Jed's head turned quickly to face the anxious eyes of his wife. He couldn't believe that the press had already gotten wind of what Ron had told the two of them earlier. Still, he tried to appear nonchalant. "Sit down" he motioned them toward the table.

"You finish eating Mr. President. We can wait in the living room until you're done," Leo said.

"I think you've sufficiently killed my appetite," Jed groused. "What about you Abbey?"

Abbey nodded to him, emphasizing the point by pushing her plate away. "Sit down" Abbey urged them. She pushed the high chairs to one side, filled the babies trays with finger food, and handed them each a bottle. "That should keep them quiet for a while." With her children taken care of she turned to the staffers with hands on her hips. "Spill it guys."

Josh and Leo gave each other uneasy glances then turned to stare at CJ expectantly. Neither man particularly wanted to be a part of this conversation. If they'd had their way CJ would be speaking to the first couple by herself. They had not gotten their way. CJ had insisted on back up and so here they were.

"Ma'am." CJ sat next to Abbey and turned her chair so that she could look her in the eye. "This is very uncomfortable for me, for all of us."

"Just say what you need to say. I'm not going to fall apart."

CJ gave her friend a half smile in complete admiration of her strength. However, despite the straightforward words she could see the tension in Abbey's eyes and the anxiousness in the way she nervously twisted her wedding ring back and forth. CJ startled herself by unconsciously reaching out a hand to take the First Lady's to offer support and comfort. Leo and Josh began to shuffle uncomfortably at this bonding of the sisterhood. Neither were comfortable with what they felt should be a strictly woman to woman conversation. Abbey's eyes lifted to the men. "Would you two please sit down. You're making me nervous with all that dancing around."

The men sat and CJ continued. "I've been informed that there are tabloids that are going to be headlining stories that you were actually raped yesterday and we are covering that up."

Jed's face went red with anger and Abbey could see he was about to blow his stack.

"Jed…" She placed a soft hand on his forearm to keep him under control. "CJ, you know there is nothing that we can do to stop the tabloid press from publishing lies about us."

"I know that. But those little rumor rumblings have gotten the legitimate press wondering. They want to know why they haven't seen you speak about the incident. They feel that you're hiding out here. They want to know if we are covering something up."

"Two of my agents were KILLED yesterday, my dog was shot, my one year old son was strangled in front of me, and I was nearly raped in front of my husband and Ron Butterfield. Don't I deserve just ONE goddamned MINUTE to process all of this? Can't I have just a couple of days of privacy?"

"Of course you deserve that Abbey," CJ said sympathetically. "But this isn't about what you deserve. It's all about perception. If you don't speak the perception is that you have something to hide."

"What do you want from me?" Abbey rubbed at her temples wearily trying to rid herself of the stress headache she felt coming on.

"We'd like you to give an interview. Just something low-key and sympathetic. We're thinking of one of the morning shows. We owe Katie Couric an interview."

"No." Jed's emphatic denial caused the room to go silent.

"We need to stop the rumors before they get out of control," Josh said. "We owe…"

" She doesn't OWE anyone a fucking thing. If anyone is owed anything it is HER. We owe her this time to heal and to…"

"Jed, "Abbey turned to him. "I appreciate the sentiment but I'm sitting right here. I can speak for myself." She turned to the three senior staffers, " I knew I would have to rehash all of this in the press. I just didn't think that it would be so soon."

"We can set it up for tomorrow morning and get it over with." CJ told her.

Abbey's fingers involuntarily moved to the bruise on her jaw. When she did so her shirt slipped down her arm to reveal the yellowish-purple finger marks that marred the pale skin of her delicate wrist. Leo swallowed tightly and looked down at the ground unable to bear looking at the damage done to her and imagining how it had been done.

"Couldn't I wait until my face is healed? I don't want everyone to see what he did to me." The tears pooled in Abbey's eyes and she brushed at them impatiently. She hated crying in front of others.

"Of course you can." Jed took her hand. His fingers began to gently stroke her injured wrist and he glared at his staff. He was infuriated that they were putting Abbey through this, even under the guise of doing their jobs.

"We could wait, "CJ agreed gently. "But if we wait, then everything we do will be in response to allegations. If we are proactive and you get right out there and give your side of the story we have something to fall back on when the lies start. Besides, if they see what he did they'll know exactly why you wanted some time alone with your family and that you are being honest when you say that he hurt you but didn't rape you."

Abbey sat quietly for a few moments processing everything that had been said. Her gaze moved from the children, to the staffers and finally to Jed. By the time she reached him he saw the quiet acceptance in their lovely depths.

"I'll do it tomorrow morning, " she promised. "But there are some things that he did to me and wanted to do to me that I am not going to talk about. I think that I deserve some modicum of privacy."

"You don't have to talk about any specifics, " Leo told her quickly. He for one did not want to know. "That's fine."

"And I'm going to sit with her when she does this, " Jed informed them.

"Jed, you don't have to do that." Abbey turned to him. "I'll be fine, really."

