Author's Note: I considered the story finished with the previous chapter. While it did not contain a ton of Elizabeth and Henry, I tried to include them as much as possible. As is true of many of us, I have a Stevie love/hate relationship. This story was an attempt to make her palatable for me. But I also was thinking how difficult it would be to grown up under Elizabeth's shadow. I mean, if my parents looked that good when I was in 7th grade, I would've assumed I was sired by aliens.
But just as I considered the story finished, this little scene popped into my head. I tried to write it as a stand alone one-shot, but it required too much backstory. I hope you appreciate this little add-on.
I greatly appreciate the reviews and thoughtful comments. Any errors in grammar French or English, are entirely my own.
- Epilogue -
Elizabeth McCord was stunned to look up from her desk to see Conrad Dalton standing in the doorway. He glanced around her office, and said, "I was looking for your assistant but there was no one out there!"
"Mr. President!" She rose from where she'd sat at her desk trying to simultaneously translate a report and eat a salad. "I'm so sorry. I just sent Blake to lunch. It's been a slow day."
"You eat at your desk?" He paused taking in her office. "Bess! What's the first rule?"
"Always listen to your boss?" She asked with raised eyebrows.
"You have always been the worst kiss-ass!" He laughed. "Sit down." He folded himself into a chair across from her. "How's the family?"
"They are well, sir." She answered without hesitation.
"Good." He nodded. "Been a tough couple of months."
"I hadn't really noticed." She winked at him, but then frowned slightly, curious as to why the President had come to visit the State Department. Experience taught her that it generally wasn't for a good reason. She steeled herself, fully expecting a request to travel abroad to deal with trouble. Her best guess was the Sudan. She tried to keep any weariness from her voice. "Pardon me for saying so, sir, but it seems to me you are a little busy to be wandering the halls inquiring the health of my family dog?"
"You don't have a dog." He shook his head. "Do you?"
"Three, but they are at the farm. I recognize that look, you know. I may have quit a decade ago, but I still remember the way you looked right before you made a request."
"Well, I do have a bit of a favor. . ." He smiled at her.
"I thought so." She sat back in her chair. "You know, being President gives you a distinct advantage when you ask for favors."
"You use the tools at your disposal." He said with a shrug. "I need you to take a trip for me. You would leave the day after tomorrow."
Her face gave away nothing but inwardly she cursed. Henry and the kids are going to be thrilled about this, she thought to herself.
"I see." She hesitated, considering. "The Sudan?"
"Uh, no. I need you to go to Paris."
"I'm sorry?" She was completely surprised. "We are experiencing a French crisis?"
"No. No crisis. I am slated to give a speech Friday night, but I've just been slammed lately and it seems a bad time to take a trip." He shrugged. "And it's mostly recreational; just a reception and a speech. You are better at that sort of thing anyway. You're completely fluent - Henry, too, right?"
"You are sending me to Paris to make a speech?" She found it difficult to process this piece of information. "Seriously?"
"I'll have my office send over the details. I would really appreciate it. I've just been worn down and a trip now is inconvenient. Honestly, Lydia's irritated that I'm about to dash out the door again. It'd really be a favor to her." He gripped the arms of the chair pushing himself up. "So, great, you'll do it!" He said without waiting for an answer from her. "I really appreciate it. It's a five day trip and I assumed you'd want to bring the whole family so I had my office book accordingly."
"Mr. President, I . . ." She stood a hand raised as she struggled for words, overcome with surprise. Overwhelmed with this surprising gift of kindness, she found she couldn't manage any words.
"Bess," He said softly. "You've made history. You and I both know that my legacy is a direct result of the sacrifices that you and your family has made, and despite what Henry might think, I'm not a cold-hearted bastard."
"He doesn't . . ."
"He does and I don't blame him. So do this favor . . ." He paused, pointedly. "For me, and maybe I won't have to request extra agents every time Henry and I are in the same room."
He moved to the door of her office. "So, what do you say? Can you manage a trip to Paris with your family for me?"
"Yes, sir. I can do that, Mr. President."
He smiled reaching out to squeeze her hand. "I appreciate it." He turned to go. "There's just the speech and reception, so you'll have to find something to fill the other days. And for pity's sake don't let Henry drag you from one ancient church to another - live a little."
"I'll give it a go, sir." She smile up at it him. "Thank you."
"Think nothing of it, kid." He squeezed her hand once more. "See, there's an upside to working for me - every now and again."
"It has its moments." She agreed.
Now, four days later, she was riding through the Parisian countryside. They had spent the morning at the Paris Catacombs and then shopped in the afternoon. She had been content to ride along in the car with no thoughts or worries, when she realized that they were moving away from the city, not toward it.
