A/N: Thank you for reading, leaving reviews, and kudos on this story. I wrote this chapter before I posted the story. After I finished chapter three, I reworked parts of this chapter to work with what I introduced in the next part of the story.

Enjoy!

Ron Butterfield sat across from the President, Donna, and Charlie in the Secret Service outpost not far from the main house later that night. He handed a file across to his protectee containing the names that had been requested along with other intelligence. He watched the President open the folder and scan the top sheet with the names before locking eyes with the head of his security detail.

"What's next for these guys? Are they going to be charged?"

"Yes, sir. They will be facing federal charges, and it will be up to their lawyers or the lawyers of the companies they work for to deal with them. Unfortunately, what happened today is just the beginning. We're working on adjusting our security protocols going forward to keep disruptions to a minimum."

"I assume that means that the security measures here will ease as soon as you do."

Ron cleared his throat, "Actually sir, for the safety of yourself and your family, the security measures we've implemented will stay in place until you've all returned to Washington."

"This is my home, Ron. I brought my family here because we're supposed to be on vacation. How can we relax with armed agents posted everywhere?"

"The interest in Felicity isn't going to go away any time soon, sir. We expect it to intensify. There is a million-dollar bonus being paid to the photographer that captures the first photo of your daughter. We're still investigating how much the photo will actually sell for."

The President's jaw tightened, "My daughter is not a commodity, Ron."

"I understand that, sir. This is the reality we're faced with now."

"Agent Butterfield," Donna said. "Is there a plan in place for how to handle people coming and going? Felicity has a pediatrician's appointment on Monday, and we'll have visitors over the next two weeks."

"Yes ma'am. We have checkpoints set up at the end of each road leading into the farm. Only cleared visitors will be allowed onto the property."

"Does that include my granddaughter?"

"The agents on your family's detail have all been briefed on the updated security procedures, so there will be no issue with them coming and going as they please. However, it may take longer than usual to get around locally."

"I foresee calls from the Mayor of Manchester in my future," The President sighed. "Thank you, Ron. Keep me apprised."

When Jed, Donna, and Charlie returned to the house, Ellie and Zoey were talking in the living room. Felicity was resting between them in her Moses basket.

"Sir," Donna said when they came into the house. "I'm going to talk with CJ and Amy tomorrow. We'll come up with options to handle the press. In the meantime, I'm going to cancel upcoming engagements for Liz, Ellie, and Zoey until the press interest dies down."

"Thank you, Donna. I appreciate it."

"Of course. I'll go check on the First Lady."

"I'm about to go up. Take the rest of the night. You too, Charlie."

"Thank you, sir."

Donna and Charlie went upstairs for the night and Jed went in to say hello to his girls.

"Hey dad," Zoey said seeing him come in. "How was your meeting?"

"Productive," Jed replied kissing the top of her head and then doing the same for Ellie.

"Mom's taking a bath," Ellie said. "So we decided to take Felicity off her hands. Liz left for home about 20 minutes ago."

"Thank you for helping."

"Liz said she'll meet us at church tomorrow with Annie and Doug."

"Good, it'll be nice to do something normal as a family."

"Speaking of normal," Zoey interjected. "How long is the farm going to be in lockdown?"

"Until further notice I'm afraid. Donna is going to cancel your upcoming engagements."

Ellie looked down at her baby sister. Felicity was dozing after being very fussy since she arrived home, "Why can't the press respect the decision you and mom made to hold off on pictures? Felicity can't avoid the press like we can."

"Because we're not just dealing with credentialed White House Press. Most of the photographers who are here are freelancers, or they work for tabloids. And you're right Ellie, Felicity can't avoid the press. But your mother and I have options, and we're going to use them to protect your sister. For now, that means we'll be staying here unless we absolutely have to leave."

"Is it always going to be like this?"

