Staring out of the diner window, Elizabeth was lost in her own world. A slave to the thoughts currently filling her head. She had barely said a word since arriving on Henry's doorstep and her food sat untouched on the plate. Henry had been silently watching, noticing the distinct change in her. His confident, outspoken fiancée had somehow been replaced by a timid, melancholy version and it worried him. If he was making her this unhappy then maybe it was time to let her go - To live the life she wanted. He shot Marie a look who gave a small shrug of her shoulders in response.
"Elizabeth — Are you alright? You haven't eaten a thing?" Henry gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
"I — I need to go to the bathroom — Excuse me." She slid off the seat and quickly headed for the restrooms.
Henry turned his attention to Marie "Okay mom, what the hell is going on? Why are you here and what's wrong with Elizabeth? I've never seen her like this — I barely recognise her — I'm really worried."
Marie spoke softly "She turned up on our doorstep two nights ago in a terrible state. She's definitely not herself son and you need to get her to open up to you because she can't go on like this! She's lost a fair bit of weight from what I can see, not that she had any to lose in the first place — I'm worried too."
"Wait — She drove to Pittsburgh?" Henry was getting more concerned by the second.
"Yeah — The poor girl was exhausted. All I could do was hold her while she sobbed in my arms. That's why I'm here Henry. She was so steadfast in her decision to get to you, I couldn't let her come alone, not in the state she's in."
"Why is she so upset? What's going on? We haven't really spoken much recently but if she was having issues i'd like to hope she'd tell me."
"Henry, I think the issues she's having are tied up with you and I don't believe she feels able to turn to you. Just talk to the poor girl for goodness sake — Make some decisions before you both end up thoroughly miserable."
When Elizabeth got back to the table, Henry could see she'd been crying. The knots in his own stomach were tightening and he just needed to talk to her. Find out what was going on before they both lost their nerve completely.
By the time they got back to his tiny apartment, the tension was almost tangible and Marie couldn't ignore it any longer.
"Right you two — Out you go! Go for a walk, talk to each other! Because even I feel apprehensive now and I don't like it."
"We can talk here mom." Henry was tired and stressed and had no intention of going anywhere.
"No — What you'll do is end up having sex and not using your words — At least if you're outside there's a lower chance of that happening."
Elizabeth couldn't help the quiet snort that escaped her.
"Jesus mom — You're right here. I think the chances of anything like that happening are very slim, don't you?" Henry's dismay at his mother's statement was lost on Marie.
"Son, don't you take the lord's name in vain with me! Your hands were halfway into Elizabeth's jeans before you even noticed I was standing there so it's better to be safe than sorry — Off you go." She pushed the young couple out of the door, closing it on them before they had a chance to argue.
The simple feel of Henry's hand in hers was something Elizabeth had hugely missed. Her mind wandered back to the night they'd sat on that campus bench, finally succumbing to their feelings for each other — The moment Henry had taken her hand, their fingers tangled together like the missing pieces of a puzzle. The way it made her feel so safe - So grounded. She looked down and smiled at the sight, just as she had done that night — Regardless of what was going on between them, Henry still made her feel safe and if nothing else, he was still her best friend.
They had been walking along in silence, neither one of them sure where to start. Both having so much to say but struggling to find the words. Elizabeth felt like she was going to lose her mind so had to speak up.
"I can't stand this any longer! Henry — I need to —." She had it all straight in her head, she knew what she wanted to say and this was her moment — But Henry put his thumb gently against her lips before she had a chance.
"Elizabeth — Please let me say what I need to first. I promise I will listen to everything you have to say, but I need you to hear me out." Henry seemed more nervous than she'd ever known and it proved to be the catalyst for her emotions as a loud sob tore through her.
"Oh god — No." She squeezed her eyes shut and grasped at her chest.
"Elizabeth —."
"You're breaking up with me — You're calling off the engagement! Oh fuck I can't breathe." She was starting to hyperventilate a little and Henry suddenly had no clue what was occurring.
"Oh shit - Elizabeth — Breathe sweetheart — Please." He was starting to feel slightly panicked himself. It was the second time he'd seen her in this state and it tore him apart, especially as he was the cause.
"I'm not doing either of those things — I wanted to tell you how much I love you before you end things."
Elizabeth's heart was thumping hard against her chest as she looked up at him. "What? Why the hell would I do that? I love you."
Henry let out a long, shaky breath "Can we try this again because I'm so confused right now."
"You have a new life here Henry — And I'm not part of it. I can't compete with your career and we never talk to each other anymore. I figured you were leaving me behind." Her breathing had steadied but the tears were still falling.
He looked rather stunned at her statement "Elizabeth — You are my life. What I'm doing here is a job - A means to an end - A commitment I made before I met you." He chuckled rather louder than he'd meant to.
"This isn't funny Henry."
"No baby, It's not — But I thought you were coming here to end things. You are so intelligent and your whole life is ahead of you. You shouldn't be waiting around for me. I can see what that's doing to you. I have been so worried that you wanted a clean break."
Elizabeth looked bewildered "So — We're not breaking up?"
""I fucking hope not."
"Ohhhh my god — I feel dizzy." Henry sat her down on the curb before she fell down.
"If you didn't come here to end things, why are you here? — Not that I'm complaining"
"Oh yeah, I have something important to tell you."
"I guessed as much. What's going on?"
"I'm not married anymore! In fact, according to the judge, it's as if I never was." Her smile had found its way back and she was now beaming at Henry, who in turn was staring blankly at her.
"You've lost me. What judge? When?"
"I went to court two days ago and the judge granted an annulment, so I'm not even a divorcee. My marriage to Jake never was — It's over Henry."
"Hang on — Why didn't you tell me? I would never have let you go through that by yourself! Elizabeth— It's really not okay that you didn't tell me and it's certainly not okay that you faced this alone."
