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Mellie had grown tired of waiting. Tired of spending every moment with Olivia while the younger woman was oblivious to what was going on. To the change that Mellie felt inside her as they grew closer than expected.
She wanted to just tell her. I have feelings for you! She wanted to yell, to finally get it off her chest but as much as she wanted to, the fear of rejection and ruining their friendship held her back.
But she had to do something.
Subtlety would have to be the way.
It started with small touches that Liv didn’t even question. The woman actually reciprocated them, a hand on her arm, leaning on her shoulder while they were watching a movie. Anything to give Olivia a hint at what she was feeling.
Her birthday was probably the closest she had gotten to doing something about it. It was colder than usual and Mellie had never been big on celebrating her birthday. Still, Olivia insisted that Mellie did whatever she wanted.
And the only thing she wanted was a night in with Olivia.
Looking back at it, it was ridiculous that Liv hasn’t caught on yet. And even more ridiculous how hopeless Mellie was.
It was December now and nothing had changed. Mellie teetered on the line, holding back her feelings as she practically smacked Liv in the face with hints.
And she expected their night to go the same way as they got ready for their holiday party.
Barely a party, more like a get together yet a night where she wasn’t thinking about the weight of the United States on her shoulders.
And that part is what led them here.
The pair was getting dressed in Mellie’s room which felt domestic enough as is. Everything was there except in the open except their actual feelings. So they just fell into the repetitive trap of doing everything a couple would without the label.
Still, Mellie couldn’t help herself as she watched Liv put on her earrings in the mirror. She was gorgeous as always and Mellie could feel her own feelings bubble at the surface. She had to try again, she had to do something to make it clear to Liv.
“C’mere,” Mellie murmured as she leaned against her vanity in her closet. Olivia looked at her, surprise on her face as she processed her words. Olivia’s heart sped up as she willed her legs to move, going towards Mellie.
Liv stops to stand directly in front of her, distracted by Mellie’s lips to notice what Mellie was doing. Mellie looked down at her with a bright smile, smoothing out Olivia’s collar.
Olivia felt like she was bathing in sunlight, Mellie’s smile focused on her while Mellie fussed over the collar of Liv’s shirt. It was like her heart paused and she could barely breathe. Liv didn’t know when her feelings had changed, they just did. One day Mellie was her best friend and the next, Mellie was everything.
She couldn’t take it. Pushing them down, working with her, spending every moment she could and not letting Mellie know how she felt.
And Mellie only seemed to make it impossible for her. It was like one day Mellie decided to be the most physical person she’d ever met. When they were together, Mellie’s hands never left her body. It was always appropriate, always friendly but Liv always felt as if they were charged with something more.
It had been months of it. Months of her soft touches, soft words and deep stares and Olivia wasn’t sure just how much more she could take.
“Mel,” Olivia finally blurts out and Mellie hums.
“The car is waiting for us,” she reminds her and Mellie nods.
“Sorry, it was bothering me,” Mellie finally snatched her hands away and they walked to the doors. Mellie knocked to let her detail know she was ready and soon they were being whisked away to one of the blacked out presidential town cars.
“Why didn’t they want to come to the White House? I would have happily had a room put together for a Christmas party only for OPA.” Mellie asked as they sat in the back of the car.
“I don’t know, they wouldn’t tell me. They wouldn’t even let me in when they were decorating. It’s a big surprise,” Olivia held up air quotes around the word surprise and Mellie giggled, unable to help herself when Liv makes that annoyed face.
“It’s not that funny Mellie,” Olivia rolled her eyes and Mellie shook her head.
“You’re not seeing what I’m seeing,” Mellie teased and Liv turned her head forward, desperate to hide her flushed cheeks.
She’s the president of the United States, YOU cannot be having feelings for her. Definitely not right now.
Olivia tried to remind herself of this constantly. Before she went into the White House, during lunch where Mellie sat so close to her that she made it difficult to breathe. She doesn’t understand how this happened, her feelings for Mellie. The second time she’s been in love with the President of the United States. It sounded insane, even to her.
Mellie went on talking about the gifts she got for Teddy and Karen. Olivia nodded, listening along but her mind was too focused on Mellie’s hand that was only millimeters away from her own. She was surprised Mellie wasn’t touching her and with her surprise came disappointment.