"We are going the wrong way?" She told Henry.
"Oh, I asked him to make one quick stop." He told her.
"Da-ad!" Alison protested. She turned to Stevie, "I told you! I knew I heard him talking about an old church!"
"Dad? Why? I've behaved!" Jason groaned. "Please! Please, don't make us look and really old scrolls."
"Come on!" He shook his head. "Just this one thing. There's just a little bit of time left in today. Just do this one thing for me, kids."
"We are trapped in the same car as you," Stevie pointed out. "I like how you pitch it as a choice." Her voice conveyed mild irritation, but Elizabeth glanced up just in time to see Henry give Stevie a wink. She wrinkled her brows.
"A stop?" She asked. "I really ought to work on my speech for tomorrow night."
"No, hon," He turned to her. "We agreed. You are allowed to work after two tomorrow - but not until then."
"Scouring an old church is kind of like working, Henry." She pointed out.
"For me. Not work for you." He told her. "We only agreed on your work schedule, not mine."
She shrugged her shoulders, recognizing that debating with him would be impossible; he'd developed amazing skills under a life time of her "coaching". She conceded the argument, and leaned back closing her eyes.
"Wake me up, when you're finished reading dusty documents written by monks a million years ago." She told him.
***MS***
She did not stay in the car, however. They had pulled up to a very quaint church at the edge of a small village. It was beautiful, and truth be told, she found exploring old churches enjoyable - if she explored them with Henry; his face lit up like a boy, and she couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm.
"Some of the monks who gathered here, would later lose their lives trying to protect the villagers during the revolution." He told them. The kids wandered around the tiny church, and then disappeared back out to wait near the car.
"I think you lost your class, Professor." She told him, but he only smiled, and reached for her hand.
"Let's look at the graveyard. It's back this way, I think."
"You really know how to show a girl a good time." She laughed, as he led her out the back door of the church. "Nothing like tombstones to set the right mood."
He didn't respond but led her inside the small fenced graveyard. He pointed to several stones, pausing to read each inscription. They stopped at the far edge of the graveyard and he read a stone with a nearly faded date.
Born: 1712. Died:1719. Beloved.
"Oh, that's sad." She told him. Looking up, she realized that the church backed up against a small river. Just beyond the graveyard, was a path that ran parallel to it.
"Let's walk a bit." He said when he saw her looking at the river path.
"The kids will wonder . . ."
"Oh, let them. It's just for a minute. And any of the agents could fill them in." He pointed out.
They walked hand in hand along the river, just as the sun was beginning to fade from the sky. The bustling city of Paris seemed thousands of miles away. The only sound was the river beside them, and an occasional bird. She was looking to her left, enjoying the beautiful countryside, and the fading light. She held onto Henry's arm, and simply allowed herself to be led around a gentle curve in the path, when he stopped. She hadn't been paying attention, and so was startled that he had stopped walking. She turned to ask why, but a flickering of lights caught her eye.
"Henry!" She dropped his hand, stunned.
Just ahead of them was a small cafe tucked into a curve of the river. White lights hung from the trees, and beneath their glow were a few small tables, each lit only with lanterns.
"It turns out," He said gently. "It is just as we remember it." He smiled at her, reaching for her hand.
Her eyes blurred with tears. "It's still here?" She turned to him, throwing her arms around him. "It's beautiful. Oh, Henry! Thank you!"
They walked toward the lights, hand in hand, and she was surprised to discover that the only patrons at the small cafe were in fact, their own children. They smiled at her, and Jason, pulled back a chair for her to sit.
"Well, I believe I just witnessed McCord Family Theater earlier." She said smiling up at them.
"Tradecraft." Alison said with a grin.
"The family business," Stevie offered with a wink.
They sat around the table, and an older couple emerged from inside the cafe, smiling as they did.
"Vous êtes retourné à nous!" The gentleman said reaching out to kiss Elizabeth's hand.
"Nos cœurs ne quittaient jamais!" Elizabeth said with a smile. "Merci. Il est tout aussi belle que dans notre souvenir."
"Nous sommes heureux que vous êtes retourné et apporté votre belle famille avec vous." He told them.
"Ceci est notre premier né. Nous avons nommé son Stephanie dans la mémoire de ce lieu, et parce qu'elle est notre rêve." Henry said, indicating Stevie who blushed, as the older gentleman kissed her hand, and his wife kissed her cheek.
"Dad," She protested.
"Well, it's no secret, honey." He grinned at her.
"Le rêve de vos cœurs! Bien sûr! Les jeunes sont les effusion de nos cœurs, et notre espoir pour l'avenir." He told them.
