Epilogue

She was standing at the window of Aamira's UVA bedroom , where everything but the view had changed. She stood in the window that was a bit larger now looking out at the large tree-lined walkway before.

Before the remodel, her sophomore year dorm room would have been about six rooms down from Aamira's suite. The year she roomed with Becky in a one-bedroom dorm room with a small fridge, two small desks and barely any room to move. The year her world changed when Henry McCord stepped into her life.

She took a sip of coffee thinking about how UVA weaved in and out of their lives. A life she couldn't have imagined would have blessed them with five children, grandchildren and made the White House their home. She almost laughed to herself thinking if somebody had told them back then this would be their life, they would have burst out laughing in their face.

Standing here now, in a room Aamira would be sharing with her best friend, MacKenzie from her gymnastics team. She shivered a little thinking of Aamira's next four years here. Hoping that her spot on the gymnastics team would keep most things in line for her.

As much as they were grateful that both girls got in as this made life easier for everyone involved. MacKenzie was already vetted and had stayed at the White House many times. She knew the girls all too well and knew that partying would be a highlight of their years here.

Henry came in carrying a box with Aamira behind him carrying another bin of clothes. They put the bins down as Elizabeth turned to Henry, pointing out the window, "Remember when we would walk through here after you picked me up from calculus?"

He stepped beside her, letting his hands fall at her waist, "Of course I do. How could I forget?" He kissed her gently on her lips.

Aamira rolled her eyes, "Okay, I am going to grab a snack in the kitchen, do you want anything?" she asked them. "Something to cool you both off?" she joked.

Elizabeth laughed, "No, we're good. I will unpack these clothes and then we should get going so other families can move in." Elizabeth said to her. "Not easy having the President moving her daughter in before your turn."

Aamira stepped out and Henry smiled at his wife. "A different world from when we were curled up on your tiny bed in one of these rooms."

"Well, the rooms have changed but the view has not! Who knew Gooch/Dillard would be the lap of luxury?" she said laughing.

"A campus we loved so much we seem to never want leave," Henry laughed. He reached around her again and hugged her from behind, kissing the side of her neck.

"I can't wait to get back here in a few years," she said back at him.

"I know," he answered back.

He stepped away as she unpacked more clothes. Elizabeth joked, "Jeez, did she leave anything back at the White House?"

"Her sister is a top fashion designer and turned her into a clothes monster. You had to have known she was going to bring it all." Henry joked, pulling Aamira's tapestry out of box he had brought in.

"There's not even enough room for all of this. You know what? Some of this can go to the farmhouse. If she needs it, she can go get it, right?" Before he could answer, she asked cringing. "Do you think we should let her keep her key to the farmhouse?" When he looked at her, she glanced at her bed.

"Elizabeth," he turned on the step stool he was standing on. "She can't go there without her detail."

"You're right!" she smiled at him but was still nervous.

"Hey, McCords!" MacKenzie made her way into the room with a bin her hands, her parents right behind her.

"Hey Kenz!" Elizabeth said back to her.

MacKenzie was the spitting image of her mother, who was now shaking her head at her daughter. Irish lass with dark brunette hair. The bluest of blue eyes. A small gymnast figure like Aamira.

"No protocol at all!" Kim joked with Elizabeth.

"I wouldn't expect it from her. She always keeps me laughing!" Elizabeth laughed giving Kim a hug!

"How did Asim's move in go?" Kim asked her as they pulled away.

"Oh super easy. Much easier than this as they can't have anything on their walls," Henry laughed as he was hanging Aamira's tapestry on the wall.

"Not so easy on my heart though," Elizabeth said with a chuckle. "But, I missed both Stevie and Allie's move-ins so I am so glad to be able to do the last three."

An hour later, they sat at the farmhouse, alone. No kids. Only Shelby and staff.

The living room was quiet as she sat and read a book. It had been a long summer. Originally, she was looking forward to the time alone but now it seemed so quiet.

Henry walked into the room and handed her a glass of wine. She put her book down and thanked him as he took a spot between her. She snuggled up into him.

"Your thoughts?" he questioned her.

"It's too quiet," she said quietly.

"We should take advantage of it because our days are never quiet," he kissed the top of her head, hoping she took the hint.

"Yes! After our wine!" she laughed.

The sun was beginning to set casting a rose glow to their bedroom, when the buzzing of her phone, woke them from their naked slumber a few hours later.

She sprung up thinking it was presidential business as she had been out of touch most of the day letting the Vice-President take over.

