There was something about the darkness of a silent house at 3am that held a comfort like no other. It was a sanctuary of sorts where even the quiet ticking of a clock felt like a soothing heartbeat during a beautiful dream. Time stood still. The vortex between yesterday and tomorrow was somewhere safe to hide.
For many, a lack of illumination was something to fear. Somewhere for insecurities to hide in the shadows. Waiting for the perfect moment to rise. But for Elizabeth McCord, it was an impenetrable haven just for her.
Curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket that had seen better days, Elizabeth breathed in the smell of winter. That heavenly scent of snowfall that always brought back memories of a time before life ruined things. A time of childhood innocence where arguing with your annoying little brother over the gender of the rather odd looking "snow person" was as challenging as things got.
As the flakes fluttered down on the other side of the glass, swirling and dancing on their way to the ground, Elizabeth suddenly longed for that freedom. That ability to blend in so quickly and effortlessly. Oh how nice it must be to leave no real trace once your journey was complete.
Wrapping the fleece more snugly around her shoulders, Elizabeth eased herself up from the couch and padded through to the kitchen. Sleep was not going to grace her with its presence any time soon so caffeine was to become her new best friend.
As the machine gurgled and dripped, the snow fell heavier outside the kitchen window. The brightness of the white a stark contrast to the gloominess of a Washington nighttime. It hadn't been forecast, but Elizabeth knew it was coming. She could feel it in the air. Smell the sweetness of it. She had the ability to know when snow was coming way before anyone else did and she was never wrong.
The latch clicked as she opened the window. Closing her eyes, she inhaled so deeply that every last inch of space in her lungs was filled. The chill of the air burned a little, but in a nice way and she let it fill her chest, surrounded by the calmness it brought.
"You're not planning on doing your naked snow dance again are you Mrs McCord?"
The voice made her jump for the briefest of moments before a smile crept across her lips. That voice was her absolute favourite sound in the world. To her, it's what love sounded like and it resonated through her like a wave of comfort.
"I only ever did that once and it was after one too many shots of tequila as you well know Dr McCord." She didn't need to turn to face him, his features were always very present in her mind and she could almost feel him smirking.
"As I recall it was quite a few too many and there was definitely more than one instance, but that first time was my personal favourite.".
As Henry's arms wrapped around her waist, the fresh scent of snow was replaced by soft accents of mandarin and cardamom. And the feel of his stubble against her cheek felt like home.
"So — Is it the snowfall or tomorrow's events that are keeping you down here in the dark?" His breath was tickling her neck as he spoke.
"A little bit of both I guess."
"Ok — Well, the coffee probably isn't the smartest idea but we can talk about it if you like? Or we don't have to talk at all."
As Henry loosened his grip, Elizabeth turned in his arms so she could look at him. His face had changed over the years as age had crept up on them both, but his eyes still held the same warmth they always had.
"Is that you being sweet or are you propositioning me?"
"A little of both." His smile was as beautiful now as it has been the first day she'd locked eyes with him in that tiny off campus bakery. They had both wanted the last cinnamon roll so Henry had suggested they sit together and share it. How easily she had fallen for him.
"There is no point in us both being awake babe. Go back to bed, it's cold down here." Her broken sleep had kept him awake so often through the years but he had never complained, never pushed for answers. He was just there for her in every respect.
"That's what happens when you open the window during a snow storm honey. And I think I'll stay down here for a while, you look like you need some company and you know I can't sleep well without you."
"Well alright, if you feel more comfortable down here then I guess you can stay for a bit." Elizabeth gently rested her head against her husband's chest and matched her breathing to his heartbeat.
Henry closed the window and ushered his wife back to the couch. Taking her weight as she rested back against his chest and his arms instinctively enveloped her.
They both let the silence surround them for a while. The ease they had with each other was what made them so in synch. They could just be with each other without the need for anything or anyone else. Henry was just closing his eyes hoping Elizabeth had dozed off when she spoke.
"I'm a snowflake Henry."
He waited for a follow up to the rather odd statement but when it didn't come, he responded.
"I'm not following babe. Are you saying you're cold and wet? Because cold we can fix and wet I can definitely work with." The jovial tone in his voice made Elizabeth snort a little.
"I'm serious Henry — I'm just like a snowflake. It's taken me so long to build up and get here, but I'm just going to float down and disappear into obscurity."
After spending the majority of his life with this woman, Henry had learned long ago that Elizabeth was a great one for using metaphors, and most of the time he could follow quite easily. But this particular middle of the night revelation had him rather stumped.
"Why are you comparing yourself to a snowflake baby? What are you trying to tell me?"
