A/N: Here we have the third installment of Simmer! I hope you enjoy!

Gasping as her eyes opened, Abbey Bartlet glanced around the room, her heart pounding in her chest. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized that Jed was still sleeping next to her, Heathcliff curled up on the floor by the end of the bed, and she shook her head as she tried to make herself understand that she'd only been dreaming. She couldn't have even explained why the dream had affected her so strongly, but it refused to leave her head, flickering like a film on repeat. She moved closer to Jed, breathing in the scent of his cologne, and when he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer even in his sleep, she smiled.

It was moments like this, when he wasn't even aware of it, that Jed managed to remind her just how much she meant to him, and she knew, no matter how long she lived, she would never grow tired of those small reminders. Even when they fought, it was with love, even when she was so angry at him that she couldn't stand to look at him, she still loved him, and knew he felt the same way about her. Tucking her head under his chin, she listened to his even breathing and the steady beat of his heart, closing her eyes tiredly. It was just a dream. It didn't matter.

She knew things would look better in the light of the morning. They always did.

Or so she thought. The dream continued to plague her throughout the day, returning to the forefront of her mind each time she passed a reflective surface, almost strong enough to make her scream, and as she waited for Jed to come back that evening, she could feel herself growing more and more anxious with each passing hour. She supposed that it might have had something to do with the fact that she'd had the dream multiple nights in a row, but barring the one she'd had in college, Abbey couldn't ever remember having one quite so vivid or unsettling.

Each activity she attempted as a way to make the time pass faster seemed to have the opposite effect, and even Heathcliff had noticed a change in her demeanor, opting to sleep as close to her as possible in order to provide what comfort he could. She tried multiple times to lose herself in a book, though the words seemed to blur together, rendering the attempt useless, and when she threw the book across the room in annoyance, Heathcliff glanced at her curiously.

"Sorry," she muttered, looking at him, "I just can't focus, Heathcliff."

He wagged his tail encouragingly, moving to lay in her lap, and as she ran her hand lightly over the top of his head, she sighed. What was wrong with her? Jumping when she heard the sound of the front door opening, she swore softly, turning to look at Jed, and when he noticed the expression on her face, he frowned, his smile flickering.

"Did I startle you?"

"A bit," she admitted.

Jed walked closer, kissing her lightly, and when he reached down to pet Heathcliff, he noticed the slight shaking in Abbey's hands, making him frown in concern.

"You okay?"

Abbey sighed, rolling her eyes in annoyance at herself.

"I'm just a little on edge today. Don't worry about it, it's fine."

"Did something happen?" Jed asked.

She shook her head.

"I just didn't sleep well last night. I'm being ridiculous."

Jed laughed, kissing her hair lightly.

"Of all the words I would use to describe you, ridiculous isn't one of them."

"Oh?" Abbey asked, trying to lighten the mood, "What words would you use?"

Jed thought for a moment, sitting on the opposite end of the couch, pulling her legs into his lap.

"Brilliant, witty, sarcastic, funny, beautiful, need I go on?"

"Please do," Abbey nodded with a small laugh.

"Stubborn, infuriating, insane—"

"Okay, stop," she laughed again, shaking her head, "This isn't as fun now."

Jed laughed, lightly running his hand over her legs, and looked at her seriously.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked softly, 'I know things have been difficult with the move and all, so I just want to check in. I meant what I said before we had Heathcliff: if there's anything I can do to make it easier, I want you to tell me."

Abbey met his eyes slowly, touched by his sincerity, and she nodded, a small smile on her face.

"I've been-things have gotten a lot better since we've had Heathcliff. He makes me realize that it's not all about my feelings and he gives me something to focus on when you're gone. He's been wonderful when it comes to making my days easier."

"Makes the laundry more difficult though," Jed muttered, looking at the puppy still laying in his wife's lap.

"True," she conceded, "but he looks so adorable and he's having fun, so what harm does it cause, really?"

"Causes a lot of harm when I find his hair all over my clothes."

Abbey laughed.

"Tough. You brought him here, he's part of our family now, so you might as well get used to it. Besides, I would think a little bit of puppy hair is a small price to pay for your wife's happiness."

