AN: - Just a little warning that I will make H and E hit rock bottom before I build them back up again...

Not that anyone asked, but this little Part 1 & 2 are my personal favourites written to date.

Enjoy...

Chapter Sixty Three - Even-though, Part 1

Anticipation had been building throughout the day, and as the time for Elizabeth and Henry to meet drew closer the evening provided no distraction for either of them. Elizabeth's lips twisted as she teased them between her teeth, her right leg softly shaking as her anxiousness rose, her hands pushing into her lap whilst she sat in her motorcade waiting for Henry to join her.

Henry began to walk slower in the dead of the night as he spotted her motorcade in the distance of a random street they'd agreed to meet on. A large sigh escaped him, his breath almost visible to the observant eye as he took a second longer to walk up to the back doors. Matt pulled at the handle and let the cold air rush into the back of the motorcade, startling Elizabeth a little and giving Henry no more seconds to wait. Henry nodded sheepishly at Matt and stepped into the car, taking a seat adjacent to Elizabeth, a silent smile is all they shared until the door was closed behind them.

'Evening' She smiled cautiously

'Good Evening Elizabeth' he replied softly. Her teeth clenching as she wished for him to stop using her name, for every time he did, her heart broke all over again, even-though it's just a name.

'How was your Da-'

'I can't do the small talk, I brought you here for a reason Henry' she sighed, her head shaking ever so slightly as she looked over to him. Henry nodded and lifted his hands to admit defeat, he glanced out the window and watched the scenery start to fall away as they began to drive around.

'So?' He pushed her a little

'It's not that simple' she huffed, annoyed at herself for not being able to recite the speech she had practiced in her head all day. 'Mike B approached me today' She started

'Mike B? I didn't realize he was part of your team?'

'He is now officially effective today, Russell appointed him, that's not the point' she flustered as she found herself getting side tracked and slipping into comfortability with him. 'Henry I need to ask about me, about my name. I know ultimately it's my decision but I respect you too much to not hear you out so, What would you rather I do about my last name? Am I able to remain a McCord or would you like me to return that to you and go back an Adams' she asked softly, her words fragile and delicate but not like a flower, more like a bomb that could explode any given second.

Henry scoffed in shock. His body sunk back into the leather as his mouth remained agape for a few seconds, his chest heavy and the air being squeezed from his as her words took the life from his soul. He ran his hand up over his face and through his hair, his gaze falling to her as he searched for his own words.

'I never thought about it, McCord I guess' he stumbled

'Why?' She shot back quickly, a need to understand drove her.

'Because that's who you are Elizabeth, being married to me or divorced from me doesn't change that. If anything-' He paused, his gaze glancing into his lap as he continued '-If anything I think loving you made me more of a McCord than I ever was. Keep it, It's who you are, don't lose your identity because of our mistakes' he sighed heavily, swallowing to keep his tears at bay.

'How can you be so kind?' She asked, her words dripping with emotion as her own eyes filled up.

'Pardon?' He looked up at her, her response throwing him a little.

'How can you be kind to me now? I've spent months, Months of hitting my head against a brick wall trying to get through to you and get to the Henry I married and nothing! Why are you showing me him now' She hissed, her anger surfacing.

'Elizabeth I don't want to argue with you-'

'Too bad' she snapped, her head turning to look out the window, her mind needing a distraction. Henry shook his head, his own annoyance now surfacing, he held his tongue as he watched her look away from him, the hurt she was experiencing lay bare for him to see.

'Can we have some privacy?' He asked, glancing to the front of the motorcade before capturing Elizabeth's returning gaze in his. She nodded silently and cleared her throat before speaking.

'Matt can we pull over and have some privacy please'

'Sure Ma'am, I'll find someone safe, give me a minute' he responded. Both Elizabeth and Henry sat in silence as the motorcade turned a corner and went a little off road, the gravel crunching under the tyres as it pulled to a stop under a dimly lit bridge.

``We Will be right outside Ma'am' Matt informed her as he and the other DS agent stepped outside, slightly away from the motorcade scanning the area and trying to ignore the tensions surrounding the parked vehicle.

Elizabeth looked at Henry, her heart shattering as she tried so hard to hold herself together. Her legs shook a little more vigorously as her hands trembled in her lap. She inhaled her silent sobs as she pushed her teeth together as hard as she could, holding her breath whilst watching him look right at her.

'I wanted to apologize about Charlotte-'

'Don't' She bit across 'You do not get to apologise about her, that was out of line Henry and you know it. Regardless of her showing up and whether it was her surprise or not. The kids knowing? Oh Henry I always thought better of you' she spat, the venom in her words wrapping around him.

'I was going to tell you'

'I forgot that the new way of the McCord communicating is to not communicate' she tilted her head sarcastically as she replied one of his own messages back to him, a phrase he used to spite her just days ago had come back to haunt him.

'You're angry at me I get that'

'TOO RIGHT, I AM ANGRY AT YOU HENRY,' she roared her hands snapping from her lap to the air as she conveyed her message.

'WELL I AM ANGRY AT YOU TOO' His inferior matching hers, their heated words colliding as they began to thrash this out.

'I know, you've told me plenty of times, ' her voice quivered as she lowered her tone. 'Henry you left me, I need you to walk away from this now because I've been trying and I can't, not when kind, caring, loving Henry Is at every corner, it's so hard' her voice cracked as tears started to blur her vision.

'Elizabeth I. What am I supposed to do? WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO' he yelled as his emotions snapped like a live wire within.

Elizabeth placed her head in her hands, covering her ears and bowing her head as he shouted, a child-like potion obtained as she gave into everything within. Her body rocked from side to side as she screamed into the space between them, her harsh sobs smashing through her barriers as she let herself fall apart.

'I'M SO TIRED' she screamed, her hands slipping from her head to her face, the back of her palm wiping her tears and nose as she held her breath. Her body fell into the back of the leather covered seat, her gaze falling to the roof of the car. 'I didn't ask for this' her voice cracking as her cries continued 'I didn't ask for this. I don't want it anymore' her words falling quieter as her quivering voice broke into silent tears, her emotions slipping from her whilst Henry sat with his own emotions, his eyes closed as the sound of her breaking was enough, he didn't need the visual too.

'Elizabeth-'

'Please stop' she whispered