A/N: Here we are, my loves! In which Abbey and Jed struggle to find time together, several toasts are made, and Abbey chastises Jed about a bad habit she doesn't enjoy. I hope you like it!

Abbey frowned when she walked into her dorm room to find the lights shut off, and as she closed the door behind her, she shook her head tiredly. It had been an extremely long day, however, and she was thankful for the chance to be alone, closing her eyes as she turned on the light. All she really wanted was to collapse on her bed and sleep for an eternity, hopefully without—

"SURPRISE!"

Swearing loudly, Abbey jumped at the sudden noise, her body smacking into the door behind her, and she just barely managed to avoid crushing her feet with the books that fell from her hands.

"Millie, what the hell?!"

Millie threw her arms around her, kissing her cheek before pulling her in the direction of her desk, gesturing widely to the smooth surface. A large cake sat on top of the desk, accompanied by a bottle of champagne and two champagne flutes, and Abbey frowned, more than a little confused.

"What's this for? It's not my birthday."

The blonde shook her head, dashing to her bed and grabbing the piece of paper that had been sitting on top of the sheets. She thrust it into Abbey's hands, practically bouncing on her feet with excitement, and as her eyes scanned the page she frowned.

"The Dean's List? Millie, did you make it? Oh, my God!"

"No, Abbey, read it! Look!"

Examining it more closely, one name in particular standing out to her, and Abbey smiled, feeling more than a little proud.

"Jed made it. I knew he would."

"Abbey, you both made it! It's a few places above Jed's."

Abbey looked again and sure enough, four spots above Jed's name, Barrington, Abigail stared up at her and she froze, raising her eyes to Millie's in disbelief.

"I…made the Dean's List?" she whispered.

She couldn't have stopped the excited scream as she hugged Millie fiercely even if she had tried, and she looked at the paper again, as though she were afraid it had been a trick of her eyes. The words were there, immortalized in black ink, and she screamed again, more excited than she had been for longer than she could remember. Millie reached for the champagne, popping the cork, and pouring the sparkling liquid quickly, handing the glass to Abbey with a flourish.

"To you, Abigail Ann Barrington, the best roommate and friend I could ever ask for, and to Josiah—wait, what's Jed's middle name?"

Abbey burst into laughter, careful not to spill the drink in her hand.

"Edward," she said, still laughing.

"Right," Millie nodded, raising her own glass, "To you, Abigail Ann Barrington, and to Josiah Edward Bartlet, the most protective and caring man I know. Congratulations. You've both worked so hard, and you deserve every success in the world."

They clinked their glasses together, and as she took a drink of the champagne, Abbey frowned.

"Has Jed seen this?"

Millie shrugged.

"No idea. As soon as I saw it, I ran out and bought the champagne and cake. Now, do you want a corner piece or center?"

Abbey smiled, touched by her friend's thoughtfulness.

"Definitely an edge. I want to consume so much icing that I'm delirious from a combination of sugar and champagne."

"As you wish," Millie said, bowing dramatically.

Jeremy clapped Jed on his shoulder as he walked into their shared room, giving him a smile as he nodded to the paper held in his hands.

"Congrats on making the Dean's List, man. That's a major deal, for both of you. Give Abbey a kiss for me and tell her I'm happy for her when you see her. And don't even try to pretend like you're not planning on running over there as soon as you throw those books down."

Jed laughed, not bothering to deny it. He was happy to have made the cut, but he was more excited for Abbey. After everything that she had gone through this year, he was so incredibly proud of her for continuing to be a force of nature, and as he placed his books on his desk, he looked at Jeremy seriously.

"Thanks. I'll be sure to tell her."

Jeremy gave him a wave as he turned to leave the room, knowing that the only thing on Jed Bartlet's mind was the girl on the other side of campus.

When Jed knocked on the door to Abbey's room, he was surprised by both how quickly and forcefully it was thrown open, Millie's eyes lighting up at the sight of him. She threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, and when she stepped back, she gave him a bright smile, pulling him into the room.

