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Chapter Text

Fitz considered the darkness to be a seductive thing. In the beginning, the darkness had been something to fear—a vast and terrifying expanse that swallowed everything his eight-year-old mind knew. It was unrelenting, a nightly visitor that came without invitation and stayed for hours at a time in his childhood bedroom. The shadows had mocked his loneliness and whispered his worst fears, making his small heart pound with unfamiliar terror. But as the years peeled away, the darkness morphed, changing shape into something else. It no longer scared him. Instead, it drew him in—an intimate cloak where secret desires thrived, and where the flickering lines between fear and pleasure blurred beneath the veil of night.

Still, there was a fragment of his soul that resisted the night’s seductive embrace alone; a fragile yearning for the warmth of another’s presence—a breathing body beside his. It was why Fitz was both grateful and terrified to wake the morning after he had taken Olivia to bed.

Morning bled in slowly through the thick hotel curtains as Fitz’s eyes fluttered open, eyelids adjusting to the soft, familiar dim. The world outside remained cloaked in darkness, yet here, in his bed, there was a stillness that felt sacred. She was there, too—curled up in a small ball with her feet laced warmly against his thighs and her back curved against his chest. Her skin, faintly warm, was a balm to the restlessness inside him.

He paused, letting his senses savor the surreal intimacy for a moment longer, but the weight of reality pressed upon his chest. Swiftly, carefully, he eased away from her and slipped out of bed. When he reached the bathroom, he let the hot water cascade over him, feeling the steam wash away the tendrils of early morning guilt.

What had he been thinking? Jake had been so explicit—Olivia was off-limits. Fitz knew that perfectly well, but when she had stood there, vulnerability seeping from her pleading eyes, something inside him shattered. He hadn’t wanted to be strong anymore. This—the ache, the raw desire—had clawed its way to the surface and demanded to be freed. He was tired of denying himself the only thing he had ever truly wanted. Yet the price of giving in was immediate—a sickness that began to curl at his gut like a poison.

When he dressed swiftly and tiptoed back into the room, Olivia still slept, the faintest lines of contentment etched across her face. On the desk, he grabbed a pen and wrote a brief note on hotel stationery:

Sorry, Olivia. I had an early surgery. Stay as long as you like and order breakfast. Until Later, Fitz.

He didn’t know if the words were between lovers or colleagues, but it was all he could offer her—a veiled apology and a lifeline stretched thin by necessity.

When Olivia stirred awake, her muscles ached pleasantly in every place she’d imagined. She stretched luxuriously, still wrapped in the warm embrace of the bed, and then realized Fitz was gone. Her fingers found the note resting where he should have been.

She unfolded it slowly, eyes glancing over the neat handwriting. The words stung—polite, professional, distant. “Until Later, Fitz.” Not “Yours,” not “Love,” not even “See you soon.” Just “Fitz.”

A frown crept across her lips as questions threatened to overwhelm her. Did he think of her as nothing more than a tag-along little sister? Was she just an inconvenient distraction, a beautiful mistake? And why did he sign the note with his last name? Olivia had never called him Fitz except during the moments of ecstasy they’d just shared—and even those whispers had been sacred. What did this distance mean?

Her heart trembled with doubt, yet somewhere beneath the confusion, a fierce determination took root. As soon as she was dressed, she promised herself she would find him at the hospital and demand answers.

But the day had other plans.

When Olivia arrived at George Washington University Hospital, the atmosphere was tense, crackling with urgent energy. A death row patient was being brought in for emergency treatment, and Abby immediately tasked Olivia with running labs, pulling her into a flurry of activity. The mission to find Fitz was swept up in the chaos.

She glimpsed him once—his scrub cap still perched on his head as he moved swiftly down the corridor, shadowed and unavailable. Did he turn to see her? Olivia’s mind skewed toward paranoia, but she chased the thought away. There was no time—and maybe no chance.

Her mind wandered incessantly to the night before, trying to process what had truly happened. It had been like a stranger had seized control of her body: a force, nameless and insistent, had led her from the locker room straight to his hotel room without hesitation. When Fitz’s door had creaked open, all the feelings she’d ever repressed surged into the room with her.

But it hadn’t been entirely perfect. There was that awful moment when Fitz seemed hesitant, as though an internal battle threatened to pull him back.

Her voice had faltered, a question full of desperation: “Come on, am I really so bad?”

Yet that vulnerability had broken his resistance, and suddenly Fitz was there, arms wrapping around her like an anchor. His lips moved sure and slow against hers—soft, coaxing, fire and ice intertwined.

In that moment, the seducer had become just as much the seduced.

Olivia marveled at how she had survived so long without falling into such exquisite perfection.

Heat had pooled between them as clothes had come off, kisses driving out doubt. When Fitz removed his shirt, revealing the lean strength beneath, Olivia had felt something unexpected—a feeling of beauty and worth illuminated by his gaze. He wanted her—her—not an imaginary ideal, not a trophy, but Olivia Pope, sister and daughter and long-forgotten friend made flesh.

“Olivia,” he whispered as his fingers traced the story of her skin.

Tears sprang to her eyes, but she blinked them away and gazed at the man who was about to become part of her story.

There were no words adequate for something so pure.

When they collapsed together, a desperate symphony of bodies and breath, Olivia felt fragmented pieces of herself fall into place. Pleasure carved new paths through her, a kind of love she had only read about in books.

Fitz’s breaths came hard as he pressed into her, collapsing atop her, and she delighted in the weight of him.

“I never knew…” she whispered.

“Neither did I,” he replied.

Did they mean the same thing? Olivia pushed the thought away and kissed the curve of his shoulder.

The nights that followed weren’t filled with endless sleep. They woke often, searching for the other in starlit quiet, living a lifetime in the span of one single night.

This was why Olivia had to find Fitz now. The need to see him, to resolve the jagged edges of their intimacy, knotted tight in her chest.

Finally, as the day bled toward evening, she found him. He was washing his hands after surgery, the scrub cap still perched atop his hair, eyes steady but tired.

“Hi there,” she said, soft smile blooming despite the swirl of nerves. “How did your surgery go? I bet it went well. You do everything well.”

Her face flamed bright red, the rush of words tumbling out. “I mean with surgery, with the cutting. You do that well—not that you don’t do other things well too…” A blush crept further down her neck, and she wished she had planned her approach.

Fitz’s eyes lingered on her, inscrutable, and then Olivia summoned courage.

“About last night…”

“Olivia—” His voice sliced through her thoughts like a sharp blade.

“No one can know,” he said, eyes darkening. “In fact, it would be best if we pretended last night never happened at all. It was a mistake—pure and simple.”

The words landed with the force of a punch to the stomach, stealing the air from her lungs. She gasped, too stunned to see the turmoil etched behind his guarded expression.

“What do you mean? You want to pretend last night never…”

“Never happened," Fitz said, voice hard and low. "Olivia, no one can know about this. I am your teacher and that is all we have between us. We got carried away because the surgery went well, but that has to be it. Nothing else. We have to forget it.”

Was this how all the women who ever crossed Fitz Grant’s path felt afterward? The bitterness of rejection mingled with memory like a poison.

Olivia gripped the sink tightly, desperate not to let herself drown in the waves of memory assaulting her mind—his touch, his breath, the way the world had slipped away.

“Do you know what it feels like to have an eidetic memory?” she asked, voice shaky. “To never, ever be able to forget the things you most want to erase?”

Fitz shook his head, silence hanging heavy between them.

“It’s a curse,” Olivia whispered, looking up to meet his gaze. “Because sometimes the memories are all you have... and sometimes, they’re all you wish you didn’t.”

Fitz’s eyes softened, the armor faltering just a fraction.

“I never meant to hurt you,” he said quietly. “I wanted you—more than I should have—but we have rules. Boundaries.”

“But sometimes, boundaries aren’t strong enough,” she said, stepping closer, “especially when one night feels like forever.”

“I know,” he said, voice barely audible. “But we have to be careful.”

Olivia swallowed the words trembling on her tongue—confessions she wasn’t ready to give just yet—and nodded.

“We both have to be careful,” she agreed softly.

The hospital buzzed around them, indifferent to their fragile, tangled truths. Yet within that sterile space, somewhere beneath the weight of secrecy, a spark lingered, alive and waiting for the darkness to shift again.

The darkness that once was to be feared had instead become a place where a forbidden flame could burn, ever seductive, ever haunting.

And Fitz knew, deep in his bones, that this was only the beginning.

Chapter Text

Fitz lasted three days.

Three fucking miserable days, in which it felt as though the world had gone to hell around him. He was making everyone miserable, and just to work with him was daunting. The nurses were threatening all-out rebellion, and Fitz was tempted to let them. He had no use for their theatrics at the moment. He just wanted to be left alone, and that was exactly what he was getting.

Jake started staying away when Fitz began growling whenever he got near, and all the residents were mysteriously absent wherever he went. They must have thought it was time to teach their interns a lesson though, so Fitz had at least four interns assigned to him. And he was making each new one more miserable than the last.

He was enjoying every moment of torturing them, but in the end it meant nothing. Though he tried to distract himself, he kept seeing Olivia everywhere. He saw her in the waiting room, writing in a chart, he saw her in the on-call room sleeping with one arm curled up under her head, and he saw her in the gallery. Despite what had happened, she kept coming to his surgeries. She was there every time, sitting there calmly and watching him. Fitz tried not to look up, but he couldn't seem to help it. When he did, her eyes were there to meet his, steady and sure. They seemed to say, I'll wait.

His mood was even blacker on the third day, when he was sitting in his office, his fingers steepled over his nose as if in thought. That was how Mellie found him.

She held her hands up as she came into the office. "Don't shoot, I come in peace." She offered him a smile, but he could not return it.

"So what's going on with you?"

Fitz sighed. "You ever have a week that just goes from bad to worse?"

"Yeah, but for me it was more like a year that went from bad to worse." Mellie grinned. "But that is not what this is about, is it?"

"No," Fitz said. "I guess not."

"So what is it then? Is it sex? 'Cause there is this new nurse in Derm who probably hasn't heard of you yet."

"Thanks, Mellie, but I don't need you to be my pimp," Fitz said dryly.

Mellie laughed, and then sat in the chair across from Fitz's desk. She then turned serious and said, "Whatever it is, Fitz, you have to decide why it's making you miserable. And then fix it."

Fitz waved her off, and she quietly left his office. He wondered if she wasn't right. Maybe it was as simple as figuring out why he was upset and then fixing it. Problem: he was upset because he had to stay away from Olivia. Solution: stop staying away from Olivia.

Fitz rolled his eyes. Too bad life was never that simple.

Olivia Pope was miserable. It had been three days since she had spoken to Fitz. It felt sometimes, when she caught him looking at her, as if he was going to come and speak to her, but he never did. She had made a point of going to all his surgeries. Just because she had ruined the best work relationship, didn't mean that she couldn't still learn from Fitz. Olivia told herself this, but she didn't really believe it. She just wanted to see him. To comfort herself in any small way that she could.

"Hey," Hannah said as she plopped down next to Olivia in the locker room.

"Hi," Olivia said, looking down at her bag, trying to figure out if she had all her things.

"So how's the lovely Dr. Grant?" Hannah asked.

"What?" Olivia squeaked. "What do you mean? Why are you asking me? I don't know anything about Dr. Grant."

"Whoa," Hannah said, holding up her hands. "Easy there. I was just wondering how the two of you are?"

Olivia realized Hannah didn't know anything. "Look, Hannah, I don't know where you got the idea that we had a thing, but really it is all in your head."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Whatever, don't tell me. But don't kid yourself, you and I both know that there definitely is a thing between you and Dr. Grant. Man, he must be great in bed."

Olivia's face turned bright red.

"Ha!" Hannah said with a laugh. "I knew it. You two were just so obvious about it."

Olivia looked around at the empty locker room and then back at Hannah. "You can't say anything. Promise me."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Who would I tell?"

"Lisa?"

Hannah nodded. "Normally, this is something I would tell Death, but in this case…I can't help but notice the irony of the situation."

"What do you mean?" Olivia asked.

"Well, your sister thinks you're all rainbows and fluffy puppies, and here you are having a fling with the most unattainable guy in the hospital. No, I think I will keep this one to myself."

Olivia smiled. "Thank you, but it is not a fling."

Hannah sighed. "I thought we were past the denial phase."

"No, we are," Olivia said. "It's just that it was only one night. We haven't even talked since."

"What?" Hannah said in surprise. "That is so wrong! Then what is with all the eyesex?"

"The what?" Olivia said with a laugh. She enjoyed having someone know the truth, even if it was Hannah.

"The eyesex! Every time he has a surgery, there you are in the gallery making the sex eyes at him, and he looks like he wishes you were down in the OR so he could take you on the gurney."

Olivia smiled. "Sorry to disappoint. Nothing has happened for a couple of days. He sort of gave me the whole 'it was a mistake' speech."

"Hmm, that's interesting," Hannah said. "He must really feel guilty about what happened. He is probably pushing you away because of that."

Olivia nodded; she knew this much.

"So you know what the solution is?" Hannah asked.

"No, what?"

"You go to his hotel room and seduce him."

Olivia laughed. "That's what I did the last time."

"No!" Hannah gasped. "My God, your sister has vastly underestimated you. Damn, even I wouldn't have had the courage to try to seduce a sex god like him." Hannah tapped her finger against her chin. "Hmm, this will take some thought."

Olivia smiled to herself. She appreciated Hannah's help, but Olivia knew that it was Fitz who would have to come to her this time. She couldn't always be the one doing the chasing.

"Lou's later, then?" Hannah asked.

Olivia hesitated, and then nodded.

Fitz's mood hadn't improved by the time his shift ended, but he had promised Jake he would meet him at Lou's. When he got to the dark bar, he felt relieved when he saw Jake alone at a table. He couldn't have dealt with Lisa Pope being his plus one at the moment.

"Fitz," Jake said as he sat down.

"Hey," Fitz replied, willing himself to be civil to his best friend.

"So, I figured it out," Jake said.

"Good for you," Fitz replied. "What, exactly?"

"Why you are in such a bad mood," Jake replied.

Fitz snorted. "I doubt it." He then took a sip of the drink that Jake had ordered for him.

"It's sex."

Fitz choked on his drink. "What?"

"It's about sex. That is why you are so grumpy. The nurses are united against you, and they won't ease your suffering, so to speak."

"Jake, it's not about sex."

"I have a solution," Jake said, ignoring Fitz. "There is this new nurse in Derm…"

"I am in hell," Fitz muttered. "What, did you and Mellie conspire to get me laid?"

The guilty look on Jake's face said it all.

"You two are unbelievable," Fitz hissed.

"We were just trying to help," Mellie said, coming up and sitting at their table. "Stop being such a drama queen."

Fitz looked back and forth between the two of them and rolled his eyes.

When Olivia entered the bar, she looked around and quickly joined Hannah at her table. She had been delayed by a last-minute charting mishap, and she was eager to have a drink and relax.

"There you are," Hannah said.

"Yep," Olivia replied. "Let me just go get a drink at the bar."

"Umm, that might not be such a good idea," Hannah said.

"Why not?"

"'Cause a certain doctor you have the hots for is sitting right there."

Olivia turned and saw that Fitz was indeed sitting at a table by the bar with Mellie and Jake. She sighed.

The low hum of conversation, punctuated by clinking glasses and the occasional burst of laughter, filled Fitz's Bar. Olivia, perched on a barstool next to Hannah, was trying desperately to focus on anything but the man across the room whose gaze felt like a physical weight.

"I'll get it," Hannah said, breaking the tense silence. "And when I come back I will tell you my brilliant beyond brilliant idea."

Olivia laughed, a nervous, brittle sound. She watched Hannah strut towards Fitz, the bartender, a confident sway in her hips. Hannah made an order and then, with a casualness Olivia found almost unnerving, glanced towards Mellie, Fitz's ex-wife and still close friend. Olivia was surprised, and rather relieved, that her new friend seemed to have no designs on Fitz Grant, the bane of her existence and the object of her hopelessly unprofessional desires.

When Hannah returned, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous light, she leaned in conspiratorially. "Was she watching?"

"Was who watching what?" Olivia asked, feigning ignorance.

"Dr. Raines. Was she watching me walk away?"

Olivia, unable to resist, glanced towards the corner where Chief Resident, Dr. Mary Bauer, was holding court with a gaggle of other residents. "Definitely." Bauer’s sharp, hawk-like eyes were indeed fixed on Hannah, and then shifted, almost imperceptibly, to Olivia.

Hannah smiled, a knowing, almost predatory expression. "I knew it." She then waved her hand dismissively. "Okay, so…about my plan."

"Oh yes," Olivia replied, forcing enthusiasm. "Tell me your diabolical plan."

"Less diabolical, more ingenious," Hannah corrected, tapping a manicured nail against the bar.

"Well," Olivia said with a laugh, "What is it?"

"Okay, so you go out of your way to assign yourself to his service. You need to get Bauer to send you off to Plastics in an indefinite kind of way."

Olivia scoffed. "Well, first of all," Olivia said, "I don't think stalking is the answer to my problems. And second of all, even if I did feel a little Fatal Attraction coming on, there is no way that Bauer would do me any favors. She hates me, remember?" Olivia pointed at herself. "Crazy Cabal Organizer. There is no way she would want to do anything for me that she thought I wanted."

Hannah tapped her finger on her chin again, a habit Olivia had quickly learned signaled deep, devious thought. Hannah's face then lit up. "What if she thought that Plastics was the last thing that you wanted?"

"What do you mean?" Olivia asked, genuinely intrigued despite herself. Anything to take her mind off the searing intensity of Fitz's blue eyes.

"Well, I could somehow mention in front of her that you hated Plastics and that you were glad it was off your rotation. Wouldn't it be just like Bauer to assign you there out of spite?"

Olivia laughed loudly, the sound echoing slightly in the crowded bar. "I think you're grasping at straws. Mary doesn't care enough to be that diabolical. She is not like you."

Hannah opened her mouth to speak, a retort clearly forming, but then her eyes strayed to just behind Olivia. "Don't look now, but Fitz Grant is totally staring at you."

As if led by some compulsion she couldn't understand, Olivia turned her head and met his eyes. The air crackled between them, a silent, electric current. She couldn't bring herself to look away. He was smiling, a small, almost hesitant smile that reached his eyes and crinkled the corners.

Across the bar, Fitz had been starting to relax as the evening wore on. It wasn't his friends' fault that things had happened the way they had, and he couldn't take it out on them any longer. He had even started to enjoy himself. Jake was talking about Lisa, of course, and he and Mellie were badly attempting to give advice.

"Slow and steady," Fitz said, swirling the ice in his whiskey. "Pope is a crazy mass of tangled neurosis. You can't scare her with too many sudden movements."

"She isn't a deer, Fitz," Mellie said, her voice already a little husky with alcohol. She turned to Jake, "Lisa made the grand gesture with the candles. It might be time to return the favor. Maybe you should think about proposing."

"It's too soon for that," Fitz protested, genuinely surprised by the suggestion.

"What does that mean?" Mellie asked, raising an eyebrow. "When it's right, it's right. Sometimes you just know." She was starting to slur her words together a little bit.

"How do you know?" Fitz asked with a laugh.

"From the voice inside," Mellie said, tapping her chest dramatically. "I wish I had been listening to that voice when I got married."

"What was the voice saying?" Jake asked, trying to keep his face serious.

"It was saying, 'Run Mellie, run'!"

Fitz and Jake laughed. Mellie started to join them, but her attention was diverted as Hannah walked up to the bar and ordered a drink from Lou. Fitz watched in amusement as she and Mellie exchanged sultry glances. It amazed him that he felt nothing. Olivia really had ruined him. He smiled to himself.

"Is she looking at me?" Mellie asked through her teeth, her eyes narrowed.

"Who?" Fitz said with a laugh, playing dumb.

"Don't be an ass," Mellie said, swatting his arm playfully.

"She is looking," Jake said, confirming Mellie's suspicion.

Mellie looked up then as Fitz rolled his eyes.

While Mellie was distracted by watching Hannah's retreating form, Jake leaned over and said to Fitz, "About the other day…"

"Forget it," Fitz said as he took a sip of his drink, trying to shut down the conversation.

"I have just been thinking about it a lot," Jake admitted. "And I didn't want you to think that I didn't hear what you were saying."

"Don't be such a girl, Ballard. I promise you, my feelings weren't bruised," Fitz lied, the lie a bitter taste in his mouth.

Jake looked as though he didn't believe him. "Well, anyway, what I wanted to say is that I think it might be a good idea, if you were serious, about trying to be better. You could start dating the nurse from Derm."

"That's a good idea," Mellie chimed in, her words slightly slurred. "You should try having a real relationship."

"What is it with you two?" Fitz asked, exasperated. "I'm fine."

Jake shrugged. "Well, whatever. It's not like you are changing for good, but we just thought a temporary alteration to your sex life might be a good idea. You have sort of exhausted all your options."

Fitz shrugged, trying not to show the hurt that he felt at those words. He took another sip of his drink.

"Another round?" Mellie asked. Both men nodded, so she went to the bar.

Fitz stared down at the remaining amber liquid in his glass and tried to reassure himself that Jake was right. It was better this way. If he stayed away from Olivia, he definitely wouldn't hurt her, whereas if he didn't, there was an almost certain possibility that he would.

"Hey, look," Mellie said as she sat down, placing the fresh drinks on the table. "They were giving out mistletoe at the bar." She tossed a couple of sprigs on the table, their pale green leaves and pearly white berries a stark contrast to the dark wood.

Fitz grinned at her. "I bet you have plans for that."

Mellie laughed. "A lady never tells."

"Did you know mistletoe is a parasite?" Jake asked, his face serious. "They cut it off because it shouldn't be there. So really, people are kissing under a parasite."

Fitz wrinkled his nose. "Why did you have to tell us that?"

Jake grinned. "I am full of plenty of fun facts about Christmas."

"Jesus," Fitz said. "You are almost as bad as—" He stopped himself from saying her name.

"As bad as whom?" Jake asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Fitz opened his mouth, but was then distracted by the sound of laughter from across the bar. Olivia's laughter. Fitz turned and watched her talk with Hannah. She looked so happy, so carefree. Fitz's stomach clenched. He wished that he was the one that she was laughing with.

She then turned her head, and Fitz was suddenly staring into her eyes. He felt a surge of something powerful and undeniable, a connection that transcended logic and reason.

Olivia felt as though she looked at him for hours, while in reality it was only mere moments. The weight of his gaze was almost unbearable. She forced herself to break his gaze, and she turned around and looked at Hannah. "I'm not feeling so well," Olivia lied, her voice barely a whisper.

Hannah looked at her sympathetically, concern etched on her face. "But what about our plan?"

"Maybe later," Olivia said, waving her hand dismissively. She then grabbed her coat and left the bar, unaware of the eyes that were watching her every move. The bar seemed colder

Fitz watched her leave, and immediately felt less because of her absence. He wanted to follow her, but something kept him in his seat.

"You should take that mistletoe and go find the Derm nurse," Mellie was saying.

"Maybe some other time," Fitz mumbled, looking down at his drink. There had to be some other way. Some way he could be with Olivia without hurting her. Fitz realized then that if he stayed away from Olivia he would never know. He would never know if he had it in him to be the man that Jake thought he couldn't. But Fitz knew one thing: he sure as hell wanted to try.

"I have to go," he said to Jake and Mellie. He put his leather jacket back on, and took one last gulp of his drink. He just hoped that Olivia was in a forgiving mood. He clenched the mistletoe in his fist and tried not to be too obvious.

As he left the bar, Hannah caught his eye.

She was giving him the thumbs up.

Fitz grinned, and then rushed out the door after Olivia.

Chapter Text

The sound of his feet beating against the pavement echoed in Fitz's ears as he ran after Olivia. He moved urgently, not fully understanding why he couldn't let this opportunity pass him by. Perhaps he knew that this was one of those choices that would define his life, or perhaps it was instinct, but either way, he just ran. He couldn't see her at first, but as he rounded the corner which led to the street, there she was crossing.

"Olivia!" He yelled, running across the street after her.

A sleek black sedan swerved violently to avoid hitting him, the tires squealing a protest against the sudden maneuver. The driver laid on the horn, a prolonged, angry blast that echoed off the brick buildings lining the street.

"Are you crazy?" Olivia yelled at him when he finally stumbled onto the curb, his chest heaving. "You could have been killed!" Her face was pale, her usually composed demeanor fractured by genuine alarm.

"Would you have cared?" Fitz asked, still slightly breathless from running, the question escaping before he could fully process the potential consequences.

"Of course, I would have," Olivia said, the words tumbling out quickly. Then, trying to qualify what she said, "In a general caring about my fellow humans kind of way."

Fitz took a small comfort in the fact that she cared about his safety, however diluted the sentiment might be. "I need to talk to you."

"What, and you thought charging headfirst into traffic was the way to do it?" Olivia asked, still shaking her head, her dark hair swirling around her face. "Seriously, Fitz, what were you thinking?"

Fitz moved closer to her, touching her shoulder, his other hand hanging at his side, still holding the sprig of mistletoe, its glossy green leaves and pearly white berries a stark contrast to the gritty city street. "You're trembling," he whispered, his voice low and concerned.

Olivia jerked away, the contact seemingly burning her skin. "I am fine, Dr. Grant." Her words held no malice, but she was deliberately putting up the professional wall between them, a wall that irked Fitz to no end. He knew she was anything but fine. He could see the lingering fear in her eyes.

"Fitz," he said, his voice firm.

"What?"

"My name is Fitz. I have seen you naked; I think it would be acceptable for you to call me by my first name." He watched her carefully, gauging her reaction.

Olivia shuddered at the mention of nudity, her mind teasing her with unwelcome memories of their shared intimacy, the raw passion, and the subsequent…complications. "I don't think that is a good idea, Dr. Grant," she said, adding emphasis to his name. "If we are going to remain professional then there have to be boundaries. We can't be calling each other by our first names, and you can't be chasing into traffic after me. There have to be limits. You said you wanted—"

"I know what I said," Fitz cut in, his voice laced with frustration. He regretted his earlier pronouncements, the attempts at distancing himself, the fear that had driven him to create space between them. "But I want to take it back."

"You can't do that," Olivia sputtered, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You said what you said. And when you said it—"

"Olivia," Fitz said impatiently, reaching out to cup her face in his hands.

"What?"

"You're babbling," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, as he pulled her close to him and lowered his head to hers. His lips moved gently across her own, as if they were asking permission to be there. If kisses had words, Olivia was certain that this kiss said: Please, forgive me. Please, let me try again.

When Fitz pulled back, Olivia lifted her brown eyes to meet ice blue ones, her expression a mixture of confusion and longing. "Why did you do that?"

Fitz shrugged, a sheepish grin spreading across his face, and held up the sprig of mistletoe in his hand. "'Tis the season?" He said with an impish grin, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere. He felt like an idiot standing there with the mistletoe. He should have just told her how he felt.

Olivia chuckled, a small, hesitant sound, and then frowned. "Not fair," She said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What's not fair?" Fitz asked, leaning in and kissing her again, a deeper, more insistent kiss this time.

"I want to stay mad at you," she said against his lips, her words muffled by the contact.

"How's that working out for you?" Fitz asked with a laugh, his breath warm on her skin.

Olivia grabbed the collar of his worn leather jacket and said, "It isn't," as she kissed him again, a fierce, possessive kiss that erased any lingering doubts.

Fitz pulled her tight against his body, savoring the feel of her curves pressed against him, the familiar scent of her perfume, and trying to make up for the long, lonely nights she hadn't been by his side. He marveled at the way she fit perfectly against him, as if she was made just for him, and he promised himself he wouldn't be so stupid again.

"Just so you know," Fitz said as he kissed the small spot under her ear, sending a shiver down her spine, "I am done trying to stay away from you. So done."

"Me too," Olivia replied, her voice husky with emotion. "Does this mean that we can stop pretending that there isn't something going on here?"

Fitz nodded, his grip tightening on her. "Yeah, I would say so."

"Good."

"Come back to the hotel with me," Fitz whispered to her, his voice rough with desire.

"Okay," Olivia responded, her answer immediate and without hesitation.

They separated, and Fitz took her elbow and led her down the street, carefully avoiding the crosswalk where he had nearly been killed. As they were walking, Olivia reached down and intertwined her fingers with his. Fitz started in surprise, unused to public displays of affection, but then looked down at their joined hands and then back up to Olivia's eyes. She looked so beautiful when she looked at him like that, vulnerable and trusting. Fitz squeezed her hand, and kept it inside his own. He had never been one for hand holding, but if it was Olivia's hand…well, that was different. Everything about this was different.

They didn't speak on the way, and they even remained quiet in the elevator on the way to his floor. But as they stayed silent, the anticipation between them grew, a palpable tension that crackled in the air. Olivia felt hot, her pulse racing, and Fitz could feel all his muscles tightening and becoming alert, his senses heightened.

When they reached his floor, Fitz led Olivia down the hall towards his room. When he opened the door with his keycard, Fitz dropped Olivia's hand, suddenly feeling awkward and unsure. Once he had the door open, Fitz stepped inside, holding the door for Olivia.

He shrugged off his coat, tossing it carelessly onto a nearby chair, and said, "If you want, we could take this slow…"

"Fitz?" Olivia said, her voice soft, cutting him off.

"Yeah?" He asked turning to face her, watching as she took off her coat, her movements slow and deliberate.

She grinned at him, the corners of her mouth tilting up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Shut up." She then walked forward and kissed him, a bold, demanding kiss that stole his breath away. She stood on her tiptoes to reach his height, and she pressed her body against his, leaving no space between them.

"You can't tell me to shut up," Fitz said, when he came up for air, his voice husky and slightly breathless. "I'm your—"

"My what?" Olivia asked with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with amusement. She then pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. "My attending? My teacher? My lover?" All the while she tormented him with kisses on the most sensitive parts of his jaw.

"Everything," Fitz mumbled, losing his battle for control, and took control. His arms wrapped around Olivia like steel bands as he deepened the kiss, his tongue exploring the sweet depths of her mouth. As his lips moved against hers, Fitz slowly unbuttoned her shirt, savoring the fact that he was the one to do it this time. With each button he removed, his fingers caressed the newly revealed patch of skin, sending shivers of pleasure through her.

But Olivia was no casual participant. She tugged his shirt from his pants, and practically pulled the buttons off in her quest to feel his skin. When both of their shirts had been removed, Fitz moved Olivia over to the bed, his eyes never leaving hers. When he lowered her to the mattress, he quickly followed her down, unwilling to let their bodies separate for even a moment.

Had you asked Olivia the day before if she had learned everything there was to know about sex, she would have answered in the affirmative. But that night, Fitz showed her that she knew nothing at all. While the first time had been frenzied and passionate, this time was utterly different. It felt as though Fitz was worshiping her. He was conveying with his body, the things he simply couldn't say with words. Olivia knew that Fitz Grant was a complicated man, but she was only just beginning to realize just how complicated his nature truly was. Every touch seemed to have a meaning, a thought, or an apology behind it. Olivia wondered if this was the only way he knew how to truly communicate.

She refused to let him think though that she felt any less for him than she did. Olivia gave equally to him, trying to get him to understand how much she had missed this; how much she had missed him.

When they had both found completion, Fitz rolled off of her and pulled her into his arms so that she was practically lying on top of him.

"Olivia," he whispered, moving a piece of hair out of her eyes.

"Hmm?"

"About tomorrow…"

"What about it?" She mumbled into his chest.

"We are just going to have to act professional, is all," Fitz said, kissing her head.

"Whatever," Olivia said as she moved closer to him. "Everyone is going to know anyway."

"No," Fitz said forcefully. "Olivia, no one can know about this. We have to keep it out of work completely. You can't tell anyone."

Olivia's face started to crumple.

Fitz frowned in surprise. What had he said?

Tears were filling Olivia's eyes as she looked at him. "What do you want to keep me a secret or something?"

Fitz nodded.

Olivia started crying in earnest.

Fitz stared at her, a loss as to what he had said. "What did I say?"

"You want to hide me?" Olivia said, her eyes filled with betrayal.

"Oh, Olivia," Fitz said. "It's not like that at all. It's just that I am your attending, and you are still an intern, and I made this promise to Jake… It would just be better if no one knew about this."

