The Bartlet family was in the kitchen preparing for an outdoor supper. Abbey was filling a tray with plasticware, paper plates, and napkins while expertly bouncing a fussing Aislinn on her hip.

"Ok girls, this tray is all set to go out, and don't forget the pitchers of lemonade," she said, handing the tray to Annie.

"I'll bring out the food," Jed said, taking the big box from one of the agents, who had made the trip into the village to Barnacle Bills, the Bartlets' favorite place for takeout fried clams and fries.

"Stop it, sweetie," Abbey said, pulling a strand of her hair from Aislinn's clutching little hand. She was trying to pull condiments from the refrigerator, which was not an easy thing to do with her daughter fussing and grabbing at her hair and shirt.

"Here Mom, let me take her," Ellie said, putting her arms out to take her sister. "I'll put her outside in the playpen with Nicky."

"Thanks," Abbey said handing the baby to her daughter, "I think she's starting to cut a tooth so she is not in the best of moods today."

"If she's still fussy, I brought the baby swing out," Jed said. "She'll usually quiet down and fall asleep in that."

"Ok," Ellie turned to leave and Abbey began to fill another tray with the tartar sauce, lemon, and ketchup she had pulled from the fridge.

"Did you get a chance to talk to Ellie yet?" Jed asked her.

"Not really. I asked her if Davis was coming for a visit. She said he might come for the party, but when I asked her if anything was wrong she closed up like one of these clams."

"She did the same with me. Damn, I thought she might talk to you. Something is wrong, Abbey. I can see it in her eyes."

"Unfortunately, I may have to agree with you this time. She does seem a bit subdued. I'll try to have a real heart to heart with her some time tonight. I'm sure it's nothing. She and Davis probably had a spat or something. Don't you remember what it was like to be that age and how easy it was to get all emotional over something as small as being late for a date?"

"Darlin', at her age we were married and had Elizabeth." He wrapped his arms around her from behind resting his chin on the top of her head. For a moment they both looked out the kitchen window to watch their brood preparing the picnic table for supper.

"Were we really that young?" Abbey sighed, leaning back against his chest. "Sometimes I look at Zoey and I am just amazed to think that I was her age when I met you and fell in love with you. That if she came to me and said she met the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with, I would tell her she was much too young to make a decision like that. Yet, a year older than she is now, and I was married and pregnant."

"I've had some of those same thoughts. I look at Ellie, and how hard she is working at school. She has a brilliant career ahead of her and I just hope she doesn't let some young man get in the way of that. At least not too soon."

"The way you did with me?" Abbey smiled.

"Yeah. Now that I look back, I think your father showed remarkable restraint by not punching me in the face when I went to him to tell him that I intended to marry you."

"And that I was putting off medical school to follow you to London. God, they're just kids, Jed. WE were just kids. Two kids, crazy in love, with no idea at all of just what marriage would entail."

"If you had to do it all again, the same way, would you?" Abbey turned in his arms to look deeply into his eyes. She ran her hand gently over his cheek.

"In a heartbeat," her answer was husky with emotion.

"Mom, Dad," Zoey yelled from outside, "are you two going to bring out the food?"

"We're coming," Jed called back, then pressed his lips to Abbey's forehead. "I wouldn't change anything either."

Once the picnic table was cleared, Jed began to pack the babies diaper bag and double-wide stroller into the black SUV the service would be carting them around in. Abbey was strapping the babies into their car seats. They were planning a low-key evening in the village, which would include the mini golf Jed had promised Annie.

"Are they all strapped in?" Jed asked.

"All ready to roll," Abbey shut the door.

"Is that what you're wearing to go golfing?" His eyes skeptically surveyed her up and down. She was wearing white shorts that stopped well above her knees and a slim fitting black tank top that showed she had all the right curves. Her pink painted toes and little silver toe ring peeked out from the top of black high heel slide-on sandals and a delicate silver anklet encircled her slender ankle.

"What's wrong with what I'm wearing?" Abbey asked. She looked good and she knew it, especially just six months after giving birth. What's more, she was not afraid to flaunt that, never had been.

"Well, people don't really golf in heels, Hon."

"Jed, I can do anything in heels. You should know that by now."

"I still don't know how you get around on those things without breaking an ankle."

