Changes for the Future

by catgurl83

This is the fourth story in the Changes Series. Josh Zoey

4. Chapter 4

Disclaimer: Characters recognized from the West Wing do not belong to me.

Author's Notes: It's taken me years but this story is finally finished. I'm not sure about the series yet. I envision one more story in this series but I have a few other unfinished stories I'm trying to complete and very little time. Thank you to everyone who has stuck with this story / series through the sporadic updates!

Thanks to Jen B for beta reading this chapter for me!

*************

"You're engaged," CJ repeated slowly.

"Yes."

"To the President's daughter."

Josh ran his hand through his hair. "CJ, Zoey and I have been together for close to a year. How can this come as a surprise?"

"It really doesn't. I was just clarifying. Most of us have been expecting this for a while."

Josh chuckled. "That's what my sources tell me."

She raised an eyebrow. "Your sources?"

"Mostly Serena. Why is it that people seem to think that because she is short, her hearing must suck? You wouldn't believe the things people say around her."

"Oh I wouldn't? Do you think you are the only one she does the parrot imitation for?"

"Ah." He sighed. "Zoey and I told her about the engagement yesterday. I guess I should probably sit her down and remind her that when the public finds out people are going to be curious and that she shouldn't answer any questions."

"That would probably be wise. Have you and Zoey discussed the wedding at all?"

"We're thinking a small wedding, or at least as small as we really can make it considering, maybe at the farm."

"Have you considered a date?"

"Sometime in the next few months."

"That soon?"

"There really isn't any reason to wait. All we'd accomplish would be giving the press longer to speculate and formulate a plan to sneak into the ceremony."

CJ nodded, picking up a pencil and absently twirling it between her fingers. "Thus far the only people you've told are the President and First Lady, Serena and her nanny, and myself?"

"Yes and Zoey's been removing her ring when she isn't at my house to keep people from suspecting."

"Have you and Zoey considered when you'd like to make the information public and how?"

"We've discussed it but haven't come to a decision. Zoey's calling her sisters now and is going to talk to Charlie later today. I need to let my mother, Leo, and Toby in on it. We also should probably tell Kate and Jonathon Moss and Sam's sister Patty before the engagement is announced. They have a right to be some of the first to know anything that has a direct bearing on Serena's future."

CJ blanched as a thought came to her. "Alana Farrel?"

"Alana lost her right to have a major role in Serena's life at Christmas. Inviting her to join us for Serena's birthday was just that; an invitation to the party, a one time thing. She'll find out about my engagement with the rest of America." Josh glanced at his watch and stood. "I've got an appointment with Leo. I'll talk some more with Zoey and let you know what we decide about the press."

She nodded as she stood up to round her desk and pull him into a hug. "Congratulations Mi Amore. I'm very happy for both you and Zoey." She chuckled. "And of course our little Serena. She'll finally have a mother again. I'm sure she's ecstatic."

"She is," he said with a smile, pulling back from the hug. "Thanks Ceej."

***************

Josh closed the file he and Leo had been going over. "Before I go, do you have a few minutes to talk?"

"Sure." Leo gestured to the sofa. "What's up?" he asked after they were both reseated.

"You knew that Zoey and I had been getting pretty serious?"

"Yes." Leo frowned. Had been? Josh hadn't screwed everything up with some silly mistake had he? "Josh if you're here for advice to help fix something with Zoey, I'm really not the one to come to. You know the mistakes I made in my marriage."

Josh laughed. "I didn't come to you for advice, though I might some time later on." He held up a hand when Leo started to speak again. "No. I know that your marriage ended badly and I know that a lot of it was your fault. I also know that you aren't the man that you were then. You fought your addictions and won and you've built a wonderful relationship with your daughter with all the odds against it happening. You and President Bartlet are the two men I admire the most in this world.

I don't know what I would have done without the two of you the last couple of years. You've been there anytime I've had a question or worry about Serena and have given me invaluable insight and advice. I know that in the future I'll be coming to you for marital advice as well and I know that what you tell me will be just as valuable to me."

"Josh," Leo said softly. "I'm honored to know that you feel that way. With all of the things that I've done I don't deserve to be admired that much but I'm honored all the same. You have done an amazing job with Serena. She was little more than a baby when you got her and you've helped her mature into an intelligent, well mannered, sweet little girl. I'm pleased to know that I've been able to contribute just a little to that process."

When Josh started to argue Leo shook his head. "No. You spoke, now it's my turn. I contributed, but it was to your project. If you had had to raise Serena without help you would have done just as wonderful a job. The biggest thing I did was to help you build up your confidence in your parenting skills."

Josh swallowed hard. "Thank you. Knowing that you think I'm doing a good job with that little girl means more than I can say. When my father died, I thought I'd miss this; having someone to talk to about parenting, to get advice on relationships from, someone to kick me in the rear when I needed it. That's why I asked to talk to you today. I wanted you to be one of the first to know that Zoey and I are engaged."

"Wow. Joshua, that's great." He engulfed the younger man in a quick hug. "A year ago I would have had my reservations but watching the two of you, well, really, the three of you together for the last several months has convinced me. Be happy Josh."

"Thank you," he said again, very softly. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to be my best man."

It was Leo's turn to swallow the lump in his throat. "I was only lucky enough to have one child and I love Mal but I always wanted a son as well. For the last several years you've filled that role for me. It would be my privilege to stand up for you." He patted Josh's shoulder.

"Thank you." He chuckled. "I'm starting to sound like a CD on repeat."

"Now, my next appointment should be arriving any minute so it's back to work for you, you bum." He patted his shoulder again. "Congratulations."

Josh nodded. "I'll let you know more soon."

************

Later that evening Josh let himself into his house, smiling at the giggles and squeals coming from upstairs. He mounted the steps as quietly as possible and followed the sounded to Serena's bathroom. He leaned against the doorframe, grinning.

Zoey was perched on a stool next to the tub, drawing intricate designs on Serena's arms with crayon soap. She'd lean over the edge of the tub every little bit to tickle Serena's stomach and the child would squeal with delight.

After several more minutes, Zoey set the crayons on their tray. "Okay munchkin, rinse off."

"Do I have to?"

"Yes. Uncle Josh should be home soon and it's almost your bedtime."

"Just five more minutes, please? Then I promise I'll get ready for bed."

Zoey smiled as she grabbed a towel. "Nice try. Now, out."

Serena pouted for a few seconds before splashing the soap off and stepping out of the tub. "Will you braid my hair so it will be curly tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Cool."

Josh had retreated into Serena's bedroom to wait. He was sitting on her bed petting Tuft when Serena skipped into the room in penguin print pajamas, wet hair flying behind her. She jumped up onto the bed. "Hi Uncle Josh."

"Hi Angel. Did you have a good afternoon?"

"Uh huh. Amy took me to the park when we left the White House then we came home and played the memory game and drew pictures and played Barbie. Then Zoey came and I got to make dinner with her. We made spaghetti."

Josh held back a chuckle as he tried to follow the rush of words. "It sounds like you had fun." He stood up as Zoey came in from the bathroom. She dropped the comb, brush, and hair bands she was carrying onto the bed and moved into Josh's arms. Mindful of the five-year-old a few feet away, Josh kept the kiss light and quick.

Zoey sat down on the bed and motioned for Serena to sit between her legs. "How did your day go?"

"It was a good day. I spoke with CJ, Leo, Toby, and my mother about the wedding. Everyone was thrilled though they're all clamoring for a wedding date."

Serena scrunched her face up at the unfamiliar word. "What does that mean?"

"They all really want us to choose a day for the wedding. They're being loud and insistent about it," Zoey answered.

"CJ wants to sit down to discuss informing the press before it somehow leaks."

"Just let me know when. I called my sisters today. They both agreed to be part of the wedding party as did Annie and Gus. None of them were really surprised about the news." She paused, deftly plaiting Serena's hair as she formulated her thoughts. "I also went to see Charlie. He didn't react as well."

"I wasn't expecting that he'd love the idea." He could remember his own reaction to Donna and Sam's engagement a few years before. His emotions had been torn. There'd been excitement for his two best friends because they'd found happiness but there had also been jealousy. He'd been angry at himself for not going after Donna before it was too late to do so and at Sam for having courage to do what he'd been too chicken to do.

He imagined that Charlie was feeling much the same. From the beginning Charlie had tolerated their relationship because he hadn't had a choice but it had been clear that he'd been hoping that it wouldn't work out and he'd get another chance with Zoey. Now they'd shattered that delusion. Charlie was probably going to have a rough time with that for a while. Josh could only hope that when the time was right the perfect woman would become clear to Charlie as Josh's had him.

"Are you still going to ask Charlie to be a groom's man?"

"Yes. He doesn't have to accept but I want to make the gesture. Leo agreed to be best man and Toby to be a groom's man."

"All done."

"Thank you." Serena jumped up and ran to the mirror.

"How bad was the scene with Charlie?" Josh asked quietly.

"Pretty bad. He's very angry and hurt. I knew he had never really accepted our relationship but for months now we've been getting the knowing looks and sly comments from everyone. I figured if even my father had figured out that us becoming engaged was inevitable that Charlie would have also. Apparently he hadn't."

"I'm sorry. I should have gone with you to tell him."

"No. You had no idea he'd be this upset, besides your presence might have made it worse. I think it might be best to give him a cool down period, maybe wait a few weeks before asking him to be in the wedding."

"Yeah, I'll do that."

"Are you ready to tuck me in and read me my story?" Serena asked, holding up the book they were currently reading, The Secret Garden.

Josh took the book as he and Zoey stood up, waiting for Serena to climb into bed. They each kissed the child's forehead and said goodnight before Zoey crossed the room to curl up in the window seat while Josh read.

**************

CJ made a show of flipping through her notes for a few seconds before raising her eyes to look out at the press scattered around the briefing room. "I have one more item to share with you." She scanned their faces again. None of them seemed to have a clue what she was about to announce. Some of them even seemed a bit bored. Thus far today had been a pretty slow news day. She hadn't had anything remotely interesting. Now she could see the atmosphere of the room start to change. By her pause they were assuming she had something good.

"Let the games begin," Josh said from his seat in the Residence.

"I almost wish we'd waited for a day, we could try to bury this beneath big stories," Zoey said.

"I doubt it would have worked," Abbey said. "Whatever stories you were trying to use as deflectors would have all but died under the pressure. Like it or not, the media has been enthralled with your relationship from the beginning and it's about to get worse."

"The White House is pleased to announce the engagement of Zoey Bartlet to Joshua Lyman."

The press room erupted in questions and most of the people scattered around the living room in the Residence started laughing at the chaos.

