An hour later saw a much more relaxed environment. Different groups had congregated together. The first lady was surrounded by her daughters and additional family. Abby Scutio as well as Deanna Young had been pulled into this group by Alex and Zoey respectively and were involved in whatever talk they were having.

Charlie was nearby, looking on with a look of mild shock.

Leo was nearby, talking with Meredith, both watching the interaction closely. Debbie Fidderer was also with them and make a few comments to contribute.

The Senior Staff, plus Gibbs, plus Sam Seaborn who had been called specifically in as a friend of the family, were engrossed in watching another interaction. The President of the United States, Dr. Josiah Bartlett, was deep in discussion with Dr. Donald Ducky Mallard. The two seemed to be speaking entirely with quotes, historical references, and anecdotes from their respective pasts and how they related.

Both men looked to be having the time of their lives. The Senior staff watched in awe. Alex saw Leo quietly walk over to the Senior staff and slipped away from the group of women.

Josh finally said what everyone was thinking. "My god! There's two of them!"

Leo, who had just walked up and heard the comment said to Alex, who had also just arrived, "I should've warned you, Alex. Your father? He's a geek; a nerd of the first order. Get him talking about a subject and he can go on for hours."

Gibbs chimed in. "We usually try to head Ducky off before he goes too far into the woods. But there seems to be no stopping them."

Sam Seaborn laughed quietly. "Well, when it's your boss and the President, it's a lot harder to head him off. Usually you have to try to arrange someone to grab you with an emergency of it goes too long."

The two men were laughing and suddenly seemed to get more excited. The President jumped up and moved over to his wife and daughter. "Girls? Want to go see Ducky's car? He's got a Morgan!"

Abbey looked at her husband with some affection and said, "Sure, Jed. Why not?"

The President turned and called out, "Ducky! Let's go see the car!"

"Coming, Jed!" was the response from the other side of the room.

Everyone at the party seemed to follow the group out to see what they were so interested in.

Ducky handed his keys over to Agent Donovan. "I'm certain you want to check it out first to make sure it's safe," Ducky said with a smile. "Just no permanent damage, please!"

Agent Donovan said, "We'll be careful."

Three agents left the group at the entrance while the group watched at chatted. After a five minute inspection of the car, Sam Donovan carefully started it up and drove it over. Once he parked it, he left the keys and jumped out.

Jed and Ducky led Abbey and Alex around the car, talking about this and that. Ducky pointed out several distinctive features. Finally Jed said with a resigned smile, "I'm all for American made and all that, but even I have to admit: This is real class. You've got a beautiful car, Ducky."

Ducky pointed to the car with a smile and said, "Want to take it around the circle?"

Jed laughed and said, "I'd love to but I haven't driven myself in over twenty years. I'd rather not take a chance of scratching this beauty. But I would like to sit in it."

Annie, Liz's eldest, came up. "Can I get a ride in it?"

Ducky said jovially, "Certainly, young lady! As long as your mother permits?" He looked over to Liz Westin who nodded ruefully. "Just around the circle. I don't think your grandfather's guards would like me taking their second-youngest charge out into the city."

Agent Donovan, nearby, nodded in agreement though no one was watching.

Abby Scuito, nearby, said, "I should have brought mine. I could fit all of the girls at once."

Jed was curious. "What kind of car do you drive?"

Abby blushed as she said quietly, "Well. It's kind of a refurbished hearse, but it's really cool."

Jed looked dubious as he acknowledged her. He looked over to his wife and said, "Okay. She's the stranger twin."

Both Abb(e)ys laughed at that.

The First Family watched in amusement as first Annie, then Zoey, then Alex, and then Abbey were all taken for the short trip around the grounds in Ducky's Morgan. All agreed that it was quite a fun ride.

Liz and Ellie demurred.

The Secret Service agents weren't as amused as they had to kind of keep up with the slow moving car, but no comments were made.

Jed was the last one who got a ride before the party moved back inside.

Close to 5:00, CJ voiced what she had been worried about all afternoon. "Okay. So what, when, and how do we tell the press?"

Most of the Senior Staff and First Family groaned at that.