Olivia's eyes had begun to fill with anger while he was talking. "You know what would be even better?" She asked as she got off of the bed and began looking for her clothing. "If there wasn't anything for them to know about in the first place!"

She grabbed her pants and shirt. "So I will make things simple, Dr. Grant, there is nothing for people to find out about, because there is nothing going on between us!"

"Now Olivia," Fitz said, as he got out of bed and pulled on his pants, "You are overreacting."

Olivia's face turned bright red. "Why I even thought this could work, I am sure I will never know!" She turned to go to the door, but Fitz stopped her before he could open it. His hand was blocking her from turning the handle.

"Move," she said.

"No," he replied.

"Move your hand! I am leaving!"

"No, you're not," Fitz evenly replied.

Olivia turned around to face him.

Big mistake.

His eyes were right there, staring directly into her own. She hated it when he looked at her like that. It made her knees turn to mush and her stomach do flip-flops.

Who was she kidding? She loved it when he looked at her like that.

"I don't know what I said," Fitz began, "But I am not dumb enough at this relationship thing to let you walk out the door. Whatever I said, I am sorry and I want to fix it." Fitz was about to continue on, but he saw that Olivia's eyes had already softened.

"Relationship?" Olivia whispered. "We are in a relationship?"

Fitz's brow furrowed. "What the hell did you think was going on here?"

"I don't know," Fitz whispered. "But when you said that you wanted to keep it secret, I thought that you didn't…"

"Didn't what?"

"Didn't want me anymore," she finished. "That this was just an affair to you; something to pass the time."

"Oh, Fitz," he said, causing her to shiver. She loved the way he said her name. "Believe me when I say that this is so much more than that to me. I can't explain it; I am really not good at talking about this stuff, but it is more than that, okay?"

"Okay," she said, nodding. "But why do you want to keep it secret?"

"I think it would just be better for both of us. The last thing you want is for people to think you are like your sister."

"What do you mean?"

Fitz shrugged. "What happened with her and Ballard has defined her. A lot of people think she is where she is because of her mother and Jake. You are a very promising surgeon Olivia. I don't want that for you." Fitz's eyes seemed to be asking hers to believe him.

"Okay, we will keep it to ourselves," Olivia said. "For now."

Fitz kissed her forehead, relieved the crisis was averted.

"Oh," Olivia suddenly said, "But Hannah knows."

Fitz rolled his eyes. "That crazy intern has been here for less than two weeks and I swear, she knows more gossip than I do."

Olivia laughed. "I didn't tell her; she guessed. I think she is good at reading people."

Fitz silently agreed, glad that Hannah had told him where to find Olivia a few days ago. "Fine, crazy intern knows. But no one else, okay?"

"M'kay," Olivia said, raising her face for a kiss which Fitz happily gave her.

"Now, can we go back to bed please?" Fitz asked with a grin.

"Sure," Olivia said with a coy smile, "But you're going to have to undress me again."

"Now that I can do," growled Fitz. He picked Olivia up and carried her over to the bed, while Olivia was shrieking with laughter the whole time.

Olivia had a smile on her face when she went into work the next day. She was trying to control it, but as soon as she thought that she had mastered herself, some image of the previous night would come to mind and she would be smiling all over again. Last night, Olivia had seen the playful side of Fitz Grant. He seemed to have just as much fun horsing around as he did having sex, and Olivia was beginning to suspect that this was not only new territory for her alone.

"There you are," Hannah said, coming up next to Olivia.

Olivia beamed at her.

Hannah chuckled. "Nice night?"

Olivia nodded, unable to say more.

"Well, you are going to love me when you find out what I have accomplished," Hannah said.

"What's that?" Olivia said, looking down at the chart in her hands as she spoke.

Hannah opened her mouth to speak, but a loud voice distracted them both.

"Three!" Mary yelled, coming towards her.

"You can thank me later," Hannah murmured.

Olivia suddenly got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, "Hannah, what did you do?" She hissed, but Hannah was already walking away with a smiled on her face.

Olivia turned to Mary, "What can I do for you Dr. Bauer?"

"You are assigned to Plastics until further notice," Mary said, grabbing the cardio patient's chart out of Olivia's hands.

"What? No, I don't… Um, can we talk about this?" Olivia asked anxiously.

"No," Mary said. "Now go!"

"Going," Olivia muttered.

Olivia's head was whirling at she started looking for Fitz. How was she supposed to work with him when all she wanted to do was kiss him and rip off his clothes? This was bad, very bad.

It didn't take long for Olivia to find Fitz. He was standing talking to Jake in the Neuro wing. Olivia bit her lip, and began to walk over to him.

Jake smiled at her as he walked away, and Olivia shuffled up to Fitz.

He didn't look at her, but a smile quirked at his lips. "Go away."

"Why?" Olivia asked with a grin.

"Cause I can't think when you are near. Also because you snuck out and left me to wake up to a cold bed this morning."

Olivia smiled. "I had doctoring to do. Rounds started at five this morning. Some of us were doing real work while others slept in."

Fitz smiled to himself. "Just getting my beauty sleep, Dr. Pope."

"Like you need it, Dr. Grant," Olivia replied.

"So what are you doing here?" Fitz asked.

Olivia bit her lip again. "Well, um… you know how we talked about not working together because it might complicate things?"

"Yeah," Fitz said, looking at her.

"Well, we are gonna have to eighty-six that plan."

Why?"

"Because I have been assigned to Plastics."

"For the day?"

"Um, sort of indefinitely." Olivia gave him an uneasy smile.

"This isn't going to work," Fitz muttered.

"Why is that?" Olivia asked.

"Because I can't focus on medicine when you are around," he groaned. "How did this happen?"

"Well," Olivia said, "Hypothetically, there was this intern who was missing an appendix…"

Fitz groaned.

"And hypothetically, she wanted to help out a friend by doing them a favor. This intern might have, without asking, gone to her friend's resident who hated her and told that same resident that a certain intern hated Plastics."

"Why would this intern without an appendix have done that?" Fitz asked, struggling to stay serious.

"Well, hypothetically, because she knew that this resident wanted to make a certain intern's life miserable for her role in keeping that same resident from the solo surgery, and that she was certain to give the previously mentioned friend a permanent Plastics rotation."

Fitz grimaced, but then paused and said, "Wait, do you hate plastics?"

Olivia shook her head. "No, not at all. I find your reconstructions fascinating."

"Then why—"

"All part of a certain intern's diabolical plan," Olivia pertly replied.

"Remind me to make Hannah's life miserable the next time she is assigned to me."

"Dr. Grant!"

"What now?" Fitz muttered, turning.

"I would like to scrub in on your surgery today," Dr. Russell said, giving him a rare smile.

"I am in hell," Fitz muttered to himself, only loud enough so that Lexie could hear him.

Olivia coughed to cover her laugh.

"Something wrong, Dr. Pope?" Russell asked.

"No, Dr. Russell ," Olivia said. "What about you Dr. Grant? You look like you are coming down with something."

Fitz narrowed his eyes as Olivia flashed him an innocent smile.

This was going to be fun, Olivia thought.

Chapter Text

The air in Fitz Grant III’s office was thick with unspoken promises, shattered vows, and the lingering scent of forbidden passion. "I promised Jake that I would stay away from you, that I wouldn't take you to bed. And I tried, God Olivia, I tried so hard." Fitz's words were like a caress against her skin, a confession etched in the lines of his face. "I stayed away, even though I wanted to take you home that night Hannah almost died. And I tried to keep things professional when we had Mrs. Waterson's reconstruction. But all I wanted to do was pull you into my arms and kiss you senseless. I tried Olivia, but I just can't stay away from you."

Olivia Pope, third year intern, felt a shiver run down her spine. She had known this was coming, had felt the pull, the undeniable magnetic force between them since the first day they met in the operating room. But hearing it, the raw vulnerability in Fitz's voice, was a different kind of revelation.

"I can't either. When Mrs. Waterson spoke, I realized there was no one else in the world I wanted to tell. That is why I went to your hotel room, Fitz. I wanted to share it with you." Olivia put her hand on top of his heart, feeling the frantic rhythm beneath her fingertips. "I wanted you to know how amazing I think you are."

"Oh, Olivia," He whispered. "Liv…" He kissed her then, up against the door. His body was pressed against hers, and Olivia was holding him just as tight as he was holding her. He lifted his hand and gently stroked the bare skin at her neck, dragging his fingers along her collarbone.

"Fitz," she cried. "Please."

Clothes came off then, flying in every direction as they tried to stay close to each other at the same time. When Olivia was naked, Fitz dropped his jeans and lifted her against the door. As he entered her, he whispered, "Someday they'll know…"

He didn't fully know what he meant, but Olivia understood. Someday this wouldn't be a secret. Someday, there would be no guilt, no ghosts in the room. Someday it would be just them. Just Olivia and Fitz.

It was a long time before Fitz lowered her back to the floor. He hadn't wanted to give up the pleasure of holding her, but in the end, he had been afraid of crushing her, and allowed her to lower her feet. Fitz picked up her clothing and handed it to her, piece by piece.

Once they were fully clothed, Olivia looked at him and cocked her head to one side. "Fitz, I have a question for you."

"Shoot," he said, as he pulled his shirt over his head.

"Are you seeing anyone else?"

Olivia's question went off like a bomb in the room.

Fitz looked at her like she had slapped him. "How can you ask me that?"

Olivia's eyes widened when she saw the look on his face. "Fitz!" She said urgently, "I didn't mean it like that! It's just that we never talked about exclusivity, and it has only been a couple of days, and I didn't want you to feel obligated to me. Not that you do feel obligated to me. But if you did, I just wanted to tell you, that I am not seeing anyone else." Olivia closed her eyes in embarrassment. "Stop talking, Olivia," She mumbled to herself.

Fitz smiled, and walked over to her. He tipped her chin so that she was looking at him. "Olivia Pope, I think you are just as bad at this relationship thing as I am."

"If not worse," Olivia said with an embarrassed smile.

"Well, let me put your mind at ease. I am not seeing anyone else, I am not sleeping with anyone else, and I am not thinking of anyone else."

Olivia smiled. "How do you always know how to say the right things when I am being neurotic?"

"It's a gift," Fitz said with a grin.

"Yes, it is," Olivia agreed, totally serious.

Fitz groaned. "Don't look at me like that Olivia."

"Or what?"

"Or we are never going to get out of my office."

Olivia was about to reply when her pager went off. "Hold that thought," she said.

Fitz kissed her. "I'll see you in a half an hour."

Olivia grinned. "Not if I see you first."

Edison Davis had a bad day. None of his interns seemed to respect him or accept the fact that he was their boss. The last thing he felt like doing was going back to the crappy apartment he shared with Olivia. It was simply too depressing. He sighed as he stared at the surgical board.

"Hey Edison," Olivia said, coming up next to him. She smiled when she saw Fitz's name on the board from an earlier surgery. She had changed to go home, and she was about to leave to go meet Fitz.

"Hey Olivia," Edison said, not looking at her.

She was about to walk away, when he said, "Hey, what are you doing tonight?"

"Tonight? Why? Why do you ask? Did you hear something?"

"What?" Edison asked. "No, I just wanted to know if you wanted to go get a drink with me."

Olivia stood there in shock when suddenly a wide grin broke across her face. It amazed her to think that just a few short weeks ago her heart would have burst with excitement if Edison had asked her that. She realized for the first time that she had absolutely no feelings for Edison Davis.

It was as if the girl who had once done all those nice things for him and sacrificed surgeries for him had never existed to begin with, or if she had it had been in another life all together. Looking at him now, Olivia had a wonderful feeling of freedom, and a sudden desperate urge to see Fitz.

"No," she said, still grinning. "I don't want to get a drink with you."

"Okay," Edison said, puzzled at the wide grin on her face. "Will I see you at home?"

Olivia shrugged, still smiling. "Maybe," she said, whistling as she walked away.

"Weird," Edison muttered to himself when she was out of sight.

When Olivia turned the corner, she began to run.

Except this time, she wasn't running away from something.

She was running towards it.

Olivia arrived at the small Italian restaurant a few blocks from the hospital, breathless and flushed. Fitz was already there, nursing a glass of red wine. He looked up, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled. It was a genuine, unburdened smile, and it made her heart ache with a mixture of joy and fear.

"You're late," he teased, but his voice was soft, full of tenderness.

"Traffic," she lied, sliding into the booth across from him. The truth, that she’d been lost in a daydream about him, felt too vulnerable to admit.

The dinner was easy, comfortable. They talked about work, about the intricacies of the brain, about the challenges of saving lives. They avoided the elephant in the room, the simmering secret that threatened to consume them both.

Back at Olivia's apartment, Edison was waiting. The tension in the small space was palpable. Olivia tried to act normal, but Edison's eyes were narrowed, suspicious.

"Where were you?" he asked, his voice tight.

"I went to dinner with a friend," Olivia replied, keeping her tone even.

"A friend? What friend?"

Olivia hesitated. "It's not important, Edison."

"Everything is important when we live together," he snapped. "Are you seeing someone?"

Olivia took a deep breath. This was it. "Yes, Edison. I am."

The words hung in the air, heavy and final. Edison’s face crumpled, a mix of hurt and anger warring within him. He didn't yell, didn't scream. He just quietly packed his things, his movements stiff and mechanical.

As he walked out the door, he turned back, his eyes filled with a sadness that pierced Olivia's heart. "I thought we were good friends, Olivia.

"We were, Edison," she said softly. "But things change.

The next few weeks were a whirlwind. Olivia and Fitz carved out stolen moments, lunches in the hospital cafeteria, quick kisses in empty supply closets, late-night phone calls filled with whispered confessions. The intensity of their connection was intoxicating, but the constant need for secrecy was exhausting.

Fitz was a respected surgeon, a pillar of the community. He had a reputation to uphold, a career to protect. Olivia, too, was building a name for herself, and a scandal could derail everything she had worked for.

One evening, after a particularly difficult surgery, Olivia found Fitz pacing in his office, his brow furrowed with worry.

"This can't go on, Liv," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "I can't keep hiding you. I can't keep lying."

"I know," Olivia said, her heart sinking. "But what else can we do?" . Fitz glanced at the window, his shoulders tense. "We could come clean tomorrow." Olivia stared at him, fear flickering in her eyes. "Are you sure?" Fitz nodded, jaw set. "I can’t live like this anymore." Olivia pressed her palms together, the room suddenly too quiet, while outside thunder rumbled in the distance.

Chapter Text

Olivia traced the rim of her coffee cup, a small, contented smile playing on her lips. The next three weeks were the best of her life. She could never have imagined it could be like this – that happiness was a real and tangible thing she could hold onto. Passionate nights were followed by happy mornings when she woke up in Fitz’s arms and savored the feeling of being wrapped up in him.

Dr. Fitzgerald Grant III, Chief of Plastics, was not known for his warmth. He was brilliant, driven, and, to most, utterly intimidating. Before her internship, Olivia had only ever seen him as a distant figure, a surgical god in a crisp white coat. Now, he was so much more.

At the hospital, Fitz strived to be professional, but Olivia knew he was thinking about her from the heated glances he aimed in her direction. They hadn’t had sex in the hospital again; they saved that for his hotel room. But Olivia didn't mind. Because they weren't allowed to be physical in the hospital for fear of being caught, Fitz had started doing other things to show her that he was thinking about her.

It had started small. A cappuccino here, a kind word there, but then Fitz seemed to like doing things for her. He started dog-earing articles in medical journals that he thought she would like, or teaching her a complicated stitch once she was allowed back in the OR after her… incident.

He still acted like a jerk in front of others, barking orders and maintaining his aloof facade, but he used small ways of showing her he cared. A reassuring hand on her back when she was feeling overwhelmed, a perfectly timed joke that only she would understand.

Olivia thought that he just liked taking care of her, since he had never had anyone to care for before her. He was a product of boarding schools and icy privilege, a man who had built walls around himself to keep the world at bay.

Her theory was proved correct when she woke up in the on-call room to find Fitz pulling the rough blanket up over her shoulders. When he saw that she had opened her eyes, he shrugged and said, "You looked cold."

She had smiled and said, "You don't have to go."

"I really do," he responded. "Or I'll never leave."

She laughed. "So never leave."

Fitz had then locked the door and laid down next to her. But instead of reaching for her clothing, he had pulled her close to him, and whispered, "Sleep, Olivia."

Small things like that had convinced Olivia that she was seeing a side of Fitz Grant that few people ever did. A vulnerable, tender side that lay hidden beneath layers of ambition and self-preservation.

And sometimes, late in the night as he held her close, Fitz would talk about his childhood, and the loneliness that had consumed his entire existence back then. He spoke about Jake, his best friend, and the guilt he still felt over a childhood prank gone wrong. And he spoke about Allison Ballard, Jake’s mother, who had taken him in when no one else had cared.

In turn, Olivia had told him how powerless she felt when it came to her father, a man who seemed to thrive on her insecurity. She told him how much she missed her mother, a woman who had always encouraged her dreams. She told him how her sister, Lisa, had always been the favorite, and how Olivia had desperately wanted Lisa to like her, to have a member of her family that wanted her around.

And it was in these moments that the loneliness that had been a part of them all their lives had slowly disappeared. They had started healing, and Olivia could feel herself falling for Fitz more and more each day.

It did worry her sometimes. The idea that maybe he wouldn't feel the same way back, that maybe he would leave her if he met someone else, that his fidelity was only temporary. But there was this much bigger concern that she had, that she would miss out on the best thing of her life simply because she was scared. So she forced her doubts to the back of her mind, and focused on him. On how he was now, because that was all that really mattered.

When Christmas came, Olivia shyly asked him if he wanted to come to her house for the holidays. Fitz had looked visibly upset when he told her that he was going to Lisa's.

"Jake asked me," Fitz said. "I thought you would want to be with your family."

"I do…" Olivia trailed off. "It's just that you could be there too. They don't know you and they don't talk to Lisa or Dr. Ballard. We could be a real couple for a night."

"We are a real couple, Liv," Fitz had said as he pulled her into his arms. They were sitting on his hotel bed, exhausted after a long day in surgery. "It's just that no one else knows. But we are real," Fitz whispered.

"So come," Olivia said, kissing him lightly. "It won't be any fun, but at least we could be together."

"Oh, Olivia," Fitz murmured. "Why can't I resist you?"

Fitz had called then and canceled on Jake, saying he was going back to New York for two days to see his aunt. Jake never would have believed him if he had said he was returning to see his parents. But in the end it hadn't mattered. Fitz had been paged on Christmas Eve and spent the holiday doing a facial reconstruction on a young man injured in a car accident. When Jake had made a comment, Fitz had shrugged and said his flight was cancelled. That night, when he had returned to his hotel room, Olivia had been curled up on the bed in a bright red Christmas sweater.

Approaching the bed, Fitz had whispered, "Olivia."

"Hmm?" Was his reply, as she rolled over and slowly opened her eyes. "You're here," She had said, a glad smile on her face.

Fitz sat down on the bed and handed her a small wrapped package. "Merry Christmas, Olivia."

Olivia had looked at him in surprise and pleasure. She took the gift out of his hands, and pulled the ribbon off slowly. Then, inserting her finger under the wrapping, she undid the paper without ripping it. Fitz smiled to himself; only Olivia would treat the wrapping as delicately as the gift.

Olivia opened the box, and pulled out a silver key with a small card attached. Four numbers were on the card, along with an address. She looked at Fitz for an explanation.

"That is the key and the security code to my new apartment." Fitz said, looking at her to gauge her reaction.

Olivia's face was blank as she stared down at the key in her hand.

Fitz felt the need to explain, "I just wanted you to know that this past month has been the best of my life. You make me want things that I didn't even begin to believe were possible, Olivia," he said in a rush. "I got the apartment because I didn't want to bring you back to this hotel room anymore. You deserve to spend your time in a real home, with a warm fireplace and a kitchen."

Olivia looked up. "It has a fireplace?"

Fitz smiled. "Wood burning and all." He reached up and cupped her cheek. "I just want you to know, Olivia… I am all in."

Tears started streaming down Olivia's face. She closed her fingers over the key and kissed him. "I can't imagine my life without you."

Fitz blinked back the tears that had begun to gather in his own eyes.

"I can't believe you gave me a key already," Olivia murmured.

"It isn't just a key," Fitz said, matching her hushed voice.

"It isn't?"

"No," he said. "I want you to move in with me."

Olivia gasped. "But it has only been a month."

Fitz shook his head. "That doesn't matter. It feels like I have known you all my life. I want you to live with me, Olivia. I like the way your toothbrush sits next to mine. I want to make it a permanent toothbrush cohabitation situation."

Olivia laughed when she saw his impish grin. "What a mouthful." She took a deep breath, and then said, "Okay."

"Okay, what?" Fitz asked.

"Okay, I'll move in with you," Olivia clarified. "But you realize everyone will know."

Fitz shook his head and kissed her forehead, "I don't care," he murmured against her skin. "I want everyone to know that you are mine. When we go back to the hospital in a few days, I am going to tell Jake. No more hiding, Liv."

Olivia felt her heart swell with love for Fitz. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but something told her it wasn't the right time. Soon. She cleared her throat, "Well, my present is going to seem really lame after this," she remarked.

Fitz's eyes brightened. "You got me a present?"

Olivia nodded. Getting off the bed, she walked over to her purse and pulled out an object shaped like a book. "Merry Christmas, Fitz."

Fitz ripped the wrapping off and laughed when he saw what it was. Cosmetic Surgery for Dummies was emboldened on the cover.

Olivia smiled at him. "Look inside."

Fitz opened the cover, and pulled out an envelope which had two plane tickets inside. They were to New York. He looked up at her with a puzzled smile

The heat in Olivia's cheeks wasn't just from the crackling fireplace. Fitz, his dark hair slightly tousled, had a way of igniting a fire in her with just a look. She came over and straddled his lap, smiling when he instinctively pulled her close. The familiar warmth of his arms was a welcome balm after the hectic pace of her internship.

"I finish my internship in four months," she murmured, kissing him softly. "I get two weeks off when I do, before I start my residency. I know we haven't made plans of any kind, but I wanted you to know that I am in this for the long haul."

Olivia tilted her head towards the key hanging on the wall near the fireplace. It was a silly, decorative key, but it had become their thing. It symbolized the opening of new possibilities, a future they hadn't explicitly mapped out, but one she desperately hoped they'd explore together. "Great minds think alike, I guess."

Fitz laughed, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through her. "What am I going to do with you?" he asked, dragging his lips across her jaw. His touch sent shivers down her spine, a potent mix of anticipation and affection.

"I can think of a few things," Olivia replied, her voice a husky whisper. She loved how easily he made her feel desired, confident, and utterly herself.

He smiled against her skin, a slow, deliberate curve of his lips. "I can't wait to show you my favorite places in New York. You are going to love it."

"I am sure I will," Olivia said, arching her back slightly as Fitz's lips moved down her body. The city was a distant second to the prospect of experiencing it with him.

Against her belly, he said, "There is this great place in Central Park where you can't even tell you're in the city at all. It's quiet, peaceful…"

"Uh-huh," Olivia replied, fisting the sheets as he moved his fingers up her thigh. The gentle pressure was exquisite torture.

"And my favorite Italian restaurant; we'll have to go there too," Fitz said, as he began to gently rub his fingers against her panties. "They make the best carbonara you've ever tasted."

"And you will love—"

"Fitz!" Olivia burst out, her breath catching in her throat. "Stop talking!" She needed him, wanted him, and the seductive descriptions were driving her crazy.

He grinned and moved back up her body, kissing her lips lightly. "Patience, Olivia. I'll take care of you." His eyes were dark with promise, a silent vow that sent another wave of heat through her.

Olivia mewled, a small, involuntary sound of surrender, and Fitz began his tortuous descent again. The world narrowed to the feel of his lips, the scent of his skin, and the rising tide of pleasure.

When Fitz returned to work on Monday, he made a detour by the coffee cart first. He ordered two coffees, one black for Jake, and began walking slowly towards the surgical board where he knew Jake would be. The weekend with Olivia had been… transformative. He'd known he was falling for her, but the depth of his feelings had truly solidified. He needed to tell Jake, his best friend, but the idea of making it official felt oddly daunting.

When he arrived, he handed Jake his drink without saying anything. Jake nodded his thanks, his brow furrowed in concentration as he studied the surgery schedule.

"How was your Christmas?" Jake asked, finally looking up.

"It was great," Fitz said with a grin that he couldn't quite suppress.

Jake frowned, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You spent it in surgery, right? You were on call."

"Um, yeah," Fitz responded, trying to keep the flush from rising in his cheeks. "I meant after. After was nice. What about you?"

Jake grunted. "Eh. Lisa nearly set the house on fire with her cooking, and I spent the evening refereeing between her and Mary. Oh, and apparently Holly is crazy and can see ghosts, and she thought that Christmas Dinner was the best time to reveal this. Edison got drunk and cried like a little girl, and Matt ended up breaking a window and needing stitches." He sighed dramatically. "The holidays are a minefield, I swear."

"Hmm, that's nice," Fitz said, trying to figure out the best way to broach the subject of Olivia. He imagined Jake's reaction, a mixture of teasing and genuine happiness, but the words still felt stuck in his throat.

Jake laughed, a short, sharp sound. "Now, I know you weren't paying attention. What is going on with you? You're practically glowing."

"Um, I need to talk to you about something," Fitz said, his voice suddenly tight. "Something personal."

"What?" Jake asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

"Well, you see there is this thing…"

"A thing?" Jake repeated, his lips twitching with amusement.

"A thing," Fitz said again, feeling increasingly ridiculous. "And I need to talk to you about this…"

"Thing?" Jake suggested helpfully, his grin widening.

"Exactly." Fitz ran a hand through his hair, feeling like a teenager confessing his first crush.

Jake smiled. "What is it, Fitz? You're all twitchy. Did you finally admit you like rom-coms?"

"Am not," Fitz protested weakly.

"Are too," Jake said with a laugh. "Spit it out. We're not getting any younger."

"Okay, here goes," Fitz began, taking a deep breath. "There's this woman…"

"Mom," Jake said, his eyes widening.

"What?" Fitz said, completely thrown.

Jake pointed, and Fitz turned to see Jake's mom standing there, smiling at her son. Allison, a force of nature with a heart of gold, had been a constant presence in Jake's life, and by extension, Fitz's.

"Mom," Jake called, smiling when she walked over. She kissed Jake on the cheek and hugged him tightly.

"My God, Jake. You are skin and bones. Are you even eating?" She then looked at Fitz and gave him a warm, welcoming smile.

Fitz breathed a sigh of relief, the conversation about Olivia momentarily forgotten, and then hugged the woman who had been like a mother to him. "Mom," he said to her as she hugged him back. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, when Jake didn't come for Christmas, I decided to come out to Washington DC and see what was keeping him here. Someone has to make sure he's taking care of himself." She looked at Jake pointedly. "And I want to meet Lisa, Jake. I've heard so much about her."

Fitz started to chuckle, the tension draining away. "Well, good luck with that. Lisa is… an experience." He paused, remembering his almost confession. "I am just going to go now."

"Wait Fitz," Jake said desperately, grabbing his arm. "What about the thing? The thing you were going to tell me?"

Fitz chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Oh, I golfed under par last week." He grinned at his best friend, enjoying his frustration.

"You're evil," Jake muttered, glaring at him.

Fitz kissed Allison's cheek and said, "I have to get to surgery, but I will see you later."

She smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Of course, you will. We are all doing dinner tonight," she commanded, her tone brooking no argument.

Fitz laughed. "I'll be there. Have fun, Jake."

"Evil!" Jake called after him, his voice echoing down the hall.

Fitz's laughter echoed down the hall, a sound of genuine happiness and a touch of devilish glee. He knew he couldn't keep Olivia a secret forever, but he was enjoying the anticipation, the slow build-up to the big reveal.

Chapter Text

Fitz was still smiling to himself as he walked away, chuckling internally at Jake’s discomfort. His best friend was one of the most self-assured men he knew, but put him within ten feet of any Ballard woman and he reverted to a ten-year-old boy. Checking his watch, Fitz began to jog toward the on-call room he knew Olivia was occupying. When he reached the door, he eased the handle open quietly in case she was sleeping. She’d been in the hospital since the previous morning, and Fitz had missed her while he had his last vacation day.

Inside, Olivia was curled up on the bed, her hands tucked under her chin like a little girl. Gently closing the door behind him, Fitz walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. Shaking her lightly, he said, “Livvie, wake up.”

Olivia groaned, stirring a grin from Fitz. “Come on, wake up.”

“You better be here for sex,” she muttered. “Otherwise, go away.”

Fitz laughed. “And to think, I used to believe you were so good and innocent.”

“I am good and innocent,” Olivia replied, rolling over to face him. She smiled at the mischievous look on his face. “Good morning.”

“Hey,” he said softly.

“Don’t you have a surgery?” Olivia asked, glancing at her watch.

Fitz nodded. “I’m going now.”

“You don’t want to be late.”

“Well, they can’t very well start without me,” Fitz grinned.

“Oh,” Olivia said, blushing. “Right. Sorry, my brain’s still a little fuzzy.”

Fitz laughed. “Well, try to remember this: I’ll be home later tonight, probably around nine. Jake’s mom is here to inspect your sister and we’re having dinner out somewhere.”

Olivia rolled over. “Hmph, I always knew you’d leave me for another woman.”

Fitz chuckled. “Don’t worry; I’m sure I’ll come home with my virtue still intact.”

“You better,” Olivia said, still facing away. Fitz loved the soft lilt in her voice when she was teasing.

She rolled back over, eyes gleaming. “Did you tell him?”

Fitz shook his head. “I was about to and then…”

“Then Mama Ballard arrived,” Olivia finished.

“I’ll tell him once she goes home. No need to overwhelm him all at once,” Fitz promised.

“Does this mean we aren’t moving into your apartment this weekend?”

“Our apartment,” Fitz corrected with a smile. “And yes, we are. I don’t see any reason to delay. Jake’ll find out soon enough. My hope is he’ll be so overwhelmed and relieved when his mother leaves that he won’t care about that tiny detail.”

“That’s diabolical,” Olivia grinned.

He grinned back. “I thought you might like it.” His pager went off. “Gotta go. Noses to fix, lives to save.”

Olivia laughed as Fitz kissed her head. “I’ll see you later.”

“Good luck on your surgery,” she murmured, closing her eyes again.

The last thing she heard before sleep claimed her was, “You make me happy, Olivia.”

An hour later, the door to the on-call room banged open, and a heavy body bounced onto her bed. “Wake up, Olivia!” Hannah’s voice trilled.

“What does everybody have against me getting sleep?” Olivia asked, rubbing her eyes.

Hannah laughed. “Nothing at all, just haven’t had a chance to talk to you and wanted to know how it’s going with that sex god you’re sleeping with.”

Olivia laughed, propping her head on her arms. “Good, things are going good.”

“What? That’s all I get?” Hannah pouted. “After our wonderful plan worked like a charm?”

“Your plan?” Olivia asked, curious.

Hannah winked. “Admit it, you’ve loved working with him every day.”

Olivia blushed. “You’re right, I have.”

Hannah grinned. “Good. So…how’s the sex?”

“Hannah!”

“What? Just curious if he lives up to his reputation as the best thing between the sheets at George Washington.”

Olivia smiled to herself. “Believe me, his reputation merely scratches the surface of all things Fitz Grant.”

“Bloody hell,” Hannah said, fanning herself. “I’m gonna need details. Can your boy toy spare you tonight?”

Olivia nodded. “He has to go to dinner with Lisa and Dr. Ballard.”

“That’s right,” Hannah said. “Perfect! We can go to Lou’s and you can spill all the naughty details.”

Olivia laughed. “That might require a lot of alcohol.”

“No shortage of that at Lou’s,” Hannah replied. “Until later.” She sailed out the door.

When Fitz arrived at Lisa’s, he was immediately pulled into the house by a harried Jake.

“You have to help me,” Jake demanded as he pushed Fitz into the living room.

Fitz shrugged off his jacket. “What is it?”

“I’m in hell,” Jake said. “Mom and Lisa are in the kitchen, and I think any minute now they’re gonna come to blows.”

“She doesn’t like Lisa?” Fitz asked, amused.

“Hates her would be accurate.”

Fitz fought a smile. “Probably because of how much she liked Vanessa.”

