Title: Christmas 4/? Twilight Series 4 /?
By: chipmunk and leosimpishgrin
Pairing: Leo/Margaret - Romance
Rating: R
Archived at: To review prior parts go to Christmas at:
Disclaimer: See Part 1-Posted 12-25-03
Warning: Sexual content –
*****
Wednesday - Christmas Eve:
The morning alarm finds Leo and Margaret curled toward each other sharing shallow breaths. They slept better, despite Margaret getting up and checking on the kids only once during the night and Leo's physical frustration at being delayed the night before, with his arousal on the couch. Leo rolls over slowly with a stretch to shut off the alarm and rolls back to pull Margaret in closer, automatically kissing her face, since he's yet to open his eyes. She's stirring slowly herself, trying to find morning, somewhere behind her eyelids. Thank goodness that it's a holiday and their bodies must know it, because they're both having trouble awaking and getting motivated this morning. The bed seems so soft and cozy, definitely too nice to get out of, especially with a special someone to cuddle with in your sleep.
Margaret finally wakes enough for it to register in her brain that she hears something that's unfamiliar. She turns to lie flat on her back, to get more fully awake.
Leo naturally rolls with her, his arm draped across her body, his hand cupping under her breast, in his half awake state. His lips start their morning wake-up routine of traveling over any part of her body that they can find by pure instinct. He still hasn't opened his eyes, but he's a creature of habit, that's for sure.
Margaret's awake finally, thanks to Leo's awake up call. His morning condition is in full evidence, pressing against her, he's slowly trying to get her interested in some 'first of the morning' tender loving, before the world starts outside their bedroom. Margaret gives him a wonderful good morning kiss and a quick rub and a gentle flicking of his nipple that she knows will get him more awake. It works and he growls his appreciation to her responding to his hints. He opens his eyes and looks into hers and softy, with his rumbling early morning voice, tells her between small kisses on her face, "Morning, Baby. I love you."
"Morning, Sweetie. I love you, too," Margaret returns his morning greeting and wraps her arms around his neck. She loves to look up into his eyes that are soft with sleep.
He returns her morning kiss with more passion and shifts to move more on top of her, putting his leg between hers. He knows in the mornings she gets all squirmy under him when he gently fondles her breast and rubs himself against her slowly at the same time. He's waiting for her to respond, to signal how she wants the morning friskies to progress. He's agreeable to a little or a lot and it works for them. He lets her be the guide, as to if, what and how.
Margaret suddenly gets really still under him. He raises his head and looks at her serious face. "What?"
"Leo, believe it or not, but I hear the TV in the living room. The kids are up," Margaret says with both surprise and regret.
Leo collapses on top of her with a moan of disappointment, his face now buried against the soft flannel of her blue pajama top. He just got his answer about the morning friskies. He's honestly getting the alarm pads for the kid's doors and if not that, he's at least using the lock on the bedroom door, whether the Secret Service likes it or not. The agents can break down the door, if they have to. At least they'd have fair warning, before someone walks in on them.
Margaret puts her hands on each side of his face to pull him up to where she can see his eyes again. He gives her the crooked smile that she loves, in acceptance and she kisses his sleep-softened eyes. "Leo, I'd better go and check on the kids. In a few minutes you go start the shower and I'll start the coffee maker, before I come back in. I'll hand the kids a banana and a small glass of milk to hold them till breakfast." Margaret always has a plan at hand, for any situation." She kisses him hard on the lips in consolation. "I'll be right back."
Leo rolls away from her, but props his head on his hand and watches her don her robe. Even in disappointment, he smiles at watching her doing simple things, especially if it's from the middle of their bed. When she leaves, he drops his head back to the pillow, to stare at the ceiling and collect his thoughts, before getting up to head to the bathroom. He's so blessed. He doesn't need or want anything else for Christmas. He has Margaret.
*****
After getting Ben truly asleep last night, the kids slept better. It's their second night at the apartment, without their dad and they're much more comfortable at the apartment, so Leo and Margaret didn't have any midnight callers in their room.
Katie wakes up first and because the kids can't reach the TV's buttons with the TV being on top of the tall dresser and the remote is on top of it, she does like at home and goes to the couch in the living room to watch cartoons, letting Ben continue to sleep. A short time later, Ben comes sleepily in with his bear and snuggles against Katie on the couch. She hugs him snug against her and he then lays his head on her lap to watch the TV. Katie is stroking his head, as a comfort thing for both of them, as they quietly watch early morning cartoons. They're used to entertaining themselves in the morning.
Margaret exits the bedroom and the first thing she notices when she opens the door is the sound of cartoons from the entertainment center TV. She glances sideways to view the couch and grins at the site of the kids lounging on the couch, definitely making themselves at home, after such a short time staying here with Leo and her. This gladdens her heart tremendously. She has been afraid that their long separations, which are nearly required by her job since President Bartlet took office, would distance the kid's comfortable relationship from her. She leans down, slipping her hand around to the other side of Katie's head, to draw her close and kiss her temple. Katie raises her lips to return Margaret's kiss to her cheek, telling her, "Morning, Aunt Margaret."
Margaret then kisses Ben on his temple, which is upward from his position on his sister's lap. "Good morning, Ben." Ben turns his face up and purses his lips to his aunt, for her to return her face back down to him, for a good morning kiss. When Margaret leans down, grinning at his lazy greeting, she collects her kiss and then gives a kiss to his bear that he holds up for her to kiss. it seems that no one is to be left out this morning.
After the morning greetings are happily finished, Margaret goes to the kitchen and starts the coffee maker brewing and returns to the living room with a small tray with two small glasses of milk and a small banana for each. She sets it on the end table, "Hey guys, we're running a little behind on showers this morning, because Leo and I slept till the alarm went off this morning. Things are a little crazy time-wise today, especially with it being Christmas Eve." She gets a huge happy grin from each of the kids at reminding them what day it is. "You two enjoy a banana with your milk, while we get showered. It would be helpful if you could go ahead and get dressed, after you're done with your pre-breakfast snack. Do you know what you're wearing today?"
"Yeah, we do. Sure, Aunt Margaret, we can do that," Katie agrees as she takes the fruit from her.
"Are we fixing pancakes again?" Ben worries, as she gets his banana open and hands it to him.
"Yes, Ben, this is just to keep you from dying of hunger. Sit up to drink your milk," she gently warns.
*****
His morning condition has waned a little waiting for Margaret to join him in the bathroom for their shower. He sighs and assumes that the morning friskies will have to wait today. He knows that they don't have that kind of time. They can shower together but, with the kids up and time running short with all the holiday activities planned for today, having a long fun shower together is a bust. Leo naturally is a little frustrated, but that's the lifestyle they have with their jobs. He's still thankful for living here with her. Their life together doesn't revolve around sex, but is a wonderful addition to it. They view it as a bonus to all the other things that draw them together.
He goes ahead and starts his shower. He knows she'll be in shortly to join him.
He's going to be a good boy and keep turned away from her and temptation. He has found that this is the only way that works for him, but he'll not resort to showering across the apartment, alone. He wants to be near her as much as possible when they're at home.
Margaret smiles at Leo now instinctively using the shower puff on himself, remembering the first time she used it on him and his skeptical view of it being too girly. She gets herself nude in a hurry and steps into the shower with him. She reads his signal that they need to be all business today to get in and out. They both know that they're weak-willed when wet. It must be something in the water.
Margaret gets her turn with the body puff, while he shampoos his hair. She quickly washes her body and while waiting for the use of the spray, she decides that it's a holiday after all and she has an early gift for Leo. She wants to do it for him and she knows Leo in the morning. It won't take him long.
She slides her hands around him from behind and in sexy, teasing voice she asks, "Let's see what I can find without looking, Leo?" She leans gently to rest against his back and places tiny kisses on him warm wet skin, whispering just behind his ear, "You mentioned fast and frantic yesterday morning, Sweetie." The feel of her naked wet body pressed to his, is his undoing. He was trying to be good and she's being so bad to him. ~God, this is such a turn on.~ He's soon fully firm again, with her exploring touch. He moans and calls her on it, "I was trying to avoid your tempting body and now you're the one ravishing me in the shower." He quickly adds in a breathy voice, "Please, don't stop!" He braces his hands against the shower wall in front of him to steady them, as she uses both hands to pleasure him. Margaret caresses long strokes on his manhood and fondles him below, using the bubbles again today to aid in giving him full gratification.
"Oh, Margaret. I love you so much." He moans out at her loving administrations to his body. Speaking and breathing are not very high in his priorities, at the moment. He's trying to keep his moans of satisfaction to a minimum, hoping the shower and the cartoons will drown out his moans of passion.
"Let go, Sweetie. This is for you to enjoy. I love you and I'm happy to bring this joy to you," she continues to kiss and suck small spots on his back, neck and shoulders. The warm spray is running over their bodies, adding to his sensations.
He gently rocks his hips slightly in rhythm to her hand motions, "Margaret, Oh, Margaret." He crashes over the edge with a moan of delight, his body trembling in front of her. She hugs him across his chest, as he remains standing with his hands still firmly planted in front of him on the wall, as they wait for him to recover.
"Thank you, Baby," he breathes out with a still shaky voice.
She pulls him back a little to let the shower flow over the front of him and he then turns his face to the side, to reach his lips to hers. "You're too wonderful and generous to me, Baby. I love you so much."
"I love you, too, Leo." Margaret grins big, "Tis the season of gift giving." She gives him a tight hug from behind him still, "Happy Christmas Eve, Leo."
"Happy Christmas Eve, Baby. May we have many more together." He turns to press his lips to hers for a passionate kiss to start the holiday right.
They do seem to get a lot of mileage out of having to resort to shower time for their morning lovin', with the kids there. Margaret reluctantly pulls away and tells him, "Leo, you need to get out and get dried off. You need to go shave and get dressed, then make pancakes with Ben. I'm sure he's waiting outside the bedroom door for you. He's already been asking. Ben really likes to help you in the kitchen." She moves to get under the spray to more fully rinse off, as Leo steps out of the shower.
He grabs a towel to dry off with and steps into his boxers that he pulls from the drawer and then re-dons his satin pants to then adjourn to the guest room bath. Leo's pleased and proud of Ben wanting to cook with him. All the time he's drying he replies to Margaret, "Great, he's not too young to learn to prepare food, with adult help. It's a natural need that he can take pride in being able to fulfill for himself. The kitchen shouldn't be a mystery to him or Katie." Leo remembers from yesterday, "Do you want me to let Katie in, so you can do girly things together again this morning?"
"Yeah, if she's dressed and waiting, tell her I'm in here. She can come on in and talk to me as I get dried and dressed." Margaret is shutting off the water.
"OK, see ya in the kitchen when you're ready." Leo knows that he's going to have a small impatient shadow to talk to him, as he shaves and dresses. He might get Ben to pick out his tie.
*****
Leo finds the kids right where Margaret had told him to expect them to be, sitting on the couch dressed for the day and waiting for them. "Merry Christmas Eve, my little elves," he greets them, as he pauses at the side of the couch.
"You're not going to kiss us good morning, like Aunt Margaret did, are you Uncle Leo," Ben asks innocently with a grin. There's no way that the kids are going to admit outright that they like being kissed and hugged and made to feel special, the way that Margaret and Leo do with them. Their dad does with them, but they have to share him and it's like taking turns. He's also away a lot for work, so they feel that cuddling with family is very special and they're soaking it up like its sunshine in winter.
Leo is happy with his day and wants to share his happiness. With a grin his swoops in on the kids, to crouch down in front of the couch and captures them both in his arms, "I most certainly am," he gives each one of them, one of his famous smooches on the neck and rubs their neck with his morning whiskers just for good measure. He rocks back on his heels grinning, "Come on, Ben, and let's get me ready for work and then we can start the pancakes." He turns his crooked grin to Katie, "Margaret said that you can go join her in the bathroom for some girl talk and make the place smell all girly."
Leo looks at Ben, wrinkling up his nose and Ben mimics back to him with the same face, as if it's a disgusting smell.
The kids skip off to the bathrooms, as he stands back up, with Leo following Ben. "Ben, don't you try to shave with my electric shaver. You might leave a red mark on your face and you don't want to be looking funny today. You have a party to go to at the White House," Leo warns.
"Rats," is Ben's answer, from inside the bathroom where he's already waiting for Leo. Leo gives a deep chuckle at successfully cutting Ben off ahead of time.
Ben is sitting on the stool being good and grins at Leo, he quickly starts letting Leo know what he needs to do, "Leo, first, you need to shave, then put on your cologne, comb your hair and last, brush your teeth."
Leo looks at his morning 'boss' in the mirror, "Since you're being a good boss and keeping me on track, if you like, you can hold the shaver with me, as I do my cheeks, but you gotta promise that you'll not try it on your face? OK?"
Ben is delighted, "Can I really? Wow, that's just as good as me doing it. Dad just uses a razor. Since he says he doesn't always have electricity when he works out in the field."
*****
Breakfast is again pancakes and Margaret with her sneaky early morning snack, got the kids to eat their fruit first this morning, before they can pack themselves with Leo's wonderful pancakes. They kids have mastered the art of family conversation, while at the same time eating with pretty good manners; once they gave up using a full-size dinner fork and went back to a salad fork, they could manage better.
Margaret is constantly surprised at how much there is to learn about living with kids. Like the little things, for example, this morning when she's worried that the kids might drip the low-sugar syrup on their clothes. Leo and she together find an easy solution.
Leo recommends, "How about we use dishtowels for drip bibs? You know, like the giant bibs they give you in restaurants for eating lobster."
Margaret is pleased with his idea and is noting the puzzled looks on the kids faces, she adds her own idea, "And we can use my big hair clips to hold them on." She finds that it's the little things she does for the kids that's giving her more confidence.
While eating, Katie finally has a question that shakes Margaret's confidence. She's not quite up to speed with the fact that kids do this all the time to their parents, from right out of the blue.
"Aunt Margaret, why do you two shower together, which takes you longer in the mornings, when there are two showers here? Leo always goes and finishes getting ready and dresses in the guest room." Katie sounds just like Margaret, trying to use logic to have the most efficient morning schedule.
Margaret eyes get huge at the question and she's not sure that she can come up with a reasonable answer and still tell the truth. She needs to skirt the question. "Ah… ah… well ah…" Margaret rapidly rattles off the first explanation she can think of, "With using the same bathroom, we just have to use the extra heat in the master bath and get the warm water going in one shower." She finally comes up with a saving good reason, "We take turns." She pauses and then quickly adds the best justification, "I only have one shower puff." She didn't really say 'what' they take turns at. She glances at Leo, since he's quiet and has left her to handle this one. He's grinning at her with a twinkle of merriment in his eyes.
Ben jumps in to debate this with his sister, sounding like a tiny politician, "Yeah, Katie, girls and boys don't take baths together, after they start school." He then points out to her, to reinforce his statement, "You know that. We don't take baths together anymore." Ben now boasts a little, "I'm big enough now that I can take my own bath and Leo lets me shower like big boys do."
