October 25th, 1987 9:58 P.M.
Washington, D.C.
The Bartlet Household Master Bedroom

Abbey Bartlet rested motionless in her husband's arms, plagued with dark memories of that night over twenty years earlier. It had hit her out of nowhere. Sitting on the couch, playing Chutes and Ladders with her daughters, the visions had clouded her mind. She broke down right then and there, scaring her three children and causing them to run to his study and inform him of what was happening. Jed had immediately run to her side and guided her upstairs, holding her as she cried for over an hour, speaking to him only seldomly during that time. "Jed…" She looked up. He smiled down at her warmly.
"Shh, baby. You don't have to say anything." "I miss him"
He kissed the top of her head.
"I know you do. I miss him too." "I still don't understand," Abbey whispered.
"I don't think anyone but Michael ever understood"
"I wish I did"
"I know, honey. I know."

A glowing ember Burning hot Burning slow Deep within I'm shaken by the violence Of existing for only you I know I can't be with you I do what I have to do I know I can't be with you I do what I have to do And I have sense to recognize but I don't know how to let you go I don't know how to let you go I don't know how to let you go

"Do What You Have to Do," by Sarah McLachlan
November 4th, 1987 12:34 P.M.
Capitol Hill High School

When the bell rang at 12:34, saving Elizabeth Bartlet from suffering through more Geometry, she quickly stood and rushed toward the door, only to be stopped by her Geomtetry teacher. "Liz"
"Mr. Madison…" He handed her a pass.
"What's this?" She asked.
"Ms. Rollins would like to see you in her office"
Liz stared at him with confusion.
"But…why"
He shrugged.
"No idea"
"Ok…well, thank you"
"Anytime. See you tomorrow, Liz"
"Yeah…" She whispered, leaving the room and walking toward the office. She stopped at the secretary's desk.
"Hi, Nina. I was told Ms. Rollins wanted to see me"
"Oh, Elizabeth. You can go on in"
Liz smiled politely, then walked over to Ms. Rollins office and knocked on the door.
"Come in"
Liz walked into her office nervously and sat down in front of her desk.
"Elizabeth. How are you?" Allethea Rollins asked.
"I'm…fine, thanks. You"
"I'm doing well, thank you. Now. I suppose you're wondering why I've called you"
Liz laughed nervously, then nodded.
"The truth is, I'm a bit concerned, Elizabeth, as are your teachers," Allethea said.
"Concerned? Why"
"Well…it's getting close to that time, is it not"
"I'm really not following you here. Are you upset about my grades? But they're fine, really…I have a little trouble concentrating now and then, but I don't think it's hurt my grades so far"
"No, no. Your grades are fine, as of this moment. That's why we're worried"
"I really don't understand, Ms. Rollins"
"I think I would feel better having this conversation with a parent, Elizabeth"
"You want to talk to my parents?" Liz questioned, apprehensively.
"Yes. Well, it doesn't have to be both of them. I'd like to speak to at least one"
Liz sighed.
"Ok. When"
Allethea flipped through her day planner.
"Thursday at 4 o'clock works for me"
"I'll see what I can do," Liz replied, sadly.
"Very well. You can go now, Elizabeth"

