USMC Graduation Day - September 1989

Elizabeth was pacing up and down... Unable to calm her nerves and getting more worked up by the second. She had been absolutely fine watching as both Jake and Henry marched across the parade deck. They looked so handsome in their uniforms and she almost burst with pride at seeing her husband and her best friend achieve everything they'd worked so hard for. The problem was, her head and heart were now having an almighty battle within her and she had no idea how to control it.

She had spoken to Jakes parents who were still trying to get her to commit to yet more family occasions and even wanted her to go and visit them alone while Jake continued his SOI training... She had politely declined, grateful she had classes to attend. Excusing herself for a moment, she headed for the restrooms, hoping to get some quiet...

"There you are... How are you feeling today my sweet?" She hadn't quite made it before Marie had seen her and wanted to chat.

"Oh... I'm fine thank you... I was just a little overwhelmed yesterday."

"Well... It must have been a long few months for you."

"Yeah... I guess." Curiosity suddenly got the better of her "How did you know who I was yesterday?"

"From the way Henry described you... I knew it was you straight away... He was very accurate."

Elizabeth must have looked confused and somewhat troubled, prompting Marie to elaborate

"When my son enthuses about someone the way he does about you... I knew you had to be special...Tell me dear, why are you two just friends?"

Oh... so Henry hadn't told his mother everything after all

"It's complicated..."

"Things usually are... Just don't wait too long to uncomplicated them my sweet... Life is too short."

She gave Elizabeth a hug and smiled at her

"You'll know what to do"

She finally made it to the restroom, locking herself in a cubicle and resting her head in her hands. She had to go and celebrate with Jake but thoughts of Henry kept swirling around like a tornado. She composed herself and walked out of the door, ready to face the world, when she felt a hand in hers and was quickly pulled into a small alcove.

"What the..."

"I'm sorry... But I had to see you and this may be my only chance today." Henry was still gripping her hand and standing incredibly close.

"Henry... Jake will be looking for me... I have to go." Her urgency to get away was more to do with the effect he was currently having on her.

"Just give me 5 minutes... please."

If he continued standing this close to her, looking like he did in his uniform, 5 minutes would be all it took for her to do anything he wanted. But she nodded and waited for him to speak as he clearly had something on his mind.

"I need to know if it's true?" Henry was always so laid back, but at this moment he sounded somewhat desperate.

"If what's true... Henry, what's wrong?"

"If it's true that you're in love with me."

And there it was... The very thing she'd been dreading for weeks.

"Oh crap... Rochana told you?"

"Of course she told me... I needed some kind of explanation as to why she ended things with me so abruptly... I wasn't quite expecting to hear that though...Nice one Adams"

"I'm so sorry Henry... It just kind of, slipped out."

"Apparently so... As did the fact I can make you orgasm...Is that true too?" He couldn't help but smile at her as she turned crimson.

"Oh god... She told you that too?…This just gets worse."

"Yes she did... I think that upset her more than the declaration of love...She was so angry Elizabeth... What were you thinking?"

"I was very drunk.. So I clearly wasn't thinking at all, was I."

"You haven't answered me... Is it true?"

"Henry, let's not do this today."

"Elizabeth...Tell me."

"Yes, it's true…I'm in love with you, completely and desperately... Is that what you want to hear?…Do you feel better now?"

Henry couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. Those were the words he'd been wanting to hear since the very first time he'd laid eyes on her.

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Elizabeth, on the other hand was not feeling so thrilled with her proclamation.

"Does Jake know?" And there was her nausea again

"I haven't told him, and Rochana said she hadn't... But don't you think maybe you should?"

"No, I don't... Because this." She gestured between them "Isn't going to happen."

"This has already happened... And now we just have to figure it all out... I love you so much Elizabeth." He pulled her closer and she could barely breathe

"Henry... Stop it... I'm married."

"I know... And we'll hold off until you've told Jake... Just don't take too long because I really want you."

"Oh god... You need to stop that right now...We won't be doing anything... And you need to step back."

"Why?…Am I making you uncomfortable?" He was smiling at her, knowing exactly what he was doing.

He was making her lose her freaking mind and she could barely hold it together.

"Enough... I'm staying with Jake... I married him and now I have to make it work."

