Title: Christmas Twilight Series 4 /?
By: chipmunk and leosimpishgrin 

Pairing: Leo/Margaret - Romance

Rating: R

Spoilers: None really

This is not strictly cannon by the show.

Doesn't matter the year or the situation.

Plot Development By: Imp leosimpishgrin@yahoo.ca

Beta and Mentor By: Lee pigletnpooh@comcast.net

Disclaimer:

The characters are from the NBC, WB, Bravo, A John Wells Prod., 
TV show, 'The West Wing'. 
They own them; therefore, they do not belong to us. 
They are the creation of Aaron Sorkin. We only borrowed them.
No copyright infringement is intended. 
No monetary benefit is received or anticipated.
A 'grateful' and 'enormous' thanks, to the actors and actresses, 
who portray the characters 'brilliantly'
and bring them to life in our heads. 
Feedback: We'd love it hear your opinion! PLEASE! 
It helps to improve our writing!
Archived at: 
Summary: Margaret's brother and his kids visit for Christmas in DC.

Note: In exploring Margaret's family, this fic might get a little kid oriented, but that's the fun of Christmas.

We just thought you might like to visit Leo and Margaret during their first Christmas together.

It may be a day or two before another part is posted. We're working on it this week, but I really don't know how to write a short fic and Imp cheerfully lets me have my way. It's just a flaw I have with my writing. I'll try not to drag this out and use all of the 12 days of Christmas to post it. Speaking of writing, with all the wonderful Christmas fics being posted, I should just surrender and go back to being a reader. They're just blowing me away with their awesome and creative writing. Thanks for much for giving me what I want most for Christmas. New fics!!

Happy Holidays!!

From Chipmunk and Imp.

Warning: Some Sexual content

*****

Saturday - Dec 20th

"Leo, move it to the left. It's not in the center."

"Margaret, Baby, 'close' is good enough for me. I'm the one down here on the floor, crawling around under an artificial tree."

She grins at the sight of Leo's hips sticking out from under the tree branches, "Well, Leo, it could be worse. It could be a real tree and then you'd be crawling in pine needles and you could have sticky sap on your hands." She just can't stop herself from teasing him.

"Margaret," he growls a warning as he waits impatiently for her to finally declare the tree centered in the bay window.

She giggles at his threatening tone, "OK, Leo, leave it there. I just wanted to center it, before we start to decorate it."

Leo crawls out from under the tree and using the coffee table to brace himself as he climbs back to his feet. He quickly turns to sit on the coffee table, until the small twinge in his bad knee stops nagging him. Just one of the things he lives with. He's watches Margaret as she starts wrapping stings of lights on the tree. "Margaret, it looks fine to me. What would you like me to do next?" She's definitely in charge of this project and he's agreeable to that. He can see that she's really loves doing it and it is extra important to her, for several reasons this year. He's really enjoying the holiday spirit this year. While decorating today, they have some Christmas music playing in the background. Margaret has been humming and singing under her breath, while busily moving about the apartment all morning.

"Leo, could you unpack more of the new lights? Getting them out of those little plastic trays just drives me nuts. I can't believe that someone has the job of putting them in those tiny little holders. It's insane."

"Margaret, maybe you need a break. We could do with some hot chocolate about now. You know that I make the best. You've been decorating all morning and we spent all last evening shopping for new Christmas decorations. She hesitates with the lights and gives him a glance. Leo's trying to avoid the doghouse, "I'm not complaining, Baby, you picked out lovely items and the place is going to look great. I did my part last night. I just kept handing over the credit card to the clerks with cheerful smile and carried the packages. Really, Margaret, I truly enjoyed the shopping."

"Leo, I appreciated your help and patience last night at the mall. You know that before last night, we only had a handful of heirloom ornaments between us. I had a door wreath, two Christmas pillows for the couch and three nice window lights. All of them fit into one small box. That's it. Since we arrived at the White House, we're never out of the office at the holidays."

"Well, sadly, neither of us had anywhere else to be at the holidays, anyway. You never would take the time to go away visit your brother and his kids at Christmas. It's not like we didn't have the whole White House decorated for the holidays for us to enjoy. Not everyone can do that."

She scoffs, "Like I'd leave you alone with my files and your scheduling book. You'd have to take out stock in AT&T, your cell phone bill would outrageous and I'd be crazy with worry. No thanks. I was happier to stay with you in DC." Margaret just reflects what she just said. She giggles, "You know, Leo, that didn't come out right, but you know what I mean."

"It sounds right to me this year, Margaret. Even then, it felt right. You've been a part of my life for so many years and we've spend so many Christmas' together. Just not for the right reasons. We're doing it right this year." He stands and moves over to give her a quick kiss, as he hands her another string, plugging them into the connector cord to light them.

"Leo, I'm glad we are too. It's going to look wonderful. Just the thought of having two kids here to enjoy our home for Christmas, just makes my Christmas that much more special."

"Baby, then our time, in choosing just the right decorations was well spent." He grins, "We drove my agents nuts. I think 3 hours buying decorations, kind of stretched their patience to the limit. Even if there were just three of them used for our adventure."

"Well, Leo, at least you're down to one agent in the hall." They both are thankful that the agency cut back to one right before Thanksgiving, since there was no more appearance of the attackers, after they made that last attempt on CJ. I know that the agents are not taking any chances, but I'm happy that they feel you're safe at least until March or April, which is when they think the attackers may start trying again. I'm hoping for a peaceful holiday, with Colin and the kids here for Christmas. I'm so looking forward to having them here. Thanks, Leo, for suggesting they come and stay with us. It'll be fun to have the kids here. I've have missed not seeing them more often and seeing them grow up. I can't believe that they're not babies anymore. I still can't believe that Megan been gone over three years.

"I'm sure that being here with you will be nice for Colin and the kids. Christmas at the White House should be an experience for them. It was nice of Colin to agree to bring them for Christmas."

"At the old apartment there wasn't room for them to stay and the kids were small. It may still be a little cozy here for three adults, two kids and a Christmas tree."

"Margaret, it'll be fine. Kids need a tree at Christmas. You have the perfect window for it. I think that's what sold you on this apartment. Remember, I'm an old hat at stepping over kids in the floor. Mallory and her friends were down on the floor playing games all the time. I didn't mind. I wanted her around me, not tucked neatly away in her room like some of her friends and their nannies.

