Chapter Text
"Yeah, I'm about to leave," Olivia smiled as she hung up the phone and grabbed her coat and her duffel bag. She had a long road ahead of her to Blackstone and hopefully with Jake. They were a few months into their relationship and couldn't be happier. It wasn't like that instantly, but when have things ever been easy for Olivia and Jake?
Olivia and Jake's relationship hit a small bump when Olivia ambushed Jake with dinner plans while he was in D.C., only to pull up in front of Rowan Pope's house. That Sunday evening, they sat outside in the car, arguing about going in because Liv wants them to talk and perhaps a part of her still needed her father's approval, but Jake didn't know where he stood with the man.
The next Sunday evening when the knock came on Rowan's door and he opened it to find his daughter and a man he once thought of as a son looking awfully close, it was safe to say, he was surprised.
The three of them sat in the dining room, eating dinner and drinking wine, with no explicit threats or visible guns. Olivia wanted to make it very clear that he was not to interfere in her relationship or to try to force a breakup. As Jake and Olivia had seen time and time again, just because Rowan was no longer officially Command, didn't mean he didn't have a few of his own tricks up his sleeve. Dinner was stoic and tense with Jake wanting to get out of that house as fast as he could and Rowan feeling nothing but disappointment as he observed the former spy who was great and who had the opportunity to make history, but decided to give it all up.
"Olivia, do you mind helping me clear the plates so we can pull out the dessert?"
"Oh I got it-," Jake started.
"No, it's fine Olivia will help me. You're a guest," Rowan replied shortly. "Olivia?"
She made eye contact with Jake, knowing her father was getting ready to criticize their relationship again.
In the kitchen, Rowan looked up from cutting the pie and stated, "Don't worry, I'm not going to poison his slice. He needs to be in full health to make it back to whatever small town he came from and stay there. "
"Wow, thanks Dad." Olivia rolled her eyes. "Don't even start. We are in a good place right now and I really don't want Sunday dinners to come to an end because you tried something with Jake."
He waited as he watched Olivia become more on edge before responding, "Do you really want to go down this road? You know what I think. Is this what you want? To be tied-"
"I'm not tied to him. I'm choosing him. I'm happy, actually happy. I'm here with him because I want to be and I want him in my life and I want you in my life so get your "mediocrity" comments," Olivia said with air quotes, glaring at him, "out now because I don't want to hear it anymore."
"What about the White House?"
"What about it? Jake is by my side no matter what."
Rowan shook his head as Olivia took the pie back to the dining room. At first, he didn't believe Olivia when she said she could have it all, but as he watched from the kitchen while Olivia sat back down at the dining room table and caught Jake holding his daughter's hand, lightly rubbing circles, acting like Sunday dinners with his girlfriend and her father didn't make his stomach turn and not making a scene because at the end of the day, Jake would do anything for Olivia, the wheels started turning in Rowan's head, that maybe he was wrong and started looking ahead to the future.
Perhaps if I can advance the proposal that is inevitable, I could plant the idea of a return to politics, more specifically a Presidential run, in Jake's mind, or at least in Olivia's, to discuss with Jake. Olivia wouldn't truly just be First Lady after she completed 2 terms as Chief of Staff, she would still have B613 to run. Then I have my boy, Jake, in the Oval, and Olivia in B613, side by side, as they wish, but still keeping each other in check and running the world, as I wish.
For now, Rowan focused on making the perfect pot roast every Sunday, and making sure Jake was treating his daughter right, which he realized he didn't really have to worry about each time they tag-teamed to debate with Olivia, now much calmer and much more light-hearted, around the dinner table.
Rowan wasn't the only one who got to see their daughter's new relationship. One weekend Olivia was unsure if Jake should come up to D.C. from Blackstone, not because she didn't want to see him, rather because she had plans to go see her mother in the fancy new apartment Olivia had locked her up in. Jake made a joke asking how Mama Pope was doing which only inspired Olivia to ask him to come with her. Jake agreed, knowing the pain of her mother leaving would always be a part of Olivia and if these visits to check up on her in her- much fancier, but still a prison- home, would help her heal, he would go every day.
Maya greeted the man with a raised eyebrow, a quick glance over, and a comment about how she's surprised but not disappointed. "I was never a fan of the other guy."
