18 Months Later

People say that things get better and easier as time goes by. Though it's nothing like that. It's like they try to make you feel better when they know you're far from it. It's been over a year since that night, a year since I lost my best friend, a year since this nation lost their first lady, but most importantly; it's been a year since I've lost my mother.

I can't really remember what happened after that night. Everything is just a blur. Perhaps it was due to the fact that I was grieving too much and trying to be strong at the same time. I was trying to be strong for Connor, but it was hard. About two months after her death, I decided to take up the duties of the first lady in honor of my mother. I left school and focused on the duties. Dad even said that my mom would have been proud of me. That only made my ambition of taking up the duty increase.

I have become some what accustomed with things now. Just yesterday we went to a small celebration/dinner with some military families to celebrate Independence Day. Now here I was in the White House's gym boxing with a bag at 7:30 in the morning. I took up practicing again, since it help take my mind off things. But whenever I walk in and start my routine, I can't help but think about Mike. After my mothers death, Mike was removed from the presidential detail into working in an office at the Treasury.

It was a grudge my father had over my mothers death. I've tried explaining to him that Mike's priority was to save him, but he still believes on should have been saved instead. I've given up on trying to convince him otherwise.

40 minutes into practice, I decided to stop. I need to take a shower and then meet my father in his office for a meeting. Reaching the residential area of the white house, I stopped by Connor's room.

Quietly opening the door, I found him reading a book. With a smile, I close the door once again and head over to my own room. I begin to strip from my sweaty workout clothes as I near my bathroom. Taking a quick shower, I hurry and dress quickly.

Satisfied with my chosen outfit, I head to the oval office. Taking turns and steps, I finally arrive. "Good morning Miss. Asher, your father is waiting." Greets my father's secretary.

"Good morning Marie," I smile walking to the office door passing a couple of secret service men standing guard.

Raising my hand into a fist, I give two good knocks. I open the door and step in. I notice that I was just a bit early. "Hey honey, how are you?" My father asks standing from his chair and coming towards me.

Meeting him halfways, I give him a hug before answering, "Okay, I went to workout earlier."

"You know, Cassidy, if you're not up to the meeting we're going to have in just a few moments, you could just rest." I was happy at times like these when my father knew I just wasn't up for something. But I had to be here for this, it was my duty now.

"It's okay, dad. I'll rest later." He stared at me for a few seconds before nodding his head in agreement.

The door to the office opened and the rest of the meeting members piled into the office. Greeting both my father and I, they took a seat. The meeting had begun.

I had zoned everything out throughout the meeting. I kept my gaze on the floor as I played with the necklace my mother had given me. It was almost towards the end of the meeting and an hour or more into the meeting when I decided to pay attention to what was being discussed.

"Minister Lee is going to want you to issue a joint statement, Mr. President," The speaker of the house, Allen Trumbull, said to my father, "Threatening military action to get the North Koreans to stand down from the border and stop their missile tests. Which I think we should give them."

I looked over to my dad to see him contemplating Mr. Trumbull's words. He gave me a quick look before averting his gaze to the Secretary of Defense, Ruth McMillan. "Ruth?"

"Provided that the North Koreans are rational...which is dicey, at best. We bluff. They call it. Then what?" She says looking between my father and the speaker of the house.

"Who says we'd be bluffing?" The speaker asks. The room becomes silent for a moment, no one really sure how to answer that. The main thing we should be worried about, is not causing a war. With this in mind, I look over to my father. Looking at me, I mouth to him 'No war'. He nods his head and speaks, "Personally, I like to try and avoid war….Charlie?"

We all turn to the Vice President for his response, "I think I agree with Ruth on this one, ."

"Thank you for sitting in, ," my father addresses . With that the speaker of the house stands and exits the room. My father then asks Ruth when Minister Lee will be arriving. She lets him know that he will be here at 7 in the evening.

I stand up and walk over to my dad, "Do I have to be here to greet the minister?"

"Yes, Cassidy. You do." He sits down behind his desk and starts going through some papers. When he notices my silence he looks up at me, "You don't want to be there do you?"

Giving him a guilty smile I answer, "Not really. I just want to take a small break. Plus, I have some paper work I need to go over." He let's out a sigh and holds the bridge of his nose. He sits like that for a while thinking. "Okay, you can take the rest of the day off. I'll just give Minister Lee your apologies for not showing up. I'm sure he'll understand."

"Thank you so much. I owe you one!" I walk around his desk and give him a kiss on the cheek. I pull away and head towards the door, when his voice stops me, "That doesn't mean you can avoid the paper work. It only means you're free from meetings." I groan and walk out the door hearing his laughter behind me.

~O*L*H*F~

I walk through the White House on my way to the little office I have for myself. I greet people here and there as I pass them by. Arriving at my office I greet my secretary Linda before heading in. I sit behind my desk and gather all the paperwork I need to look over. Deciding I will be more comfortable in my room, I stand up with the papers in my hand and walk out.

"I'll be up in my room working on these, okay?" I let Linda know. She smiles up at me and nods her head.

Once I'm in my room, I decide to change into something more comfortable. I grab a pair of jeans and a black tank top. Finally comfortable, I begin to go over the things for the rest of the after noon.

At around 6:30 in the evening, I decided that I was done for the rest of the day. I neatly place all the things away and stand from the desk I had been working on. I stretch my arms above my head head and let out a groan. I know very lady like, huh?

I grab my iPod and listen to some music. Walking over to my bedroom window I look out side to the main lawn. Police officers walk around the lawn with dogs while others walk around with guns. A little more ahead, behind the black gate, I see a group of tourists stepping out of a bus. Knowing they're here to get a look at what I call my home, I walk over to my bed and flop myself on it. Hiring up the volume on my music I close my eyes and get lost in it.

Not even five minutes later, I hear the faint sound of commotion. I remove one of my earphone and walk to my window to see people in a panic. I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion at seeing them running away from the White House or out of it. Placing the iPod on a side table I hear a loud engine. Looking up I see a huge plane flying really low and towards our direction.

My eyes widen as it gets closer and closer. Then, the unbelievable happens; it begins shooting at the White House. With a loud scream I throw myself to the ground and crawl away from the window as the sounds of shooting are heard. I couldn't help but to panic and be scared, I have never experience something like this.

Then realization hits me, Connor is still out there somewhere in the White House. I stand up grabbing a pair of shoes and then heading out of my room in search of my little brother. I just hope he's okay.

A/N: first of all, I would like to say how freaking happy I am at the follow/fav's this story has recived. As well as all the reviews and reads. Secondly,I'm sorry for taking so long to update, I've just been busy with school and working on my other fanfics or some of my own stories. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. REVIEW!

NGArmyWife: I' so happy that you love it :) I really like this movie and one day I was watching so I was like, 'eh, why not make a fanfic'

addictedtoromanceandfanfiction: First of all, wow that's a long name, I like it lol :) Secondly, thank you so much. It means a lot that you said that about my writing skills. I never really saw myself as a good writer, maybe average, but never talented. Therefore, I hope I don't disappoint.

Mascota: I'm glad you decided to read my fanfic. I hope you liked this chapter :)