Leo looked over at Sam Seaborn and said, "Okay, Sam. What do you got?"

Sam looked like a deer caught in headlights as he processed that. "What?"

Leo smirked and said, "Don't tell me you haven't been composing a speech all afternoon. I know you."

Sam blushed and said, "Although I no longer a staff speechwriter, I had a few idea. I thought a press conference from the East Room tomorrow after lunch. You've taken care of most of the agenda for the week because of yesterday's push. So plan this out and also start planning on what do work on after the spring break."

Jed nodded. "I'm up for it. What do you think, Abbey?"

Abbey wanted to scream in frustration but she knew that it was necessary. "Okay. But just you. I don't think Alex is quite ready for the bloodsuckers that make up the press to be hounding her that first day. Let's take care of the bigger messes before she's seen in public." She turned to Alex and said, "That okay with you?"

Alex, who was getting more and more scared, nodded in agreement. "Yeah. I'd rather not deal with the big hoopla."

Abbey chuckled ruefully. "Well, hoopla is standard for this family whether we like it or not. So we need to get you ready for it. Zoey will help, right?" Zoey nodded enthusiastically and hugged her twin.

Toby put in his two cents. "Let's make it a 4:00, when most of the work of the day is done. Even though this is will be a big story, it's not about the business of the nation. It's about a matter of personal importance to the President and the First Family."

CJ looked thoughtful. "Yeah. That can work. The President will be holding a Press Conference tomorrow at 4:00 regarding a matter of personal importance to the first family. When I get asked why it isn't sooner, we can say that the President has always tried to keep his personal affairs separate from the business of the nation and this isn't a press conference about the President's agenda."

Jed looked over to his daughter and asked, "Honey? How long have you lived at that shelter?"

Alex shrugged, a bit embarrassed, and said, "since I turned 18. They've taken care of me so that I could go to school. I've been taking some college classes."

Jed nodded and looked to his wife. "100,000 personal donation for taking care of our daughter?"

Most people around the room were shocked at the amount. Leo, however, just smirked. "How about 50,000 from you and 50,000 from her godfather?"

Jed grinned to himself and said, "80/20."

"60/40."

"65/35."

"66.7/33.3. That's one third you, one third me, one third Abbey."

Leo thought about it and moved to shake the President's hand. "Done."

Jed nodded. "And done."

Abbey turned to Alex and said, "We're going to have to take you shopping."

Leo smirked and said, "I've already bought her a new wardrobe."

Jed asked, "How much?"

"Yesterday, while we were getting everyone here, I gave her and Zoey my credit card and told them to go to town." Leo looked over at Alex with a curious smile. "How much, Alex."

She could barely speak as she said, "$11,000, Uncle Leo." Leo just grinned.

Jed with only a small amount of disappointment yelled out, "Why the hell did you do that?"

Leo smirked and said, "That's my goddaughter. I had 22 years of gifts to make up for. That's 500 bucks a year – chump change. I spend more than that on one suit. You can buy her a car and all the rest. But this was mine."

Jed looked at Leo as though he wanted to kill him. Not really, but the two definitely had a macho thing going between them. Abbey rolled her eyes. "Let's show you to your new room while these two grunt it out."

The two men grinned at her as she led Alex and Zoey and the rest of the family to the Residence.

Leo said, "I'll call White House Counsel to let them work out the details on the donation. You go spend time with the family. These guys can work on the statements."

Gibbs asked respectfully, "Will we be needed any more?"

The President looked over to Senior Staff. They all shook their heads. "Make certain your contact info is left with the Secret Service detail just in case, but I think that's all. Thank you for coming today."

"It was our pleasure, Mr. President."

"Oh, and Ducky. We'll have to make time for more talks," Jed added with a grin.

Ducky smiled and said, "I'd like that, Mr. President." At the President's quick frown Ducky chuckled and said, "Jed." The President smiled again.

He looked at Abby. "You better wait until you can say goodbye to Alex. She seems to have formed an attachment and I don't want to upset her by not letting her say goodbye. Why don't you come with me to the Residence? I can have a Secret Service agent drive you home after."

"I can do that, Mr. President."