Chapter 30

As Olivia stepped into the darkened shelter a sort of chill ran up her spine, making her body damn near numb, she had to stop to steady her knees. As she stopped in the middle of the room, at least she thought it was the middle of the room, she would've bet her life she heard the echoes of sobs.

"Hello?" She called as she began to take a few steps towards the first bedroom, the one she met Joyce in a few weeks ago. "Is anyone in here, I'm not here to hurt you. I am here to help you." Olivia took a deep swallow. It was so damn dark, not even a light from the street was shining in.

Liv turned towards the noise she heard momentarily, because then it all became a blur. A big, muscular hand was around her neck, squeezing, and out of instinct, Olivia grabbed the wrist. "Let go," she wanted to say, but it just came out as a gurgle. A bright light suddenly shined into her eyes, the light of a flashlight and the shadow she could see holding it was Big Gerry.

"Ease up Dante, I don't want her dead, at least not yet." Gerry's voice came through calm, although Liv could not see him, just his silhouette.

The hand loosened its grip and Liv could feel it was hard to swallow. "What do you want, Fitz will have you killed for this you know?"

"Fitz cares about his son, he doesn't love you. You gave him his golden ticket, Olivia. Olivia Pope, that name comes to me in my dreams, the way you destroyed my family and everything I had planned."

Olivia went to lunge at him, but it was useless, the thug he had holding her up to the wall was too strong. "Huck!" Olivia was about to scream, but only "HUH" came out. Then she thought she couldn't call Huck, he was their secret weapon, a person no one knew about.

"Easy there Pope, you don't want Dante to squeeze too hard accidentally, then you won't even get to see your little guy grow up."

Her jaw was being squeezed now, and her teeth grinded, but she was able to get the words out. "What do you want?"

"I want you to go back to New York, leave the kid, leave Fitz, go on with your life. I spoke to Mr. Flannery already; he's willing to take you back. You can go on making your six-figure salary, move up to partner, and live a nice life. This fling with the Governor of California, a misunderstanding, you brought his son to him. His son that was conceived during a drunken bout of sex."

Olivia blinked but couldn't hold the tears back. "No," her head began to move side to side. "No, we love each other, we are going to grow as a family, no, Gerry don't do this."

"See, I knew you would come here. Jax always said you had a weak spot for the abused women. Maybe if you had let Abby be, not meddled in her life with Chip, she would still be alive. No, you had to piss him off, he had no choice but to kill Abby, she was going to ruin him, and now, you come along to ruin my son."

"That's not how this happened." Dante squeezed harder now, and she stopped talking.

"Stop talking now. If you won't agree to go to New York, forget all this, and you would rather die, then say goodbye to my grandson."

Suddenly the lights came on, and Fitz walked slowly into the room, smiling at Grant who was wide awake in his arms. Grant was smiling at his father, reaching out to touch his face. Fitz didn't even look up, away from his son.

"Fitz." Dante finally let his grip go on Olivia. "Fitz, look at me." Dante's handprint was clear around her neck. Fitz kept walking, ignoring the scene in front of him, Liv's voice, and began speaking softly to Grant.

"Just you and me kid, mommy up and left. Grandpa tried to warn me, but I didn't listen. Don't worry, it's just us now. We'll be fine."

"NO" Liv screamed out. "NO, FITZ!" Olivia reached out for him, but Dante grabbed hold of her again. This time Liv didn't go down without a fight. She began flailing her arms, scratching him a few times as he grabbed his face.

Suddenly, Liv stopped. The room went completely dark again, and she saw Abby's face. "Stop fighting it Liv, you've fought enough. Just stop fighting it ok, it will all work out. Fitz will always take care of you. He isn't Chip."

Liv's hand reached towards her best friend. "I can't stay Liv." Abby vanished as quickly as she came, and Liv saw Dante coming at her again, this time he was holding Grant.

"GIVE HIM TO ME!" She heard herself yell and she felt two hands on her shoulders, holding her down.

"OLIVIA! CALM DOWN!" Her eyes opened and Fitz was staring down at her, holding her shoulders in place on the bed. His body was straddled over hers.

