As she and Fitz walked down the steps and into the back yard, Olivia noticed both Jocelyn and Harrison standing not too far away, having their own conversation.
Olivia couldn't help the happiness that she felt by looking at them; the both of them were hovering, while trying to look as though they weren't and failing in a way that warmed her heart and made her ridiculously happy. What felt more important to her in the moment more than anything else were the expressions on their faces as they turned to greet her and Fitz; they were both genuinely happy to see her and Fitz. Happy to see them together.
This was new. This was different. This was good.
She didn't know what to call this new emotion; shock might be too strong a word, not be the right word for it, but whatever this was, it's a new sensation to her and in the moment, she can't think of another word to take its place.
Best of all, Olivia realizes that more than anything else, it felt right. So right, it's almost scary, a somersaulting, free-fall butterflies in her stomach kind of whirl; for the first time in her and Fitz's relationship, she was seeing - and even better, feeling - what it might be like to have a relationship that was in the world outside of just the two of them.
Her emotions rocketed from scary to pleased to unexpected levels of happiness in less than sixty seconds and she suddenly feels like she was walking - no, floating - three feet off the ground.
She's never had this, them being open like this, and having people who looked at she and Fitz together - and them being happy to see them - together.
And the very best thing of all, no words were necessary to tell her that the man at her side was feeling the same - and that was the whipped cream, the cherry - and the sprinkles on top.
As they walked towards Harrison and Jocelyn, Olivia smiled as Fitz stepped forward to greet them. "This has been some day, hasn't it?" he asked.
Jocelyn and Harrison both nodded in agreement and it was Jocelyn was the one who spoke up first. "And are we and the Caldwells on the same page?"
"Only one person gets to read my mind." Fitz grinned at her before he shrugged his shoulders in answer. "Maybe we're not one hundred percent in sync yet, but I think we're close enough that we're mostly good. I don't have to tell any of you that I expect for everyone to continue keeping a close eye on these people, but if nothing else, they know where I stand."
"Where we stand." Olivia corrected him.
"Well - that sounds… interesting." Harrison commented.
"Do we have a firm definition for interesting this time around?" Jocelyn asked, she looked around the circle with a smile. "I only ask because the last time we all got caught up in something … interesting…let's just say I'd like a little more heads-up this time around."
"If I remember right, you seemed to have rolled with all kinds of interesting." Fitz commented.
"That's one way of putting it." Olivia said dryly.
"It's like that now, is it?" Jocelyn countered, her smile firmly in place. "I thought all was forgiven?"
"More than forgiven." Fitz said warmly. For a moment they all exchanged looks, silently remembering the memories of their actions concerning the last case they'd joined together on. That had been more than - interesting.
"What about you?" Fitz said to Harrison. There was a mischievous light in his gaze. "Do you have an opinion that you'd like to share?"
Harrison looked from the president, to Olivia and back again. He held up both hands in surrender. "No sir, I'm good. As far as I'm concerned - for now, it's all handled."
Olivia agreed, and obviously so did Fitz.
"I'm going to agree with your assessment, young man." Fitz said to Harrison before turning back to the rest of the group. "We can discuss this when we're all back in DC. This party might be going on for the rest of the day, but I only have a few hours more before I have to head back - and I'd like to spend what time I have left surrounded by good friends and good conversation - especially the kind that don't hold the weight of the world in them. I don't think that's too much to ask, is it?"
"Of course not, Mr. President." Olivia spoke for them all.
"I can't argue with that." Jocelyn said, agreeing with Olivia. "Considering that most of our work takes place in the pressure cooker of DC, I have no problems stating that in my opinion, none of us get out into the fresh air enough."
"Is this going to turn into one of your lectures on healthy living?" Fitz asked.
"Only if it needs to." Jocelyn shot back without missing a beat. "What do you think?"
"I refuse to answer that on the grounds that it might incriminate me - along with the smells of all those grills firing up."
"Might?" Jocelyn cocked a delicate eyebrow at him.
Olivia couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up out of her at their quick back and forth. It was contagious; in the next moment they were all laughing together as they turned and began to walk across the grounds towards the stables.
In spite of the coolness of the early November air, the late morning sun was warm on her face. Or maybe the warmth came from inside her - in either case, it didn't matter. With Harrison on one side and Fitz on the other - and with Jocelyn was walking on the other side of Fitz - Olivia couldn't lose the good feeling surrounding her. Again, this was a new sensation and she silently savored every minute of it, the warmth of group surrounding her and even the laughter and chatter of the other guests as they drew closer drew closer to the corral, a happy backdrop that made these moments just that much more sweeter.
With everyone's attention focused on the kids and the corrals, Olivia realized that for once, no one was really paying attention to Fitz, so she stole the opportunity to take a good look at him; even though he's said that he's fine, she isn't one hundred percent convinced that it's true. It's a conversation that will have to wait until later, but one that she's determined they'll have to have.
At least he's happy in the here and now; she's one thousand percent sure of that. Olivia can hear it in his voice, in his laugh as he trades comments with Jocelyn, the genuineness in it real enough to convince her to put her own concerns aside for the moment. All she wanted to do was live in this moment - with him.
