"What are you doing sitting up here all alone?" Sam asked. Leo had sent him out looking for Josh and he'd finally found him on the grassy knoll overlooking the beach. He was sitting Indian style and looking rather pensive. His eyes didn't leave the beach even upon hearing Sam's approach. "What are you looking at?" Sam followed Josh's gaze to the beach below. He saw the President in his bathing suit wandering along the rocky edge of the beach where it joined the cliffs. He was lifting rocks and peering under them. But, Josh's eyes were not focused on the base of the cliffs where the President was; they were staring straight ahead where the First Lady stood at the edge of a tidal pool with both her young children at her feet. The sarong that she wore wrapped around her waist had fallen open to expose a long expanse of leg as she leaned down with her palm open to show her children a starfish she had found in the water. They couldn't hear what she was saying but it was obvious that she was explaining something to the kids by the nods of their heads and the solemn eyes that were looking up at her. They watched as Abbey took each child's hand to guide it lightly over the starfish, her movements so loving and gentle. Excited giggles erupted from the children and they both smiled.

"Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have that?" Josh nodded toward the Bartlet's.

"A family?"

"A wife, kids, a life. A woman like Mrs. B."

"Is this about you and Amy? Are you guys getting serious?"

"No. I don't know what we're getting. I don't even know if you could refer to what we have as a relationship. I'm attracted to Amy physically, I'm attracted to her cerebrally, but I just don't know if I'm attracted to her, here" He tapped his heart with his fist. "I guess we're at that point you get to when you're dating someone and you have to decide if you want to take the next step forward, or if it's time to cut your losses and move on and I don't know which way to go. I want to have THAT, I want to feel THAT." He pointed to the President who was now tucking a strand of hair behind the First Lady's ear, his hand lingering for a long moment on her cheek, his eyes only drawn from her at the exclamation of his son who had found a hermit crab.

"Well, do you really think that they had THAT right from the beginning?" Josh's eyes moved back to the beach where the President was dragging a laughing First Lady toward the rocks where he'd been searching for crabs. He paused, simply absorbing the joy they felt in being together.

"Yeah, I think I do."

Sam's eyes followed Josh's, a smile softening his face. "Me too…"

"Sam, didn't I ask you to get Josh so we can rehearse for tonight." Leo was coming up the knoll now.

"I've got him, we're coming."

"SON OF A BITCH!" The exclamation came from the beach and all heads turned that way.

"Mama, Mama…Dadda hoot!" As fast as his chubby little legs would take him, Nicholas ran ahead of his father where his mother and Aislinn were lifting rocks. Abbey had already straightened at Jed's exclamation and was now facing him, squinting in the sun and waiting to find out what calamity had befallen him.

"Yeah, your Dadda's a hoot all right." Her sarcastic comment drew a glare from Jed as he approached her, cradling his injured hand. "What did you do now?" She sighed.

"I didn't do anything. I found a big crab to show Nicholas and I picked it up."

"Mistake number one. He got you with his pinchers, didn't he?"

"Damned sucker drew blood." He began to suck on his index finger.

"Let me see." Abbey drew his finger out from his mouth and the blood began to well instantly in the two tiny pinch marks.

"Dadda, hoot…" Big tears filled Aislinn's eyes at the bloody evidence of her father's injury and she snuggled up to his leg.

"It doesn't hurt that bad, sunshine," Jed assured her, ruffling her curls.

"It might not hurt that badly but we should put some antiseptic and a Band-Aid on it. Come on troops lets go back to the house." Abbey was clearly the authority on boo boos, as the kids well knew, and everyone fell in line behind her.

Trying to keep up with his parents, Nicholas tripped in the soft sand and fell on his face. More disgusted than hurt, he spit out the sand from his mouth. "Damn," he sputtered in almost the same exact tone his father had just used.

Abbey and Jed stopped in their tracks and turned back to look at him.

"Nicholas Bartlet, that is a naughty word and I don't want to hear you say it again." Abbey's pointer finger was extended toward her son.

Nicholas gave his father a perplexed look not understanding why he wasn't being allowed to emulate the man that he adored. Jed shrugged at him sheepishly. "She's right, partner, little boys shouldn't use that word."

Nicholas looked back at his mother and gave her a cheeky grin. "Damn."

"Nicholas, do I have to wash your mouth out with soap?" Abbey eyed him sternly, when it was all she could do not to laugh at the impish look on his face.

