Here's the latest from President Swan. A bit of her backstory and we're starting to see some of the political moves happening. The State Funeral has only just begun, but with that, the beginning of her presidency. Thank you for the support and the reviews and I'll see you in two weeks.

Chapter 6

The morning of April 20th dawned and President Swan was already awake and catching up on the news. She knew this afternoon the agents would begin to pack up the second floor. Within a matter of days, she would be leaving her home for the last time and moving into the White House. It was still hard for her to wrap her head around.

Bella dressed in her slacks and blouse, needing something to eat. Thankfully, her chef was awake early and happy to make her something to start the day. That was where Edward found her when he walked into the dining room a short while later. She was enjoying her breakfast, her tablet open to some article asking if the country was ready for a female leader.

"Ma'am. The former First Lady asked that you meet her in the residence this morning prior to the opening of the public viewing in the East Room," Edward said as she chewed on her jam-covered toast.

"I can do that. What time do we need to be on the road?"

"An hour. It will limit the traffic disruption during rush hour."

"I'll be ready."

"I like your haircut," Edward said. Internally, he cringed at how pathetic he sounded.

"No, you don't. You hate it when I chop my hair off," she said with a glance in his direction.

Before Edward could respond, Alice came into the room and sat down. "Morning. Athenodora told me I had better get ready if I was riding with you to work."

Isabella smiled at her friend and Chief of Staff. "Yes. We're leaving in an hour. I hate to leave you to eat alone, but I'm going to finish getting ready."

Without another word, Bella left the room.

Ninety minutes later, Bella sat in the Treaty Room, waiting for the former First Family to join her.

Seth was first, tugging on his tie in discomfort. "Hi, Bella."

Her heart broke for his dejected tone. "Hey, Seth. Why don't you come sit with me for a minute?" She waited for him to settle on the cushion beside her before she spoke again. "You know, I was about your age when my mom died."

"Really? You were twelve too?" he asked.

"Yes. We moved to New York City when I was two. My parents divorced so my dad stayed in Washington State, while we went on our own adventure. Living there was great, until 9/11. She worked for a company in the World Trade Center. When I saw it on the news, I knew she was gone. I didn't know how to deal with losing her. But my dad flew out from Washington. He packed up all my things and I went to live with him full time. It was really hard to adjust, but we did. Now I'm really glad for all the time I got with him."

"Because your dad died too, right?"

Isabella nodded. "He did. He used to be a cop in my little hometown in Washington."

"Does it get easier?" Seth's face scrunched up as he fought back his emotions.

"It does. You'll never completely get used to it, and you'll always miss him, but it won't hurt as bad."

"Mom said we're moving to New York this summer because Leah's going to school there."

"New York is a fun place to live. I miss it."

"Maybe you'll come visit us?"

She met his big brown eyes and couldn't say no to him. "The next time I go to New York , I'll talk to my detail so they can arrange it."

"Seth."

We both turned at the sound of Sue's voice.

She stopped short at the sight of Bella. "Oh, Bella. I didn't realize you were already here. I'm sorry to keep you waiting."

"That's all right. I was just talking to Seth."

"Miss Bella lived in New York when she was young. But she moved away when she was twelve."

"I know. I've heard some of her stories."

Just then, Leah joined them and Sue looked to the head of her own detail.

"Whenever you're ready, Ma'am."

The four of them walked down the back staircase with their details in tow. When they rounded the corner, the cameras were ready. They captured a few moments then gave them some privacy with the flag-covered coffin.

Bella placed her hand on the coffin and whispered, "I'll miss you, Harry. You were the greatest mentor I've ever had."

As Isabella stepped back, she caught Edward's eye where he stood against the wall. With a nod from him, she said goodbye to the family and left them to welcome the staffers and people coming to the first day of visiting.

Bella moved through the White House corridors until she was in the Oval Office. Her day was filled with various briefings, a cabinet meeting, and moments of weakness where she read various articles. There was as much castigation as there was praise for her online, which was to be expected, but the fact that her detractors focused solely on her anatomy was a real frustration.

On top of this, she was interrupted from reviewing Harry's docket of future initiatives by the most unexpected visitor.

"Ma'am, Senator McCarty is here to speak with you."

Isabella looked at the intercom, as if it would provide her answers on its own. "Send him in."

The door opened and the junior senator, and lone Democrat from Tennessee, walked in. "Madam President."

"Mr. McCarty, please have a seat."

She watched as Emmett looked to where Edward was standing, then took his seat. "First, I'd like to extend my condolences. I know you and Harry grew close in the few years you worked together, and I'm sure his sudden death was a shock."

"It was indeed. But I get the distinct feeling that isn't why you've come down from Capitol Hill."

"It isn't, Ma'am."

She shook her head. "You can still call me Isabella, Emmett."

"Right," Emmett muttered and blushed. "There's scuttlebutt on the Hill, and normally, I wouldn't pay it any mind, but it seems to be gaining ground and I didn't want you to be caught off guard by it."

"What's that?"

"John Caius is pushing for the invocation of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment. He's going to try and remove you from office."

"Of course he is. But my guess is he won't put it forth himself, because it would feel like a power grab. He's next in line, since there's no Vice President."

"Exactly. But he's trying to drum up support."

Bella straightened her back and pressed a button on her intercom. "Shelley, can you get Mr. Cullen and Ms. Brandon for me? I have an urgent matter to discuss with them."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Isabella returned her gaze to Emmett, an idea already formulating in her mind. "How is your re-election campaign faring?"