Katie replies softly to her little brother's last remark, "Ben, you're smart in math, computers and trivia, but you're still a little boy and remember Dad says that it's OK to be little. You're not to rush growing up, because you're smart, we like you little. You're my baby brother and I like you being little enough to hug."
Ben grins at his sister, "It's OK, Katie. I'm not ever going to get too big for you or my family to hug me, even when I'm as big as Dad. He didn't stop hugging with Aunt Margaret."
Margaret leans over and pulls Ben to her with one arm for a quick sideways hug, "Good to know, Ben." She's so glad that the kids took her answer at face value and took it off to their own world. Leo stands and steps to the kitchen to get the coffee pot, to top off their mugs and replace it, before sitting back down.
Ben shyly smiles at his aunt and goes back to his plate of pancakes. They continue to enjoy talking as a family and Leo can't resist making fun with the kids about what they are hoping Santa will bring them that night. The kids are more than happy to reveal what they have on their wish lists. Soon afterwards, Leo tries to get a start on his crossword puzzle, while the kids are quietly eating, trying to get finished with their pancakes and dreaming of tomorrow morning.
When everyone is done eating and the kids are moaning about not being able to breath with so many pancakes in them, they get up as a group to go to the kitchen, taking their plates and glasses to the dishwasher. They're all talking at once about the plans for the day. They work at getting the kitchen ready for when they get back later tonight to relax before leaving for midnight mass.
Ben is the last to get a turn at putting his dirty dishes in the washer. While he's doing this, he off-handedly asks them a question, "When are you guys going to have kids? You're doing a great job of looking after us. You need to have some kids." He adds his own hopes, "We can come and play with them."
That's the one question that totally shuts-up Leo and Margaret, because this is something that they haven't really discussed very much. Margaret turns a bright shade of red and her eyes jerk wide with the shock of the question, before she whips around to the fridge and busies herself putting the milk away. She turns slowly back to catch Leo's eye. He gives her a shy crooked smile and the hint of a head nod to the side, before he drops his eyes. She notices that his ear tips are a touch red. Knowing that he's just as nervous with the question as she is, gives her enough courage and insight to answer Ben. "Honey, parents never know ahead of time when God decides that they're ready to have a child in their lives. So, we just pray for God's will and leave it up to Him and His wisdom."
Ben looks at her seriously, "Then I'm going to pray extra hard tonight at mass, to let God know that you guys would be a great Mom and Dad."
Katie gives her aunt a hug around the waist, "Me too, Aunt Margaret. Any kid would be lucky to be your kid." She looks around Margaret to look at Leo, to include him in her sentiment. He moves off the counter edge that he's been leaning on and drops a kiss on top her head of golden hair. "Thank you, Pixie." He does the same to Ben's head of red, as he passes him. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sport." Leo stops at the doorway and looks back, "Let's move it people. The White House is waiting, with lots for us to do today. Katie, would you please let the agent know that we're nearly ready to roll?" Leo moves to get his tie, suit coat and briefcase, as the others jump to action behind him to follow his example. All of them are happy to hurry this morning. The kids are excited that their Dad is returning today and of course there is the children's party.
Katie turns left and the others go right coming out of the kitchen. At the front door, she opens it knowing that the agent is standing on the other side, "Agent Lewis, Uncle Leo says we'll soon be ready to go and could you please inform the driver?" Katie waits and watches with interest, as he talks into his wrist mic to order the car from the White House. The agent lets her know, "Katie, the car's ETA is six minutes." She grins at him, "Thanks for the help yesterday." He gives her a slight nod of acceptance and resumes his vigilant watch. Katie can't resist, before shutting the door, "Merry Christmas Eve, Agent Lewis". The agent has a very unprofessional, but quick smile on his face, but remains rigidly at his post.
*****
After they get settled into Leo's office and he goes to the staff meeting, Donna stops by, " Hey gang, how would you like to go with me and listen to the children's chorus that's singing in the lobby? I've got some free time, while the staff meeting is going on. It should be nice and I hear that they're going to sing a lot of children's favorite carols."
The kids look over at their aunt, from the table where they're just filling in time at drawing, till time for them to get ready for the party. "Can we Aunt Margaret? We'll be good and stay right with Donna," Katie asks, with a foot already on the floor in hopes of permission.
Ben adds his voice to the request, "We promise, Aunt Margaret."
Margaret agrees, "Yes, you may go with Donna. I'm sure that you'll be good kids. Santa is coming tonight," she teases. She smiles at their happy faces and strokes Ben's red hair a little straighter, as he gives her a hug in passing. Katie darts back from the door to give her a quick hug also and right back to take Donna's hand, eager to be on their way. Donna holds her hand out to Ben, "Come on, Sport. You can take my other hand and lead the way to the lobby."
Margaret smiles at Donna for her thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Donna. If Josh needs you, before the singing is done, I'll come and get you and the kids." She walks to the doorway to watch them leave down the hallway. She calls after them, "Enjoy the singing." She's actually glad for the few minutes to stay and get the few things on her desk taken care of, while they're gone.
*****
After the staff meeting ends and since Josh needs her, Donna relents and returns with the kids. They enjoyed the singing, but now they're agreeable to sit for a little while and discuss their favorite carols between themselves, while coloring pictures of snow scenes that they can add to the ones already hanging in the foyer to the lobby, from the local school kids. Leo and Margaret are busy with some office work for the White House.
Margaret is meeting up with the First Lady in the Oval Office, so they can go together and take the kids to the Children's Christmas party. During the party, Leo will be accompanying the President to the 'Rare Books' bookstore, with whomever else the President has wrangled into going with them.
The President calls over to Leo's office and asks them to come on over to the Oval Office early, before the designated time for the holiday activities. He'd like for the kids to meet his grandson Gus, who's hanging out with his grandparents today, to let the kids get to know each other, before going down to the party.
The group from Leo's office enters the Oval Office, at the President's call to enter, with happy faces. Well, Leo's might not be as cheerful at the rest, because he knows what's in store for him later at Jed's favorite bookstore.
The kids immediately hit it off. Katie is used to having Ben with her all the time and easily gets along with Gus. Needless to say, being Christmas Eve, the two little boys find lots of things in common to talk about, especially Santa. Shortly, the boys are talking and playing gently on the rings of the rug with a couple of Gus's toy cars.
Katie goes over to the adults, who are talking and standing in a circle, with the men having a casual arm around the waist of the women, and she asks her aunt and Leo, "Excuse me, please. May I ask the First Couple a question?" Ben knows what Katie is going to ask and he stands, where he is, to listen to the conversation. At Margaret's nod of encouragement, Katie turns to look up at the other two adults, "Ben and I wanted to ask permission… if it's… OK for Ben and me to call you aunt and uncle, like we do with Uncle Leo. We figure that if you're his family," she points back over her shoulder to Leo, trying to keep what she's asking straight, "and he's our family," she now points to herself and then quickly to her little brother. Finally pointing just as quickly to First couple in front of her, "then you must be family to us too."
Ben has stepped closer to his sister to reinforce that he's anxious for the answer, as well.
Abbey steps closer to Katie and gives her a hug, as the President answers, "Katie and Ben, we'd be delighted. Your line of reasoning sounds good to me and I can tell from the smile on your new Aunt Abbey's face that she completely agrees with me. You have given us a very unique gift today, one of more family. That's a rare and wonderful gift. Now, where's my hug?" He looks at the two kids with merriment.
His new Uncle quickly sweeps Ben into a hug and Katie gets a tighter squeeze from her new Aunt Abbey. Ben mentions, "Sir, you give hugs just like Uncle Leo, bear hugs."
The President's chuckles and hugs him again with a growl, sounding like a bear, "That's because Uncle Leo and I both had plenty of practice, with the girls, when they were little."
"Yes, Sir, that must be why. I asked him and Aunt Margaret this morning when they're going to have kids, since they're so good at watching us," Ben mentions innocently in front of Jed and Abbey.
"Oh, Ben, I bet that was a question they didn't know how to answer?" the President is delighted at Ben's remark and without straightening up from hugging him, he looks up to get sight of Leo face, to tease his friend, grinning.
The small boy in his arms pipes up, "Actually, Sir, Aunt Margaret did. She said that it's up to God, when they get a kid," Ben seriously replies, looking at the President's face so close to his.
The President now looks at the blushing Margaret and loves the fact that it's still so easy to make her to blush so nicely. "Ben, take it from your new Uncle Jed, your Aunt Margaret is right. God will send them a child, if that's in his plan."
Gus pipes up from the floor, "Grandpa, if they're family to you now, then that means they're family to me." At his grandpa's smile of agreement, the little boy on the rug is delighted, "Oh, boy, kids my own age now." Jed gives Ben a push in the direction of Gus, "I guess that's right, Gus. We can always use more family." He looks at Margaret to let her know that she is included in that family now, legal or not.
Margaret smiles and blushes again in happiness. Abbey wraps an arm around her and suggests, "Let's sit for a few minutes, till it's time to leave and just let the kids play together. It's Christmas Eve and time to relax."
*****
Arriving at the room by the mess hall, where the Children's Christmas party is set up, the security agents for FLOTUS wait outside the door, as Abbey and Margaret enter with the kids, even though it's inside the safety of the White House. They insist, because it is a crowd, not caring that Abbey knows the parents and most of the kids. The ladies take up observation places at the back of the room and the three kids go together to find a place at the long tables set up in a horseshoe, boasting Christmas d‚cor. The kids just love of table favors that are at each place. They find small red velvet Santa sacks, complete with gold colored cords, with enticing candy canes poking out and filled with small toys and goodies.
After the thirty or so children, age five to ten are seated, the organizers in charge start with a short introduction and then with each child giving their name. As an icebreaker, the kids are also to tell the name of a toy on their wish list. This really gets the kids laughing and soon they're trying to see who can think of the most outrageous gift. Jeffery, the giraffe from 'Toys R Us' is the winning item, as the kids all agree that he would be the best. He owns all the toys.
Then the organizers of the party jump right in with the first activity to get the kids busy and ask, "How many of you have gifts for your family members and friends?" They see that a few hands are raised, but even those they are somewhat uncertain. "No problem, kids, we have the solution for you. You're going to make gifts to give. We'll start as soon as the parents adjourn to the next room, to enjoy an adult tea party." The parents are reassured, "We have lots of volunteer assistants help the kids."
The parents are pleasantly surprised and the kids are pleased, but anxiously wait in relative quiet, watching while their parent's leave, to maintain the Christmas secrecy. As soon as the door closes the questions start.
"Hang on, everyone! Let me give you all the instructions, before you start. I'll make this fast, kids." When the kids get quiet to listen, she smiles and happily tells them, "Here's the deal. Look, here is what we have for you to choose from to make." Several assistants hold up white cloth items, with bright primary colored handprints on them and a few also have words printed on them.
The kids are being draped with disposable plastic aprons. Plastic plates with paint soaked sponges are being set out on tables, in several colors. Among the cloth items available to choose from are ball hats, kitchen aprons, t-shirts, tote bags, pillowcases, oven mitts, potholders, dishtowels, scarves and handkerchiefs.
"Kids, let me tell you that a handkerchief can be made into a picture and we have nice simple frames for them. If that's what you decide on? Don't worry. You're able to make as many gifts as you want. We have plenty of items and supplies." She continues quickly with instructions, "Each of you is assigned an assistant from the local university's art department and they can help you any way you need. Other assistants will be circling to help where needed." At the question from an older child about the paints washing out, she answers, "The paints are set permanently when ironed and we have tables set up in the back, with adults to do your ironing for you. The extra assistants will be the ones to take your items to be ironed." She gently warns, "No children around the ironing area, thank you. Keep in mind, you only can only choose two colors to use, since you only have two hands. Siblings may want to work together, so you can get all your family gifts done, as we only have approximately one hour to use the paints. The assistants will come around and hand out the items. Just tell them what you wish to start with. Now, let the fun begin. "
Joy and merriment are soon apparent, with the laughter and noise level rising in the room, when the kids see how fast and easy the items are to make. Each of the kids is soon delighted to find that one of their hands is one bright color and the other hand is a different bright color. They just press their hands on the sponges to ink their hand with paint and press it quick and carefully as they can, to the item of their choice. The kids have found out that it's easier to just hold their wet hands up and have the assistants change the items on the table. If any of the kids want wording added to the item, since their hands are covered with paint, the assistants are happy to put their art talent to use and add it for the child with a black permanent paint marker. Each handprint is labeled with the child's name in tiny print, for future comparison. The assistants are definitely glad that they practiced making the display items themselves, during the practice session yesterday. They need to be quick to keep up with the kids.
Ben and Katie start their planning. They keep bouncing ideas off each other. They have so many new friends and family and they want to give something to all of them. Some gift items, Ben and Katie make together, pressing a handprint from each of them, for joint gifts. A few gifts that they're making just have their own handprints on them, but they do decide to give the gifts together, hopefully tonight at the family gathering and a few tomorrow. They have several gifts they want to make to give and a time limit of one hour. At the end of the painting time, part of the fun is the clean up, as the kids take turns at the tubs of water set up for hand washing.
When each item is finished being pressed, they're tucked into colorful gift bags with fluffy white tissue paper. For the next half hour, to calm the kids back down when reseated, they're given name labels to sign with colorful markers and attach to the gift bags, making their gifts totally ready for giving, today or tomorrow.
*****
The parents return to find happy children with rows of bags lined up behind them on the floor. Gus is excited that he has gifts to give this year and he's having a hard time not telling his grandma all about it. This is the first time he's ever kept a secret. Luckily for him, the organizers distract him and the other children with a mid-morning snack. For once Abbey is not protesting the amount of sugar that the kids will be getting, when she sees that ham salad, cheese spread and peanut butter tiny triangle sandwiches are included for the children to select from. Along with a small Christmas tree cake for each child and a fruit punch is served. Lunch may need to be later today.
As the kids are finishing their snacks, in walks the man in red, Santa himself. He's followed by two elves in dressed green, with jingling bells on their hats and the toe of their shoes. The best part is Santa has a velvet bag slung over his shoulder with interesting edges and corners poking against the inside of the bag. Santa calls out when entering, "Merry Christmas, boys and girls." The elves are smiling and waving at the excited children. The room rings with the kid's reply of, Merry Christmas, Santa."
Santa moves to the front of the room and asks, "Have you been good little kids this year?" The children reply that they have. "Good, good, because I've got my reindeer brushed and wearing their Christmas harnesses. Do you know what they are having for their dinner tonight?"
The kids all know what reindeer eat on Christmas Eve and answer with delight at knowing, "Magic corn."
Santa looks pleased at the answer and now gets to the reason for his visit, "I know you've all been good this year and I'm sure you each have a list for me, so real nicely, come up and make a line to sit on my lap." The kids quickly scramble to form a line at his elbow. Katie, being the oldest to the three sitting together, waits for Gus and takes his hand to wait in line. Ben, who just now is throwing his plate in the trash, manages to get near the front of the line and happily waves back to Katie and his new friend, Gus.
