Elizabeth's mind froze as her kids stared with shocked faces and her husband with a more hurt one.
Henry quickly interjected putting aside his defeated spirit to save Elizabeth some trouble "Well we were waiting for a much better time, but yes… Mom is pregnant. I'm sorry we-."
Alison suddenly furious, spoke up "Mom?! How could you. Yet again you didn't think of anyone but yourself and couldn't even be smart enough to use a condom"
Immediately Henry became defensive "Alison ENOUGH. Go!... please go upstairs." Elizabeth held back her tears and shuddered at Henry's yelling. Her legs began to tremble and she lost her balance gripping the island for support. Jason snapped out of his fog and grabbed his mother as she slid to the floor. She let out a sob and Henry lowered himself next to her.
"Mom I love you" Elizabeth stopped sobbing for a moment and looked into her son's eyes. Jason was not one to share his emotions or be vulnerable but she felt as though she could see all his emotions in his eyes right then in that moment. He walked away not giving her time to process or respond.
Henry squeezed her tighter as her breathing quickened once again. Through her sobs Henry made out a few words "is - that what" she sniffled "you th-think too" she hid her head in her knees. Henry paused and with a confused look searched the room trying to answer without frustrating her that he couldn't understand. "Henry answer me!" she raised her voice and hit his shoulder collapsing into it. "Baby what do you mean"
"Do you think this is a rookie mistake and that we should be using condoms at 40"
He grabbed her face and wiped her eyes. "Don't ever say that again. Elizabeth McCord you are my entire world and I want nothing more than to have babies with you. I love you so much and wouldn't go back and change anything." She looked at him starry eyed and grabbed his face kissing him slowly and passionately. She scooted across the floor until she was sitting right in front of him and straddled him. She desperately wanted to have passionate sex with her husband on that kitchen floor but could not risk another incident or the kids being more upset than they already were. Henry began kissing her neck and moved her bra strap off her shoulder slowly, she closed her eyes sighing. "Henry I want you"
Henry stopped and looked her in the eyes, he could see the hurt and frustration written all over her face.
He looked at her sincerely "Elizabeth I can't risk hurting you like that again right now, you heard what the doctor said and it is important to me that you and this baby are safe."
"Henry how am I going to go back to work, I can't possibly look any of them in the eye again after this"
"Babe, it's going to be ok and this will all blow over in a matter of days."
The next morning…
Elizabeth once again entered the elevator and prepared to start what she knew would be a nightmare of a day.
With every ding of the elevator her heart rate quickened, if she thought she could escape the building without getting interrogated or photographed she would have gladly sunk back into her husbands safe arms at home. But being secretary of state meant putting national security over everything even baby dramma. At this moment no one at the State Department or The White House besides Blake knew she was pregnant.
The last ding of the elevator sounded and the doors began to open, she closed her eyes hoping for one more minute this wasn't happening. To her surprise she was greeted by only one of her staff members, the preferable one at that, Blake. He immediately noticed the tired, emotionally drained face she rarely wore, it was much like the one in the days following Tamerlane.
"Good morning Ma'am"
"Good morning Blake, just you today?"
"Well Ma'am I took the liberty of disinviting the rest to the elevator ambush this morning as I figured you need some breathing room."
Elizabeth smiled "You get me"
"Uh Ma'am Russell Jackson called, the President is requesting you in his office"
Elizabeth immediately turned around, reentered the elevator and made her way to the motorcade she knew was waiting out front to probably take her there for the last time as Secretary of State.
The entire car ride Elizabeth felt like passing out, she even thought about quitting before Conrad had the chance to say a word. But before she could make any plans the DS agent opened her door and stood before her was The White House. It was oddly quiet, she was usually ambushed by Russell Jackson eagerly escorting her to the Oval Office while scolding her for some controversy she had caused or was expected to reconcile. Instead she walked herself right into what seemed like the principal's office. She was met with a warm strong hug from Conrad, as he pulled away he avoided eye contact and stumbled to his desk. Turned around he said "Bess, I have always considered you family, and I know nothing I say is appropriate for the situation but I'm someone you can come to, now is there anything I can do for you. Maybe a week off?"
Elizabeth knew it. They thought he really did it. Her whole staff and the entire world including the president thinks her husband raped her. She couldn't even stop him or speak, nothing she said wouldn't look like she was a scared victim pledging allegiance to her partner for over 25 years, for the sake of her kids at least. Her whole soul quaked she wanted nothing more than to violently reject but knew for the sake of their sweet baby she had to remain calm.
