CJ sat on the edge of the bed going over the message of the day with the First Lady, pretending not to notice what the other woman was doing as she was seated at her vanity table. She wasn't however, blind or stupid. She knew exactly what Abbey was doing as she tenderly probed the reddened delicate skin around her mouth and knew exactly how she had gotten that whisker burn. It was quite evident that the President and First Lady had continued their own little private party back in their stateroom after the storm had hit and broken up the poker party.

CJ glanced with amusement around the room noticing the broken vase on the floor next to the curtains that Abbey had pulled from the rods when she came while having sex with Jed in the chair by the window.

"Damn" she heard Abbey mutter as she searched for a bottle of cream then began to smooth it into her skin. She surveyed herself from side to side in the mirror and muttered another oath.

"CJ, would you mind grabbing my cosmetic bag from the bathroom?" She asked.

"Not a problem ma'am." CJ grinned to herself as she made her way to the bathroom, then came back to watch Abbey try to cover the rash with beige cover up.

"What do you think?" Abbey turned to face her husband's press secretary.

"I think the President should have shaved his five o'clock shadow."

There was dead silence as Abbey stared with a raised eyebrow at the taller woman and CJ wondered if she had overstepped her boundaries. She held her breath for a moment but then Abbey started to laugh.

"You wanna tell him that?"

"Uh, no ma'am, I think I'll leave that up to you."

"Chicken. But, don't worry, I'll let him know that it was your suggestion."

"Appreciate that ma'am," CJ smirked.

"Not a problem." Abbey grabbed her tube of cream and made her way to the bathroom. CJ didn't need to know that there were other areas of her body that were equally chafed.

****

The crowd that had gathered at the Memphis dock to greet the "Creole Queen" cheered loudly. The upbeat strains of "Walking in Memphis" blared from the loudspeakers and finally the President and First Lady began to disembark. Gone were Jed and Abbey the everyday couple in jeans and t-shirts, playing poker, drinking beer, cussing like sailors, and enjoying off color politically incorrect jokes, and in their place was a dignified, very presidential couple who waved to the frenzied crowd and smiled for photographers.

"They got catfish on the table, they got gospel in the airReverend Green be glad to see you when you haven't got a prayerBut boy you've got a prayer in Memphis…."

The music continued long after the couple had entered the sedan and left the enthusiastic rally far behind for a more somber visit to St. Judes Children's hospital. Both Abbey and Jed had been to the non-profit Catholic hospital before, had in fact helped raise money for it long before Jed had become involved in politics, but that didn't make this visit any easier.

It was never easy to see young children sick, especially in a hospital that catered only to cases that were considered terminal. Abbey had in fact seriously entertained the idea of going into pediatrics when she had made the decision to become a doctor. A heart wrenching rotation in Pediatrics as an intern had turned her away from that specialty and toward a career that she was less likely to take home with her. Maybe it was because she had already had a child by the time she did her rotation, but every time she saw a crying, sick child she saw Elizabeth and the empathy with the child's parent was almost more than she could bear. Ultimately she still did surgery on children but most often those were the hardest cases of all and the ones that she brought home to the farm.

Still, in most of the children that they met the one thing that was apparent was the hope shining in their hollowed out dark circled eyes. Many were bald and walked with IV's attached to their wrists, but all were certain that they were going to survive. It was the parent's eyes that held all the pain and despair, the parents who wept for their children's lives.

Abbey watched her husband kneel before a seated woman who had just broken down after telling them the story of her young son's fight with a virulent form of lymphoma and her lack of medical insurance. She watched him take the woman's hands between his and the soft compassion in his eyes and heard him voicing the power of prayer and faith. He was so much better in these situations than she was. Watching him like this was a chance for her to see that side of her husband that would have made an excellent priest. There were too many other sides to him that would have made him a disaster to the priesthood, but this earnest, compassionate, optimistic side made him as much of a healer as even she, with all her vast medical knowledge.

She watched him slide into a surgical gown to hold a young baby girl probably just a few months younger than Aislinn. He ignored the tubes that ran from her body to IV poles and held her tightly to his chest while he rocked her, much as he had Zoey after her premature birth. She heard the wonderful soft tones of his voice as he sang to the ill child the same songs that he sang to Nicholas and to Aislinn. She saw the wetness of his lashes when he finally lifted his face to gaze into her own tear filled eyes. Their eyes stayed locked for a long moment of silent communication both knowing what the other was thinking; "There but for the grace of God, go I."

