AN: Thanks again for the continued support! Apologies for the delay in updating this my internet on my laptio has been poor!

** To the Guest reviewer who thinks this story is getting a little boring - I am sorry you feel that way, but I am not about to change the story, I promised myself details as a writer and I will continue with that. Thing is with a break up or a divorce its the little things within daily life that make it hard to forget that person, those intimate details are needed and I will not stop. That being said, had i just threw all this at you and then made them forget and get back together it would be very unrealistic and I refuse to sell myself short.

Enjoy!

Chapter Forty Three - Blindsided

The three hour journey to Virginia had given Elizabeth more than enough time to overthink every little aspect of the present situation and the repercussions from it, of course not a single outcome resulted in a positive one, she knew from the minute she received that phone call she was destined for a long night of strong emotions.

Three Hours ago…

The sound of her office door being thrown open caused an instant surge of panic through her veins. Elizabeth glanced at Blake as worry fell upon his face, something instantly telling her this was more than a work related incident.

'Ma'am its Henry, he said it's urgent. It's Jason…' He trailed off, not able to finish his sentence as she picked up her office phone, her hand hitting her chest as the panic rose.

'Henry?' She questioned

'Hey, I need you, don't panic, everyone is fine but Jason has got into a fight at school. I think he needs us' he explained calmly

'Oh god, Is he hurt?'

'I don't think so, I am on my way to the school now so I haven't seen him, apparently the other kid was talking about us. Elizabeth it's time to tell him' he sighed heavily and she nodded silently on the other end of the phone.

'I'm on my way. I'll be as quick as I can' she swallowed hard and looked up at Blake who had already sent for her motorcade. She placed the phone back on the receiver and didn't give it a second thought before she rushed out the door and made her way to her old family home.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and sent a message to Henry letting him know she was less than five minutes away. A sickness stirred up inside her; she hadn't seen or heard a thing off Henry since their meeting to discuss their assets which was nearly four weeks ago. Her hands began to tremble as the anticipation rose in her throat, nervous about seeing her ex husband but also a deep concern for her son and the trouble he had got himself into. She glanced out the widow and let out a slow controlled breathe as they pulled up outside the farmhouse.

'Mooommmm!' Alison jumped exactly as she spotted her mothers motorcade pulling to a stop. She ran over towards her and threw her arms around her as she stepped out of the door.

'Oh my baby!' She squeezed her tight, inhaling her scent as she finally held her daughter again. It had been a long five weeks since they moved out. She kissed her head repeatedly and refused to let her go straightaway. Elizabeth caught Henry standing at the front door smiling sheepishly at her as she held their daughter.

He noticed how small she looked, even from a distance he knew she had lost weight, her already small frame now even smaller. He studied her as she began to walk over with Alison. Her skin glowing a little less, almost matte in texture and her eyes refusing to sparkle like they used to, almost like their light had been stolen.

'Hi' she smiled

'Hi' He replied with an intake of air. 'Alison can you go an-'

'And make myself busy. I know you need to speak to Jase. Mom, don't go without saying goodbye ok. I've missed you' she wrapped her arms around her mom once more and Elizabeth played with her hair as she lingered.

'Go on, I'll come find you when I'm done' she confirmed. Her insides twisted with a mix of love and sadness as she looked at her daughter, a smile plastered on her face that brightened her world, but also reminded her of how much she missed them all at the same time. Elizabeth looked up at Henry and grimaced, 'Shall we?' She asked and Henry nodded, stepping into the house.

'Oh great, had to bring in reinforcements did you dad? Couldn't handle me on your own?' Jason scoffed as both his parents walked into the room.

'That's enough from you,' Elizabeth cut across sternly, despite their differences she would never let anyone disrespect Henry. Jason rolled his eyes and folded his arms in the process. Elizabeth dropped her bag and coat on the couch, her frame looking even thinner to Henry, a sight which tore him up inside even more. He shifted from her side and took a seat opposite Jason, Elizabeth choosing to stand in front of them both.