Jake suddenly felt a new sense of weight as he met with Maya in a relatively normal environment where they weren't worrying about presidential assassinations or kidnappings, and remembered this was Olivia's mom. Olivia just watched from the kitchen, wine glass in hand, with a smirk as her mom made her boyfriend uncomfortable, like normal mothers do, with questions and sarcasm, wanting to see how long Jake would last before saving him.
Quinn wasn't surprised when Olivia came down to QPA, asking for their services in vetting Mellie's potential nominee to fill a seat on the Supreme Court. What surprised her was seeing her walk in with Jake Ballard by her side, casually like it was a normal Friday evening. Huck and Jake chatted by the entryway as she discussed with Olivia, distracted as she tried to read their body language.
Was this a hookup? Jake wouldn't come all the way up here, driving for hours, just for a night with Olivia- unless the sex was that good? Hmmm… besides he would go straight to her apartment. She knew the two of them had a long, complicated history, but seeing them together made Quinn think this is what the twins from Parent Trap felt when the mom and dad finally got back together. Pushing the childish Disney movie out of her head, Quinn focused on her friend in front of her and assured her this case would be top priority.
As she watched her two former bosses walk out together, hand in hand, she knew Abby was going to regret missing this so she could eat dinner with David, because Quinn couldn't interrogate Olivia about her relationship status alone- Olivia still sometimes saw her as the baby of the group, despite having a baby of her own, she would only be on the receiving end of a wave of her hand and an eye roll- but the two of them, working together, surely could've gotten something out of her.
Abby did fill her in the next day, saying Olivia called because she could "feel the questions waiting to be poured out of Quinn", and told her what she knew- they were slowly getting back together, not rushing into anything, but that being said, Abby wouldn't be surprised if they were shopping for bridesmaids dresses or even hearing about an elopement on the news in the next few months.
Quinn hung up the phone and looked to Charlie and Robin sitting at the breakfast table, with a mess all around, and realized if someone had told her 5 years ago she would have a happy, healthy kid with Charlie, Huck would be a total softie who apparently passed on a slightly threatening, but more protective message of approval to Jake, Abby and David would be back together, and Olivia and Jake would be doing their own local version of happily standing in the sun, she would've brought out her tool kit and gotten to work.
For Olivia and Jake, so full of love, the approval of people around them wasn't necessary, but it definitely felt good.
Love was treacherous and scary, especially with their history, and relationships are hard enough without having to live 2 hours away from each other, with one person working in the White House and the other trying to educate the future generation so they can possibly make it to the White House- arguably two of the hardest jobs out there.
Jake thought about, Are we starting over or picking up where we left off? but Olivia was determined to prove it; this time will be different. There were a couple instances when old insecurities and fears would come to the surface with those days ending with the two of them in bed together with space between, almost asleep, but not quite, when one of them would reach over to the other to remind them "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere." with just a touch and a promise to talk in the morning.
That's not to say they didn't have good days (and nights), too. This relationship was a step forward, filled with cheesy clichés of new couples and old traditions of like those who've been happily married for a lifetime. Olivia attempted to cook for Jake in light of their recent relationship shift, but apparently it didn't matter if she was in the White House, her apartment, Blackstone, or anywhere else, Olivia Carolyn Pope was a mess in the kitchen. Jake took over and tried to salvage the remains before deciding to just order in, that way they both get fed and they have 20 minutes to enjoy a variety of activities while they wait.
They fell into a rhythm of weekend trips up to D.C. or down to Blackstone, and communication, slowly at first- like the high schoolers Jake taught everyday- as to give each other space and not seem too eager, but then they realized that they've had a lot of space over the past few years and continued with video calls where they both are eating dinner in D.C. or Blackstone- Olivia with takeout and Jake complaining that he has to make her a home-cooked meal next time he sees her- just sitting and talking and laughing with each other started.
For Olivia and Jake, it was loving each other completely with everything they have. Both of them were trying work and fight for their love but despite all of that, Olivia realized this wasn't a draining fight, she didn't feel exhausting and a shell of a person afterwards, this was an active effort to be with each other, to choose each other. Of course, distance makes the heart grow fonder-and makes the nights even sexier, so when they do get together, they make quick work of the clothes on them and feel what they missed.
