Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time

The Proposal

One year. It had been one year since Olivia had walked into the Oval Office and first met Fitz. One year to the day. One year since her life had turned around and she suddenly found herself with a real family. A family full of (insane) friends, kids who adored her, a man who worshipped the ground she walked on, everything really was perfect.

She really wished said man were here today of all days. Sighing, she glanced back down at his hand written notes for a speech he was giving next week when the French Prime Minister was in town. Her wonderful boyfriend was out on the West Coast visiting California and doing a bit of stumping for his friend, Andrew Nichols, who was running for a recently vacated governor seat.

On their anniversary.

And he'd taken the kids, so she was destined to go back to her apartment alone and crack open a bottle of wine and pop some popcorn.

"Hey, Liv?" Leo's voice echoed down the hallway long before he actually appeared.

"What's up, Leo?" She asked.

"You doing anything tonight?" He asked.

"Home. Wine. Popcorn. The news." She replied as she paused her typing, "Why? Are you guys going out?" Even though she was dating the President of the United States, she'd made herself a regular at the Tuesday night bar nights. It was nice to still have a job and a social life that was (ever so slightly) outside of Fitz.

"Not tonight, but I need something dropped off at the Residence tonight. Do you think you can take it up on your way out?" He asked, "I still feel kind of weird about being up there alone." He admitted.

Smiling, Olivia nodded and extended her hand. He placed an envelope in it, "Of course." She hadn't officially moved in upstairs (though she spent the night often enough that sometimes it felt like she had). She liked the idea of her own space until they were married. Just in case. Not that she imagined an 'in case' with Fitz. Still, she liked to think she was (attempting) to set a good example for the kids by not living there, yet. It also kept too many rumors from flying. Fitz had taken a bigger hit than anticipated with his poll numbers and this re-election was going to be a bear if things continued on this course. His approval ratings were slowly starting to climb. Olivia had no idea America cared about divorce quite this much. Apparently there was something to be said about keeping people like the president on a pedestal.

She hoped that by the time he term came to an end in two years no one would care anymore. He was an amazing president, helping to strengthen the economy and the military. Countries wanted to be friends with America again, and their enemies were afraid, knowing that the might of the American military would follow. The large income gap was slowly starting to close. Things were headed in the right direction. And if they continued with another four years, the healthcare system could really get cleaned up, along with the way veterans were treated, there was just so much potential. America seemed hopeful.

With a final smile, Leo left Olivia to manning the phone and shifting around Fitz's schedule for the following week.

SCANDAL

Stepping out of the elevator on the Residence level, Olivia smiled at a passing maid as she made her way into the bedroom. She'd leave the envelope on Fitz's nightstand. Leo assured her there was nothing regarding national security inside, just fan mail from his niece.

Her eyes narrowed in on the open doors that led to the Truman Balcony. The doors were wide open, the long curtains blowing in the breeze. One of the maids must've been a bit on the distracted side. Leaving the envelope next to his side of the bed, Olivia crossed the large room to close and lock the doors before security threw the whole building in lockdown.

She paused as her foot stepped on a rose petal just short of the glass door. With her head falling to the side, Olivia stepped out onto the balcony. "Oh my." She murmured. The darkened patio was bathed in candlelight, there were rose petals scattered everywhere and Fitz stood with Karen and Jerry on either side of him wearing a tux, his hands in his pockets as he rocked back on his heels, a nervous smile on his face, "Fitz?"

"Hey, Livie." Reaching out, he drew her towards them. "Surprise."

"This is so beautiful." Olivia felt her stomach swoop at the scene laid out before her. It was breathtakingly beautiful and romantic. The lengths this man went through for her still overwhelmed her and she found herself brushing away a few tears.

"I'm glad you like it." He murmured, "I wanted this to be special, to be something you always remembered."

"Our anniversary?" She asked, her brow arching, "Of course I'll always remember that."

He shook his head, "No, not our anniversary," he corrected softly, "this." He dropped down to one knee and Olivia took an inadvertent step back.

"Fitz." She whispered hoarsely, "You're sure?"

"That I want to marry you?" He asked. At her nod, he chuckled, "Yeah, Liv, I'm sure. I've been sure about you since day one." He told her honestly. "You're open and honest and good." He smiled up at her, "And you see me. Not a Grant man. Or the president. You see me."

"You see all of us." Karen cut in to correct her father.

Olivia shook her head, "How can I miss the three of you? You bring chaos and trouble and love everywhere you go."

"So, Olivia Carolyn Pope," Fitz nudged Jerry's knee until he handed over a small velvet box, "will you marry me?" He asked, opening it to reveal a nontraditional ring that was beautiful. "It was Betsy Ross'." He told her.

"It's beautiful." She murmured, "And yes, I'll marry you. I love you all so much." She held out her left hand, shaking slightly as Fitz took it, slipping the ring on her finger.

"We love you, too, Liv!" Karen yanked on Jerry until he was stumbling towards them in a group hug. A family hug. That's what they were. A family. And now they were going to be one in every way possible.

"You're getting married!" The four turned as Abby nearly fell out onto the balcony, Harrison, Stephen, Leo, David, Tom, Huck, Charlie and Jake all following her.

"You all were watching?" Olivia asked incredulously.

"Actually," Abby corrected, "we were filming."

"To show the world." Leo interjected.

"You are not putting that online." Olivia told them sternly.

They did. And the proposal nearly broke the internet it was shared and viewed so many times.

SCANDAL

XOXO

MAS