"If you want it you have to ask Mommy for it" Abbey said. She was kneeling beside the big tub in she and Jed's bathroom and was in the process of bathing and playing with the twins. Nicky was busy dunking his little rubber ducky underwater and giggling when it popped back up to the surface. Aislinn, on the other hand, was only interested in the light up "Little Mermaid" doll Zoey had given her for Christmas, which was being held by her mother just out of her reach.

"Mmm…uh…uh" she fussed and kicked her legs in frustration as she reached her hands to try and get it.

"Come on Aislinn ask me for it. You can do it. Say Mama. Ma…ma" Abbey drew out the word. Aislinn's little bottom lip began to quiver and tears began to pool in her eyes. Abbey relented immediately.

"Don't cry sweetheart, it's OK" she handed her the doll and ran her hand over her daughters cheek. She then turned her attention to her son.

"How about you Nicky? " she asked. "Can you say Ma…ma?" Nicholas flashed her a big smile and splashed both his hands in the water soaking Abbey's face and the front of her shirt. He gave a giggle at his mother's gasp of surprise.

"You think that's funny, you little imp?" She reached out a finger to tickle under his arm and he began to laugh helplessly as he tried to squirm away from her finger.

"Ma…ma"

Abbey stopped tickling Nicholas and turned back to her daughter who had been jealous at the loss of her mother's attention.

"What did you say sweetie?" Abbey stared at her baby girl. "Say it again. Say it for Mama"

"Ma…ma" Aislinn repeated pushing her doll at Abbey. It was obvious she wanted her mother to continue to play with her.

"You did it!" Abbey squealed with delight. She clapped her hands and lifted the slippery, wet baby into her arms for a kiss.

"What is all the ruckus in here?" Jed asked. He entered the bathroom still tying his tie. When he looked up from his task his eyes widened and then a smile curved on his lips. Abbey was kneeling in a puddle of water wearing a pair of faded jeans and a Greenpeace T-shirt, both of which were soaking wet. She held a naked, wet Aislinn to her chest without a towel and Nicholas was splashing her from behind. A foamy dab of the bubble gum scented bubble bath dotted the tip of her nose. She looked about 20 years old again and it was a toss up at the moment as to who was more adorable, his wife or his kids.

"You guys have made quite a mess in here" he affected a stern voice.

"We're just playing" Abbey wrinkled her nose at him. "Come here and listen to this. Aislinn do it for Daddy. Say Mama." Aislinn eyed her father with wide hazel eyes but didn't say a word. "Come on Ash, show daddy what a big girl you are. You can do it. Ma…ma” Aislinn turned to look at Abbey and slapped her little hands on her cheeks.

"Ma…ma" she gurgled.

"Jumping Jehosaphat! " Jed exclaimed with a deep laugh of parental delight "What a BIG girl you are." He stepped forward and kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Now what about Daddy. You can say it. Da…Da" he drew it out as Abbey had and rubbed his rough shaven jaw against Aislinn's cheek which always caused her to laugh. She patted his cheeks with her little hands and gave him the giggle he was looking for. "Come on Sunshine. Da…Da"

"Mama" Aislinn said and buried her face into Abbey's neck. She glanced at her father bashfully as if she were teasing him.

"Oh my God she's flirting with you" Abbey laughed.

"She is her mother's daughter" Jed grinned kissing the bubbles off Abbey's nose.

"What is THAT supposed to mean" Abbey sniffed.

"It means her mother is one big tease and she wrote the book on flirting."

"I may tease but I always come through in the end, don't I?" Abbey gave him the same sidelong flirtatious gaze his daughter just had and, ignoring the water, he laughed and pulled his two wet girls into his arms.

"That you do Doc. That you do."