Jed smiled, looking at them both warmly and as he stood, he leaned down to kiss her again, their eyes meeting as he pulled away.

"Believe me, baby, I wouldn't trade your happiness for the world. I just wish it was a little less hairy."

Laughing, Abbey leaned down to kiss Heathcliff's head, smiling when he licked the tip of her nose, and as Jed made his way into the kitchen, she carefully moved the puppy off her lap, swinging her legs to the floor. As she walked from the living room to the kitchen, she deliberately avoided the mirror hung on the wall, still feeling apprehensive about seeing her reflection, and when she found Jed with a sandwich halfway in his mouth, she rolled her eyes.

"Jed, I was literally coming in here to cook."

He shrugged, swallowing slowly.

"Not like I won't eat both."

"I suppose you're right, but would it kill you to clean up your mess when you're finished? How am I supposed to cook if you've left a jar of peanut butter in my way?"

"Easy," Jed replied, placing his sandwich on a napkin before sitting it on the kitchen table, "You just do this."

Jed swept his arm along the counter, effectively knocking the butter knife, peanut butter, and loaf of bread to the ground. He moved closer to her, lifting her onto the counter easily, and when he kissed her, she couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her.

"Jed! You've just made an even bigger mess!"

"Yeah, but now I get to kiss you until you forget about it."

"What makes you think that—"

His mouth on hers silenced any question she'd been attempting to ask, his hands still on her waist, and when her hands wound into his hair, he pulled her closer. They stayed that way for several minutes, neither one the least bit concerned about the mess on the ground, and when Abbey finally stopped kissing him, Jed gave her an almost-arrogant smile.

"Told you so."

"I didn't forget," she told him pointedly, "I just decided to stop fighting you on it. You're a mess that creates even bigger messes, and I can't help but love you for it. And in any case, kissing you is a much better use of both our tongues than arguing."

Damn, he loved her so much.

Later that night as she lay awake in bed, Abbey tried to calm the racing of her heart as she closed her eyes, feeling more afraid to sleep than she had in years, and as she silently slipped out of Jed's embrace, she held her breath to keep from waking him. Heathcliff gave her a puzzled look as she left the room, though she shook her head at him, and as she walked down the hallway, she pointedly ignored the mirrors throughout the apartment. She wrapped herself in her favourite blanket as soon as she had reached the living room, trying desperately to ignore the shaking in her hands, and as she curled up on the couch, she took a shaking breath.

"It's just a dream, Abigail," she whispered to herself, "Stop being so stupid."

Realizing that she was still thinking about the dream, Abbey stood quickly, making her way into the kitchen, her only thought on the coffee she was about to make. Fortunately, it took her less than five minutes to have a steaming cup in her hands, and as she took a careful sip of the scalding liquid, she felt somewhat calmer.

"Just breathe," she whispered, "Just breathe."

When Jed opened his eyes to find himself alone in the bed, he frowned, more than a little confused. Heathcliff was still at the end of their bed, which made his confusion change to curiosity, and as he swung his feet over the edge of the mattress, he blinked hard. After a quick shower, Jed made his way into the kitchen, already dreading the incredibly long wait he would have while his coffee brewed, but when he found Abbey sitting at the table with a half-empty cup in front of her, he smiled.

"Morning," he said, leaning to kiss her cheek, "What are you doing up so early?"

Abbey shrugged, taking another drink of her coffee, and as he poured his own cup, Jed gave her a curious look over his shoulder. She didn't seem to notice it, however, and when he joined her at the table, he reached for her hand.

"Any plans for today? Taking Heathcliff for a walk? Study session with Neil?"

Abbey shook her head.

"Just walking Heathcliff. Neil and I don't have plans until next week before his test. He's making a lot of progress, I think he's going to do very well."

"Because he has the most brilliant and attractive study partner to ever grace the earth with her presence," Jed said with a smile.

"Jed, it's six AM. Stop trying to get laid," Abbey said with a laugh, "It's not happening."

"You sure about that?" Jed asked, leaning across the table, "I can be very persuasive."

