CJ rolled over and almost fell off the couch. Slowly she opened her eyes and groaned when the sunlight came streaming through the office blinds. It took great effort to get herself into a sitting position and she almost screamed when her phone rang. The ringing continued and she called out for Carol. When she got no response she staggered across the room and grabbed the receiver.

“CJ Cregg,” she muttered pathetically.

“Sorry CJ, but the Deputy Chief of Staff has called a meeting in his office in five minutes,” Donna whined, “And your presence is requested.”

CJ groaned and rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand, “And you couldn’t come over here and tell me that?”

“I’m hiding in Margaret’s office,” Donna admitted weakly.

CJ turned and glanced down the corridor to Josh’s office. He was head down on his desk, looking slightly worse than she felt. “Okay, is there coffee?”

Donna suppressed a smile at her end. “Ginger went to Starbucks, she should be back shortly.”

CJ dropped the receiver back in it’s cradle and reached in her bottom drawer for her overnight bag. Standing, somewhat shakily she headed for the ladies room.

Three minutes later she emerged, washed, her hair clipped up and fresh make up applied. Everywhere she looked junior staffers were hard at work, but then most of them hadn’t still been awake at five celebrating.

CJ glanced at her watch and groaned, seven twenty.

“How’s the head?” Leo asked, catching up with her in the corridor, looking as immaculate as ever.

“Hey,” CJ said softly. “The head is no longer connected to my body, of that I’m sure.”

“It still looks pretty good from where I standing,” he announced, grinning.

“Yeah, but now I have to go listen to Josh rant and rave.”

“What’s up with Josh?” Leo asked, stopping outside her office.

“He’s called a meeting, the subject of which I think was my tonsil hockey with John,” she groaned.

“Ah,” he muttered. “Want me to sit in?” he offered.

CJ shook her head, “I can handle it. Just keep Donna with you for a bit, will ya?”

CJ dropped her bag on her desk and turned to take the short walk to Josh’s office. She entered without knocking and flopped into his visitor’s chair.

Josh’s head raised by a matter of degrees before it slumped back on top of the papers.

“So Josh, what do you want that’s so urgent?” Toby growled shuffling through the door and taking his place by the wall.

Sam followed behind, gingerly holding the wall for support. “Next time we decide to have an all nighter can we make it on the weekend?” Sam moaned. “Anyone got any Advil?”

“Josh?” Toby snapped and Josh jumped in his seat.

“What time is it?” he mumbled, running his fingers through his unruly mop.

“Time to wake up.”

“DONNA!” Josh yelled then cringed.

CJ sat back in the chair and her eyes widened at the sound of his voice. “She’s in with Leo,” CJ said softly.

“Oh, what are you all doing here?” Josh whispered.

“You called a damn meeting,” Toby growled and the other three people in the room turned to glare at him.

Josh continued to stare at him blankly before realization settled in and he turned his attention back to CJ.

CJ gave him a look of quiet contemplation in return.

There was a knock at the door and Ginger entered carrying a tray of styrofoam cups and a small bottle of Advil. Unscrewing the lid she dropped two pills into each of their hands and left again.

CJ reached for a drink and swallowed the pills.

“Josh,” Toby snapped again, “We don’t have all day.”

Josh took a long sip of the steaming coffee and focused on CJ while he addressed all of them. “I took it upon myself to address the main event of last night‘s festivities.”

“Asking Donna out?” CJ asked, a smirk playing on her lips.

He gulped and looked around wildly, panic in his eyes.

Sam shook his head in the negative and Josh exhaled. “I meant the little display with Hoynes.”

The room fell silent as Toby and Sam waited for CJ to say something. She gave Josh a look of contempt and continued to sip at the cup.

“CJ, care to explain what the hell that was all about?” Josh pleaded, his hands gesturing wildly.

“What?”

“I think he means you and Hoynes locking lips,” Sam offered, wincing as the scolding liquid hit his throat.

“Oh that,” she said grinning. “I was congratulating him on his win. And we decided to out ourselves to our colleagues.”

Josh almost had it, the aura of authority, he really did. But tripping over his shoes as he rounded the desk and landing face first on the carpet, kind of put that to rest.

Sam giggled and Toby guffawed.

Picking himself off the floor, Josh brushed himself off and stared at her, “You’re doing Hoynes?”

