Leo was approaching the Bartlet cottage, newspaper in hand, when he heard his daughter's voice coming from the porch. It was obvious she was talking with the Bartlet girls.

"Ok, the list of their favorite songs from the 50's to now is officially finished," Mallory sighed. "This has been a lot of fun. I'm glad you asked me to help out. Your parents mean a lot to me. Some of the best times of my life were those weeks I spent at the farm with you guys when I was a kid. Your Mom and Dad were so terrific and fun. I really felt like part of a family when I was with you all."

"You had a family, Mallory," Leo said sharply.

"Daddy!" Mallory jumped.

"You had a family, Mallory, you didn't need the Bartlets for that."

"You know what I meant. Of course I had a family," she said soothingly. "I just meant that it was a lot of fun to be with all the girls. Being an only child was lonely sometimes." Mallory didn't mention all those meals she ate in silence with her mother because her father was too busy with his work, or was out getting drunk. Uncle Jed did not come home long after his daughters were already in bed and kiss them on the cheek reeking of alcohol. And, Aunt Abbey did not make snide comments about her husband's flaws as a father to her daughters. Yeah, they fought, but rarely in front of the girls. And, when they did break that rule, it was actually kind of fun to watch them argue. It was more like watching a sparring match where nobody got hurt and nobody got sucker punched, which was completely different from her house. The Bartlets never stormed off to bed angry, leaving the other to find another sleeping arrangement. Instead, whatever went on behind those closed bedroom doors seemed to put them in an even extra good humor the following day when they would be back to their teasing banter. She even got used to the touching and the open affection they had for one another. It was so comforting for her to be in a home with that kind of loving stability, when her own home was filled with the chaos and anger of substance abuse.

Leo walked in off the porch into the living room of the cottage where Abbey lay reclining on the couch in faded jean shorts and a white tank top reading a book. Jed was lying on the floor beside the babies on a quilt. He was propped up on one elbow squeezing a little squeaky toy that made them gurgle and reach up to him. Abbey glanced up from her book and Leo looked down at the sand he had dragged in on his bare feet.

"Sorry, Abbey," he murmured.

"Don't worry about it, Leo," Abbey said with a wave of her hand, "there have been so many dripping wet, sandy people coming through here it hardly matters anymore."

"Come take a look at these smiles I'm getting," Jed urged him. Leo moved forward to look down at the drooling, smiling, utterly adorable Bartlet babies.

"You got great looking kids Mr. President," Leo grinned, putting a finger out for Aislinn to grasp, "but are you sure those smiles aren't gas?"

"Those are true and genuine smiles for the man who takes care of them, the man who feeds them and who gets up in the middle of the night with them..." Jed's grandiose pronouncement was cut short by Abbey's sarcastic coughing spell and he looked up to see her giving him the evil eye.

"And their mother helps out with this too," he added.

"Helps out?" Abbey said astonished, shoving him on the back of his shoulder with her bare foot. "I practically need to use a cattle prod to make you get up with them at night."

"Uh, Abbey, is she hungry?" Leo asked, looking down at Aislinn who had pulled his finger into her mouth to suck on.

"Teething," Abbey explained, "they'll gnaw on anything right about now."

"Here," Jed handed him a cold teething ring which Leo put in the baby's mouth in place of his finger. "Now, why are you here Leo? Somehow, I don't think you stopped in just to admire my gorgeous children."

"I'm afraid not. There's something CJ and I thought you should see."

"What is it, Leo?" Abbey asked sitting up, as Leo handed the paper to Jed. She quickly scanned the headline proclaiming "First Lady Shows Her True Colors."

"Evidently a free lance photographer has taken some unofficial pictures of your vacation. Some of the pictures were taken on the Abigail Anne." Leo watched all the blood drain from Abbey's face and panic fill her eyes and, for the briefest of moments, he felt a twinge of satisfaction for having given her such a fright.

