i don't know what i would do without you.

   The first time they kiss is on a Wednesday. They’re arguing over campaign details, as usual, and there’s a lull in the argument and Mellie just puts her hand on Liv’s cheek and kisses her. Liv tastes a little like wine and Mellie tastes a little like hooch and it makes the kiss all the more intoxicating. They pull away both silently, agreeing they’d like to do this more often.  —    They start a little friends with benefits thing, except no sex, just kissing and some light touching. Everything about this is new to them and they don’t want to ruin it. They don’t talk much about them, and what they mean to each other but one day after they’ve been making out for a while, Mellie pulls away and says, “I wanna take you out on a date. A real date.” Her hands are slightly shaking, but her voice is firm in her statement.     ”Mellie, I-“     ”No, I want to take you out. I want to take you out on a date where we have dinner and we dress up and I tell you how gorgeous you look as always and we drink wine and talk about whatever and we play footsie underneath the table. I want to take you out on a date, Olivia Pope, and I’m not taking no for an answer.” — So they start dating, for real. They go out to dinner and lunch together as much as their schedules will allow. The American people are oblivious to the nature of their relationship, the tabloids just print pictures of them and call them the best of friends. They’re a little more than friends.    And one night at dinner while they’re having just a random conversation both of them won’t remember later, Olivia tells Mellie she’s the most beautiful woman in the world and it takes all Mellie has not to jump Olivia right then and there. So she just settles on giving Olivia the biggest smile and blushing redder than the Pinot Noir they’re drinking. —    One day while Olivia’s out of town for a case, she calls Mellie up to ask her a question about a senator. They’re talking and bantering and then Mellie calls Olivia her girlfriend, and Olivia swears her heart stops beating for a second. Mellie carries on with her conversation, oblivious to what she’s said and Olivia’s mind is just spinning and she’s so overwhelmed because she realizes this is all she’s ever wanted and she couldn’t go back if she tried. 

"Heroes look like all of us. We see ourselves in each other’s stories. We see who we are. We see who we want to be." - Kerry Washington

Mellie Grant - “Flesh and Blood” (3x17)

"I’m the luckiest broad in Hollywood now. To be the lead actor on Scandal and to be in the highest-earning Tarantino movie- I don’t get to ask for more." Kerry Washington, photographed by Horst Diekgerdes, for ELLE US, June 2013.

Kerry Washington for Vibe Magazine