Bound to You

by NoLove10

She's a best selling romance novel author looking for that fire back... The inspiration and will to pick up a pen and write another sentence about love. He's drop-dead gorgeous, but also dark and mysterious. He's trouble with a capital T but when their world come crushing, can Olivia finally find real love instead of fantasizing about it through her characters?

1. Edited - CH 1-12

Chapter 1

The redhead couldn't stop pacing the floors of the tidy kitchen. There was a deadline and as the agent on this book series, her ass was on the line and she was at a loss for words (pun very intended) that her best client, but much more than that - bestest friend, was dropping the ball or rather dragging her feet on a handsome, overdue salary.

"Stop eating the damn croissants!" Abby seethed, her nose flaring with frustration.

"But they're delicious croissants." Olivia stopped mid-bite and took a sip of her hot chocolate.

Abby huffed in defeat. She pulled a chair across the breakfast table and sat, facing her best friend. "Why don't you love me anymore, Liv? You and I, we worked because you were actually the only client that didn't give me a hard time when it came to meeting deadlines. You're Olivia Carolyn Pope. You pick up that laptop of yours, pop some popcorn and open a bottle of wine (as unhealthy as it is) and you make those characters come to life. People count on you to give them their happily ever after. You can't just not write the final book of the series after where you left off." The redhead sighed. "Beau and Kenya deserve to stand in the sun. Give the people what they want, Liv."

Olivia blinked robotically and went back to sipping her hot chocolate. It's a rainy spring day in the wonderful District of Columbia and she didn't want to be bothered. She just wanted to drink her chocolate in peace. Had it not been for fear that the tiny redhead might've actually brought her defenseless door down when she came banging on it at the ungodly hour of 6.00 a.m., she would've stayed under the covers of her warm bed and streamed an excessive amount of terrible reality TV shows.

"I'm not inspired, Abby." She finally spoke. "Truth is, I just don't feel it at all anymore. My head is filled with ideas and it would be a lie to say otherwise. But I still don't feel it. The ideas are there, but the rush to get them down on paper isn't there. My fingers don't tingle, I'm not vibrating inside. I feel nothing..."

More than infuriated, Abby felt sad for her friend. If only Olivia knew just how talented she was, just the feelings she evokes from the words she writes and how it gives people who have nothing, something to believe in... If only she knew…

"You haven't written a single word in six months." Abby stated sadly.

"I know." Olivia nodded.

"Tell me what you need Liv. Tell me what you want." Abby begged. "Anything you need, it's yours."

Olivia placed the hot cup of chocolate that was warming her hands on the table and drew in a deep breath. She brought her hands to her face and rubbed the mist from her brown eyes. As good of a friend as it makes Abby, she didn't think the redhead could give her what she actually wants or needs at this point in her life.

"It's not enough to write those words Abby." She lamented. "I write about those characters, I fantasize about those characters. They're mine. They're fiction but real also and writing them is starting to not be enough."

Palming her face, the redhead fake-sobbed, "What does that even mean?!"

"I need to believe in that kind of love Abby. And I don't. Not yet." Olivia explained. "I'm thirty-four and what have I got to show for those years? Where is my happy ending? I've yet to find that man that makes it all real and true for me. It's not enough to just fantasize about him anymore and give other people hope. I'm out of hope. So what's the point?"

Abby looked visibly astonished and offended. Olivia wasn't left in suspense for much too long about what was troubling the redhead, because one thing about Abigail Whelan, she will speak her mind. And she let Olivia have it after a long deep breath.

"First of all, what we're not gonna do ever, is pretend your entire life is defined by some medieval construct that very few are following these days. So what if you haven't met your goddamn soulmate with a penis? I'm your soulmate too bitch. And second, you have so much to show for thirty four years. You are Olivia Pope. Daughter, mother, friend, kick ass lawyer, writer, lover of all things, brilliant! Got that?" Abby ranted. "And to your last question... the point is, Olivia, you're at the best stage of your womanhood and I'm hearing you tell me that you're basically giving up on love. And right now – success and money aside, you're my best friend and I can't allow you; I will not allow you to do this to yourself."

The redhead pushed off the table and stood up with a scheming smile playing across her rosy grabbed Olivia's hand and began to drag her down her hall to her bedroom.

"What is happening?" Olivia questioned, quickly blinking at tears that were brimming.

"You're an attractive thirty-four year old woman." Abby stated.

"Yes. I'm aware." Olivia replied.

"And this is Washington D.C."

"Last time I checked, yes."

"So we're going out tonight."

"We are?"

"Yes." Abby nodded. "The rain should pass soon and it should be a beautiful night later, so we are going to go out. We're gonna go out and be single, young and beautiful."

It was sort of a done-deal when Abby started roaming the insides of her closet like the fashion diva that she is. She was pulling out dresses left from right, pairing accessories and shoes, etc...

Olivia knew then she didn't have a say. Even if she protested.

Tonight one way or another, she was going out and she preferred not to be dragged out of her apartment kicking and screaming.

"We're gonna get your mojo back, Liv." Abby smiled excitedly. "And no one rocks white like you do. You need to stand in the sun more than your characters right now."

---

Chapter 2: Beautiful Stranger

Night came sooner than Olivia would've liked and much to her dismay, it was girls' night out even though she'd much rather be sitting on her couch and be lazy like a normal person. But according to Miss Abby Whelan, it was time to get her so-called "lost mojo" back. Whatever that even meant.

Olivia stepped out of her room ready, nervous and a little bit excited. The bar scene wasn't her kind of thing so as a bargain for the painfully long night she was about to suffer through, she and Abby agreed that they would stop for a nice dinner first before they hit the bars and clubs.

"I think I'm ready now." Olivia whispered. It was barely audible but when Abby and Quinn's eyes landed on her, both women gasped.

Oh yeah. Olivia had called back up to rescue her just in case Abby was talking her into doing something she could potentially regret after she's had too much to drink and their best friend Quinn Perkins was the responsible one of the three.

"Do I look okay?" Olivia asked.

"O-Okay?" Quinn stuttered.

After trying on different outfits for what seemed to have been a millennia, Olivia finally settled on something she felt comfortable in her skin wearing.

She wore a simple white blazer-dress, showing off some appropriate cleavage for a single thirty-four year old. The hot pink platform stilettos on her added another six inches to her 5'4 height. She let her dark hair fall on her shoulders and parted to her good side in soft waves. Her makeup was minimal and light with a brush of mascara, a little blush on her cheeks and her lips were painted boldly with a velvet shade of lipstick.

She felt sexy, feminine and daring.

She figured if tonight was indeed the night she got her so-called "lost mojo" back as Abby had so creatively put it, she might as well dress the part of a woman ready to get her throne handed back to her.

So to speak.

"All I'm saying is, I'd totally do you and take you out of your dry spell if I batted for the softball league." Abby marveled.

Olivia rolled her eyes and grimaced. "My dry spell doesn't need a reminder. Thank you very much. I know just how dry it's been. A simple "you look great, Liv!" would have sufficed."

"And a simple, "thank you best friend. I feel so loved!," would also suffice." Abby retorted back sarcastically.

"Pigs will sooner fly." Olivia laughed.

"Shall we go be single and daring, already?"

The three women nodded in unison.

Olivia had the feeling the night was going to be one for the books. She might've been a bit hesitant at first but she had the whole afternoon to come around and she set some good intentions. She wasn't foolish enough to think that tonight, she'll meet the man she's supposed to spend the rest of her life with. But she wasn't completely opposed to the idea of making a connection. And who the hell really knows? Maybe she will, maybe she won't.

Maybe love is just an illusion created by mankind to find purpose in the everyday struggle of life. Maybe it never even existed to begin with, and no such thing as love really drove the world and made it spin in circles. Maybe the likes of Shakespeare, Jane Austen and all those other authors, (herself included) who wrote about love were all frauds and in the end, nothing truly matters. Maybe we were doomed and always meant to die alone. Who knows!

This night would be full of maybes. But Olivia was willing to believe in the illusion of love once more because somewhere out there, someone's waiting for her to come into their lives and change everything forever.

And if all that turned out to be bullshit too, she was at least determined to have a fun girl's night out.

---

Dinner was a treat! Olivia had a side of salad just for the sake of having some kind of vegetable for the day but she was a woman who went all out. And for dinner, she wanted anything but healthy food.

Once she goes bad, she goes all the way.

She treated herself to crunchy truffle fries and a juicy, greasy burger with some delicious white wine.

She felt good after that. She felt ready to hit the bars and clubs, drink way too much alcohol and hopefully wake up with a mean hangover and a stranger in her bed.

---

The first bar they hit up wasn't all that awesome, but it had drinks and Olivia wanted drinks. Lots of it.

Before they even made it to the bar, a bold fellow felt it was his solemn duty to institute a bit of sexism with a dash of sexual harassment per the male status quo. He walked on wobbly feet and intercepted Abby's path. "You ladies look hot."

"And you're batting way out of your league. I'm very offended." Abby answered.

"I don't think I am and it's a free country so you can feel however you want." Strange audacious man replied.

In his mind, he totally thought that was some good ole flirting. He was on a roll so he kept going. Despite the fact that these women were looking at him disgustingly.

"How about I buy either of yous a drink and you can blow me on our way to your house?"

Deep sigh. Whatever happened to good ole gentlemen manners?

Annoyed, Abby decided to just end him then and there.

Pointing to her toes, Abby asked. "You see these shoes I'm wearing?"

Asshole looked her up and down and licked his lips in a disgustingly perverse way. "Yeah and your legs look sexy in e'm."

"Thank you." Abby fake smiled. "They're called Jimmy Choos and if you don't fuck off, I'm gonna shove them so far up your ass, you're gonna taste next season."

He belched loudly and it smelled of rotten breath and cheap beer. "You're a real cunt, Red. Did you know that?"

Abby nodded, quite disturbed. "Yes, Peter Griffin. I did know that." She said sarcastically. "Now bada bing, bada fuck you."

The guy left, of course not without shooting daggers at them.

"Nice." Olivia high-fived Abby as they made their way to the bar to order their drinks.

Usually they took turns fending off perverts, and if words didn't work, there was always pepper spray as backup.

---

The bartender was cute but too short for all three womens' liking. He looked like he was in his early twenties but also adorable with his baby face and his striking bright green eyes. He also had a megawatt smile to go with it.

"What can I get you ladies tonight?" He asked with a flirty smile.

"Martinis?" Abby questioned, turning to Olivia and Quinn who both nodded in approval.

"Yes. Martinis."

"Dirty?" The cute bartender asked with suggestive eyebrows raised.

"The dirtier the better, baby." Abby winked.

"Jesus." Olivia fanned herself. "Is it getting hot in here or what?"

"She has a thing for cute bartenders." Quinn chirped.

The poor bartender turned beets red and three women couldn't help but burst into a fit of laughter.

"This one is on the house, ladies."

See? Flirting can be great, especially when it gets you free drinks from cute bartenders.

Abby leaned over the bar on the tip of her toes and pecked the bartender's cheek sweetly. "Thank you..."

"Chase."

"Cute." Abby whispered in his ears. "I'm Abby."

And for that, he added an extra olive in her drink.

---

Minutes later, they were sitting down at a table, sipping their tinis with moans of delight.

"So David doesn't wanna be fuck buddies anymore." Abby announced.

Quinn gave her the well known; "what did you expect look" and Abby went nuts.

"Now is not the time for your 'I told you sos', Mother Theresa." The redhead snapped.

"Hey! Be nice." Olivia called out.

She swore that sometimes those two were five years old. They could bicker shamelessly for hours back and forth about this if she doesn't put a stop to it now.

"Sorry. I have a bunch of crazy hormones shooting in my body. Add the fact that I'm a gemini, a redhead and I'm not getting sixty-nined at all these days and a girl is bound to be cranky." Abby apologized.

"Welcome to the club." Olivia said. "Tell us what happened."

"He's David." Abby sighed. "He's David and God knows he's the fuck of a lifetime, but now we're at the point where he wants more and I feel fucking suffocated by his need to complicate things with feelings and romance." She explained. "Just yuck!"

The redhead drained her glass of liquor and began to fan herself. Both Olivia and Quinn understood well what was happening and they were perceptive enough to let the redhead express herself.

Five years ago, Abby went through a horrible divorce. She married an abusive man whose first religion was a bottle of Jack Daniels and his "amen & hallelujah" was to beat everything holy out of her whenever he got wasted. At her wit's end, Abby had a full on Britney 007 moment and things went apeshit.

Long story short, since Charles Putney, Abby has been indulging herself in meaningless flings and has been emotionally closed off until a night of serendipity placed her in the same path as kinky Dr. David Rosen.

They hit it off instantly when they met and two weeks following that meeting, they were fucking each other's brain cells out everywhere possible.

Literally everywhere.

Public lewdness had nothing on them.

Olivia used to swear it was unhealthy to have that much sex. But Abby's a gal who needed to be kept up with, else she got bored. For a full year, David Rosen had successfully kept her entertained, enough to keep coming back for more. But he might've grossly misinterpreted how much more she was willing to give in return.

Ergo, the ride looked well on its way to a stop.

"He wants more and you don't?" Olivia questioned.

Abby shook her head. "He feels like I'm using him and maybe I am, but come on! I'm only human and it's not like he didn't know what the score was." She pouted. "When we started the whole "I'll be the booty to your 3:00 a.m." thing, we had an agreement. We agreed that it would be a no-strings attached thing and that we wouldn't push each other into anything. Now, I feel like an asshole. And a little lonely and horny and blindsided." She whined.

Now more than ever, Olivia was convinced that she was fine. Dry spell or not, the electric vibrator that she owns will have to make do. She doesn't need her mojo back. She's just fine.

Much like her best friend, she too wasn't certain she could handle the drama of any sort of relationship. Serious or not.

But for the sake of conversation, Olivia prompted, "Well could you see yourself eventually loving him?"

Abby let her head hang low in defeat. "But I already love him. Well, part of him anyways! I love his penis, sooo much." She cried. "For fuck's sake, he's a guy, shouldn't that be enough?"

Both Olivia and Quinn laughed at her expense.

"Perhaps he's different." Quinn suggested. "So can you really not see a future, beyond what you have now?"

"Of course I can." The redhead sulked. "He's not a woman beater or a mama's boy. He's loaded, saves lives for a living. A bit too conservative sometimes, but I forget about that very quickly when he's eating my ass from the back. He's perfect."

Quinn popped an olive in her mouth and frowned. "What's the hang up then?"

"What if he's another "Charles" waiting to happen?" Abby answered quite vulnerably.

"Damn," Quinn mumbled. "He really did a number on you didn't he?"

This would've been funny had Abby not look like she wanted to launch across the table and murder Quinn with her bare hands. Olivia had to fight her hardest to hold in the laugh that threatened to burst out of her as she shook her head in disapproval at Quinn.

"What?" Quinn asked. "Too soon?"

Olivia nodded. "Too soon." She confirmed.

Abby rolled her eyes, beyond irritated. "When did you become such an insensitive cunt? You used to be nicer."

"Says the pot to the kettle, as her inner bitch is showing its fangs." Quinn retorted animatedly. "I suggest you do get that itch scratched. It's at least tamed when you're getting laid. When you're not, it's even worse. You should speak to someone about that."

Abby flipped her off, "And this touching dramatic soap opera was brought to you in part by Gofuckyourself."

Olivia fought the urge to roll her eyes. She could never understand those two and their love/hate relationship.

"Enough, you guys!"

After a few minutes of silence, and roaming around the room for good looking bachelors and finding none of interest, Abby decided she was bored.

"We're not getting your mojo back here, Liv." The redhead concluded.

Quinn scoffed. "No shit, Sherlock. I haven't been this depressed since veganism became a Hollywood trademark for anorexia."

Abby snorted good-humoredly. "You do know that hell is hot and you're definitely going, right?"

Quinn leaned over and hugged Abby. "Yes. And I'll see you there." She patted the redhead's shoulder.

Olivia shook her head at the two as she looked at the silver watch on her wrist for the time. It was only about nine o'clock and the night was still young. And it was Saturday.

The best club in town was just now open.

"Shall we hit Karma?"

"Hells yes!"

---

Karma was Washington's most elite club. Big hitters and rich spoiled bimbos frequented often. It's where you went to really have a good time if you wanted to feel good about yourself, let's say if one was trying to get their mojo back.

Last summer, it closed down because of how many lawsuits were filed against the previous owner. They closed shop for a while to let the fire settle down and now they were back in business stronger than ever with a new owner calling the shots.

Fitzgerald Grant sat at the VIP section, on his throne nursing a glass of scotch as he watched the new and improved club start to fill up with people.

It had taken him nearly six months to find a Hail Mary that would save this place of bankruptcy. When it looked like there was no hope, he took a leap of faith and bought out the previous owner's shares and completely cleaned house.

Karma now had his stench all over it and he was proud of what it's changed to.

The employees seemed happier and customers left happy every night after last-call.

What had him here on this particular Saturday instead of out elsewhere enjoying the luxuries of being rich and single you might wonder? He had one of those annoying business deals to close. And the other guy was a self-centered player who loved a good time. What better environment than this one?

Yet he couldn't be bothered to show up on time. And Fitzgerald Grant took personal offense to anyone who wasted his time.

He gulped down the rest of his drink and went into the back room where he could find quiet and privacy.

Fishing his cell phone out of his pocket, he dialed the number he wished to contact

It rang once, twice, three times before the cheery voice of an assistant answered.

"Tell your boss that my time is very precious and it's the last time he'll be wasting it. Our meeting tonight is canceled and I will call him when I feel up to negotiating new terms with him. Our previous settlement is off the table. Goodbye."

He felt like an asshole for talking to the woman like that. It wasn't her fault. And she was just doing her job and he didn't have the right to be an asshole so before he hung up, he offered his apologies and turned the phone off.

At the rate that tonight was going, he was going to need a lot more than one drink.

---

Fitz made his way towards the bar where he sat down and he was instantly served by one of the bartenders.

"Tough night, Mr. Grant?" Amanda Tanner asked.

Fitz shook his head. "No. Just annoyed."

"Nothing alcohol can't solve." She smiled.

Amanda was one of his best employees. When he bought the place, she was one of the few old employees that he kept on staff when he was cleaning house. She was a professional and incredible at her job. She's friendly and knows her way around the club. She was easy going and she always made happy hour and last call fun at this regulars loved her and she knew how to fend off the occasional perverts. Although Fitz made sure those were scarce and when arisen, dealt with in an efficient manner.

Fitz was well aware of her work ethic and paid her handsomely. What Fitz didn't know though, she had a major crush on him. Fitz watched as the impressionable, young woman poured them each two fingers of scotch and clicked their glasses together.

"Bottoms up, Boss."

After taking a sip of his drink, Fitz sat and observed the scenes playing before his eyes silently. His calm blue-grey eyes surveyed everything and filed details in his mind for mere changes to be made later during close hours. He also made a mental note to give the bouncers a big ass bonus on their next paycheck cause God knows their job wasn't easy.

---

Karma was vibrating and thumping with good music. It was action packed, people were dancing, alcohol was flowing and it was filled with eligible bachelors. Abby felt right at home.

And getting in after they were full wasn't easy but being an attractive woman and a flirt really had its perks.

As they waited in line for drinks at the bar, Abby announced, "I'm getting laid tonight if it's the last thing I do."

A few heads snapped in interest and both Olivia and Quinn couldn't help but burst out in laughter.

"Can we auction you for the night?" Olivia teased.

Abby gasped. "You guys are the most horrible friends ever!" She exclaimed.

"No. For fun. We say you're a virgin and see how many wallets come flying out." Olivia said. "You know that actually happened a few years ago? Some girl auctioned her virginity online to pay for her mother's hospital bill."

"How much was it worth?" Quinn asked.

"$4 million." Olivia replied.

"Wow!"

"I know. So should we auction you?"

"If Liv doesn't write her next book, that may be an option sooner than you think." Abby said.

Olivia feigned a broken heart. "Oof, right for the jugular huh?"

"Always babes!"

They got their drinks and maneuvered the crowded space, back to their secluded table.

---

Across the room, Fitz's eyes were wandering around trying to locate the source of that beautiful laughter he just heard. In a place so full of loud people, it could've easily been anyone. But he also knew that it wasn't just anyone. Her laughter still stood out the most and sort of made the rest of the noise become background.

It was vibrant, enchanting and contagious.

He searched for minutes. When his eyes landed on the table surrounded by three beautiful ladies, his heart just stopped.

Although they were all sinfully beautiful, only one of the three caught his breath. And if he thought she looked amazing from the back, she knocked him on his ass when she coincidentally turned around and he saw her beautiful face.

He was frozen in time and he couldn't have been more obvious if he tried because he simply could not tear his eyes from hers.

Beautiful dark brown eyes stared right back at him and he struggled to breathe.

She was wearing the sexiest outfit he's ever seen on a woman. A white blazer dress tailor-fit for her body. It hugged her form and framed her curves perfectly just as she was. The hot pink heels on her put her at least six inches taller. And where her buttons stopped, he could make out the sexy lace bra she wore underneath. Her long dark hair hung over her shoulders in layered waves.

She smiled at him and tipped her drink towards him ever so subtly, before her bold tainted lips closed around the glass.

It was an invitation to join her if he pleased and everything about her was just daring him to come to her. And something told him he would live to regret it if he didn't cease this opportunity.

"Amanda," He turned around on his stool for a minute to address his employee.

"Sup boss?" Amanda asked.

She was all over the place pouring drinks, wiping counters in her wake, making friendly talk and serving. He didn't know how she did it but it was pretty damn impressive. She was definitely getting a raise.

"Table six," Fitz said. "Tell John that I want them to be served whatever they'd like, on the house for the rest of the night."

Amanda took a quick glance at table six. She registered three stunning ladies, (a redhead and two brunettes) laughing their asses off and being young and carefree. They were all so beautiful, it made her want to puke. Especially the one in white.

Not only was she beautiful in that excuse of a dress that she wore, Fitz couldn't look more dazzled if he tried.

If this was one of those animated cartoons, heart shapes would literally be falling out of his eyes.

She didn't like that. Not one bit.

"Sure thing boss." She nodded.

If only she knew a spell to make people disappear…

---

"Liv!" Abby basically squealed over the loud music blaring at the club.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"Three o'clock. I spot Mr. Beautiful and he's basically drooling over you."

Olivia shrugged, feigning nonchalance. Oh she saw Mr. beautiful alright and beautiful didn't even begin to describe what that man looked like. He was tall with broad shoulders, a chiseled stubborn jaw. He also had this swagger about him even when he looked like he was about to fall out of his stool when their eyes made contact.

And speaking of eyes, there was something so mysteriously exciting about his from afar. Olivia wanted him to come closer so she could admire them in a closer proximity. She wanted to be under the microscopic lenses of those eyes.

"There are hundreds of women here, Abby." Olivia tried to rationalize. "He could've been looking at anyone."

But except, he definitely was looking at her. She saw the way his eyes changed from bored one minute to absolutely delighted at the sight of her. Like he saw something he wanted and he was going to go after it.

"Girl please!" Abby waved a hand dismissively as she took a sip of her Margarita. "He was definitely looking at your fine ass. Maybe there's still hope for you after all."

Seconds later, Abby was basically bouncing out of her chair. "Oh my God, Liv. I think he's coming here!" The redhead squealed.

"He looks like the Hugh Heifner of this place." Quinn marveled. "And he has such great hair. I wanna eat him for breakfast, lunch and dinner."

Technically, that's cannibalism, but go off girl cause me too.

"You have Charlie, you hoe-bag. I'm the one who needs to get laid. If Liv doesn't want him, I'm kidnapping his fine ass and never letting him go." Abby drooled. "Jesus Herbert Roosevelt Christ! Is that a fucking tailored Armani suit he's wearing?"

Olivia buried her face in her hands. Yep. This is the circle she hangs around with. A bunch of grown-up adults acting like sex starved idiots.

"He's coming over here. He's coming! Act cool."

Olivia shook her head, slightly perplexed yet completely amused. "You're telling me to act cool?" She said, "You and Quinn are the ones ready to marry him already."

"What about you? Not too big on long term commitment?" A voice whispered in her ear and she felt all the hairs on her neck stand.

As composed as Olivia fought to remain, she was completely and utterly stunned. Her breathing caught when she felt her nipples harden at the sound of his voice. His voice sounded like a rich dessert. All consuming and smooth. The next thing that hit her was the smell of his aroma: boyfriend material. No time to explain that but just picture it.

When she finally turned around to meet his eyes, she froze like a statue. Even in six inch heels, he still towered over her and she had to look up at him to really see him.

He looked beautiful. No. Fuck that. Forget beautiful. The man was a gorgeous specimen of a living and Olivia couldn't deal with his perfection. His eyes. God his eyes. There were no words for them up close. They were this perfect shade of blue. Like a mixture of sky and the ocean at five o'clock on a perfect afternoon. And it wasn't the color altogether. It was also what was hidden behind them.

And then he smiled.

All teeth shining and dimples piercing. It was the most charming, panty-dropping smile she's ever seen on a man. It was the kind of smile that screamed lust and sin. It's the smile her mother warned her about when it came to bad boys.

Except he was far from a boy. He was a man. One with intentions, desires and some next level big dick energy. And without knowing it, she was fucked.

"Hi."

Yup.

Olivia was dead. Gone.

Cause of Death— the smile of this beautiful stranger.

When she finally regained the portion of her brain that allows her to form coherent words, she swallowed hard and offered him a nervous smile.

She should run but his eyes captivated her in place, and his smile rendered her handicapped.

So there was no escaping him.

"Hi."

---

Chapter 3: Pleasure

"Hi."

What felt like years seemed to have passed after that one word exchange between them but it was only a minute. One minute where everybody else ceased to exist even though they were in a crowded club where there was constant movement.

One minute that was just for them and Olivia found herself looking into those dark shades of blue-grey eyes and this really olden feeling washed over her. She felt hot and aroused.

He was undressing her with a single look in his eyes and he was doing so in a way that didn't make him out to be a creep. Oh, he was trouble alright. And no matter how gorgeous and sexy, he definitely was not the kind of guy you brought home to meet your sweet dearest mother.

Especially not with that signature 'drop-your-panties' freaking smile he seems to possess.

Olivia peeled her eyes off him and looked down at their feet to allow herself some composure before she looked at him again.

"Fitzgerald Townsend," He extended his hand to her and all Olivia could think about was literally how hot and manly his hands were.

Olivia looked back up at him and smiled nervously. "Olivia... Pope."

"Olivia Pope..." He licked his bottom lip.

Holy shit! Olivia wasn't sure if it was possible to spontaneously combust just from hearing her name. The way he said her name rolled off his tongue like a poem. It made her feel reborn. Olivia swore it was the sexiest thing she's ever heard in her life.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He smiled a wicked smile that almost had Olivia on her knees.

His eyes averted from hers for one second to look at her best friends who were practically drooling. They couldn't make it more obvious that they were smitten by Mr. Beautiful if they were shouting it while holding up a sign written in all capital letters.

Trouble.

And he was probably used to that - she thought internally. Stay away from him.

"Your friends?" He asked.

"Umm," Olivia stuttered. "This is Abby." She pivoted back to her friends and pointed at the redhead, who looked deep in thought and awe at the same time.

Probably planning a way to kidnap Mr. Beautiful.

Olivia shook her head and Abby shrugged.

Shameless, that redhead.

"And Quinn."

"Pleasure to meet you ladies." Fitzgerald said.

Abby moaned. She fucking moaned and winked. "Pleasure. Yes."

"Fuck's sake." Olivia muttered under her breath.

It was meant to be heard by herself only but when Mr. Beautiful's gaze snapped back at her, and he smirked, she knew he heard her.

"What are three beautiful ladies like yourselves doing alone at this club?" He asked.

Abby took a sip of her drink. "You said it," The redhead began. "We're beautiful, available and hor-"

Jesus Christ!

"And having a fun night out." Olivia interrupted.

"Can I touch your hair?" Quinn finally snapped out of her awe-struck haze and that's the only thing she wanted.

She wanted to run her fingers through that thick, healthy mane of dark hair and smell it.

And Olivia wanted someone to shoot her in the face that very moment. She'd be dead as fuck but definitely less embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry." Olivia shook her head.

Fitz smiled. "It's okay." He said. "Come on, touch it." He dipped his head down and Olivia watched the hysterical scene in front of her unfold as her two best friends pounced on this beautiful stranger.

"My God, it's so soft." Quinn marveled. "It smells so amazing too. And there's no product in it. Just natural, rich, thick hair! Aaah!"

"Genetically blessed. Hot damn!"

Olivia buried her face in her hands. She's never coming out with these women ever again. That's for sure.

"Do you wanna touch too?" Fitz asked.

Yes!

Instead she shook her head to decline. Because that would be weird and she's a sane person unlike her two best friends. "No. Thanks."

When the girls finally got their fill of Mr. Beautiful, his hair looked a mess.

A hot mess that is. He couldn't look more perfect if they hand picked him out of the cover of a magazine. They messed up his hair, and all that managed to do is add to his gorgeous good looks.

"Question?"

"Yes?"

"Are you by any chance a serial killer?" Quinn asked.

Okay. Yep. They've done it. Olivia was done. She was going to unfriend those two ASAP!

"Quinn!"

"What? It's a perfectly fair question." Quinn shrugged unapologetically. "Have you never seen American Psycho? Christian Bale was hot like hell with amazing skin and great hair. He was fucking mental though." She said.

"I don't know these people. I promise you." Olivia shook her head.

"Sure you do." Abby wiggled her eyebrows. "We've engaged in a threesome before."

Fitz's eyes widened and his ears perked up with a taint of cherry.

"Care to elaborate?" Fitz brought his fist up in a makeshift mic.

Where's a six inch hole when you need it?

"We didn't... not. Jesus. Abby!"

"You're cute Olivia Pope." Fitz chuckled. "Really cute."

He then looked back at Abby and Quinn with a charming smile that they simply couldn't say "no" to. "I'm neither a serial killer nor a psychopath." He reassured them. "Now may I please escort you beautiful ladies to the VIP section to have a few drinks, while resuming the topic of ménage-a-trois and others?"

"Yes, sir, yes. You may." Abby winked.

"Flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Townsend." Quinn smiled.

That hole could really come in handy right about now.

---

In a club filled with so many people, their drinks were coming so fast, and they were at the VIP section so Olivia couldn't help but wonder who Mr. Beautiful was to this place.

Although they say looks can be deceiving, Mr. Beautiful didn't exactly look like/act like a pimp or a drug dealer, so that was crossed out almost immediately.

He held himself like a wealthy gentleman and he condoned respect from everyone around the place without even speaking a word. It seemed like he was familiar with everyone. And all the workers were on a first name basis with him. Even the scary, buffy bouncers. If the workers didn't joke and laugh with him, Olivia would've thought he was the boss of this place. But they were treating him just like they would any other customer.

Except, he got his orders much faster.

"What do you do, Mr. Townsend?"

"Fitzgerald. But my friends call me Fitz and by the end of tonight, I'd very much like it if you could call me Fitz." Mr. Beautiful said. "And as for what I do, I'm a philanthropist."

"Rich people say that. Though I'm always curious. What exactly does that entail?" Abby interrupted.

"I turn small businesses into success. I donate, feed the poor, build schools, invest in low income neighborhoods, create shelters, do charity work... Yaddi-yadda, etc..." Fitz replied.

"Follow up question: What movie are you from?" Abby asked.

They all burst out into a fit of laughter.

Fitz realized that Olivia didn't talk much and he didn't want her to feel awkward or uncomfortable around him so he was trying to warm up to her friends first.

If her friends liked him enough, then maybe she might like him too, because he was very much interested in getting to know her.

He knew for a fact that she wasn't shy because the laughter that came from those lips didn't sound like it came from someone who's shy. It sounded alive with a lot of fire. It was passionate and contagious and he wanted to know that person.

"What do you do?" Fitz asked in return.

"A lot of formers." Abby replied. "But presently, I am an publishing agent by day, baker by night. When I'm not chasing after hot men that is."

Fitz nodded. "Good to know." He smiled. "And you Quinn?"

"Pediatric dentist by day. Full time pothead and drummer on the weekends." The brunette replied.

"You ladies are quite fascinating!" Fitz was genuinely surprised. They were pretty freaking cool and so far he was enjoying talking to them.

"What about you, Olivia? What do you do?"

"I'm a writer." She replied.

"Writer?" That surprised him. He wouldn't have guessed.

Don't writers usually have that look though? Aren't writers supposed to look nerdy and neurotic? Don't they usually talk so much about everything literature?

He was beginning to think those were all stereotypes.

"Poetry? Articles? Blogs? What kind of writing?"

"Books..." Olivia replied.

"Oh? What kind?"

"Something along the lines of erotica/romance novels."

"Oh..." Fitz mumbled speechlessly. "Wow. Anything I might've read before?"

Highly doubtable considering he doesn't read along those genres but he still asked because he really wanted to know.

"I don't know. Probably not." Olivia shrugged.

Abby was never one to miss a moment to market her clients. And when it came to Oliva, she went that much harder. "She has a series." Abby chirped in. "It's called Standing in The Sun. You should buy it."

"Wow. Cool. Congratulations."

"Thanks." Olivia smiled.

"Why writing?"

"Because I have something to say." Olivia replied.

A new song came on and Abby was on her feet. The way the DJ was spinning and mixing those old school music with the new day generation was making her want to dance.

"I'm going dancing!" The redhead announced. "Let's go dance, Liv!"

"No thanks." Olivia shook her head. She wouldn't be caught dead dancing in a club sober, although she is a very gifted dancer.

"Too cool for you?" Abby raised her eyebrows. "Fine. Quinn, let's go dance."

Quinn shrugged after throwing back the last of her drink. "Okay."

"You stay with McSexy. We don't need you. I can get laid all by myself."

Olivia waved goodbye with a smile. "Mazel tov."

---

With the two other ladies gone, it was now just Olivia and Mr. Beautiful and she couldn't remember how to speak.

"McSexy. That's a new one." Fitz smirked. "She has no filter does she?"

Olivia refrained from burying her face in her hands. Abby's as shameless as they come. And it doesn't really help that she's unapologetic about it.

"You have no idea."

"The clubbing scene isn't really your thing is it?" Fitz asked.

Olivia chuckled. "How do you figure?"

"You're kind of sticking out like a sore thumb." He replied honestly.

Olivia should've been offended. She'd like to think of herself as the kind of girl who could blend in anywhere but truth be told, he had her spot with this.

She only ever clubbed with her friend to bond and sometimes to please Abby.

"My days of wild partying are way behind me." She said, "I'm more of an observer these days."

"Is that so?" Fitz queried with intrigue.

"Yes." Olivia nodded. "You see that woman down there?" She pointed at the rowdy crowd down the balcony of the VIP section to the blonde headed girl tending the bar.

She was mastering the art of mixing drinks right and left very skillfully without missing a beat. And it was pretty impressive considering she's glanced over at them in the VIP section ten times in the past minute alone.

Fitz nodded. "That's Amanda." He informed. "What about her?"

Olivia took a sip of her martini and popped an olive in her mouth.

"She doesn't like me or my friends very much." She told him. "Mainly me though."

Fitz raised a questioning eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"You're talking to me. Because she has a crush on you." Olivia replied. "A major one at that." She added.

Fitz shook his head and laughed. "Not possible." He said. "We have a completely functional and professional relationship. She's one of my best employees."

"Aah, that makes more sense." Olivia smiled. "Hot for the new boss. Nice!"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fitz asked.

Oh, he didn't miss the sarcasm that dripped from her tone. He didn't know why that made him so happy though.

Maybe it was the indication that he hasn't completely lost it after all these years. He's been out of the 'picking-up-women' game a long time so he's a bit rusty. But Olivia Pope is definitely into him a little bit.

"Nothing at all."

"You are cute, Olivia Pope." He nodded.

"Why, thank you sir." She bowed as best as anyone could while sitting down.

Minutes passed and Olivia could feel Mr. Beautiful's intense gaze drilling a hole through her.

"What?" She asked.

He scooted closer and faced her head on. "We just met and I'm racking my brain, trying to figure a way to ask you for your number without coming down too strongly or driving you away." He replied truthfully. "But if that's not the endgame tonight, I'm fine with that because that's not the only reason I walked over to your table."

Olivia wondered if he could hear the way her heart was thumping against her ribcage.

"What was the reason then, Mr. Townsend?" She probed.

"Fitz," He corrected. "And I don't know." He continued nervously. The way he looked at her next was reminiscent of a lad in junior high. Rosy cheeks, bright eyed, infatuated.

It flattered Olivia in a way she wanted to remain in denial about. Because it was too good to be true. What were the chances of her thoughts from before she left home, actually manifesting? It was scary to imagine. But he continued to speak and she found that she could listen to him talk forever and that scared her even more.

"I heard your laugh before I even saw you and I thought, "wow, I wanna meet that person", and then you turned around, our eyes met and it became a necessity."

"What did?"

"It was as important as needing oxygen to breathe. I just had to talk to you because I think you're quite possibly the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on, and I thought you should know too. So..."

