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Every Day is a Winding Road
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Chapter 8
The President's party was in full swing. Reggae music played on the boom box and laughter filled the air, waiters and waitresses milled about refilling pina colada's, hurricanes, and mint juleps, and a cooler by the pool was filled with beer. Feeling a bit jet lagged since he had just returned to New Orleans that morning, Leo climbed the stairs out of the pool and made his way to a lounge chair.
Before going upstairs to change, Abbey had been relaxing in the chair and she had left her book on the small table beside it. For a moment Leo was taken aback by the title, "Understanding your Leo", then he realized it was referring to Jed's zodiac sign and not him. He grinned at his foolishness and sat back flipping the book open to the page Abbey had dog-eared. Evidently she had been checking out her and Jed's compatibility because the page she had been reading was "Aries woman and Leo man." His curiosity piqued he began to read.
'This is a powerfully magnetic Sun Sign pattern and so when these two Fire Signs see Venus together, the romantic scene is explosive, but it's also a blinding light turned on an enchanted garden.”' Leo looked up for a moment to where the President stood in the shallow end of the pool playing with his kids. Leo had seen the small bite mark on his collarbone and while most people would assume it had come from one of his children, Leo knew his best friends well enough to know differently. Explosive was a definite, YES. He continued to read on… "Sexual expression between them can be wonderfully healing, because each fulfils what the other requires of mating: passion, blended with affection. That is not as common as one may think. Most people desire---and are able to give-only one or the other, not both…that kind of happiness they'll pursue together at almost any cost.”
Leo sat back contemplating that for a moment. He had never been one to get into horoscopes and believing in one's "signs" but he was amazed at how dead on accurate that book had described the physical side of Abbey and Jed's relationship. Never had he met a couple so in tune with each other's needs that their sexuality became merely an extension of how they felt emotionally and intellectually about each other. In times of pain or crisis, they always turned inward, to each other, drawing strength and comfort from the one person who knew them better than anyone else in the world.
He was mulling over the foolishness and futility of loving a person who was so obviously wrong for him and so obviously right for another, when Abbey re-entered the courtyard. He dropped the book and picked up a copy of U.S. News and World Report. Ostensibly he was reading the magazine but really he was watching Abbey make her way across the courtyard. After spending the afternoon in the pool playing with Jed and the kids she had changed out of her sleek French cut one piece suit and was now wearing a gauzy peach colored sundress, her tanned legs and feet bare. There was something about those pretty painted toenails and the thin silver anklet that graced her slender ankle that was so incredibly feminine. Her still wet auburn hair was piled up rather haphazardly into a large clip, loose damp tendrils curling attractively around her jawline and she wore big thin gold hoops in her ears. That soft femininity to Abbey's appearance contradicted her strength and sassy attitude; it was a combination that had always called out to Leo and one that he knew he would perhaps forever have to fight. Still, the gentleman in him could not ignore watching her walk with a diaper bag on each shoulder and some gifts in her arms. Finally, with a soft sigh, he got to his feet and approached her.
"Here let me help you with those, Abbey."
"Thank you, kind sir," Abbey smiled, in her best Blanche Dubois imitation. After setting the diaper bags down she began rummaging in them pulling out towels, clothes, diapers and powder.
"Ma'am," one of the chefs approached them. "Dinner will be ready in about a half hour."
"Okay, thank you." Abbey sniffed at the air; the mouth-watering scent of barbecuing steaks and vegetables was very strong. She turned to Leo. "I guess I better get the kids out of the pool."
"Which ones?" Leo grinned.
Abbey turned to the water where Toby, Josh, Sam, and Charlie were having a spirited game of volleyball. Jed and CJ were standing close to the game but not playing. Instead they were keeping their eyes on Nicholas and Aislinn who were swimming and splashing around with bright floaties on their arms. Every so often Jed couldn't resist and he stuck an arm out to smack the ball.
"Mr. President, are you playing, or not?" Josh asked, belligerently.
"I told you, I can't. Abbey put me in charge of the kids."
"Then stop hitting the ball, you're affecting the outcome."
"It's my party and I'll hit the ball if I want to. Right, Ash?" He grabbed his daughter and threw her into the air catching her just as she splashed back into the water with a frightened, yet excited, squeal.
