A/N: I present, for your reading pleasure, the first chapter of Simmer, the sequel to Hear it in the Silence! Enjoy!
Abigail Bartlet's fascination with London was short-lived, lasting a mere three months, and as she moved around the small apartment she shared with her husband, she shook her head in annoyance. Jed's busy schedule meant that all of the unpacking had fallen to her, something she hated beyond all measure, and she rolled her eyes when she tripped over yet another box, stumbling into the couch.
They had gotten incredibly lucky that the apartment they'd found had come fully furnished, making at least one part of this move easier, and she thanked God every day for the kindness of their landlord for allowing them to move into the building before Jed's job had been officially confirmed. Not that she had been worried. Of course not. She certainly hadn't been imagining them destitute on the streets of England.
Okay, so maybe she had been worried. Just a little. Certainly not enough to mention it to Jed, who had been so excited about the move from the moment he'd gotten his acceptance letter, and certainly not enough to let it consume her, but she had worried. The only people she had confided in about her worry had been Jeremy Clenden and Millicent Griffith, threatening them within an inch of their lives if they ever even considered telling Jed, and so far, it had been enough.
As it turned out, her worry was unfounded, mostly because Jed had found a job within the university, making the situation easier for the both of them, and as a result, he often spent more time away from their apartment than in it. If Abbey had entertained any romantic ideas about what her first few months of married life would be like, they had been quickly dashed, pushed to the wayside in favor of Jed's job and schooling, and while she would have never begrudged him the opportunity, she missed him more than she had ever thought possible.
She had taken a few odd jobs herself throughout their brief time in London, though nothing too strenuous, the advice of her former psychiatrist always lingering in the back of her mind, and it hadn't been long before Jed had insisted that she was working too hard, asking her to slow down. She knew he meant well, what's more knew he was right, but it did little to help her restlessness when she watched him climb out of bed each morning, preparing for another long day. She longed for their days at school, back when she had been too busy to dwell on the thoughts in her head, regardless of knowing that it wasn't healthy, and she sighed as she looked around at the boxes surrounding her.
She knew that home would always be wherever Jed happened to be, but she found herself wishing that the apartment felt like more than just a building where she happened to reside, knowing that she would never consider England home, no matter how long they stayed. She was annoyed with the constant dreariness that seemed to hang in the very air, exhausted by the endless rain, and as it began to pour again, she sank down onto the couch, letting her head fall into her hands.
"Of course it's raining," she muttered.
Reaching for a box sitting just to her right, she smiled as she realized that it contained a familiar blanket that she'd fallen in love with, due in large part to its softness, and she held it close to her, inhaling a scent that could only be described as home. The ringing of the phone shattered the moment, making her sigh, and as she stood, she carefully moved the boxes out of her way.
"Hello?"
"Hey, doc. How's life on the other side of the pond?"
She smiled at the sound of Jeremy's voice, immediately latching onto a reminder of the life they'd left behind.
"Hey! Long time, no talk! How are you? How's Sara?"
"She's good," Jeremy answered warmly, "Just getting ready to start her mid-term finals. Speaking of which, how's our boy doing in that regard? Are the exams kicking his ass? Please say yes."
Abbey laughed, shaking her head.
"Unfortunately, no," she replied, "You know Jed…he's too brilliant to struggle too badly. He's doing really well, and he even has time to help me stay up to date on medical knowledge. Any time he learns something interesting, he has to come here to tell me."
She laughed again, though it sounded hollow even to her own ears.
"Not that I have much time to read. I'm still unpacking. It's amazing, how many boxes two people can accumulate over their lives."
"True," he agreed, "but hey, don't think I didn't notice you never answered my question. How's life going for you? Any major developments? Any minor developments?"
"Things are fine," she said, hoping her bright tone would convince him, "I'm a little sick of the rain, but it just makes me appreciate the sun more."
"Are you sure? You know I'm always here to listen if you want to talk about anything."
She sighed.
"I know, but…maybe later, okay? It's only been three months, and I'm sure I'm just feeling a little bit homesick because it's so new."
"Sure, Abbey, we can revisit this later if you want. For now, give my best to Bartlet, and you take care of yourself, okay?"
