A/N: Here's the happy fluffy ending... or as happy and fluffy as a fic like this can have. I have no idea where the show is going with the Henry/Elizabeth plot. It's up and down, so I guess they're leaving it to us to fill in the blanks. Again, your comments are always appreciated.
Henry picked up his things and went into the guest room. He had never slept in this room. But he didn't mind. If Elizabeth needed space, then that was what he would ensure she got. He decided to pray his rosary while contemplating his dedication to get better. His devotion to his faith was a little ironic. Here he was, a renowned religious scholar, and he only ever turned to religious discipline when he was in real trouble. Though, he supposed, wasn't that what everyone did? Wasn't that the purpose of religion anyway? To get through the difficult times more evenly, to explain the difficult times and offer a way out?
Elizabeth brushed her teeth and tried to go to sleep, but it didn't come. Henry was so close to her, only a room apart, but she had pushed him away. Even if she had a very good reason to need her space, he hadn't been the one to push.
She finally got up and went to the guest bedroom. The door was closed. It felt symbolic. She knocked quietly. "Henry?"
Henry was staring at the ceiling when he heard her knock. He jumped up immediately and went to the door.
"You okay, babe? What's wrong?" He was worried she'd had a nightmare or panic attack.
"I can't sleep without you. Would you come back to bed?" She was treading carefully because she didn't want him to get the wrong idea.
"Are you sure? Of course I will, but only if you're sure."
"I'm sure. Just sleep."
"I'm not going to hurt you tonight, babe. I promise."
"Okay. Thank you." Thank you? What sort of thing was that to say?
Henry wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to give her support.
Elizabeth bit her lip, trying to decide whether or not to speak.
"You sure you're okay?" Henry was still concerned.
"After you meet with the counselor, I want us to also start going together. I want to help you through this."
Henry kissed her forehead softly. "I love you so much, babe."
"I do too, Henry ...you know I'm not upset that you get angry. You should get angry. I'm only worried about everything else."
"The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you or our kids."
"I know, Henry. I want you to be able to have an outlet before you get angry. I know you. You don't go straight to anger. You go to melancholy to sadness to isolation to anger. I want you to be able to talk to me before you get angry - before you blow up."
"I remember saying something similar to you not too long ago..."
"Yeah. I guess we both have fallout from Iran to deal with. And just like you told me not get so anxious I have a panic attack, I don't want you to get so angry you lash out."
"It'll still be a process."
"But one that we'll get through."
"We will."
Elizabeth gave him a small smile. "Now, take me to bed. I need you with me tonight."
"It's okay, babe. I'm here." And I'm not going anywhere.
Henry helped her into bed. He wasn't expecting her to be clingy since she still seemed so nervous about his revelation. Elizabeth had made a decision, though. She had made the decision twenty-five years ago, actually. This was the man she was going to trust, come thick or thin. She knew his words were an abundance of caution. He wouldn't hurt her, not physically. He might lash out with a comment, but he was always in her corner, and he would be the first to defend her if someone threatened her.
"Hey Henry?" She was facing away from him, but she rolled over to look him in the eyes.
"Yeah?"
"What do you mean when you say you might hurt me? Specifically. I need to know."
He sighed. He wasn't sure even he really knew what he meant. "I'm not sure. But I might say something without thinking. You know what I said last time. I never want do that to you again."
"That doesn't scare me, Henry. You talked about getting physical."
"I'm not going to lay a hand on you like that." Now that he said it, he knew it was true. It would never come to that. His repressed anger scared him, but he had managed it without hurting Elizabeth or even getting close to it.
"Good. I guess I knew that."
"I'm sorry I let you think that."
"It's okay. You're still trying to process this, too. I'm just glad you recognized this before it necessitated a trip to the hospital. That's better than one of us…" Elizabeth was still a little embarrassed at having a high profile panic attack at work.
"I did go to confession…"
She smiled. He had dealt with his anger by going to confession, and he still felt like he was a terrible person. Do you recognize how wonderful you are? "Okay, I guess that's the same difference."
Henry laughed. "That's some seriously strange theology, but I'll leave it for tonight."
"Good. I'm really tired. You gonna be here in the morning?"
"You can count on it, babe."
They shared a final kiss before falling into a peaceful sleep.