"Damn." Nicholas said the word and turned to race away from her. He squealed with glee when he saw his mother give chase.

"That's it. I'm going to get you and when I do I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap!" Abbey chased the laughing toddler down the beach, careful not to run too fast and catch him. She was enjoying horsing around as much as her son was. Jed stood with Aislinn on his hip, his wonderfully distinct deep belly laugh joining in with his tiny daughter's giggles.

Back on the grassy knoll, three men watched the family frolic below.

"THAT," Josh said softly.

"THAT," Sam nodded in agreement.

****

As much as Abbey loved the sea, she despised how she felt coming inside after a day spent on the beach. There was a layer of griminess on her skin thanks to the liberally applied sunscreen and the sand that clung to it. Her hair was dry and sticky thanks to the salt water, and all she could think about was cleansing herself in nice fresh water. She pinned her hair up and slid with a sigh into the silky bath water she had scented with a rose milk bath. Her eyes closed almost immediately, her thoughts turning to the small intimate anniversary party the caterers were on the lawn preparing for. She wondered what song Jed had chosen to sing for her, feeling almost as giddy as she had the day she had bathed in preparation of her wedding. She started to doze off her mind fast- forwarding to what was going to happen after the party, to what Jed might have planned. She remembered last year's party, being tipsy on champagne, and how Jed had pulled the mattress off the bed so they could do whatever they wanted without the bed squeaking and alerting the entire house of what they were up to.

Jed had quietly entered the bathroom and stopped in his tracks upon seeing his wife relaxing back in her bubble bath. Her copper hair was piled up on her head; the bubbles drifting over her breasts allowing him a tantalizing glimpse of a rosy tipped nipple every time she breathed. He watched a sly, half smile curve on her lips, watched her hands run sensuously up and down her arms.

"Abbey?" He sat on the edge of the tub. "You're not falling asleep, are you, my little mermaid?"

"Mmmm…." She murmured sleepily and arched her back.

Jed swallowed tightly as the bubbles fell away from her breasts. Unable to help himself, his hand moved to slide over the silky smoothness of one of the tantalizing swells enjoying the contrast of the pale skin of her breast and it's rosy pink tip. Strawberries and cream, a feast fit for a king, or at the very least a President. "You're so perfect, Abbey. So damn perfect."

"Don't say damn," She admonished him with a lazy smile.

He grinned and continued to caress her breast with soft slow strokes, making her arch further into him. "What were you thinking about?" He asked.

"When?"

"Just now. You had this really sexy smile on your face."

"I was remembering last year when we had to pull the mattress off the bed so we could make love without your mother hearing us."

"I knew you were thinking about sex." He leaned over the tub, his lips a mere inches from hers.

"You did, did you? And how did you know that?" She tilted her head up to kiss the tip of his chin.

"Because you were running your hands up and down your arms just the way that I do to you, and you had goosebumps, just like when I do it to you." The scent of roses enveloped him as his lips covered hers. She smelled so good, so feminine and she was so soft. His hand began to move from her breast down her belly but before he could reach his ultimate destination Abbey pulled her head back.

"Jed, we don't have time for this." The words were bitten out reluctantly; her body was on fire and aching for him to touch her everywhere.

"I won't take long," he promised, with a boyish look of hope on his face.

"That isn't exactly a compelling argument. Really, Jed, I still have to shampoo my hair and dress the kids and you still need to shower. Our guests will be here before we know it."

"Okay," Jed sighed with rejection.

"Well, you could shampoo my hair for me if you like. I'll make it worth your while later tonight."

"NOW you're talking." He pulled the clip out of Abbey's hair and took the shower nozzle from where it was hanging to begin wetting her hair. Abbey couldn't help the soft release of breath at the pleasure the warm water brought her. Jed's strong fingers massaging the shampoo into her scalp caused her to groan aloud with pleasure and Jed began to wonder if this was such a good idea. His body, already half aroused, was beginning to get carried away with her response to the pleasure of his massaging fingertips. By the time her hair was washed and conditioned he was rock hard and in dire need of either release or a cold shower. He decided to give release one last try. He finished rinsing Abbey's hair with the shower nozzle then rinsed the last of the bubbles from her breasts before moving lower and lower. When Abbey felt the nozzle slide between her thighs and the pulsing soft jet of water against her core, her eyes sprang open and she jumped.

"Jeeeedddd…" It was a groan of pure aching need.

