"It's going to be a late night." Madam Secretary said after she addressed her staff. Standing behind a chair, she bowed her head feeling the events of the day weigh heavily on her shoulders. She wanted to go home. She had too many hours pass trying to negotiate, too many steps taken pacing in heels, too much coffee that it made her stomach hurt. She wanted the day to be over so she and Nadine could snuggle on the sofa with ice cream after their date night. Reaching into the box of pastries that had likely been sitting on the table since this morning, wait, did she eat? She forgot to eat lunch, again, and eating the pasties from the conference room all day was definitely not healthy. She pulled her hand away "Blake, I need you to put 'Lunch' in my schedule indefinitely."

"Yes Ma'am."

"I think I need to admit I have a problem and eat only bear claws when I am stressed. Guys please don't kill yourselves over pandas, no matter what Russell Jackson says. I want you guys to go home tonight." She meant it, she wanted them to rest, she needed it and she could only imagine how they felt. "Nadine, make them an offer they can't refuse." Elizabeth smiled sweetly at Nadine; almost a little too sweet for the office setting they were in.

"Of course, Ma'am." Nadine felt her cheeks flush as she kept her expression as steady as possible.

"I can always use a late night with bad Chinese food" Blake had responded in a bland respectful way that still managed to deliver sarcasm with a powerful punch. There was a groan from Matt who had his head on the table resting on his folded arms.

"Thanks Blake, you can get things other than Chinese… considering, well, we are arguing with them, humor me and get pizza?" Elizabeth chuckled. "Or, whatever your heart desires, Nadine, a word?" Elizabeth gestured to her office.

"Yes Ma'am." Folding her binder she took her glasses off and swiftly pushing her chair in before weaving through the staff to follow Elizabeth. Nadine walked just a few steps behind her to the office. Nadine closed the door only to turn around to see Elizabeth leaning on her desk smiling widely at her. "Whatever could you want?" Nadine's question wasn't a real one as she walked up to Elizabeth and stood squarely before her.

"Two things" Elizabeth said playfully, her smile was infectious as Nadine looked up at her. "First: I know you tend to stay late with the staff. I can cancel the reservation but you need to promise you will be done at a reasonable time." Nadine saw Elizabeth's hands grip onto the lip of the desk as she kicked her heels off, her feet were red and her covered in band aids.

"I usually stay as late as they do, but I don't want us to cancel I…" Nadine found herself flustered as the color drain from her face. She had a job to do and truly wanted to do. But she would rather be with Elizabeth on a date and attacking her with kisses. It took Nadine by surprise every time; Elizabeth never used her power as Secretary to dominate her day. Although sometimes in a situation like this she wished she had a little help. "What am I supposed to do when I want to do both?" Her voice made the question sound strained. She was trying to find the balance but failed.

"Whatever the world's best Chief of Staff can manage, I can cancel, it's fine." Elizabeth said with a smile "truthfully, I was hoping to cancel, I really just want to eat ice cream and watch TV in our pajamas and get out of these heels. So don't look like guilty." Elizabeth lifted up a foot revealing the band aids covering blisters.

Nadine felt a smile creep across her lips as she nodded. "How about I leave as soon as I can and I get you no later than 9?"

"Excellent." Elizabeth smiled, looking past Nadine to check the doors. "Oh, and the second thing." Finally releasing the death grip on her desk. She leaned in to kiss Nadine, warm and inviting, slow and tender, melting away the stress of the day. Elizabeth started to retreat only to have Nadine drop her binder and put her arms around her neck and kiss her again, refusing to let go of her lips. "Nadine" Elizabeth whispered in that same slow, breathy bedroom manner that never failed to give Nadine a chill down her spine. "I…" It almost sounded like Elizabeth was pleading. "I need to ask you to stop; I can't make a promise I won't..."

Nadine leaned in and kissed her "are you saying I have something to look forward to as soon as I can rush into your arms in just a few short hours?" She whispered almost too tenderly, with a hint of teasing determination. "Because I have had you on my mind all day, I do love you in that skirt." The more Nadine spoke the more it sounded like a purr.

"Nadine…" Elizabeth would be the last to admit it, be she loved to tease and be teased, and she just hated when she couldn't get her turn. Just as Elizabeth was about throw decency to the winds, put her phone off the ringer, and devour Nadine, there was a knock.

"Ma'am?" It was Blake.

