Scarlett watched through the window of the SUV as the big black iron gates to the freaking White House opened. She could feel the seat breaking out on her skin, she was so nervous. What could she have done? Did she owe the IRS? Had she forgotten to pay a parking ticket? Did she murder someone and forget about it because it was too traumatic?

"Scarlett, don't worry." Eric said to her, pulling her out of her own mind.

She looked at him. The door was open, they were inside the front courtyard parked in front of the big front doors—the main entrance. If she got out, if she walked inside, she'd get answers. Slowly, she got out of the truck and Eric shut the door behind her. He led her inside without saying a word and just like that, everything changed.

She didn't know where in the hell they were going and Eric didn't say a word while they walked. The only thing she could do was take in the scenery so she did. Everything was beautiful. She knew about the White House, she knew enough to figure out where she was when they walked. The front door opened up to Pennsylvania Avenue. The rugs were a fire engine red trimmed with gold and chairs lines the walls, red and gold as well. White columns stood tall with marble bases and doors were pristine white with golden knobs. Everything was beautiful, paintings were colorful and the atmosphere was extravagant.

God.

She couldn't believe she was in the freaking White House.

"Eric…"

He turned and he continued to follow him. Still, he said not a word. When he finally stopped to look at her, he gave her a comforting smile. With his hand on a golden door knob, he slowly pulled open a large white door. Inside, was the freaking Oval Office. They'd walked all the way to the West Wing and she hadn't… Scarlett looked at him and he gestured toward the room.

"What is going on?" she asked him.

"You'll find out in a minute."

She walked inside slowly making sure she wasn't touching anything. The President's desk was enormous, the room was enormous and her nerves were enormous. There was nothing she could do to change that. She turned around to face a closed door. She was in the Oval Office and she didn't know why. Pacing across the floor, she took in what she was looking at. The grass outside was a beautiful green; every window she looked out of was pristine. There was the big chair, intimidating and equally magnificent sitting behind the desk that President sat in. Two leather chairs sat in front for guests... visitors... whoever. There were papers, a phone, a fancy golden lamp... to the left was a book shelf and to the right there was a small table and two chairs. She paced again... waiting...

Chadwick Evans watched as his boss, his longtime friend and the President of the United States, Allen Clay pace the floor of his bedroom. Every now and again, he'd wipe his brow with a dark red handkerchief. He was sweating, you could see by the stature if his body that he was anxious. Chadwick pursed his lips and thought... maybe if he said something... Just then, he heard Eric in his ear.

"Sir, she's waiting in the Oval Office." Eric said from the earpiece inside Chadwick's ear.

"Mr. President-"

"-where?"

"The Oval Office sir." Chadwick said as he pushed open the Master bedroom's door.

This was going to go on the top of Chadwick's "Most Interesting Events" list. He followed the President down the hall diligently walking at an even pace behind him. Eric stood outside of the door, his reaction was immediate. Slowly, the President walked into his office and even with the head of the Secret Service behind him, he was still as afraid as ever.

Chadwick shut the door quietly and watched as the President's daughter spun around on her heels. For a week, he had brushed up in his knowledge of her but... none of that came close to the comparison of who exactly she was, now standing in front of.

"Oh my god." she gasped as she covered her mouth with her hands.

"I know that this must be very confusing for you..." the President began. "And scary but probably mostly confusing. Your mother-"

"My mother..."

"She obviously never bothered to tell you of my political background." President Clay sighed, clearing her throat. "Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Allen Clay and this is my head of Secret Service, Chadwick Evans."

"Oh my god..."

"Scarlett, I'm your father. I'm the one that "left when you were ten". Contrary to the tales you've been told, I didn't actually leave. Your mother left me with you. It's been a long time, I have a lot to explain and a lot of things to tell you..."

Scarlett sank into her own body. Afraid of what was coming next, Chadwick jumped at her, grabbing her elbow as she swayed. The President threw open the door and demanded someone get some ice water while Chadwick settled her. Visibly she was fine, shaken up, but mentally... he wasn't sure what was going in on in her mind.

"Ms. Grey..."

"That makes me sound old." Scarlett said.

"Here, have some water."

She never thought she'd be standing face to face with the President let alone taking a glass of ice water from his hand.

"You're telling me that you're my father I'm the secret child all over the tabloids?"

