Sam was mildly alarmed when he walked in the house with Stanley on Friday and found Mara sitting on the couch drinking a glass of wine. Mara and wine were not a good combination, over the years he learnt that she drank wine when she felt the need to consume lots of alcohol.

"Sorry we are late. Bad day dear?"

"Hellish, hi Stanley, I just got in fifteen minutes ago."

"Hello Mara."

"So what happened today?"

"If I talk about it I'm going to go insane and murder a few idiots and a Premier."

"Yowza, how many times did Leslie quit today?"

"Five and the last time she left, I hope I see her on Monday. I didn't have time to make dinner. Michael is going to pick up Thai."

"Is the wine bottle in the kitchen?"

"No, I started drinking at the office, I took the bottle into the limo with me. This was the last glass in the bottle. I came in, called over to Ainsley, got Michael and he said he'd order and do a pickup. I sat down and well you walked in."

"Stanley can I get you a drink?"

"Scotch and soda please."

Sam went to make Stanley's drink, leaving Mara and Stanley alone.

"I hear that Sam told you that he had issues with you and you said tell me in a few days. That doesn't sound like you?"

"I know, it has been driving me crazy but Sam always freaks when I demand he tells me something so I figured I'd give him more time."

"You know changing your typical reaction might hurt Sam more than helping him. He can communicate with greater ease when he thinks he has some control over the situation. When you change the game, he has to scramble to figure out the rules."

"Sam knows that I'm fairly unpredictable, don't you dear?" Mara added as she saw her husband.

"Yes, after all these years she is still an enigma."

"While we wait for dinner why don't you start talking to Mara, Sam."

"So what are you issues with me?"

"This one isn't your fault, but I resent the amount of control I've given you over my life. I know that it is necessary but some days feel more like a student following your orders than a husband."

"Do you want me to stop organizing you? Do you want me to stop shopping for you?"

"No, I need you to do all of that."

"Then suck it up Buttercup and move on."

"Kay, my second issue is that you've taught Matty that marginalizing me is fine. You've given Matty the distinct impression that only what you think, do or say matters. If I say no to him, he turns around and asks you and you say yes."

"Sam, I'm the parent there everyday. I'm home for dinner without fail. I do the conferences and volunteer for school stuff. I am the decision maker when it comes to Matty."

"It wasn't always that way. There was a time that we shared parenting duties."

"Yes there was. When he was born and you were a professor with not only regular hours but fewer hours than me. Then you could play with him and interact with him more."

"So you are saying that when I got back in to politics it all changed."

"It did. I don't mean to suggest that Matty doesn't have to listen to you. It's just that he is so use to coming to me, because I'm the one there. It's not practical for him to call you at 3:30 to say he's going to Sam's. I can be interrupted anytime. You say you can be, but the reality is totally different. I can take off at a moments notice you can't."

"When I am around, you never give me a chance to respond. In fact, you often stand there and act as though I'm not even in the room. You tell Matty you'll get him something that is across the room when I'm standing beside it!"

"So what do you want me to do?"

"You can start by reminding him that I am his father and that what I say goes."

"Sam, you don't decide what goes! I do. I can refer him to you when you are around."

"That would be a start."

"Sam what about your confession that sometimes you resent her because she handles you without breaking a sweat but refuses to be handled."

"Oh yeah that too."

"Sam you've never been able to manipulate me. Is it my fault that you are so easy to manipulate? You knew I was a control freak before you declared you loved me. I can't change who I am. So once again, suck it up Buttercup."

"So does that work for you Sam?" Stanley asked.

"No."

"So what can you do about it?" Stanley pressed.

"I don't know."

"Don't look at me. I think this is a stupid issue." Mara responded.

"Mara, you may think it's silly, but this is how Sam feels and you have to recognize it."

"I recognize it." (I just think it's stupid!)

"Can you do anything..."

"No, it's in his head, it's nothing I can change."

(God she's stubborn.) "Sam, can you think of any way Mara can help you?"

"I wouldn't have to handle her, if Donna, grew a spine and Mara stopped being such a freak."

"Excuse me?"