"I tried to tell you but you had things going on and there never seemed to be the right time. Things have been so distant between us Henry — I wasn't sure you'd even care anymore."
Henry looked genuinely gutted "Have I made you feel so disconnected that you honestly didn't think I cared about you at all? My god Elizabeth, what have I done? How did I ever let things get like this."
"Henry, this is on both of us! Things have been so much harder than we thought they were going to be and we lost our ability to communicate. But if you still love me like I love you then that's all that matters —." Elizabeth smiled, " And I'm now free to marry whomever I please."
Things were finally starting to register with Henry "So, It's really all sorted with Jake? We can get married whenever we like? — There's nothing stopping us?"
"It's really all sorted." Elizabeth was now grinning from ear to ear "There is absolutely nothing standing in our way. I'm all yours and I can't wait Henry — Please tell me you still want to marry me?"
"Fuck yes I want to marry you, I'd do it right now if I could." He stood up and pulled her into his arms. "I love you so much."
Elizabeth pondered "Would you?"
"Hmmmm? Would I what?" Henry was distracted by his lips on her neck, barely paying attention.
"Would you marry me now if you could?"
"Damn straight I would."
"Then let's do it — As soon as we can — Let's get married."
Henry prised his lips from her skin and pulled back to look at her properly "Are you serious? Don't you want your dream wedding? Take time to plan it?"
"Marrying you is my dream wedding. You are going to be deployed soon Henry and we don't know what that's gonna mean for us. I really want to be your wife while I have the chance. Come on Henry! I'm here, your mom is here — Marry me?"
"I have to be back at base by 6am! But then I'm off this weekend —." Henry looked into her eyes "You really want to do this? You're absolutely certain because I don't want you to regret this later on."
"Yes! I've never been more certain of anything in my life. How could I ever regret marrying you Henry? You're the love of my life."
Henry smiled "Okay then — Let's do this."
Elizabeth jumped into Henry's arms, covering his face and neck with kisses and screaming out loud.
"ARRRGGHHHHH… WE"RE GETTING MARRIED."
By the time Henry got off shift the following evening, Elizabeth and Marie had pretty much arranged a wedding out of nothing. They had spent the whole day together, shopping for a dress, booking a beautiful little bistro in downtown Pensacola for a post wedding celebration, picking up some flowers at the local market and Elizabeth had chosen the wedding rings which had been her favourite part of the day. Henry had taken her breath away with the incredible engagement ring he'd given her — Now it was her turn to do the same for him with his wedding band - It really was the little things that meant the most.
She had also realised just how much she had come to love Marie. Losing her own mother as young as she did, Elizabeth had learned to close herself off. To not miss what she didn't have. To rely on nobody — But Henry had broken down those walls, and in turn brought Marie into her life. They had quickly formed a bond and on the eve of marrying the man of her dreams, Elizabeth was also gaining a mother who she knew would always be there for her.
Elizabeth had shed a few tears over lunch as she longed for her parents, feeling their loss all over again but Marie had comforted her as usual, shown her compassion and understanding as she always did and Elizabeth had a sudden realisation that she was not only gaining a partner for life — But a family too.
Henry made a beeline for his wife-to-be as soon as he walked through the door. She had been the only thing on his mind all day and she was drawing him in like a bee to honey. His lips instinctively met hers, the overwhelming desire irrefutably intense between them. It had been just short of eleven weeks since they had last been intimate and waiting any longer just didn't seem like an option.
His tongue licked a warm trail up Elizabeth's throat, gently sucking as he went. His hands sliding up under the hem of her dress with ease, teasing the lace band of her underwear.
"Ughhhh Henry — God I've missed you." Her own hands were far from idle, roughly tugging at his hair as she plunged her tongue into his mouth. Pure arousal surging through her body.
He laid her down on the couch and as their kisses intensified, so did their desperate need for each other.
"I've got to have you right now — I swear to god I'll combust if I don't , and then I won't make it to our wedding." He tugged at his belt, the anticipation of what they were about to indulge in almost too much to comprehend. And then he was cock blocked in the cruelest of ways.
"Who won't make it to the wedding? And the pair of you can cut that out right now — Save it for tomorrow." Marie came waltzing in, armed with grocery bags and enough food to feed a small army. "Go and get washed up for dinner Henry." Marie chuckled to herself as her son let out a disgruntled huff.
He pushed himself up off the couch and Elizabeth smirked as she whispered "You might want to take care of things yourself baby — Just promise to think of me."
As they sat down for dinner, thoughts and conversation turned to what the following day would bring, and those who wouldn't be present.
"I'm sorry we couldn't get Will here for you Babe. I guess that's the drawback of a quick wedding." Henry ran his hand down Elizabeth's arm as he gave her a gentle kiss.
"We could have planned it for a year and Will still wouldn't have made it — It is what it is and I'm at peace with it. I just wish my parents could have been here. I manage not to think of them as much these days, but it's things like this that really make it hit home." She wiped a stray tear away as she spoke "I always thought my dad would be there to walk me down the aisle — I guess it's good we're just going to the courthouse."
Henry had a look of sadness himself "I wish my dad could have been here too, but he wouldn't have approved. All I ever seem to do is disappoint him."
"Oh Henry, that's not true. You'd be astounded by how much your father cares — If you gave him a chance, he may just surprise you." Marie collected the plates and gave her son a smile "He loves you Henry."
"Well he's never been all that good at showing me — I guess I can always live in hope."
"Hope is a wonderful thing to hold on to — It's probably the best piece of advice I can give you… No matter how dark things seem, always have hope." Marie looked at her son and daughter-in-law to be and was filled with warmth and pride. They were going to be so happy and that's exactly what the world needed.