Chapter 1

Their lives were anything but normal. They were the president's kids and their lives were under a microscope. Even at boarding school, they heard the rumblings of their peers regarding their father. They tried to block it all out but it was getting harder by the day.

Karen was in her dorm room with Jerry. "So do you think this is a good idea? Surprising mom and dad like this. You know mom hates surprises," Jerry questioned.

"I don't care Jerry. She's our mother and we need to be there for her. Besides we need to get out of this school. I can't take it anymore."

Jerry paced around. "Do you think it's true? Would he really cheat on mom?"

Karen sighed. Anybody with a good eye could see her parents' marriage was just for show. She wasn't stupid and she knew her father wasn't above it. She heard enough stories about her grandfather. Jerry looked up to their father immensely. He immortalized him.

"You know they've had problems Jer. I talked to mom and she sounds okay but I know she isn't," she said.

"Karen, do you think it's true?" Jerry asked again.

"Yes," she confessed. "Mom confessed it on tv. She could be lying but I don't think so. We'll find out something concrete when we go home. Thankfully Hal can keep a secret and sneak us in. Are you ready to go?"

"I guess," he said. She grabbed her duffle bag and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, we stick together." They walked out of her dorm and were met by secret service.

"Jerry. Karen," one of them greeted. The men took their bags and they headed toward the limousine.

Jerry took out his iPad and looked at all the media outlets. Karen glanced over and sighed. "Her name is Olivia Pope. Remember mom said she was on dad's campaign. Mom told us how wonderful she was. Apparently she had no idea how wonderful."

"But this other girl was named," Jerry argued. "All of this could be a mistake."

"Maybe but think about...one day Olivia is named and two days later this other woman is thrown underneath the bus. No, I'm not buying it. Come on, we're Mellie Grant's children. I think mom had something to do with it."

Jerry groaned. "Seriously? Mom-

"Has changed. They both have. Dad got meaner and mom...she's different. She's still her but she's gotten sadder it seems," Karen said.

Jerry put away his iPad. "So what's your plan?"

"I don't know really," Karen admitted.

Hours later, they landed in D.C. and walked through the tunnels of the airport. "Home sweet home," Karen said nudging Jerry in the stomach. He gave a weak smile.

They got in another limousine. "I'll call mom."

"She's going to freak out," Jerry said. Karen dialed.

Mellie and Fitz were in another one of their heated arguments when her phone rang. "It's Karen," she said.

"Karen," she greeted.

"Hi mom. What are you doing?" she asked.

"Just talking to your father," she said. "What's going on?"

"Well, Jerry is with me. We thought about coming home for the weekend," she said. Jerry just shook his head at her.

"You want to come for the weekend," she said looking at Fitz. He had a calm expression on his face. "Sure, we'll arrange it."

"Um, that's fine. We will see you soon."

Karen hung up and saw Jerry narrowing his eyes. "You were supposed to tell her we're in D.C."

"They'll know in a few minutes," she said.

"Why do they want to come this weekend?" asked Fitz. Mellie rolled her eyes.

"What? Are you worried this will ruin your plans with Olivia?"

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "Come off it Mellie. I don't have time for your Olivia bashing today."

There was a knock on the door and the secretary came in. "Excuse me. First Lady, you have some visitors." Mellie smiled and thanked the woman.

"Another group I have to entertain," she muttered. She left and went to her office. "Sorry I'm late. I-

She froze in her tracks at seeing her children there. "Surprise mom," Karen said.