Jed finished setting up the baby tent on the beach, then settled Nicholas and Aislinn in to sleep, shielded from the sun. He lay beside them rubbing their little backs and humming to them until both fell asleep. Once he was sure they were asleep, he turned to throw away the dirty diapers he had just changed, and began to put the baby wipes and powder back in the diaper bag, all the while chatting away to Abbey. When he didn't get a response, he turned to see her laying back on her beach chair, dark sunglasses covering her eyes. The book she had been reading was dangling from her hand. She had obviously already fallen asleep. Well, she had had a long night, he mused, smiling tenderly at her. No wonder she was worn out. He gently took the book from her hand, marked her spot, and set it in her beach bag.

"Hey Dad," Zoey yelled from the water's edge, "want to come for a swim with me?"

"Be right there," he called back. Abbey stirred at the sound of their voices. She stretched out languidly and slipped her sunglasses down the bridge of her nose to look at Jed.

"What are you looking at?" She asked.

"You. Want me to put some more sunscreen on you?"

"No. You just put some on me about a half an hour ago. I don't think it's worn off yet," she said sarcastically.

"You used to sunbathe topless," he said in a slightly accusing tone, as if she were deliberately keeping something from him.

"Behind the hedges in the yard," she laughed.

"But you hate strap marks."

"I'll survive."

"Dad, are you coming?" Zoey called out, hands on her hips.

"You better go," Abbey smiled, slipping her glasses back up her nose.

"Yeah," he sighed.

As soon as Jed turned toward the water, Abbey untied her top, tucking the strings into the cups and laid back to listen to her husband and daughter laughing and shrieking in the water. Just as the heat of the sun began to lull her back to sleep, she heard the two of them approaching. She felt cold drops of water on her thigh and slipped her sunglasses back down to see Jed standing before her, soaking wet. Before she could speak, he began to shake like a big shaggy dog. The icy drops pelted her warm body.

"Jesus, Jed!" she gasped, jumping up, which caused her top to fall. She caught it just before she was completely exposed. "You did that on purpose," she accused, eyes narrowed.

"Guilty," he grinned, pulling her warm body up against his freezing one.

"Jed, you're all wet and you're freezing cold," she breathed, pushing against his chest to escape his embrace. She looked at him standing in front of her with wet messy hair and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, and couldn't help but give a tolerant smile.

"Sometimes you can be so juvenile," she said as she began to towel herself off.

"That's the part of me you find charming."

"Try annoying," she tweaked his nose like she would a little boy. "You two getting hungry?" She turned to look at Zoey, who was peeking in on the babies.

"Actually I'm having lunch with some friends. But, I'll be back later in plenty of time to whip Dad's butt in a round of tennis," she punched Jed lightly on the arm.

"You're getting awfully cheeky young lady," Jed grumbled. "Remember who you are speaking to."

"I do," Zoey grinned, "my Dad." She kissed both her parents on the cheek and headed back to the cottage.

"Looks like it's just us," Abbey said, moving toward the picnic hamper.

"However will we manage?" Jed asked, plopping down on the beach chair. He sat back watching Abbey take the food out. He should have been admiring her lithe body in the Hawaiian print navy blue bikini. Her long slender legs, curvy hips, small waist, and great breasts. But instead, he was troubled by how quickly she had regained her figure. It had only been about 6 months since she had given birth. She should not be this slender already. He knew she had been working at it. But, he also knew it had a lot to do with the fact that she had not been sleeping or eating well for a couple months now. He had done this to her, he realized, and that familiar pang of guilt squeezed his heart.

"Want something to drink while I get the sandwiches out?" she asked, oblivious to his perusal.

"Yeah, throw me over a Heinekin"

"Shame on you, Josiah. A GERMAN beer. You could get into a lot of trouble with the media for that one," she tossed him the beer.

"Only if you rat me out," he said, twisting the top and taking a long swig.

Abbey set out the sandwiches, potato salad, and fudge brownies.

"Mmmm, fudge brownies," Jed rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

"You can thank your daughter for those. I packed fruit salad."

"Thank God for daughters," he put his hands together and looked heavenward. "Speaking of God, I forgot to ask what happened to Tom. I didn't scare him away, did I?