Oh he's smooth.

If he didn't already have her at "hi", this would've done it. She decided he was worth a closer look. Beyond his looks and the causality of his baritone to certain parts of her anatomy, she was intrigued to find out who Fitzgerald Townsend really was.

So she was taking a chance on this beautiful stranger.

"Fitzgerald,"

It wasn't "Fitz" but it was a start and much better than "Mr. Townsend" or "Mr. Beautiful".

Pleased, Fitz offered a grin in response.

"Yes?"

"Ask me..."

---

Chapter 4: Say Yes

"I've officially become a fanboy."

After meeting Olivia Pope the week prior, Fitzgerald went down the rabbit hole and did what most people in the day and age of technology do when they're absolutely smitten with someone. Social media deep dive. He was disappointed at what little content he could get on her. Although, a quick google search confirmed that she was indeed a published author. She was a New York best seller and critics called her work a "masterpiece", and "straight up delicious".

From there it just escalated. He knew too little of her to be this affected and his quest to discover more about her led him to Barnes & Noble one evening where he purchased her book series and read each book cover to cover. He's never known himself to be the kind of guy who would enjoy romance novels, but this series had him flipping pages furiously half the time and the other half, he found himself in need of a stiff drink and a cold shower because of those damn steamy freaking sex scenes.

Oh she's brilliant, Olivia Pope. Her characters were such broken people who tried to fix everything and everyone around them but themselves. Her storyline only got crazier by the chapters and as a reader, she reels you in and captivates you enough, so even if you get frustrated and want to throw the book across the room while reading it at some point, you can't help but want to know how it ends. You can't help but root for those characters.

And she does it in a way that's exceptional. She's an excellent writer and she has a way with words that just makes you want to melt as you're reading. She makes you feel what those characters feel and the conflicts she creates for those characters are so realistic because she has such a deep understanding of how things really work in reality.

The series is a masterpiece and it's moving.

She's so freaking brilliant and he couldn't stop thinking about her. If he thought that her beauty was all that attracted him to her before, he called bullshit on himself. Now that he's had a peek into her head, well let's just say he was a phone call away from doing something really foolish. Like asking her to marry him or something.

She's beautiful. Her brilliance, her smile, her everything is amazing and he wanted to get to know her to a larger extent.

He grabbed his half full bottle of water and took a long sip. He's had her number for about a week and the time to use it was now, and he wasn't going to find any more excuses to talk himself out of doing so again.

Before he knew it, he was dialing and the phone was ringing.

When her voice came over the line, he thought he stopped breathing and his heart ceased to beat for a moment.

She sounded very formal over the phone.

"Hi. It's Fitz."

There was a hint of humor in her voice when she spoke again.

"Ah, Mr. Beautiful. I remember you."

Fitz laughed. "Mr. Beautiful? Is that what you're calling me now?"

"No. That's what my friends are calling you." She teased.

"I see." Fitz chuckled. "Well I guess it could be worse."

"It could." Olivia agreed.

"I've been thinking a lot about you, Olivia Pope."

He eased that line so smoothly into the conversation, it made Olivia pause on the other end.

"You have?" She questioned.

"Yes. I have."

"Hm, I must've made a good first impression then."

"That you did, Olivia Pope." He agreed.

Silence...

"So I have this brilliant idea." Fitz broke after a few seconds.

"Care to share?" Olivia asked.

"Yes, actually." Fitz replied. "I was thinking that we should get together sometime soon and have dinner, or a drink, or go dancing. Maybe all the above."

"Really?" She sounded so pleased with his idea and Fitz hadn't realized until then that he'd been crossing his fingers.

"Absolutely." He confirmed.

"Okay. Does right now sound good to you?"

Fitz's eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"I like a man with great ideas." Olivia answered. "Anywhere you want. In one hour."

"And I like you, Olivia Pope. Now definitely works."

---

The smell of whiskey and cigars welcomed Fitz the moment he stepped into the Jazz lounge. He immediately walked to the bar and secured two seats after placing an order for a pint of his favorite beer on tap. Scotch is his usual poison but he wasn't planning on getting inebriated.

He tried to get his nerves under control by listening to the live band and sipping on his beverage. Fifteen minutes in, it occurred to him that this level of spontaneity was quite nouvel for him and perhaps he didn't know at all what he was getting himself into.

The thought both terrified and excited him.

Infatuation was a son of a bitch. It didn't seem logical to him that he could negotiate deals worth billions without breaking a sweat and yet get shitless nervous about meeting a woman.

Ridiculous.

---

Fitz felt her before he actually saw her. And when he turned to greet her she absolutely took his breath away. She looked fabulous.

She came strutting in style in skin tight leather pants, a white band t-shirt and a pair of red bottoms that were six inches tall.

She was perfect and he had a massive crush on her.

"Well you sure know how to make an entrance." Fitz teased.

She offered a dazzling smile in return. "Yeah? And how do I look?"

"Absolutely stunning." He replied, bringing her hand to his lips in greeting.

Olivia was instantly charmed and could not stop blushing. She envied his confidence and totally swooned under his piercing gaze. He couldn't make it more obvious that he was checking her out the whole time and she loved that. She didn't get this done up on a Friday evening for nothing.

"You don't look so bad yourself, Mr. Beautiful." She complimented.

With the beginning of summer nearing, it was a beautiful night out and Fitz decided to ditch the whole businessman attire and instead went with something more casual.

He wore dark slacks with a navy blue polo and his favorite pair of dark brown wingtip Chelsea boots. His thick chocolate curls were styled perfectly.

The man looked fine as hell. Olivia's first thought was that he must work out a lot because she could literally see the green veins popping in his arms and she could trace and make out his strong, defined abs through his shirt. He was all muscular male and tall and sexy and so goddamn fine!

Have mercy!

When they finally got to sit, Olivia thought it was about time because she swore she was about to pass out from all the hotness that was Fitzgerald Grant.

"What's your poison?" Fitz asked.

Olivia shrugged. "I'll have what you're having." She replied.

Where the hell have you been my whole life? And what took you so long to come along?

"Do you like beer?" Fitz questioned.

Olivia burst out laughing. "Not usually." She replied. "But for you Mr. Beautiful, I'll give it a try."

"I'm honored Ms. Pope."

---

Olivia was halfway through her beer and she didn't feel like puking yet. It was good beer and she was surprised to find herself enjoying the ice cold beverage. So not only was he all kinds of delicious, he had great taste as well.

"You're staring." She noted.

"You're gorgeous." He stated.

"And you're a flirt." Olivia countered through a deep blush.

Fitz nodded. There was some truth to her jest. But he wasn't simply flattering her. "I'm honest." He bantered.

She laughed and Fitz couldn't help but think it was the most pleasing sound in the world.

"I meant it when I said that I've been thinking a lot about you." He confessed.

"People don't usually wait a whole week to call when they can't stop thinking about someone." Olivia teased.

Fitz leaned on his elbows, giving her his full undivided attention. Nothing else mattered.

"Well, I can assure you that I have a very good reason for that."

"Do tell." Olivia said.

"I spent three days talking myself in and out of calling you. But then, I decided to read your books." Fitz shared.

Olivia's hand stopped mid-air from bringing her glass to her lips. When she locked eyes with Fitz again, her surprise was clearly on display.

"You read my books?"

Fitz nodded, his eyes shimmering. "I did. All three of them." He replied.

"What did you think?" Olivia couldn't help asking. She was anxious to know because Fitz didn't strike her as the kind of guy to kiss up for his personal gain. Whatever he said next could make her really like him or really dislike him.

"I thought: goddamn that woman can write a sex scene." Fitz answered.

Olivia didn't expect that to be his answer, so when the laughter exploded from her chest, it was wholehearted and contagious that it caused Fitz to join in too.

When she recovered, she asked again, "No, seriously. What did you really think?"

Fitz's expression turned serious and before he could stop himself, he was reaching for Olivia's hand.

Olivia hadn't expected such boldness and forwardness from him but he did things like that with such confidence that it didn't make her feel awkward or uncomfortable.

Much like earlier when he kissed her hand, she could feel the electrical shock going through her body. All she could think about was how perfectly shaped his hands were. They were huge and manly and just hot. And too quickly, she found herself fighting off images of them wrapped around her neck, squeezing her breasts, cupping her pussy, smacking her ass. She unceremoniously crossed her legs as she tried to regain her composure.

As she waited for him to give her feedback, she took the initiative and entwined their fingers. She found that their fingers fit perfectly together.

"I genuinely enjoyed them. I thought your characters were really fucked up, complex and unpredictable. But you're a smart woman so I'm guessing that's exactly what you were going for." He said. "People relate to dysfunction and imperfection. You can't help but want for Beau and Kenya to stand in the sun together."

Holy shit! He really read them!

He actually took the liberty to read something that meant everything to her. He read it and he has an understanding of the characters and on some level, he might even relate to them because of how well he describes them.

This went beyond just wanting to get inside her pants.

"Honest truth?" Olivia said.

Fitz nodded. "Always."

"I googled you."

Fitz's face broke into a smile. "You did?"

"Yes." Olivia replied. "Nothing major though. I didn't stalk you or anything. Your line of work sparked interest and as a fellow philanthropist, I wanted to know a bit about the places you've helped. Why didn't you tell me your last name was Grant?"

He wasn't bold enough to admit he did the same about her. But his heart soared at the knowledge that perhaps he left her with an unforgettable impression and curiosity as well. Finally he responded. "Because I wanted you to like me." He looked down at their entwined fingers and tightened his hold slightly. He didn't want to let go just yet.

"And you thought I wouldn't if I knew you were some rich, spoiled republican?" Olivia concluded.

"Ooof, touché! Shall we quickly gloss over religion and move right to the prenuptial?"

Olivia giggled, "You're such a dork!"

Fitz was glad that she wasn't recoiling and that encouraged him to be honest. "My last name carries a lot of prestige and unfortunately, it hasn't had the greatest impact on my dating history. We connected and I selfishly wanted you to just see me and not my last name."

He's an heir coming from a long line of political men and he reeked of old money. His late father was two times Governor of California, three times senator, and his great aunt Verna Thornton, (God rest her soul) was a former Supreme Court Justice.

As the only man in his family of his generation, he was expected to follow his bloodline's footsteps and hopefully be the first Grant to make it to 1600 Penn Ave. Unfortunately for the Grant legacy, he wanted to be anything but his father. It was one of the main reasons they never got along when he was still alive.

"I understand what you were trying to do but don't ever lie to me again." Olivia told him. "I don't treat people how I treat them based on their prestigious last names. First impressions matter and you Fitzgerald Grant made a great one."

Fitz bowed apologetically. "Noted Goddess."

She blushed at his nickname but didn't refute. He found that the term of endearment fit her perfectly.

"Townsend is my mother's maiden name." He confessed.

"Okay. Let's try the whole introduction thing again," Olivia suggested.

"Okay."

Silence settled between them for about a minute and they just stared at each other. Olivia felt like she could get lost in his eyes forever as she was once again reminded of how captivating those blues are.

"Hi." Olivia started. "I'm Olivia Pope."

"Hi. Fitzgerald Grant. Nice to meet you."

They both wore a smile as they stared into each other's eyes. Something was happening at that very moment. Only, they were both unaware of how huge it'll be.

---

One beer, three glasses of wine later and the live band long gone, Olivia felt intoxicated by Fitzgerald Grant. She was having a hard time reconciling with the fact that this was something new. How could it feel so good to talk to him? This was only their second conversation and already, she felt like she could talk to him forever, about anything!

He's intelligent, charming and funny in a corny way. Wildly optimistic and such a great story teller. She couldn't remember the last time she laughed as much. By the time she finished her third glass of wine and looked at her watch, three hours had passed and she was shocked.

"Would you like a refill?" Fitz asked.

Olivia sighed. "I really shouldn't." She replied.

She didn't want to give him the impression that she was a functioning alcoholic.

"The night is still young." Fitz pouted. "How about a dance then, Livvie?"

Olivia smiled at him. "I have a nickname now?"

He stood up and extended his hand to her. "It's only fair. You call me Mr. Beautiful. Do you like it?"

She nodded, blushing. "It has a nice ring to it."

"And we're back to the prenuptials. Are you asking for my hand in marriage Ms. Pope?" He teased.

Olivia failed to contain her amused laugh. Though it was reassuring to know that he didn't have long-term commitment phobias. First date and already the topic of "prenuptials" has come up twice. And wait, first date? Was this even a date? Who was getting ahead of who now?

She desperately needed to get out of her head and be present again. "How about that dance first?"

"Yes, please."

She finally caved and took his hand. They were squared at the hips, moving gingerly, swaying, trying to catch the rhythm of the song playing. It felt nice to be held. To feel delicate again. Fitz surprised her by spinning her around in one of those spins you see in those Disney Cinderella movies. However before she could get too dizzy and land flat on her ass off those six inch heels, he pulled her back against his chest and went for the ever-spectacular cliché and dipped her.

What is it that they say again? Go big or go home?

Yep.

Olivia was laughing when she looked up at him. Maybe those drinks were finally starting to get to her, but Fitz still thought her laugh was the most amazing sound in the entire world.

"Not bad, Mr. Beautiful. Not bad at all."

"Well thank you, your majesty."

He pulled her back up and Olivia wrapped both her arms around his torso and buried her face against his chest. He smelled heavenly.

Olivia was totally swooning and she found that she didn't hate this feeling. It's been a while since she's felt this good in the company of a man.

The music changed to Stevie Wonder pouring his heart out about not knowing how good love could hurt. They swayed to that passionate piece in silence, just taking it all in.

She was the one to break the peace first when she looked up in his eyes and asked, "What happens now?"

Fitz shrugged. He brought his hand to her cheek and gently grazed her smooth skin. All night he's wanted to do that. Since the night he first saw her, he wondered if her skin was as smooth and soft as it looked. And once again, she didn't disappoint him.

God, she's beautiful.

"Livvie," He whispered, "This, tonight, it doesn't have to be anything more than what it is. We can leave right now, go our separate ways, and make plans to do this again tomorrow or next week, and I would be more than pleased with that because I truly just want to spend time with you and get to know you." He brushed a strand of hair behind her ears and continued to look into her eyes.

Her eyes were also quickly becoming his favorite feature of hers. They're captivating and unique because he noticed that their shade varied depending on the expression on her face. And right now, as he was looking into them, they shone like black diamonds instead of the dark chocolate brown he thought them to be. They were intensely bright and gleamed with fire. Behind their doe-ness was an unknown depth that drew him in and captivated his soul.

He got so lost in them, he forgot he was supposed to be finishing an impressive monologue that could hopefully get him another date in the immediate future.

Snapping back to reality, he smiled at her before he continued, "But I'd also be lying to you if I said that's all that I want." He leaned down an inch and pressed his forehead against hers, their lips only coming a whisper apart. "I want to do a lot of things with you and to you, Olivia Pope. I want to kiss those lips of yours and see if they taste as delicious as they look. Then again, I also want to take you home and love you, Olivia. I don't wanna fuck you. No, not at first. A woman like you deserves to be pampered and cherished and loved. So I want to make love to you first. Show you what real sex is because you deserve that. You're worth knowing that."

At this point, Olivia was gasping for breath. Her heart was thumping, ready to burst out of her chest and everything inside of her was starting to come to life again at his words. Her body was ready, lower Olivia was screaming to be broken out of her dry spell. And her mind was screaming the word "yes", willing it to come out of her mouth.

She's never met a man who could talk about sex so vaguely and sound sexy as hell doing it.

This should seriously be illegal.

"And then once you were ruined," He continued, his lips moved against her ear. "I would fuck you really hard and deep, until you shattered from every single orgasm I'd be giving you. I would do that so you know the difference between being made love to and fucked so good, you literally see stars."

Oh God.

He pulled away and looked back into her eyes. They were the darkest shades of black he's ever seen. They were beautiful.

Olivia on the other hand wasn't sure how she was still standing. She briefly wondered if she was in an alternate universe. A fantasy. But the brush of Fitz's index finger against her lower lip affirmed that she was very much here. In this jazz smell of lust, alcohol and cigars surrounding them. Held securely by him as though she was a hologram that might dissipate, and her, flustered and unequivocally turned on.

Olivia knew then that she was done for. She wanted this. She wanted him. She wanted him more than she could ever imagine wanting someone. She wanted him more than she wanted her next breath.

"But I don't want to overstep because like I said, tonight doesn't have to mean anything more than what it is."

Oh for God's sake, now he was worried about overstepping? When she was so aroused that it felt physically painful? When she was so turned on and nearly gasping for breath? Now he was worried about overstepping?

"However, should option two appeal more to you, all you have to do is say yes."

Olivia's mind went into overdrive. She was weighing the pros and cons of this situation but in the end, all it came down to was the fact that this man was offering her what sounded like the best goddamn night of her life without asking for anything back.

And she wanted what he was offering with every last breath of her being.

"Yes."

---

Chapter 5: Bonds of Intimacy

Passion: She felt it when their lips first met. Something as simple as a kiss, if done well could be so exhilarating. The touch of lips soft as a snowflake as they made their first contact; the tangle of tongue in the midst of hot, quickening breaths vanishing any layers of uncertainties about what they were both committing was passion. A simple kiss; that's all it was but it was enough to spark a million little fires between them.

Desire: It never faded. It was in the way he undressed her and left her completely exposed and vulnerable for him to explore. It was in the way his eyes turned dark at the sight of her exposed skin and he absolutely had to have her right then or he would lose his mind. But he knew self-restraint was important because he promised.

That same desire was in the tone of which he whispered her now favorite nickname: "Livvie...". It was in the way he claimed her as his own; "My Goddess..." and promised to ruin her for every other man out there.

It was also in the way he showed her.

Intimacy: He couldn't seem to be close enough even with every limb entwined in the most beautiful of ways. It was in the way his heated gaze on her never faltered even as he trailed his soft lips down her body. He branded her as his, and burned every spot he touched with exquisite pleasure, while memorizing every curve of her amazing body as he whispered to her how flawlessly perfect she was. And just what she was doing to him with her whimpering sounds of pleasure.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known."

It was in the way he held her hand as she shattered above him and came to pieces from the pleasure of his mouth.

It was also the way she screamed and begged him to do it again.

Bliss: "Yes," She moaned. "Oh God!"

Those were the words she could make out as their bodies merged into one another. Suddenly they were one and she was filled with him; bound to him in every way possible and there were simply no words to describe that feeling of coital alignment. There was something so raw and vulnerable about looking up at him and knowing that she could trust him.

To take care of her. To please her. To satisfy her. And the thought made her breathless.

"Where have you been my whole life?" He asked softly, kissing her lips. His eyes never closed, afraid if they did, she might disappear. She was far too precious to him already for that to happen. He didn't know if he would survive it.

Euphoric Oblivion: Screaming of ecstasy while rotating in oblivion over and over again. It was maddening in the best possible way. Falling into pieces and having that feeling consume her so much, it was overwhelming. Hating how much she loved the feeling of losing complete control of herself and being at the mercy of someone else, and yet, still wishing to get that feeling for the rest of her life.

Feeling ruined and utterly powerless was never something Olivia Pope thought she would take comfort in, but God help her if it wasn't the most amazing thing that's ever happened to her.

Satisfaction: The unforgettable look on his face and his animalistic growl echoing into the dark night as he spilled inside her. At that moment, he wasn't just Mr. Beautiful to her anymore. He had become her alpha. Her King. He belonged to her. And somehow, she had ruined him too without meaning to.

Yet, she wouldn't have it any other way.

She welcomed the fallen weight of his body as he collapsed on top of her with joy.

Almost instantly, she buried her fingers into his sweaty curls, and kissed his forehead repeatedly in an affectionate manner while whispering her gratefulness for the amazing bonds of intimacy she just experienced with him.

"Where have you been, Livvie?" He asked again.

She knew the answer deep in her heart. It was at the tip of her tongue, but she didn't tell him because the answer was terrifying.

State of Mind: Happy.

She felt pampered, cherished and loved.

Just as he had promised.

---

Chapter 6: Ruined

She lay against his chest, enveloped together in the white linen sheets and she couldn't help but blush and smile at the same time.

That man doesn't disappoint. He's as every bit as amazing in bed as he is gorgeous and right now, Olivia felt like she could fly.

Right now, at this very moment, she felt like a woman again. Her whole body was alive and vibrating and he was the reason for it, all because she said "yes" when he begged to show her what real sex felt like.

And show her, he did. Now she was a blushing idiot who couldn't stop staring into his beautiful blue eyes just as he seemed to not be able to tear his gaze from her.

Who is this man and where has he been all her life?

"Hi." He smiled.

Olivia smiled back at him. If he gets any sexier at this very moment... she will faint.

"Hi." She replied.

"You're so beautiful." He had this look in his eyes when he told her that. It was enough to make Olivia melt from the inside.

"So are you, Fitzgerald Grant. So are you." She grinned.

He then claimed her lips in a soft, passionate kiss that had her body, mind, and soul screaming for round two. When he pulled away to let her lungs catch some air, he released her lips with a pop, making them both laugh.

"Are you okay?" He sounded so genuinely caring, it moved Olivia almost to tears.

"Yeah. I'm more than okay." She placed a kiss against his chest before looking back up into his blue-grey eyes. "Tell me something, please."

"What do you wanna know?" Fitz asked.

"I don't know. Something personal." Olivia shrugged. "Anything you feel comfortable telling me. Maybe something simple, like where you grew up." She suggested.

"I grew up in Santa Barbara. I have five amazing sisters in between my father's philandering."

Olivia smiled. There was this quick flash of light that crossed his eyes when he said he had five sisters, however, Olivia didn't think he was much of a fan of his father's.

"What are their names?" Olivia asked.

"Delilah (Dee-Dee) is the first one. She's my best friend in the entire world. Then it's Laura. I'm the third for my mom. After me is Francesca (Frankie) then it's Katera and then it's baby Carina."

Olivia could see the love in his eyes for those people. It both thrilled and terrified her that she could read him so well and they've only just met.

"They're all different with such robust personalities." Fitz continued. "We didn't all grow up together. I knew about Katera and Carina when they were about six years old."

"Are they twins?" Olivia asked.

"No. Just a politician's dirty little secret. When Katera was twelve, we found out about Carina." Fitz replied. "Anyways, Dee-Dee is my best friend. While I've always thought of myself as their protector, Dee-Dee is the glue that keeps us all together. She doesn't mess around. What you see is what you get with her. She's also very caring. It makes it okay when she goes a little too hard on the tough love.

Laura, there's not nearly enough words to describe just how amazing she is. I think out of all of us, she takes more after our mom. Sensitive yet resilient. And she's a born genius with a big brain. There isn't a problem she can't solve. And she's also an incredible chef.

Frankie is the loud one out of the six of us. She's got layers to her. Her bullshit meter is way high. I trust her intuition a lot. She's also the creative one and she has no filter. She's blunt and she doesn't apologize for who she is.

Katera is the funnest person you'll ever meet. You won't guess it at first impression because she can come across a little bit intimidating but once you get to know her, I can promise you, you'll never live a dull moment around her.

Carina. Baby Ari. She's special. I love all my sisters equally but she holds a special spot in my heart. She's always been quiet and shy. But when she speaks, you have no choice but to listen. She is wise beyond her years. She doesn't have a judgmental bone in her body and she has this really pure and rare ability to see the good in everything. And for reasons that are beyond me, the kid idolizes me. she's just... She's incredible."

Olivia couldn't help but smile. He described his sisters with such a glow in his eyes, it made her feel bittersweet in a way. Being an only child, she would never know what that feels like.

"What about you? What's special about you? What did you get?"

Fitz shrugged. "I don't know." He replied. "I got to be their brother."

Amazing.

"They sound like incredible people." She admitted.

"I may be a little biased, but they truly are." Fitz smiled. "What about you? Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes." Olivia shook her head. "Not biological but he is truly my brother in every way that counts." She said, "I guess my parents always thought they'd get around to having more children. But my father passed away before that could happen. So it was me and my mom for a while, until Harrison joined our little family."

"Tell me about him?" Fitz asked.

"Well, before he was my brother, he was just this mean boy determined to make my high school experience a living hell." Olivia replied. "I went to a private school but as part of my community service and as a way to embellish my college applications, I tutored Algebra & Spanish at one of the public schools in Queens a few times a week. He was terrible at math so of course he was one of the peers assigned to me. But he would never show up. And if he did, he used to call me "Saint Olivia" very patronizingly."

"He sounds really charming." Fitz said sarcastically. "Want me to kick his ass?"

Olivia kissed his chin and laughed wholeheartedly. She shook her head before she continued. "He grew up in a system designed to fail people who look like us. Given all he'd been through, it was a defense mechanism for him at the time to just attack people and I quickly figured that out about him. What he really needed was for someone, anyone to believe in him and show up for him. So even when he got on my last nerves, I decided I liked him enough to keep trying with him. One day, I challenged him to a race and after I kicked his butt, I brought him home with me after school for dinner and it's been me, him and my mom ever since."

"So you and your mom are close?" Fitz asked.

"We are. Yes." Olivia nodded. "What about you and your parents?"

"Well, my father and I, we never really saw eye-to-eye on anything. He thought I was weak, rebellious, a disgrace to the family name. And I thought he was a sanctimonious asshole." He replied. "He was a pompous, selfish son-of-a-bitch with an ego to match every obstacle. But I guess when you grow up like he did, that was normal. He came from old money and money talks." A big sigh escaped him as he looked up at the ceiling. "He passed away from a heart attack a few years ago."

There's so much more Olivia wanted to know but she didn't want to pry and turn him off. His father sounded like enough to digest.

But as if sensing her curiosity, he continued without being asked.

"These days, my mom is "having fun". I don't even want to define what the term having fun means in her case. All I know is, she's traveling the world and she's happily "experimenting and going with the wind" (as she's told us) with her next door neighbor of forty years."

"Oh my God." Olivia gasped.

"Yep. My family makes the Kardashians sound like stable people."

A few seconds of silence settled between them before they both burst out into an uncontrollable fit of laughter.

"I'm so sorry." Olivia managed to utter breathlessly. "I'm not supposed to be laughing but... Dear God!"

"I know." Fitz smiled at her. "But you know what? The woman is a saint really. She was so forgiving of my father's indiscretions and kept the family together for her children's sake but even angels have their breaking point. And when she realized how much she was hurting and sacrificing but more importantly, what she was teaching us by staying in a toxic relationship, she left and never looked back. I think my father scarred her so much that the thought of ever being with another man again absolutely terrifies her."

A glazed-over look crossed Olivia's eyes and for a moment, she reflected on her own history with men, and thought "I can relate."

"She sounds like a formidable woman." She said instead.

---

Another hour easily rolled by as they talked about everything beneath the moon. From their favorite movies and books, to their craziest adventures. They discussed more pleasant memories from their childhoods, their likes and dislikes, etc. Anything that gave more intrigue, they were willing to discuss. The night was theirs.

"What's your middle name?" Fitz asked out of the blue.

"Carolyn." Olivia replied.

Fitz smiled. "That's adorable. Just like you."

"Cheesy much." Olivia teased, placing another kiss against his chest. "What about you? Do you have a middle name?"

"Thomas."

She laughed. "You mean like Thomas Jefferson?"

Fitz laughed along with her as he began to subconsciously play with her hair. "I don't know. Maybe." He replied, "My father was a very presidential man."

"Your whole name is hot." Olivia rolled her eyes, feigning irritation. "Fitzgerald Thomas Grant."

"The third." Fitz added.

"The third. So fancy."

"What's your favorite color?"

Olivia shrugged. "I don't have one per se." She replied. "It changes but I think I prefer white."

"Do you like coffee in the morning?"

Olivia shook her head. "No. I mostly drink water but if I'm feeling indulgent, I prefer herbal teas or hot chocolate. Too much caffeine in my system and I start bouncing off the walls."

Fitz made a mental note of that for future references and stored it in his OPIB. (Olivia Pope Info Box.)

"I know you don't really like beer, so what do you like to drink?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Red wine. Lots of it." Olivia replied. "I'm obsessed with wine. My friends think it's unhealthy. I say bullshit though."

"Adorable I tell you."

All this talk about liquids made Olivia feel suddenly parched.

"I'm thirsty." She stated.

Fitz groaned and blew raspberries to the air. "I'm a terrible host, aren't I?"

"Kinda." Olivia teased.

"I already feel guilty enough." Fitz swatted her butt and something inside Olivia came to life. Nobody's ever really spanked her before. There was a novelty to it and to her surprise, she found that she might enjoy it once in a while.

As if reading her mind just based on the color that flourished her cheeks, Fitz smirked at her. "Behave." He warned her.

He rolled her off him and slipped out of bed easily in one movement.

His feet hit the cold ivory tiles and he stood, tall and handsome in his naked glory looking fine as fuck.

God is real.

Olivia could've sworn he got hotter by the minute. He had a muscular ass that she just wanted to dig her nails into and squeeze just because she could and he was hers. (At least for the night anyway). And his shoulders were a sculptor's dream. Perfectly broad and muscular, with her marks all over them.

Sexy as fuck.

Fitz glanced back at his shoulder and smirked at her. "La Femme Chat."

Cat Woman- Olivia translated in her mind.

"I'm not sorry." She told him. "You rearranged my internal organs."

"And I'm the dork?" Fitz shook his head with a teasing grin playing across his lips.

He went into the adjoining bathroom for a second and returned back with a snow white towel wrapped around his waist.

She found herself drooling at the sight of him. How is it possible that he's turned her into a sex-crazed woman in just one night?

In all fairness though, he did promise to ruin her.

He was making his way to the door when Olivia summoned him.

"Hey, wait. Come back!"

He looked back at her sprawled on his bed and his heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help to think she belonged perfectly.

"What woman?" He sassed.

"Come. Here." She beckoned.

He marched back towards her on the bed. When he was at the foot of it, he leaned down and hovered over her.

"What?"

"Gimme kiss."

"Say please."

"Please?" She pouted, blinking her doe eyes at him.

"You're gonna be the death of me." He muttered before he happily melted their lips together.

---

After fifteen minutes of his absence, Olivia decided she missed him and got up to go find him.

She made a trip to the bathroom first to freshen up and wipe the stickiness of their fluids from her thighs. She couldn't find her shirt and her panties were ripped to shreds (courtesy of Mr. Beautiful,) so she decided to borrow one of his shirts. While she was roaming in his drawers, she came across a silver digital camera and decided to take it with her to the kitchen.

When she found him, he was cutting a chunk of honeydew and mixing it in with a variety of fruits in a large bowl.

"You owe me sixty dollars." She told him.

He turned around and she snapped a picture of his smug grin.

"Is that so?" He asked.

Olivia nodded. "Because of you I'm gonna have to walk out of here commando."

"I'm not sorry." He popped a blackberry in his mouth before turning around her side of the counter with the bowl of fruit salad.

"Are you allergic to any fruits?" He asked.

Olivia shook her head. He had quite a healthy, mouthwatering mixture of mangoes, berries, melons, pineapples and kiwis and she wanted some of it.

He grabbed two glasses from one of the cabinets and poured them each some sparkling water.

For a guy, Olivia had to admit he had a pretty good regime. No wonder he looked sculpted to the Gods.

They ate fruits while they waited for their ham and cheese sandwich to finish in the toaster oven.

"Give me that." Fitz snatched the camera from her hand and took a few snapshots of her while her little 5 '4 self attempted to fight him to get it back.

She really was adorable.

"My shirt looks good on you." He pecked her lips.

"Thank you." Olivia smiled. "I couldn't find my clothes."

"They're in the closet in the hallway." Fitz replied. "I folded them for you."

"Thank you."

"Question..."

"Shoot."

"Where do you shop for your panties?"

Olivia laughed. "Weirdo. Why?"

He snapped another picture of her like that looking all carefree and happy and alive. "I owe you sixty dollars."

Olivia was quite amused by him. She didn't think he would really go lingerie shopping for her, so she humored him. "VS, La Perla or Agent Provocateur." She replied. "Only silk and lace though. I'm sensitive to cotton."

But Fitz was being serious. He yet again filed that information into his OPIB. He planned to rip off a lot more panties. It's only fair he knew where to go to replace them.

When the toaster finally dinged, Olivia welcomed the sight of a perfectly toasted sandwich with a smile. Dinner was supposed to be popcorn and wine until a certain sex-God called and she skipped out. So this sandwich made her very happy.

She wouldn't call him a chef yet, but truth be told, he made a pretty damn good sandwich.

She ate hers in a few bites, while he polished his off in a couple huge bites and washed it down with big gulps of water. Afterwards, they moved deliberately around his kitchen like it's something they've been doing a while now. Like some kind of practiced routine.

She washed the used dishes while he stored the rest of the fruit salad in the fridge after wrapping it in saran. Once everything was done and clean, he surprised her and picked her up, wrapping her legs around his hips. Olivia squealed and smiled as their lips melted together.

This felt so good. Being with him like this, it felt too good.

It shouldn't feel so good. They barely know each other. But she was determined to not ruin it while it lasted. Tomorrow she'll be gone and this will be nothing but a good time. So she was going to enjoy the ride to the fullest. Carpe Diem. Whatever.

He carried her to his bedroom as if she weighed absolutely nothing and Olivia couldn't help but be turned on by his strength. When he threw her on the bed and she bounced, Olivia giggled like a little school girl.

"Hi." He climbed on top of her.

"Hi, Mr. Beautiful." Olivia replied, smiling.

"Hi." He kissed her lips breathless before rolling next to her and tucking her at his side.

Their fingers entwined, his lips against her forehead, Fitzgerald felt at peace. Content.

"Are you falling asleep?" Olivia asked.

"No." Fitz replied. "You?"

"No." Olivia answered. "Let's take selfies."

"You youngsters." Fitz shook his head.

"I'm thirty-four. I'm no spring chicken." Olivia protested.

"I'm still older than you." Fitz stuck his tongue out.

Olivia rolled her eyes. How could a man so hot be so childish at the same time? It's not okay. He was fucking with her mental stability and it wasn't okay. Not after just one night.

"How old are you?" Olivia asked.

"I'm thirty-eight." Fitz replied. "Baby."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Whatever, man-child."

He smirked. "Did you just call me a man-child?"

"Yeah." Olivia said smugly. "Watchu gon' do bout it?"

"Oooh so tough."

"Of course! I'm from the hood, don't ya know?!" She sassed.

Fitz snorted. "So you're about that life?"

"Not even a little bit." Olivia laughed. "They'd sniff me out from a mile away. I'm really from the Upper East Side."

"So…" Fitz drawled.

"What?" Olivia coyly responded.

"My apology! You called me a man-child, remember?"

"Oh that. Well it's true. You kinda are, in the silliest way."

She had no warning. It was one of those things you watch happen without being fully prepared for it. He climbed on top of her and attacked her neck with kisses while his fingers mercilessly tickled her.

Olivia kicked and screamed, giggled and laughed so hard until tears were running down the corner of her eyes but he wouldn't stop until he got an apology.

"Not the face!" Olivia screeched .

He was sucking at the apples of her cheek so hard, it was bound to leave a mark if he did it for any longer.

"Say sorry to me." Fitz laughed.

Olivia shook her head stubbornly. "You can't make me apologize if it's true." She reasoned.

He went back full force. Sucking harder and tickling restlessly.

"Fitzgerald!" Olivia yelled laughingly. "Babyyy! This isn't fair!"

"What's not fair is you calling me a man-child and thinking it's okay." He retorted.

"Still. You can't give me a big ass hickey on my cheek for it as punishment."

While she struggled and wiggled beneath him in an attempt to throw him off, she came across the perfect weapon that froze him instantly.

"Let go of my dick."

He attempted to sound austere about it, but how could she take him seriously when he was looking at her with those stupid, gorgeous blue eyes of his and saying it with a dumb, goofy grin on his face?

"No." Olivia smiled.

She started stroking him in the slowest way and she grew so wet just feeling his erection , that look of his was back. Pure desire washed his features and Olivia knew she had to have him again right then.

"Fuck me." She demanded.

She wanted to know the difference like he promised. She wanted to be fucked so hard and so deep and feel so sore and raw that every time she winced in blissful pain, she thought of him.

She licked her palm and wetly wrapped it around him as she resumed stroking him expertly; slow and firm.

Fitz cursed. He's never seen anything so wild and sexy in his life. In a flash, his lips were back on hers, tongues reacquainting in the steamiest of ways, hinting at what was soon to follow. And before he knew it, both her hands were being held hostage in his and he was pining her into the mattress beneath him.

When he slid into her, they both gasped. He was inside of her raw and the feeling was unlike anything he's ever felt in his whole entire life. She felt so wet and warm around him and clasped him so tightly, it was painful. Deliciously painful.

His whole length was stretching her and Olivia swore she could feel his thickness and length in places she didn't even know existed.

"Shit!" Fitz cursed.

He soon realized their abrupt decision to forgo protection and he wanted to kick himself. As much as his brain was telling him to pull out, he couldn't bring himself to. She felt way too good that the thought of pulling out of her sounded worse than death.

"I'm clean. I can show you." He mumbled against her lips.

