Jed stood in the courtyard eyeing his watch impatiently. They were going to be late for Mass if Abbey didn't get down there soon. He knew he should have waited in their bedroom where he could have prodded her on. She, however, hated to be rushed when she was dressing and had booted him out to wait for her downstairs.

Finally she entered the courtyard in a slim celery colored sleeveless sheath and matching heels. Her hair was pulled back into a neat French twist. This coolly elegant Abbey was just another side of his wife's personality. Even now, after all these years of marriage it could still make Jed shake his head with wonder to think that this was the same woman who had played with him so passionately in bed last night. To see her presented like this to the world, the fine lady with her upswept hair and pearls and to know that only he could make her lose that composure, that only he knew what she was like behind closed doors, filled him with a puffed up sense of male satisfaction.

"The kids aren't going with you to Mass?" CJ asked, upon bumping into them leaving.

"They're not exactly church broke yet," Abbey told her.

"Church broke?"

"Able to sit through Mass without creating a ruckus," Jed added. "Back home when we had a new baby one of us could sit in the children's room with the little ones. They could play and we could still hear the sermon, but I don't know if St. Louis Cathedral has children's room. Not that it seems like that church has ever been all that discriminating."

"Now what are you talking about?" Abbey's brow furrowed.

"Don't you remember what Rhonda told us? Marie Leveau the voodoo priestess used to worship at the cathedral. In fact, I've heard she even gave advice to some of the priests."

"Well, there was a lot of that down here, Jed. Voodoo and Catholicism were very much linked together, at least in this part of the world.

"Really," CJ was surprised. As a Catholic she hadn't known that. Thoughts of a little Rob Ritchie voodoo doll caused her to smile.

"Well, I suppose it's no different than Christianity taking quite liberally from Pagan worship. Did you know that many of our holidays were actually pagan…"

"Jed," Abbey tugged on his arm. We don't have time for you to give CJ an entire lecture on pagans and Christians. Let's go."

"NOW she worries about the time," he grumbled. "Time didn't seem to matter when she was deciding between gold or pearls or what…"

Abbey reached a hand out from the sedan yanking him in next to her.

"Another time, CJ!" He called out just as his door was shut.

Once in the sedan Jed leaned his head back staring out the window pensively. Picking up on his suddenly more somber mood, Abbey took his hand.

"Is something wrong, Jed?"

"Not really, no. I guess I just really enjoyed the past couple of days. This was a great way to recharge my batteries.

"Oh, is that what we're calling it now?" She teased.

"You know what I mean," he smiled sadly. "Just spending time with you away from the spotlight, and then getting to have yesterday with the kids was really great. I haven't felt this relaxed in a long time. But, now you're off to Detroit and I'll only see you briefly in St. Louis for the "Catholic Youth" speech before we'll be going our separate ways again."

"Well, that might not be happening as soon as you think."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, there was a little more to my deal with Bruno than the photo op with the kids at the zoo."

"What else is going on?"

"You know that bus trip that you're taking from here to St. Louis?"

"Yes."

"Well, there's been a slight change of plans. You're not going on the bus tour and I'm not going up to Detroit. We're both going on a riverboat up the Mississippi River to St. Louis."

"What? Why wasn't I told about this?"

"Don't go getting all bent out of shape. I wanted to surprise you. Your campaign staff thought that it would be very unique campaign trip and would drive a lot of media attention. Bus tours have been done, whistle stop train trips have been done, but can you remember the last time a candidate running for President sailed up the river that divides the country into east and west? What could be more nostalgic Americana than floating like Huck Finn on the Mississippi? Yeah, it might be a little hokey, but America loves hokey."

"You hate hokey."

"Yeah," she smiled slyly. "But I like the idea of traveling on a riverboat."

"What about Natchez? Vicksburg? Memphis?" "You'll still have all your speeches and rallies, you'll still visit the battleground and cemetery and St. Judes, but instead of being alone, you'll have me by your side."

"Really?" He lifted a brow with surprise. "What happened to keeping my too brilliant, too sexy, too educated, too liberal, too feminist wife north of the Mason-Dixon Line."

"We decided that not all southerner's are narrow minded morons."

"WE decided."

"Yeah, we. Me and CJ."

"That's what I figured. You scare the shit out of my male staffers; they never quite know what to do with you. "

"Well, I hate to tell them, but the days of candidates wives who stand behind their men with their mouths shut are almost over."

"With Abbey Bartlet leading the pack?"

"You're damned straight."