*****
While Katie and Gus are still in line to talk to Santa, Ben is a little worried about his gift to the President and with Abbey waiting at the table with him he decides to show her the t-shirt he made for the President. Abbey remarks at his worry, "Ben, it's always nice to get homemade gifts, especially from kids. The President will love this shirt, mostly the crown, you know."
Ben giggles at her approval and proudly tells her how he made it. "The assistant drew an outline of the crown for me, with a black paint marker and I filled it in with yellow paint with my fingertip. She was nice enough to print 'checkmate' under it for me. I'm glad you think he'll like it." Abbey helps him put the shirt back in the gift bag neatly, waiting for Ben to give it to the President later tonight.
Abbey's face lights up with an idea for a gift to give to Ben tonight. She'll get the same assistant to make a matching t-shirt for him, but she'll just have the word 'check' put on Ben's shirt. So they can be check and checkmate. Jed will love it. "Ben, can you point out which assistant helped you make your shirt?"
"Sure, Aunt Abbey," Ben says her name with delight and the hint of a tease. With it being the first time he's called her that. "She's right over there, where they're still ironing."
"Ben, would you excuse me a minute? I want to tell your assistant what a good job she did helping you with the shirt." Abbey plans to do just that and to enlist her help.
******
Colin arrives back in DC mid-morning, while everyone is gone to the activities.
He comes straight to the White House from the airport. He knows that the kids will be here with Margaret and Leo. They can all go home later, before the President's Christmas gathering. In the lobby, he finds a small elderly lady, walking briskly toward him. "Good Morning, Mr. Ryan, my name is Mrs. Landingham. Margaret has taken your kids to the Children's Christmas party, with the First Lady, and Leo is accompanying the President on a rare book buying adventure. I thought it would be nice for you to come and wait with me in the outer office." At his grinning at her briefing him like staff on his family's location, she smiles back at the roguish twinkle in his eye and banters, "We can chat about those lovely children of yours."
Colin grins at her friendly manner. He remembers seeing her briefly, as he left the Oval Office a few days before, when Leo and he went searching for the kids, to tell them he was leaving. Colin with his big, broad, welcoming smile returns her greeting in a cheerful voice, "Good Morning, Mrs. Landingham. May I wish you a Merry Christmas Eve?" He lowers his voice slightly, "And you may call me, Colin." He reveals his prior knowledge of her, feeling as if she's a friend already, "Margaret sings your praises and has ever since she first met you on the campaign trail. I would be glad of your escort, especially since Leo got me 'totally' lost when I was here before."
She likes his cheerful outlook, "Well, Colin, I'll do my best not to get you lost and you may call me Delores. Margaret and the other girls call me Mrs. Landingham, but it's nice once in a while to hear my given name from a handsome young man as yourself."
Colin holds out his arm for her in a gentlemanly manner, leaving his bag with security, knowing that he can get it from them on his way out later. "Delores, it is the holidays and a time for friends and family. I hope you're willing to add me to your list of friends."
"Colin, that's just what I want for Christmas, a new friend," she assures him with honesty and a smile. They start walking toward the West Wing. "Did you have a nice flight? We'll stop and get you a cup of coffee on the way and I have a new batch of cookies at my desk for you to sample."
*****
Colin relaxes in a chair near her desk and they spend some quiet time exchanging small facts about each other, to get to know each other better. Colin lets intentionally slip some of the funnier tidbits that Margaret has told him over the years, about her and the other staff at the White House. He enjoys his coffee and one of her large fresh baked cookies. They definitely rival Granny Wilson's. ~Now there's two ladies that would hit it off.~
Mrs. Landingham smiles, as she remembers the episodes, "Well, Margaret at least got the stories straight and it's a good thing that you're family. If half of what goes on around here ever got out, no one would believe it, but they'd probably still print it." She changes the subject, since they have this time alone, "Not one to pry, but the kids told me that your wife is deceased and I wanted to tell you I was sorry to hear it. I know the holidays are harder, when you've lost loved ones. I find that it's that way myself. This is the day I miss my boys the most. They were twins and they died in the war." At Colin's sad look for her loss, she tries to reassure him. "I'm fine really. They died with honor, helping others as medics. This is the day I think of them the most. Now, 'your kids' are a couple of darlings. I've enjoyed having them in the West Wing the last couple of days. I must confess to slipping them cookies, without Margaret knowing." She tilts her head down like she's a bad person, looking over her glasses or is that to show her halo.
Ben chuckles at her for telling him her crime, "Go ahead and spoil my kids anytime. I think it's great that you have homemade cookies right here at your desk."
Mrs. Landingham smiles at Colin enjoying his cookie with the coffee and she remarks, "Kids just seem to have endless room for cookies. Ben seems to be no exception and Katie is always ready to thank me with a hug. I wanted to tell you that you have done a wonderful job at raising them alone. They did mention to me that they have a Granny Wilson to take care of them, when you're away at work."
"Yeah, Granny Wilson is a god sent." Colin divulges, "The kids really like her and she definitely can keep up with them. Yes, I miss Megan the most at the holidays and I know the kids miss her to some extent, but they were little when she died. For the raising part, I think it's in their genes to be great kids. They must have gotten them from Megan. Margaret and the kids are all the family I have now." He chuckles and has to confess why he thinks that, "As kids, with our busy parents, Margaret and I were bonded or is that banded together against the world, we had each other's backs and we thought nothing was beyond our reach. That led to many adventures, as you can imagine with two redheads."
Delores is nodding her head in understanding, as she folds her hands on top of her desk and honestly agrees, "That may be, Colin, I know Margaret can be a force to be reckoned with, if she sets her mind to it. No one messes with her Leo, if she can help it." Mrs. Landingham stands to move to the file cabinet. The slower holiday week has given her the opportunity to get the filing and other tasks back in order before the President starts back in next week with a full schedule.
Colin sips on his how warm coffee, "From what I gather over the years, Leo also thinks she's a force to be reckoned with, since she has had to pull him in a time or two." He grins at her look of mild surprise at that news, "If you haven't gathered by now, I'm Margaret pressure release. She calls me when she's ready to blow her top."
Mrs. Landingham takes her seat again behind her desk, "I just figured Margaret had some secret way to cope with the Chief of Staff's office. I glad you're there for her, Colin." Mrs. Landingham offers him the cookie jar again.
"I'm glad you're 'here' for her, Delores. It makes my mind easier knowing that." Colin admits in a soft honest voice. "Margaret's White House family is all she has most of the year. It's really nice to finally get to know you for myself." Colin salutes her with the cookie and takes a satisfying bite out of it. She's pleased at his compliment.
She tilts her head at him and then tells him, "The White House family, as the staff has labeled us, is all the family I have here in DC, as well. We do tend to look out for each other, since most of us are single and have gathered here from all over the country to work for the President. So, like I said, we look out for each other." She straightens a stack of memos for the President upon his return.
Colin now changes the subject, "Delores, are you going to any of the President's holiday events? I'm asking, because I've been invited to all the ones that Margaret and Leo are attending and I was wondering if I'll see a friend or two at them." He grins and watches her face with interest, since he has a plan in mind, depending on her answer.
She looks at Colin over the top of her glasses, from where she's checking the President's schedule for today. "I'm attending the President's Christmas gathering tonight. I like the casual events, but I think I'll pass on tomorrow night's dinner and dance." She sighs and elaborates, "Since my husband passed away, I don't really enjoy attending formal functions alone. It's fun to dress up, but I just end up talking to a few people and just going back home. The President and Leo usually dance a song with me and then I usually slip out for a quite night at home. Sneaking out lets me catch up on some sleep as well." She looks over at Charlie's empty desk and gives her honest opinion, "After the first year, the White House functions all seem the same routine to me."
Colin is pleased at her reasoning, "Well, I do have a small problem with the festivities tomorrow night that you might be able to help me with." Colin tries to sound her out first.
"Anything, Dear, if I'm able to help," Mrs. Landingham is at her best when helping. "Do you need to find a tux?"
Colin is encouraged by her concern, "No, Delores, Margaret assured me that she would take care of getting my tux. She likes to dress me up. Margaret says I clean up really well. Between you and me, I think she just wants to show off her big strapping brother, to the other assistants tomorrow night at the dance."
Delores chuckles at Colin finding out one of Margaret's plans. "What is it then that you need help with, Colin?"
Colin has a twinkle in his eye and overdoes the explanation, she's see right through his ploy. "Well, as we have established, I'm new in town and in a real dilemma. I'm not sure what to do at White House functions, here is how you can help out a poor defenseless visitor." At her giving him a knowing look at trying to sound pitiful. He gets serious and with an honest face he asks, "I like to have you for my dinner companion tomorrow night for the formal dinner. Please say you'll allow me to escort you. It would be my honor and hopefully your treat."
"Ah, Colin, that's so nice." At his happy face, seeing her pleasure in being asked, she quickly continues. "We both know, good and well, that all you'd have to do is crook that little finger of yours and any number of young ladies would be honored to attend on your arm."
He grins cheekily with a dimple showing, "See, I need you to help me from having to choose among Margaret's friends. I don't want to hurt any of their feelings and then again we wouldn't want them fighting over me." He boasts like he's a movie star, but he can't keep a straight face and surrenders that opinion of himself. "I really would like you to be my date for the evening, Delores."
Delores smiles with delight now, "Yes, I'd be honored to have you as my escort, on one condition, Colin."
Colin jumps eagerly at her acceptance. He really wants to do something nice for her, "Name it, I'm flexible. You going to pick me up, instead of me picking you up? Which, by the way, might not be a bad idea, since I don't know my way around DC. Not to mention, I don't have a car with me." He tends to talk fast like his sister.
"Be that as it may, Colin, my condition is that I met you here at the White House and don't worry." She lowers her voice, "The President always insists on sending a car for me and a driver to see me safely home again. It makes him feel good to do it for me." She grins at a new thought, "I can always get some mileage out of the fact that I have a date and he won't have the foggiest idea who it is, till we arrive at dinner."
Colin face lights up at the possibility of him doing the same, "Oh, Delores, how devious. I'm going to drive Margaret nuts, till the dinner. Now, I have a condition that I hope you'll agree to?"
"What's that?" She asks sounding a little wary, but not really.
Colin really hopes she'll agree, "I'd like for you to be my date at the dance as well."
She leans forward on her arms to make a serious deal. She's learned a thing or two working in the White House, "I'll agree to a compromise. I'll agree to go with you to the dance, if you agree that it's all right for me to sneak out after a few dances. You know the President will insist on his one dance with me and you can claim Leo's dance." She watches his face as he mulls over her proposal. She lets him know this is a deal breaker, "After that you're on you own, Colin. It's your feet that's going to get tromped on, from females with stars in their eyes at your good looks."
He brakes out in a laugh at her using his own ploy against him, "So, we've got a date, Delores?" He asks in agreement.
She holds out her hand to shake on their deal, "Yes, Colin, we do and God help the others, with us attending together. I'll call down to the banquet room and let them know to seat us together." She promises, " I'll see you tomorrow evening, in the entrance lobby, wearing my festive best." She knows that they've been bantering back and forth, but gets serious, "Colin, thank you for making today and tomorrow better for me."
"Delores, it has and will be my pleasure, I'm sure. Tomorrow night, we'll show them that new friends are just as surprising as old friends." Colin is delighted at his plan working so well. Delores has been such a great friend to his sister and now to him.
*****
Leo is back from the bookstore and he takes Colin to his office, glad for the excuse to leave the President to expound on the merits of the books he purchased, on poor Charlie.
At office the two men relax with fresh coffee that they picked up on the way in. Leo asks, "How hard was it to find enough guys for a crew?"
"Man, they went underground like a bunch of groundhogs. I think I talked to every member in each family to finally track them down," Colin admits wearily.
Leo swallows a chuckle with a sip of coffee, "Sounds like some of the congressmen we have around DC. If they don't want to be found, you have to be devious to get someone to slip up and tell where they're hiding. They usually like to be in flight. That's the one sure-fire place we can't yank them back from. At least not until they land."
Colin is impressed, "I'm not about to let my crews in on that bit of info. It's hard enough to find them on the ground. On the oilrigs it's easy. They'd have to swim the gulf to get away from me finding them." He's tired of work for the present time and changes the topic. "So, Leo, how were your two days with the dynamic duo?"
"We'll, they were interesting, to say the least. Two kids are definitely double the fun. It's a good thing that parenting is like riding a bike and I needed all the experience I had at times with them." Leo reflects, "With raising Mallory, I really tried to be a good parent, even with my addictions," Leo honestly admits to Colin. "I knew to stay away from her at those times, so she'd not have to deal with it. That and my being a workaholic didn't help." Leo pauses and gives a rueful grin at Colin nodding his head in agreement with how work can get all consuming. "I made time for Mallory, quality time, even if I had to write it into my schedule. She was the most important thing in my life back then and I made sure she knew it. We have always been close." Leo stares down in his coffee mug. He knows that Colin has heard a lot about him over the years.
Colin remains silent, but it's an understanding quiet, he had heard the details of Leo's life and struggles over the years through Margaret. He knows Leo made a lot of effort for Mallory. Leo may have had faults, but not for being an uncaring parent. That's why he totally trusted him with his kids.
Leo quickly snaps out of his temporary funk, "As for your little darlings, I did find that raising boys is a little different than raising girls. Boys don't tend to keep their clothes on till they're older, than with girls. Which Katie pointed out, when Ben lost his pajama pants and decided he could just go without for the night." Colin is trying his best not to laugh that his son's nudity phase is still obviously making it's self known.
Leo continues and he sees Colin's mirth, "Of course both the kids are in that 'hate adults kissing' stage, especially in front of them or to them. So, they did their best to break us of that habit, while at the same time we were trying to break them of that stage. I think at the moment that they're weakening, since they finally quit making awful sounds at Margaret and me kissing. Ben especially hates to be held and trapped in between us when we kiss." Leo knows he stated that with dry humor, but it's a parent thing. You have to go through it with your own to understand and the fathers both definitely do.
Colin is holding his sides at the dilemma that his kids have put them through, "Oh poor, Ben. He must have really suffered with that one. But it sounds like you two were enjoying the challenge."
Leo cheerfully replies, "Yeah, we were." Leo sighs a little at what he needs to reveal to Colin along that line, "The one thing I do have to confess to you is about something that happened last night. Ben came back out into the living room, after he had been in bed for a while and Margaret and I were on the couch. You know?" Leo nods his head to the side. "Necking."
"Oh no, don't tell me!" Colin gets more serious now, as he can just imagine Ben slipping in quietly.
"Yeah he did. It was not at bad as it could have been, but it was probably more than he really should have seen." Colin looks a little relieved and leans back on the office couch, as is Leo at having to tell this to Margaret's big brother. It's like when you're teenagers and you are dating your best friend's sister. There's a line you don't want to cross, with things you don't want to talk about. "Your sister does get a lovely shade of red when embarrassed and when she's mad, but she was just embarrassed this time."
