Chapter Nine - A family of Five

20 days ago

Elizabeth stepped through the front door or her family home for the first time since she walked out two days ago. Things at work had transpired into a more critical situation meaning she hadn't been able to leave the situation room, oval office or her own office for the last forty - eight hours. As her security detail gave her a reassuring shoulder squeeze and closed the door behind them she closed her eyes softly; the reality of the severity of her workload falling heavy on her shoulders.

All she wanted to instinctively do is walk into the kitchen, walk into Henry's arms and talk to him about just how scared and stressed the situation with Russia had left her, at this point in time 'espionage' was just a mere word in the dictionary, she needed someone to confide in. With her head held high and a sharp intake of breath she walked into the kitchen determined to fall into Henry's arms; her safe haven where everything was always ok. As she stepped through the open doorway to the kitchen her heart warmed as all her kids were sat around the table sharing dinner, then her eyes fell upon Henry, she quickened her pace a little and smiled softly, but she then watched as he move from the kitchen island to the table and sitting without a glance in her direction. It was then she reconnected with her reality.

A storm of emotions came over her, she silently choked on her tears as she remembered the fight they had just days ago, how could she have forgotten? She dipped her head and bit the inside of her mouth hard as she forced the tears away from her eyes.

'Hey Mom!'

'Oh the stranger returns,' the kids mocked as they greeted her. Elizabeth struggled to catch her breath at that moment and was unable to reply. She continued to look down at the floor, knowing she was unable to hide her heartache this time, and unconvinced she would be able to pass it off as 'work'.

'Mom?' Stevie called out and looked to Henry for support. Henry's silence spoke volumes to the kids and Elizabeth; it really was over. Henry remained silent as the heartache began to take hold of him too, creeping inside and squeezing the air from his lungs. He couldn't look at her for fear he would break too.

'What's going on?' Jason boldly asked. Henry looked at his children and pressed his lips together to stop them shaking. Elizabeth slowly looked up and over at the table, all her children's eyes on her, all confused by the scene before them. Henry caught a glimpse of her face, the tired, withdrawn and defeated look which consumed her being broken by him. He burst into whimpering sobs as he rose to walk towards his broken wife. Elizabeth remained motionless, every fibre of her being was engulfed in heartache, yet yearning for him to hold her, all while determined to avoid contact with him, as after all, she had to get used to being without him now.

Henry stood as close to her as possible while keeping a clear distance, unable to read her anymore.

'Dad?' The concern from the kid grew. He sighed and wiped away his tears as he turned to face the kids, his view now the same as Elizabeths; distorted, blurred and looking at three very scared and confused children. Their babies.

'Sit down kids' he spoke quietly as he attempted to search for Elizabeth's hand behind him, needing a hand to hold though this. She reached out and to his surprise allowed him to wrap his hand around just two of her fingers. She used her thumb to press into his grip, squeezing him in an attempt to suppress her emotions. She looked at him and softly nodded, her wrist flexing slightly, pulling him towards her. Henry took a step closer and stood at her side, his own thumb slowly caressing the backs of her fingers as he gaze fixed on his children who were now seated.

'Is someone sick?'

'No, no noodle no one is sick' Elizabeth smiled, she caught herself for a moment and removed her grip from Henrys, and walked over towards the table and placed a hand on noodles back, caressing her as she kissed the top of her head.

'Your father and I…' she paused for a breath, she had never said these words out loud, and the first time she was going to hear herself say them she was speaking to her children. She looked up at Henry and he nodded, signalling to her it was ok. In the moment her heart broke even more, just days ago he was saying to her that he didn't really want a divorce and now he is giving her permission to tell the kids.

'Your father and I are getting a divorce' she spoke with certainty and firmness. The room lingered in silence for a moment as the news fell upon fresh ears. Henry leant onto the kitchen island for support as he swallowed back his pain.

'What?'

