AN: - Thank you all so much for your reviews! I am honestly blown away. the pace picks up from here, chapter 35 brings it full circle to chapter one (if that makes sense).
Ellie - here is anothe chapter to kill you off girl!
As always thanks for reading you wonderful humans!
Chapter Twenty Seven - Game of Optics
Elizabeth was sitting in her office, her mind attempting to read over the documents before her but she was plagued with the thoughts of her and Henry's moment a few nights ago. Her heart swelled at the recollection of the intimacy they shared, she longed for that to become more routine for them once more however, the aftermath of his comments had set her off on an unsteady course.
''I want you to quit your job '' She could hear his voice swimming around in her head, the same statement playing over and over again. She placed the documents to the side of the desk and sat back in her chair, what had become of their marriage? Or more importantly, what was left of it? Elizabeth clenched her jaw as her mind teased her, they had never been in a situation like this before, nor had they struggled this much. She was aware that they needed to talk, but every time she attempted to approach him her mouth often ran dry, and her hands shook, fear bubbled inside her like a hot volcano holding lava. As she cleared her through in an attempt to gain a form of composure she reached for the office phone, getting ready to dial that old familiar number; her husbands.
She pressed the phone to her ear and began to gently tap away, giving him a call. Elizabeth raised her eyebrow as she heard the phone ringing from outside her open office door, she quizzically glanced at the door, before looking back at the phone assuming she dialled the wrong number,
'You called?' Henry smiled as he entered her office. Elizabeth put the phone down immediately and grinned, a genuine happy response to being in the same room as him, something she had struggled with recently and she was sure Henry had struggled with too.
'Henry, Hi' she gushed as she rose to her feet and greeted him with a soft kiss of the lips. She pulled back and shook her head shocked; 'What a pleasant surprise, I…Is everything ok?' She couldn't help but let the doubt creep into her thoughts, the molten lava slowly peering through the cracks.
'Fine, I just wanted to bring you lunch' He explained and leant in for another kiss, this time pulling her body closer to his and lingering his lips on hers. 'Is everything ok with you?' He asked as he stepped away from her, setting the lunch bags down on the table.
'Yes, I was just thinking about you that's why I was calling' she confirmed and sat beside him, helping him retrieve the food from the bags.
'They were not all positive thoughts were they?' He raised an eyebrow at her but she shook her head instinctively
'Lets enjoy lunch' her eyes cast over his, almost pleading with him. He slowly nodded and leant over, kissing the side of her head lovingly. 'Talk tonight?' She offered and he nodded.
'I think we need to' he sighed, He had been struggling just like Elizabeth recently, he had often had thoughts of their failing marriage creeping through the cracks in his mind, but as always he attempted to suppress them and avoid the eruption of anger that would follow if Elizabeth knew what he had really been thinking.
'Hmm, this tastes so good,' she moaned as she allowed her mouth to marinate with the Thai food Henry had brought them.
'Stevie recommended it, it's a new place just down from that pizza place we like' he explained
'I feel like I haven't spent any time with the kids recently' she sighed 'I know I get home late sometimes, before you say anything, but why do they always have to be out or in bed' she huffed, her little comment coming across as a dig rather than a forewarning that she was insightful. Henry shrugged and brushed her comment aside, once again suppressing the emotion around it.
'They're kids, Alison is always out, Jason is often with Piper and Stevie is with Jareth. I think things are getting serious between them'
'Oh I do hope so, I like Jareth. I gave him a lift a few weeks ago, but I think I came off too strong,' she pondered and scrunched her face. Henry chuckled and shook his head light-heartedly.
'Oh you mean the whole 'boots' conversation' he winked and she gasped
'It was too much wasn't it. Blake did say' she giggled as she continued to spoon the food into her mouth. ``So, how serious is it?" She continued the conversation.
'Well I'd go as far as saying I think he is the one'
'Well that makes me happy' she grinned excitedly. 'Can you believe our first born is at a point in life where she is contemplating marriage?' She shook her head in disbelief
'Let's hope she doesn't come to us for advice' he joked, but the humour fell on cold hard floors as Elizabeth gave him a side eye. She reached for a napkin and dabbed her mouth before turning her body to face him.
'We're not having things easy at the minute, I know that, so do you but Henry these little digs are not going to help us move on from this' She huffed
'So I can brush over your little sarcastic comments earlier but you can't overlook mine? I feel like I'm constantly overlooking your flaws whilst you're finding all of mine' He moaned. Henry began to close up his food and throw his napkin on the table with a little force.
'That's not true, I am sick of fighting with you Henry,. I don't even know how to get us out of this mess anymore' the sadness of her words tumbled from her lips as she glanced at him. She slowly reached out and placed a loving hand on his cheek, softly caressing his skin for a moment before retrieving her hand and placing it back in her lap.