Jake groaned. “Whatever it is, we have to do something. Distract my mother, keep her and Lisa from going nuclear.”

Just then Allison entered the room. “Aw, Fitz, there you are. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“My surgery got bumped back,” Fitz explained. “Just got out.”

“All right. Come cook with me like old times. Jake’s Lisa doesn’t know a thing about hand-rolled pasta.”

“Sure,” Fitz smiled, exchanging a glance with Jake that spoke volumes.

In the kitchen, Fitz caught Lisa downing a glass of white wine fast. “Lisa,” he said lightheartedly, “how are you this fine evening?”

Lisa glared, Fitz just smiled wider. Rolling up his sleeves, he moved by the stove with Allison.

“So,” Allison asked, “do you have siblings, Lisa? Jake said your mother died recently.”

“No,” Lisa said flatly. “No siblings.”

Fitz bit his cheek to keep silent; Jake’s disapproving voice helped. “What about Olivia and Ashley?”

Lisa corrected herself, “I have two half-sisters, from my dad’s second marriage. We didn’t grow up together.”

“All right then,” Allison said, not buying it.

Suddenly, the front door slammed and two voices echoed down the hallway.

“I left it in the kitchen,” Hannah called. “I’ll be a minute.”

“I’ll come with you,” Olivia said.

They entered the kitchen, Gibbs flush immediately, Hannah unbothered. “Hey Death,” Hannah said, “you have my phone?”

Allison raised an eyebrow at Lisa.

“It’s a long story,” Lisa answered with a pointed glance.

“Mom,” Jake interrupted, “this is Olivia, Lisa’s sister.” He placed his hand on Olivia’s back and steered her inside.

Olivia smiled shyly at Allison. “Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ballard.” Extending her hand, Allison shook warmly.

“I thought you all had gone out to dinner,” Olivia said apologetically.

“How did you know we were meeting?” Lisa asked sharply.

Olivia froze, eyes darted to Fitz, who realized he’d have to speak up.

Before he could, Hannah said, “I told her.”

Lisa frowned. “Oh.”

“Why aren’t you joining us for dinner?” Allison asked.

Olivia blushed, stammering, “I wasn’t…um…”

“Weren’t invited?” Allison pressed Lisa.

“It’s okay,” Olivia said softly, “I’m heading to Lou’s with Hannah.”

Allison smiled warmly. “Nonsense. Jake’s told me about that bar; it doesn’t have dinner. You’ll eat with us—and you too, Hannah?”

“Hannah,” she said before retreating, “but thanks.”

Olivia offered to accompany her, but Hannah declined. “You stay and have family dinner.” She grinned wickedly and left.

Fitz averted his gaze from Olivia, feeling exposed with his mom and Jake. This wasn’t how he wanted their secret revealed. He didn’t want Olivia uncomfortable.

“All right,” Allison said gently. “Did you grow up near here, Olivia?”

Olivia nodded shyly. “With my parents and sister. Then I went away for college and med school.”

“All medical school?” Allison asked.

“I’m in my third year of surgical internship at George Washington,” Olivia said. “I was going to do my internship at Massachusetts General but… it was better to come home and be close to family.”

Allison smiled approvingly. “Good to value family. Nothing more important,” she said pointedly at Lisa.

Olivia jumped in quickly. “Lisa made my transition so much easier.”

Allison looked surprised, then smiled at Lisa.

Lisa mouthed “thank you” to Olivia.

Fitz watched in awe at how Olivia smoothed the tension. Something about her put people at ease. He smiled as he stirred the pasta.

“I think it’s done,” he said.

“So’s the sauce. Let’s eat,” Allison said.

They moved to the dining room. Olivia found herself seated next to Fitz, with Lisa and Jake at either end.

“So, Lisa, have you decided on a specialty?” Allison asked.

“No, not yet,” Lisa replied. “Leaning toward Neurosurgery.”

“Of course you are,” Allison said knowingly.

Jake gulped his wine and poured another glass.

“And you, Olivia?” Allison asked.

“At the moment, Plastic Surgery,” Olivia said.

Four pairs of eyes turned to her.

“You are?” Lisa exclaimed.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Fitz whispered, eyes seeking hers.

Olivia smiled nervously. “I’ve been thinking about it a while. Ever since—“she blushed—“Dr. Grant did that surgery to make Mrs. Waterson speak again. It was amazing, to create something and give a woman back her life. It’s not just cosmetic; the reconstruction possibilities mean a lot.”

Silence filled the room. Fitz felt overcome, wanting to tell Olivia how proud he was but kept quiet. Instead he squeezed her hand under the table. She looked down, then smiled back at him.

Allison cleared her throat. “It’s admirable to want to help people, Olivia. Fitz must be a good teacher.”

Blushing deeply, Olivia said, “He is, Mrs. Ballard, he is.”

Fitz cleared his throat. “Pass the wine, would you, Jake?”

Lisa eagerly dug into her food, hoping the questions might finally cease. Jake handed Fitz the wine, launching into talk about their clinical trial. Fitz poured. Olivia toyed with her food, but Allison glanced between Fitz and Olivia with curious eyes, sensing something beautiful unfolding beneath the surface.

Chapter Text

When dinner was over, they remained sitting at the table. Three empty wine bottles now adorned its surface, along with empty plates and used cloth napkins. Olivia liked the way the table looked, it had so much character. Fitz's hand was still holding hers, and Olivia relished the feel of it. She had never felt like she belonged anywhere, but with Fitz's hand in her own, that no longer rang true.

"That was wonderful, Mrs. Ballard," Olivia said.

"Thank you, Olivia," Allison said. "I am glad you liked it."

"Yeah, Mom," Fitz chimed in, "It was great. I have missed your pasta."

"It was good because you helped, Fitz," Allison said kindly. "Do you remember when you used to help me cook when you were little?"

"Oh, please don't tell that story," Fitz said.

"No," Jake said with a grin. "Please do."

"Well," Allison said, directing her comments at Olivia and Lisa, "When the boys were little they used to spend the afternoons in my kitchen doing homework. Now, Fitz always finished first and Jake refused to let him help him, so Fitz had nothing to do while he waited for Jake to finish. Soon, I started to give him cooking lessons."

"He wore an apron, and everything," Jake said with relish. "It was precious."

"Nice," Fitz said.

"It was," Allison agreed.

Fitz groaned, "Well, now that we have revisited the scars of my childhood, I'll just do the dishes."

"I'll help," Olivia offered.

"Jake," Fitz said, "Why don't you take your mother and Lisa into the other room and talk?"

Jake glared at him, causing Fitz to grin.

Once the dishes were all in the kitchen, Olivia and Fitz began a system. She would rinse them and he would dry them and put them in the drainer.

Hands deep in soapy water, Olivia grinned at him, "So an apron, huh?"

Fitz laughed. "What Jake doesn't remember about that story is that his sisters used to come and help as well."

"Aw," Olivia said, "A heart breaker even back then." She tapped the side of her nose with her wet pointer finger. "I get ya."

When she moved her hand away, she left a small amount of soapy bubbles behind. "Here," Fitz said, "You have something right…" He then grabbed a handful of bubbles and rubbed them on Olivia's face.

She sputtered and then grinned, wiping the soap away, "Oh, it is so on!"

Soon, soap was flying everywhere as they laughed and played like children. Fitz tried to catch her, but she was too quick for him. In no time at all, they were both soaking wet and covered in bubbles.

"Olivia Pope, come back here," Fitz said with a laugh. When he finally caught her, they slipped on the wet floor, and fell in a tangle of arms and legs with Fitz on the bottom, and Olivia sprawled on top of him.

The atmosphere in the living room was quite opposite from the kitchen. Lisa and Jake were sitting on the couch, while Allison sat in a chair and looked at Lisa as if she were a puzzle she couldn't quite figure out.

Jake was once again trying to tell his mother about the clinical trial when Allison asked, "Do you like children, Lisa?"

Lisa sputtered, "Most…I mean some…"

"I was just wondering because we have a lot of children in the Ballard family. Does that appeal to you?" Allison's words held no malice, but rather curious inquiry.

"Yes," Lisa said. "I want children."

Allison nodded.

"Mom, why don't we—"

"Go find Fitz and Olivia," Allison said to Jake. "Lisa and I are going to have a little chat."

Olivia was laughing so hard, she could barely breathe. "Smooth, real smooth Dr. Grant."

"Hey, you're one to talk, Livvie," Fitz said with a laugh. He reached up and smoothed the wet hair away from her face.

"Psh, I am totally graceful. If somebody hadn't made me lose my balance."

"Well, if somebody hadn't been running on the wet floor," Fitz countered, his eyes light as he looked at her. "You will be the death of me, I can feel it. My back can feel it too."

Olivia laughed. "Okay, Grandpa."

"Hey!" Fitz protested. "That's Dr. Grandpa to you."

Olivia was shaking with laughter, and Fitz used that opportunity to cup her face in his hands. He was about to kiss her when Jake walked in.

"What happened in here?" He asked, looking around the room.

Olivia and Fitz scrambled up from the floor, looking like guilty children.

"You're probably wondering why I want to talk to you," Allison said.

Lisa wondered if she should feign ignorance, but then decided that she had had enough. "Well, yeah," Lisa replied. "You have made no secret of your distaste for me, so yeah, Mrs. Ballard, I am wondering why you want to talk to me."

"Lisa, I don't dislike you," Allison said. "I hardly know you. I came to Washington DC with every intention of liking the girl who had stolen my son's heart." Allison sighed. "When Vanessa…well, you know. When she hurt Jake, I really and truly hated her. She had been one of my favorite people for so long, but what she did to Jake… that was unforgivable to me."

"But you and Fitz seem so…" Lisa trailed off.

"I don't blame him for what happened," Allison said. "You have to understand something, Lisa. It was an open secret in our family that Fitz was in love with Vanessa. We all knew it, and we all pitied him for it. And I knew as well that given an opening, he would take it. I blame Vanessa for what happened, because she knew how Fitz felt about her and she let it happen. She was as casual with Fitz's feelings as she was with Jake's. And as far as Jake and Fitz's friendship, well, that is between the two of them. But Fitz is like a son to me, and I will always be on his side too."

Lisa nodded, signaling Allison should go on.

"When I met you today, I couldn't read you," Allison said. "Tonight, I wanted to see what kind of person you are. Maybe it was wrong, but you have to understand how important this is to me Lisa." Tears gathered in Allison's eyes, and Lisa automatically reached out her hand towards Allison's. "He's my baby boy, and I need to know that you will be good to him."

"I understand," Lisa said.

"I think you do," Allison said. "I think I am going to like you."

Lisa smiled, relieved that the feeling was mutual.

Jake was very quiet at first, surveying the kitchen. Finally, he said, "Olivia, would you excuse us? Fitz and I need to have a little conversation." Jake's face was utterly blank, and Fitz looked at him with a confused look in his eyes.

"Of course," Olivia murmured. "I'll just go. I need to get back to the hospital anyway. Edison has his solo surgery later tonight." Olivia looked at Fitz. "I am just going to go home and change first."

Fitz nodded imperceptibly, so that only Olivia would know he understood.

She left the kitchen and walked down the hall, stopping on the edge of the living room, hoping she wasn't interrupting anything. When she saw Lisa and Allison smiling at each other, Olivia breathed a sigh of relief.

"Hi," Olivia said, stepping into the room. "I am gonna go now. I need to run home and change before Edison's solo surgery."

"Oh, right," Lisa said, making a mental note to return to the hospital. She then noticed that Olivia was wet. "What happened to you?"

"I lost the battle to the sink," Olivia said with a grin.

"Who is Edison?" Allison asked.

"He is a fellow resident," Lisa explained.

"That's nice," Allison said, smiling at Lisa.

Olivia looked back and forth between the two of them and then grinned at her sister. "I will see you later."

"Okay," Lisa said. "And Olivia?"

"Yeah?" She said, turning.

"Thanks."

Olivia nodded and quietly let herself out the front door.

In the other room, Jake looked at Fitz calmly and asked, "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean?" Fitz asked.

"With Olivia," Jake said calmly. "What are you doing?"

"Jake—" Fitz began, but Jake cut him off.

"I remember asking you to stay away from her, Fitz."

"Jake, you don't understand—"

"No, you don't understand," Jake said. "It was not negotiable, Fitz. I understand that you have to work with her, and I could even understand a sort of casual friendship, but what I just saw cannot happen again. Olivia is off limits, Fitz."

"I don't remember giving you permission to run my life," Fitz snapped.

"I am not running your life," Jake evenly replied. "I am telling you to stay away from my sister."

"She's not your—"

"She will be. Soon enough, she will be. So I am asking you, as my best friend, to stay away from her."

"It's not that simple," Fitz said.

"Wrong," Jake replied. "It is that simple. Stay away from her, Fitz."

"But…"

"You owe me," Jake said quietly. "You know you do."

Fitz felt a chill run down his spine that had nothing to do with his wet clothes. He looked at his best friend and wondered if Jake had ever really forgiven him. "You'll always have that, won't you?" Fitz said, matching Jake's quiet tone. "No matter what happens, you'll always be right and I'll always be wrong."

"No, Fitz," Jake said. "That is not what this is about. I forgave you for Vanessa. This has nothing to do what happened between you, and me, and her. This is about the fact that I have been your best friend since we were little kids and I was always there for you. So I am asking you to stay away from my sister."

Fitz squeezed his eyes shut and gripped the counter with both hands. "I have to go," he whispered, fleeing the kitchen. He walked straight out of the house, grabbing his jacket without stopping.

"Fitz!" Allison called. "Fitz!"

Jake went into the living room where she and Lisa were sitting.

"What happened?" Allison asked.

"I warned him away from Olivia again," Jake said.

"Oh, Jake," his mother sighed.

"What happened?" Lisa asked.

"He didn't take it well," Jake replied shortly.

"Have either of you considered," Allison said, "that you may already be too late?"

Lisa and Jake looked at each other and then shook their heads. "No way," Lisa said. "If they had hooked up we would know. The whole hospital would know."

Jake nodded. "There is no way they could keep that a secret."

Allison shook her head. "You could be wrong."

Chapter Text

It took Fitz a long time to summon the courage to leave the hotel bar and head up to his room. He’d been sitting there for what felt like hours, though in truth it had only been thirty minutes. The weight of what he needed to say—to Olivia, to himself—pressed heavily on him, but he just couldn’t bring himself to do it.

When he finally stepped into the elevator, his hands trembled. By the time he slid the key into the door of his room, his stomach churned with a sickening mix of fear and regret.

Olivia emerged from the bathroom, smiling warmly. “Perfect timing—I just finished, but I left plenty of hot water for you,” she said, reaching for her brush and running it through her hair. “I have to go soon; I promised to be at Edison’s solo surgery tonight.”

“Okay,” Fitz replied, voice barely steady.

“What did Jake want?” she asked, eyes curious. “Did he warn you away from me again?” Her laughter jingled like bells in the quiet room.

“Yeah,” Fitz admitted. “He made it crystal clear—I’m not to go near you.”

Olivia laughed again. “Oh, poor you. Well, he’ll just have to get used to us being together.”

He collapsed onto the bed heavily. “I don’t think that’s an option anymore.”

Her brush stopped mid-stroke. Stillness fell between them before she turned slowly to face him, voice trembling. “What do you mean?”

“I mean Jake was very clear,” he said. “If I keep pursuing you, I’ll lose his friendship.”

Her eyes searched his. “What did you tell him?”

Fitz looked away.

“Tell me you didn’t promise to give me up! Tell me you didn’t say you’d stay away from me,” she pleaded, disbelief and fear lacing her voice.

“I made no promises,” Fitz said quietly, head in his hands.

“Yes, you did,” Olivia shot back. “You made promises to me. To me, Fitz.”

He looked up, pain in his eyes. “Liv…”

“No. You can’t do this. I won’t let you.” She crossed the room, sat beside him, pulled his mouth to hers. Her kiss spoke what words could not—that they belonged together.

Clothes soon scattered as they held each other hungry and desperate. She moved with intention, hands tracing places she’d mapped over a month’s time. When her teeth grazed his chest, he shuddered. “You want me,” she whispered. His eyes, dark with sorrow, didn’t resist. Eventually, his resolve shattered. He pulled her close, lips meeting hers in a plea. She straddled him, whispering, “You can’t let this go.”

Their passion peaked quickly, leaving them breathless. When she collapsed atop him, their eyes met. Her voice was a fragile dare: “Tell me now you don’t want me.”

“Oh, Olivia,” he breathed.

Something inside her broke, and she eased away, sitting on the bed’s edge with her back to him, tears streaming silently. After gathering herself, she asked softly, “Why are you doing this?”

“He’s my brother,” Fitz said, regret thick in his voice. “I don’t know what to do.”

Without a word, Olivia dressed and refused to look at him. When ready, she faced him. “This is hard, I know. I know what you might have to give up. But Fitz, you have to choose. It’s not ideal. You never should’ve been put in this position. But Jake made it impossible to avoid. You have to choose.”

Fitz sat naked on the bed. “Olivia…”

“It’s okay,” she said, one tear tracing her cheek. “Think about it. Sleep on it. Just don’t tell me tonight. I couldn’t bear it.”

She grabbed her purse and left, leaving Fitz alone with the silence and emptiness of the hotel room.

Olivia sought refuge at Lou’s bar, nursing a single Midori Sour all night. When Fitz called her, she turned her phone off—she couldn’t face him yet, not now.

After the bar closed, she wandered the city streets until dawn, arriving at her rundown apartment feeling estranged from the place. Trying to be quiet, she unlocked the door, hoping Edison was asleep.

He wasn’t. “Where have you been?” he called out sharply.

Startled, Olivia snapped, “Jesus Christ, Edison! You scared me!”

“Where have you been?” he asked again, louder.

“I was on call,” she said, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Lying,” he accused. “I called Mary. You weren’t on call. Where were you?”

“Why does it matter?” Olivia snapped, irritation seeping in.

“Because we’re roommates. I’m worried. You’re never here since the night Matt had his solo surgery.”

His concern sounded genuine, but Olivia was too raw to care. “Like you even care,” she laughed bitterly. “I’m a big girl, Edison. I can take care of myself.”

“Maybe the better question is who you’ve been with,” he stammered painfully.

Flashing images of Fitz crashed through her mind, inflaming her anger. “My personal life’s none of your business.”

Edison looked wounded and childish. “I don’t understand you anymore. We used to share everything. You cared about our friendship. You weren’t even at my solo surgery tonight.”

Olivia winced, guilt twisting inside her. “That was tonight, wasn’t it? How did it go?”

“I killed the patient!” Edison shouted. “I came home wanting to talk to my best friend.”

She felt the stab of guilt, but the phrase ‘best friend’ felt hollow. “I’m sorry, Edison. But I’m not your best friend. Never was. You used me when your relationship with Holly exploded, but I was never yours. I have a best friend, and our relationship is completely different.”

Edison shook his head. “I don’t even recognize you anymore.”

“That’s not my fault,” Olivia said bluntly.

“I’m leaving DC. Leaving the program. I’m not cut out for surgery. I got an offer in Walla Walla, and I’m going to take it.”

Olivia nodded, feeling a hollow acceptance. “Maybe that’s best.”

“So that’s it?” he asked plaintively.

“Yeah. That’s it.”

She closed the door behind her, collapsing onto the bed, trying to shut out her thoughts—about the hospital, Edison, and most painfully, Fitz. Her deepest fear haunted her: that when given a choice, he wouldn’t choose her.

The next day felt like one of Fitz’s worst. He replayed last night endlessly—the look in Olivia’s eyes, the kiss full of fierce certainty. She believed in something he couldn’t see—a man worthy of love. To her, he was a good man with a messy past. To him, he was rotten deep inside. He told himself it was better this way. That their time together had been a beautiful, tormenting dream that had to end.

“There you are.”

Fitz turned to find Allison Ballard, bags waiting nearby, dressed casually. She joined him by the counter.

“You’re leaving?” Fitz said, disappointment thick in his voice. “I thought you’d stay longer.”

She shook her head. “I finished what I came for.”

“You checked on Lisa,” Fitz said.

“No,” she smiled. “I made sure my boys are okay.”

Fitz smiled, touched. “Thanks, Mom.”

She paused thoughtfully. “Fitz, can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Are you involved with Olivia Grant?”

He debated, then answered honestly. “Yes.”

“How long?”

“A month,” he said, regret staining his words. “I tried to stay away, but it was her who couldn’t stay away from me. She wanted me. And she saw something in me…something more.”

She squeezed his hand kindly. “Of course she did.”

Fitz swallowed hard. “But Jake made it clear—”

“Allison spoke gently, “Jake sees what he wants. He’s protective, but too close to see clearly.”

“You mean because of Vanessa?” Fitz asked.

“No. It’s because of Lisa. Jake’s worried about protecting her future with her sister. He can’t see how different this is.”

“Different how?”

“She’s good for you. You’re good for her. She glows around you. Have you ever felt this way before?”

“No,” Fitz whispered.

“That’s what matters. Is your love worth giving up because Jake’s overprotectiveness?”

Fitz looked away. “I don’t know how to do this. I owe Jake for forgiving me after everything.”

“You don’t owe him your chance at happiness,” Allison said softly.

His eyes glistened. “How do I feel? I love her. I can’t imagine not seeing her every day. We were even planning to move in together.”

She blinked back tears. “This is what I’ve always wanted for you.”

“Even after I destroyed his marriage?”

“Always.”

Fitz smiled weakly. “I love her.”

“Then don’t give this up. Not something so precious.”

“I’ve decided,” Fitz said finally. “I’ll tell Jake the truth when the time is right. Olivia’s worth the risk.”

“All right,” Allison said, grinning. “Next time I see you, bring her along…as your girlfriend.”

Fitz laughed. “I might do better than that.”

After Allison left, Fitz went straight to the surgical call rooms. He found Olivia curled up but awake in the fourth one. He closed the door, sat beside her, eyes full of love.

“You, I choose you,” he whispered.

Tears fell as she looked up, her voice trembling with hope and relief.

“Always,” she whispered back.

Chapter Text

Two days later, Fitz Grant found himself in the attending’s lounge, hastily pulling on his boots. His eyes darted repeatedly to his watch, betraying the impatience that pulsed beneath his composed exterior. The room’s calm was suddenly disturbed as the door swung open, and Jake stepped inside, his gaze settling on the pot of long-forgotten coffee perched on the sideboard.

“Hey,” Jake greeted, striding over.

Fitz grunted in return, tugging his other boot on with brisk efficiency.

“I haven’t seen you since Mom left,” Jake remarked casually. “You been busy?”

“Yeah,” Fitz replied shortly, shrugging into his jacket.

Jake leaned against the counter, unconvinced. “With what?”

Fitz’s tone sharpened. “Look, Jake, I’d love to stay and chat—oh wait, no I wouldn’t.” He zipped up his jacket with finality.

“What's with you?” Jake pressed.

Fitz shook his head wearily. “You always do this.”

“Do what?”

“Pretend nothing happened when we've fought.” He patted his pockets for keys. “The only time I’ve seen you show any emotion was when you…”

“Caught you with my wife?” Jake teased, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

“Yeah, that,” Fitz muttered, irritation clouding his voice. His phone buzzed; Jake quickly grabbed it and read a text from Olivia: *Almost ready?* Fitz shot back a quick ‘yes’ and started for the door.

“Where are you off to?” Jake asked, suddenly upright.

“I don’t have time to hit Lou’s, Jake. I’m… busy.”

“Doing what?”

“Jesus, what are you—my mother?” Fitz snapped. “I’m moving, alright?”

Jake’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Back to California?”

“No, to an apartment,” Fitz said, fighting down the yearning to say more.

Jake paused. “I get off in an hour. I can help.”

“I don’t need your help,” Fitz said curtly. “I’m fine.” He opened the door.

“Fitz,” Jake called after him, “come on. I’m sure you could use an extra pair of arms. Where to, anyway?”

“No, you don’t get to do this. You don’t get to be my friend and my keeper.” His voice dripped with bitterness. “Since you’re so invested in controlling what I do, why don’t you make a list for me? That might clear things up.”

Jake’s head shook. “Come on, Fitz—that’s not fair.”

“Life rarely is.” With that, Fitz left, carrying the weight of unspoken regrets. He wished things could be different, but he didn’t want Jake’s judgment to poison what he had with Olivia. Riding the elevator down, he pondered whether this was the new normal—important moments missed because of disapproval. Maybe it was time to be honest, but the memory of last night’s conversation with Olivia whispered caution.

They had been packing in the dim light of her apartment. Fitz inspected the cluttered living room with distaste.

“Please tell me we don’t have to take any of this stuff.”

Olivia smiled from the doorway. “We don’t.”

“Good. Could bring bad mojo to the new place.”

She chuckled. “What is it? Not a fan of the ‘crapartment’?”

Fitz shuddered. “Is that what you call it?”

“Ha ha. Be nice, or beware of the one who gives you sex.”

Fitz grinned. “Oh, I know how to butter her up.” He pulled Olivia close, planting kisses along her neck and ear.

“You can be persuasive,” she whispered.

“Yeah, a little of this, a little of that,” he teased.

Olivia laughed. “Okay, mock the apartment all you want.”

“I’d rather burn it down.”

“What?”

“Burn it down,” Fitz said again, half joking.

“You’re such a baby.”

“Why? A guy can’t be annoyed his hot girlfriend lived with some other schmuck first?”

Olivia laughed. “I didn’t live with Edison—not like that.”

“Well, you win,” Fitz said, rubbing his beard. “Got the girl, getting her to move in, still a hot plastic surgeon. Yep, I won.”

“Poor Edison, stuck in a pissing contest he doesn’t know about.”

“No contest,” Fitz smiled.

Her mood shifted as she surveyed the room. “Would’ve been nice if he said goodbye.”

“Do you miss him?” Fitz asked quietly.

She shook her head, tears gleaming. “If I do, is that wrong? He was your friend.”

“I’m not sure it ever was. Not lately,” she admitted.

Fitz drew her close. “It’ll be alright, Liv.”

Her look caught his breath. “I know.”

Changing the subject, he said, “About work, I think we should tell the Chief tomorrow.”

“You make it sound so dirty—‘our plan,’ like plotting hospital escapades.”

“That would be a goal,” Fitz laughed.

“Not a suggestion, Dr. Grant.”

They both giggled softly.

“Do you want to tell him?” Fitz probed.

Olivia bit her lip. “Do we have to? It’s his hospital, and he deserves to know, but I don’t want to be fodder for the rumor mill. People disect everything; they’ll bet on when we break up—or when we get caught hooking up in the on-call room.”

Fitz rubbed her arms. “That’s not true.”

“Maybe. But if we tell him, can he keep it quiet?”

“Ask the Chief to lie?” Fitz sputtered.

Olivia gave him the biggest puppy eyes. “Please?”

“Okay, fine.”

She grinned. “Good. I think I’m done packing.”

“Finally,” Fitz groaned, gathering bags and boxes. “Let’s get out before I catch something.”

“Men are such babies.”

With that, Fitz lugged her suitcases, smiling inwardly.

Now, back in the hospital lobby, Fitz reflected on the improbable journey that brought him here—falling for the younger sister of Lisa Pope, moving in together, secretly navigating their relationship at work. Their meeting with the Chief had been both nerve-wracking and surprisingly successful.

“Cyrus will see you now,” Lauren had said, ushering them in.

In the office, the Chief’s eye twinkled with humor and exasperation as Fitz awkwardly confessed, “We’re… sort of involved.”

“Lord,” Cyrus sighed, “Could you restrict your extracurricular activities outside the hospital?”

Olivia interjected, “We’d appreciate it if this remained confidential.”

“Why?” the Chief pressed.

“Because if it got out, it could damage our careers,” Olivia said clearly. “Jealousy, rumors, assumptions about favoritism.”

Cyrus considered. Olivia continued, “We’ve been dating seriously for a month and kept professional. We want to keep it that way.”

“Exactly how serious?” Cyrus asked.

“We’re moving in together,” Fitz answered.

The Chief nodded decisively. “You have my secrecy. But if your relationship ever compromises care, I won’t hesitate to put an end to your Plastics exposure. And, you’ll rotate elsewhere from time to time. No specializing too early.”

“Of course,” Olivia agreed gratefully.

As they left, Fitz pulled Olivia into a quiet conference room.

“You were amazing.”

“All in the tone,” she said with a smirk.

“Is it wrong that I’m turned on?” Fitz asked.

“Not at all. We can continue later.”

“This is going to be a long day…”

Snapping out of his thoughts, Fitz turned to Olivia as they exited together.

“Ready to go home, Dr. Pope?”

“I am,” she said—and when no one was watching, she took his hand.

Chapter Text

After a short drive, Fitz and Olivia arrived at the high-rise apartments that housed their new home. Fitz carefully parked his Porsche in the underground parking structure, and together they took the elevator reserved for residents up to the nineteenth floor. Olivia could barely contain her excitement; this was the first time she was seeing the place that would become her new home. When she had asked Fitz what it looked like, he had been enigmatic—only calling it an "Olivia Apartment," a phrase she hadn’t quite understood.

As the elevator doors slid open, Fitz led Olivia down a brightly lit hallway lined with plush carpeting and elegant sconces that cast a warm glow. There were barely any doors along the way, making Olivia suspect this was no ordinary apartment, but something spacious and special.

Approaching a large door, Fitz turned to her with a teasing smile. "Why don’t you do the honors?"

Olivia beamed and pulled out her key, unlocking the door with practiced ease before quickly punching in the keypad code. One of the perks of her eidetic memory meant she'd only glanced once at the note Fitz had given her but remembered the code perfectly.

With the alarm disarmed, Olivia stepped across the threshold, and Fitz flicked on the lights. She almost caught her breath. The apartment was magnificent, vast with an entire wall of windows stretching across the back, flooding the space with natural light. To her right was a large kitchen concealed behind elegant double doors, outfitted with state-of-the-art appliances. Double doors flanked the living room as well.

"The right side leads to a big office and library," Fitz explained, "and those doors over there open to our bedroom."

Olivia was spellbound—not just by the grandeur, but by the unmistakable feel of the space. Fitz had been right: this was indeed an "Olivia Apartment." Soft peach walls wrapped the rooms in warmth, paired with rose-colored granite in the kitchen. She wandered into the bedroom, discovering a wrought iron balcony and a marble bathroom boasting both a large shower and a Jacuzzi tub. Furniture was sparse but precisely what she would’ve chosen if given all the options: a luxurious sleigh bed resembling the one she'd admired in her Restoration Hardware catalog, a plush sofa with generous pillows in the living room, and a chaise lounge that promised perfect relaxation. Now she understood what Fitz meant—the apartment was designed for her, with her tastes and comforts in mind.

Standing in the center of the bedroom, Olivia turned to find Fitz lingering in the doorway. "Why did you do this?" she asked softly.

He frowned in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"This place… it’s perfect."

Fitz breathed a slow sigh of relief.

She studied him with a hint of uncertainty. "It’s exactly what I would have picked, but… is it what you want?"

His smile was tender. "I want you, Liv. That’s the only thing that matters. I want you to be happy here."

Olivia’s smile widened as she stepped to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Thank you, for everything. I couldn’t adore it more."

“Don’t get too attached,” Fitz teased gently.

“Why not?” she asked.

“We’re only here a few months, until our other apartment is ready.”

Olivia exhaled, caught between excitement and disbelief. "Another apartment? Smaller?"

Fitz grinned. "Not exactly."

"Bigger?" she blinked, incredulous.

“Kinda.” He kissed her upturned face. “The penthouse.”

“The penthouse,” she whispered, almost breathless. "We’re moving into a penthouse?"

"Mmhmm, once it’s done, of course."

Fitz laughed softly at her astonished expression. "Olivia, I make millions. No splitting rent like roommates. I bought both outright."

Olivia sank heavily onto the bed, overwhelmed. Fitz joined her, taking her hand. "Look, I know you like your independence, but this isn’t up for debate. I’ve got the money. You’ve got your career to build. No contest."

She looked at him firmly. "I don’t want to be taken care of. We need balance… or else."

Fitz shook his head gently, almost amused. "Without you, there wouldn’t even be an ‘us.’ You stormed into my life like a hurricane. Before you, I was lonely, aimless. I’m not great at relationships, but paying for this place doesn’t define us."

