Hello everyone, sorry for the delayed updates in my stories. Life has been a bear and has taken me away from my writing for a bit. But, I'm back. So hopefully, this installment excites you and helps you forgive my absence. Here's to hoping you'll like what comes next in this installment :O) #TerryOn

The White House Correspondence Dinner

Kerry and Tony are making their rounds, after walking the red carpet together with the rest of the cast. Everyone is all smiles; it feels like a dream for all of them. There's tons of grinning, laughing, and conversing between the cast and the countless celebs they're surrounded by. Even being around Shonda seems to be pleasant in this moment.

After surviving the red carpet walk, and added media sessions for photos to be taken. They both revel in the kind smiles and comments from some of the guests who complimented them on their matching attire. It's something they did purposely, but still didn't think anyone would mention it. However, they knew they'd made an error by the look Judy shot them when she saw them walk the carpet together. But what's done is done, and there was no way to change it.

Before long it's uncertain if it's the brief awkwardness felt by Judy's facial expression toward them, or just jitters. But despite the fun festivities taking place around them; Kerry begins to feel uneasy. Tony picks up on her mood shift, and as they both make their way to the beverage table. He hands her a glass of nonalcoholic champagne as he says, "Hey, don't worry. We knew Judy wouldn't be a fan of our ensemble."

She looks at him after taking a sip and says, "I don't know if that's it. Something just feels off." Their conversation is interrupted by his phone ringing.

He quickly says, "Damn, I forgot to put that on vibrate. Hurriedly, he grabs his phone out of his pocket and sees it's Jane calling him. He almost swears, because the call initially appears to be so random. But then he remembers he was supposed to call her back the other day.

He's noticeably annoyed; Kerry sees the look on his face as he silences the phone, while looking at the screen. Concerned, she asks, "What's wrong?" He sighs as he says, "Nothing. What were you saying?" She gives him a knowing look, but he doesn't back down. He simply says, "It was Jane calling, that's all." She replies, "You need to call her back T." He responds, "I will Ker, but talking to her isn't what I want to do right now.

Suddenly, he looks up at Kerry and sees her eyes are glazed over as she looks past him. Worried, because she looks like she's seen a ghost. He follows her eye line as he stands next to her. He then hears her say, "I guess it's too late to avoid doing that, huh?"

He can't believe what he's seeing. He heard her, and heard the shock and growing anger in her voice too as she spoke. However, he's still trying to focus his eyes because he can't believe what he's seeing. In disbelief he says, "It can't be. She wouldn't."

Kerry now snapping out of shock, and is now full of anger says, "The hell she wouldn't. She clearly has; damn it. Nothing's changed! Why did I fall for this?" He looks at Kerry, finally breaking his eyes away from the sight in front of him. The hurt in her eyes is clear as can be.

He reaches out to touch her and she pulls away; thankfully, Judy is within steps away from them. And she sees Kerry in the midst of an emotional explosion. Being proactive, she rushes over as discreetly as she can.

By the time she reaches both Kerry and Tony, a photographer is standing in front of them asking for a photo. She allows the photographer to take a few shots. But the brooding look Kerry displays, in comparison to the forced smile Tony gives with them posing in the background; let's Judy know she has to get Kerry in private quickly.

Initially, she's unsure of what's causing Kerry's mood change. But when the photographer steps away; she sees over Kerry's shoulder what the problem is. She too almost clasps her pearls at the sight; but jumps into action instead and swoops in to get Kerry.

Because the photographer is barely out of earshot before Kerry says, "I need to get out of here." Tony is trying to calm her down, but it's not working. He tries to touch her and she pulls away. This time with tears in her eyes, and his heart instantly breaks. As he says, "Ker I.." She interjects as she says, "Don't. Just don't."

Having seen enough, Judy steps to Kerry and says, "Let's go." She obligingly nods and walks away with Judy hurriedly, before he can say a word. He wanted to object; but what could he say? They're in an open setting amidst a host of people, and photographers at the white house. Making a scene here would be the worst possible move to make.

Watching her walk off and feeling like he wants to punch a hole in a wall. He spins around as he hears a familiar voice say, "Fancy meeting you here. I guess this is why you didn't answer your phone." His eyes lock with his ex-wife's and it takes everything in him not to scream at the top of his lungs.

But he harnesses his rage as he steps toward her, speaking under his breath as he asks, "What are you doing here?" She sees the anger in his eyes but dismissively replies; "The same thing you're doing here. Enjoying a visit to the white house." He feels his blood pressure rising; all he can think about is Kerry, and how upset she was when she walked off.

He knows they can't talk here; but he also knows he has to keep his cool, if he wants her to agree to step away with him. He takes a deep breath before responding, and says, "Can we please go somewhere to talk?"

She looks at him with the pleading in his eyes, and she hesitates at first, as she says, "Now you want to talk. It seems like answering my calls would've been the best time for that." He wants to yell, but manages to remain calm. His silence throws her a bit, and she notices the numerous members of the press around them, and guests too that are now looking at them.

Suddenly, she gets nervous and this idea of hers to crash the party, has taken on a path she didn't expect. Tony is getting impatient with her indignant reply but before he can respond. He sees the look in her eyes shift, and her body language change as she says, "Yes we can talk." They hurriedly leave the open floor with some people noticing their quick exit; but they manage to make their way off the floor without incident. Most notably, Shonda catches his eye as they leave the formal area; slipping into the hall leading to the rest rooms and some other gathering spaces.