Jed finished shaving and checked his pocketwatch, 5:30 am. It was a morning he had been dreading for the past week. The morning he had to leave for Brazil for a meeting of the OAS. It would be the first time he would be attending without Abbey. The babies were just too little for her to leave behind, they still needed their mother. It was also his first extended trip away since their birth. He would be gone a week and half, which included three days in California wooing the entertainment industry.

He slapped on some aftershave and while tying his tie, he walked back into the bedroom. Abbey was laying on her side feeding Nicholas.

"You two look cozy," he said, stretching out beside them.

"Mmm, you smell good," Abbey ran a hand over his cheek. "Are you all ready to go?"

"As ready as I can be," he sighed.

"Jed, we'll all be fine. Hattie is starting this week so I'll have help."

"I know...I'm just going to miss you all. It's hard when they're little like this."

"I know," she smiled sadly. "And I love that you are going to miss us."

"Well, I hope the feeling is mutual."

"You know it is."

Jed ran a finger along one of the blue veins on Abbey's breast and leaned over to kiss her. He was rewarded by a swift kick to the chest and a cry of outrage from his son, whose meal he had interrupted.

"Hey there kiddo," Jed said in a mockingly stern voice. “Those breasts were mine first before they started spending all their time nourishing YOU. So you better get used to the idea of sharing in the near future."

"As much as I hate to contradict you in front of your son, they do actually belong to me," Abbey reminded him.

"Yes they do," Jed agreed, "but you're much better at sharing than our son is. Sometimes I think you even enjoy it," he grinned.

"Oh, maybe sometimes," she said airily and then laughed as Jed began to tickle her.

"Sir," Charlie said at the door.

"Time to go?" Jed asked, the smile leaving his face.

"Yes, sir."

"I'll be right out," Jed stood and looked down at his wife and son. "Well, duty calls."

"I know."

"I love you," he bent down to kiss her and then the top of Nicholas' head.

"I love you back."

Jed turned and headed for the door.

"Jed," she called out just as he reached for the knob. "Call me every night."

"That's usually my line," he winked. "Don't worry, I will. And you call me if one of these brilliant offspring of ours begins to walk or talk or do something utterly amazing."

"I will," she smiled. "Now go, before the plane leaves without you."

"That would be one for the record books," Jed chuckled as he left the room.

***

The early morning stillness in the White House residence was broken by the ringing of the phone. It was amazing how quiet it was when people weren't in and out needing Jed, Abbey thought as she reached for the phone.

"Hello," she answered, her voice slightly husky with sleep.

"Good morning, gorgeous."

"Jed?"

"Who else would be calling at this hour?"

"No sane person."

"What are you doing?"

"Just laying here in bed with a handsome young man."

"Yeah, well, he better be about six weeks old or I'll evoke executive privilege and have him beheaded."

"God, you do have a big ego. Even you don't have the power to order a beheading."

"Well, what good is being the President then?" He pouted. "Everyone is always telling me I'm the most powerful man in the world."

"Sorry to burst your bubble, blue eyes," she laughed. "So, how is it going down there?"

"Just wrapping up. I can't believe the week is over. The wives of the other leaders wanted me to tell you they missed you, but they understand you had to stay home with the babies. Who, by the way, everyone agrees are absolutely beautiful."

"Jed, you aren't pulling out all your pictures at every turn, are you?"

"Only when they asked," he said defensively. "Besides, most of them had already seen them. It's not like those family shots we did didn't end up on the cover of every magazine in the free world."

"Jed," she laughed, shaking her head. He had always been this way, always had such pride in his children.

"How are things going at your end?"

"Fine. The twins miss you. Their midnight feeding is all thrown out of whack."

"What about my wife? Does she miss me?"

"Well, I believe she does. It's awfully quiet here without you. I had my six week postpartum yesterday."

"And?" he asked expectantly.

"And everything is A-OK. Wait a minute...Jed, I have to go, Aislinn is waking up. I'll talk to you later. Bye babe."

"Bye," he said, hearing his daughter crying in the background. He hung up the phone and looked out the window. "Well, well, well," he murmured to himself then hollered out, "CJ."

***

Abbey had invited Millie over for dinner and an evening of chick flicks, which they had both enjoyed. But, the evening was cut short by a cranky, colicky Aislinn.