"Josiah Edward Bartlet! Congratulations on making the Dean's List! I'm so happy for you!"

Millie kissed his cheek, and as he carefully kicked the door shut, he heard Abbey's voice from her bed.

"Hey! Hands off my boyfriend, Millie! I don't want to kill you, but I will if you don't watch yourself."

Millie released him and he laughed as he walked over to Abbey, leaning down to give her a light kiss on the cheek. She looked surprised by the chaste gesture, and he smiled.

"That's from Jeremy. He said he's happy for you."

Abbey nodded, picking up the champagne flute from her bedside table, and tipping it back until it had been emptied. Before she could move too far away, he kissed her properly, his tongue dancing over hers slowly, and he smiled as he tasted the champagne she had just swallowed.

"That's from me. Congratulations, baby. I am so damn proud of you."

Abbey kissed him again, her hands sliding over his shirt, and while he wouldn't have normally minded, he was keenly aware of Millie still sitting on her own bed, and he pulled back slowly. It wasn't like Abbey to be so intensely affectionate when there was an audience, and he briefly wondered if it was simply because of the happy occasion.

"Congratulations yourself, babe," she said, "I knew you could do it."

She pointed to the desk, directing his attention to the large cake sitting on top of it, and he smiled when she spoke, happy to see her so excited.

"Have some cake. Millie bought it to celebrate. And hand me that bottle of champagne, would you please?"

He reached for the bottle, frowning when he realized it was nearly empty, and suddenly her overly affectionate behaviour made perfect sense. Handing it to her, he watched her as she poured a generous amount into her glass, toasting him with a smile.

"Here's to you, babe. Congratulations."

She took a long drink, nearly draining it in one go, and when she spoke again, he was able to detect a hint of a slur in her voice.

"Millie, have you ever wondered what Jed would be like if he was drunk? I would pay an exorbitant amount of money to see that. It would be absolutely amazing!"

Millie laughed, walking over to get another piece of cake, and when she stumbled, Jed instinctively reached out to catch her, his hand on her arm steadying her before she could fall. She merely laughed again, thanking him lightly, and as she made her way back over to her side of the room, she looked at him curiously.

"You're right, Abs. I would love to know what a drunk Jed Bartlet is like. If you ever find out, make sure you let me know."

As Abbey kissed him again, Jed knew, no matter how old he lived to be, nothing would ever be as addictive or as intoxicating as the woman in his arms.

It took Jed several attempts to open the door to his room, though in his defense, it was difficult to locate the handle when every other aspect of his attention was focused on Abbey as they kissed in the hallway. When he finally succeeded, it took all his ability not to send them both tumbling to the ground as they spilled through the door, a breathless laugh falling from Abbey's lips just before they found his again. His hands were at her waist, reaching for the hem of her shirt, and Abbey's fingers wound into his hair as his tongue tasted every corner of her mouth, making her smile even as he kissed her.

"Um…guys? Not that either one of you is ugly, but I really have no desire to see you naked."

Abbey jumped away from him as though she'd been burned, her eyes wide as they landed on Jeremy, staring at them both in slight amusement.

"Shit," she whispered, "Sorry, Jeremy. I didn't see you there."

"Clearly," he laughed, "It's nothing personal, Abbey, but I think your boyfriend might actually commit murder if I were to see you naked."

Jed shook his head, smirking.

"No, not murder. Just a little slight maiming."

Abbey playfully slapped his arm, rolling her eyes as she laughed.

"Jed…be nice."

"I'm always nice," Jed protested, wrapping his arm around her, "I would have a smile on my face as I did it."

"Oh, fine," Abbey said sarcastically, "That's very comforting. You know, I'm pretty sure there are laws preventing torture. I'm almost positive."

Jed shrugged, kissing her lightly.

"Rules were made to be broken, babe."

