A/N: Hey guys! Sorry for taking so long to update this! After the mid-season finale I've been lost trying to figure out where to take this story! That clif hanger sure left me needing and wanting more! That fight and then Elizabeths phone call to Henry just tore my heart apart! Only 2 weeks to go until we get to know what happened! I hope you enjoy this chapter, if you're still interested in reading it! As always I appreciate all reviews, comments and suggestions! Happy Reading! and Merry Christmas!

"Okay guys, I think we all need to talk about mom and dad" Stevie started. "We all agree there is something going on between them, and we all don't like it, I'm just not sure what to make of it. Do you guys have any thoughts?" She asked her siblings. They were all worried about their parents, and it was starting to get to them.

"Well, I for one have noticed how dad comes home at much different hours than he had before. I even heard their argument the other night in the kitchen, I didn't hear much, but I heard mom tell dad the he was scaring her, then his voice got loud and said he was glad he was scaring her, because whatever it is is scary." Aly started. Her brother and sister had not been home that night to hear the argument her parents had, so she had been keeping it bottled up inside her. She was glad to finally be able to tell someone about this. "I am guessing it has to do with both their jobs, they had been talking about mom making the speech to the UN, but I'm not sure how dad is involved with it, but it doesn't sound good."

"Yeah, they seem more hostile towards each other. They hardly ever talk normally, I heard them the night mom was home before dad, and she seemed like she was trying to talk to him, but he wanted nothing to do with it. I know I heard mom say something about the whole not talking thing cannot be good for them. She was really upset, you could tell by her voice." Jason had said to his sisters. He had the solidarity bond with his dad, but felt the need to be protective of his mom, mom's are always a boys first love, and they need to be protected. Jason would never admit this to his sisters though.

They all stared at each other for a few minutes, no one speaking, just digesting everything that had been spoken out loud.

Stevie was the first to speak up, "Okay I know mom and dad need their privacy, but honestly this has me rattled a bit. Do we go to them and ask, or just continue to watch them quietly and see if this weekend away helps them?"

It was agreed that they would just keep this conversation between the kids and continue to watch their parents interactions. It wasn't long after the chat they had that Elizabeth and Henry came home from their long weekend away. They were definitely acting more normal now than when they had left, which totally relieved the kids to no end.

"Hey guys! Can you come in here for a minute?" Elizabeth called to the kids. She was standing in the kitchen the day following being read into the work Henry was doing with DIA. She was to take Henry along with her to Switzerland so he could pick up Dimitri, while she and Dalton met with Russia and Ukraine.

"Hey mom, whats up?" they all asked at the same time, circling around the island in the kitchen, noticing that their dad was not present.

"Where's dad?" Stevie asked, a little panicked about why mom wanted to talk to them with out him there.

Elizabeth looked away from Stevie as she thought carefully about what to say, "He has a late night meeting at school, I'm not sure when he will be home though." Knowing this wasn't true,, she had to lie to her kids about his whereabouts, national security depended on it. She hated lying to the kids but there really was no other option.

"So what did you need us for? I have homework to finish and a test to study for." Allison piped in, she was now a little panicked and worried even more about the state of her parents relationship, her mom had just lied to all three of them. She could tell by the way her mom didn't look at anyone when she spoke about where their dad was. Not meeting eye contact, clue one that she was lying.

"Well, I have to head to Switzerland for a few days to work on a deal with Russia and Ukraine along side president Dalton. We will only be gone a few days, but dad is coming along with me, so that means Stevie will be in charge while we are gone. There will be NO BOYS in this house, understand?" She said looking directly at Stevie and Allison. After the little stunt they pulled when she and Henry were in Venezuela she had to remind them everytime they went away.

"Okay, not a problem" both girls replied at the same time. As they said this their eyes met, sharing a knowing look. This is what they had hoped for, their mom and dad to be able to get away together, though being that it was for work, it may not be such a good thing.

"Dad and I will be leaving the day after tomorrow, so please make sure you see him before we leave. He misses you guys, and so do I, but with his crazy meetings lately he feels guilty for not seeing you all." As she said this she had caught the knowing glances shared between all three of her children, what in the world are they up to now she wondered.

Things had been going so smoothly between Elizabeth and Henry since their weekend away at the beach, now things were starting to look grim again. The kids were obviously picking up on their wedge, given the glances they gave to each other the other night in the kitchen. The other night in the Rose Garden had just been a little tease to the both of them, they finally had gotten a chance to have a few moments peace with some very heavy flirting, but it had once again gotten interrupted by Elizabeths phone.

"Good morning guys" Henry called out to the kids as they were getting their breakfast before school. "Hey mom and I will be leaving in a few hours, so I want you to behave yourselves, get your school work done—Ahem Jason, and listen to Stevie while we are gone. Don't forget there will still be agents parked outside while we are gone, so we'll know what you're up to." He needed to remind his children gently. They might be going across the ocean, but they still had eyes everywhere.

"Yes dad!" they all exclaimed with eye rolls towards him. What Henry didn't notice was the other glances they gave to each other, signaling that this was a positive thing. Dad was in a good mood, and he and mom were leaving in a few hours.

"Okay come give us hugs, you guys please behave while we are gone. We love you" Elizabeth said walking down the stairs with her luggage in tow.

"Love you mom, Love you dad. Have a great trip and we will see you when you get home." Ali said hugging each of her parents. Stevie and Jason followed suit.

"Bye, love you!" Elizabeth and Henry both called back to the kids as they walked out the door to the waiting car.

"Well thats a good sign, I hope." Aly said first, speaking out loud what Stevie and Jason were also thinking.