Lightly shoving him away from her, Abbey rolled her eyes as she laughed, and when she took a long drink from her coffee, Jed again noticed the slight shaking in her hands. He said nothing, not wanting to start an argument (especially not before the sun had risen), but filed it away for later, making a mental note to ask her about it if it hadn't stopped by the time he returned that evening.

He finished his coffee, giving Abbey a kiss just before he placed his cup in the sink, and when he looked at her, he was almost certain that she was paler than she'd been the day before.

"Abbey?"

"Hm?"

Jed thought better of it, merely brushing it off as a trick of the light, and he smiled at her, kissing her again.

"Have a great day with Heathcliff, baby. I love you."

She smiled.

"I love you, too."

If Jed had known the turn his evening would take, he would have never left the building.

In a last-ditch effort to avoid her reflection, Abbey had covered each mirror in the apartment with a towel, and as she paced the room, Heathcliff at her heels, she was immediately reminded of those endless nights she had spent in her dorm room years ago. Though they were still mostly a hazy blur to her brought on by caffeine and lack of sleep, she still remembered that panicked feeling with startling clarity, and it was this same panic that was threatening to overtake her now, though she couldn't have explained why.

She jumped at every sound of the old apartment, almost certain that she wasn't alone, and she shook her head slowly, a slightly hysterical laugh falling from her lips.

"You're being ridiculous," she muttered, feeling Heathcliff at her feet.

Heathcliff barked indignantly as she continued to pace the room, and when she walked past the mirror in the living room, the change in air was just enough to make the towel fall, landing on the floor in a heap. Her eyes caught sight of her reflection as she passed it again, and she instinctively closed her eyes, too afraid to see what might be waiting for her in the glass. She took a step back, nearly tripping over Heathcliff, and when the back of her legs connected with the couch, she screamed, whirling around to see what she had touched.

She immediately noticed the towel on the floor and reached for it, covering the mirror again, and as she sank to her knees, Heathcliff climbed into her lap, more confused than hurt by her actions. She stayed where she was, sparing no thought for anything other than trying to remember how to breathe, and when the front door opened, Jed smiled at the sight of them on the ground together.

"Having fun?"

It took him less than a second to understand that something was wrong, and when he made his way closer, he frowned at the towel covering the mirror. He reached to pull it away, jumping when Abbey's voice cut through the silence.

"Don't touch that!"

"What? Why is the mirror covered up? Did it break?"

She shook her head, leaving him more confused than ever, and as he knelt next to her on the ground, he reached out to pet Heathcliff slowly.

"What's going on, babe? What's wrong with the mirror?"

"Not just that one. All of them. I can't look at them. I don't want to see."

"See what? Yourself? Honey, if you don't want to look at yourself, then you need to have your eyes examined. You're gorgeous."

Abbey's head shook again, her long hair falling over her face.

"No. Every time I look in the mirror, I see blood. Everywhere, all over me, no matter what I do. It's in my dreams every night, I can't stop seeing it."

Suddenly, Jed understood, and he lifted Heathcliff from her lap, taking her hands in his own.

"How long has it been since you slept, Abbey?"

"Don't remember," she whispered.

"Because of the nightmares," he said, earning a nod, "Baby, you can't just stop sleeping any time you have nightmares. I know they're bad, but this is so much worse. You're going to make yourself sick again, and we don't want that. Dr. Harris is a lot farther away this time."

Jed stood, pulling Abbey with him, and he made his way closer to the mirror, feeling her shaking so badly that he nearly lost his hold on her hand, and when he reached out to uncover the glass, she buried her face in his shoulder.

"Abbey, look. I'm right here with you. Nothing is going to hurt you, I promise."

Abbey slowly turned away from his body, her eyes locking on his just before she took a shaky breath, and he smiled. At his encouraging nod, she looked into the mirror, jumping back when she saw her reflection, and she shook her head against his chest.

"Cover it, Jed. Please. Please don't make me look again."

Jed frowned but nodded, covering the mirror as she'd asked, and as he led her away from the glass, he reached for her hand.