Abbey tried everything to calm her daughter's crying. Nursing, rocking, a pacifier, but the only thing that could even remotely calm her for a little bit was to walk back and forth, humming softly, with her on her shoulder. Hattie had offered to relieve her but Abbey refused. Comforting her daughter was a mother's job, not the nanny. Finally, after what seemed like hours, Abbey got her calmed and sleeping and headed back to her bedroom exhausted. She had just changed into her nightgown when the door burst open.

"Hey sassy, I'm home," Jed said, taking his suitcoat off and throwing it on a chair.

"Jed," Abbey gasped, startled. "What the hell are you doing here? You aren't supposed to be home for another two days."

"I had CJ cancel the Hollywood stuff. I'm not waiting another two days." He wrapped his arms around Abbey's waist, leaning forward to kiss her.

"Jed," she pulled back, "wait."

"It's been seven months, Abigail, the word wait is no longer in my vocabulary," he tried to kiss her again but she pushed against his chest.

"Jed, I've been up all night with Aislinn. I'm really tired. And I wanted this night to be perfect."

"Who cares about perfect? I just want to have sex," he placed his hands on her hips, pulling them into his.

"I wanted it to be romantic and I wanted to look sexy."

"Abbey, if you looked any sexier to me, I'd come just looking at you."

"Jed," she laughed and her laughter turned to a sigh as he began to nuzzle along her jaw and down her neck. Aw hell, she thought, romance could wait for another night. Just as she arched her neck to allow Jed better access, he was interrupted in his endeavor by the sound of a crying baby on the monitor.

"Damn," he groaned, stopping what he was doing.

"Come with me," Abbey said, starting to head to the door. "I'm sure that shriek woke Nicholas too so they'll both be up."

They got to the nursery and peered down at Aislinn who was wailing, her knees drawn to her belly.

"Colic?" Jed asked, lifting her up.

"Yes. She's been like this all night."

"Poor thing," he said and held her to his chest patting her little back, feeling her knees thrashing in pain against him. "Does your belly hurt, sweetheart? Daddy's going to try to make you feel better." Aislinn's cries did wake Nicholas and Abbey picked him up.

"I'm beginning to wonder if we are ever going to have sex again," Jed said as they were both walking with a screaming baby on their shoulder.

"Just like the good old days," Abbey smiled wryly and took his hand.

****

Despite the fact that he wasn't supposed to be home for a couple days, it didn't take Jed long to be bogged down by work. Leo had even planned a meeting for later in the afternoon.

"You're a slavedriver McGarry," Jed said. "I should have kept the fact that I was home quiet."

"Do you really think you could?" Leo grinned. "Come on, you do travel with a bit of an entourage. Why did you come home anyway?"

"Personal reasons, Leo. Personal reasons."

***

Abbey used the time Jed was at work to plan her romantic night. She had seduction on her mind, although she knew Jed wouldn't need any seducing. She knew that he would come back ready to pounce on her, but she wasn't having any of that. She owed him big time for all those wonderful massages he had given her during her pregnancy and tonight was his payback. That is, if she could get him away from the Oval Office. Damn Leo anyway. Why did he have to set up that late meeting for him? She decided she would have to take matters into her own hands to make sure this meeting did not get prolonged.

She knew she wasn't playing fair, but hell, it had been seven months for her too. At least she'd been able to give Jed some release along the way. She had had none and now that she was feeling better her innate sexuality was coming back. Oh admit it, Abigail, she thought to herself, you are as randy as hell for that handsome husband of yours.

She dressed in the dark emerald green teddy Donna had given her, slipped on a long coat over it, and made her way to the Oval Office.

"Abbey?" Jed asked, looking up over the rim of her reading glasses, a move which never failed to turn her on. "You're not going out, are you?"

"No," she said, approaching his desk.

"Then...you're cold?"

"Wrong again," she sat on the edge of his desk, the coat gaping open to afford him a view of one long, shapely, bare leg. She tilted her head to the side and twirled a strand of hair around her finger, her eyes staying locked with his.

"Um...I have a meeting in a few minutes," Jed stammered.

"I know. Did you forget you have a meeting upstairs tonight?" She ran her fingernail lightly over his cheek.

"N...no" Jed said, his mouth going dry. "This wasn't my idea. Blame Leo."

"Well no matter who's at fault, I can guarantee you that you aren't going to want to take too long in this meeting. I have a little preview for you of what will be waiting for you in the residence."

