AN: Final chapter! Picking up exactly where ch.7 left off. If you haven't done so, please review! Your words make me very happy! And thanks to everyone who has been reading this story. I hope you liked it even half as much as I liked writing it :)

Chapter 8

Kate stared at Jed, dumbstruck. The way he'd answered her. That serious expression. That gravity in his voice. This wasn't a joke. This wasn't a whim. This was quite possibly the most honest and true thing Jed Bartlet had ever said.

Once Jed realized what he had said, he felt a flutter of panic in his stomach. He tried to walk it back. "I haven't told her yet, Kate, so please don't tell her anything. I've known Abbey a long time now, but this would change everything, and I don't know if we're ready for that."

"Change how?" Kate asked, trying to understand.

"It just would. Now do you actually need my help up here or can I go?"

Kate allowed Jed to leave. She sat up in the attic for a while, thinking. She couldn't understand why Jed hadn't told Abbey that he loved her. Was he afraid that she didn't feel the same? If so, his fears would be unfounded. It finally hit Kate what was so odd about Jed and Abbey's relationship. It was love. Real, deep, true love. And Kate really hadn't expected it. It hadn't crossed her mind that Abbey had found her soulmate in Jed. But clearly she had. Abbey wasn't wasting her time with him, taking what she wanted and leaving him out to dry. This was the beginning of the rest of her life, and she was treating it that way. It was new, and Kate was suddenly very excited for them.

Jed avoided Abbey like the plague for the rest of the day. He had no idea what he was going to do. He loved her. He had loved her for a while. He just hadn't realized it. And why would he? He was supposed to become a priest! That's what he had planned. That's what he had been working toward. But Abbey had changed everything. His life hadn't been the same since the day he met her. And it had taken him all this time to figure it out. Now all he needed to do what decide what to do about his newfound knowledge.

By ten o'clock, the party was in full swing. Jed was in a suit, chatting with Dr. Barrington about football. Abbey was on the other side of the room, wearing her favorite red dress, being cornered by every relative and friend of the family, all asking the same dull questions. How was school? How were things with the boyfriend? When did she take the MCATs to prepare for medical school? On and on and on. She kept stealing glances over to Jed, trying to catch his eye so he would come save her. He avoided her gaze.

Maybe he was embarrassed about how they had woken up, despite the comforting words she'd given him that morning. Maybe he was upset at her for some other reason. Perhaps one of her relatives had said something to him. Or maybe he was just that genuinely interested in what her father had to say.

Abbey was annoyed at being ignored like that, so she started doing stupid things. Like drinking too much champagne. And brushing up against him as she walked by. But nothing caught his attention.

As midnight drew closer, Jed kept checking his watch more frequently. This was it. This would be the big moment. Jed had never been one for dramatics, but he did always enjoy an effective gesture. Hopefully this would prove successful. He was starting to get nervous. After all, this was very new territory for him.

"Dr. Barrington, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to grab Abbey and watch the last few minutes of Dick Clark," he said politely, escaping the endless conversation with Abbey's father. Not that it wasn't enjoyable; Dr. Barrington was very quick-witted and interesting, but he clearly didn't like parties, so he seemed to latch onto one person for the night.

Jed found Abbey by the punchbowl and took her arm, leading her away from the crowded living room.

"Hey, what are you doing?" she asked angrily, stumbling along with him. "You can't just ignore me for hours, then drag me away when it pleases you."

He stopped in the dimly lit hallway and released her.

She smoothed out her dress and looked back up at him. Abbey realized she was just on the border to being drunk. Her cheeks were uncharacteristically warm and her vision was staring to get that dreamlike quality to it. "What's been going on with you tonight?" she asked, the anger slipping away to concern. "Is it this morning? I don't want you to feel bad about that, Jed, really. We can just forget it ever happened."

Jed shook his head. "I don't want to forget it."

"You don't?"

"No." He gave a soft smile. "I talked to your sister this afternoon."

"Oh god, what did she do now? You know, she's a suspicious little thing. Nosy and annoying and…"

"It was fine," he said, interrupting what was sure to be a great rant about Kate. "She asked me if I love you."

Abbey felt her heart pound in her chest. "Oh?"

"And I told her that I do."

Her throat felt dry and her stomach tied in knots. She felt a spark of excitement before she realized that he probably meant that he loved her like family or something like that. Obviously, that had to be it. "Well, I love you, too," she replied, trying to keep casual. "You're more like family than just my friend now. You're my best friend. Only don't tell Millie." She pressed her lips together, as though it would wall off the emotion threatening to flood from her body.

Jed could tell she wasn't fully grasping what he was saying. He opened his mouth to explain further, but the crowd in the other room started counting down.

"Ten…nine…eight…seven…"

"Abbey, I…"

"Five…four…"

"No, Jed, it's fine." Abbey's eyes shone with tears just moments from falling.

"Three…two…one…HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Jed threw caution to the wind and grabbed Abbey's face in his hands, kissing her.

Abbey barely registered the horns and noisemakers and loud music and cheering coming from the other room. Her knees felt like they were about to give out on her, but Jed put his hands on her waist to keep her upright. She threw her arms around his neck and leaned into the kiss. It was a really good kiss. An amazing kiss.

They finally came up for air, still holding each other close. Jed rested his forehead on hers and whispered, "I love you, Abbey."

"Remind me to thank my sister," she replied before moving in for another kiss.

Jed and Abbey ended the year pretending to be dating. They started the next year with an unspoken vow to each other and to the world: no more pretending. There was no need for it anymore or ever again.