'You're kidding right?' Stevie asked as she looked at both parents

'Do they look like they're kidding?' Jason snapped 'Look at them, Why? What happened?' He continued, his voice elevating as his emotions peaked

'Yeah, why?' Alison turned and looked at her mother. Elizabeth smiled sadly and cleared her throat

'Well noodle, sometimes people just…there is too much water under the bridge' she stumbled across her words and was shocked when Henry decided to speak up

'We decided it's the best for both of us' Elizabeth's head snapped up and looked at him, instant anger bubbling as she harshly glared at him.

'So what does that mean for us?' Alison tried to speak through her tears.

'We haven't discussed finer details, this is still new to us. I suppose I will be the one to move out, maybe head back to the farm house? I don't know' he attempted to seek support from Elizabeth but she was angry at his earlier comment, to her it signalled they had come to the agreement of a divorce together, rather than foretelling the events that actually took place.

'Well, I am staying here, Jareth is here, my friends, my jobs' Stevie rolled off her priorities and Elizabeth rolled her eyes and scoffed at the irony, noticing she, nor Henry were on her list. Elizabeth flickered her eyes rapidly as she withheld her tears.

'Well, that's just great isn't it, come on kids, let's move you to DC and just when you settle in we will get a divorce and just you know, mess around with your life even more' Jason ranted. 'Yeah cheers for that, I'm glad you two decided that splitting this family up was the best thing for all five of us in this family' he continued to shout before storming off upstairs. Jason's outburst had caused Ali to burst into tears, her head fell into her hands as her shoulders shook with distress. Elizabeth instantly wrapped her arms around her and attempted to soothe her.

'Shh baby'

'Why?' She pulled back away from her mum and stood angrily. 'Why?' She demanded to know. Elizabeth looked down and fiddled with the sleeve on her top as Henry sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.

'Noodle…' Alison could tell from the tone of his voice that some excuse was going to be thrown his way, so she shook her head in annoyance and followed Jason up the stairs, her bedroom door slamming behind her momentarily after.

'I'm going to go to Jareths' Stevie whispered dryly as she walked past her father, she rubbed his arm in an attempt to soothe him, to her this was Clearly her mothers decisions given that she wasn't as upset as Henry, but little did Stevie know that below her mothers calmer exterior was a storm that was destroying everything in its path.

The front door shutting harshly made Elizabeth jump though her skin. She cast her gaze over to Henry and struggled to find any words to say as he looked on at her, broken with tear stained cheeks.

'Would you like a drink?' He sniffled, conscious that she hadn't been home for a few days and knowing her, she would have hardly drank anything. Elizabeth shook her head sadly, her internal distressing rendering her motionless as she remained seated and in a fixed state of despair.

'I'm sorry' she whispered into the silence. Henry whimpered a little as her words collided with him. He walked over and knelt before her, his hands resting upon her knees as she allowed her tears to spill. He rubbed her thigh and lifted her chin so their gazes locked onto one another

'Please don't cry' he wept and she cried even harder, she placed her hand over her mouth in an attempt to contain her cries. Henry wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her into his chest as she sobbed into his shoulder. His own tears mixing with her blonde curls as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut, the severity of his actions kicking him even harder.

After a few moments Elizabeth pulled back and looked down at him, her hand rested upon his cheek as she wiped his own salty tears away. She cleared her throat and pressed her lips together as she nodded firmly all in an attempt to compose herself. She slowly backed away from him and stood, holding out a hand for him to take, helping him stand.

'I will always love you Henry, always'

'Even-though I caused all this?' He ironically chuckled as his own feelings of disappointment within himself took a hold of his emotions.

'Even though. I'm sorry that I gave you no other option than to seek a divorce, but I can't do this anymore' she gestured to the tender moment between them. 'It's too much for me to bear, you asked me for a divorce, so that's what we need to do now. File the papers and move on, separately. You can have the farmhouse if you like, I don't care Henry, I just need to be alone now. I need to process' she sniffled as fresh tears threatened to fall.

'I need you' he admitted but she shook her head

'No you don't, if that were true you'd have never asked for the papers, nor even suggested telling the kids tonight. You've already accepted this and I haven't, so please let me process now' she whispered and let go of his hand that she was still holding onto, letting it fall at his side as she walked away from him once again, this time for the final time.