The Watergate Hotel, Elizabeth, 2014
"I want to thank you for taking the time to see me." I tell her, taking a seat on a chair facing the couch. She grabs Henry's arm, I watch as he tenses and she intertwines her fingers with his and grabs his bicep with her other hand. She sits them both down on the couch. And slides so her full body is pressed against his. Henry won't meet my eyes, as his cheeks bare the redness of shame. His hand fully flexed trying to break her hold.
"We," she emphasizes, "just wanted to have a conversation before we let you see the kids. Right Honey?" I know what she's doing, but it won't work. I'm not jealous of her, I have no reason to be. She will never share with Henry what I do. I know that by the way his jaw is clenched and the ramrod straight tension on his spine.
"Right." He finally looks up at me, his eyes meet mine. His look is filled with guilt. I smile, trying to let him know that I don't blame him for this.
"I understand." I take a look at the clock over the couch, thirteen minutes. "What do you want to know?"
"How could you just abandon them?" I swallow.
The Watergate Hotel, Henry, 2014
I watch her reaction to the question. The swallow and the instant look of remorse that crosses her face. I wonder if she will ever forgive herself.
"A lot happened. I'm sure you already know that." Elizabeth points the accusation, but a subtle one. One she can brush off if she needs to. But she's digging for information.
"Henry, told me some." Jessica doesn't take her bait.
"No he didn't." Elizabeth shakes her head and leans forward, her elbows resting on her knees. I see the gleam of a necklace I don't recognize, a wire. Elizabeth will not leave here without proof of Jess's involvement.
"Yes, he did." I feel Jess stiffen next to me. The tension in the room rises as the battle officially starts.
The Watergate Hotel, Elizabeth, 2014
"Henry would never betray my trust by telling you anything I told him." I can't resist the dig. I get a little excided when I can see that it works. She tries to grip him tighter, but this time he moves away from her. I can see that he is fully read in on my plan.
"He's my husband, we talk about things." She says defensively.
"Do you?" I stab again. Forcing her to think back over her time with Henry.
"Yes, we've been together for years. We've raised kids, we've shared a bed. He's mine, Bess. He loves me." She pleads her case out loud, desperate for Henry to corroborate. He remains silent as he is finally able to successfully move completely away from her
"Henry was never yours, he will never be yours." And I see her break. She looks over to Henry, silently begging him to love her. But he doesn't. He might've for a while, but not now.
The Watergate Hotel, Henry, 2014
"Henry, tell her. Tell her what we have together." Jessica's voice is edging on tears. I shake my head. I won't lie about my love for Elizabeth. Not to someone who was strategically placed into my life to make me forget her.
"Henry. Tell. Her." She emphasizes every syllable that comes out through her teeth.
"I can't." I watch her decompensate in real time. Her eyes harden and she stands quickly drawing her gun. I follow ready to put my body between Elizabeth and any possible bullets.
"Henry don't!" I turn at look at Elizabeth, hearing the terror in her voice. Her hands are up in surrender, shaking slightly.
Then, too many things happen at once. There's a shot. The door is kicked open. Jessica's on the ground, being handcuffed. There are three men speaking French to one another and Elizabeth joins them in conversation. My mind catches up and with my high school French, I'm able to discern that they will be holding Jessica until she can be arrested by trusted American Law Enforcement. And then she's out of the room.
And then, Elizabeth's arms are thrown around me and her head is tucked into my neck.
I recover slightly from the shock and return her hug. Holding her tight. Holding her just the way used to, our bodies and souls connecting.
The Watergate Hotel, Elizabeth, 2014
I can't stop the tears. They come fast and hard I stand here in this room holding onto him for dear life. Our love still strong and absolute. Two days ago, when we stood in LAX and he said he forgave me, there was a large part of me that did not believe him. But, he just stood in front of a gun for me five minutes ago. And maybe he wasn't lying all those years ago, when we spent all night arguing fate and free will, when he said Elizabeth, you and I are just fate. We are just fate, plain and simple.
"Elizabeth." He whispers my name in my ear. I back away from him slightly to look at him. He brings his hand up and wipes away a tear. His eyes are locked with mine. And I feel the pull of his gravity
"I'd like to kiss you now, if that's okay." The words no sooner leave his mouth and I feel myself lean in. When our lips meet in a just the other side of chaste peck I feel the fire ignite deep within my soul. When he goes to fully pull away, I gently grab his face with my hand and pull him back kissing him deeper. His hands are timid as they keep a loose hold around me, giving the space to control every movement we both make. And, I suddenly remember what it's like to feel loved. I pull away him slowly, cherishing every last moment of this reuniting of souls.
"I love you, Henry McCord." I tell him.
"I love you, too, Elizabeth McCord. Let's go get our kids." And we start our journey out of the hotel. On our way to the last leg of this mission. Together as it was simply meant to be.