Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to West Wing, Hamilton, or Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

This chapter takes place in the context of the Bartlet for America episode.

Note: I apologize about not posting for such a long time. I'll try and get better about posting on a regular schedule.

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Sam's POV

"...He's making a list, And checking it twice…" Carolers sang on the street corner as Sam and Ainsely strolled out of Dean and Deluca onto the picturesque and bustling scene of holiday magic in historic Georgetown.

"Mama called. She said 'Ainsley, child, when are we going to meet this Kennedy boy?' " Ainsley said.

"Kennedy boy?"

"Yes. Mama thinks you look like JFK, which is code for 'political pretty boy'." Ainsley explained.

"Oh." Sam wrinkled his nose. 'Is that a … good ... thing?'

"Anyway- Daddy, Nana, and everybody else wants to meet you as well." Sliding her hands over the top part of his pants, she subtly grabbed his bubble butt under the protection of his black wool coat and continued. "An' Nana'll probably pinch your bubble butt and challenge you to a drinking game."

'My bubble butt? You're the one with the nice ass.' Sam's face grew pink. "So … what you're saying is you want me to meet your family, yes?"

Ainsley felt tension in his hand as they ambled down the sidewalk. "Sam. You're goin' to be fine."

"Ya don't think that your family'll be concerned about my relationship with Laurie? Or my involvement with the Bartlet Campaign and the MS scandal?"

"Sam." Ainsley looked him square in the face. "First of all, I knew he had M.S. before you did.' "Second of all, you met a girl at a bar who happened to be a prostitute. You never paid her for sex."

"Ok then, what about my dad cheating on my mom? My dad's a retired Senator from a democrat blueblood family that rivals the Kennedy's. It was on the news, Ainsley."

"Are you your father?"

"No, but I'm his son."

"Hmmm…... A man is not destined to be his father; children choose who they wish to be and grow up inspite of their parents. And that's exactly what my daddy would say too."

"I hope that's true." Sam bit his chilly lip.

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Sam's POV

"It's the next house the right." Ainsely said.

'Here we go.' His heart dropped into his stomach faster than the snowflakes around them as he turned into the driveway. 'This is a house? It's huge.'

"Babe. Seriously. ... You're goin' to be fine."

tuh-tuh TUNGK-kum* Sam turned the car off. "You say that, but-"

"But what, Sam?" Ainsley took his hands in hers. "That they won't like you? Because we both know that's bull crap. Maybe you don't know that 'cause you don't know my family, but I do. And I know that they will see the same wonderful, sweet, honest, and thoughtful man that I see, and I wish you would see yourself that way."

They sat in silence for a moment as Ainsley squeezed his hand. "Honey, you ready?"

Sam nodded.

"Sweetheart, you're more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a roomful of rocking chairs. It's gonna be okay."

"Okay, I'm ready as I'll ever be." He got out of the car and then closed the door. Sam opened the trunk and retrieved their luggage before he closed the trunk. He opened Ainsley's door and helped Ainsley out of the car.

The short, plump housekeeper answered the door. "Hello, Ainsley. Is this the handsome young man we've heard so much about?"

"Yes, he sure is Adeline, this is Sam Seaborn."

"Well, I'm pleased to meet you, Sam Seaborn." Adeline shook Sam's hand.

Ainsley's parents strode towards them from the kitchen. "Is that my Ainsley I hear?" Mama asked, her thick, wavy auburn hair cascading down her back.

"Yes it is, Mama." Ainsley replied to her mother as Ainsley's father, a tall, broad-shouldered man, followed behind her.

"Oh, you must be starving and exhausted!" Ainsley's mom exclaimed as she hugged and kissed Ainsley on the cheek and Sam chuckled to himself at the implication that there was ever a time that Ainsley was not hungry.

"Oh, Mama, I'm so hungry I could eat the north end of a south-bound polecat." Ainsley lamented.

'That's not possible. You ate chicken pot pie two hours ago.' Sam thought.

