Josh Lyman held his head high as he walked briskly down the corridor. He had managed to turn Sam's excitable mutterings to white noise and found that if he squinted ever so slightly he could pretend he was in a different venue. He was relieved not to bypass too many familiar faces on his journey but was a little saddened to complete the travel quicker than anticipated. He figured that it was the December cold driving him to walk a little harder and faster. Sam's implication that sirens had gotten Josh jogging as if he were a criminal being chased had been dismissed with a forced chuckle and a wry shake of his head.

Josh knocked the door out of courtesy. He figured there was an aide about to alert someone to their arrival but Josh didn't want alerts. Josh wanted to return to the West Wing, cower in his office and use Donna as a shield for the remainder of what was promised to be a brief but busy day.

"Come in." The expected voice called out to them calmly, almost eagerly which made Josh a little suspicious that maybe other visitors were expected.

Josh opened the door with ease and hastened in followed by Sam.

The office was a welcome warmth to the pair and yet it wasn't enough to abate Josh's discomfort. There were no decorations or cards, no hint of the festive holiday upon them, which fitted the purpose of the room. In here it was just another day.

The Vice President looked at the pair with surprise. He abandoned his relaxed slouch and reached hastily for a small, ribbon wrapped box on his desk. He shoved the box into a drawer hastily before a frown cut across his handsome features and his intense cerulean stare became intrigued.

"What in the name of God could you have done to Leo to warrant a visit here on Christmas Eve?" John demanded.

Josh stood in an awkward silence for a moment, looking sheepish as he eyed the VP with mild confusion in his brown gaze. He had been caught out by John's bluntness and was unsure how to respond.

Sam smiled helplessly and pushed his glasses up his brow. It was a cute, nervous quirk that worked with many people but not with John Hoynes. He was wearing a black suit hidden beneath a heavy, woollen winter coat, which had a small sprig of holly pinned to the lapel. His outfit hadn't been entirely ideal for the cold, wet trek from the White House to the Eisenhower Executive Building and he was eager for the day to be at a close so he could hurry home for a brisk but desired warm shower before he changed and met with Mallory for a romantic, Christmas Eve dinner.

John's prying stare seemed to focus on Sam like a predator singling out the weak zebra of the herd. "It must have been something truly terrific," he goaded.

John spread his hands outwards across the desk. "The President blames me for Senator Whyte supporting some tax deduction in the House so I can't imagine you're here for anything important. Go on, what excuse did Leo scramble up to punish you pair with a visit to me?"

"Well now sir," Sam began to babble a denial. He frowned and dropped his hand to his side as he seemed to change to his mind. "I'm collateral," he stated bluntly as he pointed to Josh, "he did it."

John flashed a small smile at this even as his stare turned bitter, he was glad to be right in his assumptions but angry that Leo still considered his domain a place to send the naughty staffers of the West Wing for a timeout.

"Bipartisan budget negotiations," Josh began with a small smile, "the Republicans are willing to talk spend if it's non-defence but our party's still rattled from Colombia and wants to talk defence."

John gave Josh a calm stare. "Well the Republicans picked Colombia up and then they dropped it," he murmured, "because it turns out they think they can get their tax request through without a swap." He raised his dark eyebrows slightly. "I wondered why Jeffrey Haffley would care so much about tax reductions for guardians or why they bungled his Colombia chip and took another route- Senator Whyte."

John regarded Sam and Josh patiently, his gaze darted between them as he waited for one of them to crack. "Of course it wasn't really Haffley at all," John concluded, "he was just the loud voice getting it attention."

"Did Leo tell you?" Sam blurted out.

"Sam no," Josh groaned as he clapped a palm to his forehead and sighed.

John smiled again. "Tell me what? Bipartisan budget negotiations? Is that the best he could do?" John stood up and folded his arms as he surveyed the pair with another unimpressed look.

"Sir, it's a genuine request," Josh protested, "and not the only one."

"I know Josh and one I didn't need a face to face meeting for," John retorted bluntly. "So tell me because I will find out anyway, what did you two, or as Sam has implied, what did you do to get Leo mad?"