"I believe you. And the same for me." Olivia reassured. "I'm on birth control."

He pushed a bit further into her and she sank her teeth into his shoulder as pain and pleasure merged together. "Damn baby..."

"Mmm you feel so fucking good." Olivia sobbed. She claimed his lips again and pulled gently. "Move for me baby." She begged. "Fuck me. Ruin me."

"Livvie..." He whispered breathlessly.

"Yes, Fitz." Olivia nodded. "I'm saying yes, baby. Defile me."

That's all he needed to hear.

He began to move slowly and deeply at first, building up to a rhythm and following the sound of her breathing.

"Ahhh. So good baby."

Fitz pulled out all the way and Olivia's whimper for his loss nearly killed him.

He teased her clit with the head of his cock. Hearing her moan of sheer ecstasy was enough to make him easily the happiest man to ever live.

When he entered her again full length, he took pause and gasped as he threw his head back. It was just as blissful as the first time. Her walls clenched around him instantly and she begged of him to fuck her faster.

This time, Fitz did. He moved fast in earnest. The sound of their skin slapping against each other and the sound of the headboard banging against the wall were all leading to the explosive climax ahead. Their lips were hungry. There wasn't a spot they didn't suck, nibble, kiss or bite.

"Fuck!"

"I'm so close. Please don't stop!"

Fitz pulled her shirt up and found the silver barbell around her nipples. He thought those were so sexy. He alternated sucking and rolling her nipples between his fingers while circling his thumb on the bundle of pleasure between her legs. Olivia threw her head back in ecstasy; back arching, fists grabbing at the sheets.

"Look Livvie." Fitz commanded. "Watch us come baby."

Olivia propped herself on her elbows. She watched as he thrust, fucking her like meant it; like a man on a mission to wreak her body havoc and ruin her like she had so begged him to do. Watching the way his cock bathed in her juice with each meaningful thrust, and his commanding her to come was all the encouragement Olivia needed. Soon, she could hardly control her body's reaction to how good he was fucking her. Her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she began chanting his name, begging for release. She felt like a storm was brewing in her veins and traveling to her core and her legs started trembling.

The culmination was a beautiful devastation and it left her breathless. She kept waiting for the wave of euphoria to subside but it seemed to intensify as Fitz continued to thrust deeply inside her. She just kept coming and coming and coming. She could no longer make sense of the words coming from her lips. She managed enough strength to look down when she felt wetness beneath her. She stared in shock and Fitz's face was a mixture of complete pleasure and amazement as he grunted and soon spilled inside her. She grabbed his butt like she had so wanted to do and clenched her muscles around him until he was drained of everything.

He pushed her hair back from her sweaty forehead and kissed her lips gently as he continued to lazily stroke into her. "Baby..." He whispered. "Livvie..." He was speechless as he looked into her calm, blissful orbs. "Nothing in my life has ever felt as good as being inside you." He murmured as he claimed her lips again. "Nothing."

He ruined her.

She loved every second of it.

She's ruined.

And it felt amazing.

"Fitz..."

"Livvie..."

She smiled. Bright and happy. She looked absolutely breathtaking to him.

"That's what being ruined by Fitzgerald Grant feels like? You made me wet the bed."

A guttural laughter escaped Fitz's lips and he couldn't help but kiss her lips for being so goddamn adorable.

"You're a squirter, Livvie."

"No. That was a first. It's never happened before. Ever."

Fitz beamed with pride and his blue-grey eyes sparkled like gems. "Are you embarrassed?" He asked.

"Fuck no." Olivia replied. "That was amazing."

"It was." Fitz agreed. "It really was." He kissed her lips before he pulled out. He watched his cum drip out of her and onto the sheet. He bit his fist to prevent himself from screaming.

"Okay, that was really hot." Olivia blushed.

He swiped a finger up her slit, teasing her entrance. He stopped briefly to pull the shirt over her head, wanting her fully naked all to himself to admire and love.

He wouldn't allow anything in his way for what was to come next.

"It's about to get a hell of a lot better." He told her.

He rolled on his back and pulled her on top of him until her crotch hovered above his face. He then handed her the recently discarded camera and Olivia's eyes widened with excitement.

"I want copies." She said.

The second she felt his tongue slither between her lips, Olivia's eyes rolled in her head again and she braced her hand against the headboard. It wasn't long before she was mewling from the pleasure of his mouth and coming undone above him as she rode his face. She was rendered speechless as she succumbed to her petite mort, but the pictures she took were worth a million words.

---

Minutes passed and she remained boneless on the bed. Olivia felt Fitz leave but she was still too sedated to form words. Instead, she worked on remembering how to breathe. He was gone for a couple minutes and when he returned, Fitz couldn't stop staring. Her eyes were closed and she looked absolutely goddess-like curled up in his bed. It occurred to him then, in his quest to ruin her, she ruined him too. She just didn't know it yet.

He accepted his fate and leaned down to kiss her lips sweetly. "Sweet, sweet baby." He sang.

Olivia smiled and finally opened her eyes. "What are you doing now? Wooing me to a rendition of Queen Aretha?"

Fitz chuckled. "No. That part's soon to come. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much in one night."

With that, he placed a kiss against her forehead then began to widen her legs apart slowly.

Again? Olivia thought to herself. The hell kind of stamina does this man have?

"Hi. Just wanna help you clean up. Is that okay?"

She nodded.

Olivia watched him with doe eyes as he tended to her; gently wiping her clean with a damp cloth.

"Thank you." She replied. She could feel herself getting emotional and quickly averted his gaze. If he noticed, he was considerate enough to let her experience what she was feeling without probing or judgment. There was just something completely loving and sweet about his aftercare that she's never had before.

Once he finished cleaning her, he got up again to toss the towel in the laundry. When he returned, he had a bottle of water with him.

"Would you like some water, babe?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes please."

He took a sip then offered her the rest. Olivia sat up and took the bottle from him. She took small sips while she watched him slip on a clean pair of boxers. Her lips stretched into a smile at the marks she left on his shoulders. If this night was a one-off, she was glad that he'll have something to remember her by.

She placed the rest of the water on the nightstand and glanced at the clock. It read 3:48 a.m. She could feel exhaustion creeping in and evidently, he could read it all over her face. They worked in sync to undress the bed and replace the mattress with clean sheets. As soon as it was tidy enough, they both plunged on the bed together and cuddled up in each other's arms.

"Promise me something?" Fitz asked as he traced circles on her shoulder.

"What?" She asked.

"Promise me you'll be next to me when I wake up?" He said. "Don't leave without saying goodbye."

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips softly. "Okay." She nodded then buried her face in the crook of his neck again as she let the rise and fall of his chest and the feel of his fingers running through her hair lull her to sleep.

Minutes passed and Olivia was seconds from turning the world into black when she heard him sigh happily.

"Okay."

And then they were both soundly asleep in each other's arms.

---

Chapter 7: Date Me

"Wake up, Goddess."

Olivia moaned at the feel of soft lips trailing kisses across her naked stomach and fingers lightly tracing over her areolas.

Her eyes remained closed but she managed to bury her fingers in a thick mane of curls as those same lips continued to travel lower.

"If this is a dream, it's the best I've had in awhile." She confessed groggily.

"Would the reality of it drive you away?" Fitz whispered softly.

"No." Olivia replied.

Fitz traveled up her body, his hips straddling her waist. He leaned close until his lips were brushing against hers. "Then open your eyes, baby."

Olivia opened one eye with caution, trying to brace herself from the sunlight that she was sure was awaiting to attack her. But to her luck, the blinds were drawn and her resolve softened as soon as her eyes landed on his breathtaking features. The mesmerizing blues of his eyes that captivated her since the first night they met glowed back at her.

She barely had time to recover before his gentle lips were kissing hers softly. He rained little soft pecks on her upper lip. She could hardly breathe by the time he fully claimed her lips. And then, he completely took her breath away when he made love to her mouth just as his hands made love to her body.

Pulling away, Olivia could feel his smile more than she could see it. He left her in a blank state of dizziness with his exhilarating kiss. It took her a moment to bring the world back into focus.

"Hi." He whispered.

Olivia swallowed hard and finally opened her eyes again. She then tried to speak but to no avail because she was momentarily frozen.

"H-hi..." She finally managed after what seemed like an eternity. "Um... Wow. What time is it?"

"It's noon." Fitz replied.

Shit!

She's missing Saturday brunch with the girls and she's never gonna hear the end of it.

"How long have you been up?" Olivia questioned.

"Since seven." Fitz informed.

Olivia looked at him puzzled. They went to bed, it was nearly four o'clock in the morning. How the hell did he have the energy to wake up at seven on the dot?

"Did you even sleep at all?"

Fitz nodded. "A little. But I'm an early riser. I mostly watched you sleep though."

"Ugh, that must've been fun." Olivia said sarcastically.

"It was very entertaining." Fitz smiled. "Did you know that you look really cute when you sleep?" He asked. "You do this thing with your nose. Damn if it's not the most adorable thing I've ever seen."

"What thing?" Olivia frowned.

Fitz laughed of amusement. "You know how little puppies wave their paws in the air when they're cleaning themselves? Well you do that with your hand, like you're chasing away a mosquito then you frown and do that cute thing where you scratch your nose. After that, you kinda sigh and your face spreads into this cute, adorable smile before you start making the cutest little snoring sounds I've ever heard."

Olivia buried her face in her hands and started blushing in embarrassment. "I'm never sleeping over at your house again."

Fitz began to pamper her face with kisses even as she fought to keep it hidden in her hands. "But I enjoyed watching you sleep. And you're so cute."

Olivia's face softened and she dropped the façade. "So you just watched me sleep for five hours?"

"No." Fitz replied. "I got up around nine and got some paperwork for the club done in the office."

Olivia ran her fingers through his curls then down his naked back.

"You must be hungry by now." Fitz wrapped Olivia's legs around his waist.

He watched as she suppressed a pained gasp but she couldn't hide her wince too.

"Shit. Sorry." He said sympathetically. "Are you sore?"

Olivia nodded with a blush. Then she started giggling hysterically. She couldn't remember the last time she felt this deliciously sore.

"Why are you laughing?" Fitz asked.

Olivia wiggled beneath him and the movement caused her to ache more. "I don't know." She replied. "I guess some pain can feel good sometimes."

Fitz shook his head with mischief in his eyes as he slid down Olivia's body.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asked.

"I wanna see." Fitz replied casually.

Olivia's eyes rolled, "What are you, T.P.I.?"

"T.P.I.?" Fitz questioned with raised eyebrows. "I'm not familiar with that acronym."

"The Pussy Inspector." Olivia clarified.

"And yet you call me a dork." He shook his head but wore an amused smirk . "I prefer doctor. Thank you."

And then he threw her legs over his shoulders.

Olivia gasped and threw her head back against the pillow as he slid his thumb between her folds, parting them gently.

"You're a little bit tender. I might've been a little too rough last night." Fitz said. "I'm sorry."

All Olivia could do was moan. He was drawing gentle circles around her clit. That was enough of an apology.

"Want me to kiss it better?"

Olivia fisted a handful of the sheets as she grinded against his fingers, silently begging him to do something… anything to deliver release to her.

"I didn't hear you. Do you want me to kiss it better, Livvie?"

"Yes!" Olivia yelled. "Yes. Please."

His mouth was at work the instant the plea left her lips. He used his tongue and fingers to coax out the sweetest pleasures from her. And the closer he got her, the more restless she became.

Fitz was enjoying it all too much. Every cry, every sob, every plea.

It didn't take much longer for her to peak and when she reached ecstasy, she fell into pieces above him, shaking and barely recognizing her own voice. He soothed her with kisses between her thighs until she stopped mewling and released her grip on his hair.

"That look on your face when you come will be the death of me. I swear." Fitz climbed back on top of her and kissed her nose. "How was it?"

Olivia blushed. "No words."

"That good?" He questioned with raised eyebrows and a teasing grin.

Olivia palmed his face in an attempt to wipe the grin off his face. All that ended up doing was make him laugh and nip her palm.

"Don't be smug, Pussy Master."

Now that's a good way to boost a man's ego.

Fitz poked his tongue out childishly before planting a kiss on her, letting her taste the sweetness of her essence off his tongue. Then he pulled away satisfied and smiled. "Want some real breakfast?"

"Yes please."

---

Minutes later, she was dressed in one of his big shirts that hit just above her knees and she was on his back getting a ride to the kitchen.

"What shall we eat, amore mio?"

"You speak Italian?" She asked curiously.

Fitz nodded. "Amongst others, yes."

"You got eggs?" Olivia asked. "I wanna make an omelet."

"You can cook?" Fitz raised his eyebrows.

Olivia laughed as she shook her head. "I can't cook for shit." She replied honestly. "But I can make basic stuff like omelets. Baking's more my thing."

"How come?" Fitz asked.

He was already on the move getting the ingredients needed in the fridge.

"Abby." Olivia replied. "She's one hell of a baker. I suffered through my undergrad years with her making me watch as she baked while ranting about campus drama. I learned a thing or two during those times."

Like the previous night, they got into a routine as they deliberately moved around his kitchen in sync.

Olivia prepared the stove for her famous meat lover's omelet while Fitz occupied himself with making fresh squeezed orange juice.

With their efficiency and teamwork, breakfast was ready and on the counter in fifteen short minutes.

---

"Mm..." Fitz moaned with gusto.

He was in omelet heaven and if his taste buds knew how to dance they were probably doing backflips or the Gangnam style by now.

Growing up with a sister who's now a successful chef, he had taste and an appreciation for delicious food. So for someone who claims she can't cook for shit, this omelet was pretty damn amazing.

"That good?" Olivia teased.

Fitz threw his head back and smiled. "Yes. I want more!" He exclaimed.

"You really know how to make a girl feel special."

---

After their late breakfast/lunch, Fitz decided to give Olivia a proper tour to his rather luxurious apartment.

Last night, there were more pressing matters to attend to, so being a polite host was the last thing on his mind.

They started with the two extra guest rooms and bathrooms, then he showed her the big hallway closet where there were extra sheets, towels and homey stuff. Following suit was his home office where Olivia gushed over his intimate family pictures, his Yale & Harvard degrees and his many achievements.

Olivia was learning so much about him that she wouldn't have guessed. And it turns out they shared even more in common than she thought. Like herself, he was also an attorney.

She wondered why he wasn't practicing law. Those degrees were not easy to come by. But she's not one to judge. After all, she did quit her prestigious post as a lawyer for one of the most elite law firms in New York City. She was one of the most brilliant lawyers New York had ever seen, on the fastest track to a senior partnership but she gave it all up and cashed out to become a writer.

So really, no judgment on her part.

Up next was the large living room. It was a beautiful space with three small stairs leading to it. It was furnished black and white with accents of grey. It had a welcoming old fashioned fireplace to keep warm during the brutal winters. He also had a huge bookshelf with an impressive collection of Classic literature. On the wall, a large flatscreen TV was plastered along with an old record/disc player. Besides that, modern art decorated the walls and the ones that weren't art were the most uniquely taken pictures Olivia's ever seen.

"Did you take these?" She asked, pointing at one of the black and white pictures.

"No." Fitz finally replied. "Carina took those. Photography's her thing."

"Wow." Olivia whispered. "T-that's- wow. She's incredibly talented!"

Fitz smiled. "Thank you." He replied proudly.

He then sat back and watched as she looked around and become mesmerized about everything in his home.

"You were in the Navy?" Olivia marveled with surprise as she stared at the picture in her hand.

It was of a younger Fitz wearing a NAVY t-shirt over what looked like a flight suit. He was standing in a group with his comrades, laughing with beer bottles in hands, basking in bright sunlight.

Fitz nodded. He couldn't stop staring at her. Something about her in his home, wearing his shirt being all curious and adorable about him felt so right. His every being should be screaming at him because for a man who's sworn to never get too attached, he was definitely wearing his heart on his sleeve.

"How long did you serve for?" Olivia asked.

"I was a pilot. I did three tours." Fitz replied. "Stationed in Korea and Italy for a time. That was wild for me."

"You flew airplanes?" Olivia's eyes widened.

"Yes, well fighter jets but same-same." Fitz smirked. He got up from the couch and marched towards her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her against his warm, naked chest and kissed her jaw. "Does that turn you on?"

Olivia burst into a fit of giggles when he began a tickling attack on her. "Yes. Maybe a little, Captain." She admitted.

"Well I'm glad." Fitz tilted her head against his shoulder and planted a kiss on her pink, soft lips.

"Do you still fly?"

"Sometimes, yeah."

"And do you own a plane?"

Fitz nodded. "As a matter of fact, I do."

Olivia's eyes turned this really bright brown color and the smile that reached them made Fitz's stomach flutter. It still fascinated him how her eyes could just change color based on her emotions. It was amazing to him. At that moment, he thought he just might do anything to put that look in that girl's eyes every day for the rest of his life.

It was a scary thought but oddly enough, it didn't make him want to run.

"Is there anything you don't own?" Olivia questioned with raised eyebrows.

"Yes." Fitz answered.

"What?" Olivia asked.

Fitz spun her around in his arms and for one minute, he just looked at her. That look of dangerous calm that mirrored her and took her breath away since the first night they met, it was back in his ocean blue-grey eyes and they were piercing an invisible hole into her soul.

It's too soon for this... whatever it was that was happening between them. It was too soon.

But nothing prepared Olivia for his next words.

"You, Olivia." He said, a look she could only describe as a mix of pain and passion crossed his handsome features and Olivia didn't know whether to cry or kiss him. Or both.

Then he smiled at her and pecked her nose sweetly.

"I don't own your heart yet and I can see it in your eyes right now that you want to run as far away from me as possible and I understand that instinct more than you could possibly imagine, but before you think about doing that, I just want you to know that I will chase you over a cliff if I have to because..."

He stopped.

Olivia's heart was racing at the speed of lightning. And he's right, those words should have her running away from him like he's the plague, but how can she do that when he was speaking those words? How could she do that when he was holding her in his arms like this and looking at her with those beautiful eyes of his? How could she...? Hell, how is she even breathing right now?

"Because what?" Olivia's voice was a gasping whisper but her eyes were daring him to finish his sentence.

"Because you're the most beautiful, intriguing woman I've ever met in my whole entire life and I would be so lucky to have you."

The tears came quickly because Olivia didn't know what to say to that. For once in her life, she didn't have some snarky comeback. This was serious. He's rendered her speechless.

So she kissed him. For being so beautiful inside and out. For making her feel like she matters and for making her feel alive again after feeling dead inside for so long. For making her body come to life and melting her heart with just his words.

She kissed him with all that she had to give because he deserved everything.

In that moment, she decided that if she were in fact to run in the immediate future, like let's say next week when this is all just talk, she hopes he keeps his word and follows her down that cliff because he's got her hooked. And she would never forget what they shared.

"Fitzgerald Grant," She whispered against his lips.

"Yes, gorgeous?" He replied in the sweetest tone Olivia's ever heard, she couldn't help but melt.

"Take me to bed right now."

He stared into her chocolate brown eyes as he nipped softly at her lower lip.

"Right now?"

Olivia nodded. "Right now."

Soreness be damned. A little pain mixed in with pleasure never hurt anybody.

---

"I should go." Olivia mumbled.

Post-induced euphoria, she was feeling incredible, warm and beyond satisfied. Tucked in this comfortable bed in this beautiful man's arms, she felt like if she didn't put her foot down, (like literally get up and go take a shower) she might want to stay like this forever.

And that was scary thinking.

Fitz kissed her forehead and continued drawing invisible patterns on her forearm.

"You should stay." He disagreed.

Olivia chuckled. "Trust me, it's tempting but my friends might think I've been abducted." She told him. "Abby, the redhead with no filter; she's a real fire cracker and God knows I love her but I think she might've filed a missing person's report for me already."

"That's just exaggerating." Fitz chuckled.

"I'm serious." Olivia said. "I missed Saturday brunch and didn't call to cancel. I'd be surprised to find my door still standing at this point."

"So I really can't convince you to stay another day?" Fitz wiggled his eyebrows.

Olivia kissed the nape of his neck and shook her head. "I really have to go." She said.

"Okay." Fitz flipped her on her back and rolled on top of her. "Can you at least stay for dinner?"

"Depends." Olivia replied. "What are you making me?"

"Hotdogs?"

"Sold counselor."

---

When Olivia stepped out of the shower, the smell of hot dogs and bacon filled her nose. She got dressed then followed the smell to the kitchen only to find an even more mouth watering view awaiting her.

Fitzgerald Grant in his boxers with a kitchen towel thrown over his right shoulder, chopping onions like it's something he did every day. She could watch him forever like this. He was so goddamn sexy.

Olivia swallowed the dryness in her throat and willed herself to act like a normal person instead of an addict who couldn't seem to get enough.

"Hi." She finally made her presence known.

Fitz whipped his head back and winked at her. "Hi." He replied.

"Need any help?" Olivia asked.

He shook his head while throwing in a handful of onions in the frying pan on the stove.

"Sit, Livvie." He ordered, pointing at the stool behind the counter.

Olivia hopped on while he reached into the fridge and retrieved two cold beers. He opened them and slid one over to her.

---

Minutes later, Olivia was moaning with avidity.

It's official. She's ruined! Fitzgerald Grant has ruined her for all other men out there.

This was the best hot dog she's ever had and that said a lot because she used to live off New York hot dogs during her quick lunch breaks. It was perfectly grilled with balsamic onions, bacon bits, roasted peppers, a pinch of garlic and black pepper, smoked cheese and jalapenos.

It was an absolute delight for Fitz to watch her eat. He was so used to dating women who stuffed their faces with lettuce for every meal. Olivia Pope on the other hand has an appreciation for food that he found to be very refreshing.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"You're sexy as hell." Fitz replied.

---

"You're sure you don't wanna stay another day?" Fitz asked again. "I can be very generous with breakfast in bed." He winked.

Olivia flustered. She buried her face in her hand and shook her head. She knows just how generous he can be in the morning. She had a front row seat to it when she woke up this afternoon and the reminder of it wasn't really helping her. If anything, it's exactly one of the reasons she wanted to say 'fuck it' and stay for as long as he'll have her.

But she also needed to breathe. She needed some distance from him because she could totally see herself falling for him fast.

That couldn't happen so soon.

She needed an upper hand on whatever it is that's going on between them. She needed some control over it before she totally lost it.

This can't be one of those cliches where girl meets boy and has a one night stand, then falls dumb stupid for boy and gets her heart broken seven ways to Sunday. She's seen it happen too many times to know how it ends. And ninety percent of the time, she hates the ending.

So you can see how that can't happen to her.

"Fitz..."

"Kidding." Fitz chuckled. "A little."

He grabbed her hand from her face and pulled her against his chest in one of those burrito hugs she loves so much. He kissed her forehead then waited for her to look up into his eyes.

"I liked spending time with you." He told her.

"Me too." Olivia nodded.

Maybe a little too much.

"Then go out with me."

"Fitz..."

"No," He shook his head and shut her up with a kiss, "I like you Olivia Pope. I think you're amazing and I also think that you and I can be something pretty special together. I'd like a chance to work towards that. I want to take you out on dates, get to know you more and woo you. Say yes."

"We just met."

"Oh come on!" Fitz cried incredulously. "Aren't we way past that now? We're not strangers to each other anymore. I know your cum face. I know what you taste like Olivia Carolyn Pope. Say yes."

Olivia was blushing all the way down her tippy toes. "I'm not sure that's wise. This doesn't have to turn into a thing. You don't have to feel like you owe me just because we had the most amazing sex I've ever had in my life. We had fun together. Let's just leave it at that."

Fitz felt kind of insulted even though she was still his adorable dork, rambling about how their time together was amazing. He wasn't asking her out because he felt obligated to her. He was asking because he really, honestly likes her. He likes her because she's the opposite of all his past lovers.

She's real.

She's warm, funny, honest, brilliant and so fun to be around. She's only spent a day with him and already he feels full of life. He's vibrating in a way he never has before.

And the sex being so incredible was just the icing on top of the cake.

He likes her. A lot. And her making light of that was insulting to him.

"No." He let go of her and walked out of the living room to his home office.

Olivia stood in place, unsure whether to follow him or not. That man is restless. Trouble with a capital T. He was branded with the scarlet T on his chest and she should've known better.

He came back seconds later with a white piece of printer paper and a black ballpoint pen in hand. "Come here." He summoned her towards him on the counter.

He was folding the piece of paper when Olivia came to stand in front of him.

"I think you believe I'm fucking with you when I say that I'm interested in you in a way that's beyond what we spend all of last night and today doing. I think you believe that I'm just feeding you lines and I got what I wanted from you so you're distancing yourself from me before you get hurt."

Olivia chewed on her lower lip. She didn't like how well he could read her.

"I'll make you a deal." He continued.

"What?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"There's something written in this paper. I want you to open it when you get home." Fitz explained. "If you laugh at what's written in there, you owe me a date."

"And if I don't?" Olivia asked.

"Then I'll have to step up my game." Fitz shrugged. "You're gonna be my girl Olivia Pope." He informed her.

"Is that so?"

"Over a cliff, remember?" Fitz reminded her. "I want what's mine Olivia. And you are it. But you gotta give me a chance. Don't run away from me before we begin. You gotta let me earn you."

With that said, he pulled her back into his arms and tilted her chin up until she was looking into his eyes, then he claimed her lips in a slow burning kiss that had her body screaming all over again.

He broke the kiss just when she was losing herself in it. Instead of feeling grateful that he pulled away before he was pulling her pants down and defiling her against his kitchen counter, Olivia felt frustrated.

She's ruined.

He slipped the piece of paper in the back pocket of her pants before placing a final peck on her lips.

"There's a car waiting for you downstairs." He told her. "My chauffeur, Tom will take you wherever you need to go."

"Thank you." Olivia nodded.

He smiled back at her and nodded too. "Goodbye Olivia."

"Goodbye Fitz."

---

Chapter 8: Are You Real?

The first thing that hit Olivia when she walked into her apartment was the smell of home baked cupcakes. That could only mean one thing. Ms. Whelan was here.

Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for the wrath she was about to suffer through.

She dropped her bag and keys in the foyer and walked to the kitchen with her hands on her hips.

"Of course it's you." She declared. "You're messing up my beautiful kitchen again."

Abby's eyes snapped up and she loosened her grip on the icing bag in her hand. Her lips broke into this wry smile that told Olivia she was going to get an earful.

"You are in so much trouble, Olivia Pope."

Olivia smiled back. She stole one of the many scrumptiously decorated cupcakes on her way to the fridge to grab the bottle of wine she left unattended the previous night.

Pouring two full glasses, she extended one towards Abby in offering.

"So where were you?" The redhead asked.

"I was out." Olivia replied.

She's a grown woman. There's nothing wrong with going out.

"No shit." Abby replied sarcastically. "I've been calling you since last night and you haven't been answering so I thought: 'oh, she's back. She must be writing.' Then I called again this morning and you still didn't answer. After you completely bailed on brunch, I got worried, so I came here and it looks like you're just getting home."

Olivia kicked off her heels and hopped on the counter. She couldn't stop blushing like an idiot as she continued to sip on her wine.

Abby gasped. "And you're blushing." She observed. "And glowing. Not in a 'wow, the universe is happy with me' kind of way. You're glowing in a 'I got the shit fucked out of me last night' kind of way. Spill your little guts! What have you been up to Olivia Carolyn Pope?"

Olivia downed the whole glass in one gulp. She was bursting inside with joy and excitement. She couldn't keep it in any longer.

"I got laid!" She confessed.

Once those three words registered in the redhead's ears, Abby squealed. She was so excited, you'd think she's the one who got laid.

"Finally!" Abby screeched. "Your vagina must be throwing a party."

She says the weirdest shit too.

"I'm sore Abby." Olivia grinned. "Do you know how good it feels to be sore? I never thought I'd be so happy about feeling sore." She kicked her legs forward and started swinging them back and forth.

"Who was the lucky bastard?" Abby asked.

Olivia blushed harder. She swore she could still feel his lips against every spot they met in the past twenty four hours.

"You little hussy!" Abby teased. "It was Mr. Beautiful wasn't it?"

Olivia nodded.

"Oh my God, holy shit!" Abby was freaking out. "Details, details, details!" She demanded. "And don't you dare leave a thing out!"

Olivia grinned as she bit into her cupcake. "Sorry. I can't speak right now."

"Oh come on!" Abby cried. "You have to tell me!"

Olivia did want to tell her but what she shared with Fitz felt so personal all of the sudden. It was so sacred and intimate. She just wanted to keep it all to herself.

"I'm vibrating inside right now, Abby." Olivia said. "I can still feel him on me and it's the strangest thing."

"Shit. That good?"

"He's definitely the best I've had in forever. He makes love like an angel but he fucks like the devil." Olivia blushed. "I can't really tell you anything beyond that."

"Wow. So he's definitely a baguette and you're totally dickmatized." Abby said seriously.

"Shut up." Olivia rolled her eyes. "That's not even a word."

"You got laid, Liv." Abby said as if it was the most unbelievable thing in the world.

But in her defense, Olivia had been on a long-lasting dry spell. It couldn't be helped if she said it in a way that made Olivia sound like a virgin.

"I know!"

"Tell me this and I swear I'll leave you alone." Abby begged with crossed fingers.

"What?" Olivia decided to humor her a little.

"Does Mr. Beautiful go downtown?"

"Like you couldn't even imagine." Olivia hung her head back, reminiscing a little.

Abby picked up her glass of wine and took a long sip. "I'll be damned." She smirked. "How does he look naked? I bet the Greek Gods are shaking in their fountains."

Olivia threw her head back and just started dying of laughter. The redhead wasn't far off at all. Fitz in a suit is an instant double take. Fitz with nothing on, well, that's something else.

"That's for me to know and for you to never find out." Olivia said.

"Jesus, you're serious about him." Abby gasped unbelievably.

It was too soon to be serious about anything. But Olivia knew one thing for sure, and it's that she shared something with that man that was beyond anything she's ever known and she couldn't even bring herself to tell her best friend in the entire world about it. It was too sacred.

"What'd you do today? Besides messing up my kitchen?" Olivia changed the subject.

"You mean besides worrying about you while you were getting impaled within an inch of your life? Well, I went grocery shopping." Abby said.

"Fun." Olivia rolled her eyes.

"And guess who I ran into?" Abby clapped excitedly.

Olivia shrugged. "Who?" She asked.

"Caleb Cooper."

Olivia frowned. "Caleb Cooper? Doesn't ring a bell."

"Remember, sophomore year in college, the frat parties? Caleb with the big blue eyes and blonde hair?"

Olivia's eyes widened. "Oh my God!" She exclaimed. "The surfer boy! You used to have this big crush on him."

"I know!" Abby squealed. "He wants to go out for "drinks" sometimes soon to "catch up" and stuff."

"Are you going?" Olivia questioned.

"Hell yeah, I'm going."

"He's still got the surfer body doesn't he? If he was bald and fat by now you wouldn't even be bothered telling me about it." Olivia concluded.

Abby waved her off. "Don't refer to him as a surfer boy please?" She pleaded. "Those kinds of guys tend to suffer from SCD."

"SCD?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"Small Cock Disorder. Sometimes they're hott (double T worthy) but they lack packaging." The redhead continued on as if she didn't just utter the most ridiculous thing in the history of ridiculous things.

"Where does she come up with these things?" Olivia mumbled to herself as she listened on.

"David's still being an ass for the time being. And I really need to get laid like A-fucking-SAP before I become hysterical from pent up sexual tension. I can't go through the dry-spell you went through. My vagina's not built for that." Abby began to store up the cupcakes into a container. "I bought you groceries to last you the next few weeks since you seem to only live off popcorn and wine. By the way, so not healthy, dude."

Olivia shook her head. "Come here gingersnap." She pulled the redhead towards her by wrapping her legs around her tiny waist.

Olivia then hugged her head before she started pampering her face with kisses all over.

"Ew, gross. I don't know where those lips have been. Let go of me!" Abby protested. Olivia tightened her hold instead. "Jesus, shit! Let go of me heifer!"

Olivia smiled. She couldn't help but think she really got lucky with her best friends. Crazy as they are, they're her best friends in the entire world and she loves them to pieces.

"Thanks for caring, A. Whelan."

Abby looked at her reflection in the oven only to find out her face was tainted with lipstick marks. "Seriously?"

Olivia laughed. "You never hear me complain when you do it to me."

"Fine!" The redhead groaned. "Thanks for being a pain in my ass."

"Always." Olivia smiled.

Abby shook her head, "Call your brother. He thinks he's having a midlife crisis."

Olivia raised her eyebrows. "Harrison's thirty-four. Who goes through a midlife crisis at that age?"

"I don't know." Abby shrugged. "But he was freaking out when I talked to him this morning. Call him."

"Fine." Olivia nodded. "You're staying?"

"We've established that you haven't been abducted by aliens." Abby started gathering her belongings. "And I've made sure that you won't die of malnutrition anytime soon, so I think I'm gonna go home, take a free moment to rub one out in a bath before I fucking kill somebody."

"Okay. I did not need to know that last part." Olivia grimaced.

"Easy for you to say. You just got your soul snatched by a man who fucks like a demon."

"You're goddamn right I did!" Olivia exclaimed.

"Well fuck you too." The redhead grabbed her bag then flipped her off.

Olivia laughed then hopped off the counter to walk Abby to the door. She waved goodbye after making the redhead promise she would text her or give her a call once she got home safely.

---

Alone with her thoughts, Olivia took a deep breath and smiled. She was thinking of him again and flashbacks of their time together was making her hot.

Fishing out her cell phone from her bag, she took it with her to the bedroom with the rest of the bottle of wine.

She undressed from yesterday's clothes in front of her large mirror and she couldn't help but see herself in a different light as she touched all the places his lips had kissed in the past twenty four hours.

Olivia chuckled to herself. She felt stupid with that blush on her cheek. And Abby was right. There was a glow to her.

It should've pissed her off to the point of no return that it took a man, (a very special and talented one at that) to bring light back into her body. But then, she realized that she's only human. And humans get lonely and the only way to keep from sinking into a never ending type of depression is to have contact with another human being.

She doesn't depend on anyone to do anything for her. Not in a very long time. So what if it took a great night of love making and wild fucking with a hot man to make her happy? Once in a while, that's all a girl needs and that feeling, it has been long overdue for her.

For just this once, she allowed herself a pass.

She threw on one of her silky pjs and put her hair in a messy bun on top of her head. A few minutes later, she settled in bed next to her plugged phone and took another sip of her wine from the bottle.

With enough power on the phone, it was now turned on and notifications started popping up on her phone.

Abby's twenty missed calls and messages from the night before. Harrison's four urgent text messages in all capital letters asking her to call him. Quinn's recent excited emojis about her now broken dry spell. (Abby must've told her the good news.)

The phone beeped in her hand with a new text message from Abby letting her know she made it home safely. They made some plans for the following day before they said their final goodnight.

Olivia then called Harrison.

"What's this I hear about you having a midlife crisis?" She teased.

"Liv? Finally!" Harrison exclaimed. "Oh thank God! I think I've gone crazy."

"Why? What's up?"

"I agreed to have a baby with Adnan in the next eleven months or so."

Adnan has been Harrison's on and off girlfriend for about six years now. They've called it quits more times than Olivia can recall. But somehow, they always find their way right back to each other.

"Oh, wow."

Olivia didn't know what else to say beyond that.

"Well, wow what?" Harrison asked impatiently.

"Well I think Mom is going to be one happy bunny." Olivia said.

"Fuck's sake." Harrison cursed. "Be serious for once in your life, Liv?"

Olivia laughed. "What do you want me to say?" She asked.

"I don't know!" Harrison cried. "You can start by validating that I'm actually having a midlife crisis. Or going crazy!"

"Okay." Olivia sighed. "You're not having a midlife crisis. You're in your early thirties and usually when men are going through a midlife crisis, they don't agree to have a baby with their girlfriends. They make impulsive purchases, sleep with hookers and take up golfing or hunting. Some weird shit along those lines." She tried as best she could to ease him up. "But I can tell you that you are crazy though. It's a big step H. Once the bun is in the oven, there's no going back. You'd be creating life. A living, breathing person and that's big."

"I know." Harrison whispered. "Tell me I'm making a huge mistake here, Liv. Please."

"I can't tell you that, H." Olivia sighed. "In your heart, you know it's not a mistake. If you thought it was, you wouldn't have agreed to such a big decision."

"What does your gut say?" Harrison asked. "Your spidey senses are always right when it comes to shit like that."

Olivia chuckled. "My gut says that you're scared but you're also ready to grow up." She replied. "You and Adnan... God knows the two of you are both crazy and you've broken up more times than Larry King has gotten himself a new wife."

There was a pause in their very serious convo as Harrison began to roar with laughter over the line.

"As I was saying, the two of you are meant to be together and you love each other. I've seen it and I think that's the most wonderful thing to have." Olivia continued shortly after. "So if you're at that point in your relationship where you want to have a baby, and you know in your heart that girl is it, then I say go for it. But you need to be a hundred-and-ten percent about it, H. Having a baby is a lifetime commitment. And you gotta be ready for that kind of responsibility. You're gonna have to step it up and be a role model for that kid. There won't be much room for you to fuck up."

