A/N - Welcome to the very last chapter of All That's Written... Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read it and given me such positive feedback and lovely reviews. I have really enjoyed writing this and I'm glad i was able to entertain you all... Much love to you all xxx

Epilogue

Virginia - 2014

Elizabeth sat at the kitchen table of her beautiful farmhouse in utter disbelief... What the hell had just happened... There was very little that rendered her speechless... But god damn, this had floored her. Her head was spinning, her mouth was dry and for some reason, she couldn't seem to get enough air into her lungs...which in turn meant there wasn't enough oxygen flowing around her body... Light headedness ensued and she could swear she was going to pass out.

"What did Conrad want... Or should I say the president?" Henry had walked into the kitchen and was absentmindedly fiddling with the coffee machine and hadn't actually looked at his wife. "Babe...Elizabeth... Hello?" When there was no response, he looked across at her "Ohhh... You don't look so good... You ok?"

She leaned forwards over her knees and he took that as a solid no.

"Ok babe... Deep breaths... Head between your legs... Come on sweetheart." Looking at her colour, Casper the friendly ghost had nothing on her... White really didn't cover it "Elizabeth... Breathe baby." The comforting circles henry was rubbing on her back were bringing her back into the room slowly... And her breaths were seeming to get a little deeper. "That's my girl... Keep calm." When he felt he could safely leave her without the immediate threat of her crashing to the floor, he fixed her a glass of water and made her take small sips.

"Mom... that was so cool... What did he want?" Jason came bundling into the room, none too quietly and then paused when he saw Elizabeth "Jeez mom... You look like you're going to puke... Gross."

"Jason." Henry chastised "would you give us a minute."

Jason left, mumbling to himself abut oppressive parenting.

When his wife's breathing had evened out and she actually had some colour, he pressed for information "So... That must have been some meeting... What's going on?"

She looked at him with a gaze that seemed full of trepidation "Uhhh... Well... He offered me a job."

"A job?... What kind of job?... Does the president do all his own hiring and firing?" Henry laughed at himself.

"Secretary of State." Even when the words came out of her mouth, she didn't believe them.

Henry let out a rather loud chuckle that seemed to come right from his belly but soon stopped when he saw her stoney expression "You're joking, right?"

"Nope... Not joking... And he seems pretty steadfast in his decision."

Henry studied Elizabeth's expression... He wasn't as good at reading people as she was... She was trained for it... But he knew her well enough to know she was actually thinking about this "You want to take it, don't you?"

"I have no idea... We have a good life here... We're happy Henry and i cannot go through what happened to us when i left the CIA... I just can't."

They had come a long way as a family in the years following their reconciliation. Being separated for six months had raised some serious questions as to what they wanted and they had made some changes accordingly. Elizabeth worked her ass off and achieved her doctorate, far quicker than she had anticipated and after taking a few minor teaching positions to gain experience, had finally been offered a permanent position at UVA... She never thought she would be able to replace the feeling she got from her role as an analyst ... But walking into that classroom for the first time, it was replaced by something fundamentally different, but in other ways exactly the same. She really loved teaching and she was good at it... She was making a difference and that was enough for her. And hearing Henry call her 'Dr McCord' was pretty damn hot too. The subsequent role play's they'd indulged in had taken their sex life to a whole new level.

As much as Elizabeth loved the home they'd made together... She was still feeling like something was missing... So, they had taken a rather huge leap and bought a horse farm...Elizabeth had built up a very close friendship with Kathleen and went riding as frequently as her busy life would allow. When the farm had come onto the market, Kathleen had immediately brought it to her attention and after weighing up the pro's and cons... Henry had convinced her that it would be the exact thing they'd been looking for. And as usual, he had been right. It was as if they had always belonged there and having her own horses was like a dream come true... They were so solid and happy... And that's how she wanted to keep it.


Elizabeth had taken herself off on a very long ride to try and clear her head... This was another huge decision that could change everything and she was reeling... It had brought up a lot of feelings that she'd pushed down deep and there was nothing Henry could say to help her... This was once again, her decision to make and she knew if she made the wrong one, her whole life could come crashing down again.

After returning from her ride...She had spent a long time just sat in the barn, alone... Henry so desperately wanted to go to her, but also wanted to give her space. They were so close in every respect, he knew her better than she knew herself and could read her so easily. He hated seeing her so torn again... But had learned from previous experience that she had to come to decisions in her own time...He knew, whatever she decided, he would whole heartedly support her... If there was one thing he was absolutely certain of... It was wherever she went... He would go too.