* * * *

The senior staff entered the Oval Office for their usual morning meeting. All noticed right away the darker patches on the President's suit coat and gave each other puzzled looks. Jed ignored the looks and got right down to business. As the meeting came to a close the four men looked expectantly at CJ. She knew it was going to come down to this. When the President was angry or upset it was Leo who had bite the bullet and find out what was going on. However, when it came to the weird stuff, and lord knows there was a lot of weird stuff, it always came down on her. She knew her duty and like a good little warrior she approached the President's desk as the males tried to beat a hasty retreat.

"Sir, I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not but you have dark splotches all over your suit coat"

"I'm aware"

"You have a meeting with the Danish ambassador, there will be press. They'll want to know why"

"They'll be dry by then"

"It's water?" She noticed the guys had paused in the doorway, hoping to hear the explanation.

"CJ, do you want to know why I have wet splotches on my suit coat"? he lifted his brow and CJ had to smile. Her boss knew her curiosity very well.

"Yes" she admitted her grin growing wider.

"Abbey was giving the babies a bath this morning"

"And you made her angry and she splashed you?"

"No, why would you assume I made her angry?"

"You do that sometimes" CJ bit her lip to keep the laughter from erupting.

"As a matter of fact Claudia Jean, your goddaughter said her first word this morning and I gave she and her wet mother a very big hug. THAT is how I got all wet."

"She said her first word?" CJ's smile turned to one of pride and excitement.

"Tell me it wasn't Jackass" Leo smirked from the doorway.

"It was Mama if you must know. But I still have Nicky. If I can work on him on the sly, who knows, maybe Daddy will be his first word."

"It's important to have goals" Josh stated.

"When you have children Joshua you will understand the importance of these first moments"

"Sir." Charlie stepped in " I hate to interrupt this little coffee klatch, but Agent Butterfield needs to see you. He said it's important."

"Send him in Charlie"

Jed slid his glasses off his nose and rubbed his eyes tiredly. He and the staff had been working on overdrive with the upcoming State of the Union address around the corner. A State of the Union that could make or break his re-election bid.

Ron strode into the office with his usual confidence, but he did have to summon some inner reserves before he started to speak to the President. Just talking about his family involved in kidnapping scenarios could set Josiah Bartlet off like a roman candle on the fourth of July, so he knew the reaction would be magnified when it came to any actual threat.

"Ron" Jed said expectantly. "Did you come here to stare at me or did you have something to say?"

"Yes" Ron cleared his throat. "I have an update on those photos sent to your wife's father. We did a handwriting analysis and found some matches with letters we intercepted on their way to the First Lady"

"Matches?" Jed questioned. "You mean this guy sent a letter to her before this?"

"Not A letter sir. Many letters."

Ron handed his boss a folder. Jed took the folder from him and opened it feeling a sickening jolt when dozens of letters fell out. Letters didn't actually describe them. They were notes. Short love notes to his wife. He pushed his glasses back on and began to read them.

"Dearest Abigail my love,

I watched you on the news tonight. You looked so beautiful in that peach colored gown. It made your hair gleam like a flame. You know how much I love your hair and how much I love you. Never forget just how much you mean to me Abigail."

"My beautiful Abigail,

The black dress was cut MUCH too low. You know I have asked you not to reveal your breasts like that. It cheapens you and you are not a cheap woman.”

"Miss High and Mighty Abigail,

Why do you defy me, my love? I have repeatedly told you not to wear such short skirts. You know I think you have gorgeous legs but you shouldn't be flashing them at every man in America. Those legs were meant to be wrapped around my waist not to live in the fantasies of other men."

Ron watched the color fill Jed's face and the muscle in his jaw began to tick as it did when he was trying to control his rage. But still, he read on.

"Dearest defiant bitch Abigail,

"You kissed HIM in public Abigail. I know it was just for show but I have warned you about that. You love ME and only ME. Do not allow yourself to touch or be touched by THAT man ever again.”

Jed threw the letters on his desk with disgust and anger.

"Who the HELL is sending these!" he exploded. "I want to see the son of a bitch. Do you have him custody?"