He kissed her temple. "I’m taking care of you now, so what? In a few years, when you’re a famous surgeon, you can buy our next house. Maybe a vacation home."

Olivia laughed at the teasing. "And you’ll still be the better surgeon, and I’ll owe it all to your mentorship."

Her laughter faded into a soft question. "Our next house? You really see a future for us?"

He nodded solemnly. "I see forever."

"Forever," she whispered, savoring the word. She kissed him, and he responded gladly. She knew he’d won this battle, but the war was far from over—but that didn’t matter now. All she cared about was christening their new home.

A little later, as moving day neared, Olivia had ordered Chinese takeout and a bottle of wine. They sat on the kitchen floor, food spread out in front of them like a cozy picnic. Olivia wore Fitz’s oversized button-down shirt; Fitz lounged in his boxers and pants.

“Oh, yum,” Olivia said, biting into sweet and sour pork. “This’ll cost me a trip to the gym.”

Fitz laughed. “You don’t need it. I’ve never seen anyone eat that much and not gain a pound. Must be the Pope genes.”

“No, I got that from…” she trailed off.

“From whom?” he asked.

“My mother,” Olivia said quietly.

Fitz’s face softened. "Hey, are you okay? We never really talked about your first Christmas without her."

“It was miserable,” she admitted. “Dad was drunk the whole time, and Ashley just pretended nothing was wrong.”

“I’m sorry, Liv,” he said gently.

She gave a brave smile. “It was bound to be hard—the first one is always the worst.”

Thinking of his own lonely holidays, Fitz shifted the subject. “We’ll need to change our addresses with personnel soon.”

Olivia grinned ruefully. “I might keep mine at the old address for now. Change it later, once we’ve gone public.”

Fitz laughed as he bit into an egg roll. His phone buzzed abruptly; he frowned at the caller ID.

“It’s Mellie. Hold on,” he said to Olivia before answering.

“Grant! Where are you? I thought we were meeting at Lou’s!”

“When did we say that?” Fitz asked, confused.

“This morning, while scrubbing in on that burn patient.”

“Ah… sorry, I’m kinda busy.”

“Come on! What’s so important?”

“Mellie, I can’t tonight.”

“But I need to talk about the hot intern!”

Fitz chuckled. “Stay away from her—ones without appendixes are trouble. Talk later.”

After hanging up, he grinned. “So Mellie and Hannah, huh? Makes no sense, and yet it kind of does.”

“Did you want to go to Lou’s?” Olivia asked, hesitant.

“No,” he said, scooting closer. “I want to spend time with my hot intern, not gossip about hers.”

Olivia rolled her eyes, about to respond when her pager went off from the counter. She picked it up and answered swiftly.

“Damn,” she sighed. “The Chief wants me to cover the end of Graziella’s shift—flu season has interns stretched thin. I’ll be out around eleven.”

Fitz stood, hiding his irritation. “He’s testing us.”

“Yeah,” Olivia said, frustrated. “I better go.”

“Okay,” Fitz said softly. “Why don’t you go meet Mellie? You could hang out, call Jake even.”

He clenched his jaw. “I’ll see Mellie, but not Ballard.”

She stayed quiet, not wanting to intervene.

“Hey, I’m gonna need my shirt back,” Fitz teased with a wicked grin.

“Well, you’re just gonna have to take it off my back,” Olivia shot back, matching his grin.

“I love it when you talk like that,” Fitz murmured.

She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck. “You’re so easy,” she whispered.

“Not anymore,” Fitz breathed. “You’ve reformed me, Olivia Pope.”

He kissed her gently, hands cupping her face.

“I did nothing,” she said softly, placing butterfly kisses on his closed eyelids. “You simply became the man I always knew you could be.”

Fitz groaned, pulling her closer, hands slipping under his shirt to cup her bare skin. “Don’t go to work. Stay here with me where it’s warm.”

“I’ll be back soon,” Olivia promised. “Besides, look on the bright side—you get to see your friends.”

“You’re the only friend I want to see tonight,” Fitz said, nipping at her neck.

“Try to fake some interest in Mellie’s drama,” she teased, laughing. “Just don’t be too supportive.”

Fitz smirked. “Jealous, Livvie?”

“Of another woman spending time with you? Absolutely. You’re all I think about. I don’t want to share you, even though I know I can’t have you all to myself.”

Her humor was laced with truth, and Fitz felt a swell of joy. Carefully, he kept his tone light though his heart yearned to hold her close. “I’m all you think about?”

Olivia’s eyes shone with love. “You’re all I ever think about. I can hardly remember life before you. The thought of being without you doesn’t even make sense anymore.”

Fitz rasped, “I know exactly what you mean. You’re the last thought at night, the first in the morning. Being without you… it hurts worse than I imagined. I may mess up sometimes, but you’re the most important thing in my life.”

She smiled softly, blinking back tears. “And you’re the most important part of mine.”

He longed to say those three words, but waited for the perfect moment—not a kitchen floor, mid-takeout. Instead, he kissed her tenderly, savoring the warmth of her in his arms.

Chapter Text

Grant!" Mellie yelled when she saw Fitz enter Lou's.

Fitz slowly made his way across the crowded bar to where Mellie was sitting.

"You came!" she exclaimed happily. "I thought you were busy."

"For you, Mellie? I became un-busy." Fitz grinned as he slid into the booth she’d snagged. "So, what’s up? You sounded… different on the phone."

"I need to talk about hot interns," Mellie said, taking a gulp of her beer.

Fitz sighed; this was going to be a long night. He flagged down a cocktail waitress and ordered a scotch, single malt of course. When his drink arrived, he asked, "So, hot interns in general? Or hot interns in a specific sense?"

"In general." Mellie leaned in, her voice dropping a little. "I have a hypothetical supposition to present."

“Okay…” Fitz drawled, curious despite himself.

“Say there was this certain doctor having a fling with an intern…”

Fitz rolled his eyes. “Strictly hypothetical, of course.”

“Of course,” Mellie nodded, pushing her heavy hair out of her face. “Now this doctor thinks no one knows about the fling — but then someone finds out. What should this doctor do?”

“Well,” Fitz said, “the doctor should come clean. There are worse things than sleeping with an intern, Mellie.”

“I know that,” she said sharply, “but I just wanted to let you know that I *know.*”

Fitz froze, glass halfway to his mouth. “What did you say?”

“Feel like coming clean, Fitz?” Mellie’s gaze was steady, unwavering.

---

Upstairs, Olivia counted the stairs from the basement to the surgical floor, muttering under her breath, “100, 101, 102…” Her evening had been miserable. Mary had immediately dispatched her on errands — clear message: she was not on a real case tonight. The Chief was making a point. Olivia was an intern, and no matter how long she spent in Fitz’s OR, she wasn’t to forget it.

Maybe that was why Olivia hadn’t wanted anyone to know about her and Fitz. There was something about her that drew protection, lessons, caution. Her big brown eyes, the innocence they seemed to hold — it made people feel responsible. She would always be Lisa Pope’s little sister, bright and shining, never making a wrong step.

If only they knew.

If only they knew what she let Fitz do to her in the dark, and what she did to him. That they were serious. That she loved him with a depth so fierce it scared her.

They wouldn’t believe it.

Turning the corner, Olivia bumped into Jake.

“Dr. Ballard,” she squeaked. “I thought you got off earlier.”

“I did. Got caught up in work. Just heading out.” He smiled kindly. “What time are you on till?”

“Three more hours. Covering a shift.”

Jake nodded. “You should come over to Lisa’s after. No need to go home to that empty apartment you’ve got now.”

“No, I’m fine,” Olivia said, avoiding his eyes.

“Come on, Olivia,” Jake said with a chuckle. “Your apartment’s pretty miserable.”

“Why does everyone say that?” she whispered, then added hurriedly, “I moved out.”

“Where to?”

“In with a friend.” She bit her lip, regretting the slip.

Jake looked surprised. “Really? Thanks for the heads-up about Lou’s — I might drop in.”

Olivia smiled weakly, unaware of the storm she’d just stirred.

---

Back at Lou’s, Mellie’s eyes didn’t waver from Fitz.

“I don’t know what to say,” he muttered.

“How long have you been sleeping with Olivia Pope?” she asked bluntly.

“A month.” Fitz drained his scotch.

Mellie choked on her beer. “A month? And you never told me?”

“It’s complicated.”

“What about the Derm Nurse?”

Fitz laughed. “There never was a Derm Nurse. Never met her.”

All the shock in Mellie’s face. “So it’s been Pope… just Pope?”

He nodded. “Just her.”

“My God, Fitz, this is huge.”

“Yeah,” he said, “there’s more.”

“How much more?”

“We moved in together tonight.”

Mellie’s eyes bugged out. “There’s not enough alcohol in the world for this.”

“Breathe, Raines.”

“I am. Just… damn.”

Fitz looked annoyed. “So, were you just guessing?”

“No.” Mellie shrugged. “I knew about the fling, but not the relationship.”

“How did you find out?”

“I overheard the Chief telling Lauren,” Mellie admitted.

“Damn it.” Fitz swore under his breath. “This will be all over the hospital by tomorrow.”

“No, it won’t.” Mellie smiled faintly. “Lauren’s a steel trap. She’ll keep it quiet.”

“Yeah, well, we want it that way. As in—quiet.”

Mellie nodded. “I get it. I don’t want to imagine how the rest of George Washington hospital would react.”

“Olivia thinks they’d be placing bets on when we’d get caught in the on-call room.”

“More like when *you*’d be caught with someone else,” Mellie teased.

Fitz’s face fell. “Is that what you really think?”

Mellie looked sheepish. “You don’t have the best history, Fitz.”

“That’s why I didn’t tell you or anyone else.” Fitz sounded indignant. “You judge without knowing. Never mind that I’m happier than ever, never mind I’ve been faithful. Nope, it all comes down to me being a man-whore.” He stood, tossing money on the table. “Un-fucking-believable.”

Mellie looked apologetic, but before she could respond, Jake approached.

“Fitz,” Jake said, “I thought you were moving tonight?”

“I did. Now that’s done—that’s why I’m drinking and leaving.” Fitz’s anger was palpable.

“Jesus, what’s wrong with you?”

“Wrong? Maybe I’m tired of friends underestimating me—seeing me as an irresponsible ass.” He pulled on his jacket. “I’ve had enough.”

“I wish Olivia hadn’t told me you were here,” Jake muttered.

Fitz froze. “Olivia told you?”

“Yeah. She mentioned seeing you and Mellie earlier. Look, Fitz—”

Fitz cut him off and left, fury now pointed outward.

---

Back at the hospital, Olivia sat behind the nurse’s counter, lost in endless charting, thoughts swirling.

“Dr. Pope!”

She looked up to see Fitz standing there, eyes blazing.

“Dr. Grant,” she said tentatively.

“I need to speak with you. Now.” His tone was sharp, clipped.

Olivia followed him to the conference room. He slammed the door and closed the blinds.

“Did you tell Ballard I was at Lou’s?”

She nodded.

“God damn it, Olivia. Why would you do that?”

“Why are you yelling at me?”

“Because I don’t need you interfering. If I wanted to see Jake, I’d call him.”

“Fine! Excuse me for trying to help. I won’t do it again.”

“Good! I don’t need your help. I can run my life perfectly well without your meddling.”

“Why are you so mad about this?”

“This fight’s stupid.”

“Are you calling me stupid?”

“No! The fight is stupid. And yes, I called you an idiot!”

“Jesus, I should’ve known this wouldn’t work. You’re too opinionated and bossy for me.”

“And you’re too much of a jerk for me!”

“Too bad I love you anyway.” Olivia trembled with anger.

Fitz went quiet. The world stilled.

“I love you?” he whispered.

“Of course.”

“Olivia, I lo—”

“No!” she yelled, covering her ears. “Not now! If you say it, I’ll get all melty and my anger will vanish!”

“Melty, huh?”

“Don’t be cute. I hate it when you’re cute.”

“No, you don’t.”

“Whatever.” Olivia rolled her eyes.

“I’m sorry for starting this fight.”

She crossed her arms, eyebrow raised.

“And I’m sorry for being an idiot.”

“And?”

“I love you too.”

“No!” Fitz laughed, hands over ears.

He stepped close, laughing. “Too late. I said it. You heard it. Melt away.”

Olivia gazed up at him — those deep, dark brown eyes brimming with emotion.

“Fitz,” she whispered, “I love you.”

“Oh Livvie,” he said, tears glistening. “I love you too.”

He kissed her, and when they pulled apart she whispered, “Are you crying?”

“No,” he muttered. “Something flew into my eye.”

“Sure it did.” Olivia snickered, poking him in the chest. “And don’t take your stupid boy anger out on me. Yell at Jake.”

Fitz sighed. “Yeah, I don’t know what I was thinking fighting with you. Pope’s are irrational.”

“Whatever. You just wish I were the irrational one.”

“Whatever,” Fitz said. “Next time, just punch Jake. Maybe that’ll help.”

“Olivia Pope,” Fitz teased. “Advocating violence. Shameful.”

“If you ever fight Ballard, you’ll wish I’m there,” she shot back.

“Protect me?”

“Damn right. I’m scrappy.”

He laughed, pulling her close. “I love you, Olivia Pope.”

And as tears shimmered in her eyes, she whispered, “I love you too, Fitz Grant.”

“Now comes the best part.”

“What?”

“Make-up sex.”

Chapter Text

Fitz could feel Olivia’s grin pressed softly against his neck, and he let himself smile back, marveling at how her happiness had somehow become more important than his own. When had this shift happened? When had he reached the point where her joy eclipsed his entire world? Telling her he loved her tonight had been a release unlike any other, but hearing those three words come from her lips in return? That had nearly undone him, shattering any hold he thought he had on himself. He loved her—deeply, purely, completely. She hadn’t just found a place in his life or heart—she had carved out a home in his very soul. Fitz, who had never been one for grand romantic gestures, recognized now that expressing the complicated emotions Olivia awakened in him required nothing less than the sincerest sentiment. And he knew one thing with crystal clarity: now was not good enough. He wanted forever.

Forever, at last, felt like a promise, not a curse.

He wanted to be good at this—at loving her, at making her happy, at building a life where her laughter never faded. If only there was a way to guarantee that happiness.

The warmth of Olivia pressed closer, and Fitz realized she was crying into his shirt. “Hey,” he murmured, cupping her face gently. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, smiling up through her tears. “Nothing—except… you love me.”

Fitz gave a quizzical smile. “Yes. I do.”

“No one has ever said that to me before,” she whispered, voice trembling. “Not when I needed to hear it. Not from someone I loved—and who loved me back so desperately.”

“No one has ever said it to me either,” Fitz admitted, softly wiping tears from her cheeks. “This is all new to me, Liv.”

“Oh, Fitz,” she breathed, grabbing his face and kissing him fiercely.

“Not here, Liv,” he mumbled. “The things I want to do to you aren’t meant for a hospital.”

“Please, Fitz,” she pleaded, slipping off her jacket and scrub top. Her pants and underwear followed quickly.

He backed her up to the table and lifted her onto it, unbuttoning his jeans with urgency. Pressed together, he whispered, “God, you’re soaking.”

“I want you,” she said shyly, eyes wide.

That innocence—the wide-eyed, unabashed desire—was one of the countless things Fitz loved about Olivia. Somewhere along the way, it had rubbed off on him. For the first time, he could believe in happily-ever-afters.

They moved together with desperate urgency, Olivia moaning softly against his neck, whispering, “Closer, closer.” Fitz tried to make it last, but this was a fast, raw explosion of connection—something neither of them had ever known before.

Afterward, he eased Olivia back down onto the table, quirking a smile. “What?”

“I’m just seeing that look on your face,” she said.

“I have a meeting here tomorrow,” he laughed. “I doubt I’ll be able to focus.”

“Sorry.”

“No, you’re not,” he said, kissing her cheek.

“No, not really,” she murmured.

“Let’s go home,” Fitz whispered against her hair. “Are you done for the night?”

She checked her watch. “Ten more minutes. Chief can probably forgive me if I leave early. Come on, Fitz.” Her eyes darkened as she looked at him. “Take me home.”

They slipped quietly out of the conference room, observed only by two nurses shaking their heads at Dr. Grant’s rare display of passion with sweet Dr. Pope.

The rain hammered the car windows on their drive home, but neither noticed. Desire still lingered, hot and heavy, but both were lost in the aftermath—the seismic shift of love declared and returned.

At the apartment, coats and boots were dropped in the hall. They moved slowly toward the bedroom, hands entwined. Olivia’s breath caught when she saw the look in Fitz’s eyes. This was beyond need or hunger—it was love. Somewhere, deep in the recesses of her mind, she understood this night had started with passion, but had blossomed into so much more.

Fitz’s fingers traced the edges of her shirt, undoing button by button with gentle care. His breath warmed her forehead, his hands tender across her chest before sliding the fabric off her arms. No words—only an unfolding intimacy, layer by reverent layer.

He slid his arms around her ribs and deftly unhooked her bra, kissing the tender skin revealed beneath. Olivia’s hands tangled in his hair, pulling him back to her lips—lips that explored with a tender hunger, tongues intertwining as desire ignited every nerve ending. Fitz’s thumb circled her nipple with sweet, teasing flicks, heightening the electric charge between them.

“Fitz,” Olivia moaned into his mouth, “I want to feel you too.”

He paused, then she lifted his t-shirt over his head, hands tracing the sinewy strength of his chest. She shimmied out of her jeans, clad only in lace, as Fitz lifted her onto the bed, fitting their bodies perfectly. Legs wrapped around hips, she felt the hard promise of him against her.

“Olivia,” he breathed against her lips. “How do you do this to me?” His voice held wonder—the same awe he’d felt that first night.

She smiled, helping free him from his pants, their underwear the only barrier remaining. His lips found hers again, trailing kisses down her body before teasing her breasts with eager tongues and fingers slipping beneath lace to stroke her most intimate places. Olivia tossed her head, aching for the completion only he could bring.

With growing urgency, she cupped Fitz’s hardness, coaxing a deep groan from his throat. “Please, Fitz, I need you.”

He shed the last barriers, settled inside her with a tender thrust, groaning at the perfect fit. Eyes locked, hands cupping cheeks, Fitz moved with no rehearsed technique—only raw, instinctual need. With others, it had been an itch; with Olivia, a sacred need. Their bodies’ rhythm was elemental, primal, utterly connected.

Olivia gasped, head thrown back with whispered cries as Fitz chased her pleasure, each thrust perfect. Her scream was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. His release followed, a shudder and low moan that left them both breathless.

Collapsed together, Fitz shifted to pull her close beneath the covers, stroking her back with infinite tenderness. “I like holding you like this,” Olivia murmured.

“You just like using me as your pillow,” he teased.

“True,” she laughed softly. “But there’s something about you—it feels safe. Makes it nice to lie in your arms.”

“And I thought I was intimidating,” he said with a chuckle.

“You were—when I first met you. Big bad attending Fitz Grant who ate little interns like me for breakfast.”

He laughed low in his throat. “Was I really that bad?”

“Was? Babe, except for me, you still are. But then I realized there was more.”

“When?”

“Not with Mrs. Waterson. Before that.” She met his eyes in the dark. “Remember the case with the vocal-cord patient who cheated? You started joking with me. You didn’t get mad when I told you to shut up.”

Fitz chuckled. “Is that why?”

“No,” she smiled. “You were trying to get me to tell Edison how I felt. When I asked what if he didn’t feel the same, do you remember what you said?”

He shook his head. “Tell me.”

“You said, ‘Then he’s an idiot.’ I knew then there was more to you. Even if you said it to spare my feelings, I was glad you’d do that for me. Because you still said it, and I knew.”

Fitz cupped her face, voice soft. “I didn’t say it for Jake’s future sister-in-law. I meant every word. Olivia, I’m so glad Davis was an idiot. The thought he might’ve had a chance with you… makes me want to break out in a cold sweat. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Livvie. I’m just glad I never had to find out.”

“Oh, Fitz,” she whispered, tears glistening.

“Don’t say sweet,” he cut her off.

She laughed through tears. “You are sweet to me, Fitz Grant. You are.” She kissed him again, and soon he had her pinned beneath him, hands and lips worshipping every inch.

“Do you know when I started seeing you differently?” he asked.

“No.”

“When you started reciting that damned periodic table. Never thought science could be sexy.”

She laughed, eyes sparkling. “You’re kidding!”

“Nope. That was when it started. I always thought you were beautiful and brilliant, but then it hit me how much more that was.”

Olivia grinned mischievously. “That was just the tip of the iceberg. You wouldn’t believe the stuff I know.”

Fitz smiled, pulling her close. “Then maybe it’s time for a lesson, Dr. Pope.”

“By all means, Dr. Grant,” she whispered, leaning in to tell her secrets.

Chapter Text

The rain didn’t let up. It pressed steady and insistent against the windows, a kind of rhythmic hush that turned the city outside into a ghost—just lights behind a wet veil. Olivia lay on her side, her cheek pressed to Fitz’s chest, listening to the slow, reassuring beat of his heart. This was the best part, she thought. Not the passion, not the heat. The quiet. The closeness after. She felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared, leaving just the two of them—alone and safe in a cocoon of darkness.

“It’s so quiet,” Olivia whispered, breaking the silence but not disturbing it.

Fitz’s hand traced lazy lines up and down her back. “Yeah. Everyone’s asleep.” He pressed his lips to her forehead, then yawned. “The whole city.”

She smiled, eyes closed. “Except for us.”

He matched her smile, one she could feel more than see. “Except for us.”

The rain was a lullaby, and she let herself drift in and out of memory, thinking about all the little things that had brought her here—this city, this man, this bed. She pressed a kiss to his chest, right above his heart. “I love you.”

Fitz’s chest rumbled with a quiet laugh. “I know.”

“I like saying it,” she admitted. “It’s like… I don’t know. Magic. Words are magic.”

He snorted. “You think words have power?”

“All words have power. Haven’t you ever noticed how some words just… crush you? They’re just sounds, but they mean so much.”

He was quiet for a moment, fingers still tracing her spine. “What are you trying to say, Liv?”

She hesitated, then propped herself up on her elbow to look at him. His face was soft, vulnerable in the darkness. “I guess I just want to say it every chance I get. I love you, Fitz.”

He reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I love you, too.”

They let that settle between them, the rain a steady metronome. Olivia thought about the strange path her life had taken. She’d never planned to be in D.C., never planned to be at GWUH, never planned to meet Fitz. She wondered, for maybe the thousandth time, what her life would look like if just one thing had been different.

“Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if we hadn’t met?” she asked.

Fitz raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what if I’d stayed in Boston? Or what if Jake hadn’t come to D.C.? Or… I don’t know. What if everything had gone according to plan?”

He grinned, enjoying the game. “Well, maybe you would’ve still come here. But if Jake hadn’t, I wouldn’t have had a reason to leave New York. And if I hadn’t slept with Vanessa…”

“We’d have never met,” she finished.

She tried to picture it—her life without Fitz. Maybe she’d still be hung up on Edison, still chasing dead ends. She shivered at the thought.

“Do you think…?” she began.

He looked at her, curious. “Do I think what?”

“That we were meant to meet? That there was some plan?”

Fitz’s answer came fast, flat. “No.”

“No?” She tried to laugh, but it came out small.

He shook his head. “No. I don’t want to think that my child had to die so I could meet you.”

The words hit her like a slap. She pushed herself upright, searching his face. “What?”

He looked away, staring into the dark. “Vanessa was pregnant. She had an abortion. Didn’t tell me until after.” He swallowed, jaw clenched. “I bought a onesie. For the baby. Yankees. I thought—I thought maybe if I had someone who’d love me, it’d fix something inside me. But she made the choice. And I was calm, at first. Too used to being left, I guess. Too used to not being loved.”

He pulled her closer, clutching her as if he could keep the past away just by holding her tight.

Olivia’s eyes filled with tears. She reached for him, her voice trembling. “Fitz, I’m so sorry. No one should have to go through that.”

He shook his head. “You didn’t know. I should’ve told you. That’s why I can’t believe in fate. If this is all meant to be, this universe is a mess.”

She nodded, wiping at her cheeks. “Yeah. But you already knew that, didn’t you?”

He tried to lighten it, reaching for her, but she was crying in earnest now.

“Hey, hey,” he whispered, wrapping an arm around her. “Why are you crying?”

She pressed her face to his shoulder. “Because it was your baby. I know it’s complicated, but… it’s still sad.”

He stroked her hair, gentle. “It wasn’t really my baby. Not yet. I thought you were pro-choice?”

“In theory. But it’s different when it’s someone you love.” She looked up at him, her eyes dark and shining. “I’m sorry, Fitz.”

“Me too.” He stared at the ceiling. “Sometimes I wonder what he would’ve looked like. Is that stupid?”

She shook her head, kissing his temple. “No. I bet he would’ve had your eyes.”

Fitz smiled at that. “That would’ve been nice.”

He was silent, then his voice came, uncertain. “We’re not using protection. You’re on birth control, right?”

She nodded. “I am.”

“What if it fails?”

Olivia smiled, squeezing his hand. “Then we’re having a baby.”

He stared at her, searching her face for hesitation, for fear. There was none. “You mean that?”

She nodded. “I do. I wouldn’t—couldn’t—have an abortion if it was yours. Even if we didn’t work out, I’d still love that baby. I’d always love you.”

He let her words wash over him, felt them soak into the places he’d kept hidden for so long. “I’m scared,” he admitted.

“Of what?”

“That something will change. That you’ll leave. That I’ll get left behind again.” He looked down at his hands, ashamed.

She cupped his face, forcing him to meet her eyes. “You’re so wrong about yourself. You are good, Fitz. You tried to do the right thing. You chose me, even when it was hard. You loved me. That’s more than most people ever get.”

He blushed, ducking his head. “You make me love you more, you know.”

She grinned, leaning in to kiss him. “And you said words had no power.”

He laughed, the sound warm and real. “Obviously, I was wrong.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, too,” he replied, voice thick.

They lay like that for a while, the rain still falling, the city still asleep. Then Olivia spoke, her voice small but sure. “I want to have a baby with you. Not now. Someday. But with you.”

Fitz’s eyes widened, startled. “Seriously?”

She laughed. “Someday. You’ll have to put it in your calendar. ‘Knock Olivia up today.’”

He shook his head, grinning. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

She shrugged. “Words have power, right?”

He pulled her close, kissing her softly, reverently. “Damn,” he whispered.

“What?”

“I didn’t think this was possible. I want you even more now.”

She smiled up at him, her tears forgotten. “Good. Because I want you, too.”

And as the rain sang them through the night, Fitz made love to Olivia slowly, as if every touch, every kiss, might change the course of the universe.

Chapter Text

The hospital was a living thing in the early hours—buzzing, humming, full of secrets. Olivia could practically feel the pulse of it through the windshield. She’d parked with Fitz in the very back corner, a place reserved for the people who didn’t want to be seen, or who had something to hide. The sky was still gray, the sun not fully committed to the day, and Olivia’s nerves worked overtime.

Fitz drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, the sound filling the silence. “This is ridiculous,” he muttered, glancing at her. “You are my girlfriend, Olivia. I want to walk in there with you, not hide like we’re fugitives.”

She chewed on her lip, eyes flicking from the building to Fitz and back. “If people know, everything changes. I’ll be the girl who’s dating the senior attending. People will talk. People will wonder why I’m scrubbing in on all your cases.”

“And they’ll stop flirting with you,” Fitz said, half-joking, but his voice caught on the words. “The stupid intern with the weird name. The pediatricians. Even the guy in radiology.”

Olivia snorted despite herself. “Nobody’s flirting with me.”

“Olivia. You’re missing the point.”

She groaned, pressing her forehead to the cool glass. “No. You’re missing the point. If we tell people, we’re out in the open. If we don’t, I feel like I’m sneaking around. Either way, I lose.”

Fitz caught her hand, squeezed it. “So what do you want?”

She hesitated. “I want…I want to not care. I want to walk in there and not think about who’s watching, or who’s judging. But I do care. I wish I didn’t, but I do.”

He brushed his thumb over her knuckles. “So what do we do?”

Olivia looked at him, her face a battlefield of longing and fear. “I’ll tell Lisa,” she said, surprising them both. “I’ll tell her today. Then you can tell Jake. We get the worst over with.”

Fitz’s lips curled in a wry smile. “That’s the plan?”

She nodded, determination flickering in her eyes. “It’s the only way.”

“Okay,” he said, pressing a quick kiss to her cheek. “Ready?”

“Ready,” she lied, and opened the door.

The hospital’s halls were already filling with the daily chaos—nurses calling for charts, gurneys squeaking, the scent of coffee and antiseptic hanging in the air. Olivia spotted Lisa at the surgical board, her posture tense and focused. For a second, all Olivia could see was her big sister, the same girl who used to braid her hair and steal her Halloween candy, now a surgeon about to fly solo.

She took a breath and walked up. “Hey.”

Lisa didn’t look up. “Hey.”

Olivia fumbled for words. “Nice day, huh? Good day for…forgiving people, you know?”

Lisa raised an eyebrow. “What’s up with you?”

“Nothing,” Olivia said, her voice too quick. “Just thinking about…stuff. You know, guilt. Secrets. That kind of thing.”

Lisa sighed, her expression softening. “Is this about my solo surgery? You’re worried I’m nervous?”

Olivia blinked. “Yes. That’s exactly it. You got me.”

Lisa gave her a crooked smile. “I’m fine, Liv. You worry too much.”

Olivia’s mouth worked soundlessly. She couldn’t do it—not now, not when Lisa had her hands full with surgery and pressure, not when a bad day could mean a fatal mistake. She forced a smile, wished her luck, and turned away, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure the nurses could hear it.

She texted Fitz: Mission aborted.

Upstairs, Fitz was doing his best impression of someone who cared about anything except Olivia. He rode the elevator, checked his pager, tried to think about his next surgery and not the way Olivia bit her lip when she was nervous. Mellie squeezed in at the last second, full of energy and drama.

“Are you still mad about last night?” she asked, breathless.

He didn’t answer, just shook his head.

Mellie launched into a story about her latest romantic mishap, her voice bouncing between pride and embarrassment. Fitz chuckled in spite of himself. He needed that—someone to remind him that the world was bigger than his own secrets.

When his phone buzzed, he saw Olivia’s message and stifled a groan. One more day in the closet, he thought. One more day of lying to Jake, of pretending with everyone else.

As he stepped onto the floor, Jake flagged him down, asking for a consult, then a drink later. Fitz hesitated, but nodded. He missed his friend, even if friendship these days felt like walking a tightrope over a pit of exposed truths.

That night, Olivia sat at their kitchen table, fidgeting with the sleeve of her sweatshirt. Fitz came in, dropped his keys in the bowl by the door, and sat across from her.

“So,” she said. “I didn’t do it.”

He smiled, exhaustion softening the lines of his face. “I know.”

“I’m sorry.”

He reached for her hand. “We’ll do it together. Tomorrow.”

She squeezed his fingers. “Tomorrow.”

They sat in silence, the weight of what was unsaid pressing in. But it was their silence, their secret, and for one more night, it was enough.

Tomorrow would come, as it always did, full of possibilities and fears and maybe—finally—a little bit of freedom.

Chapter Text

As the months passed by, Fitz and Olivia found themselves developing a routine that was uniquely theirs. Initially, they struggled to find time for each other outside of their demanding work schedules. Their lives felt like a chaotic dance, constantly missing each other, only coming together in the early hours for brief moments of intimacy before exhaustion pulled them into sleep. This pattern continued for two weeks until Olivia reached her breaking point.
"I have had it!" she exclaimed, her frustration echoing off the walls as she slammed her bag down on the floor by their bedside table. Their apartment, now fully furnished with personal touches, seemed to emphasize the void between them.
Fitz awoke with a start, the magazine he had been trying to read slipping from his hands. "What the hell?" he mumbled, his voice rough and sleepy.
"I can't take this anymore," Olivia declared, her voice cracking with emotion. "We never see each other."
Fitz sighed, rubbing his face in an attempt to wake up. "It's just because you are an intern. Things will change in a few months."
Olivia shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I can't wait that long, Fitz. Our lives should never be so crazy that we don't have time for each other." Her voice softened, "What if you forget about me?"
Fitz chuckled softly, wrapping his arms around her in a comforting embrace. "That could never happen, Olivia Pope. You're my hot intern, remember?" he whispered, "You're also the woman I love. Forgetting about you? Not gonna happen."
"Still," Olivia insisted, "Something has to give, Fitz."