"OK, Leo, go ahead and tell me how bad it was. I guess I need to know, even if it is my little sister. I remember how it was to be in love and I know that the kids are not used to adults needing privacy at home. The last few years I've been too busy raising the kids to school age to think about trying to date, let alone be with someone. It's been three years and Megan and I did promise that if anything happened to either one of us, we would eventually move on with our lives. We wanted the other to have a full life." Colin is sort of hinting to Leo that he might actually considering trying again. He'll see how the kids are with them today and tomorrow. He brings himself back to the problem that Leo found himself in, "I'm sure Ben will remember to ask me questions when we get home and he'll certainly discuss it with his sister. Those two would question, debate and discuss the bark off a tree."
"Yeah, they do love to ask questions," Leo agrees with their dad.
Leo takes a deeper breath and starts, "OK, here goes and stop me anytime. I won't mind in the least. We were on the couch necking and I tend to let my lips wander on her skin and I had pulled her shirt up for better access. If you know what I mean?"
Colin placed a hand over his eyes and smiling nods his head in understanding.
"Well, I was getting carried away in my attention to her, you know, and the next thing I hear is Ben at the end of the couch telling me that only babies do that." Leo has no intention of getting any more graphic than that with her brother.
Colin burst out laughing again at his son's canter. "I bet Margaret could have died."
"Yeah, and she definitely left it up to me to explain to your little boy." Leo complains.
Colin is still grinning, "OK, how badly did you muddle up my son's sex education?"
Leo honestly admits, "Not bad, actually. I told him that adults in love sometimes have more private ways of kissing when they're alone."
Colin has a pleased and surprised look on his face and leans forward again, "Wow, Leo, I'm impressed. Can I have your cell phone number on my speed dial?"
Leo readily agrees and leans forward with his forearms on his knees, "Yes, you can. Call me anytime, but not just for sex questions with your kids. If you think that was bad, wait till Katie starts with the female questions. You'll be putting her on the phone to Aunt Margaret."
"Good advice, I'll remember that," Colin promises. "Speaking of Katie, how did my 'angel' do in your care?" Colin's mildly sarcastic question shows he really knows his Katie, ahead of time.
Leo gives him a skeptical look at the 'angel' emphasis and answers, "Well, we did have a little run in with the head of the President's Secret Service detail. You know she's fascinated with the security at the White House."
"Oh God, she didn't get arrested did she?" Colin is thinking the worst. ~Did she set off the alarms and lock down the White House? ~ He quickly asks, "Isn't eight a little young to have your kid brought to you by a law officer? I thought that was a teenage thing for curfew violation."
Leo chuckles softly at Colin's panic. ~ A typical dad reaction. ~ "No, no, it' wasn't that bad, but almost." He sees that Colin is only slightly relieved. "You know she wants to be an agent and we found out while you were gone that she does not like to back down once she sets her mind to something."
"Go on. How bad?" Colin sips his near cold coffee and waits for the news.
Leo wants to tell it briefly and accurately, "Well, she decided she should start her agent training while she was here and tried to sneak into the shooting range, to get someone to train her."
Colin groans into his hands as he leans forward. "What happened?"
"From Agent Butterfield's report, when he got her back to his office, he gave her a serious lecture on an agent's training, abilities and guidelines. She met him toe-to-toe with her reasoning and was not in the least intimidated. I'll give her this, she's a gutsy little thing." At Colin's slight smile at his opinion, Leo continues. "So, when Katie would not back down, Ron brought her back to me, tucked under his arm. The whole way to my office, with her arms crossed in displeasure."
"Oh God, no." Colin stares at the floor, envisioning his daughter being packed back to Leo. He shakes his head back and forth slowly, "I bet she was boiling mad. I can just imagine the look or her face."
"You could say that," Leo agrees. "Then, she had to answer to me." Colin swallows at what he's about to hear. Leo explains his tactic, "I treated her like the adult she was trying to be and made her reason out for herself, why she cannot train in firearms till she is of legal age. That really rammed the obvious truth down her the hard way. She honestly admitted it when she did come to that conclusion. She found out that I do not back down either." Leo takes pity on Colin and Katie too. "Colin, she was very sorry after she realized the facts and sincerely apologized to me and to Ron 'in person' yesterday and promised never to even think of firearms till she's of age."
Colin sits up and looks Leo in the face, "Thank, God, Leo. I appreciate you doing that. That was definitely something that needed nipping in the bud, right then and there."
"That was my thought also, Colin," Leo honestly reveals to the other dad." He sadly adds, "I've read too many stats and reports on the weapons bill. I was happy to help, Colin." He adds so that Colin is totally up to speed on the matter, "Margaret heard most of my talk to Katie and we talked about it later. She gladly admitted that between the two of us, I was the one that can do the most with Katie's stubborn streak."
"Well, I'm impressed, Leo." Colin reveals a tidbit to Leo, "I think she takes after Margaret as a kid with being stubborn. We were butting heads more than once when we didn't agree."
"Tell me about it. I have two sisters that have that same trait. Leo ponders, "Maybe it's just a little girl thing. Mallory did it too or maybe it's the red hair. Katie's is light red, like golden strawberry blonde."
"Hopefully it's just a phase, Leo." Colin holds up his hands with his fingers sincerely crossed."
Leo chuckles and knows that luck may be his best bet with a strong willed girl, "Colin, all in all, we really loved having the kids with us. Margaret and I enjoyed the family like teasing, kisses and hugs." He chuckles again, "The kids call mine smooches. They wouldn't admit it openly in front of us, but they liked the loving as much as we did. I'm sure it was mostly the unusual situation of being in and dealing with such a unique place as the White House and the holidays. Ben was tired, hungry and in a strange place. Katie was exposed to the wonder of a new and exciting career. At least they're not intimidated by their surroundings. They seem to take it right in stride."
"You're right there, Leo. Ben is a little more reserved with new people than Katie is, but they both adapt easily to where ever they happen to be. Just like kittens. They just walk in and in no time they're at home."
"Yeah, guess what the kids did this morning?" Leo laughs at Colin rolling his eyes like Margaret does. Leo tells it, before Colin thinks the worst again, "Today they adopted the First couple as their aunt and uncle. The President and Abbey just loved it. Not bad for a couple of kids that just dropped into the White House, from Maryland."
Colin is wearing a look of happy awe at the privileges that his kids have enjoyed. ~Talk about making yourself at home.~
Leo is delighted to be able to make Colin happy at adding to his kid's adventures in DC. He knows it's way beyond what Colin expected and reveals another one, "I'm sure that Ben will tell you, but he has spent the last two days, giving the President a run for his money at an ongoing game of chess in the Oval Office."
"That's my Ben. Chess, anytime and anywhere," Colin states as a fact with pride. He can tell that his kids have had a wonderful experience with his sister and Leo.
They hear the sound of the kid's voices getting closer and then entering into Margaret office. Soon they finally appear in Leo's office door, full of holiday cheer from their party.
*****
Margaret and the kids arrive back at Leo's office laden down with gift bags and the small items they have received at the party. It's the only way that they are able to get all the gifts that they made to the office. They nearly needed to recruit more help. Gus had Abbey looking almost as bad, with all his gift bags. He had his little hands full with bags and his party favors.
Katie squeals with delight to see her Dad sitting on the couch. At the unladylike sound that he recognizes, he stands just in time to catch her, bags and all, for a hug. Ben is right behind his sister, but hesitates long enough to dump his bags on the floor, before sliding his arms around is Dad's waist right beside his sister. They squeeze him a few moments, before he drops a kiss on the head of each and asks, "I see that you have been totally spoiled in my absence by your Aunt Margaret and Leo."
Katie brings her Dad up to speed, "Dad, we decided to call him Uncle Leo. He likes to torment us just like you do with kisses and hugs."
Ben agrees, " Yeah and he has taken care of us just like family. So, he's Uncle Leo now."
Colin shakes his head in wonder, "I guess I have lots to catch up on, with just being gone two days. But, from what I hear, you two have had a lot of adventures."
"We have, Dad." Ben boasts a little, "I played chess with the President and met an Admiral. The President even took a picture of me with the Admiral."
"That's wonderful, Little Man." Colin ruffles Ben's hair.
"Yeah, Dad and I got to be Agent Butterfield's assistant yesterday." Katie pipes in with her great adventure and then admits, "The day before that we kinda had a disagreement."
"Yeah, I heard," he gives her a pointed knowing look.
"Am I in trouble," Katie asks with worry. She quickly assures her dad, "I did apologize to everyone and Agent Butterfield is not mad at me now. Uncle Leo tore into me good, well in a good kinda way."
"Yeah I heard," he's still giving her the same pointed look that's a family trademark.
"So, am I gonna get a talking to? I understand that I have to grow up first. Really." She hates when her Dad gives her one of his sit down talks. She just feels totally miserable when she earns one.
"Not this time," Colin informs her with a little sympathy at this point. "I left you in their care and they handled it. When I leave you in someone's care you know you answer to them." He softens his look a little, but his voice lets her know that he's still serious with her, "I just want you to give me your word and assure me that you realize the seriousness of firearms. Then we're going to trust you to remember all that's been said on the subject." He looks at Ben who is nodding his head in total agreement to what his Dad is saying and wisely knows not to comment.
Katie quickly answers, "Honest, Dad. I know now how serious it is. I won't even try to handle a firearm, till I'm of legal age and then only with a trainer. OK?"
"That works for me Kitty Katie. I trust you. I may have to call Leo to help me with you, the next time you butt heads with me at home." He grins and threatens, "Or, I just might stick a label on you and ship you Federal Express to him. He can deal with you."
She glances at Leo and seeing him give her a knowing look, she grins innocently at him.
Leo cracks up laughing. He can see future adventures dancing behind her eyes. Josh must have had that same look shining in his eyes as a kid and Leo knows he never outgrew it. "Colin, I think with Katie, you're going to need all the help you can get just to keep up with her exploring the world."
"You may be right, Leo and I'm smart enough to realize it already. So feel free to be an extra parent to these two ruffians. I know Margaret does. Their mom and I wanted them to be raised with a whole family effort and as you have been adopted by these two that works for me."
Leo admits, " Getting adopted by the kids is a nice Christmas present. After the talk we had earlier, you know that I take that seriously." He grins at the two, "So, kids, you're stuck with me now."
The kids are still running high from the party and cheerfully agree. They rush to Leo, voicing their delight, hugging him around the waist, which tumbles all three of them back onto the couch with laughter. Margaret and Colin both join in laughing at Leo being over run with kids.
About that time the door to the Oval Office opens and the President grins at the sight of Leo pinned by the laughing kids. Leo's deep laughter is making his heart swell with happiness to hear. The best gift for him is in knowing that Leo has not forgotten how to laugh, especially with him keeping his White House running. Seeing that Leo is not able to stand in his presence and not wanting to spoil the fun, he quickly asks, "Leo, I believe in letting a man fighting his own battles here in the White House, but this may take real intervention to rescue you. Maybe I should call out the marines, this looks serious."
The laughter gets louder at his teasing remarks. The kids are now doubling their assault to keep a laughing Leo down on the couch, now that the President is playing along.
"But, like a good friend, Leo. I'll just wade in and help you myself." The President moves to the couch, with the kids squealing in delight at his approach, he scoops his buddy Ben off of Leo. Colin joins him and reaches in and removes Katie from the other side of Leo. All three are trying to catch their breath from laughing. "Now, Leo, you can not say I didn't help you in your moment of need."
"Yeah, I owe you one, Mr. President. I really needed rescuing. I was going to die laughing." Leo grins to the two kids being held captive by the other men, hearing them still giggling.
"You just remember that next week, Leo. When I need real help," the President warns.
"Duly noted, Sir. If you have no urgent need of me, I think I'll just take my family home for a while, to recuperate and rest up for tonight. We'll be back at 5pm for your family gathering." He waves a finger between to the kids, "Maybe some lunch will calm them down, but I seriously doubt it. Not with it being Christmas Eve. I think we're pretty much in it for the duration, through tomorrow night."
The President sets Ben down on the floor, after giving him a smooch on the neck for his trouble. "Sounds like a plan, Leo. I'll just go up to the Residence and hang out with Abbey and the kids, till you and the others arrive back. That'll shock Abbey. We're usually up to our eyeballs till midnight around here, even on a holiday. I'll take the long way around and clear out the place of senior staff, till the gathering. I know how to reach you if I need you."
"Thank you, Sir." Leo replies in agreement, as he rises from the couch, checking to see if he's still in one piece.
As the President is leaving the kids call out, "Merry Christmas Eve, Mr. President."
Leo looks at Margaret as the door closes, "Baby, grab your bag, we're outta here." He pats his pockets for his cell phone and heads to the coat rack for the coats.
Margaret darts back in from turning off her computer and takes her coat from Leo and playful dresses Katie in hers, as Colin has not let her down, since she's not quit wiggling in her effort to escape him. It's now a contest to see who wins.
Leo has donned his coat and moves up behind Ben, holding his coat for him to put his arms in. "Margaret, do any of the kid's bags here, need to go home with us now?"
She looks at a grinning, but tired, Katie, who still has not succeeded in her efforts. "Well, what goes home, Pixie?"
Katie answers like she needs to pant for breath, "Just leave them… here, please. We need them… for tonight… at the President and Aunt Abbey's… gathering."
Bending overtop of Ben's head, Leo finishes helping him to get his zipper started and then places a hand on his shoulder. Leo gives his standard command, "Let's move it then, people. We're wasting time and my kitchen is awaiting me."
Ben happily pipes up, "Oh Boy, Uncle Leo's cooking." He tilts his face up to Leo.
"Can I help?"
"Sure, Sport. We can show your dad that you're learning your way around a kitchen." Leo gives Ben a stroke on his head, smoothing his hair down.
Colin gives a mock moan, with Katie resting sideways still on his cocked hip, "Leo, somehow that just sounds scary. Turning these kids loose to cook. I can just see it now at home. I'm going to be eating a lot of burn offerings. Margaret warned me about your passion for cooking. Couldn't you have waited a year or two before you started with the cooking lessons?"
Katie sighs with defeat in her struggles and wraps her arms around his waist to rest her head against his tummy. She knows she can't get away from her Dad. Grownups seem to take such delight in torturing little kids, especially at the holidays, with hugs, kisses and holding them tight and she wouldn't have it any other way.
Leo assures Colin, "Nah, it'll be fine. If you start them young enough, they learn to do it right." Leo calmly explains with all confidence.
Colin gets into his coat with Katie making fun of his trying to do so, while not dropping her, as he switches her from under one arm to under the other. She still likes being picked-up and held by her dad. Colin grins at Leo's optimism and agrees, "All right you heard the boss. Let's move out." He tucks Katie up higher to his waist and looks between Leo and Margaret, "If one of you can grab my bag from security at the lobby door?"
