AN: Thanks for all your love and support for this fic! Some of you have mentioned about Henry's perspective, all I will say is 'All in good time'. There is a reason you're only seeing Elizabeths side at the moment, Henry's will come in time.

Enjoy this update!

Chapter Fifty - One Night Only

'Elizabeth, will you just relax?' Will called out to his sister as he walked through the front door of her brownstone and heard the commotion from the kitchen. She spun on the spot and smiled lovingly at him.

'Will, you're late' she reminded him and he rolled his eyes

'The happy couple themselves are not even here yet, nor the guests so how am I even late? You should blame yourself for throwing an engagement party so soon' He winked and Blake stood in the kitchen watching the scene unfold shaking his head.

'Let's not wind the secretary up even more' He suggested and Will laughed

'See, even your staff think you're a little tense' He winked and Elizabeth exhaled deeply, her jaw clenching as she looked across the kitchen, the irritation evident on her face.

'Go upstair and get ready, do your make up or whatever-'

'My makeup is done' She narrowed her eyes on him even more and he pressed his lips together trying not to laugh

'Well go and do whatever you have to do, I'll help Blake and these other guys whose names I cannot remember. I'll call you when Stevie and Jareth get here' He ushered her out of the kitchen, directing her towards the stairs.

'Fine, and for the record I didn't arrange the engagement party, that was Stevie. They couldn't go to London this weekend so decided to celebrate here instead' she stressed, her anxiety rising as she looked back over her kitchen, all her staff looking at her, prepping for a party that came just five days after the engagement. Elizabeth sighed nervously knowing that in less than an hour her house would be full of a variety of people, including her husband.

'You do realise she will be like this all night don't you?' Will looked around at her staff as he dipped his hand into the large bowl of chips on the counter.

'Yes, we think it's because Dr McCord is coming' Daisy spoke up

'Of course it is, those two are getting a divorce and you just thrust them together in a room celebrating love and marriage' Will snarked with a mouthful of food.

'Good to see the Adams sarcastic trait is inheritable' Matt mocked and Will pointed at him jokingly.

Leave Elizabeth to me, you do whatever it is you guys need to do. I'll distract her tonight' Will offered

'She won't settle tonight, we have some official diplomats coming, we need the secretary to try and gage who they're going to vote for in the upcoming elections' Daisy smiled

'Ohhh, so not only have you invited Henry, you've added some of her work colleagues into the mix? So extra eyes watching in case any drama unfolds, and on the night of her daughter's engagement party? Remind me to come to you to organise my daughters fifth birthday party, maybe that's where you can tell her that mummy and daddy are getting a divorce. It sounds like a hoot' Will replied sarcastically, his undertone of annoyance hitting the room as he looked around.

'Has she eaten today?' He continued, all of them shaking their heads. Will grabbed two beers and the bowl of chips off the counter. 'Let me know when Stevie arrives' He requested and walked upstairs to find his sister.

'Knock Knock' he mimicked his actions as he slowly pushed her bedroom door open, smiling as he watched her sitting at her dressing table. 'Beer and chips' he held them up and walked over to her, placing the bowl down on the side and opening her beer before handing it to her.

'Drink that, eat them, then we can go downstairs' he suggested. Elizabeth took the drink from him and screwed her nose up at it, she went to sip but the smell of off putting.

'God how do you drink that, it doesn't even smell nice' she moaned as she handed It back to him. She sunk her hand into the food and slowly pulled a few chips out, placing them in her mouth as she looked at her younger brother. 'Happy now?' She asked, as she crouched down.

'I am not going to tell you to look after yourself, but even I can see how much slimmer your looking since I last saw you Elizabeth' He raised an eyebrow and she groaned

'I know, I know everyone is noticing. I am eating otherwise I wouldn't be here talking' she tried to defend herself but even she knew It was a lousy argument. 'It's just hard, I don't want to feel any emotion, hunger included' she sighed. Elizabeth stood from her dressing table and smoothed down her dress as she walked around the room trying to find her shoes.

'Sophie and I are getting a divorce' Will's words falling like a heavy object, plummeting right to the floor with a crash

'What!?' She snapped her head up, her face contorted as she glanced up at him, slightly flustered by his revelations.

'I don't want to talk about it tonight but we discussed it and I think it's our only option, it feels like the best thing for us to do' He sighed and poured some drink down his throat. Elizabeth slipped her shoes on and leant against her wardrobe door frame, watching him, wondering If this is the point that Henry reached one day.

'Don't' She whispered

'Sorry?' He questioned

'Don't do it, fight and when you think there is nothing else left to fight for, you dig deep and keep fighting. It might feel like the best thing for you both, I can resonate with that. I promise Will, getting a divorce is the worst thing I've endured and it's not even over yet. Just give yourself some time, I wish I did' she admitted.

