Chapter Text
I’ll Never Stop
It had been almost ten weeks since he had confessed to her. Since she had been publicly humiliated. And whilst things weren’t intense as they were at first a cloud of animosity still hung over not only them but the White House as well. Husband and wife rarely ever crossed paths. It was coordinated that way. The less contact, the less emotion, the less hurt, the better it was for everyone involved.
The President was sleeping on the sofa. The First Lady in their bedroom. It was a tight space for him. What should have been cozy was just cold and lonely. She one the other hand curled up on her side of the bed, hugging his pillow as tight to her as she could possibly get. The smell of him help lulling her to sleep on cold, lonely nights.
He had overslept. He was always up and off the sofa by seven o’clock. But when she opened the bedroom door her eyes immediately fell on him. It was almost as though she was frozen. As much as she wanted to reach out and touch him, to run her hand through his hair, she couldn’t. The thought made her stomach see-saw. She tied the belt of her robe tighter around her and quietly made her way into the kitchen.
Dry toast and some orange juice helped to settle her stomach. The stress of everything had her stomach in knots most days. In fact, the smell of anything strong did. She hadn’t been eating right or exercising much. Her whole body just felt off. She poured a cup of freshly brewed coffee and made her way back into the living room. She sat the cup down on the coffee table for him and made her way back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.
She made her way down in the West Wing and into her office. A stack of paperwork was already waiting on her. An aide already knocking on her open office door. “Mrs. Clinton.” A young man called out. “We’re five minutes out.”
Hillary gave him a slight look of confusion. And then the memory of the meeting she had put off yesterday evening came flooding back to her. “I’ll be there in a moment, Seth.”
She just needed to sit down for a moment. To sit in silence and get her thoughts together. This separation was killing her. She was stuck in limbo, not being able to move forward yet hating with every fiber of her being that she was stuck in such misery. It was a double-edged sword and no matter how she fell on it the pain was still unbearable.
Her stomach see-sawed again. The agonizing nausea wouldn’t go away. It constantly lingered. She didn’t know how much more she could possibly take. She could feel the bile rising in her throat and she bolted for the bathroom.
Her aide knocked on the bathroom door. “Mrs. Clinton?” Huma called out. “Are you alright?”
“Yes.” she replied. “I’m fine.” Hillary opened the bathroom door and made her way toward her desk. Dizziness overcoming her. Huma moved to steady her boss. “Thank you.” she patted her arm. “I’m okay now.”
Huma watched as Hillary sat down in her chair. “Can I ask you a…delicate question, Mrs. Clinton?”
Hillary smiled at the nervousness of the girl. “Of course.”
“Could you be pregnant?”
She laughed the question off. “No.” she replied. “I think it’s just the stress of everything…” she trailed off, there was no need to explain.
“Are you sure?” she asked. “Absolutely sure?”
Hillary thought about it for a moment. She knew that Huma wouldn’t press anything without good reason. “I suppose it’s not completely impossible but very highly unlikely.”
“But it is plausible?”
“Yes.” she found herself actually entertaining the idea.
Huma nodded. “Do you want me to get you….”
She didn’t even have to finish her sentence. “Please be very discreet, Huma.”
“Of course, ma’am.”
/////
Bill was in his private study going over some things when he heard a knock. Before he could get to his feet the door opened. Hillary came in and closed the door behind her but she didn’t come any further into the office, she just lingered at the door.
He was absolutely stunned that she was voluntarily in his office. “Hillary.” He was on his feet, making his way toward her. “Is everything okay?”
“Could you come upstairs with me for a few minutes?”
This was the most words she had spoken to him in a week. “Sure.” he agreed. “Just let me tell John.”
Hillary nodded. “Thank you.”
The President and the First Lady ascended the stairs together. He trailed slightly behind her, letting her lead the way. She led them into the master suite telling him to close the door before continuing on to the bathroom. Bill followed behind her, curious as to what she was up to.
Once they were inside the bathroom he spotted a brown paper bag on the vanity. “Hils, what’s going on?”
She picked up the bag and removed the contents. His eyes grew wide with shock once he realized what she was holding. “You want me to stay why you take it?”
“No.” she rolled her eyes. “I invited you up here for a game of charades.”
“Sorry.” he told her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to… I’ll go if you want.”
“No.” her voice was firm. “I want you here with me.”
“Thank you.” he said quietly. “I know that you didn’t have to include me.”
Her emotions overwhelmed her. She didn’t know rather to scream or cry or bury herself into his strong arms. “Can you just wait out in the bedroom?”
“Sure.” He wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was. So he did as she asked and left the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Once they were safely alone on opposite sides of the door tears fell from both their eyes.
tbc...