Madam President (59 page)

Lauren glanced uncertainly at the children who were talking among themselves. They giggled and punched each other periodically, and she thought she heard the words 'boobie' and 'naked'.
Oh, God!
she groaned inwardly. Lauren turned back to Dev and gestured between them with a quick hand. "Isn't this the kind of thing that turns kids into serial killers and stuff?" She was half teasing, but this was painfully awkward for her, and she fought the urge to simple bury herself under the blankets or bolt from the room. A grown up she could have dealt with. Hell, what could be worse than Dev's own mother walking in on them at the cabin? It didn't matter that it was purely innocent. Janet didn't know that. But this... this was different. These were kids!

Dev had to bite her lip to keep from laughing as she reached to the end of the bed to fetch her robe. "No." She handed it to Lauren. "It's a lack of honesty about things like this that turns them into serial killers. Lauren, they've seen me naked before." Dev decided to tease Ashley, so she raised her voice. She waited until Lauren had slipped into the robe before she said loudly, "I was naked and in a swimming pool when I gave birth to Ash, for heaven's sake." She grinned when the little girl whirled around and narrowed brown eyes at her. Dev shot the small brunette a 'serves you right' look and ordered all the children to turn around and apologize to Lauren.

"We're sorry," they muttered, pointedly looking at Dev and not Lauren.

Dev tilted her head towards her lover and turned up the heat in her glare. "What was that, kids? And to Lauren, not me."

"Sorry, Lauren." This time the voices were clear, and the blonde woman was presented with three contrite faces.

Christopher bravely spoke up. "We didn't mean to scare you."

"S'okay, kids." Lauren smiled to make sure they knew she wasn't angry with them and was instantly greeted with three relieved sighs. "It just takes my brain a few minutes to wake up." Her eyes flicked back to Dev. "And let's not talk about giving birth, shall we?" She shivered at the thought of all that gore. "I'm still traumatized from watching Princess have those puppies."

"And Ash was probably just as ugly!" Chris exclaimed, to his brother's delight. Both boys began laughing.

"Was not!" the little girl shouted back, punching Christopher hard on the arm.

"Ouch!"

"All right, guys, that's enough," Dev snapped. "Go into the living room and give Lauren and me a minute or two. We'll meet you out there."

"'Kay." Ashley rousted her brothers towards the door, but ran back to Lauren's bedside before leaving herself. "I really didn't mean to scare you. Sorry." She grinned tentatively. "We like it when you're here. You can sleep over as much as you want."

Lauren couldn't help but smile. She reached out and smoothed Ashley's sleep-tousled hair. "Thank you, honey. I'll remember that." She cupped the little girl's chin and tilted her head so that they were looking eye to eye. "And I'm sure you were a cuter baby than Grem's puppies." She stuck out her tongue and scrunched up her face. "Barely."

Ashley giggled and gave Lauren a hug, "Mom says I was the most beautiful girl baby. And she never lies."

Lauren gazed fondly at Ashley. "I know, sweetie."

Ashley pulled away when Dev cleared her throat and jerked her thumb towards the door, reminding her eldest that she was supposed to be vacating the room.

"Gotta go." Ashley giggled as she ran out to meet her brothers. "You were uglier than me, Chris! There are pictures to prove it."

Lauren laughed and shook her head, thinking that she should have guessed Devlyn would have such a precocious daughter.

"Oh, yeah," Dev sighed, leaning back against the headboard and opening her arms to Lauren. "It's happening."

"What's happening, darlin'?" Lauren sank back into Dev's embrace, sighing contentedly. Surprisingly, she already felt a lot less embarrassed. She would make sure it didn't happen again, and Dev seemed okay with it. The kids seemed to consider it more funny than traumatic. Of course
she
was a little traumatized, but she'd get over exposing herself to three munchkins.

"You're turning into a mom," Dev said with an air of finality. She brushed her fingers through Lauren's hair. "You'll know the process is complete when you're cleaning 'fudgesicle-face' with a napkin wet with your own spit."

"Ewwwwww!" Lauren moaned. She buried her face against Dev's warm skin, then laughed. "That particular aspect of motherhood is something I will never experience, Madam President."

"And the other aspects?" Dev felt her heart skip a beat. "I'm sort of a package deal." She held her breath and waited.

Lauren pulled back to look at Dev's face. "I know, honey." She smiled reassuringly and laid her hand over Dev's heart. The pounding under her fingertips sent a pang through her own chest. "Everything else I take one day at a time."

"It scares the hell out of you, doesn't it?"

"Pretty much. But not as much as it did before." Her gaze softened, and she found herself wanting to kiss Dev in the worst way. Lauren leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against Dev's, savoring their warmth and her lover's tender, heartfelt response.

The darker woman hummed into the soft mouth pressed against her own, returning the kiss with her whole heart. "Things are going to be great, Lauren," she muttered softly, taking a final nip of Lauren's lower lip before pulling away. "You'll see."

Lauren licked her lips and grinned happily. "Things are already great."

*
 
*
 
*

Dev knelt down, tugging on Aaron's jacket as she zipped it up. He was about to protest again when she raised a finger to silence him. "It's chilly out today. You're wearing a jacket."

"But-"

"Or you can stay home today while Lauren, and your brother and sister and I, go to the zoo. You choose, son."

He lowered his head, then looked back up. "Yes, ma'am. I'll wear the jacket."

