Hey,

Sorry this update has been sitting for a few days and I forgot to post it.

Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter, especially the few who have messaged to say they have been re-reading while waiting for an update. It's flattering that someone reads my work once never mind re-reading it so thank you

My update might be slower but is getting finished so don't worry on that end.

XoMariaXo

CHAPTER TWENTYEIGHT

Later that evening, after everyone had settled into their rooms and gotten themselves sorted following the flight, they met up for dinner as discussed. Thankfully, Nadine had thought ahead, as always, and had booked a private dining area within the hotel, so the team were free to let loose without fear of the press imposing on them.

A few drinks appetizers in, Matt plucked up the courage to address the elephant in the room. Clearing his throat, he turned to face Henry and Elizabeth who were sitting together and enjoying a rare night of socialising. "So Mam, are we at the question and answer portion of the evening or are you going to continue to torture us?"

Henry's hand was discreetly placed on Elizabeth's knee and he gave it a soft squeeze when she threw him a questioning side smirk. Lifting her glass of wine, she took a large gulp before waving her arms in front of her, "Ok, Go!"

"Really?" Matt couldn't contain his surprise or his excitement. He was about to start babbling questions at the new couple when Nadine cut in, arching her eyebrow at him and pulling as stern a face as Zheng could after two flutes of champagne, "Matt, need I remind you that you she is still your boss and more importantly she is the Secretary of State of the United States of America?"

He rolled his eyes at Nadine, "Jeeze, Nadine, it's not as if I'm going to ask them how long they waited before having sex?" Instantly, his heart catapulted into his throat, and he clasped his hand over his mouth and groaned internally in a bid to stop himself from saying more.

"MATTTTT." Nadine exclaimed. Elizabeth and Henry couldn't help but laugh at Matt, but also at everyone else's reaction. Deciding to throw the poor fella a bone, Henry broke the moment of tension, "Well Matt if you really must know..."

Matt's eye bulged at Henry's response, while Elizabeth reached across and slapped his chest, shouting his name in surprise "HENRY"

'I'm joking obviously, " Henry chuckled as Elizabeth blushed. She wasn't a prude in any sense of the word; in truth, she considered herself quite liberated and believed that everyone had the right to be their own sexuality, whatever that may entail. But she wasn't ready to openly talk about her sex life with her staff.

Finding her blushing completely adorable, Henry put his arm arm her, pulled her into him, and placed a soft kiss on the side of the head. He shifted to face Matt in an attempt to move things along. "Ok Matt - Go"

Matt looked round at his colleagues expectantly in the hope that someone else would ask instead of him. When none of them volunteered, he just shrugged his shoulder and zoned in on the couple. "Fine, so obviously you both met through work, but who made the first move? Oh, and when did it happen? By the looks of it you two have been keeping this little secret for a while – a little too well might I add."

'Who said we met through work?" Elizabeth asked enjoying the looks of bewilderment on their faces as their interest spiked, at her instantly rewriting their notions of how she and Henry had got together.

"You didn't?" Jay interjected.

"Nope." Henry replied, deciding not to give any more details away as he joined in on Elizabeth's subtle form of torture on her staff.

Now, it was Daisy's turn to dig for answers, "Wait! You knew each other before this?"

"Not exactly," Elizabeth smirked as she revelled in their confusion.

"We just happen to like the same coffee" Henry stated nounchunely.

Daisy, Jay and Matt exchanged looked and then turned their eyes on Nadine and Blake for answers as they realised they would have to pry the information out of the couple,

"If you all think I am not enjoying the looks on all your faces enough, then you are sadly mistaken. It's fun to watch so I am not letting anything slip, thank you very much."

"Don't ask me, I never agreed to this fact-digging mission so you may just ask nicely for the information." Nadine replied sternly to their silent pleas.

Matt faced back towards the couple. Putting his elbows on the table and cupping his face in his hands, he put on his best puppy-dog expression as he pleaded with them, "Pleaseeeeee Mam? Dr McCord?"

Henry looked at Elizabeth silently asking if the torture had been enough. She nodded lightly at him. Taking that as his cue, Henry was excited about the opportunity to tell people how they met and how their love grew.