7: 09 P.M.
The Bartlet Household Kitchen

Elizabeth walked into the kitchen to find her parents standing side by side at the sink, doing the dishes left over from dinner. Jed was washing and Abbey was drying. She would have prefered to do the washing, but Jed insisted to do the easier job. She didn't complain.
"Uh, guys?" They turned their heads to look at her.
"What's up, Liz?" Abbey asked. "Oh, nothing. Um. I was just wondering…which one of you feels like going to a meeting with my principal on Thursday?" Liz questioned, sheepishly.
They both stopped what they were doing and turned around fully.
"What did you do?" Jed asked.
"Liz, I thought we agreed that this year you were going to stay out of the principal's office," Abbey added.
This was true. In the past, Elizabeth Bartlet had been quite the little troublemaker. Nothing major of course, just being overly talkative during class, giving people a hard time, being the class clown, etc. She had always been a bit rebellious. "I didn't do anything, I swear!" Liz exclaimed, defensively.
"Well then why does Ms. Rollins want to see us…again?" "I don't know"
"What do you mean, you don't know? Don't play games with us, Elizabeth," Jed said, firmly.
"I really don't know. She's concerned. I don't know what that means, but she's concerned. And she wants to meet with one of you"
"Just one of us?" Abbey replied.
"She said she didn't need to see you both"
"You can go," Jed immediately said to his wife.
"Oh, no, you go. I insist"
"Really. You should go. I know how much you wanted to go last time"
"Jed, honestly, I don't mind. I know how much meetings like this mean to you and I"
"Oh, for God's sake," Liz muttered under her breath. "Look, it's Thursday at four. So whoever has free time at that time gets to go"
"I've got a 3:30 meeting on Thursday," Jed said. "I'd never make it"
"Damnit!" Abbey cried.
"What?" Liz asked.
"I've got the early morning shift on Thursday. Which means I'll be home by two. Damnit"
"And we have a winner!" Jed exclaimed, glancing at his wife cunningly.
"I'll get you back," Abbey insisted. "I have no doubt you will"
"Better keep an eye on your cigarettes, Jethro," she warned, raising an eyebrow as she walked past him.
"What! My cigarettes! Abbey!" He called, running after her.
Liz sighed.
"Guess I'll finish the dishes"
November 7th, 1987 4:11 P.M.
Capitol Hill High School Main Office "Hi there, Dr. Bartlet," Nina greeted Abbey pleasantly when she walked into the office.
"Hello, Nina. Allethea's expecting me, I'm late actually. Should I just go on in"
As much as she hated it, Abbey Bartlet was on a first-name basis with her daughter's principal. She had spent many an hour shut up in the office discussing her daughter's behavior. It always worried Elizabeth's teachers. She was so bright, her grades were fantastic, but she never tired of wreaking havoc whenever possible. A practical joke here, a sassy remark there. There was no stopping her. Abbey walked over to Allethea's office and knocked on the door.
"Come on in"
Abbey turned the doorknob and entered the room, her face very flushed.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. I know how busy you are. My youngest daughter threw a rather impressive tantrum"
She sat down in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. Then she noticed the shocked look on Allethea's face that hadn't gone away the entire time she was in the office.
"Allethea? Everything all right?" "Oh, um, yes. Yes, fine"
"Really? You're looking a little pale…" Abbey observed.
Allethea hesitated a moment before speaking.
"I…well, I just hadn't realized that…you were expecting as well"
Abbey laughed.
"Oh, Lord. I'm sorry. I thought you knew. It seems to be common knowledge around these parts nowadays"
"I'm just a bit surprised, that's all"
"Yes, well, my daughter and I really love to do things together," Abbey said, with a wink. Allethea let out a forced chuckle.
"I can see that"
"So. What seems to be the trouble with Elizabeth now"
"Not trouble so much as concern"
"Has she been acting up again"
"No, actually, she's been doing very well in that respect," Allethea replied.
"It's not her grades, is it"
"No, those are fine as well"
"Then what is it"
"How far is from she from her due date?" "A little over a month," Abbey answered. "Come to think of it, how far are you from yours"
"Roughly the same amount of time." Allethea nodded.
"We're simply concerned about Elizabeth's future. How is she planning to handle school after her child is born"
"Unfortunately, we haven't exactly gotten the details worked out on that one yet. But she will absolutely be continuing her education here. We'll figure out a way. We're weighing our options right now," Abbey said. "And college"
Abbey smiled, flustered, but kindly.
"One day at a time, Allethea, one day at a time. Elizabeth will go to college. At this moment, we don't know the when, where, and how of that situation, but she will go to college. That much is certain"
"Good. Also, some of her teachers had reported that she seems to have trouble concentrating on anything that's being said in class. As if she's got her head in the clouds or something"
"Well, at the risk of sounding rude, my daughter is about to bring a life into this world. The world as she knows it is changing, in a big way. Her entire life…altered. It doesn't surprise me at all that her minds is on things besides her schoolwork right now," Abbey said.
"With all due respect, Abbey, that's what we're worried about. Her lack of concentration can only get worse from here in on, once she has a baby to take care over. Suddenly homework, projects, essays, studying…they're not important"
"Oh, they're important. I'll see to it that she knows that. But yes, she is going to be occupied with things besides school. That's inevitable"
"As long as you feel everything is under control"
"I do," Abbey insisted. "But thank you. I'm glad you're all looking out for Liz. She certainly needs all the support she can get right now"
"I assure you, Abbey, we're all on your side"
"Good. Are we done here"
"Yes. We're done"
"Ok then"
Abbey stood and shook Allethea's hand.
"Nice seeing you again, Allethea"
"You too. Congratulations on the baby, by the way"
"Thank you. I'll see you around"