Determined to make a change, Fitz accompanied Olivia to see Cyrus, the Chief. They approached him with a request for synchronized days off to nurture their relationship without compromising their professionalism. Cyrus, though initially suspicious, agreed to their request, provided they maintained discretion.
"You two," Cyrus said, eyeing them with a mix of suspicion and amusement, "I have been watching you. So far, I must admit, I have been impressed."
Fitz and Olivia exchanged relieved smiles.
"But," Cyrus continued sternly, "If I am to pretend I don't know what's going on, there better be nothing for me to know about. I don't want you two in my office again to discuss your... situation."
Olivia nodded, grateful. "You're not going to tell Dr. Russell why my schedule is changing, are you?"
Cyrus waved them off. "Out!"
As they exited, Olivia could have sworn she heard him mutter, "I feel like I am running a damn dating service sometimes."

With their new schedule, Olivia and Fitz reclaimed their time together. Their days off became sacred, dedicated solely to each other. Whether they ventured out or stayed in, the focus was on being together, rediscovering the joy and depth of their relationship.
Fitz marveled at the transformation. He had never anticipated the profound changes that declaring his love for Olivia would bring. It wasn't just love; he was in love with her. His affection deepened into something extraordinary, reshaping his understanding of relationships.
For Olivia, their connection felt destined. She believed her late mother had guided her to Fitz, a notion Fitz initially dismissed but Olivia held dear. Every sign, every coincidence seemed too perfect to be random.

Fitz Grant was her Mr. Right. Olivia felt grateful every day for the twists of fate that had united them. Despite their fears, they embraced their love with open hearts, knowing that it was uniquely theirs—unlike anything either had experienced before.
As they lay entwined one evening, Olivia whispered, "I am always your Olivia. At home, in the hospital, everywhere. I'll always be your Olivia."
"Always? You can't know that," Fitz murmured, vulnerability lacing his words.
"I can," Olivia assured him. "I could never imagine being anyone else's Olivia. I love you."
The sincerity in her eyes moved Fitz deeply. "God, I love you," he rasped. "You're everything, Liv. Just everything."
Their love was a testament to the power of patience, understanding, and the willingness to grow together. It was a love that transformed them both, shaping their worlds into something beautiful and profound. Together, they were different—different in the best possible way.

Chapter Text

Olivia and Fitz had been sleeping soundly when they were woken by a shrill ringing sound. "What the hell?" Fitz growled as he bolted upright. "What's going on?" Olivia muttered, realizing what the sound was. "Oh, it's my phone." She looked at the alarm clock on the bedside table and realized it wasn't yet midnight. They had really worn each other out.

The shrill ringing came again, and Olivia hurried to the hall to find her purse. When she got to it, she quickly opened the phone and whispered, "Hello?" "Olivia!" was all she heard on the line. "Who is this?" "It's your sister. Well, your half sister…sometimes…when I feel like it." "Lisa?" Olivia hissed into the phone. "Are you drunk?" "Maybe?" She sounded as if she wasn't sure of that answer.

Olivia hopped from foot to foot, trying to keep the cold away. She resented standing naked in her own hallway when there was a warm bed and a warmer man waiting for her. "And you called me because why?" Olivia asked, her voice laced with frustration. "Why wouldn't I call you?" Lisa said, slurring her words. "You're Olivia!" "Yes, I am Olivia. But why did you call me, Lisa?" Olivia asked again.

There was a scuffle in the background, and then Mary took Lisa's phone. "Three, you need to come to Lou's and get Lisa." "What?" Olivia asked, still hopping. "Why me? What about Jake or her roommates? Why can't you do it?" "Jake was called back to the hospital after a guy fell off his roof, Matt and Holly are missing because Matt is trying to help Holly with her tragic pain, and I can't do it cause…I can't." Olivia stomped her foot in frustration. "Fine, I'll be there in ten minutes."

She snapped the phone shut and tossed it back in her purse. "You'll be where in ten minutes?" Fitz asked, leaning against the door to their bedroom. "I have to go pick up my dark and twisty sister who couldn't be bothered to get a designated driver before getting drunk." Olivia walked past him into the bedroom, pulling on her jeans in a hurry. "Where is my bra?" Olivia muttered to herself. Fitz yawned and picked it up from where it was draping over the end of their bed.

As Olivia left, Fitz muttered something and crawled back into bed. The rain was coming down in sheets when Olivia reached the bar. She made a run for it, heading into the bar with her clothes soaked despite her efforts. Inside, she saw Mary flag her down and yell, "Three! Over here!" Olivia made her way over to the table. "Hi," she said. "Oh thank God," Mary said. "She's all yours, Olivia." Mary all but shoved Lisa into Olivia's arms on her way out the door.

As Olivia helped Lisa out of the booth, Lisa said, "Olivia, Olivia! You came!" "As promised," Olivia said. She then helped Lisa out of the bar and into the car. Once she had her in the car, Olivia began the drive to Lisa's house, annoyed at the long path she had to take without the help of ferries. "You are so good to me," Lisa said after a while, her voice filled with a singsong quality. "A good sister." "Sister…yeah, sure," Olivia said, her voice holding no anger or judgment, just a wishful longing for a relationship that did not and never would exist.

As they drove, Lisa seemed to pick up on Olivia's tone, "Don't be sad, Olivia," she said, giggling. "I am a good sister to you too, but you can't know about it." Olivia gripped the steering wheel tighter. "What do you mean?" Lisa raised her hand to scratch her nose, but missed. "I protected you!" She sounded proud of herself. "I told Jake to tell Fitz to stay away…from you!" Olivia smiled sadly to herself. "Why did you do that?" "Cause you are good, Liv, not like me. Not like Fitz. You are better than him."

Olivia was amazed at this opportunity to see, really see, her sister. Lisa normally kept up so many walls, but none of them seemed to be up at the moment. "Why don't you like me, Lisa?" Olivia asked, her stomach tight as she waited for an answer. "I do like you," Lisa said, "You're Olivia. Everyone likes Olivia." "Then why don't you want to be my sister?" Olivia stopped the car at a stoplight and turned to look at Lisa. She was surprised to see her sister staring right at her, looking very sober.

In a clear voice, Lisa said, "I don't know how to be a good sister to you, Olivia." Olivia felt tears of rejection rising in her eyes. "You could try," she whispered. "I don't want much. Just recognition, you know? I would take any role in your life that you want to give me, Lisa." "You had smiley face posters on your wall as a teenager, didn't you?" Lisa asked, still looking serious. "Nirvana," Olivia said, shaking her head. "Why?" One of the things that few people knew about her was her secret love for 90s rock.

It was something Fitz had discovered with glee and proceeded to tease her about for days after. Lisa giggled. "I can't see you rocking out to 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'." Her voice slurred on the last word. "Perhaps you don't know me as well as you think," Olivia said. "True, true Livvie." Olivia looked at Lisa in surprise. It was so weird to hear that nickname coming out of her sister's mouth, especially when she was used to hearing Fitz whisper it to her so tenderly.

Olivia bit her lip, and then looked at Lisa with fledgling hope in her eyes. "Maybe we could try being sisters." Her heart raced as she waited for Lisa's response. "Ummm, okay," Lisa said, drawing out both words. She sounded as though she wasn't listening closely. Olivia sighed and pulled up to the curb next to Lisa's house. "We're here," she said. After she got Lisa into the house, Olivia pulled away from the curb, thinking about the warm bed waiting for her. It never occurred to her that she might not reach it.

Back at the apartment, Fitz was awoken by the sound of the doorbell. He got out of bed and walked to the front door, wondering why Olivia was ringing the bell. "Did you forget your…" He trailed off when he saw Jake standing at the door. "Did I forget my what?" Jake said, looking at him in confusion. "Nothing," Fitz said, shaking his head. "What are you doing here, Jake?" "I thought I would come see your place," Jake said with a grin. "I just left the hospital, the patient coded, and Lisa is drinking with Mary, so I have some time..."

Fitz sighed, knowing that Jake was trying to reclaim their old friendship. But things had changed, and Fitz couldn't go back to the way things were. He and Jake had formed a tentative truce, but it was fragile. As they sat in the kitchen, Jake looked around in confusion. "This place is so…" Fitz grimaced, knowing that the apartment was more Olivia's style than his. But he loved it, and he loved the way Olivia made it feel like home.

Just as Jake was about to ask more questions, their pagers went off. "911," they both said, and Fitz felt a sense of relief. Not for the emergency, but for the reprieve he had just been given. Little did he know that this was the page that would change his life forever. As they rushed out of the apartment, Fitz couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew that he would do anything to protect Olivia and their life together.

Chapter Text

Damn, Olivia mumbled as she peered out through the windshield, droplets blurring the world beyond. The rain was relentless, hammering down in sheets that masked the city’s usual glow. She shook her head, a rueful smile tugging at her lips. Nights like this—when nature ruled the skies and washed the world clean—were the ones she treasured most. They made her feel impossibly small, a tiny thread in the vast fabric of the universe. Normally, she’d embrace this weather, the storm pressing close and raw, but tonight there was only one place she wanted to be: home.

Home.

The word felt strange on her tongue after all these years. Two months ago, home had been the split-level house with creaky floorboards where Olivia grew up alongside her parents and little sister. But now, home was something new—something softer and shared.

Home was with Fitz.

Home was the apartment they’d carved out together, the penthouse they dreamed of ascending to, maybe one day a house so full of laughter and life it could hardly be contained.

Home was him.

So much had shifted, irreversibly and rapidly. For all her talk of fate and soulmates, Olivia was still astonished she’d found precisely that in Fitz. A year ago, such a thing had seemed impossible. She had never felt this wild, this reckless with hope, this imbued with certainty that love could be all-consuming and right.

Her past relationships—three in number—had unfolded like slow sunsets, gradual and sometimes painfully uneven. None had ignited her heart the way Fitz did. None had made her act on impulse, follow feelings without reservation. She smiled to herself now, delighting in the simple truth that for once, she had gotten it right.

Could she even imagine how different her life would be had she labeled Fitz too risky, or clung to Edison’s indifferent gaze? The thought chilled her, a frozen thread in her chest.

Rain clattered steadily as she eased the car down the street, gutters swelling with the accumulating storm. It was rare even in D.C. to see rain like this, but Olivia barely noticed, lost instead in the tangled conversation she’d had with Lisa. Family—how complicated the meaning of the word.

Lisa tried, in her own awkward, flawed way, to reach out as a sister. But the space between them was thick with unspoken grievances and fractured history. Olivia thought back to her own sisterhood with Ashley—constant teasing, minor annoyances, but always an unshakeable foundation.

They had been family. They had each other.

Lisa never had that.

Olivia’s mind drifted to their mother, Maggie Pope — a brilliant, enigmatic force who weighed heavily on Lisa’s life, both blessing and curse. Their father’s reverence and bitterness echoed in every mention. Lisa, caught in that tangled legacy, struggled to find her own light.

Olivia longed to understand what Lisa wanted from her, yet each attempt felt like stepping on shifting ground. But after tonight’s truths, she was resolved to try, again and again. It was worth it — for her sister.

Turning a corner, Olivia noted the clock’s glow — just before one a.m., and by some miracle, a clear path home awaited. The thought of their apartment, Fitz waiting, warmed her suddenly chilled skin with promise.

She grinned, recalling the last time she’d left. Fitz’s expression had been a mix of playful resentment and longing, the way only two people utterly in sync could show when parted by the smallest of moments.

She, too, treasured their stolen time.

The rhythmic tap of rain against the windshield, the gentle swish of wipers, carried her thoughts back only a month — to a night wrapped in lighter rain and softer warmth.

“I love this weather,” she had said, smiling as she drove Fitz’s sleek sports car.

“Don’t talk to me,” he’d grumbled, staring out the window, pouting like a child.

“Oh, come on. Stop pouting.”

“No.” Fitz shook his head. “I’m mad at you.”

“Why? Because I gave you a sex sprain? Or because you had to let Matt assist you in the OR today?”

Olivia laughed softly. Fitz, always so serious.

“First,” he said, wagging a finger. “You did not give me a—”

“Sex sprain?” she cut in with a smirk.

“Yeah, that. Saying so implies I couldn’t keep up with you, which, trust me, is not the case. And second, Matt can learn a thing or two from me.”

Olivia coughed to muffle her laughter. “Don’t worry, Fitz. You’re still King of the Bedroom and the OR.”

“Damn straight I am.”

“And no one can take your titles.”

“Of course not,” Fitz muttered.

“But you did hurt your back from too much sex with me.” Olivia’s grin deepened. “Guess that makes me Queen of the Bedroom.”

Fitz grunted in mock offense. “Please. I could have you pinned and panting anytime, Livvie.”

“Fine. Then show me tonight.”

“No, not tonight. I need to ice my back.”

Her laughter had been his only reply.

Memories like these, full of warmth and love, bubbled beneath the storm’s cold surface. Fitz was her equal—in every important way. More than that, she was his.

Suddenly, the car skidded.

The tires lost grip, and Olivia’s heart nearly stopped. Time slowed. She tightened her fingers on the wheel, hoping instinct would guide her. Steer into the skid... but everything moved too fast. Panic clawed at her throat. She slammed the brakes.

The car jerked to a halt, tires biting back the slick asphalt.

For a moment, Olivia couldn’t move. The powerless surge of terror clung to her—such a familiar feeling, yet never less overwhelming. Raised driving in exactly this weather hadn’t prepared her for the raw vulnerability of losing control.

The rain continued to fall, and the faint sting of burning brakes reached her nostrils. She exhaled, letting go of the death grip on the wheel, struggling to steady her breath.

She sat in the middle of an intersection, a green light glowing ahead, promising safe passage she wasn’t sure she’d earned.

Trying to clutch normalcy, Olivia eased her foot towards the gas, but out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement—a truck barrelled toward her.

Time fractured, the world tilting on its axis, as the inevitable thunder of impact roared in.

A single word formed on her lips — brittle, desperate — her anchor in the chaos.

“Fitz.”

Chapter Text

Lisa sat at her kitchen table sipping the coffee that Holly had set before her. Her head was pounding and her mind was fuzzy, but she took sip after sip, trying to find her way back to sobriety.

"Why didn't you call me?" Holly asked. "I would have come to get you. There was no need for Olivia to go to all that trouble."

"Oh, I am sure she didn't mind," Lisa said.

Holly looked skeptical, but said nothing.

"Besides," Lisa said, "I thought you and Matt were going to get together and…talk."

Holly shrugged. "What is there to say? He wants me to have the surgery and fix the bulging vein in my brain. I would rather not. Talk over."

Lisa thought to herself that she was too drunk to be having this conversation. "Holly, you need to do all you can to get well."

"Why?" She shook her blond curls. "I am only seeing my dead fiancée, whom I know is dead, so I don't see what the problem is. It is not like I don't know I am seeing things. As long as it doesn't affect the medicine, I don't see the harm."

"You are lucky," Lisa said. "Any other hospital would refuse to let you practice until you get it fixed."

"Well, the Chief knows it is not dangerous."

"Not to anyone but you," Lisa muttered.

"Feeling more sober?" Holly asked.

"Somewhat," Lisa responded. "I am still a little woozy."

"You'll be better soon," Holly chirped, being all bright and shiny.

"Oh, I am in hell," Lisa said, putting her head on the counter.

Their pagers went off then. Holly looked at hers and frowned. "It's all hands on deck. There must be a lot of car accidents because of this rain."

"I can't go to work like this," Lisa said.

"Looks like it's another banana bag for you," Holly said with a laugh.

"Great."

Holly helped her up from the stool, and they walked into the hall. "Matt!" Holly called up the stairs. "We are heading into the hospital!"

"Me too," he yelled back, coming down the stairs as he pulled a sweater over his head. "Wow," he said, when he saw Lisa. "You look like crap."

"Little voices please," Lisa said, swaying as she stood there.

Holly and Matt laughed, and the three of them headed out into the night.

"Tell me who she is."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"You are no fun," Jake said to Fitz as they drove to the hospital in his sports car. "Why won't you make my night a little brighter and tell me who she is?"

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"Yes?"

"No," Fitz said, causing Jake to sigh with frustration. Fitz grinned to himself. Despite the fact that this was a dangerous situation, he sort of loved goading Jake the way they used to.

"Whoever she is, I need to know," Jake said.

"Why?"

"Because I need to write the Pope and tell him I have a candidate for sainthood."

"Haha," Fitz muttered. "How do you not know that I am the one who is a saint for putting up with her?"

Jake scratched his chin. "Are you?"

"No," Fitz said with a laugh. "She is the saintly one."

"Give me a hint."

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"It could be my Christmas present, which by the way, I'm still waiting for."

"First, Christmas was two months ago, second, I got you a present."

"Tickets to a Nationals game, big deal. I want info."

"You are such a girl," Fitz said, rolling his eyes. "No means no, Jake."

Jake crossed his arms. "Spoilsport."

"You know it."

Temporarily stymied, Jake crossed his arms watching as Fitz's low slung car zoomed across the wet pavement. "You drive too fast."

"Well gee Mom, I didn't know you cared," Fitz said sarcastically.

"Well, you do."

Fitz grinned, happy to have his friend back even if it was just for a moment.

Mary yawned as she stood in the ER, waiting for something to happen. She had been the first to get here, probably because she had been in the steam room with Stephen. She had started going there a lot; it was a nice diversion from her life to have it there. Sometimes she went with him, sometimes without. But that little room had changed her life completely. It started out simple. One kiss here, then another there. Before she knew it, she and Stephen were up against the wall and steam wasn't the only thing that was rising.

He was in surgery now, and Mary couldn't help but think that the ER was lonely without him there. She was used to seeing his determined face as she worked on a patient.

Dr Russell came up and stood beside her. "There are two ambulances inbound. Car accident."

Mary nodded, and knotted the ties on the back of her yellow smock.

It was time to get to work.

The headlights, which had shined so brightly in her eyes, were out now. The remainder of them had scattered on the pavement along with crushed metal and broken glass. The rain continued to fall outside of the car, and now part of it was falling within the car as well. Olivia could feel it on her face, but she couldn't seem to summon the strength to open her eyes or to lift her hand to brush the drops of water away.

Everything seemed hazy as she was held in place by the seat belt. She was dangling, so the car must have been on its side or upside down, but Olivia couldn't be sure. When she was finally able to open her eyes, the lights were so bright that she slammed them shut again.

She moaned, and then struggled to open them again. The streetlights looked as though they had fuzzy blankets draped over them, and the rain seemed to be reflecting all of it.

"Miss! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

Olivia knew someone was trying to talk to her, but she couldn't seem to put her thoughts together well enough to speak. What had happened? She tried to go back, to even five seconds before, but it was all blank. She had been trying to get home, home to Fitz, and then…

"I am calling an ambulance!"

She could smell something. There was an odor that was permeating through the air of the car. What was it? It was a coppery, tangy smell. Olivia pried her eyes open yet again and looked down at her body. She suddenly felt a pain in her side that she hadn't noticed before, and a stabbing sensation in her back and chest. Olivia slowly dragged her hand down to her waist, and when she pulled it back, it was covered in a dark, shiny liquid.

It was her blood.

"They’re on their way! Just hold on!"

Olivia started to drift off again. As her mind cleared out, she thought of Jack, that patient of hers who had bled out with her hands on his neck. There had been blood everywhere and at the time Olivia had never seen so much that it had scared her. She was a doctor, she knew what all this blood on her hands meant.

She had an hour, maybe a little longer.

She wasn't going to make it.

Olivia wanted to protest; she wanted to open her mouth to speak and yell. This wasn't fair, she was still so young. She had meant to do so much more! She had never seen China, and walked on the Great Wall. She had never performed a solo surgery, well, a successful one anyway. She had never married Fitz.

Fitz. There was so much that they hadn't had a chance to do. Olivia's scattered thoughts wondered if he had known how much she wanted to be his wife. How much she had wanted 'forever' with him.

She had never had children, and she had wanted them, so badly. She had wanted four, two boys and two girls. She had wanted to see them grow old, and marry themselves.

She wanted to open her mouth to yell at the unfairness of it all, but she could not. She could not, for the darkness was beckoning to her. It was calling her name, just as surely as if it knew her. She was not long for this world; she knew that.

"Just hold on!"

But it was too late.

The darkness was calling.

Chapter Text

Melissa Russell had always believed in the power of adrenaline. She’d made a career out of it, after all – the rush of triage, the swirl of blood and panic, the moment when everything depended on what she did next. But ever since Tristan’s accident, the thrill had soured. Now, every siren in the night felt like a warning shot aimed straight at her heart.

Tonight, the hospital was a war zone. The roads outside were slick with rain and carelessness, and the ER filled with the usual parade: drunks, broken bodies, shattered families. Melissa pressed on, exhaustion gnawing at her edges, until two familiar voices cut through the chaos.

"For the last time, let it go, Jake," Fitz Grant said, the lines in his face deeper than usual.

"Why won't you tell me who it is?" Jake Ballard shot back. He was always chasing secrets, never content with the surface.

Melissa rolled her eyes and strode over. "Dr. Ballard, Dr. Grant. So nice of you to join us this evening."

Jake bristled. "I was here less than an hour ago."

Melissa arched an eyebrow. "Your point being? I have been here for forty-five hours straight."

Jake wilted. Fitz smirked. "You paged us, Dr. Russell?"

She nodded. "We have a major accident that just came in. Some fool got drunk, ran a red light. His daughter burned her arm on the airbag. Trauma 3," she said, nodding at Fitz. Then, turning to Jake: "The father’s got a concussion, blurred vision, slurred speech. I need you to check him out."

Jake hesitated. "Because of the alcohol?"

Melissa’s patience was threadbare. "You think I don’t know the difference between a drunk and someone with a brain bleed?"

Jake shrank. "Of course not, Dr. Russell."

Fitz choked back a laugh and winked as he walked away. "See you later."

Jake called after him, "I still want to know!"

"Trauma 2," Melissa said, and marched off, not waiting for his reply.

Jake caught up to her in the hall. "Did you just say Dr. Grant is living with someone?"

"Course I do,” Melissa said, lips twitching. “I know everything that goes on in this hospital."

Jake opened his mouth to press for details, but her pager screamed to life. "Gotta go," she muttered, vanishing down the hall.

In Trauma 2, Jake found Holly Smith standing over the accident victim. "Hello, Mr. Brennan. I’m Dr. Ballard. Dr. Smith says you’re having trouble speaking?"

The man’s eyes were glassy. He mumbled, "Tha gurrrrl."

Jake frowned. "Your daughter? She’s with Dr. Grant—"

"No," the man said, forcing out the words. "Tha gurl ah hit."

Jake’s stomach dropped. "You hit another car?" He turned to Holly. "Were the EMTs bringing in anyone else?"

Holly shook her head. "I’ll check with Dr. Russell."

She stepped into the hall—and froze. Down the corridor, Melissa was sprinting for the ambulance bay, Matt and Mary on her heels. Holly watched as the ambulance doors flew open, the EMTs moving fast, their jackets smeared with blood.

"What do we have?" Melissa barked, matching their pace.

"Car accident. She lost a lot of blood, but she’s stable for now."

Melissa’s breath caught as she saw the patient on the stretcher—neck braced, face eerily still.

"Page the chief," she snapped at Mary. "And Dr. Finch."

"He’s in surgery—" Mary stammered.

"Pull him out!" Melissa barked. "Move!"

The stretcher rolled into Trauma 1. Melissa slammed the door behind them, barking orders at the nurses. "No interns," she said, her voice sharp enough to cut glass.

Matt peered out into the hall, where Holly was watching from Trauma 2. "They rushed in the person from the other car," he explained. "The one your patient hit."

Holly’s face was pale. "Why is Dr. Russell—"

"Because it’s Olivia Pope," Matt said simply.

Holly’s hands flew to her mouth. Matt repeated it, as if saying it would make it less shocking.

Inside Trauma 1, Melissa’s mind fractured. She worked Olivia’s body with intensity, blocking out the sight of the perky intern who had shadowed her just months before. Matt called out, "Broken ribs, dislocated shoulder, internal bleeding—"

"Get her typed and crossed and release O neg from the emergency supply," Melissa barked, hands slick with blood.

Mary watched the monitors, voice trembling. "Her pressure’s falling. She’s tachycardic." She looked down at Olivia’s face, her own mask of calm starting to slip.

The Chief burst in, followed by Stephen Finch and Jake. Melissa filled them in, her voice clipped, eyes never leaving Olivia.

They worked in silence, a ballet of desperation. "Get an OR ready," the Chief said. "Matt, page Dr. Raines. We need her shoulder set."

Minutes blurred, and suddenly Mellie and Hannah appeared. Mellie gasped. "Oh, my God. What happened?"

"She was hit by a drunk driver," Melissa said, voice flat. "Set the shoulder before surgery."

Mellie and Hannah worked fast, popping the joint back into place with a sickening crack.

"She was fine earlier," Hannah whispered.

Mellie’s lips trembled. "What was she doing out on a night like this?"

Suddenly, Hannah’s eyes widened. "Has anyone told Dr. Grant?"

Mellie’s face went white. "Dr. Ballard," she called.

Jake looked up from Olivia’s side.

"Have you told Dr. Grant that Olivia is here?"

Jake shook his head. "No, why?"

"We need to page him. Now."

The Chief swore and turned to leave, but Mellie was already moving. She found Fitz in the next room, finishing up with the accident victim’s daughter—a little girl with a bandaged arm, her brown eyes wide.

"Fitz," Mellie said, voice hoarse.

He grinned. "My patient’s just been telling me about New York at Christmas—"

"Fitz," Mellie interrupted, "you need to come to Trauma 1. The patient—"

"Do you need a consult?" he asked, oblivious.

"Fitz… it’s Olivia." Mellie’s voice broke.

He froze. "Olivia wants to see me? She was paged?"

"No. Olivia is in trauma 1." She swallowed. "There was a car accident."

And then he was gone, bolting past her, yanking open the trauma room door. He rushed to Olivia’s side, cradling her head in his hands.

"What happened?" Fitz demanded.

"She was hit by a drunk driver," Jake answered.

"Dr. Grant, you need to wait outside," the Chief said.

"I’m not leaving her," Fitz growled.

Matt burst in. "OR 1 is ready."

But before they could move, every alarm on Olivia’s monitor screamed. Her pressure vanished, the pulse-ox flatlined, the rhythm devolved into chaos—then silence.

Her heart had stopped.

Fitz howled, fighting Jake and Mellie as they dragged him from the room. Through the glass, he watched as Melissa charged the paddles, her face tight with the memory of every patient she’d lost.

On the other side, Mary and Finch began chest compressions. Mary squeezed the bag as Finch counted out the beats. Mellie hovered by Fitz, who stared through the window with a look so raw it made her flinch.

Lisa wandered up, dragging her IV. "What’s going on?" she whispered.

"It’s Olivia," Fitz managed, voice hollow.

Tears slipped down Lisa’s face. Hannah joined the group, resting her head on Mellie’s shoulder. Melissa gripped the defibrillator paddles, eyes shining.

For thirty minutes, the team battled. Three units of blood, dozens of rounds of compressions, drugs, prayers, curses. At last, Cyrus stepped forward.

"Finch," he said quietly. "Call it."

Finch’s hands fell away from Olivia. "Time of death, 0243h," he said, voice breaking.

Fitz was already moving, shoving his way back into the room. "Why are you stopping? She’s not dead!" He resumed chest compressions, desperate. "Come on, Liv, wake up! You said forever, you promised!"

Jake stood helpless in the doorway, remembering the night he’d caught Fitz and Olivia together, the warnings he’d given. All the pieces fell into place. Fitz didn’t just care for Olivia. He loved her.

Fitz’s voice grew hoarse, hands shaking as he pressed on Olivia’s chest. "You can’t leave me, Olivia! You promised me forever! I love you!"

The crowd outside the trauma room grew, drawn by the spectacle of a man fighting to save the woman he loved. Even those who’d doubted Fitz’s capacity for love saw the truth now, plain as day.

Jake finally stepped forward, hands gentle. "Fitz, you have to stop."

"No," Fitz choked out, "she just needs a second. Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes!"

"Fitz," Jake pleaded, "she’s gone."

Fitz slammed his fist onto Olivia’s chest. The monitor beeped—once, then again. The rhythm was slow, but it was there.

Melissa lunged for the monitors, disbelief warring with hope. "She’s back," she breathed.

Fitz kissed Olivia’s forehead, tears streaming down his face. "Thank you," he whispered.

Cyrus barked orders—get her to surgery, now. Fitz pressed one last kiss to Olivia’s brow and let the team wheel her away. He followed until his legs gave out. Then, at last, he let the grief crash over him.

In the hush that followed, the ER felt changed. For a moment, everyone remembered what it was to care, and to hope, and to keep fighting—even when the outcome seemed certain.

Melissa leaned against the wall, drained but grateful. Not every story ended like this. But tonight, for once, love and stubbornness had dragged someone back from the brink.

And that, she thought, was worth every drop of adrenaline.

Chapter Text

The hospital was never quiet, not really. Somewhere, a monitor always beeped, a nurse’s shoes squeaked on linoleum, a voice called out for help. But in the corridor outside the OR, time seemed to have folded in on itself, muffling every sound except for the low, broken sobs coming from the man huddled on the floor.

Fitz Grant had never looked small before. He was the sort of man people noticed when he walked into a room—tall, broad-shouldered, the gravity of someone who’d learned to keep his chin up even when life tried to knock him down. But now, all that was gone. He looked like a child who’d been left behind, knees pulled to his chest, face buried in trembling arms.

Jake kept his distance, leaning against the cool tile, trying to remember the last time he’d seen Fitz cry. He couldn’t. Not even when Fitz’s mother died. Not even when the two of them, drunk and reckless at twenty, had crashed the old Chevy and crawled out laughing, blood on their faces. Fitz didn’t cry. He didn’t even seem to know how.

But tonight, everything was different.

Lisa’s footsteps were soft as she approached, but Jake heard her anyway. She looked hollowed out, as if someone had scooped out all her insides and left her running on memory. Her banana bag was gone, the cheerful yellow replaced by tear-streaked cheeks.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked, voice low.

Lisa pressed her lips together, trying for a smile. “I’m fine.”

He didn’t believe her, but he let it sit. “That was your sister on the table.”

Lisa’s mouth twisted. “I hardly know her.” The words came out brittle, like glass snapping.

Jake didn’t buy that either. “Lisa, I know you might not want to talk about it. I know you’ve already lost so many—”

She cut him off, her voice sharp. “Did you know about them?” She nodded toward Fitz, whose shoulders still shook with the force of his grief.

Jake hesitated. “Not that they were in love, no.”

“But you knew he was living with someone?”

“I found out tonight. I didn’t know it was Olivia.” He swallowed, feeling the truth settle between them like a weight.

Lisa’s eyes flickered. “Well, maybe it isn’t Olivia he’s living with,” she said, the words too cruel, spat out by the pain she was trying to hide.

Jake turned, shocked. “How can you say that? After what we just saw?”

Lisa’s face crumpled. “Jake, I—”

“Save it. I have to go—my best friend needs me.” He walked away, knees stiff, pride wounded, heart aching for everyone and no one.

Lisa watched him go, hugging herself. She’d missed it, somehow. Fitz Grant had fallen for her sister, and she’d been too busy, too angry, too lost to see it.

The world felt paper-thin, as if one wrong breath would tear it to shreds.

Fitz’s grief was oceanic, a riptide dragging him under. He couldn’t stop seeing Olivia’s face, couldn’t stop hearing the flatline, the shriek of the monitors. He’d held her hand just hours ago, felt her pulse beneath his fingers, kissed her forehead as she laughed at his stubbornness.

Now she was a body in a bed, and he was drowning in regret.

Jake slid down next to him, the way you do when words are useless and only presence matters. For a while, they just sat there, the silence between them humming with all the things they couldn’t say.

Finally, Fitz spoke, voice raw. “This is all my fault.”

Jake frowned, startled. “A drunk driver hit her, Fitz. You had nothing to do with that.”

“I should’ve stopped her. I should’ve gone to get Lisa myself. I shouldn’t have let her go out in the rain. I was so obsessed with keeping things secret that—” Fitz’s voice cracked, and he squeezed his knees, knuckles white. “Olivia’s on that table because of me. I wouldn’t even kiss her goodbye.”