Josh winced slightly. He didn't feel he owed John a confession but he knew the man well enough to recognise that he had been insulted. He saw the hint of pain at the edge of John's irate gaze, the tension in his jaw as he tried to keep back a frown of dismay and the stiff manner in which he stood, an offensive pose to mask his vulnerability. Josh reminded himself that John Hoynes was only human like everyone else and that knowing Josh and Sam had come to him as a form of punishment was as hurtful to him as it was offensive.

Josh lowered his hand from his brow and sighed as in the spirit of Christmas he decided to make light of his situation and offer John some sort of amusement.

"I made the mistake of introducing Leo's youngest daughter to a man who isn't just a Republican but is also old," Josh confessed his crimes wearily.

"He's only two years older than you Josh," Cadence's stony voice called from behind the pair.

Josh and Sam turned simultaneously in surprise. "Old for you," Josh said, "see, you didn't let me finish," he added with a mocking smile.
Cadence frowned at him as she stepped into into the room. She looked to John and conveyed an apologetic stare to him before she turned back to Josh with fresh venom in her grey-blue gaze.

John for his part was keeping a perfect mask of indifference on his face. The obvious thought racing through his mind was that the gap between he and Cadence was greater than the one between Cadence and Tom Landis.

"That's really not up to you to decide, or dad," she said crossly. She raised her hands to her hips and glanced from Josh to Sam. "Is that why you're here?"

Josh was a little taken back by her angry stance, he hadn't been an anticipating a run in with her here. He realised that had been a foolish oversight given she did work in this building. Like Sam she had made some attempt to convey the holidays in her attire, donning a forest green velvet blazer over a white vest top with plain, navy trousers. There was also a gold pendant of a reindeer dangling from a fine chain at her throat.

Josh fixated of the gold plated adornment before realising that he was effectively staring at her chest. He summoned back some of his confidence, unhappy that Cadence had managed to shake him with her arrival.

"Your dad's really quite mad that Tom is, in his words, almost forty which means there is hardly a decade between him and Leo," Josh retorted with an uneasy smile.

Cadence sighed. "Trust dad to think of it that way even though it is more than a decade. And you Sam, what did you do to annoy dad?" She looked to Josh's embarrassed colleague.

"Um..." Sam smiled nervously. "I was just standing to close to Josh when the shouting began I think."

"No," Josh protested loudly as he turned to Sam with a frown and pointed at him accusingly, "you're going to his ex-wife's for Christmas dinner!"

"She's not his ex!" Cadence snapped.

The young woman surprised the three men with her sudden anger as her outburst came almost immediately and her already unimpressed expression curdled to anger.

Noticing the surprise in Josh and Sam's gazes, Cadence attempted to mollify her own rage filled face. "They're not divorced," she stated pointedly as she pushed back a stray stand of hair.

"Right," Josh continued to eyeball her like she might explode, "I'm sorry," he added quietly.

Josh couldn't understand her anger, Leo seemed to have come to terms with the separation, at least it was the impression he gave at work, and it was common knowledge that the relationship between Cadence and Jenny was frosty at best so it was hard to imagine she felt so strongly about the separation.

Cadence made herself smile back at Josh as she realised her yelling at been inappropriate. "You're right though, dad is probably mad Sam is going there for dinner. I mean you work for dad," Cadence pointed out as she turned her smile on Sam, "that's a questionable sort of loyalty." She raised her tawny eyebrows slightly as her eyes glimmered with mockery.

Sam flustered slightly as he frowned and drew himself upright, preparing for a protest. "It's loyalty to Mallory and she swore it was fine, she said she checked with Leo first and that you and she had agreed to..." Sam trailed off as his frown deepened. "She was just humouring me, wasn't she?"

Josh and Cadence nodded in answer at the same time.

"Can I interrupt this riveting conversation?" John quipped sardonically as he placed his palms on the desk and leaned onto it to stare them down. "I do have business to wrap up before I depart for my own Christmas arrangements."

