Hi everyone!

Fyi I miss Blake and Nadine's interactions a lot. And I am very intrigued by what type of friendship she and Elizabeth could've had if they had explored it more in the series. Especially because I feel that the character could've had a good thing with Mike B and we would have a blast with date night scenes of them with the McCords (please someone write this!)

But I digress! Anyway, enjoy this small piece of friendship love.

9.39 a.m. Blake looked at his overpriced, overly shiny watch as soon as he put the phone down. It was Matt letting him know she was coming up. He shot a quick message to Nadine. She would meet him in the elevator lounge as usual.

She was coming directly from Sitcom. Something happened during the night.

He took the time before the elevator dinged to center himself, smoothing his shirt and impeccable tie. Nadine looked sideways to him, finding it amusing that he always felt the need to will his tie to be the most perfect tie in the whole world as if it wasn't already. It was hard to find a man better dressed than Blake Moran in the State Department.

"India and Pakistan?"

Nadine gave him an nonchalant nod - "Kashmir again. She has been there since 3a.m."

"Ok. We'll have to move the meeting with UNITAR to 2.30" Blake stated, anticipating the need of an extra 30 minutes after lunch for a nap.

"Yeah. Maggie already sent out a message to reschedule."

By now, they did this dance perfectly, and they made an art of it. Nothing could go past Blake or Nadine when it came to the Secretary's agenda.

Their eyes fell on the elevator as it dinged, the good morning already falling from their lips. She really did want to start everyday with that.

"Good morning Mam", they said in unison.

"Is it though?" Elizabeth looked tired and defeated. As she got out of the elevator, Blake was already at her side trying to catch every piece of clothing she wrestled to take out. Scarf. Winter coat. Briefcase.

Nadine was already taking notes, absorbing everything Elizabeth was firing up her way.

By 2p.m. the Pakistani foreign minister had come and go, Admiral Hill had made a visit and the video call with India had ended with frustrated glares and elevated voices. Nadine had stepped into the office for that last one. The air in the office was a mix of frustration and burned brain cells. Jay had joined Elizabeth during most of the meetings that morning, they looked not even an inch closer to reaching a solution on the problem.

"If they could just talk to each other. God what a mess!"

"Yeah. Let's keep playing the ally card with india Jay. Give them a chance to meet us halfway."

"Of course Mam" "Thanks Jay."

As he left Elizabeth pushed her hands through her hair, a gesture she rarely let happen in from of anyone. A sign of her obvious tiredness and frustration.

Without skipping a beat she put on her glasses again and took a report from the growing pile on the left of the desk.

Nadine eyed her from the top of her own glasses. "The meeting at 2 has been rescheduled." She let the information float in the air, trying to see if she would catch the hint: you can stop and rest a little.

"Ok, thanks Nadine" - ok, she didn't catch that.

"You could rest for a little bit" Nadine pushed again

"Yeah, no. I'm ok" - She didn't even take her eyes off the pages.

"And you should eat something. Coffee isn't food you know." A challenging smile played on Nadine's face.

"i'm not really hungry" - she let out a huff, being too polite to ask Nadine to leave.

Nadine took her glasses calmly, closed her notebook and took a wrapper from her jacket pocket.

"Eat Elizabeth" - Nadine pushed the protein bar towards her again on the table.

"I - I…" finally she accepted defeat, huffing - "You're just as bad as Blake"

"Yes, well. Deal with it" - In an effort to hide her annoyance, Nadine tried to secure her pen on her notebook, her eyes never leaving her lap. She only took a more relaxed breath once she heard the rip of the wrapper.

As soon as Elizabeth took the first bite, her body left an involuntary sigh. Her glasses landed loudly on the table and her shoulders sank a bit to a relaxed posture. Nadine couldn't hold the mischievous smirk that played on her lips.

"Better now?" She couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease her a little.

"Ah ah aren't you funny today?!" It was Elizabeth's time to tease her.

"I am funny. But only around who I want to be"

Nadine said with her mischievous smile and narrow eyes. Challenging Elizabeth to keep it up. Anything to make her breathe a little and set down her stress levels.

"Oh, now I get it" Elizabeth couldn't let her get away with the teasing.

"What?" - Nadine was already defensive, that sneaky look on Elizabeth's face was never a good sign.

"Now I get what Mike was telling me about your sense of humor. You ought to bring more of that side of yours into the office"

At the mention of Mike, Nadine blushed. They've been together more than a year. By now it was common knowledge to everyone, but Elizabeth never addressed the matter with her specifically. It was also weird to think that her boss and friend was his confidante, the one he turned to for support and advice about his love life. Did they talk about her here in this office? Did she approve of their relationship?

"Mam, about Mike… I-I know you two are good friends so I'm sorry if our relationship made you uncomfortable in any way. It was never my intention to…"

Nadine stopped talking when Elizabeth raised her hand in a stopping motion.

"Nadine, are you happy with Mike?"

It was Nadine's time to sigh, "Yes, very happy" - it was impossible to keep the giddy smile from her face.

"Then I'm ok with it. I am totally ok with it. I just want you to be happy." She said truthfully.

"I thought you were going to…"

"Mike is a big boy, he can defend himself! And don't get me wrong, I know you can hold your own, but loyalty it's a bridge that goes both ways and you are important to me. As my chief of staff and as a friend"

"Thank you Elizabeth"

"Now, " Elizbeth started with a playful smile - "Because of you my brain has reminded itself of an awful thing called hunger and that protein bar qualifies as an appetizer tops!" She stood up challenging Nadine. "What do you say to a cheeseburger and a walk in the park?"

"I say grab your things. I'll tell Matt we are on our way down"