It is one thing to be married to a President but to date one while he's in office, is complicated. Personally it was weird a first, dating a siting President and being involved in his detail. Which is why when he made things official I was moved yet again, but this time it stung less. Admittedly it was strange being close to him in a different way.  Sixteen months after the terror attack things took a even more serious turn.

------

I laughed as we came to stand on top of the Eiffle Tower, looking out over the whole city of Paris at night. It was so beautiful, I gasped lovingly at the sight. It was something that I had wanted to see for years but never had gotten the chance to. Ben slipped his arm around my waist.

"It's beautiful." I breathed "But, what are we doing here?" I wondered. Not that I wasn't happy, but he was here in Paris for a conference and being still in touch with the way Secret Service works, I didn't see a private trip here on the itinerary.

"Well, you have mentioned that you always wanted to see Paris at night from the top of the Eiffel Tower." he wasn't wrong there, we had many dates and stolen moments where I'm sure Paris got brought up a lot. I glanced around, It was early evening and by right there should still be a crowd of people here.

"Did you use your presidential status to clear the deck?" I questioned coyly.

"Maybe."

"Okay, you broke off during a work trip to bring me to the top of the Eiffle tower because..." I trailed off. One thing we made clear at the beginning of our relationship is that it wouldn't interfere with work. I didn't want to be a distraction. Not when he only had so long left to do as much as he could. He cleared his throat.

"I wanted to thank you, for everything." he turned me around to face him still holding onto my waist. "Look, I know that I pushed both you and Mike away after the Christmas accident. But I am very grateful for you saving not only my life but Connor's on both occasions."

"It was a joint effort."

"I know but you in particular saved me in more ways than one. I realised so many things, that not only did I push you away, but  also that I didn't really grieve in a way that I was able to move on and better myself. In a way you made me remember that its something Maggie would never have wanted. I never would have thought I could love someone else after her, yet I did even though it took me a moment. I love you Grace. Which is why...." he took a step back  and got down on one knee.

"Grace, will you marry me?" he took the ring out of his pocket

"Shut the fuck up." I covered my mouth "Sorry reflex." I apologised to his chuckles.

"Yes...Yes I will marry you." he slipped it onto my finger and stood up and slipped his arms around my waist as I wrapped my arms around him bringing him into a kiss.

-Now-

In the restored Lincoln bedroom, I stood in front of the full length mirror in front of the full length mirror, examining myself. Everything felt hyper real. I protected, then dated and was now marrying a sitting President of the United States. I smoothed out my dress  when I heard a knock at the door.

"Come in." the door opened and In stepped Mike, he was in a tux and was not officially apart of the detail today, he had the duty of walking me down the aisle. But as us agents know, you're never really off duty.

"You look beautiful, Gracie." he complimented

"Really because I would feel more comfortable in pants and a top with boots right now." he chuckled, shaking his head "It feels a little weird, I'm used to being the protector not the protected. After today, I'm the second First Lady of the United States, with a code name a protection plan, my life changes completely. I'm not prepared for this." I begin to freak out a little.

"Hey, listen to me." he took my arms "You remember telling me you weren't ready for basic training?" I nodded

"I know you, you do things on instinct, you do things you know you feel is right and then you freak out when you think about it too much. This is just you going through your process. I know you're going to be amazing, you always are. You just need to get used to it. Then you will be fine. Besides I will always be right there for you. And also knowing you, once his term is finished you will fight tooth and nail to resume being a secret service agent. the first to return to your original job after office." i let his words sink in and took a deep breath "There we go. Now are you ready?"

"Yes." I breath. He offered me his arm and I took it.

The wedding was on the South Lawn, It was a small-ish event. Family and Immediate close friends only. There would be a big event later on in the month but this wedding was just for us. On my side was My Mum, Leah and my former regiment and friends, all on their best behaviour but I could tell there would be a riot later on. On Ben's side he had his family, and friends with Connor as his Best Man.

After the engagement I was concerned with how Connor felt about the whole thing. Surprisingly he was absolutely happy with the idea. Of course he still missed his Mum but he knew that I would never want or could replace her. He was happy that his Dad was happy and it helped that he knew me already as well. Mike escorted me down the aisle and handed me over to Ben who was stood there beaming.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Benjamin Asher and Grace Carter. Benjamin, do you  take Grace to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do." He answered with conviction.

"Grace do you take Benjamin to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"Who has the rings?" Connor stepped forward and took them out of his jacket handing them to his Dad who handed them over to be blessed

"Benjamin, please repeat after me. With this ring I tee wed, with my body I thee worship..." Ben recited what he was told as he slipped the wedding ring onto my finger. It was then my turn and I repeated slipping his wedding ring onto his finger.

"With the power vested in me I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride." Ben slipped his arm around my waist pulling me towards him and kissing me gently as I wrapped my arms around his neck, as our family and friends clapped happy at our union.

