"Ok, last but not least," Liz said as she walked toward her parents with a very large, flat wrapped gift.

"There's more?" Abbey asked astonished as her eyes scanned all the 'loot', as Jed kept referring to it, that their friends and family had bestowed upon them.

"This one is from Aunt Jane," Liz said setting it down in front of them. Both Jed and Abbey were silent as the torn paper revealed the gift inside. This was not one of the many sketches Jed had seen; this was an incredible oil painting of he and Abbey. It was obvious that Jane had witnessed a brief moment in their reunion, for in the picture Abbey sat on the cliffs at the edge of the sea. Jed was smiling down at her holding his hand out to clasp hers. Abbey's head was tilted back to look up at his face and she was giving him that intimate smile that was reserved only for her husband. Gone was the sadness and longing, and in its place the softening of the features that only love could bring about. It was obviously the culmination of the series Jane had begun at the beginning of Abbey's vacation. This was what her sister had been waiting for in all those previous sketches, her husband's arrival in both body and spirit. The fact that the relief and joy was captured on canvas both stunned and moved the first couple.

"Well, I think that's the first time I've ever seen the two of them speechless," Leo grinned and the silence was broken by laughter.

"Janey, I don't know what to say," Abbey sighed, "this is just magnificent. Thank you." She kissed her sister's cheek.

"Yes, thank you Jane. It's beautiful," Jed moved to kiss her cheek.

"She needs you," Jane whispered softly into his ear.

"I'll let you in on a little secret," he said in a low voice that only Jane could hear, "I need her too."

"Hell Jed, we all knew that," Jane grinned with an impish smile that reminded him of his wife.

"Well, that's everything," Zoey said.

"Before we go out to the party, I'd like to watch the video you girls made us," Jed said as he moved to put the tape in the VCR. A hush came over the room as 'A Steven Spielberg production' flashed on the screen.

"Steven Spielberg?" Abbey looked at Jed puzzled, wondering just what kind of tape this would be. Then, there on the screen were their three eldest daughters sitting on the porch at the farm with Nicholas and Aislinn on their laps.

"This is the story of our parents Josiah and Abigail Bartlet," they all said in unison. "We hope you enjoy this little trip down memory lane. We love you Mom and Dad." The picture faded and the first bars of Kenny Rogers song 'Through the Years' began.

"I can't remember when you weren't there, when I didn't care, for anyone but you..."

Still photos of the two of them growing up then covered the screen. Jed always so formal and almost stiff while Abbey laughed with complete irreverence. The still photos soon became grainy moving video from their Notre Dame graduation. Laughter filled the room as they watched Abbey hit Jed's cap off his head and he chased her down, swinging her into his arms when he caught her.

"Where did you get this video?" Abbey asked.

"We converted Grandpa's old 8 millimeter home movies," Zoey beamed, "with a little help from Hollywood."

"Oh look, it's the wedding," CJ said. "Abbey, you look gorgeous, I've always thought that was such a beautiful gown." Abbey smiled at her, then took Jed's hand as they watched their mothers light their single candles proclaiming their birth and then the two of them merged their single flames into one, which signified their union. More laughter then filled the room as Abbey gently fed Jed his slice of cake before dotting his nose with the icing. Not to be outdone, Jed rubbed his nose against hers, then kissed the frosting off.

"Here's where I come in," Liz smiled as a very young Abbey sat on the couch trying to soothe her 4 day-old infant, while Jed looked on. Both had that nervous new parent look that made it obvious they were very new to the game.

"Where is that?" Sam asked, not recognizing it as a room at the farm.

"That was our first apartment together in London," Jed answered, then turned back to see Abbey's graduation from medical school.

"That's me in there," Ellie said as the video moved along to Jed with his arms around a very pregnant Abbey from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder and his hands splayed over the swell of her belly.

"That was at Evan's wedding," Abbey said, resting her head on Jed's shoulder.

"His second wedding," he reminded her and received a soft elbow to the ribs for that irreverent remark.

"That's me," Zoey said softly and Charlie, who had just arrived that afternoon, took her hand as the room went quiet while they witnessed the heartbreaking scenes of a tiny, very premature Zoey in her incubator hooked up to tubes and wires. Jed watched a tear slide down Abbey's cheek as she relived the moment when they finally got to hold their baby for the first time. He squeezed her hand letting her know that he too remembered the joy of that moment. Then, the tears turned to laughter as they watched Zoey smearing pink frosting into her wispy red curls at her first birthday.

