A/N: I'm Cassandra or Cassie, and this is my first Madam Secretary fic, inspired by a tumblr prompt that reads: Henry comes home too tired to see straight and Elizabeth helps him get ready for bed, as he's done for her so many times before.

It'll be the first in a series of these little glimpses into the lives of Henry and Elizabeth. Please leave me a review and let me know what you think!

"Babe?"

Elizabeth looked around the corner at Henry's slightly slurred call for her, concern written in the faint lines of her beautiful features. Henry was leaning against the front door, and looked over at her with a small smile.

"Henry," she said. "Are you okay?"

He nodded, but when he tried to push off the door and stand, he pitched forward slightly, and Elizabeth moved forward, turning her hug into a brace for him.

"Whoa," she laughed. "Someone's a little off-balance."

"I'm sorry, babe, I am just...exhausted."

She could see it, feel it, sense it. She'd been to this place with him before, on the heels of all-nighters and colicky babies and the early stages of building a life together. It had been a very long time since she'd seen him like this, though. She reached up to the back of his head, resting against her shoulder as he slumped against her, and ran her hand from his crown to the nape of his neck.

"Come on, let's get you to bed," she said softly. It was the difference between those early days and these; they weren't suffering together. She was in a position to care for him, and she relished it as she recalled countless nights when he had to physically help her to bed due to the exhaustion that came from her job as Secretary of State.

"Unless," she added as they started to move toward the stairs, turning to him, "you're hungry? Have you eaten?"

"What, are you going to cook for me?" Henry teased, pressing a messy kiss to the side of her head. She smiled in spite of herself; there was an innate relief to having him home, and combined with the comfort that he brought to her life, his joke carried no levity.

"Stevie made dinner," Elizabeth admitted, and Henry breathed a laugh.

"Honestly, babe, I think I'm too tired to eat," he said, and she nodded.

"Come on, then," she said softly, and they carried on towards their bedroom.

"I think," Henry began as he started to pull at his jacket sleeves, "I could sleep for days." Elizabeth scoffed as she reached out with gentle fingers to help him with his jacket, pulling on the fabric with more force and agility than he could muster.

"You'll be up by 9 at the latest," Elizabeth said, and Henry shrugged his shoulders as he fumbled at the hem of his sweater.

"You're probably right," he admitted wearily. "I wish I could sleep for days."

"That's more like it," Elizabeth murmured as she gently swatted his hands away from the sweater and tugged it up over his head herself. She quickly did the same with his undershirt and he smiled slightly as she pressed her palms against his chest, leaning into the warmth and pressing a kiss against the curve of his collarbone. He brought a hand up, meant to caress her cheek. It tangled his fingers in the ends of her hair before falling back to his side and she chuckled lightly.

"Wow, you are tired," Elizabeth remarked, and Henry just nodded, resting his forehead against hers as she undid his jeans and let them fall to the floor before trailing her hand down his arm to his hand, where she tugged lightly to pull him toward the bed. Henry collapsed atop the comforter and Elizabeth laughed as she climbed onto her side of the bed, leaning across the mattress to rest her head against his pillow. He turned toward her with half-hooded eyes and a sleepy smile playing over the features that were so familiar and beloved to her. She ran a hand over his cheek and his smile seemed to follow her touch. Leaning in, Elizabeth pressed her lips to his forehead and he let his lashes flutter closed.

"Thanks, babe," Henry breathed, and Elizabeth smiled tenderly down at him as she reached for the blankets, tugging them out from under him. He groaned and she rolled her eyes playfully, before immediately reverting to her gentle, soothing mannerisms. She settled between the sheets against her husband. Henry, for his part, turned toward her and nuzzled against her hair as he pulled her close against him and tangled his legs with hers. She relaxed against him and smiled, pressing light kisses to whatever skin she could reach.

"Sorry I can't catch up," he yawned and Elizabeth laughed.

"Go to sleep, babe," she said.

"Mm'kay," Henry hummed against her shoulder. He pressed his lips messily against the tender skin behind her ear.

"I love you, Elizabeth McCord," he whispered, almost reverently. She laughed, but the gentlest and softest of smiles played her features.

"I love you, too, even if you won't remember this in the morning."

"That's what marriage is all about," Henry muttered, and seconds later, he was asleep against her and Elizabeth could not imagine wanting to be anywhere else.