Thanksgiving had come and gone for an extra thankful Bartlet family this year. The emotions around the table were palpable as, following tradition, everyone spoke of what they were most thankful for over the past year. Usually every family member had something different to contribute. This year, however, Jed was moved beyond words to hear the people he loved most in the world all say as one that they were most thankful that he was still here with them. Abbey had noticed his jaw clenching as it did when he was trying to control his emotions, and winked at him from her customary place at the other end of the table. It made him smile and got him through the moment without losing too much of his composure.

But, with Thanksgiving over, the White House was in Christmas overdrive. Abbey was feeling great. Now into her 6th month she was in what was often called the "honeymoon" of pregnancy. The fatigue and nausea of her early pregnancy was gone and yet she wasn't so big that she was completely uncomfortable yet. She had a renewed sense of energy and was enjoying the movements of her tumbling twins. She talked to them all the time. She had labeled one kickboxer as he or she loved to give her sharp jabs to the kidneys, and one was gymnast as he or she just seemed to tumble around doing somersaults. She could actually tell them apart by their movements and they already had individual personalities to her. Because she was feeling so energized she couldn't understand Jed's shock at finding her in the exercise room where he did his rehab. She was sitting on the floor her legs crossed doing yoga exercises, her New Age serenity music playing in the background.

"NOW what are you doing?" He asked, exasperated.

"What does it look like I am doing, Jed?" She said calmly, never opening her eyes as she took in a deep breath with her arms outstretched.

"I know WHAT you are doing," he dropped his duffel bag. "I mean WHAT are you doing? You shouldn't be working out."

"Jed, I am sitting on the floor stretching and doing serenity breathing. I hardly think that constitutes a heavy cardio workout," She leaned to one side with one arm up over her head.

"Well, I mean, it's just not right. You're PREGNANT," he burst out.

"If I don't know that by now darlin', there is something wrong with me," she laughed, putting a hand on her ever expanding stomach. "Remember, when I was pregnant with Ellie, I did aerobics into my eighth month." Jed looked at her in horror. "Don't have a heart attack, Mr. President. I'm sticking to yoga this time. I need to remain somewhat physically active, Jed. Not only is it good for me but it will make labor and delivery easier. We've discussed this before."

"And Mia is OK with this?"

"I wouldn't be doing it if she wasn't," she said, slightly hurt by his implication that she might do something to jeopardize this pregnancy.

"I know," Jed said, catching her tone. "I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't do anything dangerous."

He held out his hand to help her to her feet, and she moved to shut off the CD player.

"You don't have to quit because of me."

"Yes, I do. You have ruined my serenity. It is not a term I could ever associate with you. You better not be this bossy in the delivery room or I'll boot your ass out."

"You wouldn't dare," he narrowed his eyes at her.

"Just watch me. If you remember correctly, I am not always my sweet, even-tempered self when I am in labor."

Jed burst into laughter at that description of herself and he put his own CD in the player so he could do his rehabilitation workout.

"What are you doing?" He asked, watching her sit down in the a chair with her bottle of water.

"I'm going to watch you work out. You know there is something about a sweaty man that is just very, very, sexy," she grinned wickedly.

"Abbey," he groaned, "you know what it does to me when you talk like that."

"Mmmhmm...I warned you not to mess with me."

*****

December was a busy month for the White House, with many Christmas obligations. One of those obligations was 'Christmas in Washington', a televised special where popular singers sang Christmas carols for the President, his family, Washington politicians, and the nation. After the special, there was traditionally a party at the White House. It was always fun to find out who would be performing, but this year the buzz was all about who was hosting

"Did you hear who is hosting the Christmas special this year?" Lilly asked, entering Abbey's office. "I was just in the West Wing and the guys were full of excitement," she added disdainfully.

"Well then, it must be some big breasted Hollywood star," Abbey said, leaning back and taking her reading glasses off.

"The biggest," Lilly grinned, "Tia Russell."

Abbey looked at Lilly with surprise. Tia Russell was a Hollywood bombshell alright, from her bleached blond hair to her double D breast implants. She was also very well known for some steamy NC-17 movies early in her career.

"Well, that was certainly a wholesome choice," Abbey said blandly. Then a horrible thought occurred to her. "We don't have anything to do with choosing the participants, do we?" She asked warily while thinking if you picked this bimbo Josiah Bartlett, I will kill you.

"No, the producers do that. Not that Josh, Sam, and crew aren't thrilled."

