Later that evening Abbey slid into the slinky black silk dress she had purchased that morning at "Trashy Diva's". It was deeply v-eed in the front, dipping down between her breasts. Wearing only the bare minimum of underclothes, including thigh high sheer hose, she was at least able to withstand the steamy night air a little better than the evening before in her dress covering tunic.

As she made her way to the sedan enjoying the simple intimacy of just holding Jed's hand, her body was satisfied and relaxed and she felt as languid and indolent as night in the Deep South. But, with a tingle of anticipation she knew that by the time they returned Jed would be able to lift her back up to those incredible heights that had her screaming his name toward the ceiling or into his chest as the case might be. It had been a long time since she'd had as much sex as she was having right now, and rather than feeling that her proverbial itch had been scratched, she yearned for even more. Thankfully she knew that her husband would be up for the task. Thank God she married a Leo, she thought with a grin. That high sex drive was sure coming in handy.

They stopped briefly at Pat O'Briens, the raucous cacophony of music and noise barely noting their arrival. That was exactly as the secret service wanted it. They had forgone a heavy notable presence for one quite a bit more discreet. Plain clothed agents wound their way through the crowd, carrying their plastic cups of alcohol so as to fit in. The last thing that the service wanted was the entire Quarter knowing that the First Couple was sitting outside enjoying cocktails at Pat O'Briens.

Abbey and Jed watched the hedonistic scene unfold before them. They were seated outside in the grand courtyard patio surrounded by the flaming fountains that lit the area. They were only a doorway away from the decadence of Bourbon Street and both were enjoying the wild atmosphere while they sipped their famous "Hurricane's". A 29 oz. sweet concoction of rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, passion fruit and grenadine, it was right up Abbey's alley, but for Jed, used to his scotch and bourbon, it was a little too sweet.

Despite their precautions the service did not like having the first couple milling about in such a wild unrestrained atmosphere and they were very tense about keeping the place secure. That and the fact that they had dinner plans caused the couple to leave as soon as they finished their drinks.

Abbey had chosen "Le Chat Noir" for dinner that evening. It was a small intimately romantic restaurant; one of those darkly elegant places that favored a dim interior and soft candlelight. They dined on excellent Creole food while listening to a middle aged woman playing the piano and singing moody Edith Piaf renditions, her voice throaty and sensual.

"My hat is off to you, Abs," Jed said, lifting his glass of wine to her. "You certainly did your homework. This place is great. Everything has been great. How long have you been planning this tryst?"

"Since the last time you came home and we got interrupted so many times you had to jump in the bay. You weren't the only one screaming with frustration."

"I wasn't?" He took her hand toying with her wedding rings.

"Nope. I was like a cat on a hot tin roof and before you say anything, I know that it was partially my own damn fault. I know that it took me a while to get comfortable again…you know…with my body."

"It's okay, I understand. It's not that easy to change gears."

"No it wasn't. I just couldn't see my breasts as sexy again after being so afraid that they were diseased. You were great through it all, though." She began stroking the inside of his wrist with her finger. " I don't know if I told you this or not but I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there for me to come running home to. You were my rock, so calm and steady and sure."

Jed looked down. It was hard to take compliments for something that never was.

"Hey, look at me." She tilted his chin so she could look into his amazing eyes. "I know it was pretty much an act but it was a damn convincing one. You sure had me fooled. I had no idea that you weren't so confident and sure of the outcome until I found you…in the shower."

"I guess I sort of lost it, didn't I?"

"You were entitled. It isn't easy to repress everything like that. I was able to cry and to rage, but you never did, you never let yourself show me that you were anything other than sure that I was going to be okay. You never let me push you away and retreat within myself. I just never knew what that cost you until the dam burst." She reached a hand out to run a finger lightly over his square jaw. "Thank you."

His eyes grew suddenly suspicious. "That isn't what all this is about, is it? Some kind of thank you gift?" He didn't like the idea of his wife thinking that she needed to pay him back for being there for her. He didn't like to think that everything she had done was a repayment of sorts. Somehow it made it all seem dirty and sordid and certainly less loving.