Thank God he had taken Grant out of her arms when they both fell asleep during the feeding. He brought Grant to his crib where, after he settled him down, Fitz made few phone calls. He had to cut the calls short when he heard Liv yelling in her sleep.

He opened the door, and she was punching the pillow. He hadn't seen this since the hotel when she was fearing Jax. "Jesus, Liv." He couldn't get to her if he tried. He would be punched right in the face if he did.

The shelter being closed had to trigger this, the danger the women may be in, thoughts of Abby, something, Fitz was thinking. He saw her turn to her back, and that's when he straddled her, holding her down.

"Fitz, don't go, don't." She sat up and wrapped her arms around him, resting the side of her head on his chest. "I'm not leaving you, ever, you know that right."

"Liv," he whispered, putting his cheek onto her head. "What's going on?"

"Where's Grant?" Liv asked looking at the empty cradle. "Where is he? Fitz, where's your father? Does he have him?" Her eyes closed tightly after she said the words. Of course Gerry didn't have him, why would she even say it.

"Liv, Livvie, no, of course not. He's sleeping in his crib." He reached over and grabbed the monitor. "See", he held it so Liv could see.

Liv rubbed the screen. She nodded to it. "Ok." She put her forehead into her hands and began to rub her eyes. She stopped and looked up at Fitz. "It was so real, Fitz, the dream, it was so real. And Abby…." Liv couldn't go on.

"Hey, it's fine, ok, everything is fine. I'm here. The women are safe, especially Joyce, the Chief of Police in Sacramento has them secured. He's mine, the Chief, he doesn't work for my father, he wasn't appointed by him. Huck has them all on surveillance too, so you can go take a look if you want."

Her forehead rested now against his chest as she felt his arms go back around her. "I'm ok, can we go to Sacramento tomorrow, I know it wasn't in the plans."

"I already have a flight scheduled for 10. I knew you would want to be there."

She looked up at him now, always so calm when she needed him to be. "Thank you," she whispered, and she felt him take a deep calming breath. "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I never want to see you hurting or in fear, Livvie, never." The back of his hand went down her tear-stained cheek, and she pulled him down to her lips, just taking him in.

It was oxygen she needed from him, and he pulled her body closer to his as his kiss calmed her insides that were still shaking.

Her hand now beginning at his cheek, and her fingers ran through his hair to the back of his neck, still kissing, as she finally pulled away and rested her forehead on his. She shook her head from side to side. "I was in the shelter all alone, everything pitch dark, and your father had one of his thugs grab my neck. He told me to go, get back to New York and pretend we never happened. We had a drunken fling, I brought Grant to you, and it was over."

Her head when down now, but her hand stayed holding the back of his head. "You appeared, turning on the lights, with Grant in your arms, just ignoring what was happening and talking to Grant, telling him I left and you two would be fine," she sobbed thinking of that, of ever losing Grant.

"Livvie." He lifted her head up from her chin, looking at her, tears in his eyes now. "That would never, ever happen. Right now my father is the new enemy. You'll get him, I'll get him, but the dreams are coming and until you defeat him, don't let him live in your head."

"I know that Fitz, then I saw her, Abby. I reached for her, but she couldn't reach back. She told me you weren't Chip; you were better. But how does she know that?" Liv squinted just wanting to put the whole dream behind her. She took a deep, shaky breath. "I miss her Fitz; it's going to be a year on Thursday."

"I know," Fitz finally moved, laying down on the bed and raising his arm so he could gobble her up in it. He rubbed her shoulder as her head finally rested.

"I want to prepare Joyce to run against Sanderson. I think Vivian and I can get her ready." She yawned. "That's one way to defeat your father."

"Liv, emotionally, I don't know if she's ready."

"She can do it Fitz; I feel it in my gut. She'll be a Republican on the State Senate, you'll need her, and there's no way she's not on our side after all this." He felt her eyes close, and she was back into sleep, a peaceful one, hopefully for the remainder of short, remaining night.

Fitz was not going to sleep like Olivia was. His mind was racing, and his anger was beginning to overtake his thoughts. He had spoken to Chief Leon, the women were safe, that was true, but for how long?

Without moving an inch so that Olivia could stay asleep in his arms, his hand was able to grab his phone. As the display lit up, he hit send. "What is it sir?"

