tonight. Come on Teddiroo, come run the world with Dada." Teddy clapped his hands as though agreeing to the plan. Fitz gave his girls a hug goodbye before shooing them out of his office.