A/N: I never know what first name to give to Henry's mother, so I picked a common one (maybe the show will actually tell us her name so we don't have to keep guessing!) Also, I was unsure exactly how old Stevie was when he returned.
Prompt: Henry's mother knows that he's coming home from his deployment today, but Elizabeth is in the dark.
Anne stared out the kitchen window. She knew that Henry could handle himself, but... he was her baby! He wasn't supposed to be in danger, and so parental pride for him doing something good and parental worry for him putting himself in danger warred with her and she wasn't quite sure which parental emotion won out. And then there were Elizabeth and Stephanie. Anne sighed. That Stephanie was a firecracker and she was still a newborn! And Elizabeth was handling Henry's deployment, but Anne knew she had to be lonely. Not that she'd ever admit it.
"Anne! Your son's on the phone!" Patrick called from the other room. Anne shook herself. She'd been so deep in thought that she hadn't heard the phone ring.
"Hello?"
"Mom! I'm coming home, Mom!"
She could practically hear Henry's grin over the phone! And relief swept through her, crushing the agonizing worry that had persisted for months!
"Henry! When?"
"Next week."
"Elizabeth must have been so happy when you told her!"
"You're the first to know, Ma. I want to surprise her. Will you help me?"
Together they came up with a scheme that would allow both Anne and Elizabeth to see him first and surprise the socks off Elizabeth. It was a win-win!
Elizabeth was at her wit's end. Henry hadn't called in a couple of days, and each ring of the telephone sent shockwaves of worry and dread through her. And little Stevie... well... she had been crying for Elizabeth was sure well over 24 hours straight with no sign of stopping. She tried to keep her own tears at bay when the phone rang yet again.
"Henry?"
"Sorry, Elizabeth. It's Anne. I'd ask how you are, but I think I can guess on my own."
"Anne, I'm sorry. Just on edge I guess. Have you heard from Henry? He's missed a couple of phone calls."
"No, dear. I'm afraid I haven't. But it sounds like you could use a break. Why don't you bring Stephanie to Patrick, and we can go out for dinner tonight. How does that sound?"
"That sounds... fabulous. Thank you, Anne. I'll be by your place around 5?"
"Perfect. See you then!"
Elizabeth hung up the phone slowly and glanced at a still crying Stevie. She picked up the baby and tried to soothe her. "Your grandma is up to something. Yes she is!" She cooed to her baby girl, walking to the nursery to get them both ready for the big night.
She dropped Stevie off with Patrick, and she and Anne went to one of her favorite restaurants. The drive there was pleasant and so was the conversation, if a bit stilted.
They waited at their table for their waiter to take their orders, when Elizabeth felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Excuse me, miss. Is this seat taken?"
The sound of his voice made her jump as she turned. He was there! In front of her! She wrapped her arms around him, and the stress of the past few days broke in her, and she found tears streaming down her face as she sobbed into her husband's arms while he soothed her.
"I'm here, babe."
"But how?" Finally Elizabeth pulled away to glance around. The whole restaurant was on their feet, and her mother in law looked suspiciously calm in her seat.
"You knew?" She gasped as she finally let go of her husband and sank into her seat.
"Oh, absolutely! Now, come here boy, and give your mom a hug!"
Annie wrapped her own arms around her boy, and after his months of deployment, finally let herself breathe again.
They sank into the booth of the restaurant, Elizabeth reveling the soft touch of his hand on her knee, while Anne reveled in the sight of her son.