Abbey couldn't stop the laugh that fell from her throat, looking at Jeremy in amusement.

"Jeremy, I do believe we've been a bad influence on our dear Jed, don't you?"

"Definitely," he replied without hesitation, "It's only a matter of time before he turns to a life of crime, starts inciting riots, getting arrested, and then we'll never see him again."

Abbey placed her hand over her heart in mock horror, stepping away from Jed, doing everything in her power to keep from laughing.

"And then I'll be left all alone, with no one to turn to in my insurmountable grief! Except, of course, the very person who helped me influence him, which will certainly lead to a sordid affair that is wildly passionate, even though it makes me feel slightly guilty."

She threw her arm around Jeremy's neck, falling gracefully into his lap, kissing his cheek lightly as his arms held her in place to keep her from falling.

"Which means that you would finally get to see me naked without risk of bodily harm, so at least we have a silver lining."

"It's definitely a bonus," Jeremy said, kissing her cheek before glancing over at Jed, "What do you think, Jed?"

Jed rolled his eyes, shaking his head as he sat down on his own bed.

"I hate you both," he answered.

"No, you don't," Abbey answered confidently, stretching her legs out sensually, "You love us, and you know it."

She laughed quietly as she removed herself from Jeremy's lap, quickly closing the distance between them and sitting down next to Jed. She ran her hand through his hair, smiling as she kissed him, and threw her upper body dramatically onto his lap, her hand over her eyes.

"It's no use, baby," she said, clearly enjoying herself, "You've ruined me for other men forever. You're stuck with me now."

Jed couldn't stop himself from laughing as she raised her body to an upright position, shaking his head when she kissed him again.

"Abigail, you should be an actress."

"No, thanks," she said lightly, "I'll just annoy you for the rest of my life. Much more fun."

Abbey didn't know why she felt so nervous sitting in Dr. Harris' waiting room, but the feeling of unease refused to leave her, making her wonder if she had made the right decision in choosing to continue her sessions with him. Logically, she knew that he had been right, that there was no shame in seeking help, but she couldn't pretend that she wasn't concerned about what other people would think if they learned she was seeing a psychiatrist. She couldn't deny that it had been helpful, however, and that had been the deciding factor in her making another appointment. She twisted her hands nervously in her lap as she waited, briefly wondering kind of questions he would ask her this time, and she was so wrapped up in trying to think of hypothetical answers that she jumped when he called her name.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he said with a smile.

"It's okay. I was just thinking. No harm done."

He gestured for her to follow, and as she made her way into the office, she shivered, though she didn't know if it was because of the cold or her own nerves. She sat down in the chair, crossing her legs slowly, and as Dr. Harris took his place behind his desk, she felt a flash of fear when she noticed that he was watching her closely. Was it possible he was imagining her naked, imagining what it would be like to—no. She shook her head, knowing she was being ridiculous, and he tilted his head curiously at the action.

"Is everything okay, Abbey?"

She sighed, feeling suddenly foolish.

"I just…you were looking at me. Watching me."

He nodded.

"Yes, I often observe my patients closely, particularly new ones and those with lingering trauma. Since you fall into both categories, observing your body language can give me a more accurate idea of your emotional state. Does it bother you to know that I was watching you?"

In spite of herself, Abbey nodded, positive that he would take offense to this and ask her to leave. He did neither, merely making a note on the piece of paper in front of him, and nodded again, his eyes raising up to look at her again.

"Why?" he asked softly.

Abbey's hands were fidgeting in her lap though she didn't even realize it, and Dr. Harris made another quick note, waiting patiently for her answer.

"I…please don't be offended, Dr. Harris, but…being watched like that, it makes me scared of what you might be thinking of. What you might be imagining, if you know what I mean."

Great. Just great, Abigail. Now you've just insulted the one man who is qualified to help you, she thought, feeling more than a little stupid.

Dr. Harris nodded thoughtfully, giving her a smile.