Not for the first time, Olivia is reminded of Fitz's comments on how isolating the office of the presidency was "…the crown jewel of the federal penal system…" a quote from President Harry Truman that Fitz repeated more than he probably realized. It made her think that for his sake as well as her own, that she wouldn't trade any of what was happening right here and right now - for anything in the world.
Well, maybe there were one or two other things that came to mind - but hadn't last night proved that she already had that?
That thought made her smile and it stayed uppermost in her mind until she felt Harrison link his arm into hers. When she turned to him, he had a wide grin on his face.
"I think we need to get out more often." he said.
The teasing tone in his voice brought an answering grin to her face. "You think?"
"I know." Harrison corrected her. "And not to make a big deal about it, but you're glowing again."
"Am I?" Olivia realized that she was surprised at herself - and equally surprised at the same time that she found herself not caring. She also found herself unable to stop smiling - and a tiny burst of happiness went through her as she realized that that didn't matter either. "It must be the company I keep."
Annarosa has joined them; Olivia can see that her presence pleases Jocelyn, guessing rightly that maybe while her own daughter is keeping her distance, Jocelyn can expend a little bit of her motherly energies on this young woman.
As this thought went through her mind, Jocelyn looks up from her conversation with the younger woman and her eyes happened to catch Olivia's in passing. It's clear from her expression that Jocelyn knows that she's caught out, but there's something in her smile that flashed across her expression that says that she doesn't care.
That reminded Olivia of Fitz telling her about Jocelyn's family's saying - "Remember, somebody didn't wake up this morning, so live today like there's no tomorrow." - and the words hit home for her in a whole new way for her as she stands here in the sun, content like she has never been before.
"Hey," Harrison's voice broke into her thoughts. "You wanna beam some of that sunshine in my direction?"
Olivia laughed as she met his glance; his expression was knowing and teasing and clearly happy for her all at the same time.
"I think I could manage that." She told him. "I've got plenty to go around today."
"I can see that." Harrison stepped closer and once again slipped her hand into the bend of his elbow and covering her hand with his. "You make me want to almost wish that I had somebody to look at me the way you're looking right now."
"Almost?" Amused at his words, Olivia arched an eyebrow at him.
"Almost." Harrison flashed her one of his brilliant grins. "Definitely almost - I don't know if I'm ready to level up to handling that level of reciprocal affection just yet."
"Maybe it's time that you did." Olivia told him. Her eyes sparkled at the thought.
"Que sera, sera - whatever will be, will be." Harrison said. For the benefit that anyone that might be watching, he lifted Olivia's hand to his lips. "But let me go on the record saying that I'm in no rush to achieve that happy state of affairs - you just make it look really, really good."
Harrison's words made her feel ridiculously happy; Olivia leaned into him for a moment in a gesture of silent appreciation and felt him squeeze her hand in recognition.
She took the moment to look around; other people have joined the small crowd and the kids inside the ring are riding their ponies and horses and there's laughing and shouting out to each other. Susan is calling out unnecessary advice to her daughter and Fitz has moved to stand with her, calling out the opposite advice-wise. He's laughing with Susan and not at her and she's beaming under the attention and her genuine sense of gratitude and happiness filled the air around her.
Olivia noted and filed away for future reference that the people surrounding the two of them were reacting to it and to them, making the day suddenly felt a little bit brighter - so much so that even Olivia felt it.
She knows that she's had plenty to be happy about in the here and now, but it also warms her heart to see Susan being brought out of her shell. It would be good for her both personally and professionally. It was a sure bet that Fitz's attention to her was being marked and that could mean nothing but additional good will as far as Susan's political credentials went.
Olivia continues to check over the crowd still gathering around the corral; everyone is talking and laughing and having a great time. Even Annarosa seems to be unbending a little under Jocelyn's attention, her expression seemed to soften just the littlest bit.
Her attention suddenly focused on the arrival area as she notices Shireen just as she's stepping out of the back seat of a private car.
Shireen pauses to get her bearings, her eyes searching the grounds until they land on their group. She couldn't quite read the younger woman's expression, but hoped that for Jocelyn's sake that Shireen could find it in herself to be a little nicer to her mother today.
Like it or not, Olivia felt a twinge of empathy; she knew all too well what it felt like when the rug was pulled out from under your life by the people who were supposed to be the closest to her. The thought puts a hard lump in her throat momentarily, but in spite of that, she found herself hoping that if she were to ever find herself in the same situation that she could find it in her to do the same.
It only took a moment for Harrison to notice the direction of Olivia's gaze. He cleared his throat, bringing Olivia's gaze back to him.
He nodded in Shireen's direction. "Do you mind if I go and play boy scout for a few minutes?"
"Not at all - as long as you don't mind me asking why?"
He hadn't had a chance before, but now Harrison caught Olivia up on his early morning run-in with Shireen and most of the conversation that had followed. He left out the disagreement between Shireen and Jake, deciding rightly that that was Shireen's personal business and her story to tell. Or not tell. In either case - "I think she might appreciate a friendly face with no agenda on the table."
"And that's you?"
Harrison flashed a grin. "That's me. Possibly."
Olivia couldn't think of a better use of his talents at the moment. "Go play the white knight - with my blessing."
"White knight? Me? Never." He quirked an eyebrow at her. "Haven't you learned by now - always bet on Black."