"OK, Leo, I'll stop worrying that they'll be under your feet all the time. They're going to be here for only five days. They arrive tomorrow evening. Colin wanted to get a flight out after the kid's nannygranny caught her flight on Sunday, so they could all go to the airport together."

"Nannygranny, what's that?" Leo has a bewildered look on his face, wondering if Margaret's being quirky again.

"Mrs. Wilson or Granny Wilson as the kids call her. It's a new type of nanny. She's older and fills the place of a grandparent for the kids. Megan's parents live in Florida and are elderly, so the kids don't get to see them very often. Colin felt this was the best solution. Mrs. Wilson is widowed with grown kids, who are living out of state. Don't get me wrong, she doesn't sit and rock while knitting. Granny Wilson gets involved with the kid's projects and activities. Like you, she likes the kids underfoot as a family. She treats them like her own grandkids and they love her. She's family to us now. It was a blessing that she arrived just after Colin was widowed. He needed someone that he could trust to leave the kids alone with, since his hell-fighter job takes him away at a moments notice, for a week or two at a time."

Leo's sure that Margaret doesn't know half of the danger that Colin faces each time he goes away. "He really has an adventurous job. Flies the world and gets into the thick of things, to help where needed. It must be satisfying?"

Margaret smiles as she thinks of her big brother, "He loves his work and Megan knew that. She supported him continuing his job after they were married and even after the kids arrived. It's demanding and has its risks, but it was the type of job that let him have a lot of time at home, between jobs, to be with her and the kids. I mentioned to you before that she was able to continue her consulting work from home, which gave all of them more time together."

Leo goes back to his mentions of prior Christmases, "Margaret, the more I think of this, our first Christmas together, the more I feel bad about the last few Christmases."

"In what way, Leo," she pauses as she starts to hang ornaments on the tree after Leo adds a hook to each new one, as he takes them from the box.

"Well, it's sad to say, Margaret, but I can't remember if you ever told me what you were doing on Christmas. While, after attending mass with Jed and Abby, I was having Christmas dinner with my family." She gives him a look that tells him it's not a good question and she stays silent. "Were you alone on Christmas day all those years? I guess I really never thought of it before now. You must have told me something? You could have joined us, you know."

"Leo, even if you had invited me, I wouldn't have wanted to interrupt your family time with Jenny and Mal. It was not your place to see about me on Christmas. I probably told you I was with friends and that was actually true. I had a place to go if I wanted to. Some years I worked the free, church dinner for the homeless on Christmas. You know I have always volunteered for the church. They understand how I work. If I have to cancel on them, it's OK. I know they can always use an extra pair of hands anytime, if I'm available."

He moves over to her and steals another kiss, as he hands her more ornaments, "Well, Margaret, I'm afraid that they'll have to do without you this year. I want to make sure you won't ever again be looking for a place to volunteer on the holidays, to fill your time, even if it is for a good cause. They'll just have to settle for a nice size donation from your boyfriend instead, they might remember me, since I have attended church a few times with you. Colin, the kids and I are going to keep you busy Christmas Day." At her grin he asks, "That is where you've planned that we would attend Midnight Mass, as a family, on Christmas Eve?"

"Yeah, Leo, that's what I was hoping, but I don't know if Jed and Abby are going to insist we attend with them at the National Cathedral. I just think that it'll be too large for the kids at that time of night and it might overwhelm them. Our regular church is small and cozy."

Leo likes the 'our' part. "I'll slip the word to Jed that we're doing our own family worshipping this year. You're right about the kids possibly being overwhelmed."

Margaret's glad he sees her reasoning, "They are old enough now to really love and participate in the beauty of the candles of Midnight mass. This is my first real family Christmas in a long time."

Margaret has opened another new package of decorations, "Here, Leo, help me straighten out this bead garland." She pulls them out of the bag. "Oh no!" One end of the garland is loose and the beads start spilling and bouncing over the carpeting.

Leo grabs up the loose end to stop the flow of beads, as Margaret's hands are full of the other end. He looks at her surprised face and he can't resist breaking out laughing. Margaret smiles at his happy face and joins him. They lay the bead on the coffee table and both drop to their knees to start gathering them back up, still chuckling at their luck of getting a string that was loose. Leo looks around at Margaret, as she's muttering to herself or the lost beads. It's hard for Leo to tell, he's more interested in the view of her hips moving, while she moves around looking for the beads. He ignores his protesting, moves to her side and wraps his arm around her to push her onto her back on the floor under him and his mouth quickly descends to hers. Enough of the decorating, he's now insisting on taking a break and he knows just how to spend the time. Rolling around on the carpet.

"What are you doing, Leo," she asks when they break for air.

"Getting into the Christmas spirit. Don't you feel merrier already?" His trailing kisses down her chin and advancing to her neck. His one hand is running up under her shirt, while he leans on his other forearm. He tugs the shirt up to expose more skin, before heading for his favorite area.

Margaret giggles as his fingers lightly trace a path to her breasts. She might sound playful, but she's seriously yanking his shirt up to get skin on skin. Seeing her working on his clothes, he knows that she's game for some hot and heavy necking. They're not inhibited by what they can do to pleasure each other, because they have agreed to not go all the way for now, but they do enjoy getting damn close. He rubs his growing desire in his jeans, against her jean-covered thigh. She wiggles her hips under him in response. Their lips meet again, as their stomachs rub warmly together and he slips his hand under her bra to tease and caress. Her giggles have now turned to satisfied soft moans, as Leo has learned just how to tease them from her. She's slipping her hand down inside the back of his jeans to cup and stroke his warm firm hips, pulling him closer against her. Their breathing and heart rates increase in tandem. They break apart at the sound of the phone ringing. Leo sighs and softly chuckles in her ear as they listen to the second ring of the phone, Leo starts to rise off her and she pulls him back, "Leo, let the answering machine get it, we're busy." He chuckles again, this time in deep sexy tone as he lowers his lips again to hers and molds his body again to hers. The machine does its work and soon a voice speaks out, as it takes a message. Margaret suddenly shoves Leo to roll off her, recognizing the voice and she scrambles to answer the phone. Leo lies on his back and looks at the ceiling and sighs with a smile as he hears Margaret happy voice.

"Colin, I'm here. Hello. Yes. No. Wonderful. Yes, we'll be there. Yes, brother, on time. Like I'd be late, you're the one who's always late. Great. Kiss to all. Colin you have no idea. Just get here. Of course I have a plan. I can't wait. Love you all. Bye, till tomorrow." She is grinning ear to ear as she sets the phone down.