****

Traveling up river on the "Creole Queen" had proven right from the start to be an inspired decision, both for the Bartlet family and for the Bartlet campaign. Once they left New Orleans behind there were long stretches of quiet forests and empty farmland forming a natural habitat that was irresistable to local wildlife. Abbey stood on the deck absorbing the natural beauty with her children. Every so often she pointed out a muskrat swimming in the murky brown depths, a pelican standing at attention on a tree stump, a blue heron balancing on one leg while looking for fish in the shallow water at the rivers edge and even wary deer who eyed them nervously from the muddy banks. The children were enthralled with the whole expedition but as fascinated as they were by the animals they were equally fascinated by the big paddle wheel at the back of the boat that churned tobacco colored water into white foam.

It was easy during those quiet peaceful miles for Abbey to forget just why they were on the boat trip to begin with. It was only when they approached small towns and re-touched civilization that she was forced to remember the job at hand.

As they got closer to the towns cheering crowds of people began to line the river bluffs to watch the President and his family pass. They came in all colors, ages and socioeconomic status, black and white, farmers and businessmen, young and old, and the greatest photo op of all, women with young children who waved small American flags at the passing boat. Color guards stood at attention with high school bands that played "The Stars and Stripes Forever" and other John Phillips Sousa favorites and CJ and Bruno could hardly contain their glee. They might actually be beating the Republicans at their own game this time.

Incredibly moved by the vision of these crowds, who had waited all day for them to pass, Abbey took pictures to remember what a grand moment in their personal history that this was. Campaigning had often become a blur to her, a chore, but this trip up the Mississippi was something that she would never forget.

As they approached each town she and Jed stood on the deck acknowledging the cheers and waving to the crowds, sometimes with the children and sometimes alone and all along the way the press ate it up. The Bartlet campaign could not have asked for more wholesome publicity than they were getting.

As the boat traveled north, closer to Natchez, Mississippi, the woods opened to farmland and huge antebellum plantation houses. While Jed spent the afternoon in strategy sessions and the children napped, Abbey stood leaning over the rail watching the seemingly endless fields of cotton pass them by. She saw dusty lanes lined by large live oaks dripping Spanish moss that lead to the grand Civil War era homes and felt as if she should be wearing a hoop skirt and carrying a parasol. History was as touchable here as it was back home in New England.

Past Natchez, further north, the "Creole Queen" docked for the first time in Vicksburg, a city primarily known for the major civil war battle fought there. The First Couple toured the battlefield, after which the President spoke to a crowd of veterans at the cemetery, while the First Lady toured a local preschool.

Later in the afternoon after spending time with several veterans groups Jed made his way back to the boat.

"Is Abbey back yet?" He asked, upon seeing Lily Mays walking towards him on the deck.

"She's been back for a little while. I believe she's giving the children a bath."

Jed nodded and made his way toward their stateroom.

"Sir, you have an interview with Michael Stevens of "Newsweek" in 15 minutes," CJ frowned.

"CJ, I'm aware of my schedule. Don't worry I'll be on time."

CJ flashed him a skeptical look and turned to Charlie.

"I'll make sure he's on time," Charlie grinned.

Jed could hear his family long before he opened the bathroom door. He heard shrieking, splashing, laughter, and the frazzled voice of his wife trying to keep everything under control. An evil little smile crossed his face as he noticed the small palm camcorder Abbey had been using to record family moments. He picked it up on his way to the bathroom and began recording as he opened the door.

"Coming to you live from the "Creole Queen" we give you tonight's feature presentation "Bathtime with the Bartlets…" Jed panned the trashed bathroom taking in everything. Aislinn was running around naked, a towel hanging from one shoulder. Plastic toys were strewn all over the small room and his not so amused wife was kneeling amongst the toys in a puddle of water while Nicholas, who still sat in the tub, squirted her from behind with a little rubber ducky giggling with mirth when he hit his target. "As we can see, Mrs. Bartlet, who this reporter has to comment, has a mighty fine rack and is looking like a candidate right out of a wet T-shirt contest, seems to have things well under control…" Jed ducked as a wet washcloth was thrown his way, then lifted Aislinn onto his arm, her little naked bottom resting on his forearm.

"The Bartlet twins are certainly not the wild little hooligans the Republican right has led us to bel…" He stopped abruptly, his eyes closing with a grimace as he felt the warmth penetrate through his shirt to his skin.

"Aislinn, how could you?" He opened his eyes and gazed down into his daughter's guileless eyes.

"Pee pee" she giggled, patting her chubby little hands against his cheeks.

"You did go pee pee alright, all over daddy, and not for the first time may I remind you." He lifted her away from his body and Abbey burst into laughter at the sight of the wet dark stain on his shirt.

"It's not funny," he grumbled.

"Oh, I beg to differ, Mr. Cronkite. I think that little bit of divine justice was quite humorous indeed. Now instead of continuing on with that wonderful commentary why don't you help me and put Aislinn's diaper on so she doesn't pee anywhere else.

"I can't, I have an interview in…shi---"

"JED" Abbey cut him off.

