As the cool February air surrounded them and the moonlight poured from the sky with a silvery glow... Henry held his wife in his arms and moved slowly to the music. He could feel her warm breath on his face and his own heartbeat thudding rhythmically in his chest... Her arms were wrapped around his neck and the way she was playing with his hair sent shivers down his spine. He had one had sitting just in the small of her back and the other was gently stroking their unborn child through the soft fabric of her dress. The world was lost to them... everything had faded away and it was just them... alone in that perfect moment. Her head rested on his shoulder like it was always meant to fit there, a piece of a puzzle that had finally been found... He wasn't sure in that exact moment whether he was stuck in a dream or if this had really become a reality... he just knew he wanted to stay there forever.

"Everything had been so perfect Henry... This has been the most amazing, magical birthday of my life and I will never forget it." She placed her lips against his neck, nipping slightly with her teeth just to add a little passion to the moment

"I told you...You deserve the world and I want to give it to you." He gently moved her chin up so he could kiss her... No urgency, no intensity... just pure, unadulterated love.

They had found something unique between them... a perfect understanding of each other... an unspoken knowledge of thoughts.

"You're shivering baby... Are you ready to call it a night?" He wrapped his arms around her like a protective aura

"No... just a little Longer... I don't want this to end…" She curled herself deeper into him and closed her eyes... He was her world and she wasn't ready to let go of him just yet

Their euphoric bubble was burst slightly when Marie and Patrick approached them

"Look at you both... so in love... it makes me so happy to see... We are heading back to the hotel with Maureen... Happy Birthday again my sweet... I love you both." She gave them both a kiss and they said their goodbyes... Everyone else slowly started heading home... Erin gave Elizabeth another huge hug

"We are going to be firm friends... I love you already."

Elizabeth smiled at her new sister-in-law and felt a glow come over her... she had a family!

Sophie was the next in line to hug her

"I'm working on him." Elizabeth whispered in her ear

"Come here you... I hope you've had the best birthday." Will squeezed her tight and gave her bump a little rub

"It's been the best day... thank you so much for being here...Are you guys leaving tonight?"

Will looked at Henry and smiled

"Actually... they're staying at ours tonight with the girls... as are Shane and Erin." Henry explain to his smiling wife

"Awesome... will be a little crowded but the more the merrier."

"Well... we won't be there... I'm taking you to a hotel for the night!"

"Oh... so I do get my other gift after all." She was grinning at him and her eyes sparkled

"Oh... what gift is that?" Erin asked, completely oblivious

"Please don't ask that... because I think I know the answer and I really don't want to hear it." Will groaned

"Right... I really do need to get you inside now baby... you're trembling…" Henry took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders

"You see the effect you have on me Dr McCord... your mere touch makes me tremble."

—

The only light in the room was a golden glow from the streetlight outside the window...But it was enough for Henry to see how brightly her eyes were shining... She had that glow about her, a serenity that only intensified her beauty... As her body was changing, his passion for her only grew. Her radiance almost lighting the room on its own.

She was engulfed in the plush white robe she'd found hanging in the bathroom and had her hands wrapped firmly around her coffee cup. She'd had the most perfect evening but had really felt the chill of the winters night and was struggling to warm up.

He was sat in the chair, his own white robe hugging his body taking in the view before him.

He couldn't keep his eyes off of her and the smile on his face was one of admiration.

"You're staring at me!" She proclaimed,

"I can't help it... Would you prefer it if I looked away?" He grinned

"You can barely see me... Do you want the light on?"

"No... I can see you just fine and you are magnificent."

She put her cup down on the table and undid the robe, letting it slip from her shoulders and beckoning him towards her with her finger

"Do you have any idea how sexy that is?" He moved towards the bed and crawled up towards her

"I'm trying... But it's a little difficult when I feel like a beach Ball." She pouted and looked a little despondent

"You're getting sexier by the day baby... I just want you all the time."

She pulled him towards her and kissed him with an urgency she couldn't keep under control... It was a deep need she felt to be close to him, to show him how much she loved him... After everything he'd done to make her birthday so special, she wanted him to know how she felt.

She discarded her robe, throwing it onto the door and then turning her attention to his, tugging at the belt and pushing it down his arms. She skimmed her fingertips down his torso and placed sloppy kisses against his chest.

"You're so gorgeous Henry...… You could have had anyone you wanted, I can't believe you wanted me."

He stilled her actions and sat back against the headboard dragging the quilt up over them and pulling her in close. He cupped her face in his hand and made sure her eyes met his

"I need you to hear what I'm saying to you elizabeth... because it's really important that you understand." His tone was soft yet insistent

"Henry..."

He slid his thumb over her lips, shaking his head, urging her to listen

"You have this beautiful quality where you have no idea just how stunning you are... Your humility is unwavering and I love that about you baby... But it saddens me so deeply that you can't see what I see…"

She was looking at him, taking in every word

"The second I saw you in that hospital, I was mesmerised... Your beauty radiates from within and lights up everything around you... You bring people to life and you fill them with love... I will never understand what brought you to me... but I know I will spend my whole life trying to be worthy of the love you show me."

His eyes were glistening with unfallen tears and he had to clear his throat to continue

"I love you with every tiny fragment of my being and that will never change... so please, please don't doubt how worthy you are baby... please…"

She swallowed deeply, desperately trying to keep her emotions in check... She had no words to vocalise just how much his words had meant to her.

She pushed the quilt down and moved onto his lap, the softness of her kiss melting him even further... She was scared to speak, unwilling to let the tears fall, not wanting to end such a special day without sadness

She took him within her, slowly and skilfully... allowing them both to adjust to the sensation... The moonlight pouring through the window was bouncing off her naked shoulders as he wrapped his arms around them, pushing her deeper onto him... Her hips were moving with immense precision, purposely building the pleasure they were both feeling...

