Series: Snapshots of the Past

Story: Say You Love Me Too

Chapter 16

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

Previously: Jed guided Abbey through the night they conceived their baby; Jed told Abbey he loved her and Abbey surprised Jed by telling him that she loved him too

Summary: Jed is shocked by Abbey's declaration of love; Abbey is still reliving the night of the attack; Abbey finally remembers why a familiar song stirs such deep emotions

- - -

Jed loosened his hold only slightly so he could pull away from Abbey and stare straight into her eyes. She had only said four little words, but they were the most important four little words in the world. He hadn't expected it. He hadn't imagined it. He had done everything in his power to protect himself from the massive disappointment that would have come from having his hopes dashed once again.

But she said it. She actually said those four little words and when she did, she took their relationship to a level he could have only dreamed out moments earlier.

"Does that surprise you?" she asked. "That I love you?"

After a brief moment, he shook his head. "Not that you love me. I just have to get used to you remembering that you love me."

"I think part of me loved you even before I remembered loving you. The part that saw you taking such good care of Ellie the night she didn't want to leave Boston wouldn't let me forget. The part that watched you braiding Lizzie's hair and the part that heard about the day you forced her to see a counselor, the part that found out you had to drag her there kicking and screaming and afterwards, you bought her ice cream and painted her nails to make up for it. That part never forgot."

"You knew about that?"

"She told me." Abbey's fingertips glided gently over his. "And of course, earlier today, when, despite how angry you were at me, you picked me up and carried me to the hospital, asking me how I was feeling every five seconds along the way."

"I thought you were getting annoyed," he chuckled.

"Never."

She brushed his hair off his face, giving her an unobstructed view of the warm blue eyes that shined with compassion. If the eyes are the gateway to the soul, then his soul was the bridge to her heart. It beat faster with every blink. It warmed her entire body with every movement. It forged a connection so strong that neither one could turn away.

They sat there, speechless for several minutes, only allowing the cool air from the air vent to blow between them.

Jed fought back the urge to interrupt the peaceful moment. He had so much to say. And at the same time, he had really nothing to say. What could he say about a love so deep that even tragedy couldn't break it? The past five weeks had been the darkness after the nightmare, when you wake up and realize it was all a dream, only to find the fears hadn't escaped just because the body was now conscious and alert. Only this time, the nightmare itself wasn't really a nightmare at all. It was real. And the aftermath was all the more frightening.

He struggled with his feelings of hopelessness, the grief he felt over the thoughts that he had lost his wife for good. He wondered if she'd ever make her way back into the life they had built together.

"I love you too," she had said.

And with those four little words, it was obvious that she would.

"I don't know what to say," he finally confessed.

"You know, I may not remember much, but I do know that Jed Bartlet is rarely speechless. Is this a historical moment or what?" She reached over him towards the nightstand by his side of the bed. "Give me a pen!"

"I don't think so," he teased, grabbing her arm to hold her back, then looked at her with a serious stare. "I just wondered if I'd ever hear you say that to me again."

"I'm sorry it took so long."

"No. Oh God, no, don't apologize." He took her into a hug, his arms folded around her small frame.

She pulled herself back and cupped his chin to bring it towards her. He knew what she was about to, but he restrained himself, convinced it had to be her move to make. She leaned in slowly, her eyes still locked into his until the last possible second. Just as they slid closed, her head tilted to the side and her lips made contact.

It was a short kiss, but it was a start. Her hand remained on his chin, her fingers sprawled out on his left cheek. She moved her thumb slightly to wipe the lipstick stain off his lips.

"That was nice," she said.

"It really was."

Another timeless gaze abruptly ended with the sound of jiggling keys and the opening of the front door.

"Mom?" Lizzie called out.

"She might be sleeping," Paige warned.

Within seconds, Abbey ran out of the bedroom to greet her daughters. Ellie ran towards her first, jumping into her arms as she always did. Jed followed behind and smiled warmly at the sight of mother and daughter.

"Daddy, how come you're home?"

"I had an early day today." He refused to admit that he left work to check up on his wife. "How were the girls?" he asked Paige.

"As well-behaved as always," she replied as she turned to give each one a hug. "Okay, girls, I'll see you on Thursday."

Liz waited for the door to close behind Paige before turning to her father. "Can we have pizza for dinner?"

Jed looked to Abbey then nodded. "As long as it's okay with your mother."

"Yeah. A night of pizza sounds all right."

Lizzie and Ellie ran to the phone as Abbey wrapped her arm around Jed's waist, her eyes replaying the secret kiss they had just shared. At some point, they'd have to tell their daughters that she was starting to remember, that she and their father were working their way back to one another, that in eight short months, they'd have to welcome a new brother or sister into the family. But not tonight. Tonight, Lizzie seemed happy. Ellie was excited. Tonight, they would simply enjoy each another's company and save the deeper conversations for later.

