Incest/Taboo Lady in Red

The long flight from Australia gave the travelers an opportunity to discuss issues, as well as catch some much needed rest. At the first meeting, Lisa presented Gwen with a laundry list of issues facing her in Washington.

"The conflict of interest situation is really gaining traction in both Houses of Congress," began Lisa. "While as President, you are not subject to the pertinent or perhaps impertinent statute, there is an obscure law that's causing problems. Kate, could you explain it to everyone?"

"I'll try," responded Kate as she studied her notes. "The Title of Nobility is a provision in Article 1, Section 9, Clause 8 of the United States Constitution that prohibits the federal government from granting titles of nobility, and restricts members of the government from receiving gifts, emoluments, offices or titles from foreign states without the consent of the United States Congress.

"Some members of Congress are insisting that when Lady in Red sells music, fashion, movie tickets or any of our many other franchise products in a foreign nation, you're receiving an emolument, which is a salary, fee, or profit from employment or office," finished Kate as she looked up from her notes and directly at her sister.

"So they're saying that as long as Lady in Red does any business internationally, I'm breaking the law, unless I place the company in a blind trust, or something similar?" asked Gwen to clarify her understanding of Kate's statement. "Congress feels I'm accepting remuneration from foreign governments when Lady in Red does business with them? I'm receiving forbidden 'Emoluments'?"

"That's it in a nutshell," replied Kate. "Then there are the issues with the rest of us being either directly or indirectly involved in the profits from Lady in Red. Jason, Lisa, and I are obvious targets since we profit directly as owners, although Jason is technically only married to an owner, but we can't deny that he benefits from his wife's ownership share in the company. Federal employees are prohibited from participating in matters where they could enrich themselves. There are very few situations where the outcome of any decision made by any of us, except perhaps one that adversely affect the economy, couldn't be interpreted as making money for Lady in Red, and therefore for ourselves."

"Does this mean that I'll be removed from office, or that many of my appointments will not be approved by the senate, or both?" questioned Gwen as she turned to look at Steve with concern as she asked Kate to respond.

"It seems to be a possibility, and if Lancer has his way, a strong likelihood," answered a dejected Kate.

"Steve?" was all Gwen said as she sought her husband's wisdom.

"This is exactly why I never wanted to be involved in politics," replied Steve grimly. "You've led the country back from the brink of war. You're improving America's standing in the world community. Every leg of this peace tour has improved America's standing around the world. You're the best thing that's ever happened to the Presidency, yet petty political hypocrites appear to have the potential to remove you from office, as well as block your choices for your cabinet. How badly do you want this job?"

"You know I never sought the office and I was even uncomfortable accepting it. If I hadn't had you to back me every step of the way, I never would have accepted the Vice Presidency," responded Gwen sincerely.

"You said something the other day in response to a question about conflict of interest that really helped me see this issue clearly," revealed Steve. "Lady in Red has spent more on the welfare of people of the world in the last few years than any sovereign nation. I would submit to all of you that the goals of Lady in Red supersede the office of President, if a choice must be made between the two."

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed Kate as her face seemed to illuminate. "You're right! We've been fixated on protecting Gwen's position as President like it's the most important thing she can do, but it isn't!"

"Exactly what are you saying, Steve?" questioned Gwen with increasing emotion. "Do you think that I should resign?"

"No, I don't. I do think you need to stop worrying about the politics. I want you to concentrate on doing the best job as President you possibly can. If the idiots in Congress want to hamstring you, or even remove you from office, it's their loss, not yours. I expect the American people to make their voices heard on the matter, but if they don't strongly support you and your agenda, then they don't deserve you."

"I think I get what you're telling us," chimed in Naomi. "There comes a time when the citizens of a nation need to decide their course. If the American public wants Gwen to lead them, they'll need to get involved. If they don't want her, or if they don't want to exert the effort required to keep her, she'll return to private life, and by so doing, continue to improve millions of lives around the world with her work in Lady in Red. Gwen has nothing to prove! She doesn't need the Presidency, it needs her!