"Even CJ couldn't understand their questions well enough to answer," Toby commented, watching his fiancée try to reign in the press corps.

Serena stared at the screen in wonder. "I'd be on time out if I acted like that."

Josh bit down on the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at his little girl's tone. "You would."

Finally the reporters were calming enough that some of the shouted questions could be understood.

"When did they become engaged?"

"How did Josh propose?"

"When is the wedding?"

"Will it be held in the Rose Garden?"

"Is the President happy with the situation?"

"What about Serena? How does she feel about this? Could this cause custody concerns?"

"When did the Senior Staff find out CJ? What were your reactions?"

CJ held up both hands. "Enough!"

Silence settled over the room.

"The Bartletts and Mrs. Lyman all know about the engagement and are very happy for Josh and Zoey, as are the Senior Staff. That's all the information I have for you at this time."

"You don't have the wedding date?" Danny called.

"No details have been finalized at this time. You'll all be kept informed as plans progress." With that she stepped from the podium and quickly made her way out of the room, ignoring the shouted questions that followed her.

She hurried toward the Residence where Josh and Zoey were waiting with the President and First Lady, Serena, Leo, Toby, and Will. She'd managed to stick to the basic announcement that she, Zoey, and Josh had come up with together without revealing any other information.

Both Josh and Zoey wanted to keep the wedding as private as possible. She personally thought that they were dreaming. Now that news of the engagement was public the press would be digging for information. With caterers, bakeries, florists, etc. involved there were bound to be leaks. If they had really wanted to do this completely privately they would have had to elope.

Serena ran up to hug her when she walked into the room.

"What do you think? Did it go okay?"

"Yep," Serena answered. "You did really good. Some of the reporters don't have manners though. They were yelling and weren't taking turns talking."

CJ grinned, wishing she could share the child's thoughts at the next briefing.

"It went well," Leo said.

Toby nodded. "They were frenzied but we expected that. It'll be worse at your next briefing. They'll have had time to look through their files on Josh, Zoey, and Serena and to do some probing." He glanced at Josh. "The question about custody won't be the last of that line of speculation."

"Patti knows to be expecting calls from the media. She also promised to warn her kids not to answer any questions if they picked up the phone."

"And Alana?" Abbey asked.

"We didn't tell her," Zoey said. "There isn't much she can do, even if she wants to and we don't know that she does. She knows she wouldn't have a prayer of winning in court, not with her alcoholism and the adoption."

CJ took the empty seat next to Toby. She turned to Zoey. "I told the press you hadn't finalized a date but this morning Josh told me the two of you pretty much have it narrowed down. Care to share?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Zoey said with a grin. "You and Toby have been engaged for almost three years. When are you going to set a date?"

CJ rolled her eyes. "Like I've told you for years, when your father is out of office. Now, stop trying to divert attention and answer my question."

"So bossy," Zoey said, shaking her head. "We're thinking the Christmas holidays would be a good time. Everyone should be able to get time off to come and it gives me a built in theme to work with."

Abbey's eyes widened. "It's already the middle of October. That gives us about two months. That isn't very long to plan a wedding. We've got to get the invitations printed and mailed out and start looking into dresses for you and your attendants. About how many guests are we looking at? A thousand? Two?" She glanced at her husband who shrugged. "The international invitations will have to go out first then we'll…"

"Mom," Zoey broke in. "Josh and I want a simple wedding, just family and friends."

"There are people who will be expecting invitations," Leo said. "People who have supported us through two campaigns and nearly seven years in office, members of Congress who have helped us get some of the biggest items on our agenda passed, foreign dignitaries who's countries have been real allies to us. Not receiving an invitation will come as a slight to them."

"This is my wedding, not a state dinner or inaugural ball."

"We realize that honey," Jed said. "However, there are responsibilities that come with being a member of this family."

"You are a politician. I'm not."

"No you're not," he agreed. "But you're marrying one. Do you think this is going to be the last time that politics takes over your personal life? In a few years your husband will be a senator or a governor and eventually you'll be back here with him. The press will be outside the hospital when your children are born and baby gifts will come from all over the world. Christenings, bar and bah mitzvahs, school plays, graduations, they'll all be crashed and the pictures will make it on the national news. There are things that are expected of political figures and their families Zoey, you know that."

"Yes, I know that. I've known it all my life. You forget that my graduation from high school was crashed by the press and that tourists snuck onto the Georgetown campus hoping to get pictures and autographs. I want one thing, one day that is for me."

Josh lifted Zoey's hand, running his thumb over her palm in gentle circles. "This wedding is part of my personal life, not part of my career. Zoey and I will be making the guest list based on that. Anyone who doesn't like it or feels slighted can come talk to me."

"I can understand trying to keep the wedding as private as possible but…"

"No Leo, we aren't trying to do anything," Josh interrupted. "We are keeping the wedding private." He turned to the President. "This is our wedding. It will go our way or it won't happen. We've discussed eloping but we want all of you to be involved. Don't push us."

President Bartlett and Leo shared a glance and silently agreed to back off for now. This wasn't over but for the time being the best option was to allow Josh some time to cool off.

"About how many guests were you thinking?" Abbey asked after a moment.

"We could do it with fewer than thirty," Josh said, holding up his hand when Abbey opened her mouth to argue. "However, that would be bare bones. We both have other friends that we'd like to invite and we know that the two of you have close friends who have been in Zoey's life since her childhood. We haven't finalized the list yet but we're thinking two hundred to two fifty guests, plus the wedding party. Zoey will have her sisters, Annie, CJ, and Mallory." He glanced around. "Where is CJ?"

"She took Serena down to check on the fish," Toby explained. "She asked me to tell you to come find them in the West Wing when things calmed down and you were ready."

Josh nodded, turning back to Abbey. "Leo, Toby, Will, Matt Skinner, and hopefully Charlie will be standing up with me. Gus will be ring bearer and Serena flower girl."

Jed chuckled. "Doug will love that. He's the only member of his family not in the wedding."

Zoey snorted. "You're the only member of the family he's ever cared for and that's only for what he thinks you can do for his career. He won't care that he's being left out of my wedding just that he's being left out of the spotlight." She sighed. "For Liz's sake he'll be included by name on her invitation." She turned back to her mother. "We'll sit down with you soon to go over the guest list."

"Good. Will the ceremony be held here at the White House?"

"No." She looked between her parents. "Actually, I was hoping you'd let us have it at the farm. When I was little and Ellie and Liz talked about the big fancy cathedral weddings they wanted, I would dream about an outdoor wedding at the farm." She grinned at her fiancée. "If I could just get Josh in the saddle we could be married on horseback."

"That's so not happening."

"Of course you can be married at the farm," Jed said. "It's your home and always will be. You can do whatever you wish there."

"Cool. I've got some new roller bladeing tricks I've been meaning to try." She laughed when her father went pale.

Josh shook his head. "I really don't want to know the kind of tricks you've done."

"No, you don't," Abbey agreed. She glared at her daughter. "Roller bladeing off the roof of the stable. I honestly would have thought you were an adolescent boy instead of an adolescent girl."

It was Josh's turn to pale. "Promise me you won't try anything like that again."

"I was twelve."

"Still, promise me."

She rolled her eyes. "Fine." She glanced at her father. "There are still other things I can do though."

"So, Manchester on…"

"December 23rd," Zoey answered.

"I'll talk to my assistant tomorrow and schedule some time. Were going to have a busy two months."

"Thanks Mom, but like I said, simple."

"I can do simple Zoey."

Josh glanced at the clock. "We probably should get Serena before CJ decides we've all killed each other."

Zoey stood to press a kiss to her father's cheek and hug her mother. "Thank you both. I love you."

"We love you too baby."

*************

Serena's nanny, Amy, waved at the security guard as she stepped inside the private school that Serena had started at this school year. She could hardly believe that the little girl was in kindergarten. Serena had been so teeny when she started working with her. Part of the child's size, of course, had been the cancer but part of it had been her age. The little one hadn't even been two.

For over three years she'd been with Serena. She'd spent hours sitting beside Serena's hospital bed reading to her to keep her quiet, had entertained Serena for hours during flights on Airforce One, had braided the child's hair, potty trained her, and fed her when she was too weak to feed herself. She'd been there through several custody battles, Sam's wedding and death, Josh learning to be a parent, and Josh and Zoey's relationship. In many ways she felt as if Serena were hers.

When Josh had asked to speak with her a few weeks ago she'd figured he wanted to discuss a change in Serena's routine, such as an international trip, or ask her opinion on how Serena was doing in her new school. She hadn't expected him to tell her that he and Zoey were engaged, though she really should have. Her first thought had been; what if they didn't need her anymore. To her relief Josh had assured her that he and Zoey very much wanted her to stay. He said they didn't know how they would do it without her, with their busy schedules they had to know they had someone they could trust implicitly with their little girl.

With the reassurance that she'd still be caring for Serena, Amy had been very happy for Josh and Zoey. And for Serena. She knew that her charge adored the First Daughter. She also knew how desperately the little girl wanted a mother. She'd seen the wistful looks on the child's face when a mother at the park hugged her child or a mother on television sang a lullaby. She also knew that a mommy had been at the top of the list she'd helped Serena mail to Santa Claus last Christmas, even before a pet.

Amy grinned. Serena had gotten everything she'd asked for, even the two top requests that Amy had cautioned her against wishing for too hard. She wondered what would be on the child's list this year. Maybe Amy should put the thought in the child's head to ask for something for her, like perhaps a certain guy, since Serena was so popular with Santa and his elves.

She reached the waiting area for the kindergarteners and leaned against the wall. She was early, but then, she always was. Soon other nannies and mothers would begin arriving. Occasionally one of them would beat her and she'd endure light hearted teasing about slacking off but it was pretty rare.

Once she had Serena they'd pick up lunch and head to the White House so Serena could spend some time with Josh and probably Zoey. Originally Zoey had only joined Josh and Serena for their lunches a few times a month. It had gradually worked into being nearly every day. Sometimes Zoey would join Amy and Serena after lunch for one of their excursions. Those were Serena's favorite days. Unfortunately, there had had to be less of them lately.

After the engagement was announced a couple of weeks before, the media had gone nuts. They were, it seemed, permanently camped out in the street outside Josh's home. Most of them were well mannered enough, or scared enough of Josh, not to try to sneak through the gates when they opened but they'd cluster around the car arriving or leaving and snap pictures and shout questions.