"Agin, daddy…agin."
Jed tossed her up again and as she landed safely back in his arms he stuck a hand out to keep the ball in play.
"SIR!"
"Hey, that was self defense. It was going to hit my daughter."
"That ball didn't go anywhere near Aislinn…"
Abbey turned to Leo with a shake of her head. "I see exactly what you mean." She grabbed a couple of towels and made her way to the pool, squatting on the edge.
"Okay, you two little prunes, time to get out and get dressed, supper is almost ready."
Both kids began to protest wanting to stay and play in the water.
"Come on, you must be getting cold."
"No coad" Nicholas told her adamantly, through quivering lips.
Abbey had to smile at that statement. "Nicholas Josiah Bartlet, do not tell me that you aren't cold. Your lips are purple for heaven's sake."
"Daddy," Nicholas turned pleading eyes on his father.
"Your father is getting out too, he needs to get changed for supper."
"She's right, slugger. You need to listen to your mother." Jed lifted the boy out of the water and into Abbey's arms. She took the floaties off his arms, slipped his suit and water logged swimper off, and wrapped him up in a big towel.
"You stay right here while I get your sister." She opened another towel wide and turned back to the pool.
CJ stopped twirling Aislinn in circles and moved to the edge of the pool. "I can't believe how well they do in the water," she said, lifting her up into Abbey's arms. "They're like little fish.
"One of the benefits of having an indoor pool," Abbey said, as she began rubbing Aislinn down. They've been in the water pretty much since birth and they've been having swimming lessons since before they were a year old."
"Supper smells good, what are we having?" Jed came padding over the bricks toward her, catching the towel that she threw his way.
"You're favorite summer meal, other than lobsters of course, grilled steak and mushrooms, corn on the cob, potato salad and fresh tomato and cucumber slices.
"Mmm…. A woman after my own heart." He began running the towel over his hair, then shook like a big hairy dog. Abbey had known it was coming but still didn't step back quite fast enough keep the spray from hitting her.
"MUST you do that every time you dry off?" Her heart was not in the reprimand, as the droplets actually felt good on her warm skin.
"You can't fool me, chere," Jed imitated the silky Cajun tone they had heard so much wandering around the Quarter. "I know it felt good."
"Really? And just how do you know that?"
"I always know what makes you feel good." He took her hand, running a finger up and down her palm, watching the goosebumps play across her arms, knowing instinctively that her nipples were tightening.
"Mama," Aislinn tugged at Abbey's skirt impatiently. "I coad."
"Oh…uh…yes" Abbey pulled her hand from Jed's grasp. "I'm sorry, sweetness. Let's go get dressed." She began leading her daughter over to the lounge chair that held the diaper bags.
"Need any help getting them dressed?" Jed called out.
"No, you just go upstairs and get yourself dressed."
Her eyes followed her husbands tanned back as he wrapped a towel around his waist and made his way to the elevator, wishing there was some way she could sneak away and follow him to their room without anyone noticing. She would tear that towel off his hips, slip his bathing suit down his thighs and wrap her legs around his hips for a little quickie against the wall, or she could…
"Mama…" There was a tug at her skirt and Abbey came out of her reverie to glance down at her daughter. Aislinn was holding out a pretty lilac colored sundress to her. So much for being able to disappear without anyone noticing. "Dwess."
"You want to wear the purple dress?"
Aislinn nodded lifting her arms up so Abbey could slide it over her head. As she did so she noticed Nicholas running around bare butt naked after the volleyball that was rolling away from him.
"Nicholas, you little exhibitionist, get your cute little butt over here so I can dress you."
"No dwess…pay."
"I know you want to play but you have to get dressed first."
"Yup, no naked volleyball, partner." Leo lifted the squirming boy to bring him to Abbey.
"Nicholas, stop kicking Uncle Leo or you aren't going to get any of daddy's birthday cake tonight."
"Bir'day."
"Yes, it's daddy's birthday and I'm going to expect you to help him blow out all the candles on his cake."
Just the mention of cake and candles calmed both children down and Abbey was able to dress them in peace.
****
Later, with dinner over, Jed sat at the head of the table opening his birthday gifts. There were multi colored bows covering his head, courtesy of Aislinn who was seated on his lap helping him open his gifts. Nicholas stood beside them still gnawing on a corncob.
