Sorry for the wait.

And thank you for reviews & dm's reminding me to write. Been trying to write this chapter sooner, but life has a way of taking control. 'Bigger' by Beyonce is the song choice. Did I tell you that 'Black is King' inspired this story?

Without further ado, hope you all enjoy.

Muse,

XoXo

Previously:

"So, you should hang out with us! We eat breakfast together every Saturday at this local café." Alice says quickly forcing Olivia to close her phone and stay present.

"Okay." Olivia agrees. Un-exactly sure why she would agree to such a commitment, but her therapist told her she should start trying new things and being more forthright.

"Really!" Alice asked excitedly about the prospect of having a new friend.

"Yeah." Olivia answers "sure"

"I think you are going to like it here!" Alice says with excitement as Olivia walks them out.

With the door shut.

Olivia smiles for the first time since arriving.

"I think we are too."

X

Olivia's never been one to be optimistic, hopeful. Life has shown her consistently that her dreams and hopes will fail her and leave her worse off than where she was. She's close to her new group of friends, far closer than she ever expected to be.

And she laughs.

Not a fake chuckle to hide her annoyance or discomfort, but a deep laugh planted at the bottom of her stomach.

She's never laughed this much.

Olivia has been waiting for the shoe to drop, waiting for the moment where she will have to pack her purse and her onesie and leave town.

But despite her reservations, life just got better.

And soon Olivia stopped looking at her phone every night, reading the newest story about her and Fitz.

After a month of people looking for her and "friends" claiming to give inside scoop to newspapers about her "pain" the story died.

She was no longer a trending topic, and with the scandal out of sight. Olivia knew the story would die, and the life she held and created would die with it. Showing just how insignificant her work was, the sacrifices she made left her wounded while everyone else thrived. The political world where she thought would drown without her was flourishing, so many missed opportunities due to her belief that her work came first.

The scandal is dead.

But like any true political fixer knows; no story is ever actually over.

She hates to confess this, but she would read the stories about her, how she was taking time for herself to get over the President who broke up with her. These creditable newspapers are lowering their standards to appease the mass, because true journalism is becoming a foreign subject, these papers are having to change their structure to get new readers and create a story they find acceptable. She sighs heavily with disgust about the stories being written about Fitz.

According to page six, Fitz has been spending time with multiple women as he enjoys his new freedom after she restricted and suffocated him. Olivia chuckles to herself but she knows there is truth to this. Fitz, is the first president to be single in office, and the most eligible bachelor in the world.

She throws her phone down after the latest article. Of course women from all over the world are traveling to America to get close to the most powerful man in the world. Fitz doesn't have to worry about being alone, the suitors lined up will keep him company, and she understands the interest.

Fitz is a remarkable person, charismatic, magnetic, electric, he has a way of creating this orbit around you where you are the singular most important person in the world.

She's glad, Fitz isn't lonely. And even more thankful that she herself is not a topic anymore, she just wished Fitz wasn't one as well.

/

"What's going on today CP?" Alice asked plopping down on the sofa next to Olivia

"Nothing just looking for a job." Olivia scrolls through her laptop, looking for the perfect job that she knows will not show up.

"What kind?" Shane asked her as she and Ryan sat in chairs adjacent to them.

"I don't know," Olivia answers honestly, and she doesn't know. Being a political fixer is all she knows. Fixing and solving issues is what she's good at. She could be a counselor but she knows she is highly underqualified to assist anyone when she herself is a colossal fuck up.

She created a list of things she's good at.

She likes helping people. She can give the best advice but when it comes to herself she fails to act and speak her own truth.

Her therapist told her she was a hypocrite. She was insulted at first by his bluntness but after a few minutes she agreed with his assessment, she is a hypocrite.

The biggest one.

"What do you like doing?"

Olivia laughs at Ryan's question, not because she finds it funny but it's the question she herself is still struggling to answer.

"I don't know." Olivia answers again " I'm still trying to figure that out."

"Well, C if you want my advice. Just apply for some jobs and see what comes up and if you like it then you stay put." Shane offers

"Thanks, Shane ."

"Honestly Car, you'll be great at whatever you decide to do."

Olivia smiles appreciatively at her friends "I just have no idea what to do. I'm still trying to find myself."

"Well, we all are trying to find ourselves. That's what makes us human." Shane smiles

" why the job?" Alice asked as they all sit in the living room eating Olivia's snacks.

"Well...I need money to pay for my house, food, and electricity, and basic human needs." Olivia laughs.

"You just didn't seem interested in a job!" Alice remarks

Alice is right, she hasn't been interested in finding a job. Not really. She has more money than she will ever need or spend but she has to stay busy. She has five more months before the baby is born. And she has officially made it to her second trimester. Work will settle her. It will keep her busy enough to focus on her new life and address her issues.

