Title: Complicated

Author: AAV

Feedback: Please! Alexis2100@hotmail.com

Summary: Romance, especially when you work at the White House, is never easy.

Rating: PG, for slight sexual innuendo and mild language

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it… The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin, the songs featured in the story, not any of it. This is just my humble attempt to create a story I would have liked to seen played out on screen. No infringement was intended.


Chapter 11: Reunion

He drove straight from the city, stopping only once along the way to get gas. He wanted nothing than to be with her again, to hold Ainsley in his arms once more, to finally tell her how he felt. He knew, however, before he could go see Ainsley, he had to make one important stop.

He made the stop, then sped off to Ainsley's home, arriving at the estate just after nine. The sun had set offering up a beautiful night sky but Sam barely noticed as he parked and rushed to the house. He knocked on the door and was just about to open it himself when Barbara Hayes appeared.

"Samuel! We weren't expecting you until tomorrow. Ainsley will be so thrilled to see you," Barbara opened the door and let him in, Sam kissing her on the cheek as he entered.

"I'm glad to hear the Mr. Hayes is recovering."

Barbara smiled. "It's going to take some time, but I think he's going to be okay. Thank you for your support, Sam, and thank you for everything you have done for my daughter."

Sam's face lit up at the mention of Ainsley. "Where is she?"

Barbara smiled at his eagerness, Sam unaware that Barbara had talked to her husband since Sam had left him at the hospital. "In the backyard. Welcome back, Sam."

He smiled at her and tore through the house, waving to Paige as he passed. He searched the yard for a moment, unable to find Ainsley, before he saw her sitting on a bench swing near a large flowerbed. Her golden hair lit up in the moonlight and to Sam she looked like a dream. His heart caught in his chest at the sight of her and he tried to steady his heartbeat as he walked closer.

Ainsley heard someone approaching, but not expecting Sam until the morning assumed that it was her mother or sister and didn't move. As Sam got closer, however, she felt something shift in the air and she knew that he had come back. She sat up, afraid to look, afraid that it wouldn't be him. She didn't move until she heard him speak softly. "Ainsley…" She stood slowly and turned to face him, everything seeming to move in slow motion. Neither of them moved for a moment, they just stared, taking each other in until Ainsley could no longer contain herself. She launched herself at Sam, throwing her arms around him, Sam holding her back as tightly as he could. And then he kissed her and Ainsley thought she would explode from the emotions she felt swirling inside of her. As they stopped to catch their breath, Sam couldn't take his eyes off of her, drinking her in as though it had been years instead of days since he had last seen her.

They walked back to the swing and sat down, Ainsley leaning into Sam, his arm around her waist. He kissed her temple and they sat in silence for a long time, just enjoying being back together. It was Sam who spoke first. "I can't do that again."

"Do what?" Ainsley asked.

"Be away from you. Nothing seemed right this past week. I always felt like something was missing. I couldn't concentrate on work, couldn't sleep… All I did was think about you, about us, about how I felt, and I came to a realization. Ainsley," he said, shifting so he was looking at her, still in awe at the sight of her. "I meant what I said. I can't be away from you again. It hurts too much to not be with you. I know that it's going to be complicated for us to be together; we work at the White House, under the scrutiny of the press, and I will always be a Democrat and you will always be a Republican. But when you think about it, none of that really matters. All that matters is how we feel. And I don't know how you feel, but I know that you are the most wonderful, intelligent, beautiful woman that I have ever known, and you're my best friend… I know I'm rambling, it's just that… I guess what I'm trying to say is…" Sam looked into Ainsley's sky blue eyes which were shimmering with tears and felt his nervousness vanish. "I love you, Ainsley. I love you so much I can't even describe it."

The tears that Ainsley had been trying to hold back began to fall. "Oh, Sam," she said, absently wiping her cheeks. "I feel like I'm dreaming. I was so afraid that you were going to go back to DC and forget about me."

"Impossible," Sam replied, pulling her to him, Ainsley laying her head on his chest.

"Complicated or not, I am in love with you, and nothing can change that," Ainsley said, lifting her head to kiss Sam.

"I'm so very glad you said that." Sam shifted on the swing, pulling something out of his pocket. Ainsley felt like she couldn't breathe. "I went to see your dad before I came here. We had a nice, long talk. He's a great man, even if he is a Republican." He laughed slightly. "He loves you very much, Ainsley, and he only wants the best for you. And apparently I've made it on that list because he's given me permission to do this." Sam got up from the bench and down on one knee in front of Ainsley. She was dreaming, surely she was, Ainsley thought as her heart raced. She felt lightheaded.

"I have loved you from the first time I saw you, walking defiantly through the territory of the enemy. And not only do I love you, you're my best friend. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you, which is why," he paused, taking a deep breath, "I truly hope that you will marry me." He slid the ring on the tip of her finger and looked at her awaiting a response. A few tears made their way down Ainsley's cheek as she looked at this man that she would love forever. "Of course I'll marry you, Sam." He beamed and slid the ring down the rest of her finger and pulled her into a hug, swinging her around.

"It's not going to be easy," he said, smiling. "I'm still a Democrat and you're still a Republican."

Ainsley smiled back. "We'll be fine, as long as you realize that I'm always right." They both erupted into laughter and then Sam kissed her, long and lovely, and Ainsley knew this was happening. This was real.

And Ainsley's world, no longer pale, was swept with colors of which she had only dreamed.

And it feels like now
And it feels always
And it feels like coming home

I never saw blue like that before
Across the sky around the world
You've given me all you have and more
and no one else has ever shown me how
To see the world the way I see now
I never saw blue like that before