-- 11:05 p.m. --

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have climbed the highest mountain
I have sailed across the sea
I have wrestled with my demons
And woke up with only me
I have been around the block
Three times maybe four
And I think I deserve just a little more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abbey finds Margaret sitting on a sofa in the foyer. "Margaret?"

"Dr. Bartlet."

"Mind if I join you?"

"No."

Abbey sits down, "Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes. It's just, it's this song. It makes me a bit emotional sometimes."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In front of total strangers won't you kiss me
Flowers for no reason but you miss me
Oh I want to be in love
You're standing on the doorstep in the rain
Cause you couldn't wait to see me once again
Oh I want to be in love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abbey listens to the lyrics. "It is a beautiful song. Melissa Etheridge?"

"Yes. I don't mind most of the time, you know."

"Don't mind what?"

"Not having anyone. I'm quite content being alone but sometimes--"

"You just want to be in love."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have made some big mistakes
And I've paid a heavy price
I found a little peace between will and sacrifice
I have watched as all my dreams
Went walking out the door
And I think I deserve just a little more
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I hate thinking that I'm gonna end up being a bitter old maid. Between work and sleep, there's not much time for anything else. A date here and there. I've given up a lot, being Leo's secretary/aide. Am I missing my life? And how much more am I gonna give up?"

"Are you unhappy working here?"

"Oh, no. And I know it's my own fault, I knew I'd be working long days, I did when Leo was with the Labor Department, and I knew it.
"I love working here. I love working with the other staffers. And this is definitely great for my resumé, but is this as good as it's gonna get for me? Is this honestly the best I can do?"

"I can't tell you that. What I can tell you is that not only is Leo lucky to have you working for him, but we all are. I don't think you know how important you really are. I don't think Leo does either. You help keep this place running. And even though he'll never admit it, you help keep Leo sane. And clean."

"'Cause he knows I'd kick his ass if I knew he was even considering anything."


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm looking for a heart of gold
I'm looking for a hand to hold
A happy end
Strong and kind
Somewhere to rest my troubled mind ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Margaret sighs. "That's what I want, when this is all over and done with, I want a happy ending. I want to have a place to call home that I can go to. And I want someone to be there."

"You might find that here."

"Is it really that simple? Do you just find love?"

"Well, more like it finds you."

"I don't see that."

"It's not what you see, it's what what you don't. It's the feeling. How they make you feel and how you make them feel. So it's okay if you don't see it coming. It's okay if you don't see it staring you in the face. You'll feel it and so will they. Sooner or later because it's already there. One day, you'll wake up or you'll be typing and it'll hit you like a ton of bricks. And everything will make sense. And there'll be absolutely no point in fighting it."

Margaret looks at the First Lady. "What's already there--or here?"

"The love, I can see it in your eyes." Seeing the doubt in Margaret's eyes, she adds, "Remember, I know what I'm talking about," patting Margaret's hand. "Now, shouldn't you get back to mingling or dancing?"

"I was having a good time. I still can't believe that I--"

"Came here with Bruno? Join the club, honey. Your patience and level of tolerance are compendable. How do you do it?"

"It probably has something to do with the fact that I've had Leo McGarry as my boss for more years than I'd like to admit."

"I really am surprised that he didn't invite Jordan. Jed really should stop trying to play matchmaker." Abbey sees her husband out of the corner of her eye, "Speak of the devil. I should go rescue a few members of my staff. Have fun, dear."

"Thank you, Dr. Bartlet." Margaret listens to the end of the song, lost in the lyrics.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In front of total strangers won't you kiss me
Flowers for no reason but you miss me
Oh I want to be in love
On Tuesday light the candles bring me wine
Wednesday morning I won't get to work on time
Oh I want to be in love
Surprise me as I'm stepping off the plane
Take my hand as they play our song again
Oh I want to be in love
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-- 11:12 p.m. --

Margaret steps outside and inhales the cold crisp air. It's refreshing. She watches the staff inside, talking, dancing, laughing, and she smiles to herself. She's unaware that she's being watched until she feels the fabric of someone's jacket fall against her skin. Her confusion must be apparent on her face.