'He will be here soon…' Will shifted the topic from his own personal affairs to hers.

'I know, it gets harder seeing him every single time. I just want to tell him I made a mistake, that I signed them when I was angry and I didn't mean it-'

'So why don't you?'

'That good old fashioned Adams pride kicks in and I can't do it. I cannot get past the fact he asked me for a divorce, irrespective if he meant it or not, when things got tough he didn't have the fight left, I can't blame him for it, but I also can't have someone at my side who doesn't have fight left' she smiled sadly.

'Arh, that one, Adams Pride, I know the one' Will pressed his lips together, both of them staring into space as they shared a moment within her room.

'Come on, we can finish this another time. I've got to get my game face on and entertain' She sighed and began to walk out the door, stopping to look back at Will who was collecting the items he came in with. 'Just promise me you'll take some time to think over your decision, don't get divorced if there are other avenues' She smiled

'Come on, let's get you downstairs to your party' He smiled back, an inability to offer her the commitment she desperately wanted to hear from him. She sighed heavily and shook her head as she walked with him down into her lounge.

— MS —

The engagement party was in full swing, Elizabeth had seemingly managed to avoid the first hour or so without really bumping into Henry, which she was thankful for, but that did not mean the evening was without its difficulties, everyone expressed their happiness for her daughter but as soon as they realised who they were speaking to about marriage they all stunned to silence, making the situation a lot more awkward than necessary. She extended her arm and softly rubbed Alison's back as she walked past her and headed for the kitchen. Once there she eyed up Will and Mike B talking in the corner, her mind instantly concerned by those two characters becoming friends. She grabbed the bottle of single malt and filled up her glass once again.

'Don't you think you've had enough for them?' Will asked as he looked over to her.

'Nope' her lips making a popping sound like a child at the pronunciation of the word. She placed the bottle back onto the counter and lifted her glass up, drawing it in closer to her lips and letting the distilled liquid hit her.

'Mike, I've been meaning to find you, Blake said you were looking for me earlier?' She asked and he slowly stepped forward nodding.

'I was, we can talk about it tomorrow, I don't think now is the time' He glanced awkwardly and watched as Elizabeth swayed whilst holding onto the kitchen island, the alcohol taking over her body.

'No it's fine, just tell me tonight, I am assuming it is in relation to me asking you about the divorce proceedings. Might as well kick a woman whilst she is down' She mumbled, lifting the glass to her lips once again. Mike glanced at Will who shrugged awkwardly.

'It was just to confirm that I managed to push things along a little quicker like you requested, I think we can safely assume that your divorce will be finalised within the next few weeks, maybe six weeks maximum' He confirmed

'You're pushing for the divorce to finalise quicker? After that speech you just gave me upstairs?

'What speech?' Mike looked to Will

'That was about you and Sophie, not me-' Elizabeth curses, reaching for the bottle going to pour It once again. Will reached forward and removed it from her grasp.

'I think you've had enough.' He warned and she chewed her lips angrily as her chest fell heavily with the frustrations.

'Thanks Mike, let me know if there is any change' Her words floating with the alcohol. She walked around Will and climbed the stairs, a sudden need to remove herself from the room.

— MS —

With the party in motion Henry took his opportunity to sneak off upstairs for five minutes to just take a breather. He didn't realise how being back at the house would have such an impact on him. Throughout the night he had greeted many of Elizabeth's colleagues, her staff even but every time he was faced with a blow, the realisation of why he didn't see them often anymore constantly shoved down his throat due to his own thoughts.

Henry couldn't peel his eyes off Elizabeth; his wife, he wasn't blind, he once knew every inch of her body and could see, even through her layered dress that she was smaller than normal, her make up heavier signalling to him she probably had dark lines to cover, her laugh fake, every time she smiled, fake, she was half the person he had left. Henry knew that was down to him and their marriage, a physical response that broke his heart. When he spotted her slipping into the kitchen that's when he made his way upstairs.

"Oh Hey Dad!' Stevie grinned as she walked out of her bedroom

'Hi Stevie, you ok?' He asked and She nodded

'Yeah, I just needed the bathroom, all the ones downstairs are full. There is a bit of a queue for this one though, maybe you could use the ensuite in your, I mean mom's room' She paused, correcting herself as she looked at her dad.

'Oh Right, yeah, yeah bathroom, I will thanks' He rambled, realising she assumed he was up here for the facilities. A harrowing reminder that it wasn't his upstairs to escape to anymore. Stevie stepped backwards and opened the bedroom door, holding it open for him.