Margaret volunteers, "I'll get your bag, Colin. I know the procedure better than Leo." She moves over to lock the doors to the Oval Office and the hall door. They can leave by her office door.
Leo admits, "That's why I always send you to pick up the packages at the door, Margaret. I make them nervous."
Colin asks, "Leo, you want to grab Ben and then we're outta here? I've got this kid under control, for the moment."
Leo scoops Ben up under his arm, just like Katie's under Colin's. He looks at Margaret and sweeps his free hand toward the door, "After you, my Dear. We'll bring up the rear with the kids." He turns to lock the connecting door and Ben giggles at being swung around.
They make a sight walking down the hall, with Margaret leading the way and the two men follow, each with a grinning kid sideways under their arm. It's great to be silly at Christmas.
They met up with Mrs. Landingham on the way out and she mentions to Margaret when she walks beside her for a ways. "You know dear, one of these days, we really need to teach the guys around here how to carry children." Margaret rolls her eyes and then grins in agreement.
The kids hear her teasing and as she turns to go off down a different hallway, they wave and call to her, "Merry Christmas Eve, Mrs. Landingham."
She turns with a small smile and waves back, loving the sound of the children's happy voices on Christmas Eve. She misses her boys.
*****
Outside the kids are finally set on their feet to get into the car. Since Leo is required to be in the back by the Secret Service, the guys ride back there with the kids between them and Margaret takes the front passenger seat, between the driver and the agent. They're making a quick stop, for her and the agent to pick up the formal clothes at the rental shop in the mall, for tomorrow night.
At the apartment, after lunch, the kids are both parked on the couch to watch a Christmas movie and rest. Everyone seems to love living on that couch. Today is yet to be, a long and busy one for all of them. Margaret is hidden in the bedroom, doing some last minute gift-wrapping.
Leo and Colin sneak off to the pool for a few laps and then a soak in the hot tub. While alone in the hot tub, it's the perfect time for some uninterrupted one-on-one time for the guys.
Once the warm water soothes them from the chill of walking the short distance from the pool, Colin takes advantage of the moment, "Leo, I need to talk seriously with you a minute and I wanted to do it without the kids and Margaret around. So, now seems to be a good time."
"Sure, go ahead, Colin." Leo can tell that it's important to Colin.
"I know that Margaret and you are 'for real', to use her words. I'd like to ask you an immense favor. I'd like to add your name to Margaret's, as the kid's legal guardians in my will." He explains why he wants to go ahead with his idea, "With my risky job and with so little family, I have to insure their future and I want them to be with family that loves them. The kids know you and like you, so I know they won't be going to strangers. If anything happens to me."
"Colin, I'd be honored to be added as the kid's guardian," Leo means that sincerely. "Hopefully that it's never needed, as they need you the most of all. But you can work and rest easy knowing that we'll be here for them, in the event that something does happen."
"Leo, I also need to ask you if I can give you a Power of Attorney for me. In case I'm injured and you two need to legally cover for me, for a time." At Leo's nod of agreement he adds, "I have a Living Will and I'll have a copy attached to the POA. Leo, you'll have to make the medical choices for me. Possibly a hard one and we know Margaret would probably have too hard a time with it. Oilrig and pipeline accidents are usually pretty nasty."
"Yeah," Leo softly agrees.
Colin admits, "It's just one of the precautions in my line of work that I have to take. Margaret has a POA for me, but I'd like you to have one as well. After I get my will revised, with your name added for the kids. I'm going to send a copy of it to you, with the Power of Attorney, for you to have on hand."
"Colin, you do what ever is needed to cover for the kids and we'll do what ever is needed to help you. You know that Margaret would quit breathing for those kids and I'd be right behind her."
"Yeah, you two make the perfect team. Colin now grins and asks a happier question, "So, when are you going to ask her?"
Leo smiles softly but has a regretful tone, "I just answered this to my best friend yesterday, when he asked me and I'll give you the same answer. Not yet." Colin seems a little taken aback at Leo's firm reply and Leo hurries to reassure him, "I'd love nothing better on this earth, but she's just getting used to me being underfoot and I'm not about to scare her off by seeming to push her. I'm watching for when she's right for the asking. We've been years getting here and we have the rest of our lives to live together. Margaret lets me know how fast our relationship is to progress. Just rest assured that I'm not going anywhere, there's no way she's ever going to get rid of me now."
"Good answer, Leo." Colin agrees, "I guess then we'll leave it up to Margaret."
"That's the greatest thing I've learned to do." Leo assures him, "Margaret knows how to take care of me best. She's been doing it for years and I'm not going to mess up her system now."
Leo takes this opportunity to have a serious moment of his own, "Colin, we need to talk as men among men. I want to tell you something and I'll only mention it this once. It's not something that I mention much. It's not really important to me and I know that it means very little to Margaret. I'm not sure she has a firm grasp of it yet, but I want you to know. So you never again have to worry about Margaret or the kids, if it ever comes to that." Colin gives him a confused look at whatever Leo is trying to tell him. Leo finally gets to the point, "Colin, you're probably are aware that I have made a tidy amount of money in my life and that I'm financially secure. I'm not sure Margaret totally understands how secure, but I do want you to understand." Leo hates to say it, "I'll just tell you. Colin, I'm a multi-millionaire and I want you to know that I've already provided for Margaret and actually for the kid's in a small way, it was just for her sake before now, in my will."
Colin blinks once, "Leo, I always knew that you were generous with sending checks each year for the kid's college fund and yes, I suspected that you were comfortable." He knows that this is the time that they need to be honest in how they want to provide for their shared family. "It does ease my mind that Margaret will not have to struggle, if anything happens to you, she'd be devastated and yes I'd be more than willing to help her. God forbid. Worse case scenario, Leo, would be that something would happen to both of us and she'd have to support the kids. I do have insurance, but when I think of all the things they would need and it will cost so much more in the future."
They get quiet for a few minutes, with both doing some thinking. Leo comes to the understanding that Colin doesn't realize just how much is in the kid's accounts that he set up for them years ago. The way it started was that Margaret would hardly let him give her a Christmas or birthday gift, to show his deep appreciation for her loyalty in taking care of him. Sending something to the kids was the only thing that she would not refuse, on the grounds of any gift he picked of being too much. She worried that it would look bad for him to be giving his assistant expensive gifts. He can't help it if he likes to give jewelry. So, he has been putting funds in the account for them, for years. She just didn't know how much he was depositing or how often, since he took advantage of his ability to do so, whenever she went 'above and beyond' for him. Obviously, Colin doesn't either and also assumes that it's just a token account for their college expenses. Leo looks over at the man that means so much to Margaret and tells him, "Colin, when you get back home, I think you need to check the balance on the kid's account that I've been depositing money into over the years. They don't have to worry about college or cars for that matter." At Colin's shocked face he admits, "I was hoping that you'd realize that it was for anything you needed for the kids. I told Margaret it was an open account for them and that you had withdrawal privileges. I didn't want to push the matter with her, since she might balk about it and I just assumed she passed the information on to you."
Colin stammers to start a reply, "Ahh…ahh… Leo. I make a good wage in my job. We get by OK." He sees Leo's head nod down once in understanding and his unwavering small smile. "Leo, am I going to be shocked, when they tell me the balance?"
Leo nods his head to the side, "Well, probably. Please understand. It was my way of giving something to Margaret, in a way, to something that meant the world to her and she's meant the world to me for years. She's been there for me in my darkest days, when others turned away. She has nearly worked as many hours as I have over the years. You know her motto, 'I leave when you leave', when it comes to our work. After Megan died, I knew you'd have extra expenses to deal with. I considered that you might need it for any new expenses you were facing, like hiring Granny Wilson or even now, if you need it to send them to a school for advanced kids, if that's what the kids want to do. Colin, I honestly don't want to step on your toes, helping financially with the extras for them. Especially now that I'm really getting to know them this week, I'm glad I set aside money for them. They're so bright. I really would like the kids to have all the advantages. I have more than I, or any of my heirs, will need to be comfortable for the rest of our lives."
Colin sighs at knowing that it's a done deal and there's no sense protesting at his generosity, "OK, Leo. I'll check into it and I'll talk to the kids about the school, after I talk to Mallory to see what she recommends."
"Colin, I just wanted you to know that I/we can provide for the kids in the future, if the unimaginable happens. Not only with the love they'll need, but financially. Once Margaret and I are married and I do hope to see that come to pass in the foreseeable future, Margaret will be wealthy. Neither one of us will have to worry about her or the kids." At Colin's thoughtful look, Leo reads his face, "Don't worry, about my daughter Mallory. She already knows what I have in my will and happily agrees to it. She's provided for." Leo scoffs to himself. ~As if she would use it for herself.~ "She's a generous soul and would put it to work for others, as that's her nature, but I have her out maneuvered." Leo grins at his plan for her, "I've set up a trust fund for her that she can't give away. It will keep her in comfort and free her to work at her crusades for education."
Leo now ends the serious talk. "I'm glad we had this time to talk family among ourselves, Colin. Maybe someday, I can get Margaret to quit cutting out food coupons, but I doubt it. It's her crusade and I just smile and agree with her. What ever makes her happy."
Colin chuckles at him, "Leo, you really are head over heels and totally wrapped up in her. I'm really happy for the both of you. You both have had a long road getting here, but you've really gotten it right once you made the decision to get together."
"Yeah, I'm totally in love your sister." Leo's grinning ear to ear as he happily agrees.
*****
5pm at the Residence
The President is pleased at the enjoyable time the assembled group that is milling about in his living room is having at his holiday gathering. His daughter Liz and her husband arrived back at the White House today from their two night get away, at the beginning of the week. Abbey and he were happy to have Annie and Gus stay with them the extra nights, even if Gus's nanny is a little strange. Everyone is collecting in comfortable clusters that keep switching members. They're still welcoming more arrivals, as the invitation was informal on the time as well as the dress. Tomorrow is reserved for the formal entertainment.
Leo and his family arrive, carrying gift bags that the President recognizes as from the Children's party. The President has time to reflect on Leo's good fortune. ~It's so great to see Leo with a family around him. He looked so sad last year, single and alone. Not like he wasn't included in my family, since he is family. But, this is better. More family is better for both of us. Wonder if I can drag them all out later for a snowball fight on the south lawn? That Colin should make a fine addition to my side. Yeah, Leo's and my family battle against all the rest. This might work and we'll have lots of time before mass to get dried and cleaned up. Now to watch for the best time to suggest it.~
Over where the senior assistants are gathered, Ginger's mouth falls open when Colin walks in with Leo and Margaret, holding his kids by their hands. She has to remember to breath at the sight of him. She has always had a weakness for big brawny men, but with him having golden hair with red undertones has her nearly swooning.
The other assistants whisper excitably together, when they finally get sight of Margaret's big brother, whom they have heard about, since the campaign trail and they agree that Margaret wasn't kidding when she said he was bigger than life. They soon come to an agreement that he has a smile which lights up the room, at least in their corner.
Donna smirks at their surprise, since she met him earlier in the week. "Yeah and he has a great sense of humor and a nice laugh," she finally confides to her friends. As the truth dawns on them, they look at her with displeasure for not telling them sooner. She knew and didn't say a word. Donna is surprised at their look, "What? Remember, girlfriends, he was immediately called out of town. That's why the kids were here at work with Margaret and Leo all day Monday, after he left and all day yesterday. He just got back this morning, from what Margaret tells me." With the others still shooting pointed looks at her, between keeping an eye on Colin and extracting info from her. Donna continues to tease them, "Oh, you're peeved, since I didn't rush to you and let you know that Colin is the he-man that Margaret has always claimed he was."
Carol adds her opinion, "We'll you've got to admit that most sisters who brag about their brothers are blinded by sisterly love, but in this case, Margaret was right on the money."
Ginger glances back to the man of her dreams, "Well, I've got my radar tuned to him now. You think he'll be at the dance tomorrow night?" She pins Donna with a look, as she finishes her question to see if she knows the answer.
Donna assures Ginger with a catty grin. "Oh yeah, he's going for sure. Margaret picked up his tux today. They're attending the formal dinner first and then going to the dance." She just knew the other assistants were going to be panting over Colin.
Ginger reminds herself, ~I'll will not be at the dinner, but I'll definitely be at the dance.~ The dance is looking better for all the single ladies that are planning on attending. They really want to look their best tomorrow night.
*****
Leo is talking to the President as he surveys the assembled friends and family. "Sir, we really appreciate you giving everyone more down-time this week. It should recharge some batteries around here." Leo knows that the President prefers him not to call him 'Mr. President' in the Residence. Leo's friend considers the inside of the Residence to be his home, but Leo just can 't get himself to call him Jed while they're standing in the White House. Leo also observes that Margaret is getting along with Abbey so much more comfortably now, than she did back in August when she first spent time in the Residence. He swings his sights to find Colin doing some male bonding with Josh and Sam. Leo grins at the thought that this might not be a good thing for him, if the three to get their heads together. They're the young men of his family now and he'll be either be at the wrong end of one of their adventures or he'll be the one to rescue them from themselves. Good thing for him the whole extended family will be busy attending holiday events, today and tomorrow.
*****
The adults are enjoying the company, chatting together and smiling at antics of the kids. The teenage girls are naturally huddled in at corner, chatting about all the things that interest them. Of course the couples in the room are under scrutiny, they also enjoy matching up the singles in the room. They discuss the finer points of the dresses they would be wearing tomorrow night at dinner and what dresses the women are planning on wearing. They also were doing some pre-planning for Annie's sleepover she's having tomorrow night at the Residence, in whispers that some of the suggestions would worry the adults.
*****
The trio of little kids decides to start making the rounds and handing out the gifts that they'd made today. They're basking in the glow of accomplishment and warm thanks after each is opened.
The gifts from Katie and Ben that they are distributing to the happy recipients are as follows.
Mrs. Landingham gets two oven mitts, one from each kid, in thanks for her cookies that she has offered often to the kids this week. Just like a grandma would.
Josh gets a framed handkerchief to add to his packed bookcase in his office.
He wants a snapshot of them to set next to it on his bookcase.
Zoey and Donna each get a scarf and immediately model them for the others to admire. Zoey comes up with the idea of tying them around the waist and slide them to rest on one hip as a fashion statement. The kids are delighted.
For Mallory, she receives a tote bag to carry her lesson plans and papers back and forth to her classroom. She's pleased at the handprint design. She uses that theme in her classroom to represent unity and individualism at the same time.
Ben lastly approaches the President and when the President pauses in talking to Toby, Ben holds up the gift bag in his hand to him, "Sir, this is for you from me. Merry Christmas," Ben's face shows his anxiety. Hoping his gift is pleasing to his new friend. The President is more than pleased at the shirt and displays it across his chest for the others to see. He points out to the room, "At least Ben realizes that I really am the king of America."
This cracks up the room and Leo points out with sarcasm, "The crown on the shirt, Sir, refers to playing chess that is why it says 'checkmate' underneath it."