"The real danger for Gwen is not that she could be removed from office, but rather that she becomes distracted by the possibility. She simply has to be the best President she can possibly be. Protecting herself from Representatives and Senators shouldn't even be an issue for her. The American public should be fighting for her Presidency. If they don't, they'll get what they ultimately deserve, which in this case would be a much less effective leader."

"That's kind of what I'm thinking. If the citizens of the United States care so little about who occupies the White House, why should Gwen expend so much energy and effort for them? She doesn't need to fight for the office. She'll be fine without it, and many would argue that she'd be better off. But will the country? Voters didn't elect Gwen, but I think they need to take steps to make their opinion known," argued Steve.

"That's placing a lot of faith in the people of the country, as well as the willingness of Congress to accept the desire of the people," cautioned William Patterson. "The possible result would be for Gwen not to have her cabinet selections approved, and eventually to be removed from office."

"Isn't that rather extreme?" questioned an obviously distressed Paula. "Gwen's doing an incredible job as President! How could Congress remove her from office?"

"If enough members of Congress decide that Lady in Red's business revenues are considered emolument, they'll be able to impeach, and even convict, if Gwen doesn't place it in some sort of trust," explained Kate. "We all know they won't be acting in the best interests of the nation, but when has that ever concerned them?"

"I've discussed this with Steve several times since taking office," admitted Gwen. "We will not be surrendering any of our interests in Lady in Red. We've worked too long and hard and can help far too many people, to allow it to languish. It sounds odd, but the Presidency has already taken too much of my time and energy away from our company. If our work for the United States isn't accepted, or appreciated by most Americans, than we really shouldn't be here, should we?"

"I've come to that same conclusion," stated Steve with a sigh. "I believe the nation needs you far more than you need the pressure and aggravation you've been dealing with. Keep doing your best as long as you're President, but stop getting sidetracked by the politics. Let Congress and the everyday, average citizens decide what they can live with. If they want you to continue, you will. If they decide to remove you, that's okay, too. We've all been expending far too much energy on something over which we have no control. Just let it go. It'll all shake out one way or the other."

"I've got to say that I'm quite surprised that you'd let members of Congress berate Gwen without taking some measured steps of your own," allowed Ted. "It doesn't go with what I've come to expect from you."

"I never said that I wouldn't extract some satisfaction from these politicians, but not while Gwen's in office. I don't want anyone accusing her of abusing her office in any way. When Gwen becomes a private citizen, all bets are off," replied Steve calmly, but with the deadly demeanor those close to him had come to recognize.

"You know what?" asked Gwen rhetorically. "I feel better already! I'm not going to play their games to keep a job I never sought and only accepted because I was asked and I thought it would help the country. I'll do my best as long as I hold the office, but I won't be trying to placate any politicians.

"I gave up working with two hospitals as a pediatric surgeon when I assumed the vice presidency. I wasn't too pleased about doing that. You all know how hard and long I worked to attain that position. I love helping children and if I'm removed from office, I'll be back in the operating room as quickly as I possibly can."

"How will we handle our confirmation hearings, if we ever even have them?" asked Kate. "I'd become a government employee if I was approved as Attorney General and there could be no denying the conflict of interest."

"Kate, tell Congress that you'll accept no compensation from the government for your service. Then you wouldn't actually be a government employee," pointed out Steve. "I seriously doubt that simple ploy would satisfy the Senate, but it's worth a shot. If they don't approve your appointment, you'll be advising Gwen and even speaking on her behalf without any official title, much like I do. She may ask you to keep an eye on the Department of Justice and even have people report to you without the formality of an official position. Congress will have to pursue the situation and either pass laws with a large enough majority to prevent a Presidential veto from overriding them, or accept that Kate is in charge. I don't think any of us care too much which way they go. That's how it's going to be during Gwen's remaining time in office."