Jake shook his head. “Fitz, that’s not true.”

“It is.” Fitz’s voice was a whisper. “She might die, and I didn’t kiss her goodbye.”

Jake wanted to say something, anything, but everything felt empty. So he settled for the truth. “Fitz, I’m sure Olivia knew how you felt.”

Fitz nodded, eyes red. “She did. She always did. She just laughed, said, ‘See you soon.’” He blinked hard. “Someone should call Rowan.”

Jake squeezed his shoulder. “I’ll do it.”

They sat, drifting between exhaustion and dread, until the world edged forward again.

Dr. Russell came out an hour later, her face as unreadable as ever. Fitz stood, every muscle tense. “How is she?”

“She’s stable, but…she lost her left kidney. We had to take it.” Dr. Russell’s voice was clinical, but her eyes were soft.

Fitz’s knees buckled. He felt a surge of gratitude, wild and desperate, that Olivia was still alive—even if nothing would ever be the same.

“When can I see her?” he asked, voice shaking.

“Soon. Give us a little more time.”

Fitz nodded, swallowing a fresh wave of tears.

Jake found Lisa near the vending machines, fiddling with her phone. Her eyes were puffy, but she stood tall, jaw set.

“I wanted to…apologize,” she said, the word sticking in her throat.

Jake shrugged. “Okay.”

Lisa frowned. “Okay what?”

“Okay, apologize.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry I said that about Fitz. He probably didn’t deserve it.”

Jake stared at her, exasperated. “You can’t even apologize without being…” He trailed off.

“Being what?”

“Being disconnected. Being insulting.”

Lisa’s eyes flashed. “Why are you defending him? They lied to us, Jake. Both of them. If they hadn’t, maybe none of this would’ve happened.”

Jake’s voice was tired. “You can’t blame him for this. Why would you want to?”

Lisa’s defenses finally crumbled. Tears spilled over, and she grabbed Jake’s shirt, desperate. “Because if I don’t blame him, if I don’t take out all my pain on him, then there’s only one person left to blame.”

Jake frowned. “Who?”

“Me, Jake. I’m to blame. She came for me, in the rain, because I needed her. She just wanted to be my sister, and I couldn’t even give her that.” Lisa’s sobs racked her body. “What kind of person am I?”

Jake pulled her close, holding her as tightly as he could. “It’s not too late, Lisa. If—when Olivia wakes up, she’ll need you. She’ll need her sister.”

Lisa just wept, clinging to him.

After a while, her tears slowed. She looked up at Jake, eyes searching. “What happens if she doesn’t make it?”

Jake pressed his lips together, unable to lie. “I don’t know,” he whispered. “I just don’t know.”

In the ICU, Fitz sat by Olivia’s bed, her hand in his. Tubes ran everywhere, machines chirped and hummed, but all he saw was the slow rise and fall of her chest.

He leaned forward, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. “I’m here,” he murmured. “I’m not going anywhere. You promised me always, remember? Well, I’m promising you the same. Always, Livvie. Always.”

He sat vigil as the night slipped past, willing her to wake, willing the world to give her back. And somewhere, in the hush before dawn, Fitz Grant let hope find him again, small and stubborn and bright as the woman he loved.

He wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Not yet.

Maybe not ever.

Chapter Text

Jake lingered in the waiting area long after Fitz had disappeared down the corridor. The hospital at 2 a.m. could have been mistaken for a mausoleum, if not for the humming of machines and the periodic shuffle of tired nurses. The antiseptic scent clung to everything, as if the place wanted to scrub away not just germs, but memories too.

He pressed his palms together, staring at the space where Fitz had been pacing. He’d never seen his friend unravel like that. Fitz Grant, the guy who could keep his cool while sawing through bone, had looked ready to disintegrate in the hard plastic seat. Jake wondered if Olivia knew how much she’d changed him. He hoped she’d get the chance to find out.

Down the hall, Fitz followed the nurse past rows of curtained beds and through double doors that whooshed shut behind them. She moved briskly, her sneakers squeaking against the linoleum, but Fitz felt as though he were wading through mud. Every step was an act of will.

When the nurse finally stopped and gestured toward the glass-walled ICU room, Fitz froze. Olivia lay in the bed, pale beneath the sterile sheets, her body dwarfed by machines and tubing. For a second, the air seemed to vanish from his lungs. He waited for some sign—anything—that she was still herself.

Her chest rose and fell, a small, steady movement. The monitors beeped in a rhythm he tried to synchronize his own heart to. As he stepped inside, the door whispering shut behind him, the world narrowed to the two of them.

He dragged the chair to her bedside, the noise startling in the silence. Fitz reached for her hand, careful to avoid the IV, and brushed his thumb gently over her knuckles. Her skin was cool, but not lifeless. He wanted to say something, anything, but words seemed too clumsy for the moment.

Instead, his mind flickered back to a night months earlier, when Olivia had curled beside him in their bed.

“Will you still love me when I am old and wrinkly?” she’d asked, not looking up from her book.

He’d rolled his eyes, teasing, but she pressed: “No, really. I want to know. You’ve seen a million faces—”

He interrupted her with a laugh, “I’ll love you when you’re old, Olivia. And wrinkly. And stubborn. And even when you start smelling like mothballs.”

She’d tossed a pillow at him. “You’re ridiculous.”

He’d caught it, grinning. “I am, but I’m yours.”

She’d looked up then, her eyes serious. “Promise?”

He’d kissed her, softly. “I promise. I want every version of you. The bruised, the wrinkly, the brilliant, the tired. All of it.”

Now, looking at her bruised face, Fitz realized how much he’d meant it. He would take her any way he could have her, even like this—beaten up but still here. The fear of losing her twisted inside him, sharp and relentless.

He bent closer, whispering, “I’m here, Olivia. I’m not going anywhere.”

Her eyelids fluttered, just for a second. He held his breath. Maybe it was a reflex, maybe she heard him. He didn’t care. He kept talking, voice low.

“Do you remember that night? The one where you asked if I’d still love you if you were old? You never believed me when I said yes. You always thought love was something you had to earn, something that could be taken away.” He squeezed her hand, feeling the roughness of her skin against his. “But you can’t lose me, Liv. Not ever.”

He let the silence settle, the only sound the soft hiss of the ventilator and the rhythmic beeping. He felt the urge to apologize, to confess his guilt—if he’d been there, if he’d done something differently, maybe this wouldn’t have happened. But as he watched her, he realized that she wouldn’t want apologies. She’d want him to fight for her, to be there when she woke up.

Fitz leaned back and let his eyes close for a moment. He remembered the warmth of her beside him, her laughter echoing through their kitchen, the way she touched his arm when she needed reassurance. He remembered the promises he’d made, and the promises he hadn’t yet spoken.

He opened his eyes and looked at her again. Bruised, battered, but alive.

“I want to grow old with you,” he said quietly. “I want to see you at every stage. Even this one. Especially this one.”

The nurse peeked in, mouthing that his time was almost up. Fitz nodded, brushing a strand of hair from Olivia’s forehead.

“I’ll be right outside. Don’t you dare leave me, Liv,” he whispered fiercely.

He pressed a kiss to her hand before he stood up. As he left the room, he glanced back one last time, memorizing the curve of her cheek, the stubborn set of her jaw, even in sleep.

Back in the hallway, Jake looked up at him.

“How is she?” Jake asked softly.

Fitz tried to smile, but his voice cracked. “She’s still fighting.”

Jake nodded, clapping a hand on Fitz’s shoulder. “So are you.”

They sat together in the quiet, waiting for the dawn, waiting for Olivia to come back to them. And as the first hints of sunlight crept in through the hospital windows, Fitz realized that love—real love—wasn’t about never being afraid. It was about staying, even when you were terrified. About loving someone, bruises and all, for as long as you were allowed.

And Fitz would be there, every step of the way, for as long as Olivia would let him.

Chapter Text

The hours in the ICU had always played tricks on Fitz, stretching time into something thin and cruel. It felt like the clocks themselves were conspiring to slow the minutes down. He could feel the weight of every tick in his bones. But Fitz refused to move from Olivia’s bedside, ignoring the sideways glances from nurses and the whispered sighs of frustration from doctors trying to do their jobs.

He tried not to care. Most people could forgive a boyfriend for sitting vigil. The problem was, Fitz couldn’t just sit still, couldn’t just trust. He needed to know everything: what medication was being pushed, who was checking her chart, whether the angle of the bed was correct. It was the only thing that kept him from unraveling completely. Every answer was a thread he could hold onto, a way to keep the world from spinning off its axis.

Jake, Fitz’s lifelong friend, was the only one who could drag him away even for a moment. They’d made a tactical run to the cafeteria, Jake insisting Fitz eat something before he collapsed from the stress. While they were gone, Olivia’s father Rowan and her sister Ashley had appeared, but Jake and Lisa—Olivia’s other sister—had orchestrated things so there was no awkward confrontation. Rowan had been drunk, sobbing into Ashley’s shoulder, and no one wanted that scene with Fitz in the room. They left quietly, promising to return once Olivia was off the breathing tube.

When Mary, the anesthesiologist, finally came to extubate Olivia, Fitz’s heart had leapt. He’d imagined she’d wake up right away, groggy but smiling, just like in the movies. Instead, there was nothing. Just silence and the steady rise and fall of her chest.

He waited. Counted her breaths. Watched the pale flutter of her eyelids. Lisa joined him sometimes, saying little, just sitting with him in the hours that blurred together. He was grateful for her presence, for the silent understanding. He realized, in those endless hours, that he’d been wrong about her. She loved Olivia, just didn’t know how to show it. Fitz understood that better than anyone.

After eighteen hours, with his nerves raw and his legs aching, Fitz finally admitted he needed air. He flagged down a nurse, his voice hoarse. “Let me know if there are any changes. I’ll be right here.” Something in his face must have struck her, because she nodded quickly, promising to call him in an instant.

Outside, rain slicked the pavement, and the air was sharp and clean. Fitz stood in the drizzle, letting the water soak into his scrubs. He closed his eyes, breathing deep, but the night’s events had ruined rain for him—now it just meant sirens, blood, and Olivia’s too-still body.

He wandered back inside, feet moving on autopilot, and found Jake leaning at the nurses’ station, arms crossed, gaze softening when he saw Fitz.

“You just couldn’t stay away, huh?” Fitz tried for a joke, but his voice came out thin.

Jake shrugged. “You know me and the ICU. Can’t resist.”

Fitz managed a tired smile. “So, you on babysitting duty now? Or did Mellie finally take a break?”

Jake’s mouth quirked, but before he could answer, Rowan barreled out of Olivia’s room, wild-eyed. “Can I get a nurse in here? She’s awake!”

Fitz’s heart stuttered. He barely registered Jake’s hand on his shoulder as they both rushed in, stopping short at the door.

Inside, Lisa was shining a penlight in Olivia’s eyes, Ashley hovering on one side, Rowan on the other. Olivia turned away from the light, squinting, searching the room. Her gaze landed on Fitz and she croaked, “Fitz.”

He moved before he realized, pushing past Rowan to her side, grabbing her hand like a lifeline. Tears spilled down his cheeks as relief crashed over him in waves.

“Olivia,” he breathed, pressing her hand to his lips. His voice was barely steady. “So, we need to redefine ‘see you later.’”

Olivia’s laugh was rough and broken, but beautiful. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” Her eyes shimmered, locking onto his with a kind of fierce intimacy.

“Scared me? Livvie, you’re responsible for every grey hair I have.” Fitz tried to keep his tone light, but his voice shook.

“That bad, huh?” she teased.

“Worse,” he whispered, so only she could hear.

Jake and Lisa watched, silent, as the scene unfolded. Ashley grinned, Rowan looked lost. Everyone seemed to fade from Olivia’s world except for Fitz.

“What happened?” Olivia asked, still only looking at Fitz.

He swallowed. “You were hit by a drunk driver. He didn’t see you, the rain—”

“Is everyone else okay?” Her brow furrowed with worry.

Fitz shook his head, half in disbelief, half in affection. “Only you would worry about everyone else. Aren’t you curious about your own health?”

She nodded, looking down at her body as if she could sense what was missing.

“You lost a lot of blood. And a kidney.” Fitz’s voice was gentle. “But Dr. Russell said everything went well.”

Olivia’s hand flew to her stomach, a reflex. “Well, that sucks,” she said, and Fitz laughed, the sound breaking the heaviness in the room.

Ashley finally cleared her throat. “We’re here to see you, of course,” she said.

Olivia blinked. “Ashley? Dad? What are you guys doing here?”

Ashley grinned. “We came to make sure you didn’t get out of bed and start bossing everyone around.”

Rowan squeezed her foot. “We’re just glad you’re okay, kiddo.”

Ashley turned to Fitz. “You must be Fitz.”

He nodded. “Nice to meet you. You must be Ashley.”

She flashed a smile. “You’re even cuter than Olivia described.”

Fitz arched an eyebrow at Olivia. “Oh, really?”

“Hush, Ashley,” Olivia mumbled, cheeks pink.

Ashley just grinned wider, and the room felt lighter for a moment.

Fitz turned to Rowan, offering his hand. “Fitz Grant.”

Rowan shook it, looking up at Fitz with something like confusion. Fitz tried to keep things civil, even though he didn’t like the man, for Olivia’s sake.

“So, how—when—did you two…?” Rowan’s voice trailed off.

“We met here at the hospital,” Fitz said. “I’m a surgeon here.” He shot a glance at Jake, who jumped in.

“Fitz and I grew up together in New York,” Jake added. “We’ve been best friends since we could walk.”

“Huh,” Rowan grunted, still processing.

Ashley piped up, “Do you have a third friend?”

Fitz and Jake both laughed, the tension breaking.

“Ashley,” Olivia said, “Aren’t you forgetting someone?”

Ashley pretended to think. “Nope.”

“What about Chris?”

Ashley snapped her fingers. “Oh, right. My husband.” She shrugged, and everyone laughed.

Ashley took charge again, shepherding everyone out so Fitz and Olivia could have a moment alone.

When the door shut, Fitz turned fully to Olivia, tears streaming down his face.

“I was so scared, Livvie. They said you were gone. I didn’t know what to do.”

She reached up, slow and shaky, to touch his face. “It’s okay now. I’m here.”

He shook his head. “But you weren’t. I almost lost you.”

“But you didn’t.” Her own tears fell now.

He pressed his forehead to hers, desperate and grateful at once. “Don’t ever leave me again.”

She kissed his temple, holding him as he wept. “I won’t. I promise.”

They sat like that, tangled together, as exhaustion finally caught up with them both. For the first time in almost a day, Fitz let himself close his eyes, Olivia’s heartbeat soothing him, her breath warm against his neck.

As he drifted off, Fitz managed a crooked smile. “So you told your sister about me?”

Olivia smiled, eyes fluttering shut. “Yes, at Christmas. I had to give someone my real address.”

He laughed, soft and relieved. “What did you say? Sexy stuff?”

She just smiled, sleep heavy in her voice. “I told her I was in love with you.”

His hand tightened around hers. “Oh, that.”

“Yes, that,” she whispered.

Fitz kissed her forehead. “Sleep, love. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

And this time, he knew he would be.

Chapter Text

Rowan stepped out of the hospital room, the weight of new revelations pressing heavily on his shoulders. “What was that?” he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and concern. “Who is this Fitz Grant character?”

“Oh, you know Daddy,” Ashley replied with a smirk, unable to hide her excitement. “He’s her other half, her special someone, her lov—”

“I think I get the picture,” Rowan said, cutting her off as he rubbed his temples. A flask would have been a welcome companion at that moment, but he had to settle for the chaos unraveling around him. He turned to Lisa, his brow furrowing. “How long has this been going on?”

Lisa hesitated, looking to Jake, who wore a similar expression of confusion and surprise. “A while?” Jake offered uncertainly.

“Yeah, a while,” Lisa echoed, though the uncertainty lingered in her voice.

“It has been…” Rowan prompted, needing clarity.

“A while,” Lisa finished again.

“Oh good Lord,” Ashley muttered, crossing her arms. She turned to her father, her tone half playful, half serious. “They started dating last year, just after Thanksgiving. Fitz had a thing for her well before that. They moved in together after Christmas when Fitz bought an apartment for them. Now they’re moving into a penthouse he owns once it’s finished being remodeled.”

Rowan’s surprise was palpable. “How do you know all that?” Lisa asked, a pang of jealousy creeping into her voice. It stung to think Olivia confided in Ashley instead of her.

“Our sister talks; I listen. It’s a simple concept,” Ashley replied, shrugging off the tension.

Rowan was still processing the information. “She lives with him? I thought she was roommates with that small, nervous guy… Edison?”

Lisa shook her head. “Edison doesn’t work here anymore. He left just after Christmas, right around the time Fitz and Olivia moved in together.”

“This is unbelievable,” Rowan said. “First I get the call that she was in an accident, and now this…”

Ashley rolled her eyes. “Which one are you more upset about, Daddy? I think they’re great together, and you wouldn’t believe how happy he makes Olivia.”

“So happy that she thought she had to hide her relationship from me?” Rowan countered, frustration edging his voice.

“Whatever,” Ashley shot back. “Like Olivia tells you anything these days. You should just be happy she’s alive and in love with a good guy. Besides, he’s a plastic surgeon—job security, right? The world won’t become less shallow anytime soon.”

Rowan sighed heavily, glancing at Olivia through the hospital room window. He was still grappling with the reality of it all.

Inside the room, Fitz stirred awake, feeling the warmth of Olivia nestled against him. He smiled, brushing his fingers through her hair, recalling the chaos that had led them to this moment.

“Stop that,” he mumbled playfully as she traced circles on his hand.

Her eyes lit up as they met his. “You’re awake!”

“That’s supposed to be my line,” he replied, still half-asleep.

“How long were we asleep?” she asked, clearly wanting to savor their time together.

“Little more than an hour,” Fitz answered, checking his watch.

“Damn,” Olivia said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. “I was hoping I would sleep long enough for my family to go home.”

Fitz chuckled. “They just care about you.”

“And normally I would be grateful,” she said, glancing at the people milling around outside their room. “But now is not one of those times.”

“Why?” he asked, curious.

“Because I want to be alone with you,” she admitted, her gaze softening.

Fitz’s grin widened. “We are alone,” he said, but Olivia’s eyes darted to the nurses passing by, and the truth of their situation sank in.

“Not so much. I guess the cat is out of the bag, huh?” she murmured, a twinge of anxiety creeping into her voice.

“Well, yeah. You could say that,” he replied, trying to ease her worries.

Their hands remained intertwined, a silent promise that spoke volumes.

As Fitz’s thoughts turned serious, he felt a weight on his chest—his heart was racing, and it wasn’t just from their recent close call. “So, I’ve been thinking…” He paused, gauging her reaction.

“Good for you,” Olivia teased, a smile playing on her lips. “Very industrious. I approve.”

“Smart ass,” he replied, feigning annoyance. “Now I’m not going to tell you what I’m thinking.”

“Come on! Tell me. I’ll be good,” she urged, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Okay,” he said, taking a deep breath. “There’s this thing I have to say to you, but I don’t want you to think I haven’t thought this through. Because I have.”

Olivia’s laughter faded as she sensed the seriousness in his tone. She turned to him, her heart racing. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying that for two months, I’ve been holding onto something,” Fitz continued, his voice steady. “But I think it’s time I gave it to you.” He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small ring box and placing it delicately on his chest.

Olivia gasped, her breath catching as she looked up at him, searching for confirmation.

“Open it,” he murmured, his eyes filled with anticipation.

With trembling fingers, Olivia opened the box, revealing the most exquisite diamond ring she had ever seen. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she took in the beauty of it, her heart swelling with emotion.

“I wanted to do this right,” Fitz said, his voice low and sincere. “I had a plan for a romantic moment, but then you had the accident. I knew I couldn’t wait any longer. I promised myself I would ask you the moment you opened your eyes.”

Tears flowed freely down Olivia’s cheeks as she looked at him in disbelief. “You mean it?”

“Every moment is the right moment with you, Liv,” Fitz rasped, his voice thick with emotion.

“Will you marry me?” he asked, his heart pounding.

“Yes!” Olivia exclaimed, her joy spilling over as she leaned in to kiss him fervently. Fitz pulled her close, feeling a sense of completeness wash over him. In that moment, everything fell into place.

“Put it on,” he urged, his eyes glinting with excitement.

Olivia smiled through her tears, nodding. “Would you…?”

“Of course,” he said, carefully sliding the ring onto her finger, his heart soaring as he watched her face light up.

“Looks good on you,” he commented, beaming.

As they shared another kiss, their love enveloped them, uniting them in a way that felt destined. Outside the room, Jake, Lisa, and Ashley stood in astonishment, their coffee cups forgotten in their hands as they witnessed the beautiful moment unfold.

“Probably best if we don’t mention this to Dad just yet,” Ashley murmured, a grin spreading across her face.

“Yeah,” Jake agreed, still processing the whirlwind of emotions.

“Totally,” Lisa added, her heart full as she watched the love story of Olivia and Fitz begin anew, knowing that sometimes the right moment comes when you least expect it.

Chapter Text

Within three days, Olivia was in a private room and out of the ICU. Fitz, for his part, ignored all her attempts to get him to go home, get some sleep, and eat. Instead, he used the hospital's shower, cafeteria, and slept either with her, or in a very uncomfortable chair holding her hand. Her fellow interns had come by one by one, but none of them stayed long with the exception of Hannah. They all seemed uncomfortable by Fitz, but even more so by the fact that she and Fitz seemed so at ease.

Despite the fact that the entire hospital seemed to know of their engagement now, they all seem surprised to actually see it in action. Almost like many of them had thought it to be a whim of Fitz's, or that she had lost a bet. It was a much different thing to actually see them with each other, being in love.

Melissa was a frequent visitor, so was Mary. Melissa came by to visit with Olivia, discuss her recovery, but she seemed to really like seeing Fitz entranced by Olivia. She said something to the effect that it renewed her faith in love. Mary, on the other hand, would come by and ask medical questions that she thought Olivia would know because of her photographic memory. Fitz grumbled that she wasn't a trained monkey, but Olivia just patted his hand and explained that it was the only way that Mary could show she cared.

As for Olivia's family, after Rowan had calmed down, he seemed to grudgingly accept Fitz, though mostly against his will. Ashley just watched it all with gentle humor in her eyes before heading home to her husband and daughter.

The only one who hadn't been to see Olivia was Lisa. Not when she was awake anyway. Fitz had told her that he woke one night to see Lisa standing outside Olivia's room watching them with a sad look on her face, but she had never come in.

That changed on the third day.

Lisa stood her doorway, looking hesitantly at Olivia. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm just going to go find Jake," Fitz said, standing, kissing Olivia lightly on the lips. "Play nice."

"Of course," Olivia said. She then grabbed his scrubs. "If you value your life, you will bring me chocolate."

"Yes ma'am," Fitz said.

"Take a shower too," Olivia called as he walked away. "You smell like hospital!"

"So do you," Fitz teased, "You don't hear me complaining."

"As if," Olivia muttered. "I am the one forced to take sponge baths here. You have no excuse."

"So true," Fitz grinned, walking by Lisa as he left.

"He's in his office," Lisa said.

"Thanks, Pope," Fitz said.

Once he was gone, Lisa looked at Olivia as if she was at a loss. "So," she began.

"So," Lisa repeated.

"You and Fitz?"

"Yeah," Olivia said. She brushed her hair out of her face, longing for the day when she could take a real shower. Soon.

"How did that happen?" Lisa asked.

"You can come in, you know," Olivia said, indicating Lisa’s current position with her hand. "No need to stand in the doorway."

Her sister walked slowly into the room, coming over to sit on the stool that was on the right side of the bed.

"It just happened," Olivia said, answering her sister's original question. "We had been working together a lot, and feelings started to develop. He began acting weird around me and I was totally confused, but then Sadie told me that he liked me—"

"Wait," Lisa cut in. "Hannah said what?"

"Breathe, Lisa," Olivia said. "It will be alright. Anyways, that night, you know, the night of Matt’s solo surgery, I went to his hotel room and I seduced him. Stripped in front of him and everything." Olivia smiled to herself, thinking back to the way that Fitz had looked like he had been hit with a two-by-four. "I was so nervous, God, I was nervous. But there was something pushing me on, something giving me the…bravery to put it all out there, which amazes me, even now. And things sort of snowballed from there. We tried staying away from each other, but that didn't work. And before I knew it we were in the middle of a living, breathing relationship."

Lisa said nothing, but her eyes conveyed it all. How she simply didn't, or couldn't, understand what Olivia meant.

"I love him Lisa. It is important that you understand that. When I am with him, all of my craziness just sort of fades into the background, you know? I feel like I can breathe around him, like life isn't so bad as long as I get to spend mine with him."

Maybe she couldn't understand it, but Lisa knew what her sister meant. She felt that every time that she looked at Jake. "I can't be happy and sisterly for you, I don't even know how, but I am glad that you are happy. Not that long ago I would have warned you away from him, hell, I did, but if this is what you want…"

"It is," Olivia said firmly.

"Then good. That's good." Lisa looked down at her hands, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to erupt every time she looked at her sister. Raising her eyes, they filled with tears as she hoarsely asked, "Can you ever forgive me?"

"For what?" Olivia asked, confused.

"For almost getting you killed," Lisa said. "It is all my fault."

"That's nonsense," Olivia
said calmly. "It was an accident, Lisa. As much as I might have not wanted to come get you that night, you can always call me. You're my sister. It's what we do."

"I am not good at it," Lisa said, wiping away her tears as if they bothered her. "Being a sister, I mean."

Olivia shrugged. "You'll learn."

"Okay," Lisa said tremulously.

"Okay," Olivia affirmed.

After a long, hot shower, Fitz headed up to Jake’s office. He was dreading what he knew was coming, but there was no way to avoid it any longer. Knocking on the door, Fitz entered when he heard Jake’s voice.

"Hey," he said, coming into the office and closing the door behind him.

Jake looked up from the paperwork he was doing. "Hey," he said, his voice distracted.

Fitz sat in the chair in front of Jake’s desk. "What are you doing?"

"Wrapping up the paperwork from the latest patient in the clinical trial. What's up?"

"Nothing," Fitz said. "I was kicked out of Olivia’s room."

"Really?" Jake asked, his lips forming a smirk.

Fitz laughed. "No, more like I excused myself so that Olivia and Lisa could talk."

"She went to talk to Olivia?" Jake asked. "That's good. Progress."

"Baby steps," Fitz agreed.

Then there was silence.

"So…" Jake said.

"So…" Fitz repeated.

"You and Olivia," Jake stated. "How'd that happen?"

"You mean 'cause you told me to stay away from her and keep all my parts, big or otherwise, from entering her?"

"Yeah, that's what I meant," Jake nodded.

"It just happened," Fitz said. "I can't explain it; I hardly even know how it began." He looked at Jake, mentally willing him to understand. "Before I knew it I was already in the middle of it. For weeks, I had been admiring her, the way that she was so fearless and that she would talk back to me and not even think twice. I liked her mind, the way that she was able to recall things and wasn't afraid of thinking outside the box. I wanted her, in every way possible but I just didn't know it. When you told me to stay away from her, it was like everything clicked. I knew then that it was the one thing I couldn't do."

Jake sighed. "So you went after her?"

"No," Fitz said, shaking his head with a smile. "She came after me."

"What?" Jake asked, a grin spreading across his face.

"She came to my hotel room, stripped naked, and asked me to teach her. I only have so much willpower, Jake."

His friend started laughing. "My God, you had no choice!"

"That's what I'm saying!" Fitz replied nodding his head. "And after that…after the mind-blowing sex I realized that I cared about her too, that it wasn't over just because we had sex. I tried to stay away from her, I really did. Pissed off half the hospital in the process."

"So that was what that was about," Jake murmured.

"Yeah, and I lasted for three days and then I caved."

"What about the Derm nurse?"

"Jake, there was no Derm Nurse. I have never even met her, I don't even know if she is a blond or a brunette."

"Red head, actually," Jake said.

"Whatever," Fitz said. "We are deviating away from the point."

"Alright, back to the point," Jake said, crossing his arms.

"Like I said, I lasted three days, and then before I knew it, it was Christmas and I was buying two apartments."

"Two?" Jake said.

"The other is a penthouse, you'll like it."

"Cool."

"And I asked her to move in with me, and then your mom came."

"Oh," Jake said. "And I said…"

"Yeah, you said…anyway, I realized that I couldn't give it up, that I couldn't give her up. Soon there were the I-love-yous and then I was buying a ring."

"Congratulations on that, by the way," Jake said.

"Thanks," Fitz replied. "So yeah, it was messy and I lied to you. Again."

"Yeah," Jake said, dragging a hand through his hair. "Can we skip over the whole part where you apologize and I act self-righteous? We seem to do that a lot and I am tired. Are you tired?"

"Yeah," Jake said with a sigh. "I'm tired too."

"Good, then let's just not. You lied to me and made a mistake." Fitz hung his head at Jake’s words, but it snapped right back up when he heard what Derek said next. "But I was an arrogant ass who did his girlfriend's dirty work because I believed you weren't capable of being a good guy. You did it for love; I did it because I was an ass."

Fitz was silent for a moment, "Technically, I did it for love and sex."

"Hey! I am trying to be giving here!" Jake yelled.

"Sorry," Fitz said. "So are we good?"

"Yeah, we're good." Jake grinned. "Look at us, we're growing."

Fitz smiled. "Yeah, I've been doing that a lot lately."

Jake laughed and stood up. "Let's go rescue our girlfriends from too much sister time."

Fitz smiled. "Your girlfriend, my fiancée."

"Oh my God," Jake said.

"What?"

"You're going to be married before me!"

"Technically, you were married before me," Fitz said, opening the door.

"Nice! I thought you were growing," Jake said.

"It's a work in progress," Fitz replied.

They walked down the hall, and Fitz felt a profound relief that everything had turned out alright. He wondered if this hadn't been the master plan of some higher power all along, but then shook away the thought. Olivia could think that, but he didn't have to. Even if it felt kinda true.

"I'm going to be your best man, right?"

"Yes, Jake," Fitz said. "You are going to be my best man."

"Just making sure."

"Who else would I ask?"

"Maybe one of those shallow sycophantic surgeons who hung around you in New York, how would I know?"

"Jake, those guys are idiots. You are my best friend."

"Just checking," Jake said with a grin.

"I should call this off with Olivia," Fitz muttered.

"What? Why?" Jake asked in surprise.

"Because I don't know how she feels about bigamy, and I swear to God, I feel like I have been married to you for years," Fitz shook his head, his voice disgusted.

"Well, you did come to Washington Dc to get me back," Jake replied with a laugh.

"Shut up!" Fitz spit out with a grin.

"What?" Jake asked, his face fighting a grin. "Too soon?"

"We said we wouldn't mention that again. I specifically remember a promise."

Jake chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't tell Olivia."

Fitz rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I win."

"What?"

"Yeah," Fitz said, raising his index finger under his chin. "This is the face of a winner. You got the dark and twisty Pope, and I got the bright and shinny one who I am going to marry and get pregnant as soon as possible. My kids will be starting college by the time you make it down the aisle with Lisa."

"Harsh," Jake said. He then sighed, "But probably true."

Fitz chuckled, and stopped walking. He looked at Jake with happiness in his eyes. "Did you ever think…?"

"Did I ever think what?" Jake asked, stopping as well, as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his lab coat.

"Two years ago," Jake said. "Did you ever think that we would be in this place? Back then I was chasing everything with a skirt—"

"—Including my wife," Jake interjected.

"—and you were married to Vanessa and had never even heard the name Lisa Pope. Now here we are, I'm getting married, Vanessa is in California, and you are living with a woman who you are building a house for." Fitz laughed. "Did you ever think that this would be our lives?"

Jake shook his head. "No, I never did."

"Me either," Fitz said.

They walked some more.

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for moving to Washington DC."

"You're welcome," Jake said, pausing. "I'm not going to thank you for sleeping with my wife."

"I didn't think you were," Fitz said. "But, all the same, I'm kinda glad I did. Because…well, here we are."

There was silence again, but then Jake smiled.

"Okay," Jake said.