-------

At the reception the party was in full swing, as demonstrated by the men i served with. They were happy with the drink services and being invited to the white house.

"Here she is first lady, ah ma'am." Haribo mockingly bowed to me

"Oh hah, ha you're hilarious. Can you at least remember where you are? We're not out in a hotel bar on R and R you still represent the armed forces you lunatic." I lightly scolded then gave him a hug.

"Cap." I saluted

"Lieutenant Carter." He greeted and then hugged me "It's been way to long." we pulled away from each other.

"I know, secret service takes up most of my time, or well it did." I reply

"I heard about your efforts during the attack, you an Banning are heroes, not that i would expect any less from Crazy Carter and Batshit Banning." I looked down shaking my head

"Well, we got shit done, we always have." I shrugged then looked back to the others "Right you horrible lot, stay there and for the love of my sanity, smarten yourselves up." I left to go get Ben so I could introduce them, he was talking with my Mom and Mike.

"Ben, there are some people i want you meet." he nodded and finished with them before taking my hand as I escorted them over to my former platoon. "Mike you fall in line too." He joined us

"Attention!" out of  instinct then fell in line and stood to attention. I chuckled a little. "Ben these are some of the men Mike and I served with overseas. Say Hello, boys."

"Mr Preseident, sir." 

"This is my former Captain Jacob James, one of the very few people to keep me in line." I introduced him

"Sir." JJ saluted

"Captain." Ben nodded to them.

"Then there is Matthew, Christopher, Jason, Alexander, Saxon, Michael, Jonathan, Paul and Ross." I  went down the line of those who attended.

"Mr President." the nodded their head to him and Ben shook each of their hands

"It is nice to meet you all, but I've known Grace long enough to know that she doesn't really address you by such names." I start to laugh.

"You would be right. Fingers, Haribo, Eggsy, Paris, Triple X, Creeper, Master, Jughead, Nono, Hoodie and, Cinderella." I called them by their respective nicknames "Each nickname has a extremely interesting story. However I owe these men my lives. Believe or not these guys have gotten crazy carter out of a few scrapes."

-------

The rest of the wedding went of without a hitch and we have a week booked out away from Presidential duties. Then it was time to take up the mantle that had been vacant and could not even be fully filled by me. That of the Second first, Lady duties. It came with a protection detail of my own, a code name of Lioness.

I knew I wouldn't be a first lady long as  Ben's second term would be over in a couple of years. But I was determined to do Maggie proud, she had been one of my friends if mainly my principle. But i wanted to do her proud while not being in her shadow. However things became even more tricky when about a month after the wedding did I find out that I was pregnant with my first child.

"I can't handle this, this is insane, Mike." I vented pacing back and forth in the office of the first lady. I was in my second trimester showing and having a mental break down.

"I can't do this, how can I do this? I'm way out of my depth here."

"You always say that and you always come through." he assured me "You always say that we can get way to comfortable in what we're doing, best to shake things up." I stopped pacing.

"When have I ever said that? I've never said that. I like knowing what going on, being in some sort of control. You give me an enemy target and a mission, it's second nature, this is not. I'm no first lady or mother. I'm a soldier, I have been for a better part of my life."  just then Ben walked in.

"Everything okay? I was told you were having a rough time."

"She's have a minor meltdown, sir. Nothing out of the normal." Mike assured with a small smirk.

"I will throw my shoe at your head, Mike. This isn't funny. I'm fine, Ben just walking through some things with my best friend, questionable on the best." I calmed myself down "See all better."

"Will that be all, Ma'am."

"Oh do one, you irritating bastard." Mike nodded and left us alone. Ben came over and took my arms.

"Talk to me."

"I'm just struggling a little, okay? I'm a soldier, a protector. I wasn't taught how to be this. To be honest with they dangerous stuff i've done and situations I was put into, I never expected to marry or to have kids." I sat down "Ben, I've done stuff that is even classified to you. I've lost count how many times I thought that I was done for, that I eventually, shut myself off to all of this." I pointed in-between us.

"It's overwhelming, In a few short years everything has changed for the both of us. At first I didn't notice it, but now it's like as soon as we started dating everything went from zero to a thousand."

"Grace."

"Mr President, sir. The British prime minister has arrived." We were interrupted

"Can't it wait?" Ben looked back to Mike

"It's fine, you go. I promised I would spend time with Conner." He looked conflicted "Seriously, go. Be President." I shoed him out of the office and with reluctance and hesitation he left.

------

Elizabeth Marie Asher was a child born in the White House quite literally, she surprised me, in true Carter fashion. I had no idea that I was in actually labour and by the time I realised, I was too far along and gave birth at home. Everyone of her family adored her and she defiantly stole the hearts of her father and brother.