Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. I do own the plot line.

Please note: When the body of a public official or other notable person is placed in its casket for mourners to pay their respects in a government building, they lie 'in state'; otherwise, they lie 'in repose'.

Author's note 7/17/13: It's been over a year since I've updated this fic, for a number of reasons including the climate of the last Presidential election which I didn't want to make this about. The politics is a backdrop only. My health as my regular readers know has also been an issue, and now I'm a bit wary of posting; out of practice. I've been writing; I haven't given up on this fic or any other though, and this chapter sat on the hard drive unedited for quite a while.

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Politics as Usual

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Chapter 35

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Did people see it? Some surely did. It is not ego talking that the three of us – Richard, Barbara and me – would create a stir seen together on television. Even given the nature of the topic we discussed, the seriousness of the day we would be fodder for gossip. Hopefully it would only be among just a handful of political junkies and maybe some 'celebrity' watchers, in the loosest sense of the word. Other people could find entertainment elsewhere. But there were those political watchers, even pundit junkies, and I was aware enough of the current culture that there surely were Twitterers out there that would be tweeting about this. Would it be trending? What would the hash tag be? Would there be our own 'Twang' term describing us. What would happen on Tumblr and Blogspot. I guess time was on their side because they could discuss this kind of thing.

How far gone was I to be even thinking about this? I was certainly a mess.

In the years after working in the Hudson White House, I'd paid less attention to Richard and Barbara before I realized. It was denial mostly because but they were a high profile couple. So yes, the three of us appearing together on television at the same time in the same panel discussion was just fodder for the Washington gossip columnists and bloggers, and given that Babs was painting me as the home-wrecker before this and would most certainly after it, well I knew going in it was not going to be fun.

I suddenly realized how much easier it had been a decade or so ago.

Things had been already brewing in social media and I hadn't realized. I guess I was blind to that as well, so much on my mind while I was pretending to be doing something other than taking care of a dying President. I had no real celebrity or notoriety in my mind, and didn't think that much about Richard's. Richard and I had been in New York, not inside the Beltway. Even inside of Washington who but our friends would care that much about a cable news pundit / former speech writer seen out with a former White House Chief of Staff?

How naïve. So we had been spotted in New York. Dirty Dancing. No pictures, or none that had surfaced as yet, although those would have been fun for personal consumption only perhaps... I was too, but how could I think about that?

Anyway, I have a few friends – or so called friends – that thought it has hilarious. The Ex-President's White House Love Triangle. A couple were contemporaries, people our age in punditry or still in politics, even a TV show 'sidekick'. Some associates who were younger, wondering how us 'old folks' could find each other appealing at 'our age' (although it was pointed out that Dick Grayson was quite a catch). While others thought that even at our advanced age, having two red heads, that would be me and Babs, fighting over you doesn't exactly suck either. Not my words, by the way.

Okay enough, the appearance was over and finding the humor as well as some of the horror in it was just part of who I was.

There were some pointed and self-serving digs that I cannot imagine will not harm Barbara in some manner as far as general likability or as a television guest. Again, I'll pull the video at some point – a postmortem perhaps? - and I imagine Tumblr and worse yet YouTube will be less than kind...

In an evil moment in the future I might grab Lil and some Chocolate Chocolate Chip Haagen Daaz and watch some on the TV with the built in App (nothing like the big screen), but really, was this necessary?:

Her air was meant to be regal no doubt. "Of course, the members of Congress will be the first to gather after President Hudson is laid out in the Rotunda..."

Laid out? Really? I had to say something. That sounded beyond cold to me. I broke in, "As with ten previous presidents, President Hudson will lay in state on the same black catafalque built for Lincoln in the Rotunda. All sitting presidents lie in state in the Rotunda, and as can former presidents and even president-elects can as well, if that event were to arise. President Hudson will be the eleventh to do so."

Because Barbara as a member of Congress would have the honor of greeting the president's casket at the Rotunda, her mention of that fact unprompted had turned our conversation about life staffing the Hudson White House into a turned into a history lesson on US Presidential funerals.