"Yeah, however short that time may be," laughed Gwen. "I like this approach to handling the situation. Congress will have to deal with the problem, not I. I won't even admit that I consider it an issue. If they can't accept my actions as President, they'll have to remove me. We have thousands of politicians that would love to serve as our next President, so I won't be hard to replace, but the good work that Lady in Red does could be greatly compromised if we don't continue to oversee it, and I like to think that I still can help a lot of children in my capacity as a surgeon."

"Okay, I think we have a plan," concluded Lisa. "We were caught up in trying to keep Gwen in the White House, when we should have been concentrating on the best way for her to perform as President of the United States. Rather than appease politicians that will never be happy regardless of what she does, we'll ignore them as much as we can, without being overly rude or breaking laws. Let the American people decide if they want to put forth the effort to keep Gwen in office."

Everyone in Gwen's circle was able to relax and get some much needed rest once a course of action had been determined. It was a refreshed group that landed in Dubai many hours later.

Lady in Red had reserved an entire floor at Hotel Burl al-Arab. Even with the modern facilities on Air Force One, the sheer number of people traveling with Gwen necessitated leaving the aircraft for an opportunity for everyone to enjoy long, hot showers and full bathroom facilities. Once they had the chance to freshen up, the entire troupe visited the nearby water park, Wild Wadi.

The adults spent the afternoon ensuring that the kids had a good time. Saint was tall for his age and was allowed on all of the rides, although some required that he be accompanied by an adult. There were a surprising number of American families enjoying the park that afternoon. They were delighted at how accessible and friendly President Hammer, her husband, family, and friends were.

Naomi and Lisa each suffered slight wardrobe malfunctions as the artificial waves pulled at their tops. Naomi made a very quick recovery when her left breast was briefly exposed by a wave that caught her by surprise. Lisa was less fortunate when she failed to realize her top had been pushed up to her neck by a strong wave, exposing both breasts. Jason had been helping Theresa stand up after being knocked down when he saw Lisa's nipples smiling at him from several feet away.. He quickly stepped over and pulled her close before tugging her top back down to cover her firm breasts.

"Oh, no!" gasped a surprised Lisa as she looked around her to see if anyone had noticed. Her gaze was met by huge grins on the faces of several fathers in the area, including Steve and Chip. Chip gave Lisa the thumbs up as she carefully rearranged her 'girls'. After two hours of relaxation at the water park, the entourage traveled back to the hotel for a brief rest before preparing for the final leg of the flight from Australia to Rome.

Before takeoff, Gwen led Steve over to the area occupied by members of the media to allow her an opportunity to answer questions. "Madam President," began a cable news reporter, "Congress appears to be unwilling to accept your evaluation concerning conflicts of interest. How are you going to handle this controversy? Will you be placing your company in a blind trust?"

"I'm glad you asked," replied Gwen with her dazzling smile. "I've come to the conclusion that I've already wasted far too much time trying to deal with the irrational behavior of Congress. These are the same people that asked me to accept the vice presidency, yet never questioned my business dealings. I never promised to place Lady in Red in a blind trust. The subject never even came up during my confirmation hearings. Even Congress should realize that the Vice President needs to be held to the same standards as the President. If I were qualified for one office, it follows that I would automatically be considered qualified for the other.

"Congress is either telling America that they didn't know I was wealthy when I was appointed Vice President, or that they didn't care. Why is it suddenly important to them? The short answer? Politics as usual.

"I had an epiphany earlier today, with the assistance of my amazing husband and other close advisors. Congress requested that I serve as Vice President. I didn't seek the position. Then I ascended to the Presidency when President Crawford passed away. I take the office very seriously and I will always do my very best to perform my duties faithfully.

"That said, I won't be exerting any further effort to remain in office. I was appointed by Congress, but I serve at the will of the people. They will determine, through their elected representatives, if I should be removed from office," stated Gwen calmly. "Or they will determine if I shall remain. I only serve with the approval of the American people, and I would have it no other way."