When Elizabeth finally returned to the house, she felt conflicted and emotional...The house was in darkness and the hour indicated that everyone would asleep already. She poured herself a rather large glass of wine and stood in the dimly lit kitchen in silence. There was so much swirling around in her head, it felt like it might just burst and she was so sick of going over and over it... But the President had given her until the morning to give him her decision... And she still hadn't come close to making it. Could she really uproot her family once again for a job she wasn't even sure she could do... Why did Conrad keep doing this to her... It was as if he instinctively knew when she was at her most content and wanted to sent her into a tailspin. She knew the sensible option would be to gracefully decline his offer and live the life she was happy with... But as was always the case with her... Once a seed was planted in her mind, it just grew and grew and visions of her finally being able to do what she knew she was capable of played out in her head. She let out a rather frustrated "ARGHHHHH." And leaned against the kitchen side.

"Are you screaming at yourself again... You know that's the first sign of madness." Henry approached her and pulled her into a hug "What's going on in your head babe?"

She leaned back slightly and looked up at him "So many things... My head hurts."

Henry smiled at her and gave her a very gentle kiss "Then stop thinking and just go with your gut instinct... You always tell me it's rarely wrong, so trust it now."

She leaned against his chest and let out a deep sigh "It's not that simple henry... I can't risk losing you again... Nothing is worth that."

He took her face in his hands and looked directly into her eyes "You listen to me... There is nothing in this world that will ever make that happen... We are one entity babe, so where you go, i go."

"Can we please stop talking about this for a while... I need to not think."

A rather cheeky smile spread across Henry's face "You want me to give you a distraction?"

"And how do you propose to do that?"

He kissed up her neck and whispered in her ear "By making you come so hard you can't think at all."

She snorted at his directness... But felt a rather familiar stirring deep within her "You seem awfully sure of yourself Dr McCord."

"Oh.. I am." He pressed his lips against hers and lifted her onto the kitchen side as his tongue teased hers. The little moan she let out spurred him on and he ripped her shirt open, dragging it down her arms and tossing it aside

"Hey... Steady on... I like this shirt."

"You won't need it once you start wearing all those tight skirts and high heels...Damn... Hmmm Hmmm."

"So that's why you want me to take the job?"

"Yes ma'am."

He pulled her t-shirt over her head and marvelled at her bare torso "No Bra?"

"It's Saturday."

"Fuck... I love you." His hands immediately went to her breasts, squeezing gently as he took her nipple in his mouth, making her contort as he grazed his teeth against it and then sucked soothingly.

She pushed him back slightly and slid off the side, seductively unbuckling her belt and easing the zip of her jeans down slowly. He pulled them down her legs and as she stepped out of them, he kissed his way back up... Leaving a warm , wet trail when he met the apex of her inner thighs. He could feel her tensing slightly as he kissed her center through the lace of her underwear "A little turned on there baby?" He hooked his fingers in the elastic and dragged the lace garment down her legs... Lifting her back up, he gave her a wry smile just before his mouth was on her, his tongue parting her with ease and landing firmly on her clit. His hands were gripping her hips, holding her in place. "Ohhhhhh shit."

He smiled against her as she shuddered at the swift contact.. He usually liked to take his time, build her up slowly... But not tonight. He slid 2 fingers inside and moved them quickly and with great precision while his tongue sucked and swirled against her.

The onslaught on her senses was almost too much and she was panting, unable to catch her breath for a single second. The intimate knowledge henry had of his wife meant he always knew when she was about to let go and could make sure he pushed her over with fervour... And as she started tensing and holding her breath, he upped his speed and pressure... "aaaahhhhhhh fuck... I'm coming henry." The way her body writhed against his hands and mouth was so erotic he wanted it to last forever... She looked so sexy and the fact that he could do that to her made him almost burst with pride.

He rose up and stood in front of her as she started coming back down, her eyes tightly shut and hands gripping the worktop...When she finally looked at him, he was grinning wickedly and she couldn't help but feel shy under his gaze "Why are you blushing baby... Do you have any idea how hot you are when you come?"

"Shut up henry." She could feel her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"And what it does to me... God you turn me on." He didn't want to give her too much time to settle... She was struggling with her thoughts and needed a release ... And he wasn't about to let up now.

