The house was full of noise and activity the next day. Ellie, Liz, Zoey, and Alex were back for the weekend. While the Bartlet sisters spent time with Felicity, Alex was upstairs in Zoey's room working on a very special project. Her sewing machine whirred as it sewed another seam on a very special dress.
Jed knocked on the doorway. His curiosity was piqued by the sight of his wedding album, open on the bed next to the sewing table.
"Mind if I come in?"
"Sure, Uncle Jed," Alex replied.
"What are you working on?"
"Donna's wedding dress."
"Does Donna know that she has a wedding dress?"
"Not yet. But she will," Alex said and looked up at him. "I wanted to surprise her."
"That's very kind of you. What's with the wedding album?"
"Inspiration. I wanted this to be a similar style to Aunt Abbey's dress."
"That's a lovely idea."
"I thought I would take the neckline down a little, then modernize the veil…" Alex took her pencil and showed her uncle the design, but Jed was distracted by the photo in the front of the album.
The sight of Abbey in her wedding dress in front of the cathedral in Boston, where they were married brought tears to his eyes. She looked beautiful and still did. He thought that now that they had reconciled, he wanted to see her in a wedding dress again.
Jed turned to Alex, gaining her attention. "Alex? I may need you to make another dress…"
Alex put the fabric down and picked up her notebook, "Tell me more, Uncle Jed."
"I'm going to put a vow renewal together and I'd like you to make a dress for your Aunt."
Alex nodded and started to make a list, "I'd be happy to. I think Aunt Abbey will love it."
"Something formal enough for a bride, but informal enough that she can wear it to Josh and Donna's wedding without being suspicious."
"Okay. So maybe we make it a different color, like…lavender."
"That would be perfect."
"I'll get to work on this right away, Uncle Jed. When do you want to do this?"
"After Josh and Donna's wedding. So we don't steal their thunder."
"Okay," Alex said, making a note. "I think I'll make a convertible dress. Something that's pretty enough for the wedding. Then when it's time for the vow renewal, she'll have an even more beautiful outfit."
"Can you do that?"
Alex's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Yes, I can. You know we're going to have to tell Liz, Ellie, and Zoey, right? You'll need help."
Liz, Ellie, and Zoey were sitting in the study later, in shock over what their father had just told them.
"Really, Dad?" Ellie spoke up first.
"What a great idea!" Liz chimed in.
"How romantic!" Zoey gushed. "What can we do to help?"
"Well, I'm going to need you all to spread the word to the rest of the family quietly. And I'm putting you in charge of decorating and setting up the barn."
"We're in," Liz said. "And we'll handle everything."
"Just what I wanted to hear. Your mother deserves this and more."
The next day, everyone arrived for the kickoff that had previously been rescheduled. The Senior Staff were all staying at a local hotel, and Bruno was also staying there.
They were visiting the farm their first night there. They started the evening with campaign talk, but the evening soon devolved into laughter and chatter. At a lull in the conversation, Josh stood up.
"Hey, everyone! Donna and I have an announcement to make."
Everyone's ears perked up.
Donna smiled at Josh. "We're getting married!"
CJ grinned, "Congratulations! Have you set a date yet?"
"Actually, it's going to be the day after the kickoff," Donna replied. "We were hoping all of you would stay to attend."
"We would love to, Donna," said Sam.
"Where are you having it?" Toby asked.
"Here at the farm."
"Oh, that'll be really nice!" CJ gushed. "The leaves, and the scenery…it'll be perfect."
"CJ?" Donna approached her. "I was hoping I could ask you something."
"Sure."
"You've always been like a sister to me, especially since I went over to the East Wing." She took a breath. "Would you consider being my maid of honor?"
"Oh, Donna," CJ said, clearly touched. "I would love to. Thank you for thinking of me."
"I'm so glad. We are like family and I couldn't imagine my wedding without any of you."
"I can't wait to be a part of it."
"And Sam," Josh said, clapping a hand on Sam's shoulder, "I'd like you to be my best man."
Sam grinned. "I would be honored."
"Well, what are we waiting for?" CJ spoke up. "We've got a wedding to plan."
