Incest/Taboo Lady in Red

Gwen and Steve didn't conceal their surprise as they looked at each other and then back at Jordan, who continued to speak. "I'm sure that she never thought about the fallout and problems it would cause you. She only told me because someone recognized them having dinner at a Washington restaurant a few hours ago and it's all over the news already. We all know Mom's questionable past. She could ruin Vince's career, including his chances to be approved as Vice President. I'm so sorry!"

"Jordan, please don't let this upset you," replied Gwen as she hugged her dear friend. "Vince is a great guy and he's been alone long enough. You should be happy for them."

"I am, except for the trouble this will cause you, and Mom. We all know the press will bring up every mistake Mom's ever made, and she's made more than her share over the years."

"I know that she helped take care of Cynthia Rosen when they stayed at Asgard, but I never guessed it would lead to a romance with Vince. Has this been going on very long?" asked Steve calmly.

"Mom said that they kind of 'clicked' when she was helping with Cynthia, but she swears that she hadn't seen or heard from Vince since Cynthia's funeral. At least not until Vince came back to Washington recently to meet with Gwen. She said they've gotten together a couple of times after he called and asked her to dinner one day. He's going to be contacting you, Gwen, to ask if you want him to withdraw his name from consideration because he's not going to stop seeing Mom."

"I'll have to discuss this with the others, but my first reaction is to ask Vince not to pull his name from consideration. What do you think, Steve?" asked Gwen.

"I have mixed emotions," admitted Steve. "I'm delighted that Cindy and Vince found each other. They deserve to be happy. However, Jordan has a point about her mom's past. The press will dig and they'll turn up everything she's ever done wrong. Has she been totally honest with Vince? He'll need to know everything before he gets publicly blindsided.

"Then there's the issue of gaining the approval of Congress to become Vice President. You can bet that some of those hypocrites will try to use Cindy's past to scuttle Vince's career."

"Jordan. Would you please call your mother and let Steve speak to her?" requested Gwen. "You know how much she loves and respects him. She needs to understand what's ahead."

Gwen, Jordan, and Charlie sat near Steve and listened to his side of the conversation as he spoke with Jordan's mom. "Cindy, thanks for speaking with me. Don't apologize! You're a wonderful, beautiful woman and you have every right to date, and even to fall in love. No, you're right, this isn't the average dating situation.

"From what Jordan's told us, you understand how your past can affect Vince's future. No, it doesn't have to ruin his career and there's no reason you have to stop seeing him, but you will have to do something that will be very difficult. I want you to speak with Vince very soon and tell him every bad thing you've ever done. Why? The press will be reporting every bit of dirt they can dig up, and they'll be doing it very soon. It'll be a lot better if he hears it from you. Don't put a shine on anything; just give him all the facts. Tell him the total truth. If you lose him, then it wasn't meant to be. It's better for you both if you're the one to tell him everything from your past that could embarrass either of you. Okay?

"One more thing and this one may be even harder. Write an outline of your life and include all the stuff you wouldn't want people to know. I'll talk it over with Gwen, Jordan, and the others, but I'll probably be asking you to release the outline to the press if you and Vince choose to pursue your relationship. It'll be far less embarrassing for both of you, and to Jordan, than if you try to hide it and the media finds out; and believe me, they will find out.

"I know you never expected this, and it probably isn't fair, but you're becoming romantically involved with a former United States President. Hopefully, he'll become vice president soon. The possibility exists that he could become president again and you could be our First Lady, so nothing you've ever done will remain a secret."

Just as Steve finished speaking with Cindy, Gwen received a call from Vince Rosen. "Hello, Madam President? I'm sure you've heard how I've jeopardized my appointment. Would you like me to withdraw my name from consideration?"

"Vince, first let me tell you that I have you on speaker phone. You know how highly Steve and I regard Cindy. We think the world of her," began Gwen.

"We both know that this will likely complicate the approval process. You're aware that Cindy's had some issues in the past. It's extremely likely that those problems will be made public very soon. She'll become part of your background check. First, we want Cindy to fill you in on everything that could conceivably be coming out about her. Then, you'll need to decide if you want to pursue the relationship."

