Title: The Expectant parents
Series: The Prodigal Series
Rating: NC17
Spoilers: None that I'm aware of
The Expectant Parents
Prologue
There were times like these when the house didn’t seem quite big enough. It was raining, which for May was not unusual and everyone was inside.
CJ had taken refuge in the kitchen; with the help of a cookery book she was trying to bake a cake, at least the soggy mixture in the bowl was supposed to be a cake.
Toby, who had only been staying until Easter, was spreading his notes across the dining table.
So far she had resisted the urge to ask him when he was leaving, but now that Leo had moved in things were getting crowded. She loved them both as brothers but embarking on a new relationship with both of them watching over her was getting on her nerves.
Jed didn’t seem to mind, he disappeared every morning to the local library and the three of them shut themselves in the dining room and played chess or cards at night.
James, it seemed was thriving, with the added attention and stimulation, and that was part of the reason CJ left things as they were.
She heard the door open behind her and turned just as a pair of arms wrapped around her waist. CJ leaned back into him as he kissed her neck and shoulder.
Jed allowed his hands to roam up her body and rest on her breasts. ‘I like it when you wear my shirts,’ he whispered, his thumbs stroking her nipples. ‘Especially when you forgo the bra.’
CJ placed her floury hands on his and removed them, ‘Jed, we can’t.’
‘God dammit, when are they going home?’
CJ turned in his arms and crossed her wrists behind his neck, ‘I didn’t say we had to wait that long.’ She began to plant gentle kisses on his nose.
Jed groaned and pulled her against him grinding his hips. CJ smirked at his arousal but pulled away.
‘Go and do something useful.’
He sighed and walked back towards the hall, ‘Claudia, James is never going to get a brother if this carries on.’
He heard her drop the cake tin back on the counter and felt the tea towel hit him across the head.
‘Hey, I’m a sick man.’
‘You will be if you don’t get your backside out of my kitchen.’
He left quickly after that.
Chapter One
James had been up since five, and decided to join his parents in bed at six.
Jed rolled over to cuddle up to CJ and found himself face to face with his son, CJ on one elbow watching over his shoulder. ‘So much for a honeymoon period?’
CJ grinned, ‘We’re not married…yet.’
Jed blinked, ‘Was that a proposal, cause that sounded like a proposal?’
CJ ruffled James’ hair, ‘Honey why don’t you go and see if Uncle Toby wants to make pancakes.’
‘Dad, can I?’
Jed nodded and squashed himself to the bed as James dived over him.
‘Josiah Bartlet, will you stop that,’ she growled, hitting him on the arm.
He moved closer and his hands disappeared beneath the sheets, ‘Stop what exactly?’ he asked as his right hand found the hem of her shorts and began to slide under them.
‘Marriage, brothers for James, don’t you think you should sort things out with Abbey first?’
His hands were starting to have the desired effect and she stilled them.
‘Claudia Jean. I’ve asked Abbey for a divorce, I’ve instructed my solicitor to file the papers, and the press know about James. Can we just make love?’
‘You’re kidding me?’
He allowed a wide heart-stopping grin to cross his face, ‘No, I really am going to make love to you.’
His hands slipped into the waistband of her shorts and he tugged them down, CJ lifting her hips to help him.
CJ placed her hands in his hair and pulled him down for a kiss. Her legs found their way around his waist, pushing his sweats down, pulling him closer to her. In one single movement he was inside her, they lay side by side facing each other, matching thrust for thrust. It wasn’t exactly fast and furious but more desperate from days of abstinence.
He groaned as he spilled into her and she screamed his name as she climaxed around him. They fell silent, wrapped around each other.
Eventually the noise from the kitchen became too much and CJ pushed her rather sleepy lover off of her and climbed out of bed. Grabbing her robe and tying it around her she made her way downstairs.
The kitchen door was ajar and she nearly, well very nearly lost her temper. The antique pine kitchen table, which she had carefully laid for breakfast was covered in flour, eggshells and what she sincerely hoped wasn’t maple syrup, New Hampshire of course. Up the wall were tiny glue like sparkles and in the midst of the floor her son sat eating cooked pancake from the cupboard doors. CJ pushed the door open and yelled.
Jed sat up with a jolt in bed, Leo knocked coffee all over his paper in the lounge and Toby spun around from his place at the refrigerator.
‘Good morning CJ,’ he called.
‘TOBY,’ she yelled again.
Toby rubbed his beard, ‘Hey, I’m unpaid remember, and recuperating.’
‘You’re need more recuperating if this kitchen isn’t cleaned up, stat.’ She turned and headed into the living room.
Leo stood as she entered, ‘Lack of coffee, Jed or nervous about Zoey coming?’
CJ sighed, ‘All of the above.’
He sat down next to her on the couch and squeezed her arm, ‘Zoey will be fine; she loves Jed, and James, well who wouldn’t love him. She knows you well enough not to expect aires and graces. Jed… well? And I’ll make coffee.’
CJ smiled back at him, ‘I’ll miss you when you go.’
‘Is that a hint?’
‘No.’ CJ quickly shook her head from side to side, ‘You’ll always be welcome here.’
‘It’s okay,’ he said. ‘I’m going to head back to New Hampshire with Zo, check on Abbey.’
‘I hope she gets better soon. The break down, well I can’t help blaming myself and if things had been different, maybe we could have stayed friends.’ CJ gazed at the mantelpiece and the photo of them all taken so long ago. ‘I didn’t mean for this to happen.’
Leo stood, ‘Time to move on with your life CJ; stop wondering what could have been. Now coffee.’
CJ made them all wait in the sitting room for Zoey, the men all in shirt and tie, James in his Notre dame sweatshirt and her, well three outfits later she settled for a black dress.
Toby had been pouting for hours, desperate to escape what he considered a tortuous event, unfortunately Leo wanted to stay and as such Toby couldn’t go anywhere.
The doorbell went and CJ visibly paled, Jed took her hand in his and pulled her up with him.
James was already pulling open the door when they reached it. He looked up at the red head and grinned.
