Hi Everyone!

Sorry this is a super long chapter. But, it's the Inaugural Balls so the length is well-deserved. Thank you for our reviews and for sticking with this long story. Just a few more chapters to go.

Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 26

The residence was a buzz with the First Family. Everyone was getting ready for the big night. Allie making final adjustments to everyone's dresses. Tux ties were being straightened. Eliza was running around with a purple lollipop she had found in a candy bouquet in the kitchen. Annie was chasing after her telling her to 'Stop running," fearful she would stain her white dress on her watch.

Elizabeth stood in the middle of the bedroom as she slipped on her first gown of the night.

Henry caught a glimpse of the gowns on the mannequins in their room earlier in the day and although he had visions of his wife in them, nothing prepared him for the sight before him.

She wore a gorgeous deep red halter gown that hugged her body to the waist and then draped down in layers creating a small train flowing all around her. There was a horizontal pleat at the top of the halter. Her hair was pulled up into a French twist and rubies hung from her ears.

"Ohhh Allie, that looks amazing!" He said to his favorite designer, who was still dressed in skinny jeans and an oversized sweatshirt. She was zipping up the back of the dress around Elizabeth. Not an easy task with the new technology of a thinner flak jacket built into the dress.

"Ugh!" Allie shook her hand as Henry stepped in.

"Here let me get it for you," he said gently. As he stepped behind her, the sight of her smooth bare back, the scent of her perfume enveloping him, he almost wished their daughter wasn't in the room.

He easily slid the zipper up. Allie began to smooth out the panels of fabric to the train. She stood around the back. Attaching the bustle, so Elizabeth could walk easily.

Henry stepped around the front of her and smiled at her, "You look beautiful."

"Why? Thank you, FGOTUS! You look gorgeous in that tux, as always!" she laughed.

Allie commented, "Okay I am going to leave the two of you now." She shook her head as she left the room.

Henry leaned into to kiss her. She waved him off, "No, no my makeup was just done. You will have to wait until later."

He sighed, "That might be my most favorite dress on you like ever!"

"Even more than the white sundress," she laughed.

He laughed back at her, "Really? You choose tonight to bring up a memory."

She joked, "I've been saving that one for a while."

They made their way through the backstage of the first of many balls they would attend. "Salute to Heroes" is the Veteran's ball and always their favorite. They had just spent some time meeting many of the veterans. If they could they would choose to stay their all night, but that was not allowed.

They made their way on stage to the roar of the crowd. They band begin to play and Henry turned to look at Elizabeth. This was the song she had chosen for him.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, took her hand in his and began to sway side to side to the music.

The female singer began, "The moment I wake up, before I put on my make up, I say a little prayer for you…"

"Clever, babe," he whispered in her ear.

She whispered back, "Well, I thought a little prayer for the religion professor would be perfect."

He spun her the other way around and that's when the cameras captured it. The photo of her new tattoo. She knew it was there and quite frankly, she didn't care.

The crowd eventually clapped along as the singer belted out, "Forever and ever, you stay in my heart and I will love you."

Before they even made it to the next ball, the media was going crazy for both the song and the tattoo.

"According to White House Press Secretary Daisy Grant, the tattoo is a match to her husband's. Their initials linked together inscribed in a circle. I love that about them." One female correspondent commented.

"Her dress was absolutely stunning! I would hate for a tattoo to take attention away from the gown designed by their daughter," another said.

"Speaking of their daughter, our thoughts go out to Alison McCord as she is recovering from a miscarriage just yesterday. She was about five months pregnant….." the male anchor stated.

Allie shut off the TV and looked at Stevie, who had just walked into the room. They made a plan to privately surprise their parents wearing dress colors for their gender reveal. Stevie looked gorgeous in the light blue dress she had designed for her. Her bump showing just right.

Allie sighed and said, "Okay, I will go put mine on."

Stevie frowned at her, "No, you don't have to go. Just attend the ball downstairs. You don't have to go with us."

Allie sat back on the couch, "I want to go but I'm dreading putting that dress on." It was almost a match to her sister's but in a blush pink.

Michael walked in the room and said, "No worries. I made different arrangements." He held up her black and white gown that she had worn for her fashion show last year.

Allie stared at him and asked, "How did you get that?"