"Is that a castle?" Josh asked.

"That was in Sweden," Abbey explained, "when Jed got his Nobel Prize." She had never been more proud of her husband than in that moment of recognition and achievement.

The next years were a montage of birthday parties, vacations at the beach, and cheering their daughters on at sporting events. This very quickly moved to Jed dancing with his wife and young daughters at inaugurations and it wasn't long before New Hampshire's First Family was seen campaigning around the country together for the Presidency. The incredible joy was apparent as they stood together on that cold New Hampshire night in front of a crowd of thousands to thank everyone for their help in the victory. Then, there was the Inauguration. Jed remembered how nervous he had been taking the Oath of Office, his hand on his mother's bible, which Abbey held for him. But, he had looked up into his wife's reassuring green eyes and a sense of calm had descended over him. After a lot of dancing scenes from inaugural balls and state dinners, there was Jed in his third State of the Union address. Abbey smiled as the tape showed her sitting with her daughters very, very pregnant, and in the next instant panned to her empty seat.

"This is where these guys come in," she said, bouncing Nicholas lightly on her knee. She kissed the top of his head and turned to look at her daughter who was sleeping soundly in her father's arms and ran her finger gently up her arm. She leaned back against swallowing past the lump in her throat that formed as she listened to the lyrics.

"Through the years, when everything went wrong, together we were strong, I know that I belong right here with you, Through the years, I never had a doubt, we'd always work things out, I've learned what life's about, by loving you, through the years."

After the past year they had just made it through when almost everything did go wrong, the words hit a little too close to home and Abbey discreetly wiped the tears from her eyes trying not to smudge her mascara.

"I thought this was supposed to be a party," said a loud voice from the doorway.

"Evan!" Abbey cried and everyone watched her race from the couch into her brother's arms. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it."

"Would I miss your party?" He scolded.

"Wouldn't be the first time," Jed muttered under his breath but moved forward to reluctantly greet Abbey's brother. As he approached Evan, his brother-in-law's young, busty, blonde wife stepped in front of him. She wore a skintight dress that left nothing to the imagination, her breasts practically spilling out of it. Jed noted to himself that there was sexy and there was slutty and obviously CeCe O'Neill didn't understand the difference. He hid his disdain through a tight smile as she hugged him pressing her chest into him a little harder than was appropriate for her brother-in-law, especially a brother-in-law she had only met twice before. Jed's eyes were searching for his nieces as he broke away from the blonde and a big smile crossed his face as he saw little Hannah hiding shyly behind her half sister Bridget's back. It was completely typical that the child felt more comfortable with her sister than her father and his new wife.

"Hannah banana," he called out and Bridget stepped aside so Jed could swing the girl into his arms. "Don't you look as pretty as a picture tonight?"

"Hi Unca Jed," Hannah giggled. Hannah O'Neill was 12 years old in body but in mind, she was only around 6. She had not had enough oxygen during delivery and thus had some mental retardation. Soon after her birth, Evan had left her mother Elaine citing his inability to deal with Hannah's handicap as his reason for divorce. It was the one time that Jed had seen Abbey ready to disown him. She had been as furious and disgusted with Evan as he was and had gone almost a year without talking to him. Jed had always had a special place in his heart for his sweet, loving, little niece who had, though no fault of her own, gotten stuck with a man who didn't know how to love her for a father. He certainly knew exactly how that went. He and Abbey had remained close with Lanie and she had often allowed Hannah to visit the farm when Annie was over so they could play together.

"Where are the girls?" Bridget asked, giving her Aunt a hug. Bridget was a year older than Ellie, a product of Evan's first marriage.

"They're outside giving the orchestra a song list. Why don't you go out and join them?"

"Ok, Hannah, you want to come see the orchestra with me?"

"No, wanna go with Unca Jed to find Annie," Bridget looked at Abbey, obviously reluctant to leave Hannah in anyone else's care.

"It's ok, go and have fun. We'll keep an eye on her," Abbey said. Jed took Hannah's hand and was starting to walk away when CeCe's voice stopped him.

"Hannah, don't you be a pest. Your Uncle is a very important man, he doesn't have time to play with a child." Jed watched Hannah look back warily at her stepmother, then turn to look up him with those wide hazel eyes that his own daughters shared.

