AN: Thanks everyone for the continued reviews! I promise not to 'break your hearts' too much longer. You will get some H&E moments! I am so pleased you're all loving the story!

One thing I wanted to achieve with this storyline is for people to say 'I didn't see that coming!' and i've had a few of those comments so I am feeling pretty pleased!

Thank you to the Guest review who spotted the Date mistake! The original time jump was going to be 25 years but for reasons... (spoilers) I cut it back to 15 years! All dates have been spotted and edited (I hope!)

Hope everyone is staying home and staying safe!

I think this fic has roughly another 25 chapters for you all! I've written up to Chapter 51 so plenty to update you all with during this pandemic!


Chapter Forty - One

Cur semper tui? - 'Why Is it always you?'


September 21st 2000

12.09pm

The autumnal breeze had picked up causing a gentle rattle to flow down the halls of Georgetown university, the kind that refined your senses and caused a sense of hyper-vigilance, any noise or movement had you alert, like a storm might just be brewing beneath the rustle of the leaves carried by the winds. Elizabeths heels clicked against the cold hard floor as she marched towards her staff

'Sorry I am late!' She groaned in frustration, trying to fiddle with her skirt as she walked

'You have a minute to spare' Nadine smiled

'Oh wow a whole minute, gosh I hardly needed to rush' She rolled her eyes as she stopped. She patted her skirt down and ensured her shirt was tucked in nearly before buttoning up her jacket for a finished polished look.

'Ready?' Nadine asked and Elizabeth nodded

'Oh Ma'am I Almost forgot, Matt gave me the name of the professor.' Blake paused as he reached in his pockets for that folded bit of paper. When he located it he unfolded it between his fingers and his eyes scanned the name once again

'Oh Yes that was it, Dr Henry McCord' He smiled and looked up at his boss.

Dr Henry McCord, Dr Henry McCord, McCord, Dr, McCord, Henry, Dr Henry McCord. Elizabeths mind spiralled out of her control. Her mouth fell slightly agape and instantly dried, her ability to focus disappeared with the leaves in the wind.

'Urm, Madam Secretary?' Blake looked between Elizabeth and Nadine

'Ma'am?' Nadine spoke

'You're kind of a funny colour, Ma'am?' Blake stepped In closer and placed his hand on her upper arm

'I haven't fainted for the longest time what does it feel like?' She asked as she managed to shift her eyes to her assistant. Blake laughed nervously and Nadine quickly grabbed a chair. They walked her back and sat her down, she began to breath heavily as her heart pounded through her chest. Blake and Nadine shared confused glances and stood in silence.

Henry, it can't be Henry, not Henry Henry. Surely it's just the same name. He's in the marines and wouldn't be in DC teaching. It's ok, just the same name. Just the same name. Same name. Probably same person. No no no Elizabeth no. Focus. Same name different person. She managed to gain a little control and compose herself. She swallowed the uncomfortable lump in her throat and looked at her staff.

'Sorry,' Had a moment' she mumbled and stood up slowly, placing her arms out to steady herself.

'Everything ok?' Blake asked

'Yep, fine, Let's do this' She didn't dare look at them. She inhaled deeply through her nose and exhaled slowly as her feet carried her to the door of the classroom. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the handle and slowly pushed the door open to peer inside. Once she had the nod from a female assistant she stepped in complete. The room stood as she entered and she smiled gracefully, her feet naturally carrying her towards the podium situated over the other side of the room. She diverted her attention from the full lecture room before her and towards the podium. Same name, Same Man. Henry.

Henry was stood at the podium awaiting the arrival of the secretary of state; he heard the name 'Elizabeth Adams' when she was appointed roughly eight months ago and always wondered if it was her. Sure he had seen images of her and watched the news daily and she looked the same but there was always something niggling at him, questioning if this was too good to be true. He glanced a cross the lecture hall when he heard the door open slightly, the teaching assistant nodded signalling it was the guest speaker. Henry took his hands off the podium and grabbed at the bottom of his jumper; his stomach swirling as she entered the room.

Hi eyes fell upon her; instantly his body radiated with that old familiar feeling for her, all of his love and admiration intoxicated him as his emotion rose in his throat. His eyes fell upon her; her golden hair loosely curled and flowing effortlessly just down past her shoulders. Her top half captured in a refreshing white blouse with a neck tie hanging loose. Her legs were on show as her steel grey skirt hugged her hips, a slight slit at the side revealing more as she took each step forward. Her heels clicked across the floor as she walked closer towards Henry; her head lifting up and her eyes capturing his attention. He stood in shock and awe of her beauty, his mouth slightly agape as his eyes locked upon hers.

'Madam Secretary' He spoke softly, a smile creeping upon his face as she stood just the other side of the podium.

'Dr McCord, it's nice to see you' She tried to remain professional and push all her thoughts aside, she reached out her hand to shake his and the moment they connected she knew she had to retract. The fire within her burned at the contact, the flame was reignited. Her mind raced with images and moments of their times shared together, playing like a broken record on repeat.

'Please, Call me Henry' he smiled softly, trying to reestablish that old connection. Elizabeths eyes Narrowed upon him and a more stern look spread across her face as she entered into defence mode

'I think we should use our titles since we worked hard to earn them' she smiled falsely and turned to face the students. Elizabeth began to introduce herself all the while she could feel Henry's eyes upon her piercing through to her core. She tried so hard to concentrate on her speech and deliverance of that to the students but she felt that same rush fuel and excite her, just like it did all those years ago when they first bumped into one another, however this time she wasn't so welcoming to them. Elizabeth took a step to the side, adjacent from Henry as a video was being played to the students. The huey glow cast over him as her eyes readjusted to the sight of Henry McCord; an image that she had erased from her mind many years ago; she had to; she had to move on and the only way was to attempt to forget him. A poor attempt at that, but an attempt nonetheless. She let out a slow and steady breath and shivered slightly as she felt a draft down her back from the door behind her. How can one persons presence cause so many emotions, all of them conflicting? Henry resembled the wind; a gentle breeze that brushed past you but it was strong enough to shake an old ajar door open.