"Get to Putney's beach house. I want my father brought in for questioning on the death of Jax Putney."

"Sir?"

"Did I stutter?"

"No sir, but he's a Senator."

"No shit, and I'm the Governor, bring his ass in for questioning. Is that clear enough?"

"When?"

"Ten minutes ago, get it done, now!"

Fitz heard a pause, then a deep breath. "Yes sir."

The line went dead. It lit up again as he began dialing.

"Sir" Tom said, answering the call.

"Get to the Putney home in Avila Beach. I want you to make sure my father is being brough out in cuffs, and it better be happening within the next half hour."

"Yes sir, and if it's not?"

"Get over to Chief Nagle's house and drag him to the beach house and make him do it. Tell him I sent you."

"Yes sir." Tom was already out the door before Fitz cut the call.

The next was a text to Linda Marshall. "Sorry for the late text. I'll be arriving at the statehouse tomorrow around noon. Something has come up that needs immediate attention. I'll call you in the morning."

The next text to Huck. "How are the ladies?"

An immediate response. "Sleeping, all of them, they are fine, get some sleep."

"Liv had a dream, it was bad."

"Is she ok? Do you need me to come up?"

"She's ok, just keep an eye on those women, especially Joyce."

"I'm on it."

Dez shook his head. He wasn't so sure of Gerry's strategy. "tell me again how closing a women's shelter in the middle of the night is going to help us at all? They're going to have the sympathy of every person in the state."

"Joyce Waters was in that shelter. We have to keep her scared, we don't want her thinking she can use this to her advantage."

Dez crossed his brows in confusion. "How do you know she was there?"

"I know, ok. Now I'm one step ahead. Plus, her grand jury convenes on Tuesday, I'm sure Olivia Pope will be there, isn't that who you really want Dez?"

"Your daughter in law." His eyebrows went up now. "You're going against your own daughter in law, the mother to your grandson." Dez was having his doubts.

"My son disowned me Dez, he's no longer my concern, I have to focus on business and get the Republicans back to how it should be, my son isn't going to do that. Ever since he met…" Gerry grew tight lipped; he still didn't believe this wasn't all a setup.

Dez shrugged. "I can't deny Fitz isn't your typical Republican, but he has support that is bi partisan. You're better off in DC, BG."

"Well, that's not happening." Gerry looked over Dez's shoulder at he picture hanging of Jax and Chip. "We have a Memorial Service to…..

"POLICE, OPEN UP!" Banging on the door, Gerry looked in the direction.

Dez ran to the stairs, not able to be seen, but able to see the scene unfold.

Gerry swung the door open. "Nagel, what the hell? Have you lost your mind?"

"Senator I have to take you to the station for questioning."

Gerry looked at his longtime friend up and down like he was someone else. "Like hell you do."

"Gerry, don't make this harder than it has to be. I'm taking you in, turn around, put your hands behind your back."

"You're kidding me right. Joe, for Christ's sake I appointed you to this position, are you out of your mind?"

"Actually, Fitz appointed me, remember I work for Santa Barbara. Now, Gerry." Two of his officers stepped up behind him.

"Questioning for what exactly?" Gerry began to turn.

"The death of Jax Putney."

"Questioning. Why the hell do you have to cuff me?" Gerry waited but heard silence.

"He told you to cuff me, didn't he?" Gerry shook his head. "He's lost his mind too." As Gerry stepped out in the cuffs, a flash of light came from his side. The photographer looked at his screen and snapped two more, two more bright flashes.

Gerry, without resistance, went to the back of the car and looked out the window. He saw Tom, standing off to the side, in the darkness, but enough light shining on his face to be recognized. As the car rolled away, Gerry saw the phone to Tom's ear, and no doubt on the other end, was Fitz gloating in fact that Gerry was cuffed and off to the station.

"Sir, it's done. Huck has the pictures already."

"Thank you, Tom, get some rest tonight, Alec and Toby are on. Meet at the airport at ten."

"Yes sir."

Knowing his father wasn't going anywhere or doing anything for the next twenty four hours, Fitz tightened his grip around his sleeping wife. He gently kissed her temple. She moved slightly, bringing her body closer to him, but continued to sleep.

