A/N - Thank you for your reviews! They are always appreciated and never taken for granted. I'm glad this new version of this story is being received so well xx

The warm morning rays of another beautiful Saturday broke through the wooden shutters, fragments of sunlight dancing across the walls and landing softly on Elizabeth's face, causing her to stir and her eyes to slowly flutter open.

She vaguely remembered falling asleep on Henry after pouring her heart out to him and she most definitely remembered how much wine she'd consumed when the pounding in her head forced itself to be known.

Swinging her legs over the side of the couch, Elizabeth sat herself up and perused the room. It was empty and silent - The same as every other Saturday morning. Yet somehow, everything seemed different. It hadn't felt like her finest moment, sobbing and boring poor Henry to tears with her woeful tales of lost love and family. It wasn't something she ever shared with anyone. But Henry was different. She was able to let her guard down with him, let him see who she really was behind all the armour — And that's what scared her the most.

Elizabeth padded through to the kitchen in search of coffee and tylenol and almost jumped clean out of her own skin when her eyes landed on Henry.

"Holy shit Henry! You nearly gave me a heart attack. What are you doing here?"

"I'm making you breakfast." He handed her a glass of water and two tablets. "Take these — I'm guessing your head is staging a rebellion right about now."

Elizabeth took the tablets and placed the glass in the sink, all the while attempting to piece things together "Did you come back this morning and let yourself in or did you never leave?"

Henry smiled and halted what he was doing "You asked me to stay — So I did. I slept in the chair because I wanted to be here if you needed me. I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing."

Elizabeth leaned against the side and looked at Henry with an inquiring gaze "I've shouted at you, pushed you away more times than I care to admit, switched emotions like the weather and poured my heart out to you - And you're just pottering about in my kitchen like it's a perfectly normal thing to do."

Henry shrugged "To most people - Cooking is a perfectly normal thing to do."

"You know what I mean Henry! Why haven't you walked away like any sensible human being would have done? I'm a complete mess and yet - You're still here."

Henry chose his words carefully "I'm exactly where I'm meant to be - Let's just say that."

"Oh boy - Are you going to come at me with all your religious connotations? Because me and religion do not see eye to eye and I'm not going to change my views just because you make me breakfast."

Henry couldn't help but laugh "I'm not going to start preaching at you! I just meant that being here with you and for you feels right to me."

Elizabeth sighed "I know you have questions for me and I did promise to answer them — I'm just not sure you're going to like what I have to say."

Henry carried the plate of pancakes and fruit over to the small bistro table in the far corner of Elizabeth's kitchen and sat down "Why don't you try me?"

Elizabeth joined him, cradling a steaming hot coffee in her hands "Fire away."

"Let's eat first and then talk — You need to feed that hangover before you're in any state to converse. Let the caffeine and drugs do their thing."

"I'm not hungover Henry! I'm just tired and my couch isn't exactly designed for sleeping on."

"I did offer to carry you to your room but you got a little agitated - Making sure I knew —-."

"I wasn't going to have sex with you! Oh god, I remember that! I'm so sorry Henry."

Henry chuckled "It's fine! You slept quite soundly on the couch in the end. I think the copious amounts of wine you consumed helped you rest."

Elizabeth popped a strawberry into her mouth "So —." She chewed on it for a few seconds and then swallowed "Hit me with these questions! I dumped an awful lot on you last night and I know I owe you an explanation."

"I told you - You don't owe me anything." Henry took a sip of his coffee and peered at Elizabeth over the rim of the cup "I'm so sorry about Ethan! And I'm sorry for not leaving you alone when you repeatedly asked me to! It's just that —."

"It's just what?"

"Now who's not letting anyone finish a sentence?" Henry laughed, "I was getting there."

"Yes - But very slowly."

"Elizabeth —."

"Okay, okay - Carry on." She placed a piece of pancake in her mouth and smiled sweetly.

"The thing is — I like you! And when I say like, I mean that in the strongest sense. I can't seem to stay away from you which I know sounds so horribly creepy."

Elizabeth swallowed and took a breath "Henry —."

"I know you're not interested in me and I have to accept that but I just —."

"Henry! Listen —."

"I will try to respect your wishes Elizabeth."

"For the love of god would you just stop talking for a second Henry and listen." Elizabeth's raised voice stopped Henry dead in his tracks.

The room fell silent and they both just looked at each other for a moment or two until Elizabeth continued, her tone slightly less frosty.

"I like you too Henry! And when I say like I also mean that in the strongest sense, and honesty — It scares me to death. After Ethan died, I vowed to myself that I would never love another man the way I loved him. I didn't ever want anyone else. I'd had my chance at love and that was it."

"So you haven't even tried dating anyone over the past four years?"

"No, not at all. I was dealing with my grief and then trying to work out how to salvage my career, or even if I wanted to. Ethan was still so prominent in everything I did. I could feel him around me and I didn't ever want to disrespect what we had by trying to replace it."

Henry let her words settle and considered his next sentence carefully "If you like me in the way you say you do — Why have you pushed me away so forcefully every time I've tried to get to know you? I don't understand that at all."