Leo is grinning also as he studies the nearly decorated tree, from his current place on the carpet. What has him so happy is the thought of the conversation he just listened to. The whole conversation took approximately two minutes that would normally take ten minutes for most people. Margaret and her brother, Colin, are the only two people he knows that can both talk as the same time and get so much said. It has to be a family trait. They are so in tune with each other. He's looking forward to experiencing them in action, in person. He looks up when Margaret arrives back at his side. He reaches a hand up to her, to encourage her to return to the carpet with him.

"No such luck, Leo, we have things to do." She does take his hand, but to help him up and not as he hopes, but he grins at her renewed excitement after talking to her brother.

Leo gains his feet, "What do you need me to do, Baby?"

"Well, Leo, we somehow didn't get the beads picked up, so I think you might consider getting the tiny shop vac that I use for cleaning the car and suck them up. I'm going to fix the end of the beads and get them on the tree. We need to get to the grocery store yet this afternoon."

At the mention of the grocery trip, Leo is definitely motivated. He has plans of what he's cooking this coming week, with a full family to cook for. He's going to have his holiday enjoyment daily. He hopes he can get the kids involved in helping him. It's never too early to get them started with a love of cooking.

Sunday afternoon is definitely going to be busy.

*****

That evening, Margaret is sitting at the table wrapping some small gifts for the girls of the Sisterhood that she purchased this last week. Leo is sitting at the end of the table, where he's writing out the meals and specialty foods that he hopes to fix with Colin and the kids here. He also knows that his kids will be dropping in several times this week, as has become the custom of late. One that has made Margaret and he very happy to see happen, because they really enjoy having them feel comfortable here and leaving work at the White House. Leo grins as he reviews all the items that he finally found a place to store in the kitchen. "Margaret, you're going to need one evening to make cookies with the kids, so we need to add that to the schedule if we are going to get it all in. We have so much we want to share with them. Maybe that evening Colin and I can find something for us to do together, just to get to know each other better. You know, men doing manly things."

"Leo, whatever you two choose to do, will be fine. I just want to remind you that Colin doesn't drink either, not with his job. He never knows when they will call him out."

"Yeah, you told me that he doesn't drink but, we both sadly know that someday he has to tell his kids that a drunk driver killed their Mom and that's probably the bigger motivation for him to refrain from drinking. He pauses before quietly asking to reconfirm it, "Is Colin OK with you being with me? I'm a recovering alcoholic. I know that you and Colin have both figured out that there were times I was behind the wheel and I shouldn't have been driving." Leo is so sorry he ever was DUI. It still scares to him just thinking of what might have happened and now he's close to people who have had to deal with the aftermath of losing a loved one to a drunk driver.

"Leo, Colin and I have discussed your addictions and your rehab. Your proven ability to control your alcoholism is all the guarantee we need. We know that even Megan would have given anyone a second chance, if they truly were determined to succeed after rehab. Alcoholism is a disease. We understand that it's not something you chose to have in your live. Just like a diabetic has no choice. You just have to deal with it, control it and live your life. We respect that and support you." She pauses to consider, "The kids will do the same, when they are told all the facts about you, then and now, and about how their Mom died. It may help curb the anger that they may naturally have toward anyone who drinks, after they realize that being an alcoholic, does not always mean being drunk. You're not to worry another moment about it. It's going to be fine. They'll come to love you like family and you'll love them in return."

"Thanks, Margaret, I hope to God that comes true. I don't want the kids to look at me as an alcoholic, but as a friend, at least."

They both are quiet for a few moments, trying to imagine the heart wrenching time that will be for Colin. Margaret is the first to speak, "Colin will know what to say. I'm sure he won't keep it a secret how she died, but he just hopes they'll be older. For now, they just know that she died in a car accident."

"They were so small when it happened that he just feels it's more important for them to be reminded of happy times with their Mom. I hope I can help with that while they're here, by telling them of Christmases that I knew Megan and the other small things about her. Colin wants the kids to have a normal and happy childhood and not let Megan's death cloud their lives, but for them to live life to the fullest. Like he does with his job and it seems to be working wonderfully as you'll see when the kids get here. They're very confident and outgoing kids. They love wholeheartedly those who care about them. Megan would be so pleased to see how Colin's doing in raising them and I hope to help reinforce that while they are here. I want them to know a sense of family and that they can rely on me."

Leo reaches over to take her hand, "I hope you mean, rely on us and that includes the extended family we have here in DC. They will have a whole group to rely on and that extends to Colin also. A family is a family." He grins softly at her shining eyes tells him how much she appreciates him extending his care for her only brother and his family.

She too, is confident that their family here will effortlessly extend to include Colin and the kids. Life is so full of blessings this holiday season.

As Margaret happily continuing with her wrapping, he crosses his arms on the table in front of him and makes an inquiry with a grin, "So, Baby, where are you going to assign everyone to sleep? I know you have that list somewhere in your plans."

"Well, Leo, never fear, you're still sleeping with me in our bedroom. But, I guess I could put all of you guys in the guest room and Katie and I could take the bedroom. We could do some serious girl bonding like that."

Leo growls at her playfully threatening him, "Margaret, you wouldn't make me sleep on the couch again, would you? Because, I'm not sleeping in the same bed with your brother and Ben."

Margaret can't help giggling at Leo sad looking face, "No, Leo, You can stay with me, Katie can sleep in with her little brother and Colin, or Colin might want the couch. You know it's large enough for him to sleep on and he has always been able to sleep anywhere, as long as his laying flat is all he requires. It will be up to him, but we want the kids in the guest room, so Santa can come on Christmas Eve."

"Margaret, speaking of Christmas Eve, I never asked, but Colin is raising the kids Catholic. Right? If I remember correctly, you did go to their baby Baptisms, but it just occurred to me that there are other religions that have christenings. I never considered that Megan and Colin might have been observing one of those other religions."

"Yes, Leo, they are Catholic and I am their godmother. They have different godfathers, but as their only other family, besides Megan's parents, I got the honor of godmother to both of them. In fact, Katie had her first communion the Easter before last and Ben will have his, this coming Easter. I think this will be their first Midnight Mass."

"That should help them to enjoy and make the service special to them. I know that some non-Catholics do attend with friends for the service, but I didn't want to assume and speak out of turn to Colin or answer the kid's questions about the service in a way that might be contradictory to their Dad's wishes. Good to know."