"My Mom went and got it before she came down today. They just dropped it on their way to the ball downstairs. Wanna go?" he winked at her.

"Yes!" she said. She got up off the couch and hugged him.

Stevie smiled at her, "We are going to run and meet Mom and Dad at the Inaugural Ball before all of us head back here."

Allie turned towards her, "You know, I think I am up for going. Let me just change."

In the motorcade, Henry had Elizabeth's hand in his. He rubbed the top of her thumb as she leaned into him. Her winter coat covered her dress but she was still cold.

"I can't wait to get through this one and get back to the house," she said.

He chuckled and said, "Can I make a suggestion?"

"Sure," she answered looking down at their hands sitting in the lap of her dress.

"Don't change gowns," he said looking out the window.

She sat up and gave him a look. "Henryyy! What is it with you? I can't do that. Allie worked so hard on both of them."

"Wear the second one to the State Dinner next week," he smiled back at her.

She held up a finger to him, "No!"

"I'm just saying I'd rather take this one off of you later," he winked at her.

"I'll put it back on for you," she fired back laughing.

As they entered the stage, they were surprised to see Allie and Michael there. They greeted the kids and they all stood together in front of the crowd. Waving and posing for photos. There seemed to be a sea of phones in front of them.

The music began and Elizabeth immediately recognized the tune, she turned to Henry. Out of the corner of her eye, she then caught sight of the other man joining them on the stage.

Ed Sheeran stepped out. The crowd went crazy. Strumming his guitar, he began, "When your legs don't work like they used to before and I can't sweep you off your feet."

Henry took her in her arms. She laid one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand, "Was this your doing?"

He shrugged with the boyish grin, "I picked the song."

They moved back and forth with ease, just like their relationship, always in step with one another, movements that match each other subconsciously providing the reassurance of soulmates.

He spun her the other way, her train flowed with her as Sheeran's voice filled the venue, "Baby, we found love right where we are…"

He leaned down and gave her a peck on the lips to the crowd's cheering. They laughed as the music ended and their family joined them on the stage.

Sheeran shifted to "Collide," Elizabeth and Henry caught each other's eye and both burst out laughing. The song that started this whole game they began for their circle of two.

It was almost 9pm and multiple balls later they were back at the White House for her dress change before the ball downstairs. This one was simply for close family and friends.

"Finally alone for like two minutes," she smiled up at him as he beamed back at her.

"I wish it was longer," he said tracing his hand under the pleat at the top of the halter of her dress, making sure she felt his touch on her breasts. He gave her the look, "You sure you want to change?"

"I don't want to change but do you really want our grieving daughter to be even more disappointed?" she asked him.

He dropped his hand to her waist, "Ohhhkay."

"Well, I mean of course I would prefer you to be taking it off of me but we have like 300-400 of our nearest and dearest waiting for us downstairs," she replied with a sarcastic tone to it.

He spun her around and unzipped the dress while the back of his hand gently touched her back not only forcing her to feel his warmth but giving her a shiver at the same time.

He let his finger linger at the small of her back closer to her ass.

"Henry! Stop. We can not do this right now," she laughed stepping out of the dress.

She had only black panties and a black lace strapless bra on as she hung it back on it's stand. Her back was to him and he almost couldn't take not touching her, "I'm going to grab a scotch. You want one?"

"No, I am sure there's a glass of wine or champagne waiting for me downstairs. I will be right out," she said back not turning around to look at him. Over thirty years of marriage gave her the experience of knowing if she laid her eyes on him in this moment, the night was all over.

She stepped into the navy dress pulling it up by it's very slender spaghetti straps. She struggled and inched the zipper up by herself because there was no way she was letting Henry back there again. Taking a glance in the mirror while changing her ruby earrings to sapphires, she muttered to herself, "Well, this isn't going to help things."

The straps came down and similar to the other the top came straight across while the rest of the dress hugged every curve of her body and hung loosely from her knees down.

She grabbed the navy heels out of the box and headed out the bedroom door.

Henry was almost at the end of his drink when she opened the door and he pulled the glass away from his lips slowly looking her over.

"Well, you don't have to undress me with your eyes," she threw at him. She walked over, her hips swaying at him. She grabbed the glass from his hand, drained the rest of it and said, "Let's go."