"I know that it is very hard t-"

"-that's the problem," Scarlett said looking up at President Clay. "It's not hard to believe. Not at all," she looked at the both of then, one after the other. "Do you all know everything about me?"

"Certainly not everything," Chadwick said. "But I know enough."

"I had the Secret Service find you and bring you here because now... the world knows you, my daughter, exists. Your identity hasn't been revealed yet, thank god."

"Your Aunt and Uncle, the two people that your mother left you with know who I am. The likelihood of them revealing to you that I was in fact your father... was rare."

"My mother left me a year after we "moved". I don't... some things I can't remember."

The President sighed heavily and ran a hand through his dark hair.

"Why am I here? Is it because of those two men who have been following me?"

"You're not safe right now, Scarlett and we're not sure how long it's going to be until you're safe again." Chadwick said.

"For now, I cannot and absolutely will not let you go back to your everyday life," Clay said "Everything will be explained to you, I promise."

"So... what? I'm staying here?

"Yes."

"And when I leave?"

"I'll be assigning an agent of your choosing to be your personal body guard. It's standard procedure for the First Family. Your situation is definitely more precarious. However, it's absolutely a necessity for your safety." Chadwick explained.

"I get to choose?"

"Yes. It is to ensure you are comfortable. If I choose one of my agents for you, the match might not be suitable for twenty-four hour service."

Scarlett looked at the President because... how the hell was she supposed to decide on which agent to choose to be her personal body guard every second of the day?

"Chadwick, would you mind giving us a minute?"

"Of course. I'll make sure the team is all here." he said with a soft smile.

Scarlett watched as Chadwick walked toward the door. His stance never faltered, his stature never changed. He kept such a calm composure. His professionalism was the most important aspect of his attitude. However, he was tall and certainly built underneath that pristine black suit of his. His mysterious demeanor followed him with every move that he made. Before he left the Office, he turned his head to give the President a solemn glance. His eyes were deep with conversation and evidently, President Clay understood whatever he wasn't exactly saying. The door shut with a soft thud and she looked back up at the President, her father.

"I know the position that I've put you in is extremely earth shattering and believe me I'm so ve-"

It only took her a moment to understand that he was in fact her father. He'd changed the tone of his voice to be comforting the way he seldom used to when he was around all those years ago. She'd been a naïve child and could never understand the conflicts her parents always got into. The unawareness of deceit that both adults had shadowed over her had gone unnoticed. She hugged him. She threw her arms around him and hugged him.

"Scarlett..."

She didn't say anything, she didn't know what to say.

"Remember, you were younger... when I'd leave for days on end... what I used to say to you?"

"Love you always." she said, her eyes filling with tears.

"And you used to say..."

"Love you forever."

For a while, they stayed like that because both of them felt like they needed it, the hug. The insanity that their lives had turned into took a turn for a new direction. It was certainly a new situation, uncharted territory and end finitely scary.

"What do you say to a walk out in the garden?"

"I say... let's go." Scarlett said.

Allen Clay didn't notify any member of the Secret Service when they left the Oval Office because the only thing on his mind was making his daughter comfortable. The fresh air was exactly what they both needed. She looked around at all the bushes and greenery and took in the fresh air.

"Have you ever wanted to do anything else?" Scarlett asked her Dad.

"Never. This was always an end goal," he said. "I'm hoping for two terms. It is… a very big hope. But, a hope nonetheless."

"Really?"

"So far, though it's only been a couple of months, I feel pretty confident that I'll do well here. I have a great standing so far and an unbelievable team with me."

Scarlett wasn't a stranger to politics. She knew a little bit about the President, enough to… hold a conversation. Now that he was her father, she felt ashamed that she didn't know more about current events.

"Scarlett, I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We'll just have to figure everything out as we go…" she said.

They walked for a while and talked while they did but no amount of time talking could make up for lost time. Eventually, Allen Clay led his daughter back into the white house.

"How am I supposed to choose someone?"

"Who are you comfortable with?"

"I've only met three of your agents." She said.

"Well… the rest of them are right around the corner. Come. It won't be as hard as you think."

Scarlett walked into what looked like a living room but she wasn't sure. She counted nine men as they stood up immediately after walking into the room. Chadwick was the last she met eyes with. She recognized him along with Eric and Mark but that was it. It was Chadwick that spoke to clear the air.