Reporters followed Josh, Zoey, and when possible, Serena, everywhere they went. If Josh stopped at the grocery store reporters would try to copy down every item he purchased. If he and Zoey dined at a restaurant, the next day the papers would speculate that the place was catering the wedding. After pictures of Serena swinging in the park were published, Josh asked Amy to stop their outings until the attention died down. When she had found out, Serena threw one of her rare fits, screaming that it wasn't fare to punish her because the photographers were bad and throwing the play dough and cutters she'd been playing with.

"Hello."

Amy smiled at the woman and the little girl with her. "Hi."

The woman held out her hand. "I'm Sarah and this is Skyler."

"I'm Amy. Is Skyler new here? I don't think I've met you."

"No. Sky's only four. I'm looking at programs for next year." She smiled. "With the waiting lists you can't start too early."

"You can't," Amy agreed. "Serena was on the list for this school at two."

"Two? Now that is young." She chuckled. "Serena must be the first for you and your husband. Parents always go all out the first time and then tone down a bit."

Amy hesitated a moment and then mentally shrugged. Everyone here knew that she was Serena's nanny and the child's link to the First Family. Why keep it secret from this woman when one of the other caregivers or parents would probably casually mention it anyway. "I'm actually not Serena's mother. I'm her nanny."

"Oh. I'm sorry. The way you were talking about her, I just assumed she was yours."

"Don't worry about it. Serena's a good kid. I don't mind her being mistaken for mine occasionally."

"How long have you been with her?"

"Three years."

"Wow. That's a long time. Sky has never had the same nanny for more than a year at a time. Actually, I'm not sure I can remember any of my friends keeping one longer than that either. Either the nanny just isn't that good at their job or they get bored and want to try a new client or career."

"I can't imagine leaving Serena. Like I said, she is a good kid."

"She must have good parents too, for you to have been able to work with them for so long." She noticed Amy's eyes cloud over briefly. "Maybe not. Sorry."

"No, it's fine. I was just thinking about something. Serena has an awesome father, and yes, he's great to work for."

Sarah chuckled, lightly covering her daughter's ears. "One of those relationships, hmm? I'm sure you enjoy lots of extra benefits and perks?"

Amy bristled. "No, not one of "those" relationships." Several others had arrived so Amy turned toward a friend.

"Look, I'm sorry I offended you," Sarah said, resting her hand on Amy's arm. "I was joking."

"I don't like jokes like that. I'm not that kind of person and neither is my employer."

"Like I said, I'm very sorry. I hope you won't hold it against me." She paused a moment as if considering something. "Maybe we could get Skyler and Serena together for a play date. Perhaps we could even take them to the park today."

Amy shook her head. "Serena has lunch with her father every afternoon followed by playtime at home."

"Another time?"

Amy hesitated. She didn't want to hurt the woman's feelings. She was one of the first people Sarah had met here after all and she was sure the woman was just trying to help her little one make friends but a play date wasn't possible. "Serena's father is very selective with her friends. They're pretty much children of his associates."

"Interesting. He must be high profile."

Several people standing nearby started laughing.

"Oh yeah, you could say he's high profile," someone said.

Sarah raised an eyebrow. "Is it someone I'd know of?"

Before Amy could think of an answer, the door to Serena's class was opened by the instructional assistant and a line of children filed out. When she noticed Amy, Serena darted toward her.

"Hi kiddo, how was your morning?"

"Good. We wrote books about our favorite things."

"That sounds cool."

"We had to leave the books for parent day."

"Ah."

"Two of my favorite things are Tuft and weddings."

"Have you been to a wedding recently?" Sarah, who had been standing a couple of feet away, asked.

"Not since my Daddy's wedding but I'm going to one soon."

"Who is getting married?"

Before Serena could answer Amy jumped in. "We should be going or we'll be late for lunch."

The woman ignored her. "Are you going to Josh Lyman's wedding Serena? When is the wedding? Are you going to be in the wedding party?"

Amy grabbed Serena's back pack in one hand and the child's hand in the other.

"Do you like Zoey?"

"Come on." Amy started walking toward the front doors.

"Does Zoey live with you Serena?" The woman had pulled out a small camera and was rapidly snapping pictures while Amy practically dragged the child toward the door.

"How does the President feel about the wedding? Do you call him Grandpa yet? Have you ever seen Josh and Zoey kiss?"

They reached the doors and the security officer stood up. "Is there a problem?"

Amy paused to gesture to the woman. "A reporter somehow got inside."

"Please apologize to Mr. Lyman for us. I'll personally make sure it doesn't happen again."

"Thank you." They stepped outside as a photographer came around the corner and started snapping pictures. With a camera going off in front of her and one still going behind her, Serena huddled close to Amy's legs, burying her face in the denim of Amy's jeans. Other kindergarteners and their caregivers clustered around with wide eyes and open mouths while security and the school's administration tried to get the reporter and her photographer to leave the premises.

*************

"She's only five," Josh fumed, pacing back and forth in front of Leo's desk.

"Yes but she isn't your average five-year-old. Because of Sam, you, just circumstances, she's a very high profile child."

"I realize that Serena is rapidly becoming one of the most famous children in the country, hell, maybe the world. But it wasn't her choice, or mine. I haven't pushed her into commercials or TV shows. She isn't a musical prodigy. She's an ordinary child who was thrust into an extraordinary world." He ran his hand through his hair. "What did that woman think she'd get from Serena? She had to have known that Amy wouldn't allow Serena to answer any of her questions."

"Maybe she wasn't after words." Leo gestured to the pictures laid out across his desk. In several of them, a terrified Serena huddled against Amy's legs while chaos ruled around her. In a few, Amy held Serena, desperately trying to keep the child's face covered as they were ushered back inside the school to a secluded office. In the hours since the incident had happened, samples of the pictures had begun appearing online and running on various news programs. The tabloid that employed the woman would be running a full spread plus "details" of her conversation with the child's nanny. Josh was really hoping those "details" breached the line into slander.

"I don't know what to do Leo. It isn't fair to Serena to make her live in a plastic bubble but I can't even send her to school safely anymore. One of the best schools in the city and they can't keep the press out." He sighed, sinking down into a chair. "Maybe I should send her away for a little while. To my mom or Patti or maybe Kate and Jonathon."

"Is that what you want to do?"

"Of course it isn't. I didn't think it was possible to love a child as much as I love that little girl. But her happiness and safety are the only things that matter."

"Do you think she'd be happy away from you?"

Josh rested his head against the back of his chair. "No," he said softly, weariness finally almost overcoming him. The last thing he wanted was for Serena to be away from him, and he knew Zoey would feel the same. But he also couldn't have things like what had happened today become the norm in her life and he couldn't seclude her at home or here all the time. She needed friends, outings, and adult role models outside her family just like any other child.

They'd all expected the press to go into frenzy mode the moment the engagement was announced but this was out of control, worse than any of them had expected. They'd managed to keep the wedding date a secret thus far but the guests hadn't received their invitations yet. When invitations started arriving in the next few days there was bound to be a leak somewhere.

With very little detail on the wedding being provided, the press had turned to speculation and rumors, much of it outlandish. If the various entertainment shows and magazines were to be believed he and Zoey were having a Rose Garden wedding with ice sculptures of past presidents, the Pope would be presiding over the ceremony, they were providing homing pigeons for each guest to release in lew of throwing rice, and a private plane and medical staff had been hired to bring Donna to the ceremony. Rumored to be on the guest list were Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, and Prince Charles. They were all going to be very disappointed with the actual ceremony, he mused. He and Zoey weren't nearly as creative as the media.

His mother was getting dozens of phone calls a day from television networks and magazines as were Ellie and Liz. Several reporters had called the nursing facility Donna was in to try to verify the report that she would be at the wedding and others had contacted her parents with the question. A reporter had stopped Amy a few days before to offer her cash to give him confidential details on the wedding and the relationship in general. And now, today, the final straw, the reporter sneaking into Serena's school on the pretense of looking at places to enroll her child the next year.

The school's administrator had apologized to him profusely and insisted that everything the woman had provided them with to get past security was in order. She'd had a perfectly filled out application and had even provided references that they had checked out. She had apparently been willing to go to a lot of trouble to get at Serena.

Josh lifted his head so that he could meet Leo's gaze. "I wasn't serious when I threatened an elopement a couple of weeks ago but that option is starting to sound better and better. There'd be no wedding for everyone in the universe to go wild over."

"Instead they'd continue to frantically follow Zoey, hoping to be the first to uncover proof of a pregnancy, because, in their eyes, that would be the only reason you would elope."

"And they would also want the details of the ceremony no matter how small," Josh said, sighing.

"Yes."

"Still, it might be better than this."

"Have you and Zoey discussed the possibility?"

"Briefly, when we were first setting the wedding date, mostly joking that it would be easier." He stood again, crossing the room to look out the window. "Zoey has this perfect wedding in her mind, a wedding she's been dreaming of since childhood. She can close her eyes and picture exactly what she wants in vivid detail. I can't take that from her." He turned back to face Leo. "A third option would be me taking a leave of absence until after the wedding. I'd have more time to help Zoey with the arrangements. We could take Serena and stay at the house in Connecticut or on the farm where it would be more difficult for the press to get to us."

"You would still have to leave the shelter of whichever estate you chose to deal with wedding arrangements. The deprivation would make the paparazzi even crazier during those trips." Leo crossed the room to stand beside Josh. "I think I might have come up with a plan to help deal with the attention. It wouldn't be a fix, but it might make living with all of this a bit easier. I'm sure you realize that after your marriage you and Serena will both be considered members of the First Family."

"Yes."

"As members of the First Family you will be assigned Secret Service details. I spoke with Ron Butterfield before this meeting. With the added security concerns, we both feel that it would be advisable to assign protection to you and Serena immediately. It should be pretty easy to implement since your house has already been secured for Zoey and you and Serena are both very familiar with the routine."

"Let Ron know that I'd like to do that."

Leo nodded. "He'll want to meet with you before you leave the White House this evening."

"Fine."

Leo crossed to his desk and lifted the phone while Josh headed for the door. At the door, Josh looked back over his shoulder. "Thanks Leo."

"You're welcome son."

************

"It's pretty," Serena said with a hint of surprise evident in her voice.

Zoey did a slow spin inside the old barn where her wedding reception would be taking place the next day. She and her sisters had spent hours playing here as children. She couldn't begin to guess how many tea parties, fashion shows, hay fights, and slumber parties had been staged out here. Now all hints of hay, cobwebs, and farm equipment had been cleared away and the barn had been scrubbed and freshly painted until it almost sparkled.

Tables and chairs had been set up at one end of the large room. Creamy tablecloths were draped over the tables. The next day the cloths would be joined by poinsettia arrangements and name cards.

At the other side of the room, a bar had been set up along one wall. A large dance floor filled the rest of the space with mistletoe hanging above it at random intervals.