Abbey placed a hand on his shoulder as she watched him swallow convulsively to restrain his emotions.

"Mrs. Bartlet, they're ready for you now." Lily Mays poked her head into the room and Abbey nodded. This was the real reason that they were here in the first place.

****

Abbey entered the room quietly seeing the young 11-year-old girl with the kerchief on her head lying back with her eyes closed.

"Sarah?"

The young girl's weary eyes opened and slowly a bright smile played across her face as she saw who was in her room.

"You came," she said with awe. "You really came."

"Did you really think that I could resist such a nice letter?"

"Did you come because my mother told you I was going to die?"

Abbey was startled by how forthright the girl was, but she saw the fear lurking in her tired brown eyes.

"No way. " Abbey took her hand. "I came because you told me that you want to be a doctor when you grow up and we really need more good women doctors."

"I want to be just like you when I grow up. I even have red hair, you know. Well, I did before the chemo." She touched a hand a bit self consciously to the kerchief on her head. "And I read in that book about you that you hated your freckles too."

"That part actually happens to be true," Abbey smiled at the reference to one of the many unauthorized biographies written about her. "But, you learn to live with them and you know what? A lot of boys actually like them. My husband does."

"My dad doesn't like your husband."

"Is that so?" Abbey smiled softly at the censure in the girl's voice. "And he didn't mind you writing to me."

"No, he thinks you're real pretty but he just doesn't like liberal eggheads. What does that mean, anyway?"

Abbey had to bite back her laughter. "It means he doesn't like open minded smart people which is probably why he doesn't like my husband."

"No," the girl smiled shyly. "I think he doesn't like the President because my mom thinks he's cute."

"Really." Abbey shared a conspiratorial smile.

"Yeah, she's always saying how good looking he is, even better looking than JFK. She's always going on about what nice hair he has and how beautiful his eyes are and how cute he is with your babies. She thinks he's a very nice man. You won't tell her I told you that, will you?" The girl looked very worried that she might have embarrassed her mother.

"Don't worry, it'll be our secret." Abbey noticed Lily poke her head in tapping at her watch and Abbey turned back to the girl. "Well, it looks as if it's time for me to leave, but there is something that I want to give you." She dug into her bag and pulled out a stethoscope. "This is the first stethoscope I was ever given in medical school."

"And you're giving it to me" the girls eyes widened with awe. "For real."

"For real." Abbey smiled tenderly and ran a hand over her kerchiefed head. "You can use it when you go to medical school."

"Oh, man, I can't believe this. This is so cool. Thank you so much."

"Your very welcome." Abbey hugged the child, swallowing past the lump in her throat. Her eyes were still glazed with tears as she left room and nearly bumped into Sarah's parents.

"Oh, God bless you for coming," Sarah's mother cried. "It's all she's been talking about for months. You're her role model. She makes me buy all the magazines that have you on the cover and she's always flipping to C-span to catch any speeches that you make."

"She's a very special little girl. She's going to make a wonderful doctor some day."

Abbey didn't miss the glance that passed between husband and wife.

"We sure hope so, ma'am," said Sarah's father.

Abbey saw the woman's gaze move to the many agents who were filling the far end of the hall.

"Are those all your agents?" She asked.

"Not mine. I believe that's my husband down there. Would you like me to introduce you?"

"Could you?" the woman breathed her eyes alight with anticipation.

Abbey chanced a glance at the scowl on the face of the man standing beside her. "Of course I can." Before she trailed off behind Sarah's mother Abbey leaned into the man, "That was for the liberal egghead remark," she whispered, and with an impish smile, not unlike her daughter Aislinn's, she walked away toward her husband's entourage.

Hot damn, Marvin Larochelle thought with a grin. That pretty lady was all right, even for a liberal egghead.

****

Unable to sleep, CJ slipped into her bathrobe and made her way toward the galley. She'd had a particularly disturbing phone call from her father and rather than simply tossing and turning she thought she'd try some warm milk.

As she passed the salon the soothing sound of a male's deep voice singing softly stopped her for a moment and she peeked in through the door. She smiled as she saw the President rocking his son, his fingers stroking the boy's silky blond hair back off his forehead. Nicholas was wearing his "Blue's Clue's" pajamas the top riding up to reveal the pale skin of his belly. He was barely holding onto his bottle with one hand and his head lolled against his father's chest where the President's bathrobe gaped open.