"Steve and I, along with my closest friends and family, feel that the mission of Lady in Red is far too important to allow it to be placed in a blind trust. We built this company through good fortune, hard work, and the support of millions of people, both in America and around the world. Our company is dedicated to helping people, and will continue to do exactly that. Our record speaks for itself. It would be more logical for me to place the Presidency in a blind trust since Congress is so intent on controlling the office."

"Madam President, are you telling us that you will give up the Presidency?" asked a stunned Amber Stahl.

"No, But I am telling you that it really isn't worth spending a great deal of effort to keep the office; not if the people of America determine that they no longer want me to serve."

"But the American public won't be making that decision," argued a woman network reporter. "That determination will be made by Congress."

"Will it really?" questioned Gwen. "Congress is elected to serve and represent the people. If the wonderful people of America want me as their President, then they'd better make that desire known to their elected representatives. I'm not going to waste my time with Congress. I'm simply too busy. I'll serve as President of the United States to the best of my ability as long as I hold the office. It isn't my place to determine how long that will be."

"Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we have a long flight ahead of us and the President needs to board Air Force One," broke in Steve. "I'm extremely proud of her accomplishments as President and hope she'll be allowed to continue to serve her country in this capacity for the next three years. However, regardless of any actions by Congress, we'll also continue to work to improve our company's position, which in turn, will assure its ability to assist people in time of need. Our disaster relief efforts went international six years ago. It's with great pride that we can state that Lady in Red is the leader in disaster relief in the world. We outspend every nation, and that includes the United States. It's a top priority."

Steve led Gwen away as the reporters scurried to file their reports. President Hammer had stated matter-of-factly that she wasn't going to bother trying to explain her position to Congress any longer. She felt her work with Lady in Red was too important to give up, even for the Presidency!

"I think you shocked the press when you told them that you weren't going to bother worrying about what Congress decided about your business conflicts," observed Naomi. "I hope the everyday Joes and Janes make their voices heard by their elected representatives. It doesn't look like I'll be adding Secretary of State to my résumé any time soon."

"You know what? We've been relying on the press to report about Gwen's presidency," stated Kate. "We need to be more proactive. We have all kinds of websites, blogs, and social media accounts for Lady in Red, and we all post to them as much as we can. We need to do the same thing for Gwen's Presidency! I don't mean we need to be political, but we should keep on stressing the good things she's already managed and detail what she hopes to accomplish. We can also do the same thing to explain our views in each of our fields of expertise.

"Everyone in Gwen's Cabinet, or who hopes to be in Gwen's Cabinet should have a public Facebook page dedicated to their specific government service. I bet we'd have lots of 'friends' follow us, and it would be a great way to get our message across to the public."

"It took us long enough to think of that!" lamented Lisa. "That's what we get for not being politically astute. We've got some time before we reach Rome. Let me get a couple of interns to set up accounts for us. Then we should each write a mission statement and start posting. We need to get our message out to the public right away. I think we need to allow everyone to view our posts, but what about commenting on them?"

"We should allow comments but hire some people to scrub out the inappropriate questions and comments," replied Kate. "We don't want discussions by hormonal boys on the size of our breasts or asses."

"That means that we'll have to 'unfriend' all the men in our group," laughed Lisa. "Those guys, especially our husbands, act like hormonal teens most of the time."

"True, but I'm not complaining about them," chuckled Kate.

"Then we'll work on Twitter, too," suggested Naomi. "If Americans don't know what's going on, they won't be able to help us. I'm sure that most people will agree with Gwen, not Congress, if they understand her reasons and goals."

"I'll go speak to the interns right now," stated Lisa as she went in search of the two young interns that were traveling with them.

Air Force One landed in the early afternoon. Gwen was extremely pleased with the enthusiastic welcome she received from the President of Italy and his 'donna'. After a short ceremony at the airport, Gwen's group was whisked by motorcade to a luxury hotel not far from the Trevi Fountain.

After a restful evening, Gwen's entourage spent the following day touring many of the historical sites so abundant in Rome. Paparazzi followed Gwen and Steve doggedly, snapping thousands of photos of the American First Family.