Harrison listened carefully to the sister he got without having done anything to deserve her.

He couldn't help but think about how lucky he was to have her as his best friend, his confidante but more importantly, his family.

She puts things into perspective for him when he sees nothing but darkness and for that, he will forever be indebted to her.

"So are you a hundred-and-ten, H?"

Harrison knew then that he was. He was ready to do this. He was ready to grow up and become a devoted father and husband. He vowed to himself right then to give to his future child everything he didn't have growing up.

"Yeah."

"Yeah?"

"I am Liv. I really...want this."

And then, they both started laughing again. This was a big moment for the both of them.

"You're gonna be a daddy soon, Harrison." Olivia was almost in tears.

"I know!" Harrison squealed. "And you're gonna be an auntie!"

"I'm gonna be a cool-badass auntie." Olivia declared.

"The best." Harrison said. "The best goddamn auntie any kid could ever wish for."

Now the tears were seriously coming. And in big droplets too.

"Are you crying?" Harrison asked.

Olivia sniffled. "Nope. Not crying." She said.

Growing up with that asshole, she learned not to cry in front of him because of the endless teasing.

"Just spring allergies."

"Yeah okay." Harrison teased. "Just this once you get a pass."

"I'm proud of you, H." Olivia said. "Congratulations."

"Thanks Liv." He tearfully responded. His tone was dripping with gratitude and sincerity.

There was much more meaning behind this simple acknowledgment of gratitude. It was a "Thank You" for everything from that first day in High School and everyday since. It was a "Thank You" for your acceptance, for giving me a home, for teaching me the value of love, for lifting me up, for your unconditional support, for being my family. My ride or die.

And Olivia knew it all too well.

"You're welcome Harry."

---

Olivia was ready to call it a night after having spoken to Harrison for the better half of an hour.

She was beat, but those stupid dark leather pants kept looking right back at her on that floor and it was bugging her.

She can be a little OCD at times and if she didn't get up and go put it in the pile of dirty laundry, she could stare at it all night and get absolutely no sleep at all.

She slipped out of bed, groaning.

Picking up the pair of pants, a neatly folded piece of paper fell out of it and landed at her feet.

It was then she remembered that Fitz had slipped it in her pocket when they were saying their goodbye.

Smiling, she bent down and picked up the piece of paper. She sat on the edge of her bed and unfolded it carefully.

They had a deal.

If she laughs, she owes him a date. If she doesn't, she still owes him a date. It didn't sound like it was fair to her but who was she kidding? It's not like she's at a risk of really losing anything.

She looked down at the piece of paper and traced her fingers over the ink of his writing.

It was neat and beautiful.

On the very top of the paper, in classic middle school style, the words: "Will you go out with me Olivia Carolyn Pope?" were written in bold ink of perfect cursive letters.

And her options followed suit below.

(A): Yes

(B): A

(C): B

And that's what got Olivia.

She clutched the piece of paper to her chest and just started dying of laughter.

If there's one thing she's come to learn quickly about Fitzgerald Grant, it's that he's relentless and one smooth mother fucker.

Before she knew it, she was reaching for her phone and dialing his number.

When his deep baritone came over the line, her whole body shivered. She forgot that the man was made of sex and his voice alone sounded like an orgasm.

"I laughed." She said when she finally brought herself to get past the sexiness of his voice.

"I didn't doubt that you would." He replied smugly.

"Of course you didn't." Olivia indulged him further. "Yes."

"Say it fully." He demanded.

"Yes. I will go out on a date with you, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III." Olivia said.

He was silent for about thirty seconds after that. "Are you real?"

"How do you mean?"

"I mean, are you real?" He asked again. "The woman I just spent almost two days with. Is that really you underneath the surface?"

"Yes." Olivia replied without missing a beat. "And you? Are you real?"

"One-hundred percent." Fitz responded. "So how does next Friday night at six-thirty sound to you, Goddess?"

Olivia smiled. A big goofy, idiotic smile. "Sounds perfect, Mr. Beautiful."

"Okay."

Silence.

Then, "Okay."

They stayed together on the phone for the rest of the night until they both fell asleep listening to each other breathe.

...

Olivia woke up the next morning to someone banging on her door. A series of unladylike words came flying out her mouth as she dragged herself from the comfort of her bed.

Why would someone interrupt her beauty sleep at eight o'clock in the morning?

She threw on a robe still half asleep and marched out of her bedroom, ready to give whomever it was an earful.

She's not entirely religious but she's of the belief that Sunday is the day one is supposed to rest. And resting to her means sleeping past eight o'clock in the morning.

Apparently to the individual on the other side of her door, she wasn't moving fast enough.

Thump!

Thump!

Thump!

"I hear you!" Olivia yelled.

Thump!

Thump!

When she got to the door, she flung it open so angrily, she was afraid it might've come loose.

"May I help you, dude?" She raised her eyebrows. "It's Sunday. And it's eight o'clock!"

The poor guy stood straight with an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry ma'am." He said. "Are you Olivia Pope?"

Olivia rubbed the sleepiness out of her eyes and nodded. "Yeah." She replied.

He pulled a phone out of his pocket and Olivia watched as he clicked a few keys on the smartphone.

"Can you sign for this delivery please?" He flashed the phone at her.

Olivia looked at the device with confusion. It's probably some dumb package from her mom. That woman is always sending her shit she doesn't even know how to make use of.

Instead of questioning the guy, she signed because she just wanted to get back to bed.

As soon as she handed the phone back, the guy whistled and another taller, bulkier dude came out of nowhere wheeling in a big white box.

Olivia's eyes widened.

Her mother really did it this time.

"Thank you for your time." The guy nodded. "And sorry for disturbing your sleep. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, Miss Pope."

Then they both left.

After their departure, Olivia stood at the door for a couple more seconds completely disoriented. Then she glanced at the big white box.

"Hmm."

She closed the door behind her and turned to face the box at her feet. She gave it a little kick and she heard something clink inside.

What had her mother sent her this time? That crazy woman.

She kicked it again. It clinked again.

"Fuck."

She briefly went to the kitchen and retrieved a box cutter.

She came back where the box was and dropped to her knees in front of it. Looking at it curiously, she wondered one final time what could be in it before she stabbed the sharp blade in the middle of the box, ripping in half the piece of scotch tape that kept it sealed.

"Holy. Mother. Of. Heaven!" She screamed.

She was suddenly wide awake. The adrenaline of her current state sent her into hyper mode as she screamed like a crazy person.

"Holy shit!"

In front of her was a box full with the most expensive, crème de la crème collection of wine. Wines she only ever dreamt of tasting was now staring back up at her and her heart was exploding against her chest.

Soon, she noticed there was a white card with a note stapled to the box.

In that same inky-cursive handwriting she's come to recognize, was written:

"I met this beautiful woman and she told me she was obsessed with wine. These are a gift to you, Goddess. Hope you think of me while enjoying them."

She was sprinting to her room before she knew it. She found her phone under the pillow, previously discarded from when she fell asleep the night before.

She dialed his number again quickly and it rang just once before his husky, sleepy voice came over the line.

"Fitzgerald Thomas Grant The freaking Third..."

"What did I do?" He asked innocently.

"Are you kidding me?!" She exclaimed. "I swear, I could kiss you right now!" Olivia burst.

Fitz's smile reached his eyes as he sat up on his bed. Pushing his messy curls back from his forehead, he leaned against the bed frame and crossed his arm over his chest.

"So I take it, you got my gift?"

---

Chapter 9: Jitters

It was one day before their big date and Olivia was a curious bunny. Since they spent all night talking on the phone, they fell into a routine of talking to each other for long hours every night until they both eventually fell asleep.

And all week, Olivia's been trying to squeeze clues out of him about their upcoming date. She needed to know what she was in for and how to dress for it.

Were they going to the movies? Was he just taking her out to some fancy restaurant to eat? Hell, was he bringing her on a picnic to the park?

She wanted to know in order to dress appropriately but the man wouldn't crack for nothing.

Even when she deliberately teased him about being naked in bed, which led to the most intense, erotic phone sex of her life. But two orgasms later, he still didn't tell her anything.

Nada. Zilch.

She forgot he was in the Navy. Of course she wouldn't get anything out of him if he didn't want to tell her.

So she was left to wonder.

---

Thursday night, at nine o'clock on the dot, the phone rang.

"I thought you were supposed to be working all night?" Olivia said when she picked up.

"I can't work." Fitz sighed. "I keep thinking about our date tomorrow and knowing that I'm gonna see you again. I can't do shit."

"If I didn't know better, I'd think you have a crush on me Mr. Beautiful." Olivia teased.

"You know I do." Fitz said softly. "I have more than a crush on you. You're my boo thang."

Olivia started chuckling. Chuckling turned into muffled giggles and eventually into a full blown laughter. Her feet bounced off the bed as she clung to her aching stomach. "Your boo thang?"

"Yes." Fitz replied. "It was playing at the club the other night."

"You really are a dork." Olivia cooed.

"How was your day?" Fitz asked.

"I got good news." Olivia jumped excitedly.

"You're not wearing any underwear?" Fitz questioned, his tone getting extra smooth.

"You're shameless Fitzgerald!" Olivia burst.

"Can't blame a guy for trying." Fitz defended. "What's the good news baby?"

"I started writing again which means Abby's happy. Happy Abby is always good."

"Hm," Fitz chuckled. "I'm glad for Abby." He added sincerely. "But I'm asking... How was your day? Did you do something happy for yourself today?"

Olivia couldn't help but smile. Apart from her two closest friends, she couldn't remember the last time someone gave a shit enough to ask about how her day went, eventful or not.

But he does. And that little bit was enough to melt her from the inside out.

"My day was good, sweetheart." Olivia finally replied. "I had avocado toast for breakfast and wrote about thirty pages today. That made me very happy because I hadn't written anything in almost seven months."

"That's awesome." Fitz said. "I can't wait to read the next book. I'm sure it's gonna be amazing. I'm a hardcore Benya shipper."

Olivia turned into pudding on the bed. He knows the shipping name for her canon couples and he used it! She was freaking out. The good kind of freak out.

"You're making it really hard to dislike you, Fitzgerald." She confessed.

"Why would you want to dislike me?" Fitz asked.

Olivia sighed, "I don't know." She replied. "All I know is, I haven't had these feelings you stir up in me for anyone and I guess that finding something to dislike about you would make me feel a little less overwhelmed." She said honestly. "That way, you won't be this perfect, amazing goofball."

Silence...

And then, "Well I snore sometimes. Only when I'm really tired though." Fitz begin. "To be honest, it's horrible. It sounds like a train wreck. And sometimes, I forget to put the toilet seat down. And I hate-hate-hate bananas."

Olivia chuckled as she shook her head. "Oh Fitzgerald..."

"See? I'm not perfect." He said. "I have a lot of flaws but we all do. It's part of human nature. You might decide that you hate my guts next week but for now, just enjoy whatever good it is that you're feeling about me. Live in the now with me, Livvie."

"You're one smooth mother fucker." Olivia cut the tension in half. "Anyone ever told you that?"

It was now Fitz's turn to laugh until he could barely get air through his lungs.

"But seriously though, about those underwear..."

Olivia purred. "Gone as of five minutes ago…"

The line went dead but it wasn't long before Olivia was receiving a FaceTime call. She picked up again with a smirk.

"Show me."

---

Fitz woke up Friday morning in a spectacular mood. He was one happy man. Today is the first day of the rest of his life with Olivia Pope.

He rolled out of bed and marched straight to the shower. He turned up the steam and let it heat up a bit as he padded to the kitchen to brew a cup of espresso.

As he got ready for his day, he shamelessly rocked on to "Hooked On a Feeling" by the Blue Swede.

He was on top of the world.

---

Olivia leapt out of bed with a start and went straight for the bathroom.

Her nerves were sky high and she was having trouble breathing. Today was the day.

Who gets this worked up over a date? Most people don't even get this worked up on their wedding day!

What the hell is wrong with her?

She leaned over the sink and splashed cold water on her face to calm herself down.

Thing is, she doesn't know if she could do this. She doesn't know how to do this.

No scratch that... She doesn't remember how to do this. The whole dating thing.

She hasn't gone out on an actual date with someone since her last year of law school. A fucking life time ago.

Fitz was the first in a very long time. So she was freaking the fuck out.

She was about to hop in the shower when her phone started buzzing on the nightstand.

Walking back into the room, she picked it up quickly when she saw the name flashing back at her.

"Hi."

"Hi."

He sounded so happy. It made Olivia feel guilty.

"How are you?" He asked.

Olivia plopped down on the bed and landed on her back with a thud. She looked at the fan on the ceiling circling around and breathed to the rhythm of it.

"Nervous." She replied honestly.

"Why are you nervous?" Fitz asked. "Are you having second thoughts?"

Yes. No.

Olivia sighed, "I've never-"

It sounded ridiculous in her head. She couldn't imagine how much stupider it would sound out loud.

"Never mind." She said.

"No. Don't do that." Fitz pleaded. "You've never what?"

"I don't really know how to do this." Olivia told him.

"Do what?" Fitz asked.

"The whole dating thing." Olivia replied. "It's not my thing. I haven't been on a date in God knows how long. I don't know the rules of it anymore."

She felt embarrassed admitting that to him.

"There aren't any rules, baby." Fitz said. "It's really simple. We eat, talk, laugh, and have a good time with each other. Then, at the end of it, if it so happens that we still like each other, we make plans to do it again. Tonight, you're the boss. You're the Goddess and we can do this at your pace."

Olivia smiled. He's so good at this. The whole convincing thing. He's a natural at it.

"You mean it?"

"Yeah." He chuckled. "Tonight's your night baby. I'm just the bastard who's gonna be fortunate enough to share it with you."

"I can't wait." Olivia whispered softly. "Is it crazy how much I miss you and we've talked every day this week?"

Today really was a good day.

Fitz was bursting inside with joy. He's glad that he isn't the only one that feels so strongly about the start of whatever this was between them.

"No. It's not crazy at all." He replied with a smile.

A moment of silence fell between them. It was their one minute. One minute where they said nothing but felt everything.

One minute.

"So, do you have any nut allergies?" Fitz broke the silence.

Olivia chuckled. "Pervert."

"Get your mind out of the gutter woman." Fitz laughed. "I don't mean that particular nut. Although, it would be a tragedy if you were allergic."

Olivia shook her head in amusement. "Who's mind is in the gutter now?" She teased.

"Oh, that's just mean."

"I know."

"So no nuts, shellfish or allergies of any kind?"

"None whatsoever."

"Okay."

Okay."

"Well, I got a date to go get ready for..."

"Yeah. So do I."

"Bye Livvie."

Seconds before the line went dead, "Baby, wait!"

Fitz laughed. "What woman?"

"Can you just tell me where we're going? Please?" Olivia begged.

"No. I can't do that." Fitz replied.

"Why not?" Olivia whined.

"Cause I want it to be a surprise. And it wouldn't be a surprise if I told you." Fitz answered. "See you soon, Goddess."

Olivia groaned as the line went dead but she still had a stupid grin plastered on her cheeks as she looked up at the ceiling.

Jesus. This must be the stuff those hopeless romantics talk about. The butterflies in your stomach and fire running in your blood kind of thing.

This was crazy.

But so fucking exciting!

The phone started buzzing and ringing again next to her ears and she picked it up with a huff knowing exactly who it was.

"Bonjour maman…"

---

As the day narrowed closer to sunset, Olivia was a nervous pacing machine. For the past hour and a half, she's been contemplating what to wear. She has a closet full of expensive, fashionable clothing but today for some reason, none of it seemed good enough. She should've gone shopping.

When she heard the front door slam closed, she finally took a deep breath. Her saviors had come.

"We're here." Both Abby and Quinn came rushing into her room.

"Thank God." Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.

Minutes later, she was sat down in front of a mirror by Quinn while Abby did her fashion diva thing in her closet.

"Do you know where he's taking you?" Abby asked.

"No. He wouldn't say." Olivia replied.

Her eyes were closed while Quinn prepped her face for makeup.

She honestly didn't know what she would do without those ladies. They really are her gladiators.

"I'm just trying to understand how I wasn't aware of this date until twenty minutes ago." Abby complained. "Honestly, I'm hurt."

She was throwing clothes on the bed like crazy. It's how she narrows it down. She makes a mess out of the whole closet, and turns the whole room into a jungle of clothes and then she starts to pick shit out of the random and matches them with shoes and accessories.

It sounds like a mess but believe it or not, it actually works. All the time.

Quinn unexpectedly plucked hairs from her eyebrows.

"Ouch!" Olivia squealed

Quinn swatted her hand away, "Beauty hurts. Deal with it!" She said, "You found a dress yet, Abby?"

"I'm working on it." Abby replied.

"Well, work faster." Quinn snapped her fingers.

Abby stopped what she was doing to turn to Quinn. She was already working as fast as she could given the window of time she had and Quinn adding extra pressure on her wasn't helping at all.

"My mother always said if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." The redhead said.

Quinn nodded. "I like your mother. She's a very wise woman." She said sarcastically. "Now chop-chop!"

Abby couldn't resist aiming a pair of Chanel at her head.

---

The clock on the wall now read 5:45 and Olivia was now slipping into her dress for the evening. It came down to three dresses and they were great picks. Olivia felt sensational in this backless, midnight blue, silk dress.

It was a dress made to be worn by a Goddess and Olivia felt every bit the part as she looked in the mirror. Considering it was the first time she was wearing it since she bought it, the dress hugged every inch of her feminine curves and even she couldn't believe how great she looked in it

But of course, the outfit wouldn't be complete without her favorite pair of Manolo Blahnik suede mules.

She decided to go with as little accessories as possible, afraid of looking too tacky.

Her earlobes were bare but around her neck, she wore a diamond necklace that was a gift two Christmases ago from her dearest best friend, A. Whelan. And on her wrist, she wore her usual Movado brand watch.

"You look hot!" Abby seared as she stared at Olivia in the mirror. "Double T worthy. Hott."

Quinn nodded her approval secondly, "We should totally be getting paid for this." She said.

"I promise to put you both in my will when I die." Olivia smirked.

"That's all we ask." Abby winked.

Looking up at the clock again, Olivia could feel the nervousness coming back in the pit of her stomach.

It was 6:05 and she was expecting him anytime now.

"Breathe Liv." Abby said.

Olivia did as instructed and took a deep breath. "Distract me with something so I can stop looking at the clock." She begged.

"Okay." Abby sighed. "I'm going out for those drinks with Double C at nine o'clock." She announced. "Fingers crossed I get my hands on him."

"Sounds good." Olivia nodded. "I'll be sending prayer circles your way. Mazel tov."

"Aah, merci mademoiselle." Abby flipped her long red hair.

Olivia chuckled. "What about you, Quinn?"

Quinn shrugged. "I'm gonna go be normal." The brunette replied. "I have to practice a little for the show next Friday."

"Shit! That's next Friday already?" Abby questioned.

It totally escaped her that Quinn's next show was the upcoming Friday and she made plans to grab dinner with an old friend from back home that now lives in D.C.

Shit!

Quinn nodded. "Yeah. I kept telling you that forever ago."

"Whatever you got, cancel it ginger snap." Olivia said. "Hoes over bros."

That's been their pact since always. They've never missed something that was important to the other and it wasn't going to start now or anytime soon.

"Relax. I'll be there." Abby waved her hand dismissively. "I'll make it work."

"Okay, so are we all good?"

All three nodded. "We're good."

Soon the bell rang and they all froze.

"He's here."

"He's here."

Olivia lunged for the bottle of wine on her nightstand and took a long gulp to calm the nerves rushing at her again.

Abby took the bottle from her before she showed up drunk to her date. She thrust Olivia's little clutch at her and marched her out of the room like a parent taking her child to her first day of school.

"You got this." Quinn said encouragingly.

When all three of them opened the door in unison, they were all a little disappointed. One more than the others.

They were all expecting Mr. Beautiful as they should. But that's not who stood before them.

Instead, it was a younger, almost creepily-identical version of Vin diesel. Except with hair. Beautiful, thick and healthy golden-brown hair.

He was dressed all black in a very expensive Ermenegildo Zegna suit and his shoes were polished within an inch of their life. Very "Men in Black" of him.

"I'm wet."

Both Olivia and Abby snapped their heads back to look at their friend speechlessly. Normally, you'd expect a comment like this from Miss Abigail Whelan since she's the one with no filter cap. But nah. This was Quinn Perkins and it was even shocking to her.

Abby felt like a proud mama cub at the moment. She just wanted to grab Quinn and kiss the hell out of her.

Mr. Expensive Suit sure was a panty-dropping sight.

Oh Lord!

"Um, I'm Esteban." Mr. Expensive Suit finally introduced himself with the faintest hint of a smirk playing across his lips.

Quinn had always thought of herself as the type of gal who loves her man clean-shaven. But looking at Mr. Expensive Suit rocking his perfectly trimmed full beard, hallelujah, she was in lust!

He scratched his eyebrows and ran his fingers through that perfect mane of golden-brown hair of his.

He was blushing. He couldn't help it. He was under the scrutiny of three equally beautiful women. It was a given.

Olivia smiled. "I'm Olivia," She offered. "This is Abby," She pointed a finger at the redhead then at the brunette. "And Quinn."

Esteban knew. It was his job to know their names and his boss had made sure he did before coming to pick up Olivia.

"Pleasure meeting you." He nodded. "Um, Miss Pope, I'm here to pick you up and take you to the boss."

"The boss?" Olivia questioned with raised eyebrows.

Esteban nodded again. "Yes. The boss. Mr. Grant."

Holy shit.

Olivia knew he was rich. She didn't know just how rich though. Fuck's sake, he's got people calling him "The Boss" on some Godfather shit.

"Oh, okay." Olivia said.

Just before their departure, Olivia hugged her girls and promised to speak to them soon. She didn't specify how soon though because she didn't know what "The Boss'' had in store for her since he's got men in expensive suits picking her up.

Esteban yet again surprised them all when he stepped inside the door just before it closed.

"Hey,"

"Yes!" Quinn jumped.

"I'm free right after I drop off Miss. Pope. Do you wanna maybe, um go for dinner and a few drinks with me?"

He tried to sound as nonchalant as possible but he looked nervous as hell. It made it that much more adorable.

Quinn's face broke into this award-winning smile and both Abby and Olivia wondered if they'd ever seen their best friend smile like this before.

"Yes."

"Cool." Esteban grinned. "The Melting Pot, you know it?"

Quinn did know it but even if she didn't, she's sure she would've found a way.

"Yeah."

"Okay.

Olivia nodded back at him in approval.

---

The drive to her Mr. Beautiful seemed to have been the longest car ride Olivia's ever been in. She doesn't remember ever hating late evening rush hour as much as she did then, sitting in the back of that limo like a nervous idiot.

She popped a few of those multi-colored tic-tac in her mouth in hopes of soothing the bile that threatened to rise from her throat as a result of her nervousness.

When the car finally came to a stop, Olivia took a deep breath as Esteban came to open the door for her. In return, she thanked him with a genuine smile.

Her feet hit the hard pavement and she looked up at the tall building they were currently standing in front.

She frowned. It was where Fitz lived. Why would he have his driver bring her to his apartment if they were going on a date?

Shrugging herself, she decided she'd find out soon enough.

"Ready Miss. Pope?"

Olivia nodded. She was nervous but she was also ready for everything when it came to Fitzgerald Grant.

When she stepped into the lobby, Olivia took her time to marvel at the place. The first time she had been here was sort of an in-and-out affair. She never really took her time to look at the place.

And beautiful didn't even begin to describe the building.

It was certainly an old building but the vintage architecture only added to its elegance. The lobby looked magnificent with its marbled flooring, thick and luxurious velvet covered furniture. It also had high ceilings and a stunning French empire crystal chandelier hanging above. Paintings and quotes from the greatest in the books of history hung against the smokey taupe colored painted walls.

It was simply sophisticating.

After minutes of exploring, she was ushered into an elevator and soon was riding up to the highest floor.

It felt like forever and an eternity. As the elevator went up, Olivia began to subconsciously tap her fingers against the side of her thigh.

She couldn't back out of this now. She's already in the elevator and was minutes away from seeing him. She couldn't make up some dumb excuse.

This was happening.

Finally, the elevator dinged open and Esteban quietly nodded ahead at her in a 'ladies first' kind of way.

She stepped out of the elevator and ahead of her was one black door.

"He's in there."

"Oh..." Olivia mumbled, swallowing hard.

She turned around and faced Esteban with a frown. "Can you do me a favor?"

He gave a curt nod.

"Call me Olivia? Miss Pope is my mother so when you call me that, it makes me feel kinda old, you know?"

Olivia was also doing this for Quinn. She got that his boss is the man she's currently interested in and it would be unprofessional to be on a first name basis with each other. But now that there could potentially be something between him and her best friend, she wanted him to feel as comfortable around her as possible.

For the first time tonight, Olivia saw a full smile curve across his lips. And it made him look ten times more attractive than he already was.

"Only if you call me Esteban." He said.

A compromise. She liked that.

"Thank you, Esteban."

"Just doing my job." Esteban bowed.

Then, Olivia walked through the black door and was stunned speechless.

---

Chapter 10: Rose Garden

Stepping through that black door, Olivia's hand flew to her mouth speechlessly as the most beautiful man in the world waited for her next to a helicopter. She couldn't get past her state of shock long enough to walk towards him because she didn't believe her eyes.

How?

When?

So many questions ran through her mind and she didn't have the voice to ask them.

It wasn't until he was standing before her, in the flesh, pulling her into his muscular arms in a hug did she finally snap out of it.

"You're crazy, Fitzgerald!" She accused. "How the hell?"

"I'm a Grant." Fitz chuckled in her ears as if that was enough explanation.

Olivia pulled away from him to look into his cerulean eyes. "And?" She questioned with raised eyebrows.

"And Grants don't do anything half-way. You'll come to learn that soon enough." He replied. "If I'm gonna earn you Olivia Pope, I'm gonna make sure I take you on the best goddamn date of your life." With that said, he placed a small peck against her lips. "All you have to do is say yes." He smiled.

Olivia was beyond words. What else could she say to a statement like that?

"Yes."

"Wait..."

"What?"

"Wow." He whispered.

He stroked her smooth cheek and placed a sweet kiss on her cheek before spinning Olivia around in circles, making her blush fifty shades of red.

"You look-" He was momentarily speechless as he turned her to face him again. Only one word came to mind when he looked at her. She's a Goddess and there aren't any words nearly good enough to describe the physical attributes of someone like that wearing a sexy Midnight Blue dress.

He shook his head. There were no words.

"You don't look half bad yourself, Mr. Beautiful." Olivia teased.

He was sinfully handsome in a pair of black slacks, a grey buttoned down shirt and polished, leather Chelsea boots. He had his sleeves rolled up to his elbows in a rudely sexy way. His perfect mane of dark hair was combed to perfection with a loose curl hanging rakishly over his handsome face.

Mr. Beautiful indeed.

"Andiamo."

Tucking her at his side, he wrapped his arms around her slender waist and led her towards the awaiting helicopter where they met the pilot on duty.

He introduced himself to Olivia as Mr. Henry Belmonte. He seemed friendly and Fitz seemed to trust him. That was all Olivia gathered between the few minutes he spent demonstrating the safety routine.

"Where are we going?" Olivia asked as Fitz reached for her seat belt to strap her in.

Stopping for a brief second, he looked into her doe chocolate brown eyes and smiled his most charming smile at her. "Do you trust me?" Fitz asked.

Olivia nodded. If there wasn't some level of trust between them, she wouldn't be boarding a freaking helicopter with him. "Of course I do, Fitz."

"Okay. That's all you need to know." He leaned in and pecked her lips.

He simply could not resist.

---

Olivia thought that she'd seen her fair share of beautiful things in life. Having graduated two years before she was supposed to, she took trips to some of the most beautiful places in the world for a whole year before she went to college. She's seen the sunrise in Maui on the most beautiful beaches. She's been to Italy in Spring, France in Winter, Spain in summer. She's seen and experienced the best of what Europe has to offer. It was a memorable and cherished adventure. But right now, in this very moment, sitting in that helicopter and flying across the skyline of Washington DC, looking down at those tall buildings, the salty ocean, the people, nothing compared to that view.

Even traffic looked beautiful from up there.

Olivia was so fascinated by how different things could look when you're about nineteen hundred feet in the air. Her perceptions of so many things were changing in just a matter of minutes because as she looked down that helicopter to a world filled with what- six-seven billion people, she realized that those people were fortunate enough to be a part of a beautiful, vulnerable world. A really vast theater of life and they were all living rich, fulfilling lives trying to make a difference in the world without realizing that they were all but a tiny speck in the universe.

It was mind blowing. It really makes a person just want to step back and appreciate life more.

Olivia sipped her glass of wine with a smile. There's just no words for how she was feeling at the moment.

"Wow."

Fitz kissed her cheek softly as he rubbed her naked back. "What are you thinking about right now, Goddess?" He asked.

Olivia was able to hear him through her headset that was programmed to his. Turning around, she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked deeply into his beautiful cerulean eyes. "It's a new world up here."

Fitz nodded. He hadn't thought about it that way. Being a pilot, he's done this a thousand times, flew worldwide but never had he thought of the scenery as something new.

Rare, maybe. Elegant- most definitely. Freeing, extraordinary- yes. But never something new.

"It's a new world." He agreed.

The smell of the salty air seemed to have washed away all the nervousness Olivia felt just hours ago. They watched the sunset together and Olivia had never felt so close to the sun before. Watching the sky go dark as the sun disappeared behind the horizon and painted the clouds in this vibrant hue of orange and magenta was just... breathtaking. They didn't speak, they just watched in serenity, really taking in the view and it was everything.

---

When they landed, the sky was dark, illuminated by a crescent moon and shiny bright star.

Unsurprisingly, there was a limo waiting for them when they landed and Olivia was beginning to believe that Mr. Fitzgerald Grant really didn't do anything halfway. And even though she still didn't know what they were doing or their current location for the matter, she was excited.

"Are we even still in the U.S. right now?" Olivia asked.

Fitz smiled at her as he grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers together. "Yeah. We're still in the U.S." He replied.

They drove for about fifteen minutes before the driver halted the car to a stop.

"Ready?"

Olivia nodded. "Yes."

"Enjoy your evening." The driver said after he opened Olivia's door for her.

But Olivia was too dumbstruck to voice an audible response.

---

Olivia was speechless as they walked through the open garden. She turned in circles in the bountiful field of roses and let the clean air around her caress her skin. She had never seen so many beautiful flowers all in one place before.

All she could manage to do was smile.

"Fitzgerald, where are we right now?"

"Somewhere you've never been before."

---

Dinner was a romantic affair near a running lake on a gazebo with fairy lights and a whole rose garden surrounding them. Their conversation flowed smoothly, their back and forth banter was endless and the laughter from Fitz's corny jokes kept them more than entertained. By the time their dessert was served by one of the best culinary chefs that money could afford, Olivia was sure this was the best time she's ever spent in the company of a man in a while.

They shared a large, delicious slice of chocolate raspberry mousse cake while sipping on their third glass of Merlot.

"Why go into the Navy?" Olivia asked.

Fitz swallowed. "Honestly?"

Olivia nodded. "Yeah."

"It was sort of my big "fuck you!" to my dad. When I enlisted, I did it under my mother's surname to make sure he wouldn't fuck with my application." He answered. "I think from the moment he found out I was a boy, he started planning every step of my life."

"That's fucked up." Olivia commented.

"Tell me about it." Fitz scoffed. "From boarding school to Harvard, it was all going to lead me to the White House one day." He begin. "But joining the Navy was for me. All I ever wanted to do was fly planes. For once to just do something that made me happy. My whole life, all I did was try to run as far away from that man as possible but my mom and my sisters were always a constant reminder of what I was also leaving behind and that played a huge part in deciding to go."

"Do you regret it?"

Fitz shook his head. "No. I liked being in the service. There was something so grounding about the routine. The discipline. "Yes sir, no sir". I needed that. I needed to know that I could survive without my family's name and millions to back me up. I needed to know that I could commit and see something through on my own and be the absolute best at it." He replied. "Of course there was always the fear of never returning home again but it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. And it pissed my father off to the point of no return so that was a plus."

---

After their delicious dinner, they took a long walk in the garden. With fingers entwined, they simply marveled at the beautiful flowers and basked in the smell of the wonderful evening.

They came to a stop next to a hammock tied to a tree and Olivia couldn't help the laugh that escaped her lips as she turned to look at him.

"You really did think of everything." She teased.

"What can I say," Fitz shrugged with a smirk. "I'm a perfectionist."

Pulling Olivia towards the hammock with him, he settled comfortably in it with a leg swinging on the floor.

"There's plenty of room for the both of us." He smiled. "Would you care to join me, Goddess?"

Olivia shook her head at him in disbelief. The man really is perfect.

She got into the hammock with him and lay in his arms peacefully as they watched the stars illuminate the night sky.

Olivia listened to him as he told her wonderful stories, including scientific facts about certain constellations while he pointed them out for her. He waved his hands about and his eyes twinkled with a beaming glow as he talked. He was really passionate about the whole thing that Olivia couldn't help but be turned on. Never in a million years did she think that talks of astronomy could sound sexy but somehow, he had done it.

She was hooked.

"How do you know so much about that kind of stuff?" Olivia asked, genuinely curious.

"After boarding school, I was very indecisive about the rest of my life." Fitz said. "Even when I went to Harvard and was well into my first year of law school, I didn't know that I wanted to practice law for the rest of my life. I thought I needed something to fall back on in case that didn't work out so during spring break one year, I took an astronomy class and the professor that taught the course was a genius and his passion about all that stuff made me become really intrigued about the whole thing. I ended up taking the class for a semester for extra credit."

Olivia kissed his chest and smiled. "Politics was my thing in college." She said. "I was captain of the debate team by the time I was a sophomore."

Impressed and proud didn't even begin to describe what Fitz felt. Her brain is so fascinating. Fitz smoothed her hair back and kissed her forehead. "I would give anything to have known you during those years." He sighed. "I bet you were something out of this world."

"Some people might second that." Olivia chuckled.

Laughter erupted from Fitz's chest and he swatted her butt playfully. "You're so cocky."

Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he looked at the time. It was starting to get late and he thought they should be on their way back soon.

But first...

"Would you dance with me, Ms. Pope?"

He stood up and plucked a white rose from the tree behind them. With his hand extended in offering, he presented the rose before her.

Olivia buried her hand in her face, completely flattered and blushing from head to toe.

She accepted the rose and brought it to her nose, letting the sweet smell of nasturtium fill her nostrils.

"Yes, I will dance with you." She replied softly.

The smooth sound of Frank Sinatra's voice poured from the speakers of his phone and Olivia let him take her in his arms as she laughed at how adorable he was.

As they swayed to the lyrics of "The Way You Look Tonight," an overwhelming feeling washed over her as she looked into Fitz's beautiful blue eyes.

"What?" Olivia asked.

Fitz shook his head. He was so completely taken by her beauty. Not just her physical aspect. Just the whole package in general and he couldn't believe how lucky he was. "Helen of Troy..." He whispered. "The face that launched a thousand ships. And my God, Olivia, you are beautiful."

A million butterflies took wing in her stomach at his words. "Thank you" wouldn't be a good enough response so Olivia settled her head against his chest and listened to the erratic beating of his heart while the intoxicating smell of his cologne filled her nose. His hand caressed her naked back as he sang to her in his deep baritone voice. It was everything.

"Livvie..."

Olivia raised her head from his chest and looked up at him with questioning eyes.

"What would you do if I kissed you right now?" He asked.

Olivia blinked at him and when her lips broke into a smile, her whole face lit up. Bringing her hand to his cheek, she stroked his smooth, stubborn jawline before her nude painted fingernails brushed at the stylish curl hanging on his forehead.

"Why don't you find out?" It was as much of a dare as it was an answer.

He gave her this look. Olivia wasn't sure how to describe it other than what she felt at that very moment. She felt as though that from this point on, everything in her life would be different because of him. Everything would make sense.

Lifting his hands, Fitz cradled her face in his gentle hands as he looked into her eyes. Then gentle feather light kisses teased her temple, her nose, her jaw, her chin, leaving a tingling fire in their wake. And when their mouths met, time ceased to exist. The heat of his silk tongue lapped at her lower lips and teased her mouth open, tasting all the deliciousness of her lips.

It was a kiss of unhurried passion. He kissed her with a passion that ignited and set a fire inside of her that reached places she didn't even know existed.

"Next time don't ask. Just do it." Olivia whispered when they pulled away.

"Okay Goddess." Fitz smiled.

Olivia threw her head back and looked up at the sky breathlessly. "What are you doing to me, Fitzgerald?"

Dipping his head, he placed a sweet kiss on her exposed shoulders; "Ruining you for every other man out there, hopefully." He replied, amusement lacing his voice.

Well, it was definitely working.

"Do it again."