"We certainly do," Sam agreed. "Let's get down to it."
Soon the assembled senior staff sat down and started to help Josh and Donna plan their wedding at the Bartlet Farm.
While the wedding planning went on downstairs, Felicity was upstairs attempting to take a nap in her parents' bed. Gus was sound asleep beside her. They were surrounded by pillows on all sides to prevent anyone from rolling off. Gus clutched his bottle to his chest and slept happily away.
Felicity shifted, clutching the giraffe Mrs. Landingham made her tight, trying desperately to find comfort in it. Jed brought it home for her. She tried to close her eyes again. But sleep would not come even though she was tired. She ate her lunch just like she was asked to. The food made her gag every few bites causing her throat to hurt. Felicity also hated how sore the straw made her mouth feel. It reminded her of the tubes in the hospital. But she did it. Felicity had proved she could be a big girl for almost the whole day without her milk, her bottles, or even a binkie to everyone.
She closed her eyes tightly and tried to take deep breaths. But taking deep breaths was difficult for her. And every time she closed her eyes, she was back in the SUV. She tried to concentrate on the feel of the giraffe, on anything but the memory of that night. But soon, the memories got to be too much, and she screamed. She wanted her mama. Even if she didn't have milk, she just needed to see her. Felicity's scream woke Gus up and he started to cry out of fear. Liz rushed into the room to find out what happened. She instantly went to Gus and picked him up.
"Oh baby, it's all right," Liz soothed. Then she noticed her sister and how tightly she was curled up on the bed, hyperventilating. "Mom!" She called.
Abbey came into the room moments later and she felt a combination of fury and heartbreak for her daughter. Jed had been right all along. Felicity wasn't ready to stop breastfeeding or to stop using bottles. She went over to the opposite side of the bed and picked her daughter up.
"I'm here, Lovebug. You're safe now," she whispered, rubbing her back. And that's when Felicity let out the world's most heartbreaking wail.
"MAMA!" She sobbed like she was being split in two.
"Shh…shh…" Abbey soothed her. "You're safe, it's all right."
"Mama…" She sobbed. "I'm sorry."
"Baby, you don't have to be sorry."
"I tried to be a big girl…"
Abbey sat down with her in the big oversized chair by her bed. "You don't have to be a big girl. Not yet."
Liz fought back tears just watching them, suddenly feeling very guilty for everything she said the week before. Jed came in, having heard Felicity scream from his study.
"What happened?" He asked, instantly concerned.
"Felicity's having a hard day," Liz said and took Gus downstairs.
Abbey caught Jed's eye. She looked fit to be tied. Jed picked up Felicity's blanket from the bed and sat down beside Abbey in the chair. Then he draped the blanket over his sobbing daughter.
"Lovebug, it's okay. You can have your milk if you want to. No one's going to take it away."
Abbey kissed Felicity's head. Every fiber of her being ached to feed her, "Here baby," She said and offered her another opportunity to nurse.
This time, Felicity couldn't turn it down. She latched and began to nurse greedily. Abbey exhaled, relieved to be feeding her daughter. Jed let Felicity hold his hand and stroked her hair until she fell asleep with tear tracks on her face. He placed her back in her baby nest and gestured to Abbey to follow him outside.
"I told you Felicity would regret turning you down."
"I know," Abbey sighed. "Everyone assumes she's too young to understand yet too old for everything else. If Felicity keeps this up, she'll start losing weight and I don't want to get into that conversation again."
"She's not going to," Jed said firmly. "I'll make sure everyone knows to mind what they say in Felicity's presence."
Abbey nodded. "Thank you. I think it should be up to her when she's ready to wean."
"Yes, I agree with you, which is why I should give her a bottle every once in a while. It'll give you a break and give Felicity and me some bonding time."
"I think she could use it."
So do I, Sweet Knees," He said and then kissed her. "So do I."
Donna was sitting at the bench outside on the porch. She could faintly hear Felicity's crying through the open door as it wafted downstairs. She was concerned but knew the President and First Lady had it covered.
Leo walked out with a cup of coffee. "Cream and sugar?"