But, Allie's photo with the baby shown on her screen with Noodle written across it.

"Hey Noodle! Everything okay?" she asked. Henry stirred beside her.

"Yes, everything is great. But, we have some news. Is Dad with you?" she asked. Elizabeth could almost hear her smile through the phone.

"Josh got the job?" she asked, excitedly.

"Mom! Put me on speaker!" Allie ordered her. Only her kids could order her around.

She popped her on speaker. "Hey Noodle!" Henry was had now jumped out of bed and was slipping on his boxers.

Elizabeth mouthed to him, "Leave those off!"

He rolled his eyes at her and hopped back into bed, pulling the covers up.

"So, yes Josh got both jobs. Teaching law at Georgetown and with the firm on K Street. We're moving to DC!" she shouted at her parents.

"Yes!" Elizabeth cheered.

"And I'm pregnant!" she added in, before her parents could say another word.

"WHAT?!" Elizabeth yelled back at the phone.

"I'm due March 10th" she told them, her laughter coming through the line.

"Oh Allie! That is the best news. What a great day!" Elizabeth said as her phone beeped.

"It's Stevie. I will call her back," Elizabeth whispered to Henry.

"So, I was thinking of coming down this week to house hunt. Does that work?" she asked. "Because we'll be there in about two weeks."

"Well, you don't have to rush into it. We have a whole big house you can stay in until you find something." Elizabeth said back.

Henry through his hands open at her as Allie said, "Nice try, Mom. But, we'd rather see if we can get into a house first."

"It's the White House. Who doesn't want to live at the White House?" Elizabeth fired back. "I worked very hard for this."

"Us, Mom! We don't want to live at the White House!" Allie joked back to her.

Henry jumped in while Elizabeht made a face at him, "Okay, I will get with Matt about making arrangements. Can you send me the list of houses ahead of time?" Henry asked her.

"Yes, we've found a few that we liked. I will text them to you. I will fly down with the Kevin on Monday. Josh will come that night. He has to give his notice first," she said.

"Okay, baby! Congratulations and we love you!" Elizabeth said back to her.

"Love you too, Mom!" she answered back and hung up.

"Wow! Two in diapers. Kevin will only be just two when the baby is born," she said to Henry.

Henry laughed at her, "And they are so young."

She swatted him, "We were young parents."

He looked at his phone and read the Stevie's text.

"How did move-in go? Are you guys back to the House yet?"

He typed, "No, came to the farmhouse for a night. We'll be back late tomorrow. Having dinner with MacKenzie's parents tomorrow night."

"Oh we were going to ask if you wanted to have dinner. Can you and Mom talk?" she asked.

"Sure! Call the house." He wrote back as he told Elizabeth. "Stevie is calling the house."

"Is everything okay?" she asked as the phone rang. "Hey Stevie!" she answered.

"Hey Mom! Is Dad right there?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, hold on," she hit mute and said, "What is it with them today?" She gave him a look as she put the phone on speaker. Henry shrugged at her.

"Hey Sweetie!" Henry said.

"Hi Dad!" she answered back. "So we have some news…."

The twins came on the phone and yelled, "Mama's having a baby!"

"Wow! You're going to be a big sister and big brother. That's exciting!" Elizabeth answered back as Henry stared at her.

"In March!" they yelled back through the phone.

"Ohhh, wow!" Henry replied. Elizabeth mouthed, "WHAT?!" to him as they stared at each other with no other words to say.

Stevie took her phone off speaker.

"Yeah, so I am due March 12th!" she half giggled.

The two of them stared at each other not knowing what to say.

"Well, that is great news." Henry said, kind of chuckling.

Once they eventually hung up, Elizabeth looked at Henry.

He laughed at her and said, "Well, that is definitely a surprise."

"Yeah, a surprise that they both conceived the week we were in Hawaii!" Elizabeth barked back at him. "While we were all in the same HOUSE!"

"Well, I mean you and I did that plenty of times at my parents," Henry started as she glared back at him.

"Elizabeth, Jason was conceived on a family vacation," he tried to reason with her, she made a sigh and another look.

"It's a little different when it is YOUR kids, Henry," she fired back at him.

"Well, now you don't have to worry about it being so quiet anymore," he smiled as she smiled back at him as he went in for a kiss from her.

She put her hand on his chest slowing him down, "Look I am thrilled for both of them but it's a just a little…" she paused.

"Unexpected!" they said together and fell into their kiss.

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