"Just lay back and enjoy. Let me do this for you." He pressed a kiss to her temple watching her hips writhing in the pleasure of the water jet. There was no way that Abbey could say no; already the soft waves of pleasure were beginning to take her over.

"Yes, Jed…Yes…"

****

Humming softly, her cheeks still a little flushed from her earlier physical encounter in the bathtub, Abbey sat at her vanity applying make up and spritzing herself with perfume. Jed was in the shower, a cold shower she presumed. She felt a little guilty about that, but they'd just simply run out of time, and, after all, he had started the whole thing. Still, it was early yet; she had all night to make good on her promise to make things worth her husband's while.

Jed came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist and another he was using to vigorously rub his wet hair.

"Feeling better, dear?" She asked, clipping a diamond tennis bracelet on her wrist.

Jed looked up, his jaw dropping open. Abbey stood before him wearing a long gauzy white skirt with a slit up the side that went well beyond mid thigh. The matching gauzy top was of a halter style attaching on each hip with a silver ring and leaving her midriff bare. Little threads of metallic silver were entwined throughout the fabric giving it a glittering, sparkly look. She was drop dead gorgeous. "I was, that is, until I saw you in that get up. Christ, Abbey, I'm gonna be hard all night watching you walk around dressed like that."

"Good, that's the desired effect. Now, get dressed. We have a party to attend."

**** As it turned out, the First Couple was not the first to arrive at the party. In fact, music was playing and most of their guests had arrived by the time Jed and Abbey made their way down the porch stairs.

"Holy mother of GOD, when the hell did she get her belly button pierced!" Bruno had just arrived from the West Coast where he was setting up the Democratic National Convention and couldn't believe his eyes. This was certainly not the carefully cultivated image of the professional, now stay at home mom that they were supposed to be playing up. This, well, THIS Abbey Bartlet was a sexy siren, an absolute knock out and she certainly didn't look like anybody's mother.

"She got her belly button pierced?" Sam's eyebrow lifted with surprise. Abbey hadn't worn a bikini during their entire stay; something they all figured was due to Leo. Now he turned to Leo. "When did she do that?"

Leo's eyes were riveted to Abbey's flat midriff in the sexy, flattering halter, his eyes glued to the small loop in her navel. His mouth fell open slightly and he wasn't sure he could speak at the moment. He could not take his eyes off the erotic vision that she made. At Leo's lack of response both CJ and Josh turned to look at him as well. Jordan dug her elbow lightly into his ribs. "Huh…what?" For an intelligent man he was having a hard time putting two words together.

"Sam asked if you knew when Abbey got her belly button pierced. Evidently this is something new?"

"I don't know when," Leo growled. "I'm not the First Lady's keeper." He turned abruptly and walked toward the cliffs. He was staring out to sea when Jordan quietly joined him.

"Leo?"

"I'm sorry, Jordan. I didn't mean to bite your head off. I'm just so damn pissed."

"At who? Are you mad that Abbey got her navel pierced?"

"No, I'm pissed at my body's response to it, to her. Dammit, why, Jordan, why can't I stop feeling this way about her!" It was an anguished cry from the heart and Jordan's eyes widened with shock. Leo was such a contained person. It was strange to witness such an outburst from him.

"Leo, I would bet most of the men here, seeing the First Lady looking as she does right now, are probably feeling the same way. You'd have to be blind not to be affected."

"A stab of lust is different from what I feel for her. An appreciation for a sexy woman is different from what I feel for her." He turned from Jordan to look at the sea his mind a jumble of aching wants. I want to be the one who has the right to lead her around by the small of her back. I want to know what it would be like to watch her mother MY child the way that she does Jed's. I want to know what it would be like to share pillow talk with her and sleep with her in my arms all night. I want to know what she looks like in the throes of passion. I want…

"Leo…" Jordan rubbed his shoulder. Leo turned to her with a reddened face thankful that he had not listed his wants aloud.

"I'm sorry, I'm not very good company, am I?"

"Leo, I'm not a psychiatrist and I don't pretend to be, but the way I see it is that you've been attracted to and infatuated by Abbey for years. When your marriage fell apart you started second-guessing every moment of that marriage. I know I've been there and done that. You started putting Abbey on this pedestal thinking that if only you'd been married to her things would have been different. What you want is a second chance, Leo, and you will never get that chance with Abbey."

"You think I'm blind? I know I'll never get that chance with her. Abbey's a one-man woman and that man is Jed Bartlet. But, that doesn't stop me from wondering what it would be like if she were my woman."