It was this rollercoaster of emotions that controlled her when she was with her best friend and Olivia desperately tried to keep it in check, keep Mellie from noticing.
The car finally arrived at the building, ripping Liv from her thoughts and the pair waited in the back of the car until the secret service finished securing the building. Mellie looked over at Olivia and frowned when she noticed her best friend staring forward, avoiding looking at her.
“What’s wrong?” Mellie finally asked and Liv’s head snapped over to look at her.
“Nothing,” Olivia flashed a smile and Mellie raised an eyebrow. Before she could push it, there was a knock on the door and they were finally leaving the car.
They went into the building, Olivia walking next to Mellie as her detail continued to survey the building. Mellie is practically bouncing off the walls with excitement, hoping that her gifts for the group were delivered correctly. Olivia nodded along and just as the elevator doors opened, Mellie demanded Olivia’s complete attention.
“I want you to have fun tonight Liv, I mean it,” Olivia stared back at her best friend, a bright smile matched with even brighter blue eyes.
“I should be telling you that,” Liv smiled and Mellie chuckled.
“Yeah, but you seem to be distracted lately, so I want you to relax and have fun. Let go,” Mellie nudged her with her shoulder and Olivia laughed as she opened the doors to the office.
“Stop right there,” the shout was sudden and the pair stopped in place as Abby and Quinn stood in front of them.
“Don’t,” Olivia’s smile instantly dropped as she looked at her friends. They were never up to any good and she knew this was one of those times.
“What’s wrong?” Mellie asked and Abby smiled.
“Mistletoe,” the redhead pointed right above their heads. The opposite reaction from the pair made the scene even funnier as Mellie lit up and Olivia almost shrank with nerves.
“Oh haha,” Mellie laughed but she looked down at Olivia who seemed on edge. Mel scrunched her eyebrows as she observed her best friend’s apprehension.
Sure, they had gotten more physical with each other but Mellie didn’t think she had dropped enough hints for this. Mellie wasn’t even sure if Liv had noticed anything. She wanted Olivia and she wanted this but not if Olivia was uncomfortable. So, she’d bite her tongue and do what she could to make Liv feel safe.
“Just go for the cheek,” Mellie bent lower, facing forward, hoping to hide her own disappointment. Olivia smiled softly before kissing her cheek. Neither noticed as Abby and Quinn shared a look of disappointment and they made their way to the room.
The table was covered with different snacks and foods for the night. Mellie went on, hugging everyone in the room, gushing over the food, especially the huge plate of fried chicken and Liv watched with a smile.
Olivia went into her office to put her purse down and suddenly Abby followed her, closing the door behind them.
“Why didn’t you kiss her?” Abby was practically scolding Olivia once the door was shut.
“Abby, I’m not admitting my feelings for her under the mistletoe,” Olivia hissed and Abby took a step forward.
“Now is better than never,” Abby stressed and Olivia rolled her eyes.
“She’s the president of the United States,” Olivia stressed and Abby chuckled.
“That never stopped you before,” Abby threw out and Olivia froze in place.
“Was that supposed to be funny?” Olivia says and Abby shrugged.
“It was supposed to snap some sense into you. It’s clear she likes you too, stop stalling,” Abby was firm and Liv stared back.
A knock at the door broke the tension in the room and Abby opened it to see Mellie’s bright smile.
“Everyone’s tired of waiting for you two, let’s eat,” the President looks past Abby and winks at Olivia, almost melting her then and there before she shut the door.
“Did she just wink at you?” Abby could barely contain her own shock. They knew that Mellie felt the same way about Liv but it had never been that clear.
“She’s-“ Olivia has to sigh, almost ashamed that this wasn’t just an infatuation she could get over, “been doing that lately,” Liv finished and Abby has to hold in a squeal.
“Tonight’s the night Liv,” Abby nodded and Liv raised an eyebrow.
“The night for what?”
“The night you get your girl,” Abby winked at her before leaving her alone in the office.
Olivia sighed, leaning her arm on her desk. She hated this feeling, she was tired of it more than anything. This longing feeling that ate at her. It was nothing like what she had felt before and that’s what made it even worse. She didn’t know how to deal with it.
