It was close to eleven when the party finally died down and everyone headed back to the hotel. Liz and Ellie, utterly exhausted, walked like zombies to their bedrooms and crashed immediately. Abbey cleaned up a little bit, then resolved to leave the rest for morning. She walked out onto the porch to get some fresh air, and found her father-in-law there, still.
"John"
He jumped.
"Abbey, hi"
"What you still doing? I thought you left with Catherine." "No, I wanted to stay behind for a minute, and talk to you," John answered.
"To me"
"Yes"
Abbey sat down beside him, a bit nervous.
"Ok. What's the problem"
"Now, I recognize you're not a licensed psychiatrist or anything, or an expert on relationships. But it seems I'm all out of options and you're the closest thing I've got," John said.
"Whatever it is, I'll do my best to help you, John, you know that"
"Well. It's Catherine"
Abbey nodded.
"I figured"
"She's not happy"
"Really, I've noticed that too"
He looked at her with confusion for a moment, then continued.
"Catherine…has never been the most expressive of people, you see. I can't tell what she's thinking"
"Well, with all due respect, you're not exactly easy to read either," Abbey pointed out.
"I know that. I'm not denying it. I just…this is silly, but for once…I don't know what to do"
Abbey looked at him seriously.
"Do you love her, John"
"I don't want to lose her"
"Yeah, but do you love her"
"I"
"Let me ask you this. Why did you want to marry her"
"She…I don't know. Is that bad? I don't know"
"I'd say that's pretty bad, yeah. Let me ask you this. Do you think she loves you"
"I…I've always assumed so"
"Bad move. You can't assume people love you. And you can't assume you love someone. It just doesn't work that way. But I'll give you this advice. If you don't want to lose your wife, you have got to start treating her better. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to pry and I'm not being judgemental. It's merely an observation, and it goes for every couple. A marriage is a partnership. Plain and simple"
"All right. Now, honestly, Abbey…if you were Catherine, would you stay with me?" John asked, quietly.
"You really want the truth"
"Yes"
"Then no. I wouldn't"
He looked up.
"You wouldn't"
"No. But that's if I were Catherine. As your daughter-in-law, I, personally, have no problems with you. Others may. But I don't. You've never been anything but kind to me. I realize that's not the case with every person, but that's not my place to say"
"Others who have problems with me, huh"
"Yes"
"Meaning my son, I bet"
"Well, if we're sticking with the honesty thing…I don't think it's Jed who has a problem with you. I think it's you who has a problem with Jed"
"I…I'd rather not talk about that, Abbey"
"That's fine"
Suddenly, John smiled.
"Ellie really liked her present"
Abbey nodded.
"Yes, she did." "He's angry with me, isn't he? Jed, I mean," John asked.
"Look. I really can't speak for Jed, as I haven't been able to talk with him yet. I can speak for me though. I…well, I believe your intentions were honorable, John, I really do. I think you just wanted to make your grandaughter happy. And you succeeded. You have made my daughter very happy and I'm glad for that. However, you seem to have made my husband unhappy. And when he's unhappy, I'm unhappy"
With that, she stood. "I hope you can work things out with Catherine. I really do"
"Thanks for all your help, Abbey"
She nodded in response, then walked back into the house.
12:16 A.M.
The Bartlet Household Master Bedroom

When Abbey finally made it to her bedroom, she found her husband laying in bed, staring at the TV in front of him. His facial expression was completely blank, and she doubted if he was even watching. She sighed and sat next to him on the bed. "Babe"
"Hmm," he mumbled in response. "Whatcha watching"
"Some…show, I don't know. I hate TV"
"I know you do," she answered, with slight amusement.
He nodded, indifferently.
"Jed"
He looked at her, finally. "Talk to me"
"I…I don't even know where to start, Abbey. It wouldn't make any sense"
"Jed, this is me"
"Yeah," he whispered. "I'm sorry." "Don't be sorry"
"Oh, God, Abbey, I…I don't know. I can't believe he…I just"
"It's ok, baby. Say whatever you want. It's just me"
She pulled him into her arms, with his head against her chest, and rocked back and forth. It was rare that she got to comfort her husband, he was usually the one doing the comforting with her. "I just…I wanted her to have those books so much, but I…wanted them to come from me"
"I know"
"I feel like I've failed her," he said.
"You haven't failed her, Jed. You could never. You're her father, she loves you"
"But that's not enough. I want to be…I want to be her hero. I just…" He hesitated.
"What, honey"
"I want to be a better father to her than Dad was to me"
Hearing him admit this, so vulnerably, brought tears to her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. It was her turn to be strong for him. "Jed, honey…you are. Don't you ever doubt that. If you weren't an incredible father to these girls, do you think I would allow myself to bring another one into this world? Do you? If you were anything- ANYTHING- like your father…I wouldn't do it. I have never once questioned what an extraordinary father you are. You're extraordinary. It's uncanny how much these girls love and worship you. Ellie included. They would do anything for you, as would I. You are not your father. And I am not your mother. We're Jed and Abbey, and we are good parents, damnit. Do you hear me"
She felt him nod. "Ok," she whispered.
"Can we…just lay here? And not talk?" Jed asked.
She smiled.
"Of course we can, babe. Whatever you want"
She leaned over to turn off the light, then returned to rubbing his back.
"I love you, Abbey"
Abbey smiled to herself and held her husband tighter.
"I love you too. More than you know," she whispered.

