A/N: I'm going to apologize ahead of time. I left my laptop on the couch and it fell victim to a couple of 1 year olds who deleted large sections of this chapter. Of course, I went back and tried to recreate it, but I still don't think it sounds as good as it did originally. I'm sorry for the somewhat stilted paragraphs. Anyway, we need something to fill the void left by hiatus, and I'm sure you'll read regardless. I'd love it if you leave a review. All critiques are welcome.

Chapter 9

Henry and Elizabeth sat next to each other in the car, holding hands, headed back to UVA. They left Pittsburgh early Saturday morning, so they would have a day to get settled before they had to go back to class. It had been a little more than 6 weeks since Henry actually attended a class, but thanks to Elizabeth and some very generous professors, Henry had kept up and only had to take a couple tests as catch up his first week back.

Elizabeth was smiling ear to ear. She was excited to be back at school with Henry and not have to make weekly trips to Pittsburgh, and most importantly, Henry was given a clean bill of health by the doctors. She stared at the back of his hand which was resting in hers. Covering it with her other hand, she offered a prayer of thanks for Henry's health and quick recovery. Elizabeth certainly wasn't a religious person but she did feel a certain need to recognize when good things happened that were beyond her control. She shifted her weight and leaned across the console to rest her head on Henry's arm. "I love you. I'm so glad you are able to come back with me." Henry tilted his head to press a kiss to the top of hers.

"Me too, babe."

Henry unlocked his room and pushed the door open. "What happened? This place was a wreck when I left."

"I cleaned your room for you. Everything had to be disinfected, so I came over when you first went home and took care of it. It wasn't a big deal." Elizabeth said.

Henry set his bag down and took his backpack from Elizabeth. Turning to her, he said, "You are amazing. Thank you for doing that for me." He took her into his arms and kissed her. "Thank you for everything." He kissed her again, with more passion this time. "We have a few hours before we need to think about getting dinner." He winked at her. " You wanna mess around?" he asked.

She laughed. "And by mess around, you mean-?"

"Make love," he whispered against her ear. The words sent a chill down her spine. She hadn't expected Henry to say that. She was thrown off kilter.

"That's a big step, Henry."

"It is, but you are the one I want to be with for the rest of my life. I was under the impression that you felt the same way?"

"Of course I do. I don't imagine my life without you in it, but now that all of the love and emotion is tied up with sex, I'm not sure I'm ready for it. I realize how dumb that sounds since I was the one pushing for it at the beginning. Now it just seems more-more I don't know. Maybe more important. Is that okay?"

Henry hugged her and kissed her forehead. "Of course it is. We can take all the time we need. There isn't a rush. We have forever."

Elizabeth stood at Henry's door and knocked. Her finals were done, her room emptied and Pop-pop loaded most of her belongings and was already headed back to the farm. She knocked and Henry answered the door. "Hey there," she said, placing her hand on his chest and leaning in for a peck on the cheek.

"Are you all packed and ready to go home?" he asked.

"Yeah." She leaned against the doorframe.

"I wish I could convince you to stay until Friday when I have to leave."

"Me to, But my job starts Friday and you know that if I don't get all my stuff moved back in and put away, Grandma will be irate." Henry looked defeated. She knew he understood, but this was still hard for both of them. Since Henry's return to school, they rarely spent time apart, by their own choice. Each of them had gone out with friends a few times, but always ended up on the other's doorstep a few hours later. She shifted uneasily. "Would it be alright if I came in?"

"Oh, okay sure. I, I just thought you were leaving right away," Henry sputtered, seeming a little flustered.

"I was, but I told Pop-pop that I was going to hang out with you for a few hours before leaving." She met his gaze. "It's time." She stepped inside and grinned at him. "You wanna mess around?"

Henry looked at her seriously, "And by mess around, you mean-?

"Make love to me Henry." She reached out to him and he took her hand.

"Are you sure?" He studied her eyes

She smiled softly. "I've been ready for a while, but I wanted to make sure you were focusing on your classes, especially after being sick. I just wanted you to do your best without being distracted by me."

