Note - In answer to the 'Guest' review - Yes, I have changed the story since the last time I posted it as I wasn't happy with the way I had written it. I wrote this story back in 2019 and my writing has evolved since then, so I've gone in the direction I feel is right for the story now. When I originally posted it, it wasn't complete so I felt able to change it at this stage so I could then complete it the way I wanted. Thank you for reading and I hope you're enjoying the new version.

Henry had a stack of papers a mile high sitting on his desk waiting to be graded. He should have started them days ago but he couldn't seem to focus for long enough to get anything done. He was going through his lectures on autopilot and had no interest in being at work - Although he didn't really want to be at home either.

He had walked out of Elizabeth's apartment 11 very long and very worrying days ago - He knew this only too well because the calendar on his wall continued to taunt him as each day passed. He had tried calling her every day since but she had never picked up the phone. He even made it halfway to Fairfax but turned the car around when he realised that Elizabeth wouldn't let him in - And it was unlikely that Marjorie or Mable - Or whatever the hell the old woman's name was who lived next door would show him that much kindness again.

Leaning back in his chair, Henry crossed his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. From the moment he had opened his office door to see Elizabeth standing in front of him, she had filled his every thought. And now there was a baby thrown into the mix, he honestly didn't know what to do for the best. The idea of Elizabeth facing things alone filled him with so much sadness and guilt he could hardly stand it - But it certainly seemed as if she had shut down completely and wouldn't let him in.

He picked up the phone and dialled her number for the fifth time that day. A number that was already burned into his memory, and as usual, it continued to ring until her answerphone cut in - And like he always did, day after day, he listened to the full message because if he couldn't see her - at least he could hear her voice.

"Hi - You've reached Elizabeth Adams - Please leave me a message after the beep and I'll call you back."

"Elizabeth - It's Henry - again! I desperately need to know that you and the baby are okay! You haven't picked up the phone or responded to any of the messages I've left for you and quite frankly - You're scaring me! Please, please call me back."

As he placed the phone back down, his gaze wandered to the chair on the opposite side of the room. The chair that Elizabeth had sat in when she'd come to tell him about their baby. The chair that was now, stupidly, a constant reminder of her.

Pulling his wallet from his jacket pocket, he took out the ultrasound picture that Elizabeth had given him that day. He had tried to keep it as neat as possible because it was the only proof he had of any kind of connection with Elizabeth. The only picture of a tiny baby that was going to make him a father and a persistent admonition that he had to do something — the problem Henry was facing right now — He had no idea what that something was and time was ticking by way too quickly.

What he couldn't reconcile within himself was why things were always so impossible between him and Elizabeth. Love wasn't meant to hurt like this, was it? Surely if they were meant to be together, they would have found a way by now. They couldn't seem to figure it out and that wasn't healthy - A fact he had pointed out to her before she got so sick.

His head was swimming with memories of Her. Visions of her smiling up at him as she lay in the sunshine on that beautiful spring day when she'd opened up to him about Simon. The look on her face when she had asked him so sweetly to make love to her the night before she left him behind. The feeling of terror that coursed through him when he thought she was going to die that night in Baghdad - And the most recent memory he had of her standing in her kitchen, hands cradling her bump and looking more vulnerable than he'd ever seen her.

What he really needed to decide was if it was better for them to be together or apart, and the more he searched for the answer, the harder it was to find.

Henry was pulled from his thoughts by the wrap of knuckles on his door.

"Come in."

The door swung open and Professor Quintin bounded in. "Henry my boy — I don't suppose you have a copy of Cruden's Concordance I could borrow, have you? I've just been to see Mrs Belcher in the library and she can't seem to locate it."

Henry's thoughts flashed straight back to a very drunk Elizabeth giggling her way through stories of Professor Quintin's extra curricular activities with the librarian. The giggling which had turned to kissing and then led them to the situation they now found themselves in. Henry laughed at the memory, seemingly oblivious that he had.

"What's so funny Henry?"

"Oh nothing Oscar - I think I have a copy at home so leave it with me and I'll see if I can find it."

"Excellent - Much appreciated!" He was almost out of the office, much to Henry's relief when he turned with a big grin "By the way, I forgot to ask — Did Elizabeth Adams find you the other week? She asked for directions to your office although I'd have thought she'd know her away around her old haunt."