Fitz looked at the clock, he wasn't expecting much sleep, but he'll take what he can get, his job being done now for the night.

"Yep, until Tuesday. You two get to spoil him again. He's never going to listen to his parents." Liv smiled. She was showered, dressed, and anxious to get on the plane. She wasn't anxious, though, to leave Grant. Every time she looked at him, her heart pounded with fear from that dream.

MiMi reached her hand, she saw the fear in Liv's eyes. "He'll be fine Olivia, don't you worry. Erin and I will take good care of him."

Liv smiled, watching Erin by the window with Grant. She was bouncing him, her lips to his temple as his head leaned towards his Nana. Grant was listening to what Erin was telling him was outside the window.

Gripping the lavender necklace Fitz gave her as she fidgeted, she squeezed MiMi's hand. "I know, it's not you I worry about."

"Well, last night I had on that local show, the one with the young lady, that gossip person." MiMi looked at the ceiling thinking, "What's her name? Oh, oh, Raquel,"

"Ok", Liv figured MiMi didn't remember she wasn't from here. "Go on."

"She had the video of Fitz introducing you while holding Grant, now this woman Olivia, that Raquel, she isn't known for any softness, and even she was in love. The First Family of California, and how adorable is Governor Grant's little mini? Those were her words. Girl, if Raquel likes you, everyone likes you."

Liv's shoulders went up a bit now with a slight laugh. She thought of the women at the ball, especially Tiffany. "Oh, I can think of a few housewives that may want to scratch me up a bit." Liv began telling MiMi about the ladies before Fitz introduced her.

Erin came over now to hear this. "Tell me they said something to you, frigging hoes."

Liv turned to Erin. "MA!"

Erin shrugged. "Truth hurt?" Erin handed the sleeping Grant to MiMi as she sat up against the bed. He folded into his MiMi's arms, not even stirring at all. MiMi kissed his temple, looking at him lovingly. Without even looking up, she asked. "Was one of them named Tiffany?"

Liv's eyes shot up, she looked at Erin then at MiMi, "Yeah, how do you know?"

"That one's been trying to get in Fitz's pants since he was 20. Money digging, power hungry wench is what she is."

Liv covered her mouth now and let out a laugh. "You're kidding."

"Nope, Fitz doesn't even know her name. It's comical, you have nothing to worry about, besides, if Fitz left you to marry her, he would be her fourth husband."

"HA!" Erin busted out. "Wow!"

"Stop it!" Liv had tears in her eyes now from laughing. "She was not married three times before."

"Oh, yes, she was. The first two died of old age, I kid you not. Melvin was 76 and had years of medical issues, Les was 75, and his heart gave out."

Liv shivered in disgust. "Eww, stop. What happened to the third?"

"Crushed at his home during construction. He was blind, he didn't see the backhoe coming down to dig, hit his head, killed him instantly and then scooped the body up. Tiffany cried crocodile tears at the funeral, but she still didn't get any money from any of the marriages." MiMi shrugged. "So no way Fitz even looks at her."

Liv's mouth was open in complete shock. "She smirked up. You're lying MiMi, aren't you?"

MiMi let out a hearty laugh, and it looked and sounded good on her. "Yes, Liv, I'm lying, but honestly, she does have a slutty reputation. Mention her name to Fitz, he'll tell you."

She side eyed MiMi, smiling, "I'll do that. Let's see if he's a bit uncomfortable."

Erin gave her a pat on her back. "Feeling better, you're less tense now."

Liv nodded. "Yeah." She turned and hugged Erin, blinking back the tears filling her eyes. "This week is going to be…."

"I know, Liv, it'll be tough, but she wouldn't want us sad, she would want us to fight, go on without her."

Liv nodded. She leaned in and kissed Grant, holding his hand to her cheek. Then she gave MiMi a kiss on the forehead. "Thank you MiMi. I love you."

MiMi took hold of her hand. "I love you too dear, now go help those women, and get Joyce in the running. It's about time a woman runs that Senate."

"I plan to, as soon as Fitz gets back. He left in a hurry this morning, while I was in the shower. That's not like him so I'm guessing some development happened overnight. Let me get in one more feeding with Little Man while I'm waiting for him." She took Grant and sat over by the window leaving the two spoiling grandmas to chat about their upcoming overnight.