"You are never a distraction. You are my other half." Closing the small distance between them, he snaked his arm around her back and pressed her to his chest. "I love you." Gently he brushed his lips against hers. Taking her upper lip between his, he stilled.

Elizabeth smiled against his lips. "What?" she murmured.

Moving back the slightest bit, he whispered, "This feels monumental." Elizabeth hummed her agreement. "You are the last person I will ever be with."

She let out a slight laugh, "You better hope I'm good."

"I'm not worried about that at all," he mumbled before joining their lips again. Their tongues touched at the same time, tentatively at first, reminiscent of their first pulled back. "Hold on a sec." He let her go and stepped to the door and flipped the deadbolt. Moving back to her, he placed his hands on her waist. "May I undress you?" he asked. She swallowed thickly and put her hands over his, wrapping his fingers around the fabric at the bottom of her t-shirt. She raised her arms and he pulled the cotton garment over her head. Her blond waves tumbled over her shoulders. Henry brushed it back exposing her protruding collar bones. He placed light kisses there and up her neck stopping behind her ear. Her breaths were already shallow and wanting.

Elizabeth grasped the material at his waist and their eyes met with her asking permission. The shirt now tossed to the side, she ran her hands down his chest and unbuttoned his shorts and pushed both shorts and boxers over his hips and to the floor. His erection sprung free and poked her in the stomach causing her to giggle. She reached to touch it but Henry caught her hand. "This could be embarrassingly fast as it is without you touching me." Nodding her understanding and her own agreement, she ran her hands up his chest to his neck, pulling him down to kiss her. He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her shorts and pulled them down as well.

Now, he stepped back to view her, clad in only her undergarments. She watched his eyes get darker, the tug of desire deep in her core making it almost painful between her legs. She wanted him in a way she had never wanted anyone before. Her thoughts were jumbled, but she revised them immediately. She didn't just want him, she needed him. "Please." She wasn't able to finish that request, but Henry knew. Stepping back into her space, he ran his hands down her back, settling on her ass, pulling her into him. She moaned loudly. Wide-eyed, she clamped her hand over her mouth causing Henry to laugh. "That's so hot. Don't hold back. I want to hear how I make you feel." He continued, dragging her panties over her hips, letting her shimmy them to the floor, then he unhooked her bra as he planted kisses along her hairline.

Leading her to his bed, she scooted to the middle and held out her hand to him. He accepted it, crawling over the top of her and laying on her right side. She looked at him questioningly. He shrugged, "I do my best work with this hand."

Elizabeth laughed, "Then I think you should get to work." She was still laughing when he wrapped his fingers around her breast and massaged it, catching her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. "Uhhh… ahhh," she gasped. Then his mouth was on the other breast and her hips bucked into his thigh. "Oh God! Henry!" She was loud and she didn't care. The current running from her breasts to her center was strong. Elizabeth ran her hand into Henry's hair and fisted it, dragging him to her mouth. She kissed him hard, her tongue thrashing in his mouth, her body begging to be satisfied. She reached over and grasped his cock, stroking him much more gently than her mood indicated, but she didn't want to push him too far. She wanted him inside her.. Seeing her need, Henry rolled on top of her, his sex now pressed against hers, her arousal coating him.

Elizabeth felt like there had to be a pool of her juices soaking the bed sheets, she was that ready for Henry. He pressed himself against her opening, but waited for her confirmation before entering. She opened her eyes and met his, giving him a wicked grin , pushing her hips into his joining them. Deep moans came from both of them being locked together and he pushed the rest of the way into her, He stilled for a moment, collecting himself, trying to hold off, but Elizabeth would have no part of it. "I need you to move. Now."

"If I do that, I'm going to come." he panted, trying desperately to stave off his urges.