"I'm sure they are, but at least the press can't blame us for this."

***

The morning of the special Abbey awakened well before dawn thanks to the active inhabitants of her belly. It seemed that they were never awake at the same time so while one napped the other played and vice versa. This meant there was rarely a time that one of them wasn't pushing at her. But, she honestly was not annoyed because active, moving babies meant healthy, ALIVE babies and the more she felt them move, the better she felt about their chances. So, instead of laying impatiently, she turned on her reading lamp, put on her glasses and began to read the baby name book Jed had given her a few months back. Jed was sound asleep, curled up to her side, and she absently stroked his hair while he slept.

Finally, as the sun began to rise she felt him start to stir and stretch. She could feel his arousal against her thigh. He had begun to awaken aroused again and it made her smile, for she knew it meant his body had regained it's strength and was getting back to normal.

"Mmmm...whatcha doing?" He asked, looking up at her with sleepy blue eyes.

"I couldn't sleep so I'm reading the baby name book. You know I was thinking, we have yet to give any of our children an Irish name and since we’re both at least half Irish , maybe it's about time."

"Mmmhmmm," he yawned, still not really awake yet. "Caitlin is nice," he offered.

"Yes, it is but it's already so popular. Remember whatever we name these babies will probably be copied all over the states. At that point, every other little girl will be named Caitlin."

"You're probably right," he snuggled up closer, resting his head against the side of her belly.

"I was looking at this one. What do you think about Aislinn?"

"That's pretty," Jed agreed, "what does it mean?"

"Let's see, it means “dream”."

"Well, that's perfect then. We have wondered several times if this is all a dream."

"Jed," she slapped his head lightly, and he chuckled.

"No, seriously," he said. "I think it's really pretty. What about boy names?"

"Well, I was thinking. What about my maiden name? We could name him Neill Bartlet."

"Good God, no," Jed groaned. “Remember my crazy old uncle Neil?"

"Oh yeah," Abbey said, remembering the dirty old man who pinched her ass every time she got within an arm's length of him. "Guess that one is out."

"Besides," Jed continued, "I kind of had my heart set on Nomar."

"NOMAR!" Abbey looked at him, appalled.

"Nomar Garciaparra happens to be one hell of a short stop for the team of my heart."

"A team that always..."

"Abigail Bartlet, don't you say it," he warned.

"Jed, I'm a New Englander too. I love the Red Sox as much as the next person but you can't ignore history. They always choke."

"Oh Abbey," he shook his head. "You're breaking my heart. You know it's not them. It's the curse."

"Yeah well, whatever it is, Nomar Bartlet just does not have that certain ring to it."

"Well, how about Manny? Trot?"

"No," she said firmly. "Jed, we are not naming our kids from the Red Sox batting line up."

"OK fine. But, when the Sox win the Series, you are going to be one sorry lady."

"I think I'll survive the trauma," she rolled her eyes. At that moment Jed felt a quick hard kick to the cheek.

"Ow!" He exclaimed moving his head, "One of them kicked me. That hurt."

"Guess they didn't care for your choice of names either."

"Yeah, well hey guys that's no way to treat your old man," he said to Abbey's belly. "I don't know how you put up with that day and night."

"I don't have much choice," she reminded him. "Besides, why do you think I was awake so early this morning?"

"On that note, I better get up and get dressed for work.” He climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom. "Don't worry, I'll come up with some more names."

"I won't hold my breath," Abbey murmured.

"Did you say something, sweetheart?"

"Nothing at all pumpkin," she smiled sweetly. "Go take your shower."

****

Later in the day as Abbey dressed, preparing for the night ahead, she found Jed's medical report. Dr. Stevens always sent him home with recommendations on his therapy. Abbey skimmed over it until her eyes were drawn to the bottom comments where he had written 'Sexual activity may now be resumed'. This report was a week old. She thought about all the sexual tension and arousal Jed had been experiencing lately and wondered why he hadn't told her about this latest medical development. She figured she would question him about it later tonight. After all, tonight was about family and good holiday cheer, she didn't want to start an argument.

Abbey was dressed by the time Jed came out of the bathroom half dressed.

"Wow," he whistled, "you look stunning."

She wore a long, deep emerald colored crushed velvet gown that brought out the green flecks in her hazel eyes, and the fiery red highlights in her auburn hair. It was cut with an empire waist to minimize her rounded belly and instead draw attention to the lush cleavage that was revealed. Add to it that she really had that healthy pregnant woman glow about her and she was just a vision.

