A/N: Hi, so this is my first ever fanfiction. I started watching Madam Secretary during lockdown and quickly became obsessed. i have been reading all of the amazing fanfiction that has already been published and I had a few ideas of my own. I have never written anything before and I am very nervous uploading this. Please let me know what you think.

This was inspired by S5 E10/E11 when Henry and Elizabeth said they didn't get a big wedding because of Henry's deployment. This is my take on how that all happened.

January 1991

Elizabeth Adams looked across the loud room to where her fiance Henry McCord was sitting. She smiled as she watched Henry and his brother Shane argue animatedly about football. She loved coming to visit Henry's family. Sure, she didn't get on with Maureen, Henry's oldest sister, and his dad could be very difficult but she enjoyed these trips, maybe more than Henry did.

The McCord house was always loud, whether they were laughing or fighting the house was constantly filled with noise. It was a stark contrast to the quiet she had become accustomed to since her own parents passed away.

Feeling her eyes on him Henry looked over at her. They locked eyes and he gave her a reassuring smile. Her heart skipped a beat, she was so lucky to have him. The young couple had been going through a period of stress. Henry was a Marine Corp fighter pilot who was awaiting news of his first overseas deployment. With the escalating tensions in the Middle East they knew that it was only a matter of time until he is deployed. They had found themselves holding their breath every time the phone rang wondering if this might be the call. Elizabeth spent her days in Langley watching the rising conflicts and praying that Henry won't be sent in to the thick of it. It was driving them crazy, they needed to get away so they decided to make an impromptu trip to visit Henry parents in Pittsburgh. She winked at him and turned back to talk with his sister Erin.

Elizabeth was listening to Erin tell her about her new boyfriend Mark when the phone rang. Mary, the McCord matriarch, went to answer it. "Henry, it's for you," she poked her head back in to the room. Henry glanced at Elizabeth as he went to take the phone. She tried her best to give him a reassuring smile and resisted the urge to go answer it with him. She knew he would need to take this call on his own.

She tried to act like everything was fine. There was no point in worrying his family until they knew for sure. When he hadn't returned and she couldn't wait any longer she decided she needed to go find him. She excused herself and made her way to the hall. Seeing the phone was back on its spot on the wall and there was no sign of Henry, she continued on to the kitchen.

She spoted Henry at the end of the garden. He was running his hands through his hair, a sure sign he was anxious about something. She instantly knew that it had been the phonecall they had been dreading. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. He leant back in to her, pulling her arms tightly around himself. They didn't speak for a a few minutes. Elizabeth kissed his shoulder and broke the silence. "When do you go."

"Three weeks" he sighed. She took a deep breath and buried her face in his shoulder. "Where" she mumbled against him. "Iraq, for ten months."

He turned in her arms and threaded his fingers through her hair, gazing in to her deep blue eyes that are filled with unshed tears. "I'm going to be alright baby" he tried to reassure her.

"Well you better be because I've grown quite attached to you Henry McCord and besides without you there's a real possibility that I might starve," she chuckled trying to diffuse the tense atmosphere.

"Well we simply couldn't have that" he said drawing her in for a long slow kiss. The kiss was tender and they poured their feelings in to it, each of them clinging to the other as if it might be their last time.

"We are going to have to push the wedding back," he said sadly, "but as soon as I get back I promise we will have the wedding of your dreams."

She thought about that for a second and realised that was the complete opposite of what she wanted. "No I don't want that." Confusion and hurt flashed across his face. She had seemed so excited about getting married. Was she rethinking the whole thing? She pulled him closer to her, realising he was getting the wrong idea.

"Baby, I dont want a big wedding, all I want is to be your wife," she clarified as she cupped his cheek. "Let's do it now, this weekend. All of your family is here and I'm sure Will would be able to get the bus down." "What do you think," she chewed her lip nervously as she waited for his answer.

Henry captured her lips in a crushing kiss. He lifted her off the ground and she wrapped her legs around his waist. The kiss was full of passion and want, their tongues uelling. They broke apart and he set her down pulling her in for a hug. She nuzzled his neck, inhaling the scent of his aftershave.

"I'm gonna take that as a yes then," she giggled.

"Its 100% a yes. God I love you so much Elizabeth Adams. I don't know what I did to deserve you." He pressed his lips to hers in a chaste kiss.

"Come on" she said pulling him towards the house. "We have loads to do, we gotta go to the courthouse and then the mall. I have to get something to wear and we need rings. Oh and I have to call Will, don't let me forget that."

They stopped just long enough to grab Elizabeth's bag and tell his mum that they were heading out for a while. Then they were on their way giggling and making plans for their future together. What could have been a very sad day had quickly turned around. As the saying goes every cloud has a silver lining. He may be heading off to war but he will be doing so with the most perfect wife waiting at home for him.

A/N: Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. I have more chapters for this story. If you would be interested in reading them let me know and I will upload them.