In the past CJ's thoughts of motherhood had been few and far between but there was something about the Bartlet children that brought these tender maternal instincts she'd never known that she possessed to the forefront and she wasn't sure if she liked that or not. She had come to love those two adorable children, but on the other hand she didn't like to be reminded of a biological clock that had never bothered her before. As she turned to leave father and son in peace the President looked up and noticed her, motioning for her to enter.

"Won't we wake him?" She whispered.

Nicky's head turned, his eyes blinking sleepily at her and CJ worried that she may have awakened him.

"Nah, he's pretty much out." Jed smiled down at the boy whose battle against sleep was finally lost as his eyes closed and his head fell back against him heavily. "So, why are you wandering around the boat at this hour? Not sneaking down to where the press corps is staying, are you."

CJ gazed sharply up to see the twinkle in his eye. "You've been talking to your wife."

"She IS pretty convinced that Danny Concannon is the man for you."

"Well, I certainly wasn't sneaking down for a little rendezvous with Danny. I was on my way to the galley for a mug of warm milk."

"Can't sleep?"

CJ shook her head negatively.

"Anything we can do to help?"

"No," CJ sighed. "Just the same old stuff from back home."

"Your father?"

"Yeah. He has good days and bad days but lately it seems like there are way more bad than good."

"You ever need to talk Abbey and I are here."

"I know." CJ fought the tears that threatened at the Presidents simple offer of friendship, then ran a finger over Nicky's bare foot to keep the President from seeing. "So," she finally looked back up at him. "I guess Nicky couldn't sleep either, huh?"

"Well," Jed's look turned sheepish. "I probably could have gotten him back to sleep with a few pats on the back but the truth is I wanted him to wake up."

"You wanted him awake in the middle of the night?"

"The kids were in already asleep when we finally got back from Memphis."

Finally it hit CJ why he needed to hold his child; St. Judes. "You were feeling blue after the visit to the children's hospital," she nodded her head knowingly.

"And extremely grateful. We've been so lucky, CJ. None of our kids has ever had anything other than normal childhood illnesses. It's hard to think of what I'd do if Nicky or Aislinn were sick like that. The look in the eyes of those sick children's parents haunts me. God, I never want know that look. I never want to see that kind of despair in my wife's eyes." CJ heard the break in his voice that the cough he used to cover it didn't quite hide.

He stared down with intense eyes at the boy who slept on his chest and CJ could almost feel the fierceness of his love emanating from him. She watched the President try to pull the bottle away from Nicky's mouth, but even in sleep the boy was not letting go. He immediately drew the nipple back into his mouth and suckled hard for a few moments.

"He's always been a greedy little drinker." The pride in his only male offspring was quite evident in the grin that spread across the President's face.

"He is strong," CJ nodded with agreement.

"You two don't know the half of it," Abbey told them, as she entered the salon in her silky bathrobe. She approached the rocking chair with a yawn and automatically tugged her son's pajama top down to cover his belly, despite the warmth of the night. "What's going on in here anyway? Did I miss my invitation to the party."

"CJ couldn't sleep and Nicky woke up."

"I can't believe that I didn't hear him crying." Abbey knelt on the floor beside her husband and son. She was a very light sleeper and a crying baby on the monitor never escaped her.

"Weeelll…He wasn't exactly crying. More like whimpering."

"And you couldn't get him back to sleep?" Abbey began to run a finger in circles over her son's shoulder.

"I didn't try too hard. I wanted to hold him." He waited for Abbey's irritation with him but it didn't come.

"Me too," she told him. "I just want to hold them both in my arms and thank God for his blessings. We really are blessed, Jed." She reached a finger up to trace his jawline. "I never want to take that for granted. I never want to give God a reason…."

"Ssh…" Jed lifted her chin to look down into her eyes. "You know He doesn't work that way."

Abbey nodded, intellectually she knew that God did not punish one for taking their blessings for granted, but her Irish Catholic heart, passed on to her by generations of fatalistic, superstitious ancestors, could never completely banish the fear of that punishment.

Shivering softly and in need of reassurance she lay her head against Jed's thigh one hand still resting on Nicky's belly. She smiled softly as she felt Jed begin to gently stroke her hair.