The colour seemed to drain from Henry's face and the huge smile he'd been sporting, faded

"So you're going to spend your life with him... When you're in love with me... And I'm head over heels in love with you... Yeah, that makes perfect sense."

"I have no choice Henry...You're Mr Ethical... Surely you can see why?"

"Right now Adams... All I can see is you... And it's all I ever want to see."

Why did he have to say things like that... It really wasn't helping

"I can't do this to Jake, and I know you can't either...Because you're a good man Henry McCord... Far better than I deserve... I have to go and be with my husband."

She slid her hand out of his and moved away

"So that's it... No us?" Henry shrugged

"That's it... It's time to move on."


Twisting the ring on her finger, Elizabeth was deep in thought. She needed to clear her mind and commit to her marriage. She really did love him and Jake had done nothing wrong...it was time to focus on him now...She just had to figure out how to do that.

She glanced at Jake as he approached her. He looked so hot in his uniform and his smile always had a way of making her stomach flip.

"Well don't you look gorgeous."

"Not nearly as beautiful as you look ... Can we please get out of here?" He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her waist.

She could see the intent on his face and smirked at him

"Steady on... You know we're still in public, right?"

"Then lets go back to the hotel... I can't wait any longer."

"You're just going to have to... Self control baby... You're a marine now."

"To hell with self control... We either leave now or I'll just have to have you right here."

Elizabeth couldn't help the loud chuckle that escaped her

"Oh that's romantic... How to sweep a girl off her feet.. Be still my beating heart."

"I'm sorry... Can I please take my beautiful wife back to the hotel to spend some quality time with her?"

"That's a little better..Let's go."

They barely made it into the room before Jake's hands were on her... His lips kissing her neck and his desire taking control. He was turning her on and after 3 months apart, this couldn't happen soon enough...As he pushed her down onto the bed, her mind started having a difference of opinion with her body...Thoughts of Henry flooded her head and she just couldn't do it.

"Jake... wait... I need a minute." She pushed him up and shut herself in the bathroom

Oh my god... what is happening... Would you just focus on your husband... This is ridiculous

"Baby... Is everything ok?" Jake called through the door

"Uhh, Yeah... I won't be a minute."

She had made up her mind to commit completely to Jake so why was it Henry she was now thinking of... She'd be fine, she just had to focus.

"I'm sorry... I just needed a minute... Where were we?"

She was back in his arms and as his hands traced her body and the passion took over, her mind wandered once more. Jake's touch felt divine, but it wasn't him she wanted.

"I'm sorry... I can't do this right now." She pushed him up and rolled off the bed

"Why?…What's wrong?"

"I just have a lot on my mind... Can we please go home?"

"You want to go back to Virginia... Now?"

"Yeah... Is that ok?"

"Elizabeth... It's a 6 hour drive... And we haven't had sex for 3 months... Can't we just stay here tonight and let me take care of you?"

"No... I just want to go home... Please Jake...Please?"

She figured driving for 6 hours would be enough time to sort her head out. Maybe then she could actually be with him completely.

Much to her astonishment, Jake didn't argue, he just agreed to whatever she wanted and they set out on their journey home. Elizabeth had wanted to drive but Jake had insisted that she get some rest. She had managed to sleep for the entire journey and was rather startled when they pulled up outside of his apartment.

As they closed the door behind them, Jake took her in his arms once more

"Are you going to tell me what's wrong now?"

If only she could... But this was something she would have to work through alone

"I'm fine... I just wanted to be in our home, with you... That's all."

"I know I haven't been here for you... But you can talk to me, I want to help."

"You can't help... I just need some time."

"So you are struggling?… Does it have something to do with Henry?"

"No... Why would you say that?" Her heart was racing and she was starting to panic

"Because he's your best friend yet you didn't so much as speak to him today... Has he upset you?"

"No... I don't want to talk about Henry... I've just really missed you and I'm tired."

"You slept all the way home... I'm worried about you Elizabeth."

"There's no need... You're here with me now... Let's just go to bed."

"I like the sound of that." He started nuzzling her neck but she pulled away

"Jake... I just need to sleep... Not tonight, ok."

"Yeah.. Sure... I'm sorry." She felt angry at herself when she saw the look on his face and as she curled up in his arms... She felt a tear run down her cheek... How was she ever going to work this out.