Jed grinned reading the scribbled marks on the next card. "This one is from you and your brother," he told Aislinn. "I wonder what it could be." Aislinn shrugged and ripped the bow off the gift looking for an empty spot on his head to stick it too. She finally placed it just over his left ear.
"If any of these pictures I see you all taking end up in the Washington Post, you're all fired." Jed told them.
"Just open the gift, Jed." Abbey urged him. She was standing just a couple feet away videotaping the proceedings.
With Aislinn's help Jed ripped at the paper and opened the box inside. A tender smile crossed his face as he gazed down at the gift.
"What is it?" CJ asked.
Jed lifted it to show them a framed plaque that held the imprint of both Nicky and Aislinns little feet immortalized in plaster that both children had splashed with bright colors of finger-paint. On the bottom was the engraved quote "Blessed indeed is the man who hears many gentle voices call him Father."
"Thank you, kiddo's." Jed pulled Aislinn to him for a tight hug that had her laughing and squirming, then bent his head to accept Nicky's kiss. "This is going right up on the wall in the oval office where I can see it every day."
"Moh daddy…" Nicholas brought him the gift Abbey had handed to him.
"Ah, this one is from mommy." He looked up at Abbey. "I thought I already got my gift from you." He wiggled a brow at her.
Abbey dropped the video camera to her side putting a hand on her hip. "You really are incorrigible, you know. My PARENTS are going to want to watch this."
"You're the one with the mind in the gutter, sugarpie. I never mentioned what the gift was."
He was silent, his eyes widening with interest as he unrolled the gift he had unwrapped. "Where did you find this?" he asked with awe. "It's amazing."
"Down at one of the bookstores in the Quarter. I couldn't believe it when I asked the gentleman who was running the place if they had any historical maps of the area and he came out with that, among others."
"Let's see" Sam said, his own interest piqued. Of all the President's senior staff it was Sam who shared his keen interest in history.
"My wife found a treasure map drawn up by a real life pirate." Jed carefully opened the faded yellowing paper, while CJ held Nicholas back making sure no buttery fingers touched it. It was a hand drawn map of the bayous and waterways of the lower Mississippi delta, south of New Orleans, complete with notes jotted down by the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte.
"HE preferred to think of himself as a privateer," Abbey sniffed.
"I'm sure he did," Jed gave her a broad grin. "Just like Thomas Weathergill."
Abbey saw the glint of amusement in his eye and knew he had thrown that out there trying to get a rise out of her.
"Who is Thomas Weathergill?" Charlie asked.
"He was Abbey's great great…however many greats- grandfather and he took down several British ships in the American Revolution."
"You directly descend from a PIRATE?" Josh turned to Abbey in awe.
"CAPTAIN Thomas Weathergill happened to be a privateer, there is a distinction you know." Abbey's dander was definitely up now, she had as much pride in her illustrious family's history as any Bartlet and she did not like her ancestors being maligned. "When we went to war we didn't have a navy. Thomas was a shipping merchant and they commissioned him. There were over 1500 privateer ships compared to 64 in the navy and they captured over 2,000 British ships compared to 196. Without the privateers we might not have won the American Revolution." Abbey crossed her arms over her chest in a "take that" gesture.
Her little history lesson had, however, fallen on deaf ears. Josh was still eyeing her speculatively, eyes glinting with keen interest. "A real pirate," he breathed. "That is so cool."
Abbey rolled her eyes thinking how typical it was for a male to focus on that part of it. Jed certainly did often enough. "Oh for heaven's sake let's just drop it."
Jed did so, his eyes going back to the map. "Look at this, look at the detail. My God, he must have found damn near every offshoot of the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf."
Abbey bent down to look at it with Jed. "Lafitte made that map at the request of Andrew Jackson before the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 1812," she told him. "If it wasn't for the two of them, the British might have won the battle."
"It's an amazing map, babe. Thank you"
"You're very welcome." She bent down to kiss his forehead.
****
"Happy Birthday to you…" Abbey came out bearing a large cake covered with burning candles. The twins were skipping around her legs with excitement… "Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday, Mr. President---Jed---DADDY! Happy Birthday to you."
"Good Lord," Jed boomed. "I'm going to need a fire extinguisher to blow all these candles out."