"Well, I do. And besides, this is mini golfing with the family, it's not like I'm going on the LPGA tour." She watched a smile form on Jed's face and then he began to laugh. "What is so funny?"

"I'm just trying to picture the faces of those women on the LPGA tour in their long Bermuda shorts, collared shirts, golf cleats, and visors if you were to arrive to golf with them in this get up."

"It might liven things up," Abbey sniffed.

"That it would, hot pants," he said and gave her bottom a soft pinch.

****

Of course the press was in full force as the Bartlet entourage arrived at the Pirate's Cove mini golf course. But, CJ had made a deal with them that the Bartlets would pose with their brood for a few pictures on the first hole if the press would leave them alone for the rest of the evening.

Aislinn and Nicholas were the immediate focus of the photographers. The entire country was obsessed with the Bartlet babies, yet they had rarely been seen, except in official photos released from the White House. Now, here they were, dozing in their stroller, with pacifiers in their mouths. But Abbey had not made the corps happy, by refusing to wake her children so she and the President could hold them and pose.

"Come on guys, give us a break," Abbey smiled, trying to keep it light, when inside she was really seething that they would even suggest she do this. "You aren't the ones who will have to deal with the consequences."

"Ah, it can't be that bad," one reporter called out.

"You ever spent an evening with a cranky, screaming, over-tired infant?" Jed asked.

"No...I guess not."

"Well then, you don't know how bad it can get. What's your name, son?"

"Greg Stevens, Miami Herald."

"Well Greg, you wake up my kids and I'll track you down and have you baby-sit," he grinned, "then you will know exactly what my wife and I are trying to explain to you." The other reporters all began to laugh.

The interest moved from the babies to the First Couple when the President, concerned that his wife had putted far to the left of the hole, took it upon himself to teach her the basics. He stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind to place her hands properly on the putter. It got very quiet, save for the sound of the camera shutters clicking. The reporters were straining to hear what was being said between the couple, but were too far away, and so, had to rely on their body language.

"Look at your arms, sweetheart," Jed said, squeezing her elbow, "they're too loose. That's why your ball went to the left."

"My ball is just fine," Abbey said, with a low tone of warning that Jed chose to ignore.

"It went to the left because your elbows weren't locked and..."

"Jed, you don't even like golf," exasperation was seeping into Abbey's voice, "now, let go of me and let me play."

"Do you see how close my ball got? That's because I..." Abbey turned to look at him with a smile for the reporters' benefit.

"You are not going to have any balls if you don't let go of me," she said through her teeth, the smile still on her face.

"You wouldn't dare," he murmured into her ear, knowing that part of his anatomy was safe as long as the reporters were present. Jed was right on that count, but the smug look left his face when Abbey started to get in position to hit her ball and wiggled her little rear back up against him. She felt him stiffen with surprise and back off as if she had touched him with a live flame, which, in a way, she had.

"You're playing with fire, lady," he warned her softly, with just the hint of a twinkle in his eye.

"Oh yeah, and what are you going to do about it in front of all these cameras?" She gave him a sidelong, flirtatious look.

"Oh, I might not do anything here in front of the free press, but there is always tonight," his voice was a low whisper.

"Ok Mom, it's your turn again," Ellie said. Abbey looked up to see that the girls had all finished their turns. She got in position to hit her ball, giving her hips an extra little wiggle for Jed's benefit. She then looked straight at her husband, keeping her arms deliberately loose, and hit her ball. Right into the hole.

"Good shot, Gram," Annie called out enthusiastically.

"You were saying," Abbey lifted an eyebrow at Jed.

"Touche baby," he tipped his Red Sox baseball cap to her.

The press corps left the course when the Bartlets moved on to the next hole. Many were grumbling over the fact that things had just started getting interesting. After answering a few questions, none of which had to do with policy, CJ overheard some of the camera men and reporters' observations.

"Did you see that little wiggle the First Lady gave the President while he was helping her putt?"

"Oh yeah, couldn't miss it. You know, I used to hate following Presidents on their boring vacations, but this First Lady makes it very interesting."

"VERY interesting. You gonna write about those great legs she has in your column?"

CJ walked away smiling. Her job was certainly easier now that the Bartlets were on good terms again, and she wasn't having to field questions about the rumors of a rift. Anyone who had seen them together here in Maine would know that, if there had been a rift, it did not exist anymore.