The room fills with sound of long oh's and hoots at the cut down. The President holds up his hand to hold off the teasing while grinning, he takes the dig in good spirits and surrenders. The President gives Ben a hug in thanks for the shirt and the fun. Ben is so pleased at his gift making everyone happy.
Earlier, back at the party, while Ben was busy making his gift for the President, Katie had an idea for something that her brother and the President should both like. When Ben was concentrating on his work and talking to Gus at the same time, she had the assistant make the outline of the same crown for her on two ball hats. Before she colored in the crown with yellow paint, she also asked the assistant to add underneath the crown the words, 'The White House Chess Club'. She is really happy now to give her gifts to the President and to Ben. They both love them and both pop them on their heads.
Toby and Sam fake loud disappointment that they didn't get invited to join. The President boasts in reply, "You two wouldn't last a day, let alone two days, against Ben or I. You guys will have to bone up on your chess moves and challenge us next time Ben visits and maybe you'll make it into the club." There are hoots and laughter at both the President's boast and the dig at the two grinning candidates.
*****
Since the kids are in the gift giving portion of the evening, the President gives Ben and Gus each a set of White House cufflinks, to wear the next day at the dinner, when they'll be wearing tuxes for the first time.
First Lady gives the book 'Anne of Green Gables' to Katie. It was one of her favorites growing up. It shows that even back then, with spunky little girls, trouble seems to easily find them. Her own granddaughter is appropriately named Annie.
Abbey gives Ben a matching T-shirt to the President's, with the word 'check' under the crown on his.
Ben happily puts his on over his long sleeve shirt and Jed does the same with his. This makes the chess club official.
Abbey is takes a few pictures of them posing together, with an instant camera. This is too good to pass up. She loves it when Jed is horsing around and happy. He really is a kid at heart, especially at Christmas.
The President demands, "Ben, I'd like you to sign one of the pictures for me and I'll sign one for you. OK, little buddy?"
Ben grins up at his new friend, "Yes, Sir. I'd like that." Ben takes the pointed marker from the President and uses his best cursive writing and signs on the white area under the picture, 'Your buddy, Ben'.
The President does likewise and signs a pic for Ben, 'Your buddy, Uncle Jed'. He hands it to a smiling little boy, who holds it like a trophy.
***
Gus has been bursting to give his gifts out tonight. He would never keep his secrets till tomorrow. While the other two kids started with friends, he started with his family.
Gus's gifts are well received by his family. He gives his parents each a T-shirt with his hand over the heart area and a message across the front of, 'You touch my heart, like I touch yours. Forever'. He also made a framed handprint for them to have at home.
For his grandmother Abbey, he made her a pillowcase. He explains that anytime she wants to cuddle with him and he's not there, she can cuddle a pillow with his handprints. He had the assistant write on the case, 'Love and hugs from Gus'.
Gus is proud of what he made for his Grandpa Jed. It's an apron for his Barbeque weekends. It has on it the words, 'My Grandpa is the best cook ever'.
He also includes in his family, Mrs. Landingham, since he has known her all his life, he's just is not sure where she fits in. He happily gives her a kitchen towel from him.
*****
After all the others have open their gifts from the kids and the thanks have died down, the President notices Katie is sitting over by the door alone and he goes over to her to find out if something is wrong. She's just quietly holding a gift bag, like the ones the kids just passed out. "Katie, are you OK?" He sits down on the padded arm of the chair she is sitting in. Wanting to be more private with her, just a moment for them. He puts an arm around her, pulling her close to lean against him, "I noticed that you're sitting here all by yourself and I'm think its really nice of you to be especially good on Christmas Eve, but I just wanted to make sure that you are happy and having a good time."
Katie smile up at his caring face and explains her dilemma, "Sir?"
He stops her with his hand up, at the same time he gives her a pointed look and asks with a grin, "What happened to the 'uncle' thing? We're in my home now, not the Oval Office."
She grins back at his reminder, "Uncle Jed, I made something for Ron. It's a framed handkerchief for his office." The President gives an exaggerated look at the bag, indicating he's very curious as to what she made, but not wanting to push her into revealing it to him, if she does not want to. Katie grins big at his teasing and pulls the frame out for him to see, "I want Agent Butterfield to remember me after I return home. His is the last gift left and I was hoping I might get a chance to give it to him, if he comes to the door."
The President is delighted to help her, by getting Ron upstairs, anything for Christmas. He stands, now energized into action, "Katie, this is something I can do to help you. You let me handle this. You just watch out the door."
"Thanks, Uncle Jed," she whispers into his shirt as they exchange a hug, before he leaves to make a call, to the head of his detail.
When Ron arrives outside the residence, as requested by the President, he finds Katie watching for him. He nearly checks his stride, when realizes he was set up and that she's the real reason he was summoned. Ron is hesitant, a little, at this divergence from procedure. The fact is; a little girl with a festive bag in her hand can make him nervous, when facing a gun does not.
She indicates that she wants to give him something privately and he motions them to a small alcove sitting area, just a few steps down the hall, away from the prying eyes of other agents. They move to the two chairs inside, where Ron sits down, now a little more comfortable with the situation, to be closer to her level. Katie shyly gives the gift bag to him, watching him as he lifts out a frame, setting the empty bag on the floor beside his chair. He's really touched by her gift. Ron smiles to himself at the comparison, noting his large hand holding the frame. It's the best set of fingerprints he's ever received in connection to his job. He's honored by her note, in the area above her thumb in her angled handprint.
'I'm small now,
but someday,
I want to be a hero,
just like you.'
Katie
After reading the note he grins softly at her and sees the joy shining on her face at his shy smile of happiness. He leans forward to give her a hug and while doing so, he slips a small package onto her lap that he has been carrying in his pocket all day. He's almost embarrassed to let any others know that he took the time to think about her, the hardcore agent that he is. It's not an easy life making it to the head of Eagle's detail.
Her new Uncle Jed has been keeping an eye on her, from inside the room, during her vigilant wait and he checks on her, now that she's gone outside in the hall. Through the door that she left ajar, he can see them in the alcove. He's impressed when he sees Ron humbled by a little girl. He smiles softly at seeing a small child touch Ron's heart and unseen he moves back farther inside the Residence.
While her eyes are riveted on the gift now in her hands, Ron stands and silently slips out into the hall to move quickly back to his quite office, this Christmas Eve, his precious framed present held safely in his hand at his side.
Katie opens her present and finds he's the one person that understands about her wanting to know all there is with how to care and protect others, at such a young age. It's a calling that most would not understand. He gave her something that she now knows is essential to an agents job, not as she first thought of needing to learn to handle a firearm, but more important, a true lifeline. He gave her a neatly rolled up earpiece and mic of her own. A reminder to her that the agent is only able to do the job with help from others, as they help others in return, all connected to the one goal of protection. Her eyes get shiny with tears, as she sees the item underneath and she glances at the alcove opening, as if he might still be there. It's her very own Secret Service ID card complete with photo, Agent 'Pixie' Ryan, White House detail. It's the same photo as her security file photo that he showed her in his office. This definitely is a treasure to take home to show her friends and it will be the hit of show and tell at school.
*****
Near the end of the evening, Colin is talking and teasing with Margaret and Abbey about how tight-knit the whole senior staff and their assistants are. He has never seen any working group that gets along as family, like they do.
Colin mentions, "The four of you are closer than most friends, in or out of politics. Closer than most people period, to all share a bedroom together." Colin's face falls at the shocked look on the women's faces. He's sure that he just inadvertently said something that probably was better left unsaid.
Margaret and Abbey exchange stunned looks, when Colin clarifies what the President and Leo told him. Colin sounds skeptical when he reveals, "It was the night, before Margaret first yelled at the President." The girls look at each other with understanding and get a glint in their eye. Each taking one of Colin elbows, pulling him between them, as they search to find the two guys who are about to get a very un-political ass tearing from the girls.
They find the two cohorts, lurking by the door to the kitchen, watching the antics of the guests enjoying the fellowship of the holidays, as the evening winds down. They get a little wary when they see the black look in the eyes of the approaching ladies and momentarily hope that Colin has put it there, but their hopes are dashed when Abbey pushes Jed backwards a few steps into the kitchen with a hand in the middle of his chest and Margaret does likewise, at the same time, with her Leo. They propel Colin forward, still in between them and wait only long enough for the heavy door to swing shut after them. Both women know just how to fine-tune their men and they're just about to prove it to them.
Abbey starts immediately on the President. "Jethro, did you by any chance, make some mention when you talked to Colin last Monday, about you, me, Leo and Margaret all awaking up together in our bedroom, you know, in the Residence?" Her voice gets louder, "Without letting him know why! You just let it hang, like we're all some kind of kinky sick-os!" Jed knows that shit just hit the fan.
Margaret picks up the task and rips into Leo, poking his chest with a finger, "And you, Mister Cocky Grin, I take it, did not jump in and clarify to Colin that it was the night of your attack and we were all scared that you were more seriously hurt, maybe even with internal injuries." She grabs a breath, "That even though we were in the same room, we were sleeping on the couch with you in my arms to support your ribs and they were in their bed to be near you, in case you needed Abbey's help during the night. You two knuckleheads just go along with whatever the other one thinks of, as a cute joke." She knows how to tear into him in a rush of words. She really earns her red hair when it with family. She can tear them, but no one outside of their inner circle better try it.
Abbey is proud of her prot‚g‚e. She can wait her turn to show how it's really done in the big leagues. It is Margaret's brother that's at the receiving end of the dynamic duos prank.
The President tries to get a word in and Margaret points her finger at him and he leans farther away from it with his eyes on her sharp nail. "You, don't even try to justify your reason. He's my 'brother' and you two", she swings her eyes and her finger back and forth between the two, "just let him think the worst about his little sister."
The guys stay quiet at this point. The holiday's motto of 'good will toward men' is not going to save them tonight. Colin is just wide-eyed facing the guys, trying to silently convey that he had no idea that he was 'loosing the hounds of hell', on the fellow males. It's a little comforting to him that couples everywhere are the same.
The ladies are proving to Colin that neither of these women, nor in fact any others are intimidated by the White House. When a guy screws up, he can be assured, that he'll get his ass chewed, whether they are from White House or just an apartment, when it comes to jerking males back in line, anywhere, anytime. If they feel the guy deserves it, they get it. It's their God-given right or so the Sisterhood believes.
Abbey sides with Margaret and looks at the two men like they should know better, "You just had to torment Colin on his first visit. Colin is not up to speed with your humor and he's not aware that you two are closer than blood. Will you, please, let him get used to you tormenting each other, before you drag him in as fair game?" She expands her chest with air a few times to let her words sink in, then moves her head down some to pinpoint Jed's attention to her face again, "Colin doesn't know that there are no rules with how you torment each other, let alone that you might observe any restraint with others. At least Josh is game with you two, he feels it's safe to jump in and knows that it's safe to do so and not get slammed to the ground for doing so." She pulls out the shame tactic that works so well with Jed. "Colin is still in awe of this place and of you. At least he might have been, before you two started acting like teenage boys full of pranks and don't you dare look at each other and grin proudly at your high jinks."
Margaret takes a turn at Leo, "We know you would cheerfully follow him into hell, Leo, and it would probably be after you dared him to do it, in the first place. We have you two figured out, but Colin hasn't before this, but he sure does now." She blows out her breath to reflect for a split section and then lets him have it full force as a final blast, "Leo, you two really did it this time. To just let him leave town thinking that we were having some kind of orgies with the First Couple. I'm amazed that he still left his kids in our care, Leo."
Leo really is contrite at their teasing Colin, "I'm sorry, Baby. I really am." Leo nods his head to the side, "It just kinda happened and it seemed pretty mild from a guy's point of view. Baby, I wouldn't want Colin to ever think we would do anything to ruin how he thinks of you or us." He looks over at Colin and reads the male sympathy on his face. "Colin, I'm wholehearted sorry, if I let you have the wrong impression of our behavior."
Colin admits he is partially at fault tonight, "It's fine, Leo. I kinda knew not to take it literally, what the President said, but I'm at fault for letting Margaret and the First Lady think that I did." He addresses them all, "I'm sorry for my part in this."
He looks back to Margaret. "There, Colin in fine with it. So are we good again, Baby?"
"You think you could have gotten Baby' in there any more, Leo?" She toys with his shirt button. He earned the ass tearing and he got it, so she guesses that it's time to move on. "I guess if Colin is happy with your apology, then I am too. But… never let this happen again, even if it's family that you're tormenting."
"I promise, Baby," he slides his arm around her waist and places a soft kiss on her lips.
Abbey puts Jed on the spot, "Jethro, don't you have something to say to Margaret and Colin?"
"Colin, I'm really sorry as well. I'm the one who let you think the worst of us, Leo just let us down, when he didn't let you know that is was 'not' how it sounded." Jed can't resist passing the buck. They others roll their eyes at Jed's tactics. Jed sees that he ruse is not going to work. "OK, OK. It's totally my fault for saying it. Please forgive me, Margaret and you too Colin."
"You are forgiven," Margaret agrees.
Colin quickly adds he acceptance, "Anytime, Sir."
Abbey takes Jed's face in her hands, "See, Sugar, that wasn't so hard now was it." She moves in to kiss him to accept his apology as well.
The President rests his hands at her waist and then slides them around to pull her closer and deepens the kiss.
Colin is slightly shocked to see Jed and Abbey neck in the room with other people, as they start to make up in front of him, right there in the kitchen. He is the President after all.
Leo smirks at Colin's look of astonishment at the other couple and pulls Margaret closer. He nods his head to their friends and tries to sound disappointed, "I didn't get that nice of a forgiveness kiss." He quickly locks his lips to hers, trying to out do the passionate kiss that the other couple is enjoying.
Margaret is please that they are all happy again with each other and joins in by wrapping her arms around his neck to deepen the kiss.
Colin is now surprised that Leo and Margaret will neck in a room with the first couple doing the same. After a minute, he finally gets it. He now knows he's part of some inner circle that totally and happily includes him. Colin's pretty sure that it's not often you see the President hungrily kissing his wife. He's also honest enough, looking at the First Couple, to guess that someone is going to get lucky tonight. He's not even going to think about his sister and Leo.
The ladies pull away from their men, knowing that they can't keep on with the necking and have the guys still be able to go back out in polite company. They both flash a quick grin at each other, before they both turn back to wipe lipstick off the men's lips.
The guys look contrite, till the girls walk away back into the living room and then grin at each other at getting caught by the women. Colin breaks out laughing at the guys shrugging off the ass tearing. This also brings Colin into the fold of the brotherhood that just does their best to survive what the Sisterhood dishes out to them.
The President grins at Colin, "The making up, is the best part of getting your ass torn." Leo grins in agreement
Colin's face breaks into a grin of understanding. It's not been that long since he was married. "I'm just amazed that my little sister can hold her own, with important and powerful people like yourselves."