"Okay. I'll give you a call soon."
As soon as she had hung up the phone, she wished she'd stayed on longer, desperate for any reminder of their lives Stateside, and when the front door opened, she jumped, swearing quietly.
"Abbey?"
"Kitchen," she called, laughing quietly when she heard him collide with a box.
"Looks like you've been unpacking," Jed said, kissing her softly as he stopped in front of her moments later, "Either that, or a tornado happened to pass through the living room."
"Well, with all the rain, I wouldn't be surprised," Abbey said, somewhat bitterly.
If he noticed her tone, Jed didn't mention it, and when he wrapped his arms around her waist, there was no mistaking the warmth in his bright blue eyes.
"How was your day?" she asked lightly.
"Not bad. Could have been better."
"Oh? Did something happen?"
He nodded, kissing her gently.
"Yeah. I had to leave you here all day by yourself. Damn near killed me."
"Kiss ass," Abbey laughed, rolling her eyes in amusement, "Jed, you're a nightmare, do you know that?"
Again, he nodded, releasing her from his hold.
"Yeah, I know. My extremely intelligent wife makes it a point to remind me at least twice a week, and I've learned that it's best not to argue with her about these kinds of things."
"Took you long enough," she muttered.
Lifting her off her feet, Jed ignored her shriek of indignation, carefully making his way into the living room, and as he held her in his arms, he gave her a devious look.
"I'm sorry, honey, I didn't quite catch what you said. Could you repeat it, please?"
"I said," she began slowly, carefully enunciating each word, "it took you long enough to realize that you shouldn't argue with me."
"And here I thought you loved me," Jed said jokingly, "You really should be nicer to—"
They were plunged into darkness without warning, and as Jed carefully placed Abbey on the ground, he shook his head.
"What the hell?"
Abbey frowned.
"It would appear that we've lost electricity."
"You and I will never lose electricity, babe."
Jed smirked, though he knew she couldn't see him in the darkness, amused by his own joke, and when Abbey lightly smacked his arm, he laughed.
"Sorry," he said, appropriately chastised.
He felt rather than saw her step away from him, and when he reminded her to be careful, he could almost hear the eyeroll in her tone.
"I am capable of finding my way around in the dark, you know. This happens all the time when you're gone."
Jed frowned.
"It does?"
"Yes, Jed, because it's raining, and all it ever does in the godforsaken country is rain, in case you hadn't noticed."
She was father away now, nearer to the bedroom, and as he slowly made his way closer to the direction he'd heard her last, he narrowed his eyes in concentration.
"Well, Mrs. Bartlet, what would you suggest we do with our sudden darkness?"
Abbey laughed, though it wasn't the easy laugh he was expecting, and he kept moving.
"Jed, you wouldn't even be able to find a condom in the dark, and believe it or not, blackout or no blackout, I do not want to risk pregnancy."
He had to admit that she made a very valid point, and when he had finally reached her, he pulled her into his arms, laughing at the small scream that fell from her lips.
"Josiah Edward Bartlet, you scared me to death!"
"Sorry, babe. You okay?"
"I'm fine, why?"
"Just checking. I don't need my wife having a heart attack before her twenty-third birthday. Or before we've even been married six months, for that matter."
"Then stop creeping around in the dark, jackass," she snapped, though her voice was warm, "You won't have anything to worry about then."
A sudden flicker of light appeared before his face, and it took him several seconds to realize that Abbey had located his lighter, the flame bright in the otherwise black room. It brought back memories of the night they'd met and the blackout they'd experienced in college, making him smile, and when Abbey's eyes met his, he could tell she was thinking of the same moments.
"Jed?"
"Yeah?"
She reached for his shirt, pulling him closer, and when she spoke, there was no mistaking the tone of her voice.
"Come here."
She flicked the lighter shut, throwing them into darkness again, and as she kissed him, Jed's hands immediately went to her waist, holding her tightly.
"I thought—" he began.
"Shh…" she whispered, "Don't talk and ruin the moment. Just kiss me."