"Abbey, I want to be there with you when you do this. You were there for me when I had the MS interview; it's my turn to be there for you. Do you guys have a problem with that?" He turned to them just daring them to disagree.

"I think it's a good idea." CJ nodded.

"Then it's agreed, " Leo said. "Let's get down to work."

* * * *

Jed gave a sidelong glance at his wife with a slight frown. This had been the third time during the Mass that he'd had to nudge her to stand or kneel. Following the literal ups and downs of a Mass had been something that both had done since childhood and was as automatic as genuflecting when going by a hearse to them. Sometimes his mind wandered and Abbey had to reel him in to make sure that he was focusing and following the Mass, but she very rarely strayed. From the look in her eyes he knew that her mind was on something else entirely.

Abbey kneeled against the pew in front of her. A communion wafer was dissolving on her tongue making her feel like a total hypocrite. She had just accepted the body of Christ and yet deep inside she felt like a sinner. Thou Shall Not Kill. Well, that was the biggie as far as commandments went, and while she hadn't actually killed anyone, she had been completely relieved that a man was dead. Not only that, she had praised and given a kiss to the person responsible for that death. To make matters even worse she was still glad they had done it. She was a physician, a healer and yet in this instance she had wanted somebody dead.

"Jed" she grabbed his arm as he began to leave the pew and whispered in his ear. "I want to go to confession before we leave."

"Abbey, you don't have anything to…"

"I need to do this Jed. It will take a weight off my chest. Please."

"OK" he glanced to the confessionals. "But don't take too long, we have that interview in a half hour."

"Just how many sins do you think I have?" Her eyes narrowed.

"Honey, how many times have I told you that you have a body made for sin."

"Jed, we're in church have a little respect."

"Hey, God knows exactly how he made you and I tip my hat to him and say thank you everyday."

"You're incorrigible."

"That's why you love me."

"Jackass" she shook her head.

"Add that one to your list of sins, sugarpie. You're supposed to show me respect as the head of our house."

"Jed, shut up before you dig yourself deeper into a hole." She squeezed his arm gently knowing that he had been trying to lighten the heavy mood she had been in, and turned to enter the confessional. Jed strode forward to talk to the priest and see if someone was available to listen to Abbey's confession as there were set times for that sacrament and this was not one of them.

"Bless me Father for I have sinned, "Abbey began. "It's been three weeks since my last confession. Since then, I've had some very impure thoughts. I wanted a man dead and felt relief and praise when he was killed…

* * * *

"O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended you and I detest all my sins, because of your just punishments, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen."

Abbey finished her Act of Contrition and felt the weight of her burden lifted from her. She had confessed how she had felt, received counsel, and asked for forgiveness, now she could move forward without all the horrible guilt.

She stepped out of the confessional and Jed could see just by her posture and the look in her eyes that she was ready to put all of this behind her and get on with her life.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much."

"How many "Hail, Mary's" did you get for the jackass remark?" He grinned.

"Not a one, " she grinned back. "When I told Father McLaughlin who I was referring to when I said that he felt the comment was completely justified and said that being married to you was all the penance that I needed."

"Smart ass" he pinched her rear and she laughed. Still, as they excited the church Abbey slid her arm through Jed's and leaned up close to him knowing that she needed his strength and support as the reporters snapped photos and shouted out questions that they left unanswered. Penance was not exactly the word she would use to describe her marriage to Jed but it was always nice to keep him on his toes.

* * * *

After the interview with Katie Couric, which had been done at a small local TV studio, CJ went back to DC while Abbey and Jed returned to Harmony Point. Talking about the incident had been emotionally cathartic for Abbey and now that it was over she would not need to speak about it at length again. Despite that relief, it had been draining to discuss something raw in a calm and rational manner when it was still so new and raw. Thankfully she'd had Jed's hand to squeeze anytime she felt her emotions begin to take over. Yet, even with his support, she hadn't been able to hide the sheen of tears from the nation as she spoke of her child being threatened. Even the most hard- hearted, right wing Bartlet hater had to be moved by the First Lady's words and the non-verbal, yet obvious, emotional support the couple gave to each other.

Upon their return home Abbey had needed some time to unwind and relax. So while she soaked in a luxurious bubble bath reading a book, Jed slid off his tie, took off his shoes and unbuttoned his shirt to get down and play with his kids. He began to build houses with the twin's big blocks. Nicholas sat by his side patiently placing the blocks one on top of the other. Aislinn did not have her brother's patience and instead took gleeful delight in knocking down her father's masterpiece.

"Aislinn Faith Bartlet, was that a nice thing to do?" he asked sternly. Aislinn giggled and crawled up into her father's lap. Using fistfuls of Jed's shirt she lifted herself to a standing position so she could look right into his face and give him a drooling, toothless grin.

"You are such a little attention getter." He kissed her sweet forehead, then looked up to see Nicholas balancing himself with only one hand on the coffee table. He tried handing Jed a block but he was too far away.