"Yes she did, thank you."

"Lovely girl - Always was very bright but very opinionated! Last I heard she was CIA - What have you been up to Henry to get the CIA after you?" His bolshy laugh irritated Henry to no end.

"It wasn't anything important."

"You two would have been studying here at roughly the same time - Did your paths never cross?"

"Sadly not! Was there anything else I can help you with?"

He laughed that god awful belly laugh again "Yes - If you see her again - Get her number for me! She's a real stunner that one."

Henry's blood was boiling. This guy was as sleazy as they got and always had been. He had a reputation for inappropriate comments and lewd remarks which was bad enough - But to have those thoughts about Elizabeth - It was beyond what Henry could condone.

"That's incredibly inappropriate Professor Quintin."

"Oh hush Henry - You know I'm only joking."

"Do I? Elizabeth was a student of yours, wasn't she? Do you make a habit of having those kinds of thoughts about your students?"

"She hasn't been a student of mine for many years Henry so the thoughts I do or do not have about her are none of your concern."

"They are my concern if you have those thoughts about current students - Do I need to take this further Professor?"

"I think this conversation is over Henry. And I very much doubt your attempt at chivalry would impress Miss Adams - She's way out of your league I'm afraid dear boy."

Professor Quintin shuffled off down the corridor muttering under his breath while Henry flopped back into his chair with a sigh. Was there anything in his life that didn't bring him straight back to Elizabeth?!

By the time his day was done - All Henry really wanted to do was go home, down a few beers, watch mind numbing television and quiet the swirling thoughts in his head for a few hours. But sadly he had promised Stacey a date night and he was still trying to make up for missing their date when he'd been at the hotel with Elizabeth - Not that Stacey knew that! A quickly thought out excuse of a last minute faculty meeting got him out of that particularly tight spot. He didn't feel good about lying to her - That's not the type of person he wanted to be but just hearing Elizabeth's name made Stacey angry and possessive so it was definitely for the best.

They sat in the dimly lit restaurant and Henry was doing his very best to be engaging and attentive with Stacey - She wasn't to blame for the current conflict between his head and his heart. She had been there for him and put him back together when he returned from Iraq and he wasn't going to break her heart carelessly.

She took a sip of her wine and smiled "You seem slightly more present with me this evening - I've missed you."

"I'm sorry I've been a bit distant lately - I've had a lot going on."

"You know you can talk to me about it?" She reached out and laced her fingers through his "I want to help."

Henry looked down and he couldn't help but wish it were Elizabeth's hand he was holding - The way they fit together so perfectly. The feel of her fingers as they threaded through his hair and the way she'd scrawled her number on his sweaty palm, what felt like so long ago.

"Henry? Have you heard a single word I've said?" Stacey was looking at him with frustration etched all across her face. "Should we just go because you clearly don't want to be here?"

"I'm sorry - Please stay, I do want to be here. I just have a student who I'm concerned about and she's refusing to accept any help from me. I'm just fretting about it and it's playing on my mind."

"You're such a good man, Henry McCord and I'm so lucky that you're mine."

Her smile sent shivers through him. When did he become this person? A person who was blatantly lying to his girlfriend because he couldn't even be honest with himself. He knew what he really wanted but he didn't have the courage to try and reach for it in case his heart got broken again - But if he carried on like this, he was going to hurt everyone involved.

They ate in relative silence which Henry was extremely grateful for. He didn't have the brain capacity to make small talk and he was worried that if he opened his mouth — More lies may spill out.

"Do you want dessert?" Henry was hoping she'd say yes so he could put off the inevitability of having to take her back to his apartment. He had managed to successfully avoid being intimate with Stacey since the day Elizabeth breezed into his office and turned his life upside down as he knew he just wouldn't be able to do it - Not with visions of the gorgeous, pregnant blonde dancing around in his head.

"Let's just get the bill and go - I want to be alone with you." Stacey had that look he knew only too well.

Henry sighed and then plastered on a smile "Sure."

He signalled to the waiter for the bill and downed his glass of wine. As he opened his wallet and took the money out - The scan picture floated down and landed in the middle of the table. His eyes went wide and he reached to grab it but Stacey already had it in her grasp.