"Oh my God," she breathed, sinking back down against the throw pillows and closing her eyes.

"It's ok Abbey," Jed said squeezing her knee. He knew exactly what she was worried about. "It's from the day of the clambake." He showed her the front page of USA Today, and Abbey was relieved to see the headline was referring to her patriotic bikini top and sarong, not that night in her camisole, as she had feared. There were two photos on the front page. One of Jed smoothing sunscreen onto her shoulders and one of the two of them slow-dancing on the deck of the boat.

"Other than flashing my wife's great little bod onto every magazine stand in America, I don't see what the big deal is, Leo."

"Actually CJ and I liked the pictures. They'll be good for us in the long run to dispute the tabloid rumors of a rift between the two of you. But, turn the page," Leo instructed. On the inside page was an innocent photo of the two of them sitting on the beach, each with a twin on their lap.

"Jesus Christ Leo," Jed burst out, jumping angrily to his feet. "I want CJ to get this guy and I want to meet with him privately."

"Mr. President, don't you think you should calm down first? Besides, this guy isn't White House Press, they know the rules about your children."

"No Leo, I don't think I should calm down. And, I don't care who the hell he works for. I want him brought in! And, while you're at it, get Ron Butterfield over here."

"Ron?" Abbey asked puzzled

"Goddammit Abbey, the Secret Service let a photographer get close enough to get these pictures. What if, instead of a camera, he'd had a gun? Someone could have killed our children!" Abbey blanched at the thought, looking down at the picture of her vulnerable babies lying in their parent's arms. Parents who were targets for so many wacko extremists that there were specially trained agents whose job it was to filter through their mail to decide whether someone should be considered a true threat or just mouthing off.

"Yes, Leo," Abbey added firmly, "Get Ron over here pronto."

***

Later that evening, Jed was lying back in bed flipping through a magazine but his gaze kept lifting to his wife. She was sitting at her vanity scooping her hair into her hands and holding it up off her neck, turning her head side to side, then letting it fall back down to her shoulders, before repeating the process.

"What are you doing?" He finally asked.

"Jenny and Mallory planned a day at Serenity Spa tomorrow for all of us. We're going to have exfoliating facials, milk baths, waxing, pedicures, manicures, massages, make up and hair. I'm trying to decide if I want to wear my hair up or down for the party."

"Do I get any say?" He asked, coming up behind her to press his lips to the exposed nape of her neck.

"Let me guess," she tilted her head back to look up at him. "You want it down?"

"Oh yeah," he grinned and began to run his fingers through her soft tresses. "There is nothing sexier than a woman's long hair brushing her bare shoulders." He took the brush from her and began to run it through her hair in strong easy strokes. He loved to brush his wife's beautiful hair almost as much as his wife loved for him to do it. Abbey leaned her head back, sighing with pleasure. "Now, what is this about a massage?" He asked, leaning down to nip her earlobe. "I don't like the idea of you laying naked while some big Swedish guy rubs his hands over your body massaging you."

"Really?" she teased raising an eyebrow, "Because I think that sounds pretty good to me."

"It does, does it? Well, there goes that full body massage I was going to offer to give you tonight. Actually," he put the brush down and moved to pick up the magazine he had been flipping through, "I was thinking about ways to raise our adventurous sexuality score."

"Oh Jed, put that stupid magazine away, I'm sorry I ever filled out that survey."

"Well, I happen to think it is very interesting, Abigail. Let's see. We scored 4 out of 5 stars. For 4 stars it says that we are daring adventurers who enjoy sex with erotic enthusiasm, initiative, and a willingness to experiment. I'd say that's a valid assessment. I LOVE to experiment."

"No kidding," Abbey smiled, remembering how he hadn't blinked an eye when she brought home that book on Kama Sutra. They had, in fact, had quite a fun and erotic winter going through that book together.

