"Fitzgerald Grant was about to be the First President of the United States to file and divorce his wife while in office. He was shot almost a year ago, and realized that almost dying changes a man. He was done living a lie, being in a loveless marriage, and made the decision to take his own life in his hands finally.

Olivia (Who Fitz has NOT met yet) has been dealing with her own demons as well. She is dealing with the loss of her fiancée who was tragically killed in the last part of his tour in Afghanistan. She has been afraid to open her heart to anyone for over two years.

Neither realize that they are the godparents of Ella Margaret Novak Beene. They finally meet each other in the strangest of circumstances. This meeting ends up changing their lives. This changes them and they become to each other what they both need to heal…. their "Saving Grace."

/

"Saving Grace"

Chapter 1: Car Issues and Christenings…OH My!

Fitz was on the way to his godchild's christening sitting comfortably in the back of his motorcade. As he sat there, being driven to the small church the christening was at, he thought back to all the changes that have happened to him over the last year.

Almost a year ago, on the way to his 50th birthday, he was shot three times. No one wants to get shot and it drastically changes a man. He got elected three years ago to the Presidency mainly because his friend and mentor Cyrus Beene believed in him. Cyrus always knew how to push him in the right direction to become a great man. But something told Fitz during his campaign that he was getting some outside help, even though Cyrus would never admit it.

Cyrus pushed him back then to get along better with Mellie, his soon to be ex-wife and First Lady. He was told to suck it up and they had to pretend to get along in order for them both to get into the White House. It obviously worked because he won the election. Even though he won the election, something was missing in his life. It wasn't until he was shot that he realized what is was, the life HE WANTED. Not one that was dictated to him!

Fitz always wanted a life with someone that would love him for him, not for his power. A woman that told him the truth without reservation, and believed in him no matter what he did. A woman that had brains, beauty, and a heart of gold. In time he just learned to live with the fact that "dream girl" did not exist. And Mellie was not her. Maybe she loved him, but she loved being First Lady more. After he was shot and survived he told her that he wanted a divorce. Cyrus of course was furious with him, but he eventually stood by his best friend and President.

Now almost a year later, as he road in his limo to his godchild's christening, he was almost free of a loveless marriage, and was still able to have the job he wanted. He was still the President of the United States and even though the American people didn't agree with his in his choice to divorce his wife while in office, eventually they started to come around. His approval ratings were starting to go up again and that was due to the fact that he was leading the nation not only with his heart but head. For once they agreed with each other. And his two children Karen and Jerry were around more and the American public loved seeing him doting on his kids being the great soon to be "single" dad.

/

As Fitz was riding in his car, he noticed that it began to slow down and come to a stop. He sat up some in the seat wondering what was going on. He figured they were not at the church as of yet, and was confused as to what was happening.

"Excuse me Tom, why have we stopped? We are not at the church yet are we?" Fitz asked his loyal Secret Service agent Tom. Tom Stanton was assigned to him when he first won the Republican Nomination. Tom had been by his side ever since.

"No Mr. President. It looks like there is a SUV ahead of us parked on the side of the road. Because we are not sure if the area is clear, we have to wait to pass by it." Tom told Fitz.

"Well is there anyone in it?" Fitz asked.

Tom radioed ahead and found out. "Yes sir, well kind of. There's this woman pacing circles around the SUV on her cell phone. From what the lead motorcycles are saying she is on her cell phone yelling at whomever is on the other end. I guess she noticed the police and other cars but kept right on yelling into her phone."

Fitz opened his door and stood up. He looked ahead of his protection detail and saw this beautiful woman, in extremely high heels, pacing in circles behind and around her SUV. As he watched her he could just make out her long and sexy legs. Her hair was black, long, and had long curls in it. He could just make out her voice, and from this distance he liked what he heard. He noticed her walk. It had power and a strut to it, like she was a woman on a mission. Also the more he watched her pace circles around her SUV, he kept noticing her hips. He was beginning to have a hard time focusing from way back here.

"Tom, go and make sure the area by her car is secure." Fitz said to him.

"Sir, are you sure you want to go up there?"

"Absolutely. Whomever she is, she needs some help. Tom can't you hear her screaming into her phone. Dang I am happy she is not yelling at me." Fitz said with a smile on his face.

"But Sir, Mr. Beene is expecting you any moment at the church."

"Well if Cyrus calls tell him a matter of national security came up and I had to take care of it before I got there. Now please go secure the area around her car so I can see if she would like any help."

"Yes Mr. President." Tom answered back to Fitz. The only thing Tom knew about being on POTUS detail that whatever President Grant wanted to do, he did. He served the President and this was well a strange circumstance.

/

Olivia had been driving her way to the church for her mentor and long time friend Cyrus Beene. Him and his husband have finally adopted a baby girl and she was on the way to the church for the Christening. Not only was she invited to go but she was the baby's godmother.

Since she had never been a god-parent before, she asked her mother to send the christening gown that she wore. Her mother of course loved the idea and mailed the beautiful antique dress to her. She had gotten everything she needed in the car early, and left in plenty of time just in case she got lost on the way. She even asked Cyrus who the baby's god-father was but Cyrus kept telling her it was surprise. She did not like surprises and was in no mood.