He didn't need to be told twice, and when he kissed her again, he lifted her off her feet, grateful for the bed that was less than five feet away from them. They fell onto the mattress harder than he had expected, making him pause, but when Abbey's fingers found the hem of his shirt, he knew he couldn't have stopped for anything barring an emergency. She tossed the shirt aside, her fingers trailing along his skin, touching as much of him as she could reach, and when he reached between them to undo the button on her pants, she whispered his name.
Jed slid them down her legs, his fingers hooking into her underwear as he moved, and as he kissed her again, Abbey's hands tangled in his hair, her tongue tasting every part of his mouth. She moaned into the kiss when he slid his fingers into her, her grip slipping in his hair, and as he moved them expertly, her right hand moved to his shoulder. Her body jerked beneath him when he twisted his fingers quickly, his name a low ragged whisper that fell from her lips as he trailed his mouth along her collarbone, and he smiled as he began to move faster.
Abbey's breath caught in her throat, tearing free finally in a harsh gasp, and as his touch turned carefully rough, she bit down on her bottom lip, her hips meeting his hand quickly. It didn't take long for her to fall over the edge, though it never did when he used his hands, and as her head fell onto his shoulder, she took a shaking breath.
"Jed…have I ever told you how much I love your hands?"
He smiled, kissing her slowly.
"Maybe. Once or twice. Or a few hundred."
She laughed lightly.
"It always bears repeating."
He had just opened his mouth to answer her when they were suddenly bathed in light, and she smirked as she reached up to run her fingers through his dark hair.
"Turn off the lights," she murmured, kissing him slowly, "We're not finished yet."
"Yes, ma'am."
Jed wasted no time in running to the other side of the room, flipping the switch without even glancing at it, and as he climbed back into the bed, he gave her a smile.
"Now…where were we?"
"Well, I was just finishing a prayer," Abbey said with a laugh.
Jed frowned.
"What?"
"I just thanked God for the day you decided to give up being a priest," she explained.
"You and me both, baby."
Jed was so caught up in the paper he was revising that it took him several moments to realize that he was no longer alone in the university library, and when he glanced up to find one of his classmates looking at him, he smiled lightly.
"Hey, Neil. Sorry, I didn't see you there."
Neil nodded, eyeing the chair in front of him.
"Do you mind if I sit?"
Jed shook his head.
"Be my guest."
Though he'd only known Neil for three months, he already liked the quiet student, often going out of his way to say hello each morning, and when he'd realized that he was also an American, their bond had grown stronger, each one desperate for a reminder of home and the lives they'd left on pause. Neil wasn't one to speak much, something Jed found refreshing after years of living with Jeremy, but the words he did say always held weight, and he often found himself wondering how he had managed to find his way to Jed.
It wasn't as though Jed were unapproachable, but nearly everyone on campus was well aware of the way Jed had always immediately rushed to be home with his bride, not wanting to leave her alone in a new place for any longer than was strictly necessary. In the last few months, however, he had slowly begun to fall back into his habit of studying for hours on end even after his school and work day was done, and he supposed, if he really stopped to think about it, this was how Neil had come to find him.
The idea that he was replacing Abbey's former studying spot with his classmate hadn't even occurred to Jed, though it would have if he'd stopped to consider it, and as Neil pulled out his notebook, Jed nodded at him.
"French?"
Neil sighed.
"Yeah. I'm terrible at French."
Jed smiled.
"I never learned, so you're doing better than I am. My wife is the one who knows French in our household. Pretty damn good at it too. If you'd like, I can see if she'd be willing to help. I'm sure she wouldn't mind."
It didn't escape Neil's notice how Jed's eyes lit up at the very mention of his wife, but he shook his head slowly.
"I'm sure she's got more important things to do that don't involve helping some stranger pass his French class."
"Clearly, you've never met my wife," Jed laughed, "She's the only person in the world I've ever met who studies for fun. She's not even in school right now, and she's still studying. Hey, I have an idea. Why don't you come by our place tomorrow after class? I'm sure Abbey would love the company, especially since you're a fellow American."
Neil hesitated, his eyes uncertain.
"I wouldn't want to cause any problems."
"No problem at all," Jed told him with a smile, "I'll let you know tomorrow."
