Chapter One Hundred and Three - Back to Us
An awkward silence fell between both adults and kids. Elizabeths lips pressed together tightly as Henry avoided the stern gazes from his children.
'Sooo' Jason shifted awkward looking between his parents. His hands slid into his jacket pockets as he pursed his lips.
'Come sit down, we need to talk' Elizabeth broke through, her hand reaching out and gesturing for the kids to join them in the front room.
'Is there anywhere you haven't done it? I don't want to sit on any-'
'Jason sit!' Henry hissed with a sharp glare.
'Hey, I don't think I'm the one in trouble here' He held his hands up in defence as he slumped next to Alison.
'No one is in trouble' Elizabeth muttered as she resumed a sitting position on the sofa. 'Your father and I have been working through some things recently-'
'Clearly' Alison rolled her eyes. Henry felt his body twist at the constant snide remarks from his children, but the gentle hand of Elizabeth's of his knee instantly soothed him.
'We have been spending some time together and we are working through our past mistakes.' She smiled softly
'So does this mean you're back together?' Jason questioned
'Yes,' they both spoke in unison. They glanced to one another and giggled softly, they were back in sync.
'We are, but it's still early days. Your mother and I have both hurt one another and we want to make sure we get this right. For your sakes, so even though we are giving this another go, it's a very private matter and it doesn't mean anything is going to change' Henry explained.
'Actually that's not true, things are going to change, I need therapy after witnessing that for a start' Jason quipped. Elizabeth rolled her eyes and silently dismissed his comment.
'Enough Jase, we're sorry you both walked in on us and we will be more careful about where we decide to be intimate next time'
'Ew gross'
'Dad stop!'
Henry chuckled to himself as he watched them squirm at his revelations. Elizabeth rubbed his knee and leant into him softly, enjoying the family moment between them despite the topic at hand.
'So we won't move back here?'
'Not for now noodle no, we don't want to uproot you again and this maybe not work out between us' Elizabeth explained
'But it will work, you guys love each other'
'We do, but it's not that simple. You'll understand one day' she smiled gently.
'But once we're sure, then yes. We will look at coming together as a family once again. That's a long way off yet, could be weeks, months maybe even over a year away' Henry offered. Both children nodded. Elizabeth loosened her grip on his knee and slowly pulled her arm into her lap.
'Does Stevie know?'
'Not yet no, we will tell her, but maybe later, or even tomorrow, it's the middle of the afternoon in London'
'So I have to keep a secret from my sister?' Alison scoffed. Elizabeth glanced over to her and furrowed her brow.
'No, you just need to respect that this news needs to come from your father and I. It is also news that you were not meant to know just yet' Elizabeth's tone was firm, something about her mood had shifted.
'What your mum means is that Stevie needs to hear this from us, and she will be in work right now, or just getting home from work so we will tell her, we just have to pick the right moment for Stevie, and us' Henry reasoned.
'Whatever' She rolled her eyes. Before anyone had a chance to respond Alison stood up and stormed off upstairs, her feet thumping against the wooden steps as she climbed them.
Elizabeth sighed and run her hand through her hair, glancing behind her nervously, then back to Henry.
'So I came down for some food, should I urm, maybe take It upstairs if you two are going to have sex again?' Jason shifted in his seat
'We're not going to have sex' Elizabeth moaned
'Just get some food and go upstairs' Henry waved his hand, dismissing his son from the conversation.
'I should go and see to Ali-'
'She'll be fine' Henry placed a loving hand over Elizabeths, his eyes holding her gaze as the panic started to sink into her skin. 'What's wrong?' He asked tentatively. Her mouth fell agape, an instinct to mutter the words nothing or I'm fine set in but she paused and her gaze fell to their entwined hands.
'I just felt sad when you were talking to the kids. It's silly really' she huffed. Henry squeezed her hand a little tighter.
'Nothing is silly, I felt it too, realising that it will be weeks, maybe even months before we can come together. It stings' he offered and she nodded slowly, her gaze walking back up to his.
'Yeah' she whispered. Henry slipped his hand to her cheek, caressing her soft skin with his thumb.