"You leaving?" Jed asked as she walked past them on the 5th hole.

"Yup. The wolves are all gone and you guys should be free for the night. By the way, if there is some country that you are a little ticked off at and want to bomb or invade, now is the time to do. All the press is interested in is the First Lady's toe ring."

"I gave that to her," Annie smiled proudly, and she and Abbey stuck out their feet, wiggling their toes, to show off their matching rings.

"Well, half the women in America will be sporting them, along with anklets tomorrow, if the way they follow your hairstyles is any indication." CJ started to walk away, then turned back to them. "Oh yeah, Abbey, thought you might want to know, the consensus, at least among the men in the press corps, is that you have terrific legs. Bye bye," she waved and was off.

"Wipe that smile off your face, sweet pea, you're a married woman, and a feminist to boot. Aren't feminists supposed to be against men looking at them like sex objects?"

"I can't speak for all feminists, but I am also a woman, and I can guarantee you that almost every woman in the world will smile when told that she has great legs."

"Well at least that group of jackals has good taste in women."

****

Their game over, the Bartlet family walked along Shore Road through the quaint coastal village. This was something they were never allowed to do in DC, and both Jed and Abbey relished their freedom. Well, semi freedom. There were still agents in front and behind them. Ellie, Zoey, and Annie walked up ahead chattering and giggling. Abbey and Jed strolled slowly behind them, arm in arm, as they pushed the baby carriage along.

"That was a really sweet thing you did, missing that last shot," Abbey said.

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Jed, you missed that last shot on purpose so that Annie could beat you. I watched you hit it to the side."

"Abbey, I never LET people win. Just ask my staff. It just isn't in my competitive nature."

"Sure it isn't," she smiled knowingly, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek. "It was very sweet," she whispered into his ear.

As they approached Ida's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor, they all waited outside while the service checked the establishment out and gave them the ok to enter. The other patrons stared in awe as the First Family took a table way in the back.

Abbey and Ellie ordered chocolate ice cream sodas and sat at the table, watching with amusement as Jed, Zoey, and Annie tried to outdo each other with toppings at the make your own sundae bar. Abbey watched one little boy on his tiptoes as he tried to reach for the maraschino cherries. His little arm was too short to reach and his harried mother was too busy helping her other children to notice his plight. The little boy jumped to reach and his arm dragged though the butterscotch sauce.

"Hold on there partner," Jed said, holding the boy's arm out so he wouldn't get the sticky syrup all over his shirt. The boy looked at Jed with serious brown eyes, as Jed began to wipe his arm off with a napkin, which wasn't quite doing the job. Abbey dug in the diaper bag and approached them with a damp baby wipe to clean the mess off. The frazzled mother finally looked around. Her mouth dropped open as she saw the President and First Lady kneeling on the floor cleaning up her son.

"Mr. President, Mrs. Bartlet, I'm so sorry he bothered you. Luke, how did you make such a mess?"

"It's all right," Jed smiled. "I've got several kids myself. I know how hard it is to keep track of them. I think Luke here just wanted some of these cherries, didn't you, son? I mean, a sundae is not a sundae without the cherry on top." The little boy named Luke nodded and Jed placed the cherries on top of his sundae. "There you go, you're all set now."

"Thank you," Luke said solemnly. At that moment the woman's other children began squabbling and calling for her. The woman gave a strained look from her kids to the President of the United States.

"Well Luke, I think your Mom might need some help with your brothers and sisters. You up to that?"

"Yes, sir." Luke turned to leave and his mother placed an arm around him to lead him away. Abbey watched the woman with sympathy. There had not been a wedding ring on her finger and no male with all those children. Being a mother was hard enough with her husband's help, she couldn't imagine how difficult it was to be to be a single mother. She heard the mother whispering to her son, "Do you know who that was helping you back there?"

"Who?" Luke asked.

"That was the President and the First Lady."

"What's he the President of?" Both Jed and Abbey bit their lips to keep from laughing.

After a few more minutes at the bar, Jed and the girls returned with enormous sundaes. Abbey and Ellie shook their heads in amused disdain.

"You three have no restraint," Abbey said.

"None at all," Jed agreed, and began to dig right into his ice cream. As he put a spoonful into his mouth, he noticed Aislinn and Nicholas watching him with wide eyes.