"Oh, Leo, even though we are going to our small church for the mass, I would like to find time to stop at the National Cathedral for the kids to see it and possibly light a candle for their Mom to remember her here at Christmas. I think it would be meaningful for them and I'm sure Colin would appreciate it."

"Sure, Baby, just pick a time. By the way, what time do we pick them up tomorrow at the airport? I need to tell the agent, so he can get another agent to accompany us. They will want one of the White House drivers to take us, with it being the airport and the holiday season. They want to be extra careful, just like they do for Jed and Abby at this time of year, when I go out. Just like last night at the mall.

"Colin said that their flight is scheduled to arrive shortly after 6pm. So we better ready to go around 5pm, with the traffic and even though the agents will not have a problem parking, I'm sure that they want to look around the airport briefly before they let you out of the car. They can find out what gate and if the flight is on time, which is convenient for us." She grins at finding them useful. Leo tends to get impatient with them, but he's been getting more used to them over these past few months, since his attack.

*****

Sunday afternoon finds Leo watching a nervous Margaret moving quickly around the apartment. She's straightening and tweaking the decorations, plus double-checking the guestroom and the food preparations that he has under control in the kitchen for the meal that they'll prepare when Colin and the kids get here. Leo has decided that at this point in time, the safest place to be is sitting still and out of Margaret's path. It would just fluster her to move and to dodge him at every turn, while they wait for time to leave for the airport. "Margaret, Dear, you need to perch somewhere, you're going to be more exhausted than the kids before the evening is over, if you keep pacing. Come over here and cuddle with me for a few quiet moments. The agent will tell us when they are ready for us to go down to the car. Every thing looks wonderful and you have everything ready. I really think you could use a hug right now and I'd be happy to oblige."

"Leo, I am just so happy to see my family that I'm having trouble holding still, but a hug would be wonderful right about now." She admits her bubbling joy to him as she slips in against him on the couch and rests her head on his shoulder.

Leo thinks the best way to keep Margaret occupied right now is to review some of her schedule as he can tell she's too hyper at the moment for even some quick necking and that's really saying something for her. She's usually happy to join in with their favorite hobby. "Margaret, you did say that there was room for them to attend the kids Christmas party on Christmas Eve at the White House, didn't you?"

"Oh yes, Leo, I talked to the director of the party and she assured me that two more kids would be fine. She's glad to include them and assured me that they would not be bumping any other kids from the list. She said that they always plan on a few extras attending at the last moment. It'll be nice for them and help the day pass for them, before the casual gathering with the President and the others at the Residence. After that we come home to rest for a while, before going to mass. The kids might rest and watch a Christmas movie. I know they're not going to sleep with it being Christmas Eve."

"Maybe, they'll let us sleep in on Christmas morning," Leo looks hopefully at Margaret.

"Don't count on it, Leo. That just doesn't happen with kids. Not on Christmas."

" I know, it's a pipe dream. Mallory never let me sleep either. She was up at the crack of dawn, even after staying up for midnight mass." Leo smiles at the memory of a small Mallory.

He tries to sound serious as he asks, "Margaret, could you explain to me again, why the President wants this year to have a formal family dinner, on Christmas day? There will be close to thirty or more people attending, with parents and children. His grandkids are two of the kids that I know will be there. Mallory is attending and CJ is bringing Hogan. Charlie is bringing Deanna."

"Leo, the President thinks that it's wonderfully old fashioned. The dance is right after for the adults and the kids are going to pack and take their pajamas. They get to have a slumber party with Gus in the Residence, with a nanny or two in attendance. We can carry them home after the dance or let them sleep over. They can decide after the meet Gus and see how it goes."

"Sounds like a good plan to me, Margaret." He hugs her snuggly to his side, "They'll want to come back to DC for every Christmas, after this one."

"I can only hope, Leo. I can only hope." She rests her head on his shoulder at this happy thought. They both turn to look at the door as the agent steps in to signal that the car is ready. The second agent has arrived and is waiting in the hall to help escort Leo to the car.

*****

At the airport the kids are a little curiously tentative at the sight of the agents escorting Leo and their aunt Margaret. Leo hangs back a little, to keep the agents with him, but is smiling a welcome at Colin and the kids. Colin has warned them that Leo would have agents, so he would have time to explain it to the kids and answer their questions. Leo notices the kids; the older one is a little pixie type girl, blonde with strawberry highlights to her hair, like her father. The boy is a slender frame with rich red hair, just like his aunt.

Margaret quickly puts the kids at ease as she approaches. She stoops down for a hug from both, "Merry Christmas you two. I've missed you so much. Did you miss your favorite aunt?"

Katie answers as she returns the hug, "We've missed you too, Aunt Margaret, so much," and she buries her face in Margaret's shoulder and takes a big sniff. "Just as I remembered, Raspberries."

Margaret, with her arm still wrapped around Katie, turns her face to Ben who is hugging her around the waist, "What, no greeting from my favorite nephew?"

Ben answers her with a voice much older than one would expect from a small six year old. He replies with some exasperation, "Aunt Margaret, first, I'm your only nephew and yes, I missed you, too." Still with his little arms around her, he sighs, " I would have spoken sooner, but you two girls were doing all the talking. I didn't have a chance, without being rude. Aunt Margaret, you weren't joking when you said Mr. McGarry, I mean Leo, Dad said we have permission to address him as Leo, would have real agents with him."

Katie looks at Leo and the agents, "Are they really going to guard him out in the hall at the apartment?" She has happiness shining on her face.

"Oh, Lord, Katie, don't tell me that you consider that a bonus to your trip to DC." Margaret rolls her eyes at her brother. Katie definitely takes after his adventurous side. Her brother just grins at her, she knows him so well.

Katie face lights up more, "Sure, Aunt Margaret, that is so cool. I'm going to go say hi to Leo and maybe he'll introduce me to them."

Margaret just looks in wonderment at her niece as she hurries to Leo and calls after her, "Katie, remember the agents are working." They'll have to keep an eye on that child, she's not easily intimidated and she has the curiosity of a cat. She's also one of the most loving children as is her little brother. The others watch as she goes right up to Leo and gives him a hug, which just lights up Leo's face when he looks down into Katie's smiling face. They can tell that Katie is wasting no time before asking him her questions and Leo's happily answering by pointing to the agents, but he has a wise gently restraining arm around Katie's shoulder as he explains. Leo seems to have a new fan.