Elizabeth shook her head "It wasn't personal."

Henry raised an eyebrow at her and tilted his head in disbelief.

"Okay — It was personal. But only because I didn't want to let you get too close. The day you crashed into me in the hallway, I felt something that scared me. Something I hadn't felt since Ethan and I needed it to go away — Which meant I needed you to go away."

Henry couldn't help but smirk "Wow — I've never repulsed a woman to the point of her wanting me to actually disappear. That's a new low point for me."

Elizabeth nudged his shoulder "I didn't mean it like that and you know it! I felt a spark and I didn't want to encourage it. Every time I see you I feel the whole stupid butterfly thing and I can't let that evolve."

"Can I ask why not?"

"Because I'm not ready, Henry."

Henry took hold of Elizabeth's hand "How do you know that when you haven't even tried?"

"I couldn't do that to Ethan."

"I didn't know Ethan but I'm pretty sure from what you've told me about him, he wouldn't want you locking yourself away for the rest of your life. You can't be afraid to live because he's no longer here."

Henry thought he'd angered her when she narrowed her eyes and glared at him, but her features softened as she chewed on the inside of her cheek.

"I'm not sure I know how to live without carrying the grief around with me. If I let that go — It means I'm letting Ethan go and I don't know if I can."

"You don't have to let go of him entirely, Elizabeth. He was a huge part of your life and you aren't expected to forget that. But you deserve to be happy — You just have to allow yourself to try."

The room fell silent once again and the intense look between them spoke volumes. Henry leaned forwards, his lips almost brushing against hers — But she pulled away and shook her head.

"I'm sorry — I can't." Elizabeth pushed her chair backwards and took her plate to the sink.

Henry followed and rested his hand gently on her shoulder. "I'm sorry - I shouldn't have been so eager. I can be your friend if you'll let me. I promise I won't try anything like that again."

Elizabeth looked up at him and a blush crept up her neck and into her cheeks "That's the thing though. I want you to try things like that."

Henry leaned back against the countertop and dragged his fingers through his hair "I can't keep up with you Elizabeth! You don't want me, then you do. You push me away and then ask me to stay. I'm sorry, I want to be patient and understanding but it feels like you're playing games with me and I'm not okay with that. I told you — I can be your friend if that's all you want!"

"I'm so sorry Henry! I want to try, I want to see where this goes with you but I'm terrified. I'm not sure I could cope with losing anyone else."

Henry pulled Elizabeth into a hug "You wouldn't ever lose me. But you won't know how amazing this could be if you're not prepared to take that chance."

"I want to! God, I really want to. I just need to take this slowly and give myself time to adapt. Can you give me that time?"

Henry kissed the top of her head and smiled "I'll give you whatever you need. Just communicate with me so we both know where we stand."

"I think I can do that."

They cleared their breakfast plates away and made a plan for the day.

"How about you go and jump in the shower, I'll finish up here and then we can take a walk. It's a beautiful day and the fresh air will do you some good. Then I'll drop you down to campus and you can pick up your car."

Elizabeth smiled "That sounds like the perfect way to spend a Saturday. Thank you Henry."

"What for?"

"For being you."

Elizabeth and Henry walked through the park in relative silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Having talked things through and come to the conclusion that they both wanted to see what could develop between them, it had left them in no man's land — Unsure exactly how to proceed. Henry wanted to give Elizabeth space and time to accept what was happening and learn to embrace it and Elizabeth wasn't sure how to even be in a relationship again after losing Ethan. She knew that if she wanted anything to progress, she would have to be the one to move things forward.

Without giving herself too much time to second guess or overthink, Elizabeth slipped her hand into Henry's.

"Is this ok?" Her tentative question made Henry smile.

"It's more than ok. As long as you're comfortable with it."

"Yeah — I am." Her smile lit up her whole face and made Henry's heart jump into his throat.

"You are so —-." Henry stopped himself before uttering words he knew would upset her. "I think you're stunning."

Elizabeth noticed the quick change of direction "You wanted to tell me I was beautiful, didn't you?"

Henry nodded "I'm so sorry. It's just something that feels natural to me because you are. But I know it's a trigger for you so I'll just have to keep myself in check."

"You don't need to apologise for wanting to pay me a compliment Henry. Believe me, I've been called far worse. It's just something I will have to learn to be okay with."

They stopped walking and Henry looked at Elizabeth like he was seeing her for the very first time.

"You have the deepest blue eyes I've ever seen and I have to say — They are far more inviting when you're not trying to turn me to stone." Henry chuckled and earned himself a hefty thump on the arm.

"I'm not medusa! You need to step back from all that mythology once in a while."

"I teach theology, not mythology."

"Ahhhh - Same difference! That was a very backhanded compliment anyway. Wanna try again?"

Henry took hold of both her hands and was so close, Elizabeth could feel his breath on her face. "You, Professor Adams — Are the most delectable, breathtaking woman I have ever seen and I will tell you that in whatever way you are comfortable with."