"Apologies sir," Sam said sincerely as he pushed his glasses up again. "As Josh was saying, the President wants you to help with the bipartisan talks over the non-defence spend, if we could discuss the options the President wants approved for spend."

"Sure, sure," John stood upright and waved him off with disinterest.

"The President also wants your help this afternoon," Josh spoke up. His voice was void of emotion as he kept his expression neutral and deliberately fixed upon John.

John stared back and his brow wrinkled slightly as he gave Josh a questioning look, recognising the default defence mode Josh had suddenly taken on.

"We want to get a suggestion to the House regarding the change in benefits to people with responsibilities for dependents, it's a big group and a questionable amount of money to shift but Leo worked on the numbers. We can shift the money around without tax cuts, it's a good plan but we need it through fast. Congressman Moss is on board to raise it."

"Why?" John queried.

"To block Tom," Cadence answered angrily as she folded her arms and glowered at Josh's back.

Josh felt the burning stare and struggled to ignore it as he held John's stare. He hadn't wanted Cadence to hear this but time was of the essence.

"The tax reduction is going to pass in the House if we don't do something," Josh answered seriously, "this is a better solution and avoids the tax issue." He waved his left hand outwards to emphasise his point. "It'll pass too and it still benefits the same people, it just has our name on it."

"I see." John's gaze darted over to Cadence who couldn't conceal her displeasure. He shifted his gaze back to Josh. "Just as well Congressman Moss has been campaigning for single mothers to have more support," he mused dryly, "or it would seem like we only want this to stop the Republicans getting credit for it."

Sam looked to Cadence apologetically. He knew why Leo and the President were doing this, the Democrats were in power without the House, they couldn't afford the Republicans to gain any more popularity or push through any more of their own policies. He also knew why Cadence wouldn't see it like that and he did not envy Leo his position.

"On Christmas Eve?" Cadence snapped. "That's a shitty move."

"Cadence," John chided her sharply. He met her answering glower with a tranquil stare. "Not in my office," he ordered calmly. "Josh, Sam, anything else?"

The pair shook their heads. Sam still bashful and apologetic whilst Josh was the opposite, resolute and firm faced.

"Alright."
Josh's stoic expression slipped for confusion. "Sir, are you going to do it?"

John sighed as he pressed down on his desk with both hands. "I don't think the president asks," he retorted with a small smile. "It's an order Josh, don't treat it as anything else. Set up the time with my office."

Josh nodded before turning to retreat. It was hard for him to bypass Cadence and her fiery stare. He felt her burning gaze follow him as he edged out the office behind Sam. It was only as he shut the door behind him that he wondered why Cadence was even in the office in the first place. She hadn't bothered to explain her intrusion and he supposed it wasn't his business but then his brow furrowed up slightly as he thought about how John had been surprised to see him and Sam and had fumbled to conceal a box and compose himself.

Josh shook his head. He had enough problems without adding any more to them.

Back in the office, Cadence had turned her glower on John. "You asked to see me sir," she reminded him.

John nodded as he opened his desk drawer. "Yes, although the mood seemed dampened now," he complained. He tugged the box out and set it on the centre of his desk. "For you, something small for the holidays."

Cadence regarded the box in surprise before turning her startled gaze up to John. "Mr Vice President I-"

John held up a hand, cutting her off even as he felt the warm rise within him as she sounded out his title. "Open it before you reject it," he suggested with a smile.

Cadence stepped forward to the desk, tensing as it brought her closer to the man. She looked down at the box and considered another refusal but she knew John would keep insisting she at least open it. It was a shiny purple box tied up with a neat, translucent, gold ribbon and bow. Intrigued, she tugged at the ribbons and freed the bow before lifting up the lid.

John caught a whiff of her vanilla perfume and his nostrils flared slightly in revulsion. He hated that it was becoming familiar on her and despite the familiarity of it, he wasn't adjusting to it.

Cadence filled with fresh surprise at the contents. It was a charming snowglobe resting on a green platform marked in white with Smithsonian Zoo. Inside the globe was a pair of resin carved raccoons, one upright on its hind legs and the other beside it on all fours. "I...thank you sir," she said sincerely.

