Author's Note: I've just started re-watching Madam Secretary straight through for the third (?) time and I'm spotting all sorts of little things that I never noticed before. For example, there's no window behind the McCord's kitchen table (next to the stairs) in Season 1. Yet when Season 2 rolls around, there's suddenly a large window in the space! My brain needed that situation to be rectified, so I wrote this tiny, plot-less little scene to fill in the gaps and explain the mysterious appearance of a window. If any other little oddities come up as I rewatch, I'll add stories here. :)

The daybreak news played softly on the TV behind her, but Elizabeth paid no attention. She stood cradling her coffee, her back resting lightly against the back of the sofa. She stared at the map in the gilded frame and cocked her head slightly to the right before straightening back up and taking a sip from her mug. She was so entranced that she didn't even notice Henry coming down the stairs until he reached the bottom.

"Hey," she murmured softly. "I'm sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Nah. I just came down to get a glass of water. Did you just get in?"

Elizabeth nodded, her eyes remaining fixated on the wall. It had been a long night at the office. She had been called to the situation room just after the sun had set, then spent the remainder of the night making calls to foreign dignitaries. Things had not gone well, but she was trying not to dwell on her stress.

Abandoning his glass on the counter, Henry stepped over and stood beside Elizabeth.

"What are we staring at?"

She turned to look at him. "It's really dark in here."

"Well, yeah. It's 4:30 am," he chuckled.

"No. This room is always dark, even in the middle of the day." She paused. "I think we should put in a window."

"I think you need sleep," Henry laughed.

"I'm serious. There are so many problems in the world I can't fix, Henry. But this one? I can fix it. Please let me have this win."

"I'll make you a deal. How many hours do you have until you have to leave?"

Elizabeth glanced at her watch.

"Three."

"If you go get a couple of hours of sleep, I'll call some contractors in the morning and get a quote."

"Promise?"

Henry plucked the coffee mug from her hands, gently took hold of her shoulders, and directed her towards the stairs.

"Promise."

Elizabeth smiled. This was a negotiation she could live with.