"You could catch a cold. You have nothing covering your arms or your chest," Leo says.

"I'm fine. Besides, it's not that cold out," Margaret says, shrugging his jacket off. "I'm going back in soon anyway."

Leo pushes it back at her, "Yeah, but right now, you're outside."

"And so are you," she says, still refusing his jacket.

"Stop being so stubborn."

"Stop being such a jackass," she hisses.

Taken aback, Leo drapes his jacket over his arm, looking down. His voice is calm and quiet, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't know, for whatever the hell I did to make you so pissed off at me."

A small chuckle escapes Margaret's lips, "There were clouds in my coffee."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's from a so--"

"I know what it's from. And I am *not* vain."

"Then what makes you think this is about you? In case you haven't noticed, my life doesn't revolve solely around work and you," Margaret says, looking at the stars.

"Fine. What's wrong?"

Margaret continue to stare at the stars, "You chose your job and your best friend over your wife and your marriage, why? How? Did you stop loving Jenny? When did your career become your life? When did being in love stop being important? I want to know because I don't want my life to be like that. I'm thirty-six years old and my biological clock is ticking away. I want a family, I want to have kids; I work an average of eighteen hours a day, Monday through Friday, and anywhere from ten to eighteen hours on Saturday and Sunday. I want to have grandchildren when I get older so I can tell them stories about when I worked in the White House. Most of all, I don't want to be alone."

"You never told me this."

"You've never asked me what I've wanted out of life."

"So, what? Are you leaving?"

Margaret looks at Leo, "If I was going to leave, I would've left before we got this far. No, I'm in this until the end."

"But what about--"

"I learned a long time ago that you don't always get what, or who, you want."

"There's a who?"

"I'm not sure."

"Who?"

"I don't know but it doesn't matter. I'm going back inside. You coming?"

"In a little while."

Getting all that off her chest has made her feel better. Margaret starts to walk back inside when she looks back at Leo. "You should really put your jacket back on, it's cold as hell out here."

Leo just looks after her, trying to figure her out.

-- 11:33 p.m. --

Margaret finds Bruno chatting with Bonnie and her boyfriend, Kevin, Carol, Ed, Ginger, and Larry. "Hey."

"You okay," Bruno asks.

"Right as rain. I love your dress, Ginger."

"Thank you, I got it on sale at a local boutique when I went home. Your's is gorgeous."

"Thanks."

"Great, girl talk," Larry says.

"Where on earth did you get your suit," Ed asks Bruno.

The women roll their eyes.

"I'm not in the mood," Bruno says.

-- 11:59 p.m. --

The room is relatively quiet as they watch the sixty second countdown begin.

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1...

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

Balloons, confetti, and streamers rain down; cheers and noise makers are heard as "Auld Lang Syne" begins. Glasses clink and hugs and kisses are exchanged between friends and lovers.

Jed and Abbey, Charlie and Zoey share the kiss of lovers.

CJ and Toby, Josh and Donna, Larry and Ginger, Carol and Ed, and Connie and Doug share the kiss of friends.

Margaret's first kiss comes from Sam, a quick one on the lips. Sam turns to give Ainsley a small kiss when she lays one on him. Margaret laughs and turns to Bruno. The kiss is gentler and shorter than she expected. It's more of an offering of friendship than of possible romance. Her third kiss comes from the President, on the cheek, along with a hug.

She notes the exchange between Bruno and Connie. Connie's noticeably flustered and Bruno's looking more smug than usual. She thinks she sees something in Doug and Ginger's kiss but she's not sure.

There's more laughter and dancing and drinking. Margaret realizes that she hasn't seen Leo since she left him standing outside. She finishes her dance with Charlie, "Have you seen Leo?"

"He said something about going back to his office. Had to go find...something."

"Okay." Margaret runs into Bruno, "I want to tell Leo bye before we go."

"All right."


~*~ Margaret's office ~*~
12:46 a.m.