She doesn't want a job, but she knows she needs one.

She double clicks the job ad. A heavy sigh escapes her lips.

This wasn't the job she wanted, but perhaps it is the job she needs.

Without giving it more thought, she registers and applies for the job she knows she will get.

"What did you apply for ?"

Olivia answers Ryan "teaching gig at one of your university, under political science."

"You are a professor!" Alice exclaims with shock. She knows Carolyn is reserved, secretive with her information, and extremely hard to break.

"Was."

"I'm not shocked," Shane says

"Me either" Ryan answers

"Really?"

"Yeah, Car. You are reserved, elegant..."

"Boujee" Ryan responds causing Olivia to frown at their observation of her.

"I got this ladies," Alice says moving closer to Olivia on the couch as she moves further away. "What they are trying to say, Carolyn, is that you are an elegant, boujee snob."

"I'm not boujee." Olivia huffs

"Honey, you might not have designer brand clothes and purses but you can't take the boujee out of you."

A chuckle manages to escape, despite her attempts of concealing it.

"How?"

"We aren't going there." Ryan answers

"Well, you can't just make a statement without facts."

"Look it's not a bad thing. Ok, it's endearing. It's endearing. We like you the way you are. You are kind and thoughtful." Alice says trying to appease Olivia.

The group looks at one another.

"But we have more important things to discuss..."

"Such as..."

With a deep sigh, the group 'okay' Alice to begin this new topic. Alice reaches for Olivia's hands who withdraws them at first before conceding.

"What do you eat, Car?"

Olivia chuckles at the question "excuse me?"

"Look. Shane eats tacos. Ryan likes hot dogs. Me? I like both."

"Okay..."

"So what do you like?"

"I like popcorn. That's my favorite thing to eat and pineapple and mangos, strawberries too. I'm really-"

"No!" Alice yells cutting Olivia off.

"Shane likes tacos...Ryan likes wieners...I like both...what does Carolyn like eating?"

Olivia giggles at the ludicrous question but stops as she looks at everyone's face. First Alice who is never serious, then Shane, and lastly Ryan.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Curiosity."

The group shakes their head in agreement.

Olivia sighs, what she likes to eat has gotten her in more trouble than she can count or believe.

"Well?"

Olivia smiles to herself "I've always enjoyed a big...sausage."

The group screams and cheers. "I knew she liked wieners," Shane says with a smile at being right with her bet.

"Damn! I thought she was like me!" Alice hands Ryan and Shane money for the bet.

"Wait you guys betted on me?"

"I thought you were bi. But Shane and Ryan said you were straight. Ugh, I just lost money."

"Well, that's what you get!" Olivia laughs

"But Carolyn we are worried about you?"

"Why?"

"You stay at home, we try to get you out to clubs, bars, and you won't go. The only thing you do is eat and hang with us at home but that's not enough!"

"Alice."

"You need to get laid" Ryan answers

"Wait...what?"

" Car, you have cobwebs up your kitty cat. It's cold, shriveled, and lonely." Alice exclaims as her head falls on Olivia's lap.

"You guys want to know if I am getting laid?"

"Nah. We know you aren't getting some." Shane answers taking a sip of her beer

Olivia shoves Alice's head off her lap " I am not interested in sex."

"Why not?"

"Because ...sex has gotten me in trouble. A lot of trouble."

"You don't look like someone who gets in trouble," Ryan answers taking a good look at Olivia and to his knowledge. Olivia appears sweet, pure, not someone who causes problems.

"I've been in plenty trouble and been plenty bad. " Olivia promises

"How bad?" Alice asks "cause I have a guy who's fun! And you should just try some kiwi! You'll like it, it's pretty good."

I don't want kiwi"

"She wants tea"

"What's tea?"

"British." Shane answers

" Thank you for your concern, but I am fine."

With her polka dot blouse, Alice gives Olivia a look that causes her to giggle " I mean it, Alice."

"Sure."

"Well at least tell us about your dirtiest time." Ryan offered

"Y'all don't want to hear that."

" We do."

Olivia sighs, Deciding whether to for-tell her deepest and most sacred memories or savior them. She takes a sip of her sparkling water, having given up on liquor.

"Okay." Olivia offers "I had an affair with a professor, I was his teaching assistant and he was married. We both tried ignoring our feelings and for a while, it worked, but we eventually couldn't help ourselves so we had an affair. There is one day I will always remember...he was just promoted to president of the university and I was promoted to a professor in our political science field. There was a party at the university and we celebrated, but after a while, we found ourselves in his new office..." Olivia takes another large sip of water at those vivid memories coming back to her. "He sat me on his large oak desk, pulled down my panties, and ate me until I came...after that he kissed me on my lips so I could taste myself and he fucked me." Olivia's voice becomes deeper, heavier as the words fall from her lips "he fucked me so good. The way he knew my body... we could always connect with sex, but we didn't need it, what we had. Was rare, and beautiful as much as it was painful."