The banister to the stairs leading up to the loft was woven with garland and twinkling white Christmas lights as was the railing overlooking the main room of the barn. The loft itself was set up for the musicians who'd be playing the next day.

"It is," Zoey agreed, heading towards the door followed by her mother, sisters, Annie, CJ, and Serena.

She gingerly made her way through the snow toward the tent set up close to the barn. Inside the tent, rows of chairs had been set out on either side on the aisle she'd be walking down. A satin cloth draped the aisle. Red bows had been placed on the ends of each row of chairs.

Slowly, Zoey made her way up the aisle, imagining that it was the next afternoon and Josh was waiting for her. A piano stood at the front of the tent, toward the side. The candles they'd be lighting, the cloth they'd kneel on, even the Bible that was to be used - one that had been in her family for generations, were all here waiting for the ceremony.

"Beautiful," Serena said softly.

"It's looking good," Zoey agreed, smiling down at her soon to be step-daughter.

"Imagine how amazing it's all going to look tomorrow," CJ said.

Zoey nodded. "I just hope everything goes smoothly. There's still so much left to do." As busy as the farm had been today with people setting up, tomorrow morning would be even more insane as the last minute details were seen to. Even with the wedding set for two in the afternoon, the caterer and florist had both made arrangements to come at nearly the crack of dawn. Letting them in had been delegated, thank God.

Liz grinned. "Relax baby sister. Your wedding is going to be perfect. Fate wouldn't dare piss you off by allowing something to go wrong." She looked down at her watch. "It's almost time for your bridal shower. Go get yourself and Serena changed while CJ and I make sure everything is ready."

"Bossy as ever," Zoey teased, but she took Serena's hand and headed toward the house. She was relieved that all of this was almost over. She now understood the horror her mother, sisters, and some of her friends had expressed at the time frame she'd given for planning the wedding.

In two months they'd done what many people took a year or more to do. She was pretty sure she and Josh wouldn't have been able to accomplish it if it hadn't been for all of the help they'd gotten from her mother, sisters, CJ, and Annie. Serena had also been a big help, cheerfully trying on dozens of dresses while the adults circled and analyzed, taste testing the offerings of the caterers they'd met with, scrutinizing flowers in search of the perfect choices.

This week had been a whirlwind with appointments, last minute dress fittings, and last night the rehearsal dinner. It had been fun but exhausting, especially since she'd had to try to stay a couple of steps ahead of the press at all times. Sometimes it had worked, sometimes not. In preparation for the big day, the press had been camped out at the edge of the property for the last several days, the group growing every day.

Tonight both the bridal shower and bachelor party were being held at the farm, though in different buildings, in order to keep the media out. The next morning would be the insanity of dressing for the wedding, and then, finally, the ceremony itself, the reception, and she and Josh would be off until Christmas morning, when they would return to spend the day with Serena before going away for two weeks.

"Okay munchkin, I laid out a sweater and matching slacks for you to wear this evening. Do you want me to do something with your hair or do you want to wear it loose?"

"Can you do a braided Pollyanna?"

Zoey arched an eyebrow.

"I mean, will you?"

"Sure. I'll go get dressed while you change and be back to do your hair in a few minutes."

A half-hour later Zoey and Serena stepped into the family room to see that most of the shower guests had already arrived. Several were staying at the farm but most were at a hotel in town.

Abbey was the first to notice them. "Ah. Our guest of honor and cutest guest have both arrived." She crossed the room to pull first Zoey and then Serena into hugs.

By the time Abbey had pulled back, Zoey was surrounded by a crowd of women who wanted to hug her, admire her ring, or both. She laughingly accepted it all and Liz finally stepped in, leading Zoey to a chair and handing her a crown.

"You're Queen for the evening," Ellie explained with a smile.

Zoey grinned. "Is Queen higher or lower ranking than President?"

Abbey laughed. "You should ask your father that."

Serena perched on the arm of Zoey's chair. "Can I come when you ask him?"

Zoey tugged on Serena's braid. "Sure."

Liz glanced at the woman scattered around the room and gestured at a table. "Help yourselves to a plate while we wait for the rest of the guests to arrive." She turned toward her sister. "What would you like?"

"I can make my own plate," Zoey said, starting to stand.

"Queen, remember?" Liz arched an eyebrow.

Zoey rolled her eyes. "I need to help Serena anyway."

Abbey gave a mock pout. "And deprive me of the pleasure of helping my new granddaughter?"

Serena giggled and jumped up to take Abbey's hand.

"Okay, fine, you win," Zoey said, smiling.

"She's excited," Mallory commented after they were all settled with plates. Her gaze was focused on Serena who was seated across the room with Annie. The child was bouncing in her seat as she chattered to the teenager. Annie noticed that some of the adults were watching and smiled before turning back to listen indulgently to Serena.

"Oh yeah," Zoey agreed. "All week she's been asking how much longer until the wedding."

"It's been all about the wedding," CJ said with a chuckle. "I've only heard her ask about Christmas once. No semi-subtle hints about the "in" toys like last year."

"With all of the anticipation over the wedding, I'm not sure she realizes just how close Christmas is," Zoey said.

Amy smirked.

"What?"

"Serena knows how close Christmas is."

"You sound certain," Ellie remarked.

The nanny chuckled. "Oh I am." At their expectant looks she continued. "Serena dictated a letter to Santa to me a few weeks ago, just like she did last year. This year's letter was a bit different though. Last year she merely sent a list of the things she wanted, categorized by order of importance. This year, she began with a thank you note."

Zoey let out a startled laugh.

"For last years presents?" CJ asked.

"Just two of them."

"Tuft," Zoey guessed. She mentally went through the toys Serena had received the year before, trying to think of one that the child particularly loved. She came up blank. "What was the other gift?"

"You."

"Me?"

"Serena asked for Zoey for Christmas?" Mallory asked, confused.

"Not Zoey specifically, no."

Abbey's eyes widened as she figured it out. "She asked for a mother."

Amy nodded.

"And decided to thank Santa for giving her one," Zoey said softly.

"It was the one thing she wanted most, even more than Tuft."

"Did you save a copy of the letter? I'd like to read it," Zoey said, her eyes focused on the child giggling across the room.

"Of course. It's at home, filed." At Donna's request Amy had kept a journal of cute things Serena had said and done and a file of art work and such. When Josh had taken custody he'd asked Amy to continue.

"Thanks."

"What did she ask for this year?" one of Zoey's friends asked curiously.

"Josh and I haven't been able to get anything out of her," Zoey said. "We've had to rack our brains to think of gifts for her."

"She told Santa that he gave her so much last year that she wasn't going to be greedy this year. There was only one thing on her list."

"I wish that philosophy would rub off on Gus," Liz said wryly. "His list gets longer every year."

"What is the one thing Serena wants?" CJ asked, trying to figure out where to fit a trip to Toys R Us in.

Amy grinned at Zoey. "A baby."

Zoey blinked. "She has tons of dolls."

Abbey shook her head. "No, I think she means a real live baby. A sibling."

Clara Lyman smirked, much like her son. "I think I'd start preparing a nursery."

"Uh we hadn't planned… we thought we'd wait… a couple of years."

Liz chuckled. "With Serena's track record with Santa, your plans might be changing."

They all laughed at Zoey's expression.

"Where are you and Josh going on your honeymoon," Mallory asked, deciding to rescue Zoey with a subject change.

"I'm not sure. Josh is surprising me. I do know that we'll be staying in an inn close to here tomorrow night and Christmas Eve. We'll be back here to spend Christmas with our little girl then we're off."

"Where's Serena going to be staying while you and Josh are away?" Patti asked.

"She'll be staying here with the family until New Years. On the second my parents are returning to the White House. Serena and Amy will be going with them."

"She hasn't been separated from Josh for more than a few hours since he got custody. How is she reacting to the idea?" Clara asked.

"We told her what was happening weeks ago and have been reminding her regularly. So far she seems fine with it. I guess we won't know for sure until we start to leave."

"She'll do fine. We're going to keep her so busy that she won't even know you guys are gone," Abbey promised.

Zoey grinned. "I'm sure Josh will be very comforted by the thought that his daughter doesn't know he's missing for several days."

"When do you get to open the presents?" Serena asked, bounding over to them.

"Careful with Tuft," Zoey admonished, reaching out to stroke the little dog in Serena's arms.

"'Kay. The Presents?"

"I'm not sure." Zoey glanced at each of her sisters, silently asking if the presents were appropriate to open in front of a five-year-old.

Liz chuckled. "We kept this party pretty kid friendly. The guy's party might be a different story."

"I haven't been able to get anything about it out of Toby."

"Jed's been secretive too."

"If Dad had anything to do with planning the entertainment, they're probably playing Trivial Pursuit right now," Zoey said.

"They're playing games?" Serena asked. "I wanna go play games." She gestured around her. "No offense but this is boring."

"Ah, I'm hurt," CJ said. "I helped plan this boring party."

"We do have some games," Liz said. "We'll play them in a little while."

"So I'm staying here?"

"Yep." Zoey suddenly lunged out of her seat to capture the giggling child. "I'd miss you too much if you left." She tickled Serena's stomach while the little girl squirmed to get away.

Liz went to the table stacked with gifts and chose one from the top. She went back to the group and held it out to her sister.

"Present time!" Serena exclaimed.

"I've already got the best present." Zoey squeezed Serena playfully.

"You don't want them," Serena asked, horrified.

"But more never hurt anything," Zoey finished, laughing. She slid the card from beneath the ribbon. "This one is from Ellie." She opened the box and pulled out a lacy red pinafore.

"Is that a nightgown?"

"Yes."

The child eyed it for a few moments before turning to Ellie. "It's winter. She'll get cold."

When everyone laughed the little girl shook her head. "She will."

"Why don't you go pick another present for Zoey to open?" Abbey suggested.

Serena sat back shaking her head in disappointment at the adults as Zoey continued to open packages, most of which contained lingerie.

Liz picked up one of the last few gifts on the table and Serena sat up alertly.

Zoey held up the card. She, Josh, and Serena had been drawn on the front. On the inside Serena had drawn a picture of Zoey in her wedding gown and Josh dressed in a… "Is this a penguin costume?"

"Uh huh. Uncle Toby asked what the guys were going to be wearing for the wedding. Uncle Josh said monkey suits but I've seen the tuxes. They look more like penguin suits than monkey suits."

