Author Note: This is the last section of chapter one of Drea's story… there is much more to come for the Lyman family, I promise! Once again, thank you so much for all of the feedback. I love playing with the characters from the original cannon and putting them in new situations – hopefully you enjoy my mind travelings. R/R!

xxxxx

I don't know whether to be elated or depressed.

I am, once again, just another American. I'm watching Marcus Anderson get sworn in to my old job. He's a good man, he can handle it.

But I'm still unemployed. And Abbey intends me to remain that way.

Packing up yesterday was atrocious. Zoey and Abbey were a mess up in the residence and there was this horrible aura of depression down in the west wing.

Drea and Stacey made cookies for all of us and Drea was dancing about the building passing them out. I can't believe that she's five years old. She's so energetic. Josh is determined to expose her to everything, so she's on a swim team and taking ballet lessons. But she told me that she doesn't like ballet.

Josh is taking a year off to "be Drea's dad", as he puts it. I'm figuring he'll go stir crazy pretty soon and find himself on a campaign somewhere.

Toby's touring Europe and writing for a few months. He's got a few speaking engagements lined up, so he should be pretty busy for a while. I hope he sends postcards.

Sam and his wife, Melissa, are moving to Colorado. He's not sure what he's doing, but he'll probably end up writing. He should take up skiing or something.

CJ's going to try her hand at consulting in New York. I'm not sure how long she'll do that for. Marcus tried desperately to get her hang on as Press Secretary for him, but she said that she was done and I don't blame her. She's got a job lined up, but I'm old and I can't remember where.

Donna's going back to school. She got accepted at Stanford, Yale and UCLA Berkley. She hasn't made a choice yet, but she will. And she'll blow them away.

Leo's finally retiring. Dear Lord, that man needs sleep even more than I do. He's going to spend some time with Mallory, I think.

Charlie Young will enter the freshman class of UCLA this fall. I'm so proud of him, I really am. He is a man of commendable character and deserves every once of happiness and success he gets.

Sigh

I am going to miss these people so much. I think about how I couldn't remember their names in the beginning of all of this and how close we are now, and I can't help but laugh.

Or cry.

Because they're all gone now.

At least Abbey and I will see each other more than once a month. That will be nice.

But I'm going to go nuts, I know it.

My MS is getting worse, I can feel it and I'm not sure how much longer it will be until I'm a vegetable. I hope at least twenty years. I hope it's not until I see all of my staffers married.

Toby informs me that he's been down that road and intendeds never to go back. He'll change his mind.

Josh is doing surprisingly better than any of us ever thought, but he still needs a woman. Drea's five, almost six and it's not going to get any easier on him.

Looks at watch

Time for dinner. I asked to borrow Air Force One for the last time to round up my people. President Anderson was happy to oblige, and they'll be here any minute.

I better go see if Abbey remembers how to cook.