"Fuck! That was hot."

"Yeah, I could use a cigarette " Shane answered

"I'm semi-hard," Ryan said looking down at his pants.

"Was he the best?"

"Yes." Olivia answers honestly, she knows Jake boasted about his sexual prowess but when it came to Fitz, he knew he was good, he didn't require validation or super inflation of his ego. Her moans and whimpers were more than enough to confirm how superior he was in her sexual preference. " I like control. I love to be in control." Olivia corrects herself " but when it comes to him. I just let him take control and he brings me to climax every time."

"That's sexy!"

"He's very sexy" Olivia offers

"What happened?"

Immediately Olivia shuts down. "Another time, another story."

"Well that settles it, we are taking you to the sex store."

"Excuse me?"

"Yup. Get your ass up and let's go. I'll buy you something with my free points " Alice offers as the group drags Olivia to the store.

She has been in New Zealand for three months. There were times when she was close to flying back home or calling one of her gladiators, but she stopped herself. Her gladiators weren't her friends, she stopped treating them like friends long ago. The gladiators are her workers people she saved who are now indebted to her for the life saving moment.

When she thought about returning to America she reminded herself who would she be returning to? No friends, no family, she would have the press but no one who saw her as she is now. Yeah, there's Abby but, Olivia has never talked to the gladiators, they don't have any idea of her relationship Fitz better yet who she is. That's not to blame them, but herself for isolating everything and the person who gets near her.

The gladiators tried, but Olivia wasn't ready.

She eyes her new toy on her bed, packaged and ready to go, as Alice says.

It's been a long time since she's been with someone. Her decoupling with Fitz was painful as it was beautiful. Their last time felt final, as though the end to a beautiful epilogue that left the readers angry but the writer proud.

With her eyes closed she can still feel him around her. His heavy hands securing her to him.

She's horny.

Maybe it's her hormones, or maybe she misses the way she felt whenever she was with him.

Her friends want her to go out and find some guy, and knowing herself, Olivia would have jumped on the offer long ago without anyone being wiser. But this is different, she is different. She's not looking to complicate her life more than it already is. This time she will be different, she will try and be better, not for herself because she already hates herself, but for this baby that is growing inside her.

Without further thought. Olivia opens the package and begins her new self exploration. She opens her new gadget , switching the toy to vibrate as she begins playing with herself and losing control, after several minutes pass she is able to taste untainted pleasure.

She smiles with elation at her headache free orgasm.

'I've should've been doing this a long time ago'

/

"Hi, yes this is Ms. Price, I was calling to confirm my ultrasound tomorrow….. Ok…..Great. I will see you tomorrow. Thank you."

She's been avoiding her ultrasound. Afraid of what she might find or what might not be there.

She's scared of having a baby, but even more scared of losing it.

She touches her growing belly. Her friends fortunately haven't noticed, and she herself has tried to eat healthy, exercise regularly and avoid gaining too much weight.

But she knows soon enough, she will have to face her growing issue. The anticipation is relentless. She's avoided dreaming about this growing seed inside her, afraid of somehow poisoning this miraculous thing inside her. It leaves her flabbergasted many nights, as to how she can nurture and care for something inside her hostile environment.

But she is.

And she's capable.

In her dreams she tries to evade this bubbling joy festering inside her and she's been successful until now.

Her ultrasound is tomorrow. She's canceled and avoided going but the time has come for her to face her problems, and after talking with her therapist she feels ready for this life long commitment.

/

He's ticking.

Abby knows this but he doesn't. To everyone else, the President is just enjoying his new found freedom. But when the press gets a small glimpse of his sex life, she knows she has to be the one to fix it.

To fix him.

Olivia's gone.

He's now her problem.

"Mr. president."

"Abby" he offers a smile as he extends a chair for his most trusted companion.

"We have a problem." She's tired of beating around the bush, she's tired of ignoring the truth to appease him.

"What's wrong?" He's genuinely concerned

"You."

"Me?" His brow furrowed in confusion.

"It's Olivia and it's you."

Immediately Fitz jumps from his chair and walks away " I don't want to hear about Olivia Pope. She is not my problem."

"That's the problem, sir. You haven't heard from Olivia Pope. I told you she wasn't home and didn't answer my calls. I told you she was gone..."