Zoey knew in an instant they could be no mistaking who his father was. James was the spitting image of her father at the same age. They continued to watch each other, neither sure what to say.
Jed came up behind them and opened his arms. It didn’t take a second asking for her to fall into them and cuddle him close. He pulled away and looked her over, ‘You okay kiddo?’ She nodded. ‘Work okay? Charlie?’
‘Dad,’ she sounded exasperated already, ‘Charlie’s fine, work is tedious, and no we’re not getting married. Hi CJ.’
CJ smiled over Jed’s shoulder, ‘You know you could invite her in, maybe offer her something to drink.’
He glanced back at her, ‘You’re so funny. Come in.’
James watched the adults fuss over the new arrival then stomped his foot, ‘Daddy.’
They all stopped and looked down. James had his arms folded across his chest and his eyes were veiled.
‘Ah, Zoey, this is James. James, this is your sister Zoey.’
Zoey crouched down, ‘Hi.’
‘Hi,’ he replied quietly. ‘Are you going to take my daddy away?’
‘He’s my daddy too.’
James picked up his legs and ran as fast as he could towards the sitting room, ‘Leo, she’s going to take my daddy away.’
CJ grimaced, ‘That went well. Zoey, come with me and see the others. Jed, kitchen.’
They entered the sitting room and found James curled up on Leo’s lap bawling his eyes out. Zoey crossed to him, ‘James?’
‘Don’t like you?’
She grinned, ‘Really, would you like to see some pictures of daddy when he was little?’ Riffling through her bag she began to show him the photos she had.
Jed entered the room and watched his two youngest together. He knew it wouldn’t be easy getting the other two to come and visit, but it was a start. By the end James had slid onto the floor next to Zoey and was quite animated. Jed smiled at CJ and she grinned back.
‘Is there anything you’d like to do while you’re here? Jed asked his daughter.
‘Why don’t you guys go out for lunch and I’ll stay with James?’ Zoey caught the look of dread on CJ’s face and connected the dots immediately, ‘I won’t take him out of the house, I promise.’
CJ relaxed, ‘Okay, if you get hungry raid the fridge.’
When they returned an hour later the house was silent. CJ called out and a little voice called back from upstairs. CJ took the steps two at a time and located the siblings in the bedroom.
‘Having fun?’
‘Hey mom,’ he called with barely a glance.
Zoey got up from her place on the floor, ‘He’s been fine. One suggestion though don’t let him spend so much time with dad and Toby, he sounds like an encyclopaedia.’
They both laughed.
‘Is dad okay?’ Zoey asked, her voice not disguising her greatest fear.
‘Yes. His notes are being sent here and I’ve arranged for a check up. I’m no doctor but I’m reading up on the disease.’
‘Has he spoken to Ellie or Liz?’
CJ sighed, ‘Yeah, he and Ellie scream at each other once a week, it’s no easier but he likes to hear her voice. He talks to Liz, she’s angry and hurt, and wants to protect your mom, which is understandable, but she still loves him. As do I,’ she added quietly.
‘ZOEY, it’s your turn,’ James shouted.
‘Whoever bought him trivia pursuit needs to be hung, drawn and quartered,‘ she muttered retuning to the game.
When Zoey left later that night she kissed her father on the cheek and hugged her new found brother to her.
CJ stood in the background and waved from the step, not wanting to interfere or seem overly motherly.
Toby stood by her side, his hand lightly rubbing her back.
Chapter Two
Despite their differences CJ and Jed had pretty much settled into a routine.
CJ had returned to teaching in January leaving Jed to care for Toby.
Toby had taken control of the kitchen, ensuring that what ended up on the table was at least edible, and as he got stronger began to write his book. Jed spent his days relaxing, trying to reconnect with his family and watching his son grow up.
They rowed very little and socialised even less. After nearly ten years of friendship the age gap had long since ceased to be an issue, in fact it gave them a point on which to develop new interests. Marriage cropped up from time to time but neither pushed for the commitment, aware that Jed was still married to Abigail and that the divorce was most likely to drag on.
The main trouble in the water was the Press. The story of the former President’s affair and James conception had broken in January when Jed had moved back to Boston with CJ. In the six weeks that followed they were barely out of the press, stories about his womanising and CJ sleeping her way to her masters top amongst the headlines. By February most of the interest had died down until a local paper published a picture of James, for four days the press practically camped on the doorstep trying to get photo coverage. Eventually Leo had, as always, stepped in and filed for an injunction to keep them away. That improved things until Easter when Jed and CJ attended a service at the Catholic Church. The Christian Right had been quite venomous in their letters to the papers so ever since they rarely went out together in public.
It came as a shock to CJ when Toby announced over dinner one night in early June that he was leaving. It panicked her if the truth be known. Of course she wanted to be alone with her family but it was going to be a new experience for both of them. Jed had only ever lived with Abbey, and needed to adapt to CJ’s way of life, and CJ had Jed’s health to contend with. Her face pretty much left no one in any doubt she didn’t want him to leave.
‘So where are you going?’ Jed asked, trying to ignore her.
‘Andi’s invited me to New York for a month, then I’m going home to finish the book.’
‘Leo will be back in Washington by then,’ CJ added detached.
Toby groaned, ‘What do you think we are, the odd couple?’
‘I just meant you can get together once in a while,’ she tried. ‘He’s lonely too.’
‘What’s next, matchmaking?’ He grinned.
The conversation looked to be getting out of control, CJ seemed pissed at Toby for leaving and Toby was getting the feeling she wanted him under lock and key.
‘Want a game of chess?’ Jed intervened.
Toby nodded and they excused themselves from the table.
Jed set the chess board up out on the porch and Toby brought the scotch. They sat in companionable silence for minutes, each intent on winning the game. CJ fiddled about getting James into bed, watching them through the glass roof.
‘Is she okay?’ Toby asked.
‘She’ll miss you, we’ve kinda got used to you being around.’
Toby tapped his fingers on the side of his face, ‘You need to be alone.’ He tapped some more, ‘I mean she loves you but so far you haven’t really seen whether this can work.’
‘Ye of little faith.’
‘What I meant is you’ve never lived together as a family before.’
