Mistakes -- Part 3
Characters: Jed/Abbey/Leo is mentioned briefly
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I love to play with them a little! Thank you to Aaron Sorkin, Warner Bros, and NBC!
Feedback is always welcomed!
Summary: The first month of their deal (second month of Abbey's pregnancy) is all about adjustment for Jed and Abbey. They've entered a new phase in their lives and in their marriage -- a phase neither was ready for.
Month two (of the pregnancy):
It had been less than two weeks since their deal, but things were so awkward between the First Couple that both had thought about calling it off several times. In some ways, it would almost be easier to admit to the world that they were splitting up. But each time, they'd come to their senses -- Abbey, realizing that this is the way Jed wanted it and Jed, thinking this was so much easier than admitting to the world that his wife cheated on him with his Chief of Staff.
And what about Leo? This was all affecting him too. In order to complete their charade, Leo had to stay put in his position at the White House. As difficult as it was, he agreed to do it, for Abbey. He knew he would never win back Jed's trust, and he wasn't even sure he cared anymore, but Abbey's health, especially during her pregnancy, was very important to him. Every day, Jed would get through the day with his senior staff, trying to avoid one-on-one interaction with Leo as much as possible.
And then, it would be time to go home and face Abbey. Usually, he'd go to the Residence, put on some news, a sports event, or retire to his study to read. When it was time for bed, Abbey would already be asleep -- or so he thought. She hadn't slept much since this whole thing began, but she'd lay there, pretending to be asleep and watch out of the corner of her eye as he picked up his pillow and blanket and layed down on the couch in the bedroom.
They hadn't shared a bed since he found out about the affair. They hadn't shared more than 12 words since the night they made their deal. It was the same story every night. Neither one made the first move -- in his case, it was because he couldn't even look at her without replaying the scene of her and Leo in his mind. In her case, it was because she was afraid of rejection. Being rejected by anyone is tough, but Abbey couldn't handle being rejected over and over again by the one man she had always loved, the one man she had hurt so deeply. So night after night, they lived in silence, only to be broken by one sentence on this night.
"CJ set everything up for tomorrow," she said, surprising him.
"I thought you were asleep," he replied from the sofa.
She ignored him.
"She was here prepping me this afternoon."
"I know."
"You're going to be there, right?"
"Of course. I have to be."
Abbey rolled over, pulling the covers over her face. Tomorrow was going to be difficult on both of them.
The next morning, Jed and Abbey made an appearance at CJ's daily press briefing. CJ wanted them to make the announcement together, to prove there's no friction in the First Family. Jed and Abbey handed in Academy Award-winning performances. They walked into the press room, arm-in-arm, smiles on their faces, as Jed announced that Abbey would be overseeing a major healthcare plan designed to reduce the number of uninsured children around the country.
Traditionally, the President wouldn't go to the trouble of a formal press conference for this, but the purpose of this announcement wasn't for the good of new legislation. It was to dispell the rumors that the First Couple was having trouble. Not one word was spoken about Abbey's pregnancy. Many women don't share the news until after their first trimester and the First Lady was no different. She believed in the same superstitions and took the same path she had taken with Liz, Ellie, and Zoey.
When the press conference was over, they returned to the Residence, together. Jed led Abbey inside, changed his jacket, then left for the Oval Office without another word. Abbey checked her hair in the mirror, adjusted her suit, and took off for her office. She had become resigned to the fact that she and Jed only shared living quarters now. Two weeks of silence had taken its toll. She had so much to say to him. But he wouldn't even look at her, let alone listen. Every now and then, she tried to convince herself that it was for the best. She wanted so much to believe that Jed needed time and the silence would help him sort things out. Another part of her knew every day they spent not talking was another step closer to divorce.
TBC
Characters: Jed/Abbey/Leo is mentioned briefly
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, but I love to play with them a little! Thank you to Aaron Sorkin, Warner Bros, and NBC!
Feedback is always welcomed!
Summary: The first month of their deal (second month of Abbey's pregnancy) is all about adjustment for Jed and Abbey. They've entered a new phase in their lives and in their marriage -- a phase neither was ready for.
Month two (of the pregnancy):
It had been less than two weeks since their deal, but things were so awkward between the First Couple that both had thought about calling it off several times. In some ways, it would almost be easier to admit to the world that they were splitting up. But each time, they'd come to their senses -- Abbey, realizing that this is the way Jed wanted it and Jed, thinking this was so much easier than admitting to the world that his wife cheated on him with his Chief of Staff.
And what about Leo? This was all affecting him too. In order to complete their charade, Leo had to stay put in his position at the White House. As difficult as it was, he agreed to do it, for Abbey. He knew he would never win back Jed's trust, and he wasn't even sure he cared anymore, but Abbey's health, especially during her pregnancy, was very important to him. Every day, Jed would get through the day with his senior staff, trying to avoid one-on-one interaction with Leo as much as possible.
And then, it would be time to go home and face Abbey. Usually, he'd go to the Residence, put on some news, a sports event, or retire to his study to read. When it was time for bed, Abbey would already be asleep -- or so he thought. She hadn't slept much since this whole thing began, but she'd lay there, pretending to be asleep and watch out of the corner of her eye as he picked up his pillow and blanket and layed down on the couch in the bedroom.
They hadn't shared a bed since he found out about the affair. They hadn't shared more than 12 words since the night they made their deal. It was the same story every night. Neither one made the first move -- in his case, it was because he couldn't even look at her without replaying the scene of her and Leo in his mind. In her case, it was because she was afraid of rejection. Being rejected by anyone is tough, but Abbey couldn't handle being rejected over and over again by the one man she had always loved, the one man she had hurt so deeply. So night after night, they lived in silence, only to be broken by one sentence on this night.
"CJ set everything up for tomorrow," she said, surprising him.
"I thought you were asleep," he replied from the sofa.
She ignored him.
"She was here prepping me this afternoon."
"I know."
"You're going to be there, right?"
"Of course. I have to be."
Abbey rolled over, pulling the covers over her face. Tomorrow was going to be difficult on both of them.
The next morning, Jed and Abbey made an appearance at CJ's daily press briefing. CJ wanted them to make the announcement together, to prove there's no friction in the First Family. Jed and Abbey handed in Academy Award-winning performances. They walked into the press room, arm-in-arm, smiles on their faces, as Jed announced that Abbey would be overseeing a major healthcare plan designed to reduce the number of uninsured children around the country.
Traditionally, the President wouldn't go to the trouble of a formal press conference for this, but the purpose of this announcement wasn't for the good of new legislation. It was to dispell the rumors that the First Couple was having trouble. Not one word was spoken about Abbey's pregnancy. Many women don't share the news until after their first trimester and the First Lady was no different. She believed in the same superstitions and took the same path she had taken with Liz, Ellie, and Zoey.
When the press conference was over, they returned to the Residence, together. Jed led Abbey inside, changed his jacket, then left for the Oval Office without another word. Abbey checked her hair in the mirror, adjusted her suit, and took off for her office. She had become resigned to the fact that she and Jed only shared living quarters now. Two weeks of silence had taken its toll. She had so much to say to him. But he wouldn't even look at her, let alone listen. Every now and then, she tried to convince herself that it was for the best. She wanted so much to believe that Jed needed time and the silence would help him sort things out. Another part of her knew every day they spent not talking was another step closer to divorce.
TBC