"No, honey, it won't. I'm sure once we introduce Felicity to the world, this frenzy will calm itself. But it has to be on our terms. So until then, I've asked Ron to tighten up on your security protection for when you go back to school."

"Okay," Ellie agreed. "I can live with that. I also offered to go with mom to Felicity's appointment on Monday."

"That's a good idea. Felicity would welcome the support."

"It's all set then."

"I'll see you girls in the morning," Jed said, reaching over to take Felicity's Moses basket upstairs.

Ellie and Zoey said their goodnights. Jed took his youngest daughter upstairs, ready to spend the rest of the night with his wife.

"…President Bartlet's motorcade was ambushed by photographers this afternoon as it drove up a back road to his farm just outside Manchester, New Hampshire. Secret Service agents were able to quickly gain control of the situation, and they subsequently arrested the men who drove up on motorcycles alongside the SUV carrying the President, the First Lady, and their newborn daughter…"

Abbey sat in an oversized chair by her bed with her feet up after getting out of the bath. She had the TV on as background noise while she dried off and changed into pajamas. Now she regretted it. Hearing what transpired this afternoon on the news made it sound like the situation was easily resolved. The reality of it was much different. Abbey glanced out the window near where she sat and saw Secret Service Agents patrolling the grounds, alert for trouble. Guns were clearly visible in their holsters. Other agents farther out held rifles. All to protect them.

The increased security measures around them were an inextricable part of their lives. They took some getting used to in the beginning but until recently, their presence was routine. With Felicity, here, it caused a whole new level of concern, especially now.

"Abbey?"

She looked up to see Jed with the Moses basket she sent the girls down with earlier in his hand.

"How was the meeting with Ron?"

"The increase in security will continue until we return to Washington. Apparently, the incident today is only the beginning." Jed set the Moses basket on the bed and lifted Felicity out of it, cradling her against his chest.

"So the result is we get to live like prisoners in our own house for the next two weeks."

"Or we could go to Camp David."

Abbey didn't say anything. Instead, she turned off the television and got up from the chair. She crossed to the bed and placed the basket on the bench at the foot of the bed and then placed the baby nest Felicity would sleep on between the two sides of the bed near the headboard.

"That won't help anything, and you know it."

"It's just a thought. I don't particularly want to go to Camp David either. But we can."

"This is not how I pictured our time here with Felicity," She said as she pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. "Her safety is supposed to be a given."

"Felicity is safe," Jed assured her. He moved to his side of the bed and carefully put Felicity in her little nest. Then he started to get changed into his pajamas.

"Dozens of additional men and women are patrolling our property. Extra fencing went up today. That is not what I think of as safe."

He sighed, "I know. We're going to have to handle it as best we can."

Jed went into the bathroom to brush his teeth. Abbey looked over at her sleeping baby who had been changed into a nightgown and prepared for bed by Ellie and Zoey. She watched Felicity stretch her little legs and sigh softly before her eyes opened, sensing her mother's presence. Abbey picked Felicity up and peppered her with kisses. The little girl gave her what appeared to be a half-smile. Abbey knew it wasn't quite that, but she took it anyway.

"Hi sweet girl," She whispered, happy to see that Felicity's mood had improved after their difficult trip.

"Look who's awake," Jed observed, emerging from the bathroom and getting into bed.

"I think Felicity is finally feeling better. At least her monitor didn't go off today. That's all we needed to happen."

"Small favors."

Until Abbey mentioned it, Felicity's monitor had all but slipped from his mind, probably on purpose. They decided to go with the DC pediatrician's recommendation to have her wear a monitor that tracked her heart rate, breathing, and temperature for the next few months. The sensor wrapped around the baby's foot like a sock and sent a signal to a monitor the size of a pager every 10 seconds. It was supposed to give them peace of mind and provide the doctors with a picture of Felicity's health. So far, nothing set it off. But it didn't mean anything three days in.

"What else did Ron say?" Abbey asked, breaking into his thoughts.

