Jed rolled over and looked at his sleeping wife. The room was lit with the morning light coming through the curtains. Christmas morning. All was well with his world. He smiled as he remembered the lovemaking last night. It was hard and fast but truly done with love. They had not had a chance to make love in a couple of weeks due to the heavy schedule of functions but they had made up for the lack of intimacy last night. He was so grateful to God for giving him the only gift a man could have. The truest love of one's life. The one who could share the happy times, the sad times, the ugly times with him during a complete lifetime. Who would of thought that God would bless him with a woman that would provide him with three beautiful children and who would share his life until the end of time? Although he wouldn't tell Abbey, he was looking forward to the end of his Presidency when they could go back to the farm and just be Jed and Abbey once more.

His attention was brought back to his wife as she stirred and opened her eyes. "Good morning. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you." He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. "Sleep well?"

She grinned. "Yeah. Was kind of exhausted after our little encounter."

"Little?! Abigail, you insult me. Little? I'll show you little." He threw back all the covers and started to rub her nipples, just like last night.

"Pull those covers back, Jed. I'm cold."

Smiling, he answered her statement by forcing her lips apart by his tongue and swirling it in her mouth.

Sometime later, each warmed sufficiently by the other's actions, they lay next to each other, deciding what their next activity would be.

"You know, I sure would like some coffee."

"Well, you know how to fix it." Abbey replied, still enjoying the after effects of their lovemaking.

"If you insist." Jed got out of bed, pulled on his robe and slippers and went out to the kitchen.

Without the warmth of his body, Abbey decided that she might as well follow him.

They restarted the fire and sat down by the still lit Christmas tree and sipped their coffee.

"What time is it?"

Jed looked at the clock on top of the fireplace. "My God, Abbey, it's noon. Where did the morning go?"

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

Turning to his wife, Jed only smiled. "No. And nobody has to know, right?"

"Right."

They sat there for a few minutes. Finally, breaking the silence, Jed asked, "Is it time for presents?"

"I think it's time to get dressed first, don't you? No telling when that phone will ring. Why don't you go ahead and get your shower, and I'll follow you?"

"You don't want to share?"

"No. To tell you the truth, I need to recharge the batteries. No telling when we might want to barbeque again. Okay?"

Only a little disappointed, he got up and went into the bedroom. Abbey heard the shower start and she spent the rest of the time remembering the pleasure of the previous night. She smiled as she remembered the multiple orgasms she had experienced. One thing about having one partner for almost forty years is that he knew which of her buttons to push to give her such intense pleasure. And it was greatly appreciated.

"What are you thinking about?"

She had not heard him come back into the living room. "You," breaking into a wide grin. "and me. I'll be back soon." She disappeared as well.

Twenty minutes later Abbey was back. "Now, where's my present?"

Jed got up from his chair, walked over to the tree, and pulled a small package out from one of the branches. "Merry Christmas, Abbey. Remember what they say. Nice things can come in small packages." As he gave her the package, he kissed her gently on the lips and sat down.

She looked at him and then at the package. Sitting next to him on the sofa, she ripped the wrapping open to reveal a small, robin eggshell blue box that could have only come from Tiffany's, her favorite jewelers. Looking up at her husband, she started to cry even without knowing what was in the box. Whatever it was, she knew that he had probably spent some time picking it out himself.

"Go ahead, open it up. And know it comes with my deepest love."

She slowly raised the box lid and, when she saw it, all she could say was "OH MY GOD! Jed, you shouldn't have!"

"I love you so much, Abbey. And I don't say it often enough."

She handed him the box. "Please put them on."

"Gladly." He took the rings out of the box, took her left hand, removed her original wedding set, and placed the new set on her finger. The five-caret solitaire with diamonds on the first band reflected the fire. On the wedding band itself there were three colored gemstones, signifying the girls' birth months, and then the rest of that band was also covered in diamonds.

"I hope you like it."

Abbey was speechless. She kept staring at the ring, knowing how much thought Jed had obviously put into the gift. She leaned over to him and whispered "You want me to show you how much I like it?"

"I was wondering when you were going to ask." He stood up and extended his hand. "My love, come with me and I'll show you how much I do love you."

Abbey stood, walked with him back to the bedroom and they made gentle, slow love this time. No rush, no hurry. Just the two of them showing the other how much they truly and deeply loved the other. Shutting out the world for just this one special day was all they asked. But right now, that was enough.