She stood and opened her coat to reveal her scantily clad body.

"Oh Jesus Abigail...you do enjoy torturing me, don't you?" He reached out a finger and ran it over the lacy edge covering her chest.

"It is one of my pleasures in life," she ran her finger over his bottom lip and he sucked it in, giving it a small nip with his teeth. Abbey felt her knees getting weak just at the moment they heard voices outside the door. Her reflexive action was to duck down under Jed's desk just as the door opened to admit Leo, Josh, Toby, and two Republican senators from Alaska.

"Hello everyone," Jed said, slightly flustered. He had to believe that this was a first. His predecessors may have hidden their extra curricular women in the Oval Office, but how many had hidden their wives?

Abbey sat under the desk listening to the meeting about oil drilling in the Arctic refuge drone on and on, feeling utterly ridiculous. She was a reputable married woman, a respected surgeon, the mother of five and, yet, here she was hiding under this desk half naked like some kind of hooker. What the hell had she been thinking to get herself into this predicament? Jed wasn't helping matters. He was dragging the meeting out. She knew he was enjoying her discomfort. Well, two could play at that game.

She reached a hand out and under her husband's pant leg, running her fingers sensually over the hair on his leg. Jed began to re-position himself in his seat. Leo and Toby frowned at each other, puzzled at the President's behavior. He seemed to get more antsy as the meeting went on.

You little vixen, Jed thought gritting his teeth, as his wife's fingers moved higher up to tickle behind his knee. But, it was when her tongue snaked out to lick his calf, that he nearly jumped out of his seat.

"Mr. President, are you all right?" Senator Williams asked.

"Y...yes I'm fine," Jed said. "I just had a really great idea...but I'll need to run it by the oil companies first. So, I'll have to bring this meeting to a close and get back to you. Have a good day, gentlemen," he leaned forward to shake their hands, for there was no way he was going to stand and reveal his hard on.

"OK." They were all looking at Jed a little strangely but turned to leave. As soon as the door shut, Jed pulled Abbey out from under the desk.

"What the hell were you doing? They must all think I have Tourette's syndrome or something."

"I was bored," Abbey laughed. "I thought I was the one with the sensitive spot behind the knee."

"You're gonna pay this little episode, woman," he placed his arms around her waist.

"Promises, promises."

"Mr. President," Charlie said, entering the office, "Prime Minister Blair is on the line."

"Jed," Abbey warned.

"I have to take this, Abbey. I'll be quick, believe me. I'll meet you up in the residence."

***

Fifteen minutes later Jed entered his bedroom. The lights were dimmed, candles were burning, and Marvin Gaye was singing about 'Sexual Healing' on the CD player. Abbey was on the bed, leaning back against the pillows wearing that silk teddy. She stretched out like a cat, raising her arms over her head seductively, her breasts straining against the fabric.

"Abigail Bartlet, you DO have a body made for sin. But, you really didn't have to go to all this trouble. Turning me on is not going to be a problem."

"Well," she said rising to her feet and approaching him. "I do owe you quite a few massages," she began to undo his tie.

"I don't know if I can take that tonight," he said, pulling her to him to try to kiss her.

"Not yet," she admonished him, pulling back. "That will come soon enough." She began unbuttoning his shirt, kissing his flesh as she exposed it. When she had him stripped down to his boxers, she led him by the hand to the bed.

"Lay down on your stomach," she said.

"Abbey."

"Lay down, Jed." He did as he was told and Abbey straddled his hips, drizzling massage oil on to his back. She began to knead his shoulders and back, at first gently, then with more force. Jed moaned at the pleasure her hands gave.

"You're very tense," she murmured. "You're all knotted up," she rubbed her fingertips into his neck and leaned forward, allowing her hair and nipples to graze him while she kissed along his hairline and down his spine. When she reached the base of his spine, her tongue began to caress the dip in the small of his back.

"Abbey," he growled and, in one fluid movement, he flipped over to lay on his back with her still straddled over his hips. "I think you're trying to kill me," he groaned as she drizzled more of the oil on his chest and began to massage his pectoral muscles down to his belly and back up again. She ran her fingernails lightly over his ribs causing him to shiver. She bent down to run her tongue over his faded scars and his nipples, her sweet smelling hair spilling over his chest. Nothing was more sexy than being enveloped by her long hair while her mouth drove him wild. He knew his control was about to snap when she began to suck and nip at the skin by his right nipple. He rolled over again, this time flipping Abbey underneath him. He covered her lips with his, plunging his tongue into her mouth as he tugged the straps of her teddy down off her shoulders.

