AN: Ok you've all asked so here is your double update! After all, it's no rules Saturday right? Hope you can handle the cliff hanger!!

I am still aiming to update daily, my work schedule is quite busy next week with some overtime so if I do slack I apologise in advance!

Also yes, I am aware that more stories about divorce have been written! I've had a few people message me privately about them (some not so nice messages and some ok.) I just want to say that anyone is free to write what they wish, it appears this one has started a trend and I'm ok with that!

Enjoy...

Chapter Eighty - Asking for Change

'I need to talk to you first, about the Philippines' she bit her lip nervously, needing to fully converse her skeletons in the closet in order to set herself free to move forward with him. He lowered himself back to his seat, his hand never moving from her knee as he silently sat, waiting for her to speak.

She nodded slowly, glancing back down at her glass screwing her face up at the tiny amount of liquid left.

'Need a drink?' He asked genuinely, Elizabeth grimaced and held up her glass, waiting as he began to open another bottle and top her glass, his too.

'I shouldn't need wine to talk' she joked with a hint of seriousness within her tone.

'All in good time, that day will come' he reassured her 'plus it's not going to harm, it's Saturday tomorrow'

'Arh, no rules Saturday with a hangover' she raised her eyebrows 'god I can't remember the last time I spent a Saturday with a hangover' she stifled a laugh at herself

'Well I don't think you'll be the only one, I haven't drank this much for a while, surprisingly I don't feel drunk but I know I'll feel it in the morning' he spoke as he placed the bottle back into the centre of the table and took a gulp.

'Yes, and Jason, he will have a hangover' she rolled her eyes

'Hmm, lets not venture down that road tonight, I still have not thought up a strong enough punishment for him' Henry scorned

'Well no going out, he cannot be trusted, and maybe we cap his money for a bit' she shrugged

'Maybe, It's not just getting drunk, it's the lack of trust. I cannot believe he deceived me. Henry shook his head in disbelief 'it's so disrespectful' he muttered while taking another sip.

'Talking of disrespect…' she started and captured his gaze back in her own. 'Datu…' she lingered on his name, her mind over processing the information, scrutinising it to formulate the best sentence, but it wasn't working, it didn't matter how she explained herself the end result was still the same.

'When I was there, we were in a room together talking about drones, I was trying to get home to agree on something but he wasn't so easily persuaded' she paused and took a glance at Henry with more intensity. 'I started talking about military enforcement and he kept edging closer to me. I already felt incredibly uncomfortable at that point and I was already backing away but as I bent to collect my things he' she swallowed harshly 'he grabbed my bum, trying to slip his hand forward. I turned to punch him but he caught it, throwing it away from him and using my own force to push me back against a chair' she paused again, looking at her glass and taking a sip.

Her chest started to tighten as the memories began to recall in her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment forcing them back, determined to give Henry the truth he had been longing to hear. He slowly pulled his hand back from her knee, conscious that she might be having vivid memories and not wanting to add to her pain. He moved slightly closer within reach, determined to be there should she want him.

'He didn't do anything too bad, he didn't rape me or anything like that' she found herself trying to soften the blow and justify Datu's action before telling Henry what happened. 'He started grabbing at my breasts, roughly playing with them and I think he was going to kiss my neck, but I knee'd him where it hurt. Thankfully he let go of my wrist and cupped himself. He looked so angry and went to come straight for me again but I threw a punch again, that's when he fell and broke his nose. I ran out of there, I ran so fast I smashed straight into Matt and Blake, I couldn't breathe, I-' she swallowed her words and inhaled deeply, followed by a slow exhale. 'I didn't tell you, I couldn't, technically I shouldn't now, but I also didn't want to tell you. I didn't think you'd be ok if you heard that and couldn't get to me' she admitted.

'Oh babe' he whispered, his heart breaking for the hurt and suffering Datu had caused her, but also that she had caused herself by continually trying to protect Henry, despite everything.