'What happened?' Elizabeth asked, her head turning between them both as Henry looked to Jason to explain but they were both met with a wall of silence.

'The school rang and said he had got into a fight. Apparently the other kid was talking about our current family affairs and Jason attacked him. I don't know what was said to provoke him, I can't get that information out of him. The other kid is in hospital with a broken nose and Jason is suspended for two weeks' Henry sighed heavily. Elizabeth's eyes widened and she glared over to Henry, furious that she was only just being made aware of this information.

'Some of the kids filmed it, I'm sure you'll see the footage soon. Daisy probably has it already' Jason spat at his mother.

'Don't.' She warned him, her finger pointing at him as her eyes narrowed. 'You better start explaining yourself' she pressed further and watched as Jason just stared back at her, all his anger rising to the surface, only a small push away from it overspilling. He continued to breathe through his nose as he gritted his teeth together.

'Why? Why does it even matter to you? You're not the one here to deal with it. Dad is, so what's it got to do with you?' He hissed.

'It has everything to do with your mother Jason, watch your tone.' Henry snapped, his words biting at the tension within the room.

'Jase, we are on your side, we jus-' Elizabeth started to explain in a calmer tone but to Jason, it wasn't the push he needed for his anger to spill over, it was a forceful shove.

'NO YOU ARE NOT, YOU'RE NOT EVEN HEAR LET ALONE ON MY SIDE. IF YOU OR DAD HADN'T EVEN CREATED THIS WHOLE MESS THEN TODAY WOULD NEVER HAD HAPPENED!' Jason rose to his feet as the anger snapped out of him, her body fuelled with rage and his mother was the target. 'YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT ME AT ALL SO WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE? WHY? WHY?' He screamed, walking towards her, his fists balling. Henry saw right through him, his next move obvious as the rage controlled him. He jumped to his feet and leapt between Jason and Elizabeth, grabbing him firmly by the upper arms as Jason's fists swung, colliding repeatedly at Henry's chest.

'I HATE YOU, I HATE YOU SO MUCH' he screamed as his fists punched and punched and punched. Henry kept a firm hold just letting him pour all his emotions out. Elizabeth cupped her mouth at the scene before her. Her heart fragmenting a little more as her son's words cut her like a sharp knife. She slipped her hand up over Henry's shoulder and moved to his side, her fingers tracing from Henry's shoulder down his arm and onto Jason's clenched fist, stopping it colliding with his fathers chest once again.

Jason looked up at his mother, tears brimming his eyes as he felt her hand on his, the rage unveiling itself as sadness as he caved. Unable to continue his tough exterior anymore he burst into heart wrenching sobs as he screamed for his mom.

'I miss you so much' he visibly broke before them. Elizabeth's own tears came in floods as she pulled him from Henry's grasp and held him close. He shook within her hold as his cries continued. Elizabeth let her one arm loosen her hold and she outstretched it behind her, searching for Henry's arm and once she found it she pulled him in close too, knowing all too well that he too was hurting behind them. He fell into them and held them both close, his head nuzzling into the back of Elizabeths as they both united to soothe their son. The true extent of their divorce hit them both deeply.

'I'm here, shh, I'm here baby' she whispered into her embrace as Jason's sobs slowly began to subside. Hearing the sounds within the room calm Henry slowly stepped back, his hands lingering on Elizabeth's back as she looked over her shoulder smiling at him. She too loosened her hold on Jason, looking down at him, her hand tilting his chin to face hers as sighed sadly.

'Come on, let's sit and talk' she gestured for him to resume his seat on the couch, this time she sat beside him and Henry on the other side, wedging him firmly between their love.

'I'm sorry dad, I didn't mean to punch you, and I'm so sorry mom because I was going for you. I don't hate you, I didn't mean anything I said' he whimpered. Elizabeth rubbed his back softly.

'It's ok, Jase. Emotions get the better of us sometimes and we say things we don't mean, and that's ok' she soothed him.

