Chapter Forty - Seven

Unde non pertinent 'It does not belong'


October 4th 2000

19.43pm

The velvet night sky rolled in as the warm dewy streetlights fell onto the drawn curtains of Elizabeths home; the outside world and its beauty was shut out as she settled for a peaceful weekend off with Thomas. She had received the letters from Henry four days ago and her mind had been in overdrive since; She hadn't dared to open them as she didn't think she could take being consumed by him anymore, not when she had Thomas now. She smiled as she settled back onto her couch, into his arms.

'A whole weekend off with the busiest woman in the world' he teased and she playfully hit his chest

'Yes! But only because you're going away tomorrow and I wanted us to have some quality time before you disappear on me for three whole weeks' she smirked

'Well, I suppose I better make this weekend off worth your while' he winked and slowly lent down to kiss her. His lips connected to hers and his hand ran down her forearm. She leant into the kiss and shifted closer to him.

*Ring*Ring*

Elizabeth groaned into the kiss and Thomas continued

'Hmm is that nice' he mumbled thinking her groan was one of pleasure until she pulled back from him

'No, sorry I need to get that' she sighed and grabbed her phone. She noticed Nadine's name flash across her screen. She slipped to accept the call and flashed Thomas an apologetic smile. She stood and walked into the kitchen to keep the call private. Thomas sighed heavily and sunk back into her couch. Looked around her home and the reality of her life began to dawn on him. Nothing was out of place, it never was. A sign of a house not a home, somewhere someone laid their head at night rather than built their life within it. He began to wonder if she would ever have time for him, or if they even wanted the same thing. He shook his head and dismissed the thoughts as soon as they came, he liked her and was determined to make this work.

Thomas had sat alone in the living room for nearly thirty minutes before he stood and picked up Elizabeths drink walking cautiously to the kitchen, he peered in and seen her smile; he knew it was safe to enter. He lifted her cup for her to acknowledge he brought her drink to her.

'Hold on, one second please Nadine' she asked and covered the speakerspeak with her hand as she removed her phone from her ear.

'Thank you, I shouldn't be too long' she pulled an apologetic face as she looked on at him, Thomas smiled and softly rubbed her arm.

'Take the time you need, I'm going to grab an early night' he kissed her cheek and headed upstairs to settle into Elizabeth's bed. She watched his go and sighed heavily, Elizabeth desperately wanted this to work with them but work kept getting in the way.

'Ma'am?' Nadine called through the phone jolting Elizabeth from her thoughts

'Right yes, sorry you were saying…' and just like that she was back to her professional self.

It was nearly a whole hour later before Elizabeth finally got off the phone with various staff and foreign ministers. She cursed as she grabbed her mug of coffee from earlier and threw it down the skin. She switched off all the lights and headed upstairs to find Thomas. As she entered her bedroom her heart sank a little to see he had fallen asleep. Elizabeth opted to change into her pyjamas and climbed into bed next to him.

Her arm snaked around him and she kissed him on the cheek softly, his eyes slowly flickered as his gaze fell upon her

'I am so sorry' she whispered, running her hand through his hair. He shook his head and shifted his position to face her

'It's ok, I understand its all part of the parcel'

'It shouldn't be though, why can't I let work go for a night or two' she became irritated with herself

'Because work is important to you' he reasoned

'So what you're saying is that you're not as important to me as my job?' She raised an eyebrow

'I never said that, you've come to that conclusion and only you can answer that.' He paused and watched as the pain filled up in her eyes. 'Look let's get some sleep, we're here together now and that is what matters. I am going away for three weeks in the morning, that should give you enough time to figure out if you want this to work or not' he replied softly

'I do want this to work!' She protested

'Ok, let me rephrase. It will give you enough time to see if you have space in your life for me' he leant in and kissed her forehead 'Now get some sleep lizzie' he settled back on his side with his back to her as he drifted back off to sleep. Elizabeth led on her back and stared blankly at the ceiling, letting her thoughts consume her before she eventually drifted off herself.

Elizabeth was awoke to the feeling of soft kisses trailing down her neck, she smiled and kept her eyes close enjoying the pleasure that was building within her. She moved her lips towards his and kissed them tenderly. A connection rippled through her, a connection she hadn't felt for a very long time. She flicked her eyes open and pulled back

'Henry? What are you doing Here? Where is Thomas! How did you get past security' she freaked, her eyes scanning the room for the man she fell asleep next too but he was no where to be seen.

'I spoke to Blake, Thomas has already left to catch his flight, Elizabeth I miss you' he explained, his voice dipping in tone toward the end of is sentence, his hand running up her arm setting her body on fire. It has been years since she had yearned for anyone like that; in fact the last person who she felt like that with was Henry.

'You can't just come in here and kiss me!'

'Why not?' He challenged her

'Because, because…well becaus-' he shut her up by kissing her once again, this time a little more forceful in passion, pushing her back down into a laying position as he climbed on top of her. She spread her legs so he could situate himself between them, her feet hooking around his waist drawing him close to her burning core. Her body arched up into him as his kisses trailed down her neck and down the valley of her breasts. She moaned as the pleasure of Henry washed over her once again. She felt his hardened length press into her as his hands glided up the sides of her body, locating her free breasts. Her breath became hitched as the pressure within her intensified, desperate for a release that only Henry could provide. Her body craved more

'Do you want more?' He whispered huskily in her ear, unable to speak she nodded into the crook of his next

'You know what To do…' he pulled back and looked at her. Elizabeth opened her eyes and scanned the room… Henry was gone. She bolted up right in bed and panted; Thomas was next to her, no signs of Henry and it was only 3am…

'It was a dream' she panted to herself. Her body was tense and sweaty as the heat of the dream consumed her. She looked back to Thomas to make sure he was asleep and let out a sigh of relief. Elizabeth swung her legs out of the bed and walked into her bathroom locking the door behind her. She pushed the window open in desperate need for fresh air. She looked around the street to make sure it was empty, almost as if she was checking Henry wasn't around and coming for her, clarifying it was just a dream. She glanced up at the moon as it shone down onto the street, illuminating all in its path. That was the thing; Thomas was just like the moon; safe, and a different kind of light within dark times, but Henry…Oh Henry was like a firework in this velvet dark sky; the blaze that dares to light up the night in the most magnificent way, but that is the thing with fireworks; they are not always there like the moon, yet everyone will turn up to watch a firework display and often ignores the moon nightly.