"Well let's take the egg roll as an example since it's what put me over the edge. You've made it perfectly clear that you want nothing to do with traditional First Lady events. Donna works very hard on them and then tells you when to show up. You turn around and try to change it all. These events take Donna weeks and involve multiple departments, yet you think you can snap your finger and change them to suit you. I have enough to worry about without Donna dragging me into her battles with you. Sweetie, you either handle the events all by yourself or you shut up, show up and grin and bear it."

"Sam, you are treading on very dangerous ground."

"I know and this isn't part of my job description!"

"Shall we table this for later?"

"Yeah, you can eat Donna alive and talk to her about this."

"Fair enough, anything else?"

"Not that involves you.."

"I'd like to talk to you about helping Sam not bottle everything up without it seeming as if you are putting pressure on him." Stanley interjected just before the doorbell rang.

"There's dinner, we can talk later." Sam said quickly, unsure of Mara's reaction.

Mara answered the door, thanked Michael and went straight to the kitchen. Sam showed Stanley to the dining room table and Mara came out with a plate piled with two types of spring rolls, a bowl of glass noodles and a plate of chicken satay.

"Sweetie you forgot the peanut sauce, I'll go get it."

Sam came back with two plastic containers of the sauce he loved and Mara hated.

Stanley knew that food would once again serve as a diversion and didn't bother asking either of them anything. Once dinner was finished he told Sam that Mara was on to a great idea to help him stop bottling things up. He told him that Mara telling him not now and setting a time to unload later gave him a chance to do a tiny bit of bottling and then it would be released.

"Sam, if it doesn't involve me, I don't see the problem of just coming home and venting. Tell me what an idiot some congressman is or what stupid mistake Larry made. Release the small stuff every night."

"Sam, I think that is an excellent idea. What do you think?"

"Well I sort of do that sometimes but I guess I could do it more often."

Stanley continued talking to them both over several cups of coffee.

While Matty was playing a video game with Michael his cell phone went off. Since he was losing the game he took the call.

"Hello?"

"Hello Matty, Susan knows someone who is a very good dressmaker. She e-mailed her the screen captures you did and Darlene says it won't be a problem but you do need Sam's measurements."

"Cool, thanks Patrick. Does your wife have any idea how I'm going to do that?"

"Actually, Susan came up with a great idea but you need Jenna to help you out. Jenna can get her measured and explain it as wanting to have all her bridesmaid's measurements on her."

"She'll ask me why though."

"Can't you just tell her it is a surprise for Sam and leave it at that?"

"You don't know my sister very well Patrick."

"Matty, she's got a million things on her plate just ask her."

"Kay, I will. Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'll see you Monday morning."

"What are you up too?" Michael asked.

"Oh just trying to surprise my Mom." Matty lied.

"Michael, Matty! I just found a box of mini eclairs. They should be thawed in ten minutes if you are interested." Ainsley yelled.

"When aren't I interested in food? Matty asked as he walked into the kitchen. "Dad swears that I have to be your son, all the time."

"Your Father is just jealous of our healthy appetites."

"Mom, I hear elephants eat less than you and Matty." Michael cracked as he entered the kitchen.

"Cute, no eclairs for you. That means we can have 6 each Matty."

"I'm out of here." Michael proclaimed as he left the house.

"Was it something we said?" Matty asked.

"Who knows, he's a moody teenager."

"Is he still planning on going away to University?"

"Yes, the acknowledgements should start coming in April. He didn't even apply to Georgetown."

"He told me he really wanted to go to USC."

"Yes, he wants to go far away. I'd feel better if he went to Stanford. He can get in himself into more trouble in LA."

"I don't know, there are more distractions in LA. At Stanford he might be doing a whole lot more drinking."

"Drinking age in California is still 21, Matthew."

"I'm sure that stops so many students." He replied sarcastically.

"What was that? No eclairs for you?"

"Sorry."

"Yes, trying to freak out one of your favourite Aunts is not a good idea Matthew Tobias."

"Especially when she has the dessert."

Ainsley rolled her eyes and started laughing before getting up to take the eclairs out of the box and put them on a plate.

After saying good night to Stanley, Sam noticed that Mara was limping towards the kitchen. He watched her for a second to make sure he wasn't seeing things and confronted her in the kitchen.

"Why are you limping?"

"Because my leg hurts."

"No shit Sherlock! Why is it hurting?"