"No. Work is what I need thank you." She turned around and started to walk out.
"Oh, uh Elizabeth-" Conrad started hesitantly as he was debating whether or not to even say what he was about to say. "If you need somewhere to stay- what I mean is, are you safe at ho-"
"CONRAD"
She knew this was it and she couldn't even stop herself.
"Enough! Enough! My husband did not rape me. I don't know how anyone could possibly think Henry McCord was capable of raping his wife. Wanna know why I was in pain I'm pregnant! That's the end of it, not another word. Now excuse me while I go back to my job"
"Elizabeth I'm so-" Elizabeth slammed the door with tears in her eyes. Proving she couldn't even address the scandal publicly because she couldn't keep her emotions together. She wasn't ready to announce her pregnancy to anyone she didn't have to, especially with the news of Stevie's pregnancy likely to come out.
Elizabeth's phone startled her as it began to ring in her pocket, the name that appeared was another person she was not ready to talk to "Stevie"
She reluctantly answered "Hi Stevie what's up baby"
All she heard was crying on the other end "Stevie baby are you ok? Is the baby ok"
Through the tears Elizabeth made out her saying "Yes, but I saw what dad did to you, I'm so sorry mom. Please tell me it's not true."
"Stevie stop, you know your dad would never hurt me, and I'm sorry you kids have to deal with this. I was going to wait to tell you until you told everyone about yourself-"
"Mom what?"
"The reason I passed out was because I was in so much pain that day and I found out I was pregnant at the hospital."
"Omg mom! We are going to have babies the same age!?"
"I know Stevie it wasn't planned I'm very sorry"
"Why are you sorry this is amazing congrats!"
"I thought you would be upset to share the spotlight that's all babygirl, I love you with all my heart. Take care of my grandbaby"
"Hey mom not to be weird but maybe cool it on the sex with dad"
"Goodbye Stevie" Elizabeth laughed and hung up. Just as she was putting her phone back in her pocket she got a text… from Blake
"I have cleared your schedule today ma'am"
Surprisingly Elizabeth wasn't the least bit upset after the day she had and was just looking forward to hugging her husband. Something so innocent that made her feel so alive and safe.
Henry has taken a few days off of work to help around the house as he knew Elizabeth wouldn't be up for it. So she knew he was all hers as soon as she got home.
"Hey baby" Henry said as Elizabeth walked through the door hanging up her coat. "What are you doing home are you feeling ok?"
"I'm fine, Blake cleared my schedule. I talked to the president today well he called me into his office"
"About the video?" Henry asked disappointed
"Yes"
Henry's head dropped and he turned around walking away
"Henry stop! Stop this now! You didn't do it, so stop acting like you did. I told Conrad I was pregnant and that you did nothing wrong and stormed out of that office so you sure as hell can't take this out on me. I am doing everything I can, I'm exhausted Henry."
Henry stopped walking he knew by the tone of her voice she was furious and slightly sad at his negativity. "I'm sorry Elizabeth but I cannot fathom hurting you in anyway and now the whole world thinks I raped you. My best friend, my wife, the woman who carried my babies, my hero, my soulmate, I am devastated. I let you and our whole family down. I should have never had sex with you or been so rough after I knew something was wrong that morning-"
"Stop. I wanted you" she said stepping closer and closer to him. "I wanted you harder and as rough as you could be" she said seductively tracing his lips with her finger tip. "Don't you dare think for a second I didn't want that" Elizabeth slowly kissed his neck and licked slowly up to his jawline. He shivered grabbing her face kissing her like it was the first time. Slowly, concentrating on every motion, every flick of her tongue, every move her body made, and every sigh when he grabbed her neck and sucked on her collarbone leaving marks. He stopped "We can't go any further, but for the record you are the sexiest mother of 3 I've ever seen, soon to be 4" he said lowering himself to her stomach lifting up her shirt and kissing her barely noticeable bump.
"Stevie called today"
"Oh no does she know"
"She was crying, she had seen the video on the news, then I told her about the baby and she was ecstatic"
"Phew" Henry said wipping his brow dramatically "dodged a bullet there"
They walked to the couch hand in hand settling in each other arms.
"How's Ally" Elizabeth whispered in a sad voice
"I think she's going to come around, I know she's excited about the baby but I don't think she's handling the video well, she's in high school babe it's hard"
"I know" Henry kissed her forehead and began rubbing her hair as her eyes began closing and her breathing became shallow.