Please review! This is my first House of Cards story, and it feels pretty good to be writing for another show!

Francis laughed, belly bouncing, as his daughter rubbed her cramping hand. She had a grin on her face though despite her failure playing against him. "I told you I'd win." He said wiping away a few tears that had gathered from his amusement.

"I will win one of these days." James said moving her brunette hair over to one shoulder. She stretched out her hand before wrapping it back around the plastic guitar, her fingers finding the different colored buttons. "Let's go again."

"Don't you think it's time to get to bed. You have a big day tomorrow." Claire said standing in the doorway with a smirk on her lips.

James looked down at her phone. "It's only nine o'clock."

Claire grinned. "I was talking to your father."

"Oh, c'mon, Claire. Five more minutes. I haven't seen her all week; I've been so busy at work." Francis asked looking behind the couch to his wife. "Just let us play American Pie."

James giggled. "Daddy, that song is eleven minutes."

"Shush." Francis said cupping his hand over his daughter's mouth, making her shriek with laughter.

Claire smiled shaking her head. "American pie, and then you are done. Those votes aren't going to whip themselves," she said. "And, let go of our daughter, please. She needs all the energy she can get for her test tomorrow."

Francis looked down at his daughter. "What test?"

"Anatomy." James said trying to get up.

Francis kept her close, her head pressed against his chest. "You don't need to learn about that stuff."

Claire failed at keeping her smile tight lipped. "Tell your father what chapter you are working on."

"The reproductive system." James chuckled, watching as her father nearly passed out at her words.

"Lord, we should've home-schooled you." Francis said before pointing back at Claire. "I blame you."

Claire laughed. "I wouldn't dream of letting her learn about the reproductive system from you. Your sex talk was 'have it, and you'll die'." She walked over and kissed his head, patting his cheek gently. "Your daughter isn't even studying because she knows the material so well."

James messed with controls on the fake drum set her father was using, starting the song without him. She shrieked again when Francis grabbed her and hoisted her over his lap, trapping her so he could play the drums. "No way!"

"I may have just had a stroke, but that doesn't mean you are going to get one over on your old man." Francis smiled before seeing her side play the notes. "How are you doing that?"

"I've got two free hands." James said hitting the different colored buttons on her guitar. "You won't stop an Underwood from winning."

Francis grinned. "That's my girl."

Francis turned out the light before crawling into bed, wrapping himself around his wife in the process. "What's on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Nothing too terribly hard." Claire breathed relaxing into his arms. "I need to get something though for Jame's birthday coming up."

"That's right," Francis whispered. "My baby is going to be sixteen. Boy, where did that time go?" He asked, his southern drawl like a sweet symphony to her ears.

Claire sighed contently. "I wonder the same thing." She turned her head to kiss his cheek. "Remember the first year she was here. She wouldn't sleep longer than fifteen minutes at a time."

Francis chuckled. "I remember." He nuzzled his nose against her neck. "I wonder where she got all her energy from."

"She was born for politics." Claire smiled gently. "Like her parents." She kissed the palm of his hand before wrapping it tighter around her small frame. "As tired as we were, I miss those days."

"Me too." Francis agreed before placing a hand over her stomach, remembering when his daughter rested there. "I didn't have to worry about her learning about the reproductive system. She was in yours."

Claire laughed hard, using her hand to muffle the sound. "She's growing up, Francis. We have to adjust to that," she said turning in his arms. "We're good at that. We have to be."

"Can't we just lock her in the basement. That school can't be all that great." Francis asked.

"You are being ridiculous." Claire smiled before running her hand over his eyes, closing them for him. "Part of our legacy is in her. She'll make us proud, Francis."

Francis opened his eyes to look into hers. "I'm already proud of her." He kissed her softly. "Can I show you how proud I am of you?"

Claire smirked, feeling his hands already exploring the territory he knew so well. "What did you have in mind?"

"You didn't let me have dessert tonight." Francis said rolling her onto her back and pulling at the waistband of her pajama bottoms. "I hope you had enough for me."

"Your meeting with the President is in fifteen minutes." Doug said looking over the schedule sitting in front of him.

Francis glanced down at his watch before scanning the white board again, moving a magnet over to a new column. "I want to get to Barney next. Get a meeting with him as soon as possible."

Doug nodded, already grabbing his phone and a pen. "What about Stafford?"

"We'll get to him later. He's not the majority pull we need right now. Besides, once he turns, Barney will fight back to move him over." Francis said shaking his head, slipping his jacket on over his shoulders. "What time do you think we'll get out of here tonight?"

"I'll let you know when I hear back from Barney." Doug said pressing his phone to his ear and standing. "I've got a car waiting downstairs for us," he whispered before returning his attention to his phone. "Yes, Congressman Barney, please."

"Mr. President, I'm glad that you could meet with me." Francis smiled shaking Garrett Walker's hand.

"Thanks for meeting with me, Frank." Garrett smiled before moving behind his desk. "How is Claire and James?"

Francis smiled. "Claire is busy as always, and James is reaching the age where, well, my job as a father becomes difficult."

Garrett laughed. "I would believe that. She's what, sixteen?"

"In a few weeks, yes." Francis nodded before clasping his hands together behind his back. "But, I don't believe you brought me here to talk about my family."

"No," Garrett sighed sitting down in his chair, buttoning the gray suit jacket he was wearing. "What I have to tell you isn't easy, Frank."

Francis slapped on a face of concern. "You can talk to me about anything, Mr. President."

Garrett smiled. "I know I can, Frank. That's why this makes this so hard." He pursed his lips together. "I can't take you away from Congress."

"What?" Francis asked ignoring the gut reaction to attack. Now wasn't the time for offensive. "But, sir-"

"I know I promised you Secretary of State, but it's just not my best move right now, Frank." Garrett sighed. "I hope you understand."

Francis bit the inside of his lip. "Well, I'm not one to question the President."

Please review!