"No," Abbey laughed, sipping her lemonade. "He was leaving yesterday anyway. Actually, he was on his way north to visit his brother and just stopped by to see your mother. I invited him to stay over. That poor man. You must have taken years off his life the way you came barreling into the bathroom like that."

"Actually he said he was flattered that I could think an old man like him was getting it on with you."

"Really, Jed. I mean, don't you think if I was going to take a lover I'd pick some young stud?" She teased.

"No young stud would know how to make your body sing the way a man of experience like myself can."

"Well, I guess experience does have its merits," she admitted.

"Besides," he stretched out beside her running a finger over the curve of her hip, "if any young stud came sniffing around you, he wouldn't live to see his old age."

"Tough guy, are you?" She ran a hand over his jaw.

"You know it." Just as his lips descended on hers, they heard whimpers coming from the baby tent.

"Ignore it," Jed said, nibbling on her bottom lip. "They'll go back to sleep."

"I don't think so," she said against his mouth. "They're both probably hungry."

"Trust me," he ran a finger over her jaw. But, as he began to deepen his kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth, the whimpers turned to all out crying.

"Trust you, huh," Abbey sighed, pressing her lips to his chin.

"Foiled by my own offspring," he groaned, letting his arms drop as Abbey got to her feet to go to the babies. He watched the material of her bikini bottom slide down as she bent to lift Aislinn, and it afforded him a flash of the tattoo that never failed to fill him with a possessive wave of desire. He shifted uncomfortably as Abbey passed Aislinn over to him.

***

Later, after a long walk on the beach with his wife and their babies, and playing a couple sets of tennis with Zoey, Jed lay back on the wicker couch on the porch. He listened to the surf and the cries of the gulls that mingled with the windchimes by his head. It was nice to just be alone in the peace and quiet. He always seemed to be surrounded by people at the White House, whether it was staff or security. But, here, it was nice to just be able to take a nap on the porch without fear of interruptions.

Abbey found him there a couple hours later snoring softly. She got down on her knees by his head, smiling gently at him. His tawny eyelashes lay against his cheeks and he looked so relaxed and young. The world weary and sometimes haunted look being President caused him to have was gone in his peaceful slumber.

"Josiah," she whispered, smoothing the hair back from his forehead. "Jed honey, wake up."

"Mmmm...tell 'em to go away. Abbey," he murmured sleepily.

"No one is here. Jed," she ran her fingers over his brow. "Supper is ready." Jed opened those tawny lashes revealing his sleepy blue eyes.

"Mmm...what?"

"Supper is ready," she kissed his forehead.

"Oh," he stretched out with a yawn. "God, I can't remember the last time I was able to take a nap during the day."

"That is what a vacation is for, Jed. Rest and relaxation and I want you doing more of it."

"Yes, Mrs. Bartlet."

"That's Dr. Bartlet to you, handsome."

****

There were whispers throughout the dining area of the Lighthouse Inn as the President and First Lady left the private room where they had been dining. They stood on the steps outside thanking the staff for their hospitality and Jed couldn't help but remark on how pretty Abbey looked in the moonlight. The deep pervading sadness was gone and had been replaced by the radiance of a woman who had re- discovered something that she thought she had lost. Her hair was pulled back in a clip and fell straight down over her bare tanned shoulders and down her back. She wore a long white linen skirt that had a long slit up to her thigh, and a turquois silk spaghetti strapped halter-blouse that left her back bare. As he placed his hand on her back to lead her to the edge of the sand,Jed wondered just what it was about a woman's bare back that was so sensual and somehow fragile and vulnerable.

"We've decided to walk home along the beach," he said to the agents, who nodded in response, ready to follow them at a distance. He then held Abbey's elbow while she took off her high heeled strappy sandals so she could walk barefoot through the sand. They held hands as they walked towards the water's edge and turned to head towards the cottage.

"What a gorgeous night," Abbey sighed laying her head on Jed's shoulder. "Just look at all the stars."

"It is a nice night," Jed agreed, wrapping his arm around her waist. "We don't seem to get enough time for just the two of us, and for us just to be a normal family again. Of all the things I miss from being President Abbey, that is what I miss most of all."

