Author's Note: It's been foreeeeeever and I think I've lost my touch. I can't recall most of the plots for my stories. *facepalm* but I'm rereading them to get refamiliarize. Nevertheless, hope you enjoy this update! They're on their dinner date.

Olivia's POV

As she made her way through the double doors of the upscale restaurant, pleasant aromas of food wafted through the air in greeting along with the quiet chatters of dining patrons. The clock on the wall read 8:10 PM, reminding her of her deliberate tardiness but that didn't interrupt her slow saunter towards the young bright maître d. After giving the hostess the name on the reservation, Olivia was led towards the back of the restaurant to a private seated area. There her eyes laid on him and his on hers.

He immediately stood upon their arrival and took out her chair. The maître d bid them a pleasant meal before leaving their presence and shortly after, a waiter took their drinks order. The two hadn't exchanged a word only their eyes spoke.

Olivia had to admit that he looked incredible that evening, dressed in a simple modern fit monochromatic black suit with a crisp white button-down shirt sans a tie. His signature fragrance filled her nostrils, making her nostalgic for the times when she would envelop her body around him and inhale his scent unashamedly. It was unfair, truly… that he still looked and smelt good. Shouldn't he be sporting a large Pinocchio nose for telling lies and smelling like a fox for being deceptive? She mused, internally seething.

Despite everything, she found herself still attracted to him. Emotions were like a car with faulty breaks, difficult to stop.

"You look very beautiful," he spoke for the first time, his heartfelt words intruded her wayward thoughts.

"Thanks," a tight smile curved the corners of her lips in response. Nevertheless, she was glad he noticed because she did put some work into looking good tonight. Not for him, she had told herself, but for her. Wearing a figure-hugging red pencil dress with small ruffled cap sleeves and a ruffled design down the lower left-side front of the dress paired with her signature leopard print Jimmy Choo pumps, she felt beautiful. Even her hairstyle had changed after a visit from her hairstylist earlier in the day. Instead of her usual weaves, she sported long cascading ombre brown and dark blonde box braids styled in a half up and half down fashion. It was a change from her usual but a change she embraced nonetheless.

"I like what you did with your hair," he complimented again, to which she replied with another weak smile despite her rapidly beating heart. She came to this "date" believing that she would be able to sit through a meal with him without feeling anything, but that wasn't true. He was affecting her. His compliments made her feel cautiously giddy and at the same time upset because the ever lurking though of his deception lingered. Did he compliment her too?

Fortunately, their drinks arrived and released her from her despondent thoughts. However, more silence filled the air as they sipped their cocktails. Olivia could tell that Fitz was just as if not, more nervous than her. She knew that stemmed from her hesitance to fully move forward with him during their first couple counseling the day prior. But that was something she just couldn't give to him that moment. She was giving herself time to feel and to heal.

Swallowing the mixture of gin, vermouth Rosso, and Campari, she asked, "So how was your day?"

He swiftly responded, "It was okay. I didn't go into the office today."

Olivia's eyebrows lifted at his revelation. "So what did you do?"

"Read," he admitted coyly, taking a mouthful of his whiskey.

She was genuinely curious because if it didn't involve work or current events he did not read, so she questioned, "What did you read?"

A sheepish grin marred his face when he answered, "Swing Time."

"Oh." Flummoxed, her lips remained in the form of an O. So he was reading her books. "Interesting… How did you end up reading that?"

"I saw it on your nightstand half opened so I thought why not give it a shot?"

Olivia didn't know what to say to his admission. She was genuinely shocked that he did because it was truly out of character for him.

"I read the entire book and I can't believe -," he boasted.

Raising both hands, she interrupted, "don't tell me any details about the book, I haven't finished it as yet."

He grinned and mimicked closing his lips like a zipper, figuratively locking it and throwing away the keys. Olivia chuckled at his antics, an authentic smile gracing her face for the first time that evening.

Their waiter returned for their order and Fitz relayed perfectly what she wanted despite her not telling him. They've visited the restaurant in the past and while a small part of her wanted to reject his choices, a big part was pleased to see that he still knew her.

Her mood improved considerably after that and they fell into a comfortable banter. Talking about mundane things such as the latest episode of their favorite shows, which carried them through their first course of cucumber filled crab and their second course of seared lamb chops with Dijon mustard and herbs. Olivia hadn't consciously realized that she was eating off of his plate because it was something she often did since his food "tasted" better than hers, a habit she knew secretly annoyed Fitz but he pacified her anyways.