Margaret turns to hug her brother, who bear hugs her and lifts her up to her tiptoes. Which brings a laugh from Ben, as this is an old tradition with his dad and Aunt Margaret. Colin set her down, "Man, it's great to see you, Sis. Did you wait long? Maybe we need to rescue Leo from Katie and her million questions." Colin takes Margaret's arm in his and Ben by the hand to move them closer to Leo. Hey, Leo, glad to finally meet you. I hope Katie hasn't been too much trouble already with a ton of questions. Did she actually say hi first?" Colin winds to an end as he looks at Leo's smiling face.

Leo is happily please when he hears Colin sounding so much like Margaret and her fast paced talking. Leo extends his hand and it gets swallowed in Colin's clasp as he answers the string of questions, "Nice meeting you, no and yes."

Colin burst our laughing at Leo fast answers. "I guess you've figured out how to keep up with a Ryan in a conversation. I'll try to limit the rapid fire lingo to just Margaret, as the kids have started to roll their eyes at me now for doing it."

Leo gives him a little advice, "My daughter, Mallory, is still rolling her eyes at me, so unfortunately they don't outgrow the habit"

"Thanks a lot, Leo. Just what I wanted to hear!" Colin has laughter in his voice instead of dread.

Leo glances at the agents, who are starting to get form a closer circle around him, "I guess we better get in the car, before the agent decide it's getting too crowded in here for their comfort." He finds that Katie has glued herself to him, which is just fine with him, because he's sure that Margaret and Colin are going to hang onto each other, for a while longer. He glances down at Katie's "Oh my" and Ben's "Wow," when they sees that the President sent the limo for Leo to use, to pick them up from the airport.

*****

After they get everyone bundled into the apartment from the airport, Margaret helps the kids to settle their things in the guest room and shows them around the apartment, while Leo and Colin get busy in the kitchen to get the meal under way as both kids agreed in the car that they were definitely hungry. Colin calls from the kitchen, "Hey, kids, get your hands washed, please and come help with the table. After we eat, you two get your showers and pj's on. Then maybe Aunt Margaret will find you a movie to watch before bed or if you're really good, Leo might let us use his computer, so we can to email your friends a short note that you arrived in DC."

Ben enters the kitchen first after the hand washing, "Leo, do you have Master Chess or Grand Trivia games on your computer? I'm allowed to play them on the computer at home. Ours is in the family room where we can be supervised while surfing. I find tons of interesting info on the web."

Leo gives Colin a questioning look, "How old is he again? Did I get the ages wrong or is life flying by that fast?"

Colin chuckles at Leo's bewilderment, "I should have reminded Margaret to warn you. Ben is advanced for his age. Both of them are, but Ben is more so than Katie. Ben has jumped a grade this year and may do so again in a couple more years. He may be smart, but I want him to be a kid also. Katie may jump one in a year or two as she's in the top group in her class now. Their mom was this way in school, not that my side of the family is shy on brains, even if Margaret did score higher than I did. They predict that Ben will either grad with Katie or may even before that. Colin is not saying anything that Ben and Katie have not heard before Colin has been very open with the kids in dealing with the decisions he has made with their schooling.

Leo smiles and asks, "Have you checked out any of the advanced academies that are day schools? He might benefit from one of those, instead of skipping so many regular class years. If Katie is also advanced, she might blossom there as well. They have all kinds of extra curriculum to make a better-rounded student. They usually have a lot of hands on experience courses. You should ask Mallory about it while you're here."

"That's a great idea, Leo. You really think that Mallory would be willing to help, because I would have no idea what I should look for in that type of school."

"I'm sure she'd be delighted. Mallory takes educating children very seriously." Leo assures Colin. "Ask anyone that knows her, she's just going to love your kids, especially since they seem eager to learn."

Colin laughs, knowing that Leo's referring to Katie's questioning in the car about White House security and his protection. "That would be a great help. His school now really doesn't know what to do with him and I think Katie tends to scare her teacher sometimes with the questions she comes up with. She may wear out her making her do homework, to find the answers to Katie's questions."

Dinner passes with everyone getting caught up on events in each other's lives, including Granny Wilson's part in their lives, just like family. When finished, they all clear the table and Leo volunteers to handle the kitchen detail, while Colin and Margaret supervise the kids with their showers. Katie loves using Margaret's more feminine bathroom and leaving the guest shower for the guys. Katie is definitely a member of the universal Sisterhood, age is not a factor and she loves getting that reinforced from her aunt. Having a blood bond only reinforces the camaraderie. Katie confirms her female bonding, with her rapture over the antique carved wooden headboard for the bed and matching dresser, in the master bedroom. Any female would love its floral design.

Clean and shining, the kids settle down on the floor to watch a Christmas special on TV. Leo remembers to turn on the computer and opens up a mailing program for them. At the half hour the program changes and Ben is first at the computer, right at Leo's elbow. Watching as Leo finishes using his flight simulator program. He loves using a computer and is more knowledgeable than Leo would have guessed, even for Ben. It's as natural to Ben as breathing. Sitting at the computer, Leo turns in the rotating chair to face Ben with a smile, beckoning with his hand he offers, "Come on up here, I'll help you reach."

Six-year-old Ben climbs eagerly onto Leo's lap to reach the keyboard. He informs Leo that he can type pretty well already, but he has trouble trying to type fast, as his hands are still too small. Reaching around him, Leo volunteers to take dictation. Colin comes in to help them with email addresses, but finds that Leo and Ben have it under control. Colin goes back to the couch to have a good visit with his sister. After Ben is done, Leo helps him back down to the floor, "Go get your sister and tell her it's her turn." Ben agrees moving slowly, but his eyes are busy taking Leo's aviation pictures and memorabilia in the room. He puts two and two together after remembering Leo at the computer, when he entered the room before. "Are you a pilot, Leo?"

Leo can happily tell that he's in for twenty questions from the curious boy and he doesn't blame him. That's how he fell in love with flying, "Yeah, I am, but I don't get much flying time lately."

"Where did you learn?" Ben halts at the door and is looking at a row of pictures on the wall.

"In the Air Force, when I was younger." Leo honestly answers him but doesn't give him and unneeded details.

"How do you get to fly, now that you're not in the Air Force?" Ben tries to puzzle out if a pilot is always a pilot once they know how to fly.

"See that middle picture, Ben? That's my plane. A Cessna 310J," Leo smiles at the grin on Ben's face.

"Your own plane? Where is it?" The eagerness is shining in his eyes, as he whips his head around to Leo. He's looking very much like a small version of Margaret, when she heard of Leo's antiques.

