Title: Stay Anyway 30/32

Author: Amber (Ambino1111@prodigy.net)

Disclaimers & Other Notes in Part 1

*****

"You guys, this isn't a joke." "But it's funny like a joke." - Jackie and Hyde, That '70s Show

*****

The Oval Office is spectacular and rich with historical importance. I, however, have no time to marvel at it. I follow Sam into the famous room, still holding his hand.

CJ and the President are standing in the middle. Alex is still attached to President Bartlet's leg. He lifts his head momentarily as his host comes to a stop, catches sight of me, and waves.

Sam leads me further into the room, in between the two couches that flank a blue rug with the Seal.

I feel awful. Absolutely dreadful.

We all turn to watch the door as three more people file in. A young black man closes the door behind Josh, the last one in the group.

Sam squeezes my hand reassuringly before we all turn our attention to CJ and the President.

CJ opens her mouth. I'm momentarily in awe of her size. She looks much taller in person than on television.

"I - I don't - I am speechless!" CJ shrieks. Her frustration is palpable.

"If I may interrupt," President Bartlet interjects good-naturedly, nodding to his leg. "If someone could kindly remove this little imp from my leg?"

I feel my cheeks grow bright red. I quietly step forward and snatch Alex. Unfortunately, he doesn't want to let go. He clutches the fabric of the President's pants with all his two-and-a-half-year-old might.

"Daddy!" He cries, then spins his head and notices me. "Mommy!" He cheers.

"Alex. Let go," I quietly demand. His face turns solemn and he relinquishes the pants of the Leader of the Free World.

I grimace at the uncomfortable silence and the amount of explaining I'm going to have to do as I join Sam's side, Alex safely confined to my arms. He senses the tension in the room and buries his face in my shoulder.

Everyone looks around at each other for what seems like an hour, but is probably no more than thirty seconds. Eventually, all the eyes in the room come to rest on Sam and me.

"Can you please explain why we're going to have a HUGE press headache for the next three months?" The gray-haired man demands at last.

"That's Leo," Sam leans over and whispers in my ear. I nod, feeling slightly dizzy.

CJ sighs and opens her mouth. Before she can start, some hidden courage overwhelms me and I step in.

"Sir, if I may?" I ask, looking at both Leo and the President. At their silence, I continue. "I am so, sooo incredibly sorry. This is all my fault. I was just coming to meet with Sam, uh, Mr. Seaborn and Ms. Cregg, and Alex saw you, Mr. President, and recognized you from TV, and-"

I feel like I'm beginning to babble and am forever grateful when Sam interrupts.

"Sir, I haven't had the time to tell everyone yet, but, uh… well, now seems like the perfect time." I look over at him in time to see him flash a nervous smile at the room. President Bartlet encourages him to continue with a wave of his hand.

"It's like this, you see… Lisa and I used to be engaged. We broke up right before I joined the campaign. Long story short- I ran into her again in the lobby of the White House, while you guys were in China, and, uh… and just this morning I found out that Alex is my son."

I watch anxiously as they digest the information. As my eyes wander the room, I catch Josh's gaze. He smiles reassuringly at me. I smile faintly back at him, shifting Alex's weight.

"Why did we never know about this?" The gruff-looking balding man asks quietly, curiously. He seems almost amused by the situation, but something in his demeanor tells me it isn't the case.

"I only found out myself this morning," Sam defends, looking sideways at me. I try to avoid his eyes - I know what that look entails.

"Well, that's all fine and dandy," President Bartlet speaks up, looking at me and smiling slightly. "But why did the kid think I was his father - in front of many cameras and reporters?"

"I can explain that, too, sir," I jump in, fear gradually lessening. "You see, I didn't want to cause any scandals," I laugh nervously, assessing the situation. "Ironic, isn't it? Anyway, so I left Sam's name off of Alex's birth certificate. But I wanted my son to know he had a father, so I told him that his dad worked in the big white house in DC and eventually he'd get to see him," The President's eyes light up with understanding. I continue timidly. "We've watched the news together so many times that he must've thought that YOU were his father."

There is silence, a silence so thick that I feel like I'm drowning. I think my heart stops beating, and I know I'm holding my breath.

Suddenly, President Bartlet's booming laugh echoes through the room.

TBC