"Bring it here, son, " Jed urged him. "Bring it to daddy." Nicholas looked down at the block in his hand and held it back out for Jed to come and get. "Come on Nick, let's surprise Mama. Walk it over here to daddy." Nicholas let go of the coffee table, put a step forward and promptly fell on his well padded behind.

By the time Abbey entered the room, having changed into jeans and a sweater, Jed and the babies sat in the middle of a room strewn with blocks. She rolled her eyes with frustration thinking that her husband was just as bad as the kids as far as messes went, but before she could complain to him about the mess they had made she saw Jed pull their son to his feet. Nicholas gripped Jed's pointer fingers and began to take shaky steps.

"Look at you," Abbey smiled and got down on her knees. "Is daddy teaching you how to walk?"

"Mama" Nicholas grinned and his little legs began to work harder to head towards Abbey.

"Wait a minute, slugger. " Jed slowed him down and picked up a block to give to Nicholas. "Bring this to mama." He pulled his fingertip gently away and Nicholas stood alone. He was a little wobbly at first but he soon got the hang of it and steadied himself. Abbey stretched her arms out toward him and a smile of pure joy lit her face as Nicholas took his first unsteady steps toward her. After three steps he fell into her arms laughing with his accomplishment.

"Here's my little hero." Abbey cuddled her son to her chest. It was a bittersweet moment. Her son had reached a milestone but he had also just taken the first steps out of babyhood and into toddlerhood. His first steps into independence. Jed saw her glistening eyes and knew exactly what she was thinking. It had been this way with all the girls.

"Abbey, he's a year old. He still needs his mommy."

" I know that Jed. It just goes so fast."

"Well, this one won't be far behind."

Abbey looked up to see Aislinn tottering beside her father only holding on to one of his fingers. Abbey smiled watching her daughter trying to keep up with her "little" brother. Although Aislinn had spoken first, physically Nicky was the stronger of the two and definitely the most patient. She could almost see the years playing out ahead of them. Years of Aislinn trying to do everything her brother could do and Nicholas bearing it all with a patient smile. There were so many good years to look forward to. The first steps were just that, the first steps to the wonderful beginnings of childhood.

* * * *

The twins napped under the watchful eye of their elder sister Ellie. While Elizabeth and Zoey had taken their mother's assurance that she had not been hurt at face value, Ellie had not. She'd had to make the trip and see for herself that her mother was not just showing a stiff upper lip for the public. She and her mother had always shared a special bond and that had only been strengthened by Ellie's decision to follow her into medicine. While Ellie studied and listened for the kids, Abbey had taken the opportunity to take Aquinnah out for a ride. She had been surprised when Jed showed up in the barn asking to join her. Her husband had grown up on a farm and knew how to ride a horse very well, but it was not usually a recreation that he often chose to join her in. He had never truly understood his wife and daughters obsession with horseback riding. Yet, today it was important for him to be with Abbey. They were going back to the White House tomorrow and he wanted to be good and sure that she was ready for that.

Ron followed and watched the President and First Lady at a discreet distance. They were riding horseback side by side over the fields that sloped down to the bay, both wearing jeans and leather jackets. He watched the President lean over to talk to his wife and the way she laughed in response. It had been a long time since he had seen her laugh like that. With that laugh a feeling of peace settled over him. The ambivalence over what he had done was gone. Watching this family healing was all the proof that he needed to see that he had done the right thing in making sure that Marcus Hughes never darkened their doorstep again.

It was a gloriously sunny day and the warm hint of spring was in the air. Jed and Abbey walked their horses along the edge of the bay and Abbey inhaled deeply the earthy scents of mud and sea. Winter was over; the hiding out was over. She could move about with complete freedom and not fear that Hughes would find her wherever she went. Jed watched her out of the corner of his eye and finally broached the subject that had been heavy on his mind.

"You must be feeling pretty raw today," he observed.

"I am feeling a bit like a nerve has been exposed," Abbey admitted.

"I was thinking. If you want to stay here, or go home to New Hampshire with the kids and lick your wounds in private for a while, I understand."

Abbey reined Aquinnah in and looked at Jed. He wasn't looking back at her. Instead, he was staring out across Chesapeake Bay as if he found something infinitely interesting out on the water. Yet, she could see that his whole body was tense awaiting her response.

"Jed, " she said softly. "I don't want to hide out and lick my wounds anymore. It's over. I may feel raw for a little while to come, but do you know what I feel even more than that?"

"What?" He turned to face her.

"Free." She gave him a radiant smile. "I feel like a HUGE weight has been lifted off my shoulders and for the first time in months I feel completely and totally FREE!" She kicked her heels into Aquinnah's side and the beautiful Arabian horse took off back up the hill at full gallop. "Race you to the barn," she called back over her shoulder.

Jed grinned at the likeness between his wife and her choice in horses. Abbey was as high strung and temperamental as the Arabian and every bit as elegant, glamorous and classy. Her auburn hair fanned out in the wind behind her as she lifted her face to the sky. She looked like some kind of wild, pagan goddess. She looked exactly as she had said that she felt. Free. She was finally free.

The End!