"It's out at the airport and maybe we can check it out before your fight leaves this weekend." Leo's not making any promises. He wouldn't want to disappoint the small boy. "Better get your sister now, so she can get her emails done before bedtime." Leo watches Ben bounce out to the living room. ~Oh, to be a boy of six again and your head full of dreams of the sky~

Katie comes into Leo, just as ready as Ben was, to let her girlfriends know the details to the beginning of her trip to DC.

Leo notes that even at eight, Katie is just slightly taller than her little brother. Gladly she's just tall enough though, to give his knee a rest. Knowing that she might need some help, Leo scoots back in the chair and lets Katie sit on the edge of it, in front of him. Leo then remains sitting back in the chair, watching her work the keyboard. He's trying not to pry into her note to her friends, knowing that females are funny that way, with any males reading over her shoulder. As needed, he helps with some of the program commands and also helps her to spell some of the local names, of sights that they passed on the drive back to the apartment. She now stops to consider the wording of a sentence. She's getting tired from her long day and she leans back against Leo, while she explains her problem to him, of how to describe the agents and the need for Leo's security. It's the juicy part that she really wants to tell them about in her note.

Leo happily wraps his arms around her to squeeze a hug. ~Only Katie would be writing to a group of little girls about a bunch of men in black~. Leo's deep rumble of a laugh reassures her that he's delighted with her and not making fun of her small dilemma. She snuggles into the security of his arms, happy to find another safe haven today in her life, something that's wonderfully welcomed, even by a self-assured little girl.

Josh and Donna do a quick drop by on their way out for a late meal. They've heard so much about Colin and the kids that they just couldn't wait. Josh grins as he shakes Colin's hand as Margaret introduces them, "Glad to finally meet you. I don't know if Margaret mentioned to you that I'm a regular fixture around here. Leo is like my adopted Dad. Really, I kinda adopted him, since we got into the White House, because he as known me almost all my life. He was a good friend to my Father."

"Yeah, I get all the news about Margaret's DC family. From what I hear, you guys are a wonderful and motley bunch, as Margaret calls it." Colin's huge grin of merriment confirms that he really does know the best parts.

Josh decides to get in a safe dig at Margaret, "Being her big brother you can tell me if as a little sister, she likes tease and torment you like Mallory does to me?"

Margaret breaks in, before Colin can answer, since he's wearing his happy payback look, "Remember the Sisterhood, guys. We always get the final payback."

Josh looks at Margaret in a panic, "Is Mallory in that as well?"

Margaret smirks and asks, "Is she female?" At Josh's sad nod in reply, she continues to shoot him down. "There's your answer, Josh."

Standing behind him, Donna snickers into the back of Josh's shoulder, at Margaret's tactics.

Colin gives a sad and commiserating look to Josh, "I think that gives you my answer as well. She knows just how to turn a prank to her advantage. She always has."

"I'll tell you about the adventures of the Sisterhood of the White House sometime." Josh can tell that he and Colin are going to get along just fine.

Leo comes out of the guest room behind Katie. Ben has been on the floor looking at a Christmas catalog that Margaret gave him to look at, while Katie was on the computer with Leo. "We're all done for the night with emails. All her friends now know more than they need about Secret Service agents. Colin, if you're lucky, next month she'll be interested in being a lawyer. They tend to keep you confused right up to graduation from college."

Colin smiles at Katie and Leo as they enter the living room, "Thanks, Leo, for helping the kids. From the looks of it they're going to insist you be the one to help them this week. They get tired of me supervising them. I keep forgetting that dads are not to give opinions on clothes and hairstyles to 10 year olds, when she's emailing her friends for their input."

"That's fine with me, they both have me impressed with their computer skills, but Mallory tells me that the kids are started on computers in Kindergarten." He looks over at the kids pouring over the catalog. "Look like they are plotting their lists for Santa."

Josh grins, "Maybe, I should go help them with the important choices, like computer games and maybe they'll put in a good word for me with Santa. I may be Jewish, but I'm flexible enough to believe in Santa. Leo can be Santa this year, as far as I'm concerned." He looks at Leo, knowing that Leo will pick up on what he wants as a gift.

"Forget it, Josh, you're not getting my car 'Beauty' for Christmas." Leo happily shakes his head at Josh's attempt to get the car for himself.

Josh tries a different tactic, "How about for Hanukah then, Leo? I told you I'm flexible about receiving gifts."

"Forget it, Josh. Get your own classic. 'Beauty' is mine." Leo firmly tells Josh, but he's smiling. Josh has been teasing him about wanting the car, ever since Leo first let him drive it.

"And mine! I claim her," Margaret pipes up from the kitchen where she and Donna have adjourned to, going over the coming weeks schedule and Christmas events.

"See, you better go with your first idea and help the kids pick out computer games." Leo is not moved by Josh's mock disappointment.

Leo smiles at his big kid. Watching as he moves over and introduces himself to the kids on the floor and looks with interest at the catalog. Josh listens to their preferences, as the kids accept him as family. Aunt Margaret told them that she and Leo had an unusual family here in DC.

Colin and Leo check with the women on the week's schedule, leaving Josh to entertain the kids while they plan their Santa strategy, while Donna is there to give her and Josh's input. The plans are made to keep the kids entertained enough among them this week among them to get Santa shopping done. Donna volunteers to call around and find out where to get the items that Colin needs to pick up in the DC area. She can do it and the kids not unexpectedly overhear.

Planning done, the adults rejoin Josh and the kids. Josh communicates with Donna with his eyes. Colin informs the kids that it's teeth brushing time and then into bed. Leo and he will pop out the bed. He looks at Josh and winks, not letting Donnas see him do it. Donna takes this as her cue and announces that they need to get going or one of them is going to starve tonight.

From the doorway to the guest room, Katie with her toothbrush in her hand begs, "Can you guys wait a minute and help tuck us in? We need lots of help." She grins at the assembled adults. Colin moans, here they go again. They love having extra people around at bedtime. The two want everyone to tuck them in. The kids think it's a special treat for them. They don't want to miss any opportunity to get extra hugs."

Donna smiles and agrees, "I can't blame them. Bedtime hugs are the best part of childhood. I'll be happy to wait for them to get done with their teeth."

Colin sighs happily that the DC family is so accepting of him and his kids, "Then I better be last then, so they will actually calm down and go to sleep." Colin heads for the guestroom to set up the bed. Leo and Josh follow for advice. Well maybe Josh should just watch.

