A/N: I am sorry that this took a lot longer to come up. Between knee surgery and stuff going on in my family and life, I was not happy with this chapter. Thank you to everyone who is hanging in there with me. I really do thank you!

Chapter Nine ~ This Is Mine

Henry and Alison decided they were going to make dinner together instead of ordering out. Henry was steaming under the surface, worried about Elizabeth being at work. He knew letting her get back to normalcy was what was best for her. But the entire nation didn't know about her pregnancy and he did want her to have to go through that alone.

Alison could feel the tension in the kitchen but she didn't want to stick her nose into something that probably didn't concern her. "Dad? Are you okay?" She wanted him to know she cared. She knew that there was a huge fight between Aunt Maureen and her mother but she didn't know how bad. She really couldn't hear everything from her room.

"Noddle I am fine. I am hoping your mother will be home soon." He responded as she stirred the pasta that was cooking in the pot.

"Where did she go?" Alison started acting concerned. She didn't know that her mother had even left. She thought she was up stair resting.

Henry hugged his middle daughter, "She went to the office really quick."

"What? She went to work? Isn't it too soon?" Alison asked pulling back from her father.

"Honey don't worry about it. She only went for a couple hours. She will be home soon." Henry was pleased that his children really cared about their mother. It warmed his heart knowing that if he ever had to travel for work his children would watch out for her. He knew that during this pregnancy he was going to eventually have to go away for work. Though he wished that Alison would have more confidence in herself and know that Elizabeth really tried to pay the same amount of attention as her siblings.

Henry pulled his phone out of his pocket and shot Elizabeth a text.

(Babe how are you? Are you coming home soon?)

He set his phone down on the counter and went to put the salad together. In the middle of him cutting up tomatos, his cell phone buzzed on the counter. He smiled when he saw Elizabeth's text come up on the screen.

(I need to go see Russell and Conrad and then I will be home.)

(Babe what's going on?) He wasn't sure why she had to stop at the White House. He just wanted her to come home.

(I am telling them about the baby before they hear it on the news.)

Henry stopped what he was doing and walked up stairs. Alison watched him leave not understand what was going on. Did he hear something about her mother?

Henry walked into their bedroom and closed the door. He quickly dialed her number. Before pressing the call button, he took in a couple beep breaths. He wasn't sure what Elizabeth was thinking talking to Conrad. He sat down on the bed and called her.

After two rings Elizabeth picked up the phone. "Hey honey."

"You're going to the White House now?" Henry asked with a hint of anger in his voice.

She knew he was going to be angry but she was tired of people walking around her on egg shells. She was ready to get back to her job and things to move on from her family's situation. "Henry I am just going to talk to Conrad really quick. I will be home in about an hour."

"Elizabeth what's going on?" He asked sitting down on their bed. He understood her need to get back to normal but was this the way of doing that?

"Babe please." She pleaded. "I will be home soon. I love you."

"Okay. I love you too." He said giving in. He listened to her breath for a second on the phone before hanging up. Even though they were not in the same place they could still read each other.

"Bess. I was told you needed to talk to me?" Conrad said walking into the oval office. He was surprised to see her. He figured that she was going to take another week or two off.

"Conrad I just finished a press conference about why I have been out for the last week. Also I am pregnant. But that will not affect my job."

Conrad shot his head up just as he was getting ready to sit behind his desk. That was news he was not expecting. It had been thirteen years since he had heard those words come out of her mouth. "Well I guess congratulations is in order. Are you…" He sat down in his chair and just studied her face.

"Yes I am fine and we are going to keep it. As I said this will not change my work at all. Henry and I have already talking about it." Elizabeth said getting out of the chair. "Right now I am going home but I will see you on Monday. If you need me during the weekend give me a call."

"Have a great weekend Bess. And congratulations again."

"Madam? Are you ready to head in?" DS Agent Matt asked.

They had been sitting in the black SVU outside of her house for at least ten minutes now. Her security team sensed something was wrong but didn't want to push anything. Elizabeth just looked at Matt in the rear view mirror and tried to smile softly. She nodded her head and opened the car door.

A security guard opened the front door as she walked into the house and into Henry's arms. He was so happy to have her back. He didn't want her to leave the way she did. He stood there holding her just a little longer than usual. He could feel her lightly relax into his arms.

"Babe…I need to talk to Maureen."

"They are on their way back from checking into the hotel. Maureen didn't want to stay here and I wasn't going to push it. How about hot shower before they get here?" Tim asked leaning his forehead against hers.

"How about you join me?" Elizabeth asked getting rid of the left space between them. She was going to be as close to him as possible.

Henry laughed lightly to himself. How could he ever deny his wife anything? "Baby, I have to finish helping Alison with dinner." He whispered against her lips.

She frowned at him. She knew Maureen was going to be here soon and she wanted to be prepared. It was about time that they sat down and had a heart to heart. She kissed him so lightly it was as if an angel kissed him. He could tell she was preparing for another fight. She walked passed him with a smack on his butt. He just smiled to himself as he watched her walk up the stairs.

Elizabeth stepped into the hot steamed up shower and let the water run down her back. The heat soothing the aching muscles. She massaged the muscles until they finally released. It was about time she enjoyed everything this pregnancy was going to bring her. Even the pain and stretch marks. A perfect excuse to get more body massages out of Henry.

She put on a pair of UVA sweatpants and one of Henry's military shirts. As she walked down the stairs into the kitchen, the sight of youngest daughter and husband working on dinner melted her heart. She took a couple minutes to watch them spend some much needed bonding time. Evan though he had more time to spend with their kids, it wasn't always often that it was one on one time.

Henry sensed that someone was watching them, he looked up to see his beautiful wife. He smiled back at her before returning his attention to Alison and dinner. Elizabeth heard the doorbell.