‘I know what you meant, I’m not going to screw this up,’ Jed snapped.
Toby mumbled in response.
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I said all evidence to the contrary,’ Toby repeated. ‘Abbey is still controlling where this goes. Sort that out and there’s a chance CJ will agree to marry you.’
Jed slapped his hand on the table, ‘I’m filing for divorce, what more can I do? And what has she said about marriage?’
Toby squeezed his hands together, ‘Nothing, but she never had to. She loves you, as crazy an idea as that is, and she wants James to have both his parents. What she doesn’t need is you staying out of obligation.’
‘I’m not, I love her.’
Toby rose from his seat and began to walk away, ‘With all due respect Jed, I can cite a million occasions when you’ve said you love Abbey or miss her, but I don’t ever remember hearing you say that about CJ.’
‘I must have, I do.’
Toby shrugged, ‘It’s not me you should be telling this too.’
CJ watched Toby leave the next day with a heavy heart, she wasn’t sure what she was so frightened about, after all she loved Jed.
Chapter Three
Things were awkward for the next few weeks, CJ disappeared to school every morning, came home every night and cooked dinner.
Jed took James to the library with him and took him to the park every afternoon.
They talked over dinner and while Jed stayed up half the night reading and on the phone she went to bed. By the time he joined her she was sound asleep. The first row occurred one evening as James went to bed.
‘We should buy him a clubhouse, the girls always enjoyed theirs.’
‘And how exactly I am supposed to afford that?’ CJ snapped as she folded the laundry.
Jed stared at her, ‘I’ll pay for it.’
He wasn’t prepared for what came next, ‘Like you pay for groceries, or gas, or the first editions?’ She threw the laundry to one side. ‘Cause I have to say right now we are barely getting by.’
‘Claudia, you know most of the money is tied up.’
‘Here we go again, Abbey and the divorce. You know you can always forget the divorce and go back to her.’
‘Is that what you want?’ he asked softly.
CJ raised herself to her full height, ‘Well don’t stay on James account cause we were doing just fine without you.’
Jed stared at her, ‘This your way of telling me you are going to leave again.’
‘Are you going to bring that up every time we fight?’
‘I don’t know, maybe we should ask Toby.’
‘What the hell is that supposed to mean?’ She screamed.
Jed stood and strode across the room, ‘It sometimes feels like there’s three of us in this relationship.’
He slammed the door and CJ sank into a chair. James appeared a few minutes later.
‘Mommy, did daddy and you have a fight?’
CJ sighed, ‘It’s okay honey, we were just talking. Let’s get you back to bed.’ Taking his hand she led him upstairs and tucked him back into bed.
Jed returned an hour later to find her sat at the bottom of the stairs.
‘I’m sorry,’ she said.
‘Me too.’
‘It’s just….’
‘New. We need to adjust.’
‘Yeah. Claudia, I’m not going to leave. I’ll talk to the solicitor tomorrow and chase the divorce, maybe move some money.’
CJ sighed, ‘It’s not about the money. I’m going to bed.’
The arguments continued, they fought over anything from money, to Abbey to where to go on holiday. Each time they made it up, and the next time was worse.
James listened from his bedroom and cried himself to sleep until finally one night Jed had had enough.
‘Claudia Jean, we can’t go on like this,’ he said. ‘Maybe I should move out.’
CJ lowered her voice, ‘I don’t want you to do that.’
‘What do you want?’ he asked, his voice soft.
‘To be a normal family. To stop fighting. To know you really want to be here.’
Jed groaned, ‘Is that what this is about? God CJ, of course I want to be here.’
‘Why?’ her voice wavered as she said it.
‘I missed out on five years of my son’s life, I want to see him grow up. You walked out of my life without asking what I wanted, without giving me a chance. I had a second chance when you came back.’ He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. ‘I spent a year trying to find you, then Leo and Toby told me to give it up, to let you come back on your own accord. So I threw myself into work, but I didn’t stop thinking about you. Have I never told you I love you?’
CJ looked down at her hands, ‘No.’
Jed lifted her chin to look at him, ‘I love you Claudia.’
He kissed her lightly on the lips, ‘I can’t promise it’s going to be easy, apparently I’m a pompous pain in the ass.’
She smiled at her first impressions of him, ‘And I’m a stubborn control freak.’
‘That I can definitely attest to. So if I promise to be more understanding can we work on this?’
She squeezed his hand, ‘And a brother for James.’
Chapter Four
By Independence Day the arguments had lowered to a dull roar. School had broken up, the divorce was progressing and they had the summer to look forward to.
Normally the Bartlets organised a barbecue or party and this year was no exception. Abbey invited all of her former friends to the farm along with her daughters.
Left out in the cold Jed and CJ spent the day alone.
She packed up a picnic and they headed to the park. All around them families played and she lay back on the blanket and watch James and Jed kick around a ball. In that fleeting second it was idyllic, father and son acting as they should. In another second she saw the future, him lying in a hospital bed, sick, and James crying. The child still didn’t know his father was sick and they had never discussed it, in fact Jed and her hadn’t discussed it much since getting together. She made a note to bring it up. Right now she watched her son dash across the open space and launch himself into a group of kids. She recognised most of them from his class and settled back to watch from a distance.
‘He’s going to play soccer.’
‘I’m 6ft 2in, he’s going to play basketball,’ she retorted.
Jed lowered himself down onto the grass and kissed her forehead, ‘Hey I don’t care if he wants to be a ballerina as long as he’s happy.’
‘You talked to Josh last night didn’t you?’ she asked.
‘Yeah.’ He looked puzzled. ‘Oh the ballerina. He’s fine, Donna’s working again and he wanted to say they would come visit next holiday.’
CJ sighed, ‘Did they say how Abbey is?’
‘I didn’t ask, why?’ He asked perplexed.
She began to wave her arms in the air, emphasising a point she wasn’t making.
‘CJ, what’s wrong?’ He grabbed her hands and held them against his chest.
‘Okay, so I didn’t want to tell you here, but since you’ve asked. Jed, I’m pregnant.’
His jaw dropped and his eyes became a piercing blue as he looked from her face to her stomach.