"You guys are making me feel awfully guilty here," he said. He put a small amount of vanilla ice cream on his spoon and moved it toward Nicky's mouth.

"One bite," Abbey said firmly, "you'll make them sick."

"Ok, ok, one little taste," he promised, dipping his spoon in to get a bite for his daughter. "Aislinn, you look like a little bird with your mouth open like that," he chuckled and spooned the ice cream into her mouth. Her eyes blinked rapidly in surprise, as everything from her mother's milk to her baby cereal was placed warm into her mouth. The cold ice cream was a whole new experience.

"Mark this one in the baby book, Abs," he turned to his wife, "their first taste of ice cream."

"And with you as their Dad, it certainly won't be their last," she sighed.

"Hey, they need me to combat all those vegetables their mother will be cramming down their throats."

****

With their ice cream finished, they all began to stroll back toward the Pirate's Cove. The sun had set and dusk was setting in over the sea. This time it was Ellie who hung back with Abbey and the babies.

"Honey, you've been awfully quiet since you got here. Are you sure everything is all right with you?"

"Yes, everything is fine," Ellie smiled. "I'm just tired from all the long hours."

"Zoey said when she and Charlie went to visit you that you had a fight with Davis."

"Oh, that was nothing," she looked up into her mother's skeptical eyes. "Really Mom, Davis was just under a lot of stress because of his exams."

"Ellie, you know you can talk to me about anything, honey."

"I know Mom, but there is nothing wrong. Don't worry about me."

"I'll worry about you until the day I die," Abbey smiled. "That's what mother's do. Just remember that I'm here for you if you need me."

"I know that, Mom," Ellie smiled, swallowing past the lump in her throat, wishing for a moment that she did have the strength to confide in her mother. Her mother never judged or ridiculed. But, she was an adult now and she couldn't always go running into Mommy's arms for help.

As they turned the corner, they saw Jed and the girls waiting for them.

"Jed, why are we stopped in front of this candy store?" Abbey asked with her hands on her hips.

"Annie wants to go in," he said almost sheepishly.

"Annie, I don't think you need candy after that huge sundae you had."

"Yeah, how can you think of candy?" Ellie and Zoey groaned. Annie gazed at the stern look on her grandmother's face back to her grandfather. She knew exactly who to appeal to.

"Please Gramps," she pleaded. Jed's eyes moved from his wife to the big blue eyes of his granddaughter. Oh Christ, he could never resist any of the women in his life.

"Ok Annie. ONE bag." He started in with her and two of their agents. Abbey rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"She sure has him wrapped around her finger," Zoey grinned.

"HER," Abbey said incredulously, "you all do. Pleeease Daddy, with a little batting of the eyes, is all it has ever taken any of you to get around your father."

"And just who do you think we learned that from," Ellie said, nudging her mother with an elbow.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Abbey tossed her head. "I don't try to wrap your father around my finger."

"You don't have to try," Zoey and Ellie said in unison and they both began to laugh.

"Besides," Ellie said, "there is another term they use for that situation. It's called being pu..."

"Don't use that word, Eleanor Bartlet," Abbey said sternly, "I hate that term."

"All right," Ellie said sheepishly, "it's called being whipped."

"Your father is not whipped," Abbey stated firmly, but all three began to laugh when he came out with two boxes of saltwater taffy.

"You're just an old softy, aren't you?" Abbey said when he approached her.

"I got some of your favorite. Molasses," he dangled the box in front of her. "Mad at me?"

"No, but I'm just warning you that when she gets sick tonight, you are the one who is going to sit up with her."

"She isn't going to get sick."

The sound of footsteps in the hall and the creaking stairs had Jed squinting at the clock beside the bed. It was 1:00 am. He got out of bed and threw his bathrobe on over his sweats. As he tried to quietly exit the bedroom, he heard his wife stirring.

"Jed," she murmured sleepily, "is something wrong? Are the babies up?"

"No, everything's fine, Hon. Go back to sleep."

"Mmmm...'k," she rolled back over, snuggling up to his pillow.

Jed padded barefoot down the hall. He peeked in on the twins, who were sleeping soundly, as were Ellie and Zoey. It was Annie who was missing. The light was on in the bathroom and he saw a half-empty glass of water on the sink. He shut the light and heard the sound of low voices coming from the first floor. He started down the stairs and found Annie curled up on the couch watching TV.