"Okay," Fitz replied. Jake’s voice gave nothing away, but Fitz felt as though the past was finally getting put behind them and laid to rest.

"Aw, crap!" Fitz suddenly exclaimed.

"What?"

"I forgot the chocolate."

Chapter Text

Within a week, Olivia was home from the hospital and quickly driving Fitz insane. He now believed that Olivia proved that old adage that doctors make the worst patients. She was grumpy and irritable, and rather than savoring the time she had off from the hospital, she moaned about not being able to work. Fitz had taken time off to be with her, but Olivia didn't seem to appreciate that either.

"I'm bored," Olivia said one day, as they reclined on their bed. Fitz was doing a crossword puzzle as she was thumbing through a book.

"So you've said," Fitz replied, not looking up. "You said it fifteen minutes ago and fifteen minutes before that."

"Sni-ppy," Olivia said, emphasizing the syllables.

Fitz looked at her with an exasperated look in his eyes. "What do you want me to say, Liv? You have obviously made it your mission to make us both miserable just because you are recovering. I see no reason to endure it silently."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "I am not that bad. You just aren't good at this nursing thing." She smirked. "Maybe you should pursue a career other than medicine."

"I am an excellent nurse," Fitz replied, "But you are an impossible patient. 'Fitz, I'm hot,' 'Close the window, I'm cold,' 'This soup tastes funny,' 'Where is the crusty bread, you know I cannot have soup without crusty bread'."

Olivia gaped at him. "My God, have I really been that bad?"

"Worse," Fitz said, but his eyes were soft as he looked at her. "You better not get sick a lot once we are married. I don't think I could handle it."

"I hardly ever get sick," Olivia sniffed.

"Good," Fitz said. "I can't wait until you are recovering from childbirth, that ought to be a blast."

Olivia's eyes grew dark as she turned away.

"What?" Fitz asked, confused at her reaction. "What is it? Why do you look like that?"

"I don't look like anything," Olivia said, tears filling her eyes. "This is my face."

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying. I'm fine," Olivia said, beginning to bawl.

"Olivia, what is it?" Fitz asked, gathering her into his arms. "What is all this?"

Olivia clutched the fabric of his grey t-shirt as she cried. "What if I can't?"

"Can't what?" Fitz murmured into her hair, dragging his hand in a gentle and steady rhythm up and down her back.

"Can't have babies. What if we can't have kids now, Fitz?"

Fitz met her eyes, brushing the tears off of her cheeks. "Then I will love you all the more because you will be my family. Just you." He kissed her cheek, trailing his lips along her jaw. "I don't need to have kids, Liv, but I do need you. As long as we are together, I don't care about anything else."

"You mean it?" Olivia asked, her eyes shinning.

"Yep."

"And…if we do have kids? We haven't really talked about it too much. Could we maybe…start to try?"

Before she could even squeak, Fitz had her pinned beneath him, holding her but not too tightly.

"Anytime, Livvie," Fitz whispered against her lips. "We can start now or in two years. I don't care."

"Fitz, I…" Her words were silenced by his lips claiming hers. He pressed them against her gently, as if he was afraid of hurting her. His tongue soon came out to meet hers, and Olivia was thrown back into a flashback of that first night when he had kissed her. He had tasted like scotch and blackberries then, and Olivia could taste the same things now. That night, she had felt so insecure and vulnerable, but he had taken that all away. For that brief moment, when she had though he would refuse, Olivia had felt her heart drop to her stomach. But the look that came into his eyes that followed took all those fears and quashed them.

Fitz pulled back. "Maybe we shouldn't. You are still recovering, and I…"

"I know you didn't just start something you aren't going to finish," Olivia said, her eyes dark with desire. She wrapped her pajama clad legs around him, cradling him against her. "Please, now."

He cupped her face with his hands, kissing her again, putting all his feeling into that one kiss. There was a brief moment where Fitz felt some panic. It happened every now and then since the accident. For the past week, whenever he would be happy or whenever they would be just together he would suddenly get hit with what felt like a panic attack and the full weight of what he had almost lost would hit him. Fitz felt that panic now, but he wouldn't let it control him. He had to put it in that corner of his mind, like Jake had said. Looking into her eyes, Fitz whispered, "I almost lost you."

"Yes," Olivia
responded, meeting his eyes with steady conviction.

"I don't know what I would have done," Fitz whispered. "Without you, I mean. I don't know what I would have done without you."

"You won't have to find out," Olivia said. "I'll be around for a long time yet. I promise."

"You can't promise that," Fitz whispered, touching his forehead to hers.

"I can," Olivia replied. "I do. We'll be alright, I promise."

"Olivia…" Fitz warned.

"I love you, Fitz," She said. "I'll love you forever. We have forever."

"Don't—"

"Stop talking," She said, stopping his mouth with a kiss. "Now, Fitz."

"I don't want to hurt you," he said, moving his lips down to the tops of her breasts.

"You won't. You couldn't," Olivia said, arching her back. She pressed her hand over the bulge of his pants and his breath hissed through his teeth.

"Now you asked for it," Fitz said.

As she draped naked across his body, Fitz gently ran his fingers up and down her spine, occasionally running them around the puckered, stitched-up wound on the left side of her back. "We shouldn't have done that," he said quietly. "You shouldn't have strenuous activity right now."

"It wasn't strenuous," Olivia said. "It was perfect. I feel much better now…endorphins released and all that."

"Dr. Russell is going to kill me if this sets back your recovery."

Olivia giggled. "Sex should be apart of any recovery of mine."

"Oh, really?"

"Sex with you," Olivia clarified.

"That's better," Fitz said.

"So I have been thinking…" Olivia began.

"Good for you. I approve, very industrious of you," Fitz said with a grin.

"Alright, smart ass," Olivia said, grinning as he repeated her words. "Do you want to hear it or not?"

"Could I stop you?"

"Probably not," Olivia said pertly.

"Then by all means, continue."

"Fine, I will," Olivia said with a grin. "I have been thinking about our wedding."

"Oh?"

"Our yet to be defined and unplanned wedding."

"Continue," Fitz said.

"I was wondering if we could do it sooner rather than later," she said.

"You were?" Fitz asked, his eyebrows arching. "I thought all women wanted months to plan and to make it perfect."

"Fitz Grant," Olivia said with mock severity. "When have I ever done what you expected?"

"Never," Fitz admitted.

"So why would I start now?" She asked.

Fitz grinned. "So when do you want to get married?"

"A week? Maybe two?" Her eyes met his and Fitz knew then that he would give her anything she wanted as long as she would keep looking at him like that for the rest of their lives.

"Okay, two weeks," Fitz conceded. "What do I need to do?"

"Just show up," Olivia said, kissing his rough cheek.

"Believe me, there is no danger of me failing to do that," Olivia said. "I can't wait to marry you."

"You could get the rings too."

"Rings," Fitz said. "I can do that."

Olivia smiled. "Who do you want to be there?"

"Jake, and Mellie, I guess," Fitz said. "I suppose that means that Lisa and Hannah will be there too."

"I think it is only fair that Hannah is," Olivia said. "Without her encouragement I never would have gone to your hotel that first night."

Fitz grinned. "Remind me to thank her one day."

"Who else?" Olivia asked.

"I guess the Chief…and Melissa," Fitz added, wanting the woman who had saved Olivia's life to be there. "What about you?"

"Just my dad and my sister," Olivia said. "That's it."

"What about Edison?" Fitz asked.

"What about him?"

"Do you want him there?"

"I think some things are best left in the past, don't you?"

Fitz kissed her. "I can't wait to marry you."

Olivia smiled. "What about Mrs. Ballard?"

"Yeah," Fitz said, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "We should invite her too."

"I'll make the calls," Olivia said, starting to get up.

Fitz then tugged her close. "Later. Make them later. Right now, I want you all to myself."

Olivia smiled. "What happened to not doing this and not wanting to face Melissa's wrath?"

Fitz laughed. "Well that has gone to hell now. Might as well release more endorphins."

"I knew there was a reason I was marrying you," Olivia said with a laugh. "Fitz?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

"Not as much as I love you."

Chapter Text

Time seemed to race by as Fitz and Olivia prepared for the wedding. Amazingly, she found a dress, flowers, and a small church to perform the ceremony. Fitz had blanched at first when she said that she wanted to be married in a church, but he had given in when she looked at him with those big brown eyes of hers. But as he walked away he had muttered something about hoping she like lightening.

As for telling people, well, that had been something else all together. Fitz and Olivia had decided to tell Jake and Lisa themselves, and they met them at Lou's one night for that very reason. Olivia was feeling much better now, her stitches had been removed and she could go places without getting tired. She still wasn't back to work, but she now thought she would wait until after the wedding to return which would simplify things considerably.

"So, what's up?" Lisa had asked as she and Jake slid into the booth.

"Have an onion ring," Olivia offered, nudging the basket towards her sister and Jake.

"Naw, I'm good," Jake said.

"Really?" Olivia replied. "Jake?"

"Olivia, stop stalling," Fitz said kissing her on the temple.

"Right," She said, clearing her throat. "Fitz and I are getting married."

Jake and Lisa looked at her blankly. "We know, Olivia," Jake said. "That is what the ring on your finger means."

Olivia laughed. "No, I mean like right now. Two weeks from Saturday."

"Whoa," Lisa said. "Seriously?"

"Seriously," Fitz affirmed dryly.

"Why?" Jake asked. "What's the rush?"

"Ohmigod, are you pregnant?" Lisa asked loudly, causing many heads to swivel in their direction.

"No!" Olivia hissed. "And thank you for now putting that thought into everyone's mind."

Fitz took her hand and squeezed it. "The rush is that we don't want to wait anymore."

"There doesn't seem to be any reason to delay," Olivia said, picking up from where Fitz had stopped. "Neither of us wants a big wedding, and that seems to be a good day to have the people we care about there."

"You don't want a big wedding?" Lisa asked skeptically. "I always thought that you would."

Olivia shook her head. "I very much doubt there will be more than twenty guests, and that is fine with us."

Fitz looked at Jake. "We called your mom an hour ago and invited her. After she stopped squealing into the phone, she said she would be here on Wednesday."

Jake laughed, and then groaned. "The house is already crowded…"

"Don't worry," Fitz grinned. "We are putting her up at the Archfield."

"Cool, thanks."

"Yeah, oh, and there is one more thing," Fitz said. "I want you to be my best man."

Jake nodded, grinning at his friend. "Of course." He and Fitz got up to go to the bar and get a celebratory drink.

Olivia turned to Lisa. "I hope you don't mind, I asked Ashley to be my maid of honor."

"I don't mind," Lisa said, breathing a sigh of relief. She wasn't good at being the happy shiny person that Olivia would want as her maid or honor.

"You can sit with Mary for the wedding," Olivia said. "I am inviting her, Matt, Holly, Melissa, the Chief, Graziella, Hannah, Mellie, Mrs. Ballard, my dad, Ashley, Chris, and the baby." Olivia ticked them off on her fingers. "And with Dr. Russell’s husband and the Chief's wife, you and Jake, that is about seventeen."

Lisa smiled. "Can I ask you one favor?"

"Of course."

"It's a sister thing," Lisa said.

"What?" Olivia asked.

"Will you invite Dr. Finch?"

"Why?" Olivia asked, not against the idea but curious as to why Lisa wanted him there.

"I owe her," Lisa said simply.

"Owe who?"

"Mary."

"Oh," Olivia said, her brow furrowing. "But what does that have to do with—oh! Dr. Bauer and Dr. Finch?" She asked in a stage whisper.

"What about Dr. Finch and Dr. Bauer?" Fitz asked as he and Jake returned to the table.

Olivia wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"No way!" He exclaimed. But then he smiled to himself. "She might be a single malt scotch after all."

Jake started laughing.

"What does that mean?" Olivia asked, looking at Lisa.

Lisa shrugged. "One thing I have learned over the years is to not try to decipher boy talk. It only leads to a headache and an affair with a tequila bottle."

After telling Lisa and Jake, Olivia had gone into planning mode. With Ashley’s help, everything was done with a week to spare, giving Olivia plenty of time to panic over inconsequential things. Ashley seemed to disappear whenever she began to freak out, but Fitz took each fit bravely and soothed any worries that she had.

One night, after one such freak out, Fitz was sitting in the living room, with Olivia curled up on his lap. "Where do you want to go for our honeymoon?" Fitz asked.

"I don't know," Olivia said. She then looked into his eyes, trying to gauge his reaction. "Are you sorry that it will have to wait a couple of months until I finish my internship?"

"No," Fitz said. "Your internship is important to you, and I can wait."

Olivia smiled. "What about you? Any place you want to go?"

"I don't know," Fitz said. "We do already have those tickets to New York."

"New York?" Olivia said, a grin in her eyes. "You want to go there on our honeymoon?"

"I want to show it to you," Fitz said. "We could stay at the Plaza, and I would even do all the touristy crap with you if you like."

"Now that's love," Olivia said, kissing him gently. "Okay, New York it is."

Fitz had grinned; glad she was seeing things his way.

That calm, that happiness, which surrounded them then had felt like the beginning of something great. Olivia was so happy about the wedding, despite her freak outs, and even her father had seemed to come on board. Fitz knew that he and Rowan would never have a friendly relationship, but they could tolerate each other for Olivia’s sake.

On the Monday before the wedding, Fitz arrived late to the hospital. He didn't have a surgery until later and Olivia had kept him home 'releasing endorphins' all morning. He had a light week, he wanted to be on hand to help Olivia with any crisis she imagined, but he also needed to work. Taking time off from the hospital with Olivia had been great, if maddening, but at the end he had been grateful to get back to the OR.

There was something about the scalpel.

Fitz was headed to his office when he passed by the nurses station, nearly stopping in his tracks. There, taking to Jake, was Vanessa.

Fitz made his way over to her and his friend, looking at her with a guarded expression. "Vanessa."

"Fitz," she said, turning to him.

Jake looked between the two of them and gave Fitz a wide grin. "Hey Fitz, why don't you tell Vanessa the good news?"

"There's good news?" Vanessa asked. "Nice, tell me. I could use some cheering up."

Fitz glared at Jake, and then turned to Vanessa changing the subject. "I was sorry to hear about Brad."

Vanessa nodded her thanks. "That was what I was talking to Jake about."

"If I know your brother," Fitz said. "He will pull through this fine."

Vanessa blinked back tears and waved her hands in front of her eyes. "Enough of this now. Tell me your good news."

"Well," Fitz began nervously. "I'm getting married."

"Come again?" Vanessa said.

"I'm getting married," Fitz repeated.

"On a dare?" Vanessa asked, her face confused.

"No," Fitz said rolling his eyes. "For all the reasons that people normally get married."

"You got her pregnant?" Vanessa guessed.

"No!" Fitz yelled. He looked at Jake. "Why does everyone think that?"

Jake shrugged. "We know you."

"I'm hurt," he said, mockingly.

"Such is life," Jake commented.

Fitz sighed, and turned back to Vanessa. "No, Vanessa, she is not pregnant."

"Did her father buy a gun?" Vanessa queried.

"No! I am marrying her because I love her."

"Seriously?"

"Seriously," Fitz said.

"I don't get it."

"What? What's not to get?"

"You don't do love," Vanessa said, pointing her finger at him.

"I do with her," Fitz said.

"Ok-ay," Vanessa said, her tone portraying her skepticism. "Who's the girl?"

"You know about Lisa’s sister, Olivia?"

"Yeah, but what does she have to do…" Vanessa trailed off as her eyes bugged out of her head. "You have got to be kidding me!" She looked at Jake in desperation. "Please tell me he is kidding me!"

Jake grinned and shook his head. "Believe me when I say I had the exact same reaction."

"But, but—" Vanessa sputtered, looking at Fitz with disbelief in her eyes. "But she's…and you're…"

Fitz rolled his eyes again. He seemed to do that a lot when Vanessa was around. "Deep breaths, Nessa," he said. "Just take deep breaths."

"When?" Vanessa asked when she was able to put her syllables together.

"Saturday," Fitz said. His beeper went off then. "Gotta go; good luck with your brother."

As he walked away, Vanessa turned to Jake. "Was that some deeply unfunny hazing attempt you two worked out in advance?"

Jake laughed. "Sorry, we are not that clever."

Vanessa made an audible sound in her throat.

"He is with Olivia, and they are getting married this weekend." Jake took a sip of his coffee which had been sitting for several minutes on the counter. "My mom comes out on Wednesday."

Vanessa smiled. "She does? I would love to see Allison."

Jake looked uncomfortable. "That probably wouldn't be such a good idea."

"Oh," Vanessa said. "She's still mad, huh?"

"Yeah," Jake said.

Vanessa nodded, but then looked in the direction Fitz had left in. "I can't believe he is getting married. I feel like the world has stopped spinning and fallen out of orbit."

"You get used to it," Jake said. "Seeing them together…well, you suddenly know what people mean when they toss around words like soulmate and fate."

"You're kidding me," Vanessa said. "Fitz and Olivia? I saw her the last time I was here…she is not his type at all."

"Maybe that is what he needed," Jake countered.

"Maybe," Vanessa conceded, "But I just can't believe it."

"You haven't seen them together," Jake said. "You couldn't possibly understand."

She shook her head. "You can believe whatever you want, Jake, but I know Fitz Grant. That man does not have a monogamous bone in his body."

"Perhaps you don't know him as well as you thought," Jake said, picking up Brad’s chart and walking away.

Vanessa remained there, thinking about what he had said. No, there was no way that she was wrong about this. If she knew one thing, it was that Fitz didn't have it in him to be faithful. Poor Olivia, Vanessa thought, she was the only one that would be hurt when she figured out what the rest of the world already knew.

Chapter Text

By the end of the day, Fitz felt like gravity itself was heavier. He scraped his keys across the hospital’s cracked parking lot, each step echoing through his bones. His scrubs still smelled faintly of antiseptic, but beneath it was the sharper scent of sweat and regret. The surgery should have been straightforward—a routine rhinoplasty, hardly the stuff of Grey’s Anatomy. But his patient’s heart had faltered, and all the textbooks in the world couldn’t have saved her. Fitz wasn’t supposed to lose people in plastics. That was the deal. That was why he’d chosen it.

All he wanted was to collapse on the sofa next to Olivia, let her rub the tension from his neck, maybe watch her favorite old movies and pretend for a few hours that he hadn’t just been reminded how fragile everything really was. Instead, Jake had texted him, and suddenly he was RSVP’d to drinks at Lou’s with Jake, Vanessa, Greg, and Amber—a group with too many shared memories and too little tact.

He called Olivia on the drive over, thumb drumming on the steering wheel when she didn’t pick up. He pictured her asleep, dark curls splayed across the pillow, or maybe out with her sister Ashley. He left a message: “Hey, Liv, heading to Lou’s with the gang. I’ll see you soon. Love you.” It was too short, and not nearly enough, but it would have to do.

Lou’s was the same as ever: sticky floors, neon beer signs, and the scent of fried onions drifting from the kitchen. He spotted his friends in the back corner, already a few drinks in. Glasses clinked, laughter spilled, and it all felt just a touch too loud.

"I see you all started without me," Fitz announced, attempting a grin as he slid into the seat between Vanessa and Jake.

Amber poured him a beer from the pitcher, the liquid sloshing over the rim. Fitz took a swallow and tried not to wince at the cheapness—he preferred his drinks to burn, not just go flat.

"So Fitz," Greg said, eyebrows arched, "Vanessa tells me you’re getting married. Tell me it isn’t so!"

Fitz let himself laugh. “It’s true, I’m afraid. Her name’s Olivia, and we’re tying the knot on Saturday.”

Vanessa chimed in, “She’s Lisa’s little sister. Fitz saw those Pope eyes and—wham!—gone.”

Fitz shook his head, not rising to the bait. “It’s not exactly like that.”

“There’s something about those Pope women,” Vanessa mused. “First Jake, now Fitz. Explain to me how rational men get so easily seduced.”

Jake shot her a glare, but Fitz cut in, jaw tight. “Let’s not start, Vanessa.”

Amber defused the tension with a smile. “I’m happy for you, Grant. I’m sure she’s wonderful.”

“She is,” Fitz said, and there was a note of awe in his voice. “She organized a wedding in a week. I have no idea how she did it.”

Greg whistled. “Didn’t think Fitz Grant could be felled by any woman.”

“Not just any woman,” Fitz said, and his voice was quiet but firm. “Olivia’s different.”

“Oh, he loves her,” Jake teased, nudging him.

Fitz laughed, grateful for the lightness. “What are you, five?”

The banter circled, memories of med school and bad decisions resurfacing. For a moment, Fitz let himself drift back—before the weight of mistakes, before the sharp edges of regret. But the past was closer than he liked, and the undercurrent of Vanessa’s gaze tugged at him.

“Excuse me, kiddies,” Fitz said, standing. “I’m getting a real drink.” He made his way to the bar, muscles aching for something stronger.

Lou caught his eye. “Scotch?”

“Four fingers, if you don’t mind,” Fitz said.

Lou poured. “How’s Olivia?”

Fitz’s face softened. “She’s good. Nearly back to her old self. Still bossing me around.”

Lou chuckled. “You love it.”

“Absolutely,” Fitz said, accepting the glass.

As Lou turned away, Fitz let the scotch roll over his tongue, trying to drown the day’s shadows. But they clung tight, and so did Vanessa, who appeared at his shoulder.

“You can’t be serious about this,” she said quietly.

Fitz didn’t move. “Go back to the table, Vanessa.”

She ignored him. “You’re not the marrying type, Fitz.”

He looked at her, steady. “What are you trying to say?”

She shook her head, lips pressed together. “When we were together, you couldn’t even attempt fidelity.”

He took a slow sip. “There’s no comparison between you and Olivia. Different categories entirely.”

Vanessa’s eyes flashed. “Try me.”

Fitz exhaled, shoulders sagging. “There’s no point. You only ever saw me as Fitz Grant, manwhore. That’s the box you keep me in, and you make the past fit.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means what we had was already over before it began. You needed someone else—I was just close by. And you blamed me for everything.” Fitz’s voice was calm, but his hands trembled around the glass. “You forget, Vanessa. You rewrite it all: I was the pursuer, I wrecked your marriage, I cheated, I ruined everything. But you called Jake’s name in bed. You made the appointment. You left.”

“That’s low,” she whispered, voice trembling.

“It’s the truth,” Fitz said. “I’m not afraid of it anymore.”

Vanessa’s eyes shimmered. “What was it, then?”

“A one-sided love affair. I fooled myself into thinking I loved you, and you pretended I was someone else.”

She shook her head, voice rising. “Our relationship ended because you couldn’t keep it in your pants.”

Fitz’s jaw clenched. “Don’t. I made it the full sixty days, Vanessa. You didn’t. I saw you come out of Matt’s hotel room. So don’t you dare judge me.”

Vanessa’s mouth worked, but nothing came out. Fitz softened, just a little.

“I’ve changed. Because of her. Don’t try to drag me back.”

Vanessa stepped closer, hands on either side of him. “It’s not over. You feel it, too. The attraction.”

He laughed, hollow. “No, Vanessa. I love Olivia. The thought of losing her tears me apart. Throwing that away for a trip down memory lane? Never. I’d never do that to her.”

“You did it to me,” she said, voice small.

“Or maybe I just did what you always expected. I was always your second choice. I knew you didn’t love me, and I couldn’t make you.” Fitz’s face softened, eyes distant. “But Olivia…she loves me. No conditions, no pretending. She wants all of me, even the parts I hate. And that’s worth everything.”

Vanessa turned away, blinking fast. “Will you excuse me? I need a minute.” She disappeared, leaving Fitz alone at the bar.

The door chimed, and Fitz barely glanced up until a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“Hey, Stranger.”

He spun, a real smile breaking through. “What are you doing here?”

Olivia grinned, cheeks flushed. “Got your message. Figured you might need a rescue.”

“You should be resting,” Fitz chided, but he was already reaching for her hand.

She waved him off. “I’ll be fine for Saturday. Where are your friends?”

He nodded to the corner. “I just needed a moment.”

Olivia settled next to him, her hand warm on his. “What’s wrong?”

Fitz took a breath, wrestling with the weight of old insecurities. “They only see me as my worst self. The version friends are supposed to ignore, but never really do.”

Olivia smiled, brushing her thumb over his knuckles. “What fools they are. I’m glad I get to see the real you.”

He blinked. “Why?”

She leaned in, eyes bright. “Because it means you trust me with parts you never showed anyone else. That’s what makes us special.”

Fitz grinned, a spark of mischief in his voice. “Never proposed before. Never been madly in love. That’s a lot of special, Olivia Pope.”

She laughed. “Promise you’ll keep saying romantic things like that forever?”

“I don’t do romantic,” he protested, mock-growling.

“With me, you do,” she replied, and her eyes shimmered.

“If you say so, Livvie.” His voice was soft now, full of affection.

She glowed as she looked at him. “You’re so marrying me.”

“Just try and stop me,” Fitz said, and he kissed her, losing himself in the taste of a future he never thought he’d deserve.

Across the bar, Amber nudged Jake. “That must be Olivia.”

“We hope so,” Greg chimed in.

Jake watched them, a smile playing on his lips. “Yeah, that’s Olivia. They’re perfect for each other.”

At the bathroom hallway, Vanessa paused, unseen. She watched Fitz and Olivia, the way he cradled her face, the way she laughed into his shoulder. Vanessa felt the old ache—regret, jealousy, disbelief. There had always been a part of her that wanted to believe Fitz could love her like that, but she’d never trusted it, never let herself believe it was possible.

Now, watching him with Olivia, she knew he was capable of the love she’d always wanted. She just hadn’t been able to accept it. Olivia had seen something in Fitz that Vanessa never could.

She smiled, quiet and sad. At the end of the day, Fitz had found happiness—true, honest, vulnerable happiness. And though she’d lost her chance, she couldn’t help but wish him well.

We should all be so lucky, she thought. To love and be loved like that.

Chapter Text

By the time Wednesday rolled around, Olivia’s apartment smelled like gardenias and faint lemon cleaner. She’d spent the morning fussing over every detail—folding napkins, checking RSVP cards, and even rewriting her vows for the third time. The dress hung on the bedroom door, shimmering like the promise it was supposed to keep. But as the hours crept by, and the sun moved past the window in slow, syrupy streaks, her mind wandered where she didn’t want it to go.

She tried to keep busy—called the caterer, texted her bridesmaid Ashley about the shoes, sorted through the playlist for the reception. Still, the quiet pressed in. That was when she’d catch herself staring at her reflection, hands twisting in her lap, thinking about her mother. Maya Pope had always known what to say, what to do, and Olivia kept hearing her voice in the room, offering advice or teasing her over her choice of flowers.

She wished her mother could see Fitz. She wished she could see how he made Olivia laugh when she was tired, or how he’d learned to cook pasta just to impress her. Olivia was sure Maya would have approved—would have seen the kindness in his eyes, the stubborn hope that matched Olivia’s own. It was this ache, as much as the excitement, that colored every wedding errand. Every “yes” was edged with a “but,” every joy with a little grief.

Tuesday night, the ache got the best of her.

She curled up in bed beside Fitz, letting the darkness soften the world. He was asleep, his arm draped over her waist, his breath warm against her shoulder. She tried to keep it together, but the tears started anyway—silent, shaking, sudden. The hospital, the planning, the absence of her mother—it all crashed in at once. She wanted to be strong, but in the quiet, there was nowhere for the sadness to hide.

Fitz stirred, his hand brushing gently up and down her back, careful not to touch the spot where her incision was still healing. “Liv?” he whispered. “What’s wrong?”

She rolled over, blinking away tears. There was something about the way he looked at her—concern without panic, love without question. “I just…” Her voice cracked. “I miss my mom. I thought I was okay, but all of this, the wedding, it’s made me realize she’s not here, and she won’t be.”

Fitz pulled her closer, pressing a kiss to her hair. “I wish there was something I could do.”

“You’re doing it,” she managed, burying her face in his chest.

He stroked her hair, letting her cry. “When you were in the hospital,” he said softly, “I thought I was going to lose you. I kept thinking about everything I’d never get to say. It made me realize—sometimes people are with us, even when they’re not here. I think your mom would be proud of you. And I think she’ll be with you on Saturday.”

She looked up at him, searching his face. “How do you always know what to say?”

Fitz smiled, sheepish in the dark. “I don’t. I just say what I feel.”

She let out a shaky laugh. “You’re impossible.”

“But you love me.”

“Yeah. I do.”

They held each other in the dark, and for the first time in days, Olivia felt the sadness ease, just a bit.

The next morning, the hospital lobby buzzed with its usual chaos—clattering carts, nurses in bright scrubs, patients shuffling down the hall. Fitz squeezed Olivia’s hand. “Tell me again why you get breakfast and I get work?”

“Because I’m the bride,” Olivia said, grinning.

“Out and about while I’m stuck with paperwork,” he grumbled, mock-offended.

She rolled her eyes. “Nobody says ‘out and about,’ Fitz.”

“I do. I just did. You heard it.”

She was still laughing when she grabbed his lapels and kissed him, quick and close. “You’re ridiculous.”

He grinned, lowering his voice. “You have no idea.”

“Save it for after the wedding,” she teased, tugging him a little closer.

He was about to answer when a voice cut through the lobby: “Get a room!”

They turned to see Jake striding over, a mischievous smile on his face. Vanessa trailed behind—a ghost from Fitz’s past, her expression unreadable.

“Morning, lovebirds,” Jake said.

“Morning, Dr. Ballard,” Olivia replied, eyeing Vanessa curiously.

Fitz cleared his throat. “Liv, this is Vanessa. Jake’s ex-wife.”

Olivia caught his odd tone but let it pass. “Nice to meet you, Dr. Moss. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Don’t believe any of it,” Vanessa replied, a small smile breaking through.

Olivia smiled back, feeling the tension ease. “Alright.”

Vanessa turned to Olivia. “I hear you’re getting married. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Olivia said. There was a warmth to Vanessa’s voice, and for a moment, Olivia saw the woman she might have been, before regrets and distance sharpened her edges.

“I better go,” Olivia said, kissing Fitz on the cheek and giving Jake and Vanessa a wave.

As she walked away, she heard Jake mutter, “She’s meeting my mom for breakfast.”

“Poor thing,” Vanessa said quietly. Jake glanced at her, something like nostalgia in his eyes.

It used to be them—Jake, Vanessa, Fitz. Now everything was different.

Funny, that.

At the nurse’s station, Lisa was waiting, fussing with her purse.

“Hey,” Olivia said.

“Hi.” Lisa’s words tumbled out. “Are you hungry? I’m starving. I didn’t eat and now I’m regretting it.”

Olivia laughed. “You sound like me.”

Lisa shot her a wan smile. “Mama Ballard is coming.”

“So?” Olivia teased.

“So she’s coming!” Lisa moaned. “What if she wants me and Jake to get married next? I’m not ready for that.”

“You’ll be fine,” Olivia assured her. “Mothers always have marriage on the mind.”

Lisa groaned, just as Allison Ballard swept in, arms open wide. “My girls! I can’t tell you how happy I am. Fitz getting married, Jake settled, everything as it should be.”

She hugged them both, her scent a mix of lavender and strong coffee. “I knew you were a good one, Olivia,” Allison said. “I told Fitz not to mess this up.”

“You convinced him to come after me?” Olivia asked, surprised.

Allison winked. “Some men need a nudge. Lucky for you, he listened.”

Olivia laughed, the sound ringing clear, and Lisa felt her shoulders drop, the tension fading. For a moment, surrounded by laughter and the promise of pancakes, Lisa thought, So this is what it’s like to have a family.

Saturday would come with its own joys and sadnesses, but for now, Olivia let herself be held—by Fitz, by friends, by the memory of her mother—and knew she would carry all of them with her, down the aisle and into the life she was building, one imperfect, beautiful day at a time.

Chapter Text

The Saturday morning dawned clearly, casting a serene glow over the vestry of St. Michael's. The anxiety that had surrounded Olivia during the week seemed to evaporate as she prepared for her wedding. Her sisters, Ashley and Lisa, along with her friend Mary, were in the room with her, helping her get ready.

I can't believe you are marrying McSteamy," Mary said, sipping from her flute of champagne.

McSteamy?" Ashley repeated, confused.

Jake is McDreamy, Fitz is McSteamy," Lisa clarified."

