"Tony, Kerry!" A familiar voice called out to them and both turned in sync seeing Darby in the back door of Shonda's house. "Everyone's asking about you both! Come on" she waved her hand motioning them to come back inside. Tony and Kerry returned back inside and immediately started chatting with all the various people there.

Kerry soon became engaged in a lively conversation with Nicholas, a charismatic and talented director that had come to assist Shonda. Nicholas was charming, confident, and it was clear that he had captured Kerry's attention. Tony's chest tightened as he watched them, a surge of jealousy flaring up inside him.

Tony tried to shake it off, mingling with colleagues and making small talk, but his eyes kept drifting back to Kerry and Nicholas. The way Kerry's eyes sparkled as she laughed at something Nicholas said, the way her hand rested lightly on his arm—it all gnawed at Tony, a reminder of the feelings he just spoke of not too long ago.

Finally, unable to take it any longer, Tony excused himself from a conversation and made his way to the bar. Pouring himself a drink, he hoped it would calm his nerves. As he took a sip, he felt a presence beside him and turned to find Kerry standing there, her smile faltering when she saw the tension in his eyes.

"Hey," she said softly, tilting her head to study him. "You've gotten awfully quiet tonight." Tony forced a smile. "Just taking it all in. It's been quite a season." Kerry nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It has. I'm going to miss everyone during the break."

There was a moment of silence, the noise of the party fading into the background as they looked at each other. Tony could feel the words bubbling up inside him, the questions, the confessions, but he didn't know where to start.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Nicholas tonight," he finally said, his voice betraying more emotion than he intended.

Kerry's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Nicholas is a great guy. We've been talking about working on some new projects together." Tony nodded, taking another sip of his drink to buy himself time. "He seems... nice."

Kerry's gaze softened, and she reached out to touch his arm. "Tony, what's going on? You can talk to me." He sighed, setting his glass down and turning to face her fully. "It's just... seeing you with him. I guess I realized how much I hate the idea of someone else having your attention."

Kerry blinked, clearly taken aback. "Tony, are you... jealous?"

He looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "Maybe I am. I don't know. I just know that I care about you, more than I probably should. And seeing you with someone else, it's harder than I thought it would be."

She was silent for a moment, processing his words. Then she gently lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. "Tony, you have nothing to be jealous of. Nicholas is a friend, a colleague. But you... you mean so much more to me."

His heart skipped a beat at her words, hope flaring in his chest. "Really?"

"Really," she said, her voice firm and sincere. "No one else understands me the way you do."

Tony bit his lip and glanced around, suddenly grabbing her arm gently and pulling her into a bathroom near by, shutting and locking the door. He felt the veins in his arms pop out, the room was filled with a thick electric tension and suddenly he lost all control.

Pushing Kerry gently up against the wall of the bathroom, one hand went to her waist and the other on the bathroom wall near her head.

"You have no idea what you do me to Kerry" He half whispered and growled in her ear. "The way you talk. The way you walk. The way you command a presence in every room. You own me. My every feeling is controlled by the look on your face. When I'm with you time just stops. I can't stop thinking about you. I look forward to every day on set way more than I should. You are the most amazing mesmerizing woman I have ever seen!"

His breath caught in his throat, eyes almost rolling back into his head from the intense passion of it all. "I am in utter awe of you!" He sighed.

Kerry looked up at him, a lump forming her in throat, her beautiful brown eyes looking up at him with a look that she definitely invented. She could feel his breath on her neck and watched his fierce blue eyes staring into her soul. "Tony..I…umm..they are calling you out there", Kerry managed to get out, a tear sliding down her cheek.

Tony turned and opened the door and Kerry followed shortly after, being careful to have wiped the tear from her face and settle her emotions quickly.

Joshua Malina was standing at the front of the large living room encouraging Tony to come up and give his speech of the night.

Tony walked to the front of the room, his mind racing, trying to calm down from what had happened just moments before. His eyes scanned the expectant faces in the room. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. And then he saw her in the crowd and instantly gained inspiration.

"Good evening, everyone," he began, his voice steady yet warm. Congratulations on an amazing first season. We did it!!" He pumped his fist in the air as everyone clapped and cheered. "Of course we have Shonda and Betsy to thank for this and the whole cast and crew, everyone has been just amazing! Especially our team leader, Someone whose talent and grace have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment and beyond. I'm talking, of course, about Kerry Washington."

The room erupted in applause, a testament to the respect and admiration that Kerry had garnered. Tony smiled, waiting for the noise to subside before continuing.

"I first started to really get to know Kerry on the set of 'Scandal,'" he said, his mind drifting back to those early days. "From the very beginning, it was clear that she was a force to be reckoned with. Her dedication to her craft, her ability to bring depth, passion and authenticity to her roles, was nothing short of extraordinary. But it wasn't just her talent that stood out; it was her kindness, her unwavering commitment to making the world a better place, and her ability to lift those around her."

Tony paused, his eyes glistening with emotion. "Working with Kerry has been one of the greatest joys of my career. She has this incredible ability to make everyone feel seen and valued. On set, she's a leader, a confidant, and a friend. She challenged me to be a better actor, and more importantly, a better person. Her passion for justice and equality is inspiring, and she uses her platform to advocate for change in ways that truly make a difference."

He looked out into the audience, seeing nods of agreement and admiration. "But beyond all her professional achievements, what I admire most about Kerry is her heart. She's someone who gives so much of herself to those around her. Her humility and genuine nature are a rarity in this industry, and I am incredibly fortunate to have witnessed it firsthand."

Tony took another deep breath, feeling the love and admiration swell within him. "Kerry, you are a beacon of light in a sometimes dark world. Your strength, your compassion, and your unwavering dedication inspire us all. Thank you for being you, and thank you for allowing me to be a part of your journey. I love you."

Kerry's eyes glistened as Tony finished his speech as everyone clapped around her…