"No sir" Ron swallowed. He knew the blow up was just around the corner now. "The profilers are working as we speak"

"You're just working on a profile NOW" The President's tone was more one of pissed incredulity. "How long has she been getting these letters?"

"About a year and half"

"And you're just getting started now? That's just fucking great Ron. What the hell are you people here for if not to protect my family from these wacko's. Jesus, why didn't you start a profile on him right away."

"Sir, the letters came spaced months apart. There really wasn't anything to link them and no specific threats were made. To be honest these letters were nothing compared to some of the ones that came through. If I showed you how many love letters like this she gets you would understand that these wouldn't exactly stand out."

"Yeah, yeah so you've said. " Jed dismissed him.

"Part of our job is also to protect you from worrying about these crackpots. If the First Lady was shown all the love, crazy, or obscene letters she gets she might not be able to go out and function at all. It is our job to figure out who is harmless and who is threatening. When letters are particularly threatening or violent we try to track down the person who sent it."

Ron didn't even like to think of how many kidnapping threats they had had to weed through since the birth of Nicholas and Aislinn.

"Well you sure missed the boat on this one."

"Yes sir"

"Ron" Jed dug his fingers through his hair with impotent frustration. "This guy, he acts like he KNOWS her."

"That's not uncommon of people with delusions. Once we started going back and pulling his letters we realized there is a pattern. This guy fluctuates between love and rage toward your wife and we can see the letters are definitely getting angrier. Obviously seeing you…"Ron looked at the carpet embarrassed as he tried to search for the right word "…Together in the barn sent him into a fury and that was why he took the risk to send those pictures. It's is also obvious that he doesn't want her having anything to do with you."

"I'm her HUSBAND!" Jed's bellow filled the Oval Office, startling even Ron who was used to such outbursts.

"Yes you are." Ron stayed calm trying to defuse the President's temper. "And he loves her."

"Well he can't have her" Jed snapped. "I want you to find this Sicko and I want you to find him fast. I also want security beefed up on my wife. "

"Already taken care of Sir. Should we call the First Lady over and inform her about this or would you like me to go to the East Wing and talk to her?"

"No" Jed said tightly. "I don't want her to know about this."

"Sir, she's going to notice the increased members of her detail. You know how she is about security in the first place."

Jed sighed knowing that Ron was right. Abbey would demand to know why she had extra agents and he didn't want her finding out from them.

"I'll tell her tonight in private."

”Yes Sir" Ron turned to leave.

"Ron" Jed bit out.

"Yes" he turned back and saw that the President was slouching back in his chair as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders.

"Don’t let anything happen to my wife."

"We won't Sir"

Jed sank back in his chair still reeling from those letters. How in the hell was he going to tell Abbey that there was a man out there watching her every move? A man who believed she belonged to him. How could he re-open those old wounds that had take so long to heal? Just a few hours ago she had been kneeling on the floor of the bathroom laughing with delight as their daughter said her first word and now… now he was going to have dredge up emotions from the past that were much better left dormant.

* * * *

"Here is the revised speech for Friday at the National Health Forum. " Lily handed the speech over the desk to Abbey and sat while her boss perused it. Abbey was making notations in the margins when the phone rang. The only time it rang in her office was when it was her private line, and the only people who had access to her private line were her family and very close friends."

"Excuse me" she said to Lily. She took her glasses off and lifted the receiver. Lily stood to leave and give Abbey privacy for her phone call.

"Hello "Abbey answered. At the sound of her voice Hughes throat constricted and his heart began to pound. All these years and she was finally right there on the other end of the phone line. "Hello…Who is this?"

Lily paused in the doorway at the strain in Abbey's voice.

Heavy breathing broke the silence. "Is somebody there?" Abbey questioned.

"Who is it?" Lily mouthed.

Abbey shrugged and was just about to hang up when she heard him speak.

"I want you" the voice was ragged and muffled, as if it were being disguised.

"What? Who is this?"

Lily frowned at the alarm in Abbey's voice.