"I swear Abbey, no pregnant woman should look this sexy."

"Sexy, Jed?" She raised an eyebrow. "I'd settle for passable at this point."

"You know I find this sexy," he moved closer to kiss her neck lightly. "I always have."

"Yes. Well um. You're not so bad yourself."

There was something about Jed in a formal tux that always turned her on, and when he had kissed her neck, she could feel the slight sandpaperish feeling of his freshly shaven cheek and smell his bay rum aftershave. In the past, this yearning for her husband would build throughout the night with every look and every touch until it culminated in wild lovemaking. But, tonight that was not to be. So, she tried not to rub her cheek against his jaw, tried not to inhale the scent of him too strongly, and tried not to look into his hooded, desire filled eyes.

Instead, they finished dressing in silence, both so aware of each other the room fairly sizzled with the tension. Thankfully that tension broke with the arrival of Ellie and Zoey who were attending with them.

It was evenings like this that were the true perks to the job. Having front row center seats while some of the greatest performers in the world sang or danced made up just a little for all the hard stuff.

****

When the performance was over, select guests and all the performers made their way back to the White House which, with Christmas only three weeks away, was decorated to the nines. This included the many hanging mistletoes Jed had insisted on. He hadn't figured on that little bit of holiday decorating coming back to bite him on the butt but that was exactly what was happening. He saw it as it things began to unfold. He saw Abbey standing just inside the doorway talking to Senator Carmichael when Ron Ehrlich entered and began a conversation with her. Jed could see what he was up to from the start but he couldn't get away from his idiot congressman who was droning on and on about some bill Jed wasn't concentrating on. He was watching Ron step forward and Abbey step back until they were in the doorway. He saw Ron point up with a smile and Abbey tilted her face up to receive his kiss. But, this was no light peck. Ron placed his hand behind Abbeys head and pulled her face to his covering her lips with his.

Abbey had been taken by surprise by Ron's kiss. It was hard, it was insistent, and she thought she actually felt his tongue against her lips. She pulled back, startled.

"Ron," she seethed, looking from side to side to see just what kind of a spectacle they had made. "That was totally inappropriate."

"Hey, I'm just kissing my old girl. Guess you and Jed are still at it, huh?" He touched her belly and Abbey realized that he'd had way too much to drink which was why he was acting so wildly out of character.

"Ron, I think you should go get a cup of coffee."

She turned to go mingle only to confronted by her husband's steely blue eyes. To Jed, the five second kiss had seemed to last a lifetime, and had he known about the tongue, he probably would have punched Ron in the face. Making sure nobody was watching, he pulled Abbey into an adjoining room.

"What in the hell was that little display about?" Abbey could see he was furious.

"We were under the mistletoe. The mistletoe YOU wanted up all over the White House."

"THAT was hardly a mistletoe kiss. That was a 'meet me in my room later' kiss."

"Oh yeah, Jed that's right. I'm 6 1/2 months pregnant, on a no sex order from my doctor, and my husband, who I love with all my heart despite the fact that he is a jackass, is just a few feet away but I am planning an assignation with an old boyfriend."

"Well. When you say it like that, it sounds stupid."

"It is stupid, Jed. This is all about your irrational jealousy of Ron."

"It's not just Ron. I don't like any man who thinks he can kiss you like THAT. I am the only man who can kiss you like that."

"And Ron used to kiss me like that and that's what pisses you off."

"Well, yeah...Yes, dammit."

Thirty years later, he still hated the image of Abbey making out with Ron. God, he knew Abbey would nail him. He didn't have a leg to stand on.

"Oh Jed," she shook her head, "that was over thirty years ago. You know nothing ever came of it, and even if it had,it wouldn't be any of your business because he came before I even knew you. You don’t see my getting all freaked out over your ex-girlfriends.

"Abigail," he raised an eyebrow remembering a few instances of just that happening, "that's not quite true and you know it.”

"The point is I know the kiss was not proper and I told him so. He'd had too much to drink. I handled it. You didn't have to come swaggering over all macho."

"Sir," Charlie said hesitantly from the doorway. "They need you both for pictures." And so they rejoined the party.

Abbey realized with some chagrin that she had again joined the sorority of all pregnant women in achieving the ranks of public property. For a private person it had always been disconcerting to her when complete strangers would come up to her and place their hands on her belly. She had learned to be the perfect politician's wife, smiling graciously while listening to whether they thought the babies were boys or girls by the way she was carrying. This time she had begun to wonder if carrying high meant a boy and carrying low meant a girl, how the hell would she carry if she had one of each? Nobody seemed to have an answer for that one.

