OK, Abbey thought for the hundredth time in the past couple weeks, The honeymoon part of this pregnancy is definitely over. She tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable sleeping position. It seemed as if she hadn't gotten a good nights sleep since they had returned to the White House after New Year's. She was big and bulky and the babies were just taking up too much room inside her. Jed felt her movements and heard her sighs of frustration. He felt a wave of guilt over the fact that she was so uncomfortable.

"Can't sleep again?" He asked sleepily, rolling over to face her.

"I just can't get comfortable," she complained, "and I can't breathe when I lay down. The babies feel like they are right in my diaphragm, and my back hurts like hell."

"You want the heating pad?"

"No, I'm all right. Go back to sleep. You have to be up early tomorrow, or I should say, today."

"Roll over," he ordered and turned her so that she faced away from him. Once she was on her side, he began to massage her back. He had perfected this massage. He was gentle and soothing on her neck and shoulders while more forceful, digging his fingers into the small of her back, where he knew it bothered her most.

"I'm sorry Abs," he said kissing the back of her neck. "I wish I could do more."

"Ssshh," she said sleepily, "that feels really wonderful. You have magic fingers, Jed."

"So I've been told."

"Conceited...," she yawned and before she could finish the thought, she was dozing off. Jed continued his ministrations until he was sure she was asleep.

"OK you two. This is your father speaking," he whispered to her belly. "You let your mother get some sleep, she really needs some rest. Good night Bartlet babies."

***

Jed looked like the walking dead in the Oval Office the next day. Leo had noticed he had been looking worse and worse as the week progressed.

"Are you getting any sleep?" Leo asked him.

"Not much," Jed admitted. "Abbey is so uncomfortable. She just tosses and turns all night. I do what I can to help but I'm afraid it's not much."

"There isn't a lot us dads can do at this time. But at least is won't be long now," he said reassuringly.

"These last few weeks are always the worst."

"She's staying close to the White House, isn't she?"

"She's staying IN the White House. I am doing my damndest to keep her off her feet but her nesting instinct has taken over. She spends hours in the nursery making sure everything is prepared. Her sister Jane is painting a mural on the walls so they are always in there."

"You still have the Lamaze coach coming this afternoon?"

"Yes. Today we have to go over birth positions."

"Birth positions?" Leo's brow furrowed in puzzlement. "Don't they just lay down and have the baby?"

"Not anymore, Leo. You'd be surprised at how many positions there are to labor and give birth in."

"I guess things really do change," Leo grinned.

"There are some things that don't change though. That Lamaze woman keeps wanting to show me the birth tape. I don't need to see that. I've witnessed it live four times. I'm certainly no rookie."

"Sir," Sam said, entering the office with CJ right on his heels, "we have been getting faxes all day from environmentalists. It's been going on ever since it was leaked that the First Lady ordered disposable diapers."

"They are upset that we are using diapers?"

"Disposable diapers. The cloth ones are more environmentally responsible. They would like you to set an example."

"Do you know what a pain in the ass those cloth diapers are, Sam?"

"No sir. I have never had an occasion to use them."

"Well I have. We used them for Elizabeth and I am not going back to that mess. What do most Americans use?

"Disposable."

"Well, there you have it. We will be in the majority. I going to tell you all right now that I am NOT going to have special interests, lobbyists, or the American public influencing how Abbey and I will raise these babies. They are OUR children, NOT the publics."

"Yes sir," they all said and turned to leave. All but CJ.

"Can I help you CJ?"

"Yes, sir. Zoey and Ellie contacted me about a baby shower for Mrs. Bartlet. I spoke with Lilly Mays and we have come up with a date. I want to run it by you."

"To see if I can make it?"

"No, to see if you can stay away. Men don't go to baby showers, sir."

"Well if that isn't a sexist statement, I don't know what is. That was hardly a politically correct pronouncement. This is the 21st century Claudia Jean, and things have changed."

"Not this sir. We have settled on Saturday, January 12th. I have been informed by the guys that there is a AFC playoff game that day which you can watch at Leo's place."

"It doesn't sound like you have this all planned out well," he said sarcastically.

"So you'll go sir?" She ignored the sarcasm.

"I'm assuming Leo knows about this and I am invited."

"Yes sir. It is all planned," she grinned.

"Well I wouldn't want to let you all down. You just go ahead and have your little chickfest."

"Thank you sir," she turned to leave.

"CJ," he called out, stopping her in her tracks.

"Yes sir?" She turned in the doorway.

"Thank you. Abbey will really appreciate this."

CJ smiled broadly and left.

****

Jed made his way back to the residence for the Lamaze lesson and found Abbey sitting in the nursery folding little onesies.

