Author's Notes: My friend Riana saw a promo picture for the finale and mistakenly thought Ben had kissed Leslie's forehead - an action referred to as "forehead sex" in the X-Files fandom. When this didn't actually happen in the finale, I decided to rewrite the scene, using lines from X-Files forehead sex scenes (changing the outcome of the election in the meantime, because X-Files lines are far too depressing for a victory).
Disclaimer: Leslie doesn't talk like Mulder and it's awkward. I know. Just enjoy it. This will make more sense if you've watched both series, but should still be pleasant if you've never watched X-Files.
On the other side of the bathroom door, Ann could be heard, somberly recounting the campaign before a hundred of Leslie's closest friends, supporters, and at least one news camera crew, ready to broadcast her concession speech to all of Pawnee.
Meanwhile, Ben and Leslie stood close together, neither exactly looking the other in the eye as Ben slipped a hastily written concession speech into Leslie's outstretched, trembling hand. She hadn't cried after the initial announcement of her narrow loss, but after the recount, after going through that period of false hope, she had lost it. Extra makeup, carefully, lovingly applied by Ann covered her puffy, blotchy cheeks, but nothing could be done for her eyes, damp, glazed over like discarded blue and pink marbles.
"You didn't need me on this, Leslie." Ben broke the silence, still unable to look at her face, eyes focused upon the collar of her jacket. His voice quivered. "You never have. I've just held you back."
There was a brief, tense pause. Leslie inhaled slowly, then exhaled in a loud sigh. She shook her head slowly, purposefully, but it grew more vigorous until she finally said, "No…"Her eyes traced his downcast face. The hand that didn't hold her speech found its way under his chin, lifted it, so he had to look in her eyes as she continued, more strongly this time. "No. As difficult and as frustrating as this campaign has been sometimes, you've saved me a thousand times over."
The hardness fled from Ben's face, the lines between his eyebrows disappearing, his jaw unclenching. He lifted one large hand to his face, cupping her tiny hand, wrapping a single finger around one of hers. He said nothing, and she continued.
Leslie's head tilted to the side as she spoke from her heart. "You've kept me honest... you've made me a whole person. I owe you everything, Ben, and you owe me nothing." She sighed, glanced up at the ceiling, and smiled grimly. "Even now, with my world falling apart around me, you are my constant, my touchstone."
Her eyes watched his lips move as he said, "And you are mine."
Ben's free hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, as his other hand rested lightly on her cheek, locking stares without saying another word. His fingers traced her soft, lipstick covered lips before tilting her head downward, gently. He placed a single, purposeful, chaste kiss upon her forehead, lingering longer than necessary, his nose in her hairline, her nose scratching against his stubble. When he finally pulled his lips away, she rested her chin on his shoulder, and he tilted his head to the side of hers.
"I guess it was too much to hope for," Leslie whispered into Ben's ear.
"Never give up on a miracle."
In that moment, second, minute – time stood still, and in that instant, it didn't matter what was going on outside their dimly lit men's bathroom. It didn't matter that Ann had finished her introduction a minute earlier. It didn't matter what they had lost or gained. It mattered only that they had each other.