Abbey was picking apples out in the yard the next morning. Felicity watched with interest from the new toddler hammock swing Liz bought her when it happened.

Donna appeared on the porch. "Dr. Bartlet!"

Abbey turned around. "Good morning, Donna. Would you do me a favor? Call Dr. Keyworth and-" She cut herself off as she took in the expression on Donna's face. "What's wrong?"

"Dr. Bartlet, I have something to tell you, and I want you to keep in mind that I'm just the messenger."

Abbey set down the apples in her hands and then looked at Donna, "What happened?"

"I talked to Leo last night," Donna began. "It turns out that the cameras were rolling on the night of the interview. They caught Felicity's panic attack on tape and CNN is going to air the footage."

"What?" Abbey said in disbelief. "They can't do that. It goes against the rules we set up for Felicity. CNN should know that."

"It was B-roll footage. The cameras were already rolling for the interview. There was no reason for them to use it."

"But they did anyway." Abbey was fuming.

"We'll fix this. I promise." Donna reassured her. "Dr. Bartlet, there's something else."

"Ok, out with it," Abbey said. She glanced over at Felicity, who was thankfully absorbed in reading a new book she had gotten yesterday when they went into town. Then Abbey turned back to her Chief of Staff. "What else could have possibly gone wrong?"

"Ma'am…sources are noting that you haven't been wearing your wedding ring in public. And they're suspecting divorce."

"Donna, do they have names?"

"I'm sorry?"

"The sources."

"No, these are..."

"Let me guess. The sources are unnamed," Abbey said in a dangerous tone. "We've only left the farm a handful of times. So I want to know, Donna. Who are these so-called unnamed sources?"

"CJ and I are trying to find out, ma'am. But it's hard to say. If I had to guess, being in the bookstore didn't help."

"Unnamed sources make me crazy, Donna!"

"Ma'am, I understand, but-"

"Just one time, I'd like to see... instead of "according to unnamed sources", I'd like to see "according to tweaky little ill-informed chicken-ass wannabe... " Don't ever come to me again with unnamed sources." Abbey snapped.

Donna stood quietly, taking it in. "Yes, ma'am."

Abbey sighed. "Look, Donna, I'm sorry I snapped. I know it's not your fault."

"I understand," Donna said sympathetically. "I'm going to get a handle on this. Amy is already trying to ferret out who did it."

"I appreciate that, Donna. What did the President say?"

"He's very upset. I only barely managed to convince him not to pull their credentials. It would only exacerbate the situation."

"That sounds like Jed." Abbey smiled. She paused as an ache settled in her heart. She missed him. But that didn't mean she forgot why she was mad at him. "How are things with Josh, by the way?"

"We're…" Donna hedged over her answer. "We're good. Just working some things out."

"When is that boy going to put a ring on your finger?"

Donna froze, swallowing as she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Donna?" Abbey asked.

"I'm sure he will soon," Donna said. "Now, what was that you wanted me to tell Dr. Keyworth?"

"Tell him that I consent to that couple's therapy session. It will be up to Jed if he wants to participate on his own. As for Felicity, I don't think he's going to get anywhere without someone in the room with her that she can trust."

"Mama," Felicity said hesitantly, looking over from her swing. "Why are you mad?" She looked earnestly concerned.

"I just…don't like it when people aren't nice to us, that's all."

"Why not?"

"Well…" Abbey smiled. "It's a long story, lovebug. Why don't we go in and get you a bottle?"

The next day, Donna was on the phone with Josh in the den.

"Dr. Bartlet is in with Dr. Keyworth. I tried to keep Felicity with me so she could have a break. But she wanted her mama."

"I was going to ask you for an ETA for when you might come home for the weekend. It doesn't sound likely."

"It isn't," Donna confirmed. "Dr. Bartlet offered me time off and I want to take it."

"Just not unless the girls are there," he surmised. "Felicity is lucky to have you in her corner."

Donna smiled softly. "I love her, Josh. And I love you."

"I love you too. But, I'm getting tired of talking over the phone," Josh admitted.

"Josh…"

"Donna…"

"You know that if the First Lady and Felicity didn't need me up here, I would be home in a heartbeat. You know that."

"I do."

"Then we just have to tough it out."

"For how long?"

"This is my job, Josh. It's going to be for as long as it should be," Donna replied, feeling her irritation flair.

"Is your job also keeping secrets from me?"