"You know it's a myth that they're all unique Henry. That every snowflake is different and carries its own special pattern - like a fingerprint. But, that's just a perception. There is no real difference. Some just take longer to fall than others… But in the end, they're all the same."
She pushed herself up and turned to face him.
"What if I'm just the same as all the rest? Everyone believes I'll be different. I'm expected to be but what if I'm not Henry? What if I just fall faster because there is nothing remotely individual about me?"
Henry sighed with the understanding of where her thoughts lay.
"You are different Elizabeth. You have always been such a complex individual that you could never be like anyone else. That's why you're at this point. It's why you will make history and pave the way for real change."
As Henry looked at his wife, unadulterated pride swelled in his chest. She had always been a tower of strength and so fiercely focussed and opinionated, to his detriment on many an occasion. But the Elizabeth he got to see, the one who was vulnerable and unsure. The one who allowed herself to be scared and emotional with him. That was all of her, the whole exceptional package that made Elizabeth everything she was and because of it, he knew better than anyone else just how beautifully incomparable she was.
"I wanted this so badly Henry. There were so many reasons for me to chase this. But now - I can't seem to remember any of them. I never thought I craved power. It was never a driving force behind my decisions, but what if it's been there all along? What if I'm just a wolf In sheep's clothing who just happens to rock a pencil skirt and a pair of Jimmy Choos."
Henry smiled and shook his head "I remember that night you know. The years may have rolled on but I still have the visuals ever present in my mind."
Elizabeth tilted her head and screwed up her face in confusion "Huh? Did you just miss everything I said?"
The smile, still present on his lips, grew larger "You were so damn beautiful that when we first started dating, I couldn't fathom how I'd got so lucky. Hell, I still can't quite get my head around it after all this time. You're even more beautiful now and I'm glad to say you can hold your liquor a bit better these days too." Henry watched as a flash of that 22 year old impatient girl showed herself.
"Henry - I'm sure you have a point but can you find it and get to it sometime soon."
"We were both so drunk that night but you seemed so free and unburdened. Constantly muttering about how you could smell the snow coming and you couldn't wait to feel it on your skin. You were slurring but sounded so sure of yourself and I was just mesmerised by you. Too drunk to really stop you but sober enough to remember every second. Do you remember how determined you were babe?"
"I don't know where you're going with this but it's not helping me right now Henry. I'm going back up, see if I can sleep." Elizabeth rose to her feet but Henry just smiled and grabbed her hand as he continued.
"You said you could smell the snow so clearly and if you could just feel that first snowflake on your skin you'd do a naked snow dance to encourage it to fall. And as soon as that first flake fell from the sky, you were like a vision. I wasn't quite expecting your clothes to come off and I was convinced you were either going to freeze to death or get us both arrested….. But you looked incredible in the moonlight. Your eyes closed as you did exactly what you'd said you would."
As Elizabeth sank back into the soft cushions, Henry's hand cupped her face.
"You see my darling Elizabeth — You have more courage in your little finger than most people muster in a lifetime. You have been broken yet you still seek compassion in everything you do. It's not power you crave baby, it's doing what you believe is right. It's what's got you to this point and it's what will carry you to create a legacy that will break all the boundaries. You are the least selfish person I know."
Elizabeth let out that cute little throaty chuckle that Henry loved so much. "I danced drunk and naked in the snow Henry, I wouldn't exactly say that qualifies me to be President."
"Well, maybe not but who you are does. So yes — You are a snowflake Elizabeth McCord because you are made up of all these amazing crystals of love, compassion, kindness and integrity, all fused together to make you the most unique woman and president there has ever been."
"What if I'm not good enough Henry?"
"You are good enough my love. And on the days when you're not quite there, you just let that girl loose who isn't afraid to dance naked in the snow. She'll get you there. And if all that fails…. Just rock those Jimmy Choos."
"God Henry you're so cheesy - Where do you get these lines from. How did you get me to go out with you again?" The smile spreading across her face was enough to tell Henry she was more than ready for what was to come.
"I annoyed you until you gave in to shut me up. It's worked well for me ever since." Henry pulled his wife up from the couch "Come on Madam President Elect, you have an inauguration to get through tomorrow and history to start making."
"Ha - No pressure then babe."
As they made their way up the darkened staircase, Elizabeth stopped dead and turned on her heels "Thank you Henry - I'm here because you're with me. And you never know, after the ball maybe we can both dance in the snow."
"Where else would I ever be Elizabeth — You're the only one who can predict the weather. And speaking of snowflakes — Where do we stand on the whole cold and wet thing?'
With a wicked smile and a naughty wink, Elizabeth led him up the stairs "I predict it's definitely something you can work with."