Zoey bit her lip to keep from laughing. "I'll make sure to show the card to Uncle Josh." She laid the card aside and unwrapped the package. Curiously she lifted out the book inside and flipped it open. "Our Family" was printed in neat calligraphy across the first page. The second page held pictures of her and Josh she recognized from Donna's box of photos. The top of the page proclaimed that the pictures had been taken during the Bartlett for America campaign. Under each photo was a funny or cute caption and flag stickers were scattered around the page. Bus stickers had been used as the border. "This is amazing."

"Amy helped me."

"Thank you both. This had to have taken hours."

Serena shrugged. "It was fun. I liked going through Mommy's pictures. She took a lot."

"The first half of the album or so is pictures Donna took," Amy added. "The more recent photos are toward the back."

She turned a few pages to a double page spread of "Inaugural Balls" pictures. Here, Serena had chosen party hats for the border. In most of the pictures on this page, as with the earlier pages, she and Josh had either been photographed together accidentally, with one of them in the background and the other in the foreground, or in a large group.

Zoey's attention was caught by one picture. She and Josh were dancing. Their first dance. It had been at the first ball and had been more for publicity than anything else. Everyone had felt that she had to be photographed dancing and her father hadn't trusted his sixteen-year-old with very many men. Even knowing that, her teenage heart had fluttered madly. Trust her father to choose the one man she had a crush on to force her to spend more time with. She'd been terrified that someone would somehow read her thoughts and feelings. She ran her finger along the edges of the photo. If only she'd known then what her future held.

She closed the book and laid it down, planning on going through it with Josh later. She opened her arms and the little girl crawled onto her lap. "That book is truly awesome Serena. I love it, and I love you."

Serena laid her head against Zoey's chest. "I love you too."

Zoey stroked her hand down the child's hair. "Getting sleepy?"

"Kind of."

Still holding Serena, Zoey rose. "I'm going to take Serena up. I'll be back in a bit."

Amy stood. "I'll do it."

"No, I've got it. This is probably the last chance I'll get for a couple of weeks and I enjoy taking care of Serena."

After helping Serena change into her pajamas and brush her teeth and hair, Zoey tucked the little girl into bed and lay down next to her with The Secret Garden. She hadn't read more than a few pages before Serena was out.

She set the book on the bedside table and stood to turn the light down. As she was turning toward the door, it quietly opened and Josh peeked into the room.

"Hi," Zoey said softly.

Josh stepped into the room and carefully closed the door behind him. "Hi." He took Zoey's hand, lightly stroking her palm as he pulled her closer to him. "I've missed you today."

She laid her head against his chest. "I've missed you most of the week."

"One more day and the circus will be over."

"Our wedding is a circus?" she asked with a soft laugh.

"Five hundred guests from all over the world, press swarming the gates every time they open, thousands of wedding presents and cards from people we've never heard of; yes I'd say it is a circus." He kissed her gently. "But it's worth all of it. Tomorrow you'll be mine, forever."

"Possessive, aren't we," she teased.

"Damn right." He glanced at the sleeping child a few feet away. "I was hoping to help put her to bed."

"How'd you know we were up here?"

"I went to find out if she was ready to come up to bed. It's getting late and she's going to be up early in the morning."

She raised her head and arched an eyebrow. "You went into the bridal shower? And CJ and Liz let you survive?"

"I sent a female agent in to ask for me. Your mom came out and told me you'd just brought Serena up. I'm sorry I was too late. This is something I'm going to miss the next couple weeks, the two of us tucking Serena in and reading to her together, as a family."

"We don't have to go you know. If leaving her is too much we can stay here or we can go to Disneyworld or something and take her with us."

He traced his thumb over her bottom lip. "I really love you. I want to take you away, have you all to myself. Serena will be fine. We'll call and check on her every day. She'll be with your parents and CJ will be here." He chuckled. "And Disneyworld? I doubt the three of us would survive a trip to Disney right now. Once things have calmed down we'll take a few days to take Serena to Florida."

"She'll love that."

"So will my mom. She's been bugging me to bring Serena down since I got custody."

"Everyone is probably wondering what's taking us so long."

"They'll think Serena is too excited to sleep." He tightened his arms around her. "I'm not ready to let go of you yet. How's the bridal shower?"

"Fun."

"As in women sitting around dishing the guys in their lives fun or male strippers fun?"

She laughed. "Jealous?"

"No, I trust you." He grinned. "Besides they wouldn't have hired strippers knowing Serena and Annie were going to be at the party."

"I don't know. Maybe I'll keep the idea in mind for CJ's shower. The girls might enjoy it and it would certainly keep them from being bored like Serena said she was tonight." She grinned at Josh's scowl. "We did manage to cheer Serena up a little bit with the presents even though she wasn't exactly impressed with most of my friends' choices of gifts." She stroked her hand across his chest, stopping over his heart to blindly trace the lines of the scars she knew so well, loving his intake of breath. "I think you might be."

"Do you? Care to share?"

"Yes, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow night." Her fingers found one of the buttons on his shirt, absently outlining it as she spoke.

"So cruel Zo."

Zoey grinned. "I try. Amy decided to share details from Serena's letter to Santa."

Josh's eyes widened in surprise. He and Zoey had spent a month racking their brains for gift ideas with the nanny insisting that she really didn't know what they should buy the child. Now, the day before their wedding and three days to Christmas, Amy finally decides to share. "What time does Toy's R Us close? Midnight? Or are they open 24 hours during the Christmas season?" He thought a moment. "Maybe I could get Toby or Leo to go early in the morning."

She laughed. "If Toy's R Us was an option, CJ would be there now."

"What does Serena want?"

"A baby."

"She has a room full of dolls. What does this one do that makes it so special?"

"It would eat, sleep, soil diapers, cry and eventually walk, talk, learn to read, drive…"

"A real baby!" Josh interrupted.

Zoey quickly glanced at the bed to see Serena shift slightly.

"Sorry," he whispered. "What does a five-year-old want with a baby?"

She shrugged. "Apparently she's tired of being an only child."

"So she's decided that we should have a baby."

"Decided it and requested it of Santa Claus. It's been pointed out to me that lately Serena has had a pretty good track record with the man in red."

Josh groaned. "Amy announced it?"

Zoey chuckled. "Oh yeah. Pretty much everyone at the shower heard."

"Including my mother. We're both in for serious hints, teasing, and cajoling."

"I think I can deal." She slipped the button she'd been toying with through the hole. "Or we could give her what she wants."

Josh reached for a lock of hair that had fallen into her face, capturing it between his thumb and forefinger. He gently tugged, letting the silky strands caress his skin. "We could." He tucked the hair behind her ear, gliding his hand down the side of her neck. "If you're sure it's what you want. You're getting a ready-made family. No one would blame you if you didn't want to add an infant on top of that immediately."

"You don't want a baby," she said softly.

"Before I had Serena that probably would have been true. I only agreed to take her because I didn't think there'd ever be a need to and I thought it was an easy way to ease Sam's mind. Now I can barely remember what it was like to be childless or why I would have enjoyed that lifestyle. I'd love to get to do it from the beginning. There were so many things I missed with Serena. But there's no rush, no pressure." He grinned. "Part of the advantage of having a child bride."

She rolled her eyes. "I'm not that young."

"I'm glad that Serena is secure enough to want us to have a child but that isn't a good enough reason to have a baby. We'll have one when the time is right. If that's now, I'm fine with it. I'm also fine with waiting a year or two."

"But you're leaning toward waiting."

"With Serena, the press frenzy, my job, your graduate program; yes, I'm inclined to wait a little while."

"Will it ever get better? When my father's term is up you'll either join another team or prepare to run for something yourself. Once I graduate, I'll probably start my own career. We'll always have Serena. And as you become known as a politician in your own right the press scrutiny will increase."

"We'll have some time between your father's term ending and any campaign I launch. I think once the wedding is over the press and public attention will slowly fade back to what they were before we announced the engagement, until I'm in office myself." His thumb skimmed the slope of her cheek. "Do you want a baby that badly Zo?"

"Yes but you make a good argument for waiting several months." She glanced over at the bed. "And even though Serena seems secure enough and is asking for a sibling, things could change. It's probably best to give her a little time to adjust to the changes in her life before making more changes."

There was a soft knock before the door was quietly opened.

Abbey grinned. "We wondered if either of you had any intentions of returning to your parties."

"Do we have to?" Zoey asked.

"Yes. You don't have all that long until midnight anyway. You can't see each other between midnight and the wedding."

Josh rolled his eyes. "That is such a stupid tradition."

"It is tradition nonetheless. Would you like to explain to Jed why you think it is stupid? I'm sure he could shed some light on the history of the custom."

"No, that's okay," he said with a shudder. "I don't have to know the history in order to follow the rule."

Abbey nodded and turned toward her daughter. "I'll see you back at the party in a few minutes."

"Sometimes I wish my parents weren't quite so effective with the manipulation," Zoey said once her mother was gone.

"As a son I agree with you, as a father I hope I'm as good at manipulating my children."

"I guess I should go back to the shower. I wish I didn't have to."

"What would you do instead?"

"Go to bed so that tomorrow would come faster."

He grinned. "Ah, little kid reasoning. I like it."

She kissed his cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow." She turned toward the door but Josh caught her wrist and pulled her back, crashing his mouth onto hers.

His fingers threaded through her hair, cradling her skull as he pulled her closer. He ran his other hand down her back, lightly stroking her spine through her cotton t-shirt, before cupping her jean-clad bottom.

Zoey whimpered into his mouth, trying to press closer and Josh broke away.

"God, I can't wait for tomorrow." Josh pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. "I love you."

"I love you too."

He nodded and was gone.

****************

"Will you please sit down? You're making me dizzy."

Josh frowned at Toby but sat. He was up and pacing again before a full minute had passed. A glance at the clock had him frowning again. "Could time be going any slower?"

"You're not the only one suffering," Toby said with a sigh.

Jed chuckled from the doorway. He waved his hand at Toby, Charlie, and Leo who'd all stood up when he entered and they retook their seats. "Eager I take it?"

"Yes Mr. President."

"You realize that as a member of my family you have the option of being less formal?"

"Yes Sir. Have you seen Zoey? Is she alright?"

"I just left her. She asked me the same about you."

"And sent you to check up on me?"

"Actually, I volunteered." He chuckled again. "Had to make sure you weren't planning on ditching my baby at the altar."

Toby rolled his eyes. "He's spent the morning whining that Zoey might get cold feet and run away."

"He even begged me to help him sneak in to see her to make sure that wasn't her plan," Charlie added. He still wasn't thrilled about the wedding but had resigned himself to it. Josh made Zoey happy. That was all that mattered.

"I did not beg. I merely requested."

"Riiight," Charlie said.

"Is Zoey ready?"