Neil smiled, grateful for the offer, and as Jed returned his attention to his paper, he smiled to himself, certain that Abbey would welcome the company.
He was wrong, as it turned out, and as Abbey stood in the middle of their living room, she glared at him, her eyes meeting his angrily.
"Jed, look around this place! Does it look in any way suitable to have people over? I still have boxes to unpack, dishes to clean, clothing to wash, are you out of your mind?"
"I didn't think it would—"
"That's just it, Jed! You didn't think! You made a decision that included me without including me! Do you see how little sense that makes? You do this all the time. Most of the time, they're little things, but how long until you do it with something bigger? Like moving to London, for example."
"You agreed to move with me," he reminded her.
"Eventually, yes, but don't you remember the big fight we had right before you sent in your acceptance forms? Did that slip your mind? I can always remind you of how it ended, if you'd like."
Abbey stormed from the room, ignoring the way he called her name, and when the bedroom door slammed shut moments later, he sighed. How could one simple conversation have taken such a drastic turn? And more importantly, what was he going to do about it? He stood in the middle of the room, staring at the boxes around him, and as he took a step, he noticed the blanket sitting on the couch.
It had always been one of Abbey's favourite's, deep blue in colour, thick, soft fabric, and as he picked it up, he slowly made his way down the hallway. He pushed open the door to their bedroom, feeling even more like a jerk when he noticed Abbey curled up on the bed, and as he walked closer, he realized she was crying. It was so unlike Abbey to cry unless she was under extreme stress, and he reached out to touch her shoulder, pretending that it didn't hurt when she pulled away.
"Don't touch me," she whispered.
"Abbey, you're right. I didn't think. I just…you spend all day at home by yourself and…maybe having Neil over would be a way to make new friends. I know you miss Millie and Jeremy, so…"
"Jed, if you don't even understand what I'm angry about, then there's no point in having this discussion," she snapped, glaring at him over her shoulder, "I'm not angry about Neil. I'm sure he's a very nice person. I'm angry that you didn't talk to me about it first. You constantly make decisions without me, and it makes me wonder why you even bothered to marry me in the first place. If you're just going to do what you want with no regard to how I feel, what's the point? I can be ignored just as easily at home as I can in London."
Jed froze at her words, feeling as though his lungs had suddenly ceased to exist, and he sat down on the edge of the bed, his hands shaking as the blanket fell from his fingers.
"Abbey, don't—please don't say that," he whispered, "I don't…you know how much you mean to me, how much I love you. I could never—if you've felt like I've ignored you, then maybe…maybe we shouldn't do this."
"Do what, Jed?" she asked exasperatedly, "Be in London? Be married? Be together at all? Take your pick."
Jed said nothing, his mind still reeling from the words she'd said, and when Abbey moved to an upright position, she rolled her eyes as she realized he hadn't moved.
"Jed, for God's sake, would you—Jed? What's wrong?"
His entire body was still, save for the violent shaking in his hands, and when she noticed that he was barely breathing, Abbey moved closer, leaning down to look in his eyes seriously.
"Jed, can you hear me?"
Silence.
"Look at me, baby," she tried to keep her panic under control, tilting his head up to catch his eyes with her own, "Honey, breathe. You need to take a breath, okay? Can you do that for me?"
Drawing in a shaking breath, Jed finally blinked, his eyes unfocused as they met Abbey's, and she reached for his hands, hoping her voice was steadier than she felt.
"Deep breath, baby. Really slowly. You can do it."
He did as she asked, his hands suddenly freezing cold in hers, and she nodded encouragingly as he kept breathing.
"Good."
"Abbey?"
"What?" she asked quietly.
"Please don't leave," he whispered, "I couldn't—I can't handle losing you."
"Then don't make me leave," she answered gently, "Jed, you may not have noticed, but you've been spending more and more time at that university every single day. I know you've always been studious, but things are different now. I'm not going to sit around this apartment all day just waiting for you to come home later each time class is over. I love you Jed, more than I've ever loved anyone, but I'm not going to be second in your life to a bunch of books."
He nodded, and when he threw his arms around her, she was nearly knocked off the bed, hardly having time to steady herself.
