It'd been three whole weeks since Olivia's lupus flared which lead to her fainting, being hospitalized, and her and Fitz making up. Although truthfully, Fitz's relationship with Olivia still wasn't where he thought or hoped it'd be after he spent so much time with her once she was released from the hospital.

Their kids still enjoyed hanging out with each other, Katie and the boys often went over to Olivia's place and her sons would come over to Fitz's, and that would be the only time they really spoke to each other. Fitz didn't understand where he'd gone wrong, he thought they were ready to move forward, but Olivia obviously still was not ready and he just had to respect that.

Fitz's relationship with Mellie was slowly getting back to the way it was before they'd divorced, and he was kind of happy about it.

He knew she wasn't who he really wanted to be with but Olivia honestly showed interest in him, even after her divorce so he'd decided to give his second wife another try. He thought he had it in him to wait on Olivia forever, but a man has needs and he was ready to be in a committed relationship with someone again.

Though recently, he'd been contacted by Olivia's sister, Clara. She had told him that Olivia was seriously thinking about quitting music and thought it'd be a good idea if he went over to talk about it with her and to just be there for her. Clara knew Olivia needed a real friend like Fitz around. Clara let him know that she knew her big sister was dealing with a lot of emotions, and it didn't help that the media continuously dragged her name through the mud for whatever reason they could think of. Olivia was a strong person, but like any other person, she needed someone to be strong for her.

Fitz thought hard on his decision before committing. He didn't think he could change Olivia's mind and he didn't think she really wanted him around, but eventually his heart won and he decided to go see her. He knew he'd want her to be there for him if the shoe was on the other foot. They'd spent enough time apart over the years.

X

"Hey, Fitz." Olivia greeted as she opened her door, letting him inside.

"Hey, Livie," he said, walking inside and kicking off his shoes. He could see the changes she's made since he'd been there. The house looked more lively and more of her style since Jake was no longer in the picture. "So, I got a call from your sister." He added as he took a seat after she'd sat across from him.

"Clara?"

Fitz nodded. "Yeah, she called because she was concerned about you. Said that you were done with music and she thought it might be a bigger problem."

Olivia sighed and shook her head. She didn't confine in her sister so that she could run her mouth to Fitz about it. "I can't believe she called you...But you know, I did have another talk with my sister, and I was telling her that I didn't want to do music anymore.."

"You aren't just saying it," Fitz asked.

"No. I'm just really not into it anymore. I've really tried, but I don't know what to sing about anymore, Fitz."

Fitz could understand that. Once a creative block was there it could be hard for an artist or songwriter to get their motivation back. "Are you happy?"

Olivia slightly frowned at the question and asked, "Right now?"

"Just..in your life." He clarified.

"I have happy moments. You know, the divorce and everything, that kinda sadden me a little, so I'm still going through it.. Like, everyone talks about divorce and how it's hard, but until it personally affects you, you really don't understand it. I know I never really loved Jake, but he was there for me a lot of times when I needed him to be."

Fitz nodded but stayed silent. He could certainly understand. Mellie was basically his Jake.

"You know what attracted me to you as an artist in the first place was because you had pain– in your voice. People related to you through your music, Liv. They felt like you let them in through your music, through your heartbreaks and good times, and all those things. They felt like they were apart of you, and now you're shutting people out," Fitz responded truthfully.

"I don't know, Fitz." Olivia mumbled as she mindlessly picked at the decorative blanket she had thrown over her couch. Her face held an extremely sad expression and anyone could tell that she really was going through it. Especially Fitz. He so desperately wanted her to let him in and to let him take care of her, but he wouldn't push her. It was up to her.

"How about I give you time to think on that? Then in a week's time, you give me a call or I'll give you a call and we can discuss it more?"

"Ok. I- I can deal with that. Thanks for stopping by. It was good seeing you, Fitz."

"Are you trying to kick me out already?" Fitz joked and Olivia laughed, shaking her head. "What? No! Of course not, Fitz. You know you're more than welcome to stay longer."

"I'm only kidding, Livie. I need to head to the studio anyway, but I do want to see you again. Sooner than a week."

"Ok, that's fine." She smiled. "How soon do you want to see me," she asked as she flirted with him. She knew she was wrong for ignoring him, but she couldn't help it. No matter how hard she tried to get out of her funk, she just couldn't. She was so happy that he'd come to see her. She loved a man that took initiative.

Fitz slowly licked his lips then smiled at her. "How about tonight?"

"Tonight sounds perfect. Is this like a full service 'date'? Will you be picking me up?"

"I can make that happen. I'll be here at eight."

"Ok. Well, I'll see you at eight, Mr. Grant."

Fitz chuckled as she walked him out the door. Before walking out, he turned around and kissed her cheek. She blushed and said, "I thought you were supposed to kiss the girl after the date."