‘You won’t leave me this time.’ he stated.
CJ took both hands in his, ‘I’m not going anywhere. But…’ she paused, ‘I want this one to grow up a Bartlet.’
His jaw dropped even lower, ‘Are you trying to make an honest man of me?’
‘Hell no, why attempt the impossible.’
‘You want me to hurry the divorce along.’
CJ nodded, ‘It’s due in March.’
Jed grinned, ‘It, no predictions?’
‘This one is going to be a surprise. Can you speak to Abbey?’ Her fingers stroked against his cotton shirt, ‘Please.’
He nodded, ‘Tomorrow. Now why don’t we ask Jake’s mom if she’ll take James for an hour and go and celebrate. Pregnant women are supposed to be horny,’ He whispered a twinkle in his eye.
CJ blushed, the thought had been crossing her mind all day.
Chapter Five
The next morning Jed disappeared into the living room, taking the phone with him.
CJ sat at the breakfast table with James, drinking her milk and trying not to think about what was being said next door.
Eventually the door opened and Jed came back in. he poured himself a coffee before he turned to face her. His face was expressionless but his eyes told a different story.
James looked between them and excused himself.
As soon as the door closed behind him CJ spoke, ‘Well, what did Simon say?’
Jed avoided her eyes, ‘I wasn’t speaking to Simon. I called Abbey.’
He heard the sharp intake of breath from CJ and waited.
‘And? What did you have to give her?’ CJ asked.
‘It’s not that simple, she wants me to go and see her, talk face to face.’ He closed his eyes as he heard the chair scrape across the floor and CJ stand.
‘And you said no, right? You thought about what Zoey said about false hope and about me and you told her you couldn’t.’
He clasped his hands and wiggled his fingers, as he did when he was about to explain something. ‘It makes sense for me to go and see her, we can hash things out, free up some of the money so I can take care of you. I can pick up some clothes. By tomorrow it will be in the hands of the solicitor. We can get married in six weeks,’ he offered hoping to calm the impending storm.
It failed. ‘You’re an idiot,’ she mentioned for openers. ‘She wants you back, cosy weekend at the Farm, she wouldn’t be the Abbey I know if she didn’t try.’ She stopped, ‘By tomorrow, you’re going tonight?’
He shifted, ‘You wanted it done as soon as. The guests leave this afternoon. I’ll drive up, stay in town, be back tomorrow night.’
CJ paced around the room, hands on hips, ‘We’ll come with you, while you’re at the farm I can take James to see Zoey.’
He looked at her about to shake his head when he saw the worry in her eyes. He mentally hit himself.
‘I’ll phone, I won’t just disappear, not like last time. You have to realise you mean the world to me, you and James are my future. And our baby. If I do this Abbey will be out of our hair.’
‘What are you going to give her?’ CJ said.
‘Anything she wants, as long as I have enough to take care of us,’ he replied stepping forward to take her hand. ‘So I can go?’
She nodded reluctantly, ‘Jed, if it takes every penny give it to her. I don’t want the money I just want you.’
He reached up and kissed her firmly on the mouth.
The drive to new Hampshire had to be the longest of his life and leaving CJ broke his heart. He kept thinking back to the night in the hospital, begging her not to go and then finding out he was never going to see her again. This time he promised himself he wasn’t going to give up in her so easily. Abbey he had vowed to love forever but he had never expected things to change, for them to change, this time when he promised himself to CJ it would be forever. He needed to put closure on the past and enjoy the time he had left.
He stopped outside the hotel and checked in, his few agents with him. He considered visiting the house later but decided on an early night. Picking up the phone he dialled CJ and heard the relief in her voice, the ease with which she said she loved him. Ending the call he laughed at that word-relieved- it was her slip of the tongue which had brought to the surface his crush on her. He had needed her politically then now he needed her in his heart.
He fell asleep with plans for the future drifting through his head.
His first thought the next morning was of CJ and he called her briefly to touch base. Breakfast neglected he headed to the farm, the few agents that remained waved him inside.
Abbey was waiting in the sitting room when he arrived, she remained sitting. ‘Jed.’
‘Abbey,’ he said taking a seat.
‘You want to talk, go ahead,’ she said flatly.
He paused expecting at least some resistance, ‘I want to move the divorce along. I’ve come to ask you what you want to settle things.’
She laughed coldly, ‘What’s the hurry? CJ frightened you might change your mind?’
Jed stared at her, ‘You’ve become so cold, so empty, you’re not the woman I met in college, fell in love with and married.’
‘Betrayal does that to you. Is the boy okay?’
‘James is great.’
She watched him for a second and when she spoke her voice was softer, ‘We were good together, you and I. So passionate and so right for each other. It should never have fallen apart.’
He stood and walked to the window, ‘The past is the past. I’d be lying if I said I don’t have feelings for you, you can’t be with someone for forty years, have three children and not care about them.’
‘So come back,’ she pleaded, ‘James can come and visit.’
He snapped his head round, ‘I care about you, I love CJ. And now that…’ he stopped as he realised what he was about to say.
‘Now what?’
‘Doesn’t matter. I want the divorce. The farm is yours, the shares.’
‘I want the antiques.’
He nodded, ‘Let me have the Washington apartment and my personal account, the rest you can have.’
Abbey thought for a minute, torn between prolonging the situation and letting him go with her dignity in tact. She loved him, would until she died but she wasn’t going to beg. She was a woman of stature in her own right, a doctor, a former First Lady and now she was taking the pills she had her dignity.
‘Okay, I’ll speak to my solicitor later.’
Jed moved to leave, wanting to hug her one last time, have the opportunity to say goodbye but knowing it was unfair to her. He headed towards the door and Abbey stopped him.
‘Zoey’s in the barn, she’d like to see you.’
He nodded and smiled briefly at her.
Abbey watched him go, the tears about to fall, knowing he had finally cut the cord.
Jed found Zoey walking by the stables, looking nothing like the girl who had arrived at the hospital That night, she had blossomed into a beautiful woman and was growing more like her mother every day. He approached her softly,
‘Zoey.’
