AN: I had no idea you had all reviewed! My emails were not coming through so I just sat here assuming most of you hadn't read the update! Silly me. I have started to get over my writers block! Yay. Updates will still not be daily yet until my writers block has gone fully, but please do expect them a little more frequently.

Very thankful for you all. Hope everyone is well and safe.

Happy Reading

Chapter Ninety Three - Relief

Three days later

Elizabeth fixed her gaze on a piece of art working on the wall in the waiting room. Hues of color splashed all across the canvas, with a singular black wavy line running across it. She found herself drawn to the colors at first, it somehow reminded her of the vibrance that life can bring, the happiness within the bold colors, hints of yellow shining through like the sunshine, whilst the blue was larger like the ocean, the purple deep like the rich colors of life. Her eyes focused on the black line, some areas thin and others thicker but, all in one continuous wave. Life, that's what it reminded her of, the highs and lows of our lives, sometimes it's easier to handle and not noticeable, like the thin lines and other times it's hard and harrowing and almost downs us in the thick. Healing was not linear.

She felt a strong hand fall to her knee, a gentle squeeze for comfort, but she couldn't deter her eyes away, her anxiety about their own thickness of their lows waded in. Henry shifted in his seat, moving closer to her. He slipped a hand behind her neck and replaced the hand on her knee with his other hand.

'You ok?' He lowered his tone, dropping his lips to her ear, giving them as much privacy as possible. She slowly nodded her head, her stomach in knots and her breath shaky on exhale as she started to thrash out the long road ahead of them. Henry could sense she wasn't ok, so he started to rub small circles on her back. His loving notion forces her to close her eyes and try to remain in the present moment with him.

'It's going to be ok' he whispered and once again she nodded. Her hand slipping down her lap and grasping at his knee. Her clammy skin and shaking fingers told Henry everything he needed to know. 'Think about happy things, think of the weekend' he urged her to do. She tilted her head into him, nodding her head at his suggestion and casting her mind back to their most recent time spent together.

Last night

'Oh, before I forget. I didn't give you this back In London' he pulled out her necklace with her wedding band on. She smiled softly and took it from him.

'Thank you, I just assumed you'd packed it for me'

'You still haven't unpacked have you?' He raised and eyebrow

'I haven't had time! I've been distracted by the world's 3rd sexiest man' she teased, placing her necklace on her dressing table.

'The title was arm candy, and, well that is no longer me unfortunately, I am no longer on the list' Henry chuckled awkwardly

'Oh, why the drop?' She quizzed taking a seat on the bed

'I think you have to be on someone's arm to be arm candy' he pointed out and she groaned inwardly at her own mistake.

'Sorry' she bit her lip nervously

'What for? Elizabeth we have to talk about it, it's part of us. Pluuuusss' he moved across the room, jumping onto the bed next to her, causing her to shake her head and giggle at him 'I am now someone's arm candy, and well, this time Madam Secretary I expect to be number one' he winked.

'Oh no pressure then!' She laughed, playfully pushing him.

'You're the sexiest politician' he replied with a glint in his eyes

'What?' She laughed at him

'I've seen the polls. Well Allie showed them to me a few months back when she was trying to tell me how hard her life was because her mom is sexy'

'That is not true' she shook her head in disbelief at Allies comments

'No it really is, you actually beat Russell to the poll position. I wonder if he knows?' Henry teased and she laughed out loud at him, falling forward with the weight of her happiness. She pushed Henry once again, this time he grabbed her and pulled her to a led down position on the bed.

'Oh no you don't he reached above her head and grabbed a cushion, lifting it up and raising an eyebrow.

'No, No don't! No, Henry, No!' She tried not to laugh as she warned him but he just chuckled, she held her hands out pleading for him not to start a pillow fight, but he didn't listen, he threw the cushion down on her face and laughed as she let out a yelp. She instantly grabbed a pillow and started to hit him back.

'Elizabeth and Henry' Dr Sherman smiled as she tore straight through Elizabeth's daydream. She was brought to reality with a crash, her chest tightened as she looked at the familiar woman. Her stomach clenched and her body froze for a brief second. She felt Henry brush against her side as he rose to his feet, waiting and holding out his hand for her to take. She slipped her fingers into his and used his body weight to pull herself to her feet.

Once inside Elizabeth slipped off her coat and placed it in her lap. Henry took a seat next to her, his hands running down his thighs, squeezing them a little as his own nerves set in.

'You've added Fish' Elizabeth stated, breaking through the silence of the room, as Dr Sherman took a seat

'Well, I am hoping they'll have more luck than the plants. I couldn't seem to keep them alive' She explained

'We tried a fish tank when the kids were little, but I just kept overfeeding it. Everything sounds like a metaphor here doesn't it?' Elizabeth swallowed, pushing her hands into her lap as she looked across the room to Dr Sherman.

'I would argue that perhaps it's because you're in that reflective mindset when you come here, so you find answers and messages in most things' She smiled. 'It's good to see you Henry, how are you?' She asked

'Urm, yeah, Yeah I'm good' He nodded as he cleared his throat. 'Thank you for doing this, It meant a lot to Elizabeth and I that you agreed to see us both' he explained

'That's quite alright, Elizabeth I was glad when you called, I had my suspicions that I pushed you a little too far before Stevie's wedding, I wasn't sure if you'd return so soon' she admitted. Elizabeth just smiled nervously at her, unsure of how to respond.

'So, I guess before we start I need to understand where you two are at. Is this therapy to help clear the air, are you thinking of rebuilding your relationship? Or maintaining a good bond but separate?' She asked

``We want our relationship back, well it is back of sorts, we just want to make sure we clear the air' Henry took the lead, smiling at both Dr Sherman and Elizabeth as he spoke.

'Ok, back of sorts?' She quoted him as she questioned further. Henry turned to Elizabeth but her throat had closed up, just like it always had done whenever she was in therapy. She gestured for him to continue with a smile and a squeeze of her hand on his.

'We urm, we've done some talking about things and we've just spent the last few days together. It started at Stevie's wedding earlier in the week' he started speaking, his eyes lingering on Elizabeth checking she was ok for a few moments longer than needed before turning to Dr Sherman.

'Elizabeth, are you ok?' Dr Sherman asked, both their focus now on her. She felt the pressure build and she broke. Her hand clasped around her mouth as her sobs tore through her. Unable to speak a word as her heartbreaking cries engulfed her. Henry instantly pulled her in, his arms wrapping around her, his lips muttering sweet nothings to soothe her as she continued to cry on his shoulder.

'Shh, I've got you' he whispered, as Dr Sherman sat back and watched. They didn't need her, not really. She could see the love and strength within their bond from the moment they walked through the door. She had seen Elizabeth break down in her room many times before, but this time was different, this time she was able to seek comfort and more importantly allow that comfort to be there. Henry looked over Elizabeth to Dr Sherman who gestured for them to take their time. Henry then looked back at Elizabeth, pulled her face from his shoulder and wiped away her tears.

'Hey, what's all this about?' He asked gently

'Sorry, I'm so sorry I just' she paused, taking in a gasp of air as she held onto Henry a little longer, her touchstone. 'I don't know where that came from, I just, I feel so relieved that we're finally here' she admitted, fresh tears ran down her cheeks once again as she sat with her healing heart.