"Yes, I understand what you meant. Given the recent assault you experienced, it doesn't come as a surprise to me that you would be distrusting and nervous in the presence of an older man, and especially one where there is a power imbalance. Teacher to student, doctor to patient, that kind of thing. Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

Abbey shook her head.

"In our first session, you mentioned that you were concerned about your boyfriend…Jed, wasn't it? And your friend, Millie. That was what led you to seek my help, your worry about the feelings of the people around you. Not your own. You did the same thing just a few minutes ago when you thought I would be offended by your telling me why you were uncomfortable being looked at. Have you always put the feelings of others above your own?"

Abbey thought for a moment, going over the majority of interactions she'd had in her life, and finally nodded, unable to make herself look at him.

"Yeah," she said quietly, "I guess I have. I…I don't want to bother anyone, and I don't like knowing that people worry about me or that I might have upset them."

Dr. Harris smiled.

"That's very selfless of you, but the people in your life who care about you are always going to worry about you. And sometimes people get upset no matter how we approach a situation or how good our intentions may be. That's just part of life and human nature."

Though she knew he was right, she had no idea how to simply stop burying her emotions, and when he spoke again, his tone was politely inquiring.

"Would you like to know what I've observed in the last few minutes?"

When she nodded, he gave her a gentle smile.

"I can tell that you're nervous because you crossed your legs when you sat down, which doesn't always signify discomfort, but when combined with the way your hands twist and fidget in your lap and the way you haven't so much as leaned back in the chair, that tells me that you're still apprehensive about being here. One false step would be enough to send you bolting for the door, and there's nothing wrong with being uncomfortable, but if you want this to help, you'll need to trust me and be honest. Does that sound fair?"

"How?" she asked softly, "How do I make myself trust people again?"

"It won't be easy," Dr. Harris told her honestly, "and not everyone you meet will be deserving of your trust. You'll make mistakes and put your faith in the wrong person from time to time, but you seem like an incredibly bright young woman to me. You'll learn quickly and then it will be easier. Just remember that putting your trust in the wrong person when they've deceived you doesn't mean you failed. It just means that they weren't the person you thought they were, and there's nothing wrong with that. Start slowly. Start by trusting me to help you."

As much as she hated to admit it, his words made perfect sense, and she nodded, offering him a weak smile.

"Okay."

"Now, how have you been sleeping since our last session? I know that was a major concern of yours when we last saw each other."

Abbey smiled, relieved that she had good news to share. She told him about her impromptu trip off-campus, describing the entire weekend in detail, and when she had finished speaking, he gave her a thoughtful look, watching her closely to see her reaction.

"You mentioned that you shared an intimate moment with Jed. Was this a new development in your relationship, or was it just one that made you happy?"

"Both," Abbey replied, "It was new, and it made me happy. Happier than I've been in…I don't even know how long."

"Abbey, you might not know it, but you've already begun the process of trusting people again. You said before that you and Jed had never engaged in a sexual relationship, and it was only after your trip that you felt relaxed and comfortable enough to let your guard down enough for that to change. You trusted Jed enough to be intimate in a way you haven't been since before the assault."

Abbey frowned.

"But it's not…I mean, we had done other things, just not sex. I was never afraid of Jed, I've always trusted him. It's just that this is his first real relationship, and I didn't want him to feel like we were taking things too far before he was ready."

"Fair enough, but do you realize that in doing that, you were still putting his feelings ahead of your own? In this instance, I believe you made the right decision, but it's just something to consider. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need or what you simply want. You might not always get it, but at least you won't be burying your emotions."

Considering this, Abbey nodded, noticing as she glanced down that, for the first time since she had walked into his office, her hands were still.

"Jed."

He had to give Abbey credit: it took a special skill to be able to speak so clearly through the kiss he was currently giving her, but he ignored her, running his hand slowly over her thigh as he kissed her again.

"Jed," she tried again, laughing, "You're distracting me, and I really need to study for this final and you're making it extremely difficult."