Abbey could see the hurt in his vulnerable sky blue eyes. Seeing that could still cause her heart to constrict. Ever since she had met Jed there had been a quiet assured strength about him, something she had been immediately attracted to, but she had been equally enamored of the little boy inside of the self-assured man. That wounded little boy who covered his pain from the world with humor and bravado but who had never truly been able to hide that part of himself from her, his soulmate. Right from the start she had been able to see right through him, right into his heart and his soul.

"No, this wasn't a payback, you foolish jackass," she smiled tenderly. "This was about me missing you so much that my bones ached, it was about going without having you in my bed in the carnal sense for almost two months, and it was about your birthday."

"Well, okay then," he said with relief.

"So, how does it rate?"

"How does what rate?"

"Your birthday. Is this the best one ever?"

"Weeelll…" He hedged. "…It's up there, no doubt about it. But there was one that topped it."

Abbey looked at him for long moment and then it dawned on her. "Zoey."

"You brought me breakfast in bed and gave me that tiny little pencil thin gift. It said 'Happy Birthday Daddy" on it so I thought it was from one of the girls. When I opened it, it was a positive home pregnancy stick telling me that I was going to be a daddy again."

"I had waited until your birthday to confirm my suspicions." Abbey smiled softly at the memory.

"A baby… our child… best gift ever, Abs."

"I guess I'll never top that one."

"At least I HOPE you don't, after all I can only think of one way that you could," he teased.

"Bite your tongue," she kicked him under the table.

****

"The Funky Butt?" Jed stared out his window as they pulled up in front of a club. "It sounds like somewhere Zoey would go dancing. This isn't some kind of hippie club, is it?"

"I believe the term is hip hop, sugar, and have you ever known me to enjoy going to hip hop clubs? No, I don't think so. Trust me. I haven't steered you wrong yet."

They got out of the sedan and Jed soon found himself in a classy, sexy club with a Jazz Age atmosphere. They were only a few blocks away from the wildness of Bourbon Street, yet it seemed like an entire world apart. In fact the swanky small club reminded Jed very much of the movies set in these places in the 20's and 30's.

They sat nursing drinks for a little while, enjoying just listening to the hot modern jazz but it wasn't long before Abbey got itchy feet. His wife loved to dance, and while Jed still enjoyed dancing to the slow numbers best, Abbey and his daughters had taught him to cut a pretty mean rug over the years. He'd never be entirely comfortable, but at least he wouldn't make a fool of himself.

Abbey adored dancing with her husband. Despite his capacity for clumsiness at times he was very polished and sure-footed on the dance floor. He didn't like to admit it but that ability came from the dance lessons that his mother had inflicted upon him when he was just a boy. It wasn't strange back then, in certain circles, for well brought up young boys and girls to learn to waltz and fox trot together. He'd hated those dance lessons but later had been grateful for them because Abbey enjoyed going out dancing so much and he didn't have to stumble and bumble around. In fact it was while he was dating Abbey in college that Jed learned just how erotic it could be to hold a woman in his arms with their parts lined up properly swaying suggestively to the music, something his daughters referred to as "dirty dancing". Now those had been dancing lessons he had enjoyed. Immensely enjoyed.

Deeper into the night and several drinks later, Jed was feeling slightly mellow, a soft little buzz that having maybe one too many might create. He couldn't allow himself to get completely plastered anymore, not that he'd done it that often before he was President, but now he had to be even more careful. His alluring little wife did not have that kind of restraint hanging over her and he could see that she was feeling no pain at the moment. Not drunk, but certainly feeling pretty good. A band from the West Indies had taken over from the Cajun two-step that they'd been learning, and was electrifying the crowd with the pulsing beat of the drums.

Despite his reservations, Abbey dragged him out on to the floor. He stood, so enthralled by his wife that he was barely moving to the beat of the music. He watched her, her arms lifted over her head, her hips gyrating to the pulsing rhythm of the music. She had taken the clip out of her hair and it now hung loose and curling to her shoulders, just the way that he liked it. Sexy and sort of out of control. He watched a bead of sweat trickle down between her breasts and had the strong urge to try to catch it with his tongue. He could see that she was at one with the music and that she was feeling it deep inside her, her body completely taken over. There was something almost primitively erotic about it and by the time the song ended Jed was breathing almost as heavy as she was. It had been a long time since he had seen her let her hair down like this, at least in public and he was surprised to find that he didn't even care if there was any fallout to the evening. Abbey's cancer scare had taught him that life was too short to worry about the trivial things and if people didn't want to vote for him because his wife wasn't the "image" they were looking for in a First Lady, then they could go to hell. His wife was alive and she was having fun and that was all that mattered to him at the moment.