"As a matter of fact, CeCe, I do have the time," he said, his jaw clenching with anger. "Miss Hannah here has promised me the first dance tonight." He turned to walk away and Abbey gripped her sister-in-law's arm.

"Don't you ever refer to her as a pest again," she said sternly. "Hannah may be slow but she isn't stupid, she knows what you called her."

"Abbey, CeCe is just getting to understand Hannah's problems," Evan said in placating tones. "She is trying."

****

The outside lawn of the cottage had been transformed into some sort of fairyland. Small twinkling white lights were hung on every shrub and bush and small ground lanterns lit the way from the tents to the house. Two huge tents had been erected, one for the elegant orchestra and dance floor and one with tables piled high with food and empty tables to sit at. Abbey stood at the champagne fountain near the dance floor to fill her glass, a soft smile playing on her lips as she watched her husband dancing with their niece. She still couldn't believe the staff had gotten Harry Connick Jr. to sing all their old favorites.

"This party is just amazing," CJ said coming up on her elbow. "It's like some kind of midsummer night's ball."

"It is, isn't it? I've been looking for you. There's someone here I would like you to see."

"Oh Abbey, I don't know if I am up to making scintillating conversation with one of your doctor buddies tonight," CJ said. She knew exactly who she wanted to be with tonight, but that was not to be.

"Too bad, let's go." Abbey began to drag the taller woman across the floor to the other side of tent where Josh was talking to a group of people.

"Josh?" CJ asked skeptically, "Have you been drinking?" But before Abbey could answer her, one of the men turned around and CJ was faced with that familiar red beard and twinkling green eyes. A face she hadn't seen in months.

"Danny," she almost gasped.

"Hi CJ," he gave that sweet irresistible grin that had always melted her heart.

"What are you doing here?" She asked. She was the White House press secretary and knew that there weren't any reporters or photographers covering this event.

"I got invited."

"Danny is doing an article about my take on the upcoming anniversary of Rosslyn," Abbey said, "So I thought I'd invite him up early so he could spend some time with you...us. It has been a while." Abbey was grinning slyly, enjoying her machinations immensely.

"Very subtle," CJ rolled her eyes at the First Lady.

"Care to dance?" Danny asked and before CJ could answer, he was dragging her out onto the floor.

Jed found his wife a few minutes later smiling and sipping from her champagne glass. His gaze followed hers and he saw CJ looking very comfortable in Danny's arms.

"You're looking very self satisfied," he said, taking her crystal flute and sipping the champagne. "I see you have your matchmaker's wand out again."

"What do you mean 'again'?"

"I mean you can't resist the urge to set people up."

"I'm happy, Jed. I can't help it, I want everyone we care about to be as happy as we are."

"I know you do sweetheart," he kissed the tip of her nose, "but it doesn't always work out that way." He looked across the floor at a scowling Leo who was nursing a glass of soda water while watching his ex-wife dance with her new boyfriend.

"You did everything you could to patch them back up, Jed," Abbey rubbed his arm. "That marriage couldn't be saved."

"I know that now. It doesn't make it any easier. But, that's enough of this morose talk. Come, my beautiful damsel, and dance with me under the stars," he said with a sweeping courtly bow.

"We're under a tent, Jed," she reminded him.

"That scientific mind of yours is always too damned literal. Come on then, I'll show you the stars," he began to lead her out of the tent.

"Oh no you don't Jed Bartlet," Michael O' Neill stated from the podium. "Don't you think you're going to sneak my little girl out of here. At least not before I make my toast."

"Better make it a quick one, I want to dance with my wife," Jed called back to him and soft laughter filled the room"

"I'm an old man, I don't know how fast it will be. Now, where was I? Oh yes, when young Jed came into my study all those years ago to ask for my daughter's hand in marriage, my first thought was that they were too young and too ambitious for it to work. But, when he asked me for my blessing, I could see what I had always seen in his eyes when it came to Abbey. Love. I made him promise me three things on that day. One, to always love my daughter even when she wasn't being easy to love. Two, to be true to her with all his heart and soul and three, never to intentionally hurt her. Notice I said intentionally. In a marriage as long as the one I hoped Jed and Abbey would share there is no way around hurting your partner. Hurting without malice was the oath I made him take. Jed looked me straight in the eye and gave me his word that he would adhere to my promises. Now, here we are with the two of them and the beautiful family they have created and I am here to tell you that my son-i-law is one politician who keeps his word. I couldn't be happier with the kind of husband and father Jed has turned out to be for my daughter and grandchildren. And Abbey, what can I say, Princess? I am in awe of the woman that you have become. You are a brilliant doctor and an amazing wife and mother. Jed, Abbey, your mother and I just want to tell you that we both love you with all our hearts and we are exceedingly proud of what you have accomplished in your relationship as well as in your lives. To Jed and Abbey," he lifted his glass.

