Chapter 13: Heart and Stomach of a King

"You want to do WHAT?!"

"Calm down, honey," Elizabeth says quickly, alarmed at Robert's reaction. "I'll be at a desk all day for quite awhile, just like I am at the newspaper."

Robert starts pacing the kitchen. "Why? Why would you think this was a good idea, Elizabeth? What possessed you to think that a career in law enforcement would be a good idea?"

"I'm bored at the newspaper," Elizabeth replies. "I'm tired of writing about all the unfortunate things that happen in this world. I want to do something about it."

Robert stops pacing for a moment and looks her in the eye. "Is this some sort of delayed reaction to Edward's death?" he asks.

"It's not a delayed reaction. It's more like a realization that I want to do something more with my life than just write about what other people are doing with theirs. I want to do something worthwhile, Robert."

"Who says being an anonymous source handler isn't worthwhile? If you're intent on helping clean up the community, you can still do that as a journalist! You can expose the criminals through investigative reporting!"

"It's not the same."

"Don't you realize how foolish this is? How much danger you're putting yourself in? Elizabeth, you wanted anonymity here. Putting yourself in the line of duty is absolutely the worst thing you could  possibly do!"

"Robert..."

"I thought we wanted a quiet life here," he continues.  "We wanted to live and raise our family in peace. Being a police officer is not conducive to a quiet life."

"It will be peaceful, Robert. Honestly, I'll probably spend most of my time writing reports and handing out speeding tickets. This isn't like being a cop in a big city," Elizabeth replies. "I'll be home for dinner every night."

"We have four children, Elizabeth. They need their mother." Robert pauses. "I need you," he says softly.

Elizabeth bites her lip. "I know, honey, it's just...my work isn't enough for me anymore. I'm not happy being a journalist."

"That's fine, dear," Robert says earnestly. "If you want to leave the newspaper, that's fine. But can't you find more fulfilling work anywhere besides the police force? You could garden full-time. Or work at the theatre."

"No, Robert. I really want to join the force."

"I won't let you." Robert's voice is uncharacteristically hard. "I won't let you put yourself in danger just to satisfy your midlife crisis."

Elizabeth bristles at his words. "I'm a grown woman who makes her own decisions, Robert," she says defiantly. "You can threaten me all you want, but there's not a thing you can do to stop me."

"YOU COULD DIE!" Robert bellows. "Don't you understand? You could die, Elizabeth! Police officers get killed in the line of duty!"

"You're overreacting, Robert," Elizabeth says coolly. "I've already turned in my application and been accepted. I start in two days. There's nothing you can do."

"You already applied?!" Robert's eyes widen in shock. "You didn't even discuss it with me before you applied? You should have talked to me first!"

"Why?" Elizabeth asks coldly. "Because you are the man of the house? Because I need your permission to change careers? I don't think so, Robert. I've made my decision. You're just going to have to live with it." She heads for the door, but Robert grabs her wrist.

"Wait," he says quickly, "Elizabeth, I didn't mean..."

"Save it, Robert," Elizabeth snaps. "If you wanted a doormat for a wife, you married the wrong girl." She stalks out the door, slamming it behind her.

Robert stares at the door for a few minutes. "Robert, you knucklehead," he says ruefully.  "You really messed up this time."



Seething from her fight with Robert, Elizabeth makes a call, and heads to Luigi's.

Cecil is waiting there for her, with an open seat next to him and an open tab.

"Trouble in paradise?" he asks mildly as she sits down with a huff.

"You might say that."

"Oh dear." Cecil signals to the bartender. "Two scotch on the rocks, my good man."

They sip their drinks for awhile, not speaking, until Cecil breaks the silence.

"So, my dear, what has Sweet Robin done this time?"

"I'll tell you what he's done," Elizabeth says angrily. "He's turned into some kind patriarchal husband who thinks he has the right to control his wife!"

"A controlling husband? Elizabeth, your husband disagreeing with you doesn't make him controlling," Cecil chuckles.

"I'm serious, Spirit! He told me that he wouldn't let me join the police force!"

Cecil chokes on his scotch. "You want to join the police force?"

"Yes. When I told Robert, I expected him to not particularly like the idea, but then he went and said he wouldn't let me join. As if he had some control over what career I chose!"

"I see. Well, let's look at this logically, Elizabeth. Is there anything that Robert can actually do to prevent you from joining the police force?"

"No! That's what I told him!"

"Okay. Do you think that Robert would actually physically try to prevent you from joining the police force?"

Elizabeth stares at her glass. "Well, no."

"Do you think that he maybe just said something out of anger and frustration that he really didn't mean?"

"Possibly." Elizabeth is quiet for a moment. "I know there's nothing he can do, Spirit, but he really scared me when he said that. He's never talked to me that way before."

"People tend to lash out when they are scared, Elizabeth," Cecil says. "You've both been under a lot of stress  since Edward's death. Robert has been worried about you and your safety ever since you went back home. Your desire to join the police and put yourself in the line of fire was the last straw. You, on the other hand, have been stressed not only from worry, but from a desire to have your life under your own control. The implication that Robert might have some control over your life was your last straw. Unfortunately, the backs of both camels broke at the same time."

"You're probably right," Elizabeth mutters. "As usual."

"'Tis a blessing and a curse," Cecil replies, draining his glass. "Now, let's move on to the next topic at hand; why exactly do you have a sudden desire to become a police officer?"