"Jed it's really hot and stuffy in here." She was fanning herself with a cocktail napkin.

"Want to get some fresh air?"

"I thought you'd never ask"

They made their way out onto the wrought iron balcony and Abbey was never more thankful for the service than she was when they blocked the balcony doors keeping everyone out and giving them complete and total privacy.

Jed watched Abbey inhale deep breaths of the jasmine-laden air as she pushed damp locks of hair off her forehead.

"I can't remember the last time that I danced like that."

"You're having a good time?" He reached out to gently caress her cheek.

"The best. It's almost like before. You know, before…" she trailed off, not wanting to get into all of that.

"Before the eyes of the world were upon us."

"Yeah…you don't think…I mean…what if someone in there who saw us dancing talks to the press?"

"You were dancing, so what?"

"Yeah, but I don't think that was the kind of dancing that people expect of their First Lady."

"Well, they'll just have to learn to expect it. Shattering glass ceilings is nothing new to you, babe."

Inside a smoky voiced singer took the stage starting in on a Bette Midler classic that Jed knew was one of Abbey's favorites. He held his hand out to her, pulling her up against his chest.

"Ah this is more like it," he sighed with contentment. "I like the slow ones."

Abbey nodded in agreement, nestling in to his chest and then they were silent, feeling the music, listening to the seductive lyrics, swaying gently in the sultry southern night.

Do you wanna dance, and hold my hand?
Tell me you're my lover man.
Oh baby, do you wanna dance?

We could dance under the moonlight,
hug and kiss all through the night.
Oh baby, tell me, do you wanna dance with me baby?

Do you, do you, do you, do you want to dance?
Do you, do you, do you want to dance?
Do you, do you, do you, do you want to dance with me baby?

Ah, that's right, ah, ah, aaaaaaaah.
Do you want to dance under the moonlight?
Hug me, kiss me, baby, all through the night.
Oh baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, baby, tell me, do you want to dance?

Abbey stirred slightly in Jed's arms, smiling up at him, losing herself in his eyes. She kissed him then, gently, tenderly, the kiss of romance and still they continued to dance their bodies barely moving to the music.

Their kisses deepened as they always did, tongues tangling in their dance of desire. Before they knew it they were forgetting to move their feet and Abbey's hands were on Jed's butt, pulling him up against her.

Surprisingly it was Jed who pulled back first or not surprisingly since it was he that would have the visible proof of what they were doing out there. "Abbey" her name came out soft and husky. "Much as I wouldn't mind doing this right here. I think we better go back to the hotel for any recreational activity."

Abbey nodded, her eyes softened with desire. She didn't know what had gotten into her this weekend; it was as if all propriety was being thrown out the window, as if she were allowed the freedom to be the same person she had been before Jed had been elected President. Actually, a part of her knew exactly what it was all about. She had been given the gift of life just a couple of months ago and she was determined live that life to it's fullest. She was tired of repressing who she was, tired of bending into somebody's image of who she should be. She was not just the Democrats brilliant career woman, nor the Republicans loving mother, she was both those things and so much more. Maybe it was time that she allowed people to see the real Abbey Bartlet. They'd had glimpses of her before, but had never been allowed the full measure of just who she was. ****

Despite her lack of underclothes, Abbey's dress was clinging to her by the time they made their way through the private courtyard to the elevator that would bring them up to their room. The muggy air was completely dead, no river breeze at all tonight. She eyed the cool water of the pool with longing then turned to her husband who stood beside her his shirt unbuttoned at his neck. She watched a bead of sweat trickle down over his Adams apple, then settle in the pulse point at the base of his throat. She pressed her lips there kissing it away, feeling his pulse start to race.

"Let's go for a swim," she purred, her lips moving their way over his throat.

Jed didn't want to swim, he wanted her lips to continue to work their way over his skin but he figured that once he got her up to their room to change into their suits he could find a way to change her mind. "Okay. But let's hurry up." He began pulling her toward the elevator.