“Damn and now I owe Carol ten bucks,” CJ muttered shaking her head. “I’m not doing anyone,” CJ stressed. “Six months ago I was set up on a blind date with John. We discovered we really rather liked each other and the sex was great.”

Sam flushed pink and tried to disappear into the wall. “I didn’t need to know that.”

CJ gave him a small smile and turned back to Josh, “As it turns out he loves me and I love him,” CJ said grinning. “We’ve kept it quiet until now because of the election but, well now that’s over with we wanted to share it with everyone.”

Toby was watching them all fascinated. Really there wasn’t a better time for CJ to do this. Sam looked ready to throw up and Josh was, well just being Josh. As much as he hated the idea of CJ and Hoynes, even he had to admit she was committed to the relationship.

“Leo is going to have a stroke,” Josh retorted.

“Leo already knew before last night,” Toby commented and fidgeted when Josh spun on him.

“You knew?” he asked in disbelief. “Who the hell else was in on it?”

“Firstly change your tone or I walk,” CJ instructed. “Secondly Abbey, the President and Carol. In fact you can thank Abbey for getting us together.”

Josh groaned and fell against the desk, except he missed and landed in a heap on the ground. “We need to plan for this,” he muttered.

“It’s done,” Toby stated.

“Uh?”

“Look when you’re sober come to my office and I’ll explain it all,” Toby barked. “I’ll even use diagrams and small words,“ he added, clutching his coffee and ambling out of the room.

Following his lead CJ stood and walked back to her office, debating whether John would be up yet, and whether he would appreciate a call from her.

Josh sat on the floor and gazed up at Sam, “Well that went well. I think I established my authority, don’t you?”

Sam rolled his eyes and felt his way to the door.

“Sam, about Donna?” Josh called.

“Well I’d keep out of Abbey’s way for a while,” Sam smirked, leaving Josh bewildered on the floor.

****************************************************************

Carol looked up from the desk when CJ entered. “Morning boss.”

CJ spun on her heel and glanced down, “Hey, you’re here.”

“Yeah, and the rest of me will join us later.”

CJ grinned, “I need you to wake my significant other.”

Carol glanced at her watch and back at CJ, “It’s eight o’clock CJ.”

“And he should be awake as much as the rest of us.”

“Maybe you should make the call.”

CJ raised an eyebrow. “That’s what I pay you for.”

Carol groaned and dialled the familiar Observatory number. Two minutes later she was connected and handed the receiver to CJ.

“Yeah.”

“Is that any way to talk to the woman you love?” CJ purred.

“CJ?”

“Uh huh.”

“Why aren’t you here again?” John asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “God, is it morning already?”

CJ sat back in her chair and smirked, “Some of us have been up for hours. You missed a great meeting with Josh.”

John threw back the deep blue comforter and sat on the edge of the bed, “I wanted to be there. Did he give you a hard time?”

“No, that’s what I do to you,” she teased. “He’s going to be just fine about it. However we are going to have to put up with chaperones from now on.”

“Does this mean you can stay over?”

CJ shook her head, then realized he couldn’t see her. “You wish. Anyhow you need to get up and I have work to do.”

“You know I love you right?”

“You better after last night,” she growled as she replaced the receiver. “CAROL.”

Carol waddled into the room and glared at her, “Could you not do that?”

“Sorry,” CJ grinned, “I owe you ten dollars, Josh quoted you word for word.”

CJ flew home to California on Christmas Eve while John flew to Austin. As much as they wanted to spend their first Christmas together the press were sniffing for a story and John needed to speak to his son. The compromise was that they would talk every day on the phone and John would fly up to Napa for two days before New Years.

When John arrived at the ranch Mark was out. Taking a long shower he spent a leisurely afternoon reviewing the accounts and making calls. By late afternoon there was still no sign of his only child. Sighing to himself he made his way to the porch and motioned one of the guards over.

“Can you track down my son?”

“Sir, of course,” Jack replied, lifting his wrist to his mouth. “Would you like him brought back here?”

John nodded and waited patiently while Jack relayed the message.

“He’s in a bar downtown, Sir.”

“He’s underage,” John snapped, “Why didn’t his detail stop him?”