"You don't need to study, babe," he said, his lips warm on her throat, "You're brilliant."

"Thank you," she laughed, "but that wasn't really my point. I need to focus. We have plenty of time for this later."

He sighed, looking at her in defeat as he moved away from her, leaning back on the pillows with mock seriousness.

"This is all your fault, you know," he pouted, "You were the one who suggested we study in your room. You can't really expect me to keep my hands to myself if you're going to be sitting there looking like a goddess."

Abbey rolled her eyes, laughing quietly as she reached for the book she had been attempting to read before he had started his delicious attack on her mouth.

"Hush. If you can't sit there quietly, then why don't you try reading something? I'm sure I have at least one book you haven't gotten to yet."

Jed said nothing, merely directing his gaze to the alarm clock sitting on Millie's bedside table, waiting exactly five minutes to make his move. He positioned himself behind her, letting his hands fall on her shoulders, gently massaging her skin, taking great pleasure in the soft moan that fell from her lips. Her head fell back against his chest, providing him with the perfect opportunity to trail his mouth over her throat, occasionally letting his tongue taste the salt on her skin.

"Jed…"

"What? I'm just helping you relax."

He didn't dare stop, not wanting to ruin the moment, and when the book in Abbey's hands fell to the floor, she made no attempt to retrieve it, angling her body just enough to look at him.

"Jed?"

"Yeah?"

"It's later."

Her mouth crashed onto his, Abbey's forward momentum sending them both flying onto the mattress, and Jed's hands found her hips, holding her securely in place as her fingers wound into his hair. She pushed his jacket from his shoulders, tossing her own blazer to the floor, her fingers grabbing the hem of his shirt, shaking as they attempted to undo the many buttons.

"Don't ever wear this shirt again," she whispered as her fingers slipped on the small plastic pieces.

Jed frowned.

"Why? It's nice."

Abbey rolled her eyes as she finally threw it on the ground, straddling his hips carefully as she leaned down to kiss him, her hands touching every inch of his skin she could reach.

"Too many damn buttons," she muttered, her hair falling around them in a dark waterfall.

Jed laughed quietly, his hands moving to take Abbey's shirt between his fingers, and just as he started to pull it over her head, the unmistakable sound of the door being opened made them both freeze. In her attempt to move away from him, Abbey slipped on the mattress, falling to the ground with a sharp cry of shock, and as Millie closed the door, she frowned.

"Jed," she said cautiously, "Any particular reason you're shirtless in my room?"

He shrugged.

"It's warm in here."

"Uh-huh," Millie didn't look convinced, "and where's Abbey?"

"Funny you should ask," came Abbey's voice, slightly strained as she pulled herself up from the ground, thankful that Jed hadn't managed to remove her shirt, "I really think we need some kind of signal here."

"Why were you on the—never mind, if this is some weird sex game, I don't want to know," Millie said, shaking her head as she sat down on her bed.

"I fell, if you must know," Abbey snapped, "because someone chose this exact moment to walk back into our bedroom and ruined my moment. Hence the reason we need a signal. Or a schedule."

Millie laughed, rolling her eyes as Abbey sat down on the bed, handing Jed his shirt, and as he buttoned it, he looked at his girlfriend, a knowing smirk on his face.

"I think you might have been right about this shirt, babe."

"Right about what?" Millie asked.

"It doesn't matter," Abbey replied smoothly, "All that matters is that I was right."

As it so happened, Jed had been giving quite a bit of thought to their privacy problem, searching his brain for any kind of solution that would work, hoping he could surprise her. Though he was careful not to let anyone know, he was feeling more than a little annoyed himself, and he knew if he had to go much longer without touching Abbey, it was going to make him lose his mind. Their first time together had been nice, but it had been much more rushed than he would have liked, and he was desperate for a chance to really make it up to her.