Dick and I knew the protocol to the letter and no doubt Barbara would be at the very least getting brushed up on the details.

"How do they plan such a thing so quickly, Dick?" the host asked.

"The President begins planning his funeral upon his election," Dick responded matter-of-factually. "There's many things already set due to tradition, other things which the president tailors to his preferences and religious traditions. Protocols change after a president leaves office and adjustments are made."

"I understand that President Hudson wasn't ill for very long. I mean, it's terrible to ask, but were they, the family, ready for the funeral?" A reasonable question. I wasn't surprised it was asked.

Dick looked to me, and I already knew I was on camera on a three shot. "As ready as a family ever is." I nearly winced at how it made me sound so intimate with the family. It had been widely known I was close to the family but my plan was never to sound like a family member. "Plans were already in place after President Hudson left office, as all presidents are sure they have in place. People need to properly say good bye to their leaders."

"The public does need to mourn. Now Barbara, the Congress's role is what exactly?"

"To gather and receive the President's casket. There is a short service and the laying of wreaths. Then there will be private viewing for those who did not attend the viewing at the Hudson compound."

"Isn't a private viewing in a residence unusual?" Again, not an unexpected question, it hadn't been done in a while. My eyes dropped; the question was likely mine but I didn't speak right away. On live TV. Yes I passed on it. Not my best moment, though I guess I earned a pass.

Dick spoke up, a slight swivel of the chair and his hand was on my knee under the desk, a reassuring squeeze. Solidarity in a sense. As it was we were heading to the Hudson Compound within twenty-four hours. "Private viewings aren't unprecedented; it's just less common than it was even a few decades back. But it is what his family wanted and what they were able to do on such a secure property."

My confidence back I added, "President Hudson wanted to be sure that he was available to the public for mourning, but also this is what he had expressively wanted. A few more hours at home with family at home."

The host blinked back a tear. "And that viewing is beginning today and then he is to be moved to the Rotunda on Thursday."

I nodded. "Yes."

"And we'll have complete coverage..."

I tuned out as we went to break. When we were about to go into the next segment about the early days of the Hudson administration, the producer came up and asked me if I was okay, and the set director spoke in my ear, something soothing I'm sure, asking just for the additional segments which were already agreed upon. I nodded and smiled, taking a moment to realize that the earpiece wouldn't pick up the nod.

"Just water." The pitcher was in front of me. I shook my head and forced a smile. "It has been a tough... it has not been overwhelming lately." An understatement if there ever was one.

Dick swiveled his chair back toward me again, his expression open for questions, and I gave him a brave smile and he answered with a brief lop-sided smile and then a nod.

He then touched my hip and gave me a slight nod, and I watched his face go neutral as he got up and walked away. I focused on pouring a glass of water and drinking it, not sure when I last had something to drink, knowing I should. The studio was always dry and just the stress of being on TV is enough to dehydrate you.

I had a sense that something was in the air, but I was busy zoning out, drinking water, breathing. Shortly after when my two fellow panelists returned, I quickly picked up on what happened: a discussion out of my hearing given the shell-shock look from Barbara and that stone mask of Richard's. I didn't have the luxury to process anything about it further as they were counting down when Richard and Babs were remic'ng.

The next two segments were fine, I think, some stories of the first few years as I went into auto pilot, interacting less and less with Richard and Barbara, and only with our hose Shep. We wrapped with a segment about the time since Hudson had left office, his work with the wounded soldiers and with young aspiring politicians.

"He hired you right out of college, right Kory." Shep asked.

I brightened, still proud of that accomplishment, happy to reminisce on happier times. "Yes, he did. Richard and I had met then-Governor at a fundraiser while I was a senior in college and I was hired to work on the election before I graduated. President Hudson hired a lot of young staff. He kept me on the transition team and next thing I knew I was a White House speech writer before I was twenty-two." I hadn't planned to throw out there the history I had with Richard, or to sound so arrogant about things, but clarifying my history with Richard was important to me. Insecurities were abounding, I later realized.