She spun around and hugged him tightly, ‘Dad.’
He held her away and kissed her forehead.
‘How’s my girl? Charlie behaving himself?’
She smiled, ‘Dad. I’m fine, Charlie still wants to get married.’
‘You should.’
‘I’m coming around to the idea,’ she promised. ‘How’d it go with mom?’
He placed an arm around her shoulders and walked with her.
‘She’s agreed to split the assets, so the divorce should be final soon. You gonna come visit soon?’
‘Yeah, how’s CJ and James?’
He grinned back at her, ‘Funny you should ask. CJ doesn’t want it public yet but she’s pregnant.’
Zoey felt a pang of envy that CJ could make her dad so happy but his smile said it all. He was alive, living again, instead of wallowing in the inevitable.
‘That’s great, glad to see you still have it in you,’ she teased.
‘ZOEY,’ he scolded. ‘Come see us soon. I need to head off. He hugged her close and kissed her once more.
Jed drove home, grinning to himself, looking forward to telling CJ that things were going to get better.
His cell rang thirty minutes from home and he pulled over to answer it.
‘You son of a bitch, you want a divorce you can go to hell.’
‘Abbey,’ he whispered.
She raised her voice an octave, ‘I’m not going to help you legitimise your children.’
The phone went dead and he cursed at his stupidness.
Chapter Six
Everytime Jed tried to talk to Abbey she either hung up or screamed down the phone at him. Even Zoey had had little success at convincing her mother to stop being so stubborn. Eventually Jed gave up, instructed his attorney he wasn’t going to advance his original offer, and sat back to wait for the courts to sort it out.
August was hot and humid, the bed sheets sticking to them as they slept. CJ climbed out of bed and walked through the house to the porch. The breeze took away the stickiness and she fell asleep on the swing. Jed found her the next morning when he came down for breakfast.
‘Hey, you’ll catch a cold.’
She woke and smiled up at him, ‘It’s like 70 in the shade.’
‘Well I’ve got one coming,’ he grumbled.
CJ sat up and felt his forehead, ‘Christ Jed, you’re hot.’
‘Yeah, it has been said,’ he smirked.
‘Indoors, I need to find the thermometer.’ She pushed him inside and hunted in a drawer. Pulling it out she popped it in his mouth. ‘Hell. It’s 102. I need to phone a doctor.’
‘Claudia, I have a cold. Don’t fuss.’
She couldn’t help it, it was the first time he had been sick since they had moved in together. Her first thought was MS, and from the little she had read, a fever was not good.
‘Dizziness? Shakes?’
He shrugged.
‘And you didn’t think to mention it?’
‘You’re channelling Abbey.’
‘Well if you were still with her she’d know what to do. Jed, I’m outta my depth. I’m not a doctor, I hate needles.’
He wrapped his arms around her, ‘If it was her instead of you she’d be frantic too. All I need is my meds and you.’
‘Let me call the doctor?’ She pleaded.
He nodded, anything to set her mind at rest.
He headed back to bed as CJ dialled the doctor. Explaining the situation he advised bed rest, a cold bath and regular meds, promising to come around in a while to check. The next call she made was to Leo, he answered on the fourth ring.
‘Hello?’
‘Leo, it’s CJ.’
In Washington Leo sat up in bed, ‘What’s wrong?’
She wanted to break down there and then and pour her heart out. ‘Leo, Jed’s sick. He’s running at 102, he’s dizzy and he might have a cold.’
Leo held tight to the phone, ‘You’ve spoken to his doctor?’
‘Yeah, he’s coming later.’
‘I’ll be on the next flight. Do you want me to speak to Abbey?’ he was already heading into the shower.
CJ shook her head, ‘You can’t. Not with things as they are.’
Leo turned on the spray, ‘The divorce is a separate issue CJ, she wouldn’t want him to get sick. I’ll call from the airport. Hang in there kid, you’re stronger than you think.
Except she wasn’t, needles and blood had always set her off in floods of tears, panic or generally she ended up on the floor. As she headed back upstairs to check on Jed she thought back to her catholic schooling, wondering if this was indeed her punishment for breaking up his marriage. And she wasn’t sure there was enough repentance she could do to right the wrong.
Jed was sat in bed, James by his side. CJ frowned at them both.
‘I’m going to run a cold bath then you’re going to bed.’
‘Promises promises,’ he teased.
She placed her hands on her hips and glared at him, ‘You do realise this is serious. Leo is going to phone Abbey.’
‘Oh good god, woman did you have to phone him?’
She broke down in tears, ‘Yeah I did. I can’t do this. This is Punishment for what we did.’
Jed climbed out of bed and held on to her, looking over his shoulder he motioned to James to go and get ready.
‘This is not punishment, this is me getting a cold because I went in the stream with James and sat around in wet clothes. It’s not an attack, I know an attack,’ he said, rubbing her back. He didn’t think it was a good time to tell her it was in fact a mild attack and sitting on the floor wasn’t helping matters. ‘Claudia, I’m not going to die, not for a good few years yet. I want to be around to teach our boys all the things my father never taught me.’
She looked at him full of hope, ‘You can’t promise that.’
‘Yeah, but I can promise when I get over this I won’t do anything silly to risk my health again. You and I are going to see the specialist, he’s going to explain everything to you and then we’re going to follow his advice.’
She looked at him in amazement, ‘You never follow his advice.’
‘Claudia, hasn’t it sunk in yet. I love you, with my heart and soul. I am going to do everything I can for you and if that means a life of abstinence I will.’
She smiled and began to help him up, ‘Hey.’
‘What?’ he asked fearing the worst.
‘Our boys?’
He shrugged, ‘I have a feeling.’
‘God save us all, three Bartlet men.’
Three days later his temperature was back to normal, he was back on his feet and apart from the odd sneeze no one would know he was even sick.
Leo decided to stay a while longer and was holed up in the kitchen talking on his cell when they entered bickering.
‘Tell him Leo, he needs to rest.’
‘It’s only a little fishing.’
Leo watched them bicker back and forwards grinning. Eventually CJ stopped and glared at him.
‘Okay Leopold what’s so funny?’