"Abbey, I know you don't want to, but I think you should make an appointment with a local psychiatrist. Just until you stop having these nightmares. They might even be able to help you with that."

"I'm not crazy, Jed," she whispered, "but god, I feel like I am."

He nodded.

"I know you're not, and that's why I want you to do this. Maybe they can help you figure out why you have these nightmares and help stop them. There has to be a reason for them, and once we figure it out, we can work to make them go away. Please, baby…please do this for me."

Looking into his bright blue eyes, Abbey knew she didn't have it in her to refuse, and when she nodded, her head fell onto his shoulder tiredly.

"I just want to sleep," she said softly.

Jed remembered her pale skin from earlier in the day, wishing he would have thought to ask her about it, and nodded, kissing her hair lightly.

"I know. Would it help if I stayed with you?"

She sighed.

"I doubt it," she said slowly, "You sleep next to me every night and it hasn't stopped them. I feel like I'm losing my mind, and I don't know if you've ever experienced that feeling, but it's not a pleasant one."

Jed laughed quietly.

"I definitely have. Remember how insane I went after I lost my dad? I'd say that qualifies as temporary insanity. I kicked you out of my room, the one person I should have turned to before anyone else. Losing my mind is the only logical explanation behind it."

"I never left, though," Abbey reminded him softly, "I was out in the hallway the entire time."

"I know, and that's why I'm helping you through this. Not the only reason, but it's up there. You didn't walk away from me, I'm not walking away from you. So what if it's difficult? A lot of things are difficult, but that just makes them worth fighting for and of everything in the world I can think of, you're the one I would fight for until my last breath. And probably after, if we're being honest. I'm not giving up on you, Abbey. Don't give up on yourself."

"You really mean that?" she asked, almost as though she were afraid of the answer.

Reaching out to bring her hand to his lips, Jed nodded, his eyes serious.

"I meant every single word, baby. I promise."

In spite of her fear, Abbey found herself daring to believe him.

Abbey kept her eyes glued to the floor as she sat in the waiting room of the psychiatrist she'd made an appointment with, and as soon as her name was called, she jumped, fighting the nervous laugh she could feel building within her chest. She followed the receptionist back to another office, giving her a kind smile as she opened the door, and once she was seated on the other side of the desk, she tried to keep her panic under control.

"Good morning, Mrs. Bartlet. My name is Dr. Gillan. It's nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," Abbey replied with a polite smile.

"As I understand from reading the initial forms, you used to see a psychiatrist when you were in America, is that correct?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Tell me about that. How long did you see them? What made you seek an appointment?"

Abbey laughed somewhat bitterly.

"Ironically enough, the same reason I made this appointment. You see, I've been having nightmares every single night for about three weeks. It's always the same dream, and it's made it so that I've basically stopped sleeping. My husband is worried about the lack of sleep and how it affects me, so here I am."

"I see. And how long did you see your last psychiatrist?"

"About two and a half years. While I was in college. I was assaulted during my first year of college and I went to see him because I kept having nightmares about the incident. By the time I graduated, I was sleeping fine and then my husband and I moved to London."

"And how are you finding life in London, Abigail? May I call you Abigail?"

"Abbey is fine, and London is…it's been an adjustment, to say the least. I only know one other person that isn't my husband, but we have a puppy that has been great for that. He definitely keeps me occupied."

"I would imagine so. Would you like to tell me about the nightmares you've been having?"

Abbey took a deep breath, trying to ignore the shaking in her hands.

"I'm always in our apartment and it's empty. The only thing left is the mirrors on the walls, and each time I walk past one, my reflection is covered in blood. When I look away, there's nothing there, but as soon as I look back into the mirror, blood is everywhere. Pouring from my eyes, drenching every part of my body, it looks like I took a shower in dark red paint. Each time I look into a mirror, the amount of blood is larger, until that's all I can see. I scream and scream, but no one is there to hear me. That's typically when I wake up. I've stopped sleeping for the most part, but now I've been seeing it when I'm awake, too. I'm sure it's just sleep deprivation but knowing that doesn't make it any easier to deal with."