"That's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. I know I agreed to your running again, but, we're really doing to have to make some changes in your next term."

"Next term. I like the sound of that," he grinned down at her, "I like your confidence."

"There isn't a doubt in my mind that you will win re-election. You never lose at anything you put your mind to. But, as I was saying, I want this family time for Nicky and Aislinn. I want them to have as normal a childhood as possible. Life on a farm, not the White House."

Jed dropped her hand and stepped back as if she had slapped him across the face.

"Jed...what's wrong?" She asked, concern furrowing her brow.

"You're going to live with them at the farm, not at the White House?" He said stunned, knowing all the while that was completely unacceptable. He couldn't live away from his family.

"Jed, sometimes I don't know how your mind works," she said, shaking her head, "of course I'm not going to live in New Hampshire while you are in the White House. Do you think I would keep the children away from you? Do you think I could live away from you?" She ran her fingers gently over his rough cheek.

"I don't know Abbey. I guess these last couple of months scared me more than I thought. When I think that you could have stopped loving me, I..."

"Sssh...I never stopped loving you, you big idiot," she smiled tenderly, with the moonlight shining in her beautiful sea colored eyes. "Other than my father, you are the only man I have ever loved. I may have stopped trusting you briefly, but I'll never stop loving you," she kissed him lightly on the mouth, then ran her thumb over his lips to wipe away her lipstick.

"So, what exactly did you mean by changes then?" He slipped his arm back around her waist.

"I want Nicky and Aislinn to have as much freedom to be regular kids as possible. I was reading a book about the history of the White House a few weeks back and did you know that several Presidents did not even live in the White House? I know that isn't feasible for us in this day and age, but also, many Presidents rented other homes to get away to. Townhouses in Georgetown and farms in Virginia. Jack and Jackie rented a farm in Virginia so their kids could have that freedom and normalcy. I think we should do it."

"Rent a farm? We already have a farm."

"But we can't fly up to New Hampshire for quick weekends. We'd still go home for holidays and vacations but, this way, I can take them for walks without people prying through the gates. They can run around outside the stuffiness of the White House. They can ride ponies and have family meals not served to them by stewards. They can have time with Daddy away from all the staff coming and going. You'd also be close enough to get back to the White House quickly if you were needed."

"Got this all worked out, have you?" He asked, smiling down into her animated face.

"I have. I want these kids to have some of the same experiences Elizabeth, Ellie, and Zoey had. Of course it won't be exactly the same. They are still the President's kids and will be spending the majority of their time in the White House. They will have experiences no other child will have, but they will be six years old when your term is over and I don't want them to lose out on six years of being a normal child."

"I want them to have that too, Abbey. I have always wanted this to be a positive experience for all my children, not a negative one. Anything else on the agenda?"

"Well, since you asked, we're going to have to find something for me to do."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean this past year being pregnant and having the babies has been great. I have loved being a part time First Lady and full time Mom. It's been wonderful not having the pressure of having to get back to work, but it is getting to be time. I've always worked, Jed."

"I know that. I don't expect you to just be a full time mother and First Lady, if you want more."

"As soon as I wean the babies in a month or two, I want to get back to work. Obviously I can't travel abroad as much, so I'll need to have something to work on here. Something important. You aren't the only one who wants to make a difference."

"We'll look into it," he promised. "You're a terrific First Lady, Abbey. Most of the women in America follow your every word. Abigail Bartlet says to immunize your child, they immunize their child, Abigail Bartlet breast feeds her baby, they breast feed their babies, and I won't even go into how they mimic your hairstyles," he tugged a strand of her hair, which caused her to smile. "But, seriously Abbey, you are a very important resource in this administration and we should be using you as much here as we have abroad. So, there are two problems solved, anything else to hit me with?"

"No, I think that's all for tonight."

"Good, because I just want some time to walk with my girl under the moon and stars." Abbey leaned against him, her arm around his waist as they walked under the romantic night sky. She gave herself up to the sensuality of the evening. The cool sand between her toes, the balmy night air licking her bare skin, and the feeling of Jed's arm holding her close around her waist, his hand under her blouse to rest warmly against her midriff. For this one night all was right with the world.

TBC...