Actress Kerry Washington's pregnancy has delayed the sixth season of the political thriller "Scandal." Despite the delay, showrunner Shonda Rhimes promises to bring brighter days for Washington's role Olivia Pope next season.

Fans of the show might have felt a bit upset about the announcement of the season's delay. Rhimes, however, assured fans that skies will be clearer next season.

"I don't know if you all will notice this — because Olivia beats people to death with chairs and stuff — but I feel like I can see it: There's an optimism that exists in the work now," Rhimes told Entertainment Weekly. "On 'Scandal,' we're heading some place that's optimistic."

In order to accommodate Washington's pregnancy, season 6 premiere has been scheduled to come out in the fall. Plus, the episode order has also been cut short, which was what Rhimes did in season 3 during Washington's first pregnancy.

Meanwhile, actor Tony Goldwyn shared what his character Fitz's possible reaction about Olivia's abortion. "It would be the worst possible thing he could hear," Tony told Hollywood Life. "On the other hand, I don't think that anything Olivia could do would make Fitz not love her." He also thinks that there is still hope for Olitz. However, the couple's fate lies on the hands of Rhimes.

Oliva and Fitz romance has been a roller coaster ride since season 1, but he continues to love her, whatever she decides to do. Although they have broken up, there seems to be a lingering connection between the two. Olivia's choice to stop her romance with Fitz wasn't even connected to her abortion. She just felt suffocated inside the walls of the White House.

Because of the season 6's delay, the storyline's presidential elections will no longer fit with the real-life US presidential polls' timeline.

ABC has not yet announced the official premiere date of "Scandal" season 6.