"Allow me to introduce Roy Mathews, Ben Sawyer, Reese Sullivan, Callum Blaze…"

The list went on until he got back to himself. Each man shook her hand and gave her a comforting smile but of course… They sat and talked and it was all fine and wonderful. Not. Scarlett had to figure out how she felt about each man except, she kept going back to Chadwick.

"We don't bite."

"You're all very nice…"

"I know this is ridiculous in all aspects of the word. But you're not going to hurt anyone's feelings."

"We've all been trained to be personal bodyguards." Roy with the brown eyes said.

She sat back against the couch she was on. Chadwick was the only one completely focused on her expression. She glanced at her father who merely shrugged his shoulders then smiled softly at her. She shook her head, stood up, and escaped out the door before anyone could say anything to her. She just needed out of that room. Her feet took her all the way down the hallway until she realized… she'd gone a lot further than she intended to. She was lost. Until.

"Ms. Grey…"

That's how she knew he was the best choice. While they argued, he followed her quietly, waiting.

"That was unfair, you know."

"Yes, I realize that now," Chadwick said. "However, you still have to choose."

"You're the only one that doesn't make me nervous."

He smiled, only a little. Was it even a smile? She didn't know.

"Let me show you to your room for the night."

"I don't have my things. I don't even know where my dog is."

"Libby is as happy as can be. Mark had the chef cook up hamburger. Tomorrow when we've got a better handle on the situation, we'll take… I will take you back to your apartment." he said.

"I guess I don't have a choice here."

"Unfortunately not."

Chadwick knew from the moment he saw her that he was the one she was going to choose. Of course, that was fine with him except… it had been a good long eight years since he'd done a twenty-four seven guard. However, he was the Director for a reason.

Lunch was awkward in that of itself, he knew it would be. The President arrived about half way through the afternoon meal and that was when the conversation started. However, Scarlett's curiosity about Eric… about everyone… wasn't disappearing any time soon. Chadwick had given him strict orders but he could see Eric teetering on the edge of breaking them. Scarlett got a little bit of everyone's back story and by the time lunch was over, the only one that hadn't spoken was Chadwick himself. The guys dismissed themselves, having other things to do.

"I am sorry, but I have some business to attend to. I will, however see you for dinner," the President said. "Chadwick."

"Sir."

The exchange was friendly as it usually was. Eric left with the President and Chadwick stood up with Scarlett.

"I think I know of a place you'd find rather… intriguing," he said. "Come with me."

"Chadwick… Really, I don't need to be entertained. I can find myself something else to do."

"Come on." He said once again.

He was intriguing, she thought. He was absolutely intriguing and she couldn't help but want to know more about him under the surface of who he was at work. He led her outside where she saw Mark throwing a pink Frisbee in the air. Libby, her Dalmatian ran through the grassy space, enjoying herself way more than she ever did at the dog park. Suddenly, she felt guilty. Libby liked the open space.

"Mark has three labs, two black and a mix."

"Does she know any tricks?" Mark yelled to them.

"A few." Scarlett said.

Immediately after seeing Scarlett, Libby took off. It had been a while since they'd seen each other. Scarlett smiled, bent down and gave her dog a hug. Mark cracked a smile, as if it hurt to do so.

"Mind if I teach her a few things?"

"Not at all. Hey… thanks for taking such good care of her."

"Are you kidding? It's my pleasure, I love dogs more than I love people." He winked at her and threw the Frisbee again.

She stood up and Chadwick straightened himself. Why should he ever show any emotion?

"I can assure you that wherever you end up, she'll be, Ms. Grey."

Chadwick was already walking back to the stone path.

"I think he likes you." Mark said.

"Chadwick? I think he's annoyed by me."

"Not in the slightest. But," he cleared his throat. "You better catch up."

Scarlett took off in a slight jog just to catch up to Chadwick. He looked at her as she appeared beside him.

"Where are we going?"

"Well, every President has chosen certain pieces of literature to carry along with them as they move into the White House. I figured you would want to take a look around the portion of the library your father has organized."

"You're bringing me to the library? Full of tourists and cameras?"

Chadwick looked at her, a smug expression on his face, he chuckled.

"Not that one."

"There's another one?" she asked.

"Why yes, of course."