There was a reason Olivia's office had four mid-sized monitors on the wall to the left of her desk. One was kept on her preferred twenty-four hour breaking news channel, the second on the current C-Span congressional session; the third she kept open and roaming between the major networks, serving up food for thought and review, while the fourth was the current focus of her attention on a live channel featuring the first official educational summit, with Susan heading the panel.

After both the media's and the politicians' surprise on both sides of the aisle had subsided after learning that Susan had been appointed by the president, she had gone on to prove that she'd been a smart choice.

Susan had said that she had had a lot of homework ahead of her and her actions now proved that she must have studied well, Olivia thought; in the beginning Susan showed a trace of nervousness, but as the hearings went on, she rose to the occasion, being gracious and well-spoken but making it increasingly it clear that she took her position as chairwoman very seriously. She allowed those who were speaking their due while at the same time, kept the panel in equally gracious check. There was very little grand-standing actually happening in spite of the many attempts to do so on either side of the floor.

Olivia smiled at the screen in approval.

As Olivia watched, Susan and Gayle were having an exchange regarding the evidence of the benefits of early intervention and the real time benefits both of them have seen, Gayle through her experience as a teacher and curriculum developer and Susan recounting a brief story about her own daughter and the importance of having a well-trained and empathetic teacher to bring out the best in her. Susan's way of telling a story - heartfelt and honest - brought a smile to more than one person in the room. Every parent in America could - and would - relate.

And Gayle was turning out to be the perfect foil for Susan's words; she wrapped up her testimony with facts and figures that emphasized the benefits of early education and its life long benefits for the youth of America. It was the perfect note to end the session on and Susan took it, thanking everyone present for their time and attention and as they had agreed on, promising that there would be a transcript available both online and in the evening newspapers and it would be available before she closed the afternoon session.

Olivia sat back, very much satisfied at what she'd just watched. So far, things were coming together nicely. It didn't hurt that the day before, Will Caldwell had just announced a new state-wide initiative that he planned to put in place after the beginning of the new year. He and Gayle were easily on their way to becoming a rising popular power couple in political circles, something that would not only benefit themselves, but the party as well. The fact that Fitz had given Will his endorsement during Will's run for governor would be a boost for the both of them.

Olivia smiled. Timing was everything.

She jotted down a few more notes; she'd have Abby go over the rating numbers for the session as well as check in with some of their media contacts to see if they needed any extra information for their broadcasts and articles.

When she was done, Olivia picked up her remote control again and began flipping through the channels before pausing on one of the big networks where they were showing yet another news segment discussing Fitz and Susan arriving back in DC together on Air Force One, with the now familiar speculation between a familiar set of journalists and political pundits as to what it might - or might not - mean for the newly appointed Chairwoman to Republicans, Democrats and Independents.

Some of them seemed to especially dwell on the fact of Susan's appointment having come after their arrival from the Caldwell event and questioning what could have possibly prompted President Grant's decision.

The question of the moment appeared to be: was what had the president been thinking?

Thomas Tillman was one of the invited guests on the panel and while he was careful not to denigrate the idea of the education council, it was clear he wasn't its biggest fan.

"I'm sure her heart is in the right place, but I wonder if she's analyzed the costs of such intervention. I don't know if our Susan knows how she's going to handle such a big outlay of funds -" his voice dripped with condescension, "What's she seems to alluding to is sure to require a ton of resources and energy and Ms. Ross, after all, is still relatively new to the halls of Congress and may not be overly familiar with rules and procedures -"

Kimberly Mitchell was also a guest and while every pundit had their opinion, while every political voice within the easy reach of a microphone had a sound bite ready and every newscaster was doing their very best to scoop one another, hers was a well-respected prominent voice and she was happily setting the record straight - according to her own opinion. She overrode his phony concern with some clear facts of her own.

"…The facts, as they are playing out - is that Congresswoman Ross is a woman who has done her homework." In answer to his subtle put-down regarding Susan, her voice was cool, factual and held more than a shade of the same attitude that he'd offered right back at him.

She turned towards the camera, purposefully steering the focus away from Tillman. "For those who are following this story a little bit more closely however, Susan Ross' actions proved that she is definitely on top of things; she's announced her intentions of delivering a print interview directly after today's session in time for the evening edition in several newspapers so that the American people - in particular, the working parents - can keep up with the council's intentions and I'm assured by my colleagues in the press that her grasp on the rules and regs is solid. She's simply choosing not to go down the same old tried and true methodology. I find it refreshingly honest."

Kimberly paused and Olivia wondered if she was right in that she saw a flash of a mischievous twinkle in the reporter's eye before she continued. "Much like the president in this matter."

The reaction of the other members of the panel was just what could be expected - a babble of words either agreeing or disagreeing, trying to get their own sound byte of the day before they went to commercial.

Olivia was more than pleased; you couldn't pay for publicity like this. On impulse she reached for her private cell and hit her favorite speed dial connection.

"Hi."

"Hi, hello, how are you?" Olivia said. "I just called to ask you - did you know that you're some kind of hotshot today?"

Fitz laughed. "I kind of thought that I was some kind of hotshot every day - you know, with me being the leader of the free world and all."

"Meh. Maybe." Olivia sat back in her chair, letting the sound of his voice wash through her, filling her with warmth. "- but don't let a little fact like that go to your head."

"I'm sure you'll make sure that it doesn't."

