Executive Orders

CH 76 | Episode 20: Something Mellie This Way Comes

"I'm just keeping my word to your daughter." Olivia pointed out. "Whole wheat toast - tea - not coffee - because we both know you'll probably drink way too much of that before the day is done."

Fitz made a face at her, but gave no other protest. Olivia mimicked him before she continued.

"I've also ordered a low cholesterol butter spread for your toast, along with a very healthy serving of your favorite fresh fruits - blueberries, strawberries, sliced peaches..."

"Fresh, perfectly ripe peaches." Fitz finished her sentence for her. "My favorite."

Olivia smiled at him, knowing from the husky drop of tone in his voice exactly what he meant.

They were both seated cross-legged on Fitz's bed facing one another, a small table at their side with carafe and two teacups and the tray that it formerly held now sitting between them, loaded down with several smaller dishes holding the already mentioned foods.

Seeing her expression, Fitz leaned forward and Olivia met him half-way in a kiss that was sweet and soft and sticky and highly appreciative. "Peaches and cream are my favorites..."

"I know." Olivia's lips curved themselves softly against his.

"And I love that you know." Fitz snatched himself another kiss - he really couldn't resist - after all from the very first, Olivia's kisses had reminded him of fresh peaches and cream. Since then, he could never eat them without being reminded of that. Fitz hummed softly, a little sound of satisfaction as they kissed, before drawing back reluctantly, the memory lingering sweetly upon his lips.

It was very early in the am, a little less than two hours before sunrise because they both knew that Olivia would want to leave long before the busy day they had ahead of them kicked in. So with that thought on both of their minds, they were stealing a last few minutes of their time alone.

"We could go back and forth debating that all day." A soft laugh escaped Olivia's lips.

"We could do a lot of things all day -" Fitz said with what was wickedly purposeful intent. "- if only we had the time."

"Exactly." Olivia smiled... If only...echoing in her eyes. "So, Mr. President, what's on your menu for the day?"

"This morning?" Fitz thought for a minute. "First things first - there's the conversation with my daughter that I need to have."

"She's fine, Fitz." Olivia reminded him.

"I know. But I'll still feel better after I've talked to her." Fitz said, before continuing to answer her question. "After that, I've got an appointment with Cyrus to go over my last phone call with the General and see where we are as far as us moving forward with the Summit and the makings of a treaty."

He went on to fill Olivia in on more specifics of the conversation, going on to share his initial thoughts on it. "I'm wondering what level of agreements can we offer that won't act as some kind of provocation to his neighbors."

"I can see the dilemma." Olivia said, her mind following his thoughts; from what he'd told her, there was no doubt that Fitz was facing a careful balancing act. "You don't want to seem to have an undue influence on the General - but at the same time you need to make it clear to his neighbors - and anyone else who might be paying attention, that there are advantages in entering into a peaceful and profitable alliance with the US..."

"Exactly." Fitz said, satisfaction filling him. Trust Olivia to go straight to the heart of what mattered to him. When they next spoke, it was at the same time.

"I was thinking about Jocelyn..." he said.

"I think that Jocelyn..." she said.

Realizing what they'd just done, they stopped, then laughed at the same time as well - which made them both laugh again, filling the room with warmth.