He grinned wider, ‘You’re acting like an old married couple.’
‘Huh,’ she grumbled. ‘At this rate the baby will be at college before we get married.’
He continued to grin.
‘Leo, you really don’t want to wind her up.’
‘What would she do if I told her the decree absolute would be in her hands in six weeks?’ he asked.
They both looked at him in anticipation.
‘That was Abbey. She signed the papers, they have a court date for Friday.’
‘Why?’ Jed asked.
Leo shrugged, ‘She loves you but I think it’s finally sunk in you’re not going back. And the scare, it made her see things from your point of view, you want to live what’s left of your life with CJ.’
‘You’re kidding?’ she cried.
He shook his head and she threw her arms around his neck. Pulling away she turned to Jed and launched herself at him, squeezing him tight, forgetting for the moment the challenges ahead.
Chapter Seven
CJ was on the phone when Jed walked in grinning to himself, she continued to listen to the person on the other end and watch his self satisfied smirk. Donna continued to rant on about her new job and CJ hurried to end the call.
‘Okay spill, what are you so happy about?’ She demanded resting the phone.
He hummed to himself.
‘Josiah, if you don’t tell me you’re gonna pay,’ she warned standing and stepping closer to him, her eyes sparking.
He held out the brown envelope to her, ‘Read.’
CJ tore at the paper and pulled the contents out. She scanned the sheet and stared at him, ‘It’s a marriage licence.’
‘Yeah, a special licence so we can get married anytime.’ He grinned to himself.
‘I haven’t said I will yet,’ she said.
Jed took her left hand in his, ‘That’s a shame because I bought these this morning…’
Her eyes lit up at the two rings, a solid gold band and the simple cut emerald.
‘….and the Justice has agreed to marry us on Saturday.’
CJ stood stunned, she had stopped pestering him about marriage when Abbey stalled the divorce and now he wanted them to be married in two days.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ He teased.
She took a sharp intake of breath and settled herself, ‘You still haven’t asked me.’
‘Oh hell Claudia. Look I know I’ve done it all wrong. I should have come in here and swept you off your feet with roses and sonnets, but I’m 65 and you’re four months pregnant so it’s not exactly practical. When I decided two days ago to plan this I knew I wanted to give you a quiet perfect wedding instead of some media circus but to do that I had to work fast. Now I can go down on one knee but I may never get up again, and I would like to be there on Saturday….’
CJ leaned down and lightly grazed his lips. He shut up and looked at her.
‘Yes.’
‘Thank god.’
She hit him lightly on the arm and held out her hand for the ring. He slipped it on to her finger and kissed her knuckles.
‘I need a new dress.’
‘Zoey will be here tomorrow to go shopping,’ he answered.
‘Does James know?’ she asked.
Jed shrugged, ‘He can’t keep secrets. Toby will fly in Saturday morning and Leo is on his way tonight. I’ve booked a table on the quay for lunch afterwards.’
CJ shook her head, ‘You have been busy.’
He ducked his head, ‘If the truth be known it’s good to finally be able to organise my own life, to spend a little money on you.’
She took another look at the ring, ‘Oh my god, I didn’t even notice. It’s stunning of course but it’s the one from the window. Oh Jed.’
She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately.
There was none of the usual chaos associated with the wedding day, no train of visitors and no expensive touches. Toby made them all breakfast as they read the papers. Charlie played ball in the garden with James while Zoey helped CJ dress and styled her hair. They took two cars to the registry office, parked up and waited in the lobby for their turn. The ceremony took less than twenty minutes as CJ stood in her navy blue dress which disguised the increasing bulge and Jed wore his inauguration suit. As they kissed the guests clapped and James jumped up and down on his sister’s lap.
Later the party of seven made it’s way to the Quayside restaurant and enjoyed good food and good company. The meal was lively as they toasted the happy couple and sliced the one tier cake.
The couple returned home that night to celebrate their wedding night as Leo informed the press that former President Bartlet had married CJ Cregg in a quiet ceremony in front of family and friends.
Chapter Eight
Jed had been thinking about it for some time, since James had entered his life really but now he was remarried it seemed appropriate to put his affairs in order.
As CJ went to work one morning he drove to a local solicitors.
The attorney recognised him immediately and went out of his way to suck up to him. They settled into their discussion before the man asked what he needed.
Jed came straight to the point. ‘As you may be aware I have an illness,‘ of course you know I have, the whole bloody country knows I have he thought. ‘I would like to put my affairs in order.’
‘Of course, what did you have in mind?‘
Jed leaned back in the chair, ‘I need a guardianship document drawn up for my son and the baby we are expecting. My wife and I would like to name Zoey, my daughter as guardian. That’s straightforward.’
‘Your wife needs to sign that,’ he said.
‘Yes, I understand that, CJ and I will come in together. I also need to draft a new will,‘ he added.
The attorney blinked before he asked, ‘And what sort of value are we discussing?’
Jed glared at him, ‘That I don’t think we need to discuss.’
The Attorney nodded his head, thinking to himself that it was worth trying.
‘My executors will be Leo McGarry and Josh Lyman.’
‘Not your wife?’
‘I trust the two of them to take care of her. Besides CJ wouldn’t want to get involved in the legal side of things. My bequests are here.’ He handed over a sheet of paper. ‘That leaves the bulk of my estate.‘
The attorney nodded his head, reaching for another sheet of paper.
‘To Claudia Jean Bartlet I leave $100,000 to do with as she wishes, the rest I divide equally between my five children, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Zoey, James Zachary and baby. Under all the usual criteria of course.’
‘Are there any personal effects you would like to distribute?’
Jed shook his head.
‘Okay Mr Bartlet, I’ll put that into effect. Was there anything else?’
Jed shook his head.
‘I’ll phone you in a few days and we can arrange for you to come in and read through.
Jed left the office feeling more relaxed than he had in a while, finally his new family would be taken care of and his last prognosis at the hospital had been good.
He arrived home to the blinking of the answer phone. He pressed the button as he shrugged out of his coat. His heart sank and he realised what CJ must go through every day when he heard the nurses’ voice.