"There's almost an hour to the ceremony," Leo pointed out. "I'd assume they're still preparing. You know women."

"Can't we start early if they're ready? We can send someone to tell them to hurry."

Toby shook his head. "Not if you want wedding guests. The Secret Service isn't exactly encouraging early attendance. The last time I checked they weren't admitting anyone but family and members of the wedding party."

"They still aren't," Charlie said. "The guests won't be allowed in to be seated until twenty minutes to the ceremony but then it's there own fault if they're early. The invitations specified arrival instructions."

"Ron Butterfield provided that paragraph," Josh said. "I think he would have preferred a White House wedding. He said it would have been easier to secure." He glanced between Leo and the President. "It also would have gotten out of Zoey's and my control more easily." The two men hadn't backed down on making the wedding into a huge international event but he and Zoey hadn't backed down either, with the exception of a few compromises. They'd expanded the guest list a bit more than they'd initially wanted to and had agreed to allow Danny Concannon to write an exclusive on the wedding.

"A larger wedding would have benefited you in the long run," Jed said. He held up a hand when Josh started to argue. "It's too late to change anything now and I'd rather we not argue today. I may not like the way the marriage is happening but I've become fond of the thought of you as my son."

"Thank you Sir."

"And now I am going to go assure my daughter that all is well."

************

"Finished," the hairdresser declared, handing Zoey a mirror. "You look stunning. Your groom is going to have to be revived when he sees you."

Zoey gazed at her image for a moment before turning to the woman with a smile. "Thank you."

The woman grinned. "You're welcome though I should be thanking you. By tomorrow I'll be booked through next year."

"Probably," Zoey agreed with a chuckle. She raised an eyebrow at her mother as she watched Abbey whisper something to Serena. The little girl jumped up from the sofa. "Walk."

"Sorry," Serena said, instantly slowing down.

Zoey just hoped that the child kept the slower speed up once she was out the door. As soon as the door closed she turned to her mother.

"What?" Abbey asked innocently.

"Where did you send her?"

"Send her? Oh, no where. She needed to use the restroom."

Zoey gestured to the adjoining bathroom.

Abbey shrugged.

The hairdresser had finished packing her things back up. "Have a wonderful wedding." She smiled at the others around the room. "Merry Christmas."

As the woman left, Serena burst back into the room, almost crashing into her.

"You really don't get the concept of walking, do you?" Annie asked, rolling her eyes.

"Sorry," Serena said to the hairdresser. She walked slowly toward Abbey, tightly clutching the handles of a gift bag behind her back. She perched on the edge of the seat next to Abbey and handed the bag to her.

"Come join us honey," Abbey said to Zoey, patting the seat next to Serena.

"We have more presents," Serena said excitedly. "I got to help wrap and hide them from you."

"Nice." Zoey smirked at her mother. "What a role model you are, teaching her to keep things from me so early on."

"I try." Abbey pulled the first package out of the bag. "This one is from me."

Zoey carefully unwrapped the gift and stroked her hand over the box, swallowing. "Is this…"

Abbey reached over and opened the box.

Zoey ran her finger over the delicate diamond studded heart.

"When you were a little girl you loved this necklace. Every time I wore it you'd climb on my lap and trace the heart over and over much as you are now."

"I'd beg you to let me wear it and every once in a while you'd put it around my neck and hand me a mirror."

"Somewhere I have a picture of you wearing it when you were about three. I want you to have it. It's your something old."

"Mom… I can't take this. It was your wedding present from Daddy."

Abbey took the box off Zoey's lap and took the necklace out. "You can. I knew I'd eventually be giving this to you the first time you saw it. Barely two and completely enamored with a piece of jewelry." She gently slid the necklace around her daughter's throat and clasped it. "It's yours. All I want for you, and all I've wanted for your sisters, is for you to find the love and happiness that I did. This necklace will bring you luck." She brushed a tear away, blinking to keep the others back. "Not that you'll need luck. Josh worships you."

"And I him," Zoey said softly. "Thank you Mom."

"No tears," Abbey ordered, trying to sound firm around the lump in her own throat. "You don't want a blotchy face at your wedding." She reached into the bag now lying at her feet and pulled out another package.

"You're something new," Serena announced.

Zoey undid the ribbon and lifted a handkerchief out of the wrapping. She laid it over her hand and examined the intricate embroidery. An interlinking J and Z filled the center of the square.

"Aunt CJ says weddings are happy but they're also for crying."

"She's right and I love the handkerchief." She kissed the child's forehead. "Thank you sweetheart."

Abbey took another package from the bag.

"They were my mothers," CJ explained when Zoey looked down at the earrings in confusion. "When I saw the necklace, I knew those earrings had to be your something borrowed."

"They're beautiful."

"Finally we have your something blue." Abbey handed her the last package and set the bag aside. "Your sisters chose this one."

Zoey took the soft package. "Something else made of cloth or lace."

"I wonder what that could be," Annie said with another eye roll, earning her a glare from her mother.

"What's that?" Serena asked as Zoey held a piece of blue lace up.

"It's called a garter."

"Oh. What's it for?"

"Zoey will wear it on her leg," Abbey explained.

Annie started to elaborate but a look from her grandmother stopped her.

Serena stared at the garter for a few seconds and shrugged. "Okay."

"Thank you all. This is all wonderful. You are all wonderful."

"No tears," Liz reminded.

"I told you guys we should do this before her makeup was applied," Ellie said.

"There won't be any tears," Liz said firmly. "At least not yet."

Zoey chuckled and saluted. "Yes Ma'am."

Liz mock scowled as the rest of the family burst out laughing. "So much disrespect."

A knock sounded at the door a moment before Jed pushed it open slightly and peeked in. "Is everyone decent?"

Zoey rose to hug him. "How's Josh?"

Jed chuckled. "He asked the same about you. He's very eager for the ceremony to start."

Zoey glanced at the clock. "So am I but waiting a few more minutes won't kill him."

"No, it won't, though it might feel like it will." He grinned at Abbey. "I remember pacing the room driving Leo nuts right before my wedding. It seemed like the seconds were crawling." He turned his attention back to Zoey. "You look beautiful."

"Thank you Daddy."

"My baby girl, all grown up and getting married," he mused. "It seems like you just learned to say "Da", rode your pony around the paddock for the first time, took your first steps in the yard where you'll say your vows in just a few minutes." He glanced around the room. "May I have a few minutes alone with Zoey?"

CJ was the first to stand. She held her hand out to Serena. "Shall we go see Uncle Josh?"

Serena nodded eagerly. "I wanna show him my dress."

The others quietly followed the chattering child from the room.

"All of my little girls grown up, one with a nearly grown child of her own. Where did the time go?"

Zoey laughed. "It feels the same for us you know. One minute you're bladeing and climbing trees; the next you're graduating high school, doing the college thing, planning a wedding."

"I worried about you a lot while you were bladeing and climbing all those trees." He grinned. "I was sure your tomboy tendencies were going to earn you a broken neck and more scars than you could count."

"There were a few times I was too," she admitted.

"And then that throng of guys you went out with. Were you trying to give me a heart attack?"

She cocked an eyebrow. "I thought you liked Charlie."

"Charlie I liked. It was the others, before and after him, that I couldn't stand." He scowled. "Especially the Loser Prince."

"Oh, really?" she asked with a grin. "I thought you dreamed of having Jean Paul as your son-in-law."

"More like nightmares. Let's say your mother and I were neither one heart broken when you informed us of the break up. When I learned of the feelings you and Josh had for each other I briefly wished that Jean Paul was still around. Very briefly. I never felt that you were safe with him. From the beginning I knew that Josh would die before he'd allow you to be harmed."

At Zoey's surprised look he went on. "Oh, I wasn't thrilled with the relationship by any means. I just felt that he was the better alternative. Actually, at the beginning I was hoping that it wouldn't work out, that maybe it would be the catalyst to you realizing that you and Charlie were meant to be."

"And now?"

He sighed. "I realized a long time ago that you and Charlie never would have worked. I'll always consider Charlie to be a member of the family, the fourth child your mother and I never had. I should have known from your reactions after Roslyn that the two of you weren't right for each other. If something similar were to happen now, you and Josh wouldn't leave each others sides without being carried away under sedation. It would drive you closer together, not farther apart as it did you and Charlie. It took me a while but I eventually got it."

"I never felt with Charlie like I do Josh. I feel… I don't know… alive, energized, content, lighter than air when I'm with Josh." She snickered. "Sappy, I know."

"Sappy is good sometimes." His voice softened. "You're happy. Josh wouldn't have been my choice had I been designing the ideal husband for you but he makes you happy, happier than I've ever seen you. That's all I've ever wanted for you."

"I love you Daddy."

"And I love you baby. You know that you'll always be my baby girl no matter how old you are, how long you've been married, how many children you have, right?"

She hugged him, careful not to press her face against his suit. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Jed looked over her shoulder at the clock. "Shall we get you married?"

"It's time?" She turned to face the clock. "Where are the others?"

"Not far, I imagine. They're probably waiting in the hall wondering how long to give us before reminding us of the time." Squeezing her one last time, he started to turn toward the door. "I'll find them."

"You needn't find us Jethro," Abbey said from the doorway. "We do know how to tell time. Now, out. I need to help Zoey with some finishing touches."

************

"Hi Uncle Josh!" Serena ran into the room and threw herself against Josh.

Laughing, Josh caught the child in a hug. "Hi Angel."

Serena spun in a circle, her dark green dress twirling around her.

"You look so grown up."

"Gorgeous," Charlie declared.

Leo grinned at Josh. "You're going to have your work cut out for you in a few years."

Serena beamed, doing another pirouette.

"I know." Josh sighed. "Why can't she just stay five forever?"

Leo laughed. "I imagine the President is wondering the same thing right about now."

CJ stepped into the room, glancing around until she found Serena. "You were supposed to knock first young lady."

"They didn't mind," Serena excused.

Josh knelt down next to Serena, catching her chin in his hand. "Aunt CJ told you to knock. Why didn't you listen to her?"

Serena shrugged.

"Aunt CJ, Uncle Toby, Grandma Abbey, and Grandpa Jed are going to be looking after you while Zoey and I are on our honeymoon. I need to know that you are going to listen to all of them. When they tell you to do something it's for a reason."

"'Kay."

"What do you need to say to Aunt CJ?"

"I'm sorry Aunt CJ."

"Are you going to behave while I'm gone?"

"Uh huh."

"Promise?"

"I promise I'll be good. Are you and Zoey going to bring me back presents?"

"You're going to get presents on Christmas. Isn't that enough?"

Serena thought about it for a few moments. "No. I want souvenirs too."