Jed turned to look at his wife. Felicity was in her arms now and nursing happily without a care in the world. He hesitated briefly, not wanting to disturb the relative calm, "There's a million-dollar bonus set to be paid to the photographer who captures the first picture of Felicity. The exact amount the photos will sell for has yet to be determined."

"That explains why those photographers were willing to risk confronting the Secret Service."

"Yeah."

Abbey looked down at their daughter and stroked her head, trying to banish the memory of today from her mind. Felicity snuggled into her, "I remember the days when all we were concerned about was keeping the girls alive and happy. It would be nice to go back to that."

Jed smiled at the thought, "I don't think we slept a wink for three months when we had Lizzy."

"We didn't. At least we had our privacy. Photographers weren't showing up at our house."

"I'm going to everything I can to make sure we have privacy, Abbey."

"We couldn't even bring Felicity home without having a problem. How do you really expect the next two weeks to go, Jed?"

"It will all get worked out. Donna is on it, and I'll talk with Leo tomorrow."

"CJ warned us this might happen when we decided to keep my pregnancy a secret. As wonderful as your speech to Congress was, we effectively dropped a bomb on the world at large. Now we have to deal with the consequences."

Even as she said it, Abbey didn't look or feel prepared to deal with the consequences of their decision with the rest of the world. Her body hurt, her hormones were all over the place, and her breasts were huge. She wasn't ready to be in public or have her picture taken. Today had been more than enough for a while.

"I know she did," He admitted. "And you're right about consequences. But let's stick to our plan. This is supposed to be our time with Felicity and our family."

"Don't remind me," Abbey murmured. "I want my mother to meet Felicity. But I don't relish having to tell her about these absurd press rumors or the price for our daughter's picture."

"She is going to fall head over heels for lovebug. None of it will matter."

"My, my aren't we optimistic?"

"Abbey, it's not going to be that bad."

"I never said my mother's visit is going to be difficult. But she's not going to appreciate our being involved in a scandal, even if it isn't true. She's also concerned about our ability to raise Felicity."

Jed made a face, "I look forward to the day when we aren't reminded that we're too old to be parents every five minutes."

"My mother isn't wrong to be concerned."

"If this is a conversation about my health, I am taking care of it."

"And I'm proud of you for it. Quitting smoking isn't easy."

"Lovebug gave me the final push I needed. After today, it's clear that we're going to have much bigger problems in the future."

Silence fell between them. Once Felicity finished nursing on one side, Abbey handed her to Jed to be burped. She emptied the milk-saving device she used into a bottle ready on the nightstand before moving it to the other breast. Jed used this time to give Felicity his share of kisses after getting a good burp out of her. Abbey watched father and daughter when she was done. Seeing them together warmed her heart like nothing else. Under that was lingering anxiety left over from the incident with the photographers.

"They're not going to stop with one photo, Jed. This is going to get worse before it gets better."

"I know it will. But we're going to get through it together," He said and reached over to squeeze her hand in a show of reassurance.

There was no more talk of the press after that. Jed and Abbey spent the rest of their time before bed feeding and caring for their daughter. Their new bedtime ritual was surprisingly soothing after the insanity of the last few days. In the years to come, they would come to value these late nights and the early mornings together before the world demanded their presence elsewhere.

"It's at times like these I wish I was an only child," John Bartlet said, shaking his head.

Charlie stood by his side, looking up the rocky path that the motorcade came down the previous day. John arrived late the night before from Virginia to check on the farm and to see his family. Business came first. Charlie accompanied the younger Bartlet brother up here while the family was at church. Donna stayed behind with Abbey and Felicity. The late morning sun filtered through the trees, highlighting the tire tracks running through the dirt and vegetation. The damage that had been done was very evident.

"For what it's worth, the President was very resistant about coming down this way," Charlie offered. "The Secret Service tried four other routes, but they were all crowded with people and press."