"It's hard to remember they can be this tiny," he said, taking one from her and holding it up in front of himself. "They look like doll clothes."

"I know. So, are you ready for class?"

"Yes Abbey, but I'm telling you right now that I will help you lay, stand, sit up, squat, sit in the tub, lean over the bed, whatever it takes to make you more comfortable, but I'm not watching that damn video."

"Why does the video bother you so much? You've already been through this. It's not exactly news to you that birth is a painful, messy, loud affair."

"That is exactly why. I don't need the video getting me all nerved up about it. I'll be OK for you when I need to be. I always have been, haven't I?"

"Yes. Always. So, if it bothers you so much, I will watch the tape with Jane."

"If I were you, I would skip it too. You are just being a little masochistic, aren't you?"

"No Jed, things have changed in 15 years and I want to be up on them."

"OK, well, don't say I didn't warn you. And poor Jane, does she know what she is getting into?"

"Jane will do just fine. Now are you ready to go?"

"Yes. Let's go learn 101 ways to birth a baby."

Abbey shook her head but linked her arm with his and they left the nursery together.

***

Once Lamaze class was over, Jed made his way back to the Oval Office, and Jane and Abbey went over the video with the instructor.

"So, what did you think?" Abbey asked her sister when the instructor had left.

"I think you are out of your mind to go through that more than once," she said, still slightly in shock. "Aren't you nervous?"

"A little," Abbey admitted. "I'm always apprehensive about just how bad it will get and this time twins are an unknown to me."

"I mean it, Abbey. I don't know why anyone would do that more than once."

"The end result," Abbey smiled. "When they place that baby still warm from your body in your arms and you realize that you have created her. That she is a part of you and the man you love. When you can see his soul in her eyes and your smile on her lips, you realize that a day of pain is worth it for a lifetime of joy. Now, having said that, you do forget just how bad the pain is until it starts again with your next labor and then you say, 'Oh yes I remember this now, I remember why I told Jed never, ever again. What the hell was I thinking letting myself get knocked up again?'" She laughed.

"It doesn't look like a whole lot of fun," Jane said, well aware of her sister's constant discomfort now.

"Actually, in spite of it being a little rough at times, I love being pregnant. I guess it must be that earth mother thing. Every sense is more heightened, every emotion is stronger. And even though millions of people are pregnant right now I feel like I am the only person in the world experiencing all these feelings and emotions."

"So," Jed said entering the room and stopping in front of his sister-in-law, "still want to be in the delivery room?"

"It was an eye opener," Jane admitted.

"Scares the hell out of you is what it does," Jed said.

"Oh for crying out loud," Abbey said, "you'd think the way you two are going on about this that someone might make you deliver these babies. I am the one that will have to go through it and you don't see me getting all upset."

"Nightmares darlin'," Jed said turning to Jane, "10 to 1 she has nightmares tonight."

"You're on," Jane said shaking his hand while Abbey closed her eyes and shook her head at the two of them.

***

The morning of the baby shower Lilly kept Abbey in her office with paperwork she swore needed to be signed before Abbey went on official maternity leave. It wasn't hard to convince her as Abbey was trying very hard to get all loose ends tied up.

By the time Abbey got back to the residence it was completely decorated and all the guests had arrived. She jumped startled as she opened the door to a resounding shout of 'Surprise!!' She looked around the room seeing all her daughters, her granddaughter, her mother, her mother-in-law, her sister, her sister-in-law, Jenny, Mallory, Millie, Mrs. Landingham, and old friends from New Hampshire. Representing her new friends from the White House were CJ, Donna, Margaret, Lilly, Nancy, and other young women on her staff.

"Well," Abbey said "I know I was telling Jed that I was ready for this all to be over but I didn't think he would contact you all so you could send me into premature labor with this surprise," she joked.

"Were you really surprised, Mom?" Ellie asked.

"Absolutely. Did your father know about this?"

"Of course," CJ said, "with the way he has been hovering over you when he isn't working, it was the only way to make sure he wouldn't be here."

"I can't believe he actually kept the secret. He usually lets these things slip."

The women partied all afternoon with the big event being Abbey opening her many gifts. Outfits, layettes, receiving blankets, diaper bags, front packs, car seats, strollers, high chairs, activity seats, play pens. You name it, Abbey received it. Annie sat to her right keeping track of what came from whom for the thank you cards.

"This one is from Josh, Toby, and Sam," Abbey read off the card with surprise.

"They were a little ticked they couldn't be here to score brownie points so I said I'd bring the gift over with me," CJ said.

Abbey opened it to find an electronic baby swing.

"That'll get them some points with the boss's wife," Abbey smiled. "Now let's see this one is from Donna." She opened the box and pulled out a sexy dark emerald green silk and lace teddy. There was dead silence and then everyone began to giggle.