The door opened and Gerry didn't even look up. He knew who it was and he had nothing to say to Fitz. He made his choice, and Fitz wasn't it.

Fitz sat across from his father now, in a cold basement room in a Santa Barbara police station. "You have an issue with me, you take it out on me, don't go dragging innocent abused women into your sick game of dirty politics. Closing a women's shelter in the middle of the night, nothing is beneath you anymore is it. You have slid down the corruption slide. But rest assured you went after the wrong area."

Gerry turned his head to the side and glanced at the cement wall. He shook his head both in agreement and disagreement. He finally turned to Fitz and Gerry had the same cold stare his son had, as they just looked at one another. Gerry glanced away first looking down at Fitz's hand and noticing the wedding ring. He shook his head in disbelief.

"You just aren't seeing the whole picture, are you? Well, you never will and that's why I'm doing what I'm doing. For eight long years I built programs and signed bills to change California from the weak state the Democrats had it in. I worked tirelessly to get representatives on the Senate that would have the same values, and here, a few years later, you come along wanting to bring all your modern crap in and erase everything I have done."

"What does this have to do with closing a women's shelter, you tell me that?"

"The same thing it has to do with why I'm here. What do I know about Jax's death? NOTHING! For all I know damn Dolores did it herself, probably held his head under the water."

"MiMi stepped in at a time you needed her the most. She took me in, cared for me like her own. The only one who could've done better would have been mom. Mom knew she was losing you; she knew you were spinning into that black hole. I tried; I really did. I turned a blind eye, but I couldn't anymore, not after knowing the true men Jax and Chip were and how you enabled them all those years."

"Yeah, and who made you think about Jax as that man? Olivia Pope, see, don't you get it, her friend, her sister, whatever you want to call her."

"ABBY!" Fitz yelled.

"Abby," Gerry waved his hand. "She tried the same thing with Chip. The only thing is Chip wasn't you. You would never strike a woman, I know that. So, Abby doesn't get Chip the way she wanted him. Suddenly, here is Olivia Pope in California and look who she winds up with. You keep saying it was coincidence, but I see it as otherwise."

"You never even asked me the events that led up to me meeting her, you're just assuming, like you always do. I fell in love, Dad." Then Fitz stopped. He didn't want to call Gerry that anymore. "I couldn't take the control anymore, the detail, the whole fake marriage to be with Mellie, so I took off and it was by pure drunken luck I wound up with Olivia, so get whatever sick thing you're trying to compare this to out of your head and face facts."

Gerry rubbed his eyebrow. "I could've had it all Fitz. By the middle of my first term I could have been a shoe in for president, I wasn't your so called corrupt Governor, yet. I didn't though because you needed stability. Then, I got elected for the second term, but I had too much of the Putney money, too many favors I had given, so I quietly termed out, and watched you grow to a brilliant young man."

Gerry stood now, he turned his back to Fitz. "It was everything your mother didn't want. She didn't want you in the political spotlight, but it was your destiny, and I felt I had a hand in that."

"It was my choice, I chose to do it. MiMi told me everyday mom wanted more for me, but I saw how it consumed you, how you sold your soul, and I wasn't going to do it that way. Why do you think I gave my life to politics at the age of 18? I wanted it to be known from the start I wasn't going to be you."

"And I was fine with that, Fitz, I really was. That's why I put everything behind you, I gave you everything, I taught you everything, and you…." He slapped the wall. "You threw it all away."

Fitz stood now, pushing the chair with the back of his legs. "I threw nothing away. I am doing things my way, and you know what, people like it. I'm not relating myself with the likes of Putney or a Sanderson. Watch Senator Grant, you just watch how every corrupt bill you ever signed that's still in effect goes down. You want a war with me, bring it, but remember, you're not here, you're in DC, so your ammunition is small. The Putney empire, what's left of it, it's going down. And you keep Olivia's name and my son's name out of your mouth. You wanted nothing to do with her, or with him, so keep it that way."

The door opened and Tom poked in. "Sir, Detective Samuels."