'That's why it hurt, when I met Charlotte, I spent so much energy trying to protect you from the image of another man's hands on me, and she just announced it to my face. I had to live with that memory ever since' she exhaled shakily, her mind teasing her with images of Charlotte talking to her and Blake. Henry stood up, he held out his hands for Elizabeth to take. She furrowed her brow and blinked away her emotions as she placed both her hands in his, allowing him to pull her to her feet, walking them both to the couch, sitting down and facing her, his hands never losing grip of hers.

'I will never be able to apologise to you enough for all my wrong doings, but I am so, so sorry that you've been hurt at the hands of another man, and that you'd have to return home and come here, to an empty house, and face each day alone. Elizabeth I have been the biggest idiot there is, and I do not understand why you are so kind to let me stand here, holding your hands, but I promise you, I promise with everything I've got that I will never let you go through anything alone again. I am here, and I am so sorry' he whispered into her skin, his hands gently squeezing hers as his words floated around them.

'Thank you' she whispered 'When I came home after the trip, I wanted you, I wanted to walk through the door to my welcome home committee' she whimpered slightly, the sorrow pushing through her boundaries as she fought so hard to keep calm.

'I'm here now' his hushed tones sent her emotions over the limit, he opened his arms and allowed her to fall into his arms. Her gentle sobs escaped through parted lips as she finally cried into her anchor point. Henry held her close, gently rubbing her back and soothing her as she cradled into him, her head resting on his chest, her hand loosely hanging around his neck and her legs tucked underneath. He wrapped his arm around her, holding her close, drawing her in and softly rocking her as she cried herself to sleep.

Two hours later Henry woke, startled by the movement within his lap. He glanced down and noticed that Elizabeth was shaking in her sleep, her chest rising and falling a little faster than normal and muffled cries escaping her lips. He gently moved to push her hair from her face, softly stroking her cheek to try and soothe her within herself but it was no use. The pain etched on her face tore his heart to pieces.

'Elizabeth' he gently shook her, trying to wake her from her slumber. 'Elizabeth' he spoke and shook her with a little more force. 'Elizabeth babe' his words are a little more forceful, snapping through her shield and alerting her to her surroundings. Her eyes snapped open, her body threw her upright and her hands instantly grabbed at her chest.

'W..Wh..Wha' she panted heavily

'Shh it's ok, It's ok. You're safe' he gently cupped his hands over hers, slowly using his warmth to help calm her breathing down. 'THat's it, focus on me, you're safe' he echoed, smiling softly as she calmed.

'I was dreaming' she clarified

'Yeah babe, it was all a dream'

'I was there, I was with datu, that's not happened before' she spoke through slow pants, exhaling her breath a little harshly as she resumed normal breathing. Henry was relieved to hear that she had not struggled with nightmares perviously.

'It's ok, it was probably talking about it, that couldn't have helped' he reassured her and she nodded, rubbing at her chest wall. 'You ok?' He questioned

'It just feels tight' she exhaled slowly once again, shifting from her seat and placing her feet on the ground, arching her back to maximise the space in her lungs. Henry gently rubbed at her back, sitting in silence with her until she felt calm one again.

'There you go' his words soft as she eventually calmed, she glanced over her shoulder at him, leaning forward and falling into him for comfort. She closed her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her and began to rub up and down her arm.

'Thank you Henry' she whispered into him, glancing up and looking up into his eyes lovingly, her lips inches from his. She dropped her gaze down to his lips, and back up to him again. Slowly she pushed herself forward, her lips pressing into his, her body edging closer to him as the gap closed between them. She kissed him deeply, her mouth parting to fully capture every inch of his lips within hers. The taste of merlot mixing with his natural taste, melting her to the core. Henry mirrored her actions, his hands running up her arms, holding her close to him as he pushed back into her, kissing every inch of her rose lips.

Elizabeth pulled back to catch her breath, her eyes never waving from his, her cheating rising and falling rhythmically as her core burned for him.

'Henry?' She spoke tenderly, her words barely audible with her softness.

'Hmm?' His gaze locked in her deep blue pools

'Touch me' she pleaded…