A/N I said to myself that I would never say this but I am. I am sorry about this chapter it's not the best. I hope you guys will like it xx

Later that evening as Elizabeth was wrapping up with her team her stomach was doing somersaults. She knew she was about to tell Blake about what was going on between her and Henry and even though she trusted Blake with her life she still felt sick with nerves. They had a very productive late afternoon meeting that bleed into early evening due to the fact that Matt had arrived back from his meeting with the Rep from the UN with news that Elizabeth was due to speak the next day.

"Great work everyone, I think I am going to call it a day, again. I have speech to speak tomorrow and need the rest" Elizabeth stood chucking her glasses onto the table, rubbing her eyes with her fingers.

"As long as you just speak my words and nothing else you will be fine… 'Speech to speak'… very eloquent mam" Matt was grinning as he stood, collecting his papers up.

"It's the jet lag!" Elizabeth threw her hands in the air and laughed "Blake can you please hang back. I need to go over a couple of things"

"Absolutely"

Everyone seemed to rush out the room and before Elizabeth knew it she was alone with Blake, staring at him she lost her voice. Come on Elizabeth… say it.

"Mam, are you ok?" Elizabeth watched the way his eyebrow slightly raised with curiosity and how is eyes suddenly full of concern. The concern in his eyes snapped her out of her nerves; she most certainly wasn't in a position to cause him worry like that.

"What I am about to tell you is confidential." Blake nodded and Elizabeth continued, "It's personal and I do apologise about having to involve you but seeing as you and I work so closely together I need you to understand what is going on"

Elizabeth was fiddling with her pen and Blake had a good idea what she was about to tell him. "Henry, Dr. McCord, and I have been romantically involved" The words hung in the air, Blake looked over her, her blue eyes shining and her hands clenched together. "I enjoy his company and would like to continue to see him and seeing as you organise my schedule I was wondering if you could make sure that I… I have adequate time in my week to see him. I already had one relationship fail because of my work and I don't want it happening this time"

It suddenly dawned on Blake what his role would be in this affair. "Mam, I am pleased for you but…" How can I word this he thought "But I don't know how comfortable I am organising your relationship. You will have to tell me when you want to see him and he is more than welcome to contact me to organise but I can't set up meetings between you two in work time. I just don't feel comfortable with it"

"Ok, that seems fair. I would like this to stay between the three of us. I cannot risk this being exposed in the tabloids so early on. The hounds of Washington would love to tear me and in turn, the Administration, apart for this."

"Sleeping with the President's new Ethical Advisor isn't very ethical is it?" Blake laughed and it set Elizabeth off, their nerves expressed in laughter. Blake could see that his friend wanted to speak about her new relationship so he asked "I'm asking as a friend now Mam. I mean Elizabeth" He looked over to her nervously.

"Yes Blake?"

"Do you want to talk about last night? Did you have fun?'

She then became alive, her voice joyful and her smile was infectious. "We had the BEST time. It was out of this world" Her eyes drifted off as she recalled the previous nights events. "We went to a street vendor and had dinner which was so yummy. Then he took me to a temple that he wanted to visit… Blake it was so beautiful"

Blake listened to the rest of the night's activities, the tree that got Henry excited, the blessing and he was delighted for her. She dedicated so much of herself to this job, just like him, and for her to be able to let go and have some fun was lovely to see.

"So, when are you seeing him next?"

"Tonight, I'm going to send him a message once you go and he will come here" Elizabeth glanced at her watch seeing that it was approaching 19:30.

"I'm going to bid you goodnight, mam" With that Blake stood and Elizabeth stood and gave him a hug. Blake must have looked a little shocked because Elizabeth smile and said "Thank you for being so good to me"

…..

Henry was currently walking around one of the many small shopping areas of Kuala Lumpur when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out to see a message from Elizabeth

19:31 – Blake has just left. He knows. I'm done for the day now so come over when you can. E xx

19:32 – Great, just out getting food will be with you in half hour? Hx

19:33 – Ok, just jumping in the shower. See you soon E xx

19:33 – A naked wet Elizabeth – heaven xx

19:34 – Would be better if you were here xxx see you soon

His stomach flipped as he imagined her in the shower and almost headed straight back to the hotel without getting food. He grabbed a curry from a vendor nearer to the hotel and headed towards the lift, as he approached he saw Jay and Matt heading towards him.

"Hey guys, where are you heading to?"

"Just going to get some food, we are done for the night" Jay explained as he eyed what Henry had in his hand. "That smells incredible what is it?"

"Curry. Thought I'd catch up on a report for the President whilst having dinner." Henry shrugged, hoping that he came across as being casual.