"I fully expect to continue seeing Cindy," responded Vince Rosen. "I can't imagine that changing."

"I was pretty certain you'd feel that way, but please have the conversation with her. If nothing else, we don't want you blindsided. If you decide to continue the relationship, she'll have to disclose every facet of her life and do so publicly. You know what'll happen if she doesn't; someone else will."

"We'll have that conversation, Madam President," promised Rosen. "The question remains; would you prefer that I remove my name from consideration?"

"I haven't had an opportunity to discuss the situation with my advisors, but please don't say or do anything until I call you back. That should be within the next few hours."

Once Gwen finished speaking with Vince and disconnected, Jordan asked, "Are you going to encourage Vince to stop seeing Mom? Why did this have to happen now?"

"Jordan, we won't be tossing your mom under the bus," promised Gwen. "If she and Vince want to be together, I'd never do anything to prevent it. Your mom is one of us. She's part of our family. That's all I need to say about that.

"The question we need to consider is whether we still want to push for Vince's appointment to become vice president. It's apparent to me that he values your mother's happiness and love more than he does the vice presidency," reasoned Gwen.

By this time, Gwen's inner circle was sitting close and listening to the tail end of the conversation. Naomi jumped at the opportunity to express her opinion.

"Maybe I'm speaking out of turn, but I think it would be wrong to change course. It would send a message that you don't approve of Jordan's mom as wife material for Vince. You've become President of the United States by being an understanding, forgiving person, fiercely loyal to your family and friends, and fearless in the face of adversity. We all know Cindy as a very generous, intelligent woman who overcame earlier mistakes to become an inspiration to women of all ages."

"Naomi's right!" declared Kate. "If you waffle on this, you'll appear indecisive or tentative, at the very least."

"Steve, please tell us what you're thinking," nudged Gwen.

"I've known both Vince and Cindy for over fifteen years," replied Steve. "I admire Vince, and I love Jordan's mom. She had some hard times but turned it all around and came out far better for it. I never thought of them as a couple before, but I do now. They've done nothing but unselfishly help us every way they could. I agree with Kate and Naomi. We need to support those two as much as we possibly can. That's what Lady in Red does for friends and family. This may test us, but we can't waver."

"Then it's decided," stated Gwen firmly. "Vince remains our choice for Vice President and we stand one hundred percent behind Cindy Quick in every way possible.

"I'd like to place it on record that I'm extremely proud of this group with me today. My first inclination was to tell Vince that my administration was behind him, but as President I have to place the welfare of the country ahead of my personal feelings. I needed you to voice your support of Vince and Cindy to be certain I wasn't making a purely emotional decision that could affect each of you in some way.

"Vince's appointment looked like a cakewalk before this revelation. If we struggle with his nomination, it'll probably be that much more difficult to push through everyone else's. I'm sure you all know that, but not one of you even remotely suggested that you were concerned about your personal situations. You guys are the best! I'll call Vince and let him know that he's still our enthusiastic choice for the position, and wish him the best with Cindy."

"I'd like to say something, if I could," choked out an emotional Jordan. "Gwen and Steve took me in when I was broken and made me whole. Charlie showed me what true love was. The rest of you accepted me and took me into your arms and welcomed me into your families. I know Mom has had her problems, but so have I. You guys healed us both, and your support in times like this means more to me than I can ever express. Thank you so much!"

Two hours later, Air Force One touched down at Sydney's Kingsford Smith Airport. Prime Minister Malcolm King gave President Hammer and her entourage an extremely warm welcome, and Gwen gave a short speech.

"Steve and I are extremely pleased to visit Australia again. As you know, we were here several years ago when Steve's cousin, Jen, married a 'bloke' named Ethan Williams. We absolutely loved our stay and fell in love with 'the land down under'.

"We'll be staying with Jen and Ethan at their 'station' northwest of Sydney. That's why we're here in Sydney rather than Canberra, Australia's capital. I greatly appreciate that Prime Minister King traveled to Sydney to meet with me. I know he's very busy and I thank him for taking the time."