"We hep…We hep" Nicholas and Aislinn danced at his feet lifting their arms up to him. .
"Yup, I'm gonna need your help alright." He lifted both children onto his lap.
"Maybe if you quit smoking you might not need quite so much help," Abbey suggested with a smirk.
"Oh," Jed's hand went to his heart. "You wound me, dear Abigail, sticking your rapier sword straight into my heart just like the little pirate wench that you are."
Abbey shook her head and ran a finger over the edge of the cake. "The truth often hurts, doesn't it, pookiebear?" She stuck the finger in her mouth sucking the icing off in a purely suggestive manner that did not go unnoticed by her husband.
"I happen to have quit smoking in…"
"Daaadddyyy" Aislinn tugged on his shirt impatiently. "Bo…bo…"
"Okay, okay," he pinched her cheek. "On the count of three we blow them out together. One---two--- three!" The three of them bent their fair heads toward the cake and blew the candles out to the cheers of everyone present.
Bruno stood on the edge of the party; not quite participating but not exactly disengaged either. Unlike the other staffers, he hadn't been around the first couple much and watching them interact was actually quite fascinating to him. Chemistry was something he had noted right from the very beginning, but the teasing and flirting was something that bespoke of genuine deep down affection. He'd worked for enough candidates where the smiles were forced, the laughter canned and the children pulled out for photo-ops then sent back off to boarding school, to know that these two were the real thing. That Abbey and Jed Bartlet took as much joy from being with their children as they took in simply being together was becoming increasingly apparent to him, and, as much as it pissed him off to no end, he had complete and total respect for them wanting to keep all of their children's lives as private and normal as possible. Not that he was going to quit fighting that edict, but he did understand it.
His normally taciturn face broke into a smile as he watched little Aislinn Bartlet bending her knees to the beat of the music that played over the boom box. Abbey caught sight of her, a maternal smile crossing her face.
"You like this song, Aislinn?" She asked. Aislinn nodded and Abbey picked the little girl up, settled her on her hip and began to dance with her.
"Hey," Jed protested. "That's my daughter you're corrupting there. She's a little young to learn about shaking her thing. What kind of music is this, anyway, Charlie?"
"That's Sean Paul, sir" Charlie grinned. "The First Lady asked for pool party music."
"Come on, Jed, loosen up." Abbey held a beckoning hand out to him. "Come shake your thing with us."
"As much as I like any song that urges you to 'get it on till the early morn'," he winked, "I'm enjoying watching the two of you."
It wasn't a cop out. The gratification and pleasure he took in watching his wife dancing with their little girl showed not only in the softness of his smile but in the light that seemed to dance in his eyes. Bruno had seen the President in meetings and there were times when he had no idea of just what he was thinking, the man had a poker face that could fool the best of them. It was only with his family that he seemed to be such an open book.
"Are you guys going out tonight?" CJ asked, as she approached Abbey with Nicholas in her arms.
"No." Abbey smiled as she watched Nicholas yawn on CJ's shoulder and stuff his thumb in his mouth. "I think we're about partied out. We're going to go back to the room and spend a quiet night watching a movie with the kids."
****
After a long day at the zoo and in the pool, the children were more than ready to settle down to watch a movie. Abbey and Jed changed into their jammies along with the kids and the four of them snuggled up in the big bed together with a large bowl of popcorn to watch "The Wizard of Oz". By the time Dorothy had returned home to Auntie Em, Jed was snoring softly and both children were asleep, one tucked up under each of his arms their faces pressed into his ribs. Sitting up, Abbey marveled yet again at how easy it was to see the resemblance between the three with their blond heads so close together. Jed's bronze hair was a couple of shades darker than his two children's pale wheat, but they all had the same tawny eyelashes, the same curve to their mouths. Abbey reached out a gentle finger smoothing back unruly hair from their foreheads, her heart filling with a love so strong, so overpowering it brought tears to her eyes.
She watched Nicky's thumb slip from his mouth and the way his lips pursed in a sucking motion just as they had when he was a baby and had fallen asleep at her nipple. They were growing up so fast now, becoming little people, not babies anymore. So it was with a tender pang that Abbey relished those little characteristics left over from babyhood and held them close to her heart.