The door between their offices is partially opened. Leo's looking out the window when Margaret knocks on the door, "Leo?"

Leo turns his head, "What are you doing down here?"

"I came to say good-bye. We're leaving in a few minutes. What are you doing here?"

"I was just looking for something. Did you know that it's snowing?"

"It is," Margaret asks, joining Leo at the window.

"Just started around midnight. First snow of the new year."

"It's beautiful."

"Yeah," Leo says, looking at Margaret.

She feels the weight of his stare and looks at him. "What?"

"You look wonderful tonight." Leo diverts his eyes back to the window, "I came down here because I remembered that during everything that's happened in the past week, I forgot to give you your Christmas present."

"It was a crazy week."

Leo turns and opens the top drawer of his desk and pulls out a small square shaped gift. "Here."

Margaret takes it and removes the wrapping paper slowly. It's a mixed CD. She looks up at Leo, tears in her eyes.

"I remembered you liked that song. You played it for me before I went into rehab. In light of the year's events and what's to come, it felt appropiate."

Margaret hugs him, "Thank you." She wipes away a few tears. "Do you mind if I listen to it?"

"Go ahead."

Margaret goes out to her desk and puts the disc in the CD-ROM drive of her computer and turns on the speakers. She sways to the music, her eyes continuing to water, as Leo watches her.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We said we'd walk together baby come what may
That come the twilight should we lose our way
If as we're walkin a hand should slip free
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me

We swore we'd travel darlin' side by side
We'd help each other stay in stride
But each lover's steps fall so differently
But I'll wait for you
And if I should fall behind
Wait for me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leo walks over to Margaret and puts an arm around her and offers her a tissue. They listen to the song in silence, their fingers becoming entwined.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So let's make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me

Now there's a beautiful river in the valley ahead
There 'neath the oak's bough soon we will be wed
Should we lose each other in the shadow of the evening trees
I'll wait for you
And should I fall behind
Wait for me
Darlin' I'll wait for you
Should I fall behind
Wait for me
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Thanks for waiting for me," Leo says softly.

Margaret just nods, afraid she won't be able to stop crying if she says anything. It takes her a minute to pull herself back together. "I should hurt you for making me cry. I should tell the President that you made me cry."

"You wouldn't..."

Margaret smiles, "You bet your ass I would. But I won't."

"I'll walk you back to the party."

"Just let me get the CD."

Leo leans against the doorframe and Bruno's words come to mind. "You know, I couldn't do this without you."

"What?"

"Any of this. You do good."

"I know." Margaret turns off the lamp on her desk. "Can I ask you a question?"

"Shoot."

"It's kind of personal."

"I didn't say I'd answer it."

"Why didn't you invite Jordan?"

"How did--"

"The First Lady mentioned it. It's really none of my business, I was just wondering."

"Honestly?"

"No, Leo, lie to me."

"She doesn't get it."

"Get what?"

"Everything. All of this. The problems I've had. And at this point in my life, it's either all or nothin'. Take me as I am or leave me be."

"New Year's Resolution?"

"Something like that. Besides, she already had plans."

Margaret glances at her watch, "It's 12:58. You missed the celebration. We should celebrate New Year's with the Central time zone."

"It's not a big deal."

"Yes it is," Margaret says, stopping in the west wing lobby. "You'll do the countdown with me and you *will* sing 'Auld Lang Syne.'"

"And then we can go play in the snow."

"That would be so much fun but it's late and I'd like to get a few hours of sleep."

Leo shakes his head.

"20 seconds."

"Fine."

"15......10..."

"9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1," Leo grabs Margaret by the waist and kisses her, putting to shame every single guy she's ever kissed or been kissed by. "Happy New Year, Margaret," he whispers, releasing her, something in his eyes saying more than his words.

Margaret's both speechless and breathless.

"That's one helluva good-bye. And just what this campaign needs. I can see the headlines now: White House Chief of Staff shacks up with his aide in the west wing lobby."

Margaret and Leo look to see Bruno standing about thirty feet away from them.

"You ready to go?"