"So, it looks like our strong points were in the sections of sensuality, lack of inhibition, and sheer volume. I want to know where we lost points so we can see if we can't get up into that top spot."

"Kinky," she said, moving towards him to run a finger over his bottom lip.

"What?" He swallowed.

"We lost points in the kinky section."

"I can do kinky," he insisted.

"Really? Well, let me get my black lace bustier, garters, and fishnet stockings." She began digging through her lingerie drawer for the objects mentioned.

"Now, you're talking," he said, feeling his nether region come to life at just the mention of the naughty underwear. Abbey found what she was looking for and handed the items to Jed. He looked at her puzzled. "Aren't you going to put them on?" He asked.

"No. YOU are," she smiled slyly.

"Me!" Jed dropped the items on the bed as if they were on fire.

"It's only kinky if you wear my underwear. If I wear it, it's merely sexy."

"I'm ok with sexy," he said, picking the underwear back up, "you go ahead and put it on. I can live with 4 stars."

"Somehow I thought you'd say that," she patted his behind and began to move toward the bathroom dangling the lace garments on the edge of her finger, bringing back that tightening in his groin that had disappeared at the mention of him wearing women's underwear.

****

The next morning brought noise and chaos to the Bartlet cottage as preparations for the anniversary party began. Tents were erected, tables and chairs moved in, and dance floors laid out. The caterers arrived with glasses, dishes and champagne fountains. Abbey, Beth, and Emily were in the thick of things directing the human traffic, while Jed sat at the kitchen table spooning baby cereal into his offspring and listening to his daughters giggle with enthusiasm over their upcoming day at the spa.

"Mornin' Jane," he said to his yawning sister-in-law who joined him at the table in her bathrobe.

"It is an obscene hour to be awake," Jane grumbled, "but who the heck can sleep with all this racket?"

"Aren't you going to the spa with everyone else?"

"Yeah," she grimaced, "Abbey's been bugging me about it. She really wants me to go with them and take part in this girlie girl day."

"You're a good sister, Jane," he smiled, sticking a bottle into Nicky's mouth to wash down some of his cereal. He knew how much Jane hated primping and preening. She was more the wash n' wear type.

"Blah, blah, blah," she wrinkled her nose, "but I'm only going to be a good sport to a certain extent. I already told her no hot rollers in my hair and nobody is painting my toenails."

"What about a dress? Are we going to see the infamous Jane O'Neill in a dress for the second time since I have known her?"

"It would be my third," she reminded him. "My bridesmaid's gown and that dress I caved in and wore to your Inaugural Ball."

"Oh yeah, I forgot that one."

"That's because you only had your eyes on your wife that night," she smiled. "I have a pantsuit for tonight. I am not wearing another gown until your next Inauguration and that will be the last one ever, so you better get pictures." Jed smiled at his sister-in-law, knowing that in her own round about way she had just informed him that she too had forgiven him and was behind him in his re-election campaign. "Oh, before Abbey comes in, I wanted to give you something." She left for a minute and came back with her sketchbook. Jed opened it to see all the lonely pictures of Abbey that Jane had sketched at the beginning of her vacation.

"Thank you Jane," he said softly.

"They belong to you, just like she does. I want you to have these because when you are tempted to feel that she doesn't need you, you can just look at these sketches and see just how wrong you are. I have something else for the two of you tonight when you open your gifts, but these are for you."

"You're a fine lady," Jed said, leaning down to kiss her on the forehead.

"Woman, Jed," she wagged a finger at him, "woman."

****

"Abigail," Emily said, approaching her daughter-in-law. "Isn't it about time that you leave for the spa?" Abbey glanced down at her watch.

"You're right, it is. I wish you would change your mind and come with us, Emily."

"I'm an old woman, Abigail. A spa isn't going to help me."

"It can benefit you just in terms of relaxation. My mother is going."

"I know, but I would prefer to stay here and make sure that the set-up runs smoothly. This is my area of expertise. I had 20 years as a headmaster's wife, setting up graduations and alumni dinner dances. Let me do this for you and Josiah."