"Well come inside! It's cold enough out here to freeze the tits off a frog." Her mom's large, green almond shaped eyes twinkled as she ushered them inside.

'Frogs have tits?' Sam wondered.

They then stepped inside the grand foyer, at which point Sam set down their luggage and the host gifts and then helped Ainsley take off her coat. As Sam reached down to pick the host gifts back up, Mama scolded Ainsley. "Ainsley Charlotte Hayes! Where are your manners? Aren't you going to introduce us to this fine young man?"

"Yes, Mama. Daddy, Mama, this is my boyfriend, Samuel Seaborn. Samuel, these are my parents Robert James Hayes the 3rd and Georgiana Hayes." She said.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Samuel. Ainsley has told us so much about you." Her father held out a large hand.

Sam shook his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Sir. Thank you so much for welcoming me into your lovely home." He handed Ainsley's father a bottle of Johnny Walker Blue scotch before he presented a jar of McClure's New Hampshire maple syrup.

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Robert's POV

After everyone else had gone to bed, Robert Hayes approached Sam in the living room. "Care to join me for a nightcap?"

"Yes sir." Sam bit his lip as he followed Ainsley's father through the French doors into his study and sat down in the leather chair across from Robert, who poured two glasses of ice water at the bar cart next to his antique gun collection displayed on the wall.

He handed Sam an ice water before returning to the bar cart. "Here you go, Sam." His high, chiseled cheekbones resembled Ainsley's.

"Thank you, Sir." Sam answered before his gaze returned to the gun collection display.

"Please, call me Rob." Robert set out two glasses on the bar cart before he opened the box of Johnnie Walker Blue. The charm that dangled off the cork jingled as he peeled foil wrap off of the bottle. He glanced at the antique guns. "Don't worry, they're not loaded." He said.

"The loaded ones are locked up." He handed Sam a glass. "So Sam, Ainsley says you've been working tirelessly on the State of the Union Speech."

"Yes sir…. uh I mean Rob."

"You're a hard worker, and you've got grit. I like that. You also take good care of my Ainsley, which I like even more." 'Unlike that jackass Chad she used to date.' "I heard about how you handled those jackasses who harassed our Ainsley." He said as Sam noticed a young woman with strawberry blond hair in some of the pictures who he did not recognize.

"I just couldn't let anyone treat her like that, ... I'd do anything for her." Sam said.

"You see, that's all a father, or a good father anyway, wants for his little girl: a man who is completely devoted to her." He said

Sam bit his lip. "I don't know if you know what happened with my parents, but I want you to know that I will never hurt her."

"Ah, yes." Robert sipped his scotch. "I know all about what happened with your dad. And no worries, Son. I learned a long time ago that a man is not destined to become his father." Sam pursed his lips.

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Sam's POV

vuh-ruuum pop duh-ruuuuuummmmm POP* The fireplace cackled.

"Abbey Bartlet knew of her husband's condition." Sam played Risk with Ainsley's nieces Reagan, Eloise, and Ava as he and Ainsley's brother, Wesley, watched Leo's hearing.

"Yes." Leo said.

"And she kept it to herself." Congressman Dearborn continued.

"Well, I don't know who she kept it to, Congressman." Leo retorted.

"She didn't tell you."

Ainsley stood in the doorway. "Just wanted to let y'all know that it's lunchtime."

vuh-RRRRUUUMMMMM… vuh-RRRRRUUUMMMMM…..* Sam's phone vibrated as he turned off the television. 'Not now Josh.' "Okay, we're coming."

Ainsley peered over at the game board. "Sam, ….. What color are you?"

"Blue. Why?"

"You know we don't let the kids win, right?"

"There's still time. …. Risk is a long game." Sam insisted as Wesley, Eloise, Reagan, and Ava headed towards the dining room.

"Too bad this one's not televised." Ainsley teased.

"Oh, you be quiet." 'Am I ever gonna live that one down?'