"Yeah," Margaret says, finding her voice again and becoming aware of the aching of her lips from the pressure Leo's lips against hers.

Bruno looks at both of them, "I really don't care. You two do whatever you want, just not in the White House."

"But they're just starting to celebrate New Year's in the Central time zone," Margaret says.

"I can work with that," Bruno says.

"It's true," Leo says.

"I don't care. I didn't see anything. I got your purse and your coat, let's go."

"Happy New Year, Leo," Margaret says, joining Bruno.

Leo watches them go before heading back to the party. He catches the end of a song in the corridor.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All I want is to hold you forever
All I need is you more every day
You saved my heart
From being broken apart
You gave your love away
I can't find the words to say
That I'm thankful everyday
For the gift
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He thinks of the last few minutes and the past few years and smiles.


~*~ Margaret's Apartment Building: Hallway ~*~
1:27 a.m.

"What's with you and Connie," Margaret asks as they step out of the elevator.

"She just kept going on and on about Sam and that blonde Republican, I had to shut her up."

"Well, from the way she looked, it worked."

"I had a bit much to drink, so sue me. If you had listened in on some of the conversations I had, you'd probably be trashed."

"I doubt it."

"Me too," Bruno says, stopping in front of her door. "I had a good time."

"Surprisingly, so did I. Listen, that thing you saw--"

"Was nothing, yeah, I know. Let's be glad it wasn't a member of the press corps who stumbled across the two of you. Anyway, you should get some rest. Good-night," Bruno says, turning to leave.

"Bruno?"

"Yeah?"

"You're forgetting a rule."

"Which one's that?"

"The good-night kiss. Come back here."

//Maybe I shouldn't have had that last glass of champagne. Maybe it's this damn dress. Maybe this is me getting my groove back. Maybe it's just late and I should stop thinking so much.//

Feeling bold, Margaret gives Bruno a reasonable kiss. One worthy for someone who's been more or less of a gentlemen. Well, considering who he is. One to make him want another date. "Good-night, Bruno."

Bruno clears his throat, "You wanna get some coffee sometime?"

"That would be nice," Margaret says before unlocking her door. "I'll see you at work."

"See ya," Bruno says before heading off.

Margaret walks into her apartment, tossing her purse, her keys, and her coat onto the sofa. She kicks off her shoes and pulls off her pantyhose, leaving them on the living room floor. She pulls the hairpins out of her hair as she walks into the bathroom to wash her face. She walks into her bedroom, still carrying her CD, pulling her dress over her head and puts it back on the hanger, making a mental note to drop it at the dry cleaner's. She puts the CD into her radio and plays her song...their song. She slips into a pair of pajamas and checks her messages before settling into bed.

*You have three new messages*
*First new message:*
*Beep*
"Hey, Margaret, it's Connie. Well,
you're not here and you're not at home. And if you are here, I can't find you. I need to talk to you about--someone. I'll just catch up to you at work. Bye. Happy New Year."
*Beep*
*Second new message:*
*Beep*
"Hey, Margaret, it's Sam. Where'd you run off too? Bruno said something about you going to say good-bye to Leo but I couldn't find you. Good news, I think Connie's over her crush on me. Still not sure what to do about Ainsley, but damn can she kiss. You probably didn't care to hear about that, huh? Okay, well, I'll see ya at work. Happy New Year."
*Beep*
*Third new message:*
*Beep*
"Yeah, it's me. You can come in a couple of hours late today if you want, you deserve some rest. You've had one hell of a night. Sweet dreams, Margaret. (Pause) And if you should ever fall behind, I'll wait for you."
*Beep*

Margaret saves her messages with a smile and sets her alarm clock for an extra two hours of sleep before crawling into bed. She lies in bed and reflects on the past twenty-four hours. All in all, it wasn't that bad. She starts to drift off to sleep as she concentrates on the song's lyrics, now more significant than they were before.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now everyone dreams of a love lasting and true
But you and I know what this world can do
So let's make our steps clear that the other may see
And I'll wait for you
If I should fall behind
Wait for me
-If I Should Fall Behind,
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~