He launched into the full story about how they met at the coffee shop, their chance meeting the next day, their first date, and the first weekend together which Blake and Matt helped organize. The team was entranced by his every word. Elizabeth watched as he told their story and couldn't help but fall for him just a little harder because of the passion with which he spoke of her and their time. His love and respect for this sacred connection they had developed was clear, and she loved him all the more for it and how it made her feel.

"Blake, how on earth did you manage to keep this all form us? Actually how did you manage to keep this all from Nadine? I am surprised you were not quivering like a Chihuahua every time she asked you a question."

"Oh, he didn't do all that well but it was actually Dr McCord who really let the cat out of the bag wasn't it, Dr McCord?" Nadine smirked, raising her martini glass at Henry, who put his hands up and replied, "Guilty".

Blake feigned shock and offense, "Excuse me, I do not quiver, I swayyy thank you very much."

The group naturally separated over the course of the night. The men congregated and began bonding over politics and questions about Henry's jobs, past and present. Henry was happy to get to know them more and learned about Matt's love of photography and Jay's love for the theatre, thankfully both things he liked too .

Elizabeth, Nadine and Daisy started off discussing work before naturally easing into more personal things such, as Daisy's daughter Joanna. Elizabeth was enjoying spending time with them on a more personal level and getting to know more about them – it wasn't something she really had time to do so much when she took office, but she found she genuinely enjoyed their company.

Even while separated, Elizabeth and Henry kept catching each other's eye exchanging reassuring smiles, to let the other know they were enjoying themselves.

Nadine went to bar to get get another round of drinks in for the group as Daisy witnessed one of Henry and Elizabeth's glances and smiled. Turning her attention back to Daisy, Elizabeth caught the look on her face before she tried to disguise it, "What?" she asked, intrigued.

"Oh nothing," Daisy smiled as she took a sip of her drink. Elizabeth narrowed her eyes at Daisy in a way that screamed, "you might as well tell me because I will get it out of you."

"Ok, well I hope you don't mind me saying, but you look really happy."

Elizabeth blushed. She was not expecting it, but decided there was no reason to downplay her happiness especially to someone she was trying to get to know better, "I am happy, really happy, in fact."

"Good. I am really happy for you too, you deserve your own slice of joy in this sometimes dark world". Daisy's eyes flashed with the sadness Elizabeth had glimpsed before. It was very quick, but It was there.

"Thank you, Daisy. I do appreciate it, and I hope you know I appreciate you and all that you do to make my life as smooth sailing as possible. I know I might not say it often enough or make things easy for you, but I depend on you and will continue to, especially in the coming months."

"Thank you Mam, I know that, but it is nice to hear"

Elizabeth wanted Daisy to be comfortable around her when they were outside work "Please, its Elizabeth, when we are not at work, ok?"

"Ok... Elizabeth." Daisy smiled back at her boss, thankful for the small gesture.

"Daisy, is everything ok? I can almost see the coggs working in your mind."

Daisy was about to try and cover up what she was really thinking, but decided that her boss had been open with her and she should return the sentiment and respect, "Everything is fine. I was just thinking about how seeing you and Henry so happy has given me a little hope."

"Hope?" Elizabeth asked, intrigued as to where Daisy was taking this.

"Yes, hope. Hope that a strong woman can have it all and that there are men out there who are not afraid of having a strong-willed, independent, beautiful and intelligent woman in their lives. I have always admired your drive and determination to make the world a better place, but I will admit to thinking that it was unfair that it might not serve you well in your personal life. Jaded view, I know, but it's the truth I have experienced."

Elizabeth softened even more as Daisy spoke. She was glad she opened up, but was saddened by her view on the world.

"Look, Daisy, I'll level with you, it's not always easy being a strong woman in this world, especially in Washington, but it is more than possible. I haven't always been convinced the relationship thing was something I would get to experience, however, as cheesy as it sounds, when the right one comes along, the one who is happy to stand by your side and encourages you to be as big as you can be, you will know it and you will be thankful that you waited. But, please, also know that if it does not happen, you are more than capable of being an amazing human all on your own."

"I know, thank you, Elizabeth. Both would be nice. I know, in my heart, that as long as I raise Joanna to be like the women we admire, then I will have done my job."

Nadine returned with the drinks, ending Elizabeth and Daisy's conversation. They all spent the rest of the evening drinking, while enjoying each other's company outside the confines of work. The evening gave Henry and Elizabeth the experience of socialising somewhat publicly for the first time and provided a glimpse into what life could be like once their love was out in the open .