They walked around the Mall slowly so as to not wear Alex out. The sat along the reflecting pool, the sun shining on both of them. "I heard you screaming last night," Zoey said, meeting her sister's eyes.
"I had a nightmare," Alex admitted.
"About…it," Zoey asked. She couldn't quite bring herself to saying the word 'kidnapping'. It made everything that had happened so much more real.
"Yeah," Alex said, "I was back in the closet."
"Is that what they kept you in," Zoey asked. Alex nodded, trailing her hand in the pool.
"I don't remember much. Mom and Dad have me seeing some psychiatrist to help me remember," Alex said.
"Mom said you were pretty drugged up when they found you," Zoey replied.
"Yeah. I was. Everything's so…blurry. I keep hearing gunshots. I know I'm bound and gagged, but I can't describe much more." She looked back down at her cast, beginning to pick at the edge.
"Your memories will come back over time…right," Zoey asked.
"Yeah," Alex said, "Question is, do I want it to come back." Zoey nodded her head, trying to empathize with her sister, but she couldn't. She had never been through what her sister had. "How mad were Mom and Dad when they found out you weren't missing?"
"At first, they were just glad to see me that they didn't care," Zoey said, "Then…they were so concerned about finding you that they kind of forgot about being mad at me. I'm sure that they'll come up with some sort of punishment eventually."
"Knowing Mom and Dad, I'm sure it will," Alex said.
"Excuse me, Zoey, Alexandria, we need to be heading back," one of the agents said, "A storm seems to be moving in." Alex and Zoey looked up at the sky and saw that clouds were moving across the sky rapidly. The girls both groaned, then followed the agents back to the car.
It had begun to pour by the time they reached the House. "Wanna go pay Mom a visit," Alex asked as they walked in the double doors.
"Sure," Zoey said. They walked towards the East Wing, talking to Lilly before entering.
"How was lunch," Abbey asked, sliding her glasses off as she rose to meet her daughters.
"Great," Zoey said, "We went to the Monocle."
"I guess being the president's daughters has its perks," Abbey said, "Your father has to fly to Munich tonight. He's meeting with several world leaders to discuss a treaty."
"Are you going with him," Alex asked.
"No," Abbey said, "I'm staying with you."
"I'm good to go," Alex insisted.
"No, you're not," Abbey said, "You just got released from the hospital yesterday. You're not ready to be stuck on a plane for 10 hours, then be shown around the city. You've never been on one on of these presidential tours. It's not a vacation, honey."
"Mom, I'm not some fragile person that's going to break if I leave this place," Alex said, her voice rising. "You'd let Zoey go and you know it."
"Zoey wasn't the one that was kidnapped, drugged and has a broken arm," Abbey shot back. "And don't drag your sister into this because this isn't about her. It's about you."
"Why? Why am I different from her," Alex shouted, "Because I was raised on the streets? Because you and Dad never thought to question your daughter's sudden death? Because I was the one that was kidnapped? You and Dad let Zoey get away with whatever the hell she wants and I have to stick around the White House because you think I'm to fragile to go out in public. You know, I've made iteighteen years without anyone interfering in my life. I think I can make it eighteen more without people telling me how I should live my life." She turned around and stormed out of the office, the door slamming behind her.
Abbey sighed, rubbing her forehead as she turned around, leaning against her desk. Zoey stood silently, having not said a word during the argument. She turned and quietly left, shutting the door behind her.
It was around four o'clock when Jed walked up to the residence to say goodbye to Abbey and the girls before leaving for Andrews. He walked into the bedroom and found Abbey packing a suitcase on the bed. He could tell by her movements that she was upset and angry about something. "Abbey, you alright," he asked, touching her shoulders.
"Alexandria and I got into a fight," she said through gritted teeth.
"Over what," he asked, sitting down on the bed. He watched as she continued to fold garments and place them hastily in the bag.
"She wanted to go to Munich," she said, "I told her no." She went into the closet and began pulling out some of his suits.
"Why did you tell her no," Jed asked.
"Because Jed, she was released from the hospital yesterday. She still has a broken arm and isn't ready for a full presidential trip," Abbey said, throwing his suits on the bed.