She slipped her hand between them. "Go," she growled, and he began to move, a few strokes slow and deliberate, but then harder and faster as he chased his own pleasure. She rubbed tight circles on her clit. "Are you-?" she started. Henry buried his head in her shoulder and grunted. She pressed her clit hard and her walls closed in around his pulsing cock. She arched her back and cried out his name as he spilled into her. Henry collapsed onto Elizabeth as her muscles still seized around him. Finally, she calmed and Henry rolled off of her.

"Wow," he said.

"Uh huh,"she agreed. "That was the best first time I've ever had."

"Yeah. It might have been in the running for best ever."

"Don't count on it staying that way. I give an excellent blow job that will add a level of technical difficulty that this round lacked."

"That's good to know," he whispered, "I have decent oral skills myself and fingers barely touched what they are capable of." She laughed and blushed simultaneously. She curled up into his side and pressed her hand to his chest feeling his heartbeat beneath.

Two hours later they stood next to Elizabeth's car saying goodbye for real this time. "I'll see you in three weeks," she said.

"Yes, Memorial Day, your place. Picnics and horses and you." Henry's arms were slung low on her hips, holding her close. He spoke low in her ear.

"Mmm hmm and then the 4th of July. Pittsburgh, picnics and fireworks and you." She gently kissed the pulse point on his neck. "And maybe I'll sneak up to see you some other time because I'm going to miss you so much."

"You've got to go or your Grandma will be wanting to kick my butt," Henry said but he didn't let her go.

"Yeah. That could happen." Elizabeth placed her hands on Henry's shoulders and pulled him down for a kiss. "Thank you for today," she whispered.

Henry held her there and kissed her again. "It was my pleasure and the first of thousands of times in our lifetime. You are incredible and I'm so blessed that you are willing to walk with me." She melted into him.

"I've really got to go. I'll call you tonight when I get home. I love you." Henry opened the door for Elizabeth and kissed her before she got in. As Elizabeth pulled out of the parking lot, she watched Henry wave in the rear view mirror until she was out of sight.

Elizabeth thought she would be fine. She considered herself to be a very strong and independent person. So she was unnerved by the overwhelming longing she felt for Henry. She supposed it had something to do with his illness and their separation after. At first, she figured that it would get better after a few days. However, each day was the same. She worked, took Buttercup out for a ride, and talked to Henry in evening. She would say her goodbyes, hang up and go to bed, frequently crying herself to sleep

By the time that Memorial weekend rolled around, Elizabeth beyond excited. She sat on the porch swing impatiently waiting for Henry. She spoke to him the evening before and knew his plans. He should be arriving any time. She leapt from the swing when he pulled into the driveway and stood waiting at the bottom of the steps.

Henry laughed when Elizabeth nearly pulled him from the car to hug him. She clung to him like a baby koala, tears streaming down her face and mumbling into his ear. "I'm so sorry I'm bawling like a crazy person. I just missed you so much, and I'm so glad you're here. I love you."

"Babe. I'm here. I missed you too. Come, let's sit down." She dropped her legs to the ground, but didn't let go of him as they awkwardly made their way up the steps to the porch swing. Elizabeth let him sit down, but she sat next to him so close that their bodies melded together and she threw her left leg over his right and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"I hope you weren't really thinking about having alone time while you were here. Because, I don't plan on letting you get very far from me."

"Bathroom?" he joked.

"I can sit on the edge of the bathtub," Henry shot her a look and she laughed. "Just teasing. That's weird. I'll just wait outside the door." Henry grinned at her and she tipped her head back licking her lips. For the first time since arriving, he kissed her. She sighed into his kiss. It was like there was a knot insider her that she wasn't even aware of until he untangled it. She felt better in that moment than she had in the previous three weeks.

That afternoon, Henry rested back on his elbows while Elizabeth was laying on her back next to him, a red wool blanket beneath them both. "Lunch was great. Thank you," Henry said.

"It was tasty, but I ate too much. I am so full, I need a nap." Elizabeth groaned, patting her stomach.

"Then take a nap." Henry reached across Elizabeth and brushed a few hairs off her face. "We have no place to be for a while."

