*~*~*~*

The New Years party had been Abbey’s idea. She had wanted an opportunity for the staff to let their hair down, a sort of preview for the inaugural balls, without the press loitering around. Close family and friends were duly gathered in the State Room. Earlier the mansion staff had spent over an hour hanging strands of multi-colored fairy lights from the ceilings and pillars and covering the tables in lavish displays of flowers and candles. It was exactly as she had envisioned.

As the snow continued to fall outside, the guests had enjoyed a lavish three course banquet and an endless flow of champagne. The lights had been turned down low and soft music filled the air. It was a perfect evening with an air of romance.

Or at least some of the guests were finding it romantic, just not quite as many as Abbey had hoped.

Leo had invited Jordan and they were ensconced in the corner of the room, holding hands and talking in whispers as the party went on around them. They had barely moved all night and for once he had not been distracted by work.

Donna and her latest beau were dancing, cheek to cheek, oblivious to a pair of eyes watching them from across the room. They were wrapped up in the first flushes of romance as Josh nursed his glass of beer and plotted how to destroy their date.

Then there was Toby, his arms wrapped around his pregnant ex-wife, the slightest of smiles lighting up his face. They moved slowly to the music as he tried unsuccessfully to convince her to marry him again.

Abbey sipped at her glass of Chardonnay and smiled. Everyone seemed to enjoying themselves and for once she could let her hair down and spend time with her friends. It had taken two glasses of wine for her to relax, four to be in the merry state she was now enjoying and she fully intended to be drunk by evening‘s end.

“Jackass,” she mumbled to her husband as his fingers once more worked their way up her thigh.

“All I said was. . .”

“That Jordan was looking foxy, yeah, I heard.”

Jed groaned. His wife was drunk and he’d somehow put his foot in it at some point. “I wasn’t singling her out.”

That much she knew. Her husband had been barely able to take his eyes off of his Press Secretary all night. Not that she couldn’t understand. CJ looked stunning in the simple red Ungaro column dress, her hair pinned high on her head. Every guy in the room had been ogling her since she arrived.

“You should close your mouth, you’re drooling,” Abbey said dryly.

It was going to be one of those evenings and there was nothing he could do about it, Jed concluded. He sighed audibly and returned his attention to the woman making her way across the dance floor. CJ was looking hot, and if he wasn’t still half way in love with her he’d put it down to lust, except he still did harbor feelings for her.

“CJ,” Abbey called softly from her table, waving her wine glass.

“Ma’am?” CJ asked, startled, heading towards the First Couple’s table. She had been a little late to the party, which was nothing new, and had been trying to catch up all evening, hence the slightly light-headedness she now felt.

“Jed would like to dance with you, but he has this inferiority complex going on tonight,” Abbey teased earning herself an evil glare from her husband. “He thinks you’ve grown.”

CJ‘s eyes widened for a second before she composed herself quickly. “Ah, would it help if I took my shoes off, Sir?”

Yeah, he thought, that would help, my chin would nestle nicely in your cleavage. Which he had to admit was the drink talking - a little champagne, half of Josh’s beer and his medications - but hey she looked sexy as hell. “Claudia Jean, get your backside on the dance floor.” So that was probably a little inappropriate but he couldn't resist the urge. His eyes scanned the immediate vicinity and he relaxed in the knowledge there was no one nearby to overhear.

“It was his pick up lines that made me fall in love with him,” Abbey offered, rolling her eyes. “Jed, dearest, you need to be a little more subtle.”

It had been a while, CJ had to admit, since they had danced. It was hard to be professional when she could feel his hip pressing against hers, so she had stuck to dancing with the senior staff at official functions. Of course this was Abbey’s party and the First Lady seemed intent on having fun and causing waves. If CJ refused there would be questions later and knowing Abbey, a little teasing. The trouble was Abbey wouldn‘t be far off the mark.

Smiling, CJ draped her wrap over the nearest chair and leaned over to remove her shoes. “Yes, Sir.”

The President chose that moment to look down and felt the blood rush to his head. Her dress had slipped giving him a generous view of her cleavage, the gathered bodice giving her additional lift.

“Jed, you’re looking a little flushed there,” Abbey remarked, grinning inanely. She should be jealous, she knew, but Jed had always had a crush on CJ, Leo had too for that matter. In fact it had been a source of much teasing over the years, but he would never act of it, nor would CJ. She trusted her husband and her friend. CJ had sacrificed more than most for Jed and Abbey wasn’t about to begrudge them their friendship.

Jed looked like a startled rabbit until he realized both women were watching him with a smirk. “So now you’re ganging up on me?”

“It’s a girl thing, Sir,” CJ offered, moving towards the dance floor.

“And CJ, honey, we’re gonna do our thing next week,” Abbey called after her.

“What thing?” Jed asked, confused, trotting after her, his eyes drawn to the pale skin at the base of her spine.

“The girl thing - excessive alcohol, chocolate and shopping,” CJ clarified. There had been a time when she had thought her friendship with Abbey was over. Now they seemed to be getting back on a even keel, sharing gossip and having lunch occasionally. Of course it had become easier now that the guilt had subsided, now that she wasn‘t betraying their relationship.

“You know she’s after something, right?”

CJ shook her head and smiled. “But I get the impression it won’t be at my expense.”

As he slipped one arm around her waist, Jed reached up and took her hand in his. Think professional he told himself as he closed the gap between them and his fingers grazed her bare back. “I thought you might have brought Danny tonight,” Jed commented casually.