Not when Mellie seemed to be all over her. Every touch set her on fire and she doesn’t even know when or how it started. It just did.
“Olivia,” Mellie’s sing-song voice penetrated through the door and Olivia took a deep breath before leaving her office, joining the group.
As expected, they left her a seat right next to Mellie at the head of the table. Olivia sat there and Mellie instantly reached out to take one of Liv’s hands. Olivia had to still herself from snatching her hand away, pausing before she reciprocated the gesture.
She could remember the first time Mellie reached out for her hand. The way it made her feel on the inside and the emptiness she felt when her hand was ripped away by a knock on the door.
The celebration continued as food quickly circled the table and the conversation started, Quinn showing pictures of the baby, Mellie pulling out her own pictures of Teddy. They went on, taking pictures and sharing stories. Olivia tried her best to look like an active participant but she was too focused on the fact that Mellie was glued to her side.
“Are we finally ready to open some gifts,” Liv could feel Mellie next to her, vibrating with excitement.
“Of course, I wanna go first,” Quinn blurted and Mellie almost instantly deflated.
“Don’t worry, we all know your presents will be the best,” Olivia finally broke out of her selfimposed awkwardness as she leaned over to whisper in Mellie’s ear.
“Better than yours?” Mellie whispered back and Olivia smirked.
“I said the best didn’t I?” Liv said and Mellie nodded.
“That you did,” Mellie was just about nuzzled against Olivia and once again, the younger woman froze against her.
Olivia knew that she wouldn’t last much longer like this. Having Mellie so close to her, even more than she normally did. She was saved by Mellie getting up to give everyone their presents. She watched as Mellie handed everyone a box except for her.
“Sorry I had to save the best for last,” Mellie smiled and Olivia held her breath as the box was placed in front of her.
“Mellie, what is this?” Olivia couldn’t move her eyes from the gift in front of her. She knew that whatever Mellie bought was going to be expensive and meaningful. She hesitated as she picked at the corner of the wrapping paper.
“Olivia, just open it,” Mellie was more excited for the gift than Olivia was.
She ripped the corners, being as careful as possible before she saw the navy blue velvet box. Olivia looked up at Mellie who seemed to have a permanent grin on her face.
“Open it!” Mellie rushed and Liv nodded, opening the box to see a Saphire jewelry set.
“Mellie, you…” Olivia didn’t know what else to say. She wants to tell her that she’s insane for buying this for her. Liv also wants to kiss her until she couldn't anymore. She looked between the jewelry and Mellie before she finally spoken again.
“It’s beautiful,” Olivia nodded and some of her anxiety faded when Mellie’s eyes lit up again.
“I’m glad you think so. I really wanted to thank you for all you’ve done this year. You deserve it,” Mellie told her and before anyone else could say anything else, Olivia excused herself to Quinn’s office.
“I worried that it was too much,” Mellie exhaled as soon as she closed the door behind her.
Subtelty has left the building.
Olivia’s head snapped up, and Mellie eyes widened when she saw the tears in Liv’s eyes.
“I can take it back,” Mellie insisted as she set the box down and rushed over to Olivia’s side.
“No, it’s not the jewelry. I’m just-“ Olivia sighed as she looked back at Mellie. Mellie looked so concerned and yet Liv still thought she was the most beautiful woman to walk to earth.
“Was it something I said or the mistletoe? I completely understand if you didn’t want to kiss me,” Mellie did her best to keep her voice normal. The words made her stomach hurt but she knew had to say it. She would never want to make Olivia uncomfortable no matter what she felt for her.
“You think I didn’t-“ Olivia froze when she realized exactly what she was about to say. She looked back at Mellie, taking in every inch of her face.
“I think about kissing you every day. It is the first thing on my mind when I wake up and the last thing in my mind before I go to sleep. I-I never thought you’d-“ Olivia paused, her eyes taking in Mellie, receiving 100 percent of her attention.
“I didn’t think it was fair. To ask that of you, after everything. It felt wrong, I was his mistress, how could I-“ Liv sucked in a deep breath before she continued on, “How could I look you in the eye and say I love you without-“ Mellie couldn't wait any longer and cupped Olivia’s face quickly, pressing their lips together.