Olivia sensed Fitz taking the moment to relax along with her. She leaned into it, closing her eyes briefly and letting the world slip away. "It's a tough job but somebody's got to do it. Besides, it's just one part of the job description, or didn't you know that?"

"I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised - after all, you, Ms. Pope, are a woman of many talents." Fitz told her.

"And don't you forget it, Mr. President."

"And if I do?"

"I'll have to remind you, won't I?"

"Promises, promises." They shared a laugh before Fitz continued. "So, Livvie, do you want to tell me what prompted this call?"

"Besides the simple pleasure of hearing your voice? I'm working - more specifically, I'm currently monitoring the networks' major news shows and I'm happy to say that the media is still covering you and Susan as well as your proposed educational summit with a great deal of interest and growing enthusiasm. Also Gayle Livingston - soon-to-be Caldwell - is performing very well in front of the educational committee."

"Looks like Will was as lucky as I was." Fitz said. "Joining forces with a smart, beautiful woman whose interests parallel his own so perfectly."

"Luck had nothing to do with it-or them." Olivia said. "Remind me to tell you a story sometime."

"Only if you promise to tuck me in first and then you can have your way with me…" Fitz said. He stretched in his chair, wishing that the day was done and they were alone and… he stopped himself before his imagination got the best of him.

Too late.

Bed-time stories… Fitz half-smiled to himself, knowing he was half-way there already. Back to work - he scolded himself.

"I'm expecting Cyrus in a few, with a detailed briefing on the committee's work, along with an update on the San Collondias situation."

"Do you need me there?"

"Define need." Fitz said without thinking. Then he remembered that Olivia had told him in their nightly phone call that she'd had some things to tend to that seemed pretty important. She hadn't gone into detail and he hadn't pushed. "Never mind; I thought that you had some other things to attend to?"

"I do -" Now, as Olivia remembered that same conversation, she felt her sense of responsibility rise. "- and unfortunately, I don't think that it can wait."

Some of these concerns were more personal than business and in her new-found empathy, needed to be seen to.

A moment of silence passed between them, full of love and unspoken sighs. before Fitz spoke up. "Same here."

He could sense that Olivia wasn't ready to talk about whatever it was that was on her mind, but as always, he was willing to wait until she could - at least for now.

Fitz changed the subject. "I'll be more than happy to brief you later - personally and privately."

Olivia knew what he was doing - and it worked. "Promises, promises." She tossed his words back at him, love and laughter softening her voice. "-and on that note, let's change the subject before I turn around and get myself into trouble."

"By all means, Ms. Pope, get yourself into trouble. Good trouble. I'm always ready for some good trouble."

"I'd ask for clarification, Mr. President but I think that we both know that it would only lead to the exact kind of trouble we're trying to avoid."

"We? Who is, what is this 'we' you speak of?" Fitz's laugh was low and husky and suddenly full of desire. "Speak for yourself, woman."

Olivia's gaze flicked towards her office window, unconsciously calculating the time it would take her to make the trip to the White House. It wasn't the first time that Fitz's voice had that effect on her, slipping past her defenses and inciting all kinds of delicious reactions, sending her pulse racing and her mind concocting all kinds of heated memories. But then common sense took over and she sighed, shaking her head and her thoughts back into their supposedly proper perspective.

As if he were reading her mind, Fitz chuckled again and with innocence lacing his voice asked if she were all right.

"Stop that." Olivia scolded.

"Stop what?" Fitz's voice lost a little of its laughter but none of its warmth. "I heard that sigh - and just for the record, I miss you too."

She couldn't see the smile that she was sure was on Fitz's face, but she could feel it fill the spaces between them.

It's only been a few days since their return from the Caldwells' event, but even with their nightly phone calls, early good morning calls and their constant checking in with one another whenever they could throughout the day, it feels much longer. The only times they'd been in the same place at the same time was when it had been strictly business. There just hasn't been time for anything more. And here they were, about to shift into the holiday season and after that, it would be time to begin his re-election bid and then there would be so much more to do.

"We need some 'us' time." She couldn't help the sigh that followed.

"We definitely need some us time." Fitz's sigh echoed her own. "But until then, you know what we could both use right now?"

She did. "One minute?"

"One minute."

Olivia smiled and closed her eyes, knowing that Fitz was doing the same and then there was the falling into a sweet silence where all thoughts of work and responsibilities went away, the gift of sixty seconds where every part of them slid into sync and for one minute, there was everything the other needed.

But all too soon, there was someone knocking on Olivia's office door and the sound of Fitz's phone ringing and the world came rushing back in.

Olivia opened her eyes to see Abby standing just outside the door, waiting to catch her eye before she came in. Olivia held up one finger, signaling to her to wait just a minute.

"Time to get back to work." She turned her attention back to Fitz.

"Same here." Fitz said. "I've got more meetings to attend to and phone calls to make and I know you do too."

He paused; his next words made it seem as though he were reading her mind - or more to the point, her heart. Maybe he senses that some of it is more personal than business. "Whatever it is that's on your agenda, I hope you get it cleared up - but either way, I'll touch base with you later to make sure that you're okay, okay?"

Her heart beat a little more strongly. Olivia didn't know how to tell him that his faith in her made her more aware of her emotions, and in fact, she feels that she's gotten stronger emotionally because of him. She didn't have the words for it, not yet.

"Promises, promises." Olivia said, wanting to leave Fitz with a smile on his face. The short laugh that was his answer told her that she'd succeeded. She ended the call and waved Abby into the room.