"My job at the newspaper is pointless, Spirit. I want to do something meaningful with my life."

Cecil groans. "Another round, my good sir!" he calls down to the bartender. He turns to Elizabeth. "I didn't realize you are having an existential crisis, Elizabeth."

"Why must you call it a crisis?" Elizabeth says irritably. "Robert called it a midlife crisis. You're calling it an existential crisis. Why must it be a crisis?"

"Because it sounds like you are having a crisis," he answers. "The way you view your life has been radically changed. It's perfectly normal to experience crises after traumatic events. You've just lost both your siblings in a short time frame. You're getting older and your children are growing up. You want to make sure you're doing something meaningful with your life."

"Is that so bad?" Elizabeth asks. "Is it bad that I want to do something meaningful with my life?"

"Not at all," Cecil says. "What is bad is making important decisions like these without thinking them through. Your decisions don't only affect you, you know. They affect your husband and your children, too. Have you seriously thought about the consequences?"

"I have thought it through," Elizabeth replies. "I really want to do this, Spirit."

Cecil looks at her warily. "You always were obstinate."

"I prefer 'determined.'"

"As you wish." He makes eye contact with the bartender. "A final round, sirrah!"

"Are you trying to get me drunk, Spirit?"

"I have many agendas, Elizabeth. Getting you drunk is not one of them."

"It had better not be. I can drink you under the table."

Cecil chuckles as the bartender sets down their drinks. "A toast," he says, lifting his glass, "to the newest member of Sunset Valley's finest. Heaven have mercy on the unfortunate souls she arrests, for she certainly will have none."

Elizabeth grins. "Hear, hear!"

Elizabeth quietly comes home late that night. Robert is asleep in the new armchair he bought to celebrate the success of his latest book. She looks at him guiltily. Robert never liked going to bed before resolving a dispute and clearly had been waiting for her.

"Robert..." She strokes his hair. "Honey, I'm home..."

He opens his eyes blearily.  "Elizabeth? Is that you?"

Elizabeth kisses him on the head. "Yes, it's me. I'm sorry I got home so late," she says softly. "I just needed to do some thinking and calm down."

"We both needed to calm down," Robert says gruffly, getting out of his chair. "Elizabeth, I..."

"I'm so sorry Robert," Elizabeth says tearfully. "I didn't know how upset this would make you, and I'm sorry. If it's really that upsetting for you, I won't join the force..."

Robert gently takes her face in his hands. "Elizabeth, I don't ever want to stop you from doing something that you feel strongly about. What I wanted to do was to make sure that you had thought this decision through. I didn't express that very well this afternoon, and I'm sorry. If joining the police force is something that you feel passionately about, I will support you completely."

"Really?"

Robert smiles. "Absolutely. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself,"

Elizabeth nods and buries her head in his shoulder.

Robert strokes her long red hair. "I never wanted a doormat," he murmurs in her ear. "I've always wanted you. And you, love, are no doormat."
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Making Robert and Elizabeth fight was painful. I hated doing it in game and I hated writing it. I prefer them being adorable.

We're finally putting the "hopper" in the "job hopper" aspect of this roll. Seeing as I don't have Generations, her job switch isn't really due to a midlife crisis. Things are moving along nicely, challenge-wise. I'm working on achieving Robert and Elizabeth's LTW's and prepping Jane for the generation takeover.  The only requirement left is Party to Remember, but I'm thinking of saving that for the twins' YA birthday.

Elizabeth hated being told what to do. Absolutely hated it. Why else would she forsake marriage? (Hint: it was not because she was a hermaphrodite or a man, despite whatever the National Geographic Channel speculates. That program made me want to retch.) The woman liked power. Towards the end of her life, one of her counselors, Robert Cecil (son of William) told her she "must" go to bed, as she was ill. She rebuked him, saying "Must! Is must a word to be addressed to princes? Little man, little man! Thy father, if he had been alive, durst not have used that word."

I realize that it was a little weird for Elizabeth to go talk about her husband problems with another man, but he's kind of her BFF in the story. Her relationship with Bess at this juncture isn't really good enough for them to start confiding in one another and she really doesn't have anybody else that she's close to, so it's William Cecil who saves the day. Elizabeth was always one of those women who related more to men, I think, than she did to women, so it kind of fits her.

Today's title comes to you from the mouth of Elizabeth herself. During the battle of the Spanish Armada, Elizabeth rode to meet the troops being led by Robert Dudley at Tilbury and offer encouragement. She wore armor over her gown. The speech she gave there is probably her most famous. "I am come amongst you," she said, "as you see, at this time, not for my recreation and disport, but being resolved, in the midst and heat of the battle, to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honor and my blood, even in the dust. I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king; and a king of England too, and think foul scorn that Parma or Spain, or any prince of Europe, should dare invade the borders of my realm." Knowing Elizabeth, she probably would have rather died than have her country conquered by Spain. Luckily, England, having some of the finest sailors in the navy including Francis Drake, Walter Raleigh, Martin Frobisher, John Hawkins and Charles Howard, as well as having the weather on their side, was able to defeat the Spanish Armada. This defeat began the centuries-long British dominance of the seas and laid the foundation for their overseas empire.

Just a few chapters left before Generation Two finally takes over. I've got a storyline developing and getting really psyched about it!