He wanted her to guide him, to set the pace... But he also knew what would drive her crazy and he couldn't hold back... Tilting his hips and caressing her breasts with his tongue... He knew what that did to her, especially with how sensitive she was right now and she filled the room with her delectable moans

Her movements quickened and he could tell she was close when he felt her hands trembling against his chest... He gripped her hips and guided her, grazing his thumb against her as she threw her head back and called his name... letting herself be consumed by her climax... The sounds falling form her lips enough to send him crashing head on into his own... unable to hold back another second

He moved himself further up the bed and wrapped his arms so tightly around her he wasn't sure where his body ended and hers began

"Are you ok my darling?"

"I'm really, really good baby... That was... I just have no words."

"You are spectacular...My god... I'm so in love with you it's hard to breathe sometimes."

She kissed him and shuffled out of bed, grabbing her robe off the floor and taking herself off to the bathroom. When she returned, she crawled back into bed and wrapped her arms around her sleeping husband

"Henry McCord... You are the most amazing gift I have ever received.. Thank you." She kissed him gently and closed her eyes... giving in to slumber

—

Elizabeth sat on her couch, looking around at the gathered family, the laughter and chatter filling the air and smiled... They had all gathered together to continue her birthday celebrations and, after spending so long on her own, it filled her with joy. The McCords were loud and could get rather snarky at each other... but that was family and she'd missed it terribly. They had accepted her and it felt good.

Will and Sophie had already gone and as the day drew on, the others were preparing to hit the road too

Elizabeth collected the coffee mugs and took them out to the kitchen, staring out of the window in a bit of a daze as she washed them up.

"You have a lovely home here Elizabeth." Maureen had joined her in the kitchen and she could swear the temperature had dropped

"Thank you... we really love it." She dried her hands and turned to face her sister-in-law

"You don't fool me, you know... I'm not stupid."

"Uh...wh..what?" Elizabeth was shocked at her words and the tone they're been spoken in

"Going after a widow and his young daughter... It's despicable... But what I don't understand is why?"

"You have it all wrong Maureen... I didn't chase after him in any way." She was desperately trying to stay calm but her heart was beating out of her chest

"Oh come on... single mom in need of stability... Little rich girl always gets what she wants."

"I...I really don't know where this is coming from..."

"Acting like a princess... Fooling everyone with your blonde hair and blue eyes...But I don't buy the act... You'll get bored of him... And Stephanie will pay the price."

Elizabeth was looking at her in disbelief

"No doubt the tears will come now and you'll act like the victim."

She was so busy ranting she didn't hear Henry enter the kitchen

"But you see, Queen Elizabeth... I know who you are and what you're up to and I won't..."

"You won't what Maureen?" Henry stood by his wife and gripped her hand

"Henry... she's playing you for a fool... Snap out of it."

"How dare you speak to my wife that way... You carry around so much venom and hostility and you think you can aim it at her?"

"Baby... it's ok..." Elizabeth wanted to calm the situation

"No... it's not ok... You don't come into our home and speak to her this way... You don't even know her."

"I know enough... Thinking she's better than us because she has money."

Henry laughed at his sister

"You'll never change Maureen... and you've said enough... I think its time you left."

The rest of the family had gathered and silence fell over the room

"Excuse me... I'm going to... I'm just..." Elizabeth fought back the tears for long enough to hurriedly leave the kitchen and make it to her bedroom before they fell

Henry was absolutely seething

"Get out of our home... and I don't want to know you until you learn some respect." He was looking at Maureen with disgust

Marie ushered her daughter towards the door

"Tell Elizabeth goodbye for us son... thank you for having us."

Erin and Shane both hugged their brother and apologised

"I really like her Henry... She's fabulous... Tell her I'll give her a call." Erin smiled and followed her parents outside

"You know what she's like... Go and see to Elizabeth... we'll see you soon." Shane shook his hand and shut the front door behind him

—

Elizabeth was reading to the girls... The tale of Alice falling down the rabbit hole had become a firm favourite, so much so that Stevie now wanted to dress like her fictional hero... Ali had no real clue what her mom was going on about, but the dulcet tones of her voice always managed to lull her to sleep and tonight was no exception. She'd moved out of her crib and was in her own little bed, surrounded by teddy bears. She kissed her youngest daughter goodnight and then turned her attention to Stevie

"You are a wonderful big sister... Ali is very lucky to have you and so is this little one." She smoothed her hand over her bump and smiled

"Do you think she'll look like me?" Stevie was such an inquisitive child which Elizabeth found so endearing

"I don't know sweetie... It's very possible... it's also very possible you'll have a baby brother."

"Ewwwwww no, that's not what I want... can you make sure it's a girl please?"

She chuckled at her daughters reaction

"Not really... But it won't be long until we find out and I know how much you'll love it anyway."

She tucked Stevie in and kissed her goodnight... closing the door around just enough to be able to hear the, If needed... Her clothes were discarded and she had barely pulled her shirt on before she was sinking into the mattress and succumbing to her exhaustion

Henry had made sure she was ok after her earlier run in with Maureen and had then left her to spend time with the girls... He knelt down by her side of the bed and placed his hand on their unborn child

"You are so lucky little one... You have no idea how incredible your mommy is, but you will... She loves you like you'll never understand and she always puts everyone first... She's so kind and gentle yet strong and powerful... You be nice to her in there, ok... because I need her you see, I need her with me always... And I can't wait to see her in you... in your eyes, in the way you laugh... in your beautiful heart... I'm your daddy and I love you so much... Just do me a favour my little one... Always be kinder to her…"

He kissed her bump and then placed a soft kiss on her forehead

"Goodnight my beauty... Sweet dreams."