Prompt: Henry and Elizabeth have their first fight, and she thinks they're breaking up.
It had been smooth sailing for the first few months of their relationship, all fun dates and gentle kisses and learning what it meant to love each other. The fall came just after Elizabeth had finally started to settle into the idea of a healthy relationship with Henry.
Their first fight had been over the way Henry had ignored her during a social event. He hadn't meant to; he'd seen an old friend and gotten caught up in talking to him. Elizabeth, for her part, normally wouldn't have minded. However, they'd discussed her anxieties about this particular dinner earlier in the day, and he'd assured her that it would be fine. He'd be there with her, he had said. And then, he hadn't been, and exactly what she'd feared had happened.
Now, they stood facing one another in her apartment, the air around them thick with tension.
"Look, Elizabeth, I said I was sorry!" Henry said. "I don't know how much more you want from me."
She shrugged her shoulders and he sighed in frustration, before reaching out to pick up his bag.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"I'm going home," he answered shortly, and he was in the process of tying his shoes when he heard a shuddering breath and looked up to find tears streaming down her face. He hesitated, unsure of what to do. He'd just been planning on going home, giving her some space, maybe bringing her some breakfast the next morning to smooth things over. But now, she stood sobbing before him, and whatever anger he'd been holding onto was fading fast.
"Elizabeth?" he asked cautiously. "You okay?"
It was awkward and strange, and he knew it, but he had no idea what else to say.
"I just thought this was going to be different," she said quietly. He stared at her, confused, and slowly slipped his shoes back off.
"You thought what was going to be different?" he asked.
"Us," she admitted. "I guess I was wrong."
"Elizabeth, what are you talking about?" he inquired. She gestured to his bag and shoes.
"You're leaving," she said, sounding defeated. "And it's just hard to think that it's over," she added, her voice breaking. Suddenly, it hit him that she actually thought he was leaving, not only the apartment, but her.
"Oh, Elizabeth," he murmured, and moved forward so that he was standing right in front of her. She hesitated, but didn't step back, looking up into his eyes as he tenderly brushed a strand of her hair off of her face.
"What are you doing?" she breathed.
"Baby, I'm not breaking up with you," he explained softly. Tears filled her eyes again at his words, and he reached out to pull her close to him, his heart breaking at the cautious way she snuggled into his embrace.
"Henry," she breathed, and her voice wavered. He held her a little tighter against him, smoothing a hand over her blonde hair.
"Shh, it's okay," he soothed. "I'm not leaving you, okay? I'm right here."
Something in her had broken, and she wrapped her fingers around the fabric of his shirt as she tried to control the crying.
"Elizabeth, it was just a fight," he said as he held her there in the middle of the tiny apartment. "Couples fight. It doesn't mean it's over." He pressed his lips against the top of her head, tucked in against his shoulder. "I'm not leaving you," he repeated.
A few minutes later, she pulled back to look at him, and he just smiled tenderly before kissing her forehead lightly.
"Don't apologize," he said, cutting her off before she could get started. She smiled ruefully and nodded, and then he tilted her chin up with one finger, bringing her lips to his. When they pulled apart, he grinned at her.
"Want me to stay tonight?" he asked.
"That's really presumptuous and I want to say no, but...yes."
Henry just laughed.