"I'm glad Fitz didn't talk you out of coming to dinner tonight."

"He tried but I do have a mind of my own."

Sitting at the Italian bistro Jake liked, Olivia was now completely convinced this was a date. He'd ordered her food and a bottle of wine and kept trying to hold her hand across the table all through dinner. In the car when he picked her up from home, his hand kept forcing its way up her leg in the passenger seat. Each time she would move it away, but he'd put it back a few seconds later which started to piss her off. Now at dinner, she would try to talk to him about work and how his cases were going but he turned the conversation back to talking about her or about how he would love to do things with her outside work.

"I know that. He just didn't seem happy about it," Jake told her trying to play with her fingers.

"How is your wife? Vanessa, right? I haven't seen her in a few months. Where is she tonight?"

"Oh, some book club I believe. I'd rather be here with you than sitting at home alone."

"Jake why did you ask me to dinner? You never talk to me at the office and haven't since I started. Why ask me now? I'm not leaving Fitz. I hope you know that."

Hearing her words, Jake smirked and asked for the check. "What if I showed you how much better than Fitz I am? I can do things for you that he couldn't dream of."

Olivia looked confused at him. "Fitz is an amazing boss. He's just been a bit off lately. He'll snap out of it soon."

"I'd be off too if my wife found out I was screwing my assistant," Jake laughed putting his credit card in the folder and handing it to the waiter.

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?"

"Liv don't play dumb. Everyone knows that you and Fitz have been screwing. That's why his wife went crazy and broke into the office. I'm just surprised she didn't do more damage." Signing the check, he put the card away and stood up to pull her chair out. "I have a room reserved across the street for us," he whispered in her ear.

Not wanting to cause a scene in the restaurant, she stood up and went outside standing on the sidewalk and turned around to face him. "I don't know what you thought was going to happen tonight, but I can assure you that nothing else is. I'm not screwing Fitz. I'm his assistant and that's all there is to the two of us. Thank you for dinner, I'd like to go home now."

Jake took a step closer to her, trailing his fingers up her arms and down the front of her shoulders towards her breasts. "You don't need to hide it. I'm not going to tell anyone you and Fitz's secret." He started to trace the curves of her breasts before she stepped back. "Come show me what you do to him." Jake grabbed her arm and pulled her into him, already hard against her hip. When she didn't move, he bent down to kiss her, but she lifted her hand in time and slapped him across the face. "Fitz is a rough guy? Interesting."

"Jake, I swear I will kill you if you do not take me home right now," she shouted at him.

Taking a step closer to her, Jake grabbed her ponytail and pulled her by it to him. Within a second, Olivia had taken his hand off her and twisted his wrist until she heard a snap. Letting him go she watched him grab his hand as he screamed.

"Fuck you Olivia! Find your own way home!" He yelled as he stormed off down the street to his car.

Fitz sat in his hotel room staring at the ceiling for a while as he tried to figure his life out. Mellie was going to be a pain in his ass for everything she would want in their divorce but as long as he finally would be rid of her, he didn't care. He still would need to tell Jerry about filing and quickly if he didn't already know. But not hearing from him yet, Mellie probably hadn't told Jerry. And now, Olivia was on a date with Jake Ballard. Of all the people in the world, you had to go out with him. What's so special about him? Replaying his conversation with her over and over for almost an hour, Fitz knew he would need to do something about Olivia. Abby was right, he did more than like Olivia. Be honest, man, you love her. You'd do anything for her. That's why you let her treat you the way she does. Liv's attitude had been a sore spot for him lately, but he wrapped it up to her working so hard and not sleeping. Making a mental note to talk to her tomorrow about it, Fitz heard his phone buzzing on the nightstand.

"Hey dad."

"Surprised I got you on the phone without Olivia helping me out," Jerry laughed on the other end. "What's this I hear about you filing for divorce?"

Sitting up, Fitz moved to get a bit more comfortable on the bed. "I figured she'd call you. Mellie threw a fit when I told her."

"I know. I haven't figured out why you married her to begin with. Now she can be someone else's problem finally."

Fitz nearly fell off the bed hearing his father say it. "You aren't pissed that I filed for divorce?"

"I was pissed that you married her. I'm glad after ten years you figured out that she is not a good person, let alone a good wife. I'll still pay for her rehab but the second she stops and goes back to the bottle I am done. Are you staying in the other bedroom?"

"I'm actually at a hotel."

"You could've just come here. You know you're always welcome to stay even when you hate me."

"I'm fine at the hotel for now. I'll start looking for a new apartment or something tomorrow. Don't want the front desk thinking I'm moving in forever."

"Fitz," Jerry started clearing his throat. "I'm proud of you. You've done all you could for your wife but came to your senses. By the way, what made you do that?"

Not able to stop himself, Fitz smiled just thinking about her. "Liv did."

"She is something isn't she? Have you stopped getting in her way?"

"I tried but I pissed her off this morning. I ask her to do one thing and she didn't do it. Just text me when you're leaving to go home and of course, she didn't. She stayed all damn night and fell asleep on the couch in my office."

Shocked, Jerry asked "she actually slept?"

"Twenty minutes. That's it! Then she went to get coffee. What is wrong with her?"

"Fitzgerald, there is nothing wrong with Livia. And do not ever let her hear you ask that. She's just… different I guess."

"Who can go a week without sleep? Or only a short few minutes nap every now and then. It's impossible! No one can do that."