"Because it is."

"I'll take you over my knee and smack you one if you don't start talking Missy!"

"I did it at work and thought it went away. I guess after sitting for so long the muscle wasn't too happy."

"But how did you hurt it?"

"I was dancing around my office and the muscle just went."

"You're getting older dear."

"Perish the thought! You may be getting older but I'm not."

"But you are older than me so..."

"Samuel, if you ever want to have sex again, I suggest you just shut up about ageing."

"OK, new topic...Matty's press conference is Monday. You'll be there right?"

"No, what would I be doing at an announcement of a US initiative that has nothing to do with Canada?"

"A show of family unity would be a good thing considering the egg roll fiasco."

"Sam, I have important meetings all day Monday. Matty will be fine without me. This is policy not a publicity shot."

"What if Matty wants you there?"

"I can't be, end of discussion. Here's a chance for you to parent him all by yourself, for a change."

"What do you mean by that?" Sam questioned, a tinge of anger showing through.

"I mean that you'll get what you want. Matty coming straight to you." Mara replied using her warning tone.

"Are you making fun of me?"

"Of course not, you idiot! I just think that while your feelings are valid, there is nothing we can do about it. You chose to put yourself in a situation that set the family dynamics in stone. Now all you can do is deal with it and loose the resentment towards me."

"I don't resent you."

"Yes you do Sam. Maybe you should ask Stanley for some exercises to deal with it."

"I don't feel like arguing."

"That's because you know I'm right. I'll trade you a neck massage for a pedicure."

"Deal, brat."

As soon as Matty got home he called his sister and Jenna agreed to get Samantha's measurements. She surprised him by not asking for details. He wondered if Patrick had already talked to her. Sam called him into their bedroom.

"So what was for dinner?"

"Ainsley and I had 6 mini eclairs each, they were really good."

"Desserts for dinner, good idea." Mara chuckled.

"Matthew, your Mom isn't going to be at our press conference."

"No kidding, it's during her business hours. What does Canada have to do with a US policy?"

Mara gave her husband a self satisfied little grin. "Any questions my love?"

"They aren't going to be able to ask me about anything other than the policy right? I don't want them asking what I look for in a girl or any other vapid questions."

"No, Carol will brief the press on what they can ask you before the announcement."

"Cool, that's all I wanted to know. "

"Mommy, do you feel like watching With Honors with me?"

"When don't I want to watch Brendan? Go put some popcorn in the micro and I'll invade my secret candy stash."

"Dad, do you want to join us? I can nuke some Cheese Whiz for you."

"Sounds good to me. Why don't we watch in here. Do you have any Grape Crush left? I'm craving some."

"Yeah there is a bottle in my mini fridge, grab me one please."

"Sam, you set the movie up and get the drinks, I'll have..."

"A diet Dr. Pepper."

"Yeah."

Ten minutes later Mara came upstairs with her own nachos with melted cheddar cheese and her home-made salsa. She gave Matty a box of Good & Plenty that he dumped in the popcorn with chocolate covered raisons and cashews. They settled down to watch the movie.

Sam rolled his eyes and reached over to his bedside table and handed his wife and son a Kleenex. He was sure they had seen this movie thirty times and every time Simon died they both cried.

"You two are such saps! He dies every time and yet you..."

"Shut up Sam." Mara replied.

Sam got up, went to the bathroom and made himself comfortable under the covers while Monty graduated without honors from Harvard but with honor in life. Matty kissed his mom good night and took the last bit of popcorn in his room to finish.

"You make fun of me every time for crying and miss a chance to recreate one of the best screen kisses ever."

"I wouldn't call the ending our friendship line that romantic."

"I wish Brendan Fraser was here now." Mara muttered.

"Trust me, he'd find you as silly and exasperating as I do." Sam cracked.

"Bite me, you insensitive clod."

Sam chuckled to himself and turned off the light, leaving his wife without a debating partner or a captive audience. He figured she'd huff and puff and go to sleep. When she huffed and got out of bed, he figured she was either going to bug Matty or call Ainsley to talk about him. He didn't care, it was before midnight and he was able to go to bed and sleep in until ten the next morning. Running the country was not as exhausting as being married to Mara, was his last thought before sleep finally came.