Donna smiled. "Thanks." She accepted the coffee cup.
"I talked to Josh," Leo said as he sat down. "He said his mother's coming up in a few days."
"Yeah. She's excited."
"I don't know much about your family."
"There's not much to tell. My father passed away when I was eighteen and my mother and I don't talk too often. She's proud that I took the COS job. But that's about it."
"I had no idea. I'm sorry to hear that. Will your mom come to the wedding?"
"I don't know. I haven't asked yet."
"Ask her." At Donna's surprised look, he elaborated. "My dad shot himself when I was ten. My mom told everyone that it was accidental, even though everyone knew it wasn't true. She never got over my dad's death, and she stopped speaking to me when I shipped off to Vietnam." He sighed. "I wish to God that I had reached out and invited my mother to my wedding. So, do yourself a favor. Don't let this chance slip away."
"Okay. I won't." Donna said. "I did want to ask you something."
"Shoot."
"Ever since my dad died…I've tried to replace him. And I know I can't. But you and the President…you've gotten pretty close."
"I appreciate that," Leo said, looking touched.
"The President already offered to officiate the wedding. So I was hoping that you might be willing to give me away?"
"I would be honored, Donna. Thank you for asking me."
"Thank you, Leo," Donna said, embracing him.
"Don't mention it, kid. You know, you're my peer now. You have proven yourself worthy of your title time and time again. And I couldn't be prouder of you than if you were my daughter."
Donna had tears in her eyes. "Thank you." She said again. Nicer words had never been spoken to her.
After Leo agreed to walk Donna down the aisle, Donna walked into the house, where Alex and Zoey were lightly chatting.
"Hey, Donna," Zoey said. "How goes the wedding planning?"
"It's going. Sam's gonna be Josh's best man, CJ my maid of honor, your dad's going to perform the ceremony, Leo's going to walk me down the aisle. And-oh, my God!"
"Donna, what's wrong?" Zoey asked.
"I don't have a dress!"
A little smile played on Alex's face. Zoey recognized it almost immediately and smiled too.
"Donna, why don't you step into my office?" Alex said and led her upstairs to Liz's old room.
She normally stayed with Zoey in her room. But Logan decided to come up with Alex and accompany her to the wedding and the campaign event so they were staying in here for the weekend. In one corner of the room stood a dress form covered by a sheet. Alex went over to it and removed the sheet, revealing a strapless a-line dress in a snow-white color.
Donna let out a small gasp. "Oh, my…Is this for me?"
"Who else is it for?"
"Alex, this is beautiful, it's…it's too much."
"Think of it as a thank you," Zoey replied. "For everything you've done for Felicity and our family the last couple of years."
Donna's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you." She examined it further. Suddenly, she realized where she had seen it before: in the wedding picture displayed proudly on the mantle in the Residence, Abbey had worn something similar.
Alex smiled knowingly, "It's my pleasure Donna," She said. "I took a little trip down memory lane and this came out of it." She retrieved the wedding album sitting on the desk and held it out to Donna. "See for yourself."
Donna took it and flipped through the album, "Look at how young your parents were…"
"Yeah," Zoey replied, looking over my shoulder. "My dad likes to say this was before we were even a thought in their minds."
"Aunt Abbey certainly had an eye for fashion," Alex said.
"I'm really glad they worked things out," Donna told her sincerely.
"Not half as glad as I am," Zoey replied.
Alex removed the dress from the dress form. "Now, what are you waiting for? Let's try this on!"
On the day of the campaign kickoff, CJ got her wish for a much-needed photo shoot with the Bartlet family. All four kids were present and Felicity was a complete and total ham as she smiled for the camera. For his part, Jed tried to take this moment in as he watched his children and grandchildren enjoy spending time together over their photographed breakfast.
Jed heard movement as Abbey sat down next to him.
"Lovebug all right?"
"Yes. Zoey and Alex are keeping her entertained."
"That's good." Jed paused. "Ready for today?"
"As ready as I'll ever be. Sam wrote a very nice speech for me," Abbey said, squeezing his hand. "Are you?"
"I think so. With you and lovebug and the kids on my side, I think I can win just about anything," He said and meant it.