"I don't doubt it. I suppose it's time to cut some sort of road this way. It'll make driving up here with some of the equipment easier."

"The President thought you might say that. He told me to ask you for an estimate, and he'll take care of the cost."

"I'll hold him to it," John assured him. He turned back to look over the land from where they stood. "We're technically standing on my property you know."

"And the Secret Service accidentally wrecked it."

"There's not much that can be done now. Besides, it sounds like you got onto the farm just in time with those vultures lying in wait."

"It was pretty intense. Felicity was very upset."

"Is it true you're afraid to hold my niece?"

"I wouldn't say afraid exactly."

John smiled, "From what I've heard, she's tougher than she looks."

"She's got a good set of lungs for sure."

"You're not going to break her. I thought the same thing with both of my children, and they're healthy and successful."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"My brother is going to need your help, Charlie," John said truthfully. "Family always comes first for him."

Before Charlie could respond, a sound from the trees up ahead of them made him look up. John positioned the rifle in his hand at the ready prepared to see an animal approach. Instead, a short man with a camera appeared from the trees. John didn't lower his weapon.

"Son," He said in an even tone, "This is private property."

CJ was having a good day for a Sunday. She took a sip of her coffee and glanced at the papers on her desk. A photograph of the President coming down the stairs of Air Force One with Felicity hidden in her carrier stared up at her. The headline read "President Dad." The news about the photographers ambushing the motorcade was below the fold. She would deal with that once she finished going over the statement language with Donna and Amy in a phone call later in the day.

Leo knocked on CJ's door, "We've got a problem."

CJ looked up at him and took in the serious look on his face, "Leo, please tell me it's not bad. "

"Oh, it's bad."

"Damn it." CJ rose from her chair, "What happened?"

"The President's brother pointed a gun at a photographer who managed to sneak onto the farm."

"I thought the brother lived in Virginia?"

"He does but went back to Manchester yesterday to check on the farm and see the baby."

"So much for the "Please Give the President Privacy" statement. Let me talk to Toby, and then I'll get on the phone with Donna."

"There's more," Leo said grimly. "The girls heard about the affair allegations from the press outside of church this morning. They're upset for their mother."

"I don't blame them. It's a nasty rumor. From what I've been able to piece together, it's being propagated by the tabloids to sell papers."

"Keep digging. Something tells me this isn't the end of it."

"I will. But Leo, the President's decision not to let Hoynes release a statement is making this worse. "

"He wants to avoid giving credence to the rumor that there was any type of affair, CJ."

"Silence is being interpreted as truth. Did you at least talk to him about it?"

"Yes, I did. We talked before his meeting with Ron last night and the answer was still the same. You're welcome to ask him yourself."

"I'll do that as soon as we address the current crisis," She said and left her office to go find Toby.

"CJ!" Josh called as CJ walked in the direction of Toby's office.

"Please tell me you don't have another crisis, Josh. Two is already enough to deal with, and I'm not even done with my coffee."

"No…. I thought you were dealing with the privacy thing," Josh said falling into step beside her.

"It's multiplied into a twin crisis. The President's brother pointed a gun at a photographer who snuck onto the property."

"Seriously?" He said. "You know what the headline is going to be right? Attack on the press."

"As much as I hate it, I can see it. No one is going to care about what actually happened. Gun and photographer in the same sentence are all anyone will hear. I'm on my way to talk to Toby about reworking our current statement to address this incident. Then I have to talk to Donna and Amy before we run it up the flag pole to the President."

"Good luck. I'm here if you need anything."

"Thanks. I probably will given the way this day is going," She replied going in search of Toby.

"What the hell were you thinking pointing a gun at a photographer?" Jed asked looking at his younger brother. They sat in chairs across from each other by the fireplace in his study.

"I thought," John emphasized, "That an animal was about to come out of the brush."

"John—-"

"He was on my property trespassing, Jed."

"Yes well, now this situation has been made ten times worse. You should have just let the Secret Service deal with it."