Elizabeth grinned. "I'm all for staying here a while, but I don't think I should take a nap."

"Oh?"

She giggled. "We can spend some time making out. I'll show you how much I've missed you." She gathered a handful of Henry's shirt and pulled him toward her. Henry rolled to her smiling.

In the evening, Elizabeth and Henry sat on the screened in porch with Joe and Elaine. They finished their dinner and sat talking. "When do you have to go back Henry?" Joseph asked.

"I need to leave Monday afternoon. I have be to at work early Tuesday morning. Just listening to Henry say it, caused her to tense up. It was only Saturday, Elizabeth reminded herself. She still had a day and a half. She talked herself down and squeezed Henry's hand and glanced at him. He gave her a big smile.

Elizabeth was in bed when there was a soft knock at her door. She tiptoed to her door and cracked it open. Henry stood in the hall, grinning like a Cheshire cat. "Get in here," she whispered. "I've been waiting for weeks for this."

"I hope you are planning on being quiet or Will will rat us out." Henry teased.

Elizabeth glared at him, "I'm sure I'll be able to handle it. Now you promised me some of your best 'handiwork.'" Henry grinned, popped his knuckles, picked her up and threw her down in the middle of her bed. "Oh yeah," she mumbled as he crawled on the bed, "This will be good."

The weekend flew by and Monday morning rolled around to find Henry and Elizabeth leaning against his car holding hands. "You know, I am totally pissed at myself right now." Elizabeth turned away from Henry, tears threatening to fall.

Henry turned into her, resting his chin on her shoulder, his arms wrapped tight around her middle. "What is it, babe?" She forced all of the air out of her lungs in a big huff.

"I just am frustrated that I can't hold it together better. I am strong. I am smart. I am capable. I don't need you to complete me. I am fine without you. Right?" She went on barely taking a breath, "But the thing is, I'm not fine, and I do need you. When I'm not with you, I'm lost, I don't know what to do with myself. I just miss you so much. I long for your touch. And frankly it's both scary and infuriating to be so dependent on you."

"You know I'm the same way," Henry said, brushing her hair aside and kissing the back of her neck.

"Right!" she scoffed. "You aren't a blubbering mess that cries yourself to sleep every night because you know you aren't going to see me the next day and aren't able to sleep the day before you do see me because you are beside yourself ecstatic."

"Well," Henry blushed, "I kind of am. I don't cry often, but I just mope around all depressed and I won't talk to anyone." He laughed, "It was so bad that Maureen called me a name and Mom overheard and drug her off by her ear and shoved soap in her mouth."

Elizabeth twisted around in Henry's arms to face him. "She did not!"

"She did, I tell you."

"Henry. Maureen is 19." Henry nodded. Elizabeth grinned. "So, what did your 19 year old sister say to you that your mother found so bad that she washed her mouth out with soap?"

Henry's face turned bright red. "Uh, it's kind of embarrassing."

"Seriously, you did not just tell me this story, not to tell me what she said." Elizabeth poked him in the ribs. "You could have just skipped the story if you didn't want me to know."

"Fine," Henry sighed and mumbled, "She said I was pussy whipped," Elizabeth giggled. She covered her hand with her mouth trying to hold it back, but was struggling to keep her laughter in check. "I prefer to think of it more like I love you and miss you."

Elizabeth kissed him. "That actually makes me feel so much better,." She grinned against him. "Not that you should ever tell your sister, but you haven't had enough contact with it to be whipped yet."

They both laughed and he kissed her. "I have to go. I'll call when I get home, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll be waiting." She giggled, her mind still on the previous conversation. "Does that mean I'm dick whipped?"

"I don't think so." Henry laughed, " I think it just means that we care about each other. Our relationship isn't based on control of each other. I love you and want to be with you."

"Me too. Call me, okay? Love you." He got in the car and drove away. Elizabeth wiped away her tears and walked out to the barn. She needed a long ride. Buttercup would make it better.