Tony looked down proudly at Kerry, asleep and snuggled in his arms, wearing his Navy tshirt from episode one of season five. He loved that she loved wearing that shirt. Kissing her softly, he was grateful she had agreed to spend the night with him. With the show ending Tony wanted to savor every moment he got. Snuggling closer to Kerry, he closed his eyes and thought of the first time he admitted his feelings to her on the set of Scandal, and that first kiss between them. The one between Tony and Kerry, not just Olivia and Fitz.

Tony remembered it like it was yesterday…It happened midway through filming for season one.

He sat in his trailer, his heart pounding like a drum in his chest. He was a man accustomed to playing powerful characters, yet here he was, nervous? He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging inside. Knocking back the last of his scotch, he listened to the bustle of the Scandal set, a distant murmur to the stark contrast to the tumultuous feelings he felt within.

For months, Tony had wrestled with his feelings for Kerry, their chemistry had ignited a fiery spark in him that he just couldn't ignore. He'd rehearsed the confession a hundred times in his mind, yet the words remained elusive, trapped in a labyrinth of nervousness. The script for the next scene lay on the table, but it might as well have been written in hieroglyphics for all the sense it made to him right now.

The boundaries between art and reality had blurred, leaving him tangled in a web of anxiety. He had never been this nervous about telling someone about his feelings. He was Tony Fucking Goldwyn. Came from old Hollywood money. But with Kerry, it was different. He already knew without a doubt that she was the love of his life. What if she didn't feel the same? What if it ruined their friendship, their working relationship? He knew the risks, but the thought of continuing to hide his feelings was becoming unbearable.

They had already kissed as Olivia and Fitz, which he always enjoyed throughly. It was like magic. He purposely messed up on a few of the romantic scenes during rehearsals and filming so they had to do it again. He was very method and she embraced it. But he wanted more. To kiss her as Tony and not just as Fitz. A smile played on his face as he thought of the way her lips curled into a smile, the passion and emotion in her eyes when she delivered a line, the gentle warmth of her touch as they embraced for the camera—how good she smelled..it all sent his mind racing.

But it was those moments between takes, that's what he treasured most. When the cameras weren't rolling. The playful banter that often led to her laugh, a laugh that was music to his ears, and the way she leaned into him slightly when they talked, as if seeking shelter from the chaos of the world outside their bubble. He had noticed that Kerry was definitely touchy feely with him. He saw how she looked at him and he was hoping it wasn't just his imagination playing tricks on him. They just clicked.

He looked down at his hand..the weight of his wedding band a constant reminder of the life he had built outside the set. Jane was amazing and he was transparent with her, they had a certain understanding. But he knew how Kerry felt about respecting certain boundaries, and that made him all the more anxious to confess his feelings. She was the best human, so damn amazing.

He groaned to himself..why had this happened to them? He felt like they had met in a previous lifetime. Their chemistry was just so natural. Even when he was trying to act normal, it just shown through. He couldn't help but get lost in her eyes every time they were around each other. The flirty little banter they had back and forth. He just couldn't shake this feeling, it deserved to be acknowledged. It was a case of cosmic soul mates.

He paused. The decision was made. He had to tell her. The words had to come out, no matter the cost. As he stepped out into the cool evening air, the set lights bathed everything in a soft, golden glow. The crew bustled around, setting up for the next scene, oblivious to the personal drama unfolding behind the scenes. He spotted Kerry in the distance, surrounded by a group of people. She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and for a moment, it was as if the world stopped spinning.

As Tony approached her, the air grew thick with the anticipation of what was to come. As the group dispersed, she offered him a warm smile, one that seemed to hold a hint of curiosity. "Hey, Tony," she said, her voice like velvet. "You okay?"

He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Kerry, I need to talk to you."

Her smile faltered, the curiosity in her eyes deepening. "Is everything alright?" He took her hand and led her into a private office.

"It's about us," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "I can't keep pretending."