He stripped while she watched him eagerly... Biting on her bottom lip and almost devouring him with her azure gaze. He took her in his arms once more and brushed her hair from her face "You are going to be the best Secretary of State there has ever been... And I'll be right there beside you."

"But Henry... I haven't decid..." He kissed her again before she could compete her sentence... He already knew, even if she didn't.

He lifted her down once more and turned her so his chest was pressed against her back. She looked positively edible and he couldn't help but bite the soft flesh on her shoulder as he pushed inside her. She let her head fall back against him as his hips started to move. She had aroused him so much as he watched her come apart, he knew this wouldn't be a drawn out endeavour, but as long as he took her with him, he really didn't care. His thrusts started slowly, building her back up... And as she started getting breathy and pushing back against him, he plunged into her faster and deeper. "My god elizabeth... You are incredible." His arms were wrapped around her so tightly he was unsure where he stoped and she began... He was her protector, her constant, her guiding star... And she.. well, she was his absolute everything.

Her muscles were pulsating around him as her climax neared and he couldn't hold on any longer... Her scent was driving him crazy and as he rested his chin on her shoulder, the love he felt for her sent his heart into his throat "I'm so sorry baby... I'm gonna come." The spasms of pleasure that tore through him were enough to send her into a rather intense orgasm and as they rode it out together, the pure electricity almost created sparks. He held her tight as they both recovered and once her body had stoped jerking in his arms, he pulled back slightly so she could turn. "There is nothing about you that isn't fucking perfect Elizabeth... And i will fight for you with everything i am...forever."

"So... I'm really doing this?"

"No... WE are really doing this."


6 Weeks Later - Washington DC

Elizabeth was agitated. She had dealt with the death of her parents, held her cool as an analyst, embraced life as a single parent and even weathered the storm when her marriage had hit severe turbulence... But right now, her nerves were forcing their way upwards and as she leaned against the cold bathroom tiles, having emptied her stomach for the fourth time that morning, she felt out of her depth. She had been up until 3am going through every item of clothing she owned to try and decide on a suitable outfit and had chastised henry severely for daring to say she would look incredible in anything. Her children were keeping out of her way and even Henry had, how had he put it... Left her to gather her thoughts... She picked herself up off the floor and started pacing the rather large bedroom of her new Georgetown home... In just a few short hours she would be taking the oath of office and she wasn't ready... What the hell had she been thinking...She was a professor.. She took lectures and marked papers...Students challenged yet respected her... And her demeanour could easily switch from friendly to intimidating in an instant... But why the hell did she think she could pull that off with world leaders... Conrad had finally lost his mind.

Henry appeared in the bedroom and approached her with caution "Is it safe to come in?"

She rolled her eyes at him and smiled "Well... I think I've finished with the exorcist inspired vomiting... And I'm sorry I've been such a bitch... I really don't think i can do this Henry."

He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and rested his thumb softly on her chin "Yes you can... Nerves are perfectly normal baby... You've got this."

"Can you do it for me... And I'll go back to teaching?" She whined, resting her head on his shoulder and wrapping her arms tightly around him.

"I don't look nearly as good in the skirt and heels as you do Madam Sexytary.""

She glared at him before sniggering "Dear god Henry... Please don't ever call me that again... Not if you want to get laid any time this century."

"You love my cheesy chat up lines and adorable nature...You can't deny it."

"Yeah... I do... I guess I'd better get ready."

She came down the stairs to join her waiting family in the most auspicious outfit she could muster and tried desperately to present herself as the cool, calm and collected woman she knew she had to be... But as Henry gave her that grin that always turned her insides to mush and Alison gushed over her perfect choice of accessories, her nerves hit again and she had to struggle to fight back the tears.

"Come on mom... You know you are perfect for this job... You were born for it." Stevie gave her a hug "And you'll always be my hero."

"You'll just be another cog in the corrupt wheel... Better you than someone completely morally impaired." Jason smiled at her as he said it and she couldn't help but laugh.

Henry brushed his hands down her arms and gave her a little shake "Are you ready to go and change the world my gorgeous girl?"

"I'm ready... Let's do it."

Her body was trembling and her legs felt like they may give way at any second... But as she stood before the Supreme Court justice, her left hand resting on the bible and her right hand held aloft... She cleared her throat, glanced across at Henry one last time and then took a deep breath...

"I, Elizabeth Adams McCord, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

As she gripped henrys hand and walked out of the room he leaned closer to whisper in her ear "The next time you do that Elizabeth... You'll be president."