His wife nodded, "Ces beaux enfants! Nous allons d'abord vous nourrir, et puis vous ferons danser près de notre rivière de rêves." She pulled at her husband's arm.
They disappeared and Elizabeth reached for Henry's hand. "I am left without words." She told him.
Henry grinned. "Well, that almost never happens." He leaned in kissing her. "I love you."
"I love you, too." She said kissing him again.
"Maybe we should switch to another table," Jason said. "All this talking French and kissing is making me uncomfortable."
"Jason!" Stevie admonished. "Don't be a teenage boy for two hours - that's all we asked."
"I told you it was a lost cause." Alison chimed in. "Behave." She told her brother.
"What? You are comfortable sitting at the table while the two of them engage in eye sex?" Jason asked.
His sisters burst into laughter.
"Dude! What are you talking about?" Stevie asked, laughing so hard that tears ran down her face.
"What in the hell is 'eye sex'?" Henry said laughing. "Seriously, Jason? We talked about all of that."
"I'm beginning to doubt your teaching skills, Professor." Elizabeth told him, trying to hide her laughter.
"You know what it is - you need to talk to your boss." He pointed at her. "That state of our educational system needs to be addressed - quickly."
"Hey, you know what I mean . . ." Jason blushed, frustrated and embarrassed. "Stop laughing." He said turning to his sisters.
"I blame the internet." Elizabeth said to Henry. "He stares at that damn tumble thing all day long."
"Tumblr, mom." Jason said, clearly offended. "And eye sex is a real thing. I know it is."
"Dude, really?" Allison shook her head.
"I'm just saying that . . ."
"So, you are some kind of a sex expert now?" Stevie asked her little brother.
"Forget it!" He threw his hands up in exasperation as his sisters laughed. "Forget I ever said anything!"
"Never!" Alison said.
Henry, stood and extended his hand to Elizabeth. "Venez avec mon amour. Laissez les enfants se chamaillent. Nous allons danser sous une couverture d'étoiles."
Alison laughed, "Tout le monde à la table peut parler, en français, papa."
"Eh bien, M. yeux sexe est un peu lent à la traduction." Stevie pointed out.
"I am not!" Jason protested, pouting.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said, talking Henry's hand and moving away from the table. He led her away to a small clearing under a grove of trees lit with white lights. He pulled her close and began to sway with her in his arms. "You are a man of surprises." She said smiling at him. "This is . . . I am overwhelmed."
"Well, good." He said.
"There isn't even any music!" Jason shouted to them.
"You were the one who said that a third child was a great idea." Henry told her, and she laughed. Music drifted toward them, as two boys stepped outside. One played a guitar and the other a violin.
Elizabeth sighed contently, resting her head on her husband's shoulder. "We should stay here. Forget, the nonsense of Paris."
"Well," He hesitated.
"Henry Patrick McCord!" She looked up at him in surprise.
"It's just for tonight. And just the two of us. The humans are going back to the hotel after dinner. But for us there's a little villa next to the river. You might have noticed Frank glaring at me. He does not like anything that backs up against a river."
"I would imagine not." She put both arms around his neck, pausing in the dance to kiss him. "Vous êtes mon cœur, Henry. Je t'aime. Merci, pour cette belle nuit, et pour tout le reste. Je ne peux imaginer survivre ces terribles jours sans vous."
"Je t'aime aussi. Chaque jour. Toute ma vie. Jusqu'à la fin des temps." He said leaning in to kiss her.
They danced together in the moonlight under a sky brilliant with stars. They danced to the music of their children's laughter, the sound of the guitar and violin and to the music of their own hearts.
- la fin -
French Translation
Cafe Owner (Jacques): You have returned to us!
Elizabeth: In our hearts we never left. Thank you! It is as beautiful as we remembered.
Jacques: We are so pleased that you have returned and brought your lovely family with you.
Henry: This is our oldest. We named her Stephanie in memory of this place, and also because she is the dream of our hearts.
Jacques: The dream of your hearts! Of course! Young people are the outpouring of our hearts, and our hope for the future.
Jacques' Wife: What beautiful children. Come, we shall feed you and then you shall dance beside our river of dreams.
And later Henry says to Elizabeth:
Henry: Come, my love. Leave the children to bicker. We shall dance under a sky covered in stars.
Alison: Dad, everyone at this table speaks French.
Henry: Well, Mr. Eyesex, is a little slow to translate.
Elizabeth to Henry: You are my heart, Henry. I love you. Thank you for this beautiful night, and everything else. I can not imagine surviving without these terrible days without you.
Henry: I love you too. Each day. All my life. Until the end of time.