The moment the Prime Minister had finished greeting Gwen and Steve, Jen was in Steve's arms, hugging her cousin as tightly as possible. "It's so good to see you again! Ethan's political career took a huge step forward when people learned that we were hosting President Hammer and her handsome husband. He's almost certain to be elected to the Senate next year. Being seen with Gwen and you is the surest way to garner positive publicity. You guys are gold here!"

Ethan came from a very successful and influential Australian family. They had interests in mining and agriculture. He and Jen met in Sydney when her grandfather's business began buying material from Ethan's. The couple was married within a year and Jen now made her home in Australia with her husband.

They lived on a 'station', usually referred to as a ranch in the United States. It consisted of several thousand acres, making it relatively small by Australian standards. Jen and Ethan had built a huge new home not far from the original homestead, where his family still lived.

As was her custom, Gwen approached the pool of press reporters to answer a few questions before leaving the tarmac. "We need to keep this brief since the kids are once again waiting."

"Madam President, you must be aware that former President Rosen has been linked romantically with Cyndi Quick, Jordan Burns' mother. Will this affect your decision to support him for Vice President of the United States?"

"Not in the least," replied Gwen with a huge smile. "We think the world of Cyndi Quick and we wish her much happiness. If she should find that happiness with another of our very close friends, so much the better."

"Do you think Cyndi Quick's past will adversely affect Vince Rosen's chances for approval by Congress?" asked another reporter.

"Honestly? Yes, I do think it will. That's mostly because of the way politics are played in Washington. There are those that will use any excuse they can find to harm Vince's chances simply because I want him as my vice president. I urge the press to listen carefully to the positions taken by various members of Congress. Will any of them dispute Vince's qualifications? I truly doubt it. They won't approach this head-on. They'll snipe and use innuendo and rumor to plant doubts in the minds of the public. My support for Vince, and for Cyndi, will not waver."

"Congressman Parker of Mississippi stated that you should be ashamed of your soon to be released movie. In his words, you've corrupted and forever tainted your office. How do you respond to that?" asked another reporter.

"I don't respond to such insipid comments, regardless of their source," stated Gwen matter-of-factly. "Steve's cousin Jen and her husband are hosting a big barbecue for us at their station tomorrow and the press is invited. Buses will be available to transport you from your hotel out to the station and then back later in the evening. Dress casually and bring swim suits if you'd like to use their huge pool. I'll answer more questions then. Thanks, and good night."

By the time the three buses crammed with reporters arrived at Jen and Ethan's the next afternoon, Gwen's group was already out enjoying the warm weather, the over-sized pool, and the excellent cuisine. The reporters were very surprised at the total and very informal access they had to President Hammer and her advisors. Steve and Gwen mingled with the reporters as well as those Australians invited by Jen and Ethan. Gwen would respond thoughtfully to a question from a reporter before moving on to chat with other guests.

Secret Service agents were scattered throughout the crowd to maintain a watchful eye, but no one attempted to limit access to President Hammer and her group.

"Madam President, I've been covering Washington politics for over thirty-five years and I've never seen anything like this," began Martha Raster. "You're allowing complete access in a very casual atmosphere. You, as well as many of the reporters and guests, are in swim suits. Children are playing in the pool and on the huge yard. It's like a family picnic or something."

"We're showing our appreciation to the press for being so patient with us on this long trip," replied Gwen with a smile. "This way, reporters can spend some time with me in a relaxed setting and ask better questions, allowing me to give more detailed answers."

"You're obviously aware of the storm brewing in Congress over your movie role, your choices for cabinet posts, your great wealth and the possible conflicts it creates, and President Rosen's romance with a friend of yours that some have called a fallen woman. How do you expect to resolve these issues?"

"These are issues only to those that choose to make them issues," replied Gwen. "I've nominated very capable people for my cabinet. As President, I'm exempt from conflicts of interest concerns, but that isn't really relevant. What I'm striving for, what my friends and family are all striving for, is a better world. Lady in Red Productions has spent many billions building and supporting hospitals around the world. We've spent well over fifteen billion dollars on disaster relief at home and abroad. We plan to increase these amounts quite significantly in the near future. Unfortunately, disasters never stop and we try to be as prepared as possible.

