"Please?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Please? You'll like it!"

"Mommy!"

Ainsley's fingers hovered above the laptop's keyboard as she waited for another cry from Drew.

"It's so much fun!" Mia was exclaiming. She was obviously trying to force her brother into something he did not want to do. "You'll like it Drew!"

"Mommy!"

She sighed at the second call and pushed her chair out from the table. When she reached the living room Mia was standing on a pile of blocks and holding the remote control in one hand and her High School Musical DVD in the other. Drew was at a serious disadvantage at grabbing the remote because of Mia's new found height and seemed to be getting more frustrated by the moment.

"What's going on?"

"Drew won't let me watch TV."

"No! She won't let me watch TV. Mommy, I want to watch Power Rangers."

"And I said he'd like High School Musical. So can I watch it?"

"Mia, you've watched too much TV the past few days." Ainsley began and was immediately cut off by her daughter's shocked squeal.

"What? No!"

"And you got to watch TV this morning before you went to preschool, didn't you?"

"Maybe."

"Mia,"

"Yes."

"And, you know what baby, we're all a little tired of High School Musical," which was true. The sounds of Troy, Gabriella, and the rest of the Wildcats were a constant ringing in her ears. The movie was played at any chance Mia could grab. If she wasn't watching the DVD, she was listening to the CD and singing along as loud as possible.

"What?! It's the best ever!"

"Let Drew have a turn to watch some TV."

Mia barely had a chance to protest when the phone began to ring. As Ainsley walked out of the room, she stomped her foot and crossed her arms over her chest while a pout formed on her face.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Hayes?" a cheerful female voice responded and without waiting for an answer, continued, "This is Lisa Wilson, President Vinick's executive assistant. I was asked to call you and schedule a meeting with the President as soon as possible."

"Why am I being asked to meet with the President?" she felt around for a chair and sunk into it. The last time the White House had called, her entire life had been turned upside down.

"He requested it. Is tomorrow at one-thirty good for you?"

"That's fine." what was she supposed to say, no?

"Wonderful. We'll see you tomorrow then."

"Whoa, where are you going?" Donna looked up from her magazine as she heard heels clicking on the tiled floor of the kitchen.

"The White House." Ainsley grabbed a water bottle out of the refrigerator, then chugged half of it. "I got called yesterday to come in to meet with the President."

"The President?"

"Yes and I don't know why. You are the only one that knows. I hope I'm not going to be very long and thank you again for coming to watch the kids."

"Oh it's okay. It's not like I have a job or anything," Donna rolled her eyes and turned back to the magazine. "So, the White House, huh? There's a blast from the past."

"Technically, it's not because if it was then it'd be with the Bartlet administration but it's not. It's the Vinick administration and I think Sam would drop down and die if he knew."

"You didn't tell him?"

"No! I don't want to tell him anything until I know what the hell is going on."

"It's not like he didn't know you were a Republican when you guys met."

"Oh haha, that's very funny." she swiped her keys off and began to head out the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

She was a bundle of nerves as she entered the White House. She obviously hadn't been there since the last day of the administration and it was odd seeing unfamiliar faces racing through the hallways. It seemed to take forever to reach the Oval Office but when she did, Lisa Wilson welcomed her with a warm smile.

"Ms. Hayes, I'm glad you could make it on such short notice. If you'd wait just a moment, the President will be out of his meeting shortly. Would you like anything to drink?"

"Oh, no thank you, I'm fine." Ainsley flashed a quick smile as she twisted her wedding ring around her finger. "Um, do you know what this is about?"

"No." Lisa responded, "President Vinick simply said he would like to meet you."

"Right."

The door to the Oval opened then and a group of men filed out. A few of them glanced at Ainsley, wondering what she was doing there, and then Vinick appeared.

"Sir, this is Ainsley Hayes," Lisa gestured to the shaking blonde.

"Yes, come in Ms. Hayes."

