Fitz sat across from Mellie, and he just stared at her in awe. She was the kind of woman that made your heart skip a couple beats no matter what she was doing. She could take anyone's breath away. She had a smile that was radiant and contagious. Fitz knew he had screwed up their marriage beyond repair, but he never thought he'd be here with her; sitting across from each other and letting their lawyers do the talking. Mellie was getting the house in the Hamptons and the house in Virginia. Fitz was getting the Santa Barbara ranch. Mellie hadn't wanted it, and Fitz didn't either, but one of them had to take it. He planned to sell it because he'd see Mellie and Jerry everywhere he looked.

"Fitzgerald, are you going to answer?" Mellie asked somewhat agitated. Fitz could hear her southern accent coming out due to her agitation.

"Sorry. What was the question?"

"How about we take a short break?" Mellie's lawyer suggested.

"Sounds great," Mellie said and quickly left the room.

Mellie had to get out of there. She couldn't breathe. She felt like she was suffocating. She had been the one to ask for the divorce because it had to be done. Mellie knew it was time to stop putting herself through hell to save a marriage that was beyond repair. She was still staying at the White House, so no one knew her and Fitz were getting divorced. She slept in their room, and Fitz slept on the couch in the living room.

Mellie saw Fitz walk out of the conference room on his phone. He was probably telling Olivia that in a couple weeks, she could move in. The thought of Olivia sleeping in her bed with her husband brought tears to her eyes. Mellie had to sit down on the leather couch in the lobby of the law firm before she fell.

"Mels! Are you okay? Can I get you anything?" Mellie couldn't handle him being so sweet to her. She didn't understand why he was being so nice now.

"I'm fine," Mellie mumbled.

"I'll get you some water."

"I said I'm fine, Fitzgerald."

"Mellie, you asked for this. Not me."

"I asked for this because it was time I saved myself. I couldn't keep watching you be happy with someone else in private while we were miserable together, and then pretend like we're happy in public. It was killing me, and you didn't care enough to notice."

"Mellie…"

"Don't."

"If you'd give me a chance to speak, you would let me tell you that I haven't been with Olivia in months."

"What?"

"I ended it a while ago."

"Why?"

"Because I realized I didn't want it anymore. I tried to use her as an out. I thought being with her could fix what was wrong with us. I was a coward," before Mellie could answer, her lawyer walked out.

"Are you two ready to continue?"

"Actually, we need to go. We will call when both of our schedules are open," Fitz said and started to walk towards the door.

"Mellie, are you coming?" Mellie nodded and slowly got up. Fitz held the door open for her, and they silently walked out.

"Fitz, why did you tell them we had something to do? We cleared our schedules today," Mellie asked as she looked out the window of the car.

"Because you wanted out of there just as much as I did."

"I would've been fine. I'll get through all of this somehow."

"Mellie, I think we should talk about all of this before we actually continue to go through with it."

"What is there left to talk about?"

"I want us to work this out. I'll do anything."

"We can't erase the past. We have both done things that are unforgivable."

"I'm not saying we erase the past. I'm saying we move forward. Together."

"Fitz, if you're having problems with Olivia, I'm sure you two can work through it."

"Mellie, I told you I ended it with her. For good."

"I don't know if I believe you."

"I understand why you wouldn't."

Mellie didn't talk the rest of the drive back to the White House. She didn't know what to say. She wasn't sure if this was another one of Fitz's games. She wanted to believe him, but she knew if she did, she would only get hurt again. Mellie loved him with every piece of herself, but he somehow found a way to throw that love back in her face each and every time. She didn't know if she could survive another round of it.

"Mellie, we're home," Fitz said as he was getting out of the car.

Mellie wordlessly got out and followed him inside. Fitz went straight to the oval to check on a couple things, and Mellie went to go find Teddy. She walked to his room and found him taking his afternoon nap. Mellie stood in the doorway and watched him sleep for a few minutes. He looked so peaceful in his sleep. Teddy was a happy child, but lately he had been acting out. Mellie figured he sensed the tension between his parents.

Mellie knew she needed to make a decision about Fitz. They couldn't keep putting the divorce off until she made up her mind. She had to do it now. Mellie walked to her room and changed into comfier clothes. Once she changed, she went out to the balcony to think. It was the quietest place in the entire house.

"You're thinking too much. I can see it in your face. You're going to give yourself a migraine," Fitz said as he sat next to her.

"Well I need to think right now."

"Talk to me. What's going through your mind?"

"I think it would be best if we went through with the divorce. Too much has happened since we moved into this house. Even before we moved here, but the worst has happened here. I don't want to wake up every day wondering if you're going to walk out on me again. I can't live like that, and I don't want to. We both deserve a fresh start," Mellie replied with such honesty that Fitz was silent for a few minutes.