"Unh uh…"she tugged him back toward the pool. "I want to go swimming, NOW. A little cool water is just what the doctor ordered."

"Skinny dipping," he nodded his approval. "I like your style Dr. Bartlet. Just give me a minute." He made his way back to the edge of the courtyard and she saw him talking to Ron and another agent. She watched Ron nod and step outside the courtyard door.

"All set for privacy," he told her. The agents will stay on the other side of the door. I just need to have my panic button by the edge of the pool. Although, I don't know what kind of danger they think I could be in when it's just me and you."

"Really, you don't think I'm dangerous?"

He noticed the glint in her soft green eyes as she began stepping towards him.

"Dangerously seductive maybe."

"Really? Do you think I'm wicked?" She stopped in front of him reaching out to run a finger over his lips.

"Absolutely" He was really getting into this, he loved naughty Abbey.

"And wanton," she trailed her finger down his chest, brushing lightly over the front of his pants.

"You know it," he bit out between clenched teeth.

"But not dangerous?"

"Hardly" He glanced down at her tiny frame just in time to see her place her hands on his chest and give a hard shove. The next thing he knew he was free falling and landing with a splash in the deep end of the pool. He came up for air sputtering and cursing.

"Never underestimate me, Josiah" She stood on the edge of the pool and reached behind herself to unzip her dress. "I thought you'd learned that by now."

Jed's anger deflated as he watched his wife slide her dress down over her curves. She stood before him, gloriously naked in the moonlight, hair tumbling to her shoulders. For one brief moment she was a high priestess of womanliness, full breasts, tiny waist, gently curving hips, a shadowy dark triangle between her long shapely legs. And then, in an instant, it was over and she was arcing high in the air in a dive that took her not far from where he was treading water.

Abbey had been skinny dipping many times, she and Jed often swam in the nude in their pond at the farm, but this water was different. It was warm and silky, sliding over her body, between her legs and over her nipples as sensuously as her lover's hands.

As if jealous of the water that caressed his wife's nude form, Jed reached out for her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to him, not roughly, but gently, cajoling her over to him. Abbey went willingly, immediately wrapping her legs around his waist to anchor herself to him in the buoyant water. It was evident right away that he'd stripped off his wet clothes.

"Why'd you throw me in?" He asked, his tongue reaching out to lick a drop of water off the tip of her nose.

"Just a little payback for this morning. How am I supposed to face the Archbishop of St. Louis now? I mean my God, I'm supposedly an articulate woman but with all my stammering and babbling he's going to think that I'm deranged."

"Don't worry about it, babe. I've got you covered. I'll make sure to explain to him exactly what was going on." Amusement was again dancing in his eyes.

"Ha! Very funny." Abbey's fingers reached around him to pinch his posterior particularly hard.

"Ow!" He cried.

"Cause it would be much better if he thought that I'm a sex fiend rather than being mentally deranged."

"Are you?"

"Am I what?"

"A sex fiend?"

"I'm sure as hell starting to feel like one."

"Welcome to the club. We're always looking for new members. Want me to teach you the secret handshake?" He gave her a boyish grin.

"Let me take a wild guess." Abbey's hand drifted under the water, curling around him.

"Oh, sweetheart, you catch on real fast," he groaned. "You should have no problem at all with the initiation rites."

"Oh, and what, pray tell, might those entail."

Jed's fingers dug into Abbey's rear lifting her slightly. He eased her onto his erection, impaling her on it, giving a soft masculine moan of approval at her gasp of pleasure.

Abbey's legs tightened around him in response. " I think I'm going to enjoy being a member of this club." She murmured against his lips.

"Better than the DAR?" He bit down gently on her full lower lip.

"Oh WAY better than the DAR."

****

Jed grinned in his sleep. He was back home; he could hear the children in the hallway and waited with anticipation for the door to fly open and for the two rambunctious kids to come running in. When that didn't happen he frowned and opened his eyes. He wasn't at home after all. He was still in Louisiana, but that didn't make any sense. Was he missing his kids so much that he was starting to hear things? He could have sworn that…There it was again. He distinctly heard his children arguing over who was going to knock on the door. He sat upright a broad grin of delight breaking across his face.

"THE RUGRATS ARE HERE!"

TBC...