Then of course she was subjected to their horror stories of Aunt Betsy's 48 hour labor and all the gruesome details. It had scared her to death when she was pregnant that first time with Elizabeth. Early on, she and Jed had been visiting her parents and she was sitting in the kitchen with her female relatives when Jed quietly walked in. The women were all telling her stories of these awful labors and deliveries. "The baby was coming out with it's head tilted sideways, it almost ripped me in two", "Three days of labor and finally the doctor had to reach in and pull him out", "I tore so bad I couldn't walk for 2 weeks". Jed saw Abbey's face was chalk white.

"You're all scaring the hell out of her," he had said angrily and they had all turned to stare at the man who had dared enter their domain. Jed visibly wilted under their glares.

"Jed, dear," Beth had said, "you men have your war and sports stories. We have childbirth. Now go finish watching your baseball game with Michael and leave Abbey to us." Things hadn't changed much since then except she was a veteran of four births now and, while all her labors and deliveries had been unique, she knew pretty much what to expect.

Jed did interrupt the babyfest one time to ask her to dance but Abbey brushed him off. She was still a little angry with him and thought she would make him squirm a little longer.

She certainly didn't expect what happened next. Tia Russell had arrived with her dress unbuttoned three more buttons than she'd had undone while hosting the special. She was flirting up a storm with the males in the room and they were eating it up. CJ, Donna, and Abbey had all watched with contempt as the men including Sam, Josh, and Toby salivated over the curvy actress.

"She's not even really pretty," Donna stated.

"Just pretty stacked," CJ observed.

"Look at them," Abbey shook her head, "you'd think they were all 16. God, do men ever grow up?"

But, up until that point, her man had been immune to the blonde. Now, when Abbey turned to look at the dance floor, she froze on the spot. Jed was dancing with Tia, if you could call it dancing. She was all over him. She had her chest pressed into his, and she was laughing and flirting up a storm. Abbey had watched women flirt with her husband before so why was this bothering her so much? She found that, as much as a person was compelled to look at a car accident, she couldn't take her eyes off them. She watched Tia whisper something in Jed's ear, saw Jed laugh at what she said. His response turned Abbey cold inside. But when Tia lifted her fingertips to play with his earlobe she felt the fury rise within her. She began to stand but was stopped by CJ who wanted to introduce her to one of the performers. Abbey smiled as she was trained to do, exchanged greetings, and turned back to the dance floor. It was at that point that she felt her neat little world spin out of control. Jed and Tia were no longer on the dance floor. She scanned the room, her heart pounding, but they were gone. She thought about asking Leo where Jed was but she could read Leo almost as well as she could read Jed and it would devastate her if Leo lied to her to cover up for Jed. And she knew deep down as much as he wouldn't like it, Leo would do that. He would do it for Jed and for his Presidency. So where the hell were they and what were they doing? She thought of storming the place but the thought of finding her husband having sex with that bimbo made her so nauseous she almost threw up on the spot. Air, she thought, I need air. So, despite the December cold, she stepped out the French doors and walked outside.

How had this happened, she wondered, running her hands over her arms to warm herself, but the cold she was feeling was really the cold from within. The evening had started out so promising, how had it spiraled out of control like this. Why...why...she thought..after all these years she had never really doubted Jed's fidelity. He knew right from the start that if he ever screwed around on her she would leave him. She had told him that. He had responded jokingly that if she ever screwed around he wouldn't leave her, he would just kill the guy she'd slept with. They both knew where they stood on the issue and she'd been so proud of their faithful track record. The press had never been able to find a hint of scandal in their marriage. She would trust Jed with her own life. So why had this happened? Was Jed honestly that pissed about Ron's kiss that he was paying her back? Was it because it had been months since they'd been able to make love and it would still be about four more until she was physically able to? Was it because she was fat and no longer attractive to him? WHAT would possess him to do this and in front of a roomful of people? In front of their DAUGHTERS. Yet, still a little voice in the back of her head said "Trust him Abbey, he is the father of your children, he is your soulmate, trust him."

"Abbey," Jed said, stepping outside. "I've been looking all over for you. What in the hell are you doing out here? It's freezing."