"I'm under pretty heavy attacks. The fluke of a Democrat winning because my opponent was under investigation isn't sitting well with the good ole boys, even if I am doing important work."

"We're both seen as threats to the establishment, but I believe that will be to our benefit in the long run. Thank you for taking the time to come and visit, though I don't know if you'll be able to avoid being our tipster with this visit."

"I made a point of starting my visit in the East Room, and we were colleagues. Let them talk, they're after both our heads."

"Well, I remember my friends, Emmett. I'll be sure to repay the favor when the time is right."

"Ma'am." Emmett stood and walked to the door, just as it opened to let Carlisle and Alice in.

"Senator McCarty," Carlisle greeted him.

"Mr. Secretary, Ms. Brandon."

"Mr. McCarty," Alice returned the greeting.

The door closed behind him and Carlisle turned to Bella. "Do we want to know why the senator was here?"

"It was why I called for you. It seems John Caius is trying to get enough people to back his attempt to invoke the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to have me removed on the basis of sex."

"The timing of that won't look good for him, unless he can assure not only the motion, but the votes. With a narrow hold on the House and the Democrats holding the Senate by two seats, it would be a hard sell," Carlisle stated.

Alice dropped into the seat the senator had vacated. "But even the idea of it would damage Isabella's credibility."

"Exactly, but I think there's a way to combat this and kill it before it grows roots," Isabella told them.

"And that is?" Alice asked.

"Leak it to the press. Let it be the headline tomorrow morning. I'll be walking in the procession to the Capitol Building for Harry's three days of lying in state. What better image to have as a backdrop for this than the successor participating in the State Funeral for a sitting president?"

"It would be risky," Carlisle admitted.

"So is doing nothing. I want a list of possible Vice Presidential candidates by next week. And make sure Senator McCarty is on that list."

"Do you think he'll make the transition?" Alice asked.

"They're headhunting in Tennessee. He was a rare win for our party and they want to see him be a one-term senator. If that's going to happen, I want it to mean something. But make sure we check that he wasn't sent by them. I won't get caught up in these games. I intend to stay above them."

"I'll add that to the list of tasks. But if you've got some time, there are a few other things I need to discuss," Alice told her.

"And that is my cue to leave," Carlisle stood from his seat. "Isabella. If you need me, I'm only a phone call away."

"Thank you, Carlisle."

When the women were alone, Alice clicked on her tablet a few times before she looked back at Bella. "We've had people step down from some positions, but the redundancies covered that. Our biggest void at the moment is the Press Secretary."

"Molina is leaving?" Bella said, shocked.

"His wife is ill. He'd been planning to give his notice, but was concerned about it making the administration look bad."

"Family comes first. We need to make sure he knows we support him. Now, which of the people under him do you think could move into his position?"

"Riley Biers has been in the position longer and has stepped in for Molina previously. I think she's the right move. We've got some junior people in the press office we can move around. Though there was one idea that came across the desk while I was speaking with Molina."

"What was that?"

"Bill McGuire, the staffer who handles all of the official presidential social media, had an idea. I don't think it's a bad one."

"Go on," Bella told her.

"There are all these accounts that focus on celebrity pets. He wanted to create one for Donut. He's nearly done with the new accounts for you, but he thought it would be a way to let people see another side of the President from the First Cat's point of view."

"I like it. What does he need?"

"Well, he was asking for pictures you might have through the years, and then depending on how active Donut is around the White House, he was thinking of setting up a separate email address for staffers to use so they could send pictures of him from around the offices. He said something about setting it up so only official White House email addresses would get through. That way, it would all be from secure and traceable sources. It's all contingent on approval. Molina seemed to think it would be a good idea. Some levity amongst all the heavy. Plus as a single female, it would show a softer side of you."

"Tell them they have my approval, but I don't want that account to go live until May. Let's not show anything that can be construed as disrespectful during the official mourning period for Harry."

"Agreed. I'll bring this to Molina and see if there is anything else in his office that needs our attention."

"Very good. And have Athenodora contact the florist to have flowers sent to his wife."

"I will pass that along."

Just as Alice stood up, Edward's hand went to his earpiece. "Send him in."

The door opened and Liam entered.

Alice looked between Bella and Edward before she left her to whatever this meeting was about.

"What is all this about?"

"There are protestors outside your residence, Ma'am. They've been there since shortly after you left this morning."

"They have the right to protest. What's the issue?"

"Crowd control. With all the events surrounding the funeral procession tomorrow, there's concern about what might happen when you return this evening or try to leave tomorrow morning."

"Is there a solution?"

"The team has one, but they weren't sure you'd like it," Liam said.

"Just say it, Liam," she urged, annoyed with the direction of this exchange.

"Your aide has had the rest of your personal belongings packed up by the team at the house. We could get trucks out to the residence and move you into the White House tonight."

"Have someone brief the Former First Lady that I'll be in the Residence sooner than anticipated. Have a cleaning crew go through since Donut sheds like a fiend. Once that's done, they can move in at their leisure. Hopefully, once they realize the Clearwaters are the new residents, they'll back off. The only positive thing in the news today is the overwhelming support for the former First Family."

"I'll be in touch with the field team at the house, Ma'am."

"Thank you, you're dismissed."

The door closed with a soft click and Bella turned to Edward. "Make sure someone you trust is with Teeny until she leaves with Donut. I don't want them to get hurt because they're leaving in an SUV."

"I'll make a call. We'll keep them safe."

"Thank you."