"Livia can. Olivia Pope can do that. She has trained herself to do that. Otherwise, it can be…" Jerry stopped himself before saying anything else.

"It can be what, dad? How can she be?"

"That's not my story to tell. If Olivia ever gets comfortable with you then she might tell you. But that's on her."

"Liv hates me."

"She doesn't hate you, Fitz. Livia hates two people in the world. She might dislike you, but she doesn't hate you. If she did hate you, she would have quit already."

Leaning back, Fitz let out a sigh and hoped he was right. Hoping Olivia didn't hate him was one wish he wanted. "I really want you to be right."

Hearing Fitz's tone change Jerry wanted to know what was going on. "Son, do you like Livia?"

"Of course, I do. I wouldn't have hired her if I didn't like her."

"You know what I mean."

Fitz didn't want to say anything but maybe Jerry could make her soften up to him. Maybe he could get to know her better. "I think I love her."

"That explains why you were angry about her going out with Ballard."

"He's such an ass. How could she go out with him and not think it's a date? And he's married. He's a damn pig," Fitz spat out faster than he could think. Once it came out, he realized who he was talking to. "Sorry, dad."

"No, I understand. You've called me a lot worse. I know it doesn't excuse it, but your mom and I never really loved each other. And you already know the reason we got married was because she was pregnant. I get it though.".

"I know, but he…" Fitz pulled his phone away from his ear when the line beeped. "Liv's calling. I'll talk to you later."

"Okay, just be smart."

Switching over, Fitz leaned back against the headboard. "Yes, Ms. Pope?"

"I know you're mad at me," she started, trying to hide the fact she'd been crying but Fitz heard it making him shoot up fast out of bed. "I didn't know who else to call. Can you come get me?"

"I'm on my way just stay there. I'll be there in ten minutes." Hanging up, he threw on a shirt and shoes and headed out of the room to his car. Realizing in the elevator he didn't know where she was, Fitz pulled his phone out and opened the app tracking her cell phone. He ran to his car and sped away the few miles to her.

Sitting on the bench in the park, Liv waited for him to arrive. Not even seven minutes had passed as she saw Fitz's car pull up. Barely having time to get up and grab her purse, Fitz came running up to her leaving the car running with the door open behind him.

"What happened? What's wrong?" he asked trying to remain calm. But seeing her face puffy from the crying he didn't think twice to pull her to him and hug her tight. "What happened, Liv?"

Olivia wasn't sure what was happening at the current moment. Fitz never hugged her. She didn't like to be touched ever, but right now, with Fitz holding her to him she thought she could stay like that forever. Feeling safe between his arms, she slowly hugged him back.

After a few minutes, Fitz released her and took a step back keeping his hands on her upper arms while he looked her over. "Are you hurt? Any pain?"

Looking up at his concerned face, she smiled and crossed her arms putting her hands over his. "No, I'm alright. Thank you for picking me up even when you're mad at me. I didn't know who else to call."

"You can always call me, Liv. No matter what it is. Whether I'm mad at you or not, I will come get you. Why are you sitting out here though? Where's Jake?"

"He left a couple hours ago."

"Hours? It's eleven now. How long have you been out here?"

"Fitz, could you please just take me home? I really just want to be home right now."

"Come on, I'll take you home and, on the way, you'll tell me what happened." Taking her purse, he walked her to the car and let her in before going to the driver's side. "Why did Jake leave you alone in the park?"

Looking out the window, she knew Fitz knew where he was going since he'd picked her up with Henry before. "I walked to the park. He left me at the restaurant."

"For what? Work emergency?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Olivia, you called me to pick you up late at night after you went to dinner with a guy and you've been crying. I think I deserve an answer."

"I didn't want to call you. I was going to find another way home or just walk."

"You were going to walk twenty miles home on a still very swollen ankle? Why didn't you call my dad or that Huck guy he mentioned or another friend?"

"I don't have friends, Fitz. And Huck is asleep. And your dad is in New York."

"How do you know? What the hell is he doing in New York?"

"I do enjoy how you think my job is to keep track of your father. I don't know what he's doing there, he didn't tell me."

Fitz shrugged and looked at her when they pulled up to the apartment building. "You're friends with my dad, I just thought he'd tell you why."

"All I know is that he's coming back tomorrow. I think it's a retirement party for one of his judge friends. You'd have to ask him."

Before she could open the door, Fitz stopped her grabbing her hand. "You aren't dodging the question this time, Olivia. What happened with Jake?"

"He saw the writing on the wall." Seeing the confusion on his face, she moved her hand away. "The spray paint from your wife."

Remembering what Mellie put on her office walls, Fitz got upset and started to slam his fist into the dashboard. "So, what? He thinks we're having an affair?"

"And that he is somehow better than you and can give me what you can't."

"Did he try something with you tonight?"

Olivia nodded her head yes. "And I snapped his wrist."

"Like what you did to Jerry?"

"No, I broke it." Turning in her seat, she gave him her full attention. "I don't like it when you are right. He thought it was a date. I thought he was only trying to get me to be his assistant but that's not the case. You were right and I don't like it. But I am done dealing with him. Hopefully in the next few days people will forget what happened in my office and move on to the next drama."

"Let's hope so. I'm sorry I was right about him. I've known Jake for many years. He's an ass."

"Thank you for coming to get me so late. Where were you anyway? You got there pretty fast."

"Hotel. I've moved out of the house. I'll start looking for somewhere tomorrow."

"Okay. We'll find you somewhere. Goodnight, Fitz."