"We make money honestly, and we pay the required taxes. We'll continue to do so. We expect no favors and ask for no special considerations. Lady in Red is an extremely well run business. We have income streams from all kinds of ventures. Our company expects to grow by around ten percent per year, over the next three years. That forecast was made before I became president. It's very possible that my position will influence some people to buy my music, see my movies, or purchase clothing from our line. I have no control over that. I do, however, have control over my decisions. I will never make one as President based on how it will affect the company. My sisters, my other Cabinet nominees, and my family all think the same way."

"You met the press in North Korea wearing a bikini on the beach. You're wearing one again today," observed Martha. "You have an incredible figure. Are you making some sort of statement by wearing these small swimsuits?"

"I'm actually being modest," replied Gwen with a straight face. "Steve insisted that I leave my thong bikinis home. I was allowed to bring only the ones that offered sufficient coverage for modesty."

Martha Raster broke into laughter at Gwen's humorous comment. Several reporters had been listening and recording the exchange. "Is it alright if we air your remarks?" asked a young woman reporter in a conservative one piece swim suit.

"I don't expect to censor anything this afternoon," laughed Gwen. "As long as you don't deliberately edit videos to misrepresent something, everything is fair game."

"Do you still believe that the Senate will approve your cabinet choices, and that Vince Rosen will become your vice president?" asked a network reporter.

"I see no good reason why any of my nominees should not be approved. Of course, Congress is not always known for doing the logical thing, or taking the best course of action. My nominees are all very capable, but for the most part, not very political. You'll see very few arguments made that are critical of the knowledge and skill level of my nominees. Objections will be made about their careers, financial status, relatives, friends, and all sorts of picayune distractions.

"I'm asking the American people to participate in the political process and to let their elected representatives know how they feel. I need to have my team in place if I'm going to be able to bring peace and prosperity back to America. I need everyone's help and cooperation. I'm not in this alone. Every citizen needs to step forward and take some initiative in making the United States and the world a better place. The people will make the difference. If they support my efforts, we'll do fine. Without that support, my hands will be tied."

"Madam President, will you be appearing nude in your upcoming movie? If so, do you think it will affect your popularity and ability to govern?" asked an Australian reporter.

"Yes, I have filmed a nude scene. It's extremely powerful and appropriate to the story. I can't predict how viewers will react, but I was approved for the vice presidency long after I had appeared in movies topless, and even nude. What's changed, besides perhaps a few extra pounds?"

"Back to your financial situation, Madam President. Isn't it likely that many of the actions you take as President will increase your personal wealth?" questioned a newspaper reporter.

"Yes, it's extremely likely," admitted Gwen. "I fully expect to take steps that will improve the economy, which in turn will benefit Lady in Red Productions, as well as most other businesses in the United States, and probably the world.

"We will not be placing our company in a blind trust during my term. I never so much as hinted that I would do so when I accepted the vice presidency. As you know, we began Lady in Red when Steve, Jordan, and I were in high school. We've worked very hard, hired some great people, and made some very sound business decisions. We will not put our company at risk for any reason. We spend billions in disaster relief and medical assistance to help suffering and less fortunate people around the globe. That's far too important to ignore.

"Compare Lady in Red's efforts to those of any nation in the world. Not a single government has matched our contributions to world health in the past four years. Our efforts won't be compromised just to appease a few political hacks that care more about the next election than they do about the millions of people suffering from poverty, famine, disease, or disaster."

"Mom, can we have chicken fight?" broke in Saint as he tugged on his mother's hand. "Aunt Jordan has Ruth, and Aunt Lisa has Theresa. They said that they could beat us, but Dad was too big and strong, so it has to be you or Aunt Kate carrying me, and Aunt Kate is too busy."

"Sorry folks, but I have to help my son defend our honor," chuckled Gwen. "He's very competitive and Ruth and Theresa have thrown down the gauntlet."

