"Madame President looking sharp on that treadmill!"

Brittany rolled her eyes as Artie came into the small gym room. He stopped his wheelchair a few feet from the treadmill Brittany was on and admired his president in her gym shorts and loose cut tee, both of which still fit her from college.

"You know, there are enough rumors about us, the last thing we need is for people to hear about you hitting on me in the gym," she teased through heavy breaths as she ran.

"But I can't help it, you're the hottest president ever," Artie smiled.

"I know," Brittany smirked. "My V.P.'s kinda good looking too," she added.

"Ready for your big premiere?"

"Is every event going to be my big premiere? When do things become standard and routine and boring?"

"Brittany, you're the President of the United States. And the first female one – everything you do is huge. Maybe things will calm down in your second term."

The president nearly choked on the water bottle she'd been taking a sip from. "Second term, holy hell Abrams, gimme a second to enjoy my first four years. Assuming I don't get impeached."

Artie laughed. "We the people, impeach President Pierce on the account of being too hot and smart at the same time."

Brittany chuckled and lowered the speed of the treadmill to start cooling down. "Don't joke, I could see that happening."

"I think you'll be fine. But yeah, your State of the Union address is sure to break all sorts of records."

"No pressure, right?"

"Hey, if it's too much, feel free to step down, I'll happily take over."

"Yeah, you'd like that wouldn't you." Brittany grinned as she got down off the treadmill. She grabbed a small towel and wiped her face before walking over to Artie.

"No, Britt, no –" Artie protested as he realized her intent, but she ignored him and sat down in his lap. "Ugh you're all sweaty! These are new pants," he groaned as she wrapped an arm around the back of his chair to help support herself.

"Oh quiet, you were just hitting on me two seconds ago, now you're complaining that I'm all hot and sweaty sitting in your lap?"

"Madame President...what'll the Secret Service think?"

Brittany looked over to the men standing by the door. "They're not thinking anything, as long as you don't try to kill me," she smiled. "Besides, they know we're both just goofing around," Brittany slipped off Artie's lap.

They were just friends now, and well, also President and Vice President, but sometimes Brittany missed the comfort of Artie's embrace. She'd spent almost a year in high school being able to sit in his lap whenever she wanted. Maybe she just missed the comfort of being in a relationship, especially since it'd been close to forever since she'd been in one. In college there had been a few guys here and there, but they were never serious. Part of it was because she was always focused on schoolwork running for student government, and another part of it...was because she had found herself interested in girls as well. She pushed boys away, but only ever pined after girls, never acting on it.

She still kicked herself for that, but the last thing she wanted was for some nosy rival to go rooting through her past and bring up the fact that the leader of the free world was a 'dirty bisexual'. Same-sex marriage was still withheld from nearly half the states in the US, there was no way in hell the country would have elected a female who, in their eyes, just couldn't make up her mind and wanted to sleep with everyone.

"Alright, I'm going to shower and then sit in meetings all day. How 'bout you?"

"I'm going to change pants and then do the same."

Brittany smiled as they made their way to the door. Her instinct was to push Artie's wheelchair, but she knew he hated that now. "Sounds like a plan. See you around, veep."

Artie gave a small two-fingered salute as they headed the opposite ways down the hall.


Brittany was sixteen minutes and twenty seconds into her first State of the Union Address when it happened. She knew the exact minute and second count because she had practiced the speech so many times beforehand. What she didn't know was why there was a man storming down the center aisle of the large chamber room in the middle of one of the biggest moments in her life. Her body suddenly felt extremely hot underneath her fresh pressed suit, and for the first time since the 7th grade, Brittany Pierce stumbled over her words.

The man stopped halfway down the aisle.

"You blonde bitch, g–"

The rest of the man's words were replaced by a loud "oof" as a secret servicemen tackled him to the floor. Brittany didn't get to see much else, as the secret service agents nearest her grabbed her and bolted towards the nearest exit. She could hear the commotion around her until she was led through a myriad of hallways and could only imagine what was going on back in the chamber room. The men entrusted with her life guided her into her car which was idling right outside the door at the end of a hallway they went down.

As the car pulled away from the curb, Brittany gained her bearings and found Tina Cohen-Chang, her Chief of Staff, sitting in the seat across from her. Tina was a hard worker, knew how to be discreet, knew how to talk to other politicians and the press, and was overall a good person, and had made it an easy choice for Brittany to hire her onto her staff.

"Where's Artie?" Brittany asked the woman immediately.

"Artie's fine – everything's fine, we just had to get you out of there. Standard procedure."

"Who the hell was that guy?" Brittany fired off her next question the second Tina finished answering the first.

"We don't know yet. He seemed harmless, since obviously no one was allowed in with a weapon or anything even potentially hazardous, but we're looking into it."

Brittany put her hands to her face and took a deep breath. "Fuck."

"Madame President, it's okay, we're going back to the White House now and everything's being taken care of."

"Except for my first State of the Union. What do we do about that?"

