A/N - So… Having lost my writing inspiration, I watched Episode 5x19 again today for what is possibly the 10th time and can see the whole scenario from everyone's perspective…. So this is my take on it! I'm thinking it may be 2 or 3 chapters…. Have to love a bit of angst now and again hahahaha xx Enjoy and please tell me what you think xx

Elizabeth climbed the stairs to find solace in the comfort of her bedroom, changing into her pyjamas and nestling herself in the window seat, knees pressed against her chest…Watching the raindrops trace patterns on the window pane as she stared out into the shadows of another DC evening. She had sat in that very same spot many times before, going over things in her head in the years since becoming Secretary of State…. The magnificent highs and horrendous lows all captured in the walls of that room… A room that held every secret… Every whispered confession… Every tear shed and cry of pleasure…. But as she looked around a space that had always been her safe haven…. All she felt was emptiness.

She had become rather accustomed to ridiculous news stories. The anger and frustration she had felt when first taking office becoming nothing more than slight annoyance and mostly amusement these days. Her particular favourite being the whole story of her being a murderer… She kinda liked that one… Made her seem far cooler than she actually was… And gave her that aura of mystery and intrigue… Yep, the media could definitely cause a giggle or two… And she had shared that laughter with her family and staff alike...Until now.

As her mind ran over events of the past 48 hours and the change in how she was perceived by almost everyone she knew, she shuddered. It was the first time she had allowed herself to sit in silence and ponder… And it suddenly felt like her whole world was about to come crashing down around her. Everything she had worked so hard for was being questioned… Her career, her marriage, her credibility… And for what?!

She squeezed her eyes shut as events played out like a movie in her mind. How Henry had looked at her when he'd uttered those words "So as long as there's no evidence to back it up."... The way Jason had seemed so disappointed in her… The unmistakable silence from her staff… Matt, Daisy.. Even Blake for god sake. And Isabelle's harsh attitude towards her….She could see the uncertainty in the eyes of everyone she looked at….She felt ostracised… Judged…. Almost guilty… But most of all, she felt alone.

She knew there would be people out to discredit her… She was running for president after all, it's just the way it was. But she never, ever envisioned the people she knew so well would actually believe the stories. And of all people…. Not her Henry! And the worst part of it was that she couldn't blame him. This is how the media worked. This is how poison spread. But that didn't make it hurt any less… And for the first time since the whole Dimitri situation had threatened to tear them apart…. She felt the fear rise up inside her once more…. What the hell did this mean for her marriage?

She was startled from her thoughts by Henry entering the room. She quickly wiped away a stray tear from her cheek and faked a smile. She was expecting him to approach her, place a soft kiss against her lips… But he walked straight through to their en-suite.

"Hey babe…. You ok?" She tried to sound upbeat, lifting her aching body from the seat and following him into the bathroom.

"Yeah… I'm fine. Just been a long day is all." He made quick work of brushing his teeth and left her standing in front of the mirror alone as he undressed and climbed into bed.

She looked at her reflection and felt a pang of hurt deep inside her. He didn't even glance in her direction and as she went about her nightly routine, removing the remnants of make up and applying her moisturiser… She couldn't help but wonder just what visions Henry had conjured up in his head. Was he really imagining her and Conrad together? She switched off the bathroom light and crawled into bed next to her husband. They had always been able to talk to one another in the safety of their bed. Pillow talk had always been a staple of their relationship from the very first time they had slept together…. And my god did she need it now.

As the room was plunged into darkness…. Elizabeth took a deep breath and turned her body towards her husband.

"Henry…. Talk to me … Please?" Her voice lacked it's usual huskiness… Now replaced with a wavering uncertainty.

"Elizabeth…. It's late… Let's not do this tonight."

They both lay in the dark, staring at the ceiling… The atmosphere weighing heavily upon them both. Thoughts swirling around their heads, almost deafening in the silence of their room.

Elizabeth swallowed thickly, desperately trying to hold back the building tears…. How could he ever think I'd cheat on him?... What reason have I ever given him to believe this?... I really need my husband right now!... Oh god, what do I do?

Henry rubbed his hand over his face and let out a sigh… We were going through a tough time!...She was halfway across the world!... She's so incredibly beautiful, who wouldn't want her?... Oh god, did she have sex with Conrad?

Henry couldn't stand the silence. He knew Elizabeth needed him to hold her… He wanted to take her in his arms and tell her it would all be ok…. But how could he do that when his head was filled with doubts. He threw the covers back and sat himself up on the edge of the bed.

Elizabeth moved to sit behind him and wrapped her arms around his body "Henry…..Please."

He placed his hands over hers and gently stroked them, trying to show his wife some kind of comfort… Some kind of affection when he knew she needed it… But he couldn't lay next to her feeling the way he did. "I can't babe… I need some space tonight… I'm sorry." He lifted her hand to his lips and placed a gentle kiss against her palm. Grabbing his pillow, he left her alone in the darkness of their room.

She laid still for what seemed like an eternity…. Wanting to go to him, to make him listen to sense… They had been together for so long, been through so much and they had always made it through because they were solid… Steadfast in their feelings and commitment to each other. But she couldn't move. She was frozen to the spot, the worst case scenarios coursing through her subconscious…. And as much as she tried to push it down, a deep sob forced its way out of her shaking body as the heaviness of the whole situation pulled her into a dark vortex of fear… Was this one ludicrous story too many?