The first time Olivia Pope saw Fitzgerald Grant she was 18, on a beach in Southern California and she was hitting him in the back of the head with a volleyball, effectively knocking him to the ground.

"Oh my God are you okay! I'm so sorry I was never very good at volleyball . . . are you okay?" she was rambling as she helped the stranger get on his feet. He was a handsome man; he looked about 30 with curly brown hair, and gray eyes.

"I'm okay, thanks though" laughed the stranger. "I'm Fitz by the way"

"Hello Fitz, my names Olivia. Can I get you a coffee or something? It's the least I can do for almost giving you a concussion"

"I would very much enjoy a coffee" Fitz chuckled. Olivia ran over to her friends to explain what was going on and get her things.

"I'm back" she huffed. "Should we go?"

They spent the next 2 hours just talking. They talked about anything and everything from sports to careers. He was a lawyer, and she was about to go into her first semester at Georgetown. They were in the middle of a debate about foreign policy when Olivia noticed the time.

"Oh god! It's already 5:00. I was supposed to meet Abby and the others at 4:45. I had a great time Fitz. Maybe next time we see each other I wont be almost knocking you out". She was halfway out the door when he heard him call out after her "Next time? So there will be a next time?" She quirked an eyebrow at him "If you're brave enough" Then she was gone. Fitz sighed and stood up. She was a good one. He was about to throw his cup away when he noticed some out of place writing. He turned the cup and saw in neat all Caps:

OLIVIA POPE

(202)-548-4767

He smiled. She must have done it while he was in the bathroom. He put the number in his phone and went to throw the cup away, but again something stopped him. He had a feeling- in his gut that told him one day he would end up wanting this again. So he kept it, and as soon as he got home he put it in the china cabinet. It looked different, sitting next to the fancy dishes, but not out of place. He waited exactly one hour before calling her

"What". He liked the way she answered her phone. It was very her.

"That was smooth. Putting it on my coffee cup like that. I almost missed it."

"Well it's a good thing you noticed then isn't it."

"I guess it was."

"So what's up?"

"You're going on a date with me. Tomorrow night. At six. I was just calling to know where I should pick you up"

'I have plans actually, but smooth"

"You're right, so where should I pick you up." Olivia smiled on the other end of the line, and gave him her address. Normally she didn't date, but it was the summer, and she was 18 years young, and she was in California so she might as well have some fun.

Olivia was watching TV waiting for Fitz to come pick her up for their mystery date. She had no idea what the night had in store for her, so she had gone for the casual look. She had on a sleeveless whit eyelet lace dress, with white flip-flops and aviator sunglasses. She jumped up when she heard the doorbell and went to the door. Opening it she saw she had chosen well. He was in flip-flops and a pair of board shorts with a casual polo.

"Hi"

"Hi"

"Ready?"

"Yeah, let me just grab my bag. She picked up her beach tote, and stepped out the door closing it behind her. Fitz led her to his convertible, and helped her in.

"So where are we going?" she asked. Fitz gave her a sly smile before answering, "I told you it was a surprise" He started the car and they were on their way. About 15 minutes later they pulled into a secluded parking spot off the highway. He got out of the car, opened her door, helped her out of the car, and then went around to the back. He grabbed a picnic basket and then shut the trunk.

They had a picnic on the beach that night. They built sandcastles, and waded in the ocean, and just had fun. By the time the sun was setting they were both exhausted. They had already eaten the PB&J sandwiches he had packed as well as the cheese and crackers. Fitz reached into the basket and pulled out the last item in their- a bottle of red wine. When Olivia saw it she smiled. She always did have a soft spot for red wine.

"Fitzgerald!" she joked punching him in the arm. "You know I'm not allowed to drink alcoholic beverages for another three years."

He treated her to a secretive smile before replying "I won't tell if you won't"

The rest of the night was perfect. They talked more, they had a mini-debate, and then they talked some more. At ten o'clock Fitz was packing everything up when Olivia grabbed his phone.

"Hey!" he cried "give it back!" Olivia smiled. "Catch me if you can" then she turn and ran away. Fitz chuckled and chased after her. She ran in circles, always managing to outmaneuver him, at one point even venturing into the ocean, but eventually he managed to catch up to her, so he lunged and managed to grab her around the waist, at the same time knocking them both backwards in the process, so that eventually she was laying on top of him looking into his eyes. She leaned down and ever so slowly, ever so softly, kissed him. They stayed like that for a minute, and then just like that she was back on her feet running from him. "Catch me if you can" she laughed ahead of him.

The rest of the summer was like that. He was always trying to catch her, and sometimes he did, but never for long. He was falling for her, just like she was falling for him. And then her last night in California came. So they went back to the spot they had their very first date. It was a night of many firsts for them. They just laid on the beach holding each other, and then somehow they were by the water, and then they were kissing, and then they were doing more than kissing, and by the end of the night they had made love. And they called it making love instead of sex because at some point they had both said those three crucial words. "I love you"

He took her to the airport the next morning, and he waited with her until he heard the dreaded words "flight 227 to DC, f;ight 227 to DC". He helped her with her luggage before bringing up the inevitable. "Will I ever see you again?"

She looked at him and thought for a minute before answering "I come every summer. So catch me if you can" She gave him a sly smile and she was off. He watched her retreating back and couldn't help but feel sad. He had to wait almost a year to see her again. But on the bright side he would see her again. He would make sure of it.
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