"Ok, now Jed," Abbey sighed, arching her back to press up against him as she allowed him to take over the lead.

They were so caught up in their passion they didn't hear the knocks at first. Then, the door cracked open.

"Mr. President," Leo called out.

No, dammit, Abbey thought, her body still humming with desire as she pushed Jed off her and jumped under the covers trying to control her breathing. She couldn't believe this was happening.

"What?" Jed growled with frustration.

"Sorry," Leo said, peeking in to see Abbey with the covers pulled to her chest and Jed putting on a robe. "Charlie is gone so I'm here to let you know you are needed in the situation room."

"Now?" Jed sighed.

"Yes sir. We have a hostage situation in Turkey involving Americans."

"Give me a minute to change. I'll be right there."

"Yes sir. I'll just wait out here," he shut the door.

Jed grabbed a towel and tried to wipe off any extra massage oil from his chest. He threw on jeans and a sweatshirt.

"I guess I don't have to tell you that had you allowed me to jump you when I wanted, we would both be relaxed and satisfied right now," he said.

"Shut up Jed," she grumbled, "just shut up."

"Don't go finishing without me," he grinned.

"Jed," she rolled her eyes.

"Wait up if you can."

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything."

"You never did promise me a rose garden darlin'."

"Oh Jed," she groaned shaking her head,"that was a bad one. Besides, you do have a rose garden."

"I do, don't I? Well, gotta go," he turned to leave, meeting up with Leo in the hall and they began walking to the West Wing. "Fill me in on what's going on," Jed instructed. Leo's nose began to twitch.

"What is that smell?"

"I don't smell anything," Jed said. "Now, what is going on in Turkey?"

"It smells kind of almondy-vanilla. It's you. Are you using Abbey's body lotion or something? Because I have to say it is very feminine."

"Leo, what are you trying to imply? I am not trying to smell pretty by using my wife's body lotion. It is massage oil, for Christ's sake. OK?" He snapped.

"Oh," Leo grinned, "now I know what I interrupted back there and why you are in such a foul mood."

"Leo, I haven't had real sex in over half a year. I haven't gone that long since I hooked up with Abbey and I'm beginning to wonder if I will ever get it again. Do you know what it is like to go this long?"

"I have an idea," Leo said wryly, "I am divorced."

"Well, you can't get laid if you don't date, Leo. We need to find you a woman. How do you stand it?"

"It's not as hard when you don't have an Abbey Bartlet waiting for you in bed."

"I guess you're right about that," Jed smiled, "that woman can really drive me crazy with lust. She doesn't even have to really try."

"Especially when she tortures you from under your desk?" Leo raised an eyebrow.

"How did you know she was under there?" Jed asked, shocked.

"You were acting very strange. When you didn't stand up at the end of the meeting, I thought maybe you had an episode coming on so I kept an eye on your office. I saw Abbey leave wearing a long coat, and I knew she didn't go in after the meeting. So, I put two and two together and figured she was why you couldn't sit still. I'm right, aren't I?"

"Yeah," Jed grinned, "but don't tell her I told you. She'd kill me."

They entered the situation room and Nancy and Fitzwallace began to sniff near Jed.

"Are you wearing perfume, sir?" Nancy asked.

"Massage oil," Leo said, causing them all to grin at the President.

"Could we get down to business here?" Jed asked glaring at them.

***

It was after three when Jed got back to the bedroom. Abbey was sound asleep on her side, her coppery hair covering her face. He knew she had probably just finished feeding the twins and she looked so peaceful, he didn't have the heart to wake her. He stripped back down to his boxers and crawled into bed pressing up behind her. He brushed the hair tenderly back from her face, running a finger over the curve of her cheekbone. She smiled in her sleep and murmured, "Jed."

"Go to sleep beautiful," he kissed her temple and cuddled her to him. As he lay there with his wife in his arms, he began to form a plan as to how he was going to be able to get her alone, without interruptions, before all this pent up frustration gave them both a stroke. He smiled as his mind went to work. "Oh Abbey darlin', you aren't going to stand a chance tomorrow," he whispered into her hair.

TBC...