"You know you can just call me Elizabeth, right? The whole professor thing just sounds creepy when you say it."

"Elizabeth, can you not just take a compliment?"

"It's not in my nature. But throw me enough of them and I might get used to it."

They continued walking and Henry suddenly remembered. "Shit! I forgot to tell you last night - I saw Blake yesterday morning!"

"You did? Is he okay?"

"He's fine - His mom was in the hospital for a few days with a concussion but he's good and wanted to know when you'd be back in."

"Oh that's a relief! I'm glad his mom is on the mend. I'll catch up with him next week."

"Elizabeth —."

"Yeah?"

"Why did Blake seem to think you wouldn't be coming back?"

Elizabeth answered Henry's question in such a blasé manner "Probably because I was thinking of quitting."

Henry stopped walking as Elizabeth carried on.

"Elizabeth!"

She took a few more steps and then turned around "what?!"

"You were going to quit?"

"I was considering my options." She continued walking until Henry grabbed her hand, pulling her back.

"Why?" Henry's expression was one of genuine concern "That makes no sense."

"If we're going to discuss this, can we please do it somewhere warm, preferably with coffee?"

Henry smiled "Sure! There's a little coffee shop around the corner that does the nicest —."

"Cinnamon Buns! I know - I've spent most of my life here. I'm buying."

Once warm and caffeinated, Henry steered the conversation. "So come on! Tell me why on earth you were thinking of quitting?"

Elizabeth shrugged "A few reasons."

"Then tell me those reasons. Blake seemed to be under the impression you had already made your decision, not that he would tell me anything! He scurried off as soon as I pressed him on it."

"Did you upset him Henry? Because I swear if you have—."

"No! But you've clearly got him rattled by expressing the desire to leave. Do you have any idea how good you are at what you do?" Henry wanted to get his point across without seeming too pushy. "They don't let just anyone teach at UVA."

Elizabeth sighed "I was a good analyst but I suck as a teacher. Honestly - I don't know what I was thinking when I took the job! Making important career decisions when you're having an emotional breakdown probably isn't the most sensible course of action."

"You did what you needed to and I think it was the right move. You've only been doing the job for a few months and your students already adore you. You can't just quit." Henry smoothed his thumb across her knuckles "Was I a part of this decision?"

"I haven't actually made a decision yet! But if you're asking me if you are a factor in my thinking then - Yes!"

"Elizabeth! If I have made you feel so uncomfortable that you're considering quitting a job that you're extremely good at — I'm so sorry."

Elizabeth slipped her fingers between his and smiled "The feelings I've been having for you have nothing at all to do with discomfort! The exact opposite actually, which is why I felt compelled to run away!"

"Do you still feel that way?"

Elizabeth shrugged "I really don't know if teaching is my vocation. I don't love it in the same way I loved being an analyst. It doesn't hold the same passion for me and I don't think it ever will."

"And me?"

"Passion is something I'm definitely not lacking when it comes to my feelings for you Henry. That's why I couldn't handle any of it. I felt overwhelmed and uncertain. I wanted to run instead of facing my insecurities."

"You are using the past tense which I hope means you've chosen to stay."

"I think I'm going to give it a little longer - See how things pan out! It would be stupid to give up on something without giving it a fair chance - Don't you think?"

Henry squeezed her hand "I think it's always best to see how something goes before making such a big decision! And you can't leave yet anyway."

"And why is that?"

"Because I haven't had the chance to take you out on a date! And I promise you - You'd be missing out on a spectacular evening."

"Is that right? In that case we'd better arrange this spectacular date before I change my mind."

"I guess we should! I'll pop by your office on Monday and we can talk about it then! That's if you'll be back in of course?"

Elizabeth smirked "I think that's highly probable! I need to set up another meeting with Blake anyway and god knows what's been happening with my classes in my absence."

Henry chuckled "Melissa Armitage has been standing in for you! So yeah - I'd get back in as soon as possible."

"Speaking of getting back - I suppose we should go and pick up my car. The day seems to have gotten away from us." Elizabeth pulled on her coat.

"I don't really want it to end! I have loved every second I've spent with you." Henry's hand slipped back into Elizabeth's "But you're right! You're probably sick of me by now anyway."

Elizabeth smiled shyly "I'm not sick of you Henry. I don't want this day to end either, but it has to! The good news is — We have a date to arrange which means we definitely have to see each other on Monday!"

"That seems so far away right now. You won't change your mind between now and then, will you?" Henry brushed the hair away from Elizabeth's face.

"I can't promise anything."

"Elizabeth —."

With a wicked smile, Elizabeth went up on tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on Henry's cheek "I won't be changing my mind. But we have to take this slowly. I need my head and my heart to get on the same page and that might take some time."

"We have time! We'll go at whatever pace you're comfortable with. But just so you know — I'm more than ready for whatever you need, whenever you need it."

Elizabeth nodded with a knowing smile "Good to know! I'll be sure to call you if I find myself in need of anything! But what I need right now is my car - Shall we?"

Henry kissed her hand and smiled "Let's go."