Executive Orders

CH 46 | Private Times

Fitz left Olivia reluctantly, but not before capturing a final kiss from her lips. Olivia was just as reluctant, but she set herself to her own tasks; retrieving the morning newspapers, after which she retreated to the bedroom.

Closing the door behind her, she settled herself in the middle of the bed, legal pads, pen and cell phone in hand. Olivia turned on the television, setting the channel to one of her favored twenty-four hour news channel before digging into the newspapers she'd brought into the room with her.

Like it or not, she had to approve of the pictures taken at the fund-raiser along with the good publicity it had generated. Seeing Colleen with Fitz didn't bother her in the least - that was business and the tech mogul knew it. They would have to come up with something to reward her cooperation, Olivia thought as she made a note to remind herself.

On the other hand, her irritation came to a slow boil as she studied the pictures of Fitz with Elizabeth. Olivia couldn't help but note that the other woman's smile was just a little too bright, her gaze just a little bit too unsubtly adoring. Elizabeth knew exactly what she was doing - purposefully implying that something just might be happening between the Chairwoman and the President that would without a doubt get picked up on by the news outlets.

Recalling the earlier conversation with Fitz and Cyrus, Olivia was more determined than ever that she and Elizabeth would be having a little one on one conversation very soon. Whatever Elizabeth thought she was doing, Olivia would be letting her know that it was going to be shut down. Quickly. The only games Olivia was going to allow would be the ones she set into play.

Lizzie-Bear - Olivia's lips twisted at Cyrus' nickname for her - was a potential problem - but she had no doubt that she could handle the other woman.

Someone else mentioned the president's expected visit to the Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell tomorrow, courtesy of Colleen Cassidy and Olivia nodded in approval. At least this part of the plan was working pretty much flawlessly. Little fluff pieces like this were more personal, getting-to-know-the-man-in-the-Oval-Office without the restraints of formal interviews. Showing Fitz to be a man who wasn't all work and no play had its appeal.

She flipped the channel to a one that had a less than favorable view of the Grant administration and saw that she'd been right about assumptions. There were a few thinly veiled remarks about the possibility of a budding relationship between Fitz and Elizabeth. Colleen's name was mentioned as well, and the broadcasters wondered at what these connections could mean in the short and long term. The conversation had a gossipy Hollywood tabloid vibe which prompted Olivia to make more notes to herself to wait for other network morning shows to chime in - those along with certain market indicators would help her to decide whether or not this was a good thing and if any changes to their overall strategy needed to be changed.

After a few more minutes of watching and listening, she began making phone calls - one to OPA included to touch base with Harrison to let him know that she'd be in the office sometime before the day was done. Another was made to Susan Ross; Olivia had come to genuinely appreciate her opinions, and that included her view on the evening's events. At the same time, she'd decided that it would do good for Susan's self-confidence to be consulted by advisers from the White House - and her heart-felt and honest support of Fitz couldn't hurt.

Olivia went back to scanning a few more television channels, checking and rechecking her notes as she went. A part of her was also very much aware that she was deliberately concentrating on what was being said as a way to keep her mind from wondering what was happening on the other side of the bedroom door. It actually worked, which is why she found herself startled by the unexpected knock on the door.

"Fitz?"

"Who else were you expecting?" Fitz smiled at her as he stepped inside.

"There's any number of very chiseled and masculine specimens on the grounds." Olivia teased back as she pushed the papers on the bed to one side. "But seriously, why did you bother to knock?"

"I know you - just like I know that you would come in here with every intention of burying yourself in your work." Fitz crossed the room and sat down in the space she'd cleared. He picked up her notepad and studied Olivia's notes. "I also know why."

Before Olivia had a chance to deny any of what he'd just said, Fitz slipped his fingers under her chin. His thumb brushed over her lips, stilling any protests she might have made. He lifted her face to his with a gentle pressure, bending down to meet her halfway, kissing her softly.

"When you make notes on paper instead of your phone, I know serious matters are on your mind - or you're trying to bury yourself in them."

He kissed her again; there was so much being said in the soft contact between his mouth and hers; Fitz knew that a part of Olivia's thoughts were working overtime; she'd never admit it, but the fact was that Mellie's presence - even in a phone call - was somehow still hovering somewhere in the back of her mind.

He knew that she couldn't help it and so he meant for his kisses to still those thoughts, to dismiss them as best he could - and if he were being honest, it was to remind them both, because there was a part of him that needed settling too. This reminder was twofold and bittersweet; that this here and now, this private time of love and healing was by necessity, was coming to an end. The world with all of its trials and tribulations was waiting.

It troubled him more than it should.

Something of this must have shown in his eyes because when the kiss finally ended and he'd drawn reluctantly away, Fitz found Olivia looking at him with nothing but concern in hers.

"Tell me what happened, Fitz."

It was clear from the tone in her voice that she already knew. In reaction, his whole body seemed to close in on itself. Unconsciously, Fitz dropped his head and closed his eyes not wanting to be the one to bring the outside world here to come between them when they had so little time left for themselves.

Fitz hadn't even realized what he'd done until he felt Olivia as she leaned into him and did the same, gently touching her forehead to his.

"Tell me." He heard her say again. Her voice soft but insistent.

You're not going to let this go, are you?" Fitz felt his mouth twitch itself into a rueful smile.

"No way." Olivia murmured. She brushed her lips against his. "I'm stubborn."

"I know."

"And you love it."

"I love it." Fitz agreed. "And you."

Even though he couldn't see her face, Fitz knew she was smiling and why she was smiling and that thought made him smile again. At the same time, he realized what was causing the tug of war going on inside of him. It was more than the bitter exchange he'd just had with Mellie, more than the hurtful insinuations that his oldest son wanted nothing to do with him and that he'd practically abandoned his youngest. Part of it was also the idea that he was there to take care of Olivia and not the other way around and how could he burden her with this now of all times?

His smile faded, just a little, but it was enough. One look into her eyes told Fitz that she'd guessed what was going through his head.

"It's all right, Fitz - I'm all right. And if you're not, that's okay. If you're not - I just need for you to tell me the truth either way."