Their cocktails were replaced by a bottle of red wine, which was already past the halfway mark. Good conversation, great food, and an impeccably tasting wine had them in high spirits. Anyone looking in on the two would never suspect that something was amiss. In that moment they were truly happy. She was truly happy.

"And why didn't Cy call you?" She probed lightly, engaging in the story.

"Because he's a stubborn mule."

Olivia's cheeks hurt from laughing so much and she prayed her mascara wouldn't smear from all the runny eyes she'd had to pat dry throughout the night. She'd forgotten how downright silly Fitz was. It was actually one of the things she loved about him. So many didn't get his sarcastic humor but since she shared a similar trait she got him so much. She got him. The reminder sobered her because she was unsure if she "got" him now.

Fitz's POV

Fitz noticed the change in her mood and scaled back on his regaling tale of their friend's run-in with the police. Running his index and thumb fingers down the delicate stem of the wine glass, he said, "thank you for coming to dinner. You have no idea how happy I am that you came." He paused, looking away briefly before refocusing his attention on her. "Our home hasn't been the same without you. I miss you so much." It was the truth. He was driving himself crazy without her. Doing things that she normally did as a way to feel connected to her but they were all just temporary distractions. He was expecting her to answer but they were interrupted when their waiter returned with a warm plate of chocolate mousse.

He debated asking her if she missed him, however, remembering what their therapist said about his forcefulness so instead, he tempered it and watched as she took the first scoop of the sweet decadent, bringing it to her mouth. Mesmerized by how her pink glossy lips parted to take in the bite. "Good?" he wondered aloud.

"Delicious," she answered with a barely contained moan, which Fitz tried to ignore because a moaning Olivia led to other thoughts, and it didn't help that he was skirting on the tipsy line.

After they'd consume their dessert, Fitz took care of the tab and they were ready to leave the restaurant.

On their way out the door, Fitz was pleasantly surprised when Olivia suggested they go for a walk.

Thirty minutes later, they found themselves strolling in Central Park. Despite it only being a Tuesday night, the park was littered with other walkers.

They'd only been walking for five minutes when Olivia cried, "My feet are killing me." Fitz smirked at the ridiculously tall shoes she insisted on wearing, albeit it made her legs sexier if that was possible.

Luckily, a bench was in viewing a few feet away so they ambled towards it instead of continuing their stroll. They sat in silence a few inches apart, people watching. Couples strolled hand in hand while friends carried on lively conversations.

The weather was perfect, a high 60s or possible low 70s, if Fitz had to guess. It was just the right coolness where you didn't need a jacket, but knowing that Olivia had a tendency to grow cold easily because of her iron deficiency, unhesitant, he shrugged out of his suit jacket and draped it around her slender shoulders.

"Thank you." She smiled.

"No problem," he countered. It was great to see her smile again. Smoothing the front of his shirt, Fitz asked, "So how are you really doing…uh… considering…um… everything?" He couldn't remember asking her that and he figured then was a good enough time to have a real conversation despite it shining him in an unfavorable light.

Olivia breathed deeply before turning to face him. "Surprisingly, ok. I'm still breathing," she quipped.

"Liv, I'm so sorry-"

"Fitz, stop. I know you're sorry you don't have to keep saying it. I hear you," she sighed.

He nodded. "I just feel like you're not believing me and that's my fault. I did this to us but I need you to know that I will do everything to get us back to us."

Olivia returned, "do you think that's a good idea?" She probably noticed the alarmed expression on his face because she quickly added, "getting back to us, the way we were? Maybe that isn't a good idea since something was clearly wrong with us, to begin with."

"Nothing was wrong with us," he countered evenly but her raised eyebrow caused him to modify his statement. "Nothing was wrong with you." She still gave him the "bullshit look".

"Humor me for a second." Olivia leaned forward, tugging his jacket tighter.

"Sure."

"Had it been me who stepped out, would you have forgiven me? Would we even be here sitting in this park together?"

Fitz wasn't prepared for her question and didn't have a ready answer. He was a very jealous man when it came to Olivia and he honestly didn't know if he could handle such betrayal. The mere thought alone almost knocks the wind out of his chest.

