November 3, 2020
The room is on fire. The energy around her rabid, the feelings high. Texas. Texas is going to be called soon. They have eighty percent of the vote counted. And she's ahead. Very ahead. Unexpectedly ahead. When they drop the next round of votes, if she stays ahead, she will win. Not just Texas, but the election. It's a going to be a landslide. She can't believe she made it here. She can't believe she did this. She looks at her husband a huge smile already on his face. His support of her endless.
"Okay we are ready to make another projection." It's Anderson Cooper's voice that echoes in the room. She watches the TV and sees the journalist is barely able to keep his smile under control. "With Eighty-Three percent of the vote counted, we can project that Elizabeth McCord has won the state of Texas. This pushes her past Two Seventy. And she is now the projected winner of the 2020 Presidential Election." She sees the photo of herself grow in size and the words Projected Winner accompany the electoral count. She hears her husband's laugh, and a champagne bottle pop. Tears of excitement and disbelief fill her eyes. She has done it. It was so much harder than she thought it would be. But she did it. She fucking did it.
"You did it babe!" She hears him say and her husband lips are on hers in a quick peck. Henry is so wonderful. He is kind, loving, strong, and supportive. He loves her unconditionally, no matter what. She has never felt more loved in her life. She hugs him, but not for long, as there is an endless amount of people to hug. Her kids, and Blake. Carlos and Mike get one, and so does her brother. For a moment she looks at them all and feels overwhelming pride at how incredible they are. All of them. They were all with her on this journey. She has to swallow her emotions for a moment. She remembers all of the times the world tried to break her. The things that only made her stronger. The things she clawed her way back from, kicking and screaming along the way. She has come a long way. From the girl who lost everything. Now she is standing in front of the world with as President-Elect.
"Ma'am Senator Miller for you." Blake hands her a cell phone. Miller is more gracious in his concession, than she expected of him. He spent the entire campaign attacking her. Her character, integrity, her polices. And when that didn't seem to be working for him, he attacked her womanhood, her motherhood, her victimhood. He said she couldn't run the country because women can't run things, that a rape survivor with PTSD shouldn't be trusted with the Nuclear Codes. He ran a hard and dirty campaign. And yet, here she is, the victor.
"Thank you Senator for your graciousness." She says. "I want to congratulate you on such a hard fought campaign." She gives the phone back to Blake. He takes it and hands her another.
"President Dalton for you." She nods. Her oldest friend and mentor. He recruited her for the CIA, he helped become the Officer she was and then the Politician she became. She knows without him, she wouldn't be here today.
"Congratulations Bess." He tells her. She hears Russell in the background, yelling at the TV, celebrating her win too. They talk for a few minutes, he doesn't keep her for too long. He ends with reminding her, to take some time for herself after the speech. To process that her whole life is now forever changed. To process that she is now and forever an American first, the first Woman President. Then he hangs up.
She hands the phone back to Blake. Mike is pointing toward the stage, set with her podium. She turns to see her family, the rest of her team, the press, and the thousands of people in the crowd waiting for her.
"I am so glad you're with me." She whispers to Henry, giving his hand a squeeze.
"Ladies and Gentleman, President-Elect Elizabeth McCord." She hears her cue. She walks out onto the stage, and begins her victory speech.
"My fellow Americans, the people have spoken. That's always the way we start these speeches, right?" She gets a laugh, opening with a joke is always a good option. She pauses for a moment, to let the laughter die down, before continuing. "I am humbled tonight, by this victory, by the faith you have put into me. I sought this office for one reason. My husband and I had a conversation late one night. I had just returned from Italy and I was speaking with him about what politics is. And he told me, it is the art of the possible. We went on to discuss how as a leader I don't have a magic wand, more like a magic rake, which is only good for one job. But I decided that I would use that rake, to lift people up. That is the kind of President I want to be for all of you. A president that lifts us all up. A president who runs this government as it was meant to be run, for and by the people. A president who wants to make sure everyone has a chance at the American Dream, the one we promise." She stops and takes a deep breath, looking at her family.
"There are some people I'd like to thank. First my husband, who has supported me every step of the way. Who has given me love, and strength, and has given me room to reach for the stars. My children, who have so gracefully accepted their new role in the public eye. Thank you for being so brave. My family is my heart, and the reason I find the strength to fight for you all every day." She takes another pause, to gather herself and prevent tears. She goes on for another ten minutes. Thanking Carlos, and her staff. Thanking the poll workers. She summarizes her policy plan once again. And she ends with a simple, God Bless America.
Henry is waiting for her as soon as she is done. He wraps his arms around her, holding her tightly. She lays her head on his shoulder, trying not to cry. He whispers in her ear.
"I love you. You did it. You've come so far." He has tears in his eyes. This last year and a half has been anything but easy. Watching her heal in secret, as she fought Miller was hard. But he was in awe of her strength the entire time.
"I won." Anyone else might mistake her for talking about the election. But he knows her words are very much so meant for someone else. Her words are meant for Kincaid. He holds her a little closer to him.
"You won, when you chose to get up off the ground he left you on. This victory is yours, it has nothing to do with him." Henry kisses her head. She breathes in deeply, thinking about his words. He's right, she did get up. She got up when she didn't want to, when she wanted to die. She got up. She built her life. And she made it here because of her own will, her own determination. She has gone through hell, and she came out stronger than ever. She has the people of the United States behind her, and they have her back. She beat her rapist a long time ago. Tonight, the only person she beat is Miller.
"Thank you. For everything. Thank you." She leans in and kisses Henry. They hold onto each other for a while. Celebrating their victory, by being the calm in the crazy party surrounding him. She won. In more ways than one.