Jack groaned inwardly and gave the answer every agent dreaded. “With all due respect Sir, we’re here to protect him. If he gets in a fight we’ll happily step in, if someone tries to abduct him believe me we’ll take them out.” He paused and phrased himself carefully. “If he cuts classes or fools around with a girl we can’t tell you.”

“Skipping school is somewhat different to illegal drinking,” John cursed.

“The detail can’t protect him if he thinks we’ll come running to you, and we’re not police,” Jack said quietly.

John waved him off, “I know.”

Walking back inside he picked up the phone and carried it into his study. Dialling CJ’s cell he waited for her to answer. The phone switched to answer phone and he hung up. Half an hour later he was still pacing the ground floor when Mark breezed through the door.

Mark came to a halt in the lobby and grinned. “Dad.”

“What the hell do you think you’re playing at?” John barked, folding his arms across his chest.

“It’s Christmas,” he laughed, “I met some friends, we WERE having a good time until your little summons.”

John’s grey eyes turned black, “Do you do this on purpose? You could get arrested, end up with a criminal record. You’re not just anybody.”

“No,” came a slurred response, “I’m the son of the great John Hoynes. Would be President. Monumental Asshole.” He stopped when he realized he had overstepped the mark.

“I don’t know you anymore,” John said sadly.

“Maybe you never did.”

“So this is some punishment for working when you were a child?” John asked, shocked.

Mark fell into a chair and lowered his head into his hands, “It always has to be about you. Mom spent her whole life being the perfect politician’s wife and protecting your secret. And I’m supposed to be the good son you wheel out when it’s convenient.”

“That’s not true, and keep your mother out of it,” John yelled, anger sparking in his eyes.

“Well let’s bring CJ into it instead. You use her the same way you used mom, for political points, or maybe it’s to get one over on Bartlet. You don’t love her. And you don’t care how I feel about her,” he snorted, rising from the chair and taking a step closer to his father.

John squared his shoulders and set his face, “I’m not the calculating bastard you think I am. My feelings for CJ are real. I want to spend the rest of my life with her.” His voice lowered as he watched his son, “And don’t tell me you care about her, that little scene in her bedroom was to get one over on me.”

“So now I’m calculating,” Mark snarled. “I think she deserves someone better than you. Someone who will be there when she needs them.”

“Your mother told me to go. If I had any idea how bad she was I would have stayed,” John said, his voice cracking. “I loved your mother and I would have done anything for her to live. So don’t throw that at me.”

Mark lurched towards him and stopped just in time. “Go to hell,” he yelled, heading upstairs and slamming a bedroom door behind him.

John covered his eyes with his hand and groaned. He had intended to spend Christmas talking rationally with his son and trying to make things right. If the little performance was anything to go by it was going to be a long four days.

*************************************************

It was nearly midnight when his phone rang and he heard CJ’s voice.

“Hey sweetheart,” he said wearily.

“John?” she asked, concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. How are your parents?”

“Everyone’s fine, we’re just heading to midnight mass,” she said quietly. “They’re looking forward to meeting you and checking you out.”

“Good. I miss you.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” she pleaded. “John, you sound different, is it Mark?”

He thought briefly of lying in an attempt not to ruin her Christmas but in the end the compassion in her voice stopped him. “He’d been drinking and we had a fight. Seems we have issues.”

“Oh, Jeez, I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Do you want me to come there?”

He shook his head and held the phone tightly,” No, you have a good Christmas. I’ll phone you in the morning when you’ve opened your present.”

“I love you,” CJ said softly, ignoring the smirks on her brothers’ faces.

“I love you too. I’ll take care of it,” he promised.

“Well I’m here if you need me,” she added as he ended the call.

*****************************************************

Christmas Day didn’t start any better than Christmas Eve. Mark failed to show up at breakfast and when John went upstairs to find him he was still asleep looking pale and decidedly sick. John left him where he was and phoned CJ. Her excitement was enough to make him smile briefly and her gasp of pleasure at the tiny drop diamond earrings made him miss her even more. Her mother and sister in law soon confiscated the phone and he felt slightly more in the seasonal mood by the time they allowed him to say goodbye.

John opened his presents from CJ and slipped the CD into the stereo as he waited for the guests to arrive for lunch. Her taste in music was somewhat diverse and as the music filled the room he realized this was no exception.

