A/N: Someone requested a AU-story about nude pics of Henry and Elizabeth being published by the press. I changed the idea a little bit but here's my take on it. If you like it please leave a review. Thanks!
"Madam Secretary, we have a situation!" Daisy entered Elizabeth's office in a hurry not caring about interrupting her meeting with Jay. "Sorry, but it's more than urgent. We need to address it!"
"Daisy, what the heck are you talking about?" Elizabeth was a little annoyed by her press secretary's unprofessional behavior but wanted to know what was going on. Realizing that Jay was in the room with them Daisy seemed to struggle a bit.
"Ehmm, it's a very private issue that we should discuss in private." Elizabeth raised an eyebrow at Daisy but nodded towards Jay to let him know that he could leave the office.
"Okay Daisy, what is so urgent?" Elizabeth asked once Jay was out of sight.
"I just got an anonymous email with pictures attached to it saying they would be released if you pass the latest China treaty." Daisy quickly got out with a blush on her cheeks.
"And why does that need my attention? Blackmailing goes to security." Elizabeth replied and focused back on the work in front of her.
"Mam, there's more to it. The pictures I mean. They are very... private, I guess?" By now, Daisy couldn't even hold eye contact anymore.
"Daisy, I think you have to get a little more specific." Elizabeth said in an annoyed tone not noticing Daisy's discomfort.
"Madam Secretary, I don't want to be disrespectful, but somebody got pictures of you and your husband being intimate." Daisy said timidly and in discomfort.
"WHAT?" Elizabeth's head snapped up and she stared at Daisy in shock. "That's impossible. I mean... Are you sure?" Elizabeth said with a tremble in her voice.
"I'm pretty sure it's you and Mr McCord. But you can look at them yourself just to be sure." Daisy took her tablet out and opened the pictures. The first one showed Elizabeth sitting on a commode in nothing but lingerie. Her legs were wrapped around her husband's waist and his hands were roaming her body while he was kissing her neck. Henry himself was shirtless only wearing his jeans.
"Shit." Elizabeth gasped out. She opened the second one hoping it wouldn't be a as intimate as the first one. But what she saw, shocked her even more. They were laying on the couch next to the commode. Their naked bodies only covered by a blanket and Elizabeth's eyes closed in total bliss while Henry buried his face in her neck. She quickly closed the pictures and didn't dare to look into Daisy's eyes.
"Well, that clearly is a problem. But how did they even get these pictures? Obviously, it's the Waldorf in New York where Henry and I stayed at this weekend, but nobody knew about it. I don't even... " Elizabeth got more and more upset, gasping for air. "Oh my god, what are we gonna do?"
"Madam Secretary, if I may. Given the circumstances, we don't really have a choice. The treaty signing is in less than an hour and we can't lose this treaty!"
"I agree. But what options do we have?" Elizabeth sounded desperate and Daisy wanted to hit herself for making her so upset.
"Well, this is first priority right now. I already put security on that and they're tracking down the sender. Hopefully, we'll catch him before he has a chance to release them." Daisy took a moment to gather herself before continuing with the second outcome. "But if they don't, we have to deal with the possible outcome. We have to prepare your husband and family, but more importantly have a statement at hand."
Elizabeth was in shock. She knew that it was almost impossible to catch the guy within an hour but she also knew that she worked way too hard on that treaty to let it go. But could she willingly put the treaty first and give away her privacy? Trying to put her thoughts in order she made a quick list in her head.
"Daisy, somebody needs to talk to the Waldorf. They must have given away my name and room. Looking at the pictures, they were both taken from the same corner of the room. Somebody must have installed a camera behind the mirror in that corner. Get on it immediately. I'll talk to my family and prepare a statement." With these words, Daisy left the room and Elizabeth sat down on the couch to call Henry.
"Hi babe. How are you?" Henry answered his phone glad that his wife was calling.
"Hi. Unfortunately, I have some bad news..." Elizabeth replied sadly.
"Oh no, you're not going to be home for dinner right? That's too bad, I just started my famous McCord lasagna." He teased her.
"Henry, I'm serious. Something happened. There's pictures of us at the Waldorf in New York. Private pictures if you know what I mean..." Elizabeth explained him the whole situation while Henry listened intently. Once she was done, Henry was speechless.
"Henry, are you still there?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes, I'm just... I don't know what to say to be honest. I mean there's no way you can let the treaty go, but giving our privacy up and having these pictures out there? I don't know if I can live with that.
"I know. If it was just us, but the kids? How do we explain this to them?" Elizabeth was on the verge of tears by now. "I don't know what to do. Is this our fault? Weren't we careful enough?
"Babe, listen to me. This is not our fault. We couldn't have known that there were cameras installed. We didn't do anything wrong or shameful, sex is natural and nothing to be embarrassed about. Never forget that!" Henry tried to convince her hiding his own shock and fear.
"Henry, we have to talk to the kids..." Elizabeth sobbed into the phone.
"I know. I'll deal with it right now. Don't worry about it. I got it." Henry soothed her, hating what this was doing to her.
"Thanks. I couldn't do this without you. I love you."
"I love you too." Henry hung up, knowing what he had to do now.
The kids were all gathered in the living room sitting on the couch and not knowing why their father had called a family meeting.
"Okay, kids. Now that we are all here, I have to talk to you about something serious. Your mum and I love each other very much and we couldn't live without all of you."
"Oh my god, is somebody dying?" Jason interrupted in fear.
"Shut up!" Stevie shouted at him.
"No nobody is dying", Henry continued, "but I do have some bad news. As you may remember, mum and I were in New York last weekend to have some time for us together. You know, to catch up and have some romantic time..."
"No explanation needed. We know what you mean." Alison threw in.
"Anyway, we stayed at this private room in the Waldorf and enjoyed ourselves not knowing that we were watched." Henry glanced up not knowing how to continue this conversation.
"Dad, what are you talking about?" Stevie asked.
"Long story short, somebody intruded our privacy and installed a hidden camera in our room. Now, that person is blackmailing your mum with these pictures. Before I go into any detail and answer your questions, I want you to know something really important in life. When you love somebody as much as your mum and I love each other, you want your partner to be happy in every possible way. It's not just a spiritual but also physical connection. Sex is not just about pleasuring each other but about the beauty and transcendence. Sex is natural and nothing to ashamed of. I know that these pictures will put you in an incredibly uncomfortable position, but remember that they are just proof of how much we love each other. It's an intrusion of our family, as well as mine and your mum's privacy, but no matter what happens, I ask you to not be mad at us but support Team McCord."
After his little speech, the kids kept asking him a couple of questions and he was glad that they were all supporting them even though this topic was uncomfortable to talk about for all of them. When there was nothing left to say, they turned on the TV to see their mum signing the treaty with China. They all could see that she was more than nervous even though she tried to hide it behind a big smile. Her hand was trembling and Henry could see the fear in her eyes. The kids were on edge as well, but nobody dared to say anything knowing that it was only a matter of time until everyone would talk about their parent's sex life. Once the signing was over they just kept sitting there in silence now knowing what to do next. They all twitched when the phone rang.
"Hello?" Henry answered.
"Babe, I have fantastic news. They got him, the guy who has the pictures. One of the maids talked and gave out a description of the guy. He's in custody right now.
"Does that mean...?"
"Yes, the pictures are save and nobody is going to see them. I have to go now, but I'll talk to you later. I love you."
"Love you too."
Henry turned towards the kids with a huge grin on his face.
"They got him. It's over."