Adeline stopped Sam when he entered the kitchen. "Mr. Seaborn, there's a gentleman named Josh Lyman on the phone for you."

Sam answered the phone. "Hey, Josh. We're 'bout to sit down for lunch. Can I call ya back?"

"It's 'bout today."

"Josh, I can't ….."

Josh tilted his head forward as he squinted. "Sam."

' 'bout to sit down for lunch.' Sam's expression hardened. "Gimme a sec." He addressed Georgiana. "I apologize, Georgiana, but I have to take this. Please, go on without me." He turned to Rob. "Rob, would it be alright if I took this call in your study?"

"Sure thing, Sam."

"Thank you, Rob."

Ainsley made eye contact with him, her eyes full of concern. "I'm gonna call you back on my cell in just a sec." Sam said.

He stepped out of the kitchen and into the study before he closed the door. *tuh-CLUNK*

BEE-rp BEEP berp berp bEERP BEERP BEERP Beep beep berp* Sam dialed Josh's phone number.

"You alone now?" Josh ran his hands through his hair.

"Yeah."

"I need somebody in the Steel Lobby…. ta speak to Darren Gibson ri' away." Josh raised his eyebrows. "Some time toward the end of this hour."

'Easy.' "Jim Jericho." Sam said.

"Jim Jericho's who I had. He had to leave town. His wife is sick. …. Who else do we have? …. One of our people?" Josh asked.

"Nick Grindell."

Josh shook his head. "Hughhh."

"Well, I'll get to somebody." 'What's going on, Josh?'

"What if ….."

"Nope." Sam cut him off.

"Ya don't even know what I was gonna say."

"You want Ainsley ta talk to Cliff." Sam said.

"Yeah." Josh said.

'Yeah not happening.' "No."

"But-"

"Not happening." Sam reiterated. "What's this about?"

Josh pursed his lips. "Nothing."

"It's not 'bout nothin'. You wanted Ainsley ta get Gibson outta the room."

Josh stayed silent for a moment. "I'd like 'em all outta the room."

'Wouldn't we all.' "Josh. …. What's Gibson got?"

"... You'll getta guy for me?"

'Leo? Alcohol? Valium? …. Something worse?' "Yeah." Sam hung up the phone.

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Sam's POV

Sam sat in Robert's study with the phone to his ear. "Hey, Josh. I'm sorry, but I tried everybody."

Josh rubbed his forehead. "It's alright."

"I tried everybody." Sam repeated. "It was just a tough fit. … An' since I couldn't tell 'em what it was about-"

"Yeah…... Thanks for trying." Josh said.

"Yeah." Sam said.

"Merry Christmas." Josh said.

"Thanks." Sam said.

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Sam's POV

Sam sat on the floor across from Ainsley's brother, Trey, as the Risk game continued. "Your turn, Reagan."

"The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Gibson, for five minutes."

Sam glanced at the television when Ainsley sat down next to him. 'Here we go.'

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. …. Two years ago, January, the President collapsed in the Oval Office. …. Is that correct?" Gibson asked.

"I'm not sure what the medical term would be."

"He involuntarily fell to the ground."

Leo nodded. "Yes."

'Boy, Sam, you sure are getting your ass kicked.' Ainsley thought as Eloise blocked Sam from conquering a territory.

"Will Minority Counsel stipulate that we can call that collapsing?" Gibson asked. The Minority Counsel nodded as Cliff glanced at him. "Let the record reflect that Minority Counsel has nodded his head up and down, so as to indicate an affirmative response."

"So ordered." The Chairman confirmed.

"Is this the only time since the President took the Oath of Office that he's collapsed?"

Leo leaned towards the microphone as Ava made her move. "So far as I know."

"Is this the only time since the beginning of the campaign that he's collapsed?"

"... No, it's not." Leo looked down at his hands.

'I'm sorry, Leo. I tried. I really did.' Sam watched the screen in anticipation as Ainsley squeezed Sam's hand. Meanwhile, the Chairman and Cliff exchanged looks.

