Notes: Welcome to the Inauguration chapters. I don't know why but these were difficult to write so bear with me. We are getting near the end of this one so as always thank you for reading!

Chapter 23

There's a whole list of things the President or President-Elect and their spouse have to go through before Inauguration Day.

Elizabeth sat in a conference room alone with her Secret Service Director and one other agent, a new guy to her team, going over specific information and identifiable information. Henry would be attending the same type of meeting following hers.

"So, there's the small scar under your left eye? The scar on your back from Iran, correct?"

"Yes," she stared back at him.

"Anything new? New sun marks, etc?" he asked keeping a straight face. He was still getting adjusted to the McCords.

"Well, they don't exactly let me sun bathe in this job so…." she smirked at him.

"Then, that is a no," he replied.

"Yep," she answered, thinking to herself, "No sense of humor. That's not good."

"Okay, it is our understanding there are two tattoos," he began.

"Crap," she whispered. She had forgotten about that part.

"Excuse me," he replied.

"Oh nothing," she smiled at Bernadette, the Director. "There's three. The anchor, the one on the inside of my arm and one on my wrist."

Bernadette pulled the notes from him. She looked them over and asked, "There was only two last time. When was the third one added? I didn't see it on your calendar."

"Yeah, about that," Elizabeth winced as Bernadette placed the folder down and gave her a stern look.

She continued before she could be scolded in front of the new guy, "The night we went to UVA on Thanksgiving Weekend. We made an off the books stop on the way there," Elizabeth winced as she spoke.

"To a tattoo parlor?" Bernadette asked in a scolding, motherly tone.

"Don't blame me. It was all Henry's idea. Talk to him when he comes in," Elizabeth chuckled happy to throw him under the bus for this one.

"Who was with you that night?" the new agent asked with his mouth practically on the floor.

"That's classified," she responded smiling at him.

He picked up the camera. "Let us see the new tattoo."

She rolled up her sleeve and twisted her arm out so they could get a photo.

On her way back to the office, Henry approached her in the hallway.

He gave her a quick peck, "How'd it go?" he asked.

"Fine," she answered. "but, if I were you I'd have an explanation going in. They're not happy about the tattoo night. I gotta go. Love you."

He turned and walked backwards as she looked over her shoulder at him smirking, he replied "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

She burst out laughing and kept walking. When she got into the office, Jay was waiting for her with the look. Sitting on the arm of the couch, a file in his hand.

"You know, you make my life more difficult when you and Henry do these things!" he held the file up.

"What things?" she was playing dumb with him as she sat down behind her desk.

"Ma'am, don't do that. Playing dumb is not a good look on you," Jay was now standing in front of her and tossed the file her way on her desk.

She opened it up knowing exactly what he was talking about, she closed the file down and said, "This was a personal moment. End of story." She handed him back the file, indicating an end of the discussion.

"How many times do I have to say this to you?" he was exasperated.

She put her pen down from the paperwork she was signing and looked at him.

"You know what, nevermind." He opened the office door and said to Blake, "The President is ready for that meeting now."

Elizabeth looked at her watch and back to Jay at the door, "I didn't realize I had a meeting."

"Well, you do now," Conrad walked in with a smile on his face, "With me."

She got up from the desk and greeted him with a hug, "I wasn't expecting all of you until tonight."

"We got in early. Lydia is off at the dressmaker," he said as they made their way to the chairs near the couches.

"Looking forward to having dinner tonight," Elizabeth answered.

"Me too. I miss the food!" he laughed. She chuckled with him.

"Listen, Bess. This business about the detail," he began as she immediately tried to defend herself.

"This one was on Henry not me. And technically, my detail was with me," she was starting to argue with him.

He gave her the look when his eyes went downward at her.

She stood up and placed her hands on her hips, "There's nothing that says. I can't have a little personal time away."

She looked down on him as he rested his head on his hand with one finger on his cheek.

"No, technically there isn't. But there's space for that and it is not in a random tattoo parlor in Charlottesville," Conrad reprimanded her.

