Sorry about the delay. I'm on vacation and the internet has been a little spotty, which included a bit of research for some things coming up. Next chapter should be up as scheduled. Thanks to my team for their work on these chapters. I'm running low on banked chapters, so we'll see where I'm at after my next chapter posts. Love you all for the support on this story and everything else I work on.

Chapter 19

Edward's move into the White House was far easier than he'd expected. While he still had belongings in his mother's basement in Chicago, his two-bedroom apartment was easily packed up and moved into the Residence. The younger agents picked through his furniture and within a week he'd vacated the building that had become a security risk.

Since he still had four months on his lease, he'd sublet the seventh-floor apartment to his replacement, Steph Harper. She was new to the DC area, having finished a previous detail with the US Ambassador to France.

Agent Harper arrived and immediately joined the team, signaling the end of Edward's time as an active agent. Because even once his time as First Gentleman was over, he knew that he'd always be the one needing security, not providing it.

Bella commented on the blonde's stoic persona, but Edward reminded her that not all of her agents were open with her like Garrett or Samuel were. Many needed that distance to do the job properly.

Edward had begun working on the manual he was writing as one of his first tasks in his new consulting position with the Secret Service.

Bella had her own plans, and she knew they would ruffle some feathers. However, they were important to her, and she planned to inform her teams at shift change.

"Samuel, can you bring Garrett in when he arrives? I need to speak with you both before you leave for the day."

"Is there something I can help you with? Something wrong?" Samuel asked.

"No, but I plan to attend an event and you will need as much time as possible to coordinate."

"Understood, Ma'am."

Thirty minutes later, the intercom buzzed and Shelley's voice came through the speaker. "Agent Pace and Agent Uley are here to speak with you."

"Send them in, Shelley."

The door opened and the pair came to stand in front of her desk. "There was something you needed to inform us of, Madam President?" Garrett asked.

She looked up at their stiff posture. "Yes. I will be attending the ceremony at Ground Zero this year. Please coordinate with whomever necessary to make it happen."

"Ma'am, with everything going on, I'm not sure this is the best —" Garrett began before Isabella cut him off.

"With all due respect, Agent Pace, this is not up for discussion. Last year was the first time in twenty-six years that I wasn't in attendance. I will not miss another anniversary. This isn't a campaign stop, or a strategic move. This is me visiting my mother's resting place. The event already has some of the highest security in place and I doubt whoever is behind these attempts will do something on such hallowed ground. These cowards are domestic terrorists, but figuring out what group they're affiliated with and the individuals actually responsible is time-consuming. But I will stand there and observe the moments of silence and lay a wreath. Emmett will be going to the Pentagon and Carlisle will be in Pennsylvania. Make whatever arrangements are necessary. You're dismissed."

Samuel nodded and headed for the door. When it closed behind him, Isabella refocused her eyes on Garrett. "Is there something else you'd like to say?"

"You're putting a lot of faith in the morality of these nutcases."

Bella sighed, her hand finding the bridge of her nose. "I spent most of my childhood in that city, Garrett. It was my first real home. That day is one of the defining moments of my life and I will honor what we lost there. And before you ask, Edward knows all about this, and he agrees, as does Agent Jackson of the FBI. I'm taking a risk every time I leave the White House, but this is something I need to do."

"I'll start making calls."

"Thank you, Garrett."

It was a few days later that Bella was able to move forward with her next project. A committee was formed to begin planning for a new memorial on the National Mall. Broadly titled "Building America," it was meant to focus on the contributions of various groups throughout history in the forming of our nation. It was something that she'd been trying to champion as Vice President, and making the announcement now showed confidence that she'd be around to see it continue.

Her opponents made sure to lodge their complaints, but the American people at large seemed to look favorably on the opportunity to see their heritage represented somehow in a new monument.

Isabella and Edward were on the road in the first week of August, campaigning in Arizona, when an excited call came in from DC.

"Alice, is everything all right at home?"

"Yes, it is! My scans came back clear. They're finally ready to move forward with plans for a bone marrow transplant."

"That's amazing, Alice! Will your doctor contact Edward to make the necessary arrangements?"

Edward looked over at the mention of his name and Bella mouthed 'transplant' to him.

"They're aware he's out of town, but he'll probably hear from them early next week. I still have a few other preparations but hopefully by the end of August or beginning of September everything will be set."

"Good. I need you back at my side. Things aren't the same without you."

"I miss the work."

"Now I know you're going stir crazy. We'll talk again soon, but I can't wait for us to be able to see each other every day."

"Same, girl. Best of luck at tomorrow's town hall meeting."

"Thanks. Talk soon."

The next few weeks after that call moved rapidly. Edward was scheduled to donate on the morning of September first, then Alice would receive the transplant later that day.

Bella was concerned for both Edward and Alice, but she had Garrett there to support her until she went into isolation. Depending on how things went, she would likely be spending the next month to two months in isolation to give her the best chance of recovery and accepting the transplant, but Edward would be home that evening. Sore and a little worse for wear, but proud of his attempt to save someone who meant so much to both him and Bella.

When September first dawned, Bella kissed Edward goodbye as he headed to the hospital. Once he was off, she went about her day, but noticed the minute he had returned as he came to visit her in the Oval Office.

"What is your afternoon like?" Edward asked.

"I've got a meeting with Dawn, then I cleared my evening. We're back on the road in two days so I wanted you to have a chance to relax."

"We're campaigning right up until the eleventh, correct?" Edward asked.

"Yes, then we'll be home for a few days."

"Good. I'll be glad when all of this is behind us."

"You're not a fan of campaigning." It wasn't a question.

"Not when I'm expected to be front and center. I was in the background before now."

"Things will go back to semi-normal in November."

"Yes, I'll be fully ensconced in my First Gentleman tasks."

Bella smiled at him. "I don't know who likes that phrase more, you, or me?"

"I think it's me. Because it means you're mine and I'm yours."

Bella blushed at the comment. "Go up and relax, I should be there in an hour or two."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Isabella made it through her meeting with Dawn, pleased with how things were progressing. The pair walked out, then parted ways as Bella and her detail climbed the stairs.

Samuel stopped her as they made it to the main hallway of the Residence. "We're going to give you a slightly wider berth tonight, Ma'am, but Harper and I will be nearby if needed."

"Thank you, Samuel."

Bella walked towards her bedroom, where she found Edward lying on his stomach.

"How do your hips feel?"

"Sore, but nothing too bad. I'm worried about Garrett."

"Garrett?" Bella asked.

"Being separated from Alice for a month or more after being her primary carer is going to be rough. He still has his apartment, but after this past year, I think he's ready for them to share an address."

"Has he discussed it with Alice?" Bella asked.

"Alice won't discuss the future until she knows that she has one. Garrett understands, but he doesn't want to renew his lease in December if they're going to take that step."

"Tell him to give her a few days. Now that the procedure is done, she should be more willing to discuss it. Even if he ends up temporarily moving into her place and then they find something together."

"I will. But at the moment, I'll have something to eat and then call it an early night. We'll be in California in two days and I would like to be feeling better by then."

"I hope you're feeling better too. Maybe while we wait for dinner I can give you a massage and work out some of your tension?" Bella offered.

"It isn't the best form of stress relief, but I'll take it."

Their evening was a quiet one, which was much needed for both of them.

The early morning of September fourth saw them in California for a series of campaign events, before they returned to the East Coast for a town hall in West Virginia and a rally in Richmond on September tenth.

The following day would be a tough one for the president, as she began a very personal trip to the city she once called home.