"To be honest, I'm not exactly sure, but we'll regroup and discuss the best course of action. That's what they pay me the big bucks for, remember?" Tina gave her a reassuring smile, but Brittany only gave her a weak nod in return.

That fucking asshole ruined my night, if not my career, Brittany thought angrily, picturing the random man who'd interrupted her speech. She was just thankful he hadn't hurt anyone. They arrived at the White House where Brittany was hustled inside to one of the many conference rooms they used for various meetings. Once the room was secured, Brittany sat back and waited to be told what to do. She was mildly amused at how being President usually meant people telling you what to do as opposed to telling others what to do, like one might expect.

She stood up immediately when Artie was escorted into the room.

"Hey, you okay?"

He smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just wish I could've punched that psycho," he shook his head ruefully. Brittany sat back down with a little chuckle.

"You and me both."

Brittany unbuttoned her tailored suit jacket and shifted in her seat as Tina walked into the room, followed by a man with a nearly clean shaven head, and Brittany recognized him as Noah Puckerman, the Director of the United States Secret Service. He was a burly man, the stereotypical build of an Army man who had worked his way up. Brittany already trusted him, but had to hold back a roll of her eyes at his attempt at a 'professional' mohawk.

"Madame President," the man addressed Brittany, "we've detained the man and once we get all the details arranged, the proper protocol will be followed."

Brittany nodded. "Mr. Puckerman, can you tell me what the deal was? What happened?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid we don't know too much just yet. He did shout something about 'MRAs' as we took him into custody, and we're looking into that further."

Tina stifled a groan and everyone at the table looked at her.

"Men's Right's Activists," she muttered, rolling her eyes.

Brittany let out a bitter laugh. Artie looked confused.

"Basically a bunch of misogynistic assholes who cry that women are encroaching on their 'rights' by wanting our own," Brittany explained. She turned back to Noah and thanked him for his help before excusing him to go focus on the man who'd interrupted her State of the Union. Then she glanced at the watch on her wrist. It was already getting late, but she could still do it.

"Tina, I want to do a broadcast from the Oval Office."

"R-right now?"

"Yes, right now. I want to speak to the nation, and show them I'm not going to be scared of this garbage. The people deserve a president who won't be intimidated, and I want them to know I'm going to be taken seriously as the President of the United States."

Brittany could see Tina working out logistics. She glanced over at Artie and he extended his hand to give her a small fist bump under the table. She extended her fist and grinned, then returned her attention to Tina.

"Okay, we can do this. Let's get you into the Oval Office and I'll call everyone to get you prepped. We should be good to go in under twenty minutes, if I can help it."

"Thanks Tina."

Her Chief of Staff nodded and stood. Brittany followed suit, and the three of them left to conference room and headed towards the Oval Office. Tina was already on her phone making calls. There were already people setting up in the Oval Office by the time they got there.

Brittany took her seat behind the large desk as people adjusted the flags behind her, and someone immediately descended on her to touch up her make up. Camera crews set up the appropriate lighting and cameras as a speechwriter put some hastily typed notes in front of her. Brittany felt nervous for the second time that evening. Speeches had always been the most nerve wracking part of it all for her. As she read over the guidelines, she told herself to just say what she meant.

She would not be bullied.

She was the President of the United States.

Her country had elected her because they thought she was the best candidate, and she would show them they made the right choice.

Finally, the make up artist stood back, and the cameramen took their positions. Tina was still on the phone near the door of the Office, and Artie sat behind the cameras, giving Brittany a reassuring head nod when she looked at him. Brittany smoothed over her suit jacket and sat up straight. Tina got off the phone and walked up behind Artie.

"Madame President, whenever you're ready," the lead cameraman said.

"Alright, let's do this," Brittany gave a faint smile.

The cameraman counted down. "3, 2, 1, go!"

"Good evening." Brittany looked straight into the camera, and pictured the little girl who might be up late with her parents watching, dreaming of sitting where she was right now. "Earlier this evening, I gave my State of the Union Address. Or, I could have given it, if not for someone disrupting and thereby disrespecting me and every other American citizen and public servant in that room. That man was filled with hate, and tried to demean and intimidate me, and I wanted to speak to you, the American people, and tell you that I will not be intimidated. My gender does not make me any less capable to lead this country. That's what makes America great – anyone with a dream can fight for it, no matter their race or gender. And together, I believe we can make this country a safe, respectful and respected one, where no one is attacked for being different. Thank you, and god bless America."

The lead cameraman called "Cut!" and got a small chuckle from everyone in the room. Tina started clapping, and everyone joined in. Brittany stood, waving her hands for them to stop. She didn't think she had done as well as she could have, but she hoped it would do the trick.

Tina came up to her. "Why don't you go to sleep. If you can. I'll monitor the media and see what they're saying. You've gotta be up early as hell tomorrow anyway, so might as well try and get as much sleep as you can."

Brittany nodded, realizing she was indeed exhausted. With a quick 'goodnight' to Tina and Artie, Brittany started making her way through the White House up to the large residence level.