October 2nd, 1987 7:53 A.M.
The Bartlet Household Master Bedroom

Elizabeth knocked on the door, but when she got no response, she walked right on in. She tiptoed over to her parents' bed, where she found her father practically clinging to her mother. Liz had realized something was off with her father last night, but she only then understood how bad it must have been. "Mom," Liz whispered. "Mom, wake up." Abbey's eyelids fluttered a few times before she offically awoke.
"Hi, honey"
"Mom, Aunt Julia's gonna be here in a few minutes"
"Shh, shh. Don't wake your father"
"Sorry. Aunt Julia's gonna be here to"
"I know. You have everything you need? Do you need any money?" Abbey asked. "No, I'm fine"
"New York is expensive, Liz. I don't want Julia to have to break the bank, especially with the way you are"
"Fine, you can give me money if you really want to"
Abbey laughed quietly.
"You're really something else, ya know that, Liz? Other teenagers beg their parents to give them money and you beg them not to"
"Well, I didn't want to make you get up or anything"
"Yeah. Hold on." She slowly disentangled herself from Jed and got out of bed.
"Come on downstairs, I'll go get my purse." Once downwstairs, Abbey searched her for purse and when she found, took out her wallet.
"You don't have to give me a lot," Liz insisted.
Abbey pulled out a couple of twenty dollar bills.
"Sixty ok"
"Sixty"
She grabbed another twenty.
"Eighty then"
"Mom, I don't need eighty dollars!" "Fine"
She took out another one.
"A hundred"
"Mom"
"Take it." "But…I don't…I don't need a hundred dollars, that's crazy," Liz said.
"Yes, you do. Julia's going to take you shopping and out to lunch, and I want you be well taken care of," Abbey said. Liz smiled and relented, taking the money. "I feel bad for other teenagers"
"Why"
"Their parents aren't made of money," Liz said.
"I'm not made of money either. But, I'm certainly not lacking." "That's for sure"
"That's why you go to college, sugar. To get a job that'll bring in the big bucks"
"The truth comes out. That's why you became a doctor," Liz speculated.
"No, but it's a helluva perk"
They heard a car horn sound from the driveway outside. "That's Aunt Julia"
"Yep. Have fun, sweetie"
"Thanks, Mom. Really…thanks"
"You're welcome. Enjoy yourself"
"Which is just another way to say have fun"
"More or less"
"Ok, I'm leaving. I'll see you tonight"
"Bye"

9:05 A.M.
The Bartlet Household Kitchen Jed Bartlet didn't wake up until nearly nine in the morning, which was late for him. Soon after noticing his wife's side of the bed was empty, he got out of bed and sauntered downstairs and into the kitchen. Abbey was standing in front of the stove, making pancakes for Zoey and eggs for Ellie, who were sitting at the table nearby. Jed walked slowly, in a zombie-like state, toward the coffee maker.
"Hi, Daddy!" Zoey said.
"Mornin' Dad," Ellie said.
Abbey turned around.
"Hey there, sleepy head, what's cookin'?" "Looks like pancakes and eggs," Jed replied.
"Good catch." She winked. He poured himself a cup of coffee and then sat down with his two youngest daughters. "Where's Liz?" Jed asked.
"In New York with Julia"
"What"
"You knew about this," Abbey insisted. "The last hurrah"
"Right, right. Ok. When do we have to go to the Sheraton to say goodbye to everyone"
"About eleven or so." "Praise God"
"Jed"
"I'm looking forward to having my privacy again, that's all." "Hey, Dad, how come you didn't come back to the party last night?" Ellie asked.
Abbey immediately turned, gave her a look, then shook her head. Ellie looked at her in confusion. "Ok then…nevermind." "Good girl," Abbey whispered.

10:16 A.M.
The Bartlet Household Master Bedroom

"Jed?" Abbey called from the bathroom, where she was applying her makeup.
"Yeah"
"I think I've found us a good class"
"Class"
"Lamaze"
"Oh, yeah. Already"
"Well, I had a little free time this morning. All of you slept in pretty late, and after Liz woke me up I couldn't fall asleep"
"Ok. When do we start"
"Wednesday," she answered.
"Wednesday? As in three days from now"
"Mmm hmm." "You're sure you want to do this?" Jed asked.
"It was your idea"
"Yeah, I know, but I'm just….ya know, double-checking"
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm sure"
"What about Liz? Should we get her to go with us?" Jed questioned. "No. Well, first of all, she has to make the decision to go on her own. If she does want to go, we should find her a different class, maybe geared toward…teenage pregnancies"
"They have those"
"I don't see why they wouldn't. I'll look into it and talk to her," Abbey said.
"Ok"
"Jed…" She began, nervously.
"What"
"I, um…I had a conversation with your father last night"
"When was this"
"After everybody left, he stayed behind"
"He did? Why"
"To talk to me. About your mother"
"He wanted to talk to you about Mom"
"Yes"
"Well, what the hell for"
"Remember…when we were talking about how she's obviously not happy," Abbey said.
"Yeah"
"Well, he's noticed it too. And he wanted my…advice"
"What'd you tell him"
"I told him to treat her better"
"You said that to him?" Jed asked, surprised.
"You're damn right I did. He needed to hear it"
"Thinks he's gonna take any of your advice"
"No," she replied, honestly. "Then a lot of good that did"
"I know. If you ask me, I think your father's about to get royally screwed"
"Meaning what exactly"
"He's gonna get what's coming to him," Abbey stated.
"Sounds like you're giving my father an ultimatum," Jed accused.
"Your father's not here, so I can't be giving him an ultimatum, can I"
"Yeah, but you want to"
"I don't think I like what you're accusing me of," Abbey said.
"I'm not accusing you of anything"
"Yes, you are. You're accusing your pregnant wife. Have you no shame"
"Oh, for Christ's sake, Abbey." "I suffer through the most intense pain in the world for you and all you can do is"
"All right already! I take it back"
She winked at him.
"Works every time"