"She ran off with Jake!" Fitz yells cutting Abby off " I've seen this story before Abby. When her father killed my son, Olivia went to the beach and screwed her boyfriend to deal with her grief. She's probably there with him now. So no, i'm not worried about Olivia. "

Abby doesn't respond, she forgot about Olivia's habit of disappearing. "Sir, I'm just worried about you ..."

"I'm fine."

"But you aren't. Your breakup hurt you, didn't it?"

He turns to Abby " Abby, our breakup was painful, more painful then being shot, but there was a finality to it that I can't ... she doesn't want me...not anymore...so the best thing I can do is move on. Which is what I'm trying to do."

"I agree with that, but sir. The press is finding out about your sleeping arrangements and instead of the focus being on your prospering economy it's about how you are sleeping with this reporter or that reporter."

"Your suggestion?"

She stumbles for a few seconds, trying to quickly and affecting handle this matter and man "pick a girl. One girl who you like, and do what you want with her . We have her sign a NDA, and there you guys can be discreet. And your work can take precedence."

Fitz nods his head in agreement " that works. Can you silence the other women before they start blabbing to the press? The last thing I need discussed is my manhood."

" I will give the list to Quinn Perkins and Associates and let them wrangle up those people."

" Thanks Abby , and your right. It's been four months and I'm doing okay, but I think about her...and I know I'm the last person she's thinking of. I'm trying, and i'll be better. I'll take this time to work on me." Fitz promises.

Abby smiles sadly at Fitz . Olivia never discussed their relationship, not in depth as she wanted, but Abby knows her friend, and she knows Olivia wanted Fitz . He was her endgame. And she wasn't ready to lose him, she told her this much but things can happen. And Olivia has a track record of fleeing.

"You deserve happiness too Mr. President."

/

"This is cold." The technician Says as she places cold gel on Olivia's growing bump.

Olivia doesn't respond, she's been sick all morning throwing up. Nervous and afraid of what she will see and what she might not find.

She holds her breath, waiting for the technician to find her heartbeat because at this moment, she's frozen. Dead. There's not a beat in her heart, no exchange of air flow.

She's drowning.

"Hmmm"

"What?" Olivia whispers staring at the blank screen

"There we go." The technician says with a smile "it was hiding!" She says with a laugh and Olivia too laughs with joy at the sound of her baby.

There it was.

Her heartbeat.

Her air.

Her reason to live.

He or she has made it.

They've made it.

A tissue is handed to her and Olivia could only smile appreciatively before wiping her eyes that sprang new and fresh tears each time she wiped them away.

This was happening.

This is real.

The baby growing inside her, is real.

No.

Magic.

This is baby is magic.

'Just breathe.' She tells herself

Inhale.

Exhale.

She tells herself this several times as she watches her baby on the screen, who's growing and getting stronger every day.

This baby, is her story, her legacy.

Their true legacy.

It hits her, all at once.

This baby is part of history, part of something far bigger than she ever imagined.

The President of the United States left his white wife for his black campaign manager. Despite the threats and protest, the rich white republican chose to love a black women. This baby is bigger then her and Fitz.

This baby is the true American story. The untold story, the history books would like to forget about. The tarnished tale of the closest person to an American king loving a commoner and with their unholy union bringing forth a child. A child that is neither black or white.

"Are you okay Ms. Price?"

"Yes" Olivia smiles happily "I'm wonderful. The baby?"

"Healthy."

"Good." Olivia sighs with relief. As she stares at the screen, and listen's to her child's heartbeat. Olivia has yet to hear such a beautiful sound as her baby beating inside her. Reminding her of their story and journey that is to come.

The technician hands Olivia, her first sonogram picture and without a word leaves Olivia to gather her thoughts.

Gently her fingers graze the picture

"Hi" Olivia whispers to her unborn child "I didn't think I would see you…..and I'm sorry for avoiding you…I've been so scared of losing you since I found you….I've wanted many things before but never as much as I want you" Olivia promises through her tears.

She sniffles " I promise I will get my life together, and be all that you want and need."

/

"Hey Quinn." Abby greets her walking into QPA.

"Hey Abby, how's the White House!" Quinn asked excitedly

"Busy, the President has been very busy." Abby answers jokingly referring to the President's sleeping arrangements

"Yeah, I'm sure Olivia has him stressed out."

"Speaking of Olivia, have you heard from her? Seen her around?" Abby asked looking around Quinn to get a quick peak of QPA, and hopefully a sighting of Olivia.

"No." Quinn shakes her head. "I just assumed she was with you or something."

There was an uneasy feeling, washing over. Her stomach dropping to the floor, her heart beating so profoundly out of her chest that the sounds vibrates to her ears.

"Hey Abby."

"Hi Jake."