Jed inclined his head in acknowledgment to Michael and Abbey blew her father a kiss.

"I think your Dad should have been in politics," Jed said bringing Abbey's hand to his lips and kissing her palm. "He makes a hell of a toast."

"He's happy just campaigning for you," she ran that hand over his rough cheek.

"Come on," he urged, "let's go take that dance under the stars."

****

Jed kissed Ellie's cheek as they finished their dance and he grudgingly gave her hand to Davis, who was waiting his turn. There was still something about him that rubbed Jed the wrong way. He wished he could pinpoint what it was that bothered him but it was just a vague feeling inside. He turned from his daughter and spotted Abbey across the floor dancing with Leo. He was hot and thirsty and grabbed a glass of champagne, which he downed in one gulp to quench his thirst. Champagne had never been his drink of choice, it was more Abbey's forte. He was more of a beer or scotch man. His enjoyment of champagne came with how it affected his adorable wife, lowering her inhibitions and making her amorous as hell. He looked into the fizzy bubbles and smiled, almost laughing aloud as he realized that it was due to a few glasses of this bubbly liquid that he had two new sleeping babies in the house. He was strolling across the floor intending to cut in on Leo when he overheard his brother Jon talking to Evan.

"Your son Max is in college now, isn't he?" Jon asked.

"Yes, he's a senior at Penn State. He should be heading back in another week or so."

"Actually," Jed interjected, "if you knew anything about your son, you would know that Max is in Peru this semester on a dig. Abbey and I got a letter and pictures from him just last week."

"I didn't realize that was this semester," Evan said, trying to keep it light. He was not going to get into an argument over family with his brother-in-law. They had had enough of those over the years and it was one argument that Jed would always win.

"Hey, what's going on over here?" Abbey smiled breathlessly as she linked her arm with Jed on one side and Evan on the other. Jed looked down into his wife's happy face and bit back his caustic reply. For better or worse, Evan was his wife's brother and Abbey loved him very much. Saying what he truly felt about Evan would mean nothing to him and would only hurt Abbey. Evan was her Achilles heel and he knew all about having one of those. In fact, he had one himself, his father.

"Just talking about Max’s dig in Peru," Jed smiled, kissing the top of her head. Evan looked at him in surprise but kept his mouth shut. At that moment, Hannah approached and began tugging on her father's jacket to get his attention.

"Daddy...Daddy."

"What?" Evan asked exasperated. Hannah looked at him obviously wanting to say something but too embarrassed to do so. She moved from one foot to the other with discomfort. "Hannah, what do you want?" He asked again. Hannah bit her lip and pulled her father's arm down to whisper into his ear. "Now?" he asked and Hannah nodded. Evan began to scan the room. "Where the hell is Bridget?" Abbey saw her niece dancing with a handsome young man and felt there was no need to interrupt her good time.

"Why do you need Bridget?" She asked.

"Hannah has to go to the bathroom," he said. Abbey could see the flush of embarrassment rise in Hannah's face and moved to take her hand.

"Insensitive prick," Jed cursed under his breath so that only Leo could hear him and concur.

"I'll take her," Abbey said.

"I could go myself, Aunt Abbey. I'm a big girl. But, I don't know where it is." Tears filled the pre-teen's eyes.

"No problem, sweetheart, I'll show you just where it is."

Jed watched Abbey leading the young girl away and thought about the one fight that she had had with her brother that had caused a major rift in their relationship. He remembered that day he had tried so hard to convince Evan to stay with his wife and help her to deal with their new baby. Hannah was only a few weeks old and Lanie had called Abbey in tears saying that Evan was leaving her because she wouldn't give their daughter up for adoption, or at the very least, put her in an institution. He and Abbey had driven down to Massachusetts in silence. They were both aware that there was nothing to say, as neither of them was able to believe that Evan could be doing something as callous as abandoning his family when they needed him most. They arrived in a horrible rainstorm to find Lanie, who was still recovering from a C-section, comforting 9 year old Owen while Evan packed. Abbey stayed with Lanie while Jed walked down to the master bedroom.