It was early afternoon when Vince Rosen and Cindy Quick caught up with the group while touring the Coliseum. The members of the press were given the opportunity to see for themselves just how Gwen was going to treat the couple. Gwen hugged Vince Rosen while Steve smiled as he swept Cindy off her feet and easily lifted her into the air before kissing her soundly on the cheek. Then Gwen hugged Cindy while Steve and Vince exchanged handshakes and clapped each other on the back. Vince and Cindy never strayed very far from Gwen's side the rest of the day.

Gwen was pleased that Charlotte, Billy, Coach and Laura, along with both couples' children had also arrived to join the tour for ten days. Nadiya, Hans, Michelle, and Claude were scheduled to arrive the next afternoon and attend the State Dinner. Steve noticed that Gwen's harried attitude lessened as she surrounded herself with more of her friends and family and ceased concerning herself over the possible actions of Congress.

That evening, Vince, Cindy, Gwen, and Steve sat down for an interview with the news anchors of the three major networks. Cindy had distributed copies of the outline she had created about her past. It had been decided that if the three major networks would carry the interview, it would provide the best opportunity for maximum television exposure.

While not cruel, the questions from the experienced news veterans were thoughtful and quite probing. Cindy answered everything as honestly as she could, with no effort to gloss over or lessen the gravity of her mistakes. Gwen would be asked to comment on an occasional point and Vince was often asked how he felt about Cindy's past and if he felt that she could be trusted. After addressing specific questions, Gwen and Vince always returned to stating their unequivocal support of the Cindy they now knew. Steve was content to sit off to the side and be pretty much ignored, until Amber turned her face toward him.

"Mr. Hammer, Cindy Quick mentioned you quite prominently in her description of how and when her life was turned around. She seems to believe that it was you that brought her to her senses and made her begin serious work on becoming a better person. Would you care to comment?"

"Well, I'm not sure that I had that much influence on Cindy's so-called resurrection, but I'm extremely proud of the lady she is today. I'd love to be able take credit for her selfless acts, her poise, her talent, her great beauty, and her many successes," responded Steve as he tried to deflect any direct questions regarding his experiences with Cindy. "Once she made her decision, she took the ball and ran with it. It's pretty obvious what a fine person she is now."

"Steve, may I follow up on that?" asked Tom Bender, an anchorman with another network. "Ms. Quick states in her release that she paraded around in front of you with her bikini top removed in an attempt to make you not only notice her, but tell her that she was more voluptuous and desirable than her daughter, Jordan. You had just graduated from high school at the time, so you were eighteen years old. Cindy Quick states that your response to her admittedly inappropriate behavior was the 'kick in the butt' she needed. Can you share with us exactly what you did, or said, that had such an effect on her?"

"Our conversation was personal and I never intended to share it with anyone, other than Gwen. "The gist of it was pretty simple. Beauty is an intangible thing. A woman can have a great figure and a lovely face but if that's all she has, she will not be as attractive as a woman that's intelligent, selfless, kind, confident, and self-assured.

"Jordan had become all of that and much more. She had become the complete woman, and one of my very best friends. Her mother suffered from envy, low self-esteem, and other issues that prevented her beauty from being what it could have been. I did my best to explain that to Cindy. I also pointed out that mothers do not compete with their daughters; they nurture and encourage them. I used Gwen's mom as an example of how a beautiful mother, wife, and woman should conduct herself. I guess my explanation helped Cindy understand why she wasn't as beautiful as her daughter, at least not at that time. She's pretty hot now," added Steve with a grin.

"You appear to have an unusually high regard for your mother-in-law. Your feelings for Cindy Quick also appear to be pretty strong. How would you describe your relationship with those two women?"

"Tom, are you trying to get me to say something inappropriate?" wondered Steve as he mulled over the question. "Paula's one of the most incredible people I've ever known. She's the total package... beautiful, intelligent, and loyal. She's pretty much everything a woman should be; everything a person should be. I've loved her almost from the moment we met and it's only grown stronger over the years.