Leo mentions to him, in a way of apology, "If you think Margaret tore into us good today, you should hear the whole story of the first time when she yelled at the President and he groveled an apology to her." He chuckles with pride in her, "She's getting better at it now that she's had a few months to practice and she really believes he's afraid of red-haired tempers."
Colin chuckles, "Man, he must be really be brave to welcome the Ryan's into his family."
*****
The President and Leo reenter the living room and the President's feeling great after a little loving from his wife. "Everyone, I'm officially challenging those that are not in my family or Leo's, to a snowball fight on the south lawn in fifteen minutes. Josh you better round up your troops. Just remember we have Doug, Charlie and Colin. Where as you have Sam, Toby, Ed and Larry. The women can hold their own on the teams, but I've been assured that Margaret has a hell of a pitching arm." He looks over and a smirking CJ, and points to her, "From the look on her face, CJ might be the best bet with your women, Josh. The kids can jump in anywhere. Let the battle begin."
The assembled group sent up a collective cheer and they all scramble for coats and try to see how many they can pack into the elevator going down to the ground floor. Colin and Charlie squeeze in with Josh's male teammates in the first group down, to keep them from getting an unfair advantage over the president's team. The agents are waiting for the President to load onto the elevator, but they had immediately radioed down about the President's spontaneous activity, so they could circle the lawn for protection and to insure that the downstairs agents do not panic at the boisterous crown exiting the elevator.
The battle begins as soon as the guys pour out of the door to the portico. Colin and Charlie are just barely holding there own, till Doug and most of the women arrive in the second load down from the Residence. The battle is going full force when the President and Leo arrive with the last of the women and the kids, escorted by his agents. The President looks out the door first to see if it's safe to at least exit the building into the field of battle. "Leo, I think this is the first time I've see so many happy agents trying not to smile."
Leo chuckles at the accurate description of the agents, "Well, Sir. Even the agents need a present on Christmas Eve. After you, Sir."
The two men hurry to join the fun and the kids run out onto the floodlit snowy lawn. Soon, there's so much snow flying through the air that it looks like it's snowing snowballs. The kids are running around hitting anyone that they can as fair game. The women are trying to give as good as they get and the sides are pretty even, till Zoey gets the idea of making snowballs for Charlie to throw. Mallory backs up Colin with a supply soon afterwards. This teamwork is soon catching on as all the women of both sides are quickly manufacturing snowballs as fast as the guys can throw.
Josh's team is starting to get backed up by the onslaught of snowballs and then the tactics change when Sam charges to make a running tackle to Mallory, to stop her helping Colin. They roll in the snow laughing and then real chaos reigns as the guys charge to tackle the women from either side. It's now one-on-one to see who can get the other the snowiest. Couples are landing in snowy mounds. The kids are doing there best to bring down their parents and get snow stuffed in their coats for their trouble. Soon all are breathless from the battle and the laughter, lying around in the snow like fallen combatants.
The President makes a declaration, "I call the battle a draw. Till next year. Merry Christmas my friends." After a cheer from all for the wonderful snowball battle, they all start to get up. Some tarry for a cold kiss in the snow and others look like sheepdogs shaking off the snow packed on there clothes. On the portico, most of them try to remove as much snow as possible with their frozen gloves. Most have damp hair and hats that look frosted with snow. The general consensus is that it's time to return home for the evening, to dry off and rest before church tonight. Wishes of 'Merry Christmas' are called as groups leave the portico and enter the White House by the outer office doorway, to check out through security.
Colin grabs his two kids under his arms again and teases them that he's going to throw them into the snow. A few of the assistants notice that Ginger is nearing melting at the sight of him packing his family off with ease. His cheerful laugh is making her face beam at hearing it. She definitely has it bad or is that good? Bonnie and Carol take her by the arms and pull her into the warmth of the White House before her eyes freeze from not blinking, as she feasts her eyes on Colin.
As Leo and his extended family leave, Mrs. Landingham stops them. She shakes her head as if disappointed at the look of the damp and red-cheeked group. This is how the White House staff and family behave at the holidays, like kids on a snow day?"
Leo grins and answers honestly, not the least bit contrite at the childlike fun they just enjoyed. "Yes, Mrs. Landingham, we did. And it was wonderful. I might add that The President's family and mine were making some headway in the battle, when Josh's side cheated and outflanked our supply line."
"Well, Leo, you can take them next year and make the President proud." She leans in and gives Leo a peck on the cheek, with his whole family watching.
"What was that for, Mrs. Landingham," Leo asks with a crooked smile and a tease.
She givens his a sheepish grin, "I'll admit I was watching from the portico door and I saw you snowball the President good, at the end, when it turned into a free for all. That was a thank you from me. There was no way I was venturing out to do it myself."
"I'll keep your wish on file for next year, Mrs. Landingham," Leo promises with a deep chuckle. "I'll be happy to add an extra snowball to the side of his head just for you."
"Thank you, Leo. I'll hold you to that." She pats the front of his snowy coat in agreement.
She leans down to the kids with a small sack for them and she whispers, "Dears, here is the gift I promised to give you for Santa and I make them especially big and sweet." The kids give her a hug and a heartfelt, "Thank you, Mrs. Landingham. This is the most important part. You're the greatest."
"Your welcome. Now you better take these big kids home and get everyone dry and warm."
"Yes, ma'am. Merry Christmas." The kids take a hand of an adult and start pulling them to the lobby to leave.
*****
The family arrives back at the apartment around 9pm and the kids are tired and damp, but their dad and Margaret agree that maybe this would be a good time for them to shower and put on some comfortable clothes and relax for a few hours, till it's time to leave for mass. The kids curl up on the couch to watch the movie, "The Christmas Story."
In the kitchen, Margaret and Colin have a moment alone. Colin leans on the counter edge and twists a dishtowel in his hands, "Margie, you mind if I run something past you that I've been considering lately? I'm not sure about my timing and I'd like to run it through someone else's head."
"Sure, Collie. Anything, you know that." Margaret is pleased he started out using their private names for each other. It makes her feel closer to him.
He glances to her with a quick smile and then looks at towel again, as she continues to work around the kitchen. "The kids and I see what you and Leo have and I want that for me, again some day, Margie."
She smiles with happy hope, but waits her comment, to let him have time to have his say.
He reflects a moment, before continuing, "I guess I just miss the loving and closeness so much, because Megan and I had a wonderful love together. Like the one I see you have with Leo." He sees her face turn soft and her eyes shiny at his words. "I'm so happy for you, Margie, and I even envy you more than a little. That's probably giving me the motivation to seriously consider letting myself open to the possibility again."
Margaret moves over to give him with a quick hug for courage, knowing that it's going to be a big step for him to take.
He grins at her for hugging him, he eyes now following her, "I've been wondering how the kids will react, once they're back at home, after living with you two love birds and the way you've included them in your love. Like the loving family that Megan and I had hoped to share with them."
Margaret tears threaten to spill over, as she listens to her brother and his kind words. She knows that he's telling her how much he approves of her and Leo and that means the world to her.
Colin moves to sit on a stool at the small utility table, "I see that the kids are now even OK with you two kissing, now that I've returned." He has interrupted them kissing more than once, himself. "I want to see if the kids are maybe open to my bringing someone else into our lives. I realize that the last few years, I was really too busy raising the kids to school age, to think about dating." He sighs, "Let alone finding someone who the kids will accept and who will love the kids in return. I wouldn't introduce someone to them, till I was comfortable in knowing they're feelings about seeing someone with kids. Like I'll find the time in my hectic life, but I think that I'm ready to start." He's hinting to her that he has actually been considering and thinking this out for a while.
She feels she can comment about how she thinks the kids will respond, "Collie, if you want to know how the kids will react to you dating someone, then after you're home, sound them out. Just ask them, they're not stupid kids and they're not shy about giving their opinion."
He chuckles at her honest point about his kids. "Margie, You have done such a good job looking after them. They have made themselves right at home here. The kids have settled right into a routine with you guys. It must be the loving that they're thriving on. Don't get me wrong, I lavish them with all the love I have for them and Granny Wilson tries to add her own, but I'm required to be away a lot and that is just a way of life for us. It's just not the same, as what you have here."
Margaret smiles softly at his observation. She really wants her family to be comfortable in her home. His words warm her heart about her home, but it saddens her a little at her brother's opinion of the life he has made for his family without Megan.
Colin looks stretches up to look out at the kids on the couch and he can see through to see Leo sitting at his computer in the guest room. "Margie, I may be treading on something that you don't want to talk about with me, but with us being the only family we have, I want you to know that we can talk about this or anything, so I'll just jump right in." He pauses while she takes the stool across from him at the small table, for some serious talk. Colin assumes that Leo and Margaret have sex, with them sharing a bedroom, so his question is not way out there, when looked at from his point of view. "You remember the time you were visiting Megan and I, and you let us know about your female problems. I know Megan was there and it probably made you feel more comfortable talking to us and I just wanted remind you that you can talk to me about any health problems you have. Female or if you have any questions that you want to fly by me. I know you have had real problems. You had to start on the pill at an early age, to deal with your periods. You know I'm willing to listen, if you need to talk about that or about the two of you having sex, as that was one of your main problems. Yes, I hope you can talk to Leo about them, but if you want to fly something through another head, you can, Margie. Anytime."
Margaret takes his hand. He's always been the best big brother. She knows that most men wouldn't want to deal with female matters, but Colin was always honestly concerned with Megan and her health. Especially after Megan became pregnant with Katie. At that time, he was just about the most informed, expectant dad that Margaret had ever heard of. She knows with him having a daughter that he may be worried about Katie some day, if she inherited some of her problems.
"Thanks, Collie, but maybe not yet," Margaret answers, trying to decide if she really wants to let him know that they've not had real intercourse, but she's not sure how to let him know that Leo has been very supportive with working through her problems. Leo and Colin are so sweet and caring to worry about her health.
Colin cannot tell which question she's answering, it was a vague reply and he feels that now is not the time to push it. He just wants to let her know that he's available if she needs him. He can tell that Leo is some sort of special guy, who obviously loves Margaret so much. Colin is realistic enough to admit that he has shared a bed with her for months and they are obviously passionate about each other that they must have made love by now.
Margaret decides that since they have spoken of these things before that have bothered her physically, she can now. She goes ahead and lets Colin know how it stands between them. "Collie, I want you to know that Leo loves me immensely, but he's happy to wait for me to be ready to make love. That is to say, we have not actually… made love yet. We couldn't be more in love than we are now, even if and when we do make love. So, it's obviously not a case of either of us just wanting to jump into bed together. We want it to be right, for both of us and he has been kind and gentle and caring enough to want it to be right, especially for me. He even went to my GYN check-up with me, so he could ask the doctor what he or we could do to help me be more comfortable, when we take the next step in our relationship." Her eyes well up with tears, as she looks at her brother and they spill down onto her cheeks, "God, Collie, I love him more than I can say."
He grins at her, as he reaches up and gently wipes away her tears and innocently asks, letting her know he has all faith in them working through her problems, "So, when are you two going to have kids of your own? Has Leo voiced if he's willing to have more kids? He's so great with mine and seems to have so much love to give them. You do too, Margie."
Margaret looks like a deer caught in the headlights. This is the same question, twice in one day, plus a nice embarrassing moment in the Oval office. She replies, trying to sound calm, "Not yet, Collie."
He grins at her vague answer. He appreciates making her blush, just like the other men in her life. Colin's stands and kisses the top of her head and leaves her to collect herself, to join the kids and relax with them on the couch.
*****
Leo is in at the computer secretly printing out the photos that they've taken of the kids at the White House. Margaret has the albums ready and waiting for the photos, so she can wrap them for gifts tomorrow.
Leo calls for Margaret in a panic, "MARGARET!"
When she arrives and sees him agitated at the computer, she gives him her patented 'what did you screw up now' look.
He looks at her over his shoulder and gestures a jabbing hand at the computer, like it's all the computers fault! "I went to delete a file and it deleted the whole folder. The folder must have been highlighted instead of just the file."
"Did you look in the trash folder, Leo?" She asks him in an exasperated voice stating the obvious. She may never get him trained to be proficient on the computer. He has certain programs that he knows how to use, but he should never be allowed to tinker with the files.
"Yeah and it's not there". Leo is somewhat angry, he's just not sure at whom, but it's mostly at himself. "It asked me if I was sure that I wanted to delete it. Something about it being too large. It was just a blurry photo that I didn't need and I clicked on yes," Leo defends his actions. "I've never had that happen before!"
Margaret huffs out her breath and admits that she has no idea what to do to help him, "Well, Leo, actually I've never deleted anything too large for trash." She gives him the undeniable bad news, "Leo, I'm afraid it's gone for good."
"Margaret, we need that 'photo' folder." Letting her know that, yes, it was the folder with the kids photos that week, at her shocked look and disappointed look, he blows a little, "Son of a ……," he chokes back the rest of the curse, as he sees Ben interested at the door, "…bean eater."
Ben slips in the door a little uncertain, since Leo had said that he needed some privacy with the computer, to work on something that he was not to see.
"Uncle Leo, if you have Norton Anti-virus program on your computer, I can help you get the folder back." Ben offers, hoping he can help, since he can tell that Uncle Leo and Aunt Margaret haven't a clue where to look or what to do to find the folder.
Turning in his chair to look at Ben fully, he replies to the boy's question, "Yeah, I do and you think you can retrieve it?" Leo looks at Ben a little skeptical, but also with hope in his voice.
"Sure, it's not that hard. I can walk you through it." Ben is glad to help and he really enjoys fixing computer problems.
Leo grins at Ben offer to help and this is a good time to trust his faith in Ben's computer ability that he has heard so much about, "Well, hop up here on my lap and help this poor newbie get his folder back."
"Ben hands his teddy bear to his Aunt Margaret, "Please hold Teddy, this is serious work."
"Sure thing, Ben. You really can get the folder back?" Margaret is impressed at Ben's assurance in his ability.
"Piece of cake." Ben assures they with delight.
"OK, Uncle Leo, open Norton. You can just click on that little red cross at the bottom right of your screen." Ben really means it when he says he can talk him step by step.
"Here it comes, now what?" Leo asks depending on Ben to fix this. "Talk me though it, Sport"
"Click on Advanced tools," Ben puts his hands on each of Leo's knees as Leo looks over Ben head to type. When Leo does that Ben instructs him, "Now click on Unerase Wizard."
"After the next screen pops up, asking you what type of files to look for, just click on recently deleted."
Leo watches in amazement as the window area on the screen starts to roll down listing many files.
Ben gives an obvious step, "Now, scroll down and look and see if your folder is there."
While Leo is looking, Ben explains more, "If it's not there, then just go back to the beginning and select protected files, instead of recently deleted files."
"I would never have found that function of Norton. I just thought that once it was deleted from trash it was gone forever," Margaret states.
"You mean, gone to never, never land. You two really need to explore your programs more." Ben hops down from Leo's lap a satisfied kid. He retrieves his bear from his aunt. He grins happily at the two surprised adults and walks back out to his sister and dad in the living room. He loves to fix problems for adults. It's one of the perks of being smart.