Margaret has Donna follow her into the master bedroom for a surprise for the kids.

Soon the men return and grin at Margaret and Donna waiting on the couch. With in moments the sound of running feet and soft thump can be heard from the guest room. Then the kids are calling that they're in bed and ready to be tucked in. Margaret suggests to Donna, "You two go first, you need to go and get Josh fed, he's been here an hour and hasn't made it to the kitchen yet. That might be a record for him."

Josh grins at Margaret's teasing, "Yeah, we wouldn't want me to waste away." He turns to the guestroom. "We're coming in now and you better be under the covers." Donna hands what she's holding to Leo and follows Josh to hug the kid's goodnight. It's nice to have kids to include now in the DC family.

They return after a lot of giggling from the kids and Josh is grinning and Donna gives them an apologetic smile. Josh so loves kids. She can tell he gets such delight out of being around them. "We're leaving now that Josh has them good and tired."

Margaret looks at Leo, "Then it's our turn, now. I can't wait any longer to give them my surprise. Leo looks at what he's holding. You think these will make them get quiet and want to go straight to sleep. That's not going to happen." He happily follows her into the kids. He's going to enjoy the kids being here as much as any of them this week. He misses having a child to tuck in at night. He follows Margaret example and holds the surprise behind his back.

Margaret goes around Katie's side of the bed, "We have a gift for you, so don't get us in trouble with your dad and stay awake half the night looking at them." She holds out a stuffed angel bear for Katie and Leo give Ben a brown teddy bear with a green vest and red bow tie. Ben reaches eagerly for the bear from Leo, with a big smile and Katie doesn't know if to hug or to admire her angel bear. She looks at her aunt and hold up her arms to hug her in thanks, still holding her bear in her hand. Ben does like wise and hugs a surprised Leo in thanks. From what Leo has been told, Ben is not the quick hugger that Katie is, but he gladly hugs those he considers family. Leo can tell he prefers to shake hands with just regular people.

Katie announces that they are now ready for a kiss goodnight. Margaret quickly complies with the request and Leo gives Ben a kiss on the forehead that is accepted as his due, as the baby in the family. His new bear tucked under his arm for sleeping. Margaret and Leo switch sides of the bed and as Leo bends to kiss Katie's cheek good night he whispers to her, "Goodnight, Pixie. Did I mention to you that my Secret Service codename is Pilot?" She grins at the new information, "Night, Pilot." Ben must have heard, as a soft sleepily 'cool name', is heard from him, but his eyes are starting to droop. The couple quickly slips out, so their dad can make it in to say good night before they drop off to sleep. They have had a big day.

Colin returns to the living room to find that Leo has made them some hot chocolate to end the evening with. The three of them settle in to talk and get to hear about each other's lives and Colin asks Leo about the two antiques in the room, the glass enclosed bookcase with his collectables and the great drop leaf table that not only is beautiful to look at, but worked so well for all of them.

*****

Monday morning finds the adults up early. Leo and Margaret are going to go into work early and later in the morning, after staff meeting. Colin will bring the kids to the White House for a visit, by way of Leo's driver.

Every time Leo and Margaret find themselves alone now, they try to sneak in a quick kiss and a hug. It's as much fun as avoiding Josh catching them at work sneaking a much needed kiss to tie them over. Of course, they get caught. This time it's Colin and he decides to tease his little sister, with a warning. "You know, the kids are sneaky and they will catch you. They love a challenge and finding you two stealing kisses will be the highlight of their day and they will razz you with it as their due reward." All three adults grin at each other, knowing the couple is sure that they are more than up to the challenge. More holiday family fun!

*****

At the White House later that morning and after getting their clearance neck tags, Colin hangs onto each of his kids by a hand, to keep them from walking into the walls. They are too busy looking at everything they pass, while they're being escorted to Leo's office. Margaret smiles as she exits Leo's office into hers. "Hey kids. Hi, Colin. I see you have a good hold on them, but you can let go of them now, they're safe here and I know that they are not destructive kids."

"No, I know that they're good kids." He chuckles, "I was just making sure they arrived here, when I did. I was just keeping them from walking into the walls and bouncing off of moving people. They definitely were looking at everything, but where they were going," Colin explains with at chuckle to his voice. He knows this a big deal to the kids, even at their young age, as they have been exposed to, first, the history of the Bartlet campaign and then the administration at the West Wing, by keeping up with their aunt's life.

Katie asks as soon as her dad is finished talking, "Is Leo in his office?" She looks at the door that Margaret had just come out of, trying to peer around the edge without being rude.

She's answered by Leo, "Come on in, Katie, Ben. I have a moment to show you my office." Leo's rounding the side of his desk, as the two kids hurry in to see him.

Katie eyes are as round as saucers, "Leo, this is a big office. It looks like an apartment."

Leo smiles at Katie's very accurate assessment, since he been accused of practically living here, "Yeah, it almost does, but they won't let me have a kitchen in here. I guess they're afraid I'd be cooking all the time, like I do at the apartment."

Ben pipes in, "But you cook great, Leo." He brought his new bear with him, but Katie left hers tucked into bed to wait for her return. "Wow, you have some airplanes here too and a laptop right behind your desk."

Leo chuckles at him, "Leave it to you, Ben to spot the computer first."

Colin is in the doorway watching the kids take in everything, with their eyes open wide. He waits for and is not disappointed when Katie's eyes spot the third door.

She almost whispers, "Leo, does that door go to the President's office?"

Ben corrects her, "You mean the Oval Office, Sis. Is he in there, Leo?"

Katie whispers helpfully in his ear, "We have to call him Mr. President or Sir. Remember what Granny Wilson said. We have to be on good behavior if we meet him and use our manners."

Leo assures them, "The President definitely wants to meet you while you're here. Yes, he's in his office with a meeting, but it's a light week, so he'll have time later."

Margaret has a slightly serious look on her face behind Colin and Leo picks up on this. She nods and addresses the kids, "How about we go and see where Josh and Donna work. I'm sure that they would want you to say hello while you're here."

Colin adds, "Yeah, guys that would be a good idea and I'm going to spend a few minutes with Leo. Say hi to Josh and Donna for me."

After Margaret gets the kids in front of her out the door she closes it behind her.

Leo looks at Colin, "I take it there's a reason you need a few minutes with me?"

