Again, thanks to Martha for letting me use part of her fic "After the State Dinner"

Chapter 6:

Real men like smart women

Right after tucking Lily in, Mac was leaving the residence to go back to the State Dinner. But she decided to go to the Family Room first. She really wanted to see Becca. She saw Amy playing video games and Rebecca sitting with her study partner... who was a very cute boy. Mac wasn't shocked at all, but she did feel disappointed.

Rebecca didn't see her mother come into the room, so she continued flirting shamelessly

Rebecca: I don't get any of this! It's so hard. That's why I'm going to be in summer school...

Mac was so not impressed with what her daughter was saying. Becca was the smartest girl in her class. Who would believe that she would need to go to summer school?

Mike: I'll help you past the test…

Becca: if someone can help me pass, it's you

Mac couldn't take it anymore. She decided to cough, so they'd notice her presence.

Mike stood up nervously. Mac ignored him and talked to Amy.

Mac: Amy, it's after ten. You should be in bed

Amy: but Horace said I could stay up as late as I wanted!

Mac: But I'm telling you to go to bed NOW, Missy

Amy threw down the game control, and stomped out of the room. Then Mac pointed to Rebecca

Mac: you should know better than letting her stay up this late. I should have told Marie to come. And I think it's time for your friend to go home

Rebecca: But we have a big test tomorrow

Mac: well, the best thing before a test is a good nights sleep

Mike said goodbye to Becca, greeted the President politely and then left.

Rebecca was incredibly angry at her mother

Rebecca: Mom, that was so embarrassing!!

Mac: I don't have time for this young lady! All you need to know is that I am very angry with you. Now go and get Amy ready for bed

Mac then went back downstairs. Just at that moment Kelly was leaving, saying she had a headache. Mac thought there must be something going around. It was then when the President noticed that Connor had left early too. She found the coincidence a little strange.

Later, Mac went upstairs again, this time to go to bed. She checked on Amy first and then on Becca. She wanted to have a long talk with her middle daughter. Mac did not like that she was playing dumb for some sleazy boy.

Mac: We need to talk honey

Rebecca: Mom, I really like Mike and he's a nice guy

Mac: really? A nice guy would never expect you to play dumb for him. You are an intelligent girl. You should be proud of that, and not act down to make a guy feel good

Rebecca: I know that, Mom. I promise I won't do it again

Mac: And you lied to me, you never told me your study date was with a boy

Rebecca: I didn't lie, I just never told you

Mac: A lie of omission is still a lie. On top of all… you got me in trouble with your father! He had already said you couldn't miss the State Dinner. You have any idea how mad he was at me? He thought I was disrespecting him

Becca: I'm sorry mom… I will never do it again…

Mac: Ok… now it's time for bed, baby

Mac kissed her daughter. Right before leaving the room, she turned around and added…

Mac: oh… and, FYI, when I met your father I didn't have to hide my intelligence to get him to like me. A real man actually likes women who are strong, confident and smart.

The following day, Mac got up very early for a run. She went out and enjoyed the exercise. She loved to run in the morning. It always made her feel wide-awake for the rest of the day.

After a while, she got back to the residence, and had breakfast with her kids. Lily was still in bed, this time Mac left her to sleep, thinking that the girl was sick.

Kelly had just arrived to the White House for work. On the way to her office, she could see Connor coming out of the Residence wearing the same clothes as he had on at the State Diner. Then she remembered how he had danced with Lily all night and how Lily had left the dinner early. This didn't look good. But maybe this wasn't what it looked like. Sure, Lily was always smiling and flirting with Connor, but there was no way he would hate her. After all, she was just kid. Although, last night Lily had looked like she was in her 20's. The Press Secretary would need to have a serious talk with her deputy.

Later on, Kelly decided to confront Connor before their staff meeting. She just had to know if her suspicions were correct.

Connor entered her office and saw that his boss was looking incredibly serious.

Kelly: Connor, you understand that working in The White House, so close to the Oval Office, is not like any other job. What you do in your free time might affect this administration in a very negative way…

Connor: Kelly, I know that… is something wrong?

Kelly: I just need to ask you a personal question and you need to tell me the truth.

Connor: ok…

Kelly: Last night, did you sleep with her?

Connor: With who?? I don't even know what you are talking about, Kelly

Kelly: Oh, come on…I saw you leaving the President's residence very early in the morning, wearing the clothes you wore last night. So… are you sleeping with her?

Connor: what? You think I slept with the President???? That's ridiculous!

Kelly: No, you moron, I think you slept with her TEENAGE Daughter!

Connor just looked at his boss, stunned. Kelly knew. There was no way he could deny it.

Connor: Please… please, don't tell anyone

Kelly: She's 17! She's barely over the age of consent. God! The First Gentleman will kill you when he finds out. Connor, what you did may be legal, and with her consent… but someone of your age having sex with someone of her age might still be considered abuse by many people.

Connor: sex??? Kelly, I never had sex with her. We just feel sleep in the same bed

Kelly: good, but it doesn't matter! You can't date her

Connor: but I care about her!

The two of them continued having a heated disagreement over the eldest first daughter.

Mac had to go to that morning's staff meeting as well. She passed by Kelly's office and noticed that Connor and Kelly were having a heated disagreement. She didn't know what that was about, but she overheard him saying….

Connor: Kelly, I know it's wrong but I can't help who I fall in love with.

Then Mac thought her suspicions were right. First, Kelly and Connor left the State Dinner at the same time; and now he was saying those words and wearing the same clothes he had wore the night before. The President was now sure that there was something going on between Connor and Kelly.

Mac couldn't hear anything more of the argument because at that moment, Connor and Kelly left the office to go to the staff meeting. They both greeted her politely, trying to act like nothing was wrong.

Then, they all simply went to the meeting. Once it was finished everyone headed out. But the President needed to talk alone with her press secretary.

Mac: Kelly, can you stay for a second?

Kelly waited behind, wondering what the President might want.

Mac: I'm sorry. I don't want to intrude in your personal life…I know you are a grown woman. But, do you really think your relationship with Connor is appropriate? You are his superior. That guy works for you…it's not appropriate for you to date him.

Kelly was completely puzzled. She didn't know what the President meant.

Kelly: Madam President, what are you talking about?

Mac: I know about you and Connor

What Kelly really wanted to ask now was: "have you been drinking?" Of course, she didn't say a word and simply stared at her boss, in astonishment.

Mac noticed the shock and confusion in Kelly's face.

Mac: I noticed that you both left at the same time, and now he is wearing the same clothes as yesterday. I connected the dots

Kelly: Ma'am, there is nothing going on with Connor and I…I swear. I just had a headache last night.

Mac: Oh… I'm so sorry, Kelly. I just assumed… It's just… I overheard him saying that he couldn't help who he fell in love with…

Kelly: oh… well… I understand then why you thought I was dating him…but I'm not

Mac had automatically assumed that, if Connor was in love with someone he shouldn't, that someone was Kelly. The president was now a little curious about who was Connor talking about. Of course, she didn't want to disrespect anybody's privacy by asking.

Mac: I guess I was wrong, then. I'm sorry

Kelly: It's ok, Ma'am

Kelly then left to her office. She felt really bad. She had lied by omission to the President. She wanted to tell her so badly about Connor and Lily, but it wasn't up to her. Kelly's only responsibility was to keep the secret from the press. If the oldest First Daughter wanted to keep secrets from her mother that was Lily's problem.

To be continued….

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