Hello to any readers that still are present. I humbly bring you a quick one-shot that is born out of a crazy idea. I am a lover of space and alternate realities - anytime I can daydream, I will. This is set around the time that Elizabeth won the election and is the President-Elect. Conrad tells her some pretty shocking news that shocks her deeply. Anyway, a little bit of comfort is always nice.

Day 1 - Tuesday 23:30

The realisation still hadn't hit her. Not when she finally closed the door to the brownstone or even when she ultimately climbed in between the brushed cotton sheets and into Henry's arms. It was silent, and the darkness pressed down onto her, making her feel claustrophobic and breathless. It was like earth's gravity was pushing in, starving her of oxygen, never allowing her to expand her lungs fully. With her heart hammering in her chest, which felt tightly bound, she sat bolt upright, throwing his arm off her and to the side. It was an odd feeling, like her heart was desperately trying to break free from within her. The force of each beat panicked her even more. She was panting now. Her breath was ragged and forceful, a sound that was alien to her. Was it really her that was making this disturbing sound? Desperately grasping for any air. The lack of oxygen caused her to feel dizzy; all sound echoed around her mind before fading into the background.

Day 2 - Wednesday 01:01

Henry had fallen back asleep quickly after soothing her. Much to his frustration, all he got for an explanation was a harsh response of 'I can't talk about it'. Elizabeth could tell that he wasn't happy, but his melancholy wasn't worth her worry.

As Elizabeth laid still, almost frightened to move in the darkness, staring up at the ceiling, she listened to his breath. It was slow and deliberate. Sometimes catching and being held inside before he released it in a flurry. It calmed her, as sure and predictable as the waves did on the shore. She envied Henry at this moment. He was blissfully asleep and unaware of what she knew.

What she was privileged to know, although, She wasn't sure she would call it a privilege… a burden, more like.

Day 2 - Wednesday 07:30

"Hey babe", She called as she clicked down the stairs into the kitchen. She eyed him as he smiled at her, his deep wrinkles spreading out from his eyes. She did her best to return the smile but felt uncomfortable with her actions, so she hurried to his side to plant a kiss on his cheek as she grabbed her coffee.

"Morning, Did you get any sleep last night?" He asked her as she busied herself with her lid. He knew she hadn't slept. Her eyes seemed to have a film over them, making them dull and matte-like.

She inwardly winced; of course, he wasn't going to let this go. "Yeah, a bit. You just kept me up snoring."

He noticed her attempt at a joke, and he smiled as if to play along, to placate her. He resigned to himself that he would talk to her later, maybe try and stop by her campaign office with hopes of having lunch. Even though the campaign was over and she was now the President-Elect, she had to be in Washington for various strategy meetings and staff assignments. Today he knew they had a film team coming to see her for an interview, so she should be there.

Her phone pinged, and she popped her glasses on and looked at the screen. "I've got to go, Henry. Mike is outside and impatient. Bye, love you" Elizabeth turned to give him a kiss and of course, he let her, but as she went to walk off, he couldn't bear it and grabbed her arm and held her back.

"Hey, what is going on?" He asked with urgency, his eyes burnt into hers. She flinched a little at the intensity of his gaze and the sting in his voice. She desperately wanted to tell him, but she couldn't. She just couldn't. The information that she knew muted her. She didn't want him to feel as she did right now. It just wasn't fair on him.

Instantly she responded with a simple "Nothing."

She saw the way his eyes narrowed at her. "Really?! Because it doesn't seem that way to me" He cursed at himself for bringing it up when her nostrils flared at his accusation. He should have kept his mouth shut; it's not what she needed right now.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "Henry…. I… I can't tell you. I'm sorry" It's all she could do, all she could offer him at that moment. Her phone pinged again, and she cursed it, cursed the intrusion.

Her pain was etched across her brow as it furrowed in defeat, and he moved his lips to her forehead to soothe the worry lines as best he could. His heart broke as her arms wrapped themselves around him, and she unexpectedly held on tightly to him. As her face buried into him, Henry tentatively asked, "This 'thing'... it's worrying you, though?" He felt her nod against his chest. "Can I do anything?"