“Danny and I aren’t dating, Mr. President,” CJ said quickly, glancing down at him wide eyed. “Nothing’s changed, he’s a reporter and I’m your Press secretary.” She didn’t add that as much as she enjoyed Danny’s return and the gentle teasing, it wasn’t Danny she dreamed about at night. Although the kiss had been nice, very nice. Then Danny, being Danny, had brought work into their relationship and the next thing she knew they were fighting about Qumar.

Her eyes scrutinized the man before her. If her hunch was right, and there was too much evidence for it not to be, then the President was involved in the murder of Shareef. She didn't need to know why although at some point it was a conversation she would have to have with Leo. The President was a religious man. she could only imagine what it was doing to him. He would need her help and support when the time came, not questions. That much she owed him, that much she could give him.

Jed felt a surge of something and his lips tweaked up in a grin. “Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?”

CJ felt the blush creep across her chest. “No, Sir, you haven’t.”

“Claudia, you look stunning,” he whispered, beginning to lead her in small circles around the dance floor.

“Thank you, Sir.” The flush swept across her neck.

“And I haven’t thanked you for everything you’ve done this year, especially in the last few months,” he added, locking eyes with her and trying unsuccessfully to count steps as he went. He almost tripped but her hand on his shoulder stopped him, pulling his body flush against hers.

“Just doing my job,” she mumbled, glancing away and nibbling her lip.

Jed shook his head and tugged at her hand until she turned back. “Above and beyond the call of duty, I think.”

“Nah, the job I can handle, it’s babysitting the boys I can’t,” she scoffed, giving him a wry smile.

The job hadn’t been what she had anticipated the last year. Simon’s death had been the hardest to deal with. Her eyes watered still as she thought about his murder and the kid who was now serving life for it. Then there was the stalker. That hadn’t been part of her contract. But then there were also the good times, her friends and the successes. They were why she wouldn’t leave. Somehow it had all come together again with the debate and the election. They had been given four more years, she had four more years to watch over him and for that she was grateful.

Jed reached up on tip toe and pressed his lips lightly to hers. It was an innocent kiss to any observer, a thank you to a friend, but CJ’s eyes fluttered shut. Her stomach did the strange little flip it did anytime they were close and she glanced furtively around the room.

“Any New Year resolutions?” he asked, lowering himself back to the ground and studying her face. His eyes danced at her flushed cheeks and her eyes as they glazed over.

She couldn’t tell him what she really wanted, the simple thing that would make the new year a happy one because it was impossible and wrong.

“You probably think resolutions are silly,” he chuckled. “But I have one - that I’m going to make changes, the ones that I’ve wanted to implement for years.”

That was if he was allowed to. If Danny didn’t publish the story about Qumar, if Qumar didn’t discover it was him that ordered the hit, if his MS stayed at bay. He wasn’t going to waste the next four years avoiding the difficult issues. It wasn’t what he became President for.

“I don’t doubt it for a second,” she offered wistfully.

His hand dipped lower on her back as a new piece of music started and he began to move again. “Seriously though, CJ. I want to thank you for everything you’ve done, everything you have been willing to put yourself through to. . .”

Her voice when she found it came hoarse and barely audible. “Jed?”

His eyes found hers and he was surprised by the depth of emotion he found there. “I know it can’t have been easy. . .”

“Jed, please,” she whispered, her hand squeezing his. “I’m here because I want to be. I love my job.” I love you, she wanted to add, but that was the past, all they could hope for now was the future.

“Good, because I can’t imagine the next four years without you.” He couldn’t imagine his life without her, her friendship. “I value you and your judgement. . . I need your friendship.”

It was the truth, maybe a little too much to admit, but the alcohol gave him courage he usually found himself without. He needed her know he still cared, that despite the impossibility of the situation, he wasn’t over her, that she still held a place in his heart.

“The fireworks are starting,” CJ announced, embarrassed, her lips dangerously close to his ear as they danced. She knew she was blushing, that his admittance was more than an admission of respect. “People are starting to go out onto the balcony.”

“Then, being the pyromaniac that I am, I should be out there,” he grinned, pulling back and releasing her waist. “If I don’t get to say it later, Happy New Year.”

“Happy New Year,” she responded, leaning down and kissing his cheek, a chaste kiss between boss and employee.

“Come on, CJ, you’re missing the show,” Josh yelled from the door, his skin flushed as he struggled to stay upright. Too many beers and more than a little jealousy causing him to grip the door frame as he teetered.

CJ sighed. “I should go.” She didn't want to leave his embrace. His arms around her made her feel safe and loved and she really didn‘t want to be anywhere else. But she had to go, a moment longer and she‘d forget their positions and she wouldn‘t let that happen.

He nodded reluctantly.

Abbey was waiting by the dance floor for him, her wrap pulled tightly around her shoulders, her own stocking clad feet shoeless. “You two looked serious.”

“I was just thanking her. . .” he trailed off, slipping his hand into Abbey’s. Abbey understood him too well to finish that sentence.

“She doesn’t need your thanks, Jed. She’s here because she loves you, they all do.”

Jed kissed his wife’s forehead and guided her out onto the balcony. He wondered if Abbey knew how right she was, what CJ‘s love for him had cost her, what the two women and their love had enabled him to do. He hoped not for all their sakes.

“I love you too, Jackass.”

He smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “I love you, too.”

The sky lit up as the first of the fireworks exploded over the horizon and inside the clock struck midnight. A new year was beginning.

The End