"Josh, that's not fair."

"Isn't it? You do. You keep stuff from me all the time."

"What?"

"You knew about the MS for a whole year before I did."

Six Weeks Earlier…

Donna was in bed, working on her laptop when she heard the door slam in the other room.

"Josh?" She called. "Is that you?"

When he didn't answer, she slipped out of bed and padded to the living room. She found him standing with his back against the wall.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"No," He answered simply. "I mean yeah—I'm okay. It's just…."

"It's just, what?"

"I suppose you'll find out tomorrow. The President—he's got MS."

Josh looked over at Donna, his expression pained. But then he saw the sympathy in her eyes.

"I know he has MS, Josh."

"When did he tell you? Today?"

Donna shook her head. "The day after Felicity was born."

"What?" Josh asked, slack-jawed.

"They thought that since they were asking me to sign paperwork to make medical decisions for Felicity, it was only fair that I knew."

"You've known for over a year and you didn't tell me?!"

"It wasn't my place."

"Not after the shooting, not after everything we've been through together!"

"Josh," Donna said calmly. "I have to keep a wall between the professional and the personal. You know that. My job is to protect the First Family. It always has been, from the moment I accepted the job as Dr. Bartlet's Chief of Staff.

Josh threw his hands up. "Fine, that's just fine." He walked into the bedroom, and Donna followed him.

He grabbed his pillow and a blanket. "I'm sleeping on the couch."

Donna turned to watch him leave. "Okay."

The door shut behind him, and Donna felt tears forming in the back of her eyes.

"I'll say the same thing I did then. My job is to protect the First Family," Donna said firmly. "And that involves not telling you things sometimes, because not everything deserves to be shared. Dr. Bartlet and the President are people too. They don't deserve to have every aspect of their lives discussed. It's bad enough that cable news pundits are criticizing Dr. Bartlet's decision to let Felicity nurse during the interview, and debating her marriage. I'm not going to add to it. Do you understand me?"

Josh's anger cooled, "Yeah, I get it."

"Then don't be mad at me for doing my job."

"I won't." He sighed. "Will I see you this weekend?"

"Well…it depends if I can get away."

"What do you mean?"

"The President's coming for the weekend."

"He's going home? That's great news. You should be able to get away."

"I know. I'm just not sure how things will go. Felicity's been away from the White House for a while and it's been quiet. She might not handle it well."

"She has two parents and at least one of the sisters will be there."

Donna was quiet. "I don't want to speak ill of the President, but I'm worried that if things go south because he's here…Felicity's the one who'll be hurt."

Late on Friday afternoon, Abbey left Liz and Gus in the family room to go check on her baby. Felicity was in her regular baby swing as it rocked her back and forth slowly in the den. She stood in the doorway watching her lovebug sleep for a minute and decided against waking her up. Felicity worked hard today doing her PT and OT exercises. Extra sleep would only do her good. From where she stood, she heard the familiar sound of cars coming up the driveway and radios crackling. Abbey walked out to the front door and stood on the porch.

"Eagle's one minute out." A Secret Service agent radioed into his wrist.

Abbey held her breath as Jed's SUV came into sight. She stood on the porch, wringing her hands on her apron, waiting.

Once the SUV stopped, Jed stepped out. It seemed only moments before he was in front of her again.

"Hi."

"Hi," Abbey replied.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine. How was the trip?"

"It was smooth, uneventful."

"Good."

"Where's lovebug?"

"In the den asleep in her swing. Therapy exercises tired her out. Liz and Gus are here though."

As if she had heard her name, Liz came out to the porch. "Dad!"

"Hey, Lizzie." Jed greeted.

Liz came down the stairs and kissed him on the cheek.

"Where's Gus?" Jed asked.

"Napping."

"I suppose I'll see them both when they wake up then."

Alex and Zoey were just walking up the stairs when the sound of crying reached their ears. Jed looked up in time to see Donna walking quickly from the dining room to the den. He looked at Abbey and they quickly went inside. Felicity's distressed cries were much louder now.

Donna walked into the room and felt immediate empathy for her charge. The binkie she put Felicity in the swing with earlier had fallen onto the floor while she slept. Judging by the look on her face, Felicity woke up alone without it and panicked.

"Hey, hey," She said gently, approaching the swing. She turned it off and unbuckled Felicity before taking her out of it, "It's okay. You're safe."