Colin looks at him seriously, "Yeah, Leo, I got a call on my cell phone from work. They need me to fly Denver today. I'm needed for the full day tomorrow to call in and organize a team. It's needed in Alaska to fix a leak, before it flares up and needs a hell-fighter crew. I worked on the inspection team for this line last year, so they feel I'm the best qualified to get a crew together. With the holidays, most are in hiding, but I'll have a larger list to pull from out of Denver."

Leo asks the only important question that springs to his mind, "Can you get there and get back in time to get back for Christmas?"

"Leo, I'm in a real dilemma." Colin sighs and rubs his hand around the back of his neck, " Granny Wilson is in Texas and I can't get her back here or the kids to her, in time for me to report in tomorrow morning."

Leo looks at him, not understanding the problem, with a blank face, "Why would you need to do either of those? I think the kids will be fine with staying right here with Margaret and me."

Colin looks at Leo's face to see if he's serious. He was working it out in his head how to get the kids to Austin, Texas and himself north to Denver. He hadn't even considered that Margaret and Leo would be able to keep the kids for him. They run the White House after all.

"Leo, am I missing something here?" Colin has a surprised look on his face. "You have important work to do here this week. The country and the world don't take a holiday." Colin questions the man that he actually just met, but has heard so much about his importance to the White House from his sister.

"Not a problem, Colin. Not, at least this week. The kids will be safe here in the White House and we have lots of people right here in the West Wing that will help, if needed." Leo lists some reasons to ease Colin's mind, "You met part of the family last night at home and then counting in Margaret's sisterhood." Leo grins with confidence, "With the holidays, I'm sure we'll have plenty for them to do here at the White House."

"You're sure this will not cause you a problem with the President?" Colin's now trying to see a bigger picture, "I know you're his right hand man, Leo"

"Colin, the President and myself are fathers also, we understand kids. If it makes you feel any better, let's go in and ask him." Leo knows how to ease Colin's mind.

"Leo, you're kidding right?" Colin is now shocked, "We're just going to walk into the Oval Office and ask the President for his permission for my kids to hang around here, for better part of the next two days?"

"Yeah," Leo smiles. "I'm sure that Margaret has mentioned to you that the President is also my best friend. He'll be happy to help. He loves kids and I can just tell he's going to love yours."

Leo walks to the connecting door and raps with his knuckles, before entering. Luckily, the meeting inside is over and the President's alone at his desk. Colin waits at the open door, till the President beckons him to enter further. Colin moves to the front of the desk, as the President is rising to be introduced. The President is also listening to Leo's proposal for having the kids at the West Wing for the next two days while working.

The President reaches out his hand to Colin, "So nice to meet you, Colin. I knew that Margaret had a brother. Now that Leo's firmly attached to her, which makes us having connected interests in them, you'll be seeing me at family events where Leo is, but you'll get used to me hanging around."

Leo gets in a soft dig at his friend, "Yes, sir, I'm sure he will. I did."

"Keep it up, Leo, and Santa will be leaving you a lump of coal this year. Which you might like better than my informing you and the senior staff of the history of the song, 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'."

Leo deadpans back, "Yes, Sir, coal is preferable." But he breaks into a smile at the shocked look on Colin's face.

"Abby and I consider Margaret family now. Especially after she yelled at me." The President watches Colin face for the shock reaction and is not disappointed, so he drops the big bomb to get the ultimate shock reaction. This is as much fun as making Margaret blush. "Of course that was the morning after Margaret and Leo had slept in my Presidential bedroom with Abby and I there as well."

Leo snickers at the impression Jed is intentionally giving Colin, but remains silent.

The President grins back, "Yeah, we gotta quit teasing each other in front of the new guy. We'll scare him off."

"Colin, Leo has my permission for your kids to hang out here at the White House for a few days." The President adds some casual details to put Colin at ease, "I think Abby mentioned that Margaret is taking them to the Children's Christmas Eve party. I overheard her talking about it to Margaret, on the phone, the day before yesterday." The President smiles wide, "Gus arrives tomorrow, so Abby's taking Gus to the party." The President smiles warmly, "It'll be nice to hear some young voices around here for the holidays. Don't worry, Colin, if Leo and Margaret get busy, I can always have an agent assigned to follow each of your two kids around."

Leo breaks in at this promise, "Sir, I better warn you. Katie is already fascinated by the agents and in fact, the whole agency. I thought I might take her to the agency offices and introduce her to Ron Butterfield, as a bonus to her trip to DC."

The President asks a little bewildered, "I was told that they're a boy of six and a girl eight?"

Leo confirms, as Colin is still wrapping his head around actually talking causally with the President, "Yes, Sir and you'll love them. Katie is independent and a hugger, while Ben seems to be a serious little guy, with a happy heart. They're both smart as whips." Leo elaborates on the two, "Katie is the adventurous type and Ben's maybe smarter than I am, so I better keep my files away from him or he might steal my job." Leo grins widely, "I'm not too worried though, at least not as long as he's still packing his teddy bear with him."

The President grins big at that remark about Ben. He turns his attention from Leo back to Colin, "OK. So Colin, do you think you can get back in time for my Christmas Eve gathering in the Residence?"

Colin takes a moment, while Leo is explaining the kids to his friend and looks at the eagle carpet under his feet. Life is so amazing at times. His little sister is working just a short distance from where he's now standing in the Oval Office in the White House.

At the President again addressing him, he gives him his full attention, "Yes, Sir, the head office assured me that they'll have me on a plane Christmas Eve morning at the latest, to get me here in time to observe Christmas with my kids. I'll be happy to attend your gathering on Christmas Eve." Colin is delighted that the President is happy to include his family, in with his own holiday celebrations.

Leo breaks in, "Sir, I think I better take Colin to inform the kids that they are spending a few days in our care and then we need to get him to the airport."

"OK, Leo, it sounds like a plan. Colin, I'll see you on Wednesday. Have a good trip and don't worry about the kids. If they get tired here during the day, we can take them up to the Residence for a nap." The President look at him seriously, "When they're with Leo, they're family to me and will be treated as such. Go safely and don't worry."

Colin is relieved and honored at the President's words, "Thank you, Sir. I can see that I'll be leaving them in good hands. I'll be back on Wednesday."

The President nods to acknowledge Colin's gratitude, but knows that having the kids here will be nice for him also.

"Thanks you, Sir," Leo says, an indication that they're leaving.

Leo and Colin go in search of Margaret and the kids. The kids are just going to love having the run of the West Wing.

*****

Continued in Part 2