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"Well, this is the most somber party I have ever attended." Claire whispered to Francis, her arm around his, as they walked around the room. Everyone was in their best with their brightest fake smiles, but the mood was still lagging. "People don't know how to act, Francis."

"Garrett left the country with their trust shattered. They don't know how to approach us." Francis sighed before seeing Doug escort James over with drinks in hand. He smiled kindly at her. "You look prettier than a peach, darlin'."

James chuckled and leaned in to hug him, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, Daddy." She glanced around at people over his shoulder while he kept his arm around her protectively. "I think we should move our little number up. Hopefully, it will lighten things up a bit. Ms. Barnes doesn't need to go back and write about this."

"I think you're right." Francis hummed softly before seeing the newly polished black piano in the middle of the room. Oddly, no one had even dared to step foot near it. Gently squeezing James's shoulders, he kissed her forehead. "Follow my lead." He left the three by themselves as he walked over to the piano. He could feel the eyes of his party guests on him, but he didn't glance in any of their directions. Reaching down, he pulled out the stool a few inches before sitting down.

A pin could be dropped by the silence, and it was palpable. His hands twitched and hovered above the keys as he frowned down at them, as if they were speaking to him. After a moment, his fingers played the first four telltale notes before looking back over his shoulder to James, a smirk on his lips. When she bit her lip, what she had taken up as her nervous tick, he brought up his fist. Letting his elbow drop down onto the keys and make complete noise, he rested his cheek on his fist and continued to stare back at her. Luckily, it had caused both Claire and James to smile.

Claire brushed back some of James's hair, leaning down to her ear. "Go save your father."

James chuckled with a shake of her head before walking over to the piano herself, sitting down to Francis's right. When he lifted up his elbow, he twisted to make even more keys play unceremoniously. "You're so weird." She giggled softly as her fingers took their place on the piano.

"Or, a genius." Francis breathed before kissing her cheek. "Take it away, baby. I've got your backup covered."

He watched as she repeated his lead and continued on while he played the lower notes for her, gazing down as her fingers danced along the keys. As they played, he could feel the atmosphere changing, even more so when he started singing softly out of habit. "Little darlin', the smile's returning to their faces. Little darlin', it seems like years since it's been here. Here comes the sun, doo-doo, doo-doo. Here comes the sun, and I say. It's alright."

James grinned as she finished the song, Francis adding at lower note at the end. Their guests started to clap, and she was glad they had finally broken the ice. Leaning over, she rested her head on Francis's shoulder, feeling him kiss the top of her head. "Nice job, Daddy."

"Couldn't have done it without you." Francis murmured into her hair before pulling back, resting his hand on her back. "Why don't you hang around Doug? Maybe talk to a few people you know, but stay away from the questions about Gordon."

"Will do. I'll probably excuse myself in a half hour. Just long enough before things could become too much." James added with a nod. "But, I'll inform Doug. He can prepare to come up with why we've disappeared."

Francis stood with her, walking behind the bench and hugging her softly. "He really makes you happy, doesn't he?"

James smiled, genuinely smiled, when he met her eyes. "I'd marry him now if I could."

"Darlin', you're going to give me a heart attack." Francis chuckled before nudging her in Doug and Claire's direction. "Go on ahead. I'm going to get your mother and I some drinks." As she began walking away, he turned to his guests now schmoozing and blackmailing each other like it was just another convention.

Claire hugged James when she came over. "You played beautifully, baby. I'm so proud of you."

James closed her eyes, hugging Claire tighter. "Thank you, Mom."

With her arms still around her daughter, Claire glanced up to see a familiar face walk in. "Ah, Ms. Barnes decided to make an appearance. She was hiding in the corridor while you were playing. Wondered if she was going to scurry off into the night."

"Not a chance." James rolled her eyes as she pulled away, but she stayed by Claire's side. And, Claire kept her arm around her securely. "At least, this doesn't feel like a funeral anymore." She smiled when Claire turned and chuckled into her hair, avoiding showing everyone that she was indeed laughing. "So, who do we have our eyes tonight?"

"Honestly, no one. With the chaos of getting here and the country focusing on you, your father and I decided tonight would be our celebratory dinner before getting back to work. Besides, we can't be angling when our attention should be focused on how you're doing tonight." Claire sighed. She saw Francis collect two flutes of champagne before kissing James's temple. "Two, three people tops. Then, I would have Doug take you up to the private sector."

James squeezed Claire's hand. "Already on it."

Doug smirked inwardly, seeing the annoyance behind James's eyes as one of Francis's unpredictable house voters droned on about some bill that he had been swayed to vote against by her father long before she even knew what Francis truly did for work. He stepped up beside her, resting his hand on her back. "I'm sorry, Ted, but I think it's time I take Ms. Underwood up to the private sector. It's been a long day for everyone."

"I understand." He boastful swell of pride turned into a sorrowful pity. "Get some rest, dear."

Before he could stick his foot further down his throat, he nodded and moved James away to head for their room. "You couldn't have done that fifteen minutes ago." James whispered into his ear, making him chuckle despite his fight not to. "Are we really going back to our room?"

Doug held out his arm for her as they started climbing the stairs. "Well, I'd like to take you out of that dress as beautiful as you look in it." He grinned when she blushed, happy that their backs were to the party guests. "What did you have in mind?"

"Visiting our future office. Alone." James stated before he squeezed her hand.

James giggled as Doug kissed her neck, both of them stumbling into the Oval. His hands were on her hips as he kicked the door closed. "You can't go fifteen minutes to wait until we're back in the private sector. I think I've spoiled you."

"At least, I don't take it for granted." Doug reminded her as they walked over to the desk together, nearly as one. He turned her to face him before perching her on the edge of it. Two feet back and she'd be sitting in her future chair, in his future chair. The thought didn't linger long though when her lips caught his, her arms snaking around his neck. "Tonight was my first glimpse at my future first lady."

"How was she?" James smiled between kisses, moaning softly when he pulled her hips closer to his.

Doug went for the hem of her dress, kissing down to her neck. "Legendary."

"Garrett!" James gasped, her fingers fisting against Doug's lapels.

Doug froze feeling his girlfriend's body tense up under his fingertips. He glanced up, seeing her frightened blue eyes stare at something behind him. Slowly, he turned to see Garrett, sitting solemnly in the plush armchair with a sleep-deprived glare that send a chill down his spine. He moved in front of James, shielding her from the former President's eyes. "The police are looking for you."

Garrett nodded slowly. "They'll have even more reasons to find me after I kill your girlfriend for killing my son." His eyes moved from Doug to James, a smile tugging at his twitching lips. "Hello James."

Please review! Sorry it's taken so long. December and January have gotten away from me. I spent all of December packing and January adjusting to living in Los Angeles.