"What's this?"

"Stacey —"

She took her time to look at the picture and then her gaze turned to Henry "I think you should take me home, don't you?"

All Henry could do was nod. This wasn't a conversation he wanted to have in the middle of a crowded restaurant, although the phrase 'Safety in numbers' was running through his head.

The drive to Stacey's apartment had been excruciating. Not a word had been spoken and now they were behind closed doors - Henry was preparing for the onslaught of anger. Stacey was still clutching the little square picture tightly in her hand, so Henry reached for it but she snatched it away.

"So - I know I'm not an academic wonder like you Henry but let's see if I have this correct. I'm holding Elizabeth's ultrasound in my hand, dated two days before she came to see you. Now - She's either slept her way around Baghdad and now needs a safety net, which wouldn't surprise me, or — You're going to be a daddy! I think I already know the answer - But I'd like to hear it from you Henry."

"Yes - I'm going to be a father. I'm so sorry Stacey - I didn't have any idea until she came to see me."

"Well fuck! And you're certain it's yours?"

Henry nodded, "I know her and she wouldn't lie to me about this."

"How long have you been fucking her Henry? Has it been the whole time we've been back together? — My god, the pair of you must have had a great time laughing at my stupidity."

Henry moved towards her "I am not having sex with Elizabeth and I haven't been unfaithful — "

She held up the picture "This kinda proves otherwise Henry."

"No it doesn't! Elizabeth is almost halfway through her pregnancy already — She conceived this baby while we were still in Iraq and I hadn't set eyes on her again until a few weeks ago."

"I don't think I can believe a word that comes out of your mouth anymore. That evil little bitch has you tied up in knots like a play thing and now she's chained herself to you forever."

"I know you're upset Stacey and you can be as angry as you like with me, I deserve it. But do not speak about Elizabeth that way. She has done nothing wrong."

Stacey laughed "You are so blinded by her bullshit that you can't see her for exactly who she is. Elizabeth Adams is a manipulative, conniving little whore who will do anything to get what she wants."

Henry had heard enough "You couldn't be more wrong. Elizabeth is the kindest, most compassionate person I've ever met. She puts everyone else first and never asks for anything in return. Do you know why she came to see me that day Stacey?"

"Anything she could get?"

"She came to see me because she thought I should know about the baby. She didn't want money or help or anything else for that matter. She wasn't looking to break up our relationship —She just wanted me to know."

"So that you would drop everything and go running after her — My god Henry, for an intelligent guy you're being played like a fiddle."

"I think I should go. Aiming insults at Elizabeth isn't going to change anything and honestly — I can't stomach any more of it so please hold your tongue."

"Why? Don't I have the right to be angry Henry?"

"Yes - Of course you do, I'm not disputing that Stacey. But aiming your anger at Elizabeth isn't fair. She's the mother of my child and I will protect both of them with everything I am."

"Do you love her?"

Henry sighed "I never meant to hurt you. I really did try to move on and I didn't think I would ever see her again."

"Henry — Can you finally try a little honesty please?"

"Yes - I love Elizabeth! I always have and I should never have entered into a relationship with you when my heart belonged to her."

"I was there for you when you needed someone - When she had broken your heart and she will do it again Henry! She will use that child against you and she will crush you."

"That's the thing with true love though, isn't it! You're willing to risk everything for it. And for Elizabeth and our baby I will happily risk it all."

Stacey looked at Henry in disbelief. She had hoped when they got back together that he would finally be all in. But if she was really honest with herself - He was never going to love her in the same way she loved him. She looked at the small picture still in her hand and before Henry could stop her - She tore it into tiny pieces and dropped them on the floor.

"You are making a huge mistake Henry and she will rip you to pieces."

Henry looked at the fragments of the ultrasound scattered on the floor and in that moment, he finally knew exactly what to do — He only hoped it wasn't too late. He turned to walk out and Stacey called after him.

"I haven't finished talking! Where are you going?"

Henry knew he shouldn't but he smiled at her and shrugged "I'm going to do what I should have done weeks ago —"

"And what's that?"

"I'm going to go and be with my family." Henry took one more look at Stacey and closed that door behind him - Ready to step through the right one.