AN: I am completely incapable of making you all wait! Your pleading reviews are working on me!

Now you'll have to sit with this cliff hanger...

Chapter Eighty Seven - Winning the War

Henry sat outside on the balcony, his body relaxed into the wooden bench as his eyes glazed over the wedding lawn, the decor glistening under the summer evening and low lighting. No matter how much he had tried to fully immerse himself in the celebration of his daughter's marriage he couldn't help but feel that little tug on his heart every time he smiled at them alone. He inhaled softly and pressed his lips together, his mind drifting into an infinite amount of thoughts, scenarios and feelings, all of them wrapped around one woman, Elizabeth.

'May I join you?' A mild voice filtered through the air from his left. He didn't need to turn and see who it was, he would recognise that voice anywhere. He simply sat staring out into the distance, his head slowly nodding. Elizabeth swallowed quietly as she gathered her dress in her hands, taking a set next to him. Joining him in the silent space.

'I came out to talk to you, I just wanted the chance to explain something to you before you hear it from Erin, or Maureen. I feel I owe you that much' she spoke softly, her once tipsy self subsided with glass on glass of water, allowing her natural mind and instincts lead the way. Her bravely lay within the revelations of her heart.

'Ok' He shifted on the bench a little, his irritation with her thick within his tone, something neither of them could deny. Elizabeth took a deep breath and glanced down into her lap for a second before pushing herself to look up at him and face her facts.

'Maureen and I just had words, well, she had words with me-'

'I'll talk to her'

'No that's not the issue, that's fine. I expected it in all honesty, probably deserved a little bit of it. During our chat Erin mentioned how I had been speaking to her frequently over the last few months-" she watched Henry's face fall to confusion as she continued speaking '- I was worried about you after we last spoke, I didn't think you'd be receptive of me calling you again, I just kept thinking it would look like the time I called you and invited you up, but I wanted to help. I reached out to Erin and then she got in contact with me, we spoke weekly since, she would tell me how you were struggling and I would give advice on things I thought might help, things I would do if you were with me. Maureen just found out and I wanted to be the one to tell you, not her' she confessed.

Henry took a moment to take her confession onboard, his mind processing and running over all of Erins supportive gestures, things finally making sense, the love of his life was behind it all. His mouth ran dry as his eyes narrowed on her, unsure of how to take the information.

"Why? Why do you always stay behind the scenes? Where has that strong independent woman gone?" He asked softly, torn between the kindness of her actions and the frustration that she cannot follow them through herself. Elizabeth sighed inwardly and shook her head.

'I honestly didn't think it was the right thing for me to do, to get even more involved with you whilst trying to detach at the same time. It felt like the best compromise, for you. I didn't want to break your heart anymore than I already had' a strand of hair fell forward, covering her eye as she dipped her head at the weight of her words.

"If cutting me out of your life is what you needed to do, to be happy, or to think straight that's ok, I'm ok with that because I want nothing but you to be happy Elizabeth, I could have understood that.'' His eyes searched for hers, watching as she focused on him '-But don't try to come back when you realise I was never the problem" he scoffed, his anger ruling his heart, but Elizabeth refused to bite, despite the inner turmoil she was somewhat calm.

'I just wanted to tell you about Erin, that was all' she lied as she stood, a sad smile falling on her lips as she waded through her internal guilt. '-I never meant to hurt you Henry. I was wrong to push you away when I did. So wrong, and you were right, I was breaking my heart then, not you. I thought I had to build walls and that you had to knock them down and prove your love to me again. I was constantly berating you for the fact you were not seeing your faults whilst I continued to overlook mine. I can see now that I don't need walls, or anything really, I just need to be honest and accept my own wrong doings. I said before that I regretted our weekend together, I didn't, I don't. I may have pushed myself into it too soon and that was my regret, but not the time spent with you, nor the intimacy.' After she spoke she watched him sit in silence, a sadness engulfed her as she stepped away and off the balcony.

She walked across the dance floor, smiling and laughing at Will and Jason doing the robot, her head and heart somehow in sync in that moment, the weight had been lifted as she finally peeled back her layers and allowed her heart to lead. She continued to walk across the room, her eyes falling on everyone around her, arms draped over their loved ones, whether that be family, friends or soulmates, it was still a loved one. She glanced back, hers was still outside. Elizabeth pushed on, walking past the bar and heading down the quiet hallway.

'Elizabeth' her brow furrowed as she thought she heard someone call her name, she tilted her ear to the side listening and it came again.

'Elizabeth' He called out, she stopped in her tracks and turned to face him. Her arms fell at her side, her face held no expression as she looked at him, her head and heart battling scenarios before anything had even played out. She held her breath as he looked at her, a look she knew. Her stomach began to twist in knots, or was it butterflies? She couldn't tell.

'My anger ruined things before, I left when you told me too, I let you run from the farm house and, I'm not letting you walk again' he paused, his chest rising and falling heavily as he held all of his fears within. Watching her eyes begin to glisten, her lips tucked under her teeth as she held herself together.

'I wasn't walking away, I had every intention of coming back and fighting for you some more' she confessed, a small smirk falling on her lips as she watched him shake his head smiling.

'What?' She asked softly, watching him fight with himself as he struggled to convey his thoughts

'What if you push me away?' He whispered

'What if I pull you closer than ever before?' She offered, walking closer and leaving mere inches between them. 'I don't want to push you away. Never again' she whispered.

Henry sighed in relief, instantly grabbing at her waist, pulling her close to him and crashing his lips down on hers.