AN: Just one chapter left after this.

Chapter Nine

Fine Art

Henry had just parked just outside Elizabeths apartment. He hadn't seen her since she came to the marine base nearly forty-eight hours ago and to say he was excited to see her was an understatement. Henrys mind had been consumed with thoughts of Elizabeth and their future together ever since she left, he knew they had a long way to go and that this was just the beginning but it was the beginning of a journey he was more than ready to embark on. He knocked on her front door and slowly pushed to door handle down to enter, he smiled as he spotted her walking towards her in the direction from the kitchen. She practically skipped towards him, desperate to be close to him. Over the last two days she had agonised over what she was doing, what was happening to her, if she should let Henry take on this role or if she should walk away, but seeing him walk through that door brought her so much joy, comfort and it immediately felt like home, she knew she couldn't do it without him.

She flung her arms around him as she reached him, he wrapped his arms around her and held her so close, just the feeling of her body next to his felt so right, it was a feeling he knew that he would never get used too, but wanted to experience that for the rest of his life.

'I missed you' he muttered into the depths of her neck as she nodded back in response. Elizabeth stepped back and looked at him

'Henry I've been think about this situation and -'

'Elizabeth, I know we need to talk things through but for now, can we just enjoy this moment? I just want to be with you, I want to enjoy you' he smiled softly and watched as a smile spread across her face

'Of course, Are you hungry?' She bit her lip in anticipation

'Starving, what should we order in?'

'Nothing, I've cooked us something' she giggled as Henrys facial expressions changed

'What! As I recall from a conversation of ours you never cook, who are you and what have you done with Elizabeth?' He teased her, she took his hand and lead him towards the kitchen

'Well, as a Thank you and a token of my appreciation for you and all you've done for me, I thought I would cook for us, it's simple, just a chicken pasta but I hope you get the sentiment behind it' she explained to him honestly but nervously. Henry stood behind her as she stirred the food and rubbed her shoulders

'I haven't done anything, but I do appreciate it, thank you' upon hearing Henrys words she turned into his arms to face him

'Oh but Henry you have, the last eleven months have been horrific and chaotic and at first I thought you were going to add to the confusion and Chaos but I couldn't have been more wrong, the clarity and peace I feel when I am with you is like nothing I have ever experienced, since we've met I've been able to sleep for more than an hour a night, I've been able to function daily, I've laughed again, I've started to like who I am again, I don't feel like Elizabeth the orphan when I am with you Henry, I just feel like Elizabeth' the truth came pouring out of her because she knew she didn't need to hide behind any walls or barriers with henry, she also didn't see the point as she knew he would tear them all down eventually.

Henry listened to her words and placed his hands lovingly on her hips letting her know that he was there as she spoke, once she finished he leant in and softy brushed his lips against hers, allowing his bottom lip to linger a little longer on her top lip before pulling back.

'Watch the pasta doesn't burn' he winked at her and watched a s she panic and spun around quickly to stir the food, he chuckled at her response

'You know cooking is meant to be therapeutic' he reminded her as he stepped away to make them both a drink

'Cooking is by far one of the most stressful things in the world'

'Ok slightly dramatic there Elizabeth' he rolled his eyes

'It's true, you have all these different timing to manage which I thought I could do as I'm ok with math but they never work, it says 'cook for twenty minutes on such and such heat' but then the bloody thing isn't cooked after twenty minutes and so you cook it longer then it burns, I am telling you cooking is an art, a fine one at that' she dramatised as she began to dish up their food

'Ohh so is that why you live of ice cream?' He spotted as he opened her freezer for ice. She blushed as she looked into the freezer and noted several tubs of ice cream in there, she flashed him a cheeky gin and laughed as he closed the freezer door.

'Here you go' she smiled proudly at herself as she placed their dinner plates on the table and sat down ready to enjoy an evening with Henry.

'Hmm, Elizabeth this is delicious' he moaned as the aromatic food hit his senses

'OK no need to be that over the top'

'No I am serious, this Is really good' he was being genuine and she was thankful of that

'Well don't get used to it, I don't cook McCord' she winked at him causing him to lightly chuckle.

'So, how is your university work going?' He asked changing the subject

'Hmm, It's ok. Stressful at the moment I have quite a few exams pending, and well its all a bit confusing really' she sighed

'How come?'

'Well… I just don't really know what to do with myself now, I had my career and future plan mapped out, but circumstances have changed and things don't add up anymore, I am a mathematical person, numbers and plans, statistics make sense to me' she reasoned

'Ok, so what isn't adding up? Maybe I can help? Literature is kind of my thing' he smiled as he continued to enjoy her food. He watched as she placed her fork on the table and pushed her dish away. She placed an elbow on the table and rested her face in her hand, her head tilting In this direction.

'I wanted to be int he CIA, to be an analysts, I was studying for the test the day I got the news about my parents, that's why I wasn't out with the family. I passed the test got offered the position for when I complete my degree and that was the only thing keeping me going, but now… well you cannot be a mother in the CIA, at least I don't think, so what do I do now, I feel like my whole major and life choices have been a bit of a waste' she admitted sadly

'There is no reason you cannot join the CIA, you just go in a little later than planned, no harm in that'

'Hmm, not with the kind of role I would like to have, what if they ask me to be stationed somewhere for a year or longer, how could I leave a child without its mother that long? I haven't had mine for eleven months and it breaks me everyday' she swallowed as the truth spilled out of her, she rubbed her eyes and cleared her throat in an attempt to divert her attention from the fact she was about to tear up. Henry decided to give her a few moments of silence before speaking

'Elizabeth anything is possible, you can have that job and comprise a few things, have a few more boundaries that's all I am saying. In the mean time you can use your math and political science major anywhere, what about teaching, have you considered that? Especially as you strike me as someone who would want to excel in their career, you could go on to complete a doctorate one day'

'Hmm, I'll give it some thought' she smiled, her brain was getting a little hazed and she knew she couldn't tolerate much more of this particular topic. Henry sensed that and decided to change the conversation

'So I noticed you unpacked a few boxes?' He laughed

'Trust you, yes I did, I done some yesterday' she looked over into the living room and smiled, secretly thankful she hadn't done it previously, because had she not packed the boxes away Henry might still be none the wiser about her right now.

'Well don't do too much otherwise I won't have an excuse to come over' he teased her.

'You don't need an excuse Henry' the words fell from her lips and landed loving upon his ears.

'All done?' She asked quickly not giving him a chance to respond. Henry nodded and watched as she stood up clearing the dishes away, as she stepped over to Henry she leant over him to grab the plate, Henry took her own plate from her and placed his hands either side of her thighs, pulling her in-between his legs. She laughed and looked down at him.

'Kiss me' he whispered. Elizabeth leant down and brushed her lips upon his, it didn't take long for things to grow in passion, her hands wrapped around his neck and began to tease his hair, as his hands squeezed her thighs. Their tongues familiarised themselves with one another mouthes once again, this time there were no barriers to the grounds they could explore and everything felt intensified. Elizabeth climbed on top of him and straddled him, pushing her self into him as she felt her body coil with pleasure. She pulled away from the kiss and looked into his eyes

'I want you Henry McCord' she purred

'You can have me' he whispered as he brushed her hair from her face, his hand lingering on her jaw line 'All of me'