My mother called and informed that Fitz called her looking for me. She of course told him that she hadn't seen me. I don't want to speak with him right now. Once I get settled then I will have a mediator handle Fitz's visitation with Teddy. I'm surprised I do have to admit that he noticed I was gone and so soon, but maybe he really only noticed Teddy was gone. I won't get my hopes up that he actually cares about me or my whereabouts. I take a look around the house that I'm renting and think of personal touches I can make to make it seem more like home. Before I moved in I picked out furnishings, but I need to bring my pictures here and personal knick knacks to make it feel like it's actually mine.

I don't plan to stay here forever. I really don't know what my plan is other than getting a divorce and going back into practice. Thankfully I really kept abreast of various laws when I was in the White House and I feel I can settle back into practice easily. I am reading through some legal briefs when I hear Teddy calling for me from his room. He'd been taking a nap and now was awake. I walk into his room to find him sitting up in his bed. When we got here I decided to get him a toddler bed. I thought he was too big for a crib.

"Hey Teddy bear. Did you have a good nap?" He shakes his head yes. He reaches his arms up for me and I pick him up.

"Mama where's dada?" Teddy asks rubbing his eyes.

"He's at his house."

"I want to see dada I want to go home." My heart breaks for him. I don't know how I can explain to him that we won't be living with daddy anymore.

"You can see him in a few days. He is very busy right now." He nods his head seeming to accept the situation right now. "You want a snack?" He shakes his head vigorously. I am relieved when he doesn't bring Fitz up again. I know that I have to let him see his dad soon, but I need time.

White House

"Where is she staying?" I ask the Secret Service agent as I flip through the report he has brought me.

"A rental house sir. Appears Mrs. Grant rented the house about two months ago using a shell corporation." Fitz couldn't help but to smile to himself. She was nothing short of tenacious.

"Why is this just now being noticed?"

"Sir with all due respect we don't monitor those types of personal matters. I only looked into it for the purposes of compiling this report. The location had been checked and deemed secure."

"So she has seen her parents?"

"Yes sir several times." I wonder to myself why her mother would lie to me about seeing Mellie.

"Has she had any other visitors?"

"No sir." I nod.

"That will be all. Thank you." The agent leaves and I continue to thumb through the report. I honestly don't know what I should do at this point. I have no idea what Mellie is planning. I can't say that I'm not concerned that she has taken off her wedding band, that she left without telling me. I decide that I need to try to contact her. She has my son after all. I stand and walk over to the phone on the table and dial Mellie's cell. It goes straight to voicemail. I decide not to leave a message.

I puff out an annoyed breath. She is obviously trying to avoid me, but I won't be ignored. I decide to let her have tonight, but tomorrow I want answers and I won't stop till I get them.

Asheville

I turn on my cell briefly and notice I have a missed call from an unknown number. I assume it's from Fitz he's probably wondering when I will send the divorce papers or maybe he's wondering where he can send his. I'm sure he's eager to get rid of me. My chest clutches at the thought. It hurts so badly to be thrown away by your husband. In the morning I plan to visit a lawyer. I honestly have no idea how you go about divorcing the President of the United States. My mother has contacted a family friend that will be discreet, to handle this for me. I lay in my bed trying to clear my head so I can get some rest.

My alarm blares and morning comes faster than I realized. It feels like I just got to sleep. I roll out of bed as I hear my mother calling my name. She has come to watch Teddy while I go see the lawyer.

"Melody honey you're still in bed?"

"I had a difficult time falling asleep."My mom comes over and kisses the top of my head.

"Go get a shower I'll tend to Theodore." I don't hesitate as I rise from the bed and head for the bathroom.

When I emerge my mother has Teddy up and they are in the kitchen, she's fixing him breakfast.

"Hopefully I won't be gone long." I say as I enter the kitchen.

"Take all the time you need honey. We are fine." I kiss Teddy's head and my mom on the cheek before heading out. I hate that I still have Secret Service it makes it difficult to just blend into a crowd, but I have not been able to convince them that I don't need the protection. I wonder if after the divorce is final will I be able to not have any protection? I am entering unchartered territory. A sitting president being divorce, any president being divorced from their first lady is unheard of. I finally arrive at the office. The building had been swept prior to my arrival. I walk into the unassuming office.

Richard Bilkins stands when I enter. "Madam First Lady." He says holding out his hand.

"Please call me Mellie." He nods. "Thank you for seeing me."

"Of course. Your mother is a dear friend of our family as you know. I am so sorry to hear about your son." I nod again. He offers me a seat. "Would you like anything to drink, tea, coffee?"

"No I'm fine thank you."

"Well let's get to it. You want to file divorce from your husband?"

"That is correct." He nods and begins to ask me a serious of questions I answer them and we decide to file based on irreconcilable differences. Of course I'd love to cite infidelity, but we decide that is not the best course of actions for a swift and non acrimonious parting. He assures me that his partner who is licensed in D.C. can be just as discreet as he is and he will file the paperwork which will be delivered to Fitz. I'm not sure how they are exactly going to serve the President of the United States, but that's not for me to worry about.

Two Weeks Later

I still haven't talked to Mellie. It's not because I haven't wanted to, but when I was really ready to dig my heels in and make her get on the phone a crisis erupted at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo and there was threats of more terrorist plots that may hit American soil. My personal life has had to take a back seat to me doing my actual job.

I'm sitting reading over intel reports when I hear a knock on the door.

"Come in." Lauren timidly steps into my office. She walks over to my desk and just stands there. "Yes what can I do for you?"

"This came for you sir." She hands me a thick envelope. My brow creases.

"From who?"

"I….I'm not sure sir. The sheriff brought it." I nod.

"That will be all." She hurriedly leaves my office. I open the envelope and withdraw its contents. My heart drops into my feet. It's a petition for divorce. My breath quickens and suddenly my tie feels like it's a noose around my neck. I loosen it as beads of sweat start to coat my forehead. I try to take slow deep breaths. I just never expected her to do this. I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, opening them back up I try to focus on the document. I begin to read through and when I get to the end my eyes widen when I see that she has already signed them. I'm not going to let her get away with this. She isn't going to just walk away without looking me in the eye. I stand from my desk and quickly walk out of the office.

"Tell my agents I need to go to North Carolina ASAP!" I state to Lauren as I head toward the residence to gather some belongings. Enough is enough Mellie and I are going to have it out once and for all.