The detective set a tablet down in the middle of the table. "We were able to confirm the Senator's story about being at the ranch house Governor. If you would just look at the footage, we have from the night Jax, um, Mr. Putney, drowned, you'll see the Senator didn't get too close to the beach.

Fitz didn't even look down at the monitor. He just cold stared at Gerry. "I don't need to see it, Samuels," Fitz saw it all already. Huck had shown him how he altered the whole night's video footage. Fitz knew his father wasn't involved but pissing him off was Fitz's main goal.' "Thank you for your time, Samuels, good work. Let the Senator go."

"Sir." Samuels said. "We're wrapping up the investigation. We should have it cleared by Wednesday. We'll hold a press briefing, of course first running it by you."

Fitz nodded. "I'm sure it's going to include a detailed explanation of how my infant son was a target of a kidnapping."

Gerry stood up. As Samuels was leaving, Gerry leaned over to get Fitz's ear. "Joyce is scared, and what happened at the shelter last night, shook her up even more, she's not off the hook yet, so whatever you're thinking, don't. Remember son, I made you, you can never escape me."

Fitz just smirked. Gerry's up against Olivia, so it's not Fitz Gerry has to worry about, but the Senator doesn't know that yet. Fitz remained silent.

Before Gerry exited, he turned to Fitz. "You don't have to worry about me, I'm not going to do anything physical to Olivia and certainly never to my grandson, but you have one angered man in Dez. Much like Olivia wanted retaliation for Abby, so does Dez, for Chip. Good luck son."

Fitz was heading back to the ranch house now, ready to leave with Olivia. He was looking forward to the small get away with her. He put some California news on his phone feed.

The live report was coming through now on his phone, as he watched the footage of protestors outside the shelter center in Sacramento. He sat upright staring at the screen. "What the….?", and he had to smile. He recognized the organizer, a one Vivian Simmons, front and center with a megaphone.

This was Olivia's doing. She wanted the publicity and as the car turned into the driveway, he couldn't wait to get her to Sacramento and watch her do her thing. He looked again at the screen as Vivian led the protest and challenged the state senators to finally wake up and help women instead of controlling them.

When Fitz went into the home, he knew she would be with MiMi. With their bags by the door and the car being loaded, Fitz made his way up. Before he entered the room he listened momentarily to the conversation.

"I was watching it unfold live. I saw your face Liv when he called you up." Erin was saying, "and the gleam, the glow, everything about you was happiness, and then I went down, but the last thing I remember was your happiness shining all over you." Erin smiled. "I thought it wouldn't be bad dying watching you so happy." Erin stopped.

"MOMMA! Stop, you're not dying!" Liv put her arm around Erin.

"That's what it's all about, Liv." MiMi chimed in. "I have never seen Fitz so happy as he is with you. His whole life he had a missing piece and you have filled it. And this little guy," MiMi kissed his cheek as she held him, "well you've fulfilled a dream of his from the time he was seven. He always spoke about being a daddy." MiMi glanced up and saw Fitz, putting his finger to his lips so she wouldn't give it away that he was there.

From behind, he scooped up Olivia, as she squealed in surprise and gripped her arms around him. She laughed, burying her head on his shoulder, having been embarrassed to have screamed. "Fitz! Damn, you scared me.!" Then their eyes connected, and no one but them was in that room.

Her forehead rested on his. "I missed you." She took a deep breath after she said the words and put her lips to his.

They heard a tiny "Ahhh" come from the bed, Grant looking at his parents. Fitz put Olivia down and scooped Grant from MiMi. He lifted him high up and down to his lips, kissing him on the forehead. "You be good for MiMi and Nana, ok." Before giving him back to MiMi, Fitz leaned to her. "Thank you."

She kept him close to her so she can whisper. "No, thank you. Seeing you so in love, it makes it all worth it." She gave him a pat on his cheek and he put Grant back in her arms.

"Abby is smiling at you, Liv. Those ladies are in good hands. If you help one woman overcome the abuse, it would all have been worth it. I love you." Erin gave Liv a big hug before she headed out the door with Fitz.

Fitz had to spend most of the time riding to the airport on the phone, while Liv was texting Vivian back and forth. They both were planning things to get done while they would be in the Capitol, Fitz of course having more to do than Olivia.