Okay," Ashley said, dusting blush over Olivia's cheeks. "Whatever that means.

Olivia smiled. "Don't worry, you will get the GWUH speak eventually.

Whatever," Mary said. "The point is that you have neutered McSteamy. He was all sex and hotness, and you made him all domesticity and boyfriend of the year. I do not approve."

Olivia smiled. "Don't worry, Dr. Bauer. I think Dr. Finch might be taking over as the new McSteamy of the hospital.

Mary blanched. "Never mind, new topic.

Olivia grinned triumphantly as Ashley finished with her makeup. "There!" Her sister said. "You are all ready.

Olivia turned and saw her reflection in the mirror. She hardly recognized the woman staring back at her. Instead of simple and sweet Olivia Pope, a vision had taken her place. Her hair, which defied style, was gently curling about her face with it loosely pulled up into a topknot which her veil was secured to. Her face was glowing, and Ashley had only added enough makeup to enhance her natural beauty. But it was her dress which completed the transformation. The corset bodice was cinching in her waist and the dress billowed out into a full skirt with a simple bustle in the back.

Oh my God," Olivia murmured. "I am getting married today.

Ashley stood to her sister's side as she looked in the mirror and smiled. "You're just now figuring that out?

It hadn't sunk in yet," Olivia replied. She then turned to all the women. "Would you mind giving me a moment?

Mary, Ashley, and Lisa left the room. Once they had, Olivia continued gazing at her reflection as the weight of what she was about to do hit her. She was committing to one man for the rest of her life, and it should have scared her. She should have been panicking, and questioning everything. But she wasn't. Nothing had ever felt so right. She was marrying the man of her dreams today.

What if she doesn't show up?" Fitz asked anxiously.

Relax," Jake said with a grin, clapping Fitz on the shoulder. "She will be here.

But what if she isn't?" Fitz persisted.

Jake shook his head as he looked at his best friend. He had never seen him so nervous. Usually, Fitz was brimming with self-confidence, but not this day. As they waited in a little room to the side of the altar, Fitz had begun pacing, only to stop every few minutes to ask the same question again.

Don't worry, Fitz," Jake said, reveling in his friend's nerves. "If she stands you up, I have a fast car. You can go out the side door and no one will know.

Thanks, that's helpful," Fitz said sarcastically."

Just being the best man," Jake said."

You're a crappy best man," Mark replied."Bite your tongue. Did you or did you not have a good time at your bachelor party?" Jake asked."

Beers at Lou's with you, Mellie, and Finch does not a bachelor party make," Fitz replied."I thought it was preferable to the bachelor party you threw me," Jake said. "I figured that you would agree we were past the age of strippers."

Fitz nodded, not ceasing his pacing. "As if I would ever pay to watch a woman take her clothes off. Please," he said, his voice disdainful. "Besides, it is not as if Olivia wouldn't be totally cool with it." His sarcasm was evident.

Jake just watched him with an amused grin on his face."

Is it hot in here?" Fitz asked, tugging at his black tie. "I feel hot.""

You're not hot, you're obsessing. Stop tugging at your tie," Jake commanded, "It will pass.""

Why is this taking so long?" Fitz asked. He checked his watch. "Shouldn't it have started by now?""

These things never start on time," Jake said."

Oh God," Fitz said, suddenly stopping his pacing. He cradled his face in his palms.

Jake felt fear congeal in his stomach. He tried to find the right words, "Fitz … are you sure you want to do this? I can go and tell everyone … if you like."

Fitz dropped his hands and looked at his best friend in shock. "What? Are you crazy?"

Jake laughed. "Sorry, I thought you were panicking.""

I am panicking," Fitz said. "I am panicking that she won't show up. I am panicking that she will get up there, take one look at me, and change her mind. I am panicking that I won't make her happy. And I am panicking that I won't be a thoughtful enough husband. But believe me Jake, no part of my panic will keep me from getting married today."

There was a knock on the door to the small room, and Allison Ballard came inside. "Here are my boys," she said."

Hi Mom," Jake smiled. "Fitz is panicking.""

Over what?" she asked, her face settling into a gentle frown."

Nothing…" Fitz began."

That he won't be a good husband," Jake replied."

Jake!" Fitz exclaimed.

Allison came over to her surrogate son, and smoothed his tie and brushed lint off of his coat. "As well he should be nervous. Olivia is going to be my daughter in less than an hour Fitz," she said. "You will treat her right.""

Mom, he's edgy enough," Jake said."

That's fine," Allison replied. "It means he is finally expecting more from himself. High expectations are not a bad thing, Fitz Grant." Her eyes met his as she conveyed her meaning.

Fitz felt his eyes fill with suspicious moisture. "Thank you for being here today, Mom.""

Of course," Allison said. "Like any of us would miss this.""

Us?" Fitz repeated. "Who's us?""

See for yourself," Allison replied. "It is time to take your places anyway."

When Fitz and Jake left the room, Fitz felt his breath catch in his throat. The entire Ballard family was in the church, waiting for them along with all Fitz and Olivia's guests. Vanessa, Amber, and Greg were there as well, sitting with Mellie in the second row. Lisa and Mary were waiting in the first with Stephen sitting uncomfortably next to them."

Come on," Jake said, as he and Fitz went to take their places at the altar on one side of the minister.

Then the music began to play."

Are you ready for this?" Jake asked."

You don't get ready for this," Fitz said with a smile playing about his face.

Ashley's two-year-old daughter came down the aisle, scattering rose petals as she went and amazingly made it to the end where her dad, Chris, grabbed her and sat her down with him. She was then followed by Ashley, who gave Fitz a saucy wink as she took her place on the dais across from him and Jake.

Fitz grinned in response. His soon-to-be sister was amazing.Then the music changed. Pachelbel's Canon filled the air as Olivia came down the aisle on Rowan's arm.

His breath caught in his throat, and Fitz dimly realized in that moment that he had been right. You do not get ready for this.

Olivia felt as though she was dying and being born, all in one instant. As she walked towards Fitz, the look of reverence in his eyes took her breath away. She had been born for this man, for this second. Olivia felt her father's arm tremble under her own, but she continued walking.

As she passed the faces in the church, Olivia could hardly focus on them. Her eyes were locked on the man she was about to marry. He looked so handsome in his suit, standing there, waiting for her.

When they reached the altar, Rowan gently kissed her cheek and his eyes conveyed an apology for all that had come before this. Olivia smiled at him, happy to have her father back, even if it was just for a moment.

He gently led her to Fitz, and clasped their hands together, conveying his approval. Fitz helped Olivia step up, and then they turned to face each other.

Then the minister spoke."

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join Olivia and Fitz in Holy Matrimony."

Fitz gazed steadily into Olivia's eyes, and suddenly all of his fears left him. He could do this. He was going to be a great husband, and he would make sure that, one day, he was a great father, as well.

Complying with Olivia's request, the minister began to read from Corinthians. "If I have all faith, as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful, it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not delight at wrong but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."

Fitz looked tenderly at Olivia. These words were their vows, but they did not even need to be said. They were felt.

The minister continued on until he came to the part: "And if anyone knows why these two should not be joined let them speak now, or forever hold their peace."

Fitz's eyes flicked up to the ceiling, as if to see if God would strike him down. Olivia fought off the laughter which had bubbled up inside her. Only Fitz could make her laugh during her own wedding.

When the minister had no takers, he turned to Fitz. "Repeat after me: I, Fitz Grant…"

Fitz then followed after him. He squeezed Olivia's hands tighter and said, "I, Fitz Grant, take you, Olivia Pope, to be my wedded wife. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life."

Fitz then turned to Jake and took the ring from his waiting hand. "With this ring, I thee wed." He gently slid the ring onto Olivia's fourth finger.

The minister then turned to Olivia. "Repeat after me: I, Olivia Pope…""

I, Olivia Pope, take you, Fitz Grant, to be my wedded husband. To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for all the days of my life."

After taking the ring from Ashley, Olivia slid it home onto Fitz's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed."

The minister began to speak again, but neither Olivia nor Fitz heard him. They were married. Though the minister had not said the final words, it had never been truer.

by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Fitz smiled down at Olivia. "Mrs. Grant," he murmured."

That's Dr. Grant," Olivia whispered with a loving smile."You are always arguing with me," Fitz said as he leaned in."

You love me," Olivia said."

I do," Fitz said, smiling at the rightness of his words.

He kissed her then.

If there was anything else said, Fitz and Olivia missed it. They simply kissed with the dull roar of applause in the background.

As he kissed his wife, Fitz thought of the verse which had been read during the ceremony. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.

Yep, that sounded about right.

Chapter Text

New York was beautiful in the springtime. Fitz had thought so, but he had never truly appreciated it until he moved to Washington DC. Now, being back in the city that he loved, Fitz felt nostalgic for all the things that he had missed. The Met, Yankee Stadium (he was still bitter that it was gone), his favorite Italian restaurant on Fifth, and the façade of his brownstone on Seventy-fifth and Lexington. But as he sat in the little café near his old home, Fitz wondered when Manhattan had become so small. Washington DC, with its encroaching forests and curving bays, never felt this small.

"Do you need change?" Fitz looked up at the cute waitress who had brought his leftovers back to the table. He smiled to himself as he thought about what a difference two years can make. "No, the rest is for you," Fitz said, handing her the check and her tip.

"Fitz? Is that you, Grant?" Fitz turned to see Liam Stiles, a fellow surgeon who Fitz had worked with in New York, standing before him. He stood, holding out his hand. "Liam! It is good to see you!"

"What the hell are you doing here, man?" Liam said, clasping Fitz on the back. "I thought you were still living in Washington DC."

"I am," Fitz said. "But I came back for the week. I had to take care of some things with the house, and I wanted to visit."

Liam shook his head. "So you are still stuck in Washington DC, then?"

"Yep," Fitz said with a smile.

"Don't you just hate it?" Liam asked.

"It grows on you," Fitz replied. "In fact, I—"

"How's Ballard?" Liam cut in. "I heard he and Vanessa called it quits."

"Yeah, two and a half years ago," Fitz said.

Liam smiled at him. "Too bad, huh?"

"Actually," Fitz said, "Jake is very happy now. He is married to a wonderful woman, Lisa Pope. Kathy Pope's daughter, you know. And they just had a son, Nate, about nine months ago."

"Good for him," Liam said. "Ballard did always like domesticity, didn't he? Figures he would be married a second time before you or I had our first marriage, eh Grant?"

Fitz laughed. "Actually, I got married before Jake did."

Liam looked at him in shock. "You're kidding, right?" Liam asked.

Fitz shook his head and held up his left hand. "It will be two years in four months."

Liam's face was still in surprise. "And here she is now," Fitz said, watching as Olivia came from the back of the restaurant holding their daughter in her arms. Olivia smiled at Fitz as she walked back over to their table. When she reached him, he took their daughter and settled her against his chest, and smiled at Olivia's in greeting.

"Liam, this is my wife Olivia and our daughter Cassie." Olivia smiled at him as Fitz told her how they had worked together when he had lived here before. "It's nice to meet you," Olivia said.

"So…how long will you be here?" Liam asked.

"We leave tomorrow," Olivia responded. "I am still a resident, so I can only take so much time off from work."

"Oh, you're a surgical resident?" Liam inquired.

"Yes," Olivia said. "I am halfway through my second year. I, of course, had to take some time off when Cassie was born."

Olivia looked affectionately at her daughter who was now sleeping against Fitz's chest. It seemed like just yesterday when she had found out that she was pregnant. She had been married to Fitz for two months when she had started feeling funny. Olivia was too much of a doctor to not recognize the signs, and a test had quickly confirmed what she had already known. The real question then had been how to tell Fitz. Olivia had wanted to make it dramatic and exciting, but in the end, it had been neither of those things.

Olivia stood in the hall as she heard the key unlocking the door. She was wringing her hands, anticipation and happiness filling her.

"Hi," Fitz said, looking at her strangely as he opened the door.

"Hi," Olivia replied, a smile covering half of her face.

"What are you doing in the hallway?"

"Waiting for you," Olivia replied.

A smirk had grown on Fitz's face. "You should have paged me, I would have come home faster."

"What do you mean?"

Fitz pulled her into his arms and kissed her.

"Oh," Olivia had said as she pulled away. "Before we get to that, there is something I have to tell you."

"What?" Fitz asked as he began to kiss her neck.

"Remember how we said we were going to wait to have kids?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, that plan is kinda shot to hell now."

"What do you mean?" Fitz asked, nipping the curve of her shoulder.

"I mean, I'm pregnant."

Fitz had paused mid-kiss, his lips frozen on her skin. "Fitz?" Silence. "Say something, please."

He hadn't moved at first, but then he had pressed his forehead into the curve of her neck and squeezed his arms more tightly around his wife. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely. Olivia had smiled, knowing all would be well. He had been amazing all through her pregnancy, but the really shocking part was once Cassie had been born. He took to fatherhood much the way he took to surgery and marriage. Fitz was a natural dad.

He turned to Olivia now, smiling as he rubbed Cassie's back as she slept. "Ready for FAO Schwartz?"

"I don't know," Olivia said. "I think she is worn out. Too much stimuli. Did they call? Did they make an offer?"

"Did who make an offer?" Liam asked, jumping into their conversation.

"Just this couple who is going to buy our brownstone," Fitz replied. He then turned to Olivia, "Yes, they did. And I took it."

"Good," Olivia said with a smile. Cassie began to fuss then, but Fitz quieted her easily with gently murmuring to her.

"I am going to go get the stroller," Olivia's said. Fitz nodded to her. As she walked away, Liam asked, "So that's it?"

Fitz looked at him oddly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're done with New York. Washington DC is where you are staying."

"Yep."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that," Fitz said.

"I remember when you thought nothing existed outside of Manhattan. When you thought the rest of the country was jealous because they didn't get to live here."

"Things have changed," Fitz said to his former friend. "I have changed."

Liam nodded, a small smile playing around the corners of his mouth. "Yeah, you have."

There was silence, but then Liam asked, "You don't miss it?" Fitz knew he was not talking about New York. He smiled, and kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Not even for a moment."

Later that night, Olivia and Fitz spent their last night in his New York home. Once his nostalgia had abated, he began to feel eager to pack everything up. Fitz supposed it would be natural for him to feel some regret about leaving this place for the last time, but he didn't. Perhaps it was because he had never spent much time here except for sleeping and sex, or perhaps it was because this place had never felt like a home, or perhaps it was because he was never happy here, but for whatever reason Fitz was happy to leave it behind. Earlier in the day, when they had been packing the last of his belongings, Olivia had been saving much more than he had. Everything Fitz came across seemed silly or rather meaningless to the way his life was now. Who really needed souvenir shot glasses with inscriptions like "Spring Break '92"? He just wanted to get home to their comfy penthouse, which was oxymoronic, he knew.

"You could have at least pretended to like the show," Olivia said, as they walked into the bedroom after having sent the babysitter home. They had just returned from seeing the sequel to Phantom of the Opera on Broadway.

"Why?" Fitz asked, taking off his jacket and tossing it on an ugly leather chair which he did not remember ever liking.

"Because Allison tried hard to please us by giving us those tickets."

"At ease, soldier," Fitz said. "Should Mom ask, I will tell her it was fine, despite its lurches towards the ridiculous."

"Thank you," Olivia said. "But you have bad taste. I thought it was good."

"Nothing like the original," Fitz muttered as he unbuttoned his shirt.

Olivia turned around with a smile on her face. "So let me get this straight. You didn't object to the play, but rather the fact that it messed around with the original. Fitz Grant, you are a Phantom fan."

"What?" Fitz said, trying to be casual. "Of course I am not. Phantom is for girls."

"Admit it," Olivia said, crossing the room to wrap her arms around his neck. "You are a musical lover."

"I'll never admit it," Fitz said with a smile, looking down into his wife's face. He gently brushed her brown hair away from her cheeks. Once he would have mocked anyone who thought life with one person was something to treasure. But now he knew different. Just being with her and talking about meaningless nonsense was his favorite part of their relationship, of their marriage. It was moments like this that Fitz felt so small, and his love so big. "I love you, Olivia," he whispered.

A smile curved her lips. "Do you? I never would have guessed."

"Smartass," He muttered with a smile. He ducked his head down to kiss her when he heard Cassie begin to cry. "Hold that thought."

Fitz padded down the hall to the gym, which had been made into a makeshift nursery for their visit. Coming into the room, Fitz saw Cassie standing in her crib, her face red and wet from crying. "Hey, angel," He said, pulling her into his arms. "What's wrong?"

Cassie blubbered for a bit, and then sighed contentedly as her father rocked her. "I bet you missed us tonight, didn't you?" Fitz whispered. "I missed you too. I would have much rather been here with you than at a stupid play, but I would do anything for your mommy. You'll understand someday angel, when some man is trying to win your heart." Fitz silently promised himself that she wouldn't date until she was thirty. "If a man is not willing to do what you want for one evening, then you are too good for him," Fitz continued. "Of course, your mommy doesn't know that I would do what she wanted every night if she asked."

Cassie's eyelids fluttered closed, and Fitz gently kissed her forehead, savoring her baby smell. He then said, "One day, I'll tell you the story of how your mommy made me a better man, carefully edited, of course."

He settled her back into the crib, and gently patted her back. "I love you, angel."

When he came back into the master bedroom, Olivia was lying on the bed with her eyes closed. Fitz sighed, but then smiled as he watched her sleep. She still curled up on her side, tucking her hands beneath her face like a young girl. Two years of marriage and a baby had not diminished her beauty nor made her look older, not to him. Fitz would swear that she was more beautiful now than she had been when he met her. Jake had said the same thing about him, which was odd...and creepy. Something about how marriage made him look years younger. Fitz had made some smartass remark when he had said that.

As if she could feel him watching her, Olivia's eyes fluttered open and a small smile lit her face. Fitz felt his stomach clench in desire and anticipation for the only woman who he had never been able to get out of his heart. The only woman he had ever wanted to keep there.

"Come lie with me," she murmured. He did just that, curling up behind her and spooning against her body. Fitz dimly remembered once considering Olivia an impossible dream, and he had been right. She was impossible to forget, impossible to leave, and impossible to regret. And every moment he had spent with her had been like a dream. He supposed most people didn't get a happy ending to their fairytale, but Fitz had already received his. He had Olivia, his daughter, and the promise of many years to come.

Chapter Text

Edison Davis stared at the high-rise before him and then looked back down at the address on his palm pilot. This couldn't be right. There was no way that Olivia lived in this building. It had been four years since their cramped apartment, but she was a resident. Residents couldn't afford places like this. Edison wondered, not for the first time, if he had misheard Lisa on the phone. The reception had been really bad when he had been asking her about where Olivia lived now. Edison sighed. He still felt guilty about the way he had left things with Olivia. That night had been the worst of his life.

He had just performed his first solo surgery and proceeded to lose his patient. The chief had told him that it wasn't his fault; that the appendix had ruptured and led to sepsis, but that hadn't made Edison feel better. He had felt like a failure. 007, that was certainly an apt name. He had wanted nothing more than to go back to his apartment and talk to his best friend. But when he had gotten there, Olivia was nowhere to be found. She had been missing a lot lately, in fact. She wasn't coming home at night, and Olivia seemed distant when he saw her in the hospital. Normally Edison would have just left it alone, but that night he had needed her.

He had called Mary almost immediately.

"What do you want 007?" Mary had asked acerbically.

"Is Olivia on call tonight?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"You're her resident!" Edison practically shouted into his phone. "You scheduled her!"

"Good point," Mary said. She then paused and said "stop" to someone in the background and then said, "She is not on call tonight, Edison. Three was on call on Tuesday, not tonight. Hmm," Mary said with a laugh. "Maybe she is getting laid. Good for Olivia."

Edison had hung up without a thank you. He tried her cell phone many times, and then sat on their couch and just waited. That night a million things had gone through his mind. He had worried about her, and he had thought a lot about what Graziella had said to him. Olivia was in love with him. Edison had ignored that at the time, and now he couldn't help but wonder if he shouldn't have.

At around five in the morning, Edison had finally heard Olivia's key in the lock. When she had entered, Edison said, "Where have you been?"

Olivia had jumped a foot in the air. "Jesus Christ, Edison. You scared me!"

"Where have you been, Olivia?" Edison asked again, standing and raising his voice.

Olivia closed the door, and not looking at him she said, "I was on call."

"You're lying," Edison said. "I called Mary. You weren't on call. Where were you Olivia?"

"Why does it matter?" Olivia had said with some exasperation in her voice.

"Because we are roommates and I am concerned about you. You are never here anymore. You are always gone, ever since a month ago, the night Matt had his solo surgery."

"Like you care," Olivia said with a laugh. "I am a big girl, Edison. I can take care of myself."

"Maybe the better question to ask would be who you have been with," Edison said, stuttering on the last couple of words.

"My personal life is none of your business, Edison."

Edison looked at her as if she punched him. "I don't understand what is going on with you. We used to tell each other everything. You cared about what happened in our friendship. You weren't even in the gallery at my solo surgery tonight."

Olivia cringed. "That's right; that was tonight. How did it go?"

"I killed the patient! I killed a man, and when I came home I wanted to talk to my best friend about it!" Edison yelled.

Olivia looked chastened. "I am sorry, Edison. I am sorry, but I am not your best friend. I never was. You used me as a substitute after your relationship with Holly exploded, but I was never your best friend, and you were never mine. I have a best friend, and believe me, our relationship is utterly different than yours and mine." Olivia looked as if she regretted her tone, but her eyes conveyed the utter sincerity of her statement.

Edison shook his head. "I don't even recognize you anymore."

Olivia bit her lip and then said, "That's not my fault."

"I am leaving Washington DC," Edison said. "I am leaving the program. It is obvious I am not cut out for surgery. I have been offered a chance to join a practice in Walla Walla and I am going to take it."

Olivia nodded. "Maybe that's best."

Edison felt his stomach sink. She really didn't care if he left. He could hardly reconcile the woman standing in front of him with the sweet girl he had thought to be one of his best friends. "So that's it?" He asked.

"Yeah," She said. "That's it."

Edison entered the apartment high-rise and went straight to the bank of elevators. The lobby was impressive. Granite floors and polished steel on the walls. When the elevators opened, Edison went in and pressed twenty-seven. Edison shook his head. He couldn't believe that Olivia lived on the top floor of such a place. The elevator reached the floor in no time, and Edison started to have the suspicion that this was one of those apartment buildings which looked simple, but really had everything state-of-the-art. When he stepped off the elevator, he faced an elegant hallway with marble floors and wood paneling. It was nothing like the lobby, and looked as if it belonged in a top hotel.

Edison looked at the only door on the floor and realized this was the penthouse. He shook his head. Olivia lived in the penthouse? O'Malley felt increasingly like he had misunderstood, but he knocked on the door anyway. Just in case.

After ten agonizing moments, the door opened to reveal Olivia. Edison felt as if he had been punched in the gut. She looked as beautiful as ever, with only small alterations. Her hair was longer, and layered with side-swept bangs. And her face looked even more beautiful than it had before. She looked happy, as if reaching her thirtieth birthday had brought her an inner calm that she hadn't had before.

"Edison?" Olivia laughed happily. "Edison, what are you doing here?" Olivia pulled him into a hug, her happy laugh echoing in his ears. Edison's senses were immediately engulfed with the simple and lovely smell of her hair. When she pulled back, she smiled at him. "Come in, come in."

Olivia turned and led him into the apartment. Edison had been right, it was the penthouse. It opened onto a vast living room with ceiling-to-floor windows which looked out over the vast city. There were hallways on both sides of the living room which Edison assumed led to the bedrooms and the kitchen. Edison also noticed that there were boxes lining the halls and a couple in the corner of the living room.

"So how did you find me?" Olivia asked with a smile.

"Lisa gave me the address. I didn't quite realize where it was you lived. This place is amazing, Olivia."

She smiled. "Well, enjoy it while you can. We're in the process of moving."

Edison was about to ask who "we" was, but then he stopped. He really didn't want to know. Instead, he asked, "Where to?"

"Near Jake and Lisa," Olivia said as she led him to the couch. She sat on one end, and Edison sat on the other.

"That's nice," Edison mumbled.

"So what are you doing in DC, Edison?"

"I am here for a seminar at the Archfield."

"What area did you end up going into?" Olivia asked.

"Pediatrics," Edison said.

Olivia smiled. "I can see you doing that. I bet you are loved by your patients."

Edison shrugged and smiled a little. "It's easy to treat kids; mostly they just want to know how things work. It's when they are really sick, and there is nothing that you can do that is really hard. Telling a parent that their child has cancer, that's the worst."

Olivia nodded.

"So what is your specialty?" Edison asked. "You are a fourth-year resident now, right?"

"Right. And I went into Plastics. Turns out my pulley stitches were only the beginning." Olivia smiled, as if she was remembering something.

Edison wrinkled his nose a bit. "Plastics? That means you work directly under Grant? That must be awful."

Olivia laughed and opened her mouth to respond, "Edison, there is something you need to know—"

The front door opened, and a little voice yelled "Mommy!" A little brunette girl came tearing into the room and launched herself at Olivia. Edison could only stare in shock. She looked identical to Olivia, but her eyes, they were ice blue. There was something familiar about them.

"Liv, can you come get Joshua?"

Edison could hardly believe his ears. He turned and saw Fitz Grant standing by the door with a baby in his arms. Olivia stood, walked over, and took the baby and the carrier from Fitz. They kissed in greeting, and then Fitz picked up the bag of groceries that was at his feet. He then saw who was sitting on the couch.

"Edison? What are you doing here?"

Fitz walked into the living room, and the little girl took the opportunity to hide behind his legs. Olivia walked back in as well, cradling the baby in her arms. "He is here for a conference, Fitz." She smiled at him. "He came to visit."

Fitz just nodded. He wasn't rude, but he was watching Edison warily.

Edison was at a loss, so he instead looked at the baby in Olivia's arms. "Who is this little guy?"

"This is Joshua," Olivia said proudly. "And that's Cassie, hiding."

The little girl giggled and then poked her face out behind her father's legs. Fitz smiled and flipped her up into his arms, with her laughing hysterically the whole time.

"Joshua?" Edison said to Olivia. "That is interesting."

Olivia laughed. "It's Fitz's fault. He didn't want to call the baby Fitzgerald, and refused to call him Fitz, so Joshua was born."

"Fitz?" Edison stuttered. "You named him after Matt?"

"Not my idea," Fitz said, moving to a chair across from the couch with Cassie in his arms. Olivia sat with the baby as well, and Edison took his seat too.

"Matt delivered him," Olivia explained. "I had come to the hospital for an appointment, and we got stuck in the elevator and I went into labor."

Edison nodded, as if that made perfect sense.

"So anyway, we used Matt's middle name to name the baby after him as a thank you."

Edison nodded again. "So when did you two get…um…"

"Married?" Fitz supplied. "We were married about three and a half years ago."

"So, right after I left then?" Edison asked, looking at Olivia.

She nodded, smiling. Edison suddenly put two and two together and realized who Olivia had been spending her nights with back then. It was amazing to see her now. She looked completely at ease with a baby in her arms. And Fitz, well it was amazing to see the frightening Dr. Grant making funny faces at his daughter.

They looked like a family.

Edison felt like an intruder, and struggled to make it less awkward. "So you are moving to be near Lisa?"

Olivia laughed and looked at Fitz as if they shared a secret. They did, Edison thought, they must share many. "Yes, we got tired of spending all our time carpooling to and from their house. It is easier to just live near them."

Cassie was nodding her head emphatically. "Soon, we are gonna live in the forest with Uncle Jake, Aunt Lisa and Nate!"

"Not with them," Fitz said with a laugh. "Near them, sweetie pie."

Olivia explained, "We bought land next to theirs and we had a house built."

"Nate is Lisa's son, right?" Edison asked. He had heard about her marriage, which he hadn't been invited to, and the baby, which he had never seen.

Olivia nodded. "He and Cassie are attached at the hip. We can't keep them apart for more than a few hours before they start asking for each other." She smiled as she said it. "Plus, it will be nice to be near Lisa. Our phone bills were getting rather ridiculous, almost as much as the calls between Fitz and Jake."

"Hey!" Fitz said in protest. "We aren't that bad."

Olivia just laughed and shook her head.

Edison realized then that he had missed so much. Somehow, Olivia and Lisa had become friends, and real sisters. She was married with two kids, and Fitz Grant seemed to be a one-woman guy.

"So, Plastics, huh?" Edison said.

Olivia nodded. "Like I was about to tell you earlier, after the probation that the interns got put on, I kept getting assigned to Plastics, do you remember?"

Edison nodded. Mary had thought she was punishing Olivia.

"Well, I proved to be good at it, and Fitz was happy to teach me." Her eyes got dark when she looked at her husband, and Edison wondered if there wasn't some meaning behind that statement.

"You were a good student," Fitz replied, his voice lowered. Edison knew then that there was definitely something behind those statements.

Edison couldn't take anymore. He stood. "I have to go, I am presenting at the conference this afternoon."

Olivia smiled. "Oh, okay. Thanks for stopping by."

Edison nodded. "It was good to see you Olivia." He nodded at Fitz. "Dr. Grant." Fitz nodded back at him. Edison fled then, walking to the door. When he reached it, he watched for a moment and saw Olivia walk over to Fitz with the baby still in her arms. She sat on the arm of the chair and kissed Fitz, then pulling back with a smile. They looked like a picture, her sitting near him like that, with their two children in their arms.

Edison left quietly, wondering how this had happened. In his mind, Olivia marrying Fitz Grant had never been a possibility. He couldn't seem to believe it had been real.

When Edison got back to his hotel, where he did not have a presentation, he went into his room and decided to make a call.

"Hello?"

"Lisa? It's Edison. So I just went to see Olivia."

"Oh?"

"How…when…how?" Edison stuttered into the receiver.

"So you know then."

"Know what?" Edison asked. "Know that Olivia is married to Fitz Grant and has two kids with him? Um, yeah, I think I know. How could you not tell me?"

Lisa paused. "I didn't know how. I still can't believe it myself sometimes. Besides, it is not something you exactly say over the phone."

"Here's how: Hey Edison, you know Olivia, my sister and the girl you lived with? Yeah, well, she is now married with two kids. Oh, and Fitz Grant is the babydaddy."

Lisa laughed. "Sorry, Edison."

Edison shrugged, even though he knew she couldn't see him. "How did this happen Lisa? They were together before I left, weren't they? Why didn't you tell me?"

She sighed. "We didn't know. None of us did. I think Mellie suspected, and Hannah too, but neither of them ever said anything. Olivia and Fitz kept their relationship a secret for a long time. Mostly because of this promise I had Jake make Fitz agree to. I thought there was a little too much flirting between them, so I intervened. Fitz felt really guilty for having broken his promise, and I think Olivia didn't want people to think less of her."

"Cause it was Grant?" Edison asked.

"No, cause he was her attending. I guess we were more alike than I knew, huh?" Lisa paused, and then said, "Well, anyway, they kept it secret and no one knew, but then Olivia had an accident."

"What happened?"

"She had been driving home and she was hit by a drunk driver. When they rushed her to the emergency room…well, it didn't look good. Fitz started freaking out and when her heart stopped, he kept performing CPR, even when the chief told him to stop. When she wasn't coming back, Fitz started crying and yelling about how she couldn't leave him and how he loved her. He then pounded on her chest one more time and she came back. I think we were all crying by that point. But Fitz just kept kissing her forehead and whispering 'thank you.'

"He didn't leave her bedside for days. When she finally recovered, they were married and Cassie came nine months later."

Edison could hardly believe all that he had missed. "I have to go Lisa."

"Okay, Edison."

"Oh, and Lisa?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."

When Edison put down the phone, he sighed. He then lay back on the hotel bed and stared at the ceiling. He didn't know what he had been expecting from Olivia when he had gone to visit her, but he had never expected this. Olivia was married; Olivia was happy.

Edison wondered if she had been right to not tell him about Fitz all those years ago. He wouldn't have understood, Edison knew that. He would never have believed that Fitz Grant could be anything…more.

Edison pictured the way Olivia had looked today. She was happy. He was glad for that. Edison swallowed his own disappointment, and then realized he no longer had a reason to be in Washington DC. It was time to return to Walla Walla. He had come back to settle things, and now he had.

He didn't belong here anymore. He was finished.