Feeling Nicholas moving beside him, Jed instinctively wrapped an arm more tightly around him, holding him close to his body in a gesture of pure protectiveness.
"Jed?" Abbey ran a finger lightly up his thigh.
"Hmm…what?" He asked without opening his eyes.
"You fell asleep."
"Just resting my eyes," he assured her.
"Do you want to let the kids sleep in here with us tonight?"
Jed woke then, his blue eyes blinking sleepily as he looked down at his offspring.
"Normally, I'd say yes…buuuuttt… it is our last night here."
"My sentiments exactly."
"Great minds think alike."
They each carried a child across the living room of their suite to the bedroom where their porta- cribs had been set up. It had almost been a clean get away but just as they reached the door to leave the bedroom Aislinn awakened with a petulant whine.
"Mama…"
"I'm right here, sweetheart," Abbey called out softly. "Go back to sleep."
"Dink…"
"I'll get her some water," Jed said. "It'll give you time to change into one of those 'special garments'".
"Why? So you can rip it off?"
"That's half the fun, Mon ami."
****
Abbey returned to their bedroom with every intention of changing into one of the sexy negligees she had purchased at "Diva's" but the sound of rain pattering on the bricks of the courtyard called out to her. She opened the doors to the balcony inhaling the scent of the warm sweet rain. This tropical rainfall was so different from the showers back home. It would not sweep away all the heat and leave everything feeling clean, cool and crisp in it's wake, instead the air would only suck up all the moistness, making everything even more oppressively humid than had been to start. But, for now, in this moment, the droplets were cool, beckoning her out onto the balcony.
She stood for a minute; her face lifted toward the sky, letting the soft drops cool her.
"Abbey? What are you doing out there? It's pouring."
She heard her husband enter the room and turned to step in off the balcony.
Jed swallowed tightly at the sight that she made coming in out of the rain. Her long wet hair was slicked back off her face just the way that always turned him on. The simple knee length white cotton nightgown was soaking wet molding to her curves better than any lacy confection from Victoria's Secret. It clung to her hardened nipples in a way that made Jed ache just looking at them.
His eyes were hard, glittering, the way he moved toward her predatory.
"Do I look like I want to devour you?" He asked, running a thumb over her full lower lip.
"Yes," she whispered huskily.
"Good, because I do."
He bent his head abruptly his mouth circling over one of those pebble hard nipples. Abbey groaned threading her fingers through his hair as he began to suckle her, drinking in the moisture from the fabric then teasing the peak with little nips from his teeth. He continued to sweetly torment her with his mouth while he bunched up her nightgown in his fists. He stopped suckling her for one moment while he lifted the gown quickly up over her head so that she stood before him, nude, save for a pair of skimpy peach colored panties.
He sank to his knees before her sliding his arms around her legs to run his fingers up and down the backs of her knees and up her thighs until he couldn't resist the temptation anymore and he leaned forward to kiss at the soft curls that were hidden by her panties.
He heard Abbey's sharp intake of breath, felt her legs weaken as he continued to nuzzle her through the fabric. He felt her hands move to his head, felt her fingers continue to thread even harder through his hair and when he pushed the panties aside to slide a finger into her moist depths she nearly yanked him bald.
"Jeeeeddd." She pleaded. Her legs and belly were quivering now.
"Tell me what you want, pirate wench" His voice was gruff with hunger.
"You…I want you to take me."
Jed nodded. His role was clear. He was to be in command tonight. He lifted her into his arms in scene out of any pirate fantasy and dropped her unceremoniously onto the bed so that he could undress. Abbey felt a thrill course through her as she watched him. She had just given her husband carte blanche and she wondered just what he was going to do with her. It was a safe fantasy, for she knew he'd never truly hurt her, but exciting nonetheless.
He joined her on the bed but when she reached for his heavy, throbbing penis, he grabbed her wrist.
"You're supposed to be afraid of me," he grumbled, pulling her arms up over her head and pinning them there.
"Sorry," she tried to hide her grin. "Please Mr. Horrible, cruel, nasty pirate," her voice was pure Scarlett O'Hara. "Don't stick that big ol' thing inside me. Why I swear you'll just split me in two."
"I am going to put it inside you." It was hard to be gruff when he was trying to keep from laughing. "And you're gonna LIKE it. You're going to be begging me for it before I'm through with you."