"If this is really what you want, than all I can say is that I appreciate it."

"Before you go, I'd like to give you something. I found these in the attic at the camp in Wolfeboro," she handed Abbey a shoebox. Abbey opened the box to see a stack of envelopes tied together with a ribbon. She looked at Emily puzzled.

"I don't understand?"

"Those are the letters you wrote to Josiah the summer he was working on the Indian Reservation. He knew he kept them and over the years he has looked everywhere at the farm for them. I think he believed I found them and threw them away. I wouldn't have done that. I knew how important they were to him. He must have forgotten that when he returned from the Reservation, we were still at the lake and he spent the week there before going back to Indiana. I was cleaning the attic with Sally last week and we found them. Don't worry, I didn't read them."

"I didn't think you had," Abbey said, a feeling of warmth filling her. Jed had kept her love letters all these years.

"I really believed that your romance would not survive the summer. I never believed in absence makes the heart grow fonder but then again, I had no idea of the deep feelings that you two already shared at that point. I underestimated that love a lot in the beginning."

"We kind of enjoyed proving you wrong," Abbey smiled.

"Well you did, over and over again. What I'm trying to tell you is that...well...I'm glad your love survived that summer and that Josiah ended up with a wife like you. We are so different, you and I, that we were bound to rub each other wrong. But, you love my son. I have never doubted that. You have given him the life and family he wanted. Truth be told, I watched him come alive after he met you. You gave him the strength to be himself."

"He's a good man, Emily."

"Yes, he is. I finally had the strength to tell him that after he was shot. I never got the chance to tell you that you are a good woman."

"Thank you," Abbey was obviously moved by her mother-in-law's statement, as she held the love letters to her chest.

"Abbey!" Beth called out and Abbey looked up to see her mother and CJ approaching. "I have some good news."

****

Jed was just finishing running a wash cloth over Aislinn's face when Abbey entered the kitchen, her mother and CJ on her heels.

"Good news," she called out brightly, "Mom just got a call from Evan. He and CeCe are going to be able to make it after all, and both Barbara and Lanie said they could bring the girls."

"Oh goody," Jed mumbled sarcastically, "Phyllis, Susan, AND Evan. This ought to be a lot of fun."

"Did you say something, Jed?" Abbey's eyes narrowed.

"Not a word, dear," Jed said innocently.

"I didn't think so." She took Aislinn from him, while Izzy grabbed Nicholas and they headed upstairs.

"Who is Evan?" CJ asked.

"Evan O'Neill is Abbey's younger brother. They're only 15 months apart in age and were very close growing up."

"Why the sarcasm then? Don't you like him?"

"Not particularly. Evan represents just the kind of man I can't stand. He does pharmaceutical research in Europe and is now on his third wife. He left every wife for the newer, younger version and they seem to get progressively younger every time he marries. I believe this one is just a little older than Liz and his own eldest daughter, Bridget. He has two other children with his second wife, Owen is 19 and Hannah is 12. They rarely see him. Unfortunately, Abbey adores him."

"That doesn't sound like the kind of man that she would tolerate, either," CJ said.

"Normally she wouldn't, but this is her baby brother and he can almost do no wrong in her eyes."

"Almost?"

"Oh, she has read him the riot act over his treatment of his wives and children, but she always forgives him."

"Well, that's what families do, isn't it?"

"I suppose, but that doesn't mean you have to like it," he sulked. At that moment, Jenny and Mallory entered calling out to Abbey and the girls to see if they were ready to go.

"Coming," Abbey called from the stairs and soon breezed into the kitchen. "Well, I'm off," she said, stopping in front of Jed.

"Remember, no Swedish men," he told her sternly and leaned down to give her a light kiss on the lips.

"No guarantees," she grinned, then turned to the other women in the room. "Let's go girls."

TBC...