Or at least, that was the plan.

Now that she had opened the floodgates to her blocked memories, Abbey found it even more difficult to avoid the frightening flashes of trauma that terrified her to her core.

When the pizza delivery man knocked on the door, she whipped around so hard that she actually heard her a few tension cracks in her neck. She had done the same the night of the attack. The sound of footsteps had grown louder behind her and she turned with a startled jolt.

When Lizzie dropped pepperoni on her white skirt, the splattered tomato sauce stain reminded her of the blood that dripped from her attacker's body while he lay on top of her.

When Ellie covered her own mouth to stifle the laugh in reaction to the string of cheese hanging from Jed's mouth, she grinned shyly. It was a poor attempt at trying to forget the trauma of having her screams muffled by a strong, gloved hand that nearly covered her entire chin.

She was unraveling. Slowly and calmly, she was definitely unraveling.

- - -

With the girls tucked safely in bed, Abbey approached the subject with Jed. They had embarked on a new beginning, devoid of any secrets. She could trust him with her innermost thoughts. She could tell him about the demons that seemed trapped inside her, ready to tear her apart intimately with one single scream.

"Can you stay in here tonight?" she asked as he walked her into the master bedroom.

"You want me to?"

"I just don't want to be alone."

He sensed the fear in her voice. This wasn't the same carefree Abbey who kissed him just a few hours earlier. Something had changed.

"What's the matter?"

"I'm still scared," she admitted softly, as if ashamed by the confession. "I'm trying to be strong, it's just..."

He placed his index finger over her lips, silencing her immediately. "Shh."

With a slap to his hand, she jerked away from him. "Don't." She turned around to see him standing frozen to his spot, confused by her reaction. "Don't hush me. Please."

"I didn't mean anything by it."

"That's what he did. He put his hand over my mouth. I just don't want anyone's hand on my mouth."

Jed tilted his head as he gingerly walked towards her. "I'm sorry, Abbey."

"He was wearing a glove."

He already knew. "Yeah."

"A latex glove."

"Can you see his face? Do you know what he looked like?"

She shook her head adamantly. "I'm afraid to even try."

"It's okay. You don't have to." His arms coiled around her, squeezing her shoulders between them.

"I just want you to stay with me tonight. Please?"

He nodded as he helped her to the bed. "I knew about the glove. The police told me."

"It's the kind doctors wear." She slipped under the sheets, her head propped up against the headboard. "Nurses. EMTs. It's the kind we have at the hospital, right?"

"Yeah," he answered, his head lowered to avoid eye contact.

"Do they suspect someone at the hospital? Do they suspect someone I work with?"

"They don't have much to go on." His words caused a tremble even he could see. He sat down beside her.

"All those physical therapy sessions, all those meetings with the psychiatrist, all the back and forth to the hospital." She shuddered with the next thought. "He could have been right there. This whole time, he could have been watching me, wondering if I remember him, if I can identify him."

"A lot of people use latex gloves. It could be a complete stranger."

"And it could be someone I know very well."

"He's never going to hurt you again, Abbey," he assured her as he cautiously wrapped an arm over her chest and around her back. "I won't let him."

She snuggled into his frame, letting out a deep sigh as he lovingly stroked her hair. "Will you do me a favor?"

"Anything."

"There's this song I listened to a few times. It helped me fall asleep. It made me feel safe."

His hands rested on her shoulders as he put a slight bit of distance between them. "What song?"

"It's a Dean Martin song. It's Italian. I found the record the night of Lizzie's recital."

"Vieni Su?" She nodded. "You remember Vieni Su?"

"I remember how it made me feel. Will you sing it to me?"

"Of course," he replied after pressing his lips to her forehead.

As he began to sing, she relaxed. The haunting lyrics didn't just comfort her. This time, they jarred her entire body with a memory so romantic, she mustered up all her strength to hold on to it.

It was him. And she was mesmerized. Dressed in a pair of black slacks that molded perfectly to his rear and a regal blue shirt that brought out his beautiful eyes, he stood before her with a handsome smile and a subtle wink that captivated her senses.

He was holding her. His right arm was tucked under hers. His fingers were buried in the small of her back. Her hand was holding his left one and her head relaxed against his shoulder. A violinist serenaded them with the instrumental version of this very song.

She bent herself back, swaying in his arms as the moonlight shined bright on top of his brown hair. The soft wind blew through her auburn tresses, barely lifting the hem of her lavender-colored summer dress that circled around her knees. A few sporadic flashes from the gondolas below lit up both their faces as she cupped her hand around the back of his head.

Now she understood the magic of Vieni Su. The feelings that came rushing back to her weren't just provoked by the familiar song. They were the product of the love she had for the man laying beside her. She was safe now. Nestled in his arms, enveloped in his warm embrace as he rocked her to sleep with his angelic voice, she knew she was safe.

TBC