Their identity still consisted of who Rowan made them to be, especially, the power and influence upon the capital they once held, but when Admiral Ballard showed up hand in hand with THE Olivia Pope to a state dinner, the rumors of a possible return to D.C. and run for office started spreading like a wildfire. These rumors continued to be fueled from Blackstone High when one of the Bearcats' star players decide to mess with his favorite coach during class and tweeted a picture while he was subbing for a government class. BNC decided to pull up a 4-person panel to discuss the Admiral possibly getting ready for a presidential campaign after his former running mate finishes off her second term, and was starting with inspiring the students who will be the young voters in 2024.
There was a balance between them spending some weekends at state dinner and some casually working side by side from home or running errands like normal people do… besides, they still had time and if anyone bothered to check, Jake was polling well in many counties, not only in Virginia, without even campaigning, so who knows what the future holds?
For now, one Chief of Staff was less worried about another presidential campaign and more focused on supporting the high school baseball team while in Blackstone as they tried to beat their rivals. She was up in the stands cheering and pretending to know what was going on in the game.
"Go Bearcats!" Olivia cheered from the stands. It hadn't looked good for most of the game but at the bottom of the ninth the Blackstone Bearcats hit multiple home runs and it looks like they were going to win.
She'd never done this before, gone to a high school baseball game and publicly supported Jake's coaching career, waves of happiness came over her, similar to how her relationship felt often. She knew this was special- this moment, and this relationship. She knew that it was fate (and possibly a little meddling from the President) that she ran into Jake again and with good timing too, so they could salvage and grow their relationship.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw two middle aged women staring at her and whispering. That wasn't a problem- Olivia had quickly gotten used to the whispering that never stopped since her name had been mentioned as the 44th President's mistress many years ago. She turned her head and waved to the women sitting on the bleachers by her. To her surprise one of the women came over to her, and asked her "Are you Coach Ballard's girlfriend?", Olivia smiled, expecting questions and amused as she was reminded he was 'Coach' here not 'Command' or 'Admiral', "We're thinking of getting a gift from him from the team and parents and we were wondering if you had any ideas or suggestions."
"A gift? Oh, that's so kind."
"Yes, as a goodbye present because he's been such a good coach and the kids love him," the mother replied.
Goodbye present? Where was he going? Olivia was shocked and could only reply that she was sure he would love anything from the team before asking to be excused.
That night, Olivia had definitely been quieter but Jake assumed she was because of the trip down and the exciting game; he kissed her shoulder before turning over and muttering good night, oblivious to the thoughts running a hundred miles per hour through Olivia's head.
"Jake? Jake, are you awake?" Olivia whispered.
"Hm…"
"Jake, I need to talk to you," she continued, reaching over to turn on the lamp.
"That can't be good, what's wrong?" He shifted to face her.
"Why is your team buying you a goodbye present?" She didn't meant to spoil the surprise, but Olivia was worried what his answer would be. She did love him and knew he had a special place in his heart for the island, she did too, but she loved her job and wasn't ready to leave Mellie or the White House yet. She thought he knew that despite making his own choice to leave.
"What? I don't know what-"
"Are you planning on leaving? A mom told me you were and I don't know how or why she knows before me, but Jake is this just a vacation or more permanent-" Olivia rambled on.
"Damn, I was trying to keep it a surprise."
"A vacation? They're giving you a goodbye present because you're not going to be here for a week or something? People are a lot nicer outside of D.C."
"No," Jake replied, chuckling, "I'm leaving Blackstone. I'm looking for a place closer to D.C. so we don't have to travel as much and… if you want, it doesn't have to be my place, it could be ours."
Olivia didn't say anything at first which caused Jake to rush out "That is, of course, if you want. It would be close to your current apartment and the White House-"
"Yes."
"Yes, you want to move in?"
"Yeah," Olivia replied, smiling, "let's do this, you're coming home."
"My home is wherever you are," Jake whispered as he pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
Now, they were looking at houses in the suburbs of D.C. like Kensington and the North Potomac- with Olivia paying special attention to the school district because Jake didn't know that it could become particularly important in 5ish years- so they could live their normal lives while still being the formidable people they are.
AN: I kinda wanted to keep it open ended a little to see if I want to make a sequel or something but for now this is the end! Thanks so much for reading and let me know what you think!
send me a message on my scandal tumblr- wegotpopedsir or my main blog detectivejulesohara!