November 13th, 1987 6:47 P.M.
Jed Bartlet's Car

"Do we really have to go again?" Jed asked.
"Yes," Abbey replied, exhasperatedly.
"Really, cause, ya know…I could turn around right now"
"No"
He sighed.
"Those people scare me, Abbey"
"I know, dear"
"They're not sane"
"I know, dear"
"I worry about them," Jed said.
"I know, dear"
"Are you patronizing me, Abigail"
"Yes, dear"
"You know, I think now would be a really good time for us to talk about something"
"Oh, dear"
"You're witty, Abbey. Do you know that"
"I do, dear"
"We need to make some decisions," Jed stated.
"Oh"
"Well, you've probably already subconsiously made them, but we need to talk about them. We've only got a month or so left. Presumably. Technically, that kid could pop out of you at any minute"
She laughed.
"Considering my labors usually last up to twenty hours, that doesn't seem likely"
"Zoey didn't"
"Zoey was three months premature. The doctors had her out in less than an hour"
"This baby could be premature"
"Jed. What is it we need to discuss"
"Everything"
"Name something," Abbey said.
"Well, for one, are we breastfeeding this time"
"What do you mean 'we"
"You know what I mean"
"Yeah. Actually, I'm glad you brought that up. I've been thinking about that too"
"Yeah? And"
"I'm leaning towards…not," Abbey confessed.
"Not breastfeeding"
"Yes"
"Oh. But…why"
"Jed, it's perfectly healthy for a child to be bottle-fed"
"I know, but what makes you lean towards that decision"
"Well, I have to work, for God's sake. Breastfeeding will tie me down. I know it sounds like I'm being selfish, but in truth, it doesn't hurt the baby at all. You know I would never consider it if it did"
"No, I know. You're right. That's fine. Whatever you want. It's your body," Jed said.
"Plus, doing it this way will give you more of a chance to bond with the baby"
"How"
"Because this way you can feed her too"
"Her"
"Or him," she said.
"I see"
She smiled.
"And I like the idea of watching you do it"
He smiled back, though slightly confused.
"Why"
"It's sweet. And for someone who's as wonderful a father as you are, I would think you'd enjoy the experience"
Jed nodded, pensively. "I think I like that idea too"
"Plus we'll have Liz's baby to consider. It's going to be a madhouse, and breastfeeding just ties us down"
"Yeah. Oh, joy, we're here"
Abbey grinned.
"You know you love it"
"Can't deny it. I love Lamaze class. It's the highlight of my week"
"That's what I thought too"
"You know, we could easily just do this at home"
"I highly doubt we could, Jed"
"No, we could. All we have to do is sit on the floor, with you in front of me, and practice breathing. We'd be fne"
"It's much more complicated than that"
"It doesn't have to be"
"Really? Then you can go into labor in my place, all right"
"Ok, let's go inside"
"There ya go"

7:32 P.M.
The Bartlet Household Elizabeth Bartlet's Bedroom

The Bartlet girls were restless. It wasn't that they didn't like to do what they were told, they were just too restless most of the time to comply. So when their parents insisted they wait until they returned to start constructing the crib of Elizabeth's baby, they wanted to listen…really, they did. But there was no stopping the girls when they were bored and impatient. Instead, the three girls found themselves in Elizabeth's room, on the floor, trying to build the crib all by themselves. "Where does this screwy thing go?" Ellie asked.
"Umm…" Liz perused through the directions. "Is it a bolt"
Ellie shrugged.
"I don't know"
"It's not a nail, right"
"I don't think so"
"It's a nut," Zoey piped.
They both turned to look at her with surprise.
"What did you say"
"It's a nut, not a bolt"
"Zoey, how do you"
"Daddy taught me, when I was helping him put together the crib in the baby's room"
Liz sighed.
"You know, I still don't think it's fair that my baby has to sleep in here with me, and their baby gets its own room"
"We all have our own rooms, why shouldn't the baby?" Ellie replied. "I think the two babies should share rooms"
"Why, so they can wake each other up in the middle of the night and then we have TWO screaming babies at 3am"
"Good point." "Plus, the baby will sleep in their room for the couple months anyway"
"Yeah. I guess," Liz said.
"Hey, you know what I was thinking about?" Ellie asked.
"What"
"Who'll go into labor first. You or Mom. Have you thought about it"
"Not really"
"Who do you want to go first"
"I don't know, Ellie. I'm just hoping we don't go into labor at the same time"
Ellie and Zoey laughed.
"That would be amazing," Ellie commented. "So awesome"
"It would not be awesome! I need Mom to be there with me, I can't do it alone. And she can't be with me if she's in labor too"
"Can you imagine it though? You and Mom in labor at the same time. I think Dad would go out of his mind. He's gonna be bad enough when just one of you is in labor, but both? I would be scared to be around him"
"Speaking of which. I need you guys to do me a favor. When I'm in labor, keep Dad away from me, will ya?" Liz questioned. "Why"
"Because I know he's gonna drive me nuts! I don't know how Mom puts up with him in the delivery room. I would go out of my mind"
"Eh." Ellie shrugged. "She's used to it." Liz laughed.
"I don't know how she does it"
"Well, Mom's quite a handful herself, Liz. I'm sure she's not all hearts and flowers in the delivery room either," Ellie pointed out.
"Yeah, but you know, I can't really remember much about any of her deliveries in the past. When you were born, I was about five. I had to stay with Nan and Pop. And when Zoey was born, she didn't really have a traditional delivery"
"What!" Zoey exclaimed, with confusion.
"You were a preemie, Zoey"
"What!" She exclaimed again.
"There was a problem, and when Mom went into the hospital, she was only in labor, if you could call it that, for like an hour"
Zoey grinned.
"That's good"
"No…it was really scary. Dad would come out to update Nan and Pop every fifteen minutes or so, and he'd be crying"
"I scared Daddy"
"Well, it wasn't your fault, Zoey"
"It was Mommy's fault"
"No, no, no. It was nobody's fault. It just happened. But the thought of losing you AND Mom was too much and it made Daddy cry. That's all," Liz explained. "Is that gonna happen this time"
"Nope. Mom and I are both too far along to have preemies. So don't worry about that"
"But other stuff could happen," Ellie said.
"What"
"Like other complications"
"Yeah," Liz replied, quietly. "Anything could happen."