"Like the handled getting you onto the farm yesterday? The damage that all those vehicles did was also unnecessary."

"The Secret Service did what they are trained to do. Their job is to keep us safe."

"Obviously, they're having a difficult time doing that, and I understand why. There is a myriad of ways to access the farm and there are many people willing to try."

"Pointing a rifle at a photographer isn't the answer."

John shook his head, "Forgive me for not doing what's politically correct," He said with a hint of sarcasm in his tone. "Not all of us have the option of considering the political consequences of every move we make."

"Don't start," Jed replied in a warning tone. "I have an entire staff that has worked tirelessly for months, and now they have to work even harder because you decided to do something stupid."

"Don't blame this on me. I'm not the one who has a wife upstairs trying to recover and a little one who has no idea why her parents are upset."

"You're not helping either. I have enough to deal with as it is."

"Is the press still trying to say that Abbey cheated on you?"

"Yeah. My children heard reporters hurling questions at me on that very topic this morning as we left the church."

"The truth isn't entertaining enough I suppose."

"The truth isn't anyone's business. It's between Abbey and me. The last thing I want is for every single detail to be in print. Enough of Felicity's life is going to be in public as it is."

"Perhaps you should have chosen another profession."

"We can't all be Dr. Doolittle like you."

"Maybe you'll change your mind about that when you're kicking around here in four years."

"I have a little girl upstairs who is going to keep me very busy."

"You owe Abbey a great debt for Felicity."

"Don't I know it," Jed sighed. "I lit a few candles at church today in gratitude for Abbey's health and Felicity's too."

"If you can't sort out this security business. Abbey and Felicity are welcome in Virginia."

"I'll keep that in mind. Just don't antagonize any more photographers, please."

"I'll try my best big brother."

Zoey carried a tray laden with food upstairs in the early afternoon for her mother. The atmosphere in the house was more than a little tense after church and what happened with John. Liz dealt with it by making lunch for the family while Ellie kept Annie occupied with a movie in the den. When Zoey opened the master bedroom door, she found Abbey sitting up in bed wearing a soft gray tank top. Felicity was tucked under the fabric, sucking sleepily on a pacifier.

"I thought you might be hungry," She said indicating the tray in her hands.

"I'm ravenous," Abbey replied setting down the medical journal she had been reading. "But I've avoided going downstairs because it's not worth the inevitable aggravation."

"Dad's downstairs talking to Uncle John. I haven't heard him yelling, so that's progress. Donna is downstairs in the den talking to CJ and Amy and Charlie is still talking to the Secret Service and Manchester Police."

"It's good to know your father is being measured with John. How was church?"

Zoey rounded the bed and set the tray on her mother's lap with a sandwich, fresh greens, and a pasta salad on it. Then went back and sat on the other side.

"It was surprisingly normal if you ignored the extra Secret Service agents stationed at every door checking to make sure no reporters were trying to sneak in. Dad was so distracted that he didn't even critique the homily after like he usually does."

Abbey carefully extracted Felicity from her cozy sleeping spot and gave her a waiting Zoey. The younger Bartlet wrapped her sister in a soft cream blanket and cradled her in her arms. She was soaking in the time she had left with Felicity and her parents before she went back to Washington to get settled before school started in a few days. But there was an apprehensive look on Zoey's face.

"Zoey..."

"It's nothing. Just stupid stuff."

"But enough to distract your father."

Zoey sighed, "He was upset all the way through the service because photographers and reporters were shouting questions at us when we got there and when we left. Dad pretended like it was nothing. But we all heard the questions."

"Questions about your dad and me?"

"And Felicity."

Abbey sighed, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. You shouldn't have had to hear any of that. We're going to address it when we go back to DC."

"Mom, is what the press saying true?" Zoey asked after a beat.

"No. Felicity is your sister as much as Liz and Ellie are. But the truth doesn't sell that well, apparently. Secrets are much more interesting."