"We are going for a few beers after, if you are up for it?" enquired Matt.

"Maybe back in DC. I'm afraid the jet lag is screwing me up and I don't think I could handle beer"

"Ok, old man. See ya later" Jay and Matt chorused as they left. Old man. Old man! Henry couldn't help but smile as he entered the hotel and headed straight for the elevator, up towards a waiting Elizabeth.

Elizabeth had climbed out of the shower, moisturized her body and looked at her clothes. She really just wanted to climb into her pj's but felt that she probably couldn't do that so she dug around in her case for something. She really only packed work clothes and that one casual dress that she wore last night. On her work trips she had no time for excursions in her casual clothes so only ever packed one thing as a back up. Picking some underwear out of her case, the dark red set, she instantly felt a little sexier. Slipping the underwear up her long legs and fastening the bra she felt confident that Henry would enjoy this set, slipping the hotel robe around her she thought to herself this will have to do.

A soft knock on the door alerted Elizabeth to Henry's arrival and she pulled her hair onto the top of her head and wrapped the robe a little tighter round her.

Walking across her suite she could feel herself getting more excited with every step she took towards the door. Reaching out for the door handle and letting a deep breath escape her she yanked it open to see Henry standing between her agents again. His face lit up when he saw her standing there ushering him in, smiling. As soon as the door closed they kissed and stood holding onto each other. "Hi" She whispered.

"Hi, I didn't realise the dress code was just robes" Henry kissed the top of her head, moving his hands up and down her back.

"Shut it, I don't have anything else, just work clothes and that one dress I wore last night" Elizabeth felt so safe and warm inside his arms, Henry's natural smell was so comforting. "There is another robe in the bathroom if you want to get changed"

"Ok great, I may take a shower after food if that's ok? I went out to the market when I left you this afternoon and could do with a quick wash."

"Only if I can join you?" Elizabeth's eyes met his and they shined as bright as the ocean.

"Let me think about that… Do I want you in the shower… with me?" Henry teased "Come on lets eat and I will let you know once I've made my decision" He walked off towards the dining area and left Elizabeth standing opened mouthed at the front door. She marched after him and let her robe fall open a tad so the dark red silk poked out a little, Henry was laying the food on the table so didn't notice her approach. "Hey, I got a couple of cans to drink, wait for the name… I couldn't resist, Kickapoo Joy juice, can you get a couple of glasses" That's when Henry noticed her standing there watching him get the food out, she noticed the way his eyes clocked the underwear that was showing and the way he tried to gain his composure. Sweet, he's trying to pretend that he doesn't see.

"What? Kickapoo Joy Juice? You have to be joking, that's the name?" She laughed

"No, seriously! I had to get it to try. What a name. Here do you want some?' He held out his arm and handed her a can. She took it and opened it, raising it to her lips and tasting it, it wasn't actually bad.

"Wow, I've never had something called Joy Juice before. It's actually not that bad!"

They sat and ate, gently flirting back and forth, glancing at each other and lightly touching as they ate. Henry listened as she told him about telling Blake, how she asked him to schedule time in to see him. He wanted to ask about this previous relationship but bottled it and asked her about Baghdad instead. He noted the sadness in her voice when she spoke of what she saw Henry understood he was there for Desert Storm. He had also witnessed the devastation first hand and saw the suffering, he reached out and took her hand in his. Gently brushing his thumb over the back of her hand.

"The sand just got everywhere didn't it?" She said to him

"I don't really like beach holidays now" He spoke softly to her "I felt as though I could never truly get it off me"

"Me either. I showered continually when I got home. I almost shaved my head" She subconsciously touched her hair and undid the tie letting it fall down over her shoulders. "I have to speak tomorrow on behalf of the UN"

"Are you nervous?" Henry started to tidy up their dinner bits as he listened to her speak

"No, not so much. I feel a little bit of a puppet sometimes especially, if I don't totally agree with what I have to say. Thankfully, that doesn't happen a lot and to be honest to be able to detach from the situation at hand is always a handy tool." She took a deep breath and bottled the courage up to ask, "Would you like come and watch me speak? I would like to have you there" Her eyes met his and his stomach bubbled with happiness.

"Yes, I would love to. Thank you. I'm just going to pop back to my room to grab some stuff and I'll jump in the shower if that is still ok." Henry pulled Elizabeth up and wrapped his arms around her and gave her a soft kiss. "I would love it if you would join me?"

"MMM, a naked wet Henry in my shower, sounds terrible" She returned his kiss with a little more passion. "I'm sure I could jump in with you"

…