CJ stood in the doorway for one more moment watching as the Bartlet's coped with the reality of the frailty of their child's life by cuddling him between them as if they could keep him safe that way, watching the strength and determination and love that bonded a family together.

****

"Up" Aislinn squinted into the sun pointing a little finger at the huge, shiny, metallic "Gateway Arch" that rose 630 feet into the blue sky before arching and coming back down to earth.

"Up is right." Abbey grinned at the little girl on her hip. "What do you think about going up in that arch?"

Aislinn tucked her head under Abbey's chin, her cheek pressed against her breastbone as she continued to stare at the famous Gateway to the West. It was clear that she was not quite sure whether she wanted to go up to the top or not. Nicholas, on the other hand, was clearly enthralled with the idea and kept trying to tug Jed away from a local congressman who was talking his ear off. Finally after meeting with all the St. Louis dignitaries and politicians and all the photo-ops that had ensued, the Bartlet family, and two Secret Service agents entered the cable car that would take them to the top of the arch. Normally only five people were allowed in each cable car, however, since the twins were so young six were permitted.

Six minutes later the family stood at the summit in an observation area where they were able to gaze out to the east over the Mississippi river, and to the west out over the vast flat land that was the plateau that led to the Rocky Mountains.

"It must have taken a lot of courage," Jed said.

"Hmm…?" Abbey asked, as she shifted Aislinn to her other hip and joined him.

"It must have taken a lot of courage to stand at this point and make the decision to move forward into an unknown, sometimes savage land."

Abbey nodded staring out into the horizon. As a woman, a mother, she had to wonder at the fortitude of those mothers who had stood in this same spot, albeit with not quite the vantage point that she had, 150 years ago. What brave hearts and spirits they must have had knowing that their family's very existence could easily be annihilated in the quest and hope for a new better life. In the end, it hadn't been the sheriffs and military that had tamed the west, it had been the existence of women and children who built a sense of community that had tamed that wild unsettled land.

"Abbey?" Jed looked at her with a frown.

"Sorry, I was a million miles away in a covered wagon."

"Playing "Oregon Trail" again with Zoey?" He teased.

"Sort of." "Oregon Trail" had been a Bartlet family favorite computer game. Abbey winced slightly as she settled Aislinn back on to her other hip.

"Let me take her, " Jed offered.

"She's fine," Abbey demurred.

"You're so damned stubborn." Jed shook his head at his wife. Like most mothers, Abbey had always had a bit of lower back pain, first from her pregnancies then from carrying the kids around on her hip. Carrying the twins had been even harder on her body but Abbey would not acknowledge that and she certainly would not give up holding her child on her hip even if it did mean dealing with a sore aching back.

****

"Abbey there's someone that I want you to meet."

Abbey had been talking to a group of local congresswomen back at the base of the arch but turned when she heard Jed's voice. The smile left her face as she saw the man in the clerical collar that stood beside him. In the best of times Abbey's reception would have been cool, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke had publicly stated that he would not give the President or the First Lady or any other Catholic politician who was Pro-Choice communion. While typically she had been angry about his decision, Jed had been very hurt. She knew that he also feared that something like that might become a nationwide decree and she knew how devastating it would be for him not to be able to receive the holy Eucharist. It would be almost as bad as being excommunicated which was what some conservative Cardinals were calling for.

Now, however, her reaction was more one of discomfort rather than anger for she still didn't know how she was going to explain the bizarre end to her phone call with him. It wasn't like she could look him in the eye and tell him that her husband had just stuck his hand into her panties and she could no longer concentrate on the conversation.

Jed noticed the attractive blush spreading on Abbey's cheeks and with a quick stab of desire knew exactly what she was remembering.

"Abbey," he continued. "This is Father Burke, your Grace, my wife, Abigail Bartlet."

"It's nice to finally meet you after speaking with you on the phone." The man put out his hand and as a dutiful member of the Catholic flock Abbey bent and kissed his ring.

"Yes, about that phone call…" She began… "I have to apologize for my behavior…I…."

"No need for apology," the Archbishop waved a hand to dismiss any apology. "Your husband explained everything to me."

"He…he did" Abbey swallowed, her eyes moving past the man before her to where Jed stood.

"Indeed he did. Don't worry. I know all about having to deal with demanding needs."