Olivia wasn’t a big fan of Christmas, the holiday never brought her the immense amount of joy and cheer as it did Mellie. The cookies, the songs, the gifts, all of the those things felt lackluster but kissing Mellie felt like waking up on Christmas morning. Liv opened her mouth, allowing Mellie access as she pulled the President flush against her.
Mellie eagerly followed Olivia’s lead, letting her tongue pass the younger woman’s full lips as she moved one of her hands to the back of Liv’s neck. Mellie pulled her closer, refusing to break the kiss just yet. She wanted to savor every moment of this, the one thing she had been dreaming of for way too long.
There was no time for either for them to react as Olivia took a step back, tripping over the leg of the coffee table and pulling them both down to the couch. A small yelp left Mellie as she landed in Olivia’s lap and suddenly they were both laughing.
“Who would have thought?” Mellie mused out loud as she adjusted herself so she could properly face Liv.
“Apparently, everyone here,” Olivia answered as she looked up to see another mistletoe above them.
“Well I can’t say I don’t like the way they think,” Mellie leaned forward, kissing Olivia again. It seemed like doing so would quickly become her new addiction.
“You good in there?” Quinn shouted from outside the door.
“Yeah, we’ll be out in a second,” Olivia responded, her voice muffled by Mellie kissing her eagerly.
She wanted to savor the moment, even if it was only for a few seconds longer.
“We’d better get out there before they come looking for us.”
“I’m surprised they haven’t already.”
The pairs straighten out their dresses, kissing each other one last time before they go out and face their friends. As soon as they opened the door to the main conference room, they were met with stares from everyone. And the most off putting of them all was Abby and Quinn’s accompanied by shit-eating grins.
“So you found the other mistletoe,” it wasn’t a question, just a statement supported by the blushes on the women’s faces.
“What makes you say that?” Olivia asked defensively, her body instinctively straightening.
“You have a little something,” Quinn smirked as she pointed to the side of Olivia’s face. Her cheek marked by a smudge of Mellie’s lipstick along with a matching one her lips.
“Oh, we-“ Mellie wanted to cover for her, just in case she wasn’t comfortable but she was quickly cut off.
“Took you long enough,” Abby declared.
“We thought we were going to have to lock you guys in a room until you confessed,” Marcus added, sending both women a look of approval.
“What? So, you all knew?” Olivia asked as she looked around the room.
“Everyone but you two knew,” Quinn rolled her eyes.
“Nope, I gave her hints,” Mellie had to speak up for herself.
“You call those hints,” Abby scoffed playfully and Mellie rolled her eyes.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Mellie smiled before looking back at Olivia, light in her eyes as she took in the beautiful woman.
“No it doesn’t,” Liv stared back, the same light in her eyes.
“Oh does this mean you’re going to be all lovely dovey in front of us,”
“Absolutely,” both Mellie and Liv reply, not even looking away from each other.
Liv never thought she’d be here when she had gotten that call from Cyrus all those years ago.
She wouldn’t have even thought it was a possibly just two years ago.
And with everything they had been through, with everything they had done to each other in the past, Liv could never let herself linger on the dream too long.
But tonight, tonight was better than anything she had ever imagined, ever dreamed over the past year.
“Better than having them mope around,” Abby whispered to Quinn.
The rest of night seemed like a dream for the both of them, neither of them leaving each other's side. Once it had gotten near midnight, they finally left OPA after hours of teasing and trying their hardest to keep their hands to themselves.
“Is it safe to say you had a good time?” Mellie teased and Olivia rolled her eyes as they sat in the back of the car.
“I think so,” Olivia flirted, it felt like relief to be able to. To flirt with the woman that made her heart skip all day.
Mellie flirted back, “You think so?”
“I think only one thing could make it better,” Olivia her eyes meet Mellie’s before taking in her outfit again. Mellie looked stunning even if she could only see her through the flashes of street lights.
“Oh what’s that?” Mellie questioned, her eyes focused on Olivia's soft lips. Oh how she wished she could taste them again.
“This,” it didn’t take long for Mellie to get another taste, Liv's lips were on hers. The president moved closer, her hands finding Olivia’s waist.
“Oh that definitely made it better,” Mellie agreed.