'Dr Sherman suggested you join me for my next session, what do you think? Could this be a way to start to muddle through all this?' She asked hopefully
'We don't need to go to therapy'
'I think we do' she argued back 'I think we're lost and if we continue down this path I don't see a positive way out Henry. Please respect my opinion and just consider it before you completely rule it out?' She attempted to remain soft in her approach.
'I do respect you Elizabeth, but therapy isn't an option for me. We don't need it' he shrugged and she shook her head
'Really? Because I don't think you're ever going to let go of your anger, I am still waiting for you to tell me that you want me to quit this job and not remind me during a moment where you think I am sleeping' she gritted through her teeth as Henry remained silent.
'Conrad has been back to work for four weeks, and last time we spoke about me quitting you said it wasn't what you wanted, so if things have changed don't you think a more serious conversation needs to be had Henry. I am not dismissing your request but, I cannot leave him without a cabinet of people he trusts just after he has returned from a significant traumatic event Henry. I've had five and a half months to process Geneva and I am still struggling with it, let alone someone who is the President and has woken from a medical coma two months ago, and only just returned to work' her voice became a little harsher as she spoke and attempted to keep her tone low. 'The Henry I married would understand that'
'You said you'd quit this job in a heartbeat if it threatened what we had, and I am telling you it is threatening it' he bit back.
'No Henry it's threatening what is left of it, my job didn't cause the destruction in our marriage, our lack of communication with one another has and you know that' she admitted simply, but it was the truth, she knew Henry was hiding behind her working hours, or working demands as a way to try and compensate for the damage already done, damage done but his inability to let go of the anger and resentment surrounding Dimitri, and damage on Elizabeth's part by her own stubbornness around her communication. Henry never got the opportunity to respond as they were interrupted by Daisy and Mike B.
'Oh Dr McCord, Good afternoon. This is actually very good timing because I came to discuss colours for the wedding in a few weeks and now I can get both of your opinions' Daisy smiled and Henry groaned, slumping back in the chair.
'I know, discussing clothes isn't how I want to spend lunch either but the little puppy dog on the front desk Is busy so I had to join Daisy' Mike scoffed and sympathised with Henry whilst Elizabeth rolled her eyes.
'Mike, Blake isn't a puppy dog, stop calling him that. Daisy Henry isn't joining me at the wedding' She replied flatly.
'Woah, Wait what? No, no, no. Elizabeth, did I not make myself clear? That is not an option, Henry has to attend the wedding with you, Henry you have to' Mike be stressed, averting his attention from Elizabeth to Henry. Elizabeth raised her hand to signal for Mike to stop talking before speaking firmly herself,
'Henry politely declined and I respect that'
'Elizabeth it isn't going to look good, every significant cabinet member is going and with their spouse, The president is getting ready for re-election campaign in just a few short months time, you need to go together. It's not about if you want to go or not Henry It's about the op-'
'Optics' Henry finished his sentence and glanced at Elizabeth raising an eyebrow.
'Well, He said he didn't want to, so he isn't going. It's not going to ruin Conrad's Campaign. The campaign is not even here yet' she sighed and stood from the couch.
'Henry?' Mike B focused on him.
'Fine, I'll go. But I am dressing myself' He warned
'Yes fine, we can make it happen' Mike B let out a thankful sigh as he ushered Daisy out of the office before returning to thank them both.
'Mike?' Elizabeth called
'Yep?' He grinned happily
'Don't ever go over my head on decisions that have already been made again.' She warned and kept a fixed gaze on him as he left the office, shutting the door behind him.
'Henry I am so sor-'
'Save it. I am going home.' He spat. 'I knew this would happen Elizabeth, I told you that these events become less about us spending time together and more about the god damn optics' he hissed, his voice getting louder as the lava spilled from within. 'I suppose we should be happy that someone's marriage is full of love'
'Henry that is not fair! You didn't have to agree!' She argued back
'None of this is fair Elizabeth' he snapped back at her. She stood rooted to the spot watching him gather his things and walk towards the door. 'You stay in this job as long as you need to, Just don't expect there to be anything to come home to the longer you chose this place over us' He growled angrily as he exited the office with a forceful slam of the door.
Elizabeth stood speechless, Henry's vicious words poured all around her as she was consumed by her own rage in response. At that moment she wished that someone would get sick, a small work crisis would happen or the wedding would be cancelled so she had an excuse not to attend. How could she attend and watch someone start their journey into what is supposed to be like the fairytales within the books, but in reality it isn't. At least not for Elizabeth and Henry's marriage; You could read their fairytale book backwards or forwards, but it wouldn't really matter because in the end they still end up being strangers.