"It wasn't a random tattoo parlor. I've known Mikey like my whole life!" she fired back at him.

Meanwhile, outside the office Daisy was at Blake's desk.

"How long has this been going on?" she asked.

He answered without looking away from his computer, "A few minutes. It's like a 16-year old girl justifying getting drunk at a house party to her father."

Daisy chuckled, "You are so lucky your ass isn't caught up in this."

"For the record, I was visiting my parents and asleep at the time. This was all Henry, Matt and Frank and she is catching the brunt of it," he replied.

"Have you seen the tattoo? It's adorable. The press is going to love it tomorrow" she gushed.

Blake stopped what he was doing and gave her a look.

"It'll blow over. She would never do anything to endanger herself," Daisy tried to reassure him.

"Your memory loss is quick," he replied as she tossed the file of press events for tomorrow on his desk.

Henry stepped out of the bathroom in a gray suit with navy tie and white shirt. Elizabeth turned to look at him. She was wearing a navy shirt dress almost a twin to her black one. Her mother's pearls underneath, lining the rim of her neck. Her hair easily left down. Tonight was a casual dinner with her closest staff and friends.

Henry stared at her, "Wow. Babe, I love that dress."

She laughed as she approached him. "Well, you are about to see a lot more of it since this is part of my new REQUESTED wardrobe."

He backed up a bit while she fixed his tie, "I didn't…"

"Henry, it's okay," she laughed. "I'm okay with it now."

He pulled her close to him by her waist, "So, are you going to show me your dresses after dinner?"

She kissed him and smirked, "Nope." She turned and walked out the door as he followed her.

A few hours later, they laid in their bed, Henry was looking over her speech one more time as she laid on her side facing him, her head resting in her hand while her book laid on the mattress in between them. She was wearing her Frampton shirt for good luck. Henry bit on the end of his pen as he read.

"Final edits are done, Henry. Put it down," she said evenly not looking up from her book.

"Not editing, Babe," his voice choked a bit causing her to sit up. "Just getting my emotions out before tomorrow when the cameras are on us. This is so beautiful. Even better that you wrote it by yourself," he grinned at her still choked up.

She closed her book. "Thank you. Now, I am going to sleep so I can deliver it not sleep-deprived."

Knock, knock. An anxious knock came at the door.

"Mom," It was Alison behind the door.

"Come in, Noodle," she answered, sitting back up rolling eyes at Henry over the interruption.

The door opened. Their middle child stood there, her hair disheveled, tears in her eyes. "I'm bleeding."

Elizabeth rushed out of the bed and had her arms around her in no time.

"Oh Baby. It might just be nothing. I spotted in my pregnancies," she held her in her arms, pulling her head into her and running her hands over her hair.

"No, it's a lot. I woke up and it was all over the bed," she cried to her. "Michael is getting my things. The motorcade is being brought up for us to go to the hospital," she looked up at her mother with worried eyes.

Elizabeth looked over at Henry, "Get my stuff. I am going with her."

"Mom, no! I will be okay," Alison stepped back to look at her. Michael showed up standing just outside the doorway with Alison's coat and bag.

Henry gave her the shocked look, "Babe, there's no way they will let…"

"Henry, I am going!" she was adamant. She began to head to the dresser to grab some clothes.

Michael piped up, "They just told me the motorcade is ready for you. We should really go before they have to call an ambulance. They are trying to avoid that."

Claudia's voice filled the room from the hallway, "We're here. Allie are you ready?" She put her arm around her future sister-in-law's shoulders.

Jason put his head in, "Mom, we got this. I will call you as soon as we know anything. Uncle Will is on his way to the meet us at the hospital. Ok?"

Henry turned back to Elizabeth with a reassuring look.

Elizabeth lowered the sweater she was holding in her hands with nothing more than "Okay" to say as she rushed over and kissed Allie on the head. "Be safe, Baby. It will be okay. I love you."

"I love you too, Mom."

She hugged Jason and whispered, "Thank you" in his ear.