'How long have you been feeling like this?' Henry asked

'Few weeks, that boy he urm, he keeps making comments about how he..' He trailed off.

'Go on, it's ok. Just say it how It is' she urged him

'He keeps saying that he doesn't get why dad is letting you divorce him, because you're sexy and then he makes comments about what he would do to you or your body if he got the chance' he shivered at the unpleasant thought. Elizabeth sighed and looked up to Henry, her eyes casting back to Jason as he spoke again. 'He is just so rude all the time, and it just gets to me.' He huffed.

'Jase-' Henry paused. Elizabeth took Jason's hand in his knowing all too well where this conversation was going. '-There is something I haven't told you about the divorce, in fact we best get Alison down here too' Henry looked at Elizabeth and she nodded.

'I'm here' she replied sheepishly as she revealed herself from behind the door, her tear stained face visible to all.

'Oh Darling, come, come here' Elizabeth beckoned her over. She took Alison in her arms, sitting her on her lap as she continued to hold Jason's hand.

'We've told you that the divorce was a mutual decision, but it wasn't. It was me who asked your mother'

'What?' They gasped

'We didn't tell you because we wanted to protect you, but we can see now we were not doing that' Elizabeth rushed in to explain.

'You asked mom for a divorce?' Jason glared at Henry. Elizabeth squeezed his hand a little more trying to bring him back down as she felt the anger rise again.

'Why?' Alison shook her head and Henry looked on speechless, in truth he didn't know why anymore.

'The reasons why have not changed, and had your father not asked me then I think I'd have asked him, so in my book that constitutes as a fairly mutual decision.' She lied to all three of them, determined to continue to protect her family beyond their knowledge.

'I can't believe this' Jason shook his head ' I need to go' He tried to stand up but Elizabeth used all her strength in her grip to hold him down. He looked over to her, confused by her actions.

'I'm sorry we didn't tell you. But before you go I want you to know, both of you, I am so proud of you, so proud of how you've handled these last few weeks. The silent battles that you've fought, the difficult moments, the comments from others, the press, all of it. You've had to pick yourself up, wipe your own tears and pat your own backs. We've been really crap parents lately and I am so, so sorry' Tears brimmed at her eyes as she confessed her truth to her children. Alison snuggled in and cried on her shoulder, Jason followed suit. Henry, still sitting in silence, Elizabeth's earlier revelation tore through him.

They both clung to her tightly as they broke their own hearts with their own struggles. She held them close, softly rocking them as they fixed themselves to their anchor point.

'I love you' she whispered

'Love you Mom'

'Love you too'

Elizabeth peeled them off her and wiped both their eyes before wiping her own.

'I am right here, if you miss me just tell me, I'll be here I promise. Because no matter how much you miss me I will always, always miss you more. You're my babies' she tried so hard to swallow her fresh wave of sadness as her eyes drowned in tears once more. Jason nodded slowly as did Alison. They both looked at one another and smiled softly.

'Go on, it's getting late. I'll be up in a bit' Elizabeth dismissed them knowing that is what they were needing at that moment.

Once they had left she turned to Henry, a sadness displayed all over his features. She tilted her head to the side and looked on with hurt in her eyes, the sight of him causing her deep pain within.

'You're quiet, Are you ok?' She almost whispered as he shook his head, his mouth falling open a few times before he finally found the words to speak.

'Did you really mean that? About getting a divorce, if I didn't ask you would have?' He paraphrased her earlier statement which paralysed his thoughts. She contemplated lying in that moment, avoiding the truth like he had done to her many times over the month but she couldn't do it, she was tired of it all. She slowly shook her head and looked down into her lap for a moment, her wedding ring still wrapped around her finger as she twisted it.

She looked up at him; her eyes empty behind as her gaze locked on his.

'I spent my childhood dreaming that when I married I would be married for life and then I met you, I really wanted it to be you, so badly. Until I understood that you didn't want it to be me' Grit lay heavy in her throat as she tried to speak without a single crack in her words, Henry rendered speechless, blindsided by their reality.