"I'm not sure what Lucky's friend is called," John confessed, "but I'm sure you'll figure it out."

"Roland," Cadence retorted quickly. "Roland is kind of fat, then there's Daisy and Autumn."

John gave a small grin at this. "I should have realised you would know that," he said softly. "Well, you can say that's Lucky and whichever one you like second best."

She gave an embarrassed smile and murmured, "I didn't get you anything."

John's grin widened. "I didn't do it for something in return," he insisted. "Merry Christmas Cady."

Cadence nodded. "Merry Christmas Mr Vice President."

John was careful to guard his expression as he felt an excitable rise as she sounded out his title. He wondered again if she knew the effect it had on him, surely she did knowing him as well as she did and yet he couldn't imagine she would be malicious enough to toy with him. His dark blue gaze stared down at her, studying her fair features as he felt envy replace his lust. He was eager to reach out and run his fingers down her smooth cheek and press his mouth against her soft lips. Ever since she had denied him in Texas he had become tormented with memories of her warm body pressing against his, her hips shifting as she moaned with pleasure and gave herself up to him but only after he had worked for it and been left panting and sweat soaked for his efforts. He thought of the Republican who had taken her from him and then he thought of the humiliating blow he would help deal him and he smiled.

John Hoynes' joy returned as he realised that despite meaning to bring him an arduous task, Josh had actually gifted him with something pleasant.

Cadence missed John's smile as she was looking at the globe and tracing her fingertip against the glass. She felt an odd sort of guilt, guilt for not getting John something and guilt for accepting this gift. Sure she could say it was just a token present from her boss but she knew John had not gotten gifts for anyone else on his team and there was a meaning to this gift which made it so much worse.


Leo looked to Jed calmly. If it weren't for the decorations that dressed the White House, one wouldn't know it was Christmas. There was no calm for the holidays, just last night news had come of soldiers killed in Iraq and a response in the form of explosions, one of which has caused collateral damage in the form of approximately sixty innocent Iraqi villagers. Collateral damage, it was a term that wore heavy on Jed sometimes, Leo usually ran with it although recently he was finding it harder.

It was early afternoon although the dark of winter had already settled in bringing heavy, blue tinged grey clouds and a sharp wind with it. There was a chance for snow although the less festive weather reporters suggested sleet and more likely rain that would turn to ice as the day passed.

"Well sir, are you definitely doing this?" Leo quipped.

Jed gazed across the Oval Office to his closest friend curiously. "It was your idea," he pointed out calmly.

Jed's dark blue gaze darted down momentarily to Leo's right hand.

Leo was thumbing an object clenched tightly in his fist. He glanced down to his hand briefly before looking back to Jed.

"I know," Leo said with a hint of defensiveness in his tone, "and it's a good one."

Jed nodded as he waited for Leo to divulge what was on his mind.

"La- Congressman Landis," Leo corrected himself, "had something good that's all, he's just asked the wrong Republicans to push it. By giving into them, we're giving into the extremists and that looks weak."

"He did ask them though Leo, maybe he didn't suggest using Colombia as a gambling chip initially but it still happened, it's still Congressman Landis' play." Jed folded his arms as he gave Leo a questioning stare. "Do you believe him about Haffley and Colombia? Do you think Haffley just got curious of his own accord?"

Leo glanced again to his clenched hand. "I didn't at first but I do now sir," he confessed. "The Republicans still don't seem to know what Landis...Congressman Landis," he corrected grudgingly, "was doing in Chicago."

Jed gave a slight smile as he noticed Leo's sudden reluctant respect for Tom Landis' title. "And is that giving you cold feet about this?"