By lunchtime the house was full of guests, old family friends and contributors who he would need in the next four years. It was lively and Mark’s absence was not so conspicuous. John however longed for CJ, and the solitary they enjoyed at the Observatory.

When Mark finally appeared the guests were leaving and he hung around long enough to open his gifts before he drove off with the agents in tow.

Alone again John’s thoughts turned to how he had failed his son. And back to Catherine. As much as he loved her and she was never far from his mind Catherine was never coming back. CJ was going to be part of his future, he hoped. She was reluctant to go public and he often wondered why.

Of course her life would change dramatically, any privacy she had retained would disappear the minute they went public. There would be Press, Chaperones and he would have to order a detail for when she was outside the White House. That was the most contentious issue between them, her safety. John fully expected her to fight him on it every step of the way, but he now had allies. His meeting with Toby and Leo had been a little strange but both had agreed with him and now Leo was in the process of organizing things.

He lost track of time as he curled up in his sitting room, planning the future. It was not until the agents changed shift that he looked at his watch and realized Mark had been gone four hours. Groaning he made his way into the kitchen and made himself a snack. Mark would have to wait until the following day.

*********************************************

As it came to pass Mark would have to wait quite a few days. Somewhere in the early hours of the day after Christmas he had returned briefly to grab his belongings and leave a note to say he’d gone skiing. His cell phone, which John paid heftily for was permanently switched off and the note had made it pretty clear he didn’t want to hear what his father had to say.

John stewed as he climbed on his horse and went off riding. It seemed pointless that he had come home for the holidays when he could have stayed in the District, working and maybe spending time with friends. By mid afternoon he had made a decision.

The phone rang and rang before CJ grabbed it and panted down the line at him. “Hello?”

“You’re very sexy when you’re all worked up.”

“John.”

“So how are the family?” he asked casually.

CJ fell into a heap on the floor and watched the family continue the game, “We’re eating too much, drinking too much and catching up. How are things there?”

John paused, “Want to have dinner tonight?”

“Dinner? John, what’s going on?” CJ crawled into another room. “Where’s Mark?”

“Aspen,” John groaned, “He doesn’t want to talk to me, ever. So I thought I’d fly down and take you to dinner.”

“It’s leftover night,” CJ mused. “Do you like leftovers?”

“Stuffing?”

“I’m not going to answer that,” she chuckled. “I’ll let mom know you’re joining us so she can get the vacuum out. Oh and we’re playing twister, so dress casually.”

“And I was going to wear the tux.“ he quipped.

“Funny boy. I’ll see you later.”

It was after six when he landed in San Francisco and made the transfer out to Napa. It took a while for the agents to locate the address she had given him and he was surprised when they pulled up to the dilapidated old house. What really set it aside from the others on the street was the beautiful garden, and as the agents walked him up the path he took the opportunity to admire it. He was putting his first step on the porch when the door flew open and CJ appeared.

“Hey,” she called, grinning. “We were just giving up on you.”

“It appears we don’t have satellite navigation in the car,” he joked, reaching for her hand and holding it tightly. “Can they do a sweep?”

CJ nodded and motioned for them to go inside. “My family can be a little…” she started but his lips brushing hers stopped her.

“It’s fine, come on, introduce me,” he instructed, pushing her back through the door.

“My parents still think I’m a virgin,” she hissed, leading him down a pink corridor into an eggshell living room.

“You don’t want me to tell them about your kinky sex games then?” he whispered back.

CJ turned and glared at him, the slightest of a flush on her cheeks.

Stepping into the living room she continued to hold his hands. “Everyone,” she called, then getting no response she whistled. “Works every time. This is John. John, this is my father, mom, Jack, Ben, Julie, Allison and the rabble. I say the rabble because I can’t get a word in edgeways.”

John made his way around the room, greeting everyone and making small talk. As CJ watched him she saw the consummate politician he was, until he reached the children sat on the floor watching a video. Lowering himself to the floor he picked up the case and began reading the synopsis.

“I haven’t seen this one, what have I missed?” he asked.

CJ’s oldest nephew rolled his eyebrows and glanced at CJ. “Your boyfriend is about as useful as you are. “Turning back to John he added, “She falls asleep during the good bits then spends the rest of the movie asking questions.”

“Really annoying, isn’t it?” John teased, earning himself a stare from CJ.

