AN: Random Drabble that I wrote to help with writers block. This is where my head went once I heard Adele's song 'Easy on me' (Which by the way is a fantastic song)
Enjoy...
Golden River Runs Clear
'Henry, Hi' Elizabeth paused, her lips pressing together as she drank in the sight of the man she hadn't seen for over a year, her husband. The cold winter breeze whipped around her, her long blue coat lifting off her as the wind took it within its path. The strands of her hair blowing effortlessly around her shoulders and face, temporarily blocking her view of him.
'Elizabeth' he gasped, his wife was home, yet the excitement of her return had long left him. He swallowed hard as she lowered his hands to his sides, clenching tightly at the kitchen towel in his hand. Henry dipped his gaze, his eyes focusing at their feet as his mind tried to comprehend her return.
'Come in, the kids are in school, Jason is with my Sister' he cleared his throat and stepped aside, allowing her to enter into their family home. The obscurity of having to grant permission upsetting the balance between them.
Elizabeth stepped through the door of her past, into her family home. The place her husband and kids had built a life for the last three-hundred and seventy-four days, without her. The lump in her throat had made itself present as she took in her surroundings. Her shaking legs followed Henry into the kitchen, observing as he walked straight back into his previous task of making dinner.
Elizabeth's stomach twisted, an anxiousness settling deep within as she stood in her own kitchen, her mind conflicted with emotions, wanting to lunge at her husband and hold him just like she had longed to do for so long, but the memories of the time before she left, and their very little communication in between burning between her desires. She raked her top teeth off her bottom lip, watching as he began to chop at the vegetables.
'Henry' she called out, her voice quivering as her eyes attempted to search beyond his stature, trying to see into his mind. He stopped, placing the knife at the side and turning to face Elizabeth. The conflicting emotions mirroring her very own.
'I've missed you' she continued. Henry nodded weekly and flashed her a glimpse of a softer smile.
'I've missed you too Elizabeth' his own acknowledgement breaking his heart. Then the silence flooded the room, drowning them both within its destructive past. Neither of them showed an ability to let the other in.
'I, I don't know what to say' Elizabeth stumbled upon her words, her mind plagued with so many words that her mouth couldn't form, memories and emotions laying thick within her chest, desperate to be set free but she denied all wishes.
'I don't know either. I told you that I couldn't promise things would be the same when you returned. I asked you not to go for this very reason Elizabeth' Henry sighed as he gestured to the tension between them. His heart yearning to be held by her, the one person who could make him feel better was the very person causing the pain.
'Henry I - Baghdad was a good opportunity-'
'For you, not for our family Elizabeth' He snapped. Elizabeth inhaled sharply as she bowed her head, silently agreeing with him.
'Everything's changed' he continued watching as she continued to hang her head, out of guilt or shame he didn't know, but the sight of her tore at his heart. He pushed off the counter and walked towards her, his hands instinctively reaching up and brushing at the tops of her arms, his very own personal touch of comfort.
Elizabeth shook her head, consumed by her negative emotions, she twisted her lips and whimpered softly as she was greeted by his touch, a touch she didn't feel she was quite deserving of.
'I shouldn't have gone' she whispered.
'I can't pretend that I am ok with it, but I think we all make mistakes, it's how we redeem ourselves after that's important.' He offered
'You can't even look at me Henry' she scoffed as she glanced up at him, capturing his eyes within hers.
'That's not true, I'm looking at you right now. I see you' he whispered ever so gently into the air between them.
'The kids-'
'They're fine' he cut across her.
'Do they know they have a mom?' She asked bluntly. Henry loosened his grip on her arms and let them fall to his side. He shook his head in uncertainty as he watched her stare at him.
'I'd never let them forget who you were Elizabeth'
'When will they be home?' She asked, her heart sinking at the lack of knowledge she had around her children's lives.
'I leave here at one O'clock to get Jase and then head to the school to collect the girls for Three' He clarified.
'Can we go and get Jason now? I would like to see my baby' she almost cried at the thought of him. Henry glanced behind him at the dinner cooking, he slowly walked over and began to turn the cooker off before clearing away the food on the side. The silence consuming the air between them once again, Elizabeth swallowed hard and clung to her love for Henry as she stepped a little closer to him.
'Henry' she whispered, her voice pleading with him. She noticed that his movements stopped, her voice capturing his attention. She pushed herself to walk even closer to him, her arms wrapping around his waist as she buried her head into his back. A sense of relief that he didn't push her away ran through her as she buried herself into him a little deeper. Henry pressed his hands over the top of hers. Sure the river of gold that was once their relationship was now still and stagnant, but the waters were still full of hope.
He turned within her arms and wrapped his own around her, drawing her in closer, feeling her body press upon his. He dipped his head down and kissed the top of her head. Elizabeth sniffled into his chest as she cried through the relief that he was still there for her. Even after everything. She took a moment and pushed back, her arms resting on his hips as she looked up to him with watery eyes.
'I quit' she whispered. Henry looked down shocked, his eyes widening as he looked at her, a complete state of shock etched on his face.
'I changed who I was for the CIA, I put them before us and I shouldn't have. I give up, I quit with immediate effect from today. I'm home Henry, for good' she explained softly. Henry's mouth ran dry, he didn't know how to respond to the bombshell of Elizabeth's. 'I wanted to see the world, I wanted to put good into it and that isn't always what I am getting back, you said it yourself, there is no room for things to change If I am deeply stuck in my ways. I will always want to run off to the next opportunity the CIA offers if I don't leave'
'Oh Elizabeth, Welcome Home' He let out a small cry of relief as he crashed his lips onto hers. He melted into her . She responded willingly, pushing herself up onto her tip toes as she tasted his lips once again. Her hands gripped at his waist as she began to cry into their kiss. Her emotions seeped through the cracks of her eyes. Henry pulled back and looked down at her, his eyes saddened at the sight of her, the obvious burden Baghdad had on him, was mirrored within her too.
'When I went to Baghdad, I had good intentions Henry I swear, I hoped that I could affect real change in the world and I know right now that doesn't really show but-'
'Its ok, I understand Elizabeth, especially after everything you went through with the 9/11 attack, I understand your need to be involved with the CIA, I can understand the fact you wanted to go. I never struggled with that, what I struggled with was the fact you willingly left us, Jason wasn't even one when you went, I just wanted you to realize how your family and American soil is more important than anything the CIA and overseas can offer. I also know that It was never something I'd have been able to teach you, you needed to learn It on your own, it's far more meaningful that way Henry's honest words offered her comfort, she nodded slowly as she allowed the words to wash over her skin, absorbing them.
'I don't blame you, I'm just glad you're home' he whispered onto her lips before brushing his own across them gently.
'I love you Henry McCord' she spoke proudly
'I love you too Elizabeth McCord' He smiled genuinely at her within his loving arms.
'Can we go and get Jason now? Im quite anxious' she bit her lip nervously and Henry chuckled.
'Of Course' he let go of her and removed himself from her grasp as he reached for his belongings.
'Henry?'
'Hmm?' He looked up with a questioning eye
'I know that it will take a long time for you to forgive me and get used to be being around, the kids too, and I accept that, but I, things have been tough lately, I need to adjust to a life without the CIA and fit into the family routine, I guess what I am trying to say is, well, I am not sure' she rambled, struggling to express herself.
'You're asking me to go easy on you, I am not perfect so at times it might be difficult, but I will try and be mindful. Come on Mrs McCord, let's go and get your son' he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and walked her out of their family home to go and collect their children, a step towards laying the past to rest. Their once golden river turned clear and still was flowing once again.