Donna felt Felicity cling to her. She rubbed her little back and bent down to retrieve the pacifier, which landed under the swing.

Jed stopped short in the doorway when he saw Donna soothing his daughter. Upset and shame crossed over his face. It wasn't that he resented Donna; in fact, he was grateful to her. But still, it was hard to stand by when someone else was doing his job.

Felicity picked her head up, and her eyes lit up. "Daddy!"

"Hi lovebug," He said, smiling at her. Jed went over and scooped her up from Donna and hugged her. As he did so, Donna quietly slipped Felicity's binkie into his pocket. "I missed you."

"I missed you too," She said and rested her head on his shoulder, content to see her father again.

"Why were you crying?"

"I lost my binkie."

"Oh?" Jed felt for his pocket. "Well, look what I have here?"

He held up her pacifier, and she grabbed for it eagerly.

Jed held her tight, kissing her and breathing in her scent. He had missed his baby girl terribly.

Now, if only he could work things out with Abbey.

That evening, the family seemed calmer than they had in a long time. All four girls were present for dinner along with Alex, and Jed and Abbey were civil with one another.

13-month-old Gus and Felicity were sitting in high chairs at the end of the table. Felicity was picking at her food delicately, while Gus was just smashing food into his face.

"Gus, let Mommy help you." Liz encouraged, picking up the abandoned spoon and proceeding to spoon-feed her son.

Felicity continued to pick at her food.

"Peanut, you should eat something," Liz told her youngest sister.

Felicity did as her older sister said and picked up a piece of cut chicken with her good hand and took a bite. She chewed and swallowed it. Seconds later, she gagged on it violently. Abbey jumped up immediately to help her daughter. She made sure Felicity's airway was clear and then cleaned her up.

"It's okay Fizzy," Zoey said, seeing her distress as she tried to comfort her sister.

Felicity's lower lip trembled and she fought hard not to cry.

Jed rushed over. "Are you alright? Are you sick, lovebug?"

"She's fine, Jed," Abbey told him abruptly.

"Are you sure? Because-"

"Dad, she said she was fine." Liz cut in.

Felicity began to cry at her family's harsh tones.

Alex went over to Felicity and quietly picked her up out of the high chair, "I know it hurts," She said. "And that's not your fault."

"Yeah," Felicity agreed tearfully, hugging her cousin. Finally, someone understood. She wasn't sure how. But Felicity was grateful.

"Would you like a bottle instead?"

Felicity nodded.

"Okay. Let's get you a bottle." Alex carried her into the kitchen, and Liz glared at her father.

"Nicely done, Dad."

"What did I do?" Jed asked honestly.

"You and Mom both. You baby her. Gus is much more advanced physically."

"And intellectually, she more than makes up for it," Abbey interjected.

"Lizzie, let's not get into that fight," Zoey said. "Fizzy has been through more than Gus has and he's always been bigger than she is."

"Zoey is right," Jed replied. "Your sister is just different from Gus and that's okay."

"So what, you're going to let her have binkies and nurse until you leave office in another 6 years?"

"Keep your voice down!" Abbey hissed. "Felicity can understand you."

"I've always said whatever makes Felicity comfortable, I support," Jed said, firmly. "And it is no one's place to judge, especially not her sisters."

Liz sighed. "Fine." Gus began to whimper and reach for his mother. She scooped Gus out of his high chair. "I'm taking Gus to bed. It's getting late."

As Liz walked out of the room, Zoey rolled her eyes. "Who does she think she is?"

"Zoey!" Abbey exclaimed.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I love her, you know I do. But when did she become so judgmental?"

"I don't understand why we can't just have a nice, normal dinner together." Jed wondered.

"Dad," Ellie spoke up for the first time that evening. "You think this is normal? You and Mom are barely speaking to each other."

"We're speaking just fine," Abbey replied.

"Really? When was the last time you and Dad had a conversation that didn't revolve around Felicity?"

"Or work," Alex added just as Abbey was about to open her mouth.

"We talk most nights before we go to bed if there isn't some kind of crisis," Abbey said and this was true. Before Jed screwed it all up with his announcement, they did talk. Felicity was in those conversations. But they talked about other things too.

"And how about date night?" Zoey challenged. "Dad, you gave Josh an entire list of places you've taken mom to when you had date nights. Did they die after you took office?"

"I'm interested to hear that answer too," Ellie said.