Leo turned his head sharply to give Jed a wide eyed stare of protest. "No sir," he said firmly. Wrinkles that seemed to have blossomed after the debacle that was Colombia, tightened at Leo's brow. "Maybe that's my problem. I sent Cady to Colombia without the protection she needed to apologise for something she didn't do to stop the possibility of war. I wasn't looking out for Cady, I was looking out for the country and she got hurt but peace was ensured and I'd do it again, in a heartbeat. Congressman Landis however, Tom," Leo's tone softened slightly as he raised his clenched hand before him and opened it to reveal a crumpled up red napkin with a note scribbled on it. "Tom did the opposite, he chased this meeting for weeks but Cady called him up and he dropped everything for her and I don't think he was thinking of Haffley or alternatives then, I believe now that all he thought was Cady mattered and that was it."

Leo turned a serious stare up to his friend and boss. "I feel a little like we're punishing him for it even though he has to know this is coming. I mean I ruined dinner with the man, now we're doing this on Christmas Eve but I'll do it sir because it's for the good of the party and the country."

Jed's azure stare turned sympathetic and he relaxed his stance. "Well we could've postponed until New Year if he hadn't brought Senator Whyte into it. We both know even if I knock it back the House will push to pass it and they'll succeed," he added gloomily.

"I know sir, which is why we have to do this now when they think we'll be quiet. Congressman Moss is on board to raise the idea of a new benefit system that will look more closely at those who fall into the cracks and Josh and Sam are taking it now to the Vice President to support it. Since it's a wider scope of people than just guardians, if we get it raised before this evening, Congressman Landis' suggestion looks weak in comparison."

"We're still helping the people he wants, just not with unnecessary tax reductions," Jed pointed out.

Leo nodded this time. "Hmm but our idea wouldn't have come without his. It's still his only without his name on it. It will cost him voters if his district finds out he delayed and flip-flopped on it."

"He got his seat re-secured just as we survived midterms, he's safe for another while," Jed reminded Leo. "He's in danger when we are."

"No one is ever safe sir."

Jed's face turned sombre as he nodded at this. He clapped his hands together as he banished the grim mood for a smile. "So, did you get him anything for Christmas?"

Leo scowled at this quip and he clenched his fists, crumpling the napkin again as he did. "Sir, didn't I tell you he's thirty-eight?" he complained.

Jed chuckled at Leo's irate display and raised his hands slightly to his hips. "Leo you've mentioned it so often even Admiral Fitzwallace and Charlie know his age now. I had Zoey tell me just this morning," he remarked as he wagged his finger at Leo scornfully, "that there must be no more commenting upon the age difference between her and dear Charlie as Cadence has outdone this."

Jed waved his hands outwards dramatically. "I said, Zoey it is not a competition and do you know what she said Leo? She said, at least Charlie voted for me."

Leo's scowl deepened as Jed laughed. "I'm still not okay with it," he complained.

"Nor will you be Leo, you're a father, a father of daughters just like myself."

"Yes but a boyfriend is one difficulty, a middle-aged Republican," Leo shuddered slightly, "that is quite another."

Jed nodded. "Well I agree and if it were Zoey I'd have set the Secret Service upon him but as it is Cady, I suggest benevolence and toleration Leo. She's like Ellie, she has that rebellious streak. Be thankful for the little things, he could be a fascist instead of a liberal and," Jed added pointedly, "it was you who ruined the dinner, not him."

Leo winced slightly. "Thanks for the reminder sir."

Jed gave a softer chuckle at this. "It is a terrible pity Tom is a Republican. Anyway, let's not dwell on his flaws and hope that news of our little coup against him doesn't reach Zoey or Cadence's ears tonight, they have a nice evening planned together I'm told."


As the afternoon crossed into evening John Hoynes, despite being in a rush to salvage some of the planned schedule for the day, was vigorous with victory as he paced through Capitol Building. Congress was an irony to John, it was meant to be a place of balance and unity but to the South Wing was hostility in the form of the Republican dominated House of Representatives and to the North Wing was paradise, the only place he could truly call himself President, President of the Senate.

Today he didn't feel the discomfort of being outnumbered by hostile politicians. There had been victory. Sure the House still had to officially pass the matter, the Senate had to concur and then the president had to consider it but it was in motion now and the Republicans couldn't stop it. John's speech and arguments in the Senate had been some of his best and his understanding was that Congressman Moss had carried out an equally good job. There was little for the Republicans to refute and he knew they'd have to swallow their pride and accept it as getting what they had asked for without being able to prove they'd really asked for it.