'It doesn't matter how long it takes, we're here. Together, and that is all that matters now' his tone as delicate as their hearts. She nodded and smiled at his words, her eyes closing allowing the truth to settle within her.
'Go and check Ali, I know you want to' he broke through their moment. Elizabeth giggled lightly as she shook her head, standing up. She turned back to face him and bent over, her hands cupping his cheeks as she brushed her lips against his.
'I won't be long' she pecked him once more before floating up the stairs towards her daughters bedroom.
She tapped the door softly and peered her head inside Alison's room. Her eyes fell upon her daughter, curled up on the bed crying. Elizabeths heart sunk as she let out a slow saddened sigh.
'Ohh Noodle' she exasperated as she walked around her bed and perched herself in front of her. A soothing hand fell to Alison's back, gently caressing her as she continued to cry into her pillow. 'Come here darling' Elizabeth beckoned, her hand pulling Alison towards her body. Her head falling on her mothers lap as she cried harder into her.
Elizabeth inhaled deeply, glancing up to the roof trying to swallow her own emotions around her daughters distress. Her hand glided through her dark brown hair, untangling the knots as she held her close in this somber moment.
'What's all this about noodle?' Elizabeth asked gently, her head tilting down to capture her daughters gaze. Alison paused for a moment, her head lifting off her mothers lap, trembling hands wiping her stray tears away.
'I'm sorry' she spoke through muffled cries.
'I don't want you to be sorry darling, I just want to help, too understand what has caused my sweet baby girl so much distress' Elizabeth smiled softly.
'I'm so confused mom' she confessed. 'I miss you so much, and I wanted you and dad together for such a long time. Now I feel like as soon as I've accepted it is over, you are back together. I know this isn't really about me and It's my fault I miss you because I chose to live with dad but, I don't know, it's just upset me' she cried to her mother.
'Firstly Alison McCord it is not your fault you don't see me, never ever feel guilty about moving back with your dad, we both know it is what you needed. Secondly you don't have to understand why you're upset, just accept the fact you are and we can deal with that. It's a confusing time for your father and I too, you're not alone in this noodle.' Elizabeth reassured her, tucking Alison's hair behind her ears. 'I'm sorry that we've upset you. It wasn't our intention' Elizabeth confessed sadly.
'I'm not upset' she protested but Elizabeth giggled, causing Alison to roll her eyes.
'Ok I am upset but not that you guys are back together, Thats exciting' she paused.
'But?'
'I don't know, it was just a shock I think. I've missed you, like really missed you and I wanted to ask you this weekend if I could see you more, but now I won't be able too, you'll be spending it with dad trying to sort things out' She sighed heavily.
'Absolutely not, Darling I miss you too. I would love nothing more than to spend more time with you. Your father is right, it will takes us weeks, months maybe even years to wade through everything. I've got a lifetime to spend time with your dad. I don't have that long before you swan off to college and won't want to know me. So I'll take all the time with you I can get.' She grinned.
'I love you mom' Alison nodded and crashed into her mothers arms. Her arms wrapped around her as she buried her head in the crook of Elizabeth's neck.
'I love you too' Elizabeth kissed the side of her head repeatedly, inhaling her daughter. 'Your father and I will always, always put you, your sister and brother before our relationship. So please don't ever worry about spending time with us' She pulled back and cupped her daughters face, kissing her forehead softly after she spoke.
'I know, but I also know you and dad put everyone before yourselves before, that ended in divorce.' Alison highlighted and smirked at her mother.
'Well, yes ok. When did you get so smart' Elizabeth chuckled nervously, thinking of their divorce often drove a dagger into her heart. 'We're doing everything we can this time to make it right ok?' She offered reassurance, unsure if it was for Alison's sake or her own.
'We really are, I won't hurt this family again' Henry spoke firmly from the doorway. Elizabeth and Alison both turned to face him. Elizabeth's eyes glistened as she looked at Henry, hope restored within her.
'I wasn't just yo-'
'It's ok. We're safe this time' Henry cut Elizabeth off, walking over to Alisons bed and joining them. His arm wrapped around his daughter and he pulled her close to his chest. He winked softly at Elizabeth as she beamed at him, her family was slowly coming back together.