Kerry's beautiful brown eyes searched his, understanding dawning. She took a step closer, her hand reaching for his arm. "Tony, what's going on?"

He swallowed hard, turning to face her, their lower bodies suddenly pressed together . "I'm in love with you, Kerry. I don't just love you. I'm IN LOVE with you. I know it's crazy, given our situation, but I can't help it. The way we are together on screen, it's not just acting for me." His voice cracked with vulnerability. "These feelings I have for you..I haven't experienced them before. When I'm with you, it's like we are in our own little bubble. You take my breath away! I fall asleep and wake up thinking about you."

Her hand tightened on his arm, and she searched his eyes, looking for any sign of uncertainty. Electricity coursed through Tony. It was that same iconic look she gave him at Fitz when she asked him why he fired her. She took a step back, her expression a mix of surprise and something else—something that looked suspiciously like hope. "Tony," she breathed, her voice soft as silk. "I've felt it too."

For a moment, the world stood still. The noise of the set faded into the background, leaving only the sound of their hearts beating in sync. He could see the battle playing out in her eyes—the desire to throw caution to the wind warring with the fear of the consequences. Her hand slowly fell to her side, and she took a deep, shaky breath and a step back. "But you're married," she said finally, the words hanging in the air like a heavy fog.

Tony nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "I know," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "And I've tried to ignore these feelings, to push them aside, but it's like trying to hold back the ocean with my bare hands. I can't do it anymore."

Kerry's gaze fell to the ground, and she took another step back, creating a space between them that felt like a chasm. "You know the risks," she murmured, her voice a soft echo of his own fears. "The show, your marriage, our friendship."

Tony nodded. "I realize that, but I just can't hold back any longer. I am so utterly and completely in love with you! I can't just keep going on like this without telling you how I feel." He blurted out.

Kerry looked up, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Tony..I love you too," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper. "But we have to be careful. We have to explore our love carefully, privately, but it may not always be in the way we would want it in an ideal situation. You know how I feel about situations like these. I may play a character on tv of a woman in love with a married man, but I don't exactly condone that type of behavior. But with you…this is once in a lifetime type chemistry we have." Tony's heart leapt.

Kerry continued on, "We can't let this affect the show, or our personal lives. We will have to have certain boundaries and respect them. We will be transparent with each other and any significant others. We will have to come to terms with the fact that sometimes we will just not be together or close to one another, especially once scandal breaks filming or when it ultimately ends. Tony nodded, a lump in his throat.

Their breathing both grew heavier and more ragged as they took a step towards each other at the same time. Always in sync.

"Oh Kerry…Tony whispered huskily. His face so close to hers he could feel her breath against his cheek. "You are the most extraordinary woman I've ever met!" He cupped her face in both hands, her arms around his waist.

Kerry gazed into his beautiful blue smoldering eyes and her brain froze. Suddenly he was kissing her, tenderly yet full of passion, against the wall in the dimly lit office. A scandal script was lying on a desk nearby, coincidentally on an Olitz romantic scene.

She returned the kiss with eagerly, moving her hand up the back of his head, running her fingers through his curls like she loved to do. It was pure magic.

Tony felt joy and passion as he continued to kiss Kerry, as himself and not just Fitz. Her lips were warm and so soft. She tasted so good. Her lips parted slightly, allowing him to slip his tongue inside, and he was so grateful.

Closing her eyes Kerry savored the sensation happening in her body right now. She had been fighting these feelings for a long time and she couldn't deflect any longer. Allowing herself to melt into the kiss, she pressed herself closer against him, feeling the warmth of his body.

The way he looked at her. The way he kissed her during rehearsals and filming. The way he looked out for her. She had noticed. It had been chipping away at her. All that was left now was to face her feelings and vulnerability.

Their lips and tongue continued this beautiful dance for what seemed like one minute. Both of them pulled back at the same time, Kerry placing her hand gently on his cheek.

"I have to go now Tony. They need me on set." She walked away, with Tony looking after her like she was the only person in the world.