"I kinda figured." She nodded and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. She glanced up at Lauren, who was standing next to her wearing a grin. "And where's your jacket, missy?" A playful brow quirked. "I'll be happy to take you to your room to get it, if you need me to."

Lauren wrapped her arm round Dev's waist as the President stood to her full height. She lowered her voice. "You just want to get me alone in my room."
I just want you to get me alone my room,
her mind admitted happily.

"Do you blame me? We always have so much fun there. Besides, you want me to get you alone in there too." She winked.
Oh, yeah. I read your mind.
“Sorry to disappoint, but right now I have a much more wholesome motive. I just want to make sure you're warm enough. You're just getting over being sick." She held up her hands to forestall any interjection. "Yes, I know it was last month. But you see, in mom and girlfriend time, that would be 'just getting over being sick'. Humor me."

Lauren rolled her eyes, but couldn't keep from smiling. "Okay, mom," she teased. "I'll grab one on the way out... just like I was planning on doing anyway." She rose up on tiptoe and kissed Dev softly on the lips. "But it's nice that you care." Another tender kiss. "It's sweet, like you."
And makes my heart feel like bursting.

"I'll give you 'mom'." Playfully, Dev swatted Lauren's behind as the entire troop began heading down the hall towards the waiting motorcade. "I'll remind you of that little wisecrack tonight, when you want to be tucked into bed." She chuckled.

"Ewww..." Lauren made a face. "Why must you keep doing that? You need help, Devlyn."

"Ah, probably true," Dev agreed unrepentantly as they stopped outside Lauren's room. "It comes with the job. I think my brain cells are dying faster now." She tapped on the door as the kids giggled and romped all around them. "G'wan. Go get a nice warm jacket."

Lauren ducked into her room, grabbing a lined denim jacket from the closet next to the door and her camera from the top of her desk. "Is this good enough?" She held it for Dev's inspection with one hand and looped the camera strap around her neck with the other.

Dev nodded her approval and freed Lauren's hair from the strap around her neck. Another few seconds and Lauren was wearing the jacket. Dev blinked in mild surprise when Ashley and Christopher each took one of Lauren's hands the very second they popped through the jacket's sleeves and began leading her biographer down the hall without a backwards glance. Dev looked down at her youngest. "You're stuck with me, buddy. Will I do?"

He nodded and smiled, reaching up with both arms so Dev would pick him up.

Dev looked at him doubtfully. "You think I can lift a chubby thing like you, do you?"

His grin broadened, putting dimples in his plump cheeks. "Yup."

Dev pursed her lips. "Lucky for you I work out." She scooped up her husky son easily, settling him against her good shoulder as they moved to the door.

As usual, the Press was waiting outside, snapping pictures of the First Family as they walked. Out of reflex, Dev shielded Aaron's face and was pleased to see Lauren using her own body to block their view of Ashley and Christopher. Several members of the Press Corps had been invited to the zoo in order to take photos. They, however, knew better than to be too obtrusive. Dev had been very generous with Press access. And none of the Corps was anxious to do anything that might harm that relationship. As they settled the children into the car, Dev leaned over to Lauren and whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Lauren whispered back, her expression turning sour. "I don't know how you do this year after year, Devlyn. Sometimes I think if I have to deal with one more of those bast-" She finished the mumbled word with Dev's palm clamped firmly over her mouth.

Dev shook her head and grinned. "Careful there, Mighty Mouse. You almost slipped in front of my innocent," she glanced at her children and contorted her face into the silliest pose she could come up with, "impressionable kids."

The children all giggled, looking at Lauren and saying in unison, "But she's very, very sorry, mom. And she'll try to do better in the future."

With wide eyes, Lauren nodded and crossed her heart. "I'll try to do better in the future," she dutifully repeated when Dev removed her hand.

"That's a good girl. My father is a bad enough influence. But I love you anyway," Dev said fondly, ignoring her children's groaned protests over her mushiness. She took a moment to look at the notes Liza had given her earlier in the morning. "Did you know I'm delivering a speech at the zoo today – at the monkey house? I'm dedicating it." She nudged Lauren. "Do you think someone is trying to tell me something about my administration?"

"I hope not." Lauren intentionally kept her voice light as she carefully studied her lover. She knew Dev was apprehensive about this. It was her first local appearance since the shooting. Lauren wrapped her fingers around Dev's, feeling an uncharacteristic chill. "Hey," she whispered softly, her gaze straying for just a moment to find that the children had begun playing with the activity books Emma had sent along for them. She looked back to Dev. "Are you okay?"

"Umm...well..."
Oh, boy, Marlowe, she's got your number.
“I’m a little nervous, you know? I can't seem to help it."

Lauren leaned closer to the President, worry coloring her tone. "Is there any reason to be worried? More than normal, that is?" She knew Dev didn't really believe there was a high level of danger. Otherwise, neither she nor the kids would be coming along. Still, when Dev had mentioned giving her speech, a tiny, worried crease had appeared in her forehead.

"No, of course not. The zoo is actually only open to government employees today. And while that doesn't mean everyone there loves me, it does make things a little more secure than usual." She turned and caressed Lauren's cheek. "Besides, you know I'd never allow you or the children to be put in harm's way. I've just got butterflies." Dev swallowed and licked suddenly dry lips. Her voice grew even softer, so that the children wouldn't hear. "Sometimes I can still hear the shots." She gazed out the window, her eyes unfocused. "I guess it's going to take longer than I realized to get over that."