'I'll find mom and let her know I sent you in there' She grinned, closing the door behind him as he stepped inside. His breath lodged at the back of his throat, the room felt bigger somehow, emptier, colder. He noticed the immaculacy of the room, something Elizabeth never often cared for. His feet shifted along the floor, his eyes drawn to his marine t-shirt and her pink reading glasses on the bed. He sniffled lightly and cleared his throat, his emotions threatening to spill but his refusal forced them away.

'Oh Elizabeth' He sighed heavily. His voice shook as he looked around the room. He paused, his eyes walking back to what used to be his bedside table. A handwritten letter folded up with his name on it. His hand reached out and held the paper within his fingers, her handwriting he thought to himself. He swallowed hard and dislodged his emotions as he slipped the letter into his inside jacket pocket. Walking straight for the door, only for it to be opened first.

'Henry?' Elizabeth stopped, staring at him confused.

'Elizabeth, sorry Stevie said I could use the bathroom' he explained hurriedly and she rolled her eyes, walking further into the room and throwing herself down onto the bed, her legs dangling over the edge as she groaned.

'You ok there?' He asked

'Fine, just got a headache from Will and Mike B' she huffed, squeezing her eyes shut.

'Or maybe the alcohol you've been throwing back' he chuckled. Elizabeth propped herself up on her elbows and smiled sarcastically at him.

'Maybe' she sheepishly admitted

'I didn't realise Mike B was working for you now?' Henry tried to fill the silence that he was sure would come between them.

'He's not, well not officially anyway' she hiccuped. 'It's not easy seeing you' she continued, the alcohol lowering her guard. Henry remained rooted to the spot, his stance softening as he looked over to her, his mind desperate to grab her, pull her in close and show her how much she loved her, still.

'Sorry, you didn't need to hear that'

'No it's fine. I feel the same, it doesn't help that you look good tonight too' He tried to lighten the mood but she glanced away, her body desperate to be close to him.

'You do too. I can't believe our first baby is getting married' She gushed, sitting up properly and shifting a little, leaving space next to her for Henry to join her. He glanced at Elizabeth and the space next to her, his feet slowly shifting forward as he spoke.

'I know, it seems only days ago we were standing holding that pregnancy stick together, shocked that you were even pregnant' as he finished he sat next to her, his body inches from hers.

'Stevie asked me a few days ago if I regretted ever marrying you' her thoughts flowing freely as her barrier lowered.

'Do you?' He glanced at her, his eyes locking onto hers, the deep blues pulling him in.

'No' she whispered delicately into the intimate space between them. 'Henry' she breathed deeply

'Mmhm?' He responded

'I am going to need you to leave now' her words broke as she tried to swallow her desire.

'Why?' He pushed her, his body wanting her, his mind and soul right there with her too.

'Because if you don't I know I'll kiss you, and I can't deal with that' her voice cracking, emotion rising to the surface. Henry lifted his hand up to her check, softly caressing her and tucking her hair behind her ear. Her body laced in goosebumps, she never thought she would feel his touch again.

'Don't please, I don't have the strength to get over you again' she pulled back pressing her lips together, her words like sandpaper as she attempted to swallow. Henry nodded, fully understanding and respecting her.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable'

'You didn't, I just don't think it will be wise of us' she sighed heavily

'I am sorry for not understanding how my involvement with Dimitri had an impact on us, since he has returned I've just spent the last few weeks reflecting on everything. The day you called about Jason I was so irritated that you weren't calling about Talia, I put his sister above the welfare of my own son. I can see now how angry I was. That couldn't have been fun to live with. Sorry'

'No more apologies Henry, We've both done things wrong. I don't want there to be a tension between us, I want this co-parenting to work well. Can we try?' She asked hopefully.

'Yeah, yes we can. Thank you for getting Dimitri and Talia home safe, I never thanked you then and I should have' He admitted and she nodded slowly.

'I have a urm, urm, oh god I can't think' she giggled and Henry laughed along with her. 'Some sort of speech regarding the strength of a female, I was wondering if Ali would want to come to it, it's in DC and not for another few weeks yet, but if it's ok with you I'd like to ask her?' She tried to explain herself

'It's fine, you don't have to ask me to invite our kids out Elizabeth' he sighed, another blow to his perception of their reality.

'I wasn't, I was inviting you all. Stevie and Jareth will be around for it, so if you and Jason want to join too, then you're welcome too. You can all stay here' she smiled softly. His hazel eyes raked over her.

'I'll think about it, Thanks.' He stood up slowly, patting his jacket pocket, feeling the letter underneath. 'Elizabeth?'

'Yes?' She looked up at him.

'Doesn't matter' he stopped his head softly before walking out of the room; the room that once was their safe haven.