He began to take off his tux jacket and placed it on her shoulders. She whirled around throwing his jacket back at him, her eyes blazing anger and her face tear stained.

"You ungodly bastard!!" She cried.

"Abbey, what the hell?" He was stunned by his wife's response to him.

"Where the hell did you and Tia Russell disappear to for fifteen minutes? How could you do that Jed!? In front of your own daughters! I know I'm fat, I know you are physically able to have sex and I’m not, but HOW could you do that to US!"

She began to cry and Jed's anger faded with her tears. It always did. Abbey didn't cry often but when she did it stung him to the core.

"My God, Abbey," he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Don't touch me, Jed!" She shrugged his hands off. "Don't ever touch me again!"

"Abbey, for Christ's sake, listen to me. I don't know what you saw or didn't see but that woman was ALL over me. She had also had too much to drink, half the people in there are inebriated. She wouldn't cool it. I know how careful I have to be thanks to previous Presidents and I began to panic. That was when Leo came in to let me know I was needed in the situation room. I asked him to find Miss Russell a ride home and I've been in the situation room ever since."

"Y...you have?"

"I can't believe this, Abigail," he ran his hand through his hair like he always did when he was frustrated. "I can't believe after all we've been through that you could think I would cheat on you. I thought you knew me better than that. Don't worry, I won't touch you," he said as he turned to leave.

"Jed, don't go!...Please...It's just. I guess I just lost it when I turned and you both had disappeared after the way she was with you on the dance floor."

"You should have trusted me and known there was a logical explanation."

"Jed, you are talking to a woman 6 months pregnant. My hormones are all out of whack. I cry at damned beer commercials. There is nothing logical about me right now. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

She looked up at him with those big hazel eyes that had melted his heart the first time he had looked into them and continued to do so even now.

"On one condition," he said giving her a break. After all he knew how those hormones were affecting her. "You tell me I'm right."

"About what?" She asked, puzzled.

"You do get jealous."

Abbey looked at him with surprise and began to laugh through her tears.

"I guess I do. We certainly made a mess out of tonight."

"Come inside and let's see if we can salvage some of it."

He led her inside and pulled her into his arms for a slow dance to the second verse of Celine Dion's 'Another year has gone by'. Abbey laid her head against her husband's chest and listened to the words.

I've never been one for occasions, but you never let a birthday go by without announcing how much you love me but the truth is always there right there in your eyes and we're still holding hands while we're walking acting like we've only just met but how could that be? when there's so much history I guess thats how true lovers can get another year has gone by and I'm still the one by your side after everything has gone by and still no one's saying good-bye though another year has gone bye

Abbey tucked her face into his neck and he knew there were tears she didn't want anyone to see.

"You're not fat," he said into her hair.

"Mmm, what?" She asked.

"Those are my babies inside you. They are not fat. You are beautiful, and I love you. And you never have to worry about trusting me."

"I know Jed...I know...," she looked up at him, "and I love you too."

***

The next morning when Jed began to stir in the same aroused state as he had been in for the past few weeks Abbey took matters into her own hands. While he was still sleeping, she began to run her tongue and lips over his chest and shoulders. She loved her husband's chest. Loved the feel of his crisp chest hairs against her cheek and, when they made love, against her breasts. She began to rub her cheek like a kitten against those chest hairs. She flicked her tongue over each of his nipples and moved her way down his rib cage. When her tongue slipped into his naval she felt a light tap on her head.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Jed asked sounding amused.

"Has it been so long that you don't remember this?" She asked innocently.

"Oh, I remember it all right. Abbey, is this about last night? You don't have to do this. I can wait four or five months if that's what it takes."

"I know I don't have to, I want to."

She pushed his hip with her hand so his bare back was facing her and, while she stroked his hard shaft with one hand, she ran her lips over his back, up and down his spine over the scar from his back surgery that had kept him from being impotent.

"There is no reason...," she said in between pressing kisses on him "that we should both be....sexually....frustrated."

"None at all," Jed agreed breathing heavy now.

"Besides...it makes me feel good...," she pulled him back over so he was laying on his back and began to scrape her fingernails lightly over his chest down to his hips and back again "to make you feel good. Am I making you feel good?"

"Oh Jesus, yes," he groaned, grabbing one of her tormenting hands and putting it where he needed it most.

"So, you're going to let me get back to work?"

"Oh yeah," he sighed and then his head fell back on the pillow with a deep low moan of "Abbbbeeey" as she took him into her mouth and finished what she had started.

TBC...