"Crap," he conceded. "I'm supposed to be in the front salon in five minutes."

"Looks like you're going to be late."

"You think?" He flashed her a sarcastic look and began unbuttoning his shirt. Before he could finish there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. President…"

"Go away Charlie."

"Mr. President." This time it was Leo and CJ.

"Don't come in here any of you. Abbey's naked."

Abbey rolled her eyes at him and then shook her head at the dead silence on the other side of the door knowing very well that they believed Jed and that their past behavior had given them every reason to believe that they might be naked even at this time of day."

"I'm not naked," Abbey called out. "You can come in."

CJ and Leo entered the room, eyes widening as they watched Abbey run out of the bathroom chasing her laughing, naked toddlers, while Jed followed them with a sigh of resignation as he wiped at his torso with a towel.

"Mr. President" CJ said urgently. "Why aren't you dressed? You have a meeting in five minutes."

"Do you think that I'm unaware of that, Claudia Jean? I may forget names but my memory is sharp as tack."

"Well, as much as the females of America might enjoy it I really wasn't expecting you to show up flashing a little beefcake for the Newsweek photographer."

Leo tried to keep from grinning but amusement danced in his eyes as he caught Abbey's speculative smile.

"Believe it or not I am planning on changing."

"The shirt you were wearing was fine."

"Yeah, it was, until I picked up Aislinn and she peed on me." He began sifting through the closet for another shirt.

At that statement Leo couldn't contain his mirth. "This isn't the first time that she's peed on you, is it?"

"No" he sighed. "And it probably isn't the last. We haven't even started thinking about potty training yet. I guess I better plan on placing a large order of dress shirts to prepare for the day."

Abbey had caught Nicholas and laid him on a towel on the bed to begin diapering him but when she made a swipe at her daughter she missed her. Aislinn laughed with glee at having made it past her mother and made a beeline toward CJ and the door they had left open to the deck.

"CJ, grab her!" Abbey called out

CJ instinctively bent and scooped up the streaking child "Nice try kiddo but you aren't going to make it past old Auntie CJ." CJ inhaled the scent of freshly cleaned baby. She recognized the Johnson's baby shampoo from when she had bathed them herself, but there was another unfamiliar scent. "She smells really good, what is it?"

"Lavender," Abbey smiled. "They actually make calming lavender bubble bath for kids now. It's supposed to work like aromatherepy does, you know relax and calm them."

"Down…down…" Aislinn squirmed stiffening her body in an effort to be put down.

"Sorry to say, but I don't think it's working. If I were you I'd ask for my money back," CJ grinned, then looked down at the little girl in her arms. . "My God, for a little one you have as many arms and legs as an octopus." She dropped Aislinn on the bed next to her brother. Aislinn sat for a moment watching her mother slide a diaper under Nicholas's bottom then gave her an impish grin before beginning to scoot on her butt toward the edge of the bed. Once there she flipped onto her belly to slide off the edge and had almost succeeded when Jed grabbed her and plunked her back down next to Abbey.

"You need to sit still and wait for you mother to put your diaper on." He affected his stern fatherly voice. "See," he turned to Leo and CJ. "You just have to be firm with kids, give them a little discipline and they'll fall in line."

CJ and Leo noted with amusement that the firm discipline of her father didn't seem to work on the tiny girl. She merely flashed her dimples at him, grabbed the tie he had set down on the bed and began to scamper away with it.

"You were saying…" CJ grinned, arms crossed over her chest.

"Aislinn give daddy back his tie," Jed cajoled. As he started to climb on the bed to crawl after her Abbey's voice stopped the antics of her daughter.

"Aislinn, that's quite enough." Abbey said, firmly. "You give daddy back his tie and you sit right here next to Nicholas while I finish."

Aislinn gave her a mutinous expression but when Abbey's glance didn't waver she gave up and began crawling back over the bed.

"Binkie" Aislinn's lip quivered. "Wan binkie."

Abbey reached into the diaperbag and searched one handed for her daughter's pacifier. An exchange was made, the binkie for the tie, and Aislinn sat quietly sucking away.

"I don't know Mr. President, looks like Abbey's got one up on you." Leo grinned.

"Naw, she had to resort to the binkie."

Jed stepped back at the look Abbey flashed him. "Not that that's a bad thing," he amended to keep himself out of trouble.

"Why don't I finish him up for you and you can get started on Ash," CJ offered.

"What about your meeting?"

"There isn't a meeting without the President." She eyed Jed who was buttoning up the new shirt he had finally decided on. "So I think I'm good for a few minutes anyway."

Jed acknowledged the dig with a smirk and continued to button his shirt.

"Don't forget the powder, CJ." He warned. "He's had a diaper rash for the past couple of days."