"Have you told your husband what your nightmare consists of?"

Abbey shook her head, her hands twisting in her lap.

"No. He's so busy right now, and he doesn't need my insanity to make things worse."

"Surely, he wouldn't see you as making his life worse. I would think that he loves you and would want to help."

"He would," Abbey agreed, "but I could never feel right about bringing this up. He has enough to deal with."

"Maybe so but Abbey, if you don't tell him about these things, they're going to affect him regardless, and possibly even worse than if you were to tell him. If you talk to him, he won't be imagining the worst-case scenario, which is what I'm sure he's doing now. He's likely gone through his own panic, depending on how active his imagination is, and you'd be helping him by easing some of that worry, don't you think?"

"I suppose you're right," Abbey admitted, her voice resigned, "I just hate having these conversations with him. It makes me feel like I'm insane. Seems to be a theme with me. I don't want to seem crazy, but I am."

"You're not crazy, Abbey," Dr. Gillan replied, giving her a reassuring smile, "You're under quite a lot of stress. Moving to a new country with your newly wedded husband, you're isolated in your apartment with just your pet, it would be a lot for anyone to adjust to. How long have you been married?"

"Five months," came Abbey's immediate answer, "and it's been comforting to know that I'm not the only one who's been having trouble. Jed, my husband…he said that he's also been having difficulty adjusting to London. Everything is just so different here. The weather, the currency, the accents that I secretly wish I had, I just…didn't expect it to be this hard. I thought that as long as Jed and I had each other, we could overcome anything, but now I'm starting to wonder if love isn't all you need."

Dr. Gillan laughed, a smile on her face.

"Love is a wonderful thing to have, but marriage and life require much more than that to survive. You have to work both together and separately to make them worth having. It isn't always easy, but you owe it to yourself to try."

As much as she wished they didn't, Abbey was forced to admit that the words made perfect sense.

"Jed, did you hear any of what I just said?"

Frowning, Jed glanced up at Neil, shaking his head apologetically.

"No, I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"I was asking how training Heathcliff was going. Is everything okay?"

Jed sighed. How much should he tell Neil? He considered him a friend, yes, but this wasn't information that concerned only him. What would Abbey think of him telling his friend about his concerns? Still, he needed advice from someone, and he didn't particularly feel like calling long-distance to ask Mrs. Landingham.

"I'm just worried about Abbey," he said softly, not wanting to be overheard, "She hasn't been sleeping well. She has nightmares every night and she's afraid to sleep now."

There. That didn't sound too bad.

"Hm…" Neil began thoughtfully, "Maybe she should talk to a doctor. Sleep deprivation is no joke. It can have serious consequences."

"Believe me, I know," Jed said darkly, "The last time this happened, she bit my head off over every little thing and scared me to death."

Neil looked at him sympathetically, shaking his head as he picked up his pen.

"Better you than me. Just between us, your wife kind of scares me."

Jed laughed.

"Me too, Neil. Me, too."

He glanced at his watch, jumping up from the table, sweeping his books into his arms.

"Speaking of which, I'd better get going before she really does kill me this time. See you tomorrow!"

Jed made his way quickly out of the university library, all but running in his haste to find out how Abbey's first appointment had gone, and when he reached their apartment twenty minutes later, he pushed open the door to find her sitting on the ground, lightly tossing a ball to Heathcliff, clapping each time he caught and returned it to her.

"Good boy, Heathcliff! On three. One, two, three!"

Jed smiled, overjoyed to see her having fun, and when she noticed him standing in the doorway, she laughed, a watchful eye on Heathcliff as he ran to him.

"When did you get here?"

It didn't escape his notice that she had never one referred to their apartment as home, but her smile was so bright today that he didn't dare mention it. Best not to risk ruining the moment.

"Just now. What are you two playing?"

Abbey smiled.

"Heathcliff is learning how to fetch. He's doing really well. He's so smart."

Heathcliff dropped the ball into her lap, and she reached out to scratch behind his ears, her smile never leaving her face.

"See? He's such a smart little boy! Who's a smart boy? You are, Heathcliff."