‘Mr Bartlet, my name’s Jenny. I’m calling from Memorial Hospital, regarding your wife. If you can call me when you get this on….’
He was already out of the door before the message ended. The drive across town went by in a blur and he arrived at the emergency room twenty minutes later. He rushed to the desk and demanded to know where his wife was.
One of the nurses recognised him and took pity on the receptionist, leading him through to the cubicles.
CJ was sat up in bed, chatting as a nurse took her blood pressure.
‘Claudia, thank god,’ he cried.
‘You didn’t wait for the message did you?’ she chided.
‘I heard the word hospital and drove like a maniac.’
CJ sighed, ‘Please don’t do that on the way home.’
He looked down at her, eyes wide, ‘They’re releasing you?’
‘Yes Mr Bartlet. CJ fainted at work, they were concerned she may have injured herself so called an ambulance. We’ve done some tests, she fainted again but that may have been the needle or the blood we’re not sure. Anyway I was going to do an ultrasound so if you’d like to come with us,’ the doctor relayed entering the room.
Jed grinned, ‘Yes.’ He had missed out on so much with James he wasn’t going to miss a thing with this one.
He held firmly onto CJ’s hand as they wheeled up to the third floor, chatting about the baby. The doctor passed them over to the radiologist and left. Two minutes later the radiologist frowned and excused herself.
Jed looked at CJ who mirrored his own look of concern, and he squeezed her hand tighter. ‘Perhaps you’re further along than you think.’
She tried a small smile as the doctor entered with the woman. They both studied the screen and moved the instrument around before the doctor smiled at CJ.
‘CJ, do you want to know the sex?’ he asked.
She looked at Jed and indicated with her head it was his decision. He nodded.
‘Okay it’s a boy…’
Jed leaned in and kissed CJ on the head.
‘…and a girl.’
They both spun around.
‘Excuse me?’ CJ coughed.
‘Twins CJ, hence the rapid weight gain and the passing out. Your son is pressing against your spinal nerve.’
‘Typical, had to be the boy,’ she mumbled and turned to her husband. ‘Jed, are you okay, you’re looking a little green?’
He nodded, unable to speak the words.
CJ grinned, ‘This is good, I’ve never seen him this speechless. Can I go home?’
‘Sure, we’ll decrease the time between check ups and with your age I’ll probably bring you in a month early to induce.’
Jed found his tongue, ‘She’s, they’re going to be alright?’
‘Jed, I’m going to be just fine. Now take me home and feed me,’ she ordered.
He looked about to object, noticed the look in her eyes and merely nodded.
As they walked to the car he could barely contain his delight, humming to himself. CJ stole glances at him and grinned in return.
‘Thomas and Leonora,’ CJ said.
‘What?’
‘Names.’
Jed turned to stare at her, ‘You want to name our children after Leo?’
‘Or after Toby…’
She let the sentence hang as he continued to mutter all the way home.
Chapter Nine
Christmas came around all too quickly as they settled into married life and prepared for the expansion of their family.
Jed decided to make it one to remember. His illness hadn’t developed any further but it hung at the back of his mind. Finding CJ again made him want to live for whatever time they had left.
CJ was struggling with the pregnancy, whether she had had the same problems with James he wasn’t sure and she became irritable if he asked, actually most of the time she was just irritable. After much cajoling she had given up her teaching job when school broke up for the holidays and he had brought Zoey down to help her with the Christmas shopping.
Now that they were both home he was fussing over her and it was driving her crazy. He allowed her to do very little, taking on the housework himself, ordering take away most evenings when he destroyed yet another pan and turning the house into some sort of Santa’s grotto.
She loved him for trying to make Christmas something to remember but at the back of her mind she worried he was holding something back, that his condition was worsening. The fact that she felt fat and flabby didn‘t help matters, nor did the fact that one of the twins had shifted position to rest on her bladder. All in all she longed for February and the birth, anything to be able to walk more than a few yards and to have Jed out of her hair.
It was six o’clock on Christmas morning and James was already jumping up and down on the bed when CJ awoke. Jed was trying to keep him quiet to no avail. CJ rolled over and planted a light kiss on each of them.
‘Good morning. Has Santa been?’
‘Yeah, there’s a sack, and boxes and a big box,’ he emphasised widening his arms.
CJ grinned, ‘Shall we tell him?’
‘Am I getting a puppy?’
Jed ruffled his hair, ‘No. But you’re getting a baby brother…’
‘Ah, I know that.’
‘…and a baby sister.’
James continued to stare between them, ‘Okay, can we open the presents.’
CJ laughed and cuddled him, ‘Go and wake Uncle Leo up and mommy and daddy will meet you down there.’
He climbed over his father and disappeared down the corridor.
Jed leaned over and kissed her. ‘Merry Christmas Claudia,’ he whispered before leaning to place a series of kisses on her belly.
‘They wriggle when you do that. Are we going to tell the others?’ she asked.
He nodded.
‘Will you get off me?’ came a cry down the corridor. ‘Okay, okay, I’m coming.’
‘We’d better go and join them.’
They made their way downstairs and into the sitting room. Leo was lowering himself onto the floor as they entered and James was starting to shake his presents. Jed and CJ stood in the doorway watching him, smiling at how wonderful it was to be able to enjoy this.
Leo turned, ‘You know with two of them next year you’re going to need a bigger house.’
CJ smiled, ‘Three.’
‘I’m sorry, three what?’ His face could hardly conceal his confusion.
CJ rubbed her stomach as she crossed to sit behind him, ‘Next year there will be James, Thomas and Leonora.’
His face widened into a grin, ‘Wow, guys that’s great.’ He glanced at Jed, ‘This is going to be fun.’
James looked at them, ‘Can I open my presents?’
‘Yeah when Leo stops torturing me.’
‘That may be never, who’d thought you had it in you,’ Leo teased.
James was getting impatient and CJ nodded at him. He began ripping paper off the box and yelled in delight when the go kart materialised. Seconds later he was attacking the other presents as Jed joined his wife on the sofa and nestled her close to him. Even he had to admit next year was going to be some Christmas.