"You heard me. I want you naked under me. I'm going to run my tongue…" Abbey slammed the receiver down.

"What was that all about?" Lily asked.

"THAT was an obscene phone call." She tried to smile indifferently but her hand was shaking.

"YOU got an obscene phone call. How did someone get your private line?"

"I don't know. I'm sure they didn't know it was me. It was probably just some kids dialing random numbers."

"Do you want me to call Anita in?"

"No, I don't think we need to involve the agents in this." Abbey knew if the agents were involved it would get right back to Jed and she didn't want him worried over some harmless prank.

"You're due to meet the President in 15 minutes to attend the Vasily Baronov poetry reading at the Kennedy Center. Will you at least tell him?"

"Lily, you don't know my husband very well do you? Telling him something like this would just turn him into an absolute bear. It was just a random call, I'm not going to blow it all out of proportion."

"If you're sure Ma'am"

Lily turned to leave but she was still uneasy. She had heard about the pictures sent to her boss's father and she had seen the look on the First Lady's face during that phone call. She had been the First Lady's chief of staff for three years now. She had seen her through the transition from civilian to First Lady, through dozens of overseas trips, through the President's near death by shooting, through her pregnancy and first year with the twins, and she was more than a boss to her. She was a friend. Abbey's standards were high, and she could be tough and difficult but she was also fair and kind and interested in forming relationships with her staff. While the President was notorious for forgetting names, his wife knew everyone by name. Lily didn't know how many secretaries and staffers Abbey had tried to set up on blind dates, or how many office birthday parties she had planned for the people who worked for her. Because of this her staff was incredibly loyal and protective of her, which was how Lily felt now. She knew what had happened in the First Lady's past. Abbey had been very matter of fact about it, but she was also a master at hiding her emotions. Because of that Lily knew, despite her words to the contrary, she had to have been affected by that phone call.

* * * *

Marcus Hughes popped the blank tape into the VCR, flipped the channel to C-SPAN, hit record and sat back with his beer to watch the Vasily Baronov speech and poetry reading. He was hardly a fan of the Russian dissident and poet who was now touring America. He was watching because according to the program guide the President and First Lady would be in attendance. He felt his body tighten with anticipation as the presidential motorcade pulled up to the Kennedy Center. He watched Abbey step out of the limo in a sleek back dress her cinnamon colored hair flowing over her shoulders. God she was gorgeous, so classy and elegant. He could spend hours just looking at her, and sometimes he did. Sometimes he watched his tapes all-night or stared at the pictures of her on his walls all day. But it was at night when he slept that it was the best. At night his erotic dreams were filled with her, of what he wanted to do with her, of what he WOULD do with her. Soon, very soon. He touched the screen of the TV. She was so close to him and yet so far away.

Then in a flash all the love that encompassed his heart for her disappeared into a wave of rage so strong it nearly brought him to his knees. He watched HIM circle around the limo and the way Abigail stretched out her hand to HIM. He watched as HE took her cloak from an agent and wrapped her in the satin material. His blood pulsed furiously as she smiled up at HIM and tip- toed up to kiss HIM lightly on the lips. He had warned her not to have any sexual contact with HIM. Why was she defying him like this? His anger burned and he felt a tremendous need to vent that anger. Tonight.

* * * *

It had been a long day and once back from the Baronov poetry reading Jed and Abbey had dined privately and changed into their nightclothes for an early night. They lay stretched out on the couch in front of the warm flames of the fireplace each giving a sleepy baby a bottle.

Jed tried to come up with the words to tell Abbey about the letters, but each time he got his nerve up he glanced over at how peaceful she looked. She was leaning back on the cushions her feet against his hip. Nicholas lay against her breasts sucking half heartedly on his bottle. His eyes were barely able to stay open as he fought to keep from falling asleep and Abbey was stoking his silky blond head absently. Instead of bringing up the subjects they should be talking about Jed talked to her about the State of the Union, and Abbey talked of her plans for the twin's upcoming first birthday party.

