AN: Here's my latest AU prompt turned multi-chapter fic. I managed to get a few chapters ahead on this one, so I can post a new chapter a day for at least a few days. For anyone that may be interested, I haven't given up on Hiking or Evolution. Both are giving me fits right now and in order to keep writing something, I'm doing other prompts. Hiking only has 2-3 more chapters as it stands right now. Evolution is always evolving, so who knows?
I want to say thank you to everyone who takes the time to review. I catch myself being lazy and not reviewing, which is crazy, because I know much those reviews mean to the writers. I'm trying to do better though.
Anyway, this is a more obscure lilacmermaid prompt that I've been thinking about for quite a while. Hopefully I found a way to make it believable. Enjoy and please review.
Madam Secretary Prompt: When Elizabeth first met Henry, he was already a 'parent' - raising one of his nieces or nephews while still in school. (Or vice versa).
Chapter 1
Gathering a handful of blond locks, Elizabeth Adams ran her fingers through her hair until she had all of it scooped up in her hand. She quickly wrapped a ponytail holder around it, twisting it a couple times and then pulled the ends of her hair to tighten it. She took a deep breath and blew it out before she checked her shoelaces. Planting her foot on the nearby park bench, she tied one of the laces again and then took off at a moderate pace. After a few hundred yards, she picked it up, trying to run off her anger.
Her thoughts went back to the phone call she received the previous hour, just after her last class of the week, and her blood continued to boil. Will, Elizabeth's brother, had once again decided to ditch her. The two had made plans to go to a baseball game months ago and she even bought a third ticket when Will said he needed to bring a friend. Now, two weeks before the game, he called to say that he received a better offer. Well, that wasn't really what he said, but that was definitely how Elizabeth read it.
Elizabeth lengthened her stride and pushed herself harder. It was just like Will to drop her at the last minute. She supposed it was showing some level of maturity that he actually called ahead of time. A year ago, he would have left her hanging in front of the stadium waiting. She was about two miles into her run and her anger had started to lose its edge. She tried to steady her breathing, even though she had been running harder than usual.
Slowly, she backed off her pace and ended up back at a jog while she caught her breath. Elizabeth was still in her own world, the sounds of her feet hitting the concrete and her heart still beating hard in her ears when she was suddenly pulled from her thoughts when someone yelled, "Watch out!" In a split second, she turned to her left to follow the voice and there was a crack and an explosion of pain simultaneously.
Elizabeth stumbled forward, unable to open her eyes as the pain radiated from the bridge of her nose, clamping her eyes shut tightly. She could feel the blood coming before it ever left her nose. Acting quickly, she slipped her arm out of her sweatshirt and shoved it against her nose. Feeling the grass now under her feet, she sat down. She barely hit the grass when she heard a child screaming. The screams were coming toward her, and she hoped that she wasn't about to get tackled.
"I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry," the girl was wailing. "Are you okay? Henry! She's bleeding. I'm so sorry." The girl was shrieking again, and Elizabeth felt a child's hand on her thigh. She covered it with her own.
"I'll be fine. Can you please stop yelling?" Elizabeth said.
"I'm sor-"
"Bethie. Honey, move back a little and give her some room. I'm so sorry. Where did you get hit?"
"Between the eyes. I think my nose has mostly stopped bleeding." She pulled the sweatshirt back a bit.
"Ouch!" Henry muttered. "That had to have hurt. Do you live close? We can walk you home. I'm afraid your eyes may swell shut unless you get some ice on that quickly."
"Uh. I live in MacFarland Hall. On the other side of the park. I think I'm fine. I can make it by myself."
"I'm sure you think you can make it, but you haven't seen yourself. We'll walk with you and make sure you get home safely. Do you think anything's broken?"
"Nah, I fell off my horse once and broke my nose. It doesn't feel like it's broken. It will probably just be a bad bruise."
"If you're lucky, that's all it will be. Bethie has quite the arm."
"Henry, I said I was sorry." she said, tears springing to her eyes again.
"I forgive you. I understand it was an accident." Elizabeth said.
"Bethie. Will you run over and get our things and we'll walk, uh, what's your name?" he asked, turning to Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth. Adams," she said.
"No way." the girl screamed, "My name's Elizabeth too. Well, it's actually Mary Elizabeth, but people call me all sorts of things."
Elizabeth winced at Bethie's loud voice. But she turned to the little girl and whispered, "You want to know something really cool? My name is actually Elizabeth Mary and people call me all sorts of things too." Bethie grinned widely. "Can you do me a favor?" Bethie nodded. "Can you talk softly? My head really hurts."
The girl's eyes went wide. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"It's alright," Elizabeth said and squeezed her hand. Henry touched Bethie's shoulder and pointed in the direction of their things and the little girl nodded and trotted off.
"I'm Henry McCord, by the way. We can take you home. We live just past MacFarland in Quincy."
Elizabeth stood and closed her eyes against the dizziness she felt. Henry sensed she was unsteady on her feet and took her by the elbow. "Are you sure you don't want to get checked out? You could have a concussion."
"We'll see how I feel when I get home. I'm probably fine. Most of the pain has subsided already," she said, embracing the white lie.
They arrived at the door of the dorm and Elizabeth thanked them and had the intention of sending them on their way, but Bethie wouldn't hear of it. "Henry, we can't just leave her." She turned her attention to Elizabeth, "What floor do you live on?"
"I live on the 6th floor." Elizabeth started, but Bethie cut her off.
"We aren't letting her walk up six floors by herself. Just look at her."
"Uh thanks," Elizabeth said, smirking. "How old are you?"
"Henry says I'm seven going on seventeen."
Elizabeth laughed and shuddered at the pain it caused. "I think Henry's correct. But, if it will make you happy, you can walk me upstairs."
"Thank you," Bethie said. When they made it to Elizabeth's room, Bethie tugged Elizabeth's arm so she would bend closer. "I'm really sorry I hit you with my ball. And, if you happen to forgive me, you should give Henry a call. He needs to get out more."
"Bethie!" Henry growled, and then rubbed his hand over his face and sighed. "Thanks for that." Looking at Elizabeth, he said, "If you do need anything, you can give me a call." He reached out and wrote his number across the dry erase board on her door.
"I'll let you know. It was nice meeting both of you, although, I sort of wish it had been under different circumstances." She let herself into her room, fumbled around for the ibuprofen and took a couple and then dug around in the mini fridge for enough ice to fill a bag. Finally she lay down and let the bag rest on her face. Before falling asleep, she smiled when she realized that she was no longer mad at Will.