Leo and Margaret turn to watch Ben leave and notice his near prideful swagger as he leaves. Tonight he's earned it. He just did his own little miracle for a six year old.
*****
While dressed and waiting to go to midnight mass, Leo has a willing Margaret cornered in the kitchen, taking advantage of the extra time and the temporary privacy. The kids, of course, catch them necking.
"Ohhhh, Dad, they're kissing again." The kids call out in a singsong voice, to tease the loving couple. No longer acting like it's a nasty habit.
Leo and Margaret 'ham it up' with the kisses getting louder, sounding like smacking good kisses, trying to make the kids moan again. When that doesn't work they turn on the kids to grab them for smooches, in payment for catching them again.
Colin comes in to rescue his kids, who are giggling in delight. "Kids run to the restroom one last time and grab your coats, it's nearly time to leave for the church."
The kids scramble out of the kitchen, parting in the living room and each heading to a different bathroom. The race is on.
Leo gives Margaret one last passionate kiss to tide him over and grins at Colin as he passes him to go to the door to inform the agent they'll soon be ready for the car. When he opens the door the agent immediately moves in stand directly in front of Leo to block him from the hallway with his body. Leo grimaces at the stance that the agent is required to do. He switches to a smile at the agent. It is Christmas Eve and the agent is just doing his job, even if he 'is' putting his body between Leo and danger. "Agent Stout, we're just about ready for the car to the church." At the agent's affirmative answer to his request, Leo replies, "Thanks, we'll be out soon."
He closes the door and goes to get his coat and see if they need help with the kid's coats.
*****
On the way to mass, Katie is reassuring Ben that Santa will not pass them by, if he comes while they are at mass and not asleep in their bed like he wants the good little kids to be.
"How will he get in without a chimney, Katie? We have a chimney at home for him to use." Ben is having last minutes fears about Santa being able to get to him.
"In apartment building, he comes down the main chimney on the building's roof, then he goes to each apartment." Katie tries to reassure her smart little brother. She not sure that they'll still be able to fool him next year, so she thinks this may be his last Santa year.
"Will he start with the top floor?" Ben is still worried about how soon Santa will be at their apartment.
Katie works her theory, "The chimney ends in the basement and he works his way back up to the reindeer waiting on the roof." She gives him a hug to reassure him. "Don't worry. There's lots of time, before he gets to us. He has to start at the beginning of the time zones for today, when the first kids go to sleep for the night. He brightens at that logic, so she whispers some more logic to him. "Even after he starts in our building, we'll be near the end of the apartments, up on the fifth floor, out of the eight, therefore we'll not be one of the first ones."
Ben whispers back, "Good, I was wondering. Thanks, Katie." Ben settles in against his dad happy with his sister's explanation.
The dad's in the back seat smile across to each other, over the heads of the kids at their Christmas whisperings.
*****
At Mass, the family is soon mingling with many of the worshipers, receiving candles with dip rings attached to them at the door. This is one of the few yearly services where all the faithful attend. The church is decorated for the season with green garland and twinkling mini lights.
Leo's agents take up posts at the perimeters of the sanctuary. Where they can keep an eye on him and not interfere with the family participating in the holiday church service.
Leo and Margaret go and sit in a pew to ease the agent's minds. Many of the attendees stop and wish them joy of the season. Margaret starting attending there shortly after she arrived in DC and Leo has tried to attend regular Sunday service, when able, with her in the last few months. So, he's getting familiar with the regular members of the parish and the priests.
Colin and the kids move over to the stand of prayer candles and light one in memory of their mom. Colin and the kids genuflect after a minute of silent prayer, before joining Margaret and Leo in the pew. Margaret reaches across the kids in the pew, to squeeze Colin's hand in sympathy. Leo has his arm around behind Margaret and he strokes Katie's hair with his fingertips, to comfort her with a touch, hoping to see a small smile. Her momentary sadness shows on her face and his touch works, as Katie leans forward to smile at him. Like most kids, she now directs her attentions to the interior of the church. Loving the decorations displayed around the states of the saints, even the small statues in the wall niches, depicting the Twelve Stations of the Cross.
The priests are dressed in white and gold to celebrate the mass. Near the end, Katie files forward with the adults to receive communion. Ben will be able to join them next year. At the very end of mass, the priests then each bring a candle to light the worshippers candle at the end of each pew. The two kids watch in wonder, as the flame is passed from candle tip to candle tip along the rows, as the arrival of the light of the world is celebrated. They feel so honored to join in with the lighting of candles.
*****
Arriving back home after mass, the two kids change into their PJ's and return to the living room area to happily hang their Christmas stockings on hooks that Margaret just put in the joining cracks of the entertainment center and she just dares any of the males to mention that she might have damaged the furniture. After assuring themselves that the stockings are hanging just right for Santa, they next go to the kitchen. Their Dad helps they put the two large cookies, that Mrs. Landingham gave them as they left the White House this evening, on a small plate to set out for Santa with a glass of cold milk for him to wash them down with. The kids then sit at the antique table, with their dad, for a quick mug of hot cocoa to settle them down, so they'll sleep. They don't ever remember being up this late before.
Leo and Margaret happily snuggle up in the corner of the couch, to listen to a CD of classic Christmas songs from some of their favorite traditional artists. Margaret leans back into Leo's arms and Leo nuzzled his face forward next to hers.
While Colin takes the empty mugs to the kitchen, the kids go over to the couple on the couch and cuddle up by draping themselves on top of the reclining couple, while wrapping their small arms around them in loose hugs. The kids wish them a sleepy Merry Christmas, which is returned to them with hugs and kisses. Aunt Margaret and Uncle Leo, from under their small, soft and warm bodies, remind the kids that Santa will be coming during the night and that they need to get to sleep. The kids know that Santa should arrive soon and don't want to be discovered awake. The kids reluctantly get up from the comfortable snuggle and head for bed, hoping that morning comes soon, their excitement returning. The adults smile at them, enjoying the age-old tradition of Santa with the two kids. The little siblings are exhausted from their long day, but nearly too tired and too excited to sleep. Everything about this holiday week has been just grand and they're pretty sure that tomorrow will be just as much a great day, as today was.
Stopping at the door, Katie looks back for their dad to see if he's soon coming from the kitchen. She sees him pause and watch as her aunt and uncle exchange loving touches and tiny kisses, from his vantage point of the kitchen pass through window. His face doesn't looks really sad, but just quiet longing.
Ben returns to snuggle at her side, looking over at the couch to the grownups in love. They watch Leo reaches up behind him to turn off the lamp, before cuddling back again with his love. The happy couple is next to the Christmas tree and it's now the only glow of light in the room. The kids like what they see. Knowing that their aunt and uncle are so happy, but they also know their dad is quiet a lot.
They glance back to see their dad still looking at Aunt Margaret and Uncle Leo, now with a wishful look in his eyes.
Colin sees the kids watching him observe their aunt and uncle and admits to himself, ~I miss Megan some times more than the kids. I know it's probably because I have more memories of her than the kids do. They were so little when she was taken from us.~ He moves out of the kitchen to join the kids in the guest bedroom for prayers and a bedtime Christmas story that is a tradition for them .
Margaret mentions to Colin as he passes though, "Colin, come back out after you get the kids tucked in. We can visit and remember our childhood Christmases, while the kids fall asleep. They need time to whisper tonight."
"You're right, Sis". He listens for a second to the song playing and grins at how a song can trigger some happy memories. "I'll be out shortly." He ushers the kids into bed with their bears.
As the kids scramble into bed and prepare for their bedtime prayers, before their story, Colin remembers Margaret and he doing the same on Christmas Eve many years ago. From just a few short Christmases ago, the memory of Megan and him tucking in the kids makes his eyes shiny. Looking at them tonight he sadly thinks of how fast the kids are growing up and all the wonderful times she is missing. The kids mention Mommy a little more tonight with their Christmas Eve prayers, knowing she's celebrating it in heaven tonight. Colin swallows a lump in his throat. He gives them a final kiss and tuck in after reading 'The Night before Christmas' poem to them and smiles at the excited wiggling the two tired kids are doing as they snuggle together. At home they sleep in separate beds, but he can tell that they have enjoyed the bedtime closeness and whispers this week, especially tonight.
Colin looks out at the couch and then back at his kids from the doorway, knowing that the kids have seen more loving in the past couple of days and that they have had the wonderful experience of living with a loving couple this week. That is something that they don't at home with just him. It's something that, like he told Margaret, Megan and he had hoped to share with their kids. Maybe he'll really think about meeting someone again, it's been three years. He knows that kids learn what they live and as adults, will live what the learned as kids. He was hoping to instill a loving pattern in their lives, but he has to find the right person for them, as well as for himself. After watching them today, he feels that the kids would be more welcoming of him starting to open himself up, for a loving relationship again. He's so lonesome sometimes.
*****
While they wait for Colin to return, Margaret and Leo cuddle together and talk about their own favorite Christmas Eve memories and songs. Just quietly to themselves. They have so much to learn about each other's past holidays, now that they're together. Tonight they just love sitting in front of the tree, enjoying the glow of the Christmas tree lights and the soft romantic Christmas songs. When Leo hears the start of the next song, 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', he slips out from behind Margaret and clasping her hand, he pulls her to stand and move into his arms. He wants them to indulge in a romantic dance in their socks. They move with their foreheads touching and placing tiny kisses on each other's faces. They continue to sway lovingly in each other's arms, as the soft, slow song 'Silent Night' starts to play, whispering murmurs of love to each other, neither of them noticing that Colin is soon watching them from the doorway.
Colin doesn't want to interrupt, but he doesn't feel like a third wheel either. He knows that they express their love openly here. He's happy for them, he's been married and he knows what love is like. It's his heartfelt wish for his baby sister to have that kind of love. Honestly, it's a worry off him to know she'll always be taken care of by her love. He's thankful that he and his kids are welcome in share in their lives.
As the song ends, Leo is facing the guestroom and he looks to see Colin watching them dance. 'The Christmas Song-Chestnuts Roasting' starts to play and he smiles at him, "Colin, we just can't resist dancing in our socks. Why don't you take this next dance with your sister?" Leo steps away to let Colin have a few minutes to dance with Margaret. She slides happily into her big brothers arms, enjoying the feel of his large strong body, as he first hugs her tight. He has always been her knight in shining armor in this world. Her first hero and her best friend all rolled into one. Life doesn't get any better than this. She has her Leo and her brother with her for Christmas.
Leo decides to leave and give them some bonding time together. He knows she doesn't get to spend much time with Colin and this week proved no different. Leo feels so blessed to have Margaret and him together everyday now. He decides that he can go get some drinks and snacks to have after the dancing, for some bonding time between the three of them. He wants to feel closer to Colin. The two of the have had to made do quality time not quantity time as well. Working in the kitchen, he periodically keeps a happy eye on the siblings with a smile, as they continue to dance to the next song, watching them thru the kitchen pass thru.
The kids sneak out of bed for a last peak to check to see if Santa had been there. They like seeing their dad dancing with Margaret. Showing that a brother and sister can still love each other when grown up, like they do now as kids. Ben leans against his sister and she drapes her arm around his small shoulders. It's the love they want and crave and they have seen more of it in the last three days, than they can remember in their lives, both romantically and deep family love.
When Leo comes back in with the snacks, he gently and quietly shoos them back to bed and follows them, to re-tuck them in.
*****
After the dance and Leo returns from the guestroom, they sit on the couch with Margaret between them, with the music still playing softly in the background. While snacking lightly, the talk soon turns to reminiscing about Christmas memories from when they were kids, just as they had hoped. Leo gets to hear of a young Margaret. They talk softly so the kids will finally go to sleep.
Colin tells of one of his favorite memories of them, "Margaret would always keep peaking out for Santa, just like my two in the other room did tonight and I would have to haul her back to bed."
Margaret reveals, "Colin was always getting the blame when we got caught, as he was older, for us being out of bed, but he always covered for me."
Colin points out to Leo, "She wanted visual proof that Santa did exist, as you can imagine."
Leo chuckles at Margaret being the same, even as a child.
Margaret adds with soft giggles, "I also remember that we both used to compete for having the 'list from hell' for Santa."
Leo nods his head in agreement as he was also the big brother. His sisters did the same to him, "I had two sisters to try to keep in bed on Christmas Eve. I finally had to threaten to tie them to the bedpost, to keep them from messing up Santa's arriving." At the delighted look on their faces, he elaborates. "I had to sleep with a hand holding onto each of them, with one on each side of me in the bed, till morning." Leo reveals sadly, "They still tease me about it every Christmas. Especially in front of my nieces and nephews, just to hear them giggle." Margaret has to hold her face into the side of his shoulder to keep the kids from hearing her laughing. Colin is also having trouble keeping his loud snickers quieted behind his hand. He's now thinking that having just one sister might have had its advantages.
*****
Colin has had a long day and he finally admits it. "I'm bushed and I need to get the gifts for the kids under the tree. Good thing I shipped them to you early in the month, Margaret."
She straightens from leaning on Leo as she's feeling the long day as well, "The box is in my closet, Colin. I just covered it with a blanket, with the label facing the wall, just in case someone removed the blanket."
Colin grins at her, "You mean like my little darling, Katie, if she went snooping for Santa?"
She stretches and answers, "Yeah, I didn't want it to be too easy for her."
Leo stands also and tugs on Margaret, "Lets get our gifts under the tree too. Santa can get his delivery done all at once." He pops his arm down and then raises his wrist in front of his face to check his watch, "You know it is 1:30 in the morning and hopefully the little darlings will let us sleep in a little tomorrow morning. We don't have to be to Josie's till ten."
A little later, Colin rests back a minute and enjoys one of Mrs. Landingham's cookies, as Leo claims the other. Margaret looks up at them from her place on the floor, where she's arranging the gifts under the tree, wondering what the two big kids are going to do with just one glass of milk in here. She knows one of them will have to go to the kitchen for their own glass of milk. Leo grabs the milk first, with it sitting on the small table beside him and being a generous host, he grins at Colin, before draining the glass half way and offers Colin the last half. Colin happily finishes the milk. Grinning at his sister, he wipes the milk mustache off his lip and sets the glass back down on the table for the kids to find in the morning. She gives Leo a look like 'you really were generous there'. He wipes his mouth in case he has a milk mustache as well and grins at her.
After they get the gifts under the tree, Leo takes her hand and helps her up to her feet. "Lets go to bed, Baby. Santa needs his beauty sleep for tomorrow's busy day."
They call good night softly to Colin knowing he's cuddling into bed with his kids, but also that he's not minding the tight fit. Margaret smiles as Leo leads her to bed. They're quickly changed in to their nightwear. In bed cuddling, Margaret settles into Leo arms and drapes an arm across his chest, "Merry Christmas, Sweetie."
He rumbles a sleepy wish in return, "Merry Christmas, Baby."
*****
Continues in the final part 5
This posted on 02- -04
Thanks for reading