Seeing him struggle to answer her question, Olivia simply stated, "I figured…"

Fitz spoke up then, hoping to put his feelings into words. "I could lie to you and tell you that I would be okay but I'm not going to do that. I'm through lying to you." He paused, running his open palms unhurriedly down the front of his pants, stopping at his knee. "The truth is, Livvie, you're stronger than me. Bigger than me and-and… I wouldn't survive something like that. The thought alone makes me feel murderous towards the guy who'd dare touch you so I can only begin to imagine how you're feeling." He hoped he didn't come off sounding even more like a douche because all he wanted to be in that moment was honest. "Besides, I'd probably be in jail for murder so we won't be sitting here in central park right now," he tried lightening the moment.

Olivia cracked a smile, shaking her head good-naturedly. "Now, that's the Fitz I know."

"That's me…" he echoed, staring into her beautiful almond-shaped eyes. It still baffled him that he easily betrayed her when she did nothing but be loyal to him. He could blame it on the alcohol but the truth was it had to do with him. What kind of monster dwelled beneath the surface, laying in wake to ruin every good thing in his life? He needed to figure it out and fast. A one-time lapse in judgment may be forgivable but a repeated offense was not.

"You know yesterday when you asked me out to dinner I was so skeptical, wondering what we could possibly talk about but I'm glad I came. If nothing else, I'm learning that forgiveness takes strength. And while I can't be with you right now, I know in my heart that I can forgive you. But it's the forgetting that is the hardest part. Maybe one day in the future I won't feel any pain when I remember this and god knows I wish I was already there because I hate feeling this way. I miss us, I miss you. But... I feel this hole in my heart and it just makes me feel inadequate, angry and sad, very sad."

Fitz listened as she poured out her heart, painful words she shouldn't have had to utter, and sincerely wishing he possessed the power to time travel to undo his mistakes. But it was all wishful thinking because here he was very possibly and deservedly, about to lose the only woman he truly loved.

Olivia surprised him a second time that night when she reached for his hand. "I just want to be happy."

Her admission sobered him because he knew he was making her anything but happy. The quote 'if you love someone let them go...'" invaded his thoughts. Maybe that's what needed to happen. The thought crushed his chest, making it difficult to breathe. His hand instantly tightening around hers, a physical response to hold onto her; and in one swooping motion, he wrapped his free hand around her waist and lifted her into his lap.

He was relieved when she didn't resist his hold but instead snuggled into his chest. He was barely above a whisper, "Giving up is so hard to do when you love someone. And I need you to believe me when I say that I love you, Olivia. I love you, baby."

He shuffled a bit so that their faces were mere inches away, long forgotten that they were out in public. Up close her face was even more beautiful. The delicate curve of her lashes, framing her expressive eyes and the high rise of her cheekbones drew him in. He had to mentally shake himself from his trance-like desire and focus on what he was about to say. "If you need time to explore other options," an audible gulp escaped his lips. He couldn't believe he was saying this but it was only fair. "I'll wait for you."

Olivia snickered and threw her head back, an airy giggle left her lips. Fitz frowned, hadn't expected such a reaction. His heart was in his throat and she was laughing at his proposal. "What?" he urged when her laughter grew ceaseless. "What's so funny?"

"You," she said in between chuckle. "You giving me permission to get over you by getting with another guy."

"Wait a minute, I didn't say all of that now."

"But it was implied," she retorted, her laughter abated much. With their hands still joined, Olivia yanked on his a little to get his undivided attention. "Look, I understand and believe that you are truly remorseful for your actions. I get that. But time is the only healing factor for us. Going out with another guy is not going to be a solution for what we are going through. While it may be a good temporary distraction it still doesn't fix us. And I don't want that. I fell in love with you for a reason and I'm not giving up on us. I love you, Fitz, and this is why I'm here fighting. Time is what I need to heal."

Fitz nodded, feeling a warmth spread across his chest. "I don't deserve you, but I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you."

He pulled her into his chest, her head settling perfectly against his neck with a silent promise to make her happy.

Hope you enjoyed the update. I truly feel lost writing again. I miss it so much but it'll take me some time getting used to again since it's been such a long while. Hope everyone is doing good. Leave a review if you can. Until next time, XO.