Zoey looked down at Felicity, "They kept asking if there was something wrong with Felicity too."

"As far as I know, your sister is healthy. She's wearing a monitor as a precaution. It does worry your dad, though."

"What if Felicity was born like Alex?"

"She wasn't. What your cousin had most likely came from Uncle Richard's side of the family. Your sister was checked for it just to be safe. But it has nothing to do with her size."

"Ellie said you might never know what caused it."

"It's true. We may never know and I accept that. Your dad might take longer to come around."

"Did he worry about us when we were babies, too?"

Abbey smiled at the memories that came to mind, "If only you knew how many times I woke up and saw your dad watching you and your sisters sleep. He loves you more than anything in the world."

"I know he does. That's why I wish that the press would talk about anything else, other than this."

"They will, honey. It'll take time. We've known about Felicity a lot longer than the rest of the world."

As Abbey reassured her daughter that this time would pass, she knew it wouldn't come without some difficulty. These last two days proved that quite clearly. She could only hope that no lasting damage was done in the process.

"Now that we have the statement locked, let's talk options," Donna said to CJ and Amy over the phone. She sat on the sofa in a second living room space at the back of the house.

The television across from her was on and muted. The news chyron at the bottom read, "President's Brother Threatens Photographer With Rifle."

"Our options through the press are limited," CJ admitted. "We can issue cease and desist orders to outlets but many of the photographers out there are independent."

"Have you asked Abbey about releasing photos of Felicity?" Amy interjected.

"She declined. Liz has the ones she took still on her storage card. After yesterday, I prefer not to push the issue."

"Then that means the only other option is for the First Lady to go somewhere else with Felicity. She could go to Boston."

"That goes against medical advice," Donna replied. "Dr. Bartlet has to rest for two weeks per the midwife. Going up and downstairs is the most physical activity she's allowed to do.

"Okay," CJ said. "Then that means we're going to have to deal with this onslaught by doing our best. Do you have any updates on Felicity I can use to quell the rumors that she's sick?"

"She has a routine appointment with her pediatrician here tomorrow."

"That won't help. But hopefully, it goes well."

"I'll let you know if anything changes."

"There is one other option we haven't tried," Amy interjected.

"What's that?"

"Alex has quite the contact list. We could ask her for media contacts. If outlets refuse to purchase photos, then photographers might leave."

"I'll run it by Dr. Bartlet. But I doubt she'll say yes. "

"Alex will do it."

"It's up to Dr. Bartlet whether she wants to go that route," Donna reminded her. "I'll get the final sign-off for the statement and call you back, CJ."

"I'll talk with Leo and Josh. Maybe they'll have suggestions."

"Keep me posted."

Just as Donna hung up her cell phone, she saw Charlie walk past the den.

"Hey Charlie," She called.

"Hi Donna," He replied coming into the den. He took a seat beside her.

"Are you done talking to the Secret Service?"

"Yeah. They had a lot of questions. I almost thought they were never going to let me go. I also answered questions from the Manchester Police."

Donna smiled sympathetically, "I'm sorry."

Charlie shrugged, "I think it helped them figure out where people are trying to get in from. More fencing is going to go up where we were."

"I'm sure the President is going to love that."

"It's better than the paparazzi getting on the property. The Manchester Police said the hotels in town are almost completely booked with the press. "

"Lovely," Donna said grimly. "I'm glad I decided to cancel the engagements for Liz, Ellie, and Zoey. After what I heard about church today, it's not worth the hassle for anyone."

"Has CJ figured out who is behind the rumors?"

"No. Toby is helping her, and I'm about ready to ask Josh to help."

"The President hasn't said anything. But the accusations are getting to him."

"I haven't asked Dr. Bartlet about them yet. But I might bring it up after Felicity's appointment is over. There has to be something that sparked all of this."

Charlie looked skeptical, "The President has made it clear that he doesn't want anyone prying into their marriage."