He followed her out the door, her navy slingback heels swinging in her right hand, her left waiting for him. When he slid his fingers around hers, their tattoos matched up.

She leaned on him while putting the heels on in the elevator. "Do you think Allie is going to be okay? Maybe she should stay longer," she winced as she shoved her foot in the heel.

"Babe, let's just enjoy tonight. You can talk to her in the morning," he stared straight ahead on purpose.

By the time, they got downstairs. Dinner had been served and dessert was waiting on her to get there. They were running about ten minutes behind.

Jay, Blake and Daisy greeted them as the elevator door opened.

"Wow! All three of you. This can't be good," she commented, smiling at them.

Daisy spoke first, "Nothings wrong. Just a little behind schedule."

Henry laughed at her, glancing at his watch, "Ten minutes is a record in a good way. Just get it over with and tell her about the tattoo coverage."

"Tattoo coverage?" Elizabeth questioned raising an eyebrow at the group.

Blake interjected, "Let's just deal with tonight. We can address that part tomorrow." He walked away waiting for them to follow.

Jay stepped in line with Elizabeth and Henry, "Peggy Stanton is looking for some one-on-one with you regarding the Education Bill."

She stopped, "I thought we weren't doing politics tonight?"

"We weren't until she pulled me aside at the bar and asked if she could get a few minutes with you. Quite frankly, if you want this bill to pass, you need to play politics with the Teacher's Union President."

She sighed, "Okay. Just let me check in with the kids and the cabinet first."

Stevie approached her with a glass of champagne, she took it from her and said, "I like that dress on you. Very cute. I never thought that could be your color but it is." She walked away. Stevie watched her walk away shocked that her mother who picked up on everything missed the clue.

Elizabeth made her way over to her younger two children, "Noodle, if you are not feeling up for staying, you don't have to."

"I'm not going to. I am tired. We will stay just a little longer," she smiled at her mother.

"Okay, I love that dress but I thought you were wearing the pink one?" she asked.

Jason stared at his sister as she fumbled for an answer.

"I just wasn't feeling up to that one. Michael's parents brought this down for me," Alison replied trying not to show any emotion. She didn't want her to feel bad on her big night.

"Oh okay," she smiled at her kids and moved on to catch up with Henry who was making table rounds.

Jason stared at Alison, "Why did you lie?"

"You want me to ruin her night? She will find out later when she figures out Stevie's dress. I can't believe she hasn't figured it out yet." Alison rolled her eyes at Jason.

"Figure out what?" Claudia said as she and Michael returned with drinks for all of them.

"The dress thing," Jason waved his hand in the air with just a bit of annoyance. "It was a stupid idea anyways."

"Jason," Claudia glared at him.

"What? It was. She is so wrapped up in everything of today that she hates so much. It takes all of her strength, which is a lot, to get through this. Look at her. That's not her normal smile. She is not focusing on the color of their dresses," he turned to look at them but realized he was talking to nobody. They had walked away from him.

"Whatever," he mumbled to himself and took a sip of his beer.

"Jason, good to see you," Mike B. held out his hand.

Jason briefly shook his hand. "Good to see you too, Mr. Barnow," he answered not taking his eyes off his parents working the crowd.

"Listen, I wanted to talk to you about your sister and Michael," he said deadpanned.

Jason faced him with the same look his mother gave when he went down a path she didn't want him to go. As much as he looked like his father, his personality and his demeanor was just as frustrating as his mother's.

"I think you need to stay out of my sister's life," Jason answered.

Jason looked back up to where his parents last were and saw his mother looking at them with one eyebrow up. He shrugged his shoulders at her.

"The bottom line is I need to know what you know about…."

Jason cut him off right there, he moved one finger off the beer glass and pointed it towards Mike, "No sir, the bottom line is the family rule is nobody dictates our lives or who we date. That includes my mother's position. Her words. Leave my sister alone and stop going behind my mother's back." He walked away leaving Mike standing there.

Elizabeth tucked her arm under Henry's jacket to rest her hand on his lower back as they chatted away with the Rasmussen's. Stevie looked over at her parents from just a few tables away and back at Dmitri, "I hope we are just as much in love at their age as they are."

"I think we will be, don't you?" he asked, putting his arm around her. They watched as Eliza made her way to Henry and pulled on his pant leg. Her white dress with the light blue sash to match her mother was every bit of a hint as any to her oblivious grandparents.