Laughing quietly, Jed made his way closer, sitting down on the ground next to them, and when he tossed the ball across the room, Heathcliff made a mad dash for it, his tail wagging excitedly. Using the dog as a buffer between them (something that he had never thought he would need), Jed glanced at Abbey, his tone carefully light.

"How did the appointment go? Do you like the doctor you saw?"

Abbey nodded, smiling.

"She's nice. I think I'll like seeing her. The appointment was fine, though she did kind of kick my ass on a few things. What about you? How was your day?"

Jed shrugged.

"Wrote a paper for my Econ class that was a little risky. Hopefully it doesn't cause me too much trouble."

"You didn't insult the Queen, did you? They might kick us out of the country for that, Jed."

He laughed.

"No. Even I'm not that arrogant, babe. No matter what you and Neil tell each other."

"Jed Bartlet, have you been eavesdropping on our study sessions?"

"Just when I hear my name," he said defensively, "Should I be concerned?"

Abbey rolled her eyes, moving closer to kiss him.

"Not in the least. I could never even look at another man as long as I have you."

"God, babe…that was mushy even for you."

Abbey burst into laughter, shaking her head as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I'd get mad at you if you weren't so right, jackass."

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that 'jackass' isn't a term of endearment, Abigail?"

Abbey smiled, kissing him slowly, her fingers pulling him closer by the collar of his shirt.

"It is when I say it."

Jed frowned when his eyes opened in the darkness, and he blinked sleepily as he tried to figure out what had woken him. He instinctively reached for Abbey, his fingers sliding over cool sheets, and when he realized she wasn't next to him, he suddenly understood. Sneaking quietly out of the room to avoid waking Heathcliff, Jed walked down the hall, drawn to the living room by the glow of the small lamp. He found Abbey sitting on the couch, her head in her heads as she tried to control her breathing, and when he took a step closer, he made sure to keep his voice soft.

"Abbey?"

She jumped anyway, startled by his presence, and when she offered him a weak smile, he could clearly see the tears shining in her eyes.

"Nightmare?"

She nodded.

"Yeah," she said softly, running her hand through her hair, frowning at the mahogany strands clinging to her fingers, "Another damn nightmare."

"Do you want me to stay up with you?"

She shook her head.

"You have class tomorrow morning. Go back to bed, babe."

Watching her for a moment longer, Jed finally turned away, and just when he had lifted his foot to take a step, he heard Abbey's voice, soft but unmistakable in the silence.

"Jed?"

He turned.

"Yeah?"

"Can we talk about it?"

"About what?" he asked, looking at her seriously.

"The nightmare."

Feeling an immediate sense of relief, Jed nodded, taking a step closer. He'd been so sure she was going to ask to go back to America that he'd almost forgotten how to breathe.

"Of course we can, babe. We can talk about anything you want. I'm always here when you want to talk."

Jed moved to sit next to her on the couch, pulling her into his arms, and as he ran his fingers lightly over her hair, he frowned.

"I think your hair is falling out, honey."

She nodded.

"I know. Dr. Gillan said the stress caused by the nightmares and not sleeping is manifesting itself in physical ways now."

"That happens?"

Again, she nodded, glancing at him slowly.

"Yeah. I read about it back at college. Pretty sure it was in that book you got down for me the day we met."

"You mean the one you threw at me?"

"Let it go, Josiah."

He laughed, kissing her temple lightly.

"What's the nightmare about, baby? Talk to me. I might not be able to fix it, but I'll always listen."

As she began to explain the dream in great detail, Jed found himself becoming more and more uncomfortable with each passing moment. When she finished speaking several minutes later, he swallowed thickly, looking down at her once, and shook his head to calm himself.

"Jesus, Abbey…" he whispered, "No wonder you haven't been sleeping."

"I just…I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to worry, but then Dr. Gillan told me that it might make you worry more if you didn't know, so…I'm sorry, Jed. I should have told you instead of trying to handle things the way I always do."

Jed held her tighter, letting his chin rest on the top of her head, and when she moved closer to his chest, he kissed her again.