The answer came to him abruptly, so glaringly obvious that he couldn't believe it had taken him so long to think of it, and after asking Abbey the name of the hotel she had stayed at during the weekend of her first psychiatric session, he was feeling more than a little proud of himself. Luckily, he had enough money saved for just such an emergency, and when he approached her one Friday evening, he threw his arm around her shoulders, kissing her lightly.

"I hope you don't have any plans this weekend."

Abbey frowned, thinking.

"Not that I know of. I was going to spend a little time reading on Saturday morning, but it's nothing school related. Why?"

"I have a surprise for you. Go pack a bag for the weekend, and I'll meet you at the library in twenty minutes."

He knew it was killing her to not ask questions, but she finally nodded, giving him a confused wave as she made her way into the dorm building, making him laugh quietly as he started his journey to his own room. His bag had been packed for days, carefully hidden under his bed, and after he had grabbed it, he took off at a jog to wait for Abbey. God, he hoped he wouldn't mess this up.

Jed refused to answer any of Abbey's questions as they climbed into the back of the taxi he had called, much to her confusion and slight annoyance, but as they passed the town line, Abbey's eyes suddenly recognized the route they were taking. She looked at Jed, a small smirk on her face as she nudged him with her arm.

"Jed, are we going where I think we're going?"

"Depends on where you think we're going," he replied cryptically.

"It wouldn't happen to be a certain hotel you asked me about earlier this week, would it?"

He merely took her hand in his, raising it to his lips, kissing her skin softly. She took that as a 'yes' and smiled, moving close enough to lay her head on his shoulder. Her smile only grew when she realized she had guessed correctly, and as they stepped out after paying the taxi driver, Jed reached for her bag, refusing to let her carry it on her own. They walked into the thankfully empty lobby and as Jed made his way up to the front desk, Abbey glanced around the building curiously. She hadn't really paid much attention to the hotel itself the last time she had stayed here, but she couldn't deny that it was a gorgeous location, and she smiled.

Jed gave her a smile as he handed her the key to their room, and when they began walking down the hallway, Abbey nudged him again, a quiet laugh falling from her lips.

"So…what led to this sudden, spontaneous trip? Could it be just because you needed a change of scenery?"

He shrugged, placing the key in the lock, pushing the door open with his hip.

"Possibly. I am getting a little tired of the same room night after night."

He set their bags down just inside the doorway, glancing around the empty hallway before sweeping her into his arms, swiftly kicking the door shut. Abbey laughed as her arms locked around his neck, breathing in the scent of his soap as he cradled her against his chest.

"But, the most important reason was because if I had to go one more night without being able to touch you without being interrupted, I might have killed either Jeremy or Millie," he said softly, kissing her as he carried her to the bed.

Carefully laying her on the mattress, Jed wasted no time in kissing her, smiling when he felt Abbey's hand immediately find his shirt, pulling it free from the waistband of his pants, his own hands grabbing her waist. His hands moved down her body, running over her legs, slowly, and when she stopped him, he frowned, worried he had done something wrong.

"Abbey?"

"Shirt off, Jed."

He laughed quietly, shaking his head as he kissed her again.

"We have all night, babe."

"Yeah, and we can do the slow, sexy stuff later. Right now, I need to touch you, so…Shirt. Off. Now."

Abbey pulled the shirt over his head, her hands moving over his skin as though she would never have another opportunity to touch him, and when she pulled him down so that he was covering her body with his own, he found that he didn't much care if they had all night, either. The need to touch her was almost unbearable, and he tossed her shirt carelessly away from them as he reached up to touch her breasts, alternating between them, her bra landing somewhere on the other side of the room. Her legs hooked around him, and when he trailed his mouth along the edge of her collarbone, she moaned, her body arching into his.

He left her just long enough to grab the box of condoms from his bag, placing it on the bedside table where it would be within easy reach, and as he joined her on the bed, she immediately unhooked his belt and tossed it across the room where it hit the wall with a clatter. He wasted no time removing his remaining clothing, pulling her skirt down her legs with ease, and when he ran his hands over them, he placed light kisses on her skin.

