Yeah, Yeah, Yeah. You're free to hate me, oh well.

Xxx

Ellie

When we reached the house, Will fell back and continued to walk backwards in, what could only be described as, a moronic walk. He actually thought that I wouldn't notice if he hunched his back and crept away. Freezing, I just called over my shoulder.

"Seriously? What are you five?"

His footfalls stopped and I imagined him silently cursing and that handsome face of his pulling into a grim- WAIT! What? Handsome? Wagner's not handsome, well I mean, yeah, he is but in a Colin Firth kind of way. Colin Firth just getting of the lake in that Jane Austen movie. Not that I want to see Will getting out of a lake with his shirt dripping wet and…Argh! Focus, Harrison; this guy is your boss, you can not have ANY future with this guy, not unless you quit or he doesn't get elected and do you want to do either of those? No. So… no strange thoughts about Will portraying Mr Darcy.

He appeared next to my shoulder, his mouth forming a childish pout and his hand sunk, over dramatically into his shoulders, looking as though I had just told him he couldn't have the toy just because every other kid in his class had one.

"Do we HAVE to go?"

He caught hold of my wrist and held me still; I glanced up at him and found it really difficult to say yes. But I looked away from him and nodded, smirking.

"Yep, sorry,"

I walked up to the door, hauling him with me as I went; when we reached the door, I knocked on it loudly. He glared at me, mockingly, mumbling under his breath about something. He then stopped and faced the door, I glanced from him to it and frowned at him, again. But he turned me around and we faced the door again, I was fully aware that it took him a while to take his hands from my hips.

And then the door opened; there was a man standing there, and it was shocking how much he looked like Will. The only real differences were the ageing wrinkles, the salt and pepper hairdo was shorter then Will's and… he held himself like he was still in the military. But he had been in his teaching position for some years now. Though, I guess its right what they say about never losing the attitude.

"William…" He said, nodding, It was strange, the look on his face when he first saw him. It was like this moment of realisation and love; and then it changed quickly. He composed himself and nodded, opening the door to let us in.

"It's good to see you, Dad." Will said heading in before me and hanging his jacket up on the stand and then taking mine and leaving it next to his.

I stayed frozen under the gaze of Admiral Wagner, like a shy child, waiting for their mother to come and rescue them; Will turned and smiled at me and then at his dad.

"Sir, this is Ellie. My Communication's Director and main campaign runner."

"I didn't expect you to be on his staff." The Admiral directed at me, I smiled and held out my hand for him to shake. He took it and grasped it firmly.

"Well, we're friends as well."

"I'm not surprised, from what Will told us about you on the phone and the way Lance talks about the two of you." I blinked and made a mental note to have Lance fired when we got back. From the expression on Will's face, he was clearly thinking it, too.

"So," Will said, clearly attempting to change the conversation topic. His dad turned to face him, finally dropping my hand and standing casually. Well, almost casually. "How is mom? She freaking out, yet?"

"No, she's had everything prepared for a few days, now; she's totally organised."

There was a loud scream from the room just off from the entrance and a clatter of pots could be heard. The Admiral blanched and let out a sigh.

"Was; stay here, while I find out what's going on."

He stepped towards the door but a petit and beautiful woman stepped through, her short blond hair bouncing whilst she glared up at the Admiral.

"Guess who just called and said that they weren't coming?"

"Marco?"

"YES! Marco! That stupid boy has had me running in circles all day, trying to get all the things that he wants and then?" She changed her voice and stance so that she was slumping and wearing a face as though she had had a stroke. "Sorry, mom. Morgan's, like, being a bitch and making go to a thing and I have to otherwise she'll burn all my stuff."

She sighed and regained herself, standing up to her full height and glancing around. Seeing us, she frowned and hesitated, before letting out another scream, only this one was happy and shocked; rather then angry and murderous.

"Will!"

She ran forward and hugged him, tightly. Will returned it, bending down so she could put her arms around his neck, a relaxed smile on his face and looking completely content.

"Hey, Jean."

She released him and looked at him, pulling at the skin on his face and then tutting.

"Where's your tan?"

"I've been inside a lot." He said, bluntly, shrugging his shoulders and throwing it off.

She looked around and saw me; I froze, feeling very much like the outsider, like I was invading on their private, family moment and that I was unwanted in the situation. But she stepped forward and hugged me, wrapping me up in her tiny arms and pulling me down to her height.

"You must be Ellie; it's a pleasure to have you. Will's told us a lot about you and we are pleased to have one more person for Thanksgiving."

"The pleasure is mine and I would like to thank you for letting me come from Thanksgiving,"

"Your welcome. To be honest, it'd be lovely to have another woman here for when the football's on."

I laughed and let her lead me into the kitchen, glancing over my shoulder to see if they were following. Will gave me an impressed look and walked in before his dad.

Jean moved away and went to mashing her potatoes, talking over her shoulder as she went. "… Last time, all they talked about was football and politics. I was so bored I nearly feel asleep. Will, do you know who's having a baby, soon?"

Will replied he didn't and handed me a Coke and slid into place next to me, his hand resting on the counter behind me, so that he almost had his arm wrapped around me.

The Admiral sat in the corner watching and putting in parts of the conversation that Jean got wrong or making sure what she said was politically correct. Not that she was racist or anything, she was just… blunt. Honest and blunt.

Things were good. They were definitely good. Then.

If, I had known what was going to happen later that night… I don't think I would have let Will go.