"I know. But it's already affected part of their family. I don't want it to get in the way of taking care of Felicity. Speaking of which, Dr. Bartlet told me to tell you to go up and see her at some point today. She wants to resolve your fears about hurting Felicity if you hold her."

"I don't think that."

"Charlie, you froze the last time the President put her in your arms."

"I didn't expect her to be so light."

"She's tougher than she looks," Donna assured him. "Just try to swaddle her and see what happens."

"The President told me that story and I thought he made it up."

"According to Dr. Bartlet, it's not."

Charlie smiled for the first time since that morning, "We're going to have our hands full."

"Maybe. But so far, it seems like the best gig in the world." Donna stood up, "Come on, let's go join Liz, Zoey, and Ellie for lunch."

"You don't have to ask me twice."

They headed off in the direction of the kitchen, looking forward to an uneventful rest of the day after the chaos of the last 24 hours.

Jed and Abbey sat under the cover of stars later that night on the expansive back deck. It overlooked a pond in the distance. They sat on a cozy outdoor sofa under a blanket. Dinner ended an hour before. Zoey just left to go home to Washington to prepare for school starting that week. Ellie would be gone the next day after Felicity's appointment and Liz had to get Annie ready for the week ahead before returning to work herself.

"This is what I pictured when I thought about home," Abbey said resting her head on Jed's shoulder. "Just us and lovebug."

"You can't replicate this view in Washington," he agreed, looking down at Felicity asleep against his chest in a carrier hidden within a well-loved Notre Dame sweatshirt Alex repurposed for him. "Did Donna talk to you about the options she discussed with CJ and Amy?"

"Yes, she did. I'm not comfortable asking our niece to ask her clients in the media not to purchase photographs of Felicity."

"I'm not either. It's a bit early to impose on our future nephew-in-law's family," He quipped.

"Jed—-"

"You know Amy and CJ are thinking about Mitchum Huntzberger. I would reach out to him myself, but it would only make our predicament worse."

"I know it would."

"So we're going to stick to our plan. No photos until we're ready."

"We could take Hoynes up on his offer to release a statement."

"I would rather not go there."

"You're not the one being accused of having an affair," Abbey said.

"No, I've only been accused of not being Felicity's father," Jed snapped.

"You know it's not true."

Jed looked down at Felicity and then at his wife, "Yes, I'm aware it's all just salacious gossip designed to drive up newspaper and magazine sales, Abigail. But letting Hoynes release a statement is tantamount to saying there is something to this horse shit."

"By staying silent, these rumors are going to keep proliferating. While I have complete confidence in CJ, I'm sure she would rather take questions on issues of more substance."

"Such as? The main topics of discussion in the media right now are Felicity's health and how we managed to have a baby at our age."

"CJ has answered both of those questions at least a dozen times since Thursday."

"And yet, they keep coming up," Jed said ruefully.

Abbey opened her mouth to respond, but she was unable to. Her chest felt like someone dropped bricks on it. She couldn't draw a full breath.

"Sir?" Charlie said, emerging from inside the house He came up beside them.

"Abbey?" Jed said looking at her carefully. "What's wrong?"

"I can't—" She managed to say. It took every effort she had to breathe in and out."

"Charlie, get the medical team now," He ordered, referring to the team of doctors who traveled everywhere the President did.

"Yes, sir."

Charlie sprinted back into the house, passing Donna and Ellie who were sitting in the den.

"Charlie?" Donna called.

"Something's wrong with the First Lady," He called back without stopping.

"Oh no," Ellie said and ran out the back door.

Donna followed behind her just in time to see Secret Service Agents swarming the deck, trying to render aid to Abbey. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a helicopter approaching the farm cut through the still summer air. As Jed tried to help his wife, he silently prayed that this long-awaited trip home wasn't about to turn into a nightmare.

A/N: The next update will be posted soon. Thanks for reading.