---

It was nearly one o'clock in the morning when the car pulled back in front of her apartment. Olivia ran her fingers through her hair and sighed happily. Tonight had been more than she could have ever imagined. She couldn't recall the last time she felt genuinely happy being with a man.

"Do we do the whole awkward movie cliché thing?" Olivia asked.

"What movie cliché thing?" Fitz teased.

"The whole 'I had a good time and awkward side hug' cliché." Olivia replied.

"Uh, definitely." Fitz smiled. "I'd never miss an awkward side hug opportunity from you."

He pulled Olivia towards him and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Can we do this again sometime soon?"

Olivia shrugged, deciding to tease him a little bit. "I don't know. I'll have to think about it."

"Yeah?" Fitz raised his eyebrows in amusement. "Some might agree that I'm totally worth a second date."

"Ah," Olivia gasped dramatically. "Now who's the one being cocky?"

Silence filled the tiny gap between them when they eyes met and for one entire minute, they silently mirrored each other's gaze. Olivia was the first to break it off. Something about those sixty seconds makes her feel really vulnerable. While she could read him by a tiny thread, Fitz seems to pierce this invisible hole into her and dive in really deep. Sometimes she felt as though he knew all her secrets and could read her every thought with just that one look.

Clearing her throat, she brushed the curl against his forehead and offered him a small smile. "You should go."

Fitz nodded. "I should go." He agreed.

But why didn't he want to let her go?

Standing on the tip of her toes, Olivia pressed a gentle kiss against his cheek. "Goodnight, Mr. Beautiful."

She was barely out of his arms when he pulled her back against his chest and pinned her back against the tree that stood before the limo. His fingers brushed her bangs from her beautiful eyes before his mouth claimed her lips in a possessive assault. Her chin rested in the V of his hand as his tongue rolled in her mouth, reacquainting with hers. Every particle of her being awakened and the overwhelming feeling set her skin on fire. Knees weak, limbs languid and boneless with blood running like hot lava in her veins, heart drumming in her chest, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his curls as she let this incredible feeling consume her wholly.

Pulling away, they were both breathless. Fitz watched Olivia intently. Her eyes were now dark and filled with carnal sexual need, her skin flushed, blood pounding, heart racing and her breathing short of normal. She was exactly in the state he wanted her.

A smirk creased his lips and he bit them with satisfaction. "Goodnight, Goddess."

---

As Olivia waited for the elevator to descend, she couldn't help but touch her lips as a stupid smile graced her cheeks. Her lips actually burned. She could still feel the shape and texture of his lips against hers. She could still taste him.

And every fiber of her being wanted him.

Was that really supposed to be a kiss goodnight?

"Fuck..."

The elevator was taking too damn long and she really didn't want to be that girl.

He promised that they could do things at their own pace. Her going up to her apartment and replaying their whole date in her head while giggling like a stupid little school girl would be at a slow pace.

And if she was being honest, she didn't want slow.

She wanted to end their night together tangled in between clean sheets with the weight of his sexy-as-sin body on top of her. She wanted to be devoured by him in the wildest, most passionate way. She wanted to feel the burn of his lips against her skin as he made love to her. She wanted to pass out in his arms from the mind blowing orgasms he'd be giving her. She wanted his pleasure.

Fuck the elevator.

She skipped the tree little stairs that led to the elevators and ran out of the lobby into the streets. When Olivia found him still standing on the sidewalk looking up at her building, the biggest smile appeared across her lips.

"Hi."

Startled, Fitz looked down at her with raised eyebrows.

"Hi." He replied. "No sleep for you tonight?"

"Apparently not." Olivia smiled.

"Hmm..."

She toyed with how to invite him in and everything she came up with sounded cliché.

So she decided to be bold by just blurting it out. "Do you wanna come up?"

And it seemed to have worked because Mr. Beautiful was smiling.

"Only if you want me to."

To that, Olivia simply walked into his arms and slammed her lips against his.

---

Chapter 11: Crazy About You

Moan.

That's all Olivia could do as she wrapped her arms around Fitz's neck. Her fingers glided through his silky chocolate curls as she deliciously devoured the taste of his mouth. Pressed up against the walls in the elevator, Olivia lost all semblance of time and modesty as his tongue slipped in between her lips; she breathed him in, and took the sweet offering essence of sin against his lips. Her legs are wrapped tightly around his hips and his big, calloused hands wander up her dress, strumming tunes against her soft flesh with his fingers; effortlessly setting her skin on fire and awakening all her senses. And she moans because Olivia Pope can't seem to get enough of Fitzgerald Grant.

Too soon, the elevator doors open to her floor and they are forced to pull away. As he set her back on her feet, Olivia could barely look Fitz in the eyes. Her cheeks are flushed and she's swayed with a type of dizziness that only his kisses can elicit. But ever her anchor, his strong body held her up and when he drew another kiss from her lips, so leisurely, slow, and sweet, Olivia felt herself physically shudder with excitement.

Then he crouched down and picked up her previously discarded clutch from the floor. Standing up, Fitz wrapped his arm around her waist and led her out of the elevator. They walked the short distance to her door and Olivia could feel herself still vibrating, the intensity shocking her to the last fiber of her bones. She couldn't control her trembling hands and soon enough, she couldn't control anything at all because the second his lips made contact with her neck, Olivia was gone.

Shocks of delicious pleasure shot straight to her core, leaving her breathless as she wound her fingers to the back of his neck.

"Fitz…" She whimpered.

"Open the door, Goddess." He rasped in her ear. She could feel his erection stiffening and she was helpless from grinding against it. He growled in response. His hands were continually restless, gliding down her waist, embracing her glorious curves and finally, her bare leg. Olivia thought she might have dropped dead when he took her earlobe in his mouth, sucking and biting tenderly.

She willed her hands to work as she searched through her clutch for her keys. Finding them, Olivia was more than relieved when the door creaked open. He gave her just enough time to punch in the alarm code and then he was on her again, attacking her lips and pushing her up against the nearest wall. She pulled his shirt from his slacks as his lips continued to drive her absolutely crazed. Too impatient to unbutton the shirt, Olivia ripped open the material, sending buttons popping and flying all across the room. But neither cared. This was sheer, unadulterated need… to connect, to feel, to make fantasies become reality. Even as she groaned against his mouth, eager to have all of him, Olivia took time to explore his well defined muscles before Fitz pinned both of her arms over her head. He ground his bulging erection against her core, making her go mad with desire.

"Livvie…" Fitz whispered against her lips.

She tugged at his bottom lip, causing Fitz to groan his approval. "You drive me so crazy." He mumbled, nuzzling his nose in her hair and breathing the scent of her unique conditioner before dipping his head to her collarbone and sinking his teeth in the bare flesh there. It was bound to leave a scar.

"Oh God…" He swallowed her every moan after that in long, capturing kisses, drinking from her lips all the passion she was feeling. And just when Olivia thought she felt it all, with the thrilling rush of adrenaline pumping through her veins, everything just stopped all at once. His lips now only ghosted parts of her, his fingers relenting in its mapping of her body but his eyes… Those stayed consistent, swimming in a pool of grey, glazed and overflowing with so much lust, so much desire, so much passion. So much of this man was bare for her to see and Olivia couldn't understand how he was comfortable being this vulnerable with her. As much as it rendered her paralyzed, it warmed her heart to see how much he actually wanted her.

Then he backed away from her, letting her arms fall at her sides. He sounded almost breathless as he took in her features and when he spoke, Olivia knew there was no turning back from him. Ever.

"Take off your clothes."

From the couch, Fitz watched as Olivia sashayed out of her little midnight blue dress. The spaghetti straps of her dress kissed her shoulders as they fell down her arms and for a second, Fitz found himself extremely envious of the expensive silk material. Finally, it hit the floor at her feet lifelessly and before him, stood a Goddess: her long hair falling flawlessly in a curtain down her back and her beautiful mocha skin glowing in the darkness. She looked absolutely ethereal, absolute perfection.

For the first time in his life, a well accomplished, successful and Ivy League educated Fitzgerald Grant was at a loss for words. The only way he knew how to express himself was with his eyes. Those never failed to convey his emotions before and right then, he knew they didn't because his Goddess now wore a blush on her cheek as she bounced from one foot to the next, trying to hide her beauty from him. If only she knew.

But still, she had the ability to astound him even as she acted shyly under the scrutiny of his lust filled gaze. "What now, Mr. Grant?" She questioned. The wanting evident in her voice could have very well been the cause of his death.

Fitz stood up from the couch, just admiring the beauty that is so uniquely her. He closed the short distance between them in two long strides before she was in his arms again. He breathed a sigh of relief, not knowing how much he already missed her being in his arms. He tilted her chin up with his index finger and held her gaze as he shook his head with awe and disbelief.

"You're so fucking gorgeous." He told her.

Olivia broke their intense gazing and looked to the side of them… anywhere but his eyes really as she chewed on her bottom lip. A chuckle broke from his lips, making her look back at him again with curiosity.

"You don't believe me, do you?" Fitz concluded. "You're a Goddess and you don't even know it, baby."

It's not that Olivia didn't believe him. She knew he was honest with his compliments but it was hard for her to accept them when all she's ever been to previous lovers was "sexy" and a means to their pleasure. But somehow with him, he's managed to make her feel otherwise tonight with everything he's said and done. With the way his fingers brushed her skin in that gentle way; with the way he kissed her lips so sweetly at times and then other times so passionately; with the way his eyes followed the shape of her body, leaving her yearning for the thoughts going wild in his head. With him, she feels seen, she feels truly beautiful. Worthy of the name Goddess that she's become accustomed to and it's all because of his actions and words.

"Kiss me, Fitz." Olivia pleaded.

Ever the gentleman that he is, Fitzgerald adhered to her request. Kissing every inch of that beautiful woman's body and leaving her panting for more. He sucked a nipple in his mouth through the thin, flimsy material of her bra. He flicked his tongue over the hardening bud of her nipples and a gasp escaped her lips. Fitz can't help stopping, to admire that lust filled looked that blushed her features.

"So fucking beautiful." He whispered as he descended on his knees, showering her flat stomach with kisses.

He let his index finger map out the shape of her toned abdomen, loving how her muscles contracted with each touch in anticipation. His lips continued its trail also, placing wet kisses everywhere and enjoying the little sounds coming from her mouth. He kneaded the flesh of her luscious ass, earning a short gasp from her. And then finally, he was there, where he yearned to be. He placed a kiss to her core through the thin material of her panties.

"Fitz…" Olivia released his name like a prayer, lacing her fingers through his hair as she pressed him closer to where they both wanted.

Fitz drew another kiss, darting his tongue out to taste the moisture pooling through her lace panties. An animalistic growl escaped Fitz's lips and he couldn't help wanting more… needing more. Her aroma penetrated through his nose as memories of the last time he went down on her flashed behind his eyes. Suddenly, Fitz couldn't go another second without having her, without tasting her.

"God baby, you're so wet." Fitz growled.

Olivia moaned as his thumb circled her clit through her panties. "Fuck." Her legs trembled and threatened to give way beneath her.

"Tell me baby," Fitz looked up at her, waiting for her to meet his eyes. "Is this all for me?"

"Yes," Olivia whispered, "God, yes."

Standing up on his feet, Fitz wrapped his arms around her and dipped his head to capture her lips. She dug her fingers through the flesh of his back when his lips strayed from hers, only to rain breath-taking kisses down her neck, on her breasts and then he was back to her lips again, devouring her like she was his last meal.

"Show me, Livvie." He murmured on her lips. "Show me how wet you are for me baby."

Entwining their fingers together, Olivia guided his hand inside her panties, bringing him exactly where they both needed. They gasped in unison at the feeling of being so connected to each other. This was more than lust, more than a quick bang to satisfy needs. As they both looked into each other's eyes, this became more than intimacy. This became two souls finally meeting again.

"Livvie…" Fitz crooned.

Words failed to describe what this moment was and they both knew it so they let their actions mirror what their words couldn't. Their lips met once more while their fingers worked together to bring Olivia the greatest pleasure she's ever experienced. Their eyes never wavered from each other and when she was close to that final moment, Olivia's body started shaking so uncontrollably and her breath came in short gasps, mimicking the fast rate of her heartbeat.

"Come for me, gorgeous." Fitz demanded. "Let me see you."

She came with a soundless scream against his mouth, her knees weakening as she rode the waves of a powerful, life-giving orgasm. Fitz held her close to his chest as she completely came undone in his arms. She looked so free yet so vulnerable. So beautiful. And it was everything.

"So damn beautiful." Fitz said, completely amazed.

Olivia blushed when he placed a loving kiss on her cheek. "You're quite the expert, Mr. Grant." She teased. "That was incredible. Thank you."

Fitz threw his head back, a full boisterous, guttural laughter escaping his lips.

"What's so funny?" Olivia asked, playing with his curls.

"I think you're the first woman that's ever thanked me for giving her an orgasm." Fitz confessed.

Olivia can't help but laugh with him too at his confession. "Really?" She asked.

Fitz nodded. "Really." He replied. "It's quite flattering."

"Well in that case, Mr. Grant," She brought both of her arms around his shoulders, caressing the back of his neck. "It was my pleasure."

"Ew," Fitz chuckled. "You're so corny, Livvie."

"Said the pot to the kettle." Olivia rolled her eyes. "Although, I think you're about to think something completely different in about a few minutes." She said.

Fitz raised his eyebrows, intrigued. "Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"Because I'm gonna push you down on my couch in about five seconds and do unspeakable things to you." As she told him this, they began to gingerly move backward towards her couch in the semi-darkness of the room. The silver moonlight peaking through the curtains served as their only guide. In due time, the back of Fitz's legs hit the couch and Olivia wiggled her eyebrows at him as she teasingly pulled his lower lip between her teeth.

"You must be clairvoyant." Fitz joked.

"Yet you swear I'm corny." Olivia chuckled.

"What happens now?" Fitz inquired.

"Now, I'm gonna push you on that couch…" A small shove to his shoulders and Fitz was plopping down on the couch. He giggled to himself when Olivia raised a leg up to his chest. "Like" was an understatement when it came to what he felt for Olivia Pope. He adored her. He's never been more turned on and amused at the same time by a woman. Her ability to be so silly yet so sexy at the same time completely blew him away. Fitz let his fingertips play along the skin of her long legs before kissing her knee. Then from his chest, she began to drag her foot downward, mapping his rock hard abs. "So sexy." She licked her moist tongue over her lips and Fitz could hardly suppress the moan coming from his mouth. When she started running her foot over the bulge in his pants, Fitz lost his mind then. "Is that all for me, Mr. Grant?"

Oh she's such a tease!

Blinded with sheer desire, Fitz grabbed her by her leg to bring her closer. Seconds later, she was straddling his lap, grinding torturously slow down on his hard cock. She cupped his face and before he could go crazy from all the want he was feeling for her, she crashed her lips against his - kissing him rough and slow, taking from his lips the pure taste of heaven. Everything else from that point became a blur as they begin to strip each other from the rest of the barriers separating them from becoming fully whole.

"Make love to me, Goddess." Fitz begged.

Ragged breath and completely naked before this incredible man, Olivia felt more powerful and beautiful than she ever had in her whole entire life. The insecurities and doubts that tormented her before fled as she embraced the vulnerability they were both bearing to each other. Instead of something to be feared, she looked at it as something to be nurtured; as something ethereal and so it became just that as she slid down on his cock deliciously slowly.

That fine line between lust and passion blurred until it became something wonderful… something beautiful. The silver complexion of the moon bounced off Olivia's skin as she rode Fitz into a world of perfection; a world of oblivion. With her head thrown back and her mouth gaping in pure ecstasy, she looked every bit the Goddess that Fitz knew she was. He grabbed her neck and squeezed gently, while sucking her nipple. They both moaned when he felt her pussy spasm around him. And as release became pleasure, they made love to each other's soul by holding onto each other's gaze and sharing sweet kisses until the powerful, exhilarating waves of their climax rocked them to the gates of heaven. Something about watching each other fall apart in the throes of something so intimate and incredible brought them closer than they've ever been. Entwined and bound together; physically and emotionally. It was breathtaking.

"Livvie…" Fitz whispered her name like the only prayer he knew as his lips ghosted her brows. "Where have you been?"

This time when he asked again, Olivia felt more than compelled to answer him. "Waiting for you to show up." She replied.

Silence became their companion for a while after that. They just held each other, basking in the aftermath of their love making as they tried to regain their strength. Olivia listened to Fitz humming a beautiful tune that sounded a bit familiar to her, but which she couldn't quite recall in that instant. His fingers traced invisible patterns across her skin, leaving her moaning and shivering above him and for the first time in ever, Olivia knew truly what peace felt like. She buried her face deeper in the crook of Fitz's neck as she tried her hardest to keep her tears at bay. But of course, she could never hide from him. He squeezed her a bit tighter and placed soft butterfly kisses on her naked shoulder.

"How are you doing, Goddess?" He asked.

Olivia can't help the smile on her lips and when the tears did fall, she found that she didn't even care. She was feeling so much at the moment, and she didn't want to mask those feelings from him. Wiping the fallen tears from the hollow of her eyes, Olivia pulled away to stare at him. Her smile was still in place and when she kissed his lips, their happiness matched.

"I'm doing great." She replied.

"Good." Fitz grinned, pecking her lips. "You want me to run you a warm bath?"

Olivia moaned. That sounded like music to her ears and she couldn't help the urge to kiss his lips again. "Only if you promise to join me." She said.

"I think that could be easily arranged." Fitz smiled. "Can you walk?"

Olivia pouted at him as she shook her head. "Unh-unh. Not for a while." She answered.

When he began laughing at her, Olivia bit his neck. "Stop laughing!" She chastised. "It's not my fault that your-"

Fitz raised his eyebrows, daring her to finish the sentence. "It's not your fault my what?" He probed.

Olivia rolled her eyes at him. "Just take me to my room, boytoy!" She cried.

"So rude." Fitz shook his head as he stood up with her still wrapped tightly around him. The movement caused him to finally slide out of her and Olivia whimpered her loss in his ears, causing Fitz to instantly grow hard again.

"Behave, unless you want to get savagely fucked against the nearest wall here." He smacked her ass. "I'm trying to be a good boytoy."

Turned on didn't even begin to describe what Olivia was. She so badly wanted to test her limits with him but she also wanted to soak in that bath. He was trying to be romantic and she wanted to let him do his thing. It's not to say that she wasn't going to collect that delicious round against the wall later.

"Yes sir." She whispered in his ear.

Fitz groaned. "You're not helping yourself here, little lady." He said as he began walking down the hallways to her bedroom. "I'm starting to think you like getting spanked. Do you like getting spanked?" Just to get confirmation on his suspicion, Fitz gave her bottom another stinging tap. The reaction he got from her definitely answered his question.

"Who's not playing fair now?" Olivia challenged, staring into his eyes.

"Be quiet." Fitz said before capturing her lips with his. "Where's your room?"

"Second door to the left." Olivia replied.

When they finally made it to her room, Fitz broke their kiss and threw Olivia in the middle of her queen sized mattress. Her squeals turned into giggles as she bounced on the bed. In seconds, Fitz was covering her body and laying kisses everywhere, tickling her in places she was the most sensitive.

"I like your room." Fitz complimented.

"Oh thank you." Olivia replied, running her fingers through his hair. "I decorated it myself." She told him.

"It's very you." He said. "This whole apartment is very you. You'll have to give me the whole tour when it's a bit lighter."

Olivia noted. "No problem."

He cuddled with her for a little bit. Burying his face between her breasts and hugging her torso tightly. Olivia couldn't help but giggle like a little school girl when Fitz began blowing raspberries on her stomach. This whole night has been so magical. Their date was wonderful and it's not like he had anything to prove to her any longer but still, he continued to make her so deliriously and gloriously happy. She couldn't figure him out and Olivia found that she didn't want to try to. This thing with Fitz… whatever it was, it was great and she was going to enjoy every last second of it freely without any reservation.

"Okay!" Fitz said abruptly. "Let me go, woman. I gotta go run you that bath."

Olivia chuckled at him. "You're the one crushing my ribs but I'm the one that needs to let go? Suuure." She teased.

Fitz squinted at her before he stole a peck from her lips. "No one likes a smartass, Ms. Carolyn." He let go of her waist and just when he was about to get up, Olivia fastened her legs around his hips. "Really?" Fitz laughed. "Let me go, you dork."

"Say please." Olivia giggled.

"Please, Livvie?" He even added the pouty lips and the puppy dog eyes.

Olivia groaned at how cute he looked. "Oh, fine! Go away."

Fitz gave a hearty laugh as he climbed out of her legs. He kissed her bent knee before he turned to leave for the bathroom. "You stay right here and keep on being perfect. Don't move an inch, I'll be right back. Okay?"

Olivia nodded. "Okay." She smiled.

He opened the door of the bathroom, only to stop dead in his tracks before he went in. "Towels?" Fitz asked.

Olivia watched his perfect ass flex with every step he took. The muscles of his back were sculpted so nicely; so perfectly defined, it was enough to make her cry for mercy. He was just such a beautiful man, so sexy and confident in his nakedness. Olivia bit her lips as she continued to watch him. A blush blossomed on her cheeks when he turned around and she got caught basically drooling over him.

"Livvie…" Fitz called.

Snapping out of it, Olivia sighed dreamily. "Towels. Right. You'll find some clean ones on the third shelf in the bathroom." She replied. "And please feel free to use anything else you might like. Make yourself at home."

Fitz nodded. "Thank you."

Just before he stepped in the bathroom, Olivia called out to him.

"Hey baby…"

Fitz turned his head to look at her. "Yes my love?"

"Just thought you should know: you got a sexy ass." Olivia informed him.

All Fitz could do was laugh. He gave her a wink before he disappeared in the bathroom. "Thank you." He replied. "I'm glad you approve."

Once completely alone, Olivia rolled onto her stomach and buried her face under a pillow. She was royally screwed and she saw no way out of falling deeply and quickly for Fitzgerald Grant. How sway.

---

Fifteen minutes later, Olivia was being awakened from a light nap with kisses across her back. "Baby, wake up." Fitz breathed in her ear.

He chuckled when she groaned at him to go away. "I can't believe you fell asleep on me." He teased.

"You said not to move." Olivia reminded him. "I didn't move and you took longer than I thought."

"And you'll see why as soon as you get up." Fitz promised. "Come on, baby."

With a lot of groans and whimpers, Olivia dragged herself out of bed. She stood up, rubbing her eyes from her short nap and Fitz can't help but admire how cute she was.

"Okay, now close your eyes." Fitz instructed.

Not wanting to even argue with him, Olivia simply did as she was told. The moment she closed her eyes shut, he grabbed her hands and began leading her to where she presumed the bathroom was. Upon entering the room, Olivia was met by the distinctive smell of her jasmine and lavender scented candles.

"You can open them now." She heard Fitz say.

She did exactly that and instantly, Olivia felt her heart swell up with affection. Before she knew it, she was throwing herself in his arms and kissing his lips breathlessly. No one had ever done anything quite as romantic for her before. Her bathroom looked completely different than what it used to be. He turned it into this beautiful sanctuary with warm, scented candles illuminating the room. He had a bottle of her prestigious wine chilling in an ice bucket next to two tall glasses. An assortment of cheeses, pepperoni and crackers on one plate and strawberries dipped in whipped cream in another bowl. Warm water was still pouring in the tub, with bubbles overflowing on the surface. On a small table that he'd moved to the bathroom sat a sponge, her Lilly and The Valley bath oil and his phone in which smooth jazz music was crooning out of.

"Oh baby…" Olivia pulled away to admire the setting once more. "You didn't have to do all of this."

"Are you kidding?" Fitz smiled. "For that look on your face right now, it was worth every miserable second spent looking for all these things."

Olivia can't help but laugh. She did after all tell him to make himself at home. It looks like he listened to her. She placed another kiss on his lips before gathering up all her hair in a pile to make a haphazard bun on top of her head. Realizing she didn't have a scrunchie handy, she decided to tuck them into a knot before slipping on a shower cap.

Once again, she looked too cute for her own good and Fitz can't resist kissing her nose. "After you, my love." He gestured to the steaming bubble bath awaiting.

When Olivia stepped in the water, it was taking everything she had not to sing to the angels. Everything was just perfect. She turned off the running faucet before completely letting herself go and relaxing into the water. She moaned as she felt her limbs beginning to loosen up. She didn't know how much she in fact needed this until this very moment. She took a special interest in the big bubbles, popping them with the tip of her fingers and giggling each time. What a time to be alive? - Olivia thought. This was the kind of stuff she wrote and dreamed about. The simplicity and domesticity of having her lover run her a romantic bath. Sipping fine wine and listening to heavenly jazz from the 70s and 80s era. This is what dreams are made of indeed.

Unbeknownst to her, the man who made all of this possible was still standing in the doorway, wearing an indescribable look on his face as he watched her live. That might've been when Fitzgerald Grant fell irreversibly, unequivocally in love with Olivia Carolyn Pope.

"I was promised a hot boy toy as company. Might you know anything about that?" Olivia asked, finally looking up at him for the first time since she got in the tub.

Fitz smiled, crossing his arms over his chest. "Perhaps. What does he look like?" He decided to play along.

"Hmmm," She actually took a second to ponder a response, which made their little banter all the more fun to Fitz. "I don't think he looks anything like you."

"You don't say." Fitz gasped dramatically. "Are you saying that your little boytoy was more handsome than I?" He waited for an answer with cocked eyebrows.

Olivia nodded even as she tried hard not to laugh at the wounded look on his face. "I most certainly am." She replied.

Hands clutching his chest, Fitz pouted. "You wound me, Goddess."

"Then get your sexy ass in here so I can make it better." She challenged.

Before he could be told twice, Fitz dropped the towel around his hips and marched towards the tub. He doubted his tall physique would be able to fit comfortably but he knew he could make it work. Settling in between Olivia's legs, he laid his head on her chest and instantly relaxed as she began running her fingers through his hair.

"Thank you." She said, placing a kiss on his lips. "This is the most thoughtful, most romantic thing anyone's ever done for me." She confessed.

Olivia was well aware of how sad that sounded but it was the truth and she wanted to be honest with him. Instead of judgment and being bombarded with a million questions about the kind of assholes she used to date, he simply smiled and craned his neck until he was able to capture her lips again in a sweet kiss.

"This won't be the last." Fitz promised, pecking her lips once… twice before he pulled away. "Wine?"

"Yes please." Olivia replied.

---

They must've been in the water for hours - talking about everything and nothing; laughing belly aching laughter at some of the most obnoxious jokes they've both ever heard from each other; sipping on the finest wine money could buy while feeding each other delightful snacks. They delved into their favorite childhood memories, and their most embarrassing encounters. They made a mess of the bathroom floor, splashing water everywhere while engaged in a tickling war, which Fitz was the victor of. When that turned into a passion fueled, steamy make out session, they ended up making slow, playful, breathtaking, and delicious love to each other, exploring every inch of each other's body, savoring every minute they spent bound to each other in the most intimate ways. And when they both reached their heights, they held onto each other even tighter, riding the waves together. They both can't help but laugh at how corny they are when they high five each other after catching their breath.

"You look so sexy." Fitz said, raining wet kisses up Olivia's neck as his fingers traced a bubbly pattern between the valley of her breasts.

"Even with the shower cap on?" Olivia questioned.

"Mhmmm." Fitz chuckled, kissing her lips. "Especially with the shower cap on. That's the best part."

"You're a terrible liar but that was very sweet of you." Olivia mumbled between their kisses.

---

A few minutes later, Fitz drained the tub only to refill it again. He reached for the sponge on the small table at their sides and lathered it with the shower gel before he began to wash her leg, working his way from the bottom to the top.

"Have you ever been in love, Fitz?" Olivia didn't know what possessed her to ask him such a question but talking to him was so effortless. He's already told her things more personal than this, things she's sure took a lot more courage to say, so this, she thought, was just one of the many questions she could get away with asking him.

His hand stopped moving and he took a long deep breath before he answered. "No." Fitz replied. "Have you?"

Olivia shook her head, running her hands all over him - his hair, his shoulders, his pecs. "I've come close in the past." She answered honestly.

"What happened?" Fitz asked.

Her answer was simple at best with no room for elaboration and Fitz figured she didn't really want to dig out the laundry in that particular bag.

With a sullen look, she told him, "Some things don't always work out quite as well as one would hope."

And Fitz didn't probe for more.

"I'm sorry." He offered.

"I'm not." Olivia kissed his neck.

"Hmmm, how come?" Fitz wondered.

"I try not to live in the past," Olivia said. "But if it had worked out, then we wouldn't be here together right now. That might've made for two more lonely and miserable people in the world, don't you think?"

When she put it like this, Fitz couldn't help but become more curious but he was also happy that "close" didn't become "till death do us apart" with whomever it was in the past that almost had this incredible woman's heart. It would've been a great loss to him.

Reaching for the almost empty bottle of wine at the foot of the tub, Fitz poured them each a generous amount in their glasses before handing Olivia hers.

"To us." He toasted.

"Amen!" Olivia clicked her glass with his and then brought the liquid to her lips for a long, healthy sip.

---

After he washed her body squeaky clean, Olivia decided it was only fair she returned the favor. As she washed Fitz's hair with her shampoo, he began to doze off, moaning at how incredible her fingers felt massaging his scalp. It was truly a sight to see.

"Babe. How come you stopped being a lawyer?" Fitz asked.

Olivia who thought he was in a peaceful slumber was taken back by his question. Besides her mother, no one's ever questioned her about why she made such a bold move in the prime of her career as a lawyer.

When she didn't answer him instantly, Fitz opened his eyes and stared at her. "I'm sorry if that's too personal." He apologized.

Olivia shook her head. "No. You're fine." She told him. "It's just that no one's ever asked before."

When she left the firm abruptly, it was under the disguise of personal time. The partners told her to take however long she needed and that there would always be a home back at the firm for her when she was ready to return. Three months turned into six, then six turned to a year and during that time, she began to realize her hesitance to go back had a lot to do with wanting to stay sane. After that year, she started thinking seriously about writing and decided to ring her best friend Abby from DC. And now here she was.

"Oh," Fitz frowned. "Well, from what I know so far, it sounds like you were pretty damn kickass at being a lawyer. I guess I'm just curious to know why you traded your kick-ass suits and briefcase for sweatpants and a laptop."

Olivia chuckled at him. "My father was the most alive person I knew when I was growing up." She told him. "He was so in love with living life. He loved nature, he loved people, he loved adventures and he loved science. I don't think he ever did a thing that didn't make him happy, so when he died… I vowed to myself to continue to honor his memory by being in love with living life as much as he was."

As she shared such deeply personal things with him, Fitz traced circles on her bent knee. He held on to her every word, smiling at how amazing she was. Smiling at how her eyes lit up when she talked about her late father. It was such a contrast to the disdain he felt whenever he thought of his. "I got into law because from a very young age, all I wanted was to help people, fix their problems and make them go away. It also helped that I could argue my way out of or into anything. Chores, extended curfew, the latest gadgets. You name it."

Fitz tried to picture her at age nine negotiating with her parents and making the best possible case. It drew an adoring smile to his face. "I can totally picture that." He said.

"My father used to say it was a talent that would get me very far in life and it did. For a while." Olivia smiled. "I was the best female lawyer New York City had ever seen. I'd never lost a case. At the age of twenty-eight, in my prime, I was eager to make partner at the biggest law firm in the state of New York. I didn't think it would get any sweeter than that but then I realized with that success came a price. Huge parts of myself were starting to chip away." She sounded a bit sad as she reflected back on that time.

"It was a very unhealthy time in my life. I was killing myself — forgetting to eat, forgetting to sleep, forgetting to breathe fresh air and feeling the sun beat on my skin because I was putting in eighty hours a week plus overtime. The whole time, the thrill — my reason for wanting to be a lawyer in the first place was just gone. Everything got too big. Cases got too big and overwhelming and illegal. Egos got too big. People around me started to change. Around the same time I was in a fucked up relationship that was truly going nowhere but I used my work to distract myself from seeing the facts. And then I went through something quite traumatic. It was the straw that broke the camel's back. It was all too much. It was suffocating. I stopped being happy. I stopped being in love with life, with my job, with myself and in doing so, I realized how much I was disrespecting my father's memories. Money and success was not everything to me. The decision to give it all up was the easiest thing I've ever done because at the end of the day, my peace of mind, my happiness, my health meant more."

"Wow." Fitz said. "You never cease to amaze me with how incredible you are."

Olivia placed a kiss against his forehead and smiled. "Thank you."

"You seem far from that image you just painted. Are you happy these days?" Fitz asked.

Olivia nodded. "Oh yeah." She replied. "These days, my only problem is a severe case of writer's block perfectly balanced with my very own procrastination."

Fitz smiled. "Do you miss it sometimes?"

"Being a lawyer?"

Fitz nodded. "Yeah."

She shrugged. "I can still practice law, you know? It's not like my license got taken away." She told him. "I consult. A few times a year, I do a pro-bono case for someone in need of my help. I partner up with activist groups, like the Black Lives Matter foundation. And The Innocence Project. It keeps me happy and doing what I've always wanted to do."

"I'm proud of you, babe." Fitz extended his knuckles in a fist for her to bump.

Olivia giggled. "You're so cute." She bumped her fist with his and then they shared another kiss.

---

By the time they got out of the bathroom, the sky was starting to clear up, and hints of the early morning lights started penetrating through the curtains in the room.

"Where's your shirt?" Olivia asked as Fitz was putting lotion on her back.

"It's in the living room, I think. Why?" Fitz answered.

"Wanna go get it for me?" Olivia batted her pretty doe brown eyes at him. "I wanna wake up to your smell in case you're gone by the time I wake up."

Fitz frowned but he didn't tell her that he didn't plan on leaving without making love to her at least one more time in the morning. He didn't tell her that he didn't plan on leaving without making her breakfast and reading the paper to her. He didn't know what kind of men she was used to in the past, but he was gonna prove himself to be different from them. He planned to stay for as long as she'll have him.

So instead of telling her all of this, he leaned in and kissed her forehead before leaving to go retrieve his shirt and his boxers.

When he came back, Olivia was fixing the pillows on the bed wearing nothing but a pair of the skimpiest panties Fitz had ever seen. Damn it, if it wasn't enough to make his dick hard all over again.

He handed her the shirt and hopped to his side of the bed. He watched as she threw the shirt over her shoulders. It was at least twice her size and it swallowed her up in the cutest way.

"What do you think, Mr. Grant?" She asked sexily, striking a few silly poses for him.

Arms behind his head, Fitz watched her as she climbed onto bed, between his legs. "No feedback?" She pouted.

Fitz pulled her on top of him and kissed her pouty lips. "You're so sexy. And I think you look amazing in my shirt, baby." He said.

"Thank you." Olivia blushed. "You were right, you know?"

Fitz raised his eyebrows. "About what?" He asked.

"About you being totally second date worthy." She smiled. "This whole entire night has been so wonderful. I loved every second we spent together."

He blinked his pretty blue eyes at her and then, back was his panty-dropping smile. "Ditto." Fitz agreed.

And with those last words, they settled for bed. Olivia stayed on top of Fitz. Their every limbs were entwined and her face was buried deeply in the crook of his neck. They breathed in sync, their hearts beat in sync. Everything was perfect and peacefully, in each other's arms, they fell asleep for hours.

---

It all felt like a dream to Olivia the next morning. She was convinced that it had to be because surely, she couldn't have been a part of such a wonderful night.

And then she woke up to his kisses, his smell and his marks all over her body. His voice in her ears, whispering for her to open her eyes. And when she did, Olivia nearly wept.

He was just so beautiful, so perfect that she had to touch him to make sure he was real. He spotted a day's old stubble and in the light of the day, his eyes were bluer and clearer than any ocean or sky that Olivia's ever seen.

"Hi baby." He smiled.

His smile was so bright, so contagious that Olivia can't help but reciprocate it. "Hi, Mr. Beautiful." She greeted him back.

He leaned down to kiss her lips and when he finally pulled away, it took Olivia a minute to put herself back together. When she could finally process things coherently, she realized that he was already dressed in new clothes.

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Just after nine o'clock." Fitz answered.

Olivia shook her head, completely disoriented. "What? Did you even sleep?" When they went to bed, it was very close to five in the morning. She didn't understand how he could be up and moving.

"Of course I slept." Fitz chuckled. "Then I woke up, went home, showered, got new clothes, came back here and made you breakfast."

Olivia thought she smelled the delicious smell of turkey bacon and sure enough, when she turned her head to her side of the bed, there was a tray full with mouthwatering food waiting for her.

"How do you do that?" She questioned.

Fitz pushed off her and made her sit up so she could get started on breakfast. As soon as she was comfortable, he brought the tray to her lap. There was a single red rose in a small vase sitting in the middle of the breakfast tray. It was perfectly trimmed and fresh out of the florist. It smelled heavenly. Just like her. Taking it out of the water, Fitz tucked the stem into her hair, smiling at how adorable she now looked. The urge to pull his phone out and snap a few pictures of her was much too great to ignore. So he did. Even though she pretested through it all. They were the best pictures he currently owned.