"Have I ever told you that you have incredible legs?"

"Maybe," Abbey whispered as she wrapped them around his waist, pulling him closer, "Not much thought going on right now, babe."

Grabbing a handful of her hair, Jed moved it to one side of the bed, his teeth grazing her throat as he kissed her, and she moaned as his fingers slowly slid into her, careful not to hurt her. By now, he had touched her enough times to know what she responded to the fastest, and when her body jerked in his arms, he kissed her, biting down on her bottom lip to enhance the experience. Abbey's hands tangled in his hair, tight enough that it was almost painful, and as he continued to touch her, she tore her lips away from his, her breath coming in short gasps.

"Jed," her eyes locked on his, bright even in the setting sun, "Please…"

He knew exactly what she was asking for, and he used his free hand to grab one of the condoms from the box, tearing it open with his teeth. Carefully putting it on, he entered her quickly, his hips slamming into hers harder than he had intended, and she moaned, her right hand moving to grip his shoulder. As he rolled his hips against hers, falling into a steady rhythm, his lips closed around her breast, his tongue tracing circles around her nipple, and he thanked God that Jeremy had given him a few pointers not long after he and Abbey had gotten together.

Abbey's lips trailed along his throat, causing a shudder to run through his entire body, and he moaned her name as his hips rocked against hers, her teeth biting down carefully on his skin. He grabbed her hips, repositioning her just slightly, and when he moved into her again, she gripped his arm tightly enough that he was sure there would be a bruise the next day.

"Oh, fuck, Jed," she moaned, her voice cracking slightly, "Don't stop."

He moved faster, motivated by the way her breathing caught in her throat and the raggedness of her voice, reaching for her hand as he kissed her. He entwined their fingers, his tongue tasting the remnants of coffee she'd had earlier in the day, and when she moaned into his kiss, he knew she had fallen over the edge, her grip on his shoulder slipping. It took him less than a minute to follow her, her name a low growl that fell from his lips as he kissed her again, and when he was finally able to hear over the sound of his own heartbeat, he pressed his lips to her forehead, tasting the salt on her sweat-slicked skin.

"I love you," she whispered, reaching out to touch his cheek lightly.

Jed smiled, kissing her one final time before moving his body away from hers.

"I love you too, Abbey."

As they laid in the mess of tangled sheets over an hour later, Jed ran his fingers slowly through Abbey's hair, carefully combing out any knots. She rose up to kiss him gently, giving him a warm smile as she moved away from him, taking half of the sheets with her. He was slightly amused by the fact that she seemed to be almost self-conscious about being undressed in front of him, ironic considering what had just taken place, and he laughed quietly when she disappeared into the bathroom, leaving the door partially open. He stood and made his way over to the bags that had been sitting in the doorway for over an hour, phishing out the pack of cigarettes he had brought, smacking the pack against his palm.

"Oh, my god…" he heard Abbey mutter as he walked back to the bed, "I look like I stuck my finger in an electrical outlet."

Jed laughed quietly as he placed the cigarette between his teeth, frowning when he realized he hadn't smoked in so long that he'd forgotten what tobacco tasted like. He reached for the book of matches on the bedside table, lighting the cigarette carefully, and as he inhaled the smoke, he smiled. There it was, that sweet calm that always accompanied a drag. He closed his eyes, savouring the moment, and it wasn't until Abbey returned that his eyes opened, her voice somewhat annoyed.

"Really, Jed? Of all the clichés to choose, you chose to smoke a cigarette after sex?"

He shrugged, blowing the smoke away from her, offering her a smile.

"To be fair, I haven't smoked around you in months."

She sighed.

"Then why pick it back up now?"

"Let it go, Abigail. It's not the end of the world."

He could tell, just from the look in her eyes, that she was trying to decide if it was worth the fight to get him to stop, and when she finally nodded, he felt more than a little relieved. He really didn't want to fight with her. Not here, not now, and especially not over something so insignificant as a cigarette. She climbed back into bed, dragging the sheets with her, and as he pulled her into his arms, she gave him a serious look.