With that, Gwen turned and dove into the pool to surface near Jordan and Lisa, who were both carrying their daughters on their shoulders. As Saint swam to Gwen, she dropped below the surface to emerge with Saint perched on her shoulders. Before he was fully settled, Jordan moved close and Ruth pushed Saint backward into the water. That was the beginning of a twenty minute battle for pool supremacy.

Saint was big for his age and it was obvious to everyone except the two young girls that he was not trying his hardest to unseat them. The next newscast in the United States would feature a lengthy clip of the bikini clad President of the United States playing 'chicken' in the pool with her family, followed with a segment on her comments concerning the issues confronting her administration.

The next evening was the social event of the year in Sydney. Prime Minister King hosted a state dinner in the Sydney Opera House. The affair was held on the stage of the concert hall. An orchestra provided music while guests enjoyed a lavishly catered dinner. Gwen and Steve insisted that Jen and Ethan, along with Stephanie and James, sit at their table. They wanted to make it very clear to the press that President Hammer and her husband held both couples in very high regard.

Steve and Gwen had discussed the situation and Gwen explained it to their close friends. "Steve feels that it'll be very beneficial if Ethan and James gain some leverage in the political arena in their respective nations. It'll strengthen my personal ties with Australia and Great Britain. That could be important in possible future situations where America needs strong allies. I agree with Steve, so we're going to do our best to promote Ethan and James when possible, without being too obvious or pushy.

"When Hans and Nadiya, as well as Claude and Michelle D'Anjou, join us in Italy, we'll do the same for them. Nadiya is very influential in Ukraine politics, and Hans is doing very well in Berlin. Claude told Steve that his daughter, Michelle is strongly considering running for the office of Mayor of Paris. That could lead to a national role for her and we're going to do our best to let the public know that we hold them in very high regard. Steve is thinking ahead, as usual."

The Australian press was quick to notice how much attention, even deference, Gwen and Steve gave to Jen and Ethan. His bid for the senate became a topic on Australian TV and radio. With his beautiful American wife and her close ties to President Hammer, it became a foregone conclusion that his bid for office would succeed.

Back in the United States, the American public was once again treated to videos of President Hammer and her handsome husband holding court with world leaders, this time in Australia. Her smile dazzled as she chatted, danced, and confided with the powers in Australian business, finance, and government.

The next evening saw Lady in Red in front of the Sydney Opera House as thousands of Australians jammed into every available space surrounding it. As was now the custom, Gwen moved to the front to speak to the huge crowd. Numerous huge screens had been arranged so the large audience, inside and outside the hall, would have a great view of the concert. As Gwen thanked the government and the people of Australia, she suddenly hesitated when those standing nearest the stage began dropping to one knee. Within seconds, the entire audience had followed suit.

Realizing that she was again receiving a tremendous, unsolicited display of respect, Gwen moved across the stage, stopping frequently to bow or genuflect to the cheering crowd. Once again, tears ran down her cheeks as she gestured for the crowd to stand, and stand they did, but the cheering and loud ovation continued. Gwen waved and bowed as the tears flowed freely down her face. The huge screens caught her beautiful face as she wiped her eyes, causing many in the crowd to tear up as well. Unable to speak, Gwen waved a final time to the crowd and moved back to take her place with the group. The lights went dark and remained off longer than usual so Gwen would have time to recover emotionally. Eventually the lights came back on and Gwen moved to the front, giving her best rendition ever of Queen's 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are the Champions'.

The concert was a huge hit, but the surprise in the last set made it an evening never to be forgotten in Sydney. In that set, the musicians abandoned their usual music. They played songs made famous by Australian musicians and groups. The fans loved every song.

Jordan was brilliant as she covered Olivia Newton John's hits. Charlie joined his wife in performing 'You're the One That I Want' from 'Grease', complete with the dance routine from the movie. The crowd roared its approval and the musicians had to wait a minute before moving into their cover of the BeeGees' hits. Gwen owned the crowd when she sang 'If I Can't Have You'. Kathy Perrine and Jordan, along with Jack Timberline and Tom McGregor handled the other vocals for the group's hits. Those listening were amazed at how well Timberline and McGregor handled the falsetto portions of the songs.

