"Are you sure wanna do this?" Jed asked.
"Yes," she replied, simply.
"You know, if you want to get away, I could take you somewhere. Anywhere. Just us."
"No, Jed. This is what I want to do. It's not you, it's not the kids. I just need a little change of pace," Abbey explained.
"You're only going for the weekend, right?" He asked, nervously.
"Yes, I'm only going for the weekend," she answered, matter-of-factly. "I'll be back Sunday."
"If you change your mind…"
"I'm going, Jed. I need to have a weekend with just the girls"
"Ok, ok. But I want you to call me when you get there."
"Yeah, I will," she replied.
"Promise?"
"I promise! Come on, let's finish packing."
Meanwhile, the Bartlet girls were downstairs in the living room waiting. Like their father, they too were apprehensive about Abbey going on this trip.
"Liz, explain to me again why Mom is going to New York," Ellie said.
"Just a little vacation. She needs to get away for awhile."
"Is it because of us?" Zoey asked.
"No, Zoey. She just needs a break. It's like…how you need recess at school. Understand?"
"I guess. But this is a really long recess."
"Well…it's an adult recess," Liz explained. "Adult recesses are longer."
"So this vacation is a recess," Ellie recapped. "And New York is the playground?"
"Uh…yeah, basically."
"I don't know. I don't like it," Ellie stated.
"It's not up to you, El."
"And she's gonna be back Sunday?" Zoey questioned.
"Yep. Sunday," Liz replied.
"Why can't we go with her?"
"Because she needs to be alone, Zoey! Dad isn't even going with her. It's just for the girls."
"But we're girls!" Zoey protested.
"Yeah, but it's not the same thing."
"Who else is going on this trip again?" Ellie wondered.
"Mom, Jenny, Aunt Julia, Aunt Michelle, and Millie."
"That's it?"
"As far as I know."
"When are they coming?"
"Any minute now."
At that moment, the front door flew open and a chorus of squeals and shouts filled the house. The girls quickly shifted to see them, their mother's best friends (and sisters). But…not only them. In addition, they had all broughts their husbands…and their children.
"We're here!" Jenny shouted as they all piled into the living room.
Liz, Ellie, and Zoey ran over and gave everyone a hug, surprised at the amount of them.
"What are you all doing here!" Liz asked.
"Surprise!" Julia said.
"Well, yeah but…"
Her sentence was interuppted when everyone noticed Abbey come down the stairs, with Jed following close behind.
"Abbey!" Millie ran over and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, honey, how are you?" Michelle came over and hugged her as well.
Abbey blinked back tears. She was so thrilled to see all of them. Then she noticed Amanda Bartlet-Walton, who was purposely hiding behind everyone.
"Oh my God, Amanda!" Abbey exclaimed, running up and hugging her.
"Jesus, you look disgustingly gorgeous. It's sickening how fabulous you look," Amanda said, with mock disdain.
"I didn't know you were coming!"
"That's because we didn't tell you," Jenny said, grinning.
Jed cleared his throat and all the women turned their attention to him, Amanda in particular.
"Ahem. Amanda," Jed said.
"Hello, cuz," she grinned and walked over for a big bear hug from her cousin.
It was only then that Abbey noticed not only the women, but their husbands and children.
"Oh my God," she said, under her breath. "What's all this?"
"We couldn't leave the guys own their own with the kids while we were away," Millie admitted.
"So they're all gonna stay here with Jed," Amanda said. Jed shot her an evil glance, and Amanda laughed.
And there were many of them. Millicent had brought her husband, Scott Griffith, and their children, Joe (14) and Evan (11). Abbey's younger sister, Michelle, brought her husband, Dallas Brady, and their four children- Tallulah (13), Jake (12), Stephanie (9), and Ryan (7). Amanda had her husband, Matthew Walton, with her, along with their two children- Mark (14) and Julie (10). Julia brought along her husband, whom she'd married only two weeks earlier. His name was André Meluard and yes, he was French. Very French. And, of course, Jenny brought Leo and Mallory. This added up to a total of twelve children and six guys, and they had to inhabit one house for two days and three nights. The look of sheer panic on Jed's face was priceless.
"So. Are you ready?" Jenny questioned, anxiously.
"You mean you're really leaving everyone here in this house?"
"You bet we are. Now, come on, everyone. Say your goodbyes."
The women all obliged and said their goodbyes to their husbands and children.
"Come on, Abbey!" Jenny beckoned, as Abbey was hugging Zoey.
They broke apart, and Abbey turned to Jed, for a moment just looking at him apologetically. After a deep sigh, she leaned in and kissed him. The kiss was short enough that it didn't gross out any of the kids, and long enough to let him know how much she appreciated his concern. Long enough to show that she knew how much he loved her, and that she reciprocated the feeling wholeheartedly. It was a silent communication they were quite familiar with, one they both understood completely. When she finally pulled away, all of his apprehensions about her going on the trip melted away. He trusted her, and if she thought this would make her feel better, he was in complete favor of it. There was nothing that needed to be said between them. Thus, with a half-smile, Abbey bid him farewell. She took hold of her suitcase and the girls ushered her out of the house, all of them giggling and shreiking like schoolgirls. And while it was a much-anticipated girls' weekend out for them, their departure was such sweet sorrow for their husbands, for each of them was rather intimidated by the thought of being alone for three days with twelve kids.
They all piled into Jenny's minivan, with Jenny driving and Abbey in the passenger's seat.
"We need music!" Julia shouted from the back.
"Yeah, put on some Dylan!" Amanda suggested.
"Just like the old days," Michelle said, sighing nostalgically.
"I don't know….might remind Abbey about her shady past," Jenny said, raising an eyebrow at Abbey.
They all shreiked with laughter. Abbey blushed.
"Abbey, what do YOU want to listen to?"
"Anything but you guys!" She cried, giggling at them. She missed this quality time with her girlfriends.
"What an idea," Julia mused, thoughtfully.
"Oh, no," Abbey mumbled.
"Looks like we're going to have to make our own music, guys. What do you think? Should we sing 'Hey Jude' or torture Abbey with 'Blowin' in the Wind'?"
"Ahhhh!" Abbey moaned between spurts of laughter. "This is going to be an unbearable vacation!"