Elizabeth pulled back at this and looked at him in the eyes. "No."

Day 3 - Thursday 15:35

The car was stuffy today. She leant forward in her seat and fiddled with the air vents, hopeful a different angle would provide her with some relief from the thick air that seemed to clog her lungs.

"Dammit", She muttered under her breath as there was no improvement, and she quickly glanced over at Conrad, who was still talking at her quietly. She supposed she should be listening, but she couldn't anymore.

How can he be so cool about it all?

A massive surge of self-doubt made her blood run cold. Was she really ready and able to be POTUS?

"Bess, Bess, are you ok?" It was a combination of his hand on her forearm that reeled her back in, along with the noise of the partition being lowered.

"Ye... Yes. I'm fine." Her voice broke as she stumbled over her response. Taking a long deep breath in, she heard the driver in front saying, "We are nearly here, Mr President."

"Bess, I remember when I was first told about it, and it sent me spinning." Conrad watched her as the blue of her eyes finally met his. "I remember vomiting in the back of the Presidential motorcade." She smiled at this, good he thought; she's listening. "You didn't, so you are already doing better than I. Hell, I even put bowls in the back with me in case you threw up."

"You did?" She asked softly as she picked the lint off her black skirt.

"I did. It takes time, Bess." He paused, giving her a moment before continuing. "What I told you is life-altering, and I am not afraid to say it almost destroyed me. I didn't sleep for a week, and Lydia even though I was having an affair." He chuckled. "I still remember her saying, 'You realise you have just won a Presidential campaign. Now is NOT the time to have an affair.' Boy, she was fired up. Like a dog with a bone."

Elizabeth let him pause, not really wanting him to continue, fearful this would be her immediate future with Henry. They had just got through the campaign where accusations of an affair with Conrad were spilt across the news. She didn't need that again. Not now, not with this.

Day 4 - Thursday 16:00

"So this is it?" She asked in surprise as they pulled up in front of a disused building on the edge of Andrews Airbase. She couldn't quite believe this is where it was.

"No", came his reply. It was curt, final. Elizabeth silenced herself and fell into line with Conrad as they walked the short distance to the door. Her eager eyes assessed her environment. They were at the end of the runway where a collection of aircraft hangers were. It was an area of the airfield that was hardly used. She raked her brain and recalled hearing rumours of some flying simulators being here or a gentlemen's club of sorts. It was hearsay, and she hadn't bothered to investigate further. Where was he taking her to?

Day 1 - Tuesday 10:02

"Extraterrestrial life exists, Elizabeth."

"I'm sorry, what did you say?"

"We and a few select countries have confirmed that extraterrestrial life exists. This is not a recent discovery, and I won't go into the history just yet. We haven't the time" Conrad's voice was grave and stern. If Elizabeth managed to focus on anything other than her heartbeat, she would have noticed his brows knit together tightly as he assessed her reaction. "As the new President-Elect, it's time I read you in."

Before she could stop herself, a thunderous sound ripped up through her stomach, a mixture between a laugh, sob and scream. "Hahawaaaarrgghhh. You are joking? this is some sort of initiation between us, right?" She promptly began laughing uncontrollably; each loud roar of a laugh was followed by a snort. "Like a Presidential hazing?" She continued to laugh, but her eyes finally took in his narrowed ones and steely expression this time.

Her laughter stopped abruptly like his look had been a bucket of icy cold water. She felt as though the earth fell out from beneath her sending her falling into the unknown. Elizabeth looked on as Conrad sat stoically, waiting for her to finish. "Mr President, tell me you are joking?"

"I am not joking. I am dead serious. There are multiple universes, infinite, actually. We have developed a portal to travel to each and everyone if we so wish. I'll be taking you there to meet the team on Thursday".

"This Thursday?" She stuttered, wholly unsure about her reality and wondering what he meant by taking her there… This was unreal… This couldn't be happening…. This was the moment her chest began to feel tight, and she felt the weight of the world pressing into her. However, she was intrigued, and her interest piqued. She was torn.