"Cindy was a different matter. Physically, she was as beautiful a woman as you'll ever see, but she lacked the humanity to be a beautiful person. I didn't like her too much when I first met her. She gradually changed my opinion as she remade herself into the person she is today. When I see or think of her now, my heart is filled with love and tender feelings for her. I admire her. I have to admit that I've come to love her."

"Madam President, you've just heard your husband declare his love for two beautiful women, one of whom is your own mother. What's your reaction to his admission?" asked Ryan Phillips, the third anchor involved in the interview.

"First, Ryan, you need to understand that this come as no surprise to me. Steve and I have no secrets from each other, and everyone that knows my family knows how deeply Steve feels about the women in our group. One of the big reasons we're so successful is that every one of us tries very hard to conduct our lives in a way that makes him proud of us. Mom and Cindy are exceptional in every way, but they're always aware that Steve is watching and that makes them, makes all of us really, work hard to be all that he expects us to be."

"Are you telling us that you still worry about how your husband perceives you?" asked Amber.

"Most definitely, but not because he's judgmental; he isn't," replied Gwen as she smiled at Steve and patted his hand. "Living with the best man in the world comes with certain expectations and responsibilities. His approval is extremely important to me, as well as to many others. I'm the one with the title of President, but Steve made it possible. I've never made it a secret that I depend on him in all kinds of ways, and he's never let me down. He absolutely loves Mom and Cindy, and more than a few other friends and relatives of ours. I feel quite confident that all of the men in our circle love me. You need to understand that love is a very strong emotion, not a physical action. Steve and I are totally monogamous and it's my belief that the same can be said for all of the people close to me. Loyalty is one of our greatest strengths.

"I've heard it said that you should aspire to become the kind of person your dog thinks you are. I aspire to become the person Steve thinks I am."

"President Rosen, have you formed any doubts about your relationship with Cindy Quick since learning so much about her past?" asked Tom Bender.

"I'll be totally candid here," responded Vince Rosen. "I met Cindy years ago. She became a close friend of my late wife's. She spent a great deal of time helping care for Cynthia when she was very ill. I learned all I needed to know just by watching how kind she was to Cynthia.

"Yes, I knew she had past indiscretions, but they had simply served to forge her strength of character as she moved forward. I've also seen how Gwen and Steve care for and respect her. They're excellent judges of character. The fact that they hold her in such high esteem means far more to me than any dirt from her past. I'm extremely comfortable with our relationship."

"Ms. Quick, would you care to add anything before we end this interview?" asked Amber Stahl.

"I'd like to say that I never intended to harm Vincent's career. I'd buried my past and concentrated on the present and future. I've made mistakes, big mistakes, but I have faith in the American people. They have a tremendous capacity for forgiveness if a person is truly remorseful and doing their best to improve. I ask that the American public consider my life and accomplishments since that day I embarrassed myself so badly in front of one of my only daughter's best friends. Jordan's forgiven me, as has Gwen.

"Steve almost brought me to tears a moment ago when he said that he loves me. I've never met another man like him. The people of this country should realize just how lucky they are to have a couple like Gwen and Steve working so hard to keep America safe and to improve the quality of life at home and around the world. I sincerely hope that Vince is allowed to become part of their team. He's a wonderful man."

As soon as the interview ended, Paula rushed into the studio and hugged Steve tightly. "We watched on the monitors and I heard what you said about me. I can't tell how good those words made me feel! You told the world that you love me!"

Jordan had held her mother in an embrace while Paula had Steve wrapped up before complaining, "Paula, let the guy go. I need to hug him, too! Thanks for saying so many nice things about me, and about Mom. You really are something!"

Cindy Quick had moved to Vince Rosen's side once Jordan released her. She beamed as she watched her daughter chat with Steve as she held him in her embrace. When Jordan finally stepped away from Steve, Cindy moved in and wrapped him in her arms.