"So, what's the plan First Lady Grant?" Fitz asked as they were finally in the air.

"As much as I love you, Governor Grant, I am not divulging my secrets. You'll just have to watch the news, like everyone else." She smirked at him.

"The duplex tonight." Fitz said as he pulled her into his arms.

"Our honeymoon suite." Olivia wrapped her arms around his. "I can't wait." She bit her bottom lip looking at him.

"Huck will be with you today, shadowing you, Luther is your lead guy, just so you're aware." The plane was landing, and they were getting into separate cars.

"I'm aware." She kissed him softly and went on her way.

As Liv arrived at the shelter, the protest was still in full swing. There were about 100 men and women holding signs shunning the federal government. There was also a podium with a microphone for anyone who wanted to rally up the protest.

With Luther leading the way with a few officers, Liv got out of the car and the crowd seem to grow silent. It was her first appearance since being introduced as Olivia Grant, wife of Governor Grant. With her eyes focused on the entrance, there was a sheriff officer standing guard, and Olivia walked toward him.

Before she began her walk, though, everyone looking at her, waiting to see what kind of leadership she would bring to the first lady of California role, she turned towards the car. "Mr. Coleman." Liv nodded as the man got out of the car holding a folded paper.

The camera man was able to get a front focus now of Olivia and Mr. Coleman, Fitz's Housing and Community Development director and unbeknownst to Olivia, the video went live. "We have breaking at the women's shelter in Sacramento where our first look at Olivia Grant is of her joining the protestors in the abrupt shutdown of the shelter, displacing some victims, let's listen in."

Olivia approached the podium. "At 2 am local time, this shelter was shut down due to lack of funding, lack of meeting the requirement 10% match in funds. Domestic violence victims were displaced and put in danger. The quick actions of Governor Grant ensured their safety, and, as I speak, he is with Senator Sandra Fletcher signing an executive order to ease financial burdens on centers as this one."

Applause and cheers came from the crowd, the first sounds since she stepped out of the car. Liv took a quick breath and glanced at Viv who nodded to her. "You got this."

"Mr. Coleman, director of Housing and Community Development has ensured a $150,000 grant to open the doors back up immediately." Olivia looked at the sheriff officer who just fidgeted with his belt and shrugged as she spoke.

"I urge you to get on the phone with Washington DC, contact Senator Grant's office at 202-455-2222 and as his constituents, urge him to fund and to continue to fund services to help women, especially the most vulnerable ones. Your Governor is working towards doing such, and DC needs to step up as well. Thank you." Liv stepped down towards the entrance.

She handed the paper Coleman was carrying to the Sheriff's officer. He glanced at it not really reading it and opened the door with a deep huff. Around back, the door was being opened as Joyce and three others, along with Janice, were returning safely to the shelter.

As Liv walked into the building, signaling Vivian to come in behind her, she turned, taking Vivian's megaphone. "Thank you all for being here, continue to be a voice, and remember, contact Senator Grant, all day today."

Fitz was in his office at the mansion watching with the biggest smile on his face. Of course Sandra Fletcher was not there, there was no executive order, not yet anyway. Sandra's aides were writing it up as Fitz was waiting. Olivia just secured Sandra's victory in November with her little speech, and Sandra couldn't be more thankful.

Huck and Luther sat with Liv in the back on the way home to the duplex. Huck gave a pat to Liv's hand. "That was great Liv, Abby would be proud of you."

"Well, it's not over yet, Joyce still has the grand jury tomorrow. We are in for a long day tomorrow. We want the grand jury not to indict." Liv took a deep breath. "It's not impossible, the evidence the prosecutor has is minimal, but who knows? I need to get Joyce ready for a campaign."

"But still, you were brilliant, back in your natural element again." Huck gave a quick smile and then turned back towards the window.

Liv faced the fireplace now in the living room of the duplex, standing and looking around. "Fitz?", she called out.

Suddenly she felt his lips on her neck, his hands around to her stomach. "You were brilliant, Livvie. Gerry's office got over 200,000 calls today."

She turned and kissed him. "Do I get a prize for that?"

"Do you want it now, or after dinner?"

"MM, now, please." She kissed his neck.

