"If it's a boy, you know that we're going to have to name the baby after him…"

And so they had -which is why there was now a Fitzgerald Thomas Grant IV. Fitz hadn't needed the ego boost - but his father definitely had.

In spite of that, from what he could tell, Gerry was growing up into a fine enough young man. Rebellious? Of course, growing up in a marriage lacking in love like his had been, had his son really even had any choice to be anything else?

It was a foolish thought, he knew - but Fitz wished that he saw more of his son's rebellion. After all, it was more than what he'd showed his old man - and look what that lack had done to his life for far too long. It had taken so much of his life before it had really even begun. He'd had his own rebellious moments, but they'd never lasted - at least not long enough to make any difference to the path his life had taken - and at the same time, he knew that he'd waited too long.

If it wasn't for Olivia walking into his life, would he had ever even dared? It had taken him so long… Fitz wondered if he would ever catch up on the life he had lost. He promised himself that starting with his re-election campaign, all of that was going to change.

Thankfully, his current personal pity-party was interrupted by the sight of the football spiraling out of bounds and heading in his direction. Without thinking, he reached up and out and caught it easily.

And on a whim and a wish, just as smoothly, he launched it at his son. Gerry's eyes opened wide in surprised delight - a feeling that Fitz shared - and then he was moving just as easily to catch it. Fitz watched with fatherly pride as Gerry turned and sent a long, lazy and thoroughly satisfying throw into Michael Davis' hands. The former football great applauded the play and gave Fitz a grin of approval before gathering the kids around him, then they were all turning away to set up another skirmish - but not before Gerry shot him one last grin of his own.

Fitz felt a warmth explode softly in his chest and suddenly, he couldn't stop the smile that was spreading across his face. And why should he? Gerry's face had been full of pride, and even if it had been just for a moment, it had been enough.

"Not bad, Mr. President."

Fitz looked around as Jocelyn walked over to join him; it was clear that she was happy to see that the smile on his face was genuine - and it widened as he was getting to share it.

"I'm jealous -" She sent the same smile right back at him. "… if only Shireen was on the field…"

"So you could throw her a ball - or tackle her?" Fitz couldn't help himself; besides, he wanted to see Jocelyn smile with her heart as well.

"Tackling her might at least get her to talk to me - so if only that were a real solution, I might." She laughed but it was followed with a tiny sigh.

"Hoping it might knock some sense back into that hard head?" Fitz asked.

"Exactly." Jocelyn laughed again; as genuine as it was, Fitz caught the trace of hurt that lingered beneath it. "Unfortunately, it's a case of the apple not falling far from the tree."

"I know the feeling." Fitz said.

"I know that you do."

And Fitz knew that they both did, all too well. "One parent to another, I couldn't help but notice your daughter earlier. I'm sorry about that."

"There's nothing to apologize for, Fitz. Like you said - as one parent to another - at least you understand."

"If there's anything that I can do, of course, just let me know." Fitz turned his gaze back to the field. "Your husband being here has done a lot for me - and more for my son."

"Maybe - but then again I think that maybe it's just a matter of time and space - and I think you're smart enough to be giving your son that, but I'll be sure and let Michael know." Jocelyn smiled as her voice took on a lighter tone. "He'll get a kick out of being complimented by the president."

"I can think of a lot of other things to compliment him on." Fitz followed her lead in changing the direction of the conversation. "And that includes his choice in a spouse."

"Feel free to remind him of that any time." Jocelyn said.

He continued in that same frame of mind. "And as far as the whole time and space thing, I think that it's time that I give my son some of the same."

"I knew there was a good reason that you and I are friends." Jocelyn said. "Great minds think alike."

Her words warmed him; Fitz felt better; not just at his decision regarding his son but at the fact that at least he'd managed to get his friend to smile like she meant it.

"I think we both should." Jocelyn said. Her gaze shifted and went past him. Fitz saw a sudden concern enter into her eyes that caused him to turn around to see Susan heading in their direction. Alone.

"Handle exactly what, Madam Vice President?" Olivia asked.

"The president and his current behavior." Sally said, a heavy tone of satisfaction in her voice.

"His behavior." Olivia repeated her slowly. "Anything in particular?"

"As a matter of fact, yes." Sally replied. "He's been seen in the company of several women lately and that can't be good for his image - our image."

There was no doubt in Olivia's mind that Sally had been wanting to state what she was saying for a long time. "Your job is to help him to understand that there are examples to be set as the leader of our great nation, as the father of young children - indeed it could be said that he could be seen as the father to the nation…and as that father, he has certain responsibilities and family traditions to uphold. The First Family is a representation of our great nation on the world stage - and what we're seeing now is a tragedy."

Olivia hid her growing disbelief - not that Sally would have noticed; the other woman had found her rhythm and her voice took on the tone of a preacher addressing her congregation.

"..and while I personally, cannot speak to the emotional turmoil that must be erupting beneath his feet as he and the First Lady move forward in separating and dissolving their marriage; seeing how it's my belief that vows promising till death do us part are unbreakable, I can only express my concern - one that we all share -" and here she gestured to the others, who were looking uncomfortable at her preaching tone - "- over how his almost certain emotional turmoil might be blinding him to certain - responsibilities."