"Sometimes I wish that I'd managed to seduce you that day by the pool," whispered Cynthia into Steve's ear. "I suppose everything would have turned out much differently and not nearly as well, but I'd have that memory! Thanks for everything, especially for telling the world that you love me. Now I feel like I can face whatever they throw at Vince and me."

The next evening the state dinner was a gala affair as Gwen and the other women dazzled in their gowns. Steve and Gwen had made certain that Vince and Cindy were seated near them. They took great pains to show the world how comfortable they were with the couple at every possible opportunity.

As a child Cindy Quick had been raised in a trashy environment, but over the years, she had learned proper deportment for a lady in social settings. She smiled and chatted with other guests while keeping very close to Vince the entire evening. Steve and Gwen were both pleased with her obvious social skills.

Italian politicians and government officials were extremely pleased to have President Hammer and her husband visiting their country and went all out to make a favorable impression. This in turn allowed Gwen and Steve to shine even more than usual as they chatted with members of President Manetta's cabinet and various elected officials.

Ted and Paula were sitting with Kate and Chip at their table as they watched the First Couple move around the room when Chip spoke. "I never would've believed that I would be here experiencing all of this ten years ago. I knew Steve and Gwen had a great future, but this is way beyond anything I'd ever imagined."

"Have you noticed how much more relaxed Gwen and Steve are today?" asked Kate. "Their decision to prioritize their goals really helped them. How many people can actually say that they have more important things to worry about than remaining President of the United States? I don't know how long she'll be president, but she's no longer worried about it. Look how she and Steve command the room with their presence."

The evening was a huge success as President and Mr. Hammer, laughed, joked, and entertained the Italian dignitaries. It was perhaps the most enjoyable state dinner they had attended to date. The next evening, Lady in Red played in a crowded Piazza del Popolo. With Gwen and Steve feeling more relaxed, their performance again improved.

"We've been putting on a hell of a show in every city, but tonight was the best we've ever done!" exclaimed Charlie once the show had ended. "This world tour is going to go down in history as the best ever. I'm proud as hell of this group."

The next morning, Kate, Naomi, Jason, Lisa, and Jeff Wilson were notified that they were required to be in Washington the following week for confirmation hearings. Steve received a request that surprised him.

"Congress feels that I'm acting in the capacity of national security advisor and wants me to appear before them to state my qualifications," explained Steve to his wife and friends. "They want me to be there next week, knowing full well that I'm committed to this world tour as well as serving as Gwen's escort at the state dinners."

"What are you going to do?" asked Gwen. "I like the idea of you being recognized as my advisor, but I don't see how you can abandon the tour we're doing. Don't I have to nominate you, or submit your name, or something?"

"I'll provide them with a list of dates I'll be available to attend their hearings," chuckled Steve. "They're trying to flex some muscle and put a little squeeze on, forcing us to separate. That won't happen. They can interview me in October, and not before."

"You realize that attitude will piss them off, don't you?" chuckled Ted. "They want to grill you for a position for which the president has not submitted your name. That's quite unusual, to say the least."

"They have several objectives that are pretty obvious to me. They want to question me under oath, hoping that I'll reveal something damaging to Gwen. They want the opportunity to deny me the official position, and will likely claim it's the worst case of nepotism in history."

"What should we do?" asked Gwen. "Do I submit your name for the position, or will you refuse to testify?"

"Neither," replied Steve. "I'll go before Congress and tell the truth. We have nothing to hide. They can refuse to confirm me, but I'm sure I'll find an opportune time to explain that I was never even nominated and that I'm not dependent on them for anything. They're trying to force your hand to submit my name for consideration, which they will then refuse, or make you remove me from my advisory position to keep me from going before Congress. Either way, I'd be out of the loop."

"So you're going to answer their questions and play their game, but Gwen isn't going to submit your name. She can simply ignore the outcome, unless you're approved, of course," reasoned Kate. "They're going have to do a lot better than that if they want to play hardball with Steve and Gwen Hammer."