"Crap." she whispered "Blake I just need two seconds" Elizabeth yelled to the door, both women were quick to put themselves back together. Nadine gathered her binder as she sat in one of the chairs in front of Elizabeth's desk and put her glasses on while Elizabeth leaned back against her desk picking up the first folder she could grab. "Nadine…" she whispered

"Ma'am, I know that call with the Chinese Foreign Minister wasn't easy." Nadine flashed Elizabeth a wink. "But, you can't take it personally, go home and get some rest; we will work on the solution."

'Wow' Elizabeth mouthed. "Blake, come in." Blake quickly opened the door, "Ma'am I know you are leaving soon, but I have Russell Jackson on the line."

"Yeah yeah, I'll take it. And Blake, sorry to keep you waiting, my last call with the Chinese Foreign Minister became a little personal and..."

"Oh ma'am I heard your end of the conversation… you were quite loud about it. Through, it sounds like he deserved it." Blake cut her off impatiently.

Elizabeth turned to get the phone missing the proud smile on Nadine's face as she and Blake exchanged a few words about her not staying late with the others. All three could hear Russell yelling through the phone, giving Elizabeth no time to speak before he hung up. "I think he just called to yell at me." She said, phone still in hand "I need to leave before I go to the White House and embarrass this entire department."

"Have a good night, ma'am." Blake excused himself and closed the door behind him.

"Who knew I needed to be an actress just to be Secretary of State?" She flopped down on her couch. "Did I at least follow your lead well? Also, can we talk about that lead? You jumped right in." She threw her head back and covered her eyes. "I don't even know what's happening. I'm sorry you are currently dating a zombie."

Nadine rose of her chair and said "Just keep your words natural, and go with the flow. Perhaps I have a thing or two I can teach you to play your roll." The proud grin was now devious.

"Play my... Oh please, don't make promises you can't keep." Elizabeth whispered as Nadine leaned in to kiss her quickly. "I also have a few tricks I can teach in my bedside drawer." Elizabeth winked and gave a wheezing laugh as Nadine's cheeks turned bright pink.

"I am going back to the others, the sooner I am done, the sooner I get my way." Nadine was all too determined. She had something in mind and Elizabeth couldn't wait to find out. But she wouldn't make it that easy for Nadine while she waits. With a final kiss. Nadine disappeared and Elizabeth gathered her things to head home.

Eating a microwave burrito she sent Nadine cute little texts from time to time which Nadine would answer in the same manner until 8 o'clock hit. Elizabeth was wondering what Nadine's agenda was for her when she came over; so she figured she would make hers known.

'Psst…' -Elizabeth 8:01

Nadine 8:01- '?'

'Black or red?' -Elizabeth 8:02

Nadine 8:02-'What? What do you mean…?'

'NO ONE CAN SEE THIS!'-Elizabeth 8:02

Nadine 8:02 -'What's going on?'

There was a pause, only to be followed by 2 images, that were distinctly Elizabeth even if was just from the shoulders to her feet in a mirror. The first in a black lacy bra with matching undergarments, and the second was a loose silk red tank with matching lacy undergarments. Nadine choked on her tea and slammed her phone facedown. Picking it back up, her face as red the lingerie, the rest of the staff look at her in alarm. "It's fine, just an email from Russell." With a unified grumble as they went back to work.

Nadine 8:14-'How dare you…'

Nadine 8:14-'Black, if I must choose. But you know my true preference...'

Nadine wanted to be furious that she was thrown off her guard by being sent such things at work. But, she couldn't shake the thought of sliding that black lace off Elizabeth's perfect hips. She pressed her lips together as she look at the binder before her. The others were making progress she could slip out. She looked down at her phone, scrolling up to see Elizabeth. She tapped her pen as a warm tingle started at her core and seemed to spread making her feel anxious and wanting to run, a sensation brushing along her skin until it reached her fingers. She needed to get out, now.

Nadine 8:18-'I am leaving now.'

"Okay, everyone, I will see you tomorrow." She closed her binder and rose from her chair, trying to calculate each movement to seem normal. As she went to exit the room she heard Matt.

"Nadine, you're leaving?" he asked.

"Yes, I have some personal matters to tend to before it gets too late. You guys, the Secretary meant it, if you need to take a day, or come in late or anything let me know. With everything I need to make sure I can be here with the Secretary." She saw their tired eyes; even Blake's quick typing seemed to slow. "Goodnight." Turning on her heels she walked into her office and gathered a few things in her bag and grabbed her coat and hurried to the elevator thankful no one came looking for her. Walking to her Volvo she called Elizabeth. "Babe, I am on my way."

"I'll be waiting." said Elizabeth trying to hide her excitement.

Tires screeching as she left the garage and headed towards Georgetown