"Wait, first look." Fitz clicked the remote and it went to the footage of Liv turning from the car. She watched herself walk into the crowd, and her strut was certainly unique. She put her face in her hands, "what was I doing?"

"Looking like the badass I married, the badass I fell in love with, and the only thing missing from those hands was a bat." He licked his lips. He began to unbutton her blouse, pushing it back off her shoulders, as he scooped her up in just her bra on top, kissing her all the way to the bedroom.

Up in the bedroom, on the bed, Fitz sat down, putting Liv on his lap, straddling her husband. His big smooth hand rubbing her cheek, as she tilted her head towards the touch, his other hand, going up her smooth skinned stomach and circling her tender gorgeous breast. Her hands unhooked the bra as it fell off.

Liv let out a moan and opened her eyes slowly, looking down at him. She used both her hands to cup his face, and kissed him tongue first, long, as she felt her body ache in want for him. He turned onto the bed, holding her to still stay on the top, straddling position.

His hand continued on her breast, as his other was now rubbing her back, the one on the breast, working its way down now to her wet fold. When his fingers met it, Liv tensed and threw her head back, now putting her hand where his left her breast.

Head up, Liv breathed deeply letting out a small groan, as his fingers moistened her with the juices. Liv reached her hand back, gripping his rock hard erection, and she felt him pause, tensing up with her touch.

Going back down into a kiss, she saw his hand reach over to the nightstand drawer. He was reaching for a condom, and Liv stopped his hand, pinning it above his head, and crushing his lips with hers before he could speak.

Her other hand, guided his dick to her entrance, spreading the juices, and she thrusted her body, so he was inside her, deep, before she began to ride. Her head fell to his neck, and he whispered, "Livvie"

She continued her motion, slowly, sitting up and rubbing his chest, his hands now resting on her hips, watching her take all control. Again, she cupped his face, kissed him and stopped her motion. She was done, knowing she wasn't able to control the orgasm about to hit. She swallowed, in a breathless voice, "you're ok with not having a condom on."

Fitz's eyes were closed and he nodded in full agreement with not having one on.

"Are you close Fitz, come with me, baby." She whispered in his ear, licking around his lobe, and he pushed harder on her hips, grunting.

"I can't hold on Liv, I'm…." he stopped and she felt him, so she was able to let it go, and they had such a tight grip on one another as they orgasmed together, and just held each other for five minutes afterwards.

"Liv, what are you doing?" He caressed her hair as she rested on his chest.

She looked up at him. "What do you mean?"

"No condom again."

"Erin lost a grandbaby when Abby had her miscarriage, MiMi lost a chance at having a baby because a monster raped her, and you, well you deserve everything Fitz, and if we can get to have more than Grant..." She stopped. "I love that boy with all my heart and there's nothing I would want more than to give you another child."

She shrugged. "Besides, what's wrong with the Governor and his wife having their second baby? Little ones running on the mansion lawn and maybe," her finger circled his chest, "maybe the White House lawn one day." She knew what he dreamed of for so long, and she wanted to be the one to give it to him.

He closed his eyes, pure love for this woman was all he could feel as he pulled her close to his chest. "Livvie are you sure?"

"Let's just see what happens, ok?"

"Ok" He agreed.

They drifted off into a brief sleep after a very long day.

"Well, there you fucking have it, they love her." Dez tossed the remote onto the floor after watching the coverage of Olivia. "So much for shutting down the shelter."

Gerry stared at the screen. She was good, natural, he had to admit that. He looked at his phone, but he forgot he had to turn it off.

Barbara couldn't handle all the calls coming into his office after Olivia announced his number on live television. 12 interns and Barbara couldn't handle the influx of calls coming in, and he had to take and answer all of them, which he will do tomorrow.

The shelter reopened, Fitz signing an executive order to ensure this doesn't happen again, and Joyce Waters back to being a political threat to Sanderson. "The people aren't the only ones who love her." Gerry shook his head talking about Fitz. This battle went to Fitz.

Gerry rubbed his face. He created Fitz, it wasn't over yet, but you can't win a war if you lose battles. After the talk with Fitz today, he was in for a few battles. Gerry picked up the phone. "Justice Evers, I understand you have a grand juror I may speak to before they gather tomorrow."