The committee members glanced at each other as Gibson continued. "I'd like to take you back to 30 October in St. Louis, Missouri. Jed Bartlet is the Democratic nominee for President and is about to participate in the third and final debate-"

Leo's lawyer interrupted Gibson. "Mr. Chairman, I would like to request a short recess."

"We just got back from a recess." The Chairman argued.

"Sir, we have taken breaks at the request of nearly every member of this Committee, while the witness has asked for a total of none. …. One time, Mr. Chairman."

Just as Reagan finished her turn, the Chairman looked down and sighed as he looked back up. 'Alright, fine.'"We'll take a five-minute break. …. Please, let's keep it to ten minutes." He banged his gavel.

'Everything'll be okay.' Ainsley rubbed his shoulder. 'With Leo I mean. Your game's a lost cause.'

"It's your turn, Mr. Sam." Reagan said.

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Sam's POV

Snow blanketed the estate's grounds as Reagan, Ava, and Sam continued their game and Ainsley and Trey watched the Hearing. "Your move Ava." Sam said.

"Sam, they're back." Ainsley piped in as she sat on the opposite couch.

Sam's eyes fixated on the television as Ava dashed his last chance of making a comeback.

The Chairman pounded the gavel. "Let's come to order. …. Mr. Gibson, you can proceed with your questioning."

Leo stared Gibson down as Gibson proceeded. "Mr. McGarry, 30 October in St. Louis, Missouri, the date Jed Bartlet was…"

The Chairman held up his hand. "No, I'm sorry. …. Mr. McGarry, it's been a long day and, unless Counsel has an objection, I'm gonna resume this after the holidays."

"What?" Leo was shocked.

Cliff sighed in relief as Gibson glared at the Chairman. "Mr. Chairman…"

"Mr. Calley." The Chairman addressed Cliff.

Cliff spoke into the microphone. "Mr. McGarry, that concludes our questioning for today… We'll pick it up here when the Chairman gavels these hearings back to order.

'I'm gonna kill Josh, I swear to God.' Sam looked at Ainsley and then Trey. "Trey, d'ya mind covering for me for a bit? I gotta speak to Ainsley privately for a moment."

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Sam's POV

Sam closed the doors to Rob's study behind himself and Ainsley. "Ainsley, I need you to tell me right now what on earth happened."

"What are you talking about?"

"About Leo's hearing." Sam paced.

"How should I know?" Ainsley stood next to the side of the dogwood hutch.

"Josh didn't call you?" Sam's blue eyes blazed.

"Call me 'bout what?"

"Ainsley, I need ya to be straight wit' me so I know what I'm dealing with." Sam's rectangular face was tense.

"Wha' in the Sam Hill are you even talkin' 'bout?"

"Everything that just happened wit' Leo's Hearing… Are you telling me that you didn't have anything to do with that?"

"Yes." Ainsley said.

"Josh didn't call an' ask you to get Cliff to interfere wit' Gibson's questioning?" 'If he did, I'm gonna kill him.'

"No. Sam, you're goin' ta make me lose my religion if you keep this up." Ainsley said.

"You're absolutely sure that you didn't talk ta Josh today." Sam repeated.

"Oohhhh…. I'm sorry. You meant did I talk to Josh today about Gibson questioning Leo? ….. No, I didn't. " Ainsley snapped.

"Okay, okay. I get it." Sam put his hands up in surrender. "Hey, Babe?"

"Yeah?"

Sam stepped towards her. "I'm sorry for doubting you."

"It's okay." She wrapped her arms around Sam.

Sam stroked her hair. "Merry Christmas, sweetheart."

"Merry Christmas, Sam." Ainsley clutched the base of his head as she kissed him.

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Sam's POV

'Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,' Ainsley sang as her sister, Eliza, accompanied her on the piano and the rest of the family sat by the Christmas tree as they ate Coconut Cake.

Sam sat next to the fireplace with Ainsley's brother, John David. 'Wow, my family's never been like this… Were we ever a happy family?'