A/N: I hold Elizabeth and Henrys marriage on a pedestal. Some of the scenes have just been killing me, and I'm just trying to make sense of it all. I would NEVER split them up or get them divorced. I do not believe in divorce as I had to go thru my parents divorce at a young age. It scarred me for life, and I even told my husband if he thought we were ever to get divorced, that he shouldn't even ask me to marry him because I would not do it, not to us and not to our three boys.

I hope this chapter makes sense, I'm trying to bring things back around while still getting a handle on the whole wedge between them! I hurts me deeply to see them so conflicted! I sure hope they give us some good scenes SOON! Happy reading! and as always constructive, polite reviews are always appreciated. :)

Laying in bed that night, Henry like usual lately, awakened to the vivid pictures in his head. Not only was he having trouble dealing with the suicide of Ivan, but now he was extremely worried about Dimitri. He laid there trying to figure out a plausable situation that would ensure his safety, not knowing where he had gotten to at this point in time. Dimitri's message of "I'm Out" really bothered Henry. With his mind racing, he felt movement at his side, bringing him back to the here and now. Elizabeth had turned over in her sleep, still snuggled closely in Henrys arms. He knew she was also tormented by current situations at the office. They really needed some time together, away from all of this, just the two of them. Elizabeth had hinted at this a few weeks ago, and he couldn't agree more. The problem was finding the time to get away, with tensions as high as they were with Russia it was going to be hard to steal her away for a few days. Henry was working on a plan though, they needed this. Henry loved Elizabeth with all that he was, and the fact that first she could even think for a second he could cheat on her, and the crushing disappointment their anniversary trip was, hurt him. He needed to make this right with her, with them.

Looking down at her snuggled beside him, he made up his mind, that they would get away for a long weekend. Where they went didn't matter, all that mattered was that it was the two of them alone together for three solid days, uninterrupted. He stared at her beauty as the sun came up thru the windows caressing her face, slowly waking her up.

"Hey you" he said as she slowly opened her eyes, looking stunningly beautiful even with sleep still slightly surrounding her.

"Hey you, yourself" she replied back. "How long have you been awake, babe?" she asked him, noticing the bags under his eyes, knowing that he hasn't been sleeping well lately.

"Oh, just a little while" he replied to her smiling, bending down to kiss her on the lips, ever so lightly.

She knew it was longer than he had let on, but let it slide. It seems like it had been so long since they had been able to wake up together and just lay in bed, relaxing in each others arms.

"So, I've been thinking" Henry started. "You know when you said we needed some time away, alone, just the two of us? Why don't we get away now?" He thought she would start to argue, and point out all the reasons she couldn't get away right now, but she didn't, she had agreed whole heartedly.

"You are absolutely right, we need some time to ourselves, but how are we going to make it work with the way things are right now at work?" Elizabeth asked him. She knew they needed it just as much as he did, and was glad that he had made the suggestion. They missed each other, it has been a tough few months for them, but wasn't anything that they couldn't get thru, TOGETHER.

"I'm still working on the logistics of it, but its Friday morning, lets just get up, get ready and go. They have your number, if they need you at work, they can call, but you're mine. They cant have you in person." Henry was dead serious, she could tell by the look in his eyes. He missed HER, all of her. And she missed him too. They had this tension between them lately that neither one could shake. It bothered both of them immensely, they were not used to not being able to talk things over, this was such a change from how they had keystone of Team McCord were Henry and Elizabeth, they were going to get thru this, nothing could put a complete wedge between the twenty five years of marriage they had worked so hard to build.

"Before we just jet out of here like a couple of love-struck teenagers, I do need to call the office, and check with POTUS to make sure Russia is not launching any missiles at us." She wanted to just up and go, but her job and the tensions with Russia were stopping her. Henry understood this, as he was uncertain, himself, what Russia was up to.

After talking to Blake and having him clear her schedule for the day, seeing as how there really weren't any pressing matters, she alerted her detail that they were skipping town. Her detail were not to keen on this, but they had no choice but to go where she went. Unknown to her

Henry had everything planned, he figured some time away at a remote beach in South Carolina would be perfect. She always loved the beach, and what better a place to relax, and enjoy the peace and quiet of nothing but the sounds of the waves crashing against the shore. Lucky for them they wouldn't have to make the long drive, just a quick hop in the plane and they would be there in roughly two hours, thank goodness for privately owned airports!

Once they reached the beautiful ocean front beach house, her detail scattered quickly, they were still close enough if needed, but far enough away to Henry and Elizabeth the privacy they were very much in need of.

"Oh Henry! This place is absolutely beautiful!" She gushed as she walked around the house checking things out, not to mention the fantastic view from the balcony off the living room, looking out over the serene ocean. "Have I told you lately how much I love you?' she asked him, standing in his embrace nuzzling her head against his chest.

"I'm so glad you like it, I thought this is exactly what we need" he replied back to her, his arms wrapped around her waist, not wanting to ever let her go. Taking in the sweet comforting smell of her hair, he bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head.

At this she looked up into his eyes, drinking in the man she fell in love with so many years ago. Yes things were tough, but they were so committed to each other that nothing was going to get in the way of their love. "I love you so much Henry McCord" she stated as she stood on her tip-toes, bringing her lips to meet his. "I love you so much also, Mrs. McCord" he said back to her. With that, they stood there on the balcony over looking the ocean, comforting each other with kisses.