Fitz shrugged and gave that boyish grin. "I couldn't resist not having my lips on you any longer. I've missed you," he said. Then, he walked away without giving her time to say anything back. Olivia stood in the door and waved him goodbye as he drove away then she went back inside with a smile on her face.

"That man, that man." She gushed biting her bottom lip.

X

Olivia was not too fond of jumping into relationship after relationship but damn, she loved that man, and she couldn't believe Clara had called him– him of all people! Clara knew that Fitz was her weakness and she'd do damn near whatever he asked. Especially when he thought it'd benefit her.

Olivia knew that she needed to stop playing with his feelings before someone else came along. She decided that their date tonight would be the perfect time to let him know how she truly felt about him, and although she'd been hearing whispers about him and Mellie going out on a few dates, Olivia wasn't the least bit of worried. Mellie had nothing on her.

"Hello? Hi, Lib. What's up?" Clara answered.

"Why did you tell Fitz about me wanting to quit music?" Olivia hissed through the line though she wasn't truly upset with her sister.

"Because I knew that he was the only person to get you to change your mind. Did it work?"

"No! It got me a date with him tonight though."

"Yay! Olitz is back in business! I like that idea even more." Clara cheered as Olivia laughed. "Sorry to burst your bubble, but we're just having a friendly date, and that is it," Olivia said, not wanting to get her sister's hopes up just in case the dinner went left.

"Mhm. Tamia said to call us in the morning and tell us how the back cracking goes.."

Olivia gasped. She didn't know Tamia was listening, and she knew that she hadn't fooled her sisters. "I hate y'all so much. Goodbye," she said, rolling her eyes as she laughed.

They laughed over the line and shouted, "We love you too, Lib! Enjoy yourself" before ending the call.

After hanging up with her sisters, Olivia placed her iPhone on the charger, then started looking for an outfit for her night out. Once she found the perfect halter black satin bodycon dress, she took a warm shower, making sure to shave every inch of her body. When she finished exfoliating and drying off, Olivia oiled down her body and pulled the dress over her matching nude lace bra and thong set, then she slipped into her clear and nude high heels.

She put on a small amount of makeup, giving her a natural look then applied a little heat to her hair to straighten out her shoulder length hair that had started to curl to its natural state. Afterwards, she put on the perfume she knew Fitz absolutely loved on her, and once she was completely ready she took in her appearance in the floor length mirror; admiring her own beauty. She was pleased with the outcome of her look for the night and she just knew Fitz would be pleased, too.

The time read 7:45 when she checked, she knew Fitz would be ringing the doorbell any minute so she took her purse and phone downstairs with her and sat on the couch, watching a little tv until he arrived.

As she watched tv, the ringing of her phone startled her and she quickly grabbed it. Once she saw Fitz's name on her screen, her stomach dropped. She knew he was about to cancel their date. Jake had done this to her plenty of times before. She spent so much time and effort into getting ready and men just didn't care.

"Hello?" She answered dryly. She couldn't help it. She had been looking forward to this date since he left earlier in the afternoon.

"Hey? What's wrong, sweetheart," Fitz asked. He immediately picked up the sadness in her voice. Now he was wondering if she was about to cancel on him.

"Fitz, if you're calling to cancel, please just say so. You don't have to pretend that you're sorry or that you care."

"Whoa, what? Olivia, what are you talking about," he asked. "Darling, I am not calling to cancel anything. I just...I actually just wanted to hear your sweet voice."

Olivia smacked her forehead. Gosh, I'm such an idiot, she thought. "I'm sorry, Fitz. I've just been let down so many times by Jake that I assumed–"

"Hey, I am not him," Fitz said, cutting her off.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry." She apologized.

"You're forgiven. Now, guess what," he said, changing the subject. He knew how Olivia could be and he didn't want her getting inside of her own head thinking she ruined the night before it even begun.

"Fitz... What is it?"

"Guess, Livie." He urged. Olivia could practically hear him smiling into the phone.

"I don't know, Fitz! Tell me!" She begged.

"...Chicken butt."

Olivia snorted into the phone as she rolled her eyes. "Please, hang up the phone. You are so corny!" She laughed.

Fitz laughed too. He absolutely loved hearing her laugh. "You hang up."

"We are not doing this, Fitzgerald! Hang up!" She laughed again.

"Nope! You hang up!"

"I'm a pretty stubborn girl, Fitz," Olivia said. "You know I can do this all night."

"Olivia Carolyn Pope, hang up the damn phone."

Olivia bit back the retort that was on the tip of her tongue. She usually wasn't the submissive type, but she'd submit to Fitzgerald Grant any damn day.

"Fine!" Olivia smiled and ended the call. Before she could even put her phone down, Fitz had texted her.

To Olivia:

"Haha. I won."

Olivia laughed out loud as she replied with the middle finger emoji.

He was such a clown.

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