"Does she think she's ready," he asked.
"Yes, but she's never been on one of these trips before. She doesn't know how exhausting they can be," she said, zipping up his bag. "She accused me of being to protective. She thinks that because she's gotten througheighteen years of her life that she can get through everything on her own." She shoved the bag aside and sat down.
"Abbey, she's not used to this. Yes, she doesn't know what the trip to Munich would be like and I agree she needs to stay here," he said, "She needs time to adjust. Maybe she'll be up for the next trip."
"Jed, you know how protective I am of all of the girls," she said, "With Alex, it's double fold because we've missed her for so long and just got her back. I know we can't keep her here forever, but I want to keep her for as long as I can."
"I know," he said, rubbing her back and kissing her temple. "You try to talk to her recently."
"No," Abbey said, "I was pretty pissed off at her myself."
"I came up to say goodbye to her and Zoey," he said, "I'll be back on Sunday."
"Call me when you get there," she said, standing up.
"I will," he said, "It'll be five in the morning."
"I don't care," she said, "Call me when you get ther. I love you." She walked over to him hugging and kissing him gently.
"I love you too," he said. He kissed her again, then left the room.
He knocked on Alex's door, gently pushing it open as he entered. She was laying on her bed, facing the window, her back to the door. "Hey," he said, sitting next to her on the bed. "I heard you and your mother had your first fight."
"Yeah," Alex said, wiping the tears away from her face, "She keeps treating me like some piece of fragile glass that's gonna break if you squeeze it to tightly."
"She's right not to let you go to Munich," he said, "I know you're going stir crazy around here, but believe me when I say there'll be other trips."
"I feel fine," Alex insisted, pushing herself up on the bed. "And I'm willing to bet you would let Zoey go if she wanted to."
"Yes, Zoey would be able to go, but she wasn't just released from the hospital. I know you think you can handle growing up yourself because God knows you've done it for so long, but the fact is that you're apart of this family now. That means that Abbey and I care and look after you and your sisters. And yes, we are a bit more protective of you. Foreighteen years, we believed you were dead. Losing a child is the hardest thing a parent can every experience. When Zoey said she had switched places with you, we couldn't believe it. We couldn't believe that the daughter we believed to be dead, was actually alive. Having you back is a second chance to us. Your mother doesn't want to keep you here because she's afraid you'll break. She's keeping you here because we have so little time left with you. In a year, you'll go to college, probably meet a guy and get married. She's keeping you here because, God forbid, something else may happen to you. Being the president's daughter places you at a whole new risk level. You above all should know that." He sighed deeply, meeting her soft brown eyes. "Alexandria, there isn't a day that goes by that I regret the position I have put you, your sisters and your mother in. A position where someone could harm, or even kill you, because of an action that I committed. Right now, you going out, even with an agent is a scary idea to your mother and I. Do you understand?"
Alex nodded, tears in her eyes. She had been so mad a moment ago, but now, her father's words had scared her. She didn't know how much becoming the president's daughter would change her life. "I…I'm s…sorry," she stammered, "I don't mean to worry you and Mom." A tear slid down her cheek as his her lip trembled. He remembered when Zoey had looked at him with the same tears in her eyes.
"Honey, don't cry," he said, hugging her, "It's just the truth that you need to know. You will have an agent with you, like Zoey has Gina. Your mother and I would do anything to keep you safe. You don't need to be afraid…just aware. Okay?" He pulled back and watched as Alex wiped the tears away from her eyes.
"Are you leaving for Munich now," she said, changing the subject.
"Yeah," he said, "I came up to say goodbye to you, Zoey and your mom."
"Okay," Alex said, "When do you get back?"
"Sunday," he replied. "Think you and your mom can keep from tearing this place apart that long?"
"Yeah," Alex replied, "I guess I should go apologize to her."
"Would probably be a good thing," he said, "She's in our room." Alex nodded, hugging him one more time.
"Be careful," Alex said, "Wouldn't want to lose my dad when I just got him back."
"I will," he said, "You take care of yourself. Don't give your Mom to much trouble."
"I won't," she said with a smile.
"Love you, kiddo."
"Love you too." She grinned, then walked down the hall to her parent's bedroom.