The whole time, Olivia simply stared at him, wondering where he came from and why it took her so long to find him.

"I hope you like scrambled eggs." He said, handing her the fork. "I wasn't sure how you like your eggs."

Olivia smiled at him. "Scrambled is great." She brought a forkful of the scrambled eggs to her lips and moaned with avidity. He was a beautiful man, a great lover, and an amazing cook. Olivia knew now that there was no way she was going to survive Hurricane Fitzgerald.

It wasn't until Olivia was almost done eating that she realized Fitz wasn't. "Why aren't you eating?" She asked him.

"Because watching you is much more entertaining." He replied.

Olivia rolled her eyes at him. He was so damn corny! And so damn cute! He was too much! She picked up a piece of bacon from her plate and held it to his mouth. "Open up, sir."

"Much obliged." Fitz smiled.

---

After a delicious breakfast and a quick shower, Olivia gave Fitz the promised tour to her apartment. In total, she had three bedrooms - one of which she turned into a personal office in order to get her writing done. And the other was the guest bedroom.

"So this is where the magic happens." Fitz had asked.

Olivia nodded. "Not so much lately." She told him.

"You'll get it back." He kissed her forehead. "I believe in you."

They spent the next two hours in Olivia's living room, cuddled up on the couch while watching a DVD of Olivia's favorite 90's show - Living Single. She knew almost every line by heart.

"I'm not being a dork," She quickly said before Fitz could call her one. "I just love that show. My mom used to love it when it was on cable and I never cared for it. But those DVDs were in one of those ridiculous monthly boxes my mom sends me one day and I've been hooked ever since."

Fitz chuckled. "I don't blame you. It's a great show." He acknowledged.

All Olivia could do was cuddle up closer against his chest and keep her eyes fixed on the TV. She couldn't risk him seeing that look in her eyes. It was too soon and God willing, there's nothing she could do about it.

---

Too soon, Fitz was getting ready to leave.

He mentioned needing to swing by the club for a couple hours to do some and Olivia thought it was about due time she got over her procrastination and started to type up a few pages for the last installment of her Standing in The Sun series before she was officially out of an actual job.

"What does the rest of your weekend look like besides boring paperwork?" Olivia asked.

Smiling, Fitz shrugged. "I don't know." He replied casually. "I actually have a hot date later tonight."

Olivia felt her heart drop all the way down to China and her brows almost crunched up in a frown but before that could happen, she clenched her hands and balled up the courage to remain unbothered by what he just said. How could she be so stupid as to think that just because they shared an incredible night together, that meant they were official? That they were MFEOs? She's not that girl and one amazing night wasn't going to turn her into it. Except, that wasn't convincing enough. Even to herself because she really likes this beautiful, thoughtful, amazing, super corny and sexy as all sin man. He got under her skin like some addictive drug. And maybe it was too fast to be thinking about exclusivity after just a few weeks of knowing each other, but the heart wants what it wants. And hers wanted Fitzgerald Grant whether or not she was willing to admit that to herself out loud yet.

But little did she know, Fitz only said what he said to avoid having the "what's next?" conversation for her sake. His chips were all aligned on the table from the very first night he met her. He was all in. He's been all in and told her so multiple times. It was her that he wasn't so sure about and he didn't want her to go disappearing on him just as things were getting really fucking good. He meant it when he said he would chase her over a cliff but at the same time, he didn't want to have to because he pushed her over it way too soon. He wanted to take their building relationship at her pace. He wanted her more than he's ever wanted anything or any one person in his entire life. From the very first night they met, Fitz believed with all his being that Olivia Carolyn Pope was meant for him and last night… which was so damn incredible only proved to him and told him what he already knew. And he didn't want to do anything to jeopardize all that progress they've made.

"Would you like to come over tomorrow?" He asked.

Olivia shook her head quickly. "No thank you very much mister!" She said, quite a bit offended but her voice didn't appear so. How dare he ask her that after telling her he was going out on a date? She couldn't bear the thought of him connecting with another woman the way they connected all night the previous evening. She couldn't bear the thought of another woman being on the receiving end of that smile she's come to convince herself was reserved only for her. And the more she thought about it, the harder it became for her to contain her anger and sadness. But they weren't exclusive. He could do whatever he pleased and so could she. "I have a very exciting day planned. I don't need you." She wasn't sure whether or not she threw that little jab in the end for him or for herself because she truly needed to believe that she didn't need him.

Sharp as ever. Fitz thought. But she didn't fool him one bit. He saw past the wall of bullshit she was trying to feed him and for once, Fitz was glad that he tossed out that line about having a hot date later on. She was clearly upset about it even though she was trying to remain unbothered about it and he knew it. This could go one of two ways really. Either once he leaves her apartment she starts going kamikaze crazy, wondering about his so called "hot date" which might then stir up doubts within her about everything he's ever said to her since they met. Or… or she could tell him right now that she wanted him too and they could start building the greatest love story ever known, told or seen.

But as he grabbed his jacket from the back of her couch and she walked him to the door, Fitz knew it was the former.

"Call you later?" He said.

She shrugged. "If you want." She bounced from one foot to the next and bit on her lower lip. "Have fun tonight." And as the words left her lips, she couldn't have sounded more full of shit.

Smiling, Fitz resisted the urge to shake his head. Closing the distance between them, he used his unoccupied hand to cup her jaw in his palm before he moved in for a kiss. It was sweet, lingering and totally dizzying. When he pulled away, Olivia's eyes were still closed and her lips were gaping. Fitz grazed his nose against her cheek then placed another small peck against her still gaping mouth. "See you later, Goddess." He said.

Olivia stepped back, running her fingers through her hair. She awkwardly tapped her fingers against the hardwood door before she waved at him. "Goodbye Fitz." She replied.

She watched him get in the elevator and as soon as it closed, the wheels in her head began to spin.

---

Four hours later…

Olivia sat behind her laptop completely frustrated with herself. How could she be so stupid? Why did she let him walk out the door without telling him how she felt? She furiously continued to type on the laptop as her eyes read the words before her on the screen. For some reason, nothing she was writing made sense. Nothing felt true. How could she sit behind that computer and write about devastating, life-changing, breathtaking love between two fictional characters when she just let the real thing for her walk out the door without saying anything? What kind of hypocrisy was that? What sense did that make? Angrily and exasperatedly, she slammed her index finger down the delete button and then began to type a series of nonsense consisting of letters and numbers. She let out a growl before tipping the computer over in between her pillow fort and then falling sideways herself.

She was so stupid.

Thirty minutes later…

She's pacing the floors of her room with her phone in her hands. It's around five thirty and she's wondering what he's doing. Is he still at the club doing paperwork? What time did he say his stupid "hot date" was? She sighed in frustration. Of course he didn't say a fucking time! He's probably getting ready right now! She clicked on his number in her call log and contemplated pressing the calling icon but like the coward that she is, she decided against it.

Still pacing, she tossed the phone on the bed as far away from her as possible. It was barely five seconds before she was grabbing it again. What to do? She wasn't that girl. She's not crazy and she wasn't about to start now. She needed to calm the hell down. Except she couldn't! Going through her contact list, she decided to call the only person she knew who could tell her what to do in a situation like this. God knows she didn't know. She clicked on Abby's number and put the phone on speaker. It went straight to voicemail. That little hoebag! Of course she's not answering. She went on a date with Caleb Cooper last night and she's getting laid. Yay, gingersnap! But not really! She needed her freaking best friend damn it! Next, Olivia tried Quinn. Hers didn't even go to voicemail, it just beeped obnoxiously three times before the call disconnected altogether. Her best friends officially sucked!

"Fuuuuuck!" Olivia screamed.

Ten minutes later…

She was hopping into the shower.

Fifteen minutes later…

She was getting dressed.

Twenty minutes later again…

She was locking her doors.

Five minutes later…

She was hopping into an Uber.

---

When Olivia got to his building, she thought she had lost her mind.

What was she doing?

She never just shows up at anyone's apartment, unannounced, trying to stop them from going out on dates and living their lives as they should.

Her and Fitz went out on one date together and they weren't even official. He could date whoever he wants. But yet, here she was, in the large, luminous lobby of his apartment building wearing her heart on her sleeve for once in her life and hoping that she doesn't live to regret it.

She had hoped that she'd be stopped because she didn't have clearance, something, anything to stop her from committing the stupidity she was about to. But as she went past the doorman, a polite man with red hair greeted her with what sounded like a Serbian accent to her ears and the tipping of his hat.

"Oh, good evening, Miss Pope."

Olivia was startled to death that the man behind the desk at the lobby knew her name.

"Um, hello?" She waved.

"I didn't know Mr. Grant was expecting you?"

"Yeah, um... He isn't." Olivia replied.

"Very well." The man nodded.

If he was confused, he didn't say anything.

"Well he said to let you up if you ever show up." He then proceeded to give her a card for access to the elevator.

As Olivia took the card, she was in a confused state of mind.

It wasn't until she was boarding the elevator to his penthouse did she realize what was happening.

She trembled at the realization. She's on his list. She has an elevator clearance pass to go up to his apartment.

She wasn't privy to this. When had he done this?

The ride seemed to have been endless, but after what felt like an eternity, the bell dinged as the doors to the small but fancy confinement opened up to his floor, right in front of his door.

She was doing this. She was about to look stupid.

Taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door with her closed fist.

She could run. Get back on the elevator and save her dignity. But five seconds passed and it's like she was frozen in place. She was doing this.

Dignity be damned.

When he opened the door, Olivia gasped.

He didn't look ready for a hot date. If anything, he looked comfortable in lazy sweats and a t-shirt.

Oh God.

If this was a test, she failed spectacularly. And he was going to end things.

Olivia felt stupid.

"Livvie?"

Her eyes snapped up and she looked up at him.

He had an amused smirk playing across his lips.

She didn't know why.

"This is a surprise." Fitz said.

No shit.

Olivia still didn't speak. She couldn't even look at him.

Who does that? Who just shows up at a person's house out of the blue after one date?

Fuck!

He must think she's psycho now.

"Livvie?" Fitz stepped out and closed the door behind him. "Baby. Do you need something?"

Olivia swallowed. She started fidgeting with her fingers the way she does when she was nervous. It's a nasty habit she's worked very hard to break out of. Yet, here she was: not breaking out of it.

"I don't know why I'm here." She replied.

Yes you do, girl! Spit it out!

"Look at me babe." Fitz pleaded.

She looked up into those cerulean eyes of his and it just clicked.

She knew why she was here. She was here for the same reason she couldn't seem to stop thinking about him or smile whenever her phone rang and it was him on the other line.

She took a long deep breath before she launched into pouring her entire heart out to him.

"I know we've only gone out on one date and we've had some of the most earth shattering sex I've ever had in my life, and it all probably doesn't mean anything to you, because it's all just fun and that would mean that I've completely lost my mind because of what I'm about to say. But baby, I really don't want you to go out with someone else tonight because when I think about it, it makes me kind of insane, okay? I'm like... crazy about you! I don't really want anybody else to know how corny, stupid and outrageous your jokes are, or how your eyes sparkle when you smile. I don't want them to fall in love with your laugh, the same way I have. I don't want them to figure out in a second what took me weeks to admit. That you're an incredible man, a fucking catch and anyone would be lucky to have you. But it shouldn't be anyone. I want it to be me, because-"

But she didn't have a chance to finish her five hundred paragraph long essay for all the reasons why he shouldn't go out with someone else. It all happened so fast.

The rest of her speech was blown away. One minute she was rambling like an idiot, and her dignity was hitting rock bottom, but the next, she was being pushed against the nearest wall and being kissed within an inch of her life. He grabbed her by her tiny waist and lifted her up, holding her against the wall in his arms as he devoured her lips.

It was the kind of kiss that elicited exploding fireworks and awakened the soul with a ball of passion so hot, it felt like fire in the pit of your stomach.

He owned her in that one kiss.

It was the kind of kiss that said, "You're mine." And at that moment, she finally submitted. Happily.

They were breathless when they pulled away. His forehead rested against hers as he placed a gentle, sweet peck on her nose.

"It's always been you. How could you not know that?"

Olivia shook her head, "This is the kind of thing that you say and do that makes me crazy." She said, "Why do you do that?"

Fitz smiled. "You really like me, don't you?"

Olivia looked away from him as she flustered. "Yeah. I really do."

"And you love my laugh?" He teased.

She blushed. She wanted to be embarrassed for going off like that. Hell, she almost slipped and told him her most sacred secret. But it was all true and she struggled to let herself take the words back. She glanced at him for a quick second and saw that he had a dumbass grin on his face.

"As a matter of fact, I do." She confessed. "It's obnoxious and perfect. Just like you."

Fitz shook his head. "How could you not know?" He asked again.

Olivia didn't know what to say. He decided to let her off the hook for now. He had two little urchins he wanted her to meet. And he was suddenly nervous as hell.

"Would you like to come inside?"

"Soooo... no hot date?" Olivia questioned.

"Oh, I don't know about that." He slammed a loud kiss against her lips before settling her down on her feet.

---

When Olivia entered his apartment, feelings started hitting her right and left as the memories of the things they've done with each other in this very apartment came rushing back to her.

She could feel the pool of wetness already gathering in her panties. That and with the kiss he just planted on her was enough to make her dizzy with pleasure.

"Uncle T! Where did you go?!"

Olivia looked down at her feet and staring back at her was the cutest little toddler she'd ever seen.

His mane of curly black hair was all over the place. He had the cutest nose with the most adorable baby blue eyes she's ever seen. And a pretty pink pouty lip.

"Yeah, uncle T!"

And standing next to him was a little brunette. She was all sassy looking with her arms folded across her chest. Her dark brown hair hung loose on her back and her piercing hazel eyes looked up at both adults in questioning just as the little boy's was.

Fitz burst out in laughter. He couldn't help it. Olivia looked all flushed and like she was ready to crawl under a rock and never come back out. She was squirming under the gaze of a four year old little boy and an eight year old little girl.

He grabbed Olivia's hand and entwined their fingers together.

"Munchkins," Fitz begin, looking down at the two mini Grants. "This is Olivia. She's our guest tonight. Why don't we make her feel a little welcomed, hunh? The whole CSI detective thing is kinda the opposite of welcoming."

"My name is Theodore James Grant." The four year old introduced himself proudly with his tiny hand extended in offering.

Olivia chuckled as she took it.

It was so soft and tiny and cute!

"Some of my friends at school call me Theo. My daddy calls me TJ and grandma doesn't want to stop calling me Teddy Bear. I… Um, I pitend"

The eight year old corrected him. "Pretend, Theo."

"Oh yeah! I pretend that I hate it but I secretly love it. Uncle T is the only one that calls me his Little Munchkin. So I guess you can call me Theo."

Olivia couldn't help but fall in love with him right then! Jesus!

Why was he so cute?!

She wanted to eat his little face!

"Okay." She nodded smilingly in agreement.

"And I will call you..." He went into pensive mode for all of two seconds before this really adorable smile crossed his lips. "Bella!"

Cuteness overload! Oh my God!

"Want me to tell you what it means?" He asked.

Olivia knew what it meant and was very flattered. But she nodded nonetheless. "Sure."

"It's Italian for beautiful. I'm learning from my big cousin Gerry." Theo informed. "And you are really pretty. So, is it ok to call you that, do you like it?"

Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "Yes. I do."

She was also really impressed by how fluently and clearly he spoke for his age.

"So Bella?"

"Okay."

"Okay."

Then off he went, skipping out of the living room.

"Well, that was the world's longest introduction." The eight year old girl said as she watched her little brother's little feet disappear.

"I'm Karen. That little idiot's sister."

"I heard that Karen Daniella Grant!"

"See what I mean?" Karen threw her hands up in the air in a 'I'm so done!' manner. "Why do you always have to say my whole name?"

Olivia looked behind her as she heard his little tiny footsteps back into the living room.

"It's your name isn't it?" He asked logically.

"Ugh!" Karen groaned.

Theo stuck his tongue out and grimaced, "neh-neh-neh-neh! Karen is salty!"

"You are so annoying!" Karen took after him and started chasing after him in circles around the living room.

"Stop it, you squirt!"

"Salty!"

"I'm going to kill you, Theodore!"

"In your nightmare!"

"Ugh!"

Olivia was amused. She glanced at Fitz and he was just smiling.

"Well, they like you, that's for sure." He told her.

"Wow."

Words couldn't describe how overwhelmed Olivia was.

So this was his hot date tonight.

At the sound of a pillow being thrown against the wall, Fitz finally stepped in.

"Alright Munchkins, settle down."

"I will get you later, Theodore." Karen promised.

"Salty!"

Olivia had to bite her lips in order to contain the laughter that was threatening to burst out of her.

This is what it's like to grow up with siblings.

"What's for dinner?" Fitz asked.

"Alfredo!" Karen shouted.

"Mac and cheese!" Theo cried seconds later.

Oh here we go again.

"Uncle T's making alfredo." Karen declared, "Right?" She looked at her uncle and made the most irresistible puppy dog eyes. And as an added bonus, the quivering lip!

"Not fair!" Theo protested. "Why do we always have to do what you want?" He asked.

"Because I'm older." Karen replied smugly.

"You're rude!" Theo stomped his feet. "So unfair!"

"You should've been born first."

"I'm telling Mama!" Theo threatened, tears not too far behind.

"Too bad no one likes a tattletale." Karen smirked.

Theo rolled his eyes. "Can we please have mac and cheese, uncle T? Please, please, please?"

"Alfredo!" Karen interjected.

"Fine!" Fitz surrendered. "How about baked alfredo mac and cheese? Will that make you both happy?"

"With shrimp and bacon bits?" Karen raised her eyebrows.

"With shrimp and bacon bits." Fitz agreed.

"Fine."

Then they were both gone.

"Is it always like this?" Olivia asked.

Fitz sighed with a nod. "And that's not even half of it."

"Fun." Olivia murmured.

"Hey Bella,"

Olivia turned around at the mention of her now most favored nickname.

"You wanna draw with me?"

"Sure kid." Olivia shrugged. "What are we drawing?"

"How about a huge dragon!"

Fitz watched in awe as Olivia picked up his nephew and sat him on her lap around the glass table in the middle of the living room.

He had been worried for nothing. She's a natural.

---

"I have a dog." Theo told Olivia as he continued to make his drawing, his focus unfaltering for a four year old.

"Yeah?" Olivia couldn't resist running her fingers through his messy curls.

Maybe it's a Grant thing. Those curls are irresistible!

"Mhmm." He confirmed. "His name is Milo. He's a groodle!" He laughed at that and it made Olivia chuckle. "He's only a puppy but he's really fast. I like playing with him."

"He sounds like a lot of fun." Olivia smiled.

"He is." Theo nodded. "What's your favorite color?" He asked.

"I don't have one." Olivia replied.

Theo stopped drawing and looked up at Olivia. "How come, Bella?"

"Well you know, there's so many colors to choose from buddy. It's kinda hard to pick just one." Olivia explained.

"Hm," Then he went back to his drawing; poking his tongue out in concentration. "My birthday is soon."

"When is it?" Olivia asked.

"It's October 24th." Theo replied.

"It's a big one." Olivia said. "Turning five."

"I know." Teddy smiled excitedly. "I can finally ask Lola to be my best friend forever. She's in my school. She's already five."

Could he get any cuter?

"Are you gonna come to my birthday party?" He asked, "Mama said I could have a pony."

"I don't know." Olivia replied. "Am I invited?"

"Of course you are!" He said.

"Okay. Then, I'll be there."

"Bella?"

"Yes?"

"When's your birthday?"

"January 31st." Olivia replied.

"Coolio Julio."

Olivia snorted. What the fuck.

---

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Fitz couldn't help himself from sneaking quick glances into the living room. Watching Olivia with his nephew was doing all sorts of fluffy things to his insides.

He was about ready to put the Mac and cheese under the oven to bake when his niece walked in.

"Uh, oh. You got that look, uncle T." Karen said.

"What look?" Fitz questioned.

"That weird look grown ups get when they reaaally like someone." She replied.

She circled around her uncle and opened the fridge. She cautiously retrieved a large pitcher of grape kool-aid and poured herself a glass. "She's a real babe. I don't blame you."

"Jesus." Fitz scratched his forehead. "I have to tell Francesca to stop being such an influence on you." He said.

Karen giggled. "But you like her right?"

Fitz nodded. "Yeah. I do, munchkin."

"Okay."

---

Dinner was ready forty-five minutes later. Together, they sat around the granite countertop on the high stools and each enjoyed their own bowl of perfectly baked alfredo mac.

Laughter was a present companion among them throughout the whole meal. The two children were definitely something.

After dinner, everyone helped clean up. Karen washed, Theo rinsed, Olivia dried and Fitz put things away.

Within ten minutes, the kitchen was cleaned spotless.

They all high-fived each other as they made their way to the living room where Theo suggested they played Scrabble.

Olivia was surprised to find out how forward their vocabulary was. Half those words that went down on that board, she hasn't used them since college and yet, they knew it and could use them properly in a sentence.

"I told you I hated games." Fitz complained when they lost. "Their mother is a born genius. It's in their DNA!"

"You're just a sour loser uncle T." Karen teased.

Fitz pouted and Olivia just about melted. These Grant gentlemen were too much. She wondered if someone could die from witnessing too much cuteness.

She wasn't sure if she meant to do it. It felt kind of subconscious but somehow, her arms had found their way around Fitz's neck and her lips kinda fell against his.

"Eeewww!" Came the childish chorus of the two children after that.

"Now you got cooties!" Theo said.

"Oh yeah?" Fitz raised his eyebrows with mischief playing in his eyes.

"Oh no." Karen said.

Then the attack began.

Olivia watched as he reached out for both of the children. While he tossed Theo in the air with one hand, the other occupied in a tickling attack on Karen. Then he started pampering both of them with kisses as they screamed for mercy.

"Now we all have cooties!" Fitz announced.

"Uncle T! You're bad." Theo said, almost breathless with laughter.

"Well you better run and get a bath before you turn into a big bug!" Fitz said.

Theo quickly grabbed Fitz's hand and started dragging him off the couch.

"Goofs." Karen shook her head.

And then there were two.

"Come with me." Karen commanded.

She was on her feet and down the hall before Olivia could even register what she said.

Olivia followed her down the hall to the guest bedroom on the left of the hallway closet.

Olivia had wondered why he needed two extra guest bedrooms and now she knew why. Those two must come visit often.

Karen opened the door and left it open for Olivia to come in.

When Olivia stepped in, the room somehow had a different vibe from a few weeks ago when she got the tour from Fitz. It felt girly with all the pink suitcase and One Direction and Ariana Grande posters plastered against the wall.

Olivia hadn't realized how hesitant she was until she was pulled into the room by the impatient eight year old.

Karen plopped down on the bed and handed Olivia a brush.

"Would you? Please."

Olivia didn't know what to say so she did the next best thing. She took the brush and started running it through the girl's long brown curls.

"So..."

"So?"

Why did this suddenly feel like a trap?

"How long have you been dating my uncle?" Karen asked.

Olivia was stunned. That's no question an eight year old should be asking a grown adult. But she was taken back by how mature she sounded all of the sudden.

"Not long." She replied honestly as she began working on a French braid in the young girl's hair.

"What are your intentions with him?"

"What?"

Olivia had never felt more petrified in her life. It was ridiculous.

She's been in a courtroom more times than she can count and never broke a sweat. But somehow, talking to an eight year old about the new man in her life who just so happened to be said eight year old's uncle had her shaking.

"What are your intentions?" Karen repeated. "Do you plan on being with him? Do you like him? Are you serious about him? What's the endgame for you?"

Is this seriously happening? Olivia thought. Am I seriously getting grilled by an eight year old?

When Karen didn't get an answer after a minute, she turned around to face Olivia.

"If you can't answer me, you're in big trouble." She told Olivia.

"Excuse me?"

"I have four aunts." Karen told her. "And lucky for you, I can impersonate all four of them and I'm telling you right now, if you can't answer me, a little harmless eight year old starting third grade in the fall, then you're toast, buttercup."

Olivia's eyes widened.

First of all, what the fuck! Like seriously, what kind of eight year old is she? Second of all, who told her this was a good idea? And third, buttercup? Why did such a term of endearment feel like an insult all of the sudden?

"I was being the pit-bull and that's aunt Dee-Dee of the five Grant sisters." Karen informed. "But right now, I'm really asking you for me, an eight year old innocent little girl who really loves her uncle more than anything on the planet." She started doing that thing with her hazelnut brown eyes. "What's in it for you?"

Damn, she's good!

"Listen to me kid," Olivia sighed, "I don't know what the endgame is, okay? And I don't wanna lie to you. All I can tell you is that I really like that uncle of yours a great deal and I want to keep dating him and see where it goes." And because she wanted to validate the little girl's feelings, she added; "Of course, that's if it's okay with you and your brother."

"He really likes you." Karen told her.

"And I really like him too." Olivia smiled.

"Good." Karen nodded. "Don't break his heart."

Olivia nearly gasped. She was worried about her breaking her uncle's heart? He's the one most likely to break her heart first!

"I'll try not to." Olivia said jokingly.

But Karen was serious. She didn't even blink.

"No seriously. Don't."

Jeez!

"Okay."

"Okay."

Then she turned around for Olivia to finish her braid.

"I'm glad we're on the same page."

"I aim to please."

Twenty minutes later, Karen was bathed and changed into her pajamas. Olivia watched her perform her nightly routine.

She applied her nightly moisturizer as she explained to Olivia what it helps do to her skin whilst she sleeps. Then she brushed her teeth and asked Olivia to help her floss. "My dentist says flossing is important. I don't want any more cavities."

"Then your dentist is correct. My best friend is a dentist. She'd be happy to hear you listen to your dentist." Olivia said.

After completing her routine, Karen put on her slippers and motioned for Olivia to come with her.

"Finally!" Fitz said. "I was about to send the firing squad after you guys."

"You're silly, Fitzgerald." Karen teased.

"What were you ladies doing?" Fitz asked.

Karen glanced at Olivia over her shoulders and winked.

"Oh you know," The eight year old shrugged, "We were talking about stuff… p!nk and One Direction. Girly things that are nacho-business, Mr. Fitzgerald Thomas Grant."

This is no normal eight year old. Olivia concluded. And really? Did she really just say nacho business?

Now Olivia knew the corny jokes were also a Grant thing too.

It's amazing how much she was learning in one night.

"Are you staying?" Fitz asked.

"I don't-"

"You have to stay." Theo butt-in. He was comfortably lounging on the couch in his sports pajamas with the remote resting on his lap. His eyes stayed fixed on the television screen as he continued, "It's late and you shouldn't walk home alone, Bella."

He was so wise.

Fitz shrugged. Apparently, he wasn't even going to argue against the four year old. If Olivia really wanted to leave, he'd have Tom or Hal take her home but he liked the idea of her staying. It sounded much better. That way, he could shower her with all the affection in the world all the way through the next morning. And if he's lucky, he can convince her to spend Sunday with him and the kids.

"I second that." Karen said.

So it was final. She was staying.

And if Olivia was being entirely honest with herself, she didn't want to leave. She didn't want to stay just for Fitz. But being wanted/welcomed here by the kids was just as important to her and felt so much better.

The last thing she wanted was to feel like an intruder.

"Can we sleep on the air bed in the living room today?" Karen asked.

Fitz stirred about it for a minute before he shrugged. He decided he didn't really care. They can do whatever they want. As long as it wasn't hurting anyone.

"Sure Munchkin." He answered. "Go get it in the hallway closet and the two of you can start putting air in it. I'll be back to fix it in the living room in a few."

"You rock uncle T!"

"Yeah, yeah." Fitz leaned down and placed a kiss on the little girl's forehead before he swiped Olivia off her feet.

"Jamie Jam! Let's do this." Karen snapped her fingers to get her little brother's attention.

---

As soon as Fitz closed and locked the bedroom door behind him, he threw Olivia on the king sized mattress in the middle of the room.

Olivia giggled as she bounced on the bed. In a flash, he was on top of her and turning her giggles into delightful moans as he kissed her lips.

"Babe..." Olivia murmured against his lips hesitantly. "The kids..."

"Quiet. You have no idea how turned on I am right now." Fitz shushed her with another soulful kiss. "Watching you being with my family... They like you so much, Livvie."

He went back to kissing her again. His lips were soft and gentle against hers as his tongue tangoed with hers in a well rehearsed dance. Heat scorched from her face and traveled all over her body.

She couldn't deny him this. It felt too good.

Olivia threw her head back further into the mattress as his mouth began its trail down her neck. Using wet tongue, and full lips, he blazed a series of open mouth kisses along the crook of her neck, sinking his sharp teeth into the flesh of collarbone.

Olivia gasped and whimpered all the same. "We have to stop."

"I can't." Fitz whispered. "God baby... Fuck!" He grinded against her just to let her feel exactly what she did to him. "I need to be buried inside you yesterday or else I'm gonna lose my mind." He lifted her shirt up and palmed her breasts through the sexy bra that cupped them.

He sucked and bit, making sure to mark his territory on his way down.

He unbuttoned her denim jeans and slid them along with her panties down her legs, removing her ballet flats when he got to them.

Dropping to his knees, he pulled her pelvic all the way down until it was resting on the very edge of the bed before throwing her legs around his shoulders.

At the first lap of his tongue, Olivia's eyes rolled in the back of her head and she reached for a fluffy pillow and pressed it tightly on her mouth. She couldn't get enough of him. You'd think she didn't spend all of last night and the better half of an early morning getting loved on by him with the way she was panting and writhing for more of him. More of his lips. More of his tongue.

"Mmmm, baby..."

Fitz on the other hand thought he died and went to heaven. Tasting her would never not be new to him. He slithered his tongue between her folds in long strokes before flicking he closed his mouth around her clit.

Olivia bit into the pillow as her fingers found their destination on the back of his head, gripping onto his curls as she rocked against his mouth.

With each thrust of her hips, his tongue delved deeper inside her as he rubbed circles with his thumb on her clit.

"Fuck!"

The intensity at which the orgasm overtook her body left her too breathless to scream. She writhed with ecstasy above him as she rode the wave against his mouth and he licked every single drop of her delicious essence.

"Fitz..."

Fitz stood up and wiped his chin with the back of his hand as he looked down at her all sprawled out on his bed.

He turned on the television plastered high up against the wall and cranked up the volume at its max then he slid down his sweats and Olivia gasped at the view that nearly blinded her.

He does commando! And he's gorgeous. Goddamn.

And as if on cue, Fitz could hear the air mattress pump in the living room starting.

Grabbing her legs again, he wrapped them as best as he could around his hips. Her back was the only part of her body touching the mattress and he couldn't help the anticipation he felt when he thought about how deep he would be inside her in that position.

He teased her clit. Hearing her start to beg for him was what both excited him and drove him mad at the same time.

And beg, she did.

Fitz choked on a groan as he buried every single inch of his length inside her, stretching her deliciously. It was perfect. Just like their first time. They fit perfectly. She was made for him.

"Look at me baby. Look at me!" Fitz pleaded in a hushed whisper. "Fuck, look at me!" He growled, buried balls deep within Olivia's warmth.

When their gazes locked, it all sort of clicked in. Their lust and passion reflected and it was clear to the both of them then and there.

They belonged to each other. Nothing would change that.

Once that understanding was clear, Fitz started thrusting. And unlike their first time that was sweet, gentle and loving, this was anything but that.

There was nothing gentle or sweet about this. This was rough, delicious, aching and oh-so-amazing fucking. He was in control and he fucked her like the King that he is to her and Olivia more than felt as every single cell in her body came to life.

The look on his face alone was enough to satisfy Olivia for a lifetime.

Each thrust brought her closer to the edge and when she was just about there, he picked her whole body off the bed with some evil strength and impaled her on his shaft.

Standing up like this, Olivia could really feel him. He felt so deep and delicious, she threw her head back in pure ecstasy.

"No, look at me." Fitz cupped her jaw in his hand and made sure their eyes remained locked as she rode him with her legs tightly wrapped around him and her fingers buried deeply in his curls.

"Open your mouth baby," Fitz demanded.

He grazed her bottom lip with two fingers until she opened her mouth in a gasp at the intense feeling bubbling up inside her.

He dipped his fingers inside her warm mouth and like the naughty girl that she is, she humored him and sucked on his finger while digging her finger nails deep in the flesh of his back under his white shirt.

"Fuck! Come baby. Come now, Olivia."

A rainbow of colors burst behind her eyes and the sound of his release became melody to her ears as the second orgasm shattered her to pieces in his arms. She held onto him as her entire body came apart into a million pieces of nothing and she could no longer stop the cry that rose from her throat as they came apart together.

"Olivia..." Fitz whispered with closed eyes.

She kissed his forehead and swallowed the dryness in her throat.

"It's real." She reassured him. "Open your eyes and look at me. You're not in a dream. This is real. We're real."

He felt weak everywhere from the aftermath of one of the most powerful orgasms he's ever had in his life. He lowered Olivia gently on the bed as he claimed her lips.

---

When Olivia stepped in the shower minutes later, she was surprised to find a bigger shelf in the shower. She frowned when she saw the shelf was stocked with feminine products. One by one, she came to recognize them as products she uses at home.

She didn't know when he did all this or how he even remembered what toiletries she used. Hell, she didn't even know what step of dating that was but you can bet your ass she was grinning like an idiot.

After her shower, she walked back into the room and found him lying on the messy bed, looking spent and blissful. She leaned over him at the edge of the bed and placed a kiss against his lips.

"Hi."

He smiled against her lips. "Hi." He replied.

She pecked his lips again and again and it felt right to just be able to do it.

"Hmm, what was that for?" Fitz asked.

Olivia shrugged. "You did a pretty great job rocking my world. I just thought you deserved a reward." She replied teasingly.

"You're the perfect example of an adorable dork right now." Fitz smiled.

"You're the dork." Olivia poked his rock-hard stomach. "Go take a shower. I'm gonna check on the kids."

"Fine."

---

Dressed in boxers and a large oversized shirt of his, Olivia made her way back to the living room only to walk right into a mass of fluffy feathers and a rainbow pile of confetti.

"What. The. Shit."

Everything stopped. The sound of the air mattress pump, the wrestling, the laughing. It all just... stopped.

"Are you mad, Bella?" Theo asked.

His puppy dog face was already on stand-by in case of need.

Olivia didn't reply. Why would she be mad? Does she even have a right to be mad at them? She was a stranger to them two hours ago and she barely knows them. It's not like she could scream at them for being kids.

"No." She replied. "I'm not mad. But I don't know what your uncle will have to say though."

"You have to put a dollar in the jar." Karen said.

Olivia frowned. "What?"

Theo rolled his eyes at the way his sister just spring stuff on people without giving them a full explanation.

"You said the S-word. It's bad." The four year old explained. "You have a potty mouth so you have to put a dollar in the potty-mouth jar."

"Oh. Shit."

"Two dollars!" Karen cried.

Olivia clasped her hand over her mouth. Why are kids so mean?

"Goddamn it."

"Three dollars."

"Seriously?" Olivia raised her eyebrows.

"Seriously." Karen nodded.

"Okay. Fine!"

"Jamster Jam?" Karen called to her little brother.

"What?" Theo answered.

"Get the vacuum please?"

"I'm not strong enough." Theo said.

"You carry ours at home all the time!" Karen cried.

"Well then, I don't want to."

"Fuck's sake." Olivia mumbled under her breath. "Where is the vacuum?"

"In the closet." Karen replied. "You're now at four dollars by the way."

Olivia didn't even bother arguing. She'll just have to drop a ten dollar bill in the jar and keep her mouth shut going forward.

Stupid jar.

---

When Fitz got out of the shower, he was surprised to find the place still standing. Knowing his niece and nephew, there's no way they behaved themselves.

But everything looked fine. Almost just as he had left it.

"Where are my niece and nephew and what have you two doppelgänger done with them?" Fitz asked.

"It's us, silly uncle T!" Theo giggled.

---

Olivia helped Fitz move the glass table from the center of the living room and rearranged the couches in order to fit the large queen sized air mattress in the living room.

The kids grabbed extra blankets and soon settled on the comfy bed as they watched their favorite cartoons.

Olivia was curled up on the couch with Fitz. Her head rested on his chest as he massaged her scalp soothingly. She couldn't help but feel an incredible sense of happiness. Tonight was amazing.

Watching him with those kids did something to her insides that she couldn't quite describe. And now, they were on the brink of sleep and they looked adorable as hell.

It amazed Olivia at how they were just bickering and screaming at each other minutes ago and now they were curled up on the bed together, with heavy lidded eyes as they watched TV.

Theo was the first one to fall asleep. He wrapped his arms around his sister's neck and kissed her cheek before he turned the world into black.

"Love you, K." He said.

Karen in return kissed his forehead and smiled. "Love you too, T."

Olivia just about melted inside.

Tomorrow, they'll be no doubt back at each other's throat, screaming and chasing after each other for one reason or another. But tonight as they fall asleep, they are siblings who truly do love each other.

That kind of love felt so sacred.

"I'm sorry." Fitz whispered in her ear.

Olivia raised her head from his chest and looked into his calm cerulean eyes. "For what?" She asked confusingly.