"Marcy and Lucy…"

"Who?" Jed asked confused.

"My two secretaries" Abbey shook her head. She never understood why her husband had such a hard time with names. It wasn't the MS; he'd always been this way. She guessed his mind was so filled with everything else it just couldn't compute names as well. "As I was saying Marcy and Lucy are going to bring their kids over for the party. Lucy's daughter Madison just turned a year…." The ringing of their phone interrupted Abbey. "I'll get it" she transferred Nicholas over beside where his sister slept in Jed's arms and moved to answer the phone.

"Hello"

"You like showing off those legs don't you Abigail. You like making every man in America pant after you."

Jed watched the smile fade from Abbey's lips.

"What? Who is this? " She demanded in a shaking voice that caused Jed to look at her with a frown.

"I won't be panting for much longer Abigail. I'm going to give it to you for every man in America"

Jed watched Abbey's face go ashen gray as she slammed the receiver down. He was already laying the twins on the couch to go to her when he heard her trembling voice.

"He knew my name," she said trying to catch the breath she had been holding. "God Jed he knew my name this time"

"Abbey what are you talking about" he gripped her wrists looking into her panicked eyes.

"The man on the phone. He called me in my office this afternoon. I thought it was a random prank call. But this was the same guy and he called me Abigail. It wasn't random Jed."

"Abbey calm down and talk to me. What did he say this afternoon?"

"It was just a typical obscene phone call. He wanted to see me naked, told me what he wanted to do with his tongue. But he NEVER used my name."

"DAMMIT, why didn't you tell me this" his eyes blazed with anger.

"Jed, please don't " It was the pained tone of her voice that caused his anger to dissipate. That and how she almost crumpled in his arms resting her forehead against his chest and gripping handfuls of his shirt. It completely undid him and overwhelmed him with the urge to hold her in his arms and protect her.

"I'm sorry Baby" he kissed the top of her head. "What did he say tonight?"

"He called me Abigail and said that I like to show off my legs and make men pant after me."

Jed sensed there was more and tipped her chin to look deep into her eyes.

"Is that all"

"No” she lowered her eyelashes. "He told me he was going to give it to me for every man in America." Her eyes were bright with unshed tears.

"Oh Christ Abbey. Oh Honey, I'm sorry" he held her tightly to his chest.

"How did anyone get this number Jed?"

"I don't know. But we need to talk." He moved to pour Abbey a snifter of brandy, which she accepted and took a long swallow of. She felt the alcohol burn a path down her throat and immediately begin to work on her frazzled nerves. Jed took her hand and led her back to the fire. They glanced down on the sleeping twins and with nonverbal tacit agreement, decided to leave the babies there. Instead Jed sat in the overstuffed chair and pulled Abbey down on to his lap. Abbey laid her head against his shoulder feeling safer by the moment.

"We need to tell Ron about this" Jed started.

"I know" Abbey agreed. "It could be the same guy who sent the pictures.

"About those pictures. Ron came to me this morning with some information."

"Do they know who it was?"

"Not yet, but they did find that it wasn't the first time he has sent something to you. They found dozens of love notes that he has been sending you for about a year and a half.

"Love notes?" Abbey was stunned.

"Notes telling you how beautiful you are and how much he wants you. And notes warning you."

"Warning me of what?"

"To stop dressing provocatively and…to stop touching me and letting me touch you"

"What?" she pulled back to look into his eyes. "That's crazy. He must be crazy."

"That's the general assumption.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Jed looked deeply into her beautiful hazel eyes---eyes that could be flashing emerald green when she was angry, pale gray when she was sad, brittle blue when her desire was great, and smoky when that passion had been satiated, and opted for complete honesty.

"I just didn't know how," he admitted. "With everything that happened before I simply didn't know how."

"It's OK" she tucked her head under his chin.

"Please don't be worried Abbey. They're going to catch this guy and until they do you have the best security in the world. I had your detail beefed up today. I won't let anything happen to you."