Josh chuckled. "I'll see what I can do."

Toby stepped into the room. "The Judge is ready for us to head out to the tent." Josh and Zoey had decided that with the differences in their faiths, it would be better to not go there with the wedding. The President had protested but had eventually backed down when they'd chosen a long time friend of his to preside over the ceremony.

Josh noticed that Serena had gone pale. He dropped to his knees again. "Hey, remember I told you Zoey and I asked Judge Peters to help us?"

Serena nodded, her bottom lip caught between her teeth.

"Judge Peters is Grandpa Jed's friend. He's retired. Do you know what that means?"

"He's too old to work now."

"Or that he was ready to devote most of his time to something else. When he was working, he never did family court cases."

"Like custody?"

"That's right. He's here as a favor to Grandpa, that's it."

"Promise?"

"I promise." He pulled her close. "I would never do anything that would make me lose you. You are mine forever." He held her until the tension had eased from her body and then pulled back. "Now, can you go tell Zoey to hurry for me?"

"Sure." She waved at the room in general. "Bye."

************

Josh stood at the front of the large tent, gazing out at the gathered crowd. His mother and Abbey had both just been seated in the front row on opposite sides of the aisle. Serena's nanny, Amy, sat with his mother, ready to intervene with the child just in case. Farther out he could see Joey Lucas and her interpreter Kenny, Matt Skinner, Nancy McNally, and Admiral Fitswallace scattered around the tent.

Danny Concannon's bright hair caught his attention and he arched an eyebrow in surprise. Andrea Wyatt occupied the chair next to Danny's and the two were whispering back and forth. The notepad that was Danny's constant accessory lay idle on his lap. He and Zoey had promised Danny an exclusive. They'd already sat for an interview and had provided Danny with never published private photos of the two of them with Serena and had promised him a selection of wedding pictures.

He had no delusions that the arrangement with Danny would keep the rest of the press away but hopefully the photos and details Danny provided would satisfy some of the public's lust for information on his family.

Music filled the space and the back flaps of the tent were opened by Secret Service agents in tuxes. The agents stood on either side of the entrance as Gus and Serena stepped into the tent together. Gus carried the rings and Serena held a basket of blood red rose petals. Both children kept their gazes trained toward the men standing in front, obviously trying to ignore the wedding guests. The children reached the front and went to stand together opposite the men, as they'd been instructed to do.

Next Annie came down the aisle, followed by CJ, Ellie, and Liz. Their four dresses were identical in color to Serena's and similar in design but where hers had red trim theirs were plain and hers had a fuller, flouncier skirt.

"It's not too late to change your mind," Jed teased in a whisper, peeking in to see his oldest daughter make her way down the aisle.

"I could be the runaway bride," Zoey responded with a smile. "Imagine the publicity."

Jed squeezed her hand. "You are a lovely bride. I've only seen two as lovely."

"Mom and Liz?"

He nodded. "My three favorite brides, four if Ellie ever decides to marry. Josh is a lucky man. I'd say that I hope he realizes that but I know that he does."

"He does. Just as I know how fortunate I am to have him. He loves me, really loves me, not the President's daughter or a political trophy wife."

The music changed and Jed smiled. "There's our cue. Ready?"

"Oh yeah."

Zoey stepped into sight holding on to her father's arm and the guests rose as one, most of them beaming at the bride. She glanced over them quickly, smiling at the few who caught her eye, before focusing on those gathered at the front of the room.

Her sisters, Annie, and CJ stood together with Serena and Gus in front of them. Both children wore shy smiles and were standing so close to the adult's legs that they were practically stepping on their feet. CJ held her flowers in one hand while her other hand rested on Serena's shoulder. Liz was doing the same with Gus but while CJ smiled down at the children, Liz stared out at her husband, her expression wistful.

Across from the women, Josh stood with Leo, Toby, Charlie, and Will. She made eye contact with Charlie and was relieved when he sent her a reassuring smile. She'd been pretty sure her friend had made peace with her and Josh's relationship but there'd been just enough lingering doubt to make her a bit concerned about the possibility of a scene.

Zoey's gaze locked with Josh's as she reached the front of the room and he stepped toward her.

Jed leaned down to kiss his daughter's cheek. "I love you." He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to brush at the tears beginning to sting his eyes. He lifted his daughter's small hand and placed it in Josh's larger one, watching their fingers link together. "Take care of her."

"Always."

Jed joined his wife, taking her hand as they took their seats to watch their youngest daughter say her vows.

Serena leaned back against CJ, staring up at Josh and Zoey. Gus stood next to her shifting from foot to foot. She sent him a glare but he ignored her. Holding in her sigh of annoyance she turned back to the ceremony. Judge Peters asked for the rings and Liz nudged Gus who handed them over.

She smiled as her Uncle slipped Zoey's ring onto her finger. Both of them were smiling but their eyes looked shinny like they were going to cry. She really didn't understand adults. Aunt CJ had told her that people cry at wedding a lot but weddings were supposed to be happy. Usually she cried when she was sad or hurt, sometimes angry, but never when she was happy.

"By the powers vested in me by the state of New Hampshire, I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Josh cradled the back of Zoey's head in his palm, gently pulling her closer as he bent toward her.

"Gross!" Gus scrunched his face up and made gagging noises as Josh and Zoey's lips met.

Several of the guests sitting close enough to hear the comment chuckled.

Serena scowled at Gus who stuck his tongue out. Her eyes widened and she bit down on her own tongue to keep from responding.

CJ noticed the little girl's anger and restraint and squeezed her shoulder, noticing that Liz's hand had tightened on her son's shoulder. The First Daughter still had a smile firmly locked in place but CJ knew her well enough to know that it was forced.

Josh broke the kiss but kept his arms wrapped around his bride. He nodded to the judge.

"Mr. and Mrs. Lyman would like to invite you all to head over to the barn where the reception will be taking place. Ushers will dismiss you by aisle. Josh, Zoey, and their wedding party will be joining you after pictures have been taken," Judge Peters announced.

With nudging from CJ and Liz, the two children reluctantly took each others hands and started back down the aisle followed by Charlie and Annie, CJ and Toby, Will and Ellie, Leo and Liz, and finally Josh and Zoey.

A half-hour later the wedding party stepped into the barn and the guests looked up. Josh and Zoey entered and the guests stood, clapping.

Amid the applause, Josh seated Zoey at the head table and took the seat beside her, Serena on his other side. He smiled down at the little one with amusement. She was nearly bouncing in her seat with happiness.

From across the table, Leo grinned at Josh. "How does it feel to be a married man?"

Josh caught Zoey's hand in his beneath the table, caressing her knuckles as he answered. "Indescribable."

"No regrets that your freedom is gone?" Charlie teased.

"None." He met Zoey's gaze. "I wish I'd lost my freedom to Zoey sooner."

The President sat up straighter and arched an eyebrow. "How much sooner Josh? Much earlier and Zoey would have been little more than a child."

Josh blinked, running back through his statement with a wince. "Not necessarily starting the relationship earlier but marrying her earlier."

Jed forced his expression to stay stony, doing his best to look as menacing as possible while holding back a smirk. "Ah, so you would have fast tracked the relationship and pushed Zoey to go at a more rapid pace than she was ready for?"

"Uh, that's not exactly what I meant." Josh held back the urge to squirm under the President's penetrating gaze. "I'd never push Zoey into anything. But if I had realized my feelings sooner or… I'm just gonna shut up now."

Jed finally allowed his laugh to burst out.

Josh ran his hand through his hair, studying the table. The President was laughing so hard tears were forming at the corners of his eyes, probably leftovers from the wedding, Josh reflected. Charlie sat smirking, obviously glad that he wasn't the one on the receiving end of the President's sense of humor this time. Serena sat staring bemusedly at the adults until CJ leaned over to whisper into the child's ear that Grandpa Jed was just teasing, instantly transforming the little girl's confusion into silliness as she tried to outdo Jed. Then everyone was joining in, trading jibes and jokes, as those seated at the other tables around the barn stared in astonishment.

**************

Zoey pulled on a pair of slacks and matching blouse, watching out of the corner of her eye as Serena did the same at the other end of the room. The child could dress herself for the most part but still occasionally needed help with a difficult button or caught zipper.

Finished, she sat down on the edge of the bed to tug on socks and comfortable shoes. She patted the comforter. "Bring your brush over."

Serena hopped up next to Zoey, dropping the brush on the bed. "When we go back down you're going to throw the bouquet?"

"Yes." Zoey began undoing Serena's intricate hairstyle, setting pins and bands in a neat pile beside her.

"After that are you and Uncle Josh going to leave?"

"At some point after the bouquet, yes. The goodbyes will probably take a while."

The little girl was silent for several minutes as Zoey gently ran the brush through her hair, giving her time to formulate her thoughts.

"I'm going to miss both of you," Serena finally said softly.

"We'll miss you too." She paused. "We're leaving tonight but we'll be back the day after tomorrow for Christmas."

"But then you're going to be gone for two weeks."

They'd been preparing Serena for weeks and the child had brushed the idea of the separation off like it was nothing but Zoey had been afraid that once it actually came time for it to happen the child's reaction might change. Serena had been fine a few years before when her father had married Donna and gone away on their honeymoon but her life now wasn't anything like it had been then. So much had changed, had gone wrong. It would be astonishing if the child didn't show some insecurity. She slowly set the brush aside and opened her arms. "Come here."

Serena immediately crawled onto Zoey's lap and rested against her.

Zoey smoothed her hand down Serena's still baby soft hair. "Sweetheart, I love you so much that I don't have a word to describe it and Uncle Josh loves you even more than that."

"But you're leaving," Serena accused.

"After a wedding the bride and groom usually go away for a little while for some alone time. Uncle Josh and I going away doesn't mean that we don't love you. We just want to spend a little bit of time away from the press and everything, alone. We'll be calling you everyday." She grinned. Knowing Josh, he'd be calling multiple times each day to make sure that Serena was okay and to remind everyone of her schedule and about her carcinogen free diet, until her parents and CJ were tempted to turn off their phones.

"Everyday? Promise?"

"I absolutely promise. Neither of us could miss a day of hearing your voice." Zoey held in her sigh of relief when Serena laid her head against Zoey's chest. At least Serena seemed to be listening now. "Uncle Josh and I are leaving you with people we trust completely. Aunt CJ and the others love you almost as much as Uncle Josh and I do."

"Aunt CJ says she loves me to pieces."

"We all do." Zoey squeezed her a little tighter. "Aunt CJ and Grandma Abbey both know how to reach Uncle Josh and I while we're gone if you need to call us."

"Anytime?"