"You can," Abbey said. "I am on your side, Jed, and I always have been. I-I just worry about you."
"I know." He said. Suddenly, he turned to his family. He asked the photographers. "Guys, can we have the room?"
The photographers left the room, leaving the family staring up at him.
"What's up, Dad?" Liz asked.
Jed took a breath. "It occurs to me that I never apologized."
"Apologized for what?" Zoey asked.
"For not discussing my intention to run again," Jed replied. "We've always made those decisions together and this time I didn't consult any of you. And for that, I'm truly sorry."
"It's a little late to apologize," Ellie pointed out. "The event is today."
"I'm willing to call the whole thing off."
"No, you're not," Liz said."
"Jed, Ellie is right. The event is today," Abbey pointed out.
"It doesn't matter. I'll call the whole thing off if you don't think I should run."
"All right. Let's take a vote," Abbey said. "Should your father run again? Say Aye or No."
Everyone was quiet for a minute. Then Zoey said quietly, "Aye."
"Aye." Felicity echoed her sister but looked at her father.
"Aye," Liz said softly.
"Aye." Ellie, the shyest out of all of them, said lastly.
Jed turned to Abbey. "Abbey?"
"Aye," Abbey said and then smiled. "It looks like the Ayes, have it."
Jed leaned over and kissed her, "Thank you." He said quietly.
Jed rose then and went over to each of his daughters and gave them a kiss and a "Thank you". He saved Felicity for last and gave her a few extra tickles for good measure. She giggled.
"Thank you for supporting me," He said. "I know it isn't easy."
"It's not," She admitted. "But we all have our battles to fight. Having your support with Felicity means everything."
"Both of you are my universe. You will never not have my support. I never want Felicity to feel like she doesn't."
"You know, she thinks you hate her."
"Where in the world did she get that idea?"
"The fact that you haven't come to see her in months, and when you do, you're so irritated with me, you're irritated with her."
"Oh." Jed considered this for a minute. "You know, I've been talking to Leo. We need to get some new legislation for working mothers who are breastfeeding."
"Jed, that's a wonderful idea!"
"We're gonna write a new book, Abbey. The two of us, this family, right here, right now. This very moment. Today."
"I would like nothing more," Abbey replied. She leaned over and kissed him. "I love you."
"I love you too."
Abbey pulled away and noticed her naked hand, "If we're going to make a new start, I better go put my rings back on." Abbey disappeared upstairs and returned a few minutes later, "I think I need to talk to Felicity. My rings are missing."
"Yes, I guess you do," Jed said, not allowing his face to betray him. Her rings were still being upgraded at the jewelers.
Abbey sighed. "We'd better go."
When they arrived at the kickoff venue, Jed went to his staff and told them the same thing he had just told Abbey, that things were going to be different now.
"I know that most of you are angry with me for choosing to withhold my diagnosis from you. I don't blame you. I should have been upfront with you from the very beginning. Today is a new day. Today, we launch this re-election campaign. It's not going to be an easy road. We'll have our fair share of critics. But the people assembled in this room are the best and the brightest that America has to offer. And I have every confidence that we're going to win," Jed told his assembled staff.
Everyone nodded, ready for a renewed election campaign, and a renewed sense of purpose.
They exited into the hall, where Jed could hear Abbey introducing him.
"And so, friends, it is my pleasure and my great fortune to introduce my husband, our friend, New Hampshire's greatest son, and the President of the United States: Josiah Bartlet!"
Jed came out and waved as the staff followed him out. Abbey was waiting by the podium, smiling. And off to the other side, his four daughters were grinning and applauding.
Suddenly, as Jed approached, Felicity began to toddle forward. Abbey held her breath, but Felicity concentrated step by step as she walked toward her father.
The crowd cheered as she reached Jed, and Jed scooped her up and held her in his arms. He hugged her tight before moving toward Abbey. They embraced with Felicity between them and Jed gave his wife a kiss full of love and celebration. Celebration for the campaign but also their family. They were going to be alright. The crowd cheered and cameras clicked, America's First Family was back where they belonged, right on top.