"I understand why you didn't. And to be fair, you were probably to scared to even know where to begin."

She laughed softly.

"You're not wrong. Jed, can I ask you a question and get your honest opinion?"

"Always, babe."

She sighed.

"Do you think being an adult ever gets easier?"

He thought for a long moment, carefully considering his answer, and when he spoke again, he kept his voice quiet.

"No. But I think we become better at dealing with it over time. Especially someone as smart and capable as you. Remember what your dad told us the summer before graduation? You're too smart to give up. He was talking about Harvard, but I'm talking about life. You are the smartest, most incredible person I know, and you're going to make life ever regret messing with you."

"You really think that?"

"Yep," he said confidently, "and I'm no idiot, so I'd say my chances of being right are pretty high."

"Remind me again how this somehow became about how smart you are and not about my nightmares?" Abbey asked jokingly.

"You asked for my opinion, I gave it. Don't complain because it turned the conversation to my attributes."

Abbey rolled her eyes, raising up and turning to look at him.

"It's late. You should get to bed."

Jed shook his head.

"Not going to class tomorrow."

Frowning, Abbey stared at him in confusion, her eyes worried.

"What? Why? Are you sick?"

"No. I'm fine, baby. Don't worry, Dr. Bartlet. There's no need to break out the medical bag yet. I just think that there's something more important that I need to do tomorrow, and school is most definitely not it. I'm staying here with you and Heathcliff, and we can spend the day doing anything that you want to do. As long as it doesn't include heights, small spaces, or fire."

"So, no skydiving from a small plane that's on fire?"

Jed laughed, though he shivered at the very thought.

"No."

"Got it," Abbey said with a smile, "For now, why don't we go to bed? I haven't slept properly in over a week, and I'm exhausted."

Jed nodded, and when he swept Abbey into his arms moments later, he knew her smile would be at the center of every dream he had that night.

The moment that Jed realized what Heathcliff had between his teeth, Jed felt as though his entire body had been doused in ice water, hardly able to move long enough to pull the fabric from his mouth. The deep blue material was unmistakable, and he knew as soon as Abbey was made aware of the loss, she would be devastated. It wasn't a matter of if she would be upset. At the moment, it was just a matter of when.

Figuring it would be best to deal with it sooner rather than later, Jed made his way into the living room where Abbey was currently reading over one of the essays he had written, holding the blanket carefully in his hands, almost as though he hoped it could be used to shield him from her anger.

"Abbey?"

She glanced up at him, frowning when she saw the blanket in his hands.

"What? Jed, why are you—what happened to the blanket?"

"Um…apparently Heathcliff thought it would make a good midmorning snack."

"Oh."

Wait, what? Oh? That was her reaction? Where was the screaming? The crying? The anger?

"You're not mad?"

Abbey shook her head.

"No. Why would I be? It's a blanket. Puppies chew things. It's not like he chewed up something really important, like our marriage license or anything that we can't replace."

Though he was still skeptical, Jed let the matter drop, sure that she would be upset later, and when she handed him the essay, she gave him a smile.

"Have I mentioned that I love how smart you are?"

"Not recently," Jed replied with a laugh, "Usually you just tell me that you think it's annoying."

"Oh, it is," she laughed, "but it's also one of the things I love most about you. You're a good man, Jed Bartlet, and I'm so proud of everything you're doing. You really will change the world someday."

"Careful, Abbey. Flattery will get you somewhere."

Abbey laughed again, moving to take his hand as she stood, pulling him closer as she steered him down the hallway.

"Good. Then that means my plan is working."

"Oh? And what plan would that be?"

She kissed him slowly, her fingers already reaching for the hem of his shirt.

"You said we could spend today doing anything I want, and right now, there's only one thing I want."

"A million dollars?"

"That would be nice, but no," she said quietly, kicking the bedroom door open, "I want you, naked in bed with me, for at least the next hour, with no interruptions."

Jed smiled, closing the door as he lifted her off her feet, carrying her to the bed as he kissed her.

"Your wish is my command, Mrs. Bartlet."

A/N: Wish I had Jed to cuddle with when I have a nightmare...