"I think I passed diaper 101 when I spent a whole night babysitting for you this summer. Right, Nicky? "She leaned down to kiss the baby boy's forehead. "You tell your daddy that I'm not some dumb flunky here."

"Funky" Nicholas grinned, grabbing at the pink bottle of Caldesene talc powder that lay beside him.

"Uh, if I can interrupt Home Ec class here, we have a reporter from Newsweek twiddling his thumbs in the salon." Bruno's gratingly nasal voice was tinged with its usual sarcasm.

"Let the vulture twiddle," Jed grumbled. Other than Danny Concannon and a VERY few select others, the President despised reporters.

"Mr. President" CJ lifted at brow at him as she closed the last tab on Nicky's diaper and watched him crawl across the bed to Abbey. The little boy waited patiently while his mother dug into the diaper bag for an iced animal cookie, then leaned back against the headboard to begin gnawing on it. She was forever trying to force him to have more respect for the press.

"Okay, let the predator wait. Sorry, CJ, predator is as high on the classification tables that I'll go."

"It's progress, anyway." She fell into line behind Bruno, Leo and the President as they made their way to the salon.

Abbey watched them leave with a feeling of relief. The twins were always better behaved when things were less chaotic, and on the campaign trail that was next to never. Already they were calming down leaning against each other while they munched on their animal cookies.

She made her way back over the bed and clapped her hands together. "Okay, who wants to learn how to play 'Candyland'? She asked brightly.

"Me! Me! Me!" Both children began to bounce on the bed with excitement

****

It was yet another hot southern night on the river but not quite as stifling as New Orleans had been. Abbey braced herself against the rail allowing the river breeze to lift her hair and cool her neck. She inhaled the earthy scent of the wide muddy river and watched the twinkling lights from the towns they passed. The night was peaceful, but certainly not quiet. Frogs croaked from the reeds at the edge of the river, water sloshed from the large paddle wheel, and the faint sounds of music from the towns played over the boat on the breeze.

She had thought about spending the night relaxing with a nice glass of wine and a good book while Jed played poker on the deck with his staff, but had decided against the idea. She enjoyed playing cards and did so often on campaign trips but back at the White House poker night was guy's night, well other than CJ, anyway. It was a chance for Jed to bond, although he hated that word, with his staff as a man rather than their boss. Abbey usually used the night to have a girls night out with Millie when she was in town, or catch a movie with Zoey in the White House theater, or simply spend the evening pampering herself with facials, long sudsy bubble baths, Mozart, and a book in front of the fireplace. Tonight, however, she decided it was time to do some bonding of her own. She had been butting heads quite a bit with Bruno and decided it was time that he got to know her, so, to that end she made her way to the back of the boat

Heads lifted as Abbey approached the poker table. She had changed into a pair of jeans and a faded "Save the Whales" T-shirt, her formidable First Lady persona gone with the change of wardrobe.

"Twins go down okay?" Jed asked. He was squinting at his cards and gnawing on the end of an unlit cigar like some riverboat gambler of the past, and as usual was completely, adorably sexy. So adorable that Abbey had to restrain herself from tousling his hair in front of his friends.

"Yeah. It only took three stories, two glasses of water and a frantic search for Tigger, who Nicholas thought might have fallen overboard."

"Did he?" Jed's eyes widened, knowing they were in for a long night if his son's favorite stuffed animal was floating down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

"No, he had put him under the counter in the bathroom."

"Under the counter?" Josh gave them a puzzled look.

"So he wouldn't get wet," Abbey and Jed explained at the same time.

"Well then," Jed looked up at his wife. "Did you come over to bring me some luck?"

Abbey bent over to peer at his cards and Bruno couldn't help but note that the First Lady certainly did fill out a pair of jeans quite nicely.

"No, I didn't come to bring you luck, I came to play."

"No girls allowed," Josh said automatically.

"Thanks, Josh, what the hell am I?" CJ pushed her baseball cap back off her forehead and glared indignantly at Josh.

"Sorry Ceej, sometimes I forget…"

"Finish that sentence and die."

"I was just going to say…"

"That sometimes you forget that I'm a woman. Thank you, Josh, I can't tell you what wonders that does for my self-esteem.

"CJ, I never forget that you're a woman," Sam offered.

"Suck up" Josh grumbled.

"Children, children, let's be nice to each other here. I wouldn't want to have to put anyone in time out." Jed passed a glance over all of them then looked up at Abbey in the form fitting T-shirt, knowing there was no way that anyone could forget that she was anything but all woman. "And you, my delectable little wife…" He pulled her down onto his lap nuzzling into her neck until she laughingly forced him to stop… "Are going to keep your gorgeous little posterior right here on my lap until I win this hand. Then you can play."

Abbey took a swig from Jed's beer and grabbed a cigar sticking it between her teeth. "Sounds fair to me."

TBC...