John frowned as he thought of Cadence and knew she would have a mixed response to it, what was good press for him was bad news for her boyfriend. It irked him to feel annoyed over something that should fill him with pride.

John walked over polished cream and red tiles passing statues and columns that smacked of grandeur and invoked an imagery of a Roman Senate. Being here always made John think of Cadence's infamous thesis. He would never say it aloud but her comparisons between modern day democracy and Roman dictatorship were not entirely inaccurate. He was alone in his thoughts even as various senators and congressmen bypassed him and his Secret Service staff followed closely in his shadows.

John's irritation grew as he considered Cadence and how this victory would upset her. Surely she could understand that Landis had effectively brought this on himself by crowing too loudly for the tax reductions. He'd been foolish getting another congressman involved when it was a fascist who'd brought up Colombia, that had all but sealed the fate of his request with Leo, and adding Senator Whyte to the matter was the icing on the cake. By God how John enjoyed being able to stand in Whyte's way over something and to take Landis down with him was a delightful bonus.

John felt his joy return at the thought of Senator Whyte miserable in failure.

He looked ahead and wondered if it was fate that he should spy the target of his grief walking up the corridor.

Tom Landis looked disgruntled as he walked quickly with a frown on his face. He had been in the House of Representatives, trying and failing to overturn or evade the Democrats attempt to leech of his proposal and shape it into their own. He halted as he almost walked into John and a startled expression crossed his features before he softened his face into neutrality.

"Good evening Mr Vice President."

John smiled, feeling a certain smug superiority as Tom sounded out his title. "Good evening congressman," John retorted. "Although, perhaps not for you," he added with a glint of mirth in his eyes.

It had the desired effect as Tom immediately scowled.

John wondered at the time, getting things moving today had been a rush and time had passed him in a blur. It was impossible to guess in here as the hall was brightly lit with chandeliers giving no indication to the lateness of the hour.

John extended out a hand. "It was only business nothing personal," he remarked.

A few curious senators and congressmen had stopped to witness the exchange out of curiosity and perhaps a morbid desire to witness an argument.

Tom nodded as he glanced to the hand. "Of course," he said quickly. He gave a grin and added, "a good victory for you but we still hold the House." He accepted the hand and they shook.

John bristled at the man's cocky reminder and switched to a new topic. "Well, we can be amicable now, work's done and the holidays are coming. Are you seeing Cady for Christmas?" John pried as he held Tom's hand and fixed a friendly stare upon him giving the appearance that he was trying to be polite. He knew Tom had to be, of course he would go running for comfort and consoling to his girlfriend.

Tom nodded as his blue gaze brightened with the mention of her name. "Yes," he admitted, "and you sir, are you spending time with your family?"

John nodded even as he filled with fresh anger. He realised that so long as Tom continued to make plans with Cadence it didn't matter what political victories John scored, Tom would always have the final victory.

Consumed with anger, John suffered a moment of carelessness. A vicious smirk cut across his handsome features before he tugged Tom close without warning. He was conscious of their audience and smug that Tom wouldn't offer much retaliation for what he was about to say with an audience watching.

"You should know something about Cady," John addressed him in a low voice as he leaned close to Tom's right ear.

Tom tensed in the Vice President's grasp, too confused by the gesture to be annoyed.

"I fucked her first," John boasted quietly with a small smile.

John released Tom hand and sidestepped him hastily. He walked on briskly with a smile acting as if he had not been crude.

Tom gaped after the man, stunned as his skin turned pale.

It took Tom a couple of minutes to snap out of his shock enough to move again. He became aware of the still watching senators and congressmen, some of them murmuring quietly to each other as they wondered at Congressman Landis' suddenly pallid face.

Without thinking too hard about it Tom walked quickly away, determined to escape as fast as he could. His earlier feeling of humiliation in the House was back only it was ten times worse and he didn't know how to get it under control.