Realizing that for the time being she had lost him CJ followed her mother into the kitchen to finish tea, or rather to endure the inevitable grilling. When she returned John sat with her father on the couch deep in conversation. CJ groaned and moved across to them.

“Daddy, dinner’s ready,” she said softly.

“Okay, Claudie, we’re coming.” He looked up at his daughter innocently. “I was just asking the young man’s intentions and telling all about the others.”

CJ blushed and glanced at John, who was way too smug for her liking.

“Daddy, dinner,” CJ warned, “And you, move.”

John stood and followed her to the table. Over dinner he took the opportunity to observe her with her family, enjoying the relaxed environment and listening rather than monopolizing the conversation.

CJ’s mother disappeared half way through dinner to ensure his detail ate and later the children were sent up to bed.

Taking the opportunity for a moment alone John dragged CJ out onto the back porch.

“Sorry about daddy,” CJ said to fill the silence, “He doesn’t mean anything by it.”

John shook his head and sat on the swing, “No harm done. If my little girl was dating someone like me, I’d want to know too.”

“If my daughter was dating someone like you I’d ground her,” CJ deadpanned.

John grabbed her by the arm and pulled her on top of him. “And what’s wrong with guys like me?”

“Do you want me to list them?”

“I’d rather you kissed me.”

Turning her in his arms until her face was level with his John took a deep breath and kissed her hungrily. When CJ broke for air he tangled his hand in her hair and pulled her back down. “I missed you,” he whispered.

“Missed you more,” she whined and shook her head at how pathetic she sounded.

Stroking her arm John said quietly, “I want to go public. I’m sick of sneaking around. You are going to be a permanent fixture in my life, so why hide it?”

“Okay,” she concurred so quietly he had to strain to hear her.

“Really? I thought you were dead set.”

“I want everyone to know,” she said softly, “And now that you have my family’s seal of approval there’s nothing to stop us.”

CJ leaned down to nestle her head into his shoulder, ignoring the agents that were patrolling nearby. “When we get back I’ll speak to Leo, decide what to do.”

“We have three days here first, what do you want to do?” John asked, playing with her hair.

CJ grinned and glanced at the agent, “Have you ever been paintballing?”

“No.”

“Well then that’s something to look forward too,” she grinned, closing her eyes and wishing that life could always be like this.

“So who are you going to do the interview with?” Leo asked as they gathered in his office for the second time in a week.

CJ deferred to John and he shrugged, “I’m not keen on a television interview, and I know CJ doesn’t want to sit with Danny.”

“You could just release a written statement,” Josh suggested from his position at the conference table.

“The press would only hound her in the Briefing room,” Toby growled, lifting his head to look at Josh. “We’ll stick with a short announcement at the podium, and an interview.”

CJ groaned and released John’s hand to stand. Her pacing was sending them all crazy.

“CJ, what about Katie?” Sam asked, “She’s always been fair.”

CJ stopped pacing and glanced at John. He shrugged. CJ groaned and waved her hands in the air. “Could you at least pretend to be interested?”

Five men sat up straighter and stiffened.

“Honey, this is your field,” John said softly. “I think whatever you decide is fine.”

Instead of waiting for CJ’s reaction Leo jumped in, “Great Katie it is. Now I suggest Friday afternoon.”

Everyone agreed, if only to end the torment before it became any worse.

****************************************************

“Good afternoon everyone,” Lesley started, standing at the podium. “This is going to be a short briefing and there won‘t be any questions.”

The press all wriggled in their seats, wondering why if the White House called the briefing, the Vice President’s Press Secretary was standing before them.

“The Vice President’s Office would like to confirm that the Vice President is involved in a relationship with the White House Press Secretary. They have been together since last Summer on an exclusive basis. The White House does not normally comment on the relationships of it’s staff but under the circumstances it seemed necessary to do so. The President has been aware of CJ’s involvement with the Vice President and has supported them. They have agreed to give one interview and will be on a formal date in the near future which you will have access to. The White House asks that you respect their privacy at all times and allow them to explore their feelings in private.”

The Press started firing questions in earnest but Lesley stepped down from the podium and disappeared through the doors.

Fifteen minutes later John and CJ settled on one of the couches in the Mural room with Katie across from them. It was as close to neutral as either party could think of and there was little chance of interruptions.

“So where did you get together?”