"Uh Donna," Abbey said, "it's beautiful but they did tell you this is a baby shower, not a wedding shower, didn't they?"

"Yes," Donna smiled, "but everyone always brings stuff for the baby and nothing for the Mom. You'll enjoy that a couple months from now."

"I know Jed will," Jenny laughed. She had known Jed for 30 years now, and his libido and lust for his wife was well known.

Annie took the gift from Abbey a little embarrassed. She was 12 now and knew where babies came from and how they were conceived, and it had been a little disconcerting to find out her grandmother was pregnant. That she was still doing IT. It didn't matter that her grandmother was hip and gorgeous, that she looked young enough to be her mother’s sister, she was still her grandmother.

Abbey patted her granddaughter's leg. She knew some of this had to be hard on her. It was tough enough to think of your parents having sex, never mind your grandparents.

When the gifts were all opened, Abbey gave her friends a tour of the nursery. They were all in awe of Jane's mural. It was a Noah's ark theme. One whole wall was dominated by the ark with several animals on board. Another wall showed the animals being led two by two, some walked, some soared and some crawled. Another wall showed them disembarking with joy. It was her gift to Abbey and Jed.

Abbey saw a giant panda bear in the corner which had not been there earlier. It had to be five feet tall. She moved toward it and opened the card which read 'To the Bartlet twins, Love, Uncle Leo' and included in the card was a very generous amount of Disney stock. Oh Leo, Abbey thought, You sweet, sweet man.

"Who bought you this?" CJ asked, running a hand over the beautiful dark wood of a cushioned glider/rocker. She sat down and began gliding back and forth. "This is the most comfortable chair I have ever sat in."

"Jed bought it for me," Abbey said, "to rock and nurse the babies. You need a really comfortable rocker for all the hours spent in it."

"Wasn't that thoughtful?" Beth said. "I have such a sweet son-in-law."

"At times he can be," Abbey agreed with a smile.

Before they left the nursery, Jed, Leo, and the rest of the men entered.

"We said no men allowed," CJ said with her hands on her hips.

"Yeah, well, we got our fill of pizza and beer," Jed said.

"And there was a rumor Mrs. Landingham made her famous strawberry cake," Josh said.

"So you are basically here for dessert?" Abbey asked.

"Pretty much," Leo smiled.

"They're all jackasses," Abbey smiled wryly, "But before you go get your cake I want to thank you men for the electronic swing." She walked over and kissed Josh, Sam, and Toby on the cheek causing several blushes. "And thanks for the panda and the other gifts, Uncle Leo," she kissed his cheek.

"They have electronic swings now?" Jed said intrigued. He moved forward to check it out. "No more getting up every fifteen minutes to crank it back it up and inevitably wake the baby in the process."

"The cranks are a thing of the past," Abbey assured him.

"Well then, I think this might be easier this time around, Abbey."

"I'll be reminding you that you said that about a month from now when we are up all night with two screaming infants."

***

Later, after everyone had left, Jed said he wanted to take a look at the loot. He began to peruse the table where it was all displayed. Abbey grabbed the box with teddy before he could see it. That one was a surprise. She was putting it away when Jed called out to her from the nursery.

"Abbey, what the hell is this?" He was showing her a box.

"That is an electronic breast pump."

"That's even electronic now? Good Christ, it looks like a medieval torture device."

"Probably feels like one too. Lilly was telling me it's much more powerful than the old manual ones I used to use."

"Yeah well, I think it looks like something off the dairy farm."

"Jed," she slapped his arm lightly causing him to laugh and pull her into his arms.

"Did you have fun today?"

"I had a really good time and it was so nice of everyone to come. It was very nice of your guys to get us the swing, especially since they weren't invited."

"Well you know they'd never let on to me or especially to you but they all have little secret crushes on you."

"Oh Jed, they do not."

"Yes, they do. I mean wanting to see you in a bathing suit is one thing, but when I asked Josh and Sam when they were going to get married and settle down, they both said that they would when I found them an Abigail Bartlet."

"I'm sure they were just saying that. I am old enough to be their...big sister," she smiled.

"They weren't just saying that, Abbey," Jed said seriously. "You are brilliant, successful, and sexy. You are a great wife and mother. What's not to love? And you know the best part?"

"No, what?" She breathed against the hollow in his throat.

"You are all mine," he kissed her lightly. "Now if you go sit back on the couch I’lll give you a foot and calf massage. You don't have anything electronic for that, do you?"

"Nope. Your magic fingers will do just fine," she said and ran a finger over his jaw. Oh, was she going to have fun thanking him for all these massages when this was all over. That little green teddy was just the beginning.

TBC...