Author: Faye Dartmouth (fayedartmouth@hotmail.com)

Summary: Life for those in the West Wing starts taking some twists and
turns.

Warnings: This story is a sequel to "Russian Roulette" so if you're reading
this and wondering who someone is, you might want to read it. However, in
this one, there's a lot more relationship-- I mean a lot more and a lot more
characters getting involved. So, I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: Well, duh, they're not mine. This is for fun (and to help me
procrastinate). However, there are some characters from my imagination and
I think you can probably spot them.

CHAPTER ONE

Curled snug beneath her covers, Zoey felt herself become partially awake.
She rolled to her side, feeling the warm sunlight pouring in from her dorm
window. As she repositioned herself in the bed, her arm fell across the
body next to her. With a new motivation, she opened her eyes, remember what
had transpired the night before.

Charlie Young lay next to her, still asleep. His bare chest seemed so
perfect in the early sunlight, that she couldn't help but run her fingers
over it. With the touch of her hand, Charlie stirred. He opened his eyes,
and saw Zoey, a smile immediately spreading over his face.

"Good morning," Zoey whispered softly.

"Morning," Charlie said.

"You should probably get up now, or you'll be late," Zoey said frankly,
looking slightly apologetic. "I don't want to get you in trouble with your
job."

"What time is it?" Charlie asked, stretching.

"Seven in the morning," Zoey said.

Charlie groaned. "I'm already late."

"Really? I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault," Charlie said. "I've always been on time before, so
I'm sure the President will understand."

"You're sure Deena's alright?"

"She spent the night at a friends house. She won't be home until I pick
her up after work tonight," Charlie explained, rolling out of Zoey's bed.

"Are you sure you won't get in trouble?" Zoey worried.

"Well, if I hurry, I can still make the President's wake up call. Today he
gets to sleep in late for probably the first time all term. He doesn't have
a meeting until ten o'clock, so he won't really notice the difference."

"As long as you're sure," Zoey said.

Pausing from his dressing, he leaned down to kiss Zoey. Confidently, he
assured her, "I'm sure."

"Okay. You know, can I ride to the White House with you? I'm supposed to
go with my mom to pick up my sister at the airport."

"Sure," Charlie said. "Your sister's moving to town, right?"

"Yep," Zoey said, sitting up and brushing her hair. "Her and her two kids."

"Well, alright. But you better hurry up," Charlie warned her. "Or we
might be really late."

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

The sun still low in the eastern sky illuminated the offices of the West
Wing. It gave everything a warmer, more cheerful glow, but too often there
was too much action going on for anyone to notice. In his office, Sam was
sitting, waiting for his call to be transferred. When the now familiar,
"Hello?" sounded on the other end of the line, he immediately straightened
in his chair.

"Hi, Caelan, it's me," he said.

"Hey, Sam."

"Well, I was just making sure you were coming tonight. To watch the
inauguration."

"Sure, I guess."

"I mean, we were going to just watch it together-it feels good to watch
your victories. And for starting out so poorly, this whole Russian thing
turned out pretty good," Sam rambled hopelessly.

"I know," Caelan enthused. "I never thought that Markov would become the
little democracy spouting general that he is. You guys sure knew how to
talk to him."

"Well, we never would have got him here to talk to him if it hadn't been
for you. That's why you're welcome to come as we revel in our victory. It
could even be your day of jubilee."

"Day of jubilee?"

"Long story," Sam said.

"Oh."

"So you'll be here?"

"Yes."

"Will Mr. Johansen come?"

"I doubt it. He has to take his son to a sporting event of some kind-I
don't know."

"But you will be there."

"I said I would."

"Okay," Sam said, happily. "I'll see you then, then."

"Okay, Sam. Bye."

"Bye," he said, and waited as she hung up. With a silly grin plastered
over his face, he set down the phone. This was definitely looking like a
good day.

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

Despite what he told Zoey, Charlie was slightly nervous as he and Zoey
walked into the White House. He was in time to go make sure the President
would be up in an hour, but he was unsure how he would react learning that
Charlie had been late. But Zoey walking happily by his side helped him keep
his façade of casualness.

They went up to the residence, where Zoey knocked lightly on the door,
insisting that her parents never slept this late. When she heard a gruff,
"Come in!" she smiled at Charlie and opened the door.

"Hi, Daddy. Hi, Mom," Zoey greeted her parents, Charlie staying near the
doorway. Jed and Abbey were still in their pajamas, but were very much
awake.

Abbey smiled at her youngest daughter. "Good morning, dear."

Jed eyed Charlie standing awkwardly in the doorway. "A little late today,
aren't we Charlie?" he asked.

Zoey glanced back at her boyfriend who appeared nervous to speak, and then
said, "Sorry, Dad. That's my fault. I insisted he take me out to breakfast
this morning and things just went late. But you're not busy until later, so
it's okay, right?"

Her father looked at her suspiciously. Zoey was his baby girl, and in many
ways, she still had him wrapped around her little finger. "I suppose. But
you can't make a habit of it," Jed said, trying to maintain his image of
being the most powerful man in the world.

"Don't worry, sir," Charlie said. "It won't happen again."

"Good," Jed said.

"I actually should go and get started on my work. You'll be down in an
hour, right, Mr. President?"

"Yes, of course," Jed said absently. Charlie kissed Zoey goodbye, and went
out the door.

"So," Abbey said. "You're still going to pick up Becca with me, right?"

"Of course," Zoey said.

"I can't wait to see those two granddaughters of mine," Abbey said.

"I just wish it were under better circumstances," Jed commented softly, as
he climbed out of bed.

"She still misses Eric a lot, doesn't she?" Zoey asked.

"Yes," Abbey sighed. "It's been a year since he died but that's never
easy. It's good that she's coming up. That way she can be around the
family more."

"There'll be a handful of Secret Service to take you up to the airport,"
Jed said, as he gathered up some clothing. "Make sure you do what they tell
you. Airports are very busy places."

"Don't worry, Jed," Abbey said. "Go take your shower."

Jed glared at her, and then disappeared into the bathroom.

"And you," Abbey said, turning back to her daughter. "Go wait in the other
room. I'll get dressed and we'll be ready to go."

TBC