Budapest, Hungary was the next destination and Gwen looked forward to the visit. "Grandmother was born in Hungary and came to the United States when she was eight. We're going to visit the area her family called home as soon as we get to Hungary. That's why we've scheduled two extra days there. I want to see where my family came from and connect with any relatives we may have there. Grandmother is almost eighty. I feel it's important to discover our roots together."

"There's nothing more important than spending quality time with Grandmother Caroline," agreed Steve. "Don't forget that it'll mean a great deal to Paula and your sisters. I think Saint is old enough to understand his heritage and there's no better way to learn than to see it in its original setting."

Gwen was warmly welcomed to Hungary at the Ferenc Liszt International Airport. President Áder was effusive in his raise of President Hammer and her successful efforts to reduce the risk of war that had seemed so imminent when she assumed office. Gwen beamed as President Áder extolled her many virtues.

When asked to speak, Gwen stressed her ties to Hungary. She presented her Grandmother Caroline to the gathering and explained how she had been born in Hungary almost eighty years prior. Caroline waved and smiled as those in attendance clapped and cheered enthusiastically.

Gwen's group had arranged to visit the town where her grandmother's parents had been married. It promised to be a joyous celebration of family, but as often happens, fate changed the nature of the visit.

Seven large helicopters had been lined up to transport everyone over two hundred miles to a mountainous area to the northeast of Budapest. Reservations had been made at the only local hotel large enough to accommodate the entire family, as well as the security and media representatives. Reporters had made their own arrangements to travel to this remote area of Hungary.

The helicopters were preparing to land in a large field near the hometown of Gwen's great-grandparents, when Jason contacted Steve.

"I'm getting reports of a serious earthquake just about thirty miles west of our destination. It's a mountainous area and the damage is pretty severe. A town of about four thousand has been pretty well leveled and there are a lot of injuries and fatalities.

"Lady in Red has responded. We have supplies, heavy equipment, food, water, and medical assistance in transit already. I think I should go there immediately to direct our relief efforts."

"Of course, Jason," agreed Steve. "We'll all fly there and help any way we can. Have your pilot lead the way and land away from any structures or mountains. We'll leave a few people near the birds to keep an eye on the kids. We may decide to load them all on one chopper and send them back to our hotel with some chaperones."

"I'll call Laura and Charlotte," declared Gwen as soon as Steve explained the situation. "We have three doctors in our group and we'll help care for the injured. I'll finally get to see firsthand just how good a job Jason has done with his emergency preparations. I just hope there aren't too many people hurt."

Gwen was stunned as she viewed the destruction of the town that had been nestled at the foot of a small mountain range. Most of the structures were in shambles and many people appeared to be wandering about in confusion and shock. A large open field a half mile beyond the village had been selected as the landing area for the helicopters. Gwen was astounded to see a large tractor trailer sporting large Lady in Red logos on each side already pulling in as the group climbed from the helicopters.

"The first trucks will have water, freeze dried food, batteries, tools, blankets, and other easily stored materials which will be needed immediately," stated Jason as he helped Lisa from a helicopter. "I'm told that medical supplies will be here within the hour.

"Gwen, please get together with Laura and Charlotte to determine where you want the big tents set up to treat the injured. We'll have a couple of RV's on site within a few hours. They'll be set up for simple surgeries, as needed."

"Thanks, we'll take care of it. As soon as injured people start arriving here, we'll be triaging and sending the most seriously injured to hospitals on these helicopters," decided Gwen calmly as she surveyed the scene.

"Steve, I'll need you and the other guys to help run the equipment that should be arriving before long," continued Jason. "We'll have five trailers loaded with skid steers, backhoes, dozers and loaders showing up soon with damn few operators to run them."

Jason didn't have to ask twice as the men in the group quickly hugged their wives and kids and started across the field to the once idyllic town.

Before they had gone more than a few yards, several more helicopters set down in the field not far from Gwen's group. Reporters teemed out of them. Some headed toward Gwen while others rushed to catch up with the men as they strode rapidly toward the destruction.​