Jordan nodded sadly. "Wondering is okay, Leo, it's the obsessing that is getting you into trouble. You need to let Abbey go. When you do, look me up."

Leo watched her walk away back to the party, mentally kicking himself. Jordan was a better fit for him in every way than Abbey was. She wouldn't expect to own a man's heart and soul the way that Abbey did with Jed. She would understand that his job was his "wife" and that she would always be his mistress, something Abbey would never have gone for in her marriage. She was perfect for him. Now if he could only get his heart and his body to fall in line with his mind, everything could fall into place.

****

While his parents danced on the small makeshift dance floor, Nicholas Bartlet furtively made his way to the long table that held a huge four tiered cake the adults around him seemed to be ignoring. His mother had told him that he could have a piece after he ate supper but his patience was starting to wear thin, and, there was so much of it, after all. Sneaking away from his elder sisters had been relatively easy and now he was just a mere few inches from his desired destination. His mouth watered as he reached a pudgy little finger out to swipe along the side of the cake.

"Nicholas Josiah Bartlet!" Nicholas cringed and put his frosting laden finger into his mouth to hide the evidence. The use of his full three names and the exasperated tone always meant trouble when it came to his mama. He had a feeling the same would be so with his grandmother O' Neill.

Her grandson looked up at Beth with guileless blue eyes. She didn't envy her daughter having to discipline this little cutie. "I distinctly heard your mother tell you that you couldn't have any cake until after you ate your supper. Now, you come with me, it won't be long until your mama and daddy cut that cake."

CJ smiled with amusement at the scowl on young Nicky's face as his grandmother dragged him away from the cake table. It was the same look his father had when his mother placed a plateful of vegetables in front of him. She leaned back against an old pine tree at the edge of the dance floor, dipping her icy cold shrimp into cocktail sauce. Her eyes began to follow Aislinn as she toddled out on to the dance floor in her mint green and pink striped seersucker sundress and white sandals. Her blond curls were pulled into two one inch little ponytails on each side of her head. Aislinn made her way to her parents and began tugging at their clothes legs until they noticed her. Both looked down at the same moment and she lifted her arms to them urging them with an "Up, up". The President grinned at her and lifted her onto his hip. The First Lady placed an arm around her daughter and the other around her husband's waist and the three of them began to sway to the strains of "Can You Feel the Love". How apropos, CJ thought. She really COULD feel the love tonight. The love between the First Couple just seemed to spill over onto everyone who surrounded them; it was impossible not to feel it. So caught up was she, it was a long time before she noticed Bruno had come up to stand beside her. Despite being the campaign manager, he had not been around the First Couple in a casual atmosphere very often.

"You don't have to coach them on this stuff, do you?"

"Coach them?"

"You know, try to get them to be more affectionate in front of the press."

"Hardly. When it comes to each other they don't put on brave faces well at all. When they're angry with each other we ALL know they're angry and everyone can feel the tension. And, when they're like this," she gestured toward the dance floor, where both the President and First Lady were pressing kisses into their daughter's rosy cheeks. "Well, it makes everyone want to be in love like that. It makes me feel kind of guilty sometimes, watching them like they are tonight. At least when it comes to Mrs.Bartlet."

"Guilty," Bruno frowned. "Why guilty?"

"Because we, and when I say that I mean, we, the entire staff, are so often at odds with her. We get frustrated and angry when she wants to cut back on the President's speaking engagements or cut a trip short because he's rundown or has a cold, and most of the time she gets the blame. But, when I watch them like this I can see just what she's fighting for. That's her man out there. At times all we see is the President and what we can get out of him. He's our workhorse. But he isn't ever just the President to her. She ALWAYS sees the man. Even when she looks at the President she has to be seeing the man that she dated, the man that she married, the man who fathered her children, the man who takes care of her when she's sick, the man who knows all her innermost secrets. I don't blame her for wanting to kill us at times. She's fighting for HIM."

"Are you trying to warn me against scheduling the President too heavily?" Cynical to the core, Ron did not looked moved by her heartfelt words.

"I'm just saying that you shouldn't take Mrs. Bartlet lightly. She loves her husband and she loves her family. She'll give you everything SHE has in order to keep him in office, but she won't give you her husband's health or his soul."

"We'll just see about that." Ron popped a shrimp in his mouth and walked toward the bar.

"CJ, are you ready?" Zoey asked. "We're about to start the show."

TBC...