Okay, she'll play, Olivia thought to herself. She let her eyes roam from Sally to the others, since the vice president had made such a point of presenting them as a united front. "I'm afraid that I'm going to need some clarification, Madame Vice President. Exactly what responsibilities are you referring to?"

"You're an intelligent woman, Ms. Pope." Tillman spoke up. "I'm sure that we don't have to paint you a picture."

"But I'm afraid you do." Olivia said. "If I'm to use whatever influence you all think that I have with the president, I want to be sure that I understand exactly what it is you're expecting of me."

Of course she knew what they were oh so very carefully not saying, but why make this easier for any of them?

"No one means to make this any more difficult than it has to be." John Ernest spoke up. "We're just asking you to think of the Party - no, allow me to correct that, since we all know of your apolitical viewpoint - let's re-frame the conversation in terms of the president's chances of re-election. If we agree on nothing else, we can all agree on the fact that we all want that for him - and in for that, the president needs to project himself in the best possible light before his campaign begins."

"It's been noted that the president has been spending considerable time with several women lately - Jocelyn Davis-Martin, for example." For the first time, the only other woman in the group, Mona Costella, a singularly plain woman who sat on one of the foreign relations committees spoke up. "From what I understand, he's brought Ms. Martin into the matters surrounding the South Americas - even though that's not her area of expertise."

"The president enjoys her knowledge and experience and believes that it can be applied to the current situation." Olivia told her. "Beyond that, it's his decision on whom he chooses to confide in, isn't it?"

The other woman flushed an unlovely shade of red. Clearly she'd had some ambitions in that area. "I'm sure that there are others in the Party who have just as many good and workable ideas as Ms. Martin."

Olivia found herself starting to enjoy herself - just a little. Not that Jocelyn needed defending. "It's possible, but you have to admit, Jocelyn Martin has a very long and illustrious diplomatic career. I think that it would be hard to find anyone to match it - don't you?"

Mona continued. "And Colleen Cassidy? She's not even a member of this administration - and yet, the President has gone out of his way to take several meetings with her."

"Yes, yes he has." Olivia deliberately refused to explain Fitz's choices to her or anyone else.

"I'm sure President Grant has his reasons and he'll share them with us at the appropriate time." Garner spoke up before Mona could answer, his words coming out in a rush. In Olivia's opinion, he was all too aware of the growing tensions that this conversation was heading towards. "We're not against him and his choice of companions - for example, President Grant's choice of Susan Ross to play hostess for this event was politically a very smart move in some ways -"

"-and not so much in others." Sally's disagreement with that assessment was clear, making Olivia wonder what other disagreements she'd missed.

"What possible objections could anyone have to the Senator? She's popular with her constituents, as well as outspoken in her goals…" Olivia purposefully played to the dissension.

"Again, a smart choice." Garner said.

"A little too outspoken, as far as I'm concerned." Sally said. "A true lady should be trusted to know how to conduct herself in such complicated circumstances and I'm saddened to point out that Ms. Ross has not shown herself capable of the task."

Sally made that clear with her next words. "I'll admit, once you took the senator under your wing, you did work wonders with her. As the descendant of coal miners, she's certainly risen above her birthright in unexpected ways, but surely no one expects her to be able to fulfill the roles that the president requires."

Her station. That said it all. They thought that Susan not having the same blue blood pedigree in her veins that they had inherited - old money, all of them, Olivia noted - made her unsuitable in their eyes. For their way of thinking, they were probably right.

"And does Senator Ross know that some of her colleagues hold such a poor opinion of her?" Olivia asked.

"Not poor, Ms. Pope - just - unsuitable perhaps, for the issues currently ahead of us. But not to worry, someone will be discussing the Party's needs with her in the very near future." Ernest told her.

Not if she could help it, Olivia thought to herself. "First of all, the president didn't ask the Senator to play hostess for today's event for political reasons - at least not in the way you all seem to see it. He values her openness - and her loyalty."

That last barb sailed right over Sally's head - or else she deliberately chose to ignore it - as she rushed forward, impatient to make her point. "I'm not here to debate with you, Olivia."

"Oh?" Sally should have marked the tone in Olivia's voice.

"Susan Ross has not yet paid sufficient dues in timing or rank to stand where it appears that she is standing now."

"She is standing precisely where the President wants her." Olivia pointed out.

"And that is the main point of our concerns." Sally shot back. "Along with the inappropriate decision of having Susan assume a larger role in this administration that she's unsuited for, our concerns are about the vast number of political quagmires that President Grant could blunder into - unless he has the good sense to heed the advice of those who have only his best interests at heart."

Sally gave Olivia a hard and pointed look. "As his Communication Director, surely you would know best how to present such a message - and that's why you're here."

"And I have no intentions of saying any such thing." Olivia had heard all that she'd cared to and it was more than enough. "Although I'm sure that the president will be very interested in what you all have had to say here today."

The door opened on her last words.

"I think that's an understatement." Fitz said as he stepped into the room.