"I'm so sorry, Abbey," he whispered into her hair, "I didn't mean to make you feel like I didn't care. I should have noticed that I was staying too late."
"I don't want an apology," she told him softly, leaning back to look at him, "I want you to fix it. Understand?"
Jed met her eyes, seeing the pain reflected there for the first time, and he nodded, reaching out to brush her hair behind her ear.
"Yeah, loud and clear."
"Good. And don't you forget it, Jed Bartlet."
"Yes, ma'am."
True to his word, over the next few weeks, Jed arrived at their apartment exactly when he said he would, occasionally carrying a bottle of wine with him, and while Abbey couldn't deny that it was a marked improvement, she wondered how long it would last. She knew Jed well enough to know that he wasn't being willfully malicious, knew he wasn't deliberately ignoring her, but that didn't lessen the pain each time it had happened since they'd moved to London.
She wasn't sure if he was feeling the pressure to prove himself at the university or if he was running from the same feelings of homesickness that she was, but whatever the reason, she knew if they didn't have a major discussion soon, his intentions wouldn't matter in the least. That familiar feeling she'd had in college of drowning had returned, fierce and unrelenting, and as she finally finished unpacking the final box in the living room, she sighed. Running her hand through her mahogany hair, she glanced around the room, expecting to feel a sense of satisfaction, and when the feeling never came, she shook her head slowly.
No matter how hard she had tried, the apartment simply didn't feel like home to her, and she slowly reached for the blanket on the back of the couch, curling up underneath the deep blue fabric. She had developed an almost obsessive attachment to the blanket, refusing to sleep anywhere without it, and if she hadn't been so determined to outrun the emotions that seemed to be waiting around every corner, she might have seen the actions for what they were rather than just a habit she'd picked up.
Already, she could feel the exhaustion creeping up on her, though she couldn't have explained why, and as she closed her eyes, she buried her face in the blanket, breathing in the familiar scent. She didn't particularly want to spend her day sleeping, but if it meant that she didn't have to listen to the thoughts spinning around in her head, Abbey felt that was a fair price to pay. She was asleep within minutes, her breathing light and even, and as her dreams danced behind her closed eyes, she was at peace for the time being.
Frowning as he walked into the room, Jed was immediately concerned when he noticed Abbey asleep on the couch, but when he realized that the entirety of their belongings had been unpacked, he figured she must have simply worked harder than she'd anticipated. She was wrapped up in the blanket carefully, and Jed moved closer, reaching out to run his fingers lightly over her skin, smiling when she moved away from his touch instinctively.
"Abbey."
Her eyelids flickered but didn't open, and he tried again, his voice louder.
"Abigail."
Again, she shifted away from him, and he laughed, shaking his head.
"Okay, then. Enjoy your nap, baby."
He leaned down to kiss her forehead, letting his lips linger as he inhaled the scent of her vanilla perfume.
"I love you," he whispered.
Figuring he had time to get a few revisions done on his latest Economics paper, Jed moved to sit in the chair just to the left of the couch, and as he pulled out his pen from his pocket, he couldn't help but steal another glance at Abbey. He still felt incredibly guilty for ever making her feel as though she had no place in his life, and he frowned as he tried to think of a way to show her just how much she meant to him. A sudden idea occurred to him, and he stood quickly, grabbing his wallet as he bolted for the door, hoping he could make it to the shop and back before she woke. After all, the surprise wouldn't mean as much if she woke up as he was putting it together.
Saying a quick prayer of thanks as he walked back into his living room, Jed had never been more relieved to see his wife sleeping on the couch, and as he began the process of preparing his surprise, he couldn't stop himself from smiling. All told, it took less than ten minutes for him to complete his task, and as he sat back down in the one clear place in the room, he waited, hoping that it wouldn't take long for her to wake up.
When it became clear that she wasn't going to wake on her own, Jed made his way closer, kneeling on the ground, and he reached out, running his hand through her hair slowly.
"Abbey. Honey, wake up."
Her eyes slowly opened, brilliantly green in the setting sun, and he smiled as she gave him a confused look.
"Jed? When did you get here?"
"About twenty minutes ago. How was your day?"