“We were both invited to Camp David for the weekend,” John answered smoothly.

“Ah, The First Lady’s matchmaking?” Katie grinned.

CJ nodded.

“What did CJ’s parents make of their daughter dating the Vice President?”

John laughed, his tension evident only to CJ, “They were a little in awe of me at first but her father was most concerned that I would look after her and provide him with grandchildren.”

CJ steeled herself for the inevitable question.

“Have you thought about children?” Katie asked, glancing up to look at them.

John squeezed CJ’s hand and she longed to be somewhere else. “Marriage and children are a long way off,” CJ muttered. “Right now we are still getting to know each other.”

“And what sorts of things do the two of you like to do?” Katie asked, scribbling notes.

CJ grinned at John and dropped her eyes.

John coughed and Katie looked between them, a wry smile on her face. “I’m not going there, I’ll leave that for National Enquirer.”

“We jog, share romantic dinners and generally watch old movies,” John offered.

Katie turned her attention to CJ. “There has been no secret of the animosity between the two staffs, how do you two work through that?”

CJ gave her one of the ‘are you stupid’ looks. “We don’t discuss work. With the schedules we keep when we’re alone there are more important things to discuss.”

Katie nodded, slightly disbelieving and continued with her questions.

CJ climbed out of the shower and stood staring at her wardrobe. It wasn’t so much she was nervous about having dinner in public or that she would be eating with the President, it was more the fact that the Press would be watching her every move. The dress has to be dressy enough to fit in but smart enough not to look like she was trying too hard. Eventually she settled for a classic, an ankle length black beaded skirt and a black halter neck top. It took another ten minutes before CJ was happy with her hair and a further ten minutes until her make up looked right. Taking one last look in the mirror she pulled on her coat and waited for her new agent to knock on the door.

It had been a bit intimidating the first day, having someone follow her everywhere. The simple things she took for granted were no longer possible-- walking home, popping into the coffee house. Three days later it was still constricting her movement but John, Leo and the President were adamant and for some peace she rescinded her objections. At least she had got them to agree that inside the White House she would be safe and could come and go as she pleased. Of course it had yet to be tested when they were on official visits or she wanted a girl’s night out.

The chaperones were also a little wearing. No more cosy dinners late at night in restaurants, now they invited someone along. Toby, she knew before they even reached the theater was a bad idea and Josh, well he was a pain. Instead they stuck with their assistants or John’s friends. It just meant that they couldn’t hold hands or share intimate moments. Since the announcement a week ago they had taken to eating at the Observatory. Tonight was their first public date and it had been Abbey’s suggestion that she and the President join them.

John was waiting inside the limo as the agent opened the door and CJ climbed in. His eyes were roaming her body before she was even settled in her seat.

“Good evening,” she said softly.

“Can we go back to the Observatory?” he whined.

“It won’t be so bad,” she offered, inwardly dreading the whole experience.

“The more I think about it, the more I liked it when only we knew.”

“John?”

“Yeah?”

“Kiss me and stop whining. I get enough of that at work,“ she chided, leaning across to kiss him lightly on the lips.

“Now I really wanna go home.”

CJ rolled her eyes and settled back against the leather upholstery.

The car pulled up at the restaurant and the driver moved around to open the door. CJ glanced out of the window and grimaced at the flashing light bulbs.

“Imagine them in their underwear,” John suggested as he stepped out and pasted a big smile on his face.

He reached back and extended his hand for CJ to take. Taking a deep breath she alighted from the car and stepped out onto the sidewalk. The flashing lights and the sound of her name were even more daunting in the open than in her Press Room. She continued to smile as John held her firmly around the waist. Finally he nodded to one of the detail and they were hustled inside.

John released her and turned to face her.

“You okay?” he asked softly. “Being with me, that’s normal, I’m afraid.”

“I’m fine. As soon as the shaking stops I’ll be fine,” she chuckled awkwardly. “How do you put up with it?”

He shrugged non-committally and motioned to the agent. “Is the President here yet?”

“Yes Sir, he’s waiting.”

“Better get this over with,” John mumbled. “He starts sprouting trivia and I won’t be accountable for my actions.”

CJ grinned and ran her fingers down his arm. “It’s not the trivia you need to worry about.”

“Uh?” he asked confused.