Henry reached down and held her up as the Rasmussen's greeted her and gushed over her.

Blake joined them at the table and laughed, "They really have no clue?"

"None," she laughed.

"I can't believe it," Dmitri said and they all laughed.

Henry placed Eliza down and she ran toward her parents and Blake.

Blake stood, "they need to do their dance thing before everyone starts to leave." He headed over to Elizabeth.

Dmitri turned to Stevie and said, "Does he ever not panic about every move your mother makes?"

"Nope," she laughed. "C'mon this is our cue."

Henry and Elizabeth were already on the dance floor in their own little world dancing to "Show Me the Way" chosen by their kids.

While all three kids joined them on the dance floor with many others filling in Eliza made her way through and tapped Elizabeth's leg. Henry scooped her up as the three of them danced together. It was then Elizabeth realized the sash matched Stevie.

"Oh my God," she said and looked over at Stevie with the biggest smile on her face.

A very confused Henry, seeing the tears in her eyes, asked "What's wrong?"

She beamed back at him, "It's a boy."

"How do you know?" he began looking around to find Stevie.

She stepped back and stopped dancing, looking at Eliza in Henry's arms. "Henry, her sash matches Stevie's dress! Baby blue…it's a boy."

Stevie realizing her mother figured it out made her way over to her. Her mother hugged her in the middle of the floor. Jason and Alison immediately joined them.

"Noodle, I had no idea," she hugged her youngest daughter.

"We were waiting for you to figure it out," she laughed.

Jason joked, "Took you long enough."

Hours later, they were finally by themselves.

"That was the longest night ever," Elizabeth threw her shoes to the side on the living room floor.

"Nightcap," Henry threw his jacket on to the leather chair but it missed and slid off.

"Henry, it's 1am. No, we are going to bed." she insisted curling her finger at him telling him to come closer to her.

Following her into the bedroom, he reached for the zipper on the back of her dress, pulling her back into him. He kissed the sweet spot on her neck.

"Did you think you were going to get away without letting me take this off of you?" he growled into her ear.

She didn't answer as the back of his hand ran slightly down her spine while he worked the zipper down causing her to shiver again.

Her shivers making him grin, "I didn't think so either."

He took the pins out of her hair letting it fall down like a waterfall of honey from her neck to between her shoulders. She turned to face him, reaching around the back of his neck, running her fingers through his hair while pulling him into her mouth. She began to work on his tie and then the buttons of his shirt.

He kissed her sloppily as he had way too much to drink. Not a luxury that she had anymore, at least not for the next four years.

When they broke for a breathe she joked, "That's definitely a lot of whiskey. Kind of boring when I can't match you in it."

He laughed, "Four more years, babe. Then we will have one raucous night to ourselves. But for now…" he slid the straps to her dress down and let it fall in a pool around her gorgeous body.

In nothing but his tuxedo pants, he scooped her up and laid her on the bed laying himself over her, kissing her from her neck down her core. She raised her hips and his hands tore her panties off of her.

His mouth worked its' magic on her as she moaned raising her hips to meet him. He felt his pants becoming too tight as he worked her over not sure he would be able to hold on for much longer. After all, he had been waiting all night.

He stood up off of her and began fumbling with his belt.

Elizabeth sat up to help him. The black lace strapless bra driving Henry just as crazy as her fingers so close to his hardness.

He felt them brush along him and moaned as she continued to work his pants down, the touch of her sending sensations through his whole body.

As she peeled his boxers down, she held on to him taking him in her mouth, working him over. She sucked on him and let him go, took him again making him moan as her lips slid over him. He thrusted in and out of her warmth as her tongue spiraled him to almost out of control.

She came off of him and got on her knees in front of him kissing him pulling him back to bed with her.

They tossed and tangled with each other every which way for the next half hour. Henry entered her from above kissing her neck and collarbone as they moved together as one. Her muscles gripped and loosened on him and he knew she was close. He reached up and took her hands in his. Their tattoos matching up, she gripped onto his hands as he held them above her, their eyes meeting, hers fierce and deep, his boring into her soul as they both gave way and moaned together not caring about how loud they were.

When they finished and laid there panting, he looked at his beautiful wife, "Congratulations, Madam President."