"Anytime."

Serena nodded as Zoey picked up the brush to finish the child's hair.

A few minutes later, Serena skipped into the barn, Zoey following closely behind. The child led the way to the steps leading to the loft.

Zoey smiled out at the crowd, most of whom had turned toward her expectantly. "If the single women would like to come toward the front, I'm ready to throw the bouquet."

As the women started moving forward, CJ handed Zoey the flowers.

Zoey arched an eyebrow and gestured toward the group in front of her. "Shouldn't you be joining them?"

"I caught the bouquet at Donna and Sam's wedding," CJ pointed out. "It's your wedding we're at not mine."

"The second time is the charm?"

"I think that's supposed to be the third time's the charm."

Zoey shrugged. "Not anymore. Get out there." She gave CJ a light shove and with an annoyed glare CJ stepped into the crowd. Zoey studied the women, trying to memorize their locations. Finally, closing her eyes, Zoey turned to face the loft. She tossed the flowers over her shoulder and grinned at the sounds of chaos that followed; dozens of high heels clicking against the wooden floor, fabric swishing and rubbing together, and gasps, squeals, and laughs of the women lunging for the bouquet.

She spun back around, expecting to see CJ holding up the bunch of flowers. CJ stood near the front of the crowd with Serena, both of them empty handed. After allowing a slight pout at her aim being off to show, Zoey followed the gazes of the crowd. Ellie stood a few feet behind CJ staring down at the flowers she held in her hands.

Ellie slowly raised her head to meet her sister's eyes. "You did that on purpose," she accused without rancor.

Zoey smiled and shrugged, not giving away that she hadn't actually planned on her sister catching the bouquet. She glanced at CJ, who was holding back a laugh, before letting her eyes search for Josh. He stood at the far end of the room, half lounging against the wall. Catching her staring at him, he smirked before pushing away from the wall to head toward her, his strides slow and relaxed.

Grinning, she stepped down and moved toward him, passed those still surrounding her sister, giggling and teasing.

"What's a classy girl like you doing in a place like this?"

She pondered the question for a few seconds. "Waiting for a handsome prince to take me away."

"Any handsome prince or a specific one?"

She shrugged. "Oh, I'm not choosy. Anyone will do so long as he's handsome and titled."

Josh scowled playfully, stepping closer until she was trapped between him and a table. "Any prince will do?"

Zoey nodded, biting down on the inside of her cheek so that she wouldn't smile. From the corner of her eye she noticed some of her family and friends chuckling as they watched the interplay.

He leaned forward until she could feel his breath fanning her ear. "Even a French one?"

"I wouldn't go that far but maybe a British one. They're both cute." She paused a second before frowning. "But they're both kinda young. I've always gone more for older men."

"Are you calling me old?"

"Yep but I like you that way. I guess any prince won't do. I'll keep you." She stretched up to press her lips to his in a quick kiss but Josh quickly took over, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her. Laughs, whistles and mocking catcalls came from the growing crowd and Josh reluctantly broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to Zoey's. "You ready to blow this joint?"

"Oh yeah."

"You get Serena and I'll find someone to leave her with and meet you back at the house."

Serena wasn't difficult to locate and a couple minutes later Zoey was headed toward the farmhouse with the child. She and Josh would tuck the little girl in, read to her, and then leave once she was sleeping. When they'd discussed the best way to do this, Josh had felt that this would be easiest for Serena. Tomorrow Serena would be kept too busy with Christmas preparations to dwell on Josh's absence and the next day, Christmas, she and Josh would be back to spend the holiday with the family. Christmas night they'd be leaving for ten days.

Clara Lyman was waiting in the hallway. She was staying in the bedroom across from Serena's. After hugging the little girl and sending her into her room to Josh to get ready for bed, Clara turned to Zoey. "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to speak with you earlier." She grinned. "Every time I thought the line was about to shrink, it would prove me wrong. Welcome to the family."

"Thank you."

Clara paused as if trying to decide if she should continue or not. Finally she spoke softly and hesitantly. "A year ago I didn't think a relationship between you and my son would work. I cautioned Josh against starting anything with you."

"He told me about that."

"My only concern was my son's happiness, and his daughter's."

"Josh and I both realize that."

"I was wrong. The dynamic you and my son share is something special Zoey. I've always seen a lot of Noah in Joshua but the similarities the last several months have been surreal."

"I hope that you'll share that with Josh. It would mean a lot to him. He admired his father very much."

"I'll do that." She gestured toward the bedroom door, smiling. "You should get in there before Josh calls for a search party."

Zoey gave the woman a quick hug. "Thank you again."

"Eager are we?"

Josh was perched on the edge of the child's bed staring at the bathroom door, already holding their book. He raised his eyes to his wife, watching silently at she gently closed the bedroom door behind her. "I love Serena but I swear she's purposefully taking forever to brush her teeth."

"Would you rather she have cavities?"

"With Sam's genes? Not likely." He laid the book down and stood, wrapping his arms around Zoey. "Serena said you were talking with my mother."

"She wanted to welcome me to the family." She tilted her head when Josh's eyebrows shot up toward his hairline. "Someone being happy to have me as a part of their family is a shock?"

"I'm thrilled to finally have you for my wife and Serena is nearly bouncing off the walls, she's so excited to have a mother again. My mother, however, has never acted pleased about our relationship. I knew that she had resigned herself to it but I didn't realize that her opinion had changed so drastically."

"Neither did I. I was very surprised when she stopped me." She smirked. "Maybe she won't be a monster-in-law after all."

Josh chuckled. "I wouldn't use that term with her or she might become one."

"Have you forgotten my father's career? I do know how to be diplomatic. It was taught to me right along with walking, talking, and holding my own spoon."

They both turned when the bathroom door creaked open. Serena stepped out wearing a pair of polar bear pajamas and Winnie the Pooh slippers.

"I haven't seen that pair before. They're cute."

"Grandma Clara brought them for me." She climbed onto the bed and wiggled under the covers.

Josh dropped down beside her and reclined back against the headboard, beckoning for Zoey to join him. "Teeth brushed and face washed?"

In answer, Serena bared her teeth in a huge grin.

"Good girl." He leaned over to grab the book he'd abandoned at the foot of the bed. "Zoey and I won't be here when you wake up in the morning. We're going to leave in a little while, after we say goodbye to the others, so that we can spend tomorrow alone."

"I remember. But it is only for a day, right? You'll be back on Christmas?"

"Of course we'll back for Christmas. I wouldn't miss Christmas with my favorite little girl for anything."

Serena giggled. "I'm your only little girl."

"That makes choosing a favorite really easy," he teased, lightly tugging on a lock of hair almost the exact shade Sam's had been. He tucked the hair behind Serena's ear, wondering what Sam would say if he were here. What advice would Sam give? He'd always thought that if he ever married Sam would stand as his best man, and tease him mercilessly about finally letting a woman whip him enough to get a ring out of him.

A part of him was curious about what his friend's reaction to his relationship with Zoey would be. If Sam was here would he approve or would he have tried to dissuade Josh? Hell, if Sam was here, or Donna was, would he and Zoey even be married right now?

During the President's first campaign, he'd known that Zoey had a crush on him. She was smart, pretty, sweet, a good kid all around and he'd been flattered. He'd befriended her while doing his best to not lead her on. As he'd known would happen, she'd gotten a little older, met people her own age in the area and eventually had begun dating. Charlie was a also a good kid and Josh had very much approved of the choice and had been a little relieved that the crush had handled itself so efficiently.

Then circumstances had intervened, the shooting happened, and Charlie and Zoey were no more. After the break up she'd gone out with a string of losers and suck ups, culminating with Jean Paul. Josh had been a bit concerned with her choices but hadn't wanted to over step by saying anything to her.

He hadn't realized his own attraction to her until months after the car accident. By that time he and Zoey were spending hours a week together or with Serena. Instead of calling on CJ or his mother he'd asked Zoey to help Serena and himself redecorate the child's bedroom. When it had become time to take the child clothes shopping, Zoey had accompanied them. She'd been the first person they called after they chose Tuft. Even as he'd integrated her so firmly into their lives, it had taken him months to realize that something more than friendship was developing between then. He'd been in love with her before he'd even realized what was happening.

"Thank you Sam," he whispered.

"Josh?"

He turned to see Zoey gazing at him, concern etched on her face. He linked his fingers with hers on the comforter while running his other hand over Serena's hair. "I was just realizing just how much he gave me." He rubbed slow circled along the back of her hand. "I love both of you more than I imagined was possible."

Zoey laid her head against his shoulder. She'd never thought about it from that angle before but Sam and Donna had both given them such a gift, without even realizing it.

Swallowing back the lump that had formed in his throat, Josh opened the book and began to read. He'd barely started reading when Serena's eyes flitted closed and wasn't through the second page before she was out. He read a few more paragraphs and quietly closed the book, setting it on the nightstand.

"She's had a long day," Zoey softly commented.

"We all have." He stood up and held out his hand to Zoey, before carefully tucking the bedding in around Serena and turning on the nightlight. He pressed a kiss to the little one's forehead and stood back while Zoey did the same.

In the hall, he pulled the door until it was barely cracked open and then turned toward Zoey. "Alone, finally. What do you say we sneak away before anyone notices we haven't said goodbye?"

She chuckled softly. "That would be a little rude, don't you think?"

"Yes. I don't really care. We'll be back here day after tomorrow and we'll see the ones that really matter then." He stepped a little closer, reaching out for her. "If we go back out there it will take forever to break away. We'll spend the rest of our evening making small talk and taking pictures. I can think of much more interesting uses of our evening."

"You've corrupted me," she said with a grin.

"As long as I get what I want, I don't care." He took her hand, leading her toward the back stairs to the kitchen. "I told the driver to have the limo waiting."

Zoey gasped. "You planned this all along."

"Oh yeah."

"You are so bad."

"But you love me for it."

"And about a million other reasons. Mostly I love you just because you're you."

Josh stopped mid step. He gently pressed her against the wall, moving closer until he was speaking against her lips. "God how I love you Zoey Lyman." His lips crashed down on hers. One hand burrowed in her hair as the other smoothed down her back to slide beneath her shirt, caressing the length of her spine.

Zoey let her head fall back against the wall as Josh's mouth moved over her throat. His hand slid down to her bottom squeezing and molding as he pulled her closer to him. She gasped and arched against his hardness, whimpering when she couldn't get close enough.

Josh nipped at her earlobe, sucked it into his mouth, let his ragged breath fan it. "Limo. Now." Summoning what was left of his restraint, he stepped back, quickly moving down the remaining stairs with Zoey right behind him.

************