"I hope you packed a toothbrush and mouthwash. Because I am absolutely not going to kiss you until you do something about that cigarette taste."

Jed nodded, taking a long drag from the cigarette, careful to exhale in a way that she would have minimal exposure.

"Don't worry about it, honey. I am nothing if not prepared."

Abbey laughed, kissing his chest lightly.

"Damn straight."

In the dim glow of the bedside lamp, languidly laying across the bed, Abbey closed her eyes, running her hand through her hair slowly. She was wrapped up in the bed sheets, though still gloriously naked, and as Jed returned from brushing his teeth, he couldn't have taken his eyes off her if he had tried. He slipped into the bed slowly, wrapping his arm around Abbey's waist, dragging her closer, and when she held the sheet to keep it in place, Jed frowned.

"Abbey?"

"Hm?"

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what?" she asked, glancing at him as he moved closer.

"Hold the sheet. Are you cold?"

She shook her head, shrugging.

"No. It's pretty comfortable in here."

A horrible thought occurred to him, and Jed looked at her seriously as he shook his head.

"Are you embarrassed by me looking at you? Did I do something wrong?"

Abbey shook her head, her eyes wide as she reached for his hand.

"No, of course not, Jed. I just…I'm not used to it. I mean, why would anyone want to look at me naked when…well, my point is, I'm not a model or an actress. I'm not that attractive."

Jed stared at her for so long that Abbey wondered if she should check his pulse for signs of a stroke, and when he finally shook his head, she was surprised to see that his eyes were slightly sad.

"Abbey…" he said softly, "Come here."

She moved closer, and he gently pushed her back on the mattress, pulling the sheet away from her body slowly, his eyes never leaving her. He kissed her long and slow, running his hand through her hair, his free hand moving over her skin as his tongue danced over hers.

"Let me show you just how beautiful you are," he whispered.

In all the years she had been alive, Abbey didn't think she had ever been touched so gently by anyone in a romantic way, and as he kissed her again, she knew that she never would again. Each touch, each kiss, each whispered declaration of love was so overwhelming that it nearly brought tears to her eyes, and as Jed kissed his way down her body, her hands tangled in his hair. His lips brushed along her inner thighs, reminding her of the way he had complimented her legs earlier in the evening, and his tongue traced patterns on her skin as he reached for another condom.

He entered her more slowly than he ever had before, each thrust of his hips hitting her more deeply than anything she had ever experienced in her life, and she moaned his name as he dragged his teeth over her carotid artery. Her legs wrapped around his as he continued his deliciously slow, torturous pace, each movement making her body shake, her eyes closing as he touched her breasts. She could already feel that familiar tightening in her lower abdomen, and when Jed reached for her hand, she knew he had noticed that she was close.

"Abbey, look at me, baby."

She forced her eyes open, locking on his immediately, and he kissed her slowly, making sure she was looking at him again before he spoke.

"You are the most beautiful woman in the world," he whispered seriously.

The last thrust of his hips was enough to send her spiraling over the edge, a ragged moan tearing from her throat, and when Jed moved to the other side of the bed a few moments later, he gave her a smile as he peeled off the condom and tossed it into the trash.

"Don't ever let me hear you say that you're not attractive again," he told her as he held her against his chest, "Are we clear?"

Abbey laughed, nodding against him, listening to his heartbeat as they laid in the sheets, surrounded by the scent of vanilla perfume, sex, and the remnants of the cigarette he had smoked earlier.

"Jed?"

"Yeah?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you're really sexy when you're bossy?"

Jed laughed, kissing her hair lightly.

"Right back at you, babe."

A/N: Love it? Hate it? Let me know! Also, since we have no reference for a young Abbey, I'm just picturing a young Stockard Channing (who has incredible legs, if I may point it out!).