“Remember that little talk with daddy, this is going to be ten times worse,” CJ chuckled. “Sex before marriage is a sin, and all that.”

“I’m not talking sex with the President,” he gasped wide eyed.

“Really?” CJ asked, striding to the President’s table, glancing over her shoulder briefly to check John was still following.

“CJ. John,” Jed said, rising to greet them. “Glad you could make it.”

“Mr President. Abigail,” John said cordially. “You look stunning.”

“I look stunning?”

“He means me, dimwit,” Abbey smirked, kissing John lightly on the cheek, and turning to CJ. “Nice outfit, CJ.”

“Thank you Abbey.”

John pulled back a chair and as she sat he slipped it under her. “The circus is in town, I see.”

The President nodded, “In force. For once we weren’t the main attraction.”

“You should be warned he’s in one of his moods,” Abbey said, rolling her eyes.

“Oh dear god, “CJ groaned then dropped her eyes as the President turned to look at her.

Picking up the menu she scanned it before she dared look up again.

After a few minutes of small talk, at least of the comings and goings of Senate, a waiter appeared and took their order. When he was finally out of sight the President fixed his attention on John.

“So what are your intentions towards our CJ?”

CJ groaned and Abbey grinned.

“To have plenty of red hot sex.”

Jed coughed and glanced at his wife.

CJ lifted her head to look at John and shook her head at his smirk.

“It’s what Texans do Sir,” John said, confidently.

“We were so right about him,” Abbey giggled. “So is she as great in bed as she leads everyone to believe?” she asked, continuing the conversation.

Firmly lifting CJ’s hand from under the table John brought it to the tablecloth and entwined his fingers with hers. “Oh she wasn’t lying,” he bragged. Horny as hell most of the time.”

CJ covered her face with her hands and missed the secret smile John shared with Abbey. Jed meanwhile was staring at the joined hands on the table. He exhaled deeply when an agent approached the table.

“Yes.”

“The Press were wondering if they could get a few shots at the table.”

CJ looked up and shook her head.

“Excellent idea,” Jed stated, relieved that the conversation was over.

Five minutes later, the Press once more bundled out of the restaurant and the entrees served the foursome settled back into the evening.

“CJ tells me Abbey can be quite demanding,” John started, lifting a fork full of his salmon. “I was wondering if it had something to do with being in the White House.”

CJ coughed and spluttered and tried to look everywhere but at the First Couple.

John chewed his food as though they were discussing the weather, enjoying for once having the upper hand.

Jed went pale then blushed, taking pointed looks at his wife. Abbey shrugged and grinned, “Well Dumpling, it’s no secret you wet my appetite.”

“I think we should change the subject, “ CJ suggested, ignoring the look on John’s face.

Unsurprisingly, the President agreed and the conversation for the rest of the dinner turned to matters of state and to sport. After coffee they all stood to leave, exchanging pleasantries and heading out to their respective vehicles. The press having deadlines to meet had disappeared, leaving the way clear for the couples to head home in peace.

In the limo CJ was silent, leaning against John’s chest and enjoying a rare moment of quiet.

“I’m sorry if I went too far, “John said after a while.

CJ lifted her head and rolled her eyes, “You’re not sorry at all. It might have been better if you hadn’t looked like you were enjoying it quite so much.”

John smirked, “Couldn’t help it. It’s the most fun I’ve had in ages.”

“You’re impossible.”

“But you love me anyway.”

She had to acknowledge that. Sitting up CJ turned to face him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I do love you,” she whispered as her lips sought his. The kiss was meant to be tender but as her soft lips met his pliant ones it deepened. As the kiss continued John’s hands roamed her body, pulling her further into his lap.

The car coming to a halt broke them apart and CJ glanced out of the window to see her street. Groaning she smoothed her skirt and sat back. “I guess this is goodnight.”

“Yeah,” he nodded. “I’d come in, but I have a feeling there are probably a dozen men with cameras camped out.”

“So, anyway, thanks for tonight,” she said simply, kissing him lightly on the cheek.

“Sleep tight Sweetheart,” he muttered, as his lips brushed her hair.

CJ stepped out of the car and climbed the steps, her agent sweeping the street with his hand on his gun. As she reached the door she heard the car speed away and looked back to catch the familiar flash of a camera. This was how it was going to be, she supposed, as she closed the door behind her.