"What are you doing, Tinkerbell?"

"Gramps," she groaned.

"Ok, Ok, what are you doing ,Annie? It's after one."

"I don't feel so good," she ran a hand over her stomach, "I guess Grams was right."

"Yeah, well let's not tell her that. What's wrong? Is your stomach upset?" He felt her forehead.

"I ate almost the whole bag of taffy," she admitted.

"Well, that would do it." He left the room to rummage in the bathroom and kitchen returning with a capful of pink liquid and a can of ginger ale. "Here, take this," he said, handing her the pink stuff.

"What is it?" Annie asked.

"Pepto Bismol, it will help settle your stomach." Annie swallowed it in one gulp, wrinkling her nose in distaste.

"Yuck, let me have the ginger ale," she grabbed the can from him, taking a quick swig.

"What are you watching?" Jed asked, sitting down beside her on the couch and propping his feet on the coffee table.

"Never Been Kissed."

"Ah, the true life story of the Bartlet-Weston girls."

"In your dreams," Annie giggled. "You know you don't have to stay up with me. I'll be ok."

"I know I don't have to. I want to." He put an arm around her and Annie snuggled against his chest. She would never admit it because she was 13 years old, but she was glad her grandfather was staying up with her. She always felt safe in his arms. Her relationship with him was easy and uncomplicated, unlike the one she shared with her father. Her grandfather simply loved her unconditionally and never neglected to tell her how proud he was of her and she had always worshipped the ground he walked on. She never felt that she was in the way with her grandparents, they were always thrilled to see her. As her grandfather stroked the hair back from her face and made funny comments about the movie she had chosen, Annie felt her eyelids starting to get very heavy.

****

Abbey awoke to the usual morning whimpering and crying on the baby monitor.

"Jed," she yawned, not opening her eyes yet, "please go get the babies. I'm still half-asleep. I'll feed them in bed this morning." There was no response from her husband. "Jed," she rolled over to shake him, but he wasn't there. She got to her feet, putting her bathrobe on, expecting to find Jed already in the nursery. But all she found there was two crying babies.

"Morning, sweeties," she yawned again. "Are you two wet? Is that what you're trying to tell me? I'll bet you are." She lifted Aislinn first and laid her on the changing table to take care of that wet diaper.

"Where is your daddy, Aislinn?" Abbey asked, kissing her daughter's bare belly. "This is supposed to be his job in the morning since he isn't quite equipped to feed you way the mommy is.

With both babies in clean diapers, Abbey held one on each hip, looking from Nicky's blue eyes to Aislinn's hazel ones.

"Well troops," she said, "let's go find Daddy and let him have it."

Abbey expected to find Jed reading the paper and sipping coffee on the porch. She did not expect to find Annie and he sprawled over the couch sound asleep. Jed's head was back and he was snoring softly, his feet still propped on the coffee table. Annie lay stretched out, her feet on Jed's lap. As she got closer, Abbey saw the can of ginger ale and the bottle of Pepto Bismol and knew Jed had been up all night with their nauseous granddaughter. He had an 'I told you so' coming. But, not now, not when he looked so damned sweet. She kissed Annie's forehead lightly, the doctor in her just double-checking to make sure she didn't have a fever. Annie's eyes flickered open.

"Mmmm. Gram?"

"How are you feeling, sweetie?"

"I wasn't sick, Gram."

"Sure you weren't," Abbey smiled tenderly, stroking the hair back from her face.

"Are we going to the island with Gramp's staff for a clambake today?"

"Not today, pumpkin. Tomorrow. Just go back to sleep. It's still early."

"Abbey," Jed said, opening his eyes tiredly, "what time is it?"

"It's early, babe. The twins just woke up."

"You were right."

"Excuse me?"

"I said you were right."

"No, I heard what you said. I just can't believe what I heard. Can I get that in writing?"

"Very funny."

"I thought so."

Jed glanced down at Annie. "She's still sleeping?"

"She's fine. She's excited about the clambake tomorrow."

"I think everyone is looking forward to it. Just remember to load up on Dramamine. We don't need half the people who run the free world getting seasick."

TBC...