She shrugged, still unaware of anything different about the room, and when he kissed her cheek, he stood, offering her his hand, pulling her upright.
"Sleep well?"
"I suppose. I don't even remember what time I—Jed, what the hell happened in here?"
As her eyes roamed over the room, taking in the vast number of rose petals scattered over every surface, Jed pulled out the one rose he'd left intact, smiling at her warmly.
"Every woman deserves a rose-covered room at least once in her life," he answered simply.
Abbey's eyes filled with tears as she took the rose from his hand, breathing in the sweet aroma, and she smiled, her eyes meeting his slowly.
"Jed...this is beautiful. Thank you."
"Well, I felt like an ass for how I've been so busy lately, and I thought you might need a reminder of just how much I love you."
"You did all this while I was sleeping?"
"Yeah," he said with a smile, "Speaking of which, are you feeling okay? I don't want to annoy you, but it seems like you've been sleeping more than usual."
He paused as a thought slammed into his mind, his eyes wide.
"You're not pregnant, are you?"
She burst into laughter, shaking her head, reaching out to touch his cheek lightly.
"No, I'm not pregnant, so you can calm down before you have a heart attack."
Abbey was silent as Jed remembered how to breathe, her fingers absentmindedly toying with the velvety rose petals in her hand, and when she spoke again, her voice was softer than she'd intended.
"I've just been tired, Jed. It's been a lot of work, unpacking and finding a place for everything on my own. But I'm finally finished, so it should be easier to stay awake now."
"Good, because we have plans tonight, and while they might involve a bed, they most definitely do not involve sleeping."
Abbey laughed, looking at him as he took the rose from her hand.
"Abigail Ann Bartlet, will you do me the highest honor and dance with me in the middle of this beautifully adorned room?"
She nodded, accepting his hand as he helped her to her feet, and when he pulled her into his arms, she looked at him curiously.
"There's no music playing."
"Your point?"
"Kind of difficult to dance without it," she said with a laugh.
Jed smiled, spinning her around the room, and when she heard him begin to hum, she smiled as she recognized the song. He sang softly in her ear as they danced around the room, and when he spun her away from him, he gave her another smile, kissing her as soon as she had landed in his arms again.
"I love you, Abbey."
She smiled.
"I love you too, Jed. So damn much. You know, I didn't think it was even possible to love someone as much as I love you."
Jed nodded.
"I know what you mean. And I'm sorry about the Neil situation. I should have been more considerate."
"Well, the apartment is finally clean, so if you want, he can stop by tomorrow after class. I can make something nice for dinner and get to know the new Jeremy."
Laughing, Jed finally dropped her hand, bringing them to a stop, and he shook his head.
"The only thing he has in common with Jeremy is that he's American. He's more like us and actually cares about his work."
Abbey waved his words away with a smile.
"I'm just happy you made a friend. I know I haven't been the best company lately, and I'm sorry."
"You're fantastic company, babe. Even at your worst, you're still miles better than I am."
"You're just trying to get laid, Jed Bartlet."
He laughed.
"Maybe. Is it working?"
"Hm…I don't know. Keep talking."
Jed pulled her closer, letting his hand run up and down her side, smiling when he felt her shiver.
"You're the only person in the world that I could never live without, and I wouldn't even want to try," he lowered his voice as he brought his lips to her ear, "and I can't wait to spend an evening with your incredible legs wrapped around me in every way possible."
Abbey drew in a breath that was less than steady, her eyes dark as she looked at him.
"Jed?"
"Yeah?"
"It's working. You, bedroom, now."
God, her voice did things to him that shouldn't be legal…
"Neil, this is my wife, Abigail," Jed introduced them with a smile, his eyes never leaving the woman next to him.
"Abbey, please," she said, smiling at Neil as he shook her hand, "It's nice to meet you. Jed tells me that you're the reason he's always home late. Something about French lessons?"
"Oh, no, I—I mean, yes, he's been trying to help me, but I didn't mean to cause you any problems, Mrs. Bar—Abbey."
"You didn't," she assured him, "In fact, he's probably caused you a fair few. His French is terrible."
"Hey!" Jed protested, "There's nothing wrong with my French."
