It would be typical that she find the love of her life and he would not only be married but running for president. Olivia would catch herself looking at him without even knowing it. Their unconsciousness seemed to gravitate towards each other. Without meaning to they always end up in the same space.

"I'm married. I'm running for president."

"I know."

"I can't do this,"

"I don't want you to."

"Can we just stand here? For just one minute. I'm not the candidate and you're not the fixer. For one minute can we just be us?"

"One minute." Olivia relented against her better judgement.

For one minute they stood there staring at each other blocking out the rest of the world. For one minute they were able to pretend that they had a chance. That they were possible.

Olivia knew she was in big trouble. There was no denying that there was something between her and Fitz. Something so strong that it was instinctive. Regardless how hard she tried to put physical and emotional distance between them, something always led them back to each other.

Fitz allowed her in, let her see him and the more he did, the more she believed in him. Believed that he was the real deal and excited for his potential. The more she cared about him and it was getting dangerous. She was his closest counsel and he had become hers. He was just ever present in her life. Interested in everything she had to say, completely supportive in every way. Being on the campaign trail he had easily slipped into the slot of her best friend. They joked around a lot and she tempered his mood and had the innate ability to diffuse him before he even knew he was ticking. Above all else she read him like a book. She knew him. She knew him in ways she probably shouldn't.

Her heart ached for him when Mellie announced the loss of their unborn child and her heart broke for him as he confessed that Mellie told the lie to ensure that he secured the votes of women. Very early on Olivia realised that Mellie was running for First Lady and nothing was going to stop her. She watched in the sidelines how hard Mellie pushed Fitz. Their marriage was rocky at best when she had come into the picture, but the Grant's had to suck it up if they wanted to sell him as a viable republican candidate who places such importance on family values. Out in front of the cameras they learned to be flawless in large part thanks to Olivia who had taught them well. Behind closed doors it was a completely different story. It almost justified the temptation she felt but her conscience always won out and each time it did, it broke a piece of her heart. She wanted him as much as he wanted her and they just fit.

As they got off the elevator, they said their good night to Cyrus and headed towards their rooms they both stopped in front of hers, in contemplation of their next move. Something had shifted on the bus and she tried to console him for his loss. The brief yet significant joining of their fingers confirmed what they'd tried so hard to deny, that they were indeed falling for each other.

"Just go into your room, lets forget this ever happened." Fitz said softly as he stool close behind her. Olivia took a deep breath as she stared past her own door to his. Could she really go along with it. There was no denying that she felt more for him that she'd care to admit, but feeling and acting were two different things and if she acted, there'd be no turning back and there would be no undoing. Olivia turned around to face him, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm sorry Fitz. I can't! It's not right. If I thought you and I were just some fling, maybe I could, but what I feel for you is so intense that if we take this step. I wouldn't know how to let you go. I don't want to be your mistress. I wouldn't know how to live with myself. I'm sorry." Fitz heart broke at the look on her face and the pain in her voice. Before he could say anything she stepped forward to place a brief kiss on his lips and entered her room closing the door behind her. Fitz watched her door for what seemed like an eternity trying to figure out what his next move was. In the end he knew she was right. They couldn't start something, aside from it being wrong, once they began he wouldn't want it to end. It would become their undoing.