"I love you, Mellie. I always will."

"I love you too. Always have, always will. Maybe someday we'll find what we once had again, but I think we need to spend some time apart. We need to figure out how to be alone again before we ever become involved with each other or someone else again," Fitz nodded with understanding.

"Make me a promise."

"Depends on what you expect me to promise you," Mellie laughed with uncertainty.

"Five years from now if neither of us has found anyone else, promise me we'll give us another chance," Mellie thought for a minute before she responded.

"Okay."

"Okay."

They looked at each other and smiled. Mellie leaned her head on his shoulder, and Fitz pulled her into his arms knowing that this would be the last time he would get to hold her. Mellie curled into him, and Fitz wished that they could back to the beginning and start over. He knew that even though they were getting divorced, they'd find each other again someday. He was sure of it. He'd never loved anyone the way that he loved Meliie. He loved Olivia to a point, but it wasn't the kind of love that would last.

"Do you think we would've made it if I hadn't shut you out after the rape?" Mellie asked quietly.

"I'd like to think we would've, but that wasn't the only thing that ruined us, Mel. I was too caught up in my own issues to see that you were hurting. All I did was yell at you back then, and for that, I will always be sorry. We'll finish going through the divorce, and learn how to be on our own. I don't remember what it's like to not depend on someone else. I've always had you or someone else to take care of me. I need to take care of myself."

"And I need to do the same."

"Mellie, you've been taking care of yourself since I met you. You've never needed anyone to take care of you. You're so much stronger than I am. I hope you know that," Mellie smiled up at him, and she kissed him softly on the lips.

"I'm going to miss you. Part of me thinks I'm making the wrong call," Mellie sighed.

"And the other part?"

"The other part of me knows that we need this," Fitz nodded, and Mellie got up.

"Where are you going?" Fitz asked.

"I'm going to start packing. I'm the one that needs to move, and I think it's time we told the press."

The next day, Mellie and Fitz sat in front of Kimberly Mitchell. They were telling the world that they were ending their marriage. Kimberly seemed to be shocked with how calm the two were with each other. Neither of them were angry or upset. They both appeared to be very at peace with their decision.

"Why now? Why not when you told the world that your husband had an affair, Mrs. Grant?"

"I'm not the kind of woman that runs from her problems. There was a problem, and I intended to stay and fix it. Fitz having an affair isn't the reason for our divorce. We both made mistakes in our marriage, and we both decided that it was time for us to go our separate ways."

"You seem so calm and okay with all of this. To be honest, I'm kind of shocked," Kimberly said. Mellie and Fitz shared a look, and Fitz nodded at Mellie to answer.

"I'm going to be honest and say that living in this house is by no means a bed of roses. Being President and First Lady of the United States has caused a major strain on our marriage due to that fact that any issue we have is publicized. We also never have time for each other. My husband is a remarkable president, and I believe he will leave a legacy after his last three years as president. We've both talked extensively about what we want, and where we want to be later on down the road. We still love each other deeply, but love isn't enough."

"Mr. President, you have been awfully quiet. You've been letting your wife answer everything. Does that mean you aren't okay with all of this?" Fitz chuckled and waited a minute to answer.

"Yes, my wife is the one that asked for the divorce, and yes, I have been letting her answer the questions because my wife is much better with words than I am. She wasn't lying when she said we have talked this through, and we both agree that this is the right decision. My wife is an incredible woman, and she is the love of my life, but she's right. Love isn't enough. We wouldn't be sitting here today explaining to the world why we decided to end our marriage if we weren't the President and First Lady because honestly, no one would care. What goes on between my wife and I is exactly that; between my wife and I," Fitz stated. Mellie was proud of his response, and she grabbed his hand to let him know how proud she was.

"What about your duties as First Lady? Will you continue doing them?"

"Of course. I intend to still do my part in the White House."

"Well thank you for sitting down with me. I wish you both the best," Kimberly smiled at the two of them.

"Thank you as well, Kimberly."

Mellie and Fitz both walked to their room, and Fitz watched Mellie pack some more. She could've had her aids pack for her, but she insisted she do everything herself.

"Since your new house isn't far from here, would you mind bringing Teddy here a few nights a week?"

"Of course I don't mind. I'm not going to keep him away, but he'll be here with the nanny on the days I'm working here anyway."

"That's true. We can each have him half of the week."

"I might actually miss living here," Mellie sighed as she sat down next to him.

"It'll take some getting used to not having you around. Who's going to pick out my tie?"

"Oh, Fitzgerald, I can still pick out your damn ties. I will be here just about every day," Mellie laughed at how needy he was.

"I can do it for the most part, but for big dinners, and important meetings, feel free to come up here and lay out an appropriate one," Fitz smiled at her. He wasn't going to let her get away. He was going to do everything in his power to win her back one day.