Abbey didn't allow Jed to celebrate too long. She could see he was tired, but she also knew her husband. He would never admit that he'd had enough. So she made the decision for him and dragged him away from his admirers.

Back at the residence, Abbey pulled out Jed's favorite pajamas, his Notre Dame sweats and t-shirt. She moved toward him to help him to undress.

"Abigail," he said irritated, "I can do this myself."

"Fine," she put her hands up, "be my guest." She walked away toward her bureau and pulled out her pajamas. She could hear Jed huffing and puffing behind her as he tried to change. Every instinct urged her to help him but his attitude had pissed her off. Finally she heard him sit on the bed.

"A...Abbey," he breathed.

"Is there something you need, Jed?" She asked sweetly.

"Yeah...Uh...I"

"Oh, just say it for heaven's sake," she said exasperated. "Help, Jed, you need help. It doesn't make you weak to ask for help." She put her pajamas down and moved toward him. He had been able to get his sweat pants on but it had hurt too much to lift his arms to get into his t- shirt. Abbey helped him to get the shirt on, then laid him back in bed.

"God, it feels good to be in my own bed again," Jed sighed, stretching out while Abbey changed. He immediately noticed the subtle changes in his wife's body. The fuller breasts, darker nipples, the slight curve to her belly, just a general lush ripeness she always got when she was carrying a child. "My God, how did I miss it?" He asked, watching her slip on a pair of flannel pajama bottoms and a Harvard tank top.

"Miss what?" She asked while taking her prenatal vitamins.

"You are most definitely pregnant."

"Mmmmhmmm," she murmured, climbing into bed next to him. "Jed, I want to be close to you but I don't want to hurt you."

"Then let me do the holding," he said, and proceeded to lay his head on Abbey's chest. He heard her sharp intake of breath and saw her wince.

"Uh.,.not there," she said through her teeth.

"Oh yeah...sorry, I forgot how much your breasts hurt when you’re pregnant." They finally found a position they could cuddle in without causing discomfort to either of them. Abbey tucked her head under Jed's arm and snuggled up to his good side with her arm draped over his waist, not his chest.

"Do you know how much I've missed this?" Jed asked breathing in the scent of her hair. There was no response from Abbey but he felt wetness on the side of his chest.

"Abbey, are you crying?" He asked.

"Just a little," she sniffed. "For awhile I never really thought I'd get to have you back here again. That you would never hold me in your arms again. You really scared the hell out of me, Josiah Bartlet."

"You didn't really think I was going to die, did you?" He asked, kissing the top of her head.

"Yeah, I did, Jed. When I heard your heart was not beating when they brought you in, when the doctor gave you a 25% chance to live, when the priest was giving you last rites, when I was just sitting all alone with you in the dead silence listening to the machines that were keeping you alive, yeah, I really did believe I might lose you."

"I had last rites?" he asked running his hand up and down her arm.

"Leo didn't tell you?"

"No. He was there?"

"He stayed with you the whole time."

"Where were you?"

"Puking my guts out in the bathroom."

"Oh Abs," he closed his eyes against the image of what she had been through. First Zoey, now Abbey. That shooter had really damaged more than the President. He and his family were all going to bear scars from the incident for some time. But, for now, all he could think of was that he was in his favorite place to be. Safe in his wife's arms. Jed Bartlet was home at last.

THE END!