"OK” she nuzzled into his neck and curled her legs up letting her husband cuddle and comfort her. She felt safe curled in his arms. Jed held her tightly not knowing what to say. He knew that phone call had scared Abbey more than she was saying. He had been prepared for a fight over the beefed up security, but the fact that she had simply accepted it was a testament to her fear.

* * * *

Abbey stepped out into the bright winter sunshine and tossed her purple wool cape around her shoulders. Thanks to the glare she heard the crowd before she saw it.

"Abbey! Abbey!" they were calling her, these crowds of people that lined the streets wherever she went. It was always the same and it still made her feel uncomfortable to a certain degree. She wasn't sure what exactly she had done to draw such complete adulation and in some cases fanaticism. She had seen people knocked down in the attempt to get close to her and shake her hand. It was the same for Jed. Interestingly enough though, he seemed to be more comfortable with this excess of emotion than she was. But, while it puzzled her, she knew it was expected of her to approach the rope line and shake a few hands before getting back in the limo. Resisting the urge to put on dark sunglasses, Abbey gave the crowd her famous bright smile, the smile that had graced dozens of magazine covers, and started toward that churning heaving line of people. As she approached the cheering grew louder and the people began to strain over the rope in an effort to touch her or gain her attention.

It wasn't long before Abbey's arms were laden with flowers and she turned to Lily who summoned a couple staffers over to take the flowers so she could continue on. As she made her way down the line Abbey noticed an elderly woman in a wheelchair holding a single yellow rose. Some teenage girls who were reaching to shake her hand were obscuring her. Abbey politely shook their hands then ducked under the rope to kneel by the elderly woman.

"This is for you," the woman said. "I read that you love roses, especially yellow ones"

"Yes I do, they're so cheery don't you think?" Abbey smiled and took the flower.

"If you don't mind me saying so, you're even prettier in person."

"Well, thank you very much. I don't mind at all." Abbey felt a tug on her skirt and looked down to see a little girl of about five holding a stuffed bear and a small little baby doll.

"Mrs. First Lady" she said.

"Hello" Abbey went down on one knee in front of her. "What's your name?"

"Elizabeth"

"I have a daughter named Elizabeth. I really love that name, it's very pretty."

"My Mommy said you have a little baby girl too, don't you?"

"Yes, her name is Aislinn and she is almost one. I bet this is for her isn't it" Abbey accepted the doll the girl was handing to her.

"Uh huh. It's for her birthday. And this teddy bear is for your little boy, cause boys don't like dollies."

"You're right they don't. But I bet Nicholas will love this little teddy bear. Thank you so much Elizabeth" Abbey kissed the top of the little girls head and stood to shake her mothers hand.

"She's adorable" Abbey told her.

"Thank you ma'am, but she can be a handful."

"I know how that goes" Abbey commiserated. "Once the twins started crawling we had to childproof the whole White House."

"It'll be worse when they start walking"

"Don't remind me" Abbey groaned.

She was still smiling and chatting as she reached her hand out to the next person in line. She felt the person's firm rough grip and knew right away that it was a man. While she said good-bye to Elizabeth's mother the man released his strong hold and she felt his middle finger caress the palm of her hand. Startled, Abbey tugged her hand away and turned abruptly. When she did so she came eye to eye with the man who had for years played such an integral part in her nightmares. Marcus Hughes. In an instant it all came back to her. The slaps, the hands and mouth tearing at her flesh, the smell of his fetid breath as he tried to kiss her, the ripping of her clothes, and the stunning pain and degradation she had felt when he pushed his body into her unwilling one and raped her.

"Hello Abigail" He said with an insolent smile. "Remember me? Cause I sure do remember you. ALL of you" His eyes moved with lascivious intent over her body and came to rest on her breasts.

Abbey couldn't move, she couldn't breathe. The noise of the crowd sounded muffled as if it was coming down a tunnel and she was quite sure that she was just about to faint.

TBC...