Their fellow musicians supplied the music, as Steve and Gwen delighted the crowd by dancing to the disco songs from Saturday Night Fever. Many of those watching were soon dancing along with the music as they watched the big screens to see Gwen and Steve perform. Popular music from other Australian musicians and groups followed as the fans yelled, whistled, and cheered their approval.

The next morning saw Steve and Gwen hugging Jen and Ethan as they bid farewell. It was an emotional time for both couples. Jen and Ethan were effusive in their praise.

"Have you seen the coverage on the internet, television, or in our newspapers?" asked Jen as soon as Steve and Gwen appeared for breakfast. "Your concert has been called the best Sydney's ever seen. Your dances are being played over and over. The scene where thousands of people knelt before you, Gwen, has almost a million hits on YouTube already! Australia absolutely loves you guys!"

"The coverage back home has been pretty positive, to put it mildly," added Ashley. "Clips of your concerts, state dinners, and even your playing with Saint in the pool have been playing constantly. You're doing a great job of offsetting the negative jibes coming from Congress."

"Ashley's right," affirmed Lisa. "You're getting some great press, but the usual suspects are relentless in their criticisms. Vince and Cindy seem to be drawing the brunt of the complaints today. Talk shows and cable news stations are really pounding Cindy over her past indiscretions."

"I talked to Mom a little while ago and she's not doing too well," stated Jordan. "She's being hounded everywhere she goes and she has no experience handling that sort of pressure. Reporters are calling every person she's ever known trying to get some dirt, and they're finding it. She knows it's her own fault, but it isn't making things any easier for her and Vince."

"Jordan, why don't you arrange for your mother to fly to Rome tomorrow? That's our next stop. Maybe we can bring this matter to a close," suggested Steve.

"What are you thinking?" asked Gwen. "You have something in mind."

"I think Cindy needs to do a sit-down interview with Amber. I want Amber to have some prep time to read Cindy's outline of things that she's done that may be considered ill-advised, or inappropriate, and then ask her questions. We need to get everything out so the public can better understand the woman she's become and forgive her past."

"Good idea," agreed Gwen. "But I think we need Vince there as well. He's part of this, and he's got to show his support for Cindy when everything comes out. It'll give me another opportunity to demonstrate my unwavering support for them both. We need to get my appointments moving through Congress!"

After numerous hugs and promises of future visits, Jen and Ethan stood waving to Gwen and Steve and their friends as they left the station. They had to travel a hundred miles by automobile to reach the airport. They had only been traveling a few minutes when Kate pointed out the signs residents of a small town were holding as they drove past.

"Look at the handmade signs! I bet almost all of the people in this little town are standing here waving to Sis. Look! That sign says 'Long Live the Queen'. Another one says 'Peace and Love'. There are too many to even read. Even the children are holding signs and waving. It looks like they really love you here, Gwen."

As the motorcade drew closer to the Sydney airport, the streets became more crowded as large numbers of Australians lined the route, cheering and waving signs and placards proclaiming their love for their 'queen'.

"What a wonderful, generous country," managed Gwen as she wiped her moist eyes. "These people are so unpretentious and down to earth. They work hard and demand to be treated fairly. I can see why Jen fell in love with Ethan, and with Australia.

The motorcade had to reduce its speed as it passed through the streets of Sydney on the trip to the airport. People lined the streets three and four deep to catch a glimpse of Gwen and to wave good-bye. It was reported on the internet that large numbers of workers had taken time off to give President Hammer a proper send-off.

The flight to Rome was going to take almost two days so they were going to lay-over in Dubai for an afternoon. Lisa had scheduled several meetings between Gwen and her advisors over the duration of the flight. They would rest when possible and plan as opportunities permitted. Except for the unfortunate reaction of the South Korean government, the tour was going quite well. Still, Lisa was more concerned about the political problems facing Gwen back in Washington than she cared to admit. The flight would give the group time to consider the forces and personalities at play and determine what actions could be taken to counter the toxic atmosphere that permeated Washington during President Hammer's prolonged absence. Lisa managed a smile as she considered the military experience of those advising her sister. Gwen couldn't ask for better support as she prepared for the looming battle.
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