A Day Off - Chapter 3

Here is the conclusion to my little story. I have really enjoyed being part of this fandom and will try to write more. Thanks for the support and comments. Hope you all enjoy the end to their day off.

Elizabeth sat on the comfy sofa in their living room waiting for the kids to come home. She'd had a great afternoon, all her favourite things to do. The pub food was a very good way to start and she had eaten healthily, so much so that she wondered if she would actually be able to eat dinner even now. The little Irish pub had become a firm favourite for them on their arrival at their new house and no-one batted an eyelid when her detail arrived to check the place out now. She and Henry had sat in a quiet corner and simply enjoyed each others company. They had then taken a walk through her favourite park and was able, for a few moments, to forget that she had the weight of the world on her shoulders at times. The weather had been wonderful, not too hot that it was uncomfortable to sit in and they had sat on a bench and pretended that there weren't four burly guys watching out for them. They had talked about their life, world events (especially ones that she had no part in at all) and the kids. It had felt great to connect back with her world that she often felt was disappearing the more time she spent in the state department.

Finally Henry had surprised her with a visit to their favourite antique book store. From the first time she had met Henry they had shared a love of books. Obviously Henry had taken that love to a new level with his studies but she was also a big fan. For both of them the older the book the better and knowing this, James Smith always kept a few items aside for them if they visited. It had taken Elizabeth a couple of visits to realise that Henry obviously told the man when they were coming and had directed him to their personal areas of interest. It meant that every time they were there she just had to buy something, and today was no exception. She looked at the book on her lap, its fine binding that was in mint condition, she lifted it to her nose and inhaled, she loved the smell of old books. Gently almost reverently she opened the book and stared at the writing, it was over 300 years old, older than the country she served. It had come from Britain, and was a Georgian copy of a work of William Shakespeare. Like the other two she had of its kind it was not the play that mattered but the fact that she and Henry would lie in their bed reading it to each other forming memories that would last her a lifetime. She really loved books.

"Hey babe, what are you doing?" Henry broke the spell and she looked up at him.

"Just waiting for the time when we read this to each other." She replied.

He smiled indulgently at her; he also enjoyed their time reading. It had begun early in their relationship before the internet or cable TV was there to entertain them, or distract them. He knew from a previous conversation with her that it was at the moment they were reading that they both had fallen in love with each other completely. Reading brought them together and even although they were busier now than they had ever been he vowed that it would be one of the many things that kept them together.

"Afraid it will have to wait, Allison called, they are on their way and in her words they have an 'amazing plan' for family night."

Elizabeth giggled at the look on his face. "C'mon babe, how bad could it be?"

Henry looked shocked, "Do not challenge our children in that way Liz, you know this could be a very long night."

Elizabeth was stopped from replying when the front door flew in and their three children arrived home. She used to refer to them as her bundles of energy but that seemed to convey an image of small children, she had not come up with another name that would evoke the loud, wonderful disturbance her children brought to the house.

"We're back" Jason called out, stating the obvious. They piled into the main room carrying bags and big cups of pop and bags of popcorn.

"I don't think we need to worry about dinner for a long time." Henry commented kissing Stevie and Allison on the forehead and ruffling Jason's hair.

Allison flopped on the sofa, her bags surrounding her. "We had a fab time." She stated.

"Yeah dad, for the record $50 is too high a limit." Jason added to the conversation. "Took me and Chris Reynolds over two hours to get them out of the shops, I didn't sign up for that this morning."

"Sorry Jase, I feel your pain." Henry commiserated with his son.

Elizabeth moved over to the sofa where Allison was and Stevie had sat on the side. "C'mon, show me what you bought."

"Mom, we got some amazing clothes at this shop in Georgetown, its second hand but wow they are unbelievable" Allison stated quickly removing the items she had bought from the bags.

Jason rolled his eyes, "I can't live through this again." He mumbled and Henry smiled at him. "What did you blow my 50 bucks on then?"

Jason reached down for his fairly small bag, "Well I took Stevie's advice and went to the game store with the returns section and instead of one violent and shocking game for $50 I was able to buy three. She does have some good ideas….for a girl."

"Hey I heard that dork, show some respect." Stevie piped up from the sofa where she was now covered in a pile of clothes that all three McCord women were gushing over.

"Well buddy I think we need to get out of here before they use us as models, how about we go get the snacks organised in the kitchen for tonight." Henry nodded in the direction of the sofa then steered Jason out of the room leaving the ladies to bond over clothing.

"You got all this for $50" Elizabeth was incredulous.

"No we got it for $40 each so we spent the rest on jewellery." Allison said, quickly sidling a look to her big sister. "Look this one will be great in my belly button when I get it pierced." She said innocently.

Elizabeth looked at the offending item but before she could say anything Stevie weighed in. "Yeah Mom, our appointment was confirmed for next week, you just need to sign these forms for Allison and we are good to go."

"No…..no….no.. " Elizabeth started. "Henry get in here, the girls want to get their belly buttons pierced." Elizabeth was struggling to stand and try to get to Henry so they could put a united front up against the girls getting a matching piercing. Unfortunately for her, her children had conspired with her husband against her.

"What's up", Henry said nonchalantly as he walked back into the main room. "oh by the way I just signed Jason's form for his lip piercing."

Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room dumbstruck, she could form no words and for her that was a very big deal. Moments passed as she waved her hands from the sofa and the girls to Jason and finally to Henry. Her world had shifted on its axis and not in a good way. Suddenly from around the room there was deep laughter and as she quickly caught on to what was happening Elizabeth began to laugh too.

Once all five of them had calmed down it was announced that one of Jason's violent games was the family activity much to most others disappointment. However once they got into teams, parents vs children, they all found it fun. The parents were not doing well until Elizabeth and Henry realised that their skills as ex-agents could be put to excellent use in the game, either by silent communication between them or different ways to fight on the screen. It was at the point where they won that apparently all their children decided enough was enough.

They ordered take out from their local restaurant, while getting some for the detail outside as well and sat watching a movie. Disney was always the best, at least that's what Elizabeth believed and while the girls agreed wholeheartedly, Henry and Jason took a little longer to be convinced that it would be good if Nemo found his way home.

The family slowly drifted off to bed, they knew that they would have to be on duty a little more tomorrow with church with the first family and a lunch invite to the White House. Elizabeth was in bed by the time Henry had checked the house, not that it needed done with secret service agents outside but he liked to do it. He got ready for bed and then got in beside her snuggling up to her. Elizabeth sighed as she relaxed in his arms.

"So, good day off?" He asked quietly.

"The best Henry, I love you and our family."

"Me too" He cuddled closer beside her and felt her drift into sleep. "Love you babe." He whispered and let himself fall asleep too.

AN: so all done, thanks for reading. Will have to see if inspiration hits, maybe an actual story where Elizabeth is working, although I have enjoyed writing about the family so who knows.