"But I'm a good girl…" Abbey protested, fluttering her lashes.
"I'll just bet you are, gorgeous. And you're gonna show me just HOW good you are." His mouth moved back to her breast where he proceeded to flick his tongue over her nipple again and again.
"SIR!" Abbey bit her lip… "I…I just can't allow you to take such liberties. I… I…ohhhhh…." She was cut off as Jed slid his hand inside her panties expertly finding her clitoris and giving it a soft massage.
"You like that, don't you, sugarplum?"
"No…no, I don't…"Abbey's squirming hips belied her playacting.
"Don't LIE to me." In the struggle to keep her close to him Jed found himself pressed up against her back.
"Abbey?" He wasn't playacting now. He'd never take her this way without permission, especially in this kind of scenario.
"Yes, Jed," she exhaled softly. "However you want."
It was a testament to the trust they had built over the years that Abbey was able to allow this.
Jed flipped her onto her stomach and, no longer feigning a struggle, Abbey drew her knees up lifting her hips for him. Jed groaned at the vulnerability of the position, at how delectable the offering was to him. He hooked a finger in each side of her silky panties and slowly slid them down over her hips; his lips pressing into the soft flesh that he exposed. So soft he thought, so succulent. She'd teased him about wanting to devour her but good Lord that was exactly what he wanted to do.
Abbey felt his teeth nipping lightly on her rear and the ache to have him inside her was nearly unbearable.
With her panties discarded, Jed kneeled behind her. Unable to take her abruptly or roughly this way, he began to run his fingers lightly up and down her spine. Abbey turned her head, her hair falling to the side as she gazed back at him over her shoulder.
"Now, Jed…please…"
It was exactly what Jed had been waiting to hear. He grasped her hips in his hands and slid deeply inside her.
Abbey continued to watch him make love to her from behind, his strong tanned hands digging forcefully into the pale flesh of her hips, his hair falling over his forehead, his jaw straining as if he were in pain. The one thing that she hated about this position was that she was unable to touch him, unable to dig her fingers into his arms and her heels into his back. There was, however, something powerfully erotic about watching him thrust into her this way and she tried to watch him for as long as she could. But, as he shifted his position to pull her to him moving to the deepest point of penetration she buried her face into the sheets giving herself up to the building pleasure. She felt Jed curl over her, his chest hair tickling her back, his lips playing across her shoulders until they finally settled at the delicate nape of her neck, sucking gently. While he continued to thrust slowly and steadily she was one mass of sensation. She felt his lips move along her cheek, his breath warm against her ear as he told her over and over just how good she felt to him. Her nipples were rubbing sensuously against the satin sheets, the friction of his fullness inside her building in intensity. And when his own body was ready to lose control his hand slid around to her front, his fingers circling gently over her clitoris, then harder as he felt her start to climax, her muffled cries filling the room. His own orgasm was groaned out into her shoulder, his teeth clamping down as she had done to him the other day.
He lay on top of her for a few moments trying to catch his breath, feeling her doing the same beneath him. Finally regaining a measure of sanity he rolled onto his side, taking her with him. His hands continued to play over her skin, feeling the quivering ripples of the aftershocks that continued to pulse through her.
"Well…Sir…" Abbey reached a hand back to run over his thigh. "I fear you have just completely destroyed my reputation."
Jed grinned pressing his lips to her earlobe. "Well then there's only one thing to do, I guess. I'll have to make an honest woman out of you."
"Mama… Maaa…ma…" it was a sleepy cry over the monitor.
"MAMA!" Jed feigned horror. "You told me you were an untouched virgin."
"I lied," Abbey grinned, sliding out of his arms to slip into her robe. "I'm actually married to the President of the United States and I believe he mentioned something about having anyone I might have an affair with beheaded so if I were you I'd run before he gets back and finds you in my bed."
Jed laughed as he watched her sashay out of their room to go and check on Nicholas. He rolled over looking for the boxer shorts he had discarded on the floor earlier, for, chances were, she would end up bringing the boy back into bed with them so he wouldn't wake his sister. Oh well, at least the kid's timing was getting better. If that cry had been 10 minutes earlier he might not be in such a generous mood to share his bed with him.
TBC...