A/N: This is a double prompt that I thought fit together. The second prompt takes place a few months after the first, and I borrowed one of Henry's lines in "Just Another Normal Day." Also, I guessed at how old Henry and Tommy would have been at the time of the incident on the ice.

Prompts: Elizabeth is furious at herself for crying. AND The first time Henry cries in Elizabeth's arms.

Elizabeth woke slowly wondering what woke her up in the first place. Then a drop of water slid across her cheek and hit her pillow. She'd been crying in her sleep. Groaning, she checked the calendar Henry's mother kept on the bedside table in this guest room… of course. October 10th. She wiped away her tears, determined to join in the fun with the McCords today.

Henry was watching Elizabeth carefully. His girlfriend was obviously upset and trying so hard to hide it. He was about her walk up to her and try to make her laugh when he felt a hand on his shoulder. His mother.

"Henry? Let me talk to her first okay?"

He nodded and watched as one of the most important women in his life consoled the other one.

Elizabeth was lost. October 10th in her room. Studying math. Waiting for strawberry ice cream. Getting worried. A knock at the door. Will's tearstained face.

Someone touched her shoulder, and she jumped. Henry's mother.

"Elizabeth, honey? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Mrs. McCord."

Mrs. McCord reached up and brushed some of Elizabeth's hair away from her face. "Why don't you and Henry go for a walk?"

Tears stung Elizabeth's eyes at the maternal gesture, but she nodded.

By the time Henry took her hand and was leading her toward a park, Elizabeth was wiping furiously at her eyes.

"Elizabeth? Babe? Are you okay?"

"I'm sorry! I shouldn't be crying. I love your family so much, really! It's just… so… stupid! I lost them so long ago. It shouldn't affect me like this still. But they would've loved you! And they never... It's not fair!"

Henry looked into her very hurt eyes for a moment before taking her into his arms.

"Grief doesn't have a time limit. I'm here. Go ahead."

Henry sat up with a groan. April 11th. Tommy's birthday. At first, he felt a flash of annoyance at himself that he was still this affected by Tommy's birthday as much as he was all these years later, but he decided to make the day a good one. Tommy wouldn't want him to be sad. Instead, he'd go to class, and then he'd see Elizabeth.

Classes were the usual with Henry being only mildly affected by the concept of death that his professor had chosen to discuss. He considered that a triumph.

But by the time 5 rolled around, he'd been as tired and weak as a kitten. Holding the grief back even after these 7 long years on this day was like trying to hold back a tidal wave.

He settled down on his bed to wait for Elizabeth. She found him like that half an hour later.

"Henry? You ok?"

He looked up at her beautiful face and caring eyes, and there was just something about her that made his dam break.

Tears started pouring down his cheeks, and he tried to wipe them away in embarrassment. But he felt a hand on his. Elizabeth pulled his hands away from his face and crawled behind him on the bed, holding him from behind.

"Hey… what's wrong?" she asked gently pressing a light kiss to his temple.

He told the story… the ice… Tommy. His face disappearing beneath the surface. His birthday.

"I just feel stupid. It's been 7 years."

"Someone once told me that there's no time limit on grief. Now, let go."

With her reassurance, he sobbed with abandon in her arms. For his friend. For his birthday. For the time that he could have had with him. For the time lost to them as friends forever.

When he finally cried himself out, he turned to her and wrapped her in a gentle but firm embrace.

"Thank you" he mumbled into her hair.

"Of course."