Disclaimer: I do not own the Madam Secretary characters.

CHAPTER 1

Elizabeth stared at the two gowns hanging on the closet door in front of her. Roxanne had dropped them off to their Georgetown home a week earlier after Allie sent them down from her Manhattan shop. She tried them both on multiple times and now she just stared at them without a decision in sight. Henry left the bathroom and ran his hand across her lower back just under her Harvard law sweatshirt touching the top of her black leggings as he passed by her headed for their bed.

Plopping himself down on the bed, as he stared at her. They say presidencies age you, but not his wife. She was still gorgeous and never seemed to age. With all her extra time, she worked harder now to keep her body in shape.

"Babe, the dresses aren't going to make the decision for you! We need to leave in the morning," he said.

She sat down on the bed. "I know and I love them both. The aqua blue is gorgeous but is it over the top for this event?"

He pulled her down on to the bed from behind and rolled himself over her. "I love it! I can't wait to see your eyes sparkle with that dress. You will look stunning."

Elizabeth smiled and chuckled as he laid his lips over hers.

"I can't wait to see how handsome you look in your tux, Captain."

Henry rolled them closer to the pillows and pulled the sheets down to get them under the covers.

"A weekend in New York at Christmastime. The Presidential Suite at the Plaza Hotel. Getting to spend time with Allie all weekend. I can't wait. " Henry moaned as he kissed her and pressured her mouth to open for him.

But, she started talking. "Diner out and not in the suite tomorrow night, my favorite thing. Saturday night will be fun too. The last time we went to UNICEF's Snowflake Ball we had a blast. Of course, I didn't have to speak then."

He pulled up and gave her a concerned look, "Babe, are you nervous about your speech? That never happens."

"No, I always get jitters. But, sometimes it is fun to go to an event and not be the center of attention." Elizabeth frowned.

Henry laughed, "If you haven't noticed, you will always be the center of attention. Especially since you are always mine."

She laughed back at him "You are still so cheesy!" she grinned as they made their way into the most intimate part of their marriage.

Friday morning brought Stevie and her two children bounding their way into the house.

"Grammy!' little voices called to her.

Elizabeth greeted her granddaughters with the biggest hugs. "How are my favorites this morning?"

"We're good! But, we're going to miss you while you are in New York," Eliza smiled up at her.

Amelia asked "Are you going to see Auntie Allie? Because if so, we want to come."

"We are going to see Auntie Allie. But, maybe we will FaceTime with you and her on Saturday morning. Does that sound good?"

"Yes!" they replied in unison jumping up and down.

"And when we get back it will be time for a party!" Henry put their suitcases down at the bottom of the stairs and threw his arms wide open for the girls.

"Grandpa!" The girls ran to him and he hugged them both into a group hug. .

Stevie jumped in, "Okay girls. I told you we could come and give hugs but Grandpa does not have time to wrestle this morning. We're just here to pick up Hope and take her with us."

"Awww, bummer!" Henry said laughing with the girls.

"Okay. Girls, Grammy and Grandpa have to go but we will FaceTime you tomorrow morning," Elizabeth said as she knelt down to hug each of the girls and kiss their heads.

Once on the private jet, Elizabeth stared out the window at the clouds in the sky. It was a weird feeling. She never minded flying because she thought it brought her that much closer to her parents and others she had lost.

Henry was reading a book siting next to her, his hand resting on her thigh. He felt her shift. "Babe, you okay?"

She glanced over quickly. "Hmm, yeah, I'm fine."

More than thirty years together, Henry knew better. He rubbed her thigh and asked "What is it? You can talk to me."

"Do you think seeing Zahyed's family tomorrow is going to trigger me? I don't want to have an attack in public."

Henry sighed and took off his glasses. "You brought your medicine, right?

"Yes, but Henry I can't take it before the event. I have to give a speech and it can make me loopy," she gave him that downward glance she had when she was unsure of something.

"Well, you need to take the time to do your meditation tomorrow before your speech. We're not scheduled to see Marijol and the boys until after your speech. Take it afterwards. The plan is to not stay long. We can head right back to the hotel and you can sleep."

She leaned her head on Henry's shoulder, not so sure of the plan.

Elizabeth sat at the desk in her hotel room going over her speech for the fifth time. Something was just not right.

Henry came over and put his hands on the back of her shoulders. She sighed. "What's wrong, Babe?"

"It's still not right. This is like the sixth speech writer I have been through. Nobody seems to be able to write the way I like to speak. Except Daisy and Matt."

"Once he got it together, you and Matt definitely had a rhythm going. That's something that is hard to find. Put it down for now and ask Jay to give it a go. He can usually pull it into line. C'mon Allie will be here soon."

Elizabeth got up and turned into Henry's arms, she gave him a peck on the lips and said, "I love that you have all the answers."

A knock at the door and in walked Allie. She was always a breath of fresh air. Dressed perfectly for work with her sunglasses on her head. Her Burberry coat thrown over her arm.

Elizabeth immediately let go of Henry and wrapped her youngest girl up in her arms. "Ohhh, how I have missed you!"

"I missed you too, Mom. " She reached for Henry to give him a hug. "You too, Dad! Are you both excited for this weekend?"

Elizabeth answered, "Yes! I brought both dresses. I couldn't decide." She shrugged at Allie not knowing what to say

"You did. I love both of them." Allie was excited. She loved when her mother wore something from her collection. "But, I need to see them on you to help you pick."

Elizabeth put the white one on first. Allie stared at her mother "Definitely wear that. It is stunning with the aqua gems on your necklace. It's the right colors but not over done. Besides, you look stunning in that dress, Mom"

"Okay, white it is," as she smiled at Henry, who was now staring at her.

He put his hands up, "Why didn't I see that one at home?" He gave his wife the look only meant for the two of them but their kids always caught it. Allie rolled her eyes.

Friday night, family night was a huge success. Being former President was slightly easier than being the President. They were able to have a wonderful early dinner at a great French restaurant, then took in a Broadway show.

As they walked back in to the suite, Elizabeth who may have had more than enough glasses of wine, threw her shoes to the side.

Allie looked at her Dad and said, "Some things never change."

"I am exhausted. Going to bed," she said as she headed for their bedroom.

"Babe, it's only 10:30pm," Henry exclaimed.

"Well, then more time for…" Elizabeth paused forgetting Alison was right there, "reading the new copy of my speech."

Alison rolled her eyes at her parents, "I'm not twelve anymore. I know what you meant. I will leave you two alone."

Henry turned to his wife with the look on his face. "Seriously?"

"I forgot she was right there," she waved her hands around while talking. "You know, now that we are empty nesters sometimes I forget when the kids are there."

"Okay…off to bed. You need sleep," he said directing her to the bedroom.