Jed and Abbey looked at one another guiltily.

"I suppose…it's been a while," Abbey said, shooting a look at Jed. "But I guess that's what happens when you're the leader of the free world."

"Oh, don't blame this on my job." Jed shot back.

"Why not? You're the one who decided to run again."

"This is why we need counseling," Jed grumbled.

"You're getting counseling?" Zoey asked.

"Stanley has us meeting with him tomorrow."

Upon hearing Stanley's name, Felicity looked annoyed.

"Uh-oh," Jed said, looking at his little girl. "It looks like someone made an impression and it wasn't a good one."

"Felicity is having a difficult time with play therapy. But she'll get there," Abbey said.

"Maybe…you two should go on a date," Alex suggested. "After your session. We'll have a girls' day with Felicity."

"What do you say, Sweet Knees?"

Abbey thought for a moment, "Why not?"

"Then it's a date," Zoey said, smiling.

The three girls and Felicity looked happy. But Jed could tell by the look in Abbey's eyes that she didn't have high hopes for this. He was determined to change that.

The next morning Stanley arrived at the farm just after 8:30 am. He found the collective Bartlet family sitting at the dining room table along with Charlie and Donna having breakfast when he entered the room.

"Dr. Keyworth," Jed said. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course Mr. President?"

"Would you like coffee?" Abbey offered. She was wearing Felicity in a wrap this morning so that her baby could catch up on sleep missed from the previous night.

"Thank you, Dr. Bartlet, that would be nice."

As Abbey went to prepare the coffee, Jed made the introductions.

"You've met our eldest daughter Elizabeth. That's our grandson Gus, our granddaughter Annie, our other daughters Eleanor and Zoey, and our niece Alex. And of course, you know Charlie, my aide, and Abbey's Chief of Staff, Donna."

"Very nice to meet all of you," Stanley said politely.

Once the coffee was in his hand, Stanley gestured to Jed and Abbey. "Mr. President, Dr. Bartlet, shall we get started?"

"Yes," Abbey said and carefully extracted Felicity from the wrap. Ellie took her sister from her mom.

Jed rose from the table and so did Abbey. They went with Stanley into the family room and closed the double doors. Once everyone was seated, Stanley looked across at them.

"So tell me. How did your first night at home go?"

Jed sighed. "Well, we got into a fight with our family."

"Over what?" Stanley asked.

"It was mostly Liz-Elizabeth-expressing her dissatisfaction with how we're raising our daughter."

"Ah," Stanley said. "She's Gus' mom?"

"Yes," Abbey said. "She keeps comparing Felicity to Gus because they're only six months apart. But it's like comparing apples to oranges. Gus was over nine pounds when he was born and started trying to walk by about 10 months."

"Liz also gave us our granddaughter Annie who is nine. She's made a concerted effort to raise them differently than we did her," Jed said. "And we are raising Felicity a little differently than we are our other children."

"In what way?"

"Well…I've been breastfeeding her for longer than I did my other children."

"When did you stop nursing your other children?"

"Um…a little over a year. Ellie took the longest to wean; about a year and a half."

"She's also still using a pacifier," Jed added. "I believe it's a coping mechanism for her PTSD."

"I agree," Abbey said. "After the shooting happened, she wanted to nurse more than she usually did. I think she's using a binkie because she's afraid of hurting me."

"Felicity is very gentle," Jed said quietly. "Has been since the day she was born and she's never given Abbey an ounce of trouble when she's nursing."

At that moment, Abbey resisted her natural urge to pat her husband's hand. Despite everything that they went through and were going through, he was behind her in this.

"And your daughter thinks that is too much babying?"

"Yes. But I planned to nurse for the long-term from the beginning with Felicity. The health benefits for her and for me are unparalleled. It benefits Jed by extension too since Felicity hasn't picked up any real illnesses to test his health."

"Felicity's recovery up to this point would have been worse if she wasn't nursing too," Jed observed. "It eased her physical pain and soothed her when nightmares woke her up.

"And I would agree with you. But you also have to consider how this will affect Felicity in the long run."

"I have," Abbey answered. "And if the therapy works, then she won't need to depend on all of these new coping mechanisms as much."

But as she was finishing the sentence, a deafening crash and a bloodcurdling scream was coming from the living room. Jed and Abbey both looked at each other and raced to the doorway.

That was Felicity's scream.