"Oh?" Abbey asked innocently, "Est-ce ainsi?"
Jed stayed silent and Abbey exchanged a look with Neil.
"C'est comme ca," she said with a smile.
"Very funny, Abigail."
Neil laughed, and Abbey smiled again, happy to see that Jed's new friend seemed to be warming to them, and as they walked into the apartment, Jed reached for her hand, kissing it lightly.
"If you think I'm going to sit quietly while you talk about me in French, you're sadly mistaken," he whispered.
"Wouldn't dream of it, honey," she replied, her tone too sweet to be genuine.
"Why do I not believe you?" Jed muttered.
A laugh was his only answer.
"That's where you keep getting hung up," Abbey explained, looking at Neil's paper seriously, "The conjunction might be technically correct, but no one will ever say it like this in any French-speaking community. What I would do is write it one way for the assignment, but make sure to write yourself a note so that you don't forget the way to say it if you ever travel and have a need to use it."
Jed watched her as she explained the finer details, loving the way her eyes lit up as she spoke, and he suddenly felt more like an ass than he had in his recent memory. It was obvious to anyone who had functioning eyes that Abbey loved learning, loved helping others, and yet he had taken her away from both of those things with little regard to how she had felt about it. True, she had offered to put her education on hold for his, but he couldn't deny that it had somehow tainted the entire experience for him.
He hated knowing that she was alone in the apartment all day, likely missing her friends and family more than she would ever admit, and as she handed the paper back to Neil, he gave her a smile.
"Thanks, Abbey. Maybe I should stop hanging out with actual French people until the exam."
"Never," Abbey said with a laugh, "They can help you more than I could, but just remember that they have their own slang, just like the Americans and every other nationality in the world."
Neil nodded, smiling at her again.
"Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it."
"Don't mention it."
He glanced at the watch on his wrist, offering them both an apologetic smile, and when he stood, he held out his hand to Abbey, nodding to Jed as he did so,
"I really should get going, but…Abbey, if you wouldn't mind, do you think you might consider helping me pass my final? I could really use your help."
"When are the finals?" she asked.
"Three weeks," Jed and Neil answered at the same time.
"I'll see what I can do, Neil," Abbey laughed, "I haven't taken French in quite some time."
"Yeah, but you're brilliant, so that's not really relevant, is it?" Jed asked her with a smile.
"Hush," Abbey scoffed, rolling her eyes, "No one was talking to you, Jethro."
"Don't call me that," he answered, though he didn't really mind.
"No, I think I will," she replied with a smirk, knowing he secretly loved it.
As soon as Neil had left their apartment, Jed wrapped his arms around Abbey, kissing her cheek lightly.
"You should be a teacher, babe," he told her warmly.
She shook her head.
"I would be a terrible teacher."
"I beg to differ, Mrs. Bartlet," Jed replied, moving his lips to her collarbone, "I saw the way your eyes lit up when you were helping him. It was like someone had flipped a switch. You looked happier than I've seen you in months. Kind of made me feel like the biggest ass in the universe."
"What?" she frowned, "Why?"
"Abbey, you gave up Harvard to come to London with me. And don't even try to talk your way out of it, we both know they would have accepted you in a heartbeat. You gave up your entire life to let me work on my education, and I should have never let you."
"Listen to me, Josiah Bartlet," Abbey met his eyes seriously, "You didn't let me do anything. I chose to put Harvard on hold, and I would do it again, no matter what you said about it. I didn't give it up, I postponed it. You can make it up to me a few years from now when you're stuck at home all day so that I can go to school."
"You don't resent me for moving us here?" he asked, his eyes betraying the depth of his worry.
"No," she assured him gently, "It's been an adjustment and it can be lonely at times, but if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have married you, much less moved to a foreign country with you. I love you, Jed, and of all the reasons I have for thinking you're a jackass, this isn't one of them."
She kissed him slowly, pushing his jacket from his shoulders, not caring in the least when it landed on the ground.
"Wait, you think I'm a jackass?"
She nodded, laughing as she kissed him again.
"Yeah, but you're my jackass. And I wouldn't want it any other way."
A/N: Love it? Hate it? Let me know!