"For making you think that there could ever be another woman." He replied. "I would never... I could never-"

Olivia shut him up with a kiss like he had done to her earlier. She smiled when she pulled away. "I know that now." She nodded.

Fitz smiled back at her and leaned in to place a sweet peck on her nose.

"Why wouldn't you just tell me about them though?" Olivia asked curiously.

Fitz shrugged. "I don't know." He replied. "Laura has been planning to take this vacation with her husband for weeks now and I was excited to have them. I guess it felt too early?"

"Oh." Olivia said.

"I wanted you to meet them so bad but I was afraid that if you saw me with them, you'd see that look in my eyes and it would scare you away." Fitz explained. "I'm happy to chase you and catch you however many times, but it doesn't mean that I want you to run away."

Olivia looked down from his eyes. She couldn't look at him when he said things like that.

"You really love them." She whispered.

Fitz nodded as he placed a kiss on her forehead. "I do." He confirmed. "I love kids."

"Why haven't you had any?"

She thought of the question but she hadn't meant to voice it out loud.

"I hadn't met the right woman yet." Fitz replied.

He let that settle between them and Olivia stirred those words around in her mind and analyzed them with precision.

He hadn't found the right woman yet. Yet being the key word. Did that mean he had found her now?

Nope. It was too early to be talking about this.

But she couldn't help herself though.

"How many kids do you want?" She asked.

Fitz lifted up her shirt and wrapped his arms around her stomach. Seconds later, he started to draw small circles around her belly button.

Kissing her hair, he sighed with a smile. "I want a big family someday." He replied honestly. "I want lots of babies."

"Define lots please?" Olivia said.

"A whole soccer team of them." Fitz specified. "Six to be precise. But I think I'd settle for five."

"Hm," Olivia smiled.

She had no doubt that he'd be the best damn father a kid could ever wish for.

"Good luck with that buddy."

"What?" Fitz chuckled.

Olivia shook her head with a smile. "Nothing."

"Do you want kids?"

This should've been the deal breaker. Talking about rugrats should have her running for the hills, but as she looked at Karen and Theo on the air bed sound asleep, she felt more sane than she had her whole adult life.

She wasn't one of those women who was insane about their clock ticking. If and when it happens again, she wants to feel like she really has room in her life for a child. She wants to want it. She doesn't want to start a pregnancy feeling resentful and obligated again. She wants to be excited and ready.

She wants to have kids and the time will come when she will. But for now, she wasn't stressing it.

"Someday." She replied.

She didn't know when someday might be. But that will have to be good enough of an answer for now.

"Hey,"

Olivia looked up into his eyes with silent questioning.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

Olivia blinked but that look on his face still didn't disappear when she looked into his eyes again. He was being serious.

She buried her face in her hands and started laughing uncontrollably.

"You're such an idiot." She mumbled.

"Is that a yes?" Fitz asked anxiously with raised eyebrows.

They've only gone out on one date and it's a little too soon for anything but God help him, he wanted this. He loved how he felt about himself when he was around her. And he wanted that woman. He's wanted her to be his since that first night at the club.

So he was leaping and he wasn't afraid of the fall.

Before she could answer, he brought his lips against hers for some added persuasion. His lips were soft, warm, gentle and Olivia felt exhilarated. All these emotions worked through her and the newness of them made her feel extremely giddy. She was on fire and where there had been some lonely void inside her before, it was now filled with this feeling she couldn't quite put a name to. But God help her, she loved it. She loved him?

He pulled away and she had a smile plastered against her breathless lips.

Olivia didn't know where this thing was going between the two of them. For all she knows, it could all come to an altering ending tomorrow. But for now, she was choosing to explore this incredibly new found feeling. She was choosing him.

"I'd love nothing more."

He smiled that bad-boy, panty-dropping smile of his and Olivia knew then there was no going back.

She was his.

He was hers.

And for the moment, everything was perfect.

---

Chapter 12: Exclusivity

It had been three months since Fitz asked Olivia to be his girlfriend and their relationship was soaring. Olivia had never known exclusivity like this with any other man. The way Fitz made her feel every day was so foreign to her. Whenever he walked into a room, all the hairs on her body stood. If he smiled at her, her heart went on a marathon and breathing became an impossible task. But if he kissed her, it was game over.

Over the course of their summer long monogamy, his courtship also continued. He never ceased to amaze her with his thoughtfulness. He planned the best dates for them. Paint nights. Arcades. Go kart racing. The finest dining, the best wines, and the man would sit through any sitcom or romcom she subjected him to with glee. But her favorite thing about him was the way he spoke to her and his ability to make her melt with a single look. So much adoration in his eyes and his tone is always so smooth, kind, and sexy. Another thing Olivia found absolutely sexy about him was his communication skills. She was never left to wonder with him. If he knew he was going to be late, he was very considerate with letting her know. And he tried very hard to make it up to her, if for some reason he had to cancel any plans they agreed to. The man was a classic romantic and unreal. On days he sleeps over, if he had to leave before she awakes, she'd either wake up to a nice, long stem rose or little notes he wrote that he would stick all over the apartment; making it a fun scavenger hunt for her to find.

But this was in no way one sided. Olivia has managed to keep up and even surprised him a few times. Giving as good as she was receiving. After a long night of work, when he simply yearned to be in her presence, she loved having baths with him. The chance to run her fingers through his hair and shower him with lazy kisses. She loved listening to him purr and be so relaxed. So for the past few weeks, she was in complete bliss with him. There wasn't a single flaw she could find with him.

But evidently, she was her own worst enemy and her psyche was having a hard time believing that things could be so great. For once, everything in her life was going splendidly and because it felt too good to be true, she's been waking up every single night in panic, waiting for a shoe to drop.

Thursday night marked the fourth panic that week. She sat up on the bed, her forehead prickled with beads of sweat and she tried to regulate her breathing. Once she felt herself begin to cool down, she got out of bed and padded to her kitchen for a glass of water. This had to stop. She deserved to be happy, didn't she? There was nothing wrong with having a great relationship, was there? Had she been burned that badly that she couldn't recognize a good thing for what it was? Or would it be naive of her to not have questions or be on high alert?

She looked at the clock on the oven display. 3:16 A.M. She gulped the rest of her water and went back to her bedroom. Grabbing her phone, she wondered if it would be crazy of her to give him a call this late. But she knew her mind wouldn't rest. She went through her call log and decided to give into her crazy and dialed with his number.

She was hoping he wouldn't answer. And it almost seemed like he wasn't going to after the phone rang four times. But the fifth time was the charm and when his groggy, sleep ridden voice came through, her breath caught in her throat.

"Livvie?" He answered groggily, shuffling out of bed. "Is something wrong, baby? What time is it?" He turned on the light on his night table and looked at the time on his watch.

She didn't reply immediately. Her head was pounding and her heart was too busy racing.

"Olivia, what's wrong?" Fitz asked again, now very worried.

"Ummm… nothing. Nothing is wrong." She finally answered. "And that's the problem."

Fitz had never been more confused in his life. He rubbed his eyes to fully awake. He had only been asleep for about two hours when she called so he was exhausted. "Livvie, baby, what are you talking about?

"Never mind, this was a mistake. Sorry I woke you. Go back to bed." Olivia said, rushing to get off the phone. Clearly she had lost her mind.

"D-don't do that." Fitz stuttered in a panic. "You sound upset babe. And I'm already up so you might as well just tell me. Don't run away from me. Talk to me."

Olivia sighed. She owed him an explanation. He was right. Running away because she was anxious and experiencing some fucked up PTSD was a stupid reason. And Fitz was always so honest with her about his feelings, whether he is nervous or not. She owed him the same courtesy. So she took a deep breath and told him.

"This whole week, I've been waking up at the exact same time, sweating and panicking because I'm terrified that this is all a fantasy. I can't figure you out, Fitz. Like at all." She rambled. "You don't seem real to me most days. It's like... I conjured you out of one of my best dreams or something. And I'm scared to death that it's all gonna come crashing down on me and I won't see it coming. It'll be too late. I would have fallen for you too deeply. And if you break my heart, there's no way I can come back from you. So you have to tell me. What the hell is wrong with you? What's your thing? Any weird fetish I'm gonna have to figure out down the line? Are you secretly married or living some twisted double life?"

She was spiraling and Fitz didn't know how to stop it. He understood. He had the same thoughts too but they clearly didn't overwhelm him as much. He just wished she told him sooner. But now, nothing he could say to her would matter because she was way too consumed by her own thoughts. He just had to listen and figure out how to be there for her and reassure her that he was in this for the long haul. Getting up from the bed, he turned on the light in the room and marched towards his closet. He pulled on some sweat pants and a grey NAVY sweatshirt. He slipped on a pair of socks and his comfortable Nike sneakers.

"Do me a favor babe," He said. "Go to the living room and turn on that 90's sitcom you love."

Olivia was confused. "Fitz what-"

"Please, can you just do that for me?" Fitz begged. "Don't think, don't read any psychology articles about relationships. Just watch TV and wait for me, Olivia."

She was silent again. Contemplating.

"Say you'll wait for me, Livvie." He pleaded.

He could hear her moving around and seconds later, he heard her turn on the TV. Then her reply came. "Okay."

And that's all the confirmation he needed before he grabbed his jacket and keys and was on his way out the door.

About fifteen minutes later, Olivia heard the elevator ding on her floor and it's like her body knew he was nearby. Her heart was racing, her stomach was a tank of butterflies. Then her phone rang again and it was him, letting her know that he was outside her door.

She got up and went to open the door for him. And it's like the second she saw him, her mind felt empty and at peace again. Her heart was leaping and she found herself a little breathless. He looked so handsome in his casual attire. But also so tired and she instantly felt bad.

"Hi." He smiled boyishly at her.

She bit her lips, bouncing from one foot to the next. "Hi." She replied back.

Fitz then pulled her in his arms and for a minute, they just stood there in front of her door, hugging. He held her tightly, kissing the top of her head and breathing in her smell. Olivia closed her eyes and tightened her arms around his torso more as she felt herself relax for the first time in days.

After a long minute, they finally went inside. Olivia turned off the TV and led Fitz straight to her bedroom where she began discarding him of his clothes. She would explain what this all was about more clearly once he's gotten enough sleep but for now, she could see the exhaustion all over his face. And it meant all the more to her that he knew exactly what to do to appease her.

She climbed in bed with him and just let him hold her. And even after he fell into deep slumber, if she moved in the slightest, his hold on her tightened. So for a while, she just watched him sleep until the sky began to open up and a new day was upon them. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and fell asleep to the sound of the birds outside her window and his soft breathing against her cheek.

Hours later, she was pulled out of deep sleep by his penetrating gaze. She didn't have to be awake to feel his presence. He was admiring her. Commemorating her features to memory. And perhaps even trying to read her mind and maybe even peek into her soul in order to understand her better. Care for her better. Treat her better. Love her better.

Olivia slowly opened her eyes and was met with his bright blue ones. They were calm, like the ocean on a perfect morning. She couldn't tear her gaze from him. And neither could he, it seemed.

He brought a hand to her face and gently stroked her cheek, his index finger lingering on her mouth, brushing lightly on her bottom lip.

"What can I do to make this feel more real?" He whispered.

Tears puddled behind her orbs and she willed them away as she pulled him into a kiss. She trembled in his arms when he rolled on top of her, finding his place between her legs. She fastened them loosely around his waist while he kissed away all her uncertainties. His tongue gently pushed past her lips to deepen their slow, sensual kiss. And when the tears slowly rolled across her cheek she mumbled against his lips, "Show me?"

"Okay baby." He placed the sweetest kiss against her forehead as he wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes, but it was pointless.

He was smooth and efficient in undressing her. Now, she lay beneath him, at her most vulnerable and emotional and he was staring at her with those eyes and giving her that look that absolutely voided her of all her senses and robbed her of her ability to breathe properly.

"Please." She pleaded, shakily.

And he understood what she needed and was pleading for. He hovered over her and mapped a line down her beautiful skin with his lips. He took special care in showering her breasts with his tongue and teeth as he ran his thumb between her folds, massaging her clit and eliciting the sweetest sounds from her throat. Her breathing labored and her hands moved restlessly. From his hair to his back and now at the waistband of his boxers, impatiently.

Fitz didn't need long to feel fully ready. Nature was already on his side so just kissing her and hearing her moans while playing with her and touching on her sensitive spots was enough to get him standing strong. He let her slide his boxers down his legs halfway and he hissed when she quickly wrapped her delicate fingers around him, firmly and diligently stroking him. Spreading his pre-arousal down his shaft, she stroked a few more times before he took over. Fitz secured her legs with his forearm and slid slowly into her, inch by delicious inch. He heard her gasp and her body quaked beneath him as her walls worked to adjust to his size. She felt so damn amazing and it took a lot of self control for him to remain docile. He allowed her that moment, to open herself up, to exist on the same plane of intimacy with him. He looked into her eyes and pressed a little deeper and she whimpered, wrapping her arms around his neck and searching for his mouth.

Even though he was on top, she was in control this round. She didn't have to say it in order for him to know. She would teach him how she needs to be tendered to and understood. And he relinquished his dominance and submitted to her needs for the moment. He joined in their lazy, sloppy kisses as he moved his hips in slow, punctuating circles. Falling deeper into her; desperate to show her just how real they were. Skin to skin. Baring himself to her as well. They were breathing shallowly as he continued to rock into her and she mimicked his moves from below. He whispered all the sweet everythings in her ears and burned her flesh with his kisses as they transcended into euphoria.

And for a long time after they reached the finish line, Fitz stayed snuggled inside her, his ear against her beating heart, listening to everything she wasn't brave enough to tell him yet. But he knew. And he felt the same. She held him, caressing his back, running her foot up and down his legs. Breathing. Alive. Safe. Real.

An hour later, Olivia drew them a warm bath with overflowing bubbles and a few drops of essential oil. They each occupied one end of the tub. Fitz massaging her feet and her, at his mercy, moaning deliriously. She could not be anymore relaxed.

"How's that?" Fitz asked.

Olivia closed her eyes and let her head hang back against the edge. "Amazing." She replied. "Thanks for being here."

Fitz moved to her calf, squeezing and kneading with tenderness. "What do you wanna eat today?"

It was nearly lunchtime and she was starting to get hungry. "I want tacos and a strawberry margarita."

"Shit, that sounds good." Fitz said. "We can go get some when we finish here."

Olivia lifted her head to look at him. "Aren't you gonna go to work soon?"

Fitz shrugged. "I don't have to?" He said nervously, hoping she wouldn't shut his next words down. "Stephen can handle things at the club just fine without me. I'm only there because I like to know what's going on. But today, I don't wanna spend a minute away from you. Unless you don't want me here?"

Olivia pulled her legs towards herself and crawled over to him on the other side of the tub. She straddled his lap, bubbles glistening down her skin and water dripping from her nipples. He gave her that hungry look she's quite familiar with. Like they weren't just buried into each other just an hour prior. His hunger for her made her feel hot all over and she thought about how she wasn't any better than him, because she was already craving more of him as well. She grabbed his face between her palms and drew his mouth into a kiss, stopping to smile at how right it felt. She deepened the kiss and he joined, wrapping his arms around her and slipping his tongue past her lips.

"I always want you here." She murmured.

Half an hour later, they were both dressed and ready to head out. Fitz held onto her hand over the gear shifter, his window halfway down, he bobbed his head to the soft rock coming through the radio.

Olivia stared at him from the passenger's side, admiring. He didn't drive too often, preferring to keep his drivers on retainer for the sole purpose of keeping his cool through tedious traffic. However, he sure did look sexy behind the wheel of his mustang.

"Do you mind if we stop by my apartment after lunch to pack a bag? I don't have anything at your place." He said.

"Of course." Olivia nodded. "If you'd like, you can grab a few more things and just leave them at my place for next time."

He tried so hard to hide it, but his heart was bursting with joy. They still needed to talk about last night. But he understood the little ways in which she was trying to reassure him too and he appreciated her making space for him. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers, one by one a couple times. "Yes, I'd like that." He replied.

Lunch was a treat. One of Fitz's favorite things ever was watching his Livvie eat. Her zest for amazing food was entertaining and he enjoyed seeing her smile and be happy. They settled on a warm, upscale Mexican restaurant on 7th Street. They both ordered strawberry margaritas and as they waited for their appetizers and entrees to be served, they snacked on chips and salsa.

"I just realized, it's Friday. Did you have any plans for today?" Fitz asked.

Olivia shook her head. She already missed her Pilates session for today, but that was fine because she substituted it for a much more enjoyable workout. Other than that, she had planned to go grocery shopping and write a little bit. Abby and Quinn were going to come over tonight for a lowkey girl's night, indoor. Nothing she couldn't still plan for with him around. In fact, she preferred doing those things with him around. He was great company.

So she told him as much.

"I can take you grocery shopping." Fitz quickly volunteered. "But are you sure I'm not imposing on your time with the ladies? I can just go to my place or find a coffee shop to read or get some work done while you hang out?"

He has sisters. He knows what goes on when girls get together. They talked about everything under the sun and he didn't want to limit her experience with her best friends just because he was a little bit needy today.

Their margaritas arrived at the same time as their brochetas and lobster artichoke dip. And there was nothing like that first bite and that first sip. For the most part, they were quiet as they devoured their appetizers and soon after, their entrees of soft shell shrimp tacos and pork ribs. The flavor combinations were incredible. Olivia went for another margarita but forgoed on dessert.

When it came time to settle the check, Olivia insisted on paying. Her mind was made up about it and Fitz was a firm believer in picking his battles. So if his girlfriend wanted to pay for lunch and she felt strongly about it, he was gonna let her and kiss the hell out of her once they were done.

They decided to get the shopping out of the way first, since it was the longest and most tedious task. But they made a great team together, weaving through the aisles for the essentials. Fresh bread, noodles and pastas, deli goods - turkey, ham and cheeses. Coffee beans, tea and cocoa. Then they picked a variety of fresh vegetables from celery to cucumbers and tomatoes to carrots, broccoli and lettuce. Fresh fruits as well. Then they hit up the meat and seafood section. Stocking up on organic chicken, steaks, shrimp and salmon.

"What else?" Fitz asked.

He was never the type to enjoy running errands at the supermarket, but with Olivia by his side, it was turning out to be quite an enjoyable experience. She just had that awesome ability to make everything so fun.

"Snacks!" She answered excitedly.

Fitz was blown away in that aisle. It really had been a long time since he's physically been in a supermarket and he was overwhelmed by the choices available, from salty to sweet and those in between.

They might have over indulged in that section. It's as if he was a teenager all over again. And he was craving all sorts of horrible junk. He grabbed potato chips, cheesy Doritos, hot Cheetos, double stuffed Oreos, sweet and sour candies, chocolate covered pretzels, beef jerky of different flavors, and a mixed box of Sahale nuts. And of course Olivia's popcorn. Couldn't forget that. Oh, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream!

Then they went to check out. And when Fitz fished out for his AMEX black card, totally unfazed by the total, Olivia chuckled, raising on her tippy toes to give him a sweet peck on the lips.

"Thanks babe. That's sweet of you." She cuddled against his side as they waited for the payment to process.

They walked out of the store in less than an hour, happy with their purchases and overall enjoyed the experience together. It was definitely a first for them and they survived and were efficient and successful in a setting that can sometimes bring the worst out of people.

Next stop was Fitz's apartment. That didn't take too long. Olivia didn't even get out of the car. Instead, she opted to FaceTime with Abby and Quinn to confirm that their plan to hang out for the evening was still on. Abby requested sushi and Quinn requested Mediterranean food for dinner. Once again, on totally different poles. And when they began fighting about it, Olivia palmed her face as she was left to play peacemaker.

"Here's a wild thought," She said sarcastically, "How about both… since you know, delivery exists and we can freaking afford it?"

"Fine!" They both shouted in unison.

Olivia shook her head as she saw Fitz approaching with his huge duffel bag across this body and a breathable garment bag in one hand.

"I gotta go. I'll see y'all later."

Fitz tossed his duffel in the backseat and hung his clothing bag on the hook.

He fastened his seat belt, started the car and put it in drive. He got them home, to Olivia's in no time. They took the elevator from the garage level and loaded up all the groceries. They worked in sync to bring the bags inside the apartment and unpacking. As they were putting things away, Fitz noticed that Olivia was almost out of wine. He made a mental note to contact his guy on the west coast for another custom selection.

They made the perfect picture of domestic bliss. And Olivia thought 'I can get used to this.'

"Do you wanna watch some TV or take a nap?" Olivia asked. Personally, she preferred the ladder. Even though it was only three in the afternoon, she was exhausted. After all that food and running around, she was ready for some shut eye.

"If I nap right now, sleeping tonight will be difficult." Fitz grimaced. "I can keep you company though while I read over these contracts."

And that's exactly what they did. Somewhere in between Billy Withers and Marvin Gaye crooning and Fitz playing with her hair, Olivia was out like a light against Fitz's chest in less than fifteen minutes. And even though he tried really hard to stay focused on his readings, a few long yawns later, Fitz too joined her in the land of dreams.

Olivia was the first to wake after their long nap. She felt rejuvenated and extremely thirsty. But she lingered in bed for a bit longer, watching Fitz sleep. He looked incredibly peaceful and the longer she watched him, the more she grew horny. She rubbed her thighs together and tried to suppress a groan. She didn't know what was wrong with her. But she just wanted him constantly. Even in deep sleep, she wanted to jump his bones.

She decided to test her luck. She leaned in closer to him and lined his jaw with a few kisses. He stirred a little but didn't wake. She decided to take it a step further, placing short and soft kisses against his lips while her hands began to wander down his chest, his torso and finally inside his boxers. She rubbed him gently, feeling up his length that instantly began to harden to her touch.

Then he started to moan and join in their kiss. When he opened his eyes, Olivia gave him a sweet smile before she moved down his body. He sighed deeply and became fully alert. His eyes clouded with desire as well. He lifted his hips slightly to allow her to remove his boxers and once the article of clothing was out of the way, she resumed stroking him a couple times before she took him inside her mouth.

Fitz's eyes grew in size and a gasp escaped him as she took him further down her throat while her hands stroked his shaft and massaged his balls. His abs flexed with tension as she started a slow and controlled pace on him. He lifted his head and propped on one elbow to watch her beautiful mouth work on him. She looked like all his favorite fantasies came to life. Her eyes were closed and she was moaning, enjoying the act as much as he was.

He didn't stand a chance. His breathing quickened as did her pace. His spine began to tingle when she started swirling her tongue on his sensitive tip while working him with both hands, twisting up and down his shaft.

He tried to push her head away but she was unrelenting and he was right on the edge, about to explode. "Baby, I'm gonna-"

"Mhmmm." Her moans vibrated against him and she took him all the way down her throat and poked her tongue out to tickle his balls. His hips rocketed off the bed and he groaned from his chest as his release took him. It was a beautiful mess; cum dripping from her bottom lip as she pulled away. His penis twitched with more fluid squirting from his tip and she worked to clean up every drop. Fitz let his head and shoulder rest on the pillow, panting loudly, his mind completely blown.

When Olivia climbed on top of him, she was naked. She straddled his waist, grinding on him slowly.

Fuck!

Fitz opened his eyes, both of his hands taking residence on her ass, squeezing hard. "That was some wake up call." He said.

She blushed shyly. Which amazed him every single time and he told her as much. How can she act so shy now when she just made him cum so hard? That shit was sexy as hell.

"Think you can go again?" Olivia asked.

"For you, always." Fitz brought her lips against his and slowly entered her in a long, deep thrust. Buried inside her so deeply, her thighs shook. Both unable to distinguish where they begin and end.

"Hmmm…. Yesss!" Olivia moaned. She rocked back and forth against him for a few, enjoying the snug fit and the contact against her clit. Fitz rubbed up her thighs, and kneaded her ass, smacking it lightly.

"Ride that dick, baby."

Olivia braced her hands against his chest and squatted on her knees as she began to bounce on him slowly, up and down. She threw her head back, moans escaping both of them.

"You feel so fucking good babe." Fitz watched her breasts bounce, which turned him on even more. He leaned up and sucked a nipple into his mouth and Olivia gasped when he stilled her hips and started countering her thrusts from below.

"Oh my gooooood!" She sobbed. "Fuuuuck, I'm gonna come!" She begin to rub her clit.

Her phone started ringing. Abby was calling. Fitz glanced at the phone and grinned at her. "You're gonna get that?" He asked, almost daringly.

Her eyes rolled back as he quickened the pace, his hips slamming into her fast and hard. The phone continued to ring. Without breaking his rhythm, Fitz picked up and put her on speaker. Olivia gasped, eyes wide.

That fucker!

"What took you so long?" Abby asked. "I'm on my way. Do you have wine or should I bring some?"

Olivia tried to suppress her moans but failed spectacularly when Fitz pressed his middle finger inside her butt hole and rolled his hips beneath her.

"Ahhh fuck… Abby, hang up! I can't talk right now!" She yelled.

"What?" Abby asked, confused, until she tuned in to their rapid breathing and the sound of skin slapping together. "Oh my lanta! Y'ALL ARE FREAKY! Bitch, are you-"

"Yessss!" Olivia cried. "Bye!"

She barely managed to end the call. She dropped her head on Fitz's shoulder and a few more hard thrust later, she was drooling, moaning unintelligibly as the most powerful feeling of pleasure she's ever experienced coursed through her whole entire body like a tsunami. He talked her through the wreckage the way only a real man could. Holding her tightly, caressing her skin with his hands and mouth. Telling her how beautiful she looked on his cock and how much of a good girl she was. The whole experience left her feeling dizzy and on cloud nine. Soon after, Fitz filled her with his own release. His hips spasming.

"Damn baby!" Fitz howled. "Do you want something? Cause I'm ready to give you everything right now. What do you want?"

Olivia laughed breathlessly on top of him. She kissed his cheek and pushed back the hairs sticking to his sweaty forehead. "You're an idiot." She said fondly. "And now thanks to you, Abby is gonna give me shit all night about your little stunt."

"I swear that got your pussy a little wetter. I felt it." Fitz snorted. "You liked it."

Olivia wished she could be mad or deny it but the truth is, she loved what just happened. And she'd do it again. She looked at her phone and saw all the fifteen text messages Abby sent her in all caps. She read them and laughed to herself.

The redhead and Quinn would be here in another half hour. Abby told her they'd make an unnecessary stop to get some dessert, just to give her some extra time to "finish". Olivia shook her head and looked back at Fitz who was staring at her, smiling.

"You're a little troublemaker, mister." She kissed his lips. "I'm gonna order dinner. Would you like sushi or Mediterranean?"

Fitz shook his head. "Neither. Pizza. After all that, I need some carbs."

Olivia laughed. "You're something else." She lifted up slowly and they both hissed at the sensation. They watched the product of their own making run down Olivia's thighs.

"Now that's sexy." Fitz nodded. "Feel free to wake me up like this anytime, babe."

"Yeah yeah, you freakazoid!" Olivia hit him with a pillow and hopped off the bed. She took her phone with her and placed a call for three different food orders and then hopped in the shower.

Fitz joined her shortly.

"Hi." He gave her that grin full of mischief.

Olivia shook her head. "Hi. Don't even think about it."

---

Ten minutes later, they stepped out of the shower. And they got dressed in sync. They made it out to the living room, just in time to welcome their guests. Fitz opened the door for Quinn and Abby while Olivia was getting her glass of water.

"Hey freak!" Abby greeted Fitz. Olivia heard her and nearly choked on her water.

Fitz chuckled and gave them each a friendly hug. "Hey Red. Hey Quinn." He said.

Olivia came to Fitz's rescue in the living room. Granted the whole thing was his fault but he wasn't fully used to Abby's heat. This was a moment that would not be soon forgotten by the redhead and she would remind them of it every second she could.

"Why are they freaks?" Quinn asked.

"I'm gonna go now." Fitz turned on his heels. "Call me when pizza gets here, babe."

"You know what you did to my best friend Grant! And I appreciate you for it. She needs that kind of energy in her life." Abby shouted and they all could hear Fitz snorting to himself down the hallway.

Olivia hid her face in her hand. "You can be so embarrassing sometimes." She groaned.

"Okay, somebody tell me right now?" Quinn demanded.

Another few minutes passed and all their food was delivered within minutes of each other. Olivia called for Fitz to come grab his pizza and he appeared briefly in the living room, avoiding eye contact with Abby.

"Pretend I'm not even here…." He sang, grabbing 3 slices of pizza and stealing a kiss from Olivia's lips. "Okay… I'm gonna go now so you guys can continue to talk about me. Thanks for the food, babe."

He grabbed some water from the fridge and then he was gone, back to Olivia's bedroom. As soon as he was out of sight, Abby started again.

"Okay, so dish. Was it as good as it sounded?" She asked Olivia.

Olivia bit into a slice of meat lover's pizza and nodded. "Mhmmm." She echoed, chewing rapidly. "I've been super needy today. And he's been fucking my brains out since this morning."

It was only then that Quinn finally caught on and the look on her face was priceless. Abby pointed at her and burst into laughter.

"Live footage of how I looked when this bitch answered the phone, moaning like a whore at Sunday service."

"You are so crass!" Olivia rolled her eyes. "Unbelievable."

Abby stuck her tongue out. "I'll Facetime next time."

"You're totally glowing." Quinn observed. "Whatever he's doing to you must be out of this world. Is that why you've been needy?"

"Yes and no." Olivia replied.

"Dish…"

And Olivia did. If she was going to confide in anyone about what the hell has been going on this week with the panic attacks, it would be her two best friends. They would understand. And help her practice how to frame and direct the conversation with Fitz when it comes up later tonight or at any point.

They sort of tiptoed around it today, instead choosing to lose themselves in each other. And it was great.. She was a show and tell kind of gal. And he did show her. Through his touch, by being present and spending the whole day connecting with her, reassuring her. He was amazing. But now it was her turn. She wasn't expecting him to read her mind.

Quinn and Abby pretty much agreed the same.

Next they moved to dessert and streaming "The Gay Deceivers" on demand. It was comedy gold and very forward for its time back in 1969. All three girls could not stop laughing and Fitz enjoyed watching Olivia be so happy.

He wasn't eavesdropping. But he did come to ask if he could use the printer in her office to receive a fax that needed his immediate attention.

"Babe, sorry to interrupt." He walked behind her and squeezed her shoulders gently. "May I use your fax number to receive some documents here?"

Olivia frowned because of course he could. This was his home too? But she figured he wanted to respect her space and that was incredibly sweet of him.

"Yeah." She got off the couch and dragged him to her office. "You can work here, you know?" She told him. "I'm sure being on the bed is not that comfortable if you have to do some writing as well."

"Are you sure? I know how I am about my messy desk at home. This is your creative space. I don't want to impose at all." Fitz said.

"Stop saying that. You're not imposing on anything, ever." She kissed his mouth and pushed him behind her desk. "This is now your home too, silly. Sit." Olivia pointed at the chair behind him. She then grabbed a pen and a block of sticky notes to jot down the fax number for him. Then she powered on the printer.

"Thank you. I'm grateful." Fitz smiled.

Olivia shrugged. "Eh, you fit in my life perfectly, my love." She said, "And you look sexy as hell behind that desk so I'm gonna go back to my gay movie before we give Abby something better to lord over us."

Fitz watched her rush out of the room and shut the door behind her. He ran his fingers through his hair and hung his head low, laughing quietly to himself. He hit the jackpot with this woman.

He went back to the bedroom shortly after to grab his laptop and the other papers he was reading. He set up shop in her office like she convinced him to and he got into the zone again. He had his soundproof headphones in, Bon Jovi in his ear and he immersed himself in his work. Getting lots done.

He received the papers he had been waiting on. He read the fine prints with sharp eyes. Everything looked to be on par with what he was signing for. All he had to do was print his signature and the date.

"Wait… what date is it?" He asked himself out loud. He glanced at the screen of his smartwatch and realized he wrote the wrong date. Shit. Nothing some whiteout couldn't fix. Surely Olivia must have some.

He looked around on the desk but didn't see any visible. He opened the first drawer, no luck, then the second and he froze in his search. His heart skipped a beat when he saw the small black velvet box. It was strategically hidden out of sight. Like if he wasn't being nosy, there's no way he would've seen it at the very back corner of the deep drawer. Yet here it was, in plain sight for him.

He had an internal battle with himself. He didn't want her to think that he violated her privacy. But he also knew that he was already feeling tormented by the box and the curiosity he had about what it contained. Ultimately, curiosity killed the cat and he was gutted when he opened the small box and found a ring inside. Nothing fancy. Just a small square diamond on a simple silver band.

But still. It was a ring. A symbol of great significance. That he wouldn't be the first at this act for her. He didn't know why, but that made him incredibly sad. He put the ring back where he found it and for like ten minutes, he just sat, dumbfounded.

She was married? He doesn't recall her telling him that. He tried to think hard. No… they did have a version of that conversation when they first met. She wasn't forthcoming with a lot of the details but yes, he remembered now. There was definitely someone before him. The one she wasn't sorry about?

That brought him a little bit of peace. But he was still so damn sad. He pulled through and resumed his work.

Twenty minutes later, he heard a soft knock on the door before the door was pushed open.

"May I come in?" She asked cutely.

He nodded, of course. "What happened to not wanting to give Abby more materials to leverage over us?" He teased.

"Gone as of five minutes ago." Olivia answered, walking closer. "You've been at this for a while. Wanna break?"

Fitz looked at the time. It was well past 9:30. Overall he felt like he caught up well and was on track with his work.

"Sure." 'His eye caught a glance at her left hand and he stared blankly for a while.

Olivia walked behind the desk and ran her fingers through his hair. "Hey, are you okay?" She asked, concern creasing her brows.

Fitz snapped out of it quickly. "Yeah, fine. I'm fine."

"I don't believe you?" She shook her head. His ears turned red. "Hey, look at me." She tilted his head up and forced him to make eye contact. "I know something's wrong. If everything was fine, you'd be all over me the second I told you the girls were gone. Plus you've been staring at my hand with a sad puppy look. And now, you're all red. So what's up?"

Wow. She was way more attentive than he thought.

He decided to be vulnerable and ask. He wanted to know what the hell he was up against. Because someday, he wanted it all with her. The house… somewhere small, beautiful all year round and peaceful, maybe Vermont? He wanted children and yes, the freaking ring on her finger. SO he had to know in order to think about what he was willing to let go or not let go to make this relationship work. And he wanted to make it work, desperately. Fitz didn't realize how frustrated he was about everything until this very moment. Things were so amazing with them, but there are times when he feels like he's been failing since they met. And it's because he doesn't know those important things about her yet.

So he asked, "Did he ruin marriage for you too?"

"Heh?" She looked at him confused. "HE, as in God? I fucking hope not. What are you talking about?"

Fitz couldn't help it. He chortled. She really was very funny. Even more so when she was confused. He pulled her on his lap and kissed her cheek.

"You were engaged before, weren't you?" He clarified.

"Yeah… oooh!"

It was then that she realized that he must've found the ring in her desk drawer.

"I wasn't snooping around intentionally. I needed whiteout."

Olivia shrugged. "It's fine, I don't care." And she really didn't.

She hasn't thought about that ring or even opened that little box in a very long time. It was a part of her past that she doesn't linger on since she moved on. She doesn't even know why she still kept the ring around. Today seemed to be full of vulnerable and honest moments on her part. And even though she didn't owe Fitz an explanation at all, she decided to let him peek into who she used to be. In the hopes that maybe he will understand where she was coming from regarding their relationship, the panic attacks, everything.

"Do you really wanna know what happened?" She asked.

Fitz nodded. "I think it would help me understand you a little bit better?" He said.

She sighed. Biting her lips. Pondering. "It's a shit story. Boring even." She warned.

Fitz kissed her cheek again. "I'm all ears."

"Okay. I'll give you the short version." She said, "Once upon a time I was engaged to this asshole!" She began dramatically.

Fitz tried hard not to laugh. But he did smile. She said it would be boring, but he was already thoroughly locked in and entertained.

"His name is Edison. One could say he was my first serious relationship. We were together for nearly…" She counted on her fingers and grimaced. "Four years. Shit!" She continued. "We met at the coffee shop on campus. He was a Political Science professor. A bit older than I was. He wasn't even really my type but he was persistent. And at the time, as a law student, I appreciated that in anyone. That was perhaps one of his better qualities. We always seemed to run into each other and he'd buy my tea and ask me out. Every time. After two months, I finally let my guard down and agreed on a date that went surprisingly better than I expected. And we made plans to see where things could lead but I was in my last year of law school, preparing for the bar and I just didn't have the time to entertain anyone. But we ran into each other again one night at the movies; alone. He called it fate." Olivia wiggled her eyebrows. "We ended up seeing the movie together and hooking up in the parking lot. Very classy, right?"

Fitz smiled at her and kissed her forehead.

"Well, from that point on, he worked really hard into becoming a part of my life. He wined and dined me until I fully let my guards down. The sex was okay. My mother liked him. He was a normal guy with a stable job and dreams of being someone's everything one day. So I thought why not? By the time I passed the bar and got my first job as a junior associate, we were still going steady and he was there for me, you know? It felt nice to have a companion and a support system. A year and half in, I got a promotion, we moved in together and he proposed on my fucking birthday."