"Ainsley's fine." she stammered. God, why did she act like this? She had worked for a president for six years. She had roamed these halls so many times, she knew them like the back of her hand. Why was this so difficult?

"I really appreciate you coming in on such short notice. I hope it wasn't an inconvenience." Vinick shook her hand gently and she shook her head.

"No, it was fine."

"Please sit down." he gestured to the couches in the center of the room and they both sat down. "I'm very pleased you agreed to meet with me."

I really had no choice. You can't say no to the President of the United States, Ainsley thought but smiled and nodded.

"If you don't mind me asking, sir, why did you want to meet with me?"

"To offer you a job." Vinick stated casually. Her eyes must have bugged out of her head because he chuckled and continued, "I take it you're surprised."

"Yes. Shouldn't I be meeting with someone that handles hiring people? Or the Chief of Staff? Or someone?"

"Yes. You're meeting with me. I would like you to partially take over the Deputy White House Counsel position. I understand that you've previously held the title, so you are familiar with your duties. I would have no problem being flexible, well as flexible as it could be, with your family priorities."

"Why me?"

"We've... had some problems with the current deputy. I was hoping you could take over some of the responsibilities to help him sort himself out. There's also the fact that I simply want you on the team and this was the easiest way to fit you in. I really wish I had asked you to be part of the campaign staff. We would have won with a bigger margin. You're also good on TV. You were a great addition to the Bartlet Administration. He's lucky to have caught you. I think you'd do greater in a republican administration though. You'd be able to speak your mind fully and not be silenced by the other side."

"Well, I'm pretty bipartisan."

"One could tell by your marriage." he smiled, causing her to laugh softly. "You don't have to say yes, at least not right now. I can give you a couple days to think it over and speak with your husband."

"I appreciate that, thank you."

When she arrived home, Ainsley was surprised to find Sam sitting at the kitchen table.

"Hey."

He glanced behind him and shot a grin in her direction.

"Hi."

"What are you doing home so early?"

"Slow day and Tom was heading up to New York for his parents' anniversary." Sam turned in his seat and frowned as he looked over her. "Where did you go? Donna said you went out. I thought she meant like to the store or something."

"I was at the White House being offered a job."

"Wow."

"Yeah." she sunk into the seat next to him and leaned her head against her hand.

"Counsel's office?"

"Yeah."

"So are congrats in order or..."

"I told him I'd think about it. But I knew the second I walked in there I was turning it down."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not ready to go back and when I am, it's not going to be at the White House. It might not even be politics. I mean, I walked in and everything was fast paced and I was thrown back into all the hard work we put out for years and as much as I loved it, I could never do that again. Especially not with the kids. I was starting to burn out. We both were. Just thinking about it makes me tired."

He chuckled and ran a hand over her arm comfortingly.

"So no going back to the White House."

"Not until you get there at least." she replied to which he smirked. "And... and, I don't think it would be fair if I suddenly had to up and quit."

"Why would you have to up and quit?" Sam stared at her with a confused look on his face.

"I don't know." she answered quickly. "I'm just saying.. A lot of things could happen. I could have to have major surgery or... or.... we moved. Or,"

"Or?"

"Or I would... have to take a long term of leave due to... kids."

"But that doesn't make sense. You never thought about resigning or taking a leave of absence. It only happened when you... had to... ah." he stopped suddenly and scratched his head. "When you uh... say kids, you're not talking about the ones that are already here, are you?"

"Define already here."

"Us... having to clothe and feed and bathe and all those other things that come with living children that aren't... you know, a fetus."

"You defined it correctly."

"So then, that means that we're..."

"Yeah."

"Wow." then it suddenly hit him. "Wow. Oh my God. Are you all right? I'm sitting here being a total ass."

He threw a ton of questions at her then and she started to laugh.

"Wha—this isn't funny!"

"No," she squeezed his hand, "no you're just... you just went into total concerned husband/expectant father mode like we haven't done this already."