As she drove on her way to the church, she began to think back to how her life had changed so much over the last three years. She had met her fiancée, a marine, and they were going to get married after his last tour in Afghanistan. He had done three tours in the combat regions and after this last tour, he was going to get out so they could get married and be together.

Olivia loved him more than anything and on his second to last day in "theatre" he was sent on a mission to recover some intelligence on a Taliban Leader that had been hiding in the area. Once his unit got the area, they were attacked by an IED and unfortunately he was killed. The news of her fiancée's death was a crushing blow and now over two and a half years later, she still had not allowed herself to fully grieve and move on. She of course had her friends, family and something even more special but her heart was still broken.

As she got lost in her thoughts her car came to a screeching halt. It would not turn over and as she got out of the car she noticed to top it off she had a flat tire too. She was so mad, that that kicked the door and immediately called the garage that was supposed to have fixed it.

"What the HELL do you mean you fixed the problem," Olivia yelled into the phone, "if my problem is fixed then why am I stuck on the side of the road. You get a truck out to me right now with a rental car so I can get to my god-child's christening!"

The man on the phone said that he would do the best that he could but was not making any promises. As Olivia continue to pace in circles around her dead SUV she did not notice the rather large caravan of police and a limo behind her.

It was not until a few men in suits came up to her did she hang up her phone.

"Um, can I help you?" She asked the men in suits.

"Yes Ma'am, we need to make sure the area is secure. Is there anything in your car that we need to be aware of. Is there anyone else in the car with you Ma'am?"

Olivia looked at the man with a complete look of shock on her face. "Number one, who the heck are you? Two, and if you can't help me change a tire and get a tow-truck here to help me get to my god-child's christening then leave me alone and drive on past me!"

Fitz could hear her yelling at Tom and a huge smile came across his face. Wow this woman isn't afraid of anything.

"Christening Ma'am?" Tom asked her.

"Yes Christening. You know you take a baby to church. Put him or her in a nice white outfit and the priest bless' the baby with water on it's head. Wow for wearing an expensive suit, you ain't to bright are you son."

Tom was totally taken back and looked back at Fitz who had an even bigger smile.

"Ma'am I really need to check your car and the agents need to check the area." Tom said to her again.

"Sure, whatever blows your dress up." Tom looked at her like she had twelve head and checked the car. He looked inside, smiled, and went back to the limo.

Olivia bent down and attempted to take the tire off with the tire iron. She was struggling but continued to try to get it to turn the lug nuts. In her struggling she did not notice that someone else had been walking up to her now. She was so incredibly pissed off that she had no idea what was going on around her anymore. She kept swearing and cursing paying no mind at WHO was walking up to her.

She continued to struggle with the tire lug nuts when she heard this deep baritone voice.

"Excuse me Miss would you like some help?" This deep sexy voice said to her.

Not looking up at who was talking to her, but noticing the expensive shoes, and suit from where she was kneeling down, she answered the voice.

"No thank you I am fine. I would hate for you to dirty your expensive suit." She answered back quickly.

Fitz stood there over her, not moving away. "OH don't worry, me and my expensive suit can take a little dirt. Are you sure? I really don't mind." Whomever this woman was, he HAD to see her face.

Olivia got up, turned and walked away still NOT looking as to whom was talking to her still. "No really I am fine. Unless you're the President and can ban shady car mechanics from screwing up your car once but twice then I'll be fine."

Fitz watched her walk away and was immediately stunned by her beauty from just her back end. Wow I need her to turn around, he thought.

"The President, really?" Fitz paused. "I don't know, but I may know him. Really I don't mind lending a damsel in distress some help." Fitz had to get her to turn around and face him somehow. Whomever this woman was, he just had to see her face.

Now Olivia still not paying attention to who she was talking to got pissed. "Wow you don't take a hint. I am fine and you seriously don't know the Pres…" as she whipped herself around and froze in her spot.

"Holy SHIT!" She exclaimed making the man in front of her smile like he's never smiled before. There before her, stood Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III, the President of the United States.

Almost unable to find her words, she said "I, um, Mr. President…I am so sorry. I am speechless."

Fitz walked up to her, putting his hand out for her give him the tire iron, still grinning from ear to ear.

"I beg to differ. Now will you let me help you now Miss…." Fitz said to her.

"Pope, Olivia Pope," was all she could answer handing him the tire iron.

/

So my little Pumpkins, here is my newest bit of "deliciousness" for you all. I hope you like and it's only going to get better. So what do you think of OLITZ's unusual meeting. I know totally different and a little out there but I figured it would be an interesting way to start their relationship in this tale.

Oh there is no Defiance in this story. Fitz won the election fair and square.

I hope you all like and stick with it and me. To all my the gladiators that continue to follow me and my stories Thank you. And a special shout out to my PEACHES EVORIA…I hope you like because you encourage me to start this next saga. Luv ya girl!

Leave me Peace, Peaches and Pumpkins….

Me's