Jed watched as CJ settled herself at the table and grinned to himself. She looked tired but happy and that was what was most important to him.
Toby came in carrying the turkey with Donna behind him with the vegetables and CJ grinned across at him. This was what he had wanted to give her for Christmas a family Christmas. The year before Toby had still been in hospital, Josh and Donna had spent the day with Sam and he had sat around the waiting room. And before that CJ and James had spent it alone, and he had been with Abbey and the girls. He missed them all but Zoey had called earlier and Annie had sent a present, so at least things were improving. It was great to see them together, Leo, Toby and Andi, Josh and Donna and his wife all relaxed and enjoying themselves.
CJ had been excited ever since he announced they were all coming and now as they settled down to eat she was grinning and motioning with her head for him to speak.
‘My wife has just instructed me to say the blessing,’ he started, ‘and I’ve never been one to argue with her so here goes. I would like to bless the food we are about to share, to bless our friends who share with us, to thank god for my son, and for my girls. And I would like to pass thanks for my beautiful wife and our two babies.’
Four heads shot up and matched his grin.
‘Thomas and Leonora, one of each,’ CJ added.
Jed raised his hand before Josh could speak, ‘And yes I do have it in me.’
Josh went red, ‘How did you know?’
CJ reached across and picked at the stuffing, ‘Let’s just say it’s been said a lot lately. Anyway I’m looking for volunteers to take care of these two when I’m in hospital.’
‘Hey,’ he pouted, ‘I can manage.’
CJ shook her head, ‘I have three pans that say otherwise, the plumber is refusing to fix the washing machine anymore and I’d like it if James didn’t spend his free time learning latin.’
‘If you don’t mind my tagging along Toby would love to,’ Andi announced.
‘No problem, now can we eat I’m starving. Someone pass the treacle.’
‘Hey, you’re naming them after Leo?’ Josh said passing the jar across.
‘Don’t go there,’ Jed ordered.
‘What’s wrong with naming them after me?’
‘Ah….’ Jed hung his head as CJ started on another of her rants about names.
Chapter Ten
Jed wanted to surprise her on Valentines Day, throw her the works before she went into hospital the following day. Except for one slight problem. CJ was in the bath when he woke up, he knew that because she was humming or groaning. Climbing out of bed he ambled across to stand in the doorway, he watched her for a few minutes, admiring how sexy she was, pregnant with his children.
She looked up and caught him with a pointed look.
‘What are you doing? It’s…’ he glanced at his watch. ‘Four am.’
‘Trying not to wake you.’
‘Okay, so come back to bed and I’ll rub your back.’ he suggested.
She let out a scream, biting down on a flannel to muffle the noise then she began to pant. Seconds later she stopped and motioned to him.
‘You know, you might want to put some clothes on.’
‘Huh.’
She shook her head and began to stand, ‘For an educated man you suck. I’m in labour. So go get dressed and phone the delivery suite.’
He continued to stare at her.
She took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Toby.’ He arrived as she was pulling a robe around her. He blushed at the sight of the former President naked and adverted his eyes.
‘You bellowed.’
‘SOMeone needs to get me to the hospital, someone needs to get my bag, someone needs to phone the midwife and my husband needs to get dressed,’ she yelled as the next contraction came over her.
Andi appeared in the doorway in a t-shirt, ‘god help us.’ She pushed Toby out of the door, handed Jed a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt and picked up the phone. Which is around the time Jed started to panic. Andi groaned and rushed into Toby’s room to get dressed. When she returned CJ was leaning against the bureau, her bag at her feet and Jed was rushing around looking for keys. Calmly Andi picked up the keys, handed Jed the bag pushing him ahead, and aided CJ down the stairs. Once outside she gave Jed the keys and sat in back trying to help CJ through the contractions.
‘Jed, can I ask you one question? Were you present at the birth of your girls?’
He shook his head, ‘Nah.’
CJ mumbled something incoherent before she started screaming. As they reached the hospital the nurse was waiting to whisk her off in a wheelchair. Leaving Jed to park Andi followed the expectant mother.
‘I’m sorry but we only let the father in the delivery room,’ the nurse announced.
‘She’s fucking staying,’ CJ screamed, ‘or so help me god someone is going to get hurt.’
‘Claudia, do you need anything?’ Jed asked sticking his head in the door.
She growled and reached for his arm. Andi helped pull him in and grinned as his hand went white.
The doctor appeared and said hello in the general direction of CJ’s stomach. Bending down he had a feel around and smiled as he came back up.
‘Good news CJ, we won’t have to induce.’
She gave him the famous death glare.
‘Bad news, it’s too close to give you anything for the pain.’
Jed screamed as she squeezed his hand.
‘Now don’t push until I tell you.’
‘I remember now why I said I wouldn’t do this again,’ she seethed, ‘and you…’ She yelled again and began to pant. Jed’s hand went whiter and taking pity Andi moved to her other side.
The air got bluer as CJ expressed her displeasure at the pain, her husband, the doctor and a few choice comments about the press. Andi tried to stifle a grin as Jed flushed at words he definitely hadn’t heard his wife use before.
Suddenly the doctor called out, ‘the next one push.’
‘Fuck you,’ CJ replied.
‘I’m sorry, my wife didn’t mean that,’ Jed apologized.
‘Too bloody right I did you pompous son….ah,’ she cried as the next one came over. All hands went to work as CJ pushed and tried to control her breathing. The doctor signalled for Jed to join him as the first head appeared.
When Jed came around five minutes later Andi was cradling his son and CJ had his daughter. Jed slowly got off the trolley and crossed the room, leaning in he got the first good look at his children.
His daughter lay with her eyes closed, her jet black curls covering her head. His son lay staring up at him, brown eyes and red hair, just like his mother.
‘Wow, Claudia…’ Tears sprung to his eyes.
CJ reached out and squeezed his arm, ‘Leonora, this is your daddy,’ she whispered handing him the small white bundle. Jed took his daughter in his arms for the first time and kissed his wife on the forehead, wondering for a second if there was anyway he could love her anymore than he did right then, and secondly now that they were here what the future would bring.
The End