"Already... what about the kids? Do they know?"

"No. I figured we could tell them together." Ainsley replied. "Sam, are you okay?"

"I'm great!" with that he leaned across the table, cupped her face and kissed her. "I'm sorry. It just took a minute for it all to sink in."

"So... are we in trouble?" Mia sat on the edge of the couch, her blue eyes glued to her parents. Her legs swung nervously as she waited for them to answer.

"No. Why did you think you were?"

"Well, Mrs. B said she was gonna tell you about Sprinkles getting all wet and muddy yesterday."

"Sprinkles had it coming." Sam muttered. Their neighbor's cat had been a pain in the ass since they first moved in four years ago. Ainsley elbowed him roughly and he simply shrugged. "Well it's true."

"So then what's going on?" Drew asked.

"What do you guys think about a brother or a sister?"

"I have one." the twins responded simultaneously. They looked at each other, then giggled. It was beginning to occur to them that they did the same things at the same time and they enjoyed it immensely.

"Yeah but how about another one?"

"I guess." Drew shrugged.

"I dunno," Mia made a face. "I went to Mackenzie's house and she had a little brother and all he did was cry all the time. Do we have to?"

Their parents exchanged a look, then Ainsley proceeded with the conversation.

"Well, yeah. Daddy and I decided that we would want another baby and now we are."

"You didn't ask us." Mia said. "I thought you said we made... made, um... that thing together."

"Decisions?" Sam asked slowly. He knew that was what she was trying to say because he had told her that tidbit of information. "Yeah, on some things we do but... on others, Mommy and I have to make the decisions."

"Can we give it back if we don't like it?" Drew asked.

"No. The baby will be here to stay."

"How is it getting here?"

"Ah..." Sam glanced at Ainsley, who took over.

"We talked about this. Remember, before Patrick was born?" she asked, referring to their nephew. "The baby grows inside the mommy."

Mia looked skeptical and blew out a long sigh.

"Sorry but I don't think you'll be able to fit a baby in you Mommy."

Sam laughed quietly and Mia frowned at him.

"It's not funny Daddy. It's true."

"I know but Mommy's belly will grow when the baby does."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. It did with you two."

"How does the baby get there?" Drew asked. There was silence as Sam and Ainsley tried to formulate an appropriate answer.

"Well, um... see, the mommy and daddy ah..."

"They have to do something only mommies and daddies can do." Ainsley finished.

"What?" Drew pressed.

"You don't need to worry about that." Sam said.

"So... is the baby there?" Mia asked, pointing to Ainsley.

"Yeah." she smiled, resting a hand lightly on her stomach.

"It doesn't look like it."

"The baby's really tiny right now."

"So we'll have two babies." Drew grinned suddenly.

"No."

"I thought they come in twos." he frowned, obviously confused. "You said Mia and me were."

"Oh honey, no." Ainsley chuckled. "Sometimes, there can be two babies but most times there's only one."

"How do you get two?" Mia asked. "Do you have to do that thing extra?"

"This is getting awkward." Sam muttered. Ainsley rubbed his shoulder gently as she shook her head.

"No, it just happens sometimes. It's special."

"So we're special." Drew's grin returned, obviously happy with this newfound fact.

"Of course! You guys would be special even if you weren't twins."

"When does the baby get here?"

"Not for a few more months." Ainsley thought for a second, then said, "Sometime around Christmas probably."

At that point, the phone rang and Sam stood up to get it. The kids climbed onto the chair to occupy his seat.

"Why do we need a baby?"

"Because Daddy and I want to have someone else to love."

"Can we see the baby?" Drew was peering intensely at his mother as if the baby would magically appear.

"No. Not yet at least. But there's a special picture that can let us."

"Let's do it."

"We can't. Only a doctor can. Actually, let me get up." she walked towards the bookshelf and pulled out the twins' baby book. "I could show you yours."

"Ainse," Sam had reappeared and she could instantly tell something was wrong.