Abbey's face turned beet red, and Jed's shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. "Y…You do?"

"Of course. I'm sure that you must be worn out from having to deal with those needs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But you know you mustn't let your own needs go unfulfilled, dear."

Abbey stared at the man in a shock. Was she honestly standing here talking to the Archbishop of St. Louis about meeting her husband's sexual needs?

Jed watched the color leave his wife's face and for a moment he thought she was going to swoon. He started to take pity on her and moved forward but the Archbishop continued on.

"I'm sure that having twins must be so much more demanding than having a single child, they must run you ragged."

Abbey's heart began to beat in a more regular rhythm as things started to make a bit more sense.

"I told him about how the kids had just woken up and were crying for their breakfast," Jed said, amusement still dancing in his eyes.

"Yes, of course." Abbey regained her composure. "They are needy, demanding little children." Her eyes narrowed shooting daggers at her husband and as the three of them turned to greet the next contingent she stepped up close to Jed. "Just like their father" she whispered into his ear as she stuck the heel of her stiletto shoe deeply into the toe of his wingbacks, grinning as she heard him suck in his breath sharply.

"Payback's a bitch, darlin'," she informed him before sauntering off.

She did not stay long enough to hear the soft moan of pain or the muffled expletive that slipped from her husband lips, but she was rewarded by watching him limp all the way to the sedan.

****

"Oh, Jed, it's gorgeous," Abbey said, as she slipped the delicate necklace from where it lay in a velvet box. It was their last night together before heading off on their separate ways and they were dining alone by candlelight on the deck of the "Creole Queen". "I didn't see anything like it, where did you get it?"

"You won't see anything like it anywhere. I had it specially designed by Mignon Faget."

"YOU." Her eyes widened.

"Yes, me. I do have a modicum of good taste, you know."

"I'm sorry. Yes, you do. This is just lovely, so delicate. I like the amber stone, it's really pretty surrounded by the diamonds, Mignon made a good choice."

"I chose the amber," he told her with an emphasis on the, I.

"I'm impressed. What made you go with the amber."

Jed shrugged uncomfortably. "No reason."

"Come on, it's an unusual choice, there must be a reason."

Jed gazed across the table watching the candlelight flicker in her lovely moss green eyes and dance in her fiery copper hair. "I chose it because it reminded me of your hair."

"My hair?"

"Yes, all those swirls of brown, and red, and gold, just like your hair." Abbey bit her lip to keep from smiling at me.

"You're not laughing at me, are you?" He asked.

"Of course not." Abbey stood and made her way across the table to sit on her husband's lap, one arm draped over his shoulders. "I just love that sweet romantic heart that beats in your chest." She placed her other hand over his chest toying with the buttons.

"Abbey" she said, gruffly. Like most men he was uncomfortable with that tender sentimental side of himself and tried to cover it up with nonchalance.

"Don't, Abbey, me. You are sweet and romantic and you'll just have to get over it. Now, do the clasp for me, will you."

She lifted her hair so Jed could do the clasp on her necklace. When he was through he placed his lips against the tender nape of her exquisitely delicate female neck. Abbey shivered at the sensation.

"I wanted you to have a reminder of this trip," he said fingering one of the small diamond tipped crescents that lay against her chest.

"I'll never forget this trip," she told him, staring deeply into the depths of his clear azure eyes. "Not ever."

Jed pulled her neck down to press his lips to hers. Abbey responded, kissing him back, but as he moved to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth, she pulled back. She wasn't quite ready for this night to be over.

"Abbey?"

"Dance with me." She got off his lap extending her hand to him. Jed stood pulling her into his arms.

"This would be a lot easier if SOMEONE hadn't broken my foot earlier today."

Her soft husky laugh reverberated against his chest. "You deserved it. Now do me a favor, shut up and just dance with me."

Jed did as told, the romantic music and gravelly sensuous voice of Louis Armstrong flowing over them as they danced under the moon on the mighty Mississippi.

”My love must be a kind of blind love
I can't see anyone but you
Are the stars out tonight
I don't know if it's cloudy or bright
I only have eyes for you, dear
The moon may be high
But I can't see a thing in the sky
'Cause I only have eyes for you
I don't know if we're in a garden
Or on a crowded avenue
You are here, so am I
Maybe millions of people go by
But they all disappear from view
And I only have eyes for you.”

TBC...