(Massachusetts, 12 years ago)

"Evan," he said, entering the room, striding forward to shut his open suitcase. "You cannot do this. You simply cannot do this."

"Don't try to tell me what I can and can't do. This is just not something I can deal with and Lanie won't see that."

"Look, I know you're scared but you can't run away from this. Not this time, the stakes are too high."

"You don't know anything about this," Evan said angrily. "You've got three healthy, NORMAL children! You have no idea how you would react if one of them was handicapped."

"You're wrong about that," Jed said, thinking back to Abbey's emergency delivery of Zoey 8 years earlier. "When Zoey was born so premature the doctors had no idea whether she would suffer from brain damage, or what type of health problems or learning problems she might have, yeah that scared the hell out of me. But, Jesus Evan, she was my DAUGHTER and from the second I saw her I loved her with every ounce of my being. All I could think of was how much I wanted to love and protect her and make sure that no matter what happened, she had the very best life I could give her. That baby crying out there is your own flesh and blood. No matter what fear or disappointment you may have, you DON'T abandon your child."

"Well, Zoey ended up fine, didn't she?" Evan said coldly. "My daughter is RETARDED, Jed. Do you know what kind of life she is going to have?"

"No, I don't. But, I know it isn't going to be any easier without having her father. And what about Lanie? She's your wife. You're just going to walk away from her?"

"Lanie made her choice," he said bitterly. "She chose Hannah."

"Jesus," Jed breathed shaking his head, "this is low, even for you. I don't know how you can live with yourself."

"Well, we can't all be Saint Jed, can we?"

"I'm no saint," Jed snorted, "but I do know the difference between right and wrong and what you're doing is wrong. It is just plain wrong," he turned to leave the room.

(Maine, present day)

Abbey found Jed at the edge of the tent, drinking from a glass of champagne and gazing up at the stars. She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, rubbing her cheek against the back of his shoulder.

"Hannah's all set," she said softly, "and my dance card appears to be empty." Jed turned around and Abbey could see the troubled set of his blue eyes. "Don't say it, Jed," she sighed.

"What? I didn't say a word."

"But you're thinking it. Evan is making a concerted effort to be a part of Hannah's life, especially now that he has remarried."

"Speaking of his new marriage, where is the octopus?" Jed asked, pulling his wife into his arms determined not to let any disagreements about Evan mar their evening.

"The octopus?" Abbey asked puzzled. "Why do you call her that?"

"Because she must have about 8 hands. I move one and the other ends up in the same spot. She actually grabbed my ass when we were dancing."

"She grabbed your ass?" Abbey asked, green eyes starting to flash with anger, "who the hell does she think she is? I swear I..."

"Whoa," Jed chuckled, "that sure got your Irish up. Don't sweat it, babe, when I removed it, she apologized and said that her hand slipped."

"What a load of bull," Abbey sniffed. "She better not try anything like that again."

"Oh yeah," he drawled, lazily running a finger down her soft throat, "what are you going to do about it?"

"I'll show her what happens to women who think they can put their hands on my man."

"Gonna get tough with her, are you?" Jed smiled.

"Damn straight," she grinned back, "nobody touches your ass but me." To emphasize her point, she ran her hand softly over his rear and gave a squeeze.

"Hey lady, don't go starting anything you don't intend on finishing," he said, pulling her into his arms.

"Oh, I intend on finishing all right," she said, pressing her lips to his jaw.

"Good, let's go," he said pulling back from her before the slight action in his groin became an all out erection. "Let's go down to the gazebo."

"We're not going to go have a quickie in the gazebo," Abbey couldn't help but smile at her husband's eagerness. He still reacted to sex like a teenage boy at times, but then again, that was part of his charm.

"Ah, come on Abbey. You said you intended on finishing."

"And I do," she almost purred, "but it won't be a quickie. I'm going to kiss you and touch you and run my lips all over you, the way I was too nervous and inexperienced to do on our wedding night." Jed swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry.

"OK," he said in a shaky voice, "let's go."

"AFTER the party," she said firmly, running a finger over his lips. "The anticipation will make it better."

"Or kill me," he grumbled.

"Good things happen to those who wait," she gave him a flirtatious smile and turned to walk away.

"You're an evil woman, Abigail Bartlet, pure evil," he looked down ruefully at his waist knowing it would be a few more minutes before he could join her at the party.

TBC...