Fitz saw the look on her face and heard the venom in her voice when she said he proposed on her birthday. He's guessing that was a bad move and he made a note to himself. Do not propose anything on birthdays or major holidays.

"I didn't say yes right away. In fact, I moved in with my mom after he proposed because it felt like things were changing too soon, too fast. And I just wasn't ready. But he, along with my mother, convinced me. So a month later, I moved back in, accepted the ring and that's probably the first time things went to shit. Workload at the firm got bigger. I was the true definition of workaholic. I lived for the rush and for a long time, I fucking loved it. I was damned good at it, so I poured myself into my cases, worked long hours and rarely came home. Obviously that was not good. I was a terrible fiancée. I didn't give a fuck about any of it because to me, it didn't feel real. A huge part of me just really wanted to succeed in my career because I had a lot to prove and learn. But there was also that part of me that just didn't want to settle down. With him or anyone for that matter. I felt like I still had too much to see, and learn and grow through. And I didn't see him there with me every step of the way. So we had one of our spectacular fights where he called me selfish and I told him he was suffocating me. He told me I was a bitch with commitment issues and I guess he was right. We broke up that night for a few weeks. And I was so relieved but I still had that damn ring on my finger and I felt so guilty for throwing away something that could turn out to be my great love story. I didn't want the "what ifs'' lingering inside my head. So against my better judgment, I pulled a grand gesture. I had him meet me at the movie parking lot, where we really began and I proposed this time."

"Nice!" Fitz chuckled.

"Right?! I thought so too." Olivia said. "So then he agreed and immediately set a date for the wedding. The planning was a shit show. Stuff I didn't care about was being pushed on me by his mom, who fucking hated me by the way. I hated her ass too. That was also one of the things we constantly fought about. So if we weren't fighting about my lack of interest in wedding planning, it was about how much I worked and didn't value him as my partner. As if we weren't already so dysfunctional, the universe decided to keep shitting all over me and BAM, I missed a period. Cried myself to sleep for two weeks before I finally took the test. And then I cried for three hours straight after the results. Sooo... I was pregnant. That marks year three." She lamented. "As soon as I told him I was knocked up, he became so controlling. From what I ate and drank, to who was allowed to be around me and how much I worked. Yet, when I miscarried, he blamed me. Saying if only I stopped working like he asked, and prioritized his needs and focused on starting a family. He said all the awful things to make me feel horrible and it worked. But I justified it. He was hurting and grieving. But so was I, right? I bore the pain of losing the baby physically. But emotionally, it was something we were both going through and rather than leaning on each other, I was made to feel responsible. He said I didn't really feel grief because I didn't want the baby in the first place. I felt so alone; so fucking lost. Shortly after, I quit my job; sunk into depression and really just gave up. He pulled through quicker than I did. The last straw for me came months later. I'd gotten treatment, started writing as a distraction and even tried to get involved in the wedding plans. I thought we were in a much better place. Until I decided to surprise him for lunch in his office one day and I caught him balls deep, fucking one of his male students. That same day, I packed all my shit, put them in a storage facility and by the time he came home, I was gone. And the ring, I did leave it behind for him. But six months later, he wrote me a letter to my mom's house and the ring was in there. He said he wanted me to have it. So I can remember that as long I live, when shit gets tough, I will always run and save myself. To this day, I don't think he knows why I really left."

Fitz was speechless. Wow. This is what he had to follow after? Goddamnit, no wonder why she was terrified of things with him. He wasn't sure what he would do if he ever met her ex. He didn't know if he would thank him or if the blows would be on sight. His head was spinning.

"Welp, that's the story behind that damn ring." Olivia sighed. "Any questions, thoughts or concerns?" She asked, laughing.

But Fitz could see through the bullshit. Clearly none of what she experienced was funny. It's just how she disguised it to get through perhaps one of the most fucked up relationships she's been in. And some of that stuff still affected her. Like he knew for a fact that she believed her ex about some of those things he said to her. That she's selfish and a runner. After all, she did keep the ring, right? As a reminder of those things? But that's not what he got from the story she just told him.

So he did the only thing he could at the moment. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and simply held her for a long time, kissing her cheek and forehead every minute he felt like it.

"Look at me, please." He asked after a few minutes.

Olivia lifted her head from his shoulder and stared into his eyes. "Do you feel like I'm forcing you into this relationship? Controlling you?" It was painful to ask. But he needed to know. After all, he wasn't much different from her ex about how he pursued her. He did wine and dine her. He did persist that first night at the club. He saw the sad look that crossed her eyes and he bit back tears and swallowed the lump in his throat. "Because even though it will be the hardest thing I've ever done, I will let you go right now if for even a moment, you've felt this way with me."

And he meant it. It would break his heart forever to do it but he would.

"Oh baby…" Her lips quivered and the tears in her eyes rolled down her cheek. "Never. You hear me, Fitz? Never." She quickly wiped her tears away and proceeded to wrap her arms around his neck. "Do you even know how special you are to me? You walk into a room and I forget how to breathe. I've only known you for a few months and already, you're my favorite person to talk to, babe." She confessed. "The way you look at me and touch my heart? The way we connect and how you can make me laugh and lose all sense of time and people around me? Are you kidding me? The way you hold me so tight when we make love or cuddle together. I've never felt anything like you before. I've known nothing but bliss with you. I think about you constantly. I carry you with me everywhere I go. So yes…" She sighed deeply, smiling through more tears. "I'm fucking terrified that I'm dreaming with you. Like maybe I'm still stuck in that period of hellish depression with Edison, drowning and I conjured you up to keep myself sane and alive."

In that moment, Fitz truly felt like they were bound to each other. Everything she just said to him made complete sense. He was over the moon to hear that she felt all the ways she described with him. It made him feel like he wasn't fighting a losing battle. She was in this with him too. And for the most part, he knew it before she said it. He was pretty good at reading her responses and body language. When she was relaxed and carefree, when she was uncomfortable and she wanted to regress into that part of herself she deemed as "selfish". He knew. But hearing it from her melted his damn heart. And for the first time since they met, he admitted something to himself. I love you.

But he decided to show her better. Like she pleaded with him this morning. He raised his left hand as he stared into her beautiful, doe chocolate brown eyes. "Let me see your hand." He asked softly.

Olivia unwrapped her right arm from his neck and showed him her open palm, mirroring exactly what he was doing with his left. Slowly, their palms connected and one by one, their fingers clasped and found home in between the empty spaces in the other's hand.

"Just like that." Fitz smiled. He grabbed her other hand and placed it near his beating heart and he did the same to her with his free hand. "See? As long as our fingers can come together, just like this, and our hearts continue to beat as one, then this is real. This will always be real." He whispered. "So if you're ever feeling scared, sad, happy or anxious - like things feel too good to be true and you want to feel reassured that we're us - real, rare and beautiful; for one minute, whenever, wherever, stop everything. Just grab my hand and feel my heart beat for you."

"One minute." Olivia nodded, the brightest smile on her face and fresh tears shining in her eyes.

They probably looked silly as hell to someone who doesn't know the immensity of this moment. But to her, this was the most fucking beautiful and sacred thing. One minute.

"One minute." Fitz echoed, his smile equally as bright. "Thanks for letting me in tonight and sharing with me."

"You're welcome. I know how much you like to be all up in my business." She teased, causing him to blush.

And just like that, things were okay. Things were real.

That night, she slept like a baby. Fingers entwined and her ear to his heart.

---

The following two weeks were busy for Fitz. He was in the middle of a bid for a location to open up a restaurant. It's always been on the back of his mind, to open up a chain of restaurants and with Laura wanting to move forward and establish her own place, he wanted to take that step with her as partners- 50/50. What he wasn't sure of was where he wanted to set up shop for the first one. If he was going to get into business with his sister, those details needed to be ironed out. And after way too much back and forth on the phone with Laura, he decided it was best if he flew to Los Angeles to see his family.

He would be killing two birds with one stone. The Grant family had a lot going on individually. Dee-Dee recently closed on a merger with her firm and now had the Grant name on the building. Katera just signed a deal with Netflix for a standup special as part of a mini series of upcoming LA talents. And Frankie was just weeks away from the grand opening of her very own tattoo parlor. He was immensely proud of all of his sisters and he figured a celebration dinner was warranted.

Plus his mother was really hounding him to come visit. Apparently, word got around that he was dating again, so naturally, his mother was onto him about it and so were his freaking siblings. He had his adorable nephew Theo to thank for that. The young boy simply couldn't help himself. He had to tell everyone just how beautiful and fun his new aunty "Bella" was. And that she absolutely had to be sent an invitation to his birthday in the fall. So now, Fitz was soon on his way to California to answer to the Grant herd.

He broke the news to Olivia over dinner Sunday evening. She found his situation to be hilarious. And even agreed with Theo's observation. She was a beautiful, fun aunt. The thought of it made her blush. And he saw it all over her face.

"You should come with me." He said.

Olivia stopped mid tortellini bite. "Are you crazy?!" She exclaimed.

Fitz laughed, amused by her expression. "No, I'm serious. I'm sure they'd love to meet you. That way I don't have to go through the endless teasing and probing twice."

Olivia pointed her fork at him accusingly. "Aha! So this is all about saving your perfectly tight ass." She teased.

"Absolutely!" Fitz grinned.

She squinted at him, thinking. "I'm great with family members. Once you introduce me, I bet, they'll like me more than they like you. Parents love me, I'll have you know." She informed. "Except for that one diabolical cunt. Something was wrong with her."

Fitz snorted. He had to cover his mouth in order to contain his laughter. She was very funny. And he had no doubt that she would get along well with his siblings and mother. And as he looked at her, sipping on her wine, the thought came to him again. I love you… so much.

"All the more reasons for you to join." He agreed with her.

"I wish I could go this time." Olivia said. "But I have a deadline for the next book and I'm pretty sure if I don't finish it, Abby will be out of a job as my agent and she will kill me as a result."

Olivia saw the somber look that replaced his jolly expression. He reached across the candle lit table and entwined their fingers. She didn't want him to think that she was yet again backing away from next steps with him. All she ever wants is to always move forward with him. Hit new milestones; create new memories. But only when it felt right. And if they were going to do this, as they previously spoke about, she had to feel like she was ready. And meeting all members of his family, even though she was making light of it just minutes ago, was in fact a huge deal for her. It would cement a lot of things for her. And she did not want to rush into it and leave a bitter taste on six Grant women. "I wanna do this right, babe." She explained. "I do have a deadline. Which means, I'm gonna be really focused on getting it done. And I don't want to meet your family and not be able to really allow for time to get to know them. And if I join you on Thursday, that's what's going to happen." She shrugged. "They're important to you, so of course I want to meet them. I want them to like me."

His handsome grin was back and he brought her small hand to his mouth to kiss her knuckles. "Okay." He acquiesced. "Next time. Better bring your A game."

"Okay." Olivia repeated back, smiling.

And this too was one of the things she adored about him. Everything was a fair discussion between them. He had no problem meeting her in the middle and he was excellent at compromising. That shit was sexy as hell!

---

The days leading up to his trip, he spent every free moment with her and tried to sleep over every day that week. His flight was scheduled for 7:00 PM on Thursday evening. And she did not get to see him the night before. There was an emergency at the club that took up all his time and almost cost him his liquor license. So by the time he was off, it was too late and he was too exhausted to make the drive over.

Olivia was almost at the finish line with her book and she felt pretty confident about the material. So she decided that taking a break mid afternoon to surprise her man with a late lunch before he left wouldn't hurt too much.

And that's exactly what she did. She stopped by at Getty's Burger and ordered some burgers and fries, chicken wings and iced teas. She had a pep to her step as she made her way to Fitz's club, just fifteen minutes away. When she got there, she found the operations team on full prep mode for the night. Thursdays usually pack a killing and bring in a lot of revenue. Some people liked to start their weekend a little bit early. You can find the high profile freaks of DC looking to unwind after a long week and at Karma, the sky was the limit on any day of the week.

Having been there already, she knew exactly where Fitz's office was and she was headed straight there when she bumped into the bartender with the crush on him. Almost sending the drinks in her hands flying.

Amanda's face flushed as Olivia raised her eyebrows at her. "Pardon me." She said, barely making eye contact before she scurried away.

"It's fine?" Olivia mumbled, as she watched the woman practically run away.

What the hell was she doing here?! Amanda fumed after grabbing herself a glass of water from behind the bar. Her and Fitz had a meeting soon about her overseeing things as the lead bartender for the next couple days he would be away. She was looking forward to the hour of memorizing his flawless features while holding onto his every word.

How dare she come here? Did he not tell her he would be busy today?

Olivia rounded the corner to Fitz's office and knocked softly to bring him out of his focus. When he looked up and saw it was her, his handsome face broke into the most adorable smile.

He stood up from behind his desk and welcomed her inside. Grabbing the tray and bag from her, he set them on his desk before gathering Olivia's petite form in his arms for a tight hug. He pulled away and placed a kiss against her smiling lips.

"This is a nice surprise baby." He said.

"You need to eat." Olivia replied simply. "And plus you didn't come home last night. I missed you and I didn't want you to leave without getting the chance to see you."

Fitz pulled her behind the desk with him and sat her on his lap in his chair. "You know I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye. I was planning on having Hal stop by your place before we headed to the airport." He leaned in and kissed her lips again. He couldn't help it. She was gorgeous and irresistible. And his heart was happy. "I'm glad you came."

Olivia giggled against his mouth and gave him another peck before she pulled away and began to take their food out the bag. She handed him his double bacon cheeseburger with a yellow egg and his fries. She unwrapped her mushroom, swiss hamburger as well. She watched him take the red onions out and she blushed, knowing exactly why he did it. Plus he winked at her.

"Let's eat."

Olivia only consumed half of her burger with a handful of fries. She had plans for them and she didn't want to feel too lethargic. She washed down her meal with a sweet sip of tea and then she just watched as Fitz continued to devour his burger. The whole thing just made her hotter for him. Even watching him eat was a sexy experience for her. The way he licked his lips, or how his jaw flexed. She unceremoniously grind against him and clenched her legs together.

Fitz held an amused expression at the act. He pretended not to notice and continued to finish his food. As soon as he swallowed the last bite and took a few long sips of his drink, her gaze zeroed in on his mouth and she jumped on him.

He laughed against her lips as he spread her legs open, and snaked his hand under her sundress. He went to move her panties to the side, only to feel her naked flesh underneath. He raised an eyebrow and felt his dick rise up in salute.

"So naughty today Ms. Carolyn Pope." He slipped his middle finger between her folds, and went up and down a couple times, teasing her entrance while rubbing her swollen clit simultaneously. She was dripping for him in no time.

She moaned for him as he continued to explore, biting gently on her lower lip and sending her on a chase for his tongue. She whined against his mouth miserably. "Don't tease me, baby. I'm so fucking horny."

"I know you are." Fitz spoke in his deep baritone as he slipped two fingers inside her. "Your pussy is crying me a river right now."

Olivia buried her face in the crook of his neck and whimpered unintelligibly as his fingers worked her skillfully. She spread her legs wider for him, allowing him to add a third finger to the mix, circling these perfect circles on her clit. Her hand flew to cover his and still his movements, but he didn't stop, instead, he reached inside her bra and began rolling her nipples between his thumb and index finger, squeezing just right. At this point she was a mess in his lap and his dick felt like it was going to explode. "You like that?"

"Oh my God! Yesss, fuck!" She gasped as she felt pressure building inside her womb. She bit Fitz's neck and sucked hard as his rhythm sped up. His long fingers continue playing her like a great love story and coaxing the sweetest pleasure from her. She could feel her orgasm coming. But she didn't want it like this. She jumped from his lap abruptly, trying to delay the inevitable.

He brought his soaked fingers to his lips and licked her sweet essence clean. Olivia watched him with bated breath and hooded eyes. "Mmmm… What's wrong, sweet baby?" Fitz asked, a smug smirk on his mouth.

"I wanna cum so bad." Olivia replied breathlessly.

"You were about to…" Fitz quipped.

"Not like that. I want you." She pouted.

Fitz pulled her back to his lap and she straddled his leg. "What do you want, baby girl?"

She thought it best to show him. Olivia rubbed the bulge in his slack as she stared unblinkingly into his lust filled eyes. His jaw clenched and his throat worked as she unbuckled his belt and slid his zipper down. She reached inside his boxers, freeing him. Still without breaking eye contact, she began stroking his length, spreading his pre-arousal on his sensitive tip, causing him to groan from his chest.

Fitz let her continue to tease him for a few more seconds, but only cause it felt fucking incredible and he felt like he could bust at any minute. But not like this. And certainly, not before she told him in strong words exactly how she wanted him. He stilled her movements and she looked so confused for a moment.

"You didn't answer my question, Goddess." He said. "What do you want?"

She looked down between them, licked her lips and watched as he fisted himself. Fitz smirked.

"You want daddy's dick?" He teased.

Olivia whimpered like a spoiled brat. "Yessss!"

"Then you're gonna have to tell me loud and proud baby. How and where." He told her.

She stood up from his lap and pushed his chair back a little. Then she dropped on her knees and spread his leg open before she slapped his hand away, taking over again - working him up and down, salivating at the mouth.

"I want to get a quick little taste and then I want you to fuck me unconscious against that wall right there." Olivia said boldly right before she took him into her mouth, swallowing as much of him as she could.

Fitz's hip jerked and his hand flew to her hair as he tossed his head back. "Fuck. Ooo…yeah! Just like that baby." He guided her movement, pushing her hair back from her face and holding it in place as she bobbed up and down on him, sloppily, deliciously. He felt like he was going to lose his fucking mind when she started alternating between these circles with her tongue on his head and sucking him deep with her cheeks while taking him as far down her throat as she could withstand.

"Fuckkk!" He bawled, pushing her head back.

She released him with a pop. "How do you like them apples?" Olivia looked up at him, blinking innocently as if she wasn't just deep throating his dick, and had him close to bursting inside her mouth.

Fitz would have laughed if he wasn't struggling so hard to breathe.

He stood up from the chair and pulled her with him. "Where'd you learn how to suck cock like that?" He asked, claiming her mouth in a kiss, his tongue rolling inside her mouth, sharing their unique taste with another. He slowly walked her backwards until her back thud against that wall she wanted to be fucked against. He hoisted her up and she giggled excitedly, wrapping her long legs around his hips immediately. He pulled her dress up and pushed his slacks down. He stroked his cock a couple times before lining up at her entrance, slapping the head against her clit before he plunged in one smooth, satisfying thrust.

They both gasped and the sound reverberated against the enclosed walls. She wiggled on top of him and he gave her the time she needed for her walls to open up and nestle him comfortably for the ride.

"How are you feeling, Goddess?" Fitz asked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and played with his curls. "Amazing." Olivia replied. "You?"

Fitz drew her lips in a brief kiss, hands squeezing her ass firmly. "Perfect." He answered. "I can't get over how well you take my cock." Just as he said it, her walls involuntarily clenched on him and he released a shivering breath. "Like every dirty thought I've ever imagined was about you… belongs to you."

She was the perfect tease and good for his ego. "Show me." She whispered.

"Hold on tight and whatever you do, don't let go." Fitz warned.

He used the wall behind them as leverage, starting slow, he bounced her up and down, holding on to her hips, controlling her movement. Slow and steady. He matched her thrusts, his breath hot against her cheek and she moaned for him. Overwhelmed and losing all sense of thought and modesty. Not a minute too soon, he picked up the pace, setting them on a fast and bumpy ride. The sound of their hips working together and the unmistakable sound of their hot, uneven breathing filled the room as he pounded into her, faster, harder. His lips were everywhere, on her neck, sucking on her earlobe and murmuring the dirtiest things in a hushed baritone. Each hard, deep thrust sent her closer to the edge.

Olivia sang his praises as her stomach coiled in a ball of heat and her legs began to tremble around his waist. "Oh my God! Don't stop!" She begged, "I'm almost there."

"I know baby." Fitz panted breathlessly. "I can feel you. Rub your clit for me."

Olivia did as he asked and she could hardly make sense of the words coming out of her mouth and the cries leaving her throat as he hammered into her while she drew fast circles against her clit. She gripped his shirt tightly and squeezed her legs around his waist as the sweet sensation of her release knocked the breath out of her. She cried silently against his lips as he thrusted a few more times, his groans mingling with her own and rainbows exploding behind his lids as he filled her with the best orgasm he's ever had.

Fitz used the last bit of strength he had left to bring them over to his desk. He pushed aside a stack of papers and laid Olivia gently on the hard, oak surface.

"That was wild." Fitz placed a kiss on Olivia's throat then laid his head on her chest, listening to blood rushing to her heart and the rapid hammering in her ribs.

Olivia ran her fingers through his hair lazily, both still lost in each other. And as she did so, that thought echoed in Fitz's head again. I'm in love with you.

Unbeknownst to the both of them, they had an intruder, enthralled by their performance. Fitz's to be specific and she reached the platinum gate right along with them, sliding down the hallway wall in a puddle of her own fixation and shame.

---

Being home with family always made Fitz's heart glad. And this time around wasn't much different. When he landed Thursday night, he stayed with his sister Laura and her husband Jake at their home in Bel-Air. They had a nice moment in the backyard, sipping on scotch. He missed his sister. They caught up on everything - from her marriage, to the kids, to their crazy mother. Then to his business in DC and the new rumors about him going steady with "Bella". Fitz confirmed it and blushed so hard while Laura teased him. He shared one picture of Olivia.

"Wow. That's her, hunh?" Laura marveled at the picture on the screen. "Really three? This is your girlfriend?"

"Yup! That's my baby." Fitz answered proudly.

"What does she see in your ugly ass?" Laura teased. "She's gorgeous. Way out of your league."

Fitz laughed. "I think so too! She makes me nervous as hell." He admitted.

"Really? What is she like?" Laura asked, genuinely interested. She hasn't seen her little brother this smitten in a long time. The way he smiled just from saying Olivia's name was cute.

Fitz scratched his forehead and bit his lips. "Livvie is the best. She makes everything fun. She's one of the kindest and smartest people I've ever met. I can talk to her about anything. She has such an infectious laugh. And she's funny too. Like actually tells good jokes. She likes to make fun of me a lot. You all will get along great!" He palmed his face at the realization. He has seven women in his life that can push all his buttons. How lucky was he? "On one hand she can be sassy, intimidating and blunt. But on the other hand, she can be so vulnerable and honest, warm and super affectionate. She's the perfect package. Like she can rock the hell out of a red carpet but she can also sit on a couch and put away a dozen wings with no makeup on, and that's sexy as hell to me. She's everything I've ever wished for."

"Damn… when's the wedding?" Laura asked seriously.

Fitz shrugged. "As soon as she tells me she's ready." He said. "Things are still so fresh and new. I think it will be awhile before we get there but I have no doubt that we will. I think I love her?" It felt like a weight was lifted from his chest at his admission. He's been feeling this way for weeks and saying it out loud to someone, even though it wasn't Olivia, felt amazing. He loves her!

Laura smiled and wrapped her arm around his neck. "I think you do too." She nodded. "She sounds like a great person. And I'm happy you two found each other. I can't wait to meet her."

"Thank you, sis. That means a lot coming from you." Fitz leaned over and kissed her temple. "It's good to be home." He said, inhaling a long deep breath as he stared ahead at the beautiful night.

---

The rest of his stay flew by way too fast! On Friday morning, he woke up early to treat his niece and nephew to breakfast. His visit was a surprise to them so when they walked down the stairs to the kitchen before camp and saw their cool uncle T in the kitchen, they lost their minds. Even Theo, who is not usually a morning person, brightened up really fast. They wrestled for a bit on the kitchen floor. He loved to get them all riled up. Once they settled down, Fitz served them breakfast and got all his kisses and updates on the happenings at summer camp. Milo, the dog, was happy to see him too, especially since he kept feeding him small pieces of bacon under the table.

"You're spoiling my dog, Fitzgerald." Laura warned.

"That's literally my job." Fitz retorted, pouring his sister a fresh cup of coffee and setting a plate for her at the kitchen table.

"I love it when you're in town, punk." Laura smiled.

"Yeah! We love it, uncle T. Can you move back here?" Karen asked.

Fitz kissed her forehead. "Maybe one day, munchkin. I've got someone very special in D.C. I can't just leave her."

"You mean aunt Livia?" Theo asked, smiling. He liked his auntie Livia a lot. She was nice and colored awesome pictures with him. "Can she move here?"

"I hope she wants to one day. That'll be cool, huh?" Fitz replied.

"Yeah!" Theo shouted.

Laura shook her head and smirked behind her cup of coffee. "You've got it bad, dude."

After the kids went off to school with Jake, Fitz was able to sit down with Laura to talk about business. Naturally, Laura wanted to open up shop here in LA. Her whole family was here and it didn't make sense for her to move her whole life to a different state when she could make a killing here in LA with her business connections and all the experience she has under her belt as a chef.

If this conversation took place three months ago, Fitz would have no hesitation with getting the ball rolling on this project. But his life right now was different. His life included Olivia and he couldn't justify moving back to LA to himself when he was in the middle of building something life changing with Olivia. But he also wanted to be there for his sister. This has always been her dream. He could manage some frequent travels or be a silent partner? This was a conversation he needed to have with Olivia as well in order to be clear about next steps. They put a pin in the conversation, promising to revisit again soon. But Fitz also told Laura she was more than welcome to scout spaces around LA and get back to him with a list of listings to see what strings he could pull with the city.

---

Later that evening, everyone reunited at the ranch after a long drive into Santa Barbara. It was amazing. Seeing his mother and all his sisters. Suffering through their shameless teasing. Hanging out with his niece and nephews and causing chaos was the best part. They played everything from blind folded hide and seek, to board games and video games and of course, the iconic family game of paintball. It was a lot of fun to be had. But through it all, Olivia was never far from Fitz's mind. They texted a lot. He bombarded her with a ton of pictures of his family reunion. And even called in a few rescues with some of the silly things he was subjected to.

Fitz was able to have time with everyone separately as well. The big six shared a love of scotch. It was the only good thing they inherited from their father and once all the kids were asleep, they gathered in the backyard for open conversations about everything going on in their life. What was kicking their asses, things they were into at the moment or looking forward to, marriage troubles, new ladies or gentlemen in their lives.

That part they were extremely interested in. Even though Frankie, Katera and Dee were each dating new people, that was not the topic of interest. It was Fitz's business they wanted in on. They all had the same reaction that Laura had when Fitz showed them a picture of Olivia.

"When do we get to meet her?" Carina asked.

"Hopefully next time we do this again." Fitz grinned. He was hopeful and he couldn't wait.

---

The next morning on Saturday, Fitz had his time with Gerry. The two were really close. They were both early risers and enjoyed a good workout to start their day. They went for a long run on the property and wrestled on the large field for a bit afterwards. They spoke about college applications as Gerry was soon to be a senior in high school. They talked about the girl he was interested in at school. Even though he was a well liked kid in his school, when it came to girls, the poor kid was a big nerd and quite shy. He definitely got that from Fitz's late best friend Richard, who was Gerry's father.

When they returned to the house, everyone else was still sleeping but his mother was awake. Leah Grant smiled at her only son and eldest grandson. She greeted them each with a kiss on the cheek. While Gerry went to go hit the shower, Fitz opted to keep his mom company while she prepped breakfast for the family. And he was able to have his moment with her too.

As her only son, Leah shared a very special and sacred relationship with Fitz. Mothers aren't supposed to have favorites but Fitz was her pride and joy and held a special place in her heart. She was so proud of the upstanding gentleman he was. Nothing like his late father was. They might share the same looks, but their hearts and characters were completely different. Her boy is a sweet soul, so kind and caring. And he totally wore his heart on his sleeves. And that's why from the moment he walked into her arms yesterday evening, she was able to take one look into his eyes and see the intense love story written all over his face. And now was the perfect opportunity to get some intel.

"So are you gonna tell your old mom about the young lady that's captured your heart?" She asked, chuckling at the "deer caught in the headlights" expression on his face.

Fitz blushed. Was he that predictable? "It's still new. But I like her a lot."

"Yeah?" Leah smiled. "What do you like about her?"

"Everything." Fitz replied, biting into a strawberry.

Leah raised an eyebrow. Now more curious than ever. Fitz wasn't the only Grant man in the family to be taken with this new lady in his life. Her Teddy Bear was too and she heard all about her from the toddler's point of view weeks ago. Now she wanted to hear it from Fitz's. "What's her name?"

"Olivia Carolyn Pope! And she has the most beautiful, expressive brown eyes, mom." Fitz boasted proudly.

"And what else?"

Fitz shrugged. "She's smart, kind, fun and talented. She's a lover of simple things. She smiles a lot. And she makes me feel so happy and alive. She likes hugs and cuddles as much as I do. She makes me feel loved, cared for, understood. She's become one of my best friends. There's nothing I can't share with her."

There wasn't much else Leah needed to hear in order to sense that her son was completely in love. He wasn't saying it out loud but Leah knew her sweet boy. It was intuition.

"She sounds special, son. I can't wait to meet her." Leah said, reaching over and gently grazing Fitz's cheek.

And there was that blush and boyish grin again. Fitz leaned into her palm and kissed her wrist. "Neither can I, mom."

---

The rest of the day was memorable. After breakfast, everyone spent time outside by the pool. It was a beautiful day out. Frankie made everyone mixed cocktails while they sun bathed. The kids played various water games, splashing everyone not in the pool, which segued into a vicious game of water balloon fight and dunking each other in the pool. Even Leah was a victim. Nobody was excluded.

Later on when the sun went down, Fitz fired up the grill and helped Laura cook some marinated chicken and steaks. Katera played music, Carina and Gerry duetted, Theo and Karen danced with their grandmother. At sunset, they all huddled for a group picture before they sat down to enjoy a delicious family meal.

Fitz's heart felt full that evening. He texted Olivia to check in. He shared the group shot they took, and he pictured her in a similar shot at some point in the near future. He went to sleep with that thought in mind. Excited to return to his future the following day.

---

Sunday afternoon, after a lengthy, emotional goodbye with his family, Fitz returned from California. He was very anxious to see Olivia. He spent all weekend getting teased by his siblings but through it all, he was able to come to an important realization for himself and he wanted to share it with Olivia. He couldn't stop smiling. He didn't know how she would react and he hoped sharing with her wouldn't cause her to run away from him. But he was hopeful for a positive reaction. And even if she ran, as he told her many times before, he'll chase her over a cliff.

When he landed at the airport, his driver, Tom, was already waiting for him at the arrival pickup lane with the trunk open. When he saw the ex-marine, Fitz walked towards the car and threw his duffel in the trunk before he greeted Tom with a firm handshake and then got in the back of the Lincoln.

"Tom, please take me straight to Ms. Pope's apartment." He requested.

"Yes sir."

The second Tom pulled from the curb, he texted Olivia that he was on his way to her. She let him know that she was out for a walk but would be heading back home immediately to meet him.

The drive was relaxing. Knowing what his heart felt, he was at peace. But his excitement lingered the whole drive to Olivia's apartment. Roughly twenty minutes later, Tom was parking in front of her building and he sat in the car waiting for her.

"How was your trip, sir?" Tom asked.

"Pretty good, Tom. Thanks for asking." Fitz replied, scrolling through his emails on his phone. "Always nice to see the family and spend some quality time. But I missed my lady. So, glad to be back."

Tom could see the smile etched all over his boss's face just from thinking and talking about his girlfriend. He doesn't think he's ever seen Fitz so giddy. It was quite amusing to say the least. But he was happy for him. He thought they made a wonderful pair together.

"Speaking of… heads up." Tom nodded towards the windshield view.

Fitz looked up from his cellphone and there she was. The love of his life, walking towards him, looking unbelievably cute and fashionable in a pair of dark leggings, a light t-shirt, Burberry leather booties, and classic, dark ray bans. Her hair was straightened and layered perfectly on her shoulders.

She removed her sunglasses as she got closer to his door. She knocked softly on his window and he lowered the tinted glass, revealing his face and the grin he reserved exclusively for her.

"Fancy seeing you here, Mr. Grant." She teased. "Hey Tom!" She waved.

"Afternoon, Miss Pope." Tom greeted back.

Fitz got out of the car and leaned against it coolly. He raised his left hand and Olivia chuckled, mirroring him as she entwined their fingers together and stepped closer to him. "You look great." He complimented.

"So do you." Olivia smiled. "Did you get a haircut?"

Of course she noticed. Fitz nodded. "You like it?"

"I do." Olivia replied. "You look handsome."

Wanting her closer, Fitz let go of her hand and pulled her flush against his chest. He held her hips as Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck and tilted her head back slightly to get a good look at his handsome face and her favorite pair of blue eyes.

"Hi baby." She properly greeted, fingers playing at the curls on the back of his neck.

Fitz swooned. He felt himself weaken at the knees as he leaned in and captured her lips. They moaned in unison… both reminiscing at the familiarity and finding joy and pleasure in feeling so at home in each other's space. Olivia added more pressure. Her arms moved from around Fitz's neck and instead cradled his cheeks as the kiss deepened.

When the need for air surpassed their hunger for each other, they pulled away, breathing shortly and heavily. Fitz rained a few butterfly kisses across her nose and cheek, causing her to giggle. Finally he looked into her eyes and smiled again, "Hi." He said. "I missed you."

He was too cute. Olivia couldn't resist stealing a quick peck before returning his sentiments. "I missed you too, sweetheart."

"I have a secret to share with you." Fitz could feel his heart starting to speed to a different tempo for an entirely different reason. He was nervous. But he couldn't bear to spend another minute without letting her know. "No one else knows about this. Just in, fresh."

Olivia giggled. "Tell me, tell me! I like secrets."

"You sure you want to know?" He asked.

"Yup. I wanna be all up in your business! I can handle it."

Her response only served to make his heart thump faster. "Alright, so I didn't just miss you." Fitz said softly. "Turns out I can't even be away from you too long because I'm hopelessly in love with you."

"Hmmm…" Olivia hummed. Her heart was thumping in her chest and she wanted to break into dance. But she willed herself to remain cool and not even crack a smile as she further probed, "Just so I get this right. You…" She pointed at his chest "... are in love with me? You love me?"

Fitz nodded. "Yes. I love you."

It felt so liberating to confess that. But with his admission came the heart palpitations. He waited with bated breath for her reaction. He held onto her firmer, almost as if he was afraid she might slip right through his fingers and run away forever. But he was hugely mistaken because none of that happened.

Instead he got…

"Oh… Okay."

That was not the reaction Fitz expected. He couldn't tell if this was good. She wasn't really giving him much here. And he had only prepared for two scenarios. The one where he's overjoyed because she loves him too. And the one where he has to chase her and convince her to stop running away from him because he was all in. He didn't prepare for this indifference? Was it even that? He didn't understand what the hell was happening. And he felt himself becoming more and more flustered by the second. Maybe this was a mistake. He knew it was far too soon for these strong feelings. But what was he supposed to do? Let them suffocate him?

"Okay? W-what does that mean?" He stuttered miserably. "What happens now?"

Olivia shrugged, finally giving him a small smile. Fitz was forever confused by her mixed reactions.

"Whatever we want." She replied. "Personally, I'm feeling like ice cream."

"Ice cream?" He frowned.

"Yeah!" She knocked on the passenger window, startling the driver. "Hey Tom?"

Tom rolled the window down and poked his head out. "Yes, Miss Pope?"

"Could you give me and this gorgeous gentleman a ride to get some ice cream? Apparently he's in love with me or whatever. I'd kinda like to celebrate." As she said this, she was looking at him, smiling the most beautiful smile Fitz had ever seen and he felt a warm shiver run through him and melt his heart. She wasn't going to run from him. And he didn't even need to hear her say it to know she felt just the same as well. But damn, her poker face was on point. She really got him this time.

"It would be my pleasure." Tom smiled. "This is fantastic news, Miss Pope!"

"Thank you, Tom. We'll be just another minute." Olivia said.

She redirected her attention to Fitz. She ran her fingers through his hair, tugging on that stubborn, errant curl against his forehead. "I love you too, baby." She told him as she stared into his eyes. "I'm in love with you too."

Fitz's response came in the form of a giant grin and a peck to her lips. "I know."

"Oh, you know, do you?" Olivia chuckled. "Your heart was just in your stomach and all of the sudden...so cocky."

"Don't you dare start with me." Fitz sassed. "I swear you live to torture me, Miss "Oh… Okay"." He mimicked her reaction from earlier.

Olivia burst into laughter. "Can we go now Mr. Attitude?"

Fitz pushed off from the car and opened the door for her. "Après vous, mon amour."

He climbed in after her and she made herself comfortable against his chest, her leg crossed over his thigh. He kissed her temple and squeezed her in a tight hug. "You suck at keeping secrets by the way." He teased.

As they drove away, Tom caught Fitz's eyes in the rearview mirror and winked at him, as if to say, "she's a keeper". And he nodded back in response. Indeed, Olivia Pope was.