"And you were the youngest White House Chief-of-Staff ever, right Richard?"

He nodded. "Yes sir."

"That's great."

Babs being five years older was left out of that discussion.

We closed soon after. I had no idea what had transpired between them during the station break, and I wasn't sure I could deal if it was anything major. I wasn't sure how to feel about the lack of emotion from Richard toward Barbara. It was not a cold disappointment I had felt when he accused me of being pregnant. There he felt something. As horrid as that sounds again, he felt something. Today, he was devoid of feeling for her. I would never want that; well, who would?

However, it did make clear it was over between them.

When I got home, I eased into my study. Lil had been there, things were straightened up and a stack of my new books sat on my desk. She left a note:

Cake and champagne in the fridge. I know this isn't the happiest day of your life, but you're a published author now. Dreams come true. I'm proud of you.

Lil

P.S. Save some cake for me!

I was touched. The day my book was announced was a big day. I sat down to write some inscriptions in the books as I'd planned, having fantasized about this day in my head. I blocked out other thoughts, getting absorbed in the right things to say to members of the Hudson family, Richard, Lilith, Don, even Kom...

I was there for some time before there was a knock on the door.

"Kory, this is Yvette, she's going to help you with your wardrobe." Richard's voice was gentle. I'd forgotten completely about the meeting and even about him for that short time.

Yvette was tiny, likely in her late fifties and very firm with her directions. I was quickly swept upstairs, measured, sizes were taken, wardrobe pieces were inventoried and assessed. She bundled up things to be taken to the dry cleaners and repeated back to me all the things I had told her I would need, adding every possible protocol about what was appropriate. As she was quickly jotting things down, Lil and Don walked in and Evette swept Lil up in her tiny tornado and Lil was apparently being treated to the same wardrobe facelift.

I caught Richard's eye and mouthed a thank you before ducking into my study again, finishing with the book inscriptions I'd need for the moment, and then slipped out and upstairs, finally getting a chance to shower and change, awaiting the inevitable let down of the constant activity of the day.

The headache was on cue but I was ready for it, chocolate bar and two Excedrin were already in my pocket when I was out with my dog for a walk. It was only 5:30, but dark given the time of year. After the rains of the previous days, the air was mild, and I wondered how long that would last; a passing thought only, I had a feeling Yvette would have it all figured out the right clothes for the weather and decided not to worry about it further.

"Hey little lady."

"Hello Vic."

"How are you holding up?"

"I think I'm okay. How are you?"

"I'm good, I'm good. I miss you guys. Tomorrow still good. Twelve noon or a little before."

"Of course. Unless there's anything we can do..."

"I knew you would offer and the family is fine other than missing you."

"Well let us know." I was relieved. We had left it that way, but I had left my schedule free in case there was any reason the family needed me that night.

"They know to call. Maybe you should check in with Ken."

Oh. "Is he there?"

"I'll find him."

I held for a few minutes and then heard a new voice on the line. "Kory."

"How are you?"

He took in a shaky breath. "Sad."

"I'm sure. Do you need anything?"

There was a pause. "No, there's really nothing anyone can do." I knew that wasn't what he wanted to say.

"I wish I could." My heart broke for him. I hope I wasn't sending mixed signals at this point, I meant as a friend, but that was already said.

"I know. We'll talk tomorrow."

"We will."

"Night Kory."

"Night Ken."

I didn't come in to the house right away, sitting on a bench in the garden, letting the dark envelop me, taking a minute to think about the last month or so, the changes. Everything I felt at that point, my head still throbbing, wishing I were still just numb rather than feeling the pain, both emotional and physical.

I needed relief and comfort, security and peace. Even if it was a short respite. I was tempted to ask for what had been offered. Was there really a need to wait at this point?

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To be continued...

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Thank you for reading and reviews always appreciated.

I should be updating this story soon, the next chapter is mostly written and many of the others as well. I have been writing, but again, it's been a tough patch and posting is the toughest part sometimes.